Chapter 247 |
"So it splits like a polygon if I get greedy... profound indeed."
Perhaps imagining his own body divided neatly into a hexagon, Scarlet shuddered.
"Anything else?"
Of course, there was more. Much more.
The problem was, it was more than Scarlet could handle.
'Having other rats find out I'm collecting these mysteries would be troubling.'
One by one, whenever the opportunity arose.
Too much greed invariably leads to despair. The current pace was just right.
It was when Scarlet had slyly stuffed a rice ball into his pocket.
"Do you know about the training method recently started at Annwood Academy?"
"Training method? Ah! You mean that odd set of five movements?"
Even a lowly rat knows about the 'Fleur Family Style' I've been spreading.
"Please disseminate it throughout the Annwood Empire. The method, I leave to you."
"It's not difficult... The problem is it might spread to other countries. Annwood Academy's influence reaches beyond our borders, after all."
"It doesn't matter if it spreads to other countries. In fact, that would be better."
"That makes it easy. But what's the point?"
Scarlet perked up his ears curiously.
There was only one thing to tell him.
"Keke, it's a secret."
"Cheeky! To do this among friends?"
"Well, following the movements won't do you any harm. I'll at least tell you that much."
"Hmm... Really? Okay, I'll do it a hundred times starting today."
Scarlet seemed quite enthusiastic.
'Most likely, others will react similarly.'
The students of Annwood Academy performing the training.
Just follow these movements and you too can be an Annwood Academy student starting tomorrow!
Annwood Academy Education Latest Edition! Including a special feature on Vice President of the Student Council Rodelin's secret life (?).
Well, it will spread across the continent with a title like that.
The Fleur Family up in the skies might not yet be fully satisfied, but this should suffice.
Feeling like a street hawker? Well, that's not my concern.
It was when Scarlet was secretly stuffing another rice ball.
"By the way, if I'm wrong... take care of my sister."
"What?"
"There's a risk my body might turn into a polygon. If that happens, I need to prepare for the worst. I don't ask for much, just cure my sister's disease. She can handle the rest."
The reason Scarlet obeyed my commands.
To treat his sister's 'Petrifying Disease.'
I had promised to obtain the 'Eternal Snow Flower' cure within a year.
So, it wasn't strange that he followed me.
But entrusting his sister to me was a whole different matter.
"What makes you trust me with your sister? You hardly know me."
"I know enough. And... you're the only one I can rely on."
Scarlet's eyes moistened.
His expression said it all, but he made light of it as if it was nothing.
If Yuridia had been here, it would have been a disaster.
"Zero?"
"...?"
It was Yuridia, judging by the weight of the rice balls in her hands.
'Why are you here?'
A bit startled, but it's fine. As long as she hadn't overheard our conversation...
Drip.
Blood began to trickle from Yuridia's nose.
...Yep, she heard. Heard it all perfectly clear.
Seriously, this timing is unreal.
It's like this cursed game is rigged!
Yuridia threw the rice ball at me.
"Sob! How could Luna fall for such a rascal? Poor Luna!"
No, I'm the one who's pitiful.
Thanks to you, my 'Hero of the Academy' life has turned into 'Heartthrob Academy'!
The game genre has completely changed!
"But don't worry. Our 'Four Heavenly Kings' will do our best to assist Luna's love!"
"..."
"I'm disappointed in you, Zero. Flirting like that in front of Luna is absolutely forbidden! If you do, watch out. I'll send you flying like the wind!"
With those words, Yuridia vanished like the breeze.
Was the farce amusing? Scarlet chuckled.
"An interesting girl. Is she your friend?"
A friend?
It was then that he conveyed with his eyes that his relationship with Yuridia was more than just enemies.
"Attention! All students report to the drill ground immediately!"
The instructor's voice echoed from all directions.
It was the signal that 30 minutes had passed.
"It begins. Survive and come back."
"Keke, I'll try. You do the same."
"Worried about the mysteries? Don't. I would sacrifice my life to..."
"That's not what I meant."
Scarlet tilted his head, puzzled.
As I walked past him, I whispered.
"Save your sister yourself. Not through the hands of others."
"...I see. I'll try."
"Of course, that's after you survive the battle with thousands of rice ball brigades."
"Ha! Indeed!"
Scarlet slapped my shoulder and headed towards the kitchen.
As I left the dining hall, I realized something.
Ah.
That guy completely took up my time to snag free rice balls.
*
Someone’s office.
A man seemed to be unconscious in his chair.
"No... ah, no..."
Was he having a nightmare? The man twisted and muttered, his body dripping with cold sweat.
"Ah!"
He woke up with a start, his gaze fixed on a framed document on the wall.
A chancellor's appointment letter, bearing a large seal gifted by the Emperor himself. It seemed to stare back at him.
Yes, the identity of the man dreaming in the chair was Principal Dwener of Annwood Academy.
