Chapter 63
Chapter 63
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Imperial Family (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
◆
In truth, if you were to be precise, magical beasts weren't as high on the danger scale as demons.
Leaving aside the fact that they were simply less powerful in raw strength, the gap in cunning was on another level entirely.
When facing a powerful demon, it wasn't just their combat prowess you had to watch out for. He'd seen with his own eyes how they eroded humanity.
Demons that understood human emotions also knew how to exploit them efficiently.
But that said the other way around—
[Emotionless ones can be trickier in some cases. They don't know fear.]
The Hero's account of the Cradle's "magical beast raid" incident was tricky in exactly that way.
Which meant that dropping a powerful magical beast into a place like Cradle—full of students with little ability to fight them back—could make minimizing casualties even harder.
And in that regard—
Having someone utterly unreliable in charge of defense during such an incident was deeply unsettling.
Vizil's figure, arms crossed as he prowled every corner of the inner Cradle, could only be described, even at best, as the epitome of an obnoxious prick.
"Are the defenses only at this level?"
"⋯⋯Yes."
Dean Shea answered Vizil in his lopsided posture, and Vizil glanced around before continuing.
"Compared to what the imperial palace uses, this is hopelessly outdated. Can't even Cradle manage basic facility maintenance properly?"
"⋯⋯."
Shea silently smiled and stroked his chin.
To the others accompanying Vizil, it was a gesture that made them watch nervously, unsure when this man might explode.
In fact, what he was saying didn't make any sense.
Cradle had defense facilities that were almost excessively well-equipped for an academy, but of course they couldn't compare to the imperial palace.
And for days now, he'd been harassing Shea and the academy staff with this kind of absurd nitpicking.
From one end to the other, it was all unreasonable complaints, so now just hearing Vizil was spotted had everyone scrambling to flee.
"Your Highness."
Shea spoke flatly.
"Might I ask what your intentions are in nitpicking every little thing here, whether there's cause or not?"
"⋯⋯."
Hmm.
Heroes truly had no sense of moderation in their words and actions, that much was certain.
Perhaps due to his age and experience, he carried himself with more formality and awareness than Gray, but the extremism was on par...
"It's confidential. Can't tell you."
But Vizil brushed it off without a care, no matter if the other was a former Hero or whatever.
"I'm here representing the imperial family. I'm carrying out a commission from the 1st Prince and 2nd Princess."
"⋯⋯."
"Any complaints, Dean Shea?"
⋯⋯⋯⋯When he so brazenly pulled out his backing like that, even the dean couldn't recklessly push back.
Shea glared at Vizil wordlessly but didn't counter what he'd said.
[The dean's close with the Emperor, after all. Someone of his stature would know that clashing with the imperial family would put him in a bad light.]
'That bastard knows it and threatens him like that.'
Truly no different from demons.
Grasping someone's weakness and using it to intimidate.
'But why mention both the prince and princess together?'
Weren't the 1st Prince and 2nd Princess at odds?
Yet from how he spoke, it sounded like the two had collaborated to dispatch him.
And the Holy Sword's response to that was equally absurd.
[⋯⋯He's laying the groundwork now, wandering the academy, so that if casualties occur later, he can pin the blame on the academy.]
'⋯⋯.'
[They seem to agree on that point. He's just the messenger; if something really happens, those two will come themselves.]
⋯⋯Hah.
Hahaha.
The 1st Prince and 2nd Princess would draw blades over sharing an apple, but when it came to this, they synced up perfectly.
Sacrificing an innocent for their own gain.
'Unbelievable.'
[⋯⋯What's surprising is that you think that's the unbelievable part.]
And Vizil's next words proved the Holy Sword exactly right.
"And Dean. Don't you have a room with a slightly larger bed?"
"⋯⋯."
"I'll handle bringing in the women for the inner chambers, so just prepare the space."
"⋯⋯⋯⋯."
