Chapter 51

The exam was over.

“…Group 3 won.”

“Wow, Fernan and Luina pulled that off?”

“Did you see how the ground collapsed? That was insane.”

“And in the middle of all that, their map didn’t burn?”

“That’s the first time I’ve seen combined magic in a real test.”

Except for Gert and his partner, everyone in Group 3 was eliminated. But Fernan and Luina survived until the end.

And they took out Carlo and everyone else.

Both made a comeback and became the final victors.

“I can’t believe it… to lose like this?”

“They got lucky.”

“Lucky? Then we’re just idiots who couldn’t beat a couple of lucky punks.”

Rudger let out a sarcastic laugh.

“Having Almon there was luck, no doubt about that.”

“Only one of the practical subjects is over, Fernan.”

“I know.”

Ludger clicked his tongue, clearly annoyed, and turned around.

“It was a dull ending, Luina. Next time, I’ll show you the real difference between us.”

“Whenever you want. I don’t plan to lose to you again.”

Almon, who was talking with Luina, followed him.

“Fernan…!”

“How could we lose…?”

Ignoring Carlo and the others who didn’t want to accept reality, Fernan went with Luina to the infirmary to treat their wounds.

“Thanks for everything today. Thanks to you, we got first place.”

“It’s not over yet. Like Ludger said, it’s just one subject.”

Sure, with what they’d accumulated, they were one step closer to securing first place, but there was still a long way to go.

“Anyway, if it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have gotten this far today.”

“I won’t deny it.”

“See you next time. Oh, and if anything happens with the corrupted, don’t hesitate to message me.”

As Luina was about to leave, Fernan stopped her for a moment with a quiet voice.

“What I found underground… I’ll make sure it reaches the one who should have it.”

“Do what you want. I don’t care about what isn’t mine.”

Luina left.

“…What’s mine is mine, and what’s not mine is also mine.”

Clicking his tongue, Fernan stood there thinking.

‘First thing is making sure Aint gets that legacy.’

What he told Luina wasn’t a lie.

The legacy left by the First Emperor had to return to its rightful owner: Aint Armian.

Even if it wasn’t the originally planned time, now that things were out of control, it was better for him to get it as soon as possible.

‘If it had stayed hidden, it’d be a different story. But now that it’s been found, it’s only a matter of time before everyone knows.’

Fernan had cast a temporary concealment spell, but within the academy there were many mages more capable than him.

“Hyde, where is Aint Armian now?”

***

“Aint Armian.”

Aint unfolded a map. After the exam, he’d received an unexpected visit from Fernan.

“I think I found the Armian family’s secret dungeon.”

What he blurted out with no preamble left him stunned.

“You’re probably wondering if it’s real. And if it is, why I’m just telling you about it?”

“You’re right. I’m a merchant. Normally, I’d sell the info at an outrageous price or just keep it for myself. If it weren’t for the corrupted and monsters.”

He couldn’t argue with that. When Fernan asked if he thought he was the right person, Aint nodded without hesitation. For one reason only: he was an Armian.

— Armian’s power is the antithesis of demons. That guy made the smartest choice.

— Nouveau riche always had a special talent for reading the situation.

In the end, Aint had no choice but to accept. He had to retrieve that legacy as soon as possible.

He’d wanted to wait a bit, since it was still exam season, but that was no longer possible.

Now that it had been exposed, anyone could find it again.

“You can’t move around the field freely during exams. I’ll help you.”

And that led to the map Aint now held. It only covered the mountainous northern area, but it showed in real time the positions of assistants patrolling the region.

A professor-exclusive map.

— They’re supposed to be shaping the Empire’s future, yet they’d sell their souls for a few coins.

Gardner muttered, clearly displeased, but to Aint, it was exactly what he needed.

“This is it.”

Avoiding the assistants, Aint circled around and reached the site. Despite the collapse earlier in the day, the terrain had stabilized somewhat.

— The professors already fixed it. Maybe it doesn’t need to be taken right now.

But since he was there, he couldn’t leave empty-handed.

Gardner guided him to another spot, not far away, where a cave descended underground.

It wasn’t some new passage created by the collapse, but the original entrance to the legacy.

“Anyone would think this is just a rabbit hole.”

— If anyone could find it, it wouldn’t be a legacy. It’d be a looters’ banquet hall.

He had a point.

Aint descended into the dark underground. Some areas had collapsed, but luckily the tunnel was wide, or he wouldn’t have made it.

— It should be around here—there it is.

Gardner instantly detected the concealment spell Fernan had placed.

A door appeared, bearing the emblem of the Armian family: the Saintbird engraved in relief.

“What’s inside?”

— If I had to say… the core.

“The core?”

— An artifact mounted on a sword’s hilt that amplifies aura. Made from the heart of a Saintbird.

“…Excuse me, what?”

— Though you already ate a Saintbird’s heart thanks to that rich guy, it doesn’t hurt to have another.

“A Saintbird isn’t exactly your everyday magic beast… but how do you open this?”

Aint pushed the door with all his strength, turning red, but it didn’t budge.

— Wound yourself and bleed. It only reacts to the blood of the Armian…

Gardner stopped abruptly. The blade trembled.

Aint straightened with a tense expression. Shing, he slowly unsheathed his sword.

