The Altar's magic didn't seem to have a special system. The circuit flowed and wriggled like a bug, looking like a revolting but living organism. It was a technique that Arlos, who once studied under Adrienne and was from the Ashes, had never once seen even as a modern wizard.
"I can learn everything using sections. In a week, I will be able to distinguish, understand, and destroy the structure and technique of the Altar's magic."
But even so, Deculein was confident.
"Is there anything else you want to ask?"
Arlos, a respectable wizard, was curious, but she shook her head.
"Stop bragging and just give me my money now. Hurry up so I can leave."
"…Ehem."
He feigned a cough and took out a stack from a drawer: three bundles of 1 million Elnes each.
"Then, I'll be going now."
Arlos took it and was about to stand.
Knock, knock—
—This is Knight Deya. I'm with the Deputy Director of Freyden.
It was Julie.
"I'm with a guest, so please wait."
Arlos changed her appearance to have blonde hair and beautiful features. It was the true appearance of Cynthia.
"It would be unreasonable if your guest was a child. But this is amazing. How did you make this?"
Arlos was still amazed by the recorder and camera that he made without using mana stones, even now after using them.
"Hadekain hardware shop. Once he has the concept, Rockelock can make anything."
"I'll continue to use it."
Arlos stood. As she was about to leave, she suddenly glanced back at Deculein. He was writing down what he saw through the camera.
"…Will you be able to analyze the technique?"
Deculein answered without taking his eyes off the video. His vision was brimming with blue mana.
"The outline and form of the technique are random. But analysis and dismantling, research and destruction, all of it are possible."
Arlos smiled a bit. Whether it was bluffing or pride, he was a unique person.
"Work hard."
Squeaaak—
Arlos swung open the office door. Knight Deya, aka Julie, was waiting outside.
"…?"
She trembled upon seeing Arlos, her eyes widening in wonder. Arlos did not explain.
"Our business is done; you can go in now."
"…Oh, yes."
Arlos passed her by, but Julie watched her leave.
"Uhm, if you don't mind. Where did you come from…?"
Arlos paused and looked back at Julie. She could just make up something, but she felt mischievous for some reason. So, with a somewhat coy voice, she put her hand to her mouth and mumbled enchantingly.
"It's not… mhh. Should I say that… it's still a secret?"
"…"
"Then, I'll be going."
Julie's expression hardened a little.
"Yes."
Julie nodded and entered the office, but hearing the voice that followed, Arlos smiled a little.
—Your guest just now was gorgeous. She doesn't seem to be from the North.
Who was she, and where was she from? She couldn't speak straightforwardly like that, so she asked about it in a roundabout way.
—Leave the documents and go. I don't have time for small talk.
Deculein didn't get the message.
—Yes, I understand. Oh, it's not much. She was just so beautiful that I couldn't forget her face-
—Get out.
—…Yes.
Julie was kicked out of his office.
*****
The next day, early morning in Reccordak.
Goooong—!
The sounds of battle could be heard occasionally over the wall, and Epherene, who was on the night watch, felt like she would die from fatigue. It wasn't a joke; she was really on the brink of dozing off.
"Haaaa…"
Knock, knock—
She reached Deculein's office while yawning.
"Professor."
Knock, knock—
"…Professor, the Great Tiger robe is finished. Sun-dried? Or whatever, it's done, so just take it. Take it so I can go to sleep."
There was no response. Epherene squinted.
"Hello? You said I could only sleep once you see me. Why aren't you coming to answer the door? I'm so sleepy I could die."
Knock, knock—
There was still no response.
"Hey, come on. You're not even in the mansion."
Epherene knocked for the fourth time. Silence.
"Hey, come ooooooon—! I said I'm sleepy—!"
Epherene, growing more agitated, had deep dark circles that were no different from a panda under her eyes.
Bam, bam, bam—!
"Gaaah!"
She pounded on the door and opened it. Deculein hated it when people opened the door of his office as they pleased, but she was so sleepy right now…
"…"
Epherene was lost for words. She looked into the office dazed. To be exact, she looked at the chair.
"…Oh my."
Deculein was sleeping there. Of course, his special suit was still flawless. His back wasn't leaning in the chair, and he seemed to be studying, but there was no mistaking it. Deculein was sleeping.
"The Professor is deeaaaaaaad—?!"
No, Deculein couldn't be sleeping like that, so he was dead. Epherene sprinted to Deculein's side.
"…What?"
But, as she got closer, she could hear his breath. His pulse was normal, too. What was going on? Would the sunrise in the east tomorrow?
"…Does it already rise in the east? Ah, I'm so confused."
She was out of her mind with sleep deprivation. Epherene shook her head and looked at Deculein's desk. It held his research conducted thus far, and the new documents were properly organized.
"Oh… I see."
He hadn't eaten anything for more than a week, so it was normal for him to be overworked.
"Take the robe."
Epherene placed the Great Tiger robe around his shoulders. Nevertheless, he did not wake up. How tired he must have been.
"Hmm…"
Epherene watched Deculein sleep. She always fell asleep first, so this was the first time she had seen him resting.
"…He looks younger when he's sleeping."
Aside from his wide shoulders, he could even be her little brother. She smirked and closed the curtains of the office.
Goooong—!
"Oh my gosh."
Those vibrations that she couldn't get used to. She kept waking up because of that as well.
"…I'll also go to sleep now. Haaaaam—"
If she took a nap, Deculein would wake up first. He might feel disgraced to have been caught sleeping. But well, he brought it upon himself. Epherene laid down on the floor of the office with a blanket and a pillow.
