Chapter 206
gHeAn unexpected event occurred.TiJQ
borMgThe defeat of Liana Horton, whom everyone had pointed to as the winner of the Magic Tournament.WGd
qQo“No way…! How could Liana Horton lose?”FKxGo
sNNZe“Carlo Deneb? The same one who lost to Aria Fridian last year? He even dropped to third place in the ranking of his class!”vwAtUx
JzPThe champion of last year’s tournament, the top of fourth year, against the third place of third year who had lost to a first-year student.rwmtD
DlHBvTo anyone, the outcome should have been obvious.MK9
BWdThat’s why the impact was even greater.SQIPod
3lsTSAnd for those who had bet without restraint, trusting in the certainty of a guaranteed victory, the blow was devastating.1KdvdUr
tYpDU2“…My money. All my money…”Rs3z
AjWCAgAIt had vanished into thin air.MY96z1
777BIt wasn’t a small sum—he had bet enormous amounts, even mobilizing employees of the Golden Turtle Guild.hsrW
b8g“Are you okay?”VnCdEF
fwTv7Wp“No, I’m not.”jlDn3r
Otou7rK“When mana backlashes, you say it’s nothing, but when you lose money you insist you’re not okay.”pVpy
jqgU48Luina let out a disbelieving laugh. But in a way, that reaction was very typical of Fernan.p11s50Y
2HK1If he had said that the money didn’t matter, she would’ve thought he was truly unwell.kIIE5P
Z3q0CdN“They said Senior Liana cast a spell into the air. Could it be that Carlo learned illusion magic?”rnwy
x4YnIK0“Yes, illusion magic. Carlo studied under Professor Dominique during the break.”UbHn
Y6CAAnd Dominique’s classes were specifically on Illusions and Arcane Magic.88B
YBrF“The key to illusion magic is disturbing the opponent’s senses. Great illusionists can do it without catalysts, but if catalysts are used, it’s much easier.”HFQ
ga79Sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.NRr
XK0“Lightning is light, and light is an excellent medium to distort vision…”14hMi
4dZCome to think of it, Carlo had a naturally ideal foundation to learn illusion magic.ZLkVntR
z3NIf Dominique had decided to teach him thoroughly.4p0
JpgJgAnd if Liana, caught off guard, was surprised by that hidden attack?Cw89x85
BWr3k“…That makes everything add up.”GXGPAg
Gw9Carlo winning stopped being senseless.AgfZokA
nlZEven more so if he had never shown illusion magic before and had saved it specifically for facing Liana.BE9g8H
UoL“Really?”UWqQ2
cPhdyUy“Yes, but that opens another problem.”5HB8Bx
Q6l“What is it?”nudrv
wvt80b“Illusion magic shines when it goes unnoticed. Its essence is deception—making the false seem real. And once the opponent knows there’s a trick, fooling them becomes much harder.”a5l
8Jkp5If he kept advancing, he’d likely face Ludger in the final.Hvl
EnDs5PZAnd Ludger was a cold and calculating mage—not easy to deceive.9Rx
A58gu“But wasn’t Carlo originally more talented than Ludger?”uUJCrPD
wOfm“That’s true, but don’t forget Ludger also spent his break training. It won’t be easy.”HktWnj
lbL5SbBesides, when someone achieves a great upset, they often fall flat in the next round.M1w0Q
eMbyn“That’s what they call ‘the wind was just wind.’”pN9x
8EC20“Yes, it happens among knights too—they defeat a strong opponent and then lose helplessly in the next match.”BJ4
yBrsSometimes because they gave it their all, but more often because the surprise no longer works a second time.8HO4C
buMVrln“A dilemma—a single mistake and the money’s gone.”SAYNgM
Iun“Then maybe it’s best not to bet.”Elt5C
jpe97a“Maybe you’re right. By the way, how long do you plan to stay here?”PmqPj8
jrFLRwvThey were in the Academy’s infirmary.XKrfz
g22A8fFernan, already treated, was resting in a private room, and Luina was keeping him company, sitting beside his bed.4dl
q09PYvo“If I leave, you’ll get up right away.”0hOoON
NWU“I’m fine already.”Tw75TFD
