Chapter 71
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: The Coming Festival
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The Founding Day festival, an event that happened only once a year.
Even with a week still to go, the number of regular ferries traveling between the academy and the two continents had increased dramatically.
Hundreds of people began pouring into the academy each day, and a festive atmosphere filled the streets.
The hundreds would soon become thousands, and that surging crowd meant money.
The Founding Day festival wasn't just a joyous time that excited the entire empire; it was also the Fallenberg family's peak season.
“Move it, move it!”
“There can be no delays for the festival!”
Bringing in goods to sell, turning empty lots into festival streets, erecting temporary structures.
Preparations for the festival were carried out under the leadership of the Fallenberg family, who had been officially commissioned by the academy.
Other merchant guilds were involved, but their share was a far cry from what the Fallenbergs had secured.
*Still, I didn't expect them to hand over this much to the Golden Turtle Merchant Guild.*
The President's influence was at play behind the scenes.
This was the reward he had promised.
A contract entrusting them with the overall festival commissions, promising a portion of the enormous profits.
It was a clear message: he'd give them some breadcrumbs, and in return, they were to keep the secret about the demon even more tightly sealed.
*If you take the money, you have to do the work.*
It was payment for the information, but a good deal was a good deal.
Pernyan decided to completely tune out the matter of Andromalius and focus on his own tasks.
“The permit will be approved anyway...”
A private betting house for the Jousting and Magic Tournaments.
It was the cash cow that would line Pernyan's pockets during this festival season.
“Hyde.”
“Yes.”
“Has a response come from the academy?”
“As a matter of fact, I have it right here.”
Pernyan took the letter. There wasn't much to it.
[Student Pernyan,
It seems you're planning it again this year. Normally, it would be prohibited, but as you've saved countless lives, your contribution is immeasurable. As President, I see no reason not to grant you a favor or two.
Ah, and just for this festival, how about letting the Golden Turtle manage the official betting house?]
“...He wants me to manage the official betting house?”
Of course, that was great.
[However, if the academy fills with the excessive wails of visitors, the festival might not feel like much of a festival.
I trust you'll handle it appropriately.]
*He's really money-grubbing.*
*Still, since you caught a demon and saved the world, I'll allow it.*
*Don't build another betting house; just manage the existing one.*
*But if you exploit people too much and cause problems, you'll have to take responsibility.*
If it had ended there, he would have been delighted.
[P.S. - Oh, and since this is a legally sanctioned business, the tax is 20%.]
“Thanks, but I guess you can't give up on the money, huh?”
Then again, mages and money were inextricably linked. Any mage who pretended to be above worldly wealth had long since been weeded out or died off.
“He's asking for taxes?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“20%.”
“The President has shown you great favor. To set the tax that low when the board is already set for you is quite generous.”
He wasn't exactly wrong.
“Well, it's much better than last year.”
“Comparing it to last year is a bit...”
Last year, Pernyan had opened a private betting house without the academy's permission, and when he was caught, he had to cough up half his earnings as a fine.
“Well, anyway, now that I have management and operational rights for the official betting house, shall we scale things up a bit?”
Motivated, Pernyan took out some blank sheets of paper.
“He said to be reasonable, so I'll cap the amount one person can bet. Hmm, should I also prevent people from using others to bet? No, I can just claim I didn't know. Why would I block an opportunity to make more money?”
I need to go for high volume, low margin, so I have to get as many people as possible to participate in the betting...
“What's a good way to do this? First, I'll advertise like crazy...”
Offering a prize to the person with the most correct predictions wouldn't be a bad idea.
I could also arrange for people to meet with the tournament winners.
Most of them will be nobles anyway; they'd be crazy about meeting talented individuals.
As the paper began to fill up quickly, Hyde quietly slipped out of the office.
***
“……”
Aria rested her chin on her hand and glanced around the lecture hall.
The professor giving the lecture, and the students listening intently.
No one was sitting next to Aria, who was in the very back of the hall.
It was because she had no friends.
In the Magic Department, to be precise.
*I expected this, but factions have already formed, making it awkward to join in.*
Her efforts to befriend the scions of the Electors had paid off, and she'd gotten close to Aint Armian and Pernyan Fallenberg, which was good.
Verian Calburden was a bonus. He wasn't an Elector, but the Calburden family was certainly a powerful and great house.
*No, is it too soon to say I'm close with Pernyan?*
She could approach him readily, and they had even hunted a demon together, but it felt like there was an invisible wall between them.
Well, that was something to be solved over time. The problem was that they were all in the Knight Department.
Pernyan was in the Magic Department, but he was a second-year.
*Why aren't there any Elector families in the first-year Magic Department?*
It wasn't that there were none. There was Jace Baintz. The one they called the Saint of the church, but honestly, she was reluctant to approach him.
What was it? Aversion to a kindred spirit, perhaps.
*That guy is definitely hiding something.*
There was something behind that mask of the ever-benevolent Saint. Her senses were telling her so.
*Still, I can't just be an outcast in the Magic Department, so should I just force my way in?*
Being shameless was her specialty.
*Daniel Alprsen and Verdi Inua seem suitable.*
She had no need for those with low rankings. What she wanted were useful connections, people who could be helpful.
Just as she was organizing her thoughts.
