Chapter 51
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: The Predecessor's Design
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The exam was over.
“…Team 3 won.”
“Wow, Pernyan and Ruina actually did it?”
“Did you see the ground collapse? That was insane.”
“But the map didn’t burn in that situation?”
“That’s the first time I’ve seen joint magic used in a real battle.”
Although everyone in Team 3 except for Gert and his partner had been eliminated, Pernyan and Ruina had survived to the very end.
And the two of them had eliminated everyone else, including Carlo.
Having successfully turned the tables, the pair became the final victors.
“This is absurd. To think we’d lose like this…”
“We were lucky.”
“Luck? Then I suppose we’re just a bunch of idiots who couldn’t even beat one lucky guy.”
Ludger let out a self-deprecating laugh.
“Almon being there was certainly nothing but good fortune.”
“This is just one of the practical exams, Pernyan.”
“I know.”
Ludger clicked his tongue in displeasure and turned away.
“It’s a shame it ended so blandly, Ruina. Next time, I’ll show you the true difference in our skills.”
“Anytime. I won’t lose to you again.”
Almon, who had been speaking with Ruina, followed after him.
“Pernyan…!”
“How could we lose this…?”
Pushing past Carlo and the other students, who were filled with anger and denial, Pernyan went to the infirmary with Ruina to have their injuries treated.
“You worked hard today. Thanks to you, we were able to take first place.”
“It’s not over yet. Just as that Ludger fellow said, this is only one exam.”
Of course, with everything else he had accomplished, he was one step closer to securing the top student position, but the future was still uncertain.
“In any case, I wouldn’t have been able to do this without you today.”
“Well, I won’t deny that.”
“I’ll see you next time. Oh, and if it’s about the Vile Breed, don’t hesitate to send word anytime.”
As Ruina was about to leave, Pernyan stopped her for a moment and spoke softly.
“What we found in the cavern—I’ll make sure it goes to its rightful owner.”
“Do as you see fit. I have little interest in things that are not mine.”
Ruina disappeared.
“…What’s mine is mine, and what’s yours is mine too.”
Pernyan clicked his tongue and fell into thought.
‘For now, the top priority is to make sure Aint obtains that design.’
What he had told Ruina was not a lie.
The design left by the former emperor had to be returned to its original owner, Aint Armian.
Even if the timing was not what it should have been, now that things had gone awry, Aint had to possess it now.
‘If it had remained hidden, that would be one thing, but now that it’s been revealed once, it’s only a matter of time before it’s exposed to the world.’
Pernyan had put a temporary measure in place, but the academy was teeming with mages far more skilled than him, making it all the more urgent.
“Hyde, where is Aint Armian right now?”
* * *
“Aint Armian.”
Aint unfolded the map.
After the exam, he had received a sudden visit from Pernyan.
“I believe I may have found a secret dungeon of the Armian family.”
His abrupt statement was quite bewildering.
“You must doubt whether it’s even real, and if it is, you’re suspicious as to why I’m telling you so readily.”
“You’re right. I’m a merchant. Normally, I would have sold you this information at a very high price or taken it for myself. That is, if I hadn’t encountered the Vile Breed and demonic beasts.”
He couldn’t argue with that. When Aint asked if Pernyan thought he was the right person for the job, Pernyan nodded without hesitation. The only reason was that he was an ‘Armian’.
—The power of Armian is anathema to demons. That boy made the wisest choice possible.
—Those upstarts were always disgustingly good at reading situations.
In the end, Aint had no choice but to be convinced. Thus, he had to set out to find the design Pernyan mentioned as soon as possible.
He would have preferred to take his time, since it was the exam period, but that wasn’t an option.
Had the design remained undiscovered, it would have been different, but now that it had been revealed once, it wouldn’t be strange if someone else stumbled upon it.
“Normally it would be fine, but during the exam period, you can’t use the fields freely. I’ll help you.”
The result was the map now in Aint’s hands.
