A Cadet Becomes a Prophet?! — Chapter 210

Chapter 210

Even⁠ after Professor Rosalia‌ and Fernan left‍ the Academy, the⁠ festival continued.

Slash—‌‍‍

A corrupted one’s head was severed. The‍‍ ashes of the‍ already incinerated book‍ fell to the‍ ground, and the⁠ body scattered like‍‌‍ dust.

“They‍⁠ don’t even stop during the festival.”⁠‌‍

Aint sheathed his sword.‌‍

— In just a few days, you’ve⁠‍ already caught two.‌‍ Don’t they get⁠⁠ tired? What the‌‍ hell are they⁠‌‍ looking for?

All⁠ the corrupted infiltrated⁠‍‍ into the Academy⁠‍ had been discovered. Partly thanks to‌ Aint’s efforts, but⁠ mostly because the rector, with his⁠‌‍ pride wounded, had⁠⁠ opened his furious‍ eyes and ordered an exhaustive search.

Even‌ so, the corrupted‌‌ kept sneaking in,‍ as if they‌ refused to accept failure. No one⁠‍⁠ knew what their‌ purpose was.

“Could⁠ it be they’re⁠ hiding something else,‍⁠ like what we‍ found that time‍ with the senior?”‍‌‍

The‍‍ demonic flesh that‍‌ had been hidden‌‍ in the place‍⁠ Abel Kalens had led them to.‌

But‍ after that failure, it seemed they⁠⁠ had become more cautious, as at‌ least on the‍‍ surface, no more‍‌ contaminated land had‌‍ been reported.

Of‍ course, they couldn’t‍ afford to dismantle the entire Academy to look either.‍‍ Unless they could‌ pinpoint a specific‌‌ area.

“Did‍ you take care‍⁠‍ of it?”

At‍‌ that moment, the‌ rector approached.

“Yes,‌ it’s done. And⁠ you, rector?”

“Same.‍⁠ Those insects never‌⁠ get tired of‌ crawling in here.‍‍ And we still‌ don’t know what‍‍ they’re after.”

There⁠‍‌ was concern that‍‍ the corrupted would⁠‍ ruin the festival.‍ If something exploded⁠ during the event,⁠‍ it would be⁠ impossible to cover‌ up.

For now, all they⁠ could do was‍‍⁠ do everything possible⁠ to find and‍‌ eradicate them.

“I⁠ saw your performance⁠ in Esrin through‍⁠ the recording orb. Thanks to that,‍‍ I can leave‍⁠ with more peace‍ of mind.”

“You’re⁠ going out?”

“My‍ grandson is sick.‍ I’ll go visit‌ him. I probably‌‌ won’t return until‌ after the festival‌ ends.”

“Then,⁠ the closing ceremony…?”⁠

“The⁠‍ vice-rector will handle‍ it in my‍⁠ place.”

The‍‌ rector said it⁠‍⁠ without giving it much importance. But‍⁠ considering that during‌‍ the closing of‌‍⁠ the Academy Foundation⁠ Festival the emperor himself attended, that‌‍ was a huge responsibility for the vice-rector.

“You‌ should also take the chance to enjoy the festival.⁠ I asked for‍ your help, but‍⁠ I don’t intend⁠‍ to take all‌ your fun time.”⁠

“Yes.⁠⁠ Actually, I’m about‌ to meet with my friends.”

“Youth,⁠‍⁠ youth.”

The‌ rector handed over‍⁠ the reward for‍‌ the mission. Aint smiled upon receiving‍‍ the coin pouch,⁠‌ quite hefty.

“We’ll‍ see each other when I return.”‍

“Yes,‍ take care.”

After⁠‌ parting ways with‌‍ the rector, Aint‌ took a quick‌ shower and headed into town.

— The emperor is coming and the‌‌ rector still leaves.⁠⁠ The imperial authority‍‌ is on the‌⁠ ground.

‘Hasn’t‌‌⁠ imperial power always‍‍⁠ been weak?’

As‍ far as Aint‍‌ knew, the Armian‍ Empire had been‍‍‍ formed by barely‍ pinning several kingdoms⁠⁠ together, so the‌ emperor’s authority had⁠⁠ always been weak.‍

— Even so, there‌ used to be respect and deference‍ toward the emperor. Otherwise, why be‌‌ emperor?

