Chapter 2
1HfPJZA total of 72.Cl0
bTgAfter collecting all the magical items, Fernan stepped forward.RFe
QTIA massive cavern appeared, and at its center was a small altar.HyhXP
RmV56I“Is that…?”yOQmX
tamAint’s gaze was fixed unwaveringly on a single point.hzMXJA
tT24CEIt was an instinctive pull.kl9
1nzZAt the end of the altar was a sword. A long, rough sword that didn’t emit any particular aura; yet, strangely, it drew the eye. The heart, the soul, felt drawn to it.UIvF
lssKAint slowly approached the sword.e58
mDBUnlike Aint, Fernan felt no such pull in his soul. And the sword wasn’t there.KQXH45
8sFtThat was natural. Aint must have already taken it.a4Lucj
Fnuh5YxThough the sword had disappeared, there was a mark on the altar that clearly showed a sword had once been embedded there.e2FREB
T8PAint grasped the sword. In that instant, a brilliant light banished all the cavern’s darkness.RRv7zM
WgDXdWhen Aint opened his eyes after closing them briefly, the place was no longer an altar or a cavern.48wV
p1vw“…Where is this?”Uvy7fM
3fZIt was a secluded alley near the Imperial Academy.ZYyQzv
dEA4Gn“…So it’s true.”0zL
X78Q2rrTraces of magic remained. So faint they would vanish soon, but their mere existence mattered—just like the indentation on the altar where a sword had clearly once rested, and the fact that Aint was no longer there.ZDdh
RUu59Fernan had no choice but to accept it.BDd
KYeU“Damn it.”oItG
1PT1DxThe Book of Prophecy was real after all.PDwCnE1
cQ4tex“That means…”gFa
OqlniThe Demon Legion would return and trample the continent. And as the fallen imperial family rises again, I’ll face them and be destroyed. My father will excommunicate me to save the family, and I’ll lose my reputation, honor, power, and wealth.uUwoMvz
Z3ileQ7Fernan laughed.yKw6B9
gEW1kB9“Ha, what a joke.”ZsqX
vMY5L1“…What a fucked-up future.”7821J
UkFPGWith bloodshot eyes, Fernan clenched his teeth.Yrmq
YEqc“…Who the hell gave you permission to take my money?”rMi
nXy0Money is everything in this world. With money, you can do anything. A future in which he lost that—such a future must not and cannot exist.ThLSDqE
f5X4E5He…0rIJ
0QQ6F8E“I will never accept a future like that.”8C2rO8m
DFuUMHe would make sure of it.4NZSd60
9j5ljpBBack in his quarters, Fernan, now fully convinced that The Book of Prophecy was real, began to organize his thoughts.bwu3G
bd5AOf all the contents dormant in his mind, three memories of the prophecy stood out most vividly.wkh
or7LQumAnd the key figure linking all three… The protagonist of this world, as acknowledged by The Book of Prophecy.noJtV
Yosc6sThe one who leads Fernan to ruin. The hero who saves the world from demons.FQOL
WjYoB4“It’s Armian.”8uivW
rOuHDVA first-year student, newly admitted this year into the knight program at the Imperial Academy.XWM
XuRCurrently a descendant of the ancient, now-declining imperial family.yAKBkD6
jsnjDEAn aspiring knight whose top priority is to become a Royal Knight.rfF
gtJIn the end, he achieves that dream and rises to become Emperor through a combination of luck and relentless effort.sM61J
RKUz1“A front-line asset.”gGo8
yloAccording to the prophecy, Aint was undeniably on the rise. Investing in him and staying close to reap the rewards—that was the hallmark of a true merchant.rUBd47B
M67SwIf only their personalities weren’t polar opposites—if only Aint weren’t destined to destroy Fernan—maybe he would’ve already run to him, wagging his tail like a dog.JWPXTd
bCpxbtEHe had made a good first impression by giving Aint a top-quality potion. But what if he kept investing, only for it to turn against him?qwlzKhI
9FxThat would be like digging his own grave. An unforgivable stupidity.lgjvF
AfSKKgj“What’s the dilemma?”C1Gj0aV