OoAZjbK“Your pale face says otherwise. The healer said there’s nothing physically wrong, so it must be exhaustion. And with how much you work, I’m not surprised.”zAi
4jJbymoFernan had always carried the weight of his studies and the Guild’s business, on top of fighting against the corrupted. It was only natural that his body would catch up with him.XQQ
JUUr“I told you it was mana backlash.”oUq
Nj32“If a mere spectator of a tournament suffers mana backlash, then yes—it’s serious. You have to rest today. Hyde will take care of everything, right?”5l1s
m8eaHyde had already stopped by earlier, although in reality, he had left quickly upon seeing Fernan arrive leaning on Luina.SrCMWl
dehqrOShe took an apple from the fruit basket Hyde had left behind.I85FG
uhpIdyl“Want me to peel it?”NpQ
DXj“I’d rather you sculpt me a gold bar. I’ll pay royalties.”6a2owaW
osY“Settle for the apple.”LfLz3X
3kohhpCrunch, crunch—KLDmx
GN5PeLuina peeled the apple and handed it to Fernan.xdI8hU
srkwYxR“Thanks…”NpsI
E4P9lF2At that moment, the fruit fell from his hand.81F31t
B3IFFernan closed his eyes.Njzjh
9Y4“Fernan? Fernan…!”oArHN
YGXYHWbLuina’s voice began to fade away.MsbcY85
gDvxIn his mind, the pages of the cursed book began to unfold.9eEQo5i
W6D[ A dark room.hzRT4
lSVKzAfter finishing his classes, Aint entered and sensed a strange presence.3qD
ylxrS“…Duke?”Njghw
CgpIveThe figure, not bothering to hide, was waiting for him at the table.pAfutn
ZBvoO1“It’s been a while, Aint Armian.”gbLEa
ZcQH6A“Likewise, Your Excellency.”Q0ygfo
F6vqIt was Yvon, the Duke of Pellenberg. With a gesture, he indicated the seat in front of him.9Rs9n
ymRn“I must apologize for appearing so suddenly. The matter is confidential. Please sit.”rRu8ecE
ZFTq92K“Is it something urgent?”0Qw
Sadfg“Urgent and very important.”kn69NE
TdBFM4oAint sat down. But what the duke said next had no apparent relation.p31
W7hV“First, I want to thank you. Fernan has left the Empire safe and sound. All he has left is Hyde and a few coins, but that boy will know how to survive.” ]kZ7DvCh
36k…That I left the Empire?axsw5
Jg7n7Fernan flinched, but quickly understood.mbrxX2
EavgbThe prophetic book had twisted. What he was seeing was no longer a possible future.ca44
DUDThere was no reason to be afraid.u1m
1Rcj[ “Ever since the Pasa Bell was destroyed by the corrupted, we’ve been searching for materials to forge it anew.”QuxaL
JxyX“Of course.”Uyj173K
M5dSZrIf the corrupted had gone to such lengths to destroy it, it was proof of its effectiveness.pDChVJ
LniusyOFor Aint and the duke, remaking it was an absolute necessity.BwQCg
1alYK“I have good news and bad news.”1AuZK9
zOzjgr“Did you find the materials?”BAjuU
mPKTs“We found mithril. We estimate around ten kilos.”2aKK
ZyuOnly ten kilos, but for mithril, that was no small amount.6C0cyl9
hlonF“And the bad?”qmNey9t
UCa4SIZ“That the corrupted are looking for it too. Apparently, word has spread that we’re trying to remake the bell.” ]xTHRIn
1GyCMithril…?jnn
BiTBarely ten kilos. Fernan clicked his tongue at such a “small” scale.9vim1S
peABut he immediately scolded himself for his rotten mindset.WFCi
r2P‘Mithril, and I say barely? You really are insane, Fernan Pellenberg.’nbM
rhqkHThe fact that the First Emperor had stored away dozens of kilos of that metal had made him overly confident. When in reality, a single gram of mithril was priceless.CXP
FomaAnd worst of all, he couldn’t allow it to fall into the hands of the corrupted.W3Frw
FmTImagining how those worms would treat something so valuable, without even understanding its true worth, was horrifying.2YZ0ND
nPYZMND[ “We have reports that monsters are already abundant in the area. That’s why I came to find you.”fuIIcp
6rROlPThe mithril hadn’t been found in Pellenberg territory nor in an area under its influence.4rh9
