Chapter 147
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: A Grand Entrance
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He had obtained the immense treasure left by the first emperor, and Aint had gained an epiphany while fighting the chimera.
In the meantime, the academy had surmounted the small hurdle of the first semester’s midterm exams.
Pernyan wasn’t particularly concerned about his grades. For him, they were merely something to keep high enough to avoid being kicked out of the La Vie Douce Dormitory.
The problem was that his partner was far too formidable.
【3rd Year Knight Department Midterm Exam 1st Place, Ruina Bercefe.】
【3rd Year Magic Department Midterm Exam 2nd Place, Pernyan Fallenberg】
While they didn’t take every class together, they shared most of the major ones.
As a result, Pernyan had unintentionally earned good grades, and thanks to his superior note-taking skills, he had placed second in the midterms.
【3rd Year Magic Department Midterm Exam 1st Place, Carlo Deneve.】
First place went to Carlo Deneve.
It seemed he had been honing his skills over the winter break, as his abilities had improved dramatically.
“He hasn’t become a Vile Breed, has he?”
Pernyan shook his head.
To think he was now suspecting anyone who got a little stronger of being a Vile Breed. At this point, it was a sickness.
Carlo Deneve had always been talented. He had only been temporarily overshadowed by Pernyan, who had the even more brilliant Ruina by his side.
“It’s a good thing if the academy students’ standards are rising.”
Though they were ostensibly just students, they were some of the most renowned geniuses on the entire continent.
They were the future of the Empire, and by extension, the continent. Their growth was the demons’ misfortune.
【2nd Year Knight Department Midterm Exam 1st Place, Aint Armian.】
Pernyan was quite pleased to see that Aint, too, seemed to have found his footing.
Having absorbed all of the first emperor’s arrangements and shown astonishing growth fighting Andromalius and other demonic beasts, Aint Armian had become an unrivaled presence among the second-year Knight Department students after breaking through his limits in the battle with the chimera.
Aint Armian of the Knight Department and Jace Baintz of the Magic Department were now regarded as equals.
【Tragedy Strikes the Bercefe Family, the Wall Stands Firm, But Is This Sustainable?】
【Without the Bercefes, the North Would Have Fallen a Hundred Times Over…!】
【The Vile Breed Begin to Stir. The Time for a Pan-Continental Response is Now.】
【The Demons’ Natural Enemy Takes the Top Spot at the Academy!】
Next, he checked the newspapers.
They painted the invasion of the demon Kimaris in an even more terrifying light, driving home the need for a continental alliance.
“This looks good.”
“Yes. His Excellency took great care with it.”
And amidst it all, they subtly highlighted Aint.
It was all the Fallenberg family’s handiwork.
He was slowly setting the stage.
“Report.”
As Pernyan set the newspaper down, Hyde, who had been waiting, began his report.
“A rumor is spreading that Timon Baertz gained an epiphany thanks to Aint.”
“An epiphany?”
“Yes, they say he broke through a wall by sparring with Aint.”
“Sparring?”
Could he be talking about the spar where Aint had deliberately knocked him out to see if he was a Vile Breed?
‘He was pushed to his absolute limit and ended up having an epiphany?’
It wasn't entirely impossible.
More importantly, from Timon’s perspective, Aint was a powerhouse of a completely different caliber.
It wasn't so rare for someone to gain an epiphany through a spar with a stronger opponent.
“So he gave Aint a gift of gratitude and is said to be exceedingly friendly toward him.”
“The one who should have become a Vile Breed has instead become a follower of Aint. Is there any chance it’s an act?”
“Didn’t Aint say he checked him internally himself?”
“Right, he did.”
That made it all the more puzzling.
Had the appearance of a completely different Vile Breed named Abel changed the course of events, or was Abel just an extra, and Timon simply had ‘not yet’ become a Vile Breed?
“For now, it would be best to keep him by Aint’s side.”
If any changes occurred, Aint would notice immediately. If not, he would become a rather useful subordinate.
“What is Ludger’s reaction?”
“He must have heard the rumors, but he has yet to take any action.”
“It must be complicated for him.”
After the failed assassination attempt on Aint, Ludger had been keeping quiet.
The fact that Aint was also being quiet was probably driving him even crazier.
He could probably guess why Aint was laying low, but the human heart wasn't so simple.
“We’ll have to leave Ludger be for now. And…”
*Tap, tap.* Pernyan drummed his fingers on the table.
After obtaining the first emperor’s immense treasure, the next prophecy had yet to surface.
He had changed so much that even if one did appear, there was no guarantee it would be of much help.
