I also had a younger sister, though now I could no longer remember her voice. Someone who was sometimes annoying, at other times grumpy for unknown reasons, and would glance at me up and down when I called her name. Of course, that girl wasn't Yeriel.
Yeriel wasn't that girl. It might be my misunderstanding that their personalities were similar at first glance or even felt similar. Maybe I just wanted to replace her with Yeriel. Ever since I first met Yeriel, I might have begun to harbor those selfish thoughts without realizing them. However, there was nothing more foolish than wandering into the source of an unknown emotion.
I hated philosophies that contemplated and explored one's self. I didn't waste time looking for reasons behind my emotions. I had pride in this unchanging self, so I would never lie.
So I could be sure of Yeriel, who found me first after I became Deculein. Whether Yeriel was Demon Blood or not, nothing changed. I already thought of her as my younger sister. These were my words, I, who was Kim Woojin that became Deculein.
"Yeriel."
I looked at Yeriel. She had her mouth shut, and her two large eyes shook.
"Go back now. Go, take charge of your estate. Yukline needs you."
"…"
Then Yeriel swallowed and wiped away her tears with her sleeves.
"…What did the Demon Blood ask from you?"
Yeriel was curious about it, but Elesol didn't ask for much. Do not operate the gas chambers in Rohalak, don't randomly execute political prisoners held there, and once every three months, allow them communication with Rohalak.
"You don't need to know."
Yeriel met my eyes.
"Then… what do you want to do with the Demon Blood from now on?"
"I can't reverse the flow. Now, the Empire, the Continent, and the Emperor seek the suppression and destruction of the Demon Blood, and I cannot go against the waves."
Sophien held a grudge against the Demon Blood. They were the only way to reach the Altar.
"The Demon Blood and the Empire have gone too far. I will still suppress the Demon Blood, but one day, when the time is right, I will be able to convey one thing to Her Majesty."
Sacrificing the Demon Blood to clear the main quest. Of course, it might not be the right way, but a villain chooses any means and methods to achieve his goal. If I could break the Altar more efficiently, I would gladly do so. Even if I paid the price someday, I would be satisfied.
"…I. I have a question."
Yeriel stuttered as she approached me.
"You used to hate me. But…"
Her voice cut off and curled back inside.
"All brothers and sisters grow up fighting. You should return to your estate."
"…Hmph."
Yeriel had eyes swollen as if stung by a bee, but instead of leaving, she crossed her arms.
"What are you doing?"
"…You told me to go. But I don't know how to get back from here. I'm thinking."
It was then a cheerful voice came up from the hillside.
"Ah! You are here! Professor!"
Yeriel and I looked around. There was the talented adventurer who delivered my letters to the Emperor.
"…Here. Your Majesty's reply."
He handed me a letter as he went down on one knee. I bowed my head to show courtesy before accepting it.
"Wow, you did a really good job on the last letter. I was amazed as I read it."
The adventurer stood with a grin. I stared at him.
"Then I'll be going."
"…Wait."
I caught the man before he left. He tilted his head.
"Can you transport people?"
"You mean carry someone?"
I looked at Yeriel. She frowned upon realizing what I meant.
"Yes? Oh, it is possible."
"What? Leave me to the postman?"
"He's an adventurer, not an ordinary postman."
"No, still-"
"Quiet."
Ignoring Yeriel, I looked at the cost of the postage. The price was quite high, but—
"What?! Five million Elnes?! It's highway robbery. The transportation of materials doesn't even cost that much!"
Yeriel, glancing at it, was dazzled. I covered her mouth and sighed.
"Take her."
"Yes! I'll take you very safely and comfortably. Miss Yeriel!"
"…"
Yeriel looked at me with a mixture of dissatisfaction and sorrow.
"Yeriel."
"…What."
"Don't make that disgusting face. Keep showing respect to your brother."
"…I mean, what-"
"As if nothing had happened."
I brushed off the snowflakes on her head with Psychokinesis.
"Stay like that. In the future, as before, as now."
Yeriel looked up at me without saying a word. She clenched her teeth and her fists. Then she lowered her head toward the floor and took a deep breath before meeting my eyes again.
