Chapter 17

“…One moment. What do you mean you’re going to charge him? What exactly does that mean?”

Luina’s gaze sharpened.

“That’s the question I should be asking you. If it weren’t for this guy, I wouldn’t have had any reason to use up all these resources. Shouldn’t he pay for them? Personally.”

“So that means… you’re not going to report this to the Inquisitors?”

The Inquisitors.

An ancient institution that had existed since the very founding of the Empire. An organization directly under the Emperor, tasked with locating and eradicating demons.

“Those old relics barely clinging to life under the guise of tradition, with no real purpose?”

In the past, they had been a mighty force under the cause of demon extermination. But that was ancient history.

A thousand years… It was far too long a time.

During all that time, no demons had resurfaced, and with that, their reason for existing had vanished.

The only reason they still existed was a clause in the Imperial Code written by the First Emperor stating that under no circumstances should the Inquisitorial system be abolished, because one day, demons would return.

But even though they hadn’t been abolished, their size and authority had shrunk to the point of obscurity.

“What are you doing?”

“Checking his condition.”

Fernan took Verian’s wrist and let his mana flow inward to examine him.

But he found no trace of demonic energy.

‘Just as I thought.’

He didn’t know how Verian would turn out in the future, according to the prophecy book, but for a thousand years, demons had operated in the shadows without being discovered.

They weren’t about to leave evidence so easily.

‘Then why did one appear before Aint?’

Was it because Aint was the seed of the imperial family destined to destroy them? Did they try to snuff him out early?

It was impossible to say for certain, and it didn’t really matter now.

“Check for yourself. From what I can sense, there’s not a single trace of demonic energy left.”

“Then how do you explain that surge of demonic power he released?”

“So you believe in that demonic energy stuff?”

“I’ve never felt anything like it. If that wasn’t it, I have no other explanation.”

Though what she really wanted to ask was—how the hell did you know it was?

Still filled with doubts, Luina examined him… and froze.

“How is this possible…?”

“As I see it, even if we handed this over to those useless Inquisitors, they wouldn’t find anything.”

And if they did, wouldn’t it be a shame for this guy?

Fernan, who just moments ago was glaring coldly at Verian, added with a hint of irony.

“Marquis Kalburdern is going to discard him. In the end, he’ll just become a plaything for demons.”

“Those who sell their soul to demons deserve no compassion. And since when are you so empathetic?”

“What if he didn’t sell his soul?”

“…What are you saying?”

Luina frowned, clearly not understanding.

“I’m saying… who knows if the guy just went mad, or ate something he shouldn’t have, or did sell his soul to a demon? Neither you nor I saw it.”

“…Are you out of your mind?”

Fernan stepped closer. At his firm gaze, Luina flinched slightly.

“We didn’t see anything, Luina Bercheff.”

He placed his hands on her shoulders.

“Absolutely nothing.”

“That’s absurd…!”

“Neither you nor I felt any demonic power in him. All that’s left here is a half-dead wretch whose body collapsed. Where’s the demon, exactly?”

“You can spout sophistry all you like, but that doesn’t change the truth.”

Fernan shrugged.

“I’ll extend your interest exemption by another half-year.”

“I’ll never accept—”

“Nine months.”

“Never…”

“Let’s round it to a full year.”

“…I didn’t see anything at all.”

A noble knight had succumbed to money.

***

Not a single ray of light could be seen.

In darkness thick as ink, he could see absolutely nothing.

He walked blindly. When the metallic taste of exhaustion filled his mouth and he thought he couldn’t go on, the darkness receded.

He was at the center of the training field set up in the classroom.

Standing with a sword in hand, and before him stood a man with golden hair.

‘Aint Armian…!’

His eyes filled with red veins. The duel began instantly.

He struck. He used everything he had learned so far. His sword was fast and sharp.

But his opponent’s blade carried more weight. The more they clashed, the more his aura wore down.

Even though both sides were being drained, he was the one losing ground.

‘This doesn’t make any sense…!’

He screamed internally, but no sound came out of his mouth. His body grew heavier. His aura depleted.

‘If only I had done that back then! If only I had blocked that strike…!’

Maybe the outcome would’ve been different. But once again, he was the one on his knees.

“The winner is Aint Armian!”

The assistant’s announcement didn’t bear his name. Everyone was stunned by the unexpected turn. In that moment, his world collapsed.

Now he was in the reception hall. A place reserved only for the highest-ranking students of Ravidus Hall.

Scratching the back of his hand, he waited nervously. Soon, the door opened and the Second Prince, Ludger Schwaben, appeared.

‘Your Highness…’

Before he could say anything, his lips moved on their own.

“…I’m terribly sorry.”

The prince watched him in silence. A second felt like an hour. Who knew how much time passed before the prince finally spoke.

“There’s nothing to apologize for. I guess my expectations were simply too high.”

“I was just unlucky. That guy’s mana was denser and richer than I’d imagined. Next time… I’m sure I won’t lose next time. Please trust me.”

“Next time…”

The prince smiled softly and patted his shoulder.

“Seems a little early to be talking about that.”

“Your Highness…!”

“First, recover—body and mind. If another opportunity arises, we’ll talk then.”

Without waiting for a reply, the prince stood.

‘Your Highness…! Don’t leave! Wait…!’

He wanted to scream as he watched the prince’s back fade away, but no sound came out. The world shattered like a glass window, and darkness enveloped him again.

Only then did he realize it had been a memory. A past filled with regret, but one he could no longer change.

The world flipped once more.

“What a disappointment. No matter how much everyone around you chants ‘Armian, Armian,’ you’re just a toothless old cat.”

“Father…, I…”

“I don’t want excuses. I’m deeply disappointed.”

