Chapter 112
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Invitations and Revelations
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“Over here!”
“Oh no...! My lady! Are you alright?”
The attack within Vienderk territory soon drew the Vienderk knights.
The unseasonal blizzard that had taken over the area alerted the Duke to Rosalia's predicament, and he dispatched the knights.
“We don't need help. The Vile Breed has already been dealt with.”
“I'm afraid not. His Excellency ordered us to escort you both to safety.”
Rosalia refused them, but they were insistent. In the end, she had no choice but to accept their escort until they left Vienderk.
Arriving at the port, the group boarded a pre-arranged ship and set off for the Dragon God Cult.
“You've already contacted them, I assume?”
“Of course. I've already settled everything.”
“I didn't see you do it.”
“My attendant wasn't with me when the Vile Breed attacked, was he?”
“...Please, never make me do that again.”
Hyde, who had joined them late after coming to an agreement with the Dragon God Cult, learned of the Vile Breed's attack during his absence and firmly resolved never to leave Pernyan's side again.
“Nothing happened.”
“A Vile Breed attack is 'nothing' to you?”
“No one died, and there were no serious injuries, so it's as good as nothing. Besides, didn't we receive support from the Red Shell Knights precisely for such a contingency?”
“That's true, but...”
Sighing, Hyde let out a long breath.
“I'm just saying, it feels like you always send me away whenever trouble is about to break out, Gongjanim.”
“What would I have to gain from that?”
“That's what makes it so frustrating for me. There's no reason for it, so why?”
“In any case, it certainly wasn't the case this time.”
“This time...?”
“Look, I can see the Dragon God Cult.”
“That's not the cult, that's just an uninhabited island!”
The ship sailed on, arriving at the Dragon God Peninsula, where the Dragon God Cult was located. It originally had a different name, but they say it was changed after the cult settled there because its shape resembled a dragon's head.
*'Doesn't look like it at all.'*
Well, once the Dragon God Cult established itself, I suppose they could call it whatever they pleased.
*Creeak—*
The ship docked at the harbor.
“Welcome. The Dragon God Cult welcomes Professor Rosalia, Gongja Pernyan Fallenberg, and all of you.”
They entered the cult's grounds to a grand welcome.
As previously arranged, the Mana Stone conglomerate was immediately handed over to the cult.
“Ohh, to think you could create such a thing. If it's not too much trouble, could we perhaps study it a little...?”
“It is too much trouble.”
“Mmm, what a shame.”
“Will this be alright?”
“Despite how they appear, they will strictly adhere to our agreement.”
Casting greedy glances at the Mana Stone conglomerate, the research priests carried it off to the cult's deep storage.
“His Holiness wishes to have dinner with you both.”
And so, Pernyan and Rosalia were invited to an evening banquet.
“Gongja Pernyan, welcome. It's been a while.”
“It's good to see you again, Your Holiness.”
“Rosalia, you as well... Ah, should I be calling you Professor Rosalia now?”
The Pope stroked his long beard. His benevolent smile and gentle demeanor were naturally comforting.
After the brief greetings, the food was served.
“Please, eat.”
The Pope and Rosalia picked up their forks and knives. Pernyan, however, did not.
He simply sat still, watching the Pope.
“My boy, is there something you wish to say?”
“Yes, Your Holiness.”
“Creating such an atmosphere... it makes me nervous to think what you're about to say. I worry if this old man's heart can take it.”
The Pope set down his fork and knife and wiped his mouth with a napkin.
“I'm ready.”
“I believe you are aware of what happened in Valerich.”
“I am. And I am very pleased.”
“Pleased?”
“Armian has found its lost vision, and the wicked Vile Breed have been struck down. How could it not be a joyous occasion?”
He lifted his wine glass, filled with red wine.
“In truth, the Vile Breed's goal was not to kill the eleven royals and nobles.”
“To assassinate eleven people simultaneously in Vienderk would require extraordinary preparations. But if that wasn't their goal, what was?”
“Demon summoning.”
“......!”
The wine glass paused just before it reached his lips. *Clink*. The Pope set it back down.
“...You will need to be able to prove such a claim.”
“If I were to tell you a demon had already been summoned, would you believe me?”
“Even coming from you, I cannot simply believe such a thing...”
