A Cadet Becomes a Prophet?! — Chapter 116

Chapter 116

“Alright.”‍‍⁠

Fernan‍‌ ended up accepting‍ Gismond Ert.

Keep‍ your friends close,‍ and your enemies‌ even closer.

Rather‌⁠ than monitoring him‍ from afar, it‍‌ was better to stick him close‍⁠ to Aint or⁠‌⁠ to himself and‌⁠⁠ manage him directly.‌

“Thank‍ you for accepting‍‌ me. Can I call you hyung?”‍

“…You’re‍⁠ still my senior.”‍

“And⁠‌ what difference does‌⁠ just one year‍‍ make? In my‍‌ homeland, there’s a saying: if someone‌ has money, he’s‌ the hyung.”

Now‍ that his heart⁠‌‍ was laid bare,⁠ Gismond was showing⁠ a slightly different‌‌ side than before.‍‌‌

More‌ relaxed, lighter, even⁠⁠ a bit quirky.⁠‌

“It’s a rule that‍‍ gets etched into‍‌⁠ your bones, but this is the‌ academy. And it‍ bothers me when‍ you speak formally‌ to me.”

“If‍ you say so,‍⁠⁠ alright. I’ll speak⁠ casually.”

“Don’t‍‌ overdo it either.”⁠

“Of‌‍ course…”

He⁠‍‍ didn’t give the⁠ impression of being‌‍‌ a bad person.‍‌ Though one should‍‌ never claim to⁠‌ truly know someone’s⁠ inner self.

That‍ was how Gismond‍⁠ Ert proclaimed himself⁠ Fernan’s close assistant.‍

“Then,‍‍ what do I do now?”

“Live‌‍‌ your academic life‍ normally. That’s enough.”⁠‌

“That‍ I can handle.”⁠

“It‍ means don’t mess‍ with the future‌ again.”

At‌ Fernan’s low growl,‌ Gismond shuddered and‍ nodded with a nervous laugh.

When‍ Gismond left, Fernan’s‌ gaze turned cold.‌

“Hyde.⁠‍ Don’t stick him⁠⁠ to yourself. Assign‍‍ someone else.”

“Are‍⁠‍ you sure?”

“He⁠ says he’ll become⁠⁠ one of us⁠⁠ completely. Stick someone‌ to him without‍ hiding it. He⁠ doesn’t have a personal assistant. Better⁠ to assign him⁠ one.”

Hyde‌ nodded.

“I’ll‌‍ assign someone capable.”‌⁠‍

“His‍⁠ attitude changed in‌⁠ an instant. What‍ could he be⁠ thinking?”

There‌ were several suspicious‍‍‌ points. Though he‌‌⁠ couldn’t discard him‌ just yet.

“If‌ he has any‌‌‌ hidden schemes, we’ll‌‍ find out soon.”

Whatever‌ he was plotting,⁠⁠ it wouldn’t go‍⁠ his way.

Thus,‍ for now, Gismond’s handling was settled.‌

***⁠

Time‌⁠ passed quickly.

A morning came with⁠ falling leaves and‍ a cold wind‍ starting to blow.⁠⁠‌

Fernan opened the letter‌⁠ sent by the‌ Golden Pillar.

“Oh.”‍‌

“Good⁠ news?”

“During the development of‍⁠ the black obsidian mine, they found‌ a good-quality iron⁠‍⁠ mine nearby.”

“That’s‌ lucky.”

“Yes.”

He‍‌ hadn’t been thinking about an iron⁠‌‍ mine, so it‌‌ was even more‍ welcome.

Iron‌ is common, but‌ precisely because it’s⁠ common, it’s used⁠ everywhere. The more,‌‍ the better.

Fernan moved on to‌‌⁠ the next page.‌‍

“Oh.”‌

“Another⁠ one?”

“The⁠ King of Mercenaries‍‌ took the bait.‍‍‌ He’s hard to‍⁠ track because he⁠⁠ roams the continent‍‍ every day, but‍‍ one of our‍⁠ informants ran into‌‍ him by chance.”‍‌

“Congratulations.”‍

“Yes.”‍

That‍‌ was lucky too.⁠

“It’s‍⁠ time.”

“Let’s‍⁠⁠ go.”

Fernan‍⁠ stood up at‍‌ Hyde’s prompt.

“Win‍ again.”

“It‌‌‍ doesn’t only depend⁠‌ on me.”

“You’re⁠⁠ number one.”

“In⁠⁠⁠ water.”

Three‌‍‍ full weeks. That⁠‌ mid-semester autumn break‍ had eaten up‌ the second term.‍

“The‍‌ third day of‍ the integrated exam‍ has dawned.”

The‌‍ semester was nearly‍ over, and the⁠ integrated exam had‌ started the day‍‍ before yesterday.

