Chapter 96

“Are there more elixirs?”

“Yes.”

“What are they and where are they?”

“Nothing special. Just berillin fruits.”

Berillin fruits contained mana, but in very small amounts.

In terms of rank, they were among the lowest.

Even so, they were still considered elixirs, with some value and difficult to obtain.

The important thing, however, was not that.

It was the fact that he kept acquiring them from somewhere.

Something not even Fernan, with his personal information network the Golden Pillar, could manage.

“Where did he get them?”

“It’s suspected to have been during the open field Survival class, three days ago.”

“Suspected?”

“Even I can’t completely hide in a place full of professors and assistants.”

Hyde shook his head.

This was the Academy, a place full of magical security circles and experts.

Magical devices could be bypassed in part thanks to the master key Fernan had given him, but running into a professor was another matter.

“And besides that?”

“Nothing else.”

“Not a single clue?”

“No. Extremely normal. I have the report here.”

Finally, what Fernan had been waiting for.

He opened the first page. Nothing stood out.

Gismond Ert.

Born into the Ert family, he was called a genius from a young age.

But after entering the Academy, he hit the wall of the true geniuses.

So he spent the first semester as just another among the hundred average students, until—

“In the second semester he began to stand out.”

That was something he already knew. What Fernan was interested in was where he had been during those holidays.

“As you’ll see in the report, Gismond traveled to several places. One of them, as I already mentioned, was the south of Frazia. Specifically…”

“…Feios?”

Fernan’s eyes widened.

“A fortress with walls over 20 meters tall and a vast plain. What’s it called?”

“Fortress Feios.”

“……”

Could it be a coincidence?

And that wasn’t all.

“During these holidays, was he also in Altrierc?”

“Yes, he was.”

Immediately, Fernan thought of the itarium.

The itarium that Gismond had consumed, and the one that should have been there but had vanished.

Was there really no connection?

‘It can’t be…’

An unsettling thought ran through his mind, and cold sweat drenched his back.

“Young master…”

“I want you to find out one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“Whether Gismond Ert…”

Fernan didn’t want to finish the sentence.

He prayed it wasn’t true.

“…Whether he was struck by lightning.”

***

Hyde left, but Fernan’s heart remained agitated for a long time.

His shock was equal to, or even greater than, what he felt when he himself was struck by lightning and saw the future.

‘It can’t be.’

It should be impossible.

Knowing the future alone wasn’t the same as sharing it.

Resources were limited.

If there was another like him, it meant there was a competitor.

And if that person’s actions twisted fate, all of Fernan’s effort—his caution, his calculations, his struggle—would become meaningless.

The value of the Book of Prophecies would plummet into trash.

That was the one thing he couldn’t allow.

“At this rate, I’ve missed all my classes…”

He decided to take another day off.

He unfolded the morning newspaper.

【The border count’s house of Altrierc delivers all fragments of the Bell of Pasa to the Cult of the Dragon God…】

【The Cult of the Dragon God declares total effort to restore the Bell of Pasa…!】

【Monsters active in the Taklakan desert and the corrupt who destroyed the Bell. After a thousand years of silence, they bare their fangs once more.】

【Is this truly the end of the resurgence of the corrupt?】

【A continent in chaos. Now more than ever, it’s time to reclaim daily life…】

【The 198th Continental Academic Congress will be held in ten days…!】

Though it was an Academy newspaper, most of the news revolved around Taklakan and Altrierc.

It made sense. The threat of the corrupt wasn’t just Altrierc’s problem—it was the entire continent’s.

The only other topic was the academic congress to be held in a week.

‘Academic congress…’

Fernan was especially interested.

It was held every five years and was a key event for the Pellenberg family.

Inventions always emerged there, and among them, one or two could generate fortunes.

Where there was money, there was Pellenberg. Several of the attending mages were, in fact, sponsored by his family.

‘I definitely have to go.’

The congress was a high-level gathering, a chance to learn.

The Academy even encouraged attendance, pausing classes for three weeks in what they called the autumn holidays.

‘This time the venue is Vienderk.’

The congress rotated among the domains of the seven electors, as a way to reinforce their power.

Since Armian lost the throne, they had refused to host it, leaving six venues instead of seven.

‘…I should visit the professor.’

Among Pellenberg’s sponsored individuals were also professors from the Academy.

Some aimed to present at the congress.

With time to spare, Fernan got ready and headed to the professors’ pavilion.

“I would like to see Professor Rosalia.”

“The professor isn’t receiving students right now.”