It only showed a part of the northern mountainous region, but it was a map that displayed the real-time locations of the teaching assistants who were out scouting in preparation for the exams.
It was for professorial use.
—To think the very people who claim to teach the future of the Empire would sell their souls for a few coins.
Gardner grumbled in displeasure, but for Aint, it was exactly what he needed.
“Here it is.”
After taking a slight detour to avoid the assistants, Aint arrived at his destination. The ground that had collapsed during the day’s commotion seemed to have been restored to a fairly stable state.
—Looks like the professors already fixed it. In that case, maybe you don’t need to get it right this second?
But having come all this way, simply turning back felt wrong.
Gardner guided Aint to another location. A cave leading underground, not too far away.
It was the proper path to find the design, not an abnormal route like the collapsed ground.
“If you didn’t know any better, you’d think this was just a rabbit hole and walk right past it.”
—If anyone could find it easily, it wouldn’t be a design; it would be a banquet hall for grave robbers.
That was also true.
In any case, Aint walked through the pitch-black underground. The path was blocked in places, an aftereffect of the collapse from above.
Fortunately, the cavern was relatively spacious; otherwise, he would never have reached his destination this way.
—It should be here… There it is.
Gardner instantly saw through the concealment magic circle Pernyan had set up. A door engraved with the Armian symbol, a Saint Bird, revealed itself.
“What’s in here?”
—What, you ask? Hmm. A core.
“A core?”
—It’s an artifact that you mount on the hilt of my body—well, not my real body—to enhance your aura. Made from the Heart of a Saint Bird.
“…Excuse me? What did you say?”
—I suppose it might not be all that necessary for you, since that upstart already had you consume a Saint Bird’s heart, but the more, the merrier.
“It’s surprising, considering Saint Birds are hardly common mythical creatures. But how do I open it?”
Even when Aint pushed with all his might until his face turned red, the door didn’t budge.
—Cut yourself and let your blood flow. It responds to the Armian bloodline…
Gardner stopped talking. The blade of the sword trembled faintly.
Aint, who had been slightly bent over, straightened his back. *Screee*, he slowly drew his sword.
A thick stench assaulted his nostrils.
His skin prickled at the blatant killing intent.
And then.
His aura reacted to the intensely unpleasant energy.
—…Demonic beasts.
Wrong. It wasn’t a demonic beast. It was demonic beast*s*.
One by one, crimson pupils appeared in the darkness. Aint momentarily set aside the question of ‘since when?’.
—Skolds.
They were 7th-grade demonic beasts, taking the form of giant three-meter scorpions. And there were dozens of them.
A 7th-grade demonic beast, each one a match for a decent knight, was by no means an easy opponent.
“…Why are demonic beasts here?”
—Worry about that after you’ve dealt with them all.
If the opponent hadn’t been Aint Armian.
If he hadn’t possessed the Armian swordsmanship, with its light attribute that was the natural enemy of demonic beasts, anyone would have lost their life in this situation.
An aura of pure white light surged from the sword.
The Skolds instinctively flinched at the opposing power, and Aint did not miss the opening.
─!
The leg of the Skold at the very front was severed. The creature shrieked and lashed its tail.
*Kagagak—*
As the tail’s poisonous stinger slid across the flat of his blade, Aint thrust his sword into the wide-open gap.
The Skold, its head shattered, couldn't withstand the power of light and disintegrated.
That was the beginning. The hesitating Skolds let out enraged roars at the death of their kin.
But Aint did not back down. He activated his Aura Hall, emitting an even stronger light.
The weak boy from the start of the semester was no more.
All that remained was the natural enemy of demonic beasts, one who had been trained by Gardner, consumed the Heart of a Saint Bird, and experienced countless real battles.
─!
──!
A pure white flash illuminated the darkness.
The light weakened the demonic beasts, and every time a white arc was drawn, the body of a demonic beast was torn asunder without fail.
Screams and shrieks filled the air, a cycle of death and purification.
