Chapter 54
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Severing the Tithe
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Though I’d been saddled with the massive responsibility of acting regent for two weeks, it was all good.
I’d make the most of these two weeks and get what I wanted.
“C-Crown Prince, Your Highness, what is the meaning of this…”
Maybe it was because he’d been dating Lily lately, but Sebastian’s glossy skin turned pitch-black in an instant.
“Ah, Sebastian! Perfect timing! Grab the paperwork and let’s get started. Right now.”
Sebastian alternated between staring at the pile of documents and my face before scrunching up like he was about to spit right at me.
His hand drifted toward the resignation letter in his pocket, and his whole body trembled as he muttered, “Re… bel…”
I flashed him a bright smile and tossed in a line.
“Should I tell Lily you’ve been too busy to look after me lately and she’s feeling neglected?”
“Urk!”
Grinding his teeth in frustration, Sebastian snatched up half the stack and slammed it onto his own desk.
-Thud!
The scraps of paper made a sound they had no business making on the desk, and Sebastian’s face drained of color.
This was where a fine ruler knew to wield both the whip and the carrot.
“As expected, there’s no one but you, Sebastian… I’m so moved, I think I’ll have to give you some ‘time off’?”
At my words, Sebastian’s head whipped around.
“Well, well! What a coincidence! Looks like the dates I had in mind for your vacation line up perfectly with Lily’s.”
“N-Noooo! Arrrrghhh!!”
Sebastian lunged at me and smacked the other half of the papers on my desk.
He glared at me with blazing eyes and declared,
“Your Highness! This humble servant has always pitied how you suffer under the weight of public duties!”
I nodded and spread out the travel itinerary list I’d been working on in front of him.
Sebastian smacked the rest of the papers again.
“How can you be saddled with such heavy tasks right before heading to the Academy? You vile documents!”
I smiled and pulled a pouch of gold from my pocket, pressing it into Sebastian’s hands.
-Clink
Sebastian pointed at the documents and bellowed,
“You pests eating away at the Empire! I’ll take care of every last one of you!”
Sebastian swept up the remaining papers.
I nodded and called for Lily.
“Oh, Lily! Don’t just stand there hurting your legs—come on in! You know what? I’ll give you a nice long vacation soon!”
Sector clear.
“Your Highness, due to the aftermath of the war, some territories’ citizens are starving.”
“Temporarily lower taxes and release the leftover military rations from the war, starting with the most critical areas.”
“Your Highness, the Kingdom of Orphis has filed a patent lawsuit against the magic storage device for grimoires developed by the Magic Tower.”
“Contact the Magic Tower to confirm the infringement. If it’s true, set a patent usage fee.”
“Your Highness, intelligence reports that the third prince of the Valiant Kingdom fled his country and escaped to the Empire.”
“…Tell intelligence his destination is the Academy… If the kingdom requests cooperation, dispatch knights…”
The meeting room buzzed with various agenda items coming and going.
Major issues or international matters would go through the cabinet council to set directions.
A few headache-inducing topics popped up mid-meeting, but it was still manageable.
As we reviewed and directed the agendas, the one I’d been waiting for finally came up.
“Your Highness, a hero has been selected in the Astion Holy Kingdom. In lieu of support funds, they’re demanding the handover of Baroness Veronica Elias.”
Here, it was time to throw a fit.
I slammed the desk and shot to my feet.
-Thud!
“How dare those closest to the gods force a lay believer onto the hero’s path of trials!”
The nobles flinched at my sudden outburst in the middle of the peaceful meeting.
“Your Highness… There’s no mention yet of incorporating her into the hero’s party… Please calm yourself.”
“Even so! Demanding a person instead of money! Is this fitting for a nation under the same goddess’s grace?”
“Um… Your Highness…”
“I’ll write the letter myself!”
I grabbed a pen right there and dashed off the missive.
Roughly, it said: ‘Trying to demand a human sacrifice from the Holy Kingdom? First time I’ve seen a holy nation engaging in human trafficking… Regrettable. I’ll send Veronica if she wants, but she’s an Empire noble with no obligations to your church. If you don’t want word spreading nationwide that your saintess pick came up short, don’t make such nonsense again.’ All in elegant terms, of course.
I handed the letter to the noble.
“Send this to the Holy Kingdom and convey our deepest regrets.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Hoo… Cut off support funds to the Holy Kingdom for the time being. Adjust them if a compromise comes.”
