"As expected, we're first place."
"Yes, I never imagined I'd be able to take first place with you."
Inside the destination was a small shelter wrapped in magic. On one side stood a large tent; on the other, the eliminated students sat slumped on the ground.
As Fernand made eye contact with Carlo, who was staring at him, he offered a faint smile.
"All students who made it in, enter the tent and rest."
"Yes, sir."
"Any injuries?"
"None."
There had been, but they were all healed with potions.
"…Fernand and Luina?"
"They were the first to arrive? Then they're first place?"
"What about Prince Rudger and Almon?"
"Is this for real…?"
Leaving the astonishment of the eliminated students behind, the two of them entered the tent.
Inside, there wasn't anything particularly impressive. Just some chairs, snacks, and a professor's map showing the locations of the other students.
It was a courtesy, allowing them to roughly guess the others' situations through the map.
Not that Fernand particularly cared.
"…I really didn't think we'd place first."
"Same here."
Honestly, he had been doubtful. The competition was fierce, and Fernand didn't have a particular drive to be first place in the first place.
His only goal had been to respect Luina's intentions as much as possible and to build a connection with her.
He'd only put in the effort because it was obvious that Luina would notice and get mad if he slacked off.
"Still, there's no harm in it, right?"
"Of course not. It's my first time getting first place, so I'm absolutely thrilled."
That was a relief. Though he had unintentionally become a sharp thorn sticking out, his relationship with Luina had progressed.
"But this is just the first step. I won't be satisfied with just this. From here on, I look forward to working with you."
"Likewise. I'm counting on you."
Just then, the entrance to the tent was pulled aside, and new figures entered.
"Fernand."
Pfft. Prince Rudger let out a laugh.
"Well, you got me good. Were you hiding your skills all this time?"
"I wasn't really hiding anything."
"Then how come you've never made a rock wall like that before?"
"I never needed to."
"But now you did?"
"Seems that way."
"I see."
Rudger's gaze subtly swept over to Luina.
"I understand everything now."
"…I don't know what you think you've understood, but I'd rather deny it."
"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone."
"That's not the point…"
Without answering Fernand, Rudger went and sat a little distance away. Almon, who followed behind him, shot Fernand a glance before sitting next to him.
The students who had followed Rudger began noisily filling the space around them.
"…Don't tell me that really was your intention?"
"Stop spouting nonsense."
Luina pulled back slightly, her expression guarded. Fernand gave an incredulous chuckle at her reaction.
A moment later, Luina half-closed her eyes and changed the subject.
"Oh, that reminds me. I ran into Aint Armian recently."
"Aint Armian?"
"Yes. I was lightly swinging my sword at the outdoor training field at night, and he came in—probably to train. It was quite an amusing situation. Reminded me a lot of the time you said you secretly watched my training…"
It was at that moment.
───!
A thunderous boom rang out.
It was a sound only Fernand could hear—a thunderclap exploding inside his head.
Instantly, his mind went blank. A shock tore through his brain, similar to when he was first struck by lightning.
"Ghhhhh…!"
A groan squeezed out from between his clenched teeth.
At the same time—
[- It's clear. The author's talent is more than enough to become a Royal Knight.]
[He wanted to release her from the shackles of the Pellenberg family.]
Prophecies that had been dormant on the edge of his consciousness began erupting like mushrooms after rain.
["Senior. No, Luina of House Berchef."
Aint Armian reached out his hand.
"Please, become my knight."]
This was unlike any of the prophecies so far. The vividness of it imprinted itself into Fernand's senses, as if he were truly present at the scene.
Aint, having defeated Luina in a duel, extended his hand to her. But Luina did not take it.
The world turned upside down.
The scenery changed.
A sky red as blood, a suffocating miasma of demonic energy. As if the end had come, a colossal evil targeted Aint Armian.
At that moment, the back of a resolute knight stood firmly in his way.
["Senior! What are you—!"
"Aint Armian. You once said it."
You asked me to become your knight.
And I rejected you.
"It was pride that made me refuse, but not anymore. I came to know you, and I came to know your cause."
So this is my fate.
"A knight is the sword that strikes the enemy of their lord, and the shield that protects them."
A knight—
"Does not flee from their lord."
A knight—
"Does not die before their lord."
That is—
"My chivalry."]
[Luina charged toward the demon Andromalius. Azure sword energy shone radiantly.]
The world flipped again.
It was a hospital room. When Luina opened her eyes, Aint was holding her hand, tears streaming down his face.
["Thank goodness. I'm so glad."
"This place is…"
"A hospital."]
The flow became slightly fragmented.
["Senior. Please don't misunderstand and just listen. Since you said I'm your knight, I'll ask bluntly."
Aint's gaze as he looked at Luina sharpened.
"Those bastards trying to ruin you and House Berchef. It's the Pellenbergs, right? Those nouveau riche scum."]
Though fragmented and difficult to piece together at first, one thing was certain—every single vision revolved around Luina.
'Why now, of all times?'
Was it because Luina brought up Aint?
'So this is when they started using Luina to try and ruin me.'
It wasn't exactly new information—he'd already known it. It wasn't like it revealed a specific time or plan.
'…Andromalius, huh?'
He remembered. It was the name of a demon he'd read about in a book at the library. Was that thing actually going to descend?
'When?'
No, that wasn't the most important part either.
'Aint Armian… how dare he call someone a nouveau riche…!'
"…Are you all right?"
