Chapter 13
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: An Expected Upset
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*Magic Survival*, *Combat, War, and Magic*, and *Demonic Beasts and Monster Studies*.
These three classes laid the foundation in the first year, and from the second year onward, joint lectures with the Knight Department were frequent—no, they were the norm.
At the same time, they were subjects that prioritized practical application over theory.
And the Knight Department’s *Warfare and Practical Sparring* was a course that followed the same vein as the Magic Department’s three subjects.
“The time has come.”
A month had already passed since I’d tied for first place with Ruina in our first joint class.
There had been no major incidents since then, but to Pernyan, the peace felt like the calm before a storm.
“Another upset will occur in today’s duel.”
It was a part clearly specified in the Prophecy Book.
The goal today was to witness the event and, through this incident, observe Verian Calburden, who would fall to the level of a demon’s pawn.
Having organized his plan, Pernyan called for his attendant.
“Hyde, you’ve spread the money around, I assume.”
“Of course, sir.”
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, sir.”
Pernyan donned his overcoat.
* * *
“The winner, Aint Armian!”
It was quite an amusing affair.
Watching the future from the Prophecy Book, which I knew beforehand, come to life exactly as written.
“My god, Aint won!”
“Aint defeated Verian?”
“No way! How on earth?”
“Wasn’t his entrance rank 38th? Is something like this possible in just a month or two?”
And watching the intense reactions of the people, thanks to that future unfolding in a way that was generally unexpected.
Seeing those reactions, I could feel a subtle sense of superiority, knowing I was the only one who knew.
‘I could get used to this.’
It seemed like a pretty decent hobby to pick up.
Pernyan rested his chin on his hand and calmly reviewed the battle between Verian and Aint.
‘It was a little different from the contents of the Prophecy Book.’
It couldn’t be called an overwhelming victory. But it also wasn’t the nail-biting, paper-thin battle mentioned in the prophecy.
‘Is it because of the elixir?’
I could feel a distinct increase in his energy. Verian’s swordsmanship was superior overall, but Aint had crushed him with his aura.
It was undeniable that Pernyan had played a part in that.
A pleasant smile formed on his lips.
‘The future changes, albeit slightly, according to my actions.’
It was a fact he had already confirmed once with Carlo. Seeing it repeated again made him smile involuntarily.
It was because his confidence that he could change the grim future with his own power was gradually growing.
“Could it be because of the elixir?”
“Well, it wouldn’t be without its influence.”
“That sounds like you believe Aint would have won even without the elixir.”
“That’s something no one can know.”
Pernyan shrugged and tapped his fingers on the armrest.
His gaze was now directed not at the victor, but at the loser.
‘Verian Calburden.’
Heir to the House of Marquis Calburden, a rising power.
Honestly, at first, I thought it was strange for him to take a demon’s hand after just one defeat, no matter how shocking it was.
But once you knew the inner workings of the Calburden family, it wasn’t so strange after all.
“Hyde.”
“Yes, Gongjanim.”
“Is Calburden still frequently meeting with nobles these days?”
“Yes. His political activities, which were already vigorous, have increased significantly since the Friediens obtained the rights to the Golden Bull.”
The Electors. Only seven in the Empire, these glorious figures held the authority to elect the Emperor himself.
They were originally the founding contributors of the Empire.
The Armian royal family, which was the cradle of the Empire, and the descendants of the five kingdoms and the religion that the first emperor had united.
To the Empire, the Electors were colossal pillars, unassailable fortresses.
But for the first time, one of them had crumbled, and a new pillar was erected.
‘From the perspective of those who think there’s no great difference between themselves and the new pillar, it must be a bitter pill to swallow.’
They would think, again and again, that the position should have been theirs. And they would deduce a new possibility.
The conclusion that if it was possible once, there was no reason it couldn’t happen a second time.
In that process, the interests of Schwaben and Calburden aligned.
For Schwaben, the old imperial family was a thorn in their side; for Calburden, the most vulnerable of the seven pillars at present was the old imperial family.
Their collusion was only natural.
Therefore, while it appeared to be a simple practical duel between students on the surface, looking deeper, it was a war between Calburden and Schwaben to defeat Armian.
And Calburden had lost.
“…No way.”
While everyone was cheering and gasping at the upset, Verian Calburden hung his head, feeling the solitude of the crowd.
Surprisingly, no one paid him any mind.
‘If I were beaten by Aint and things went according to the prophecy, would I end up like that?’
Forgotten by the world-acknowledged protagonist?
Pernyan swallowed a groan at the dreadful thought that naturally came to mind.
“…But it’s strange.”
“What is?”
“Whenever you observe, Gongjanim, Aint Armian causes an upset.”
The attendant’s eyes turned suspicious.
“It’s a coincidence.”
Pernyan dismissed it as such, but in truth, it was intentional. The reason he brought his attendant along to observe was to lay the groundwork, to make his story about the Prophecy Book more believable in the future.
“I’ll believe you, for now.”
“Hyde.”
“Yes.”
“Keep an eye on Verian for a while.”
“Verian Calburden, you mean?”
The Prophecy Book omitted periods of time. There was about a two-week gap between Verian’s defeat and mistreatment by Ludger and the midterm exam where he would face Aint again.
There was no mention of exactly how or by what means Verian contacted a demon and gained power during that time.
It just happened, suddenly, two weeks later.
For Pernyan, for whom the process and the evidence gained within it were more important than the result, this was a very disappointing part.