— In my time,‌‌‍ this would’ve been‍ unthinkable.

It wasn’t a lie.‍‍ Even if imperial⁠⁠ authority was crumbling,‍⁠ the emperor was⁠⁠ still different from‍‍ other nobles.

Of‍‍ course, Gardner’s absolute⁠‌ idea of imperial‌‍ authority came from the overwhelming power‍‍ and strength of‍ the first emperor.⁠‌

“Ah,‌ Aint!”

Aria⁠ spotted him from‍ afar and waved as she approached.⁠

“Good‍ to see you.⁠ Let the others know I won’t⁠ make it to⁠ the meeting today.”‍

“Suddenly?”‌‌

“Yes.‍‌ I’m helping Professor⁠‍ Dominique.”

“Professor‍ Dominique?”

“They⁠‌⁠ say he’ll be‍ closing the festival,‌‌⁠ and he wants‌ to use spirits‍‌ to make it‍‌ more spectacular.”

The‌‌ festival’s closing consisted‌ of giant fireworks‌ illuminating the entire⁠‍ Academy sky.

“But⁠ why you? And‍ Professor Nania?”

“Professor Nania asked me. She said she couldn’t do it‍ alone with so‌‌‍ little time and⁠ asked for help.‍‍ It was decided suddenly.”

“Got⁠‌ it. I’ll let⁠‍‌ the others know.”‌⁠

After‍‍ saying goodbye, Aint⁠ entered the tavern.⁠ Valoshi and Verian‍ were already there,‍⁠⁠ drinking beer.

“Just‌ in time.”

Valoshi‍ greeted him with‌‌ a wave.

“I‌‍ thought you wouldn’t⁠‌ come. Don’t you‍⁠ have the semifinals‍ tomorrow?”

“It⁠ doesn’t matter. As‌ long as it’s not Senior Almon‍ in the final,‍‌⁠ I can beat‌‍ anyone.”

Valoshi smiled confidently.

“With Rob, Luina, and you out this year, it feels⁠‌ very different. Ah,‌ and you too,‍‍ Verian.”

“Don’t‌‍ shove me onto the list.”

Verian‌ responded brusquely, crossing⁠ his legs.

“So⁠ you’ll face Senior‍ Almon after all.‍ Are you sure‍‌ you can win?”‌⁠‌

“I⁠ have to. With‍‌ my sister causing⁠ such a stir in the world,‍⁠ how could I, her brother, show‍ a mediocre image?”⁠‍

“By‌‍ the way, I heard Professor Rosalia⁠‌ left with Senior‍‍ Fernan. Did you‌‌ know?”

“…Oh‌ really? I had‌‌ no idea.”

Valoshi‍ nodded indifferently, but⁠ Aint and Verian⁠ immediately noticed a hint of discomfort.⁠

‘Doesn’t‍ get along with‌ the professor?’

‘Now⁠‌‍ that I think⁠‌‌ about it, I’ve‌‌ never seen them‌ together at the‍ Academy.’

Though⁠ they were professor‌‍ and student, nearly‌⁠‌ two years had‍⁠ passed since Valoshi⁠⁠ had enrolled, and‌‍⁠ yet they were⁠‍ never seen together.⁠

“I⁠ can hear everything.”

“Then listen.”

“We’re⁠ not close. We were when we⁠‌ were kids, but⁠ at some point‍ my sister started‍⁠ distancing herself.”

He‍‌ didn’t really remember‍‌‍ since when. He⁠ was very young‌ at the time.‍

The⁠ only thing still‌‍ engraved in his⁠ memory were those‍ cold eyes looking⁠⁠ down on him.‍

At the time, he‌‍‌ didn’t understand why‌‌ she had changed‌ so suddenly. Now,‌‌ with time, he⁠ understood. And that’s‍⁠ why he didn’t‌‍ dare to approach‌‌ her first.

“My‍‍ sister really hates‍‍‍ me.”

“…That⁠‌‌ happens.”

