Chapter 36
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Alliance
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A sword so brilliant, it illuminates the world.
It was a phrase from ancient texts, describing the swordsmanship of the first emperor.
When Pernyan first encountered that sentence, he thought it was merely a metaphor.
Something like the hope of humanity, driving out the despair and darkness of demons.
But it wasn't.
Pernyan realized today that the sword literally shone with brilliant light.
“…This is swordsmanship that could sanctify the very soul.”
The aura itself emitted light. It wasn't just a visual effect.
He could see the large monsters, influenced by demons, flinching ever so slightly before the supremely potent light attribute.
It was a scene that vividly demonstrated why the Armians were called the adversaries of demons.
Pernyan recalled one of the most intense futures he had seen when he was first struck by lightning.
When the demons descended and their legions began to march south, the sky was stained black by the influence of magi.
“To think he went around slaying demons with that under an ashen sky…”
It was enough to inspire respect and faith where there had been none.
That was why Pernyan was certain.
“Yes, he's the one who must defeat the demons.”
Aint Armian was the ultimate card to play against the demons.
* * *
The battle didn't last long.
Fighting on land without water, and facing a power that was nearly its polar opposite, the Sea Serpents failed to display their previous might.
They were still powerful beasts that most humans wouldn't dare to challenge, but they had chosen the wrong opponents.
Above the heads of the two beasts, now covered in wounds.
From beneath a golden magic circle drawn in the air, a massive boulder plummeted.
CRASH—
“Hah, hah…!”
The ground shook as the beasts collapsed. Aint, his strength spent, sat down on one of them.
“…That was amazing.”
- It is a provision left by the former emperor. It could hardly be insignificant.
There was no dramatic change, like an astronomical increase in mana or aura, or his body overflowing with power.
However, the attribute of Aint's aura itself had grown more potent. His perception and control of its flow had become much smoother.
That alone brought about many changes.
- By the way, those two are certainly useful.
- Especially Ruina Bercefe. You might be able to handle the woman named Bella, but if you fought Ruina Bercefe, you'd lose a hundred times out of a hundred.
Aint had grown quickly enough to defeat Verian, the second-ranked student, but there was a clear gap between a first-year and a second-year.
No, even without that, Ruina Bercefe was just plain strong.
- If she continues to grow well, she might have the makings of a Royal Knight.
“We're alive…! To think we actually beat them! Are you okay?”
Bella, who had been running around trying to support Ruina and Aint, let out a sigh of relief.
“Yes, thanks to you… Thank you, Sunbaenim.”
“I'm the one who should be thanking you. I've heard so much about the Armians, and you're really something else. Is your swordsmanship itself just a natural counter to monsters?”
“Aint Armian.”
Aint turned his head at the sound of another voice.
“I heard you beat the second-ranked first-year. I see you deserved it. Good work.”
“Thank you, Sunbaenim! You were amazing, too.”
“…Hmm.”
Bella tilted her head as Aint's tone strangely rose in response to Ruina's words.
“Good work.”
Just then, Pernyan, who had finished off the two beasts, approached.
“Aint Armian. We won easily thanks to you. Was that the power of Armian swordsmanship?”
“Yes.”
“I've read about it a few times in texts, but seeing it in person is quite fascinating. It felt somewhat sacred.”
“Thank you.”
“By the way, do you need those carcasses?”
“Pardon?”
Aint, who had been puzzled, soon realized what he meant.
“Ah, I don't particularly…”
“I see. You're not a bad sort.”
He had snatched the finishing blow, ready to claim his contribution if necessary.
“Pardon?”
“It's nothing.”
Pernyan didn't wait for a reply and walked over to the limp carcasses.
“…You're going to take those even in this situation? Hold on, what about my opinion? I helped out, so don't I have a right to claim some of it?”
“You owe me, don't you?”
“…Fine, I get it.”
Bella backed down meekly. Indeed, considering he had saved her from the magi's corruption, she could easily let him have the carcasses.
“But what about Ruina? She doesn't owe you anything like that, and she killed one of them herself.”
“Ruina owes me a real debt.”
“…Oh, right.”
“I don't need them in the first place.”
