Chapter 159
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: Foundations for the Future
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A vast and magnificent hall.
Countless people filled the seats.
They all stared at the same spot, and the mage on the podium, who had been receiving their fervent gazes, bowed her head.
“…That is all.”
Snap. Rosalia flicked her fingers.
The massive mana stone combination vanished back into its box.
“…Ah.”
Sighs of disappointment echoed from all around.
It was proof that Rosalia’s research was nothing short of perfect.
Clap, clap, clap—
Soon, thunderous applause and cheers filled the hall.
“To think such a formula is possible…!”
“Just how many mana stones are linked together?”
“If this academic conference hadn't been reconvened, it would have been a disaster! To think we might have missed seeing something like that!”
“This is the discovery of the century! Magic is about to advance to a new level!”
“Just a little! Just show us a little more!”
“I’ll invest!”
Rosalia ignored their shouts and slowly descended from the podium. She brushed away the hands reaching out from all sides and shook her head.
“I am not accepting additional investments.”
Generally, mages present their research at the Continental Academic Conference for two reasons.
To gain fame.
Or to receive funding.
In the grand scheme of things, the two reasons were ultimately one and the same. People only invested once you had a reputation.
Given the nature of magical research, which required vast sums of money, not many mages could continue their work indefinitely.
They either had to be wealthy from the start, become a professor at an academy to receive support, become a priest of the Dragon God Cult and receive the cult’s backing, or receive support from a noble or a merchant.
But since positions at the academy and within the Dragon God Cult were limited, most mages ultimately had to choose the last option.
The Continental Academic Conference was the best stage to appeal for that last option.
However, the purpose of Rosalia’s research presentation was slightly different.
Having already received enormous funding from Pernyan, she had no need for additional investment. Nor did Pernyan want her to.
What Rosalia desired was fame. Not fame to acquire money, but pure, unadulterated honor.
And that honor was merely a means to her true objective.
“You’ve done well.”
“Not at all, Your Excellency.”
Rosalia, who had turned the conference hall upside down with her grand presentation, sat facing the master of Fallenberg in a luxurious private room.
Even under the gaze of the giant who ruled Fallenberg, Rosalia’s eyes did not waver in the slightest.
“Care to read it? It’s tomorrow morning’s paper.”
[A Study for the Ages…! Rosalia Vienderk Develops a Semi-Permanent Mana Stone…! The Continental Academic Conference Is Turned Upside Down!]
Rosalia smirked after reading the newspaper.
“Not bad.”
“I intend to support you with everything I have. In return, the Golden Turtle will acquire the rights to commercially use your research.”
“I heard from Pernyan. I will also do my best to assist.”
Pernyan had long ago created a roadmap to utilize Rosalia’s research through the Golden Turtle Merchant Guild.
And in return, Duke Ivon had agreed to support Professor Rosalia with the power of the Fallenberg family.
“But I have no interest in the wealth that may come from it.”
Although she had spent years researching the mana stone combination, Rosalia herself had little interest in the thing itself.
How it was used, or who profited from it.
What mattered was the fame and accomplishment gained by announcing it.
“I have a promise from Pernyan.”
“I’m aware.”
Tap, tap. Duke Ivon tapped the table with a steady rhythm.
“First, making you the Head Professor won’t be difficult.”
An already brilliant mage had produced such results. If he couldn’t make Rosalia the Head Professor, he would have to renounce the Fallenberg name.
“The problem is what comes next.”
Higher than Head Professor.
But that position was not one that just anyone could attain.
“It requires seniority, fame, and skill. In the long run, there’s no doubt you’ll get it, but…”
“I want to obtain it as quickly as possible. That is also why I took Pernyan’s hand.”
“Yes, so I’ve heard.”
Then there is only one way.
“You must build a monument that no one can deny.”
To be precise.
“First, you must become an Archmage.”
Archmage. The ten greatest mages on the continent, appointed solely by the Pope of the Dragon God Cult.
“Can you do it?”
“If it is necessary, then I believe it is what I must naturally do.”
As it happened, she had recently made a small achievement.
Rosalia nodded calmly.
* * *
“…Um, what’s this all of a sudden?”
Aint, who had rushed to wash up after training, smiled awkwardly.
The reception room of La Vie Douce Dormitory. Being here not as a guest but as a host felt strange.
“Aria?”
But the person who had summoned him was silently bowing her head, which made him a little uncomfortable.
What could the problem be?
“Look at this, Aint.”
Aria lifted her head. As if her previous somberness was a lie, she was beaming.
“This?”
It was a newspaper.
[Friedien’s Right to Speak Severely Restricted Throughout the Elector Council….]
Specifically, it was an article about the Friedien family.
“The other Electors ignored us during the council meeting, too.”
“…Um.”
Aint couldn't bring himself to speak. No matter what he said, it wouldn't be a comfort.
“I expected it to some extent. Things that have been happening for so long won’t change overnight. But I didn’t think they’d be so blatant about it that it would end up in the papers, you know?”
Aria’s lips twisted. Aint remained even more silent.
“……”
“……”
A heavy silence hung in the air. After a long moment, Aint spoke cautiously.
“…Are you okay?”
“Of course, I’m okay. I’m perfectly fine.”
Her smile grew even brighter.
“I told you, I expected all of this. It’s not like this is the first or second time.”
Her words were quite different from before.
“That’s why I came to see you.”
“Me?”
“Yes. I feel at ease when I see you.”
When the full-scale war with the demons began, Aint would become a hero. The Armian family would regain its power.
