Chapter 62

A few days before the descent of Andromalius. At that same moment, Aint was returning to the academy by ship.

The academy was in full commotion with preparations for the new semester. And among everyone, Fernan was probably the busiest person in the academy.

“Are you sure we have enough supplies prepared?”

“Yes, we’ve filled the warehouse and also brought in a good extra amount just in case.”

“It’s better to have too much than too little. If everything doesn’t sell inside the academy, it can always be sold elsewhere.”

“Yes.”

The start of the semester meant the return of the students, and wherever people gathered, there was always money to be made.

“And the merchants downtown…?”

“Professor Dominique requested teaching material for his class…”

Besides, since a city had formed within the island, they weren’t limited to students alone as sales targets.

“How are the preparations for the festival going?”

Most important of all was that during the second semester the academy’s largest festival would be held, coinciding with the anniversary of the Empire’s founding.

And for a long time, the responsibility for preparing supplies and setting up the facilities had fallen to the Golden Turtle Guild.

“Don’t do it carelessly just because it’s routine. Many distinguished guests will attend, not a single mistake can happen.”

“Yes.”

“It’s the most profitable time of the year. Remember, the year’s earnings depend on how much we make now.”

“Understood!”

Students considered the Empire’s future, parents, and visitors who came to enjoy the festival.

The academy festival was the second largest among all those held for the imperial anniversary.

The first, of course, was the one celebrated in the imperial capital.

“That concludes today’s meeting.”

“Thank you for your hard work!”

After two hours, the meeting finally ended.

“What’s the next appointment?”

“You have a meeting with the Merchant Association.”

“And Aint Armian?”

“He hasn’t returned to the academy yet.”

“Then you go to the meeting with the Merchant Association in his place.”

Fernan reviewed the meeting notes one last time and stood up.

“…Are you going out again?”

“Yes. Fieldwork.”

“There was no outing scheduled apart from the tasks you assigned me.”

“I’ll explain when I return.”

“I’ll remind you—I’m not a merchant.”

“But you’re part of the guild.”

“I’ve never done any trade work.”

“Don’t worry. The employees will handle everything. You just need to go and act the part.”

“…No, but what—”

Hyde gave a hollow laugh, but Fernan had already left.

“…He always seems to forget, but I’m not a merchant. I’m a servant and a bodyguard.”

Hyde sighed in resignation.

***

In the warehouse, Fernan began loading the supplies.

“M-Master branch manager…”

“Make sure to note properly that I was the one who took them. Don’t worry.”

“Yes, understood…!”

After calming down the warehouse clerk, Fernan departed.

The truth was that, as the end of the vacation approached, anxiety was gradually consuming him.

‘Andromalius.’

The cause, of course, was the demon whose summoning was foretold.

Even knowing from the book of prophecies that the demon would descend, and that Aint would defeat it in the future, did not erase the fear a demon inspired.

‘After all, it’s still a demon. The first to appear on the continent in a thousand years.’

He couldn’t imagine how powerful it would be.

‘Will Aint really be able to stop it? The future has already changed. Who knows what else could happen?’

Normally, he wouldn’t have been this restless, but the matter with Varus had left a deep impression.

A corrupt one that, in theory, Aint should have defeated alone, ended up gravely wounding Varus and killing several mercenaries from the Black Spear.

Although Aint had ultimately defeated it, would the same outcome have been possible if Fernan hadn’t sent Varus?

Today’s outing was born of that anxiety.

“Traps, you say?”

“Yes.”

His plan was to install as many traps and mechanisms as possible around the branch of the World Tree, to at least land a blow on Andromalius when it was summoned.

That was his goal.

“But… why go with Senpai Luina?”

“Luina is also informed about the corrupt.”

It was a safety measure, just in case.

The corrupt’s main target was Aint, so Fernan thought that as long as Aint wasn’t present, the chances of the demon descending were very low.

Even so, just in case, he decided to bring Luina.

“Don’t worry. I don’t intend to tell anyone about the World Tree branch.”

“Can she really be trusted, senior?”

“Luina can be trusted.”

“If you say so, there’s not much else to discuss. Although I don’t know if she’ll like it.”

“The other person I wanted to introduce you to, Aria, was precisely Luina.”

At those words, both girls frowned at the same time.

“…You wanted to introduce me to Aria?”

“I had a pending promise.”

“Didn’t you know that the family that took the rights to my family’s golden edict was the Fridians?”

“The deal was mediated by the Pellenbergs. Both parties agreed, and a fair price was paid. Don’t tell me you have an issue with that.”

“No, of course not… but…”

Luina was not a saint who forgave everything with love and understanding. Even if a fair price had been paid, the true value of that edict was incalculable.

It was inevitable to feel resentment toward the ones who had taken it.

And now that nobles were looking at Bercheff differently after losing their marquis title, all the more so.

“…It’s not that I hate the Fridians. But I don’t intend to get along with them either.”

“Like how our relationship used to be before?”

“……”

“There’s no real issue between you two. On the contrary, you share the noble purpose of standing against the corrupt. Why not work together?”

Luina couldn’t answer right away.

“Wow, senior… I’m impressed. You’re incredibly selfish.”

“So what?”

“I don’t dislike bad boys. Besides, you’re from a princely family.”

From Aria’s perspective, there was nothing to lose.

Fernan hadn’t done anything wrong, but this gave her the chance to smooth things over with the Bercheffs, who resented him.

“But you said you were the direct heir of the princely family, right?”

