Chapter 166

“…It’s not a bad idea.”

After finishing his conversation with Adolf, Count Daniel Kool returned to his tent and fell deep into thought.

Casting hypnosis on Fernan Pellenberg was an excessively risky move, but if it worked, it would be a masterstroke.

The heir of the Pellenbergs. The hero who, alongside Aint, had eliminated countless Corrupteds.

If he managed to place a hypnosis spell on him and turn him into a spy, the summoning of the demons would accelerate even more.

“Above all, the location is perfect…”

Under normal conditions, at the Academy, he would never have dared attempt it.

Fernan was always surrounded by powerful escorts.

But now it was different—the one leading those escorts was Adolf Fridian, and Adolf was on his side.

“This is the moment. I myself served liquor to everyone, and now they’re relaxed.”

It was the ideal opportunity to seize Fernan’s mind—perhaps one that would not come again.

“Let’s see…”

Count Daniel pulled out a book from his chest that he had kept hidden.

Casting hypnosis wasn’t easy. The stronger the person, the more solid their mental walls; in someone of Fernan’s level, it was normally nearly impossible.

But with the power of that book, it wasn’t entirely so. In exchange, much of the grimoire would burn, but it was worth it.

“Count Daniel.”

Someone called from outside.

“Young Fernan?”

“Is something wrong? I saw you enter in such a hurry…”

“It’s nothing. The atmosphere was lively, and I fancied a good whisky.”

The Count pulled out a bottle and opened the tent.

“What a coincidence. Would you like to drink with me in my tent?”

“Arbang from the year 55… A great liquor. How could I turn down a free glass?”

Fernan entered smiling. Daniel poured whisky into the glasses, adding ice created with magic.

“The aroma is excellent.”

“It’s top-tier liquor, naturally.”

They clinked glasses with a soft chime.

Daniel tapped his glass with his fingers.

“What do you think?”

“Magnificent. Being friends with a distillery owner has its perks.”

“Jaja, but you can get anything you want.”

“Free always tastes better.”

Fernan smiled.

“Another glass?”

“Please.”

While serving more liquor, Daniel dropped the book on the floor as if by accident.

“Ah, clumsy me. Did I splash you?”

“No, I’m fine. Though, what kind of book is that? The binding looks rather old.”

“Would you like to see it?”

“May I?”

“It’s just a common book.”

Fernan opened it.

“Doesn’t look like anything…”

At that moment, his eyes clouded, and his body froze.

Five seconds passed.

“Thank goodness—he has many artifacts, but none for mental defense.”

If he had, the effect would have dissipated instantly.

Convinced he could proceed, the Count recited a spell.

Black flames rose. The book burned while a dark, subtle magic seeped into Fernan’s body.

Some time passed.

“…Not easy at all.”

Daniel’s clothes were soaked in sweat.

The pages kept burning in the dark fire.

“Fernan Pellenberg, you saw nothing. You heard nothing. Adolf Fridian has no relation whatsoever to the Corrupteds.”

Even so, he smiled.

“You saw nothing… You heard nothing… Adolf Fridian is not a Corrupted…”

The hypnosis had worked.

The grimoire was half-destroyed, and the effect was limited to a small hypnosis, but it was enough.

“Who heard what Jeffrey said?”

“Me, Aria, Gismond, Hyde…”

“Bring Aria and Gismond here.”

“…Aria, Hyde, and Gismond… I’ll bring them.”

Aria entered first.

“Senior? Why is Count Daniel…?”

“Ah, Lady Aria, I thought I’d share a fine liquor with someone special.”

“The senior wanted to drink with me? He’s finally making connections…!”

Daniel opened the book in front of her eyes. Aria’s gaze turned glassy.

“Did you call me, young master?”

Then Hyde entered.

“Drinking together? I’m curious. What kind of liquor do wealthy nobles drink…?”

Lastly, Gismond Ert.

“…What is this?”

The Count’s expression tightened as he tried to ensnare him too.

“What kind of mana is this…?”

The strength of a mental wall didn’t depend solely on the amount of mana, but it did influence.

And Gismond’s was even more resistant than Aria Fridian’s.

“…I’ll have to burn the whole book.”

Finally, the grimoire was completely consumed.

At least he had achieved his goal—planting the seed to continuously use Fernan Pellenberg.

***

Upon waking, Fernan felt like his head was going to explode.

What had he done last night?

He drank with Count Daniel, yes. Before that, he accepted every drink offered by Aria.

‘It’s not like me to drink that much.’

And before that…

‘What did I do?’

He had found the dwarves.

He had secured a one-week deadline to return with evidence.

After that…

‘After that… what happened?’

Nothing in particular. Clearly, Jeffrey had been mistaken.

They had simply unjustly suspected an elf.

“Young master, are you awake?”

“Yes.”

Hyde entered.

“Do you feel better?”

“I feel like my head’s going to split.”

“You drank too much last night—it’s normal.”

“I drank that much?”

“You drank for hours with Count Daniel. You even called Lady Aria and Gismond, and insisted I join…”

“Enough.”

Last night, he had drunk like a man possessed.

“Nothing strange happened, right?”

“Nothing. By the way, what do you plan to do now? Adolf Fridian turned out not to be a Corrupted after all.”

“I’m thinking about it.”

“Already have an answer?”

