Chapter 14

“So it’s finally today.”

“You again! You’re not Armian!”

Verian charged. Aint calmly withstood his assault.

Since his defeat, Verian had trained relentlessly, clenching his teeth in frustration. The tip of his sword had become even sharper.

A fierce exchange unfolded.

But the result had already been decided. Aint wasn’t the kind of opponent to lose against someone he had already defeated once.

Especially not with the greatest master, the gardener Alpenfarsen, at his side.

“I bear you no particular grudge.”

Aint’s sword cut Verian. His guiding light went out.

“It’s over…”

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

However, the instructors didn’t appear and Verian refused to admit defeat.

“A disgrace who’s forgotten chivalry. Kill him. If he lives, he’ll disgrace the honor of the knights.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Then knock him unconscious. Leave him and the instructors will take him.”

Leaving the fallen Verian behind, Aint had no idea that the demonic energy, slowly beginning to seep in, had started to consume Verian’s body and mind.

At dawn, Fernan greeted the morning with a headache.

After an hour of light tea, he headed to the Golden Turtle Trading Company’s academy branch.

“Young master, you’ve arrived.”

“Young master.”

Ignoring the staff’s greetings, he headed to the warehouse.

Opening one of the many large storage units, he entered, opened his personal subspace, and began storing items in it.

“What are you doing?”

“Preparing for contingencies.”

“Are you going to war or something?”

Ignoring the comment, Fernan continued filling his subspace until it was completely packed. Empty spots started appearing throughout the vast warehouse.

“Hyde, when did you get here?”

“When you entered the warehouse,” Hyde replied.

“What about Verian?”

“You told me to report first thing in the morning, right?”

“And Verian?”

“Still no unusual behavior.”

“Still?”

“Yes.”

“That’s a bit concerning.”

Hyde had no reason to lie to him. Though something felt off, Fernan had no choice but to accept it.

‘Then there are only two possibilities. Either the demon never existed, contrary to the prophecy—’

“…Or you lacked the skills.”

“That’s the first time I’ve heard that in my life,” Hyde replied with a serious face.

“I don’t know what it is, but I’m suggesting maybe your suspicions are just that—suspicions.”

“So you’re saying I’m delusional.”

“That’s not what I meant. Besides, I don’t even know why you ordered me to monitor Verian Kalburdern.”

Of course not, Fernan hadn’t explained it clearly.

Even if he tried to reason it out, without knowing Verian was supposed to fall to a demon in the future, there was no way to draw a logical conclusion.

“Well, that’s how the world works.”

Things rarely go as planned. Especially when it comes to demons that hadn’t appeared in over a thousand years.

“Anyway, something more urgent has come up.”

Fernan closed his now-filled subspace and replied.

“I’m going to supervise the midterms.”

“First years again?”

“Yes.”

“Do you really have to go that far for Aint Armian? I don’t really get it.”

“I’ll explain everything once this is over.”

If Verian really had become a demon’s pawn, he could gather evidence. If not, the prophecy was false, and he could convince Hyde accordingly.

“I trust you… but do you have to go alone this time?”

“Why?”

“Because I can’t go with you.”

“…What do you mean?”

Fernan’s eyes widened at the completely unexpected response.

“A letter came from the family.”

Hyde handed him a letter with a broken seal.

Fernan checked it and clicked his tongue.

“A summons from my father.”

“Yes.”

“Ugh… Why now, of all times?”

“Yes.”

This was bad.

He was on his way to personally confirm the demon with his own eyes. There was no way to know what variables or dangers might lurk, so he had tried to prepare as best he could.

In that sense, an escort wasn’t optional—it was a necessity.

After thinking for a moment, Fernan nodded.

“It can’t be helped. Go, I’ll take someone else.”

“Someone else?”

Fernan tore a piece of paper from a stack in the corner of the warehouse and scribbled something on it.

“Deliver this to Luina Bercheff. As quickly as possible.”

Fortunately, he still had another card to play.

“What is this, so early in the morning?”

After leaving the trading company, Fernan entered a café. It was run by the company.

When he opened the door to a private room, Luina was already waiting, having responded to his message.

“I’ll get straight to the point—we don’t have much time. A rare elixir has been discovered in the northwestern mountains.”

“An elixir?”

“It’s comparable to the mandrake you took. I’m going to harvest it.”

At the mention of mandrake, Luina’s eyes widened.

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

“I want to ask you to accompany me. While harvesting an elixir, I won’t be in a position to watch my surroundings.”

Luina tilted her head at his words.

“But the western slope of the mountains is where the first-year knight students are taking their midterms. Access should be restricted, no?”

“There’s nothing in this world that money can’t resolve.”

“…You say that like bribery is something to be proud of.”

She shot Fernan a scornful look.

“Who was it? Actually, I don’t even need to ask. Professor Grad. I can’t believe he took a bribe and let someone into a testing site…”

“That’s not what matters right now.”

“How can that not be what matters?”

Fernan had brought a fake elixir because he knew her personality well.

Rather than intrude into the exam site without reason, it was better to have a clear purpose—one that wasn’t intended to harm anyone.

“I’ll collect the elixir and leave. If you come with me, there’ll be no need to cause trouble.”

“Does it really have to be today?”

“It’s a rare elixir. What if someone else finds it today?”

“One day late—”

“Even being a minute late can mean losing the right to a plant.”

And once she came with him, all he had to do was orchestrate a meeting with the demon.

