Chapter 38
NvPSi3“What the hell is going on here?!”tVRO
Cy3After returning to the Ravidus building after class, Fernan was met with an uninvited—though not unexpected—visitor.M8y7ys
y0mD“What’s the matter, Verian?”B3jr2
TE510tTApparently, Aint had followed the instructions well.HhKz5n
b35“Don’t play dumb! Why did you tell Aint about me?”Qaih5dr
0sv7“And is that a problem?”LUgIkye
925QZN“What do you mean, is it a problem?! Are you seriously asking that?!”i1gTV6
x2Z“Verian Kalburdern. Who do you think you’re raising your voice to?”63e
7pFEven though he understood the situation and Verian’s frustration, it was still necessary to reinforce the hierarchy.dnrb
R6YNENNAs Fernan frowned, Verian’s body instinctively stiffened.xfjMJ
434z“…Sorry. But still…”qEfTQ6
6GVQ5“But what?”GbGzRKl
kJU“Didn’t we sign a contract stating that you wouldn’t talk to anyone about that? In return, I’d follow all your orders.”wLJOgD
7ev“You’re mistaken.”tMkeOz
wzhJCFernan leaned back in his chair.ncAT
283Y0V“Excuse me?”kNJgQ
8wYB0“The contract stated that you wouldn’t suffer any harm because of that matter.”zMs
hAy4995“And what does that mean?”89cl
tB0“When you sign a contract, read each clause carefully, Verian Kalburdern.”iS1
RUOp3ljA contract can be sharper than a sword or more secure than a fortress.SvC
0rpA single word can be the difference between heaven and hell.nks31C
a69XZq“In any case, consider yourself lucky that this time the contract doesn’t have any harmful clauses for you.”WpUqzH
FdF6yiL“Are you saying that revealing I was corrupted by demonic mana isn’t harmful?”F6x2
qig8z4Verian’s expression clearly screamed: What kind of nonsense is that? And Fernan understood it.dBX
vUSiQ8Without knowing the future, it was reasonable to think that way.eifhhnl
mIwm38z“Listen closely, Verian Kalburdern.”30mt
cDaq“I’ve been listening for a while…!”rn0ujRJ
PmP“It might be a problem with someone else, but not with Aint.”oCW
ifvo“…And what’s that based on?”XJk
HXChxVx“Both of you are isolated in your respective departments. I want you two to overcome that together.”uEnS6h
3dDVqAnd if, along the way, they defeated the corrupted, conquered demons, and saved the world—even better.txZV
xJDdV6FThat way, Fernan wouldn’t have to worry anymore.dGQ8
WG5s“You’re saying that even after what I went through?”Fxa
J5Vjbu“Does that matter?”Kyqip
Z9n“Then what does?”PzFCWy
Gt0PO5R“That I have the record of the moment you were corrupted, and it’s in my possession.”oIl
H4J“…”E8nD
F06AoUVerian shut his mouth.LKivgct
6qkzXq“And that, if I wanted, that record could end up in the hands of the inquisitors.”ZlyipR9
Wk3“…What if Aint reports me to them instead?!”qnHaH
bIoY3“He won’t.”Vg3
exgV2“How can you be so sure?”QL62NEk
ICp4D8Because Fernan had read his story in the prophecy book and understood his character.xIS2
GHXjThrough the record, Aint clearly understood that Verian was a victim too. And he wasn’t foolish enough to make an enemy of someone who could be an ally.QBByGe
VU5CiA1Besides, Verian had been sent by Fernan. Betraying him would also damage his relationship with Fernan.d2Cu
yE99D“That object on your neck is called a head, Verian. Use it.”d0Uh8
kmFMwP“…What?”XTpy6fx
YGPBz“I’ll just say this—Aint Armian is already pursuing other corrupted. If you stay close, sooner or later, you’ll meet the one who did this to you.”0J2E
mkJMHe couldn’t guarantee when, but Aint was definitely the hero who attracted demons wherever he went.Jyyiteu
q0yV4“…You’re saying he already knows about the corrupted?”AMIKdE
lKVC“Yes.”F3qnc
90A9by“And the one who did this to me…?”AG6d
LIN“You don’t really believe you were infected for no reason, do you?”uhsoNFY
m2m“…Can I catch them?”aqfnlN
z3qWxU“Of course.”fLeIZ
K7Q8oFor a moment, Verian’s eyes burned with rage.y87PI
GbL“…What exactly do you want from me?”dcr1q3
dX7Okh“Stay with Aint for your entire time at the academy. Then I’ll destroy the record.”TZPfm
WQrxJ“Understood.”ie8esOR
V9LbAnyway, Fernan wasn’t going to accept a no, and he couldn’t go back on what he’d told Aint.BtjJU
f40HCZVerian’s gaze grew resolute.J0gSu
