Clubs Are Just Decorations - 3
Count Nerkap, Duke Kilanas, Cardinal Alexandriana.
Even the names alone were enough to make one's chest swell with grandeur. The three of them were scheduled to visit the Academy in a private capacity, but treating high-ranking leaders from foreign nations as genuine private citizens was the sort of lunatic behavior only possible if one had already abandoned diplomacy entirely. It simply meant they could be received more simply than formal envoys—not that they could be ignored.
Thanks to that, the principal had begun preparations to receive the distinguished guests with an emergency support budget from the Ministry of Education, while the vice-principal was desperately grinding through the field work, commanding the faculty and the Student Council alike.
And in the middle of that chaos, I too was enduring painful days.
—His Imperial Majesty the Great Emperor did not tolerate the sins born of Apels' greed and arrogance. And yet He preserved the Academy as it was, for He wished that the entire continent, not merely the Empire, would receive proper education and embrace a single ideal.
"This humble servant dares not fully fathom so noble a will."
—Who beneath the heavens could ever fully comprehend the Great Emperor? We Ourselves are no different, so the Minister need not take it to heart.
No matter how many times I thought about it, nothing was more agonizing than holding a video call with the Emperor, the highest superior of all.
I was going insane. It was already miserable enough to be stuck on assignment away from my pregnant wife, even if the commute format made it technically acceptable. Having a parade of heavyweights descend on my workplace was bitter enough. And now I was on a call with the Emperor.
This makes three days.
Three days in a row, no less.
—We cannot fully grasp the Great Emperor's will, yet We can see that His will has at last blossomed, and that the Academy today stands at the center of the continent. Therefore, as a pillar of the Empire, the Minister must duly care for those who yearn for that center.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I shall keep it firmly in mind."
I bowed my head mechanically and answered the Emperor. I had been hearing this speech for three days straight as well.
Of course the Emperor was not a recording device, so the arrangement of sentences and choice of words varied somewhat, but the meaning was always the same.
It is perfect for building prestige, though.
Having foreign royalty enroll in the Academy, the Empire's educational institution, was something that could elevate the Empire's dignity. For the faculty on site it was a disaster, but from the outside it looked as though other nations were acknowledging the superiority of the Imperial education system.
And now, following the enrollment of royalty, even their high command was coming to attend an Academy event. It was a major event that would further reinforce the image of Imperial superiority over other nations.
The faculty on site would suffer even more, but from the standpoint of Imperial prestige it was clearly a positive development. That was why the Emperor was paying so much attention to it.
—Indeed. The Minister will surely receive the distinguished guests splendidly. Knowing the Minister is at the Academy truly puts Our mind at ease.
"I am overwhelmed by Your Majesty's favor. I shall without fail live up to Your Majesty's trust."
I kept bowing to the Emperor as he emphasized my role for the umpteenth time.
Hearing the same words repeated was irritating for the listener, but I understood why the Emperor was so insistent, so all I could do was agree.
Unfortunately, I had a bizarre habit of transforming into the Academy's Lü Bu whenever I got involved with foreign guests. That was why I was receiving such intense warnings to restrain myself this time.
...My track record is pretty spectacular, I'll grant that.
Honestly, even I had to admit there had never been a Lü Bu quite like me. During the inter-class tournament the year before last, I had made blood come out of the mouth of Ryutis, a foreign prince. Last year, I had carved a Meteor over the heads of the guests. I was updating the legend every year, so of course the Emperor was worried another incident might erupt this year.
I had somehow skated by so far, but there was no guarantee the third time would go smoothly either. No—even if the guests laughed it off, the Emperor would try to tear me apart.
So what choice did I have? A man with a criminal record kept his mouth shut and obeyed.
—The Minister has always lived up to Our trust. However, should anything arise that the Minister finds difficult, speak to Us at any time.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
I really hoped nothing of the sort would come up.
Being remotely chewed out by the Emperor day after day, the day of the Club Expo finally arrived. A sovereign who could even manipulate time—being Emperor really was not a job just anyone could do.
"The Academy is just the same. Nothing has changed."
"You only graduated a few months ago. It would be weirder if something had changed."
"You're right. It's only been a few months."
Just before the Expo opening ceremony, Mar—who had been touring the Academy with me—smiled gently at my reply.
Seeing her like that made me smile too. I had said "only a few months," but after attending the Academy for three years and then graduating, even a gap of a few months was bound to feel significant. In my previous world, before the possession, I had also felt oddly empty after graduating, and the graduation ceremony itself had already seemed like something from the distant past.
It was a feeling I had never experienced in this world.
"Still, it's strange. When I was in the Student Council, I felt like the Academy wouldn't run properly without me. Yet here it is, running just fine."
After walking a few more minutes, Mar murmured in a slightly subdued voice.
