A Cadet Becomes a Prophet?! — Chapter 10

Chapter 10

“As‌⁠ expected, we’re in‌ first place.”

“Yes, I never imagined⁠ I could take first place with‌ you.”

Inside⁠‍ the destination was‍ a small refuge⁠ wrapped in magic. On one side‌‌ stood a large‍ tent; on the other, the eliminated‍‍ students were collapsed‌ on the ground.‍⁠

When⁠ Fernan made eye contact with Carlo,‍‌ who was staring at him, he‌ gave a slight smile.

“All‍‍ students who managed‍‍ to enter, go‍‌ into the tent‌ and rest.”

“Yes,⁠‍‌ sir.”

“Any‍ injuries?”

“None.”⁠‍

There‌ had been, but‍ all were healed‌ with potions.

“…Fernan‌‌ and Luina?”

“Were⁠ they the first‌‌⁠ to arrive? Then‍⁠ they’re the first?”‍‌

“What about Prince Ludger‍‌⁠ and Almon?”

“Is⁠‍ this real…?”

Leaving⁠ behind the astonishment‍‌ of the eliminated‌ students, the two‌‍‍ entered the tent.⁠‍

Inside,‌ there was nothing‌⁠ particularly impressive. Just‌ a few chairs,⁠ snacks, and a professor’s map showing‍‌ the location of‍ the other students.‍⁠

It‌ was a courtesy‌⁠ that allowed them⁠‌ to guess the‍⁠ situation of the⁠⁠‍ others through the⁠⁠ map.

Not‍‍⁠ that Fernan particularly⁠‍ cared.

“…I‌⁠ really didn’t think⁠ we’d end up⁠ in first place.”⁠‌

“Same⁠‍ here.”

Honestly,⁠ he had doubts.‌ The competition was⁠⁠ fierce, and Fernan‌ had no desire to be first.‍⁠

His‌ only goal had⁠ been to respect Luina’s intentions as‌⁠ much as possible‍ and build a connection with her.⁠‍

He‌⁠⁠ had only put in effort because⁠‌ it was obvious that Luina would⁠‌⁠ notice and get‌⁠ upset if he‌⁠‍ slacked off.

“Still,‍‌ there’s nothing wrong with it, right?”‌

“Of‍⁠ course not. It’s⁠‍ the first time I’ve taken first place, so I’m‍⁠‌ absolutely thrilled.”

That‌⁠ was a relief.⁠⁠ Even though he‌ had unintentionally become a thorn in⁠‍‍ her side, his‍⁠ relationship with Luina‍⁠ had progressed.

“But‌ this is just‌ the first step.‍ I won’t settle‌ for this. From‍ now on, I look forward to‍‌‍ working with you.”⁠‌

“Likewise.⁠‍ I’m counting on‌ you.”

At⁠‍‍ that moment, the‍ tent’s entrance opened‌‌ and new figures entered.

“Fernan.”⁠

Pfft.‌⁠ Prince Ludger let‍ out a chuckle.‌

“Well, you’ve caught my⁠ attention. Were you hiding your abilities⁠ all this time?”

“I⁠⁠ wasn’t really hiding⁠‍ anything.”

“Then‌‌⁠ how come you’ve⁠‌‍ never made a rock wall like⁠⁠ that before?”

“I‍ never needed to.”⁠‌‍

“But⁠‌⁠ now you did?”

“Seems so.”

“I⁠‍ see.”

Ludger’s⁠⁠ gaze subtly turned‍⁠ to Luina.

“Now‌ I get it⁠ all.”

“…I⁠‌‍ don’t know what‌ you think you⁠‍‍ understand, but I’d‌ rather deny it.”⁠‌

“Don’t‌ worry. I won’t‌ tell anyone.”

“That’s⁠‍‌ not the point…”‍‌

Without‍⁠‍ responding to Fernan,‍ Ludger sat down⁠ a little ways‍‌ off. Almon, who‍‌ followed him, gave‌ Fernan a glance‌‌ before sitting beside⁠ him.

The‍⁠‍ students who had‌‌ followed Ludger began⁠‍ noisily filling the‌ space around him.‍‌

“…Don’t‌ tell me that⁠⁠ really was your⁠ intention?”

“Stop⁠⁠ saying nonsense.”

Luina‌ shifted away a bit, her expression‌⁠⁠ wary. Fernan let‌ out an incredulous⁠ chuckle at her‌⁠ reaction.

A moment later, Luina‌⁠ narrowed her eyes‌ and changed the‍‍ subject.

“Ah,⁠ that reminds me.‌ I ran into⁠‍‍ Aint Armian recently.”⁠

“Isn’t‌⁠ he Armian?”

