Chapter 69

The academy had begun a new semester.

With 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.

“I’m counting on you this semester.”

“Same here.”

Fernan attended the first paired class of the second semester with Luina.

The subject was “Study of Monsters and Beasts.” But since it was the first day, there wasn’t anything significant.

The class ended after a brief explanation of future plans.

“Fernan.”

“Ludger.”

“I heard what happened. They say it was something big. Fanatics inside the academy?”

Ludger approached discreetly and whispered in a low voice.

‘So, he’s already heard.’

The matter of the demon was far too serious for the headmaster to handle alone.

Even as an archmage, someone whom even the Emperor himself dared not touch, the matter was beyond him.

However, 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.

The Pellenberg family was no exception.

Fernan had received a letter from his father just before classes began, telling him he had heard about the fanatics.

“When I first heard about those fanatics… it was shocking.”

It must have been even worse for you, who experienced it firsthand.

“What was it like? Those wastes who still worship demons, unable to forget them.”

“I don’t think this is the place to talk about it.”

“Don’t worry. I already cast a sound-cancellation spell.”

“And do I have to spell it out that that wasn’t my point?”

“Then, will you only answer if I directly ask you what those fanatics were like?”

And you consider that a question?

“Of course not, Ludger Schwaben.”

Fernan extended his hand.

“But if you pay the right price, I have no problem telling you.”

After all, there is nothing a merchant won’t sell. “Information” was no exception.

“…Right, that’s just like you. I forgot a little during the break.”

Ludger chuckled.

“Then, how much does it cost?”

“That depends on your willingness.”

“So that means the quality of your information depends on my generosity?”

“As expected of a prince. No need to repeat it.”

At Fernan’s shameless reply, Ludger let out a sigh.

“Then how much would it cost to ensure you don’t tell anyone else?”

“Is that necessary? Surely they already know I wasn’t alone.”

Although the headmaster hadn’t said who fought the fanatics, there were multiple spies from different noble houses inside the academy.

Concealing it completely was impossible, and he hadn’t intended to anyway.

“Let me rephrase. How much to ensure that none of those who fought the fanatics say a single word?”

“One trillion gold.”

“…Are you insane?”

“You’re the insane one. You’re asking for the impossible.”

“You always say there’s nothing impossible with money.”

“Exactly. So if you give me a trillion gold, I’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen.”

“Tch.”

Ludger clicked his tongue in annoyance.

He placed a heavy pouch in Fernan’s hand. When he checked, it was full of gold coins.

“Then just tell me what you know.”

“First, let’s move somewhere else. Even with the sound-cancellation, this spot attracts too much attention.”

Though they had stepped aside, they were still near the front of the classroom. Several people were glancing at them as they passed.

“Fine.”

Fernan began to recount what he had experienced.

Of 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.

He replaced “demons” with “fanatics.”

After all, the headmaster had gone to great lengths to conceal that detail, and there was no reason to reveal it now.

***

After earning some extra income thanks to Ludger, Fernan set about reorganizing his plans.

“Hmmm.”

The new prophecy revealed to him this time wasn’t about demons or crises.

But it was undoubtedly an important future event.

Both for Aint, who had to win the jousting tournament to obtain the First Emperor’s legacy…

And for Fernan, who now knew who the main winners of the jousting tournament and the magic tournament would be.

‘It’s an opportunity to make a fortune.’

During the academy festival, where both the joust and the magic tournament were held, betting was officially allowed.

The 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.

Until 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.

‘With luck, I could match the annual income of the branch.’

A simple student tournament could not be underestimated.

The academy’s founding festival was second in scale only to the imperial festival in the capital.

Wealthy parents flocked in droves to see their children, and the flow of money was enormous.

It 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.

‘I don’t have to bet on every round.’

The prophecy wasn’t that detailed.

But at least he knew who would reach the quarterfinals in each tournament. Betting only on them guaranteed no mistakes.

“Six are the expected ones, and two are surprises.”

Not bad. Especially since those two surprises would bring very good profits.

“Now then, there’s something I need to discuss with you too.”

— Kkung?

Fernan extended a finger.

Wooden, who was pacing restlessly on the table, grabbed it eagerly.

At barely 20 cm tall, Wooden was like a figurine enchanted with lightening magic.

If he stayed still, no one would doubt he was just a trinket.

Keeping him in subspace would be best, but Wooden, who had already been there once, fiercely refused.