A rough hand shook his shoulder. Only then did Fernand break from his thoughts and open his eyes.
Luina was looking at him with a worried expression.
"…I'm fine."
"You suddenly screamed. You really startled me. You're pale, too."
"It's nothing—"
"Doesn't seem like nothing."
It was Rudger's voice.
Only then did Fernand realize he finally had the presence of mind to check his surroundings. And that everyone in the tent was staring at him.
"…It's nothing, don't mind me."
"For something that's 'nothing,' you look like you're struggling pretty badly."
"I just overexerted myself for the first time in a while. Some unsettled mana backflowed a little, that's all."
"That's unlike you. You sure you're okay? Don't need to tell the professor or anything?"
"I'm sure. Thanks for your concern."
Fernand roughly wiped his face. One by one, the eyes that had gathered on him began to disperse.
"…Are you really all right?"
"Yes. Just as I said."
"But you were holding your head."
…Unnecessarily sharp.
"No, it was my chest."
"Still, I think you should tell the professor—"
"I said I'm fine, Luina Berchef."
"Then at least take a potion. You've got plenty, don't you?"
"That would be a waste."
Money is for spending when it matters, not for wasting without reason.
"Well, that's…"
"Quiet. Just shut it."
"Your mouth seems to be working fine. Got it."
Luina gave a curt nod.
'…What was that just now?'
It was the future. A later part of the prophecy that had been written in the book—something that hadn't come to mind no matter how hard he'd thought about it until now.
'Was it because Luina mentioned Aint?'
Considering the timing and the fact that all the visions were related to Luina, that seemed highly likely.
'I'll have to look into this more later.'
Perhaps every time he encountered someone connected to Aint, he'd gain more insight into the future.
'But seriously… Andromalius?'
One of the 72 demons was actually going to descend into this world. And near the Academy, no less?
'This is insane.'
Demons were nothing short of legendary beings. He had no idea how one was supposed to deal with something like that.
'No—there's no need to worry about that just yet. Aint is the one who ends up handling it anyway, and that was something that happens much further down the line. I should focus on what's more immediate.'
More urgent than a distant future with Andromalius was the nearer future event just around the corner.
Exactly one month from today, an incident would occur in the first-year knight department's War and Practical Dueling course.
Aint Armian's second major moment—after having defeated 10th-ranked Anto Dnern in the first class and caused an upset.
In this upcoming class, Aint Armian would face off against the first-year second-ranker, Berian Kalburden.
And the result would be a narrow victory.
After defeating Anto Dnern, Aint had already begun to make a name for himself. But for him to topple the second rank in just a month? That was a massive event.
It would serve as definitive proof that his first win wasn't just luck—and he would start gaining real recognition.
'But the problem didn't end there.'
Just as there is darkness where there is light, every winner comes with a loser.
While Aint gained glory and reputation, Berian would lose much.
His fame, his honor, even the powerful patron who supported him.
["The knight department's runner-up… I trusted you because of your title as Kalburden's Knight.
"…I'm sorry. Next time, I'll definitely—"
"There's nothing to apologize for. It's just that my expectations were a little too high.
For now, take time to rest—physically and mentally.
If another opportunity arises, we'll talk again."]
In essence, it was a dismissal. Berian lowered his head and bit his lip hard.
'Aint Armian…!'
Anger toward Aint Armian began to boil up inside him.
Unlike the unexpected chaos earlier, this time Fernand had consciously recalled the prophecies.
This was the moment Berian lost to Aint in a public duel and was half-abandoned by Rudger.
Of course, Rudger had left some room—he hadn't cut him off completely.
But from the perspective of the one being cast aside, from the position of someone who had stood at the top, it would've felt very different.
'He must've felt like he lost everything.'
Defeated by someone from the Armians—his lifelong rival—and disdained by the patron he had trusted… this event would be the turning point that led Berian Kalburden to fall to the whispers of a demon.
Yes, a demon.
It marked the first time a demon would appear—even if only indirectly.
'The problem is, the prophecy doesn't reveal exactly how or where they come into contact.'
Whether the prophecy was lacking or the demon was just that thorough—it was unclear.
Fernand leaned toward the former.
After all, it made no sense for a prophecy book to just miss something because a demon was "thorough." That would defeat the very purpose of prophecy.
"Luina."
"Yes?"
"Do you believe demons exist?"
"…That's quite the random question."
"Just answer."
Under his urging, Luina gave a small nod.
"I do. Isn't this empire built upon defeating the demons?"
"And if I told you they still exist in this world today?"
"…Honestly, that's a bit hard to believe."
"Same here."
Yes—this was the typical reaction. The demons that had been vanquished by the First Emperor hadn't shown themselves for over a thousand years.
People were quick to dismiss even a century of silence as myth. A thousand years? To modern humanity, demons were nothing more than old legends or fairy tales—nothing more, nothing less.
Which made this matter all the more critical.
'If I can just find evidence of a demon's presence, it'll be much easier to convince others and get support.'
Delusion and hard proof were entirely different things—and with proof, he could begin to shift the entire game.
'And I could verify the prophecy book once again.'
Even if the other 99 prophecies were correct, if the one about demons was wrong, then the book's credibility would be fundamentally flawed. This was a matter of utmost importance.
"But seriously, why demons all of a sudden? Is your head still hurting…?"
"I told you I'm fine."
Just then, the tent flap opened and Graad walked in.
"Everyone, come out."
The practical training was over.