Chapter 37
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 37
36. Fraudulent Admission (Revised)
In the end, I couldn't change my clothes.
Never expecting such a thing to happen, I didn't bring clothes to prepare for it.
So we rode the carriage as is and were heading to the Academy.
"Shall I open the window?"
A sweet alcohol scent subtly filled the inside of the carriage.
I didn't feel particularly bad or anything, but since Aniel might feel it unpleasantly, I asked.
"It's fine."
The returning answer was short.
I doubt if it's really fine, but rather than annoying her by asking one more time for no reason, I chose to stay still.
And I was also too tired, so sleepiness was rushing in.
'Would it take about 30 minutes to return.'
Whether Aniel also has a lot to think about, she is quiet.
I intended to just take a short nap during that time.
'She'll wake me up when we arrive anyway.'
***
"Really, sleeping so well."
Inside the rattling carriage, Aniel was busy maintaining her reason while biting her lip.
At the tip of her nose, something else was mixed besides the sweet smell of alcohol.
Actually, she had noticed what this mixed scent was long ago.
Because it was a body odor she could often smell from him when sparring ended.
Whenever she smelled it, her chest always tickled and her head became blank. But is it because alcohol is mixed in there now.
This scent felt seductive. Like an irresistible trap of a demon god.
"To be this defenseless."
From the time even breathing sounds were heard, Aniel's gaze had been fixed on Allen.
She only turned it just to check his state.
For some reason, she couldn't put her gaze anywhere else but Allen.
Then Aniel's gaze was headed towards the wet shirt.
'.... Was that clothes that kind of clothes?'
The inside of the pure white shirt showed through due to the alcohol.
Aniel was someone who had seen men's bare bodies countlessly while living.
Even just at the Academy right away, there were often those who took off their top clothes because it was hot during training.
Because she had seen it like that, it couldn't give any particular influence to Aniel.
But now was different.
Allen's body showing slightly was seductive enough to be difficult to ignore.
"......"
The inside of the carriage was very quiet and outside was dark.
Aniel swallowed her saliva. If her string of reason is cut here, what would happen.
'I'm crazy too.'
Actually, since earlier Aniel's reason was unstable.
It was precarious like a thread about to snap at any moment.
As proof of that, a hand reached out.
"If you are awake, get up."
If he is pretending to sleep, now is the chance to stop it.
So hurry up and wake up. But it had a reverse effect.
Why does this silence rather feel like affirmation.
The reached out hand gradually got closer to Allen's body.
At this rate, it could reach his collarbone.
And if it reaches.....
"I'm crazy."
Aniel draped a jacket placed on one side over him.
She could touch, but she didn't. The memory of Allen bringing up words that he didn't regret at the end stopped her.
Even herself feeling guilt from him.
Embarrassment brought a sense of shame rushing in. Clearly she is someone trained not to be swayed by any desire, why is she like this.
'Maybe I am feeling desire for the first time.'
What she knew doesn't even belong in the category of desire.
At least compared to the defenselessness of this man seen in front of her eyes.
Aniel captured Allen's face in her eyes.
Continuously until arriving at the Academy.
[The number above Aniel's head has become 40]
[10 remains until Phase 1 unlock]
[May good fortune dwell in your future]
However, there was something they didn't know.
That a crisis shattering peaceful daily life was visiting soon.
"Lock Albert Robiesh in the underground prison right now!!"
"H, His Majesty the Emperor!!"
***
"I will burn incense. Your Majesty."
"Damn it, to think things would turn out like this."
The furious Emperor wanted to make Albert into pulp directly on that spot.
It was a banquet prepared by devoting sincerity for several weeks.
He intended to strengthen the solidarity of the Imperial Palace Faction and draw in the Neutral Faction who hadn't decided their line yet.
"Marquis Robiesh has hurriedly come and is requesting an audience with Your Majesty."
"What is there to change even if he requests an audience coming to now! When the banquet has already ended in a mess!"
But what he considered about the level of a pet completely ruined it.
Several figures tried hard to lift the atmosphere again somehow, but all nobles returned.
The banquet scheduled to proceed staying up all night ended before even announcing midnight.
"I don't know about my younger sister, but I will absolutely never forgive that damn bastard Albert!"
He didn't know how Margrave Wiesent would come out when he encountered the news.
If he holds the Imperial Family responsible with this matter, the possibility of it becoming troublesome was big.
As the Emperor, he had to cope with it somehow now.
A matter that happened in front of everyone watching, he can't even feign ignorance.
But to say he was wrong first, he was concerned about his face.
'It is power recovered with difficulty. I cannot let it collapse again here.'
It was a time when the nobles' power had become stronger than necessary.