PWJuAt that moment, his assistant entered and asked.6X2YSRK
EYds4t3“Hyde.”e0k
5usLK“Yes?”7WX4f
BUZ“There’s a group of merchants that will thrive if you invest in them. What would you do?”taMDn
ir38“I’d definitely invest.”yT0S
YgB“But what if the merchant’s personality doesn’t match mine?”HT3Wy
kMo“Is that even a dilemma? Money can buy compatibility.”6Pp
amiPp“…You’re right. It was a pointless worry.”CpvFS
2y7Fernan’s eyes widened. It was a surprisingly simple matter. Money could do everything. Personality clashes were trivial in the face of overwhelming wealth.3BL
FnadKEHe had only hesitated because of something as grand as demons and the end of the world, but the fundamental principle remained the same.Dwq7fQJ
rleKWInvest, take risks, and reap great returns.Yq9
VJNke“I need to see him. Right now.”tGq
WDD“Excuse me?”1TUmIlq
wm2trrJ“Doubting and missing the investment opportunity is the height of foolishness.”KKDrf6
H7LRWithout even waiting for his assistant’s response, Fernan grabbed his coat and ran out.DUrHn
MfNatp“…Um, a guest has arrived.”FN9x
G3iM5kA guest summoned by the young master himself, no less. The assistant shook his head.Iix
499bJ“I guess I’ll be the one cleaning up the mess again.”pr024
4VSVSighing deeply, he followed outside.pRqJj
1nUhN8W***NhOkoo
UmryThe newly admitted students who passed the entrance exam were immediately assigned to dormitories based on their rankings.fOXVR5s
ZrGF“Phew.”IOP
nHqThis isn’t it either.sUzj59z
zpPHe lay down on the bed. Though the soft mattress couldn’t compare to the ones at home, it was still fairly decent.p0uWM
iv6Even though he passed the entrance exam, he didn’t score high enough to enter the prestigious Ravidus Hall, reserved for the top students, nor even the second-tier Bless Hall. Instead, he was placed in De Base Hall. But Aint didn’t mind.MK2
TOQRThere had been a small issue along the way, but he overcame it—and more importantly, he had achieved the first objective that brought him to the Academy.tsG7
b4DBJ6BHis gaze drifted to the sword lying next to him. It had once belonged to Gardener Alpenfarsen, the first Royal Knight of the Empire; now it would become Aint Armian’s cherished blade.9eE9
bzrA gift arranged by the First Emperor himself—a treasure meant to guide him to greater heights.yL8r
ppTIo3E— De Base Hall?OZS
1O5hEven with Alpenfarsen’s ego housed in the sword.R6b
3ZBg— A descendant of Armian not placed in Bless Hall, but in De Base Hall at the Armian Academy?ZADRS
t8FuK— Unthinkable!ZUtM
vs9Dz— If the late emperor knew, he’d rise from his grave and wring the necks of demons!6vztMn
MB2“Why are demons suddenly involved?”PeYa2I
yJ46— Because only demon schemes could lead to something like this!3s1c
TOpv“What is this? A roundabout insult? I can’t help it. I’m weak, after all.”Fda4gd
a451— Incredible. That a descendant of Armian would be this weak…0O0
HHf“If we’re assigning blame, then it’s also the First Emperor’s fault for creating a system where anyone could become Emperor.”g96ejd
AkjWell… that was the real issue.GtUJznQ
lugKpThe Empire was supported by seven Elector Princes. Their possession of the Golden Decree granted them the right to elect the Emperor.RGHAqa
mZWpPSeWhen an emperor died, new elections were held. Whoever secured a majority of the electors’ votes would become Emperor.OAI
wb4vIf only he had passed on the throne. Why did he have to donate most of Armian’s territory to the Empire…?LDew4g
vOSIt would’ve been one thing to simply lose the throne, but the First Emperor gave away most of Armian’s land to the Empire.Zu46
17hOf course, while the throne remained in Armian hands, it wasn’t a problem.CQE
gu1KaBut the moment they lost the crown, the majority of Armian’s properties were handed to the new royal family.IMeWv
