Chapter 28: Contract's Price [2]
The world around him shattered like a glass window, and darkness came again.
Only then did he realize that these were memories of the past.
A past filled with regret, but one that could never be undone.
Once again, the world flipped.
"Disappointing. Despite all the praise given to Armian, Armian, it turns out to be nothing more than a toothless cat."
"Father..., that's..."
"No need for excuses. I'm deeply disappointed."
It was no longer a story of the past.
"To fail such an easy task. I'm deeply disappointed, brother."
It was the most terrible future he could imagine, one that hadn't happened yet but might.
'No...!'
A future that must never happen.
"No!"
The world collapsed.
At the same time, the darkness disappeared. His eyes snapped open.
"Huh, huh...!"
Veriana breathed heavily. Her entire body was drenched in sweat.
"...A dream?"
If it was a dream, it was truly a terrible nightmare.
Thirst arose. She reached out to the side, but there was no water. Only then did Veriana check her surroundings.
"...Where is this?"
It was neither Lavidus Hall where she stayed, nor the chamber of her territory's mansion.
"What was I doing...?"
"You're awake."
At the sudden voice, she turned her head, and someone was entering through the door.
"...Senior Gerhard Goldenheim?"
"You know me?"
"Who in the academy wouldn't know you, senior?"
"That's true. Drink this."
"Th-thank you."
Veriana took the water Gerhard handed over and drank it.
"But where is this?"
"No, that's not what you should be asking."
"Pardon?"
"Do you remember what happened?"
"...Well."
Veriana clutched her throbbing head.
She remembered fragments.
She had rushed at Aint Armian and was defeated once again. She couldn't accept it and did something dishonorable.
And then.
And then...
"...I can't remember after that. What happened?"
"It's sad to have a gap in your memory. Let me personally tell you."
Gerhard placed a small spherical jewel on the table.
It was a recording orb that had been set up while installing the traps, recording the scene at that time.
Flash-
When mana was injected, the recorded video began to play.
"...That's me?"
Veriana was shocked at her own appearance in the video, which she herself couldn't believe. And by the end, her mouth hung open in disbelief.
"...What is this?"
"You sold your soul to a demon, and then attacked us."
"Demon? Th-that's absurd. I don't even know what a demon is. I've never even met one!"
Gerhard knew that better. But it wasn't particularly important.
"Would the Judges who saw this video think the same? What about others? For instance, Marquis Kalproten?"
"...That's."
Veriana's complexion turned pale. And she realized that the senior who had saved her hadn't come with benevolent intentions.
"...What do you want from me?"
"As you can see from the video, I consumed many things to stop you."
"I'll repay you. Double, no, triple."
"And the mental shock I suffered from fighting a demon's servant is also significant."
"That's..."
Gerhard took out a piece of paper from his pocket.
"What you need to do is simple. Sign here. Then everything will be forgotten."
Veriana carefully checked the document.
"...This is an absurd contract. Completely like a slave..."
"You seem to misunderstand something."
Gerhard leaned his upper body slightly forward.
"Do you think I'm making you an offer right now?"
Gerhard's eyes sank coldly.
"You have exactly two choices."
Either be captured by the Judges.
Or sign the contract.
"Choose."
Die, or become a slave.
There wasn't even a need to spend money to persuade her.
***
The monsters' berserk outbreak was not at an ordinary level, and all the professors and instructors of the academy mobilized to calm the situation.
Fortunately, no students died, but the midterm exam was canceled midway.
"Good work everyone. You must have been surprised by the sudden situation, but all exams for the next two days have been canceled, so rest and recover."
All the injured were moved to the medical center within the academy, and Aint returned safely to the dormitory.
"Quite strange."
Sir Gardner Alpenfassen muttered.
"The berserk outbreak was clearly the work of demons."
I felt subtle but omnidirectional demonic energy.
During the thousand years, humans might have forgotten the existence of demonic energy, but at least Gardner hadn't.
"But there was nothing after that. Why?"
"Isn't it good if there's nothing?"
"Don't let your guard down. They are demons. The most terrible and despicable beings."
"They don't do anything without meaning. Everything has a purpose. And that purpose is never beneficial to humanity."
"And if demons are up to something and targeting someone, nine times out of ten, it would be you, Aint Armian."
"...Pardon? Why?"
"Because to demons, the Armian family is an enemy etched deep into their bones."
A thousand years ago, every time demons were defeated and beheaded, they lamented.
"'If only there hadn't been the first Emperor, if only there hadn't been Armian.' If I were a demon, I'd eradicate the Armian bloodline first."
"..."
Aint swallowed dry saliva at the eerie feeling that suddenly arose.
"For some reason, nothing happened this time, but always stay alert and follow my guidance well."
"That's how you'll survive."
"Yes. I'll keep that in mind."
"By the way, it's really strange. Did someone happen to ruin the demons' plans?"
"That's an interesting hypothesis."
Aint chuckled and entered the dormitory.
And at that time, that someone...
"Urgggh...!"
Unable to withstand the headache that felt like it would split his head, he collapsed onto the bed.
["Congratulations, Aint. That's impressive."
"Don't go on like that, Balrosi. It's nothing compared to you."
"No, what's impressive is impressive."
"That's right. Going from 38th to 5th in just half a semester. It's an unbelievable growth rate."
Someone abruptly interrupted. It was a beautiful woman with short orange hair and impressive emerald eyes.
"Aint Armian. Right?"
"You are...?"
"Ariadne Florian. From the magic department."]
[The required course for the knight department, "Field Survival Techniques."
After the midterm exams, students were thrown into the southern forest for a week.
"This worked out well. There's something arranged by His Majesty the Emperor in this lake. Let's secure that and..."]
["Amazing..." Aint murmured. A spirit medicine with an iridescent color...]
["Spirit creature? A thief acting like an owner! It's beyond your ability to handle, so for now, run away...!"]
["Mithril! It's a mithril vein!"]
Parts of the sealed prophecy book were flooding in.