Chapter 137
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: The Black Knight's Intervention
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“Are you certain assassins have infiltrated the academy?”
Attempting to assassinate a descendant of the former imperial family was an immense crime.
Even if he were a simple noble, assassination was a grave offense. Killing Aint Armian would undoubtedly draw even greater condemnation.
The Armian name held a special significance in the Empire, especially with the demons on the rise.
And yet, Schwaben was attempting an assassination.
This meant three things.
One, they had an alternative for dealing with the demons even if Aint died.
Two, they were confident they would never be caught.
And three, they felt a profound sense of crisis.
“Yes, but we can’t find how they got in.”
Schwaben’s confidence stemmed from two sources.
The fact that they had obtained the Armian family’s secret swordsmanship, and the power of their authority.
Pernyan had Hyde secretly trace the assassins’ entry route into the academy, but he had found nothing.
“They must have come on the regular ship that travels to and from the academy. Whether they snuck aboard or came in disguise, there should be a trace.”
“To investigate all of that, we’d have to use the Golden Turtle Merchant Guild. And if we do that…”
“Schwaben will notice.”
Besides, there was no guarantee they would find anything even if they turned everything upside down. Schwaben wouldn’t have made such a bold move without a contingency plan.
Doing so would only get the plan canceled and put them on higher alert.
And what if they played innocent?
With no concrete evidence, that would be the end of it.
“So, we cannot reveal anything until we have definitive proof.”
Another approach was to investigate the professors or teaching assistants sponsored by Schwaben.
But again, if they denied it, there was no pretext to press the matter further.
“But I just can’t wrap my head around it. No matter how much they want to keep the throne, would they really try to assassinate Aint Armian?”
For one noble to attack another was tantamount to a declaration of war.
Disputes between nobles were not uncommon in the Empire, but this was a different matter.
Schwaben was not just any noble family; they were Electors, the imperial family.
And their target was also an Elector.
In the thousand years since the Empire’s founding, there had never been a conflict between Electors.
Everyone knew it would endanger the Empire itself.
“The Armian family may be half-ruined, but they’re still Electors…”
“That’s precisely why. Because they are still only half-ruined.”
But what if Aint managed to restore the Armian family to its former glory?
They might never get another chance. No, they wouldn’t.
“This will be their first and last chance. It also means they perceive the Armian family’s growth and the current situation as that serious.”
The demons would continue their descent, and Aint would only grow stronger.
Considering how the first emperor came to rule the Empire, their assessment was quite accurate.
“My influence is likely a factor as well.”
By now, everyone knew that the Fallenberg family’s allegiance lay with the Armians.
‘In the original future, that wasn’t the case, but my father gave Aint my letter of excommunication.’
Was it just the letter? He had likely promised a certain degree of cooperation as well.
Supporting the adversary of the demons was the most certain way to prove that his family had not fallen to them.
In the original future, that must have been what made them feel threatened.
“I’ll see you later then.”
“Yes. Please be careful.”
Hyde couldn’t follow him to his temporary teaching assistant post, so he dutifully sent Pernyan on his way.
“This is the second time I’ve had to follow someone else’s class. I’m not a babysitter…”
Pernyan clicked his tongue and headed to the second-year students’ practical training site.
“Still, there’s always a ‘what if’.”
According to the Prophecy Book, Aint would handle it himself, but the possibility of things going differently always existed.
Pernyan’s goal was to prevent that ‘what if’.
* * *
The second-year students’ practical training was conducted in the same manner as Pernyan and Ruina’s the previous year.
Each pair had to arrive at the destination at a designated time.
The rugged mountain terrain was home to demonic beasts, and the students were all competitors.
Among the 100 pairs, two stood out.
The top student of the Knight Department, Aint Armian, and the second-ranked student of the Magic Department, Aria Friedien.
And the top student of the Magic Department, Jace Baintz, with the second-ranked student of the Knight Department, Valoci Vienderk.
The combination of top and second-ranked students swept through all the other students wherever they went.
“Jace…?”
“I shall bestow upon you, the wandering soul, the blessing of the Dragon God.”
“That’s fire!”
“It is the warmth of the Dragon God’s heart.”
“The ground is melting! What nonsense are you spouting?!”
Of course, there were no students who could easily block Jace’s flame magic.
“Kuh…! We just started, couldn’t you go a little easy on us?!”
“I’ve started wanting that top spot again myself.”
And none could stand on equal footing against a determined Valoci’s blade.
It was the same for Aint and Aria.
“A typhoon is coming!”
“It’s Aria! It’s definitely Aria! We have to run… urk…!”
Aria’s wind magic disoriented the students, and through the chaos, Aint’s sword flashed.
“Isn’t this too much?!”
“What a strange thing to say. What’s ‘too much’ in a competition?”
“You cold-blooded elf!”
“If an elf has no blood or tears, they’re a dead elf.”
“What?”
“Will you be eliminated quietly, or become a dead elf?”
“……”
The two pairs eliminated students as if in competition with each other, and eventually, they came face to face.
“……”
“……”
“…Is there really a need to fight right now? There are still plenty of other students, right?”
“I agree. I see no need for us to be hostile toward each other when there are so many other blessings bestowed by the Dragon God to attend to.”
“…Our Saint has spoken. See you later, Aint.”
“Farewell, Valoci.”
There was no fierce battle.
There was still plenty of time until the deadline, and it was more profitable to save their strength for later rather than exhaust it now.
And there were eyes watching them.
‘So that’s Aint Armian. The elf beside him must be Aria Friedien.’
Three figures were perfectly camouflaged within the mountain’s nature.
They quietly followed Aint’s pair and Jace’s pair until they were a good distance apart.
‘He seems stronger than expected.’
‘It doesn’t matter.’
