A Tough Fight. (1)

"You confessed your love to Deculein."

His clear voice broke the darkness of her room.

"…What?"

It was stupefying nonsense. Ludicrous. Outside the window, the red moonlight glowed against Sophien's face.

"I should rip off that mouth that's chattering nonsense, you-"

The Emperor approached Rohakan. His wide-open eyes, his shaking body, a dreadful atmosphere about him, and inside…

—Your Majesty! It's Lawaine!

The Knights shouted as they approached, stomping up to the door.

—Your Majesty! If you don't answer, we-

"Back off."

Sophien restrained them.

"If you dare enter my bedroom, I will behead you."

—…

"Go back."

—Yes. I apologize. We suddenly felt the surge of mana, so…

"It's nothing."

—Yes, Your Highness.

She listened to them walk back down the stairs before turning back to Rohakan, still cloaked in darkness.

Clack—

Rohakan turned on the light. His spiteful face was revealed in the sudden brightness. His face looked younger than before. The wrinkles had disappeared, and his old man's visage was nowhere to be found.

"Did you sell your soul to the devil? The nonsense that you can see the future too can also explain why you got younger."

"I wouldn't dare that, Your Majesty… tsk."

Rohakan clicked his tongue. Sophien's Rune Imprisonment binding him evaporated.

"This formality is so uncomfortable. I'm saying it's too much."

Then, he sat as he did often in the past, with a carefree and arrogant attitude.

"Stop it. There is no formality like this in the desert. Even if you are the Emperor. It's been a while, Sophien."

Sophien's eyes were bloodshot. She agreed that formality and etiquette were quite bothersome, but when she saw someone behaving disgracefully in front of the Almighty Emperor, she grew furious.

"…The reason why I didn't kill you just now is that you succeeded in pulling my interest to a certain degree."

Rohakan saw the bloodthirstiness in Sophien's eyes.

"But, I'm not that happy. Be careful if you don't want to die. From now on, answer only when I ask you."

Rohakan smiled. He couldn't believe that the once difficult child became such a stern Emperor.

"Rohakan, did you see the future?"

"Of course. It means I don't have much time left. I might be a unique case given my talent goes in full bloom when my life is almost over."

That was Rohakan's characteristic.

"The sun shines the brightest just before sunset. My death is just around the corner, and I might be greater than Demakan right now."

Rohakan arrogantly mentioned Demakan, but Sophien could feel it. The glittering spirit of Rohakan right now and the light in his eyes that transcended enlightenment. Rohakan smirked.

"I'll tell you to satisfy your curiosity. Sophien, you will come to love Deculein."

Sophien closed her eyes for a moment. She heated up with those simple words, her blood pumping to her head.

…It was an unfamiliar feeling. Had she ever been so angry even after dying hundreds of times? Rohakan continued to talk.

"Sophien, I also don't know how you can love other people. You probably don't know either.

But…"

A subtle smile reached his lips.

"I saw your face when you declared your love to Deculein. Sophien, you were so anxious-"

"Stop talking bullshit! Do you think that such childish romance suits me?"

"It does. Like a bouquet."

"…"

Sophien's complexion became cold, and her eyes tired.

"Is that the only reason you risked your life to find me? To warn me about those impossible emotions?"

Rohakan looked at Sophien gently. Then, with a bitter smile, he shook his head.

"Sophien, you'll know it too."

His voice grew low.

"Everyone around you becomes unhappy. No exceptions."

Sophien's bloodthirst lifted. Her hardened eyes shook briefly and faintly.

"That is the curse that you are born with. Knowing that, isn't that the reason why you don't keep Kreto close to you? Did I have a choice in killing your mother?"

Rohakan looked at the snow globe resting atop the table.

"I'm not here to warn you about your feelings. Deculein, I came here to protect that man."

He thought about Deculein. He had no talent, he hated him, and all he had was his pride. That man reached his position with effort alone; he even saved another teacher's life admirably and discovered a great talent like Epherene. With just his insight, he found out that the real threat in this world was not the Demon Blood but the Altar.

