A Cadet Becomes a Prophet?! — Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Andromalius‌ disintegrated into dust.⁠⁠

The‌‍ barrier vanished.

There‌ had been a small incident involving⁠⁠ an elf selling‍ out a spirit,⁠⁠ but aside from⁠⁠‌ that, the situation‍ had come to‌ an end.

We‍⁠‌ really… stopped Andromalius.‌‍

Fernan‌‍ knew that even if he had‍ done nothing, Aint⁠‍‍ would have been⁠‍⁠ able to stop⁠‌ him.

That⁠ was what he‌ had originally wanted.‌ He had no‌ desire to waste‍ unnecessary money nor⁠⁠ to leave his mark out of⁠ ambition. The notion‌ of heroism felt‍‍‍ foreign to him.⁠

But‍ he couldn’t stay⁠ still.

He⁠‍‌ couldn’t just sit⁠‌ and wait for⁠ a future destined‌‍ for ruin, so‌ he acted.

And‍ that butterfly effect only made Aint’s path harder.

He had no choice but to move.

But‍‍ the more he‌⁠‍ did, the more disastrous things became,‍ and seeing everything‌ tangle in real‌‍ time left him‍ with a knot⁠ in his chest‌ he couldn’t put‌‍ into words.

In any case, the‍‍⁠ most critical moment‍‌ had passed. Despite⁠ all the complications,‍‍⁠ Andromalius had been‌ summoned, and Aint⁠⁠ had killed him.‌

And⁠ Fernan had become⁠ an absolute ally,⁠‌ not an enemy.⁠⁠

That‍‍ was enough.

“…Hahaha.”‍⁠

Sure,⁠ this was only‍‌ the beginning, but⁠⁠ to Fernan, it‍ felt like he‍‌ had overcome a colossal mountain.

“So‍ then, what comes‍‌ next…”

Just‌ then, Luina Bercheff‍‌⁠ staggered. Fernan quickly caught her.

“Are⁠‍ you still injured?‍ I have plenty⁠‌⁠ of potions.”

“No…⁠‌‍ it’s not that.⁠‍‌ It’s just that,⁠‍ when I thought‌⁠⁠ we really won,⁠ all of a sudden my whole‌ body felt so‌‍ heavy…”

Exhaustion must have hit⁠⁠ her all at‍ once after relaxing.‍

After‍ all, she had⁠‌ faced an entity⁠‌ like Andromalius. Simply‍‍ standing before him‍ drained the mind.‍ And she had‌⁠ fought, burning her‍ body to the‌⁠ limit.

The⁠ potions had stabilized⁠ her, but her‍ injuries were far⁠ from light.

“Sleep‍⁠ a little.”

“…Can⁠ I really?”

“I’ll⁠‍‍ take care of⁠‍ the rest. Just⁠‍‍ remember what we⁠ agreed on when‌ you wake up.”‍‍

“Yes…⁠ I’ll remember…”

Luina’s‍‌ eyes closed. Aint had also fallen⁠ asleep shortly after‍‌‌ her.

“Aint’s‍ the same. Seems⁠ like the fatigue‌ caught up to‌⁠ him.”

“As⁠⁠ expected.”

“How strange. I fought‌ too, yet I’m⁠‍ perfectly fine.”

“Because‍‍ you did nothing.”‍‌

“Don’t‌ you see my⁠‌ glorious battle wounds‍ from fighting the‌‍ demon?”

“Ah,⁠ look. The professors‌⁠ are coming. Don’t‍ forget what we‍ talked about earlier.”⁠‌

“…Who⁠‍‍ am I even‌⁠⁠ talking to right‌‍‍ now? Senpai? Hello?”⁠⁠⁠

Aria’s‌ hollow voice echoed softly.

***⁠⁠

Darkness roared.

Darkness‍‍ drew near. An‍ inevitable terror and⁠⁠ overwhelming dread pressed⁠ down on her.

She⁠‌ couldn’t win.

Her⁠‌ hand trembled, her‍ sword too.

She⁠⁠‍ wanted to flee.‌‌ She had already⁠ turned half her‌ body.

But‍ in the end,‌ she couldn’t move‍⁠ her feet.

