Chapter 68
Chapter 68
Chapter 68
DLC [Professor of the Heroic Tale]: Mid-Term Summary (1)
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Scene # 1 - Kaiser ◀
Scene # 2 - Assistant
Scene # 3 - How Did It Come to This
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After the final exams were over.
The next day was a weekend. Nevertheless, I was scheduled to be busy for a while, so I couldn't rest at the mansion.
There were about 37,000 things to do.
First, I sent a package to Kreutz.
Next, I had to create a model for my alt character, 'Head Professor Kain'.
The concept was a revolutionary genius. The younger, the better.
And if I were to create an alt character, I intended to make it the complete opposite of myself.
Short in stature, too.
With a round and cute image.
As I pondered references, Dino, whom I met in [Offline], came to mind.
An image of someone who might have walked around with pigtails, having been held by their mother or older sisters as a child.
While I was creating the model in a frenzy, a visitor arrived.
Knock, knock.
When I heard the knocking, I put away the model and told them to come in.
It was an unexpected person.
"It's been a while. Have you been well?"
A kind voice flowed from my lips.
It was because it was Kaiser.
Leaning on a cane, He hobbled in and bowed his head.
"...It's been a while, Professor."
"Come in. Fortunately, you survived the rotation."
"...I'm glad you're safe too, Professor."
But his voice sounded strange. If it was usually deep and had a villainous aura, it was now much deeper.
Come to think of it, his expression was also quite somber.
"...I'm sorry to bother you when you're busy."
"It's alright. Do you have a reason for coming?"
"...Yes. Is that, perhaps, your work?"
He asked, looking out the window. Towards the giant Christmas tree floating in the sky.
"That is a secret of the Department of Assassination."
"...Ah, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked..."
"Just keep it to yourself."
"......"
Kaiser's eyes widened.
Then, the corners of his eyes began to tremble.
"...As expected, it was you, Professor."
As he spoke, his hands also started to shake.
I wondered why he was acting like this, so I checked the [Script], but nothing specific came up.
After calming his trembling, Kaiser and I had a casual conversation, and at the end, He brought up the main point.
"...Actually, I came because there's something I wanted to ask you."
"What is it?"
"...What is your righteousness, Professor?"
My righteousness?
Before answering, I looked into Kaiser's eyes. He tried to avoid my gaze slightly, then looked back.
My righteousness...
It seemed to be about that old conversation. The topic of "What is assassination?" and what I had said. Was it the power to practice righteousness?
"Why are you curious about that?"
"......"
Kaiser closed his mouth.
His expression was somber.
It seemed like there was something he couldn't speak about.
Although it was a rather abrupt question, I decided to think about it once. What do I consider righteousness and live by?
Q. Why am I getting stronger, earning money, building [Relationship Stats], and working hard as a professor?
A. Because I must become an important person in this world.
Q. Why must I become an important person?
A. Only then can humanity's chances of winning the war against the Demons be increased.
'That will be the final chapter appearing around chapters 7 to 13 of the main story.'
Chapter 2 will begin soon.
I was already convinced by the Jinxite subjugation battle. The importance of 'me' in this world was irreplaceable by anyone else.
Therefore, I must become great in the future. I must gain more authority by becoming great.
I couldn't say this straightforwardly. Nor could I answer seriously. I didn't want to lie either.
After much thought, I started with a joke.
"My righteousness is to become the ruler of humanity."
Kaiser's eyes widened slightly as he asked again.
"The ruler of humanity, you say?"
"Yes. I want to literally rule humanity. And to govern the pathetic leaders of each country and all the people of the world as I please, that is my righteousness."
What kind of nonsense could be greater than this?
Kaiser seemed to think it was nonsense too.
He stammered and replied.
"...That is too immense a task, isn't it? Even for you, Professor..."
"It won't be easy. However, righteousness is a direction. Whether or not you can reach the end is not important. What matters is where I am going."
I wished he would laugh.
But for some reason, Kaiser muttered seriously without a hint of laughter.
"I see... That is your righteousness, Professor..."
