Academy’s Barbarian

Of course, even if the funeral was boring, I had no intention of passing the time with other thoughts or dozing off. That would be disrespectful to the deceased.

Unless it’s the barbarians like Ka`har, someone like me, who comes from a world incomparably more civilized than this place, would never commit such rudeness.

Therefore, instead of letting my mind wander, I tried my best to focus on the unbearably dull memorial mass and silently prayed for Ludwig’s peace.

‘Elpinel, I don’t know where the heaven Ludwig wished for is… but wherever it is, please guide him safely. He’s a pitiful man, isn’t he?’

I prayed to Elpinel instead of Astraea, as praying to Astraea might cause a burst of intense divine light like last time.

Perhaps because of that.

– Throb!

As soon as I finished the prayer for his peace, a warm pain radiated from the holy mark on my chest.

…No way, is she responding to even this kind of prayer?

Startled, I subtly pulled the front of my professor’s uniform, which I was wearing as mourning attire, and glanced inside.

If I suddenly emitted divine light here, everyone at the funeral would turn their eyes toward me.

……

It’s not glowing.

I let out a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, the holy mark was only tinged with a faint golden hue and didn’t emit a brilliant light like last time.

This must mean she’s not responding to the prayer by revealing divine radiance.

Then what is this reaction? What is Goddess Astraea thinking?

Could it be that she’s displeased with her saintess praying to another god and is complaining…?

…Nah, that can’t be. No way.

Even if she’s a god in a game, she’s still a divine being from the heavens. She wouldn’t convey her thoughts through the holy mark over such a trivial matter. It must be my imagination, right?

– Hmm.

……

The holy mark emitted a faint divine light, as if confirming that it wasn’t my imagination. I was left speechless, staring blankly at my chest.

No, is this for real? You’re a goddess.

Even if you’re not omnipotent, you’re still a goddess. To show dissatisfaction over such a small thing, it’s not like you’re a high school girl going through puberty…

【 Dis҉̠҇̂͜res҈̢̳͚́̈͞pec҉̩̈̎̊̕͜tfu҉̯̬̝́͜͝l.҉̯̬̝́͜͝ 】

…Huh?

A noise-like roar echoed in my head.

Like thunder falling from the high sky. A distant, mysterious voice reaching out to me from somewhere far away.

It was the Voice of God.

Startled, I took a sharp breath and covered the now fully golden holy mark with my coat, then looked around.

And I realized.

【 Ho҈͉͂͜͡we҉̢̬̣̳̈̑́͠və̷̨̥͇̑̆̊͠r̷̢̛͎̈,҈̧̱̝̈́͡ I҉̢͇͔҇̃ w҈̤͒̓̀͜͡on’t҈̰̪҇͊͢ le҉̡͙͔͋͞t҉̡͈͕̠̈́͝ yo҈̨͍̝̾͡u҈̫͖̉̊̂̕͢.҈̧̛̭̩͔͒̀̊ Yo҈̛̭̣̽̄͢u҉͍͔̙͒̎̑͢͠ ha҈̪̬͛̔̊͢͞ve҈͎́͢͡ th҉̢̛̣͈̉͊ͅê̵̡̲̭͝ ri҉̢̛̣͈̉͊ͅght҉̢̛̣͈̉͊ͅ.̵̡̲̭̂͝ 】

This voice was only audible to me.

The nobles, the emperor, the empress, the priests, the knights.

All the mourners gathered in the cathedral, unaware of the voice resonating in my head, were still staring at Ludwig’s coffin, which Lacey was blessing.

Some looked bored to death, holding back yawns. Some had reddened eyes from grief. Some had shining eyes from piety… and even a bastard who was looking at Lacey with lustful eyes instead of the coffin.

…I should have someone investigate that bastard later. A noble who shows lust toward a saintess can’t be a decent guy.

Anyway, judging by their expressions, it was clear that I was the only one who heard the voice just now.

