The End of Semester (1)

"Why did he burn it? I just can't seem to understand his actions."

"Wouldn't he have a meaning in his own way?"

Judges Rose Rio, Gindalf, and the Chairman were in the waiting room, having a discussion. Their topic was still Deculein's sudden action.

"The runes that Deculein muttered were three sentences, right? Does that mean he used a total of eighteen runes? Did you clearly feel the surge of magic?"

Of course, 48 might be an exaggeration from Deculein, but the interpretation of 18 new runes was a sufficient achievement.

Deculein burned that achievement himself.

It was strange.

The Deculein, known to Rose Rio, no, the magic world, became a "fair wizard" who didn't boast of his own research.

Not empathic, but fair.

"Isn't it because he thought there would be a problem if the rune interpretation were revealed to the Ashes?!"

Rose Rio was taken aback by the chairman's unfiltered words.

"I mean… Well, I heard those bastards had implanted spies even in the Isle of Wizard's Wealth these days."

"I know! Those mean bastards! Because of them, the runes had to be burned!"

"… Ahem. Oh, yes. That's right, chairman. Your words are too precipitous…"

Among them amid a conversation, Louina kept to herself, deep in serious thoughts.

"…"

Why did Deculein destroy his own research with his own hands?

She reconstructed the case with her own wisdom and intelligence.

"Perhaps…"

Perhaps he was trying to find a cure or even just a clue to his disease in the runic language, hoping for an ancient power that transcended modern magic.

However, he found no healing miracles in the rune language, unlike the 'possibility of misuse,' which he found innumerable.

Hence, he destroyed it on his own, without any regrets.

No achievement would be able to give him any glory right now…

At that moment…

Slam—

The door opened, and Deculein appeared. Startled, Rose Rio and the chairman immediately changed the subject of their conversation.

Deculein looked at Gindalf among them.

"Elder Gindalf."

"Hm? Deculein, did you just call me?" Gindalf's wrinkled eyes became round.

"Yes. There's something I want to ask you."

"Me?"

"Is it possible?"

"It is, but…" Gindalf left with Deculain. Louina stared intently at the door the two of them just exited into.

She wasn't a curiosity seeker, but she was so curious about this case her whole body was itching.

The chairman looked at her and smiled. "Professor Louina is just like me!"

Louina narrowed her eyes at her, finding the notion ridiculous.

"No. I'm different from you, chairman."

"How so?"

Louina leaned against the couch without a word. At that moment, the chairman's 'Curiosity Seeker Antenna' was activated.

Relaxed back, pitiful eyes, finger movement, an expression that seemed to be in a little trouble.

Her posture showcased the arrogance of dominating the information they didn't have!

Her eyes twinkled, and the chairman clung to the seat next to Louina.

"What's different? Professor Louina~?"

"I don't know."

"Heeey! Don't do that…!"

Unfortunately, Louina was tight-lipped.

•••••••

[Achievement: Symposium problem solved]

◆ Mana +200

◆ Store Currency +2

"You want me to restore that?"

"Yes."

I held out a pendant to Gindalf. In it, there was a picture of a woman from the Luna family.

"The picture inside is important."

"Hmm… The picture looks a bit old, but it shouldn't be difficult."

Gindalf was a Named wizard who had reached the apex of the 'Harmony' series, which was why I decided to find him.

"However, there's something I want to ask you in return."

"Sure."

I nodded, and at that moment, Gindalf cast a spell on the picture. It was [Regeneration] on a level I couldn't even begin to fathom.

"Did you truly interpret 48 runes?"

"…Of course." I laughed quietly. Gindalf chuckled, stroking his beard and holding out the pendant.

"Here. Take it."

It had become nearly as good as new after his magic had finished restoring it. I opened it and looked at the picture inside.

"…"

My eyebrows twitched.

Gindalf asked, "Do you know that person?"

"Yes. He was my assistant."

"Assistant?"

"He committed suicide," I calmly said as I slipped it into my inner pocket.

Gindalf scratched his cheek, pretending to be embarrassed.

"I'll repay—"

"Don't talk nonsense. Witnessing your work today is enough."

Gindalf's personality remained the same as the setting.

