Breakdown and Repair (1)

Kreto was looking up at the lighthouse built by the Altar. It was a long building built in the middle of Annihilation. The majestic height that seemed to reach the sky was probably more suited to the word tower, but the Altar insisted it was a lighthouse.

"…What is the purpose of this tower?"

Kreto asked the High Priest of the Altar—the Construction Superintendent.

"It's a lighthouse."

"I know that. But what is its use?"

This lighthouse was the only above-ground structure in Annihilation and, therefore, the major focus of the Altar. All the Altar's manpower, increasing day by day, was being put into this place.

"It connects with the island. This can corrupt nobles and knights who are blind to power."

The Altar had been secretly delivering certain drugs to the Magic Tower and Knights these days. It was an elixir that awakened human potential immediately upon ingestion and artificially raised its limit. Kreto sneered.

"The side effects are serious."

"No. There are no side effects."

"Is that even possible? You guys are the ones who made human chimeras out of Demon Bloods."

"…"

The high priest from the Altar produced an elixir from inside their robe.

"Analyze it yourself. The human chimera was, of course, our mistake, but it was a necessary process. Without that power, the Altar wouldn't have been maintained until God appeared."

Blue liquid swirled in the reagent bottle. Kreto asked, putting it in his pocket.

"Aside from using the portal?"

"We observe stars and comets."

Did he mean observatory instead of the lighthouse? Kreto sneered again.

"Are you obsessed with astrology?"

"…"

Then Kreto hardened in place.

"…It attracts them?"

"Correct."

A faint smile spread across the priest's lips. Kreto, glaring at him, quickly shifted his gaze to the lighthouse.

"What if it attracts a comet?"

"We can reset the continent."

He spoke with Quay's voice. The ancient being called himself a God or wanted to be called a God. The priest immediately knelt, and Kreto looked at him without a word.

"Even comets have their names and characteristics. They are full of cosmic mana."

Quay pointed to the night sky. But today, he was something different. His face, which was usually relaxed, was now expressionless. As if he was angry.

"What happened?"

At Kreto's question, Quay raised his eyebrows.

"What's with you, showing interest in me?"

"You're different from usual."

"…I guess it's because I just heard something too arrogant."

Quay smiled and moved to Kreto's side.

"I didn't know that Deculein would be a devotee too. This is unexpected."

"…Deculein?"

"Yes. He also believes in God."

Deculein mentioned God, the old god. That old god that Quay believed in.

Kreto said.

"I think there is a misunderstanding. Deculein is the epitome of an agnostic."

"…No. He is looking for God."

"God?"

"Yes. A God that is not me. A God I once worshiped. He's already dead, though."

Quay lowered his head and smiled bitterly.

"Does that bother you?"

"Yes. Because I think he knows the name of that God when I don't."

"… "

Quay didn't know the true name of God. He never even dared to ask his name while God was alive.

"Kreto, do you think it's real?"

Quay raised his face and looked at Kreto. The prince felt disconcerted.

"Why are you asking me? If you're going to become a God, shouldn't you know everything?"

"It's rather because of that."

Quay replied with a sigh.

"I have a gut feeling. I feel the answer to every situation, and I can face the future."

The providence of the universe, the ending of the continent, the subsequent rebirth… all of that was already clear in Quay's mind. That was the so-called God intuition.

"But I guess that's why I know what Deculein said is true."

For a moment, when Deculein said those words, the reason why Quay's heart was full of anger was because of that.

"Deculein knows the true name of God."

Indeed, Quay had an intuition.

"…Kreto."

Quay grabbed Kreto's hand and lifted it to the sky.

"Comets are wandering in that distant universe."

Now, Quay might be afraid of what 'he' would say to him. If, as Deculein said, God manifested again, if Deculein found him…and him, learning of Quay.

What would he say to me? What would he teach? Was he curious about these things degenerating into a human rather than a God?

"…The continent will be torn apart."

Kreto said. Quay laughed a little.

