Ah, This Is What Pride Is

Ah, this is what 'pride' is.

More than half of the Empire's civil servants are Academy graduates. And every single one of them knows the Academy's Autumn Festival inside and out.

Among the events where students take the lead, this is the biggest, most dazzling, and most important of all.

It's the day that can turn someone into the socialite of the season or a candidate for the next student council president.

Simply put, they become the star who monopolizes popularity among seniors, juniors, and peers. Of course, there's a catch: it only lasts about a week at most.

Anyway, what we can tell from this is that the Academy Autumn Festival is, quite literally, the Academy's own festival. In other words, it's their day for students to enjoy themselves.

Faculty members are included, but it's still limited to the Academy. It's not a regional event, nor is it a day commemorated across the entire Empire.

So, there's no reason for foreign countries to take interest, nor for the Church to secretly send envoys to give a speech or something.

But what on earth is this?

…

…Am I seeing things?

The Imperial civil servants from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were clutching their heads in unison at the news.

The Academy festival? It's not an Empire-wide event! It's just a day for students to have fun!

Why are you coming? Why are you stepping one foot inside?! Don't come! Don't come! If all of you show up, we'll really be done for!

Even in this already insane situation, Abillesti had sent the message without a shred of hesitation.

What are you all doing without us? Whispering among yourselves while excluding us? You're trying to isolate us, aren't you? No way. I can't stand it. Come on, let's all play together! …Well, that was enough to interpret it that way.

So, to summarize: the Empire's Academy festival is being demanded by three nations and the Church in full.

Whether it's for a tour, a speech, or just to come watch!

"These idiots must have been drugged as a group. What the hell is going on?"

"Why is the Cardinal doing this? Did something arrive from the Holy See?"

"I don't mind the others, but the elves are a bit uneasy…"

Meeting after meeting. And finally, the conclusion was clear.

"They're using Karl Adelheit as the reason."

The Church was now openly showing affection since Karl was clearly an adult.

The Heigens faction wanted to make sure the Empire's mood changed according to the young master's words. Especially after last year's incident. This time they were going to show their full commitment to the claim that "elves are safe."

The Kingdom of Lasquer had already acknowledged the Empire's supremacy but had no intention of kneeling all the way. So they wanted to tie a string to Karl, the only one who could monitor the Empire from the inside.

And Abillesti… well, as I said earlier, when everyone else is gathered, even someone with a bad temper will come along grumbling.

'Annoying… Karl Adelheit… This time, you're really going to be hated…!'

'This means I won't be able to take a single day off for two months. Save me. Save me! Please!'

Karl didn't know about it, but the moment civil servants started crying and wailing his name from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was approaching.

*

Meanwhile, Karl was crying and wailing while shouting the Emperor's name.

The Emperor had finally announced that he would personally award four medals. Each one was something that would engrave the recipient's name into imperial history if received even once.

The Medal of Honor had already been received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so that was out.

The Order of Merit was to highlight the Empire's outstanding talents and emphasize its superior and excellent aspects, making it educationally beneficial. So it was awarded.

The Imperial Honor Gold Medal was essentially the civilian version of the Medal of Honor. It was given to those who left major contributions and impacts on imperial history and culture.

Of course, it required a staggering difficulty: two-thirds of the Diet members had to vote in favor.

And finally, the Imperial ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Freedom Medal was only awarded by the Imperial Household Ministry. Given that the ministry existed solely for the sake of the imperial family, it was the same as the imperial family personally bestowing the medal.

Combined with the Imperial Honor Gold Medal, it was the civilian version of the Medal of Honor, number two.

In short, they weren't just giving him the Medal of Honor. They were giving him four medals of equal standing.

Moreover, the person bestowing all of them was the Empire's final boss.

…

Karl sighed deeply after confirming every notification.

'You said there would be no medal awards, Your Highness the Crown Prince…'

Feeling deeply wronged, he had checked it himself. What the Crown Prince had meant was only related to "miracles" and "sainthood."

Since the Holy See had already been hyping it up enthusiastically, the Empire would remain silent on that point. Instead, they would naturally award him for all the benefits the Empire had gained because of him.

Karl wanted to shout "I was fooled!" but when he thought about it, it was strange that he hadn't received even one medal.

From his own perspective, his achievements had greatly raised the Empire's external image, brought positive influence to the educational sector, inspired various fields, and most importantly, raised the Empire's citizens' pride in being Empire citizens to the highest level.

'This is exactly what maximum national egoism is.'

He had seen similar cases in his previous life. Monarchy, republic, militarism, totalitarianism, democracy, socialism. Even communism.

Even if you combined all political systems, you couldn't beat national egoism.

The source of that national egoism was right in front of him. If you couldn't savor it deliciously, it would be better not to engage in politics at all, no matter who you were. That was the correct way.

Excessive national egoism was harmful, but moderate national egoism raised a nation's cohesion to the highest level.

"Ugh."

Karl grabbed his forehead and turned to the next notification. There, just as burdensome as the medals, was written something else.

It didn't specify what or whom the coin was being minted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to commemorate. But anyone not stupid would know why and for whom it was being made.

Just a short while ago, the Ministry of Finance had come looking for Karl and said, "I'll draw your side profile." Before he could even refuse, they had already drawn it!

'Is this really going to be a coin with my face on it?'

Commemorative coin? With the Empire and the Holy ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠See jointly issuing one featuring his own face?

Curious, he asked the Ministry of Finance. They said they had set a separate budget for the coin.

He had worried the Ministry of Finance would get angry at the sudden budget, but the rumor was that they were already enjoying Karl's "raindrop effect" to the fullest.

Additional news: the commemorative coin would be distributed only to the Church's major figures, nobles of count rank and above, and high-ranking civil servants.

It was to show that they would do their best with sincere hearts, given the important occasion.

What on earth was going on? Medals, commemorative coins. While Karl was blankly smiling, a new story reached his ears.

"Young Master Karl. A message just arrived from the Imperial Household Ministry."

Of all places, the Imperial Household Ministry. The place that handled only the imperial family's business.

Having heard that far, Karl instinctively trembled. Something ominous was about to happen!

"All medal awards for Young Master Karl will be made at the Academy festival. His Imperial Majesty has declared that he will personally bestow them… Young Master? Young Master?!"

Stop… Please stop… What is this plan to freeze me solid… Stop, please…!

Karl grabbed the back of his neck and slumped into the chair with a thud.

The Emperor was coming in person. In imperial history, this had never happened before. What kind of mad emperor would leave the palace to come to the Academy and award medals to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his subjects?

It turned out later that there had been good reasons for the Emperor to make that decision.

All the dignitaries from other countries were gathering at the Academy. Each with their own reasons or excuses.

So, at that place, they would show off the Empire's proud young noble. The greatest treasure they could never imagine, something they desperately wanted but could never have.

To such a person, the Empire would offer its greatest glory by having the Emperor personally appear.

After hearing the news later, Karl said this:

'So, Your Majesty, isn't this a kind of tea-bagging? That…!'

Don't you have a young friend like Karl in your house?! Our nobles are truly noble! We receive miracles and medals. Right?!

This was an Emperor's boasting on a scale and dimension completely different from anything else.

--- This was the Emperor's scale and dimension different from anything else.