Chapter 104
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Hunt
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“A greedy hyena is after you.”
Aria, who had come to see Pernyan right after visiting her family home, said something completely out of the blue.
“What nonsense is this?”
“Inquisitor Girard sensed demonic energy. In the Chancellor's research building. But right after, he saw you coming out of there.”
“How?”
“He was nearby.”
“Are you conspiring with an Inquisitor now?”
“Conspiring? We were just sharing some information. My family and I need to prepare for the Vile Breeds, after all.”
Unfortunately, she was barking up the wrong tree. The Inquisitors didn't really know anything.
“Anyway, Inquisitor Girard's eyes went bloodshot, and he started chasing after you.”
“He can't enter the research building, so he comes after me?”
“He gave up for now since you used a teleportation circle. So, what happened in there?”
“Don't try any funny business.”
“Tsk. We're not just anybody to each other, are we? We can share that much, can't we?”
Aria pouted.
It wasn't because of her pouting, but Pernyan nodded agreeably.
“If this information leaks, I'll know it was you. You can guess what happens after that.”
He had planned to share the situation with Ruina and Aria anyway. If he couldn't trust the companions Aint had, certified by the Prophecy Book, who could he trust?
“Of course. In fact, my nickname is Heavy Aria.”
“You do look heavy.”
“How can you say something so rude to your cute junior so casually?”
“Just as you guessed, there was a Vile Breed. A problem occurred while I was researching it with the Chancellor, but it's been resolved.”
“You're good at dodging the question. But they really do keep popping up, don't they? I remember a massive sweep after Andromalius appeared...”
“It just means they're hidden that deep.”
He couldn't even begin to guess how many Vile Breeds were hiding across the continent.
If it was this bad within the Empire, what about the entire continent? He didn't even want to imagine it.
“Speaking of which, are you going to the Continental Academic Conference?”
“Yes. It's a great opportunity for a mage, isn't it? What about you?”
“I'm going too.”
“Oh, then we can go together...?”
“No, I plan to go a bit later. Aren't you planning to enjoy the festival?”
The two-week Continental Academic Conference was divided into two parts: the first half and the second half.
The first half was literally a festival, while the second half featured academic networking among mages, which was the true essence of the conference.
Rosalia's goal was to present her work and exhibit an item during this networking period, and Pernyan planned to accompany her then.
“If I can go with you, I don't mind skipping the festival.”
“Stop talking nonsense and take Aint with you when you go.”
“Aint?”
“The Vile Breeds might cause trouble at the conference.”
“Then why aren't you going with us?”
“I'm thinking of setting a trap.”
Aint was the best card Pernyan could play, known as the Adversary to Vile Breeds and demons, but for that very reason, he wasn't suitable for setting a trap.
“Is there anything I can do to help? Do you need the power of the Friedien family?”
“I don't need the power of other families.”
“Tsk.”
‘I'd rather not complicate things by getting other factions involved.’
Still, he had to be careful. The Electors—no, the empires and kingdoms—were already stirring.
The academy's Chancellor had warned the Electors about the Vile Breeds' movements, and an army of nearly ten thousand demonic beasts and monsters had attacked the Alpenparsen Kingdom and the Empire.
In such a situation, anyone who still felt nothing and considered Vile Breeds and demons to be mere legends or fairy tales was nothing but a fool.
The entire continent was in turmoil.
Knowing this, the Vile Breeds were becoming more aggressive, and if his plan had worked, it would have thrown a massive wrench in their works.
So from now on, he would always have to keep other powers in mind when dealing with matters related to demons.
‘It's a bit annoying.’
Nevertheless, he saw it as a positive development.
If the entire continent was fervently searching for Vile Breeds, there was a high chance their plans would fall apart on their own.
‘The problem is, the Prophecy Book mentioned something like this...’
Perhaps the current situation wouldn't significantly affect the grand scheme of things.
Which meant he had to raise Aint even more and work harder.
‘Ignorance is bliss, I suppose.’
If he didn't know, at least his mind would be at ease.
No. It was better to know and worry than to be ignorant and get framed as a Vile Breed and excommunicated.
“I should get going.”
“Where to?”
“The merchant guild.”
Pernyan stood up from his seat.
* * *
Time passed quickly, and fortunately, the Chancellor kept his promise.
“It's finished.”
Although time was short, making it smaller and containing less mana than the original, its composition and form were the same.
