A Cadet Becomes a Prophet?!

Verian slowly lowered his sword. His opponent, thinking he was being looked down on, gripped his weapon tighter and charged at him.

Clang!

The auras clashed, but the result was one-sided.

“Ugh!”

Fragments of blue aura scattered everywhere. The student whose energy had been broken held back a groan as a thin trickle of blood slid from the corner of his mouth.

Verian didn’t press the attack. He lowered his sword again and advanced step by step.

“Tch!”

Angered by the other’s composure, the young man gritted his teeth and launched a thrust.

Clang!

His grip tore and he fell backward. Verian’s blade stopped just at his neck.

“The winner is Verian Kalburden!”

The assistant shouted the result.

“I knew Verian would win, but…”

“That was too overwhelming.”

“Isn’t he even stronger than Valoshi?”

“He suddenly got way too powerful.”

Ignoring the murmurs of his peers, Verian sheathed his sword.

‘Easy.’

Just as the others were saying, he had become incredibly strong.

He couldn’t compare to Aint or Luina, but at least among his year, he had no rivals.

‘I never thought following that greedy Fernan Pellenberg would bring me so many benefits.’

It was all thanks to Fernan. Although he had initially been forced to cooperate with Aint, the arduous process had borne fruit.

Countless real battles against demons and corrupt had given him experience and understanding.

‘I’m already in the semifinals.’

The final exam for the “War and Practical Combat” course was a tournament between students.

Verian sheathed his sword and turned toward the stands. There were the ones who had already made it to the semifinals.

Varus Dene, Valoshi Vienderk, and Aint Armian.

Neither Varus, who had always been beneath him, nor Valoshi, whom he once thought unbeatable, drew his attention.

‘Aint.’

No matter how much Verian had grown, he was still a frog in a well.

Aint and Luina were on another level, and within the academy, no one could match them.

Even so, he wasn’t planning to give up.

If Aint’s dream was to become emperor, Verian’s—as with any aspiring knight—was to be the strongest on the continent, the First Knight of the Empire.

That title currently belonged to the imperial first knight, Ivan Cousteau.

And if he wanted to reach it, even Aint had to be surpassed.

Regardless of whether his opponent was a Royal Knight, his goal was to stand above them all.

‘At the very least, I’ll land a solid hit, Aint Armian.’

Even though he now served him as lord, it still irritated him.

Having accepted his role nearly by force, he intended to balance it out with a solid humiliation.

With that resolve, he left the arena.

The semifinals would be held tomorrow.

***

Verian rolled a candy in his mouth. The coconut flavor and aroma were strong.

“How is it? Fernan gave me this new product.”

“Chocolate from Luina, sweets from you, huh?”

“Everyone wins. I get to try new products first, and he benefits from my absolute palate.”

“Absolute palate?”

“Elven senses are far superior to average.”

Aria naturally clung to his arm.

“So, are you going all out against Aint?”

“First I have to beat Valoshi Vienderk.”

According to the bracket, he could only face Aint in the final.

“Valoshi won’t be easy. He used to be top of the class.”

“I won’t lose. If I plan to beat Aint, I can’t fall to someone like Valoshi.”

And no matter how strong he was, he couldn’t compare to a demon.

Since following Fernan, Verian had become much bolder.

“What about you? I heard the Magic Department has duels for their exams too.”

“Of course I won. I’m in the semifinals.”

“And the other three?”

“Verdi, Wolf, and Jace.”

“Except Jace, the others don’t sound like trouble.”

“They’re all competent.”

“You’re right, Verian Kalburden. Underestimating others is a bad habit.”

A deep voice interrupted.

“…Senior Carlo?”

Carlo blocked their path.

“Verian Kalburden, I have something to ask you.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

He looked around, aware of the people nearby.

“But this isn’t the right place. Could you come with me for a moment? Just the two of us.”

“As you can see, I’m busy…”

“Of course he’ll go with you, senior.”

The answer came from Aria, not Verian.

“Verian, you’re going, right?”

“…I didn’t say yes.”

“Come on, it’s Senior Carlo. He’s the best fourth-year mage after Fernan.”

“Still gathering connections?”

“That never ends.”

At her firm tone, Verian sighed and nodded.

Shortly after, the two were in a secluded alley.

“What did you want to ask, senior?”

“…Hmm.”

Carlo hesitated to speak. Verian, a bit irritated, scratched his neck.

“If you say it quickly, I’d appreciate it. I have a date with Aria…”

“How did you end up working with Aint?”

“…What do you mean?”

“As far as I know, the Kalburden family has always been loyal to Schwaben.”

Not exactly. Among the nobles of the Empire, there were no eternal loyalties or unchangeable hierarchies.

They allied for convenience, and that alliance lasted as long as mutual benefit did.

“That’s why you used to be with the Second Prince.”

“You’re dragging this out, senior.”

“Then why did you switch sides so suddenly to Fernan and Aint?”

“Among nobles, there are no eternal allies or enemies.”

“But your change was too sudden.”

He knew he had lost once and that Ludger had scolded him, but that didn’t justify betrayal.

Back then, Aint had nothing. What the hell had he offered? Why risk so much?

After thinking long and hard, Carlo came to only one conclusion.

