Chapter 115
2UlNPaH“B-but… I knew it clearly… huh? Why can’t I remember everything? I thought I knew it… why?”RIWP
xvn30XGismond scratched his head in desperation, unable to understand.4TnWudJ
FBiZe5“Aint… where did he go, how…? With a demon? When did a demon appear? Why, why?”1CFV
rSnyEHe was sure he had read it, sure he had it in his head.I9SIOc
oO3fyGHe had always believed that. Thanks to it, he obtained many of the elixirs that were originally supposed to belong to Aint.PO99
MSGBut now—why couldn’t he remember? Since when had he started forgetting?0NUcW8
ZrWHis breathing became ragged from the confusion.pRmf
ANlRR“You said knowing the future made you useful. But if you’re now pretending to have forgotten everything, what do you expect me to think of you, sir?”8djihts
WSW8CFernan’s cold voice pierced him, and Gismond hurried to justify himself.EPgPQd
pGQ9t“Th-that’s the truth! I knew everything, I really did! Or… did I only think I knew it from the start? When… when did I start forgetting?”9GUY0
xZvJBzHe felt unfairly accused, on the verge of tears.p3SgXO
EZvdpNb“I really did know, but I don’t remember anymore!”geKFDyr
PhodX8c“And you expect me to believe that?”hobz0
s6NgI“T-that…”fKAefS
gE9MpHe understood. If he were in Fernan’s place, he’d also think it was nonsense.60fM
DNLGl5eBut being the one living it, he was going insane.3nECRH
cuDZAnd seeing those cold, emotionless eyes made the fear take over completely.fc4tqiG
3bM1LTerror made him babble words he never should have said.oxrVC7r
acB2“…I remember reading a book, then I tried to possess someone and failed, and then…”aP2h
srMAt that moment.blvpNf
IOX“Hold on, Gismond.”XCbs
b9lDFernan grabbed his shoulder roughly.UPa
yVLTdRHe didn’t even use honorifics anymore. His face was right in front of his, so close he could almost feel his breath.8966Bkh
5nM‘Those eyes…!’MPF44ka
vWqQpEmotionless? Who had dared say they were expressionless?NTswS3
ZpvyBNo. They were flames. Burning, overflowing with murderous intent.Bde
D563They were terrifying. He felt like he’d pee himself.lOh
QAh7V“I don’t care anymore if you know the future or not.”1MN
XGhFernan’s growl froze him.VuV4wQ
Q9h“What I want is something else.”ICb
sPaFernan’s fingers dug into his shoulder. The sharp pain made cold sweat run down his back.ZNB0
C7AozkY“Why don’t you calmly repeat what you just said?”MahO8J
KgD2HFw“…Huh?”vKNi
A5pfWh-what had he just said…?Z2N0neI
lSuThe pressure from that murderous aura turned him pale.bRced
heuAsS‘Ah…’Bof
37FrYIt was like a blazing fire.RCk6WwU
8mp“Wh-what are you talking about…?”lhcA
4nAJ8WCAnd the magic surrounding him crushed him like a mountain.v3XSBzU
xOb“The possession. You spoke of possession. Who did you try to possess?”Gug6Ga
Pc6“P-possession…?”8P2
yuK0Suddenly, Gismond began to tremble like a leaf.Wv5IaFW
pS72Fernan’s voice and that magic were all too familiar.dYKdVo
iUeA memory that was pure nightmare returned.JLgtl5S
0az“Y-you… it was you, you’re the one!”pCcWRZ
1mq7ZThe voice that had echoed in his mind.ApTKU
klkPThe fierce, wild magic that had torn apart his soul.Azy
70VaN‘I-it can’t be… really…?’uzUBbZ
L0H4VThat fear was engraved in the deepest part of his soul.eXSrcEu
kzzHow could he forget it? How could he not recognize it?7KZ
zUFiUoW‘It was Fernan! Fernan Pellenberg!’4QRbC
sdSHNow he understood. He had attempted to possess twice.WMWz
