Chapter 58
14FWhile Luina spent several days unable to sleep, tormented for having betrayed her honor.Xhq
WyW1DInside Fernan’s mind, the future was once again being projected.Pd6
2sx[“People are acting strange!”3dyxNYZ
tsAJ— It’s demonic magic! They’re infected with demonic magic!x7bLa9
Igw“Are you saying the students made a contract with a demon?”ziBm
HPuO0HF— No, that’s not it. If that were the case, there’s no way I wouldn’t know.]Xrqh
4IYWhen one vision from the book of prophecies ended, another followed. And this time was no exception.5Q5
fBiUARh[— It’s Andromalius! Damn lunatics, they’re summoning a demon in the middle of the academy!iM5xK
TZ0“We have to stop them…!”]wChp6
wVrThe aura of a real demon, not of a corrupt or a demonic beast, was incomparable.WL2B
RuTUhtJust by existing, its mere presence unleashed a suffocating pressure and a sticky magic that terrified Aint.S8vq
Gkle006“Haa, haa, haa…”hDgu0Wd
YuiyTFCHis heart pounded hard, and his breathing grew ragged.8s5Hiz3
xlh— Are you alright?0D4
biQ13RDEven so, Aint slapped his cheeks twice and forced himself to regain composure.HVLQJsZ
lvnKd“I have to be. I came all the way here to stop that.”n3P
48jf7mIt wasn’t that he was certain he could do it. But the sense of duty pushed him to act.KBxPDs
Gju3OooIt wasn’t a matter of justice or of feeling chosen. If he didn’t stop it, everyone would die. The continent would be destroyed. His future would vanish too.pDke
6tCKePIt was pure survival instinct.jWcWpzh
OpSI3EGThere was also an inner conflict worthy of a hero.UiMo
kfXckEL[— It’s a branch of the World Tree! They’re using it as the main mana source of the summoning circle!1mOkTnl
oZ5IvoS— Damn fools at the academy. When did they bring it here? No, how could they fail to guard something so important?]uhe4IQ
iJsc[“Senior! What are you…?”XDZ5c
ihG6l“Aint Armian. You said something once.”eGwS
JzHThat you wanted me to be your knight.qLBaer
1jjtb2GAnd I rejected it.seg
mPptkpA“It was out of pride. But not anymore. Now I know you. I know your cause.”MDpQvcn
h3ioo7hThat’s why… this is my mission.]jrGdq
A9fNSLB[Luina charged at the demon Andromalius. Her blue sword shone brightly.LtmfD
4A4rN“No!”]KEohOtW
l1WFernan already knew some of those futures.coKCL
QE0E[“…Senior, senior!”NQaWXWh
mM7eWatching Luina slowly collapse, Aint cried blood.yO4N
YoyThen, the aura thought extinguished began to surge forth.EfKO
DhDDriven by Aint’s rage, the aura gushed endlessly, like a spring that never runs dry.89r7dX
wV4SoG— Aint, it’s dangerous!ulsCM
gtEhKvTIt was the power of light sealed in his sword. Though his body couldn’t endure it, that no longer mattered.]iym5Gna
G6FTAnd there was also a new future, one he had never seen before, but that undoubtedly offered hope.PWP
ip9zdE“Now it truly begins.”8cPQFq
VLOWRSWas he really going to face a demon?g1Tku
lWEjEven Fernan couldn’t help feeling tense. And he also had a doubt.wVa3
6aPjoc“Yes. Aria Fridian is the one guarding the branch of the World Tree.”KRTrxj
dHtKFernan rose from bed holding his head. He was drenched in sweat, as if he had bathed with his clothes on.L4PLg
T4qt“Then, why was the academy annihilated in an instant, as if they knew nothing?”FZOcit
lEevdAria Fridian was supposed to become an ally of Aint. So there were only two possibilities.FOzgo
6hoEither she was a disguised corrupt infiltrating as an ally, or she was attacked by the corrupt and the branch of the World Tree was taken from her.21O
