Mnemosyne’s Gate (1)
Arthur was surprised, embarrassed, and ashamed. He thought that it was because of him that Kleio was struggling. Looking at that, Kleio felt like he knew why the main character in most fictions should have an impeccable character.
‘It’s good to read a book with a mystical villain. But if you live with people around you, the simpler and more loyal the protagonist, the better.’
“Don’t even say that as a joke. It is said that anything buried in the King’s Forest will be lost forever. The darkness in the forest will swallow up anything.”
Kleio nodded.
‘Melchior knows that well himself.’
It would’ve been difficult to hide those corpses in the capital where all eyes were on him.
‘The radicals of the Flag picked the wrong location.’
No, there was a high possibility that the trap was set when the students at the Defense Force school were invited there.
‘He stabbed Fran, brainwashed that researcher, trapped those extremists… The deterioration of the competent crown prince is coming along efficiently.’
How many bodies had been buried in that forest? With that in mind, he started to view the beasts caught in the previous day’s hunt differently.
“But everyone is like that… Do you want to eat those beasts?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Hey…”
Although his condition was poor, the nauseated Kleio couldn’t let himself lay on the floor as his stomach began to turn over. He felt like he was going to die.
‘I used to be proud that I never had gastritis even after suffering from overtime and drinking a lot…’
He pressed himself off of the cold stone floor, forcing himself to wake up. Arthur sat right in front of his nose, deep in thought. His head began to clear as the fatigue faded slightly. It seemed like he knew what Arthur was concerned about, even if he lacked Melchior’s skill.
“Hmm… Hey, are you still worried I’ll back your brother? I’ve invested in you! So, why would I do that now?”
Kleio grunted, pointing to the magic tool on Arthur’s back. It was one of the best swords out there. Arthur only scratched his head in response as if he had no retort.
“I know you won’t. By the way… Because Melchior doesn’t know what to do… I thought something went wrong because of the tiplaum.”
Kleio shook his head.
“Well, you’re not entirely wrong, but don’t sweat about that.”
“What was my brother offering you?”
“What will you do if you hear about it?”
“I need to hear how much the stakes have raised.”
“It wasn’t much. He said he would put my name on the list of noblemen next year.”
“Then…”
“Well, that’s not so much. I can wait a bit for you to grant me that. Right, your Majesty?”
“You know what disrespect is, right? What if others hear you? I don’t often worry about others, but you make me.”
“Don’t worry about it; no one will hear. He got a call from the capital saying the Door of Mnemosyne has opened. Your brother and his attendants will be packing their bags and leaving soon.”
“What? The door is open?”
“Yes. He told them to ready an express train right away. If not for that, I probably would’ve been forced to stay up all night. I probably would’ve passed out halfway through.”
“Looking at you, that doesn’t appear to be an exaggeration.”
“Yes. If you were going to come to look for me, why did you wait here?”
“…I’m afraid of Tasserton, my brother’s knight, would notice me. He is a 7th level swordsman.”
If Arthur were a dog, his ears would no doubt be dropping. Level 5 at the age of seventeen was an incredible achievement, but he was resentful he hadn’t caught up with Tasserton, who was ten years older than him.
“You should become an advanced swordsman as soon as possible.”
“I will. I really want to.”
His disappointment was brief. Arthur arose, refreshed, and helped Kleio up.
“Wake up now. When a weak boy like you sleeps in a place like this, you’ll be sick all weak.”
Arthur dragged the tearful Kleio to his bedroom. As soon as he hit the bed in his room, Kleio fell asleep without a farewell.
***
The next morning, all the students boarded the first train at the Dubris central station. The train ran without stopping, reaching the capital before noon.
“The Orails districts partnership should open quickly.”
“I know, right? It’s a big deal since my feet are getting tired.”
Neither Professor Maria nor the leading assistant was able to hide their nervousness. They had to get back to school as soon as possible. The teachers were in the front carriage. Meanwhile, Kleio was busy sleeping.
“Lippi, Leticia. We’re here. Wake up Lei.”
“Eh-. I’m so sorry, but I can’t wake him up.”
“He’s sleeping like a person who hasn’t slept in a thousand years. He also has bags under his eyes.”
The twins, unaware of the circumstances, wandered around Kleio as the train slowed down, the central station quickly approaching.
“Then he has to go to the dormitory and sleep.”
“That’s right!”
“Right!”
“Lei, wake up!”
“We’re here!”
He couldn’t even open his eyes to the sound of the Angellium twins conversing.
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“Uh? Uh… Oh, wait…”
Lippi and Leticia began to form a new idea.
“He can’t wake up?’
“Shall we carry him?”
“He’s not big…”
They turned to Cel for help.
“Will you help?”
“Pass.”
At that moment, the door of the carriage compartment opened, and Isiel entered, having heard the conversation from the hallway.
“I’ll do it.”
Isiel turned her head with a sigh as she saw Kleio asleep. Her long soft curls shook with her sigh.
“I’m glad Isiel will help!”
“Why does Lei make so much trouble for people?”
Isiel picked Kleio up like he was a child.