“That word ‘betrayal’ sounds a bit harsh…”

“You were threatened too, weren’t you? By Fernan Pellenberg.”

“Too? You mean you…?”

Their eyes met.

“Don’t tell me it was because of the Andrealphus incident…”

“So you also switched sides to Fernan because of a threat.”

“Exactly!”

“Me too!”

The fact that they shared the same situation made them sympathize intensely.

“I was just manipulated by a demon, and he still treated me like a criminal!”

“Same thing happened to me!”

“He told me that if I didn’t obey his orders, he’d reveal everything to the others!”

“Exactly! He threatened to hand me over to the inquisitors if I didn’t follow him!”

Verian and Carlo clenched their teeth in rage.

“But after telling me that, he never contacted me again. He’s made me so nervous I decided to come see you.”

“You did the right thing. I’m sure that’s part of Fernan’s plan to keep you uneasy.”

“You think so too? I wish he’d just forget about me.”

“That’ll never happen.”

Verian shook his head firmly.

“Do you think Fernan could forget? The world would end before that happens.”

“I knew it…”

Carlo’s face turned pale. Even though he already suspected it, hearing confirmation from someone who knew Fernan well made him even more nervous.

“So what should I do? Can you give me some advice?”

“Of course. I’ve spent a lot of time around him, and I’ll tell you this — it’s best if you go to him first.”

“Go to him first?”

“Yes. The longer you wait, the more anxious you’ll get. It’s better to surrender and approach him voluntarily.”

It was basically admitting defeat early.

Though the idea hurt his pride, Carlo decided to listen.

“Fernan can be cruel, but if he sees you as one of his own, he treats you well.”

“One of his own?”

“Yes. He takes care of his people. With money.”

“Money, huh…”

“If you can’t beat him or run away, the best option is to coexist.”

Just like Verian, who ended up under the shadow of Aint and Fernan. Thanks to that, he gained a lot.

“If you manage to get close, the rewards are greater. Use that to your advantage. Complete missions, fight the corrupt, even face demons…”

“That sounds like blindly obeying his orders.”

“But because of that, you become stronger. Look at Aint, look at senior Luina.”

…!

It was true.

‘He doesn’t just extract what he wants from people — he even pays them well despite knowing their weaknesses?’

Carlo’s eyes gleamed with newfound understanding.

***

“…I surrender.”

Carlo appeared before him.

Fernan, who was dining with Luina, set down his fork and knife on the table.

“I don’t understand what you mean all of a sudden.”

“It means I’ll accept your conditions.”

“My conditions?”

Carlo cast a brief glance at Luina.

“If you can’t say it in front of her, it’s not worth hearing.”

“…I just ask that you don’t disclose that I was manipulated by demons and served those creatures.”

Carlo pressed his lips together, embarrassed.

“Then what are you offering in return?”

“…I said I would follow your orders.”

“To what extent? That’s a bit vague. I don’t think you’ll die just because I tell you to.”

“That…”

“If you were manipulated into attacking humanity, the right thing is to redeem yourself by exterminating demons.”

Fernan interrupted, pulled out a blank sheet, and wrote a few lines.

“The term lasts until the day all demons are eliminated. Each time I call on you, you’ll go hunt them. Any objections?”

“…None.”

They signed two identical copies of the contract — one remained with Fernan, the other with Carlo.

“I’ll call when the time comes. You may go.”

Carlo left in silence.

***

“How did you know Carlo would come today?”

Luina, who had been listening quietly, asked with interest.

“Verian told me. He visited him yesterday. I figured he’d come today after thinking it over for a day.”

“Carlo went to Verian? Don’t tell me…?”

“Yes. Just as you’re imagining. Verian also ended up joining us in a similar way, so Carlo probably suspected the same and went to ask for advice.”

He had warned her before.

“Humans are hypocrites — if you push them too hard, they want to be left alone; but if you ignore them too much, they seek attention.”

“And that’s all?”

Luina narrowed her eyes.

“Truth is, I already anticipated it.”

When someone is cornered, the first thing they do is seek out someone in the same situation — just to feel less alone.

“I knew Carlo would eventually go to Verian, so I had it prepared. I asked him to guide Carlo when he came.”

If Carlo looks for you, mess with him a bit, then explain why joining me is the best choice.

Since he had been controlled by Dantalion and exposed by Fernan, Carlo had already been trapped in the palm of his hand.

“But do you think Ludger will stay quiet?”

“And if he doesn’t?”

Ludger didn’t have time to worry about Carlo.

“After hunting Amdusias with the First Prince, he was named heir. That must’ve shaken him.”

No one is free of desire. Even if they say they don’t care, ambition always shows itself.

And Ludger had it — the desire to become emperor, to have power.

“I wish he’d come to me too…”

Even if the Armian Empire regained the throne, that wouldn’t make Schwaben stop being an elector prince.

“Wouldn’t it be better if Ludger became the lord of Schwaben rather than the First Prince?”

“…Lately I’ve been thinking about something.”

“What is it?”

“Prophecies aside, I’m really grateful you found me that day.”

“So suddenly?”

“Yes. If I’d been your enemy, I’d be dead by now — swept away by the tide of your money, swinging my sword at empty air.”

Luina shook her head and resumed cutting her steak.

Dinner continued peacefully.