lZPNd3UConsidering that Aint had a way to detect the corrupt, the latter was more likely.A0m
Xk3GYF3That was why, even though Fernan already knew it, he chose not to mention it.Dw8BED
qJ1EvG8After all, it was something that had to happen. And that would make Aint grow further.jHigqO
I0mAlthough he had sent Verian as backup, he never thought that would be enough to completely stop the corrupt.IGfGq
pQy8c“Did you wake up, young master?”IqKQHK7
U24kGKnock knock, Hyde entered after opening the door.dg8Nr
MODxv“Are you alright? You’re drenched in sweat…”sIBjY
UEVKF“I just had a bad dream.”EQGhv
vu48zkr“A pretty strong bad dream, it seems…”j2k5
UAYRM9“Never mind. What is it?”QbQ
Yuz“A letter arrived from Luina Bercheff.”Op2ZqD
3Uc5sA reply?LprE
qEr1Fernan opened the envelope sealed with the Bercheff family emblem.MCoNt1I
g8LUU8U[I’m sorry. I couldn’t keep my promise to guard the secret. I have no excuse.]EQmS8
qIO0tiHis brow furrowed at such an unpromising start.zRXCgEl
AoE[I had no choice but to tell my father everything. What is happening at the academy, about the demonic beasts and the corrupt.]vvS
ouMVz[I will take responsibility.]Os0
5KDShe told him everything? And what if that altered the future and caused an unexpected outcome? And what if because of that Aint didn’t develop as in the prophecy?aI3ek
z9seA knight who broke a promise made under an oath of honor?I9lyR
o5cY‘No. Calm down.’1f6a
AbdgHLuina was an upright knight. If she broke her oath, she must have had a good reason. Fernan took a deep breath and continued reading.v8Ef
0TlZmv1[Do you remember why our house was in danger? The unprecedented invasion that devastated the fief. I didn’t know, but my father investigated thoroughly.]EQPo
yqfc0CC[They were demonic creatures.]KHuF
ULEUCT…What?4r2Qvu
8OyFernan clenched the letter tightly between his fingers.kru
d0D9[To the north, far beyond the Bercheff fief, traces of nests of demonic creatures were found. My father believes those creatures drove the monsters back. And I agree.]CnDskkM
Wrm“…So that’s it?”pDHScxs
vENFrom the first day he was struck by lightning and learned of the existence of the book of prophecies, two images had been burned deeply into him.D8u
qkeVTThe fall of Fernan, and the massive advance of demonic creatures from the north.XfoMSTM
wUB“And that started just north of Bercheff…?”7SAXv
KOdFernan felt ecstatic.11zc8
THlWhen you know the cause of a problem, you’ve already solved half of it. And the location was also ideal.1SX
y0POpIf the Bercheff fief, accustomed to fighting monsters, prepared thoroughly—krk5C
1494QJa‘Perhaps they could stop the advance of the demonic creatures more easily than I imagined.’HiiMT
aHoKnowing this was already a huge breakthrough. Enough to forgive Luina for breaking her promise.lVTIlA9
YtnglFw‘Although of course… I can’t let it go completely.’Jc7fiWk
YZ3rFoThe reason was understandable, but she herself had said she would pay the price.Ku5S
Q3tUOjhWhat could he demand from her…?q2C4Re
U3iP“What did the letter say for your face to frown and then light up?”LGD3J
gjwD2“About the corrupt. But it’s not bad news.”em6
ARxSzpkFernan got up from bed.qQD8ovw
xVt171L“First, I need a bath. Bring me clothes.”WLc
4Wn“Yes.”b0fnkd
2c8iLk“And get ready. I’m eager to know what’s happening.”o2Cfw
Jg9huHe had achieved everything he had set out to do upon returning home. Now it was time to return to the academy.xBh8JI
