Ch.1717. The Interview

●

In the Sera worldview, there exists a concept called “Perpetuity.”

It’s a complex setting where, regardless of the field, once you reach a certain level, you achieve unity with the will that encompasses the world… something like that.

And humans who reach this Perpetuity receive one “power” as compensation.

This power can extend to natural laws that would normally be impossible for a human body to interfere with.

A prime example of a Perpetual is Tristan, the First Grand Duke, considered one of the greatest knights in history. Legends abound of how he split time and space itself with a single sword.

They say he could cut through space itself, rendering any armor useless. They say he swung his sword once and “morning” was cut, bringing “evening”…

That’s the origin of the Tristan-style swordsmanship I now practice.

Though these stories sound so outlandish that they’re now treated as half-fabricated tales.

‘But I bet that’s not a lie.’

Considering the power of the Perpetual right before my eyes, I’d say these stories might have been passed down without exaggeration.

Atalante Swansong.

An immortal who received the power of “immortality” as compensation for reaching Perpetuity. Her fame extends not just throughout the Empire but across the entire continent.

“Oh my, student. You’re early?”

Yet even such a being appears, at first glance, just like a young woman of slightly short stature.

Judging by the vitality flowing from her violet hair and eyes, how could this possibly be a thousand-year-old monster—

“Student?”

“Yes.”

I quickly take my seat at her slightly chilled call.

She’s quite perceptive.

“Thank you for responding without complaint, though my sudden invitation must have been surprising.”

Her tone is friendly. From her bright smile to her attempts to ease into conversation, it’s evident.

“…”

But I know what kind of person Atalante is.

Despite having lived for a thousand years, she hates wasting time more than anyone.

If she decided to meet me “privately,” it surely means she has something equally important to discuss.

“Do you know why I called you here, Darwood Campbell?”

“I’m not sure.”

“I have bad news and worse news. Which would you like to hear first?”

“…”

Why isn’t there any good news?

“Let’s start with the less bad news.”

“Hmm~ Darwood Campbell, you seem to get caught up in various incidents even before being assigned to a class.”

The chancellor put on a monocle and scanned through some documents. They probably listed all the incidents I’ve been involved in so far.

“…None of those were by my choice.”

“That’s what makes it even more absurd. Elphante has had all sorts of students throughout its long history, but I’ve never seen one causing such a stir before even attending their first class.”

Atalante sighed deeply.

“But getting involved and coming out unscathed is also your talent. Impressive, isn’t it?”

“…How is that the less bad news?”

She just gave me a compliment.

Atalante chuckled and replied:

“Being so unlucky means you’ll likely get caught up in more incidents in the future. So it’s bad news.”

“…”

I can’t argue with such an accurate statement.

“And that unluckiness leads to our second piece of news.”

Atalante grinned and removed her monocle, resting her chin on both hands.

“By the way, student.”

But.

“Yes?”

“How much do you know about demons?”

The look in her eyes as she uttered those words…

Wasn’t smiling at all.

●

Darwood Campbell was someone Atalante was extremely interested in.

Even for her, who knew almost everything happening within the Academy, he was difficult to predict.

His current demeanor alone demonstrated this.

‘His reaction is interesting.’

She smiled inwardly as she observed Darwood, whose expression remained unchanged despite what she had just said.

An ordinary student would freeze up just from having a one-on-one meeting with the chancellor of Elphante. They would feel intimidated simply due to the difference in status.

In contrast, what about this man?

‘He’s not nervous at all.’

Even when the chancellor herself brought up the ominous topic of “demons,” his expression didn’t change. One would expect at least some surprise.

Instead, his consciousness seemed to settle calmly inward.

As if he were considering what answer would be best in the current situation.

‘Just from this, his crisis management skills pass.’

He’s already sufficiently experienced. Enough that she doesn’t need to fill in his thoughts.

“I don’t think I should tell you how much I know about that.”

His answer was unexpected again.

“Pardon?”

“Because I don’t know what you might be planning with that information.”

Atalante couldn’t help but laugh.

“…You don’t seem pleased?”

It would be difficult for him not to realize that something was being planned around him. She had shown her hand several times.

Anyone would question why they hadn’t been assigned to a proper class yet while all other students were attending lessons.

“It’s hard to like something when perception is being manipulated like this.”

However.

She hadn’t expected him to mention one of the specific “means.”

