Up to You (1)

The Magic Exhibition was divided into three levels: low, intermediate, and high. The standard for assignment between these classes was usually the ranking of the responsible wizard. Still, if you had a good evaluation, even a low-level could be promoted to the higher ranks.

I was the judge who made that evaluation.

"Isn't the Professor the judge?"

I was in the judge's private waiting room. Epherene, who followed me, scratched her cheek and asked.

"I am."

I nodded. Of course, I had no intention of participating at first.

"But."

I paused for a moment and examined the materials purchased from the Ashes. They were so precious and rare that they couldn't be dealt with in an ordinary place.

"…But?"

"What about Quay?"

"Oh. He's taking a look around alone. He said he wanted to meet some people."

"…"

I frowned, prompting Epherene to quickly make excuses.

"He said he's not going anywhere, that he would just be watching people."

"How do you know?"

"Because he said so himself. And…"

It wouldn't be a lie if he said it.

"I think he has a bit of a crush on me."

"…"

I tilted my head for a moment. It was a ridiculous thing to say.

"It's not a lie; it's true. He wanted to earn my trust and—"

"Shut up. Let's go back to the Imperial Magic Tower."

"Huh? To the tower? Now?"

"Yes."

"How…?"

I put my hand on the full-length mirror in the middle of the waiting room. Then, the mirror reflected a landscape other than the room we stood in. This was a mirrored passage. A single opening consumed 4,000 mana, but I was rather proud. This was also the result of my magical progress.

"Grab my clothes."

"…Clothes?"

"Yes."

Epherene hesitated and grabbed the hem of my coat. I went into the mirror with her.

Whooong-

A strange sound tickled my ears, and when I looked around again, it seemed as if the world was upside down.

We were on the 77th floor of the tower. The empty, quiet space of my office welcomed me.

"Blaaaaaargh—!"

Epherene threw up.

* * *

One of the many facilities on the 77th floor, Laboratory. I explained as I laid out the materials on the test bench there.

"It's mirror magic. It's one of my attributes."

"…It's still making me nauseous."

Epherene burped with her face against the table. There were quite a variety of facilities in the Imperial University Magic Tower. This laboratory was one of them, but I hadn't used it much.

My assistants were left in charge of these experiments, which were only Epherene and Drent. Louina, for instance, had a total of thirty-three assistant professors.

"What are you going to do?"

Epherene asked. Her complexion was still purple.

"I will create a Demonic Core that will minimize Yuren's volcanic damage. And you, take this."

I threw three mana stones at her.

"It is a mana stone applied with a slight modification of the conversion formula. It will be possible this time as well."

"Ah, yes. I will do it."

Epherene nodded.

"Okay."

I first looked at the materials on the lab bench. Kraken's Sucker, Dark Troll's Blood, Demon's Claw, Memallen's Heart, and more. These were materials that could only be obtained by killing boss monsters.

Whooosh-

The first thing to do was apply Psychokinesis to the Kraken's sucker. At the same time, I extracted only the core ingredients with the magic of extraction. Only a few drops of ink on this sucker, then I popped it into the reagent bottle.

"But."

At that moment, Epherene spoke. She glanced at me with a pout.

"Can't you take off that muffler?"

"Why do you care?"

"It's too clingy. And it's indoors."

"…"

I took off the muffler.

"…It's a bit better. I will start too."

Tick, tock, tick, tock-

The wooden pocket watch began to run fast. I ground the demon's claws to a fine powder using that as my rhythm, then shocked the Memellen's heart with mana to induce it to beat again. Next, I made an incision across the beating heart.

Rip-

"Hmm."

The muscles split open, revealing the inner structure of the heart. Intricately intertwined blood vessels and pericardium were visible.

"…This is going to be annoying."

I clicked my tongue, then moved the scalpel with Psychokinesis and reconstructed all the vessels in it. I was remodeling the heart's blood vessels into a magic circuit, a process where I was drawing the formula of Artifact Magic Science with veins and arteries. It was work that required extreme sensitivity.

Tick-

Tock-

Tick-

So, immersing myself, I forgot the passage of time.

"This is enough."

The core was complete. I looked at the clock. Five hours had passed, and I only had 500 mana left.

"Now."

The next process. I gathered the Kraken's Ink, Demon Nail Powder, Dark Troll's Blood, and all the other ingredients, injecting them and my mana into the heart's blood.

─Thump!

At that moment, my heartbeat was loud. Tentacles sprouted from the surface, and they wriggled.

"Professor. I'm done too… ugh What's this? It's disgusting."

"This is the demonic core that Decalane envisioned. To be precise, it's an evil thing."

I touched it with my wood steel. It immediately moved its tentacles. Epherene snorted.

"It looks angry. Hey, what are you? You'll strangle us like this, huh? …No, wait."

She touched the tentacles with her finger and then looked back at me.

"Are you going to exhibit this? At the expo? This terrifying bastard?"

Slap-!

The tentacles slapped Epherene's cheek.

"Ahhh! Are you crazy?! Do you want to die?!"

