Chapter 259
2IFOThe Bell of Pasa.gQ0cG7I
7bLG3AIt is said that when its sound rings out, monsters vanish and demons lose much of their power.dC00
hy7nQeaOf course, it wasn’t as if a single chime would make monsters disappear, but if it at least weakened demonic energy, that was already extremely useful.BcVDp
CWbAnd finally, it was finished.CKjGCMI
3UNm46“Is it really true?”vgao
cSJF“Why would I lie to you?”lAzSdO
sqOxThe Pope continued speaking.H0R
I1PMX6“In theory, it was rebuilt exactly as described in the ancient texts. Though it hasn’t yet been tested in practice.”wPyJ
jEcbvy0They couldn’t test it—there were no demons near the Cult of the Dragon God.ePLL
RhqLqWpAnd if there were, it would mean the Empire had fallen that very day.PVxKQUU
aTFqt“You know that next week is the Electors’ Conference, right?
At that meeting, they’ll discuss where to install the Bell of Pasa. Where do you think it should be placed?”MNv
OIbyX“Of course, on the front line.”s87IPsg
j1d8js5“And do you know exactly where the front line is?”4XYaR9
u7SHkA“No, I don’t.”3AR
d2MDIupHe didn’t know for sure, but he had a hunch.7B4
R4WThe prophecy mentioned a single word—north.lGawOJC
2Vl6At first, Fernan thought it referred to the north of Bercheff, a region infested with monsters, always on the brink of chaos.Loek65X
ScMIn fact, in the past, armies of demons and beasts had descended from there.sgM
a6OThBut the vision Fernan had when he obtained that sacred text showed a moment much further in the future.aYJ
WybzB7‘If we exclude the north of Bercheff, then…’hN6XkQ
J3YUBeyond that lay the northern kingdoms.gdE5Edl
pwIsBPerhaps the end of the world the prophecy spoke of would begin precisely there.B4SpBS
VA6LtAfter the Linelt incident, he couldn’t be sure those kingdoms hadn’t already been infiltrated by the corrupt.7yF9W
cgRDThat’s why he wanted to place the Bell of Pasa in the Kingdom of Linelt.YDIuC
TdbvvIf the demons began moving from the north, that would be the first place to be attacked—and also the source he could keep “squeezing” for a long time.bHj1mP
HsCw3Bm‘But it’ll be impossible.’CLey
3gpMThe Bell of Pasa was an imperial relic, a sacred symbol of the Empire.qRpH
eQORLLNo one would allow it to be installed in foreign territory.DjR
M6M8“Right. If we consider the demons appearing everywhere, there really is no clearly defined main front.”m5wW
LtndFor those who didn’t know the future, that was reasonable.juy
fIEz5pSo, in theory, placing it anywhere made sense.ppCQDr
Usr2gI“I’m sure the electors will choose the right location.”KyO
JLciEven though he said that, Fernan was already thinking of another plan—to ensure the Bell of Pasa was installed in Linelt, no matter what.6VHwAha
KFX‘Most of the materials used to make it were supplied by Pellenberg.’xYw04z
U18Actually, by himself—though under his house’s name.cpI
wQ5M‘Therefore, Pellenberg holds primary rights over the Bell.’OKY2
gdEPAnd if it wasn’t something completely absurd, his opinion would carry weight in the final decision.piSXhB
uR4E‘If I can obtain proof that the northern kingdoms are under corrupt influence…’QK3i76D
X7Oa‘If I show that demons and beasts are descending from there…’bgkc
ejUThen he could fully justify installing the Bell of Pasa in the Kingdom of Linelt—or at least on the northern border of the Empire.QnS
Aa41And if he managed to place it there, he could extract even more benefits from Linelt.ZqN
0LARH‘I’ll have to meet with my father.’K4k
