Chapter 78

The Ert family was nothing more than a small barony in the southern part of the continent.

They had no special products, nor a large population. They were just one of the many common fiefdoms of the Empire, where people lived day by day, growing what they ate.

However, Gismond had a certain talent, and he caught the attention of Count Vamond, who offered him support and allowed him to receive training as a knight.

That’s how he was able to enter the Academy.

“After that, things went just as the young master knows. He led a normal academic life, had an uneventful first year, but from the second semester of the second year, he began to change little by little.”

“Did he receive anything from his family?”

“No, nothing special.”

“And from Count Vamond?”

“Money and a few minor elixirs, but nothing worth noting.”

Fernan leafed through the report page by page.

He had only received two elixirs, both of low quality and with little mana. That couldn’t explain the level of aura strength he now displayed.

There was definitely something hidden.

And most likely, it was corrupted magic. The report only reinforced that suspicion.

“And during this vacation? Where did he go and what did he do?”

“We’re still investigating the details, but he traveled to the Pandrein continent.”

“Pandrein? Isn’t the Ert barony in southern Lutar?”

“Yes.”

There was no other explanation—he had a purpose in going to Pandrein. Fernan sensed that Gismond’s secret was hidden there.

“Where did he land and where did he go?”

“In Ramons, a city of the Kingdom of Prazia.”

“…Ramons?”

Ramons was a port city in Prazia and one of the exchange ports with the Lutar continent. A large metropolis, especially filled with mercenaries.

“Wasn’t that also where Aint Armian spent his vacation as a mercenary?”

“That’s right. To be exact, he registered at the Ramons guild, then traveled to Abellar, and eventually was active in the capital.”

“Then there’s a chance they crossed paths.”

“I don’t think so.”

Hyde shook his head.

“Gismond headed south. We’re still tracking his exact destination.”

“South?”

There were many cities south of Ramons. But two places immediately came to Fernan’s mind:

— Franz County, where the magical obsidian mine was located.

— And Phaeios Fortress, the first to face Flauros’s legion.

‘Could it just be a coincidence?’

But ignoring his instincts had never done him any good.

There was something there. He was certain.

And even if there wasn’t, it didn’t matter. The important thing was to clear that unease.

“Find out exactly what he did during his vacation. It’s highly likely that guy is a corrupt.”

“You’re saying he managed to avoid the Academy’s watchful eyes?”

“If my hypothesis is correct.”

“Understood.”

“And Hyde, I want you to follow him yourself and monitor his every move.”

Hyde’s face stiffened.

“I can’t leave your side, young master.”

“Right now, you’re the one I trust the most.”

“And precisely for that reason. Didn’t you promise me you wouldn’t send me away?”

“At the Academy, how bad could things possibly get?”

Hyde swallowed the anger rising in his throat and replied.

“They already summoned a demon.”

“That was the first and last time. Do you think it could happen again with the rector watching with both eyes wide open?”

The summoning had only been possible because the Academy didn’t consider the existence of demons or the corrupted.

“You gave me your word.”

“Promises exist to be broken.”

“Can you say that, being a merchant?”

“Twisting words in your favor is also a merchant’s virtue.”

“I won’t accept it.”

“That’s an order.”

“……”

Hyde pressed his lips tightly together.

“The corrupted were already captured by the rector. The only one left who looks like a corrupt is him. If you watch him, what danger could I possibly be in?”

“…No winning against you in a verbal match, young master.”

“Eloquence is also an essential virtue of a merchant.”

With a firm thud, Fernan closed the report.

‘I should meet with Aint.’

The best way to confirm if someone was a corrupt was by using Aint Armian.

***

— The day his body explodes. He’s already at the limit. If he stops consuming his aura even for a single day, his aura core will likely burst.

And not just the aura core? Most likely, his entire body would shatter into pieces.

What’s more, most of the elixir residues circulating inside him weren’t even properly refined, so it was easy to guess what kind of potions he had taken.

— Itarium root, a draco manahol? No, a normal draco would never have a manahol, so it must be a variant. Herbglow leaf… and this purity, could it be eternal life water?

— He’s devoured absolutely everything. Now that I think about it, Aint, among what the late emperor left, there was also eternal life water. We should head to Pandrein soon to—

‘We’ll talk about that later. What about the corrupted magic?’

At Aint’s question, Gardner was silent for a moment but eventually answered.

— None. Not even a speck the size of a grain of rice. And no trace that there ever was.

— Just a mess of elixirs mixed like rags. But corruption? Nothing.

— In a way, that’s even stranger.

‘Got it.’

Aint slung Gardner back around his neck and gave a subtle nod.

“Ah. Now that I remember, we had a pending date. It’s been a pleasure, seniors.”

“So suddenly? Weren’t you drinking with Aint?”

“Not only with Aint—I have someone else to meet. I was just passing time with him until then. Let’s go, Aint.”

Before Gismond and his group could react, Aria was already on her feet, just as quickly as she had approached them.

“Thanks for everything, seniors. See you next time.”

