The Academic and the Student

Rebaneh Imperial Academy.

It is the largest academy in this Empire and the only “Imperial” one. Its history spans a whopping 550 years. It is an institution that is half a century older than the Empire itself.

The Rebaneh Imperial Academy… or simply the Academy, wasn’t a school from the beginning. Back when Saint Genovis, who received the oracle of the Dragon God Capre, first settled here, it was closer to a forum for debate than a place of learning. Countless opinions were shared on how to make this land a better place to live.

The initial gatherings were mostly composed of scholarly types, but at some point, people from all walks of life began to gather and talk. When discussing whether wine was a necessity for human existence, not only wine merchants and vineyard owners but even the laborers who spent their days crushing grapes until the cold winds blew would come by to offer their two cents.

Ideology met reality, and rulers met the common people to share dialogue. Often, these meetings ended as mere pastimes, but occasionally, ideas emerged that were so obvious yet fresh that people wondered why they hadn’t thought of them sooner.

Many gathered. Among them were those who loved to speak. If there was an audience wishing to hear their stories, they would set up a spot anywhere and speak until their voices went hoarse. Among them were also those who loved to write. Those who recorded what they heard compared their notes with others’ to increase accuracy, and they collected and classified records from various places into one. Some organized the crowds in this chaos, while others fed them.

This highly interesting but incredibly long explanation was provided by Mr. Ditto, the entrance gatekeeper, who wasn’t even surprised by my sudden visit and gave me a tour of the Academy. I nodded in admiration before suddenly slumping down. It wasn’t on purpose; after walking a bit… much more than usual, the strength simply left my legs. Isaac rushed over and scooped me up. Mr. Ditto, seemingly very shocked, just stood there with his mouth agape, pointing at me.

Listen, Mr. Ditto. Pointing a finger at royalty can lead to charges of insult and mocking the Imperial Family. I wouldn’t mind, but if you happened to meet a collateral royal with a foul temper, you’d certainly be in for it. I gently folded Mr. Ditto’s index finger down. His eyes bugged out as if they were about to pop, and he immediately prostrated himself.

“I, I… I have committed a capital offense, Your Highness!”

“No. It’s hardly a capital offense.”

I soothed the startled Mr. Ditto and looked around.

The Academy was vast and complex. Old buildings and new ones were haphazardly mixed. It was a bit distracting, but not bad to look at. It felt more like a “District of Learning” than a school.

The ages and attire of the people walking about were diverse. There was a group of young men who looked like they belonged to the Knight Faculty, and mages in deep hoods scurrying through alleys. There were couples out with their children and people sitting around tables on shop terraces having conversations. It seemed they were holding debates, a long-standing tradition of the Academy.

One of them spoke so loudly that several words reached my ears.

[Aphelion, war, the Emperor is a b*tch!]

The voice was so full of resentment that the speaker felt like a tragic graduate student who had to scrap their entire thesis because something major happened right before completion. It wasn’t a war I started, but I’m sorry. I apologized inwardly and discreetly turned my head.

“That over there!”

The tragic graduate student shouted. I instinctively looked at him again. He was pointing at me, making direct eye contact. With a single finger.

The Academy was a place that had even persecuted ‘Crown Prince Kallios.’ So, I could understand them disregarding a mere Grand Duke like me. But even so, isn’t calling a person “that thing” while pointing a bit much? Isaac, what do you think? I looked up at my crybaby knight. Isaac strode over to the tragic graduate student and promptly folded his finger. In the opposite direction.

The graduate student’s name was Cigarette. A commoner. He was an invited student recommended by the Magic Faculty, but he quit after two years and transferred to the Political Science Faculty. He claimed that while his talent was enough to become an Imperial Mage, after seeing how the country was being run, he no longer wanted to pursue a “room-bound study like magic.” Zero dating experience. He was too busy learning about and pondering the world to have time for it, and he had no intention of doing so in the future.

“Therefore, please take me with you!”

Cigarette, who had rattled off personal information I hadn’t even asked for, slammed his head against the ground. I took a sip of strawberry juice. I was flustered by the sudden change in attitude from Cigarette, who just moments ago was shouting “The Emperor is a b*tch!”, and I didn’t know why he was suddenly asking me to take him away. But his passion was too hot to reject immediately. Perhaps it’s because I’ve spent my life just going with the flow. I have a bit of a weak spot for passionate people.

“Are you not going to the Grand Duchy? Take me with you.”

This… piqued my interest. As I recovered my health, the situation in Caprejena became quite complicated. This was something anyone with a bit of interest would know, even if they weren’t a political science student. However, being certain that I would leave was different.

I leaned slightly toward Cigarette. Cigarette, who had glanced up at me, quickly lowered his head as soon as our eyes met and continued speaking.

“There are many people who believe Your Highness’s disposition is somewhat bellicose.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Many remember the glass Your Highness threw at the envoy’s face. The conquest carried out in Your Highness’s name afterward solidified that judgment.”

I let out a chuckle, finding the incredibly euphemistic expression “somewhat bellicose” amusing. I had thrown a glass at an envoy’s face and asked Kallios to kill them. And as soon as Kallios took the throne, he declared war, saying he would give Aphelion to me. It’s a sequence of events where it wouldn’t be strange if I were nicknamed a blood-crazed madman.

“But I know what Your Highness has done!”

“Huh?”

“I… I have seen Sir Isaac Ipsent from a distance.”

