1-Second Invincible Player in the Game

104. The Last Day (2)

The eastern territory of the three-headed wolf.

The boundary with the lands of other monsters was marked by a river flowing straight.

The path was easy.

Thanks to the fairies of the Purple Forest, who provided assistance.

“Did that fairy just wave at us? Or am I seeing things?”

Belman adjusted his glasses and squinted.

He seemed to be straining his eyes to see better.

“You’re mistaken. It must be a smudge on your glasses.”

I knew it, yet I feigned ignorance.

—

If it were this fellow, he would surely speculate on why the fairy has shown me favor, and it was plain he would pry into the secret behind it.

Belman was a man of fervent scholarly zeal.

“More importantly, remember this: the treasure we seek now is mine. In return, I shall forgive the cost of the herbs used to treat the professors.”

“Ahem, I’m not greedy enough to push it that far. Just the points I’ve earned so far are enough to place me in the upper ranks at the Adel Academy.”

“Who knows whose merit that is, but it seems to have worked out well.”

With a subtle hint, I noticed Belman brush his hand across his face.

“…Yeah, it’s thanks to you.”

He knows his place well.

Good, there’s no chance he’ll suddenly turn into a highwayman.

“Follow me.”

I led him upstream against the river’s flow.

Perhaps curiosity had stirred within him, for he asked me, “By the way, why did you bring up the runic language earlier?”

“I have something I wish you to interpret.”

Belman questioned, his voice tinged with confusion. “Interpret? That’s something you could do yourself. Why do you need my help?”

He would indeed find it puzzling.

After all, I had solved the runic problems during the written exam.

He had no way of knowing I had brute-forced my way through the calculations.

I answered candidly, “Well, I don’t know the runic language.”

Belman halted abruptly, his posture stiffening.

“You… solved it without knowing?”

“As I mentioned before, don’t try to fit everything into your own standards. There are countless unknowns in this world.”

Repeating the same refrain, Belman nodded in agreement.

At least he was willing to concede this one point easily.

He began to appear a little less detestable.

“I’m starting to feel hungry. Let’s wrap this up and grill some fish.”

He too seemed to sense the pangs of hunger, focusing solely on the act of walking.

Thus, we came to a stop at the river’s end, without further conversation.

—

Swoosh──

The waterfall, with its misty spray, displayed the grandeur of nature.

Between the cliffs and the cascading water lay a narrow path.

A path that bore the unmistakable mark of human craft—a stone bridge.

Belman revealed his curiosity.

“…This isn’t made by nature, is it?”

“They say people once lived in the enchanted lands. It wouldn’t be strange if they did.”

“But how do you know this—”

“I’m hungry. Let’s move.”

He abruptly cut off my words, stepping onto the stone bridge.

We squeezed into the waterfall’s embrace, dodging the splattering droplets to avoid slipping.

In the midst of this, Belman drew forth his staff.

“It’s hard to walk. Wait a moment.”

With a flourish of his staff, a green barrier materialized.

It formed a roof, shielding us from the deluge.

No longer did we need to cling to the wall, uncomfortably navigating our way.

I chuckled softly, offering a compliment.

“Thanks to you, this is much easier.”

“Well, I’m confident in my barrier magic, you see.”

With our pace quickening, we soon arrived.

The cave entrance beyond the waterfall.

As we stepped inside, our footsteps echoed.

Clack, clack.

I pulled out my staff to illuminate the interior.

Perhaps due to the recent surge of mana, it was remarkably bright.

Beside me, Belman pointed with his gleaming staff at a small orb of light, no larger than a coin.

“I’ll light the way, Hessel.”

Ah, so that’s what he was up to.

I stowed my staff and surveyed the surroundings.

In the corner lay a shattered jar, and there was a table carved from stone.

On top of it, there lay a black powder, presumed to be decayed paper.

Though much time had passed, traces of human touch remained.

And in the center, it was hollowed out, perfect for gathering and bowing.

By the structure of its arrangement, this place was presumed to be a shrine.

One stone tablet, resting at the wall’s edge, supported the hypothesis; it was likely true.

Belman observed the jar and spoke.

“…It’s too old. I can’t even tell what method was used to make it.”

“That’s a worthless object. No need to concern yourself.”

“Still, it’s an artifact, isn’t it? It must hold some value?”

“Jars like this are scattered throughout the Empire’s museums. There are ones in better condition than this.”

If it were imbued with some mysterious power, the conversation would change, but all that lay here were mere ordinary things.

