Chapter 163: Wall of the Northern Region (1)

... After some time, Wood Steel signaled that everything was over. With that, I descended once more into the depths of the crevasse.

Tap—

My heels touched down on the ground. Near the crystal tree, I noticed Sylvia slumped over, fast asleep on the table I had made, while her ghost lay collapsed beside her. I slipped off my gloves, feeling the faint bite of the cold air.

With the Iron Man attribute and Cold Adaptation I’d gained from my time in the snow globe, my body was far from ordinary—I hardly felt the cold. But Sylvia might feel differently, as she would probably feel its full sting.

“... She’d feel cold here,” I murmured to myself as I walked toward Sylvia. Exhausted, she hadn’t even sensed my approach and was already deep in sleep.

Crackle—

With

Ductility

, I created a blanket and draped it over her shoulders, adding a Midas Touch enhancement up to Level 2 just in case.

“Well done.”

For some reason, an odd sense of fondness stirred within me when I thought of her. Perhaps it was simply because she was the only one who allowed me to feel the heavy, misguided ache of guilt.

I rested my hand gently on her small head, assessing her condition. Fractures, bruises, bleeding—her body was marked with wounds of every kind. One by one, I covered each wound with strips of

Duct Tape

. By the time she woke, the healing would be complete, and she would believe she had mended them all on her own.

“... Take some rest,” I murmured as I turned toward the crystal tree.

[Main Quest: Ages]

Demakan’s Sanctuary of Ages. The mystical ancient tree stood in silence, its surface where Epherene’s name had glowed just moments ago now bare. With the magic faded, the crystal tree’s time slipped quietly back into its natural rhythm.

Whirr—

I activated the Wood Steel blades, carving a new name into the rough surface of the wood.

Deculein

In that instant, the main quest, Ages, was complete.

"Hey. Do you even understand the weight of your choice? You’re agreeing to bind yourself to the Ages. Do you even grasp what the Ages really are?" Idnik's voice echoed, lingering in the air as she approached, her robes flowing like shadows in her wake.

“It’s the secret society aiming to dismantle the Altar, isn’t it?” I replied.

“

Hmm

? It’s close enough... But aren’t secret societies precisely the kind of thing you detest?” Idnik commented, her footsteps echoing lightly as she approached and took a seat across from Sylvia. From within her robes, she drew out a tea set complete with black tea and fine china. “It’s been quite some time since I was last here.”

I held my silence.

“

Heh

,” Idnik murmured, giving a slight nod toward Sylvia’s blanket. “But how strange... You seem to have a real fondness for Sylvia.”

I didn’t respond and simply watched Sylvia. Seeing her asleep like this, a name surfaced in my mind—Cielia, someone I had never met before.

“She bears the talent to ascend as an Archmage. I simply seek to acknowledge that promise.”

In completing the main quest, the involvement of not only the player but also the named characters was critical. The scenario was designed so that the player couldn’t clear it alone.

“I’ll take my leave,” I said, smoothing my attire, adjusting my tie, and brushing the dust from my sleeves. “The rest, I leave in your hands.”

As I turned to leave, Idnik’s voice halted me, her words slicing through the silence as she asked, “Do you feel any regret for killing the child’s mother?”

My steps came to an abrupt halt as fragmented memories surged through my mind—Deculein’s hands clenched around Cielia’s throat, rage spilling forth like blood from a fresh wound, and Cielia repeatedly saying sorry. Each scene sank deep, cutting through me like splinters of glass

“... Even if I hadn’t killed her, Cielia would have met the same fate regardless.”

Idnik’s fingers tightened around her teacup, her grip becoming tense. Cielia had been terminally ill, her life already slipping away.

“So? Are you telling me you just quickened her end, since she was destined to die anyway?” Idnik retorted, her words cutting sharply.

I shook my head. Deculein, consumed by his own fury, had likely ended her life with no justification other than his rage. On that day, he was completely bereft of dignity.

“I am no longer the person I once was. From this moment forward, let’s keep Cielia’s illness a secret from Sylvia.”

“... What?” Idnik said, her brow furrowing.

I looked back at Sylvia—her face serene in sleep, breaths soft and even, heartbeat steady and unhurried. There was no mistaking it; every sign of life was too genuine to be a lie.

“Hatred is all that remains within her.”

Sylvia was hollow, stripped of the very essence of humanity. In a sense, she was like a wind-up doll—lifeless until a purpose set her in motion.

“If that hatred toward me is what will allow her talent to bloom, if it is what will keep her alive...”

At that moment, a stray lock of Sylvia’s hair drifted into her mouth. With a subtle use of

Telekinesis

, I lifted it away. Idnik watched my movements, keen and unblinking.

“... Then so be it. I’m accustomed to hatred; it’s easy enough to bear. I’ll remain here to behold her growth, however brightly she may come to shine.”