"Zzz… zzz…"
Her quiet snoring filled the spacious office.
It didn't take even 30 minutes before Deculein opened his eyes.
"…"
After three hours of deep sleep, he stood, noticing a moment later the robe falling off him. It was a treasure-class item with gold embroidery on a black background.
[The Great Tiger Robe]
It was a robe with incredible performance, but there was no time to appreciate it.
"…"
Epherene was sleeping on the floor, snoring very comfortably. In other words, while that kid came in, he was—
"This…"
He grumbled earnestly, sweeping back his hair drenched in sweat.
"…fucking…"
Deculein became like that. He never felt so disgraced before…
*****
At noon in Reccordak.
I climbed up on the barrier and looked over the horizon. Iron Man's eyes provided clear sight beyond normal vision, and so, I could see the army of demons marching ever closer.
"…Professor, this is the limit."
The Imperial Knight Delric ran up, his face gaunt.
"We can still abandon Reccordak and run away…."
I shook my head. If Reccordak were abandoned, the difficulty of the main quest afterward would increase significantly. This place would become an outpost for humans to Annihilation, so it must be protected.
"It's not far away. Even this tough fight."
I could see the end. The monstrous troops that covered the ground were almost uncountable.
"…How do you know that?"
"I can see it. Also, I can feel it."
"What?"
If you closed your eyes-
Bam…
Bam…
Bam…
The sensitive perception of Iron Man could feel the vibrations of what was to come, the echo of the men marching beyond the reaches.
"The last battle is not far away. It will be hard, but if we can withstand this, we can survive."
"…"
But of course, Delric and the Imperial knights who followed him didn't seem to believe in my words. No, they didn't want to believe. I looked at them.
"Are you tired?"
The knight's faces were pitiful to behold. Many of them were coated in dirt and dried blood.
"Are you asking that now?"
Delric bared his teeth. His voice was tainted with malice.
"Delric."
"Yes."
"Your family is in the institution. You want to see them again."
"…Of course."
The mutiny was likely to happen during such extreme situations; I could understand this much. I asked again.
"The same is true for the people behind you."
All the knights nodded.
"That's why we should go back now, Professor. We are also at our limit."
"Delric."
I spoke again, but. I could understand this much mutiny. I could only understand.
"I'll ask you again. Your family is in the institution."
"Yes, I want to see them-"
"You won't be able to see them if you leave Reccordak. If you continue with this brazen behavior."
I took out a piece of paper. It was a transfer paper provided by Josephine.
"…What are you talking about?"
Then, I looked at Delric.
"I understand your complaints. But I won't tolerate it. If you want to leave Reccordak, go ahead and leave. You don't even know where you stand, yet you show me that kind of unacceptable attitude; go ahead and do what you want."
Understanding what I meant to a certain extent, Delric's eyes widened.
"…But."
Suppose you're exhausted if you don't want to fight if you're driven into a corner. I had no choice but to thrust more blades in.
"There will be no one left in your family."
"…"
Delric was left speechless, his mouth opening and closing like a guppy. The other Imperial knights wore similar expressions.
"I won't allow this kind of-"
"Who would allow it?"
I looked around. No one answered, and more than half of Delric's knights avoided my gaze.
"I'll allow it. Me, the Head of the Yukline House and the Captain of Her Majesty's guards."
I approached Delric as I answered to whisper in his ear.
—Delric, you are just a mere knight, so don't take liberties on your own. Work like a cow and devote yourself like a dog. That's the only way you'll live. Your life will change depending on what you do.
Gulp—
Delric swallowed. His murderous intent dissipated like dust in the wind.
—The Yukline remembers favor and spite. We repay loyalty and kill the dog who bites its master with no hesitation. Keep that in mind.
I placed my hand on Delric's shoulder after I finished talking. His body tilted sideways under the weight. Then, he bowed his head.
"…Yes, I'll keep that in mind."
"Good."
Tap- tap-
I was about to go down the barrier-
Whiiiiiiiiiing…
An unusual wind blew over us. The sky grew dark, and a light gale swirled over the barrier.
"…"
I looked down the path. A dark fog appeared not too far from the barrier, climbing up toward us.
"Professor, that…?"
Delric, now gentle like a sheep, asked. I took a deep breath and answered.
"The wizards of the Altar."
The fog moved as if it were alive, spitting out dozens of humans. The group of wizards wore their robes inside out, stood behind a line of warriors to protect them.
"If it's the Altar…"
Thud, thud—
I looked over to see Julie, Deputy Director Primienne, Louina and Ihelm, Lia, and Ganesha approaching. The child Lia, in particular, was making a big fuss.
"Professor! Professor!"
Of course, she was dragging the others along.
"Professor Deculein! Those guys-"
"Stop chattering and shut up."
I turned her down. Lia pounded her chest in frustration.
"No, it's not that…!"
Boooooom—!
Dark energy radiated out. The guys below were preparing for their technique, but I paid them no attention. Rather, the dark energy stimulated my murderous energy, temporarily amplifying my body.
Lia shouted and stretched out her hand.
"Tho… those guys!"
"There's no need to make a fuss."
"Why?!"
"It's simple."
Gwaaaaaaa—!
The wind kicked up, and their power cohered together to form a giant surge of dark energy, but at some point-
Tak—
It snapped like a thread being cut, then died down like a match being blown out.
"…?"
There was silence.
"…Pfft."
I smiled. Those guys were hilarious; this whole situation was hilarious. A roar of laughter followed, probably due to the influence of the dark energy.
"Hahahaha—"
I looked at the knights now wearing odd faces upon the barrier as I was laughing.