Chapter 196: Tough Battle (3)

The magic spell structure of the Altar appeared devoid of any discernible system, its chaotic circuits coiling and writhing like a nest of worms, evoking the sense of a living organism and stirring a deep, visceral disgust.

Even Arlos, who had studied under Archmage Adrienne and hailed from the Ashes, had never encountered such a formation. It was a spell entirely foreign to modern mages, something no one in this era could have possibly experienced.

However...

"I can study the whole through the part; I can reconstruct the whole. Within a week, I will be able to identify, analyze, and dispel the structure and spells of the Altar's magic," Deculein declared with confidence. “Is there something else you wish to ask?”

Although Arlos was a proper mage in her own right, with a natural curiosity, she shook her head and responded, "No. Now stop boasting and hand over the payment so I can leave."

“

Ahem

,” Deculein murmured, clearing his throat and pulling three stacks of one million elne in cash from the drawer.

“Then, I’ll take my leave."

Just as Arlos took the payment and gathered her belongings to leave...

Knock, knock—

Someone knocked on the door of Deculein’s office.

“This is Knight Deya. I am here with Deputy Director Primien,” Yulie announced.

“I am with a guest. Wait outside,” Deculein replied.

Arlos then transformed, revealing her true form—Cynthia, a woman with flowing golden hair and mesmerizingly beautiful features.

“They might find it strange if your guest were a child. But I’m curious—how did you manage to create something like this?” Arlos asked, her eyes on the recording device and camera, both crafted without the use of mana stones.

“From the hardware store in Hadecaine, known as Lukan’s Wharf. I provide the concept, and Lukan takes care of the invention,” Deculein explained.

“This will certainly prove useful for later as well. Being able to record both sound and image without mana is worth keeping around,” Arlos said as she stood to her feet.

As Arlos adjusted her hair, preparing to leave, she paused and glanced back at Deculein, who was seated at his desk, transcribing the footage captured by the camera into his notebook with a fountain pen.

“... Do you really believe that you can analyze that spell?” Arlos added another question.

“Yes,” Deculein replied, his focus on the recording and a faint glow of blue mana already beginning to shimmer in his eyes. “The framework of the spell and the formation of its magic circle are erratic and unstructured. However, analysis, deconstruction, study, and dispelling—everything is within my reach."

Is it all arrogance or blind overconfidence? What an unusual man

, Arlos thought with a faint smile.

“Good luck,” Arlos said.

Creeeeak—

Arlos opened the door and stepped out of the office, where Knight Deya—Yulie—stood waiting. The moment Yulie laid eyes on her, she flinched, tilting her head slightly in confusion.

"My business here is done. You may enter now," Arlos said, offering no further clarification.

“...

Oh

, yes. Thank you,” Yulie replied.

As Arlos walked past her, Yulie hesitated for a moment before turning to her and asking, "If it’s not too much to ask, may I know where you’re from...?"

Arlos stopped in her tracks and turned back toward Yulie. Though she could have easily offered a response without answering directly and moved on, a playful spark flickered in her eyes as a mischievous idea took hold.

“I do mind saying just yet actually... I’d like to call it a

secret

for now?” Arlos murmured in a silken tone, her fingers brushing against her lips as if to seal the mystery.

Yulie remained silent.

"Well then, I’ll be on my way," Arlos added.

“Certainly,” Yulie replied with a slight stiffness on her face, nodding as she stepped into the office.

However, Arlos couldn’t help but laugh at the question that followed right after in the room.

—

It seemed that you had quite a stunning guest; she didn’t seem to be from the Northern Region.

Yulie chose her words with care, sidestepping directness and framing her inquiry in a more roundabout way, seeking to learn the guest’s identity.

—

Leave the documents and be on your way. I have no time to waste on any conversation.

However, any attempt to extract any desired answers was destined to fail against someone like Deculein.

𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

—

Yes, Professor. Oh, I didn’t mean anything by it. The guest was simply stunning, her beauty enough to leave an impression—

—

Out.

