Chapter 263
fgO“…..”HKxgu
GMaVFernan staggered out. His face, pale like the white dragon sculpture before him, barely showed life.RbiUz
cb2o9w“Good job, sir.”QlcK8f
fiSJ1kp“…Professor Rosalia is truly merciless.”g4e
zrkIt had felt like an eternity. Every second felt like an hour, and every day like a year.RF4fQ
5FUlFernan had been Rosalia’s guinea pig, and she had analyzed him thoroughly.4yeB5
Ntpdy7IHowever, everything she discovered, she returned to him as knowledge.6qKT
NS9pXnShe taught him how to use more efficiently his second mana heart, born after absorbing the Dragon Heart, how his body had changed, and how dragon mana reacted with magic.eoU
mOq“What a shame. If we had more time, we could study how dragon mana acts as a natural enemy of corrupted mana. How about the summer break?”M1f
Mw06eNM“I refuse outright.”ht7LBQ3
14OkoWNFortunately, Fernan had achieved considerable results from those sessions; otherwise, he never would’ve endured such torture.XSEcwP
TWTtbarBack at his lodging, he began packing his things. It had been nearly a month since he settled in the Dragon God Cult.fSP
wmDTwj9The Academy, destroyed by the demon invasion, was being rebuilt quickly.0WEVb01
So8It wasn’t perfect yet, but it was already ready to resume classes.aAS
OTStSIn other words, the start of the semester was just around the corner.jspKEOj
0x30ox“By the way, when do you plan to sell that?”asM9
mMFFernan looked up at the sword displayed in one of the rooms.SK8
U5AS“If you auctioned it along with the visual recording of that scene, the rich across the continent would fight over it.”K0NgiD
24qvHyde left the sentence hanging.G1i
m3jiRwP“I will sell it.”vi32PG
YX8T8GFernan took the sword.drZxn
TbcUS‘Luina.’8bwZ
Ul4LfIThe name engraved on the hilt glowed faintly.ZXXvaU6
Ogo“But not yet.”9Gg
QehGLuina’s value continued to increase day by day, but it hadn’t yet reached its peak.phVg
KOOcoN“Between a simple powerful Luina and Royal Knight Luina. Between the sword she wielded before ascending and the sword she used as a Royal Knight—which do you think is worth more?”XtdmvR
Gush5He stored the sword in his dimensional space.tLbHxr
OLl“Yes, you’ve said that several times, but every time you look at it, your gaze changes a little.”wDtFBJ0
g1Ou“My gaze? What about it?”Adm
WuC“It looks sappy.”0CSR
Rfa9“You’re going too far, Hyde.”5NJ
LQYodmG“Salary negotiations are this year.”SlxR4
6RvAFernan let out a small laugh and finished packing. It was time to return to the Academy.frk2ML
0UC1U“But hadn’t I already graduated?”eoVYdn
rhOCh3“The graduation ceremony was never held.”LRMwmyT
YsX7BlL“That was because the Academy exploded. Actually, technically I’m already an alumnus…”ouiIK
6G9O“Take this.”3Ei
ZbcpBO“What is…? Why does it have my name and signature? I didn’t sign this!”ALC
IpU“Application for assistant in the Knight Department. It’s already approved, and you’ll start working as soon as classes resume.”ITAHw
tHsZD“…What? Me? A slave? No! I hate graduate school!”S7WRH
3UhByuAnd alongside him, Gismond too.zTeAFpU
rTACs***Ny3M
u8oVjCThe Academy was almost unrecognizable.4y2gn
1wOi0The areas left in ruins were completely demolished and leveled before new buildings were erected.PcCsA
JtwWhen Fernan returned, the place was rebuilt about fifty percent.ay71x
Ua3KYmoThe most important buildings—Ravidus Hall, Bless Hall, and Base Hall, where students resided—were already completed.Xdg
hMg72The classrooms, professors’ offices, and training pavilions had also been restored.SiT5
KVricvThe common city structures—library, museum, and main auditorium—were still under construction.PJG
zdy2YEIFernan glanced at the buildings under construction in the distance before entering the renovated Ravidus Hall.rPdrRwc
i1NWlWThe new building was larger, more majestic, and sturdier than before.jYFJ
isf“The magic circles carved on the outer walls look more reinforced.”OvBt
uE3zn“We can’t let it be destroyed a second time.”AMGD
bFIA demon ambush was enough—once.a60Iy
3bnH1After unpacking, Fernan took a cart to the faculty building.5SDP9i
xgoNecThere were both old professors and new appointments.Bmsix
evrxlv『Knight Department – Adolf Fridian』NjzK
XifomThe shiny new sign said it all.bv5NY
