Just a few days before Andromalius was to descend, while Aint was returning to the Academy by ship—
The Academy was bustling in preparation for the new semester. Among them, Fernan was busier than anyone else.
"Are we certain we have enough supplies prepared?"
"Yes. We've stocked the warehouse to the brim and even prepared extras."
"It's better to have a surplus than a shortage. Even if we don't sell everything at the Academy, we can sell it elsewhere."
"Yes."
The reopening of the Academy meant students were returning, and wherever crowds gathered, money was always made.
"The merchants in the city…"
"Professor Dominique requested materials for his classes…"
And since there was even a city established on the island itself, their focus wasn't limited to just students.
"How are the festival preparations?"
Most importantly, in the second semester, the Academy's grandest festival was scheduled, coinciding with the Empire's Founding Day.
And providing the necessary goods and preparing the facilities for it had long been the responsibility of the Golden Turtle Trading Company.
"Don't think you can get by with half-hearted effort just because we do this every year. With so many distinguished guests attending, there can't be a single mishap."
"Yes."
"This is the most lucrative season of the year. Remember—the profits we make here determine our income for the whole year."
"Yes, sir!"
The students, who were hailed as the Empire's future, their parents, and the crowds who gathered to see the festival—
The Academy's Founding Day celebration was second in grandeur only to the one held in the Imperial Capital.
"Today's meeting ends here."
"Thank you for your hard work!"
After two hours, the meeting finally concluded.
"What's next on the schedule?"
"A meeting with the Merchants' Guild."
"And Aint Armian?"
"He hasn't returned to the Academy yet."
"Then attend the meeting with the Merchants' Guild in his place."
Fernan reviewed the meeting notes once more and rose from his seat.
"…What are you planning this time?"
"An outside errand."
"You don't have any scheduled outside business aside from what you've assigned me."
"I'll tell you when I return."
"I'm not a merchant."
"But you are part of the trading company."
"I've never done any trade dealings."
"Don't worry. The staff will handle everything—you just need to sit there and look the part."
"…What does that even mean?"
Hyde gave a hollow laugh, but Fernan had already left.
"…He keeps forgetting—I'm not a merchant, I'm his attendant and bodyguard."
Hyde sighed.
Fernan stopped by the warehouse and swept up supplies.
"Um… Branch Manager?"
"I'll record it properly as being taken out by me, so don't worry."
"Yes, understood…!"
He reassured the anxious warehouse keeper and walked out.
The closer the end of vacation drew, the more unease weighed on him.
Andromalius.
The reason, of course, was the demon whose summoning was foretold.
Even though he knew through the prophecy that the demon would descend and that Aint would slay it, that knowledge alone wasn't enough to dispel the fear a demon inspired.
It's still a demon. The first to appear on the continent in a thousand years.
No one could even guess the extent of its power.
Will Aint really be able to stop it? The future has already changed. Who knows how it will shift again?
Normally, he might not have been so anxious, but the incident with Varus loomed large.
That abomination, which Aint should have managed to defeat alone, not only grievously wounded Varus but also killed several of the Black Fang mercenaries.
Though it still fell to Aint in the end, would the result truly have been the same had Fernan not sent Varus along?
Today's errand was born of that unease.
"You mean you're setting traps?"
"Yes."
To lay as many traps and snares as possible around the World Tree's Branch—so that when Andromalius was summoned, they could at least land a strike.
That was his goal.
"But why bring Senior Ruina along?"
"Because Ruina also knows about abominations."
It was a precautionary escort.
Since the abominations' top priority was Aint, he reasoned the chance of a demon being summoned in Aint's absence was slim.
Still, just in case, he chose to bring Ruina.
"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone about the World Tree's Branch."
"Are you sure she can be trusted, Senior?"
"Ruina is trustworthy."
"If you say so, I suppose I can't argue. But even if I'm fine with it, I'm not sure Senior Ruina will be."
"She's the 'someone else' I told you I'd introduce to you anyway."
At those words, the two women's expressions wavered simultaneously.
"…You mean you intended to introduce me to Aria?"
"I made a promise."
"Do you not know that it was Pridian who took away the rights of the Golden Bull Edict from our family?"
"Pellenberg brokered that deal. It was purchased with proper payment under mutual agreement. Surely you don't mean to hold that against them?"
"Of course not, but…"
Ruina was by no means a saint who forgave all wrongs and embraced with love.
Even if something was acquired at a fair price, its true value could be beyond measure.
What was lost still hurt, and resentment inevitably festered toward the one who gained it.
Especially since she was keenly aware of how the nobles' regard for the Berchef family had shifted after they lost their electoral title.
"…I don't particularly dislike Pridian. But neither do I intend to go out of my way to befriend them."
"You mean like the way things used to be between you and me?"
"..."
"There's no conflict between the two of you. On the contrary, you share the cause of fighting against abominations. Why shouldn't you stand together?"
Ruina couldn't easily reply.
"Wow, Senior, I see you differently now. You're really selfish."
"So what?"
"Well, I don't mind bad men. After all, it's the Elector family we're talking about."
From Aria's perspective, there was nothing to lose.
She hadn't done anything wrong, and it was a chance to mend ties with the Berchefs, who harbored resentment against them.
"But you said she's a direct descendant of the Elector family and a likely successor, didn't you?"
"That was a mistake. I only left out one word."
The word 'former'.
"Ha."
Aria let out a hollow laugh. Ruina steadied herself.
