Chapter 178
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 178
Chapter Title: A New Semester, Old Ambitions
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The academy reopened, and Pernyan's second semester of his third year began.
“Let's have another good semester.”
“You too.”
Ruina handed him a small box.
“What's this?”
Inside was a sculpture of Wooden, shining gold.
“A gift to thank you for all your help, and in hopes we'll continue to work well together.”
“Wooden?”
“Yes. I'm not sure if it's well-made, but...”
“It's a perfect likeness.”
-*Peek*!
Hearing its name, Wooden, who had been hiding in his clothes, peeked its head out.
It then waved happily at its golden counterpart.
“Get back in.”
Pernyan hurriedly pushed Wooden's head down. Fortunately, no one but Ruina had seen.
“Is this gold?”
“Yes. I was trying to think of a gift, but it seemed you didn't need anything.”
Because Pernyan only cared about money, and nothing but money. So, Ruina had gotten a gold ingot from her father and carved it herself.
“You did this yourself?”
“Yes, using aura.”
No wonder the cuts were so clean, as if magically treated, despite the slightly crude overall shape. She had used aura.
“Do you like it?”
“I'd like to hire you as a craftsman for my guild.”
“You flatter me.”
“I'm serious.”
A typical craftsman could never achieve Ruina's level of precise aura control, and the knights who could didn't do craftwork.
If he hired Ruina as a craftsman, he was confident he could package and sell the jewels she crafted at a much higher value.
‘If she becomes a Royal Knight, its value would be even more dazzling.’
A jewel crafted by a Royal Knight herself.
He was confident he could sell it for a fortune.
‘Most importantly, this is the first piece Ruina has ever crafted...’
Its value was even more brilliant. Pernyan quickly closed the lid, lest even a speck of dust get in.
“Thank you. I really like it.”
“I'm glad.”
“I don't really have anything prepared for you...”
“It's alright. I've received so much from you already.”
True, he had given her a lot. But while that might be fine for others, he couldn't do that to Ruina, one of the most important people to him.
“This is for you.”
He took two boxes of chocolates from his subspace and handed them to her. It was the Kraken Ink Chocolate and the World Tree Bark Chocolate she had said were the best.
“Didn't you say you didn't have anything prepared?”
“I always have these stocked, so it's not like I specifically prepared them.”
“...Even though you don't even like chocolate.”
“Just because I don't like it doesn't mean I shouldn't have it. That's a prejudice.”
“...Who said anything?”
A faint blush crept onto Ruina's cheeks.
“How was your vacation? Your aura seems much more stable.”
“I had a small breakthrough.”
“Again?”
How long had it been since her last enlightenment?
‘As expected of a companion of Aint's, certified by the Prophecy Book.’
Ruina's potential was truly astonishing.
Making Ruina his ally was the very first thing he did after obtaining the Prophecy Book, and it was clearly the best decision he would ever make.
“I was lucky. While fighting a group of demonic beasts remaining in the snowfields, I pushed myself to the limit and...”
But as her explanation continued, he couldn't help but frown.
So she was saying she almost died?
It wasn't surprising for knights or mages to gain enlightenment in real combat, in a life-or-death crisis. But looking at it another way, it meant she had nearly died.
‘After all the support I've given her?’
The tree I've been diligently watering and fertilizing almost died before it could bear fruit?
I won't let that happen. If she dies, I'll use whatever means necessary to drag her back, even from hell itself.
He took a top-grade potion from his subspace and handed it to her.
“What's this?”
“Don't you ever die, Ruina. Ever.”
“......”
At his words, Ruina's face turned as red as it could possibly be, but Pernyan didn't notice.
“Pernyan Fallenberg.”
Because someone had approached Pernyan.
Black eyes glinted from behind long, blue hair.
“Carlo Deneve?”
“This semester will be different.”
“Of course. Every semester is different.”
“I'm talking about our grades and the Magic Tournament.”
“Do as you please.”
Pernyan had no intention of participating in the Magic Tournament anyway. As for grades, he'd just ride Ruina's coattails.
“By the way, did you spend your vacation living in the mountains? Your hair is a mess.”
“...This is proof that I had a productive vacation.”
“Looks like you were training in the mountains.”
“...Think whatever you want.”
Carlo returned to his seat.
‘Struggle all you want.’
Honestly, it was a pity for him, but Pernyan doubted Carlo could ever beat Ruina, no matter how hard he struggled.
‘Not that I'd intentionally get my notes wrong for his sake.’
He would never do something so foolish.
As Pernyan's gaze lingered on Carlo's back, another figure caught his eye.
‘Ludger?’
He approached and sat down next to Pernyan.
“It's been a while, Pernyan. Surprisingly, nothing much happened this vacation.”
“I don't recall ever causing any trouble.”
“Not so much causing trouble as being at the center of things? Last winter vacation, you were in Bercefe.”
Well, that was true. And though Ludger didn't know it, he had actually been at the center of an incident this vacation too.
“By the way... Hmm, never mind.”
Ludger shook his head once and turned his gaze to the front. Just then, the professor entered the lecture hall.
* * *
“Hello, everyone. I'm Ahgrot.”
The 21-year-old dwarf, Ahgrot, stood confidently at the front, trying his best to hide his pounding heart.
Amidst the sparsely filled seats, the gazes of dozens of students were fixed on him.
“Ahkroto is a special transfer student joining our academy. It's not common, but it happens from time to time, so don't discriminate against him for showing up suddenly. Treat him well. Got it?”
“Yes!”
“I have a question.”
Someone raised their hand.
“What is it?”
“You mean he's a student like us, not a new professor?”
“...I'm 21 years old.”
