The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

"By the way, Ruruk Muuteru. I must hit you once," Millenia said with an extremely serious expression.

At this sudden declaration of intent to hit, my companions immediately sprang into action.

Nagi drew her weapon, Elen readied her staff, Saaya placed her hand on her dagger, and Lilith finished preparing to activate her magic device.

Seori was running back and forth, holding Punisuke.

"Do not worry, it's just a formality. You all just watch."

Millenia waved her hand lightly.

In that instant, everyone lowered their weapons. They then stepped back several paces, clearing a path between me and Millenia.

It seemed their bodies had moved on their own again, and all four were surprised. Even Elen couldn't resist.

"Master~ Is this person an enemy~?"

"It's okay. This is something necessary for me too."

I had fully understood in this short time.

As depicted in the story of the Three Sages, Millenia also deeply loved Roze, and she couldn't forgive me for taking her life.

Until now, the other disciples had just been too kind. Originally, from their perspective, I should have been a hateful existence.

"...Is one hit enough?"

"Don't get cocky. My strike is heavy."

All I could do was accept that anger. I had no intention of making excuses or talking back.

Millenia stood right in front of me.

She clenched her small fist and looked up at me with somewhat sad eyes.

"Are you ready?"

"Yes. Ah, but I have an automatic defense skill, so ordinary attacks—"

"Don't underestimate me. Brace yourself properly."

Millenia clenched her fist and lightly touched it to my stomach.

In that moment, an impact ran through my body.

"Gah!?"

I was sent flying.

Ignoring both my status and "Domain Arbitration," my body bounced and rolled to the edge of the rooftop. I managed to stop just short of falling off, surprised by the intense pain I felt for the first time in a while.

I hadn't let my guard down. I thought I had steeled myself with all my might.

It was like taking a punch directly from the Dragon King.

My internal organs felt burning hot.

However, "Domain Arbitration" instantly repaired that damage.

Still feeling the pain lingering in the core of my body, I stood up.

What was that just now?

Since it broke through the defense of an extreme-level skill, was Millenia's attack also based on a skill of equal or higher level? Or could she attack through other means?

As I returned, holding my stomach, Millenia spoke.

"You certainly seem to have a defense skill, but there are countless ways to attack that surpass skills and status. With just that, you must be disappointing the Master."

"Ugh."

Well, compared to Roze, I'm still nowhere near his level.

However, it seems the Sage of Mystic Arts was also a monster far beyond my imagination.

Anyway.

"...Is one hit really enough for the matter of the Master?"

"The Master's? What are you talking about?"

"Eh? Wasn't that just now an iron fist punishment for me, who took the Master's life?"

"...That's not it at all. The Master originally wished for death. There's no reason to hate you, if anything I should be grateful..."

So I was wrong.

But then why was I hit? I just acted all cool thinking, "This is for Roze!" and got hit. Was it completely pointless?

Millenia looked exasperated.

"What, didn't you notice? Didn't you see the hero statue exhibit downstairs?"

"Um, the hero statue of the dungeon conquerors? I hadn't seen it yet..."

"I see. Then I'll tell you."

Millenia spoke in a voice as if reminiscing about distant memories.

"Three hundred years ago, the two magic users who conquered this dungeon along with me, disguised as Millennium, were named 'Skato' and 'Maeve.'"

"Eh... Skato and Maeve!?"

It's not just that I knew them.

Those were the names of the "Shadow King Skato" we fought and "Golem Master Maeve" who was in the wasteland of the demon realm.

Millenia continued, with an expression both nostalgic and sad.

"You probably know them. Indeed, they were demon folk, but due to certain circumstances, we hit it off... They lived with me for a while as humans thanks to my 'Threshold Compilation.' It might be easier to understand if I say they were in the same position as Nagi there."

"I-I see..."

"Those days when we three were conquering this dungeon were my last good memories. Skato and Maeve were my close friends, and they were a very kind couple... For demon folk, they were very fond of me and humans."

...I didn't know.

Come to think of it, Maeve had said it. Her husband had a skill that could cross the Lunera Great Forest. So that was Skato's shadow movement skill.

"So, do you hate us for defeating Skato?"

Saaya asked Millenia calmly while casually standing in front of me.

Millenia paused before shaking her head.

"...It's not such sentimentality. I certainly have some thoughts, but as I said earlier, this is just a formality. It's like a way for me to draw a line, so I didn't hit you seriously. It's true that you killed my close friends, but..."

"But Skato attacked us first. I don't feel we should be blamed for that, and no matter how much of a close friend he was, for such a cruel person—"

"But at the same time, I'm grateful to you all."

Millenia interrupted Saaya's words.

"Skato was cruel, you say. I can't blame you for thinking that... But he wasn't always a cold man from the start. Rather, he was a loving and kind man to everyone."

