Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: Penny
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Hell Has Only Just Begun. (4)
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Strict, solemn, serious.
If you asked who this person staring at me with an expression that could pass for the very incarnation of stern severity was, common sense would demand I answer!
Dukes and marquises exist in extremely limited numbers within the Empire.
Among them, excluding those affiliated with the frontier counts responsible for the borders or the grand duchies, there are only ten ducal and marquis houses that operate purely within the Empire itself.
Their authority is an impregnable fortress that no other nobles can surpass, earning them the title of the Absolute Ten Families. And the stern incarnation before my eyes is none other than one of the heads of those Absolute Ten Families—a colossal noble commanding an entire legion of the Empire!
None other than Aris's father, the head of the current Retia Marquis Family.
"What brings you here?"
But right now, he's just a parent-teacher conference attendee.
No need to panic.
-Master? You're freaking out big time, aren't you? Legs shaking? A bit more and it'll show!
-Shut up.
...How could I not panic! He's a marquis! One of the Absolute Ten Families! Sure, in peacetime, the military-side figures among the Absolute Ten Families are said to have weaker influence compared to the others—but that's only relative!
He's a legion commander! In my past life, that'd be 3-star rank!
The realm of stars, where a single word can move mountains!
How could I not panic with someone like that showing up!
"I've come because of what my child said."
Those were the words of the Retia Marquis as he took a sip of the tea offered by the dean, who sat beside me equally tense—though unlike me, her tension showed plainly on her face.
-Told you so. The kid contracted with a goddess who cooks like a dream.
-Should've hit her moderately...
-Huh? Moderately hit someone that tasty—and who gives double the fun per swing? My pride won't allow it!
-A freaking marquis shows up, and you're spouting this so boldly!
-Before Goddess Ar-nim, all humans are equal! Human titles mean nothing!
-I care a lot!
Damn it, no reasoning with her.
I wanted to shove her back in the vault and seal it, but with the organization gone and the princess on my tail, that's not an option.
"I don't believe I've raised my child to be weak."
"Is that so?"
"Indeed. And Aris has followed the family's training without a single complaint of weakness."
"Impressive."
"Yet that same girl contacted her mother via image magic tool, sobbing that academy life was too hard. Her mother was shocked—she hasn't seen her cry since she was five."
"I see."
My expression didn't change, but cold sweat started trickling down my back.
Damn it, whining to Mom while crying.
Even in military life, parents' calls were worth more than a hundred surveys stabbed through.
And this girl, who never showed tears to her parents, bawling to them!
If this marquis had the opposite temperament, he'd have grabbed my collar and shaken me by now.
"So I ask: Is my daughter being bullied at this academy?"
"No, sir."
Common sense dictates marquis families are the bullies, not the bullied. To ostracize the eldest daughter of a marquis house, you'd need at least imperial royalty or grand duke level—and confirmed heirs at that.
Touch a high noble first if you're not an heir? That's begging to die unnoticed during heir selection.
"Then is there a professor tormenting my daughter?"
"No, sir."
Well, maybe a slight pang of guilt, but it's education! Education!
Boarding at the academy to boost student skills, agonizing over them constantly!
-Boarding at the academy to save your retirement fund, right? Cheaper than building outside and another hideout—remodel the academy with school funds for free! And you dress up slave-driving the kids as effort!
-Half-true, so it's fine!
-The other half's a scam!
The world works like that. I have good intentions!
"Then, was Aris truly so overwhelmed by the academy's training that she cried?"
"Yes."
Precisely, it was the iron bat that broke her, but I skip that detail.
The problem is I spent most of my present-life social career in the Evil Organization.
No one complained no matter how hard you beat them there.
Hell, stellar results with no deaths got incentives!
But academies are different.
One iron bat swing and she cries to parents? How fragile are these society's kids!
-...Master, Master? Hate to say it, but you don't feel pain from me, so you can talk like that. If it hurt like for others, you wouldn't!
-But that's a hypothetical! I don't feel pain from you, so irrelevant.
-As expected of my master! Orichalcum skin! Even iron-faced folks can't match!
Heh, obvious for a villain. Beyond iron face to mithril face, orichalcum face. No guts and face for scams anywhere anytime? Couldn't survive half a lifetime in the Evil Organization.
"I see..."
See! My calm demeanor has the marquis pondering seriously!
Life's all about timing.
And when someone's deep in thought, that's peak salesman timing! Miss this, and I lose the marquis's favor—worst case, Aris, the academy's top promo tool, leaves.
Can't let Aris get snatched like No. 17!
"May I ask one thing, Your Excellency?"
