CHAPTER 180: YOU’RE MAKING AN INTERESTING JOKE

Gerhard first met Rosalia even before enrolling in the academy.

Just when he had established the Golden Pillar and was building personal funds, he met Rosalia at a banquet hall.

"Goldenheim? So you’re that money-obsessed brat who started trading company work from a young age."

She was looking for a sponsor for her research.

At first, he couldn’t understand why she, with the Wienderk background, was seeking other sponsors.

However, after checking her research, Gerhard judged it wouldn’t be bad as the Black Pillar’s first sponsorship.

And that had continued until now.

"I can’t grasp everything at my level, but at least the demonstration was successful."

It looked theoretically perfect too. If it went the same way at the academic conference, Gerhard would be able to make a fortune.

While the expenses were large from sponsoring massive amounts of money and magic stones, it was a result that could make up for all of it.

Satisfied with the research results, Gerhard naturally smiled at the hopeful future.

And as if to scold him for that, a headache struck.

"...Ugh?"

Gerhard found a nearby bench and sat down. He took deep breaths, closed his eyes, and surrendered to the emerging memories.

["Continental Academic Conference? You want to go there together?"

"Yeah."

Ariadne nodded with a bright smile.

"Is it okay for me to go when I’m not even a wizard?"

"What strange talk is that? It’s not a ’Magic’ Academic Conference but a ’Continental’ Academic Conference. There are quite a few knights as well, not just wizards."

"Really?"

Honestly, Hyde also had some desire to go. An authoritative event that stirred the entire continent.

A festival hosted by Electors in rotation, but no longer held in Armian.

He wanted to see what kind of place it was with his own eyes. And someday, he wanted to make it held in Armian again.

Going once wouldn’t be bad. I’m curious too.]

The first was Hyde Armian trying to attend the Continental Academic Conference with Ariadne.

From there, Gerhard noticed that the academic conference wouldn’t go smoothly.

’That Hyde guy carries all sorts of incidents and accidents with him.’

Problems related to demon seeds burst wherever he goes. That was the law of the prophecy book that Gerhard had realized.

["A drake? No, not just a drake but a variant. The scales and eyes are different. But why is it dying?"

"It looks like it has no energy at all."

That one just reached the end of its lifespan. Variants are stronger than general monsters, but they burn through their life force more rapidly.

It seems like it couldn’t let go of its attachment to life and has been suffering for a long time. Put it out of its misery.

Since it’s a variant, there’s probably an inner core too.

Hyde severed the variant drake’s neck. There was slight resistance, but it was almost as if there was none.

As Gardner said, near the heart was an inner core that wasn’t very large but was there.]

Hyde and Ariadne discovered a variant drake on their way and obtained an elixir.

’A variant drake dying from old age.’

The luck was too good.

Since it was a variant monster’s inner core, the quality wouldn’t be very good, but an elixir was still an elixir.

[Godilita, the great city of Wienderk, was full of people who came for the Continental Academic Conference.

The streets had no room to step with countless crowds, and Hyde was certain that today was the day he saw the most people in his life.

"...It’s incredible."

"Of course. Almost all the continent’s wizards flock to the Continental Academic Conference."

Nobles and merchants who came to see those wizards’ research, and the knights and mercenaries who escorted them.

The crowds couldn’t help but be large.

"Hm?"

"What’s wrong?"

"That person over there..."

Then Hyde spotted someone.

"Isn’t that Professor Rosalia?"]

The next content was about Hyde and Ariadne arriving at the academic conference, and the appearance of Rosalia Wienderk.

Up to that point, it wasn’t particularly interesting, so he passed over it indifferently. He wanted to quickly know what problems would arise.

["I will introduce to everyone."

On stage, behind Rosalia. As the white cloth was removed, something massive revealed itself.

It was a round and enormous chunk of ice.

Full of abundant magical power, with engravings and magic circles carved on the surface without the slightest gap.

"This is a new form of magic stone that will change the world’s landscape from now on."]

["So..."

In a completely unexpected situation, in a situation that couldn’t be handled at all, Rosalia’s expression, who had maintained a poker face throughout, became distorted.

About a thousand engravings and magic circles were irregularly emitting light, releasing magical power and creating strange flows.

"Is that thing okay?"

"What’s happening?"

"Something feels ominous."

Most of those gathered at the Continental Academic Conference were outstanding wizards, and they noticed that what was currently happening was definitely not what Rosalia had intended.

"Stop the magic immediately!"

"Cut off the artifact’s magical power!"

They shouted urgently, but it was already too late. The artificial magic stone gathered massive magical power into one and poured it into the sky.

The gathered magical power caused cracks in space. It literally split space apart.

And what came out from between was.

A single winged silver horse, and one person riding on the horse.

"...What is that?"

"Pegasus?"

"It has too disgusting an aura to be called Pegasus...!"

"Demonic energy?"

No, that was neither horse nor person.

...This crazy, Seir? Hyde! Be careful! The 70th-ranked demon, Seir!

A demon had descended upon the Continental Academic Conference.]

...Huh?

Gerhard’s mouth fell open.

It was a prophecy that made him clearly understand why the original future was ruin.

==

They say when people are too shocked, words don’t come out.