—

... Yes, Professor.

Yulie, dismissed from the office, wore a pout of dissatisfaction, and Arlos decided to watch only up to that point.

***

Boooom—!

The following morning in Rekordak, the early hours were still punctuated by the sporadic roar of battle. Epherene, who had kept watch through the entire night, was completely exhausted—so much so that it was no exaggeration to say she was on the brink of collapse, not merely in a figurative sense, but in every possible way.

Knock, knock—

Stifling a yawn, Epherene knocked on the door to Deculein’s office and called, “Professor.”

Knock, knock—

“... Professor, the Daeho Robe is finished. Even the sun-soaking process—whatever that is—has been completed. I brought it for you. Please take it. I really need to sleep,” Epherene said, knocking on the door a second time.

Once again, there was no response, and Epherene narrowed her eyes.

"Hello? Weren’t you the one who always told me to sleep only under your watch? So why aren’t you coming to the mansion? I’m so tired I could die right now!"

Knock, knock—

Another knock, this time the third, followed by another silence.

"

Oh

, what the? He wasn’t at the mansion either."

Knock, knock—

Epherene knocked on the door for the fourth time, but the silence on the other side remained unbroken, no matter how long she waited.

"What are you dooooing—? Can’t you just open the door already? I need to sleeeeep—!"

The darker the shadows under Epherene’s eyes grew, the wilder she became, resembling a panda.

Bang, bang, bang—!

"

Rawr

!" Epherene yelled, hammering on the door like a raging bear before finally throwing it open.

Of course, Deculein hates it more than anyone when someone runs into his office, but I’m so tired I feel like I’m about to...?

Epherene froze for a moment, her words caught in her throat, as her eyes wandered across the office before coming to rest completely on the man seated at the head of the room.

“... No way.”

Deculein sat upright in his chair, asleep, his signature regal attire immaculate, not a single thread out of place, and he didn’t even lean against the backrest, as if he were studying. Yet, the undeniable truth remained—Deculein was, in fact, asleep.

"Professor Deculein is deeeead?!" Epherene screamed in shock as she rushed toward him in a panic.

There’s no way Deculein would sleep like that, so he must be dead

, Epherene thought.

“...

Oh

.”

However, as Epherene approached, she could hear the sound of his breathing, and his pulse was perfectly normal.

How is this possible? Will the sun rise in the east tomorrow?

Epherene thought.

"Wait... did the sun always rise in the east? I can’t even tell anymore."

Being drowsy and struggling to think straight, Epherene shook her head to clear the fog in her mind, and her eyes fell upon Deculein’s desk, where a stack of neatly organized documents—ones she was certain hadn’t been there before—spoke of hours of detailed research.

“

Oh...

Right.”

It’s no surprise he’s burned out, having not eaten anything for over a week and burying himself in work.

"Here, take your robe," Epherene murmured, draping the Daeho Robe over his shoulders.

However, Deculein remained still, his stillness speaking volumes about how deeply exhausted he must have been.

“

Ahem...

” Epherene murmured as she sneaked a glance at Deculein, who was fast asleep.

It’s the first time I’ve seen him asleep. Normally, I’m the one who falls asleep first, while he stays awake, quietly watching over me.

“... He looks at least twenty years younger when he’s asleep.”

If not for those broad shoulders, he could almost be mistaken for my younger brother

, Epherene thought, a faint smile playing on her lips as she drew the curtain closed in the office.

Booooom—!

“Oh my god.”

The constant vibrations and distant explosions, still so unfamiliar, dragged Epherene from her sleep repeatedly, leaving her unable to sleep throughout the night.

“... I guess I’ll get some sleep too,” Epherene murmured through a long yawn, laying out a blanket and pillow on the office floor before lying down.

When I wake up, Deculein will probably already be awake, embarrassed that I caught him sleeping. But honestly, it’s his fault.

“

Snore...

