Chapter 98

“He’s waiting upstairs.”

The teahouse owned by the Golden Turtle Guild.

From the outside, it looked closed—lights off, no sign of customers. But the door wasn’t locked.

Upon entering, an employee awaited her as if already informed of her arrival and guided Rosalia without delay.

“At least the stage is well set.”

She scoffed with a smirk at the magical inscriptions on the doors and walls, and without bothering to knock, she opened the door.

“She’s here?”

Fernan was waiting inside. But he wasn’t alone.

“Your invitation was rougher than expected.”

“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have left your seat. I apologize if it came off a bit aggressive.”

“And why did you call me?”

“First, take a seat.”

“Just being here is already a major concession. You’d better appreciate it.”

“You must sit. Do you think that letter was just an ordinary invitation?”

Fernan didn’t back down an inch. He gently tapped the table with his fingers, holding Rosalia’s icy gaze without blinking.

“I’m about to show results. And now you say I should step down?”

“If necessary, yes.”

“Five years of investment, money thrown away just like that? You, of all people?”

“If the loss could be even greater, then yes, it’s better to cut things off now.”

The word loss made Rosalia’s eyes flicker slightly.

“When I was a child, my father gave me a small steel golem.”

“Nice gift.”

“It was. Around that time, I was just beginning to take interest in magic.”

She was fascinated by the inscriptions and systems that made it move—so much that she even slept hugging the golem.

“One day, my brother saw it and demanded I give it to him.”

“And did you?”

“No. What’s mine is mine, what’s his is his.”

That differed a bit from Fernan’s philosophy—to him, what’s someone else’s could become his too—but he listened in silence.

“Father bought him another golem, exactly the same. Still, he wanted mine.”

“And what happened?”

“What do you think?”

Fernan pretended to think.

“You gave it to him.”

“He took it from me. I think from that moment, I vaguely understood.”

Rosalia looked up, as if recalling the memory, and sighed.

“I know now he didn’t want the golem, but my attention. But that no longer matters.”

“The message here is that you hate having something given to you, only to have it taken away.”

“Exactly.”

Rosalia sat down.

“Convince me.”

“I will.”

Fernan nodded.

“…What’s going on? Why is the professor here?”

“No idea. Should we leave?” Jace asked nervously.

“No, stay. I need you all.”

“Aint and Jace together… strange combo. Tea?”

“Right away.”

The staff brought four cups of tea, coffee, and some sweets.

“You can smoke if you’d like.”

“No need. Thanks to someone, my sleep has already vanished.”

Fernan set down his cup and spoke.

“I called you because I had no other choice.”

“Be specific.”

“First, Jace. Take it out.”

“Huh, brother? You sure?”

Fernan was firm. Jace ended up pulling out a semi-transparent crystal orb.

“What’s this?”

“Do you recognize it?”

“That was it? You thought I was a corrupted?”

“I don’t believe you are.”

Fernan knew Rosalia well—her family, her past, her character.

She had been the first investment of the Golden Pillar. If he hadn’t thoroughly investigated her, it would’ve been a lie.

Rosalia Vienderk was like a proud scholar. She could die, but would never sell her soul to a demon.

Still, suggesting the test was necessary. In business, even the slightest stain ruined everything.

“Then?”

“I found a lead. I believe in you and want to keep believing, which is why I offer you this.”

“Not me, but my lab?”

“Exactly.”

“So you’re saying I can’t control my own lab.”

As harsh as the accusation sounded, Fernan nodded without flinching.

She didn’t react.

“One of my assistants?”

“If only it were that simple.”

This time, she did tense up.

“I check my experiments and results every day.”

“I hope there’s nothing, too.”

Her doubt was the same as Fernan’s—could someone really deceive a mage like Rosalia and use her research as a means for demonic summoning?

Unbelievable, but according to the Book of Prophecies, it would happen. And that book had never been wrong.

“You’ll answer with your life if you’re wrong.”

“I will.”

“And I didn’t see it.”

“That’s why Aint Armian is here.”

Aint blinked, surprised. “Me?”

“Your power is more lethal to demons than you realize, professor.”

“And if he finds nothing?”

“Then I’ll admit my mistake and double the sponsorship.”

Rosalia took the orb, injected mana, and nothing happened—it remained transparent.

“There’s not even a trace of forbidden magic. At least, according to the temple’s artifact.”

“Then it’s settled.”

Fernan wanted to use Aint and Gardner as well, but that would already cross a line.

“And the test?”

“I need your lab to be emptied as soon as possible.”

Rosalia set down the cup and left.

She said nothing, but Fernan knew it was an implicit yes.

“Brother! Did I hear right? Someone on her team is corrupted?”

“No, senior, right?”

“Yes.”

“Gods…”

“But didn’t they already catch all the corrupted in the Academy after that attack?”

“That attack… the one where they tried to kill me and others.”

Jace understood instantly.

“What exactly is happening?”

“There’s a corrupted in that lab. And they had the nerve to tamper with the research I invested in.”

“Pretty bold. To touch my brother’s money… well, that’s what a corrupted would do.”

“Wait. Isn’t that the research to be presented at the Continental Congress?”

It wasn’t a secret in the Academy.

“If what you say is true, and that thing had exploded there…”

“Luckily, I found out in time. The problem is, I don’t know where the trap is. Not even the professor noticed.”

“I don’t get it.”

