Ch.216216. Stupid Senior (6)

A medal of honor from the Grand Duke, the leader of this country, is pinned to the chest of the bewildered boy.

There were more than enough reasons for him to receive it.

He had stopped a civil war that was about to break out due to confusion and delusion at Levrant Academy.

He had resolved troubles with the Lakan tribe and ended the battle against the sudden Lycan attack.

Finally, with continuous reports about his significant role in subjugating the Sacred Emperor, it became impossible to keep his achievements hidden even if he wanted to.

The ceremony concluded with applause for the boy who, unusually, walked the Royal Road.

“Ho ho. Look at this lad. How strange that he looks so glum even after receiving a medal of honor from the Grand Duke.”

“…”

“I hope you realize that being so stiff won’t help. Not just misdeeds, but good deeds too—if the tail is long, it will get stepped on.”

Foolish boy.

Professor Muniher gave Junon a hearty laugh as he said this.

The boy who received the medal scratched his head and tried to change the subject.

“The ceremony is over now. Why was I called back here?”

“Hmm. About that.”

The conversation needed more ears to continue, and just then, the door opened.

“Shouldn’t you speak with me first, whom you met in the hospital room?”

Professor Muniher nodded silently.

Junon had been unable to bring himself to ask where Adel was.

At that moment, Lewena grabbed Junon’s shoulder with trembling hands and said:

“I’m sorry.”

Sorry, she said.

***

Tears were flowing once again from her eyes, which were still wet with tear stains.

But… weren’t the person seeking forgiveness and the person receiving the apology mixed up?

Trying to correct this misplaced relationship, he immediately said:

“I’m the one… who should apologize.”

From provoking Demian and causing the incident to failing to protect Adel due to his careless response.

He had no excuses, even if he had ten mouths to speak with.

But Aunt Lewena shook her head.

“What happened to Adel isn’t your fault.”

“No, it is. Adel…”

His hands were gathered under the wrinkled hands of the aunt.

Though they seemed to have almost no strength in them, he could feel a strange power.

And as if strongly denying what she had just said, she swallowed hard and insisted firmly:

“I should have come to my senses quickly and helped… but seeing my only daughter collapsed before my eyes, I couldn’t even make proper judgments.”

“Aunt…”

“I heard much later. That there were people throwing stones at you, saying you were the one who made Adel like that.”

Her sobbing voice held condemnation.

Her eyes held reproach.

Her breathing revealed a strange anger.

But undoubtedly, it wasn’t directed at him. Lewena was blaming herself.

“For making you suffer all this time, for making things difficult for you. I’m truly sorry.”

With that, she tightly gripped his hands with what little strength she had, carving new tear tracks over the ones that had not yet fully disappeared.

She clearly recounted the events of that day when her precious daughter, whom she had finally found, became a vegetative state again due to one person’s inadequacy. Every detail, without omission.

Junon closed his eyes tightly and turned his head. Expecting to be struck, he clenched his teeth.

But the voice didn’t stop.

The one speaking was someone else entirely. There was only one person who had directly experienced the incident and viewed it from this perspective.

From the explosives set up in the Dubevan to some kind of blackmail—she must have heard the full account from Hena.

And finally, she spoke of how and with what intention Adel had chosen to harm herself, despite enduring bitter pain.

Demian’s hostage situation began with the aunt’s voice and ended with the aunt’s voice.

“Junon. You did your best. Just for that… I am nothing but grateful…!”

The strength in her hands seemed much stronger than before.

Perhaps it was due to the slightly numbing pain, but only then did he finally open his eyes.

He had been prepared to receive grief for not being able to save her.

He had expected to be criticized and condemned for his arrogance and carelessness.

But even though she was crying and must have recalled Adel’s face at least once, she never once blamed or reproached him.

“That child, who was bound to the Kutelli family in body and mind, recognizing me was enough to make you my benefactor. Just the fact that she didn’t return as a corpse or in an even worse state is enough for me to be grateful…!”

The mother who had lost her daughter said:

That she was grateful, and that she was sorry.

