Chapter 80

The sudden surge of monsters was enough to chill the festive atmosphere that had filled the academy.

“The Empire is holding up well, but it seems the Kingdom is faring worse than expected.”

“No wonder. They estimate at least ten thousand beasts and monsters—can you imagine? Ten thousand… does that even make sense?”

“But are they really demonic beasts? Weren’t they wiped out more than a thousand years ago?”

“Not exactly a thousand. After the fall of the Great King Colomo at the hands of the First Emperor, the remaining demonic beasts were hunted down for over a hundred years.”

“That’s not the point.”

Whenever the students gathered, the conversation turned to war.

“I heard we might even be sent to the battlefield.”

“What are you talking about? Why us?”

“I don’t know, but according to rumors, they’re considering sending some students to gain real combat experience.”

Perhaps because many of them belonged to influential families, the rumors spreading by word of mouth were surprisingly accurate.

“You’ve all probably heard of the great monster horde that broke out in the Taklakan Desert.”

When those words left Professor Grad’s mouth, Fernan knew the moment had come.

“Among the things being said, there’s a lot of exaggeration—but at least one thing is true.”

The professor gently touched his crystal orb, and a recorded projection appeared above it.

──!

A monster’s deafening roar rang out, shattering eardrums.

It showed a vast plain, overrun with creatures charging at full speed.

Corpses strewn everywhere, and smoking ramparts in the distance.

It was a battlefield.

Not a tale from the past or a vision of the future—these were scenes of the present.

If his eyes weren’t deceiving him, Fernan recognized those ramparts—they were the defenses of Altrioque.

“You will be going to the front.”

Sending students to hunt monsters was nothing new.

But never before had they been dispatched to a frontline where monsters, humans, and demonic beasts clashed on the same battlefield.

“Of course, not everyone. Only volunteers, and only those who meet the requirements.”

What the rector sought was to prepare soldiers for the great war to come—not to rack up meaningless deaths of inexperienced cadets.

“Details are in the leaflets being distributed by the aides.”

At that moment, assistants began handing out the guides.

“Any questions?”

“……”

“If not, you’re dismissed. The application deadline is in three days at noon. Read the requirements carefully and don’t do anything foolish. That’s all for today. Dismissed.”

Class ended.

***

The announcement for volunteer recruitment was posted throughout the academy.

Fernan gathered those connected to him and to the Book of Prophecies Aint, Luina, Aria—and Verian as well.

He would’ve liked to include Jace, but held back.

With the Book of Prophecies already failing several times, he didn’t want to introduce more variables.

“I want to go.”

In response to the question of whether they wanted to join the front, Luina was the first to speak.

“Fernan, as you know, our land is in a critical state.”

In truth, it wasn’t just critical—it was desperate.

Marquis Bercheff, who governed the borderlands, had discovered the cause behind the last monster wave that ravaged his territory.

Demonic beasts.

They had nested to the north and east of the region, in areas once inhabited by ordinary monsters.

Frightened, the monsters had been driven from their territory and began to invade human lands.

In other words, it was a new calamity foretold.

The monster wave would soon become a wave of demonic beasts, and what followed would be even more terrifying than before.

That’s why Luina was determined.

Not just because what was happening in Altrioque felt close to home, but because the pride of the Bercheff family dictated that even in the face of calamity, their duty was to fight and protect—not flee.

What was happening in Altrioque now was the same as what had already happened in Bercheff before.

“I think it’s a good chance to prepare in advance.”

And also—for what would be her future.

“Aint Armian, what will you do?”

“Hmm, I want to go too. I’m scared, but after facing Andromalius, I don’t think there’s any point in running.”

Fernan nodded slightly. Truthfully, he had already assumed Aint would participate.

The Book of Prophecies said so, and he himself had seen the courage with which Aint stood against the demon Andromalius despite his fear.

“I’ll go too. I’m still frustrated.”

“Frustrated?”

“Unlike the others, I didn’t get knocked out in one hit. This time, I’ll show you all.”

“…Can’t you speak without picking a fight with me?”

Someone frowned.

“Now that you mention it, how did Carlo win?”

“It was easy for me.”

“Easy?”

“No, it wasn’t easy at all. It was humiliating. In Elven, I was seen as an unparalleled genius, but here—against the seniors—I was just another elf!”

The battle against Andromalius had been a shock to her.

While three had stood their ground until the end, she had been among those knocked unconscious—like Verian.