“I guess it wasn’t a lie. He was stuck inside all the time because he was sick.”
The students hurriedly left the train carriage. In front of the central station, newspaper sales were booming as people shouted.
“Extra!”
“Extra!”
-Will the Great Dark Age from a Thousand Years Ago Reappear?-
-Door of Mnemosyne Reopened-
-Capital Citizens Recommended to Stay Inside-
-Order for Emergency Gathering of the Knights of the Capital Defense Force-
The air in the capital was cold. Lundane was boiling with the news that the door had opened. Excitement, fear, curiosity, and anxiety all mixed into one big mess. Even looking out the carriage’s window, the people’s agitation could be felt. While the talk had declined due to the tensions, Kleio continued to sleep.
“Isiel has to suffer once more.”
“It’s not that hard.”
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The two twins helped Isiel pull Kleio from the carriage. Kleio’s legs, drooping under her arms, swayed as she walked. The twins, following with his bags, laughed.
“Kyahaha, what is that? It feels like you’re carrying a scarecrow.”
“Maybe a scarecrow would be heavier.”
Behind the laughter of the twins, the footsteps of knights marching could be heard. After falling asleep, he awoke to find dozens of military forces walking through the front gates of the school. Unlike the Capital Defense Force knights, they wore black belts diagonally over their uniforms. They were members of Cruel’s knights in the Southeast army. Apparently, they were invading the Defense Force’s territory. Even when strangers entered the school, no one moved to block them.
‘That must be Aslan’s move.’
Of course, it wasn’t known to Kleio.
‘Is that why even though the dungeon has opened for the first time in so long, but there’s no ruckus about it?’
It had been closed for a thousand years, so you would think there would be a frenzy, but…
‘Well, we’ll get used to it soon.’
From here on, the protagonist and his friends, as well as the villain and his colleagues, could figure it out on their own. Kleio, exhausted from the trip, didn’t want to worry about anything. He began to doze off again without knowing who was carrying him.
***
The school’s external barrier was initiated. Zebedee was capable of activating it alone because his circle’s range could cover the entire school, but in case that wasn’t possible, several wizards took the east, west, north, and south barriers. The teaching assistants, the senior students of the magic course, and the wizards of the Defense Force, set the order and restarted the barrier every 24-hours. As a result, the outer barrier stone-built with red mana stones shone all day long.
Classes continued despite the hectic atmosphere. Neither the teachers nor the students would let their daily lives be destroyed because the door had opened. However, due to the instructor’s circumstances, Basic Swordsmanship II was replaced by History. Magical Basics II had no significant problems as Professor Maria Gentile took turns teaching with Zebedee. It was said that if the central personnel and senior knights of the Defense Forces that had been dispatched to the provinces returned to the capital, Zebedee and Maria could take a breather and return to their classes.
‘I read that it’s not hard for a swordmaster or arch-mage to stay up overnight for about a week, but it’s amazing to see them do it.’
The Duke Cruel’s private soldiers couldn’t get close to the door, but when he recalled the description from the manuscript, it was easy to imagine Professor Rosa guarding the front of the Door of Mnemosyne alongside Zebedee, wearing a robe and holding a cane. The level 8 swordsman and level 8 wizard. Both of them had a [Covenant] to protect the capital so that they couldn’t enter the door. The school had been built to correctly respond the day the gateway opened, passing down old and mystical rules since the time of Leonid the first.
‘If you think about it, it’s strange; it’s like they predicted this a thousand years ago. If I didn’t know this was a world of fiction, I wouldn’t believe it…’
Unlike Kleio, however, everyone else there took such a thing for granted. As usual, the words of the history teacher flowed through his ears as he droned on in a slow voice.
“…Therefore, by the promise of Leonid the First, all kings of Albion can cause an eclipse only once in their lifetime. In all the crowning ceremonies of the millennium, at the moment of coronations, the annular solar eclipse occurs in the sky of Lundane. A circle of light illuminates the king in the coffin, the stars changing their position for him. It is the only promise left in the world not exercised by God, and it is the ultimate basis for kingship.
‘The king…’
His thoughts drifted toward the princes. Melchior remembered the erased past and knew this story was being rewritten.
‘If he remembers the manuscript in detail enough to know that Fran invented the formula, then, from the viewpoint of the author, his past life…’
That moment, a thunderbolt passed through his mind. Why would the crown prince who was closest to the throne and already possessed so much influence need propaganda?
‘Melchior surely knows what to do in the future!’
He had been given a more terrible role than any other character.
‘Melchior… Even if that’s happening, you are surely trying to become the king…!’
If so, then Fran’s unique skill may be what Melchior needed to complete his goal. By manipulating public opinion, he intended to use the citizens.
‘…I was right!’
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Kleio’s jaw was clenched tight. It didn’t matter much if he was from outside the story or not. As Jungjin or as Kleio, he would defeat Melchior. After seeing the prince’s attitude through his eight horrific episodes, it was clear that he was cursing the author. In other words, it meant that the author would never get the development he wanted.
‘Is this okay…? Is that something I can tackle?’