DVINThe moment of confrontation was drawing near.Y3m
WQ8tOn a large scale, this was merely the beginning.GHZx
MgZuBut even so, it was the first time he would face a demon.452
gPBxuGs***s6epA
mZMIf one loses something, they also gain something else.SLY
A0sbtFLVarus ended up gravely injured by an unexpected variable, and someone unforeseen learned about the corrupt.pKcaN
WfuBut he also gained valuable information from Luina.R0PCN6
wBSgUk4“…I’m sorry.”1Lz
DyKAnd although his trust in Luina cracked a little, at least he gained her guilt and regret.QRxFKq
uwy4WJust as Fernan was unpacking his things in Ravidus Pavilion after returning to the academy, he received a visitor.hxfMt
TgPaGfLuina Bercheff immediately bowed and offered an apology.vJkbW5y
tIM5T“Not keeping the promise, regardless of the reason, was my mistake.”I7cpRB
yraC“At least you’re aware of it.”FrM
vS70qTruthfully, if Fernan had been in her place, he couldn’t guarantee that he would have kept the secret either. In fact, he himself had told his father first.hn1
e53MQ9But that was one thing, and this another. There was no reason not to take advantage of the weakness someone offered voluntarily.p6VpgT
pvIMa1Much less if that person was a future Royal Knight.wMOV
Xr2“I won’t blame you for now. But I don’t know what I’ll ask of you later.”7IyYNB
r65“Whatever it is, if it’s within my reach, I’ll accept it.”A5rg
2Nf“Good.”qimmj
5Qf2LFernan closed the matter for now and changed the subject.53Nuyzc
yAnD“And what does the Border Marquis of Bercheff plan to do now?”3Qp
BXS“For now, only a few monsters have been detected, so he wants to conduct a more thorough investigation.”yjNje
XRi1QEDoes he plan to gather all the necessary evidence before revealing everything?J30SlbV
xHSlGfIEither way, if a demon is summoned, it can no longer be kept secret. As long as he reveals it after that, it doesn’t matter.jaciX
iO9A0“I see. It’s possible that there will soon be a battle.”M2sv0d
fIJDA“Are you referring to what you mentioned in the letter?”2mAdO
4EzhjF“Yes.”INldRK
AeyRL6Though in truth it was a lie. It wasn’t about the corrupt, but a demon.b8QtO
JRoRhUr“It’s a creature unlike anything before. It won’t be easy, so you’d better prepare yourself mentally.”vLYyUw
8csqgqVHe didn’t bother correcting it. There was only a one-letter difference between “demon” and “corrupt,” but the weight it carried was completely different.hasvGJ
hB2NIf Luina found out it was a demon, she would surely try to seek outside help rather than resolve it with her own strength.x8GtTMH
kdlitEither the academy or her family.UKu
Mw6GMEAnd that would be a natural reaction. That was why it had to be hidden until the end.bOlqp
gk47“Yes.”8tj
TFXLuina nodded, full of determination.lWEI
nOv‘Even if I’m a bit worried, surely we’ll be able to stop it.’FWK6
lmRYEven if it was a demon, the prophecy indicated that Aint could face it without issue. Perhaps because the summoning was improvised.9kzvm
FXk7For the sake of the future, that being had to be defeated by Aint, with his own hands.cp72w
qKALEKc‘Although there’s something that doesn’t add up.’F7Zcn
Xz9vlg1Most likely, the corrupt were moving so stealthily because their preparation wasn’t yet complete. That’s why the demon Andromalius was defeated by Aint, who hadn’t even fully matured.JJ79W
hhcBut why would they do something as risky as summoning an incomplete demon?FQ93
