Chapter 149
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: The Elector's Summit
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After the Masked Club's masquerade ball ended, the academy was in an uproar.
“Did you hear the news? They say a Saint Bird appeared.”
“I heard Aint Armian is raising it.”
“Wow, where did he get a Saint Bird? Was it even possible to raise one in the first place?”
“From what I heard, the Armian family has been raising it for generations. There’s even a passage in the historical texts about the first emperor riding a Saint Bird and beheading demons.”
Aint had simply enjoyed the ball with the Saint Bird perched on his shoulder, but those who saw it couldn't dismiss it as a mere eccentric act of carrying a bird on one's shoulder.
“Is Armian finally trying to break their silence?”
“Otherwise, there’s no way they would have revealed the Saint Bird they’d kept hidden.”
“The timing is perfect. Aint Armian caught the Vile Breeds who ruined the Continental Academic Conference, and a demon descended in Bercefe. And he reveals the Saint Bird now? This has to be intentional.”
No one considered this to be Aint's unilateral act.
They regarded it as a highly calculated move by the Armian family.
A hero had awakened in response to the appearance of a demon.
They thought that Armian would finally step back into the forefront.
It was just as Pernyan had intended.
As rumors about Aint Armian and the Saint Bird spread not only through the academy but across the entire continent, a flood of inquiries and visitors began pouring into the academy.
However, it wasn't just positive reactions, of course.
“I’m sorry. This is all because of me…”
“It’s not something you need to be sorry for.”
No, it was something to be sorry for. The President corrected himself.
“Are you aware? The eyes of the entire continent are on the academy. Letters fly in every day, and many people are coming in person.”
Because of this, the President temporarily restricted the academy to block outsiders. The island was on the verge of being overwhelmed.
“I assumed as much.”
“Where on earth did you get a Saint Bird? No, never mind. It must be something the Armian family has been hiding.”
The President sighed. Aint, too, felt no need to explain how he had obtained it, so he let the President's misunderstanding stand.
“Frankly, revealing the Saint Bird is your prerogative, so I won’t say anything about it. But what about Schwaben? You must have known that this is no different from a declaration of war against them when you did it, right?”
“Yes. I am aware of that much.”
Strangely, they were quiet for now, but Schwaben was not a family to stand idly by.
The demon, Armian, and the Saint Bird.
This public opinion, which had the continent in a frenzy, would inevitably turn in Armian’s favor and against Schwaben.
“Seeing how unshaken you are, Pernyan must have persuaded you well.”
“Pardon?”
“Why so surprised? Most of the academy knows. That Pernyan is supporting you from the shadows.”
They had done too much together to hide it.
Aint was aware of this fact, but he was flustered because he hadn't expected the President to bring it up so openly.
“To be honest, I have no interest. Whether you join hands with Fallenberg or not, whether Armian and Schwaben fight over the imperial throne or not.”
None of it.
The President had no such lust for power. The authority of the academy’s president was considerable, but that was a separate matter.
“I don’t care if you plot with Pernyan or not, but just keep one thing in mind.”
Within the academy.
“If you cause trouble for that reason, it will not be to your benefit.”
Whether you are Armian or Schwaben.
“This is an academy where students learn. Do not forget the meaning of an academy.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
Aint found himself nodding unconsciously at the President's chilling gaze.
- Even after a thousand years, an Archmage is still an Archmage, I see.
- I thought they would have grown weaker on average compared to a thousand years ago, dulled by peace, but my worries were unfounded.
“I, too, have no intention of causing trouble at the academy. I wish to attend peacefully.”
“It’s good that our intentions align.”
The President smiled brightly and drank his tea.
“Now, let’s get to the main point.”
“Wasn’t that the main point just now?”
“That was just a warning. Not to do anything foolish in my domain. If this had been the main point, I would have called Pernyan, not you.”
The main point was about to begin.
“As you know, after the descent of Andromalius, I turned the academy upside down. I caught exactly thirteen Vile Breeds.”
“Yes.”
“But not long after, another Vile Breed appeared. And one with a rather serious problem.”
He was talking about Aaron, who had been hiding in Professor Rosalia’s laboratory. Aaron was the one who had planted a demon’s seed in her research.
It was dreadful to imagine what might have happened if Pernyan hadn't discovered it in advance.
- A demon would have likely descended during the Continental Academic Conference.
