Chapter 177
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 177
The top floor of the Union's main building. Chairman Hengard's office.
Seated at his desk, Hengard adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses as he reviewed the letter in his hand.
“Oh? So this is what happened at the Wall.”
The Wall at the End—the Western Front that serves as the boundary between the human and demon realms.
It appeared a significant incident had occurred while Roen was visiting the Devalis family during the break. After finishing the letter, the Chairman handed the message from the Devalis family back to Watson.
“For another Venerable to reveal himself... They must be getting desperate.”
The one who had appeared this time was Amur. Known for his relatively gentle nature despite his overwhelming power, the letter stated that Roen had confronted him and returned alive.
It wasn't so much that Roen had survived by his own strength, but rather that the other side had chosen to let him go.
The Chairman's secretary, Watson, carefully stored the letter and asked, “Mr. Chairman, didn't you already know about this?”
“Haha, I am no god. How much could I possibly know?”
The Chairman swiveled his chair to face the floor-to-ceiling window, which offered a panoramic view of the Union. Beyond the glass, the Union’s landscape stretched out in all its glory. Magnificent buildings and exquisite landscaping lined the long, straight boulevards, where throngs of people strolled peacefully.
Hengard gazed down at the sight and quietly clenched his fist. He possessed the power to destroy all of this—and the power to protect it.
He had studied magic for centuries under the tutelage of the Great Sage Azolte Fingard, the master of all mages. As a result, Hengard had gained mastery over space and a lifespan that transcended that of a normal human.
However...
“Even I am powerless before the great current of fate. I am but a mere mortal.”
“...”
Watson silently bowed his head.
The Chairman spoke again, his tone brightening.
“Of course, I was aware of this matter to some extent. To call it a ‘plan’ might be a bit grandiose, but I did guide the situation in my own way.”
Gazing at the setting sun, the Chairman continued.
“I opened a portal to ensure they arrived at the right time, and I also requested that Duchess Aslan include Roen in the expedition. I must admit, I was surprised she agreed.”
Risking the exposure of his own identity to personally open a portal, and convincing Aslan—who cared for Roen so dearly—to take him on a dangerous expedition beyond the Wall. It was all part of the design.
After all, Roen's growth would be forged through his encounters with them.
Hearing the Chairman's explanation, Watson spoke as if he’d had a sudden realization.
“I see. Then, was helping Roen get elected as Student Council President at the beginning of the semester also part of this plan...?”
Watson was jumping to conclusions, but the Chairman slowly shook his head.
“No, that was not my doing. That was Roen's own will. Though it turned out well for me in the end. Haha.”
The Chairman smiled, letting out his characteristic laugh. Watson, however, still wore an expression of lingering confusion.
“But, Mr. Chairman, there is something I must ask.”
“Feel free.”
“If Roen is so deeply entangled with the demons... why do you let him be instead of eliminating him?”
Roen was a person of constant interest to the legendary Twelve Venerables, the disciples of the Demon God. In other words, Roen's very existence was a potential threat to humanity. There was no telling if he might one day side with the demons and bring ruin to the continent.
So why wasn't the Chairman eliminating such a risk? More than that—why was he guiding him to make contact with the enemy and allowing him to grow stronger?
Hengard answered the question with a calm smile.
“A perfectly valid question. But the reason is likely the same as why the late Duke Kaiser took Roen in as his son. If we can guide him down the right path and teach him what he must do, he will never become a threat to humanity. On the contrary...”
The Chairman gazed at the scenery outside the window and added one final remark.
“He will become our only hope.”
*
“So this is the Union...”
After a journey of several weeks, we had finally arrived back at the Meteor Archipelago.
The knights of the Devalis family disembarked at Stella Harbor. Their eyes sparkled as they looked up at the Union's buildings perched on the high hills. For knights who had spent their entire lives near the Wall and the city of Devalis, it must have been a wondrous sight.
They reacted like country bumpkins seeing the capital for the first time, but I was in no position to talk. During the three weeks it took to travel from the Western Front to the eastern side of the continent, I too had marveled at the various countries and cities we passed through.
To see the landscapes I had only ever witnessed as in-game graphics come to life so vividly was a heart-pounding experience.
“Welcome to the Union. I am Cedric. It is an honor to meet the guardians of the Wall.”
As we stepped off the ship, soldiers who had been inspecting the harbor area approached to greet us. They were knights wearing breastplates emblazoned with the crest of seven stars—knights dispatched from the Cassandra Empire, the masters of the seven Magic Towers.
It seemed Beatrice had brought additional escorts with her upon returning to the Union.
“Ah, yes. A pleasure to meet you. I am Crossen. The honor is mine to meet a knight of the Empire.”
Crossen stepped forward as the representative of the Devalis family and shook the imperial knight's hand.
Clasp.
A strange tension flowed between them the moment their hands met. They were smiling, but I could feel them sizing each other up, gauging one another's level and skill. I guess there's just a certain friction between warriors that a mage can't quite understand.
After the greeting, the imperial knight, Cedric, began to guide the Devalis knights.
“Since this is your first time here, everything must seem unfamiliar. I will show you the way. The Union has separate quarters for escort troops.”
