Chapter 29
OZfyaDtDemons used to proclaim themselves the rightful lords of magic, and for that reason, the Dragon Cult could never coexist with them.87egv6
oiJqADA religion that denies the very existence of its enemy cannot allow that enemy to exist.v1rLVI
z8EBAxUThat’s why the cult’s hatred for demons wasn’t much different from that of the inquisitors.irLx0b
KqIp7Even so, Fernan never imagined Jace would cast a spell without warning.CTtSy
YDU“I-I haven’t done anything wrong!”Kve
InZmWhen the roar subsided and the smoke cleared, Jace still had his hand extended, wreathed in flames, Luina was holding him back with her sword, and Bella was sitting on the floor, trembling and screaming, unable to get up.jin3
nQZ“Well done, Luina.”Gwu
wfBFernan sighed and grabbed Jace’s wrist. He hadn’t expected such an extreme reaction either.1ap
l8SeK“Stop it, Jace.”m2Rt
ET9“Senior! She’s corrupted! A demon has infiltrated the imperial academy without anyone knowing! I never imagined I’d see something like this! The only good demon is a dead one. I’ll make Bella Hoenne a good demon!”UIYMk
bwVEq“I said stop.”Bd2dsl
lEFfsSqFernan growled quietly.sXy0SP
uzp“Even if you’re my senior, when it comes to demons…”tUlglg
t2HTLTN“I’m the one who, knowing all that, asked you for the artifact.”AGCaX
3vS6“…That’s true, but…”0bX
Ou4aRo“I’m telling you. Bella Hoenne hasn’t met nor made any contract with a demon.”6EuO15
OjDAccording to the book of prophecies, Bella was simply a victim. And so far, that book had never lied to Fernan.tuC9Gk
1ouEF“But she had demonic energy.”0eBiXbd
5MhJ“You don’t have to make a contract with a demon to have demonic energy. It could be due to infection, and you know that.”P5cA0
Hhpwk“Then… are you saying someone at the academy is infecting students?”6MGYl
dEL8Jace’s expression grew tense. Although he said “someone,” they both knew he meant demon worshipers.xQz
jjLC“Isn’t that even worse? We should notify the cult and the Empire at once… or are you afraid that if we do, they’ll hide and we won’t find them?”Dd6oy
HRJDdSF“Exactly. I’ve tried everything to find whoever is spreading the demonic energy.”vnVb3n
jiK6zLHe had analyzed every detail of Bella and Valoshi’s routines and sent Hyde to investigate potential sources of contamination, but found nothing.O7Y
M0W31RO“That’s why I came to you.”vCjD
7k1oR6l“To ask for the Dragon Cult’s help?”4fC
UejY“Because it seems to be the only group not yet infiltrated by demon worshipers.”ZeMSzWM
48AcEven if the followers were spread across the continent, the Empire, or the academy, the most resistant place would undoubtedly be the Dragon Cult.yQPtkR
F8ZHAfter all, their hatred for demons ran deep.zEGNiu0
mDkQ5hSure, someone could be hiding even there, but by that logic, there’d be no one left to trust in the world.ud4Ey
wxLE5Y1“I’m convinced the corrupted have already infiltrated the entire academy.”wLZMwWR
9GjsDeOIt was obvious. Otherwise, the chaos during Andromalius’s appearance couldn’t be explained.uVT
rr0K‘Hundreds went mad from the infection.’nqLpr0n
voDNmxHe didn’t know exactly when Andromalius’s summoning had occurred. But what he did know was that to infect so many people unnoticed, it couldn’t have been just a few.vFAz
cZJI“They’re probably aiming to use the infected to destroy the academy from within.”e6OlkS
WoTtP“But why would they do that?”kbTgZ
slS9Su“Because the academy is the future of the Empire, and the continent itself. If they destroy it, they destroy that future.”s8Th
JymQIJace nodded, finally understanding.YtJ
ZhY“But… then we have to stop them as soon as possible. Even if they go into hiding, that’s better than letting them threaten the future of the continent.”lpV
