Chapter 105
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: A Bloody Prelude
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Originally, he was supposed to wait for it to come to him, not seek it out.
On their way to the Continental Academic Conference, Aint and Aria would have set up camp on a plateau, where the light would have attracted a visit from a mutant Drake.
The mutant Drake, too old and frail, would have mustered the courage to overcome its hunger, but sadly, it would have been courage that led it straight to the afterlife.
‘It’s as if all the luck in the world is pouring down on Aint.’
There was a reason he was the protagonist of the Prophecy Book.
However, if Pernyan’s prediction was correct, that would not happen now.
Because there was no way the mutant Drake, whose core had already been stolen by Gismond, could still be alive.
So, it was time to go and confirm it himself.
Whether the mutant Drake's nest existed, whether the Drake itself had truly been there, and if so, whether its corpse remained, and whether that corpse still had its core.
Leaving the knights to set up camp, Pernyan set out with Rosalia and Hyde.
“Is it far from here?”
“Not very.”
The Prophecy Book didn’t specify the exact distance, but it had said that it didn't take Aria very long to track the mutant Drake back to its lair after catching it.
The three of them walked along the mountain path. Even when the path ceased to be a path at all, Rosalia followed Pernyan in silence.
“Why don’t you ask what we’re looking for?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“Obvious?”
“The fact that you’re going to such lengths to find something means it’s worth the trouble. And nine times out of ten, that means something valuable. A rare herb, an ore, or a monster worth a fortune.”
He was right.
“I can’t fool you, Professor. Then why don’t you ask why I insisted you come along?”
“I assume it’s because it’s the last of the three.”
“And you came along willingly, knowing that?”
“Because right now, you are my sponsor, not my student. I can tolerate this much of an annoyance.”
Professor Rosalia said nonchalantly.
The essence of their relationship was that of student and professor, but it was also true that, for now, they were a sponsor and the one being sponsored.
“So, what is it?”
“A Drake.”
“A Drake, you say. Its scales, teeth, and bones are quite sturdy and useful.”
“Unfortunately, not this time. It’s so old that its scales are worn, half its teeth have fallen out, and its bones are as brittle as can be.”
“An old Drake? Is that valuable?”
“Add the word ‘mutant’ in front, and it suddenly becomes quite valuable.”
Professor Rosalia’s eyes widened. So did Hyde’s, who had been following quietly.
Hyde looked like he wanted to ask when on earth Pernyan had obtained such information, but he kept his mouth shut in front of Professor Rosalia.
“There’s a mutant Drake here?”
“Yes, if the information I obtained is correct.”
“The core of a mutant is more valuable than anything else. If it’s old enough for its scales to wear, its teeth to fall out, and its bones to weaken, its core must be all the more mature.”
“That’s why I’m going to all this trouble.”
The three soon arrived at a massive cave, partially hidden by bushes.
A cool breeze wafted from the cave, carrying with it the distinct, pungent stench of a monster.
And the coppery smell of blood.
“…I don’t sense any signs of life.”
“Yes, me neither.”
The corner of Pernyan’s mouth twitched slightly.
The smell of blood was terribly strong. A strong smell of blood in a monster’s lair meant one of two things.
Either the monster was eating, or it had been attacked.
But with no signs of life, it couldn’t be the former.
“I’m going in.”
“I will lead the way, Gongjanim.”
Hyde stepped forward. Pernyan took a magic lamp from his subspace and handed it to him.
The stench grew worse the deeper they went into the cave. The damp humidity was unpleasant.
Soon, they reached the source of the bloody smell. The massive corpse of a Drake.
“You were wrong, Pernyan. It’s not half, there are only four left.”
The mutant Drake had even fewer teeth than Pernyan had expected.
“Looks like someone was here before us. There are maggots crawling on it. It’s been dead for quite a while. A few months, at least.”
A large hole was bored into its chest, right where the core should have been. The blood that had seeped out had long since dried into a crust.
The smell of blood was still so strong because of the enclosed environment of the cave.
“What a brazen fellow. To think they’d scam you.”
There was no way to know of the mutant Drake’s existence without seeing it firsthand.
The natural conclusion was that someone had taken the core first and then told Pernyan about it.
