"…He filled the entire sparring ground with magic."
"It doesn't look like there was any complex technique involved. He just overwhelmed it with pure mana."
"Crude, but effective."
"How much mana does he even have?"
"One thing's for sure—it's not something just anyone can do."
"Why has he been hiding this level of skill all this time?"
It could've been a coincidence once. But when coincidence repeats two or three times, it becomes inevitability.
The students who watched the sparring match, which ended in an instant thanks to Fernan's performance, were certainly surprised by his skill—but not as shocked as before.
That was because, during the very first practical session, it had already become widely known that Fernan had been concealing his true strength until now.
No one knew exactly why he was hiding it, though.
"…This is an unexpected result."
Professor Valmon gave a light round of applause.
"It's a method that wouldn't have worked outside the confined space of the sparring ground, but he made excellent use of his current environment."
At the Academy, they are taught to utilize everything available around them.
Using the limitations of the sparring ground itself was also a form of student ability.
Starting with Fernan and Ruina, more pairs began to defeat the dummies by immobilizing them, resulting in victories.
"Did you say 53 seconds?"
"Ha… You've got to be kidding me."
"Is that even possible?"
"Fernan was that good?"
In particular, Rudger and Carlo reacted more intensely.
"How did he manage to hide his skill until now? At this rate, he might even take second place."
"Don't overdo it."
"Overdo it? I don't think so."
To Fernan's response, Rudger smiled faintly.
"Seems like he's trying to match his partner, but are you aiming for the top spot as well? Carlo, if you don't step it up, you might lose your position."
"I will not lose my position, Your Highness."
Carlo shot Fernan a glare filled with anger.
"The Academy isn't so lenient that someone can become top just by standing out a little."
"That's true."
Though that somehow sounded a bit disappointing.
At Fernan's low mutter, Carlo's brow twitched.
"Anyway, Almon, we've got to do better too. We're the top and second rank, after all. We can't lose to the second rank and tenth place pair."
"Of course, Your Highness. It's called an anomaly precisely because it's unlikely."
Almon smiled faintly, revealing his competitive spirit. Sparks seemed to fly as his eyes locked with Ruina's.
Though the intensity varied, all the students who had made it into the rankings shared a sense of rivalry.
"That's enough. Sit down. Don't delay the class."
The strange tension was broken by Professor Valmon's intervention.
Thus, all 100 pairs completed their battles against the dummies, but none managed to beat the 53-second record.
"Hey, Ruina."
"Yes?"
"Our main house has several dummies made by the Order. If you want, I could bring one over so you can use it for sparring."
"Really?"
At Ruina's delighted response, Fernan finally relaxed.
"Ah, no… That would be too much trouble."
"No, not at all. Don't worry about it."
Even so, Ruina shook her head again, but Fernan decided he'd bring it anyway.
He could just leave it in front of her and say, "No one else is going to use it but you anyway."
I underestimated a knight's pride.
Fernan reproached himself and resolved not to repeat the same mistake again.
"But… are you really revealing your hidden strength because of me?"
At that moment, Ruina asked a different question. Was she still bothered by that conversation with Rudger?
"…Would you believe me if I said no?"
"Is that not the case?"
"No, it is."
He didn't intend to stand out even in additional lectures, but when he was with Ruina, it was intentional.
"We're partners. Your goal is to become top of the class, and you've been going along with my stubborn demands—so I just think it's right to at least give it my all."
The reason, of course, was to prevent the worst possible future that had already been foreseen.
If the person who posed the seed of that malicious future was just some nobody, it'd be most efficient to simply eliminate them—but the opponent in question was a future Royal Knight. That changed everything.
If necessary, he'd even build them a house made of gold.
Though it'd only be gold-plated.
Not like they'd tear it down just to check if it was solid gold.
"..."
For a moment, Ruina hesitated, unable to find the right words.
"…Your face seems a little red, doesn't it?"
"That's your imagination. Thank you for your efforts today. I'll see you at the next joint lecture."
Ruina quickly strode off.
Hm. Did that sound like a pickup line?
He hadn't meant it that way, but he realized it might've come across like that if taken out of context.
I can always clear up any misunderstandings later.
It wasn't something he needed to stress over.
"Hmm, I didn't arrive at a weird time or anything, did I?"
"Cut the nonsense and let's go eat, Gert."
"That's the first time I've seen Ruina react like that. So that's why you abandoned me for her, huh?"
"Your damn mouth never shuts up."
The guy leaning against the wall and clapping was named Gert Valor. He was ranked 6th in the Knight Department and had originally been assigned as Fernan's partner.
But that arrangement had been nullified after Fernan obtained the prophecy book and chose Ruina instead.
"That's my best quality, isn't it?"
"A commoner mouthing off to a noble—how bold."
"Coming from the guy who said ability is all that matters?"
"That's why I still keep you around."
"And that's why I'm still here beside you, Young Master."
"Not because of the money?"
"Well, the patronage is sweet."
Gert didn't bother hiding his greed.
Fernan's partial trust in Gert stemmed from this very trait.
There's no one in the world who doesn't like money.
If they claim otherwise, they're either not right in the head—or they're hiding something even filthier.
At least those who openly expressed their desires usually didn't betray you if you satisfied them.
Fernan led Gert into a high-class restaurant owned by the Golden Turtle Merchant Group.
After passing through the busy crowd, they found a partitioned section where they could eat in peace—only to be interrupted as a woman, sitting alone at one of the tables, stood up.
"Senior. I've been waiting for you."
"…For me?"
"Yes. Please, sit here."
She pointed naturally to the seat across from her, and Fernan frowned.
"Did we have plans to meet?"
