“Excuse me, Count… I’m terribly sorry, but could you please confirm once more whether the correct documents have been submitted…?”
The clerk, sweating profusely, handed me the papers again.
I didn’t even bother looking at them and immediately pushed them back.
There’s no issue with the documents.
I went over them with Julia yesterday, and we reviewed them thoroughly and made corrections throughout the night.
There’s no way these documents are wrong.
“Well, uh… The title of the thesis seems a bit strange. It says, ‘Establishing the Basic System of Black Magic’…?”
“That’s correct. It’s not a completed thesis yet, but it’s based on that, and I plan to present it, so I’ve submitted it as a related document.”
“…”
The clerk’s face turned pale in real time.
She seemed to be smiling, but it wasn’t really a smile at all, more like a strange expression.
I couldn’t blame her.
It must be the first time she’s seen someone who not only officially submits a research paper on black magic to an academic conference but also plans to present it at an academic presentation.
‘It’s better to give them time to prepare for the shock rather than springing it on them all of a sudden.’
Today, I stopped by the conference for the submission of the interim documents for the academic presentation.
The submission of interim documents is completely voluntary.
If special equipment or preparations are needed for the presentation, most people submit documents in advance to request those from the conference.
Of course, I didn’t need to submit the interim document, but I did anyway, submitting my unfinished thesis.
I didn’t want a huge stir on the day of the presentation, so I thought it would be better to inform the conference beforehand.
At least, they might take measures like assigning additional security personnel.
“Please wait a moment…”
The clerk hurried off, and soon after, an old man with a beard appeared.
That person…
I remember seeing them at the imperial palace, though I couldn’t recall his name.
“Nice to meet you, Count. I am the president of the conference.”
“Hello.”
“Well… I’ve reviewed the documents you submitted, and I have some doubts. I’m not sure if it’s a thesis that can actually be completed, and even if it could be completed, I wonder whether it would align with the existing magic theory. I heard you’re participating due to an agreement with the headmaster of the Imperial Magic Academy, but if I can talk to them, I might be able to get the presentation postponed until next year or even later…”
“Thank you for your consideration, but there’s no need for that. It’s true that time is tight, but it’s not to the point where it should be postponed until next year.”
“Eh? Then you plan to present with that research topic…?”
“…”
As I nodded, the president’s mouth slowly fell open. His expression seemed to say, ‘Has this guy finally lost it?’
That was understandable.
Based on his image so far, it would be hard not to suspect that Count Vermont might be trying to spread some sort of pseudo-religion under the guise of an academic presentation.
“Did you actually read the paper till the end?”
“Eh? Ah, no… Since it was unfinished…”
“Then read it. It may be unfinished, but it’s quite interesting. There’s evidence in it that shows black magic is not just a fantasy or legend, but actually perfectly aligns with the existing mana system.”
“I- Is that really true!? Hey, bring me my magnifying glass! Right now!”
The president hurriedly spread the paper out and searched for his magnifying glass.
I decided to leave him to it and turned to leave.
Actually, while it’s called an unfinished paper, it’s just a pile of experimental data with no organization at all…
It would probably take a long time for anyone to interpret it.
I figured I should leave before I heard the president’s angry voice.
Just as I was about to head back to my carriage…
“Sylvia. Let’s go back… Ugh, what!?!”
“My Lord! Get down!”
At that moment, Sylvia quickly drew her sword and, in an instant, I found myself on the ground, pushed into a prone position by Sylvia’s weight.
“Whoa! You’re quicker than I expected! You’ve even gotten faster since I saw you at the imperial palace!”
“…”
Clang!
Sylvia spun and swung her sword.
Before I knew it, Reinhardt had appeared right in front of Sylvia, holding her sword with his gauntlet.
I hadn’t sensed any movement nearby.
How did he get so close…?
“…What kind of nonsense is this?”
“Haha! Sorry, Count. I have this habit of moving as soon as I see a strong opponent. Until now, the only ones I thought could match me were my sister and the captain of the guard. I never thought your bodyguard would have this kind of skill…”
“Please step aside.”
“Even if the opponent is royal blood, you don’t hesitate to draw your sword. Impressive.”
[The Evil God ‘Kali’ expresses great displeasure at the opponent’s rudeness.]
