Chapter 229
33U3zThe descent of Andrealphus had inflicted enormous damage on the Academy.bgETT
ZSlTyCBeyond the immediate losses, the aftermath would inevitably affect the institution’s future.QCmlAOk
CPfyTThe rector would submit his resignation.FmqHE
qlxdThe buildings would be rebuilt.nGvMR
VhZClNew professors would be chosen.tFUE
k6WFor some, it meant a fall—for others, the arrival of an opportunity.N3i
kgP“So that’s the reason you wanted to speak with me?”n7YKRk
CesOc“Yes.”zh8
YZqBxAeFernan didn’t avert his gaze from the rector and nodded.YCBlJ
7n0Mx“You want me to support Professor Rosalia as the next candidate for rector? Do you think I’ll resign?”fbGNOD9
2toi0“Does what you think about it really matter?”OoCreO
d1qlNo. The rector’s opinion wouldn’t carry any weight in his own resignation.JZgLr6
ou270Sad and empty, but that was the reality.QJWAzc
Y7tI“Isn’t that what you truly want, deep down?”DN6
uebe“I wouldn’t mind if you stayed in the position, rector. But if you’re going to be replaced anyway, I’d rather the one taking your place be someone who can stand on my side.”6a2Es
Taft“You plan to manipulate the Academy from the shadows?”KmtEPp
ki2o“Do you really think Professor Rosalia is someone who can be manipulated?”w7iG
xvWi8IThe rector tilted his head slightly.058es
Twjp1R“She certainly doesn’t seem like it.”OmVn
GSd5AlOBut that didn’t mean he was convinced.FX9F
V1hG“Either way, you never know how things or people’s hearts might change. Among merchants, we say that if you can’t buy something, maybe you just haven’t offered enough money. How do you know Rosalia doesn’t have a price?”eipS495
PBHpPYlAt that moment, a servant entered with tea and pastries.Z8g
BB1yLTThe heavy silence between the two was enough for the servant to promptly retreat.cMfS8Ph
zgrbd“Does that really matter, rector? Whoever the new rector is, they’ll end up being a puppet of one of the prince-electors. Wouldn’t it be better if it were someone relatively loyal to the Academy, someone who can remain neutral under pressure? Like Rosalia, for example.”4myaX
ya6oQPyFernan lifted the steaming coffee cup. The aroma was soft and pleasant.Zu1zy
hrRPi“By your logic, I’m already an old wreck forced to resign. Why would you need my help?”S55FL
NCE“Because even if you no longer have voting rights in the successor’s election, you have prestige.”kVGag
2Ch47The rector was a capable and respected superior. Many professors admired and followed him.TgmD0Mv
E8SRWere it not for such extraordinary circumstances, there’d be no reason to force him to resign.xoch
RA5His support would be a crucial asset for Rosalia, who faced the barrier of her youth and short tenure.oLhFPa
MEoLQnWithout the trust of other professors, she couldn’t even run.wmsMwsp
k2O“More importantly, rector, is what I can offer you.”fqo
OW5NbA“You speak of strange things. I’m old and have no ambition left.”cfu
PchB5“Who said I came to fulfill your material desires?”BDN
KS1Fernan already knew the rector had no thirst for wealth or power.9rAgp
WbXtvqOf course, if offered a colossal fortune, he might waver—but there was no need to go that far.7W3OC1
HxI8NO“Then what are you offering?”70K78
4sBoq“Revenge.”9NySM
yZpV38“Revenge?”Escsiy
6wV“Yes.”qWYwBz
ku0nScORevenge against the demons who laid hands on his grandson, who reduced him to this state.fFGp
C682hQLWhen death approaches, humans stop clinging to riches or power.Rd0DM
Gx3d8xYWhat remains is something else—the obsession with honor.vs7kbnp
ka6MfEmHow the end will be remembered, how one’s story will be written in history.m3B6Yq7
9QUThe rector, who as Archmage and rector of the Academy could’ve retired amid everyone’s respect, now carried the stigma of having abandoned his students in their critical hour.NZ4CYE
FAVu5t2He was no longer a great rector, but a coward who fled.9Ge
