Chapter 18
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: The Butterfly Effect
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Chapter 18.
“Your Grace, this is the recording sphere sent by the young master.”
The duke took the small sphere from his butler and stared at it blankly.
“So, this is it.”
Not long ago, while the duke was briefly away, the treasury had been raided by Pernyan.
What he had taken was the Heart of a Saint Bird, a mystical beast as rare as a phoenix.
It was one of the treasures stored in the Class-1 vault, its value beyond measure.
“You said Hyde took it himself.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
If Hyde had acted, it was by Pernyan’s will.
Although a formal request for withdrawal had been submitted, Hyde had taken it directly via a teleportation circle before approval was even granted.
Each use of a teleportation circle required a vast amount of mana stones and a team of mages. For that reason, even the duke avoided using it unless it was absolutely essential.
‘Using a teleportation circle like that, and acting before formal approval was granted…’
He must have judged the matter to be of the utmost urgency.
The withdrawal of the elixir and the use of the teleportation circle were clear acts of overstepping his authority, but for that very reason, the duke held his tongue for the time being.
Though his recent behavior was unusual, he knew Pernyan was not the type to act recklessly without reason.
Besides.
“I will bring back satisfactory evidence within a month.”
The withdrawal request even included the rather plausible promise of submitting evidence.
Pernyan never made empty promises. If he said something, he delivered, and he never uttered words he couldn’t back up.
That was how he had raised his son.
So he had waited, and finally, today, a recording sphere had been delivered.
“But I doubt this will be enough to satisfy me.”
The request had stated it was to be used for something of critical importance.
“And yet, he just handed it over to Aint Armian…”
The duke’s eyes grew cold.
The Armian family. A house half-ruined, a mere shell of its former self. They held the honor of being the former imperial family, an Elector, but they were nothing more than that.
There was no need to offer them such a valuable gift while minding the Schwabens. At least, that was how he saw it. No, everyone in the empire would think the same.
So why had Pernyan made such a choice?
“What was Schwaben’s reaction?”
“We do not know. The young master delivered it with such discretion that we will likely never find out.”
“That’s a relief, at least.”
But only just.
“Let’s watch this first, then we’ll decide what to do next. Butler, will you join me?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
The duke infused mana into the recording sphere, activating it.
And then.
“……”
“……”
After viewing the entire recording, the grim expressions on the faces of the duke and his butler did not soften for a long while.
* * *
Pernyan visited the merchant guild.
“Build another warehouse on this plot of land and fill it to the brim with potions, healing, and relief supplies.”
“Sir? Why all of a sudden…?”
“The number of injuries increases during the exam period. They will be of great use.”
“Still, filling an entire warehouse seems like too much… Ah, never mind. I will see to it as you command.”
The executive, silenced by a sharp glare, quickly nodded his head.
Pernyan didn’t blame him. Frankly, if their roles were reversed, it would be a natural objection.
If he hadn’t seen the future, Pernyan wouldn't be doing this either.
The descent of Andromalius. This was a small preparation for that day.
“Ah, and here are the documents you requested, Young Master.”
The flustered executive hurriedly handed a stack of papers to Pernyan.
“But why have you suddenly decided to become a temporary assistant instructor?”
“I have my reasons. You may leave.”
At Pernyan’s dismissal, the executive bowed and exited.
“…Yes. A very good reason has emerged.”
Pernyan took out a piece of paper and jotted down the visions of the future that had come to him during the night.
The previous night had been as excruciatingly painful as the first time he was struck by lightning. But the reward for that agony was sweeter than ever.
“Once the futures I already knew came to pass, the next ones appeared. Is this how it’s going to be from now on?”
The circumstances suggested so, but it wasn't a perfect pattern, as fragmented visions had also appeared unexpectedly not long ago.
‘There were four main points of importance in this new future.’
Aint meeting Aria Friedien, one of his key companions, as he becomes a famous figure among the first-years.
The first-years’ unified field survival training class.
A spirit beast and an elixir.
“And mithril.”
Aint and Aria’s meeting was already a known fact, so there was nothing special about it.
What mattered was that an incident would occur during the first joint class for the first-years, right after the midterm exams.
In the process, Aint would encounter a spirit beast, obtain an elixir, and discover mithril.
Now that he knew these facts, Pernyan could not simply stand by.
“I don’t need the spirit beast or the elixir.”
No, those had to go to Aint from the start. They were the foundation of his growth for fighting demons.
“But.”
Pernyan circled the word ‘mithril’ several times.
