Chapter 255

The city of Bellak, one of the satellite towns of the capital, had become the kingdom’s temporary seat.

“We’ve arrived.”

The carriage stopped in front of an elegant tea salon owned by the royal family.

When Fernan stepped down and entered, the manager, already informed, discreetly led him to a private room.

“Sorry for the delay.”

“No problem.”

Princess Yuli of Linelt offered him a glass of cold water.

“If we had to choose the busiest person in Linelt today, nine out of ten would pick you. I’m grateful you made time to see me.”

As Fernan sat down, the food was served immediately.

“Please, eat. The chef here is quite good.”

“Gladly.”

Fernan tasted the dish. Just as she had said, it was quite good.

“The reason I called you today is to give you something in return.”

“I suspected as much.”

Yuli picked up a piece of river fish and brought it to her mouth.

“We’ve already entrusted the Golden Turtle Company with the capital’s reconstruction and the emergency aid program, and yet you haven’t turned anything down, huh?”

Rebuilding the capital required far more effort and money than building a new one from scratch.

Moreover, the aid program that lent money to hundreds of thousands of citizens while charging interest to the kingdom had already brought massive profits to the company.

“Your calculation is curious, Your Highness.”

“What do you mean?”

“The reconstruction was an inevitable project. The capital is the historical symbol of Linelt—someone had to handle it, and we simply won the bid.”

Of course, his influence had helped, but officially, that was the case.

“It’s the same with the aid program. Even if we hadn’t participated, the kingdom would have had to create a fund for its people. They couldn’t just abandon them.”

Had they done so, it would have been grounds for rebellion.

“So yes, the Golden Turtle Company made enormous profits, but did the Kingdom of Linelt lose anything from it?”

No. Even though the economic burden increased, the interest rates offered by the company were unusually low.

Only the scale of the loan made the total seem overwhelming.

In normal times, that alone would have been a massive reward.

But these weren’t normal times—the value of the Kingdom of Linelt surpassed any legitimate contract.

“I suppose that’s why Your Highness wanted to organize this meeting, isn’t it?”

Indeed, it hadn’t been Fernan who requested the meeting—it was Princess Yuli herself.

“…Let’s say I had my doubts. If you had already told me you’d received something, I would’ve simply left.”

“And coming in with such an obvious air of wanting to give something—how could I refuse?”

“…I don’t think I’m cut out for politics.”

“The First Prince will manage just fine.”

Yuli pulled out a key ring from her purse and placed it on the table.

“Take it.”

“What is this?”

“Do you know Bartia?”

“The major city of the Kingdom of Helfen? Yes, one of the five main cities along with the capital.”

The Kingdom of Helfen was in the southwest of the Lutar continent, bordering the Marquessate of Fridian.

“The royal family has a mansion registered under a false name in Bartia. In its basement, there’s a vault.”

She pushed the key ring toward him.

“From today on, both the mansion and the vault are yours. My father grants them to you.”

“Well.”

Fernan immediately understood that this vault was the same one he had seen in the prophecy.

He had finally obtained what he was looking for.

A smile formed on his face.

“You really like money. Do you know what face you just made?”

Yuli murmured with amusement.

“What face did I make?”

“The face of a child who finally gets the toy he wanted.”

“I think keeping a bit of innocence when enjoying what you love isn’t a bad thing—like how you like handsome men, for example.”

“W-What?”

The princess flinched at the sudden comment.

“Relax, I didn’t mean to offend. It’s natural to feel attracted to someone beautiful. After all, appearance is also a form of power.”

“That’s why I want to ask you something.”

“What is it?”

“Are you in love with Aint?”

“……!”

Yuli’s face lit up.

In a tiny voice, barely audible, she replied.

“…Is it that obvious?”

“A little, yes.”

“…Oh god.”

She covered her face with both hands.

“If you’d like, I can help a bit.”

“Really?”

Normally, Fernan wouldn’t have gotten involved, but after all he had gained in Linelt, he could afford the favor.

“I could arrange a meeting, but the rest is up to you.”

“Of course!”

Yuli’s eyes sparkled with determination, the same fervor Fernan showed when it came to money.

“Ah, by the way… have you thought about filming a commercial?”

“A commercial?”

If anything stood out about Yuli, it was her white, soft, radiant skin—the kind of skin every woman envied.

Thinking about that, Fernan smiled as he imagined the perfect slogan.

“Even amid the chaos brought by the arrival of demons, skin must remain flawless!”

“Me? I use Flos products.”

Flos was the Golden Turtle Company’s luxury cosmetics brand.

“So, are you saying you’ll only organize the meeting with Aint if I film the commercial?”

“Of course. And the compensation for participating will be generous.”

“Alright.”

“I appreciate your cooperation.”

“The pleasure is mine.”

Yuli and Fernan’s eyes met, reflecting the same calculating gleam.

***

After a successful negotiation, Fernan stepped out onto the street.

He couldn’t believe a “tree that gave so much without asking anything in return” actually existed.

For a moment, he thought he might just spend the rest of his life in Linelt.

“Oh, brother!”

Someone called out to him.

It was Jace Vines, the Saint of the Dragon God Cult, with his fiery red hair and bright green eyes.

“What brings you here?”

“I had a matter to attend to. And you? Still on relief duty?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Since the demons had descended and destroyed the capital, all the continent’s attention had turned to Linelt.

Among them was also the Dragon God Cult, which had dispatched a large relief mission led by its Saint.

It had already been a week since then.

“How are the refugees?”

“Not too bad. At first, there weren’t enough shelters, but more and more temporary tents are going up. And most importantly, thanks to the kingdom’s announcement, people have regained their spirit.”

What drains a person most isn’t the present hardship, but the lack of hope.

