Chapter 68

That the demon had been summoned and then stopped by the students did not change the passage of time.

The academy, for its part, concealed everything related to the demon and began discreetly tracking the corrupted.

Thus, the incident of Andromalius’ summoning was temporarily closed.

‘No riots broke out among those infected by demonic magic.’

Though the aftermath still ran deep and stirred the academy both visibly and invisibly.

Under normal circumstances, those infected by demonic magic should have gone berserk, throwing the academy into even greater chaos.

That would have hindered the professors and assistants from responding properly to the demon, and everything would have fallen as an additional burden upon Aint.

But this time, none of that happened.

‘What does this mean?’

If that was the case, then all the effort of cooperating with the Saint and the religious order to cure the infected seemed to have been pointless.

Why had the Saint gone through the trouble of preaching and purifying?

‘No—maybe it was precisely because he did that that nothing happened.’

But still, the number of infected Jace managed to find was small. Compared to the number recorded in the prophecy book, it was laughable.

And to make matters worse.

“I haven’t been able to find a single one lately. Could it be there are none left, brother?”

“Since when?”

“About two days before you got injured.”

The people who had been tainted by demonic magic simply vanished. More precisely, the demonic magic that had corrupted them had disappeared.

And that definitely was not the result of Jace’s actions.

Nor did it seem like the culprits had gone into hiding out of fear. If that were the case, they wouldn’t have dared to summon a demon.

“There’s something I’m missing…”

He couldn’t grasp what it was.

“Something you’re missing?”

“It’s nothing.”

Fernan bit his tongue. It seemed the thought had slipped out unintentionally.

“So, what did the headmaster say?”

“For now, he said he won’t hold me responsible.”

“I didn’t expect that.”

If Aria had remained in that half-catatonic state caused by the corrupted, it would have been understandable. But she was cured, in perfect condition, and still, no measures were taken regarding the World Tree.

‘I have an idea why…’

Knowing the headmaster’s personality more or less, it was worth confirming.

“That’s not something you should say! I told you we should’ve resolved it from the beginning!”

Aria shouted furiously. It was clear she was still deeply frustrated that a demon had been summoned through a branch of the World Tree.

“Haa… Relax, Aria. You’re a cultured elf. Kind words, soft words.”

You’re making a scene by yourself.

“Just tell me what the headmaster said.”

“…And why should I tell you?”

Aria, having regained her composure, smiled sweetly.

“I only cooperated with you to protect the branch of the Mother Tree. There’s no need to continue doing so now, is there?”

“Didn’t you say you wanted connections?”

“I said I wanted contacts, not that I wanted to be used. Honestly, the one at a disadvantage right now is you, isn’t it?”

And she was right. Whatever Aria and the headmaster had discussed, and what measures the academy would take regarding the loss of the World Tree, would be crucial in the future.

“Fine.”

But he had no reason to beg. He had dealt with people like Aria before.

Sweet faces hiding poison. If you showed servility even once, such people would exploit it endlessly.

“Fine?”

“I already heard everything.”

“But I didn’t say anything.”

“You said they would let it slide. That can only mean one of two things: either Fridian promised something else to cover it up, or from the start they never intended to do anything about it.”

And for the latter to be possible, there was only one reason.

“Summoning a demon isn’t something that happens just because a branch of the World Tree was neglected.”

“……”

“And what’s more, an elf would never neglect a branch of the World Tree. It’s not your fault, right?”

“…It isn’t.”

“Then there’s no problem.”

With that crooked smile, Fernan rose without showing the slightest remorse.

“Wait!”

“What is it?”

“It was a joke, a joke. Can’t we tease each other a little?”

“What kind of relationship do you think we have?”

“One where we introduce contacts to each other, right?”

“Is your measure of friendship based on contacts?”

What a sick obsession.

“I know it sounds bad… but if I think about it, you made me this way.”

“Me?”

“Well, your family and the other houses of the prince-electors.”

“Don’t blame others.”

“I’m only speaking the truth.”

“What do you mean?”

“That unless you have something to ask me. I’m willing to answer sincerely.”

Then, in a cautious tone, Aria asked.

“…You haven’t forgotten the promise to introduce me to the heir of another prince-elector house, right?”

