Chapter 39
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: A Branch of the World Tree
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“…He’s filled the entire dueling grounds with magic.”
“It doesn't look like any complex formula. He just overwhelmed it with raw mana.”
“Brutish, but effective.”
“Just how much mana does he have?”
“One thing’s for sure, it’s not a method just anyone can use.”
“Why was he hiding this level of skill?”
Once could be a coincidence. But when a coincidence happens twice, then a third time, it becomes inevitable.
The students who witnessed the dummy duel end in an instant thanks to Pernyan's display were surprised by his skill, but not with the same shock as before.
It was because his first practical exercise had already openly revealed that Pernyan had been hiding his strength until now.
Though they had no idea why he was hiding it.
“…This is an unexpected result.”
Professor Valmon clapped lightly.
“It's a method that wouldn't have been possible outside the confined space of the dueling grounds, but he made excellent use of his immediate environment.”
The academy teaches students to use everything available in their surroundings.
Utilizing the limited space of the dueling grounds was also a part of a student's ability.
Starting with Pernyan and Ruina, pairs began to emerge victorious, landing disabling blows on the dummies one by one.
“Fifty-three seconds?”
“Hah, that’s absurd…”
“Is that even possible?”
“Pernyan was that skilled?”
Ludger and Carlo's reactions were particularly intense.
“How have you been hiding your skills all this time? At this rate, I’m not sure if even the salutatorian spot is safe.”
“Don’t exaggerate.”
“Exaggerate? I don’t think so.”
Ludger grinned at Pernyan's response.
“It seems you're matching your pace to your partner's. Are you aiming for the top spot after all? Carlo, you'd better step up your game, or you'll lose your position.”
“I will not have my position taken, Your Highness.”
His angry gaze shot toward Pernyan.
“The academy isn't so easy that someone can become the top student just by showing a little promise.”
“That's true.”
Though I'd be a little disappointed if that were the case.
Carlo's brow twitched at the low murmur.
“Anyway, Almon. We need to step it up, too. We're the top and second-ranked students; we can't lose to the second and tenth, can we?”
“Of course, Your Highness. Upsets are called upsets because they are unlikely to happen.”
Almon smiled, revealing his fighting spirit. Sparks seemed to fly where his gaze met Ruina's.
Though to varying degrees, the other high-ranking students also felt a sense of rivalry.
“That's enough. Take your seats. Don't delay the class.”
The strange confrontation ended with Professor Valmon's intervention.
And so, all one hundred pairs fought the dummies, but none managed to surpass the fifty-three-second record.
* * *
“Um, Ruina.”
“Yes.”
“My family has several dummies made by the cult. If you'd like, I can bring one for you to use for training.”
“Really?”
Only at Ruina's brightened expression did Pernyan finally relax.
“Ah, no. That would be too much of an imposition.”
“No, not at all. Don't worry about it.”
Despite that, Ruina shook her head again, but Pernyan decided to bring one anyway.
He’d just bring it to her and say that since he'd already brought it, there was no one else to use it but her.
‘It was my mistake to overlook a knight's competitive spirit.’
Pernyan chided himself, resolving not to make the same mistake again.
“By the way, are you really revealing your hidden skills because of me?”
Just then, Ruina asked a different question. Was she bothered by his conversation with Ludger?
“If I said no, would you believe me?”
“Is it not true?”
“No, it's true.”
He had no intention of standing out in the lectures he took alone, but in the ones he shared with Ruina, it was indeed intentional.
“Because we're a pair. Your goal is to be the top student, and since you're putting up with my stubbornness, I just think it's right to at least do my best.”
The reason, of course, was to prevent the worst possible future.
If the one providing the seed for that malicious future were some nobody, simply getting rid of them would be most efficient. But his opponent was a future Royal Knight. Of course.
If necessary, he'd have to build her a house of gold.
‘Gilded, of course.’
She wouldn't demolish the house just to check if it was solid gold.
