Chapter 4
Fernyan went to the library as soon as he woke up in the morning.
“Welcome, Lord Fernyan. I’ve confirmed your student ID.”
“Where are the books related to demons?”
“Follow the light and it will guide you.”
“Thank you.”
“Not at all.”
When the librarian cast a spell on him, a small stream of light immediately guided him.
“Demons, demons, demons, demons….”
There was no other reason why Fernyan came to the library early in the morning.
It was to research demons in more detail.
‘There wasn’t much useful content in the family library.’
After being struck by lightning and learning of the existence of demons, the first thing he did was thoroughly search through the family library.
However, there was nothing of the content Fernyan desired, and he had been continuously thinking about checking the academy library as soon as he returned to the academy.
“The 72 demons that King Colomo summoned….”
Because the Imperial Academy library stored a vast amount of books according to the will of the founding emperor.
『The Great Founding Emperor’s Biography』
『The Founding Emperor and the Royal Knights』
『King Colomo and the 72 Demons』
『All 72 Demons Are Different』
『Demons Are Fra….』
『Dem…』
Fernyan selected several books.
First, he opened 『The Great Founding Emperor’s Biography』.
He thought that if it was the biography of a hero who had stood at the forefront against demons more than anyone else, there would be at least some clues that could help in dealing with demons.
『”I cannot tolerate the demons plunging the continent into chaos.”
As the demons’ activities threw the world into confusion, the merciful Duke Kronos Armian rose up for humanity.』
『”Let us all join forces and drive out the demons.”
When Duke Kronos Armian spoke these words, the five grateful kingdoms and the religious world swarmed like bees.』
『”Great King Colomo, come and compete with me!”
Duke Armian fought King Colomo for a full month, day and night, with the fate of the world at stake.』
『Duke Kronos Armian pierced King Colomo’s heart.
When the Duke commanded ‘Your king is dead, so all of you return,’ the army of a million demons vanished on the spot.』
“…What the hell is this?”
A glimmer of hope was instantly crushed. It wasn’t a biography but just an absurdly ridiculous novel.
“Those greedy Prince-electors joining together just because of a few words of gratitude?”
Fernyan, putting himself in their shoes, trembled all over as if he was getting hives.
“Free cooperation? Where are they trying to get something for nothing.”
Not only that. The next chapter was equally absurd.
“Suddenly vanishing just because he told them to go back? Not even worth reading further. Even the religious order’s scriptures aren’t like this.”
Fernyan snorted and pushed it aside, opening another book without hesitation.
『The Founding Emperor and the Royal Knights』
It was well-written about how the founding emperor met the Royal Knights and created the Royal Knight system.
There was also a story about Sir Gardner Alpenfelsen, the first Royal Knight who became the ego of an ego sword.
It said that Gardner Alpenfelsen got his teeth broken for being cheeky during his first meeting with the founding emperor, but whether this was true was uncertain.
‘It would be faster to ask directly about things like this.’
It was something only Aint could do.
The next book was 『King Colomo and the 72 Demons』.
『Great King Colomo sacrificed all of his kingdom’s people to summon demons. The demons of hell that were summoned totaled 72…』
『The 72nd demon, Andromalius
A man holding a serpent in one hand.』
『The 71st demon, Dantalion
A demon that changes form to mimic people and confuse them.』
『The 70th demon….』
Whether much had been lost due to the thousand years of time, or whether there was originally little information about demons, the records about demons were only very short and simple.
‘Disappointing. Well, there wasn’t particularly great content in the family library either.’
Fernyan closed the last book. Even though this was supposedly the Imperial Academy library, the contents of the books were uniformly poor.
‘Even if a thousand years have passed, could it really be this poor?’
The empire was serious enough about records to create and manage multiple libraries. Unless someone had intentionally erased them, it was incomprehensible that there would be so little.
Having finished his business, Fernyan put the books back in their places and returned to the dormitory.
His servant, who had been waiting for him, welcomed him.
“Where did you go from so early in the morning?”
“I stopped by the library briefly. What’s the matter?”
“The item you requested has arrived.”
The servant handed him a small box.
“It’s here.”
“Why do you suddenly need this? Don’t you already have one?”
“It seems like it won’t be enough. I want to be certain.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“There’s something like that.”
Fernyan took the box and put his outer coat back on.