“That was a mistake. I skipped a word.”

The word “ex.”

“Ha…”

Aria let out a forced laugh. Luina tried hard to calm herself down.

“…Yes, you’re right. There’s no need for us to fight each other when a demon is in front of us.”

“Seems you’re more forgiving than I thought, Senior Luina. I hope we get along.”

Luina was the first to extend her hand. Aria responded with a bright smile and a handshake.

Once the matter was settled, the three headed toward the forest where the branch of the World Tree was planted.

“…This is the World Tree branch?”

“More like, a contaminated branch.”

“Seeing a manifestation of the World Tree in this state is truly horrible. We must allow it to rest soon.”

The branch of the World Tree seemed in even worse condition than before. From grayish, it had turned completely black, and upon approaching, one could clearly feel the demonic energy.

But at least it wasn’t spreading beyond a certain area.

“What do you plan to do with this?”

“Install traps.”

“Traps?”

“It can’t be that the corrupt did all this just to corrupt the branch of the World Tree.”

“Of course not.”

Anyone could guess they were planning to do something with the corrupted branch. Although no one imagined that this “something” would be summoning a demon.

“That’s why I know they’ll come back. And I want to be ready for that.”

“It’s not a bad idea, but I have a question.”

“Say it.”

“I thought the branch of the World Tree was a very valuable object. Why was it left unattended until it reached this point?”

“…Please don’t dig into my dark past.”

“It’s a long story, but there are reasons.”

Luina didn’t press further.

“But if you’re going to install magic traps, do I really need to be here?”

“You’re my escort.”

“If the corrupt contaminated the World Tree, they might return at any moment.”

“This isn’t the World Tree itself, just a branch. The difference is like that between a Slime King and a regular slime.”

“Quite a difference. You’re right, I take it back.”

Luina unsheathed her sword and began watching the surroundings.

“And what do I do?”

“Escort as well.”

“Am I really necessary?”

“Do you want to dig?”

“Elves’ eyes surpass even those of eagles, you know?”

Aria positioned herself on the opposite side of Luina.

‘Good, then…’

The traps weren’t anything extraordinary.

‘First, I have to dig…’

Rumble. Using magic, Fernan dug into the ground and drew magic circles inside. The purpose of burying them was so the corrupt wouldn’t detect them easily.

‘This isn’t the time to cut corners.’

He reinforced the magic circles with reagents, inserted scrolls into them, and supplemented them with entire vials of enchanted holy water.

Thus, he set dozens of them. One or two might not do much, but with so many vials of holy water combined with magic, even a demon would have to retreat.

‘And besides…’

Fernan pulled out one last scroll.

It was different from the others—more elegant and luxurious. It contained advanced magic, and therefore, was very expensive.

If everything went according to plan, it would be the finishing blow against a weakened Andromalius after the traps and holy water.

Once he finished installing all the traps, Fernan checked the surroundings again.

The key to a trap was imperceptibility, so nothing could look out of place.

Just as he activated another spell to make sure—

─!

It began with a faint vibration. Very faint.

So subtle that only a geomancer like Fernan, who was digging into the ground, could notice it.

“…What is that?”

Rumble!

The blackened branch of the World Tree began extending deeper roots, stretching, growing.

“…The branch of the World Tree is… growing?”

“Aria!”

But no one saw it as a good sign.

The energy it gave off wasn’t the pure mana typical of the World Tree, but a cursed, dense energy.

“The World Tree is crying out!”

Aria confirmed it. Her pupils trembled as if in an earthquake.

‘…Wait. It can’t be. Right?’

It couldn’t be. It couldn’t.

Fernan desperately tried to deny the premonition that suddenly struck him.

“Aria, what’s happening?!”

“That’s what I’d like to know!”

“…What the hell did you touch?”

“Nothing, I didn’t touch anything!”

No one knew why the branch of the World Tree, which had seemed on the verge of dying, suddenly began to grow, nor why the demonic energy was intensifying.

They only knew one thing for certain—it wasn’t a good sign.

Luina unsheathed her sword. Aria summoned her spirit.

“We should’ve released this branch long ago!”

Aria pointed her staff. The wind she invoked turned into blades that attacked the Tree.

Swoooosh!

“What was that!?”

“A shield!?”

A dark barrier of demonic energy had appeared around the Tree. Luina struck immediately with her sword.

Clang!

This time it worked. The impact made the trees around them shake violently and fragments of the barrier scatter.

Through the shards, a small crack was revealed.

“There, Luina! Block it!”

Fernan shouted in excitement and began preparing magic, but he couldn’t follow through.

Craaaack!

The branch of the World Tree rose and pierced through space itself.

“…What is this…?”

“What’s happening?”

The crack widened. And when it reached the size of a small hole—

Crack.

A white hand emerged, tearing the crack apart violently.

The sky ripped open. A hand appeared out of nowhere. Space itself split.

None of it seemed real. But it was.

The crack opened wide, and suddenly, a creature emerged from within.

“A person?”

“No… that can’t be human.”

It had a humanoid shape, but its aura was not human. It was something else.

“That cursed energy…!”

“What… what’s happening?”

Its eyes were unsettling, its presence overwhelming, its demonic energy crushing. On its left arm, a massive serpent coiled.

The figure was exactly as described in the books.

“Andromalius…”

They could no longer deny it.

“No… it can’t be…!”

Why now? Why exactly now?

Just when they had come to prepare traps just in case.

Just when Aint wasn’t there.

Fernan screamed in silence.