Chapter 101
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: A Bold Proposition
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“I’ve heard the gist of the story.”
The Chancellor blended in naturally, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. He walked over to Rosalia and gently touched her research.
“Professor Rosalia.”
“Yes, Chancellor.”
“Some people say I don’t pay enough attention to the academy, that I spend too much time away. But I’ve always thought differently.”
“…”
“If the staff is a mess, how can I not pay attention? If the professors are all book-smart fools, how can I possibly go gallivanting about?”
“I apologize.”
The Chancellor’s mana began to interfere with the mana stone aggregate.
The magic circles and circuits resisted the improper intrusion with a faint glow, but it was utterly meaningless.
“You truly managed to create this. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
“But… hmm.”
His expression shifted.
“Had I not checked it directly like this, I too would have been unaware.”
“Are you saying there’s truly demonic energy inside?”
“Did you not believe student Aint?”
“I do. But since I still can’t sense it myself, the word of two people is more credible than one.”
“And here I thought you were about to freeze a perfectly good assistant and your entire lab, only to claim it was a mistake afterward.”
The Chancellor chuckled.
“It’s there. Hidden quite snugly between the layers of mana, to the point that likely no one of a lesser caliber than myself could find it. Ah, with the Armians being an exception, of course.”
His hand caressed the mana stone aggregate even more gently.
“To evade even your daily scrutiny… that’s impossible unless it was there from the beginning. Tell me, when did you start creating this?”
“The research began nine years ago, the creation of the ice crystals seven years ago, and the aggregate three years ago.”
“And when did that Vile Breed join as your assistant?”
“…Three years ago.”
As if realizing something, Rosalia bit her lip.
“This is the result of my own abilities.”
“I never said it wasn't. Nor have I ever thought it.”
Though he wore a gentle smile, the Chancellor’s gaze was sharper than ever.
“But we can make one guess, can’t we? What if that Vile Breed gave you one small clue for your stalled research, and it was mixed in naturally?”
It was plausible. The reason she couldn’t detect the demonic energy hidden within the aggregate was because of the hundreds of surrounding mana stones—that is, the mana itself.
A kind of interference.
Deceiving Rosalia before a sufficient amount of mana had accumulated would have been no easy feat.
The only viable possibility was that the Vile Breed had used a secret circuit or incantation known only to his kind.
“He is a Vile Breed, after all. A dog of demons. Who knows? He might have received a sliver of advice from a demon, beings often called the masters of magic.”
“…That is not something I can simply let slide, Chancellor.”
Jace, who had been listening quietly, bristled at the Chancellor’s words.
“Demons, the masters of magic? They are nothing but trash that not even the flames of hell can burn away.”
“Oh dear, it seems I’ve misspoken in front of the Cult’s Saint. Still, it’s not as if demons aren’t proficient in magic, is it?”
“They are thieves who stole magic from the great Dragon God.”
“If you say so, then I suppose that’s that.”
As the Chancellor conceded so nonchalantly, Jace found he had nothing more to say.
“So, what is your plan now?”
“Now that you’ve confirmed it, Chancellor, it seems certain that the ‘seed’ Aint mentioned does exist.”
Rosalia pressed a hand to her forehead, as if the unfolding situation was giving her a headache, and continued.
“I don’t know if it would truly summon a demon, but I cannot let the Vile Breeds have their way.”
“Even if it sets you back five years?”
“That was merely the most certain method. It is not the only one.”
“True, you would climb back up faster than anyone. Still, it’s a waste.”
The Chancellor stroked his chin. Just then, Pernyan stepped forward.
“Chancellor, I do not wish for Professor Rosalia’s research to stop here.”
“What do you mean?”
“We can reacquire the materials for the aggregate in a single day.”
He was confident he could make it happen, one way or another.
“Manpower can also be supplied by the mages from my merchant guild. As for the most important component, the core? Have you heard of Itarium?”
“I have. An Itarium, which feeds on the energy of ores and veins, would be a perfect core to bind the mana stones together. Mana stones are ores, after all.”
Pernyan had been thinking the same thing.
The highest-grade Itarium, obtained from the First Emperor’s legacy. Perhaps it was meant for this very moment.
“…But I’m curious as to why you’re bringing this up now.”
“I don’t believe you’ve failed to understand.”
“The Continental Academic Conference is only twelve days away.”
“Walking a path once trod is always much easier.”
“But that doesn’t mean three years can be condensed into twelve days, does it?”
Ordinarily, that was true.
“But the story would be different if you were to help, Chancellor.”