If I just listened to him, if I showed no sincerity, he wouldn't do me any favors in the future.

I gave him a check.

"It's not much, but please accept it."

50,000 Elnes. It was a fair amount for his work.

Gindalf glanced at it with a squint and took the check with a benevolent smile.

"Why did you… I will use all of these to educate future students rather than on my own self-interest."

…

I went out to the Megiseon's backyard. Kreto, Yeriel, Epherene, and Sylvia were there, waiting, at the promised place.

First, I bowed to Kreto.

"Thank you for coming."

"Haha. It's nothing. Rather, it felt like you just opened my eyes. Your lectures are amazing. How did you come up with such an idea? That's why are called the wizard who walks the royal road. Oh, by the way…" Kreto covered his lips before continuing. "Was there really only one original paper?"

"Yes. There are no copies in this world anymore."

"… Isn't that a waste? You've been immersed in it for a long time."

"I was thinking of destroying it from the beginning. This era isn't mature enough yet to use the rune language."

"Mature?"

"Runes spoken by the mouths of the wicked are sure to turn into a weapon that'll cause death and destruction. Hence, I deemed it better to get rid of it."

Kreto's jaw hung, his eyes filled with a sense of respect that I found burdensome.

"Right, this is the book you asked for before."

I pulled out a signed first edition [Yukline: Understanding the Pure Elements] from my briefcase.

"Are you sure you want to give me something this precious? It's not even out in the market yet."

Kreto's eyes twinkled as he looked at the book, his hand caressing its cover.

"I am giving it because it is precious…"

At that moment…

"What's your name?"

Epherene's voice sounded unusual.

I looked around a little nervously.

"Hehe. You're cute."

"…."

"Your legs are so short."

She was talking to a cat, who simply stared at her without a word.

The red-furred munchkin was very cute on the outside, but knowing its true nature, I couldn't help but pray for her well-being.

"Pffft. What? Why are you looking at me that way? Come on~ Look at this~"

Epherene took a foxtail and waved it in front of the cat, who then reached out to it.

Its short paws moved along the grass that she shook.

Although possessed, its body's innate instincts were still there.

"Oh. That's the cat the imperial family entrusted to me." Kreto laughed softly.

I realized then why Sophien was keeping her silence.

Even her brother still didn't know the emperor was inside the feline.

"Epherene. Sylvia."

I called out to them before things got complicated.

"You two did a great job in the recent Baron of Ashes case."

I pulled out a checkbook from my inner pocket and handed them one by one.

"Consider this your reward. Regardless of price, buy what you want here in the Isle of Wizard's Wealth."

Sylvia calmly nodded while Epherene looked like she was about to suffocate. Yeriel, watching from behind them, was astonished.

"H-Hey, what are you guys going to buy with it…?" Rushing towards us, she pretended to ask such a question as she looked at the type of check I gave. Afterward, she whispered in my ear. "Damn it. That's a family check! Use a goddamn personal check!"

This place didn't accept personal checks.

•••••••

Meanwhile, Julie was looking around the Isle of Wizard's Wealth alone.

"The pathways here are complicated."

…More accurately, she got lost.

She was fine until she came out of the Grand Hall.

When she came to her senses, she was already somewhere in the town.

The most basic path-finding tactic, "just walk along the wall," did not work here.

In some streets, the road itself rose to the sky, and in others, it fell straight down to the ground.

"… Huh?"

Julie, who was wandering around the area, accidentally found a shop.

[Brand Doll Shop]

A smile appeared on her lips.

There was even a doll shop on this floating island.

Approaching it, she saw a lot of cute stuffed toys on the shelf. Eagle, rabbit, and… Among them, she saw a small panda.

Unlike other pandas, this one with brown eyes had been a famous panda brand since Julie was a child.

"… Huh?"

However, the owner soon opened the display case and took it out.

It just got sold out!

As Julie smiled bitterly out of sheer regret…

Ding—

The store's door opened with a chime.

Sylvia, a famous person that Julie knew well, came out, carrying the stuffed toy she was just looking at in her arms.

"…."

"Hello, Sylvia."

"Hi." Sylvia seemed disconcerted by their sudden encounter, but she soon realized that Julie's gaze was focused on her doll.

