Chapter 102
KAhP“Well, unexpected.”60ba
tY6sXuITap, tap. After finishing adjusting the orchid next to the window, the director poured the tea himself.Lxe9z1
NG5l3“That you would be the one to request an interview with me.”SOyrHjv
U4hsP1“I heard some things.”GzuJh6
HMZQ88f“And what things were those?”tE68c0l
uXNDUHZ“It was rumored that a rather big incident had occurred in Professor Rosalia’s laboratory.”v3vPr
VJcJN“Hmm.”3Dh7
DMcuWK“The aroma of the tea is very pleasant.”lvwK
iQ5FThe director smiled calmly.GOfIe
m3moSJ“Isn’t it? I grow it myself. It may sound like self-praise, but the quality is not bad at all.”qVZN
jC4klw“Yes, it truly is.”8zodB
0tXU0“A corrupt appeared. He tried to manipulate Professor Rosalia’s research, and there was a process to eliminate him.”GYAc2
m64jDWhile blowing on the hot tea, Ludger asked:YQdS
5td“You respond so frankly?”eRY
Ou6“What need do I have to hide it? You already knew what you were coming for, didn’t you?”yrP
9dzcTcAlthough it wasn’t as large as the magestone core, the ice crystal was also a mass of immense mana.6YGV3n
UKcBy consuming it completely to unleash magic, the magical wave generated was not small.PUrPw0
scoEven if concealment circles and barriers were engraved on the walls, there was a limit.MIr
SFkoJust as the director perceived it, some professors at the Academy noticed the anomaly.CWT
VO4“Professor Jowel was one of them. In terms of ability, he’s among the top five faculty members.”3h9i
MmGZfvProfessor Jowel was someone connected both to Ludger and Schwaben.iv6N7
iJlxJv“And what happened to the corrupt?”bZFwBAy
vsPfo1X“He was captured.”XR9fzLU
XdIT“I heard you intend to delay the Continental Congress.”JUfhI2n
DMN“During the capture, there were some issues. Professor Rosalia’s research, which was to be presented there, became unusable.”cA2
3hz8S“I see.”VY6
Jmdj“I want to ensure she can present it successfully. For such a remarkable discovery to remain in the shadows due to an accident would be a shame.”YTgkZ
HXaThe director poured milk into his black tea and stirred it with a spoon.EYzGu
YpxP7N“Would you like some?”TGGyX
vrvmRR“No, thank you.”R7fCSR
tXdL9“Some ask why add milk to black tea, but once you taste the smoothness, it’s not bad at all.”o79k5
4SvOB6vWith that sly old fox attitude, Ludger felt a certain annoyance.RvtBs
jH6Q“Why do you tell me everything so openly?”WsXv
V8qBc“Do you even need to ask? Because you already know everything.”RnLM
hMlkDThe director took a sip and smiled in satisfaction.jDM1
xDhNPs4“This is the Academy. One comes here to study, not to fight.”UsA
e14i1lQ“But what we learn is essentially how to fight, isn’t it?”8BZhI
TRkf0“If you look at it broadly, the framework may seem similar, but they are different things.”PUhZy
WxBDThe director emptied the cup in one gulp and refilled it.Mt67
LPek“Didn’t you say you didn’t care about the Academy?”s0qExL
t9DeCla“No matter how much I say that, how could I allow a parasite to grow in my son’s body?”nA8a
KnqRv“That’s true too.”kcuSbEL
7qqZz7“So, do you intend to interfere?”sswC
tmUh“I have no such power.”i6x
My4Yl1Ludger shook his head.AuNxMrw
WziUm“Even if I did, I wouldn’t have reason to. On the contrary, if you wish, I could help.”vrTKkD
WeDJv“There’s no need. Just don’t get in the way.”vLq
uQlNfn4“Understood. But, who discovered the corrupt?”wgyzb0N
NdUn“Student Aint. As a proper Armian, he has a unique talent for detecting corrupt magic.”aEAM3w
YmBxQjI“I see. Thank you.”XzJ1
rPP“If you want another interview, just make an appointment.”4N0v
5VyiThe second prince of the Empire left the office.xmEK4HY
tSzd“He doesn’t want to get involved directly until the end…”3pxcDc
TxAlAHe answered questions frankly, but didn’t reveal everything.DNJGwzK
