There was news waiting for Gerhard, who returned to the academy after a month and a half.
"A new ’Mariti Combat Studies’ course will soon be established at the academy."
Gerhard smiled faintly at the deputy branch manager’s report.
It was a future predicted according to the prophecy book, which ant:
"As per the contract made by the branch manager, we’ve initially signed a contract for 30 battle ships."
It was anticipated money.
"Who’s the professor?"
"Parmion Hakan is likely. He’s a forr Imperial Navy officer who served in the military at sea for 20 years."
He was indeed the person Gerhard had seen in the prophecy book.
"It’s not yet revealed how many credits ’Mariti Combat Studies’ will be worth, but there’s a high possibility it will beco a mandatory subject..."
As Gerhard flipped through docunts while listening to the report, sothing caught his attention.
"The shipyard on the island is being expanded?"
"Yes. Considering that the ships will likely sustain significant damage for educational purposes, we determined that the current scale would be insufficient to maintain those ships."
"Good. The academy battle ship business will beco a goose that lays golden eggs."
"Yes, I think so too."
He turned to the next page of the report. There was what Gerhard had been longing for.
"We received the sea dragon’s corpse?"
"Yes. The items the branch manager ntioned have been placed in the special storage."
The sea dragon’s mana heart. It had finally co into his possession.
A look of elation appeared on Gerhard’s face.
***
[Weekly Academy]
[Fridien’s spirit stones safely handed over. To be used for spirit studies classes and research...]
[New spirit studies professor appointed at the academy! Who is Professor Nania Beris...]
[Saint of the Dragon Faith Church, Janice Biance. Wandering around the academy asking ’Do you believe in mana?’...
So followers of the Dragon Faith Church are joining...]
[Third-year knight departnt’s top student, Barog Hermim. Slapped by the magic departnt’s top student, Riana Horton...]
[Yesterday’s enemy becos today’s friend? Aint Armian and Veriana Kalproten have sohow beco close friends...]
"It’s been a while."
Gerhard folded the newspaper he was reading. Luina sat down in front of him.
"It has been a while."
Luina, whom he t after a long ti, looked well.
"How was it while I was gone?"
"It wasn’t bad, but if I had to ntion one regret, it would be my grades."
"I heard they assigned an assistant as your partner. Was the assistant not up to par?"
"The assistant’s ability was by no ans lacking. Rather, it was overflowing."
Gerhard revealed the reason he had roughly guessed.
"Deductions, then."
"That’s right."
"Certainly, just letting Professor Rosalia’s assistant loose among second-years would be against equity."
"Of course, I understand that, but..."
"But?"
Luina tapped the table with her finger and continued.
"I’m just saying that even if you had been here, the result wouldn’t have been much different."
"I didn’t know you held in such high regard?"
"I’m just stating facts. I think you would have found a way to produce good results sohow."
Whether it was due to real ability or through the use of artifacts and various reagents, regardless.
"Indeed, my mother used to say when I was young that I didn’t do well not because I wasn’t capable, but because I didn’t try."
"Isn’t that what all parents typically say? I didn’t know you’d believe such a naive statent."
"But I’ve perfectly accomplished everything I’ve set my mind to."
That unshakable self-assurance was precisely why he had ascended to beco an executive of the prestigious Golden Turtle Company at such a remarkably young age, and why he had been consistently achieving decent academic grades even after being paired with the notoriously difficult Luina as his partner.
Of course, the illustrious Goldenheim bloodline had played a significant role in his appointnt as a company executive—family connections opened doors throughout the empire. But even Luina knew that without demonstrable skill and a sharp comrcial instinct, he wouldn’t have obtained or maintained the coveted position of branch manager. The company might tolerate nepotism to a point, but not incompetence.
"Let’s assu that’s true. Did your business trip go well?"
"No."
He had ultimately achieved his primary goal, securing what he had set out to obtain, but there had been a significant and unexpected loss of supplies and personnel during the expedition, resulting in considerable financial damage to the company’s quarterly projections.
It was certainly better than the catastrophic alternative of losing the priceless World Tree branch entirely and having to pay the astronomical compensation that would have entailed, but it was nonetheless frustrating to have lost valuable resources and equipnt that could have been preserved with better preparation and foresight. The miscalculation stung his professional pride more than he cared to admit, especially to Luina.
’And the golems.’
Each golem was an expensive culmination of magical engineering. Having lost four of them and barely salvaging their scrap value, he couldn’t help but sigh.
’I really need to create an ego golem as soon as possible.’
If he had had that, sothing like this would never have happened. That ultimate weapon would have shattered the Barka on the spot.
At least theoretically.
"I heard there were no problems with the expedition, so you must have suffered so financial loss."
"...Did you investigate ?"
"It’s obvious."
Luina chuckled and changed the subject.
"Have you prepared for the final exams?"
"I got the exam papers."
"That’s cheating, though."
"Should I get the knight departnt’s exam papers for you too?"
"...Not necessary. I’ll compete fair and square."
"You seed to hesitate for a mont."
Luina avoided Gerhard’s gaze.
"I might ask for your help soon."
"?"
"Your promise to help against demons or devil-kin anyti is still valid, right?"
"You’ve found clues about the demons, I see."
Her eyes changed.
"Of course."
"Good."
’A sense of justice is indeed a good thing.’
To exploit such talent for free.
***
Andromalius, the 72nd demon of the ancient hierarchies. When Gerhard learned through his prophecy book of the grim future where this powerful entity would be summoned within the hallowed walls of the academy, he found himself deep in contemplation, weighing consequences that would ripple through ti itself.
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