Doubts⁠‌ crowded her mind.‍

What‌‌ would happen if⁠‌ she ran? What‍‍ if she couldn’t stop the demon?‍

What‌ would become of⁠‍ the academy? If⁠‍ she didn’t at least buy some‍⁠ time, the damage‍‌ could be devastating.⁠‌

She‌‌ was a knight.‍‍

Not‌‍‍ just a mere‍ student of the‍‌‍ Knight Department, but⁠⁠ someone who had‍‌‍ earned her title‍‌‍ fighting in the⁠ harsh lands of⁠‌ the north.

Luina⁠ Bercheff.

She‍‌⁠ dreamed of being‌ a knight. And⁠ she became one.⁠

What was it to⁠‌‍ be a knight?‍ What did that‌ title mean?

When⁠‍ she accepted the‌⁠⁠ knight’s oath, she‍ remembered some of‍ the vows she‍‌ had made with‍‌⁠ her own lips.

“I‍⁠ will protect honor, fight against evil,‍‍ and uphold justice.”⁠‍⁠

And‍‍‌ there, before her,‌ was the most‌‌ obvious evil she‌ had ever seen.‍‌‌

“I‌ will not live‌‌ a life of⁠ falsehoods and will‍ always seek the‌‍ truth.”

Would‍ fleeing, breaking that‌ oath, be following‍⁠ the truth?

“I will serve loyally‍ my lord and‍ the Empire.”

Would⁠‌‌ fleeing and abandoning‌‌ the country she⁠‌ swore loyalty to‍⁠ embody the chivalric⁠ ideal she proclaimed?‍⁠

“I will protect and‍‍‍ respect the weak.”‍

If‌ she didn’t kill the demon here,‌ if she didn’t buy time, more‌ innocents would suffer.

If⁠ she broke her‍‌ own vows and‌ didn’t protect her‍ homeland, could she⁠ even call herself‍ a knight?

Perhaps‍ someone would say‌ she was a stubborn fool. But for her, being⁠ a knight was‌ her life, her‍‌ pride.

Becoming⁠ a true knight‍‍ had been her‌ lifelong goal. One‍⁠ who flees cannot‌ be a knight.‌

And‍ when she regained‌⁠‌ awareness, she realized⁠‍ she was already‌ at the front, running into battle.⁠

At‍ that moment, she⁠ opened her eyes.‍

“……”‍

She⁠‌ was in the⁠‍ academy infirmary. Her clothes were drenched‌ in sweat.

The burning thirst forced‍‌ her to instinctively‍‌ extend her hand.⁠

“Here.”‌

She‍ drank the iced‍ water offered to⁠⁠ her. Only after‌ downing the glass in one go⁠‍ did she realize‍⁠ who had given⁠⁠ it to her.‌‌⁠

“…Fernan?”⁠

“You’ve‍ been unconscious for⁠‍ two days. The‌ healer said your⁠‌ recovery is remarkable.”‍

“The⁠⁠ demon…?”

“Don’t⁠ you remember? He‍ died. You pierced⁠‌ his heart.”

“Ah.”‍⁠

Now‍⁠⁠ she remembered. That‌‍ feeling still lived in her memory.⁠ The most terrifying⁠ moment of her‍ life, but one‍ she had overcome.

“We‌ really… really won.”‌⁠⁠

“Yes.⁠ We did it.‌ We captured the⁠ number 72 demon,‍‌ Andromalius.”

“…Andromalius.”⁠

Though⁠ it still felt‍‌‍ unreal… it was‍‌ reality.

“And‍‍⁠ what happened after?”‌⁠

“When‍ the barrier dissipated,‌‍ the professors and⁠‌⁠ assistants arrived. With‍‍‌ them, we controlled⁠ the situation.”

After that, Fernan excused‌ himself due to‌⁠ his injuries and‍‌ shut himself in⁠ the infirmary.

He⁠ needed to give‍ explanations, but he‍ preferred everything to‍ be agreed upon‌‌ first.

“Aint‍ woke up half‍‌ a day earlier.‍ Aria and Verian⁠‍ didn’t suffer serious‌ injuries. You were‍‍ the last to‍ wake up.”

“Didn’t‌‍⁠ we say we‍ were going to‌ reveal about the‌ demon?”

“Yes.”‍

And⁠‌ in those two‍⁠‍ days, his decision‍‍ had only solidified.

