I Became the Teacher of the Imperial Family’s Bastard

077. The Imperial Guard (3)

I stepped away for a moment, and they caused trouble already.

I sent the men straight back to the barracks.

In the midst of it, Liam asked a question.

“Master! So, who is the leader among us?”

“What’s the point of being the best among the nobodies? If you want to play leader so badly, go back to school and become the president or something.”

“……”

I sank them.

Seeing them return with such dejected faces was utterly pathetic.

Shaking off those thoughts, I turned to face Philia this time.

My eyes narrowed.

“So, what brings you here?”

Knowing her true identity, I couldn’t help but think that every action of this cunning brat had an ulterior motive.

Why, just the other day, she subtly informed me of the cadet competition’s corruption.

So, thinking this time would be no different, I asked the question, and Philia answered energetically.

“Well, because it’s fun…!”

“Oh dear.”

Flick!

“Ouch! You hit the same spot again!”

“Of course, it hurts because I hit the same spot.”

Philia’s face showed utter bewilderment.

Then, puffing out her cheeks, she spoke.

“Is this, is this an insult to the royal family? I’m going to tattle on you!”

“Go ahead. I’m Faro. I’ll just deny it.”

“Uh, um…”

In fact, we both knew that this wouldn’t be enough to get me rejected.

She probably just wanted to argue.

Maybe she wanted to see me flustered.

That was clear because when I retorted, her lips pouted.

“…Boring.”

“So, why did you come here?”

“I! Aria, was on an adventure!”

“Yes, well done.”

“Ahem!”

Aria placed her hand on her shoulder and leaned her crown towards me.

Her eyes sparkled with satisfaction.

It was a signal to praise her.

Swoosh, swoosh—

“Hehe…”

As I stroked her crown, Aria melted.

Meanwhile, Philia, rubbing the spot where she had been hit, spoke sullenly.

“I have something to ask.”

“What is it?”

“The purpose of the Grand Master.”

Flinch, my fingertips trembled.

As I narrowed my eyes and looked at her, Philia continued as if she didn’t care.

“The things you’ve done so far. If you look closely, you’ve only been involved with the golden generation. First, it was the eldest brother, then the wizard Beatrice, the third was the papal court, and the fourth was Igrosia.”

“…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, I know everything. You became close with my brother after the kidnapping incident, right? And recently, you were just in seclusion in Igrosia.”

Is there a spy?

For a moment, a sense of crisis surged, but Philia waved her hand and laughed.

“It’s a deduction. I weave the most plausible causality from the information given to me to reinforce the coherence. If the kidnapping incident is just a rumor as they say? Then it doesn’t make sense that the elder and the brother got closer from that day onwards. The second and third are known because they were officially announced… and then the fourth. Igrocia, I found out by scratching around the Papal Office? A black-haired man is being treated on the elder’s recommendation. By the saintess, no less. When you link it with the previous three, his identity becomes quite clear, doesn’t it?”

…Impressive.

Although I didn’t particularly try to hide it, the ability to pinpoint the exact facts with limited clues is commendable.

But if I get flustered here, that brat will become even more arrogant.

I answered, pretending to be calm.

“So what?”

“I told you, it’s curiosity. Seeing you move, there’s something only the elder knows, and the leaders of the golden generation are involved. Then there’s only one thing left.”

Snap!

Philia pointed north.

“It’s Heyron!”

She gestured as if to continue.

Then Philia started to babble.

“It’s strange. I don’t know about Igrocia because I haven’t seen it myself… but starting with the brother, the people of the golden generation, they all got involved in strange accidents, didn’t they? And Rebecca disappeared at that time.”

“…So what are you trying to say?”

“I think the Grand Duke of Heyron is going to cause an accident too. Am I right? Something’s going to happen, right?”

She asked, smiling expectantly.

I hesitated to answer.

Should I tell this kid something?

That thought suddenly crossed my mind.

It was then.

