Chapter 139

“…This is madness.”

When he confirmed the new prophecy, a curse slipped from Fernan’s mouth.

The descent of Flauros, which he thought would occur next year and had therefore been keeping relatively under control, was now practically at hand.

“…The chances of it happening exactly as seen are high.”

There really were corrupt ones and monsters in Frazia, and even though Aint had eliminated several, that was also the expected course in the original future.

Above all, summoning a demon was by no means simple.

Though he didn’t know the exact details, judging by the demons that had already appeared or were about to appear, it was clear it required major preparations.

And based on Fernan’s experience, ventures demanding so much preparation, time, and resources were rarely abandoned halfway.

The manpower, time, and money invested became a runaway cart that couldn’t be stopped.

“Hyde, send a letter to the King of Mercenaries.”

“Yes, young master.”

He had already spoken to him previously, so most likely he’d come right away.

“Young master, a visitor has arrived.”

“A visitor?”

“Student Gismond Ert.”

That was exactly when Gismond came to see him.

‘As I suspected, the future manifests in the same way and at the same moment.’

He had a hunch, but now it was confirmed.

Gismond was too large a variable to leave unchecked.

“Senior Gismond, you should also prepare.”

“Hm? Prepare for what?”

“Obviously, to go to Fortress Fairos.”

“…But I’m not in the top 10.”

“Even if you were ranked 100th, if I decide to take you, I can do it without issue.”

“Eh…?”

Yes, he could definitely make use of him.

‘Besides, he’s swallowed a ton of elixirs. If I manage him well, he could be a useful piece. I can’t let him roam free.’

He had already confirmed in Bercheff that he wasn’t entirely useless. The more he worked him, the more value he had, so there was no reason not to.

After sending off a nearly-crying Gismond, Fernan began thinking over what was to come.

‘The core is Flauros. Everything depends on whether Aint can defeat him or not.’

Fortress Fairos didn’t have the thousands of elites that were in the north.

This time, instead of ten thousand, there were only two thousand soldiers.

Not a small number, but compared to before, it was at least some relief.

‘If I can also gather mercenaries in advance and have the troops stationed at the obsidian mine move south…’

Then, even if Aint fought Flauros, the fortress wouldn’t fall.

‘There’s no choice but to rely on the Mercenary King, on Aint, and on Luina.’

And if things went sideways, he could always use Wooden as a hidden trump card.

‘With that, I’ll have done everything I can for now.’

All that remained was for the Kingdom of Frazia to request help from the Academy, and for the director to make the decision.

***

The days passed peacefully, like the calm before the storm.

“It feels like it’s been ages since we were at peace.”

Luina chewed a piece of chocolate.

“Bercheff really was hell.”

“Seriously, thanks for back then. If it hadn’t been for you, Bercheff would’ve fallen.”

“Without my money, of course it would have. But no need to thank me—I got what I wanted too.”

“I figured you’d say that… but still, I’m grateful.”

Fernan gave a small nod.

“By the way, you seem different.”

Luina, whom he hadn’t seen in a few days, radiated something different—though he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what.

Perhaps she seemed calmer, more composed.

“Is it noticeable?”

“What happened?”

“Nothing big, I just had a sort of breakthrough.”

A drop of coffee slipped down the corner of Fernan’s lips.

He restrained his expression and wiped it away with a handkerchief.

“…That’s not something small.”

Breaking through and leveling up was never trivial.

“Compared to the Royal Knights, I still have a long way to go.”

Despite her words, her cheeks were slightly flushed.

She wasn’t being entirely honest.

“Did something trigger it?”

“Watching my father, the Mercenary King, and the demon fight helped a lot.”

“A masterclass.”

“Yeah. I replayed over and over the moves of my father, the lance of the Mercenary King, and the greatsword of the demon.”

Seeing something above one’s level was an invaluable lesson.

Of course, only if one could truly absorb it.

“At first, I couldn’t fully understand it. My father’s sword and the Mercenary King’s lance were at an unreachable level. But even a single movement contained a world of meaning.”