“Indeed.”
But the Prophecy Book did not lie.
The mutant Drake had existed, and if someone hadn’t gotten to it first, it would have naturally fallen into Aint’s hands.
‘Gismond Erdt.’
He now had an idea of how to deal with him after this was over.
“What will you do?”
“Let’s look around first. Since this was a mutant Drake’s lair, we might find something of value.”
The cave was deeper than expected, but there was nothing special inside. There was a shallow spring further in, but that was it.
In the end, they had no choice but to return to camp empty-handed.
“I’m going to turn in.”
“Aren’t you going to eat?”
“I had some jerky on the way.”
“Alright, rest well.”
The sun sets quickly in the mountains. Darkness had already fallen, and campfires flickered throughout the established campsite.
After Professor Rosalia entered her tent, Pernyan called for the captain of the Red Shell Knights.
“Sir Harkon. Anything unusual in the vicinity?”
“No, there isn’t.”
“What were my father’s orders?”
“He said, ‘The Vile Breed may target what is Pernyan’s. Therefore, protect him.’”
“I heard you took the lead in searching for Vile Breed members within the family.”
“The Black Turtles conducted the search. We were merely their sword.”
The Fallenbergs were the first to recognize the Vile Breed and begin exterminating those who had infiltrated their ranks.
He knew they had uncovered quite a few Vile Breed members in cooperation with the Dragon God Cult.
“What was your assessment, Sir? Did it seem like the Vile Breed were plotting something while hidden within the family?”
“Nothing particularly special. It felt less like they were plotting something and more like they were waiting for the right time.”
“The right time?”
“I believe it will be similar to Taklakan. Do you think an army of ten thousand demonic beasts and monsters appeared overnight? They must have been preparing for a long time, waiting for the moment to strike.”
He was right.
“Then, what is my father’s intention?”
“I cannot presume to know His Excellency’s intentions, but he is trying to make money.”
Even at this very moment, the Golden Turtle Merchant Guild was absorbing war supplies.
If they had been discreet before, they became blatant after the demonic beast army incident in Taklakan.
“That’s just like my father.”
Sir Harkon said he would check the perimeter once more and disappeared. Pernyan handed Hyde a piece of meat roasted over the campfire.
“When did you get this information?”
“While you were chasing Gismond Erdt.”
“Who is it? The gutsy bastard who scammed you, Gongjanim?”
“Don’t worry about it. I already knew it would be like this.”
“You knew, and you still went to check?”
“Speculation and confirmation are two different things.”
Pernyan gave off an air that said not to ask any more questions, so Hyde fell silent.
“Hyde, are you aware? This current peace won’t last much longer.”
“We’re preparing for attacks from the Vile Breed. How is that peaceful?”
“Because in the near future, it won’t be mere attacks. It will be a war.”
One didn’t need the Prophecy Book to figure that out; a little thought was all it took.
The Vile Breed, dormant for a thousand years, had begun to stir, and they had already proven their strength in Taklakan.
The clouds of war were gathering.
“There isn’t much I can do to prepare for a war.”
He was the Grand Heir of Fallenberg, but he was just that—the ‘Grand Heir,’ not the head of the family or the Duke.
The difference between his actions and those of the Electors was like the difference between a real battle and child’s play.
“About the only thing I can do is raise Aint.”
“Aint Armian is not a dog.”
“Don’t sweat the small stuff.”
At this point, with the future changing, Pernyan believed it was his destiny, as the one who possessed the Prophecy Book, to ensure Aint grew stronger and never died.
To be precise, it was something he had to do to avoid his own ruin, but still.
In any case, the meaning was the same.
“After this is over, I plan to make a request to the Mercenary King.”
“What kind? No, will he even accept? Didn’t he tell you to stay out of his sight, Gongjanim?”
“He will. I have an offer he can’t refuse.”
A demon.
Having nearly lost his disciple to the Vile Breed, he was now accepting any request related to them, scouring the continent as if with a fine-toothed comb.
In such a situation, what if he were given a clue not about the Vile Breed, but about a demon? No, what if he were given a chance to fight one?
“It’s like tossing a fish to a cat.”
He wouldn’t be able to resist taking the bait.
