Academy’s Barbarian

As soon as I arrived in the Imperial Capital, I had no time to rest and immediately headed to the Imperial Palace.

Thanks to asking the knight at the checkpoint, who recognized me, not to cause a commotion, I managed to avoid any noisy incidents…

But my arrival must have been reported to the higher-ups immediately, as before I could even reach the Heaven’s Sword Order Mansion, I was met by a hurried messenger from the Imperial Palace.

Leopold had summoned me for an audience.

Well, I had a rough idea this would happen, so I nodded and changed direction toward the Imperial Palace. After reaching the main gate, I got off the carriage alone and sent my companions back to the mansion.

After all, Leopold had only called for me.

“Congratulations on your safe return, Marquis Median. It must have been a tough battlefield, but you achieved results far beyond expectations.”

Leopold, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, looked several times more exhausted than I did after my long journey.

Bloodshot eyes, dark circles, and fingers trembling intermittently. He looked like he needed to be put to bed immediately rather than having a private audience.

It was impressive, or perhaps ruthless, that he was still handling official duties in such a state.

Every time I see him like this, I’m reminded that being a leader who governs a nation is truly a shackle that makes it hard to live out one’s natural lifespan.

Struggling to bear the fate of the nation until you die of overwork, or throwing away responsibility and becoming a tyrant only to be assassinated.

Having killed five self-proclaimed kings—Isabella, Ryu-rik, Danon, Ragnar, and Or-han—I can say this is an eternal truth.

“I’m glad to have been of help, Your Highness.”

Anyway, Leopold seemed pleased that I had annihilated the dispatched forces of the Dragonkin and Fairies.

Well, if I had only half-destroyed them, it might be different, but since I completely wiped them out, they wouldn’t dare attack the Empire for a while.

According to Ereneisia’s interrogation, the Fairies have a way to replenish the lost combat power of their Guardians… but even so, it’s impossible for them to produce a dozen Guardians right now.

They’d need time, or pay a hefty price. There must be some constraints. Nothing in this world comes for free.

If they could mass-produce Guardians without any restrictions, they wouldn’t have been driven to the western part of the continent like this.

No matter how strong Carolus and the Twelve Knights were, they would have eventually hit their limit against an endless wave of Guardians.

The fact that Carolus’s Empire achieved victory against Alvheim is proof that Alvheim’s military power has its limits.

“This should keep Alvheim and the Dragon Kingdom quiet for a while. It’s all thanks to you.”

“You flatter me.”

I nodded slightly and smiled.

Actually, it really was thanks to me. I’m just being modest.

If it weren’t for me, Damien and the others would have been wiped out, and the Fairies and Dragonkin would have returned with what they wanted and started invading the Empire’s territory.

The Empire, having lost three heroes at once, would have struggled to stop their offensive.

Then the Empire would fall—the kingdoms would fall one after another—and in front of the cheering non-humans, the demon army would descend, and the whole world would collapse like dominoes.

So, in a way, the Insect-Dragon and I saved the world.

Thanks, Nidhogg.

Stay strong, even as a pile of bones.

—

After that, the report on my activities continued.

Since Nigel and Milia had already informed him about the skirmish with the non-humans in the snowy mountains, I only reported on what happened after that.

For example, the issue of the wall repair costs requested by Grand Duke Valdemar… or the information obtained from interrogating Macaoros and Ereneisia.

I argued that since the mages from the Mage Tower had built and operated the airship, they should be responsible for the repair costs. Surprisingly, Leopold had already demanded the Mage Tower take responsibility.

Is this what they call being on the same wavelength?

Apparently, Floheta, the Tower Master, who received the enormous bill, tried to challenge me to a duel while wailing like the banshee queen… but Leopold managed to calm her down.

What a relief.

Even if Floheta had reached the realm of a Grand Sorceress, she’d still be like a newly ascended hero…

If I, a knight, accidentally hit a mage, I might end up on the path to the underworld before getting any treatment.

The Tower Master of the Empire, venting her anger on the Empire’s strongest knight and getting killed in the process. What a pointless death.

