Chapter 101
Around the time the high-floating sun was passing over the mountain.
The children from the academy had by then arrived at the grand duke’s villa.
Heros, Teiti, and Shio, who had arrived first, had gone inside the mansion, and the instructors were leading the way to control the children.
But to the children, it didn’t matter at all where they were. They were simply admiring the enormous size of the villa unfolding before their eyes.
No matter how close the villa is to the Ansiha Mountain Range, crossing the mountain and running down the slope is a journey exhausting enough to wear out even an average adult.
However, the children who had endured all sorts of hardships from the shabby academy were different. Their eyes were sparkling as if in peak physical condition.
“Wide beds…… nice rooms…….”
“Delicious dinner…….”
The children getting off the carriage muttered their respective wishes with blazing eyes.
Craving clean rooms, fluffy beds, and mouth-watering dinners is something they couldn’t give up no matter how accustomed they became to life at the academy.
Of course, this was limited to the noble children, and the commoner or poor children reacted differently.
“Wow. This is my first time coming to a noble mansion!”
“Do all noble lords live in places like this? It’s totally awesomeyu.”
Most were wide-eyed in admiration like Cilia and Bunny.
“…….”
But Joshua did not. He clucked his tongue with a displeased expression.
“It’s a house built by squeezing the blood of the people. No matter how good it looks, the inside is covered in blood.”
Joshua, who had always loathed nobles to begin with, found it hard to accept even being here now. He roughly tousled his bangs and turned around. He wanted to block his view at least.
That was when.
“What are you doing.”
Daphne, standing beside him, narrowed her brows and asked Joshua.
At that moment, Joshua thought ‘ah’ and bit his lip.
This place is the villa of the Archduke Akeon family, and Daphne is the only princess of that Archduke Akeon family.
Insulting the archduke family in front of Daphne like that…… It was natural for Daphne to feel bad. No, beyond that, she would be justified in scolding him.
If it were other noble children, they might get angry asking if he said something wrong, but the opponent was none other than Daphne.
The Daphne who saved him, encouraged others, and showed self-sacrifice.
So Joshua resolved to apologize for his mistake.
“If I made you feel bad, I’m sorry. But I can’t fully rejoice looking at this place.”
“……?”
“Still, I have no ill feelings toward you.”
Daphne narrowed her brows even more and tilted her head to one side.
“No. I just asked because I was curious what you were doing. Were you turning around because there’s something to see behind?”
“……That’s not it.”
“Ah. Then that’s fine.”
As soon as she heard the answer, Daphne relaxed her expression as if her business was done and looked ahead again. So Joshua was a bit dumbfounded.
“I just insulted your family. And you’re okay with that?”
Daphne narrowed her brows again and tilted her head. An expression as if she genuinely doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
“I hate this family too. Whether you insult it or not is none of my business.”
“……Really?”
“Yes. You can even curse it badly.”
“…….”
Joshua was flustered.
No matter what, isn’t it her own family. Yet saying it’s okay to curse badly?
Trying to discern if Daphne’s words were sincere, he soon recalled the rumor that Daphne wasn’t treated well in the family.
‘She was called a good-for-nothing.’
They say they treated her as a nonexistent child. And that the family consistently didn’t care whether people insulted her or not.
‘So that’s why she hates the Archduke Akeon family.’
Joshua somehow felt pity for Daphne.
This thought also stemmed from guilt for having viewed Daphne with prejudice based only on rumors.
So Joshua tried to comfort Daphne even a little.
“Daphne. You’re different.”
But saying even this short sentence was quite embarrassing, so he muttered it and left the spot.
“……?”
Daphne stared blankly at Joshua’s back. Then she poked Cilia and asked.
“What’s that guy saying to himself since earlier.”
“Huh? Joshua? Why?”
“He was muttering to himself and then said something incomprehensible and left.”
“Ah. He’s originally like that. He’s a bit weird, so leave him be.”
“Ah.”