As for the result, well, it was already decided that Aint Armian would stop it, so there was no need to make a fuss.
“Yes. Where he goes.”
Where he goes to make contact with a demon.
“Who he meets.”
How he meets the demon.
“And what conversations they have.”
How the demon tempts him.
“Every last trivial detail.”
“The heir to Calburden, you mean?”
“Just don’t get caught. Can’t you do it?”
“I didn’t say I couldn’t. Yes, I understand. How long should I continue?”
“Until I say you’re done.”
“Yes.”
Afterward, Pernyan also checked on the companions of Aint mentioned in the Prophecy Book.
Valoci Vienderk and Barus Dne.
‘The heir of Vienderk, the top student of the Knight Department, and the disciple of the Mercenary King, who’s ranked third. He’s got some amazing companions.’
They were individuals who could provide strong backing not just in the academy, but anywhere outside it.
It made one wonder if he was truly the protagonist of the prophecy, but on the other hand, it also seemed to imply that without such support, stopping the demons’ resurgence would be difficult.
Valoci and Barus won their matches, befitting their reputations, and they celebrated their victories with Aint.
“Vienderk and Armian are friends? Is that alright?”
“They’ll figure it out themselves.”
Pernyan shrugged, and his gaze happened to fall on Verian once again.
He was gritting his teeth, looking back and forth between Valoci and Aint.
‘Ah, now that I think about it…’
Verian had been desperate to build a friendship with Valoci. But Valoci himself was drawn to Aint, not him.
That part probably wasn’t entirely without influence on his pact with the demon.
‘It’s like the world is pushing him to make a deal with a demon.’
Having confirmed everything he needed to, Pernyan rose from his seat.
* * *
“……”
An upset tends to spread faster than a typical rumor.
The news that Aint Armian had defeated Verian Calburden quickly spread throughout the entire academy.
“There’s nothing to be sorry for. It’s just that my expectations were a little high. For now, rest your body and mind. If there’s another chance, we’ll talk again.”
‘…This can’t be happening.’
Verian, having just met with Ludger, swallowed a groan.
He knew. He knew that his defeat was truly an absurd event.
Putting aside the Armian name, for the second-ranked student to lose to someone ranked a mere 38th. Even if Anto, ranked 10th, had fallen first, there was a clear difference in level between the second and tenth ranks.
‘…Damn it.’
This incident wouldn’t be a major problem.
Schwaben and Calburden had many ways to defeat Armian. Verian was just the first blade they had drawn.
Yes, in the grand scheme of things, it wasn’t a big issue.
‘But what about me…?’
What about him, who had not only failed to meet his family’s expectations but had also lost to none other than an Armian?
The Calburden family and Verian Calburden were distinctly separate entities.
The biggest problem was that the family had talent that could replace him at any time.
He was not the sole heir of Calburden. He had a younger brother, and that child’s talent was not far behind Verian’s.
‘That bastard dares to covet my position…!’
And his ambition was no less than Verian’s.
What if this incident became the trigger?
The prince was disappointed, and his father would be furious. It was by no means an empty, baseless assumption.
‘I must win. There’s no second chance for me.’
The root of all problems was Aint Armian. It was because he lost to him that he was in this situation. The best solution was to defeat him and reclaim his prestige and honor.
‘My swordsmanship was actually superior.’
He had only a slight advantage against an Armian, whose swordsmanship was half-lost to time, but it was an advantage nonetheless.
The problem was his energy.
‘His aura was greater than mine…’
It was pure and dense. He had been overwhelmed in the clash of auras.
‘How on earth?’
He had been raised as an elite since childhood with the full support of his family. He had consumed countless elixirs in addition to mastering swordsmanship, etiquette, and culture.
No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t understand how the heir of the crumbling Armian family could have more aura than him.
Nevertheless, the result was out, and he had to turn the tables.
‘I must…’
His hand, gripping his sword, tightened.
* * *
[Verian Calburden has been going between lectures, the dormitory, the city, and the training grounds, doing nothing but swinging his sword.]
[He encounters students and professors while coming and going from lectures, but does not engage in any notable conversations.]
[In the city, he has visited bookstores, grocery stores, general stores, and blacksmiths, but has done nothing special other than buying or repairing items.]
[Since that day, he has had no meetings with Prince Ludger.]
[As of now, there are no special matters to report. I will continue to report regularly.]
Pernyan, having returned from his meal, checked the report lying on his desk.
‘So no contact yet. How on earth does the contact happen?’
Demons were by no means common beings.
A thousand years ago, they were completely exterminated by the first emperor who founded the Empire, and all traces of them were erased.
Anything related to demons was practically taboo, not something you could find just by looking.
‘Verian wouldn’t think of demons on his own.’
Over a thousand years, humanity had erased the word ‘demon’ from its mind. It was nearly impossible for Verian to independently think of making a pact with a demon.
‘Then it must be…’
It meant that the demons hiding among humans would approach Verian first.
That was why monitoring Verian’s every move was of the utmost importance. It meant they could catch a trace of a demon.
And two weeks passed.
Frighteningly, nothing happened.
‘…This isn’t right.’
Something major was supposed to happen.
It had to…
‘Could it be false? Was the most important part of the Prophecy Book, the part about demons, actually a lie?’
It was two days before the Knight Department’s first-year midterm exam, where Aint Armian was supposed to battle Verian Calburden, who had fallen to a demon.