Chapter 319: Moon (3)

Physical conditioning and magic refinement were my daily routine, a program I strictly maintained. Even if the body of an

Iron Man

slowly crumbled and the weight of my life gradually lightened, my principles would sustain it all, allowing me to live and move even if my body was destroyed.

... However, I looked at Yulie without a word, noticing her round cheeks as she approached with a composed expression, seemingly prepared for how she might appear to me, and then questioned me regarding swordsmanship and sparring.

"Sparring?" I inquired.

"Yes, in truth, this is the second time I have witnessed your swordsmanship, Count Yukline," Yulie replied.

"The second time, you say?"

"I saw it at the Imperial University's affiliated Knights' Order," Yulie said, nodding.

“... This is a junior knight named Yurie, a spirited young warrior from Freyden who seems to have many questions. By the way, what was that basic stance just now?” Raphel said with an easygoing smile, standing beside Yulie.

Even as he spoke, Raphel's eyes betrayed his curiosity about the basic stance he had just witnessed. Though it was merely a warm-up for me, the knights would recognize it at a glance—this basic stance was designed more efficiently and naturally than any other swordsmanship.

"It is merely part of physical training," I replied as I sheathed my sword.

"For mere training, it was, I found, perfection itself? The connection and composition of the basic stances, moreover, were beyond question," Raphel interrupted.

Then Raphel continued, "Let there be no misapprehension. My desire does not extend to possessiveness. My swordsmanship, by now, is inseparable from my very being. Therefore, even should I wish for alteration, it would not change. However, your very swordsmanship is renowned through whispered admiration among the ranks of knights."

"... Renowned?" I said, furrowing my brow.

"Yes. A considerable number of people have witnessed your physical training. I, too, have seen it in Rekordak.”

In Rekordak, I shattered Yulie with my blade,

I thought.

Raphel chuckled and added, "However, you seem to have improved even more than before. Enough to make me desire a contest of skill—"

"There is no need for that," I interrupted Raphel, and for a moment, looked into Yulie's face.

Yulie, on the other hand, subtly avoided my eyes.

"... Young, indeed."

Indeed young, a child with a youthful appearance, this is clearly not the Yulie I know. The Yulie of this moment is known solely to Deculein. In my memories, as both Deculein and Kim Woo-Jin, such a young Yulie does not exist.

"Yes, she is a young knight. Like you or me, she is from Imperial University."

I remained silent.

"But, Deculein. Are you not curious? What Yulie is doing now," Raphel continued.

Yulie, likewise, was startled, appearing both then and now unaccustomed to hiding herself.

"It has been months since Yulie went missing... The world speaks of Yulie's death, but I know it is not so. You know that too, do you not?" Raphel said, his voice somewhat tinged with sentiment.

"As he has aged, has there been a problem with his hormones?

I thought.

“Yulie is alive, Deculein. Gwen, I, and all of our comrades hold that conviction,” Raphel continued, glancing at Yulie while speaking of her.

To Raphel, Yulie was now merely a young knight resembling herself, which left Yulie alone, fidgeting nervously.

“

Oh

. I used strange phrases while introducing my junior. I, too, seem to have aged too much. Are you well, junior?” Raphel said, a bitter smile gracing his lips.

"... Yes, I am well," Yulie replied, lowering her head once, then slowly looking up into my eyes again. "However, Count Yukline, I desire that basic stance. For some reason, it seems to suit me, and I wish to cross swords with you now. I wish to seek your guidance."

Yulie was audacious and vibrant, displaying a personality quite different from her distant future in the way she stood up for herself.

Is it, perhaps, owing to the absence of Deculein's taint?

I thought.

"There is no need to cross swords. I will instruct my secretary to handle the matter," I replied.

Yulie tilted her head, her eyes wide with curiosity.

“My basic stances have been documented.”

“Pardon?”

As Yulie said, it seemed to suit her just as she instinctively felt, for this basic stance was a swordsmanship more fitting for Yulie than anyone else, having been designed from the very beginning to match her body while considering her mana's characteristics, personality, and habits.

Therefore, documenting it was only natural, as it was a basic stance designed solely for Yulie and intended to be delivered to her.

"If you desire it, I will grant it to you."

“... Are you absolutely sure you can give this to me?” Yulie asked, her face filled with genuine surprise.

Then, with a gentle signal, Raphel said, "Junior, it is not for you to judge what is acceptable. Merely offer your sincere appreciation—"

“Appreciation is unnecessary, for it is useless to me as a mage,” I interrupted Raphel. "I will have someone deliver it today. Do not trouble me further."

