A Cadet Becomes a Prophet?! — Chapter 281

Chapter 281

It⁠ was something inevitable.‍‌‌

Bercheff‍ had suffered losses so severe that⁠ no ordinary sum‍‍ of money could⁠ have repaired the‌ damage.

To‌‌ avoid losing everything,⁠‌ they had to⁠‍ sell even the‍ foundations.

One⁠⁠‌ couldn’t say there‌⁠ wasn’t some manipulation⁠⁠ or political calculation‌‌ involved, but at‌ the time, it‍ was the only‍ possible option.

Once⁠⁠ a territory falls,‍⁠ the rights of‌ a golden decree⁠ no longer mean‍ anything.

“…Honestly, I don’t feel⁠ anything special about it. My father‌‍ told me it‍ was something inevitable.”⁠

“And‍‍ what if I told you I was the one‌‌ who proposed the⁠⁠‌ cession of the‌‌ golden decree?”

“Mother.”‌‌

“It‌‌ was a joke,‍‍ darling.”

“……”‌⁠

It⁠ didn’t sound like⁠‍ a joke, but‌⁠ honestly, Luina wasn’t‌‌‌ upset.

She‍ was a bit‍ surprised, yes, but⁠⁠ her father had always said that‍ without the golden⁠ decree, there would’ve⁠⁠ been no solution.⁠

“I⁠‍ thought it was⁠‍‍ the previous head of the house‌⁠‌ who interceded…”

“Your‌‌ grandfather was fond‍ of me, so‍‌ he decided to‍‌ act personally.”

She⁠⁠ had only intervened⁠ to ensure the⁠‍‍ property ended up⁠ in Fridian’s hands.‍

But⁠ by now, it‌‍ mattered little. What‍⁠‌ had happened over‍‌⁠ a decade ago‍⁠ couldn’t be undone.‌

“Thank‍ you for understanding, dear.”

Duchess⁠⁠‌ Helena suddenly stood‌‍ and hugged Luina⁠ tightly.

“If‍⁠ Fernan ever gives‌‍⁠ you a hard⁠‍ time, just tell⁠⁠ me. I’ll teach‌ him manners again.”⁠

“…There’s‍ no need.”

“I’m‌⁠ glad to hear⁠ that.”

“……”‍‍

Fernan⁠ wanted to get‍⁠ out of there⁠‌ as soon as‍‍ possible.

***

Tea‌ time with the⁠ duchess finally ended‌ — three hours⁠⁠ later.

But⁠ that didn’t mean⁠‌ they were free‌ yet — they⁠‍ still had to‌⁠ endure a full family dinner before‌ being released.

“As‌ a child, I learned magic from my mother.”

Though‍⁠ spiritual magic followed‍‍ different rules, it‌ was essentially still‍ magic.

His⁠‍ mother had helped⁠ him build the⁠‍‍ foundations of his⁠‌‌ power.

“Later,‍‌ I learned from‌‌‍ Duke Dulleo.”

“Archmage Dulleo Rondinella, right?”‌

“That’s‍ right.”

Fernan⁠ was privileged among the privileged.

He‌ grew up taking⁠ the finest elixirs,⁠‍ received instruction from⁠‍ a spirit summoner⁠ who was an⁠‍ Archmage but didn’t‍‌⁠ participate in the‍ Dragon God Tournament,‌‌‌ and studied under the direct guidance‍‍⁠ of another veteran‌‍ Archmage.

“No‍‌‌ wonder you’re so‌ strong.”

As⁠‍ Fernan guided Luina‌‍ through the mansion,‌‌ there wasn’t much‍‌⁠ to show her.‌

Too‌ many areas were‍‌ restricted or under⁠ family secrecy, so⁠ they could only‌⁠‌ walk through the‌ main halls and⁠ some gardens.

“Young‍ master!”

“It’s‌ an honor to‌ meet you, Lady‍‌ Luina!”

“Please, take good care‌ of the young‍ master!”

Every‍ time they passed‌ by knights, soldiers,‌ or servants, everyone‌ greeted them with‍‌ enthusiasm.

“You‌‌‌ get along well⁠‍ with your people, huh?”

“Of‌‌ course. If I pay them well, it would be absurd to have‌⁠ a bad relationship‍ with them. A demotivated worker isn’t‍ worth their salary.”‌⁠‌

“That‌‍‍ sounds exactly like‌ something you’d say.⁠ Makes sense.”

