Chapter 101

“I’ve more or less heard the whole story.”

The rector inserted himself into the situation as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He stepped forward, approached Rosalia, and caressed her research.

“Professor Rosalia.”

“Yes, rector.”

“Some say I don’t care enough about the Academy, that I spend too much time away… but I think differently.”

“……”

“If the staff is a disaster, how could I not intervene? If the professors are know-it-all fools, how could I wander around distracted?”

“I’m sorry.”

The rector’s mana began to interfere with the cluster of magic stones.

In response to the illegitimate intrusion, the circles and magical circuits emitted a faint glow in resistance, but it was futile.

“You really created this. Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

“But… hmm.”

His gaze changed.

“If I hadn’t confirmed it myself, I’d never have known.”

“Do you mean there really is corrupt magic inside?”

“Didn’t you trust what student Aint said?”

“I do, but I still can’t feel anything. That’s why it’s always more convincing to hear it from two rather than one.”

“I thought that after freezing an assistant and the entire lab, you’d end up admitting it was all a mistake.”

The rector clicked his tongue with a dry laugh.

“Yes, it’s there. It’s hidden so carefully among the mana currents that hardly anyone could find it—except someone of my level. Well, and an Armian, of course.”

The hand caressing the magic stone structure grew gentler.

“The fact that it even escaped your eyes, despite checking it every day… that’s only possible if it was there from the start. Tell me, when did you start building this?”

“I began the research nine years ago. Started with the ice core seven years ago. And the cluster, three years ago.”

“And when did that corrupt assistant join?”

“…Three years ago.”

As if realizing something, Rosalia pressed her lips together.

“It’s the fruit of my abilities.”

“I never said otherwise. Never even thought it.”

Though his face wore a gentle smile, the rector’s eyes carried fierce hardness.

“But, isn’t there at least one hypothesis worth considering? That corrupt gave your research a little clue at a stuck point and blended in naturally.”

It made sense.

The reason the trace of corrupt magic couldn’t be detected was the swarm of hundreds of magic stones surrounding the interior. A kind of interference.

Tricking Rosalia before all that mana had accumulated was nearly impossible.

The only possibility was that the corrupt had used a secret circuit or spell known only to their kind.

“Aren’t the corrupt just that? Dogs of the demons. Who’s to say he didn’t receive a tip from those beasts they call masters of magic?”

“…That statement I cannot let slide, rector.”

It was Jace who replied, fired up, having listened in silence until then.

“Masters of magic, you say? Those monsters are nothing but trash that even hellfire can’t consume.”

“Oh my, it seems I’ve slipped in front of a saint of the Dragon God Cult. But you can’t deny that demons possess great mastery over magic.”

“Because they stole it. Thieves who usurped the gifts of the Great Dragon God.”

“If you say so, then it must be.”

The rector accepted it indifferently, and Jace could no longer argue.

“Then, what do you intend to do?”

“If even you say it, rector, there’s no doubt that seed of corrupt magic exists.”

Rosalia raised her hand to her forehead, as if her head ached.

“I don’t know if it could invoke a demon, but one thing is clear: we can’t let the corrupt get what they want.”

“Even if it sets you back five years?”

“That was just the safest method, not the only one.”

“Knowing you, you’ll rise just as fast as before. Though it would be a shame.”

The rector stroked his beard. At that moment, Fernan spoke.

“Rector, I don’t want Professor Rosalia’s research to stop here.”

“What do you mean?”

“Gathering the materials to recreate the cluster would only take us a day.”

He was sure that if no path existed, he could carve one.

“I can also assemble personnel from the mage guild. And the most important core? Do you know what Itarium is?”

“I do. If it’s that mineral that feeds on vein currents, it would be a perfect core to link magic stones, since they’re also minerals.”

Fernan nodded. They were thinking alike.

He had obtained a supreme-grade Itarium, a legacy of the first emperor. Perhaps destined precisely for this moment.

“…But I still wonder why you’re saying this now.”

“I doubt you haven’t figured it out, rector.”

“The Continental Congress is only 12 days away.”

“Walking a path a second time is always easier.”