The knights dispatched from the Devalis family followed Cedric's lead.
“See you later.”
“Yes, Lord Roen, Lady Ciel.”
After parting with Crossen and his group, I was left alone with Ciel. We headed straight for the Union's main building.
“That was a long trip. Let's go get some rest.”
“Yes, Lord Roen.”
It had been a grueling carriage journey that lasted three full weeks. Dozens of knights had escorted us, so we never faced any real danger, but it was still exhausting. Even a few hours in a car is tiring; traveling in a rattling carriage for three weeks straight made my whole body stiff and my back ache unbearably.
If we hadn't stayed in luxury hotels along the way, I probably would have collapsed from exhaustion before we even reached the Union.
“Anyway... the harbor is incredibly busy,” I said, patting my lower back as I watched the bustling crowds.
There were plenty of students returning before the end of the break, which accounted for some of the foot traffic, but even considering that, the movement of goods had increased significantly.
When I voiced my curiosity, Ciel replied calmly, “It's likely due to preparations for the Academy Festival.”
“Now that you mention it.”
The sweltering summer was over, and autumn was just around the corner. The Union's biggest celebration, the Academy Festival, was not far off. It would be held right after the midterm exams, so it made sense for preparations to start now.
Kiriel is going to have her hands full.
The host for this year's festival was the Spiritology academy, Voltimir. As a festival that drew hundreds of thousands of visitors, it would require thorough planning. Well, her aides would probably be doing most of the hard work, not Kiriel herself.
As I was lost in thought, Ciel asked, “Are you planning to stick your spoon in this time, too?”
Ciel was referring to what I did during the athletic festival hosted by Freya.
I nodded readily. “Well, yes.”
Having my name listed as a sponsor for such a massive event is vital for managing my public image. It's similar to why wealthy nations in the real world build architectural wonders or host major sporting events.
“Still, ‘sticking your spoon in’... Can't we use a more refined term? Like ‘sponsoring’ or ‘patronage’? There are better words for it.”
Wording is everything, so I thought it would be better to use a more pleasant term, but...
“Spoon.”
“...”
Ciel clearly had no intention of correcting her choice of words. I shrugged and started walking.
“Let's get going.”
*
Creeak.
I stepped back into the Student Council office for the first time in two months. The room looked exactly as I’d left it, but seeing it again felt surprisingly welcoming. I set down my luggage and leaned back comfortably in my chair.
“Phew.”
I began to unpack and systematically lay out my plans for the future. The second semester was going to be busy, so it was best to plan ahead.
First, I'll sell the things I brought.
I needed to sell the various luxury goods I'd taken from Roen's room to raise some liquid cash. And since I had to meet with Lize to analyze Roen's diary anyway, a visit to the underworld was essential.
I also took out the letters from my desk drawer to check them. A pass for a tour of the Magic Tower and an invitation to participate in the Magic Olympiad caught my eye. I should use these before they expire.
Next to them, I saw the blueprints for the Izelin Academy dormitory. The construction must have progressed significantly while I was away, which meant I'd soon be able to search for the Cognitive Acceleration Stone. I should also prepare a gift for Demian, who was leading the construction project.
Come to think of it...
Thinking about the dormitory construction reminded me of something I'd forgotten. I pulled a document from a file folder next to my desk and examined it.
It was the development rights to an undeveloped area, which I had obtained through negotiations with the Chairman. To be precise, it was the right to develop vacant land not owned by any specific academy. With this, all the requirements for establishing a new academy were met.
I should start preparing now.
The power structure of the academies is currently divided into four major factions: Ishtal of Swordsmanship, Eredor of Magic, Voltimir of Spirits, and Seintea of Divinity.
But long ago, there was another great power besides these four. An academy whose name has all but vanished in the present day.
Valerian of the Unique Abilities.
An academy centered not on swordsmanship, magic, spirits, or divinity, but on unique abilities tailored to an individual's inherent traits and characteristics. Of course, the academy is destined to be re-established in the near future, but rather than wait for that, I plan to build it myself.
Even now, there are many talented individuals scattered across the continent who can't enroll in the Union because they don't fit into its rigid classification system.
Think of a trait like Lize's Eye of Replication. Her ability is far from any conventional magical talent, but its performance is nothing short of extraordinary. My goal is to enroll such individuals in the Union, educate them, and later use them as a powerful military force. It won't be easy, but if it's going to happen anyway, it's better to have it under my control.
Besides, I have the money and, as Student Council President, the right to establish a new academy.
I've already received permission from the Chairman to use the land, so there's nothing holding me back. I'll establish the academy and aggressively recruit and nurture individuals with valuable traits. Though to do that, I'll need even more money than I have now.
Money won't be a problem.
The Academy Festival is coming up. If I do a massive launch for the carbonated water brand ‘Alchemist’ and commercialize it then, I should be able to cover the costs quickly.
Flutter.
I folded the document and stood up.
Time to get some rest.
Having organized my plans, I went outside to check the mailbox before heading to the bedroom.
Creeak.
The suggestion box was stuffed to the brim. Among the thick pile of letters, a black envelope with an All-Seeing Eye drawn in gold leaf caught my attention.
“This is...”
It was a letter sent to me from the underworld.