A few minutes later, until Professor Muniher called the waiting medical staff to take Lewena away, Junon remained frozen like a stone.

‘Grateful and sorry…’

It was a paradoxical statement. Yet it kept coming back to him over and over.

To Junon, who still looked dazed, Professor Muniher cleared his throat with a “hmm hmm” and said:

“Adel is scheduled to go to the Empire.”

“The Empire…?”

Junon asked back, puzzled.

“Your confusion is understandable. If we’re talking about the Empire, it’s obviously the Artena Empire. And how can a ship sail from Mirpark, which has no port? Such doubts would naturally arise.”

As Muniher said, questions were bound to arise.

If one were to name an area suitable for a port, it would definitely be Mirpark Province, specifically the peninsula located at the easternmost part of Mirpark.

To put it bluntly, that’s the only place where ships can dock. Looking at all possible conditions, only Mirpark Port, which is still undergoing lengthy repairs, has the geographical advantage for a harbor.

But to sail a ship from here? Throughout history, a port could never be repaired so quickly.

“Wasn’t the port still under construction because of the typhoon?”

“Yes, a typhoon hit. And it was a record-breaking one that left only debris of the port when it made landfall.”

“Then how can a ship…”

In reality, the last ship that arrived from the Empire was before the typhoon, and since then, the construction of ports and docks has been significantly delayed.

The reason for heading to the Octagon was precisely because of the port.

With difficulties in the trading business, there are problems with materials, and although self-sufficiency is possible, there’s a shortage of manpower.

In other words, it’s a money issue.

The reason for going to the Octagon to uncover corruption among the nobles was to lower the rapidly rising prices and stabilize the market.

No, let’s assume all of that has been resolved.

Even if a geographically favorable location has appeared somewhere.

“Without the Grand Duke’s permission, sailing would be impossible, wouldn’t it?”

As ships are a significant means of transportation in the current duchy, the leader’s permission is required.

“That’s possible because I gave permission.”

Another male voice came from behind.

It was a voice he had heard once before. It was when he had moved with Professor Jake and continued the interview alone.

“Indeed, you’re a remarkable talent. If more information had leaked to you, you would have figured out all my movements.”

“Grand Duke…?”

“It’s been a while. I apologize for not looking after you.”

Grand Duke Ardelion. He had arrived here, coughing.

***

“You’re saying the Grand Duke is unwell?”

“Yes. His health has deteriorated significantly compared to when he was a duke.”

That’s how it was with people who were rulers of a country.

Always busy with work, from state affairs and politics to inspections, there’s so much to do that the Grand Duke’s health has deteriorated.

Of course, not many people know this fact.

“How can a ship be launched? Isn’t sailing impossible unless the port on the Mirpark peninsula is rebuilt because of the strait?”

The idea of using sea routes to head to the Empire again sounded absurd.

“While ships from the Empire can’t dock in the duchy, the reverse is possible.”

“What? There’s such a point…”

“There was. The place where the Lakan tribe lived was another point. Since we employed Lakans who didn’t have jobs, we could quickly build a port, and if limited to trips to the Empire, it can operate without much difference from before.”

Due to busy movements over the past month, the port has long been completed, and after successful test operations:

There’s not much difference. Although only one-way travel to the Empire is possible, even that will be a thing of the past in a few months.

“But doesn’t Lenias not know? That uncle and aunt are leaving for the Empire?”

The two nodded. Given that the information was delivered in utmost secrecy, Lenias wouldn’t have found out until it’s publicly announced.

“Essentially, it’s a visit to the Empire for recuperation to restore the Grand Duke’s deteriorated health. Ophelia will be the regent for the time being. It might seem unstable, but with Minister Muniher’s help, there won’t be any problems.”

“The reason everyone is moving together is because the Grand Duke personally requested it. Normally, either my brother or I would have stayed behind, but now the entire ducal family needs to move.”

“I was wondering why all the household employees had changed… so that’s what it was.”

They don’t explicitly say that it’s for the treatment of the girl named Adel.

Aunt Leiftichel approaches Ronelion and asks once more. This is more important.