VCqTY0Adolf Fridian, the second elf to become a professor in the Academy’s thousand-year history, was among them.Vc2jRL
2LIX4oW“…I still can’t believe it.”RPof
ChYwlSitting by the window, Adolf looked on in awe.ojFC
QFilU“Hyung.”RAZVL
svXHP“Fernan.”8z7Bnv2
jrqUSLHearing the knocking on the slightly ajar door, Adolf smiled.91d2z
c9T83K“So this is the power of the Pellenbergs. Fridian fought so hard to make my sister Nania a professor, and you did it in an instant…”Wiwjzw
Hhj“It wasn’t that easy.”H7fP7
JYtRNo matter how much influence Pellenberg had, he couldn’t simply impose professors.GOkfOtH
DiztJvHIt was all due to a combination of circumstances.yiu
pXGo6lXThe demon invasion had left many vacancies, and Fernan took advantage of the fact that Pellenberg hadn’t reaped many benefits in the reconstruction to place Adolf Fridian in the position.nAiLn0u
H6lEw“I don’t know if I’ll be able to do it well.”wiyGPYh
Ixm9g“Hyung—ah, I mustn’t call you that inside the Academy. Professor, I’m sure you’ll do an excellent job.”0mhBq5
FpN7C08And of course, if a true Royal Knight couldn’t do it well, who could?MX1n
Oj0T“And what about your assistant?”rL5w
RARpT“Not bad.”SvWuqd
cYQwOIt was obvious that a newly appointed professor wouldn’t already have an assistant.wuK
1lHMAIf Gismond hadn’t been placed there by Fernan, he wouldn’t have one.PpNopq
KQcFernan had arranged that out of convenience—having them together made control easier.f8L5ab
iGoa“Then I’ll take my leave. If you need anything, you can ask Professor Nania; she’ll gladly help you.”3lps
SDC“All right.”79E
xAAvffWhistling, Fernan climbed to the top floor of the faculty building.L27df
1jbajThat floor wasn’t a common area—only one person had the right to occupy it.8Dykb
ShtB“Excuse me.”O5oG
SbfuVHe opened the elegant door, and a huge room with an entire glass wall appeared before him.YoTFD
Q2tHIts owner was sitting on the desk, looking out the window, a cigarette between her lips.kjmx1
K8KgNEC『Rector of the Imperial Academy of Armian — Rosalia Vienderk.』fu9
WS42“How does it feel?”7Nq
DxdUY“Good. Very good.”zjcGJ8u
GYvShe had finally arrived at that place.zqn
FcG“It’s been a long road.”ehNjPz
9pi79J“If you say that being a rector at only twenty-eight, you’ll earn a slap.”nV9
XWvDuJ7“There’s no one besides you who can speak to me that familiarly.”PQxs
oHgxcOTrue. No one else would dare speak that way to an Archmage.r8geyv
hXYG2The others would pretend not to hear and just flatter her.IR5V
LXE9EoY“So tell me.”Iic
aHJRosalia put out her cigarette in the ashtray.SC8
VSjIMtp“How do you feel?”PGON
sdzcE“What do you mean?”cseTy
MfTg7M“It was a long road for me too, but it must’ve been even longer for you. I know exactly how much money you spent.”4Dc
1OoXMages were devourers of fortunes, and Rosalia was the best proof of that.VzXJV
2ba0YShe had tried to create a semi-permanent magic stone and consumed an absurd amount of minerals, magic stones, and reagents in countless failures.bUzOM2B
fSuGAnd not only that—she took countless elixirs to boost her power and received all kinds of logistical support.l1L
tBJIt was an astronomical investment.jao3R
ySDfWvCEven knowing that someday she would flourish, Fernan felt like his stomach burned every time he looked at the expenses.COfnHd
SZA6t“I’m glad to see you at least have some awareness.”MBcuQw6
IR7je“I just knew it. You were the one who told me to spend as much as I wanted since you were investing in me. There’s no reason for me to feel guilty.”pDe
S6g“Well, at this point, it doesn’t matter much. I just remember it as a costly anecdote.”gZH35or
JM4x6TThe research on magic stones had succeeded and was about to enter production.qRl
DDjARosalia had become an Archmage and now held the position of rector.6p7wz8
6MDn15And that wasn’t all.8e9
cWUKhO“You asked how I felt, right?”4ifr
fwmQ6KFernan recalled the prophecy that had awakened him the previous night.R7Q
a1Yv0He couldn’t describe how much emotion he felt.Oym
Ke0Y【“The gates of the Imperial Academy of Armean were closed. The Empire’s thousand-year history had come to a halt.1ExNtp
Gnz6xhz“…”tyJwx0
9sdug5kAint silently contemplated that fact, overwhelmed by feelings impossible to express.tXV
OjYFqHWhy had it come to this?qROg
QC8NBecause the County of Bercheff had fallen?r29
