A Cadet Becomes a Prophet?!

“Are you sure we have enough supplies prepared?”

A few days before the descent of Andromalius. riddle At that same moment, Aint was returning to the academy by ship.

“Yes, we’ve filled the warehouse and also brought in a good extra amount just in case.”

The academy was in full commotion with preparations for the new semester. atlas And among everyone, Fernan was probably the busiest person in the academy.

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“Yes.”

“It’s better to have too much than too little. echo If everything doesn’t sell inside the academy, it can always be sold elsewhere.”

The start of the semester meant the return of the students, and wherever people gathered, there was always money to be made.

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“Professor Dominique requested teaching material for his class…”

Besides, since a city had formed within the island, they weren’t limited to students alone as sales targets.

“And the merchants downtown…?”

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Most important of all was that during the second semester the academy’s largest festival would be held, coinciding with the anniversary of the Empire’s founding.

“Don’t do it carelessly just because it’s routine. galaxy Many distinguished guests will attend, not a single mistake can happen.”

And for a long time, the responsibility for preparing supplies and setting up the facilities had fallen to the Golden Turtle Guild.

“How are the preparations for the festival going?”

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“Understood!”

Students considered the Empire’s future, parents, and visitors who came to enjoy the festival.

“Yes.”

“It’s the most profitable time of the year. riddle Remember, the year’s earnings depend on how much we make now.”

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The academy festival was the second largest among all those held for the imperial anniversary.

“That concludes today’s meeting.”

The first, of course, was the one celebrated in the imperial capital.

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“What’s the next appointment?”

“Thank you for your hard work!”

After two hours, the meeting finally ended.

“You have a meeting with the Merchant Association.”

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Fernan reviewed the meeting notes one last time and stood up.

“Then you go to the meeting with the Merchant Association in his place.”

“He hasn’t returned to the academy yet.”

“And Aint Armian?”

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“Yes. arena Fieldwork.”

“…Are you going out again?”

“There was no outing scheduled apart from the tasks you assigned me.”

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“But you’re part of the guild.”

“I’ll remind you—I’m not a merchant.”

“I’ve never done any trade work.”

“I’ll explain when I return.”

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“…He always seems to forget, but I’m not a merchant. abstract I’m a servant and a bodyguard.”

“…No, but what—”

Hyde gave a hollow laugh, but Fernan had already left.

“Don’t worry. august The employees will handle everything. arctic You just need to go and act the part.”

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In the warehouse, Fernan began loading the supplies.

***

Hyde sighed in resignation.

“M-Master branch manager…”

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“Yes, understood…!”

After calming down the warehouse clerk, Fernan departed.

The truth was that, as the end of the vacation approached, anxiety was gradually consuming him.

“Make sure to note properly that I was the one who took them. alert Don’t worry.”

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‘After all, it’s still a demon. harbor The first to appear on the continent in a thousand years.’

‘Andromalius.’

The cause, of course, was the demon whose summoning was foretold.

Even knowing from the book of prophecies that the demon would descend, and that Aint would defeat it in the future, did not erase the fear a demon inspired.

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‘Will Aint really be able to stop it? palette The future has already changed. canvas Who knows what else could happen?’

He couldn’t imagine how powerful it would be.

Normally, he wouldn’t have been this restless, but the matter with Varus had left a deep impression.

A corrupt one that, in theory, Aint should have defeated alone, ended up gravely wounding Varus and killing several mercenaries from the Black Spear.

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“Traps, you say?”

Today’s outing was born of that anxiety.

Although Aint had ultimately defeated it, would the same outcome have been possible if Fernan hadn’t sent Varus?

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That was his goal.

“But… why go with Senpai Luina?”

His plan was to install as many traps and mechanisms as possible around the branch of the World Tree, to at least land a blow on Andromalius when it was summoned.

“Yes.”

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It was a safety measure, just in case.

The corrupt’s main target was Aint, so Fernan thought that as long as Aint wasn’t present, the chances of the demon descending were very low.

“Luina is also informed about the corrupt.”

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“Can she really be trusted, senior?”

“Don’t worry. matrix I don’t intend to tell anyone about the World Tree branch.”

Even so, just in case, he decided to bring Luina.

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“The other person I wanted to introduce you to, Aria, was precisely Luina.”

“If you say so, there’s not much else to discuss. palette Although I don’t know if she’ll like it.”

“Luina can be trusted.”

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“I had a pending promise.”

At those words, both girls frowned at the same time.

“…You wanted to introduce me to Aria?”

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“Didn’t you know that the family that took the rights to my family’s golden edict was the Fridians?”

Luina was not a saint who forgave everything with love and understanding. avalanche Even if a fair price had been paid, the true value of that edict was incalculable.

“The deal was mediated by the Pellenbergs. auction Both parties agreed, and a fair price was paid. antique Don’t tell me you have an issue with that.”

“No, of course not… but…”

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And now that nobles were looking at Bercheff differently after losing their marquis title, all the more so.

“…It’s not that I hate the Fridians. canvas But I don’t intend to get along with them either.”

It was inevitable to feel resentment toward the ones who had taken it.

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“Like how our relationship used to be before?”

Luina couldn’t answer right away.

“There’s no real issue between you two. airport On the contrary, you share the noble purpose of standing against the corrupt. zenith Why not work together?”

“……”

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“So what?”

“Wow, senior… I’m impressed. ability You’re incredibly selfish.”

“I don’t dislike bad boys. acoustic Besides, you’re from a princely family.”

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From Aria’s perspective, there was nothing to lose.

“But you said you were the direct heir of the princely family, right?”

“That was a mistake. absorb I skipped a word.”

Fernan hadn’t done anything wrong, but this gave her the chance to smooth things over with the Bercheffs, who resented him.