“Are you sure it’s okay not to go with Lenias?”

Ronelion and Lenias are the only children of his deceased sister.

It’s not because they’re relatives. As an aunt who has somewhat filled the void left by their mother, she asks again out of concern.

“I’ve said this many times, but neither Lia nor Jack would want you to push yourselves like this. So… why not stop here?”

She cautiously suggests to the siblings, who have been pushing themselves because of their parents’ reputation, to stop what they’ve been doing.

“Thank you for your concern, but I’m fine.”

“Ron.”

“Uncle, you don’t need to worry so much either. I’ve… primarily let go of it.”

“Primarily?”

Ronelion revealed with a faint smile that he had freed himself from his parents’ obsession.

However, as he said he had only primarily let go, there was a reason he hadn’t completely let go.

“Leni’s lingering attachment is so deep…”

“Someday, Leni will realize it too. Until then, I’m going to indulge her stubbornness.”

“Huh. Alright. If that’s the case, I feel a bit more at ease.”

These are children who have suffered from a massive obsession since childhood, believing they shouldn’t tarnish their parents’ reputation.

The public’s gaze on the children of heroes who saved the country wouldn’t have been very pleasant.

They might have heard from a childhood friend who got hurt while playing, “Why can’t you heal me like your parents?”

For siblings who made headlines for even a single mistake, they had to pursue perfection…

It was truly an obsession.

The reason they headed to the Ardelion Duchy was to achieve more accomplishments, and the villa built here was also for that reason.

Fortunately, they realized that the time spent maintaining their parents’ reputation was tedious, but…

It seems that only Ronelion has realized that it has no meaning over time.

“Anyway, I won’t be returning to the Empire. If you ask Leni directly, you’ll probably get the same answer.”

“Alright. If that’s your wish, I can’t do anything about it, but when the time comes… you know, right?”

“Taking care of my childish sister is a natural duty as an older brother.”

The two smiled faintly at Ronelion, who proudly claimed to be the older brother despite being born less than a day apart.

“Don’t worry and go. Take care of yourselves.”

“You take care too.”

“Give my regards to Leni.”

Watching his uncle and aunt head to the newly constructed port, Ronelion suddenly realizes he forgot something.

“Ah. Should I have mentioned that Lenias has fallen for Senior Junon?”

After scratching his cheek a few times, Ronelion turned away, thinking, “Ah, it should be fine.”

There’s no need to meddle in his sister’s love life.

Besides, positive news can be shared when they return to the duchy. If they knew about it, someone in the family might start searching for this person with burning eyes, asking who he is.

Of course, the best news would be if Junon resolved Lenias’s obsession.

He’s confident that it won’t be long.

Hoping for the two to grow closer in the future, Ronelion headed out today as well to help Senia with her training.

***

Professor Muniher said:

If you did your best to achieve such a result, it’s definitely not a failure.

The one thing he always emphasized to his students came up again.

And he confidently added:

Whether it was a failure or not would be decided by the people waiting outside.

As he stepped outside, a chorus of “Waaah!!” erupted.

“…”

Welcome, praise, support, and gratitude.

These were what came to me now.

It’s awkward. Though I’ve heard brief compliments before, I’ve never received something like this.

I’m still awkward and a bit scared.

Seeing such scenes makes me feel like I’m the only fool.

Amidst these cheers, the Grand Duke’s voice faintly echoes in my mind.

-‘Do you remember what I asked you to promise before?’

Damn. I can’t believe I’m thinking about that now.

The thought that he might be watching from above sent a chill down my spine.

-‘But if, just if, the people of the duchy come to know your name in a positive light, then…’

“Haah.”

I sigh and raise my hand.

He called it a promise, but it was more like a bet.

I… lost that bet. That’s why I’m raising my hand and awkwardly waving it.

─Waaah!!!

-‘At least wave your hand to respond. If you couldn’t hide it even though you tried, shouldn’t you at least become a celebrity?’

What else can I do when he threatens to reveal everything if I don’t?

…I guess I’ll just wave my hand obediently.