Chapter 39

The 'Isle of Wizard's Wealth' was a floating island 1,500 meters perpetually above the sky. It housed a community of magic and magical engineering.

It was the home of many bright minds that led magical research, making it not that huge of an exaggeration to say that the Isle of Wizard's Wealth produced all magic on the ground. Additionally, it was an independent zone where a wizard could express their individualism to the extreme.

Aside from rare exceptions, only wizards were allowed to enter. Moreover, those ranked below Monarch were required to buy entrance tickets, which cost 1,000 Elnes.

More than half of its population worked at the periphery of the 'Megiseon,' located at the center of the island.

Simply put, Megiseon was an ark with magic and knowledge so vast it would allow humanity to rebuild civilization within a century even if the continent itself was destroyed.

The makers of the floating island were, in a way, fanatics, considering they tried to record and collect all the magic in the world and even created an institution with the most positive disposition for it.

One of the highest honors that exceptionally talented wizards could ever seek and attain was engraving the magic they created on the Cell, the highest floor of the 'Megiseon.'

At this moment, an auction was ongoing at the Megiseon's [VIP Academic Auction House].

"Currently, a total of 1,205 people have bid 35 thousand Elnes. Hence, we will start the re-auction at 36 thousand Elnes."

The Isle of Wizard's Wealth's auction didn't sell goods or treasures. Rather, they presented documents, and among them was the 'Understanding Pure Elemental Magic 1-8,' the questionnaire for one of the midterm exams at the Imperial University Tower.

"… We will start the re-auction at 37 thousand Elnes."

The number of wizards who participated in it, including those from far away lands, easily reached ten thousand.

But the hall was extremely calm. There was no unnecessary chatter, screaming, politics, and the like.

There was only the sound of writing so faint that it seemed as if even the pen was whispering.

"I see. Forty thousand Elnes and exactly 1 thousand people. The final result of the auction is 40 million Elnes."

The exam that Deculein made drew the attention of the wizards at the floating island due to its level of competence and difficulty, as well as its artistic 'reward' given upon answering all eight questions correctly. To be fair, however, it wouldn't have been a viable product to sell in any other place.

"We will be distributing the test papers after drawing blood from each person."

Through that procedure, the auctioneer would be able to ascertain that only the buyer themselves could solve the paper. It was a simple but efficient security mechanism, and it was the foundation of the magical rights system.

In their lightly populated wizard community, that system was strictly implemented even in the den of lawbreaking wizards.

Their protection only lasted at least a month to fifteen years at most, however. Naturally, the higher the class of magic and documents, the longer their protection period lasted.

In that regard, Deculein's test was highly regarded, gaining three years of protection. "We now adjourn this auction."

The event ended quietly.

'Kreto,' the second in line to the throne, remained in his seat until the end. He then stood up satisfactorily and looked at the list of the successful bidders.

"Oho, I can see the names of some 'addicts.' Is it that famous?" He asked Fassbender, the knight beside him. He wasn't a wizard, but he was able to enter the floating island as a royal escort.

"According to what I've heard lately, yes. Adrienne also released a statement about it."

'After such a long time, Deculein, reputed for being a genius in technique interpretation, has shown us his talent yet again through his exam's last question. Number 8's problem itself was already a piece of art.'

Those were the chairman's words.

"Even Roxas, an addict who evaluated and solved the exam's problems in advance, spoke very highly of it."

The addicts, who resided on the 10th floor of the Megiseon, were obsessed with all things magic-related.

They evaluated the value of magical products and creations, investigated and managed the performance of wizards around the world, and observed one of the most important trials to ever exist: the promotion tests.

"Really? If so, then it must be interesting."

Kreto grinned and moved to the room of successful bidders. He accepted the blood draw the wizard staff demanded, even though the royal family often rejected such notions.

"The question is, can I solve this?"

"Of course, your magical talent is far superior to some measly test."

"Still, it's a midterm exam paper. I didn't learn pure elements from Deculein."

"You'll do fine."

"Only one person got a perfect score among the 150 examinees… Well, it doesn't matter if I solve it or not."