You’ve seen him? I signaled to Isaac with my eyes. Isaac looked at the top of Cigarette’s head and tilted his head. He didn’t seem to remember.

“Baron Edgar Duriel is a long-time friend of mine.”

“Ah.”

Isaac nodded. Since they were talking about something only they knew, I stayed quiet until Isaac whispered an explanation. Edgar was a brilliant graduate of the Academy’s Economics Faculty currently working in the Ministry of Finance… and was one of the students I had sponsored. I cupped the glass of strawberry juice with both hands before setting it down again. It was too cold to fill my idle, empty hands. Instead, I picked up the long spoon resting on the saucer. Every time I stirred the juice, the spoon made a clinking sound against the glass.

Because I felt sorry for Kallios and wanted to help him, I had steadily done what I could even from within my room. Monitoring the atmosphere among the officials, making it known that the relationship between him and me was very good and that I supported him…

I also made very minor efforts to create allies for Kallios.

Sponsoring several ‘poor noble youths’ who received good evaluations at the Academy was one of those minor efforts. To think that would come up here. I rested my chin on my hand with my elbow on the table.

“I heard you told Edgar something like this.”

There was no way I could remember what I said to someone whose name I didn’t even recall. I remained still with a nonchalant expression. Fortunately, Cigarette didn’t give me a chance to speak.

[I’m just spending money because I’m bored, so don’t think about debt or anything and just grow up properly. And… do the right thing.]

“Ah.”

I slowly turned my head away. I thought it sounded a bit cool when I wrote it in a letter, but hearing it from someone else’s mouth was a bit embarrassing.

Since I had already picked out sprouts that were bound to grow well, I figured if they just grew up properly, they would side with Kallios, the Emperor of this country, rather than being nobles only interested in increasing their own wealth. I told them not to think about repaying the favor, but there was also the thought that they wouldn’t be able to completely turn a blind eye to me while in my debt… such a mind existed. After all, a debt that can never be repaid is the heaviest kind.

“Your Highness values talent and does not consider investment in them a waste.”

“Well…”

Talent is precious in any world, so that’s a natural statement. The reason the investment didn’t feel like a waste was that I had plenty of money but nowhere to spend it. If I were a wage earner making 2 million won a month, I would have felt it was a waste. Just like how I used to struggle with whether or not to cancel the 20,000 won monthly donation to a charity.

“Edgar was very disappointed. He said he wanted to meet and greet you at least once, but you didn’t even give him the opportunity.”

“That’s enough, just the conclusion.”

I waved my hand, anticipating the compliments that would follow.

The packaging of me as a great person of character—someone who treasures talent, loves this country, and expects nothing in return—was uncomfortable. I had done those things with clear intentions, and they had actually succeeded to some extent. Unlike those from great noble families, the young officials were favorable toward Kallios. Kallios’s abilities are great, but if those I raised with money hadn’t led the atmosphere, it would have taken much longer for him to be recognized.

“Take me with you. I know more about the Grand Duchy than others, I am competent, and I am even motivated. I do not know how much time Your Highness thinks is needed for the Grand Duchy to stabilize, but if it were me, I could cut that time in half.”

He seemed to be misunderstanding me… but regardless, I was quite tempted by Cigarette’s words. If he was as competent and motivated as he claimed, he would be a great help, and even if not, he would be useful somewhere. I lack people around me. Until now, being in the Imperial Fortress, I had the help of Kallios and Ilios, but once I go to the Grand Duchy, I cannot expect such help. Kallios is the Emperor of this country, and Ilios also holds a heavy responsibility.

“Do you have a lot of luggage to move?”

“I only need to go with my body.”

“When can you depart?”

Cigarette shouted while pressing his forehead against the floor.

“I can go right now!”

I pulled a button off my sleeve and gave it to Cigarette.

“Then go first. I’ll be there soon.”

“Yes!”

Receiving the button with both hands, Cigarette replied with great energy. I told him to find Count Rostion once he arrived and that the Count would give him appropriate work, and with that, Cigarette exited. I laughed as I watched him leap over the terrace and run off.

I came to meet Lamierre and picked up a highly motivated worker. A worker who loves to work is incredibly precious. I’ll have to squeeze him for all he’s worth. So that even if he finds out my true self and gets disappointed, he won’t have the energy to run away.

After Cigarette was completely lost in the crowd, I drank my strawberry juice with a satisfied heart.

Just then.

“Your Highness…”

A familiar voice was heard from the midst of the gathered people. I turned my head in that direction.

“Your Highness, are you really planning to leave?”

It was Lamierre, looking like a total wreck, like someone who had worked overtime for a month straight. I looked at Lamierre’s face for a moment before standing up. As I approached, he reached out his hand. I took his offered hand. Lamierre pulled with strength, as if my hand were the only rope he could grab onto. Isaac caught my staggering body, so I didn’t fall forward.

“Your Highness.”

“You said it was hard to find time. Why are you here?”

Lamierre made a crying face with his eyebrows and the corners of his mouth drooping. I had intended to interrogate him about what happened in the ruins as soon as I saw him. But seeing him in such a pitiful state, I lost the motivation to do so. This time, I pulled Lamierre.

“First… yes, let’s eat first.”

His cheeks, which used to be plump and cute because he hadn’t lost his baby fat yet, were hollow. I’ll have to feed him plenty before we talk. I looked at Isaac. Isaac started walking in the lead without a word.