Chapter 203: Return (2)

For the first time in a long while, the entire Red Garnet Adventure Team was together—Ganesha, Leo, Ria, Carlos, Dozmu, Rohan, Boar, and Reylie. As always, they lounged in the VIP guest suite of Rekordak's newly built wing.

“

Yawn...

” Ganesha murmured, lying down on the sofa and stretching out.

Dozmu, Rohan, and Zinchen sat huddled over a game of cards, while Leo, Ria, and Carlos were engaged in their own conversation.

"... So, the plan is to stop by the Sanctuary in the Land of Destruction for a bit, and then head to the Principality of Yuren," Ria said.

Since Ria was the most diligent member of the adventure team, the children had gathered for a discussion.

"Can we really just go there? Isn't it dangerous?" Leo asked, his eyes widened.

"Of course~! We're adventurers, aren’t we? It’s not like they’ll attack us the moment they see us."

The size and ecosystem of the Sanctuary of the Altar were beyond imagination, so vast that even the Altar itself struggled to manage the frequent appearances of demonic beasts. That was why introducing oneself as an adventurer often led to receiving tasks from them. Of course, reaching its deeper regions would be an entirely different matter.

“... Carlos, are you okay?” Ria asked, stealing a careful glance at him.

The

Sumac of the Misty River

would have been invaluable to Carlos, but it had already been sold.

"What do you mean?" Carlos asked, blinking in confusion, his pale eyes moving cluelessly as if he had no idea what she was talking about.

"...

Oh

, it’s n-nothing," Ria mumbled.

Since

Sumac of the Misty River

was something money could buy, it was best used on a named character who needed it most.

At that moment...

"

Oh

, by the way, how is Knight Yulie doing?" Leo asked.

***

Yulie awoke from her long sleep. The moment her eyes opened, a searing pain tore through her body, but it was bearable.

"You've awakened, Knight Deya."

At the sudden sound of a voice, Yulie quickly turned her head. Beside her bed sat Zeit, the head of Freyden, his broad frame almost too large for the chair and the space around him, making him appear slightly hunched.

“Lord Zeit, you’re here—”

"Stay down. You're in no condition to move," Zeit said with a quiet sigh as Yulie struggled to sit up, as if he bore the weight of blame himself. "Yulie."

"... Yes, sir?"

"I heard you requested a mission from the Red Garnet Adventure Team. Here are the documents," Zeit said, handing over a sealed envelope—untouched, with no signs of tampering. "Is this related to my former son-in-law?"

Yulie looked at Zeit. Strictly speaking, Deculein was never Zeit’s son-in-law, as she was his sister, not his daughter. Yet, as the head of their house, Zeit had taken on the role of a father figure without hesitation.

"Yes."

Zeit nodded at her response, turning toward the window and added, “Rebuilding Rekordak and restoring Freyden’s livelihood may not be as difficult as I had expected.”

"How is that possible?"

"Because there are still plenty of mages here," Zeit said with a satisfied smile.

Mages had always been in high demand in the Northern Region, but no amount of wealth could persuade them to come. And yet, many remained in Rekordak.

Zeit added, "The only ones who returned were Deculein and his two assistants. The rest remained here in Rekordak."

"... Is there a reason for that?" Yulie asked, blinking in curiosity.

Why would any mage choose to stay in this frozen land a moment longer than necessary?

Yulie thought.

"Deculein left his works in the library. Of course, he intends to reclaim them, but for now, he’s allowing the mages here to complete their studies."

It was a gesture of gratitude—an El Dorado of knowledge granted to those who had risked their lives in Rekordak, standing against the southern advance.

There were thirty-seven unpublished papers, twenty-three unreleased books, lecture materials personally authored by Deculein, and even examination papers for evaluating performances. Mages from the Imperial Palace, along with Ihelm, Louina, and others, were wholly absorbed in poring over this trove of golden wisdom.