Even Lacey showed no sign of confusion and continued to recite the eulogy softly.

That means…

It must have been Astraea’s voice. That’s why only I, as her saintess, could hear it.

“Sigh…”

I closed my eyes in dizziness and let out a faint sigh.

Good grief, now she’s even talking to me.

Her excessive attention was starting to become frightening.

I’m not some regretful, broken, obsessive heroine from a novel. Why is a goddess acting like this toward me?

Do you think I’ll just bow down and say, “I believe!”?

…No, that can’t be it. She’s not trying to forcibly make me her follower by contacting me.

Remember, back at the Astraea Church Cathedral, she sent me a text message.

She said I don’t need to follow doctrines or anything, just live as I please. Whether I serve her or not is up to me.

So, the reason she keeps contacting me isn’t to make me submit, but for some other reason.

Something grand, significant, and holy that I can’t comprehend right now.

【 Pu҉̨̯̜͂̏̕t҉̨̯̜͂̏̕ 】

…Or not?

—

The funeral concluded peacefully without any incidents.

Although the shocking event of Astraea speaking to me occurred, it was limited to just me.

As Lacey’s eulogy came to an end, a pure white divine light burst forth, bathing the entire cathedral in a radiant glow. Everyone drew holy signs and prayed for the goddess’s guidance for Ludwig.

Except for me.

I simply remained silent. I didn’t dare pray to Elpinel again, unsure of what Goddess Astraea might do.

Fortunately, no one questioned my behavior.

Even the nobles must have thought it odd for Astraea’s saintess to draw Elpinel’s holy sign and pray.

After a few seconds, Elpinel’s light faded like a mirage, and Ludwig’s coffin was loaded back onto the carriage to be transported to my mansion.

Originally, the blessed coffin would have been placed in the cathedral’s underground cemetery, but this time, following my suggestion, it was decided to transport Ludwig’s coffin to the Landenburg Territory and bury it there.

In other words, this marked the end of the funeral itself.

What followed was—

“Marquis Median, step forward and pay your respects.”

What else? Of course, my title succession ceremony.

After finishing the funeral mass, Lacey stepped aside, and Leopold, in her place, stepped onto the podium and solemnly commanded me to step forward and pay my respects.

…It would be fun to just stand here and refuse.

I imagined myself saying something like, “I don’t take orders from those weaker than me,” and snickering. Just the thought made my lips twitch.

“Marquis Median?”

Of course, this was just a playful imagination. I had no intention of actually doing it.

Causing a scene in front of the emperor? I’m not some lunatic to do such a thing.

“You called, Your Majesty.”

I obediently walked up to Leopold, knelt on one knee, and bowed my head. Leopold stepped forward, placed his right hand on my shoulder, and spoke in an equally solemn tone.

“Hero of the Empire, Has-hal-leur Astika Median Ai-shan Gi-or. I ask you this. Are you prepared to take on the responsibilities your foster father, Ludwig, Lord of the Borderlands, bore, and to carry the name of Landenburg?”

“Yes. I am prepared.”

I answered with equal solemnity, though inwardly I was mocking Leopold for his love of pomp.

“Do you swear to steadfastly protect the great legacy our ancestors left us, the Berengeiria Wall, and to safeguard the peace of humanity from all external threats?”

“I swear.”

The reason he used “humanity’s peace” instead of “the Empire’s peace” must be because he intends to make me independent from the Empire.

If I swear to protect the Empire’s peace and then become independent, it would break my oath.

“Then it is good. As the descendant of Carolus the Great, Savior of Humanity, and the ruler of the Empire, I, Leopold, hereby declare that you shall henceforth be known as the Lord of Landenburg.”

Lacey and Duke Bien, who had already anticipated this, showed no reaction, but the nobles who had hoped to divide Landenburg’s interests looked at each other in confusion, unable to hide their dismay.

Though I was the successor, it was only in name. They must not have expected me to inherit the entire vast territory of Landenburg. Their fleeting glances at me were filled with disappointment.

