episode_0029

Entering the personal training room, Gilbert could feel the heat sticking to his cheeks. The air inside the training room was so hot that it felt like I was in a sauna.

Gilbert looked at Seraphina, who had heated up this room so much. I could see the posture of her feet as she closed her eyes and concentrated. I kept my mouth shut and didn’t even make a breathing sound so as not to disturb anyone.

The moment the silence reached its peak, Seraphina’s eyes opened brightly.

Wow!

The sword was pulled from its scabbard at high speed and split the air. Long golden hair fluttered in its dynamic movements, and its red eyes glowed sharply as if they were glaring at an imaginary enemy.

It was a perfect iahap cut performed in a perfect posture.

Gilbert felt as if the hot air had split the moment her sword was drawn. It didn’t seem like she had reached that level yet, but her sword skills had reached such a high level that I thought it would be soon.

“After. Is it still far away?”

Seraphina retrieved her outstretched sword, sharpened it, and looked back at Gilbert. His black and red training uniform was drenched in sweat, as if he had poured all his strength into the strike just now.

“It’s been a while.”

“Meeting Her Highness the Princess.”

Gilbert received a towel from Yannick and greeted Seraphina, who was wiping the sweat from her face. Seraphina waved her hand as if it was okay to say hello.

“You can raise your head.”

“Thank you. Your Majesty.”

“You have earned the title of Highness. Since you are currently affiliated with Yeodo Academy, it is correct to follow the academy’s rules.”

Gilbert smiled happily at the game’s setting and Seraphina’s unchanging appearance. She was like an upright princess who did not make even herself an exception to what she thought was right.

“Can I call you Seraphina?”

“Do it that way. Although Yeo is stubborn about the title, Yeo is aware that it may be a burden to you.”

“Thank you for your consideration like Hahae.”

“I’ve been flattered. Rather, tell me why you came to see her. It must be urgent enough to interfere with women’s training, right?”

At first glance, Seraphina’s words seemed to contain a rebuke, but in reality, they were not meant to be a reprimand. In fact, Seraphina was looking at Gilbert with eyes filled with unknown anticipation.

Gilbert also noticed this and realized one thing.

Has Professor Brianna already given the hint?

That’s what Gilbert concluded. It was natural that in order to receive another exclusive disciple, permission was needed from the princess Serafina. Of course, it was right that the proposal itself should have been reported to Seraphina.

“Seraphina already knows, so I will tell you without any hesitation. I would like to become Professor Brianna’s second exclusive student.”

“Exclusive disciple… . Do you know what those words mean?”

“I know. It is about becoming a priest of Serafina.”

Seraphina found it amusing that Gilbert confidently expressed his opinions in front of her. It was the same at first meeting and at the entrance mock competition, but Gilbert had all the elements to stimulate her desire for talent.

A confident attitude and the talent to back it up. If it weren’t for the bad rumors surrounding him, he would have been the number one talent to recruit first.

“That’s right. Becoming Professor Brianna’s exclusive disciple means becoming a female priest. And becoming a female priest means attracting attention.”

“I know that too.”

“But as a woman, I am worried. The rumors surrounding you are making you hesitant to make decisions.”

‘Is reputation a problem this time too?’

Gilbert felt sick again at Seraphina’s words. If I could go back to the time before I was possessed in this world, I would never add unhelpful settings like this. No, it would be wiser to delete Tactical Combat in the first place and never look at it again.

However, he was possessed while already setting the stupid settings, and now those settings have become Gilbert’s reputation. Even if I didn’t want to admit it, I had no choice but to admit that I was a mess.

“Are you talking about the rumor that I am a moron?”

“That’s right. That rumor spread throughout social circles. I know that the rumor is true.”

Seraphina’s calm words made Gilbert think for the first time that this sub-quest might be blown away. I promised myself not to think of this world like a game, but I guess I subconsciously thought that everything would turn out well.

It was his failure to think that no matter how greedy Seraphina was for talent, she would not want to embrace Gilbert, who was like a time bomb with no idea where he might explode.

“However, after meeting you and observing you, I have to admit that it is quite different from the rumors. From training every single day to the almost miraculous ability to control a giant god soldier shown in the entrance mock battle, none of this is something that an idiot can possess.”

Gilbert could see that the current conversation was the most important turning point that would determine the success of the sub-quest. If you are not careful with every word you say, you will miss out on becoming Professor Brianna’s exclusive student.

The tension that had loosened was pulled taut.

“I have no intention of denying it. Just like Seraphina said, I am an incorrigible idiot.”

What he chose was the Jeonggongbeop. Considering Seraphina’s dislike of lame excuses, it would have been better to just admit that she was a fool.