Zl8“Now you look like a proper person.”W9wOl
4IimtThus, Aint Armian gained his first companion.DGFJC
fIrhvBOne very different from those mentioned in the prophecy book.ek2awq1
VAku50***vKy
sqNDnThe next morning, Fernan received a letter from his father.R1o
zbvivIt could’ve been about mithril, adamantite, golems, demons, or the corrupted… but it was none of those.Znwkm
g62MBS[There has been a negotiation between the Fridian family and the Imperial Academy of Armian.]uRS
PTXyCJv[Fridian will deliver large quantities of World Tree leaves, spirit stones, etc., in exchange for…]JGQq
D3TS1H[These are very valuable goods. Therefore, the Golden Turtle Company was officially entrusted with their transport…]mXw
XUwjFernan’s eyes stopped at the end of the letter.zOK
DfQwC[The Fridian family has requested that you be responsible for it.]1KDO9d
LgGs“Hm.”QMewfq
Qzj9uFFernan tapped his fingers on the desk.bean
TZMIn short, the Fridian family and the academy had made a deal. In return, they would hand over World Tree leaves, spirit stones, and the like.xuSI
tGcuFridian had entrusted the transport to the Golden Turtle Company. And requested Fernan Pellenberg as the person in charge.kvZMt
I9lWc2‘The first three things make sense.’Ekf
xdDThe Fridian family was still considered an outsider among imperial nobility, so it wasn’t strange for them to pull strings. Entrusting it to the empire’s largest company also made sense.0IC
OmKSlBut the last part didn’t.nU3wBI
YNx4cs‘Why me, specifically?’dM7
S9qIt was true that Fernan had earned his fame young through his work in administration.uEuL
isjRQBut he wasn’t the only competent one in the company.WjjL
bvjl6n‘They said if I can’t take responsibility, they at least want me to accompany the transport. Am I really that important?’2lrV
q5aSOlZHe found no clear answer.LVNO
st3uHe stored the letter and left. His morning class was about to begin.FAMcu
IZVToday was “Studies on Magical Creatures and Monsters,” a joint class between the Magic and Knight Departments.IyQP0PH
ieiCr2vThe class was held in the indoor coliseum, not the regular classroom. A wide space with ten platforms, ideal for duels and festivals.q25udH
7HwThe professor hadn’t arrived yet, and the students were paired off, chatting.qW6ov
uvyJlFernan sat beside Luina.P3lo4Fx
2PWIP“You’re late.”E6Y
rjahddG“The professor isn’t here yet.”RIIU6no
xWW“The professor is the one who’s late.”ykKV
nsDITrue. A minute had already passed.WUo
l8IWI6x“I arrived just on time. That’s not being late.”rIto
utIVUs“You should learn the virtue of punctuality.”hgPYpP
c7v“Time is a valuable resource that shouldn’t be wasted.”IzX
TPesLuina slightly furrowed her brow but said nothing more.1suqSo
Q3qgSSoon after, the professors and assistants entered through the main door.AtE0
Yr8kEL“We’re a bit late, so let’s take roll immediately.”EJRAO
yip92Second-year professor of “Studies on Magical Creatures and Monsters,” Balmon Atra, quickly took attendance. No one was absent.fThtp
ErBMBTx“As I mentioned last time, today’s topic is cooperation.”XBmKs
RYL8Tap tap tap. With a gesture, words appeared on the board.h6VoSy6
JSoqeYn“There are monsters and creatures that can’t be fought alone. Some have extremely tough hides that weapons can’t penetrate. Others have high magic resistance. And some are just too strong, or you’re too weak.”IW8u
zCePl“Let’s set aside the unsolvable cases. What’s important is how to deal with the others—those that are natural enemies of either a knight or a mage.”zNKEpGJ
pH9Yv9Each magical creature or monster has its own characteristics, and knowing their weaknesses is vital.rlAgYB
tntiIJM“That’s why you’re taking this class, and why second-year students are paired for joint sessions.”0mTj
Hg5Since the great war against the demons, cooperation between knights and mages had become the standard not only in the empire, but across the continent.Hi9
iZr“Could you bring it out, please?”r9gBgN
lyEVB“Gladly.”KVN3hhS
7x4f0Hack hack. The professor of “Golem Magic,” Harcon Pallas, stepped forward coughing.OwwsuN
