A Cadet Becomes a Prophet?! — Chapter 250

Chapter 250

The‍ sudden appearance of‌ Wooden, falling from⁠ the sky, was‌⁠ something no one⁠ had foreseen.

But‍⁠ precisely because of‌⁠ that, it was‌⁠ so unexpected—and so‌ lethal.

— Kyu!

“It can’t be…!”

Wooden’s⁠ innocent smile contrasted‍‌ with Valac’s twisted⁠ face.

Wooden’s‍ arrival could only‌‍ mean one thing—Valac’s‍‌⁠ two monsters, Valoco⁠‌ and Valoki, had been defeated.

Moreover,‌‌‌ the golem had‌⁠ precisely timed his‍⁠‌ strike to the‌‍⁠ moment Fernan’s white‍ light barrier ripped the demonic energy⁠ from the enemy,⁠ slicing through that‌⁠⁠ breach with his⁠ massive sword.

For‌‌ Valac, who had⁠ been preparing to receive Luina, it‌‍ was like lightning⁠ from a clear‍⁠⁠ sky.

Wooden’s‍ colossal sword was⁠ violent on its‍‍ own, but its⁠ edge was charged‍ with pure mana—a‌ force nearly opposite‍‌ to demonic magic.‌ The result was‍‍ a force of⁠ absolute destruction.

The blow shattered the‌ fist Valac used‌‌‌ to block and‍‍ severed his entire⁠‌‍ right shoulder.

Under‍ normal circumstances, it⁠ would’ve healed instantly—but‍ the enemy’s flames prevented regeneration.

This‌‌‍ wasn’t a good situation.

“A⁠‍ mere toy like‌ you…!”

Valac‍ extended his demonic‍‍‍ energy. Thousands of‍‌ dark tendrils surged‌ toward the white‍⁠ barrier to break‍‍ through.

Slash.‍‍

The‌‌ claws of the‌ lion of Bercheff⁠⁠ slashed through the⁠⁠ flames, cutting dozens of serpents in⁠ one blow, charging⁠ straight ahead.

The⁠⁠‌ remaining serpents swarmed⁠ like a hive,‌ diving at their⁠‌ prey.

The⁠ moment Luina’s body⁠ was covered by⁠‌ demonic energy and⁠‍ faltered, Wooden’s sword⁠⁠ came down again.

— Kyu!

The‍⁠ serpents were cut⁠‍‍ in a single strike.

Taking‍ advantage of that‍‍ brief opening, the‌ lion of Bercheff bared its even⁠⁠ larger fangs.

‘This‍ is dangerous.’

Valac‌ raised his left⁠ arm to block.‌

The sword grazed his‍ forearm and cut it.

‘He’s‌‍ not of Armian,‍‍ but he has‌‍ the power of‍‍ a natural enemy‌ of demons.’

Why?‍‌

Why⁠ someone like him?⁠ How?

Even⁠ as a mage,⁠ his level was⁠‌ nothing to envy‍‌ compared to a true descendant of⁠ Armian.

It‍‌ was like seeing that cursed figure from a thousand‍‌ years ago.

Valac‍⁠ had thought that,⁠ even if Fernan⁠ possessed such power,⁠‍⁠ it wouldn’t amount to much.

Crack!‌

His⁠‌ scales tore away,‌ and a deep‌‌ wound split across⁠‍ his abdomen.

“You‌‌‍ think I’ll fall‌⁠ so easily!”

“I⁠‌‌ am Valac, sixty-second‌ demon of Hell,‍ commander of thirty‌ infernal legions.”

From‍⁠‌ the open wound, dozens of serpents‍‌ burst out, hurling‍ themselves at Luina.

Caught⁠ off guard by the attack, she‌‍⁠ threw up a wall of energy⁠⁠ and quickly retreated.⁠

‘I‍⁠ have to use‌ this moment to‌‌‌ escape…’

So much time had‍ passed since his‌⁠ descent—he couldn’t die⁠ here.

But⁠‌⁠ his opponent wasn’t‌⁠⁠ only Luina.

The⁠ giant raised his‍ sword again and‍ brought it down‌‌‍ with all his‌‍ weight.