He didn't care about the outcome. New problems were always welcome.

No matter how hard it was, if it were fun to solve and could grant him magical enlightenment, then it would be satisfactory enough.

"I have to go and solve this. Fassbender, prepare an answer sheet."

"You mean right now?" Fassbender hesitated for a moment upon hearing his words. He simply smirked and nodded.

"I know this isn't the right place and time, but it doesn't matter. At this point, this is tradition. Also, since I met him once last month, I should send him a letter."

The exam paper was prepared just in time. Kreto accepted the thick bundle of paper and smelled it.

"… They always smell good."

At that moment, a tall, attractive man appeared on the other side of the hallway. He was clearly approaching Kreto, and Fassbender instinctively blocked his way.

Deculein von Grahan Yukline. His body seemed far more forged than most knights. That was made even more evident by the way his suit outlined his figure.

He looked at Kreto.

"It's a great honor to have the Prince himself purchase a creation of mine despite its faults and flaws. I have no doubt you'd be able to solve it without any difficulties, Your Highness. All I can hope for is that it helps you in the future in some way."

His etiquette, courtesy, and manners were perfect. He revered the royal family with sincerity without degrading himself, and he did so while overflowing with grace.

As shown by his behavior, Deculein acted differently around descendants of the emperor.

Kreto shook his head, momentarily flustered. "Y-you're not a citizen of the floating island."

"Regardless, you're still from the royal family," Deculein replied with a soft smile.

Kreto blinked. "Is that so?"

"Yes."

"Aha, right. I'll try solving this."

"Thank you." Deculein nodded, then left.

"I think he's a pretty good professor despite the rumors," Kreto mumbled as he watched his back retreat further down the hallway.

"… Don't blindly trust people based on how they present themselves," Fassbender replied. He knew about the past between Julie and Deculein but decided to keep quiet.

*****

Returning to the tower after the auction, I sat in my office and checked the payment I received. [ 40, 000, 000 ∃ ]

40 million Elnes revenue. It was much more than I expected.

It was thanks to Yeriel, who advised me to limit the number of exam copies I was selling to retain its premium aura instead of releasing more quantities to earn more.

There was no tax and commission at a wizard's auction. As expected, [Man of Great Wealth's Ability] didn't lie, but…

It was too early for me to celebrate.

I grabbed a newspaper, 'The Journal,' the largest media outlet in the empire in the corner of my office, and read today's breaking news.

[18th Emperor, Crebaim Bedio Judra von Jaegus Gifrein, Dies.]

It was a huge turning point.

After three days, the palace's gates would open, and I might be able to visit it once. Nine more days after that, the succession ceremony would follow.

After that, a lot of swift and gigantic changes would occur.

According to the game's story progression, a Named would soon appear that I had to save. An establishment that I had to acquire would soon be available as well. There would also be huge and small events that would emerge as the empire's laws were revised.

I would leave Yeriel to take care of said establishment and laws, so I could focus on saving the Named known as…

'Maho.'

The princess of the Kingdom with a separate story proportionate to the main quest.

She was currently staying in the system, using studying abroad as an excuse. However, at the same time as the next emperor's rise to the throne, her death event would be triggered. When I tested the game with a knight character, I was sure an acquaintance would cause it.

I didn't want her to die.

She had sentimental value for me since I personally designed and modeled her character. She was a good-natured Named that would grant me great strength in the future.

I was also curious.

Would 'Charlotte' and the other knights who accompanied us in the game at the time be the same in reality?

Knock knock—

I opened the door using Psychokinesis, unsurprisingly finding Allen outside of it. "Professor, an invitation for a lecture came!"

Allen seemed excited for some reason. I wondered why he was so giddy and fired up about a mere lecture, but I soon got the answer to it.

"Holding a lecture at the Isle of Wizards' Wealth?"

"Yes, yes! They would like you to give a lecture about the exam questions you created in about a week or so!"

They would pay me 1 million Elnes for it. That was 1 billion in Korean won.

