Chapter 111: Special Training
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 111: Special Training
"I am fulfilling the promise I made to my only disciple. How do you intend to compensate me for my wasted time, Count Ganurabra?"
"D-Disciple, you say...?"
Count Ganurabra addressed the Emperor in a trembling voice.
By now, even the Count must have realized that the "only disciple" the Emperor mentioned was me. The reason he was asking again, despite that, was simple.
‘He’s probably in denial.’
However, the Emperor shattered that denial with a single short sentence and a subtle gesture.
"Is he not standing right there?"
The Emperor pointed his finger at me.
It was a mere gesture, just a finger pointing toward a spot, yet that small movement overflowed with grace and majesty. Not only Count Ganurabra but everyone in the room followed the Emperor’s finger and turned their gaze toward me.
I placed my right hand over my heart and bowed deeply toward Count Ganurabra. It was the greeting that had now become my signature.
"Indeed! I am the disciple of the Great Emperor of the Great Croa Empire!"
Count Ganurabra’s mouth fell wide open. It was so wide that Darun’s fist could probably fit inside. Why Darun’s fist, specifically? Because I certainly didn't want to put my own hand in there.
‘By the way, is this really something to be that surprised about?’
A handsome clown realizes that the Emperor of a vast empire is actually a Phantom Thief who has never been caught. The Emperor, impressed by the clown’s appearance, takes him as a disciple. This is a story so famous it’s even recorded in the Clown Chronicles, known to everyone living on the continent.
‘Or not. Whatever.’
The people currently in the room could be divided into two groups: those looking at me and those looking at the Emperor.
Of course, many were staring at me because it was their first time hearing that I was the Emperor’s disciple. However, there were a few who already knew I was being taught by him.
His son, Lucas, obviously knew. Professor Elicia had also found out because of what happened at Baron Ashro’s estate. Johanna likely knew as well, having heard it from Duke Freya or Askal.
Wait. Now that I counted them up, more people knew than I thought. If I added those who weren't here, the list would grow even longer.
Of course, those who didn't know far outnumbered those who did. A prime example was Sepia, who was currently tugging at my sleeve with a speed incomparable to before.
"Pushover, are you really His Majesty the Emperor’s disciple?"
"Did I not tell you, Lady Sepia?" I asked, tilting my head.
"You didn't! I’ve never heard anything even remotely like that!"
"Is that so? I’m quite sure I leaked that information to you at least once."
"When did you ever do that?!"
"Perhaps your observational skills were lacking, Lady Sepia? It’s a famous tale, even written in the Clown Chronicles..."
"What on earth is this Clown Chronicles anyway?!"
While I was having a friendly whispered conversation with Sepia, Count Ganurabra remained kneeling at the Emperor’s feet.
"Originally, I intended to meet quietly with my disciple and talk after the Disciplinary Board concluded. However, seeing Count Ganurabra rush inside so urgently, I became curious and followed."
Translated: I, the Emperor, stayed quiet and didn't interfere while my handsome disciple’s hearing was ongoing, so who do you think you are to come in here and throw a fit?
‘Or not. Whatever.’
"Furthermore, I heard something interesting before entering. Someone referred to the time between me and my disciple as a 'trivial appointment.'"
"I beg for your forgiveness!"
Count Ganurabra slammed his head against the floor with a loud thud.
Though I couldn't feel it myself, I could tell just by looking at the Count. The Emperor was currently using Domination specifically on Count Ganurabra. As proof, sweat was pouring down the Count’s face, making him look like a drowned rat.
"Count Ganurabra. Being a benefactor of the Academy does not mean you are permitted to interfere in its affairs."
"Yes! I... I lost my mind for a moment!"
"If one acts expecting a reward, it is not a donation, but a mere transaction. A donation only holds meaning when given without desiring anything in return."
"I will keep that in mind."
"I trust the Count would never consider reducing his support for the Academy over such a trivial matter."
"O-Of course not. In fact, I have recently felt that my current donations were insufficient and was planning to increase the amount."
From behind my mask, I watched with a smile as Count Ganurabra was being unilaterally pummeled.
Having been forced to increase his donations, Count Ganurabra fled the room, and the Disciplinary Board resumed its original course. I received no punishment whatsoever, while Darun was sentenced to suspension.
Upon hearing that I was the Emperor’s disciple, Darun stared blankly into space with an even more dazed expression than before, regardless of what the professors said. Soon, the news that I was the Emperor’s disciple would spread rapidly throughout the Empire—no, the entire continent—and Darun would become just as famous as I was.