Realizing her slip of the tongue at the mention of debt, Bella glanced at Ruina, but she dismissed it casually.
“…Alright, then, Aint Armian. I'll be direct. Are you interested in cooperating with me?”
“…Pardon?”
Aint asked, taken aback by the sudden change of topic.
“It's simple. I've been tracking the vermin who have infiltrated the merchant guild. I suspected they were Vile Breeds, but I wasn't sure. But after meeting you, I'm certain now.”
“That they are Vile Breeds, you mean?”
“Yes. And if they are Vile Breeds, I've judged it would be best to form a cooperative relationship with you.”
Aint didn't ask why that was the case.
It was obvious. When it came to dealing with demons, there was no surer card to play than an Armian.
Especially after witnessing today's battle.
“Not all of those who have infiltrated the guild are Vile Breeds, I imagine. But behind them are Vile Breeds, and at the end of that line will be demons.”
It made no sense for Vile Breeds to be roaming around without demons in the first place.
Even in the Great War a thousand years ago, the Vile Breeds always followed the demons' orders.
“If Vile Breeds have appeared, then demons will eventually appear as well. At least, that's what I think.”
It was an accurate deduction.
Indeed, Gardner had been talking about the stirrings of demons, so it resonated even more with Aint.
‘This is… strangely moving.’
To think that while I thought I was fighting alone, there was someone else who already knew about the Vile Breeds and was preparing for them.
But he wasn't without his questions.
- Did this guy eat something strange?
“Why are you telling me all this?”
This way of speaking, laying out so much so candidly, was not at all like a Fallenberg.
“Is that strange?”
“It is.”
A Fallenberg would hide lies within the truth or conceal parts of the truth to gain a greater advantage, to rig the game in their favor.
But from Aint's perspective, this conversation was far from that.
“It's true that I wouldn't normally lay everything out like this.”
Pernyan didn't deny Aint's suspicion.
“But the reason for my unusual behavior this time is because I'm dealing with you, Aint Armian.”
“…Pardon?”
- What nonsense is this?
“I can provide you with the support you need. In return, you possess the definitive military strength I desire.”
Seems like a deal where neither of us loses.
“When facing a great enemy like demons, isn't it only natural to join forces?”
“…”
- He hasn't said a single thing that's wrong. Which, ironically, makes it even more suspicious.
- You should never take the words of those upstarts at face value.
Questions bubbled up.
Even if it was related to demons, why was this money-crazed Fallenberg extending such a generous hand to him?
This was a Fallenberg, the kind of person who would sell goods even to demons.
- But thinking about it, it doesn't seem like a bad deal.
- Even those upstarts eventually came under the former emperor's command. And more importantly, this one already has a track record of sponsoring you and giving you the Heart of a Saint Bird.
- If he were a demon's lackey, I can't imagine him giving you the Heart of a Saint Bird, no matter how I think about it.
‘Couldn't it be just to get close to me?’
- There are other ways, like the one he's using now. Why go out of his way to give you the Heart of a Saint Bird?
A top-tier elixir that perfectly complements the Armian's secret swordsmanship of light.
Would giving that to the adversary of demons, merely to get close, really be the right choice from a demon's perspective?
‘What on earth am I supposed to do?’
- I'm saying you should accept for now and see how things play out.
- There are too many uncertainties, but there's no advantage in making an enemy of Fallenberg right now. The opposite, however, is quite beneficial.
“…Yes, if it means more people are taking action against the demons, then I'm all for it.”
In the end, Aint had no choice but to nod.
* * *
“So, you're saying there are Vile Breeds in the city? That's no small matter, is it?”
“Yes. We'll cooperate with the Dragon God Cult…”
Having decided to work together, Aint and Gardner realized the situation was more serious than they had thought.
- Vile Breeds were spreading magi infections within the academy?
- How? I didn't sense any magi at all…!
Aint was the same.
Even though he had become more sensitive to magi after learning the Armian aura cultivation method, he hadn't detected anything strange.
- We'll need to confirm this.
On Gardner's command, Aint moved and subtly brought his sword into contact with the three of them.
A subtle energy quickly scanned their bodies before returning to Gardner.
