The Award Ceremony (2)

"Thank you for lending me the carriage. I express my gratitude once again."

"Pardon? O-of course······."

Schlus and his attendant stepped down from the carriage, and the door shut with a heavy thud. Left alone inside, Iris couldn't close her slightly parted lips, still dazed.

"W-what was that······?"

Had she seen wrong? No, that couldn't be. She had seen it clearly. Schlus had patted his attendant's head. Without the slightest hesitation, at that. Both the one doing the patting and the one being patted had reacted as if they were used to it, as if it wasn't the first time.

"Is it just a normal relationship······?"

An attendant and employer. Since they spent more time together than anyone except family, it wouldn't be strange if they were close. So something like patting a head might be natural?

"That can't be······."

For a moment the thought crossed her mind, but Iris shook her head to dismiss it. If they were both women it might be different, but between opposite sexes, such a thing couldn't possibly be natural. No matter how she thought about it, they were far too intimate even for close acquaintances. Then, could it be······?

"The two of them······?"

A smile formed on Iris's lips. Schlus's attendant was certainly beautiful. Though her face still looked youthful, her mature figure must have stirred many men's hearts. Living under the same roof with someone like that, it wouldn't take long to lose one's heart. Even if there was a difference in status, both Schlus and his attendant were commoners, so there would have been no reservations.

"And back then······."

In addition, Iris recalled a future she had seen not long ago. The future where the dormitory single room was attacked by someone. In that future, Schlus had succeeded in intercepting the attacker. But there was one thing he couldn't protect. His attendant. In that future, Schlus had suddenly burst into the dormitory building and come looking for Iris. Holding his limp attendant in his arms, he had begged her with tears to save her. When she told him the dead could not be brought back, Schlus had wailed as if he had lost the world. Thinking back now, those tears, that desperation, had clearly been the grief of losing a loved one.

"Haa······. How sweet."

Iris smiled in rapture, cupping her cheeks with both hands. To think she would witness such fresh, budding love. She was glad she had given the hint to save the attendant after all.

"But surely it's not unrequited love, is it?"

Considering one possibility, Iris's expression instantly turned serious. What if Schlus was the only one in love? What if his attendant had no such feelings? With the attendant's beauty, it wouldn't be strange if noble suitors lined up to propose. If she chose some worthless noble for money and stability······? That mustn't happen. Schlus's earnest love would end before it even began.

"Very well. This wasn't part of the plan, but······ I'll help you just a little."

Iris clenched her fists and made up her mind. She would help Schlus's love come to fruition. At the very least, she needed to let the attendant know how sincere his feelings were.

"Hmph. Do I really have to help with something like this? You don't even know how grateful you should be······."

Yet for some reason, Iris felt a bitter taste in one corner of her heart.

*

"Let's go."

"Ah, yes!"

Following Schlus who strode ahead with large steps, Emilia walked while taking a deep breath. Even so, she didn't forget to glance at Schlus's expression from time to time.

'Why. Why is he acting like nothing happened?'

But there was no trace of agitation in Schlus's eyes or gait. Even after what had just happened, was Schlus truly unaffected? Emilia's cheeks had already turned red.

'It was just acting······.'

The nervous appearance she had shown in the carriage was an act. When the crown prince's son had visited the mansion, she had made repeated mistakes because she was too surprised by the unexpected encounter. So to maintain consistency, she had judged she had no choice but to pretend to be nervous this time as well. In reality, she hadn't been nervous in the slightest. But ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the moment Schlus's hand touched her head. The moment that warm touch settled down, Emilia felt her body grow hot. At the same time, even the minimal tension she had maintained melted away, and her rough breathing stabilized. She had been trained to be extremely cautious of others' approaches and physical contact, to be on guard, yet strangely, Schlus's large hand seemed to have some unknown power that put people at ease.

'But is he really completely unaffected······.'

Feeling displeased, Emilia glared at Schlus's back. To show physical contact between opposite sexes to others and act like it's nothing. There was only one reason Emilia could think of. Schlus didn't see her as a woman. Otherwise, he wouldn't have boldly done something that could cause a scandal in front of others. Maybe he thought of her like a younger sister or daughter. From the beginning, a plan like using her feminine charms had no chance of success. Feeling somewhat hurt in her pride and annoyed by that, Emilia now wanted to wrap her arms around Schlus's waist from behind. See if he could still not see her as a woman after this. Then what reaction would Schlus show? Would he get angry, asking what she was doing in the imperial palace? Or would he smile playfully and give her a flick on the forehead? Or would he blush and get flustered······. She wanted to check, but she couldn't. She was afraid that doing so would ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠change her relationship with Schlus.

