After completing the Emperor's lessons, I walked along the corridors of the Imperial Palace with Julie, who maintained a vigilant posture despite where we were. Amid our way, Jolang appeared.
"Sir Yukline. There was an incident in the basement."
Agreeing to come with him, we headed underground through the only passageway leading to the [Demon's Mirror], this place's darkness.
However…
"It's closed. That's the problem." He frowned.
The door to the basement was covered with dry tissue as thick as tar.
"Since when has it been in this state?"
"Just today. It used to be an ordinary door before it became like this." He grabbed the doorknob and shook it randomly, but it didn't budge. "Even the knights couldn't open it, so I had to send them all back."
I nodded.
"Then perhaps the right time hasn't come yet."
"You mean… Sir Yukline, do you know what's in there?"
"…"
What lurked in this basement, and what the quest 'Darkness of the Imperial Palace' meant.
I didn't only witness it. I also cleared it as a player.
Ultimately, it pointed to the darkness embraced by the owner of the Imperial Palace.
In other words, 'Sophien's past' awaited us beyond this door, and the mirror was a passageway to it.
A demon desiring to get involved with it was only natural. After all, her death would mean the end of this world.
As I said before, if she died, it would be [Game Over]. That was how the system worked.
Since Sophien was a regressor, there were dozens of quests offering opportunities to explore the past. Among them, this was an extremely important quest, but surprisingly enough, it didn't need to be treated with urgency at the moment.
"How would I know if I haven't even gone in? I'll be taking my leave now. Inform me when it opens."
"Yes. I'll do that."
As Jolang turned around with a bitter expression, in suspicion, Julie murmured, "That's strange. Why was the basement of the Imperial Palace like that?"
"You don't have to know."
"What?"
"Don't even think about interfering."
"…"
Her eyes narrowed, but I paid no heed to it. She should never know what lurked in this place.
Sophien's death.
The former Freyden Head, her father, was also partly involved in it.
"Let's go. I have a lot to do today."
"… Alright."
We left the Imperial Palace together.
Ren, waiting in the car near the castle gate, took a look at his notebook.
"Your next agenda is in Rohalak of the Yukline County." His voice sounded different from usual.
Showing no signs of noticing it, I entered the vehicle.
"Let's go."
"Okay."
*****
Epherene, Sylvia, and Carixel arrived at the Isle of Wizard's Wealth, finding its mystical scenery now somewhat familiar.
"Whew…"
Epherene felt nervous and excited at the same time. To get to the Training Island, the site of the Solda Promotion test, they had to board an aircraft called an airship, which was why they were standing on its platform now. Of course, she had never seen one before, let alone board one.
"Are you all going?"
Fortunately, although Sylvia was quiet, the adventurer, Carixel, was erudite and talkative.
"Do… Do I just go in? Or do I have to do something beforehand?"
"No, no. You just need to board calmly, like you're entering home. I'm going first~"
He climbed the high stairs of the platform ahead of them. Staring blankly at his back, she followed.
But Sylvia grabbed her robe's hood before she could.
"Whoa—! Hey! What's your problem?"
"Stupid Epherene."
"Huh?"
Her eyes narrowed down at Sylvia, who was looking at her shoes in silence.
"… Oh~"
Epherene grinned, realizing what she meant.
"You mean my shoes? I already know that. Do you think I'm stupid?"
She confidently pounded her chest.
Since Carixel said, "like you're entering a home," she thought she should take her shoes off.
"I'll be going up now~"
Epherene scaled the steps gracefully like a noble, then took off her shoes before boarding the airship. She then looked around, looking for a shoe closet.
"… Huh."
There was none.
'Do we have to take care of it ourselves?'
One other passenger soon giggled, noticing her feet. Finding such a reaction strange, she looked around.
… Everyone was wearing shoes.
"Pff."
Sylvia's disdainful giggle entered her ears as she passed by her with her shoes on, causing Epherene to blush in shame.
"That girl! Seriously!"
She put her shoes back on and ran until a familiar figure caught her eye.
"… Assistant Professor Allen?"
"Epherene. I see you've put your shoes back on."
Sylvia took her seat, her big cheeks seemingly filling up with laughter.
