It had already been over a month since fernan left the academy for field training.
"It's already been more than a month, but who knows when he'll be back. Finals are coming up soon too."
Ruina Bertchev thought her current academy life wasn't all that great.
Objectively speaking, Aaron Prine had proven that he wasn't assigned to Professor Rosalia's lab for no reason—he was extremely capable.
Thanks to that, Ruina had achieved excellent grades in all joint classes, but not everything was being reflected in her scores.
"They say there are some deductions taken into account because of the assistant's level. But if that's the case, isn't the problem the fact that they assigned the assistant as my partner in the first place?"
"Well, you're not wrong."
Aina nodded as she munched on a piece of cake.
"But still, the assistant is amazing."
"He is, but it would've been the same even if fernan were here."
Others seemed to think the point deductions were fair, but Ruina didn't agree at all.
"You mean fernan is as strong as Assistant Aaron? That level?"
The performance Aaron had shown was beyond even Karlro, the top student of the magic department. Naturally, his presence was overwhelming.
"Right, Ruina. That should be nonsense… but…"
Bella, who had been agreeing with Aina, trailed off.
Logically, it didn't make sense. But fernan's composed demeanor when facing the most vicious opponents made them wonder—maybe…
"What the? Bella, are you thinking the same as Ruina? Did something go wrong with your head?"
"What did you say?"
"Eek! Sorry!"
Ruina watched her two bickering friends and fell into thought.
In terms of pure skill, Aaron was clearly superior. But even so, she couldn't help but feel that fernan would have managed to achieve similar—or even better—results.
Whether through clever tricks, or by using that precious money and artifacts of his.
"So, when are fernan and Aria coming back?"
"They said they'd be back before finals."
"Can we trust that?"
"We have to. The field training period ends before finals."
Bella replied.
If fernan returned after finals, he wouldn't be able to take the exams. And since the training period ends then, he wouldn't be allowed to take them separately or substitute them with anything else.
There'd be too many people complaining about unfair privileges.
"Hmm?"
Not far off, the harbor near the city center was getting busier.
"Something coming in?"
"Looks like ships are arriving."
Ruina activated her aura and enhanced her eyesight.
She could see a fleet of more than a dozen ships in the distance.
All of them bore sails with the golden turtle crest.
fernan Pellenberg had returned.
"Thank you."
fernan immediately offloaded the cargo from the ships and handed it over to the academy's side.
As expected, there wasn't a single issue with the cargo.
That concluded the delivery.
"My father will send the remaining balance to His Grace the Duke."
"Right. You've done well."
It had been a trade run full of work and troubles. Still, it ended smoothly, which was a relief.
"Well then, I'll take my leave. I still have business to settle with the academy. As I mentioned, I'm the representative."
This time, the Golden Turtle Trading Company had only been responsible for transport. The main deal had been between the Friedien family and the academy.
There were bound to be countless details needing adjustment.
"Take care then."
After sending the trade personnel off, fernan parted ways with Aria.
Following him was Hyde, carrying a box containing fragments of the World Tree branch—completely blackened with corruption.
"Where are you going?"
"To purify that tree."
"Is it possible?"
"It's the Dragon God Cult. If anyone can figure out a way, it's probably them."
Honestly, there was no solid plan.
It was just that throwing away something that was a branch of the World Tree felt like too much of a waste.
"Jace Vines proved to me that the Dragon God Cult can purify demonic energy."
"Isn't that method just burning the demonic energy? If you burn the sapling…"
"…Surely that can't be the only way."
Well, if there wasn't another option, then so be it. But if there was, it would be nice—it wasn't like it was absolutely necessary.
fernan entered the secret room of the tea house operated by his trading company.
"It's been a while since I came here."
"You're late. The appointed time was exactly 32 minutes ago."
There was already a guest inside.
Jace Vines, Saint of the Dragon God Cult.
"The waves were higher than expected. The ship couldn't pick up speed."
"And yet, the person who always says 'time is money' shows up this late…"
"Don't expect me to pay you just because you say that."
"I know. I was just saying."
Jace laughed casually.
Says he knows, but he's still smacking his lips. Money-hungry bastard. fernan clicked his tongue.
"But what brings you here? You must be tired after such a long journey, and yet you wanted to see me right away."
"We're both busy, so let's get to the point. I ran into monsters during the trade route."
"Monsters? So those mutants aren't even bothering to hide their existence anymore?"
Jace revealed a faint trace of anger.
"What happened with that plan we discussed before?"
"The items have arrived. His Holiness said you can request assistance whenever needed."
"Good."
"But… are you sure you don't need direct help? His Holiness is quite concerned."
"Just tell him I appreciate the thought. No matter how powerful he is, bringing the Cult's forces into the academy would be politically unwise."
fernan took a sip of coffee.
He had never expected that much in the first place. Nor should he.
Aint Armean was undoubtedly a hero, but as of now, he wasn't yet complete.
He was someone who would grow by acquiring the legacies left by the first emperor, fighting formidable foes, and gaining experience again and again—until he became whole.
The first demon to be summoned—Andromalius. The first true demon Aint Armean would have to face.
Aint had to fight him. Whether he won or lost didn't matter—the experience alone would be of great value to him.