It was an abrupt remark, but I understood how she felt. I knew full well how hard Mar had worked while serving as Student Council vice president and then president. Whether out of a sense of duty as a duke's daughter or something else, she never handled any matter lightly, and she would recheck even the same issue several times to leave no gaps.
And yet the Student Council and Academy she had led with that much effort were operating peacefully without her. It would be only natural for a sense of emptiness to set in—wondering if the past three years of effort had been for nothing.
"The Academy is running because Mar trained her successor so well. Do you know how important a proper handover is?"
I carefully stroked Mar's hair as I offered the words of comfort.
I meant every word. A person's ability is not measured only by how they shine while holding a position. The aftermath after they leave that position is also a measure of their competence. Cleaning up one's work so thoroughly that no problems arise after one's departure, and perfectly training one's successor—those are not things just anyone can do.
I knew that all too well from how much the Minister and I had suffered after sending off the previous Audit Department Chief. The bastard had been a walking curse even while still in the seat, and then he left without so much as a proper handover. On top of that, the Minister who had filled the Audit Department Chief position got promoted to Minister of Finance not long after, leaving me to grind through the wreckage alone.
"Besides, Mar is managing somewhere far more important than the Academy now."
Mar's eyes went round at that, and then she burst into laughter.
"Hehe. You're right. Right now, I'm the lady of House Krasius."
Fortunately, the slight gloom that had settled over her seemed to lift again.
I looked up at the Academy's main building. As a legacy of the Apels era—the wealthiest period in continental history—it was a structure whose sheer size and unfiltered splendor made themselves felt at once. How many gold coins must have melted away to build that thing?
"Your Excellency the Grand Marshal."
"I know."
After staring at the main building for quite some time, I started walking at the voice of Sir Villar beside me. There would be plenty of time to look at main buildings later. Right now, carrying out His Highness's command came first.
And before carrying out that command, it was proper manners for a guest to pay respects to the host.
"Have we arrived first?"
"Yes, Your Excellency. Duke Kilanas and Cardinal Alexandriana have not yet arrived."
"Good."
I nodded at Sir Villar's report. There was someone I needed to make contact with as soon as possible, and if other guests were already exchanging greetings with the host, it would only waste time. Coming a little early had been worth it.
What kind of hardship is this, really.
I calmed my complicated thoughts as I walked down a corridor decorated with every manner of painting and sculpture.
I was nearly fifty now. Managing His Highness's valiant troops left me with barely any rest as it was. And here I was, visiting not some frontier of Armein but a foreign nation—the Empire. Just thinking of the mountain of documents I had left with my adjutant was enough to make me sigh.
"If it isn't you, little brother, there's no one else I can trust. I know you're busy, but I'm asking you."
But when His Highness made the request in person, how could I possibly refuse?
"And while you're there, keep an eye on what that Ryutis boy is up to. He still listens to you, at least."
On top of that, I had also received orders to check on the well-being of His Highness Prince Ryutis, so there was simply no way I could shake my head.
...Hmm.
"Where is His Highness?"
"He is at the Baking Club booth. However, knowing that Your Excellency would be arriving, he said he would keep himself ready to come out at any moment."
The answer came back at once when I asked Sir Villar for His Highness's location.
"As a subject, I cannot trouble His Highness the Prince. I shall go pay my respects myself, so there is no need to inform him separately."
I firmly shook my head at Sir Villar.
Royalty were those who must always receive the reverence and praise of their subjects. However graciously His Majesty the King regarded me as a younger brother, and however much his children treated me as an uncle, I still could not dare to summon them here and there as I pleased.
Rather, as a subject who had received excessive trust, I needed to show even greater reverence. That was the proper courtesy toward the royal family and the homeland.
"W-Well, about that..."
But Sir Villar trailed off, looking distinctly awkward.
"Why are you—"
"Uncle!"
I could not even finish the question, but there was no need. I immediately understood why Sir Villar had looked so troubled.
At the sound of that booming voice, my head turned of its own accord, and there was His Highness Prince Ryutis racing toward us at full speed.
"...I already informed His Highness just before Your Excellency arrived."
"Haaah."
A sigh escaped me. I had forgotten the obvious fact that Sir Villar, who served His Highness so closely, would immediately relay my information to him.
Even accounting for that, His Highness's mobility was extraordinary. The man who had said he would keep himself ready to come out at any moment had already reached the main building.
He must have been bored.
He had probably come in person simply because there was nothing to do at the booth.
Given His Highness's personality, that was almost certainly the case.
...I can make contact while sending him back.
I bowed my head to His Highness, who had already come right up in front of me, and organized my thoughts. While escorting His Highness back to the booth, I could make contact with the Minister of the Inspectorate Ministry.
"Welcome, Uncle! To see you on Imperial soil—I could not be more delighted!"
"This humble servant is likewise honored to be able to attend Your Highness even in a foreign land."
First, though, I would have to calm His Highness's vitality just a little.