I Became the Teacher of the Imperial Family’s Bastard

086. Heiron (4)

I could hardly believe my eyes.

Aindel’s appearance was that shocking.

‘His chest…’

It was gaping open.

The heart area had a large hole as if it had been pierced by something, and inside, a black, viscous substance… the same material that made up the bodies of those homunculi, was filling it.

The pulsing of the substance was just like a heartbeat.

No, it was clear through my keen insight that it was actually serving the function of a heart.

‘A technique to cling to life after death?’

I had never heard of such a thing.

The thought that came to mind was how horrifying the results would be if this technique were used in war.

It was a chilling thought, but there was no time to dwell on such feelings.

“How could this be…”

Historia covered her mouth.

Peto hiccuped and gasped.

Everyone was in shock at what was revealed.

In the midst of it all, Aindel pleaded once more.

With a very earnest smile, he said,

“Can you do it? I will do anything I can, so please…”

It was a meaningless question.

After all, that was why we came here in the first place.

“…Yes, of course, we will do it.”

“Ah, thank you. You don’t need to say anything more. My life is enough if it is used for that child’s salvation.”

He cut off my words of concern in advance.

I parted my lips, but soon gave up on speaking.

At least, if it was something he decided for himself, I thought it wasn’t my place as an outsider to interfere.

* * *

From then on, we discussed the future.

I shared the information I knew during the process.

It was about the existence of the dark curtain.

Aindel responded as such.

From noble mtl dot com

―I vaguely knew. The fact that a demon appeared means there must be a summoner. I’m glad my caution wasn’t in vain.

Thus, a policy was decided.

―I will hide here longer.

First, Aindel was placed in the residence with Peto, who was skilled at detecting crises.

It couldn’t be helped, as revealing his existence would immediately bring unpredictable reactions from the Grand Duke.

Cognitive manipulation is not a simple matter.

Originally, beings standing opposite to the gods had scrambled and tangled the brain.

The result was known only to the demons, and the extent was extreme, so there were things that had to be confirmed to understand and solve it.

―There should be materials researched by Shupelt. Secure them all and bring them to me.

―Why do you need them?

―Because I don’t know the child’s purpose. I felt he started radical research, but before I could know the details, this happened… If I know the research content, I can infer the purpose. If I can infer the purpose, I can also prepare a suitable plan.

At that point, I subtly threw out a hypothesis about the events before the regression.

I conveyed it as if I had heard it through rumors, but the answer was the same.

―Research is a collection of variables. Even if it was researched for that purpose, the methods or results could change, so the most certain thing is for me to confirm it.

It was irrefutable.

Indeed, even the past incidents had slightly different aspects from my memory.

It was the butterfly effect created by the regression.

The request itself wasn’t difficult, so I agreed, and that was now.

“You’re back. Was there any harvest?”

“Yes, I think I need to see the Grand Duke first. Where is he?”

As soon as I returned, I asked the Crown Prince.

Then the Crown Prince flinched and quickly turned his head away.

‘What is this?’

Thinking that, I looked at Beatrice, who sighed, and the Grand Duke, who was scratching his head.

Suddenly, a sense of unease washed over me.

“…What is it? If you’ve caused trouble, just say it quickly. That way, we can deal with it.”

The Crown Prince hesitated.

He sighed deeply and rubbed his face with his hands, clearly frustrated.

Does he even realize that his hesitation is making things scarier?

As we continued our staring contest, the Crown Prince finally confessed the truth.

“…I just touched him a little. Really, just a little.”

His words were ambiguous, but when I went to the Grand Duke’s room, I immediately understood what he meant.

The Grand Duke’s eyes, tied to a pillar, were bruised a deep blue.

“……”

“No, he started it, you know?”

“…Ah.”

“I tried to resolve it peacefully! Really, I did!”

I told him to hold him, not beat him.

What are we supposed to do if he starts fostering hostility before we even have a proper conversation?

