Chapter 146
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Building a Foundation
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“Isn’t it about time you started preparing?”
It was on a day like any other, when Aint visited Pernyan’s office to pay his usual visit to Silver.
Pernyan, who was in high spirits after a sip of warm coffee, threw out some bait.
“Preparing?”
“A demon has been summoned, and it’s becoming clear that Vile Breeds are spreading across the continent like a cancerous tumor. This is no longer a problem confined to the academy.”
The demon was a continental issue. Naturally, the scale would grow.
“Humans form groups, they live by interacting with one another. No matter how strong you are, you can’t do anything alone. You absolutely need a faction to support your fame and power.”
Even without the demon, if Aint dreamed of becoming emperor, this was a problem he would have to solve eventually.
An emperor was one who reigned above all, not one who stood alone.
“I’ve been thinking about it, but it’s not easy.”
“The academy is a gathering place for talent from all over the continent. It’s overflowing with people from good backgrounds. Making them your own will surely be a great help.”
“Yes.”
Aint knew this, which was why he had brought Verian to his side first.
However, while some within his year followed him, expanding his influence further was difficult.
They were still wary of Ludger and the Schwabens.
No matter that Aint was a hero and demons had appeared, the gap between the Armians and the Schwabens was an insurmountable wall for now.
“But the first priority should be your background, your roots. No one seeks shade from a weed. Only under a mighty tree will people rest in its shade.”
Aint understood what that background implied.
“But the Armians are too weak.”
It would be a relief if they were merely weak. They were living in seclusion, chasing past glories while turning their backs on the world.
What could he possibly do with them?
They had only one knight order and one magic corps, and their standards were objectively far below those of the other Electors.
And their private army numbered only one hundred.
It couldn't be helped. Everything needed to train and maintain knights, mages, and soldiers was money.
And the Armians, having lost most of their territory, lacked the wealth to maintain anything more.
“Even so, you can’t put it off forever. The Armian family is your foundation, the background that the people who will support you to the very end—your allies—can trust in.”
Therefore, that background had to be grand and magnificent.
“I’ll give you the money.”
“…What?”
“To be precise, I’ll lend it to you.”
- *Refuse, Aint!*
- *Objectively, that guy has helped you a lot, but borrowing money from a Fallenberg is a different matter!*
Even without Gardner telling him, Aint already knew.
The most prominent example was the affair with the Bercefes.
The Fallenbergs, who had made the Bercefes sell the rights to the Golden Bull, knew they needed more money and blocked others from lending it to them.
In the end, the Bercefes had no choice but to turn to the Fallenbergs for a loan at a much higher interest rate.
Although their attitude had changed since last year, the public consensus was that the Fallenbergs had been determined to uproot the Bercefes.
“I’ve been very grateful for everything you’ve done for me, Sunbaenim, but this is a bit…”
“Afraid I’ll rip you off?”
“…To put it bluntly, yes.”
“Then let’s write a contract. I’ll set the interest rate at five percent annually.”
That was more than fair; it was the lowest possible rate.
Aint felt a subtle temptation. To seriously rebuild the Armian family, he definitely needed money.
“What about the other terms?”
- *No, Aint! Don’t fall for it!*
“The term will be ten years, and if you’re unable to repay it when the term expires, I’ll allow a one-time five-year extension. The interest is simple, not compound.”
And the amount.
“As much as you want.”
“…What will you do if I name an impossible sum?”
“Don’t worry. There is no one on this continent with more money than the Fallenbergs.”
That had always been true, but now that they possessed the immense treasure left by the first emperor, they were on a completely different level.
“If you wish, I can have it clearly specified in the contract. I promise there will be no hidden clauses.”
“Really…?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t swindle the hero who will save the continent. After all, if the continent falls to the demons, money becomes meaningless.”
His words were, in their own way, persuasive.
- *Ahem, you absolutely shouldn't fall for it…*
- *That’s a surprisingly convincing argument, just like him. These terms are actually quite good…?*
It was more than good. The standard imperial interest rate on loans was typically eight percent annually, compounded.
Of course, that was just the average; many charged several times that.
“Thank you for the generous offer, but this isn't a decision I can make alone. I’ll discuss it and let you know.”
“Alright. Speaking of which, is His Grace the Duke doing well?”
The Duke was the head of the Armian family.
