Those Who Wear the Crown Must Endure Its Weight

Sophia’s words, audible to everyone, were unconventional.

“We’re together, aren’t we?”

“What—”

“Shhh.”

Sophia’s index finger blocked my lips.

“Just indulge me a little longer, Brother.”

Even Scarl, the great, couldn’t help but be flustered by her forcefulness.

The gazes of those around us grew increasingly numerous.

“O-okay.”

Then, she whispered in my ear.

“Too many annoying gnats have gathered. Oh my.”

‘Gnats?’

A male student, appearing from nowhere, stood confidently before me.

Thin limbs like reeds, a gaunt face, eyelids trembling even when still.

He looked like he belonged in a refugee camp, yet his clothes were filled with expensive fabrics and decorations that screamed status to anyone who saw them.

‘He’s got everything he can possibly attach to his uniform. How is he even standing?’

“Sophia! Professor, release that hand!”

What was this bonehead, looking like a discarded bone, doing, telling me what to do?

“It would be polite for the student to reveal his name first, wouldn’t it?”

“Even after seeing this? My name is Carl Hoyman Yeterburg IV. The professor should show respect to royalty.”

I’d never heard that surname before.

Judging by the sound of it, he was royalty from a small, minor kingdom.

“So, what do you want me to do about it, Student Carl Hoyman Yeterburg IV? I am Scarl Bernatore, professor of swordsmanship.”

This is an academy created by the Empire, you know.

Is your father more influential than the Imperial Emperor? No, wait, your land is probably smaller than my territory, isn’t it?

“How dare you!”

Sophia seemed to want me to handle it, so she stood still with an expression that said she knew nothing, and I let out a small sigh.

Carl Something-or-other was quite tall, so there was almost no height difference, but the difference in build between us was significant.

As I frowned and approached, Carl Something-or-other’s legs began to tremble.

A hint of regret for stepping forward, a hint of realizing that his courage was recklessness rather than bravery due to Sophia’s composure, and a hint of fear that he might be folded up like origami in a moment.

“W-w-w…”

His courage in stepping forward was admirable, and I wanted to instill some manners into him, but…

‘Then I’d go to jail, wouldn’t I?’

“Go back.”

Even if it was from some unknown country, royalty was royalty.

I simply frowned, clenched my teeth, and exuded an aura of intimidation.

“…Mmph!”

The sound of laughter echoed from the surroundings at the fear he squeezed out.

“Does Student Carl think this professor looks easy to bully?”

This wasn’t just a warning to Carl Something-or-other.

It also included a warning to the guys who were watching us like some kind of scandalous drama.

Scarl, who had grown explosively while catching Shakline, looked around one by one.

Even in the early autumn, when the summer heat hadn’t completely faded, a coolness swept through as if the surrounding temperature had suddenly dropped by two degrees. The students who had been watching them with interest were startled by Scarl’s appearance.

What’s with that look in his eyes?

H-he looks really scary.

I heard he only flirts with women, but even so, with the Princess. Ugh. I can’t step forward.

Rumor has it he beats people mercilessly… If I make eye contact, I’m in big trouble. I might die.

O-oh, I forgot I had something to do. Haha… I need to go quickly.

I might have peed a little.

The crowd that had gathered was instantly cleared by Scarl’s glare.

Sophia, who was watching the scene from the side, cheered inwardly.

‘As expected! It’s reassuring to have Brother by my side!’

“H-how dare you! You laughed at me?! Our Maritime Kingdom Andathersi will not stand idly by!”

Carl Hoyman’s leg trembling had spread to his hand, making his finger-pointing look weak and powerless.

A guy who was already cowering just from seeing my true self…

‘Just get lost, you minnow.’

As Scarl raised his left hand, Carl Hoyman, looking startled, began to run away.

“H-how cowardly to intimidate me! Just you wait, Professor Scarl!”

After that, two more strangely dressed royal guys brought up Sophia and charged at Scarl.

It goes without saying, but no one could surpass Scarl’s status and reach Sophia.

After finishing our tour, Sophia and I returned to Room 404.

Sophia, with her arms crossed, let out a small sigh.

“Thank you. Since yesterday, a bunch of annoying guys like that have suddenly appeared. Really. They know a pretty face when they see one. Don’t you think so, Brother?”

I ignored the question, which wasn’t worth answering.

“Don’t bother me with such trivial matters.”

Sophia was at the peak of her popularity as soon as the second semester started.

She even dragged me into it, earning me only troublesome grudges.

‘Not that I’m afraid of those guys.’

“Oh, come on, Brother. Just the rumor that I’m involved with Professor Scarl should be enough to keep those losers from even talking to me.”

Indeed.