"Proceed."
I flashed a gentle smile at the nodding marquis.
"Have you truly not raised Lady Aris weakly?"
"Correct."
"Then, in my view, the Retia Marquis Family's training seems far too lenient."
-Huh? Master? Provoking? Shaking at the marquis house earlier, now crazy from fear? That's straight provocation!
-Wait, I'm baiting hard—don't interrupt.
"Are you denying the Retia Marquis Family's training outright?"
"Yes."
"Pr-Professor Niserwin!"
The dean, serving tea beside me, freaks out. To seize opportunity, risk is key!
If he were hot-tempered muscle-head, maybe not—but this composed type? Mild provocation's fine.
"...Let's hear it."
See, voice cools, but he'll listen!
Sure, nastier fallout if it fails than with hotheads, but success is golden.
"Your Excellency, the Retia family—no, most marquis houses and above in this nation—trace back to the Empire's founding."
"True."
"The Empire's history spans a millennium already. And the Retia family's matches it."
"Hm... So you claim the family's training is outdated?"
"Yes, straight to the point."
Love this type—easy.
With Lea-kyung types, explain endlessly; he cuts in with my point.
But his mood sours further, eyes sharpening fiercely.
"Families evolve over time."
"Naturally."
"Yet you say it's insufficient?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because the Empire is now the continent's mightiest nation."
"The strongest name, yet family training falls short?"
"Precisely."
Short answers, instant grasp.
This is why they're legion commanders—Empire's future shines.
"Then your education matches that level?"
"I've no war experience. While the continent's lives clashed, my frail body kept me healing in the elves' forest. Thus, I know nothing of war."
-Frail? Fray~yiiiil? The guy who rampaged with the princess in the Great War? Frail ones died frail—that's why your BS flies!
-Concept! Niserwin Ain's frail patient concept!
-Huh? Any students buying that? Plus rumors you're elf-like make students treat elves as eviler than demons!
-Aren't elves inherently evil?
-...Feels like tackling's my job, but gotta tackle!
Whatever the iron bat felt like, the talk continued.
"But precisely because of that. Ignorant of war. Merely observing from afar. That's why I see what others miss."
"What is it?"
"The Empire became the strongest nation—a fact acknowledged by all continental states. Thus, it's an object of fear."
"So what?"
"Why do humans dread the demonic season?"
Demonic season. When the Demon King, proxy of the Evil God, appears.
Humans fear the monster craving only destruction.
"The Demon King transcends human power—no, any race's power. Indeed. The Empire has grown too strong."
The Demon King: a monster beyond humanity's grasp.
Only three since world's birth, yet humans fear its might, naming its season demonic and trembling.
And now the Empire's the same. Having crushed all neighboring powers, it's a Demon King to them.
"But that doesn't explain why my child cried."
Tch, not biting.
Easy talk, hard persuade?
"Once, Yuglasia Academy was counted among the Empire's strongest institutions."
"Changing the subject?"
"But now, it's an academy that could vanish anytime. What do you think caused that? Declining professor quality? Student quality? No. Mere lack of urgency. Complacent belief it'd always be top."
"What's your point?"
"My reason for joining this school is singular: as a summoner, make Yuglasia the best. My philosophy is simple: heard is forgotten, seen is remembered, done is understood. Best way for students to grasp abilities? Direct experience. Combat experience supreme."
The marquis pondered after hearing me out.
Could've spun better, but too slick—breaks concept.
Niserwin Ain: scholar who studied summoning clueless in the world, from elves' forest!
But with summoner prestige Yuglasia facing closure, came with zeal to revive it! Stumble awkwardly, stress passion.
Opponent: battle-hardened imperial, legion commander no less.
Met four other Absolute Ten heads—different personalities, but all hid a hundred serpents inside.
Fool acts, hearty facades scrutinizing minutely—surely this stern one hides none?
No way; couldn't survive the Empire's intrigue palace otherwise.
"Can you prove it?"
Hooked!
From that question, victory's sealed.
"As the saying goes: Better one show than a hundred words."
I rose smiling, heading to the prepped room.
Knew it'd come!
-Iron Bat, mission!
-What? Smash marquis's head in secret room?
-Crazy? Go to Muam Professor, relay this.
-Huh? That kid-gramps? What?
-Plan B. Tonight's night self-study is Plan B.
-Plan B? What's that?
Plan B.
For if students outperform expectations—like organization disciples—it's night self-study upped to higher difficulty!
-...Kids are doomed.
-They started it.
Daring call parents? Show the marquis ramped training, teach 'em they've been blissful till now!