‘Yeah.⁠ I was lightly‌‍ swinging my sword in the outdoor training field at⁠‌⁠ night, and he walked in, probably⁠ to train. It was quite a funny situation. It‍ reminded me a lot of the⁠ time you said‍ you secretly watched⁠‌⁠ my training…”

That‌⁠ was when—

“…!”⁠

A deafening rumble sounded.‍‍

It‌ was a sound‍‍ only Fernan could⁠ hear—a thunderclap that‍‌ exploded inside his‌ head.

In‍ an instant, his‌ mind went blank. A jolt of‌‌ electricity shot through‍‌⁠ his brain, similar to the first‍ time lightning struck‌ him.

“Ugh…!”⁠

A groan escaped his‌‍‌ clenched teeth.

At‌ the same time—‌

It’s⁠ clear. The author’s⁠ talent is more‍ than enough to‍ become a Royal‍⁠ Knight.

[I‌ wanted to free‍ her from the‍‍ shackles of the‌‌ Pellenberg family.]

The‍‌ prophecies that had been dormant on‍ the edge of‍ his consciousness began‌ sprouting like mushrooms‌ after the rain.‍

[Senior.‍⁠ No, I am Luina of House‍‍‌ Bercheff.]

Aint‍ Armian extended his hand.

[Please,‍‌ become my knight.]⁠

This‌ was unlike any‍ of the previous‌‍‌ prophecies. Its intensity‍ etched itself into⁠⁠ Fernan’s senses as⁠ if he were⁠‍ truly present in⁠‌‍ the scene.

Aint,⁠‌‌ after defeating Luina‌⁠ in a duel, offered his hand.⁠ But Luina didn’t⁠⁠⁠ take it.

The⁠ world turned upside‍‌ down. The scenery‌ changed.

A sky red like‍ blood, a suffocating miasma of demonic‌ energy. As if‌ the end had‍⁠‌ come, a colossal‍⁠ evil descended upon⁠ Aint Armian.

In⁠ that moment, the‌‍ back of a determined knight firmly‌ blocked its path.‌‍⁠

[Senior!‍ What are you—?]⁠

[You‌‌ are not Armian.⁠⁠ You said it‌‌‌ once.]

[You⁠ asked me to be your knight.‌⁠ And I refused.]‌

It‌ was pride that‌⁠ made me refuse,‌‌ but no longer.⁠ I came to‍⁠ know you and⁠‌ your cause.

So⁠ this is my‌ fate.

“A‌ knight is the⁠⁠ sword that strikes‌ their lord’s enemies⁠⁠ and the shield‌⁠ that protects them.”

A knight.

“Does‍ not run from their lord.”

A knight.

“Does‍‍ not die before‌ their lord.”

That’s‌ it.

[My‍ chivalry.]

[Luina‍ charged at the⁠‌ demon Andromalius. The‍ blue sword energy‌‌ shone brightly.]

The‌‌ world flipped again.⁠

It⁠ was a hospital‌ room. When Luina‌ opened her eyes,⁠‌ Aint was holding⁠ her hand, tears‌ streaming down his⁠‌ face.

[Thank‍ God. I’m so‍ glad.]

[This place is…]

[A‍⁠‍ hospital.]

The⁠‍ flow fractured slightly.‍

[Senior.‌⁠⁠ Please don’t misunderstand‌‌ and just listen.‌‍ Since you said⁠ I’m your knight,⁠⁠ I’ll ask you‌‍ directly.]

Aint’s⁠‌ gaze sharpened as‌ he looked at Luina.

[Those‍‍ bastards are trying‍‍‌ to ruin you⁠ and the Bercheff⁠‍ family. It’s the Pellenbergs, isn’t it?‌ That filthy rich‌ scum.]

Though‌‌ it was fragmented⁠ and hard to‌ piece together at‍‍‍ first, one thing⁠⁠ was certain—each vision⁠⁠⁠ revolved around Luina.‌‍

‘Why⁠⁠ now, of all‌⁠ times?’

Was‍ it because Luina‍⁠‌ mentioned Aint?

[So‍⁠ that’s when they‍ started using Luina⁠ to try to‍⁠ ruin me.]

It‌⁠⁠ wasn’t exactly new‍⁠‍ information—he already knew‍⁠ it. It wasn’t‌⁠ like it revealed‌ a specific time‍⁠ or plan.

Andromalius,⁠ huh?

He‌‍ remembered. It was‌ the name of⁠ a demon he’d‍ read about in‍ a library book.‍‍‌ Was that thing‌ really going to‌‌ descend?

‘When?’‍‌‍

No,⁠‌ that wasn’t the‌ most important part‌‍ either.

[Not⁠ Armian… how dare‌ he call someone⁠ nouveau riche…!]

“…Are⁠⁠ you okay?”