JvWwvD9The true center of it all was Fernan, and the director had agreed to conceal it at his request.Ot5
QsGAfter all, the Pellenbergs were the family that donated the most money to the Academy.N6fTJG
5Q1dm7‘It’s not hard to guess why he wants to keep it secret.’IPj
TMYEven though Ludger knew Fernan and Aint were close, this was a different matter.iit
llOT3oThe director refilled his cup of tea for the third time.aaQr
Eat5Yk“Hmm. As expected, the tea I grow myself is the best.”a9wZpt
SPZThat day, it tasted particularly good.bqgNbG0
0IUj4yS***DlB
oezwBzThe wind blew and dry leaves fell.VjO
B9mSwish—oUo
3rAJA floating leaf got in the way of the sword. The black blade cut it in two as it advanced.4mPKWN
bOgbzClang!QFv2z
2OLIThe swords clashed and sparks flew.htZPAV
p65SIn that instant, one of them flew from its owner’s hand and fell to the ground after spinning five times in the air.q08
mciX8“……”1lu0q
gYY37PAint Armian stared blankly at his torn hand and the sword embedded in the ground.ScTo7T5
vXtKP2X“What the hell are you doing?”Kv2j
paziipVerian Kalburdern approached angrily.djoqeE
xlH8gN“Didn’t you say you wanted a duel? Where’s your head? Are you underestimating me?”iZXKE
AueH“…Don’t I look like a complete idiot?”EG2yP
PcDGwh“What?”1mGJd
fLoLMThe unexpected start made Verian frown.rkZ
FjT4YAint picked up his sword and swung it. But without strength, unable to cut even a dry leaf.Ci2Q
PWaHis clumsiness reflected his state of mind.eYP
JWYq6qf“That seed… if we had left it, it would have summoned a demon. It possessed as much power as the World Tree Branch, maybe more.”LwVWs
gsMES“What nonsense are you spouting?”CvZfjL9
Zk7V“If no one had discovered it, at the moment of Professor Rosalia’s presentation at the Congress… a demon would have been summoned before everyone.”t7pbe
tlZTHWxIt was a foretold disaster.ezAjn4
yfRThe Continental Congress was one of the most prestigious events in the magical world.F4Uz
l8kFxiThere gathered mages in search of money and fame, along with nobles and the wealthy drawn by that glory.hwUA18
g4PHad the corrupts’ plan succeeded, countless people would have died, including many of the Empire’s most important figures.M7nOZxV
Z7KCl3nA dreadful, unimaginable future.z5S
ZyJ4fox“Speak clearly, damn it! Make it understandable!”0hs
24RYQKVerian didn’t know the truth.2XbP
4SB9l9P“Ah… right, you weren’t there.”UegxcB
Skcq“Are you mocking me? Do you think just because I listened to you a few times, you can take me lightly?”u9Hy
N77Vny9“In Professor Rosalia’s laboratory, there was a corrupt. He manipulated her research, and had we not stopped him, the demon would have been summoned right in the middle of the congress.”slQi36
hnUgPF“……”iSqv7
LHiseXIAint summarized the facts, and Verian, dazed by the wave of information, ended up letting out a hiccup.DXxPSuV
TfuFlF“…Did that really happen?”WLUsjX
bI7a“It was Senior Fernan who discovered and stopped it.”n1Miq
kvik“Ha… that man. I admit he’s capable. But how did he know, when?”X4u7e8d
C5zn823“That’s the problem.”WQxc
zwh“What?”I1sd
4vrmK“It’s a relief he stopped it, but I didn’t know anything.”84Lr4
p2VDespite having inherited the legacy of the First Emperor, despite considering himself the enemy of demons…m24LzR
58U“I did nothing but blindly follow Fernan.”xgCN
kUEYHow foolish, how pathetic.p1TMb3
I1T“And does that matter so much?”wqM2
h0os“It does. That the corrupt will act again is not a possibility—it’s a certainty. And we can’t afford to be surprised every time.”Ga8
TLAs“Well, Fernan will handle it.”TrqEVo
n3eMjb“I can’t depend on him forever. He is he, and I am me.”T3bl6l
15wgFernan was not “his” lord. The Pellenbergs were not servants of the Armians.7cKVtgF
pYy1Xu“I need my own people. People willing to help me.”pjYDT
J7B“And why are you telling me this?”QD9Q