tLcIn that process, Armian had to fight to survive, and as a result, even parts of the secret swordsmanship passed down from the founding generation were lost.3iS2
KbdThus began the decline.zrAG
tRAtSo honestly, while I respect the First Emperor, I also resent him. If not for that decision, Armian wouldn’t have fallen so far.xQNvi9Q
mvvp3— How dare you!19GZZU3
V7pX1— The idea of losing the throne is absurd!wQcMq
aCE— To think such incompetents bear the name of Armian!TvbXhEn
Q9L“Not everyone can be as great as the First Emperor.”nUZrmA8
JqWMxLAint gave a bitter smile. No one wants to lose their throne.qLVP
esVFvImperial authority over a patchwork of kingdoms was inherently weak, and the fact that it lasted nearly a thousand years was practically a miracle.DoVZj
IGp— Well. Luckily, you have talent. I’ll help you however I can to restore that glory.KCAPwh
YB5c3J— Maybe the late emperor foresaw this and left me behind as your guide.boH
081“Thank you.”JfwAOF
3sZS7WIt was a welcome offer. After all, Aint had enrolled in the Academy, enduring shame and hardship, because of Gardener Alpenfarsen.IDojOY8
4IZo0BbAt that moment—H2fxGBp
BJOKnock, knock.hAi
zuiYN“You’re Armian, right? Are you in there?”rvdi
f4p“Who is it?”qzB8jS
I1UYX0“I’m your senior.”1ShdJTK
sJKKO“…Excuse me?”Zonamu
FQqu— Expecting someone?WWM8
FiKxNo one. Since the Armian family lost the throne, they’d withdrawn into themselves. Aint didn’t know any nobles.dEVn1hj
yIrHDtAnd yet, someone had come claiming to be his senior.uV5
FsOT2‘No way…’vOv
ydV5jcAint cautiously opened the door. Just as he suspected, a familiar man stood there.Czt
8c2Y5YqA perfectly dressed noble, exuding natural dignity.AvEm
lE6t“Senior Fernan?”hAMq
fGTp“It’s been a while. Or maybe not?”KdTcV
s3jO5Fernan shrugged.eKwMN2n
Qe51“Are you busy?”VA0PRx
0mrV“No, I don’t have anything going on right now…”UbZQ
mQrEK“In that case, I’d like a bit of your time. It’s too public here. I know a quiet place I’d prefer to go.”Uhg
wGlL“Ah. Right now?”p7Na3q
BhdiBaQ“Yes.”uoo5RP
b9TwaiF“Five minutes. Please just give me five minutes to get ready.”KlJ
fJqqk4F“Of course.”1YE1P
lvKAnFernan pulled out a piece of paper, scribbled something on it, and handed it over.yr1dTjL
7nd“I’ll go ahead. See you here.”CvESs
0h84L1C“Y-Yes!”Yg2
o4cFernan disappeared. Aint closed the door and took a deep breath.8hb
AlwFm“What is this? He said investment. Don’t tell me he’s here to collect for the potion already?”lw1cn
TJhal“Or… did he see me enter the dungeon?”o7mBbV
m8z9K“No, that can’t be. There was no one around… But could I really hide from Fernan if he wanted to find me?”3a9
niURWDozens of thoughts flooded his mind, plunging it into chaos.OoIl
Ne2hJhM— What’s wrong?XClqZB
7wj— Why are you panicking over that guy?qn9j
LnG“He’s a pretty important figure at the Academy.”zboGe
yLmrW0— But he’s just a student, right?0D53ob
OJk“Yes, but consider his status. His full name is Fernan Pellenberg. He’s the eldest son of House Pellenberg.”7tfTcM
jwA1— Pellenberg? That rich family?yXD2H
Y11zMjK“…Excuse me?”Hf5
Z6gIm9Aint tilted his head in confusion at the sudden insult. Their first encounter had happened so abruptly they hadn’t had time to truly look at one another.AXlp5
2I1Now that he could observe him properly, the impression wasn’t bad. Though he looked ordinary, his eyes had a sharp gleam, and here and there, ambition could be seen.98e994
ir4Zi1He’s ambitious. If he also has talent and the right environment, he could go far.qNZXTuC
QGtwJlJIt wasn’t a certainty. But Fernan’s instincts told him so. One of a merchant’s most critical virtues was the ability to read people, and in that, Fernan was confident.4Qav
BsCq9zrEven if it hadn’t been for the Book of Prophecy, he would’ve given Aint Armian high marks.2NP
