Chapter 14: The Training Grounds(3)
Chapter 14: The Training Grounds(3)
You’ve probably seen a meme like that before—the one where a sergeant is sitting next to a four-star general, looking absolutely petrified.
The key points are the perfectly stiff posture and an expression that says even the slightest mistake will not be tolerated. Of course, as long as I’m not the one in that situation, it’s something I can just laugh off.
But what if—just if—I were the one facing such a situation? How would I feel?
Specifically, how would it feel to have the man who will soon become Emperor—the authority figure who has declared he’ll lock the author in the Imperial Palace the moment he finds him—sitting right next to me?
"Lina told me that despite being a student, your breadth of knowledge is quite impressive. I found the news of you giving Professor Megner a hard time particularly entertaining."
"...Thank you for the kind words."
"Haha. Don't be so tense. I may be the Crown Prince, but I have no intention of using my authority to harm anyone."
Even though Leort spoke with a friendly expression, I couldn't bring myself to smile. It wasn't just because he was the Crown Prince; it was the fact that the man who wanted to imprison me in the palace was sitting right there. Naturally, I was on edge.
Of all the places to sit...
Currently, I was sitting in the spectator stands, which offered a great view of the duels. A semi-transparent glass partition stood between the stands and the arena, making it easy to watch. Furthermore, the glass was enchanted with defensive magic, ensuring our safety.
The biggest problem, however, was the seating arrangement. It would have been one thing if there were a gap between Leort and me, but Leort was sitting in the middle with Nicole and me on either side. The pressure was immense.
"I thought your eye color was similar to Nicole's, but to think you're actually her brother. Come to think of it, Dave had red hair as well."
"Do you know my brother too?"
"Of course. Most of those who serve as teaching assistants at Halo Academy join high-tier knight orders, so I always keep an eye on them. Oh, by the way. Did you know Dave became an apprentice knight?"
"What?"
This was news to me.
My eyes widened as I looked past Leort toward Nicole. She seemed to have forgotten as well, letting out a small "ah" of realization.
"Sorry. It slipped my mind. He was actually selected as an apprentice knight two days after the entrance ceremony. I think he forgot to mention it because he was so busy meeting you back then."
"Where did he go?"
"The Navy Knights. You know where that is, right?"
I certainly did. I nodded.
Like father, like son—it seemed Dave had inherited our father's talent and trained himself to the bone to finally get into the Navy Knights.
As a brother, I was proud, but I felt a bit slighted that he left without saying a word.
"Then when is he coming back?"
"Who knows? Apprentice knights only focus on training, so there's no telling when he'll return. He'll stay in touch, though."
"If you'd like, I could secretly arrange a vacation for him?"
"N-no, that's quite alright."
I laughed awkwardly as Leort, sitting between us, cracked a joke with a smirk. If it were anyone else, it might have been fine, but coming from him, it didn't sound like a joke at all.
Clang!
After a brief chat, the duel in the arena finally began. As the sound of clashing steel reached my ears, I shifted my gaze to the training ground. Leort and Nicole did the same.
In the center of the arena, Nicole's friend, Adelia, was fighting someone while wielding a longsword. When her opponent—presumably another student—launched a fierce assault, Adelia parried the blows with ease.
I stared blankly at the two of them, fighting with a dazzling fluidity that looked almost like a dance. It was a struggle just to follow their movements with my eyes.
So this is what a real fight looks like.
I had often seen Dave or Nicole duel our father when they came home for vacations. However, those weren't as intense; they were more like lessons where our father would point out their flaws one by one.
But now, it felt as if they were pouring everything into their attacks with the sole intent of taking the opponent down. Adelia's opponent swung his sword relentlessly. Naturally, Adelia parried every single strike and launched her own counterattacks.
"Who is the student dueling Adelia right now?"
"That's Ian. He has outstanding marks in swordsmanship."
"Hmm."
I focused on the duel even as Nicole and Leort conversed beside me. As the saying goes, seeing is believing. I had received advice from my father when writing battle scenes, but seeing it with my own eyes was a completely different experience.
Since Xenon Biography is a story about the protagonist growing into a world-renowned hero, it features countless battles. While it's fantasy to me, it's 'reality' for the people of this world. A world where it wouldn't be strange for all sorts of bizarre things to appear.
It was actually a bit absurd when my father praised my descriptions of impossible abilities as being very realistic.
Since I can just say it's all possible...
If I just say someone used mana to perform such-and-such a feat, everything is accepted. On the contrary, the people of this world would find it impossible to believe that a heavy hunk of iron could float on the sea or that a carriage could move without a horse.
That made me even more curious. A new invention called the 'steam locomotive' was set to appear in Xenon Biography soon. I wondered how they would react. Would they declare it impossible, or would they believe it could exist?
I was looking forward to it. Naturally, I planned to just sit back and watch the chaos from a distance.
"By the way, Nicole. Have you read the latest volume of Xenon Biography?"
"Pardon?"
While I was mentally outlining the future plot, Leort suddenly asked Nicole a question. Nicole, who had been focused on the duel, looked visibly flustered. It was likely because I was sitting right there.
I was equally startled, but I did my best to act natural and unbothered. If I overreacted here, I might draw suspicious glares.
"I recall you being a fan of Xenon Biography as well."
"Ah... yes. I've read up to Volume 7."
"I see."
After her brief reply, Leort turned his gaze toward me and fired off a question.