FYYKyiThe first time had failed. Only the second had succeeded.KUAn
8OGBZFUntil now, he hadn’t known who that first target had been.nttR52
KQWBut in this moment, he understood.oobeJDx
TZewHis heart sank.38OsZN
HxJi“I-I’ll tell you everything…!”k14y
3kpK0VIf he wanted to live, he had to give everything—his liver, his gallbladder, whatever it took.qO8f
kviNP9He had no other way out.V28b
EMo40Q“I’ll tell you absolutely everything! Please, save me…!”fQWoDm
rF5pPThrough tears and snot, he fell to his knees and clung to Fernan’s trousers.6Lhv0bK
cqr***FM1HXAH
CTHot“……”sE8Y
mpJFernan looked up at the sky. Not a cloud in sight; the blue was clear and transparent.1nwwi
MjpX“Here’s your coffee.”jL3
WaMYB“……”crWHk22
rp2HcFernan drank it in silence.0U0R
xcrCa2L“Doesn’t it taste bitter?”BPqjI
OprIH“……”vq6hfiZ
GyvuL“Sir.”7Nj43I
77KoS“…What did you just say?”7En
h2yZ“That coffee—it’s not the one you usually drink.”hSud
dPOQ6P“Oh, it’s not?”lcT
GCS98RZDespite his words, he drank it like always, out of habit.9zn2
EMNiR“Is something wrong?”agj
ln5j“No. Well, yes.”2TvxX
LYAutB“So it is?”Ddm
Pw49cHS“…Hyde. No matter what happens, will you believe me?”0KKBP3b
KI9lp“Of course. I’ve served you since the day you were born. Who else would believe you if not me?”Vsd
g6tjiQY“…The truth is, I know the future.”fpbN7
SzuKThHyde paused for a moment. Then placed his hand on Fernan’s forehead.Xos0j
ut1“What are you doing?”P0Z
40xz“No fever.”ySO39
v8KA“Didn’t you say you’d believe me?”WdISQA
Dj6O“I never thought you’d say something so outrageous.”oODz7Tg
njnFernan understood the reaction. Had he not experienced it himself, he wouldn’t have believed it either, even for a fortune.ws8d
ZO1‘Unless someone made a living just pretending to believe…’veRo7v
sjpfnmoYes, at most that. Even Hyde would have trouble accepting the truth without proof.QPROez
UvKcV“What would it take for you to believe me?”z3bpCoX
vhi2JE“…So it is true?”xc5n96
zZ8kHIW“You think I’d waste money on expensive food to make something like this up?”k1y
wTClXFinally, Hyde’s face turned serious.JJV1R
I6em“You see the future? Is that even possible? Do you have proof?”ofal
c5oz5“Are you interrogating me now?”z5ag
GEDDtSf“Isn’t that what matters right now?”U90TRF
tf2RdFernan let out a short laugh and replied.Ndu2dCx
XhMlAX“Do you remember that after the lightning strike, whenever you questioned my decisions, I always had an answer ready?”upopg
hyVe“…Yes. I asked if you were using another information network besides the Golden Pillar.”hMNdga
fbPQccVSince the lightning had struck him, Fernan had started bringing information from nowhere.Iu1As5a
LzSIt didn’t come from the Golden Pillar or the power of the Pellenbergs.hKY43
kHFIt was data with no clear source, no verification, and yet it always turned out to be right.40YqcTm
lUEOHyde had always been curious, but never pushed.RMxAhb
zlnLIf it was the prophecy book, everything made sense.qHDR53
Xcep“I want to hear everything.”cORf9m
cT737w“The truth is…”5oLA
fN0eEFernan had never planned to reveal anything. Neither the future, nor that he knew it.OItgx
aMRHBut he couldn’t take it anymore. He needed to tell someone he trusted.DtnX
PD1S5“So, that lightning strike was actually Gismond trying to possess you?”PcG
Uz0E“To be precise, it was the soul that now resides in Gismond.”gvhJy7
57g“And in that process, you obtained the prophecy book.”gujPuS