I turned away, leaving Yulie and Raphel to themselves in the garden.

***

“... Really? Did Deculein actually use a basic stance?” Ria asked.

Having finished sparring with Raphel in the Imperial Palace garden, Yulie was enjoying tea and sweets with Ria, who had joined them belatedly.

“Yes, Count Yukline said he would provide the basic stance document,” Yulie replied.

"Was there anything else?"

Fundamentally, the reason Yulie purposely risked revealing her identity to approach Deculein was, to some extent, to probe him.

“Nothing at all. He left before I had the chance to speak.”

“

Hmm...

” Ria murmured, tracing her chin with a finger, lost in thought.

Ever since her return from the Sanctuary, Yulie had been unable to sleep, squandering every waking moment lost in thought.

“Do not concern yourself too greatly,” Yulie said, watching Ria. “The Count surely has his reasons. The Deculein I know, while he was a renowned figure often involved in controversy due to his ambition, was never a spirit who would betray the continent.”

“... But what if it is?”

“Pardon?”

“What if Deculein’s feelings changed a whole lot, and he made up his mind to do that?”

Even as she replied, Ria found herself letting out a snort because she and Yulie were, after all, having this conversation—they were the greatest cause of Deculein's defection, if indeed it was defection.

“We merely have to stop him. Miss Ria, you are strong, are you not?” Yulie replied, her answer direct.

“Is it really that simple?” Ria asked, pouting slightly.

“It will prove challenging. However, a method remains, does it not?”

“... What is it then?”

“Unification,” Yulie replied, a smile gracing her lips. “All are worried, much like Miss Ria. We will have to stop him alongside them. Even now, there will be many at the Imperial Palace willing to lend their strength.”

Including the unidentified helper encountered in the Imperial University's Forest of Darkness—whom Yulie strongly suspected to be Gawain—the righteous will of Ria, Leo, Carlos, Raphel, Gwen, and Deputy Knight Isaac would grow stronger as they gathered.

“Well... more than that, aren’t you worried?”

“

Hmm?

Are you perhaps referring to Lord Zeit?”

“Yes.”

Even if Zeit is the strongest, it might be tough against the final boss,

Ria thought.

“One such as I should not concern herself with Lord Zeit. He is moreover a person who would be displeased by my very contemplation of such matters,” Yulie replied with an air of ease.

Well, even I wouldn’t worry about Zeit if I was Yulie.

The moment Ria nodded...

“

Oh

, I found you still here,” Raphel said, returning with a knight after a brief absence. “Come, Delic, this is Knight Yurie.”

It was Delic, the escort knight of the Empress.

“Knight Delic, you’re here?” Ria said, a bright, innocent smile on her face. Then Ria whispered to Yulie, “Knight Delic is Deculein’s most closest subordinate, the most, most, most closest of all.”

Yulie also looked at Delic, the Imperial Palace knight known as Deculein's most, most, most closest of all people.

"

Huh

," Delic murmured, his shoulders trembling as his eyes met Yulie's, the wrinkles on his face moving erratically, showing an expression somewhere between admiration and horror. "... Yes, she does resemble her."

The phrase Yulie—whose ten years had been rewound—had heard most often was that she resembled Yulie, and while she certainly did, she was too young and youthful to arouse suspicion, so everyone merely expressed their astonishment.

“

Ahem

,” Delic said, clearing his throat as he took out a neatly bound book from his pocket.

Yulie’s wide eyes landed on the bound book.

“Knight Yurie, is it? Receive this from the Lead Elite Guard Deculein... a book bound with swordsmanship techniques.”

"Yes, thank you."

Delic approached with heavy steps and placed the bound book on the table while scrutinizing Yulie’s face, then cautiously asked, “So, you remain a knight of the university?”

“Yes.”

"... Young, I see. Your future seems bright, so strive diligently. Oh, by any chance, do not think of using this as an opportunity to importune the Lead Elite Guard. A day like today will not come again," Delic said, admonishing with these words and glancing at the bound book. "If you understand, open this up."

"Yes, I understand," Yulie replied, looking at the bound book.

The cover's title, for one, was simple.

Arc of the Basic Stance with an Integrated Harmonic Category

The integration of the harmonic category and basic stances referred to the category of magic, with the basic stances being, essentially, those of swordsmanship.

"... Read it without delay."

"Go ahead, the title seems original."

