An Example of a Wonderful Trade, My Friends
“Karl! Over here!”
“Have you eaten lunch? If you haven’t, eat with us!”
Oh. There they are. Our four idiots. Target acquired. You bastards!
I immediately pushed off my seat and charged forward, launching a flying kick without hesitation.
“Ugh—!”
“Kyaaah!”
Once again, the hydras went flying in every direction like bowling pins from my flying kick.
Other students gathered around, murmuring in confusion about what was happening and staring our way.
It could be said that a Medal of Honor recipient suddenly assaulting students, but let’s save that thought for later.
Right now, I needed to know what the hell these idiots were thinking by doing something like this.
“Karl! What are you doing again?!”
“Still mad about the mint choco?!”
“You know that crossed a line, right?”
“Then why?!”
I wonder if they truly don’t remember or if they’re just pretending.
“You guys mentioned the pension fund to your family heads, didn’t you?”
“Huh? Yeah, we did.”
“Of course we should. It’s a good thing, and something we have to do. It doesn’t make sense to only do it among ourselves. Plus, it boosts our family reputation and properly supports the Medal of Honor recipients.”
Yeah, yeah. A structure where everyone benefits from each other. I get it.
But why the hell did they name that pension fund after me?! My opinion?!
“Speaking of which, our family heads. Why are all of you suggesting to call it the ‘Karl Adelheit’ pension fund?”
“Huh? That’s because we decided to do it that way.”
…At least I expected them to say no at least once.
Schlippen said it with such unshakeable confidence that I forgot what to say.
“Honestly, that’s right. Since you suggested it, we have to do it.”
“This time, I agree with Schlippen, Karl. No matter what, your name is necessary.”
“You didn’t even ask my opinion and decided it yourselves?”
“Honestly, I thought you’d eventually agree to it anyway.”
What kind of talk is this, Alexander. Why do you think I’d automatically agree?
“Karl. You’re a Medal of Honor recipient, right?”
“…That’s right?”
“And you participated in the Luzens War. That means you know more than anyone about Medal of Honor recipients and understand them more deeply.”
Up to that point, yeah. I’ll admit it.
“Using our family name as the starting point for the pension fund is honest to say it’s a bit much. We need someone more symbolic.”
“Wait, so why do we need a symbolic person? Explain from there, Alexander.”
“That’s why I’m not stopping here.”
The answer came from Joachim standing beside him, smiling with a grin.
“Of course our families will be the starting point and the core, but we don’t plan to end it there.”
“What do you mean?”
“We’ll appeal to all noble families. We need the Empire to pay more attention to those who sacrificed for the Empire. Since they received a favor, it’s only right that they repay it.”
Uh… hmm. Good intentions, but I worry it might be too forceful.
If too many families overlap, the good intent could turn sour.
Thanks to my memories from another life, I know well that pension funds are perfect for misusing as slush funds.
That’s why I only suggested it to these guys. At least those four families aren’t corrupt.
If there was a problem with the family, they wouldn’t have been chosen as protagonists.
“I know what you’re worried about.”
“You know?”
“Yeah. The family heads gathered right because of that.”
“The money in the pension fund might be used in another direction.”
These guys said their heads were fine with it, but it’s not entirely a lie.
They kept staring at me expectantly, so I continued.
“That’s why your name is even more necessary, Karl.”
“My name?”
“Think about it. Someone trying to do some shady business with the pension fund. But what’s the fund name? Karl Adelheit. The name of a crazy guy who received two Medals of Honor. The Empress and the Crown Prince personally awarded it. It mixes the name of the imperial family. I wonder if there’s anyone left who would dare to sully that.”
Wilhelm’s words made the other three nod vigorously.
Then they added, “You received more than just medals. If you add them all up, it would be like insulting the entire Empire Army by tarnishing your name.”
“Hmm. Would that include Heigens?”
“What do you mean?”
“No. The Heigens side also gave me one.”
I hadn’t told these guys yet. I secretly showed them one medal.
“What’s that?”
“This? The Legion of Honor. They gave it to me from the Heigens delegation.”
“…Hey, Schlippen. Did I hear that wrong?”
“I didn’t think of it either, but no matter how I think about it, it sounds right.”
