He’s a corrupt.
Aint, who had found a clue, didn’t go looking for Carlo right away.
“Senior Carlo is a corrupt?”
“Yes, in the end that was definitely demonic magic.”
“If he showed it in front of everyone, others should’ve noticed something weird, right?”
“It was very faint.”
It didn’t seem like he had revealed it on purpose—more like it slipped out unintentionally. That’s why it was so weak, and if it hadn’t been Aint, someone extremely sensitive to demonic magic, no one would’ve noticed it. At least, that was how Aint and Gardner saw it.
“Then we have to catch him immediately.”
Verian commented while munching on the snacks left in the VIP area.
“No. Senior Carlo is proof that someone inside the Academy is acting as a host, mediating contracts with demons. We need to follow him to find the real body and the head.”
Carlo Deneb was just the tail. They had to follow it to find the body—and beyond that, the head.
“Senior Carlo suddenly got strong. Don’t you think there might be a clue in that? Anything come to mind?”
“He got that strong right after he started combining illusion and mirage magic.”
That happened after he learned new techniques during summer break from a private tutor.
“Illusion and mirage magic? Then you mean Professor Dominique?”
“If what you’re saying is true, then you’re implying that Professor Dominique is a corrupt…”
Professor Dominique had been teaching at the Academy for over ten years. He was a central figure of the institution.
“I don’t know. It’s just a suspicion. I have to investigate.”
“And do you have a plan?”
“Aria.”
“Aria?”
“Yes.”
Under normal circumstances, Aint, who was from the Knights Department, had no connection to Dominique, a professor from the Magic Department.
In Professor Rosalia’s case, there were at least joint classes, but the subject “Illusions and Mirages” had nothing to do with knight students.
“Aria is helping Professor Dominique, right?”
Whether it was coincidence or fate, Aria was currently assisting Dominique with his preparations—not exactly research, but for the fireworks display.
“Oh, really? I’d forgotten.”
“Well, you know I’m currently helping a professor from the Magic Department as part of my disciplinary service, right?”
“You assume I know that.”
“Weren’t you my subordinate?”
“I’ve yet to seriously say I want to be your subordinate.”
Verian drank his coffee boldly, and Aint, letting out a dry laugh, continued explaining.
“…While I was helping Professor Ladina, I ran into Aria a couple of times in the research building. She looked like a walking corpse.”
“She turned undead?”
“No, I mean she was that exhausted.”
“Oh, got it.”
“Anyway, I’ll use that as an excuse to go see her. I’ll bring some snacks she likes.”
At that moment, two protagonists stepped onto the stage.
“Second place of the second year of the Knights Department, Valoshi Vienderk! His opponent, second place of the third year of the Knights Department, Almon Donertz!”
A battle of second places.
But no one considered them mere “second places.”
The horses began to run.
────!
A roar shook the stadium. The horses neighed wildly and the shockwaves made the ground tremble.
“Tell me, do you think you could win if you were out there?”
Aint’s sudden question made Verian snort in disdain.
“And you?”
“I think I could win.”
It wouldn’t be easy. He might lose. Those two weren’t weak or easy opponents by any means.
But if he fought them ten times, he was confident he’d win at least seven, maybe more.
It wasn’t arrogance or overconfidence.
Aint had clearly seen their levels. He looked down on them from above.
Among students, he no longer had any rivals on his level. Except for one.
Luina Bercheff. The only person he admired and for whom he held special affection.
If the comparison extended to the Magic Department, that was a different story.
At those words, Verian bit his lip.
“You bastard.”
“So suddenly?”
“You used to be below me, and now you’re…!”
“It was just a moment.”
“Twenty years!”
Aint had entered ranked 38th, and at that time he was weaker than Verian.
If you counted from birth, twenty years wasn’t a lie.
“You put it like that?”
“That’s what I think.”
“And are you sure you’d win? You haven’t answered.”
“Of course…”
Verian scanned the stadium. He watched the two knights running in the arena.
The horses turned, ran again, clashed.
Three fast duels later, the knights dismounted and drew their swords.
Two distinct auras flared brightly as they charged each other.
The auras clashed and the ground split.
Verian imagined himself in the middle of that chaos.
Victory?
No, that was too much.
Even though he had grown a lot under Fernan’s guidance, those two were also geniuses who had ranked first or second at the Academy.
However.
“At least I’m sure I wouldn’t lose.”
Maybe he couldn’t win, but he could endure.
Eventually, he’d lose, but he could hang on with such tenacity that the others would tire out first.
“Oh, really?”
Aint didn’t say anything more.
The duel continued.
───!
Being a knights’ match, it didn’t have the visual spectacle of a magic tournament.
But their swords were heavy and fast, and the impact was no less than that of spells.
The stadium floor shattered, and the magical barrier raised to protect the spectators groaned with each shockwave.