Luina Bercheff was someone who believed in upholding justice and protecting the weak—a model knight in every sense.

And if she came face-to-face with a real demon?

If she realized she had to fight it?

What would she do? Stand by or act?

And maybe she would become more cooperative with Fernan, who was trying to stop the demons.

‘Even though the prophecy’s credibility has slightly diminished, the fact remains: it warned of demons that would plunge the entire continent into chaos.’

This wasn’t a threat that one person or one household could stop alone.

He needed allies.

Sure, Aint Armian might end up stopping the demon anyway. But now that he was aware his actions could change the future, he had to prepare for any possible outcome.

He had to be ready for the butterfly effect of a changed fate.

“In that sense, you’re quite suitable.”

The second-ranked student in the academy, daughter of a former Elector family, was slowly regaining her strength, even if that strength had once crumbled.

And the prophecy, still largely accurate, had named her a future Royal Knight, despite some cracks in its credibility.

She was the ideal assistant.

Originally, he had only planned to show her the evidence, but now that Hyde had been called away, he had no choice but to bring her as a companion and let her witness it firsthand.

“…What’s that supposed to mean, all of a sudden?”

“It means I’m counting on you to be my companion.”

“I never said I would.”

Luina frowned.

“Why should I? I’m busy with the midterms too.”

“You ate the mandrake root, didn’t you?”

Her aura was clearly different from before. She hadn’t fully assimilated the elixir’s energy yet; it felt wild and unruly.

“…How long do you think you can keep using that against me?”

“This is only the second time. And the last.”

“Even so, sneaking into the exam site is too much…”

While she hesitated, Fernan spoke again. He hadn’t planned to rely on words alone to persuade her.

“I’m visiting my family over the break. I’m thinking of bringing up the matter of House Bercheff to my father.”

“…Are you blackmailing me right now?”

“No. It’s a proposal. If you help me, maybe your family’s interest rates won’t go up after graduation.”

“You think that’s going to—”

“I think I’ve earned enough trust.”

“Still…”

“Who knows how many years it might take for your family’s restoration to come.”

Luina grabbed his hand.

The first-year midterms had nothing extraordinary about them.

Just like the second-years had done not long ago, the students demonstrated their skills in the northern mountain range.

The difference this time was that it wasn’t a paired test, but one conducted solely by the Knight Department. It lasted two days. And it wasn’t just a practice—it was a real exam.

***

In the thick forests of the mountains, a young man and a woman moved silently.

“Conceal your presence as much as possible. Don’t let any teachers or instructors detect you.”

Fernan spoke as he wore a special cloak that concealed his presence and energy.

“Didn’t you say you bribed Professor Grad?”

“Just because I bribed him doesn’t mean I can walk around in the open.”

“At least you know this is problematic. That’s something, I guess.”

Luina, who was also wearing a stealth cloak, let out a soft sigh.

“So, where are we going?”

“To wait.”

Fernan pulled a map from his coat. Red and blue dots moved around on it.

“According to this map…”

“…That’s a professor’s map, isn’t it?”

“Correct. I received it along with strict instructions not to cross paths with any instructors or students.”

“…Oh, Professor Grad. Nothing surprises me anymore.”

No, Luina muttered, maybe sneaking them in like this was actually the best option.

Fernan acted as if everything was going smoothly while searching for a number. The point marked with 38 was him.

“Well.”

He saw a nearby point marked with a 2, and his eyes lit up.

“This way. Let’s go.”

“Right. And we’re just going to collect the elixir and leave immediately.”

“Obviously.”

“It doesn’t sound obvious when it’s you saying it.”

The two moved quickly into the mountains. Monsters emitting a foul stench appeared, but thanks to their suppression techniques and the help of artifacts, they managed to avoid them.

Thanks to the map, they also avoided any encounters with students or instructors.

The unexpected happened when they reached the central region of the mountain range.

───!

──!

Roars and monster screams erupted from all directions.

A sinister energy began spreading throughout the area.

The dots on the map moved frantically, and students’ screams echoed through the forest.

“…What is this?”

Alarmed, Luina drew her sword.

Before them stood a troll, eyes bloodshot and nostrils flaring.

Its bulging veins and muscles, along with the drool pouring from its mouth, made it clear this wasn’t a normal state.

“…!”

Her sword met the club. Luina’s shining blue aura blade split the club in a single strike.

However, even without its weapon, the troll didn’t falter. Eyes rolling back, it threw a punch.

Boom!

A crater formed in the ground. Debris exploded in every direction.

At the same time, stone spears shot out from all sides, piercing the troll—but it didn’t react.

Even with spears in its back, it charged at Luina with the intent to kill.

It crushed trees with its body. Even when its arm was cut off by her sword, it didn’t stop.

It was pure madness.

“WHAT IS THIS?!”

“It’s in a berserk state! Be careful! Trolls in that state don’t feel pain; you have to decapitate them completely to kill them.”

Berserker monsters were completely different from normal ones.

They burned through their life force in a frenzied rampage; each one posed a deadly threat.

This was an anomaly severe enough to justify immediate suspension of the exam.

Fernan hadn’t expected the monster to instinctively pierce through the stealth artifact, but he stayed calm.

“So it’s begun.”

Because he knew this was exactly the event foretold in the prophecy.

‘Even without contact between Verian and the demons, the monster wave still happens, huh?’

He scoffed to himself.

‘No need to pretend anymore. How ridiculous.’

With a mocking smile, Fernan began casting a spell.

First, he needed to get rid of that tenacious beast.