Ch.38038. Who Dares

Inside Professor Briana’s office, there was a visitor.

Platinum blonde long hair and red eyes, just like Gilbert’s.

It was Imperial Knight Seraphina.

Seraphina was facing Professor Briana, accompanied by her guard knight Yanik. Two steaming teacups sat on the reception table.

“Good day, Master and Lady Seraphina.”

“You’ve finally arrived, disciple.”

A rare smile played on Seraphina’s lips. Gilbert realized from that smile that the purpose of Seraphina’s visit was himself.

“Sit here first.”

As Gilbert took a seat, Professor Briana personally prepared a new teacup and placed it before him. As clear tea flowed from the teapot, a fragrant aroma tickled his nose.

“Master, may I speak to your disciple first?”

“Isn’t that why you came here?”

“Hehe. I am pleased that you understand my intentions so well.”

Gilbert sipped his tea while watching the friendly banter between master and disciple. Even to Gilbert, who knew nothing about tea, the slightly bitter taste that coated his tongue suggested this was high-quality tea.

“Do you find our conversation so amusing?”

“I’m not sure what you mean, Lady Seraphina.”

Truthfully, it was amusing, but he played innocent. He judged it unwise to get caught up in Seraphina’s pace.

From what Gilbert remembered, Imperial Princess Seraphina appeared cold when her affection level was low, but once you became Professor Briana’s exclusive disciple, she often played mischievous pranks.

She had said something about finding her new disciple cute. When playing as the protagonist Ian, Gilbert had accepted this because of Ian’s slender build, but now he was the Golden Sun with a robust physique. Standing over 190cm tall, Gilbert didn’t particularly want to be treated that way.

“That doesn’t seem to be the case… But that’s not important right now. Disciple. No, Gilbert Lion Heart.”

Seraphina’s smiling expression changed. The dignity befitting the First Imperial Princess descended upon her.

“I await your command.”

“I cannot help but praise your recent accomplishments. Not only did you eliminate those vermin gnawing at the Empire, but you also risked your life to protect the Academy students who represent the Empire’s future. How could I withhold praise from someone who has shown such heroism?”

Seraphina’s clear, deep red eyes focused entirely on Gilbert.

She no longer thought of him as the wayward young master of a count’s family.

Of course, this one deed didn’t erase all his past misdeeds.

Malicious rumors would still follow him, and people would certainly continue to speak ill of him behind his back.

But Seraphina was an Imperial Princess.

She couldn’t help but view Gilbert differently after he perfectly resolved an incident that could have tarnished the reputation of both Demeia Academy and the Empire.

Few could achieve the feat of single-handedly destroying seven Gigantic Soldiers as a freshman. Usually, people capable of such feats would make their names known eventually. Whether from an imperial perspective or Seraphina’s personal preference, Gilbert was now someone who must be secured.

“As the Imperial Princess, I highly value your contribution.”

“I only did what needed to be done.”

“A pleasing response. And there is one more thing I wish to tell you.”

“Please speak.”

“I intend to root out those insolent Resistance members. They deceive innocent imperial citizens under the pretense of freedom. I cannot stand by and watch these mere terrorists act as if they were born with some noble mission.”

A chill emanated from Seraphina’s words. She was born to be a ruler.

Having stood on battlefields as the Empire’s sword even before entering Demeia Academy, she remembered countless people who had shed blood to protect this Empire. How many nobles had withered before they could bloom, amid battlefields where life and death intertwined?

The astute Seraphina wasn’t incapable of understanding their goal of establishing a republic. She knew all too well that commoners trampled by nobles had embraced republicanism to protect themselves.

That was precisely why the Respublica Republic had been established. Founded on the premise that the state belongs to all citizens, the Respublica Republic was a nation born through endless civil wars between nobles and commoners under the ideology of “citizen rule.”

It was a blood-stained nation barely completed through bloodshed and life-risking struggles.

But even the Respublica Republic wasn’t without problems. Divided into noble and citizen factions, Respublica still suffered from ongoing civil wars.

While it appeared on the surface to be a good place where citizens’ rights were recognized, the reality was different. Food was scarce due to farmlands devastated by endless civil wars, and military strength had weakened because many people had died or been injured.

In the current era of frequent wars involving Gigantic Soldiers, such a nation was merely good prey for other countries. For a nation weakened both economically and militarily, only one path remained.

