Chapter 149

After the Masked Club ball, the Academy was in an uproar.

“Did you hear the news? They say a Saintbird appeared.”

“I heard Aint Armian is raising it.”

“What? Where did he get a Saintbird? And is that even something you can tame?”

“From what I know, it’s something Armian used to raise generation after generation. There are records saying the First Emperor rode the Saintbird to behead demons.”

Aint had merely had it perched on his shoulder while enjoying the ball, but to those watching, that couldn’t be seen as a simple eccentricity of wearing a bird on his shoulder.

“Could it be that Armian is finally breaking its silence?”

“If not, then why reveal the Saintbird they’d kept hidden?”

“The timing is perfect. Aint Armian caught the corrupted who ruined the Continental Academic Congress, and a demon descended in Bercheff. And now he’s showing the Saintbird? That’s totally intentional.”

No one thought this was a personal decision by Aint.

They saw it as a calculated move by House Armian.

As if the appearance of demons signaled the awakening of a hero.

Everyone believed that, at last, Armian was returning to the main stage.

It was exactly what Fernan had planned.

The rumor of Aint Armian and the Saintbird spread not only through the Academy but across the entire continent, drawing a wave of inquiries and visitors to the island.

Of course, not all reactions were positive.

“Sorry, all this is my fault…”

“No, you don’t need to apologize.”

Although, in truth, it was. The headmaster corrected his words.

“You know what’s happening? The entire continent’s attention is focused on the Academy. Letters arrive nonstop every day, and many even come in person.”

That’s why the headmaster decided to temporarily close the Academy to outsiders—the island was on the verge of overflowing.

“I figured as much.”

“So, where did the Saintbird come from? No, forget the question. I’m sure it was something Armian had been hiding.”

The headmaster sighed. Aint, who didn’t see the need to explain how he had obtained it, let him assume what he wanted.

“To be honest, showing the Saintbird is your right, I won’t blame you. But what will you do about Schwaben? You know this is practically a declaration of war, don’t you?”

“Yes. I’m aware of that.”

As strange as it seemed, Schwaben remained silent, but Aint knew they wouldn’t stay that way for long.

Demons, Armian, and now the Saintbird.

Public opinion across the continent was heating up, favoring Armian and weakening Schwaben.

“From what I see, Fernan has convinced you quite well.”

“Pardon?”

“Don’t act so surprised. Most people at the Academy know that Fernan is the one holding up the ground beneath your feet.”

They had shared too much for it to remain hidden.

Aint knew this, but hadn’t expected the headmaster to state it so openly, and was slightly taken aback.

“To be honest, I don’t care in the slightest. Whether you ally with Pellenberg or whether Armian and Schwaben fight over the throne means nothing to me.”

The headmaster had no ambition for power. Even though the position of Academy Rector was significant, he didn’t care about that.

“You can conspire with Fernan if you want, but keep one thing very clear.”

Inside the Academy—

“If that causes trouble, it won’t be to your benefit.”

Whether it was Armian or Schwaben.

“This is the Academy—a place for students to learn. Don’t forget what this place means.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

Faced with his cold gaze, Aint nodded without realizing it.

— It’s been a thousand years, but an Archmage is still an Archmage.

— I thought peace might have weakened them compared to a thousand years ago, but I was wrong.

“I have no intention of causing trouble in the Academy either. I just want to study here in peace.”

“Good. I’m glad we agree on that.”

The headmaster smiled and took a sip of tea.

“Now let’s get to the main matter.”

“Wasn’t that the main topic already?”

“What I said before was just a warning—not to cause trouble in my territory. If that had been the main topic, I would’ve summoned Fernan, not you.”

The serious part began now.

“As you know, after the appearance of Andromalius, I turned the Academy upside down. I caught exactly thirteen corrupted.”

“Yes.”

“But shortly afterward, another appeared. And with a serious problem to boot.”

He was referring to Aaron, who had hidden in Professor Rosalia’s lab, having planted nothing less than a demon seed in her research.

