“Today you must rest until the end of the day.”
“Understood.”
“I mean it.”
As evening fell, Luina returned to the Ravidus Hall. The next day, Fernan, who for the first time in a long while had done nothing and had slept deeply, woke up in a good mood.
Hyde entered with breakfast.
“How do you feel?”
“My head is clear.”
The headache had disappeared as if it had never existed. No, in fact, he felt even more refreshed.
“Please, from now on, take better care of your body. What’s this about working until exhaustion?”
“It’s not exhaustion, it’s a side effect of using the prophetic vision.”
“Is it that serious? Last time it wasn’t to the point of coughing blood and fainting.”
“That was a different matter.”
“Huh?”
Fernan continued explaining slowly. Upon hearing it all, Hyde was stunned.
“…Are you saying it’s an effect of the Dragon Heart?”
“That’s right. Feeling the senses of a dragon with a human body, it seems I suffered an overload. Now that I know, I’ll be more careful.”
“So, your current physical condition is…?”
“Actually, better than before.”
“Congratulations.”
Fernan tried a spoonful of creamy soup.
“And the letter?”
“I sent it via the express route through the Golden Turtle Guild. But does it relate to the prophetic vision?”
“It does. Ten kilograms of mithril appeared. They say the corrupt plan to destroy it.”
“Then we must stop them.”
“Not just stop them, we must obtain it.”
He tore a soft piece of bread and dipped it in the soup; the buttery aroma filled his nose.
“Ah, so that letter… did you send it to your father?”
“I requested reinforcements. I’ll go myself.”
The location was deep in the mountains. Fernan had never been there, so he would have to rely solely on the vision’s contents. If he didn’t go in person, locating it would be even harder. Moreover, he couldn’t take a large army into foreign territory.
“But will the rector grant permission? Even if he overlooked it the first time…”
“That’s why this time I’ll use a different excuse.”
“A different excuse?”
“The same as with Valerich.”
“Then you won’t be able to take Aint Armian.”
“That’s why I asked my father for help.”
And besides, Professor Rosalia was worth a hundred. When it came to demons, Aint was unmatched, but in terms of pure strength, she surpassed him.
“Will Professor Rosalia agree to go?”
“I’m going to talk to her right now.”
Fernan was convinced she would accept without hesitation.
“A mage who ignores mithril stops being a mage.”
The three great metals: adamantite, orichalcum, and mithril.
All were valuable for research materials, but among them, mithril was what drove mages wild. Its magical conductivity fit perfectly into any research.
***
“I found 2 kg of mithril.”
Fernan didn’t waste time with preambles. He got straight to the point and waited for the reaction.
“I’ll give you 500 g. In return, allow me to accompany you to the location.”
Hyde, listening from behind, barely kept a neutral expression.
‘He lies as naturally as breathing.’
He had reduced the 10 kg to just 2 kg.
“……”
Professor Rosalia lit a cigarette in silence.
‘How much does each one of those cost?’
They were incredibly expensive, filled with special herbs. She was the only one who could smoke them like water.
“You’re saying it’s mithril?”
“Yes.”
“2 kg…”
“It’s not much, but being mithril, it has great value.”
“True. With 1 kg alone, the trip would be worth it.”
Hyde marveled at how naturally Professor Rosalia doubled the offer.
“500 g.”
“In that case, I won’t help. If, even with the Golden Turtle Guild at your disposal, you insist on going yourself, it must be for a serious reason, right?”
Her reasoning was impeccable.
“…I understand.”
Fernan nodded resignedly, but that answer hardened the professor’s expression.
“What are you hiding?”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re hiding something, aren’t you?”
She tapped the ashes into the ashtray.
“Me, hiding something?”
“Just like you know me, I know you well too, Fernan Pellenberg.”
Her intent was clear—to force him to reveal what he was hiding.
“What are you hiding?”
“The corrupt know about it too.”
“Then I’m going. No matter what.”
Rosalia firmly set down her teacup.
“Didn’t you say to notify you without hesitation if the corrupt were involved?”
She hated demons. They had already destroyed her research and used her as a medium for a demonic summoning.
“So you’ll help me even without mithril?”
“How shameless.”
“When can we depart?”
“I’ll prepare right away. The sooner, the better.”
“And what excuse will you use?”
“That’s my business.”
Rosalia gathered her documents and left for the rector’s office. Hyde, who had been tense the whole time, let out a big sigh.
“Impressive, even in this situation…”
Shhh—
Fernan covered his mouth. He closed his eyes and released the dragon’s senses.
─!
The invisible became visible, the inaudible was heard, the intangible was felt. And amid it all, he sensed a strange flow.
Cough—
Fernan swallowed the blood that rose, grabbed Hyde, and left the office. Hyde, horrified by the red trickle escaping from his lips, exclaimed,
“What’s happening all of a sudden…?”
“It’s nothing. I just used the dragon’s power.”
“But why use that power so suddenly!”
“There was a recording.”
“…A recording?”
“What were you about to tell me earlier?”
“…That you reduced the 10 kg to 2 kg when you told her.”
Hyde’s eyes widened.
“Could it be…?”
“If I had said the full amount, it would’ve ended up in Professor Rosalia’s hands.”
If it was recorded, it would be a problem. And even if he destroyed the record, the fact that it was destroyed would be suspicious.
“Even the corrupt were too lenient, and I still had doubts. But as I suspected, the professor is also not easy to fool.”
“Clean your mouth first.”
