Chapter 274
04tTvGAfter establishing a stable relationship with Duke Harbert, the eradication of the corrupt proceeded without major difficulties.H34k
pcWBVe“But will His Highness really be able to sit on the throne?”jwVAWXh
z30E4V“What a silly question. How long do you think I’ve waited and prepared for this moment?”IDF
uLgHe wasn’t a corrupt, but he had been recruited by Dantalion to lead the corrupt in Frazia. That’s why he knew every detail of their internal structure.qeS
ffEfvNZ“And what will happen to the crown prince?”4QVHwK
XmZ“He’ll live without lacking anything. I’m not as cruel as my father; I couldn’t be ruthless even with my own blood.”dsjC5J
sebNyX“With respect, that doesn’t sound like something someone who tried to sell his country to the corrupt should say.”0tvK
pMbWWdq“Let everyone die or let a few survive by joining them. I merely made a rational choice.”l05HuWq
xHFAEven so, the negotiations took time. There were many details to adjust with Duke Harbert.iFZWPMB
Wis“Then, I’ll proceed under the assumption that His Highness has already ascended the throne.”iXoq4s
N3kZ10“How much do you plan to squeeze out of me with all that formality?”FET2xy
xF9X3b“Don’t worry. Pellenberg has always believed in mutual benefit.”AGBk
Fn7xZ“You say that because you’re afraid if Frazia falls, there will be nothing left to squeeze.”EXBvFM
I0fZ“Ah, and there’s one more thing I must ask—or rather, notify you about.”nvHokV
Uk40oef***4CAHIg
crjgOn the ship taking them back to the Academy, after all matters in Frazia had concluded, Fernan stepped out onto the deck to feel the breeze. The sun was warm, and the sea, calm.HRJ4
CUWX3MV【The 60th demon, Vapula. The 58th demon, Amy. Defeated by the hands of Fernan Pellenberg and Luina Bercheff.】tUBg
bOjJe【The sword of Pellenberg, Armond Merschdorf, faces and defeats the demons.】GD5nme
JNy2BL【The Kingdom of Frazia officially joins the Alliance!】DolL6
Oqj“We’re screwed.”RDKXo
BwY0LtThe newspaper was filled with demon-related headlines.1Xtbc
6zwT6Until now, directly or indirectly, Fernan had always acted alongside Aint.Prar
xRFqj0DThanks to that, he could minimize his own achievements and highlight Aint’s in the reports.z3U
hLXZeBut this time was different. Aint hadn’t been present at all, and there were no excuses to cover it up.4r4VheE
TZmuNpaHe had tried to divert attention to Armond Merschdorf, giving him most of the credit, but not even a Pellenberg could fully control the press.2s3W
DUiMuch less when journalists published those praises of their own accord, with the “good intention” of flattering him.XExc
LcCl‘A loyalty I never asked for—what a problem.’T7Gnpp
vGHX9Numerous vassal houses of Pellenberg competed to publish articles exalting his name.DxAGkx
pAG8gMTFernan tried to correct the publications, but what had already reached the public couldn’t be erased.kff3h
nkDC5CEspecially because people always got more excited about a “new sacred hero” than a veteran like Armond.PeDZ699
vCYlj0And that was something even Fernan couldn’t reverse.KX7
OvwGEls“But is it really a problem? I don’t get it. Why hide your merits?”l6Cnm
FpAAsked Luina, chewing on a piece of chocolate.pBJx
w6ysz“I already told you. I’m a merchant. As a mage, fame is useless to me.”FBB
gFrM6K“And why not? You could use your name to facilitate deals or influence the market.”1nxbmV
ZAh9B“That works for mercenaries or a magic corps, but not for a merchant. Especially not one from Pellenberg.”B8RAGg
1xGH2JThe Pellenberg guild was already the largest on the continent. They didn’t need to rely on such strategies.lR2op
