Wizard of the Deep Sea

TL/ED – Miso

“What did you do to Linmel?”

“I brought forward the potential she could reach in the future. I didn’t expect it to be this much though. Three minutes. Can you believe that? It took her three minutes to break through that witch’s den. You better not let go of that girl.”

“What I’m asking is whether there are any problems.”

“You wouldn’t believe me even if I said there weren’t. But there really aren’t, so I have nothing to say. The only side effect is that it’s single-use, but how is that a problem?”

“…I’ll believe you for now.”

Getting soaked in the rain, I ran to the back of the World Tree.

It’s such a damned huge tree that even just circling around it once takes quite a bit of time. While running, I activated my current sense and observed the surroundings.

I felt nothing.

“But hey. Why are you going there?”

“They’re fighting over me, so I can’t just stay out of it.”

“No, you should be running away first. If it’s about delivering the situation to Brimdal, I’ll do that for you. But here? You want to pit the Empire’s greatest knight against the worst witch? Two people who might even become your masters?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Azrael, despite being old, easily kept up with my pace, bouncing along, persistently asking.

It was getting annoying, so I snapped at him clearly.

“Azrael, I understand your objective. You want to use me to bring Master back to normal, and then carry out that so-called liberation, don’t you? Then just leave me alone.”

“Hmm, close but not quite.”

“Then what is it?”

“I don’t believe that Dersia can ever return to her senses. She’s already crossed a line that she can’t come back from. She can’t liberate us.”

“…Why?”

Azrael answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“How many Elves do you think I’ve seen? That one’s already a lost cause. After digging through the world however she pleases for thousands of years, she’ll probably come back once she’s tired. Then she’ll pass down her memories and send another Elf.”

“That makes even less sense. Then why are you helping me? Or rather, hindering me. Honestly, I have no idea what you’re trying to do.”

“First, I want to make sure that lunatic leaves so this stable doesn’t collapse. Second, to gather information.”

“What?”

Information?

While running, I glanced over at Azrael, and he nodded.

“Normally, when someone builds up that much, to the point where they can’t stay sane, they become extremely closed off and only show interest in the field they’re obsessed with.”

“So?”

“You fool, what is your master moving for?”

“Me. But that’s because I’m her disciple.”

“That’s slightly off the mark…”

Azrael looked at me with a meaningful expression.

“What do you mean?”

“It means you’re a curious fellow. I’ll observe you to find out exactly how you influenced Dersia. And I’ll use that to raise the next generation’s messiah.”

“…”

I was momentarily at a loss for words, then shot back.

“Quit your Messiah nonsense.”

“Heh heh, we’re all part of it. Even using you.”

So it was all just a barrage of questions to gather data.

As soon as the useless conversation ended, Dersia and Brimdal came into view.

The good news was, they weren’t fighting.

“…Hmm.”

Brimdal was holding Dersia by the neck.

Fortunately, it was sap that was dripping, not blood. On the fist that Brimdal had sunk into her throat, vines were wrapped around it.

Roots that moved on their own, not hanging from the stem.

“Annoying.”

-Crack! As soon as Brimdal applied a bit of strength, there was a refreshingly crisp sound like a watermelon splitting, and it was smashed to pieces, but.

“If I said something like ‘Fight me fair and square’, how would you respond?”

“I’d say, ‘Is it knightly to beg for victory from your opponent?’.”

“Yeah. You’re that kind of people.”

Dersia was sitting on a branch dozens of meters up in the air.

With the same expression as always, reading a book, she looked completely normal.

She probably was, too.

That’s the problem.

“…But I’ll be the one taking the victory.”

“Hmm.”

Brimdal flung away the tangled mass of roots in his hand.

If the World Tree were truly alive, it would have vomited several times after witnessing the surrounding scene.

Roots, leaves, and branches, crushed and torn apart in a gruesome state.

Even with the rain pouring down like this, the pungent smell of torn grass clinging to the nose was proof of the battle’s brutality.