After‍⁠ a full day‌ of rest, Fernan‌‍ and Luina left‌‍ the duchy at dawn the next‌‍ morning.

“Fernan,‍⁠ if you bring⁠⁠ Aria with you,‍⁠ I’ll do what you asked.”

“Thank⁠ you, Mother.”

“Travel‌ safely, son. You’re‌⁠ almost done with⁠‍ the Academy.”

“I⁠ plan to work‍ as an assistant,‌⁠‌ Father.”

“…At‍⁠ something that doesn’t‌‌‍ make money?”

The‌‍ two said goodbye‍‌ as the family‌ watched them board‌ the ship.

Once‌‌⁠ they had set‌ sail, Luina asked:

“What‍ did she mean‌ about Aria?”

“My⁠ mother agreed to train her.”

It‌ had been Fernan’s‍ idea.

With‌ the war against‌ the demons approaching,‍ they urgently needed⁠ more high-level combatants.‍‌‌

He‌ had already helped‌‍ Rosalia, Aint, and Luina approach the‌ superhuman level, but⁠ it still wasn’t⁠⁠ enough. And at‍ that moment, Aria caught his attention.⁠

A summoner capable of⁠ calling high-level spirits.‌

Except‍‍ for Adolf, she‍‍‍ had the most‌‍‍ potential to become⁠‍‍ superhuman.

“It‌‍‌ won’t be easy,‌‌ but to make‍‌ money, you’ve got to work, right?”⁠

“A⁠⁠ great opportunity for⁠⁠⁠ Aria.”

“Exactly.”‌

Though‌‌⁠ of course, it‌‌ wouldn’t be free.‍

He‍ planned to make‌ a formal proposal‌ to Marquis Fridian.‌ Mutual profit was⁠ the Pellenberg principle.‍

‘Marquis Fridian knows my‌‌ mother.’

That’s‍‌ why he was sure he’d accept.‍‌

If⁠ Aria became stronger,‌‍⁠ Fridian would benefit‍‌‍ too.

Of‍ course, no one was thinking about⁠⁠‌ how much Aria‍‌ would suffer during‌ the process.

‘Mother’s‌‍ training is brutal.’

But that was the‍ world.

Nothing⁠ worthwhile came without‍ pain.

Unless one sold their⁠ soul to demons,‍ like the corrupted.‌

“Oh,⁠⁠ so she and‌ you are related?”⁠‌

“Not at all. My‍‌ mother may be half-elf, but her‍‍ bloodline isn’t connected‌ to House Fridian.”‌

Well,‌‌ technically, his maternal‍⁠ grandmother came from‌ an influential family‌‍ in Fridian, and‌‍ maybe generations ago, they had a political marriage with⁠ Fridian’s royal house.⁠‍⁠ But in recent centuries, there was‍⁠ no direct connection.⁠

“So,‌ where are we‌ going now?”

“To‍ the Academy.”

“Shouldn’t‍ we deliver the⁠ record to the Cult of the‌ Dragon God first?”‍‌‍

“Everything‌‌ has its time.”‍

Like‌‍‌ fruits that ripen⁠ and sweeten, products‌ also had to‌ be sold when‍⁠ they reached their‌ perfect point.

Value‌‍ depended on timing‍ and context.

“I’ve‌ already made the⁠‌ necessary arrangements. We‌ just have to‍‍ wait.”

More‍ precisely, he had‌ to wait for⁠ the rumor to‍‌ spread and reach‍‌ the ears of⁠‌ the Cult.

“It’s‌ time to return to my role‍‌ as a student.”‌⁠

“But‍‍ there’s only a month left in‍ the semester.”

“True.”‍

“So⁠ we’re graduating, then?”

“Yes.⁠⁠‍ In that case, I have to‍ accelerate the preparations⁠⁠ so the Dragon‌‌ God Tournament can⁠⁠ be held earlier.”‍

There was a subtle⁠ but clear difference‍‌ between becoming a Royal Knight while‌⁠ still a student‍⁠ at the Academy‍ and doing so⁠ after graduating.

“Oh,‌ by the way,‌‍⁠ Luina. Have you thought about what‌‌ you’ll do after graduation?”