T7s“The blade is sharper when it’s hidden. Even though Pellenberg is powerful, it’s never free from scrutiny. That’s why I’ve always preferred to stay in the shadows.”xX2V
oIX3S“And how many times has the case you feared actually happened?”a0g
poxJC“Except for the corrupt and demons, not even once.”UUJ
JIXxq“……”3hz
2rxNo one dared touch the heir of Pellenberg.OUJ
J5sPEven if an elector did, it would be a declaration of open war.yja
xPVm2V“But thanks to that, the purge of the corrupt was very efficient. In the end, my method was correct.”a3v8a
V2WD“Can’t argue with that…”bcx9cU
DliRdFIt was hard to contradict him.AW8
hhR5m“Anyway, things have changed. So I’ll change my approach too.”lWB1iti
f9bJF0“You’re going to act openly now?”eCz
dSGyUwn“Yes. There’s one way to act when you hide, and another when you decide to show yourself.”qmsxtK
1FU2uWhen you hide, do it thoroughly; but when you reveal yourself, do it completely.7hhsH
dfJw2DSo no one dares challenge you.7N62Nd
HqM4Pellenberg had built an economic colossus that commanded respect.thLL
hhhr639A thousand years ago, they had been accused of gaining wealth through deals with demons.usfunsQ
kRhCK00But today, no one would dare call them upstarts.5aGp
hLeNow everyone bowed before them.k1ml8lv
AqnS“I suppose I should become an Archmage.”kSn2m
2667B1Though he had hidden part of his talent, Fernan had never considered himself an exceptional mage.NF38xE
BXR2hSQHe had a large mana reserve, yes, but anyone could obtain that with enough elixirs.l80QaP
vFB1bIHe had reached a notable level, but anyone could too with money, good teachers, and a bit of talent.hG8r
P49bIf Carlo Deneb received the same support as he had—YEa
vYPOr Daisy Harne, Jin Brad, Neria Hapman, or Peter Luman.zbay6R
zgpZ9XYAny of them could rise and surpass him.Wokh
PQl“That doesn’t make sense. Even if you have many elixirs, assimilating them depends on personal talent. Same with learning—you can have the best teacher, but mastering the teachings takes individual skill.”qD5u
pqKlDZO“I know.”vmsvR
u9XNmFernan nodded.HglY96
TbiatIHe understood too, but had never thought much about it.jEDvNA7
xRpMSThe reason was simple.pXvbk1D
CzsOlq6“I’m a merchant. For me, that was never the most important thing.”vrwv
5A0s9L“…I knew you’d say that.”ULniYfi
9HyN6nw“Anyway, back to the main topic—when fighting those demons, I confirmed it with absolute clarity. I’m quite strong.”Ja0R3P
zM0PINo, not just strong.M5nUdo
5jfvBQHe realized he already had the power necessary to aim for the title of Archmage.Bzaf
VBFMaybe it was thanks to the dragon heart. Whatever the reason, the result was what mattered.57seVg
D9mOj“And above all, I don’t like seeing Schwaben strutting around.”I5YzXL
jUwfegVBecause that interfered with his plan to crown Aint as emperor.GMWq
TQR“One problem covers another problem.”8Rn
onFFernan placed the day’s newspaper over the previous one—the one that spoke of the princes defeating the demon Amducias.lYir
hlSsQc“A headline saying that three students who haven’t even graduated from the Academy will challenge the Sacred Beasts Tournament and the Dragon God Tournament…”PlzhP
1rSAnd that one of them, Aint Armian, would be recognized as a hero.V5T9x5H
TSa“That would be enough to completely overshadow the princes’ accomplishments. Just like defeating two demons.”QIYA
DFf“I see. Want some?”yJaz
qxEyXDLuina offered him a piece of chocolate, unwrapping another for herself.P7rRmF2
NZajq“No, I’m not big on sweets. Ah, try this one. It’s a new product.”MDDQ7p