uGTJj“That’s right.”nA4c
zXgc0Hyde sighed in disbelief. Then nodded.R3Sa3f
meZgY“Now I understand. Why someone so meticulous suddenly started making decisions that seemed arbitrary.”d8QMvj
eKoAnd why those decisions always turned out correct.1BHKII
03SySe“You believe me, then?”2L91SZh
B6KxBLL“With what you’ve told me… I have no choice.”LiJtZe
0BUICPEverything pointed to Fernan telling the truth.eWC
Us26“So the dilemma is—do you keep Gismond, or whatever controls him, or do you eliminate him?”0LQ6Yco
JbP“Exactly. There are things that don’t add up enough to just dispose of him.”xr1yoz
xpjGismond had said he was forgetting everything, but talking with him made it clear that wasn’t entirely true.3rYzaeL
WjIWhenever Fernan remembered something from the book, Gismond did too.V10p6zf
ZjNm2He didn’t know how it worked, but it was real.0Z2o
fRK‘He tried to steal my body, failed, left me with the memories, and then possessed someone else. But we’re still connected through those future memories…’r4dcz3
B7fyThere was something there. Ignoring it wasn’t an option.xaiJ6Rk
xLANNS5“Then keep him close.”Chnl2
3eSiN94“He’s a dangerous man.”0ZaXGA
0Rm“And even if he causes problems, the Pellenberg family has enough power to solve them.”kkihx
JQoEjz“…You’re right.”72B
KSip5Fernan barely smiled.1JpD2nA
Vg2Yes, there was no need to worry so much.4wu
5gDdWith the power and money of the Pellenbergs, they could reverse any situation multiple times if necessary.zEFM
2VTAfter all, no matter how much Gismond knew about the future, he wasn’t a demon.d2rsBtm
0E99NmA“Remember what the duke always says.”r8d
Vsp“…Keep your friends close, and your enemies even closer.”XaGyGw
hRhmfVFernan nodded slowly.mooAyK8
U6mPW1“But Gismond… I don’t know if I’d call him an enemy.”Dk3cGn
JyFi“He tried to steal your body. He’s worse than a demon. He’s trash.”rmSc1
jbr“That’s true too.”JJNVgC
YBJnEven if he’d left the prophecy book behind, a thief was still a thief.tDxCQx
wlJAbFx“That’s why, Hyde, I want to ask you a favor.”BBI
Mknua9S“I refuse.”d01
Q8pPd“What if you don’t even know what I’m going to ask?”lug
obDjYzo“You want me to watch him closely, don’t you?”DF0VhGF
X8Rgv“That’s why I hate smart people.”Kzy9N
MWOarl“And when someone doesn’t understand anything, you complain too. Besides, remember, I am your guardian.”mN5ZkQ
1DO8w3lFernan raised his head arrogantly.o5nOe
9inH“You’re the one who said to keep him close.”JXSGa
sxCHNj“I just…”9nRy42q
ZV6Dl4“One must take responsibility for one’s words. Who else would I entrust it to if not you?”65lGkhj
qpmIIG“But…”btbIy1k
OVne8Fernan shook his pendant.Aih
YrGqxPum pum!ItwMyP
STltFrom the pendant, Wooden waved cheerfully.Oii
9oXDE“And if something happens, I have Wooden. You know how strong he is.”uPR
nAk“…Understood.”35mCb
HpB2Hyde cursed his imprudent tongue.dq3JS
mAMAt that moment.i2SW
B57js“Sir Fernan, the third-year student from the Knight Department, Gismond Ert, has come to visit you.”24XM7DX
EUQHyde’s face twisted.V1o
57emo5“…Don’t tell me you had already decided to take him in and faked all this just so I would watch him?”xmS
Pzx“It may seem that way, but no.”1T3V
frD9“Would you bet a hundred thousand gold on that?”XiE
tuqL“I’d bet it.”20MimTV
o1Oltv“…Alright. I’ll believe you… for now.”v4M
3teBd7“Let’s see what he wants.”82jXrfF
bZ3a7KFernan entered the reception room of the Rabidus mansion.