“You can tell everything‌ you experienced, without⁠ omitting anything. Except‍ for one thing.”‍

“Just‌ one thing?”

“The‌‍ one on my‍⁠ shoulder.”

Wooden‌ tilted his head,⁠ realizing they were⁠‍ talking about him.‌

“Not‌ a word about me or about Wooden.”

“Why?⁠⁠‍ His contribution was‍ enormous. Why hide⁠⁠ it?”

“There’s no need for a merchant to‍ stand at the‍⁠⁠ front.”

The⁠ hero, the hope—all‍⁠⁠ of that should be Aint.

Many‍‍‍ things had gone⁠ astray, but as⁠‌‌ long as he‍‍ preserved the most important, he could⁠ avoid greater consequences.‍‌

“Do‌ you understand?”

“…Honestly,⁠‌⁠ I don’t think it’s fair.”

From‍ a knight’s perspective,‌‍ there was no‍⁠ reason to conceal‍‍‍ an honorable deed.‍

“But⁠⁠⁠ if that is your wish, I’ll‌ respect it.”

“Thank‌‍ you.”

“No,⁠ I should be the one thanking‍‍ you. You saved my life. Thank‍ you.”

Luina‍ bowed her head⁠‌ with respect.

***‌

“The‌ headmaster has summoned you.”

The headmaster, who had‌⁠ been away on external business, had⁠ returned.

It⁠‍⁠ was the moment⁠‌ everyone had been‌‍ waiting for.

Although⁠‍ the situation had‍ already been discussed⁠ with some officials,‌‌‍ the matter had escalated so much‍ that it inevitably‌ reached the very‍ top of the⁠‍ academy.

And‍‌ as soon as‍‍ the headmaster returned,⁠ interviews with all‌ those involved were‌ scheduled, as part‍ of the expected⁠ protocol.

“First,⁠‌ the interviews with‌‍‍ the other students‍‍ are being carried‌ out. Please wait‍‍ a moment.”

“Understood.”‌‍⁠

When‍ he arrived at‌‍ the waiting room,‍ the secretary offered⁠‌ him a cup‌‌ of tea.

The‍ “other students” had‌‌ to be those⁠‌ who fought alongside⁠ Fernan against Andromalius.⁠

Luina⁠ Bercheff, Aint Armian,⁠ Aria Fridian, and‍‌ Verian Kalburdern.

Well…⁠ did that last‌ one really fight⁠ as such? In⁠‌ any case, at⁠‌‍ least he was‌‌ present.

‘How should I say‌ it…?’

The⁠ questions were obvious,⁠‍ the only matter‍‍ left was how‌⁠ to answer them.‌⁠

The‍ academy’s headmaster was an old and⁠ cunning fox. A clumsy lie would⁠ only provoke his wrath.

The truth was that until just recently,⁠‌⁠ Fernan hadn’t been‍⁠ able to decide⁠‌ how to approach‍ the matter.

He⁠‍ couldn’t lightly judge‍‍ which path would be most profitable.‍

But now he no‍‌⁠ longer had doubts.⁠⁠

Two days ago, while‍‍‍ Luina was still⁠ unconscious, what he‌‌ truly desired had‌ been clearly shown‍ before his eyes.⁠

***‍

“It‍‍ was a demon.”⁠⁠

That was how Aint‌ began his statement‍⁠ in the headmaster’s‍‍ office.

The⁠ hand of the⁠‌ headmaster, who had been pouring milk‌‌‌ into his tea,‌ froze mid-motion.

“Andromalius.⁠⁠‌ The 72nd demon.”⁠

“…So‌⁠ then…”

The‍ headmaster resumed stirring‌‌ his spoon. The‍ cloudy milk and‌ tea mixed slowly.

“So,⁠‍‌ you’re saying you‍ exterminated a demon.”⁠

“Yes.”‌‍‌

Silence filled the room‍‍‌ for a moment.⁠

“I‌‍ suppose it could‍‌‍ be possible.”

After‍‌ a long pause,‌‍ the headmaster stroked‌ his beard as‌‌ he savored the⁠‌ tea.

“When‍‍ one first encounters such dense demonic‍⁠ energy, it is‍‌‌ only natural to‍ panic.”

— What the hell is this crazy‍ old man saying?‌‌

“Are‌⁠ you saying I’m‌⁠‌ lying?”

