Chapter 159

The grand and majestic hall was packed.

The seats were completely occupied by spectators who didn’t take their eyes off the same place—the stage, where a mage received all that attention with a slight bow of her head.

“…That would be all.”

With a snap of her fingers, Rosalia made the gigantic set of magic stones disappear into its case.

“…Ah…”

Sighs of disappointment echoed from all directions.

It was the clearest proof that her presentation had been perfect.

Clap, clap, clap.

The silence was immediately replaced by a thunderous ovation.

“I can’t believe something like that is even possible!”

“How many magic stones are woven together in there?”

“Good thing they resumed the continental conference! We almost missed it!”

“This is a discovery of the century! Magic has taken another leap forward!”

“Just a little more, please, show us more!”

“I want to invest!”

Rosalia stepped down from the stage without responding to any of them, brushing aside the dozens of attempts to stop her.

“I don’t accept additional investments.”

Generally, mages presented their research at the Continental Conference for two reasons.

To gain prestige.

Or to secure investments.

Though essentially, both boiled down to the same thing—without reputation, no one would invest.

Due to the high cost of magical research, few could continue their studies without support.

Some were born wealthy; others became professors at the academy or were funded by the Cult of the Dragon God; others, by nobles or merchants.

But since both the academy and the cult had limited spots, most could only opt for that last option.

And for them, the Continental Conference was the ideal stage to present themselves to the world.

However, Rosalia’s case was different.

She already had the financial backing of Fernan.

And he didn’t want her to accept any more investors.

What Rosalia sought was prestige—but not to make money. Her reason was far more personal.

For her, fame was merely a tool to reach her true goal.

“Well done.”

“It was nothing, my lord.”

The researcher who had shaken the hall with her presentation now sat in a luxurious office, across from the patriarch of Pellenberg.

Not even the imposing gaze of the giant who ruled the family made her flinch.

“Do you want to read it? It’s tomorrow’s newspaper.”

[Discovery of the Century! Rosalia Vienderk develops semi-permanent magic stone… shakes the Continental Conference!]

[Duke Yvon Pellenberg: “The combination of magic stones has great potential and will affect many industries.”]

[High efficiency! Rosalia’s magic stone convinces everyone!]

Rosalia read the headline and let out a small laugh.

“Not bad.”

“I plan to support you to the fullest. In return, Golden Turtle will have commercial rights over your research.”

“Fernan already explained it to me. I’ll also give it my best.”

Fernan had already laid out the full commercial plan to exploit the use of her discoveries through Golden Turtle.

In return, Duke Yvon would use the power of the Pellenberg family to support Rosalia’s academic career.

“But I’m not interested in the wealth it might generate.”

She had invested years into her research on compound magic stones, but in reality, the object itself didn’t matter much to her.

Nor who used it, nor who benefited.

What truly mattered was the prestige—and the achievements—that would allow her to fulfill her real goal.

“I asked Fernan for something.”

“I know.”

Yvon gently drummed the table.

“Becoming a senior professor won’t be difficult.”

After such a presentation, it would be a disgrace to Pellenberg not to do so.

“The problem is what comes after.”

What lay above the position of senior professor.

A place not just anyone could aim for.

“You need experience, reputation, and skill. In the long term, you’ll definitely get there.”

“But I want it as soon as possible. That’s why I agreed to work with Fernan.”

“Yes, that’s what I was told.”

Then there was only one path.

“You must build a tower of accomplishments that no one can question.”

Which meant—

“First, you must become an Archmage.”

An Archmage—one of the ten greatest mages on the continent, appointed directly by the Pope of the Cult of the Dragon God.

“Do you think you can do it?”

“If necessary, of course I’ll achieve it.”

In fact, she had recently reached a small milestone.

Rosalia nodded calmly.

***

“…And this all of a sudden?”

Aint quickly dried off and came out after showering.

He had been training and was now in the reception room of Ravidus Hall.

This time, he wasn’t there as a visitor but as the host.

And that felt strange.

“Aria?”

But the person who had called him didn’t say anything.

She had her head down.

What was going on?

“What is it, Aria?”

Aria lifted her face.

Her expression, once serious, now bore a smile as if nothing had happened.

“This?”

It was a newspaper.

[Throughout the Elector Princes’ meeting, Fridian was constantly ignored…]

An article about Fridian.

“They scorned us even at the princes’ meeting…”

“…Ah.”

Aint didn’t know what to say.

Any words would sound hollow.

“I expected it. What they’ve done to us until now wasn’t going to change in a day. But I didn’t think they’d ignore us so much that we’d end up in the newspaper.”

Aria pursed her lips.

Aint lowered his head even more.

“……”

“……”

The silence grew heavy, until Aint spoke, cautiously.

“…Are you okay?”

“Of course. I’m fine.”

She smiled even more.

“I already told you I expected it. It’s not the first time.”

Her words were different than before.

“That’s why I came to see you.”

“To me?”

“Yes. Seeing you calms me down.”

When the war against the demons begins, Aint will become a hero.

