Chapter 46

After a month and a half, Fernan returned to the academy, and a piece of news awaited him.

“A new subject called Naval Combat will be introduced at the academy.”

At the vice-director’s report, Fernan showed a barely perceptible smile. It was a future foreseen by the book of prophecies, which meant—

“Following the contract signed by the headmaster, a first agreement has been made for thirty warships.”

It was money also foreseen.

“Who will be the professor?”

“Everything points to Parmion Hakan. A former officer of the imperial navy, with twenty years of active service at sea.”

He was the same man Fernan had seen in the prophecy book.

“It hasn’t been determined yet how many credits ‘Naval Combat’ will offer, but it’s expected to be mandatory…”

As he listened to the report and flipped through the documents, Fernan raised an eyebrow.

“They’re expanding the island shipyard?”

“Yes. Assuming the ships will suffer significant damage during training, we judged that the current size wouldn’t be enough for repairs.”

“Perfect. The academy’s warship project is going to become a golden goose.”

“I believe so too.”

He turned the report page. On it were things Fernan had been eagerly waiting for.

“You’re saying they already delivered the sea dragon’s corpse?”

“Yes. The items you mentioned are stored in a special warehouse.”

The “mana heart” of the sea dragon. It was finally in his hands.

Fernan’s face lit up with excitement.

***

【Academy Weekly】

【Fridian’s spirit stones successfully delivered. They will be used for elemental spirit classes and research…】

【New professor of Spirit Studies arrives at the academy! Who is Professor Nania Beris…?】

【Jace Vymes, saint of the Cult of the Dragon God, touring the academy asking: “Do you believe in mana?” Some believers have joined him…】

【Barog Herr, top student of the third-year Knight Department, slapped by Liana Horton, top of the Magic Department…】

【From enemies to best friends? Aint Armian and Verian Kalburdern become inseparable…】

“Long time no see.”

Fernan folded the newspaper. Luina sat down in front of him.

“Yes, it’s been a while.”

Luina didn’t seem to be in bad shape after all that time apart.

“How did it go while I was gone?”

“Not bad. But if I had to point out something negative, it’d be my grades.”

“I heard you were assigned an assistant as a partner. Wasn’t he competent?”

“The assistant wasn’t to blame. He was more than enough.”

Fernan guessed what had happened.

“You got points deducted.”

“That’s right.”

“Certainly, letting Professor Rosalia’s assistant loose among second-years wasn’t fair.”

“I understand that perfectly, but…”

“But?”

Luina tapped the table with her finger before continuing.

“I say this because even if you had been there, I doubt the result would’ve been much different.”

“I didn’t expect you to hold me in such high regard.”

“Just being honest. I think you would’ve achieved good results one way or another.”

Whether by real skill or thanks to artifacts and potions, well.

“When I was a kid, my mother used to say that. That I was very smart, and if I put my mind to it, I could achieve anything.”

“All mothers say that. I didn’t think you were naïve enough to believe it.”

“But everything I’ve set out to do, I’ve achieved.”

Thanks to that, he became an executive at Golden Turtle Company at a young age, and since teaming up with Luina, he had also performed well academically.

Sure, the Pellenberg name helped him get that position, but if he lacked skill, he would never have become a division chief.

“If you say so. And how was the trip?”

“Not good.”

He achieved his goal, but lost a lot of resources. It was a significant blow.

Losing the heart of the World Tree branch and having to pay compensation would’ve been worse, but knowing that with better preparation he could’ve avoided the losses still hurt.

‘And the golem too…’

Each golem was the pinnacle of magical engineering—extremely expensive. He lost four and could only recover some value as scrap. Just remembering it gave him a headache.

‘I definitely need to build an Ego Golem as soon as possible.’

If he had one, none of this would’ve happened. That ultimate weapon would’ve crushed Barca.

At least in theory.

“Since nothing went wrong on the return route, I guess it was just a financial loss.”

“…Are you investigating me?”

“It was obvious.”

Luina gave a short laugh and changed the subject.

“Are you preparing for the finals?”

“I already have the leaked exams.”

“That’s cheating.”

“Want the Knight Department ones too?”

“…No need. I’ll do it cleanly.”

“You hesitated for a moment.”

Luina avoided his gaze.

“Maybe I’ll ask for your help soon.”

“Me?”

“Does your promise still stand to help me if it involves demons or corrupted beasts?”

“You found leads on the corrupted?”

His gaze changed.

“Of course.”

“Perfect.”

‘Having a sense of justice is very useful.’

Using such talent for free—how wonderful.

***

Andromalius.

When he learned that Demon No. 72 was going to be summoned within the academy, Fernan gave it serious thought.

