Secret (2)

The Winter March, Freyden's family, was once an independent kingdom. However, the dynasty couldn't be maintained for long due to the expansion of the unexplored land and the barrenness of the North. It was incorporated as an allied power when the Kingdom of Crebaim advocated for an empire 300 years ago. Thus, Freyden was the cornerstone of the Empire.

"…Those damn things say that the Empire's negligence weakened the North, or that the North would have been defeated long ago without the support of the Empire."

Zeit explained the history of the North to the little ones. Carlos and Leo listened to him with sparkling eyes.

"But we have always been protecting the continent. While the Empire was at war with the kingdoms, the northerners fought a bloody battle with the beasts and monsters. You have to know that. Those central guys don't know that, but you should… and when I was a kid, each beast was the size of a house. In particular, I remember a whale named Behemoth. I had a really hard time killing it."

Since the history of the North was a series of wars and struggles, the two children who normally hated studying appeared to be interested.

"…But. Where did your leader go?"

Zeit, having repeated 'back in my day' dozens of times, suddenly asked. Leo answered.

"Ganesha?"

"Yes. That tomboy with pigtails."

"Tom…? Ugh, I don't know what that is, but Ganesha is away for a while!"

Zeit nodded and glanced at the people next to him. Julie, Sylvia, and Primienne. The three's gazes were burning him.

"…If there's anything you want to ask, ask. Instead of just staring, okay?"

Julie opened her mouth as if waiting.

"My lord. Why did you come up all of a sudden?"

"For exploration. To see what's going on with the Reccordak acquired by Deculein. But more importantly."

Zeit pointed to Sylvia.

"Why did the Iliade's daughter come here? Are you a spy?"

"I have work to do."

Sylvia replied, unintimidated. Zeit, feeling embarrassed, beckoned to the official with a ponytail next to her.

"Who is that central government official?"

"I'm on a mission. I can't reveal the details."

Primienne answered only like that. Zeit shook his head with a rather dissatisfied expression.

"Anyway. What secrets do the central guys have?"

"Aren't there a lot of secrets from Freyden too?"

"…"

In an instant, Zeit's pupils dilated. The atmosphere of the station cooled in an instant. There was an unrelenting pressure that shattered the teacups and bore down on them. Primienne endured his hostility and pulled out a piece of paper.

"Don't be too angry. I am also from the North."

Zeit narrowed his eyes.

—「Freyden Sponsorship Certificate」—

◆ Iggyris von Kreil Freyden

◆ Commoner Advantage

The commoner above possesses outstanding talents and qualities by Freyden's judging, so we sponsor the Academy Admissions Scholarship…

Guaranteed by Iggyris, the protector of the North, commander of the Knights, and the rightful heir of Freyden.

"…Were you supported by my father?"

"Yes."

Primienne answered shortly. Zeit couldn't help but laugh.

"Ahaha! You should've told me. I almost misunderstood!"

With a big hand, he slapped Primienne's shoulder. Primienne shook like a paper doll.

"If you touch me one more time, I can sue you for personal injury."

"Hahaha! Look at her sense of humor. I guess you're a northerner indeed. Seeing that you have been holding this certificate for a long time, you seem to be loyal… right. How did you stand out to my father's eyes? My father had an eye for character, but seeing that you have risen to a central position…"

Zeit was chatting about this and that. Julie sighed and looked out the window, but the blizzard was still raging.

"Lord."

"…Huh?"

Julie looked at Zeit.

"Why did you come?"

"…"

Zeit's expression hardened. Sylvia and Primienne looked away, pretending not to be watching. Zeit took a deep breath.

"You don't need to know."

Zeit had something to talk about with Deculein. It was because he had heard some reasoning from Josephine.

"…Yes."

Julie answered briefly, causing Zeit to chuckle.

"You're sulking."

"I'm not. Do you still think I am a child?"

"What do you mean you're not? You're making the same face from when you were young."

Was it 17 years ago? She made a similar face when she couldn't use her sword for a while due to an injury.

"…Don't mind me."

"Okay."

Zeit turned his attention away from Julie. He used to listen to things like this… but this time, another child, Lia, was staring at him.