“A merchant lives on trust.”

“You really are a true merchant. I always trusted you.”

“What if that prince-elector heir is me?”

“…Swindler!”

“Lies.”

“I was joking too.”

Aria let out a forced laugh.

***

After finishing the conversation with Aria, Fernan moved on to the next matter.

[A horse in armor ran.

A knight lowered his posture and extended his lance.

As they crossed, a blast of wind shook the air.

But the fight wasn’t decided. Both knights turned and charged again.

Three times it was repeated.

As no victor emerged, they dismounted and drew their swords.

The duel thrilled the entire audience.

“Winner, first year of the Knight Department, Aint Armian!”

After more than fifty exchanges, there was a victor.

“Gillet Fiens lost?”

“…Aint Armian won?”

“But isn’t he fifth place of the third year?”

“Losing to a freshman! What a disgrace for the third-years!”

“This is a fraud! I bet everything on Gillet Fiens!”

“…Looks like Armian isn’t finished yet.”

Though at that time he had to let it pass because of matters with the headmaster, the prophecy did not refer only to him.

— Well done. With that momentum, win the jousting tournament.

— Well, even if you don’t manage it now, you still have three more chances until your fourth year. But the future is uncertain.

The winners of the joust and the magic tournament gained access to a vault maintained by the academy since the era of the First Emperor.

And also the right to take a single treasure from within.

‘What’s inside?’

— Many things. But only one interests you.

‘Which one?’

— An armor. Just like me—well, if I’m the sword, it sounds weird. But like the sword, it’s made of mithril and adamantium combined.

— It’s hidden so no one can take it away.

The joust and the magic tournament. The greatest competitions of the academy.

And one more strategy of the First Emperor hidden within them.

“How do you feel?”

“I’m fine.”

Once again, the importance of Aint Armian, the protagonist of the prophecy book, was reaffirmed.

Maintaining a relationship, even a minimal one, was fundamental.

“If you notice any anomalies, come see me immediately. Don’t hold back.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“By the way, are you planning to participate in the joust?”

“Yes, I intend to.”

“I see. Good.”

When Aint was about to leave, he paused for a moment.

“Oh, by the way, Senior. That golem…”

“You mean Wooden?”

“Yes. May I know what it’s made of? Ah, if it’s an inappropriate question, don’t feel obliged to answer.”

“No problem. It’s made of a mithril and adamantium alloy, like the one I bought with you.”

“Thank you for telling me.”

Aint left the room.

— I knew I was right! It could only be an alloy of mithril and adamantium.

— To withstand against a demon, and then to turn it into an ego golem by inserting a spirit…

Gardner burst into laughter, delighted to confirm that his theory had been correct.

‘Yes, Sir Gardner, you were right.’

— But I find it curious… how did he know mithril could contain souls?

— I don’t think anyone else knows that.

As far as he knew, only the First Emperor had ever considered using mithril as a vessel for souls.

‘And what if he had simply dreamed of creating an ego golem for a long time and researched it on his own?’

— Makes sense. It’s been a thousand years. The idea that no human thought of it again also seems unlikely.

Gardner figured he had probably bought that information with money.

— But still, to build almost the entire golem out of adamantium and mithril alloy… only a crazy rich man could pull that off.

In any case, the fact that such a being was on the allied side for now, and would remain so as long as the demons sought to destroy the world, was a positive thing.

— Looks like, aside from the demon summoning, everything will settle more smoothly than expected.

‘It seems so. Though it’s still a demon.’

— I suppose it’s too soon to make it public. I understand.

But that didn’t mean he trusted completely. After all, wasn’t the academy so incompetent that they hadn’t noticed the corrupted sneaking in right under their noses?

— They’ve no right to be this useless. If the Emperor knew, he’d crawl out of his grave and feed them all to the demons.

— If they love demons so much, they should start by offering their own bodies.

‘Every time I hear about the First Emperor, my curiosity grows.’

— He was a hero. But not a saint.

In fact, it would be more accurate to say he was a little insane.

— To fight demons, losing one’s sanity is only natural.

Anyway.

— Even if the academy is useless, you do what you can.

Earn fame within the academy.

And grow stronger.

Aint arrived at a private training chamber prepared for the students.