"We can request their assistance with Rekordak’s reconstruction and Freyden’s recovery when they return. They won’t refuse a bit of extra coin for the journey," Zeit said.

Then, after a brief pause, his voice deepened with weight.

"But, Yulie..."

"Yes, Lord Zeit," Yulie replied, forcing herself upright.

Zeit cleared his throat, let out a deep sigh, brushed his long hair back, and said, "Deculein said that your death wouldn't have mattered to him."

Yulie’s shoulders tensed for a brief moment, but she quickly masked it, turned to Zeit, and replied, “... Did you meet him?”

“Yes, when you were asleep.”

Yulie clenched her teeth, an indescribable emotion rising from the depths of her chest.

Watching her in silence, in a voice deep and laden, Zeit asked, “Do you hate Deculein?”

Zeit, watching her closely, asked in a low, steady voice, "Do you hate him?"

"... Yes, I hate him," Yulie replied calmly.

However, Yulie clenched her hands against the blanket tightly, and a glimmer of tears welling up at the corners of her eyes.

With a nod, Zeit said, "Deculein has already established himself as a dominant figure in the Magical Realm. Even in politics, only a few dare to stand against him."

Yulie remained silent.

"Yulie, do you think you can stand against him?"

Yulie looked at Zeit, and his expression was the same as it had been long ago—the day he first placed a sword in her small hands.

"... Yes. I will stand against him," Yulie declared. "No matter what, I will."

Hearing a response so different from her childhood, Zeit let out a quiet sigh and smiled as he looked at his sister—no longer the adorable child he once knew, but a knight who had become a hardened adult.

“...

Haha

. Resolute as ever. That is what it means to be a Freyden."

***

At

Northern Dawn

, a restaurant in Oslon, I sat across from Count Dharman. The table was impeccably set, and every gesture carried the weight of perfect etiquette. Even for someone like me, who disliked sharing a table with others, it was a rare moment of comfort. However, to say that nothing weighed on my mind would be a lie.

“... I’m glad to see your assistants enjoying their meal, Professor,” Dhaman said with a slight smile, wiping the corner of his mouth with a napkin.

I nodded in silence, but the only problem was Epherene, seated behind us, tearing through the feast spread across the table—lobster, clams, and Roahawk—devouring it with a hunger that felt less like eating and more like consuming everything in sight. No, if she had merely been eating, that would have been tolerable.

"

Chomp, chomp... Sniff... Chomp, chomp... Sniff, sniff...

"

Epherene was eating, tears slipping down her cheeks.

“It’s so delicious,

sniff... Sniff... Chomp... Ah

, but the shell is thicker than I expected...”

I could already guess what she was thinking. The food was delicious, and if Assistant Professor Allen had been here to share it, it would have been perfect.

“Do you have any leads on Rohakan’s whereabouts?” I asked, intentionally avoiding Epherene as I turned to Count Dhaman.

“Yes, Professor,” Dhaman replied, taking a quick look toward his secretary standing behind him.

At his signal, the secretary stepped forward and presented a case, its seal bound tight with magic.

Then Dharman added, "It is inside. A fragment of Rohakan’s robe."

“... A fragment of his robe.”

“Yes, Professor. The mana within remains undisturbed, making it possible to track him.”

"We’ll be needing additional personnel for that."

Tracking mana was never my specialty, as it belonged more to the domain of technique than true magic.

"Yes, Professor, it has already been arranged. I believe you are already familiar with her—"

"That would be me."

Thud— Thud—

Just then, the restaurant doors swung open, and a familiar voice carried through the room. With confidence, a public servant strode in and took a seat without the slightest hesitation.

"It has been a while, Professor," said Lillia Primien.

I narrowed my eyes and stared at her.

"As you may already know, Deputy Director Primien is from the Northern Region and is more than capable. You need not worry about the task," Dhaman said.

"Professor, from now on, we will operate in pairs, with support from the Intelligence Agency. As this is Her Majesty’s command, we will see it through to the—”

"

Waaaaaaaaah

...!"