“I’ll send a letter to the Marquis saying it was a simple misunderstanding. I need to close this quickly.”

Normally, he would’ve tried to buy time and gain an advantage.

“But the dwarven city is more urgent.”

Because there, it wasn’t just Corrupteds—there was a high chance a demon would be summoned.

“Understood. Here, young master, honey water.”

The warm sweetness eased his discomfort slightly.

“I also brought water to wash up.”

“Thanks.”

Fernan rolled up his sleeves and began washing his face.

Once.

Twice.

And on the third time.

“……?”

His movements slowed down.

“Young master? What’s wrong?”

Hyde, noticing something odd, asked, but got no response.

At that very moment, Fernan plunged his head completely into the washbasin.

“Young master!?”

Hyde panicked, but Fernan, without lifting his face from the water, waved his hand to signal he was okay.

And after a moment—

“…Those insects dared cast hypnosis on me.”

“Hypnosis? What do you mean?”

“Hyde. Stay still.”

Fernan approached with long strides and dunked Hyde’s head into the same water.

He looked up.

“Indeed, just as the young master said. Preparing the water as holy water in advance was the right call.”

His eyes shone coldly.

“Now I’ll kill everyone who dared go against you…”

“Don’t. I let myself get caught on purpose.”

Fernan had worn Wooden and the bracelet that strengthened his mental barrier just in time.

Thanks to what had happened, he had obtained very valuable information.

“That book…”

The very same one with nothing written in it. It undoubtedly hid something.

The same thing had happened with that Corrupted they’d seen alongside Professor Rosalia—Daniel Kool had also amplified dark magic through a book.

“But it had nothing written inside.”

What Rosalia had said about blank pages was true.

A grimoire should emanate the energy it contains, but in this case, nothing could be sensed until the Corrupteds invoked their magic.

“…Next time, I’ll get it—no matter what.”

If he could discover the principle behind how it enhanced the power of the Corrupteds, he could prepare more effectively for the future.

He might even be able to create a new artifact.

“I’ll write a letter right now. Send it to the marquis.”

Fernan put on his cloak.

“Where are you going, young master?”

“I’ll tell Adolf Fridian there are no profitable resources here and that I’m pulling out.”

That way, during the remaining days, he would ease his enemies’ minds and secure the path back to the dwarven city.

“And what about Aria and Gismond?”

“Leave them for now. We’ll have a chance to free them later.”

“Understood. I won’t give away anything.”

“Good.”

Fernan and Hyde left the tent.

***

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

“It was a pleasure having you here.”

At dawn, Count Daniel Kool departed.

In just four days, it was enough to shut down the camp under the pretense that there were no exploitable resources.

“I’m very grateful for all your time. It was a big help.”

“I was just doing my duty. It’s a shame—I was hoping for a good mine.”

“It’s not that there wasn’t one, just not profitable enough. Extracting from pure rock takes too much money.”

With Adolf Fridian’s withdrawal, the knights and spiritists returned to their respective posts.

“What a relief that Adolf oppa had no ties to the Corrupteds.”

“Yes, a relief.”

“I’m planning to stay at the family estate until the break ends. I want to keep studying spiritism. What about you, senior?”

“Good idea. I’ll go back to the Academy.”

“Thanks for helping me!”

“It wasn’t for free. Send me the agreed payment. If you try to dodge it with just words, I’ll show you how effective the Pellenberg collectors are.”

“…Fine, fine.”

In the end, Aria handed over licenses and exploitation rights on her lands as payment.

After that, they parted ways.

But—

“…Where are we going? This isn’t the way to the Academy.”

“Just follow me.”

Fernan wasn’t heading to the Academy.

“Isn’t this the exploration site? Don’t tell me we’re going where I think we are…”

“Probably.”

Together with Gismond and Hyde, he arrived at the agreed location with Ahgrot.

“You’re late!”

“At least you’re still here. I thought you’d left.”

“The deadline was one week, and ten days have passed!”

Despite the deadline passing, Ahgrot was still waiting.

“I had my own matters to handle.”

“The mayor will be furious—ugh, I was planning to wait only until tomorrow, then leave.”

“In that case, I would’ve dug my way in myself.”

The location of the dwarven city was etched into Fernan’s memory.

The dwarves thought they had hidden it with labyrinthine tunnels, but Fernan was a great earth mage.

Once he stepped on land and smelled money, he never forgot it.

“…How can you say that so casually?”

“Enough, guide us inside.”

“And why are there more people? I told you you couldn’t tell anyone!”

“They’re not just anyone. One’s my trusted aide, the other is my senior at the Academy.”

“But…!”

Ahgrot was angry.

“If the mayor finds out, he’ll be furious!”

“Convincing the mayor is my problem. You just guide us.”

Faced with Fernan’s insistence, Ahgrot had to give in.

“…Fine. But for the record, I objected.”

“Perfect. Ah, and from now on, Gismond senior is your senior too, so treat him with respect.”

“Hold on, I never agreed to join the Academy.”

“I already submitted your application.”

“What?”

Ahgrot’s eyes went wide.

“So you’re Ahgrot. Wow, you really do look old.”

“…What did you just say?”

“Ah, sorry. Seeing you in person surprised me, I thought it without meaning to.”

And so, one dwarf and three humans descended into the underground city.