This continued for some time. When the storm had passed, all that remained were the remnants of what were once demonic beasts, and Aint Armian.
“*Gasp… gasp…!*”
—You’ve gotten much better. A huge improvement compared to when we first met.
Aint managed a faint smile at Gardner’s praise.
He was out of breath, and the question of why the demonic beasts were here still lingered, but a sense of elation filled him, born from the joy of victory and a profound sense of achievement.
“…To think I could take down dozens of 7th-grade beasts. Just a few months ago, I couldn’t have even imagined it.”
—Don’t be satisfied with just this.
—You are an Armian, the one who will subjugate all demons.
“Honestly, at first, I doubted if I could ever do it. But now, I feel like maybe it’s not impossible after all…”
It was at that moment.
—Dodge!
Aint threw himself to the side at the same time as Gardner’s shout.
The ground where he had just been standing was shattered. It was a black flash. Nothing special, just a simple clump of magi.
Dozens of these clumps chased after Aint like rays of light.
─!
He managed to deflect them by swinging his sword, but the powerful impact sent him sliding back.
Aint swallowed a groan.
“I had no intention of stepping in.”
A voice like fingernails scraping a chalkboard echoed from the darkness. Aint frowned.
“But seeing you in person, I understand. You are a great obstacle to our grand design. Truly a cursed bloodline.”
“…A Vile Breed?”
The creature had a human form. But its eyes were lifeless, and its skin was unnaturally pale. It could not be considered a normal human.
“Gakha ordered us not to touch you within the academy, but seeing you just now made me realize. If I do not kill you here and now, I will regret it for the rest of my days.”
So even if our existence is revealed to the world, I must.
“I must kill you.”
A thick killing intent exploded forth.
Aint swallowed hard.
“What is one wretched life worth if it can be sacrificed to achieve our grand design!”
The Vile Breed flicked its fingers. Ten clumps of magi shot out at once.
They were much larger and faster than before.
“…Kuh!”
Aint desperately threw himself aside. The spot where he stood was riddled with holes, and the Vile Breed closed the distance in an instant.
Its long-grown fingernails drew a long arc.
─!
Even though the power of light was partially weakening the magi, he felt his breath catch in his throat.
—Where did this thing come from!
In a brief moment, they exchanged dozens of blows.
It was a one-sided battle. The opponent was faster, stronger, and more destructive than Aint. All Aint could do was block, dodge, and block again.
Small cuts began to cover his body. As his breathing grew ragged, the confidence he felt moments ago rapidly faded.
—Above!
—Next is lower left!
Without Gardner’s help, he wouldn’t have lasted even these few dozen exchanges.
There was no hope in sight. The hand of death was gradually tightening its grip around his neck.
*Clang!* Aint’s grip was torn open. The sword, having lost its support, flew through the air.
“Die, Aint Armian! You of the cursed bloodline!”
The Vile Breed did not miss the opening.
Its massive claws surged toward Aint, poised to tear his body apart.
—Aint!
In that instant.
─!
A rock that shot up between them blocked the path of the claws. Another rock, fired from the side, struck the Vile Breed in the flank.
The Vile Breed was sent flying, tumbling across the ground.
Aint, his life barely saved, collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath.
“I’m… alive…? Sunbaenim?”
“…I came just in case. Good thing I did.”
Pernyan, who had appeared from nowhere, stood before Aint.
“Aint. Are you alright?”
“…Yes, thanks to you. But how did you get here?”
“I told you, didn’t I? I came just in case.”
Thanks to that, we avoided the worst-case scenario.
“Pernyan Fallenberg?”
“You know me?”
The fallen Vile Breed pushed itself up.
“Right, you were here too. What difference does it make if there’s one or two of you? This place will be your grave today.”
“That’s my line.”
How dare you try to kill the man my future depends on.
“Sorry, but there won’t be any condolence money for you.”
At Pernyan’s gesture, the earth began to tremble.