Sylvia (6)

The island was peaceful as always. Every day went on like it had the day prior. Sylvia toured the island with Deculein; she showed her paintings, drew his portrait, and they had dinner together. He was cutting the veal steak for her, then elegantly poured and drank red wine. She paid close attention to his habits, actions, tone of voice, everything.

"Life as a fake is meaningless."

Of course, Deculein talked as he pleased. Those words weren't much different from the Deculein she drew yesterday, but they felt so real that she grew angry and destroyed him then.

She aimed for the Magic Tower period, the Deculein she had admired then.

"Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. I'll come back until you're ready to leave. The trip will not be long."

Now, Deculein calmly left the restaurant, but Sylvia didn't bother to hold onto him. Half a day was enough time for the paint to harden, so it was safe. The restaurant door closed, and Sylvia mumbled.

"Bye."

"…How long do you plan on doing this?"

Then, Idnik appeared from the restaurant's kitchen. Sylvia turned to her. Idnik raised an eyebrow silently.

"I said you could go wherever you wanted."

"No teacher leaves behind their disciple."

Idnik sat across from her. Then, she picked up the steak that Deculein ate. Sylvia stared intently at her.

"And, the opportunity to study a magical space like this isn't common."

Idnik was trying to cut into it, but Sylvia reached out and held her hand.

"…What?"

She frowned.

"It's what Deculein ate."

"Oh, I don't care. I-"

"No."

She shook her head and pulled her plate away. Idnik burst out laughing.

"Ha. So, will you eat it?"

"Eat mine instead."

"What's with that habit?"

"Please, eat it."

She offered her bowl to Idnik before cutting into the steak.

Gulp-

Looking at the steak, she swallowed. What Deculein just ate…

"Girl. You look like a pervert. Just eat it."

"…"

Sylvia cleared her throat.

"What do you think, Idnik?"

"What do you mean?"

"Painting Deculein."

"I don't have much thought about it."

"…You haven't thought about it for five years."

The time of the Voice flowed differently. But slow and fast weren't always good. It was true that she had grown in her five years here, but in the end, her lifespan had shortened. Idnik smiled.

"You're going to be persuaded by Deculein anyway, so what's the difference?"

"Hmph."

"Isn't the reason you asked that in the first place because you know that you're straying away from what you wanted?"

"…"

"The disciple can stray. However, a teacher must correct them so that they don't completely derail."

After a while, Idnik finished her meal. She wiped her lips with a napkin and stood up.

"I'm going. I'll do some magic research I didn't do yesterday. Say hello to Sierra for me."

"Idnik."

Sylvia caught Idnik as she was about to leave. She turned around, clutching the restaurant's doorknob.

"Sierra is not fake."

"…"

"Sierra knows that… she knows she died."

All the villagers resurrected in the Voice didn't know that they were dead, but not Sierra. Idnik's expression hardened for a moment. However, she soon chuckled and shook her head.

"…If it were Deculein, he would probably say something like this."

She cleared her throat and mimicked his voice.

"Even if that's true, she's still fake."

"…Get out."

Idnik chuckled and opened the door. She left the restaurant-

"…"

Her heart stopped. It was because of Deculein, who stood leaning against the wall. His blue eyes shone like an owl's in the middle of the night. He glanced at her.

"What are you so surprised about?"

"Did you eavesdrop?"

Idnik was a bit disconcerted. Sylvia's daily life was constant, but this Deculein's behavior differed from Yesterday's Deculein. His memory must have been reset, so why?

"I heard it. But I figured it out before that."

"…Already?"

Deculein nodded.

"Idnik. Am I a fake now?"

Idnik couldn't even open her mouth. A fake who realized that he was a fake. A creature who was aware that he was not a creature. What should she say to such a poor soul-

"It doesn't matter."

"…Hmm?"

At the unexpected remark, Idnik tilted her head. However, Deculein was quite calm.

"Guide me anywhere. I have something to say to you."

* * *

I arrived at Idnik's house. It was a crypt.

"…It's stuffy."

The outskirts of the island, far from the village in a space hidden under the ground. A dusty room with only a single lamp for light, a creaky wooden bed, a wooden table, and a wooden desk.

