Ifrin -> Epherene
Julie; Current Fiance
Julia; Student
Yuli; dead
Lellyn -> Relin
***
Chapter 20
Deculein's gaze was always clear. His eyes always seemed to know the answer to every question there was, and it was as if the right direction would always be where he looked. Hesitation, doubt, fear, regret…Deculein never showed any of those but was rather always assured. He was self-righteous and acted high and mighty, but his arrogance and disrespect were no different than his dignity.
…He was an aristocrat through and through.
Her father, who committed suicide due to Deculein, disappeared as if he never existed in the first place like a mirage wiped away by a sandstorm. Deculein remained so perfect throughout it all that no one even suspected him. Only Epherene knew the truth, which was the source of her hatred for him. Nevertheless…she didn't have the confidence to look him in the eye.
The wall between them, a barrier that could never be conquered, felt as high as the mountains. A wizard was someone who unwaveringly explored the truth, a cold-blooded race that calmly, unshakably, maintained a constant pulse when looking for answers regardless of unknown be a wizard if they doubted themselves, relied on someone else, or grew vulnerable from pressure.
Even though she didn't want to admit it, even if not doing so would mean her death, Deculein was an exceptional wizard in those regards. He didn't even seem to care about her sentiments. She felt as if she underestimated the Yukline bloodline.
"…"
Epherene eventually lowered her head. It was a fight she couldn't win. He was a professor, and she was just a girl who hadn't even gone through the academy. Between them was a gap made out of years' worth of experience, knowledge, and skills. The dream of instantly overcoming that barrier with talent was the delusion of a fool who knew nothing about the world.
"…I'm sorry."
Epherene squeezed out a cracked voice as her heart crumbled. She couldn't even dare resist, finding herself too scared to do so. Hence, she was left with no choice now but to accept defeat.
"This is pathetic."
Epherene's shoulders trembled at his words. As she timidly looked up, she noticed a hint of disdain in his expression.
"Coldness is the basic skill of a wizard." His words cut her through her chest like a knife.
"You're not able to keep your composure on these challenges." She didn't want to hear any of it. It was like he was reading her mind.
"You will never be free from your old ways."
She felt as if she was being suffocated in their haunted classroom; all she wished for was to run.
"Even if someone provokes you…"
But she couldn't escape.
"Even if you fail countless times, even if you're suffocated by pressure…"
All she could do was stand still in his presence.
"Even if…"
At that moment…
"Even if your enemy is already right in front of you…"
"…!"
Her whole body trembled as she felt a chill claw its way up her back. Her eyes grew as big as plates as she stared at Deculein, who remained composed and calm.
"You have to be cold all the time. That's how a true wizard behaves."
Epherene understood what he said, what he meant.
"Pathetic. You will never be able to grow stronger at this rate."
She clenched her fist. At the same time, she felt a fire burning in her chest. That, too, was 'passion.'
"No, you won't even be able to stay on your toes."
Epherene couldn't run away from his admonishment. On the contrary, she took it head-on.
"Think of the reason why you haven't been disciplined yet."
What had she, who had been generously excused, accomplished? From the very beginning, she couldn't control her anger, and as a result, she was almost expelled.
"I don't want an apology from you."
It was foolish. Stupid.
Idiot, moron, dimwit. She acknowledged that she was still immature.
"I'm disappointed, Epherene."
Deculein put the clock down on the lecture table. He fixed his sleeves and collar, which was what he habitually did after every lecture. Turning around, he opened the door of the classroom.
"I thought you were a diamond in the rough."
…With those last words, he left. He left…
But his voice still lingered in the air. What was he expecting, and why was he disappointed? He didn't say.
"…"
Epherene stood there with a blank expression, his words replaying over in her head. She felt a sense of helplessness spread throughout her body. Staggering, Epherene stood on the platform where Deculein always stood and looked at the clock he left behind.
[5:57:17]
[5:57:18]
[5:57:19]
Time was still flowing.
"…" Epherene clenched her teeth as she stared at it. "…I don't care if you're disappointed."
She recited it like she was chewing the words. She clasped the clock.
"… I can do it."
Epherene rolled up her sleeves. She warmed up her magic as she thought of the formula. Again, she laid her hands on top of the elements.
"I can do it, even if you're not disappointed."