"Oh~? Yeah, okay~ Was it fun~? I pretended to be fooled on purpose to make you feel happy. You seem depressed these days, you know…"
Epherene tried to keep her pride as she sat on her assigned seat as well, which was next to Sylvia.
—Please fasten your seat belts. Airship 305D will now be leaving.
She did as the voice instructed. Sylvia, paying close attention to her gestures, mocked her.
"I guess you know how to wear a seat belt."
"Humpf. As I said, I did it on purpose to brighten your mood up."
Whoooong—
The airship rose.
"Ugh!"
"What're you doing?"
Epherene instinctively grabbed Sylvia's shoulder, who did her best to push her away out of sheer surprise.
Whoong—
"Whoa, whoa."
The more the aircraft shook, the more strength she applied to her grip, and the harder Sylvia shoved her away.
"Let go of me."
"Whoahaha, it's floating. It's floating, whoahoho…"
"You idiot. I told you to let go."
Epherene clung to her body even more instead, however, with her arms now wrapped around her waist tightly and her forehead pressed against her forearm.
"Don't cling to me, idiot."
"Wait, airsickness. I'm feeling airsick."
"…!"
"Uh… Ugh. What's wrong with me? Am I allergic?"
"There's no such thing as an airship allergy, stupid. Oh, no. Don't vomit. Resist it. If you vomit, I'll kill you… Ahh."
*****
… They arrived at the Training Island at night, prohibiting Epherene and Sylvia from looking around since it was already dark outside.
"Debutante Sylvia and Epherene. You two are in room 503. Your exam starts in 48 hours. Please feel free to rest until then. Before that, however, you must first give this document your seal and put it in the [Goro's Mouth] outside the door."
Immediately heading to their assigned room according to the staff's instructions, Epherene grew surprised by how spacious their accommodation was.
She thought it would be like a college dormitory, but it was much larger.
"… This is better than my house."
In it were two beds, desks, and refrigerators. There were also two bathrooms and one couch.
Everything was symmetrical.
Epherene walked over blankly to the window and looked outside.
"Woah… There's a cliff right in front of us. I can even see the clouds."
Grrr—!
A sudden roar echoed due to Sylvia's magic, which built a wall in the middle of their large room, dividing it into two spaces.
"… Gosh."
Epherene thought it was ridiculous, but she soon understood.
Since she recently just got dumped, Sylvia would need some alone time.
"Alright."
Focusing on unpacking her items, she stored her Roahawk in the refrigerator and her emergency food, which included chocolate bars, in the inner pocket of her robe.
Afterward, she looked at the documents handed to her by the testing staff.
───[Solda Promotion Test Confirmation]───
◆ Examination Director: Rose Rio, Gindalf, Adrienne.
◆ Supervisors: Ropal, Mimic, Relin, Deculein, Ihelm, Crancia, and 13 others.
◆ Security Officer: Deculein.
◆ Videos and reports recorded while taking the test can be purchased by various magic towers, the Isle of Wizard's Wealth, and families on the continent. This will be used as a scouting resource.
◆ The Isle of Wizard's Wealth cannot be held responsible for any injuries sustained during the exam.
◆ Your fingerprint: [ ]
───────────────────
"… They take no responsibility whatsoever."
That frightened her a little.
Knock, knock—
Startled, Epherene cautiously asked, "Who is it…?"
—It's me, Carixel. I have something to give you.
"Oh~"
Opening the door, she found the adventurer smiling softly.
"Epherene… your room is a bit unusual. Mine's different."
"Sylvia did this."
"Ohh. So these are the three primary colors? She has a truly creative talent."
In admiration, he looked around the dorm that Sylvia perfectly divided in half and even installed two doors in.
"What brings you here?"
"Ah. I'm here to give you these."
He handed over cylindrical containers. When she tilted her head in confusion, he explained.
"These are called cup noodles, a pretty popular food in the South. Just dissolve its powder by pouring boiling water over it. Please give one to Sylvia too."
"Oh, I see~ Thank you. I was just starting to get hungry."
"Haha. Well then, see you tomorrow!"
When he left, she stared blankly at the two cup noodles before knocking on Sylvia's door.