Dkw6It made sense. Even if the followers went deeper underground, it was better than letting them wreak havoc.I5pBoF
un198NLBut Fernan knew how it would all end. He knew the demons would eventually be summoned on a massive scale, and the entire continent would fall into chaos.KqvmJgA
gaYC“But if we can uproot them with minimal damage, it’ll be better.”eTv3
J0gmrdIf they let them escape now, they’d return as an even worse disaster.qDy
5YyZFqTSometimes, you had to sacrifice the sprouts to protect the tree.KaXhIg
cSNi8“Do you have a plan?”izwGt
dTtew“Yes, I already have something in mind.”Ahm0h
y1c4JTpAfter hearing everything, Jace nodded.kx29Y
7OPK“Then wouldn’t it be better to ask for support from the cult?”k93
7VTN“I didn’t say not to tell them. Just don’t make it public. Share it only with those you absolutely trust, and keep it secret.”JsTm
iGYET“Understood.”Zt1VCJ
nqbcstJace let out a sinister chuckle.K09OIF
SnsvWl“Striking those bastards from the shadows… now that sounds like you, sir. I’m with you.”4sxa
rD2Ziv“And before that, is there any spell or artifact that can remove demonic energy?”2Shze
LhlTug“Of course. Every mage in the cult learns a spell called Holy Light, which burns demonic energy.”Wz0
yGxFVTIt was a sacred duty of the cult, which could not coexist with demons.zKo3J
EBkZ7“Perfect. Purge the demonic energy from that girl’s body.”LHGjjt
2zFVYlr“Of course. Miss Bella, could you extend your hand?”J0Eiz
pyZw“…You’re not going to kill me, right?”asi3mL
2f2vQ“Of course not. The cult only punishes demons and the corrupted. Never innocent victims.”RhEEZI
GTffDdThe holy man smiled sweetly. Still in shock from everything, Bella offered her hand without resistance.mA8yJVl
fEf“Ah, though… this will be my first time using this spell. Not sure how it’ll go. Is it okay to burn the inside of a living person?”GsA
mAvNFPA“…What?”yKQ
PtrG7RBella barely had time to react, but it was too late.68Z
q7EpE──！crK5I1r
0PBAn intense heat and searing pain erupted from within her.fqLMSBp
mTRv“Kyaaa!!!”vV8Uw
16T“Hmm. Seems like it hurts a lot.”cEQv3
o9CHb“Don’t worry. This room is completely soundproof.”doit
ZU5jZbNot only soundproof. It also absorbed any vibrations or impacts.kOM
wsjVg“Punishment for evil always comes with pain. That’s how it must be. You can scream all you want, cursing the demon that did this to you.”GYj1MSE
bKVyVM“…”jUO6b
p4fB5NLuina could only watch in silence as her friend collapsed to the floor, convulsing and foaming at the mouth.7PPT
9JiIX***CiZmv
Z4mh54“Huff… I guess it was tough since it was my first time using that spell on a person. Well, I’ll head out first. I have some investigations to conduct on my own.”W5HMk9
R5ngq“Alright.”kFNo5Gm
BZBZOnce the treatment was over, Jace left first, leaving Bella unconscious, collapsed on the table.9kW5
ufYbG“…Is she okay?”zgW7Ayk
QAsI“Probably.”LdOsVL
iZHuBringing his fingers close to her nose, he noticed she was still breathing. Her face was a bit pale, but she didn’t seem close to death.JQc6
ry9b“Take her to the Bless Pavilion.”sTmR
VKn“I will.”RxMCb
elUn1“Make her face up with red makeup so she looks drunk.”yWvu5Y
pdB“Is all this really necessary? If she returns looking drunk in broad daylight, her reputation…”5Gu2
r4SBWfz“No one would ever imagine that monsters like them have infiltrated the academy. It doesn’t hurt to be cautious.”RWVQjCo
cwkwvSOh, she should smell like alcohol too, so splash a little on her face. Fernan went to grab a rather expensive bottle of wine from a shelf in a hidden corner of the room, but stopped.FsUwEYl
GbAtyQ“Anyway, if it’s just for splashing, no need to use good wine.”yQjBW
RPHBhc“How much does it cost?”xij9oF