- It's true. I can't say for the other two, but the human named Bella shows traces of having had magi in her body.
- Her Mana Heart is slightly damaged. Fortunately, it will recover soon, but these are the typical signs of someone infected by magi.
- But this is truly crude. Did they just burn away the magi, mana, and Mana Heart all at once?
- It even damaged the Mana Heart. Hah, what kind of idiots would use such a method?
If Bella had heard that, she would have ripped out all of Jace's hair, saying, “See, I told you so!”
‘Have the demons already descended and started extending their reach? Or is it just the Vile Breeds?’
- We'll have to investigate, but it's unlikely the demons have descended yet. A demon's descent is always preceded by an omen.
As Aint conversed with Gardner, he tried to deduce Pernyan's true intentions and the state of the demons.
In the process, his steps slowed, and a small distance naturally formed between him and the rest of the group.
And Pernyan made no effort to break his train of thought.
‘He has a suspicious look on his face. He's probably talking with Sir Gardner.’
He had, of course, anticipated a certain degree of suspicion.
The idea of one person completely trusting another was a concept that couldn't exist in the first place.
The human heart is not absolute, and so trust sways like a reed.
Even the most ironclad trust was bound to waver at the slightest provocation.
‘Trust. Such a lukewarm thing isn't to be believed.’
That's why people created credit, built upon wealth and contracts, rather than intangible trust, and they trusted it more.
Pernyan just had to show Aint.
That he was the best possible ally for defeating demons.
“What do you plan to do with that Vile Breed?”
Ruina pointed to the mound of sand that had been floating beside Pernyan the whole time.
Inside it, an unconscious Vile Breed lay dormant.
“I plan to interrogate it separately.”
“I'm glad it was resolved well. And now, I understand everything.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
Ruina asked, glancing at Aint, who was following a little behind.
“I was wondering why you were so calm when we first encountered the demonized Verian, but my questions have been answered. You already knew of their existence and were tracking them. Is that how you found out about Verian, too?”
“…?”
Did Ruina fall for the lie meant to bait Aint?
It wasn't a bad development, so Pernyan didn't deny it.
“Let's just say that's the case.”
“I knew it.”
“In any case, I'm glad this worked out relatively well. Though I didn't expect things to get this big.”
“You call this 'working out well'?”
“What else?”
Ruina tilted her head.
“It just seems like everything went according to your plan. There wasn't much room for it to go better or worse.”
Pernyan was momentarily flustered by the innocent praise, but he quickly regained his composure.
“Flattery will get you nowhere.”
“I was just stating a fact. Oh, the ship was completely destroyed. Is that alright?”
“It doesn't matter.”
Once the academy established a ‘Naval Combat’ course, he'd be earning far more money than that.
A single ship was practically an investment.
“The same goes for the student issue.”
“Well, it's not like this is something they can blame on the Fallenberg Family.”
“Exactly.”
Ruina chimed in, agreeing with Bella who had suddenly interjected.
A large-scale swarm of sea monsters was an unprecedented event since the academy's founding.
Of course, one could try to make an issue of it and demand compensation, but she doubted anyone would have the guts to do that to the Fallenberg Family.
Especially since they weren't on bad terms with the other Elector families.
“So, how are we getting back? Don't tell me we have to use a breath scroll and walk all the way to the academy like we did coming here…”
“Don't be ridiculous, Bella. Who would do something so stupid and inefficient?”
“…Well, that's a relief, but you didn't have to be so rude about it.”
“Did you get a good recording with the sphere?”
“I missed the beginning, but I definitely got the part where the Vile Breeds used magi.”
Bella handed over the recording sphere that had captured the battle scene.
“That's more than enough.”
“You're planning to report this to the academy, right?”
“I'll handle it. Don't worry about it.”
As long as he didn't know the extent of the Vile Breeds' infiltration of the academy, he had no intention of releasing this just yet.
“What, after all that help I gave you.”
“Bella, thank you. We got the evidence thanks to you.”
“…I'll let it slide, but only for you, Ruina.”
“Just get ready to leave.”
Pernyan took out a flare and fired it.
Billowing red smoke rose high into the sky, and a short time later…
A Fallenberg ship arrived at the island.