“You’re free to indulge in delusions, but please look at reality.”

As Dersia flicked her finger, the plants rose again.

As if they were immortal, they stood back up in their horribly shredded states.

They didn’t only take the form of roots. Among them were human mannequins resembling Dersia herself.

They held swords. Some, had stars glimmering in their eyes.

“…This is insane.”

Why was Dersia resorting to such a method?

She had created humans out of plants, and planted a world within them.

Only then did I notice the rain piercing down from the sky. Was this what’s reviving those plants?

“Reality, huh…”

Watching Brimdal raise his sword with a grimace, I thought of another possibility.

Why wasn’t Dersia using her usual magic to kill opponents with that fountain pen? Why was she manipulating roots instead?

I had brushed it off lightly, thinking maybe it was just more efficient because we were near the World Tree.

No. This was an experiment.

The reason she deliberately used such means was to obtain even a little more information.

-It was all for me.

“So you’re watching. That’s what this is.”

-Boom! Just as Brimdal was watching the approaching plant Wizard, he suddenly burst forward in one motion and leapt toward my direction.

“…!”

Only then did Dersia, realizing that I was outside when I should be inside the chamber, flinch in surprise.

Too late. Brimdal hid me behind him, spun his sword, and aimed it at Dersia.

“You’ve been careless with your hostage. Not very terrorist-like of you.”

“…”

“So then, what will you do now?”

After frowning for a moment, Dersia closed her book and sighed.

Brimdal didn’t budge as he kept his sword pointed at her. His presence was so sharp, it felt like a single wrong breath could slice you.

“No matter what magic you use, at this distance, I can take your disciple and escape…”

“Yes. It can’t be helped. Congratulations on your victory.”

“…What?”

Brimdal stared at Dersia in disbelief.

But she remained unfazed, speaking in a light, slow tone as she waved her hand.

“What’s this talk about hostages? I was planning to let you go anyway after pushing you a little away. Then I’d return and try to persuade him again. If that still didn’t work, I would’ve let him go.”

“No, what is this…”

And it wasn’t just words. Brimdal watched as all the plant soldiers collapsed, tilting his head deeply in confusion.

Of course it was absurd. If a hostage escapes, the typical response is to move into Phase 2, but she simply gave up?

Anyone would think, “Was this something that could’ve been resolved with a conversation?”

Absolutely not.

Leaving the flustered Brimdal behind, I stepped forward and asked,

“Master. Please wait a moment.”

“Jern, do you still have something to say?”

“There are a few things I want to ask. Can you answer me?”

“I thought our Q&A ended in the underground chamber.”

“Didn’t you just say you were planning to kill Brimdal in a brutal way and then try persuading me again?”

“…I didn’t go that far.”

Dersia furrowed her brow and bent a branch toward me.

“Jern.”

“It’s fine. Please leave it to me.”

“…Hmm.”

Stopping Brimdal, I stepped forward and spoke with Dersia.

“What are you curious about?”

“Are you still not stopping the work of turning innocent Elves into Wizards, then into Fallen, to offset my Burden in order to save me?”

“Yes. Again, there is no problem with this. I cannot understand why you can’t accept even this much.”

“Why should I accept that?”

“Do you see this?”

Dersia raised one of the plant Wizard.

In the knot-hole that looked like an eye filled with water, there was a star inside, albeit an imperfect one.

“Can you make that, in that state, Fall?”

“Of course not. It feels no pain, has no thoughts, so it can’t fall. It’s merely a tool that manifests pre-set magic.”

“Then what’s the point of this?”

“Does this look human to you?”

“No.”

“Then there’s no problem killing it.”

The plant Wizard returned to its disheveled roots.

Dersia, watching that scene without a hint of concern, looked at me and murmured.

“That shaman probably filled your head with useless false knowledge.”

“…False?”

“No, you idiot. Don’t tell me you actually believe what that crazy bitch says?”

“Of course I do. She’s my master.”

I believed in Dersia’s sincerity more than in Azrael’s.

