Children dispatched from the Holy Kingdom, often referred to as members of the Victoria faction, were in a notably foul mood. Although part of their frustration was due to Caron’s classes being of a high standard…
“To not only defend a demon-like creature but also to stand against us, who serve the Goddess…”
“Are there still such irreverent people among us?”
“If it weren’t for the Vice President of the Student Council, we would have taught them a lesson.”
“Let’s beat sense into these absurd people, as the Goddess teaches us!”
Anger swallowing reason is a matter of moments.
While they were searching for suitable clubs to use…
Crack!
Victoria opened her fan.
“Everyone, calm down. Wasting emotions before the main battle is not wise.”
“Shouldn’t you ascend to the position of Student Council President to demonstrate the greatness of the Holy Kingdom? Wouldn’t this be a good chance to show our strength?”
“That can be done at any time. More importantly, our true goal here isn’t the presidency.”
“…What?”
The position of Student Council President at Annwood Academy was a task directly decreed by the Archbishop.
But Victoria, their leader, was defying the Archbishop’s orders.
Confusion tilted heads when she spoke.
“Spreading the teachings of the Goddess to these ignorant ones is our true purpose for being here. The Archbishop’s orders come secondary.”
“!”
The children’s eyes widened in shock.
Yes, even the Archbishop was merely one of the servants of the Goddess.
To them, one directive from the Goddess was worth more than a hundred from the Archbishop.
Victoria was making that clear right now.
“To think of the ignorant even in such times!”
“Indeed, Victoria…”
“Mm, we almost disrupted Victoria’s grand design.”
“If we preach well, the presidency will naturally follow. Naturally.”
One by one, the children put down their clubs.
Watching them, Adonis could only be amazed.
‘Since my first day here, it nearly turned into a disaster.’
During his stay in the Holy Kingdom, Adonis, who had studied theology in between training sessions, realized that Gaia, the Goddess, tended to be rather (surprisingly?) violent.
She once zapped a passing Demon Legion Commander with a stunner, pinned him to the ground with a tombstone, and then continued on her way—a famous myth about the Goddess Gaia.
Perhaps that’s why the devotees from the Holy Kingdom often exhibited a somewhat violent demeanor.
If Victoria had not intervened, they might have burned down a building or two before their anger subsided.
It was no joke. Adonis had experienced such incidents a few times in the Holy Kingdom.
So, he knew better than anyone.
The actions of those children earlier were ‘sincere.’
‘Maybe… we’ve brought a ludicrous bomb into the Empire.’
Victoria approached Adonis, covering her mouth with her fan, and whispered.
“Don’t worry. I won’t let anything harmful happen to the Empire.”
Only her eyes visible over her fan, Victoria locked gazes with Adonis, who was lost in thought.
‘…She really is talented.’
She had influence, but she was also skilled in diplomacy and leadership.
Especially in leading people, she sometimes seemed like a completely different person.
‘But that doesn’t mean she can ascend to the throne.’
The throne wasn’t a place one could reach with just ‘talent.’
Blood relations, connections, skills, leadership, wisdom, among many others, are necessary.
And the most important of all is ‘luck.’
The luck of being born first or second.
At most, third. Any lower and it was safe to say that becoming an Emperor was out of the question.
She would have siblings who had met the requirements for the throne even before they became adults.
Victoria, unaware of this, only appeared pitiable for dreaming of such a position.
“So, have you noticed anyone remarkable?”
“…A few, indeed.”
“Typical of you, Adonis. Do tell.”
Victoria handed him the attendance book.
Over 70% of the Empire’s populace adheres to the faith of Goddess Gaia.
It’s only natural that there are devotees within the Academy.
Thus, acquiring the attendance book wasn’t too challenging.
Adonis’s fingers moved slowly across the pages.
Teron, Daike, Yuridia, Raymon, Luna, and…
“Alex. A child who harbors a mysterious power. Keep a close watch on him.”
“Teron, Daike, Yuridia will be difficult to persuade, so we only have three viable options. That’s too few. Perhaps lower your standards a bit.”
Adonis then picked about ten more names.
His unhesitating fingers momentarily paused.
“There was one whose presence is so faint it’s hard to tell if it’s due to their skills or their origin.”
“It can’t be due to skills. No student could deceive you to that extent. But it’s still better to remember the face. Please point them out.”
However, Adonis’s finger could only hover in the air.
“Could it be… you don’t remember?”
“It seems so.”
Victoria was inevitably surprised.
Although Adonis was essentially an elderly man, his memory was not poor.
In fact, it was far superior to that of many younger individuals.
‘Adonis himself can’t remember a face? Then the likelihood of it being due to skill is significant…’
A student whom even Adonis, who stands at the very pinnacle of ability, could not detect?
It was undeniably shocking.
But Adonis was equally astounded.
‘I can sense Caron’s presence. Could there really be a student with better stealth skills than him?’
A line of sweat trickled down Adonis’s spine.
Stealth was deeply associated with assassination.
If there’s a student showcasing such prominence in that field, undetected by even himself?
Everywhere in the Empire was at risk, including the Emperor in the palace.
Adonis, sweating coldly, desperately sought the reason.
“It must be because… because there was a student next to them with an overpowering presence.”
