Yeriel found a good hiding spot under the desk, but Epherene and the other club members had difficulty finding suitable places. They moved about in confusion, hiding in less-than-ideal spots. One hid behind the door, another behind a coat rack, while Epherene used Telekinesis to float to the ceiling, clinging to it awkwardly.
Bang—
The door suddenly opened with a bang, and Deculein walked in. Without lifting a finger, he used magic to hang his coat on the rack.
"Professor, how should we proceed with this week's common class?" Allen, the assistant professor, inquired eagerly.
"Leave the documents and you may go," Deculein replied.
"Yes, sir," Allen said briskly before exiting, leaving Deculein alone in his office.
He stood in the middle of the room, lost in thought, while everyone held their breath. Suddenly, Deculein looked up. There, clinging to the ceiling like a starfish, was Epherene.
"Ah... haha..." Epherene said, letting out a nervous laugh, realizing she had been discovered. Deculein stared at her briefly before disrupting her Telekinesis.
"Yikes!" Epherene yelped as she began to fall, but she used Fluid Manipulation to slow herself down.
Despite her unscathed landing, Deculein felt a sense of amazement. The amount of mana he expended to disrupt her Telekinesis had been significant—100 mana. At the beginning of the semester, Epherene had displayed raw talent but lacked refinement in her magic. Her rapid progress was remarkable, stirring feelings of jealousy that Deculein quickly brushed aside.
"Come out, all of you," Deculein commanded.
Reluctantly, the other club members emerged from their hiding spots and stood before Deculein.
"Unauthorized entry into the head professor's office warrants disciplinary action and could lead to expulsion," he said, glaring at them.
"We're sorry!" Julia exclaimed, dropping to her knees. Epherene, Rondo, and Ferit quickly followed suit, kneeling and apologizing profusely.
"Apologies are unnecessary. State your reason," Deculein demanded.
Epherene hesitated, torn between revealing Yeriel's presence and remaining loyal. Ultimately, she chose loyalty.
"We wanted to show you this," Epherene said, pulling a photograph from her pocket.
Deculein used Telekinesis to retrieve it from her hand.
"When we connected the patterns, it revealed a message of 'Expect the retribution of the ash. The time to test your frailty and weakness has arrived,' appeared."
"Retribution of the ash? Are you suggesting the Ashes have issued a warning?" Deculein inquired, scrutinizing the photograph closely.
"Yes, sir. We believe so, and we came to inform you as quickly as possible..." Epherene said, her voice trailing off as she awaited his reaction.
Epherene anticipated Deculein would react like the other professors since the Ashes were a sensitive topic for them. Yet, she also knew Deculein might respond differently simply because he was Deculein.
"... Your actions are understandable given the circumstances," Deculein stated.
However, Deculein's reaction was markedly different from that of the other professors. He even nodded, indicating his understanding.
"Even so, unauthorized entry must be penalized. This matter is not for Debutants to concern themselves with. If the Ashes are involved, it is a matter for the professors," Deculein said.
Though his tone remained cold, there was a noticeable softness to it as he scrutinized each of the four students in turn.
"... The professors ignored us," Epherene said, clenching her fists in frustration.
"I know. Those old fools are like that," Deculein said, his lips curving into a faint smirk, surprising them with his bluntness. "However, there are many other professors in the Mage Tower."
The mid-level tenured professors had long since stagnated in their magical abilities, shifting their focus to research and projects. However, the newly emerging professors, now in their mid-to-late twenties, showed great promise. Among them were named characters like Jennifer, an authority on harmony magic; the bespectacled Kelodan; and Grant.
"Seek out Kelodan. He possesses the capability to assist you."
Kelodan, a prominent figure intended to be an ally for the player, was ideally suited to guide Epherene and her club.
"I will only assign one penalty point. Additionally, this discovery will be acknowledged as an accomplishment of the CMRC."
"... Thank you, Professor."
"Now, you may all leave," Deculein instructed.
The club members exited the office with their heads bowed. Deculein sat at his desk, gazing intently at the photograph.
Expect the retribution of the ash. The time to test your frailty and weakness has arrived.
[Grade 5 Mid-Boss Event: Baron of Ash]
◆ Mid-Boss Defeat Reward
: One Item Catalog
: Store Currency +2
The term mid-boss event might sound impressive, but being a mid-boss didn't inherently make it special. Deculein was a mid-boss himself, and there were dozens more like him.
However, this Grade 5 event was especially challenging. The Baron of Ash, a mid-boss I knew well, required mage players to defeat him without any help from external named characters, relying solely on the student named characters.