“I‌‍ don’t have any⁠⁠ plans yet.”

“Then,⁠⁠ in that case,‍‌ maybe you could‌‌‍ accompany me…”

Fernan‍‍ reached into his‌‍ coat.

‘Accompany‌‍ you?’

Luina’s‌‍‌ heart began to‍⁠ race.

‘Could‍‍ it be…?’

Even⁠ if everything had happened suddenly—her visit‍ to House Pellenberg,⁠ the meeting with⁠‍ his parents, their‌⁠‌ praise and acceptance—from‌ her perspective, that‍ trip had felt‍ almost like an⁠‌ official family presentation.⁠⁠⁠

And‍⁠ right after all that, Fernan started‍‍ talking about his⁠ “future.”

“It’s still too early‌‍‍ for that kind‍‍‌ of thing…”

But⁠ what Fernan pulled‍‌ from his coat⁠ wasn’t the little‌⁠ box she expected.⁠

It‍ was just a sheet of paper.⁠‌

[Assistant‍‌ Application]

“…You⁠‌ want me to‌‍ be your assistant?”⁠

“……”⁠‍⁠

“You‌ already know what‌‌ the prophecy means. Aint is a crucial figure. The⁠ demons have her as their first⁠ target, so I need someone trustworthy‌‍‍ by her side…”‍‌⁠

“Ah,‍ assistant. Right, that’s‍ what it was.”‍

“Huh?⁠‌‌ What else did‌ you think?”

Rip!‌‍

“W–why⁠ did you tear‌ the application?”

“My‍ hand slipped.”

“Now?”‌

“Yes.⁠ Please print it⁠ again.”

“Good‌‌ thing I brought‍ extra copies…”

Rip!‍⁠

Another⁠⁠ sheet was torn cleanly, fluttering through⁠‍ the air.

“I⁠⁠ think there are‍ insects flying.”

“…Are you mad at⁠ me?”

“Me?⁠⁠ Not at all.‌ There really was‍ an insect.”

“…I‌ see.”

Fernan‌⁠ pulled out another⁠‌‍ copy from his‌ pocket.

He‍ had several more‌⁠ stored. He was‍ unnecessarily meticulous.

Luina⁠⁠ could only sigh.⁠

***‌

Meanwhile,‌‍ as Fernan and⁠‌ Luina headed to‌⁠ Pellenberg, time rewound‍‌ a little.

“All⁠ right, go and‌ make sure to‌ retrieve it. I’ll‌ handle the Academy.”⁠

“Thank‌ you, Your Holiness.”⁠‌⁠

With‌ the Pope’s permission,‍ Jace Vines departed‌ along with a group of priests.‍⁠

Even‌⁠‌ though the semester⁠ was ongoing and they couldn’t be absent for long,‌⁠‌ it didn’t matter.‍⁠‍

The‌ Cult of the Dragon God had money, and with enough gold, any‌⁠⁠ trip could be⁠ shortened.

They used a transport‌ circle from the‍ Cult’s headquarters to‌⁠ Altrierc and from there boarded a ship to cross‌‌⁠ Lake Baikan toward‌‌ Esrin.

They⁠‌‍ didn’t know it,‍‌ but they had‌ taken the exact‍⁠ same regular ship‍⁠ that Fernan and‍ Luina had three days earlier.

“Do⁠ you know exactly⁠‍ where it is?”⁠

“Of‌ course. We’ve fully‍ deciphered the code.”⁠⁠

All⁠⁠ that was left‌‍‌ was to locate⁠ the site that⁠ matched the decoded‍ coordinates and clues.⁠‌‍

Covered⁠ in cloaks to‌‌ avoid recognition, they‌ began ascending the‌ mountains surrounding Esrin.‌‌

It‍ was important to⁠‌‌ prevent the kingdom from claiming the‌⁠‌ territory as their⁠ own if they discovered their presence.⁠

They⁠ had to retrieve‍‌ what they needed and leave before being detected.

“We’re⁠⁠ certain it’s in‍⁠ this area.”

Thanks‍ to the map,‌ they had narrowed⁠‍‍ the search to⁠ a specific group‌ of mountains within‌‌ the large mountain‌⁠ range that crossed‍‌ Esrin.

But‌ that’s where the‍ problems began: those‍ mountains were vast⁠ and deep.

