Chapter 136
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: Pairs and Preparations
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“Are you holding a practical exercise this time as well?”
In Professor Rosalia's office at the academy.
Pernyan was sitting across from the room's owner.
“Yes. Professor Grad suggested it. The results last year weren't bad, so I agreed. But why the sudden question?”
“No reason, I was just curious.”
“You're not one to be curious for no reason.”
“Have some faith. I'm an investor, am I not?”
“Insolent. Right now, you're just a student.”
Pernyan had figured out from Rosalia where Aint would be ambushed.
The second-year practical exercise, where Pernyan had first begun to distinguish himself. The same event would be held again this year.
“May I participate as a temporary assistant?”
“Last year you were an assistant for the first-year exercise, and now you want to do the second-year one?”
Rosalia put a cigarette in her mouth and looked at Pernyan quietly.
“You're perfectly capable of lighting that yourself, aren't you?”
“I see you don't want to be a temporary assistant.”
“Shall I light it for you now?”
Pernyan conjured a flame at his fingertip.
“I won't ask for a reason. I have a good idea what this is about.”
“You do?”
“Rumors are flying about who you've been sticking so close to lately.”
“Who's been spreading these rumors?”
“You've been featured prominently in the papers twice. If there's anyone at this academy who doesn't know, I'd report you.”
The Continental Academic Conference and the incident in the north. Pernyan and Aint had appeared in the papers together, like a set.
Of course, in the north, Ruina and the two Royal Knights had been the main focus, but still.
“Why would you do that?”
“Because they'd be a moron who must have cheated their way into the academy.”
“I may do other things, but I don't sponsor illicit admissions.”
Pernyan was no fool; he wouldn't sponsor someone so incompetent they couldn't even get into the academy.
“Oh, right. How are the preparations for the Dragon God Cult's academic conference coming along?”
“Well enough. They keep asking me to make another mana stone composite so they can continue their research.”
“You're not going to? They're so desperate they'd pay any price you name.”
“I'm busy with my main job.”
Now that the academy semester had started, she, as a professor, had quite a lot to do.
Besides, with a steadfast supporter like Pernyan, she had no reason to be swayed by money.
“I'll accept your application for temporary assistant for now. You plan on ditching again, don't you?”
“Yes.”
*Hmm, so she knew I left Jace in charge and took off. Well, it doesn't matter.*
“Have you told Aint?”
“I have not.”
“You should.”
Rosalia said casually.
“No matter how good the outcome, people harbor grudges if they feel they've been used. If you want to leech off him for a long, long time, you need to maintain a good relationship, don't you think?”
“That's not the issue.”
“Then what is?”
“This requires some acting, and Aint can't act.”
“He's not the type to hide his expressions.”
*Well, I'm sure you'll handle it.*
She exhaled a puff of smoke.
“If your business is done, you may leave.”
“Yes, I'll see you next time.”
Pernyan left Professor Rosalia's office.
“Did your talk go well?”
“Yes.”
He climbed into the carriage where Hyde was acting as the driver. Just as the carriage was about to depart, he saw a familiar face outside.
“Wait.”
It was Aint, carrying someone on his back toward the infirmary.
“That's Timon Baertz. Looks like he's been beaten half to death. Aint Armian must have quite a temper.”
“When your opponent is a Vile Breed, temper doesn't enter into it.”
In any case, it meant there was a clear result as to whether Timon Baertz was a Vile Breed or not.
Pernyan waited a moment, then called out to Aint as he was leaving the infirmary after dropping off Timon.
“If you're heading to La Vie Douce Dormitory, get in. We're going to the same place.”
“Ah, thank you. As it happens, there were two things I wanted to talk to you about.”
Aint climbed in, and the carriage set off.
“I know. It's about Timon Baertz, isn't it? Was he a Vile Breed after all?”
“The first part is right. But Timon wasn't a Vile Breed.”
“…Not a Vile Breed?”