Proudly, she declared, "It's a gift."

"Who are you giving it to?"

"No. I received it." She said something a little strange without realizing it, but it wasn't wrong in the first place.

The definition of a gift was 'something that someone bought for another.'

She didn't pay for it, so it wasn't unreasonable to call it a gift.

… She didn't force him to buy it for her either.

Sylvia proudly held the panda with her two hands.

Julie smiled, expressing that she found it cute. "I'm jealous. Have you ever actually seen a panda?"

"Yes. I saw a real panda when I was a kid."

"Wow. Is that true? I'm so jealous!"

"Julie."

A familiar voice flowed from behind the white-haired knight. Sylvia immediately determined who it was.

Deculein.

Finding Julie, he smiled at her.

"You're here."

"Oh, yes."

Though a little late, the moment Deculein's gaze fell on Sylvia, he introduced her to Julie.

"This is Sylvia, a talented wizard capable of challenging the Eternal rank."

Sylvia looked at Deculein and Julie next to him alternately, the panda doll she just proudly showed off now hidden behind her.

"I know. I was just talking to her—"

"I'll just go."

Sylvia cut off Julie's words, bowed, then ran away.

Julie watched her retreat into the distance.

"By the way, Julie, Did you understand my theorem?"

She blushed.

In fact, she couldn't understand the slightest bit of what he said. She only felt the flow of magic generated by the runes.

Deculein smiled a little.

"It's alright. I didn't even expect it. You came because of Zeit in the first place."

Julie trembled at those words but then shook her head.

"No. The invitation was, of course, given by the head of the family, but it was my will to come here."

"Is it?"

"Yes. I'm serious."

"… I see. Allen?"

The assistant professor who was still following Deculein's footsteps appeared.

"Yes."

"Tour her around the island. The opportunity for a knight to visit this place is rare."

"Oh, yes. Alright. Nice to meet you, Knight Julie!"

Allen smiled softly and bowed at Julie.

"I'm going. If I stay, it will be uncomfortable for you and me."

"Not necessarily—"

"It has to be, doesn't it?" He asked.

Julie, who understood what he meant, simply smiled bitterly and nodded. Deculein then walked away, leaving her behind.

"Well, I should take you on the tourist course… Oh, we should head to the main island first. Oh, no, then… By any chance, Knight Julie! Can you tell me how much time you have? Depending on your answer, our course will be…"

As Allen panicked, Julie simply said, "It's fine. I have a lot of time, so you don't have to think about it too much."

Her voice was calming, serene.

* * *

The sky was clear, allowing the huge sun to gaze down upon us from its throne, releasing rays of heat that turned the winds hot and humid… It was one of those days that met all the conditions that define the empire's summer.

After completing the Symposium presentation, I returned to the University Tower. The board of directors held a reception using the entirety of one of the upper floors. The professors congratulated me, and Adrienne gave me the promised title.

[Head of Planning and Financial Coordination Office, Deculein]

In fact, this tower was built with gold rather than magic. It devoted itself to the investments by the state, territories, corporations, and the mana stones it received every year.

The only fuel that ran this tower was money, which was why it was the most capitalist place in the world.

In such a place, I seized the undisputed power of 'finance'…

"Professor! This is the final lesson plan and a weekly guide to career counseling."

Allen then appeared, handing me several documents.

Classes had now ended, and the time for debutantes to think about their career paths had come.

The tower offered career counseling to 1st-year to 3rd-year wizards to give them a chance to ask for future advice from professors.

In that sense, no one would apply to Deculein.

"Three people even applied for your counseling!" Allen said brightly.

I didn't really like how he worded it.

"… Even?"

"Oh, um! That…"

"It's fine. I already know."

"I-I apologize! I didn't mean it that way—"

"I know. You may go."

Allen went outside looking back several times, and I took a letter out of the sponsored mailbox.

It was Epherene's letter this time again.

[Hello, It's me, Epherene, again. I got your response. It's going to be vacation soon…]

As I read it, I pulled out the pendant from the drawer.

"…"

The Epherene I knew was honest and wasn't good at hiding her feelings.