5NM1nBecause the Kingdom of Eslyn erupted into civil war, with the corrupted and monsters running free?h2l
oy6cEeBecause the crown prince of Alprosen had died?Vq1h
5Vtz2Because new demons descended upon the Kingdom of Linelt and joined the two who destroyed Bercheff?uM68
nYGfgDBecause of all of that.oL919r
8ewZJpThe demon threat had reached the Empire’s gates.0Tn400U
FJrKimaris, demon number 66, and Decarabia, number 69, marched east with entire legions.G9PwFD5
vbZPlTheir destination was obvious—the Kingdom of Linelt, where Valac, number 62, had descended and which had become a land of demons.UB3p4
1PSGoThe three planned to unite their forces.pQM62Fg
lHw3BThe north of the Empire was under threat, and purge orders were issued throughout the Schubaben region.lpj8
ANZoqEvery professor of the Academy was conscripted.eDG
8ix07For the first time in a thousand years, the Academy closed its doors.”】UZ5Bo
va3But the Academy hadn’t closed.1jEM
21H【“They say battlefield fervor makes the blood boil, but Aint felt the opposite.v88
WdN6dSensing those immense auras in the distance, his resolve sharpened even more.7mJ3ZN
sZEiNmM‘What was it like fighting a demon, kid?’nOuYKIz
47S5a‘Impressive. Even though you inherited the vision of the First Emperor Armian, it’s hard to believe you’ve achieved so much at your age.’pJgd
Ll8Gv‘No wonder they call you a hero.’WARk8
CJBBY‘What an end of times, to live to see three demons in person.’GMd
3G7AH‘Those corrupted bastards must be purified according to the Dragon God’s will.’hiH9B
oofTsOH‘Those insects are the ones who forced my Academy to close.’1XYe
dwauq3‘Oh, Mother Tree, save this world.’Iih
kvCLS‘So those are the true demons…’rgG
tUqdOEThere were three demons.5yvElQ
sZyThe Alliance spared no resources this time.GcJOHF
IGil7vLoretta Flegman, imperial court mage.a1gkAx
Z5tDhJoHilde Goetz, First Knight of Vienderk.U3OF
ygnXAGArmond Merschdorf, sword of the Pellenbergs.tuGH
q4F3RXZerman Kalburden, Marquis of Kalburden.4L9rcb6
HQcE2Cardinal Alby Gallian of the Dragon God Cult.yAfw95
6snwUwTMichael Montella, rector of Armian Academy.YCmd
MXryEs Fryd Fridian, head of the Fridian family.9JHVD
qnfKaAnd Duke Bador Erbeto of the Kingdom of Helfen.uIM
PfE3T1Eight superhumans—Royal Knights and Archmages—gathered once again, as in the war to reclaim Linelt.ALSQzk
6XVfAint joined them.7eVH
RFvJIn individual power, he still didn’t match those who had transcended humanity, but thanks to the power of Armian, he could stand against the demons.AZ5Qj62
pXx“This time we must annihilate them.”wc6E2uw
Yjpm1ORThe war to reclaim Bercheff had begun.l1KTwN
YRMRBOo‘Yes. We failed last time, but this time—this time we’ll kill them.’t0ILegD
CLNd6RpAint clenched his fists.6wy
ooo5prIn Linelt, they had driven them out, not destroyed them. But now would be different.zKV
jYe0I‘Dear heavens, another demon! A fourth?’7ICIfoU
GxeYgr‘Demon number 67, Amdusias!’1Lp1L
lRhThe war trumpets blared.eTZk
WKfUThe battle began with a rain of massive spells.”】hMo4N
pUGqThe demons who should have destroyed Bercheff and Linelt were annihilated, sent back to hell.mPuh3
plfMBR【“Luina Bercheff was covered in blood.hue
0E12A1Monster blood.NRSzz
2oezThe stench was so dense that her sense of smell had gone numb.gLfP8qg
j9BllHer aura was depleted, her body screaming, her heart about to burst.osOB
L6sStill, she kept swinging her sword.KK2N
7EztCD3Killing again and again. Slashing corrupted without rest.qTo
RjMf5VbAdvancing, always advancing, until she drove her blade into the demon’s neck.er9Nmiz
sNLwO‘Kimaris…!’Gs3k5
p11wHer father’s killer.eZy7C1y
4AaiBercheff’s enemy.FlNgO
29oTHer roar shook the battlefield.”】VJQs698
DWdZLuina Bercheff, who in that prophecy should’ve fallen to madness, hadn’t.xNi
wHuMs3pAnd Rosalia Vienderk, instead, was alive and had become the rector of the Academy.XO82
XHsuV“I feel wonderful. As if all the money I’ve earned and spent until now was just to reach this moment.”vob7
4I2ZA wave of pure happiness coursed through Fernan.1jRGQK
vQbJG3t“Have you taken something? You look high.”0ew
BQzFw“I’m just happy. Very happy.”e6fM
oyLXByH“Anyone would think you were the one appointed rector.”2G1
PBecDIt was a joy that words couldn’t express.gfoEYTV
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