Gismond was standing, nervous, fiddling with his teacup.tMQxpSx
9NpV2af“What’s this, sir? Showing up unannounced like this…”tKiWg
TZ7zASuddenly.IGF8q0G
zhQMF7Crash!RFxgOp
uoztEFTGismond bowed without hesitation and slammed his forehead against the table.Bk2f
F3A“I want you to take me under your wing!”gUDm
wHRf“…What?”4Jb
LjXcw55***Gu2Ivg
cOGW5A little earlier.mOsY
NQ3U“Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!”LaVl
Vf3AIIn the empty room, after Fernan’s departure, Gismond cursed his own black shame as he kicked the bed.MDbG
hw9cSclEven so, the excitement wouldn’t fade.4NtI0XO
wHzUgr“I must… I must get out of here immediately!”h3wq7
RdY0DHXHe had been found out.aUyz
PQlnQHMThough he didn’t know why it was distorted, Fernan knew he knew part of the future.8uiP
9PgG99He also knew he was a possessor.D79
qYDyvSAnd that he had tried to possess Fernan and failed.1A3j3JE
kqluHsFear took over him.SA1
MED“Fernan won’t let me go…!”Fnlk
vCS0He didn’t need to think much. He would’ve done the same.4FO
Oh6NpEven though killing someone scared him, the greed to monopolize the future was much stronger.gyt1ZJJ
WVJ9If he could have, he would’ve certainly tried.kRkOS
JJ3And if he, with his character, was like that, what about Fernan—born in a world of knights and mages with power and authority?SXG4Zl
SfhFa“No doubt… I need to flee from here right now! To hell with the corrupt and the demons! What matters is that I could die right now…!”KT3R
M6HgThinking he had grown stronger from taking elixirs had been an illusion.fcOkEe
hHOsH6The fear shaking his soul woke him from those fantasies and forced him to face reality.wknc6E6
AT2fYC7“So that’s why the future changed! It wasn’t because of me!”BsIT
X6B7cHe had already felt something was off.szV6
RIJ296He thought it was the butterfly effect of stealing elixirs.Q4fL
bW0dvHe never imagined it was due to a failed possession.UysYg
Rsy“Why did it have to be Fernan?! If it had just been a farmer, everything would’ve been easier!”NH6X7u8
qPTIf that had been the case, none of this would’ve happened. Or maybe, there wouldn’t even have been a failed possession.sXkE
kwubt5LBut that wasn’t the important matter now.xXzTMZ
xtXOIvMGismond began rummaging through the room to pack.EQZ0
wAhhZ8“First, I need to get away from Fernan as fast as possible…”Jqpg
WH9uOHSuddenly he stopped.oRSXE
gFpVKJ“But… where?”3PzpZ5
LBGt80tWithin the Empire, there wasn’t a single place free of the Pellenberg’s influence.JOknS
lhBAnd outside the Empire, while a bit weaker, that influence didn’t disappear either.xRNr8
jTS9BLRThe only option was to go north. But that was insane.wkiH
5dd42w“I may have forgotten a lot, but one thing’s certain—the north was the origin of the demons.”qsBC
hRZ03N2All the problems started there. That’s why he could never go near it.HfG7
oQvhL“So Pandrein? The south?”L40mg
s4uZ1In Pandrein, apart from the Empire, the only habitable place was Frazia.TZTbmcy
bksb“But aren’t the demons going to descend in Frazia soon?”O43I6
lUcRThough he had forgotten almost all the prophecies, for some reason he still remembered that part.U3Fpbj
K3HHJ“Damn, what a shitty world…”Qrj
slb7UQJGismond spat a crude curse and, with an empty laugh, collapsed onto the bed.6Euo
MZYgmEven if he wanted to leave, there was nowhere to go.Z7zaq
DqU311“I’m not a genius, and this body isn’t either.”3nxFEc
XfCtThe options for a mediocre talent were very limited.IjbZ
fVLF“…It would be better…”3aiL
uIx7mh9Then his train of thought changed direction.sI6ZlR
NAIbyJ7“What if I cling to Fernan like a leech…?”4pDycKp
po1dPm7The man who knew the future, the greatest tycoon in the world.Afk8Oap
Sej4bMXThinking about it, Fernan was his best card.czIy4
ch3KjQ“And besides, he’s no longer a villain like in the original future, because he changed his destiny…”FWDLA65
u1AIn fact, it was much better this way.vY4c0rX
XNj3He had gotten close to Luina, future Royal Knight, and had also become Aint Armian’s companion.qkOETqY
BCzJRWRAnd from what he had heard, he even supported Aint with all kinds of elixirs.YZuY
MeJh9cy“…Wouldn’t it be safest to stay by his side?”QpDg
stQcBuNAt the same time, that’s where the biggest benefits would fall too.opjXiH4
opUUwa“Shit… it scares me to death, but…”KPoJE2Q
GEjWHe had to do it. It was his only way out.StvyHFN
cChBEiOnce he made the decision, he dashed out the door without hesitation.Mrm
Pusp6oTHe wasn’t a genius, he was cowardly and mediocre, but when he thought of something, he acted immediately.WGsQq
lZR7MThat was Gismond Ert.CFG2kYI
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