Chapter 69
cAp1fThe academy had begun a new semester.LV0CIv
Ds4x60pWith the return of the students who had gone back to their homes, the once quiet atmosphere of the academy was once again filled with bustle.5I9u7Vs
0CEvhQX“I’m counting on you this semester.”DAw
Oj1dxZ“Same here.”f8a0P
lSVrBbFernan attended the first paired class of the second semester with Luina.UyGSW1
GcIThe subject was “Study of Monsters and Beasts.” But since it was the first day, there wasn’t anything significant.sLu
RLxThe class ended after a brief explanation of future plans.aATilI
NSXayT“Fernan.”7lGL
c9I“Ludger.”nWPGqJX
psTqJX“I heard what happened. They say it was something big. Fanatics inside the academy?”WwaHq2I
cLkiLudger approached discreetly and whispered in a low voice.E6t27g
oBJdDv‘So, he’s already heard.’ul0
anXakKThe matter of the demon was far too serious for the headmaster to handle alone.gB9
Hbq5sEven as an archmage, someone whom even the Emperor himself dared not touch, the matter was beyond him.MJW9
mYlHowever, since the headmaster didn’t belong to any one faction, instead of restricting it to a single noble house, he had informed all the houses of the Elector Princes.AR4
LPklThe Pellenberg family was no exception.aemL1RW
rvU5WFernan had received a letter from his father just before classes began, telling him he had heard about the fanatics.OFsJ7D4
tykTu0“When I first heard about those fanatics… it was shocking.”2AGs
pGmdYMQIt must have been even worse for you, who experienced it firsthand.hHQl7Wq
pFFg“What was it like? Those wastes who still worship demons, unable to forget them.”F3pAwH
1U1hCuv“I don’t think this is the place to talk about it.”D2qo
Weba0“Don’t worry. I already cast a sound-cancellation spell.”vmuHOO
6BAu“And do I have to spell it out that that wasn’t my point?”7EiavIa
zc7yWr“Then, will you only answer if I directly ask you what those fanatics were like?”Fz5a
XpXN7And you consider that a question?0z6
gYccNr“Of course not, Ludger Schwaben.”qBEui7
l7gFernan extended his hand.KYfCFrh
Rtp7“But if you pay the right price, I have no problem telling you.”d5bQzm
pzm0PAfter all, there is nothing a merchant won’t sell. “Information” was no exception.pm5kJ
PRF“…Right, that’s just like you. I forgot a little during the break.”db1Bd9
K0HD9Ludger chuckled.eBB
hiKWqyp“Then, how much does it cost?”HTm
gipNe“That depends on your willingness.”g7557Qh
5rNia“So that means the quality of your information depends on my generosity?”fanEP
Fzz“As expected of a prince. No need to repeat it.”Izmu7R
I7hhfAt Fernan’s shameless reply, Ludger let out a sigh.k12Xgc
evuM“Then how much would it cost to ensure you don’t tell anyone else?”EBapWeU
qdKo“Is that necessary? Surely they already know I wasn’t alone.”zyF
PHYlZQAlthough the headmaster hadn’t said who fought the fanatics, there were multiple spies from different noble houses inside the academy.IVNOFUK
rFJuDConcealing it completely was impossible, and he hadn’t intended to anyway.o6jn
zzvtIz“Let me rephrase. How much to ensure that none of those who fought the fanatics say a single word?”yVrM9pg
Vbywyo“One trillion gold.”lGojr
KScHztv“…Are you insane?”OWDMTVJ
aTI“You’re the insane one. You’re asking for the impossible.”JmwlT3d
e7A“You always say there’s nothing impossible with money.”a3u
Sp47“Exactly. So if you give me a trillion gold, I’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen.”7gM
9y0ZeJg“Tch.”99qr
VDmFNsLudger clicked his tongue in annoyance.ujjmlEg
QXTwBcCHe placed a heavy pouch in Fernan’s hand. When he checked, it was full of gold coins.mWr
phB1w“Then just tell me what you know.”ueAuuwP
C6i3“First, let’s move somewhere else. Even with the sound-cancellation, this spot attracts too much attention.”jrX2
1RvOwb8Though they had stepped aside, they were still near the front of the classroom. Several people were glancing at them as they passed.gXOB
Dbz1u“Fine.”lCv
EF9Fernan began to recount what he had experienced.eBGQF
HBDxKOiOf course, he didn’t tell it exactly as it had happened. It was a slightly more decorated version of what he had told the headmaster.OfR0
o1yn545He replaced “demons” with “fanatics.”7mV
1cv3PYAfter all, the headmaster had gone to great lengths to conceal that detail, and there was no reason to reveal it now.FCADlYn
9Yr***Ye5D8VV
