Ch.138138. Richard Henry Infractus

Prince Richard’s formal inspection of the academy had officially begun. It was the third day since his arrival.

Though his official schedule had started yesterday, the academy had prepared a welcoming ceremony for him, as it was an inspection conducted by none other than a prince himself.

Since the Infractus Empire was a nation with strong imperial authority, the academy had no choice but to treat Prince Richard, dispatched directly from the imperial family, with utmost caution.

After completing the official academy events on his schedule, the very next day he began by inspecting the academy’s security systems.

Demeia Academy, which had allowed the Resistance—both old and new factions—to infiltrate twice within half a year, had already raised serious doubts about its security.

When you think about it, who could trust an academy’s security that had been breached twice in succession?

This was why both the Empire and Demeia Academy had glorified Gilbert beyond necessity. Covering one issue with another was the easiest and most effective way to divert people’s attention.

Indeed, public concern about Demeia Academy’s security systems had naturally shifted to the birth of a new hero. The story of a delinquent who had reformed to become an imperial hero made for an excellent narrative.

But Prince Richard was different. Having actively entered the succession struggle for the imperial throne, he couldn’t afford to overlook even the smallest flaw in the academy.

This Demeia Academy was where his greatest rival, Princess Seraphina, served as student council president. It would be foolish to discover a flaw in Seraphina, who was known to be closest to the succession rights, and leave it unaddressed.

Of course, since the person ultimately in charge was Marquis Lucas, attacking the academy too overtly could backfire.

For generations, the House of Turamentum had been known as a pro-emperor noble family, and Marquis Lucas himself was a figure who could still exert influence within the imperial army despite having retired from active service many years ago.

The prestige of the House of Turamentum and the reputation Marquis Lucas had built in the Empire were powers that would follow whoever ascended to the imperial throne in the future. Only amateurs would risk ruining their future by focusing solely on immediate gains.

Naturally, Prince Richard was no amateur. Instead of directly criticizing Demeia Academy’s security system, he shifted the blame to the student council responsible for checking and inspecting it. He targeted the fact that while the system was built by the academy, its inspection was overseen by the student council.

“Was there a security vulnerability due to the student council’s oversight?”

“What exactly has the student council been inspecting to let things get this bad?”

It was a matter of perspective, but his accusations weren’t entirely unfounded.

“There’s a flaw in the academy’s security magic circle. Has this been reported?”

“We’ve submitted a maintenance request for the magic circle. We identified damage to it a few days ago as the weather turned cold, and it’s scheduled to be repaired soon.”

“A recent paper published in the magic society pointed out issues with this magic circle. Are you aware of that?”

“We’ve reviewed the recently published paper. However, since it’s still at the hypothesis stage and unproven, we’ve been cautious about making hasty changes.”

Though nominally called an inspection, it was practically indistinguishable from an inquisition. The student council was responding with nervous effort to the inspection team’s questions, but their inquiries were becoming increasingly pointed.

Fortunately, they were still handling things according to plan, but no one knew how long that would last.

After completing the inspection of the security magic circle, it was the academy guard’s turn. Even the proud security guards were responding well to the inspection team’s meticulous questions, but they eventually showed a weakness to the deliberately probing inspectors.

Unfortunately, the issue arose when a guard who had worked overnight failed to arrive on time for his next shift. The inspection team, as if finally achieving their goal, recorded “dereliction of duty” on their evaluation form.

“Madam President, are you going to just watch this happen?”

News that the inspection team had marked the security guards for dereliction of duty was immediately relayed to the student council executives. Vice President Talismen, deeply immersed in imperialism, found it increasingly difficult to tolerate the inspection team’s tyranny that threatened the student council he served.

“We lack justification. The inspection team, though somewhat overbearing, is diligently performing its duties. For me to intervene in this situation would be seen as disrespecting the inspection team’s authority, which could have adverse consequences.”

Seraphina furrowed her brow.

She was well aware that this entire farce was a scheme by her brother, Prince Richard. After appearing to have given up his succession rights and living leisurely, he seemed to have been quietly waiting for the moment to bring her down.

“We cannot remain idle. This is an insult to our student council.”

Talismen clenched his fist.

As a believer in imperialism, he was a man filled with pride in his family. He despised being disrespected more than anything in the world, and true to being the eldest son of a hardline family, he couldn’t tolerate being disrespected.

His sensitivity to this inspection issue stemmed from his inability to shake the feeling that the student council was being disrespected. While checking the security system was indeed the student council’s responsibility, they weren’t deeply versed in magic circles.

They received minimal training, but it was customary to hire professional security mages for inspections. After experiencing two academy infiltrations, the student council had dismissed all previously hired security mages and employed top-tier security mages—that was all they could do.