"Yes. All life except you will be burned away, and only the souls I have preserved will remain, waiting to be reborn."

"…"

"There's not much time left."

"What if my sister reaches us before that?"

Kreto asked. Quay laughed quietly.

"I can stop her. I know the answer."

He answered, relaxed, and looked up at the sky again, but there was a thick fog in Quay's heart.

—I think I know the true name of God.

"…True name."

Quay shook his head and smiled.

"I think we'll find out soon anyway. The true name of God, the true name of 'you'."

* * *

The Knights Order is affiliated with the Imperial University.

Julie was lying in bed and reading a book recommended by Professor Sephine. The theory book was intuitive enough that even Julie, who didn't know formulas, could easily understand.

"…So does that mean that coordinating power is important?"

Julie put the book down for a moment. Mana coordinating power was coordinating between one's body and mana. It was how close the two were.

"Haah…"

Julie sat cross-legged and raised the mana in her body.

Whoosh…

However, another scene came to mind as Julie focused. It was a move, the display of unique swordsmanship unlike any other. However, the swordsman who performed it disappeared after showing only one move, and Julie wondered what the next could be.

Julie slowly opened her eyes.

"…Deculein."

She said his name. Since he was the one who stained her with this curse, she couldn't visit him directly. Josephine and Zeit would hate it.

-Shh.

At that moment, a very small noise came from under the open window.

"…?"

Julie's ears perked up.

-Carefully.

The clock showed 11 p.m. That meant…

"It's the curfew."

Her knight's radar was activated. Julie quickly put on a coat. She put her hat on and pressed it down over her face. She climbed over the threshold of the open window, clung to the dormitory wall, and slowly descended.

With her five superhuman senses, she grasped the location of the group of cadets and pursued them in secret.

After passing the dormitory, she arrived at the forest in the back. It was a training ground shared by the Magic Tower and the Knights called the Forest of Darkness.

"Forest…"

She pondered for a moment, but it was hard to overlook them with her personality. Julie followed them inside.

Leaves swayed softly above. As she progressed through the forest overflowing with eerie mana, she became even more suspicious. Why did the cadets come to this place? If found out, they would be expelled without hesitation.

Anyway, Julie followed their trail like a detective. Soon, she could see the cadets, five members in total, come to a stop ahead.

"…?"

They surrounded a well in the middle of the forest and clasped their hands together. Then they began to chant.

—Barqpage. Cugody. Spqugy.

What they held were some scriptures and a piece of paper. The scriptures were a foreign language, but looking closely at the paper…

[Revelation]

"!"

The biggest problem in the present world is the main enemy of the Empire, the Altar. Their prophetic writings were in their hands. It was suspicious, but Julie couldn't jump to-

—I regard you as a God and worship you.

She was immediately convinced.

Julie thought about how to respond. Should this be reported as evidence? Or should she rush in?

Whooong—

At that moment, a certain dark vapor rose from the well. The cadets beamed and reached out their hands, and soon their hands came out with an elixir. At the same time, the area grew foggy.

"What?!"

Confused, Julie closed her eyes and opened them again.

The whole world was dyed in darkness. She couldn't see anything. She couldn't feel anything. She couldn't hear anything.

…This.

Julie spoke, but there was no sound. She looked around again, but it was pitch black.

She was looking at, what she was feeling, and what she was doing. Julie didn't know. Whether she was walking, watching, talking, or being attacked by someone.

—.

Suddenly, a new sensation arose behind her. Surprised, Julie tried to look around, but someone's strong grip stopped her. It was the strength of a warrior.

Were they an enemy? No, if it were an enemy, they had no reason to spare her. Of course, it may simply be that she couldn't identify them as friend or foe…

Swoosh—

Swoosh—

A finger moved across her back. The sensation was strangely clear; they were writing letters.

—Do not move. Don't even open your mouth.

She let her body standstill as instructed, for now.

—Speak slowly now. Why did you come here?

Julie spoke, but no sound left her.

