Lia and Carlos ran to hide behind the nearest wall.
"…I can't feel any movements."
Fortunately, Deculein didn't catch up. No, he didn't seem to have the will to go after them. It was pretty strange. Of course, as soon as he saw Carlos, his pupils widened. It was truly a horror to see a Yukline's veins blooming before you.
"It's okay, Carlos."
Lia stroked Carlos's head. The child had turned pale and was trembling.
"Let me see…."
Lia poked her head out from behind the wall. Everything was normal, and there was no one chasing them.
"…Carlos? Let's go now. It's okay."
"…"
Carlos nodded, and the two crept out like mice. Their destination was the entrance of the passage where their party waited. They looked around and ran quickly, and as soon as they reached their destination, they heard a voice.
"Oh, here they are."
Leo, Julie, and Sylvia. Joining their party, Lia breathed a sigh of relief.
"What's wrong, Lia? Carlos doesn't seem well either."
"What happened?"
Leo and Julie questioned her. The two shook their heads and looked back down the passage to a firmly shut door and the crowds of people milling about.
"When will it open?"
"That idiot has only been bragging since we arrived."
Sylvia murmured, looking dissatisfied at someone. In front of the crypt, there was a man who seemed to be in charge.
"…Shall I kill him?"
The man wore his hair neatly parted in the middle, had a neatly coiffed and spiky mustache, and was smoking a pipe and reading. This was the person in charge of managing the cave, Gef. The most important clearing condition of the Voice's world was to enter the deepest part of the concentric circles, and this crypt was the entryway.
"I guess it's not time yet."
Even Lia knew that NPC, a beast-type Named that died off a long time ago. In other words, in reality, he was already dead.
"Hmm."
Then, the man finally stood. He threw down the book he was reading and looked around the crowd.
"A lot of people have come. About nine thousand people? That's a lot."
—Just open the door already!
A harsh cry came from a group of rough-looking men. Gef regarded them with a grin.
"Wait a minute. Let me explain."
Lia quietly looked around the crowd. Nine thousand people gathered in this limited space, but there was a certain presence she recognized. Deculein was around here, somewhere.
"As you know, this passage is the way to the deeper parts of this world."
Simultaneously with those words, a quest floated in front of Lia.
[Independent Quest: Entering the passage]
◆ Store Currency +2
"Of course, you can go in without much thought. Be careful, huh?"
Gef grinned and tapped his temple.
"So, if you are someone who doesn't have the patience, perseverance, and determination, you could die, all right?"
—Open the door, you idiot!
"…"
Gef grinned and lifted the bar blocking the entrance to the cave. Then, a great wave of people rushed in.
"Let's go, too!"
Lia pushed her party into the crowd.
"I don't see any need to rush."
"Keep your dignity."
Julie and Sylvia didn't seem to want to get in the middle, but Lia dragged them along to not run into Deculein…
* * *
I was walking through the darkness of a long passage in the cave.
"Do we just have to walk?"
Epherene asked.
"Checkpoints will appear as we walk."
"Checkpoints?"
"It's like a dorm."
It was a spiral structure that penetrated the concentric circles of this cave. So, we could reach the center by just walking, but if it were as easy as it sounded, it wouldn't be a demon's independent quest.
"But, Professor. Why did those kids run away? They left without giving us a chance to greet them."
"…"
Lia and Carlos. The half-human half-demon stirred my heart for a moment, but perhaps this instinct was satisfied with the slaughter at Reccordak, or at least fatigued and forced into a lulled state. Regardless, I didn't have the desire to kill him. Not to mention my injuries hadn't yet recovered. If Carlos and Lia joined forces, I wouldn't be able to catch them.
"It's just creepy, and there's nothing… do we not need to run?"
"There are those who will fall behind anyway."
There was nothing good about running ahead or going first. What this cave was testing was mental power. That was the power that could be called Deculein's greatest talent.
"Shut up and follow me."
"…Yeah."
Stomp— stomp—
We walked side by side in the dark.
…
Epherene moved along, puddles occasionally splashing underfoot.
"Professor. Do you want to have some?"
Epherene, craving food, pulled out a cookie from her bag. There was no answer from Deculein. She asked again, cramming one into her mouth.
"Professor. This is good…?"
Epherene stopped. Since when had Deculein disappeared? She couldn't see him walking ahead. Did he go ahead first?
"…Professor?"
Epherene ran. Deculein's long stride was about two or three times faster than hers.
"Professor!"
She ran and screamed, but there was no answer. The darkness of the crypt grew thicker, and drops of sweat beaded down Epherene's forehead.
"…Professor."
The moment she gasped for breath and muttered, a strange voice crept into her ears.
──■■■■■.
A broken and crushed voice, crackling and unintelligible. Epherene covered her ears, but it soon turned into a familiar voice.
—Epherene.
Epherene glanced back with wide eyes.
"…Ah."
It was her father, Kagan Luna. He was standing three steps away.
—Epherene. Deculein killed me.
Blood flowed from his eyes like tears. His neck was wrapped by a noose, and his face was corpse pale. He was already dead.
Epherene tried to step back, but her legs wouldn't move. It was like her feet were glued.
—But you!
The cry of the dead. His breath brushed through Epherene's hair, and tears formed in the corners of her eyes.
—What are you doing there?
His words cut her heart.
—Are you not going to take my revenge?
Epherene remembered the vow she had made.
—There is only one thing I expected of you.
To get revenge on Deculein for tormenting, harassing, and eventually killing her father.
—I wanted you to kill Deculein to avenge me.
"…"
However, now that she heard it from her father, every part of her heart hurt.
