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“It’s always the same with you idiots who refuse to mention your family name. It’s obviously such a pathetic family that you don’t even want to say it.”

“...”

“There’s always fuckers like you: clueless little shits who don’t know their place and still manage to worm their way into the academy. Is that why you’re clinging to the prince? You’re hoping for some kind of life-changing miracle, huh?”

The thug’s minions started cackling, but I was taken aback for another reason.

So these guys knew Glenn was a prince, yet they were still puffing out circles and chugging drinks in the back?

Regardless of how down-to-earth Glenn was, I couldn’t wrap my head around their stupidity.

I wasn’t particularly bothered by their childish taunts, but I was curious about what made these idiots think they could run their mouths and get away with it.

“Then what family are you from, Sir B–ahem–Upperclassman?” I asked politely

The bear sneered as he replied, “Even a hick like you must’ve heard about us... I’m from the Rozallus family.”

I’d expected to not recognize the name, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

Rozallus was a noble family—a county, I think—that was pretty well known in the city.

Just the fact that I recognized the name told me he wasn’t some small fry.

“And I am Talis Rozallus, legitimate heir and firstborn of the Rozallus family and future lord of the house.”

“Mmmm. I see.”

“Hey, commoner. You’ve already fallen out of favor with me, so don’t even think about running away. No matter where you go, you won’t escape my sight, got it? You won’t even be able to drop out of this class without my permission—”

He was cut off by the sound of the door opening, revealing a middle-aged man with empty, tired eyes.

His hair was greasy and unkept, his back was slouched, and a large blemish extended from his cheek down to his chin.

Was this Professor Alec?

“...”

It seemed likely seeing how the delinquents shut their mouths and retreated. Talis glared at me and mouthed “fuck off” when he saw me looking at them.

I gave a firm nod and sat back down.

“...Let’s begin the class,” the professor said. His voice was as dreary as his appearance.

Although this was my first ever class at this academy, I still knew this wasn’t the normal flow of a class environment.

Even if he skipped all introductions, shouldn’t there be at least a basic attendance check?

Furthermore, Alec didn’t even glance my way even though I was sitting in the front row. Usually, Teachers showed interest in new faces.

And that still wasn’t the end of the issues.

What is he saying?

I could barely hear him.

It was one thing to have a small voice, but to mumble every syllable, making even individual words hard to understand?

Is this actually real?

I was staring at him with a look of disbelief when Glenn finally returned.

After seeing that Professor Alec was here, he quietly approached me, scribbled something in his notebook, and then showed it to me.

‘Everything okay?’ it read.

I nodded in response.

Glenn let out a sigh of relief and turned his attention to the front of the class.

The moment he did, his demeanor changed.

“...”

His usual timid, awkward demeanor vanished, and behind his glasses, his red eyes brightened with eagerness.

“...”

Seeing his new attitude made me focus on the class too.

As I continued to focus, I could somewhat make out Alec’s mumbling voice.

“...In today’s world, the land conquered by our intellects accounts for not even one-tenth of the continent. Beyond The Empire’s border lie threats and death in abundance, and we only know the shape of the world from sifting through ancient texts. Those who once burned with yearning, passion, longing, a sense of adventure, and desire for the unknown are now dead. Within the next hundred years, The Empire will meet its demise.”

I blinked.

I’d just heard something that shouldn’t be easily dismissed.

He’s talking about the end of The Empire?

This man, who had earned the title of history professor, was saying that in front of a member of the imperial family?

Even worse was Glenn’s reaction.

He wasn’t angry, sad, or even surprised. “...In 100 years,” he echoed, as if he’d heard that over and over again.

Sitting in this room suddenly felt stuffy and uncomfortable, even though the room was now clearly ventilated.

I felt as if I had been suddenly thrown into the midst of some kind of madness.

It left me feeling both irritated and uncomfortable.

Frustrated, I raised my hand. “I have a question.”

Professor Alec looked at me with full eyes and said, “I don’t take questions during my lectures.”

“Then do you take them afterward?”

“If I feel like it.”

That sounded like a no.

I was positive that he would leave the room the moment his lecture was over and never look back.

I was left with no choice but to press the matter.

“What evidence do you have that The Empire will fall within 100 years?”

Alec stayed silent. I wondered if he would ignore my question and just continue his lecture, but surprisingly, he did answer me.