“……”
For a moment, Ruina hesitated, unable to find a response.
“…Your face seems a little red.”
“You're mistaken. Thank you for your hard work today. I'll see you at the next joint lecture.”
Ruina strode away quickly.
Hmm, I wonder if that came off as a pickup line.
He hadn't intended it, but he realized it could sound that way at a glance.
‘I can correct her misunderstanding later.’
It wasn't something to worry too much about.
“Well, I hope I'm not interrupting anything.”
“Stop talking nonsense and let's go get something to eat, Gert.”
“That's the first time I've seen Ruina react like that. Was there a reason you abandoned me for her after all?”
“That mouth of yours never rests, does it.”
The person leaning against the wall and clapping was a fellow named Gert Valer. Ranked sixth in the Knight Department, he was the one originally slated to be Pernyan's partner.
That was, of course, before Pernyan obtained the Prophecy Book and paired up with Ruina.
“Isn't that my charm?”
“A commoner who isn't afraid to speak his mind to a noble.”
“Is that how you're going to be? Didn't you once say you didn't care, as long as someone was capable?”
“That's why I've kept you by my side until now.”
“It's because I'm me that I'm still by your side.”
“And not the money?”
“Well, the sponsorship is sweet, too.”
Gert didn't hide his greed.
This personality of his was part of the reason Pernyan trusted him to a certain extent.
There was no one in the world who hated money.
If there were, they were either not in their right mind or had far dirtier schemes.
Those who were honest about their desires, at the very least, wouldn't betray you as long as you satisfied them.
Pernyan led Gert into a high-end restaurant owned by the Golden Turtle Merchant Guild.
Just as they were about to pass the bustling crowd and eat quietly in a partitioned area, a woman who had been occupying a table by herself stood up.
“Senior. I was waiting for you.”
“For me?”
“Yes. Sit here, right here.”
Pernyan frowned at her gesture, naturally pointing to the seat in front of her.
“Did I have an appointment to meet you?”
“I thought you might come this way, Senior, so I just waited.”
“You thought I would come here?”
“You like the food here, don't you? You come here more often than any other place.”
It was true. The restaurant was run by a chef specially brought over from the continent, so it was one of Pernyan's favorites.
“Have you been investigating me?”
“No, I confirmed it myself.”
She blinked with an innocent expression. Her pointed ears twitched in time with her blinks.
Curious. Are all elves like that?
“If you have something to say, make an appointment, Aria Friedien. I'm a busy man.”
Just as Pernyan was about to pass her, a low murmur caught his step.
“That's strange. Haven't you received a letter from my family?”
“…So it was you.”
He felt the question that had been lingering in the back of his mind all morning begin to clear up.
“That's right. Senior…”
“Follow me.”
“Um, I just remembered I have an appointment, so I'll be going first.”
Gert tactfully disappeared, and Aria followed Pernyan to a private room on the third floor of the restaurant.
“Speak.”
“Did you receive the letter?”
“The Friedien family requested me as the person in charge. Was this your doing?”
“That's right. I had a hand in it.”
Aria beamed.
“There are many in the guild more capable than I. To specifically choose me despite that, and to approach me first like this, means there must be a good reason, right?”
“There's a reason that's both big and small.”
She nodded firmly.
Pernyan couldn't understand it. In any transaction, someone is bound to profit.
But this transaction was strange.
No one stood to gain from Pernyan's involvement. At least, not as far as he knew.
“What is it?”
But if something was hidden, that was another story.
“What was written in the letter?”
“Nothing particularly special. Just that there was some agreement between the academy and your family, and that numerous goods would be exchanged.”
Items like spirit stones and leaves from the World Tree were expensive and not easily obtainable without the elves.
He didn't know what the academy offered in return, but it must have been something quite significant.
“That's right. But that's just the wrapping.”
“The wrapping? You mean there's something else?”
“That's right.”
