Chapter 85: Tempest (3)

Epherene glanced at Sylvia, who was trembling so intensely that it almost felt like the ground was shaking. Gradually, the tremors subsided.

Did she confess and get rejected?

Epherene wondered in her thoughts.

It seemed like a logical conclusion. After a brief nod, she turned her focus back to Deculein.

“The Solda Promotion Exam consists of three stages,” Deculein explained. “Clearing the first stage secures your promotion to Solda. The second and third stages are supplementary tests that will influence future rank promotion.”

A Solda who passes all three stages gains additional benefits for their next promotion, as not all Solda are equal.

"Furthermore, the exam will be conducted on Training Island," Deculein continued, snapping his fingers as a floating image of the island’s landscape appeared. Epherene immediately recognized it as the famous Training Island. "During a specified period, a collective training session will take place."

Snap—!

Deculein snapped his fingers again, and a dormitory appeared before them.

"You will be evaluated on your qualifications as a Solda both within and outside this facility."

Epherene scanned the room, observing the many candidates who had gathered from all corners of the nation.

"And today begins the preliminary test, referred to as level 0."

As Deculein finished speaking, Assistant Professor Allen stepped forward to distribute the exam papers. Epherene looked down at hers and noticed six unfamiliar magic circles sketched on it.

"We will evaluate your ability to decipher these magic circles. Once you succeed, you will be issued an exam admission ticket—"

Before Deculein finished speaking, Sylvia stood, walked to the podium, and handed him her paper, the answers already filled in.

"Professor—"

"Debutant Sylvia. You have passed."

"... But—"

"Take your exam admission ticket and depart," Deculein commanded, offering the ticket to her.

Sylvia looked up at him, her lips tightly pressed together. She trembled slightly before quickly snatching the ticket from his hand.

As Sylvia walked out of the auditorium, Epherene felt sure of it.

She really did get rejected!

***

Epherene and Sylvia left the building together, their exam tickets in hand.

"Congratulations. First place again," Epherene remarked.

Sylvia glanced at her sideways and muttered under her breath, “... Foolish Epherene.”

"

Oh

! So, you do speak!"

Sylvia quickened her pace, her steps firm as she retorted, "Don’t think I’m mute."

Epherene chuckled as she followed, saying, "You’ve been silent until now. Now that you’re not, let’s nail this exam together, alright?"

"Please, allow me to join as well," a deep voice interrupted their conversation.

Startled, they turned to find Karixel, the thirty-three-year-old adventurer with three children.

"Mr. Karixel, you finished quite quickly," Epherene remarked.

Karixel chuckled softly and replied, "It’s just the basics, after all."

Sylvia took first place, with an unknown candidate in second, Epherene in third, and Karixel likely ranking around fourth or fifth.

"By the way, do you happen to know Professor Deculein well?" Karixel inquired.

"Know him? We're his students," Epherene responded.

"

Ah

, I see."

While they talked, Sylvia was already well ahead of them.

Epherene hurried after her, calling out, "Hold on, will you?"

"Quiet down. Go on by yourself," Sylvia replied.

"Honestly, why are you always like this? Why do you have to be so difficult?"

"Arrogant Epherene. How dare you speak to me that way."

Karixel walked about ten steps behind them, silently watching as they argued.

"The daughter of Iliade, is it?"

Karixel, a member of the Scarletborn’s clandestine group, Cradle of the Tree, which had steadily spread across the continent, found his thoughts increasingly troubled.

"... Deculein."

The Deculein he encountered today posed a significant threat to the Scarletborn. After all, this was the professor who had executed the reckless plan to establish a concentration camp in Roharlak.

“Observation for now...,” Karixel muttered as he silently trailed behind Epherene and Sylvia.

They were unaware of what the Solda exam would entail. For now, remaining nearby seemed prudent, especially given their connection to Deculein.

"Everyone, wait for me! I’ll treat you to a meal," Karixel called out, hurrying toward them with an awkward smile.

***

The airship hovered above the Floating Island as the radio relayed the latest news.