“...For the past 1000 years, the domain of intelligence has been shrinking. Thousands of years ago, this vast continent was home to many different races. The snowy north was the land of the giants, the forest in the far east was home to elves and beastfolk, and the southern lands were inhabited by dwarves and dragons. But now? We are confined to this small Imperial territory, and even that is divided into five parts. We aren’t having issues yet, but it won’t be long before we reach our limit.”

“Once the population exceeds capacity, you mean?”

Alec shook his head. “No,” he said. “When the cult and the demons truly begin to take action.”

“Hm.”

So his prediction that it would take around 100 years was based on that assumption.

I smiled as I said, “I see, so you’re an optimist.”

“...What?”

“It’s not going to take 100 years for The Empire to fall.”

Alec’s blank stare turned to me. Although I felt a little uncomfortable, I continued without flinching.

“Ten years,” I said. “That’s how long it will actually take.”

“...If you’re just spouting nonsense—”

“It’s not nonsense. Right now, how many places in The Empire are even remotely safe except for the Imperial City? Probably just the Bednicker Duchy, right?”

And I wasn’t saying that because it was family. It was a fact.

But of course, I now knew that that wasn’t true. The cult had infiltrated Bednicker as well... and given Sellen’s attitude, the Imperial City was not safe either.

The truth was, nowhere in The Empire was absolutely safe.

“The north is so cold that few people lived there in the first place, and the hunter-gatherers of the eastern plains are fiercely independent,” I said. “The Imperial House is not whom they follow. They follow their tribe leaders, their great warriors, and their ancestors. The South? When disaster strikes, it will undoubtedly begin there. Right now, The Empire can’t control even half of that vast wasteland.”

It was the truth. The Empire’s conflict had indeed begun in the south.

Alec focused his gaze on me. “Do you truly believe in The Empire’s demise?” he asked.

“I’m uncertain about its complete downfall, but I am certain there will be war.”

There was no one in the world who knew that better than me.

After all, I had experienced it firsthand, when the Church of Darkness began to rise from its shadows. Ten years from now, I’d been swept away in that war and died.

“...Come to think of it, I don’t recognize your face.”

He was finally showing interest.

I smirked slightly at his question as my earlier sense of unease solidified into certainty.

“I’m a transfer student.”

This guy wasn’t crazy.

He only pretended to be.

* * * * *

* * * * *

Class was over.

Normally, this would be the last class of the month. However...

“I’ll hold another class in three days. Will you be able to attend?” asked Professor Alec.

He was looking me in the eye, and of course I nodded my head.

I watched Alec leave the room, then turned to Glenn. “I have something urgent to take care of, so I’ll head out first.”

“H-huh? O-oh, okay! Take care—”

I didn’t hear him out. I quickly left to follow Alec.

Fortunately, he hadn’t gotten too far, so I was able to catch up to him just as he was exiting the Theory building.

“Professor, I have something to ask.”

“...If it’s your question, it should be worth listening to. Have your questions prepared by the next class.”

“No. I want to ask now, when we’re alone—not in class.”

“...”

I hoped he could hear how sincere I was.

Alec seemed to, because he stopped and turned to face me.

I seized the moment and asked, “Professor, you know about Spirit Mountain, don’t you?”

I saw his face muscles bunch up as he clenched his jaw.

It wasn’t a big reaction, but it was enough.

“...Where did you hear that name?”

“I’m sorry for the late introduction. I’m Luan Bednicker.”

“...Bednicker,” Alec repeated. “Right, and you are a young hero. The family head, the Lord of Blood and Iron, must certainly know of it.”

“Yes. The family head himself told me to seek you out, Professor.”

Alec let out a low laugh. “...Hoohoo.” He cracked an unsettling smile and said, “Follow me.”

I did just that.

We walked past the Theory building, the main building, and a building I didn’t recognize. Eventually, we stopped in front of a shabby building.

This was probably where Alec was staying.

Alec pulled out a bundle of keys.

Clink.

“Can I ask why you are inquiring about Spirit Mountain?”

“It’s a place I must go someday.”

“...Is that so.”

Clink.

When the door opened, I was struck by a familiar smell.

Is that the smell of medicinal herbs?

It probably was.

The interior looked like a laboratory. There were countless glass bottles, liquids, and plastic beakers, and old books and documents were scattered haphazardly across the desks and floors.

“As per the records,” Alec began as he stepped inside, “the existence of Spirit Mountain was first confirmed 157 years ago. On a peninsula on the eastern edge of the continent, it was discovered: a mountain range shrouded in mist year-round.”

Rustle.

He pushed out a nearby document to me, but upon closer inspection, I realized it wasn’t a document at all but a newspaper.