That was a valid point.

“But what about my permission?”

“Aww, Professor.”

What did I just hear? This was even more shocking.

Sophia was acting cute?

She must have been embarrassed herself, as her face flushed from her neck up.

“P-please, just for a few days, pretend to be my boyfriend. Okay?”

The first thing that came to mind at those words was Luna’s face.

‘…’

As I hesitated, Sophia made her fingers into spiders and climbed up my arm.

“What are you doing?”

“U-unintentionally. Um… Brother? Don’t worry too much. Everyone knows about it.”

Everyone?

“Maybe. There will definitely be people who are after Brother too.”

What was this about now? Who…

“You don’t come out of the lab very often, but you showed yourself yesterday, so… Anyway! Let’s have lunch together today.”

“Annoying—”

Sophia cut me off.

“Luna said she’s eating with Flare today—!”

I cut off Sophia’s words.

“I have a prior engagement.”

“O-oh? With who?”

“I’m going to Aiden.”

Sophia teared up at those words.

“Aiden… Is it Kasha…”

I quickly checked Sophia’s forehead.

‘She always pretends to be sad.’

“Yes. Go back now.”

“Okayyy.”

Still, she knew I was going for work, so she obediently retreated.

“See you tomorrow, Brother. Bye!”

She gave up quickly.

I put on my coat and went to the faculty building, where a carriage sent by Aiden was waiting.

Scarl thought there would be no one inside, but Kasha was there.

“I’ve been waiting, Master.”

There was no need for her to come in person.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

“It’s the first time I’ve been summoned to the academy.”

“That’s right.”

“There are people intentionally leaking my information. I suspect it’s being spread from the Imperial Palace.”

“I will find them.”

As expected, she handled things well without me having to say much.

“Okay.”

We arrived at Aiden’s office.

I began to deal with the backlog of guild work.

While reviewing the documents, my concentration broke, and I noticed something different about the office.

‘There are a lot of things I haven’t seen before. A frame, a vase, a coat rack.’

Only three more things had been added, but…

‘It was too drab. It looks good.’

Kasha was aware of Scarl’s gaze as he looked around.

She clenched both fists as if nervous and looked at Scarl.

“Did you decorate this, Kasha?”

Kasha’s exposed ears caught my eye. There were traces of small cuts at the ends.

I was so surprised when I first found out about that.

“…Yes.”

Scarl naturally hung the coat he was wearing on the coat rack.

“Good. Lunch…”

It was past 2 o’clock, but I should eat before I leave.

“I’ll bring it.”

“Did you prepare it?”

“Yes.”

The food Kasha brought was familiar to Scarl.

A hamburger that was sold as a recovery item in the game.

‘Well, it must have appeared in the game because it was sold somewhere or there was a recipe.’

“I was going to eat it myself… Does it suit your taste?”

“Sometimes.”

The texture of the patty was similar to the real thing. Above all, the flavor of the cheese and the abundance of cabbage were good.

Scarl craved carbonation after eating such food for the first time in a while.

“Is there anything to drink?”

“Here. It’s sparkling water that I often drink. There’s a lot inside.”

Kasha took out a white sparkling water from the small refrigerator in the back.

‘Too bad. Come to think of it, there was no cola, was there?’

“Thank you.”

The tingling sensation in my throat was perfect as a substitute for cola, even though it had no sweetness.

‘I should eat this often.’

“I’ll clean up.”

I stopped Kasha as she was about to leave with the dishes.

“Do you like the foods I recommended?”

“Yes.”

“Kasha, you can do what you want too. Aiden is my…”

“It’s okay.”

When I returned to the mansion, Luna was waiting at the entrance.

“Scarl. Have you finished your business?”

She was still in her school uniform, so it didn’t seem like she had been back for long.

“Yes.”

“Did you go to Aiden every time you did that?”

I forgot to tell Luna because of my habit of not talking usually.

“Mostly. It will happen often in the future, so you don’t have to wait.”

“I want to wait.”

The butler approached with an anxious expression.

Sweating profusely, the butler looked back and forth between Scarl and Luna. If it weren’t for the serious issue that could affect their relationship, he wouldn’t have wanted to interrupt their sweet conversation as usual.

“Um… I’m sorry to interrupt, but Scarl. A guest has come to see you. She’s a noble and said she would wait until you arrived…”

Who? Someone was coming to see Scarl?

The butler, constantly watching Luna’s reaction, spoke to Scarl.

“She’s waiting in the drawing room. She said you would know if I mentioned Lady Simmons…”

How did that family know me?

“Simmons?”

Scarl repeated in a questioning tone.

“…Simmons.”

Luna bit her lip and muttered quietly.