EgFujUzHowever, he couldn’t afford to be openly friendly. A close relationship with the former royal family would inevitably create conflict with the current one.qMch
fPp“Senior.”GIqy
pXMXPerhaps because he had steeled himself, Aint’s eyes trembled less now.lyDKY5
In5FqEF“Sit down.”EJJqUTO
NMwmhM2“Yes.”XkMs
GKGTgr7A private room in a tea house located in the center of the Academy.vBHpC
aI9XSURun by the Pellenberg family, the tea house ensured privacy in its private rooms—making it the perfect place for this kind of talk.n2j
Ut46“What will you drink?”nbv
biAi479“Anything is fine.”BwA
Gv7“Two coffees, please.”q1JC
2odf4“Yes, sir.”xbZzv0G
6u1Shortly after, the server brought the coffee and left. They now had complete privacy.gEvCmc
NzTJ7Nervous, Aint swallowed hard. Fernan’s gaze drifted toward his waist.3VM
VWG“You brought your sword.”zPO
N6b“Ah… It just makes me feel more at ease to carry it with me. I never intended to harm you, Senior Fernan.”HQHq
913pAD“I understand. Most knights don’t part with their swords.”yM5rqU
eSzaFFernan nodded.SHKuJ
sgA‘So that’s the sword. The one said to house the ego of the first Royal Knight, Gardner Alfenparsen.’Gnb
0qvO4IIt looked relatively old and unimpressive, which raised some doubts.tmX8zs
GqQNYPBut when they met in front of the dungeon, he’d been carrying a different sword, so this one was likely the real deal.ctZR
Pf8wThe Book of Prophecy also described its appearance as worn.ND2i
bTB‘The Book of Prophecy was right after all.’wUd48y
RdtB8Despite having checked it multiple times, Fernan continued to confirm it again and again. It was a compulsive habit of merchants.gXdNb
LtVwXuQOf course, a more important reason was that he didn’t want to believe in a future where he fell into ruin.rEJ
ymC2“Are your wounds okay?”d3M
5B6“Yes. Thanks to you… If it was a top-quality potion, I’ll gather the money and pay you back as soon as I can.”oHw
Vbv“No need. Didn’t I say it was an investment?”Ffh8iiM
qRk815“…Yes.”scZ
yOb4ud“By the way, have you eaten?”3UKiH
c5Nj3Fernan, reading Aint’s expression, refrained from bringing up sponsorship.Ldj7adh
VUUKPeople like him didn’t easily succumb to temptation—unless they were in utter desperation or given an irresistible offer.FZ42
jFUsAXFernan had neither at the moment. A hasty proposal could only offend Aint’s Armian pride and turn him into an enemy.QaXi
Gkr“Not yet…”Nup
9LIYre“In that case…”cwOmSgo
yrXThe conversation that followed was nothing more than idle chatter. After a good while, Fernan stood to leave.MimES
pfOQ1U2“Well then, I’ll see you again. Oh, and don’t act like you know me in public. There could be people watching me.”ZpxD
XLJU“Yes.”M9eeii
mIyLeft alone, Aint tilted his head in confusion.QeIoV9
OQ9Cpr“What was all that?”72AYIc
L2AV‘Did he really just come to chat?’FJkYol2
mC1n— He was just trying to understand you.nYhc3
IkrQ91“Understand me?”MEDyo
7PnTST— To figure out what kind of person you are.f87p4
rVr56an— That’s how rich people operate. Before doing anything, they always assess the person first.ieNg
mjof“So he was checking if I’m useful or not?”5tU
BltrJ— Exactly. What a pitiful world we live in.NH52
aL6XPN— To think someone would dare treat an Armian like that.iSn85q
CAnNpM6“…But it’s not necessarily a bad thing, right?”wkIRA
2XHPiOyIf he had mentioned direct sponsorship as an extension of the potion investment, it probably would’ve felt like an insult to his house.69RxNM
GWUvwPeople would’ve looked down on Fernan. But he had stayed within the proper bounds. If all he wanted was to build a good relationship, there was no reason to reject it.W1SWESQ
kT92“Because the Pellenberg family’s money isn’t something you can ignore.”t7jV