"Don't usually dads…"
Epherene held back the tears brimming in her eyes. To her, her father was her only rock. She believed in her father's love and the voice he sent through his letters.
"…not ask their daughters for vengeance?"
Her dad's expression hardened and contorted with anger.
-You…
One day, Decalane told her the bullshit that her father didn't love her. Was it the truth, or was it a trick? If it was true, she only believed in her father and became a wizard for him…
"Epherene."
In an instant, a word drove away from the dark. The moment she heard it, she relaxed a bit.
"Haaa…!"
Epherene let out the breath she had been holding back. Trembling, she felt a certain mix of emotions rise. Resentment. Anger. Hatred. All of them were the feelings her father poured on her.
No, he wasn't her dad. He couldn't be. The father who always said he loved her, who said he believed in her…
"Epherene."
Again, someone called her name. Epherene looked up to see blue eyes looking down at her.
"…Pathetic."
The emotions formed in those pupils were pity, contempt, disappointment, and disdain. Not at all positive.
"I was just trying to see if you could stand it."
"…"
Epherene wiped tears from her eyes. She placed her hand on her still pounding heart.
"You are still insignificant."
At those words, she lost her temper. Epherene's eyes sharpened.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Did you meet your father?"
"…"
She was speechless.
"Did you meet the man I killed?"
"…"
Epherene ground her teeth while Deculein continued to speak in a tone as if she were pathetic.
"Whatever he says, and whatever I say, you can't lose your composure."
Sniff!
Epherene looked up at him and blinked away her tears.
"Wizards are generally like that."
Deculein raised his cane and pressed it against her shoulder.
"To avenge the murder of your father, you must have the mental strength to endure that much. Will you keep falling apart so easily?"
The cane dug into her shoulder. Epherene didn't let herself be pushed. She glared at him as she scrambled to hold her position.
"…Don't let me down anymore."
Epherene bit her lower lip and nodded. At the same time, she felt a little strange. Deculein was the one she hated the most in the world but was also the one she trusted the most.
"Grab it."
Deculein continued. There was no need to ask what. Again his cane pressed against her shoulder.
"You will not be caught up in the illusion of this crypt."
If she held onto his cane while they walked, leaning on Deculein and relying on him, she would be able to take the easy path for a moment. However, Epherene shook her head and sniffled.
"…No."
With a voice full of confidence, holding her bag of sweets and looking up at Deculein.
"I can do more. Whether it's my dad, grandma, grandpa, mom, oh, I've never seen my mom, but…"
She shook him off.
"It can send me anyone."
"…"
A very brief silence ensued before Deculein turned around and went ahead alone again, but Epherene saw. She surely saw. He nodded slightly, and the corners of his lips twitched upward for half a second. That professor, that damn professor, maybe he was proud of her…
Epherene marched forward through the crypt, counting her stride.
'One, two, one, two.'
* * *
"…That's it. The theoretical proof is complete."
On the Floating Island, in Megiseon's basement, the addict's secret room. The Professor's thesis, to which hundreds of addicts were all stuck on was completed today.
"…"
All the addicts shut their mouths and looked up at the formula. The most beautiful theory in recent decades filled the blackboard.
"Ah…"
One addict exclaimed, and another wept. One addict bowed down in admiration.
"…It's miraculous."
The addict Astal spoke. Another answered.
"Yes. However, the biggest problem is proof. Is there any wizard who dares to implement this theory in practice… even Deculein, who created this, would have a hard time doing that."
"…"
Astal nodded. Deculein was the Head Professor of the Imperial Magic Tower and the intellectual of the era. This thesis on the Invention of Pure Elements was published by him.
"It's a brand new magic. Not many people will catch up, as very few wizards can fully understand and demonstrate this theory. However, consider the possibility of derivations from this theory."
They didn't need to understand all of this theory. A great thesis was great just for its ideas.
"This theory will be divided and propagated. It doesn't matter if it's a textbook from the academy or if it's taught by Deculein himself."
The new school would be called the Deculein School, after its creator.
"Let's store this knowledge for now. In addition…"
"Granting access to people designated by Deculein."
"Yes."
Deculein appointed several people to be given the right to read the thesis for free if it was proven. Astal looked over the list.
"First of all… Sophien of the Imperial Family?"
"Yes. For her, it's more than just permitting to read; it is a gift of his refined thesis."
Hearing Sophien's name, Astal's eyes widened. Besides her, Kreto, Epherene, and Sylvia were understandable, but Sophien…
"I don't think she's a wizard."
"Isn't Professor Deculein her teaching wizard?"
Astal felt a little reluctant still. The relationship between the Floating Island and the Imperial Family wasn't very good in the first place.
"Yes. There's not much we can do if it's Professor Deculein's request."
The proof of this too difficult thesis consumed an enormous amount of manpower and financial resources on the Floating Island's behalf, so they held a certain amount of stake. But, of course, it was unavoidable because it was Deculein who held the definite authority.
"Then I will announce it. Deculein's thesis, which has been verified, will be assigned to the Tree of Knowledge grade and will be presented to Sophien of the Imperial Family first."
Perhaps this would be a major event that would shake the continent.
"It's going to be chaos."
It was very unusual for a first-verified magic thesis to be assigned to the Tree of Knowledge grade, which served as the highest grade, but to give the thesis to the Imperial Family, especially Sophien, for free…
"Yes. As some people say about Deculein, it will be a case that proves clearly that magicians have the loyalty of knights."
Astal answered and put Deculein's thesis very carefully into a treasure chest sealed with magic consisting of five and six layers.