Daphne nodded while digging her ear. Then she looked around again. The still excited children are visible.
“Ha, what’s for dinner tonight? What could it be? Really delicious stuff will come out, right? Steak? Lobster? What is it?”
“No more eating dog food……! Uwaaa!”
Most were shouts led by Teppy. Those guys act like they’ve got grudges from not eating enough…… Daphne thought, but she too was happy at the thought of finally having a good bed and delicious food.
Enduring academy life well and liking academy life are entirely different stories.
“Ah! Your Excellency!”
At that time, Heros came out of the building. As soon as he did, Kenrick ran to Heros.
“……Apparently… yes…… efficiency…….”
“…….”
They seem to be whispering something, but it’s not audible well.
Well, it’s probably nothing. Daphne thought casually.
Then, she felt a prickling gaze.
Turning her head, she saw Heros staring piercingly at her. What. Why is he glaring.
Heros was nodding while receiving words from Kenrick, but even in the midst of that, he kept looking at Daphne. The gaze somehow felt tinged with pity.
‘……What is it?’
Daphne felt a slight chill.
‘There’s no reason for that guy to look at me like that.’
Gulp.
Daphne swallowed dryly.
Clap clap clap!
Then, Kenrick clapped loudly to focus the children.
“Now, everyone! From now on, concentrate on this instructor’s words!”
No matter how relaxed, the children who had been disciplined sharply from past experiences quickly lined up and looked at Kenrick. Kenrick smiled satisfactorily and looked at the children.
“Remember that we could come here thanks to His Excellency’s consideration! If His Excellency hadn’t suggested it, we would have had to walk to the academy farther away. In that process, many dropouts would have occurred! Do you understand what I mean?”
“Yes!”
“Thank you, Your Excellency!”
Heros subtly lowered his gaze. Somehow, it seemed like an expression as if he doesn’t need to receive thanks. Daphne’s unease began to grow a bit more.
“Therefore, we shouldn’t cause any more trouble to the grand duke family!”
“……Yes!”
“Yes!”
“Good! Everyone seems to have shame!”
Kenrick grinned and spread both arms wide. As soon as he did, Fiona and Shio standing behind came forward holding ‘something’.
Daphne blinked several times looking at that ‘something’. But what she saw didn’t change.
“From now on, assemble tents with your roommates!”
Wow, these guys really have no conscience.
“There is no meal provided by the grand duke family! Gather ingredients yourselves!”
Is this real.
“Now, move!”
Leaving behind the comfort that flew away, Daphne headed toward the mountain behind the villa.
Those guys are just like that, huh.
***
The story that the warrior academy’s youth class was attacked by a black magician spread throughout the empire immediately.
Several chimeras, several black magicians.
It was a force that, if mishandled, could have massacred not only the guardians there but also the children.
[All survived. 0 injured]
But fortunately, there was no one injured or dead.
This was entirely thanks to the warrior, Heros Akeon.
The article that Heros Akeon, who happened to be tracking traces of the black magician at the time, discovered the academy in peril and wiped out all the enemies, was spreading far and wide.
“He was tracking traces of the black magician? What, now the warrior doesn’t take orders from the imperial family?”
“Did His Majesty secretly give orders?”
“Then it means the grand duke is still in good health…… right?”
People who had thought of Heros, who hadn’t received any notable orders from the imperial family since the dragon subjugation, as a ‘discarded card’ quickly switched stances.
This atmosphere was by no means good news for Count Imperial.
“Damn it……!”
Bang! The count slammed his fist on the desk and ground his curses.
That his son Teppy, sent to the academy, was unharmed and safe was overwhelmingly fortunate. But that it was thanks to the warrior bastard’s exploits made it hard to rejoice easily.
“Ugh, damn ghost……! If not for this incident, the warrior bastard would have fallen as is!”
The count, grumbling and grinding his teeth, suddenly raised his head and shouted.
“Teppy! How is Teppy doing?”
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