Chapter 141
k43mgUIDespite the arrival of the foretold date, Frazia remained completely calm.2nsG
TUJThere was no sign of the corrupt, not even rumors of monsters.e3hz
tcBCTU“Are you sure about what you saw?”tUFgduj
hWxuZ“Are you implying that I was wrong?”K6BP
k6HN“No, I’m just saying, what if you fell asleep while reading the book of prophecies?”KTGKQH
tU4YnCl“If you went through these headaches, you’d never say such nonsense.”AFe
4akrA few days passed, and Fernan had no choice but to admit it.9ODRu
MgMUnlike before, when the future changed little by little, now one of the major lines of destiny had been completely twisted.xB4
tB3u“Where was the mistake?”aMm2IA9
h7w5Fernan began reviewing everything from the most recent events.kfZJ8HD
0xKvThat Aint exterminated the corrupt in Frazia was part of the original story, so that should be fine.uqVC7Mf
pjTNOThen the next part.6Rcu
2W9L9jw“Was it because of Kimaris…?”guua
N2WKimaris and the monster army that tried to destroy Bercheff—or rather, who sought to recover the stolen egg.BQwC7
x8CWThey weren’t supposed to descend south at that time.dvJmu2B
VHEXHLSThe book of prophecies didn’t even mention them yet.BZ69Wk
GevpyThe fact that Fernan ended up with Decarabia’s egg was what twisted the future.lkL
vu5“So, can I no longer trust the prophecy…?”SeaiS
Jv02MIt hurt to accept it, but it was inevitable.9AnD
yhyTOsIt made sense—if the future was changed again and again and yet everything happened the same, that would be what’s strange.9ACPOhE
cK4j“Here, Hyde.”NpngsDw
EB5pNC“What’s this?”TRNtSIX
KePGl“A notification that all the effort was in vain.”BOT
uttuHyde, who understood who he had to deliver it to, asked again.8yd
UGbHMF2“Do I really have to go?”T3H
y3ide“It’s someone to whom we must show at least that courtesy.”0oTb
yBXPn“And my life doesn’t matter to you?”gvsDh
S4O7egy“Don’t worry. It’s not as dangerous as when we fought demons, but at least I’ll cover your travel expenses to Fort Faios.”uSQ0k
NOGbk3i“You think that’ll be enough for him, especially since he didn’t take any other requests during this time?”Vy9K
cWh4Ebb“That’s why I’ll give him a bonus.”hyG
o5zObTfIt hurt to part with that sum, but losing the Mercenary King’s trust would hurt more. Trust could also be bought with money.yC2nm
MrG“Understood. But tell me, I’ve been wondering—what is that bird? It’s not what I think it is, right?”ZUBlSn
FZUyHyde pointed to the Saintbird waddling around the office behind Wooden.WUhqRz
ffyh1Qt“His name is Silver.”YEhgZUg
zz0dHz“You even gave it a name?”B60
gYoxMv“I wasn’t going to just call it ‘Saintbird.’ Besides, it looks like it’s going to bring me lots of silver coins, don’t you think?”zzj
j3J“Really improvised… but is it really a Saintbird? Where did you get it?”7q6N
J3jgsVThe legendary winged spirit had left Hyde speechless.J5r8k
ZZutD“I got it from Aint.”9ZZhr
NzWanoWhen he heard the full story, Hyde let out a disbelieving laugh.6SeNH
vn9eGwh“Aint Armian must’ve had quite a stomachache over that.”oDdSGz
R9vAtW“With everything I’ve already given him, I can well keep this.”WWjR3
CO3i“Well, looked at that way, it makes sense.”B9mjaD
QfJcu9“Anyway, go already.”f923L
YRNBL“But if I go, what will you do without Wooden by your side as a guard?”WjCn
DXrOgYKIt was true. The only reason Hyde didn’t insist more on being a permanent shadow was because Wooden was there. Without him, Fernan was practically defenseless.pPCoc
gpSL“It doesn’t matter. If I leave the academy, it’s different, but nothing serious should happen while I’m here.”1O8
kdB“Still, it leaves me uneasy—you attract too much trouble.”i0D
9eim“If someone hears that, they’ll think I go looking for it myself.”g6KH2A
8nXFiFernan snorted mockingly.ODX
KhPKL“And the corrupt that were in the research building, what about that?”TjgQnm
O3sGUR4“It’s an order.”DhuHd
70IMci“…Alright. I’ll go and come back as quickly as possible.”oFznY
BA9SWHyde sighed in resignation and left.jpDz
036O***YVwk
i7RWhile life at the academy continued peacefully, two changes came to Fernan’s routine.xAl
zgKD“Senior.”wYATd
7xVMTThe first was that Aint Armian began visiting him every day.aBMp0g
YXwftIt seemed he couldn’t get over the fact that the Saintbird was in Fernan’s hands, even if only nominally, and he stopped by daily to see it.olvpa
KxyMEZK‘I hope it doesn’t change owners under the influence of the Armian bloodline.’EpPG
