The Sword of the Emperor

Ever since Professor Sebitche and Professor Dalia had been brought down by me, the number of students lining up to take my classes had exploded.

'But I have no intention of remaining a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠professor forever.'

So I set the limit at twenty for the introductory lectures and ten for the advanced ones.

Professor Aipman had tried to persuade me to open even more classes, but he didn't say a word when I insisted on pouring all my attention into a small group of students.

No matter what anyone said, I was already a rising star professor.

'I'm a little disappointed.'

After the introductory lecture ended, Lua pouted her lips as she spoke at the academy cafeteria during lunch.

'What do you mean?'

'I wish I could take one-on-one lessons with Oppa...'.

The gazes of the students who had followed me, wanting even a little more time together, all focused on Lua.

'You can't even get one-on-one lessons, and you're surrounded by students during lunchtime! What is this!'

She shouted, but the other students showed no sign of backing down no matter how angry Lua got.

'But when I'm next to Professor, I get to learn something new every time.'

'I want to learn even one more thing from Professor!'

Elson and Macbeth, who had been with me from the very first lecture.

'Lua, give me some time. Not more, just exactly lunchtime.'

Angela, who had started my popularity train.

'I don't have to come to the academy if it's with Elene, but I only come for this hour.'

'On the contrary, it's mean. Since she's your sister, she's going to monopolize Professor by herself, right?'

And Taria and Elene, who had joined belatedly.

A few other students had also wanted to join, but except for Elson and Macbeth who had been with me from the first lecture, they were all too powerful students, making it difficult to bring them along casually.

Elene and Taria, the academy's top-tier skilled students.

Angela, who was famous for being short on mana but never lacking in skill.

And my position as a professor yet secretly a prince that made the wall even stronger.

'Oppa, please say something.'

'It's not with bad intentions, is it? Still, I have to say this. I prioritize you, Lua, first because you're my little sister.'

A slight pout on Lua's face vanished with those words.

At that moment, a person caught my eye.

The person who had been doing Professor Aipman's secretary work that I'd seen a few times.

The secretary, who had been looking around restlessly for something, spotted me and approached.

'Professor Erewon, Professor Aipman requests your presence.'

'Me? Could you tell me what it's about?'

'I know what it's about, but it's difficult to speak publicly here. However, it's a very urgent matter.'

'How urgent could it be...'.

'Please convey my message to the professor in charge of the lectures this afternoon. So, come right after lunch.'

Calling me urgently even while giving such conveniences.

Professor Aipman usually called me often, but this time it seemed there was something.

'Understood. I'll come immediately.'

Professor Aipman's office.

It had now become completely familiar.

'Professor Aipman, I heard you called me.'

'Professor Erewon. Come in.'

The moment I entered, Professor Aipman took out a scroll letter from the desk drawer.

It was obvious just by looking that it was an unusual letter.

Not only was the scroll made of high-quality fabric rather than paper, but it was also decorated with gold thread.

'The Emperor sent this.'

'You immediately figured it out?'

'The number of people in the world who decorate scroll letters so splendidly is few. Moreover, in the Empire, only one person uses this.'

'Rational deduction. This is indeed what the Emperor sent.'

'What is the content?'

'I don't know that either.'

'Eh? You don't know what Professor said?'

The scroll letter's seal had not been broken.

'The Emperor's attendant gave this to me and asked me to deliver it to you. It might be content I shouldn't look at. After all...'.

Professor Aipman suddenly coughed.

The next words he was about to say were a signal that they were awkward to speak.

'After all, you are also the prince of Solea.'

'Correct.'

'It might be an important diplomatic document. I know what happened between Solea and the Empire.'

I accepted the scroll letter Professor Aipman was extending and undid the seal.

'I only wanted to deliver it, but you want to open it here?'

'In case of emergency, I wanted to consult Professor. As for the Emperor, Professor Aipman is a far closer expert than I am.'

'An expert, you say? No, I'm just one of the people who have to watch the Emperor's eyes.'

The scroll letter I unfolded was wide and grand, but the content of the letter was simple.

