Chapter 109
g8Rf“…….”BkmPI
NM9“…….”iadMfi
jY2o2YThe banquet hall returned to silence after the light vanished.4Sl6Lt
NOeExcept for the two corrupts writhing on the floor like worms, there was no more movement.2vFq
zPv2Gathered there were nobles, merchants, officials, peasants, and even members of royalty.u4pg
2RcNmskThough their social positions were diverse, the emotion they shared was the same—chill, and reverence.u5Hfu
W5ptTYA thousand years had passed since demons became mere legends.M3LN
c3kjBut they were not the only ones remembered as legends.gumT
JwNXVIf the demons were, then so was the First Emperor who defeated them and saved the world.8FA7Y
zqVThe natural enemy of demons.cxDIAj
4dwThe power that dispels corrupt magic.1rw6q8m
3X8RTo witness that reborn legend before their very eyes was no minor event.8hchk75
lm6MThis was the Empire, and they were imperial subjects.kdT
tMXPASIt was the resurgence of the Empire’s very legend.qBRX
VJIEspecially in a moment like this, when the corrupt had shown their faces for the first time in a thousand years.2ZFGPxe
Ja7yWThe exaltation rising in the hearts of the crowd was inevitable.boq
Zhc“…I never thought I’d live to see the reappearance of a legend with my own eyes.”ZfN0aF4
1a6sjN“Ohhh…!”uSZN
ats“First Emperor…”Sh9IQkm
YyQWC6“Saint Bird…! Armian protects the Empire…!”6Ok
vojsQDPSome knelt, others broke into tears.gOKvmn
uElb2z8Then, someone shouted from the crowd.AiwZqB
8hP2OJU“Glory to Aint Armian!”Ml1sV0
3WC3Mq6“The natural enemy of demons!”ijJ1
yOAbbLThat was the signal.uC8Ct
u6gTqp“Glory to Aint Armian!”eh39lc
mh4Hx5“Enemy of demons, glory to Aint Armin!”SjM0Fp
CKP91yCommotion and reverence fused into a unanimous roar.PwoO
XFsiThe heavy atmosphere in the hall, thick from the search for the corrupt, immediately transformed into a sea of hope.5ol0A18
rBC‘The beginning’s not bad.’IrI4GgL
59JRThe corner of Fernan’s lips lifted slightly.U9BDzMY
RxhjyLqIn a single moment, Aint’s name and feat were engraved in all present.rbP8
K2e2UThere weren’t just nobles there, but princes and princesses too; therefore, what happened would spread first throughout Valerich, then across the Empire and the entire continent.uPUaWr9
Y2F4And of course, Fernan would fan the flames.pyiR
ESSG55V‘Hm?’xDuMa2E
HnO7bThen he noticed something strange.Xz5ke
KUNjOrA man shouting Aint’s name like the others, but with a forced air.DENUbO
YZwmqHDHis expression was a little pale.kZyH0u
m0fQMTDFernan approached.RIenhp
PW1“Count Daniel, are you feeling unwell?”7HeWj
0cVTs“Ah, young master.”WlJPN
LqF6AVDaniel gave a forced smile.jixJa
V7FbHl2“It seems seeing corpses up close unsettled my stomach. It’s the first time I’ve seen such graphic bodies.”lKKq5s
1QS“Ah, I understand.”9SR
MdLJ7jThe Kool house, located in the heart of the Empire, was far from the battlefields.tHg
YsJSince the Empire halted its expansion three hundred years ago, many noble families hadn’t experienced war again.uyIR5s2
zRqu8EIt wasn’t rare for nobles to have never seen a destroyed and bloodied corpse.yGb5b
8d90cK‘Although a count should’ve at least had some experience.’WlgIPA4
tNEAccompanying knights on monster hunts or participating in minor expeditions, something like that.7LbJyEW
2NfpaIn this world, it was impossible to live completely away from death and battle.EgX
