episode_0056

“It’s been a while, Prince Kael! Oh, and now that you have the title of General, should I call you that?”

It’s true, but in reality it’s a temporary position, so it’s a bit ambiguous.

The Emperor’s will is to do as you wish without worrying about what others think.

But from my perspective, it’s even more of a burden now that I have more space.

It’s been a long time, Your Highness? It hasn’t even been two weeks since we parted ways.

If anyone heard, they would think we were meeting again in two months.

“Oh. It all shows in your expression.”

“Yes?”

“It hasn’t been that long at all!”

Huh. I unconsciously touched my face reflexively.

As a noble, it would be rude to make such an expression in front of the princess.

But soon I couldn’t help but grab my forehead and exclaim, ‘I’ve been hit!’

“Hey. I was just kidding.”

“… You got hit.”

I think it would be right for the princess to be a genius strategist.

You have the right to deceive me like this, Your Highness!

“Ahem. Anyway, Your Highness, you may call me whatever you want.”

“Really? Then, Kael. How about it? Just say your name.”

“… It’s okay.”

I was only discussing the part about the rank of military officer.

The princess immediately stopped calling him the prince and started calling him only by his name.

This makes me even more worried. I shouldn’t get too close to the princess.

Even now, I am strangely wary of the Emperor, and if I get close to his daughter, I will become even more of a sinner!

“Have you heard about the schedule?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. You are heading to the western part of the empire to visit each legion, and you are also planning to go near the border and look around the area.”

“There is a movement magic circle heading west, but it’s probably hard to use. It’s better for visiting the Legion.”

So, that means that even if it’s not possible, it will take about two months.

Wow. In less than a year, we’ve been to the North and East of the Empire. And now we’re going to the West.

I also have a feeling that we might end up shooting all the way to the South.

“But, Kael.”

“Please speak.”

“Why is that woman going with us?”

I turned my head to follow the princess’s gaze and encountered a familiar face.

Her true identity is none other than Charloa. She is the only daughter of the Chairman of the Demon Clan Union Council.

There he was also the first imperial student of Novogord.

To be honest, I was a bit surprised. I didn’t think the first international student would be anyone other than her.

When you think about the value that Charleroi holds, it seems a bit excessive.

She is the daughter of none other than the Chairman of the Council. And she is also the only daughter.

If by any chance he were to be taken hostage, it would be extremely tiring for Novogord.

There the moderates will find themselves in a situation where they have to throw down their own pillars.

The hardliners will attack, saying that now that their child has been captured by the Empire, they don’t know what they will do.

Nevertheless, Charlois managed to become the first foreign student.

That’s exactly the part. That’s why she moved with the princess and me.

“The route from the island to the west and south is not that long, so they said they would only accompany you up to that point.”

“Ha. If that’s the case, then you could have taken Kael’s younger sister too.”

If it were Kaya, I would have been absolutely against it.

At that time, it was only in the name of escort that Kaya could be tied up so tightly.

But this time, there is no special situation like a battlefield, nor is there the weighty position of an escort.

It is said that it is very difficult to deal with my younger sister who is secretly a bit noisy.

I know I should be stricter with it, but… damn, it’s so hard.

Since we were little, I thought he was so cute because of the age difference, and it became a habit.

Maybe even when Kaya becomes an adult, she will still seem like a five-year-old to me.

“2 Princess Highness. Prince Kael.”

Charlois smiles and approaches, perhaps seeing the princess and me from afar.

What was scary here was the princess’s reaction. The grumbling that had occurred just a moment ago was completely erased from her face as if it had never happened.

“Miss Charlois. I heard the news. You became the first foreign student in Novogord?”

“Yes. That’s what happened. Everyone in the world knows that the Empire is a very prosperous place, so I think it’s a good thing to learn good things from the Empire and return to your home country.”

“You are the right person. That is right. That is the heart for the country.”

Is it just me who feels like there’s some truth in those words?

The princess’s line just now. If you think about it, it could be interpreted as, ‘You hardliners who oppose the empire for no reason are foolish. That’s not for the good of the country at all.’

“Yes. I think so too. If it is a loss to be stubborn, it is right to give up quickly and start over.”

In the meantime, Charlois agreed with the princess’s words without changing her expression at all.

Because of that, the one who was left speechless was none other than the princess.

As expected, she is the daughter of the chairman who leads the council. She is a member of the Estania family, the leader of the moderate faction.

“The two of you are going west.”

“Yes, Miss Charleroi. That is so.”

“I’m heading south. There’s an Imperial Academy there, right?”

As Charlois said, there is an educational institution called the Imperial Academy in the south.

Since it has the word “imperial” in front, it is not private but national. Oh, to be precise, should I say “imperial”?

Anyway, when talking about another world, you absolutely cannot miss the Academy.

At first, I had high expectations that I would be able to enter that academy.

I expected that he would go to a place similar to a university and film a romantic comedy like everyone else.

But looking at it this way, the Imperial Academy isn’t a mandatory educational institution like it was in my previous life.

