episode_0040

“Alright, let’s begin the lesson. First, we’ll start with the most basic formula for mana construction—”

Chris’s lesson was derailed the moment she opened her mouth.

“Hold on, Chris. What Eric needs right now isn’t that—it’s the basic knowledge to survive in high society.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Oppa is still a student, a student! Learning what he needs to learn comes first!”

“Since he’s decided to stand as a member of the Grave family again, fulfilling the duties and decorum befitting that position takes priority!”

“If we’re going by that logic, then the combat skills I’ll teach him are the most essential! Even the Grave family can’t fully rely on their guards!”

“Are you trying to turn Eric into nothing but a sword-wielding fool?”

“Wha—a sword-wielding fool?! Take that back!”

“Um, wasn’t I the one supposed to be teaching today…?”

Somehow, the situation was escalating.

“Your Highness the Crown Princess is being too rigid. You’re just trying to exploit Oppa politically for the Empire’s sake, aren’t you? Hmm?”

“What nonsense. And you—do you really think you’re qualified to teach Eric properly?”

“Originally, I was supposed to have a study session with Eric before Chris, you know. How did I end up being pushed to the back of the line?”

“So, Lady Cecillia, are you saying you’re more helpful than the rest of us right now?”

“That’s harsh~”

“……”

This won’t do.

“Stop it! We’re in front of the Student Council Presi—ah.”

I almost reflexively used honorifics but forced myself to drop them. If I’m going to exploit the President’s name, the least I can do is follow her rules.

“Eric?”

“Oppa?”

I met the confused gazes of the four with deliberately vacant eyes.

“We’re in front of the President. After everything that happened back then, you still want to act like this? We can’t afford to be late this time.”

“Huh?”

The effect was immediate—and dramatic!

“Eric? What did you just—”

This much acting should be enough.

“Huh? Wait, what did I just say?”

I scratched my head, putting on a clueless expression as I looked at them.

“Lady Elia, that just now—”

“Yeah. I saw it too.”

“Sigh… Typical Oppa.”

“Ah, it was nothing at all!”

Lucilla and Elia looked flustered.

Chris, who already knew the situation, stayed silent, while Cecillia anxiously watched me, as if afraid I’d remember something.

I didn’t want to go this far. Using the President’s name felt like exploiting her sacrifice and resolve.

The name Rin Saisi—Student Council President—was practically a trauma for everyone in the current Hero’s Party, except for the President herself.

“Don’t worry! I’m sure you all have things to do. If that’s the case, stopping you would just be petty of me!”

“…Commander Saisi, we—!”

“Shh. No more words. Go on, now! And if, by any chance, you’re free… come help this old woman before she dies without bearing a child!”

“Finding a man willing to take the President would probably be pretty har—”

“GO!!!”

“Hehe, we’ll be back, President.”

That joke-filled exchange was the last we ever saw of her.

Despite being a woman, she carried herself with more boldness than anyone in the Academy—no, the Allied Forces. She never got deeply involved with me or joined the Hero’s Party.

With Rin’s skills, she could’ve easily secured a spot, but instead, she chose to become the rallying point for ordinary people on behalf of all of us in the Hero’s Party.

And so, until the very end, she held the line, believing we would come.

But when the invasion grew too fierce to resist, Rin evacuated everyone and burned herself alive to stop it.

They called her the Academy’s hero, a great warrior—but no amount of praise could bring her body back.

If only we hadn’t been so busy fighting, clashing, and losing our way—maybe Rin would still be alive. Maybe she could’ve been a huge help in defeating the Demon King.

That’s why I didn’t want them to show such an ugly spectacle in front of her again. And judging by their softened expressions, they seemed to feel the same.

“My apologies. That was thoughtless of me.”

“No, Unnie. I can’t say I don’t understand where you’re coming from…”

My outburst must’ve worked because, thankfully, the rest of the lesson proceeded without further incident.

Though, with everyone agreeing that “We can’t just leave Chris and Eric alone!”, it ended up feeling more like a rowdy study group.

“Ughhh…”

“That should be enough.”

“Shall we wrap up today’s lesson here? This should be enough for everyone to come back on their own time later.”

“I disagree. Even so, at least one of us should stay in the Student Council room to handle duties. And Eric alone with you? No way. Absolutely not.”