5v1kW2He would gain time to delay the official decision on its location, and meanwhile gather the necessary evidence.ZzTha9
9TGyM5WWithout fail.gStRW4v
3sMGN‘I will never allow the Kingdom of Linelt to fall.’Yf1
vMCWith the investment he had made there, how could he let it collapse before getting his return?IULWZG4
H63***12Ks
3wBgZUiThe Cult of the Dragon God had two special secondary palaces.xyy8Pr
G7TThey were residences meant for participants of the Grand Duel of the Dragon God, and they usually remained unoccupied.wj4y
jIXBut this time, one of them had a special guest.Vaf
BRK“So, what do you think of life in the Cult?”aZBX0
4OT6ULrThe new resident, Rosalia Vienderk, who would occupy the room for a week, extended her hand without a word.HVIT
RPbhcuFernan placed in her palm an elegant wooden box with fine cigarettes.0umj
dXjjjhRosalia brought one to her lips and lit it.y1x
iQl“Isn’t smoking prohibited inside the Cult?”ykuIF
vJQ“Don’t be so uptight. In places where there are no rules, even an emperor can curse.”TUC7fUs
YATShe exhaled a thick cloud of smoke and sighed in relief.BX2fln9
1ViThe smoke, charged with magical energy, dispersed without leaving a trace or causing any harm.GRBnQa
hXvTBHn“How does it feel?”OIV
VXJX“Up until a moment ago, terrible.”bHdET0o
oRytO“And now?”hlxD
uc0Z92g“Wonderful.”LLxwuP
lcbI“That cigarette contains no addictive substances.”f8bUk
C2M“You’re still just as picky. After hunting two demons, you could at least be a little more relaxed.”KfmNDq
aeNrOURosalia finished the cigarette in seconds, stubbed it out in the ashtray, and took another.vrK6d7t
fOeuaQ“It was Aint who killed the demons.”D1hKQ
17vBDv“Please, spare me those lies.”n6sjFnS
LGSRosalia let out a sarcastic laugh.CPfRTQC
G4LJyh“So, when will you let me dissect you?”0VqzG4
fdk9Y“…I’d prefer if you stopped saying such horrible things.”u7nDCQX
x4LBgg“Don’t you find it curious? Aint Armian inherited his power by blood, but you—you got it suddenly, without any explanation. And to this day, you’ve refused to tell me the cause.”ygYgd
1C4Rd“It’s because of the Dragon Heart.”Y6K8
XAeThe cigarette slipped from her lips.Gwt
MfsZBefore it hit the ground, a swirl of sand gently caught it.YE5rIUi
qrpT7D“You almost ruined a very expensive rug.”EStuC
HXT7u“And I nearly wasted a good cigarette.”ZbBI8Pv
Kcr71VARosalia calmly picked it up and resumed smoking.rNhCuEb
DeWin“That’s the excuse you came up with?”AbHla
Br1IJ“What do you mean?”QRMe
2FK“After defeating Flauros and returning to the Academy, I asked you several times. And you never answered. That you do so only now can mean just one thing.”hjNW0Su
NjFA“That I finally found a believable excuse?”3WlvB
p7c9e“Exactly. I know you too well.”oQEysET
PTG“What a tiring relationship we have.”WuX
vl2q“But the part about the Dragon Heart is true.”3wdYF
KgQ“…Really?”fqP
eSio“Yes.”ADPd3V
V4TbSE“Impossible…”BZw
eOCkProfessor Rosalia Vienderk’s eyes opened wide. It was probably the day she had shown the most expressions in her entire life.LMW1aie
natqdT“Believe it or not, it’s the truth.”176dDV3
Lc3TL“After this duel, come to my lab.”WFKUfL
zZxIOrA“And who would go, when you make it so obvious you want to dissect me?”xQH
uUbwzh“I’m not going.”3FKzHhK
co5rFernan shook his head firmly.bEK
1Cg“A Dragon Heart, you say? Does that mean dragons really existed?”uq2k
U1P6LQ“Of course. Aren’t there religions that worship them and records that mention them on multiple occasions?”DhN
