Chapter 28: The Academy's Service is Over (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 28: The Academy's Service is Over (6)
“Gah!”
Inside the warehouse where the shadows of the Academy gathered.
I kicked the door open, ignored the people who were in the middle of a meeting to create a fake club for their gatherings, and immediately delivered a flying sidekick straight to Uncle Aeryun.
Suddenly breaking in and kicking an agent of another country is a very rude act, but...
“What now? Did he get caught again?”
“Where was it this time?”
“He’s a disgrace to the Empire.”
The people around us didn't blame me for barging in and causing a scene; instead, they criticized Uncle Aeryun.
This was the power of trust.
Though, the problem was likely less about my high level of trust and more about the fact that the Empire’s credibility had hit rock bottom.
We’ve only just passed the midterm events, and I have no idea how I’m going to survive the finals and summer vacation.
“W-What is it?!”
Uncle Aeryun himself, and no one else, looked up at me with an anxious gaze.
His expression asked what had happened this time.
What happened? Oh, something happened, alright.
Specifically...
“This guy leaked my personal information.”
A leak of personal information by an internal member.
A moment ago, Senior Loreliya had basically doxxed me.
I was horrified by the fact that my personal info had been stripped bare to a chilling degree, but thinking about it calmly, there were many strange points.
My information being leaked?
That could happen.
The Imperial Academy might look like a joke lately because it keeps getting breached, but the Empire is still the strongest nation on the continent.
It’s a country where, even if Leon and Dale combined all their strength to fight—which would never happen—the probability of their defeat would still be much higher.
The power of House Jeyka, which could be called the strongest within such an empire, does not fall behind even when compared to the military might of a small nation.
If a place like that set its mind to it, they could easily dig up my personal information.
However, even if House Jeyka was capable of it...
Senior Loreliya wasn't the type of person to do that.
If she were that kind of person in the first place, she wouldn't have asked me to be a spy and provide information on Daisy.
Furthermore, Daisy might have been 'dealt with'—permanently—long before she ever awakened as the Saintess.
That’s why I asked her honestly. How did she know so much detail?
Then, Senior Loreliya told me the truth with an expression that suggested it was no big deal.
“Aeryun told me.”
That was why I stormed in here to grill Uncle Aeryun.
“Wait!”
As I revealed the whole story, Uncle Aeryun asked for a moment to explain with a look of pure injustice.
“What?”
I decided to listen to whatever nonsense he was about to spew.
“Do you know where I was born?”
He suddenly asked about his hometown.
“Why on earth should I know that?”
“The Jeyka Territory.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“It means my roots belong to House Jeyka.”
The explanation that followed was long, but the summary was this:
“Is Prince Esid actually insane?”
It seemed like all the male leads in romance fantasies were out of their minds.
“...Regardless, he is a Prince of the Empire. Watch your mouth.”
I had just cursed out a Prince to his face, but even Uncle Aeryun, the man in charge, couldn't offer a rebuttal.
Even the agents from other countries looked dumbfounded.
“No, I mean, most of his subordinates are from House Jeyka. And he’s paying attention to another woman?”
“Has he given up on the succession?”
“By the way, Aeryun, old man, you were double-dealing.”
To put it simply, the Prince that the current Duke Jeyka was backing was Prince Esid.
That much was obvious.
That’s why the Duke had engaged his daughter to Prince Esid.
However, Duke Jeyka was supporting Prince Esid even more than we had realized.
Most of Prince Esid’s hands and feet, including Uncle Aeryun, were personnel dispatched from House Jeyka.
In fact, Prince Esid’s power came directly from House Jeyka.
And yet, he was looking at another woman? He really was an incredible piece of work.
“So, if the Young Lady makes a request, we have to help.”
While Prince Esid was his official direct superior, his real superior was Lady Loreliya.
Therefore, if Senior Loreliya made a request, Uncle Aeryun had no choice but to grant it, as long as it didn't involve the Imperial Family.
“But we don't know anything about Daisy either.”
It wasn't because of some incredible information warfare by Daisy or her family.
First of all, she was someone they didn't need information on until she entered the Academy, so they hadn't collected any.
And even when they did try to look, most of the information was as easily accessible as open-source data.
That’s why...
“I did tell the Young Lady that you would have the most information on Daisy, but I didn't think she’d actually go find you.”
He basically just sold me out.
“Why me?”
“Because you’re the only one who knows about Academy terror attacks that even the Imperial Intelligence Bureau doesn't know about, knows the location of the Dark Mages' base, is closest to the person you serve, and is also close to the people around Daisy.”
I lightly ignored the unspoken remark that the Imperial Intelligence Bureau might kidnap me at this rate.
Come to think of it, if I were in his shoes, I would have done the same.
“Especially you—haven't you been getting close to Miss Violet lately?”
I couldn't tell him that it went beyond being close and that I was basically using her as a lackey.
If I said the wrong thing, Violet would be dragged off to an Imperial dungeon.
“It’s for information gathering.”
Since it wasn't a lie, I could answer shamelessly.
How could people like us ignore a vending machine that keeps spitting out high-level information whenever you give it a nudge?
“I’m counting on you.”
“For free?”
“...Didn't I give you a lot last time?”
“That was compensation for cooperating in the capture of the terrorists and Dark Mages. You should pay separately for the cost of taking care of the Young Lady. Doesn't the Duke's house provide a separate budget?”
“That’s a different department, so...”
