The Imperial Academy's Hidden Agenda
The Imperial Academy seemed like an extraordinarily respectable institution at first glance.
It was said to bring in talented individuals from across the world and nurture them.
The problem lay in the depths of its true purpose.
Most students who entered the Imperial Academy were from noble families or heirs of allied kingdoms.
In essence, they were hostages to ensure their parents could not make trouble.
Moreover, the education curriculum included a subtle plan to subtly reshape their thinking so they would view the Empire favorably.
Additionally, promotion tests at the Imperial Academy were notoriously difficult.
For instance, a Swordsmanship student had to defeat a knight from the Knights' Order in single combat to advance.
A Magic student had to secure the favor of a spirit that refused to contract with disliked individuals during the exam.
It was praised as strictly selecting only the capable, yet this was all part of the plan.
The Empire's scheme to hold hostages as long as possible.
“The Emperor himself spoke directly to me.”
“The Emperor of Reichland, Franz von Reichland, spoke to you directly?”
I remembered the man vividly.
He had been the one who made me and Lua watch the execution of our parents.
The Emperor had spared my life as the heir, exiling me so that the people of the merged Solea could regain their will and live.
He kept Lua as a hostage to control resistance forces.
And he was renowned for valuing strength above all.
Franz the Emperor had founded the Imperial Academy itself.
Seeing that he had recognized talent and even adopted Lua as his daughter despite the fact that her blood was not mixed with his, at the very least his judgment had not been wrong.
“He contacted me congratulating me on reaching the third circle. He said that my talent should be further developed in a good educational institution.”
“I suppose I need to come up with a suitable excuse.”
“Any excuse should do, as he won't be able to refuse.”
“The Emperor must have used some trick.”
My father nodded.
“He instructed me to specially make a sword just for you. He said he wanted to bless you.”
“Such...”
A gift from the Emperor.
Not from anyone else, but a gift bestowed with his personal blessing.
Receiving such a gift while sitting at home was not only against etiquette but grossly improper.
In addition, refusing the Emperor's sincerity to that extent would be insulting the Empire.
The deliberate suggestion was to come personally.
It carried the implicit meaning that I could not escape.
Moreover, he wanted me to have a sword made specially for me.
As someone who had walked the path of the sword, there could be no greater gift than being given a good blade.
But a gift was a gift, and knowing the hidden dark intent behind it left me feeling very displeased.
“I wanted to study Prince Helmut's body, but if this continues, I will lose the chance to take him to the Reichland Magic Tower.”
This was the first time I had seen Cian so dejected.
To that extent, the three of them had already given up.
But I was the one who had suffered through countless conspiracies in my previous life.
I immediately came up with a countermeasure.
“I will lie down.”
A silence fell.
The first to speak was Father.
He clicked his tongue and asked,
“You are going to lie down?”
“I mean, I will lie down and endure.”
“That kind of forced solution won't work. If necessary, the Empire will send envoys to take you away.”
“Of course, that is not what I mean by lying down.”
“Then how...?”
“It's simple.”
Simply lie down on the floor and make a scene, but if there is a plausible reason, he will have no choice but to understand.
If there is a pitiful situation, the one who refuses to listen is the bad one.
After that, rumors spread once more.
I had fallen ill and was lying down.
Although I had miraculously reached the third circle even at a young age, I had overdone the growth of my circles, and my body had been ruined for a while and could not be used.
Thanks to the fake tears Father had prepared in advance, the Emperor had no choice but to accept it.
Instead, he said to come find him anytime once my body recovered.
He said that if I told him what kind of sword I liked, he would have it made in advance.
The biggest problem was that my range of movement had been greatly reduced.
I had let out the rumor that my body could not be used for a while, but if I were to move around normally, it would reach the ears of the Empire in an instant.
So I was left completely confined to the room.
“How fortunate.”
My teacher took a sip of the tea and said without much enthusiasm.
“We are in a situation where we have to do something, yet we have been locked up in the room. What exactly do you mean by fortunate?”
“What were you trying to do?”
“T-that is...”
“See? You still don't have a proper plan yet. Without thought, a plan won't come out. Nothing is more foolish than moving wildly without thinking. In fact, it has become fortunate that I have time to think calmly.”
He was right.
I still hadn't clearly decided what I had to do in this new life.
“By the way, this tea is good. The aroma is very sweet.”
“Since there's nothing else to do, I should drink it sweetly.”
“Normally, humans give bitter things to patients and call them medicine, but that sounds strange even by half. They only think of what's good for the body, not the patient's mental health.”
