A Cadet Becomes a Prophet?! — Chapter 71

Chapter 71

The Foundation Day festival,⁠‌‍ which only happens‌⁠ once a year.‍

Although‍⁠ there was still⁠⁠‌ about a week‌⁠‌ left, the regular‌ ferries between the⁠⁠ academy and the⁠ two continents had‍⁠ already increased considerably.⁠‌‌ Hundreds of people⁠ began arriving at⁠ the academy each⁠ day, and the atmosphere in the‌‌ streets was already‍‍ filled with the festive spirit.

Those⁠ hundreds would soon⁠ turn into thousands,‍‍ and all those‍‌‌ crowds meant money.⁠⁠

The‍⁠ Foundation Day festival‌ was not only‍‍‌ a joyful time‌⁠ for the whole‍ Empire, it was⁠⁠ also the most‍‌‍ profitable period for‌ Pellenberg.

“Move‌ quickly!”

“There⁠‍ must be no‍ setbacks at the⁠ festival!”

Bringing⁠‍ in goods, turning‌⁠ empty lots into‌⁠‍ festive streets, raising‌‍‍ temporary structures—all the‌ festival preparations were⁠ led by Pellenberg,⁠‌ who had officially⁠‌ been commissioned by‌⁠⁠ the academy.

Although‌ some other trade‌ guilds were also⁠‍ involved, they were⁠ nothing compared to⁠‌ what Pellenberg had taken over.

“I⁠‌ didn’t expect them‌‍ to give so‍⁠‍ much to the⁠‍‌ Golden Turtle Guild.”⁠

Behind‍ that was the‌ influence of the⁠ rector.

That⁠‌ was precisely the⁠ promised reward.

A contract that assigned‌‌ them the management‌⁠ of a large‌ part of the⁠ festival and guaranteed‌⁠ lucrative rights.

Clearly, it meant: “I’ll give you the‌ scraps, so keep⁠ the secret about the demon.”

“If‌ they paid me,‌‍ I have to‌ make sure I deliver what I was paid for.”‌

It‍‍‍ was compensation for‌ information, but as⁠‍ long as everything‍‌ went well, what‍⁠ did it matter?

Fernan⁠ decided to leave‌ the matter of‍ Andromalius behind and⁠⁠ focus on what⁠ he had to‍⁠ do.

“Anyway,‍⁠ the approval should⁠ come out soon…”‍

An‌ unofficial betting house‌‍⁠ on the results‍ of the jousting⁠‌ tournament and the‍ magic competition.

During‌ the festival, this‍ would become one‌‌ of Fernan’s most⁠‍‍ profitable businesses.

“Hyde.”‌

“Yes.”‍

“Has‌⁠‍ the academy responded yet?”

“I⁠⁠ was just bringing‍‌ the reply.”

Fernan‌⁠‌ received the letter.‍‌ It didn’t say‌‍ much.

Dear⁠‌ student Fernan,
I see that⁠ you have intentions‌ again this year.⁠ Under normal circumstances⁠ it would be impossible, but your‌ contribution in saving⁠⁠ lives has been⁠ extraordinary, so I have no reason‌ to refuse.

Ah,‍⁠ and although it‌ will only be‌ during the festival,‍ what do you‌⁠ think about the Golden Turtle Guild managing the official‍ betting house?

“…Me‍‍ managing the official‍ betting house?”

Of‍ course.

That‍‍ said, if the‌‍‌ complaints of visitors‍ fill the academy,⁠⁠⁠ the festival will‍‍ stop feeling like‍ a festival. I trust you’ll know‍ how to handle⁠‍⁠ it.

Seems⁠‍ like you’ve grown‍⁠‌ greedy, but well,‍‍ you saved the‍‍ world, so it’s‍ forgiven.

Don’t⁠ make another betting‍⁠ house. Just manage the existing one.‌‌

But‌‍⁠ if you cause⁠ problems by overexploiting,‌‌ you’ll be held⁠ responsible.

That’s⁠ all. Everything else‍‌ would have been perfect.

P.S.‍ Since it’s an⁠ officially approved business,‍⁠⁠ the tax will‍⁠ be 20%.

“He’s⁠⁠ grateful, but he⁠ can’t give up⁠ money, huh?”

Of⁠⁠ course, a mage and money are‍ inseparable. Those who‍‍ pretended detachment had‌ already disappeared or‍‌‍ were dead.

“Do‍‍⁠ we have to‌ pay taxes?”

“Yes.”

“How‌⁠⁠ much?”

“Twenty‌⁠‍ percent.”

“The rector was very‍‌ generous. We’re just collecting something that‌ was already served, and still the‌ tax is that‍‌ low.”

It⁠‍ wasn’t an incorrect⁠ observation.

“Compared‌ to last year,⁠‌‍ this is much‌⁠ better.”

“Comparing‌ to last year‌ is a little…”

Last‍ year, Fernan had‍ run a betting‍ house without permission,‌‌ and when discovered, he had to‌⁠⁠ return half his‍ profits as a fine.

“Well,‌ now that I have official management, I should expand‌‌ the operation a bit.”

With‌ enthusiasm, Fernan pulled‌ out several blank⁠ sheets.

“Since he said to‍‍ do it in‌ moderation, I’ll limit‌‍‍ how much each⁠ person can bet—should‍‌ I also block⁠ those who use‌‌ others to bet?‌‌ No, I can‍ pretend I didn’t⁠‍ know. Why block‌ a way to⁠ earn more?”

Since‍⁠ he had to‌‌ follow the model‌‍‍ of “many sales,‍ low margin,” he‍‌ had to attract‍ as many bettors as possible.

“What⁠‌ would be best?⁠ I’ll start by‍ announcing it loudly…”‍

He⁠⁠ could offer a prize to whoever‍‍⁠ guessed the most⁠ results.