“More importantly, I’m taking that stone tablet over there. Let’s interpret it.”

I halted before the tablet.

Belman pressed his fingers to his chin, letting out a hum.

“Hmm… A few characters are smudged, but from the context, we can make some inferences.”

He continued to gaze intently at the tablet.

“A child… who carries life will pass through here. A child who will strip away falsehoods and reveal the truth. The faith led by an ugly god will fade away…”

Suddenly, Belman’s eyes widened, and his voice trembled.

“…They will unravel the scorn cloaked in false accusations.”

His reaction piqued my curiosity, but my mind was consumed by a singular thought.

Could it be that the fairies of the Purple Forest were protecting life for this very reason?

Perhaps it was a clue tied to the main scenario of Asares.

Just as I was about to carefully lift the tablet…

Snap.

Belman seized my wrist.

“Wait.”

“…If you try to take it, be prepared to face the consequences.”

“No, that’s not it. Look at this.”

With a serious expression, Belman pointed to a symbol on the tablet.

“This writing you thought was smudged. This is not runes; it’s a symbol. It’s the emblem of a religion rooted in the Empire!”

Hearing his voice grow louder sent a shiver down my spine.

It was because I instantly grasped the meaning Bellman sought to convey.

“…Let’s pretend I’ve never interpreted this. Hessel, don’t you dare speak of it elsewhere. The ‘Order of the Sun’ stretches across the entire Empire.”

Blasphemy.

It was embedded in the relic in the form of prophecy.

If we, as students, revealed that we had interpreted this, it was clear that trouble would ensue in many ways.

No wonder they never taught us the contents, even when we offered to donate.

The Emperor, too, would want to avoid friction with an order that had half the populace as believers.

“Right, let’s just say you’ve never been here from the start.”

“They might have been watching us, the professors.”

“It’s fine. The two professors are holed up in the Shulafe camp, barely able to move. I hear Professor Gomon is rummaging through the forest looking for food.”

“Then we should scatter on the way back.”

We exchanged brief words, and I gathered the stone tablet.

I wrapped it tightly in cloth to keep it hidden…

* * *

Professor Gomon beamed with delight.

Even as he received the stone tablet, he exclaimed in astonishment.

“Is this really what was here?”

“I stumbled upon it while taking a leisurely stroll.”

“Wow, luck is a skill, my friend. You’ve really got something here. Once you graduate, you’ll shoot up the ranks in no time!”

He kept repeating, “This is mine, indeed,” but now I understood.

It was an act to mask his bewilderment after reading the tablet’s contents.

After all, it was an object that had slipped from my grasp, so I could afford to let it go.

“More importantly, have you arranged for the carriage?”

“Ah, right. I’ve made sure to contact the Academy.”

“Is there a carriage of that caliber at Frost Heart?”

“Don’t worry, they’ll manage to find one. Besides, they’re still kids. They can fit a few more in one carriage, so don’t fret too much.”

It seemed we were finally nearing the end.

Tomorrow’s events would flow smoothly from this point.

So then, shall I start broaching the topic of rewards?

“So, how will our professor surprise me?”

“Huh? Surprise you?”

“Bermy, I mean. You promised that if I handled it alone, you’d give me something.”

Professor Gomon cleared his throat, looking somewhat flustered.

As I narrowed my eyes slightly, he reluctantly nodded.

“Alright, alright. If you have something in mind, go ahead and say it. I’ll make sure to whisper it to my Rockefeller professor.”

What I desired spilled from my lips without hesitation.

“Graduation.”

Professor Gomon broke into a cold sweat.

“…That, that’s quite difficult, you know?”

“Withdrawal.”

“Kid, that’s not an option either.”

“Then, expulsion.”

“Ugh… Just ask for money instead, money!”

Shall I end the jest here?

I drew my battered sword and presented it to Professor Gomon.

Srrng—

It had already been a bit rusty, but after the battle with Bermy, the blade had begun to corrode.

Even the option from the ‘Gloves Blessed by Mana’ gifted by the innkeeper, which greatly increases the durability of held items, had become meaningless from overuse.

Such was the toll of the mana blade’s power and Bermy’s blood—far beyond what an ordinary sword could withstand.

“I’ll accept a worthy weapon as my reward.”

Professor Gomon let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew. I thought you were trying to escape, and my heart nearly stopped.”

Oh, escape.

If these rascals were planning to cause trouble again, that might be a fine choice.

“A worthy weapon would be nice. I’ll make sure to tell Professor Rockefeller about this one thing very clearly. Look forward to it.”