Gilbert anxiously looked at Seraphina’s expression, but it was not easy to read Seraphina’s expression as she had experienced the battlefield and the political world of a huge empire at a young age. Before I knew it, there was nothing left in my eyes that had been filled with interest.

Gilbert, who saw eyes that were as clear as glass and contained no emotion, decided to gamble on what he knew of Seraphina’s personality.

“I have no intention of denying the past. The actions I have been doing are no different from trash. It is also true that he harassed innocent commoners and harassed women.”

“Then there is no reason for me to accept your request. I like talented people, but that doesn’t mean I like trash that is difficult to dispose of.”

Seraphina’s eyes became as sharp as when she trained them. Eyes as sharp as a sword stared at Gilbert.

An enormous force poured down on Gilbert. The power of the princess of a great empire began to weigh down on Gilbert.

‘Is this a prestige skill?!’

When the sum of the special abilities, Authority and Leadership, exceeds 130, a limited passive is created. It was a kind of hidden piece skill that could inflict stiffness on an opponent with a lower sum of special abilities than the user. It could be turned on and off, and could cause physical damage if the sum of the special abilities exceeded 170.

If he remembers correctly, Seraphina’s current authority and leadership values are 95 and 80, respectively. The sum of those two numbers alone was already close to 175, so it was possible to inflict physical damage.

Gilbert suppressed the urge to kneel down at any moment. My stomach turned and my eyes were bloodshot, but if I left here, I would have to give up being Professor Brianna’s student.

As he gritted his teeth and held on somehow, the intimidating feeling that had been weighing him down suddenly disappeared.

Gilbert exhaled the breath he had been holding.

“Why don’t you back down like that?”

“I have work to do.”

Gilbert barely answered without even thinking about wiping the blood flowing from the corner of his mouth.

The thought that he was getting internal injuries every time he did a side quest suddenly crossed Gilbert’s mind.

“Your mouth said that you were a mess and a piece of trash. Is it a presumption to think that the work that such a bastard scumbag must do could be a threat to the safety of the empire?”

Serafina’s words were correct. Even if I said it was something a fool should do, it was a fool’s errand. If it did not help the future of the empire, it was Seraphina’s job as the princess of the empire to get rid of it.

“I just want to do what I have to do properly.”

“What should be done properly?”

Gilbert did not back down even though he looked at Seraphina, who looked as if she would pull out her sword at any moment.

“As a member of the Heart family that protects the frontiers of the empire, I will fulfill my destiny given in blood.”

” To her ears, it just sounds like she wants to succeed the Count of Lithuania. Is that the right thing to do? Should we just wait and let a fool like you take charge of the frontiers of the empire?”

Serafina’s right hand went to the handle of the sword. Depending on the answer to this question, it seemed like he was sincerely willing to cut it down.

‘It’s a long shot.’

He showed signs of genuinely intending to swing the sword, but Gilbert was convinced that that was not possible.

Even though Gilbert was a famous bastard and Seraphina was the princess of the empire, he couldn’t just swing his sword and cause harm.

He was still the eldest son of the Iron Blood Margrave.

However, it was clear that if the wrong answer was given here, the subquest would end in failure.

And I will never be able to become Professor Brianna’s exclusive student again.

“I have no intention of succeeding to the Count of Lithuania.”

“What?”

Seraphina was startled by the unexpected words and asked back. I looked at Gilbert to understand his true intentions, but his stern expression did not waver one bit.

“As I said, I, who have lived like a fool, will not be able to properly lead the Lithuanian territory. If I were to succeed to the throne of Lithuania, there would only be chaos.”

“Do you know what you are saying?”

“I know. I am informing you that I will give up my right to succession to the Count of Lithuania.”

Seraphina felt sincerity in Gilbert’s firm tone.

“Then, there is something I want to ask you.”

“You may speak at your convenience.”

“Then what should you do properly?”

Gilbert’s voice became softer than before, and he knew he had crossed the 9th ridge. If I were to say something decisive here, it wouldn’t be difficult to get Seraphina’s permission.

“I will become the sword of the empire.”

“Is it the sword of the Empire?”

The Imperial Shield represented the Margrave, but the Imperial Sword represented the opposite.

Vanguards who lead the way better than anyone else on the battlefield.

Dean Lucas was like that, Professor Alexander was like that, and Professor Brianna was like that.

Those who always sacrifice their lives for the empire and never back down were praised and called the sword of the empire.

Seraphina quietly let go of the handle of her sword. Becoming the sword of the empire was not easy. The painful moment of having to calmly climb up from the bottom awaited me.

Seraphina smiled.

Just like Dean Lucas, Professor Alexander, and Professor Brianna.

Seraphina was like that too.