5i36MRPAfter earning some extra income thanks to Ludger, Fernan set about reorganizing his plans.voW
qeutBgP“Hmmm.”czJ56k5
2a1rROThe new prophecy revealed to him this time wasn’t about demons or crises.D7y8YRt
rVWFBut it was undoubtedly an important future event.ePS
NHBP1Both for Aint, who had to win the jousting tournament to obtain the First Emperor’s legacy…sqCTS
6orNAnd for Fernan, who now knew who the main winners of the jousting tournament and the magic tournament would be.GOg
VKPng4‘It’s an opportunity to make a fortune.’cUa
2JW42During the academy festival, where both the joust and the magic tournament were held, betting was officially allowed.XjWGZ
grBqGZ4The academy itself supervised it and allowed wagers on the participants, and Fernan, with the tacit approval of the academy, organized betting on a much larger scale.4vx
ip1Until now, he had only bet on safe occasions to minimize losses, but if he knew the future, there was no reason not to take advantage of every opportunity.i9Lzy
TdnVA‘With luck, I could match the annual income of the branch.’8POWWUx
Jo2A simple student tournament could not be underestimated.crZn63X
zkG3UJoThe academy’s founding festival was second in scale only to the imperial festival in the capital.u76U
UcD8eWealthy parents flocked in droves to see their children, and the flow of money was enormous.pgRY
Kw0It wasn’t for nothing that the academy was the cradle of the Empire, nor for nothing that the fanatics had tried to destroy it first.khlm
DJdX‘I don’t have to bet on every round.’5anksS
YY59vFThe prophecy wasn’t that detailed.1WYDvu
dQmBut at least he knew who would reach the quarterfinals in each tournament. Betting only on them guaranteed no mistakes.AHZa
NhHR“Six are the expected ones, and two are surprises.”QEqH0
Cf1Not bad. Especially since those two surprises would bring very good profits.42ECC
Q7Xq“Now then, there’s something I need to discuss with you too.”CY86M
JIQCXV— Kkung?Hw1Rzg
Uml2fFernan extended a finger.iXpSm
oyCJiY1Wooden, who was pacing restlessly on the table, grabbed it eagerly.CG9mG
jYZhAt barely 20 cm tall, Wooden was like a figurine enchanted with lightening magic.6pqOT
82LIf he stayed still, no one would doubt he was just a trinket.wtobQ2
B0C5zuKKeeping him in subspace would be best, but Wooden, who had already been there once, fiercely refused.3qWt9
m84He said he never wanted to return to that empty, conscious void again.yQm
nopdj‘Even with a contract and an obedience mark engraved, treating him like that wouldn’t be a good long-term idea.’rsz
Q4cyIt didn’t take much thought. Spirits were simple—contract or not, if they disliked something, they wouldn’t cooperate.MbJEUye
7dofAThough he couldn’t escape Fernan, if he lost motivation, his performance would drop.nnch5
vNFf‘I can’t carry him on my shoulder…’oA4
q1DuE3Boasting that he had made an ego golem was ridiculous, and he didn’t want to become the center of gossip for walking around with one at his age.Uf643eJ
4Sy“Wooden, shrink down.”vXFbhB
yQd— Kkung?ZkTDqxB
sByiZFwWooden immediately shrank. He was now just 1 cm tall—the smallest size he could take.usXk1
hPwXClick, Fernan attached the clasp extending from Wooden’s head to a small chain.qxuK
t3F8vzdIt was an idea he’d gotten from Aint, who turned his sword into a necklace.k13fiYP
vV6zSL— Kkung-kkung!cKX
6I5IIWooden squirmed uncomfortably.zkTmd
XSl“If you don’t like this form, then it’s subspace for you. Isn’t this better?”qeez
XWqJ3TSAt the word “subspace,” Wooden went still.0aBd
v2K6it— Kkuuuuung?825UVE
ErP“That’s right. If you hang quietly in the form of a necklace, I won’t put you in subspace. Of course, only when it’s just the two of us.”BPZ
ajjutQIt was better than being trapped in a void with nothing but awareness.wfV
lHF0Wooden didn’t hesitate for even a second and chose this option.9ucd
P4JzqAnd that was how a new pendant appeared around Fernan’s neck.WQFu
rgS***NY7q0g
Z02PesThe academy had many facilities available for students.vSIGyU6
1SlYng6In particular, the personal training field, the group training grounds, the instruction yard, and the dueling hall were always open so students could use them anytime for individual practice or sparring.yc3d
cDnMwf“……”wWqghuQ
BlCkT0“……”fME54v
JquUWSAnd there, two students were making use of the place.g9u