The biggest problem in this Mage Tower was clear—there was no player. Players were unique individuals who used the system to gather named characters around them. Without a player, accomplishing that seemed impossible.
"There is no other choice," Deculein muttered as he left his office to make the necessary preparations.
After a few minutes, Yeriel cautiously emerged from beneath the desk.
"Phew. That was close," she whispered.
Yeriel attempted to brush the dust from her clothes but found none, a testament to Deculein's obsessive cleanliness. She sighed, thinking how absurd it was to be so spotless, as if dirt could kill. Just as she was about to leave, a voice startled her.
"Yeriel."
"Ahhh—!" Yeriel screamed, almost collapsing to the floor.
Deculein observed her with a blend of irritation and pity and asked, "What brings you here?"
"Ah
, um, well... You could have warned me if you knew I was here! Oh, my heart..."
"I asked, what brings you here?" Deculein repeated, unfazed.
Yeriel took a deep breath and fixed her gaze on him and asked, "I need to know about Louina."
"Louina from the McQueen family?"
"Yes, did you kidnap her? Rumors are spreading everywhere, but surely they're just that—rumors?"
Deculein remained silent, his expression inscrutable.
Yeriel rephrased her question hesitantly, "You didn't kidnap her, did you?"
"... It's none of your concern. Louina will be released soon."
"Huh? What do you mean by that?"
"You may go now," Deculein said, turning away.
Left alone, Yeriel pondered his words.
"Louina will be released soon."
"Louina will be released soon."
"Louina will be released soon."
Realizing the implication, her eyes widened in shock, and she muttered, "That bastard actually did kidnap her...!"
***
While at her mansion, Sylvia immersed herself in her magic studies.
Deculein: Pure Element Theory
Deculein: Analysis of Mana Disasters
Deculein: The Logic of Magic
Deculein: Category Alignment
Her bookshelf was lined with Deculein's lecture notes, meticulously organized by topic. Sylvia pored over his lessons with intense concentration.
Knock, knock—
The sudden knock broke her concentration. Sylvia glared at the door as it slowly creaked open to reveal a familiar face—it was Giltheon.
"Ah! Were you studying?" Giltheon asked with an awkward laugh, scratching his cheek.
Sylvia narrowed her eyes but shook her head, knowing that her break was coming up soon anyway.
"Hahaha, that's a relief, sweetie," he said, stepping into the room. His eyes fell on the bookshelf packed with notes, and his expression soured. "... Are those Deculein's lecture notes?"
"Yes."
"I've heard the head professor's lectures are quite popular at the Mage Tower these days, but you've organized them very thoroughly."
"Yes, they've been very helpful to me," Sylvia replied calmly.
Giltheon twisted his lips to hide his displeasure and said, "You might find it more beneficial to learn practical skills from Deculein, not just theory."
"Yes, I'm also learning practical skills. The sessions begin this week."
"... Is that so?"
Giltheon struggled to comprehend Deculein's abilities. Only three days prior, Deculein had single-handedly broken a demonic barrier, and rumors of his combat prowess were now rife in the Magical Realm.
Even the Chairwoman, in a recent interview, had said, "Professor Deculein's combat abilities are only a step below mine! It was truly impressive!"
Although it might seem like flattery, placing him just below the potential archmage Adrienne, the Chairwoman, many young mages believed it. Given Deculein's unprecedented feats, they feared him greatly.
Creak—
The door opened again, and both Sylvia and Giltheon turned to see Sylvia's half-brother, Gilland, standing there.
"Potato's here," Sylvia teased, addressing her younger half-brother.
"... I'm not a potato!" Gilland yelled as he burst into the room.
Sylvia, maintaining a deadpan expression, replied, "Baked potato."
"I'm not—!"
As the two children conversed, Giltheon noticed an art notebook on Sylvia's bed. Without much thought, he picked it up, and his expression hardened. To Giltheon's dismay, the pages were filled with sketches of Deculein.
Page after page, the notebook contained nothing but detailed drawings of the head professor. Giltheon set the notebook down, his face a mask of complex emotions, and glanced at Sylvia, who was still bantering about potatoes with Gilland.
"Sweetie."
"Yes?"
"I'm planning to visit the cemetery. Would you like to join me?"
"I've already been."
"... I see," Giltheon said, forcing a smile. "I'll go alone then. Be good to each other."
"Take Potato with you."
"I'm not a potato!"
"Potato, stop talking."
Leaving the two behind, Giltheon stepped outside. His mind was in a haze, feeling as if the world was slipping away from him.