E9JBecause of that, deploying a large military force was impossible.MWaUAKp
e0APaThe task had to be done by a small group, quietly. And when it came to monsters and the corrupted, no one was more suited than Aint Armian.D5YNp
MKyAWhM“Of course.”3fKiohQ
bUOM0n5“But I don’t intend to leave you with the whole burden. I’ll assign you to the Order of the Red Turtle Knights.”D3mz
Lfw9ZiWUpon hearing that, Aint’s eyes opened wide. It was Pellenberg’s best knight order.IjW
xoljec“Really? If it’s the Red Turtle, they’d be enough on their own.”t1e
Je2s“There can be no mistakes in this mission. The corrupted have failed before, so they’ll be even more cautious. They won’t show a single crack of weakness.”xqBMFf
q2Jx“Understood.”8lN
TvV8QsX“I’ll take care of the Academy myself.”78wpYN
Iq5h9EThe page turned.NhWy
L3F[“There are too many.”V66mps6
bGICInside the cave, Aint looked up as he sensed the presence of countless monsters.blg
C4ktdbW— It was to be expected. But look at it from another angle.VJV
cg1tzi— If a bunch of fools who don’t even understand the importance of the mineral are defending it so fiercely, it means the Pasa Bell really did hurt them deeply.qGBWGg
6QKD9R“Was it the same a thousand years ago?”291Sz
JVPYK7n— It had little effect on the demons. But on monsters, especially low-ranked ones, it was devastating.GTCGDnw
GjXOkls“Then we must obtain it no matter the cost.”]7SX
QpEfy86The vision ended with Aint and the Red Turtle Knights venturing deeper into the cave.ekMI
KnyGThis time, there was only a single prophecy. But it was of incalculable value.fXmlG
HzDDBNXFernan had gained two certainties.03pBNZ
AJP6Y‘That the Pasa Bell is tremendously effective against demons, and the location of ten kilos of mithril.’dPPzm1x
3PKf1He had to secure it at all costs. Mithril was never enough, and its value was beyond measure.xiQw
WaW“…Fernan…!”9hA
szg‘But leaving immediately after returning almost two months late? Would even the rector allow something like that?’yzIIubY
TwkoK4‘No, I’ll have to use another excuse.’n9bs7D0
q10DA viable idea came to him, though the problem was he wouldn’t be able to bring Aint or the others along.wKkn
wR8KThe difference between facing the corrupted with Aint or without him was immense.GsuxI
eIQs‘In that case…’V5J
NyL5vFernan found the answer in the prophetic book itself. Pellenberg. His father knew he read those visions.7QFJU
PxhTaG“Fernan…!”mQYOf
oYUA strong jolt brought him back to consciousness. Luina’s worried face was right in front of him.n9Zi
JD91cf“…What are you doing?”AND0k
27U“How could I not worry if you suddenly start groaning and sweating cold?”AoHwC
pzZ0UJ0“It’s nothing serious.”XQRH2
akSY“This is anything but nothing. It’s not the first time. I’m bringing a healer.”yrg
ZoPwesm“Really, I’m fine…”0LZdtt
nIb7yeBut Luina didn’t listen. She disappeared and soon returned with a healing mage.gZ1G
G1GiM“Pain again? The body is in perfect condition, no abnormalities…”J5m
q5bOf course. They couldn’t find anything, because it was all due to the information overload from the prophetic book.hqGf
gbaPk“Seems like exhaustion. I recommend several days of rest.”0Myrw
1ow8QThe healer bowed and left.x8GQt
Jj2YI“Did you hear that?”WaYLu6
ibPz9z“What?”Wq6pOP3
7ZhCo“You’re not leaving this room today.”dDg
qbQNZ“…Understood. But, is it necessary for you to stay with me?”wwo7W
aMfZcFl“Don’t even dream of escaping.”Yfs
UIgCP0The firm gleam in Luina’s eyes forced him to nod.LTgv
l7LwfT“At least, can I write a letter?”Izo
rwl“Yes.”Sscx
AYAIpFernan took up the pen and began writing while organizing his next move.YYXib
oft‘Tomorrow I must go see Professor Rosalia…’4bga
5Y6GHe had to act quickly. Before the demons destroyed the mithril.fSV
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