DdR“Twenty gold coins.”181
Emxr“A cheap tavern wine would do.”ZI56ZS
z5nAHWmFernan called someone to go buy a bottle. Luina got ready to carry Bella.wKdTOI
iYoHVg“Do you have a spare cloak? At least we should cover her face as much as possible.”j9Snvk
qeK4“Yes, we have one.”49jXmST
kpmpIXiAn employee brought a cloak, and Luina draped it over Bella.rY8QNb
17frk“When did you plan all this?”0HeqepK
76R“Since I found traces of demons through Verian. I knew they wouldn’t stop after just one attempt.”9kiAs3
l4JKRPA“Don’t forget your promise.”x5ja
AhjcZ6q“Promise?”Sk4
TpkAThe“You said you’d help me whenever it came to fighting demons.”GGymHP
rBv3vsLuina’s eyes turned cold.pHa
YP5vo“I won’t forgive those damned demons who put Bella in danger.”BKoY0tU
Xy4L8H“I know.”ClH5zy
GvOLP7Shortly after, Luina doused Bella in cheap wine and carried her off.c4GY6Z
0qpyXA4“…I’ll use Jace’s help and the Cult to purge all demonic energy from the infected humans. As discreetly as possible.”Nxu1oy
IJtC3CThat way, they could minimize the chaos the corrupted were trying to stir.9zdj
7boV45e“It would be ideal to prevent the demon’s appearance in the first place…”5zmrqM
JyjMaybe when more of the prophetic book was revealed, he’d understand how. For now, he had no idea.XskPjet
HIOE“I need to focus on what’s next.”DM2PL
yoNWThe Yacht Club. That’s where the corrupted would begin to move in earnest.cA9L
hqu1On one of the Golden Turtle Guild’s yachts, operated and lent out for free by Fernan, he would pose as a guild employee and attempt to assassinate Aint.eq8NN
B54E1q“To stop the demon in the end, I need Aint’s cooperation.”O9lx3
kUtSutPBut talking to him about demons out of nowhere would be madness. At best, it’d raise suspicions.5VuROME
MqjUZ“Everything needs preparation.”TjuFW0S
LAYy4P5The corrupted would try to kill Aint or at least isolate him from the other students. But the opposite would happen.0Z0mHE
MrkWAint would survive, and Fernan would become his open sponsor.UZQrfT
zvDQQ“While investigating suspicious individuals infiltrated in the guild, I found one had slipped in as a yacht staffer. But I didn’t know they were one of the degenerates.”bnJI
yDDvThis way, Fernan would witness the degenerates with Aint in the same place.JqHZYl0
xr7cs2nAlthough the plan was detailed, that was the gist. Knowing the future made organizing it easy.AeQt
7vA2LJFernan’s eyes grew cold.3R14
oYDpk***b0sfv
q07obnf— Why are you trembling all of a sudden?4vIN
DDq‘I don’t know, I just felt a sudden chill.’fn2
tQSVAint shook off the cold and refocused on the lecture.ruT
DVfZDIj“So, this cyclops, although it only has one eye…”uKlXeG
EkH9The class was “Study of Monsters and Magical Beasts,” a five-credit core course — quite important.lOCbFk
K88HP— How are you feeling?5NUB
SVTGSv‘Not bad.’KfCbb
epgCMaybe thanks to the desperate battle with the sea dragon, he’d managed to absorb almost half the residual magic power from the Saint bird’s heart — something not even Gardner had fully managed.ccvFZ
V1C5bQY— A blessing disguised as disaster. You gained adamantite and magical power.wedaLqG
Whxu13C‘And a rather reliable sponsor, too.’R9wgGq
MevuJf— More of a transaction than a sponsor.hczdTcc
3O1Wz— But don’t get too confident. Adamantite is worth a lot, and those rich folks will do anything to devalue it.xY0s8Xc
UQzjhTnAint was aware. Even though he had approached them, he couldn’t expect too many concessions.0Cji
ssyr— The best approach would be to make them realize how dangerous the situation is. They’re not fools. If they sense real danger, they’ll open their wallets.6K7rJ
NOz‘Then it’d be best if senior Fernan witnessed the existence of demons directly. But… do they really exist?’gt1OM
