Chapter 141

Despite the arrival of the foretold date, Frazia remained completely calm.

There was no sign of the corrupt, not even rumors of monsters.

“Are you sure about what you saw?”

“Are you implying that I was wrong?”

“No, I’m just saying, what if you fell asleep while reading the book of prophecies?”

“If you went through these headaches, you’d never say such nonsense.”

A few days passed, and Fernan had no choice but to admit it.

Unlike before, when the future changed little by little, now one of the major lines of destiny had been completely twisted.

“Where was the mistake?”

Fernan began reviewing everything from the most recent events.

That Aint exterminated the corrupt in Frazia was part of the original story, so that should be fine.

Then the next part.

“Was it because of Kimaris…?”

Kimaris and the monster army that tried to destroy Bercheff—or rather, who sought to recover the stolen egg.

They weren’t supposed to descend south at that time.

The book of prophecies didn’t even mention them yet.

The fact that Fernan ended up with Decarabia’s egg was what twisted the future.

“So, can I no longer trust the prophecy…?”

It hurt to accept it, but it was inevitable.

It made sense—if the future was changed again and again and yet everything happened the same, that would be what’s strange.

“Here, Hyde.”

“What’s this?”

“A notification that all the effort was in vain.”

Hyde, who understood who he had to deliver it to, asked again.

“Do I really have to go?”

“It’s someone to whom we must show at least that courtesy.”

“And my life doesn’t matter to you?”

“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.”

“You think that’ll be enough for him, especially since he didn’t take any other requests during this time?”

“That’s why I’ll give him a bonus.”

It hurt to part with that sum, but losing the Mercenary King’s trust would hurt more. Trust could also be bought with money.

“Understood. But tell me, I’ve been wondering—what is that bird? It’s not what I think it is, right?”

Hyde pointed to the Saintbird waddling around the office behind Wooden.

“His name is Silver.”

“You even gave it a name?”

“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?”

“Really improvised… but is it really a Saintbird? Where did you get it?”

The legendary winged spirit had left Hyde speechless.

“I got it from Aint.”

When he heard the full story, Hyde let out a disbelieving laugh.

“Aint Armian must’ve had quite a stomachache over that.”

“With everything I’ve already given him, I can well keep this.”

“Well, looked at that way, it makes sense.”

“Anyway, go already.”

“But if I go, what will you do without Wooden by your side as a guard?”

It 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.

“It doesn’t matter. If I leave the academy, it’s different, but nothing serious should happen while I’m here.”

“Still, it leaves me uneasy—you attract too much trouble.”

“If someone hears that, they’ll think I go looking for it myself.”

Fernan snorted mockingly.

“And the corrupt that were in the research building, what about that?”

“It’s an order.”

“…Alright. I’ll go and come back as quickly as possible.”

Hyde sighed in resignation and left.

***

While life at the academy continued peacefully, two changes came to Fernan’s routine.

“Senior.”

The first was that Aint Armian began visiting him every day.

It 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.

‘I hope it doesn’t change owners under the influence of the Armian bloodline.’

It 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.

At least he was thankful that the little bird still looked at him as if he were its true father.

“So even you can make mistakes, Senior.”

“I don’t know everything. I suppose what happened at Bercheff made those bastards hide for a while.”

“Or maybe it was because I and the others made too much noise in Frazia.”

“That’s possible too.”

Either way, not everything was bad.

“I didn’t think I’d hear you say something like that.”

“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.”

“I don’t think so. The Armians have nothing. And besides, what if Schwaben…?”

Speaking with Aint daily allowed them to grow closer.

“You mean they might have the Armian secret swordsmanship?”

“You already knew?”

“It was obvious. They’re not stupid—they wouldn’t try to kill someone essential without having an ace up their sleeve.”

“And yet you still say the Armians are the real deal?”

“Precisely because of that. Thieves will never be able to truly master it.”

That allowed Fernan to strengthen ties with Aint, both as an ally against demons and in his role of support for House Armian.

Valuable, meaningful time.

“Senior.”

The second change was also someone’s visit—but not as pleasant as Aint’s.

Every time Abel Kalens, the first-place student in the first-year Magic Department, ran into him, he would appear with a book in hand.

It wasn’t frequent, but every encounter was annoying.

Fernan liked being around the talented, but after Aaron’s betrayal, he was wary of those without solid backing.

And he still hadn’t received a full report on him from the Golden Pillar.

“What is it?”

“Nothing, we just ran into each other by chance. I came to say hello.”

That was the problem—there were too many “coincidences” for his liking.

Until one day, Abel said something unexpected.

“Ah, Senior. I discovered something strange.”

“Something strange?”

“I don’t know if I should say it…”

“If you don’t want to, don’t.”