Of course, that was but spare change compared to the 40 million Elnes I recently earned. However, Allen's expression was enough evidence for anyone to realize that it was a huge honor for wizards.

It was an achievement in itself.

[ Event Quest: Floating Island's Lecture ]

◆ Mana + 30

My heart was pounding because of Deculein's personality, and even the system was urging me to do it.

Event quests like this sometimes gave rewards in the form of additional mana or something similar. It was called stat reward, and it usually differed depending on the location.

The Isle of Wizards' Wealth provided mana, the Adventurer's Guild gave stamina, and the Knight Order awarded the quest taker with smaller amounts of both.

"Tell them I'll positively consider it."

It's just +30 mana, but it was much better than nothing.

"Yes!" Allen answered energetically.

*****

… Many things happened after the death of the emperor.

The death penalty was shut down, a short-term drinking ban was enforced, and the entire educational institution was closed.

Festivals and parties were postponed, and gambling dens and the thieves' guilds were momentarily spared.

A dead and desolate empire.

In particular, in the pitiful separate building of the royal palace, Princess Maho's escort, 'Charlotte,' was in anguish.

"What's wrong with your face, Sharl?" The beautiful jade-green-haired princess asked. While enjoying tea on the balcony, she smiled at Charlotte.

"… Princess."

"You shouldn't be so worried. I also know about the situation~ if my eldest brother loses, his subjects will try to use me, right? If my second brother loses, then his subjects will do the same."

Maho had unique brothers.

One was second in line to the throne, and the other was third in line to the Reok Kingdom.

When they first came to study in the empire, they were fifth in line to the succession of the throne, but they fought and rose to their current positions.

"You'd rather fight the two to the death instead of letting that happen. That's what you're thinking, right? I know~"

Unlike the empire, which the emperor's successor would easily inherit, the Reok Kingdom was forged with blood and iron.

Close to being a hostage in her own country, she volunteered to study abroad. The truth was that the empire was the safest place for her.

But now that the emperor was dead, she could no longer stay in this foreign land. Right now, Sophien also didn't want a hostage in disguise.

Therefore, she had to go back home immediately after showing her face at the enthronement.

"The principality's response to the letter that you sent them has arrived," Charlotte replied.

To Maho, her hometown was her limbs. Charlotte intended to entrust her to them, considering she was almost killed when she went to the Reok Kingdom.

"Really? What did my grandfather say?"

"It's possible, of course—"

"They permitted it?!"

"Naturally."

However, they would inevitably be attacked on the way.

They obviously couldn't bring soldiers to the empire's land. However, at the border, a large number of knights would probably be waiting for them.

"Then, you can think of this as a trip~ that's great~"

Maho smiled brightly, to which Charlotte replied with a smile of her own, one far more bitter.

"I'm looking for as many escorts as possible. I'm thinking about calling knights, adventures, and, of course, wizards from the tower."

"But we don't have money."

"Don't worry."

The princess only had three escort knights, but a large sum of money was prepared for days like this.

"Hmm…"

She rummaged through her drawers.

"I have a little bit of money too! I saved up my allowance, and I also have a lot of jewels—"

"No. It's fine."

"How so? Don't we need a lot of money for this trip to be perfect?"

"…"

She was right.

"Take it." Maho gave her entire fortune that she had saved up to Charlotte, who remained speechless. Not long after, she left the room with the money in her pocket.

"Kuggghhhh…"

Her tears fell as soon as she closed the door. Walking down the hallway, she looked out the window. The freshness of summer was spreading throughout the whole world.

"It's already summer, but the Kingdom is in an endless winter…" Charlotte exited the building and walked out of the palace.

"Will there even be adventurers good enough to protect her?"

If she combined Maho's and her entire fortune, the total would reach about 10 million Elnes, which was enough to hire adventurers to be Maho's escorts.

She mentioned the knights and the tower to reassure the princess, but the knights wouldn't involve themselves in political affairs.

The tower… was painful to speak of.

While she was walking and thinking to herself, she saw someone she had seen at the Imperial University.