"…Since this creature is made of monster materials, the source of its power is dark energy. Of course, it's brutal and disgusting. I have no intention of showing it to anyone."

When I looked at the demonic core, an instinctive disgust built up inside me. It made me want to blow it up it right then and there.

"There is still one process left."

I gave a meaningful look to Epherene.

"Yes. Here."

She handed me the mana stones.

"Hmm?"

The result of the conversion was purer than expected. The stones were as beautiful as any obsidian. Epherene explained.

"I didn't turn it in three months, but one year. So, how are you going to use them?"

"The conversion formula is applied to this mana stone. These will purify dark energy into mana. So…"

I put one in the center of the demonic core.

—!

For a moment, it trembled violently. It wiggled its tentacles as if in pain and emitted black-red magic. However, that resistance was only temporary.

"…It turned blue!"

Just as Epherene cried out, the dark energy that it exuded gradually turned blue. The tentacles, which were moving violently, also slowed and calmed.

"Whoa…"

It was now exuding mana. As a result, the disgusting appearance also changed. The tentacles disappeared, and just like a miniature Saturn, it now was a single ring floating around a clear blue core.

"This is Decalane's 「Artifact Magic Science」. A name like Demon Spirit Core would be more accurate."

It would be finally completed if I applied Midas' Hand.

"Wow…"

Epherene suddenly turned to me.

"Where do you use this?"

"You just have to give this a purpose. When you set a purpose, it'll learn and move on its own to fit it. First of all, I plan to block Yuren's volcano and display it at the expo."

"Aha. If you show this at the expo, it'll cause quite a stir, right?"

Decalane's legacy was shortened from one year to just one week, thanks to Epherene. It would probably have massive repercussions in this world.

"Then, today, we will rest in the Empire and return tomorrow."

"…Yeah? Aren't we going back right away? Through that mirror passage or something."

I shook my head. I had no mana left. Of course, Iron Man also helped with mana recovery speed, but yesterday I studied the divine language, and today I wasted my mana with this demonic core.

"Perhaps… are you not feeling well?"

Epherene asked. She was unnecessarily fast with these kinds of things.

"…Are you okay?"

Her voice was wet with concern, but it was a feeling I didn't want to hear.

"I'm fine."

"No, Professor, I can see the future."

Epherene put her hands against my chest.

"You will die in that future."

She looked at me with sorrow.

"…Really. Are you okay?"

"You're cheeky, Epherene."

I shook my head. It was just that I had no mana left. It wasn't the time for me to die yet. I could live in this state for several more decades, given that I had the body of an Iron Man. No, I had survived a century in the mirror watching over Sophien. Compared to that, right now, I am overly healthy.

"…Me?"

However, at the end of this world and the main quest, my future that Epherene worried about was probably true. However, even so.

"I do not accept my death so easily. I don't judge the future you see as fate."

"…"

"It means that I'm preparing myself. More thoroughly than anyone else."

"…Oh."

Epherene nodded, seemingly convinced. Then, she collapsed before me.

"…Are you okay?"

I asked her. She fell on the lab tiles and blinked a few times.

"It's weird. My body is not moving."

"It's mana exhaustion."

"Mana exhaustion?"

"Even though you applied it to an object, the time has been turned back by one year."

"…Oh."

I was about to move with Psychokinesis… but I realized a bit late I was also out of mana.

"…Wow. My consciousness is fine, but my body won't move. This is a very strange feeling."

Epherene was chattering to herself. I looked down at her, thought for a moment, and finally sighed.

"Huh, huh, huh? W-What, what, what-?!"

I lifted her in my arms. That damn thing usually called the Princess Carry-

"Why, why? What is this all of a sudden? What are you doing—!"

Her mouth was busy, though she could not lift a single finger.

"…Let me goooo-!"

"Just shut up and go to sleep."

"…"

* * *

The next day, numerous wizards arrived one after another at Yuren's airport. Rose Rio, Ihelm, Gindalf, Kreto, Essecil, Betan, Louina… the continent's leading wizards, the Round Table elders, and the addicts of the Floating Island flew to see the expo.

"Professor Louina."

"Yes? Oh, yes, elder."

As Louina was walking to the exhibition, her eyes widened when she found Zechtain — the Elder of the Round Table, was calling her from behind.

"Did you hear the news?"

"…What news are you talking about, Head of the Order of Pagon?"

Zechtain laughed a bit. Louina clicked her tongue.

The three pillars of the magic world. The Floating Island, the Magic Tower, the Round Table. However, most of the elders at the Round Table were a bunch of fuddy-duddys, so if she didn't treat them like this, they'd get pissed off.

"The announcement of the Emperor's expedition to Annihilation and some bizarre rumors that suddenly seeped into it."

"…Bizarre rumors?"

Louina frowned. Zechtain cleared his throat.

—Rumors related to the Yukline family.

"Yukline?"

—Shh. Lower your voice.

-Oh… yes, elder.