In that moment, the eyebrows of both the Chancellor and Professor Rosalia twitched in unison.
“And why should I do that?”
“When you think about it, the root cause of this incident is you, Chancellor.”
“My fault?”
“The academy is your domain. If you had been keeping a proper watch, do you think those Vile Breed scoundrels would have dared to infiltrate this place?”
“What an interesting thing to say.”
The Chancellor’s face hardened at the bold statement. But Pernyan did not avoid his gaze.
Rosalia’s research could not be allowed to fail like this. Not for his own sake, having invested a vast sum of money, nor for Rosalia, who had toiled so hard on her research.
‘It’s about to bear fruit. I won’t stand by and watch my tree rot because of some demons.’
Unfortunately, even though the Fallenberg family was the academy’s largest benefactor, he couldn’t use that to threaten the Chancellor.
As an Archmage, he was more than capable of finding replacements, even if losing the Fallenbergs would be a blow.
Threatening him with investment funds would only earn his ire.
No, this was a time for a carrot, not a stick.
“If you wish, I will donate 10,000 gold to the academy through my foundation.”
“You seem to be in quite a hurry.”
“Professor Rosalia’s research is worth it. It is a great shame to see it exploited by Vile Breeds, and an even greater one to see it disappear.”
“You’re likely the only person who would look me straight in the eye and tell me something is my fault.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Do you know what’s infuriating? The fact that you’re not exactly wrong.”
After a brief moment of thought, the Chancellor spoke.
“That is why. Not because of you, but because I have no intention of letting these Vile Breeds, who dare to stroll through my academy as if it were their own home, get what they want.”
“Yes, of course.”
“However, that will require one condition.”
Even if it was just assistance, he couldn’t use an Archmage like the Chancellor as a mere assistant.
He would inevitably have to be involved in the core of the research, which meant the results would end up in his head.
“Professor Rosalia, the choice is yours. Will you accept my help? Or will you not?”
“…”
“It feels a bit like being coerced, but student Pernyan is right when you think about it. It is my fault for not properly managing the academy’s internal affairs. Allow me the chance to make amends.”
For a long while, Rosalia silently looked back and forth between the Chancellor and Pernyan. Neither of them averted her gaze.
After a long moment.
“I am grateful for your help.”
Professor Rosalia bowed her head.
* * *
After receiving Professor Rosalia’s permission and beginning his inspection of the aggregate in earnest, the Chancellor changed his tune.
“Even for me, twelve days seems a bit insufficient.”
It was only natural.
While the Chancellor was an Archmage, Rosalia was also a mage renowned as the youngest professor at the academy and slated to become the youngest Archmage.
It was something she had researched for nearly nine years; even he couldn’t be expected to interpret and reproduce it flawlessly.
“I’ll need a little more time. Hmm, I’ll see about postponing the Continental Academic Conference.”
“Is that possible?”
“It would be impossible for me alone. But who do we have gathered in this room?”
The Chancellor’s gaze settled on Jace. Jace understood his meaning.
“Of course. I will speak to His Holiness the Pope. Regardless, the Cult and I will do our utmost to assist, so please let me know if you need my help at any time. I will prove that the great Dragon God is the true master of magic!”
“I will speak to him.”
A Vile Breed, an Archmage, and the Pope of the Dragon God Cult.
They were more than enough justification and influence to briefly postpone a continent-wide event.
“And I’ll be taking this.”
The Chancellor tapped what had once been the completely frozen Aaron.
“That is my…”
“I caught him. I believe that’s sufficient grounds to claim the right, don’t you?”
“The damage he caused me is immense.”
“He was hiding within my academy. I should think I have more methods of interrogation than you. In return, I will be sure to share any information.”
With him putting it that way, there was no room to argue further.
“Yes, sir.”
The matter was settled. With the immediate crisis averted, Pernyan could breathe a sigh of relief.
“…It’s truly surprising. I never imagined the Vile Breeds had infiltrated this deeply…. If it weren't for you, we would have been completely blindsided.”
“The same goes for you. If it wasn’t for you, I would have never discovered the Vile Breed’s scheme.”
“Well, that’s…”
“In that spirit, take this.”
Pernyan retrieved an ornate box from his subspace and handed it to Aint.
“What’s this?”
“It’s an elixir made from a piece of Itarium root.”
The Itarium left by the First Emperor had roots that were not only large and numerous but also retained their potency even when divided, so he had split them evenly into five pieces.
Even after giving one to Rosalia, four remained.
“Why are you giving this to me…?”
“You helped avert a major disaster.”
“I don’t deserve something like this.”