“Thank you.”

I simply nodded my head in gratitude.

“…At times like this, you should say, ‘The imperial grace is boundless.'”

Leopold muttered almost inaudibly. Saying “Thank you” was too informal, I guess.

My mistake. Since I rarely have to thank others, I’m still unfamiliar with the Empire’s expressions of gratitude.

Well, I can’t take back the words I’ve already spoken.

I could only shrug my shoulders slightly in response.

—

The funeral concluded without any incidents.

Although the shocking event of Astraea speaking to me occurred, it was limited to just me.

As Lacey’s eulogy came to an end, a pure white divine light burst forth, bathing the entire cathedral in a radiant glow. Everyone drew holy signs and prayed for the goddess’s guidance for Ludwig.

Except for me.

I simply remained silent. I didn’t dare pray to Elpinel again, unsure of what Goddess Astraea might do.

Fortunately, no one questioned my behavior.

Even the nobles must have thought it odd for Astraea’s saintess to draw Elpinel’s holy sign and pray.

After a few seconds, Elpinel’s light faded like a mirage, and Ludwig’s coffin was loaded back onto the carriage to be transported to my mansion.

Originally, the blessed coffin would have been placed in the cathedral’s underground cemetery, but this time, following my suggestion, it was decided to transport Ludwig’s coffin to the Landenburg Territory and bury it there.

In other words, this marked the end of the funeral itself.

What followed was—

“Marquis Median, step forward and pay your respects.”

What else? Of course, my title succession ceremony.

After finishing the funeral mass, Lacey stepped aside, and Leopold, in her place, stepped onto the podium and solemnly commanded me to step forward and pay my respects.

…It would be fun to just stand here and refuse.

I imagined myself saying something like, “I don’t take orders from those weaker than me,” and snickering. Just the thought made my lips twitch.

“Marquis Median?”

Of course, this was just a playful imagination. I had no intention of actually doing it.

Causing a scene in front of the emperor? I’m not some lunatic to do such a thing.

“You called, Your Majesty.”

I obediently walked up to Leopold, knelt on one knee, and bowed my head. Leopold stepped forward, placed his right hand on my shoulder, and spoke in an equally solemn tone.

“Hero of the Empire, Has-hal-leur Astika Median Ai-shan Gi-or. I ask you this. Are you prepared to take on the responsibilities your foster father, Ludwig, Lord of the Borderlands, bore, and to carry the name of Landenburg?”

“Yes. I am prepared.”

I answered with equal solemnity, though inwardly I was mocking Leopold for his love of pomp.

“Do you swear to steadfastly protect the great legacy our ancestors left us, the Berengeiria Wall, and to safeguard the peace of humanity from all external threats?”

“I swear.”

The reason he used “humanity’s peace” instead of “the Empire’s peace” must be because he intends to make me independent from the Empire.

If I swear to protect the Empire’s peace and then become independent, it would break my oath.

“Then it is good. As the descendant of Carolus the Great, Savior of Humanity, and the ruler of the Empire, I, Leopold, hereby declare that you shall henceforth be known as the Lord of Landenburg.”

Lacey and Duke Bien, who had already anticipated this, showed no reaction, but the nobles who had hoped to divide Landenburg’s interests looked at each other in confusion, unable to hide their dismay.

Though I was the successor, it was only in name. They must not have expected me to inherit the entire vast territory of Landenburg. Their fleeting glances at me were filled with disappointment.

“Thank you.”

I simply nodded my head in gratitude.

“…At times like this, you should say, ‘The imperial grace is boundless.'”

Leopold muttered almost inaudibly. Saying “Thank you” was too informal, I guess.

My mistake. Since I rarely have to thank others, I’m still unfamiliar with the Empire’s expressions of gratitude.

Well, I can’t take back the words I’ve already spoken.

I could only shrug my shoulders slightly in response.

---