Chapter 161: Dragon's Eye, Human Heart (25)
Chapter 161: Dragon's Eye, Human Heart (25)
After taking over the Newspaper Club, I was finally able to enjoy a peaceful daily life for the first time in a while.
It was all thanks to the fact that the harassment directed at my acquaintances had vanished.
Now, everyone knew exactly what kind of retribution awaited them if they dared to touch my people.
Until now, those who had been tormenting my friends shared two core beliefs.
First, they believed that even if they targeted me or those around me, the Imperial Household would have their backs.
This was true.
Even if a matter was serious enough to convene the Disciplinary Committee, people had no choice but to walk on eggshells if the Imperial Household was standing behind the perpetrators.
This tendency was especially pronounced among lower nobles like Retona Celine. Coming from weak noble families, they couldn't guarantee their own survival if they fell out of favor with the Imperial Household even slightly.
Of course, there were people like me. A psycho who didn't even care about the Imperial Household's whims—but that was a very exceptional case.
No one living in the Empire, or rather, on the entire Continent, wanted to make an enemy of the Imperial Household.
The residents of the Academy were no different.
They turned a blind eye to violence and kept their mouths shut even when they were the victims. It was a vicious cycle that created an endless loop of abuse.
This was also why people felt free to wield violence against my acquaintances despite the clear existence of Academy regulations.
And second, they believed that I, above all else, did not want to be expelled.
This was a false premise created by the Newspaper Club through manipulated public opinion and forged testimonies.
Naturally, any student at the Academy fears expulsion. Until recently, I was no exception to that rule.
But not anymore.
With my family on the verge of ruin because I’d crossed the Imperial Household, why would I fear something as trivial as expulsion? It was utter nonsense.
Because of that misconception, the bloodstains on my sword and axes had only been increasing.
The lie was finally exposed when the Newspaper Club confessed its own sins. Since my first visit, the club had been steadily cultivating an atmosphere of fear surrounding me.
Part of that effort involved the numerous articles the Newspaper Club churned out in just a few days.
The articles were written with a tone suggesting that I had no weaknesses and therefore did not fear expulsion, or that I was highly likely to engage in even more brutal retaliation when it came to violence.
To be honest, the headlines were terrible, but they were surprisingly effective.
Even if they were mere interns, the Imperial Intelligence Agency was still the Imperial Intelligence Agency. For those capable of inciting the public opinion of an entire city, manipulating the sentiment within the Academy was easy prey.
After that, everything proceeded smoothly.
The belief that the Imperial Household acted as a benefactor remained, but it no longer served as a valid reason to touch my acquaintances.
Everyone, after all, values their own life.
I was a man who would lop off limbs just because someone slapped a commoner girl. Getting involved with me only led to unnecessary bloodshed.
Even if the Imperial Household had their backs, it didn't change anything.
No matter how sturdy one's support was, a blade was always closer.
For me, it was a relief.
I could simply deal with those who targeted me whenever they appeared. However, I was helpless when it came to people targeting those around me.
I couldn't exactly stick to my friends twenty-four hours a day, could I?
Furthermore, most of my friends had families to protect and bright futures ahead of them. Since they couldn't afford to earn the enmity of the Imperial Household or high-ranking nobles, they always had to endure in silence.
That was why I had spent the last few days with a heavy heart, fraught with anxiety. Only now could I walk around the Academy with a slightly more eased mind.
Of course, that didn't mean the situation had turned entirely for the better.
While walking along Central Avenue, I ran into Celine. She looked uncharacteristically lonely.
Naturally, our eyes met.
The moment she saw me, she stiffened. After hesitating for a moment, she approached me with an awkward smile.
Celine greeted me in her usual cheerful voice, naturally linking her arm with mine.
She was the same Celine I had always known.
"Hi, Senior Ian! It's been a while, hasn't it?"
Despite Celine's greeting and her beaming smile, I couldn't feel at ease.
Others might not have noticed, but I knew.
Right now, Celine was acting.
She was pretending everything was fine because she didn't want me to worry.
I didn't like that one bit, so I ended up asking in a somewhat low voice.
"…You're alone today?"
At my question, Celine's smile turned awkward again.
Originally a social butterfly, she was usually accompanied by friends wherever she went. The only time she was ever alone was when she was looking for me.