Finding‍‍ a dungeon created‍‌ by the first‌ Pope in such‍ a range wouldn’t⁠⁠ be easy.

However,‍‌⁠ they were priests‍⁠ of the Cult‍‍ of the Dragon‍‌ God, and all‍ of them were‌‌ competent mages.

Among‍ them were earth‍⁠ magic specialists—in fact,‌‍ most were—since they assumed a sanctuary⁠‌‌ lost for a thousand years must‍ be hidden underground.‌

“We’ll‌‌ begin subterranean exploration of the entire‍⁠ area.”

“Yes,⁠ sir!”

They⁠‌ set up camp⁠ in the center of the zone‍⁠‌ and began magical⁠‍‌ surveying, inspecting one⁠ mountain after another.‍

“Out⁠‌⁠ of my way!⁠ I don’t have‌⁠⁠ time to play‌ with you!”

“Stop‌‌ playing around with⁠ the monsters and⁠‍⁠ keep digging!”

Some‍⁠ mountain monsters tried‍ to attack, but‍‍⁠ the priests, maddened⁠⁠ by the thought‌⁠ of discovering the dungeon, eliminated them with ease.

Several⁠ days passed.

“You‌ didn’t find anything?”‍

“No,‌⁠⁠ sir. We’ve dug‌⁠ up to a kilometer deep and‍ found no trace.”‌

“Then‌ we’ll go deeper.”⁠‌‍

“Uh… the deeper we⁠⁠ go, the denser‌⁠ the rock becomes.⁠ Advancing further isn’t something we can‌‍⁠ do in just‍ a few days.”‍

Digging‍⁠ beyond a kilometer‌ deep was practically⁠⁠ forced labor.

It⁠ would’ve been easier‌⁠⁠ to use golems, but they feared‍ drawing too much‍ attention.

“Regardless,‍⁠‌ we must continue.‌‌ I propose reaching⁠‍ 1.5 kilometers.”

The‌‌ explorers’ faces turned‌‍ pale, but there⁠‌ was no other‌ choice.

They‍ resumed the search, drinking mana and‍‌‍ stamina potions like water.

They dug, and dug,‍‌ and dug.

“Your⁠‍ Holiness, are you‍‌ sure it’s here?”‍

“Didn’t⁠‍ you see the‍ map? All indicators point to this‌ region.”

“Yes,⁠ but…”

“We’ve⁠‌ scanned everything up⁠‍ to 1.5 kilometers⁠ and found nothing.”⁠

“Hmm…”‌

Jace⁠ Vines let out‌‍‍ a sigh.

They⁠‍ had examined every⁠‍⁠ mountain, and there‍ wasn’t a single‍ sign.

‘Is⁠⁠ it worth continuing‍ to dig?’

Subterranean‍ dungeons were usually⁠ found less than⁠‍‍ a kilometer deep.‌‌‌

If there was no‌⁠⁠ trace after 1.5⁠‍ km, it likely⁠⁠ didn’t exist.

Furthermore—‍‍

“In every dungeon of‍ the first Pope‍‍⁠ we’ve found, there‍‍ was a formal‍ entrance. But here,‌⁠ even after inspecting‌ the entire mountain,‌ there’s no door.”‌

An‍‍ entrance with white dragon statues that‍‍ only opened with‍‌ holy water or‍ a sacred flame.⁠‍

But⁠‌ here, there was‍‍ nothing.

“What if the dungeon‌ was destroyed…?”

“You’re‌ talking about a work of the‍ first Pope?”

“…You’re right. That’s absurd.”⁠‍

Finally,‌‌ Jace had to‍‌ admit it.

“It‌ seems I misinterpreted‍ the code. I offer my apologies.”‍⁠⁠

“No, Your Holiness. We all believed your⁠ decoding was correct.‍‌ It’s not your‌ fault.”

“That’s⁠⁠ right. We’re the‍ ones who failed‌⁠‌ to find it.”‍

“We’ll⁠‌ withdraw for now.‍ We’ll reevaluate the⁠ code and resume‌ the search.”

“Yes,⁠ Your Holiness.”

Having‍‍‍ gained nothing, the‍ expedition of the⁠⁠ Cult of the‌⁠⁠ Dragon God was forced to retreat.⁠