“I’m not here as a student.”

Fernan discreetly slid a plaque forward—the official sponsor badge of the Academy.

“Ah… one moment.”

The assistant returned five minutes later.

“The professor asks you to wait half an hour.”

“I’ll wait inside.”

Fernan entered the office.

Rosalia was buried in mountains of documents, handling errands.

Only the turning of pages and the scratch of a pen filled the silence.

She was so focused that she didn’t even notice Fernan’s presence.

He decided not to interrupt her and sat on the guest sofa, preparing himself a coffee.

Time passed quickly.

A breeze came in through the slightly open window, lifting papers that she gathered with an annoyed gesture.

She brought a black cigarette to her lips but had no fire.

“Here.”

Fernan lit a small flame on his finger.

Rosalia accepted it naturally, exhaling smoke.

Her previously dull eyes regained clarity.

As she stretched, she finally noticed him.

“Fernan? When did you arrive?”

“A while ago.”

“I thought I said I wasn’t receiving students.”

“Today I’m not a student. I came as a sponsor.”

At the word sponsor, she took a deeper puff.

“And your classes? As far as I know, you had class today.”

“I canceled.”

“How shameless, saying that in front of a professor.”

Rosalia let out an ironic laugh, but didn’t scold him further.

“Did you come to pressure me? To see if I have results?”

“Just to check in. There are two weeks left until the congress.”

“How could I forget? I’ve been looking forward to it every day.”

“I hope your results live up to that anticipation.”

Fernan smiled, then changed the subject.

“I see you’re making good use of the tobacco.”

“It’s not bad. A single puff clears the mind. Maybe because it’s a Pellenberg product. Either way, I need more.”

“If you put in a request, I’ll take care of the supply. But don’t overdo it. It doesn’t have major side effects, but it’s still a stimulant, and excess is never good.”

“Stop pretending you care.”

“I’m not pretending, but fine.”

“Follow me.”

Rosalia rose from her seat.

“Where are we going?”

“Isn’t it obvious? The sponsor wants to see the research results.”

“Is it finished?”

“In the final phase. It’ll be reviewed and fully ready before the Continental Academic Congress.”

“Impressive.”

Fernan expressed genuine admiration.

He knew how difficult her research topic was, and even though he had sponsored her, he never thought she could complete it in just five years.

He had estimated a minimum of ten. No matter how much of a genius she was, she couldn’t have done it without sacrificing body and soul.

The magic tobacco, made at Rosalia’s request, had certainly played its part.

Fernan followed her to her lab.

It was large and spacious.

In fact, Rosalia’s lab was among the top five largest in the entire Academy, the result of her talent, connections, and Pellenberg backing.

Upon entering, Fernan felt a chill.

“The ice crystal has grown.”

“Yes, it’s grown more.”

In the center of the lab stood a huge ice orb about five meters in diameter.

Its surface was covered in intricate runes and magic circles, leaving no space untouched.

Around it, several assistants worked silently.

“Professor!”

Seeing her enter with Fernan, the assistants greeted her.

Most only nodded before returning to work, but one of them ran toward them.

“Professor, you’ve come. And you too, Fernan.”

“He’s here as a sponsor.”

“So today he’s here as a sponsor.”

The assistant nodded.

“I’m Aaron Frein, assistant to Professor Rosalia. It’s an honor to meet you, sir sponsor.”

“Fernan. Always so formal.”

“It’s the least I can do for a sponsor.”

Rosalia spoke without looking at them.

“He wants to see the results. Explain it to him.”

“You won’t do it yourself?”

“I’m behind on work.”

Saying that, she disappeared without turning back.

“This way, please.”

“Thank you.”

Aaron led Fernan.

***

An hour later, Fernan left after hearing the full explanation.

“Take care.”

Aaron saw him off with a bow, and only after making sure he was gone did his expression change.

“So it was true that the sponsorship was from the Pellenbergs and not the Vienderks?”

He had heard that before, but always thought it was a ridiculous rumor. Why would someone from the Vienderk line need support from the Pellenbergs?

“What an interesting pair…”

Rosalia Vienderk and Fernan Pellenberg.

Vienderk and Pellenberg.

Sponsored professor and sponsor student.

“One and the other. This will be fun. The academic congress is going to be something.”

He was convinced it would be the most controversial congress of all time.

Aaron smiled and returned to the lab.

He had no idea what had just happened.

“…Ugh.”

Fernan, who had just left, collapsed onto a bench, clutching his head.

A sudden, sharp pain had struck him without warning.