“My teacher really knows humans well.”
“In that regard, can a patient like me drink this tea? I'm not as cautious as you.”
A sharp criticism.
There were many points where he could find fault if he wanted to.
“But tea is something with its own effects. The aroma is good, and if it also has effects, humans are bound to get excited. The 'Epona' you are enjoying now is said to have the effect of stimulating human passion.”
“You are joking. It's natural that eating something delicious and fragrant gives you motivation.”
“Correct. That's how it usually is. Moreover, if one accuses a patient who is in too much pain to even stand to drink such tea, the person being scolded would be that patient.”
My teacher laughed while clicking his tongue.
Most of the snacks and tea that entered the room as visit gifts were going straight into my teacher's mouth.
I, the patient, couldn't eat them, and moreover, if I ate a lot of those sugar- and butter-filled snacks while not moving my body, it would swell up.
“My teacher doesn't gain weight?”
“You are asking me?”
“Who else is here besides my teacher? I can't even count how many boxes of snacks he has eaten.”
“Oh, as far as I know, you became my disciple only a day ago. Already trying to climb up?”
“That's not it. I'm truly amazed.”
My teacher only answered after eating another piece of snack.
“It's my body.”
“What does that mean? I am just a mere human, so I have difficulty understanding.”
“If I want to gain weight, I gain weight. If I want to become slim, I become slim. I showed you that I can freely change my appearance right in front of you, yet you still don't understand?”
“That's right.”
Thinking about it, my teacher could freely change from an old man with white hair to a beautiful woman.
But what was the original form hidden inside?
Then, was the old man the real one, or was the woman the real one?
“That's called a gap tea.”
“As expected, you have heard my thoughts completely. But what does that mean? Gap... difference? At least it doesn't seem to be a word used in this world.”
“Explaining it would be troublesome. Just remember it as one of my many charms. By the way, you said you have time to think calmly, yet you are thinking of such nutrient-poor thoughts? Doesn't the time seem wasted? In my previous life it was three years, but this time it might be brought forward even more.”
“That is correct. However, right now I am too...”
Before I could finish speaking, my teacher stood up from his seat.
“Let's go out.”
“Go out? But I am in a position where I have to stay inside the room.”
“That lethargic mental state needs to be fixed.”
My teacher snapped his fingers with a snap! sound.
Then, an aura was felt behind me, who was sitting alone on the bed.
“W-what is this?”
When I turned around, there was another me lying on the bed, covered with a blanket as if sleeping.
“An artificial being, perhaps? I implanted the same personality in it. Even if you leave your place, this doll will guard your position.”
“But who will watch over me when I go out?”
“You are not going to a far place, so don't worry. Everything is prepared, right?”
“Please wait a moment. Then at least the outing clothes...”
“No need for that.”
My teacher snapped his hand again without mercy, and the surroundings had already changed.
My teacher had already vanished of his own accord.
I had no idea where I was exactly, but I was certain I was inside a massive structure.
Mana was overflowing inside the space to an unnatural degree.
“Who is there?”
A strange voice echoed through the space.
It was not my teacher.
A man was standing a short distance away from me.
“Who asked who had entered my space?”
“I would like to ask. Who are you?”
“I am a lingering thought. I have to leave, but I am stuck here because of attachment. A pitiful soul.”
He did not seem normal.
“My name is Erewon.”
“You are the human who can free my attachment. Good. Erewon. I like you. Grab the sword.”
Suddenly, a sword appeared in the man's hand, and the man took a stance as if ready to fight with it.
“Wait a moment. You said you liked me, but suddenly you are taking up a sword. What is the meaning of that?”
“I took up the sword because I like you. You already seem to have prepared yourself since you are already holding a sword, don't you?”
“What? There is no way...”
Only then did I feel weight in my right hand.
What was in my hand was a sword.
Its shape and weight had changed, but it was Regret, the sword I had used in my previous life.
“Hold the sword quickly. Otherwise, give up and die with me.”
From the eyes that were staring at me and the dull voice, I could tell the man was speaking sincerely.
I had no choice but to hold the sword.
At that moment, the man who had been in a stance hesitated for a moment.
“What happened? How are you holding that sword?”
“Do you know this sword?”
“It is my sword.”
Only then did it dawn on me.
The sword the man was holding looked exactly like mine.
The man's eyes were now burning with rage.
It was clearly hatred and murderous intent.
“You are someone related to Merlin. Then I will not spare you. Die!”
The man I had just met charged at me at an extremely high speed to kill me.