mqXPSince acquiring Gardner, or even before, Fernan had never seen a demon or any degenerate followers.QyrB
HX2b5j— I wish they didn’t, but they’re already moving in the shadows. The fact that I’ve awakened is proof of that.GmzQ69S
cxTGardner said it with certainty.BxVdA
J6QWh— Back to the point, it’s not a bad idea. If they’re demons, even the Pellenbergs will understand the gravity of the situation.F0I
qaaAk— …Though, not all of them.LTP
FTQ‘What do you mean, not all?’6nQNR
EOpF— When people see a ruthless merchant, they say “he’d sell even to a demon.” Well, that phrase originated from the Pellenbergs. They literally sold to demons.tnkj
6vdv3W‘…Mother of god.’oaN
AuF1KqGAint was speechless. He knew the Pellenberg merchants were ruthless, but he never imagined they’d made deals with demons.nQGTO
JRSoWf0— Now you understand why I detest them?wcw2r
PMj‘Yeah… I get it now.’naKWX
FZFAs they continued their conversation, class ended in the blink of an eye. While Aint was putting away his books, someone approached.Pc9q
UTvC“Aint.”58s1sQ
1rHy“Valoshi.”ech
04V0z“Do you have plans after class?”xYzg
09e3“No, I was just planning to train a bit.”oK0IUoh
3AnENIn“Always so diligent.”fGQE78
RS0uValoshi smiled kindly.uOG
FyZu— This guy is weird. I know he’s a good person, but I don’t understand why he treats you so well.iCj0
B22‘I’ve wondered the same thing, honestly.’OjahCU
HhFeQ9It was clear Valoshi Bienderk was a good guy. But being good wasn’t enough to stop Aint from being suspicious.1cDjc
YCpHe bore the Armian name, while the current emperor bore the Schwaben name. That made his attitude even more questionable.cJ6
VoK4z0Wouldn’t the Bienderk heir care about how the imperial family saw him?9Gz8
mUTC8f‘Then again… the Bienderks are nearly as powerful as the imperial family.’dwii
a6SStill, it could cause friction. So why was he so eager to approach Aint? He had little left to offer beyond the fading prestige of his family.4BO5gC
jBcTBut he couldn’t just ask him directly, so he kept it in.Exi
0lQ“Want to come somewhere with me after class?”SK3H
ZuM5rw“Where to?”fHcbmkw
f3xValoshi pulled out a small card. An invitation.xxr486
Txa“You’re not in any club, right?”LTBrz
YcnUFxo“Not yet.”vSyKxr
ohXClubs were student associations encouraged by the academy. Usually formed around hobbies or academic interests.hpwF1Hb
Tpgmg“Yacht Club?”b8jMT
MOnOCo“Yeah. You can only join if recommended by a current member. But with an invitation, you can bring one guest.”p9EA
ZGxValoshi explained that most members were prestigious nobles or heirs of major merchant guilds.DTn3P4
e2Y“I received an invitation to this month’s meeting recently, and I’d like you to come with me if possible.”hVWPRv
bHJ1aF“With me?”tnGQ
5vbD“Yes.”32XFr
soUmp— From your perspective, that place is a den of demons. Inviting you there? Is he insane?n4W9n
NJy8pbGardner was right. Most high-ranking nobles avoided Aint out of fear of the Schwaben name.GXR6j
3ihpThere was even a Schwaben prince in that club.J12z
uMagU— Still, it’s not a bad idea to go once.w4N8
eZYbmZb— One of the late emperor’s secret provisions is out at sea. With luck, you might come across it and find something useful.mSw5iQ8
XjR— That Schwaben prince will probably treat you like trash, but you’ve got nothing to lose.LcDHDH
bRDacD‘How many secret provisions did the late emperor leave behind?’Jbf
Lvel— When it comes to facing demons, there can never be too many.19x
Ds3J1Aint nodded at Gardner’s words.AjNa
JcXn9Z“So you’ll come?”KaQ6hq
HrTBBxXValoshi misread Aint’s reaction as agreement. But Aint didn’t bother correcting him.jTK8BKC
pJL“Yes.”9g5G
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