Nothing appeared on the [Script] yet. Perhaps this was the trick of [Systematicity⧉].
"...Naturally, you will achieve it, Professor."
I considered telling him it was a joke right then, but decided against it, as it would undermine my authority.
Then, as his muttering continued... something started to feel strange.
"...The domination of humanity... You can do it, Professor. A feat that no one else can accomplish... even the dream that arrogant Emperor of the Empire could not achieve... But you, Professor, will surely lead the lowly masses..."
What is this? Something is strange.
Why is he rambling on and on?
"You will become God..."
"What?"
"Hahahaha..."
Ah? Now I understand, since he's laughing.
It seemed Kaiser was joking too.
After all, who would believe such nonsense as world domination?
"You say all sorts of things. Anyway, did that answer your question?"
"...Yes. I have always had great concerns about how I should live. Your words just now resonated deeply with me. You must have been busy... Thank you very much..."
After Kaiser, who was limping, left, I found his parting words strangely unsettling for a moment.
Thank you?
Then, the next morning, surprising news was delivered through Elise.
"...Kaiser has withdrawn from school?"
Elise nodded.
"Yes. He asked me to tell you."
"...Why?"
"I don't know. I'm sad."
Elise looked crestfallen.
Then she handed me a bracelet.
A pink bracelet with a bone drawing on it.
"What is this?"
"A gift..."
Could it be that Elise made it from her hair?
I took it for now.
Anyway, Kaiser withdrew from school?
"......"
I wondered if it was because of our meeting yesterday, but then I was puzzled again.
Because I had received this message this morning.
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Kaiser: Thank you, Professor. Thanks to you, I was able to find my own righteousness.
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Kaiser: I always respect you.
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Kaiser: I will visit you soon after I succeed.
What is this?
Why did he suddenly withdraw?
And what is this 'his righteousness'?
Perhaps his resolve regarding assassination was broken by Kreutz's attack this time.
It was understandable. There were many casualties.
'Wait, then what about the Hidden Dragon Society?'
Huh?
Come to think of it, something is strange.
We didn't have a [Relationship Stat]. Even though he was a Hidden Dragon Society member.
Thinking about it, that was really strange. Everyone else I had even a slight connection with had a relationship stat. But Kaiser didn't.
We had a strong mutual recognition from our first meeting and built a relationship, so how could the relationship stat never have increased?
So, I went into <System Settings> and checked [Nurturing] - [Relationship Stat] - [Target List], and it clearly stated [7 Hidden Dragon Society students from the 501st academic year].
In other words, it was indeed the Hidden Dragon Society members like Elise and Balmung...
'Kaiser has withdrawn now, but why does it still say 7 people in blue text, which indicates a system value...?'
A strange hypothesis popped into my head.
In short, this is it.
Kaiser was not a Hidden Dragon Society member in the first place.
That's why his potential was [0.5].
And yet, the fact that there are still 7 Hidden Dragon Society members means there is someone else I don't know about.
'...Who could it be?'
No one came to mind no matter how much I thought about it.
For now, I kept it in my mind.
The hypothesis that there might be a seventh member of the Hidden Dragon Society.
That afternoon, I was summoned by Dean of Assassination Shaman.
So, when I went to the Dean's office, Dean of Magic Ezekiel was also there.
Shaman's friendly expression with his thick double chin, and Ezekiel's smile on his noble and elegant face.
I sensed it.
Things had gone well.
Now, illusionists from all over the kingdom would participate in this event, and the Christmas tree might become a national treasure...
"The Royal Court has decided to cooperate with the Hattengrad Academy of the Empire."
...Huh?
"The Empire, you say?"
"Yes. His Majesty the King has decided to accept our proposal on an even grander scale. Therefore, your illusion magic will be sustained for the next 70 days, and Sector 9 is being made into a temporary tourist attraction starting today."
A tourist attraction?
This was an unexpected development.
A tourist attraction?
Well, it made sense.
Humans inherently worship grand things, with pyramids as a prime example.
The largest, the 'Great Pyramid of Giza', is, as far as I know, 150 meters tall.