FAk6“I never grieved for my family’s fall. My relatives live off the memory of past glory, but I never even knew it.”6ZBbwQ
EEFFDHLack only exists when compared with abundance.QJg
7lzoRSomeone raised in a small town couldn’t long for life in the city.Lqe29
6LLc“Of course I wanted my house to become great again, but it was a vague thought. Now, at the Academy, I’ve realized.”nJNOqh
neutxHow miserable Armian had become.YnCdSy6
wrQoOn5“If my house had the strength it once had, maybe I would’ve discovered the corrupt before Fernan.”uZQ
YnFkoKu“I’m sorry, but I’m not your trusted friend. Did you forget? Did you forget how we ended up together?”KgB81
gver“I always thought it would be good if Armian regained the greatness of the past… but I’ve never wanted it as strongly as I do now.”VbppDSR
btC9GsGardner’s words fueled his ambition.HTXju3
Mz5s9DtThe constant appearance of corrupts and demons only increased the possibility.1tZpz
qgKhBi“I want to rebuild Armian.”HzabYNa
W7zoolIt was the first time he said it out loud to someone.Y22u9
8MX7lRMThat was the weight of what he was confessing.uI9B4
3PfYF“You’re insane…! Aren’t you listening to me?”lUC
CFBimYVerian’s face turned pale.i2X4YI
JnM6m“No, I’m listening.”htFb
8qH6“If you want to rebuild your family, tell someone else! Don’t try to drag me in with you!”AFXl
fwnl0“The situation is favorable. The power of Armian is the enemy of demons, and right now corrupts and demons are plunging the continent into chaos. This is the time when heroes are needed.”FyP7ks7
sshkPcAint wanted to be that hero.jneFLBl
DOLIJ“But even a hero can’t do everything alone. I need you. To be exact, I want you to be one of mine.”7Wmom
IPO“What the hell are you saying, lunatic?”a0J
DC9FVerian’s face twisted with fury.tjDPyaI
FXbxHq“I’m on Prince Ludger’s side.”LD729
LOD2QiT“You were. Now he’s cast you aside.”PHJ
70P“He didn’t cast me aside, I was forced with threats to be with you!”0EBXbVb
q1n3Nm“Well said. And accompanying Senior Fernan, I learned something—to get what you want, you must spare no means.”3YD3
BpO2sYAint’s face hardened with coldness.6xg72t
9Xb7“Don’t tell me…”vQ8
nJtz“You’re asking how we ended up together? How could I forget? And I also remember this—the first time is hard, but the second is easier.”bXunSP
FPewokkA dark foreboding passed through Verian’s eyes.JOyZ9
3ii“Become my ally, Verian. This isn’t a request. It’s a threat.”8zd
9T3Rh“You bastard…”3o1mQQJ
u6cwSUrVerian gnashed his teeth.yGRB
XfYjKi***5aA9wE1
zHoDS【Breaking News: The 198th Continental Magic Congress, postponed two weeks….】aIAyHpR
Dy7a1【Some mages celebrate the delay, exclaiming “We’ve gained time!”】6MUUl
7vEMkTQ【No clear reasons have been given for the postponement… a unilateral notification?】aChd
W9yThe director’s words had come true, and newspapers were raising questions about the sudden delay of the congress.8Vo
a7whHowever, with the prince-electors involved, everything would eventually be silenced.wrXdD2J
0wExCBProfessor Rosalia, with Fernan’s support and the director’s assistance, began recreating the magiestone core from scratch.Pw8vxn
3aQAnd she faced the root of what forced her to act this way.b2bXy
tXD7w7“……”wCeULy
HHQ6hIt was repulsive, filthy, and nauseating.LJwG
SQihAn instinctive repugnance that any living being in this world, except monsters and corrupted beasts, would feel.W2a
VCgIt wasn’t large, barely the size of a human head.raF2IfU
t2haBBut its veins, pulsing like a heart beneath a viscous layer of flesh, made it look more like a fetus than a seed.Hnp
M1tCAnger welled up against Aaron—and against that seed.Mc0
ymLfxBut at the same time, curiosity arose.cy7j9y
3VWbgdWhat was it, really?oy9D
B4sWhy did it beat?pHlz
AhvrHMWhat would it reveal if dissected?VjXWCk
