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Chapter 50: Selection (2)

"... I admit it\'s my fault," she murmured quietly.

Determined, she placed the Ice Flower on a stable surface and concentrated her mana into her palms.

Thud—!

A familiar, dull pain from an old injury flared up. Direct mana release was still a challenge, but she ignored it. Clenching her teeth, she gathered her mana into a sphere in her hand and then dispersed it like dust.

Whoosh...

Her magic spread throughout the villa, freezing everything and extinguishing the warmth of the fireplace, causing the temperature to plummet.

"This should suffice," Yulie said with confidence, her gaze steady on Deculein.

Deculein\'s expression briefly flickered with surprise before he regained his composure. Shaking his head, he stated, "Your method is flawed. Inspect the flower yourself."

At his instruction, Yulie turned her gaze to the Ice Flower she had set down earlier.

"What...?"

The petals were scarred, the damage evident at a glance.

"The Ice Flower is highly sensitive to mana."

"... Hah," Yulie laughed bitterly, holding the damaged flower in her hand.

She closed her eyes after gazing at the shimmering flower bud, lowering her head in defeat. Though the clock above the frozen fireplace was still, it soon struck seven o\'clock.

"You\'re disqualified," Deculein announced.

***

Yulie stayed at the villa for a while because her body temperature was too low to leave immediately. After finishing her meal, she fell into a deep sleep while the knights gathered in the living room.

“It wasn’t fair,” Sirio said.

However, I was more concerned about Yulie’s mana than his complaint. It was the first time I had seen it with my Sharp Eyesight, and I noticed a flaw, an unknown injury.

[Status Effect: Mana Impairment]

Yulie\'s mana was damaged. Mana impairment, or a core injury, was rare and couldn\'t be caused by ordinary harm. It must have been a curse or a nearly crippling injury. I wasn\'t sure if Yulie in my game had reached the pinnacle of knighthood with such an affliction or if she had overcome it to reach the top.

“Yulie’s task was far too difficult. Ice flowers and a fireplace? I didn’t get it at first either,” Sirio grumbled.

Gwen and Raphel glared at me, their eyes full of anger. The knights were clearly unhappy with the unfair process. It suddenly occurred to me that they might have a connection not only with Deculein but also with Yulie, which could mean they knew the reason behind her Mana Impairment.

“... Yulie sustained an injury once,” I mused aloud, almost to myself.

I was subtly probing, yet the atmosphere in the room suddenly changed.

“Injury? That was your fault. During our group mission to guard the VIP... Oh, could it be?” Sirio’s eyes widened as he stared at me.

Raphel stroked his chin thoughtfully and said, “The aftereffects are still lingering?”

Gwen frowned and said, “She seemed fine using her Sword Qi... Raphel, what do you think?”

“She seemed to consciously limit her mana usage. She used her Sword Qi but never released a lot of mana at once,” Raphel added, a hint of pride twisting his lips.

Something seemed off. There was no other way to counter Raphel’s explosive sword technique.

Sirio nodded and said, “If the aftereffects are still present, it’s a problem. She could get into trouble being near Her Majesty, especially with the strict eunuchs.”

They talked about things I didn’t understand, events from before the game’s timeline.

“But are you sure? How did you know, Deculein? Well, I suppose you would. You care so much about her,” Sirio said with a sly grin.

Gwen\'s eyes narrowed as she snapped, “Enough. Even if it’s true, is this how you show you care for someone? It’s not impressive. Despite her injury, she can still instruct Her Majesty just fine. Your overprotection is unnecessary.”

“Gwen,” I said firmly, calling her name.

“What?”

“Would you like to be disqualified as well?”

Gwen fell silent, so I turned my attention back to my duties as the Selector.

“Return to your rooms. The second test will commence once the first disqualified participant has departed.”

***

It was 3 p.m., but the world outside remained dark. Yulie stood, gazing up at the sky. The winter air was taut and biting.

“Best of luck, Grand Knight!”

“You’ve been stressed lately, so show them what you’ve got and return even stronger!”

She recalled the encouragement from her fellow knights. Determined to pass the test for their sake, she had failed. She couldn\'t blame anyone else and wouldn\'t allow herself to. Yulie accepted it humbly. As she was about to leave, she heard a rustling sound and saw Deculein watching her from not far away.

“Yulie.”

“Yes?”

He walked towards her slowly, his steps crunching in the snow. Stopping just three steps away, he paused as if carefully choosing his words.

"Today\'s outcome was indeed unfortunate."