V3L“That sounds interesting. But why would I need your help? The demons will keep appearing, and I’ll have no shortage of opportunities to fight them.”C7H9dm
MOsPsH“Are you sure of that?”RP0pR
aZz6UQoEven in the face of the rector’s certainty, Fernan didn’t blink.Gur306
zcv“Can you guarantee you’ll be there at the right time and place? That they’ll come asking for your help? That you’ll be able to defeat a demon and cleanse your tainted honor?”5CRx
rvCGz9p“……”iFJ9
1lrThe rector didn’t respond immediately. His expression hardened as he stroked his beard in silence.fVyu
cWO2naAfter a few seconds.1KYe
n1wp“If I accept your offer…”9Ow
4cMbR35A faint spark of resolve lit his gaze.rkXFMw
TupLVCP“…Will you guarantee I’ll get to hunt demons?”GZJ
lFPYARD“As long as your abilities aren’t the obstacle, I guarantee it.”N3TV
ayMCJfiAh, of course. If you fail due to lack of skill, that’s not my responsibility. You understand that, don’t you?PYlSeLY
RMhJkm“You’re saying…”9IKbc6
fXylxW“Yes. I know.”MxeU3Nw
3POvFernan nodded.b35ozGD
ouyp“I know where the corrupt are weaving new plots.”ohn
CB0wvAnd also—QPsi56
jwV“I know where they plan to summon the demons.”UH9Xj4
UNv7mxFernan recalled the prophecy he had received two days ago.E5e7dVJ
tfJH***HaS
oPIfNButterfly Effect.Az6f
ZwyRHgaThe flap of a butterfly’s wings can cause a typhoon on the other side of the world.mlbGf
R6vSmall actions capable of triggering enormous consequences.1bMUbJV
Pit3Fernan had fought to survive after discovering his own downfall.4ICXjq
QWrxkE4He altered countless futures and, in the end, managed to erase the one where he was supposed to fall.FUq
TUFABut the price had not been small.o2A
5ZZQqKDThe entire future had twisted, and the Academy suffered the most severe attack in its history.GPaM0Y
5fQuThe victims were countless, and there was no choice but to shut it down temporarily.6wjUa
WiNVAt first, he thought it was his fault.3O1qVOM
XOfLQHe soon realized it wasn’t.9BfCi
DkEProfessor Dominique had been working at the Academy for nine years.b9rrO
j8YWBeing an avatar of Dantalion, something like this would have happened sooner or later.B4vjJ
q6SAll Fernan had done was bring the catastrophe forward.MUn5
REeXnpAnd there he understood something.6H2t56
6kcd‘Even if the future changes, the summoning of demons is inevitable.’uXpscRB
NKdyBFWThe summoning is not a one-day affair. It requires preparation, energy, and time.xHcS2
hmOB1uThat’s why, even if the variables change, stopping it once initiated is nearly impossible.D3DOoU
LntDespite purifying the World Tree, Andromalius was summoned.DjswY
q3hv7gKEven though the future changed, Flauros was summoned and appeared elsewhere.Izj5
6pJmfDSo Fernan was certain.8Qs
wBjuThe summoning itself would not disappear, even if everything else changed.dYxa
bCGmYo[…]IjKo
6Nb6KCnThe first vision of the prophecy spoke of Aint’s victory in the jousting tournament and Luina Bercheff’s fall into darkness.4Lz
x5aBut thanks to Fernan, Aint didn’t even participate, and Luina did not fall, as her house was not destroyed.ttsaWD
3TUKThe second vision showed Aint approaching Duke Ivonne after Fernan’s downfall, strengthening the alliance between Armian and the duke. But that future had also changed.X18BG
30aUrWhat mattered was the third vision.mPiC
QpzZ[…]TaE
nOH4One morning, on his way to the Pellenberg mansion, Aint opened a newspaper and read.uTfRG
ZASJE3【Demon descends upon the Kingdom of Linelt! The south of the kingdom turned into monster land.】vHS
CiR【Royal army in retreat. Asking for help from the Alliance.】v0BMr
XbtwG【The demon behind the chaos in Linelt the 62nd demon, Valac.】uXfdPI
NDVi【Kimaris and Decarabia head to Linelt. The demons seek to unite. They must be stopped before they succeed.】dGHrq7A
GreM【The allied army, previously preparing to reclaim Bercheff, now marches toward Linelt. Three Royal Knights and five Archmages lead the offensive.】rrbko
RVWVnIt was practically total war.1O2Jwv