"Of course, I'm not doing anything, and if you look closely, I've just been on the receiving end, but that guy is one of my few disciples."

"…"

"I have no children, and all I have left to me is to die, but if I have to do something, it should be for my disciple."

Rohakan calmly watched Sophien. She was Crebaim's daughter, but she was born with a cruel fate and a curse.

"The fact that you will come to love Deculein, the fact that it is you, makes it dangerous."

Sophien's mana swayed. The light dimmed.

"Sophien, you should never love anyone."

Rohakan slowly replayed the future that he witnessed.

"You declared your love to Deculein."

Someday, in the distant future, or the near future, Sophien would confess her feelings to

Deculein.

A few moments passed.

"You killed him with your own hands."

Sophien looked to Rohakan.

"I'm saying this because I don't want to see it happen."

Sophien regarded him callously.

"Sophien, if you care about Deculein, or if you fall in love with him, I'm begging you."

A dense air coiled around them.

"Please, stay away from him."

Even at that moment, the Emperor's complexion didn't change. She was pretending that it was nothing to be worried over.

"Are you saying that you are talking like some newbie shaman, all for Deculein's sake?"

Rohakan smiled brightly.

"You came here risking your life?"

…Even so, there was one more thing left to do for Deculein.

"Then, I'll get going."

"Stop. Do you think you can just go whenever you want?"

Sophien recited the rune language to Rohakan again, but Rohakan dismantled it with a wave.

"There's no need to be hasty, Sophien."

The head of the worst criminal on the continent and the waning time allotted to that old man.

"We'll see each other again soon."

He would give it to Deculein.

*****

…In Reccordak. The monster's migration was fiercely continuing.

"Arrows! Do we have more arrows?!"

Two weeks after the start of the all-out war, the situation in Reccordak was deteriorating.

"Arrows! Bring arrows up!"

The automatic crossbows were running out of ammunition, and the wizards were lacking mana. The situation was similar for the knights and prisoners outside the barrier.

"Knight Julie! Are you okay?!"

The forest was swarming with dark energy. Reylie, an adventurer and a wizard, shouted. Julie, who was cutting down and freezing monsters in the heart of the battlefield, glanced over.

"I'm fine, but…"

There were many prisoners sprawled out on the ground. They died while fighting desperately, holding a bludgeon in one hand and a sword in the other.

"…There's no need for sympathy."

Reylie put her hand on her shoulder.

"They were on death row anyway."

Julie nodded. That was right. Their lives up until now were a series of evil acts. However, she closed her eyes for a moment.

"Even if it was only a life of sin, it's not worthy of death. May you walk on another path of atonement there."

With Julie's words, Reylie also offered a silent prayer.

"…Are you the only noble?"

A sarcastic voice reached them from Delric and his Imperial Knights. Their faces looked tired and hungry.

"Delric, are you alright?"

"How can I be? I haven't even slept for 4 hours in a week. Fuck."

As they came closer, they started complaining. The Knights' stamina had dropped dramatically due to the continuous battle without even a little break, and 3% of the prisoners of Reccordak had already died. Delric shook his head.

"Knight Julie, aren't you going to run away?"

"I won't."

"Hmm, then you'll die here. No, Deculein is killing you."

Julie frowned. Delric had already become cynical. It was understandable that he was tired in this extreme situation, but this attitude was no help.

"Then, are you thinking of running away?"

"I should if the barrier collapses. Looking at it now, it's only a matter of time. Just look."

Delric pointed over at the wall.

"The right side is dented. Since Reccordak's wall is steel, maintenance is almost impossible, but it has a self-recovery function. However, it's barely holding on because the enemies keep rushing in."

Julie could see the dent. Reylie shook her head.

"Oh my, why didn't I know that?"

"Three days left before that thing collapses."

Delric held up three fingers.

"On the contrary, it oddly held on for a long time. So, think carefully during the remaining time…."

At that time, a small wisp of smoke rose from Reccordak. It meant that their meals were ready. Julie was delighted.

"The food is ready."