A nauseating stench hit his nose.

A hostility so dense it was almost visible made his skin crawl. And then—

His aura reacted to a repugnant presence.

— …They’re monsters.

He was wrong. It wasn’t one. They were monsters. Plural.

In the darkness, multiple red eyes gleamed. Aint briefly wondered, “When did they get here?”

— Skold.

A rank 7 beast in the form of a giant 3-meter scorpion. And there were dozens.

Each one a formidable opponent, capable of rivaling a seasoned knight.

“…Why are there monsters here?”

— Ask that after killing them.

If it weren’t for Aint Armian… If it weren’t for the Armian swordsmanship, of light attribute, naturally opposed to monsters…

He would’ve died.

An aura of pure light burst from his sword.

The opposing power instinctively weakened the Skolds, and Aint didn’t waste the opening.

Slash!

He cut the leg of the Skold at the front. The monster screeched as it launched its tail.

Clang!

The poisonous needle of the tail slid across the sword’s blade, and Aint took advantage of the exposed opening to stab his weapon in.

The Skold, its head crushed, couldn’t withstand the light’s power and disintegrated.

That was just the beginning. The wavering Skolds roared in fury upon seeing one of their own die.

But Aint didn’t back down. He activated his orohole and unleashed an even more intense light.

He was no longer the weak boy from his early days at the academy. He had trained under Gardner’s guidance, eaten the Saint bird’s heart, and faced multiple real battles.

Now he was the natural enemy of monsters.

Slash!

Slash!

A white flash lit up the darkness.

The light weakened the monsters, and every time that white streak sliced the air, a beastly body was split in two.

Screams and howls filled the air, a constant cycle of death and purification.

After a long while, following the storm, only the remains of what were once monsters and Aint Armian remained.

“Hah… hah…”

— You’ve improved a lot. Compared to the first time I saw you, it’s a huge leap.

Aint gave a tired smile at Gardner’s praise. He was gasping for breath.

He still didn’t understand why there were monsters there, but the thrill of victory and pride in his achievement gave him strength.

“…I never imagined I’d defeat dozens of rank 7 monsters. Just a few months ago, something like this was unthinkable.”

— Don’t settle for this.

— You’re an Armian. You’re meant to wipe out all demons.

“To be honest, at first I doubted I could do something like this… but maybe it’s not impossible after all…”

At that moment—

— Dodge!

Gardner’s voice thundered, and Aint leapt to the side. The ground where he had stood was torn apart.

A black flash. Just a mass of magical energy.

But that dark mass split into dozens, shooting toward him like lightning.

Clang!

Aint barely managed to deflect some with his sword, but the impact forced him back.

He stifled a groan of pain.

“I wasn’t planning to intervene, but…”

A screeching voice echoed from the darkness, like nails on a chalkboard. Aint frowned.

“Now that I see you in person, I understand. You’re a major obstacle to our plan. Damn cursed bloodline.”

“…A corrupted?”

The figure had a human form. But its eyes lacked life, and its skin was deathly pale. It couldn’t be considered human.

“His Excellency ordered us not to touch you inside the academy, but after seeing you fight, I understood. If I don’t kill you here and now, I’ll regret it forever.”

Even if it means our existence will be revealed to the world…

“You must die.”

An intense bloodlust burst through the air. Aint held his breath.

“If I can offer this pathetic life to fulfill the great design, I won’t stop!”

The corrupted snapped his fingers. Ten masses of dark energy shot out at once.

Bigger, faster than before.

“…Tch!”

Aint dodged as best he could. The place he had been was obliterated, and the corrupted closed in immediately.

His elongated claws slashed in an arc.

Slash!

Although the power of light weakened part of the dark energy, it took his breath away.

— What kind of monster is this?!

Within seconds, they had exchanged dozens of blows.

It was a one-sided fight. The enemy was faster, stronger, more destructive.

Aint could only block, dodge, and block again.

His body was covered in small wounds. The more he gasped, the more his confidence faded.

— Up!

— Down to the left, now!

If it weren’t for Gardner’s guidance, he wouldn’t have lasted even a few seconds.

There was no hope. Death was looming, clutching his throat.

Crack.

Aint’s palm tore open. He lost his grip on the sword, which flew out of his hand.

“Die, Aint Armian! Cursed bloodline!”

The corrupted didn’t miss the chance. His massive claws lunged toward him, ready to tear him in two.

— Aint!

At that instant…

Boom!

A rock shot up between them, blocking the claws. From the side, another rock struck the corrupted, flinging him away.

Aint, barely saved, collapsed to his knees, gasping.

“S-Still… alive? Senior?”

“…I just came just in case. Good thing I did.”

Fernan appeared out of nowhere, standing in front of Aint.

“Aint. Are you okay?”

“…Yes. Thanks to you. But… how did you know?”

“I told you already. I came just in case.”

And thanks to that, the worst was avoided.

“Fernan Pellenberg?”

“You know me?”

The corrupted, staggering, stood up.

“Yes… you’re here too. But it doesn’t matter if it’s one or two. Today, this place will be your grave.”

“That’s exactly what I was about to say.”

Trying to kill the one who carries my future.

“Sorry, but I’m not even giving you flowers for your funeral.”

With a gesture from Fernan, the ground began to tremble.