F0Jt“…In any case, it’s heartening to see the ancient legend is even more grand than told. The corrupt won’t dare challenge the Empire.”i7hUo
ICT“Yes, that’s how it will be.”uYkKLob
yNyTFernan would make sure of it.vaXW0O
0hjHe nodded calmly.PRYoPN4
xxozWe***8En2gsa
26M【The legend of the Empire, the legend of the First Emperor, and the legend of Armin were real.0N2XHw
aJ3Aint Armian, second-best first-year student of the Imperial Academy of Armian, is the first Armian heir to enter the academy in more than a hundred years.9Spo
TmrMiHUpon entering, he ranked 38th in the Knight Department and was the target of mockery and scorn. But after finishing the semester, the situation changed.2tB
3oEFWhen the radiant light of the Saint Bird filled the banquet hall, the corrupt fell to their knees by themselves. The corrupt magic and the darkness consuming them disintegrated, unable to resist…】aPz
LuwJo“…God, if they keep praising me so blatantly, I’ll die of embarrassment.”n28XCP
nj2Aint’s face turned red.BidkpD
Otw— You’ll have to get used to it.PXINes
fqj— An aspiring emperor who can’t handle a little attention? Unacceptable.dwzOHM
9t1a“I know, it’s just a matter of getting used to it. It’s not that bad, actually.”xpM
PxKAs he said that, his lips and eyes were already smiling.eggN9Y
eWjHOR1“But it bothers me that I’m getting all the credit. I didn’t do that much.”PCODR
WQKIt was Fernan who predicted the corrupt would infiltrate the conference, who brought him to the town hall, who prepared the entire stage, and who was now using the newspapers to spread the news.U5f
ATHAint had only followed his instructions.yipnD
3tvRBe— I already told you.e6klkd
FJH7Nl— There’s no better sponsor than a rich guy.0slJ
BkkL“It’s impressive. And not just now—it’s always been like this.”joPRC
vdWTXc9In all matters related to the corrupt or demons, Fernan had always been there. Always anticipating their plans, preparing, and overcoming them.RiB
CUJS90“…If it weren’t for you, I’d be dead already.”arSg
sPHPmTNot even needing to look far back.WLMeb
Hi1When Andromalius descended, if not for Fernan’s golem, Aint would’ve died.V69E2Cv
w7Qd4hq— But you survived. And you became stronger.Tz1b
QqHzeXu— That worry is unnecessary.7fJq3BG
ERebPYj“I always receive your help, senior. And yet, all the glory falls on me. Is this fair?”HNVa
dJN3be— Of course it is. That’s what that rich guy intended from the beginning.aZTVfD
PyN22— The Pellenberg hate taking the spotlight. He’s simply using you.XfGN
DoENeNS“I know, but…”ZbAHMhA
HDzSIeUAint hesitated. Was it really right to accept such generosity just for being Armian?YYmQ
2nLXXSWThat help felt heavy.FFfA
wEbfyGardner said it was “use.” But who used another by gifting the heart of a Saint Bird, the root of an Itarium, and now even a reputation like this?oHjaiUa
OcZmRQThat wasn’t use. That was a debt.vQV
Qt3PAnd Aint didn’t know if he could ever repay it.D80p
j9m— Of course you can. Become emperor.udY3D8Z
5c2H— If you do, you’ll be able to repay with mountains of gold.Bt6
DB3NF“Will gold really be enough?”wh86HDD
bxJ— Enough? If you tell him that to his face, he’ll insult you.W0BDGq
JTvsj— For the Pellenberg, nothing matters more than money.0KqmGQ
AiW— Offer them anything else and they’ll get angry.HuQ
MiJbuTiGardner clicked his tongue, as if saying “You still don’t get the Pellenberg?”b49uP
NXrs9Jz“…I see.”Cvk3cNW
87o7t5q— And worry about something else. If you don’t give them proper compensation, he’ll take it himself.ueUkr4i
