Chapter 3: Deculein (3)

[Side Quest Completed: University Lecture]

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Bathroom. Bathroom, bathroom. Do you know where the bathroom is? I really need to go to the bathroom...

This is proof that I wasn't Deculein.

Even if part of Deculein's personality got transmitted to me, it's only a part and most of it was still me, Kim Woojin, so my stomach hurt as a result of that extreme mental stress I accumulated without noticing.

–Grooowwwl

Right now, I was the only one that knew I suffered from this very painful physiological phenomenon.

Nevertheless, on the outside I seemed like the perfect model, walking.

"...."

I walked. She stood still.

So the gap between us naturally shrunk. When I was in her reach I stopped.

"Long time no see."

She bowed her head to greet me first.

She was a beautiful woman.

White, fine hair and clear, icy eyes. They reminded me of that bloody scene I once saw on the monitor that one day.

Eight out of sixteen of Deculein's deaths I identified involved her.

"...Long time no see."

Her name is Julie, this body's fiancée.

And the named character who will rise to the top of the knights in the future.

"How have you been?"

Asked Julie. It was a question I had no answer to.

I looked at Julie without any expression. If she were a servant she would have looked down without being able to take this look, but Julie just silently waited.

In the end, I only answered with this.

"Fine"

This was the best I could do, however Julie creased her unperturbed forehead.

She took a deep breath and said,

"Do you remember the promise you made me last week?"

I stood still and looked into her eyes. Deep inside these beautiful eyes, flames of hostility were raging.

"You broke that promise."

"...."

It was unknown what promise she was talking about.

I nodded and tried to pass by. I really had to shit.

Julie stepped one step to the side and blocked my way.

"Again, like this?"

That woman didn't let me run away. She was staring at me with a face as cold as an awl.

In this situation, the only thing I could do was something rather terrible.

"...We made some kind of promise?"

I really didn't know, but I still got goosebumps on the back of my neck. Julie's anger caused a reaction on my skin.

It tickled. My back felt hot. I really wanted to scratch myself, but this noble body didn't allow such low class behavior.

Instead I continued saying slightly awkward things.

"I'm seriously asking. I had a fever for a few days so I forgot some things"

"Hah."

The woman's face was filled with despair.

It was more lament than anger.

"....God damn it. You've lost it now."

She used a cool and cold voice towards her fiancé.

A mixture of sorrow and discouragement.

"Go ahead."

She stepped out of the way and I brushed past her. Even with her so far away, the back of my head was still tickling.

After leaving the hallway, I entered the guest bathroom. I looked around to see if someone was coming in and only after confirming that no one was around, I did what I had to do.

"I almost died from that itching...."

I scratched my back and my neck while relieving myself.

What a tiring personality, to only be able to scratch myself while minding the place and occasion.

That's why I won't be able to live a long life.

* * *

Julie spent a long time standing there even after letting Deculein go. The anger and hurt that swelled inside her burnt red hot.

She was trying to force it, but Deculein turned out to be a more difficult opponent than she thought. He was a board member of the university.

"Gosh."

A young magician of the "Ether" rank wearing a cone hat came along. She was the chairman of the board, counted as a promising archmage candidate, just below the "Eternal" rank, at which one would become immortal, however among Julie's personal connections her personality meshed the worst with her.

As soon as she found Julie, she covered her mouth with both her hands.

"Oh my! If it isn't Professor Deculein's wife?!"

"...."

They weren't married yet, she already knew that that guy didn't use these words to describe them. So Julie just nodded her head.

"That lecture was great~ As expected from a senior professor, he explains really well, that's what I thought while listening! It would be nice if I could acquire his teaching methods as well."

"I know. I was watching."

She tried to cut her off like that, but the chairman grabbed on to every single detail.

"Oh, really?! Were you supporting your husband? Are you finally getting along?"

"...."

She never had such a romantic purpose as supporting him as his wife.

Today, Julie came to see with her own eyes if Deculein would keep his promise.

Julie made it clear to him.

If you, Deculein, keep your faith, that is, confess your continued deceit to everyone and ask for forgiveness, I will be with you even if the world collapses.

This was not a matter of what shame a broken engagement would bring, or of maintaining a formal relationship to save the family's face.

It's just the release of her beliefs she wants to keep as a knight transcending all worldliness....

That's all there is to it.

She was sure he'd agree.

"What's wrong~? Today's lecture was great."

Julie nodded, while grinding her teeth despite her natural virtue.

Deculein broke his promise in the end.

Achievements reached by stealing and exhorting them from other people, not by his own ability. He didn't even repent on the wickedness and corruption behind it.

He wasn't even brave enough to do that. Now she really had to give up.

He would forever live pitifully among his manipulated subordinates and his own deceit....

"...What a little lamb. You're not much fun today. Well, good luck! I'll get going!"

The chairman left with her lips pouting.

Julie was still standing on the marble floor as if she'd taken root. Deep inside her were a slew of distorted emotions that seemed to devour her.

His Yukline.

Her own Fryden.

Someday, something which someone told her repeated in her ear.

'Deculein, who stands out as a magician, and Julie, who has the qualities of a gifted knight. If the blood of our two noble families are in harmony it would be beneficial both in pedigree and politically.'

However, at some point, both noble families came to know that Deculein's magical talent was nothing but average.

Deculein lied to the world and became a professor, calling himself "Genius of Magic Circle Interpretation"... After some incident, the source of his theories got cut off.