He said he never wanted to return to that empty, conscious void again.

‘Even with a contract and an obedience mark engraved, treating him like that wouldn’t be a good long-term idea.’

It didn’t take much thought. Spirits were simple—contract or not, if they disliked something, they wouldn’t cooperate.

Though he couldn’t escape Fernan, if he lost motivation, his performance would drop.

‘I can’t carry him on my shoulder…’

Boasting 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.

“Wooden, shrink down.”

— Kkung?

Wooden immediately shrank. He was now just 1 cm tall—the smallest size he could take.

Click, Fernan attached the clasp extending from Wooden’s head to a small chain.

It was an idea he’d gotten from Aint, who turned his sword into a necklace.

— Kkung-kkung!

Wooden squirmed uncomfortably.

“If you don’t like this form, then it’s subspace for you. Isn’t this better?”

At the word “subspace,” Wooden went still.

— Kkuuuuung?

“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.”

It was better than being trapped in a void with nothing but awareness.

Wooden didn’t hesitate for even a second and chose this option.

And that was how a new pendant appeared around Fernan’s neck.

***

The academy had many facilities available for students.

In 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.

“……”

“……”

And there, two students were making use of the place.

Aint Armian. Firstborn of the former imperial Armian family, and though only a handful knew, the nemesis of demons—the one who had slain one.

Facing him, wielding his sword, was Verian Kalburdern.

He belonged to one of the Empire’s most renowned knightly houses, rivaled only by the houses of the Elector Princes.

A heavy silence hung between the two.

A soft breeze blew, and a dry leaf fell between them.

The moment it touched the ground, both students sprang forward from the floor of the dueling ground.

Clang!

Their swords clashed, and a shockwave rippled outward in all directions.

Aria, who had permission from both to spectate the duel, waved her hand lightly to disperse the wave headed toward her.

“……”

Resting her chin on her hand, she watched the center of the field with a blank expression.

The vice-representative of the first-year Knight Department, and the third-ranked student of the same year.

Her being allowed as a spectator was proof enough that her time at the academy had not been in vain.

Even if it was partly a reward for having fought against demons.

‘Getting closer to Aint Armian was undoubtedly a huge gain.’

During the battle with the demon, Aria had witnessed Aint’s performance firsthand.

That purifying radiance had shown her clearly why he was considered the nemesis of demons.

At first, she had approached him because he was the weakest among the Elector Princes’ heirs, but…

Despite that, he turned out to be a pearl in the mud.

‘And Verian Kalburdern isn’t lacking either.’

Though not an Elector Prince, the prestige of House Kalburdern was by no means insignificant.

But even so, she couldn’t help but feel a certain distaste.

Why?

“Fernan Pellenberg, that senior…”

Yes. Because of him.

“It’s strange…”

Fernan was clearly different from everyone else she had spoken to until now.

“Normally, by this point, they would have relaxed, but…”

Why then, whenever she spoke with Fernan Pellenberg, did she still feel that sharp tension? He continued to look at her with distrust.

Even 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.

‘Is it just my imagination… that I feel like I’m the one being manipulated?’

Even when they transported the branch of the World Tree. Even when it ended up fully corrupted.

Even during the incident with the ego golem.

In the end, everything had unfolded exactly as Fernan had predicted.

Perhaps he hadn’t expected the corruption of the World Tree’s branch to lead to the summoning of a demon, but…

Aria shook her head.

It must just be her imagination.

Thanks to the invitation to the Yacht Club and the new connections she had made, she had gained more than she had lost.

Part of the World Tree’s branch had been doomed to corruption anyway, and the ego golem had been Fernan’s creation from the start.

‘Yes, exactly. But… the fact he still looks at me with suspicion isn’t just in my head…’

“Aria!”

“Watch out!”

The sharp warning jolted Aria from her thoughts.

A bokken that seconds ago must have been in someone’s hand was now tracing a long arc through the air toward her.

It carried a bit of aura—enough that if she received it carelessly, she could be seriously injured.

‘It’s from Verian.’

Aint still held his bokken, while Verian’s hand was empty, his fingers torn and bleeding.

Aria extended her hand.

The spirits dampened the aura within the weapon, and the bokken flew straight into her palm.

“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!”

“You…!”

“This time you didn’t faint, right?”

“You damned pointy-eared brat!”

Aria let out a perfectly innocent laugh.