Gerhard experienced such a thing for the first time in his life.

No words came out at all.

He wanted to say something, anything, but it felt like someone had filled his mouth with sand.

He was breathless. Cold sweat poured down, and both eyes became bloodshot red.

What should he do?

How?

How?

Nothing came to mind.

If this exploded, what would the aftermath be like?

He didn’t know about other things, but the creator Rosalia Wienderk and sponsor Gerhard Goldenheim would definitely be finished.

’Things were piling up one by one, and this one blow would definitely finish it.’

Using this incident as an excuse, he’d be expelled from the family, and that terrible nightmare would be recreated.

’...Were all the efforts until now completely useless?’

No, that wouldn’t be the case. He had changed numerous futures.

His relationship with Luina became the best, and he could cooperate with Hyde too.

He made Veriana, who would disappear without a trace, into an ally, and blocked various problems.

There were definitely achievements.

Nevertheless, if this incident exploded, the fact that Gerhard would be finished remained unchanged.

No matter how well he did before, what would it matter?

It wasn’t just anything else, but demon summoning. And that in a public place with the purpose of massacring other dignitaries.

’What exactly is the problem?’

There were three possibilities.

Either Rosalia Wienderk was a demon seed.

Or Rosalia’s assistants were demon seeds.

Or other demon seeds hiding in the academy had secretly interfered.

Gerhard rubbed his face. Whatever it was, the result was the same.

Even setting aside everything else, he had to solve this matter.

Absolutely.

==

Returning to his lodging, Gerhard checked once more the list of demon seed suspects his father had sent.

But Rosalia Wienderk or her assistants weren’t on it.

"...Damn it."

If they had been there, he would have targeted them directly and investigated properly. This way, he had to start from scratch.

"Young master, you called... What happened? Why is your complexion so pale?"

Then Hyde entered.

"Hyde."

"Yes."

"Run to the temple right now and bring Jayce. Tell him I want to see him."

"You mean Jayce Biance?"

"Hyde Armian too."

"Why those two suddenly?"

"And secretly deliver this letter to Professor Rosalia."

"Pardon?"

Hyde was flustered by Gerhard’s sudden outpouring but dutifully received the letter.

"Why are you suddenly acting like this?"

"I saw something terrible."

"Pardon?"

"If my prediction is correct, my life is about to end."

"...I understand even less."

"I discovered something strange in Professor Rosalia’s research. I think it might be demonic energy."

At the mention of demonic energy, Hyde’s expression changed.

"...Are you certain?"

"That’s what we need to check from now on."

For that, he needed Hyde Armian and Jayce Biance. They were people who could be called the greatest authorities on demonic energy, at least.

A Pope would be better than a Saint, but Gerhard couldn’t carelessly summon someone of the Pope’s level.

"I’ll deliver it immediately."

Hyde disappeared. Gerhard also prepared to go out again.

His destination was the secret room of a shop owned by the Golden Turtle Company.

As he sat quietly waiting, the door soon opened and a customer arrived.

"Did you call me, brother?"

The first was the money-obsessed magic maniac.

"Did you bring what I told you to bring?"

"Yes, of course. Are you looking for demon seeds again?"

"It’s just suspicion for now. And this time it’s not simply finding demon seeds, but I need your magical abilities."

"If you just pay the commission fee, I’m always ready to obey brother’s commands!"

Jayce grinned and sat down.

"So what’s the matter?"

"Wait a moment."

"Are there more people coming besides me?"

"Yes."

Soon, signs of people were felt outside. The door opened and two people’s eyes met.

"Hyde Armian?"

"Jayce Biance?"

They were the same year but had almost no interaction. Both looked at Gerhard at this unexpected combination.

"Hyde, I have something to say, so sit down."

"Yes, senior."

Whew, once everyone was gathered, Gerhard lightly regulated his breathing.

"Listen carefully."

It wasn’t intended to set the mood, but his voice instinctively dropped low. That’s how tense he was.

"I’ve discovered the demon seeds’ next plan. To stop it, I need your help."

"...!"

"...!"

==

Scratch scratch-

Rosalia’s hand checking documents moved even faster.

To her, who wanted to focus on research as quickly and as much as possible, the documents were nothing but obstacles to be overcome.

This had been further delayed because of Gerhard.

’I’m tired.’

How many days had it been since she stayed up all night?

Being a wizard, she had a body incomparably stronger than ordinary people, but she was still human.

Fatigue kept growing like a snowball.

But right now, sleeping time was precious. The fruit of long research was right in front of her, and the Continental Academic Conference was approaching in two weeks.

Click, she put a cigarette in her mouth and lit it. With one puff of smoke, her tired mind became clear again.

Knock knock-

"Professor, Student Gerhard has sent a letter."

Then an assistant opened the door and handed over a letter.

"A letter? When he just checked and left an hour ago?"

"I don’t really know the reason either..."

"You may go."

"Yes."

Rosalia opened the letter.

And the moment she checked its contents.

[Canceling all sponsorship and collecting the research materials that were sponsored... omitted... If you have objections, the tea house of the Golden Turtle Company...]

"...You’re making an interesting joke, Gerhard."

She broke the cigarette.

Sleep completely fled from her.