episode_0255

Episode 255 Invitation (2)

One day when snow was falling heavily.

“Huff, huff….”

A student was running hard. He made rough breathing sounds every time he pushed off the ground, and sweat poured down his forehead like a waterfall.

He looked as if he was frightened of something. No, he was actually terrified. That was because he was being chased by a devilish man.

“Why, why…!”

He shouted quietly and kept moving his legs. If he stopped even for a moment, he would surely be caught. Even an Expert of the highest rank was no match for that guy.

At that moment, he sensed a presence through his widely spread sensory perception. As soon as he felt it, he shouted.

“You damn bastard! Do you really have to go this far!”

Immediately, a blonde-haired man appeared in front of him. The student flinched as soon as he saw him, and at the same time, he drew his sword from its scabbard.

“We’re not close, but I thought we had some camaraderie as fellow students in the Department of Knight Studies! Are you really going to do this!?”

“That’s why I’m telling you not to run away and just attack.”

“Is that easy to say! When you’re the opponent!”

Even though he was indignant, the man held his sword with an indifferent expression.

“Stop wasting time and just attack. Your graduation will be decided by this.”

In an instant, the man’s mana engulfed the space. A force that made his whole body tingle. The student trembled and pushed off the ground. Then, filled with anger, he shouted.

“Ugh, let me graduate! Kyle Arden, you damn bastard!”

His voice, wishing for graduation, was truly desperate.

***

His upper body leaned forward, and his opponent surrendered his body to the ground. Then, his back heaved greatly up and down. He was panting roughly, looking exhausted.

“Ugh, ugh….”

Soon, he even let out a groan. Should I have gone easy on him? But it was an exam, so I needed an accurate assessment of his skills, so I used a little of my real ability. It seems I went a bit too far.

“Hey, are you okay?”

I tapped him to check his consciousness. While I was at it, I healed his wounded body with mana.

“Stop, touching me…. I feel like I’m going to die….”

Fortunately, he had no problem speaking. However, he looked like he was having a hard time getting up. Well, he should be able to walk around in a little while, so there’s no need to worry too much.

I turned around to go back. However, he grabbed my ankle and held on.

“Graduation, my graduation is….”

“Well, it’s a failure….”

“Ah, no! How much effort have I put in all this time, and it’s a failure!”

The moment I said “failure,” he jumped up. I don’t think I need to take him separately with that kind of reaction.

“…is what I want to say, but personally, it’s a pass. According to the academy’s standards.”

“You should have said that first! Ugh, finally graduation!”

He was cheering. He seemed happy about the fact that he was graduating. Well, he had spent three years working like crazy, so he deserved it. Some students called Tianis Academy hell.

“I’m going. Get back on your own. I don’t have a hobby of taking guys back.”

“Like I don’t know that! You’re the guy who lives with a woman in the dormitory!”

“……”

I stopped the mana supply because he was being insolent. Then he screamed, but I ignored him. This is why you shouldn’t be kind to people carelessly.

Anyway, this is the end of the graduation exam work. This guy was the last student I was in charge of. To ask me to be an examiner instead of passing the graduation exam. It’s such a pain in the ass.

After that, I informed the professors of the score sheet and the pass/fail results and returned to Tianis.

As the end of the semester approached, the academy was certainly noisy in many ways. Final exams, graduation preparations, vacations, etc. The time to wrap up the semester was passing by quickly.

Thanks to that, Lana was not to be seen when I returned to the dormitory. She was out for the graduation exam, just like me. Senior Ruina was the same. Evan and Vail haven’t been coming lately because of the exams.

Well, even if you exclude them, there was someone waiting for me in the dormitory.

“Oppa! I can’t stand it anymore! How many women are you adding!”

Estella grabbed me as soon as I came in and shook me. She was very angry.

“What is it.”

“What do you mean ‘what is it!’ Don’t pretend you don’t know! You know who I’m talking about! That professor!”

“……”

“At first, I didn’t think so, but recently I’ve become certain! She visits the dormitory every day, and tries to kiss you every time we’re not looking! Oppa, aren’t we enough for you? Me, my sister, and His Majesty the Emperor?”

“I’m not like that with the professor.”

“Don’t lie! I saw it!”

I guess this won’t do. I went behind Estella. Then, I hugged her gently and whispered.

“Don’t you trust me? I’m the only saint, you know?”

Instantly, her face turned red. Her cheeks were so red that I could see them from behind.

“I, I know you’re trying to gloss over this in this way!”

“Well, it’s a misunderstanding.”

“W, wait! Don’t touch my stomach! I’ve been gaining weight lately….”

Embarrassed, Estella tried to push my hand away. I smiled and refused her action.

“Where did you gain weight? You’re the same as before.”

“Ugh….”