“Not at all,” Yulie replied, shaking her head. “As you said, it was my fault. I understand. That was the nature of the test itself.”

Deculein remained silent, unable to comprehend Yulie’s insistence that it was her fault.

Yulie continued earnestly, “The Ice Flower and the fireplace were quite ingenious. I should have examined them more thoroughly when I received the task.”

Deculein sighed softly. He knew it wasn\'t ingenious; it was more that she was stubbornly straightforward.

“... Before you leave, I have a question I would like to ask you,” Deculein said.

“Does this pertain to your duties as the Selector?”

He shook his head and replied, “No.”

“Very well, please ask your question.”

As Kim Woo-Jin, enduring Deculein’s emotions, he remembered meeting Yulie for the first time five months ago. She had been furious about a promise he had broken, but he hadn’t even asked what the promise was.

“I once broke a promise,” he said. Yulie looked at him silently, and Deculein continued with a detached tone, “Remind me of that promise.”

Yulie’s eyebrows twitched. Deculein offered her a small smile and said, “I merely wish to hear it from you once more.”

She found him puzzling; at some point, he had become an enigma.

"... It has been over half a year. During that time, I received a letter from someone in the Luna family. It was from the mother of a mage who took his own life while working on your research."

“And what were the contents of that letter?”

“I\'ve already shown it to you. It outlined the... wrongdoings you had committed. I asked for an explanation, and you remained silent.”

Yulie had shown him the letter, but he had burned it, insisting she didn\'t need to know its contents.

“I see.”

However, Deculein acted as if nothing had happened, his behavior inexplicable once again.

“Why do you ask this now?”

He looked at her with a bitter smile on his lips and said, “Because it was my fault.”

“... Pardon?” Yulie asked, her eyes widening in surprise.

“It was my fault then... the fault of I, Deculein. But the research continues. He designed it, but I am the one carrying it forward. As a joint effort, he will be credited as a co-author.” Deculein gazed at the horizon as the sun finally began to rise, the natural magic of the space adding a strange quality to the moment.

“If there are profits, they will be shared, and I will help his family recover. When this research is published, I will also extend my apology to him,” Deculein said, his face bathed in sunlight. He was cold yet warm, like ice melting in spring.

Yulie responded softly, “... Why did you not say this back then?”

Deculein looked at her, and Yulie did not avert her gaze.

“Perhaps because it would have changed nothing,” he replied.

“Sorry?”

“At that time, you were merely seeking reasons to despise me.”

Deculein believed that although he loved Yulie, she did not love him. He felt it was a fate he had to accept.

“I understand. No matter what you feel toward me, emotions cannot be changed by sheer will.”

“... No,” Yulie said, shaking her head firmly. “... There was a time when I liked you.”

Deculein’s normally stoic eyes widened. Yulie blushed at his reaction and said, “What I mean to say is...”

Their relationship had spanned sixteen years, dating back to when Deculein was not yet the head of Yukline and Yulie was just a child dreaming of becoming a knight. Despite many disappointments and humiliations, she had decided to trust him one last time, driven by her feelings for him.

“At that time—”

“Let us leave it buried,” Deculein interrupted, shaking his head. “I am not the same person I was back then.”

Yulie, who had been about to speak, nodded shyly. She understood his resolve and let the words forming in her mouth fade away.

Watching her, he said, “Yulie.”

“Yes?”

“From this moment forward, I will endeavor not to love you.”

Yulie’s eyes and mouth widened in surprise. Deculein’s clear laughter shattered his cold exterior, making him appear more boyish than the stern noble he usually was.

Smiling, he continued, “You seem burdened by it, so I will endeavor to distance myself. Eventually, we shall each find our own paths.”

He finally shared his feelings with her.

“I shall do that for you,” he said, then turned and walked away without hesitation. “You have done well today. Take care on your way home.”

Yulie watched his retreating figure as the sun rose high, warming the world. A small smile spread across her face like sunlight, and she whispered, “... You are sincere, aren’t you?”

Yulie realized once again that he was trying to change. She had not been aware of his efforts, or perhaps she had not wanted to acknowledge them.

“I will reflect and atone as a knight should.”

Feeling a warmth like that of a cozy candle flame, Yulie turned and walked in the opposite direction. His words echoed in her mind, "I will endeavor not to love you..."

He was willing to change for her, to refrain from loving her for her sake. It was a self-sacrificial promise made for her. She stopped and looked back, but he was already out of sight.

