149. Already That Season
Why are you doing this to me? Why? Why exactly?
Roderick Friedrich, the professor and graduate student advisor for Selena Ifreet at the Imperial Academy, grabbed his head and let out a constant stream of internal screams.
If it weren't for making the exams a little harder, he was the kind of professor who was well-regarded by the students.
He had no rough edges in his personality, and despite being a noble, he didn't have any sense of superiority. Above all, as a professor, he had tremendous enthusiasm for the subject itself.
For that reason, when Selena, the daughter of Marquis Naplio, became a graduate student at his university, Professor Roderick clapped his hands and praised her passion for academics highly.
Some noble students viewed the academy merely as an extension of social circles. He found that extremely unpleasant and his heart burned with it.
Coming to the empire's best educational institution, to the most glorious ivory tower, what exactly were they doing?
Seeing them spend time on meaningless social lives instead of learning something more to use for the empire made his heart stuffy.
That's where Selena chose to be a graduate student. Despite being the daughter of the marquis, she had interest in degrees.
Luckily, Professor Roderick was handling Imperial history, and she wanted to study history, so it worked out smoothly as advisor and graduate student.
Since then, he showed enthusiasm in his advisor role. He tried to set an example as a professor for students who wanted to learn even a little more.
By the time Selena was following along well and the satisfaction was full, a piece of news came.
"Professor Roderick. I, I'm not trying to belittle the professor at all. Anyway, be careful."
"What do you mean?"
"Selena Ifreet, the graduate student. It seems she's dating that young man."
"That young man?"
"Karl Adelheit."
Who is that? Naturally, no reaction. No matter how much of a professor who only focuses on academics at the academy, that name couldn't be unknown.
No, rather, since he handles the empire's history, he should know him better than anyone.
There are those who have received the Medal of Honor in the empire's history. Mostly ordinary soldiers from commoner backgrounds, and a few noble recipients.
However, among them, not even one has ever worn that glory on their chest more than once.
Perhaps it's only natural. Half of the Medal of Honor recipients. No, half what? Almost 70% received it after fighting and dying.
Most of the remaining 30% received it in a state where they couldn't fight anymore, in a situation where not dying was a miracle.
How could they receive it a second time? That would be talking nonsense.
'But it actually happened.'
He received the Imperial Medal of Honor twice. Once for the achievement of single-handedly breaking through the enemy defense line and rescuing hundreds of imperial soldiers.
The other time, right after discharge, he single-handedly stopped the Luzens elves from hijacking a train to use for terrorism, rescuing hundreds of innocent imperial citizens.
When Roderick first heard the news, he thought, 'Am I hearing things right now?'
The opponents were all elves. Elves are stronger than most imperial soldiers, and even trained regular army elves achieved such unbelievable feats!
And not with other unit members, but thoroughly, only alone!
"Amazing."
It was shocking. Nobles are mostly intertwined with other nobles, but could it be that the graduate student's boyfriend is a Medal of Honor recipient? And a double recipient at that!
From that time, the graduate student who was just being praised was starting to look different.
Precisely, his surrounding people were worrying, 'Don't overwork the graduate student too much. It could be a real big problem. Besides, the military is already treating him as a hero, and now he's the girlfriend of a person unknown even in the entire empire!'
He tried not to be casual about it. However, as a person, Roderick couldn't be indifferent. After all, his graduate student was the fiancée of a double Medal of Honor recipient!
'If it had ended there. That was the limit of what I could bear.'
Not long after, suddenly, the glory that only elves were allowed from the Heigens side was given to a human.
The news that the Legion of Honor was awarded to a human caused elven historians and imperial historians to scream in amazement, calling it a great achievement.
Next, the divine relic of the lost sect suddenly came into the light thanks to Karl's hand.
It said that even the fourth district had almost given up, but he found it and returned it to the sect's bosom.
Thanks to that, Karl was called a saint or benefactor in the sect and received tremendous respect.
Was that the end? No. This time it was Lasquer. Those crazy about knights gave up their glory as knights.
They said they would come back when they had qualifications again, and asked him to hold the sword of the 12 knights well until then.
