Chapter 35

In the prophecy Fernan had seen.

Aint, wounded all over and barely surviving the assassins’ attack, fled toward the center of the island to escape the two Sea Serpents.

Originally, those beasts weren’t supposed to stray far from the shore, but due to the power of high demons, they pursued him even into the island’s heart.

At that critical moment, Aint managed to defeat the creatures by discovering the hidden resource the First Emperor had prepared.

Thus, it wasn’t necessary for Fernan to intervene directly against the Sea Serpents.

‘Is it around here?’

The place mentioned in the prophecy was between two high peaks. Fernan intentionally steered their escape toward that point.

His plan was to make the prepared resource appear as a coincidence and have Aint obtain it without suspicion.

───!

“Is it really okay for us to keep going like this?!”

Luina, who turned at the sound of trees breaking and the earth splitting, bit her lip.

The two enormous Sea Serpents continued chasing them like raging bulls, leaving devastation in their wake.

Their only advantage was that the beasts, unused to solid ground, were a bit slower than their size implied.

Even so, on a small island, they couldn’t run forever.

“From the moment we saw two Sea Serpents, it was clear this wouldn’t end well.”

“Is there any way to fix this if we reach the island’s center?”

There was. His name was Aint Armian.

However, Fernan couldn’t simply say he knew that, so he shook his head.

“We didn’t expect them to follow us this far. It was an unexpected turn.”

“…That’s true.”

Anyone could tell that was abnormal behavior. Fernan and Aint knew it was caused by the demons.

Luina and Bella also sensed something strange, though they couldn’t yet link it directly to demons.

“If they follow us all the way, buy some time however you can. I’ll handle the rest.”

“Like last time?”

“Exactly.”

“I’ll trust you this time.”

Maybe because there was precedent, Luina nodded with determination.

“…Hey.”

At that moment, Aint, who was being transported by sand magic, partially sat up.

Thanks to a first-aid potion, his complexion had improved.

“I can go on my own now.”

“If that’s what you want.”

The magic dissipated.

“But… how are you two here…?”

“Same as you. We got swept away by a wave during the battle and ended up here.”

“Huh? So we… mmph!”

“Bella? Why are you eating sand all of a sudden?”

“It’s not… that…!”

While Bella spat out sand after choking on some that had blown into her face, Fernan managed to convince Aint.

Given the circumstances, if they said they were in the same situation, there wasn’t much room for doubt.

“…Thank you. You saved my life.”

“I only did what was necessary. Those guys were disguised as Golden Turtle Company employees, but they were clearly not normal.”

“Ah, that…”

“If I’m right, they were high demons. Am I correct?”

“…How did you know?”

Aint’s eyes went wide.

Since confirming the prophecy, Fernan had considered two possible paths:

One, witness the events with Aint and let him tell it all. The other, go ahead and take the initiative with a convincing explanation.

‘The first option was safer, but I couldn’t justify my prior actions against demons.’

With the second, as long as he had a solid reason, he wouldn’t need to keep hiding anything he’d done.

In fact, the moment he chose to include Luina and Bella, it was clear he had made his decision.

Because by bringing them along, it implied they also knew about the demons.

“It’s simple. I’ve been tracking those things for a while.”

“…What?”

Aint’s eyes widened to the point it seemed impossible they could grow further. His pupils trembled, unable to steady.

“…You already knew about high demons?”

“Don’t stop running!”

“Y-yes…!”

Startled, Aint picked up his pace again. Soon, running alongside Fernan, he asked:

“You really already knew they existed?”

“Are you that surprised?”

“Of course! Who on this continent would even believe in the existence of demons or high demons?”

How was this possible?

He’d heard countless times from Gardner that he needed to obtain the preparations left by the First Emperor and fight demons.

But this was the first time he’d seen one with his own eyes. Before meeting Gardner, demons were no more than legends or fantasy beings. Even now, he only half-believed in their existence.

A thousand years was too long.

Long enough for any threat to vanish like a dream.

So how could Fernan Pellenberg know about them? Did he really believe they existed?

— What is this…?

— Could the Pellenberg family also have been preparing in their own way?

Even Gardner, usually unflappable, seemed shaken.

— Or did the demons begin acting earlier than I thought?

— And you simply took too long to come find me?

If that was the case, who knew how much damage the demons had already caused the human world?

“You’re mistaken. I didn’t know about high demons in general. What I knew was about the two bugs that tried to kill you.”

“What?”

“I’ve noticed suspicious movements in the company for some time. Strange money flows, disappearing funds. Everything looked fine on paper, but something was off in practice.”

“…And that was the demons’ doing?”

Fernan nodded.

“I couldn’t confirm it completely, but I suspected it. I crossed paths several times with strange individuals during my investigations, and one of them released that nasty energy.”

He added that after thoroughly researching its nature, he concluded it was demonic magic.

“And now that I saw them today, I’m sure.”

“You really believe what I’m saying?”

“How could I not? The Armians have always been the vanguard in the fight against demons. Who could know more than you?”

— The demons were using the company as a funding source?

— Makes sense.

‘Does he really believe him?’

— There’s nothing that contradicts what he said.