Even in their decline, they were still the Armians, and their heir was formidable enough to make Schwaben feel threatened.
The leader of the masked figures did not underestimate Aint in the slightest.
‘What should we do about Aria Friedien?’
‘Take care of her as well.’
It was unfortunate, but they planned to disguise the attack as one from demonic beasts. Killing them both to leave no survivors would make it perfect.
‘We just need to graze them with our weapons.’
Whether it was a sword, dagger, or throwing knife, all their weapons were coated in a poison extracted from a demonic beast.
It was a potent toxin that could kill even skilled individuals instantly and leave even top-tier experts to wither and die.
‘The targets are heading toward the objective point.’
The objective point was the location they had chosen for the assassination.
On their signal, the professor and teaching assistants sponsored by Schwaben would temporarily create a blind spot, diverting all attention from the area.
Their plan was to finish off Aint and Aria during that window.
Before long, they reached the vicinity of the objective point.
“Looks like there are no other students around here.”
“How about we sleep here for today and leave tomorrow? The sun is setting, and with no one around, it feels safer, don’t you think?”
“That doesn’t sound like a bad idea.”
There, the targets casually began to set up camp at the designated spot.
‘The perfect situation. We’ll wait a little longer until it’s completely dark.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Yes, sir.’
As the sun set, the leader covertly signaled a nearby teaching assistant, and the presence of anyone else in the vicinity quickly vanished.
Finally, only the three assassins and the two unsuspecting campers remained.
‘Get ready.’
The assassins held their breath and slowly approached the campsite.
‘Aint Armian is standing guard.’
‘Number 1. You and I will take Aint Armian. Number 2, you will finish off the sleeping Aria Friedien.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Yes, sir.’
At that moment.
“You don’t look like students.”
A quiet murmur.
‘How?’
Their concealment was so subtle that even professors would have trouble detecting them.
It was good enough for Schwaben to trust them with this mission.
But Number 1’s eyes met Aint’s, who had pinpointed his exact location.
Without a moment’s hesitation, he threw his daggers.
*Clang!*
Sparks flew as the daggers were deflected.
“Aria, wake up! We’re under attack!”
The tent flap burst open, and spears of wind flew toward Number 1 and Number 2.
The wind spears were deflected. The two assassins advanced without the slightest hesitation.
*Clash—*
Aint and Number 1 collided. Wind spirits clashed with Number 2.
Aint and Number 1 exchanged dozens of blows in an instant.
Though they were assassins, their skills surpassed those of most knights, enough to hold their own against Aint for a short while.
But ultimately, a fundamental difference in swordsmanship existed.
*Clang!* Number 1’s sword flew into the air. His body staggered, and Aint’s sword pierced his side.
“Got you.”
“……!”
Number 1 grabbed Aint’s sword. He had used his own body as bait to lock Aint in place.
And right after that.
—Aint, behind you…!
The leader’s silent blade, which had been lying in wait for an opportunity, struck.
It was completely unexpected, as Aint’s senses had failed to detect him.
‘Too late…!’
Even if he let go of his sword and tried to escape, the enemy’s blade was faster.
The most he could do was twist his body as much as possible, turning the fatal blow aimed at a vital spot into a wound on his side or shoulder.
Aint gritted his teeth.
In that instant—
—*Thud!*
A black knight plummeted vertically from the trees.
*CLANG!*
It deflected the leader’s sword in a single blow and threw a punch. With a loud crash, the leader’s body was sent flying.
“…Wooden?”
—*Thump!*
At Aint’s murmur, the black knight waved its hand cheerfully.
“Wooden, behind…!”
That brief moment of respite gave the leader an opening. Having already recovered from the shock, the leader’s sword stabbed at Wooden’s neck.
*Clink—*
“…Clink?”
A heavy impact, a strange noise, and a dagger that wouldn’t penetrate. The leader’s eyes widened.
Simultaneously, Wooden’s fist slammed into his abdomen. The leader screamed as he was thrown back.
“Wooden, break his limbs.”
—*Thump!*
*Clang!*
*Clang!*
The leader swung his sword again, but the result was the same.
As Wooden thoroughly stomped on the leader, Pernyan removed the poison capsule from his mouth.
“Are you alright?”
“…Don’t tell me this is the ‘unusual matter’ you mentioned back then?”
“Yes. I received information that you were being targeted. I was preparing just in case.”
“But who…?”
To Aint’s confused eyes, Pernyan answered calmly.
“I have my suspicions, but no certainty. So I can’t say for sure just yet.”
“Please, tell me even if it’s just a suspicion. Is it the Vile Breed again…?”
“It’s Schwaben.”
“……!”
Aint’s eyes widened.
“Why would Schwaben… me?”
“I doubt you can’t guess the reason.”
“Then all the more reason to…!”
Aint, who had been about to protest, paused.
Pernyan guessed that Gardner was assessing the situation and persuading him.
“…I understand. I see what you mean.”
“Good that you do. We’ll interrogate this one, but it’s unlikely we’ll get anything. Schwaben wouldn’t handle things this sloppily.”
“Yes.”
“And even for me, it’s difficult to find evidence when they’re this determined.”
“…Yes.”
“And if this becomes public while the demons are descending, the Empire will be divided.”
That was, in fact, the biggest problem.
It was why the Aint in the Prophecy Book had let it go, despite suspecting Schwaben.
For now.
‘Originally, I was just going to watch if possible.’
He had to step in because there was one more person than in the prophecy, where there had only been two.
It was worth becoming a temporary teaching assistant to prepare for something like this.
“Excuse me, Sunbaenim! It’s great that you’re having a chat, but could you give me a hand? Why are you talking as if it’s all over? Why is the genre over here so different from over there?!”
Just then, Aria, who was still in the middle of a fierce battle with Number 2, shouted.