“So he is. He looks a bit old for his age, but don't discriminate. Treat him well. Ahgroto, go ahead and take any empty seat.”
“...My name is Ahgrot, Professor.”
“Right, Ahgroto.”
The professor waved his hand dismissively.
It seemed less that he didn't know the name and more that he simply didn't care.
‘Pernyan said they'd treat me well for sure.’
What was the professor's name again? Grad something, I think.
Ahgrot quickly scanned for an empty seat.
“Sit next to the guy with blond hair and brown eyes. His name is Aint Armian. He's an acquaintance of mine, so if you mention my name, he'll treat you well. If you ask him to go hunt Vile Breeds with you, he'll welcome you with open arms.”
“Are you Aint?”
“Do I know you... no, wait. You know me?”
He'd gotten it right on the first try.
“I've heard a lot about you from Pernyan.”
“You know him... ah.”
So he's the one who got you transferred in. Aint understood the situation more clearly now.
“If he sent you...”
Aint's voice trailed off.
“Have you ever fought a Vile Breed?”
“Not Vile Breeds, but demonic beasts. I had some help from Pernyan.”
“Alright, I get it.”
Aint extended his hand.
“I'm Aint Armian. It's good to meet you.”
“Ahgrot.”
“Everyone, quiet down. Next... you. No need for an introduction, I suppose. Take a seat anywhere.”
“Yes, Professor.”
The second student also sat down next to Aint.
“Long time no see, Aint.”
“We just saw each other a little while ago.”
“Don't you remember that was last winter?”
The prodigal son who had left the academy, Barus Dne, had returned.
* * *
After his first lecture ended without incident, Pernyan requested a meeting at the faculty building, which was granted shortly after.
“So the idiot has arrived.”
Professor Rosalia said, a cigarette dangling from her lips.
“Are you referring to me?”
The last time he had seen her was in Valerich, where they had gone together to attend the reopened Continental Academic Conference.
She had remained in Valerich until the vacation period.
“Didn't you say you'd call yourself an idiot if you ever got someone into the academy through illicit means?”
“I said I'd be an idiot if I got someone *unqualified* in through illicit means.”
“You said no such thing.”
“Then I'm saying it now.”
“So you're saying that short little dwarf is qualified.”
“He's a strong dwarf. He'll be quite useful, too.”
He was a companion of Aint's, certified by the Prophecy Book.
And Aint's companions, led by Ruina and Aria, were all showing excellent growth.
Ahgrot, too, was useful now and would continue to be so.
“How did you convince the headmaster?”
“I made a rather large donation.”
It wasn't just the donation; he also persuaded him by mentioning the Vile Breeds. The process wasn't exactly smooth, but the result was good.
“What a waste. It would have been better if you'd invested that in me.”
“Isn't your research finished?”
“I have no plans for now, but you never know when I might start again.”
“They say the rich always want more. Professor, aren't you already set to earn money for the rest of your life from this contract?”
“...Are you really saying that to me?”
As if greatly shocked, Professor Rosalia's mouth fell slightly open. The cigarette she was holding dropped to the floor.
“I must have been temporarily insane from all the research stress. To hear such words from you, of all people.”
“...Is it that shocking?”
“Enough. I don't want to talk about it anymore.”
Professor Rosalia picked up the cigarette and put it back in her mouth. She lit it and took a deep drag.
“You've worked hard.”
“Hard work?”
“Thanks to you, I've earned quite a lot of money. It's all because of you, Professor.”
“Back then, you were the only one, a wet-behind-the-ears kid, who dared to invest a huge sum in my young self. It's your achievement, so there's no need to thank me.”
At the time, Professor Rosalia's research had a drawback regardless of its potential: her young age.
No matter how renowned she was as a genius in Vienderk, she was still just a child.
Above all, when even her own family wouldn't invest in her, it was unthinkable that anyone else would readily step forward.
They would assume it reflected the Duke of Vienderk's intentions.
The only one who could ignore all that was Pernyan, who had learned the sweet taste of money from a young age.
“Still, I never expected to see results so quickly.”
I thought it would take at least twenty years.
“I'm more brilliant than you know.”
“Yes, so it would seem.”
Pernyan adjusted his posture.
“So, have you spoken with your father?”
“I have.”
*Tap, tap.* Professor Rosalia tapped the ash from her cigarette into an ashtray.
“We've decided to proceed this winter vacation. It's thanks to you. I gained a rather significant insight from the box you gave me.”
“Didn't you say it was only a small insight back then?”
“The deeper I delved into it, the more profound it became.”
“...Are you saying you had another breakthrough?”
Instead of answering, Professor Rosalia took out a new cigarette.
“...What on earth is that box?”
“You shouldn't be asking me that.”
“That's true, but...”
Who in the world made that box?
Was there such a brilliant mage by the first emperor's side?
‘The first Dragon God Pope?’
The most outstanding mage of that era was known to be the Pope of the Dragon God Cult.
Perhaps the Pope of that time was an even greater archmage than Pernyan had imagined.
“...In that case, have you decided who it will be?”
The positions of Royal Knight and Archmage are all limited.
To become a new Archmage, someone must vacate their position.
“Duke Ivon seems to be quite the coward. And I clearly stated that anyone would do.”
“There's no reason to choose a lower probability when a higher one is available.”
“Even if it's 0.001%, if I'm the one doing it, it's 100%.”
Professor Rosalia asserted with confidence.
Pernyan knew her confidence wasn't baseless, but still, one could never be too sure.
“Even so, you can't.”
Your opponent will be an Archmage.
Her great first step was about to begin.
That step could not be allowed to falter from the very beginning.
Not by Pernyan. Nor by his father.