"…I got it."
I nodded. Yeriel trudged over to the adventurer, and she whispered to him.
-Hey. Still, five million is way too expensive. Can't I get a discount?
"Professor! Miss Yeriel-"
"Ahhh! Got it! I'm going! Let's go!"
I watched the adventurer carry her down the mountain.
* * *
A night in the North under a starry and moonlit sky.
Returning home with the adventurer, Yeriel went over Deculein's words.
—One day, even if Yukline abandons you. I will not leave you.
The uncharacteristic side he showed her. Though she could still hear it in her head, his voice still felt like a dream. So, Yeriel was suspicious.
"…Am I worthy?"
Did she have the right to hear such words? Was she worthy of receiving this kind of love?
'I'm the one who hated Deculein. I'm the one who hated him so much. I hated him madly and even wanted to kill him…'
That thought alone made her heart ache. Yeriel clutched her chest.
"…Since when."
Since when did Deculein know? Perhaps he had known from since she was young, or maybe he at least noticed vaguely. So maybe he hated her.
"Haah…"
As a child, she wanted to be loved by him. She tried hard, but in the end, Yeriel gave up, saying it was impossible, and protected herself by turning that love to hate. While she remained stagnant, he lost the one he loved, matured, and that was why he eventually forgave her and accepted her.
'I didn't even know that, and I was laughing at him, saying that it was punishment when his fiancée died.'
"…Thbbft."
Yeriel blew her nose. The adventurer walking alongside her glanced over.
"Are you crying?"
"What, why would I cry? When did I cry? My nose was itching."
"Hmmm~."
"More importantly, I told you we should negotiate again."
"What kind of negotiation are you talking about?"
"I mean… don't treat my brother as a pushover."
"What, from here to Yukline, seven million Elnes is enough. I'm giving you directions and escort."
Yeriel puffed her cheeks and glared at him.
"Instead, I will take you as safely as possible!"
"…You know that the Yukline family has a big hand in the adventurer's guild, right?"
"No way. Still, the Professor believed in me and-"
"No, I mean, why is the price going up if he's trusting you? It is normal to give discounts to regulars. If you do business like this anywhere, you will be stoned."
"No way~."
"No way, my ass. So, I'll just ask you this. How much did you get from the royal family?"
"…Yes?"
Yeriel patted her pockets.
"I mean. You must have received money from the Imperial family to deliver that letter. The Imperial family sets the price for a mission, so that's the maximum price, right? However, if one family gives more than that, problems may arise."
"Um…"
"No, more importantly, does the guild know that you received this much?"
"…"
"You don't even report the amount? To avoid taxes?"
"…Ahem."
The adventurer coughed loudly.
"Five million…."
"I beg your pardon?"
"…Let's say four million Elnes."
Even four million Elnes wasn't enough, but she would have to spend at least a day with him to barter him down any further.
"…Hmph. Okay. After the mission is over, take a break at Yukline. We will pay all the costs."
* * *
…Deculein buried the Demon Blood that had intruded into Reccordak alive. That shocking rumor spread across the continent in an instant, marking him as a cruel person who buried people alive. It was shocking enough to be a topic of discussion even in the winter during the worst migration in history. The Imperial family, the Magic Tower, and various territories in the Empire were discussing the matter.
Booooooom-
A huge meteorite struck the ground, waves of mana rushing out. The spell's name was Meteor, an overwhelming attack that only one person on this continent could implement.
"…Whew!"
Adrienne blew embers from her hand into the wind.
"Now it's a bit cleaner!"
Remnants of fire clung to the earth and writhed dimly. On the other side, where countless monsters had been crying out until three minutes prior, however, there was nothing except a large crater now.
"Wow, as expected, Adrienne, you are an Archmage…!"
Adrienne came to support the North. She was sent to the northeast, alone so as not to drag anyone else into danger.
"It's easy! Oh, more importantly!"
Adrienne quickly pulled out a thick sheet of magic paper from her pocket. It was Deculein's Advanced Lecture exam. This test, which had been going on for a month, remained unsolved. Even those addicts hadn't solved it.
"…Oh, it's hard! It hurts my head!"
Adrienne read the formula a few times before she frowned.