As my temples throbbed, the Grand Duke spoke up.

“Ah, the trainer has arrived. It must be tough teaching a mad dog.”

A smirk lifted one corner of his mouth.

And those piercing eyes.

I let out a hollow laugh, and the Crown Prince, his voice rising in anger, said,

“Look at that! Such insolent behavior…”

“Why don’t you save your talk of insolence for the palace? This is Heyron.”

“Oh.”

“…That damn b*stard.”

The Crown Prince cursed, something he rarely did.

I struggled to hold back my applause.

‘Who would have thought there was someone who could provoke him like this?’

If this is a skill, it’s an incredible one.

Possessed by a demon or not, it’s worth some extra points…

“But, Master, don’t you even restrain a barking dog?”

…No, that’s a deduction.

My mouth opened involuntarily.

“But why is this b*stard calling others b*stards? Do you know me?”

The Grand Duke flinched.

“Yuren! He is my son. Your brother!”

“…Your Grace, could you please step outside?”

Did he really ask because he didn’t know?

Unfortunately, the emotion didn’t seem to get through, as the Grand Duke nodded and replied.

“Ah, right! I interrupted a conversation between peers! Have a good time!”

Does he really expect it to be a good time?

As soon as the Grand Duke left, I looked at the Grand Duke’s son again.

A question filled with hostility immediately burst out.

“So, where are you planning to hit next?”

“Sigh.”

He was a guy so full of venom that if you poked him, poison would flow out.

* * *

It’s well known that the Grand Duke’s son, Schubert Heiron, is a young master with a terrible personality.

He didn’t go around causing trouble like me, but it’s because of the performance he showed during the four years he spent at the academy in the capital.

That’s the life of a celebrity.

Even the smallest actions spread like wildfire, so why wouldn’t the future Grand Duke’s actions become the talk of the town?

To describe him… well, even the ladies who would wrap anything in a pretty package if it was handsome, nicknamed him ‘Lips of Poison.’

If that doesn’t sound serious enough… it means you don’t understand how lenient noble ladies can be towards beautiful things, so you should reconsider.

Anyway, his mouth is that filthy.

He’s a crazy b*stard who spews harsh words at anyone who approaches.

‘Well.’

From my perspective, he’s only fifteen this year, so I guess it’s understandable.

The so-called golden generation, it’s a nickname given not to those who are currently great, but to those who are sure to become great in the future.

Besides, if it’s adolescent rebellion, I can’t really say much either.

More importantly, sentimental matters weren’t crucial right now.

“So, I’ve sent everyone out. Is this a good enough environment to talk?”

When I requested a conversation with him, he said he wanted a private audience.

So, I sent everyone in the room away.

When I tapped on the study and asked, the Grand Duke replied.

“…Yes, it’s much more comfortable. Especially without the Crown Prince.”

“You really dislike him.”

“How many people do you think would like him if they knew his true nature?”

I couldn’t argue with that.

It’s not just him; most of the so-called golden generation dislike the Crown Prince, so it’s not surprising anymore.

“But he’s capable. They say he’s the reincarnation of the founding emperor.”

“I don’t think I’ll have to serve him much in an official capacity.”

“As the heir to one of the three great noble families, you will.”

“If I inherit, I won’t leave the north. I don’t want to get involved with him again.”

When I shrugged, the Grand Duke said no more.

It would be best to end the small talk here.

“Shall we talk now?”

The Grand Duke didn’t seem completely unaware of the situation.

As I sat on the edge of his bed, the Grand Duke frowned and spoke.

“…I know what you’re worried about. You’re worried that I’m still enchanted by that woman, Rebecca, aren’t you?”

“Oh?”

“I have ears to hear and a brain to judge. I am aware that I wasn’t in my right mind.”

This is surprising.

Even if we consider Girouard an exception, he is the first person to claim to have escaped on his own.

Of course,

“Do you know what you did wrong?”