“But three years don’t shrink to 12 days.”

That was normally true.

“Unless you help.”

At that moment, both Rosalia’s and the rector’s brows twitched simultaneously.

“And why should I?”

“Because, if you think about it, the root of this problem lies with you.”

“With me?”

“The Academy is your domain. Could the corrupt have infiltrated if you had been watching with both eyes wide open?”

“Interesting way to speak.”

The rector’s face hardened, but Fernan held his gaze without flinching.

Rosalia’s research couldn’t sink now. Not after all the investment he’d made, nor all the effort she had poured into it.

‘The fruit is about to ripen. I won’t let the demons rot my tree.’

The issue was, even if Pellenberg was the Academy’s biggest financier, he couldn’t use that to blackmail the rector.

As an archmage, the rector could replace the Pellenberg funds with other sponsors, even if it cost him.

Blackmailing with money would only earn his enmity.

Here, what Fernan had to use wasn’t a whip—but a carrot.

“If you wish, I’ll donate 10,000 gold coins to the Academy through the foundation.”

“My, you really are in a rush.”

“Professor Rosalia’s research is worth it. It would be tragic if the corrupt made use of it or if it vanished in vain.”

“You’re the only one who looks me in the eye and says it’s my fault.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Do you know what irritates me? That you’re not entirely wrong.”

After a brief silence, the rector spoke.

“Fine. Not for you, but because I refuse to indulge the corrupt who roam my Academy like it’s their home.”

“Of course.”

“But there will be a condition.”

Even if it was help, an archmage couldn’t be treated like a mere assistant.

If he participated, he’d know the very heart of the research.

“Professor Rosalia, you decide. Will you accept my help or not?”

“……”

“It sounds like blackmail, but deep down, Fernan is right. As rector, I failed to keep the Academy in order. Let me have a chance to amend that.”

Rosalia remained silent for a long time, shifting her gaze between Fernan and the rector. Neither looked away.

Quite a bit of time passed.

“Thank you for your help.”

Professor Rosalia bowed her head.

***

The rector, after receiving permission from Professor Rosalia and thoroughly examining the cluster, changed his mind.

“Even for me, 12 days won’t be enough.”

It couldn’t be otherwise.

He was an archmage, but Rosalia was not only the youngest professor at the Academy, but also the one closest to becoming an archmage in history.

And since this was the result of nearly nine years of research, it couldn’t be interpreted and reproduced easily—not even by him.

“I’ll need a bit more time. Hmm, we’ll postpone the Continental Congress a little.”

“Will that be possible?”

“Not by myself. But tell me, who is gathered here?”

The rector’s gaze stopped on Jace. He understood the meaning behind his words.

“Of course. I’ll speak with His Holiness the Pope. Even if that’s not enough, both the Dragon God Cult and I will do our utmost. If you need my hands, command them without hesitation. I’ll prove that the true lord of magic is the Great Dragon God!”

“I’ll make it known.”

Corrupts, archmages, and the Pope of the Dragon God Cult himself.

That was more than enough justification and support to delay a continent-scale event.

“And I’ll be taking this.”

The rector tapped twice on Aaron’s frozen figure.

“That’s supposed to be mine…”

“I captured him. I think that’s enough to claim the right, isn’t it?”

“The damage he caused us was enormous.”

“He infiltrated the Academy. I have more resources than you to interrogate him. In exchange, I’ll share all the information.”

With those words, there was no room for rebuttal.

“Yes.”

The matter was closed. At least the urgent part had been resolved, and Fernan allowed himself a sigh of relief.

“…Incredible. I never imagined the corrupts had penetrated so deeply. If not for you, senior, they would have caught us off guard.”

“And without you, the same. I couldn’t have detected the corrupt manipulation on my own.”

“Well, that…”

“That’s why, take this.”

Fernan pulled an old box from his subspace and handed it to Aint.

“What is it?”

“An elixir made from a fragment of the Itarium root.”

The Itarium inherited from the first emperor was so large and plentiful that, when divided, it could yield enough power for five equal parts. One was for Rosalia; four remained.

“Why give it to me…?”

