Chapter 17
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: The Price of Silence
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“…Wait, collect? What do you mean by that?”
Ruina’s eyes grew somewhat fierce.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. If it weren’t for this guy, I’d have had no reason to use these items. Shouldn’t he be the one to pay the price? Personally.”
“Are you saying you won’t hand him over to the Inquisitors?”
Inquisitors.
A group with a long and storied tradition, existing since the dawn of the Empire.
They were an organization directly under the Emperor, whose foremost mission was to find and destroy demons.
“To those lot who are barely hanging on by a thread under the guise of tradition, with no real purpose?”
They had once wielded absolute power under the great cause of demon extermination, but that was all in the past.
A thousand years was an eternity. In all that time, the demons had not resurfaced, and the Inquisitors had lost their reason for being.
Yet, the Inquisitor system persisted for one reason alone: the first emperor had stipulated it in imperial law.
He had commanded that the institution of the Inquisitors must never be abolished, to prepare for the day demons would inevitably rise again.
But while they had not been abolished, their scale and authority had dwindled to almost nothing.
“What are you doing now?”
“I’m checking his condition.”
Pernyan took Verian’s wrist and channeled his mana, examining his insides. But he could not find a single trace of demonic energy.
‘I expected as much.’
He didn’t know what the Prophecy Book said about Verian’s future, but the demons had been operating in the shadows for the past thousand years without being discovered.
They wouldn’t be so careless as to leave traces of their presence behind.
‘Then why did it reveal itself against Aint?’
Was it because Aint was the seed of the imperial family that had brought them down? Were they trying to stomp out the seedling?
It was impossible to know without being the demon itself. And it wasn't particularly important right now.
“You check for yourself. As far as I can tell, there isn't a trace of demonic energy.”
“He emitted such a massive amount of demonic energy, yet there’s not a bit of it left?”
“So you believe in demonic energy?”
“I’ve never felt an aura like that before. If it wasn’t demonic energy, there’s no other explanation for it.”
*Of course, what I’m more curious about is how you know such things.*
Half-skeptical, Ruina checked his insides and was stunned.
“How can this be…?”
“In my opinion, handing him over to the useless Inquisitors won’t accomplish anything.”
Besides, even if they did find something, don’t you feel sorry for this guy?
Pernyan looked at Ruina with a gaze that seemed to chide her for her utter lack of compassion and continued.
“Marquis Calburden will abandon him. In the end, he’ll just become a demon’s plaything before meeting his end.”
“The moment he sold his soul to a demon, he forfeited any right to pity. And since when were you so full of compassion?”
“What if he didn't sell his soul to a demon?”
“…What do you mean by that?”
Ruina tilted her head, unable to understand.
“I mean, who's to say if this guy simply went mad, ate something he shouldn't have, or sold his soul to a demon? Not you or I, if we didn’t see it.”
“…Are you mad?”
Pernyan took a large step forward. Ruina flinched at his resolute gaze.
“We saw nothing, Ruina Bercefe.”
He gripped her shoulders.
“Nothing.”
“That’s absurd…!”
“Neither of us can sense any demonic power from him now. All that’s left is a pitiful body, half-dead from the aftermath. Where exactly do you see a demon?”
“Your sophistry cannot hide the truth.”
Pernyan shrugged.
“I’ll extend your interest-free period by another six months.”
“I will never…”
“Nine months.”
“Never…”
“Let’s make it an even year.”
“…I certainly saw nothing at all.”
The noble knight had succumbed to money.
* * *
Not a speck of light was visible.
In the pitch-black darkness, he could see nothing.
He walked aimlessly.
Just as his mouth grew dry and he felt utterly exhausted, the darkness lifted.
The center of the dueling arena inside the lecture hall.
He stood with a sword in hand, facing a man with golden hair.
‘Aint Armian…!’
His eyes became bloodshot. The battle erupted in an instant.