"We are prepared to depart, sir," the driver announced.
Giltheon remained silent as the car moved forward, arriving at the cemetery shortly thereafter.
"We have arrived, sir," the driver said.
Giltheon stepped out of the car and walked down the path, his emotions swirling tumultuously. When he reached the gravestone, he knelt and examined it closely.
Cielia von Elemin Iliade
The tombstone was spotless, and the grass was meticulously maintained—undoubtedly Sylvia's doing.
Glitheon knelt down, murmuring, "... It's all so complicated."
He reflected on Sylvia's sketches of Deculein, pondering whether they signified admiration, affection, respect, or merely a fleeting childhood interest. The ambiguity made it too difficult and painful to discern.
"Ciel, perhaps I deserved to lose you," Glitheon murmured, closing his eyes briefly. As a father, he wanted to deny reality, but his pragmatic nature wouldn't allow it. "... Once again, I've thought of something you would hate."
Opening his eyes, a smile crept onto his face and continued, "But it's not a bad idea. Thanks to you, our child and the Iliade family will become even greater."
Glitheon placed a flower on her grave and murmured, "You left this world because you were tired of me, but I remain an Iliade."
Cielia had never wanted to be buried in Iliade's land. She regretted marrying a man obsessed with magic until her dying day.
"Regardless of whether you were weary, repulsed, or full of hate, our bloodline... remains unchanged."
Just as the Yukline hunted demons, the Leviaron ruled the seas, and the Freyden thrived in warmth, ambition coursed through the veins of the Iliade family.
"Even the child you cherished remains bound by the Iliade bloodline."
If Sylvia had a worthy adversary to face, she would grow stronger, edging closer to becoming an archmage. Such trials would only fortify the Iliade family.
"You don't need to forgive or understand."
Giltheon knew this better than anyone.
He murmured, "If I could be a stepping stone, I would gladly throw myself into the fire."
The child's radiant blonde hair and innate disposition perfectly embodied the essence of the ancient Iliade lineage. Sylvia was a gem, carrying the Iliade bloodline more profoundly than anyone. Her entire being was the quintessence of Iliade.
"This time..."
The 200-year-old tradition of the magical family was their ultimate ambition—to produce an archmage. Some called it an obsession, others dismissed it as madness, but Giltheon's life was dedicated entirely to this pursuit.
"You should pave the way."
Giltheon remembered his wife's death and the Yukline family. Deculein, too, was not free from the blame. He couldn't claim complete innocence. Even if Deculein had killed Cielia, he couldn't deny it. It was the truth. Death and killing were the destinies of both the Iliade and Yukline families.
"Because of you, whom Sylvia loves, we will achieve our dream."
No matter what feelings Sylvia held for Deculein, they would all fuel the fire of Iliade. This blaze would grow brighter and more intense, rising like the sun to illuminate the world. And if that wasn't enough, if using his deceased wife's memory wasn't sufficient, he was prepared to sacrifice his own life.
"Cielia, Deculein killed you. Now, it's our turn to use your death to our advantage."
A torch burning fiercely, sacrificing itself—that was the resolve of the Iliade family.
***
It was early morning. In the car driven by Ren, I glanced at the seat next to me. Louina was staring out the window, a single tear trailing down her cheek. I felt no pity for her, not even a trace. However, drawing on memories from my past life as Kim Woo-Jin, I managed to show a semblance of sympathy.
"Don't dwell too much on it," I said.
Louina whipped her head around to face me.
"Five years. During that time, you will have the opportunity to grow under Yukline's protection. Consider it a blessing."
"A bl-blessing? What, a blessing? A blessing?" Louina stammered, incredulous.
Her reaction was expected, but I remained unperturbed. Louina had an impressive background, having graduated early from the academy and entering the tower at a younger age than most, thanks to the former chairman's recommendation.
But her future wasn't bright. When the invasion began, her family, the McQueens, would be the first to suffer. Being by my side might actually keep her safer.
"Five years isn't that long," I continued. "Your annual salary will be around 400 million elne. Do you believe you could earn that on your own? If so, you need to reassess your abilities."
Louina bit her lip and remained silent. Soon, the car arrived at her mansion.
"Furthermore, I will recommend you as an external lecturer at the Mage Tower of the Empire. You have accomplished all there is to achieve at the Mage Tower of the Kingdom. It is time for you to advance to the Mage Tower of the University."
She opened the car door, stepped out, and then turned back to look at me.
"You know what?" Louina said, looking back at me. "I was planning to do that anyway."
Slam—!