ifH“…What?”1pY0mx
hfKAint blinked, confused.qQp
qryuzc— What surprises you? It’s obvious. The Pellenberg aren’t philanthropists.Jh4HzEt
TmaDV4— Even the previous Emperor had to promise them enormous profits and land, and he fulfilled it. Do you know how much they pressured him until then?ty0YgcZ
LQQbLWZ“…Oh.”87jLk
5kVlZThe image of Fernan, unfazed, snatching everything from him, made him shudder.oBAjxdB
nCUWa“…Now I have one more reason to become Emperor.”aCH
kTaenIf he didn’t, as the current Armin, he would never be able to repay that debt.4lSj
80gAgDASo Aint once again renewed his resolve.xCKyJ05
nfcOs9***kaTYx5K
bWFKZWhile Aint blushed reading the newspaper, elsewhere in Valerich there were others reading the same paper.IogO
quz【Three corrupt discovered in Valerich. Eleven dead…】SxA
M3Dz7【The corrupt show their claws…】vFepGRe
V5Yr【The legend of the Empire, the legend of the First Emperor, and the legend of Armin…】2CR
tdwOyFernan set down the newspaper full of headlines about the corrupt and Aint.OrfJ
ZT8“It’s today’s paper. Why are you showing it to me?”QQYfnW
xZx“I read it and thought of something. If Pellenberg takes Aint Armian’s hand, what could it truly gain?”4FbD9i
gOea3JCDuke Gransis Vienderk shook his head.Tvme3
wU7“And the more I think about it, the less I find an answer. Schwaben and Armian… in the past, perhaps there was a comparison, but now, putting them side by side is already an insult. Their territories, their armies, their power, their wealth—nothing compares.Nv7bWz
vfvfNTSchwaben is the current imperial family.G0b50
qCFONo matter how much power the electors have, the Emperor is the Emperor.mUP
ihljHIf the imperial crown offered no benefit, why would Schwaben fight so hard to keep it?bjWH9J2
mcjBesides, the benefits of joining Armian are fewer than those of allying with Schwaben.PS3Ep
6CQAnd the losses of siding with Armian are far greater than those of staying with Schwaben.AYgy
WghGK1H“And yet, your actions moved toward Armian. As Pellenberg’s representative, that reflects your house’s will.”NGZ
VkdM“That’s quite an extreme assumption.”Yym0
pwjC2iT“The Pellenberg family, which has always remained neutral and only pursued profit, now suggests breaking that principle and leaning entirely to one side. That can only mean two things.”4djfiA
yg0K76“Two things?”3Jla2J
tQO“That you see Armian as a more profitable business—or that you’re testing Schwaben to gauge their reaction.”5gr2Jh
GwEpFernan took a sip of tea.VDBPH
SXiIdf“Do you think it’s the first or the second?”YRXq
5AJESi“Let’s suppose someone offers you a choice between diamonds and mithril, excellence. Which would you choose?”IkSNN6
u7av6“You’re turning the question on me?”z5pggY
Oai03S4The duke showed a slight expression of discomfort but answered.aiCb
gr1OoOJ“Of course, mithril. No matter how expensive a diamond is, it doesn’t match the value of mithril.”z85
6TDf“But adamantite, mithril, orichalcum—no matter how refined—will never be as beautiful as a diamond.”y8r9D
dMy“Because their value doesn’t lie in appearance.”yKFUQh
puQIJk“That’s my point.”D0z
WW5KThe duke’s eyes lit up.dMmzRn9
Gc9PZ0f“And what if what you have is just a piece of iron disguised as mithril? Are you still so sure?”lU7
25yHW“What if it’s iron? In a great construction, even iron gains immense value.”OYvRA