「Regarding the treatment of the Scarletborn, the Impurium meeting concluded with full support for the development of bloodstone magic to identify them. Additionally, the Scarletborn Voluntary Declaration Act is set to be enacted. Should a Scarletborn from the Empire voluntarily come forward—」

Buzz—

A slight vibration in my pocket interrupted my thoughts. I took out the storage case that held the crystal orbs. Inside the sleek box, five orbs rested securely.

—

Do you hear me?

Arlos's voice resonated clearly.

“I thought you said there was a risk of eavesdropping,” I replied.

—

It varies depending on the topic.

“Very well. Proceed.”

—

I’ve identified the individuals you mentioned. Take note. Western Empire, Lordman Viscounty, Peten...

I had asked Arlos to locate a named target. Her network was exceptionally reliable for this kind of work.

“Confirmed.”

—

What do you intend to do?

“There’s no need to ask. The Scarletborn treatment laws were only passed last week.”

—

Are you planning to send them to the concentration camps?

“No. They must be killed. Filth that can’t be redeemed will only corrupt everything around them, like a spreading disease.”

—

Heh

.

Arlos chuckled before cutting the connection. She clearly understood just how vile these Scarletborn were. Today’s targets—Jeckrek, Jerten, and Jeketen—the named Scarletborn trio. They were the masterminds behind The Terror of the Three Brothers and the creators of the cursed trap item, The Scrolls of the Three Brothers.

I wanted nothing more than to eliminate these maniacs right then and there, however...

— We’ll be reaching Training Island shortly.

Unfortunately, the airship was bound for Training Island, the site of the Solda Promotion Exam.

Whoosh—

The airship landed with a soft shudder, and as soon as I set foot on the ground, a familiar voice reached me.

“

Oh

! There’s Deculein!”

The Chairwoman approached briskly from the shoreline and handed me a newspaper.

“Professor Deculein! Take a look at this!”

"... A newspaper?" I responded, genuinely surprised.

The fact that the Chairwoman was reading a newspaper felt like a herald of the apocalypse. I took the paper from her and noticed it was the special edition of the Empire’s leading publication, The Journal.

"The Chairwoman reading the news... Has the world come undone?"

“What are you talking about? Are you mocking me? There was a terrorist attack and a Scarletborn incident! This article was published to boost patriotism—it’s a special feature by The Journal!” the Chairwoman retorted.

I briefly scanned the cover page.

The Thirteen Strongest in the Empire: The Seventh, Head Professor Deculein

"They’re revealing one person each day, and today, you’re the seventh!"

The title,

The Thirteen Strongest in the Empire

, was daunting enough on its own. I began reading the article.

At the site of the Scarletborn terror attack, where chaos had turned the square into a scene of living hell, one figure stood out, commanding the space—Head Professor Deculein. His mastery of the arcane arts left onlookers in awe, with his feats captured in striking photos and videos...

... Rumor has it that he nearly matched Rohakan, the Empire’s most notorious criminal, in combat. After three years of relentless effort, Head Professor Deculein has finally surpassed a significant barrier. His ever-growing power now defies all imagination...

I stopped reading halfway through. The overblown praise was unbearable, so I returned the newspaper to the Chairwoman.

“The first was Zeit, the second was Isaac, and I was the third! Have you finally reached my level?!”

“That is enough,” I said, tinged with annoyance.

The Thirteen Strongest in the Empire. Standing among the others on the list, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I didn’t belong.

The Thirteen Strongest in the Empire

1. Zeit, the King of Winter

2. Isaac, the Deputy Knight of the Imperial Knights Order

3. Adrienne, the Chairwoman

4. Keiron, the Empress’s Knight

5. Ganesha, the Beautiful Asura

6. Logan, the Yasha

7. Deculein

,

the Head Professor

Former Guardian Knight Gerfried was excluded due to his retirement.

The name Deculein seemed almost laughable among these legendary named characters. The whole idea was utterly preposterous.

“Why? This just proves how much recognition you’ve earned! I’m livid that I’m only third! I swear I’m going to hunt down Isaac and tear his head off!”

"Please refrain. This article wasn’t published to incite violence between us."

“Aren’t you frustrated about being ranked so low?”

“I’m content with it. If anything, seventh place feels too high for me.”