“The mithril is mine.”
Mithril.
A metal said to be blessed by mana, a treasure so rare that its price was whatever the seller demanded.
With its outstanding mana retention, storage, and malleability, mithril could be used to create superior artifacts.
But the abilities of mithril, as seen through the Prophecy Book, did not end there.
[- Good heavens, a mithril vein.
When the spirit beast fell, the rear wall collapsed, and through the cracks, mithril ore could be seen scattered about.
- You must mine it all, Aint. Don’t leave a single piece behind!
“Of course!”]
[- It should yield about 5kg once smelted. That’s an incredible amount.]
[- Mithril is a vessel superior to any other metal. It’s called a metal blessed by mana because it naturally contains it. But that’s not all.
- This sword is also an alloy made with mithril. That’s how my soul was able to inhabit it.]
“…An ore that can contain souls.”
Soul magic was a field with little research, as it was considered almost taboo due to its risks. Thus, no one knew that mithril was a metal capable of containing even souls.
In that, Pernyan saw a new possibility.
“If I have this…”
With 5kg of mithril and this new property, the final, crowning touch to the merchant's combat style he had always imagined could be completed.
“It’s mine.”
As for any butterfly effect caused by him taking the mithril, he would just smother it with financial support.
“It absolutely must be mine.”
His eyes burned with greed.
* * *
Although a problem had occurred during the Knight Department’s first-year exam, the midterm exams themselves could not be canceled.
Therefore, the academy changed its strategy.
“Due to safety concerns, all practical exams for this midterm have been canceled. They will be replaced with written exams.”
“Ah…”
“No…!”
“That’s so much more to study…!”
At the professor’s words, students clutched their heads in despair.
“Studying is something that should be done regularly. This will be a good opportunity to see who the diligent students are.”
‘This is actually better for me.’
For Pernyan, it was an improvement.
After all, theory had always been his strong suit.
With all practical exams replaced by written ones, the midterms proceeded much more quickly.
“Students who have completed the exam may submit their papers and leave.”
Each time, Pernyan was one of the first to leave the examination hall. He then used the remaining time to knock on a professor's office door.
“An application for a temporary assistant instructor position?”
Flick. Professor Rosalia’s brow furrowed as she meticulously reviewed the documents.
“Is there a problem?”
“There are so many problems I don’t know where to begin.”
Professor Rosalia closed the file.
“This program is for upperclassmen who are short on credits.”
Temporary assistant instructors were upperclassmen who served as safety officers during the practical training of lowerclassmen.
It was typically for upperclassmen who needed to make up for poor grades, but since it sometimes came with bonus points, students aiming for the top ranks would occasionally apply.
“I’m a bit short on credits myself. I took it easy during my first year, enjoying academy life.”
“Did pairing up with Ruina Bercefe suddenly spark a desire for the top rank you never had before?”
“I figured I should at least be on par with my partner.”
Still, it was impossible. She shook her head.
“Upperclassmen can serve as assistant instructors because they have fewer required courses as they advance. If you miss your own classes to act as an assistant, you’d be putting the cart before the horse.”
“That’s why I’d like to try it just this once.”
“The first-years’ first joint survival class is a week long. It’s impossible, even for upperclassmen.”
Missing an entire week would inevitably interfere with several courses.
“I understand that the assistant activity can substitute for an identical course.”
It wasn’t just 『Magical Survival Techniques』. For large-scale practical training like this, it was common to bundle three 5-credit courses together: 『Combat, War, and Magic』 and 『Study of Demonic Beasts and Monsters』.
Just like the second-years’ first joint practical training.
In other words, serving as a temporary assistant instructor would cover all three.
“That leaves 『Introduction to Runic Language』, 『Understanding of Hand Seals, Incantations, and Formulas』, 『Composition and Principles of Magic Circles』, 『Elementalism (Earth)』, 『Intermediate Alchemical Magic』, 『Mana Stone Processing and Crafting』, 『Golem Magic Engineering』, and 『Study of Magical Equipment』.”
Professor Rosalia listed the required and elective courses Pernyan was taking.
“If you want a higher rank, you shouldn’t be missing these classes.”
“One absence won’t be a major issue. And 『Golem Magic Engineering』 is assignment-based, so I don’t need to attend in person.”
“Must you go to such lengths?”
“If I want to climb the ranks this late, I need to put in a little more effort, don’t I?”
She stared at Pernyan intently. Pernyan did not avert his gaze.
“According to academy regulations, there are two conditions for serving as a temporary assistant instructor.”
