Chapter 32

The first agenda of the Bercht conference was the appearance of demons, one of which I killed at the Mountain of Darkness. To start with, Dzekdan demanded my testimony.

"The Mountain of Darkness is an area that has always been under-purified. There's always been more than enough monsters there, but I didn't expect to kill a demon that day." I caught my breath after my testimony.

Essecil, the young Head of the Bran Family, added to my vague explanation.

"That means this has become more serious and much larger than the frequent appearances of the demons in the system. Not only that, The north is swarming with them. Command each school or cooperate with the Church. Wizards need to be dispatched to the suspected area."

She was a Named character with mysterious green hair and a trustworthy head of a family with high convictions.

Now that I didn't have the power to interpret, judge, reiterate or refute others' words verbally, I decided to agree with the messenger to close off my statement.

"That is correct."

Essecil's eyes widened in surprise.

Well, Deculein was the type to point things out, even if it was right.

The other wizards didn't necessarily criticize this item on the agenda.

"First of all, if the Church selects a suspected area, wizards can then be chosen and dispatched from each magic school."

They had passed through the first item.

"The 'Linnel School,' known for their destructive magic, has shown great enthusiasm in exacting the demon's punishment…"

But there was still quite a lot to discuss on the agenda, such as which schools would be dispatched, what countermeasures to apply on the areas where the demons frequently appeared, what revisions had to be done on the dungeon and demon hunting laws, and more.

For almost 4 hours, the round table discussed important matters without end.

During that time, I kept my silence, reserving my right to speak three times.

"We will adjourn for now to take a short break."

In just five hours, I was able to get off the round table.

I went outside to gather my senses, finding a petite man with brown hair stamping his feet near the exit.

Allen.

"… Ah, professor!"

Allen shouted and came running.

"A-are y-you alright? I'm sorry I'm late! Joining the conference while it's already ongoing is against the law, so I was left with no other option but to wait. I'm sorry…"

I shook my head as he became flustered. "It's okay."

It wasn't, though. I didn't know how many times I experienced mana exhaustion today. An ordinary wizard would've been down with a fever or died already.

I could still feel some of its side effects, and I had only recovered [300] mana during the 5-hour conference.

"Uhm, Professor. I heard that you saved—"

"I told you not to cry."

Allen bowed his head to prevent tears from falling. "… Kukh!"

At that moment, I noticed something that made me unable to look at this kid innocently anymore. There was a factor about him that seemed rather unfamiliar.

"From now on, just stand still next to me."

"What? Oh… Yes, yes…"

But I couldn't disclose it here.

If my thought was right, then I had to keep this kid close. I shouldn't show my emotions.

… If I wanted to live.

*****

We were given a 30-minute break.

The Heads returned to their respective waiting rooms, exchanging opinions and making deals as needed, but I just stayed with Allen.

I didn't do anything else.

Just like that, the break ended, and I came back to the round table and returned to my seat. Allen stood beside me.

"What is the wizards' stance regarding the Red Box?" Dzekdan opened the next item on the agenda.

At that moment, the atmosphere of the Elder's Hall suddenly changed.

No one had designated a right to speak, but a debate came up right from the start, one fierce enough to say that the Red Box was the wizards' 'Achilles heel.'

"The Red Box is like a bunch of cockroaches. They lay eggs and constantly reproduce, and eat away at society." Betan of Beorad poured out unfiltered criticisms.

Essecil then raised her concern in a slightly uncomfortable tone. "There's no way to distinguish the Red Box from other races, however."

"We can just invent one. We can use their blood as our basis. If the people in the university tower in the Empire gather, there's nothing they won't be able to do."

Betan sounded very enthusiastic about the matter at hand. Ihelm, who had been watching silently, tried to say something, but Betan gave him no space to interrupt.

"The Red Box somehow manages to group up among themselves. That might mean they have a leader who rallies them together."

The Red Box was a unique clan. Their existence itself was weak and almost unnoticeable, but many of them had developed their own talents.

And there was definitely someone among their geniuses and prodigies who united and commanded them from a safe place.

Betan managed to unveil that crucial information, but… The leader of the Red Box should never die.

According to the game's plot, he was a messiah, close to Buddha or Jesus.

