Chapter 176

Bzzzt!

Dozens of lightning bolts struck simultaneously. The targets were destroyed in a single blow.

Clap, clap, clap.

“Your lightning control has improved. I can tell you’ve learned a lot at the Academy.”

It was the sound of his father clapping.

“I still have a long way to go.”

The mage Carlo Deneb shook his head.

Like anyone entering the Academy, he had arrived full of dreams about a bright future.

Carlo was no different.

From the entrance exam, when he surpassed the prince himself and was crowned top of his class, he firmly believed he would become the greatest mage of all.

At least during the first year, that belief didn’t change. But by the second year, everything turned upside down.

Not only Ludger Schwaben, even Fernan Pellenberg, who had once ranked tenth, had surpassed him.

The worst part was that he no longer felt confident he could take back the top spot.

“I heard you lost your first place. But don’t rush things.”

His father gently waved his hand, and with the flow of mana, the shattered remains of the targets settled onto the ground.

“At your age, it may seem like the Academy is everything. I used to think the same. But once you graduate, you’ll realize there’s a much wider world out there. Falling behind a bit there doesn’t mean you’re behind forever.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“And stop relying so much on elixirs.”

“……”

“You already know they’re not always good.”

“Yes, I know.”

Carlo nodded, though he wasn’t fully convinced deep down.

“Alright, that’s all. Are you ready to go?”

“Yes.”

“You requested this. It’s a personal tutor lesson. Make the most of it and learn without regrets.”

“Yes.”

The personal tutor system was something unique to the Imperial Armian Academy.

It wasn’t a big deal during vacation—a professor with free time would dedicate a whole month to training a single student.

It could include theoretical classes, practical training, and even research support. It was, literally, direct and constant supervision.

The downside was that it required a massive donation to access, and the professor assigned was random.

That’s why few students applied. But Carlo had clung to that sliver of hope.

If he got a great professor, perfect. Even if not, all Academy professors were high-level mages, so it would still be worth something.

Days later, upon arriving at the Academy, Carlo found himself seated in front of his designated professor for the month.

“Long time no see, Carlo.”

The professor of “Illusion and Fantasy,” Dominique Colsner, adjusted his monocle.

“You’ll be my tutor?”

“That’s right.”

“I look forward to learning from you.”

“You don’t seem disappointed.”

“Even if it’s a different specialty, I’m sure there’s always something valuable to learn from any Academy professor.”

“Wow, I didn’t expect that attitude from you.”

Dominique softly closed the book he had been reading.

“But you look tired—are you sick?”

Dominique’s face was much more gaunt and pale than before the break.

“I’m fine. It’s just that my research is in its final stage, and I haven’t been sleeping much.”

“And yet you accepted to tutor me…”

“No point hiding it. I need the extra funds for my research, that’s all.”

It wasn’t uncommon—professors often used this system to raise money to fund their studies.

“But don’t worry. If I didn’t think I could teach you something useful, I wouldn’t have accepted.”

Dominique opened his palm. A soft sphere of light floated in the air.

“Do you know the essence of illusion and fantasy?”

“To deceive the enemy, according to what I’ve learned.”

“So you weren’t sleeping in my class, then.”

The sphere took shape. Soon, it became the silhouette of a person.

“Humans perceive the world through several senses—sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste. Illusion is about manipulating those senses.”

At advanced levels, illusions could even be materialized, but that wasn’t the focus for now.

“And of them all, the easiest to manipulate is sight, and the simplest way to disturb it is through light.”

Bright light distorted vision. And since sight was the dominant sense, it became the best channel for illusion work.

“Lightning is also light, after all.”

“…I never thought of it that way.”

“Most people don’t. That’s why illusion magic is considered niche.”

The dominant school was natural magic—fire, water, wind, earth—the manipulation of nature.

Nine out of ten mages only studied natural magic. To them, it was the only thing worth learning.

“But I think differently. I’m not saying natural magic is bad. I’m just saying we don’t have to limit ourselves to it. By combining it with other branches, we can go even further.”

Carlo felt something ignite inside him.

He couldn’t deny it—when he found out Dominique was his tutor, he had been somewhat disappointed.

But now… what if he could combine lightning with illusions? That would be worth it.

He didn’t need something as grand as his professor’s experiments. Just creating illusory lightning and hiding the real one among the fakes would be a huge advantage.

“What do you say? Do you really want to learn?”

“Yes, absolutely.”

If he could make Fernan block an illusion while the real bolt struck from behind—it was more than possible.

‘Just wait, Fernan.’

I’ll take back the top spot, no matter what.

“That said, it won’t be easy. Lightning and illusion magic are from different schools.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

Carlo never thought it would be something he could master in a day.

In fact, he’d only signed up for the tutoring to try unlocking something in his stagnant magic.