In this sense, Seraphina despised the Resistance faction that yearned only for freedom without reading the flow of the times. And it was natural for her to be furious when such despicable creatures had boldly challenged Demeia Academy and, by extension, the Empire.

“And who dares to touch my disciple? You are now none other than my one and only disciple. This means you are someone those vermin, who can only spout empty words, should not dare to touch.”

A murderous aura flowed from Seraphina’s crimson eyes. This was what it meant to share a master with the Empire’s First Princess. That’s why Gilbert had to seek Seraphina’s permission first before becoming Briana’s exclusive disciple.

Gilbert could now truly appreciate what position he could have attained. This was something he hadn’t fully understood in the game.

“This is tantamount to a challenge against me. In that sense, I have a proposal for my disciple.”

“Please speak.”

“Do you remember the promise you made to me?”

“You said you would permit me to become Master’s disciple if I proved my worth.”

“Yes. In my eyes, you have proven that worth. So you may forget about that. Instead, help me root out those vermin completely.”

It was as expected. The tactical combat game Gilbert had played countless times had progressed in this way too.

Of course, this was an event that only occurred if you completely eliminated the Resistance as a prerequisite.

This was the part where she perfectly acknowledged the protagonist Ian as her disciple, followed by an invitation to participate in the operation to eradicate the Resistance.

Even without seeing this event, one would naturally participate in the Resistance eradication operation as it was the main story, but there was a fundamental difference between participating as the Princess’s disciple versus as an ordinary student.

The position of activity itself was beside the Princess, which meant more confrontations with key Resistance members and a difference in the quality of rewards.

“Do I have the right to refuse?”

“My disciple has a talent for amusing me. Surely you’re not saying you would refuse?”

My proposal, of all things?

Under that gaze, Gilbert shook his head. Even Gilbert wouldn’t be crazy enough to reject a proposal from the Imperial Princess. Unless there was some benefit, there was nothing to gain from refusing this offer.

“Of course not. I will follow Lady Seraphina’s wishes.”

“I thought so. Indeed, I like how straightforward my disciple is. Very well. You have perfectly proven yourself as my disciple, so now you may call me ‘Master.'”

“I’ll try my best.”

“My disciple is quite shy. Master, my business here is concluded.”

“I understand, Disciple.”

Professor Briana refilled Gilbert’s empty teacup before speaking.

“Gilbert. Well done.”

Contrary to Gilbert’s expectations, Professor Briana said just one thing. Simply that he had done well.

Gilbert was a bit surprised, having expected to be questioned about his use of the Winter Sword technique, but remembering Professor Briana’s character, he inwardly nodded.

“As I told Lady Seraphina… *ahem* Master, I only did what needed to be done.”

Seraphina only stopped her fake coughing after finally hearing Gilbert call her “Master.” Gilbert had to suppress a sigh at her shameless behavior.

“No, you did far more than that.”

“I hope I didn’t tarnish your reputation, Master.”

“Not at all. You did well. Above all, I wanted to tell you this first.”

Briana looked at Gilbert with unusually gentle eyes. She seemed impressed by how Gilbert had risked his life to protect the students she cared for.

“And as your master, I must praise you. What you used at the end was the Winter Sword’s Ice Spike, wasn’t it?”

“…Yes, it was.”

“You’re quite the extraordinary one. Already using up your master’s techniques. Your Ice Spike was flawless. I won’t ask when or how you learned it. Some people are capable of inexplicable feats.”

And we call such people geniuses.

Professor Briana deliberately left the latter part unsaid. She didn’t want her talented exclusive disciple to fall into arrogance.

“That’s all I have to say. Lady Seraphina has already said everything else I would have.”

“May I leave now, then?”

“Before that, Professor Horizon asked me to give you something.”

“Could it be…”

“Yes. He said it was a wager item… You won quite a substantial prize.”

Professor Briana took out a wooden box about the size of two palms and handed it to Gilbert. Given what it was, Gilbert had thought it would take time for Professor Horizon to deliver it, even with his status.

Even if next-generation development was in its final stages, this wasn’t something that could be casually handed over.

Gilbert proudly gazed at the prototype artificial spirit that had finally come into his possession. He felt he wouldn’t need dinner tonight; he was already satisfied.