He swung his sword, marshaling everything he had ever learned. His blade was fast and sharp.
But his opponent’s sword was heavier. With every clash, his aura was chipped away.
Though both were being worn down, he was the one taking more damage.
‘Impossible…!’
He screamed, he shrieked, but no sound came from his mouth.
His body grew heavier and heavier. His aura was depleting.
‘Back then, if only I had done that! If only I had blocked there!’
Perhaps the outcome would have been different.
But in the end, it was he who fell to his knees again.
“The winner! Aint Armian!”
The name of the victor announced by the teaching assistant was not his.
Everyone was bewildered by the unexpected turn of events. At the same time, the world shifted.
This time, it was a reception room. The reception room of the La Vie Douce Dormitory, reserved only for the top-ranking students.
He scratched the back of his hand, waiting anxiously. A moment later, the door opened and Second Prince Ludger appeared.
‘Sor…’
Before he could say anything himself, his mouth opened on its own.
“…I apologize.”
The prince stared at him silently. A second felt like an hour.
After some time had passed, the prince finally spoke.
“What is there to be sorry for? It is simply that my expectations were a little too high.”
“I was unlucky. His mana was denser and more abundant than I expected. Next time, I am confident I will not lose next time. Please, believe in me.”
“Next time.”
The prince offered a faint smile and patted his shoulder.
“It seems a bit too soon to speak of ‘next time’.”
“Your Highness…!”
“For now, rest your body and mind. We will speak again when another opportunity arises.”
Without waiting for his reply, the prince stood up.
‘Your Highness…! Your Highness! No!’
He cried out desperately at the retreating back, but his voice wouldn’t come out.
The world around him shattered like glass, and darkness returned once more.
Only then did he realize this was a memory of the past.
A past riddled with regret, yet one that could never be undone.
The world turned upside down again.
“I’m disappointed. No matter how much those around you praise the name Armian, they are nothing more than a toothless cat.”
“Father… that’s…”
“No excuses. I am greatly disappointed.”
This was no longer a story of the past.
“Failing to handle such a simple mission. I’m disappointed, brother.”
It was a future that had not yet come to pass, but one that might—the most terrible future he could imagine.
‘No…!’
A future that must never happen.
“No!”
The world collapsed.
At the same time, the darkness vanished. His eyes snapped open.
“Hah, hah…!”
Verian gasped for breath, his entire body drenched in sweat.
“…A dream?”
If it was a dream, it was a truly terrible nightmare.
A thirst rose in his throat. He reached to his side, but there was no water. Only then did Verian take in his surroundings.
“…Where am I?”
This was neither his room in the La Vie Douce Dormitory nor a room in his family’s estate.
“What was I doing…?”
“You’re awake.”
At the sudden voice, he turned his head to see someone entering through the door.
“…Pernyan Fallenberg Sunbaenim?”
“You know me?”
“Is there anyone at the academy who doesn't know you, Sunbaenim?”
“I suppose not. Drink this.”
“Th-thank you.”
Verian took the water Pernyan offered and drank it.
“By the way, where is this?”
“No, that’s not what you should be asking.”
“Pardon?”
“Do you remember what happened?”
“…Well.”
Verian clutched his throbbing head.
Fragments of memory returned.
He had charged at Aint Armian and been defeated once more. He couldn’t accept it and had done something dishonorable.
And then.
And then…
“…I don’t remember anything after that. What happened?”
“It’s a sad thing to have a gap in your memory. I’ll be kind enough to tell you.”
Pernyan placed a small, spherical gem on the table.
It was a recording sphere, one he had placed along with the traps to document the scene.
*Flash—*
As he infused it with mana, the recorded image began to play.
“…Is that me?”
Verian was horrified by the sight of himself in the video, a version of himself he couldn’t believe. And by the end, his jaw hung open in shock.
“…What is this?”
“You sold your soul to a demon and then attacked us.”