"And you, Isaac?"
"...I've read it as well."
"Up to which volume?"
I've already planned the entire story to the end in my head. With a sad ending, no less.
My eyes darted around before I repeated the same lie I had told Mari.
"I've only read up to Volume 5. Every time I try to buy a copy, it's already sold out..."
"Hm? Didn't you say Nicole has read up to Volume 7? Has she not lent it to her brother?"
"I was actually planning to borrow it. Since my sister isn't home much except during vacations, I felt bad about asking."
"Ah. That's a reasonable explanation."
Leort nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer. It was an unexpected crisis, but fortunately, I managed to navigate through it.
I thought the conversation had ended and tried to focus on the duel again.
"Um... Lord Leort."
"Yes? What is it?"
"Do you really intend to lock the author of Xenon Biography in the palace if you find them?"
That was until Nicole blurted out a question filled with worry and concern.
I quietly eavesdropped while pretending to focus on the duel. I could understand why she asked him that. Since the Crown Prince himself had put such a statement in the newspaper, it was only natural for her to worry as his sister.
Leort chuckled at her question and shook his head. His reaction was slightly different from the one he had shown on the day of the entrance ceremony.
"It's a joke. A joke. You don't have to take it so seriously. I was furious at first, but now I've decided to wait patiently."
"Then, the search for the author..."
"That will continue. Besides, looking at the predicted plot developments, I think the author might be in some danger."
At Leort's answer, both Nicole and I looked at him with surprised expressions. When the Crown Prince, who possessed superior intelligence-gathering capabilities, said something like that, it couldn't be taken lightly.
I exchanged a glance with Nicole, who was sitting one seat away, before quietly asking him.
"Why is that?"
"I... Ah, before that, Isaac? If you don't mind, may I speak freely? It involves the plot of Volume 7."
"I don't mind at all."
I already know everything anyway.
Leort thanked me for my cool response and continued his explanation.
"In any case, I suspect that the mastermind who put Xenon in danger at the end is a noble."
I looked at Leort with a different kind of surprise. His prediction was spot on.
At the end of Volume 7, Xenon goes on a solo scouting mission. Despite being told it was a safe area, it turned out to be a demonic zone filled with monsters and even a barrier. Fortunately, he used his wits to break the barrier and escape, but what awaited him were numerous traps and attackers.
Already exhausted, Xenon fought the attackers but was eventually struck in the chest by an arrow, and Volume 7 ended there.
Of course, thanks to the necklace gifted by the heroine, Mary, he avoids a fatal wound. After that, he naturally goes on a rampage and hunts down the mastermind.
I didn't even drop any obvious hints...
I suppose he found the suspicious parts one by one after reading it multiple times. For some reason, I felt a sense of pride as an author.
But that wasn't the most important thing, so I pushed that thought aside.
"If the mastermind really is a noble... will that cause a major problem?"
This question came from Nicole, not me. Leort answered without taking his eyes off the arena.
"It's a problem because it's Xenon Biography, of all things. Just as it changed the perception of demons, I'm worried it might negatively change the perception of nobles. There are many books that criticize the nobility, but most are closer to satire and haven't had the same impact as Xenon Biography."
So that was it. If that was his concern, it was perfectly understandable.
Even though I always wrote in the introduction that it was a work of fiction, the perception of demons had changed drastically. Therefore, if the mastermind who trapped Xenon was revealed to be a noble, it was highly likely to cause various issues.
But it was fine. I wasn't an idiot; I had prepared sufficiently. The situation Leort worried about would become a masterpiece scene that revealed both the light and shadow of the nobility.
A battle between nobles who looked down on the people and those who truly cared for and protected them. It was part of a political struggle, but the moment Xenon returned from the brink of death, it would be incredibly cathartic.
"...If that really happens, what do you plan to do?"
Nicole asked Leort in a very cautious tone. Leort waved his hand dismissively and gave a casual answer.
"There's no need to worry. I'll let them keep writing. It's more about protection than pressure. Besides, it's a pointless hypothetical since we don't even know who the author is."
"I see..."
That alone is a huge pressure on me, Your Highness.
I gave a bitter smile and turned back to the arena. The duel seemed to have ended, as Adelia and the other student were bowing to each other. Unlike the student, who looked like he was about to collapse while gasping for air, Adelia looked exactly as she did before the duel.
"Well, I suppose this is enough. I'll be going now."
As the duel ended, Leort stood up abruptly. I looked at him with questioning eyes as he rose.
"Are you leaving already?"
"I know when I'm not wanted. My presence only makes you two uncomfortable, so it's better if I leave quickly. Still, it was pleasant."
With those words, Leort vanished. I stared at his receding back for a moment before looking at Nicole.
Nicole happened to be looking at me at the same time, and we both let out a bitter laugh simultaneously. It seemed her heart had been racing just as much as mine.
"Isaac."
"Yeah."
"We'll have to be careful from now on."
"I was planning on it."
"But is the person who put Xenon in danger really a noble?"
It seemed the plot development Leort predicted had left a strong impression on her. I looked around to make sure no one was nearby before speaking quietly.
"Yeah. Do you know Count Crost? He's the culprit."
"..."
"Sis?"
When I revealed the culprit's identity, Nicole's expression became strange. It was as if she had received some kind of shock.
As I stood there bewildered, Nicole muttered in a hollow voice.
"...I didn't... ask who it was..."
"Ah."
I had accidentally spoiled her.