The Scariest Person in the World
After the festival ended, Karl had no choice but to endure all sorts of scandals for the past few days.
Just as he had appeared to be an ordinary returning student, why had he shown such murderous intent?
Who was that mysterious man he had beaten to death, and where had he gone?
Even at the academy it would have been natural to explain himself, but why didn't anyone open their mouths!
In fact, there was no need to open his mouth. Just wait it out.
But the curiosity that came with it began to reach Selena and the four of them as well.
She didn't want anyone to get into trouble or become tired because of her. That would be a nuisance, right?
So, how should she handle it? Karl was seriously pondering this.
The headlines exploded like they had been waiting for the festival to end.
Anyone with half a brain would have pieced it together from there.
It wasn't about what they were saying, but why they were saying it at all.
Why did these articles drop all at once?
But the next line was even bigger, burying that odd feeling under an avalanche.
“Karl Adelheit. In praise of your courage and spirit of sacrifice, I humbly beg for the honor of sharing a single cup of toast with you, a Medal of Honor recipient.”
That was the crown prince speaking.
Once everyone heard that, every question and doubt at the academy vanished in an instant.
The Medal of Honor recipient who had saved hundreds of imperial soldiers from a blood-soaked battlefield, who had crushed a terror cell and protected the innocent, and who had now blocked a dagger aimed at foreign students.
Everyone had been swept up in the festival, but there was one person who hadn't been.
“A hero! He's a hero!!”
“The Empire has such a great hero! You ignorant Gganf! You kingdom brats!!”
More terrifying than drugs is the word “nationalistic fervor.”
And I was feeling it all too keenly right now.
“Senior!”
“Junior!”
“Hey, Karl student!”
Of all people, the news that the crown prince wanted to meet me had spread across the entire academy.
At this speed, by next week the whole empire would know.
I had wondered how they would dig into the academy incident, but this was how it turned out.
Before the kingdom side could even protest, the Empire had already claimed “We did our best.”
That I, a returning student, had “accidentally” intervened was a question no one could easily ask.
More than anything, the crown prince himself had sent his regards through a Medal of Honor recipient, and now they were quietly pressuring us to stay silent.
Because of this, the Kingdoms of Lasquer and Abillesti officially conveyed their thanks to the Empire and to me.
They thanked us for protecting their students and showed no hint of hiding their displeasure at the Luzens elves being named as suspects.
“I heard they’re even forming an anti-terror alliance between the Empire, the two kingdoms, and Heigens.”
The Empire had known and hidden the fact, then covered up the mistake when it happened.
It wasn't that they hadn't informed the kingdom; the incident had occurred before they could inform them, and they had accidentally stopped it.
So to the eyes of the empire citizens, it looked like “Despite being foreigners, they stepped forward with courage and spirit of sacrifice!” and “As expected, the Empire is the best!” That was the point.
It was amazing. The people playing in politics really knew how to use things like this.
“Karl Adelheit Sergeant! Could you look at this?”
“Ah. Karl Adelheit student! This guy is messing up the titles from the start!”
Oh… this reporter was starting to grow on me. He quickly picked up on the vibe and called me student instead of sergeant.
His sincerity was so touching that it pushed other humans aside and got me to give the interview.
“Karl student. Exactly how did you learn about the Luzens students’ attack?”
“It was truly a coincidence. I was helping with the booth and stepped away for a moment. A bunch of people who definitely weren't academy students were there doing something suspicious.”
“Did you already know they were terrorists?”
“I had already stopped them once before, so it wasn't difficult.”
I wasn't lying, so it didn't bother my conscience.
They were terrorists, I stopped them, and the result was a happy ending for everyone.
Wasn't this enough without informing the kingdom side?
“The possibility of receiving a second Medal of Honor is being raised.”
“I simply did what I had to do. And the medal already hanging on my chest is too heavy. I don't need another.”
I didn't want them to tack on a third one. This was already heavy enough.
I had searched the entire imperial history and found no one who had received two Medals of Honor.
No one who had killed more enemies than me, no one who had won more victories.
Not even the commander of the imperial army, starting from soldiers like me.
Anyone!
I didn't want to be the first. If I had to be one, I wanted to be the second.
They were all talking about glorious, honorable things, but I felt none of it.