If he could prevent the demon’s manifestation—if it was truly possible to stop it—should he do it? Or was it better to let everything run its course?

Demons were calamities. The appearance of one at the academy would cause massive damage, a direct blow to the Empire’s future.

‘If that were all, of course it should be stopped.’

But what if it was only the starting shot? What if it was just a skirmish, and behind it came more demons, more catastrophic horrors?

Preventing Andromalius’s descent would be like pouring a low-level potion over a wound with guts spilling out.

‘The descent of the demons is an inevitable future.’

And what if, because he didn’t live through that battle, Aint failed to grow and couldn’t stop the true catastrophe in the future? That was a possibility Fernan didn’t even want to imagine.

So, he reached a conclusion: “The descent of Andromalius must happen no matter what.”

Well, to be exact: “It must descend and be defeated by Aint.”

***

“So, you’re saying the corrupted are going to try to touch the branch of the World Tree?”

Next to Aria stood a small sprout planted in the ground.

They say if you want to hide a tree, place it in a forest—so the academy had hidden a branch of the World Tree among other trees.

This was the place.

“Exactly. Though it doesn’t seem to have the heavy security I imagined.”

“No need to overdo it. But anyway, that’s not the point now. Honestly, if you’d told me this before, I would’ve asked if you were crazy. But after everything that happened… I can’t.”

Aria tilted her head slightly.

“But what you just said implies there are corrupted hiding within the academy, doesn’t it? Otherwise, no one could attempt to touch the branch planted here…”

“That’s correct.”

“…Oh my god. Seriously?”

Aria’s eyes widened.

“Then wouldn’t it be better to inform the academy and wait? Why do you have to do this, senior?”

“Because we don’t know who the corrupted are.”

“Then we should find them.”

“If we make this official within the academy, they could hide. And we’d lose the only chance to catch them.”

“Your logic isn’t entirely wrong…”

Aria rested her chin on one hand and stared at Fernan.

“Why do I feel like you’re hiding something from me?”

“Do you want to know?”

“Of course.”

“Information is expensive.”

“Hold it right there! Better not.”

“Why not?”

“I just imagined a terrible future. Are you trying to hint that you’ll cancel what you were already going to give me in exchange for that information?”

Fernan let out a short laugh.

“You have good instincts.”

“I always have. So, what exactly do you need me to do?”

“What if you just help me unconditionally?”

Aria nodded.

“After all, this is about protecting the World Tree’s branch from the corrupted, right? Right now, it’s under my care, and if something happens, I’ll be in huge trouble.”

She had almost been a victim without knowing anything. If Fernan got involved, it was a win-win for her.

“But before that, I’d like you to give me what you promised.”

“So impatient.”

“After what I just heard, you think I’m going to sit still?”

Aria raised her hand with a haughty expression. Fernan handed her an invitation.

“Finally, I have it! It took forever…! The Yacht Club invitation!”

“The name changed. It’s not a yacht club anymore, now it’s the Masked Club.”

After such chaos, no student wanted to casually go out on a yacht again.

Naturally, the club’s meeting place changed, and since the masquerade party theme was popular, they decided to keep it.

“That doesn’t matter! What matters is that I have this in my hands!”

With this… just with this…

“I can become the queen of connections!”

“I don’t think you should assume that just attending will make everyone part of your network.”

“You’re so negative. Must be because you’re a merchant.”

“I’m just realistic.”

“You know nothing. Dreams have to be big. That way, even if you fail, you get something valuable.”

Aria grinned slyly.

“So, how exactly do you want me to help?”

“First, who knows that this branch was brought and planted here? Or rather, who knows it’s in the academy?”

“The headmaster, the vice-headmaster, the spirit summoning professor…”

Aria began folding her fingers one by one.

“And then you and me.”

She folded all ten fingers.

“You think one of those ten is corrupted? But they’re all key figures of the academy!”

“Or someone around them. Maybe they leaked the information unintentionally or by accident.”

“So you’re sure someone inside is involved.”

Aria gently caressed the World Tree branch. A faint spiritual energy and mana were slowly being infused.

“I asked for your help, yes, but you don’t really have to do much. I just need you to allow it.”

“Allow it?”

“I’m going to make some preparations around this area.”

Like setting up surveillance, for instance.

He didn’t plan to prevent the World Tree’s corruption or stop Andromalius from being summoned. But who did it, when, and how—they needed to know that with certainty.

He asked Aria for help because she was the official caretaker, secretly appointed by the academy, and he couldn’t do anything here without her noticing.

“If things get too noisy, the World Tree won’t like it.”

“So is that a no?”

“But it’s better for it to get corrupted, isn’t it?”

Perhaps because the World Tree was involved, her decision was surprisingly clear.