Chapter 210: University Magic Tower (2) (1/2)
Resting in the teaching room, Sophien received Deculein’s message from her court lady.
“I’m sorry…”
“…I don’t mind. That professor is like that.”
He said that he wouldn’t come today, but next Wednesday, on his normal teaching day. She understood because Deculein was a person who valued principles. He was a man who was incredibly firm in his beliefs, like a giant tree that never bent.
“And seeing this, the feeling of wanting to meet him is gone. Rather, this is better.”
The wooden box contained Rohakan’s head. Looking at it, Sophien’s mouth tasted bitter. It was bizarre indeed. This guy was a criminal who deserved to die. He was one of the worst pieces of scum in the history of the Empire, the one who murdered the Empress…
Click—
Sophien opened the lid. Then, she was silent.
“…”
At first, she thought it wasn’t Rohakan, as it was the head of a boy. But it wasn’t long before she confirmed that he was Rohakan. His mana remained clear inside his head.
“…You died.”
Sophien regarded Rohakan. It looked like he was going to open his eyes any second and say something to her. Saying, just like back then, ‘I killed her.’
“This damn bastard…”
Sophien’s memories of the day Rohakan assassinated the Empress were sparse. She was good at grasping the situation, but she could hardly remember those moments. Even if she tried to recall a little bit, it vanished like a switch turning off.
“You died with a face younger than mine.”
Nevertheless, one thing was certain: a blue moon had appeared in the sky at the moment when Rohakan confessed.
“…You.”
Sophien raised her head and looked to the courtier. The court lady bowed with a tremble.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
At that moment, Rohakan’s voice rang again in Sophien’s mind.
—Sophien. You know too. Everyone around you suffers misfortune, with no exception.
The people she wanted to be by her side. Rohakan was one of them, and he proved that to himself.
“What is your name?”
It was the first time in Sophien’s life she asked for the name of a court lady. The courtier answered in a soft voice.
“It’s Ahan…”
“Ahan. I will give you one order.”
Ahan bowed even lower.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I’m honored. I will accept anything-“
“Avoid misfortune with the determination to die.”
“Hm…?”
Ahan didn’t understand. She gently raised her head, and when she met Sophien’s eyes, she lowered her face again.
“Don’t ever suffer misfortune.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty. But how could that be possible? Just being here with Your Majesty…”
She didn’t listen to the court lady. Sophien closed the lid of the wooden box. She put Rohakan down on the other side of the drawer and unfolded her 「Advanced Life and Death Problems」 again to study Go.
While solving them one by one, suddenly, an unusual sense of indignation hit her. No, something she was holding onto had exploded.
“…He said he would be happy to wait. But he doesn’t come when I tell him.”
Thinking of that wicked man, she murmured, and after solving the problems, she turned over the last page of the book.
“…”
After solving all the problems, all that remained was a mostly blank sheet of paper. Sophien looked at the two sentences written in the middle.
[For you, who is nobler than anyone.]
[Hopefully, it can be a way to refresh your mind on the road of wandering in loneliness.]
An unusual tribute was left at the end of the book, clearly dedicated to her. Sophien pretended she was sneering, but she couldn’t hide the brightness of her smile.
* * *
The grounds of the Imperial University were large. It was safe to view it as a city, given it had the facilities to be self-sufficient even if it was separated from the continent. Hundreds of thousands came and went every day, excluding the current students, and the trends of the University’s districts soon spread into the fashion of the younger generation of the Empire.
It was the pride of the Empire, the center of their culture, and the birthplace of countless talented people. I was walking across the campus of such a university.
“…Hmph!”
With the Chairman watching me suspiciously and Epherene looking sleepy, I didn’t know what happened yesterday.
“There’s no way!”
After staring at her for a while, she spoke in a chirping voice.
“What do you mean?”
“How could you kill Rohakan?! It makes no sense!”
“Is that so?”
“Yes! I thought Rohakan would beat you, and you would come to me for help!”
Adrienne was quite annoyed. Steam spurted from her nose.
“I used physical power.”
“What?! Physical magic?!”
“I cut him with a sword.”
“…”
It wasn’t a lie. Then the Chairman grabbed my forearm.
“…Whoa.”
Her eyes widened with admiration.
“You’re in good shape, indeed! But was a surprise attack on the careless Rohakan the cause of the victory?!”
“I never said it was a surprise attack.”
“You did!”
“Haaaahm- Ugh!”
“You did, mhh, it was an ambush!”
Adrienne repeated herself as Epherene yawned and stumbled along. Despite the difficulties these two posed, I arrived at my office.
“You did!”
Ignoring Adrienne, still clinging to me, I sat down.
“You did-“
“More importantly, the Altar seems poised to move.”
“…The Altar?”
“Yes. It is the force that moved the beast wave.”
“…”
Adrienne’s expression turned.
“…The beast wave?”
“Yes.”
Now that Rohakan was dead – though, of course, he hadn’t completely died yet, but his range was limited to the vineyards – the Altar would begin to move in earnest.
“…I didn’t know you would believe in such a conspiracy theory!”
There was a hint of pity in those words. I thought for a moment and then nodded. In the continent, the Altar was similar to the Illuminati in modern terms. Of course, I don’t mean to imply that the Illuminati exists, but most people dismiss the Altar as just a cult somewhere out there.
Only a few Named knew for sure that the massacre and suppression of the Demon Blood, the sudden intensification of the beast migration, and most of the social chaos happening now were the Altar’s plots. There was no way to prove it.
“Yes. Anyway, if you don’t have any other news, please leave now. I have a lot to do.”
“…I do have some!”
Adrienne held out a list.
“This is the entrance exam! Bloodlines of the Principalities and Kingdoms will take the entrance exam to our university! The rest are documents related to the entrance festival!”
I read it. Principality of Yuren, Kingdom of Reok, Gahala… There were many names of high-ranking nobles and even royalty from each country. If they gathered in the Empire, of course, unexpected quests would be inevitable.
“You will be the judge!”
“Is that so?”