At the urging of Delic and Raphel, Yulie turned the first page, immediately noticing elegant script, and, admiring the noble grace flowing from the handwriting, she read the sentence.

“‘The basic stance devised transcends mere focus on the sword and swordsmanship. It is a form of swordsmanship that assimilates with its environment—specifically, natural elements such as the earth and atmosphere—as the stance is executed. Consequently, its inspiration can be directly attributed to the Harmonic Category, one of the eight categories of magic...’”

Yulie read the brief introduction to the basic stances and the unprecedented swordsmanship techniques inspired by magic categories—ones she had never seen before—with full concentration. By then, Delic, Raphel, and Ria were also seriously scanning the sentences, as if peering over her shoulder.

"'Therefore, this basic stance is designed to manifest as a sword that utilizes currents. Furthermore, it will be a blade that adapts according to its environment and climate. Should it progress further, it holds the potential to evolve into a sword capable of controlling and commanding seasons.'"

The sword that controlled and commanded the seasons was difficult for Yulie to understand by merely reading, but upon turning to the very next page, a very clear illustration appeared—a basic stance meticulously depicted like an anatomical drawing, showing not only the movements but also the necessary flow of mana.

Squeak—

Yulie dragged her chair back, stood up, instantly gripped her sword, and began the basic stance with a horizontal slash flowing from the upper right to the lower left.

At this point, the core of the basic stance was to ensure that the direction of the wind generated when swinging the sword matched the flow of mana emanating from within the body. In other words, it meant developing the basic stance so that one's sword and mana did not defy the surrounding nature, but rather harmonized with it...

~

... Approximately two hours had elapsed in this manner.

"Can you master it?" Ria asked.

“Yes, I believe two weeks will be sufficient,” Yulie replied, nodding and wearing a very bright smile.

"Only two weeks?"

"That is imprudence, junior. To claim merely two weeks," Delic said, looking at Yulie with an incredulous expression, alongside Ria and Raphel.

"No," Yulie replied, shaking her head and looking at the bound book with bright eyes.

Of course, she had scanned roughly twenty pages, covering merely a single form...

“It is perfect—more than sufficient in merely two weeks.”

For Yulie, this bound book was excellent to that degree, and she understood it well in every aspect, making it, so to speak, a perfect match.

“Really?”

"Yes, especially if you look at these parts," Yulie replied, pointing to a certain paragraph in the bound book, that each movement of the basic stances was described with great detail and accompanied by thoughtful footnotes that provided further explanation.

Then Yulie added, "There are parts that Count Yukline has described. It's as if he knew exactly what parts I would struggle with, and what questions I would ask. If this basic stance is a little difficult to understand, there's an immediate supplementary explanation for it."

Yulie found it extraordinary, feeling it was less a swordsmanship bound book or textbook and more as if Deculein himself were instructing her, standing right beside her.

"...

Hmm

," Ria murmured, a snort escaping her.

Deculein, knowing that this Yulie was Yulie, must have intentionally created this bound book to give her.

"Then, Knight Yurie, you should return to the Knights' Order now," Ria said.

However, Yulie's fundamental duty remained.

"Mage Sephine has not yet—"

“She will come out soon, for today’s duties are concluded,” Ria interrupted, her tone suddenly mature and her voice heavy with gravity. “Therefore, Knight, attend to your tasks within the Knights’ Order. You are capable of achieving complete mastery of swordsmanship until I call you again, correct?”

"... Yes, I will return with the mage I am escorting," Yulie replied, facing this somewhat mysterious adventurer and nodding.

***

In the night, drenched in darkness, Sylvia returned to her room after nearly thirty-six hours, her entire body utterly spent—seemingly drained of knowledge and everything by the Empress—yet her mana remained overflowing, and she seemed unaware of her own limits.

If measured in numbers, it seemed as though tens of thousands—no, hundreds of thousands—of mana had been expended, yet Sylvia remained perfectly fine except for mental fatigue.

Therefore, she did not rest even in the VIP room but continued her class preparations, textbook writing, and thesis research as a mere part-time professor of the Mage Tower instead of being the Empress's instructor mage.

"... Will you continue watching like that," Sylvia said.

However, Sylvia was bothered by one person—Yulie, whom she had purposefully brought along—who, unaware that her identity had been discovered, stood stiffly in a corner of the VIP room escorting Sylvia.

“Even within the Imperial Palace, I perform my duty,” Yulie replied.

Of course, Yulie was not merely Sylvia's escort but also held a certain book in one hand.

"What is that," Sylvia asked, looking at the cover of the book Yulie was holding.