Would the empire’s political landscape remain the same then?
No. When the one in power changes, the waters below churn. The empire’s power structure would be shaken.
And that would be a golden opportunity for the Friedien family.
“Aint.”
“Yeah.”
“We’re friends, right?”
“Friends… right?”
“I want to help you with everything I have.”
“…Uh, thanks.”
“So you can’t forget me either. Got it?”
“Huh?”
That was why Aria had sought out Aint the moment she saw the article.
She wanted to be certain she was on the right path.
And.
‘If my brother sees this article…’
If she didn’t do at least this much, she would be too anxious.
Aria’s smile widened.
* * *
[Golden Turtle Merchant Guild Signs Cooperation Agreement with Rosalia Vienderk.]
A few days after Professor Rosalia presented her research at the Continental Academic Conference, my father announced that he had officially purchased the rights to her work.
“I can hear it, Hyde. I can hear the sound.”
“Do you mean the sound of money coming in, sir?”
“No, the sound of money crashing in like a wave!”
I had shackled Aint with his own money, and years of investment were finally beginning to pay off.
If only every day could be like this.
“There is something more important than that in the paper, however.”
“Nothing is more important than me making money. After living as a Fallenberg for years, you still don’t know your priorities.”
[The Elector Council, Which Concluded Yesterday, Yielded No Tangible Results.]
But he wasn't entirely wrong.
The front page of the paper contained news about the Elector Council, which was the next most important thing after money.
And the Elector Council had unfolded exactly as Pernyan had predicted.
Once the future where they were thoroughly beaten by Kimaris and Decarabia was gone, the Electors couldn't get their act together and engaged in a power struggle.
Naturally, no amicable agreement could be reached, and they had to be content with merely sharing the common idea that a coalition needed to be formed.
“As expected, coordination will take more time. I just hope the Vile Breeds stay quiet in the meantime.”
“They wouldn’t be demons if they were quiet, would they?”
“That’s true.”
But perhaps because most of the demons' plans had been thwarted, the Vile Breeds were surprisingly quiet.
Aside from two additional Vile Breed intrusions within the academy before the end of the first semester, nothing particularly noteworthy occurred.
The same was true for the prophecies.
[[A Pan-Continental Coalition is Formed, with the Empire and the Ten Kingdoms as Members!]
[The Coalition Will Continue Until All Demons Are Subjugated!]
“A coalition has been formed with the Schwabens at its head.”
- With the Bercefe family completely annihilated, the Schwabens have become the frontline, so I suppose their own house is on fire.
“If only they had done this sooner….”]
The prophecy where, after the complete fall of the Bercefe family, the Schwabens became the frontline and successfully formed a coalition under their leadership.
[A rebellion broke out in the Kingdom of Esrin, which is separated from the Altriark Margraviate by a single lake, and the government was overthrown.
A new king sat on the throne of Esrin.
Aint could not smooth the grim expression on his face at the news.
There were stories that demonic beasts had ravaged parts of the kingdom during the Esrin revolution.
“Do you think the Vile Breeds were involved?”
- The possibility isn't non-existent.
But aside from suspicion, there was nothing they could do at the moment.]
There were prophecies about a rebellion in the Kingdom of Esrin, but they were meaningless in the altered future.
Since the Bercefe family wasn't destroyed, the Schwabens didn't become the frontline and feel a sense of crisis.
And since a demon failed to descend in Valerich, the Crown Prince of Esrin didn't die, so no rebellion occurred.
‘Not that they’re completely useless.’
While those two were the most significant flows, they weren't the entirety of the prophecy.
The locations of minor elixirs.
The locations of minor ore veins.
The location of another of the First Emperor's contingencies.
And other minor pieces of information for making money delighted Pernyan.
Thus, the most peaceful time since obtaining the Prophecy Book passed.
“Finals are over!”
“Hooray! It’s vacation!”
“Wow, Pernyan’s top rank again.”
“Ruina’s become a total monster. Even Almon is no match for her…!”
[Academy 3rd Year, 1st Semester Magic Department Rankings]
[Top Rank - Pernyan Fallenberg
Second Rank - Ludger Schwaben
Third Place - Carlo….]
[Academy 3rd Year, 1st Semester Knight Department Rankings]
[Top Rank - Ruina Bercefe
Second Rank - Almon Doneretz
Third Place - Alia….]
Pernyan reclaimed the top student position at the academy, thanks to his first-place written exam score and Ruina carrying him on her back.
And so, the first semester of the third year ended.
Summer vacation began.
* * *
“…Again.”
[Academy 3rd Year, 1st Semester Magic Department Rankings]
[Top Rank - Pernyan Fallenberg
Second Rank - Ludger Schwaben
Third Place - Carlo Deneve….]
Carlo barely suppressed the urge to rip the announcement to shreds.
This time, he had not only lost to Pernyan but had also been pushed down by Ludger, falling to third place.
‘Why.’
He knew the reason. In terms of magical skill, he was the best of the three.
The reason he had fallen to third place was the difference in partners.
Ruina Bercefe had become even more of a monster in her third year.
Almon, too, had grown much stronger, though not to Ruina’s extent.
Above all, something had changed in Ludger, and his skills had improved enough to nip at his heels.
He was a brilliant mage, and his goal had always been to become an Archmage.
And every Archmage who had attended the academy had never once lost the top rank.
“…I can’t let this continue.”
This way.
His ambition to confidently reclaim the top spot had vanished, replaced only by anxiety.