"That's a lie. The Skato we met treated his subordinates like objects, trampled on lives, and even Nagi's brother..."

"Yes, indeed. But that was because of Saturn."

Millenia's eyes clearly showed anger as she spoke that name.

"This was around the time Skato returned to the demon realm. Due to a trivial trigger, he ended up in conflict with Saturn, and Skato had one of his emotions—'love'—taken from him. From then on, he started treating Maeve, me, and others no differently from tools. After that, he became Saturn's pawn... The rest is as you know."

"That's..."

Saaya was at a loss for words.

Having learned about the past of Skato, who could be considered a hateful opponent, she seemed unsure of what to say. I too couldn't immediately digest this fact.

In a sense, Skato was also a victim.

"...So that's what it was."

And, several things fell into place.

It was what Maeve had talked about. I finally understood the true meaning of her words warning us to be careful of Saturn's "Usurpation."

And I finally realized the real reason why Maeve had remained in that land as the "Witch of the Wasteland."

There was no need for her to continue staying so close to Saturn's territory just for the reason that it was easy to fight there. While it's true that the wasteland would have been easy to fight in with giant golems... Maeve was probably aiming for something all along.

She was waiting for a chance to avenge her beloved husband, Skato, near Saturn. She was waiting vigilantly for an opportunity for revenge.

Hiding the face of an avenger behind the mask of a gentle madam.

"I'm grateful to you all. For defeating Saturn."

"...Even so, Nagi still hates Skato."

The one who interjected these words was Nagi, whose beloved brother had been killed by Skato.

Millenia lowered her gaze.

"...Indeed. I don't think anyone's apology can make up for what happened to your brother, but at least as Skato's close friend, I must apologize. I'm truly sorry, please forgive me. If you want to hit me in Skato's place, go ahead."

"That's... meaningless. My brother won't come back..."

Nagi covered her face with both hands and crouched down. Saaya immediately embraced her.

Skato had his own life.

I realized such an obvious thing only now.

But no matter how much justification or reason there is, what's lost doesn't come back.

We too have helped someone by fighting and have become someone's enemy in the process. Even Saturn had just chosen a way of life that sacrificed everything for Roze, and wasn't purely evil.

Everyone has just been fighting to fulfill the wishes right in front of them. From Maeve's perspective, we probably became Skato's enemies too.

Fate is intertwined in an almost merciless complexity.

That's how the world moves. In places we don't know about, and in places we do.

"The world is absurd," Millenia said, gazing at the horizon.

"Ruruk Muuteru... Was this world full of such sad events what the Master was trying to protect? Is this the world I'm trying to protect? Is this emptiness what the Master wanted to protect...?"

"The world might be like that. But, that's not it."

Certainly, Roze might have lamented. She might have gotten tired of protecting such a world at times. One of the reasons she wanted to die might have been because of this world's cruel face.

But.

"I was asked by the Master. At the very end, the Master asked me. What did I think of this world?"

"What did you answer?"

"I answered, 'It's a very harsh and cruel world, but for me, it's the best world.'"

"...And what did the Master say?"

"She laughed. She laughed with a very charming, wonderful expression. Even now, when I close my eyes, I can see that face of the Master. I think she wanted to say, 'Thank you for accepting this world, I'm glad I protected it.'"

So no matter what sad stories there are.

Even if I'm shown cruelty.

"Even if it's harsh, I think it's a warm world. This world that the Master loved and continued to protect."

"...I see."

Millenia looked straight at my face and smiled somewhat happily—and sadly.

"Nagi, have you calmed down?"

"...Yes. I'm sorry for losing my composure."

"Don't worry about it. Emotions often don't follow our will."

After a while, when Nagi stopped crying, Millenia spoke as if regaining her composure.

"Then shall we get to the main topic?"

"Before that, Millenia-san, may I go and just greet them first?"

"Hmm? Who?"

"To him," I said, pointing to the white grave in the back.

Millenia nodded with a smile, so we moved to the gravestone—the grave of the "Sage of Magic"—and offered our prayers.

The gravestone had the name of the Sage of Magic engraved along with the phrase "Here I sleep with my great sins." And a copy of "The Three Sages and the World Tree" was placed as an offering along with flowers.

...It was probably the original copy.

The first edition that magic enthusiasts around the world are desperately searching for.

My inner tension rose so much I could've done a backflip. I want to read it, I want to read it, I want to read it... No, I must resist!

The fierce battle between reason and desire ended—with reason's narrow victory. How admirable.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," I said.

As we returned to our original spot after the moment of silence, Millenia crossed her arms and spoke with an arrogant attitude.

"Then let's begin. I will now ask questions to [Rozewill], who have received a recommendation for SSS-rank promotion. I will make my judgment based on your answers. Is that alright?"