- Then, the many people who attended the conference would have died.
- And someone would have had to take responsibility for it.
It was a disaster. Preventing it beforehand was a true stroke of luck.
“And now, another one has appeared.”
“You’re talking about Abel.”
“Correct.”
The President’s brow furrowed.
“I was dumbfounded. In Aaron’s case, I had turned the place upside down, so I let my guard down, thinking there were no more. But Abel’s case is different.”
After the Aaron incident, the President secretly searched for Vile Breeds in the academy.
But he hadn't found a single one, and just as he concluded there were truly no more, another problem erupted.
“But he wasn’t someone already at the academy; he was a new student, wasn’t he?”
“Then his admission should have been blocked in the first place.”
“Because you didn’t step in, President…”
“If we were infiltrated by Vile Breeds because I didn’t step in, shouldn’t we question the academy’s competence itself?”
It was unclear whether the Vile Breeds were exceptional or if the academy was incompetent.
But the President judged it to be the latter.
No matter the excuse, a breach was a breach. And that was a disgrace to the academy.
“So, I have a favor to ask of you.”
“What is it?”
“It seems that even I cannot match you when it comes to finding Vile Breeds and demons.”
The President admitted his own shortcomings.
“So, help me. Won’t you join me in making the academy a clean zone, free of a single Vile Breed?”
And he requested a helping hand.
“I’ll make sure the compensation is not disappointing. I may be just an old man now, but I’ve lived a long time and have accumulated quite a bit.”
“Does that mean…”
“They’re all things I won’t need when I die anyway, but wouldn’t they be quite useful if you’ve decided to raise Armian up again?”
The President chuckled.
Pernyan would have been horrified if he had heard this.
***
Meanwhile, Pernyan was having a private meeting with Professor Rosalia in her office.
“You’ve been visiting often lately.”
“I have some new information. Something that I believe will pique your interest, Professor.”
Pernyan took out a letter.
“This came from my father this morning.”
“From His Excellency, Duke Ivon?”
“……”
After reading the letter, a peculiar light flickered in Rosalia’s eyes.
Pernyan was right. The letter contained information that would indeed pique her interest.
“To hold the ruined Continental Academic Conference again.”
“The venue is still Valerich, and the date is two weeks from now…”
The continent was in turmoil due to the Vile Breeds’ disturbance and the descent of the demon.
Nevertheless, the reason Vienderk wanted to hold the Continental Academic Conference again so soon was to show that they were still standing strong.
To successfully hold the conference that had been ruined once before and restore their shattered pride.
“According to the letter, all seven Electors of the Empire have agreed. The Continental Academic Conference will definitely be held.”
But unlike Vienderk or Fallenberg, the other Electors’ true purpose was not the Continental Academic Conference.
It was a sort of pretext, an opportunity.
“All the Electors or their representatives will attend. There, for the first time, demons will be officially discussed.”
Invitations were sent to the Electors who lead the Empire, as well as to the influential figures of each nation.
Alongside the Continental Academic Conference, the first discussion about humanity and demons will take place.
If the talks go poorly, it will be a mess, but if they go well, a continental alliance might even be formed.
“In such a historic moment, if your research is presented, Professor, it too will be remembered in history.”
“Not buried?”
“Making sure it isn’t buried is my role.”
“For me, it’s better to present it even a day sooner. If you say so…”
At that moment, Rosalia’s words began to fade.
Nothing special had happened.
It was just that, as always, the contents of the Prophecy Book surfaced along with a splitting headache.
Pernyan endured the pain, fixing his expression and posture to appear as attentive as possible.
The Prophecy Book opened.
[“They say the Electors’ summit is being held in Vienderk.”
Aint folded the newspaper.
- After Seere’s descent at the Continental Academic Conference, Vienderk must have been living, but not truly alive.
- They would have tried to make up for their mistake somehow, and that must be the Electors’ summit.
Taking the first step toward a human alliance in a place stained with the blood of dishonor. That is what Vienderk is aiming for.]
‘An Electors’ summit?’
It wasn't much different from the current future.
The only difference was whether Seere was summoned or not. And the scale of the resulting damage.
In the original future with immense damage, even mentioning the Continental Academic Conference was impossible, but things were different now.
[“All eyes are on Valerich.”
The man nodded at the shadow's report.