It was burdensome. And embarrassing. Most of all, I hadn't even wanted the medal.
“Karl Adelheit… I mean, student! Breaking news just came in from the Imperial Ministry of Justice!”
“A major announcement?”
“It concerns the possibility of receiving a second Medal of Honor that wasn't mentioned earlier! Receiving two or more medals for the same achievement is impossible. But receiving the same medal for a different achievement is possible, and that medal includes the Medal of Honor.”
Oh no. It looked like I had become the first target for the double Medal of Honor.
“This is really bad.”
Why did this keep happening? Why was I constantly being nagged about the medals I had received for what I did?
Was it because I was acting like a tough guy? Had my ordinary returning student concept been eaten up?
I wished that had been the case. If this was because of that, I wished it.
[Karl.]
“…Yes, Mother.”
[You didn't even contact me properly. This is how you're telling your mother.]
“S-sorry.”
I was wrong, Mother. I'm sorry, Mother.
So please don't open your eyes. If those real eyes open, it's big trouble…!
Ricata noona was called the Sword Queen, a terrifying title.
And it was thanks to that that I had survived fighting like a madman on the battlefield.
It was probably because I had inherited something from Mother.
Ah, of course. If you asked if it was because Father was weak, that's not it either.
Normally couples are made from similar people, right?
Father was even stronger than Mother, never the weaker one.
Anyway…
“I really had no choice, Mother. Things just piled up. When I tried to contact you, I was busy, and when I tried again, something happened and I was in a panic.”
I desperately tried to prove my innocence to Mother.
Even if it looked like an excuse, I had no choice. I didn't want to see Mother open her eyes.
The moment she saw it, she would probably slam her head on the floor and beg to be saved!
[Huu…]
Thankfully, Mother didn't seem to want to scold me.
She was probably just disappointed in her wayward son who didn't contact her properly.
[You've worked hard, our son. I heard you really tried for our family and the Empire.]
“It wasn't anything special, Mother. It just happened that way.”
[Don't say that. Even more than anyone else, I know how hard you worked.]
Even through the magic communication device, Mother's warm encouragement reached me clearly.
Was it the stability that came with the name “Mother”? Or was it the understanding that came from being an older sister and an experienced person?
Whatever it was, my mood improved. No one else, but Mother's approval hit hard.
“Is Father well?”
[Yes. Karl, you're the most worrying thing for him right now because of your recent actions.]
“Ahaha… Please tell him I'm sorry.”
[Sorry? Rather, your father's face was full of smiles. A man should smile, he said. He should spread his own name and receive everyone's praise.]
That's right. Father had said “a man” and hadn't stopped me from enlisting as a soldier.
Honestly, if he had stopped me back then, it would have been much better.
Well, lecture time was coming soon. I should say my greetings and end the magic call.
[Karl Adelheit.]
Suddenly Mother used my full name. And the call automatically switched to tense mode.
[Still, tone it down now. I hope you just live quietly as a student. There's no need to take on any rough work.]
“Yes, yes. Understood, Mother.”
[Please do. Besides, your noona has been insisting on returning to the field.]
…Eh?
“Mother. What do you mean? Could it be that noona…?”
[She temporarily returned to the Special Operations Execution Department.]
Noona had heard my news. And she strongly wanted to return to the field.
What this meant was simple. Noona wanted to fight the Luzens elves, the Gganf.
My heart raced violently and my stomach churned like it was boiling.
Before, it had been my comrades, and not long ago it had been Selena. The ones who had hurt my beloved Gganf.
This time it could be noona. And because of me. If, by some miracle, noona got hurt…
[Karl.]
“…Yes, Mother.”
[Take a deep breath. Slowly, deeply.]
I followed Mother's words and steadied my breathing. I calmed my messy head and chest.
[Let me ask you one thing, our son. Is your noona the kind of person who would get hurt by some Gganf?]
I shook my head. Noona, the one I knew, would never be that kind of person.
A stronger person than me, truly someone who never wavered.
[Yes. So don't worry. I hope this mother doesn't bring the Gganf's heads as a souvenir for your noona.]
Without realizing it, I nodded along with Mother's words.
By the way, Mother had once given Father elf heads as a gift when they were dating…