36I— A wise thought.AmuXLXJ
xGcezra— If it’s about money, the Pellenbergs have the most. Get one of them as your patron, and you’re set. The late emperor used to say that too.5LBgj6
4gb7zGardner let out a hearty laugh.NXjvX
8eOIOZ***ID5lIDI
5EM5“Hmm..”Sx1PeB
gdzQWgMost of the conversation with Aint had been trivial talk. But it is often in the mundane where a person’s true nature is revealed.t04QXr5
XB8HxAAnd with the Book of Prophecy in hand, Fernan had gained a fairly accurate understanding of Aint Armian.Rzr
GhxSHis will was firm, and he placed great importance on his family’s honor. He possessed a deep sense of pride and a clear desire to restore the house’s former glory—an ambition rooted in nobility.TAP4B
pmk‘A hasty move would only provoke hostility. Better to approach gradually, like water seeping into stone.’hmeGGAN
KMaNx3HFernan had decided on the course to take with Aint. Their personalities didn’t quite align, so forging a relationship that was too direct didn’t seem wise.PNn
EEEMaintaining proper distance, keeping a suitable level of relationship, and extracting just the right amount of benefit: that was the best course of action.GTuoA
6ZT8At least that was the conclusion for now.0kRr
iw2cTY“Well then…”w8U
USKG“Young Master, have you returned?”Q4te1
3Mh“What is it?”EDnrNR
rHjDQdQ“Where have you been?”kQlm3
kt3y6“I had to meet someone, briefly.”6Nc6l0
n50oq3G“That someone wasn’t Luina Bercheff, was it?”zfTv8bB
JNJlkqG“Luina Bercheff? Why bring her up all of a sudden?”i71Re
o1ZoLuina Bercheff was second in the Faculty of Knights. And her family was deeply indebted to him.UaCoGM
xKa“You asked to meet her today.”EZbvi
PjKa“I did?”3y34Tt
Jbw7v“Yes, Young Master.”guPrvI
bea5Kvw“…Right, I did.”HE0LNHw
n1N6FIIThe Pellenberg family had lent money to the Bercheff family in hopes of gaining access to their secret swordsmanship.dw74bF
lYksHe vaguely remembered arranging the meeting to apply pressure, now that she and her house were beginning to feel the weight of the debt.ed6tA
qAJ“That was today?”0VCN
81LV“Yes. I was going to inform you that she was waiting, but you suddenly left.”ulsqbgf
LjkmNHq“…Where is Luina now?”HnVZUOd
DGRAAV“She waited three hours, thinking you’d return soon, and then left. She probably suspects you did it on purpose—to intimidate her.”1Qp6q5
E82zS“…If she’s in debt, she should at least be able to handle that—”FfDsip
LzdH0QThen, a terrible headache struck him, and suddenly, fragments of memory from the Book of Prophecy surfaced in his mind.JgF9eT3
4h31nV[That’s right. Her talent is enough to reach the rank of Royal Knight.]wiYQM9
hmYDmDeclared by the soul dwelling in the sword—none other than the great First Royal Knight, Gardner Alfenparsen.zoOWhS
LghQ[It seems there’s some kind of heart-bound demon…]FPJh
JmG50yIf only the shackles binding her could be broken, she would spread her wings and soar.9wofU
5nkYLhTThese fragments reached him because they were connected to Aint Armian.e4gWGvz
6P5‘A Royal Knight?’1LOF
e4vOne of the ten strongest knights on the continent, officially recognized by the Emperor?dKdS
QZ68[Her loose chestnut hair and aquamarine eyes were just part of her charm.]8KzA
Y6WXDs[Her sword was noble, beautiful, pure, and alive.]Bu1iH
xkPb[Aint was completely captivated by her sword dance under the moonlight.]XF8R5k
fXGS[He wanted to free her from her chains—that is, from the Pellenberg family.]AfKWF
8MeAWas she even Aint Armian’s first love and the first reason their relationship would fall apart?kEy4s
Ub8ZiB“…Damn it.”nBa
KGTEaMrFernan realized immediately.S6zXx3
Pqqk0‘Why is something this important only coming to me now…?!’dHRhMx9
aHIKxbhHe had fastened the first button wrong.SOFl
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