Cold winter weather. In contrast, Estella’s body gradually began to heat up. Eventually, she raised the white flag.

“I, I’ll only allow that professor! I won’t tolerate any more! If this happens again, I’ll stick by you and that person every hour and watch you!”

“Okay. It’s cold, let’s go inside.”

“Tsk….”

Estella glared at me and followed my guidance into the dormitory. It seems like I need to pay a little more attention to her today.

After that, we returned to our room. I infused mana to make the inside warm. I also brewed some coffee because I thought we should drink some.

The scenery of snow falling outside the window. Estella and I sat side by side and drank coffee. When our bodies were getting warm, Estella said to me.

“Oppa. A letter came while you were away.”

“Where did it come from?”

“Ummm… Your family?”

Immediately after she finished speaking, she took out a letter from her bosom. Looking at the seal’s mark, it was definitely from the Arden family.

Did my father send it? Or did he send it for another reason? I opened the letter and examined the contents.

“Hmm.”

“What’s it about?”

“It’s not just sent to me. It’s sent to us. To us, the saint and the saintess.”

“To us?”

Estella tilted her head. She had no contact with the Arden family, so she was bound to be bewildered.

“Yeah. It says they’re inviting us because there’s a family head succession ceremony.”

“A family head succession ceremony means….”

“It means Vail is becoming the family head.”

It was about time. There would be no time except for now, when the episode time has changed.

“But is it okay? When you’re here. I heard it from the gods. They said that the Arden family head is the most outstanding person. To be honest, aren’t you better than Vail?”

“That’s true for now, but my brother’s talent is much better. And I don’t really want to be the family head.”

“Huh? Really?”

“What. Do you want me to be the family head? Then you’ll have less time to see me?”

Estella was startled by my words.

“That can’t happen! I don’t have enough time with you as it is, and it can’t be reduced any further! Oppa, don’t become the family head. Let’s spend the rest of our lives together. Okay? Please….”

I laughed at her clinging appearance. I stroked Estella’s hair and said.

“Don’t worry, it won’t happen even if you don’t do that.”

“Phew, that’s a relief….”

She breathed a sigh of relief and stroked her chest. Anyway, that’s beside the point.

“Let’s go to the imperial palace first. I need to meet Ariel.”

Immediately, I used teleport to move to the imperial palace.

***

“Haa….”

As soon as I told her this news, Ariel let out a deep sigh.

“Judging by your reaction, you knew about it.”

“It would be strange if I didn’t know, Kyle. It’s the Arden family’s succession ceremony. I heard about it last week.”

“You knew first, but you didn’t tell me?”

“You know why I didn’t tell you.”

I nodded slightly. The reason Ariel didn’t tell me was out of consideration for me. She was someone who knew my hatred for the family.

“I knew this would happen, so I gave them a warning. I can’t believe they’re going to exploit the loophole of calling you not as their son, but as a saint….”

“What did you say to the family?”

“W, well… I did. I told them not to touch you….”

I wondered why it was so quiet. It seems it was quiet thanks to her taking action.

Ariel paused for a moment and frowned, lost in thought. Then, she said quietly.

“Are you going? To the succession ceremony.”

I smiled and answered.

“I have to go. It’s Vail’s once-in-a-lifetime succession ceremony.”

Vail Arden. My one and only brother whom I love and love. I couldn’t miss an event for such a brother. Besides, if I go back to the family, my sister will be there too.

“I don’t want to send you, and I want to follow you, but….”

She glanced at me as if asking for permission. But that was impossible.

“You know it can’t be done. Ariel, you’re the emperor.”

“That’s right…. That’s the biggest problem. Haa, if I were a princess, I would have followed you no matter what….”

“Don’t worry too much. I’m going to take other people besides Estella.”

It was the Arden’s succession ceremony. The people who sent the invitations were not limited to the empire, but the entire continent. Just like we, the saint and saintess, were invited. So, Lana and Evan, besides us, would have been invited too.

“Okay. Have a safe trip, Kyle.”

“Oh, right.”

I roughly calculated the number of days I would be away this time. Then, I slowly approached Ariel and made eye contact.

“You know. When I come back this time….”

Should I say this? Or should I not say it? Deep worries arise from moment to moment. But in the end, I chose the latter. It didn’t seem like this was the right time to bring it up.

“No, it’s nothing. I’ll tell you when I come back.”

“What is it. You’re making me curious.”

“I’ll tell you when I come back. Wait for me.”

“Tch.”

Ariel pouted her lips at the curiosity. I smiled once and moved my body.

“Then I’ll be going.”

“Your Majesty the Emperor! I’ll buy you something delicious to eat!”

“Yes, both of you be careful.”

We left the imperial palace with Ariel’s send-off.

And a few days after the semester ended. I prepared to return to my family.