"Ughhh! It’s finally over. That took longer than I thought."
I stretched as I walked out of the classroom where the hearing had been held. I felt like I’d just been standing there talking, but my whole body felt stiff.
‘Did I lie on Johanna’s lap for too long earlier?’
The club representatives and professors nearby looked like they wanted to strike up a conversation with me. It made sense; talking to me was a much lower difficulty level than talking to the Emperor.
"Loki, what is the meaning of this?"
"I never heard anything about you being His Majesty’s disciple."
However, the Special Class students reached me a step faster than the club reps or professors.
"Lucas, you knew, didn't you?"
"I only heard that he was learning from him. I didn't know he was a 'disciple.'"
"Doesn't learning from someone make you their disciple?"
"I suppose. But doesn't 'learning' and being a 'disciple' feel slightly different?"
I looked at the Special Class students gathered around me. They had all come because they heard my Disciplinary Board hearing was being held. It would be a lie to say I wasn't touched. Maybe I should give them a gift or something.
"Since you all came to visit me, I can't let you leave empty-handed. Would you like the handcuffs I used earlier as a souvenir?"
"""No, thank you."""
Hmph. How cold.
The professors seemed to decide they could talk to me later and went their separate ways, but the club representatives were still lingering nearby. However, they were all just testing the waters. No one approached me, likely because of Lucas, Clara, and Sepia standing around me.
Step, swish.
But there was one person who ignored all that and walked straight toward me.
"..............."
My personal pillow—no, Johanna—pulled at my hand from among the Special Class students with a somewhat sulky expression. Just as I was being pulled away by Johanna...
Grab.
Sepia grabbed my other hand and pulled back.
"..............."
"................"
I stood in an awkward middle ground, hands held by both Johanna and Sepia. I looked around for help, but the Special Class students had vanished in that short interval.
‘You disloyal bastards.’
Their ability to read the room had grown terrifyingly sharp while dealing with Professor Elicia. Vowing revenge for later, I looked at Sepia and Johanna, who were both remaining silent.
Sepia was the first to speak.
"Lady Freya, what do you think you're doing? Why are you suddenly grabbing someone else's hand?"
Johanna bit her lip as she looked at Sepia’s hand holding mine.
"........ Let go."
"I promised to have tea with Loki after the hearing, so I can't let go."
Come to think of it, I did say something like that during the hearing—that we were out of tea, so we should drink some together once the hearing was over. Hearing Sepia’s words, Johanna gripped my hand even tighter.
"I also agreed to be alone with him after the hearing."
"Pushover, what is she talking about?"
Sepia glared at me upon hearing Johanna’s words, and Johanna flinched when Sepia called me "Pushover."
"...Loki is not a pushover."
"How I call my Pushover is my business. It has nothing to do with you, Lady Freya."
"............"
"............"
Both of them seemed to decide that this wouldn't be settled this way and looked at me, as if telling me to choose.
‘I’m screwed.’
Technically, it was my fault. I didn't realize the words I’d tossed out to soothe their moods would come back to haunt me. I remembered a friend’s advice from before I was reincarnated: Watch your mouth.
Just as I was stuck between a rock and a hard place... a savior appeared before my eyes.
The person who suddenly appeared was one of the Emperor’s Shadows who had helped me at Baron Ashro’s estate.
"You are being summoned."
He spoke briefly; come to think of it, this was the first time I’d heard his voice. I didn't bother asking who was calling for me. He was the Emperor’s Shadow; who else would have sent him?
"His Majesty is calling for me, so I’m afraid I’ll have to postpone our appointments."
Using the ultimate 'Emperor Shield,' I was able to escape the situation. Neither Sepia nor Johanna could stop me when the Emperor was the one calling.
‘I should really think before I speak next time.’
Following the Shadow, I arrived at a classroom deep within the Academy. The Shadow who guided me told me to go inside and then vanished.
Click.
I opened the door without hesitation.
"............"
And I was startled by the person inside.
Blonde hair and golden eyes—the proof of Imperial blood. However, unlike the Emperor’s, this golden hair flowed all the way down to her waist. It was a face I had seen every night through the communication device.
She was beautiful through the device, but seeing her in person, I could feel an aura and atmosphere that the device couldn't capture.
"It’s been quite a long time since I’ve seen you in person, Mr. Clown."
The one who had summoned me wasn't the Emperor, but Yerika.