CHAPTER 189: PEACE WON’T LAST

Originally, they weren’t supposed to go looking for it, but wait for it to come to them.

Aint Armian and Ariadne Florian, who were heading to the Continental Academic Conference venue, set up camp on the plateau and received a visit from a variant drake drawn by the firelight.

The variant drake, too old and frail, mustered courage unable to bear its hunger any longer, but unfortunately, it was courage heading toward the afterlife.

’It’s as if almost all the luck in the world is pouring toward Aint Armian.’

It wasn’t for nothing that he appeared as the protagonist in the prophecy book.

But if Gerhard Goldenheim’s prediction was correct, such a thing wouldn’t happen now.

There was no way the variant drake, whose inner core had already been plundered by Gismond Ert, could still be alive.

So it was time to go and check directly.

Whether there was a variant drake’s nest, whether there really had been a variant drake, and if so, whether its corpse was also there, and whether that corpse had an inner core or not.

Leaving the knights setting up camp behind, Gerhard Goldenheim set out with Rosalia Wienderk and Hyde.

"Is it far from here?"

"Not very far."

The prophecy book hadn’t given detailed distances, but Ariadne Florian, who had hunted the variant drake and tracked it to its nest, said it hadn’t taken very long.

The three walked along the mountain path like that. Even when the path could no longer be called a path, Rosalia Wienderk silently followed Gerhard Goldenheim.

"Why don’t you ask what we’re looking for?"

"Isn’t it obvious?"

"What’s obvious?"

"The fact that you’re going to the trouble of searching for it means it’s something worth that effort. And nine times out of ten, that would be something that brings money. Spiritual herbs, ore, or profitable monsters."

It was the correct answer.

"As expected, I can’t fool Professor. Then why don’t you ask why I specifically asked Professor to come along?"

"I think it’s because of the last of those three."

"You knew that and still obediently followed?"

"Right now I’m not a student but a sponsor. I can endure this much trouble."

Professor Rosalia Wienderk said nonchalantly.

While their essence was a student-teacher relationship, right now they were also in a relationship between one who gives sponsorship and one who receives it.

"So what is it?"

"A drake."

"A drake. Its scales, teeth, and bones are quite solid and useful."

"Unfortunately, that won’t be possible this time. It’s so old that its scales are worn, its teeth are half fallen out, and its bones have weakened as much as they can."

"An old drake? Does that have value?"

"Just add the two characters ’variant’ in front, and value that wasn’t there appears."

Professor Rosalia Wienderk’s eyes widened. Hyde, who had been quietly following, was the same.

Hyde looked like he wanted to ask when such information had been obtained, but with Professor Rosalia Wienderk present, he kept his mouth shut for now.

"There’s a variant drake here?"

"Yes, if the information I obtained wasn’t wrong."

"The value of an inner core held by a variant is higher than anything else. Since it’s old enough for its scales to wear out, teeth to fall out, and bones to become frail, the inner core must be even more matured."

"That’s why I’m going to all this trouble, isn’t it?"

The three soon arrived in front of a huge cave that was hard to see, hidden by bushes.

From the cave came a cool wind along with the thick stench characteristic of monsters.

Along with the fishy smell of blood.

"...I don’t sense any signs of life."

"Yes, neither do I."

The corner of Gerhard Goldenheim’s mouth twisted slightly.

The smell of blood was intensely thick. A thick smell of blood in a monster’s nest meant two things.

Either the monster was feeding, or conversely, it had been attacked.

But since no signs of life could be felt, it wasn’t the former.

"I’ll go in."

"I’ll lead the way, young master."

Hyde stepped forward. Gerhard Goldenheim took out magic lamps from his subspace and gave them to him.

The deeper they went into the cave, the worse the stench became. The damp humidity didn’t feel very good.

Soon they arrived at the source of the bloody smell. The corpse of a giant drake.

"You were wrong, Gerhard Goldenheim. Not about half - four are left."

The variant drake’s teeth were fewer than Gerhard Goldenheim had expected.

"It seems a previous visitor came by. Maggots are swarming. It’s been dead for quite a while. At least several months."

There was a large hole in the chest area where the inner core was presumed to be. The blood that had leaked from there had long since dried into scabs.

