A Cadet Becomes a Prophet?! — Chapter 20

Chapter 20

“You’re so harsh. If‍ you talk like‍ that, even I might end up‌ hurt.”

The⁠⁠ saint put on‌ a sad expression.⁠⁠ Seeing this, Luina⁠⁠ realized her mistake.⁠‍

“…Ah,‌⁠‌ I’m sorry. That‍ wasn’t my true‌ intention.”

“Hahaha,‌ I’m just kidding.”‌‌

As⁠⁠‍ if he had‍ never made that⁠⁠ expression, the saint’s⁠⁠ drooping eyelids returned to normal.

“So,‍ what’s this about?‌‍ I think this‍ is the first‌ time you’ve called‍‌ me to the‌⁠ academy, brother.”

“Luina,⁠‍ weren’t you leaving?⁠ Or did you‍ change your mind?”‍⁠

“…I’m going now. Mr. Jace, I apologize‍‍ again for my⁠ disrespect.”

“No‍‌ need to worry.⁠⁠ Really, I’m fine.‌‌ Hahaha.”

Luina‌‍ cleared her throat‌ and stepped into‍ the hallway.

As⁠ soon as the⁠ door closed, the⁠ smile on Jace’s⁠ face disappeared.

“To be honest, I didn’t believe the⁠‌ rumors… but it‍ looks like they‍‍ were true.”

“Rumors?”⁠

“That‍ you’ve changed.”

Fernan⁠ responded with a shrug.

“Let’s‌‌⁠ skip the senseless‍‌ gossip and get‌⁠ straight to the‌ point.”

“Right,‍ time is money.”⁠

Fernan‌‌‍ explained his goal‌ and intentions, as‍‍ well as the‌‌ plan and the‍⁠ role Jace was⁠⁠ to play in‍‌‌ it.

Of‍ course, his stated⁠ purpose wasn’t the‍‌⁠ mithril, but the⁠ spirit herb.

“Sounds‌ fun. Very you,‍ brother. Using the‌ first-years’ survival training to search for⁠⁠‌ the spirit herb…”⁠‌

“If‍ I’d known earlier,‍‌ all this wouldn’t‍⁠‌ have been necessary.”⁠‍

“I‌‌‌ get it. If‍⁠ the first-years are⁠⁠‌ wandering around, they‍‌ might find the‌‌ herb by accident.‌ Not a bad‍‌ approach.”

“Do‍ you need time‍⁠ to think about‌‌⁠ it?”

“No,”‍ Jace replied, shaking‌‍ his head.

“Seeing⁠ you move this‍ far, brother, can‌ only mean this‍ isn’t just any⁠ herb. I’m tempted,‍‍ but I can’t‍ risk going against‌ the Pellenbergs. I’ll‍ do it.”

He‌ made a circle‍⁠ with his fingers.‍‍

“Just make sure to give me plenty‌ of this.”

“The‌ term ‘free donation’⁠⁠ doesn’t exist in⁠‍ my dictionary.”

“It’s⁠‌⁠ an offering to‍ the gods.”

“The⁠ gods my ass.‌ I’ll increase orders‌ from the academy’s‍ headquarters. And I’ll‍ make sure the‍ merit goes to‍ you.”

“That‍ sounds like blasphemy, but if you⁠ pay enough, I’ll⁠ be satisfied.”

Jace⁠ gave a completely‍‌ worldly smile.

“Then⁠‍ do it well.”‍

“Yes,‌ brother. Leave it‍⁠‌ to me. After‍‍⁠ all, I’m the‍ top student of‌ the Department of⁠ Magic, first year.”‍

Exactly. And for that‍ very reason, Fernan‌ couldn’t help but‌ wonder:

‘Why‌ isn’t Jace Vynes‌⁠ Aint’s companion?’

Aint’s‌‍ enemy was the⁠‍ demons. And those‍⁠ who fought most‌ fervently against demons⁠‌ were precisely the⁠ members of the Cult of the‌‍ Dragon God.

Because‍ demons were a cursed race? Because⁠ they wanted to⁠ destroy humanity?

Sure,⁠ those reasons existed,‍‍⁠ but they weren’t‌⁠⁠ the most important.‍⁠

“Magic,‌⁠‍ a gift from⁠‌ dragons? Nonsense! Magic⁠ is a power‍ created by us,‌‌ our gift.”