Professor Gomon appeared to brim with confidence.

Seeing him speak so boldly, perhaps I might receive a better sword than I expected.

‘I am moved, Hursel.’

‘Why? Is a good weapon that coveted?’

—

“The better the sword, the more enjoyable it is to wield. At last, I shall cast aside the scrap and acquire something worthy.”

It is strange, indeed, that Donathan wields the same weapon.

To possess a sword is akin to acquiring a slave, if one were to think of it in human terms, is it not?

As these thoughts churned within me, a distant clamor reached my ears.

“I swear it’s true! Just with his swordsmanship, Vermi was so frightened he couldn’t approach easily. Yet, he charged in. With all his might, he lunged in the blink of an eye. Of course, Hessel met him head-on. But astonishingly, it was Vermi’s arm that broke.”

I turned my gaze to Rix, who boasted proudly of the tale of Vermi’s demise, flanked by his followers.

“That’s when Hessel swung his sword. It was night, so I can’t be sure, but perhaps he even split the clouds apart.”

Now, clouds, you say?

…I fear you all.

Afraid you might drive me mad as well.

* * *

The evening of the final day of the trial.

At dawn tomorrow, we are to return to the academy by carriage.

Perhaps reluctant to leave, Professor Gomon gathered the students to stack firewood.

As the pile neared completion, he called out loudly toward the Shulafe camp.

“Come on, everyone, gather round.”

All of us began to assemble, faces marked with curiosity, “What’s this?”

“This is the tradition of the Pathfinders. I may have made it sound grand, but think of it simply as a campfire. We light a flame at our occupied spot and revel in it.”

As Professor Gomon ignited the fire, the crackling sound rang out cheerfully.

The warm glow, for some reason, fostered a sense of kinship among us, as if we all shared in the same joy.

Perhaps it was the atmosphere that inspired it.

One by one, the students began to lay out the ingredients they had gathered from the magical realm.

Professor Gomon chuckled heartily.

“Ha! Isn’t this remarkable? I haven’t even mentioned that we’ll receive rations again when the carriage arrives.”

His words quickened the students’ actions.

I, too, had some provisions I had taken from Belman, and I was about to join in the offering.

The man beside me, who was about to hand over jerky, hesitated.

“Hessel…”

He was one of those belonging to the Lethe faction.

Now that I think of it, he had drawn his sword when Ruon attempted to raid this place.

—

Of course, most were merely keeping an eye on their surroundings, but there were a few others besides him.

I chuckled softly and said,

“You seem to have been tainted by this place as well.”

“…I merely thought they were in the wrong,” he replied.

“Is that so? You used to beat those kids without a second thought. What wind has blown you this way?”

The man answered with a face full of shame.

“It may be an excuse, but if I must speak… At one time, I was tempted by the notion that entering Lethe would aid my rise. Thus, I’ve forced myself into actions I despised more than once.”

“That’s indeed an excuse. For those who suffered because of you, the word ‘forced’ holds no weight. It was your choice, after all.”

As I offered my counsel, he narrowed his eyes.

“And what of you, Lord Hessel…?”

“Why?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

This brat.

He must have wanted to ask if he had the right to speak such words to me.

As if I were the one who had done anything wrong.

“Hand that over.”

I bit roughly into the jerky he had been trying to offer.

What followed was Professor Gomon’s singing hour.

Perhaps due to his large frame, his vocal cords were robust, and he sang quite well.

♫♩♩♫─

The students began to follow the lyrics one by one, clapping in time with the rhythm.

Thinking the atmosphere had heated up, Professor Gomon suggested a talent show, with a bottle of liquor as the prize.

Perhaps it was rare to see alcohol at the academy.

Especially the boys, with fire in their eyes, threw themselves into ridiculous dances and cracked silly jokes.

Amidst this, Sylla glared sharply at Limberton, and Leana kept glancing over this way.

No, it wasn’t just Leana; I could see everyone subtly stealing glances at my face.

Sensing an ominous feeling, I swiftly turned my back, only to be dragged by Rix into singing a song I had no desire to perform.

Feeling restless, I attempted to conjure an acoustic guitar with my shaping magic, but a bizarre object resembling a broom appeared instead.

In exasperation, Rix fashioned a lute for me, and I was forced to hold an instrument I was unaccustomed to.

Fortunately, after a few attempts to strum the chords, I found myself adapting.

The song selection was merely a common tune sung around campfires during college days.

♪♫─

Was it unfamiliar music to them?

