Chapter 181
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 181
Chapter Title: A Step Behind
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[Just as you said, I've heard reports of unprecedented rain in the Hofen Plains and northern Alfrsen for several days now.
I will trust you. For now, I will follow your counsel, but you will have to explain everything clearly in the future.]
Pernyan Fallenberg clenched his fist.
“It worked! It worked!”
His father had believed him. He hadn't just believed the fact that it was raining in the Hofen Plains.
He believed that Pernyan had a Prophecy Book, and that it was real.
The difference was immense. Pernyan had a gut feeling. From now on, things would be completely different.
“Now I can finally have the full backing of my family.”
The need to come up with pathetic excuses and the reason to be anxious had vanished.
Pernyan leisurely savored his coffee. It tasted especially sweet today.
“Young Master, there is one more letter.”
“Another one? Did my father send two?”
That seemed unlikely, given how much empty space was on the first one.
“It's from the Crown Prince of Alfrsen.”
At those words, Pernyan's movements froze.
“Give it to me. Now.”
After reading the letter, the corners of Pernyan's mouth twisted into a smirk.
“This worked out too. My prediction was correct.”
“What did it say in reply, sir?”
“It's an invitation. He wants to meet in Alfrsen.”
“Really? May I ask what you sent him?”
“I can't tell you that. It concerns the Crown Prince's privacy.”
One couldn't just go around blabbing about a love story he'd kept so carefully hidden.
“Then we must prepare to go to Alfrsen. The downpour has already started, so there's no time.”
“…Are you perhaps unaware that you are a student?”
“Hyde, you've served me for over twenty years, and you still don't understand what's important.”
Pernyan clicked his tongue. He carefully folded the letter from the Crown Prince of Alfrsen and placed it inside his coat.
“The worst that can happen if I mess up at the academy is expulsion. But what if Alfrsen is engulfed in civil war and demons are summoned?”
The continent would be destroyed. The priority of tasks was obvious to anyone.
“Remember this, Hyde. The academy isn't the whole world.”
And another thing, Hyde.
“Expulsion? That's something money can make disappear anytime.”
With his father's solid support behind him, Pernyan feared nothing. He put on his overcoat.
“Prepare the carriage at once.”
“Do you think you'll be able to meet the president if you go now?”
Although he'd been chided for his absurdity, having been with Pernyan for some twenty years, Hyde could guess what he was thinking.
He'd mentioned expulsion, but that was a last resort to be used only after exhausting all other options.
And for Pernyan, the most rational means right now was…
“I'm sure I can. He's been on edge because of the Vile Breed lately, so he's keeping a sharp eye on the academy.”
…to meet the president and strike a deal.
A man with the power to ensure that missing classes at the academy would cause no problems.
“Will he permit it?”
“I'll make him permit it. If not, I'll just take a leave of absence.”
For the record, the academy did not have a system for leaves of absence, except for unavoidable circumstances like war or medical leave.
Pernyan and Hyde headed for the president's office.
* * *
“Vile Breed, you say. So the Vile Breed bastards are targeting Alfrsen.”
“You wouldn't tell a lie that's so easily exposed. Did you acquire this information through the Golden Turtle Merchant Guild?”
“Going to Alfrsen is up to you. However, if you return with nothing, you'll be marked absent. If you bring back proof, you'll still be a student in good standing.”
The conversation with the president ended better than expected.
It was because he was thoroughly incensed after the academy had been trampled by the Vile Breed.
“Aint too? Good. A letter from the First Prince of Esrin. That's a solid justification.”
“Since you're going, I'll approve the Third Prince's departure as well. Anyone else you want to take? Like the ones who helped you catch Andromalius?”
That wasn't all.
Perhaps because the Vile Breed was involved, the president was exceptionally lenient.
“Is this really okay?”
No matter how powerful the president was, he shouldn't be able to arbitrarily manipulate student attendance records.