“A demon? Th-that’s impossible. I don’t even know what a demon is. I’ve never even met one!”
Pernyan knew that better than anyone. But it didn’t really matter.
“Do you think the Inquisitors who see this video will think the same? What about other people? Like, say, Marquis Calburden?”
“…That’s.”
Verian’s face turned deathly pale. He realized then that the senior who had saved him had not done so out of kindness.
“…What is it you want from me?”
“As you can see from the video, many things were consumed to stop you.”
“I’ll repay you. Double—no, triple.”
“And fighting a demon’s servant has taken a great mental toll on me as well.”
“That…”
Pernyan took a piece of paper from his coat.
“What you have to do is simple. Sign here. Then all of this will have never happened.”
Verian cautiously examined the document.
“…This is an absurd contract. It's complete slavery…”
“You seem to be mistaken about something.”
Pernyan leaned his upper body forward slightly.
“Do you think I’m making you an offer?”
Pernyan’s eyes turned cold.
“You have exactly two choices.”
Be captured by the Inquisitors.
Or sign the contract.
“Choose.”
Will you die, or will you become a slave?
There was no need to waste money persuading him.
* * *
The monsters' frenzy had been anything but ordinary, and the academy's professors and teaching assistants had all been mobilized to bring the situation under control.
Fortunately, no students had died, but the midterm exam was canceled midway through.
“Everyone has worked hard. I know you must have been startled by the sudden situation. All exams for the next two days have been canceled, so please rest and recover.”
The injured were all taken to the academy’s medical center, and Aint returned to his dormitory unharmed.
- Quite strange.
Sir Gardner Alpenparsen muttered.
- The frenzy was clearly the work of demons.
He had felt a faint, yet pervasive, demonic energy.
Over a thousand years, humans had forgotten the very existence of demonic energy, but Gardner had not.
- But there was no follow-up. Why?
“Isn’t it a good thing if there wasn’t?”
- Do not let your guard down. These are demons. A most vile and detestable breed.
- They do nothing without reason. Every action has a purpose. And that purpose is never beneficial to humanity.
- And if the demons are scheming and targeting someone, nine times out of ten, it will be you, Aint Armian.
“…Huh? Why me?”
- Because to demons, the name Armian is an enemy etched into their very bones.
A thousand years ago, as the demons were defeated and beheaded, they had all lamented.
- ‘If only the first emperor hadn't existed, if only the Armians hadn't existed.’ If I were a demon, I would start by wiping out the Armian bloodline.
“……”
An inexplicable chill ran down Aint’s spine, and he swallowed dryly.
- For some reason, nothing happened this time, but never let your guard down and follow my guidance closely.
- That is how you will survive.
“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”
- In any case, it's truly strange. Could some fellow have accidentally ruined the demons' plans?
“That’s an interesting theory.”
Aint chuckled and entered his dormitory.
And at that very moment, that “some fellow”…
“Kughhh…!”
Unable to bear the splitting headache, he collapsed onto the bed.
[“Congratulations, Aint. That’s amazing.”]
[“Don’t say that, Valoci. It’s nothing compared to you.”]
[“No, what’s amazing is amazing.”]
[“That’s right. Going from 38th to 5th place in half a semester. That’s an unbelievable growth rate.”]
[Someone suddenly cut in. It was a beauty with an impressive short, orange bob and emerald eyes.]
[“Aint Armian. Right?”]
[“And you are…?”]
[“Aria Friedien. From the Magic Department.]
[Knight Department required course, *Field Survival Tactics*.]
[After the midterm exams, the students were thrown into the Southern Forest for a week.]
[- This is for the best. The previous emperor arranged for something to be in this lake. I'll take that and….]
[Jackpot… Aint muttered. An elixir of brilliant color….]
[- A spiritual beast? The thief is acting like the master! You’re no match for it, so for now, run…!]
[- Mithril! It’s a mithril vein!]
A portion of the locked Prophecy Book was flooding in.