Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Freedom Comes with Responsibility. (7)
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“......”
The Hero Academy was currently facing an unprecedented crisis.
“Hey, you bastards! My son died during class—what the hell does that mean?!”
“No way, they were fine for three years, so why the sudden regression?”
“Damn it, they said no more deaths! They said it wouldn't happen anymore!!”
As the practical lessons continued, the number of students dying or getting injured was steadily increasing.
Not just the freshmen, but even the second- and third-years who had been doing well up until now were starting to have problems.
“Hey, isn't this a problem? We've never been here before.”
“Yeah, Senior Jenny said we need to scout the terrain ahead and make plans...”
They had originally been following Jenny's... or more precisely, Kane's teachings through Jenny, and acting accordingly.
But the blood of nobles raised with a superiority complex and their own whims couldn't be erased that easily.
“Hey, it's fine. Nothing's happened so far anyway. We're just that strong.”
“Yeah, yeah, no problem at all. Senior Jenny isn't even here right now.”
And so, cases of injuries during unprepared practical lessons began to rise.
At least the fundamental knowledge had been passed down through Jenny, so they fared a bit better than the freshmen, but no more than that could be expected.
“The demon possession incident too... Isn't there actually something wrong with the academy?”
In the end, even such words came up at the meeting of imperial nobles.
“Right. That Jenny Harkur quit being a hero candidate, didn't she?”
“Tch tch, I knew it when she abandoned all her talented hero party members in the forest.”
“Lowly blood will out.”
The sudden surge of casualties after three years, the demon possession incident.
On top of that, the story of Jenny Harkur abandoning her entire party before and quitting after just a few months.
But that responsibility lay with the Hero Management Bureau for failing to manage properly—it wasn't actually the academy's fault.
On the contrary, the academy prided itself on having raised Jenny Harkur exceptionally well.
Even though they hadn't really done it themselves.
But the world doesn't run on facts alone.
“Hmph! It's because the academy didn't properly teach them character! If they'd instilled loyalty to the empire and obedience to superiors, this wouldn't have happened!”
Following Duke Persen, the empire's second-in-command.
These were the words of Duke Eihan Sobair, the empire's third-in-command, leveraging his immense influence over heroes and hero candidates as the head of the Hero Management Bureau.
“Indeed, indeed. Duke Eihan speaks wisely.”
“This is entirely the academy's fault.”
Principal Parus, who trained the candidates at the academy, wielded considerable power himself, but not enough to rival the empire's third-in-command.
Naturally, the nobles rubbed their hands and sided with Director Eihan.
‘Filthy bastards...’
Principal Parus ground his teeth.
They knew full well what would happen to them if the academy was deemed at fault.
Those self-serving scum knew it better than anyone.
But scraping even the crumbs from a greater power mattered more.
They were blinded by immediate gains and missing the bigger picture.
“...Nonsense. The academy has no issues. If the academy has a problem... then the heroes and hero candidates who dominate this continent's power... the noble society built around them would be the problem.”
Yes, the academy had to be blameless.
Even if the methods used so far were wrong.
They had to be right.
Otherwise, the foundations of those who held the world's power would shake.
And plunge the world into great chaos.
But the nobles either couldn't think that far.
Or they were simply offended by Principal Parus calling them out on their fundamental flaws.
They flew into a rage at his pointing out the root issue.
“What?! How dare you spout such nonsense before His great Imperial Majesty and us nobles?!”
“A problem with society itself? Ha! To hear street rat talk from the academy principal!”
“Principal Parus, what—you planning rebellion or something?!”
As the furious nobles ranted.
The emperor, seated at the head table and silently watching them, finally spoke.
“Enough, all of you.”
“I-Imperial Majesty.”
His small, low voice spread through the noisy nobles like a wave.
The nobles quietly looked up at him.
In their gazes, the emperor smiled faintly while uttering chilling words at odds with his expression.
“You're making such a fuss—doesn't it just prove Principal Parus right?”
“......”
“......”
In other words, their current behavior was a glaring problem for nobles.
And it was true.
Nobles were those who upheld the nation in exchange for wielding its power.
What they were doing wasn't “noble”—it was just the antics of power-drunk fools.
Many nobles here were former heroes or hero candidates, so in terms of raw strength, Emperor Karr 17th was likely the weakest.