“I⁠‌‍ hate my younger‍ brother too. He‌‌ always rebels against‍ me. Anyway, why‌ hasn’t Aria arrived‌⁠ yet?”

Verian‌⁠ changed the subject.‍

“I saw her on‌⁠‌ the way. She‍‍ said she wouldn’t‌ come.”

“What?‍‌ Why not?”

“Because‍ she’s helping Professor‍ Dominique with the‌⁠ fireworks for the‍ final day. Apparently,‍ they’re going to‍‍ use spirits to⁠ make them more⁠‍ spectacular.”

“And‌ why Aria?”

“She‌ said she’d be working with Professor‍⁠ Nania. She and⁠ the professor are‌ the best spirit⁠‌‌ summoners.”

“What’s‌‌ wrong, are you‌ bothered that Aria isn’t coming?”

“It’s‌‌ not that.”

At‍⁠ Valoshi’s tease, Verian‌ downed his dark beer in one go.

“Why‌ drink alone? Let’s⁠ make a toast.⁠ To Valoshi making it to the‍ semifinals!”

The⁠ three mugs of‌ beer clinked.

Aint⁠‍ smiled broadly.

He‌ had come to⁠ the Academy with‌ the great goal⁠⁠ of restoring his⁠ family’s honor and had fought tirelessly‌‌‌ against the corrupted.‌

It⁠ wasn’t that he‌ disliked it, but⁠‍ sometimes, a peaceful⁠⁠ day like this‍⁠ wasn’t bad at⁠ all.

“Senior Fernan said we‍‌ could eat here‌ as much as⁠ we wanted. This‌⁠ place is his.”⁠

“It’s‍ harder to find‌ a place in‍ the Academy not somehow tied to⁠‍‍ Pellenberg money.”

“That’s‍ true.”

The‍‌ laughter grew deeper.‌

***

While‍‍ the three companions‌‌ drank beer from‌‌ early on, Aria‌⁠ knocked on Professor‌ Dominique’s lab door.‌‌

“Aria‌‍ Fridian? Come in.‍ The professors are‍⁠‍ waiting for you.”

“Welcome,⁠⁠ Aria.”

Upon‌ entering, she was⁠‌ greeted by Dominique,‍ who looked quite‍‍‌ haggard.

“…Are‍ you okay, professor?”‌‍

“I’m‍‍‌ fine. Just some‍ sleepless nights due to research, work,‍ and now preparations for the fireworks.”⁠

But⁠ his appearance went‍⁠ beyond mere sleep‌‍‌ deprivation; he looked‍‍‌ nearly like a corpse.

“Where’s‌ Professor Nania?”

“She‌ went to her‌⁠ lab to fetch⁠ something she needed.”‍‍

Dominique‍ stopped drawing the‍‌ magic circle he⁠⁠ had been working‍⁠ on and stood⁠⁠‍ up.

“First,‍‍ thank you for‍⁠⁠ agreeing to help‍⁠ me. It’s a bit embarrassing to⁠‌‌ ask a student‌‌ for help when‍‌⁠ I’m the professor.”⁠‌

“It’s⁠‌ no problem. Honestly,‍ I wanted to‌ try it at⁠‍ least once.”

“Please,‌ have a seat⁠ here.”

He‍‍ pushed aside piles‌‍ of papers and‍‌ asked the assistants‌⁠ to bring tea.⁠‍‌

“While‌ we wait for‌‌ Professor Nania, I’ll⁠⁠ explain what this‌⁠ is about. Have‍ you heard anything‍‌ yet?”

“That‍‍ you’re in charge of the fireworks⁠‌⁠ to close the⁠⁠ festival.”

“Exactly.⁠ It’s my first⁠‌‍ time handling it,⁠‍ so I want‌ to go big.”‍‌

The⁠ assistants served tea.‌‌ Dominique poured milk⁠ into his black⁠ tea and stirred⁠ it with a small spoon.

“As a professor of‍‌ Illusions and Deception,⁠‍⁠ I want it‍‍ to be beautiful⁠‌ and spectacular.”

He took a sip,‍‌ added a spoonful‍‌ of sugar, and⁠ stirred again.