"Their leader's most likely hiding off the grid, organizing and keeping their clan alive. Don't you feel disgusted knowing that they're plotting their schemes right under our noses? That alone is treason!"

"Betan, that's a mere speculation."

"It was because of their resistance that many wizards died 60 years ago," Betan shouted back at Essecil's refute, who no longer replied to him. The uproar on the round table calmed down a little.

Glitheon, who had been watching me since earlier, finally spoke up. "What do you think, Deculein of Yukline?"

Everyone's gaze focused on me.

Yukline.

Since ancient times, we had been at the forefront of punishing demons, earning us a status that gave us great influence and power regarding matters related to them.

"…"

Since I came from the world that oversaw this dimension, I was familiar with these events. According to that knowledge, it would be better to suppress the Red Box as much as possible.

However, this world's 'common enemy' was no longer the Red Box. That made the difficulty of the main quest in the future much easier.

"Long ago, they were our enemy." I calmly replied. "But if you look at the history books one by one, you'll begin to understand that it was all a misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding?" Betan cut in, but my glare immediately shut him up. I continued.

"It was a misunderstanding at first. Two hundred and thirty-seven years ago, Rodran, from the 'Rodran Witch' incident, was accused of being a witch and was pushed to a corner, only to be found innocent."

I brought up concrete evidence.

"Extensive oppression against the Red Box stemmed from that incident, causing their clan's blood to spill. Naturally, they resisted. Their resistance shed more blood, and that blood birthed to a short truce."

I saw it on the set-up sheet, and I also read works of literature that addressed it. Both of those allowed me to come up with a controversial thought.

"As you said, there had been another political move 60 years ago. A mine containing mana stones was discovered in the Red Box's land."

This world's mana stone mine was much more important than modern oil and natural gas mines combined.

"Huh? political move?! That was no political move!" Betan slammed his hand on the round table.

There was a lot to learn about that six-decade-old story, but that was another matter. I had to focus on persuading them for now.

"They are born from diabolic energy! There's no question about it! Shouldn't you know this more than others since you're a Yukline?! Your family has been punishing demons far more than most of us!" Betan shouted. He sounded almost as if he was having a seizure.

I shook my head. "Yukline's tradition is to hunt demons, not the Red Box."

"The Red Box are demons!" His outcry caused the round table to ring.

If we followed his words, it could one day lead to a massacre.

"…"

After Betan's clamor, a long silence fell on the hall where all sorts of discourses had already been conducted. However, it did nothing but amplify the tension…

I looked at him intently. "Those words of yours. Can you take responsibility for them?"

To demonize an entire race was the same as turning them into humanity's common enemy. Betan, of course, didn't answer.

"Control yourself from recklessly concluding and declaring races as demons. Remember, the very person who does so might just be the devil himself." I ended my statement with those words, causing the Heads of the families to look at me with surprise in their eyes.

Eventually, Dzekdan's voice came up. "Betan, please restrain yourself from uttering such ill-suited remarks. Since it doesn't seem like we will be able to reach a conclusion at this rate anyway, let's end today's conference here."

*****

The first meeting ended without a clear conclusion. It wasn't a big deal, though, since Sylvia had already prepared her resolve to stay here for three nights and four days anyway.

The night was already dark when she reached the 'Rosary Hotel' in the fourth district; their accommodation only allowed one person per room.

"…"

Syliva looked at the paper she received from the hotel's caretaker.

———[ Night Rules for the Rosary Hotel of Bercht's Fourth District ]——— All of these rules apply only at night.

1. If you find an open door while walking around the hallway, never look inside or enter the room.

2. If someone knocks on your door, do not open it. You should also never answer it verbally.

3. There have been cases where bodies have been found in the bathroom. Do not panic and simply close the door.

4. Rosary Hotel is on the first floor of the building. Upon the appearance or discovery of stairs, do not climb up or down.

5. Once you lie on your bed, please refrain from walking until morning. Otherwise, you might be transported to a different space at any moment.

6. Making noise in the hallway is not allowed. The use of magic is also prohibited.

—————

Sylvia blinked after reading it all. They were unnecessarily horrifying rules, and even her father instructed her to wear earplugs.

She wasn't a young child to go exploring anyway, and she felt so exhausted that all she wanted to do was sleep right away.

Laying down on her bed, her hawk 'Quickstone' stood by her bedside.