If the two families weren't connected to the central politics or if they were less distant, either side would have gone wild.

They were easy on each other because both were prestigious.

If neither of them stepped forward and rejected the other side, the engagement would not be broken, and even if it were broken, Deculein's sins would not get revealed.

So Julie thought she would have Deculein right his wrongs himself.

Nevertheless, he broke and rejected his evils by acting more firmly than ever today.

If so, now, she'll have to bring it about herself.

The end of this contemptible engagement.

...No matter what, the end of this relationship shall come.

"Are you okay?"

The lieutenant, standing behind her back like a shadow, spoke in a low voice.

His name was Veron, a man with jet-black hair that covered his face.

Julie shook her head without looking back at him.

"It's alright. It's time for the lecture. Let's go."

She started walking. A lot of subjects followed behind that thin back.

The immediate descendant of the prestigious Fryden family, also known as master of knights and the Holy Land. Julie, who was also called an example for all young knights of this world, was caught up in her lecture.

Unlike Deculein, who used nothing but words, she held something that could be called a "real lecture" in which she demonstrated herself and swung her sword....

...One of the knights following her stopped. His red eyes flashed through his thick black hair.

His gaze slowly turned back, glaring at the departing Deculein. A cold, desperate life stretched out towards his neck.

...Julie's knight, Veron, thought.

Today, he sought answers to the endless suffering and anguish.

To keep his Lord from danger, this was his chance.

It was only something he could do.

...Let's kill him.

That, nasty, dirty man.

I shall cut his throat, then dice him into little pieces.

Let's make my Lord happy....

* * *

The school cafeteria.

Ifrin sighed as she rummaged through the pitiful omelette rice.

"...Urg."

She tried to screw Deculein over back in the lecture hall.

Deculein's "Magic Circle interpretation method" he was so proud of was obviously just hot air and he couldn't make use of her father's ability, so it would put him in a pickle if he were asked to interpret a new technique in a situation he couldn't cheat in.

Of course, there was a risk of her getting shot down by Deculein...but for him to reverse the situation like that?

She didn't think he'd turn a person into an impolite idiot just because they didn't say their name. He's a tough opponent.

"I thought I'd die out of embarrassment....."

Puhuhuhu Pfft — The laughter still rang in her ear, but it worked out.

"Pft. Sounds like an Illusion type."

Ifrin was all smiles.

As expected he must have been embarrassed because he didn't have any real experience, right?

What illusion magic? If he were desperate, why'd he choose illusion magic?

Illusion magic is a very difficult type of magic, because in order to overcome and deceive the perception and consciousness of others, it takes a tremendous amount of mana to the point where the cost-performance rate is utterly miserable. That's why a "Medium" is essential when using most illusion type magic techniques.

But, illusion type magic without a medium?

"You're not only an idiot. you're a real idiot."

That time she felt really satisfied.

"Ifrin! Ifrin!"

A loud voice calling Ifrin along with footsteps approached. She looked over.

They caught her eye last week at the newcomer orientation for magicians.

"Thank you!"

"...Huh? What? For what?"

Ifrin only blinked. That same sorcerer put his hands on her shoulders and shouted.

"The magic circle by the entrance of the dorm!"

Last night, an unidentified magic circle drawn with red liquid appeared on the Sorcerer's Dormitory's front door.

It was a magic circle that has never appeared before in the academic world, so people were raging saying things like "It's the devil's work", but now newbies were all motivated saying things like "I'll analyze it and build my foundation on that". There was fierce competition for it in each division.

"...What? But I didn't do anything."

"Come on. You did nothing? You asked Professor Deculein."

"...Huh?"

Ifrin felt embarrassed.

'I didn't ask him, I just screwed with him, you know? What are you talking about?'

"Ah~ That's so awesome. We were so scared we couldn't even ask. You've got some balls."

"Huh? No, wait a minute, that magic is....really barrier magic?"

Ifrin was bewildered.

'So you're saying Deculein was actually right?'

"Yes. Really. If we assume it's barrier magic and reconstruct from there it fits perfectly. Wow~ Professor Deculein sure is great, isn't he? There was no medium so how did he figure out that it's illusion type magic?"

Ifrin's mouth that slowly opened almost hit the table. From that wide open mouth only the sound of sharp breathing could be heard.

"Thank you, Ifrin. We're going to write up a report and hand it in. I'll write your name under it as well."

"Uh? No, you don't have... to do that...but, ye, yeah. Hand it in."

"Okay!"

They hurriedly rushed away.

Ifrin stared blankly at their back.

What nice people they are. They could've just not said anything, but they said they'd share the credit....

However, the situation itself wasn't good.

Deculein's reputation had gone up for no reason.

"H, he just got lucky. Did he guess?"

After some time, Ifrin, who was in denial, took out a piece of paper from her backpack.

It was a plan with lectures, written by the professors at the Tower, which were about to begin.

[Understanding Elemental Magic]

[Grade: Debutant restricted, Advanced (5 Credits)]

[Lecturer: Deculein von Grahan Yukline]

"...."

Deculein's lecture.

Although she didn't have an elemental attribute, that wasn't a reason not to sit in on it. In the first place, elements were the basis of all magic. Since ancient times, it has been said "Know thy enemy and yourself, then you'll never lose".

"Just you wait..."

Ifrin growled, while staring at the syllabus.