Still, the reason the smell of blood remained strong was due to the surrounding environment of being in a blocked cave.

"What a bold fellow. To try to deceive you."

Without witnessing it directly, one couldn’t know that a variant drake existed.

The conclusion that someone had extracted the spirit core first and then informed Gerhard Goldenheim of that fact was natural.

"Indeed."

But the prophecy book hadn’t deceived.

The variant drake had existed too, and if someone hadn’t made the first move, it would have naturally fallen into Aint Armian’s hands.

’Gismond Ert.’

After this was over, he had a sense of how to deal with him.

"What will you do?"

"Let’s look around the area first. Since this was where the variant drake lived, can’t we salvage at least something?"

The interior of the cave was deeper than expected. But there wasn’t anything particularly special. There was a shallow spring water inside, but that was all.

In the end, they had no choice but to return to the camp without much gain.

"I’ll go in first."

"Won’t you eat?"

"I ate jerky on the way."

"Yes, rest comfortably."

The sun sets quickly in the mountains. Darkness had already arrived, and campfires were rising in the completed camp.

As Professor Rosalia Wienderk entered her tent, Gerhard Goldenheim called the commander of the Red Shell Knight Order.

"Sir Harten. Is there nothing special in the surroundings?"

"Yes, nothing."

"What did Father say?"

"He said, ’The evil ones might target Gerhard Goldenheim’s things. So protect him.’"

"I heard he took the lead in searching for evil ones within the family."

"The search was done by the black turtles. We merely became their swords."

Goldenheim was the first to recognize the evil ones and began exterminating those who had infiltrated.

He knew they had found quite many evil ones in connection with the Dragon Faith Order.

"How did it seem to you, Sir? Did it appear the evil ones were hiding within the family and plotting something?"

"There wasn’t anything particularly special. Rather than plotting something, it felt like they were waiting for the right time."

"The right time?"

"I believe it’s similar to Tacklakan. Could an army of 10,000 demons and monsters have appeared overnight? They must have been preparing while waiting for the right moment to unleash it."

It was the correct answer.

"Then Father’s intention?"

"I dare not fathom His Excellency’s will, but he’s trying to make money."

Even at this very moment, the Golden Turtle Company was absorbing war supplies.

If it had been secretive before, after the Tacklakan demon army incident, it had changed to being open.

"That’s just like Father."

Sir Harten disappeared, saying he would check the surroundings once more. Gerhard Goldenheim handed Hyde meat grilled over the campfire.

"When did you obtain this information?"

"When you were chasing after Gismond Ert."

"Who is it? The brazen fellow who deceived the young master?"

"Don’t worry about it. I knew it would be like that."

"You knew but still went to see?"

"Speculation and confirmation are different things."

When Gerhard Goldenheim gave off the nuance not to ask more, Hyde also shut his mouth.

"Hyde, do you know? The current peace won’t last much longer."

"We’re preparing for attacks by evil ones, but it’s peaceful?"

"In the not-too-distant future, it won’t be simple attacks but war."

Even without the prophecy book, one could know this by thinking a little.

The evil ones, who had been quiet for a thousand years, had started stirring, and they had already proven their power at Tacklakan.

War clouds were gathering.

"There’s not much I can do to prepare for war."

Though he was the grand duke’s son of Goldenheim, he was literally just a ’grand duke’s son,’ not the family head or duke.

The difference between the electors moving and him moving was like the difference between reality and child’s play.

"What I can do is about raising Aint Armian."

"Aint Armian is not a dog."

"Skip the trivial things."

At a time when the future was changing, Gerhard Goldenheim thought it was his destiny, having obtained the prophecy book, to help Aint Armian grow more and ensure he absolutely wouldn’t die.

Precisely, it was unavoidable if he didn’t want to perish himself.

Anyway, the meaning was the same.

"After this is over, I’m thinking of placing a request with the Mercenary King."

"What kind? No, would he accept it? Didn’t he tell you not to catch his attention?"

"He’ll accept it. I have a proposal he can’t refuse."

A demon.

Having nearly lost his disciple to evil ones, he was accepting all requests related to evil ones and combing through the continent like hunting lice.

In such a situation, if he threw him a clue not about evil ones but about a demon? No, if he gave him a chance to fight one?

"It’s like throwing fish to a cat."