It seemed she had been that way since she was a child, considering she was smiling brightly, like always, in the photo, but…

"Why?"

Epherene's father wasn't smiling.

He contrasted his child's joy sharply.

His expression was just that terribly stiff.

* * *

Wednesday noon. 77th floor of the tower.

Sylvia stood in front of Professor Deculein's office.

Knock, knock—

Career counseling ran for a month before and after the final exam.

Debutantes troubled by their future asked several professors for advice, but Deculein wasn't on the list of professors they could approach.

According to the words written on the bulletin board, 'Deculein's direct words and actions were burdensome,' or something along those lines.

… She thought only those who were weak would think like that.

Knock, knock—

Considering them pitiful, Sylvia knocked once more.

Assistant Professor Allen opened the door.

"Oh, Sylvia. Wait here. Another consultation is going on right now."

"Is there someone inside?"

"Yes, but it will be over soon."

Sylvia sat still and waited as Allen tapped this new typewriter.

Tak— Tah— Tak— Tak—

His typing speed was fairly slow.

After waiting for about 10 minutes, the door to the counseling room opened. She raised her head and glared at the wizard.

"Arrogant Epherene…"

Naturally, she was the first to come to her mind.

"Hm? Sylvia?"

"…"

But Drent, the man burned at the stake by Deculein due to his thesis, was the one that came out.

"Oh, are you surprised? Me too… Hahaha. Anyway, work hard."

Drent left, scratching the back of his neck as if embarrassed. She didn't understand him at all, but she soon walked in.

The Head Professor's counseling room was spacious and luxurious. No, the atmosphere of a certain person had colored the space with dignity.

She walked over and sat down in front of him.

Deculein, sitting on the counselor's seat, spoke indifferently. "This is surprising, Sylvia. I didn't think you'd look for a career counselor."

"Yes," She nodded. "I am."

It was awkward to call it consultation. Her career path after passing the Solda promotion test was already half-determined.

"Okay. What are your concerns?"

"…"

Sylvia remembered what Epherene told Deculein.

'I'll be proposing to be under your supervision. In doing so, I'll reveal what happened and the reason why my father committed suicide!!'

He wouldn't want an arrogant and dumb wizard like her. Rather, he probably lamented for having to take that stupid wizard in.

Hence, Sylvia decided to take a step forward.

"Should I apply under your supervision?" She asked. She wanted to hear Deculein's definitive answer directly from him.

She wiggled her fingers on her knees, puffing up her cheeks.

"…"

He stared at her silently, wearing a surprised expression, which was unusual.

Was he impressed?

In fact, it was natural.

Any professor would welcome Sylvia if she applied under them.

The same went for Professor Deculein.

She didn't have to worry about his response since, naturally, it would be in the form of affirmation.

Good thoughts flooded Sylvia's head, but…

"It's not a good choice."

Deculein shook his head.

"…"

Sylvia momentarily failed to comprehend his actions.

'Since when did shaking your head become a yes and nodding become a no? Did the universal body language change beyond my awareness?'

"You are a talent that shouldn't be under anyone."

"…"

She was taken aback by his words. Without realizing it, she brought her up.

"What about Epherene?"

"Epherene is worth raising, and she's the daughter of my old assistant. Moreover, compared to you, she lacks a lot."

Sylvia stared blankly at Deculein, her red, swollen cheeks shrinking.

"You have the qualities of a future Archmage, so you should go to the Isle of Wizard's Wealth instead. In a year or two, your skills will fully bloom, and you'll still have plenty of time to challenge the Archmage trials."

… He was being honest.

Professor Deculein was speaking with sincerity, even clearly praising her.

But why did she feel this way?

Why did she keep feeling like a sharp needle was stabbing her heart?

"Even if you apply, I won't take it."

That was the decisive blow.

Sylvia bowed like a withered sprout.

For a long time, she didn't say anything. She just stayed still.

"…?"

It confused Deculein, but for her, it was a compliment she gave while suppressing the jealousy and twisted feelings that soared from her personality.

"Sylvia. Raise your head."

Sylvia didn't do as instructed. Her actions were unusual.

A small light twinkled under her closed eyelids.

… No way.

That couldn't be tears.