'Right. This is to continue my mission for the Intelligence Bureau.'

As an agent of the Intelligence Bureau, she couldn't do it because she was afraid the surveillance situation would change. Yes, that was it. Emilia walked while repeating this to herself inwardly. Following behind Schlus.

***

"Emilia. From now on—"

"Yes. I understand. I will maintain proper conduct and absolutely not bring shame upon Mr. Heinkel."

"······."

Emilia had been acting strange for a while now. Was it because he had accidentally patted her head? She seemed thoroughly sulking. Well, Emilia disliked physical contact······. He would have to be more careful from next time.

A quest window appeared before his eyes. It would end just by entering the hall? What kind of quest was this. Was someone going to grab him by the collar and stop him from entering? It was a quest of the easiest difficulty in history.

"Schlus Heinkel."

"Yes. Your identity has been confirmed. You may enter."

There was no trouble when entering the palace. The paper the guard handed him said 'Award Ceremony Observer.' Since it was still a secret that he was the recipient of the award, they had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠decided to let him through this way. Then he wouldn't be stopped by guards from now on either. If he could clear the quest for free, all the better.

"Who's that guy."

"Isn't that the rumored top commoner student of the Imperial Academy?"

"He's attending as an observer? The end times, when even commoners come and go from the imperial palace."

His overly sensitive sixth sense kept picking up the whispers around him. These arrogant nobles and their pride. Their roots were nothing but scraps of paper too, these bastards. He wanted to shout that out loud, but he held it in. It was about time. Ignoring the gazes pouring in from all directions, Schlus headed toward the hall with Emilia.

"Wait."

"······?"

The moment he tried to pass through the door, a scabbard blocked his way. Clicking his tongue and looking to the side, he saw a knight grinning and stretching out his arm. No, two. There was one more on the opposite side. So the quest had appeared because of these guys.

"You can't pass here."

"I've come to observe the award ceremony."

"You don't seem to understand, but this isn't a place commoners like you can enter. I don't know which noble you bought a ticket from, but I can't let the likes of you inside. Go back before you get hurt."

"······."

Judging by the silver full-body armor, they weren't part of the Imperial Guard. They must be from the Imperial Knights. It seemed proper information about him hadn't been passed on to these damn bastards. Wow. What should he do with these guys. He was so dumbfounded he wasn't even angry.

"It would be best to step aside before something big happens."

"Ha. Something big? Don't talk nonsense. The real big deal is letting a dirty commoner like you breathe the same air as nobles, you bastard."

"······I think I've given enough warning."

Checking the time, it was five minutes before the start. He had to get through here by any means now. When he clenched his fist, the guys seemed to notice something was off and began to take a stance, pulling back one leg.

"Has this bastard gone crazy. Daring to challenge a knight right now······!"

Smack! He dodged the fist's trajectory by watching the shoulder. Then a smooth follow-up counter punch. When he drove a hook into the chin, the guy's legs gave out and he collapsed smoothly.

"This son of a······. Prepare yourself, commoner!"

The remaining one turned red and blue, then threw away his sword and charged at Schlus. He had activated his internal circuit, moving at lightning speed, but······

'What. Why does it look so slow?'

The movement was so monotonous and predictable that he could handle it sufficiently without even using his ability. Was it because he had gotten used to the physical abilities of monsters like Hurtlocker and Trie? Schlus simply ducked, deflected the attack, and struck the side at the same time.

"Urgh!"

Unable to control his own speed, the guy spun around and crashed into the wall. Judging by how he stood up holding his waist, he had taken quite a bit of damage. Schlus wished he would just give up and fall down already. Like that guy over there drooling and snoring away.

"You think you'll be safe after touching a knight!"

"······!"

The guy started charging. But the problem was that it wasn't toward Schlus, but toward Emilia. And another problem was······ Emilia was far superior to Schlus in basic hand-to-hand combat. Emilia first looked at Schlus with a flustered expression, but soon realizing he was too far to help, she changed her gaze. It was the cold eyes of an assassin.

"I'll deal with the wench first······! Uwaaagh?!"