This whole situation made it clear. If Dersia had truly wanted to save me by any means necessary, she could have lied about her methods.

But there was no harm. No new Fallen were created. There was nothing inside the chamber.

Like this.

Knowing I would reject it, to achieve her goal.

And yet, Dersia hadn’t hidden anything.

She had clearly explained her goal and reasons, the means and methods she was using.

Compared to the scheming Azrael, she wasn’t even in the same category.

“Hah, I’m dying of injustice here. What lies have I told?”

“I suppose you’ll say something like ‘I failed to destroy this cattle pen.'”

“That’s close.”

“I’m sorry, but no. Actually, I’m not even sorry… I really don’t care what happens to the Elves.”

Dersia furrowed her brow in irritation.

“To be completely honest, I’m rather ashamed. That you, my disciple, had to witness how primitive my own race is- I wish there were a hole I could crawl into.”

“No, I wouldn’t go that far.”

“Living as they please, then when the consequences catch up, they blame time, blame their race, shifting responsibility, and finally choose to run away by erasing all memories, isn’t that going a bit too far?”

“…”

I had too much to say, and so I couldn’t say anything.

And I agreed.

I almost said, “Didn’t you run away too, Dersia?” That it was just racial trait.

But I figured it’d be better to keep my mouth shut, so I said nothing.

“Anyway, among those useless false pieces of knowledge, there is at least one thing that’s true, and that is the recovery of memory.”

“Memory recovery?”

“Yes. That’s the reason I chose Elves. That Azrael can store Elves’ memories. In other words, he can extract the painful memories used in the process of falling. Then only the Fallen remain.”

“…How is that any different? Isn’t it still creating Fallen, just without the pain?”

“It’s different. First of all, the lives these Elves lead in the pen are utterly worthless. A complete waste, really. And there is no pain in the process of falling either. They’re tools created for use, so why insist on not using them?”

“You crazy bitch!”

Seemingly enraged, Azrael jumped out, pointing his finger at her.

“Sure, the way our race lives isn’t perfect, but we never did anything that deserves being treated like objects!”

“You did.”

“…”

Azrael was left speechless.

“That, too, is one of the many ways I tried to persuade you, Jern. These Elves committed unforgivable crimes by your standards. They forgot even the desire to die from guilt. I simply use them without pain, for a greater cause, and then release them… what exactly is the problem? How do you distinguish between that plant-human and an Elf? By what standard?”

“Haah…”

I rubbed my temple.

Once again, I had a lot I wanted to say.

But this time, I was able to choose the most correct thing to say from all those thoughts.

“Master.”

“Yes. I’m listening.”

“I don’t want to even leave ‘that kind of choice’ as an option. I don’t want to consider it as something to weigh.”

“…”

“I’ve already weighed it all.”

“…….”

Our eyes met.

Only now did I realize that although Dersia looked the same as usual, there was one difference.

There was a little more clarity in her eyes.

“I see.”

“Will you give up?”

“I can’t do that.”

Dersia slowly shook her head.

“You know me. And I know you. I believe further words are meaningless.”

Dersia turned her body and walked away.

Perhaps, this is the end.

Just because words are understood doesn’t mean they always lead to an exchange of opinions.

Dersia would continue that hellish research.

With the purpose of saving me.

So then.

“Words are meaningless.”

I found a way to make the process of compressing wind easier.

Put it into a space created by water pressure.

-Boom!

“Hmm.”

Wind Thunder, despite its name, was split in half.

Dersia hadn’t lifted a single finger. Without even turning around, she split my high-tier magic with nothing but her consciousness.

She might not have even consciously done it.

Though it seemed she realized it afterward, as she turned her head with a puzzled expression.

“Wind Thunder… hmm, I see. I only presented it as a possibility, without any guideposts. You reached it on your own.”

“Dersia.”

I called her by name.

“Let’s set aside our master-disciple relationship and have a real fight.”

“…?”

For the first time, a visible change appeared on her face.

*

Dersia looked at me in disbelief.