This was no longer a scene from the past.

“You couldn’t even complete a simple mission. You’re a huge disappointment, brother.”

It was a future that hadn’t yet happened—but could. The worst future he could imagine.

No…!

A future that must never come to pass.

“No!”

The world collapsed. And at the same time, the darkness vanished. A flash. He opened his eyes wide.

“Haa… haa…”

Verian was gasping for breath. His entire body was drenched in sweat.

“…A dream?”

If it was, it had been a terrible nightmare. He felt thirsty. Reaching to the side, he found no water. Only then did he notice his surroundings.

“…Where am I?”

It wasn’t the Ravidus Hall where he was staying, nor his room at the family estate.

“What was I doing…?”

“You’re awake.”

At the sudden voice, he turned his head. Someone entered through the open door.

“…Senior Fernan Pellenberg?”

“You know me?”

“Who in the academy doesn’t know the senior?”

“I guess. Here, drink this.”

“Th-Thank you.”

Verian accepted the water Fernan handed him and drank.

“But… where are we, exactly?”

“That’s not the question you should be asking.”

“Huh?”

“Do you remember what happened?”

“…That…”

Verian clutched his throbbing head. Fragmented memories began surfacing.

He had attacked Aint Armian and lost again. Unwilling to accept it, he’d done something disgraceful.

And then.

And then…

“…I don’t remember anything after that. What happened?”

“It’s sad when there are memory gaps. I’ll show you myself.”

Fernan placed a small spherical gem on the table. It was a recording stone, installed alongside the traps.

Flash!

With mana infused into it, the recorded scene began to play.

“…That’s me?”

Verian was horrified by the image, unable to believe what he saw. And when it ended, he couldn’t close his gaping mouth.

“…What… what is this?”

“You sold your soul to a demon and attacked us.”

“A demon? T-That’s impossible. I don’t even really know what a demon is! I’ve never seen one in my life!”

Fernan knew that better than anyone. But that didn’t matter.

“Do you think the Inquisitors will feel the same way after watching this video? Or others, like Marquis Kalburdern…”

“…That…”

Verian’s face turned completely pale. And he realized that the senpai who had saved him hadn’t done so out of goodwill.

“…What do you want from me?”

“As you can see in the video, I spent quite a lot to stop you.”

“I’ll pay it. Double. No, triple.”

“And I also suffered serious psychological trauma from fighting a servant of a demon.”

“That…”

Fernan pulled a sheet of paper from inside his coat.

“What you need to do is simple. Sign here, and all of this will be forgotten.”

Verian cautiously examined the document.

“…This contract makes no sense. It’s practically slavery…”

“You seem to be confused.”

Fernan leaned forward slightly.

“Do you think this is a negotiation?”

His eyes turned cold.

“You only have two choices.”

Be handed over to the Inquisitors. Or sign the contract.

“Choose.”

Would you rather die… or become a slave?

There was no need to buy his will with money.

***

The monster rampage was far from normal, and every professor and assistant in the academy had mobilized to bring it under control.

Fortunately, no students were killed, but the midterm exam was canceled halfway through.

“Good work, everyone. I’m sure the incident caught you off guard, but the exams for the next two days are canceled. Take your time to recover.”

The injured were transported to the academy’s medical clinic, and Aint returned to his lodging without a single scratch.

— How strange.

Gardner Alfenparsen muttered.

— The frenzy was undoubtedly the work of demons.

It was faint, but a demonic energy had spread in all directions.

In a thousand years, humanity had completely forgotten the existence of demonic energy, but Gardner was not among them.

— But nothing happened afterward. Why?

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

— Don’t let your guard down. These are demons. Absolutely vile and repugnant creatures.

— They never act without purpose. Every action has a goal. And that goal is never to humanity’s benefit.

— If demons are plotting something and have marked someone as their target, nine times out of ten, that someone will be you, Aint Armian.

“…Huh? Why me?”

— Because to demons, the Armians are enemies down to the bone. A thousand years ago, every time they were defeated and beheaded, they wailed—

— “If only the First Emperor hadn’t existed. If only Armian didn’t exist.”

— If I were a demon, I would wipe out every drop of Armian blood from the root.

“…”

Aint swallowed dryly, feeling a sudden chill.

— This time, for some reason, nothing happened. But never lower your guard and follow my instructions to the letter.

— That’s the only way you’ll survive.

“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”

— Still, this is truly strange. Could it be that some bastard accidentally ruined the demons’ plan?

“That sounds like an interesting theory.”

Aint let out a short laugh and entered his dorm room.

And at that very moment, a certain bastard—

“Ugh…!”

Couldn’t bear the headache that felt like his skull was splitting, and collapsed onto his bed.

[“Congratulations, Aint. You’re incredible.”

“Don’t exaggerate, Valoshi. I’m nothing compared to you.”

“No, incredible is incredible.”

“It’s true. Climbing from rank 38 to 5 in half a semester… That’s absurd growth.”]

Someone suddenly burst in. A strikingly beautiful girl with short orange hair and brilliant emerald eyes.

“You’re Aint Armian, right?”

“And you are…?”

“Aria Fridian. Department of Magic.”

[Mandatory course for the Faculty of Knights, “Field Survival Techniques.” After midterms, students were dropped into the southern forest for a week.]

— Perfect. In this lake, the late emperor left something behind. I’ll go retrieve it and…

[“Found it!” Aint murmured. A brightly colored elixir…]

[— A spirit being? That thief is impersonating its master! You’re not strong enough to face it, so escape first…!]

[— Mithril!!!! It’s a mithril vein!”]

Sealed fragments of the prophecy book began to overflow.