"…Yes, that's right. With a demon before us, there's no need to fight among ourselves."
"I see you're more magnanimous than I thought, Senior Ruina. I'll be in your care."
Ruina extended her hand first. Aria smiled brightly and took it.
After settling their relations, the three headed straight to the forest where the World Tree's Branch was rooted.
"…This is the World Tree's Branch?"
"Strictly speaking, it's a corrupted branch."
"To see a fragment of the Mother Tree in such a form… it's truly horrific. She should be laid to rest as soon as possible."
The condition of the World Tree's Branch looked even worse than before. What had once been murky was now fully blackened, and approaching it one could feel the demonic energy.
Still, the corruption did not spread beyond a certain range.
"So, what exactly are we doing here?"
"Setting traps."
"Traps?"
"It's unthinkable that simply corrupting the World Tree's Branch was the abominations' ultimate goal."
"Of course not."
Anyone could guess they planned to use the corrupted branch for something.
But no one would imagine that purpose was to summon a demon.
"Which means they will inevitably return here. That's why we'll prepare traps in advance."
"Not a bad idea, but I have one question."
"Go ahead."
"The World Tree's Branch is supposed to be quite precious. Why has it been left neglected until it reached this state?"
"…Don't dig up my dark past."
"It's a long story, but I had my reasons."
Ruina pressed no further.
"But if it's magical traps you're setting, why do you even need me here?"
"For protection."
"If the abominations tainted the World Tree once, who's to say they won't return?"
"It's not the Mother Tree itself—just a branch. The difference is like a King Slime and the ordinary slimes it spawns."
"That's… a pretty big difference. Fine, I'll correct myself."
She drew her sword and began scanning the surroundings.
"What should I do, then?"
"You guard too."
"Do you really need me as well?"
"Do you want to dig instead?"
"Elves' eyes are sharp enough to outmatch an eagle's, you know."
Aria moved to stand opposite Ruina.
All right, then…
The traps weren't anything elaborate.
First, dig into the ground…
Rumble— Using magic, Fernan dug into the earth and inscribed a magic circle inside. The reason for burying it underground was to keep the abominations from noticing.
This isn't the time to save money.
He reinforced the circle's power with reagents, stuffed scrolls between its lines to link them together, and buried whole bottles of holy water engraved with runes inside.
Dozens of them. One or two might not have much effect, but dozens of bottles of holy water combined with chained magic—surely even a demon would falter.
And on top of that…
Fernan pulled out the final scroll.
Unlike the others, this one was ornate—containing a high-level spell, and therefore extremely expensive.
If everything went as planned, it would serve as the final nail in the coffin, striking Andromalius once he was weakened by the other traps and holy water.
After painstakingly burying every trap, Fernan carefully restored the area.
Stealth was the essence of a trap—nothing could look the slightest bit out of place.
He was just about to invoke another spell to cover his traces when—
──!
It began with the faintest of tremors.
So faint that only Fernan, a geomancer who had been digging through the ground, could detect it.
"…What is this?"
Rumble, rumble— The greatest tree in the world began to grow. The blackened Branch of the World Tree was digging deeper roots, stretching its trunk upward, expanding.
"…The World Tree, suddenly?"
"Aria!"
But no one took it as a good sign.
Instead of pure mana, the branch exhaled thick, noxious demonic energy.
"Mother Tree is screaming!"
Aria's words struck like a hammer. Her pupils shook violently, as if the earth itself were quaking inside them.
…Wait. Don't tell me—?
Impossible. It couldn't be.
The ominous thought clawed its way into Fernan's mind, and he desperately tried to deny it.
"Aria, what in the world is happening?!"
"I should be the one asking you!"
"…What did you do wrong this time?"
"I didn't touch anything!"
Why the branch, thought to be half-dead, was suddenly growing—why its demonic energy was intensifying—none of them could explain.
But they all knew one thing: it was no good sign.
Ruina drew her sword, and Aria summoned a spirit.
"We should have laid her to rest long ago!"
Aria thrust her staff forward. A raging gale sharpened into blades and slashed at the World Tree.
Claaang—!
"What the hell?!"
"A barrier?"
A shield of pure demonic energy had formed around the branch. Ruina followed up, unleashing a flurry of sword strikes.
──!
This time, it worked. The shockwave bent nearby trees and shattered pieces of the barrier, scattering shards in all directions.
Through the gap, they caught sight of a small fracture.
"That's it, Ruina! Seal it now!"
Fernan cheered and prepared his spell—but he never got the chance.
Craaaaack—
The branch, stretching high into the sky, pierced straight through space itself.
"…What is…"
"What's happening…?"
The fracture widened. When it grew to the size of a hole—
Rip—
A pale white hand burst through, tearing the crack wider by force.
The sky splitting open.
A hand appearing from nowhere.
Space itself ripping apart.
Nothing about it was real. And yet—it was.
The rift expanded, and suddenly, a being emerged.
"A… a person?"
"No, there's no way that thing is human…"
Its shape resembled a human, but everything about it radiated the alien—utterly inhuman.
"T-the demonic energy…!"
"What is that thing? What's happening?!"
Its chilling eyes, its crushing aura, the overwhelming surge of demonic energy—and the massive serpent coiled around its left arm.
It was exactly as the books had described.
"Andromalius…"
There was no denying reality any longer.
"N-no…!"
Why now? Why now, of all times?!
When they had only come here to set traps in preparation!
When Aint wasn't here!
Fernan let out a voiceless scream.
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