Atalante blinked and asked:

“…What did you say?”

“As you mentioned earlier, I’ve been involved in several major incidents. With so many eyes watching, rumors would naturally spread.”

Darwood continued calmly.

“The current hegemonic nations are in a turbulent period. It would be normal for someone to approach me from somewhere. Given the times, everyone is trying to recruit notable talents, even if they have to go to hell to get them.”

Indeed, such news has been circulating.

The coup in the Tribal Union, major organizational changes within the Holy Empire, power struggles over imperial succession rights, and so on.

The atmosphere across the continent is unsettling.

The Golden Triangle is no exception.

On the surface, they appear to be friendly neighbors helping each other, but beneath that, there’s always fierce competition to recruit the best talents.

“…”

However, this isn’t information that an ordinary student could obtain, analyze, and logically deduce on their own.

Especially not the son of a mere barony who shouldn’t even have access to such high-level information.

Yet this man was casually bringing up such matters.

As if it were obvious.

Atalante inwardly smiled with delight.

“But there’s nothing. It only means someone is artificially suppressing information about me. Or.”

“Or?”

“Taking it a step further, perhaps everyone is cooperating to pretend not to know. I’m not sure what you’re planning that requires going to such lengths.”

If there were no observers, she would have stood up and applauded.

An accurate judgment. His skill in weighing information and situations to fill in the gaps is excellent.

‘His political sense also passes!’

She had been worried about potential deficiencies, given how important a role he would play in the upcoming “plan,” but he was far from disappointing.

No, finding such a gem at the student level was cause for jubilant celebration.

Perhaps due to the excitement of meeting such a talent?

Although this was information that should never be leaked at the current “stage” of the original plan, she eventually spoke up.

“First, I apologize for the information control. But please understand it’s an essential part.”

“…What, would something terrible happen if I became too visible?”

“Yes.”

Atalante continued with a smile.

“The world would end.”

“…”

It was quite enjoyable to finally see her opponent’s poker face break.

Atalante chuckled at the dumbfounded Darwood.

‘This is no lie. While it won’t happen immediately just because rumors spread, the probability certainly increases.”

“…World ending, no, what are you talking about…?”

“For now, focus on your academy life. You’ll find out about that part soon enough anyway. The academy is doing its best to prevent such things for now.”

With that, she smiled and handed him a document.

“Would you like to see this first?”

It was a paper with some symbol enlarged on it.

“Earlier I asked about demons? This is why.”

“Pardon?”

“This is the insignia of a group called the Purifier.”

Darwood’s expression turned serious.

‘So he knows about this too?’

She continued in a calm tone.

“Though not well-known to the public, they’re quite a famous Cultist of the Demon group. They’ve been implicated in both the attempted assassination of the Tristan duchess and the sabotage using magical beasts.”

Cultist of the Demon.

A group that worships demons—humanity’s arch-enemies—as gods and works covertly for their revival.

In modern times, they could truly be called a cancerous existence for the entire world.

“Both were direct attacks against the Tristan Dukedom. There’s no guarantee there won’t be a third.”

“…Why are you telling me this?”

Instead of answering, Atalante just gave a strange smile.

She had already revealed enough information about the plan. She couldn’t say more.

Thinking this, she took something out from a drawer.

If she couldn’t tell him the details, she should at least show her sincerity as much as possible.

“Would you like to take this?”

A small black “card.” Though it appeared to have no distinguishing features, Darwood’s eyes widened upon seeing it.

Once again, she thought what an expressive man he was.

‘…Could he possibly know what this is too?’

As she was thinking this, he spoke in a stiff voice.

“…Is this something you can decide to give to someone on your own, Chancellor?”

“…”

His tone suggested that even the chancellor shouldn’t casually give something so valuable to others, causing Atalante to pause momentarily.

Does he really know what it is?

No, that’s impossible.

This is an item known only to a select few within the Academy, including herself. Knowing what this is would be almost supernatural, not just a matter of having good information.

‘But, maybe.’

She asked again with a hint of expectation.

“You speak as if you know what it is?”

“This is for the event at Gregory Hall in a week—”

Darwood couldn’t continue.

Atalante burst into laughter at his answer, which came out so naturally.

‘Ah, what a masterpiece. Really.’

This man never once followed her expectations.

It had been so long since she’d met someone like this that she couldn’t even remember when.