“Wait, I’ll say it.”

What 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.

“The forest?”

“Yes. The southern forest.”

“Did you follow him?”

“It seemed strange, so yes. And I saw him dig a hole in a clearing and bury what he was carrying in the cart.”

“What was he carrying?”

“It looked like a box, but I’m not sure. His perception was stronger than I thought and he almost noticed me.”

Abel explained that he fled immediately.

“And how did you get into the forest? Weren’t there guards?”

If 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.

“I did run into a guard. But he looked me in the eyes, froze, and then walked away like nothing happened.”

“…Just like that?”

Aint recalled when Aria and Verian fell under mental magic and the branches of the World Tree were corrupted.

“Where was this?”

“If you want, I can guide you.”

“Wait. There’s someone else who should come.”

After a moment’s thought, Fernan brought Aint along.

“Let’s go.”

“What’s going on all of a sudden? And him?”

“It’s an honor to meet you, Senior Aint. I’m Abel Kalens.”

The three arrived at the southern forest. Thanks to Fernan’s measures, no guards appeared.

“It’s here.”

“Aint, feel anything?”

“Not yet…”

Fernan began to dig with magic. About ten meters underground, he noticed something odd.

“This is…”

Lack of mana. It reminded him of Bercheff.

That underground space where he found Decarabia’s egg. Much weaker, of course, but the sensation was the same.

“Aint, the earth is contaminated.”

“Really?”

As Fernan said, the underground soil was blackened.

A faint demonic energy emanated from the place. And in the center, a small box.

Click. They opened the box cautiously, and a sinister aura escaped. Inside, something black squirmed.

“…What is this?”

“A terrible miasma…”

“An… eye?”

It wasn’t a piece of flesh. It was a moving eyeball, and they could clearly feel its gaze.

The moment they made eye contact, Fernan felt his mind being invaded, and his mana stirred.

“Aint, destroy it. Now.”

“Yes!”

Aint unsheathed his sword. The holy light drove out the corruption and asserted its power.

───!

The light sliced through the darkness.

The eye resisted, but couldn’t withstand the punishment.

Shattered fragments thrashed like screams, until they turned to dust.

…Dust?

Fernan knew that only demons left behind nothing—not even a corpse.

‘Then was it…?’

A demon’s eye?

If so, it explained how even a simple eye could emit such corruption.

The question was how a mere bookseller had it—and for what purpose he buried it here.

The answer was simple: because he was corrupt.

“Another bookstore. First last time, and now again. Is there a demon out there who just loves books?”

“Aint, what do you think that was?”

“…Well, it looked like flesh, but if a single piece carried that much corruption, I’d say it was part of a demon.”

“I think so too. I’ve fought plenty of monsters, and only demons leave no remains.”

“So that was a piece of a demon? Heavens…!”

Abel’s brief cry made Fernan pause the conversation.

“That’s right. If not for this, the academy would have suffered another catastrophe. I thank you—it was thanks to you.”

“No, I just did what I had to. Though I never imagined it was a demon.”

“By the way, I want to examine your interior.”

“…What?”

The comment caught Abel off guard.

“Isn’t it strange?”

Rumble. The ground rose, and stone walls blocked any possible escape for Abel Kalens.

“Since you arrived, you’ve been hanging around me, and you’re the one bringing news about corruption and demons.”

“That’s because my family isn’t wealthy, and I wanted to get close to you…”

“That may be.”

Fernan didn’t rule that out.

Which made the solution simple.

“Let Aint examine your interior. If it’s proven you’re not corrupt, I’ll offer a formal apology.”

A Pellenberg apology was never just words—it always included monetary compensation.

“…But to examine someone else’s mana? Even if it’s you, that crosses a line!”

“Then answer this.”

Fernan curled his lip.

“Why did you come to me?”

“I…”

“If there are problems, you go to administration or a professor. But you came to me.”

“Because you’ve achieved great merit against the corrupt, and…”

“If that were true, you should have gone to Aint, not me.”

Although Fernan had been behind most of the incidents, he rarely showed himself publicly.

Usually it was Aint or the Royal Knights who appeared.

A regular student shouldn’t have known he was the true core.

“And above all…”

Fernan went silent. There was no need to say it.

That 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.

“…I helped uncover a demon piece, and you still think I’m corrupt?”

“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.”

At that moment—

“You’re right.”

The air around him changed.

“And yet I can’t accept it. If that damned energy enters me, my insides will be destroyed.”

Prfhfh. Abel let out a laugh. It was far from joyful—it was pure madness.

“I already sacrificed a piece of demon. Then you should believe me! Why do you still doubt me so much?”

The rage.

A burning heat exploded.