“One is to be ranked within the top ten, and the other is that you cannot participate in the practical training of students in your own year or higher.”
As it was a job that involved managing other students in relatively dangerous situations, a clear difference in skill level was required.
“And I happen to meet both of those conditions.”
Pernyan was ranked tenth in the Magic Department, and the exam he was targeting was for first-years.
“…Fine. There are no issues according to the regulations, so I will process it as you wish. However, you will be fully responsible for the consequences.”
“Thank you.”
Pernyan bowed his head.
Indeed, going through Professor Rosalia, who wouldn’t raise an issue as long as it didn’t violate the rules, had been the right choice.
‘Still, I hope I can just get through this as a simple assistant instructor.’
He was preparing for the worst-case scenario, but acquiring the mithril while acting as an instructor was truly a last resort.
Pernyan sincerely hoped this ‘what if’ scenario would not come to pass.
* * *
“…I can finally breathe. My head was throbbing.”
Crunch. After finishing a sweet piece of chocolate, Ruina let out a deep sigh.
“The exams must be difficult.”
“I’d much rather have a sparring match or a practical exam. Of all things, they had to be replaced with written tests…”
Just because she was a knight didn't mean she was all brawn and no brains.
The basic knowledge and culture required of a knight were quite high-level, and no one admitted to the academy could be a fool.
Nevertheless, as a knight, her preference for practical skills over written tests was likely a matter of habit and instinct. After all, she had earned her second-place rank through her practical abilities.
“By the way, is that matter resolved now?”
“Probably.”
“That’s a very ambiguous answer.”
“It’s not like I know everything.”
He couldn't remember the entire Prophecy Book, so he had no way of knowing whether the monsters in the northern region would go berserk again or not.
“What about the demon, then? The one who demonized Verian must be inside the academy, wouldn't you say?”
“Indeed. I agree with you on that. I plan to investigate soon.”
He intended to assign the task to Hyde when he returned in a few days. Finding a demon was no easy feat, making him the perfect man for the job.
“But the more I think about it, the more anxious I get. Are you sure we don’t need to tell the professors…?”
“If we did, they’d ask how we knew. That would naturally lead to us confessing everything about Verian. This is a one-time thing. From now on, we’ll report it immediately.”
“You think the demons will make another move?”
Pernyan nodded.
He didn't even need to mention the Prophecy Book. The first time is always the hardest; the second is easy.
“But why the academy? What are they after?”
“This is just my guess, but the academy is where the most promising talents from the empire and surrounding nations are gathered. If something happens here…”
“It would be the same as crippling the empire’s future. I understand.”
*I will never let that happen.* Ruina became needlessly resolute.
“If you need my help, please call on me anytime. That is, if it concerns the demons.”
“I will.”
Pernyan smiled with satisfaction as she made the promise without him having to press further.
*In that case, I can use her for free from now on.*
“By the way, there was no elixir to begin with, was there?”
“That’s right.”
“I understand. Honestly, if you had just outright said it was a demon, I never would have believed you.”
“I appreciate your understanding.”
She would probably only realize, much later in the future, what a foolish promise she had made.
* * *
Whether a demon descended, monsters went berserk, or Ruina sold her future for free, time flowed on.
And so, the eventful and troublesome midterm exams came to an end.
Due to the anomaly of the rampaging monsters, most exams were replaced with written tests, so the results were released rather quickly.
Pernyan pushed through the murmuring crowd of students and checked the ranking board posted on the wall.
【Academy Second-Year, First Semester Midterm, Magic Department Rankings】
【1st. Pernyan Fallenberg
2nd. Carlo Deneve
3rd. Ludger Schwaben
4th. Daisy…】
“Pernyan is first?”
“Did his first-place finish in the recent practical training have a big impact?”
“What are you talking about? That was separate. It doesn’t count toward the midterm grade.”
“What? Then how?”
“…Of course, the final rankings will include the final exams, but how did he do it in one go…”
The academy rankings were calculated solely based on required courses. Electives were graded separately but had little impact on the ranking board.
All the students were confused.
Although Pernyan had started earning excellent grades this semester, no one had imagined he would take first place in the midterms in a single bound.
While everyone was struggling to find the exact reason.
“…This is an unexpected turn of events.”
Pernyan knew the reason precisely.
‘Is this the demon’s butterfly effect?’
Due to the monsters’ rampage, all midterm exams were replaced with written tests.
He had been maintaining his rank by compensating for his lacking practical skills with his written scores.
Perhaps it was an inevitable outcome.