Chapter 137

“Are you sure the assassins managed to infiltrate the Academy?”

Attempting to assassinate a descendant of the ancient imperial family was an enormous crime.

Even if it was just a simple noble, an attempt on their life was considered a serious offense. And if the target was Aint Armian, the punishment would be even more severe.

The significance of Armian within the Empire was different—especially now that demons were prowling.

Even so, Schwaben was attempting assassination.

That implied three things.

— First, that they had a substitute prepared in case Aint died.

— Second, that they were confident they wouldn’t be discovered.

— And third, that they felt such a great level of threat that they couldn’t let it go.

“Yes, but we couldn’t figure out how they got in.”

Schwaben’s confidence had two foundations having obtained Armian’s secret swordsmanship, and the influence granted by their political power.

Fernan had ordered Hyde to secretly track the assassins’ entry route, but they found nothing.

“In any case, they must have used the regular ships traveling to the Academy. Whether they hid in them or came in disguise, there should’ve been some trace.”

“To review all that, we’d have to go through the Golden Turtle Company. And if we do…”

“Schwaben will notice.”

And even if they investigated everything, there was no guarantee they’d find evidence.

Schwaben would never take action without alternatives.

If they became too suspicious and then backed off, all they would do is raise Schwaben’s caution.

And if they denied everything, without solid proof, that would be the end of it.

“That’s why we can’t reveal anything until we have clear evidence.”

They could also investigate professors or assistants backed by Schwaben.

But if they denied it, there’d be no way to pressure them.

“What I still don’t get is—would they really risk trying to assassinate Aint Armian just because they don’t want to lose the throne?”

For a noble to attack another was equivalent to declaring war.

Disputes between nobles weren’t rare in the Empire, but this case was different.

Schwaben wasn’t an ordinary noble, but an elector prince and part of the imperial family.

And their opponent was too.

In the thousand years since the founding of the Empire, there had never been a conflict between elector princes.

Everyone knew that would endanger the entire Empire.

“Even if Armian is half ruined, he’s still an elector prince…”

“Precisely because he’s half ruined.”

But if Aint managed to restore Armian, they might never have another chance.

In fact, they surely wouldn’t.

“For them, this is the first and last opportunity. That also means they acknowledge how serious Aint’s growth and the current situation are.”

The demons would keep appearing, and Aint would continue growing stronger.

Thinking about how the First Emperor rose to the throne made it clear that their reasoning wasn’t wrong.

“My presence probably plays a part too.”

No one ignored anymore that the Pellenbergs were supporting Armian.

‘In the original future line, that wasn’t the case, but my father even handed Aint my excommunication seal.’

And not only that? Most likely, without openly saying it, he had promised some level of assistance.

The clearest way to prove that House Pellenberg wasn’t allied with demons was precisely by supporting those who fought them.

In the original timeline, that must have been what triggered Schwaben’s alarm.

“Well then, I’ll see you later.”

“Yes. Take care.”

Hyde couldn’t follow him into the temporary assistant role, so he let him go.

“This is the second time you’ve barged into another class. You’d think you were his nanny…”

Fernan clicked his tongue and headed to the second-year practice area.

“Anyway, better to have a just in case.”

If everything went as in the prophecy book, Aint would handle it himself.

But there was always a chance he wouldn’t.

And Fernan was there to prevent that just in case.

***

The second-year practices followed the same format that Fernan and Luina had done the previous year.

Each pair had to arrive exactly at the designated time at their destination.

The route crossed mountainous zones full of monsters, and the other students were also rivals.

Out of the hundred pairs, two stood out above the rest.

The pair of Aint Armian, first in the Knight Department, and Aria Fridian, second in the Magic Department.

And the pair of Jace Vines, first in the Magic Department, and Valoshi Vienderk, second in the Knight Department.

First and second together, they dominated wherever they went.

“Jace…?”

“May the Dragon God’s blessing guide the lost.”

“That’s fire!”

“It’s the Dragon God’s warm heart.”

“The ground’s melting, stop spouting nonsense!”

There wasn’t a single student who could easily withstand Jace’s fire magic.

“Tch…! We’ve only just started—could you take it easy?”

“I want to reclaim first place too.”

And no one could stand before Valoshi’s sword when he got serious.

The same happened with Aint and Aria.

“Let the typhoon blow!”

“That’s Aria! It’s definitely Aria! Run or—gwaaagh!”

Aria’s wind magic left students unable to react, and Aint’s blade fell like lightning upon them.

“That’s too much!”

“What nonsense. In battle, there’s no such thing as too much.”

“You’re a ruthless elf, cold-blooded and tearless!”

“If I had no blood or tears, I’d be dead.”

“What…?”

“Do you prefer being disqualified quietly or being a dead elf?”

“……”

Both pairs were busy eliminating rivals, until finally, they ran into each other.

“……”

“……”

“…Do we really need to fight now? There are still many students out there.”

“I agree. It doesn’t make sense to waste the blessings the Dragon God gave us here.”

“…Thus says our saint. See you later, Aint.”

“See you, Valoshi.”

The clash didn’t happen.

There was still time before the time limit, and it was wiser to conserve energy.

And from a distance, other eyes were watching them.

‘That’s Aint Armian. And the elf with him must be Aria Fridian.’

Three figures blended with the mountain as if they were part of nature itself.

They followed in silence, waiting for the two pairs to separate far enough.

‘They seem stronger than expected.’

‘It doesn’t matter.’