At first, they listened with puzzled expressions, but soon began to sway their heads in time with the melody.

The children who had come out, curious about what was happening, gradually let down their guard and listened to the song.

Thus, the night sky of the Purple Forest was filled only with music, and the moon began to wane.

···Well, it’s not a bad night, really.

* * *

From the highest tree in the highlands.

Luoan sat upon a thick branch, gazing down at the lowlands where smoke curled upward.

Perdira flew to his shoulder, speaking with a hint of excitement.

“Look at that song. He sings quite well, doesn’t he?”

“He has always been a man of great talent in drinking and singing.”

The corners of Luoan’s mouth lifted just slightly.

Perdira found this side of Luoan intriguing.

“Isn’t it curious?”

“Hmm?”

“I’ve felt this for a while now. To me, you always seemed to act like a person in front of others, but with that fellow Hursel, you seem to engage emotionally.”

“Me?”

As Luoan questioned, Perdira confidently began to explain, piece by piece.

“You are unnaturally numb compared to others. You can’t even empathize with the pain and emotions of others. You perceive everything merely as concepts in your mind. Isn’t that so?”

Through their conversations, Perdira had come to know much about Luoan.

For this man, emotions were nothing more than an understanding devoid of empathy.

If he frowned, it meant pain.

If tears fell, it meant sadness—this was merely a level of comprehension through words.

It was akin to the descriptions found in a book.

“You don’t know the sting of a wounded heart, nor do you feel the flutter of your own heartbeat. Even if you wish to, you cannot. Because your brain is simply miswired.”

He had always thought this way.

“But it’s not entirely so. In modern terms, perhaps it’s hormones? There are various kinds, but there are neurotransmitters that influence emotions, you know? It’s a problem when they’re overproduced, but it’s just as much a problem when, like you, they’re significantly lacking.”

“You claim to be an ancient soul, yet you’ve learned quite a bit of modern knowledge.”

—

“What, I used to go to the library and read about modern medicine whenever I was bored? Anyway.”

Peldira hummed a tune while gazing into Luon’s eyes.

“Seeing how you react specifically to that fellow Hershel, it seems you felt jealousy back then. When he came to rescue the short man, didn’t you feel a surge of something when you saw him with his companions?”

Luon’s pupils widened slightly.

This was proof that the brain’s hormone-secreting organs were not entirely dead.

Peldira half-closed her eyes and let out a shallow scoff.

“Heh, jealousy breeds anger. So you went down to the lowlands and expressed your fury in his ear. Am I right?”

Without a word, Luon slowly opened and closed his eyes.

Peldira explained further, trying to make it clearer.

“You just didn’t realize it. It must have felt very unfamiliar to you. You probably don’t even know if it was jealousy or anger.”

Only then did Luon speak.

“I find it uncomfortable to hear such things for some reason.”

“It’s not a thought. It’s how you feel.”

Luon pulled out a cigarette from his pocket.

As he lit the end and inhaled, sparks flew with a crackle.

“Huuh.”

Luon exhaled the smoke and spoke.

“Focus on subduing Akandric. If you can’t handle that inspiration, you won’t be able to move to the next stage.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ve already figured out where all the remaining materials are hidden.”

Luon exhaled smoke while listening to Peldira’s calm laughter.

Then he glanced back and forth between the lowlands and the smoke rising right before him.

“······.”

Smaller than the smoke from the campfire.

His hand crushed the butt against a damp wooden post.

Sizzle.

* * *

The seniors of the Shulape Hall moved about busily.

“The kids will arrive soon. Let’s hurry it up.”

Under Atra’s command, the once dull lobby filled with tables and food.

What they were preparing was a welcome feast for the first-year students returning from their practical magic training.

—

The tradition of Frost Heart began in the year when the battle with the wretched strays took place.

Of course, all expenses were covered by the dormitory’s communal funds.

“If you think you can smile like that, feasting after so long, you might as well be ready to die at my hands. You know? Just shed a few tears and pick at your food with a pitiful voice to comfort yourself.”

There would be many suffering from trauma.

The experience of killing a child was hardly pleasant, and witnessing a comrade’s demise would weigh heavily on their hearts.

At times, there were even those who resorted to suicide attempts.

Thus, during such moments, the seniors needed to pay a bit more attention.

Just as all preparations were being finalized.

Creeeak—

The ancient, creaking main gate of the Shulape manor swung open.

A long leg stepped through the threshold, and a loathsome voice echoed through the lobby.

“Have you all been well?”