ZBt5PAt that moment, the duke’s eyes widened.AmpylLz
8giQPs“…So you believe the problem with the corrupt will worsen. Are you implying Pellenberg has found signs?”DDCpHZ
szk“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”ze7tp2
MOg6fToFernan shook his head.dQj
Ku5VUphBut the duke already understood.l69ICJ
aQZ“I see.”xyajNtF
3PD5KAfter a pause, he nodded firmly.Y8OwI8D
gNLxxj“We’ll say that article was an accident, written by a random reporter. All suspicion of your involvement will be removed.”AFpKF
helBegYThe duke tore the newspaper.1NkZ2q
XsKGOvf“And we’ll say you and Aint went to the interrogation simply because you happened to be in contact with one of the victims.”MxF5mP
NvVFernan remained silent, but the duke didn’t mind.cdQ4v
XciGjZF“Take it as a gesture of gratitude for having pointed me in a direction.”YpR
KK8EXu“I don’t know why you’re doing this, but I’m grateful. And since you’re granting it, there’s something else…”sxN
LqSV2S“Yes, the investment in Rosalia’s research was real. I can’t deny it. But the extent of that investment—I don’t even remember well anymore, it was many years ago.”HjzjH
VsTocxWith this, he made it clear that he would still keep one foot in the project, but would reduce the size of his involvement.ac3
V7oFernan decided to be satisfied with that, for now.GTrM
Cc9Uy“Sorry for taking up the time of someone busy. I’ll take my leave.”v8R
qlhhnPz“Yes. Until next time.”wYB34j
t5a3Fernan left.nJjr8EY
WnSzd02Click. The duke lit a cigarette.ZgKgG
T4pTK“The corrupt are not the end. The Empire seeks Armian…”41BM
9Hq4s6The smoke mixed with the air in the office.BBFt
bscmiE3“The crown of Schwaben, already unstable, will become even more fragile…”J8F
lVaVEThe duke’s eyes clouded with coldness.9UlK
46FB***aA1QeZD
SKQgZ4“Good job, Hyde. The article came out great.”cMH4
2hfIS“Thank you. I had it written by the best writer I could find around here. And the photos you took, young master, were so good the newspapers were thrilled.”p16
oSe0ZFernan let out a low chuckle.kCAL9
cTRy“And what did Duke Gransis say?”ga75EW
0nAd97“That it was a journalist on-site who acted on his own, nothing more.”4FQ
Y9nqi0m“He said that?”UecnSi
1Kfn“In any case, it would have come out sooner or later. I just brought it forward a little.”6MX
UEwUlTalking about loose corrupts wasn’t the same as talking about a demonic war like the one a thousand years ago.9Cd3V
ks3KThe difference was massive.dN4gR
YYoUVAnd recognizing it—or not—changed everything.nUxl
lKv6‘Now I no longer have to hide it.’m2VdzZ
5XNtUsTHe had kept the summoning of Andromalius secret because the prophecy book dictated so.DlZ
rK24But, in the original timeline, the demons were summoned openly.5FdTQw
eYnTSo sooner or later it had to be revealed.FwpzdIn
j7v‘I altered it, so I must correct it.’dlxxNU
YpW4oE4By capturing Aaron, the future in which the demon was summoned disappeared.9HoD
xs9WRH1That prevented people from realizing the danger in time.FxJN
IMjf2LbNow it was his duty to restore that awareness.OZ47Wqj
7FQAnd besides, he had used that information as a bargaining chip to get what he wanted.tO9n83
AMJISENA win-win.B6tdydC
4gsS“And what’s Aint doing?”lbFdn6
7sJRRC“He locked himself in the hotel room you lent him, young master. Too many visitors since yesterday, he’s exhausted.”sDwn
ovd“He’s not used to so much interaction. Leave him be. Whether he keeps receiving visitors or shrouds himself in mystery, either way benefits him.pvx0WLl