Snore...

”

In the quiet office, the faint sound of snoring floated through the tranquil air, and before thirty minutes had passed, Deculein's eyes opened slowly.

Rustle—

After three hours of deep sleep, Deculein rose from his chair, feeling the heavy folds of a robe slip down his side. The Daeho Robe, a treasured item adorned with golden embroidery against dark fabric, carried exceptional functionalities—but such things hardly mattered, since Epherene lay sound asleep on the floor, her snores blending into the quiet of the room.

“In other words, before she arrived...” Deculein murmured.

"This is crazy," Deculein muttered under his breath as he swept back strands of hair damp with sweat. "... Damn it."

For the first time since becoming Deculein, he had never felt the sting of vulnerability, leaving him feeling quite this exposed...

***

At midday in Rekordak, I stood atop the wall, looking out at the distant horizon. With the eyes of an

Iron Man

, my vision stretched far beyond ordinary sight—a clarity so vivid that I could see the advancing horde of tens of thousands of demonic beasts even in the farthest reaches.

“... Professor, we can’t hold out any longer,” said Delic, a knight of the Imperial Palace, his face haggard with desperation. “We must abandon Rekordak and retreat while there’s still time—”

I shook my head, as abandoning Rekordak was out of the question. Doing so would make the main quest infinitely more difficult in the future. This place, destined to become humanity’s foothold in the advance into the Land of Destruction, had to be defended at all costs—no matter the sacrifice.

"This tough battle will soon come to an end," I said.

It was no illusion—the end was finally in sight. I could see it clearly, the edge of the endless horde of demonic beasts that blanketed the ground like a dark tide. Their numbers seemed infinite, stretching to the limits of my vision, but I could see where it all came to an end.

“... How can you know that?"

“I can see it clearly. And I can feel it as well.”

“Pardon me?”

As I closed my eyes...

Thud...

Thud...

Thud...

The heightened senses of the Iron Man picked up a faint vibration from the distance, carrying from beyond, with the resonance of their advance reaching all the way to this place.

“The final battle approaches. It will be challenging, but if we withstand this, survival will lie within our hands,” I said.

However, it was clear that neither Delic nor the imperial knights who followed him believed my words—no, it was more than doubt; their faces reflected an unwillingness to accept the truth.

"Are you all weary?" I inquired, my eyes scanning the knights.

Grime streaked their faces, exhaustion hollowed their eyes, and dried blood marred their cheeks. They were a wretched sight, pushed to the very limits of their strength.

"Is that meant to be a question?" Delic said, baring his teeth, edged with hostility, and carrying a tension that could not be ignored.

"Delic," I said, looking directly into his eyes.

“Yes, Professor.”

“Your family is in the capital. You must long to see them.”

"... Of course, I do."

In such extreme circumstances, this level of insubordination was not unexpected, and it was something I could understand.

"The same must apply to those behind you as well," I said.

The knights all nodded silently, not a word spoken.

“That’s why we’re asking you, Professor—please, let us return to the capital. We’ve reached our limit,” Delic said.

“Delic.”

Once again, I reminded myself that this level of insubordination was something I could understand, but understanding and tolerating were two entirely different things.

“I will ask you again. Your family is in the capital, are they not?"

“Yes, Professor. Every knight here longs to see their family—”

"You will never see them if you leave Rekordak, not if you continue to show such insolence," I said, reaching into my coat and pulling out a single sheet of paper—a message paper linked to Josephine. It was a death list, a single line sealing the fate of every blood relative of this man, erasing his entire lineage with just one stroke.

“... What do you mean by that?"

"I understand your complaints, but I will not tolerate them. If you wish to leave Rekordak, then do so. If you dare show me such insolence again and face the consequences, then do as you please," I said, looking directly into his eyes.

Delic appeared to understand the weight of my words, his eyes bloodshot and his fists clenched with barely restrained anger.

“... However, if you choose to leave.”