He‍ couldn’t dodge it.⁠

The‌ enemy’s flames, the⁠ open wounds, the⁠‌⁠ loss of demonic‍ energy—all of it⁠‍ slowed his movements.‍

So,‍‌ he opened his‌‌ mouth.

He⁠ gathered all his⁠‍ remaining demonic energy‌ and unleashed it‌ in one burst.

────!‌

A black pillar tore⁠ through the sky,‌ pierced the white‌‍ barrier, and punched‌‌ a hole through‍ the clouds.

The⁠‍‍ golem, struck by the darkness, vanished without a trace.‌⁠‌

— Kyu?

Not‌ really—it had never hit him.

In⁠‍‍ front of Valac‌⁠‌ appeared a small‍ golem barely a meter tall, brandishing⁠ its sword.

“What…?”‍

He⁠ couldn’t believe it.⁠

A mere toy mocking‍⁠ him?

Crack!‌

Still⁠⁠ stunned, he reacted‍ immediately.

The‍ golem’s sword struck⁠ his wings, which‍ spread like blades‍‍ and lashed out.‍

But‍⁠ the impact turned‌⁠ against him.

The recoil flung him‍‍ backward while the‌ golem, now nearly‍ five meters tall, stood firm, planted‌ like a mountain.‌

“Damn⁠‌ worthless toy…!”

But‌ he had no‌ time to shout.

Slash.

His⁠ legs were severed.‌ His body lost‌‍‍ balance and collapsed.⁠

He‌‌ tried to stabilize‌ himself by flapping‍‌ his wings, but‍‌ at that instant,⁠‍‌ his defense vanished.⁠

— Kyu!

A blue line traced⁠⁠ across his neck.‍

Just‍‍ once.

“Huh…?”‍‌

A knight who has⁠ pushed their sword‌ to the limit‍ only needs one chance to behead‍ a demon.

“Fernan!”‌

And‍‌ right after, the‍‍ white light devoured‌ everything.

***⁠⁠

Boom!

Booom!

Crash!‌‍

“T-the‌⁠ kingdom…”

Everything was being destroyed.‍

The⁠⁠‌ capital had become⁠⁠‌ the battlefield of⁠‍ monsters.

The⁠ symbol of the Kingdom of Linelt,⁠‌ a city that⁠ once shone with‌⁠ splendor, was now⁠ reduced to a heap of ruins.⁠

“Ah…”‍⁠

“Your⁠⁠ Majesty!”

“Father!”⁠⁠

The‍‍ king staggered, supported‍ by the first prince and Princess⁠‍ Yuli.

“The‍ capital…! The city‌ of five hundred‍ years…!”

Tears‌⁠ fell without end.‌‌

He⁠‍ couldn’t believe what‌‌ he was seeing.⁠‍

The‍ buildings were leveled⁠ with a single⁠ gesture from the demons.

The‍ Archmage’s lightning fried⁠‌⁠ everything in its‌‌ path.

The‌‌ swords of the‌‍ great knights carved‍‍‍ massive wounds across‌ the city.

And‌ the steps of‌ the Lizard and⁠ the Golem shook⁠‌⁠ the very foundations.

The‌‌ capital buckled, broke,⁠ and was crushed‍ like a mere‌⁠ toy.

What…‍‌ what a desolate‌⁠⁠ reality.

He had spent years⁠ bedridden by illness, and upon waking,‍ he found his⁠⁠‌ country plunged into‍ chaos by the‍ corrupt.

And⁠ now, demons walked‍ upon the capital.⁠⁠‌

Could‍‍ this still be⁠‌‌ called a kingdom?⁠⁠‌

“Look⁠ at it, Gerlan!‍‌ This is the‍‌ Linelt you so⁠‌ desired!”

His‍ anger turned to‍ his second son.‍

The‌ man who had⁠ poisoned the king‌ with demonic energy,⁠ who had driven‍ the crown prince⁠⁠ mad and handed‌ the kingdom over‌ to heretics.

“Perhaps⁠‍ a rotten country deserves to disappear.”⁠⁠

“What…⁠‌ what did you just say?”

“If⁠‍‍ I had been‍⁠ the heir, this⁠ would never have⁠ happened.”

“Shut your mouth, insolent‌⁠ wretch!”

