The moment when the future mentioned in the prophecy book unfolds.
'Depending on the result, I can also firmly decide how to treat Aint.'
Whether to approach actively or passively.
If the future can change, then the future where he becomes destitute might also change.
***
"Are you going to the Knight Department now?"
"Yes. I heard the first lecture for the first-year Knight Department is 'War and Practical Duel Techniques'?"
War and Practical Duel Techniques was a 5-credit course taught from the first year in the Knight Department, somewhat conflicting with "Combat, War, and Magic" from the Magic Department. It was a subject famous for accurately gauging students' levels through duels between students from the first day.
And it was that lecture mentioned in the prophecy book.
["Winner! Aint Armian!"
The judge, after checking the condition of the fallen student, raised the flag to end the match.
At his declaration, the spectators roared.
"Aint won!"
"Aint defeated Anto Denern!"
"But during the entrance ceremony, he was no match?"
"Is it because he's from the imperial family...?"
"Even so, Aint didn't even make the rankings in the entrance exam, while Anto is ranked 10th?"
Everyone is astonished by the unexpected turn of events.
But one person, just one. Aint, who created the miracle, roared as he raised his sword high.
'This is just the beginning. I will definitely restore my family's honor.'
It was the moment when the name Aint Armian began to spread in earnest among professors and students.]
The beginning of Aint Armian obtaining Sir Gardner Alpenfassen's ego sword, standing out in earnest, and starting to build his reputation.
It was necessary to confirm this.
"It will be the first time a second-year magician audits a first-year Knight Department lecture."
"Stop talking nonsense. How did it go?"
"I've bribed the teaching assistant, so there should be no problem."
"Just the teaching assistant?"
"According to academy rules, it's forbidden for professors to receive gifts from students, and if caught, it results in severe disciplinary action."
"So?"
"But there's no problem in picking up abandoned, ownerless valuables. Professor Grad, who happened to find a pouch at his residence, was pleased with your academic enthusiasm and gladly permitted your audit. He said you could quietly watch as long as you don't interfere."
"Good."
The Knight Department had a quite different atmosphere from the Magic Department. A bit more vibrant and passionate.
There was a fundamental difference between magicians and knights, and unlike the Magic Department with its many research labs, the Knight Department had many training grounds.
"Shall I come in too?"
"Since we're already auditing, one more person shouldn't be a problem."
"Professor Grad only mentioned you."
"If there's an issue after I've spent so much money, wouldn't that be the real problem?"
And if he does make an issue of it, I can just go to the professor's house and drop some more money.
Gerhard entered the classroom with his servant, trying to avoid people's gazes as much as possible.
"Next! Ainan Irein! And Pelon Hack!"
The classroom was typical of the Knight Department, with a small dueling arena in front of the podium.
At the teaching assistant's call, freshmen came out in pairs to duel, and on one side, Professor Grad, with his robust physique covered in scars, was carefully observing their duels.
Thanks to all the other students' attention being focused on the front, Gerhard was able to take a vacant seat naturally without being detected.
'Ainan Irein. Ranked 61st. Pelon Hack. Ranked 37th. Ainan Irein is unlucky. Pelon Hack will win comfortably.'
The duels were randomly arranged by the teaching assistant drawing papers with the students' names written on them. The opponent was purely luck, and meeting someone with a difference of more than 10 ranks was unfortunate.
"The difference in skill is stark. Pelon Hack will win."
"I think so too."
As both predicted, Ainan Irein fought valiantly but lost comfortably.
'Aint Armian is the same, but he's special.'
More precisely, it's his bloodline and the weapon he obtained.
'No, I've forgotten most of it, but the fear and terror from that time remain. Those series of tasks are not something that can be done without personal talent.'
It was about defeating legendary demons. If it was something that could be done simply with a weapon, anyone could have done it.
'Aint Armian is special. Rather, it's more accurate to say that his environment hasn't been supporting him. It's an open secret that the Armian arcane swordsmanship has been half-lost.'
Just then, the moment he had been waiting for arrived.
"Next, Anto Denern! And Aint Armian!"
Anto Denern, ranked 10th in the Knight Department, and Aint Armian stepped forward.
"Anto will win, right?"
"Of course. Anto is ranked 10th, and Aint is 38th. There was a clear difference in level during the entrance exam too."
"Still, it's pitiful. He's from the Armian imperial family, and in such a public place..."
"The former imperial family. And apart from that, what can you do if you don't have talent?"
Whispers could be heard from the surroundings. Perhaps because respect and awe for the former Armian imperial family still remained throughout the empire, the tone wasn't too harsh, but everyone predicted Aint's defeat.
"Young master must have come to see Aint Armian as well?"
"Yes."
"Who do you think will win?"
"What do you think?"
"Hmm."
The servant carefully scrutinized the two students.
"That Anto Denern. Didn't he rank 10th in the entrance exam?"
"That's right."
"And Aint Armian ranked 38th, driving expectations for the Armian family into the ground."
"That's also correct."
"But it's strange. From what I can see, the difference doesn't seem that significant."
He tilted his head in confusion.
"Begin!"
At the same time, the duel began.
"Winner, Aint Armian!"
Breaking everyone's expectations, it proceeded exactly as the prophecy book had described.
"..."
Interest arose in Professor Grad's eyes.
"Aint won!"
"Aint defeated Anto Denern!"
"But during the entrance ceremony, he was no match?"
The students' astonishment filled the classroom.
'As expected, the best course of action is to help Aint Armian prevent the demons, as the prophecy book indicated.'
Gerhard thought that was the best choice for the best future.
But he still couldn't be certain.
Whether the content of the prophecy book would change if he took some different action.
'Or whether my interference might actually have a negative impact.'
Or if, no matter what he did, events would ultimately flow according to the prophecy book's content.
At least so far, everything was proceeding as the prophecy book described. That was a reason to believe in the prophecy book, though it wasn't entirely pleasing.
'No, the future cannot be fixed. I can check again during the next lecture.'
Gerhard rose from his seat amid the commotion.
"Let's go."
"Did you know?"
"Know what?"
"No, it's just that you don't seem that surprised by Aint's victory."
"I expected it to some extent."
"How?"
"I happened to meet him once."
"Did you duel with him?"
"No. You can tell just by looking."
"What kind of nonsense..."
At that moment, his eyes caught a student. He was looking at Aint Armian with an expressionless face.
"That's Veriana Kalproten, right?"
"Who... Yes, that's right. She entered as the second-highest ranked in the Knight Department."
"So it's her."
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
The villain. The first enemy that the protagonist must overcome to grow.
["...that it must forever remain in the past and as memories."
"Yes. I will certainly do so. I also believe in being faithful to the present rather than the past. A new future."
Veriana Kalproten's pupils sank coldly.
"Whether his skills suddenly improved or he was hiding them, Anto Denern is the limit. Aint Armian will never rise above that."
Because I will make sure of it.]
She was the minion who received orders from Rudger Schwaben.
Later, she would fight against Aint and...
'And that's all I know about the immediate future.'
What would happen after that moment was still unknown even to him.
"Let's go."
"Aren't you going to tell me what it is?"
"You'll know everything when the time comes."
The young master and his servant left the Knight Department.