I knew my combat abilities well; humility wasn’t something I practiced. My magic and physical strength were sharpened for battle, allowing me to contend with most mid-level Named. When facing demons, my

Yukline

blood gave me an undeniable edge. But being ranked seventh overall was an overstatement.

"I didn’t care for the article’s content either," I replied.

"Really? That’s surprising. I thought you’d appreciate it."

“That will suffice. Now, let’s address the matter at hand. Why did you summon me?”

“What’re ya talkin’ about? It’s ‘bout the promotion exam, obviously,” a voice said.

I recognized the dialect immediately. Turning around, I spotted a pink-haired mage with a smirk on her face.

“Been a while, Pronf. How ya been?”

“... Pronf?”

“Prof, yes, Professor Deculein,” Rogerio said, her tone laced with annoyance.

Rogerio, an Ethereal-ranked mage I knew from the runic language lectures, still struggled with her speech. She was with Gindalf.

“That’s correct! We’re getting ready for the promotion exam, and we could use your assistance, Professor,” the Chairwoman stated.

“What would that be?”

“You’re the Security Chief and the seventh strongest in the Empire! With all the ongoing terrorist activity, there’s no telling what could happen during the exam?!”

Hearing the Seventh Strongest again sent a dull ache through my head. Still, joining the first Solda exam was worth considering, especially with the looming threat of sudden events and triggers.

“I understand, but I’ll need the details in writing. I have other matters to attend to today,” I replied.

“Other business?” the Chairwoman echoed, tilting her head in curiosity.

Gindalf stroked his beard and inquired with a chuckle, “

Haha

, may I ask what business calls you away?”

I responded simply, “Hunting.”

Afterward, I stepped back onto the airship.

***

Near the city of Peten in the Lordman Viscounty of the Empire, a damp basement lay concealed beneath an unremarkable house.

"We did it! Now we can set off explosions with just the scroll!"

Jeckrek, Jerten, and Jeketen—the notorious Triple J brothers—laughed and clapped each other on the back in celebration.

"Let’s ram this right into those fucking Empire scum’s faces! Or better yet, should we just blow up the house next door right fucking now, bro? I’ve always fucking hated that little shit living there!" the second brother snarled.

But the eldest shook his head and said, “No, we take this scroll to the High Priests first.”

A scroll bomb—requiring no special medium and no mage to power it—was a brilliant invention, ideally suited for guerrilla warfare.

“The Altar was the right move, wasn’t it~? They’re on our side and backing us with plenty of resources,” the youngest said with a grin.

Even the eldest brother grinned with satisfaction this time, saying, “Yeah, we’ll wipe out this Empire of rats and its people, paving the way for the Altar to bring God back.”

“Right! But first...”

The second brother quickly ran upstairs and returned with beer. Grinning at each other, the three brothers filled their glasses.

Raising his glass, he said, “To the age of God.”

“To God!”

Clink—

As their glasses clinked together, an unseen steel force surged through the ceiling. The leaden blade struck the eldest brother, piercing his throat with deadly precision.

“

Gulp

!”

The eldest brother’s death was shockingly sudden, almost unreal. In an instant, his life was extinguished, leaving the other two brothers staring in stunned silence at his collapsed body. It felt dreamlike, yet the harsh reality soon sank in with a crushing weight.

Boom—!

The basement door and lights shattered at the same time, plunging the room into darkness. In the pitch-black silence that followed...

Thud— Thud—

Cold, measured footsteps echoed through the room, leaving the remaining brothers paralyzed with fear.

“Y-you...”

The two brothers locked eyes with the cold, blue gaze of the demon. They knew exactly who stood before them.

“Deculein...”

The mention of that name caused those sapphire eyes to narrow with contempt. The brothers recoiled under its intensity, their initial shock quickly hardening into fury as the reality of their eldest brother's death set in.

“Y-you k-killed our—”

Before they could respond, a torrent of Wood Steel shurikens rained down. They quickly erected magical barriers, but the sheer force of the onslaught shattered the defenses, ripping through the narrow space.

Boooooom—!

Their barriers shattered instantly under the relentless onslaught of Wood Steel shuriken, which continued their brutal assault without pause.