Fernan was once again reminded of Luina’s incredible talent—able to turn such experience into real progress.

“That’s…”

“This is the first time you’ve talked this much.”

“Ah, that…”

“Congratulations.”

Fernan smiled broadly as he handed her an elegant box of chocolates.

He meant it—Luina getting stronger was proof that his investment continued to bear fruit.

“Here, a gift.”

“But you just now learned I broke through… how…?”

“I always carry a few things in my subspace.”

“…I thought you didn’t like chocolate.”

“It’s for emergencies.”

“Chocolate emergencies you don’t eat?”

“Don’t think too hard about it.”

The reality was simple—it was a tool to win people over. Giving someone what they liked at just the right moment was a way to earn goodwill.

“…Thanks. I’ll accept it.”

With a slightly wary glance, Luina accepted the chocolate.

“So, how are the preparations going?”

“You mean Frazia? We’ve found traces of corrupt ones, and just like you said, the kingdom might ask for the Academy’s help.”

She closed her eyes, clenched her fist, and nodded firmly.

“Now I feel ready to face it with dignity.”

“Thinking of Andromalius?”

“Yes.”

“That suits you.”

Fernan chuckled softly and took a sip of coffee. Then, suddenly, his gaze turned toward the window.

“Eh?”

“What is it?”

“Lately, someone’s been a bit annoying. Do you see him? That brown-haired kid, plain-looking.”

“Isn’t he a freshman? I think his name is… Abel…”

“Abel Kalens. That’s right.”

“I heard he was admitted as the top of his class in the Magic Department.”

Abel Kalens, the boy who shot to the top like a comet, defeating favorite Jeff Lavre and claiming first place.

All they knew about him was that he came from the Kingdom of Alprosen and was a commoner.

“And he approached you?”

“Yes. He reminded me a bit of Aria, though younger.”

“Hmm, I see. You’re quite popular, it seems.”

The boy made it obvious he wanted to get close—enough to be annoying.

Fernan had accepted Aria because she was prophesied to be Aint’s partner, but generally, he was very wary.

‘Especially since he appeared right after the prophecy started twisting. Until I know what kind of person he is…’

“Maybe he just wants to get along because you’re his senior.”

“No, that wasn’t the impression.”

“Then it’s probably financial interest. You yourself said a mage starts with money and ends with money.”

True, he had said that long ago, right when he proposed forming a partnership.

“You remembered that?”

“Well, what you said afterward was pretty shocking.”

“‘A loser with a mage’s cloak’?”

“…Yeah, that.”

Luina instinctively looked around, and upon remembering they were in a private room of the Golden Turtle, she sighed in relief.

“In any case, you wouldn’t say something like that in public. You’re shameless, but not that shameless.”

“Well, I am shameless—but not to the point of causing a boycott.”

“…Wow, what a convincing argument.”

“Anyway, maybe you’re right—he could just be approaching for money.”

At another time, that’s what he would’ve assumed from the start.

But ever since he received the prophecy and got entangled with corrupt ones and demons, money had ceased to be his immediate priority.

‘I’m slipping. I’ve been dismissing the most obvious explanation from the start.’

***

The island city of Bardian.

Aria, the elf with orange hair, sipped her drink as she spoke.

“Did you hear?”

“If you mean that we’re going to Frazia, Senior Fernan already told me…”

“No, I mean the rumor that Aint knocked out the first-year deputy leader of the Knight Department with his fists.”

“Cough, cough…!”

At Aria’s words, Aint spat out his drink.

“Disgusting bastard…!”

Verian, who had taken the full brunt of the spray, grimaced in disgust.

“S-sorry. But Aria, isn’t it normal to tell those kinds of stories when the person involved isn’t present?”

“Why? It’s better when they are—that way we can hear how it really happened.”

— In a way, she’s right.

Aria crunched the ice between her teeth.

“So, how did it really happen?”

“Well…”

Aint lowered his voice after making sure no one was around.