“

Hmph

,” Idnik scoffed. “... You’re just like Glitheon.”

I shook my head and replied, “At the very least, I hold a true concern for this child.”

“Do you, now?”

These feelings were no illusion. They were among the few proofs that Kim Woo-Jin still lived within me—emotions that Deculein could never grasp. Sylvia was one of those rare reminders.

“So, I will allow her hatred for me to remain...” I said, my eyes locked on Idnik. “Just as it is now.”

Idnik regarded me in silence for a moment, then, with a faint smile, said, "What a shame. Sylvia’s feelings for you aren’t only hatred. Still, you choose to blind yourself to the truth."

I waited briefly, wondering what it was that I was blinding myself to.

But Idnik simply shook her head and said, "You can return. I understand well enough what you mean."

I nodded, removing the Duct Tape I’d used to recover Sylvia’s wounds and erasing any residual trace of mana, then stepped onto the Wood Steel platform.

Watching me, Idnik said, "Farewell. I don’t know what brought about such a change in you, but I can’t say I dislike it..."

***

Clip-clop, clip-clop—

A lone horse crossed the expansive plains of the Northern Region. Sophien and Epherene sat upon the broad back of the chestnut horse, their hair stirred by the cold wind. However, the horizon ahead was no different from the present—empty of wonder and stripped of delight. Only a quiet, unshakable heaviness lingered in their hearts.

“Your Majesty,” Epherene said, addressing the most esteemed figure on the continent.

With a firm grip on the reins, Sophien replied, "Speak."

“... It’s been less than four years.”

“Are you talking about this future?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Deculein’s life had, at most, only three or four years left—a painfully brief time. Strangely, Epherene’s heart ached. Deculein was, undeniably, her father’s sworn enemy... just as her father had been his. And because of her father, Deculein’s fiancée... It led her thoughts to grow muddled, weighed down by the tangled web of it all.

“I see,” Sophien said with a nod, casting a brief look over her shoulder at Epherene, who sat behind her. “Luna.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“... Forget it,” Sophien replied, swallowing the words she had nearly let slip.

Sophien read all the lines from Deculein’s letter—the one that began with the statement that from this moment onward, he intended to place his life entirely in her hands.

The first two pages had been fascinating and delightful, drawing her in, while the next two turned somber, stirring something serious within her. The final three pages... they evoked feelings she could hardly name.

“Sorry?

Oh

—yes, of course, Your Majesty. I understand. I won’t ask further.”

“Smart of you.”

After finishing his letter, Sophien realized that his decision to place his life in her hands had never been about saving him—but rather, something far darker...

“Let’s move. The comet will be back soon.”

“Yes, Your Majesty~”

Clip-clop, clip-clop—

The horse moved at a slow pace beneath her. A deep weariness settled over Sophien’s body, and still in the saddle, she let her eyes drift shut for a moment.

“

Oh

—there!” Epherene gasped, pointing up at the sky.

A distant streak of light fell from the heavens, a shooting star tracing its path through the dark expanse.

***

I returned to the fortress. With Epherene and Sophien off elsewhere, I began the research and analysis in earnest alongside Allen and Drent. Now that we had completed thorough sampling, we could only expect that minimal error remained in our findings.

“The calculations are underway, Professor!” Allen reported.

Though the process was intricate, the steps themselves were clear. First, we measured the concentration of demonic energy in the soil and the mana levels in the atmosphere, then derived the collision values between the two. Using these values, we could predict the risk of future monster waves in the Northern Region.

“Calculations are finished, Professor!”

In more detail, as the concentration of demonic energy in the soil increased, demonic beasts in the unexplored regions grew larger and multiplied more rapidly. This connection was nearly absolute, prompting us to devise a mathematical formula to calculate it accurately.

This concept was called Deculein’s Theorem on Demonic Beasts. The next area of focus was the concentration of mana in the atmosphere. As demonic beasts exhaled, they released demonic energy; however, once combined with the air currents, this energy dispersed and diluted, leaving only faint traces of mana behind.

By calculating the difference between the average mana concentration in the atmosphere and that of the Northern Region, and then comparing it to the concentration of demonic energy in the soil, I arrived at a unique concept known as the collision value.

The higher this collision value, the more intense and frequent the monster waves became, resulting in far more dangerous outbreaks.

“... Professor.”

Then the results arrived. Allen, with a serious look, handed me the paper. I took it without a thought, but as I read, my eyes widened.

“Isn’t there something... odd about these results?” Allen asked.

The report showed a fluctuating death variable across its pages. I’d never seen anything quite like it before, but examining the collision value provided a measure of understanding behind it.

“For the last twenty years, the peak collision value reached only 0.137,” I said.

“Sorry?

Oh

, yes! Exactly! According to the impeccable calculations based on your theory, Professor!”

Nineteen years ago, the collision value of the monster wave reached 0.137. Hundreds of knights fell, Rekordak was laid to ruin, and thirty-three villages—along with tens of thousands of civilians—were lost.