“Where are you going again?”
“I’m going to the training ground. You deliver this to Luina Berchev.”
“A letter? Is it a love letter?”
“Don’t talk nonsense and tell her I’ll be waiting, so come out as quickly as possible.”
“Understood.”
Now that preparations were complete, it was time to prove as promised.
Fernyan headed to the training ground.
***
The academy’s training ground, prepared for students.
Luina stood holding her sword. In front of her, Fernyan Fallenberg was looking at her while holding a staff.
“I still don’t quite understand, but what does this mean?”
“We’re standing facing each other in the training ground. Is additional explanation necessary?”
“…You’re really going to fight me?”
“I told you. Even though you are second place and I’m 10th place, I would prove that I’m not lacking. The most intuitive and certain means is force.”
Given his consistently confident attitude, Fernyan was definitely serious.
“Do you really think you can win?”
“If you beat me, I’ll give you chocolate.”
“What do you mean?”
“I understand you like chocolate, don’t you?”
“Did you investigate my background?”
“I wouldn’t go to the trouble of investigating just one person like you.”
Just.
“I looked into the personal information of all students in the rankings.”
“…How outrageous.”
Fernyan shrugged. Luina’s expression contorted. Her hand gripping the sword hilt tightened.
“If you really want this, fine. Let’s see you do this so-called proof.”
Even as she said this, Luina thought there was no possibility of Fernyan beating her.
Fernyan Fallenberg wasn’t weak.
The fact that he ranked 10th in his department at an academy where countless talents gathered, that he qualified to enter Rabidus Hall even at the bottom, was certainly proof of excellence.
But there was definitely a difference between second place and 10th place.
Even though first-year Knight Department and Magic Department students rarely clashed, it wasn’t completely nonexistent.
And those few opportunities were enough to confirm Fernyan’s abilities. Exactly 10th place level. Neither more nor less.
‘Or did something happen during winter?’
No matter how much that might be true, his current behavior was utterly incomprehensible.
“I’ll yield the first attack.”
“Gladly.”
Fernyan chanted a spell. The magic stone embedded at the tip of his staff absorbed the surrounding mana.
Kugrgrgrgrg—
The earth vibrated. Dozens of rocks created in midair attacked Luina.
—!
She steadied her breathing and gathered aura in her legs as she moved forward.
Her body shot forward like an arrow. The fierce speed itself became a weapon. The blade cut through the rocks and charged straight toward the caster.
Swish—
She cut. But she didn’t cut.
The trivial illusion disappeared. Fernyan was already standing behind her. But Luina wasn’t flustered.
She stepped on aura and changed direction in midair. Charging like a runaway warhorse, she crashed into the rising wall of rock.
—!
Fragments of the shattered wall scattered in all directions. What she faced after breaking through the wall were hundreds of rock spears, but she leaped right in.
Her sword was heavy but not simple. Fierce but not foolish either.
Sometimes heavily, sometimes softly, sometimes gracefully.
She smashed spears, deflected them, and carved through them.
And eventually reached her destination. However, what awaited her was not Fernyan but an even greater magic.
A shadow fell. It was a boulder that had torn up the entire training ground floor.
‘…He tore up the training ground floor?’
The training ground had all sorts of magical treatments and wouldn’t break from ordinary impacts. It was an unexpected variable.
The contemplation couldn’t continue long. The boulder fell. Due to a moment of confusion, it was too late to dodge.
——!
Even though she blocked it, her body screamed. It felt like a frontal collision with a giant siege weapon. The floor shattered and her feet dug in.
‘Was he hiding his abilities…!’
With the first effective hit, Luina completely abandoned any thought of underestimating Fernyan.
She bit her lip tightly and steadied her breathing. As her heart beat more fiercely, her aura hall responded.
Blue aura enveloped her entire body. A massive sword energy rose up.
And just as she was about to swing that sword toward her enemy.
Indiscriminate bombardment fell.
Giant boulders like before.
At the same time, the floor began to shake as if an earthquake had occurred.
‘This is impossible…!’
Casting this level of high-tier magic consecutively and simultaneously? Just how much mana does he have?
Luina blocked, blocked, and blocked again. The storm-like pouring magic was dense enough not to allow her any counterattack. The impacts continued to accumulate, and a trickle of blood flowed down her lips.