If it didn't work today, then she'd keep working through the night. She wouldn't stop even if dawn came. She wouldn't stop…even if it meant her death. Epherene refused to give up, so much so that such words had been erased from her mind. No, Deculein erased them.
"I can do it too…"
She held back the tears that were swelling up. Surprisingly, she managed to hold them. Her teardrops evoked magic as she turned her overwhelming emotions into fuel.
Drip— Drip—
Another nosebleed.
"I can do it…"
The drops of blood became metal roses.
******
I thought as I leaned against the wall outside of the classroom. I spent almost seven hours on one person, yet the reason for it remained unclear. Today, Epherene's death flag…
It didn't appear. There was no death was weak, but she was a good kid. I didn't want to see her collapse since she was clearly a good-natured Named. When I was still a developer and player, I was a knight far from magic, but I certainly remembered the Luna Household.
She probably grew up to be a wizard in this world, one with an influence on the main quest. She lacked many traits, like mental strength and a wizard's mentality, but she didn't need much to overcome it. If one put firewood on an ember, or if oil was poured, it would burn up by itself. Of course, I didn't know if the flames would consume her as well.
But there was no set failure, be it in a game or this world. Only those who refused to try believed in fate, which was why I only believed in myself. That was why Epherene wouldn't kill me.
I would make it that way. I'd make it so she couldn't kill me. No, she wouldn't even dare chase me. This kind of rivalry wasn't bad. Ironically, Deculein's personality could also be used to avoid being caught by a debutante.
"You can do it!"
A loud cry leaked out of the classroom. I let out a small laugh.
"… A professor or a teacher," I mumbled, but I didn't feel bad.
At that very moment…
[Side Quest Completed: Your Way]
◆ Store currency + 1!
"…Hmm?"
Out of nowhere, a quest reward showed up. It was as if someone observing from the sky had complimented me for my choices today.
Drrrr—
Suddenly, the door of the classroom opened, and Epherene went out. She ran towards the stairs without noticing me against the wall, waddling like a penguin carrying an egg.
"Hmm."
…The classroom was no longer engulfed by darkness despite the night growing even dimmer. At Epherene's table were magic spells sealed with a brilliant glow. There were a large number of [Will o' the Wisp] floating in the air like ghosts, [Swallowed Mist] flashed like thunder clouds, and [Rising Metal] took the shape of roses.
I looked at the clock on the table.
[6:25:05]
Six hours and twenty-five minutes.
It was achieved in just twenty-eight minutes. Jealousy rose within me slowly. I grew uselessly annoyed. If I had known this, I would have retorted harder.
"Seriously…"
Deculein's ego refused to allow me to be a sweet person. There were very few people I could be gentle with, very few people I could show my smile to, which made my life a lot more difficult. Was this because of the [Elitist] trait? It felt dirty.
I took out the record sheet and wrote it down.
[Debutante Epherene | Time required 6 hours 25 minutes 5 seconds]
[Quality of work is first class, although chronic flaws of non-academic origins preceded it.]
[Score : 0]
[Reason: Time limit exceeded (6 hours 25 minutes)]
********
After dismantling the magic on the table, I came out to the tower's parking lot. I was going home from work by car as usual.
"…?"
Within the cold late night, under a magic streetlight in a spacious parking lot, I found an unexpected character. It was a man wearing a coat thick enough to be two coats. He looked like a white tiger, with his wide shoulders and a muscular physique, but his handsome face didn't match his size.
I knew him well.
'Zeit von Bluegang Freyden.'
He was the current head of the Freyden Household and Julie's older brother with a twelve-year age difference. Overall, he looked like a middle-aged man with gray hair neatly styled with pomade.
I began to feel nervous. Zeit was a well-known Named for his enormous combat power. His strength was among the top three, and I experienced his viciousness through the monitor. Zeit in person was much taller than Lebron James, doing little to assuage my nerves.
"Head Professor Deculein."
He called my name, his expression remaining stiff. If this were about Julie's Snowflake Obsidian, then he would soon become a death never be able to counter as of now. I approached him, agonizing deep down, but he suddenly let out a beautiful smile.
"Hahahaha! It's good to see you, though it's unusual seeing you here."
I was flustered inside, but I calmly nodded.
"…It is."
"It's not a big deal for me, but rumors have been going around that you and Julie aren't on good terms, so I'm here to visit the Imperial Family. I waited here because you were in a lecture."