nTTr“I don’t believe in anything I haven’t seen with my own eyes.”fy0
IsMShe replied in a calm voice. In any case.L7Cr5rP
yPI3nU“Then, are you saying that Armian’s power also comes from a dragon? That the first emperor had a connection with them? And what’s the link between demons and dragons that demons would call them adversaries?”ovO
9ygzviOnce a mage’s curiosity was ignited, nothing could stop it.sTQ8E
zHbUAtVFernan, knowing she could get trapped in an endless spiral of theories, clapped his hands right in front of her face, snapping her out of her thoughts.08z
emkfu“That doesn’t matter now, does it? If you lose this duel, you won’t be able to try again for ten years.”9vQoB7P
H9WCbMVTo prevent reckless challenges, any aspirant who failed to reach the rank of Royal Knight or Archmage had to wait a decade before trying again.GAMQAUh
I9oE“Don’t worry. I have no intention of losing.”f1Z9qQ
d0Yp“I believe you.”i7hy
lpZAlFernan trusted that Rosalia would win with pride, but since her opponent was another Archmage, anxiety was inevitable.piA
9mEDByR“And you? Have you got everything ready?”zV67PFj
7Sr3guN“I managed to convince the rector. The rest is up to him.”OwshPIT
zNc1“If you’ve already persuaded him, that’s half the battle.”41kYw
Mm7“And the other half?”n5Ib
zAeI“That I become an Archmage.”PEa
xCiURosalia had waited for this moment for years.UxoG
PDmShe tossed Fernan a stack of documents—they were all the reports and data on her opponent, Bador Erbeto.PzjO
IyhmiaShe had finished all her preparations.PEiVU
BRMqgWZ“Trust me, Fernan.”9oO3q
XCQe“I’ll prove to you that your investments never fail.”r1FxVnm
0hFDg“Yes, I trust you. You must become an Archmage, professor.”t4qU
Z7zBecome an Archmage, then rector of the Academy, and beyond that.z2z
RRJInc6“Because you still have to reach the dream you desire so much.”KoZF9Pe
m42For her, becoming Archmage or rector were just intermediate steps.BmL8
sjLKcjShe wouldn’t stop halfway.eJFUep9
Qj29lNever.lWvS0
Blu***S9TW
t5XDD7Z【Professor Rosalia Vienderk of the Imperial Armian Academy challenges for the rank of Archmage. Will a new Archmage be born?】IdeJ
zgMF0“…Interesting.”5bS
Y51kDDuke Gransis lowered the newspaper with a marked smile on his face.LJR
Eau7pHis butler approached with a glass of wine and a tray of light cheese.JSZpt
dpLhc“Well said. That’s what’s expected of Vienderk blood.”sLB
GUc“The young lady has finally done it, my lord.”0BxEW9
MRFcqrG“Rosalia never attempts anything without a real chance. She will become an Archmage.”0RJjJ
GIjuyWith that, the Vienderk lineage would have three superhumans among their ranks—a Royal Knight and two Archmages.7dV
NjI“That means our family will have more superhumans than Pellenberg or even Schwaben.”QNGMYmw
81NTeY“Congratulations, my lord. This is a great day for House Vienderk.”FtuAO
6NZl“Vienderk will rise higher than ever. Higher than Pellenberg, higher than Schwaben.”UtJkN4
QxxAVAnd, of course, far higher than that ruined house now trying to rise again using the demon upheaval as an excuse—Armian.UISC
lYRStiThe butler, after setting down the tray, handed him a report.SPbP
EBN6“What is this?”ygu3h
COOXLo“A confidential report. Rector Michael Montella is pushing the young lady as a candidate for succession to the position of rector.”8aGMMq
CyodXlB“So in the end, she aims to become rector. She could never have persuaded Montella alone—that must be Fernan’s doing.”2dX3HCE