“That’s why I’ve trained harder since then. And it seems to have paid off. Plus, he was much weaker than that demon.”

But that wasn’t true. Fernan could confirm that.

“Carlo is stronger than I am.”

“Weaker? If Wooden enters the fight, I’m surrendering right away.”

“Wooden doesn’t count as part of my strength.”

“Then what—are knights or mages who use artifacts weaklings?”

“In tournaments, you’re not allowed to use them.”

“Maybe that’s why it all seemed so boring to me. After fighting a demon, everything else feels like child’s play.”

The shock of having been knocked unconscious had affected her so much that her entire focus now revolved around Andromalius.

It was unexpected, but not a bad thing.

After all, Aria was recognized in the Book of Prophecies as one of Aint’s companions.

Having more main forces to face the demons was always welcome.

‘I just hope Carlo doesn’t go astray because of this.’

Fernan clicked his tongue and shook off his thoughts. He wasn’t in a position to worry about another young man’s future.

“I’ll go too.”

Verian gave a reason similar to Aria’s.

“But will we really be allowed to go? There hasn’t been any official order for first-years.”

Even though the Academy valued real-world experience and often sent students to various places, in principle, first-years weren’t permitted to take part in things like this.

“You’ll be allowed.”

But the rector was no fool. He knew very well how important Aint Armian’s growth would be in the fight against the demons.

‘Even if he didn’t believe all the legends about Armian, preparing someone who could assist Aint isn’t that hard.’

A mage is always someone who prepares. And an archmage, like the rector, understood better than anyone the value of Aint in a world where demons had reappeared.

It wasn’t enough to protect him like a child.

The delay in deciding for the first-years likely stemmed from needing to convince the rest of the academy’s leadership.

Even as rector, he couldn’t decide everything on his own.

“Here.”

At Fernan’s signal, his aides handed over several documents.

“What’s this…?”

“These are the student deployment plans. How many, where, and how they’ll be sent—all detailed.”

Fernan turned the first page, and the four students did the same.

“As you might expect, only the top ten from each year are eligible.”

And rightly so—these were demonic beasts. The mediocre wouldn’t even dare raise their hands.

“First and second years will be grouped together, and third and fourth years will form another group. The academy assessed their levels separately.”

The first and second years would be sent to Altrioque, where the danger was relatively lower.

Meanwhile, the third and fourth years would be deployed to Count Molton’s territory, which was barely holding out—sheltering refugees from two fallen territories, protected only by the barrier of the Elector Princes.

The Empire had already sent reinforcements, but anyone could see the difference between a front with fortress walls and one without was vast.

“The first and second years will move together under the supervision of two instructors: from the Knight Department, Knight Grad Xanth; and from the Magic Department, Rosalia Vienderk.”

And he added.

“Departure is exactly three days from now.”

The rest was just secondary details, but that was the core of it.

“Any questions?”

“Is this fake?”

A redheaded elf tilted her head suspiciously.

Fernan narrowed his eyes.

“Fake?”

“Didn’t you say the first-year decision hadn’t been made yet? Then how do you already have such a detailed plan? If you got something impossible to obtain, that means you’re lying.”

But then she let out a bitter laugh.

“You’ve spent too much time shut away in the forest—you know one thing and not the next.”

“Eh?”

“Listen closely, Aria. What matters is that the rector’s will is clear. That alone is enough.”

What—wasn’t the academy not a dictatorship? Didn’t it have decision-making bodies?

So what? Not even all the academy’s administrators combined could equal the authority of the rector.

“An archmage is that kind of person. When the rector gives an opinion, it stops being opinion and becomes law. Following the proper legal process is just theater to show respect for the Empire’s laws.”

“Isn’t that a total disaster?”

“The Empire is, from the start, a class-based society.”

“…Then how did you get this plan? It should still be confidential.”

“The rector gave it to me.”

“What?”

He hadn’t received it directly, but through an intermediary—but it made no difference.

“Aria, in this world, there’s nothing that can’t be bought with money.”

“Are you saying the rector sold it?”

“The rector wouldn’t move for mere pocket change.”

“…Then why?”

“Because the Pellenbergs are the largest sponsor of the Imperial Academy of Armian.”

“Ah…”

Aria realized the truth and stared at Fernan in disbelief.

Next to her, Luina simply shook her head while already unwrapping another piece of chocolate.

***

“See this?”