Pernyan, who had been leaning against the window with his chin in his hand, flinched.
“Yes. I knocked him out and searched him thoroughly, inside and out, but I couldn't feel a single trace of demonic energy.”
“I see…”
Timon Baertz was a Vile Breed, certified by the Prophecy Book.
Although he had changed so much of the future that things might not proceed as written, he had thought there was no reason for this particular event to change. Was he wrong?
*This is going to be a headache.*
It would have been easier to prepare if Timon were a Vile Breed, just as the Prophecy Book said. He could have just kept him under surveillance.
But now that things had gone completely off script, it was a bit more complicated.
*Or could he be a Vile Breed capable of hiding his demonic energy even from Aint… No, am I overthinking this?*
Aint hadn't just checked the surface; he'd searched thoroughly inside. If he couldn't find anything, it was highly likely there was nothing to find.
“Still, there's something suspicious about him, so I'll keep an eye on him. You don't have to be a Vile Breed to be a follower of demons, right?”
“That's true.”
According to the few existing records, there were demon followers who were not Vile Breeds.
*Right, that could be it. The possibility that he's not a Vile Breed, but a Vile Breed in the making.*
Perhaps he was just set to become one a little later.
After all, every demon follower was either a Vile Breed or someone who wanted to become one.
“In any case, you did well.”
“Not at all. You're the one doing all the hard work, senior. Finding all these Vile Breeds for me.”
“I've only done what must be done.”
“Most people don't do what must be done.”
“That's because they have less to lose.”
But Pernyan was different. If things had gone according to the Prophecy Book, if he hadn't intervened, he would have truly lost everything.
It was the same now. He had avoided the future where he was excommunicated, but if a demon descended and threw the continent into chaos, the value of money would plummet.
Pernyan had no intention of letting that happen.
Everything was for the sake of a wealthy future.
“That's also true.”
“So, what was the other thing?”
“The other thing is this.”
Aint reached out and pointed at Pernyan's chest.
To be precise, he was pointing at Wooden, who was shrunk to about three centimeters and disguised as a necklace.
“Wooden?”
“Yes. Do you happen to have any more of the Itarium roots you gave me?”
“Do you need more?”
“No, it's not that. I read in a book that the root of an Itarium would be particularly good for a golem. It has properties that strengthen metal.”
“…I see.”
Pernyan nodded.
*Not a book, but Gardner must have told him, right?*
*If Gardner went to the trouble of telling me through Aint, it must mean he considers me an ally to some extent.*
*And it must also be a surefire way to strengthen Wooden.*
He felt better, as if he'd received another confirmation that the threat of being framed as a Vile Breed was truly gone.
“I'll give it a try. Thank you.”
“Don't mention it. It's a small thing compared to all the help you've given me, senior.”
“It is a small thing.”
“……”
*The Itarium root was originally mine…*
*Ah, now that I think about it, wasn't this something I smuggled out of the first emperor's dungeon?*
*Ahem.* Pernyan cleared his throat for no reason.
*Speaking of which, that box…*
He'd completely forgotten. After a moment's thought, Pernyan finally took the box out of his subspace.
“Take this.”
“What is this?”
“It seems it can only be opened by someone of Armian blood.”
“What? Why do you have it, senior…?”
“Remember that place we went to before? Where the first emperor's providence lay sleeping.”
It was the place they had discovered when the ground collapsed during the second-year final exams, the one he had told Aint about.
It was also the place where Pernyan had saved Aint, who had nearly been killed by the Vile Breeds that had taken root there.
“I remember.”
“I found it by chance while searching to see if there was anything else there.”
“There was something else like this?”
“Where else would I have gotten it?”
“That's true, but…”
Aint, though feeling something wasn't quite right, accepted it.
“Ah, and don't be surprised no matter what happens during this practical exercise.”
“Huh? What do you mean…?”
Pernyan said no more. The carriage soon arrived at La Vie Douce Dormitory.