Suddenly, a wail of sorrow cut through from behind, slicing through Primien’s words and drawing everyone’s attention to its source.

“

Waaaah...

Assistant Professor Allen... What should we do...?

Waaaah

!

Waah

!”

I cast

Silence

over Epherene’s table, and the noise was cut off at once. Within that soundless space, only her desperate movements stirred in the stillness.

Watching the events play out, Primien let out a faint grin before extending her hand and said, “In any case, Professor, I look forward to working with you.”

"Has the train service been suspended?" I inquired, ignoring her and turning to Dhaman.

"Yes, Professor. The tracks are impassable. I have prepared fine horses for you—please take them along with your assistants."

"We leave now," I said, rising from my seat.

Then, my eyes fell on Primien, and I paused for a moment as she remained still, her hand outstretched toward me in silence, like a mannequin.

"You two over there, we're leaving," I said, ignoring Primien once again and calling for Epherene and Drent.

"

Ah

, yes, Professor," Drent said, supporting Epherene as she struggled to stand.

We stepped out of the restaurant together, and Dhaman’s horses stood waiting just outside.

"Drent, you take care of that fool," I ordered.

"Yes, Professor. Hey, hey, Leaf. Come on now. Stop crying already."

"...

Sniff

," Epherene mumbled, barely choking back her sobs.

Just as I was about to mount my horse, a hand outstretched in the air—Primien’s silent offer of a handshake. I glanced at it briefly before turning away and pulling myself into the saddle without a word.

“Let’s take off.”

“Yes, Professor!”

Neighhh—!

As our horses galloped forward, hooves pounding against the earth, Primien mounted her horse and rode after us.

Clop, clop— Clop, clop—

Dust rose in swirling clouds beneath the thundering hooves, and as we raced forward at full speed, I suddenly turned back.

“... Has she lost her mind?" I muttered.

With her left hand gripping the reins, Primien guided her horse forward, but she extended her right hand toward me in an offer of a handshake, maintaining an almost unnatural posture in the saddle as she rode.

***

After a long journey from Rekordak, we finally arrived in the capital. As expected, it remained unscathed—its walls intact, its streets untouched. Life flowed on as if the chaos beyond its borders had never existed.

“...

Hmm

.”

Before returning to the mansion, I made my way to the Chairwoman’s office at the Mage Tower—I had something to retrieve.

However...

Snore

Snore—

The Chairwoman was asleep, curled up over her desk.

Snore

Snore—

I watched the Chairwoman sprawled over her desk, then rapped my knuckles against the wood.

Knock knock—

The Chairwoman snapped her head up as if ready for battle, then puffed out her cheeks, furrowed her brow, and said, "What was that?! Why did you wake me up?!”

"It is time for you to be working," I said.

The Chairwoman glanced at the clock, then shouted, “... What?! When did it become 3 p.m.?!”

"You must be exhausted from supporting the defense against the southern advance."

Adrienne achieved an extraordinary accomplishment in the defense against the southern advance by single-handedly protecting Rebek, a key strategic point, slaying nearly a million demonic beasts, and saving well over a hundred thousand lives. It was a legacy worthy of the title of Archmage.

“Well, that’s true! But I heard you, Professor Deculein, were just as incredible—burying thousands of Scarletborn alive!”

"It was only a few dozen."

"

Huh

? That’s way too few! I even heard rumors it was tens of thousands!"

"Do you really believe that?"

“Well, if it’s Professor Deculein, of course I do believe that!” the Chairwoman said with a stretch. “Anyway, well done! My term runs until spring, and after that, I’ll make the announcement—Chairman Deculein!

Hehe

!”

The moment the Chairwoman made her declaration, a notification appeared.

[Quest Completed: Promotion to Chairman]

◆ Rare Attribute Catalog Obtained

◆ Upon Inauguration, the Title

Chairman of the Mage Tower

Will Be Acquired.

I nodded in satisfaction.

“

Oh

, right! Professor Deculein, have you heard the news?!” Chairwoman asked.