After all, no matter how fallen they were, Armian was still an elector prince.

And that heir already posed a threat to Schwaben.

The masked leader never underestimated him.

‘What do we do about Aria Fridian?’

‘Eliminate her along with him.’

It was unfortunate, but from the start, they had planned to disguise the attack as if it were done by monsters.

Only by eliminating both and leaving no survivors would it be perfect.

‘Just graze them with the weapon.’

Sword, dagger, or hidden knife—it didn’t matter. All their weapons were coated with venom extracted from monsters.

A poison so deadly that even experts died instantly, and high-level masters could only writhe before succumbing.

‘The targets are heading to the designated point.’

That point was the location chosen for the ambush.

When they gave the signal, the professors and assistants backed by Schwaben would temporarily turn it into a dead zone, outside of all surveillance.

Their plan was to finish off Aint and Aria during that window.

Soon after, the targets approached the site.

“Looks like there aren’t any other students around here.”

“What if we camp here for tonight and continue tomorrow? The sun’s already setting, and with no one around, it feels safer, don’t you think?”

“Sounds good.”

Calmly, the targets began setting up camp right at the designated location.

‘Perfect. We just need to wait for nightfall.’

‘Yes.’

‘Understood.’

When the sun disappeared, the leader gave a secret signal to a nearby assistant, and at once all human presence vanished.

Only the three assassins and the pair calmly setting up their camp remained.

‘Get ready.’

The assassins held their breath even more as they approached.

‘Aint Armian is standing guard.’

‘Number 1, you and I will handle Aint. Number 2, you eliminate Aria Fridian while she sleeps.’

‘Yes.’

‘Understood.’

At that moment—

“You don’t look like students.”

A low murmur.

‘How?’

Their concealment was so refined that not even a professor would detect them easily.

Schwaben only trusted assassins of that level.

Even so, Number 1 met Aint’s gaze, who had pinpointed him with precision.

With no time to react, he threw his dagger immediately.

Claaang!

Sparks flew as the blades were deflected.

“Aria, wake up! It’s an ambush!”

The tent burst open and spears of wind shot toward Number 1 and Number 2.

Both deflected them and charged forward without hesitation.

Clang!

Aint and Number 1 clashed. Wind spirits lunged at Number 2.

In an instant, Aint and his opponent exchanged dozens of blows.

Despite being an assassin, he had a level comparable to a seasoned knight, enough to exchange attacks with Aint for a while.

But the difference in foundational swordsmanship eventually prevailed.

Clang! Number 1’s weapon flew from his hand, his body staggered, and Aint’s sword pierced his side.

“Got you.”

“……!”

Number 1 grabbed Aint’s sword. He used his own body as bait to immobilize him.

And at that moment…

— Aint, behind you…!

The leader’s silent blade, waiting in hiding, suddenly descended.

It was so quiet that even Aint’s perception hadn’t picked it up.

‘Too late…!’

Even if he let go of the sword and retreated, the enemy’s blade was faster.

All he could do was twist his body and divert the lethal blow toward his side or shoulder.

Aint clenched his teeth.

At that instant—

— Kyu!

The black knight dropped vertically from a tree.

Thud!

With a single blow, he deflected the leader’s sword and delivered a punch that sent the enemy flying with a loud crash.

“…Wooden?”

— Kyu!

At Aint’s murmur, the black knight waved happily.

“Wooden, behind…!”

That brief moment of respite gave the leader another chance, who had already recovered and stabbed his sword at Wooden’s neck.

Clang!

Kyu!

“…Kyu?”

The dry, strange sound of the blade failing to penetrate left the leader speechless.

At that very moment, Wooden’s fist sank into his abdomen and sent him flying with a scream.

“Wooden, tear him to pieces.”

— Kyu!

Clang!

Clang!

The leader swung his sword again, but the result was the same.

Wooden stomped on him forcefully while Fernan extracted the poison from his mouth.

“You okay?”

“…Was this the strange thing you mentioned earlier?”

“That’s right. I had received information they were coming for you. I prepared just in case.”

“Who…?”

Aint’s eyes sparkled with confusion, but Fernan answered calmly.

“I have suspicions, but no certainties. So I can’t say yet.”

“Then at least tell me your suspicions. Was it the corrupt…?”

“It was Schwaben.”

“……!”

Aint’s eyes widened.

“Schwaben… why me?”

“Don’t tell me you can’t guess the reason.”

“Then, all the more… I…!”

Aint stopped himself, restraining the impulse.

Fernan noticed Gardner was helping him think and calm down.

“…Understood. I get it now.”

“Glad to hear that. Either way, we’ll interrogate this one, but don’t expect much. Schwaben wouldn’t leave loose ends.”

“Yes.”

“Not even I could get proof if they acted with that much preparation.”

“…Yes.”

“And if it becomes public that Schwaben attempted this in the middle of a demon invasion, the Empire will split.”

That, in fact, was the bigger problem.

That’s why even in the prophecy book, Aint had overlooked Schwaben.

At least for now.

‘Originally, I was just going to observe if it happened. But this time, there was an additional factor.’

Unlike in the prophecy book, now there was another person in play, and that’s why he stepped in.

Registering as a temporary assistant made sense precisely for cases like this.

“Hey, Senior Fernan! Chatting is great and all, but could you help me out here? Why are you talking like it’s all over already? Why does that side look like a different genre altogether?”

At that moment, Aria, still fiercely battling Number 2, shouted irritably.