pZUS3h1Snap. She lit a cigarette and smoked. With the smoke, her tired mind cleared a little, and her emotions settled.iRAXI
W3C9“This is the first time I’ve seen anything like this. Fascinating, but disgusting and repulsive.”12DsqIu
CioRKrVThe director stroked his beard while watching the seed twitch on the magic circle.L6js
q1c“Professor Rosalia, what do you plan to do with this?”GH65
yzqjqz“You shouldn’t be asking me, but him.”oHv
GnbmJyn“Him?”KSVvmRZ
uDWmjTv“It comes from a research project funded with my money. I’m the one who can claim ownership first.”Mp6o
1l0d5X8“But the research was carried out by Professor Rosalia.”MbG6Q7
5M1All eyes turned to her.O4G
ypzDfbU“I won’t deny it stirs my greed, but it’s not my research. And I also can’t deny that it arose from the magiestones Fernan provided.”AMH
b7TRosalia, who had received the Itarium elixir and the magiestone supply, knew well who held the authority.IaqEnnQ
YoMsDsdEven if the strange object piqued her interest, the research was the priority.o7tuq
9dMWL“That’s right, then.”tYf
4YdUO2B“So, what do you plan to do with it?”i9T6tE
wIV8“Destroy it.”9T3i
wsho2jc“Destroy it?”wqN
t60pV“It’s an object left by a corrupt. It can bring us no benefit, so it must be destroyed.”H1AG
UjXiEven though other mages might burn with desire to study it, Fernan was still, at his core, a merchant.b4q4
9MlAn object that could explode and cause incalculable losses had no place in his plans.0OTjBu
Zts“Would you buy it?”Tyu8
h7LWRh“You said you’d destroy it, didn’t you?”sW3F
bgvBI“With such a dense level of corrupt magic, even if you destroy it, its remnants will remain contaminated for a long time. Mages hungry for research would pay fortunes to possess it.”UimIY1M
JUEpnkIt wasn’t a demon, so it wouldn’t vanish; like a monster that leaves behind a corpse.t5EmOn
CRQNpbV“As payment for helping Professor Rosalia, the remains would be enough for me.”yzRicj
EPxbd5tAmbitious, no doubt. He had already received donations and still asked for more. But the director knew it was worth it.3292x
caijUwv“Fine, then I’ll destroy it and give it to you.”gdu
kGv271J“I want some too.”OMJj
1s4“Yes, professor, you’ll get your share too.”48tCltk
YLYvmEO“Will you destroy it yourself?”5ZFKk
sV4“I brought the right person for that.”WAJ4MX
8dKOCjAt Fernan’s words, Aint Armian, who had been waiting in silence, stepped forward and drew his sword.sfFkZc3
PxBlH“So you intended to do this from the beginning.”EOWj
Law“It’s an object left by a corrupt. There’s no one more fitting than Aint to end it.”mDC7of
fSeF9bK“But if the corrupt magic is damaged in the process, its value will drop.”HPmM
JLmIuX“There’s nothing more valuable than life.”ogf
FKIAint focused his aura. A white light enveloped the blade of his sword.AhEsrF
octA“Wait a moment.”ocyTk
mYCSThe director raised his hand. Several layers of protective barriers surrounded everyone.VMKr4
JZVN“My laboratory won’t collapse even with a Hellfire, but people—you never know. It’s a safety measure.”JVrsm
0OOXls“Thank you.”8Ptqa
IPuxBwWith that brief pause, Aint raised his sword.RwK6
qQjBut the moment it came down—HOXq
dDf8──!FCeN0h0
OKmGTA strong repulsive force deflected it.kOIZd5
3krcXFlash—OKz
ryHu0The seed split in two.Y3ZR
RkPIt was an eye.dnH4d
b9kA large red eye emerged from its center.Le5
pa4e— So in the end… this happened.eSbFZQb
g8e8A strange voice, like tearing through eardrums, echoed.6HL8DcZ
eC9gdKThe eye scanned everyone present, and an immense pressure filled the room.ldkFim
bjlFinally, it stopped on Aint.ok2
HlECP— Armian, cursed seed.uuMHmDI
dNu7zMS— Today will be your end.rFy
S2DoBefore anyone could react to the sudden growth—F3P
J9oZ4AE────!H6a9do
4GDThe explosion erupted.vbJ2vc
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