‘I don’t know how this incident will affect the future where Flauros, the 64th-ranked demon, descends….’
Pernyan recalled the prophecy that had thrown him into confusion during the jousting tournament.
Another demon descending in the southern part of the Prasia Kingdom. Flauros.
Unlike Andromalius, the 72nd demon, or Seere, the 70th demon who was originally supposed to be summoned at the Continental Academic Conference, this one would descend with a proper army of demonic beasts.
Even though he knew the demons’ rankings weren’t based on strength, the number 64 still made him more wary.
‘So, I must make every possible preparation.’
It had to be stopped, without allowing even the slightest opening.
Even if it meant lying to the Mercenary King and sending him on a wild goose chase.
The Mercenary King’s wrath would be a much smaller price to pay than the Pandrein Continent being ravaged by a demon.
‘Still, I should come up with an alternative in case he does come up empty-handed.’
It would be good to find something that could appease the Mercenary King, at least a little, if things turned out that way.
After Pernyan’s thoughts ended, there were no attacks until they reached the city.
The days were peaceful.
* * *
The 198th Continental Academic Conference was being held in a place called Valerich.
While not the capital of Vienderk, it was a major city, often called its second or third city.
As soon as they entered the city gates, their eyes were met with fluttering banners and vibrant decorations everywhere.
The scene was so lively that anyone could tell a festival was underway.
The massive crowds were to be expected, but there was a particularly large number of mages.
“How many of those do you think are actually here to present their research findings?”
“I couldn’t care less.”
“Aren’t they your competitors, in a way?”
“They’re just background noise. None of them will surpass what I’ve created.”
Such immense confidence was just like her.
“I’ve already completed all the applications, so you just need to do a final check on-site and then present on the day.”
“Let’s go.”
Valerich showed its magnanimity by offering up its city hall for the 198th Continental Academic Conference.
The city hall’s banquet hall had been converted into the conference venue, and all applications and registrations were being handled there.
“Welcome to Valerich… Agassi?”
As they entered the city hall, a guard recognized Rosalia.
“Sir Goron.”
“Are you here to submit an entry?”
“Yes.”
“His Excellency…”
“Don’t tell him.”
“Understood. Please, go inside. It is a great pleasure to see you after so long.”
Professor Rosalia entered without replying.
“Who was that? He didn’t seem like an ordinary knight.”
“The vice-captain of the Red Rose Knights.”
“Someone like that is standing guard here?”
The Red Rose Knights were one of the top five knight orders in Vienderk.
“Aren’t you using a knight order as a mere escort detail?”
“Well, that’s true.”
It was a show of force. With so many nobles and powerful figures gathering, it was a way for Vienderk to flaunt its prestige.
“Still, it’s impressive he recognized you. It must have been a while since you left your family.”
“He used to be my personal guard.”
After finishing the registration, Pernyan and Rosalia rented out an entire annex of a luxury hotel in the city.
“It’s a shame. It would be wonderful if we could build hotels in the territories of the other Electors.”
Fallenberg’s luxury hotels had been built all across the continent, but not in the domains of the other Electors.
They did not welcome it. They were distinctly different from other nobles who, crushed by Fallenberg’s influence, reluctantly handed over business rights.
“You’re quite greedy.”
“That greed is what made the Fallenberg of today.”
He unpacked and checked the mana stone combiner. After confirming there were no issues, he found he had some time to spare.
“We’ve arrived earlier than planned, so we have a lot of time before the conference. How about it? Would you like to look around the festival?”
“Not interested.”
Rosalia went into her room. Pernyan called for Sir Harkon, once again asking him to guard the mana stone combiner thoroughly, and then went outside.
“Where are you going?”
“Aint and Aria arrived here first. I’m going to meet with them…”
Just then.
───!
Not far away, something landed with a wet splat.
Blood, chunks of flesh, and shattered bones flew in all directions.
“Aaaaaah!”
“What is this?!”
“Up there! It fell from the hotel!”
It was a corpse.
Pernyan looked up. The window of the tenth floor of the hotel where he was staying was shattered.
“…The Duke of Vienderk must be quite upset.”
Before the 198th Continental Academic Conference had even officially begun, blood had been spilled.