Leaving the stunned students behind, Aint bowed his head and followed after her.

“Did you find it?”

“No.”

“There was no corrupted magic?”

“No, he’s not a corrupt.”

“That’s strange… Then the senior was wrong. How did he suddenly get so strong?”

“Elixirs.”

“But no matter how many elixirs one takes, you don’t get that kind of sudden growth.”

“He took much more than normal.”

Aria blinked twice, then gave a crooked smile.

“Well, he turned out to be more interesting than he seemed. But how’s his body handling it? He didn’t look that well-trained.”

At least not by Academy student standards.

“He’s at his limit.”

“Then, where did he get those elixirs? Or rather, how does a noble student not even have the basic knowledge of elixirs? How did he even get into this place?”

It was harsh, but not wrong.

The human body wasn’t that strong. Consuming elixirs recklessly and in excess almost always led to mana collapse.

“In any case, what a waste. So many valuable elixirs on someone who doesn’t have the capacity to use them.”

Knowing there was no corruption, Aria lost what little interest she had.

“Well, senior Fernan surely knows where they came from. He never lets those details slip.”

“So now what? Do you really want to go drink?”

“Why does an elf like alcohol so much?”

“Elves and wine are practically synonyms.”

— It’s true. In fact, elves live with fruit liquor on their lips.

A natural-born drunk. That much, Aint didn’t know.

“No. We need to go report to the senior.”

“It doesn’t seem that urgent. Do we really have to now?”

“How can anything related to demons not be urgent?”

“What a shame. So, after that?”

“I’ll go to the closing ceremony.”

Aria tilted her head.

“Didn’t you say you weren’t going?”

“And why did you believe that?”

“Because the emperor is going to be there.”

“…Didn’t think you’d say it so directly.”

“The fact that I entered the Academy already proves I don’t care about that stuff.”

Aria shrugged as if it were nothing, which was rather irritating.

“And why did you think I wouldn’t go?”

“Because it’s one thing not to care, and another to face him directly.”

— She’s right. Seems like she’s not, but she’s quite perceptive.

Aria said it so casually, but her words hit Aint in the chest.

She was right. If he truly didn’t care, he never would have considered attending.

But that wasn’t it.

The emperor of the Empire. That throne that once belonged to the Armians.

As the rightful heir, Aint wanted it back. He already had the strength and allies to do it, and soon the opportunity would come.

The arrival of demons that had led the First Emperor to found the Empire.

History was about to repeat itself, and Aint didn’t want to miss that moment.

That’s why he wanted to see him. He wanted to see, with his own eyes, the family and the person occupying that throne.

Fuuu. At that moment, he felt warm breath.

“…What are you doing?”

Aria’s face was just inches from his. Her emerald-green eyes curved into half-moons.

“Good look. A gaze full of ambition. Just now, you looked exactly like senior Fernan.”

“…What?”

Aria stepped back, and Aint’s heart pounded violently.

“Then let’s go. First, we’ll talk to the senior and then—”

“You two.”

At that moment, two hooded figures approached them.

“Are you students Aint Armian and Aria Fridian?”

“You know us?”

“Fortunately, we’ve found you. I am… just a moment.”

The man fumbled in his robe for a while. Then he pulled out a metal badge.

“This is me.”

“…What…?”

“……!”

On the metal badge, a lightning symbol was engraved in relief.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Inquisitor Judge Girard Izuel.”

The man bowed with utmost courtesy.

***

Judges.

A thousand years ago, the first Emperor, who had expelled the demons, created this group to face the remaining monsters and the corrupted that still roamed the continent.

In their golden age, their power rivaled that of the Elector Princes, and all trembled at their words.

But that was now just an echo of the past.

As the corrupted dwindled and the monsters were exterminated, the Judges ceased to be necessary.

Their prestige weakened.

Paradoxically, the more they fulfilled their duty, the more their place in the world faded.

Demons and monsters were quickly forgotten, and the authority of the Judges eroded bit by bit.

And now…

They survived only thanks to the ancient imperial decree of the first Emperor, maintaining just the semblance of existence.

In theory, they were under the direct orders of the Emperor, but the Schwaben family, who had taken the throne from the Armians, treated them like a useless nuisance, leaving them practically abandoned.

If it weren’t for the support of a few nobles, the Judges would have disappeared completely.

And yet, in front of Aint now stood one of those survivors of history.

“…What business do you have with me?”

“Hmm… This isn’t the place to talk. How about we go somewhere quieter?”

“You expect me to go with you?”

“It would be best. Ah, of course, it’s not a threat. Honestly, we don’t even have the power to threaten someone and then endure the consequences.”

Girard Izuel gave a slight smile.

“I’m just asking you to come because I believe you already suspect the reason I’m looking for you. For us, this is an urgent matter.”

Girard’s gaze, trembling and unguarded, made him look like—

“A stray cat.”

“Hey!”

Aint flinched. Not only had he thought the same thing as Aria—she had said it out loud, without a filter.

“Watch your tongue…”

“But it’s true, isn’t it?”