"These are my precious things. Be careful not to break anything."

"This trash is precious?"

"Trash? These are real. They don't have any of Sylvia or the Voice's power; they are the real thing. It was hard to find this much."

I looked at the finished desk.

"Is there any reason to stay here?"

"Because of erosion. It depends on the individual, but it erodes in a day or two. We lose our memory. Sit down."

I brushed off the dusty chair with my hands.

…I stopped as I was about to sit.

"If you lose your memory."

"You'll become like the locals out there."

"How many residents are there?"

"Hmm? Oh~, I did a little census a while ago."

Idnik pulled an old piece of paper from the drawer.

"The island has an area of ​​1,500.2 square kilometers. Even that is getting bigger and bigger, and the population is about 500,000."

It was quite large, about the same as Jeju Island, with 600-700,000.

"By the way, there are 300,000 people outside that are from the continent. Of these, 290,000 people consider this island their hometown, having forgotten themselves."

"…There are only ten thousand left."

"It's a survey from two years ago based on the history of the Voice. More than half of them probably forgot about it. It is quite difficult to endure like this."

"The Voice's history."

I felt disconcerted.

"Yeah, you bastard. The Voice's history. Time here is different from the continent. And here, this is my home. Doesn't it look fucking shabby?"

Contrary to her tone, Idnik stroked the desk happily.

"But no one lives like me. This much is like a noble. The natural resources are almost completely shattered or worn out."

"Where did that come from?"

Idnik took off her robe and hung it up.

"There used to be an island here. It was called Dehlen, an island where about 10,000 people lived, but the Voice devoured it. So, we are still using the island's resources. The same goes for food."

"How do you distinguish between real and fake?"

"It's obviously with mana. Sylvia's mana is perfect for both texture and color… no, it creates, but it's still unfinished. So, if you look into it with mana, you can see a little bit of the nature of the oil painting. After all, it's water. No, but why aren't you sitting down?"

"Because it's dirty. You don't clean here at all, even though Cleanse is all it takes."

"If we use magic at night, we'll get caught."

"…By whom?"

"The Vigilante Corps."

Answering that, Idnik wore an expression of terror.

"Voice fanatics, they're monsters. They catch adventurers and erase their memories."

"…"

I felt sorry for Idnik.

"Why are you looking at me like that? It's disgusting."

"It's pitiful and pathetic how Rohakan's disciple ended up like this."

"…You went nuts. And, how many times have I told you that I am not his disciple? It was an equal relationship. What did you hear from that old man? No. Let me tell you instead…"

Idnik kept chatting. Idnik and Rohakan's previous history, their mission together. Without her, Rohakan would have died a hundred times. Yes, it was funny to say that he was a teacher, but she endured it…

She told me all of it.

"I believe. You are not fake."

I admitted it. Idnik crossed her arms and chuckled.

"I was suspicious-"

Then Idnik stopped talking. She quietly looked up to the ceiling of the crypt.

Screech, screech, screech, screech…

A sound like scratching a blackboard came from above us.

"…He's gone."

After about five minutes, Idnik broke the silence. She continued, looking embarrassed.

"Ahem. I feel weird when I say things like this, but they are scary. Their faces are also so fucking ugly, and their numbers make no sense."

"Got it. Do you have a map of the island?"

"Map?"

I nodded.

"The reason is?"

"You said I'm fake."

Idnik's expression hardened. This time Idnik seemed to have compassion for me, but a smile appeared on my lips.

"If I'm a fake, shouldn't I help the real one arrive?"

* * *

Early in the morning before dawn, Idnik's crypt was still cramped.

Sitting at her only desk, looking at the map of the island, Deculein was studying and thinking of magic theory. He was working on a theory that would temporarily neutralize the vibration of the Voice and allow the real Deculein to reach here.

"In other words, you'll draw a magic circle on this island?"

Idnik asked.

"Right."

"If you get caught, you will be destroyed right away."

"You're not getting caught either."

"…Indeed."

Idnik nodded, but she asked a question as if testing him.

"Then, if Sylvia finds out, you will be thrown out immediately."

"Then Sylvia will make another me. He can continue it."

"…Ha."

Idnik smirked.