Even the effects of the aggregate were identical.
Perhaps because it was their second time making one, and with an Archmage involved, it was even more stable in some aspects.
“Still, it's not enough to power a teleportation circle, I see.”
“You can use it. That is, if you're keen on building a new teleportation circle and have lost all will to live.”
In other words, he was saying, "Try it if you want to die."
“I've kept my promise. Surely you're not going to ask me to transport it as well?”
“Vile Breeds might follow it. Are you going to miss an opportunity to catch them?”
“Well, I already have a Vile Breed in custody.”
“...If you get anything out of it, please share.”
“I will.”
The mana stone aggregate, now reduced to a three-meter diameter, was carefully placed in a special crate prepared by Pernyan.
Loaded onto a carriage inscribed with numerous magic circles, the aggregate was transported to the port and loaded onto a Fallenberg merchant ship.
“His Excellency sent us, Young Master.”
“It's been a while, everyone. I'll be in your care.”
Just then, the Red Shell Knights arrived, so the departure was not delayed.
The convoy escorting the mana stone aggregate—consisting of three identical carriages as a precaution, thirty Red Shell Knights, and Hyde—thus departed from the academy.
“Having a rich sponsor certainly has its perks.”
“Everything will be comfortable for you, from start to finish. You look tired, you should get some sleep.”
Perhaps from staying up all night immersed in her research, Professor Rosalia looked quite exhausted aboard the ship.
“I'm fine. We'll arrive on time, won't we?”
“Of course. The schedule is set in stone.”
Contingencies were in place for fickle weather or attacks from demonic beasts, making the plan as close to perfect as possible.
Of course, this was only possible because Vienderk was close to the academy. Had it been Bercefe, Altriark, or Schwaben, the schedule would have been quite tight.
“It's been a while since I've been outside the academy... Oh.”
Her hand, which had been reaching for a cigarette as she gazed at the sea, paused. The cigarette case was empty.
“Are you out?”
“Completely.”
She stared at Pernyan intently. Then, she crooked a finger.
“Did you leave something with me?”
“I'm good for it.”
Pernyan chuckled and pulled a cigarette case from his subspace, handing it to her.
“Don't you have any more?”
“I only carry this one just in case. It's not like I smoke.”
“Will we be late if we stop by a Golden Turtle Merchant Guild branch on the way?”
“There is one on our route, but you won't be able to get any there. They're custom-made, so you have to place a special order.”
Rosalia frowned and put a cigarette to her lips. After lighting it and inhaling the smoke, her hazy eyes regained a bit of their vitality.
“I'm tired.”
“You should get some sleep. We'll be on this ship for two days anyway.”
“I'll go in after I finish this.”
After smoking the cigarette down to the filter, Rosalia went into her cabin. Once she was gone, Hyde, who had been standing a short distance away, approached.
“Did you find out if Gismond was struck by lightning?”
“If he had been struck by lightning, there should have been a considerable commotion, but there are no such rumors.”
“It's difficult to find out without asking him directly, I suppose.”
No matter how successful a person is, they can't have someone by their side all year round.
If he was struck by lightning while he was alone, no one would know.
“It can't be helped. Stop digging into his past.”
“May I ask one thing?”
“Why you're so obsessed with Gismond?”
“Not obsessed, exactly...”
“Just that you find it puzzling.”
Hyde gave a slight nod.
Pernyan understood how he felt. He had no connection to Gismond. And while Gismond had risen to prominence suddenly, he wasn't a Vile Breed.
Unless one knew Pernyan's circumstances—that he'd obtained the Prophecy Book after being struck by lightning—his actions were incomprehensible.
“The truth is, when I was struck by lightning, I saw the future.”
“Really?”
He'd said it half-expecting not to be believed, but Hyde's question was surprisingly earnest.
“You believe me?”
“I don't believe you.”
“But?”
“But... if that were true, it would explain some of the strange things you've done since you were struck.”
“I'm joking. Something like that isn't possible.”
“That's also true.”
Pernyan shrugged and changed the subject.
“Just be prepared. The Vile Breeds might attack.”
“Won't our forces be a little thin?”
“Aint isn't here, and the Red Shell Knights are officially not present. Moreover, this is Vienderk territory.”
Being in Vienderk territory, their safety was more or less guaranteed as long as they stuck to the main roads and avoided remote areas.