Smack!
Sylvia kicked Reinhardt in the chest, creating distance between them.
The sword that had been caught by Reinhardt’s gauntlet disappeared in an instant as Sylvia withdrew her hand.
“Ugh!”
“…I’m sorry, my Lord.”
Sylvia drew her sword again and pointed it at Reinhardt.
Reinhardt’s eyes widened in shock.
“What in the world!? A sword that disappears and then reappears! What kind of magic is that!?”
“Could you, uh, stop getting any closer? My escort is quite startled.”
“I’m sorry for startling you, but I just can’t resist my curiosity!”
“…!”
Reinhardt grinned excitedly and then charged forward with a kick to the ground.
Ah, I had forgotten.
This guy, as soon as we met after five years, had pointed his sword at his sister.
He may have been disciplined and demoted, but there was no way that irritating personality of his had changed.
“Not even a Swordmaster, yet you can react to my speed! How did such a monster end up in Vermont!”
Whoosh, Whoosh.
To my eyes, Reinhardt seemed to be blinking in and out of existence, but Sylvia was tracking his every movement and responding to it.
With both hands in guard position, he slowly closed the distance and then lunged with a punch at Sylvia.
Every time, Sylvia’s sword would strike the gauntlet, sending sparks flying in all directions.
“Your speed is close to a Swordmaster’s, but you can’t unleash your aura? You’re like someone of my caliber!”
“Tch…!”
At first glance, it looked like Sylvia was holding her ground, but on closer inspection, it wasn’t quite so.
Sylvia was slowly being pushed back.
Of course, she hadn’t yet resorted to using magic, but Reinhardt was still fighting only with his gauntlets, not using a weapon.
In terms of skill, Sylvia was being completely overwhelmed.
It was clear from the situation. Should I assist with black magic?
‘If she gets pushed back just one more step, I’ll have to exhaust Reinhardt.’
This was going too far for a joke.
Clenching my fist, I was about to activate the skill, ‘Black Magic.’
“Let’s see what you’ve got, Vermont’s knight… huh?”
“…?”
In that moment, a small drop of blood shot up into the air.
Reinhardt stopped moving.
Even Sylvia seemed to freeze in place, surprised.
Thud.
After the drop of blood hit the ground, a shallow wound appeared on Reinhardt’s cheek, and tiny droplets of blood started to form.
What is this? A small cut like that made him stop?
“That just now…?”
“Grab him! Reinhardt is causing trouble again!”
“Damn it! I’m sorry for the inconvenience! We’ll meet again, Count Vermont! And Vermont’s lady knight!”
Hurry!
From a distance, soldiers yelled as they chased after Reinhardt, who hastily fled to escape capture.
How can a person be so reckless?
I had thought he would be down after being demoted from the 4th legion commander, but he hadn’t changed at all.
Shaking my head, I got into the carriage.
Sylvia, following me, seemed slower, like she was deep in thought…
“Sylvia.”
“Ah, yes. Huh!?”
Whoosh!
I suddenly grabbed her and tossed her to the ground with a joint lock.
I hadn’t imagined that she’d actually fall for it, so I was taken aback.
Finally realizing what happened, Sylvia blushed as she lay pinned under me.
“Could you… move a bit, my Lord…?”
“This is revenge for earlier. No matter how urgent the situation, there’s no way to throw your master to the ground.”
“I’m really sorry…”
“So, what exactly were you so lost in thought about that you ended up on the ground?”
“Earlier, I cut Reinhardt’s cheek, didn’t I?”
“Yes.”
“But my sword didn’t even touch his cheek.”
“…What?”
Sylvia, serious, took my hand and helped me up, explaining in a grave tone.
She didn’t seem to be joking at all.
“Then that means you succeeded in releasing your aura, right?”
“Not at all. I’ve seen Charlotte’s aura many times, and I can definitely say it wasn’t that. But what’s strange is that, after the blood dropped, when I swung my sword, I could feel the sensation of my blade cutting through the skin. Reinhardt had already evaded it, and the place I cut was empty air.”
“…?”
After hearing Sylvia’s serious explanation, I was left stunned.
From what she said, it almost sounds like…
Sylvia’s sword can cut through the past…?
