Chapter 110: Before the Disciplinary Board
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 110: Before the Disciplinary Board
The Disciplinary Board was about to begin.
I was currently resting my head on my "private pillow." After swallowing the snack Johanna popped into my mouth, I finally spoke up.
"I need to step out for a moment. You can't run away like you did earlier, okay?"
When I mentioned leaving, Johanna seemed reluctant to let me go. She pressed her palm firmly against my forehead as I lay in her lap.
"Where are you going?"
"Just a quick trip to the restroom. It won't even take five minutes."
Fortunately, Johanna didn't stop me from going to the bathroom.
Lying to her stung my conscience, but I had no choice. If it were up to me, I would have thrown everything aside just to stay and chat with her.
With the same heavy heart one feels when crawling out from under the covers on a cold morning, I forced myself up from Johanna’s lap. The moment I stood, the urge to lie back down nearly overwhelmed me, but I endured it with transcendental patience. If it had been anyone else, they wouldn't have been able to pull away.
Of course, no one else would ever get the chance to lie in Johanna’s lap anyway.
Let’s finish this as quickly as possible and get back.
If I took too long, the Disciplinary Board would start, and I wouldn't get to spend any more time with her. I lay on her lap every morning, sure, but that was different. During morning training, I was usually too exhausted to talk; most of the time, I just nodded or gave short answers to whatever Johanna asked.
After confirming no one was around, I pulled out the communication device I used every night. However, the person I was contacting this time wasn't Yerika.
[What is it?]
The signal hadn't even finished ringing before a voice answered, and the Emperor’s face appeared on the screen.
"............"
I stared at the device, startled. It wasn't that I was surprised to see the Emperor—I was the one who had called him, after all. It would have been more shocking if someone else had picked up.
The reason I was surprised was...
Why are those two there?
Behind the Emperor stood two men. I recognized the black-haired man immediately; he looked just like Clara and Joden, and I had seen him every single day before entering the Academy. Beside him was a platinum-blonde man who looked exactly like Johanna, whom I had seen during my recent visit to the Freya estate.
Duke Adelian and Duke Freya were staring intensely at me through the screen.
"Uh... are you busy right now?" I stammered.
I froze for a moment at the sight of that lineup. Looking at them, one might mistakenly think they were in the middle of a high-level meeting regarding national security.
[I am currently looking for documents to dump on the Prime Minister, but it is nothing too pressing.]
As the Emperor spoke while flipping through papers, Duke Adelian shoved his face toward the device. With his bushy beard and fierce expression, he looked more like a mountain bandit than a noble, but he was actually one of the strongest mages in the Empire.
[Hey! After everything I’ve done for you, you call the Emperor instead of me? You haven't called me even once!]
His voice was loud enough to make my ears ring. It must have been even louder for the Emperor and Duke Freya, as both of them were visibly covering their ears.
Duke Adelian was a benefactor to me; he was the one who helped me regain my senses and taught me how to fight. In a way, calling him first would have been the polite thing to do, but...
"Well, I needed a communication device to call you!" I countered. I had only acquired one after entering the Academy.
[Ah, was that so? Hahahaha! I must have forgotten because I’ve been so busy lately!] Duke Adelian scratched his head with an awkward laugh. [By the way, have you been sleeping well lately?]
To an outsider, it might have seemed like he was just changing the subject, but since it was Duke Adelian asking, the meaning was clear. He was asking if I was still having nightmares now that I didn't have my medicine.
"I’ve been sleeping soundly every single day. So much so that I don't want to get out of bed in the morning."
[That’s a relief. You should come over to the house sometime soon...]
Duke Adelian didn't get to finish his sentence. A hand abruptly pushed his face away from the device.
[Move. I have something to say to the boy as well.]
Duke Adelian’s face vanished, replaced instantly by Duke Freya’s.
"It’s been a while, Duke Freya."
[Who are you calling 'Father-in-law'?!]
"..........."
I hadn't even uttered the 'Fa' in 'Father-in-law'... This man wasn't normal either.
[What is my Johanna doing right now?]
Johanna was currently acting as my private pillow, waiting for me to return. If I told him the truth, Duke Freya would probably storm the Academy himself and turn me into minced onions.
[How would he know that? You muscle-brained swordsman,] Adelian chimed in from the side.
[What did you just say?]