Pernyan took out the recording sphere he had stored in his subspace.
“Please, watch this first and then decide.”
The Continental Academic Conference, the event where the Prophecy Book had decreed a demon would officially descend before the people.
Because Pernyan had disrupted it, the world remained unaware of the gravity of the situation.
No matter how much the demonic beast legions stirred, it was an entirely different matter from a demon being summoned.
*'So I have to set things straight.'*
If the failed demon summoning prevented them from grasping the severity of the problem, he just had to make them grasp it.
*'There's no point in hiding it anymore.'*
He decided to raise the stakes with the recording sphere containing Andromalius.
A demon is a problem for the entire continent, so the response must be continent-wide.
* * *
【The legend of the Empire, the legend of the first Emperor, and now, the legend of Armian...】
【The eldest son of the Fallenberg family, Pernyan, who acted alongside Aint Armian. What is between these two...?】
“...These crazy bastards.”
Verian Calburden, who had remained at the academy, was having a troubled day when he saw the morning paper and spat out the tea in his mouth.
“What is this?”
Didn't they just go to watch the Continental Academic Conference like normal people? Why are the Vile Breed involved again?
At this point, he wondered if Aint was the problem. How did he run into Vile Breed or demonic beasts everywhere he went?
“...Eleven royals and nobles died in Valerich?”
Does that even make sense?
The Continental Academic Conference might have drawn an uncontrollably large crowd, but this was Vienderk, of all places.
The Duke of Vienderk would never have been lax with security.
And it wasn't even commoners, but royals and nobles.
*'This just goes to show how formidable the Vile Breed are...'*
The world may not know it, but the Vile Breed's schemes were not a new phenomenon. And their machinations had grown more sophisticated with each passing day.
*'A demon has already been summoned, and they've openly caused chaos in the domain of an Elector. This isn't something that's just going to blow over.'*
It will only get bigger, never smaller.
“I need my own people. People who will help me.”
“I need you. To be precise, I want you to be one of my people.”
Aint's recent proposal came to mind.
Once the demons begin to run rampant, Aint will truly begin his ascent.
*'Even so, I can't bring myself to serve under that bastard Aint...!'*
Of course, he mentioned being friends or companions, but that was just talk. Wouldn't there be an implicit hierarchy?
His mind troubled, Verian downed the rest of his tea in one gulp and headed back to his room. Just then, a maid from La Vie Douce Dormitory stopped him and handed him a letter.
“Gongja Verian, a letter has arrived from your family.”
“A letter?”
Seeing the family head's seal on the letter, Verian instinctively flinched.
“Ahem, thank you.”
Trying his best to appear calm, he quickly entered his room. He then nervously opened the letter.
[Verian Calburden. I am deeply disappointed in you.]
The letter's very first sentence stabbed at Verian's heart.
He could clearly feel his father's anger and gritted his teeth.
*'Damn it.'*
When he first enrolled, he never imagined he'd end up in this position.
[I have heard that you suffered a disgraceful defeat to an enemy you were supposed to crush, and that your ranking has fallen.
On top of that, you shirked your responsibilities by not even returning to the family during the summer break...]
About half of the letter was filled with rebukes directed at Verian. But after that, the tone shifted slightly.
[You must have heard about the events at the Continental Academic Conference. That has changed the situation somewhat. You no longer need to try to defeat Aint Armian. You do not have to best him.]
His father's orders had changed.
[Approach Aint Armian. Strive to become one of his close associates. Yes, since you are at the academy, becoming his friend should suffice.]
“...Huh?”
Verian's face crumpled.
“You son of a...!”
Pernyan, Aint, and now his own father.
At this point, it felt as if the entire world was pushing him to become Aint's subordinate.
* * *
When the Continental Academic Conference, held once every five years, takes place, it brings changes to the academy as well.
This was because the conference was a valuable experience for students, and the academy actively encouraged them to attend as a field trip.
While most beneficial to mages, it wasn't unhelpful for other students, so all classes were suspended for three weeks.
The students called this the autumn break that came every five years.
What the students did during this autumn break was up to them.
They could go to the Continental Academic Conference, return to their families, go on a trip, or remain at the academy.
More than half the students went to observe the conference, but Ruina Bercefe did not.