Like the other Electors, he had been a king before the Empire was founded. After being incorporated into the Empire, he was granted the title of Duke, but it was a title long forgotten while the Armians held the imperial throne.
“Yes.”
“Has he said anything about your achievements?”
“To be honest, I haven’t seen him once since enrolling in the academy.”
He had spent both his summer and winter breaks working as a mercenary in Prasia rather than returning home.
“Perhaps because of that, I received a letter from my father. He said he has much to say and that I must return home this summer break.”
“News of you wouldn’t have just bypassed the Armians. It’s perfectly understandable.”
The head of the Armian family was probably the one most surprised to hear about his son’s exploits.
After living in isolation from the outside world for so long, the son who had suddenly declared he wanted to attend the academy was now being called a hero.
*‘How will he react?’*
Would he tell Aint to keep his head down and just preserve the family line, or would he trust Aint and offer his full support?
Honestly, the former seemed more likely than the latter.
If he were the kind of family head who wasn't afraid of the Schwabens, he would have already taken action.
*‘The latter would be nice, but it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t.’*
He had plenty of money, and with that money, he could build a background for Aint one way or another.
Pernyan was confident.
***
“Timon, is it true that Sunbaenim Aint beat you black and blue?”
“I heard he beat you until you passed out.”
“You’re wrong. We sparred, it wasn’t a beating.”
“You mean a beating disguised as a sparring match?”
“So he’s a hero, but not as gentle as he seems.”
“Cut the crap. The person involved says it wasn’t, so why are you all making a fuss?”
Timon Baertz scowled at his friends’ malicious gossip.
“I requested the spar first, and Sunbaenim accepted. It was a bit rough, but for a knight, that level of intensity is to be expected.”
Although he had passed out after dozens of bouts, Timon believed it happened because Aint considered him special.
*‘My skills were enough to stimulate his competitive spirit.’*
Otherwise, there was no reason for him to pick on a junior and keep at it.
Putting himself in Aint’s shoes made it even clearer. Timon, too, wouldn’t feel the need to spar with someone not worth fighting.
“And most importantly, thanks to him, I broke through a wall.”
“For real?”
“You broke through a wall?”
Breaking through a wall meant reaching a new level of mastery. His friends’ eyes widened at the news of his growth.
“How on earth?”
“It’s all thanks to Sunbaenim Aint’s excellent guidance.”
It wasn’t a lie.
Timon Baertz had never pushed himself, nor been pushed, to such an extreme in his life.
The spar with Aint was the first true hardship he had ever faced, but that hardship had allowed him to grow.
Naturally, the reverence for Aint in his heart grew even deeper.
*‘Sunbaenim knew what I was lacking and sparred with me that way for a reason…!’*
Otherwise, it would be impossible to have an epiphany at just the right moment.
Basking in his friends’ envy, Timon stood up from his seat.
He hadn’t been able to visit Aint for the past few days due to the aftereffects of the excessive sparring, but he was feeling better now.
*‘I must express my gratitude.’*
Even an animal knows the master who feeds it.
To receive a personal sparring session and even gain an epiphany from it, and then not offer a word of thanks, would be inhuman.
Timon, carrying a pile of gifts, spotted Aint chatting with his friends at a café.
“Sunbaenim Aint!”
His booming voice drew everyone’s attention, but Timon paid it no mind and bowed his head toward Aint.
“Thank you, Sunbaenim.”
“…Oh, hello. But thanks for what?”
“Thanks to you, I broke through a wall!”
“…A wall?”
Aint’s eyes widened. So did Verian’s and Aria’s.
“What’s this, Aint? What did you do to this guy?”
“I didn’t really do anything…”
He had just knocked him out in a spar-disguised beating and checked his insides to see if he was a Vile Breed.
He never imagined that would serve as a catalyst for an epiphany.
“Please accept this, Sunbaenim!”
Timon set down the gifts he had brought.
“These are high-grade potions from the shop. I hope they will be of use to you.”
“…No, this is too much.”
“Please, accept them. Don’t make me into a shameless person who receives help and gains enlightenment, only to say nothing in return.”
Put that way, Aint had no choice but to accept.
“May I sit next to you?”
Aint was about to refuse when he recalled his conversation with Pernyan.