"Professor Roderick?"
"Uwaaaah! S-Selena student! Why are you like this?!"
"Um... I found the materials you asked for last time."
"Ah. Ah! Y-Yes! Haha! Thank you!"
Every time Karl went crazy, Roderick's anxiety rose proportionally.
No matter how much of an academy professor he was, those kinds of people could exist. There are many around.
But Karl Adelheit was one and only. Only one person. In such a situation, if that young man suddenly barged in with 'Professor. You're not trying to toy with my fiancée, are you?'
'Can I... continue my academy life?'
This was the worry until a few days ago. Yes, until a few days ago.
Lumenus Ecumenical Council Concluded. Discussion on the Sainthood of Karl Adelheit, the Young Master of the Imperial Friedrich County in the Empire — Sainthood Confirmed. However, the timing will be discussed again later.
The news delivered to him was literally shocking. That young man had finally climbed to the level of sainthood. He had shown a glorious appearance receiving a miracle from the gods in the Holy See!
Given the situation. Really, really, if that Karl crossed his arms and looked at him with 'Hmm.' and looked at himself. It wasn't just a problem of continuing professor life....
'Can I... survive?'
Yes. It would be more realistic to worry about that.
"Professor."
It's Selena. At first it wasn't, but now just hearing her voice makes his heart flutter.
Amazing. With this state, he still had to endure two more years? Why can't he just graduate early? It would be good if he could make the graduate school graduate early like the academy with the top grades!
"I brought the materials you asked for last time. Is there anything else you want me to do?"
"Eh? Ah! No. Nothing. Nothing at all."
"Yes. Then I'll be in my research lab. If you need anything, please contact me."
Despite having such an enormous fiancé, Selena never showed off or tried to use her status.
So, grateful but even more terrifying. If she had boasted, it would be different, but since she was like that, I didn't know where the line was that I shouldn't cross!
"Karl oppa's fiancée was made difficult by this professor!"
"You're trying to seduce the person loved by the sect's benefactor?! You're a heretic!"
"Burn! Tear! Bury! Drown! Ooooo!"
Roderick, who had fallen asleep for a moment today and flailed in nightmares with "Uwaaaah!"
*
"What's this. You seem to have a lot of free time lately?"
"No, it's not that. Just that I have more time to focus only on my thesis, so naturally, I have some time to clear my head occasionally."
Strange. Last semester, I remember Selena was extremely busy.
Besides preparing her own thesis, wasn't she also assisting in the advisor role?
Well, if it means having free time, it's good for me too, and for Selena.
"By the way, I heard you had an audience with His Majesty the Emperor."
"Uh... Yeah. That's how it happened."
"Really, amazing. I swear, in the empire's history, only Karl could have met His Majesty and the Crown Prince that many times."
It wasn't that amazing... I'm going to get another medal, Selena...
"Speaking of which, did you hear the story?"
"What story?"
"Huh? You haven't heard it yet?"
So, what story. I have no idea what you're talking about.
"This time, the festival."
"...Ah."
Oh, it's already that time. The academy's autumn festival. I experienced it last year too, but back then—
"Um."
"Karl?"
"No. I just remembered last year."
The time when we roasted and ate hot fish cakes and hotteok to pacify the Gganf.
Those guys. Their expressions back then were really interesting. The moment they were backing away in shock is still vivid in my mind.
"Karl. Karl? Are you okay?"
"Huh? What's wrong."
"No... I mean. Like back then."
Selena understood what she was worrying about right away. Because I hadn't completely escaped from the past nightmares. My eyes were spinning at the sight of those guys trying to harm my close ones again.
"I'm fine, Selena."
"Really?"
"Really."
The good thing was that I had improved a lot since then. Now, unlike back then, I won't go crazy and trample the Gganf to death.
Of course, the anger is still there, so I'll break one of my limbs and hand it over to the Special Intelligence Agency.
"...Anyway. The student council said they have something to ask Karl about at this festival."
"To me? What request?"
"Before starting the academy's autumn festival, they want me to recite a speech or something?"
No, no.... What speech at the festival! I'm going crazy! Kraaaah!