— The worst-case scenario is that he’s a demon himself and orchestrated everything to get close to you.

There were certainly odd details.

Just as Aint joined the Yacht Club, an unprecedented sea monster attack happened.

The ship belonged to the Pellenbergs, and the demons disguised as employees attacked Aint. And just then, Fernan appeared to save the day.

Was it all really a coincidence? Or was he being manipulated?

‘But… what about Luina and Bella, then…?’

— He could’ve brought them along to avoid suspicion too.

— If it were someone else, I might believe it, but coming from those nobles… I have doubts.

— Those bastards sold supplies to the demons! We suffered so much because of them…!

Both Fernan’s words and Gardner’s warnings sounded plausible.

He couldn’t be sure which was right.

But at that moment, that wasn’t what mattered.

The crucial thing was surviving the two Sea Serpents that were rapidly approaching.

— We’re close.

— The resource left by the emperor.

— If you manage to obtain it, you’ll be able to face them without issue.

Though they were called “the kings of the sea,” on solid ground, they were no more than “giant serpents.”

— But it’s a risk. It’s not good for others to know about this resource unless you’re absolutely sure.

At that moment, Fernan came to a stop.

“This place will do. There’s nowhere else to run anyway.”

“How much time do you need?”

“Ten minutes.”

“Understood.”

“Wait, Luina. What are you doing?”

Luina said nothing. She simply turned around, grabbed a stunned Bella by the arm, and ran straight toward the Sea Serpents.

“…What the hell?”

“Buying time. While I prepare to face them.”

“Prepare?”

“What kind of preparation can a merchant make? Hit them with money.”

Clunk.

Fernan pulled out a heavy box from subspace. Upon opening it, a large number of vials and potions appeared.

Seeing this, Aint and Gardner understood what he was about to do.

— This is a great chance, Aint!

— Tell him you’re going to help Luina and Bella, but head instead to where the resource is. It’s very close!

“I’m going to help Luina and Bella.”

“If you’re not injured anymore, do as you please. Though honestly, worrying about wounds when your life is on the line would be absurd.”

Fortunately, Fernan didn’t stop him.

Aint pretended to launch an attack on the Sea Serpents but quickly turned in the direction Gardner had indicated.

***

─!

──!

Trees, unable to withstand the pressure, snapped loudly.

The ground, frozen by the white frost, cracked, and wherever that massive body passed, destruction was left behind.

When the two sea serpents roared, the knights raised their swords at them.

The knights’ aura was sharp enough to pierce the scales of those massive serpents.

But just because it was sharp didn’t mean it guaranteed victory. The knights’ swords weren’t enough to inflict fatal damage on the colossal beasts.

Maybe if they got stronger or if the situation changed due to the First Emperor’s plan, it would be different.

‘For now, that’s their limit.’

A tenuous resistance.

Fernan sensed the sign that this suffering would soon come to an end.

Not far away, a faint light filtered through.

It was the process of Aint’s body being reconstructed as he obtained the hidden plan of the First Emperor.

[It was the most imposing tree between the two mountains.

— This is called a faerie tree. It’s harder than most metals and brimming with forest energy. Elves go crazy over it.

A hard tree with such vitality it almost never dies.

— Since it’s so full of energy, it’s the perfect place to hide the plan.

“So, what exactly is this plan? If I take it, can I win?”

— That’ll depend on you, but at the
very least, you’ll have a chance.

— Place the sword on the tree.

Aint drove the sword in. In response, the faerie tree split open on its own.

Inside, a small orb appeared.
It was semi-transparent and emitted a soft light, almost like a spirit.

— It’s an elixir personally created by the First Emperor. But it’s not an ordinary elixir. It doesn’t increase mana—it reconstructs the body.

“Body reconstruction?”

— Human talent is passed down by lineage. But it’s not perfect. The First Emperor worried about that. What if the person inheriting his plan didn’t have an affinity with light?

The secret swordsmanship of House Armian was based on light.

That’s why it was rare, why it was naturally opposed to demons, and why the First Emperor had been able to repel them.

— That orb is made purely of light. Its purity is so high that even someone without affinity can acquire it.

— It reconstructs the body to be compatible with the light attribute.

“Is that possible?”

Forcing an attribute onto someone who didn’t have it?

If spiritualists heard about this, they’d sell their whole country to obtain it.

— Obviously, not just anyone can—

The approaching noise made Gardner cut off his explanation.

— Take it now!

“Yes!”

Aint swallowed the orb. A white light completely enveloped him.]

Fernan, grimacing at the stabbing pain in his head from recalling the future, held his temple and chuckled.

“…Yes. That’s exactly it.”

The plan Aint was meant to obtain.

One that only made sense if it was Aint who received it, so Fernan felt no attachment to it.

The light vanished in an instant, but soon Aint came running toward the sea serpents.

Everything had gone according to plan.

Now, Aint would help Ruina and Bella defeat the sea serpents and fully grasp the threat of demons and the corrupted.

“And while we’re at it, the academy will implement a naval combat course.”

His wallet would also benefit.

“Well then, I’d better get moving.”

Fernan returned the box of reagents to his subspace.

He had never intended to waste money making traps.

With a smile on his lips, he began to whistle.