Fernan looked at the gold medal Luina was shaking in front of him and at her excited expression. He couldn’t help but feel a touch of nostalgia.

The fact that she’d stayed behind alone with him just to show it off meant all his efforts hadn’t been in vain.

‘Now, there’ll be no future where Luina and Aint end up as enemies and she falls into ruin.’

Of course, who knew what the demons might try—they could still attempt to divide them again.

But the bond they had built since the first semester wouldn’t break easily.

And that was enough.

“Yes, I see it.”

That’s why his smile this time was more human than usual.

“Ah…”

Luina stared at him, eyes slightly wide.

“What is it?”

“No… nothing. It’s just… this is…”

“I know. It’s the medal you won at the jousting tournament, presented directly by the Emperor.”

It was a solid gold medallion, engraved with the Schwaben imperial eagle.

“That’s right! I can’t believe I have it! And all thanks to you!”

“Congratulations. I never imagined you’d actually beat Rob Kaelin and take the victory.”

“Thank you, truly. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have achieved it in my second year.”

Luina nodded, though by emphasizing “second year,” she made it clear she believed she would’ve achieved it eventually regardless.

‘Well, I can’t say I’m surprised.’

If the future Royal Knight couldn’t at least win a medal like that, the demons would never have feared the Empire.

“But I didn’t expect you to come show it off like this.”

“I promised, remember?”

A promise.

Ah, yes. He had asked her to win—to protect his investment.

“So, you kept your promise?”

“A knight never breaks her word.”

Luina’s face turned solemn.

“Today, you look more like a knight than a mage. Maybe you should’ve been a knight from the start.”

Fernan chuckled softly and reached into his pocket.

“And since you kept your promise, it’s only fair you get your reward.”

“I didn’t do it expecting anything in return. Winning was more than enough…”

But Fernan popped something into her mouth before she could object. A wave of cold sweetness left her frozen.

“…What is this?”

“Ice chocolate with crystal flakes, made in the northern kingdom of Grunard, in tiny batches for royalty and high nobility. They say it won’t melt for a month even at room temperature.”

“…It’s delicious.”

“And expensive. But you earned it. As promised, I’ll calculate its value and deduct it from your debt.”

Fernan handed her an elegant box with more ice chocolates.

“Thank you. I won’t forget this debt.”

“I hope not. I hope you never forget it.”

“And look at this! A sword I picked from the academy’s armory—its edge rivals the best weapons of my house…”

Luina went on for quite a while, showing off her sword, the imperial potion she received, and other prizes, before finally leaving.

‘Since when was Luina so talkative?’

Ah.

He’d forgotten to ask her to search for the hidden inheritance the First Emperor had left for her.

‘Well, it’s not that important.’

In the original story, Aint didn’t obtain it in his first year either.

Besides, Fernan was already planning to lend her a supreme-grade weapon forged by the Golden Turtle Guild—even if it wasn’t legendary.

“Wow, I didn’t know the young master was so close to Luina Bercheff.”

Gert appeared, joking, as he entered the secret chamber.

“She’s my partner.”

“Didn’t seem like a simple partnership. Looked more like sparks of affection flying around…”

“You’re joining the deployment too.”

“What if I say no?”

“That would be ridiculous.”

If he’d taken money, then he had to follow through.

“Tell Neria too.”

“Alright, if you say so. Though to be honest, I’m curious. Demonic beasts! Haven’t been seen in a thousand years, right?”

“Don’t get too excited. This is just the beginning.”

“Which is exactly why we should go. Having the experience of fighting them—or not—will make a big difference.”

“True.”

And then, Fernan wondered what had become of Gert in the original story.

He thought about it for a few seconds and realized it was a pointless concern.

‘I’m sure he lived well. My father already sacrificed a lot abandoning me—there’s no way he’d do the same to Gert and Neria.’

“I’ll be off, then.”

“See you later.”

Once Gert left, Fernan picked up paper and pen and wrote two words:

“Altrioque” and “Demonic beasts.”

“…Anyway, the potions and gear will be supplied from across the Empire, so there’s no profit there. Instead of selling, it’s time to buy.”

“Unlike demons, these creatures leave behind corpses. If I collect them all—both monsters and demonic beasts…”

“Most people will see it as contaminated trash, tainted by miasma. But if I say I’m handling the disposal of that trash, and keep it all for free…”

War brings money.

Fernan began plotting every possible way to profit from it.