9IuvaOo‘It must be because Aint’s growth was faster than they expected.’pBo1Vq
IN0At least, in the original story, it must have been like that. In fact, several attempts to kill Aint had failed.9ghXgxy
AVU‘But that doesn’t change anything.’eUYMvD
4oEAndromalius would be summoned. Aint would kill him.PWc6
qRaqAnd thus he would become a hero, grow stronger, and eventually end all the demons.lJVlI
E2PLoThat was the future.71VS
w5wc***1z2hQPL
ghIfMeanwhile.wjgIGY
ZnjQVerian stared at the sky with a blank mind.iYGZ
jgYFS‘What was it I was going to do…?’Qdlw5
hz5Lately, he often had these moments, where he completely blanked out.VXT
IQ5nI‘Am I getting old? I keep forgetting things…’j9j
cTp37PHe had never heard of anyone having mental lapses at twenty years old.eWzw
VEP“Ah.”XJNH
hcCNHe saw the clock on one of the walls. 2:10 p.m. Then he remembered he had summer semester class at 3.J3aO2r
OAi“Right, I was going to class… Or was I already on my way? Still 50 minutes left…”Mt8M
QLrPKqDAnd at that moment, his gaze drifted forward. He saw Aria, with a similar expression, staring blankly at her liquor cup.635UsG
0t1obr“…What are you doing here?”8eLHoND
08B“I don’t know. What am I doing here?”pjk
vRNgRbLVerian and Aria looked at each other with dumb expressions.dW9o0w
1mlis4“You both have dead fish eyes.”VR5
ErHJAsr“…Huh?”qb0nd
jCIIA“Fernan, senior? What are you doing here?”i5LyYTx
E2CBoth human and elf tilted their heads in confusion.9aMz
3oz“What are you idiots doing here when I was the one who called you? Do you have sardine memory?”figGsUg
JcutzFernan extended his hand and picked up two notes on the table.JyS7m6P
FHbb6o[To the tea room.]T3GdFHb
1nE9Notes he himself had sent them.iDH
kQSEwPR“Ah, right, we came to see you…”B1g
b7mVJ“Now that you say it, I also…”9Qxo
ssRL83lThe two looked at each other and frowned.bKX
IAu4L9“…No way.”NXkCzNr
mPUwkT8And then Fernan understood the gravity of the situation.44Fy6t
lHJhb***qda8V
17gj5tA few weeks before Fernan and Luina’s return to the academy.7xQhi7
VVCNjkfVerian Kalburdern was quietly drinking a glass of liquor.arF
OLksHe was one of the few students who had stayed at the academy during the holidays.IszqiVh
3k61OWA‘There’d be no point in going home if I have nothing to show for redemption.’7I6
Sg28After losing a duel he shouldn’t have lost, only exile remained for him.1gD
P9iKlIt was a form of escape, but he had no alternative.OlDTWZj
cQnS“So you didn’t go back?”0vbwKH
8iPq“Yeah.”RxFj
3VFGnVerian took a sip of his beer.K5HbW
KBNGllfLuckily, there was a good excuse—the summer semester offered by the academy.6iv
aFlHe sent a letter saying he’d use the defeat to push himself harder and stayed.875aW
GEMx7“Sounds like a child’s excuse.”t6AAJq
sbl“…And why did you stay?”6kCM
BS8Ap“Who knows.”UwJ7
9rw4The orange-haired elf, Aria, chewed a cracker with cured ham and cheese, resting her chin on her hand. The salty bitterness wasn’t bad.jJoZ4N
Q6X4“Just because?”7sl
2L62LHer official reason was her friendship with the new spiritual magic professor. The real reason, to protect the Branch of the Mother Tree.WSv
LlPTS9“By the way, I wanted to get close to Aint, but in the end, the one I talked to most was you.”NFS
TaIM1It wasn’t entirely coincidence.bhm4lov
xtr6cLAlmost no one stayed at the academy during holidays, so interaction among the few who remained was inevitable.ENYvuM
51gwp‘The Kalburdern family isn’t bad.’PZWN3