“Just take it. Someone as unlucky as you will definitely need it.”

“…”

And having amused her so much, she should certainly give him a corresponding reward.

“If you know what it is, you probably know how to use it. Use it properly, take what you need, and then show me the results. If you use it correctly and to my satisfaction, I’ll give you an additional gift. Understood?”

As she winked and said this, Darwood somewhat dazedly tucked the card into his pocket.

“…I never thought I’d receive homework from the chancellor.”

“Ah, right. I actually had a different assignment for you.”

“Pardon?”

“How are you getting along with the hero candidate and the Tristan duchess?”

Darwood’s expression twisted horribly, enough to surprise even Atalante herself.

This was the same person whose complexion hadn’t changed even when hearing that Cultist of the Demon had committed terrorism twice within the school.

“…I’d like to get along well.”

Though his entire body radiated a desire not to be involved with them.

“Then make sure you do.”

Nevertheless, she had to leave him with these words.

“Is there a compelling reason why I must?”

“Yes.”

She answered with a fresh smile.

“Otherwise, the world ends.”

“…”

She laughed again at Darwood’s face, which clearly expressed “how can the world end so easily?”

This time too, it wasn’t a lie.

After all.

The ultimate goal of the plan would be achieved through these three people.

●

“The end of the world…”

I walk absentmindedly, repeating what I just heard from Atalante.

Honestly, it doesn’t really sink in. The scale is too grand.

In games, there are bad endings where the world ends and such, but the idea that my actions could determine that feels completely unreal.

‘…Let’s think about the unclear parts later.’

More importantly:

“I can’t believe I got this.”

I look at the black card in my hand.

This is a kind of “key.”

One that opens “doors to other worlds.”

It’s something that would never be given to a player character. Originally, even among Academy staff, only figures like the dean or chancellor would know of its existence.

And I understand why the developers designed it that way.

Getting something like this early on could break the game balance.

I didn’t expect to receive this so suddenly, perhaps as a reward for completing the main quest and successfully executing an emergency mission.

“…”

But that doesn’t mean I should be entirely happy about it.

‘The main scenario is off track.’

The Purifier should normally appear months later. They shouldn’t be mentioned at a point where I haven’t even attended my first class.

The scenario is progressing much faster than I anticipated.

“…”

This means I need to grow as quickly as possible.

Whether I like it or not, I’m now entangled with the protagonist and the final boss. It’s clear I’ll be involved in the scenario one way or another.

I sigh and organize my memories.

The final boss of Chapter 1, “Secret Society’s Stirrings,” the “Purifier,” is quite challenging.

Known as a newbie-cutter, despite being an early boss, its patterns are maliciously designed.

Although I have Absolute Crisis, considering the boss’s “special nature”… I could really die.

‘But with this…’

I turn the black card in my hand again.

The progression could become much easier.

It depends on how I utilize the materials obtained from the space I’ll enter using this.

I mentally organize additional ways to use it.

If I use it organically with the Magical Beast Research Department I’ve already acquainted myself with, access rights to the Arcane Storage, and a one-time wish token for Percy…

‘…It should be possible.’

I can definitely create something to make the Purifier boss battle go smoothly.

“Ah, there you are. I’ve been looking for you.”

As I was pondering this while walking down the corridor, I heard someone calling me from across the hall.

Conrad Baltador. The dean of the Knight Department.

“You were looking for me? What for?”

“Your class is still undecided, but the academic team notified that you can’t miss classes. Take this.”

“…”

Why is the dean personally delivering something like this?

How much special treatment am I getting for them to do this?

“It’s a temporarily organized class. You’ll attend classes with these students starting tomorrow.”

“…”

No.

Well.

I understand, but…

Are you kidding me?

“…Is this correct?”

“Is there something wrong?”

Yes. There is.

With trembling hands, I point to the student list.

Class President: Elnore Erinarise la Tristan.

Vice President: Elia Krisanax.

I don’t even need to look at the others. These two names already smell of doom.

Why, of all people, are these two placed together with me?

“Is this really correct?”

“Yes, it is.”

“The student council president is taking classes with a freshman…?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Conrad said with a refreshing smile.

“It’s the chancellor’s directive. It can’t be wrong.”

“…”

Come to think of it, she did mention something about homework.

To get along well with those two.

‘I want to kill that person.’

I meant it sincerely.

●