But now, the citizens of the capital knew that once reconstruction was complete, they would be given a home equal to what they had before, free of charge.

That had restored their faith in the future.

It would be a colossal expense, but after it was revealed that the second prince had conspired with corrupt officials and destroyed the capital, the king had no other choice.

Fortunately, the people saw him as a victim—a father betrayed by his own son.

“That makes me glad.”

“Ah, by the way, did you hear that an emergency meeting of the prince-electors has been convened?”

“Yes, I heard.”

“It seems a real alliance might finally form this time.”

“Most likely.”

With the current situation, it would be absurd for one not to form.

Regardless of who led it, the process would move forward.

“Oh, I also heard that Professor Rosalia is going to challenge the test to become an Archmage…”

“That’s right.”

Her opponent was Bador Elverto, Duke of the Kingdom of Helfen and a court mage, carefully chosen by the king himself, taking both strength and magical compatibility into account.

“The Dragon God Cult is very excited. It’s been a long time since such a challenger appeared, and the emergence of a new Archmage in these demonic times holds great meaning.”

Royal Knights were appointed by the emperor, while Archmages were designated by the pope of the Dragon God Cult.

The process was simple—the challenger had to duel one of the ten superhuman beings before the pope and a large audience, in a near-death battle.

“Congratulations.”

“There’s nothing to congratulate me for.”

“Oh, come on. Everyone knows you’ve supported the professor all along, both materially and personally.”

Jace lowered his voice.

“I heard you plan to propose her as the new rector. Is that true?”

“The Dragon God Cult’s information network is impressive.”

“I’m flattered.”

The Saint smiled broadly.

“I wish you success in everything.”

“Thank you.”

“Oh, do you need more holy water? I heard you’ve been using quite a bit lately.”

“I’ll buy as much as possible under the name of the Golden Turtle Company.”

“Well, the price has gone up a bit—demand is high.”

“That’s not a problem.”

“As expected of you, brother.”

After all, Fernan was buying it with someone else’s money.

A profitable business for both parties—Pellenberg and the Dragon God Cult.

“And where are you headed now?”

“I’m going to see Luina.”

Probably not in Linelt, but that didn’t matter.

***

Inside the moving carriage, Fernan reviewed a new report.

“Wow, quite a few applications.”

More than 150,000 people had applied for emergency relief funds.

A huge number—and the amount of money requested was just as large.

Even for the Golden Turtle Company, gathering that much capital at once wasn’t easy.

If not for the royal treasures embezzled by Patrick Pirandello, it would’ve been impossible.

And even then, Fernan’s personal resources were nearly depleted.

The problem was that more requests were pouring in every day.

The money was beginning to run out.

‘If things get tough, I’ll have to use the Kingdom of Helfen’s funds I got in Linelt. I need more capital.’

His confidence always came from having deep pockets.

“Is that why you’re going to see Luina?”

“Yes.”

Infusing mana into his magic register, a video was projected.

It showed the moment Luina pierced Valac’s fist with her sword, when the demon bit down in fury, and still, the blade suffered only a minor scratch.

The hilt, barely marked, had even gained a distinctive touch—like a personal signature.

With a good promotional campaign and an auction, that weapon would be worth a fortune.

“If I sell this, I’ll be able to breathe easy with my personal finances.”

“And do you think Luina will give it to you?”

“There are two adamantite alloy swords. I’ll give her the other one in exchange.”

And if he offered her a share of the profits, he was sure she’d agree.

“No.”

“……”

His prediction was completely off.

“…Why not?”

“That sword is mine. It’s very precious to me.”

“Of course I understand that. That’s why I’m offering you another one made of adamantite.”

“I want that one.”

“They’re identical. Made by the same dwarf, just days apart.”

The two swords were practically twins—same weight, same size.

“A knight wields their sword since childhood. They grow up with it, wield it day after day. Even if we train with many weapons, the sword is the essence of a knight.”

“I know.”

“Then you must know a sword has special meaning for a knight.”

“I know that too.”

That’s why Fernan had given her one.

Not a bow, not an axe, not armor—but a sword.

“Then it’ll be easier to explain.”

Luina unsheathed her weapon.

The adamantite metal gleamed under the sunlight with majestic brilliance.

“This was the first sword you gave me.”

“So I won’t sell it in any auction.”

And without giving him a chance to argue, she turned and walked away.

“I suspected it—a young master who only thinks about money understands nothing about women.”

Hyde shook his head.

“No.”

Fernan interrupted him.

“This is the moment to recall an old merchant saying.”

‘If a problem can’t be solved, maybe it’s not for lack of logic—but lack of money.’

“Sir, that sounds terrible. This isn’t a matter that can be solved with money…”

But Fernan cut him off, yelling.

“If you don’t like 20%, I’ll give you 30%!”

Luina didn’t stop.

“40%!”

She quickened her pace.

Fernan gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and shouted.

“50%! I’ll give you 50%, I can’t go higher!”

Then, Luina stopped.

“…Are you serious?”

Hyde’s eyes widened.

She turned around and stood before Fernan.

“Alright.”

“…You’ve truly become a merchant, Luina Bercheff. I lost. Completely.”

“Being by your side all these years taught me a few things.”

Luina unfastened the sword from her belt.

“How could the noble Luina Bercheff, who once revered justice and loyalty, end up like this? You’re already paying your debt by fighting alongside me against the demons.”

“I’m not that greedy for money.”

“Then why?”

“Because only by paying off my debt completely can I consider myself your equal.”

She fastened the new sword to her waist.

“What?”

“I don’t need that 50%. Use it to settle the debt House Bercheff owes to Pellenberg.”

With that, she smiled softly and walked away.

Fernan watched her in silence until she disappeared completely.

“…They really don’t seem like a normal couple.”

Murmured Hyde.