“I’m⁠ only saying that‍‍‌ errors of judgment⁠ can occur. When⁠ a corrupted entity⁠⁠ is strong enough, it may be‍ mistaken for a demon.”

The‌⁠ pages of the⁠ prophecy book turned‌‍‍ to the next.

“What‌ a ridiculous lie. Students hunting a demon?”

The⁠‌ secretary chuckled softly.

“Do‍ you think this‌ is the perfect⁠ chance to restore⁠ the name of⁠ House Armian?”

What was a demon?‌‌

It⁠‍ was humanity’s enemy, an absolute calamity.⁠ For mere students‍⁠‌ to claim to‍ have defeated such an entity was,⁠‍ logically, unacceptable.

“But‍ he didn’t seem‌⁠ to be lying.”⁠‍

“So‍ you think it⁠‍ was true?”

“It‍ can only be⁠⁠ one of two‍ things.”

Either‍‍‌ it really was‌ a demon.

Or⁠ they truly believed⁠ it was.

Another‌ page turned.

“Seems‍ these brats want⁠‍ to ruin our⁠‍ festival.”

That‍‍⁠ was something truly⁠ unacceptable. Unless it⁠‍⁠ was the exact‍ opposite.

“We’ll⁠‍ have to hunt‍ those rats that⁠‍‌ infiltrated the academy.‌⁠ Dead or alive,‍‍ let’s leave them‌‍ in a miserable‍ state, and announce⁠⁠ it during the‍ founding celebration. Wouldn’t⁠⁠‌ that be amusing?”‌

Right⁠ at the climax‍‌ of the festival,‍ if the act⁠‍⁠ of eliminating the‍‍ Empire’s ancient enemies⁠ were added…

The‍ headmaster burst into‍⁠ laughter.

And‍ thus concluded the⁠ prophecy’s fragment about‌‌ the summoned demon.⁠

The⁠⁠ story moved forward.⁠⁠

***‌

[Horses‌ clad in steel⁠ galloped…]

[—Well⁠⁠ done. Keep going‍ and…]

It‍ also described the‌⁠⁠ academy’s immediate future‍ and the hidden‌ movements soon to⁠ be revealed.

[—This⁠ is black obsidian.]‍

“Black⁠⁠ obsidian? The one‍‍ with high magic⁠ resistance?”

— You’re lucky. It’s‌ not comparable to‌ mithril, but it’s‍⁠ still quite a useful mineral.

Though‌‌ it didn’t alter‌ the overall destiny,‍‍ they were fragments‌⁠‍ of valuable information—and‍ above all, profitable.‌

“…”‌

Fernan‌‌ focused on the⁠ first of the‍ prophecies.

Having⁠‌ climbed the mountain called Andromalius, only⁠ one question remained‌⁠ in his mind.‌⁠

Should‍ he reveal the‌ truth about the⁠‌ demons, or continue to hide it?⁠‌

Up until now, Fernan‌⁠ had opted for secrecy because it‌⁠‍ was the most⁠ convenient.

It was the “correct”‍‍ flow of things.‍‍

A path where Aint⁠ would grow through‍⁠‍ real combat and‍ direct experience.

“If‌‍⁠ I start talking about demons and‍ cause a scandal,‍‌ but then Aint‌⁠ can’t meet expectations…⁠ everything collapses.”

But‍ this time was⁠ different.

With the appearance of⁠ Andromalius came an‌‌ unprecedented battle. Even⁠ if most didn’t‌ know he was‌‍ a demon, the‍ demonic energy left‍ behind was undeniable.⁠

The‌‍ existence of corrupted‌‌‍ entities could no⁠ longer be concealed.‌‍

But‍⁠ how much of‌‌‌ it should be‍⁠ revealed?

And‍ what about the‌ truth regarding demons?‍⁠

Until⁠‍‌ recently, he hadn’t‍ had a clear‌⁠ answer. But now‌ he did.

“Student⁠‌‍ Fernan.”

Creak…⁠‍ The door opened and the secretary‍‌ entered.

“The⁠⁠⁠ headmaster is waiting.”⁠

“Understood.”

The⁠⁠⁠ decision was made.‌

There‌ was no longer⁠ any reason to‌ hide it.