*‘I decided to keep a closer eye on him.’*
For now, at least, it was better to keep him close than to push him away.
“Do as you please.”
“Thank you!”
“By the way, did your friend come with you?”
“My friend?”
Timon looked behind him.
A first-year student with sharp features was standing there.
“Yusta Pakar? No. Yusta didn’t come with me…”
The one called Yusta ignored their gazes and stood before Verian.
“Verian Sunbaenim, I request a sparring match.”
Contrary to his polite tone, his eyes were challenging.
“Verian. Do you know him?”
“I’m not sure if I should say I do or I don’t…”
Verian let out a dry laugh.
“Aint gets a first-year bringing him gifts, and I get some pest buzzing around me.”
“If you are afraid, you may refuse.”
“Follow me. I’ll make you realize the difference in our levels.”
Verian shot up from his seat and left. Yusta followed behind him.
“…What was that about?”
“The Calburden and Pakar Marquisates are hereditary rivals. The two families are famous for their bad blood. They’re full of competitive spirit. The Calburdens have a slight edge, but the Pakars aren’t far behind.”
If a new Elector were to be chosen, nine out of ten people believed it would be one of those two families.
Because of this, many people compared the two families, which only fueled their rivalry further.
“You know a lot of details.”
“When it comes to the Empire’s nobles and their relationships, I know pretty much everything.”
Aria shrugged her shoulders.
“Sunbaenim Aint.”
Aint turned his head and met a pair of rather intense eyes.
“…What is it?”
- *This kid… his eyes look like those of the fanatics from the Dragon God Cult back in the day…*
“This might sound out of the blue, but.”
Timon whispered softly.
“I want to stand by your side.”
***
In a tavern in Prasia, teeming with mercenaries.
“……”
A bald mercenary, who had been chewing on a large chunk of meat, paused.
“Captain? What’s wrong all of a sudden?”
“Nothing, the meat just tastes a little off. I can’t eat anymore.”
“…Can’t eat anymore? You already finished it all.”
Instead of answering his subordinate, he put down the bone and stood up.
“I’m heading up first.”
He went up to the private room on the third floor and locked the door.
“Report.”
*Sshhh,* a shadow rose from the floor.
“Using the eye of Andrealphus as bait, Abel Kalens engulfed everything and was incinerated. They are unaware of what happened after.”
“Who figured it out?”
“As expected, that paranoid demon of suspicion figured everything out and made his move. Furthermore, Aint Armian appeared to be following Pernyan Fallenberg’s orders.”
“This incident makes it even clearer. That man is more dangerous than Aint.”
He couldn’t wield the same disgusting power as Aint, but his interference, born of paranoid suspicion and immense authority, was a major obstacle.
“Is he dead, by any chance? I hope so.”
“He is alive. It would have been great if he’d been caught in the blast, but…”
“He’s the kind of man who would anticipate a suicide attack. He wouldn’t have been caught so easily.”
He held no lingering regrets. In a way, it was better this way.
“So, how was the aftermath handled?”
“He was processed as having withdrawn from the academy. It is believed the president and Pernyan colluded on the matter.”
“Excellent. Their attempt to hide it instead of making it public will be their fatal mistake.”
*Khuhuhuhu,* he burst out laughing.
Lately, his plans hadn’t been going well. He realized that Aint and Pernyan were the cause of it all, so he changed his methods.
The first step was a good one.
Their attempt at a cover-up would inadvertently help his side. As long as they didn’t turn the entire academy upside down, it would be difficult for them to find out.
“He was definitively killed by Aint. They wouldn’t think to look for what comes next.”
“Yes, that is correct. Since the body vanished completely, just like in the cases of Andromalius and Kimaris, they are even less likely to suspect a next step.”
“The president must be furious. He’ll react in some way. Send in the next one immediately. The more they deal with our threats and let their guard down, the riper the time will become.”
And the moment that ‘time’ became ripe…
“Will be the moment the cradle of the Empire collapses.”
His side would have to endure some losses, but it didn’t matter.
“Ah, if Pernyan or Aint happen to leave the academy, take a shot at them, even if it’s a bit reckless. If you succeed, great. If you fail, it will serve as a diversion.”
“Yes, sir.”
The carriage had already begun to move.
As humanity began to place one obstacle after another to stop it, they had to smash through those obstacles and advance.
By any means necessary.