"Hey, brat. Do you have anything to say?"

"…"

Swallowing hard, Lia gathered her courage.

"Perhaps… can you take a look at my martial arts?!"

The child was bold. Seeing this, Julie realized the identity of the sense of incongruity she had felt before. She resembled the woman Deculein once loved.

"…Martial arts?"

"It's fine if it's an unreasonable request…!"

Even while saying that, she was already taking the attitude that Zeit was her master. She displayed a typical northern courtesy, her knees squatted back and her arms stretched forward and pressed to the floor. She was so cute that Zeit laughed.

"Okay. Fine, I'll take a look. Are you also from the North?"

"No! I am from the archipelago!"

"Oh~, archipelago? You're a rare one. Good. All three of you, I'll take a look when the blizzard is over."

"Wow! Thank you!"

Julie watched Zeit and the children for a little while. Among them, her eyes were particularly attached to the child named Lia.

* * *

Night at the station.

"…"

Josephine, having followed Zeit, sat on a branch outside and watched Julie sleeping soundly. She could see her younger sister through the window, her face stern even as she slept.

"…Poor Julie."

Mumbling softly, Josephine pondered.

"Rumors are circulating in the Imperial Palace…"

Josephine was thinking a lot these days about the rumors circulating in the Imperial Palace now, and Sophien's attempted poisoning. Behind it was the former head of Freyden… that was, their father.

"Deculein must know that…"

And Deculein knew. She had been researching and deducing from all the shadows, so she was confident that he did. The reason Sophien pressured Deculein in front of all the servants wasn't a big deal, however. It was a political move.

"However, probably because he loves you… oh."

Josephine raised her hand and touched her mouth. She needed to lower her voice a bit. Of course, if Julie woke up, she could tell by the sound of her breathing alone, but there was nothing wrong with being careful.

"…Anyway."

Josephine closed her eyes for a moment and organized her thoughts. Professor Deculein still loved Julie and left his position as her fiancé for her safety. And now, even under Sophien's pressure, he protected her. If he became disliked by Her Majesty, his end would be in death.

"…"

Josephine opened her eyes again and looked up at the sky. Deculein, the man with the purest heart. Contrary to his appearance, he was a very beautiful man. Perhaps, he loved Julie more than herself.

"However… it's a secret until you get better."

Josephine put her hands together and prayed. She wished for her happiness while watching Julie.

Please, get well soon. Get well and fly happily.

* * *

Advancement began early in the morning the next day after the blizzard had stopped. Each team was armed, and some prisoners were recruited as porters. This would be the first planned thinning.

─I will open the door!

Along with that shout, there was a roar of cogs whirring. The huge wall of Reccordak opened. Beyond that, Julie, Epherene, Drent, Allen, and several other Named were going on an expedition.

"…"

I watched them from the middle of the mountain that wrapped around the right side of Reccordak. Not everyone needed to be sent on the mission, and we needed some to protect the base. In addition, the concentration of mana in the North was quite thick. Surrounded by trees on all sides, its density was great. In other words, it meant it was the best place to practice.

"…Whew."

I made a chair in the middle of the mountain, then sat and took a deep breath. It was a practice known as Studying. The purpose was to complete Memorize.

◆ Memorize Status

: Intermediate Psychokinesis (36%)

┏Intermediate Fire Control (22%)

┣Intermediate Earth Control (31%)

┗Metal Reinforcement (99%)

And to imprint that 99% metal reinforcement on my Psychokinesis. Start by circulating mana through my body with the breath and complete the circuit of strengthening with that mana. It was time to turn the hard work of the last half a year into tangible achievement.

"…Ha."

Inhale and exhale. There was a pain as if my raw flesh were being torn, but there was no need to overdo it.

Black smoke burned from below the ridge, standing in stark contrast to the pure white world. It was a warning that an outsider had appeared. I looked at my watch. Three hours had already passed.

─Fire arrows!

A shout rang out from not far away. I rode down the slopes on the wood steel.

─Fire!

At the Wall of Reccordak, prisoners were firing bows under the guidance of the guards. Their target was an ice wolf beyond the barrier. They must have attacked as soon as they confirmed the large-scale deployment. Wolf-type beasts had exceptional intelligence, after all.