"You are unbelievable. Aren't you afraid that you're a fake?"

"Why would I be?"

Deculein drew a circle on the map.

"My only purpose is to destroy the demon and bring Sylvia out."

He spoke confident words full of conviction. Idnik scratched the back of her neck.

"…That's fortunate. Is there anything I can do to help?"

Then, Deculein's pencil stopped for a moment. He looked at Idnik.

"If I die or disappear, you just need to pass this map to the next me. That's all."

"…"

Throwing away his death without any expression or emotion. Idnik was a little annoyed with that attitude.

"Enough. How is a disciple of Rohakan so weak? Shut up and don't even think about dying. Every time you die, your memory is reset. Run, thinking that once you die, it's over…"

* * *

…Again, at the capital of the Empire, late at night.

After finishing her one-on-one talk with Her Majesty, Julie entered the secret room of the Imperial Palace. It was prepared by her secret helper in the Imperial Palace.

"Ahan. Thank you for your cooperation."

The secret helper was Ahan, Sophien's direct maid. Julie held out a hand to her.

"…I must go back to Her Majesty quickly. I'll give you this key so that you can use the secret room anytime. If anything happens, tell me. I will help you as much as I can. The power of a court lady is not as weak as everyone thinks."

…Ahan was commanded to pretend to cooperate with Julie. The order came from, of course, Sophien.

Julie took a deep breath.

"Thank you. I will never let you down."

"…Yes. Professor Deculein is truly a villain, so I…"

Ahan bowed her head. Describe Deculein as the greatest evil in the world; this was also Sophien's order.

"I know. Haven't you seen him all this time in the Imperial Palace?"

However, Julie, unaware, comforted Ahan as if she understood everything.

"…Yes."

Ahan killed the emotions filling her. She cut off any sense of guilt and compassion. For her to be helpful to Her Majesty, she needed to be cold and cruel.

"And… this."

Ahan pulled out a sealed envelope from her pocket.

"What is this?"

"It is evidence that will be helpful in your task."

"…Evidence."

Julie's eyes widened. Ahan motioned for her to come closer.

—The person behind the attempted poisoning… might be Yukline.

She whispered. Julie clenched her fists, feeling her chest tighten.

"…Is that so?"

Julie took a step back. Now, the knight's eyes hardened as solemnly as if she was going to battle, but when she looked at Ahan, she melted a bit.

"I will repay you."

"Breaking down the Professor is the greatest reward. Also, since it is only a small piece of evidence linking the rumors of the court ladies in the past, a detailed investigation will be necessary."

"Yes. Thank you."

Ahan felt the knight's integrity. At this point, it was growing difficult for Ahan to face Julie directly.

"…Then, I'll be going."

Hesitating for no reason may lead to suspicion.

"Yes. Be careful. If you need a watch-"

"It's okay. I also have an escort."

"Escort?"

"Yes. It's not the first time the Professor has attacked me. He must have disliked me getting close to Her Majesty."

"…He's still doing such shameful things."

Julie's eyes went cold. Her white hair fluttered behind her.

"Shh. Now go back."

"Yes. I will not forget this."

Ahan turned away.

"…"

The Anti-Deculein Alliance gathered in the secret room. Ahan checked their faces with a squint. Isaac, Lawaine, Belard… everyone who lamented Deculein's dictatorship was there.

No, they were gathered by Sophien on purpose. To spread Deculein's bad reputation, to make the court ladies say bad things about him every day and night, and even leak the lie that the Emperor disapproved of Deculein. As such, Her Majesty the Emperor wanted to purge Julie. She wished for Freyden's annihilation and irreparable ruin.

Ahan knew the script. If Julie speculated that those behind the attempted poisoning were the Yukline, such a shocking claim would spread through the entire continent in an instant, and just at that moment-

Sophien would revise the truth again by revealing manipulation of evidence. The person behind the attempted poisoning was Freyden. She would claim that Julie was an unscrupulous person who framed Deculein under perjury. In this way, the relationship between the two would be irreversibly broken.

They would have no choice but to kill each other.

"…Goodbye."

Ahan spoke softly and closed the door to the backroom. She made a short prayer to Julie, who was being pushed to hell.