In any case, the continent was currently quite peaceful.
Whether it was because the Vile Breed were lying low after Kimaris’s death in the Bercefe domain, or because of the Vile Breed hunts flaring up across the continent, it didn't matter.
Thanks to this, the academy had returned to a state most closely resembling the daily life he knew before obtaining the Prophecy Book.
“Since it’s peaceful and the new students have arrived, I should reopen the Masquerade Club.”
It wasn’t that the Masquerade Club hadn’t been held at all.
To be precise, Pernyan had been too busy dealing with matters from the Prophecy Book to attend.
“It would be good to hold a truly grand one for a change.”
“I will make the preparations.”
“Send new invitations to Senior Gismond and the first and second-ranked first-year students as well.”
“Yes, sir.”
He didn't know how long this peace would last, but this was a chance to return to the academy's true purpose.
A social venue where one could freely build friendships with talented individuals from all over the continent.
“Ah, and I’ve heard Verian Calburden and Yusta Pacar had a duel.”
“It’s not like those two not getting along is anything new.”
Pernyan had two goals this time.
One was the first-year students.
The other was to make Aint Armian the star of this social season.
‘Because the Armian family isolated themselves, Aint has no nobles he could call close friends.’
Pernyan himself, and Aria and Verian whom he had introduced, were exceptions.
‘To become emperor, relationships with other nobles are crucial. In that sense, the academy is the perfect place.’
Here, one could approach countless future high-ranking nobles without reservation, simply because they were all fellow students.
‘This moment, when the continent is tense due to the descent of demons, is the perfect time for Aint Armian to make a brilliant debut.’
He swept a hand through his hair.
***
“…What do you want me to do?”
Bella Hohen was flustered by the sudden visitor’s request.
“I want you to pick out some clothes. For Aint Armian.”
“And why should I do that?”
“Watching you pick out clothes for Ruina, I noticed you have quite an eye for fashion. More importantly, neither I nor anyone around me has much of an eye for clothing.”
“No, that’s not what I mean.”
Bella shook her head.
“Don’t try any funny business, Pernyan. The Hohens are always neutral.”
“I’m not trying any funny business. But think about it, Bella Hohen. Think about how things are turning out.”
“You just said you weren’t trying any funny business!”
Bella shouted.
How could she not know? She had eyes and ears.
The increasingly ominous situation on the continent and the rising name of Aint Armian.
The gap between Schwaben and Armian was still vast, but as long as demons continued to overrun the world, it no longer felt like an insurmountable wall.
The legacy left by the first emperor, the power the Armians held against demons, was just that potent.
On top of that, Pernyan Fallenberg had joined him, and lately, it felt like Ruina had also sided with them.
‘And Aria Friedien has been with them from the start.’
Even if the Friediens were newcomers, an Elector was an Elector.
By that count, that was already three.
Including themselves, three of the seven votes were likely to support Armian.
‘And that damn Saint, who’s no saint at all, was close with Pernyan…!’
The thought of that thick-skinned Saint who had tried to kill her, who had burned her from the inside out, made her grind her teeth.
“I understand what you’re saying. But there’s one flaw in your logic.”
“What is that?”
“That you are all heirs, not the heads of your families.”
The will of the family head becomes the will of the heir, but the reverse couldn’t be said to be absolute.
“On the contrary, why don’t you consider that this *is* the will of the family head?”
“The family head’s will?”
“No, my will.”
“……”
Bella gritted her teeth. If only she could slap the smug cheek of that man sipping his coffee so nonchalantly, it would be so satisfying.
“…Fine.”
But after much deliberation, she accepted Pernyan’s proposal.
Setting aside allegiances, having a foot in both camps was a virtue of an excellent merchant.
What was to stop her from placing one bet on Aint and another on Ludger?
Besides, the current proposal was too tempting to refuse.
‘If Aint really does become emperor, I’ll be kicking myself for refusing this offer.’
Wasn’t this a chance to build a personal connection with a future emperor?
And if things went the other way, she would just make the excuse that Pernyan had forced her.
The Hohen family’s main business was commerce, and much of it was tied to the Fallenbergs. If she claimed she was coerced, it would be seen as a reasonable excuse.
The Fallenbergs did have a history of using such methods, after all.
“An excellent choice. Ah, I forgot to mention, there are two more people besides Aint that you’ll need to pick clothes for.”
“Who?”
“One is your friend.”
“I was planning on picking out Ruina’s clothes anyway.”
Bella nodded calmly, as she had already intended to buy Ruina’s outfit.
“The last one is a stiff who owns nothing but priest robes.”