The wolf died without a sound as my wood steel pierced its neck.

"Professor!"

A guard pointed from the wall, and I followed his line of sight. In a snowy field not far away, several more white beasts were forming into an attack formation.

Wheeeeeeeeeeing-!

I sent the wood steel floating up and quietly looked over the battlefield. The ranks of ice wolves stretched out downhill, likely numbering in the hundreds.

Grrrrr—!

As I watched, the wolf vanguard roared and rushed forward. I put the wood steel through its snout, splitting its head in two. Suddenly, another one appeared from the side. The steel-cut through its throat neatly. However, the numbers hardly decreased. More than a hundred wolves rushed forward, and more began to circle to the flank.

Whatever they intended, I focused on killing the wolves in front of me. I slammed a piece of wood steel beam down on their foreheads. Their skulls ruptured, and their brains splattered, but all splashing filth was blocked with Psychokinesis. Like chopping firewood, I walked through the snow, slaughtering all the raging beasts. Those who ran at me from the front were smashed, and those who jumped at me from the side were torn apart.

While I was walking like that-

Boom-!

A mole burrowed off the ground and bit at my wrists. I tore through its torso with the wood steel, sending bone shards and intestines flying all over.

"…"

I casually looked at my wrist. It was only a scratch. No, even that was already healing with the help of Iron Man.

─Professor! We'll help too!

The guards and prisoners came off the wall with their weapons raised. As if to respond to the replenishment, a new horde of enemies arose in the distant field. The nineteen wood steel seemed a little insufficient, so I stole the weapons held by the prisoners and guards with Psychokinesis.

"Huh?!"

The guards were bewildered, but I propelled their axes forward. Like a boomerang, the blade flew, killing dozens of wolves. Their maces were used similarly. Nineteen pieces of steel and, of course, dozens of weapons floated in the air, cutting down wolves…

…

The prisoners and guards were speechless. They blankly watched the scene of carnage Deculein created alone. He was breaking the pack of wolves, tearing them apart.

"Huh…"

The weapons revolved around Deculein like satellites. The monsters caught in the orbit were torn to shreds, dead before they could even scratch him. In the midst of that, Deculein gracefully strolled through the swamp of carcasses. He was an out-of-standard existence that crushed the battlefield.

"What are you doing? Cover these guys."

"Do we need to?"

"…"

But it wasn't surprising. They just forgot for a moment the Demon Hunter, Yukline. The lineage and long tradition of that family was by no means a lie, and Deculein was the most legitimate heir.

"…Still, we can't let him be just like that! Charge!"

The rest rushed in late.

* * *

Meanwhile, at the same time, in the peaceful palace.

─Here! It's a letter!

Sophien received a reply from Deculein. The specially recruited adventurer delivered the letter without being noticed by the eunuch.

"…Hmm. A reply. I told you not to send one."

Sophien looked at the envelope with a rather dissatisfied face. It was neat and sophisticated, as expected from Deculein, and sealed with mana.

"Tsk. What kind of grandiose statement did you write?"

Sophien twisted her lips as she pried it open. Deculein's writing was famous on the continent, so she was sure it would be like poetry. She opened the envelope slowly and carefully read the letter.

[Yes. I will do my best according to Your Majesty's will.]

"…"

Three seconds was enough to read the whole letter.

"…"

She looked at it blankly, then turned it over. Was there more on the back?

"…"

There wasn't. She flipped it over again.

Swish-

Then again.

Swish-

There wasn't anything new.

"…"

Sophien tilted her head. If the Emperor sent a long message of more than 20 lines, shouldn't he at least return her sincerity? Could it be that this savvy bastard believed 'no reply is necessary' straight away?

No, of course, she didn't need a reply.

"…Ah."

Then a thought suddenly came to mind. One more letter, maybe? She took the envelope and looked inside.

"…"

There wasn't one. Nothing.

"…"

Deculein's letter was, indeed, one line. Sophien grabbed the letter tighter.

"…Fuck."

She threw it away and lay down. She had work to do today, but she didn't want to do it anymore. It felt like she had been insulted for some reason, so Sophien suddenly became annoyed with state affairs…