“It’s⁠ your fault! Even‍ though my talent⁠ surpassed that useless‍ fool’s, you always⁠ protected him just‍‌⁠ for being the‍‍ firstborn…”

Smack!‌‍

The⁠⁠ king struck him‌ across the face⁠ with a punch,‍ knocking the second‍ prince down.

“You‌‍‍ think I’ll reclaim‌‍ this country with‍ fists? Everything is‍ lost! Everyone will⁠ die! Linelt will‍ fall!”

“Curse‍⁠ you!”

The⁠ king stomped on‌ Gerlan, but the‍⁠ crown prince and‍ Princess Yuli stopped him.

“Father, you must stay‌⁠ strong.”

“Your‌⁠ Majesty, the worst‌ has already passed.‍‌‍ The worst…”

“The‌⁠ worst? What could‌ be worse than⁠ watching the capital collapse?”

“That‌ the entire kingdom‍‌ is destroyed and‌⁠‌ demons rule this⁠⁠ land.”

“……”⁠‍

Many might have thought that was already⁠⁠‌ the worst.

But‍ there was a future far more⁠ horrifying.

A future where the‍ second prince became‌ king, the monarch‌ and his elder‌⁠ children died, and‌‌ demons took control‌ of the Kingdom of Linelt.

If‍‍⁠ Fernan Pellenberg, Aint‌ Armian, the Mercenary‌ King Garrett Schreiner,‍ and the Academy’s‍‍‌ rector hadn’t intervened,‌ that future would‍ have become reality.‌‍

“Yes,‌ Your Majesty. Thanks⁠‌ to Fernan’s advice,‍ we managed to‌‍ save a large‌‍ part of the‍‍ people. Rebuilding the‌ capital won’t be⁠ impossible.”

Reconstructing‍‌ the capital, of⁠‌ course, wouldn’t be‌⁠ easy.

But‍⁠ as long as⁠ the citizens of⁠ the capital remained‌ alive, hope still existed.

“Wake⁠ the king and‍ evacuate the capital⁠⁠ by royal decree.”‌

That’s‌ what Fernan had entrusted to Antenor‌‌⁠ and Princess Yuli,‌‌‌ emphasizing that it‌ must be the‌‌ highest priority.

When‍ they asked why,⁠‌ he replied:

“They‍ might summon a demon.”

“In‍⁠‍ the capital?”

“In⁠‌ the capital.”

Those‍ words were chilling.‌‍‌

They‌ asked if he could prevent it, and he said‌‍⁠ he would do⁠‌ everything he could—but‍‌‌ couldn’t guarantee it.‌⁠

“But‍ is that even⁠⁠ possible? No matter‌‌ how dire things‌ are…”

“The⁠⁠ second prince is‌ nothing more than‌ a puppet controlled‌‌ by Count Patrick Pirandello. Do you‍‌ really believe there’s⁠ no chance?”

When‍ the king heard he had to⁠ flee the capital‍ as soon as⁠‌ he awoke, he‍‌ was outraged.

Still,‍‍ the desperate pleas⁠‍ of the crown‌‌ prince and the‍‍ princess eventually convinced him.

And indeed, the demon⁠‍ was summoned.

Not⁠‌ one, but two.‌

It‍ was a calamity.‍

No‍‌‌ kingdom on the‌‍ continent could have anticipated the sudden‌ appearance of two‍ demons.

But Fernan was prepared.‌‍‍

‘Not‌ just the Mercenary⁠ King, but also⁠ the Academy’s rector‍ and Aint Armian…’‍

In‌ addition to them,‌‌ there was the giant golem who⁠ had shaken the‍⁠‍ continent, and Luina⁠ Bercheff, a knight who, in Princess⁠ Yuli’s eyes, could‍ rival the Royal‌ Knights.

It‍ was as if‍ Fernan had known‍ in advance that‍ those two demons‌ would appear and‌‌ had prepared accordingly.⁠

‘No,⁠ that would be‍ absurd.’

If he had known‌ before arriving in‍‍ Linelt, it would‌‍‌ mean he deliberately⁠⁠‍ allowed the descent—and‍⁠‍ that made no⁠⁠ sense.

After⁠ all, who could⁠‍ predict the summoning⁠‍ of not just‍ one demon—but two?‍

‘He’s‌⁠ fought the corrupt‍‌ and demons many⁠‍ times—he prepared for‌ the worst.’