If Fernan hadn’t discovered it in time, it was terrifying to imagine what might’ve happened.

— Most likely, a demon would have descended during the Continental Academic Congress.

— And then countless attendees would have died.

— And someone would’ve had to take responsibility.

It would’ve been a disaster. Stopping it in time had been a stroke of luck.

“And now, another has appeared.”

“You mean Abel.”

“Exactly.”

The headmaster’s brow furrowed.

“It was absurd. In Aaron’s case, I thought that after a thorough purge, there was nothing left, and I let my guard down. But Abel’s case is different, don’t you think?”

After Aaron, the headmaster had secretly investigated the Academy again, looking for corrupted.

He found none, so he thought they were clean. And just then, another incident exploded.

“It wasn’t someone already inside the Academy—it was a new student.”

“Then we should’ve blocked their admission.”

“If they managed to infiltrate even without my intervention… shouldn’t we question the Academy’s own capabilities?”

It wasn’t clear if the corrupted were too clever, or if the Academy was simply incompetent.

The headmaster, however, leaned toward the latter.

After all, the breach existed—and that was shameful.

“That’s why I want to ask you something.”

“What is it?”

“No matter how capable I am, it seems I can’t match you in detecting corrupted or demons.”

The headmaster admitted his limits.

“So help me. Let’s make this Academy a place pure of corruption.”

He asked for his cooperation.

“Of course, I’ll reward you properly. I’m an old man, but I’ve accumulated enough wealth over the years.”

“That means…”

“These are things I won’t need once I’m gone. But if you’re planning to rebuild Armian, they could be very useful to you, don’t you think?”

The headmaster let out a calm chuckle.

If Fernan had heard it, he might’ve gotten quite the scare.

***

Meanwhile, Fernan was alone with Professor Rosalia in her office.

“You’ve been coming a lot lately.”

“That’s because I bring news. Something you’ll find interesting, Professor.”

Fernan pulled out a letter.

“It arrived this morning from my father.”

“From Duke Yvon?”

“…”

Rosalia’s eyes sparkled as she read the contents. Fernan was right—that letter contained something that intrigued her.

“They’re going to hold the ruined Continental Academic Congress again?”

“The location will be the same, Valerich, and the date is in two weeks…”

The continent was still in chaos after the corrupted uprisings and the descent of demons.

Even so, Vienderk wanting to resume the congress so soon was to show that they still stood tall.

They wanted to erase the stain of the previous failure and restore their pride by holding it without incident.

“If what the letter says is true, the seven electors of the Empire have given their approval. The Congress will happen no matter what.”

But for most electors—except Vienderk or Pellenberg—the real goal wasn’t the congress itself.

It was just a pretext, a starting point.

“All the electors or their delegates will attend. There, for the first time officially, they’ll talk about the demons.”

Alongside the imperial electors, the powerful figures of each nation were also invited.

Thus, the Congress would become the first forum where the relationship between humanity and demons would be discussed.

If the talks failed, it would be a disaster. But if successful, a Continental Union could be born.

“And if your research is presented at that historic moment, Professor, it will be recorded in history.”

“Won’t it get lost among everything else?”

“My role is to make sure it doesn’t go unnoticed.”

“In any case, it benefits me to publish it as soon as possible. If you say so…”

At that moment, Rosalia’s voice faded.

Nothing special had happened.

It was simply that, as always, the vision of the prophecy came with a sharp headache.

Fernan, enduring the pain, kept a composed expression as he pretended to listen.

The book of prophecy opened.

[“They say a meeting of electors will be held in Vienderk.”

Aint closed the newspaper.

— After Seir descended during the Congress, Vienderk should have been left in ruins, even if they survived.

— They’ll try to make up for their mistake somehow, and that meeting of electors is their plan.

In a place stained by blood and disgrace, they’ll take the first step toward human unity. That’s what Vienderk seeks.]

‘A meeting of electors?’

It wasn’t very different from the future he knew.

The only difference was whether Seir had been summoned or not—and the scale of the damage.