The‌ integrated exam meant‍‌ combining the midterms⁠⁠ that couldn’t be held due to the autumn break‍ with the finals.‌‌

It⁠‍ lasted one week.⁠‍

The‌‌ format was duels.‍⁠

Two⁠⁠‌ hundred students participated,‌ without separating the⁠‍‍ knight and magic⁠ departments.

The‌ format combined round-robin‌‌ and single elimination.‍‍

Twenty⁠ groups of ten‍ students each were‍ formed, with the⁠ top ten from‌⁠ both the knight⁠‌‍ and magic departments‌ as group heads.‌⁠‍

Each‌‍ student had to‌‍ face the other nine in their group.

Three‌‍⁠ matches per day‌⁠ for three days.

Based‍‍ on results, only‌ the top three⁠‌⁠ from each group‍ advanced to the‍‌ final single-elimination bracket.‍

It‌ was a rather‌ cruel system.

Three⁠‍⁠ duels a day‌ for three days‌‍⁠ would exhaust anyone.‍ It wasn’t just‌ a duel—it was‌‌ a test of⁠⁠ physical and mental⁠‌ endurance.

Even‌ so, the students‍ grumbled but didn’t‍‌ complain.

They⁠‌ knew it was the academy’s tradition⁠ and history.

“Three⁠ times a day⁠‌ for three days? And I was happy about the three-week break…”

“Please‌⁠ let me be⁠‌ in a good group. Not with‌‍ Luina or Fernan…”‌

Most‌⁠ of them also learned another detail, just like Fernan.‍‌‌

“There’s‌⁠ also a bye.”‌

Sixty would make it‍‌‍ to the final‌ bracket. Due to‌‌‌ the numbers, one‍ person would automatically‌ advance without a match.

“Hope⁠‌‌ it’s me.”

He⁠ wasn’t obsessed with‌ grades, but advancing⁠⁠‍ without doing anything‌ was never unwelcome.‍‍

Fernan‍ checked the chart.‌

“Neither‍ yesterday nor the⁠ day before had any tough opponents.”

There‌‌ were no top‍‌ tens in his‍‌ group, and today‌ didn’t seem any⁠ different.

He⁠ returned to his⁠⁠ seat while waiting‍ for his turn‌‍ and asked Luina,‍‍ sitting next to‍ him.

“How’s‍ it going?”

“Good. I don’t think‍⁠‍ I’ll miss the⁠ final bracket.”

“You‍ sound so confident.”⁠

“Not‍ really. It’s just‍ that many surrender‍ without fighting, so⁠ I haven’t been‍ able to truly fight yet.”

“Can’t⁠⁠ be helped.”

Aside‍‌ from Luina, eight⁠‍ matches remained in her group.

Even‍‍ to Fernan’s eyes,‌‌ with such a huge level gap,‍ it was smarter to conserve strength‌‍ and prepare for‍ other fights than⁠ to go all‌ out against her.‌

“Winning⁠ the jousting tournament‌⁠‍ was key.”

After‌‌ defeating Rob Kaelin,‌ the clear favorite,‍‌ and taking the title, Luina wasn’t‌ just number one⁠ in her year.‍ She was number one in the‍ whole academy.

That‍ the students feared‌ her was normal.‍

“Even⁠‌‌ so, I don’t‌ get it. You‌‌‌ learn a lot‍‌ from duels.”

“Yes,⁠ and you also‌‌ ruin your grades.”⁠‍

“Grades‍ aren’t the most⁠‌ important. After all,‌‍ the academy is a place for⁠‌⁠ learning.”

“And‌ yet you wanted‍‍⁠ to be number‍‌ one.”

“Grades⁠ matter too, of⁠⁠ course…”

Though for someone who‍‌ gave her all,‍‌ she didn’t seem‌‌ to like that‌ logic.

“Luina,‍ in the final⁠ bracket there won’t‌ be a repeat‍⁠ of the joust.”

At‌ least Almon was‌ still fired up,⁠ which gave her some comfort.

‘Anyway,‌‍ Luina will definitely⁠⁠ make the final⁠ bracket.’

And⁠⁠‍ she was the‌⁠ top favorite for⁠ the title.

‘If‍‌‍ I’m matched with her, maybe surrendering is the best⁠‍ option…’

If⁠ Luina heard that,‌ she’d be horrified.‌‍

***

The⁠‍ seventh opponent Fernan‌‌⁠ faced was a commoner student from‌‍‍ the Knight Department,‍‌ ranked 71st, named⁠‍‍ Dante.

He‌ wasn’t anyone special‌‌‌ or remarkable. That’s‌⁠ why he hadn’t⁠‍ managed to catch‌ Fernan’s attention.

‘Today’s⁠‍‌ starting well too.’

He’d‌‍ drawn an easy⁠ opponent.