Philia said something that I couldn’t ignore.

“I’ve investigated everything! The supplies requested from the north have been reduced! And during a cold wave when more reserve supplies are needed than ever! Plus, the merchants heading north are disappearing! There must be something going on!”

“?”

“…Huh? You didn’t know?”

Philia tilted her head and blinked.

I opened my mouth in surprise.

‘What is that?’

It was the first time I had heard of it.

* * *

After hearing Philia’s words, I went straight home and activated the communicator.

It was an unexpected situation.

Although I knew that the Grand Duke of Heiron would cause some trouble, I believed that this time, the signs were clear enough to detect and prepare for it immediately.

From noble mtl dot com

I had already hinted at this to Girgoor.

But why had Girgoor remained silent until things reached this point?

I contacted him to question and devise a countermeasure, and through the connected communication, Girgoor’s response came.

[Ah, the rumors have already reached you. Yes, the flow of supplies in the north was strange, so I was investigating. I thought it was better not to inform you hastily until something definite came out… Hmm, I’ll be more careful next time.]

My head throbbed.

So, I spoke somewhat irritably, but it was a relief in misfortune.

Listening to Girgoor’s continued words, it seemed that things had not reached an extreme point.

[That woman, the 2nd princess, is certainly a capable person, but this time, there seemed to be too little information. It’s just a suspicion. The reduction in supplies was simply because this year’s hunting reserves were abundant, and the only significant thing was the disappearance of merchants… But it’s hard to make an issue of this because the cold wave this year is much more severe than in previous years.]

“…It’s ambiguous to call it a sign?”

[At least the mentioned issues are ambiguous… I should say?]

“What about the Grand Duke’s side?”

[We don’t know either. You know. Heiron’s cold wave. Communication with the north is quite difficult during this time.]

I understood.

The cold wave in the north is notoriously severe.

During extreme periods, the temperature drops so low that even locals can die in their sleep, and outsiders can’t endure it even with a bonfire.

That cold wave was the reason for the communication failure.

To be precise, the ’cause of the cold wave’ was the reason.

Why is it that only that place is exceptionally cold, even within the same country?

The northernmost regions or the territories of other races are not like that, but only that place is hit by a cold wave.

“…Damn spirits.”

[They’ve lived there for over a thousand years. What can we do?]

It’s because of the mystical cold.

The cold wave created by the winter spirits causes magical interference, cutting off Heiron’s communication with the outside world during that time.

Anyway, there’s no choice now.

“Do I have to go there myself…?”

I have to go and check.

Above all, I must somehow uncover the incident of the Grand Duke’s disappearance.

That thought surged at that moment.

[…No, I’m not finished. Will you listen?]

Girgore scratched his cheek as if troubled.

Frowning, Girgore spoke.

[I detected the Duke’s movements.]

“?”

Beyond the communication sphere, Girgore flicked his hand.

Then Ias appeared and handed him a document.

Girgore skimmed through the document and said.

[I had stationed some people at the border of the Heiron territory. Then I discovered something… Even if I wanted to investigate, I couldn’t get close. The only thing I found out is that the Duke moved personally.]

“…The Duke is coming to the capital?”

[Judging by the route, yes. I think it’s a request for aid regarding the northern issue. We’ve dug up everything we could on our side, and this is it. The rest, I think it’s best to hear directly from that person.]

Girgore shrugged.

This was unexpected.

‘In my past life, I don’t recall any such request for aid.’

No, it could be that I didn’t know because I was in prison.

Or maybe the war had already started, and the second prince, who was in power at the time, secretly ignored the request for aid.

In any case, the Crown Prince needed to know immediately.

Just as I was about to rise and head back to the palace.

[Ah, wait. One more thing, this is a personal request. You asked me to find information related to your family, remember?]

“…!”

[I found it. It’s a bit coincidental, though.]

My steps halted.

My eyes widened.

Girgore spoke to me.