Though the guy charged again at tremendous speed, Emilia used that speed against him, grabbed his arm, and slammed him into the floor. Whether he hit the back of his head along with his back on the floor, the guy rolled his eyes back and couldn't regain consciousness. Schlus wasn't sure if the guy was still alive. Even if he survived, he would have to live as a hunchback for the rest of his life. It was karma.

"N-no! This is······! I learned a bit of unarmed martial arts before!"

"······."

Schlus had only looked at her, but Emilia began pouring out excuses like a rap, waving her hands.

"A bit of martial arts got you to this level?"

"Ah, well. I mean······."

"Pfft······. I'm reassured. I could leave my back to you in a pinch."

"Th-thank you."

Unable to hold back his laughter, Schlus decided to play along and pretend to believe Emilia's cute lie. She seemed thorough, but she was surprisingly clumsy. Though she was a character he had created, he was glad to discover a new side of her.

"Let's go."

"Are we just leaving them like this?"

"If they have any shame, they'll keep their mouths shut on their own. There won't be any repercussions."

Knights getting beaten unconscious by a commoner university student and a maid. If they had any ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pride, they wouldn't go around bragging about it. So there was no need to worry about trouble arising from this. Leading Emilia who kept glancing back, Schlus finally entered the hall.

As a reward for successfully entering the hall, he also received coins generously. The hall had a structure similar to a large theater. But its size was enormous······. Since there weren't many tall buildings, it hadn't been noticeable from outside, but seeing the interior area of a single building made him realize anew how massive the imperial palace was. And there were dozens more buildings like this. The Imperial Academy was already ridiculously large, but the imperial palace seemed several times bigger.

"His Imperial Majesty the Emperor will be entering shortly. Please take your seats."

They found suitable seats. Of course, he couldn't have Emilia sit down. It seemed the basic rule was that all attendants stood gathered at the back. When Emilia went to stand at the back, the other attendants were glaring at her from all directions. She wouldn't cause trouble there, would she. Since Emilia was so outstanding, there was no need to worry about her losing her temper and causing an incident. If anything, she should be the one worrying about him.

"His Imperial Majesty Emperor Gustav Friedrich von Freyja is entering."

An old man with white hair leaning on a cane appeared on the stage with Aria. Then the nobles all stood up in unison to pay their respects. Schlus tried to stand up as well. He really did.

'Damn it. Of all times······. Aagh.'

But suddenly a cramp hit his leg and he couldn't get up. The gazes pouring toward him in real time were too stinging. He wondered if he was going to be branded a traitor at this rate. When the emperor stood on the stage and waved his hand, the nobles sat back down. Their movements were all disciplined. So this was what it meant to be nobility.

"Quite a crowd gathered."

Gustav began with a chuckle. Although no information about the award ceremony had been made public, the number of gathered nobles was considerable. There were counts, marquises······ even someone who looked like a duke. It was because the emperor had only announced that there would be an important award ceremony. Gustav wasn't the type to use the word 'important' often. The fact that he had deliberately stated it was an important event meant something unusual was happening.

"Before the award ceremony, I have an announcement. The death of Henderson of the Crows has been confirmed."

The hall began to stir. The gazes that had been glaring at Schlus were now directed at the stage. Though he felt they would return to him soon······.

"Five days ago. Henderson of the Crows infiltrated the Imperial Academy and was killed by one person. Today's award is to honor the distinguished individual who intercepted Henderson. Now, I shall call the recipient's name. The recipient is······"

Bang! At that moment, one of the hall doors burst open. It was the middle-level door they had entered through. What appeared from beyond was—

"Schlus Heinkel! This commoner has dared to assault imperial knights!"

It was the two knights from earlier, with blood dripping from their noses. No, how could they proudly announce that knights had been beaten? Did these guys have no sense of shame······? Along with them, knights appeared and walked toward Schlus with heavy steps. All of them had menacing expressions.

"I'm truly sorry for the disturbance. I'll just take this commoner out······"

"Schlus Heinkel. Come up to the stage."

The emperor's voice echoed throughout the hall. The knight's hand that had been gripping Schlus's shoulder as if about to crush it froze. Looking up, the knight's face had turned deathly pale, which was quite a sight.

"Let go."

"Aah······ Yes sir!"

Only then did the knight remove his hand and step back. Schlus brushed off his shoulder where the knight had touched a couple of times and stood up. As expected. Gazes were flooding in from all directions.