“Because thanks to you we avoided a disaster.”

“I don’t deserve this much.”

“You do. If that cluster had gone out of control at the Congress, Professor Rosalia and I, her sponsor, would’ve been accused of collusion with the corrupt.”

So accept it without complaint. He’d justify it however necessary, but he would give it to him.

Fernan forced the box into Aint’s pocket. And then met the expectant gaze of a certain first-year.

“Senior, and mine? Isn’t there one for me?”

“But you didn’t do anything.”

“Yes I did. I brought the artifact and we used it for the test.”

“And found nothing. Maybe a small payment for the trouble, but an elixir? Don’t you think that’s pushing it?”

“What weighs more—losing a bit of shame or gaining such a valuable elixir?”

Jace replied without flinching. At that brazenness, Fernan laughed.

“Fine, but you’ll owe me five favors.”

“…Isn’t five too much? Let’s say two.”

“Four.”

“Then three…”

“Four.”

“…Alright, four. But nothing impossible.”

“Deal.”

From the moment he had decided to completely twist that future, Fernan had already planned to give him one.

He didn’t know why Jace hadn’t been Aint’s companion in the future, but he was a great mage, a solid ally, and a Dragon God fanatic who hated the corrupt more than anyone.

If the future was already broken, and Jace wouldn’t join Aint, Fernan would recruit him like he had Verian.

“Get some rest. I’ll call you if anything else comes up.”

“Yes, senior.”

“Yes, brother.”

Aint and Jace left, laughing together.

Fernan returned to the guild branch and sent an urgent report to his father.

Soon, mages from House Pellenberg would join to assist Rosalia. Perhaps they wouldn’t access the core of the research, but they would be a great reinforcement.

“…At least the immediate fire is out.”

The next step was preparing for the corrupt’s reaction when Rosalia and the rector rebuilt the cluster and presented it at the Congress.

If they knew Aaron had been captured, they would also understand their plan had failed.

They had to get ahead of them.

“And also the mutant drake.”

The mutant drake mentioned in the Book of Prophecies. Did it still have its core, or had someone already taken it?

If it was the former, no problem.

If it was the latter—

‘Once or twice is coincidence, but not more.’

Fernan didn’t intend to let Gismond Ert go unpunished any longer.

***

“Human beings are social animals. If there’s one, they want to be two. If they’re two, they form a group. They become a family, a village, a city, a domain, a kingdom, and then an alliance.”

“……”

“And though they could survive alone, even while clashing, hurting, and crying, they don’t let go of each other.”

“……”

“Some scholars say it’s because happiness and joy outweigh pain. Or maybe that’s just how our species is.”

“So? What’s your point with all this?”

“I want to be friends with you, senior.”

Aria Fridian smiled radiantly.

“……”

Luina Bercheff stared at her and crunched a piece of chocolate between her teeth. The sweet taste immediately made her feel better.

“If you think about it, we’re not complete strangers, right?”

“Then what are we?”

“Comrades who fought a demon.”

In Aria’s voice, the word “demon” came out as a whisper.

“That’s not just any bond, don’t you think?”

And it wasn’t.

The odds of a demon descending into this world were extremely low; to face it, fight together, and survive—even lower.

But that didn’t help Luina understand Aria’s behavior.

“Do you really need to say out loud that we’re friends to make it true?”

“Huh?”

“As you said, we fought a demon, faced the corrupt, and shared more than one battle.”

Among them, and among all who were there, a mutual feeling had been forged.

What was normally called camaraderie.

“Is confirmation necessary? I already think we’re friends.”

“Oh.”

Aria’s eyes went blank for a moment, but soon regained their usual sparkle.

“You’re right, senior. I just jumped ahead because I wanted to get closer.”

“Yeah?”

“Want a candy? I always carry some because I love them.”

Aria pulled out a little bag filled with candies wrapped in colorful paper.

“Thanks.”

Luina accepted them, while thinking.

‘She must have her own problems.’

After all, no family was free of them.

It was only a brief moment, but Luina didn’t miss how Aria’s mask had cracked.

‘…They’re good.’

And she let it go, without thinking any further.