Zeit seemed to be in favor of Deculein and Julie's marriage. So far, that was.
"Is that so?"
"Don't worry. We can at least arrange to move the ceremony later in the year. I'll arrange a meeting this week."
Zeit's propensity was never evil. However, it was hard to deal with someone whose only priority was his family. It was amiable now, but if Deculein ever spoke ill or did any harm to Julie or his household, he would be cut off without hesitation.
"A meeting sounds good."
"It's nothing. I arranged this engagement, so I should take responsibility."
He put his hand on my shoulder, and I frowned instinctively. Zeit saw the look on my face and moved his hand away.
"Hahaha! This is why I like you. The only thing boys know how to do these days is flirting and flattering. As expected, you're a man beyond all men."
"…I see."
"For as long as a wizard has a strong spirit, he is not weak." Zeit chuckled. "Just bring yourself and don't worry about anything else. I'll choose a restaurant that you'll like."
His gaze on me felt heavy.
"It's already late, and I still have something to do, so I'm going now. By the way, your car looks nice. Give me a ride next time. Haha."
Without giving me a chance to refuse, Zeit left.
Clink clank, clink clank.
The more I watched his back as he walked away, the less human he seemed to me.
"…Does he want me to buy him a car as a marriage gift?"
I slid into the car. The driver, who was sleeping, was startled and immediately grabbed the wheel.
"I didn't notice you. My apologies."
"Did you drop Allen off?"
"Oh, I was going to, but he left first, saying it's fine."
I nodded.
"Let's go."
"Yes, sir!"
******
The next day, on the system's outskirts, an empty three-story mansion was prepared early in the morning for Julie.
"No!"
"Why do you hate it so much?"
An all-out fight was occurring in the yard. It was a battle of words, not swords.
"We fought. Also, I'm busy teaching articles. I don't have time to meet him."
"Are you sulking because he took away the Snowflake Obsidian?"
"I don't know what you're talking about!"
Julie's rage burst out. Seeing her so enraged at the table was strange for Zeit, while Julie grew further frustrated since her brother couldn't understand.
"Think about it, Julie. Why did he buy the Snowflake Obsidian? It's a metal that can only be used to make weapons. Contrary to what you're thinking, he probably bought it for you—"
"If he wants to make a sword for me as a gift, then I'll let him know now that the engagement is off."
Those were the words she had agonized hundreds of times over but never uttered.
"…"
The air felt heavy. Zeit looked down on his sister without a word. She was overwhelmed by his fearsome force. He towered over her at 2m 10cm. No, he was taller than that. Despite usually being confident in front of the opponent she faced, she instinctively lowered her gaze before his presence.
"Like I said the other day, it's stupid to break up the marriage. Deculein's performance faltered the past few days, but Yukline is still our sworn ally."
Zeit was the one who actively pushed the marriage between Julie and Deculein. It started at a drinking party with Deculein three years ago.
"And as far as I know, there is no other man who loves you more than him. Or do you have someone else in your mind?"
"…There's no one."
"Then why are you hesitating? You were the one who said emotion is not needed in politics related to our family, Julie. Does Deculein's poor performance bother you so much? The wizard may hesitate—"
"It's not about that."
Julie was a knight. She grew up a knight and would die a knight, and she would never let go of that belief.
"Then what is it?"
…But knights were beings who couldn't exist alone. A knight without a lord was just a warrior. Only when a lord had granted them a name could they truly be considered knights.
"It's been more than two years since you were engaged. How long are you going to put this off?"
Freyden was both her family and her lord. Therefore, she had to accept that engagement.
"I will arrange a meeting this week. Deculein is coming, so make your peace with each other then." After saying that, Zeit left.
"…"
Standing there vacantly, Julie grabbed her sword and her armor. Mana permeated immediately through it, forming a crystal shape that wrapped around her body. Wielded in that form, the sword fired off a crescent-shaped wave and froze a large area. Even before the ice broke, she had swung her sword several more times in an elegant display of swordsmanship.
Throb—!
She injured herself, but she didn't care. Julie kept expressing her fury through her swordsmanship. That was the only way to enforce her own will, to cut things she couldn't see, and to sublimate her emotions until they separated from this mundane world.
Only then did the unbearable become bearable…
Watching her from afar, Veron, a subordinate knight, bit his lips until it bled.