Academy's Genius Swordsman - Chapter 26

“When the old gods are forgotten, they do not die—they wait.”In the year 1025, the Viking Age wanes.Iceland bows to Christ. The Althing governs by law. And the gods of old fade to whispers.But in the far Westfjords, something stirs.Vetrulfr, a former Varangian captain and exile, returns from the East with foreign gold, forgotten warcraft, and a hunger no man can name.He comes not in peace, but to raise Ullrsfjörðr from ash and ice; building walls, carving runes, and waging war on behalf of a dying faith.From Reykjavík to Aachen, rumors spread: a ghost walks the North once more. Some call him the son of Ullr. Others, a wolf-cloaked demon.But all will know his name.and when the Valkyries call, he will answer.

“You shouldn’t have crossed this line, Elisha, if you didn’t want it to be like this.”

A sturdy arm wrapped around her swaying body. Her head became hazy and an intentional hot sweet sigh was pulled out of her.

‘How the hell did I get myself in this situation—’

Elisha recalled. This never happened before.

‘Yeah, I remember.’

Her future in which she would become the fake concubine to a demonic man from the same family, and would be eaten to death—even down to her bone marrow. A future in which the Cartier ducal family is embroiled in a power struggle and fragmented.

To avoid that future, Elisha threw herself at Lucerne, the archrival of her former life.

Yeah. There was no problem. She knew this man, before and after her regression. She already knew he was the most notorious maniac in the Empire.

20-year-old Elisha owes 30,000 gold coins (about 15 billion won in Korean currency or around 15 million in USD).

After going back in time, in order to avoid a hellish life because of debt, she becomes the most capable illegitimate child in the world and visits Lucerne, the archenemy of her master.

“What do you want from me?”

“Please lend me some money. And… make me your subordinate. I’ll give you all the information I have.”

“Why should I trust you?”

“I’ll give myself up as collateral.”

Lucerne listened to Elisha and watched her quietly.

“Okay. But I decide how to deal with the collateral.”

“…….”

“First of all, marry me.”

“…… huh?”

Elisha didn’t expect it either. That her information transaction would become a marriage contract.

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️THIS NOVEL PARTICIPATED IN WSA 2025!---Nero Vaelheim. A name etched in history as that of a fleeting antagonist, a mere stepping stone for the heroes.But what if the pawn refused to be sacrificed?When a devoted reader is reborn in the body of this doomed villain, he has only one goal: to break the script, rewrite his fate… and bend this world to his own rules.After all, why settle for being an obstacle when you can become the ultimate threat?

In the mystical land of Teyvat, where elemental forces collide and secrets of ancient gods remain buried, an ordinary traveler awakens to an extraordinary destiny. Armed with unparalleled ambition and a mysterious system, they embark on a quest to become the Supreme Arbiter—the ultimate authority over all creation.The world of Teyvat is no stranger to conflict, but its hidden truths are more treacherous than any battle. Beneath the veneer of harmony lies a struggle for dominance among divine beings, and the enigmatic Heavenly Principles rule from the shadows. Yet, this traveler defies fate itself, determined to shatter the chains of divine control and reshape the world.Guided by a unique power to harness and manipulate the essence of Teyvat’s elements, the protagonist builds alliances with heroes from every nation—Mondstadt’s free-spirited knights, Liyue’s calculative sages, and Inazuma’s thunderous warriors. However, their journey is far from peaceful. Ancient enemies, forbidden truths, and the ever-present gaze of Celestia test their resolve at every turn.As they ascend in power, unraveling secrets that defy the understanding of gods and mortals alike, one question looms: What does it mean to be the ultimate authority?Will they bring salvation to Teyvat, or become its greatest threat? The skies tremble, the earth stirs, and destiny itself bows before the rise of the Supreme Arbiter.