"Right? Didn't I say it was difficult?"
She glanced to Rose Rio, who held a copy of the same paper.
"Isn't it better to put this in the symposium? Gosh. I tried hard for the first two weeks, but what can I do if it's too hard?"
"That's right! I think it's the fault of the person who created the problem!"
Adrienne and Rose Rio put down Deculein's test paper.
[Advanced Lecture Final Exam]
Despite the test's simple name, it was attracting more attention than the migration on the Floating Island. Of course, since Deculein didn't distribute the test paper publicly, those not participating in the class couldn't see the problem officially. But because the difficulty was too great, it was inevitably shared. They couldn't solve it alone.
It wasn't an exaggeration; they really couldn't solve it. Not even the first problem, which should be the easiest, could be solved.
"…But! A lot of people say that Professor Deculein buried people alive!"
"If it's that bastard, it's very likely he did. I heard that it was the Demon Blood. Then, it's natural. I think the live burial method is a bit harsh, but they said they broke in first… rather, please take a look at the solution to the first problem I figured out."
Rose Rio handed her solution to Adrienne. It took up 300 pages.
"There are too many! Shorten it up a bit!"
"I can't reduce it, so that's why I'm showing you."
"I don't know! If I look at other people's solutions, I'll confuse them with mine! Take it back!"
"…"
Rose Rio pouted and stuffed the paperback in her pocket.
"Gosh. How the hell did this guy make this difficult thing…"
Boom-!
A loud rumble interrupted them. Rose Rio and Adrienne frowned.
"Ah… that again."
Today alone, that was the thirtieth vibration that signaled the descent of the magical beasts.
* * *
…Wizards were flocking to Reccordak. Breaking through the rough road full of magical beasts, even those who lived on the Floating Island were approaching Reccordak one by one, but Julie and the knights didn't know why.
"…Wizard of the Floating Island, Lumier grade. Is that correct?"
"Yes."
A group of three came to visit today. Although Julie greeted them, her expression was a little distant.
"…If you excuse me, may I ask why you came?"
As a knight, Julie didn't initially ask for a reason. However, as this bizarre procession continued not for one day, not two days, but over a week, it eventually became unbearable. There was still a horde of monsters beyond that wall, roaring even now. Why did they come to Reccordak despite that?
They weren't adventurers or knights who enjoyed danger but wizards who were usually sensitive to their safety.
"Yes?"
"Reccordak is very dangerous, isn't it? You may not be able to survive here."
"Oh~, we know. However… we came for knowledge."
"…Knowledge?"
"Yes."
The three young wizards tried to peep over her shoulder.
"There are books that can only be read here, and we heard that if you come here, the Professor gives you an exam paper."
"Professor… are you talking about Professor Deculein?"
"Yes. I guess you don't know because you're a knight, huh? So…"
The wizards kindly explained why they gathered here and how the procession would continue in the future.
"Professor Deculein's unpublished writing is in the library here. That's the first reason. The second reason is similar to that. There are still test papers issued by the Professor in the library, and they say that you can read all of them for free…."
In other words, Deculein's writings and exams that normally couldn't be read no matter how much money one had were here for free. So these days, on the Floating Islands and in the Magic Tower, Reccordak was treated as a sort of El Dorado for magical knowledge.
"…Yes. All right. First off, here's your pass. Don't lose it."
Julie nodded with a sour look.
"Yes! Thank you!"
The wizards pumped their fists, and Julie watched them leave though she still felt unsure.
"…A wizard who comes all the way here in search of learning."
Still, it was romantic. Hiring mercenaries paid only in knowledge and the chance to study at Reccordak where they might die. The road to Reccordak must have been very difficult, but regardless of the Demon Blood's intervention, they still came. She didn't know how they found their way.
"…"
Julie glanced to Deculein's mansion in the distance. Then, a strange thing happened.
She saw Deculein standing in the window, and their eyes met.
He was looking at her.
"…!"
Julie quickly turned away. Fortunately, there was work to focus on. The guard beside her pointed out over the road.
"Here comes another wizard with an escort knight."
"…Yes. I see it too."
Julie answered awkwardly and straightened up.