“You want to fight me.”

“Yes.”

“Umm…”

After pondering for a moment, Dersia murmured as she looked at me.

“Jern, you… weren’t this stupid before… is it because you trained under a Knight… have you become aggressive…?”

“I know it’s not something that can actually happen. That’s why I’m asking for a chance.”

“A chance.”

I borrowed a short sword from Brimdal, who was watching with interest, and slowly widened the distance between Dersia and me.

“I’ve currently reached 2-Star.”

“I see. Congratulations.”

“Please restrict yourself to only 2-Star magic. Don’t move from that spot either. Don’t use any other magical tools. If you break these conditions, I win.”

“Hmm…”

Dersia looked at me with a troubled expression.

Well, from her perspective, it must be difficult to understand the meaning of challenging someone while stacking the conditions in your favor.

“Did you hit your head?”

“Dersia. If you win, I’ll become a devoted disciple from this moment forward.”

There was a glint in her eyes.

“In detail.”

“Brimdal, Azrael, no reinforcements. Just you and me. A duel. Conditions as stated.”

I drew the blade. Droplets hit the ground, and the sword gleamed brightly.

“If I lose, whether it’s other people or Elves, I’ll have no objection to you using them as a means to survive. Do you want to add anything?”

“What if I lose?”

I had already decided.

“Let me freely alter your memory. Using Azrael’s ability.”

“What?”

Azrael, who was beside me, was more shocked than anyone.

But Dersia didn’t seem very surprised. She simply nodded slowly.

“You’ll manipulate my memories and turn me into a slave… That’s the gist of it?”

“A slave is a bit much… I won’t go that far. I’ll just erase every memory related to this matter.”

“Hmm. So it’s a duel for control over one another.”

“Yes. I guess putting a 2-Star and a 9-Star on the same scale is too much, right?”

“No.”

Dersia replied firmly.

As if she didn’t want to miss this opportunity.

“When do we start?”

“I proposed it, so you decide.”

-Drip. Suddenly, the rain stopped.

Dersia cut off the magic that had been governing this domain.

She abandoned her 9-Star magic and confined herself within the narrow room of a 2-Star level.

“Now! That’s your chance, go attack her, you dumb tall Dwarf knight!”

Azrael immediately shouted something, but Brimdal simply ignored him with his arms crossed.

“What are you doing, your disciple just gave you a golden opportunity!! Don’t you see it?”

“I saw it.”

“You damn idiot, then why aren’t you jumping out there?”

“I figured I should see what that Elf is capable of too.”

“…?”

We ignored him as well.

Holding my sword, I widened the distance and created a sphere of wind to fire Wind Thunder.

I knew my limits. Three shots max.

If I draw the bowstring any more than that, my shoulder will give out. But it’s enough firepower to threaten a 2-Star wizard’s body.

Wind Thunder is high-tier magic.

No matter how powerful Dersia was, she couldn’t produce the same level of destructive force with only 2-Star magic.

“We’ll begin in ten seconds.”

As Dersia said that.

She suddenly gave a very satisfied smile.

“Jern. There’s no turning back now.”

“Yes. I know.”

“So, I’ll give you a chance to surrender. Check behind me using current sense.”

“…?”

I blinked.

After learning Enhanced Mana Body, I was able to detect the flow of mana using current sense.

When magic manifested, the hollow spaces within the deep sea became visible.

And then. I frowned.

“……….This is cheating.”

“I told you. There’s no turning back.”

A mere, very small wind arrow.

A spell closer to 1-Star than 2-Star level.

However, there were a lot of them.

So many that it could make one mistake the deep sea parting like the Red Sea.

With about two seconds left before the start, I reconfirmed what I had already known.

“You must’ve been embarrassed.”

Even if she restricted herself to 1-Star magic.

There was absolutely no way I could defeat Dersia, not even if I died and came back.

“To think you’d choose to lose like this.”

9.5-Star.

The Empire’s greatest wizard didn’t even need a fan to summon a typhoon.