He wouldn’t be able to resist taking the bait.

’I don’t know how much this incident affected the future where the 64th-ranked demon, Flauros, descends...’

Gerhard Goldenheim recalled the prophecy that had thrown him into confusion during the mounted spear tournament.

Another demon descending in the southern part of Pragia Kingdom. Flauros.

Unlike the 72nd-ranked demon Andromalius or the 70th-ranked demon Seir who should have originally been summoned at the Continental Academic Conference venue, this one was descending with a proper demon army.

Even knowing that the demons’ rankings weren’t about skill levels, the number 64 made him more wary.

’So I must prepare everything I can.’

It must be stopped, and not even the slightest gap should be allowed.

Even if it meant lying to the Mercenary King and making him chase nothing.

The Mercenary King’s anger would be much cheaper compared to the Pandrein continent being devastated by a demon.

’Still, considering he might chase nothing, I should think of some alternative.’

It would be good to find something that could convince the Mercenary King even a little if things turned out that way.

After that, Gerhard Goldenheim’s contemplation ended, and there were no attacks until they reached the city.

They were peaceful days.

==

The venue for the 198th Continental Academic Conference was a place called Valerich.

Though not the capital of Wienderk, it was a large city called the second or third city.

As soon as they entered the city entrance, banners fluttering everywhere and colorful decorations caught their eyes.

A lively scene where anyone could tell a festival was taking place.

Countless crowds were natural, and there were especially many wizards.

"How many among them do you think will be presenting research results?"

"I’m not particularly interested."

"Aren’t they your competitors?"

"They’re just supporting actors. There won’t be anyone who can surpass mine."

Such tremendous confidence was just like her.

"The application is already done, so you just need to check on-site one last time and present on the presentation day."

"Let’s go."

Valerich showed the magnanimity of offering their city hall for the 198th Continental Academic Conference.

The city hall’s banquet hall became the academic conference venue, and all applications and registrations were done there.

"Welcome to Valerich... Miss?"

As they entered the city hall, a guard recognized Rosalia Wienderk.

"Sir Goron."

"Are you here to submit an entry?"

"Yes."

"His Excellency is..."

"Don’t tell him."

"Understood. Please go in. It’s very pleasant to see you after such a long time."

Professor Rosalia Wienderk didn’t answer and went inside.

"Who was that? He didn’t look like an ordinary knight."

"The vice-commander of the Red Rose Knight Order."

"Such a person is standing guard here?"

The Red Rose Knight Order was one of the top five knight orders in Wienderk.

"You’re also using a knight order as mere escort troops, aren’t you?"

"Well, that’s true."

It was a kind of show-off. With so many nobles and powerful people gathering, it was Wienderk showing off their prestige.

"But he recognized you well. It must have been quite a while since you left the family."

"He used to be my personal guard knight."

After finishing registration, Gerhard Goldenheim and Rosalia Wienderk rented an entire annex of the city’s luxury hotel.

"It’s regrettable. It would be wonderful if we could build hotels in the electors’ territories too."

Though luxury hotels of Goldenheim had been built throughout the continent, they couldn’t do so in other electors’ territories.

Because they didn’t welcome it. It was clearly different from other nobles who, pressed by Goldenheim’s prestige, reluctantly granted business rights while crying and eating mustard.

"You’re quite greedy."

"That greed made the current Goldenheim."

After unpacking and checking the mana stone composite, they confirmed there were no problems and had time left.

"We arrived earlier than scheduled, so there’s a lot of time left until the academic conference. How about we look around the festival a bit?"

"Not interested."

Rosalia Wienderk entered her room. Gerhard Goldenheim called Sir Harten to ask once more for thorough security of the mana stone composite, then went outside.

"Where are you going?"

"Aint Armian and Ariadne Florian arrived here first. First, I’ll meet them and..."

Just then.

───!

Not far away, something fell with a splat.

Blood, flesh pieces, and broken bones splattered in all directions.

"Kyaaaah!"

"What is this!"

"Above! It fell from the hotel!"

It was a corpse.

Gerhard Goldenheim looked up. The window on the 10th floor of the hotel where he was staying was broken.

"...Duke Wienderk must be quite upset."

Even before the 198th Continental Academic Conference properly began, blood had been spilled.