*Clang—*
With a dull thud, a sword flew through the air. Blood trickled from a torn palm.
Gasping for breath, Ruina fell to her knees.
“Get up. You call yourself a knight, yet you kneel so easily.”
“...Yes.”
Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to her feet. She picked up the sword that had been knocked away and raised it again.
Her opponent, Professor Grad, shook his head.
“That's enough for today.”
“One more time, please.”
“Hmm, but...”
Ruina took a small pouch from her pocket and placed it on the table.
“One more time, please.”
“...Alright.”
The corners of Grad's mouth lifted.
“You've changed a lot, Ruina. I never thought I'd see the day you'd hand me a money pouch to ask for a sparring session.”
“I learned it from Pernyan.”
“A good lesson to learn.”
He beckoned with his finger.
“Come.”
After steadying her breath, Ruina kicked off the ground.
In contrast to her furiously beating heart, her mind was cold.
Blood circulates. Aura activates.
A blue aura sharpens along the blade.
—!
Sword clashes against sword. The impact traveled up her arm, and Ruina took a step back, spinning her body.
*Scraape—*
Her follow-up attacks were all blocked. Professor Grad's sword was always one step ahead of hers.
Why was that?
For the past few days, that had been the biggest question occupying her mind.
Was it simply his speed? He was fast, but that wasn't all.
And now, she thought she was beginning to understand.
*'Efficiency.'*
His sword path was incredibly efficient. In reaching the optimal position, Professor Grad's blade had not a single wasted movement.
*'The path I must now pursue.'*
Just realizing that fact made the money and effort she had invested in this sparring session worthwhile.
—!
Dozens of exchanges followed, and before long, Ruina's sword once again left its master's grasp.
“Good.”
Grad nodded.
“Much better than before. It seems you've had some sort of realization, haven't you?”
“Yes. Thanks to you.”
“Fuhuhu, you're no ordinary student, either. At this rate, I might end up teaching you everything I know. Do you wish to continue sparring?”
“Yes. I'd like to continue until the end of the autumn break.”
“As long as you're paying, I'm happy to oblige. Then, let's call it a day.”
“Yes, thank you for today.”
Ruina bowed her head deeply, and Grad pocketed the money pouch from the table before disappearing.
Ruina sat cross-legged and reviewed the day's sparring session in her mind. When she opened her eyes again, she met the gaze of her nanny, who was waiting for her.
“Nanny.”
“It seems you made some progress today, my lady?”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Your expression has brightened.”
Ruina touched her own face. She couldn't tell.
“I gained something from it.”
“That's a relief. So it wasn't a waste of money. Well, even if it were, it's Fallenberg's money. But are you sure this is alright?”
“Probably.”
The bribe she'd given Grad had come from Pernyan.
It was the money he had been giving her consistently since he'd offered his support, separate from the elixirs.
She hadn't used it until now but had decided to take this opportunity to do so.
“Still, this is quite surprising. I never thought you'd bribe Professor Grad for private lessons, my lady. You used to hate that sort of thing. Of course, this is more of a request for private tutoring than a bribe, I suppose.”
Of course, requesting private lessons from a professor wasn't exactly a good look.
“I still hate it.”
“Then why...?”
“Because I hate being a burden even more.”
“A burden?”
Ruina's gaze fell upon the newspaper on the table.
On it.
【The legend of the Empire, the legend of the first Emperor, and now, the legend of Armian...】
【The eldest son of the Fallenberg family, Pernyan, who acted alongside Aint Armian. What is between these two...?】
An article about Pernyan and Aint, who had left for Valerich for the Continental Academic Conference, was featured prominently.
“It's nothing. But what brings you here all of a sudden?”
“Do I need a reason to come see you, my lady?”
“You do when you come all the way to the training grounds.”
“You're right. Actually, a letter has arrived from the family head.”
“From my father?”
The nanny handed her the letter. Ruina unfolded it.
The letter was not very long.
[Ruina, this is the first letter I have sent since we saw each other during the summer break.
Life at the academy is... (omitted)...
This winter break, I want you to come home. And bring Pernyan Fallenberg, the one who has put such ideas in your head, with you.
As you can imagine, there are many things I wish to ask that boy.]
But the main point was clear.
“Hmm...”
It was an invitation for Pernyan.