"In the original timeline, Aint was supposed to win. But if the past has shifted even slightly, and Aint were to lose…"
That would be a horrifying future fernan could never allow to happen.
So he was preparing contingencies through the Cult.
"This is the real reason I called you."
At fernan's signal, Hyde—who had been standing silently behind—set down a box.
"What is this? It has some very advanced magical engravings. Must be something quite valuable?"
"Open it."
Click. As the box opened, a heavy, viscous demonic energy spread out.
"This is…?"
"A branch of the World Tree tainted by demonic energy."
"…What?"
"To be precise, it's from an avatar—a partial offshoot—but still the same root."
"Where did you even get this?"
"Is that important?"
"It was Friedien, wasn't it? You want me to purify this?"
"Yes. But not using the same method you used on Bella."
"True. Even if it's a World Tree branch, the Flame of Purification would be too incompatible."
Jace reached out to the corrupted World Tree branch. Crackle—
The demonic energy tried to invade his body, but it bounced off without success.
"It's nasty. It'll be difficult with normal methods."
"So you're saying there's no way?"
"I wouldn't go that far. But…"
Jace shrugged and trailed off. fernan's brow furrowed.
"No matter how greedy the Pellenbergs are, it's nothing compared to your cult. Spit it out—what is it?"
"…Holy Water."
"Holy Water?"
"The Flame of Purification is certainly too destructive. It's not something you'd want to use on a sick person or a child. So we found something else—a gentler, safer method."
"And that's this Holy Water?"
"Yes."
Like the Flame of Purification, it wasn't exactly divine power.
The only difference was that the medium wasn't fire—but water.
The principle behind both was the same.
The demonic energy itself would be broken down and dismantled.
"Unlike the Sacred Flame, it'll decompose the demonic energy slowly—but safely. We haven't been able to test its efficacy yet, but since even my flame worked…"
fernan tapped the table lightly.
Jace wasn't the kind to bluff, so the effect was likely real.
"Can it eliminate it completely?"
"I can't give a definite answer."
"You can't give a guarantee, but you still want money?"
"Isn't the choice yours, senior?"
"You've really become a merchant."
"I'm a real magician."
A mage who secured his own research funding.
"I don't spend money carelessly. If it's not 100% effective, there's no reason to buy it."
fernan shook his head.
"You gave it a grand name—Holy Water—but in the end, it's practically useless."
"Useless, you say?"
"It's something that has no effect unless it's against demons, mutants, or demonic energy. It's just a burden."
No matter how high the production cost, if no one wanted it, its value would plummet.
"That was before the mutants started rampaging. You're the one who uncovered their existence—why are you acting unreasonable now?"
"Unreasonable? I'm offering a chance to see whether it's useless or not."
"A chance?"
fernan opened a subspace.
Another box engraved with magical sigils appeared on the table.
"What's this now?"
"Open it."
A wave of demonic energy even thicker than that of the World Tree branch filled the secret room.
Veins pulsing as if alive—Jace's eyes widened.
"This is…?"
"A lump that used to be a monster. To verify your Holy Water—or rather, to see whether everything your Dragon God Cult has done so far is right or wrong—this is the perfect test subject."
To some, it was just a grotesque hunk of flesh.
But to others, it was a tantalizing research material.
A treasure that could prove their history and research weren't wrong.
"…So you're saying you want to trade this for the Holy Water?"
And in the eyes of one of them, a glint of greed flickered.
"Wrong."
"Wrong?"
"You'll have to add more on top of the Holy Water. Artifacts I want, or perhaps a greater quantity of Holy Water."
"That's unreasonable. Even if it's a monster I've never seen before, once one appears, it's likely more will show up."
"This is the flesh of a Rank-4 monster—Barka. A beast that can chew up ogres."
The corpse of a powerful monster was a valuable resource and research material.
The same applied to demonic beasts.
And for the Dragon God Cult, which was starved for monster corpses, this was like forbidden fruit.
Even during the Great War a thousand years ago, Rank-4 monster corpses were said to be rare.
"…There's no way you'd lie about something like this."
"Of course not. I never lie in a deal. If you want, I can even bring in Aria Friedien as a witness."
"…If that's true… No, still, this is a bit much… but then again, it is Barka…"
Jace mulled over it like someone with a split personality—and finally nodded.
"…Very well!"
If it was Barka's corpse, then the Dragon God Cult would have no shortage of people desperate for it.
At a time when mutants and monsters were just beginning to run rampant, having a window to study them before they flooded in full force was of immense value.
"An excellent choice."
The deal was struck.
The corrupted World Tree was submerged in Holy Water that very day.
"You really were born to make money."
To think he'd actually hold onto Barka's corpse and use it this way.
Hyde was impressed.
"Send the rest to the family, and inform Father to begin the research. We need to start preparing for monsters as well."
"Yes, sir."
Though most of Barka's body had been obliterated in the explosion, it had been such a massive beast that a considerable amount still remained.
"And Hyde."
"Yes?"
"Find out exactly where the World Tree branch is being planted, and how it's being managed."
He hoped it was just his imagination, but so far, even if the prophecies had shifted slightly, their general course remained unchanged.
Whether what they'd preserved now was the original future…
Or if it had changed and successfully blocked the demon summoning—
"It's time to find out."
fernan's eyes settled into a cold, still calm.