He sat in the center, legs crossed.

— What you must do now is…

He placed his sword across his knees.

— …Make Andromalius’ demonic magic completely your own.

— Because his summoning is only the beginning.

He closed his eyes.

— Winning the joust is also important. For the armor!

‘Yes!’

The demon’s dark energy and a pure white light intertwined and enveloped Aint Armian.

***

Crack!

The bonsai scissors completely split the trunk of the plant.

But the man’s hand didn’t stop.

Crack, crack! With each motion of the scissors, another bonsai lost its shape without fail.

“The seventh has died. He tried to escape, but it was useless, and in the end he chose suicide.”

“……”

“The third hideout was discovered by Grad Kshant and the Guard he leads.”

The Guard was a combat unit directly affiliated with the academy, operated independently. Some professors commanded it, and several assistants were also assigned.

“It was expected.”

From the moment Andromalius had been summoned—no, from the moment his summoning was planned—it was already anticipated that he would fail in his objective and be eliminated.

Even so, it was not a pleasant thing.

Everything had been foreseen and prepared.

They had even considered the possibility of “cutting off the tail like a lizard,” sacrificing what was necessary.

“Aint Armian…”

The one they had tried to eliminate at all costs, even at the price of sacrifices and exposure, was still alive.

“This is truly amusing.”

He had never imagined such a result. Never thought things would turn out this way.

“Andromalius—a full-fledged demon, and he turned out to be this incompetent?”

It was ridiculous.

That a great demon was defeated by just five “students.”

Even if he had been summoned hastily and most of his power sealed.

They had even recovered the demonic energy scattered throughout the academy to reinforce the summoning circle.

“With this, the entire continent knows demons are on the move. And yet, we’ve gained nothing.”

And that wasn’t all.

“Aint Armian has that damned sword.”

The sword of the First Emperor, capable of hunting demons and absorbing their power.

Even if most of its strength had been lost with time, after this battle it surely had absorbed Andromalius’ power.

Instead of killing him, they had made him stronger.

“As planned, three bases and twelve corrupted will soon fall. But they won’t discover anything more.”

“That’s obvious.”

Aside from Andromalius’ unexpected incompetence, everything was within the man’s calculations.

The headmaster summoning all high-ranking staff, the secret search—everything.

They would discover nothing he hadn’t allowed.

But that didn’t mean it was a success.

“Knowing the headmaster’s personality, he’ll surely talk about the corrupted in the next Foundation Day ceremony.”

But they couldn’t allow him to do as he pleased.

“We’ll strike first.”

They would divert all attention focused on the academy elsewhere.

“Your Excellency.”

At that moment, another shadow emerged.

“Speak.”

“A message arrived from the north.”

The man’s face stiffened slightly.

“That was fast.”

With reluctant steps, he moved to open the storeroom door. But just then—

“……”

His eyes turned cold.

Tling!

The door opened.

“Today I’m off duty for personal matters.”

A woman with long, dark-blue hair down to her waist approached step by step, calmly.

“I put a sign on the door. Didn’t you see it, by any chance?”

“I saw it.”

“Then why…?”

“We’re both busy, so I won’t waste time.”

A white hand brushed across a bookshelf. Crack—the books instantly froze solid with frost.

“Will you do this the easy way, or the hard way?”

“…Hah.”

The man sighed.

“How did you know?”

“What a funny thing to ask. Do you know why you’ve managed to survive until now? Only for one reason—because we decided not to pay you any mind. Filthy corrupted who sold your soul to a demon.”

“Seems there’s a misunderstanding.”

The man smiled.

“I bathe every day. I’m very clean. Though, I suppose not to the level of Professor Rosalia, with her obsession for cleanliness.”

He opened a nearby book. The seal engraved within reacted as it came into contact with mana.

Bzzzz!

A blue ray shot out in a straight line.

But it was easily blocked by a wall of pure, white ice.

“You’re mistaken too.”

Crack—the cold spread across the floor, binding the man’s feet.

“I don’t have an obsession with cleanliness. I simply can’t stand dirty things.”

Crack!

Dozens of ice spears pierced straight through the man’s entire body.

“Like you, a disgusting corrupted.”

Not a single drop of frozen blood touched the ground.