What he thinks and what actually is are different matters.

The Grand Duke bit his lip.

“…I’m just sorry that my actions disappointed you, Master.”

The Grand Duke bowed his head with a miserable expression.

I narrowed my eyes.

‘Does he still think she’s dead?’

Well, I understand that you were called to the north under the pretext of training and were practically detained.

You probably couldn’t actively investigate anything while you were confined.

It’s too early to erase suspicion, but it’s not something that can’t be understood.

I gestured for him to continue, and the Grand Duke spoke.

“…I was enchanted. Rebecca’s whispers were like that. She said it was very sad that life is finite and everyone lives at different times.”

“So?”

“I thought… I could erase that sadness.”

Did he think he could become a creator god or something?

I let out a hollow laugh in disbelief, and the Grand Duke averted his gaze.

“…I even created a homunculus. I just thought I couldn’t do anything beyond that. Yes, it’s nonsense. The realm of creation is not a place for humans to tread. It was too late to realize that. Foolishly…!”

Anger spread across the Grand Duke’s face.

“Come to think of it, it’s that woman. That woman definitely harmed my master! I… I didn’t even know that and was comforted by her…!”

His eyes began to redden.

He clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly, as if his intense emotions were about to burst.

After calming his breath, the Grand Duke continued in a murmuring tone.

“…I just want to atone.”

“Atonement?”

“I couldn’t keep my promise to my master. It ended with me only showing disappointing sides. To become a disciple who is not ashamed of my deceased master, and to continue my master’s research, that’s all.”

The Grand Duke’s eyes were quite intense.

Those were eyes I knew very well.

Of course, they were exactly the kind of eyes I saw every time I looked in the mirror before my regression.

From that, I could be sure of one thing.

‘A guy who reveres his master deeply.’

It would be nice if someone could take after that attitude.

Leaving that aside, it was clear.

From the way Aindel described the Grand Duke, and the way the Grand Duke referred to Aindel now, it was evident that their relationship was special.

A thought crossed my mind momentarily.

‘Is he really okay? Has there been no change in his cognition?’

Aindel had no direct contact with the Grand Duke after faking his death.

Since I don’t know the Grand Duke’s current situation, it could be judged based on when he was still enchanted.

…he said,

‘Do you think I would?’

Having been caught off guard once, I won’t let it happen again.

A faint smile appeared.

“Then hand over your research data. All of it, even the hidden parts.”

“Why do you need it?”

“I don’t know if you realize, but I’ve been cleaning up after you guys. Each one of you pretends to be fine on the surface but always causes trouble behind the scenes.”

At this, the Grand Duke’s lips pressed tightly together.

Hmm, a familiar reaction.

“You’re the last one, so I need to make this easy for myself.”

Tap, with a flick of the finger on the forehead, he spoke with a hint of suppressed anger.

“…I didn’t lie.”

But that’s not the whole truth, is it?

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

Why is his tongue so long?

* * *

Shupert calmed his mind.

Seeing Yuren rummaging through his room like a madman caused a small sense of unease, but it was a manageable unease.

‘It doesn’t matter if everything is revealed. No one can understand it anyway.’

He knew escape was impossible for now.

And he had heard plenty about what kind of person Yuren was.

But that was different from knowing his exact purpose.

‘Only my master and I can understand this.’

In other words, he was now the only one who knew the true purpose of that data.

Shupert clenched his teeth.

There was no lie in what he had told Yuren.

In truth, how much had he trembled with betrayal when he heard that Rebecca was a demon.

How much had he regretted the events of that day.

So this research, what he had to do, was crystal clear.

To complete the research.

Thus, atoning.

―Schpert, I leave it to you.

Thus, fulfilling the unkept promise with the master.

‘My…’

Even if it costs my life, I will do so.

“Hmm, the handwriting is damn filthy.”

Schpert glared at Yuren, who was rummaging through the documents with cold, dead eyes.

There would be no surprises.