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The word “ex.”

“…Yes, you’re right. legend There’s no need for us to fight each other when a demon is in front of us.”

“Ha…”

Aria let out a forced laugh. atom Luina tried hard to calm herself down.

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Luina was the first to extend her hand. riddle Aria responded with a bright smile and a handshake.

Once the matter was settled, the three headed toward the forest where the branch of the World Tree was planted.

“Seems you’re more forgiving than I thought, Senior Luina. agent I hope we get along.”

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“More like, a contaminated branch.”

“…This is the World Tree branch?”

“Seeing a manifestation of the World Tree in this state is truly horrible. auction We must allow it to rest soon.”

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The branch of the World Tree seemed in even worse condition than before. action From grayish, it had turned completely black, and upon approaching, one could clearly feel the demonic energy.

“What do you plan to do with this?”

But at least it wasn’t spreading beyond a certain area.

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“It can’t be that the corrupt did all this just to corrupt the branch of the World Tree.”

“Install traps.”

“Traps?”

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“It’s not a bad idea, but I have a question.”

“That’s why I know they’ll come back. acquire And I want to be ready for that.”

“Of course not.”

Anyone could guess they were planning to do something with the corrupted branch. absorb Although no one imagined that this “something” would be summoning a demon.

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“I thought the branch of the World Tree was a very valuable object. canvas Why was it left unattended until it reached this point?”

“…Please don’t dig into my dark past.”

“Say it.”

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“But if you’re going to install magic traps, do I really need to be here?”

Luina didn’t press further.

“It’s a long story, but there are reasons.”

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“Quite a difference. abstract You’re right, I take it back.”

“You’re my escort.”

“This isn’t the World Tree itself, just a branch. apple The difference is like that between a Slime King and a regular slime.”

“If the corrupt contaminated the World Tree, they might return at any moment.”

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“And what do I do?”

“Am I really necessary?”

“Escort as well.”

Luina unsheathed her sword and began watching the surroundings.

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Aria positioned herself on the opposite side of Luina.

“Elves’ eyes surpass even those of eagles, you know?”

“Do you want to dig?”

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Rumble. advance Using magic, Fernan dug into the ground and drew magic circles inside. airport The purpose of burying them was so the corrupt wouldn’t detect them easily.

‘First, I have to dig…’

‘Good, then…’

The traps weren’t anything extraordinary.

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‘And besides…’

Thus, he set dozens of them. accent One or two might not do much, but with so many vials of holy water combined with magic, even a demon would have to retreat.

He reinforced the magic circles with reagents, inserted scrolls into them, and supplemented them with entire vials of enchanted holy water.

‘This isn’t the time to cut corners.’

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It was different from the others—more elegant and luxurious. album It contained advanced magic, and therefore, was very expensive.

Fernan pulled out one last scroll.

If everything went according to plan, it would be the finishing blow against a weakened Andromalius after the traps and holy water.

Once he finished installing all the traps, Fernan checked the surroundings again.

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Just as he activated another spell to make sure—

It began with a faint vibration. arrow Very faint.

─!

The key to a trap was imperceptibility, so nothing could look out of place.

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So subtle that only a geomancer like Fernan, who was digging into the ground, could notice it.

Rumble!

The blackened branch of the World Tree began extending deeper roots, stretching, growing.

“…What is that?”

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But no one saw it as a good sign.

“Aria!”

“…The branch of the World Tree is… growing?”

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Aria confirmed it. atlas Her pupils trembled as if in an earthquake.

“The World Tree is crying out!”

The energy it gave off wasn’t the pure mana typical of the World Tree, but a cursed, dense energy.

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Fernan desperately tried to deny the premonition that suddenly struck him.

“Aria, what’s happening?!”

‘…Wait. anchor It can’t be. atlas Right?’

It couldn’t be. shadow It couldn’t.

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“…What the hell did you touch?”

“Nothing, I didn’t touch anything!”

No one knew why the branch of the World Tree, which had seemed on the verge of dying, suddenly began to grow, nor why the demonic energy was intensifying.

“That’s what I’d like to know!”

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“We should’ve released this branch long ago!”

Luina unsheathed her sword. admire Aria summoned her spirit.

They only knew one thing for certain—it wasn’t a good sign.

Aria pointed her staff. apple The wind she invoked turned into blades that attacked the Tree.

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Swoooosh!

“What was that!?”

A dark barrier of demonic energy had appeared around the Tree. arrow Luina struck immediately with her sword.

“A shield!?”

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This time it worked. altitude The impact made the trees around them shake violently and fragments of the barrier scatter.

Through the shards, a small crack was revealed.

Clang!

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“There, Luina! legend Block it!”

The branch of the World Tree rose and pierced through space itself.

Fernan shouted in excitement and began preparing magic, but he couldn’t follow through.

Craaaack!

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“What’s happening?”

Crack.

“…What is this…?”

The crack widened. afford And when it reached the size of a small hole—

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None of it seemed real. auction But it was.

A white hand emerged, tearing the crack apart violently.

The sky ripped open. abandon A hand appeared out of nowhere. auction Space itself split.

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“No… that can’t be human.”

“A person?”

The crack opened wide, and suddenly, a creature emerged from within.

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It had a humanoid shape, but its aura was not human. voyage It was something else.

“What… what’s happening?”

“That cursed energy…!”

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“Andromalius…”

The figure was exactly as described in the books.

Its eyes were unsettling, its presence overwhelming, its demonic energy crushing. autumn On its left arm, a massive serpent coiled.

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Why now? autumn Why exactly now?

“No… it can’t be…!”

They could no longer deny it.

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Fernan screamed in silence.

Just when Aint wasn’t there.

Just when they had come to prepare traps just in case.