“I don’t think this is the right place to talk.”
Professor Rosalia and Fernan moved to a secluded alley.
“Explain in detail.”
“The Academy will have no choice but to suspend classes.”
“That’s obvious.”
There were no buildings to teach in, nor professors available to give classes. Shutting down was inevitable.
“I think it would be better to take advantage of the process to change everything from the root.”
Although he said it like that, in reality, it wasn’t Fernan’s initiative or the will of the Pellenbergs.
The rector could no longer continue.
“The timing has been too convenient. From the rector’s point of view, he fell into Dantalion’s trap, but for everyone else, he’s just an incompetent who wasn’t present when the Academy was in its greatest danger.”
Public opinion was boiling. Especially the nobles who had lost children were looking for someone to blame.
The rector was the perfect candidate.
‘If he had been there, none of this would have happened.’ That thought was spreading, and it had some truth.
“I already foresaw that. The question is whether he will resign voluntarily or be forcibly removed.”
“Yes, exactly.”
The position of rector was for life.
Normally, one resigned after a certain time, but if there were problems, the prince-electors could force a resignation.
Under normal circumstances, it was enough to maintain good relations with the majority of them, but not in a case like this.
So the rector’s departure was a done deal. Now Fernan had to prepare the next step—getting his candidate into the position.
Initially, it was a ten-year project, or at least five. But if he couldn’t take advantage of the opportunity when it came, he had no right to call himself a merchant.
“As you know, the election of the rector works like this—one candidate is chosen from within the Academy, and another is presented from outside.”
Two contenders.
And between those two, the prince-electors decide.
The difference from the emperor’s election was that in this case, it wasn’t just the prince-electors who voted.
The head professor of the Department of Knights, the Department of Magic, and the vice-rector also voted.
If one of them ran as a candidate, they could even vote for themselves.
“But this is happening much earlier than expected. I’m not head professor yet.”
“That’s why you need to become an Archmage.”
Rosalia’s age was far too young for a rector.
But the war situation changed everything.
The Academy had been destroyed by the demons’ invasion, and everyone wanted a strong leader, someone capable of protecting them and their children if the demons returned.
If Rosalia achieved the rank of Archmage, the Pellenbergs could put her forward as a candidate.
They could even ensure her election.
“So…”
Fernan paused before continuing.
“Shall we move up the schedule a bit?”
“Of course. That’s essential.”
But everything depended on one condition—Rosalia had to become an Archmage.
Otherwise, any move would be pointless.
“I made it clear from the beginning—I didn’t care who it was.”
She exhaled the cigarette smoke.
“And same with the timing. It could be right now.”
“At most, it’ll be a one- or two-month difference. The original plan was to do it during the winter break.”
Then.
“I’m counting on you, Rector.”
Fernan gave a half-smile.
“What flattery.”
“I’m just speaking the truth. Once you’re an Archmage…”
Because I’ll personally make sure you become one.
With the full backing of his father, Fernan had nothing to fear.
‘Just wait and see.’
I’ll rebuild the Academy faster than anyone expects, and I’ll wipe out every last corrupt.
I’ll make sure something like this never happens again.
Fernan once more chewed on his fury.
***
Devastating.
Was this really the same Academy he knew?
Even standing on the rooftop of the Department of Knights building, from where the entire campus could be seen, there was no trace of its former state.
Aint took a deep breath, trying to calm the frustration and rage that wouldn’t dissipate.
— Even so, it was a miracle to stop them with so little damage.
Even Flauros, who had descended to kill Fernan and Professor Rosalia.
In total, three demons.
The fact that all three were defeated at the cost of these losses was, without doubt, a stroke of luck.
No, it wasn’t luck. It was Fernan.
Without Fernan, none of this would have been possible.
“I thought I had grown a lot, but I still have a long way to go.”
From beginning to end, he had done nothing but rely on Fernan. Yes, he had grown. Yes, he had overcome obstacles. But why did it always feel the same?
“And yet I dare to say I want to be emperor…”
He lacked the ability and the right.
“What was the First Emperor like? Did he also get cornered by a single demon like I did?”
— He could defeat two or three at once by himself.
— Though only if they were lesser demons.
“Lesser? Don’t they say the demon hierarchy isn’t directly linked to strength?”
An uncomfortable suspicion crept in, and he asked again.
— That’s true, except for the top ten.
— The top ten are on another level. They’re the leaders of the demons.
— And among them, the first and second are even more distinct.
“The first and second different even from the others?”
Mountain after mountain. Now he understood how colossal those enemies were and why the First Emperor had risked his throne and territory to unite humanity against them.
But not all was despair.
“And even so, in the end, the First Emperor stopped them.”
— That’s right.
There was already a precedent, a hope.
It wasn’t impossible. It wasn’t an unreachable summit—someone had already made it there before.
“What are you doing here?”
“Valoshi.”
It was Valoshi, with his left arm and shoulder bandaged.
“How are you?”
“Fine. Compared to you, this is just a scratch.”
He stood next to Aint and looked out over the devastation of the Academy.