Slam—
It opened.
"Hey. This is a gift. Take it."
"…"
Sylvia passed by her without even looking at what she had in her hands.
"Where are you going?"
"Goro's Mouth."
"Oh, right."
Epherene also came out with the documents.
[Goro's Mouth] was in the dormitory hallway. It was as black as could be and had huge lips.
Sylvia put her set of papers into it first, followed by Epherene.
Chomp— Chomp—
"This is funny. It's chewing them."
[Goro's Mouth] spat out two crystals after devouring their documents, one for each of them.
"What's this?"
"A personal crystal ball. You can communicate through it, and in a critical situation, it sends a signal to the chief security officer. It has several other functions, so please be careful not to lose it." The wizard standing next to [Goro's Mouth] explained.
"Oh~ okay. Thank you."
"…"
Epherene put it in her pocket while Sylvia stared at the crystal for a while first. Maybe it was because the chief security officer was "that professor."
Melancholically laughing, she noticed someone familiar on the other side of the hallway.
"…?"
She initially thought it was Assistant Professor Allen but realized otherwise after closer inspection.
"She resembles him."
The woman looked like Allen, but she had a voluptuous chest, unlike the assistant professor. Even with a robe on, they swayed quite noticeably.
That was an inconvenience Epherene was familiar with.
Her attire always being a bit larger than her actual size wasn't a coincidence. Not only did she do it to avoid others' gazes, but wearing fit clothes also brought her discomfort since they were too tight on her chest.
"Oh. Do you know about this food called cup noodles…?" She asked, but Sylvia had already disappeared.
"… It's really hard to get closer to her. She's like a stray cat."
Taking a deep breath, Epherene went back to her room.
*****
Yukline County, early morning.
—Keep in mind that today's an important meeting.
"I will."
Lilia Primienne, the Deputy Director of Public Safety Bureau, answered the director's crystal ball lazily.
—Don't say anything that might offend the Professor. Be careful with your words.
"Alright."
—Professor Deculein is the most influential person on the continent these days. He is by far nothing like the ordinary noblemen you deal with.
"I know. I'll hang up."
—No, Deputy Director! If you say something wrong, not only you but the entire Public Safety Bureau─
Click—
She hung up.
As the director said, today's meeting could prove to be quite difficult.
The topic to be discussed was the Demon Blood Repression, and the location was the Rohalak Concentration Camp. Essentially, it was a meeting called by Deculein in the guise of a camp audit.
"Hmm."
She thoroughly hid her Demon Blood identity, but even so, she still couldn't help but feel nervous every time she met him.
"Are we almost there?"
"Yes. That's our destination."
At the driver's words, Primienne looked out of the window.
[Rohalak Concentration Camp]
In the middle of this desolate wasteland, they found an infrastructure still under construction. Staring at it, Primienne twisted her lips cynically.
"We're here."
"Okay."
As soon as she got out of the car, she looked around, searching for Deculein.
"He's over there."
At that moment, Julie, the white knight, approached and pointed her to a tall watchtower, on the top of which was Deculein overlooking the camp. Even in this barren and sweltering space, he was still dressed in a suit.
… Regardless, he killed seven people in one night.
Primienne felt anger boiling within her, but she still approached him calmly.
"Professor."
He lowered his gaze obliquely and nodded as soon as his eyes dawned upon her.
"You came."
"Yes. We have one more guest. It seems you didn't invite him."
Primienne gestured behind her, where a wizard that had just disembarked from a vehicle approached them from.
"Ah, Professor!"
The stocky and muscular man smiled brightly as he looked at Deculein.
"It's me, Betan!"
Despite being one of the people that had a dispute against him during the Bercht conference, he gave him the brightest smile today.
"Betan?"
"Yes. We had a huge misunderstanding last time. I didn't even realize your intentions!"
Betan looked around the Rohalak Concentration Camp with a satisfied expression.
"So I came here to apologize in person. Anyway, this is a really nice place. It's amazing."
What the hell was he saying?
Glaring at them, she couldn't help but exude hostility.
"… Right. It is a nice place." Deculein answered softly and came down from the watchtower. He then addressed her.