og0Lu6k“I doubt any of you are unfamiliar with this. Maybe it’s your first time using them, but you’ve definitely seen them before.”fPkJ1W
WbP—!N5t
0GFnA slight tremor filled the area. Heavy footsteps approached, and ten training golems entered the coliseum.Ltrg61f
wWNyO4“These are the academy’s official class golems.”5S6YoA
xQUDThe size and shape of the golems varied. Each one mimicked a different monster or magical creature.CsMt7Ph
oP83KThe basic structure was made up of various alloys, and several magical circles and enchanted inscriptions could be seen etched on their surfaces.sAflCMe
cvr8SSince capturing real monsters for every class wasn’t feasible, these substitutes, called “dummies,” were created—and Fernan knew them well.szMB
hjXzUzAfter all, his family also had some.Cq5
Sf90“So those are the famous dummies.”ta9
pfe“First time seeing them?”eoG
Ohk“I’ve heard of them, but this is my first time seeing them in person.”k8Hy
2HiNSZo“They were made by the Temple. They faithfully replicated the characteristics and traits of each monster using magic.”8Flj2AM
e0ezPBut the most important thing was something else.7D9H
DBy“And they’re damn expensive.”kfNWmb1
29Ht8HtAt the academy’s request, the Temple—regarded as the best in magical arts on the continent—had created these dummies sparing no resources or cost.EBp
lFJcnThat’s why they were incredibly expensive. Although worth every coin. They were so durable that an average student couldn’t even scratch them.koc
SMp‘Though they’re not perfect.’BXy614
Gc2Rwl1Despite accurately replicating the monsters’ characteristics, they couldn’t move organically.cnJzD
BJkFor that reason, a mage usually controlled them directly. In the end, they were still a kind of golem.Vucu
F66kM“Well, at this point, you all know what to do, right?”4ps8
J5JUehw“Yes.”poy3
bwmikiB“Understood.”R6iL
lFnXH“Even though everyone will participate eventually, is there any pair who wants to go first?”obHKYV7
O6iCNRUsually, the wisest thing in these kinds of practices was to observe a bit before acting.dBncpj
e0GtZT“I want to go first.”oClz
nYdflz“…Luina?”Ohbn6r
bFhfWCyBefore Fernan could stop her, Luina had already stepped forward with firm strides.CRa
Q8HbQ2Seeing her expression, Fernan realized—rarely—she was excited.xPCWJi
uuH“Luina Bercheff and Fernan Pellenberg. Good attitude. Nine more pairs, please.”OIy726z
6yMbUOFernan, dragged out alongside her against his will, muttered.2SbeJs
3jvaqt“What are you doing?”9XbmC
xgi5it“I always get excited facing new enemies. I’ve never fought a Temple dummy before.”emIDc
yQNJGr“It’s not that big a deal. If you get your hopes too high, you’ll end up disappointed.”WYYM
feebgEven though those dummies replicated monsters and magical creatures well, they were still controlled by humans.jxe9gQV
T8HNERSo realistic movements shouldn’t be expected.15CkH
zmj“That’s a bit disappointing.”6FiMUoV
6bO1SDAs they talked, the other pairs also stepped forward.STWh1tn
BxV“Hm?”T5HK
znJFernan tilted his head at who he saw. Ludger and Almon, Carlo and Alia, Daisy and…qM0j9J
iXlQzThey were all the highest-level pairs.7td8Y
sKnv2‘Competition?’Ti0K4
BQ9NTheir gazes were fixed on Fernan and Luina. That was probably it.1kPth
N5kts“This just got more interesting.”FJM
MAQsbLuina noticed too, smiling faintly.32StAt4
YclkV“Step onto your designated platforms.”mRs
BsLOnce each pair was on their platform, the dummies were placed in front of them.ej4y4P
rDCFernan clicked his tongue when he saw their opponent—a hulking figure over three meters tall.lCK2gpu
3BMhp1“Luina, Fernan. Your opponent will be a Goliath-type dummy. What are the Goliath’s characteristics?”W7ET1CF
2exThe Goliath was a monster that, once matured, stood nearly three meters tall and was completely covered in rock.EpSb
lx62AOE‘We got a tough one.’nOg
8nEud“Its body is made of hard stone, so it’s difficult to inflict physical damage. On top of that, its brute strength is devastating.”o4I
xFgnWP“Correct.”SKL7
637fAnd it didn’t have low magical resistance either.cSzWP