A thousand years ago,⁠ a demon had‍⁠ uttered that blasphemy.⁠‍ And that phrase‍‌ had struck the⁠‍ most sensitive nerve⁠ of the Cult‌ of the Dragon⁠ God.

So⁠‌‍ then, why wasn’t‍⁠ the saint of‌ the Cult fighting‌‌ alongside Aint on‍‍ the frontlines against‌‌ the demons?

‘Will⁠‍‍ he join later?⁠ If it’s Jace,‌⁠ he might as‌‍ well have been there from the‌ start.’

He‍‍ was as skilled⁠ as Valoshi, the‍⁠ top of the‍⁠ Department of Knights.‍⁠ Maybe even more.⁠‍

Well, it wasn’t that‌⁠ important.

Aint‌ would handle it‌ his own way,‌‌ as always.

“But‍ there’s still a week until survival‍ training, right? Is‍‍ it necessary to‍ wait until then?”‌‍

Jace’s‌ voice interrupted his‌ thoughts.

“Of⁠⁠ course. If I get it before then, this conversation⁠ never happened.”

“Still,‍ the fact that‌‍ we’re talking now‍⁠ means you don’t‌‌ yet know its exact location. Since⁠ I’m going to⁠‌ charge, I sincerely‌‍ hope you don’t⁠‌ find it beforehand.”⁠⁠

“What‍⁠ a nasty comment.”⁠‌

Fernan⁠‌ snapped his fingers.‌⁠ A gold coin‌ clinked into Jace’s‌‍ palm.

“Advance⁠‌ payment.”

“Brother.”⁠

Jace lowered his gaze to the coin,⁠⁠ his eyes gleaming‍‌ with seriousness.

“The Dragon God detests those who make‍ deals without signing‌ a contract. Shouldn’t‌ we first discuss‌⁠ the exact order‍ details, how much,⁠‍ how, and everything⁠ else?”

Fernan‌ clicked his tongue.‍

That’s‌⁠⁠ why he avoided‌ working with Jace⁠‌‌ when he could.⁠ There was no⁠‍ way to take⁠⁠‌ advantage of him‌ or negotiate halfway.‍

“Fine.”⁠

He‍‍‌ pulled out a sheet of paper.‍‍‍

Thus began a fierce⁠ negotiation, aimed at⁠‌ minimizing losses as⁠ much as possible.⁠⁠‍

***

“Thank‌⁠ you. I’ll do‌⁠ my best to⁠ live up to⁠ your expectations, brother.‌‍‍ When you have‍ a more detailed‌ plan, call me‌‌ again. In the‍‍ meantime, I’ll keep‍‍ perfecting my duplication⁠‌‍ magic.”

“Send‌ the artifacts as‍ soon as possible.”‍

“I’ll⁠‌ send most of‍⁠ them right away.‌‍ The artifacts shouldn’t‌ take more than⁠ five days.”

Jace⁠‌⁠ left with a grin from ear‌ to ear, as⁠ if the negotiation‌ had been very satisfying.

And⁠ rightly so, since⁠ the items Fernan had promised to‌ purchase weren’t exactly‌⁠ cheap. But that‌ was only part of the story.

“He‌‍ came out ahead…”‍‌

Of‍ course, the amount‌‌ he’d have to‍ pay wasn’t small,‌‌ but all those‌ items were necessary‌ for what he‍‌‌ planned to do.⁠⁠

The‌⁠ Cult of the‍ Dragon God was⁠ the largest magical⁠ organization on the⁠ continent, and their⁠ magical products were⁠ among the best.⁠‍‍

“The location converter was also made by‍ them.”

Moreover, many of Fernan’s‌⁠‌ favorite artifacts were⁠‌‍ religious in origin,⁠⁠ acquired directly from⁠ the cult.

The‌ Pellenberg family didn’t lack talented mages,‍⁠⁠ but they couldn’t‌⁠ compare to fanatics‍‌ who treated magic‍‌‍ as a religion.⁠

“The⁠⁠‍ necessary items will⁠ arrive soon…”

Fernan‍ unfolded a map.‍

It was the map‍ of the southern forest where the‌‌ first-year survival practice⁠ would take place.⁠

Like⁠‍⁠ the north, the south was divided‌‍ into two zones:⁠‍ to the southwest was a beautiful‍‍ forest with lakes,‍ and to the‌ southeast, a damp‍⁠ swamp.