"Deputy Director Primienne. I heard the Public Safety Bureau conducts camp audits, so what do you think? I didn't waste the center's support, did I?"
"…"
Primienne alternated between Deculein, Betan, and the camp.
"You don't have to worry about my opinion for a mere concentration camp. Feel free to do what must be done." She said, feeling a piercing pain envelop her heart. Her lips became dry as she thought of her clan dying in this place.
"Of course! No amount of gratitude or praise is enough for your wonderful idea! Professor, if you need Beorad's manpower, please let me know. I, Betan, along with my family, will always be by the Yuklines' side."
"… Really?" Deculein laughed, remembering how he behaved in Bercht.
"Well, if there's nothing to be said here, then there's no need to stay here any longer. Let's go to one of Hadekain's restaurants."
"Alright!"
"… Sure."
Unlike the energetic Betan, Primienne was reluctant.
*****
Deculein led them to [Light and Salt], the most famous restaurant in Hadekain despite the many 'three-star' restaurants in it.
"I'm the one who should be treating you, Professor. If you visit Beorad, I will repay you with dignity."
"…."
Primienne looked at the two family Heads alternately.
Both of them were hell.
"Thank you for blessing us with your presence, my lord."
The restaurant manager handed Deculein a menu.
"I'll let you decide. You're my guests."
He gladly yielded to his company.
Primienne was thinking of steak, but Betan chuckled as if he noticed something she missed entirely.
"Hahaha. I see. Alright. As expected from you, professor. Primienne?"
"Go ahead."
"Please serve us three Rotaily soups as our appetizer."
"…"
Primienne's fingertips trembled slightly.
Rotaily was a mushroom famous for purifying demonic energy.
As a rare top-quality ingredient, it wasn't only used in recipes but also as an antidote. She wouldn't die if she ate it, but it would reveal her true identity due to external reactions.
After all, the blood of their kind responded to Rotaily's purification effect.
"… What do you think, Deputy Director Primienne?" Betan asked slyly.
She nodded, her face remaining expressionless.
"Mushrooms, unfortunately, are one of my strongest dislikes, but… since it's Rotaily, a high-quality fungus, I should be able to eat it. It also benefits one's health, right?"
Her voice was calm, but her heart was pounding.
"Right. It's very good."
Betan smiled, and Deculein remained silent.
"…."
Was coming to this restaurant a test?
Unwittingly pushing herself to the edge of a cliff, she remained still. She shouldn't display any physical changes.
"Rotaily Soup with Vasily."
"Thank you."
A waiter served them their appetizers not long after.
She hoped he wouldn't return.
Betan picked up his spoon as soon as one of the bowls was placed in front of him. Deculein did the same while Primienne drank a glass of water first.
Observing her, the Professor asked, "Do you dislike mushrooms that much?"
"Yes. It's due to the trauma I got from eating a poisonous mushroom in the countryside as a kid. I came from an impoverished village, after all."
Betan intervened.
"It's still Rotaily, Deputy Director. Given the same weight, it's more expensive than gold. Not only is it good for your health, but it tastes great as well. It might even cure your trauma."
"I see." Nodding, she picked up her spoon, submerged it into her soup, and scooped it up slowly, resulting in thick fluids smeared all over it.
At that moment, Primienne felt time stretch infinitely.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
Thick, yellowish liquid droplets fell back onto the bowl.
She could hear the aristocrats' noble laughter filling the restaurant.
More than that, she could hear her heart beating as she desperately maintained a straight face.
… As soon as an employee walked near their table, Primienne dragged her down with [Psychokinesis].
"Ahhhhh!"
Falling, the staff grabbed the tablecloth of their table.
Clang—!
Primienne's soup bowl fell to the floor, smashed to pieces.
For a moment, the restaurant's attention focused on them. Nevertheless, she swallowed a sigh of relief.
"Hey! What are you doing?!"
"Sorry, sorry! I'm sorry!"
She bowed at them multiple times, begging for forgiveness.
Deculein put his spoon down and looked at Primienne. Catching his gaze, Betan grinned and nodded.
"Enough. Just bring back another soup!"
"Yes, yes. I apologize. I'll pay for this—"
"No."