Clearly an apology was the fastest resolution method, but he didn't want words coming out that the Imperial Palace Faction had weakened for no reason.
"How about striking first before that."
The current Prime Minister, Salaban, who read these thoughts of the Emperor, spoke.
"Strike first?"
"Attack that side first and change public opinion."
It could be seen as truly absurd. To even apply an attack in a situation where it's clearly their side's fault.
Probably if it were another person in this spot, he would have issued an eviction order.
"Are you okay with the incense."
"... Mm, it's fine."
But the opponent was Salaban. A man who overtook prestigious families and rose to his current position solely with all sorts of machinations and stratagems.
"Tell me what you are going to do."
The Emperor, whose mood became languid, asked without leaning into thought.
If he has a plan.
Hearing the answer, he said wearing a faint smile.
"Thinking it was strange that he came as Aniel Windelof's partner, I investigated, and it turns out he is a student admitted to the Academy this year."
"The Academy?"
To the Emperor, it was a story heard for the first time.
Because he had no interest in things like the Academy, it would have been natural not to know in the first place though.
"But there is a stranger point."
Salaban gathered information about him without omission during a short time.
And there was one fact he came to know.
"Being curious about his exam grades, I investigated, and it came out that he didn't take the exam."
"What?"
After the outbreak of demons, the Academy completely changed to a merit-based system.
Of course, among them, there were cases like Allen who somehow entered through bribes, external pressure, or exercising family influence.
But this doesn't mean there is no problem.
Others just hush it up and pass over it, if someone makes an issue out of it, punishment could be issued as much as desired.
"Are you telling me to make an issue out of it?"
There was a fitting reason for passing over it.
Families using such methods were generally prestigious families difficult to touch easily, or possessed skill.
Especially if it's the Wiesent family, it was even more dangerous.
If the Emperor steps forward directly, it could turn into a frontal confrontation between the Imperial Palace Faction and the Noble Faction.
However, Salaban answered leisurely.
"Is there a need to strictly do so. Even if Your Majesty doesn't step forward necessarily, isn't there already a person who caused a huge trouble."
A person who caused a huge trouble.
A guy who makes him furious just by recalling his existence.
But realizing a use arose again, the Emperor laughed exhilaratingly.
"Right, we just have to make that bastard do it."
In the dead of night when no one knows.
Simultaneously making a decision, the Emperor immediately went into action.
'The Empire will be finished with this too.'
The Emperor himself wasn't conscious.
What kind of expression the person he thought was a competent loyal subject was making in front of his eyes.
***
Sleeping and waking up, I am on my dormitory bed.
Turning my head to look out the window, sunlight was leaking in.
Thinking I am late for training, I tried to go out hurriedly but felt relieved seeing the note placed on the side.
-I will skip today's training, because you must be out of your mind too-
I expressed infinite gratitude for her consideration.
Because my body was too stiff when I woke up.
"Whew. The Grand Duchess must have moved me directly."
Let's not think about how she moved me.
For now, if we meet, just convey the words that I am thankful.
Organizing my thoughts like that and finishing a shower, I set out to attend classes.
With the thought that a quiet day no different from usual will begin today too.
"As expected, what we thought was right."
"In the first place, there's no way he could be admitted to the Academy with that skill."
"It's all thanks to his family, what else."
But it was strange.
"His face is truly thick. Being able to wander around confidently like that."
"Shh. He'll hear."
"Let him hear if he wants to. Did I do something wrong?"
Strangely, everywhere I go, everyone sends gazes to me.
Fierce gazes mixed with hostility and harsh words at that.
Why is it like this? In the early days of admission, I heard it countlessly, but entering recently, I felt the interest was cooling down.
They didn't bring up words blatantly like that either. Just quietly spitting it out seemingly audible or not while passing by.
But now they talk right to my face.
'Did something happen.'
With a bewildered mind, I examined the surroundings.
And there was exactly one scene that caught my eye.
A crowd gathered at the bulletin board delivering Academy news whenever passing by.
It was a sight seen for the first time since admission.
Because usually, I hadn't seen people stopped in front of that bulletin board that much.
'Does it have a connection to me.'
Just as I was about to move my steps to head towards the bulletin board.
"Allen Wiesent!!!"
Someone's voice heard from afar.
Surprised, I turned my head to check, and at that spot, one of the Knight Class professors was standing.
He was a professor just appointed this year, but I couldn't remember his name well.
But he shouted with his face fully frowned as if it didn't matter.
"To dare smear the divine Academy?!"
"What do you mean...."
"Don't play innocent! Because circumstances of your fraudulent admission have been revealed!"
The professor thrust a newspaper in front of me and spoke.
'What is this?'
A newspaper with the headline 'Allen Wiesent, Fraudulently Admitted'.
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