Fernan took the handkerchief Hyde offered.
“Anyway, I’ll extract the mithril myself, so I’ll be able to hide it well.”
No matter how powerful Rosalia was, she wasn’t an earth mage. Manipulating 10 kg and making it look like just 2 during extraction would be hard, but not impossible.
“But why 2 kg? If you were going to reduce it, I thought you’d make it even less.”
“2 kg is the sweet spot.”
Considering that 1 kg of mithril was already a lot, sharing it with her made the deal seem reasonable.
“Also, we’re not just going—we’ll have to fight monsters. But with 2 kg, it’s enough. So she’ll keep 1 kg.”
“1 kg? Did you plan that from the start?”
“Professor Rosalia is quite fair. She likes to split things evenly.”
That’s why Fernan rejected her first offer and accepted the second. To be able to take her with him, he had to make it clear that something was hidden.
“And even then, she didn’t fully trust me, so she placed a record. Wow, you and the professor are amazing…”
Hyde shook his head.
“It’s basic. What matters is that she’s already agreed, so let’s get everything ready. When she said ‘right away,’ she meant it.”
With 8 kg of mithril saved, Fernan hummed cheerfully.
***
“…You’re leaving again?”
Faced with Fernan’s sudden announcement, Aint asked again.
“That’s right. I found mithril, and they say there are corrupt around. I’m going to take care of it cleanly.”
“If it has to do with the corrupt, wouldn’t it be better if I go with you?”
“No, taking you is impossible. Not just you—no one. Being away for nearly two months during the semester was already a miracle.”
“That’s true. Then how will you manage to leave again?”
“There are ways.”
Fernan handed him a small pouch.
“This?”
“Gems.”
“And what for…?”
“I’m going anyway, but you never know. Something might happen at the Academy. During our last absence, they caught two corrupt right here—even the rector himself.”
They all carried books, and upon death, vanished like smoke.
The fact they kept being sent, even knowing they would fail, could only mean one of two things: either they were idiots, or there was a much larger plan at work.
Fernan was convinced of the latter. The corrupt were hiding something.
“They could take advantage of my absence. I need you to handle it.”
“Of course, but what do the gems have to do with that?”
“If things get bad, ask for help from those who’ve already been in this room.”
Everyone who had passed through there was someone entirely trustworthy, with no ties to the corrupt.
Within the Academy, they were the safest allies Aint could have.
“The others will help you without hesitation, but Jace won’t. In that case, give him this gem.”
“…Understood.”
“Then I’m off.”
Fernan stood up. Even if the corrupt made a move during the festival, with Aint leading, they could handle it without major issues.
‘There’s Luina, Aria, Verian, Jace—and above all, the rector.’
That they had sometimes come close to falling into traps was due to how well the corrupt hid themselves, not because the Archmage was weak.
As he left the room, Hyde was waiting.
“All set, the carriage is ready outside.”
“I’ll stop by to pick up Wooden first.”
At that moment, Fernan wasn’t wearing the pendant. Wooden was receiving lessons from Professor Emond.
─!
──!
Upon entering the professor’s private training field, the air trembled with the clash of swords.
“Professor.”
Contrary to what he had thought, Emond wasn’t fighting, but standing with his arms crossed, observing.
“Luina?”
“That golem… no, that spirit is a genius. Absorbs everything like a sponge.”
Wooden had already grasped the essence of the Altrierc’s lower swordsmanship. What remained was to solidify it through practice and duels.
“The more varied the opponents, the better. I asked Wooden if there was a knight aware of their own existence, and he recommended Luina.”
“So that’s why she’s fighting him?”
“Yes.”
The duel between Luina and Wooden was evenly matched. Or at least, it appeared so.
“Luina’s winning.”
“Wooden is strong, but Luina Bercheff… she’s a real monster. She’s already far above Academy level.”
And not just the Academy. Across the entire continent, few knights could surpass her.
“Even stronger than you, Master?”
“I’m just a retired old man now.”
“If you say that in front of certain people, you’ll get stabbed.”
“That’s why I only say it to you.”
Emond smiled.
“So, what’s going on? There’s still time left in the training session.”
“I came to take Wooden. I’ve got a matter to attend.”
“A matter? What talent, taking two months off and now heading out again.”
“All legally permitted.”
“Sure, even the illegal becomes legal with you.”
“Wooden!”
At Emond’s call, the duel stopped. Wooden and Luina ran over to Fernan.
“Fernan? Are you feeling better?”
“Thanks to you all.”
“And where are you off to?”
“I need to go out for a while. If the corrupt cause trouble, help Aint.”
“In your condition, you’re going out?”
“I’m already fine.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“It’s nothing serious. Just found a mineral and going to extract some. I’ll be back soon.”
There was no need for her to go with him. Fernan pulled a box from his subspace.
“What’s that?”
“Kraken ink chocolate. There’s a good amount—you won’t run out for a while.”
“…Didn’t you say you’d be back soon?”
“And who said otherwise? It’s just a gift.”
“…I can’t accept it without giving something in return.”
“Then consider it thanks for taking care of me. Thanks to you, I rested well.”
“No need to thank me.”
Luina nodded softly, tilting her face to hide the slight blush on her cheeks.
“Let’s go, Wooden.”
— Kyuu!
Fernan held out his hand, and Wooden, shrinking down, perched on it. As he watched him leave, Professor Emond murmured,
“Youth.”
“It’s not that.”
Shortly after, Rosalia and Fernan departed from the Academy.
____
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