CHAPTER 148: CONFIRMATION [2]

Ariadne led the conversation, naturally drawing attention.

As if they had practiced several times, Aint removed his necklace and made it slightly touch Gismond’s body.

Secret mana penetrated Gismond Ert’s flesh.

"...Hm?"

"Are you listening to my story, Senior? You know what? Elves really dislike it when people get distracted during a conversation."

"Ah, yes."

Gismond seemed to sense something strange, but he was quickly drawn back into the conversation with Ariadne.

Meanwhile, Gardner was thoroughly searching Gismond’s aura hole.

This is the first time I’ve seen someone like this. How many elixirs did he consume so recklessly that multiple strands of aura are mixed together so impurely?

The remnants of elixirs that hadn’t been completely absorbed and remained throughout his body were a bonus.

’He consumed so many elixirs it’s considered reckless? The Ert barony isn’t such a wealthy family, is it?’

He might be receiving sponsorship.

No, cancel that. Even with sponsorship, no one would consume elixirs so recklessly.

He’s somehow enduring for now, but it may not be long.

’What do you mean?’

Until his body bursts. He’s already at his limit. If he stops consuming aura for even a day, his aura hole will probably burst.

It wasn’t just the aura hole. His physical body itself was likely to be wrecked.

Moreover, since most of the elixir remnants weren’t even properly refined, it was possible to roughly guess what elixirs he had consumed.

Root of Itarium, Drake’s mana hole? No, since ordinary drakes don’t have mana holes, it must be a variant. Leaves of the explanation grass, this purity could it be the water of life...?

He really consumed all sorts of things. Come to think of it, Aint, among what the first Emperor left behind, there’s also the water of life. Soon, we should go to Pandrein...

’Let’s talk about that later, how about the magical contamination?’

To Aint’s question, Gardner, who had been silent for a moment, soon answered.

None. Not even as small as a rice grain of magical contamination exists. No traces of it either.

He just has various elixirs tangled together like rags, but he’s not infected with magical contamination.

In a way, this is more surprising.

’I understand.’

Aint, putting Gardner back around his neck, nodded very slightly.

"Ah. I just remembered I had an appointment. It was fun today, seniors."

"Suddenly? Weren’t you drinking with Aint?"

"I had a light drink with Aint before meeting someone else. Let’s go, Aint."

Before Gismond and his friends could react, Ariadne distanced herself as swiftly as she had approached.

"It was a pleasure, seniors. I’ll see you again."

Leaving them staring blankly at Ariadne’s back, Aint bowed his head slightly and followed her.

"Did you find anything?"

"No."

"You mean there was no magical contamination?"

"Yes, he’s not a malignant creature."

"That’s strange. Then Senior was wrong, but how did he suddenly get stronger?"

"Elixirs."

"You can’t suddenly grow rapidly just by consuming elixirs."

"He consumed many more than that."

Ariadne’s eyes blinked a couple of times, and the corners of her mouth twisted upward.

"The senior was more interesting than I thought. But how does his body withstand it? He didn’t seem that well-trained."

By academy student standards, at least.

"He’s at a precarious limit."

"Then where did he get those elixirs? No, wait, he’s a nobleman and an academy student, but doesn’t he have basic knowledge about elixirs? How did he even get into the academy?"

It was a blunt statement, but there were no incorrect parts.

The human body isn’t as strong as one might think. Indiscriminate and excessive consumption of elixirs would likely cause mana to go berserk.

"However he obtained them, it’s a shame. Precious elixirs going into the body of someone unqualified."

Ariadne, who had briefly been curious after hearing there was no magical contamination, lost interest.

"Well, Senior Gerhard probably knows how he obtained them."

Because Gerhard doesn’t miss even such trivial things.

"What now? Do you want to go drink for real?"

"Why do elves like alcohol so much?"

"Elves and alcohol are very well-matched words."

That’s true. In fact, elves live with fruit wine constantly on their lips.

Drunkards by default. It was a fact Aint hadn’t known.

"No way. I need to report the results to Senior."

"It doesn’t seem particularly urgent, right now?"

"How can matters related to demons not be urgent?"

"That’s too bad. How about after it’s done?"

"I’m going to the closing ceremony."

Ariadne tilted her head.

"Weren’t you not going?"

"Why do you think I wouldn’t go?"

"Well, because the Emperor comes to the closing ceremony."