Since‌ the monsters in‍⁠ the forest were‍‌ weaker than those‌ in the swamp,‌ the survival practice‍‍‌ would most likely‌ be held in⁠ the southwest.

“The‌ southern swamp…”

The⁠⁠‌ first time he⁠ was struck by⁠ lightning and ran‍ to verify the⁠ prophecy book’s authenticity,⁠‌‍ he had gone⁠⁠ precisely there. And it was in⁠‍ that swamp that‌‍ he found Aint,‌⁠⁠ discovered the dungeon,‍ and looted the‌‌ magical lamps installed there.

According⁠ to the assessment, those lamps were⁠⁠⁠ unparalleled by ordinary‍⁠ ones, showcasing extremely⁠ high technical and‍ artistic quality. He would soon auction‍‍ them off for‍ a large sum.

That⁠⁠ money would go directly to his‌ secret organization: the Golden Column.

“The‍ general framework is⁠⁠ clear now.”

He⁠‍ now had the‌⁠⁠ best ally possible:‌ the saint of‍⁠ the Cult of‌⁠‌ the Dragon God.‍

What‍ remained was defining⁠⁠ the details.

“Let’s‍ see…”

Reviewing‍⁠‌ the documents on⁠ the table, Fernan‌ finally found what‍‌ he was looking⁠‌‌ for.

【Imperial‍ Year 999. Armian‍ Academy of the‌ Empire. First Year,⁠‌ First Semester. Integrated‌‍ Survival Class Plan】‌⁠‌

He‍ had already secured the detailed plan⁠‍ for the survival⁠‍ training.

It⁠ included the distribution‍⁠ of teachers and‍ assistants, the security‌ scheme, and many‍ other minute details.‌

Fernan⁠‌ memorized everything.

‘It’s‍⁠‍ just…’

Only‌ one week remained‌⁠ until the start⁠ of practice. And‍⁠ there were a total of seven lakes in the‍‍⁠ southern forest.

In⁠ one of them⁠⁠ was the spirit‌ herb, the mithril,⁠ and the guardian‌ spirit protecting them.‍⁠

The problem was he‌ didn’t know which‍ of the seven‍ it was.

In‍‌⁠ the prophecy book’s‌ memory, Aint dove‌‌ into the lake’s‌ depths and discovered‌ an underwater cave,⁠‌ but it didn’t‌⁠‌ mention which lake⁠‌ exactly he dived‌ into.

That’s‍ why Fernan had‍ taken the assistant‍ post and recruited Jace, as an extreme precaution.

A week remained, yes,‌‍ but he wasn’t sure he could⁠ find the place‍ while still attending‌ classes.

“First,‍‌ I need to go.”

His‌ goal was to‌‍ inspect as many lakes as possible‌‌ during that week.‍ With a bit of luck, he‌ might find the‌‍ right one from‌‍ the start.

At‍⁠ sunset, as the‍ sun was going‍ down, students who‍‌‍ had more classes⁠⁠‌ that day were‌⁠ finishing dinner.

Fernan⁠‌‍ knew this was the time for‍‌ the guard shift‌ change.

‘All areas are managed⁠ with magic.’

The⁠‌ forest entrance was‍ no exception.

It‌ wasn’t a person managing everything, but‍‌ a magical system‍ with automated records⁠‌‌ to maintain order.⁠‌

It‍ was the only⁠ efficient way to‌ monitor such a vast area, though⁠‌‌ not infallible.

After‌ passing by Verian‌ and leaving some⁠‍ instructions, Fernan stood‌ before the southern‍ forest entrance—or rather,⁠‍‍ a hidden path,⁠‍‌ not the official‌‌ entrance.

‘The‍⁠ shift change should‌‍‌ be happening right⁠ now.’

Taking⁠ advantage of the⁠ confusion, he presented⁠ the credential he’d‍‌‍ obtained, and the‍‍‌ hidden magic circle‌‍ opened.

“Perfect.⁠‍ It works.”

With‍‍ his camouflage cloak‍ on, Fernan dashed‍ into the forest.

***

Growl!‌

A pack of three-meter-tall⁠ hell hounds, with⁠⁠ red fur, sniffed‌ around as they‌‍ roamed.

After wandering for a while, the hell‍‍ hounds quickly disappeared in another direction.‍

Soon‍‌ after, a black⁠‌⁠ figure dropped with⁠ a thud from‍‍ a tall tree.‌‌

“This‌ works wonderfully.”

