episode_0046

“Lycar!! I know that you and your subordinates have been watching me! Later, I will make a deal with Cineria, so protect the students from the monsters and attackers who raided the Ardente Academy.”

I felt all four members of the Fourth Division, including Lycar, shaken by my sudden words.

Until now, they had thought I was unaware of their surveillance.

Moreover, mentioning Cineria and Lycar specifically and the fact that Lycar was watching me would have a significant impact, as it showed that I clearly knew their identities.

Despite clearly hearing my words, their lack of response and reluctance to engage in conversation forced me to speak up again.

“I know that you, along with the Fourth Division Commander of Cineria’s Black Moon Guild and 15 members, are watching me. So if you are willing to accept the deal with me, reveal yourselves quickly. Otherwise, continue watching me. However, if you do not accept this deal, there will be no further negotiations with Black Moon in the future.”

‘Please agree to the deal.’

Although I seized the moment to assert myself amidst their slight confusion, if Cineria’s Fourth Division did not agree to the deal, using the information gap to bluff was my only option to prevent harm to the students.

Fortunately, the hulking figure of Geohan, who was familiar to me as a member of the Black, was revealed properly.

Considering his lion-like demeanor, lack of memorized moves, and knuckles, it was undoubtedly Lycar.

“Why wouldn’t I kill or capture you right here to extract information?”

“If they wanted to dispose of me, I would have been neatly taken care of from the moment we first met in a small mountain village. The fact that they didn’t indicates that I received orders to be monitored to uncover why I knew her identity, who I was connected to, etc.”

“…”

“Beyond mere suspicion, considering the entrance exam and life at my academy, they must have judged me as a talented individual. The most likely scenario is that they are still monitoring me to exploit my weaknesses or offer help to pull me over to their side. Am I wrong?”

Although I had not encountered Sung Yong-ah at this early stage, given her personality of attracting talent and the need to uncover all secrets to satisfy her conscience, this seemed to be the closest to the correct answer.

Sure enough, Lycar fell into contemplation, his brows furrowed.

It was clear that he was contemplating whether it was right to agree to the deal on behalf of Cineria.

‘It must be confusing. The little brat who thought we wouldn’t notice their identity and surveillance is blatantly exposing everything and proposing a deal.’

Nevertheless, the fact that he was contemplating proved that there was no error in what I had said, which was reassuring.

Once this was over, there would certainly be room for negotiation regarding Claire and the safety of other students.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Lycar turned towards me and spoke.

Considering his open aggression, one might have hoped that I couldn’t bear it and would tremble, being led away by them, but that was not the case.

“At present, we… cannot reveal ourselves recklessly to the Empire. Regardless of the truth of your statements, we need solid evidence that you negotiated with us on behalf of our Lord. Can you provide conditions and evidence that we can accept to endure all these risks?”

‘He’s not easily swayed. I thought Laika was the simplest among the leaders under Syniria, but to have such determination.’

Laika is clearly stronger than me at this point.

Considering the 15 subordinates who are still watching Laika and my conversation with bated breath, the chances of me winning now would tend towards zero.

I thought it would be easy to lead cooperation, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out.

If I can no longer delay time and obtain their cooperation, my situation will become more difficult, so I must hurry.

“I will proceed with a ‘contract’ with Laika. You guys will carry it with you sufficiently, right? To handle things decisively when it’s necessary to spare the other party.”

With a sigh, Laika gestured to the closest subordinate to receive the black tube, which contained a magical contract that sorcerers like Archmages could create by writing down each other’s conditions and sealing both blood and magic power simultaneously.

Since there is no standard template for basic contract conditions, it must be properly checked for any flaws.

I’ve suffered losses because of that thing more than once.

In fact, if they become strong beyond the standards of Syniria or Iris, they cannot be bound by such contracts. However, in the current situation where Laika and I do not trust each other, nothing is as certain as this.

“State your contract conditions. If they are unreasonable, I will immediately halt the contract and have you arrested and brought to the lord by my own authority.”

“Just help me this one time to ensure all Ardent Academy students survive. It’s okay if some get hurt; as long as they don’t lose their lives, I will accept it.”

As Laika pondered over the contract conditions, he seemed to agree and approached me, handing over the contract.

It seems he accepted that helping just once would suffice, and if needed, additional reinforcements from nearby groups could be mobilized to assist in stopping those who have infiltrated the academy.

The professors at the academy won’t stay idle either.

After I finished writing the contract conditions, Laika stated his conditions.

“You must attend the negotiation with our lord, Syniria, and promise to cooperate with us after graduation. Those are my two conditions.”

“If you limit your contract to just two conditions, I will also accept them. Firstly, since I have agreed to request help only once, I will restrict confronting Syniria to one occasion. Secondly, regarding my future actions after graduation, let it be decided during negotiations with Syniria.”

Although Laika expressed doubts about my experience in contracts, considering the number of times I’ve been deceived before…

Without amending the contract, it is clear that if we proceed, I will have to confront her under the guise of negotiation whenever Syniria desires, and while I don’t know how things will unfold after graduating from Ardent Academy, making hasty decisions now would not be wise.

“I accept.”

After drafting both sides’ contract conditions and sealing them with blood and magic, I felt as if chains had been placed around my heart. If I don’t uphold the contract now, I will surely become a pariah.

“Explain the current situation facing Ardent Academy. You mentioned that demons and monsters have invaded; what is the specific scale and what should we do?”

Two intermediate-level demons and the monster army they lead have infiltrated various parts of the Ardent Academy. Laika, you handle the one of the two intermediate-level demons that is currently located further away from here, while the rest of the team deals with the monsters and ensures that no students become victims.

As soon as I finished speaking, it was Laika’s short signal followed by the Black Moon 4th Division scattering without hesitation.

I immediately started running towards the academy.

When I maximized my initial senses, there were two locations where the intermediate-level demons were located.

One was where I am now, opposite to Rachel who was on the other side.

Rachel would try to protect the other students, but she should be able to hold out until Laika arrives with her unique abilities.

The problem is the other location where the remaining intermediate-level demon is, which I am heading towards at full speed. Claire’s energy was detected here.

Claire does not show much prowess in direct combat in the original work.

Furthermore, there was only one student near Claire, and it bothers me that the student happened to be Helena.

Hoping that Helena remembers my final words and doesn’t do anything foolish, I ran towards them.

‘Please don’t see this as an opportunity. If you try to pass off Claire’s natural disposal by the demons, I will condemn you.’

Dismissing any doubts, what I saw upon arrival was an unbelievable scene.

Claire had a barrier spell cast on her, seemingly protected by Helena in front, but Helena, pierced through by the demons, was standing right in front of her.