Especially since it wasn't just one or two students; the scale had grown, which was bound to become a bigger problem.
“Aren't there limits to sending students on dispatch or for 'field experience' under the president's authority?”
“That's not my problem to worry about. He'll figure it out.”
The president didn't get his position by being good at poker. He must have had something in mind to make such a bold claim.
“…And that's what happened.”
Having concluded his agreement with the president, Pernyan summoned his companions to the back room of the tea house, which now felt like their hideout.
Ruina Bercefe, Aria Friedien, Verian Calburden, Gismond Erdt, and Aint Armian.
Ahgrot was not called, as Pernyan judged he still needed time to adjust to the academy.
“There are currently two locations where the Vile Breed are presumed to be operating in secret: Alfrsen and Esrin. And I have no intention of letting either place fall to their schemes.”
He planned to stop them in Alfrsen and in Esrin, each in its own way.
They had split up before. Back then it was Bercefe and Prasia, and despite some twists and turns, they had stopped them all.
Pernyan believed they could do it again this time. No, they had to.
Since neither kingdom was a minor nation, the damage from a civil war would be immense.
And the Vile Breed, having fed on that blood and life force, would surely summon a demon.
That, at all costs, had to be prevented.
“…I knew it. How long has it been since we got back from Friedien….”
Gismond, who had seen the prophecy like Pernyan, sighed as if he'd foreseen his own future.
“I agree as well, Senior. So, how do you plan to divide the teams?”
“You will go to Esrin, Aint. The First Prince of Esrin sent the letter to you, so it's right for you to go.”
Conversely, it was Pernyan who had sent and received a letter from the Crown Prince of Alfrsen. The two of them couldn't go to the other's destination.
“But will that be okay? If it's seen as interference in their internal affairs…”
“For now, the best thing is for you to remain hidden as much as possible.”
But there were no absolutes in the world. If the Second and Third Princes found out about Aint's involvement, they would surely trumpet it to the entire world.
That way, those like the Schwabens would make their move and pressure the Armians.
“However, if you are discovered, my father will defend the Armian family to the best of his ability.”
“Duke Ivon, you mean?”
“Yes.”
He will mobilize everything he can. That should buy some time.
Fortunately, we have proof—the letter—that the First Prince requested Aint's help first.
“Even so, that's not a perfect solution either.”
Accepting Aint's help would be a burden for the First Prince as well.
So, there was only one surefire method.
“Prove that the First Prince had no choice but to call for you. In a way that everyone will have to accept.”
“I will be sure to find the Vile Breed and the demonic beasts.”
“And make it so the voices of the Second and Third Princes carry no weight.”
“That sounds like you're telling me to get directly involved in the royal succession.”
“Just wipe out all the Vile Breed and demonic beasts. That will be enough.”
The Fallenbergs had long since grasped the political landscape of Esrin.
If the Vile Breed didn't interfere, the Second and Third Princes could never defeat the First Prince.
That was because most of the nobility had already sided with the First Prince.
“…I'll do my best. So who will be going with me?”
“With your friends.”
Pernyan assigned Aria and Verian to Aint, and Ruina and Gismond to himself.
“Let's go, Ruina.”
“Yes. The Vile Breed are truly disgustingly widespread across the continent.”
“They're like cockroaches.”
“Wait, take me too!”
In the early dawn, watching the academy recede from the deck of the ship, Pernyan suddenly remembered something he had forgotten.
“By the way, that Vile Breed bastard never showed up. I thought he would.”
“Indeed, sir. I thought he would come back to place another suggestion on you.”
“If he didn't come now, he'll come later.”
He would eventually show up someday. They would never abandon a golden card like Pernyan, who had already fallen under a suggestion once.
“It's better this way. To keep acting like I'm under the suggestion, I'd have to play along with him. If that bastard showed up now, it would put a brake on our plans.”
“That's true.”
A corner of Pernyan's mouth twisted.