A rough hand shook⁠ his shoulder. Only‌ then did Fernan‌‍‌ break out of‍‍ his thoughts and⁠‍ open his eyes.⁠‌

Luina‍‍ was looking at⁠⁠ him with a worried expression.

“…I’m⁠ fine.”

“All‍ of a sudden⁠ you screamed. You really scared me.‌⁠ You’re also pale.”⁠⁠

“It’s nothing…”

“It‍ doesn’t look like‍ nothing.”

It⁠ was Ludger’s voice.‍

Only‌⁠ then did Fernan‍‌ realize he’d finally regained enough composure‌‍⁠ to look around. And that everyone⁠ in the tent‍‌ was staring at‌ him.

“…It’s‍ nothing, don’t worry about me.”

“For‌‍ something that’s ‘nothing,’⁠‍ you sure look‌‌‍ like you’re having⁠ a rough time.”

“I‍‌⁠ overexerted myself for‌ the first time‍‍ in a while. Just a little‍‌‍ unstable mana backlash,⁠‍‍ that’s all.”

“That’s‌‌ not like you. Are you sure⁠⁠ you’re okay? You‌ don’t need to‌‍⁠ tell the professor‍⁠ or anything?”

“I’m‌‍ fine. Thanks for‍‍ the concern.”

Fernan‌‌ forcefully wiped his‌‌‌ face. One by one, the stares‍‌ focused on him‌ began to disperse.‌‍

“…Are⁠ you really okay?”⁠‍

“Yes.‍ Just like I said.”

“But‍‌ you were holding‍ your head.”

…Unnecessarily⁠‌‌ sharp.

“No,⁠‍‌ it was my⁠ chest.”

“Still,‌‍ I think you‍ should tell the‌‌ professor…”

“I⁠⁠‌ said I’m fine,‍ Luina Bercheff.”

“Then‌ at least take‌⁠‍ a potion. You’ve got plenty, right?”‌

“That⁠ would be a waste.”

“Money‍⁠ is for spending⁠‌ when it matters,‍ not for wasting‍ without reason.”

“Well,‍ that’s…”

“Silence.⁠⁠⁠ Shut it.”

“Seems‌ like your mouth⁠ works fine. Understood.”‍

Luina‍‌‌ nodded briefly.

‘What‍‌ was that just‌ now?’

It‍ was the future.⁠ A later part⁠ of the prophecy⁠ written in the⁠ book—something that hadn’t‌‍ come to mind no matter how⁠ much he’d thought⁠ about it until‍‌ now.

‘Was‌ it because Luina‌ mentioned Aint?’

Considering‌ the timing and‌‌ the fact that⁠ all the visions‍⁠ were related to⁠‌ Luina, that seemed‍⁠ very likely.

‘I’ll⁠ have to look‌⁠ into this later.’⁠

Maybe‍ every time he encountered someone related‌ to Aint, he’d⁠ get more information⁠ about the future.‍‌

‘But‍⁠⁠ seriously… Andromalius?’

One‌ of the 72‌ demons was going⁠‍ to descend into⁠ this world. And‌ near the Academy,‌ no less?

“This is insane.”

Demons‍ were legendary beings.‍ He had no‍ idea how to‌⁠ deal with something‍‍ like that.

“No,‍ no need to⁠ worry about that yet. Aint’s the‌‌‌ one who ends up dealing with‍⁠ it anyway, and‌ that’s something that happens much later.‍‌ I should focus‍ on what’s more‌ immediate.”

More‍ urgent than a far-off future with‌ Andromalius was the‌ next event just‍ around the corner.‍⁠

Exactly‍ one month from‌‍⁠ now, an incident would occur during⁠‍ the Practical Warfare‍ and Dueling course‍‌ in the first-year‍‌‌ knight department.

The⁠‌ second big moment‌ for Aint Armian,⁠⁠ after defeating Anto‍‌‍ Dnern, tenth in‍ the rankings, in‌ the first class⁠‌‍ and causing a stir.

In‍‍ this upcoming class,‌‍⁠ Aint Armian would‌‍‌ face the second-ranked‍‍ first-year, Verian Kalburdern.⁠

And the result would‌‌ be a narrow‍‍⁠ victory.

After⁠⁠ defeating Anto Dnern, Aint had already‌⁠ started to make‍‌ a name for‌ himself. But to‌‌‍ bring down the⁠‍ second place just‍⁠ a month later?‌⁠⁠ It was a huge event.

It⁠‍ would be the⁠ ultimate proof that⁠ his first win⁠‌⁠ wasn’t just luck,‌ and he’d begin⁠‍ to gain real‌‍⁠ recognition.

‘But⁠ the problem didn’t‍ end there.’