NvGIt was as if he was trying to imprint himself on it, but Fernan didn’t have any strong reason to refuse. He understood well—losing something like that would hurt.7ZUWN
YeDaiAt least he was thankful that the little bird still looked at him as if he were its true father.VYCCBvt
DEj“So even you can make mistakes, Senior.”YTj7
uf06D“I don’t know everything. I suppose what happened at Bercheff made those bastards hide for a while.”0SmgR
QsegK“Or maybe it was because I and the others made too much noise in Frazia.”eDwU
dN365w“That’s possible too.”XSPp
cFdEither way, not everything was bad.74gHWm
HLVNK“I didn’t think I’d hear you say something like that.”BLhzhNi
csOMoM“I simply made the most realistic decision. In a world where demons already roam freely, between Armian and Schwaben, I chose the side that shines brighter. Nine out of ten would do the same.”f5hyyL
RMlS4“I don’t think so. The Armians have nothing. And besides, what if Schwaben…?”MnJVgG
TphSGSpeaking with Aint daily allowed them to grow closer.hSPAD
ufRL“You mean they might have the Armian secret swordsmanship?”hCu
ZfMKlh“You already knew?”A2YNXw
vsLIQ“It was obvious. They’re not stupid—they wouldn’t try to kill someone essential without having an ace up their sleeve.”lCakd
rbYC6q“And yet you still say the Armians are the real deal?”QI0b
npXi“Precisely because of that. Thieves will never be able to truly master it.”o4TgEZq
ek0That allowed Fernan to strengthen ties with Aint, both as an ally against demons and in his role of support for House Armian.ITb
litValuable, meaningful time.f8y
bJT“Senior.”Vnr
s7Oi69The second change was also someone’s visit—but not as pleasant as Aint’s.Ahzax
GDREvery time Abel Kalens, the first-place student in the first-year Magic Department, ran into him, he would appear with a book in hand.dSh
mMA8It wasn’t frequent, but every encounter was annoying.ZCsC
s51XjBzFernan liked being around the talented, but after Aaron’s betrayal, he was wary of those without solid backing.IsM
FzhDAnd he still hadn’t received a full report on him from the Golden Pillar.o7i
R2QHPli“What is it?”UGG
AIhr“Nothing, we just ran into each other by chance. I came to say hello.”cIxmP
E4IEjklThat was the problem—there were too many “coincidences” for his liking.pkcGH
fnUaUntil one day, Abel said something unexpected.vQn
eLHUI“Ah, Senior. I discovered something strange.”QYa
ZGX“Something strange?”pr2ZMkE
uoy“I don’t know if I should say it…”H3j
djsNl6“If you don’t want to, don’t.”5acaWN2
bHwYe“Wait, I’ll say it.”GCUITiI
n2EWhat he said didn’t seem like much at first—one sleepless night, he took a walk through the city and saw the bookstore owner pushing a cart toward the forest.i3Z
V2te“The forest?”56KD2S
DWUp6“Yes. The southern forest.”p62y
AIlcwgM“Did you follow him?”LD525
iGxz“It seemed strange, so yes. And I saw him dig a hole in a clearing and bury what he was carrying in the cart.”Mf6eno
QRnK6“What was he carrying?”cXw
JW680f6“It looked like a box, but I’m not sure. His perception was stronger than I thought and he almost noticed me.”q4Jgu
t9t6lbZAbel explained that he fled immediately.lSYOeJp
c6nL“And how did you get into the forest? Weren’t there guards?”qzlcxqq
DP4If he had confronted them, he wouldn’t have been able to enter. And if not, the runes would have detected illegal entry and they’d have gone after him.XhEs
K0B“I did run into a guard. But he looked me in the eyes, froze, and then walked away like nothing happened.”oHNru5h
rI0“…Just like that?”Xb9
kogk0NPAint recalled when Aria and Verian fell under mental magic and the branches of the World Tree were corrupted.6jkh
nGI“Where was this?”O3qOrAN
xdTc“If you want, I can guide you.”tt5SJW
1PG5Yxi“Wait. There’s someone else who should come.”vIo
GahAfter a moment’s thought, Fernan brought Aint along.V0Iu
NZS“Let’s go.”2zL4
OFSw“What’s going on all of a sudden? And him?”UQwTqrJ
CbUp“It’s an honor to meet you, Senior Aint. I’m Abel Kalens.”JhD
mCKThe three arrived at the southern forest. Thanks to Fernan’s measures, no guards appeared.fJ6G8nn
pbcmHn6“It’s here.”yij2E6
ghk“Aint, feel anything?”LkykNY
gFUH9“Not yet…”1IZ0z
xYAFernan began to dig with magic. About ten meters underground, he noticed something odd.7hol9u
TgOkFZ“This is…”BYq56
oXDL5ALack of mana. It reminded him of Bercheff.vxoph
53mXA2SThat underground space where he found Decarabia’s egg. Much weaker, of course, but the sensation was the same.SpFh
AmSmXI“Aint, the earth is contaminated.”N5N
