Cornerstone for the Academy (3)
Whether I passed through Sevillea on an expedition to the pollution zone or slipped away to the Elf Forest without anyone noticing, the Gibraltar territory kept turning smoothly on its own.
Caroline produced at the orphanage was selling like hotcakes through Morgania's distribution network. The Iferia Outlet beyond Gate 2 of the gorge was swarmed by peddlers eager to stock up on imperial goods, turning away crowds at the door. Those under Gibraltar's protection were growing day by day.
Grey Gibraltar, 15 years old.
The people of Gibraltar had already lost interest in that guy named Grey. Up until he was ten, they might have shrugged it off as typical, but now all eyes were on his younger brother.
Noir Gibraltar, 12 years old. Advanced to Intermediate Knight!
"Congratulations, young master!"
A banquet was held.
"To reach Intermediate Knight at just twelve...!"
Along with the mansion's servants, those who had exchanged letters with Mother, Charlotte Marchioness, were invited to the feast.
—It's been several years since you said you'd open the orphanage. Won't you join us in celebrating the children's growth together?
Excuse. A banquet to celebrate the children's growth.
—Gibraltar has built a new mansion, and I formally invite you all here.
Venue. The banquet hall of the newly constructed Gibraltar imperial-style mansion, Carolline Castle—larger than even the Nostrum palace's.
Numerous guests who had accepted Mother's invitation—those who had recommended children to the orphanage—arrived in Gibraltar and joined the feast. Me? I knew about it, but the Elf Forest was more important.
Coincidentally, the timing lined up perfectly, but I had no real interest. I hadn't planned to return the day before the banquet, but by chance, it overlapped exactly. Still, just in case, I checked the guest list for those who had RSVP'd, but it was a bit disappointing compared to my hopes.
The invitees were all the likes of Sir Robert.
Good people without a speck of tarnish on their consciences. People so kind-hearted they sometimes put others in awkward spots with their goodwill. Folks like Mirdin Madam.
The Whites are outside my concern.
I'd have preferred to hook some future traitors or scum, but this banquet hall was packed with honest saps who were suffocatingly pure. Mirdin Madam, or the young Ethan Sezar.
"Ethan. You've grown so much."
"It's thanks to the grace of the Gibraltar Margrave. And I'm always grateful to Madam Viscountess for sending me to him."
"To see you dressed so finely here... Viscount Sezar. Look. Your son has grown into such a fine young man."
"Ahem. Madam Viscountess. Don't cling so close..."
Mostly nobles who had sponsored children from the gorge attended the invitations, and they teared up witnessing the growth of those they had supported. Since this banquet marked the fruition of that growth, the guests must have felt a fresh wave of emotion.
"Thank you so much for inviting us to the first banquet in such a splendid place, Margrave."
"No need for thanks. Enjoy your reunions."
Gibraltar covered all invitation costs, lodging, and even costume rentals. With zero financial burden, everyone at the feast was busy thanking Father and Mother.
There were minor nobles with weak influence, fallen aristocrats, owners of massive merchant guilds from the provinces, and representatives from retired military families. They were all fundamentally good people, but one thing was clear.
"Today's gathering isn't just a reunion with the children we watch over—it's also about celebrating our future: Noir Gibraltar. I hope you'll join in."
With the stage set...
"Congratulations once again, young master Noir!"
"Intermediate Knight at your age! No one that young has ever reached it!"
"Strong enough to beat adult knights—this is truly Gibraltar's fortune...!"
The crowd applauded Noir enthusiastically.
"Ah, um, th-thank you, ahem, thanks."
Noir bowed awkwardly to the guests, his face stiff. His eyes scanned the room as if searching for someone. Not that anyone was there to kidnap him, but he was on guard.
"Haha. Looking for a lady who catches your eye?"
"Even at twelve, a man's a man. Uhahaha!"
The nobles around Noir chuckled, but his full attention was clearly elsewhere—
"...Has anyone seen my brother?"
He was looking for me.
"Grey Gibraltar? Hmm. Young master, I haven't seen him..."
Grey Gibraltar. A name no one in the banquet hall dared utter lightly. A non-presence at the feast. Among the Gibraltar family, excluding newborns who couldn't walk properly, he was the only near-adult absent.
"Grey Gibraltar, huh. Won't even celebrate his brother's Intermediate promotion... Ahem."
"Care for a drink?"
"Ah. Thanks. Even the Gibraltar servants are so polite."
But there I was, disguised with dyed hair, sneaking around as a servant to spy.
"They say Noir has more potential than Grey, and it looks like they're right."
"Yeah. The margrave didn't even teach that guy the sword, did he?"
"Lady Mente, right? They just pretended she was his mentor to bolster the knight order. He got used."
This is rich.
How many had noticed my disguise by now?
Father. Mother. Sir Robert. Sir Carlos. Head Butler Malcolm. Orphanage director Merilly.
That was it. Noir kept greeting approaching nobles. Letar stuck to Ethan's side, making awkward introductions to his father. Ruby slept soundly in Mother's arms.
"Pedro. Have you seen Grey Gibraltar?"
"G-Guild master. I haven't."
"What was he like at the orphanage? Rumors say he's a spoiled brat who looks down on everyone."
"W-Well... I was always by young master Noir's side, so I don't really know..."