Just‍‌ as there’s darkness‍ where there’s light,⁠‌ every winner comes‍ with a loser.⁠‌

While‍ Aint gained glory‍ and reputation, Verian‍ would lose a lot. His fame,⁠⁠‍ his honor, even‍ the powerful patron⁠ who supported him.‍

“Second⁠ place in the‍ knight department… I trusted you because⁠‍⁠ of your Kalburdern‍ Knight title.”

“…I’m‍‍ sorry. Next time,‍ definitely—”

“There’s‌⁠ nothing to apologize‌ for. I just‍ had expectations that‌ were too high.‌ For now, take‌ some time to‍‍ rest—physically and mentally.⁠ If another opportunity‍‌ comes up, we’ll‌‌ talk again.”

Essentially,‍‍ it was a dismissal. Verian lowered‍ his head and‍‍⁠ bit his lip⁠⁠ hard.

‘Armian…!’

His anger toward Aint⁠‌‍ Armian began to‍‌‍ boil inside him.‍‌

Unlike‍ the previous unexpected‍ chaos, this time‍ Fernan had consciously‍⁠⁠ recalled the prophecies.

This was the moment‍ when Verian lost⁠⁠ to Aint in‍⁠ a public duel⁠ and was half-abandoned‌⁠ by Ludger.

Of‍⁠ course, Ludger had⁠⁠‍ left some room;‍‍ he hadn’t cut‌ him off entirely.‌‍‍

But‌⁠ from the perspective⁠⁠ of someone who’d‍⁠‍ been pushed aside,‌ someone who had‌⁠ stood at the top, the feeling‌‍ would have been‌ very different.

“He⁠‌ must’ve felt like‌ he lost everything.”‍‍

Defeated‌⁠⁠ by someone from‍⁠ Armian (his lifelong‌⁠ rival) and cast‌⁠ aside by the‌‍ mentor he’d trusted…‍ this event would‌ be the turning‍ point that led⁠ Verian Kalburdern to⁠‍ fall to the‌‌ whispers of a demon.

Yes,‌ a demon.

It‌⁠‌ was the first‍‌ time a demon‍ appeared, even if‍‍ only indirectly.

‘The⁠ problem is, the‌‍‌ prophecy doesn’t say‌ exactly how or‍‌ where they came‍ into contact.’

It⁠⁠ wasn’t clear whether‌‍ the prophecy was lacking, or if⁠ the demon was‍ that meticulous.

Fernan‌ leaned toward the‍ former.

After all, it didn’t‌ make sense that⁠‌ a book of prophecy would just miss something because⁠‍ a demon was⁠ “thorough.” That would‌ defeat the whole‌⁠ purpose of prophecy.‍‌

“Luina.”‌‌⁠

“Yes?”‍

“Do‍‌ you think demons‍‍ exist?”

“…That’s‍ a pretty random‍‌ question.”

“Just‌ answer it.”

At his insistence, Luina⁠ nodded slightly.

“Yes. Didn’t the Empire⁠‍ get built by‌‌‍ defeating demons?”

“And‌ what if I told you they‍⁠ still exist in⁠‍ this world today?”⁠‌⁠

“…Honestly,‌‌ that’s a little‌‍ hard to believe.”‌

“I‌ think so too.”

Yes, that was the‍ typical reaction. The‌ demons the First‌‍ Emperor had defeated‍‍ hadn’t shown themselves‌ in over a thousand years.

People⁠⁠‍ are quick to⁠ dismiss even a century of silence‍ as myth. A thousand years? For⁠ modern humanity, demons‍ were nothing more‍‍ than old legends‌‌ or fairy tales—nothing⁠ more, nothing less.‌

Which‍ made the matter all the more⁠ critical.

“If⁠⁠⁠ I could find‌ evidence of a demon’s presence, it‌ would be much⁠ easier to convince‌‍ others and gain‌⁠⁠ support.”

Illusion⁠ and hard evidence⁠‌ were entirely different‌‌⁠ things, and with⁠ proof, he could‌ start changing the‌‍ entire game.

‘And‌ I could verify⁠ the prophecy book‍ once again.’

Even⁠⁠ if the other⁠‌ 99 prophecies were‍‍⁠ correct, if the⁠⁠ one about demons⁠⁠ was wrong, the‌‌‍ book’s credibility would⁠ be fundamentally flawed.‌ This was a matter of utmost‌⁠⁠ importance.

“Seriously,⁠⁠‌ why demons all of a sudden?‌‌ Is your head‍⁠⁠ still hurting…?”

“I told you I’m‌‍ fine.”

At‍ that moment, the‍‌‍ tent flap opened⁠ and Grad entered.⁠

“Everyone,‌⁠⁠ outside.”

The⁠ practical training was‍ over.