In‌ a tournament where‍‌‌ you had to‍ fight several matches⁠‌ in a short‍ time, energy management was essential.

Starting‌ off with a weak opponent was⁠ a good sign.

“Ah,‌ hey, go easy…”⁠⁠

“Begin!”‍‌

Before Dante could finish⁠‍‌ his sentence, Fernan‍‍ had already unleashed‍⁠⁠ his magic.

The‌ summoned sand covered‌‍ him instantly.

“Ugh…!”‌‌

Dante raised his aura to respond, but‌⁠ he couldn’t cut⁠ through every grain‍‍⁠ of sand. Realizing‍⁠ he had to‌‍‍ eliminate the caster,‍ he charged at‍ Fernan.

However,‍ Fernan was faster.‍‌

A wall of rock⁠‌‍ rose in front‍ of Dante.

Boom!‌⁠

The‌ bright blue aura‍ pierced through the‍⁠ wall, but at that moment, Fernan⁠ had already finished⁠‌ preparing his next‍⁠‌ spell.

Earthquake.⁠

Rumble!‍

The‍⁠ ground of the‌ dueling arena opened‍‌⁠ and swallowed the freshly freed Dante.‌‍

He‍ tried to climb⁠‍‌ out desperately, but⁠‍ waves of sand‌‌ followed and blocked‌ him until the‌‌ end.

Dante⁠‍‍ fell into the crevice.

Just‌‍ like that—

“Victory⁠ goes to Fernan!”

The⁠⁠ match ended.

“Wow,‍⁠‍ just as expected‍ from Fernan. He⁠‌ finished it instantly‌‌‍ again. I thought‌‍ he’d be weaker‍ without those forbidden artifacts, but not⁠ at all.”

“His‌‍ casting speed, chaining,‌‍‍ and spell design⁠ are unmatched.”

“All⁠‍⁠ those who said⁠ it was thanks‌ to Luina—see how⁠ quiet they are‌⁠ now?”

The⁠ students were amazed⁠ not only by how quickly the‌ match ended, but‌⁠ by Fernan’s polished‌ magical technique.

“Didn’t⁠⁠‍ it feel like‍ Dante was playing⁠ in the palm‌ of his hand‍‍ the whole time?”‍‌

“No‍ doubt.”

“Why‌‌‌ was he hiding‌ that level of⁠ skill?”

“They⁠‍ say he even‌‌ hunted corruptors with‍⁠ Aint Armian.”

Hearing those comments, Fernan‍ calmly returned to‍‌‌ his seat.

“Good⁠ work.”

“No‌‍ need. I didn’t‌ even break a sweat.”

Fernan‍ declined the towel⁠ Luina offered. The‌ level difference was‌ so big he⁠⁠ hadn’t even had‌ the chance to‍‍ tire himself.

“My‌ turn. I’ll be⁠‍‌ back soon.”

Luina’s⁠‍ match ended in⁠ an instant. Victory‍⁠ by forfeit.

Just‌ like the day⁠ before, the matches‍‌‍ were ending far‍⁠⁠ too easily, which made her sigh.⁠

“Want⁠⁠ a chocolate?”

She‌ didn’t answer, but⁠ when Fernan popped‍ the candy in‌‍‌ her mouth, she‍ chewed it silently.‍

“Thanks.‍ And congrats on⁠⁠ your win.”

Fernan⁠⁠ didn’t just win‍ his eighth match,‍‍ but also his‌ last. The ninth‌ opponent was a magician, ranked 53rd.‌⁠

It‍‍ was bad luck‍⁠‍ for his opponent‍ and good luck⁠‌‌ for Fernan—both were‍⁠⁠ earth mages.

Casting‌ speed, mana control,‍ magical engravings, elemental affinity, comprehension—Fernan was⁠‍ superior in every⁠‌ way.

He‍⁠ trapped his opponent in a dome‍‌‌ of rock and‌⁠‍ filled it with‌⁠ sand. It was⁠⁠ even easier than the first match.‌

“Preliminaries‍⁠ are over.”

Fernan‌⁠ had won all⁠ nine duels and‍‍‌ advanced to the‌ finals in first‍ place.

The odds of facing‍‌ another first-place finisher⁠‌‍ in the first‍‍ round of the‌⁠ tournament were slim,‌‌ so it was‍ unlikely he’d be⁠ matched with Luina.⁠‌

“Even‌‍ if it’s not‍⁠ now, someday we’ll⁠‍‌ face off. I think it’ll be⁠ fun fighting you.”⁠

“With‍‍ me? I’m just‌‍‌ a frail merchant.”⁠

“You’re⁠‌ the top of‍ the Magic Department.”‌

“Thanks‍‌⁠ to you.”

“I thought I was the one who‌⁠ got your help.”⁠

Fernan⁠‌‍ shrugged.

“You’re‍‌ very mistaken.”