“

Gaaaah—

!

Aaaaah—

!”

The sickening sound of flesh tearing filled the air, accompanied by their agonized screams that reverberated through the darkness.

"Professor! Are you alright?" one of the knights called out, illuminating the basement with a burst of mana as they rushed in after him.

The light revealed a grisly scene—three bodies, torn apart beyond recognition. The knights recoiled in horror.

“They’re d-dead...” one knight stammered, but Deculein’s icy gaze shot toward him, silencing any further words. The knights straightened at once.

“They needed to be killed,” Deculein stated.

“Y-y-yes! O-of course, absolutely!” the knight stammered, his face paling.

Nodding, Deculein glanced at the remnants of the brothers and ordered, “Dispose of it.”

“Y-yes, sir! Right away!” one of the knights stammered.

The six of them hurriedly gathered the corpses and hauled them out.

“

Hmm

.”

Left alone, Deculein turned his attention to the magical remnants left behind by the three brothers.

The Three Brothers' Surface Magic

These brothers had been a persistent thorn in my side, even within the game. They were the creators of several troublesome items like the Three Brothers’ Explosive Scroll, the Three Brothers’ Fuse Scroll, and the Three Brothers’ Ignition Scroll.

Explosions trailed them wherever they went, making them notorious among players. As Named characters, they fit squarely into the categories of both villains and lunatics.

“... I’ll put these techniques to use,” Deculein muttered, securing their research before ascending the stairs.

Upon reaching the surface, he found the knights already placing the bodies into a carriage.

“Will you be returning now, sir?” one of the knights inquired.

“No,” Deculein responded, shaking his head firmly.

“Then...?”

“Before word spreads, we need to hunt down as many of these monsters as possible,” Deculein said, his voice cold and unyielding.

The knights, part of the Elite Guard assigned to replace Yulie as Deculein's escorts temporarily, shuddered as the weight of the situation settled in. Despite their lower rank, classified as F-Rank, they understood all too well that disobeying Deculein, an R-Rank mage, was as good as a death sentence.

“There she is,” Deculein said, pointing toward the approaching figure. It was Deputy Director Primien of the Ministry of Public Safety, who had been briefed on the situation. “Primien.”

Primien approached quickly, locking eyes with Deculein, who held her gaze without wavering.

"I've dealt with three tainted Scarletborn. Handle the remains as you see fit," Deculein commanded.

Primien looked at the corpses in the carriage, her face betraying nothing. She was well-practiced in concealing her feelings.

Deculein spoke, his tone commanding, “Answer me.”

“Yes,” Primien replied with a nod. “I will take care of it accordingly.”

***

August 11th.

Today, I visited the underground passage and applied for the adventurer’s exam at the Adventurer’s Guild. The passage was constructed much faster than expected, which is a bit odd, but not necessarily bad. With so many branching paths and the potential for this passage to make the Marik strategy easier, it should be a big help for the main quest.

𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

“Ria, does this taste good?”

“Yes, it’s good.”

It was Ganesha who just spoke. We're currently at a fancy restaurant called Flower of the Pig, eating Roahawk meat. It's delicious, but I suppose I still prefer sweets.

"

Oh

? Retek just walked by. He's still alive? That's surprising."

The underground passage is packed with adventurers. Every now and then, you can spot someone who’s definitely a named character. I even came across a named lunatic called Gerek. Our eyes met for just a moment, and it felt like my heart stopped. Gerek is absolutely terrifying. If he gets angry, he could destroy this entire passage in an instant.

"What are your plans in Marik, Ganesha?"

I asked while eating ice cream. This restaurant offers it for free, which seems to be a common perk in successful places, whether in this world or back on Earth. You know the kind I’m talking about—like those barbecue joints that sometimes give out free ice cream.

“

Hmm

, I’m not sure yet, Ria.”

Ganesha tilted her head, clearly unsure of what to do next. Even though she was designed to be one of the strongest characters in this world, she’s so easygoing and forgetful that it’s hard to trust her with anything.

“Well, there are some mana stones to collect, some hunting to do, and a bunch of other things.”