He seemed a bit troubled, but he didn't say it wouldn't be provided.
As expected of the Empire. At this rate, it looked like I’d earn more from the Empire than the Kingdom this year.
In exchange for regularly reporting on matters involving Senior Loreliya, I was able to sign a simple contract with Aeryun, the temporary representative of House Jeyka.
Hah. Even after leaving the Kingdom, I’m still earning foreign currency like this.
Where else could you find such a loyal subject?
While I was living my life to the fullest, feeling like 24 hours a day wasn't enough...
“It’s finally here.”
Final exams had arrived right before my eyes.
“Still, they said nothing big would happen.”
According to Violet, this final exam was an 'internal academy' part.
Rather than a terror attack from the outside, the main focus was the romance and competition among the internal members.
In other words, it was a wholesome event where the romance fantasy male leads would cling to Daisy and compete with each other through the exams.
Since the conflict with the outside world would happen in the Holy Kingdom during summer vacation, this could be called a breather chapter.
That’s why I let my guard down.
“You’ll have to put up a good fight against Prince Ellen in this exam.”
The Sword Emperor, who had suddenly dropped by, said that as he dragged me away.
No, use this time to take care of your grandson instead.
That brat, the Minor Sword Emperor, got totally wrecked by me yesterday too!
“Now, let’s have a light spar today as well.”
“…….”
I tried to resist the tyranny of the wicked professor, but it was futile.
The Swordsmanship Department was already filled with the Sword Emperor’s followers, and even the Academy was walking on eggshells around him.
Furthermore, although the Head Professor of the Magic Department had been hit by all sorts of unfair circumstances during the last terror attack, he had ultimately been humiliated, causing the balance between the Swordsmanship and Magic Departments to shift slightly.
In short, the Sword Emperor’s influence had grown stronger because of my actions.
And I had to pay the price.
“Hahahaha!”
The Sword Emperor laughed joyfully as he beat his sandbag.
The sandbag’s name was Adam Smith.
That was me.
It was so damn unfair.
On top of that...
“I will prove myself in these final exams.”
The final exam event wasn't just about the Sword Emperor.
Senior Loreliya looked at me with a burning gaze that didn't match her cold expression.
She should be sending that hot gaze to the Prince, not me.
Then maybe their relationship would actually progress.
When I told her that honestly...
“...It’s a bit embarrassing.”
Unlike me, a third party, it seemed she felt a bit shy about doing that to her fiancé.
“I heard that the Magic Department will be conducting exams for two grades together this year.”
Although it was the exam content released today, I had already been spoiled by Violet a month ago.
Roughly, the 1st and 2nd years, and the 3rd and 4th years would be grouped together for mock battles.
Naturally, it was normal for seniors to beat juniors.
However, for the 1st and 2nd years, it was a development meant to show the talent of this year’s freshmen by having them win more often, signaling the start of a new era at the Imperial Academy.
“There, I intend to face Daisy.”
And it seemed the part involving the main male lead, Prince Esid, and the villainess(?) Loreliya was going to proceed exactly like the original work.
In the original, Daisy defeats Senior Loreliya using pure magic power, not her Saintess powers.
After that, Senior Loreliya continues to lose until she finally acknowledges Daisy during the 4th-year midterms.
“I want to win.”
But seeing the Senior speak with such desperation, I couldn't not help her.
House Jeyka was paying me much more than I expected; how could I just look the other way?
“First of all, about Daisy...”
I recalled Daisy’s specs.
According to what I heard from Violet, she was a cheat character with talent in all elemental magic.
She was so talented that she even had immense potential for dark magic—so much so that the Demon King would eventually kidnap her to be his consort.
“She has talent in all elements.”
“……”
Was it my imagination? Senior Loreliya’s expression darkened slightly.
Were the Senior’s attributes water and wind?
“Uh, well. And...”
I recalled things one by one.
Although holy magic was forbidden in the exam, the Saintess’s passive skills would activate automatically.
“First, low-level magic is automatically nullified by Divine Grace. She also has some resistance to magic above that level.”
Furthermore, she could sever the links of sorcery, naturally weakening spells. She was immune to various curses, possessed an AOE skill that purified curses, and her natural healing factor was so high that minor wounds healed instantly.
What the hell?
Even Prince Ellen doesn't seem this broken.
And even more...
“She’s strong.”
“...I can tell she’s strong just from the explanation so far.”
“No, not that...”
What came to mind was the aftermath of the battle with Silence.
It was what happened when I woke up to the sound of Daisy slapping someone as my alarm clock.
“Her basic close-quarters combat... is no joke.”
The image of Daisy mercilessly beating Violet, who had struck her first, was still vivid in my mind.
“...Honestly, she should transfer to the Knight Department.”
“...Is she that good?”
I nodded with a serious expression.
I was sincere. The next time the Sword Emperor dragged me off to train, I was planning to quietly suggest it to him.
For such a talent to live as a mere Magic Spammer was a waste of a life.
Think about it.
A front-line knight who is immune to low-level magic, has high resistance to anything stronger, is immune to sorcery and curses, provides buffs to allies just by being nearby, and naturally heals most wounds.
Even Joan of Arc wasn't this much of a monster.
In terms of individual influence, she would be even more outstanding than Prince Ellen after he becomes a Sword Master.
However...
“……”
Since Senior Loreliya’s expression had become visibly gloomy, I had no choice but to do my best to provide mental care until we parted ways.