Deculein's Yukline and Louina's McQueen. The two families that were rivals came to know peace as Louina entered the Magic Tower University, and Deculein tolerated her existence. Of course, no one thought of it as reconciliation externally. Even Louina herself didn't think of it as such yet.

However, there was no need to forcibly drag this grudge on. He had also helped her a lot.

—Deculein's younger sister, I mean.

It was quite funny to see the elder from the Round Table talking quietly with his hand over his mouth, but Louina played along for now.

—You mean Yeriel?

─Yes. That sister… rumor has it that she's not of Yukline's blood.

─…What?

What kind of bullshit was that? Louina frowned.

—Louina. I know that you and your family have a big grudge against Yukline and Deculein. Don't you still feel humiliated that you trapped yourself in the Imperial Tower?

─…No-

—It is very regrettable that a family with a long history like the McQueen's has to ask a favor from Deculein.

─…

Anyway, most of the magic world thought like this elder of the Round Table. McQueen had humiliatingly surrendered to Yukline, and in return, only received a professorship at the Imperial University.

-The opportunity to pay them back will come soon. I'll tell you in detail later. Take this crystal ball.

Before Louina could say anything, the elder put a crystal ball into her pocket.

-If the opportunity arises, don't hesitate.

Then he quickly walked forward and disappeared from view.

"What kind of guy… I understand he wants to keep Deculein in check, though."

Deculein was also nominated for an Elder of the Round Table, after all.

"I mean, just because of a small thing like that…."

Louina shook her head. At that moment-

─.

A small vibration rippled through the ground. It wasn't big, but it was enough to trip her.

"…Oh?"

Louina was a bit perplexed, but it was only for a moment. It vibrated once, and it was over.

"Huh?"

─Nice to meet you. My name is Curator Urei.

The curator welcomed the wizards from the entrance to the expo.

─It is such an honor to welcome the continent's leading wizards.

Louina joined them without further thought.

* * *

At the same time, the volcano of the Ashes. Epherene and Deculein were back there, overlooking the crater in preparation to stop the eruption.

"Oh… it's brilliant…"

Arlos's eyes glistened as she looked at the Demon Spirit Core that they prepared. On the other hand, Epherene was still embarrassed as she kept thinking about last night. Deculein had carried her and laid her down on the couch…

"Anyway. You're saying that this will block it by itself, right?"

Epherene asked. Deculein nodded.

"You do it, Epherene."

"…Yes?"

"The Demon Spirit Core will act according to your purpose."

At Deculein's words, Epherene pondered for a moment.

Boooom-!

A roar sounded from the crater below. Epherene asked again.

"Am I doing this?"

"Stop hesitating."

"…"

Epherene cleared her throat.

"Hey. Please, have goodwill."

While muttering, she glanced over to Deculein and Arlos. Then, Epherene took a deep breath and nodded.

"The Professor is trying to protect Yuren and leave the Ashes to burn. I want you to block both of them. Everything you can. I will help you with my magic."

There was no reaction. Neither from the Demon Spirit Core nor from Deculein, who would leave the Ashes to the volcano.

"Understand? I will help you. So that we can protect not only Yuren but also the Ashes."

She firmly said.

"Protect everything. Understand? Ignore Professor Deculein's words."

In front of Deculein, she said to ignore his commands.

"You raised your disciple well. Professor Deculein."

Arlos smiled at him, and Deculein just snorted without saying anything.

"Okay, now…"

Boooooom-!

The volcano burned, and the smell of brimstone filled the air. The gases underground exploded, and a great vibration shook the earth, but at that moment, the Demon Spirit Core reacted. It resonated with Epherene's will.

A blue membrane wrapped around the crater. 「Demon Spirit Core」 decomposed all the volcanic ejections into particles… and it began to leak out.

"Eh?! Professor! Is it defective?"

Epherene glanced back to Deculein.

"It's not working!"

"…"

"It doesn't stop! Look! It's leaking!"

However, he wasn't saying anything. Deculein didn't look disconcerted; he just wasn't talking.

Boooom-!

A second explosion. This eruption completely pierced most of the core membrane, squeezed out, and scattered heat and volcanic ash underground.

"Professor! It's not workiiiing—!"

Epherene exclaimed as if exasperated. At that moment, Deculein furrowed his brow.

"I told you."

"What, what?!"

"The damage to the Ashes cannot be blocked. It's best to only block it for Yuren. But… since you were greedy enough to protect both, now you have no choice but to throw them both away."

Deculein shook his head as if it was pathetic, and Epherene opened her mouth. She glared at him.

"…T-Then, then, what should I do?! It turned out like this! You told me to do it!"

She asked with a desperate look, but…

"Why are you asking me that?"

"…Eh?"

Boooooooooooooom-!

A third explosion. However, Epherene was speechless as she watched Deculein. What he just said… was he an advisor?

"This is what you did."

Whether he knew what she was feeling or not, with an even colder voice…

"You solve it."

"…"

His words were a warning or as if to put her to the test.

"If you don't want to die. If you don't want to kill again."

Deculein met her eyes.

"It's all up to you."