‘I’ll lose at this rate.’
She would just become a training dummy and be beaten one-sidedly. By someone she had considered a level below her.
Her pride wouldn’t allow it. She endured the impacts and still advanced. She cut through magic and when she retreated one step, she advanced two steps.
And when she finally caught her opponent.
“I surrender.”
Fernyan raised both hands. Luina’s sword tip stopped right in front of his nose.
He gasped for breath and collapsed.
“…Are you mocking me right now?”
She gritted her teeth at his composed face.
“Mocking? I’ve just run out of mana. A mage who’s run out of mana can’t beat a knight, can they?”
It wasn’t forced or an act. The keen knight’s senses were telling her so.
“Or are you saying that a proud knight who reveres chivalry would take out her frustration on someone who surrendered? Just because you got beaten one-sidedly?”
“…I wouldn’t do such a thing.”
In reality, Fernyan had run out of mana and couldn’t beat Luina in his current state.
Realizing he couldn’t win through ordinary means, he had made a desperate gamble. Since she had blocked it, the result was rightfully her victory.
But even considering that.
She, who was second place, had almost lost to someone ranked 10th, to an opponent she thought she could definitely beat.
The massive mana needed to continue those brute force attacks consecutively was at a level she couldn’t even begin to fathom.
“So, what chocolate do you want to eat? Whiskey chocolate made by our family? Fridien’s specialty, World Tree bark chocolate? Or perhaps Frazia Kingdom’s specialty, Kraken ink choc…”
“…You.”
That’s why Luina realized.
“Why?”
There were many things she wanted to ask. But after thinking and thinking again, what came out was a simple yet most intuitive three-character question.
“It’s natural.”
And Fernyan’s answer also.
“Merchants don’t step forward.”
Contained many implications.
***
“…Did you fight an ogre?”
His somewhat torn clothes and disheveled hair. It was an appearance rarely seen from Fernyan, who always dressed neatly.
His servant asked with a puzzled expression.
“Where would there be an ogre inside the academy? Maybe if you went up to the northern mountain region.”
“Then what was it?”
Instead of answering, Fernyan handed over items from his spatial storage. They were shattered spheres.
“Why are the mana amplifier and 5 mana storage devices I gave you less than two hours ago all completely shattered? Do you know how much these cost?”
“I’ve been investing in the future.”
“Whoever you fought with, you seem to have been hit in the head. I’ll call a healing mage.”
“Do I look like someone who goes around getting beaten up?”
“Are the aftereffects of being struck by lightning acting up again?”
“I’m fine.”
“Then it was Luina Berchev.”
Fernyan nodded slightly.
“This may be presumptuous, but if it’s not rude, may I ask just one thing?”
“What?”
“While serving you all this time, I’ve been able to understand your intentions for most things. They all had clear grounds and reasons.”
“But this time you can’t figure it out at all?”
“Yes.”
It was natural. He had agreed to eliminate the Berchev family’s interest for three years and sponsor Luina Berchev.
All he got in return was merely partnering with Luina Berchev.
Compared to the money invested and the Berchev family’s secret sword techniques, it was definitely not a profitable deal. No one in the Fallenberg family would make such a foolish transaction.
If not for the prophecy book, Fernyan wouldn’t have done such a crazy thing either.
“That’s rude.”
Therefore, Fernyan had no grounds and methods to convince him.
At times like this, it’s best to just suppress with authority. That’s what power is for.
“When the time comes, you’ll know.”
“If you say so, I understand. I’ll contact the family to request magical tools.”
“As many as possible.”
“But have you written the letter to send to the head of the family?”
“Here it is.”
“I’ll send it well. Oh, and why haven’t you been handling business lately?”
“I had some things to do. I’ll look at it soon, so don’t rush me.”
“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”
The servant left.
“Hmm.”
Fernyan turned his gaze to the window and leisurely savored his coffee.
He had finally sent the letter. There was no turning back now.
“Damn it. I’m not going to be disowned because of this, am I?”
If my child had done this, I think I would disown them.
Small waves were forming on the previously calm surface of the coffee.
And a few days later, the reply from Duke Fallenberg was extremely short and concise.
[You’ve been possessed by a demon.]
But that made it all the more intense.
“…I’m screwed.”
Fernyan instinctively realized he was screwed.