“…Jace, that damn bastard?!”
Bella exclaimed as if having a seizure.
“Do you dislike Jace?”
“Why would I like him! Have you forgotten he tried to kill me?”
“You didn’t die.”
“I almost died!”
“Ruina and I were there. You were never fated to die.”
“But he still tried to kill me!”
“That’s because you were a Vile Breed at the time.”
Bella shouted back, full of indignation.
“How was I a Vile Breed if demonic energy seeped into me without my knowledge!”
“In any case, I’ll take that as a yes.”
“Wait a minute, I don’t want to do Jace’s—!”
Pernyan vanished without even hearing her response.
Then the door opened again.
“…I wasn’t saying I wouldn’t…”
Standing there were Ruina, Aint, and Jace.
She wasn’t so cruel as to curse him to his face… no, that wasn’t it. Just seeing Jace brought back that nightmare, and she shrank back a little.
“Bella, could I ask you for a favor?”
“Hello, Senior.”
“It’s been a while, Senior.”
‘…That damn money-grubbing Pernyan!’
She really hated Pernyan.
‘You don’t avoid crap because you’re scared of it, you avoid it because it’s dirty. Right, same goes for crazy people. Dealing with them will only tire me out, so it’s best to just let it go.’
And Jace, too.
***
“…Today’s the day.”
A sigh escaped him automatically.
The day he had hoped would never come had arrived.
The academy’s premier social gathering, which had evolved from a social club to the Yacht Club, and finally to the Masquerade Club.
On the surface, Ludger was the one leading it, but in reality, it was Pernyan.
The reason was simple. Pernyan had funded the club with his own money.
“Aint Armian will be there too, I suppose.”
Pernyan was deliberately raising the stakes. What could that mean?
It meant he intended to firmly imprint Aint Armian in everyone’s minds.
“That Pernyan bastard, why is he backing Aint Armian so much?”
Did he really believe Aint Armian could become emperor, that the Armian family could rise again?
“That’s impossible.”
It would remain impossible no matter how chaotic the continent became or how many more demons descended.
The Schwabens had long worked to solidify their claim to the throne.
Though the recent attempt to change the empire’s name to Schwaben had failed, they were steadily continuing their efforts to secure the throne permanently.
Taking the Armian’s secret swordsmanship was one of those efforts.
“…But there’s no way Pernyan would know that.”
Even for a Fallenberg, how could he possibly know that the First Prince of Schwaben was learning the lost secret swordsmanship of the Armians?
“I can use this.”
At a critical moment, if he revealed this, would Pernyan remain by Aint’s side?
Especially when the only thing the Armians had over the Schwabens was their status as adversaries of demons through their secret swordsmanship?
“A Fallenberg would never do that.”
Among the seven Electors, the Fallenbergs were the most profit-driven. If they judged a cause to be hopeless, they would jump ship without a second thought.
Ludger decided to attend the Masquerade Club. He couldn’t just stand by and watch Aint become the star of the show if he were absent.
With the help of his ladies-in-waiting, he donned a splendid formal suit and a mask that covered half his face. Then, he boarded his carriage.
The masquerade ball was held in a massive mansion owned by the Golden Turtle Merchant Guild.
The ballroom inside was spacious enough to accommodate dozens of students and their attendants.
As it was a masquerade, arrivals were not announced as they were at other balls.
But a single mask could not conceal Ludger’s aura.
The moment he entered, the soft music faded, and all eyes turned to him.
Soon, a crowd formed around him.
“Your Highness. It has been a while…”
“Your Highness, I am…”
‘I’m glad I came. I’ve been cooped up for no reason.’
Ludger felt a surge of vitality when he moved through high society. He enjoyed it all the more because it was a confirmation of his power.
‘No matter how much of a name Aint Armian has started to make for himself, he can’t compare to me…’
It was then.
*Creeak—*
The door opened.
Those closest to the door instinctively turned their gazes.
And once fixed, their eyes did not move.
“What is it? Why are they staring…”
Noticing their strange behavior, others followed their line of sight.
More and more faces turned toward the door.
“What’s going on? What is there to…”
Ludger was no different.
It was two people.
A man with brilliant golden hair and an elf with soft, auburn hair.
The masks could not hide their natural presence.
But they were not what everyone was looking at.
To be precise.
It was the pure white bird perched on the man’s shoulder.
“Two pairs of wings…?”
“…No way.”
This is insane.
Ludger swore without realizing it. But no one around him paid it any mind.
“…Is that a Saint Bird?”
Ludger’s mouth fell open as wide as it could possibly go.