There was only one reason why Celine would be walking alone at a time like this.
Celine scratched her cheek and slightly avoided my gaze.
"Oh, that? Ahaha… I just thought I should learn a bit about solitude lately. You know? I'm actually quite the literary girl."
It was a pathetic excuse.
In the end, the only thing that escaped my lips was a sigh-filled apology.
"…I'm sorry."
Celine stood frozen, staring up at me for a long moment, before letting out a deep sigh and clasping her hands behind her back.
The tip of her foot scuffed the ground. Only then did Celine show her true feelings.
Her face was gloomy and lonely, and my own expression darkened in response.
"No, it's okay. After all, Senior Ian is the most precious person to me… It's just, I feel a bit empty. I didn't know the connections I've built up until now would crumble like a sandcastle so easily."
For Celine, whose family status and talent were mediocre, her strength lay in her wide social network.
That was why she had been obsessed with forming those relationships since her first year. Since those painstakingly cultivated connections had been severed in an instant, it was only natural for her to feel empty.
It was unavoidable when the opponent was the Imperial Household.
The root cause was the 'me' from the future, but as a result, it would inevitably feel like my fault to Celine.
Even so, I was grateful for her heart, which went out of its way to consider my feelings. I looked down at Celine, who stood with her head bowed in silence, and apologized once more.
"…Sorry, Celine. I'll try to resolve this as quickly as possible."
However, despite my ritualistic consolation, Celine simply shook her head.
"Mhm, no. Still, the bullying has stopped lately. Since a few days ago, I haven't heard anyone among the second-year Swordsmanship Department students badmouthing you, so it's a bit better now."
It was pitiful that Celine had to say it was 'a bit better' even though all her close friends had turned their backs on her and she was being ostracized.
It was my fault.
My mood sank into an even deeper shade of gloom.
I had to find a resolution quickly.
Somehow.
Ultimately, to find a resolution, I needed information.
I knew the contents of the letter well, but I had no idea what the words written there actually meant. To utilize the information from the future, I absolutely had to figure out their interpretation.
This was why I had summoned Senior Neris to the forest clearing in the Southern Forest.
It had only been a few days; to be honest, it was uncertain how much information she would have prepared.
Nevertheless, the reason I insisted on calling Senior Neris was that I had become that desperate.
The longer the confrontation with the Imperial Household dragged on, the more the people around me suffered. My younger sister's merchant guild was even on the brink of ruin, so I had to settle this quickly.
I could deal with the social ostracization, but if the merchant guild went under, there would be no turning back.
Even if the incident ended now, a future where my sister nagged me to death was already guaranteed. If the merchant guild actually failed, it wouldn't be surprising if she did more than just nag—she’d probably roast me alive.
She’d probably grab me by the hair again, screaming at me to take responsibility for her life.
Just imagining it was horrific.
As I recalled that unfortunate future, my expression naturally hardened. Seeing this, Senior Neris, who stood before me, became increasingly restless.
She asked, cautiously watching my reaction.
"Um, Lord Ian? I-if there was anything lacking in our handling of the matter, please, find it in your heart to…"
"Ah, it's not that."
At my blunt reply, Senior Neris looked confused.
Her eyes betrayed her uncertainty—she couldn't tell if I was being sincere or if I was testing her.
The fact that I, who had consistently used informal speech until a few days ago, was now using formal language only added to her confusion.
However, I decided not to worry about Senior Neris's feelings.
I didn't have the luxury for that, and besides, she was someone guilty of harassing my friends in the past.
There was no reason to show her kindness. Though, I wouldn't go out of my way to torment her either.
"Let's hear the information first. Have there been any results?"
"The time was so short that there isn't much. To begin with, terms like 'Procession' or 'Cave' have too many overlapping details, so…"
"Hmm," I hummed thoughtfully, and Senior Neris began to break into a cold sweat.
To her, I was the Emperor's proxy, and therefore, my evaluation would undoubtedly have a significant impact on her future.
Naturally, she wanted to be in my good graces.
Senior Neris swallowed hard and immediately bowed her head.
However, contrary to her initial modest words, the information she had brought was quite useful.
As I listened to her words continue slowly, my eyes grew deep with focus.