Inroad (4)

The world was swept by a pure white curtain that covered the sky and crushed the ground under the weight of snow. A blizzard raged over the muddy ground, the wind frozen and biting.

"…I'm cold."

"It's okay, Leo… just a bit more…."

In the northern mountains. Ganesha heard the children's voices muffled behind her back. The adventure team, including Lohan and Dozmura, had already left for other missions, so the current climb was too dangerous. A blizzard-like this could kill someone.

"Guys. Let's stop for now."

"…Eh?"

"Gather around me. Hurry!"

"…"

Ganesha summoned the staggering children to her side. She held them in her arms and checked the temperature. It was minus 33 degrees. The mana of the blizzard itself, added to this maddening chill, was enough to be called the Lonely Ghost. It was a magical cold that nullified even artifacts.

"Guys. Guys."

Ganesha patted the three children's faces, but they had already turned purple. Their breathing became faint, and their frozen eyelids were tightly closed.

"Guys! You can't sleep! If you sleep, you will be scolded! Wake up!"

She tried to shake their small bodies, but they quickly collapsed.

"…"

Seeing their weak movements, Ganesha suddenly grew scared. The road they walked together was too long to send them off in vain. Too much time had accumulated. The memories they had together were too deep.

"G-Guys. Wait…"

It was then.

Whoooong–!

With a certain metallic sound, the blizzard around them cleared for a moment, and a strange hut appeared.

"!"

Warmth radiated from it. Ganesha hurried closer with the children by her side. She tried to open the door, but a sign was blocking her.

"…Posthouse?"

──「Posthouse」──

The posthouse is a shelter for lost travelers, adventurers, residents, and soldiers. In this place, built to overcome the harsh northern conditions, everyone can rest, but to enter, you must engrave your name on a list and swear by three vows.

First, don't commit a crime. Second, don't fight. Third, do not damage the post.

If you respect the above three pledges, the post office will become your shelter from the cold. However, if you neglect your pledge, the magic noose inherent in the post will bind you. Also, I will punish you in the name of Yukline.

───────────

"…Yukline."

Along with the name of the family, neat and beautiful handwriting was engraved on the sign. Just by looking at it, it was clear who made it.

"Professor, you've created something interesting."

She was just grateful for now. Ganesha quickly bit her finger. With the blood, she swore the oath on the sign and wrote her name on the roster.

Creeek-

The door opened automatically, and a wave of warmth washed over her. Ganesha hurriedly pushed the children in first.

"…It's warm."

The inside was surprisingly spacious, even including a bed. Ganesha first checked the condition of the children lying on the floor and was delighted to see the color returning to their faces.

"Gosh… I thought everyone was going to die…"

She sighed in relief and leaned against the wall. Then she looked out the window.

"…We survived thanks to that guy."

If it hadn't been for this posthouse, they would have been buried in snow already. Of course, Ganesha would be fine, but it would have been fatal to the children.

"Ugh…"

Just then, Lia raised her torso.

"Lia. Are you okay now~?"

Ganesha purposely spoke to brighten the mood, with her hair flapping like a propeller. Lia matched her with a smile.

"Yeah, I'm fine now…."

"Right. Then take a good rest."

"Oh, but… by Professor, are you talking about Deculein?"

Lia's face was already limp with exhaustion, but it seemed she couldn't hold her curiosity.

"Yeah. I think it's a facility that the Professor built, but thanks to him, we were able to live."

"Ah… but these days. Aren't there some strange rumors?"

"What rumors?"

"I heard it on Floating Island before I came here. That Professor Deculein knew the motive behind the attempted poisoning of Her Majesty the Emperor—"

Suddenly the lamp went out. Ganesha stood, trembling with a momentary chill, and quickly turned the lamp back on.

"…Lia?"

"Yes?"

"That's a dangerous statement. Don't say that again."

No matter how much the treatment of commoners had improved in recent years, commoners were still commoners. Since Lia was a commoner from the archipelago, she shouldn't dare even think about the Imperial family's unofficial stories.

"…Yes. I won't. I will reflect…"

Lia knelt on the floor of the room and raised her arms. She closed her eyes like that and reflected on it, then slowly… fell asleep.

"Huhu. The child is very curious."

Ganesha chuckled and leaned her body against the wall.

Whooooooooosh-!

Watching the raging blizzard through the window, she thought about the Altar that would arrive soon. She imagined the existence of the god they were trying to manifest.

"It won't be easy… from now on."

She must be prepared to die too. Ganesha sighed and closed her eyes. For the first time in almost a month, a guy named Suma came to visit…

* * *

Reccordak was now completing the Temporary Knights Templar. Like the actual Knights Templar, it was to build a complex site that organically connected various facilities such as a battleground and training room, an arsenal and tactical discussion room, a cafeteria, and a lodging center around the main building.