“

Hmm

~”

Mana stones and hunting sound like the perfect combination. It's a chance for some effortless power leveling and a solid boost. Marik is still a challenge for me, but Ganesha can handle everything in that area.

"Are you alright with that, Ria? Not feeling scared?"

“Yes, I’m fine.”

I'm thrilled that Carlos and Leo were barred from entering because of the age limit. They're annoying kids, and while I do worry about them and feel a bit lonely when they're not around, they manage to piss me off almost every day. It's strange getting used to this daily life, but it's not so bad.

If I keep growing, I’ll eventually meet Yulie, Sylvia, Zeit, Arlos, Deculein, giants, fairies, the Empress, and even God. When I meet God, I'll ask to be sent back to Earth. For that, I need to grow. Growth. Sweets. Growth. Sweets. No, not sweets. Just growth. Only sweets. No, I mean growth! That’s all I can think about right now...

That's all for today’s diary.

P.S. I'm not sure how long I'll keep this diary, but I plan to continue as long as I can to hold on to who

I

am.

After finishing her diary, Ria discreetly surveyed her surroundings before casting a spell. The diary dissolved into fine particles, merging with her skin like a tattoo. This was the skill known as

Inventorization

, an essential attribute for players.

"

Oh

, that meal really hit the spot. Now then, Ria, shall we head out? Reylie must be waiting," Ganesha said.

"Yes, let’s go~" Ria replied with a cheerful smile as she stepped out of the restaurant.

***

I returned to my office in the Mage Tower.

Today, Allen wore a curious expression, but soon he was smiling as he handed me a newspaper and said, "Professor, have you had the chance to read this?"

It was the usual paper, Strongest in the Empire

.

The Seventh, Head Professor Deculein. Damn it.

"I’ve read it. You may dispose of it now," I replied.

"

Oh

, y-yes, sir! In that case, here is the next document," Allen said, quickly handing it over. This one lifted my spirits.

Drent's Application to Join Professor Deculein

"Good," I remarked, giving a firm nod of approval.

With Drent and Epherene secured, the essential pieces were now in place. Epherene’s talent was extraordinary, and while Drent wasn’t quite on her level, he was still highly competent. Together, they provided a strong foundation for building a solid school of thought.

"Acceptable," I remarked, casting a brief glance at Allen.

Allen kept his face blank. When our eyes met, he managed a tight smile, but a faint, uneasy tension hung in the air.

"... You may leave now."

"Yes, sir~"

Allen left the office, and as if switching places, Yulie entered. On her shoulder sat the black cat, Cocoa.

"Professor, is it scheduled for three days from now?" Yulie asked, her expression more grave than mine.

"Yes, it is. In three days."

[Imperial Palace Quest: The Demon's Mirror]

◆ Store Currency +10

◆ ???

The Demon’s Mirror. The time had finally come.

"... Yes. Because of that, I’ve reached a decision. It’s something I’ve been contemplating for some time," Yulie said, closing her eyes, her expression deeply serious.

Yulie drew in a deep breath. My curiosity grew as I waited to hear what she would say.

"On the day I met Cocoa, I recognized the potential within your body, Professor."

"Are you referring to the day you hugged me?"

"

Ah

, n-no, that's not what I—! ... I’m referring to the day I met Cocoa," Yulie stammered, her face flushing bright red before she quickly regained her composure.

Teasing her was effective only once, which left me slightly disappointed. I almost regretted trying.

"Your body is that of a natural-born warrior. However, the mission at the Imperial Palace will undoubtedly be perilous."

"... And?"

"Therefore, I, Yulie von Deya-Freyden," she said, placing a hand over her heart, "will instruct you in martial arts and swordsmanship, Professor."

I stared at Yulie in silence, letting the quiet linger just a bit too long. The tension settled between us. She blinked, clearly flustered, pouted, and then slowly began to retreat, like a child hoping to slip away unnoticed.

At last, I called out to her, "Wait. Come back. Very well, I’ll learn from you."

Her voice, carrying a trace of wounded pride, drifted through the narrow gap in the door.

"Fine. You seem to believe my instruction is easily obtained, but do you realize how many knights have sought to be my students? I assure you, I’m not the one missing out... Truly, I’m not..."