Ox9eLdiThree demons versus the first allied army.qTGcxi
f9F8c— We must stop it. When demons gather, they strengthen each other.8Q2xQo
5Sy2Ou— The joining of three demons would be the worst-case scenario.Y0M0c
WkUuNFortunately, humans were aware of the gravity and had mobilized their maximum strength.FkG
1XO8F— But if they still fail, it will be the end of humanity.Db1z8lv
ESgbNH— You must go, Aint. To eliminate any risk.c5x5r
6iiMwFernan had turned to the rector because of this third prophecy.IWm
7e6LAThe demon would be summoned.M6qK
1dZPerhaps it wouldn’t ravage Linelt as in the original history, but the summoning itself would occur.M9x3925
AbmIyN7Of course, there were differences.bB8o
r1Wx1pIn this new future, Kimaris and Decarabia were not present, and the attack on Linelt had not yet taken place.tLzpu
rvhmHOMost likely, the demons were preparing the summoning at that very moment.nDCHc9
iNAodZThat’s why they had to act first: to prevent it or kill the demon the moment it appeared.CH7JYno
mT5E26In the end—msSMdzU
pvZecf“All right. If what you say is true, I will support Professor Rosalia.”12JP
9bDLjxThe rector accepted Fernan’s proposal.csqn
jMqu***5rQpRVK
880tHe was attracting more and more attention.XWc8Wau
vNNiEs8“It’s Aint!”QZQbj0c
CFLHtLD“Where’s the Saint Bird?”6FL
ycZV“Student Aint, would you eat with me just once…?”fX51ktV
rRBQWd“Recently, Armian…”dP0
IYkR“Senior Aint! Please, just let me shake your hand…!”w3pAMu
zp1PIt was enough for him to step outside for people to swarm around him instantly.lsSIWF
6nDaTEven if he tried to avoid them, someone was always nearby—while walking, eating, even going to the bathroom.gnj1
pBNpEven so, he didn’t go out of his way to avoid them.u3V
D6Ohi0— You must get used to it, Aint.FONCZr
njx— The emperor is the one who stands tall before everyone.H7rm
QbTHe knew he had to change, and although only a few days had passed, he was adapting quickly.QV6NA
ocFfuzNow he could eat calmly while ignoring dozens of eyes fixed on him.BF6pKzY
25KU4— And get indigestion just from that?8ii3
SEoT‘Compared to before, when I couldn’t even take a bite from the discomfort, this is major progress.’cBWo
I9wQHEHe had even asked others to at least not disturb him during meals.J1DKDo
aBltTmDAnd so it was now people respected his request and watched from a distance, not sitting next to him or trying to touch him like last time.xOEq2YA
0IgXHal— And to think they say that just shaking his hand brings good luck and protects you from magic. Absurd.aseuCo
jDzSg— Well, a thousand years ago there were rumors like that too.aJtF
yCAKMF3‘I can’t help it. If it gives them some peace of mind, it’s fine.’qFOCL
02eUbwThen a shadow cast itself over the table. Someone dragged a chair and sat across from him with total nonchalance.tN9
BMBVqx“Se… Senior?”jLFCoX
qVq“Lasagna? Wow, that looks tasty.”Q6Z
htqp5ypIt was Fernan.G7R1Z3X
i4n“It’s Fernan.”IJJ2KB
Q7Ypnx“What he has around his neck—is that the Ego Golem?”KmR2
oxZHrwu“Are Aint and Fernan close?”ZUtQdMo
oZi3pThe murmurs around them intensified.EZ0e
eiRYSnap. Fernan snapped his fingers, and a transparent silence barrier rose between them and the crowd.hIpIp2T
hPDOcOa“What’s going on?”0xDg
FJ5Qy6“Do I need a reason to come see you?”EAwQ
uGDlf“No, it’s not that.”MKLa9H4
tKz“Actually, there is one.”igeNtLu
aDbfW“……”NXc2fHe
ap4hFernan gave a sideways smile and got straight to the point.bxWtzRU
VWlD“Aint, doesn’t it infuriate you to see the Academy reduced to this state?”F4F
RLqIMHt“Of course it does.”psZZm
C3m“Then, wouldn’t you like to come with me to hunt a demon?”qbFr
kEnBB“…A demon?”r3ht
823Ji“Yes.”eDPvvrr
nyorFernan nodded calmly.q4kuO
WD8“If they hit us once, it’s only fair we hit them back.”z0R
What did you think of this chapter?
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
0 Comments
There are no comments yet. Be the first!