“Hmm… this is quite… interesting information. Who would have thought the Evil Faction Dragonkin had the Dragon King behind them? Now that we know this, we’ll need to adjust the distribution ratio of the remains.”

The information obtained from interrogating Ereneisia and Macaoros seemed to greatly interest Leopold. He muttered to himself while stroking his chin.

As he carefully read through the documents detailing the interrogation, his eyes revealed his intent to use this information for diplomatic gains.

How cunning. He wouldn’t have been this pleased even if I had found the Holy Sword and gifted it to him. Though he did show some discomfort upon hearing that Ereneisia had been broken.

Originally, he had planned to sign a peace treaty with Alvheim to buy time to rebuild the Imperial Army’s strength…

He had intended to demand huge concessions in exchange for returning the prisoners, but returning a prisoner who had been tortured to the point of being mentally and physically broken would likely spark a war rather than peace.

Well. That woman had been a veteran Guardian who had lived for over a thousand years. If she returned in a state where she couldn’t even control her bodily functions, the Fairies would be furious.

A thousand-year-old Guardian would have many followers or admirers.

But since her shattered psyche couldn’t be restored… what could they do? Lady Ereneisia would have to spend the rest of her life locked in Pailoon’s underground prison.

—

I didn’t bring up the Holy Sword.

If Leopold found out that I had become the master of the Holy Sword’s owner, he might take the crown off his wig and place it on my or Damien’s head.

Neither of us wanted that.

Those who seek to wear the crown must bear its weight. The result is as clear as Leopold’s bald head under his wig.

Fortunately, unlike Grand Duke Valdemar, who guessed my purpose was to search for Juwaiyoz just from hearing that I was looking for something in the Sky Mountain Range, Leopold didn’t seem to have any clue.

Unlike the Pailoon Ducal House, perhaps the Imperial Family hadn’t passed down the truth about the loss of Juwaiyoz?

…Maybe.

The Pailoon Ducal House, knowing that even if they found the Holy Sword, they would have to return it to the Imperial Family, gave up without hesitation…

But if the Imperial Family, the direct descendants of Emperor Carolus the Great, had known, they would have gone to any lengths to find the Holy Sword.

Even if it meant paying a tremendous price.

That’s why Carolus probably didn’t tell his descendants about the loss of the Holy Sword.

To prevent them from wasting vast resources and manpower on a sword they couldn’t wield.

—

Since I couldn’t report that I had found the Holy Sword, I had to make up a story about a non-existent family heirloom instead.

Leopold knew my personality well enough that if I said I had given up the search and returned empty-handed, he would immediately suspect I was hiding something.

So I told him I had found it but couldn’t show it.

I said the heirloom I was searching for was something like a blessing that would strengthen my power. And now that I had found it and returned, my power had indeed grown stronger than before.

It wasn’t a lie.

Since Damien is my knight, the power of the Holy Sword he wields is essentially my power. That’s how the master-servant relationship works.

Plus, it was true that my physical strength had increased. There was just no connection between that and the Holy Sword.

So, technically, I didn’t lie.

—

After finishing the report, Leopold and I took a short break.

He held his temples and sipped tea, trying to ward off sleep, while I leaned against the window of the office, smoking a cigarette, waiting for him to gather his thoughts.

By the time I finished one cigarette, Leopold, seemingly having rested enough, called me back and began listing his concerns.

The issue of Landenburg Territory’s independence and borderlines, the management of the isolated Marquis Median’s Territory, and various political and administrative problems related to establishing the nation’s foundation.

All topics that made my head hurt just hearing about them.

The only thing I could brush off without much thought was Ludwig’s funeral.

“Wait, you still haven’t held it? It’s been ages since the Lord of the Borderlands died…”

I was surprised, thinking they would have taken care of it by now, but Leopold just sighed as if I were talking nonsense.

“Sigh… I had a feeling, but you really have no clue. A funeral without a successor? Does that even make sense?”

…He had a point.

I was his adopted child, after all.

[You heartless brat. Even if you’re not connected by blood, how could you ignore the funeral? Your adoptive father must be weeping in the afterlife.]

Says you.

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