She shut the door forcefully. I rolled down the window and called out to her as she walked away.
"Stop."
Louina sneered, "Why, boss?"
"Again."
"... Do what again, boss?"
I stared at her in silence. With a sigh, she walked back to the car and slammed the door again.
Bang—!
The result was exactly the same as before.
"Again."
"Hmph."
She slammed it a third time.
"Again," I said, my voice low and firm.
Gritting her teeth, she opened the door once more and this time, closed it gently.
"Good job," I said.
She remained silent.
"Acknowledge," I demanded with a commanding tone.
"... Yes, boss. Are you satisfied?"
"Yes."
The car immediately pulled away. In the rearview mirror, Louina's glare was so intense that it looked like she wanted to set the car on fire.
"... Hmm," I murmured, unable to comprehend the depth of humiliation a mage must endure to accept such a binding agreement.
***
It was a clear Monday. The summer sun bathed the world in its warm glow, and today's task was field practice at the Mountain of Darkness. Recently nicknamed Demon Mountain due to a series of incidents, it had become a place to avoid. However, a directive came directly from the Imperial Palace.
"It is essential to conduct field practice at least once a month. Avoiding it out of fear is unbecoming of a mage. If you flee from demons, you will never be able to confront them," a prior decree from Empress Sophien.
"This is independent practice. If anything happens, report it to my Wood Steel," Deculein announced.
Fortunately, Deculein was in charge today. He strategically placed Wood Steel Shurikens throughout the Mountain of Darkness to enable quick incident reporting. This was one of the versatile applications of his Midas Touch attribute.
"Yes, sir!" the Debutants responded cheerfully, visibly relieved.
They had already witnessed Deculein's combat abilities. No monster, demonic beast, ghost, or demon stood a chance against the head professor's prowess, and they had complete faith in him. Even the Chairwoman had acknowledged that Professor Deculein's combat abilities were just a step below her own. With this assurance, the practice began.
"... What are you doing there, you beggar?" Lucia sneered.
At a stream midway up the mountain, Epherene looked up from catching fish to see Lucia and her group mocking her.
"Catching fish."
"We can tell you're fishing, but why are you doing it in such a pathetic way? Are you trying to look like a beggar?"
"I'm catching them to eat. Is that so hard to understand?"
"... Sigh."
They had no idea how delicious and magically beneficial the fish from the Mountain of Darkness could be.
"Oh, poor thing. Here, take some money and buy something to eat," Lucia said sarcastically.
"Sure, I'll gladly accept," Epherene replied.
"... What? Wow, just look at her. Get lost!"
The nobles were taken aback and hurried past her. Suddenly, the stone Epherene was standing on shifted, moved by magic.
"Ah!"
With a splash, Epherene fell into the stream, and laughter echoed from nearby.
"I really can't stand those girls..."
Sighing, Epherene picked up her spear and managed to catch two fish.
"Today's my lucky day," Epherene muttered.
She gutted the plump fish, scaled them, skewered them, and lit a campfire. As she prepared her meal, a strange sensation suddenly surged through her body, like a jolt of static electricity.
"What was that...?" Epherene murmured, feeling a magical intuition that made her temples throb. She stood up, looking around.
Crackle—crackle—
The sound of sizzling fish drew her attention back.
"Grrr... This is making my mouth water."
Just then, the nearby bushes rustled, revealing an unexpected visitor.
"Who's there? Don't try anything foolish, I'm watching you closely," Epherene warned, her eyes fixed intently on the intruder.
Someone familiar stepped out of the bushes. She glared at Epherene with narrowed eyes.
"... Arrogant Epherene."
"Hmm? Sylvia?"
"What are you doing here?" Sylvia asked, her brows furrowed.
Epherene tilted her head and asked, "Why? It hasn't been that long. Did you already finish the practice?"
"You really are clueless. This isn't about the—"
Sylvia paused, her eyes fixed on the grilling fish. Seeing her interest, Epherene held out one of the skewers to her.
"Would you like some? It's delicious."
Sylvia, momentarily forgetting her original intention, gracefully settled onto a rock. Her clothes were unusually dirty, suggesting she had been there for quite a while.
"It's done. Go ahead and eat," Epherene said.
"Okay."
Crunch—
They ate the fish together. Epherene trembled with pleasure at the first bite, and Sylvia closed her eyes, savoring the flavor.
"This is so good..."
Crunch, crunch—
The fish from the Mountain of Darkness were indeed exceptional—almost as good as Roahawk, potentially the second-best she had ever tasted. The two devoured the fish, savoring each bite.