JUKSvThey weren’t an elector family, but they were one of the great noble houses just behind them. Vast domain, many forces, and reputation.GY3d6T
gKvaBeing close brought more advantages than disadvantages.xwc8ZZ5
Q38xGMh“You too with Aint? What does he have that I don’t?”TbiW
uRHhW“Skill.”AODKr
E33“…I lost, so I’ll acknowledge it.”TQI
L7FIlVerian accepted with a frown.IO7
lWV9“And lineage.”rMhDvLg
0oXz9wR“Come on, my family is way better than the ruined Armian house.”QoAKi9
4VcOy“But it’s not an elector house.”kQE
WSM“Damn electors…!”Vq9
kiySYes, the title of elector carried too much weight.XWATRH
7YUzbQIt wasn’t just prestige, but real power. There was an unscalable wall between electors and the rest of the nobles.6SSqLGK
fyLKBEspecially Armian, who, though weakened, was still revered by the people. Some even said that was why Schwaben hadn’t changed the empire’s name.092h
2cxIdp“But it doesn’t seem like you get along badly with Aint, despite all that.”HGbYE
uDOJOpv“That’s…!”pyuZssc
Ku2uhg5“Anyway, you’re isolated in your faculty, and so is Aint. I just want you two to overcome that difficulty together.”TmGKbO
9fK“It’s important you know I have a recording orb containing your moment of corruption.”tWaQk
9KEBecause the one holding his collar wanted it to happen.XkO
nbQrW3“Aint Armian is already chasing the corrupt. If you stay close to him, sooner or later you’ll run into the one who turned you into one.”ngVv2vg
sIEHBut it wasn’t only because of that.j3k
6EQN8IVengeance.IBGbb0
HPZ86rVerian wanted to find the one responsible for his corruption and make him pay.3Ig9
40n“…You’re mistaken.”0fa4W
16nHe couldn’t tell her the truth, so he just denied and drank again.O9lswd
8NWyuTl“If you say so.”b82PRM
0YES“Thanks for your understanding.”vns1
zQsDamn elves, how I hate them.PUG
INz‘Though maybe I should have gone home, even if just to be scolded…’4pA9s2
5hvfVerian swallowed his anxiety along with the beer.Wr7Y
Ipa7Mdq“Ah, by the way, can you come with me to the forest later?”boit7Mg
3maq“To the forest?”yFQh
WJuQK“Yes, you asked me why I stayed, right? Well, it turns out a branch of the Mother Tree is planted here, and I’m protecting it.”xBN
bUaYtc“…What?”ADwaW6U
LRosThe sudden revelation left him dumbfounded.DN5La
WF3“Are you sure you can tell me that?”5kXAVgU
C4NRaQU“I shouldn’t. But it seems that branch is having problems. I’ll need help.”FvKsq
4em“And why me?”aVa7PS
52l2dj“Fernan said I could trust you.”WzWr
OrJOMIW“…What?”SPa
J8bAria smiled and leaned in a little.EDO9LKv
r30R“Corruption.”NWu1wt
w44X46She whispered softly.FeUJ
1W6S“He said that if I said that, you’d help without asking questions.”6jmQ
sdVNV“…Fernan Pellenberg, damn bastard!”ml3or
Jbd“You have such foul language for talking about a senior. I’m going to tell him everything.”ae9Qmfz
zwhchGH“Do whatever you want…!”RA2ltw
knkWait a second.sxMU
t9aHh0“So you also know about the corrupt…?”x98JRsY
0KycUFl“I got tired of fighting monsters. Now I’m an experienced heroine.”vAh7d
DtX“…What kind of nonsense is that?”B1qJ8
RoCgluWhat else?lYDK0e
XcrMP“It’s my way of telling you that I might need your help.”qI6G
RM2YAria shrugged.S2xf8F
OXXE“Am I your dog to help whenever you want?”4K3TdO
8JpsizC“And you’re not going to help me?”akjJ
U2HmurW“Damn it…”UVLMiP
ZB3FyNVerian cursed.9Jx2bl
F2DMHe was so frustrated with his situation that he almost broke down crying.7jzQ9w
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