“Ah… the slit-eyed boy who caused trouble today. Was his name Zero? Well, he did make a strong impression.”
A boy with slit eyes, emitting an ominous vibe.
People shied away from even speaking to him.
But the students of the Advanced Class either defended or confronted him.
That meant he was important to them, worth engaging in conflict.
“Still, it seems he has some influence. What do you think?”
“Ignore him.”
“Hmph.”
“Victoria, I distinctly said to ignore him. You know better than anyone what happens when you disregard my warnings.”
Adonis’s stern gaze.
Seeing that, Victoria averted her eyes.
She recalled the incidents that had erupted every time Adonis’s warnings were ignored.
Naturally, it was always Adonis who had to handle the aftermath.
“Understood. Don’t worry. Anyway, it seems the throne has just come one step closer. Oh~ Hohoho~! Urgh!”
Cough cough!
Victoria coughed up blood.
She had a chronic illness that caused her to cough up blood when excited.
Adonis handed her a handkerchief.
‘Ah… this must be the right choice.’
The reason Adonis cooperated in Victoria’s talent recruitment.
It wasn’t to help her ascend to the throne.
He was looking for someone to protect this troublemaker in his stead.
‘Now that we’re back in the Empire, Victoria won’t fall into great danger.’
He knew well that the Emperor would soon summon him.
Assigned to another mission or sent somewhere to properly train more successors.
‘I’ll have to discuss it with Caron, but it could be after the midterms or at the end of the freshman year.’
Thus, it was a foregone conclusion that Adonis would leave Victoria’s side.
He was searching for someone who could protect Victoria in his absence.
To ensure the troublesome Victoria wouldn’t get beaten up wherever she went.
‘I’ll also let Victoria face the reality.’
That she’s not a successor, just the thirteenth daughter.
Though the Empire is the most powerful force on the continent, its treatment of daughters isn’t different from other countries.
‘She’s likely destined to be a pawn in a political marriage.’
Especially if it’s the thirteenth princess.
“…”
In fact, this was something he should have told her sooner.
He hadn’t said anything up to now partly because he thought she would realize it on her own…
‘Because it would crush her dreams.’
She was a child who had been away from her homeland and her parents for ten years.
A child who thought of herself as an orphan, whose only purpose was to serve the Goddess.
Victoria had begun studying to be a worthy empress, the first dream she had ever harbored.
I didn’t have the heart to shatter that dream.
‘Still… when the time comes, it can’t be helped.’
If she doesn’t come to realize the reality on her own before he left.
Then, ultimately, it will be up to him to burst that bubble.
The grand dream that Victoria had first cherished.
“Cough… What about the others? Why not lower your standards a bit more?”
“Think about it yourself.”
“It would save time if you just told me.”
“Ha… Anyway, you. How long do you think I’ll be around…”
“Yes, yes. I hear this hundreds of times a day.”
With that, Victoria handed over a candy.
It was Adonis’s favorite candy, the kind that suited his taste when he was feeling bad.
“Tsk, your diplomacy skills are the only thing growing…”
Muttering under his breath.
Adonis popped the candy into his mouth and grumbled his complaints.
Victoria simply watched him with a contented smile.
That evening, in the dormitory.
Zzzap-.
[Hyper Sense] activated, signaling an intrusion.
It was clear who it was without looking.
Caron, the Empire’s rat.
“Keke, I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Insolent. You should have at least prepared tea.”
“…?”
It seems his audacity has grown. But surely that’s my mistake?
Nevertheless, my body moved honestly.
I used the magic pot to boil water and placed tea leaves in the cup.
Eight leaves for myself, two for Caron.
Keke, it’ll taste almost like plain water.
“Please have some.”
“Next time, prepare it in advance.”
Caron reached for the teacup in front of me.
Such a garbage man. Serving me tasteless tea?
Of course, I couldn’t say that out loud.
Smiling, I picked up the teacup in front of Caron.
Hmm, tastes like the tea leaves were barely dipped.
“Luna is doing well under me.”
“Charming threat. There’s a new torture chamber I’ve just set up; I might let you experience it extensively.”
A mere brush could be fatal!
We exchanged pleasantries as we sipped our tea.
Thump-.
“Now… shall we hear your report?”
I rubbed my palms together.
The moment I confirmed Caron had returned safely, ‘anticipation’ bubbled up.
I knew from the system window that he had failed to kill Volkan.
But.
‘Caron might have at least crippled him? Or turned him into someone who can’t use mana?’
Or perhaps he had kidnapped him.
Engaging in some undead play (?) for the Empire might be underway.
Even thinking about it made me frown—it was a perverted sort of play, but the atrocious Caron might well be up to it.
‘Come on, tell me! That you’ve got Volkan on a leash like a dog!’
“Kekeke…”
“…”
“Kekekekeke!”
“…”
Was it the anticipation that he might have captured Volkan?
I involuntarily leaned forward.
Smack!
Caron slammed my head.
“Get that face out of here. I feel like I might have a heart attack.”
“Keke, I am quite handsome. Handsome enough to cause a heart attack.”
“…”
A moment later, Caron’s report began.
And two lumps were growing on my head.
–TL Notes–
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