Yet no one could contradict him.
Do so, and no matter their personal power, they'd be crushed by his merciless authority and vanish before they knew it.
Of course, the current emperor wasn't an active hero or hero candidate.
He held no power himself.
But he wasn't just an empty figurehead bearing the title.
His authority was undeniably the empire's strongest.
It stemmed from his exceptional political acumen and charisma.
With the era's strongest hero candidates, Marquis Harkur and Parus, at his side.
Even Duke Persen, who effectively controlled the imperial treasury, couldn't act rashly against his overflowing charisma.
Though he lacked personal strength, he wielded the imperial family's power to keep the nobles in check.
Ruthless when needed.
Gentle when called for.
He was the epitome of an ideal supreme ruler.
Yet the nobles knew it well.
How terrifying he truly was.
‘The emperor who ascended by killing the first prince...’
‘One misstep, and we're next—who knows?’
The throne was meant for the first prince, who possessed the Hero's Quality.
But the first prince was a notorious wastrel, lacking both political skill and charisma.
In contrast, the second prince—now Karr 17th—boasted brilliant intellect and charisma.
Yet without even the Hero's Quality, let alone hero candidate potential, he was deemed unfit for the throne.
In a world centered on heroes and hero candidates.
A powerless commoner at the pinnacle of power was perfect fodder for disdain from nobles and foreign nations alike.
But one day, the first prince was horrifically poisoned.
The culprit was never caught, but everyone knew.
It was the second prince's doing.
Because he'd quietly gathered powerhouses like Marquis Harkur and Parus to his side, building his faction.
What else could explain a second son with no claim to the throne amassing forces?
And sure enough, he marched to the emperor with his forces and declared:
“With my brother gone, it's just me now.”
As if to say he'd kill him too if denied.
This tale was known only among high nobles and royals.
But it alone proved his fearsome might.
If even high nobles dared not defy him, how could the lesser ones dream of it?
‘...Still as terrifying as ever.’
Even Principal Parus, who'd benefited from him, trembled in fear.
That said it all.
Though Marquis Harkur, the pillar of his power, was dead, and Parus sat here now.
Yet the ingrained terror remained.
More than Duke Persen, who made defiant nobles vanish without trace.
More than Duke Eihan, who strutted on influence over heroes and hero candidates alone.
He was the most frightening person in this room.
Parus knew it well.
“By the way, Jenny Harkur has quit being a hero candidate, correct?”
“...Y-yes, that's right, Your Imperial Majesty.”
Even Director Eihan, no better than a wastrel, knew it well.
So he answered meekly, unlike his usual self.
“A pity. I thought she'd be a great asset to the empire... a fine hero candidate.”
As Emperor Karr 17th sighed regretfully, the nobles felt chills again.
His words sounded like he'd planned to make her the new “pillar of power” in Marquis Harkur's place—and failed.
“Can't we bring her back now? Even if not as a hero candidate, I hope she doesn't leave the empire.”
At the emperor's question, everyone fell silent.
They had no idea how to lure Jenny back anyway.
And even if they could, she'd only bolster the emperor's power further—which they knew.
Then.
“Upon hearing Miss Jenny Harkur was heading to Hasler, my son—the Hero of Light, Mersenne Remnant—has gone to persuade her.”
Principal Parus raised his hand and spoke.
The other nobles might not know, but for Parus.
This was a chance to earn even more favor from the already sympathetic emperor.
“Is that so? The Hero of Light, Mersenne. He's certainly trustworthy. He has an exceptional sense of duty as a hero candidate.”
The emperor nodded in satisfaction.
The nobles glared at Principal Parus resentfully.
“Hm, Hasler... She's heading there?”
Then, the emperor muttered meaningfully to himself.
For some reason, it felt like something was about to happen in Hasler again.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Ugh, suddenly feeling chills...”
“What?! Instructor Kane, are you okay?! Did you catch a cold? Shall I get some medicine?”
No need to worry that much...
My throat doesn't even hurt or anything.
“C-calm down, Miss Lin. It's just a sudden chill. I'm fine.”
“Still, just in case—keep yourself warm.”
“Got it.”
Heh heh, Miss Lin is so kind.
...But why the sudden chills?
As if something scary is about to happen...
Eh, no way.
That's just superstition.
Don't mind it.