“Pathetic.”
The murmuring lecture hall fell silent at Rosalia's low mutter.
“The start of the semester, Founding Day, the festival. I understand.”
Those were three elements sufficient to make any student excited.
And the fact that those listening to her lecture were first-years was enough to be a fourth.
But that didn't mean they could listen to the lecture with their heads in the clouds.
“There is still a week until the festival. And right now is not festival preparation time, but *Battle, War, and Magic*.”
“...We're sorry.”
The students bowed their heads low at her cold rebuke.
“It's fine. It's not the first time I've dealt with a class like yours.”
The academy's festival was already famous for its splendor. It was only natural for students to be excited about participating for the first time.
That's why the professors knew exactly how to handle that giddy atmosphere.
“Aaron.”
“Yes, Professor.”
“Have them come in.”
“Yes.”
Ten teaching assistants from the Magic Department entered and stood before the lectern.
“Today's lecture will be a magic duel against the assistants. Each of you, stand in front of an assistant of your choosing and wait.”
The solution was to drill them until they couldn't think of anything else.
“Aria Friedien.”
“Yes, Professor!”
The vermilion-haired elf answered brightly.
The only first-year Magic Department student among those who had experienced the Vile Breed incident that had turned the academy upside down.
From Rosalia's perspective, having not yet seen Pernyan, she was quite curious about how Aria had changed and what effect the demon had had on her.
After all, a demon wouldn't have come out for a simple stroll with nothing better to do.
“You're first.”
“...Me?”
“You seemed the least interested in my lecture. I assume that's because you're confident?”
“...Well.”
“Come forward.”
Aria was pitifully dragged out like a fish on a hook.
“Additionally, Jace Baintz, Daniel Alprsen, Verdi Inua…”
The top ten students came forward. Twenty people faced each other on their respective training grounds.
“Begin.”
────!
The assistants didn't yield the first move.
Memorized spells began to burst forth like fireworks.
***
“Good work.”
“...I'm tired.”
Rosalia, having returned from hunting the last of the Vile Breed, practically collapsed onto the sofa.
She put a cigarette to her lips and conjured a small ember at her fingertip. *Hooo*, the smoke drifted out the window.
“...Now I can finally breathe. The Golden Turtle's products really are the best.”
“If you fill up on things like that, it'll eventually take a toll on your body.”
“Then I'll have to hold the Golden Turtle responsible for selling me a defective product.”
A suitable sense of satiety and fulfillment, and even a slight stimulating effect. What she was smoking wasn't a simple cigarette, but a type of consumable magical artifact.
“Why don't you rest for a moment?”
“Aaron.”
Rosalia cut Aaron off.
“Don't make me say it twice.”
The academy wanted to resolve this Vile Breed incident discreetly.
So that the chaos would not affect the festival or the daily life of the academy.
Thus, Rosalia had to juggle her duties as a professor, conducting lectures and research, while also serving as a guardian.
“The President himself gave a stern warning, so I must do my best.”
Having finished her cigarette, Rosalia muttered impassively.
“But it's interesting.”
She examined a document. It was about the class she had just taught.
A combat log for each student, written by the assistants.
At a glance, there were no issues. As if to prove the rankings weren't for nothing, the students' skills matched their places.
But upon closer inspection.
“Aria Friedien's movements have become more fluid.”
“Her mana flow has become more natural, and her casting speed has increased. It seems she achieved something over the break.”
“Perhaps.”
*She might have had an epiphany while fighting the Vile Breed.*
She kept that thought to herself.
The details about the Vile Breed were still top secret, so the information hadn't been disseminated to the teaching assistants.
The President had determined that if Vile Breed were hiding in the academy, they were likely to be assistants, students, or people from the city.
This was because he judged it unlikely that the professors—already renowned warriors, knights, or mages—would have any reason to become Vile Breed at this point, or that they could be replaced without causing a disturbance.
Of course, there are no absolutes in this world, but since the one who said it was an Archmage, his words carried a credibility close to absolute.
That made it all the more intriguing.
Because the President hadn't revealed exactly what kind of being that Vile Breed was.
However, he had surmised that, considering the students' level, it wouldn't be a high-level Vile Breed.
That was it. Finished with her thoughts on the Vile Breed, she called for Aaron.
“What's the progress on the research?”
“It seems there's been some progress.”
“It *seems* there's been progress?”
“My mistake. There has been, Professor. Though it's very slight.”
At those words, a faint glimmer of excitement appeared in Rosalia's eyes.
“Submit a detailed report. I'll review it immediately.”
“Aren't the President's special orders more important?”
“It's not that big of a deal. It's almost wrapped up anyway.”
They were just Vile Breed, not demons. Vile Breed that were caught by students, at that.
She needed to be wary, but there was no need to get completely bogged down by it.
They had already scoured the entire academy, finding their bases and capturing the hidden Vile Breed.
That was enough. The rest of the cleanup wasn't her job anyway.
“Above all, this research is more important to me.”
And what she would gain from it.
“To be honest, it is for me as well. I'll be heading to the lab, then.”
Rosalia waved her hand, dismissing him. Aaron left the office.
“...Of course. It's important. Very important.”
Aaron headed to the laboratory with a faint smile on his face.