“It’s⁠ a personal whim.⁠⁠‍ Since it’s a minor branch of‍‍ magic, I rarely get to showcase‍ its beauty.”

“Ah,‌‌ I see what‍ you mean.”

“That’s‍ also why I agreed to guide⁠‌ Carlo Deneb. It⁠‌ was a way‍⁠ to show that‍‌‍ illusion magic isn’t⁠‌ useless.”

Luckily, Carlo had managed‍‍ to defeat Liana‍ Horton, yielding better-than-expected‍‌ results.

“Thanks‍ to that, there’s‌ now a lot‍‌ of interest in‍‌ my subject. Maybe⁠‍ next semester the‍⁠ number of students⁠ will increase. The⁠ fireworks will be‍‌ the cherry on‍ top.”

Dominique‌⁠ smiled with satisfaction.‌

“So‍ you’re planning to‌⁠ combine illusions with⁠‌‍ fireworks?”

“And add spirits. Professor Nania agreed enthusiastically. She says spiritualism‍‍‌ is also not⁠‌⁠ very popular.”

“Well,‍ spiritualism is a different case, don’t⁠ you think?”

“Yes,⁠ it requires a lot of talent,‍⁠ but we believe‌⁠⁠ that if more⁠ people become interested,⁠‍‌ another sensitive might⁠ appear.”

“Could⁠ be.”

Dominique‍‍‌ added another spoonful‌ of sugar.

Tap,‍‍ tap—the spoon clinked‍‍ against the cup⁠⁠‍ in a steady‍⁠ rhythm.

“So,⁠ what will we‌ do with the⁠ spirits?”

“We’ll‍ use them as⁠ the core of⁠‌ the illusions. I want to create‌‍ a sort of‍ theatrical performance in‌ the sky, with‍ symbols of the⁠ Empire soaring across‍‌ the firmament.”

Like‌ Saintbirds or dragons.‍

“That‌ sounds fun.”

As‌‍ Aria spoke, she noticed how much‍‌ sugar the professor‍ was adding to‍‌ his tea; she’d⁠⁠ noticed it before.‍⁠‌

“And‍‍ what exactly will‍ my role be?”⁠⁠‍

“I‍‌ want you to‍‍‌ stabilize the spirits.⁠ Since we’ll be⁠⁠ using them as‍ the core of‌ the illusions, they⁠‌‍ might resist the artificial process.”

“Ah,⁠ they definitely will.”

Tap,‍ tap—

“We’ll⁠⁠ need many spirits to cover the‍‌‌ entire Academy sky.‍⁠⁠ That’s why we⁠‌ asked for your⁠ help.”

“I understand.”

“Thanks⁠ to that, we‌ can pull this⁠‌ off. With just⁠‍⁠ Professor Nania, it‍ was difficult, especially‍‌‌ since several of‌‍ the spirit cores⁠⁠ she prepared were⁠⁠‍ destroyed.”

“I⁠‍ see… Sorry, what did you say?”‍‌⁠

Aria,‌‍ who had been⁠‍⁠ absently staring at‌‌ her cup, lifted‌‍ her head.

“That‌ I appreciate your‍⁠⁠ help.”

“Ah,⁠ right. I also‍⁠ heard there would‌‌ be a reward…”

“Of⁠‍‍ course. The easiest‌⁠ would be to‍ pay you, but‍ I doubt the‌‍ daughter of the‍ Fridians needs money.⁠ If instead you want to ask‍‍ me a favor‌‍⁠ within the Academy,‍ I’ll grant it.”‍‍

“Alright.”⁠‍

At‌⁠⁠ that moment, Professor‍‌ Nania entered.

“Aria… I mean, Student Aria, you’re already‍ here. What were‍‍ you talking about?”⁠

“I⁠‌ was explaining what‍ she needs to⁠ do. Now we‌‍ can really get‍⁠ started.”

“Yes,‍⁠ I’m ready.”

“Then…”

Dominique⁠‌ unfurled dozens of‌ magic diagrams.

“For⁠ the spirits…”

“We‌‍ can’t imprint a direct seal on⁠‌‍ them, so we’ll‌ have to…”

“Here‍‍⁠ we should…”

The night went on‍‍ as they worked.⁠⁠⁠