***
“Strengthen a golem with the root of an Itarium…?”
In theory, it certainly sounded plausible.
The root of an Itarium was an elixir that fed on metallic energy. Naturally, it was highly likely to have a beneficial effect on a golem, whose body was made of metal.
It was something one could guess with a little thought, but the reason Pernyan hadn't tried it until now was because he wasn't certain.
The root of an Itarium, the one obtained from the first emperor, was just too special.
But if Gardner had advised it, there was no longer any need to hesitate.
Of the five Itarium roots, one had gone to Rosalia's research, one to Aint, one to Jace, and another to Ruina back in Bercefe, leaving exactly one.
*How does it fit so perfectly?*
Not that it was a bad thing.
Normally, to create a golem with Itarium, one would have to refine the root into a core.
But Wooden was a spirit in the guise of a golem, a golem with the soul of a spirit.
Simply eating it should be enough.
“Wooden.”
- *Gung!*
“Want to eat this?”
- *Gung gung!*
When Pernyan took out the Itarium root, Wooden nodded its head frantically at the rich scent of the elixir.
But Pernyan immediately closed the container.
“No.”
- *Guuuuuung!*
Wooden, who had expected the prize to go straight into its mouth, let out a cry of despair. It pounded on Pernyan's shoulder with its tiny hands.
“Oof…! Ow, that hurts! Stop it!”
- *Guuung!*
“You're telling me not to tease you? Stop talking nonsense and get down now. That's an order.”
Wooden climbed down with a sullen expression.
“Listen carefully. I'm not saying I won't give it to you. I'm just not sure what effect it will have on you right now.”
It would surely be beneficial, of course. But he had no idea to what extent.
What if it ate the elixir inside the academy and its miniaturization was undone?
The secret weapon Pernyan had tried so hard to hide would be revealed to the entire world.
“So, you'll eat this after we leave the academy.”
- *Guung….*
“It can't be helped, even if you're disappointed.”
Finally, Wooden gave up and started to turn back into a necklace.
“Which is why we'll have to leave the academy for a bit.”
- *Gung?*
“It's not particularly difficult. The Golden Turtle Merchant Guild manages most of the academy's ships.”
It wouldn't take much time to stop by a nearby deserted island, strengthen Wooden, and return.
- *Gung!*
Wooden's face brightened.
***
The biggest difference between the first years and the other years was the existence of pairs.
The empire knew very well that knights and mages were inseparable in war.
Therefore, the academy provided time for them to understand each other and learn to work together.
This was the pair system, and the pairs chosen in the second year, after the transitional first year, would last until graduation.
Thus, choosing a pair at the academy was of the utmost importance.
“…Good, very good!”
In that sense, Aria had to admit she'd hit the jackpot.
“I look forward to working with you.”
“Me too!”
The one with common brown hair and pale skin, but with strikingly prominent golden eyes.
His family had half-fallen into ruin, but in an age where demons were rampant, he possessed greater potential than anyone.
Aint Armian was her pair.
It hadn't been that difficult, really.
“Aint, want to be my pair? The top and second-ranked students... our levels match up pretty well...”
“Sure. I'm comfortable with you, too.”
The pair was formed instantly, without her needing to list any of the seventy-seven reasons she had prepared to persuade him.
“I'm comfortable with you. The only people here I've fought demons with are you and Verian, and I can't pair up with Verian.”
“That was exactly the thirty-first reason I was going to mention.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It's nothing, never mind.”
Whatever the reason, pairing with Aint, who was beginning to spread his wings with the backing of the magnate Pernyan, was a satisfactory outcome.
- *Pernyan said not to be surprised no matter what happens, so it's highly likely the Vile Breeds will make a move.*
- *In that situation, there's no one more suitable than that knife-ear. Her intentions are obvious, but then again, so are mine.*
*‘The feeling is mutual.’*
The same was true from the opposite perspective.
“The practical exercise will now begin!”
And with that, the second years' first practical exercise began.