Both knights’ bodies were covered in wounds, their auras dimmed and lost sharpness.
Even so.
“Almon! Almon!”
“Valoshi! Valoshi!”
There was passion in their fight. The crowd chanted their favorite’s name.
“…I wish I were there too.”
Aint murmured without thinking.
If the timing hadn’t gotten thrown off, he and Luina would probably be standing in that place.
And the names the audience was shouting would be theirs.
Just imagining it filled him with a powerful sense of catharsis.
The atmosphere intensified.
─────!
Waaaaaaa!
The climax arrived soon.
Aint stood up.
“Want to come with me?”
“What would I go for?”
“To see Aria?”
“I’m not interested.”
Well, if he said so.
As Aint walked toward the exit, he heard a quiet recommendation from behind.
“If you go, bring candy.”
“Candy?”
“She’s always eating sweets.”
“And weren’t you not interested?”
“I’m not interested.”
Verian shook his head firmly.
“The winner, Almon Donertz!”
At that moment, the judge announced the victor.
***
While Aint and Verian were watching the jousting tournament, Luina sat in another VIP room.
She watched the duel between Valoshi and Almon, imagining herself in their place.
How would she have blocked Almon’s sword if it were her?
How would she have responded to Valoshi’s offense?
How would she have moved her feet, how would she have counterattacked?
Just imagining it was already fun.
Different people, different swordplay, different styles, different auras.
Breathing, reactions, the path of the sword, even the direction—everything was different.
Although she was confident she could respond to each of their movements, just watching the duel taught her a lot.
“Miss, it’s over.”
When the duel ended, Luina came out of her trance.
The nursemaid had called her.
“You go ahead, nursemaid. I have to stop by somewhere.”
“Yes, I know. How could I not guess? Watching something like that must’ve made your blood boil, right?”
“You make me sound like a crazed beast thirsting for blood.”
“You’re going to Professor Grad, aren’t you?”
“…Yes.”
“I knew it.”
The nursemaid chuckled quietly while Luina wore an awkward expression.
“I really am surprised. I knew he wasn’t ordinary, but to have a master of that level teaching at the Academy…”
“Everyone has their circumstances.”
Luina didn’t care about Professor Grad’s past. What mattered was that he was an expert, he taught well for money, and Fernan had left her both chocolate and funds.
‘Next time…’
She wouldn’t let Fernan leave her behind again.
When he disappeared in Esrin, how much she had suffered. She had blamed herself countless times, thinking, “If I had been there, if I had been stronger.”
They said there hadn’t been much danger, but to Luina, it was serious.
From now on, the demons would descend with even more force, and danger would keep seeking him out. Fernan would throw himself into the riskiest places.
He called it protecting money, but to Luina, it was simply a heroic path.
‘…I have to become a Royal Knight.’
The title of Royal Knight didn’t guarantee being stronger.
But it was recognition. Recognition from the whole world, a clear boundary—the wall that, once broken, led to transcendence.
There were many close to the level of a Royal Knight, but only ten truly held the title.
It had been her dream since childhood, always chasing the backs of the Royal Knights, and it was the path she had to take.
Not to stand beside Fernan, but to stand in front of him, facing the demons with pride.
She would protect Fernan.
Because she was a knight.
Because that was her knighthood.
***
Knock, knock, knock—
No response. After knocking about five times, he finally heard footsteps and the door opened.
Aint appeared with a bright smile, holding gifts in both hands.
“Who…?”
“Hi, I’m Aint Armian.”
“Ah, yes. We’ve crossed paths a few times, haven’t we? How’s helping Professor Ladina going?”
“I’m dying.”
It wasn’t a joke. He’d never do it again. He’d rather swing a sword day and night for a full week.
“It must not be easy for a student from the Knights Department to assist in research. The fields are very different. So, what brings you here?”
An assistant with a haggard face greeted him.
“Oh, nothing special. I just wanted to see Aria’s face after a while and brought some sweets. I heard from Professor Ladina that you all tend to share these kinds of things.”
“Of course. Thanks, it’s appreciated. All candy, huh? Well, when we’re low on sugar during research, our brains stop working, so candy’s important.”
It certainly was.
The assistant accepted the sweets with a grateful (or resigned?) look.
“Wait here. I’ll go call Aria.”
“Thanks.”
The assistant closed the door and returned to the lab.
— He looks completely drained.
— Are magicians always like this? And as expected, they won’t let you in so easily.
‘Same with knights. Spying on training is taboo.’
With magic, which is often recorded in detail for research, the rules must be even stricter.
After a short while, the assistant came back out. But Aria wasn’t with him.
“And Aria?”
“I was going to bring her, but the professor says it would be rude not to invite the visitor as well. He wants you to come in. What do you say?”
He had no reason to refuse.
“In that case, I’d be glad to.”
“Follow me.”
Aint stepped inside.
Clack—
The door closed.
____
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