─Hey! Get moving, guys! Don't spill anything!

The Empire sent an architect, who directed the prisoners according to his design.

"Professor. How about this spire? The scenery is also very nice."

I watched it all from the spire of Reccordak. On the northern side of the Reccordak site, a huge wall separated the unexplored areas from Reccordak, and this spire was the only place where you could watch over the wall and the whole of Recordak.

"The knight Julie also came at the right…."

As he was speaking, the warden covered his mouth. It appeared that my relationship with Julie halted him. He bowed.

"I apologize!"

"Hmph. Apologize for what?"

Then, from somewhere in the spire, I hear Reylie's voice. The warden pointed.

"…Oh. Um, it's the knight's lieutenant, Adventurer Reylie."

"I know."

I approached her.

"What, why?"

Reylie, mumbling bluntly, was sitting at an easel. She had been painting a landscape with a palette and brush in her hands.

"Is painting your hobby?"

"I like the scenery here. Hmph!"

Julie's cousin, Reylie, was quite similar to her. Although she had silver hair, not white, her personality wasn't as calm as Julie's.

"Scenery."

I looked where Reylie was staring.

"Hmm…"

I had no interest in admiring the scenery, but I was startled. Beyond the Reccordak Wall, the whole world, wrapped in snow and wind, was foggy and dreamlike.

"…"

When I stared into the endless horizon of the unexplored land, the aesthetic sense in my mind was activated.

"Step aside."

"What? What the- hey, what are you doing?! Hey!"

I pushed aside Reylie with Psychokinesis and stole her brush and palette. The chair she was sitting on was wiped with Cleanse.

"Look at this Professor! Why are you doing this, hey?!"

I was thinking of painting. I naturally ignored Reylie yelling next to me. My mind was concentrated in one place. I was in a trance. All I could see was that bewildering landscape, and I moved as if possessed.

"…Oh, my."

Reylie exclaimed in surprise soon after I started drawing.

"…"

I stopped at some point, my gaze fixed on the canvas and landscape returning to reality. It was due to an unexpected notification.

[Production: Art of the Age]

◆ Store Currency +1

◆ Mana +50

I saw my painting. First, Man of Great Wealth reacted. A brilliant golden light was swaying like a wave over the portrait. The following item information was a little more mysterious.

-"Deculein's canvas: Untitled"-

◆ Information

: A portrait was drawn by Deculein von Grahan Yukline.

: A magical illusion resides in this landscape painting.

◆ Category

: Unique ⊃ Artwork

◆ Special Effects

: Top quality air purification. The air in a radius of 500 m becomes clear. It is a great help in recovering mana, as well as enhancing vitality.

: Advanced fascination. If you admire this picture, your mental strength and concentration will increase for half a day.

: Muse. A timeless art.

─────────

Proof that my canvas had become a unique item. Maybe it was because I'm considered an NPC, not a player.

"Awesome, Professor!"

"…"

The warden admired it, putting his hands to his cheeks, and Reylie moved her lips in dissatisfaction. Both their eyes were fixed on my painting.

"Hmm… it's beautiful. What is the title?"

I pondered briefly.

"…Let's call it Winter.

Then, the name and effect of the item were changed.

──「Eternal Winter」──

…

◆ Special Effects

: Top quality air purification.

: Advanced fascination.

: Muse.

: Eternal Winter. The magic of winter permeates the canvas.

─────────

* * *

Julie awoke at dawn. First, she checked the condition of her heart. The pain that felt like it would tear her apart every time she woke up had subsided.

"This is enough."

At least she wasn't going to die far away from home. She walked out into the hallway as usual but soon noticed the air was strangely clear. And a painting, which she had never seen before, was hanging in the hallway.

"…Hmm."

As soon as Julie saw the landscape painting, she nodded. She found herself naturally admiring it.

It was a painting depicting the scenery of the unexplored land beyond the Reccordak in a dreamscape. The simple title of 'Winter' suited it very well.

"Did Reylie paint it…?"

Reylie was the only person who painted at Reccordak. Had her talent grown this much? Even she, who was ignorant of art, found it beautiful. She felt proud for some reason.

Julie, about to head outside with satisfaction, noticed a person in the sports ground outside and stopped.

"…"

Deculein. He was running. At dawn, when the sun hadn't yet risen, under the indigo blue sky, he was running. She ground her teeth and felt her nails dig into her palms. A fire rose from within, but Julie suppressed it. She began to count without realizing it.

"30 seconds, one lap."

One lap every 30 seconds. Although she already knew before, Deculein's physical abilities were superior to most wizards.

"2… 3… 4…"

Julie recited the numbers and waited for Deculein's exercise to finish.