CLO“Then there’s a real possibility she’ll succeed.”Envm
U0TS“Perhaps.”HbRoZ
VMpKxI“The council for electing a rector is composed of ten voters, correct?”8xWCIu
tSuwcB“Yes, my lord.”mTWL
QJ492olSeven electors, the head of the Knights Department, the head of the Magic Department, and the vice-rector.cfPoP
k3LAmong them, both the current head of the Magic Department and the vice-rector were under Pellenberg’s strong influence.5LTr0
S8MThat already counted as two votes.Q9CtJ
rNNDTSTFridian, one of the electors, maintained close friendship with Pellenberg, and the Cult of the Dragon God usually supported whoever contributed the most financially.9Hxr
TSOUmWith Pellenberg included, that made three more.JA3Ygo
v3npcFive in total. Exactly half.01v9
0lt7xBut still one was missing to obtain the majority.uru
qpN9qSchwaben, of course, would vote for their own candidate.HPPMgy
J2oAltrierc, though allied with Pellenberg, had recently been receiving “favors” from Schwaben.h5m
mS5xThe head of the Knights Department was also under Schwaben’s patronage.8xPr
JiQLx2oIn conclusion, the only remaining vote that could decide everything was Vienderk’s.l7ZL1U
pOriFKOr so he thought, until the butler interrupted.rbEDk
Dw2K“Not exactly, my lord.”HZMgb43
HKYqV“Hm?”MC4
2zI“Have you forgotten Armian?”CMDMd
f2Q“…Right. Armian.”lra9o
zH2Since it had withdrawn to its own domain, House Armian had remained neutral, abstaining from voting in the last two rector elections.xbxv
NvPZFBThat’s why the duke had overlooked it.TQVq2xC
qIP“I doubt they’ll abstain this time.”7d6HD
5QcxPe“It is said that Aint Armian and Fernan Pellenberg share a very close friendship.”6Mk0UB8
BX8d91They had appeared together in several newspaper articles, and the duke himself, after meeting them, knew their relationship wasn’t bad.ZT7fL
BGVrg7“Even if it’s not friendship, just look at the facts—Armian has begun forming a considerable army. And where do you think that money came from? Who could have lent them such a sum all at once?”ZKuFco
9R0wuIf Pellenberg used that debt to pressure Armian to vote for Rosalia, would they be able to refuse?7abjETq
l2nHsImpossible.zf3EbL
stL“Well…”vyi1
4jg3Then it was nearly certain.Z4K
xxvZ0“She will become rector.”NM74G1
65ghQNo matter the objections of the others.axM
r7hlFor Vienderk, having Rosalia as rector wasn’t a negative outcome either.fXtr
KlOUABut if their vote really were decisive, they would’ve used it to negotiate with Pellenberg or Schwaben.rboMq4a
CSMHe0H“…What a pity.”EslEjYZ
93UEWqz“If the young lady becomes rector, she’ll return to the family. The lady won’t sit idly by.”5Rxd
H7dB“I don’t care.”0ct
Wlop2gThe duke replied without the slightest hesitation.IzpG5ub
jMX0q7p“Back then, I made that decision because it was the right thing to do. But now…”5GcPf
kKfHe looked out the window, deep in thought.6YwGy
dQb3gL“I’m not sure that Rosalia, even as Archmage and future rector, holds the same value as before.”iKiPt
hli7IhHe always made the best possible decision.uTs
TdNcy4vThe one that would bring the most prosperity to the family.EjSm
aVHP4EcThe one that would elevate Vienderk to its greatest glory.X6iC
tAoy“The problem is, I no longer know whether the current Rosalia belongs to Vienderk or to Pellenberg.”YSFejAX
4M2He murmured in a grave voice.UtnIRI
poCMrHis voice was lost in the silence, as deep as his doubt.4dwFMM
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