GjYTRq“Really?”LbPGdG
3h44As Fernan said, the underground soil was blackened.Mlo
6feA faint demonic energy emanated from the place. And in the center, a small box.o72gA
0Ulm7rClick. They opened the box cautiously, and a sinister aura escaped. Inside, something black squirmed.cVIhv2
WvbwiwX“…What is this?”mjOD71
vkocq“A terrible miasma…”0lk
vOT0“An… eye?”MKRjN
R0L5It wasn’t a piece of flesh. It was a moving eyeball, and they could clearly feel its gaze.H9KTL
YfDThe moment they made eye contact, Fernan felt his mind being invaded, and his mana stirred.1wpRg
npzW“Aint, destroy it. Now.”XcW
vEiOR“Yes!”93oF
Fg9NAint unsheathed his sword. The holy light drove out the corruption and asserted its power.46BB
tN2VGU───!RQCCss7
DhIwThe light sliced through the darkness.hT3JSFs
VYeCtThe eye resisted, but couldn’t withstand the punishment.DirN5Aw
ApRbxShattered fragments thrashed like screams, until they turned to dust.bleNhT6
fcsnI…Dust?2a1l
qO97Fernan knew that only demons left behind nothing—not even a corpse.Qd84
g3znVGb‘Then was it…?’Akm1
A0BA demon’s eye?DvFhe
M2DIf so, it explained how even a simple eye could emit such corruption.35q
kSAThe question was how a mere bookseller had it—and for what purpose he buried it here.0p21fM
9637KPThe answer was simple: because he was corrupt.Vq91iGO
PprU57O“Another bookstore. First last time, and now again. Is there a demon out there who just loves books?”YJHOR
ZNg“Aint, what do you think that was?”U4Nr
un1L“…Well, it looked like flesh, but if a single piece carried that much corruption, I’d say it was part of a demon.”Z7eCu
Vww12Mb“I think so too. I’ve fought plenty of monsters, and only demons leave no remains.”hkwQAqr
3BhYCoK“So that was a piece of a demon? Heavens…!”rIpg
er0Abel’s brief cry made Fernan pause the conversation.XAMbkA
9w30“That’s right. If not for this, the academy would have suffered another catastrophe. I thank you—it was thanks to you.”x569jL
cmzbvj“No, I just did what I had to. Though I never imagined it was a demon.”SY9EQ
jdPu“By the way, I want to examine your interior.”XtVV54
yt2J“…What?”72B
fbBThe comment caught Abel off guard.XQU
r0TZwoR“Isn’t it strange?”H0UNFY
E4vRumble. The ground rose, and stone walls blocked any possible escape for Abel Kalens.w8ZfLo
KazKu0L“Since you arrived, you’ve been hanging around me, and you’re the one bringing news about corruption and demons.”dqf3
TJQxzJS“That’s because my family isn’t wealthy, and I wanted to get close to you…”O1Xc4wo
OP2dah“That may be.”0zTX84
G5IQMHdFernan didn’t rule that out.J41X
VlkoWhich made the solution simple.Yrda26
4jZCJX“Let Aint examine your interior. If it’s proven you’re not corrupt, I’ll offer a formal apology.”vIuglEU
Ml67BA Pellenberg apology was never just words—it always included monetary compensation.Prkv
0nT“…But to examine someone else’s mana? Even if it’s you, that crosses a line!”YfN
L7PCfQR“Then answer this.”F9s
o7PihFernan curled his lip.KujED
mG1Pq“Why did you come to me?”gfaFN
l9a6wuQ“I…”7IY
w5R“If there are problems, you go to administration or a professor. But you came to me.”jNb9xf
upP6u71“Because you’ve achieved great merit against the corrupt, and…”QtMB9fx
dON7jDY“If that were true, you should have gone to Aint, not me.”CxVy7Y
PYqzNAlthough Fernan had been behind most of the incidents, he rarely showed himself publicly.pge
cfCPiYkUsually it was Aint or the Royal Knights who appeared.u9qE2Zv
akVbA regular student shouldn’t have known he was the true core.ZxE4LQk
OPN“And above all…”8atdxHh
CvmZllOFernan went silent. There was no need to say it.0RVOrB
RFyNdJThat Timon Baertz, who should’ve been corrupt, wasn’t; and that Abel Kalens, who shouldn’t be first in his class, was. All of it made him suspicious.aY9mu
Z1nDB“…I helped uncover a demon piece, and you still think I’m corrupt?”Ukf5
hLG3Yd“I hope you’re not. But that’s why I want to confirm it. And you should know: the longer the excuse, the more suspicious it sounds.”5TAo
IseXAt that moment—oWlan4Z
wmre“You’re right.”BfQpI
R6rFIyThe air around him changed.rcyF
PXRQp“And yet I can’t accept it. If that damned energy enters me, my insides will be destroyed.”PWf0Kjg
YiTJuPrfhfh. Abel let out a laugh. It was far from joyful—it was pure madness.HQ4qi3G
ONy“I already sacrificed a piece of demon. Then you should believe me! Why do you still doubt me so much?”0ch2
Q6uThe rage.ttyH
vXWKA burning heat exploded.GhH2As
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