Aria paused for a moment.
“Don't drag it out, just say it. I've grown up as a merchant, seeing all sorts of precious things. Do you think you can surprise me? Unless you're talking about moving the entire World Tree…”
But that was something that could never happen. The elves wouldn't do such a thing unless they were mad.
“That's right.”
“Right, there's no way… What did you say?”
Did I hear that wrong?
“It is the World Tree. A branch of the World Tree, to be precise.”
“…You're bringing a branch of the World Tree to the academy?”
It was certainly less significant than the World Tree itself.
But that didn't diminish the branch's value. It was called a branch, but it was no ordinary branch, of course.
It was a sapling that the World Tree could only produce once every hundred years, a clone of the World Tree itself.
An object that held the essence of the forest and deep mana within it, constantly influencing its surroundings.
“You're handing that over? What on earth did the academy promise you?”
“As if I'd tell you something like that. I thought you were a brilliant merchant, Senior. This isn't like you.”
“…I admit my composure slipped.”
Pernyan quickly regained his composure.
The branch of the World Tree was certainly astonishing, and while he didn't know what the academy had offered in return, that wasn't the immediate issue for him.
“I understand. The importance of this matter. Is that why you insisted on me as the one in charge?”
“Yes.”
After a brief pause, Aria smiled.
“When the heir of the family is in charge, it carries a different weight, doesn't it?”
It meant this was just that important to the elves.
“And as a bonus, I have a desire to build a relationship with the future Duke. I told the teaching assistant last time, didn't I? That I want to be on good terms with all the Elector families.”
“You're going too?”
“The academy has been very accommodating. It seems I can substitute my lectures with a field practice program.”
Of course, they'd be accommodating. They're getting a branch of the World Tree, after all.
“I'm not particularly interested in your second intention, but I understand everything you've said.”
Pernyan shifted in his seat.
“We've gone in circles, but in the end, regardless of anything else, you want me to be the guild's person in charge.”
Maintaining a blank expression, he leaned back against his chair.
“In return, what can you offer me?”
Since they were the ones who came to me first, I have the upper hand.
* * *
In the early dawn, Pernyan's eyes opened.
[“They say the Spirit Studies professor is changing.”
It seems there was some sort of deal between the Marquis Friedien's family and the academy, as the family donated items related to spirit arts.
The academy made full preparations to receive them, and Pernyan Fallenberg was put in charge, successfully transporting the goods.]
[- They're changing a perfectly fine professor just for some spirit art items?
“Yes.”
- Hmm, something doesn't feel right.
“Actually, Aria told me something she said I absolutely shouldn't repeat.”
- What is it?
“She said there's a branch of the World Tree among the items. That's why she's going herself.”
- A branch of the World Tree… The academy folks would go crazy for that. But they just gave it away? Why? Are the Friediens insane?]
[“She says the branch isn't growing well. Maybe it's because it was moved?”
- Was there some problem during the transport?
“No. Aria said nothing happened.”
- Then don't worry about it. That pointy-ear and the academy will figure it out. Isn't it vacation now? Get ready to be worked like a dog during the break.]
[A sky stained crimson black.
People running rampant, corrupted by demonic energy.
And a rift that opens, a demon descending.
At its center was the branch of the World Tree.
- It's the branch of the World Tree! The branch is becoming the most powerful source of mana for the summoning circle!]
The anxiety of not being able to recall what came next, even after the contents of the Prophecy Book had all flowed through him, quickly vanished.
But now, a different anxiety surged.
“……”
It wasn't the first time, and he should have been used to it by now, but he wasn't at all.
The pain in his head, the contents of the prophecy—it was all absolutely dreadful.
“She said nothing happened, so why is it becoming a medium…! And during the transport I was in charge of!”
Pernyan's eyes were bloodshot, his clothes drenched in a cold sweat.
A nightmare.
A truly terrible nightmare, showing him another step on the path to ruin.