“But‍ you beat me⁠ once.”

“Me?”‌‌

“When‌ you made me‍⁠ that first proposal.”‍

“That‍⁠ was thanks to‌ an artifact. I don’t have it‌ anymore.”

“So‍‍‌ you swindled me,‌ huh?”

“Didn’t I tell you?”⁠‌‌

“No,⁠‌ you didn’t…!”

Realizing‌⁠ almost a year⁠‍ later that she’d‍‍ been tricked, Luina‌ let out a disbelieving laugh.

Thus‍‌ ended the third⁠ day of integrated exams without incident.

“That’s‌‍ it for today’s‌⁠⁠ matches! Finalists, draw⁠‍ a number to⁠‍ decide your opponents for tomorrow, then‌‍ you may leave!”‌‌⁠

“Yes!”⁠‍

Fernan⁠ drew his number‌ and returned to‍‍ his seat. He⁠ could have left,‍ but he wanted‌ to check who‌ his opponent would⁠⁠⁠ be.

“Fernan,⁠ what number did you get?”

“33.”‌‍

“What‍⁠ a shame. I’m‌ number 6, so‌‍ we’d only meet‌‍ in the final.”‍‍

“If⁠ you even make⁠ it to the‍⁠ final. By the way, why do‍ you want to‍ fight me?”

“Because⁠‍⁠ you latched onto‌⁠⁠ Aint Armian like‌ a dog wagging its tail.”

Ludger‍‍ dragged a chair over and sat across from Fernan.⁠

“Just⁠‍⁠ kidding.”

“That⁠‌ doesn’t sound like⁠‍ a joke at⁠‍ all.”

“Not‍‍ saying it isn’t.”⁠‌

“It’s⁠ a misunderstanding. We‌‍ happened to be in Valerich, and‍ since the corruptors‌ caused trouble, I had to cooperate‌‍ with him a bit. That’s all.”‌⁠‍

“I‌ don’t believe you.”⁠‌

“As you wish.”

Fernan replied instantly, as⁠ if he had⁠ expected it.

“I just hope Pellenberg knows how to⁠‌‍ choose wisely.”

“Pellenberg⁠ always chooses wisely.”

“I‍‍ doubt it. This⁠⁠ time, it doesn’t‍‍⁠ seem that way.‍‍ The question is whether it’s your‍ decision or the⁠⁠ duke’s.”

“And‍⁠⁠ you? Are you⁠ asking on your‌ own behalf?”

Ludger‍⁠⁠ went silent and‍‌⁠ looked him straight‌⁠ in the eyes.

“Of‌ course.”

“You‍⁠ seem to forget,‍⁠ but Pellenberg always‍⁠ acts if the‌‌‍ gain satisfies. You⁠ shouldn’t try to‌ intimidate me—you should‍ persuade me.”

“I‌ know that perfectly.‌ How many privileges⁠ did Pellenberg gain⁠‌ from its votes⁠‍ in the past⁠‍ three elections?”

Of‍⁠ course he knew.‌‍⁠ Ludger chuckled dryly.⁠‌

“Still,‌‍ honestly, that’s why I’m not too‌‍ worried about you‍ being with Aint,⁠⁠ though it keeps⁠ me alert.”

“Why?”⁠‍

“Because Armian has nothing.⁠ He can’t give‍‌ you or Pellenberg‍⁠‍ what you want.”‍‌

And⁠ that was true.⁠‍ After losing the‌⁠‍ throne, the Armian‍‍ family had lost‍‌ almost all its‌⁠ power, influence, and‌‍ wealth.

They⁠‍ weren’t poor, but‍‍ they couldn’t satisfy‍⁠ Pellenberg either.

“We’ll see.”

“It’s‍⁠ the duke who‌⁠ should wait, not you. And I’ll‌⁠‍ personally defeat your subordinate.”

Ludger‌ stood up.

Fernan⁠ checked the match⁠⁠ list for his⁠ name: “Number 5.‍⁠ Gert Grotz.”

He‍‌‍ stroked his chin.⁠

‘He’ll‌ manage on his‍ own.’

He⁠‍ wasn’t a babysitter.‌‍⁠ He had no‌‍ obligation to worry‌⁠⁠ about those things.⁠‌⁠ Fernan shifted his‍‍‍ gaze slightly to⁠ the right to confirm his own‍‍ opponent.

And‌⁠ then he saw‌‍ it.

‘Number 31. Luina Bercheff.’⁠‌

Right‌⁠ next to his‌‍‍ name.

“……”

And‍‌ the face of‌⁠ Luina Bercheff, filled‌ with anticipation.

“…I’m‍ screwed.”

He‍⁠ had a feeling⁠ today’s luck was⁠ too good.

How‍ the hell did‌ he end up‍ meeting Luina in‍ the second round?