"…Fuck. They only serve shitty food like that. Why do you like it so much?"

Food was essential for a knight. Just as elephants needed a lot of food to move their massive bodies, knights weren't much different. One knight would normally eat ten servings, but it was hard to find quality food in Reccordak, so they only ate barley rice and leathery meat.

"Do you think we're livestock?"

"Sir Delric, this is not the Royal Palace. We can't help it because we don't have enough supplies."

"Hmph! Considering that, Deculein is eating all sorts of delicacies in his mansion."

"…Did you see it yourself?"

Delric sneered at Julie's question.

"It's obvious! Only that mansion smells luxurious. I'm just saying he has luxurious tastes."

Delric glared at Deculein's mansion over the wall. Julie followed his gaze.

"Yes, I will ask the Professor about that. If that's true, that's something we have to be cautious about. Sir Delric and the knights should eat now."

"…Hmph."

Delric and his knights trudged down the mountain path. Each of them was limping, with bandaged limbs and scratched-up armor.

"…There is a rumor like that. That only Deculein is eating delicious things. That area smells particularly delicious."

Reylie spoke carefully. Julie nodded.

"We'll know once I ask him."

*****

[Reccordak is filled with the energy of death. The food provisions are slowly drying up, and the battle doesn't stop. Ice crystal wolves, trolls, ogres, shadows, gargoyles, winged monsters, mammoths, tigers, and white bears. The monsters are knocking down the barrier. The hearts of those who opposed the war are being beaten. The mountain villagers are relying on us without knowing anything.

Today, barley was harvested from a dungeon while there was a snowstorm that blanketed us at night. It's enough to last for about three days. The knights eat beast meat caught in the forest and the rice and wheat bread that was supplied.

But, the wizards who consume both mana and mental strength simultaneously need better food, so I gave them the fish that I caught. I would go fishing sometimes, and before I realized it, we had collected hundreds of fish, so if I supply one fish every two days, it will last a week…]

I was writing a daily record of the migration to report to Sophien and acquire a political advantage by describing in detail and honesty what was happening here. I acquired a way to win another person's heart through writing.

"…Are there about three weeks left?"

However, the remaining time was a problem. Even if the distribution were reduced, it would be two weeks at most, and there were tens of thousands of people in Reccordak. They would die from starvation here, or while running away from Reccordak, or perhaps when the barrier was broken.

There were many ways to die, but there was only one way to survive together. Protect Reccordak.

Knock, knock—

—Professor, the fish is finished.

It was the resident who became my secretary.

*****

At the same time, Julie, arriving at Deculein's mansion, smelled the savory scent spreading outside the door. It smelled incredibly delicious, but she wore a frown.

"…What is this?"

Julie was disappointed once again. She thought the last disappointment would be the last, but his gluttony knew no bounds. Indeed, if this scent were only around this area, the knights would be complaining.

Julie swung open the mansion's door.

"Professor Deculein!"

…The moment she shouted, she made eye contact with Epherene. Holding a plate, she tilted her head as she looked at Julie.

"…Ms. Knight?"

"…Ms. Epherene."

Julie's expression hardened.

"I have a matter to discuss with the Professor."

"Discuss?"

"Yes. It's about the smell of food spreading in this mansion-"

"Oh~, this? It's a special meal for the wizards."

"…What?"

Julie's eyes narrowed.

"…Special meal?"

"Yes, the Professor and the wizards are being overworked like crazy by taking part in battles every day… so every two days, he calls us into the mansion and feeds us fish."

"…"

"Should he have told you in advance?"

Julie feigned a cough. Certainly, she seemed to have misunderstood the situation. She sneakily changed the subject.

"…It's my fault for hastily misunderstanding. Then, has the Professor been eating well?"

"Oh, the Professor? Yes, well. The Professor is… the Professor is…"

Epherene stopped suddenly. She pondered over something and mumbled with a surprised face like she had discovered something new.

"Wait. The Professor, I don't think he has eaten anything for the past week…?"

"…What?"

Her words dumbfounded Julie.