"I just had a feeling you'd come this way, so I waited."
"You thought I'd come here?"
"You like the food here. You come here more than anywhere else."
That was true. It was one of Fernan's favorite restaurants—run by a chef brought in from abroad.
"Have you been investigating me?"
"Nope. I just checked myself."
She blinked innocently, and her pointed ears twitched in sync with her expression.
Interesting. Are all elves like that?
"If you have something to say, make an appointment, Aria Fridian. I'm a busy man."
Fernan tried to walk past her—but a quiet murmur halted him in his tracks.
"That's strange… Haven't you received a letter from your family?"
"…It was you, wasn't it."
A lingering question that had been stuck in the back of his mind since morning was finally answered, at least in part.
"That's right. You—"
"Follow me."
"Ah, I suddenly remembered I have an appointment, so I'll be going now."
Gert read the room and quietly vanished, and Aria followed Fernan up to a secret chamber on the third floor of the restaurant.
"Talk."
"Did you receive the letter safely?"
"The House of Fridian requested me as the project lead. Was that your doing?"
"Yes. I had a hand in it."
Aria beamed cheerfully.
"There are plenty of people more qualified than me in the merchant group. And yet, they specifically chose me—and you approached me first. There must be a reason."
"There is one. Big, or small, depending on how you look at it."
She nodded firmly.
Fernan couldn't make sense of it. In any transaction, someone always comes out ahead.
But in this one, something felt off.
No one stood to gain anything from his involvement—at least not as far as he could tell.
"…What is it?"
But if something was hidden, then that changed the equation.
"What exactly was written in the letter?"
"Nothing particularly special. Just that there was an agreement between the Academy and your house, and that a number of goods would be exchanged."
These goods included things like spirit stones and leaves of the World Tree—rare, precious items unattainable without the elves.
He didn't know what the Academy had offered in return, but it must have been significant.
"That's right. But that's just the wrapping."
"The wrapping? So there's something more?"
"Exactly."
Aria paused for a moment.
"Don't be dramatic—just tell me. I've grown up seeing all kinds of rare and precious things as a merchant. Do you think I'd be surprised? Unless you're saying you're moving the entire World Tree—"
But that was clearly impossible. The elves would never do something so insane.
"That's correct."
"Right, as if that could—wait, what?"
Did I hear that right?
"It's the World Tree. More precisely, a branch of the World Tree."
"…You're saying you're bringing a branch of the World Tree to the Academy?"
It was definitely less important than the tree itself.
But even so, its value couldn't be dismissed. Calling it a "branch" was deceptive—it was no ordinary branch.
It was a seedling the World Tree produced only once every hundred years—its very incarnation.
It radiated the essence of the forest and deep mana, continuously influencing its surroundings.
"You're handing that over? What did the Academy promise you in return?"
"Do you really think I'd tell you that? And you call yourself a great merchant? How disappointing."
"…Fine. I admit I got ahead of myself."
Fernan quickly regained his composure.
The World Tree branch was shocking—but whatever the Academy had promised in return wasn't his concern right now.
"I understand now. The importance of this matter. So that's why they insisted on me as the lead?"
"Yes."
After a brief pause, Aria smiled.
"Having the heir of a noble house take charge gives the matter a different weight, don't you think?"
That meant it was just as important to the elves.
"And… I also want to use this chance to get close to the future Duke. Remember what I told the instructor? I want to maintain good relations with all the Elector families."
"You're going too?"
"The Academy's being generous. I'll be substituting lectures with field training."
Of course they would accommodate her. They're receiving a branch of the World Tree, after all.
"I don't care about your second motive, but I understand everything you've said."
Fernan straightened his posture.
"Roundabout as it was, this all boils down to one thing: you want me to act as the merchant group's representative."
He leaned back, face expressionless.
"So what will you give me in return?"
She was the one who bowed first—so now, he held the advantage.
Early dawn. Fernan opened his eyes.
["They say the spirit magic professor is being replaced."
There must've been some deal between the Academy and House Fridian. The house donated a number of spirit-related items.
The Academy made thorough preparations to receive them, and Fernan Pellenberg served as the responsible lead for their safe delivery.]
[- "They're replacing a professor just because of a few spirit tools?"
"Yes."
"Something smells fishy."
"Well… Aria told me not to say anything, but… there's a branch of the World Tree among those items. That's why she's going herself."
"A branch of the World Tree? No wonder the Academy's losing their minds. But they really gave it up? Why? Has House Fridian lost their damn minds?"]
["It's not growing properly, apparently. Maybe because it was moved?"
"You sure nothing happened during the transfer?"
"Yeah. Aria said it was smooth."
"Then forget it. Let the pointy-eared folks and the Academy deal with it. Isn't it break time now? You'd better prepare to be worked like a dog during break."]
[A sky stained in blood.
People going mad, corrupted by demonic energy.
Cracks forming, demons descending.
And at the center of it all—stood the branch of the World Tree.
"It's the World Tree branch! It's acting as the most powerful mana source for the summoning circle!"]
Even though the prophetic visions had seemingly ended, the fear of what came next hadn't faded.
And now, a new kind of dread began to rise.
"..."
This wasn't the first time—and by now, he should've been used to it. But he wasn't.
The searing pain in his head, and the horrifying images… he could never grow numb to them.
"Why is it acting as the catalyst when she said nothing happened…? And it happened while I was the one overseeing it…!"
His clothes were soaked in cold sweat, and Fernan's eyes were bloodshot.
A nightmare.
A vicious nightmare, revealing yet another step down the path of ruin.
[T/L: Read extra chapters on my ko-fi page "Pokemon1920" : http://ko-fi.com/pokemon1920 ]