“... 0.437.”

The collision value alone was over three times higher. Moreover, because its risk factor increased exponentially, its destructive power was projected to be at least fifteen times greater than that of nineteen years ago. With the upcoming main quest in mind, this decline was dangerously steep.

“W-what should we do? Could we have miscalculated, Professor?”

“No. The calculations are accurate. As my theory cannot be wrong, this must be the reality.”

At that moment, the door flew open, and Sophien and Epherene walked in.

“We’re back~” Epherene said.

“... Your Majesty!”

The Imperial knights pressed forward and fell to their knees, their voices trembling with emotion as they pleaded to know where she had been. But Sophien did not look in their direction.

“Your Majesty, you have returned,” I said, stepping forward and lowering myself onto one knee as I presented her with a paper.

“And what is this?” Sophien asked.

“It is the report forecasting the southern advance of the demonic beasts.”

"Explain it to me in your own words."

“This wave will likely be the worst we’ve seen in the past twenty years—perhaps even the most catastrophic in the Empire’s history.”

The knights’ eyes widened in shock, and Epherene’s face reflected their astonishment.

Sophien composedly responded, "Deculein, do you stand by your prediction?"

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And will you accept full responsibility for the outcome?”

“Gladly, I would stake my life on my theory,” I said without a moment’s hesitation.

Sophien nodded, her face a tired blend of drowsiness and irritation. However, her next move was strangely out of character.

“I place my trust in you,” Sophien said, resting a hand on my shoulder.

In that moment, the knights’ eyes nearly popped from their sockets. Even I felt a surge of shock rise within me; after all, Sophien was someone who had a near-phobic aversion to any physical contact.

“In that case, we’ll need reinforcements in the Northern Region.”

“... Yes, Your Majesty.”

As I masked my surprise, Sophien withdrew her hand, offering a faint smile, and said, "Very well. I will return to the capital, where we’ll conduct a proper discussion."

***

... Yulie managed her regular duties concurrently with her responsibilities at Rekordak. Though she was a knight, the Rekordak Concentration Camp, much like Roharlak for Yukline, was under Freyden’s control. Therefore, Yulie had willingly taken on the role herself.

"We cannot afford to allow training and maintenance to slip here..."

Though Rekordak functioned as a concentration camp, it also served as a crucial fortress for the region. If its walls had been breached that winter, countless souls who relied on its protection would have been lost to the merciless tide. The simple, innocent folk of the countryside could not be allowed to suffer beneath the encroaching feet of invading monsters.

"First, we must strengthen the walls and organize a special force from the most cooperative inmates... although securing funds will be a challenge. Relying on Freyden’s financial support could prove to be—"

Bang!

At that moment, the door swung open, and Reylie burst in.

“Knight Yulie! Look at this—it’s urgent, very urgent!” Reylie exclaimed, setting a document on Yulie’s desk. It was a high command report, a Level 3 classified file restricted to officers and above.

“What is this?” Yulie asked.

“Please, read it! You must see this!”

“... What’s wrong?”

“I’m telling you, just look!”

Yulie skimmed through the report's pages, her eyes gliding over each line with little thought. Gradually, her expression changed in shock, like a thunderstorm suddenly breaking the calm of a clear sky.

“What is this...”

The contents were grave. While the concept of a collision value was new to her, the report’s conclusion provided a clear summary of its implications.

It is projected that the damage will exceed fifteen times that of the massive wave that occurred nineteen years ago.

Yulie found it difficult to believe that the line could be real.

“How can this be possible?” Reylie asked, her face pale with fear.

The memories of nineteen years ago lingered in Yulie's mind. There had even been rumors that the Northern Region was on the brink of ruin.

“Fifteen times greater—they say it’s fifteen times in the report! Are we all done for?”

“

Shh

. Quiet. Everything will be fine. Mages always account for the worst-case scenarios...” Yulie said.

Although Yulie had only learned the basic fundamentals of magic and mathematical calculations at the academy, she first set about verifying the credibility of the report. Then her eyes fell on the name of the person who had produced and submitted these findings.

Deculein von Grahan-Yukline

“

Ah

.”

It was a name Yulie despised the most. However, he was a mage held in the highest regard by the Floating Island, a scholar renowned as the pinnacle of credibility in that field—Deculein.

“... Deculein.”

“

Oh

,

hahaha...

but what can we do about this?! His theories are highly respected!” Reylie said, with a nervous laugh.

Yulie clenched her teeth but soon let out a sigh. She was strict about separating her personal feelings from her duty. At this moment, she was not Yulie, but Deya—a knight of Freyden. If Deculein had put his name to this projection, she had no choice but to accept it, however bitterly.

“There’s only one course of action. Send an immediate request to the inner fortress of the Northern Region for reinforcement, Reylie.”