"Seventy-seven."

His record was 77 laps in 30 minutes. He didn't mobilize any mana or spells, so he could even be considered at the top of the list of knights.

"…"

When Deculein returned to the mansion, Julie went outside.

"Whew…"

She stood still in the middle of the sports ground and took in the cold air.

"One, two, one, two."

She did deep breathing and warm-up exercises and loosened her stiff joints, then… she started running. Her goal was 77 laps in 30 minutes, just like Deculein. The curse on her heart may make it a little difficult as it seriously damaged stamina more than anything else.

"I won't lose."

Julie recalled Deculein's appearance and felt herself burning. She would never, ever lose to that villain…

* * *

It was 10 a.m., in Reccordak's conference room. I was sitting at the top of the filthy, cramped stage.

"…"

I was in a bit of a bad mood. No, it wasn't a bit. With 200 people, including knights and wizards, in the space of about a thousand square feet, my head was dizzy.

"I see that 137 people applied."

I saw the list of knights and wizards. 137 people, including Julie, Ihelm, and Epherene, volunteered for the thorough process.

"First, this afternoon, we will start the actual training to form this 137-member team."

It was easy enough to figure out the strengths and weaknesses of the 137 people. I planned to build the most effective team that, if possible, would not take any fatalities.

"We will also refine the supply routes and open roads leading to the rear."

"Hmm? Professor. The road isn't designed to connect with the interior."

Then the warden intervened.

"Because, when this wall of Reccordak falls, if there's a road, the speed of the monsters' advance would be exponential—"

"It won't fall."

I looked at him and pointed at the knights and wizards around him with the tip of my chin.

"The purpose isn't to collapse in the first place, but I can see that Reccordak is like this since you have the mindset that it will collapse."

"…Sorry."

I went back to the point as the warden bowed.

"In the future, we will evaluate your performance and take corrective punishment. And…"

"Professor! This is an official letter from the Imperial Palace!"

Slam—

A messenger rushed in and began to shout. I was a little annoyed, but I nodded.

"Bring it."

"Here!"

I took the letter bearing the Emperor's seal. I explained the content after reading it with a sigh.

"…In addition, Reccordak will also host its own Go competition. This is Her Majesty's command, so it would be good to learn Go whenever you have time. And, I am not participating."

* * *

"…What is this?"

The Imperial Palace. Emperor Sophien frowned. On her desk were piles of tickets issued by court wizards.

The eunuch Jolang explained.

"The wizards of the Imperial Palace want to go on a business trip to Reccordak."

"…What?"

The Emperor was disconcerted, finding it a difficult situation for even her to understand.

"I heard that wizards hate cold places. There's no way those cowards would volunteer to the North. Is it true that they want to go to Reccordak?"

Sophien pushed her glasses up her nose with the tip of her finger. The large, round glasses that occupied about half of her face were an artifact that helped her study Go.

"Yes. It's because of the rumors."

"Rumors?"

"It is rumored that Professor Deculein is writing countless books at Reccordak, and each of very high quality."

"It's that guy again?"

Sophien was perplexed. She grinned and raised her glasses again, but they kept falling off as they were too large.

"Yes. That's right. I heard that each one is worth being stored on the Floating Island."

"…Hmph. That means that it's worth dying in the cold. Fine. However, since I cannot send them all, I will send only ten of them."

"Yes… but, Your Majesty."

Then Jolang shook his head. His body wriggled like a bean worm.

"Your Majesty said something the other day while playing a game with the professor."

"You mean about the poison?"

The incident was driving the Imperial Palace crazy these days. But Sophien didn't give much of an answer. Jolang's body shook violently.

"Yes, yes, Your Majesty… maybe that-"

"Deculein knows who it is."

"…"

"But I will wait. Until he opens his mouth."

Jolang stopped breathing for an instant. He slammed his forehead to the floor.

"Kill me, Your Majesty."

"What do you mean kill? Were you the one who poisoned me?"

"N-No, Your Majesty. How could I? Kill me—!"

The eunuch was shouting in his mosquito-like voice. Looking at him, Sophien smiled mischievously.

"Enough. To even kill? Just go back. I am busy studying Go."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I'm honored…"

"Get out of here."

After sending Jolang away, Sophien's expression calmed.

"…That's weird."

She rested her chin on her hand and looked at the board. Even if she played alone, she didn't get tired of it anymore. She was seriously thinking about what move Deculein would make in this situation.

'Still, why do I feel this empty and strange feeling?'

"…"

She wished he were in front of her. She wished the guy who kindled even the smallest spark in such a boring life would be here now. What was this kind of annoying feeling, a feeling of 'I miss you?

"Tsk. That's stupid."

Sophien shook her head and went back to playing Go.