Also‌ negotiate with the‌‌ winners to arrange‌⁠ meetings with them.‌

After all, most would‍ be nobles, and‌ they were desperate‍ to meet new⁠‍ talents.

While the sheets quickly⁠⁠⁠ filled with ideas, Hyde quietly left⁠‍ the office.

***‍

“Good⁠ work.”

“…I’m⁠‍‌ exhausted.”

Rosalia,‌⁠‍ who had returned after hunting down⁠⁠ the last corrupted,‍‍ dropped half-reclined onto‌⁠⁠ the sofa.

She⁠ brought a cigarette‌⁠‌ to her lips‌⁠ and lit a small spark with‍⁠⁠ her fingertips.

Fuuuh,‍⁠ the smoke dispersed‌ through the window.‌⁠

“Now I can breathe.‌‍‍ As expected, Golden‍ Turtle’s stuff is⁠ good.”

“If‌‌ you keep feeding‍ yourself with that,‍‍ your body will‌ feel it in‌ the end.”

“Then‍ Golden Turtle can‌‍ be blamed for‌⁠ selling me defective products.”

Proper⁠‍ satiety, fullness, and⁠‍ even a slight⁠ stimulating effect. What‍‌⁠ she was smoking‍‌ was not a simple cigarette, but⁠‌‌ a type of‌ disposable magical artifact.‌‍

“Why‌ don’t you rest⁠ a bit?”

“Aaron.”‍

Rosalia‍⁠‍ cut him off.‍⁠

“Don’t‍ make me repeat‌ myself.”

The‍‌ academy wished to⁠ resolve the incident⁠ with the corrupted⁠ discreetly. They couldn’t‍‍ allow that chaos‌‍ to affect either⁠⁠‍ the festival or‌ academic life.

That’s‍ why Rosalia was‌ simultaneously taking on⁠ her duties as‌‍ a professor and‍ as a member‌⁠‌ of the guard.‌‍

“The rector gave a direct order, so‍ I have to⁠⁠ do my best.”

Rosalia⁠‍‌ murmured without emotion after finishing her‍‍ cigarette completely.

“But⁠‍ it’s interesting.”

She‌‍ was reviewing some⁠⁠⁠ documents. They were about the class‌ that had just‌ ended. They were‍⁠‍ the combat records‌ of each student,‌⁠ written by the assistants.

Broadly‌ speaking, there was‌ no problem.

Just‍‌⁠ as the rankings⁠ indicated, the students’ level matched their position.

But‌ if you looked⁠ more closely—

“Aria‌ Fridian’s movements have‍⁠ become more fluid.”‍

“The⁠‌⁠ mana flow is⁠‌ more natural, and⁠⁠ her casting speed‍ has also increased.‍⁠ Looks like she⁠‌ made some progress⁠‌⁠ during the break.”

“Probably.”⁠

‘Maybe⁠‌ it was a realization reached during‌ her fight against‌⁠ the corrupted.’

She⁠‌ kept that part‍⁠ to herself.

Since⁠ the matter of the corrupted was still highly confidential,‍ not even the‍ assistants had been‌ informed. The rector‍ had considered that,‌ if the corrupted‌‌ were infiltrated in‍ the academy, it⁠‌ was more likely‌ that they were⁠ assistants, students, or‍⁠ city residents.

On‌‌ the other hand,‌ it was unlikely that warriors, knights,‍ or renowned mages‍ like the professors⁠‍ would be replaced‍ without causing an‌⁠ uproar.

Of⁠ course, nothing is‍ absolute in this⁠⁠ world, but the‍ one who stated⁠ it was an⁠ Archmage, so its‍‌ reliability was close‌‍⁠ to absolute. Precisely‍‍ because of that,‌ it was all⁠⁠ the more interesting.‍

Because‍‌ the rector never⁠ revealed what exactly‌⁠ those corrupted were.⁠‌ They only assumed‌⁠‌ that, considering the⁠⁠ level of the⁠⁠ students, they wouldn’t⁠‍ be excessively powerful‌‍ versions.

And‍⁠‌ that was where⁠⁠⁠ her thoughts on the corrupted ended.

She⁠ called Aaron.

“How‍⁠‌ is the progress⁠ of the investigation?”‍‍

“There⁠ seems to be⁠⁠ some progress.”

“Seems?”⁠

“That‍ was a mistake.‍ There is, Professor.‍ Although very slight.”⁠

At⁠‍⁠ that, a faint‌‌‍ gleam of excitement‌ appeared in Rosalia’s⁠ eyes.

“Submit‍‌‌ a detailed report.‌ I’ll review it⁠‌‌ immediately.”

“Isn’t‌ the rector’s special mission more important?”⁠

“It’s⁠ not that much.‍ Almost everything is‌ already resolved.”

They weren’t demons, just⁠‌‌ corrupted.

And⁠ on top of‍⁠‍ that, captured by⁠‍⁠ students.

It‍‌ was necessary to remain alert, but it wasn’t something that required giving herself completely.

She‌ had already searched⁠ the entire academy‍ and captured those‍ who were hiding.‌‌ That was enough.‌‌ The rest of‍‌ the cleanup wasn’t‍‌‍ her responsibility.

“Besides, for me, this⁠‌ investigation is much⁠⁠ more important.”

And‍ also what she‍‌ could gain from‌⁠ it.

“To be honest, it‌⁠‍ is for me‌ as well. I’ll⁠ head to the‌‍ laboratory.”

Rosalia‍‍ waved a hand,⁠ dismissing him. Aaron⁠‍ left the office.‌

“…Of‍⁠ course it is.‍‌ It’s very important.”‌

Aaron,⁠ with a slight‌⁠ smile, made his‍ way to the⁠ laboratory.