He⁠ never thought he’d‌‌‌ be able to⁠‍ paralyze the hell⁠ hounds’ sense of‍ smell so instantly.‍⁠

As‌‌‍ expected: it was‍‌ a product of⁠⁠ the Cult of‌‍ the Dragon God.‌‌

“Let’s see… the lake…”‌⁠

It‍⁠ didn’t take him⁠ long to reach‌‌‌ a huge lake.‌‍‍ In the southern‍‌‌ forest, there were‌ seven such lakes.⁠‍

“I’m‍‌‍ supposed to find‌ a hidden cave⁠‌ here…”

[“If⁠‍ you don’t believe‍‍ you’ll find it, you never will.”‍

That’s‍‍‌ how well-hidden the‍ entrance to the‌ underwater cave was.‍

— How obvious. If⁠ it were easy⁠ to find, it⁠ would’ve been looted‌‌ already.

“Yes,‌ that’s true too.”‌‍‍

Aint⁠⁠ slipped through a barely visible gap‌⁠ between rocks at⁠‍‌ the bottom, where⁠‍ pebbles and stones⁠ mixed.

It felt more like‌ it led underground‍ than into a cave.]

Recalling‌‌ that prophecy fragment,‍ Fernan grabbed his‍ head and tore‌⁠ a scroll.

It⁠ was a timed⁠‍⁠ underwater breathing spell‌ that enveloped his‍⁠ entire body.

He⁠‍ dove in without‌‍ hesitation, and the‍ first thing he‌ saw was the⁠ calm underwater landscape.‌‍

The‍‌ water was clear‌ and pure, and⁠⁠ instead of monsters,⁠⁠ only fish swam.‌⁠ He pushed aside‍⁠‌ a crayfish on⁠‌⁠ the bottom and‌ placed his hand‌‌‍ on the bed‌ of pebbles.

‘This‍⁠ is why I became an earth⁠ mage.’

Though⁠ his highest affinity⁠‌ was with fire,‌ he chose earth⁠ as his specialty for a different‍ reason.

To⁠‌ search for metals,‍‌ veins, money.

His mana sank into‌‌‌ the ground. With precision and detail,‌ he inspected the depths. Hours passed.‍⁠‌ Just as the‍⁠ scroll’s effect was⁠ about to wear⁠ off, he confirmed‍ it with certainty.

“It’s‍‍ not here.”

A shame, but that‍⁠‌ was it. Six lakes remained. And⁠‍‌ so he kept‌⁠ diving for who‍⁠ knows how long.⁠

Cutting‍⁠ into his sleep‍ time, Fernan managed⁠ to inspect all‌ seven lakes over‍ the course of⁠ a week.

The‍ cost of all‌ this was considerable.⁠‌‍ And it was⁠‌‌ undeniable that he’d⁠‌‌ somewhat neglected his‌⁠⁠ business guild affairs.‌

Even‍⁠ so.

“None⁠ of the seven?”⁠‍

There⁠⁠ were no results.‌‌

Could⁠ there be another⁠ lake he didn’t‍‌‌ know about?

Impossible.‌ He had checked‌‍ the maps multiple⁠⁠ times. There was‌ no other lake‍ in the southern⁠‍ forest besides those⁠‍ seven.

Thinking⁠ deeply, Fernan came‌ to a conclusion.‍

“It’s⁠ hidden with magic.”‍

Someone⁠ had definitely cloaked⁠⁠⁠ it with some‌‍ kind of magical protection. That’s why‌ it had remained⁠‍ undiscovered for a thousand years.

He‍‌ had underestimated it. He had taken‍ the First Emperor‌ too lightly.

“…At⁠ least I’m glad‌‍‌ I was prepared.”‌‌⁠

That⁠‌⁠ was the only‍‍⁠ consolation.

Damn it. Fernan let‌⁠ out a curse.

***‌⁠

And‍⁠ the next day, right after Fernan⁠‌ failed in his‌‌ last search…

“From⁠ this moment on,‌ the joint training⁠ between the Faculty⁠ of Knights and‌‌ the Faculty of‌‌‍ Magic will begin.”‌

“Originally,⁠ it was going‍‍‍ to take place‌‍ in the northern‌‍ mountainous region, but⁠ due to a small inconvenience, the location has been⁠‍⁠ changed. The survival⁠ training will be‌‍‌ held in the⁠ southwestern forest.”

The⁠‌ joint survival training‍ for the first-years‍‌ had finally begun.