A Day at the Imperial Noble Academy (2)
The girl looked stunning in her school uniform. She was pretty and full of life, with golden blonde hair cascading down to her waist that gave her an air of haughtiness. Her expression brimmed with arrogance, and her sharp eyes made her seem almost fierce.
But I knew this girl well. Her name was Erisa Alione Lupert—the legitimate granddaughter of Lupert Grand Duke, a third-year in the Tactics and Strategy Department and a junior of mine, and the daughter of one of my mom's friends.
My mom occasionally scolded me, and every time, Erisa was the one she compared me to. Erisa had never once lost the top spot in our year—she was brilliant, well-versed in etiquette, and athletic too.
Putting it all together, she was one hell of an annoying underclassman. But the even more annoying part? In the future, when Lupert Grand Duke and the rebel coalition rose up, this girl joined as a commander and utterly crushed the unit I was leading.
I was so humiliated back then, I nearly died of shame.
"Erisa. What's going on?"
Another girl followed her in right after. She was a cute one with glasses who immediately stuck close to Erisa's side. Looked like she was Hubeo's student.
The girl spotted Hubeo and her eyes went wide.
"P-Professor Hubeo?"
Erisa finally noticed Hubeo's professor robes and scowled.
"Izel. You know him?"
"Yeah. He's our Magic Department professor."
"At his age?"
"He's still a 5-Cycle Mage."
She realized her mistake from chatting with Izel, but Erisa just looked embarrassed without apologizing. Probably that pride typical of elite girls from noble houses.
I shot Hubeo a subtle glance.
"Doesn't the Imperial Noble Academy teach manners? If you're gonna yell out of nowhere, at least apologize."
Hubeo shrugged.
"Who knows. Tradition, maybe? Our school always has one student like this every year."
"Tradition? Like this one?"
"Yeah. We had a few graduates like her."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Who?"
"Oh, yeah. Simon Crown Prince. But she's not even from the imperial family—why's she acting like that?"
Hubeo was slipping away smoothly. The guy's gotten slick since entering society—total slippery eel now.
Maybe feeling insulted by our snark, Erisa's face flushed bright red.
"Excuse me. You look like you lucked into an assistant professor spot, but have you never heard of Lupert Grand Duke's house?"
Hubeo chuckled at her family flex. Same for me, but neither of us had blood that bowed to the Luperts.
Izel poked Erisa's side hard and whispered.
"That professor? He's the heir to the Pereiro Duke family. You know, the one who became the master of 'Alroim, Staff of the Storm God' last spring? That's him. Hubeo of the Storm."
"R-Really?"
Hubeo smirked arrogantly and crossed his legs comfortably. Give him a little boost, and his true colors show right away.
"Ahem."
Erisa's gaze shifted away from Hubeo and locked onto me.
"And who the hell are you? Your shady outfit made me rude to Professor Hubeo."
"Look at her, turning the arrow on me now. What'd I do?"
"Don't you know? The Imperial Noble Academy forbids outsiders from wandering in freely."
She was snapping at easy prey like me. But she wasn't wrong.
In the Yosrahim Empire, there were three absolute no-entry zones: first and second were the imperial palace and Cloud Grandpa's place, and third was right here, the Imperial Noble Academy. No one got in without permission.
I pulled out my visitor's pass.
"I'm an outsider, sure. But I'm a guest."
Erisa smirked.
"Seriously. Who the hell cleared a sketchy guy like you to enter the school?"
"Said I was visiting a friend, and they let me right through the gate. Super polite about it."
"They let you in for that? Don't lie."
Most visitors met friends in the visitation room by the gate. Getting permission to roam campus like me was rare as hell.
Right then, a magic broadcast echoed through the whole school.
Announcement to Kaoyan of the White Mask currently on campus:
Chancellor Bilke requests your presence. Please come to the chancellor's office at once.
Hubeo turned to me.
"Chancellor's calling you."
"Pass. Why bother seeing that old geezer? I dodge him even when we bump into each other by chance. You know Bilke's personality too—we got screwed by him plenty back in school."
"Still, think of the chancellor's face. He's called the continent's greatest sage. Ignoring him would stir up trouble."
"Sage my ass. He's just a nagging old fart."
"Don't piss him off for nothing. One word from him, and every intellectual on the continent rises up."
I nodded at Hubeo's point. Even my uncle the emperor treaded lightly around Bilke Chancellor. Pissing off this old coot could make the political scene a total mess.
"Fair enough."
"Wanna go?"
"Yeah. I'll chat a bit more then head out."
Erisa, who'd been eavesdropping, suddenly started trembling. But it didn't look like anger at being ignored—more like excitement.
"U-Um... White Mask Kaoyan? You mean the one who crushed that Bastain Duke guy...?"
"Yeah. What about it?"
Erisa wobbled like her legs gave out.
"N-No, nothing."
"No more to say? Then I'm out. Take care, everyone."
As I left, Hubeo followed and tossed a word to Izel.
"Izel. Resting here's fine, but take good care of it. I cleared this spot with a lot of effort."
"Yes, Professor. Goodbye."
Hubeo left the secret spot looking super reluctant. He was the one who'd made it—cleared the thick bushes into an open area, even dragged in the bench.
Of course, I claimed it later as my rest spot, but before that, it had been his cozy hideaway.