"What news do you speak of?" I asked.

"Apparently Yulie, that knight, is staying in Rekordak for good~!"

The Chairwoman had an exceptional ear for rumors, quickly picking up even the most remote news from the far Northern Region.

"She is no longer of any concern to me."

"

Hmm...

Oh

, right! Also, the Empress says she no longer needs an Instructor Mage!"

My brow furrowed before I realized it. The news was unexpected—no, knowing Sophien, it was nearly unthinkable.

"That seems unlikely."

"Apparently it is! Go see for yourself if you don’t believe me~! She is not accepting any visitors anymore—including you, Professor Deculein!"

If it were true, it was not a good sign. Sophien still had much to learn, and she would not step back so easily—not when she had yet to defeat me in a game of Go.

"Very well. I will see for myself," I said, turning away as I stepped into the elevator.

Ding—!

The elevator doors slid open to the first-floor hallway, where Primien stood waiting, her hand still outstretched.

"I will not," I said as she blinked at me, expressionless.

***

In the shadowed silence of the Imperial Palace bedchamber, where not a single light was lit, Sophien sat alone, placing stones on the Go board.

Tap—

Tap—

The quiet tap of stones clicking on the board and the solemn dance of black and white played on. But before long, Sophien, with a sudden kick, sent the board tumbling.

Bang—!

The board overturned, sending stones skittering across the floor as Sophien’s mind tangled in a dizzying jumble of thoughts.

Sophien lay on the floor, her brow furrowed, teeth gritted, and muttered, "Rohakan, that damned bastard..."

Rohakan had planted a strange feeling in Sophien’s mind. It was clearly nonsense, of course, yet it gnawed at her, refusing to be ignored. She knew—without a doubt—that she could never love someone like Deculein. And yet, the way Rohakan had spoken, the certainty in his eyes, made it seem like an undeniable truth for some reason...

“Your Majesty.”

At the sound of a maid’s voice breaking through her thoughts beyond the door, Sophien glanced in that direction but said nothing. Even speaking felt like a chore, and her entire body felt heavy, swollen, and waterlogged, as if it had been submerged underwater like a corpse pulled from the depths.

"Your Majesty, Professor Deculein has arrived," the maid continued.

At those words, Sophien slowly sat up but hesitated, swallowing before she shook her head and said, "Tell him I’m busy."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

With that, Sophien turned to her duties, absorbed in the unending demands of post-battle restoration. There was much to oversee—the strategic distribution of central funds, the scope of reconstruction, the selection of the merchant guilds for raw materials, and the diplomatic landscape that awaited after winter, and...

"Your Majesty."

Not long after, the maid's voice rang out again from beyond the door.

"What is it now?" Sophien said, gripping her pen tightly, her brow furrowed.

"Your Majesty, the Professor says he will wait until you have finished your duties," the maid continued.

The Empress bit her lip before she knew it, warmth tightening in her throat.

However, with resolute determination, Sophien ordered, "... It will take time. Tell him to leave."

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

With that, the maid withdrew, and Sophien returned to her work once more. With a single motion and a single thought, the mountain of paperwork before her gradually disappeared. What would have taken a team of officials a week to figure out, she handled one by one under her direction.

Tick, tock— Tick, tock—

As the second hand ticked, the minute hand followed, and the hour hand adjusted its angle time and time again, somewhere within the passing hours of Sophien’s time...

"Your Majesty," said the maid, once again.

"What is it now? You never tire of disturbing me," Sophien said, setting down her pen.

“I apologize, Your Majesty," the maid said hesitantly. "But the Professor insists that, no matter how long it takes, he will wait. And so, he remains even now."

Once again, it was about Deculein. Sophien turned to the window, and the sun had long since set, darkness settling over the world, with a pale shadow stretching across her face.

"... It is too late tonight," Sophien ordered quietly as she stared at the lone full moon swaying gently in the night sky. "Tell him I cannot see him."