“Which part?”

“How did she see nothing, and you did? Did Lord Duleo advise you…?”

“I can’t say.”

It was easier to stay silent than to make up a lie that would eventually be uncovered.

“Well… you wouldn’t waste money just to lie. What do I do then?”

“Same as her. Test everyone on her team.”

“And me?”

“If it weren’t for you, Aint, I wouldn’t have done anything. I wouldn’t have taken this step.”

The truth was, if he didn’t have that revelation, Fernan wouldn’t have risked a direct confrontation.

“You want me to find what even the professor couldn’t see?”

Aint swallowed hard.

‘Is that possible?’

—If there’s forbidden magic, even just a trace, there’s no doubt.

Fortunately, the answer was yes.

***

“…..”

When she received the letter, and then when the cult’s artifact was placed before her, Rosalia Vienderk was filled with fury.

But upon returning to her office and releasing a puff of smoke, she regained her usual composure.

Fernan had known her for a long time—but the reverse was also true.

Was Fernan someone who would say nonsense about money?

No.

Was he someone who would withdraw from a research project he had heavily invested in, for no reason?

No.

Was he someone who would speak nonsense regarding the corrupted?

No.

Would he summon Jace Vynes—one of his most valuable contacts—and herself, just to talk nonsense?

Also no.

Fernan… no.

Not in any of those cases.

And so she came to a conclusion.

She stubbed out the short cigarette and headed to the lab.

“Professor, you’re back.”

“Are your tasks done?”

Rosalia nodded absentmindedly and took her seat, from where she had a full view of the lab.

‘If there really is a corrupted, they’re in here.’

Five assistants.

Though more people were indirectly involved in her research, if anyone had directly tampered with her work, it had to be one of those five.

“We’ll stop here for today.”

Everyone paused and looked at her, surprised.

“But aren’t we short on time?”

“It doesn’t matter. We’re in the final phase. Besides, we haven’t slept in days; a day’s rest will be more beneficial.”

“Understood…”

“Dismissed. See you tomorrow.”

“Yes!”

“Thank you, Professor!”

Happy with the unexpected break, the assistants left.

“Is something wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Professor, you should rest too. Don’t tell us you plan to keep working alone.”

Their eyes met. Aaron, wearing his usual kind smile.

That smile had attracted two girls to the lab, and there was even another on a waiting list. Not surprising—he had a way of getting in.

“I’ll rest.”

“Then, see you tomorrow, Professor.”

Aaron Frein.

She had never suspected him. But after Fernan’s words, if she had to point to the most suspicious, it was him.

The most capable after her.

The one with the most authority after her.

‘Has he been hiding his strength?’

Strong enough to deceive even her?

‘Was Fernan truly not lying?’

She still had trouble believing it.

If it had been anyone but Fernan, she would’ve made them pay dearly for such an insult.

At least with her own senses, with her perception, she couldn’t detect anything.

Would Aint be different, as Fernan claimed?

“We’ll find out soon.”

Drops of water formed on her fingertips.

Drip, drip—

They fell onto the table, but instead of soaking in, they retained their shape. One, two… until they formed the silhouette of a small bird.

Crack—

She whispered a spell, and the little bird froze in pure white frost.

Then it flew out the window.

Rosalia stood and approached her research.

The massive five-meter ice core, covered in inscriptions and magical circuits.

The culmination of her life’s work.

She infused mana, and the runes lit up as a cold wind filled the room.

“They say my research is flawed…?”

It wasn’t just a project. It was her very life.

Hers—and her family’s.

It couldn’t be flawed. It mustn’t be flawed.

She examined the core.

She examined the other orbs.

Again and again.

And when night had fallen…

Knock knock—

Visitors arrived.

“It’s open.”

“So you’ve been checking all this time.”

The cause of her unease entered, looking calm.

“Yes.”

She stroked the icy surface. The mana and pleasant cold filtered into her skin.

“I’ve been reviewing it for hours.”

And still…

“I didn’t find anything strange. Are you really sure you’re right?”

“Who knows. May I take a look?”

She nodded.

Fernan, Aint, and Jace approached to examine the complex inscriptions and circles.

“I, for one, don’t understand a thing.”

“And that means?”

“That I never said I would find it.”

“True.”

All eyes turned to Aint. He smiled awkwardly.

“If… if I don’t find anything, then what?”

“Then I’m just an idiot who insulted the professor. And in return, I’ll double the research funding.”

“…Aren’t you placing too much trust in me, senior?”

“I trust you.”

“No, I…”

“I said I trust you.”

Fernan’s firm tone left him speechless. Aint stepped up to the icy core.

— Stab me. That way, you’ll be sure.

‘Understood.’

Aint held the sword in necklace form, ready to stab it.

“…Stop! What do you think you’re doing?”

Suddenly, an icy chill gripped his torso.

The instinctive aura that flared up protected him from freezing entirely, but it was enough to halt him.

“I… I was going to use it as a catalyst, to examine it better…!”

“Are you stupid? This artifact is covered with thousands of runes and magical circuits. If even one is damaged, it becomes garbage. And then, even if it costs me the Vienderk name, I’ll have you expelled from the Academy.”

Rosalia’s roar made him flinch.

“…Ah.”

Nervous, Aint looked to Fernan. With a slight nod from him, he chose not to stab—just to bring the sword close.

“…I’ll begin.”

Aint closed his eyes.