Chapter 97
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: The Demon's Advent
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Pernyan first met Rosalia long before he entered the academy.
He ran into her at a banquet around the time he had just established the Golden Pillar and was building his personal slush fund.
“Fallenberg? So you’re the money-grubbing kid who started in the merchant business so young.”
She was looking for a sponsor for her research.
At first, he couldn’t understand why she, with the backing of the Vienderk family, would be seeking another sponsor.
But after reviewing her research, Pernyan decided it wouldn’t be a bad first investment for the Golden Pillar.
And that was how it had been ever since.
“I can’t grasp every detail at my level, but the demonstration was a success.”
Theoretically, it seemed perfect. If it went as planned at the Academic Conference, Pernyan stood to make a killing.
The expenses from sponsoring her with vast amounts of money and mana stones had been significant, but this outcome was more than enough to recoup it all.
Pleased with the research results, Pernyan smiled at the hopeful future.
And as if to rebuke him, a headache struck.
“…Hk?”
Pernyan found a nearby bench and sat down. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and surrendered to the memories flooding his mind.
[“The Continental Academic Conference? You want me to go with you?”
“Yes.”
Aria nodded, smiling brightly.
“Is it okay for me to go? I’m not a mage.”
“What a strange thing to say. It’s the ‘Continental’ Academic Conference, not the ‘Magic’ Academic Conference. There are quite a few knights there, not just mages.”
“Really?”
Honestly, Aint wanted to go too. It was a prestigious event that had the entire continent buzzing.
A festival hosted by the Electors in rotation, but one no longer held in Armian.
He wanted to see what it was like with his own eyes. And one day, he wanted to make it happen in Armian again.
- It wouldn’t be a bad idea to go. I’m curious myself.]
The first memory was of Aint Armian planning to attend the Continental Academic Conference with Aria.
From this, Pernyan sensed that the conference would not go smoothly.
‘That Aint bastard attracts all sorts of trouble.’
Wherever he went, problems related to the Vile Breed erupted. That was the law of the Prophecy Book that Pernyan had come to understand.
[“A Drake? No, not just a Drake, but a variant. Its scales and eyes are different. But why is it dying?”
“It looks completely drained of energy.”
- That thing is just at the end of its lifespan. Variants are stronger than typical monsters, but they burn through their life force more quickly.
- It seems to have clung to life, ailing for a long time. Put it out of its misery.
- Being a variant, it will likely have an elixir core.
Aint beheaded the variant Drake. There was a slight resistance, but it was almost negligible.
Just as Gardner had said, there was an elixir core, albeit not a very large one, near its heart.]
On their way, Aint and Aria had found a variant Drake and obtained an elixir.
‘A variant Drake, ailing and dying at the end of its lifespan.’
His luck was just too good.
The quality probably wasn’t the best, being from a variant monster, but an elixir was an elixir.
[Godilita, a major city in Vienderk, was teeming with people who had come for the Continental Academic Conference.
The streets were so crowded there was no room to set foot, and Aint was certain this was the most people he had ever seen in his life.
“…This is incredible.”
“Of course. Mages from almost the entire continent flock to the Academic Conference.”
And with them came nobles and merchants to see their research, as well as the knights and mercenaries who escorted them.
It was only natural for the crowd to be massive.
“Huh?”
“What is it?”
“That person over there…”
Just then, Aint spotted someone.
“Isn’t that Professor Rosalia?”]
The next scene showed Aint and Aria arriving at the conference and spotting Rosalia Vienderk.
Pernyan skimmed past it, as it wasn’t of much interest. He wanted to know what kind of trouble would break out.
[“I present to you all.”
On the stage, behind Rosalia, a white cloth was pulled away, revealing something enormous.
It was a round, giant block of ice.
It radiated with abundant mana, its surface etched with inscriptions and magic circles without a single gap.
“This is a new form of mana stone that will change the landscape of this world.”]
[“So…”
Faced with a completely unexpected and unmanageable situation, Rosalia’s perpetually poker-faced expression contorted.
The thousand-odd inscriptions and magic circles flashed erratically, emitting mana and creating a bizarre flow.
“Is that thing okay?”
“What’s happening?”
“Something feels ominous.”
Most of those gathered at the Continental Academic Conference were skilled mages, and they realized that what was happening was by no means Rosalia’s intention.
“Stop the magic at once!”
“Cut off the artifact’s mana!”
They shouted urgently, but it was too late. The artificial mana stone gathered a massive amount of mana into one point and shot it toward the sky.
The condensed mana created a rift in space. It had literally torn space apart.
And from between the tear emerged…
A winged, silver horse, and a person riding it.
“…What is that?”
“A pegasus?”
“It’s too foul an aura to be a pegasus…!”
“Demonic energy?”
No, it was neither horse nor human.
- …You’ve got to be kidding me, Seere? Aint! Be careful! That’s the 70th-ranked demon, Seere!
A demon had descended upon the Continental Academic Conference.]
…What?
Pernyan’s mouth fell open.
It was a prophecy that made it painfully clear why the original future had been one of ruin.
* * *
They say when a person is too stunned, words fail them.
For the first time in his life, Pernyan experienced it.
No words came out.
He wanted to say something, anything, but it felt as if someone had stuffed his mouth full of sand.