Even if the Vile Breeds were planning a surprise attack, they would have few opportunities, and they certainly wouldn't have the capacity to deploy a large force.
Especially not now, when the entire Empire was fervently hunting for them.
“That's true.”
“Tell me more about Gismond Erdt. Whether he was struck by lightning or not, you must have a general sense of what kind of person he is by now.”
“Gismond is just an easygoing person. No particularly sharp edges...”
An easygoing guy who's chugged that many elixirs? Pernyan briefly entertained the thought but listened quietly to Hyde.
His judgment of Gismond would be settled on this trip. And his response would change depending on what kind of person he turned out to be.
* * *
The ship docked at the port.
Pernyan and Rosalia boarded the carriage.
“We're departing.”
The three carriages, led by the knights, set off.
Professor Rosalia put a cigarette to her lips and opened the window.
“Smoke it sparingly.”
“Don't be so stingy, you're a Fallenberg.”
“You won't be able to get more until the last day of the conference.”
Her hand, about to light it, froze.
“You didn't say that before.”
“I'm saying it now.”
Rosalia lowered the cigarette from her lips and stared at it.
“Your fingertips are trembling.”
“Withdrawal.”
“But there aren't any addictive substances in it.”
“You don't need an addictive substance to get addicted.”
After a long moment of contemplation, she finally put the cigarette back to her lips and lit it. *Hooo*, a puff of mana-infused smoke drifted away on the wind.
Watching her, Pernyan spoke.
“What will you do after you successfully finish your presentation?”
“I'll shed the assistant professor title and become a full professor.”
“Do you think you can skip associate professor and go straight to full professor?”
“My research has that kind of impact.”
Professor Rosalia radiated confidence. Pernyan agreed with her assessment.
There might be some controversy, but she would definitely become a full professor.
Her research was tantamount to a new discovery in magitech, and though she was young, the name she carried was by no means insignificant.
‘Above all, the Chancellor now fully understood the nature of Professor Rosalia's research.’
He wouldn't fail to recognize its value, so he would surely hold her in higher esteem.
“So, let's say you become a full professor. What's next?”
Rosalia's gaze, which had been fixed outside, turned back into the carriage.
“You've suddenly taken a great interest in me.”
“Aren't I your investor?”
Professor Rosalia looked at Pernyan without a word. Pernyan did not avoid her gaze.
A brief silence. After exhaling a puff of smoke out the window, she spoke.
“When I first started this research, my father supported me. It wasn't ample, but it wasn't lacking either.”
“The Vienderks have a lot of money too. Not as much as us, but still.”
“But at some point, the support started to dwindle.”
The reasons were many. It costs too much. The research is too vague, too hopeless. We can't procure the materials, and so on.
“At first, I just accepted it. But as it kept happening and got worse, I couldn't help but realize the truth, even if I didn't want to.”
“They were holding you back.”
“They were. When I was young, everyone adored me, without a single exception. I thought it would always be that way, but then one exception appeared.”
She fell silent for a moment. Then, she brought up a completely different topic.
“...I've rambled on for too long. Pernyan, why do you make money?”
“Because with money, you can do anything.”
“And what is it you want to do?”
“To make myself, and my family, even greater.”
“Just like you, I too am fond of the name Vienderk. And so, I want to see that name rise even higher.”
She stubbed out her burnt-down cigarette.
“That's all for the investor's questions.”
“What if I ask as a student?”
“I'd kick you out of my lecture. You'd be disrupting the class.”
“This isn't class time.”
“Then that's even more of a problem. You're encroaching on a professor's personal time.”
She scoffed, as if to say 'not a chance'.
It was then.
“Young Master, we're almost at the place you mentioned. Where should we go?”
At Hyde's words, Pernyan stuck his head out. The carriage was heading toward a plateau between towering mountains.
Confirming the surrounding terrain, Pernyan realized the place from the Prophecy Book was not far.
“We'll camp on the plateau tonight.”
“Yes, sir. We'll set up camp.”
The three carriages stopped on the outskirts of the plateau, in a spot that was easy to defend.
“The sun won't set for a while. What are you up to?”
“It's not a scheme, exactly. I just came across some interesting information.”
“Information?”
Pernyan shrugged at the frowning Professor Rosalia.
“So, would you care to join me?”
The mutant drake's nest was just ahead.