In the original future, with such devastation, no one would have dared mention a “Congress,” but now the course had changed.

[“All attention is focused on Valerich.”

To the report from the shadow, the man nodded.

“With Seir’s descent, everyone already feels the imminence of war against us.”

Just like a thousand years ago, humanity will inevitably form a union.

The most we can do is delay it a bit, but stopping it is impossible.

That’s why the corrupted and demons chose a different path.

“Even if this increases their sense of crisis, it doesn’t matter.”

“In return, we’ll erase Bercheff.”]

That unknown presence appeared again. Their plans were disasters that, if fulfilled, had to be stopped at all costs.

[“T-The magical beasts…!”

“It’s a demon! A demon has descended!”

“Hold the line! If we falter, we all die. Buy time so your families can escape!”

Tens of thousands of magical beasts.

“Keuhuhuhu, how long it’s been since I breathed the air of the mid-world.”

“Don’t get cocky, Decarabia.”

“Mind your own business.”

And two demons.

The legion they brought mercilessly ravaged Bercheff.]

The vision showed a destroyed Bercheff.

[“Father!”

“Run, Luina. Take care of our people. From now on, you’re the head of Bercheff.”

“Father, come with me…!”

“There are two demons. Someone has to stay behind to stop them, or the people won’t be able to escape. And in Bercheff, aside from me, there’s no one strong enough.”

Knights of the count! Soldiers!

“Give me your lives! Die for Bercheff! But you won’t be alone. I’ll fight with you until the very end.”

“With pleasure!”

“Long live the border count!”

“Long live Bercheff!”

The border count charged with five thousand men against the hordes.

They knew they were going to die, but no one retreated.

“Father…!”

“My lady, we must go. If we don’t, they’ll have died in vain. We must reach Ashdov County.”

Aint cleared the way with his holy light.]

The count, leaving only a small escort with Luina, led the final legion against the demons.

Thanks to his sacrifice, the refugees made it to Ashdov County.

‘In the original story, did Fernan also ally with Aint?’

Ashdov was a Pellenberg territory, full of merchant and warships from the Golden Turtle Company.

‘Did they expel me from the family, and to prove their innocence, they cooperated with Aint? Well, it was the safest move.’

[“…What was the Empire doing? We protected it for a thousand years! And when we were in danger, where were they?”

While tens of thousands of beasts and demons devastated Bercheff, the Empire didn’t lift a finger.

On the ship bound for the Pandrein continent, Luina fell unconscious and awoke again and again.

One day before arriving, under the full moon’s light, she stepped out on deck.

“Senior…”

Her face was pale and haggard, but her eyes were darker than ever.

“Aint. You’ll fight the demons to the very end, right?”

“Of course. Demons are invaders who cannot coexist with humanity. I’ll exterminate them all to the last.”

“…Then I’ll be your sword.”

She murmured calmly.

“I’ll cut down all your enemies.”

Though quiet, Aint felt a chill.

“So kill them all.”

She unsheathed her sword.

“Behead them to the last. And at that final moment…”

She offered the sword.

“I’ll be at your side.”

From Luina’s eyes, tears of blood flowed.]

There were more prophecies—electors rushing the union in the face of the demon threat, aid destined for ruined Bercheff, and so on. But Fernan paid them little attention.

‘In the original story, did Luina end up like that…?’

The image of Luina Bercheff swearing vengeance with tears of blood chilled him.

But he brushed it off right away. After all, those were things that would no longer happen.

In fact, that thought reassured him.

“What is it?”

“Nothing. I just think I definitely should attend the Congress.”

Fernan shook his head at Rosalia’s words, though he couldn’t stop the slight curve of his lips.

“You’re hiding something.”

“No, I was just imagining how much money your research’s publication will generate.”

“…Didn’t sound like that.”

“It is.”

‘They’ll try to destroy Bercheff while everyone’s at the Electors’ Congress?’

Let them try, if they can.

‘With Kimaris and Decarabia dead, what do they have left?’

Since he started having visions, he had never felt so at peace.