"Goodnight." She greeted Quickstone and closed her eyes, falling into a silent slumber almost instantaneously.

According to the clock, she slept for about three hours before opening her eyes due to thirst. Since then, Quickstone had been watching over her as she tossed and turned in bed.

She felt relieved. "Sleep comfortably."

The hawk then closed its eyes as she rose and grabbed herself a cup of water on the shelf.

After quenching her thirst, she turned around, finding herself standing in the middle of a hallway.

Not her room, but an endless hallway.

"…" She felt goosebumps rise all over her body. Chills clawed their way up her neck, causing her back to waver. She remembered the fifth rule too late.

[5. Once you lie on your bed, please refrain from walking until morning. Otherwise, you might be transported to a different space at any moment.]

Feeling the cold floor underneath her, Sylvia looked down and found herself barefooted.

Whiiiiing…

The wind blew, but she didn't know from where.

Sylvia looked around and found a staircase not far away. She knew she shouldn't use them, however.

[4. Rosary Hotel is on the first floor of the building. Upon the appearance or discovery of stairs, do not climb up or down.]

'Let's calm down for now.'

As the wind blew ever so softly on her skin, Sylvia convinced herself that nothing bad would happen to her.

With her will solidified, she stomped along the hallway until she stumbled upon a room with its doors open.

She paused.

[1. If you find an open door while walking around the hallway, never look inside or enter the room.]

She resumed walking, not even risking a glance. Nevertheless, she felt so nervous she thought her heart would burst.

After a short while, she decided to try her luck. Standing in front of one of the closed doors, she knocked.

However, no matter how long she waited, it didn't open.

Whiiiiiing…

Again, the wind brushed past her.

Sylvia walked a little more and stood in front of a different door.

Knock knock—

Nobody answered. She held the doorknob and twisted and turned it hard, but it didn't budge.

With no other option left, she went to the next door.

Knock knock—

She moved on.

Knock knock—

As she busily moved through the corridor, she thought the people in the rooms might think she was the one the rules were warning them about. No, she was certain they clearly thought that.

Screeeeeech…

The wind hovering in the hallway turned into a dreadful shriek slowly, sounding like it was tearing through something.

Sylvia hated scary things. Hence, instinctively, she applied even more strength into her knocks.

Knock knock—! Knock knock—!

However, nobody dared open their doors regardless.

Kuuuuuuuuuuugh…

Gradually, the grunts became clearer.

Knock knock—!

She intuitively knew she no longer had time to reach another door.

Gaaaaaaaaaahh…

A cold breath brushed past her nape.

At the same time, a door opened, and the strange sense of deafness she felt immediately disappeared.

Flop.

She fell, her entire body lacking any strength.

"…"

Feeling the warmth of the room, she slowly looked up as she tried to catch her breath.

"Sylvia," Deculein called her name. "Are you lost?"

He stared at her as if nothing out of the ordinary just happened. He even opened the door wide fearlessly.

"Come in."

"…" Sylvia contemplated.

Whiiiiing—

However, a bleak wind blew in the hallway once more, making her realize there was nothing to contemplate about.

Regardless, she hesitated when she went inside anyway.

"… Thank you."

Sylvia bowed her head and looked around his room, which was as spacious and cozy as she expected.

"Have a seat."

Deculein sat in a rocking chair near the fireplace while Sylvia sat in a small chair beside the bed.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"When I got out of bed, I don't know how, but I found myself in the hallway."

Deculein picked up the book on top of the table. With his eyes on the page, he spoke to Sylvia.

"The concentration of mana in Bercht's air reaches tens to hundreds of times the level of mana on flat land. Because of that, an unexplainable phenomenon occurs, which also causes magic to form shapes and ego. They're called phantoms, and there are many of them in this hotel.

You should read the 'Rules' more carefully."

Only Deculein could open the door, and the reason behind it was made apparent. He was immune to almost all mental interference.

"I see." Sylvia nodded. With her lips clattering, she looked around as she tried to calm herself down. "Why were you late today?"

Deculein answered without looking up from his book. "You don't need to know."

"…"

Wriggling her fingers, she asked him another question. "Do you like books?"

"It's the second-best at most." He never liked books, but he found reading them the most relaxing hobby because of Deculein's personality. He considered it one of his traits that he didn't need to overcome.