A place where you can send it or not. It’s more like a gateway course for commoners than for nobles.

Although there are many children of noble families, there are fewer successful noble families than you might think.

It might give the impression that you’re creating a faction for no reason, so please refrain from doing so or something.

Above all, I had to live up to my family’s strong hope of joining the military.

So, I had to undergo military training and take several tests, so I missed the entrance season.

‘I still remember that moment when I said, ‘Goodbye, my academy life!’

In conclusion, it was actually a good thing that I didn’t enroll.

If that were the case, it would have been virtually impossible to stand out to this extent.

Well… Instead, I wouldn’t have heard things like I was a genius or a bookworm.

“I’m really looking forward to it. Speaking of the Empire, it’s also a place that has made a lot of academic progress, right?”

“That’s right. Many prominent scholars have continued to emerge over the years.”

“It’s embarrassing. The reality is that Novogord still has many shortcomings in those areas.”

Once again, he was lowering his speech. Even the princess could no longer show her hostility.

Rather, he says, ‘But Novogorsk also has a great culture.’

Looking at it this way, if the princess is fire, then Charleroi should be said to be water.

After that, the princess and Charlois chatted for a while.

I would stand next to him and add some flair and clap my hands in response.

Sometimes, when questions came my way, I spent time answering them.

“… I see. His Majesty the Emperor of the Empire has given Prince Kael the rank of General.”

“Yes. Although it is a temporary position, since I was appointed directly by the Imperial Family, I will now be able to speak out in any region or any legion.”

“That’s amazing, Prince Kael. I’ve studied the Empire to some extent, and I know that there were few people like Prince who were given a temporary position by the Emperor at such a young age.”

“Hahaha. That is―”

I was about to answer, “I was lucky!” but the princess suddenly covered my mouth.

The princess’s soft flesh comes up to my lips and a sweet scent wafts into my nose.

I was so surprised that I was momentarily at a loss, and in the meantime, the princess answered on my behalf.

“If it were Kael, he would definitely say, “It was just luck!” But, in my opinion, it wasn’t like that at all. It’s not that he was lucky, he just had the talent and skill to do it, so luck just followed him.”

At that moment, I was about to answer, “That’s not it, Your Majesty.”

This time, Charleroi responds by covering my mouth again.

“Hmm. I think so too. There is an old saying in Novogord that says, ‘God extends his hand to those who do their best. Fools call it luck.’ ”

“Oh my goodness. That’s exactly what Kael said. Look at this, Kael. There are so many things about your work that it’s hard to say were done by pure luck!”

“Your Highness is right, Prince Kael. If it was all luck, then our Novogord and the three kingdoms to the east were all unlucky, which is even more humiliating.”

“… .”

I could only look at the two women with a puzzled expression.

What the heck. Why are these two getting along so well? Where did that strange relationship from earlier go?

*

“Okay. I guess I should say goodbye now.”

Three days after leaving the system, Charleroi said goodbye.

It was only natural that the roads leading west and south diverged here.

“I hope to see you again later, you two. Especially Prince Kael?”

“Yes?”

“There are so many things I want to ask you and learn from you. So, next time, I hope to see you for a little longer. Is that possible?”

It was quite specific for a greeting, so I couldn’t give a definite answer.

Meanwhile, Charlois, who had exchanged greetings with the princess, disappeared first towards the southern part of the empire.

“This is a better demon tribe than I thought.”

As Charlois completely disappears from sight, the princess speaks with a smile.

But why does that smile look so bleak from my perspective?

“But. I don’t think there’s any reason for you, Kael, to deal with it.”

“… .”

“If we meet again later, just treat me appropriately. Okay?”

“Excuse me, may I ask why?”

“The demons of Novogord. They are not obvious enemies, but they are not clear allies either. So I want you to do as I say. Can you do that? Kael?”

Hey, Your Highness. It looks like lasers are coming out of your eyes.

I found myself nodding my head in response to the overwhelming momentum I was seeing for the first time.

Then, as if nothing had happened, the princess smiled brightly again.

The sight was so beautiful that even the eerie feeling was completely forgotten.

*

A month later, Kael and Isabelle finally reached the western border of the Empire.

In the process, I met and comforted several corps in charge of western defense.

While the princess was so devoted to her mission, Kael decided to carry out his own mission.

“Welcome, Prince Kael. I’ve been waiting for you.”

This time, the commander of the Imperial 1st Corps in charge of the western border greets you politely.

Previously, he was simply the eldest son of the Imperial Count. However, he now holds the position of General.

It is a temporary position. However, the emperor himself appointed and appointed the person to that position.

This means that he not only serves as a military advisor, but also as the eyes and ears of the royal family.

So, even if he was a commander, it was natural that he would be polite.

“This is a report on the western kingdoms that have arrived this time.”

Kael began to look through the various documents the commander had handed over.

And then he started scratching his head as if he had a headache.

[ DeGalle. Asking about the Empire’s willingness to fight on the Western Front ]