Chapter 168: Secret (1) (1/2)
…She introduced the purpose of magic in my mind. She selected a series suitable for the purpose and composed the circuit. A process expressed in two sentences; it didn’t have to be that complicated. She believed in her talents, so she just focused on the condensation and heating of the magic itself rather than flashy individual skills or high-level techniques.
The theory of the Iron Man was taught by Professor Deculein. Carrying that theory into her body and mind, Epherene slowly reached out. Her artifact, the bracelet, glowed blue first. The magical energy emitted from her spread into the atmosphere, and a strong air current condensed around her arm.
“Heeya!”
Epherene stretched out her hand with that. The magic to be manifested held the wind attribute of the destruction series Call of the Convection.
Whooosh-!
The gale that soared from her grasp scattered and shattered the rocks before her, turning them into small fragments.
“Fufu.”
A perfect result was blending magic composition, power, and efficiency. Nothing lacked. Epherene laughed triumphantly, and then—!
The wind blew away the smoke that lingered in her hands. Then, with a proud expression, she looked back at the Professor who was evaluating her from afar.
“Epherene, is the trial over?”
Deculein was checking something in a document. This was the so-called capacity assessment, assessing the skills of knights and wizards before starting the mission to form a well-rounded team.
“Go back.”
“…Yes.”
Again, there was no praise. That was a little dissatisfying, but Epherene just retreated to the tree stump and sat down. She then watched the next assessment. Now it was probably Drent’s turn-
“Huh?”
Epherene’s eyes widened. She found a familiar figure on the passage leading to Reccordak.
“Professor Louina?!”
At Epherene’s cry, Louina looked to her. She smiled at Epherene.
…
Epherene and Louina went together to a restaurant to speak.
“…He has less than five years to live? Are you sure?”
“Yes. I can’t explain in detail why. But I’m sure.”
The two decided to speak comfortably. Epherene’s efforts had broken Louina’s stubbornness.
“I knew it… I expected it, but it feels a bit empty knowing it’s true.”
She looked at her plate with a very disappointed expression. Epherene understood her feelings.
“But… no one is sitting over there?”
However, as if more than that was uncomfortable, Louina changed the topic. Epherene glanced over. Deculein’s fiancée, Julie, and the lieutenant, Reylie, were there, just the two of them. No one wanted to sit near.
“I know, right? The place is full, but no one is sitting by them.”
The restaurant was full except for around them. Louina muttered in a low voice.
“Well. It’s because she broke up with Deculein.”
“What? Oh~, but that’s not official yet, is it?”
“…Huhu. Maybe it’s because it’s between two great families? Yukline and Freyden. They’re probably saving face right now.”
“Ah…”
In response to Louina’s answer, Epherene nodded. Then, someone sat down next to her.
“Who is it?”
“Who is it? It’s me, Leaf.”
It was Ihelm. His brow furrowed as he looked at Louina.
“Are you here too?”
“Yeah. Hi?”
“Hi? Since when did we meet each other? More importantly, Leaf, are you doing well? I’ve heard that you’ve been publishing Deculein’s work at random.”
“…N-No. We just read together for a while…”
“Huh! Ihelm! Louina!”
A clear and refreshing cry resounded, drawing everyone’s attention. A blonde knight approached with a bright smile. Louina’s eyes widened.
“Syrio?”
“Yeah, it’s me.”
Epherene was startled. The deputy commander of the Knights of Iliade, ‘Quick Swordsman Syrio.’ He was quite famous. In addition, Raphael, Gwen, and other equally famous knights all sat nearby.
“Why are you guys sitting here?”
Ihelm murmured, dissatisfied. Syrio still answered with a smile.
“What’s the problem? It’s good to see all of our classmates after a long time~. It’s been a long time since we’ve gotten together like this.”
“Classmates?”
Epherene asked in surprise.
“Yeah. We’re all classmates with Deculein. If only Julie, sitting over there alone, could come—?”
Syrio spoke aloud for Julie to hear. Julie stopped using her spoon and chopsticks for a moment. But instead of coming over, she immediately stood and left the restaurant.
“…Damn. You ruined it.”
Gwen lightly hit Syrio on the shoulder. He patted his shoulder and smiled bitterly.
“Oh, my bad. Still, since all the classmates have gathered, wouldn’t it be nice if we reconciled?”
“What reconcile? Don’t you know Julie’s personality? Now she won’t even come to the restaurant and will only eat in her office.”
“Hmm… I guess so?”
“Guess so, my ass.”
Epherene listened to the conversations of celebrities who often appeared in the media with amazement.
* * *
Against the background of a blizzard outside the window, I was making a list for the mission.
[1. Julie 2. Gwen 3. Devrin 4. Drent.]
[1. Syrio 2. Lillard 3. Diment 4. Epherene.]
[1. Raphael 2. Ihelm…]
It was an arrangement considering compatibility so that no matter what kind of monster they encountered, they wouldn’t be at a disadvantage. I consumed 3,000 mana with Understanding while making this list, so the outcome was certain.
Knock, knock-
I opened the door with Psychokinesis.
“It’s Knight Deya.”
It was Julie. As the de facto head of Reccordak, she was also in charge of this type of work.
“This is a report on the condition of the Reccordak prisoners.”
Julie put the report down. I looked at her with Vision. Her lifespan was increasing by years. I nodded with satisfaction.
“This is a list of missions. Distribute it.”
“Yes.”
“Also, you have work to do at night.”
“Yes.”
I handed her the full-length mirror. Julie, holding the mirrors the size of her own body, looked at me with a face holding no emotion. She wanted me to explain.
“This is a map.”
At the same time, I pulled out a map. It was the artifact strengthened with Midas’ Hand in Time.
“I marked the key points. Put a mirror in each. Be careful not to break it.”
My new origin, Mirror. It could be used for all the properties of mirrors, such as reflection and refraction, and methods such as connection and passage. Therefore, I could go anywhere in the North where this full-length mirror was installed. Of course, there were still limitations due to the low quality of magic, but my range of movement expanded exponentially.
“Yes.”
Julie didn’t ask any questions; she left with the mirror on her back. Truly, she was a woman suited to the North.
“…Now she won’t get lost.”
I muttered. Julie’s characteristic was bad with directions, but that map would cover it to some extent.
“Then…”
I was about to start on my only hobbies in the North, painting and writing. However.
Tap— Tap—
A stone hit the window.
Tap— Tap—
“What.”