The professor raised his hand and stopped her.
Betan, misunderstanding his intention, added, "Right. Forget the reimbursement, so just bring another soup—"
"It's okay."
"… What?"
"Don't do anything useless."
Deculein glared at him.
If he were being honest, Betan's meddlesome behavior bothered him.
"Deputy Director Primienne is my guest."
"Ah… Of course."
Betan still seemed suspicious, but he didn't say any more. Primienne calmly stroked her chest.
The restaurant's noble customers shifted their focus to dining again.
Classical music that calmed everyone's mind played in the background as they continued their meals in the establishment's elegant atmosphere.
After the appetizer, the main dish was served. Primienne sliced the garlic steak, and Deculein and Betan had a luxurious Paraniman stewed fish.
"Oh, by any chance, are you going to the Training Island soon?"
"Yes."
"As expected. Let's go together. I plan to stay there for a while to not miss the opportunity to see wizards grow…"
The Beorad Head wagged his tail at the Yukline Head nonstop. His body was firm, but his height was like that of a dwarf. Hence, when he conversed with the tall and chiseled professor, he looked like a short Doberman acting cute to a human.
"…"
Primienne chewed on the meat before her as she grew suspicious of Deculein.
He was called a magic interpretation genius.
Was it even possible for him not to notice her [Psychokinesis]?
… Lost in thought for quite some time, she grew uncertain if she was eating with her nose or mouth.
Regardless, somehow finishing the steak, Primienne asked cautiously, "That was an excellent meal. Can I leave my seat for a moment?"
"Feel free."
When Deculein permitted her, Primienne got up, walked blankly to the bathroom, grabbed the sink, and looked in the mirror.
"… I feel sick." She mumbled. Grasping the condition of her body, she walked over to the toilet and lifted its cover.
Immediately after that…
"───!"
She vomited everything she ate, none of them appearing digested, then came back out.
"Deputy Director."
… Deculein was right in front of the bathroom.
She felt nauseous again.
Indifferently, he asked, "Did you vomit?"
"Yes. I think the dinner upset my stomach. Have you finished your meal?"
"Betan and I are done, but Julie's still eating."
"… Right. I'll have to go first, then."
Primienne tried to pass by him, but his next words stopped her.
"Today's the first time I heard you hated mushrooms."
"Well, we haven't had meals together that many times yet."
"Hmm."
Deculein's subtle reaction bothered her. She coughed as she turned to him.
His stare felt as if it was piercing through her skin.
"Do you recall, Primienne?"
"What?"
"We met in Bercht before and ate at one of the restaurants there."
She nodded, recalling that day.
What confused her was why he brought it up out of the blue.
"The menu then was steak with mushrooms."
"…"
Primienne very being stiffened.
He stared at her, silence permeating around his cold and emotionless blue eyes. She felt as if a ghost was looking at her.
Facing a demon, she thought about both life and death.
Her head ached, almost as if her brain was being crushed into pieces, and her heart raced uncontrollably.
… Deculein's lips twisted into a smile.
Shrugging, he corrected himself.
"I'm kidding. How could I remember… something I ate so long ago?"
His gloved hand tapped her shoulder a couple of times, seemingly to congratulate her.
"You worked hard today. I apologize for Betan's rudeness."
"… Don't worry about it. Be careful on your way home."
Julie, who had finished her meal just in time, came out in a hurry and left the restaurant with Deculein.
"…"
Primienne stood still for a moment, then walked a few steps down the hallway.
However, she soon went back into the bathroom slowly, pretending nothing had happened.
After lifting the toilet cover again…
"───!"
Once.
"───!"
Twice.
"───!"
Thrice.
Four times.
Five times.
She recalled her life as many times as she vomited until her stomach juices ran out.
"… Hmm."
She headed for the sink again afterward.
"I'm fine now."
With her trembling fingers, she looked in the mirror and straightened her messy necktie, then changed her pale complexion to a healthy one.
"What did I eat then?"
Primienne couldn't remember it, but there had to be someone who remembered the menu that day.
No, it didn't matter anymore.
"… My face is hot."
Washing her face with cold water, she soon decided to leave the water running and just slide her face underneath the faucet.