His breath caught in his throat. A cold sweat trickled down his skin, and his eyes turned bloodshot.
What should I do?
How?
How?
Nothing came to mind.
If this happened, what would the fallout be?
Whatever else, the creator, Rosalia Vienderk, and her sponsor, Pernyan Fallenberg, were most certainly finished.
‘So it was this one final blow, after everything else piled up, that was meant to do me in.’
He would be disowned by the family on this pretext, and that horrible nightmare would become reality.
‘…Were all my efforts until now for nothing?’
No, that couldn’t be right. He had changed countless futures.
His relationship with Ruina had become the best it could be, and he had reached a point where he could cooperate with Aint.
He had turned Verian, who was supposed to vanish without a trace, into an ally and had prevented various other problems.
There had been clear achievements.
Yet, if this incident occurred, it was still over for Pernyan. That much hadn’t changed.
What good was all his previous success?
This wasn’t just anything; it was the summoning of a demon. In a public place, with the intent to slaughter distinguished guests.
‘What on earth is the problem?’
There were three possibilities.
Either Rosalia Vienderk was a Vile Breed follower.
Or Rosalia’s assistants were Vile Breed followers.
Or another Vile Breed follower hiding in the academy had secretly pulled some strings.
Pernyan wiped his face. Whatever the case, the result was the same.
He had to drop everything else and solve this.
He had to.
* * *
Returning to his quarters, Pernyan once again checked the list of suspected Vile Breed followers his father had sent.
But neither Rosalia Vienderk nor her assistants were on it.
“…Dammit.”
If they had been, he could have targeted them and investigated properly. Now he had to start from scratch.
“Young Master, you called for… Did something happen? Why do you look so pale?”
Just then, Hyde entered.
“Hyde.”
“Yes.”
“Run to the temple at once and get Jace. Tell him I want to see him.”
“You mean Jace Baintz?”
“And Aint Armian, too.”
“Why those two, all of a sudden?”
“And deliver this letter to Professor Rosalia. Secretly.”
“Sir?”
Hyde was flustered by Pernyan’s rapid-fire instructions but dutifully took the letter.
“What is going on all of a sudden?”
“I saw something horrible.”
“Pardon?”
“If my prediction is correct, my life is about to be over.”
“…I understand even less now.”
“I’ve found something strange in Professor Rosalia’s research. I suspect it might be demonic energy.”
At the mention of demonic energy, Hyde’s expression changed.
“…Are you certain?”
“That’s what I need to confirm now.”
And for that, he needed Aint Armian and Jace Baintz. They were, in their own right, the foremost authorities on demonic energy.
The Pope would be better than a Saint, but Pernyan couldn’t just summon someone of the Pope’s stature at will.
“I’ll deliver it at once.”
Hyde disappeared. Pernyan also prepared to go out again.
His destination was a secret room in a shop owned by the Golden Turtle Merchant Guild.
He sat and waited, and soon the door opened and a guest arrived.
“You called for me, Hyeongnim?”
The first to arrive was the money-grubbing magic maniac.
“Did you bring what I asked for?”
“Yes, of course. Have you found another Vile Breed follower?”
“It’s just a suspicion for now. And this time, it’s not just about finding a follower. I need your magical expertise.”
“As long as you pay my fee, I’m always ready to obey your command, Hyeongnim!”
Jace sat down with a grin.
“So, what’s this about?”
“Wait a moment.”
“Is someone else coming?”
“Yes.”
Soon, he sensed a presence outside. The door opened, and the two men’s eyes met.
“Aint Armian?”
“Jace Baintz?”
They were in the same year but had little interaction. The unexpected combination made them both look at Pernyan.
“Aint, I have something to say, so just sit down.”
“Yes, Senior.”
Whew. Once everyone was gathered, Pernyan took a light breath to compose himself.
“Listen carefully.”
He hadn’t intended to set a serious mood, but his voice instinctively dropped to a low register. That was how tense he was.
“I’ve discovered the Vile Breed’s next plan. To stop it, I need your help.”
“……!”
“……!”
* * *
Rustle, rustle—
Rosalia’s hands moved even faster as she reviewed the documents.
To her, who wanted to focus on her research as quickly and as much as possible, paperwork was nothing but an obstacle to be dealt with.
And thanks to Pernyan, it was now even more delayed.
‘I’m tired.’
How many nights had it been since she last slept?
As a mage, her body was incomparably stronger than an ordinary person’s, but she was still human.
Her fatigue was snowballing.
But right now, time spent sleeping felt like a waste. The culmination of her long research was at hand, and the Continental Academic Conference was just two weeks away.
Click. She put a cigarette to her lips and lit it. As she took a drag, her weary mind sharpened once more.
Knock, knock—
“Professor, a letter has arrived from student Pernyan.”
An assistant opened the door and handed her a letter.
“A letter? He just left an hour ago after checking everything.”
“I’m not sure of the reason either…”
“You may leave.”
“Yes.”
Rosalia unfolded the letter.
The moment she read its contents…
[…cancel all sponsorship and retrieve all sponsored research materials… Omitted… If you have any objections, meet at the Golden Turtle Merchant Guild’s teahouse…]
“…You’re playing a funny game, Pernyan.”
She snapped the cigarette in two.
All sleepiness vanished in an instant.