I Don't Want to Get Entangled!

Medal of Honor. Order of Merit. Distinguished Service Cross. And the Elven Legion of Honor, even though it's from the elves.

What's the common point of these? It's that they're all 'military' related medals! Ta-da!!

I didn't think I'd be making bulletproof plates with medals pinned to my chest, not even from the northern vodka country.

But I did roll around like a dog in the war, so yeah. If it's a medal related to the military, I can understand it.

"News from the Foreign Ministry. Sergeant Karl Adelheit. It seems they're considering awarding the highest merit medal to you."

...I never thought they'd put a military medal on my chest, let alone a diplomatic one.

"The highest merit medal, you say?"

"Yes. It's a medal given to those who have made remarkable contributions to the Empire's diplomatic relations. By the way, no one has received this medal in recent years."

Do they want me to get more medals here? It's not a joke; it's starting to feel heavy.

Can't I just say 'Thank you. You did great work.' naturally?

If not, maybe a plaque or a certificate. Anything, just change it to that?

I asked the person who delivered the news with earnest eyes, but the answer wasn't what I wanted.

"We've already invited you to the Foreign Ministry. It's been noted in the imperial records that Sergeant Karl Adelheit is on the list of highest merit medal recipients."

Our brother-in-law. So, the Crown Prince should have stopped it, but it seems it was difficult.

Well, it's not like they can refuse because we found the Bright Light Church's holy relic.

Still, I thought it would take at least a month of discussion, but it ended in three days.

"Let's get started. Young master—no, Young Master."

So, our family members and I ended up at the Foreign Ministry unexpectedly.

There was also the deputy director from the Foreign Ministry waiting there, and when I got in the carriage, he immediately offered a handshake with a bright smile.

"Congratulations, Young Master."

"Ah, yes. Thank you."

"It's truly a joyous occasion. The recipient of the Honor Medal is now also receiving the highest merit medal. Whether as a soldier protecting the Empire or as a noble fulfilling duties, you are a role model for others."

A role model. Even so, I swung my sword a bit and didn't think holy relics would come out.

So, right after arriving at the Foreign Ministry, I received another medal with applause.

"Your hard work is praised, and we hereby certify that you have illuminated the name of our country with the names of the Empire and the Imperial Court. Emperor, Foreign Minister."

I was about to salute habitually. Because I kept receiving medals, I kept saluting.

Fortunately, the minister shook my hand first, so it didn't happen.

At this point, I might need to buy a display case for the medals.

"Ultimately, this is how it is, Karl Adelheit student. Ah, now I should call you Young Master?"

"You can call me comfortably. Your Highness."

"Then I'll call you student. Since you seem to like that."

The Foreign Minister, who met me due to a recent meeting with the Heigens side, burst into laughter.

"I didn't expect you to award the medal so quickly."

"Isn't it obvious, Karl student? You received the Elven Legion of Honor from the elves. After doing something like that, is it the end? A hero is supposed to have a big impact no matter where they go or what they do."

"..."

"And ultimately, you found the holy relic of the Bright Light Church?"

The minister's words sounded like 'I knew you'd cause another huge incident.' Is it my imagination?

"Now it's getting to the point of curiosity. After the elves, the Bright Light Church. What's next? Abillesti? Or Lasquer?"

"Please, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠don't do that. I'm worried about getting entangled with someone else again."

"On the contrary, others might wish for it. Once Karl student gets involved, it goes in a very good direction for the Empire."

"So, that's why it's a burden for me..."

After finishing the schedule and chatting with the minister for a bit, the Foreign Ministry atmosphere felt a bit off.

Not in a bad way, but how to put it. It feels like today's main event isn't ending with me? The place is busy preparing something else, not looking busy.

"Minister, is there another matter today?"

"Yes? Ah. Ah. By the way, Karl student, I don't think you know. After all, it was sent in small scale from your side, so it might not have been properly reported."

What is it? What news is it that it's from there, small scale?

"People from the Kingdom of Lasquer are coming."

"...What?"

"Do you know about the situation in the Kingdom of Lasquer?"

If it's about the Kingdom of Lasquer... Ah, is that what you're talking about? The crown prince fell ill?

Then the second princess and fourth princess fighting over the throne?

I asked if that's correct, and the Foreign Minister said 'Exactly.'

"The crown prince's illness has worsened, and the king himself had to step in, declaring that the crown prince could no longer be expected to be king, and finding a new successor. As a result, the silent fight between the second princess faction and the fourth princess faction erupted, and finally the fourth princess faction was defeated, and the second princess ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠became the new crown prince."

"Oh."

Lasquer. The kingdom of knights. So, I thought only crazy people shouting about justice! honor! lived there.

But seeing them fight over the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠throne, lining up to see who wins and who loses, even in the kingdom of knights, people are ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the same everywhere.

"Then the defeated fourth princess and her faction..."

"Although their mothers are different, they all have the blood of the Lasquer royal family. So, the second princess didn't take the fourth princess's life, but a massive purge was carried out on her subordinates. Naturally, the fourth princess was exiled to the kingdom's outskirts."

"Cruel."

"That's the horror of politics, Karl student. If I don't sit in that seat, the seat I'm sitting in is in the middle of death."

I know. Too well, so I lived grateful that I had a sister above me until now, and that sister cherishes me terribly.

If I might receive unnecessary suspicion, I didn't even look at the political or social circles.

"Anyway, during this process, those who subtly supported the fourth princess faction, as well as those who maintained neutrality, were all targets of the purge."

"Even neutrality? Isn't that going too far?"

"It could be, but from the second princess's perspective, it seems she judged that those who didn't stand by her until the very end are the same as enemies. It's not entirely incomprehensible. Neutrality doesn't exist in diplomacy. On the surface it does, but in the end, who do you shake hands with and who do you stab in the back? Those who don't are seen as equally dangerous as enemies."

"..."

Honestly, I don't know much about politics or diplomacy. So, strangling neutrality is fine.

In the military, even if not allies, as long as not enemies, anything is fine.

"So, the fifth princess who maintained neutrality was also driven out to the outside of the kingdom. On the surface, it's to improve relations with the Empire, but anyone can see it's just to get rid of her, no more no less."

Suddenly, a bad feeling comes to mind. The instinct that has saved my life multiple times on the battlefield starts shouting to get out of this Foreign Ministry quickly.

"The fifth princess entered the Empire today. After stopping by the Foreign Ministry for procedures, she will immediately move to the Imperial Academy."

"The fifth princess is going to the academy?"

"Yes, Karl student. You will probably become her junior next semester. Hahaha."

Even more ominous. No, why another princess. I already have enough with the elf sharp shooter, the sharp shooter officer, the four who misread lecture scores, the heroine who graduated with top scores and goes to grad school, the crazy guy who made bulletproof plates with medals and fell.

"Um, Minister. I'll go now."

"Now? The fifth princess of the Kingdom of Lasquer will arrive soon—"

"No. I'll go right now. Please."

If I stay here, I'll get entangled. I'll get tangled. I have to escape before that. While shouting that, I got into the carriage to return to the family.

Fortunately, I didn't meet the princess from Lasquer before leaving the Foreign Ministry, which was fortunate. Or rather, it was fortunate.

Until I felt the carriage in front of me moving strangely stiff.

And then, as soon as I saw the wheel axle of that carriage twisting, 'Whoever is inside is in danger!' and immediately jumped out in front of it.

"His Highness."

The Crown Prince, who was burning for the Empire today, received a document.

"...Hmm."

The Crown Prince, after checking the content, tilted his head. What am I seeing wrong now?