The ship cut through the waves, heading for the Rutar continent.
* * *
Late that afternoon, on the day Pernyan and Aint left for the kingdoms of Alfrsen and Esrin, respectively.
Five ships docked at the academy. They belonged to a medium-sized merchant guild that supplied goods to the academy.
“We're finally here.”
Roderick Fisher, a mercenary guarding the guild, stretched as he disembarked.
“I was sick of it.”
He couldn't be happier to be on solid ground after two days.
He vigorously scratched his completely bald head. The bright sunlight made his scalp feel hot.
“Thank you! We were able to arrive safely because of you.”
“It was a job we were hired for, so it's only natural. Well then, we'll be on our way.”
Roderick led the members of the Blue Wolf Mercenary Corps to find lodging.
“Good work, everyone. We'll stay here for about three days and rest.”
“Thank you, Captain!”
“I hear the entertainment at the academy is top-notch.”
“Don't even get me started. They say there's all sorts of fun to be had since it's a place for nobles. The problem is the price...”
“Heh heh, we were paid handsomely for this last job. Is money really an issue?”
Roderick mingled for a bit with the mercenaries, who were already ordering drinks, before heading up to his room on the upper floor.
He took off his weapon and armor, tossing them aside carelessly as he muttered.
“Where is Pernyan Fallenberg?”
A shadow suddenly rose up behind him.
“…Um, about that.”
At the hesitant tone, Roderick's brow furrowed.
“Spit it out. Don't drag it on.”
“…He has left the academy.”
“…What?”
His movements, in the middle of taking off his boots, froze.
“…I'm not sure I understand. What did you just say?”
“Pernyan Fallenberg left the academy on the first ship this morning.”
“…And why am I only finding this out now?”
Roderick irritably threw his smelly boot. The shadow flinched as the boot landed with a thud.
“…The president and Aint Armian have been on high alert, so our activities within the academy have been restricted. We only just learned of his departure.”
“…What a ridiculous excuse.”
*Grasp*. Roderick seized the shadow by the collar.
“I came all the way here from Prasia to meet Pernyan Fallenberg. If the man himself isn't here, then why did I come?”
“…I-I'm sorry. We should have known sooner…!”
“Of course you should have known sooner! Then I wouldn't have had to take that tedious ship all the way here!”
Roderick growled.
He had wanted to create a plausible reason to approach Pernyan naturally. The man was so meticulous he seemed almost paranoid.
So he had found a suitable merchant guild heading to the academy and had them hire him, which led to the current situation.
He just hadn't realized that the slight delay in the process would cause him to miss Pernyan.
“Is Pernyan Fallenberg the only one who's gone?”
“No, sir. Aint Armian is also…”
“Son of a bitch!”
Roderick threw the shadow to the ground.
“Where did they go?”
“We are still trying to ascertain that.”
“What is there to ascertain! It's obviously Esrin!”
The First Prince had sent a letter to Aint, and Aint must have told Pernyan, and they went together. That had to be it.
“I thought I had more time…”
It was true he had been complacent, thinking it was the middle of the semester and that Aint Armian would face severe criticism if he carelessly interfered in Esrin's succession.
“Did the academy give them permission to go?”
“I'm sorry. As I mentioned earlier, the president has been on high alert, so we don't know the exact details...”
“Useless. Utterly useless.”
*Grind*. Roderick ground his teeth.
“This is a problem. A big problem.”
If Aint Armian got involved in the situation in Esrin, there was a high chance things wouldn't turn out the way they wanted.
Above all, if Count Daniel lost the trust of the Third Prince, all their hard work could be for nothing.
Roderick Fisher put his clothes back on. He gathered his things, went down to the first floor, and shouted.
“Vacation's canceled! We've got a new mission!”
“Ah…!”
“I just got a fresh beer!”
“Chug it!”
The resentful cries of the mercenaries could be heard from all around.