Now that he saw a path with such potential, he was more than satisfied.

Maybe in the next magic tournament, he wouldn’t shine—but that didn’t matter.

‘If I can’t be first this semester, I’ll be first by graduation.’

That was his goal.

And with that resolve, Carlo renewed his determination.

***

The end of summer vacation.

“We did it, it’s all open!”

“Woooooah!”

“Finally!”

Duke Yvon, in cooperation with Count Baden, organized a month-long festival, and during that time the dwarves worked tirelessly until the underground tunnel was completely opened.

Thus, after a month, the gigantic engineering project finally came to an end.

“Now all the effort is over. Since this is Pellenberg territory, there’ll be no need to worry about the elves.”

“I see.”

“There are regular trade routes between the Marquisate of Holtian and the continent of Pandrein.”

The County of Baden was a land dedicated to large-scale livestock farming thanks to its fertile pastures.

Its beef, milk, and cheeses were famous even within the Empire.

The Golden Turtle Company regularly bought those products and distributed them throughout Pandrein.

“This time, large orders were added, so the trade fleets increased in size. They’ll be able to transport quite a few dwarves at once.”

The excuse the duke had given for organizing the festival in Baden County also rested on those products.

With a large sum of money as payment, what human would refuse a celebration?

“Thank you.”

“And once they arrive in Pandrein, they’ll be safely taken to Algot.”

“Algot…? But wasn’t there already a count ruling that region?”

“That matter has been settled.”

“…Sounds ominous.”

“Don’t worry. It wasn’t anything negative. A friendly agreement was reached without problems.”

Indeed, it had been a peaceful agreement, with no violence involved. His father had decided to give the former count a much higher position.

“Then I’ll take my leave. See you later in Pandrein.”

“Alright, we’ll meet there. Thanks.”

“Algot County has many mines, they’ll be satisfied.”

After saying goodbye to the dwarves, Fernan sent Gismond back to the Academy first.

“I still have some matters to take care of. You go ahead and rest a bit, you’ve earned it. Anyway, wasn’t it worth it?”

“Well, yes, it was in the end.”

Gismond nodded halfheartedly.

Even though he ended up digging tunnels all day with the dwarves, before that he had the chance to fight monsters and improve his skills.

“Then I’ll see you soon.”

“Yes, alright…”

Parting ways with Gismond, Fernan returned to the capital of Fridien.

“Senior? Why are you back?”

“Aria, I need to talk to you. Can we go somewhere private?”

“Sure, anytime.”

Fernan took Aria to the Golden Turtle Company branch in Fridien, and suddenly dunked her head into a tub of water.

Glub-glub-glub!

As her face writhed under the water, a nightmare came to Aria’s mind.

The memory of when the so-called Saint had tortured her with water. Why, at that moment, was that memory returning?

No doubt—because she was going through the same thing.

“What do you think, are you back to your senses?”

“Ugh!”

Fernan removed the hand that held her under.

Aria lifted her head, gasping, coughing hard as she caught her breath.

At first, she wanted to scream, to ask why he was torturing her.

But now, she didn’t.

“…I got caught again, didn’t I?”

“Not just you. We all got caught.”

“My older brother really was a corrupt.”

“You’re wrong. Adolf is not a corrupt. He just cooperates with them.”

“That doesn’t sound any better.”

The fact remained that a direct family member was involved with the corrupt.

“Is he really planning to destroy the family?”

“No, he’s not aiming to bring down the family.”

“Then what?”

“He’s after the Empire.”

“…That sounds even worse.”

It wasn’t just serious—if things went badly, the name of Fridien could disappear entirely.

“The problem is, we don’t have solid proof. All we have are a few records and the fact that they used hypnosis on us. And if they deny it, it’s over.”

“…And those records aren’t enough?”

“No, they’re not.”

Although there was evidence of conversations between Count Daniel and Adolf about the corrupt, Fernan was looking for more.

Not just proof, but a lead to tear out the entire conspiracy at its root.

“Is there any way?”

“They think you’re still under hypnosis.”

“…Ah, that’s right.”

Aria snapped her fingers lightly.

“Then, if I approach my brother pretending I don’t know anything…”

“Can you do it?”

“I’m good at acting, believe me.”

“Good thing I freed you. I left the other one because I figured he could never fake it.”

“Senior Gismond shows everything on his face.”

She nodded, remembering Gismond.

“Then if I manage to get important information from my brother, can I count on your support?”

“If it has to do with corrupts or demons, of course.”

Fernan didn’t want the Empire to fall into corrupt hands either.

“Then from now on, I trust you.”

“Likewise. You handle the report to the marquis.”

“Yes. I’m sure my father will be satisfied with the results.”

An elf and a human joined forces.