"...I didn’t expect you to be so direct about it."

"Enrolling in the academy itself means you don’t care about such things, doesn’t it?"

Ariadne’s nonchalant shrug seemed quite annoying.

"Then why did you think I wouldn’t go?"

"Because not caring about something and facing it directly are different things."

She’s surprisingly sharp while not seeming so.

Though Ariadne retorted casually, her words pierced Aint’s core.

Her words were right. If he had simply decided not to care, Aint wouldn’t have had the mindset to attend the closing ceremony.

But that wasn’t it.

The Emperor of the Empire. The position that originally belonged to the Armian family.

As the legitimate successor of Armian, he wanted to reclaim that position. He had gained the power and allies, and the environment was set to unfold.

The advent of demons that had prompted the first Emperor to establish the Empire.

History was about to repeat itself, and Aint didn’t want to miss that opportunity.

So he wanted to see for once.

What kind of existence was the family, the person, currently occupying the Emperor’s seat.

Whoosh, at that moment, he felt a hot breath.

"W-what?"

Ariadne was right in front of his face. Her emerald-like green eyes formed a crescent moon.

"That’s a good look. A look full of desire. Just now, you looked exactly like Senior Gerhard."

"...What?"

Ariadne’s face moved away again. Aint’s heart beat roughly.

"Then we should go see. I’ll talk to the Senior a bit..."

"You two."

At that moment, two figures in robes approached them.

"Are you perhaps students Aint Armian and Ariadne Florian?"

"Do you know us?"

"Fortunately, we found the right people. I am this person, ah, wait a moment."

The man rummaged through his inner pocket for a while. Then he pulled out a badge.

"I am this person."

"...This is?"

"...!"

On the metal badge, a lightning symbol was embossed.

"Pleased to meet you both. I am Jirad Izzell, a Judge."

The man bowed most respectfully.

==

The Judges.

A group created by the first Emperor, who drove out demons a thousand years ago, to deal with magical beasts and malignant creatures that still remained on the continent.

Once, their influence rivaled that of the Grand Dukes, and everyone trembled at their words.

But that was merely past glory.

As malignant creatures decreased and magical beasts were subjugated...

The Judges were no longer needed.

Their influence weakened.

Ironically, the more diligently they performed their duties, the more they lost their position.

Demons and magical beasts were soon forgotten, and the Judges’ authority gradually diminished.

And now.

They were mere figureheads, barely maintaining their lineage according to the first Emperor’s decree.

Nominally, they were directly under the Emperor, but the Schwaben, who had taken the throne from the Armian, had nearly abandoned this useless group.

Without the sponsorship of various nobles, the Judges might have already disappeared.

And now, a Judge who had survived through that history stood before Aint.

"...What business do you have with me?"

"Hmm... This doesn’t seem like a place for our conversation. How about going somewhere quiet?"

"Am I supposed to follow you?"

"I’d appreciate it if you did. Ah, of course, this isn’t a threat. We don’t even have the power to threaten someone and deal with the consequences!"

Jirad Izzell laughed cheerfully.

"I’m asking because I believe you can guess why I came looking for you. It’s a somewhat desperate matter for us."

The awkwardly smiling Jirad’s eyes were shaking relentlessly. It looked just like...

"Just like an abandoned cat."

Hiccup, Aint was startled. Setting aside that he had the same thought as Ariadne, he never expected her to say it right to his face.

"Watch your mouth...!"

"But it’s true?"

"An abandoned cat. Well. That’s not wrong. We have been abandoned by the Schwaben imperial family."

At the self-deprecating reply, Aint closed his mouth.

"That..."

"It’s alright. It’s been a hundred years since we were abandoned. I don’t mind at all. Besides, I became a Judge 30 years ago, so I don’t know about the previous 70 years."

To think the Judges are receiving such treatment.

Gardner revealed a subtle anger at his pitiful story.

The Judges were the first Emperor’s provision, anticipating the inevitable return of demons.

But they’ve become like this, rendering them meaningless.

Dull fellows. Don’t they think there was a reason the first Emperor gave such an order?

’I can understand it though.’

It had been a whole thousand years. Though it was the first Emperor’s will, it was too much of a burden to consistently grow and manage.

"Did you approach us because of the malignant creatures?"

"That’s right. Actually, we’ve heard about it too. That malignant creatures appeared at the academy."