- Wednesday afternoon, two o'clock, come to pick me up with Princess Lua. -

'What is the content?'

Professor Aipman, who had said he couldn't look at the content, asked the moment I opened the letter.

'It's an order.'

'What kind of order?'

'Come pick me up tomorrow afternoon at two o'clock with my sister Lua.'

I had expected him to call me sometime.

But I hadn't expected it to be this soon.

He had said he wanted to specially make me a sword and bless it, but in case of emergency, delivering it to me through an attendant when I came to the Empire was enough.

'Anyway, it's unbearably rude. Coming to meet me right away tomorrow without considering my situation at all...'.

'What, what rude? What kind of habit is that for the Emperor!'

'No matter what, even if I say it here, it won't reach the Emperor. Unless Professor Aipman conveys it to the Emperor. Moreover, isn't that the case?'

'That's true. But even if it's a rude order, you have no choice but to follow it?'

'Unfortunately, that's the case.'

I had forgotten for a moment.

Originally, as a student of the academy and a temporary professor, I had planned to act moderately.

But because it was so much more fun than I thought, and because it was so rewarding, I felt like I wasn't concentrating on the academy enough.

'But now that the foundation is built, it's time to move on to the next stage.'

It was good that I could start the next phase of the plan, but there was one regretful point.

Tomorrow was Wednesday, the day I was to participate in Sister Lira's volunteer work.

It was regrettable that I couldn't go meet the children staying ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at the church orphanage where Sister was.

So...

I decided to go alone.

'Really, Oppa is too kind.'

As soon as the afternoon lecture ended, I immediately moved, and Lua followed right behind me.

Since I couldn't participate in the volunteer work because she was also going, she said she would move with me.

'Being kind is the problem?'

'No. I'm just a little jealous. Being too stupidly kind is not good, but since Oppa is kind rather than kind in that way, it's fine.'

'Is there a difference between being kind and being kind?'

'Of course there is. Being kind is easy to use, and being kind attracts surrounding people, so the ownership is different. It's the same as a leader being generous and kind but not kind enough.'

Lua was certainly learning well.

While learning the kingly art, her thinking had become deeper, and her knowledge had also widened.

It was something I learned later, but the professor named Machiavelli was a famous kingly scholar known all over the world.

'Anyway, I don't quite understand. Finding Oppa now.'

'Why is that? The fact that you and I stand out is true, but it's not to the point where the Emperor has to set everything aside just to meet.'

'Uek.'

Lua looked at me with an annoyed expression.

'Why do you look at me like that?'

'It's not like Oppa lacks ability. At fifteen, he doesn't even use the sword well, his mana affinity isn't high, and he's even wise.'

'The praise is excessive. I know it's because you're my sister.'

'Never!'

The moment she asserted so strongly, Lua blocked my path and denied my words.

'I'm proud of Oppa. And I'm not generous enough to force pride in a useless Oppa.'

'That's right. I know you support me more than anyone else. But if you don't act humble often, you might become arrogant without realizing it. So stop before my mouth corners rise even more.'

'Understood. Oppa knows he's outstanding, but he's trying to have a humble heart.'

'That's right. By the way...'.

It was soon time to eat dinner.

The orphanage was in a somewhat remote alley along the road, and a presence was felt in a place where there should be no people.

I turned Lua, who had been looking at me, forward.

'Go ahead first. I'll catch up soon.'

'Eh? But with Oppa...'.

'I'll catch up soon. Go ahead first.'

Lua, who had been bewildered, nodded upon realizing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠there was something in my words.

'I'll be waiting.'

'I won't make you wait long.'

After sending Lua first, I asked while leaning against the wall of a building a little distance away.

'Your presence is not well hidden, so you're not someone who works in the dark. Come out.'

'I'm grateful that you noticed. I was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠itching to hide anyway.'

From behind the wall came a middle-aged knight wearing light armor.

The Imperial Knight Order's emblem was engraved on his chest.

'Are you a swordsmanship professor? This uncle has one trick up his sleeve too.'