“A stray cat? Well… it’s not an entirely wrong comparison. We were abandoned by the Schwaben imperial family.”

Aint fell silent at those words, thick with self-deprecation.

“But…”

“It’s fine. It’s been a hundred years since they left us behind. At this point, I don’t care. Besides, I joined the Judges thirty years ago, so I didn’t even live through the first seventy.”

— The Judges reduced to this?

From the collar, Gardner muttered with quiet, boiling anger.

— The Judges were the foresight of the old Emperor, a safeguard against the inevitable return of the demons.

— And now, reduced to this ruin, their very reason for existing has vanished.

— Fools. Did they never think that if the Emperor left such an order, he must’ve had a reason?

‘I can understand it.’

A thousand years is a long time. Even if it was the first Emperor’s will, maintaining and nurturing that legacy without proof of need was an unbearable burden.

“You approached us because of the corrupted, right?”

“Exactly. We’ve heard the same—that corrupted appeared at the Academy.”

Girard raised both arms dramatically, though his voice was barely a whisper, so as not to draw attention.

“And why us?”

“Because, even if we’re an abandoned institution, we’ve existed for a thousand years. Aint Armian, Aria Fridian… we know that you, along with three other students, had a private meeting with the rector.”

Without a doubt, they had reported the corrupted.

“And right after that, the rector summoned the high command and the guard in an emergency, and they wiped out all the corrupted at the Academy. I regret not being there to join in. As you might know, though I’m a Judge, I’ve never had the chance to face a corrupt in person…”

“Girard.”

A sharp voice interrupted him.

“Senior Fernan?”

“Senior.”

It was Fernan.

“Long time no see.”

“…Well, looks like I’ve gone on longer than I intended. Indeed, Fernan, it has been a while.”

Girard gave him an ambiguous smile.

“I should’ve taken them with me from the start.”

“That would’ve been a kidnapping.”

“Not if it’s voluntary.”

“Ask them. They can answer for themselves.”

“I have no money. If you want, steal the fleas’ livers.”

“The rector seemed to be looking for you, Fernan.”

“Ha… maybe I should’ve been less polite and, instead of talking, gotten the truth out with torture.”

“…Torture?”

— Torture, you say?

The word hit both Aint and Gardner like a blow.

“This is the Academy, and Aint and Aria are students.”

“That’s why I tried talking first. Well, it doesn’t matter anymore. Then, until next time, I’ll see you again.”

Girard bowed his head respectfully and walked away.

“…Wow…”

Aria muttered as she watched him disappear.

“I can’t stand that guy. I never thought I’d hate a human this much. Why is that?”

“Racial self-loathing?”

“I’m an elf, and he’s human.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

Fernan shrugged.

“Who the hell is that guy, senior? And what was that about torture?”

“You’ve probably guessed: he’s not normal. And nothing good will come from getting involved with him. Avoid Girard, and the rest of the Judges too.”

“Girard… is the leader of the Judges?”

“Yes.”

Fernan nodded.

“That strange man is the leader? I’m not surprised, he seemed… unstable.”

“To lead a futureless order, you have to be crazy.”

Maybe from now on things would change, but until now, no one had foreseen the demons’ return.

It wasn’t strange that only madmen joined the Judges.

“Anyway, let’s go. Even late, the closing ceremony isn’t over.”

“Yes!”

“Understood.”

Fernan led them back to the stadium. No one dared stop them, and soon they were seated in the place of honor.

The awards ceremony had just ended. Beside Luina Bercheff, the winner of the knights’ tournament, stood the champion of the magic tournament, Liana Horton, both holding trophies of pure gold.

The Emperor rested in his main seat, chin resting on one hand, while the rector calmly approached the stage.

“Professor Rosalia?”

“That’s…”

“Looks like today’s the day they’ll reveal it.”

Rosalia stood behind the rector, and beside her was a person encased in ice.

It didn’t take much thought to realize it was a corrupt captured by the Academy.

‘So it’s today. The perfect stage for an announcement.’

Fernan instantly calculated the impact of the news. Corrupted appearing for the first time in a thousand years…

Suddenly, both the rector and Professor Rosalia froze on their way up the stage.

And not just them.

Knights, servants, maids—everyone rushed to their lords and whispered in their ears.

In an instant, the once-silent stadium became a boiling pot.

“What’s going on?”

“Seems something happened.”

While the two first-years looked confused, a staff member from the Golden Turtle Company approached Fernan.

“Young master.”

“What is it?”

“An urgent message from Altrierc and Alprocen. A horde of monsters and magical beasts has crossed the Taklakan Desert and is attacking the Empire and the Kingdom simultaneously.”

“…What did you say?”

Monsters? Magical beasts?

“They’re spreading throughout the entire western region, so we can’t give an exact number. But the current estimate is around ten thousand. For now, Altrierc is holding out, but Viscount Damus’s house has already fallen…”

“…Damn it.”

A horde of ten thousand monsters and magical beasts?

That couldn’t be a simple accident.

‘They are the corrupt.’

The corrupted who had suffered a blow at the Academy were now making their next move.