[Empire Journal]

It was a name I had heard before.

Hadn’t Pam mentioned that it was the Empire’s largest publishing house?

I couldn’t help but be surprised by the publication date. Nearly a century ago...

[The great Empire’s expedition team sets out once again to unravel the mysteries of the East.]

“This is...”

“According to records, over the past hundred years, countless individuals have been dispatched to Spirit Mountain, and a handful of them each carried a special magic item.”

Alec pulled something out of a drawer and showed it to me.

“It looks like an old wristwatch,” I said. But it didn’t have hour or minute hands, and the glass was square.

“While it can tell time, that is only one of its functions. This was created by Penne: Archmage of Amber and the person generally acknowledged as the world\'s greatest alchemist. Although it was made over a hundred years ago, I can assure you that it is still one of the most complicated magic items in the world.

“It allows wearers to communicate with each other as well as check heart rate and body temperature. It is shock resistant and waterproof, and it has a storage compartment that can hold some items.”

After a short silence, Alec continued, “Thanks to this watch, we know two things.”

“What things?”

“The wearer’s location and whether they are alive.”

Alec gnashed his teeth.

Grind.

However, I didn’t feel anger from him. Instead, I sensed fear.

His voice trembling, Alec struggled to say, “...Everyone is alive.”

“What?”

“Over the past hundred years, every expedition, scout, and subjugation party that’s ever headed for the Spirit Mountain—everyone wearing these watches...! It shows they are still alive...!”

“...”

“Their locations change constantly. Sometimes, it shows that they’ve soared hundreds of meters into the air. Sometimes, they’ve plunged thousands of meters underground. And sometimes, wearers who’ve been missing for decades suddenly reappear.”

Alec wrapped his arm around himself and chuckled ominously.

“I know, I know. It’s reasonable to assume the devices are malfunctioning... But I believe...”

“...”

“If Hell exists, it’s there.”

“Why do you think so?”

“I have a photograph. A single photo, taken on Spirit Mountain.”

I paused for a moment to think. “A photo was taken?”

“Yes. I took it. I was on an expedition ten years ago... It was the most foolish decision I’ve made in my short life.”

“...”

“I honestly don’t remember when or how I took it. I don’t remember anything from the six months after I returned either... But I’ve been told that I shouted and screamed, laughed uncontrollably like a madman, hurt myself frequently, and tried to hang myself at every opportunity.”

I studied Alec’s face. After a moment, I carefully asked, “Would you mind showing me the photo?”

“...”

Alec hesitated briefly before pushing his frail-looking body over to the drawer.

“It was taken with an old model, and the photo is quite damaged, but...”

He opened the drawer. I saw his hand flinch and his body freeze up like he had just seen something especially grotesque.

Trembling, he reached into the drawer, and a moment later, a yellowed, discolored photograph was pulled out.

“...Take a look.”

“This...”

I felt a chill run down my spine.

I had seen all sorts of monsters during my mercenary days.

After my regression, I had encountered a gem beast.

During the training camp, I had even witnessed the descent of a demon lord.

However, the disturbing strangeness I felt now was several times greater than any of those.

All I had was a photograph in front of me, yet it exuded palpable dread. It felt as if the darkness captured within the frame was about to become reality.

In the photo was a creature. Its beady eyes were filled with malevolence. It felt like I was making eye contact with a living existence. It was clearly a beast, but it wore a wicked, evil grin that looked strangely human.

It wasn’t just scary or intimidating. No, it defied such simplistic descriptions. It was grotesque, eerie.

“It is a beast. There are records left by the eastern minorities calling it a—”

“Tiger?”

Alec looked startled by my interruption. “You... are surprisingly well-informed. Indeed, it is as you say. It is a creature long extinct on the continent.” But Alec wasn’t done. Through gritted teeth, he continued, “However, the tigers recorded in literature didn’t look like this. They were not this massive, nor did they wear such horrific expressions...!”

“...”

“How many of these creatures existed? What happened to the remaining exploration teams? Some might hope for their return, but not me. I hope the opposite. I would rather they are dead. Dead and liberated from that hell... Even after all this time, I still think and pray that same thought tens of thousands of times every night. But...”

Alec\'s face looked like it had aged 10 years. He closed his eyes and said, “I... I think... I have a feeling that those left there are still alive. And I think they are writhing in agony, suffering a fate worse than death.”

Only now did I realize why Alec had shown me this photo.

“Young Hero, I do not know what purpose you have in heading to Spirit Mountain. But...”

“...”

“Please, value your life.”