8A4IiV3Fernan opened a different bar and brought it directly to Luina’s lips.H2qhGiA
dmd“Is it from Frazia?”IAiTu2T
txtVYjv“Yes. It’s a typical product from the Kalum territory. We signed a licensing contract and recently began large-scale production.”HCc
W3aXUu4“It tastes just like it did back then. It’s delicious.”YwS
pkVTLuina smiled in satisfaction. Perfect. If it tasted the same in mass production, the business would be a success.E6br
7sAqqqx“When you win the Sacred Beasts Tournament, I’ll make you a giant chocolate statue.”v0t92
FzY“…A chocolate statue?”WSis
N9q9E“But in exchange—”gv25vV
dAIbFernan continued.S5zJ
vXv73O“If I win the Dragon God Tournament and become an Archmage, we’ll go on a cruise trip together. What do you think?”moK
5DyH5“……”e37ZUbi
I2PLuina stared at him. The silence grew so heavy that a second felt like an hour.CtSGt
cC2“Alright, but only if we both become Archmage and Royal Knight.”pBoVW5
4IbC3“Understood.”NINZBd
sE9e“Then, if you become an Archmage, I want a large gold statue.”ogCPnTW
P2dxd“Shouldn’t it be the other way around?”ROwk
7tfbF4B“I’ll give you a discount.”jcF
L1x“I’ll make you a hundred.”73YMOdv
2Idz9NLuina let out a giggle, as if she had anticipated it.DNwA30o
csCY“Any particular shape?”aCleT
JGO1t0“I’d prefer it to be in the shape—”Axl
LjefDIw“Any particular shape?”2IJT
LpAhYX“I’d prefer it to be in the shape of the demon you defeat. While we’re at it, we could make a series. Something like The Demons Defeated by Royal Knight Luina Bercheff.”VQPp
Jz8Hwn“…I’ll look forward to that trip, then.”uXiFDVf
2srvLuina was the first to rise from her seat.vKQ
FCozThU“…Perfect.”Ay2
zLPA crooked smile appeared on Fernan’s lips.lNAp
r11CrBoth his and Luina’s victories would ultimately benefit him.Ww99
lWnqbThat was, without a doubt, the perfect transaction for a true merchant.xrZ
UoF“You could’ve just asked her out like a normal person, you know.”Wag
GA9yPDI“Shut up, Hyde.”cookCf
5NUk“Yes, yes. The insignificant servant will be quiet.”W35I
dhO1cfc“Tell me how the situation in the north is going instead.”JuEW
9I3U6r“There haven’t been any significant developments yet.”0slEL
TAqlSHis father was being cautious. He had sent a large number of Black Turtles to the Northern Kingdom, so by now they should have uncovered the truth, and yet no action had been taken.gxr1No
mX14‘Or perhaps they haven’t been able to uncover it…’s9ftU7d
3ap53Even if the Black Turtles were the best intelligence network on the continent, their enemy was the demons. No one could predict what kind of tricks they might use.juZyuy
dZY6s‘Then why are the corrupt attacking the Golden Turtle?’XpHT
LKqYPThere was no country where the Golden Turtle guild didn’t operate. Over the years, it had become an essential part of each kingdom’s economy.ktgcZ
kVgXTrying to uproot it by force would inevitably cause conflict.boDvVw
C7hxlAnd if they still took the risk, Fernan saw only two possible reasons.1Vh8
vDYL“Because they hate me so much they’d rather destroy themselves just to hurt Pellenberg…”tsPj
zDtp4pyFrom the kingdoms’ point of view, it would be like hurting themselves, but for the demons and the corrupt, it wasn’t their own flesh they were sacrificing.kkflae
ye4n9J9“…Or because they discovered that the Golden Turtle is the source of Pellenberg’s information network.”wDR9Ct
SFYzxIn truth, that was something everyone already knew.XI6fe
bAfKM68Even so, no one could get rid of the Golden Turtle because, as mentioned, it was too deeply rooted in each nation’s economy.Wy8