“Eventually, we shall each find our own paths...”

Nodding, she resumed her walk. The snow seemed to swallow her steps. The rising sun melted the snow on her, making it cling like wet mud. Yulie continued on, finally accepting the lingering feelings she had for him.

***

The selection examination concluded smoothly. After three days of testing, Raphel was selected, while the other three knights were eliminated. Although it consumed three days, it was far from a waste. I observed the movements of the top knights with my Sharp Eyesight and committed them to memory with my Comprehension.

It was an experience more valuable than any treasure. As soon as I returned to my office in the Mage Tower, I compiled and organized my observations. The two volumes I produced would be invaluable for my Iron Man project.

"Hm," I murmured as I placed the record book in my desk drawer. A notebook caught my eye. I took it out—it was the titleless notebook I had taken from Deculein’s room in Hadecaine.

Although the details were still unclear, it was undoubtedly a magical artifact. Using such magical artifacts is usually straightforward, requiring only an infusion of mana. The moment I placed my hand on the notebook...

Knock knock—

A knock sounded. I quickly put the notebook away and used Telekinesis to open the door.

"Congratulations!" Allen exclaimed, wearing a party hat and holding a cake. He grinned broadly and said, "Professor, congratulations on being selected as an Imperial Instructor Mage!"

It seemed the imperial announcement had been made. I nodded and asked, “Is there a list?”

“Here it is!” Allen said eagerly as he handed it over.

I frowned as soon as I saw the list.

Imperial Instructor Mage List: Deculein von Grahan-Yukline, Louina von Schlott McQueen.

There were two instructor mages on the list, though it was supposed to be just one. Still, it wasn’t the worst outcome; meeting Louina was inevitable. However, the next page felt like a slap to the back of my head.

Imperial Instructor Knight List: Sirio von Renya Sigrun, Raphel Kent, Yulie von Deya-Freyden, Gwen Whipsy

"What is this?"

The empress had selected all four as instructor knights. Feeling awkward about her decision, she explained it on the next page.

I seek to master the swift sword techniques of Sirio, as fluid as the wind; harness the explosive power of the heavy sword from Raphel; perfect the art of the rapier from Gwen; and learn to unite the elements with the sword from Yulie.

Just then, a system message appeared.

[Imperial Quest: Demon’s Mirror]

◆ Store Currency +10

◆ ???

A quest worth ten store currency had appeared, but my mood remained sour.

“... Ta-da! Ta-da-da-da-da! Ta-da!” Allen, oblivious to the situation, exclaimed, mimicking a fanfare with his mouth.

“Leave,” I commanded with a wave of my hand.

“Oh, yes, sir!” Allen said, quickly leaving as he sensed the tense atmosphere.

I stared at the list, deep in thought. Agonizing at my desk wouldn’t change anything, though. This was all due to the empress’s whims.

“Damn it...” I muttered, running a hand through my hair as I sat down.

Knock knock—

Another knock sounded just as I was about to leave, so I went to the door and opened it. Standing there was Sylvia, holding a large scroll.

“Professor, I have a question.”

“A question?”

“Yes, sir. In the last class, you mentioned that the assignment would be challenging and that we should come to you with any questions.”

“That is correct, but are you here alone?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Return with your group members,” I said, closing the door.

Knock knock—

Sylvia knocked again. When I didn’t open the door, she called out, “My team is of no assistance.”

“Group assignments are not intended to be completed alone.”

I finally heard her footsteps moving away, but shortly after, there was another knock.

“I distinctly said—”

I opened the door to find her with the other four. They must have been nearby. It seemed Sylvia had planned to ask the question alone, leaving them on the side.

“We’re all here.”

“... Very well, come in,” I said, guiding the group to the table in my office.

Epherene flashed a suspicious smile as soon as she sat down and said, "This is how we’ve organized our group project."

Sylvia placed the scroll on the table. I nodded and unrolled it. Honestly, I was a bit surprised. Although I had told the class to visit anytime, I hadn’t expected them to actually do so...

Heh heh, Epherene thought to herself with a smirk.

In truth, the scroll detailing the magical disaster spell was flawed. Epherene had secretly inserted deliberate errors without Sylvia\'s knowledge. It was a cleverly designed trap that had taken her two nights to complete. Even Deculein wouldn’t easily spot it with a mere glance because it contained a hidden catalyst.

“Where might there be a mistake?” Epherene asked Deculein, feigning nervousness as she licked her lips.

Deculein silently examined the scroll...