If the weight of the situation left them exhausted, if they grew weary of the battle, if the pressure pushed them to the edge, making them long to run away, there was only one option—to press a blade sharper than their fear of running.

“Not a single member of your family in the capital will remain to greet you,” I said.

Delic seemed at a loss for words, his lips opening and closing like a fish out of water, while the imperial knights around him mirrored his disbelief with muted shock.

“This kind of threat is unacceptable—”

“And who decides what is unacceptable?” I said, my eyes scanning over them.

No one dared to answer, and more than half of Delic’s knights had already turned their eyes away.

“The authority to judge what is unacceptable lies with me. Whether you and your family live or die is for me, Deculein, alone to decide—as the head of the Yukline family and the commander of the Empress’s Elite Guard,” I said, stepping closer to Delic with my words.

Then, leaning closer to his ear, I whispered, “Delic, do not get above yourself as a mere knight. When respect is given, toil like an ox, serve with the loyalty of a dog. That is your only path to survival, and the life you lead will depend entirely on the extent of your service.”

Gulp—

Delic swallowed hard, and the bold murderous intent he had radiated just moments earlier faded like ashes carried away by the wind.

"Yukline does not forget our debts. Loyalty is repaid, but a dog that dares to bite its master will be put down without a second thought," I said, resting my hand on Delic's shoulder. "Be sure to remember that."

The weight of my hand, light as it was, seemed to press down on him—or rather, on his armor—tilting it slightly off balance.

“... Yes, Professor. I will keep that in mind,” Delic said, lowering his head, the last traces of defiance gone from him.

“Good.”

Tap— Tap—

As I gave his shoulder a few more firm pats before turning to descend from the wall...

Whoooooooosh...

An ominous wind swept through, and the sky darkened, swallowed by shadow. Thunderclouds billowed upward like smoke from an explosion, and a murderous gale battered against the walls. My eyes fell upon the expanse of the Land of Destruction below, where black mist had begun to rise just beyond the wall, spreading and roiling like a living thing.

“Professor, what is that...?” Delic asked, the defiance he had once borne now replaced by complete submission.

“They are the mages of the Altar,” I replied, drawing in a deep breath before speaking.

The smoke twisted and writhed as if alive, then began to spew forth dozens of figures—one, two, three... A stream of robed mages emerged, followed by rows of warriors forming a line of defense around them.

“The Altar...”

Thud, thud, thud—

The sound of footsteps climbing from below the wall grew louder, drawing my eyes downward. A group of named characters hurried toward us—Yulie, Deputy Director Primien, Louina, Ihelm, Ria, Ganesha, and the rest of the adventurer team—and of them all, Ria, in particular, caused an uproar amidst the chaos.

“Professor! Professor!”

Of course, it must have been she who brought the rest along

, I thought.

“Professor Deculein! Over there—”

"Quiet," I said in a single word.

“No, that’s not it...!” Ria blurted out, pounding her chest in frustration.

Ruuuuuumble—!

The vibrations and the demonic energy emanating from below suggested they were preparing some kind of spell, but I paid it no mind. Instead, that demonic energy sharpened my murderous intent, briefly heightening my attributes and intensifying the core of who I was.

“L-Look at them!” Ria shouted, pointing her finger toward them.

“There’s no need for all this fuss,” I said.

“What?!”

"They’re nothing."

Fwoooooooosh—!

The spell cast by the Altar roared like a raging tempest, while the overwhelming demonic energy they concentrated churned with intensity.

However, in an instant...

Snap—

The Altar’s spell vanished as if a thread had snapped, extinguishing like the sudden flare of a match. In its wake, a heavy silence descended over the area.

“...

Pfft

,” I murmured, a faint smile crossing my lips.

The Altar’s fanatics and the entire situation drew an involuntary laugh from me—a laugh likely fueled by the influence of their demonic energy.

“

Hahahaha

—”

Like a villain from a tale, I laughed, and the people on the wall looked at me with slight puzzled looks...