“It’s completely destroyed.”
“Not all of it. Including this area, about half is still standing.”
“I saw you when you arrived on the Saintbird and fought against Andrealphus.”
Valoshi laughed awkwardly.
“It was incredible. I was so scared I couldn’t even move.”
Valoshi was, objectively, a distinguished knight. He couldn’t have defeated Andrealphus, but if he had joined the fight, he would have been helpful.
But the difference was in the mindset.
The first encounter with a demon, the first time feeling that crushing pressure, that fear.
He hadn’t been able to take a single step toward him.
Unlike Aint and Luina, Jace and Grad, who had fought fiercely without hesitation, Valoshi had felt the distance separating him from them.
“That’s because it was your first demon. I was the same the first time.”
“So this wasn’t your first time, right?”
“Correct. I had fought one before.”
“Yeah, I heard.”
“You heard?”
“Ah, nothing, forget it.”
Valoshi quickly changed the subject.
“That’s the difference between someone who’s faced a demon and someone who hasn’t. I hope next time I can react better.”
The threat of demons was just beginning. The future would inevitably be a great war against them.
And in that future, he didn’t want to be paralyzed by fear. To survive, he would have to fight.
More than anything.
“My sister…”
“Professor Rosalia? What about her?”
“No, nothing.”
There was no need to bring up something so personal.
“Anyway, with all this mess, the Academy will be shut down for a while, right?”
“Probably.”
— That’s not a bad thing. Use this break to polish what you gained from that battle.
The fight against Andrealphus had left him with a lot. Unlike Andromalius, that one had truly been a real demon, a genuine enemy.
He needed to digest the experience and knowledge he had gained.
“By the way, what’s up?”
“Oh, Aria woke up.”
“Aria?”
“You should go see her.”
“Thanks for the heads-up.”
After parting ways with Valoshi, Aint headed to the infirmary. Normally empty, now all the beds were occupied.
Aria was in a private room at the back.
“Aint.”
“Aria.”
When he opened the door, he found her eating an apple, while Verian was at her side peeling it.
“I heard about Verian. Professor Dominique turned out to be a demon…”
“Yeah.”
“Honestly, there’s a point where my memory goes blank.”
“Even the part when I brought you sweets?”
“You did that?”
“And the part where you invited me to watch the fireworks?”
“I really said that?”
Aria sighed deeply. Having been manipulated and attacking Aint filled her with guilt.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. It wasn’t your fault—you were under demonic control. And I’m sorry, too.”
“Huh? You? Why?”
“I’m the one who broke your arm.”
“It’s fine. You couldn’t help it.”
Aria’s carefree response made him hesitate, but Aint continued speaking.
“Also… your leg…”
“That was because I was being controlled. My fault.”
“And two ribs…”
“Might as well just say it all at once!”
“And the dislocated shoulder. That’s all.”
“And my face that hurts?”
“That was because when you fell, you hit it head-on.”
So that didn’t count.
“Professor Nania ended up with all her bones broken.”
Aint smiled awkwardly.
“She was just too strong—we couldn’t restrain her gently. As long as she’s okay, that’s enough.”
With those words, he hurried out of the room.
— That was rough.
— If you had been able to knock her out after breaking her arm, that would’ve been enough.
‘I couldn’t because the spirits charged at me…’
He had no choice but to fracture her ribs, her leg, and dislocate her shoulder.
It was a desperate situation, and he had done the best he could.
“So, what’s going to happen to the Academy now?”
It was clear that classes couldn’t continue in that state, but he didn’t know exactly what direction things would take.
— Go ask Fernan.
‘But I just promised myself I’d try to handle things without always relying on him…’
— Nonsense. That’s another matter.
Yes, that was true. Even at his best, Aint couldn’t compare to Fernan’s ability to foresee and plan.
‘That’s true.’
With that decision made, Aint went out to look for him. That’s when—
“There’s Aint!”
“Aint!”
Suddenly, voices gave him away, and people began to surround him from all sides.
“Eh…?”
Surprised by the unexpected crowd, he froze.
“I saw you on the Saintbird fighting the demon!”
“Thanks to you, we’re alive, thank you!”
“Can you ride the Saintbird again and show us?”
“Where’s Silver?”
“Can we talk for a bit? I want to…”
“I want to support you!”
They were students, residents of Bardian Island, and even outsiders who had come specifically to see him.
In truth, they came to see Aint—the one who rode the Saintbird and defeated a demon.
The reincarnation of a legend.
A hero.
Gazes of admiration and respect flooded him.
— Ah, it’s finally begun.
— The former emperor always dealt with this too. Wherever he went, people swarmed like bees.
Gardner murmured.
And Fernan’s words crossed his mind, when he had entrusted Silver to him.
“In the midst of a demon invasion, having Aint Armian ride the Saintbird and stop them is the best way to erase the Academy’s fear.”
And the same was happening with Fernan.
“Fernan Pellenberg!”
“Is that golem yours?”
“Show us the golem!”
“A sentient golem! Show it to us now!”
The difference was that toward him, there was an even more fanatical tone.
____
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