Yet the inspection team was cleverly shifting blame to the student council through theoretical arguments. As Talismen said, this could only happen if they were looking down on the student council.

“Even so, they are an inspection team officially dispatched by the imperial family. This is the emperor’s solemn will, and opposing it would be improper.”

This was the main reason Seraphina couldn’t respond despite knowing Richard’s ploy.

The inspection team sent by the imperial family had the legitimate purpose of examining the academy. Since this was properly authorized by the empire’s ruler, even Seraphina couldn’t stop the inspection team.

Depending on interpretation, it could be seen as defying the emperor’s orders.

You’ve brought a troublesome challenge.

Seraphina sensed that Prince Richard, who had been lying low, was now stretching his wings.

“Madam President, regrettably, the Vice President is correct this time.”

Courtney rarely agreed with Talismen’s opinion.

“Then do you have a good solution?”

Seraphina looked around at the student council executives.

They too had no clear solution and avoided Seraphina’s piercing gaze.

They had merely complained to Seraphina, their president, out of frustration. Though they were recognized talents in the empire, their opponent was a monster who had written an undefeated legend on battlefields where blood splattered and flesh tore.

His strategies and tactics always brought despair to enemy forces and glorious victory to his allies. Now this mysterious target was aimed at the student council.

And with such exquisite political maneuvering.

Even for the student council executives, resolving this was not easy.

Seraphina sipped her herbal tea and slowly considered countermeasures.

What the inspection team was fixated on was ultimately Demeia Academy’s security system that had allowed infiltrations. First was the security magic circle, and second was the security guard.

They pointed out the guards’ dereliction of duty, criticizing the lack of prompt initial response during the previous infiltration, and unfortunately, their strategy had worked perfectly.

It was difficult to remedy what had already happened, so it was important to let them know there was an alternative.

And Seraphina had one card that was perfect for this situation.

I need my disciple’s help.

Seraphina thought of Gilbert, who would be the most excellent support in the current situation.

He had achieved the feat of protecting all the nobles and citizens who had come to see the Lion King’s Birthday Celebration. He had single-handedly dealt with dozens of giant spirit soldiers.

The academy’s security system is a mess?

Seraphina scoffed.

This was Demeia Academy, which conducted military training. Enemy raids could happen at any time, and responding appropriately was what the cadets were supposed to do.

They were the academy’s security system, and if they failed, it meant the academy’s security system had failed.

So it was necessary to emphasize that the infiltration had been brilliantly thwarted.

It would be perfect to add that Demeia’s ultimate security system was none other than Gilbert, the Empire’s hero.

“Cadet Gilbert.”

“Madam President? What do you mean suddenly?”

When Gilbert’s name unexpectedly came from Seraphina, Ian questioned.

He reflexively reacted to the mention of his constant rival.

“The inspection team is pointing to the student council as the problem for allowing infiltrations into the academy. However, the academy repelled all intruders and protected the nobles and citizens present at the time. The foundation that made this possible was none other than Cadet Gilbert.”

“In other words, if Cadet Gilbert were part of the student council, then it would be the student council that stopped the intruders.”

Talismen pushed up his slipping glasses and grinned. He seemed to see a way forward.

“But Cadet Gilbert is not part of the student council. Even if we prepared documents now, they would think we fabricated them for this inspection.”

Ian didn’t want to easily give up one of his advantages over Gilbert—his title as a student council executive. Because of this, he opposed Seraphina’s opinion by mentioning points the inspection team might criticize.

“We don’t need to formally induct him. Cadet Gilbert is my disciple. Since he studies under Professor Briana, couldn’t we consider him an honorary student council member?”

Seraphina’s words were a play on words, but it was impossible to view the princess’s disciple as an ordinary cadet.

Wasn’t that why Gilbert had directly approached Briana when he first wanted to become her exclusive disciple?

If this inspection issue was a battle of justifications, putting Gilbert at the forefront could provide excellent justification. As mentioned earlier, it was all a matter of perspective.

“That would be a brilliant move.”

Courtney agreed with Seraphina’s opinion. In a situation where they had virtually no cards to play, Gilbert was an unexpected hidden card.

“Then, we need to align our stories with Cadet Gilbert. Ian, please summon Cadet Gilbert as soon as possible.”

Though Ian’s pride was hurt by Seraphina’s order, he tried not to show it as he bowed his head.

“Understood.”

It was a miserable feeling, but now was the time to endure and move on.

Ian bit his lip while keeping his head bowed.

***

“Disciple, from now on, you are an honorary student council executive.”

What?

Gilbert found himself receiving a strange proposal—no, an announcement—during a private meeting with Seraphina.