But the Christmas tree I created is 20,000 meters tall.
Even now, if I turn my head, the tree of a different scale floating in the sky inspires awe even in me, its creator.
"It's feasible. Tourism."
"Indeed. His Majesty the King will also visit."
Up to this point, it was good news, but Shaman brought even more pleasant news.
"We intend to give you 50% of the net profit from the 70-day tourism period at the department level. Would that be acceptable?"
I paused for a moment. It was incredibly surprising news.
Half of the net profit?
Half of the net profit from a national tourism event... It was an amount too large to comprehend. It could be tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions.
On the other hand, it was also natural. I was the one who invested 10 million Hica in this final exam, and I was the one who created the exam papers.
'It would be a lie to say I didn't regret it.'
Nevertheless, I went through with it because the national spectacle would later become a very important element in Main Story Chapter 2, 'The Betting Table'.
This situation was interesting. For example, if my house caught fire, and I put up a Christmas tree to comfort my family, now people from all over town would pay to come and see it.
They pulled it off.
'Hiaka.'
...I love you!
I felt a sense of patriotism that I didn't have before.
"And, you know? The Royal Court has a proposal for Professor Kain."
"Ah, yes."
"Towards the end of the event, there will be peace talks with the Empire. Please participate in them."
I paused for a moment.
Then, after thinking, I said.
"...Is that Your Majesty's decision?"
"Oh. How did you know?"
"......"
King Hyakka III.
He is a living legend.
He defended the Hiaka Kingdom in two assassination wars, and from the ruins of the past to the present, he has succeeded in countless negotiations and national projects that were considered impossible, reviving Hiaka. A legendary figure.
'And he has a cheerful personality.'
The reason he invited me to the peace talks was very simple. To provoke the King of Kreutz.
But who am I? I was someone who used to shake my butt in front of defeated enemies when playing games, and the King's disposition matched mine very well.
"I will consider it as a scheduled event."
I'm confident I can do well. Really.
However, a few days later. Astonishing news arrived.
Truly unexpected news.
"Professor...!"
It was when I was peacefully having breakfast. Adele, who hadn't been seen all morning, suddenly rushed in, flailing, and said.
"What's all the commotion?"
"Professor, Professor! Really, really big news...!"
Big news?
Adele's tendency to be dramatic wasn't new, so I thought maybe a new pastry had come out at a bakery, but it wasn't that.
"Kaiser has become the boss of the Black Path...!!"
"...What?"
I frowned.
Kaiser, the boss of the Black Path?
What on earth is that...
"Tell me in detail."
"Professor, do you know the 'Grim Reaper Society', a Black Blade Society organization in the Levian region?"
"I know it."
It's a group that worships the [Grim Reaper StarΩ], symbolizing death, submersion, final cessation, and the end of cycles.
It's a large Black Path organization that oversees the southern part of the Levian Barony.
"Kaiser has been nominated as the new boss of the Grim Reaper Society...!!"
It's absurd. Did he withdraw from school for that? But it's only been a few days since he withdrew...
As I was feeling bewildered, Adele dropped another bombshell.
"But...! This is a bit strange now. After Kaiser absorbed the organization, he changed its name."
"To what?"
"They say he changed it to 'Dominion Society'. And he removed the Grim Reaper Star's symbol (Ω)! And he suddenly issued a statement saying that the Dominion Society will, in the future, dominate humanity..."
Oh my god.
Only then did I realize that he had greatly misunderstood my 'joke'.
The person who said he didn't know the purpose of his life suddenly seemed to agree with my joke and set world domination as his goal.
"Isn't it strange? The Dominion Society worships a star called [Dominion Star❆], but there isn't such a star among the 33..."
Indeed. The star symbolizing dominion, order, etc., is originally [Transcendence✯], which already exists.
I don't know about that... Is the symbol like a snowflake?
In any case, I tried to send a message via [crystal ball] out of bewilderment, but no number information appeared. It seemed like he had broken the crystal ball.
'The person who was fine has gone mad...'
Oh dear.
War is this dangerous.