“No, you do. If that aggregate had caused trouble at the conference, not only Professor Rosalia but I, her sponsor, could have been framed as a Vile Breed accomplice.”
So just take it quietly. I plan on giving it to you no matter what excuse I have to make.
Pernyan forcibly stuffed the box into the resisting Aint’s pocket. Then he met the expectant, sparkling eyes of the other first-year.
“Pernyan, what about me? Is there nothing for me?”
“You didn’t really do anything.”
“What? I followed your request and brought the artifact for inspection, didn’t I?”
“And you found nothing. A small fee for your trouble is one thing, but don’t you think it’s a bit shameless to be aiming for an elixir?”
“If I can obtain a precious elixir by abandoning my shame for a moment, which is more important?”
Jace retorted without a change in expression. Pernyan let out a small laugh at his audacity.
“In exchange, you have to grant me five more favors.”
“…Uh, isn’t five a bit much? Let’s make it two.”
“Four.”
“Then how about three…”
“Four.”
“…Yes, four it is. But nothing too unreasonable.”
“Deal.”
He had intended to give it to him anyway, from the moment he decided to completely derail this future.
He didn’t know why Jace hadn’t become Aint’s companion, but Jace was an excellent mage, a powerful backer, and a fanatic of the Dragon God who despised the Vile Breeds more than anyone.
The future was already twisted. If he wasn’t going to become Aint’s companion, then Pernyan would just have to make him his own, just like he did with Verian.
“Get some rest. I’ll call you if something else comes up.”
“Yes, Pernyan.”
“Yes, Pernyan!”
Aint and Jace disappeared, laughing cheerfully.
Pernyan returned to the merchant guild branch and wrote an urgent message to his father.
With this, mages from the family would soon arrive to assist Rosalia. They wouldn’t be able to approach the core of the research, but even so, their help would be significant.
“…The immediate fire is out.”
What remained was to see how the Vile Breeds would react when Rosalia and the Chancellor rebuilt the aggregate and presented it at the Continental Academic Conference.
If they realized Aaron had been captured, they would know their plan had gone awry.
He needed to prepare for whatever they might do.
“And the variant Drake, too.”
The variant Drake from the prophecy book. He was curious whether the inner core it was said to possess still existed, or if someone had already taken it.
If it was the former, there was no major problem. But if it was the latter…
‘Once or twice is a coincidence, but any more than that is not.’
He would no longer stand by and watch Gismond Erdt.
* * *
“They say humans are social animals. When you have one, you want two, and when you have two, you form a group. You become a family, then a village, then a city, then a territory, and then a nation and an alliance.”
“…”
“Even though they can live perfectly well on their own, they clash, get hurt, and shed tears, but they still can’t let each other go.”
“…”
“Some scholars say it’s because the happiness and joy outweigh the sadness. Or maybe that’s just how the human species is.”
“So? What’s your point?”
“I want to get to know you better.”
Aria Friedien smiled brightly.
“…”
Ruina Bercefe stared at her silently, then crunched on a piece of chocolate. The sweet treat melted in her mouth, instantly lifting her spirits.
“When you think about it, it’s not like we’re strangers, right?”
“Then what are we?”
“We’re people who fought a demon together.”
Aria’s voice became noticeably quieter at the word “demon.”
“This isn’t just some ordinary connection, is it?”
It certainly wasn’t an ordinary connection.
The probability of a demon descending upon this world, and the probability of fighting alongside someone against that demon and surviving, were both incredibly low.
But that was precisely why Ruina couldn’t understand her actions.
“Does something only count if we say we’ve become friends?”
“Huh?”
“Like you said, we fought a demon together, and we got entangled with Vile Breeds. And there were many other things besides.”
Over that time, a feeling of mutual care had grown between them—no, not just between the two of them, but among all those who had been together.
A feeling usually called camaraderie.
“Do you really need confirmation? I thought we were already somewhat close.”
“Ah.”
Aria’s eyes went blank at those words. But they soon regained their usual clarity.
“You’re right. I guess I got ahead of myself because I was so eager to become better friends with you.”
“You think so?”
“Would you like a candy? I love candy, so I always carry some with me.”
Aria pulled a small pouch of sweets from her pocket. Each candy was individually wrapped in ornate paper.
“Thanks.”
As Ruina accepted it, she thought.
‘Looks like she has her own circumstances.’
Then again, what family didn’t have its issues?
It was only for a split second, but Ruina didn’t miss the crack in Aria’s mask.
‘…This is good.’
But she soon dismissed the thought as unimportant.