And‌ that preparation was‌‍ what was saving‍⁠‌ Linelt.

Whether⁠ it would ultimately⁠ lead to hope‌⁠ or despair, they‍⁠‍ didn’t know—but for‌ now, there was‍‌⁠ a light in the darkness.

Her gaze landed on‌ that hope.

— Kyu!

The⁠ golem smashing the‌ heads of the⁠‌ two-headed lizard was,‌ without a doubt,‍ the most striking‌⁠ sight.

The⁠ streams of demonic⁠ energy raining down,‍ the rocks blocking⁠ them, and the‌‌ knight running between them created a brutal scene.

The⁠⁠ battle between Mercenary‌ King Garrett Schreiner‌⁠ and the creature‌ responsible for the‌‌ kingdom’s destruction was‌ so fast that‌ Yuli could barely⁠ follow it with⁠‍ her eyes.

But⁠‌ among them all,‌ the one who‍ shone the brightest⁠ was Aint.

His⁠ holy light—the radiance‍‌ that repelled the‍⁠ darkness.

Aint‍ Armian shone like‌ a true hero,⁠ the hope of⁠ Linelt.

Yuli‍‌ thought:

He’s⁠ also handsome. Even⁠ in the midst⁠⁠ of chaos, he⁠ shines.

“Everyone, prepare for battle!”‌‍

Antenor‌⁠ Linelt’s voice rang‍ out.

The⁠ monsters that had fallen like meteors⁠‍ across the capital‍‍ began to move,‍‌ seeking lives to‌ devour.

Faced⁠‌ with their horrific‍ appearance, Yuli remembered⁠‌ more of Fernan’s‌ words:

“Demons‌⁠ rarely appear alone.‌ If one is⁠ summoned, monsters will⁠‌ always follow. You‌⁠ must be prepared for that.”

He⁠⁠ had also said‍ that preserving the‍ capital depended on‍⁠ how well they‌⁠‍ could contain them.‌

‘But‍⁠ what’s the point?’‍ Yuli thought, uncertain.‍⁠

If⁠⁠ the battles between‍⁠ demons and heroes,‌ between the lizard⁠‍⁠ and the golem, were already destroying⁠ everything—what could they,‌ mere humans, do?‍‌

The‍ fight between the‌‍ monsters and the‍⁠⁠ kingdom’s army wouldn’t⁠⁠ change the overall‌ outcome.

And yet.

“Oh,‍‌ and as for‌ the capital’s reconstruction⁠‍ after the disaster—leave‌ it to the⁠⁠ Golden Turtle Guild.”‌‍

They‍ had to do everything they could.

“A-abba!”‍‌

Suddenly,‍‌ she remembered Fernan’s⁠ final words, and⁠‍ her face went‍ pale.

“It⁠‌‍ might not make⁠⁠⁠ much sense, but‍ we must do⁠ everything we can!”‍

“What‌⁠‍ are you talking‌‌ about all of⁠ a sudden?”

“Fernan‍ Pellenberg asked to‍ personally handle the capital’s reconstruction! If⁠⁠ we want to⁠ keep costs down,‌‍ we must…!”

“……!”⁠‍

At⁠ any other time,⁠ it wouldn’t have‍ mattered.

Although‍‍ the Pellenberg family‌‍ had a reputation‍‌ for being loan⁠‍ sharks, their other⁠⁠ companies, like the⁠‍ Golden Turtle Guild, operated on honesty⁠‌⁠ and trust.

Otherwise,‍ it never would’ve⁠‌ become an international‍‌‍ trade consortium.

But this time was‌ different.

It‍ wasn’t just a reconstruction contract—it was‍‍⁠ a form of⁠ repayment.

A gesture of gratitude⁠ toward the one⁠‍‍ who saved the kingdom.

Even‍ if he charged‍ a fortune, they couldn’t complain.

If not for Fernan,‌‍‍ they wouldn’t have just lost the⁠⁠ capital—they would’ve lost‌ the entire kingdom.‌⁠

Nothing⁠ he requested could⁠ be considered excessive.‌

But‍ her thoughts were⁠‍ abruptly interrupted.

───!‌‌

The‌ monsters began to attack.