y8yWAfter all, the corrupt won’t stop moving. And the more they do, the more Aint will be remembered.”VmVezn
Wop4y“And Professor Rosalia?”IOnNyo
r4u3R“She’s packing.”ttY2nv
8O4Fernan knocked on her door.4gSle5
nJT5xv“It’s Fernan, professor. May I come in?”IyY9
k9SOqnn“Come in.”5wtT
DgnYlw3Upon entering, he saw her preparing her luggage.Blqt
6ns9“Are you leaving?”ZF1CBD
K8r“Of course. The conference is over.”i60
jI0uIt was true. Even if they captured the culprits, with eleven dead the continuation of the congress was nearly impossible.Kd8IYN
nUSXAJOEven more so with the corrupt as the perpetrators.wldX9
XKDYw1“Don’t you think it’s a shame? You didn’t get to present your research.”8XdgFKz
TXX“No, I’m not upset.”FUrZ
NN04cdaThat surprised him—he knew she had high expectations.hdU
Adbc3iBut he had to hear the full story.c0DJ8ZP
CyHBC“What I feel is anger. From the start of my research to this conference, those damn corrupt have interfered too much. They’ve made me fail twice. And now I can’t let it go. I have to strike back.”zA01r
V6x“What will you do with the mana crystal?”5Xn
jS9ab“I won’t wait for the next congress. I’ll look for another alternative.”Cai5W
qbtThe Continental Congress was the most prestigious, but not the only one.zuiPGNb
WRnIf she couldn’t present there, she’d do it elsewhere.4fEZ4wH
qcjEShe wasn’t going to wait five years.R77
jmhePUW“You handle the preparations.”CCC
nA16“Me?”Wxlndx8
p7AohXK“Of course. If you want to use my research for commercial purposes, you’ll have to make it move.”PAhc
RsxPvShe said it without shame.jGCsh
jawZtRo“I want exclusivity. But Duke Gransis is trying to interfere.”NRB
q3KuA“I can’t stop the duke. Handle it yourself. Don’t expect everything handed to you.”bllQEO
grp2XxqFernan chuckled softly.KROXCF
tnW“Understood. I’ll try organizing something with the support of the Dragon God Cult.”wt7rCd
5JMiThe second most influential conference after the continental one was the one directly organized by the cult.56w3
tUiV4Rosalia searched her case for cigarettes.JYSR
i8MxmaEmpty.5xl3s
Fqs4Jh“Ah.”Bbvv
iDT2us“Here.”0Cpe9
ClUcxdFernan pulled out another case from his subspace.c9QOz6
OYaG“One hundred units. Arrived today at the Golden Turtle Guild branch.”xrcVzD
ous“Choosing you as my sponsor was the best decision I made.”jkrCAj
29o“What a contrast to what you told me before.”PQnUtL
UVy1LDShe lit one and took a deep drag.CkuOw
FMgm“Under withdrawal, one gives even their liver.”Pe2kYJE
CrqX“That bad?”vF3TY
cPzB“You made me this way.”KTdX5zV
DWVn“I only gave them to help with your research, I didn’t expect you to smoke so much.”wtqLtyc
4Ys8“How hypocritical. You’re happy to be my constant supplier.”1uZ
biXaRyRosalia laughed sarcastically.rlOb
XZ1“By the way, if you discover another corrupt, let me know.”H5jH9E5
gkfK“Want revenge?”fgfg6
8Vko7z“Revenge? Nothing that noble.”ZlF6
PwTJust—fHSIOqG
Krfl9mJ“To get even.”Yrx2l
HkvJTUJ“I’ll keep it in mind.”Ml56P1J
OLxJrThough in reality, Fernan had no intention of letting her know.xj23
acX“I’ll be taking that one for myself.”6qGhaT
DJ7JThey had been caught off guard.PEyeR8
kpp1There were no attacks on the way in—but on the return, yes.AusAZlr
gx6b8gAnd with far more strength than expected.njokO
NAS0g“…Damn it.”JrQd
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