"Questions, you say?"

"Yes. Everyone answer honestly."

It was unexpected.

I thought there would be some kind of practical test, but it's just a Q&A session.

To us who were on guard, Millenia threw just one question.

"'Yggdoll'... How much knowledge do you have about this word?"

...It was a word I had never heard before.

Not just me, but Elen, Saaya, Seori, Punisuke, Nagi, and even the well-informed Lilith shook their heads.

Millenia's expression at that moment was very impressive.

She momentarily showed a face that seemed both relieved and despairing—a mixture of joy and sorrow.

"...Then I'll pass judgment. Your recommendation for SSS-rank promotion for [Rozewill] is rejected, and the test result is denied."

So it was no good after all.

I don't know what meaning that word "Yggdoll" has, but it seems that the position of SSS-rank isn't granted just for being strong or famous.

However, since we didn't particularly want to be promoted, no one is frustrated about failing.

"Hey, Millenia-san. We don't really care about ranks either way, but now I'm curious. What is this Yggdoll?"

"What would you do if I told you, Saaya Schreine? You should come back here after you've had the opportunity to learn about it, gain experience, and broaden your horizons."

"I understand."

Saaya backed down obediently.

It seems we lack experience. Well, if that's the case, Camlock and the other Guild Masters probably won't complain. It's not like they could object to the chairman's decision anyway.

"However, it's also true that it doesn't sit well to leave you at S-rank. So, let's do this."

Millenia pointed her fingertip at us and moved it swiftly.

The magical elements were rewritten in an instant. She remotely manipulated all of our cards simultaneously.

I immediately took out my guild card to check.

"...Isn't there supposed to be more of a procedure for this?"

"What, are you unsatisfied? Would you prefer a grand ceremony?"

"No, I'll pass on that."

What Millenia did was rewrite our guild cards.

The cards that were gold-colored have now become shimmering platinum. Of course, that's not all.

"SS-rank! Wow, amazing!"

"Hmph, the world is worshiping me..."

Well, that's how it went.

My companions were excited about becoming SS-rank adventurers, which is considered amazing if there's one pair per country every hundred years.

Lilith and I were secretly shuddering.

"Brother, did you see that just now? She performed 'Threshold Compilation' and 'Color Change' simultaneously on all of us remotely... As expected of the Sage, her control is on a different level."

"Yeah. It's frustrating, but it seems she's one step ahead in the race for number one disciple..."

"Hmph, I have no intention of losing in technical precision to a chick who's only lived for a dozen or so years."

Naturally, Millenia's proficiency must be maxed out.

I've exceeded the max with my Transcendent privilege, but I can't match Millenia's precise technique. My mystic arts are more about the scale of output. I wouldn't lose in that aspect.

Still, I didn't expect such a difference in technique. It's difficult enough to perform remote manipulation without connecting arrays...

"You still have a long way to go. By the way, even if your proficiency stops increasing, it doesn't mean your technical skills can't improve. Learn about that too before you come back, boy."

"B-Boy..."

I'm almost an adult! Ugh, how frustrating.

Millenia seemed quite pleased to have shown the difference to me, her junior disciple. I can't complain because I'm also extremely excited to have seen a glimpse of the Sage of Mystic Arts' capabilities.

Besides, if I said anything here, it would just be sour grapes. Woof.

"Hmm. Then this audience is over. The kitchen preparations should be ready by now, so you all can go eat—"

Just as Millenia was about to say that, it happened.

Suddenly, magical elements shone, and a single piece of paper was transported to Millenia's hand.

Millenia immediately picked up the letter and read it.

"...So it has begun moving."

She crumpled the paper in her hand.

"Did something happen?"

"...It's nothing for you to worry about. Now, what was I saying? Ah yes, I need to tell them to start preparing the evening meal. You must be hungry too, so you should head downstairs soon. You've enjoyed the view from here enough, right?"

Saying that, Millenia was clearly rushing us.

I was curious about the letter, but it's probably not something I should pry into.

Pushed from behind, we were almost forced onto the elevator.

"We'll meet again someday. Take your time to gain experience and learn about the world."

"Yes. Thank you very much."

As we bowed, the elevator immediately started moving. Millenia's figure disappeared from view.

As we descended rapidly from above the clouds, I thought a little.

If both Chairman Millennium and the attendant maid Milly are different forms of Millenia, does that mean she's always living alone at the top of this tower?

Having lost her beloved husband, her master, and separated from her close friends.

Even so, Millenia continues to protect the world's order as the chairman.

...She's a bit like the Master.

"What's wrong, Ruruk?"

"Nothing."

I gazed absently at the sky and clenched my fist a little.

Even if we're far from reaching their level now...

"I just got a bit motivated, that's all."

I need to become stronger too.