Deculein, the Head of the Yukline Family.

He came to pay his respects to the deceased emperor four days ago.

Of course, the Heads of the families weren't allowed to go near the wooden coffin where the emperor was enshrined.

Only the empress and Sophien, the first in line to the throne, could stand beside it. Regardless, the eulogies were courteous; it was the Family Heads' moral duty. Even if they couldn't see him, they had to at least cope with it to show their 'loyalty' to the throne.

"… It's been a while."

Charlotte just wanted to get past him quietly, but Deculein called out to her. She looked at him with slight discomfort.

Deculein, who looked welcoming for some reason, muttered. "You look the same as before."

"… The same as before? You mean during college?"

"Ah, that's right. There was such a connection between us." Deculein nodded.

Charlotte smirked, the edges of her lips curving upward. "The same goes for you. People are gossiping these days about the difficult exam questions that you gave out."

"That's half right. It was praised, not gossiped about."

"What?"

"I made 40 million Elnes out of it."

"…" Her eyes widened with envy.

He continued in a calm tone. "Are you going to return to the Reok Kingdom with the princess now?"

"…"

"Or the Principality of Yuren?"

At that moment, her forehead scrunched.

'Are you mocking the princess's circumstances?'

She answered with her teeth clenched. "We haven't met in a long time, and today is supposed to be spent grieving, so it would be best if you avoid uttering such harsh words."

"Take this." He took a small bead, a crystal marble that allowed communication, from his pocket, but Charlotte didn't take it.

"… What is it?"

"A line that you can speak to your siblings with."

"What?"

She was suspicious of it, of course. He looked down at her indifferently. "Charlotte, how close were we?"

"We weren't close enough for you to call me by my name, at the very least."

"I also have animosity towards Reok." Those were the only words Deculein said, knowing full well that she wouldn't believe him if he were to tell her he had seen the future and that he had known her through a monitor.

In the first place, in the game's settings, Reok wasn't a great country. On the contrary, it was beyond help.

"It's just a matter of time before they screw themselves over."

"Get lost."

Deculein's eyebrows furrowed as he dropped the crystal ball carelessly.

"… Do you still have time to be picky about people? Or, at the very least, do you really have the luxury to nitpick about people who'll be protecting your lord?"

The bead rolled over the ground.

"Well, proceed as you please, then." Deculein passed Charlotte.

The princess's knight didn't even look at his back. Regardless, he walked more confidently than anyone else in the world before stopping abruptly, his eyes looking at it.

The crystal ball rolling on the ground.

*****

That was how I met Charlotte.

There was a way to save her whether or not she used the crystal ball, but the opportunity would present itself only after the enthronement anyway.

Hence, right now, I had to focus on a far more pressing matter.

"Huu— huu— huu—"

Allen, who was next to me in the Isle of Wizards' Wealth's waiting room for lecturers, took deep and nervous breaths.

His behavior dumbfounded me. Allen wouldn't be the one giving the lecture.

"Why are you nervous?"

"W-what? Ah… I'm sorry, I—"

Knock knock—

The door opened. A wizard wearing a robe entered the room and addressed me.

"Please finalize your preparations for your lecture, Professor Deculein."

"Okay."

I fixed my clothes and got up from my seat.

At the Megiseon's second floor, I stood in front of the lecture room's door as instructed by the wizard who fetched me. I read the plate that was attached to it.

[Monarch-ranked Deculein: Lecture on Understanding Pure Elemental Magic (Test Paper Included)]

"I-I-I'll be waiting in the back. If there's a problem, feel free to call me at any time." Allen stuttered, his face reddening even further.

I replied with a nod and opened the door. Stepping up to the podium, I looked at every face that attended my lecture.

Strangely, there were a lot of familiar faces.

I saw Professor Relin and the other professors, as well as Sylvia and her fellow debutantes. There were a lot of people from the tower.

But the person who caught my eye the most was the one staring intently at me while laughing ominously for reasons I couldn't even begin to guess.

The chairman.

I got on the platform without even looking at her.

"Nice to meet you."