pC4b65F“That’s why my father prefers to just observe for now.”RxHDB
zkshA hasty move would only give the perfect excuse to those waiting for a chance to expel them.6yDkcC
0jvIcvUIf the Northern kingdoms were truly infested with demons, they would eventually have to retreat.PmZkEyQ
88SbqyaBut until then, they had to use every day to extract all the information and profits possible.asl
TwqfNB‘My father will handle it. I don’t need to worry about that now.’STKd
DzknBFor the moment, the best thing would be to focus on stabilizing the Academy until the next prophecy appeared.Drqw
SRqyIn the distance, the silhouette of the Academy was visible on the horizon.yEw
puta4JV***uU0zGdy
rCH“Why do happy moments pass by so quickly, like they’re just a second long?”naYfiA
oMbGismond muttered with melancholy.tciWar
YrUZIt had been two days since they returned to the Academy after concluding matters in Frazia.Hywr6x
qlRVppFor him, those two days had been like a true dream.Rpfy
hzl“You can all rest. The headmistress granted two days of rest.”xcuV5CL
enbEoThe students who had returned after hunting demons were celebrating their well-deserved official break, promised by the headmistress.k7fQj
NZmBEGEWhile the other professors, students, and assistants resumed teaching, studying, and being exploited, he was enjoying a day off.wLGk
WV50seLAnd is there any rest more pleasant than resting while everyone else works?5W2
GmrydNThe problem was that two days were far too little to enjoy it properly.vRjd
hpxXw8M“If only tomorrow never came!”0AaCP
mQVdqSOr better yet, if only he could keep accompanying Fernan on another mission far from here!yGUNBNj
dWDaWrSomething unthinkable for the old Gismond, but now it was different. He was an assistant.xPY8Dj
6Tw7A creature destined to be squeezed for research, even sacrificing hours of sleep.DQh
D7iZqProfessor Adolf wasn’t one to research much, but since Fernan had asked him to supervise Gismond, he’d been working him to the bone.ISa
uELgIt was an indescribable hell.Cjdt
Vk98LO“Do I really have to return to that hell tomorrow…?”hFO
XblUCnOn Earth, he had already escaped professors who insisted he pursue grad school.yMf
yjt3MQ‘And now I can’t escape here either?’XFpJPm
DdBMebNA useless dream. No one knew better than he did that escaping Fernan’s watch was impossible.p0H9d2
hPLgmHe sighed while watching the sun slowly set.8xhM8
UEBGAKfThen his eyes landed on an invitation on the table.uCYL0
0mxxIt was an invitation to the banquet.lxn
IEMTL3An event personally organized by the headmistress to celebrate Aint and Fernan, the slayers of two demons.jGmhFy
TpG4BvU“Yes, I’ll go to the banquet. I’ll burn my last night of freedom! Who knows? Maybe I’ll get a girlfriend!”LwcoBXI
3ziQ62Gismond, a fan of fantasy banquets, already had a fancy outfit prepared.P7rCJ5
Hx4“I was mentioned in the newspaper, at least once. I must have some popularity, right?”1aB7bk
gKYXgmHe looked at himself in the mirror.8IxW
jWr“My face isn’t bad at all…”hLY
WsGP1x2He wasn’t as handsome as Fernan, Aint, Verian, or the elf Professor Adolf, but he wasn’t ugly either.CQiQ
7eusHe could be considered good-looking.6FjD
dmw6RdpGismond left his dorm room with determination.fpI
HkoNQU“…Ah, damn it.”tnvlZe
FmAJeAnd immediately let out a curse.LGW
iLUWIn the distance, he saw the red-haired boy and the orange-haired elf walking arm in arm toward the banquet hall.WtM6K
FYQOO“…Damn couples, drop dead.”2lN5
IvLAnd gritting his teeth, he swore:X2UzBm
yoKZ08n“Tonight, I’m getting a girlfriend too!”bjKP
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