—I can hear your voice. It's okay. Tell me.

…Some cadets were suspicious, so I followed them.

—You look like a cadet too.

…Yes. I am.

—Then don't step forward. You could have died today.

…Who are you to be talking like that?

—Someone who has more responsibility than you. Breathe every time you speak. Don't forget to breathe.

…Yes. But what is this darkness?

—Every day in the dark forest, a pretty dreadful veil spreads. So entry was prohibited.

…How do you know that? Could you please tell me who you are?

Julie asked again, but there was no answer.

…They are the Altar. The Altar has been set up inside the university. It seems that action is needed. Please tell me your name.

—It's not something you can do. Notifying them is not going to solve it.

…Yes?

—There are already too many people working for the Altar at this university.

Julie's eyes widened.

—Because of the elixir you just saw. One bottle of that elixir can achieve more results than a year of hard work.

…One year?

—Yes. Those who have tasted strength and talent too easily cannot let go of it. Maybe closer to half.

Half? Julie was astonished. No one could hear it, but she was probably screaming.

—So don't trust the people around you too easily.

…Let's cooperate.

—Don't trust the people around you-

…I'm not going to take the elixir of the Altar or be blinded by convenience, and of course, I don't know who you are yet, but you seem the same.

—I am not weak enough to seek the cooperation of a kid like you.

At his words, Julie shook her head. Rather than pride, it was righteous indignation, the attitude of a knight.

…I'll be back next week at the same time. With more preparation than now.

—You're stubborn.

…It's not stubbornness. As a cadet of the Knights Order, I must investigate if the university is being taken over by outside forces.

He went silent for a moment.

—Indeed.

…?

At that moment, the chains around her were released, and the world was revealed again. The fog had faded.

"Who…!"

Julie hurriedly looked back.

"…"

But no one was there. There wasn't even a trace of footprints.

"…' Indeed'? Does he know me?"

It was a situation she didn't quite understand. At that moment, when Julie scratched the back of her neck and thought about it, her crystal ball rang.

—Yuri. Are you ready to go to the Imperial Palace?

Sephine's message. Only then did Julie look up at the sky.

"…So soon."

It was morning.

* * *

The Imperial Palace of the Island.

I came back there according to the schedule, and for some reason, I was greeted by Sophien with a dull look.

"Deculein. You met Julie."

So that's why. She grumbled while flicking a white stone with her finger as she played Go.

"Hmph. I smell it. The smell of old mana."

I bowed my head without a word.

"Was it good?"

"…She is still an inflexible woman."

"Ha. Enough. I don't want to hear. Rather, I've already conducted interviews with the wizards you have selected. "

"Yes. I heard."

Eight people with correct answers to the theory questions. However, the theory was only the first test, and the most important thing was the emperor's interview.

"Three were useful, but I kicked out the rest because they were nothing special. The class starts today. So."

Sophien stood. Then she waved her left hand.

"Deculein. Get up. Get up and come to me. I have something to give you."

"…"

What's going on now? I stood and walked over to her. Sophien smiled warmly.

"Deculein."

Sophien called my name. However, the sound felt distant.

…Deculein.

Her legs as she walked towards me trembled, and her body swayed. As if the ceiling and floor were moving away from me… there was this sense of something out of place for the first time in my life since becoming Deculein. I could see a bit of Sophien's bewildered face, but I couldn't think further.

That was my last memory before things went dark.

…Thud!

"… "

Sophien held Deculein in her arms. No, she caught him.

"…Deculein."

He didn't move despite how she called out to him. There seemed to be no heartbeat, and only the slightest breathing sound left him.

Sophien smiled after a moment.

"Don't worry."

She shoved her hand into Deculein's robe. Without realizing it, her heart began pounding, and her face grew red, but even though the urge to attack him was bubbling-

"I will heal you."

She wouldn't act like a fool. She endured it with superhuman patience. However, with the divine language she had learned in preparation for such an event, she healed his body.

"…You have a great body."

Sophien swallowed back her drool.