"Oh, and I plan to pick a few suitable students. Can you turn a blind eye to that?"
Exactly.
That was the problem.
This Vizil Leonhardt was a lecher with no equal.
Boldly spouting such nonsense in Cradle, an educational institution.
As the rumors went, he had a reputation as trash who treated the women linked to him like objects.
Cracks were starting to form in Shea's smile.
Even the mask he wore on the surface was on the verge of slipping.
"Your Highness. Enough alrea—"
"Why get mad over something like that? If it's no, then it's no."
And once Shea reached that state, Vizil smoothly backed off.
Even that was infuriating. He always retreated just one step if it seemed the other might truly snap, leaving no room...
The Holy Sword's assessment differed slightly.
[⋯⋯Among the imperial family, this guy's the one you can actually reason with, which is ridiculous.]
'Pardon?'
[When the other looks ready to blow, he steps back. That's proof of social skills among royals.]
That flexibility must be why both factions chose him.
'⋯⋯.'
Hearing that, Carlyle immediately lost his words.
What kind of insane group was this?
Such an arrogant lecher was the most reasonable one, selected as a go-between for both sides?
"⋯⋯."
Carlyle took a deep breath.
Well, for now, he could somewhat agree.
Annoying as the guy was in scraping at everyone's nerves, Carlyle had braced for this since hearing he'd cross paths with royalty.
This was still within expectations, so he could handle it calmly—
"Ah, and one more thing."
Before he could finish the thought—
Vizil turned his head sharply toward Carlyle and Vespa.
More precisely, he fixed his gaze squarely on Vespa.
"You, come see me tonight."
"Pardon?"
Vespa's face paled at being singled out.
"Not some lewd intent—just need to discuss the schedule."
"⋯⋯."
"Looking at you, not really my type, but worth a try once⋯⋯ No. Hm. Anyway, to discuss the schedule."
Like hell.
Ordering her to come alone at night was already dripping with lewd intent.
"⋯⋯⋯⋯."
Gray's face crumpled in displeasure, Vespa fidgeted anxiously—
Carlyle simply let a silent smile rise on his face.
Hm.
'Crossing the line?'
And crossing it hard.
Hard enough to need some 're-education.'
[⋯⋯You.]
'⋯⋯.'
[⋯⋯⋯⋯My liege.]
'Yes.'
Rarely, it was the Hero—not Carlyle—fidgeting, but Carlyle answered curtly.
'No, no, I'm not going to throw a tantrum like you would, Hero.'
There were limits, after all.
Starting a brawl with imperial family at the empire's pinnacle? Absurd.
[Whenever you cause trouble, it's always far worse than that...!]
'What trouble?'
[Just look at your face now. You won't sit still!]
Fair point.
Letting a guy act like that slide was unacceptable.
Time to fix his manners.
"Hero, mind if I step out for a bit?"
"⋯⋯."
"He doesn't seem to care whether I'm here or not anyway."
Gray's eyes flicked over his face briefly before turning away.
A smile spread across her lips.
"Sure, go ahead."
⋯⋯As if she'd seen right through what he was thinking.
Carlyle nodded with a smile of his own.
He moved with light steps. To the Holy Sword slung on his back, that cheerfulness amplified endless unease.
His destination was Letty's workshop.
"Hm? What is it? The katana you left for repair last time isn't done ye—"
"No. Something else I want you to work on."
"Huh? What?"
"A drug. An elixir type, pretty tricky to make."
Considering its effects, it was tricky indeed.
Not some grand effect, but its action was profoundly... perverse.
"Sure? What kind?"
"There's someone I know who loves women way too much."
"⋯⋯Ignoring why you'd bring that up so suddenly. So what about him?"
"Planning to give him a gift."
"Gift?"
A gift indeed.
One to teach him a life lesson.
Nothing beat role reversal for making someone realize their wrongs.
"Since he likes it so much, why not let him feel it himself for once? What it's like to be a woman."
"?"
◆