"…"

Sylvia remained still for a moment. Looking at the fire in the fireplace, she then rubbed her palm together and cast magic.

"It's [Scorched Fire]." She proudly showed it to Deculein. It had no sound and color, but it made the fire in the fireplace grow.

Deculein glanced at it from the corners of his eyes. "Great casting."

"I can give it colors, too."

The [Scorched Fire] turned green.

Deculein nodded in satisfaction. "That's better."

Sylvia, glancing at his expression, revealed a different magic. This time, her mana took the form of a cloud.

"This is [Thundercloud]."

"Well implemented."

"I can make it bigger." The thundercloud swelled up enough to cover half of the ceiling.

Deculein replied. "That's better."

"…" Sylvia, this time, conjured leaves that sprouted in the shape of a blade. "It's [Metal Leaf]."

"Good work."

"When mixed with destructive magic, the leaves will fly away and attack the enemy."

"You learned well."

Sylvia showcased the knowledge and magic she learned from Deculein's class, and since he was only giving compliments, she first thought he was just answering half-heartedly.

However, she was proven wrong when she showed imperfections.

"The flow of your circuit is strange, which is a sign that you made a mistake in one of the points. You need to unfold it properly."

"The balance of your magic's properties isn't harmonious. To synchronize fire and water, neither side should be superior. That's the only mistake you made."

He wholeheartedly corrected her, allowing her to understand and comprehend a few spells more clearly. However, her greed got the best of her.

"What's my weakness?"

"You should know that yourself."

Sylvia pouted.

"But you taught Epherene."

Deculein shook his head. "Epherene learned by herself."

She clenched her fist unknowingly. Deculein was still looking at the book, but his pupils stopped for a moment.

"Don't be in a hurry."

She shrugged.

"Sylvia, time is on your side. You'll be able to grow as much as you desire."

Even without the help of the system and with just her own talent, she would become a wizard more perfect than anyone in this world.

"You're one of the best three talents in this dimension," Deculein's words were based on the structure of the system, speaking only of a future so foreseeable it was almost fated to happen.

He sounded so full of confidence that she couldn't help but look a little surprised as she nodded.

"Shh." At that moment, Deculein suddenly raised his finger. "Stay still."

The sharp iron on his bedside moved. Almost at the same time, a strange figure appeared on the ceiling.

It was a phantom, the accumulation of a cruel and nastily distorted mana. Sylvia felt tremendous fear, but it only lasted for a brief moment.

Deculein's magic tore the phantom apart mercilessly.

After solving the situation immediately, he murmured calmly. "I guess he came looking for you when I opened the door."

"…"

Sylvia looked at Deculein as she did her best to control her anxiety. To be exact, she looked at the iron on top of Deculein's table.

"Did you kill the ghost with that?"

"Yeah."

"Amazing…"

Sylvia's innocent admiration made Deculein laugh.

"This is nothing to be surprised about. My weapon and magic are specialized in killing."

The [Main Quest] didn't give Deculein time to develop equally. Hence, Deculein's magic was extremely focused on combat and killing power.

He was defeated by Veron, however.

"What this world needs, Sylvia, is a talent in wizardry like yours. Magic wasn't made to kill people. It would be best if you remember that."

"…"

Only then did Sylvia understand Deculein at the round table today. She now knew for sure why he didn't berate the Red Box.

"Stop asking any more questions and go to sleep."

Sylvia looked at Deculein with surprise. "Shouldn't we do night watches in rotation?"

"It'll be useless. The flow of time is different here."

"I know. The mana phenomenon—"

"Nights in the highlands are different. It's only supposed to last ten hours, but it can last up to 2 hours, 12 hours, or even 24 hours, and nobody knows if and when that will happen. It all depends on the state of the mana that day. That's why you should just go to sleep."

"…"

Deculein's tone was firm but sweet.

She felt confused. Did he consider her as Iliade's assistant, a student, or a fool who couldn't even follow the rules?

Regardless, she laid down on the bed.

Shhhkkk… Sshhhhkk…

Listening to the sound of the pages of a book turning and the embrace of the fire's warmth, she fell asleep. Before she did, she looked out the window with hazy eyes, finding a falling star.

It was beautiful.