The four idiots suddenly left me behind and started whispering among themselves.
Insane. Truly insane. Now they’re collecting elf medals too.
Hey. What’s that? Is it as amazing as the Medal of Honor? It looks similar.
Dumbasses. You don’t know? The Legion of Honor. It’s Legion d’Honneur! Legion d’Honneur!
So what is that? Elves really value honor. This is a medal taken from there.
“…Hey. There’s someone right in front of you listening, and you guys are chatting like that. It stings a bit.”
“Huh. You heard?”
“Yeah. Very clearly.”
“A guy who received the Legion of Honor is talking like he got some cheap gift. Seriously, sometimes it makes me wonder if Karl is really from the same noble family as us.”
“What? Even if it’s the Legion of Honor, I’m not a Gganf… elf.”
This is the Empire. So a medal from a foreign country won’t have much influence, though it will earn admiration.
If I received it, I could just say ‘Oh, impressive’ without issue. My motherland is the Empire.
Still, it’s flashy enough to match the Empire’s Medal of Honor. The elves are wagering their lives on medals.
Well, since the Legion of Honor is at a similar level to the Empire Medal of Honor, it makes sense.
While they were still muttering among themselves, they approached and patted my shoulder.
“Karl. Can I ask you for one favor?”
“If it’s weird, I’ll break your head.”
“It’s not weird, so don’t worry. Let’s be friends forever. Even when we’re old and senile, we’ll still be friends.”
Friends. Friends. Hmm… Noble gentlemen. You’re asking for friends without depositing any friendship fee? To a Medal of Honor recipient? You guys really haven’t learned basic manners.
“For free?”
“Wow. Bad kids. We decided to support the pension fund!”
“That’s your family’s job. As your friends, I want to receive something personal from you. Honestly, with two Medal of Honor recipients, the top elf medal, and all the other medals, one bulletproof vest on my chest would be enough?”
Thinking about the medals I’d have on my chest to enter the room, I doubt even one noble in imperial history received such a level of honors.
Actually, it’s only natural. The only real crazy person who enlisted as a soldier after the noble world settled was me. It makes me realize anew how insane I truly was.
“So, here are the family heads. What can you give this humble servant? Hoo hoo hoo.”
“No, Karl! You’re a high noble without even one envious thing! Where did the Adelheit family honor go?! Aren’t you ashamed?!”
“Karl Adelheit might be ashamed, but the academy returning student Karl is not ashamed at all.”
So, no matter what, I need to give something that would make him interested.
If I don’t respond honestly, the Medal of Honor recipient will remember this incident.
“…Wait a second. Karl.”
“If it’s something weird, prepare yourself.”
“It’s definitely not weird, so relax.”
The four idiots whispered among themselves and then simultaneously presented something.
Despite having different appearances, thicknesses, and colors, the common point was that they were all well-used.
“What is this?”
“What else? A study guide.”
“I told you not to spout nonsense.”
“No, it’s really a study guide. Karl, don’t you remember it’s midterm season?”
“Midterm?”
Oh. Oh. Really. Midterm is soon, the day after tomorrow. Oh my, oh my.
Recently, I’ve been so busy with everything that I completely forgot. Is this okay?
“The reaction shows you forgot.”
“…Damn. Now that I think about it, it really is midterm. I got called around and forgot.”
“I knew you’d say that. That’s why this is even more necessary, Karl.”
Given how they said it, it seems like they understand what the study guide is.
Students from the same class as me. But those who have been students here at the academy for a few more years than me.
Of course, they would have encountered more lectures and more professors.
In the process, they would have taken notes on important parts, checked them, and later summarized the parts that would appear on exams in a way that helps.
“In other words, a family tree.”
Others said they received it from seniors, but I got it from my juniors. It makes me feel like a late returning student once again.
“How is it, Karl? If this is enough as a trade condition, isn’t it?”
“…A family tree of those who received graduation deferment is believable?”
“Our test scores are high!”
“It’s just because you misread the lecture scores!”
That’s even dumber, you bastards! What good is doing well on tests! You can’t even fill the lecture scores!
“So, Karl. What’s your answer?”
Hah. That’s the obvious answer.
“A wonderful example of a great trade. My friends.”