qj7Its body resembled a mixture of rock and metal, so it could withstand quite powerful spells.q0XYg
WPVB“Its physical and magical resistance is high. Still, it’s not impossible to defeat. If you’ve paid attention in class, you should be able to beat it with relative ease.”fJtZ
MCKx“The same goes for the other monsters. Each has its own traits and weaknesses. Fight with that in mind.”ZUTQf
qP3b“By the way, all the dummies have been upgraded by the Temple. If you fight like they’re ordinary monsters, you’ll be in for a rough time. So be careful.”tCSj
GaSKVOnce the professor finished, he gave the order to begin the battle, and the dummies’ eyes started to glow.3PhxEan
dGU“Luina, you know what to do, right?”o9sS
DRi“I’ll hold it off. In the meantime, aim for the nape.”RcbzsB
l8aThe Goliath’s weak point was the back of the neck. Its coverage there was thinner, so a well-placed blow could be decisive.Qye
r3kqHtC“No, I’ll restrain it. You aim for the weak spot.”q2k6iSu
s8T“That’s not…”sgiit
fMpBAt that moment, the dummy struck the ground forcefully.rTGP
DARfIn a blink, the Goliath closed the distance and threw a punch directly at Fernan.pVe5
YhGi─!pl6OvDF
70eJThere was a loud crash. But between the fist and Fernan was a sword covered in aura—and a knight holding it.KUsBgK7
8E3“Is this how you plan to distract it?”wRGGU4
Rk5jcWithout waiting for a reply, Luina struck the Goliath’s arm with her sword. A loud clang was heard, but the dummy didn’t seem affected.EjmA
A0TeLFcAt that moment, a shower of sand and earth began to fall all over it.EPzZg
jFAWdE8“Who said I was going to distract it?”Gsg
9w4a6bMagical circles appeared one after another. Rocks, gravel, sand, and soil rained down as if there were no tomorrow.3NwFp
2c4Soon, the entire battlefield was covered, and the dummy completely buried.DElR
CzUKVS“I meant to immobilize it. Literally.”FeN
PmFpiUnder normal conditions, Fernan couldn’t have stopped a dummy that fast.KaOTION
nsU4yPBut in the confined space of the coliseum, it was enough to fill everything until it couldn’t move.JPSK
toCTWTaEven if his magical control wasn’t exceptional, he had consumed countless tonics from a young age as a good merchant, giving him an immense mana pool.uyr
Vs3GFF4─!bvSH4UM
SXe4──!UeikD
drrwHKThe earth and rocks, guided by his will, clung to the dummy’s body, trapping and solidifying around it.r4k
peyyThe Goliath dummy struggled to break free, but the more it moved, the more it became stuck—like being caught in hardened quicksand.hIXUM
A4fTKAnd finally—5tMlP6W
gXTCSJ“…I didn’t think you’d use this method.”fvSE
yOzR7Trapped in mud, sand, and magically hardened rock, the dummy could no longer move. It only emitted creaks like a damaged golem.Xt5eC
UzR“It’s the simplest and safest method. Anyone can do it if they have enough mana.”wcnIR
41JSLNYou just had to pour all your magic onto it without pause.c9tCZke
RyuYA“…Isn’t that the hardest part?”sKUas
7Aa“Now finish it.”DFcCW
xJlMLuina stepped forward decisively and stabbed the Goliath in the nape. The magic circle activated, and the dummy powered down.KAHrUY
5IdAx“Fernan and Luina. Time to defeat the Goliath dummy: 53 seconds.”4l1OfO
6YQThe assistant, surprised, announced the time.i0Ht
I4XoNaturally, it was first place.aELV3
Ftrb“…That fast?”DZFP3
j7woEL“Is that even possible?”HNV
BvP“Wow, that’s insane…”VJgWTn
Kus“How much mana does that guy have?”9Vha
hWFTz3“He’s definitely not paired with Luina by coincidence…”OwJP4Tb
4bvwoPassionate comments and intense stares fell on Fernan, who simply ignored them. In fact, if given a bit more time, he could’ve won by conventional means too. But he chose this method because—H8ES
ZWi6Yd“Impressive. I thought I’d seen all your sides since we became partners, but you still manage to surprise me.”DbDrn
gvxAb9Though—szT3Pn
di2bsz“…It’s a shame. I wanted to fight directly. But well, we won, so it’s fine.”ARjTk9
8BBTo win the favor of Luina Bercheff, who aimed to be the best, eh?YztK8
Nnz“…A shame?”JYS
ZSoThat reaction didn’t sound all that pleased.P5o
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