Jirad raised both arms dramatically. But perhaps conscious of the gazes around, his voice was infinitely quiet.

"Why us?"

"Even though we’ve been abandoned, we’ve continued for a thousand years. Aint Armian, Ariadne Florian. We have ways to know that you and three other students had an interview with the headmaster."

Probably because you discovered and reported the malignant creatures.

"Right after that, the headmaster urgently summoned the academy’s executives and guardians and completely wiped out the malignant creatures. I should have been there to help catch them, but it’s a pity. As you know, I am a Judge, but I’ve never fought a malignant crea..."

"Lord Jirad."

At that moment, someone abruptly cut off his words.

"Senior Gerhard?"

"Senior."

It was Gerhard.

"It’s been a while."

"...Oh. It seems our conversation has gone on longer than expected. It’s been a while, Young Master Gerhard."

Jirad, upon discovering Gerhard, smiled ambiguously.

"I should have taken them away sooner."

"That would be kidnapping."

"It’s not kidnapping if it’s voluntary."

"Ask me. I’ll tell you."

"I have no money. Squeeze a flea’s liver."

"I think the headmaster was looking for you."

"Huff, I should have tortured them quickly to extract information rather than having a polite conversation."

"...Torture?"

Torture?

Both Aint and Gardner choked back a groan at the word that popped out.

"This is the academy, and Aint and Ariadne are academy students."

"That’s why I was trying to have a conversation. Well, it’s turned out like this. Then, you two. I’ll see you next time."

Jirad bowed his head and disappeared.

"Wow..."

And Ariadne muttered as she watched his retreating figure.

"I really don’t like that human. I’ve never disliked a human this much before, I wonder why?"

"Self-loathing?"

"I’m an elf and that person is a human?"

"It’s nothing."

Gerhard shrugged.

"What kind of person is that human, Senior? Torture?"

"As you might have guessed, he’s not a normal person. It’s best to avoid getting involved with him if possible. That goes for Jirad, the Chief Judge, as well as other Judges."

"Chief Judge? That man is the Chief Judge?"

"Yes."

Gerhard nodded.

"Someone like that is the leader? He seemed a bit strange."

"One must be crazy to lead an organization with no future."

The situation would be different from now on, but until now, no one could have predicted that demons would appear.

Naturally, anyone joining the Judges couldn’t be in their right mind.

"Anyway, let’s go. Though we’re a bit late, the closing ceremony hasn’t ended yet."

"Yes!"

"Okay."

Gerhard led the two into the stadium. The staff who recognized them didn’t block their way, and they smoothly took seats in the VIP section.

The awards ceremony seemed to have ended, as both Luina Berchef and the Magic Tournament champion, Riana Horton, were holding trophies made of pure gold.

The Emperor was sitting in the seat of honor, resting his chin on his hand, and the headmaster slowly stepped forward.

"Professor Rosalia?"

"That’s..."

"It seems they’re going to reveal it today?"

Professor Rosalia Wienderk was behind the headmaster, and next to her was a person encased in ice.

Without much thought, it was easy to guess that this was a malignant creature captured by the academy.

’So it was today. Indeed, this is the best place to make an announcement.’

Gerhard quickly calculated the aftermath. Malignant creatures appearing after a thousand years...

That’s when it happened. The headmaster and Professor Rosalia, who were ascending to the platform, paused.

They weren’t the only ones.

Knights, servants, maids, everyone serving their lords ran to whisper something in their master’s ear.

The entire stadium, which had been quiet, suddenly became tumultuous.

"What’s happening?"

"It seems something has occurred."

While the two first-years were confused, an employee of the Golden Turtle Company also ran to Gerhard.

"Young master!"

"What’s the matter?"

"Urgent news from Altriark and Alfrecen. A large group of magical beasts and monsters has left the Tacklakan desert and is attacking the Empire and the Kingdom."

"...What did you say?"

Magical beasts? Monsters?

"They’re pouring in across the entire western region, making it impossible to accurately count their numbers, but the estimate is around 10,000. Currently, Altriark is holding out, but the Damus viscounty has fallen..."

"...This is insane."

An attack by a legion of monsters and magical beasts numbering 10,000?

There’s no way this could happen naturally.

’It’s the malignant creatures.’

The malignant creatures, who had suffered a blow at the academy, have made their next move.