When he finished, Aria and Verian both nodded.

“So in the end, he wasn’t a corrupt one.”

“No.”

“That’s strange. Senior Fernan usually doesn’t make mistakes.”

“Senior Fernan is still human. It’s not like he’s infallible.”

“But look at everything he’s done—he’s predicted all the corrupt ones, even defeated a demon. Does he seem like an ordinary human to you?”

“…Well, when you put it that way.”

Aint and Verian both nodded again.

“It’s like he knows ahead of time when and where the corrupt ones will act.”

“That just means the Pellenbergs’ intelligence network is that precise. There’s no organization on the continent that can match it.”

The Pellenberg information web, tied to the Golden Turtle Company, was widely recognized as the best—so both accepted the explanation.

“But Aria, don’t you feel a bit of urgency?”

At Verian’s sudden question, Aria tilted her head.

“Urgency? About what?”

“Haven’t you heard the rumor? The new student trying to stick close to Senior Fernan—the top of the Magic Department.”

“I heard it too. His name was Abel Kalens, right?”

“And what does that have to do with me feeling urgency?”

“Because you’re doing the same thing. Well, more precisely, you still are. Because you’re still at it.”

“Ah.”

Aria smiled broadly.

“Then Verian, do you want to play with the spirits? Want me to take you cloud-watching?”

“We’re in a café!”

“Yeah, knock it off. We’re in a café—if you want to do that, take it outside.”

The little quarrel ended thanks to Aint’s mediation.

“But now that I think about it—I’m curious. Why are you so intent on getting close to Senior Fernan? And not just him, it seems like you’re trying to form ties with other nobles too.”

“…Well…”

Aria hesitated for a moment. Should she say it? But on second thought, it wasn’t a secret—more like something anyone could guess.

“Because I want the Fridian family to be recognized as a legitimate line of prince-electors.”

“But getting close to Senior Fernan doesn’t guarantee that.”

“Not yet. But in the future?”

In twenty or thirty years, Fernan wouldn’t just be a senior—he’d be the head of the Pellenbergs, and Aint would be the head of the Armians.

With just those two, that would be two prince-electors favorable to the Fridians.

“And that way, little by little, the Fridians would solidify our standing. My family has a lot of discontent. Even after reaching the rank of prince-elector, the others don’t truly recognize us.”

Some even complained that a high elf shouldn’t have joined the human Empire.

“But there’s one problem with that.”

“What is it?”

“Are you really close to Senior Fernan? Because so far, it seems one-sided…”

“Verian, I think you need to study more.”

Aria’s lips curled into a smile.

With her radiant smile, she called forth the spirits again.

***

Ravidus Hall.

Aint sat in front of a box.

“Today, finally, is the last day.”

— Yes, it ends today. It’s been a long process.

It was the First Emperor’s box, the one he had received from Fernan.

At first, he thought it would open right away, but it wasn’t as simple as just using a descendant’s blood.

Blood was necessary, yes—but in a far greater amount than expected. So much that it couldn’t be gathered in just a day or two.

“That’s why I’ve been feeling anemic every day. Why’d they make it so complicated?”

— Probably to prevent just anyone with a drop of Armian blood from opening it.

— Honestly, I don’t even know what’s inside myself, so I can’t say for sure.

In any case, today was the final day. Aint cut his palm and let his blood drip onto the box.

The magic circle responded immediately.

Click.

The seal was released.

“At last!”

— Hurry, open it!

— I want to know what His Majesty the First Emperor hid too!

The box opened.

Inside was…

“…What is this?”

— Hm?

A completely unexpected object—a pure white sphere.

“An egg?”

— It’s an egg.

It was an egg.

— Wait… it can’t be…

— …Damn it! Your Majesty, what the hell did you do?

Gardner let out a shocked exclamation upon recognizing it.

“Why? What kind of egg is it?”

— A Saintbird.

The sacred bird with two pairs of wings, one of the highest-ranked mythical beasts.

A symbol of House Armian.

— This is a Saintbird egg!