Sylvia could, unquestionably, immediately recognize that the title scrawled across the cover—

the Arc of the Basic Stance with an Integrated Harmonic Category

—was Deculein's handwriting.

"It is a basic stance of swordsmanship that Count Yukline gave to me."

A touch of jealousy stirred within her, but Sylvia was now sufficiently mature, an adult capable of suppressing her feelings.

"Mage Sephine," Yulie said, suddenly putting down her book and speaking in a rather serious voice. "By any chance, may I ask just one thing?"

"... Of what."

At that moment, Yulie’s expression changed and suddenly hardened as she exhaled a breath and asked, “How did you know of my identity?”

Sylvia was taken aback for a moment.

"Mage Sephine, you called me Yulie in the vehicle," Yulie continued, her voice composed.

On the way to the Imperial Palace, inside the vehicle, Sylvia called Yulie as Yurie, and Yulie responded absentmindedly—however, Sylvia misunderstood the reply as an unconscious acknowledgment.

“Of course, the name is similar, but it is not to the extent of being confusing.”

... I underestimated this woman too greatly,

Sylvia thought.

However young, Yulie had her own particular strand of being, and Sylvia, mildly blaming herself, afforded a slight smile.

“However, what I am even more curious about is the relationship between Count Yukline and me.”

“... Relationship?” Sylvia said.

Yulie sighed and wore a somewhat melancholy smile as she uttered words that were almost a bombshell declaration for Sylvia, replying, "Yes, Count Deculein seemed to know who I was."

Sylvia remained silent.

“Of course, it’s not certain. Perhaps it’s merely vague, just as Mage Sephine called my name and checked my identity.”

Why is this woman's perceptiveness so quick,

Sylvia thought, a wave of confounding surprise washing over her.

How did a woman who used to be like a bear become a fox, more cunning than a fox, after becoming ten years younger.

"Therefore... if you know anything at all—"

"Why are you curious about that. Is your house's meeting minutes not enough," Sylvia said, pointing to Yulie's bag.

Yulie glanced toward her bag, and the corner of the Freyden minutes peeked out from inside.

"No, by these minutes, Deculein is a villain deserving of death in my eyes. Every time I read it, there are parts that make my anger swell. However..." Yulie replied, looking straight at Sylvia again. "I mean to believe only what I have seen and heard."

"... Why?" Sylvia said, her voice trembling for the first time; the inflections in her questioning varied.

"For some reason, my former self seems to have been swayed by things that were not my true self."

As Yulie spoke thus, Sylvia looked away from her and stared out the VIP room window, closing her eyes for a moment to manifest the

Wind

spell as she followed Deculein, who was in a nearby VIP room within the Imperial Palace reviewing a thesis.

“

... Umm.

”

This was a new coincidence—the name written on the thesis was Sephine, and Deculein was currently reviewing Sylvia’s thesis.

"Mage Sephine," Yulie called, her eyes finding Sylvia's face again.

"You said you would only believe what you saw and heard, so why are you trying to listen to me," Sylvia replied, glancing at Yulie and shaking her head.

“... Because.”

"In the past, there was a phenomenon called echo," Sylvia said, her tone soft as she began.

The echo was a phenomenon wherein voices from the past, initiated by the demon known as the Voice, lingered in the present, and among them the voice of past Yulie—that was, Yulie from ten years later—clearly existed.

"I will not speak of what kind of phenomenon it was."

Yulie remained silent.

"A professor does not teach by rote. The information remains in the documents, so you should find it yourself."

"Echo..." Yulie muttered, understanding its meaning and clenching her fist. "Yes, I understand. I will search for it."

At that moment...

Clank—!

Without warning, the window opened and a strong wind rushed in from outside, causing a single piece of paper to flutter down within it, which Sylvia picked up as she held her windswept hair.

Most would dismiss it as a worthless piece of trash, a tiny white sheet of paper, but the faint mana subtly imbued upon it allowed Sylvia to know whose mana it was and who had sent the note, for that individual was none other than the one responsible for making Yulie ten years younger.

“... Where are you.”

However, her presence was not felt in the slightest.

“Arrogant Epherene, where on earth are you,” Sylvia muttered, looking out the window.

"... Epherene? Who is that?" Yulie asked.

“The person who saved your life. But now, she is a foolish one cast out of time,” Sylvia replied, looking at Yulie.

Then, as if in response to the word foolish...

Fwhooooooosh—

An even harsher gust of wind rushed through the window...