Armian will rise again.

But will the balance of power in the empire remain the same?

No. When the powerful change, everything shakes.

And that will be Fridian’s great opportunity.

“Aint.”

“Yes?”

“We’re friends, right?”

“Friends?”

“I want to help you with everything I’ve got.”

“…Thank you.”

“So don’t forget me, okay?”

“Huh?”

That was the reason Aria had come to see him as soon as she read the news.

She wanted to make sure she was on the right path.

And—

‘If my brother sees this article…’

She’d feel even more insecure if she didn’t do something.

That’s why Aria smiled more brightly than ever.

***

[Golden Turtle signs cooperation contract with Rosalia Vienderk.]

A few days after Professor Rosalia presented her research at the Continental Research Conference, her father officially announced the acquisition of exploitation rights over her project.

“I hear it, Hyde. I hear it clearly.”

“You mean the sound of money?”

“No… the sound of waves of money approaching!”

With Aint’s money, Fernan had placed shackles on Aint himself.

And after years of investment, the results were finally beginning to show.

If only every day were like this.

“But there’s something more important in the paper.”

“Nothing is more important than making money. After living for years as a Pellenberg, don’t you know your priorities?”

[The Elector Princes’ meeting concluded yesterday. No visible achievements were made.]

Though Fernan wasn’t entirely wrong, the headline that came right after the business announcement was, indeed, about the meeting of the Elector Princes.

And just as Fernan had predicted, everything unfolded according to his analysis.

With the future where Kimaris and Decarabia destroyed the empire now erased, the Elector Princes had lost focus and became entangled in internal conflicts.

As expected, no concrete agreement was reached. Only a vague consensus: we must form an alliance.

“Looks like coordinating everything will still take time. Hopefully, the corrupt won’t make a move in the meantime.”

“If they stayed still, they wouldn’t be demons.”

“You’re right.”

However, as if most of their plans had been thwarted, the demons’ movements were surprisingly scarce.

Aside from two more infiltration attempts at the academy before the end of the first semester, nothing significant happened.

The prophecies had also changed.

[Formation of a continental alliance between the Empire and the Ten Kingdoms!]

[The alliance will continue until the demons are completely eradicated.]

“An alliance led by Schwaben was finally established.”

— After the fall of Bercheff, Schwaben became the new frontline. They had no choice but to act.

“If only this had happened from the start…”

But now, Bercheff hadn’t fallen.

Schwaben wasn’t under pressure, and the frontal threat had been avoided.

[A revolution breaks out in the Kingdom of Esrin, which borders the Altrierc frontier county, separated by a lake.

A new king has taken the throne.]

Aint’s expression hardened as he read that news.

During the revolution, there had been rumors that monsters had ravaged part of the kingdom.

“Were the corrupt involved?”

— It can’t be ruled out.

But beyond suspicion, there was nothing they could do at the moment.

Even so, those predictions no longer carried much weight.

In this changed future—

Bercheff had not been destroyed, so Schwaben didn’t feel threatened.

In Valerich, no demon had descended, so the crown prince of Esrin didn’t die and there was no revolution.

‘But that doesn’t mean they’re useless.’

Although those were the main threats that had been removed, they weren’t the only useful entries in the prophecy book.

Locations of minor elixirs.

Locations of small mineral veins.

Locations of ancient relics of the First Emperor.

And much other “minor” information useful for making money kept Fernan quite busy.

Thus passed the calmest days since he obtained the book.

***

“The final exam is over!”

“Hooray! Break time starts!”

“Wow, Fernan’s back to number one again.”

“Luina’s a monster. Even Almon can’t beat her…”

[Magic Department Rankings – Year 3, 1st Semester]

[First Place – Fernan Pellenberg

Second – Ludger Schwaben

Third – Carlo Deneb…]

[Knight Department Rankings – Year 3, 1st Semester]

[First Place – Luina Bercheff

Second – Almon Donertz

Third – Alia…]

Fernan reclaimed the top spot thanks to his written exams—and thanks to Luina, who carried him to the top.

Thus ended the first semester of the third year.

And the summer break began.

***

“…Again.”

[Magic Department Rankings – Year 3, 1st Semester]

[First Place – Fernan Pellenberg

Second – Ludger Schwaben

Third – Carlo Deneb…]

Carlo had to hold back the urge to smash the bulletin board.

This time, he hadn’t just lost to Fernan—Ludger had surpassed him too.

‘Why?’

He knew the reason. In terms of pure magical talent, he was the best of the three.

And yet, he was in third place.

All because of the assigned partners.

Luina Bercheff had become even more monstrous upon reaching her third year.

Almon, though not on Luina’s level, had also improved significantly.

And Ludger, for some reason, seemed to be at his peak.

His skill had risen to the point of catching up to Carlo.

Carlo was a brilliant mage.

His goal had always been to become an Archmage.

And every Archmage who had graduated from the academy had never lost the top spot while they were there.

“…I can’t go on like this.”

His determination to reclaim first place with pride had vanished.

Only anxiety remained.