“With Seere’s descent, a sense of crisis that war with us is imminent already envelops them.”
Just as a thousand years ago, humanity will inevitably form an alliance. The best they could do was delay it slightly; it was an unstoppable tide.
Therefore, the Vile Breeds and demons chose a different path.
“It doesn’t matter if this incident heightens their sense of crisis.”
In return, we will erase Bercefe from existence.]
Another unknown figure appeared. The plan they spoke of was a disaster that had to be stopped if it were to happen.
[“D-Demonic beasts…!”
“It’s a demon! A demon has descended!”
“Hold the line! If you retreat, everyone will die! Buy time for your families to escape!”
Tens of thousands of demonic beasts.
“Khuhuhu, it’s been a while since I’ve breathed the air of the middle world.”
“Don’t be so frivolous, Decarabia.”
“Mind your own business, whatever I do.”
And two demons. The legion they led began to crush Bercefe.]
In the Prophecy Book, Bercefe fell tragically.
[“Father!”
“You must flee, Ruina. I entrust the people of our domain to you. From this moment on, you are the head of the Bercefe family.”
“You have to come too, Father…!”
“There are two demons. Someone must stay behind to stop them so our people can escape. And besides me, there is no one in Bercefe who can do that.”
Knights of the lion! Soldiers!
“Give me your lives! Die for Bercefe. But you will not be alone. I will be with you until the very end.”
“We offer them willingly!”
“Long live the Margrave!”
“Long live Bercefe!”
The Margrave charged toward the demonic beasts with his five thousand soldiers. Knowing it was a suicide mission, not a single one retreated.
“Father…!”
“Sunbaenim, we have to go! If we don’t, everyone will die a pointless death. We must go to the Ashdov County!”
Aint cleared a path, casting Sacred Light.]
The Margrave led his final legion, save for the minimum needed to assist Ruina, and faced the demons.
Thanks to their desperate struggle, the refugees arrived safely in the Ashdov County.
‘Did Fallenberg and Aint join forces in the original history as well?’
Ashdov was one of the Fallenberg family's territories. It was home to the Golden Turtle Merchant Guild’s numerous merchant and warships.
‘It seems he cooperated with Aint to prove the family’s innocence after excommunicating me. Well, that is indeed the most certain way.’
[“…What in the world is the Empire doing! We have protected the Empire for a thousand years! But when we were in danger, where in the world were they!”
While tens of thousands of demonic beasts and demons ravaged Bercefe, the Empire offered no help.
Aboard the ship heading for the Pandrein Continent, Ruina repeatedly fainted and regained consciousness.
And the day before arriving on the Pandrein Continent, on a night with a bright full moon, Ruina came out onto the deck.
“Sunbaenim…”
Her complexion was gaunt and pale, but her eyes were utterly chilling.
“Aint. You will fight the demons to the very end, won’t you?”
“Of course. The demons are invaders who cannot coexist with humanity. I will annihilate every last one of them.”
“…I will become your sword.”
She murmured softly.
“I will cut down all your enemies.”
She was perfectly calm, yet Aint felt a chill.
“So, kill every demon.”
She drew her sword.
“Behead every last one of them. Then, until that final moment.”
She offered her sword to Aint.
“I will be by your side.”
Tears of blood streamed from Ruina’s eyes.]
There were other prophecies as well—such as the flustered Electors accelerating the formation of an alliance after the demon invasion, or providing generous support to the fallen Bercefe—but none of them registered.
‘Is that what would have happened to Ruina if things had gone according to the original timeline…?’
Imagining Ruina Bercefe swallowing tears of blood and vowing revenge sent a shiver down his spine.
But he quickly shook it off. After all, that was a future that would never come to pass.
In fact, it was a joyous occasion.
“What is it?”
“It’s nothing. I think you should definitely attend this conference.”
Pernyan shook his head at Rosalia’s words.
Despite that, he couldn't completely suppress the corners of his mouth from turning up into a smile.
“You’re hiding something.”
“I’m not. I was just imagining how much money we could rake in if we present your research, Professor…”
“…I don’t think that was it.”
“It was.”
‘You plan to destroy Bercefe while everyone’s attention is on the Electors’ summit?’
Go ahead and try, if you can.
‘Now that Kimaris and Decarabia are dead, what can you possibly do?’
He felt more at ease than he had at any point since he started seeing the prophecies.