[The snowy mountains of Heiron. There’s something in the songs of the natives there.]

Ahem, Girgore cleared his throat and recited a verse.

[As you sing while holding onto the blueness, children of winter. Remember the promised moment. I, with eyes of indigo, will capture this scenery once more.]

Girgore smiled faintly.

[How is it? You asked me to tell you anything that seemed even a little plausible.]

A hollow laugh escaped me.

I nodded.

Someone who didn’t know might think it was something poetic.

‘This guy caused trouble even in the North.’

Promise. When I recalled the words “children of winter,” I was now certain that it was related to the first Pharos.

* * *

The knights’ barracks of the Dawn Palace.

The guards were all lounging around, enjoying a rare break.

It wasn’t an official rest; Yuren had suddenly had a schedule come up, leaving a gap.

“Is this, is this life…?”

Nathan twitched happily in his blanket.

Nearby, Peto was asleep.

He hadn’t woken up for over ten hours.

Rubin was reading some knightly literature, and Fred was meditating.

Rest.

It was truly nice.

But Liam felt uneasy amidst it all.

“…Can we really rest?”

It was an unease he couldn’t explain.

If he had to give a reason, it was because they were so used to being beaten every day that not being beaten felt strange.

It was a learned fear.

His body shivered as if he had to do something.

At Liam’s words, the other members also twitched.

They tried to ignore it, but everyone was thinking the same thing.

Then, Fred spoke up quietly.

“…Come to think of it, how long has it been since we swung our swords?”

Everyone gulped.

Since the first training, Yuren hadn’t put a sword in their hands.

He had only beaten their bodies with a switch.

But as knights in training, their bodies were itching for action.

“Shall we spar…?”

Liam spoke.

Even Rubin and Nathan, who had been resting until the day before.

Even Peto, who had been asleep, showed interest.

It was a thought that went beyond simply moving their bodies to the still unfinished major decision.

Could it be done with skill?

A real man doesn’t speak with words.

They looked into each other’s eyes.

Then, they quietly left the barracks and headed to the training ground.

They prepared for a duel with wooden swords in hand.

“…And the outcome?”

“Accept it gracefully.”

“A man?”

“Doesn’t take back his words.”

Everyone had the same thought.

After the first rest since life in the imperial city, everyone was in top physical condition.

Moreover, their physical state had reached a different level, perhaps due to the hardships they had endured.

Their competitive spirit was sharp, their eyes keen.

The first contenders were Liam and Fred.

As the top students of the second and fourth years, they were full of confidence.

“Ready…!”

Rubin stood as the referee, raising his hand, and the moment he lowered it.

“Oh! Young knights!”

A woman’s voice, full of a bold spirit, was heard.

Startled, the members stopped.

Their gaze immediately turned to the source of the voice.

Why is there so much traffic in the barracks of the Dawn Palace?

They had that thought, and then the members held their breath.

“A duel! What a fine youth. Truly the spirit of the imperial knights!”

The one walking towards the training ground was a slender woman, about 180cm tall, with long limbs.

Judging by her appearance, she had black hair that reached her waist, and her eyes were sharp enough to remind one of a beast.

With that face, smiling, it should be said that it exuded an overwhelming presence.

That much was acceptable.

What captured the attention of the members was something else.

A thin shirt and black pants, so thin they were almost transparent.

…Beyond that, a body filled with muscles, scarred and slashed.

She smiled crookedly and said,

“My blood is boiling. May I join this duel?”

It was the moment when the members were frozen by the overwhelming aura.

A familiar voice was heard.

“Were you here, Your Grace?”

“Hmm? Oh, Yuren!!!”

“…It’s been a while.”

The members were astonished.

The identity of the woman who greeted Yuren with a resounding voice was that shocking.

“Wow, that little kid has grown this much already!”

The master of Northern Heiron, and the top expert knight.

Thus, the second strongest knight in the current empire.

She was none other than Tibria Heiron, the current Duke of Heiron.