"I see. Hmm. Well, if he had Master talent, they'd have assigned you to him ages ago. Heh heh, Gibraltar must have it rough."
Even the orphanage kids didn't know I was here.
"S-Still, young master Grey is a good person. He's the one who cares most about the orphanage..."
"Doesn't matter—he'll never be a Master. Get in good with Noir Gibraltar. I won't force it, but becoming his knight is your path to success."
"Y-Yes... But young master Grey... Ahem."
It was just learned fear keeping the kids and Noir from speaking freely.
With Father glaring from across the hall? They'd have to be suicidal to badmouth me.
After three to five years at the orphanage by the calendar, they all had sharp instincts.
"Hahaha. I never dreamed you'd grow like this when I sent you off. Heh heh. Any good news? Hm?"
"Un-Uncle...!"
The problem was that these first-time sponsors were drunk out of their minds.
"No talk of sending you somewhere in, say, two years?"
It had been ages since they'd seen the kids, and being pampered in the margrave's home loosened their tension.
"I heard the academy opens in the capital in two years. Anything on that?"
And they were prying info from the children.
The natural progression.
So the orphanage kids would respond to their recommenders like this:
"They say it'll use the imperial system, so I can't enroll."
"Huh? Imperial? ...Why?"
"Because the empire's pouring astronomical funds into the buildings."
To strangers, they shared basic info.
"I've heard rumors, but why you? Is the margrave house assigning you something?"
"No. You can't enroll if your age doesn't match."
"Age?"
"Only kids turning seventeen in two years can enter as first-years."
To those with half-knowledge, they revealed deeper details.
The reactions?
"Th-That can't be...!"
90% would panic.
Those without fifteen-year-olds would be relieved, while those celebrating have kids my age.
Arms bend inward, and parents always prioritize their own.
"I-I see. Haha... So they can't enter the new academy..."
Even if they'd recommended kids for the orphanage list, they were one step removed—strangers. The invited nobles would be dismayed at their own children's academy paths blocked.
"Why seventeen specifically?"
"Well, this is a secret."
To the clingier ones, they doled out info like a favor.
"Princess Naria is seventeen, right?"
"Ah, yes! She stayed here once. Could it be...?"
"I heard rumors they'll only take her age group as first-years."
"From who?"
"Just rumors. I don't know for sure."
Just enough plausibility.
By now, praise for Noir had turned to rote formality, and nobles and wealthy merchants huddled, murmuring about the new academy as the mood ripened.
"Since you're all gathered here for once, let's talk about the academy that's all the rage in the capital lately."
Father ascended the central staircase of the banquet hall, drawing all eyes.
"They're planning to open it in two years, using the imperial grade system—only seventeen-year-olds as first-years."
"Wh-What...?"
"Then Grey Gibraltar...?"
"......."
Father scanned the room—his gaze lingering on me for a split second—then spoke calmly.
"That's the empire's way. With them funding the buildings lavishly, we have no grounds to complain, but what does age matter in learning?"
"Then...!"
"At least part of the enrollment will be open to all, regardless of age—a fair chance for everyone."
"Oh, oooh...!"
Large banquets always mix pretext and profit.
"I hope you'll stand with Gibraltar. Just as I built the orphanage in the gorge, I'll construct a separate dormitory in the capital for academy students to live in."
Some faces stiffened—especially the moneyed ones, fearing they'd be tapped for dorm funds.
"Rest easy. I only want an environment where anyone can enter the academy, age no barrier."
"......!!"
"Regardless of age."
The quick-witted gasped, hands over mouths.
Two years from now, fourteen years old. Age irrelevant. And Grey Gibraltar absent from the hall, with Noir as the star.
No matter how nobles twisted words, this hint was clear enough—they'd act accordingly.
"Today is a joyous day."
Father lightly raised his wine glass.
"Everyone, raise your glasses."
The banquet ended.
As Gibraltar banquets always ran late into the evening, the guests stayed at the hotels prepared by Gibraltar—newly built less than a year ago.
"Brother."
After it wrapped, Noir came looking for me.
"Br-Brother. Uh, I mean..."
"I don't know what you're trying to say."
I looked down at him.
"But if people are calling you Gibraltar's next heir, can you afford to look so feeble?"
"......!!"
He was sturdier than me at twelve—more tumbling and activity under his belt.
Regression or not, he'd still outmuscle me.
"Don't think being born late means you can't catch up."
But I was born three years earlier.
"The firstborn naturally has more options and grows faster."
Just like the gap between me and Archduke Hapsburg.
"......."
"Ho. Intermediate Knight lets you infuse mana into your eyes, huh."
"Brother... what the...?"
"Noir."
I approached and lightly patted his shoulder.
"Be a good Gibraltar."
"......."
Noir's face was awkward. I hardened mine as much as possible, but it probably twisted anyway.
Can't help it.
Anyone else, maybe—but I'd never said this to Noir before. After years of nagging, snapping, cursing, and punching, even post-regression, kind words felt off.
"So don't disappoint me."
"......."
"Your answer?"
"Got it... uh..."
Noir bowed heavily.
"Good. That's it, Noir."
All the filth and shadows, I'll bear them.
Shine as Gibraltar's brilliant light—truly, from my heart.
Grey Gibraltar had vanished from the public eye for a little over a year and some months.
Winter arrived in the gorge.