Before I knew it, Duke Adelian and Duke Freya had started bickering. The Emperor, seemingly used to this, ignored the chaos behind him and continued checking his documents.
[So, why did you call? I assume it wasn't just to say hello.]
Wanting to get back to Johanna’s lap as quickly as possible, I explained the situation with Darun and mentioned the upcoming Disciplinary Board meeting.
[Do you wish for me to intervene?] the Emperor asked.
"No, I can handle the committee itself. The problem is the possibility of someone from the outside interfering."
"The outside, huh..." the Emperor muttered. He tapped his desk, thinking for a moment before speaking. [Do you plan to stay in the Empire after graduating from the Academy?]
"Yes. I don't think there's any place better to live than the Empire."
It was a sudden question, but the answer came immediately. All the bonds I had built were here. I might travel, but I had no intention of living in another kingdom.
The corners of the Emperor’s mouth curled up.
[Then, Loki, become my disciple.]
"Uh... aren't I already your disciple?"
[To be precise, from this moment on, you are officially my disciple.]
I immediately understood the weight of his words. If it became public knowledge that I was the Emperor’s disciple, it would be impossible for anyone to pressure me with political power. My biggest concern was Count Ganurabra—the head of the family Darun’s fiancée belonged to and one of the Academy’s sponsors. But if I were the Emperor’s disciple, I wouldn't have to give the Count a second thought.
"How do you plan to announce it?"
[I shall go there personally and tell—]
[No, wait! If that’s the case, I can do it instead of the Emperor, can't I?] Adelian interrupted. [I was the one who taught him first!]
"For your information, there's a high chance Miss Clara will be attending this committee meeting as well," I added.
[...I’ll let it slide just this once.]
Duke Freya and the Emperor looked at Duke Adelian with exasperated expressions as he backtracked instantly.
"Just talk to her, Duke. Talk. Someone once said that most family problems can be solved through simple conversation."
From my perspective, it was a problem that could be solved easily if they just sat down together, but neither Duke Adelian nor Joden would ever initiate it.
[Pfft! Hahahaha!]
The Emperor and Duke Freya laughed as Duke Adelian took a scolding from me.
[Quiet! Do you have any idea how a father with a daughter feels? It’s just... the timing isn't right yet.]
"What kind of 'timing' takes over six months to find? If you had just called Miss Clara and talked to her back when I treated the Duchess, it wouldn't have dragged on this long."
[I can't hear you! I can't hear you!]
Duke Adelian literally covered his ears and started chanting. Seeing a man who looked like a mountain bandit act like a child was honestly a bit cringeworthy.
After that, I kept nagging Duke Adelian to talk to Clara, while he continued to pretend he was deaf. Duke Freya kept pestering me with questions about Johanna until the Emperor finally yelled at them to go outside if they wanted to chatter, and we ended the call.
That took longer than I thought.
I checked the time and sprinted back. I had intended to only speak with the Emperor, but the presence of the two Dukes had made the conversation drag on.
This is all Duke Adelian’s fault.
For a man of his size, he became incredibly timid whenever Clara was involved.
Arriving at the classroom where Johanna was waiting, I caught my breath and carefully opened the door.
"................"
Johanna was in the exact same position and spot as when I had left. It was as if time had stopped the moment I walked out. Seeing me return late, Johanna said nothing and simply patted her lap. Taking the hint, I carefully lay back down.
Johanna leaned down and whispered in my ear.
"....... My legs hurt."
"I'll get up right now!"
My conscience shattered, and I tried to scramble up, but Johanna held me down by pressing a single finger to my forehead. I couldn't move an inch. Her hand then brushed against the back of my neck. It was the first time I realized I could feel ticklish and chilled at the same time.
"Why did a trip to the bathroom take so long?"
"I... wonder. Why was I... so late?"
"The Student Council President came by earlier. He said the Disciplinary Board starts in ten minutes."
That meant Johanna only had ten minutes left.
".... I wanted to stay like this longer," she murmured.
The guilt was stinging now. I racked my brain for a solution.
"We can just do this again after the committee is over!"
"Really...?"
"Yes! Of course. I'll finish that committee nonsense in a flash!"
Johanna finally seemed satisfied. She took her hand off my neck and went back to stroking my hair. I let out a long sigh of relief.
Right, this solved everything.
"...A year from now, are we going to lounge around like this at my house...?"
Ah...