At Chris’s words, I voiced a question that had been on my mind.

“Speaking of which, what about your own classes? Even if you’re all honor students…”

“You don’t need to worry about that, Eric.”

“We’ve already covered this year’s curriculum. We’re just playing the role of model students who diligently attend the Academy’s required classes.”

After Lucilla’s explanation, I nodded.

I see. So even these guys have their own annoyances to deal with.

There’s nothing more tedious than sitting through material you already know.

The lesson passed quickly.

“Then, let’s end it here for today.”

“Thank you for your time, Eric.”

“Call me when you’re free next.”

“Good work, everyone!”

At the President’s signal, the Student Council members slowly filed out of the room.

Now, what should I do?

I thought about heading straight back to the mansion, but if I did, Chris would undoubtedly insist on walking home together.

We already came to school together, and she even made meals for me—wasn’t that enough?

As I pondered, Cecillia gently grabbed my hand from behind.

“Um… do you still have time? While teaching you, I thought of something perfect for our group’s presentation topic.”

“I’m fine with it. What’s the topic?”

“The rampant corruption and abuses within the Church.”

“……Does that have a specific agenda behind it?”

“I won’t deny it. But isn’t this also a legitimate part of social research?”

“As long as you don’t endanger everyone by putting the cart before the horse, I don’t mind.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t want to drag unrelated students into this either. We have our own way of handling things.”

“Your own way?”

“The Church’s atrocities are easy enough to find if you look, but that alone isn’t enough. Without infiltrating the Cathedral where the Pope resides, we won’t find any definitive evidence.”

“Easier said than done.”

“What’s so hard about it? I’m a Saint candidate, and you’re the heir of the Grave family—someone who can ‘make even a bird fall from the sky’ within the Empire, right?”

“Shouldn’t you correct that to ‘a nearly disgraced delinquent’?”

“That’s exactly why we can go in freely. A normal person would raise suspicion, but a madman? They’ll let it slide.”

“Hmm…”

I couldn’t argue.

Instead, I decided to press Cecillia for more details about her plan.

“Alright, so once we’re inside the Church, then what? Got a plan?”

“Once we’re in the Cathedral, the rest is as easy as eating cold soup. They’d never expect people like us to expose their corruption. I’ve already gathered some evidence, too.”

“I figured. You wouldn’t have brought this up otherwise. You are the Saint, after all.”

Cynical, pessimistic, and faithless as she may be, Cecillia’s essence is still that of a Saint. So she’d never proceed unless she was absolutely sure everyone would be safe.

“You really are… No, never mind. As you said, I’ve already gathered evidence and covered my tracks. The only problem is…”

“Who’s going to blow the whistle, right? Unless someone’s desperate for money or has an unshakable sense of justice, they’d be too scared to risk their own neck.”

And, in other words, those two types of people are just different flavors of crazy.

“Could I do it?”

“You already know the answer, which is why you brought it up to me, right? Even if the revered Saint did it, the backlash would only be worse.”

“True. At best, forced correction. At worst, excommunication or even disappearance.”

“And even if the exposé succeeds, the Church would just turn you into a hero to cover their own escape.”

“The hero who exposed the Church’s corruption—Cecillia!”

Something like that.

It’d only be a half-victory.

“If you really want the whole world to see the Church’s disgrace, you’d have to dig up that thing from the underground—ah.”

“The Church’s monster? How do you know about the Fairchild?”

“Huh? Oh, well, obviously from the prophecy. It was horrifying, so it stuck with me.”

“Is that so? You saw that child in the prophecy? But…”

Cecillia looked slightly doubtful, but without concrete evidence, she continued her explanation.

That was close.

‘That thing’ isn’t the kind of monster you can just read about in prophecies.

If Cecillia didn’t trust me—or feel guilty toward me—she might’ve pressed further.

“Anyway, about the plan. First, there’s a place I’d like to show you. Can you come with me?”

“It’s not dangerous, is it?”

“Hmm. Depends on how you look at it? But I can guarantee your life won’t be at risk.”

“Just the two of us?”

“What are you talking about? Of course, the rest of the group will come too. It’s a group project, remember?”

“Everyone goes together, but only you know the location. Where exactly are you hiding this place?”

“I’ll tell you when we’re all together.”

—

“We’re going into the den of monsters.”

“Are you insane?”