jaVAint Armian. Firstborn of the former imperial Armian family, and though only a handful knew, the nemesis of demons—the one who had slain one.0v282
Sgu400UFacing him, wielding his sword, was Verian Kalburdern.RVj2
3OVjHHe belonged to one of the Empire’s most renowned knightly houses, rivaled only by the houses of the Elector Princes.eMJG7Jx
ubADeA heavy silence hung between the two.fBhNcY
iwLnAJQA soft breeze blew, and a dry leaf fell between them.z6SRJ
wzFpwg9The moment it touched the ground, both students sprang forward from the floor of the dueling ground.DeFLL53
VKFgXS8Clang!r1nf
PLLO1bfTheir swords clashed, and a shockwave rippled outward in all directions.Wyx
gEdngAria, who had permission from both to spectate the duel, waved her hand lightly to disperse the wave headed toward her.ajXag5q
fnJU“……”q4dziEa
yIBSgUnResting her chin on her hand, she watched the center of the field with a blank expression.aEN6
wj034faThe vice-representative of the first-year Knight Department, and the third-ranked student of the same year.cTn
zpyVLHer being allowed as a spectator was proof enough that her time at the academy had not been in vain.Ldhx
pQjEven if it was partly a reward for having fought against demons.Sx3LKI
JQLnnE‘Getting closer to Aint Armian was undoubtedly a huge gain.’RYuzBUC
LLo90EDuring the battle with the demon, Aria had witnessed Aint’s performance firsthand.VMPEDZ
Mihla1That purifying radiance had shown her clearly why he was considered the nemesis of demons.tzXVxR
YGe4FAt first, she had approached him because he was the weakest among the Elector Princes’ heirs, but…RQ8v
B2TkUDespite that, he turned out to be a pearl in the mud.yiia
0FbaR‘And Verian Kalburdern isn’t lacking either.’fuEuUx
6tbO8Though not an Elector Prince, the prestige of House Kalburdern was by no means insignificant.jBs3
cZ8ZABut even so, she couldn’t help but feel a certain distaste.7bK1oFf
OZMjsuWhy?akZvoEp
xEF4“Fernan Pellenberg, that senior…”UbP
iNsJYes. Because of him.1mfN6
vLt7“It’s strange…”837bm
19KrfoFernan was clearly different from everyone else she had spoken to until now.kFmR0Ak
xD9“Normally, by this point, they would have relaxed, but…”pZptvnG
5sC1ooaWhy then, whenever she spoke with Fernan Pellenberg, did she still feel that sharp tension? He continued to look at her with distrust.7EIrc3
WUSO74Even the exiled prince, whom she had thought of as nothing more than a coward too afraid of his father to return home, no longer looked at her that way.FmlJUPL
PN2‘Is it just my imagination… that I feel like I’m the one being manipulated?’KrNro
xUj765Even when they transported the branch of the World Tree. Even when it ended up fully corrupted.eW2pdRm
k2KzAEven during the incident with the ego golem.YWpZlR
eLBP5In the end, everything had unfolded exactly as Fernan had predicted.Jypm
kz3ezPerhaps he hadn’t expected the corruption of the World Tree’s branch to lead to the summoning of a demon, but…A0Iu
2fnaGAria shook her head.pva5dk
e71kIt must just be her imagination.yFr1m
OapThanks to the invitation to the Yacht Club and the new connections she had made, she had gained more than she had lost.zYq1Y
fBlfC9Part of the World Tree’s branch had been doomed to corruption anyway, and the ego golem had been Fernan’s creation from the start.jQC
peoPX‘Yes, exactly. But… the fact he still looks at me with suspicion isn’t just in my head…’wZnn4U
5lXAiz“Aria!”Mqx
9ID“Watch out!”wk4Sx
TZw3OQQThe sharp warning jolted Aria from her thoughts.ls7uWT
oCOu0yA bokken that seconds ago must have been in someone’s hand was now tracing a long arc through the air toward her.C3H5
XYFIt carried a bit of aura—enough that if she received it carelessly, she could be seriously injured.G2tn
5wMosW‘It’s from Verian.’SV2
dGgAint still held his bokken, while Verian’s hand was empty, his fingers torn and bleeding.KdU
hsf7jAria extended her hand.M4kz
Eqe7UThe spirits dampened the aura within the weapon, and the bokken flew straight into her palm.bIX
K3R“Looks like Aint won, huh? I knew it! Someone who’s scared of his daddy and can’t even go home isn’t a real opponent!”9SF063f
d4tKuI“You…!”8F4
uEq“This time you didn’t faint, right?”PLGqx
1G3Q2p8“You damned pointy-eared brat!”2YvURJ
lhuPpjAria let out a perfectly innocent laugh.iSUiA
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