We headed to the chancellor's office together. Students' gazes poured my way the whole time. But the vibe was totally different now. Before my name hit the broadcast, they treated me like a lunatic; now, some even approached.
The Tactics and Strategy and Swordsmanship Department kids were especially clingy—over the top.
Only downside? Mostly dark-skinned dudes. Even if they were my department juniors, ugh. Go away already.
I had no idea how I survived those departments back in school. Well, I did grind Swordsmanship subjects hard. Same sausage fest there, but there was this weird camaraderie from beating each other up.
Sensing my mood, Hubeo grinned smugly.
"See? The flowers of the departments are Magic and Humanities."
I glared at him. Loosen him up a bit, and he brags. Sure, those departments had more girls, but not something to rub in my face.
Back in school, I was the one surrounded by girls.
"Hubeo. You forgetting who I am?"
"Nah. Especially how you felt back then—I get it now."
"Huh?"
"Lately, you're getting weirdly swamped with love letters from girls. Must be that mature charm kicking in?"
More like the family and heir vibes. Snag Hubeo's heart, and you're next duchess material. Man, girls these days are sharp.
Hubeo got ignored like air by girls before snagging Alroim. Sure, he was Pereiro Duke lineage, but just one of hundreds of candidates.
"Still not as bad as Charlotte."
"Obviously."
Mentioning her name made Hubeo's eyes chill. He'd confessed to a girl named Charlotte back then, got brutally rejected—humiliated beyond belief. She said he wasn't her league.
But did Hubeo know? In my past life, I attended his wedding to Charlotte. His level shot up after his dad died and grandpa picked him as duke heir.
They were pretty miserable. Charlotte wasn't ordinary either.
We entered the chancellor's office and secretaries led us to Bilke Chancellor.
Bilke was plump with a beard down to his navel. For an old geezer, his eyes sparkled innocently, always with a gentle smile. Looks-wise, the picture of a warm-hearted grandpa.
"Welcome. Nice to meet you. This old bag of bones is Bilke."
Bilke greeted me politely, even using honorifics. Not special treatment for me—he didn't drop formal speech even on freshmen.
Maybe that's why it pissed me off more. Getting chewed out politely felt like mockery.
I returned the greeting.
"Chancellor Bilke. First time meeting."
"Come, sit here."
"Thank you."
He sat me on the reception sofa, then eyed Hubeo standing blankly.
"And why are you here, Professor Hubeo?"
"With him."
Bilke glanced between us.
"You two know each other?"
"Yes. Friends."
"Odd. I recall Professor Hubeo had few friends in school."
The old coot's memory was sharp too. Knew every student's name and basics.
"Met in society. On my pilgrimage."
"Ah, I see. Well, both sit then."
A secretary brought tea. I sipped and asked.
"So, why'd you call me?"
"I heard you saved my disciple Yozef recently. First, my thanks."
"No big deal."
"Nonsense. Yozef will lead this empire. Saving him is saving the empire."
Yozef was Bilke's favorite disciple. That's why I couldn't bully him much in school. This stingy old fart would screw me over in weird ways if I did.
Like overloading student council work or suddenly sending my Swordsmanship classmates on intensive training. Plenty more circumstantial stuff, but no proof.
Anyway, the guy's sneakily petty.
"Glad to hear it. But you called me about Yozef?"
Bilke waved it off.
"No, just personal gratitude."
"Then?"
"Right after the admin office logged your visit, Swordsmanship and Tactics-Strategy Departments called."
I rolled my eyes.
"For what?"
"They want a lecture."
A lecture meant standing on stage yapping to a crowd. I waved it off immediately.
"No thanks. Just here to see a friend."
"Don't refuse. It'll be meaningful."
Sure, memorable alright. A non-lecturer winging it? Disaster waiting.
"I'm not prepared."
"Just speak freely."
I frowned slightly.
Was lecturing something you did casually? He assumed everyone was like him. Even pros struggled with it, but he made it sound easy.
"Haha. I'm shy too. Can't relax."
"Really? Shame. Students are excited hearing you're here."
Classic Bilke guilt trip. Weaken here, and he'd strip you down to your last rubber band.
"Kids need to learn not everything goes their way. Caving to tantrums isn't good education."
Aimed right at Bilke. Old fart had a habit of forcing his way too.
"True... but disappointing."
"Yeah, me too. Next time, I'll prep and do it."
"How about this?"
Persistent old man. I sighed inwardly. I'd smack Hubeo around, but not my old teacher.
"What?"
"We'll pick some students to assign you. Stroll campus, chat casually. Seem manageable?"
"Like counseling, huh."
"Yes."
Not bad. Just talk normal.
But I crossed my arms, feigning trouble.
"Problem is, our agency's consultations are pricey."
"Oh? How much?"
"30 gold leaves per student, plus 12 for meals and travel. I'd love to comp for your reputation, but industry standards and professionalism, you know. Okay?"
Bilke's face crumpled nicely. Lectures cost, sure, but my price blew past normal.
"Th-That..."
"We're expensive, yeah. Got a Great Saintess and Mind Master in the business. If it's too much, no hard feelings. Haha."
"No, I'll tell admin to prepare."
He accepted grudgingly. Couldn't back out after suggesting it over money.
I smirked inwardly. Never thought I'd fleece Chancellor Bilke's pocket change. Turns out the stingy bastard really was tight.
Whatever—perfect timing. My emergency funds were low; time to refill.