Cutting off the tithe from a rich household would sting the Holy Kingdom plenty.
Funding a hero cost a fortune, after all.
‘Gotta aim high when you aim, you bastards… Ever chatted with the goddess yourselves?’
I had. Veronica even notarized that we got along great.
‘This should do it.’
I announced from my seat,
“Next agenda!”
A few days passed before I knew it.
The Holy Kingdom hemmed and hawed with excuses that it wasn’t like that, but the support funds remained frozen.
‘Might as well trim the support funds a bit and lower taxes slightly?’
Saving on expenditures meant more places to allocate funds.
As I pondered uses, Veronica’s gasp of awe snapped me out of it.
“Wow!”
[Oh…]
I smiled warmly at Veronica and Lumi, their eyes sparkling as they stuck their heads out the carriage window.
Our destination was Luminaria Academy.
The Empire-sponsored national educational institution, a hub where royals from various nations studied.
Located near Marquis Florence’s territory, it sat at the continent’s heart as a bastion of learning.
Founded by Solon Luminaria—the Empire’s third emperor and the hero party’s mage—with the creed ‘Knowledge is the fence that wards off chaos, force the shield that guards peace,’ it still thrived today.
The main stage of Rebel of the Academy, the epicenter of events, brimming with fortuitous encounters.
“I wanna see too!”
“It’s my first time seeing it in person, so…”
Lancelot and Jenia couldn’t hold back their excitement and poked their heads out the window.
““Wow~””
Amid everyone’s awe, I leaned out the window too.
“Wow…”
Shops lined the wide stone road, each exuding its unique scents and vibes.
In front of one store, small crystal orbs floated, greeting customers; at another, a blacksmith’s chimney belched smoke as flames roared, forging weapons.
-Mana stones! Essential for students just starting magic!
-The latest magic-infused pen! The Magic Tower’s shocked, and Orphis Kingdom’s trembling…
Merchants’ cries echoed from all sides.
In one spot, folks bought cheap magic tools and tested them, sending up bursts like mini fireworks.
Next door at the weapon shop, people hefted massive swords to compare weights while the smith sweated over hammering metal chunks.
Street corners held shabby inns, bookstores, and herb stalls, with crowds chatting over their own textbooks.
Excitement, tension, anticipation—all mingled, filling the street with vibrant energy.
Far off, the Academy’s white spires pierced the hilltop.
Those towers, stabbing skyward through the clouds, were the area’s core—anyone stepping foot here knew it instantly.
This was the Academy building, where they’d study for three years.
I got why everyone was gawking like kids, overcome by the grandeur.
I’d only seen it on a monitor before; seeing it live like this hit different.
“Impressive, huh…”
“Seeing it in person after only screens… it’s really…”
“Fucking awesome!”
“So cool!”
We’d come to the Academy because today was entrance exam day.
Couldn’t test everyone in a day, so slots were assigned by travel distance.
Thus, we capital dwellers got an early slot.
As everyone stared endlessly at the lively surroundings, we arrived at the Academy before we knew it.
We all piled out of the carriage, drinking in the majestic sight.
“““Whoaaa!!”””
Another round of pure, childlike gasps.
Built on gentle hills, the Academy resembled a fortress city.
First to catch the eye: the enormous white spire.
It soared toward the heavens, flaunting architectural beauty against the clouds, flanked by a grand training ground.
Encircled by red brick walls, the grounds could host hundreds training at once.
At the center stood a circular auditorium.
Its domed ceiling bore constellation patterns, faint mana flowing through.
Radiating from the auditorium like petals: dorms, research wings, library, labs—forming a blooming flower of buildings.
‘No wonder the budget was insane…’
The thrill of studying here for three years mixed with understanding why it devoured funds.
‘And yet tuition’s cheap…’
To give talent a shot, one semester cost five gold coins.
Dirt cheap compared to facilities and prestige.
Of course, commoners had to scrape and gamble their lives for it, but scholarships existed for the gifted.
I addressed the slack-jawed group.
“Everyone remember? Find the black-haired, blue-eyed one. Rumor has it the hero’s blonde.”
[Yeah, got it…]
“Yes! Apostle!”
“Both colors stand out easy.”
“I can definitely spot ‘em! Hero aside…”
First priority: find the protagonist and hero.
I nodded once and headed toward the Academy.
“Alright! Let’s go!”