"A dream, it must be. Yes, that makes sense. A dispatch? Hahaha! Such a thing could never happen!"
Dwener was shaken from a terrible nightmare.
A dispatch order from the Emperor had arrived one day.
Its contents were simple.
The Carpathia region has begun to be eroded; dispatch academy students to stop it, or something like that?
"An absurd notion. Sending student soldiers as if it's a war... Hahaha!"
It was the least amusing yet most chilling joke he had ever heard.
Laughing heartily, Dwener's eyes suddenly moved to his desk.
Red paper wrapping high-quality paper.
The paper was beautiful, embroidered with golden threads here and there.
"...?"
It seemed similar to the dispatch order he saw in his dream... Could it be a mistake?
Dwener unfolded the paper with trembling hands.
It was a dispatch order. Confirming the large seal of the Emperor, Dwener stiffened.
"..."
Thud-.
Dwener passed out again.
It was the fifth time.
His mind continually rejected reality, unable to accept it.
"Ah!"
Dwener woke up once more.
Incompetent as he was, he had no choice but to accept the reality at this point.
"Why, why do disasters keep happening!"
An ancient demon awakens after decades underground.
A high-ranking demon first attacks the academy.
A force known as the Four Heavenly Kings appears.
And now a dispatch order for an eroded area.
"Why! Why does this happen while I am the principal!"
Dwener felt like he was losing his mind. Indeed, he had.
Thud-.
"...Principal?"
"Ah!"
Dwener passed out and woke up again.
It was because of the fearsome voice of Caron.
"This can't be! Have I finally come to hell? I've lived a good life, why...!"
"...If you mean it feels like hell, that seems like an apt comparison."
"Hell... not? Am I dropped into hell, or have I always been in hell?"
"Ha..."
Caron sighed softly and began his report.
Arranging transportation, counting students, available troops, deployment plans, and the current situation in Carpathia.
The briefing was over in an instant. Now, all that was left was to depart for Carpathia.
But Caron still had one more task to deal with.
"Stay here at the academy, Principal."
"Uh, huh?"
"We'll need someone to handle things if anything happens at the academy. You, who knows the academy inside out, are the most suitable."
"That's right, the academy is in my hands..."
Caron breathed a sigh of relief.
Though Principal Dwener had shown some exceptional qualities lately, he was far from being a warrior.
Taking him to the battlefield would be of no help.
'Honestly, he would be a hindrance.'
Caron couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.
Dwener pondered upon seeing this.
'Wait... could this be...'
A sophisticated strategy to drive him out of his position as principal?
Dwener let his imagination run wild.
What if they successfully defend Carpathia without him?
- Left the students and stayed at the academy?
- Shameless. As empty-headed as he is shameless~
- Huh~ Pathetic. The principal is pathetic.
- What good is competence when your character is trash?
- Step down! Trash principal, step down!
Eggs raining down from the sky!
"Argh! Ugh!"
Dwener writhed as he was pelted with imaginary eggs.
"Principal? Are you alright?"
"Ah, I'm fine. Phew, what a terrible experience."
"...?"
Caron tilted his head, confused. Dwener glanced at him cautiously.
'As expected from the Empire's rat. Using such a terrifying strategy!'
Caron, before being a teacher, was the Emperor's sword and tool.
And he himself was aligned with Duke Aziz, who checks the Emperor.
Caron might be looking for an opportunity to cut him off.
It was a reasonable suspicion. Of course, Caron had no such intentions.
"Can't I go too?"
"No, you cannot."
"Why not! I'm the principal! It makes sense for me to go!"
"Guarding the academy is no easy task either."
"But..."
"Is it because of political issues? I haven't thought about that at all. You know it's taboo to fight internally when the Empire is in crisis."
"Hmm..."
Caron was right. The Emperor, Duke Aziz, and all the other nobles.
When the Empire is in crisis, everyone cooperates.
They do not make inefficient decisions for political advantage.
And this was one of the reasons why the Empire was such a formidable force.
'Ah... maybe I shouldn't go? Caron is insisting so much... Right. I can't really fight if I go. I don't even have students who like me...'
Normally, this is where Dwener would relent and stay at Annwood Academy.
That was the original story. But.
"Hmm... I guess I have no choice if you insist..."
Just then, Dwener thought of someone smiling at him.
No, there was someone. A student who liked him.
Zero. That boy was there.
'This foolish kid! Zero, that frail boy, who else but me can protect him!'
Dwener clenched his fists.
"Excellent judgment, fitting of a capable principal. Then stay here..."
"No, I shall go."
"Excuse me?"
"The students are risking their lives on the battlefield; how can I, as their principal, stay behind!"
"...???"
Descendant of the great Seigan family, who stood against the 4th Legion Commander Balafar centuries ago.
Dwener declared his participation in the defense of Carpathia!
It was the moment a hidden piece that Zero could never have anticipated was activated.
--TL Notes--
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