episode_0060

The Lion King’s Birthday celebration was held over a total of three days. The commemorative event, which started two days before the Lion King’s birthday, was literally the equivalent of a festival for the people of the empire.

There was the fact that Demeia Academy, which is normally inaccessible, was open to the general public, but one of the biggest reasons was that you could see the famous Lion King Parade on the eve of Birthday.

Even in the academy where the best talents gather, the best cadet who won the overall competition took on the role of the lion king and took the lead as if attending a triumphal ceremony, and other cadets lined up and marched behind him. This was Demeia Academy’s Lion King Parade.

At first glance, it seemed no different from any other parade, but its scale and grandeur were enough to attract people. Thanks to this, Demeia Academy’s Lion King Parade became one of the empire’s specialties.

In particular, because the person who served as the Lion King the previous year was Serafina, who is said to be the next successor to the throne, the parade was the largest in history. Princess Seraphina’s natural dignity suited the Lion King well, and she was evaluated as the best Lion King of all time.

Because of that, people expected that Princess Serafina would take on the role of the Lion King this time too. In the first place, there was no cadet who could surpass her, and she was the overall winner of this competition.

But people’s expectations were spectacularly wrong. There was an official announcement that Seraphina will not be the star of this year’s Lion King Parade. People naturally showed curiosity about the person who beat Serafina to take on the role of the Lion King.

Some said he was the son of a high-ranking duke, while others said he was the son of a prestigious marquess.

As the debate continued, someone mentioned one person’s name. A name that no one expected.

A man who was evaluated as the worst idiot since the founding of the empire.

A man who unusually received a knighthood as an academy cadet.

A man who single-handedly destroyed many resistance giants.

Gilbert the Lionheart.

The name of Gilbert, the eldest son of the Hart family and called a disgrace to the Earl of Hart, began to creep in.

When people heard his name, they retorted. Although his recent actions were unconventional, those who still could not accept the fact that he had changed thought that he did not deserve to sit in that honorable position.

Even those who saw him in person unanimously said that there was no disagreement about his skill in controlling the Giant God Soldier, but since everyone was skeptical about the fact that his behavior had changed, the prevailing opinion was that someone else would be the Lion King this year.

But unfortunately, their predictions were wrong this time too. Marquis Lucas, the head of Demeia Academy, announced that this Lion King would be Gilbert.

People protested against this shocking announcement, but only after the academy director, Marquis Lucas, declared it. There were only a handful of people in the empire who had a position where they could speak directly to the head of Lucas Academy. At most, it was Princess Seraphina, who was supposed to be the Lion King, but even she remained silent.

In this situation, there was no one who could stand in the way of Marquis Lucas’s actions, and only cast a suspicious eye on Gilbert, who had become the Lion King. Along with the question of whether he is truly worthy of that glorious position.

But they didn’t know. The fact is that the person who took on the role of the Lion King really hates that role.

***

“Priest. You don’t look good. What’s going on? Talk to her.”

“Seraphina Hwang…”

“Big.”

“Did your sister-in-law plan this?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Even if you are an intelligent woman, you will not be able to understand if you cut off the entire sentence.”

As Gilbert watched Seraphina acting flirtatious in front of him, he unconsciously felt the urge to slap her. Seeing that the color of his face did not change and he was smiling, it was clear that this Lion King incident was Serafina’s work.

Even though she was a cadet at Demeia Academy, her status as a princess did not go anywhere. Wasn’t she the person known to be closest to the throne?

In addition, Marquis Lucas considered Princess Serafina almost like a granddaughter, so he did not refuse most of her requests. If you think about it, there was enough reason to change it, so it wasn’t something that couldn’t be changed.

“Didn’t the sister-in-law change the conditions for selection for the Lion King?”

“It feels good that the priest thinks highly of Yeo, but Yeo is at best a cadet at the academy. How can I do such a high-level thing?”

“Isn’t it quite possible?”

When I saw him smiling brightly and as if he was having fun, my feelings were confirmed and my confidence was confirmed. Surely she must have intervened.

“Hehe. Priests. Even so, there is nothing bad about it. This is a great opportunity to take on the role of the Lion King of the Lion King Parade, one of the Empire’s biggest events. Who wouldn’t like this glorious place?”

I elegantly lifted the teacup in front of me and savored the scent of the tea. His red eyes, like Gilbert’s, sparkled like stars. It looked like a young child receiving an interesting toy as a gift.

“Even so, was there a need to break tradition?”

“Hmm. The tea tastes good.”

“Sister’s residence. It seems like you are changing your mind now.”

Gilbert frowned and spoke strongly. Normally, it would have been uncomfortable to charge him with lese majeste, but given the special nature of his status as a cadet and the fact that Gilbert was an alumnus like Seraphina, it was an action that did not cross the line.

Even so, the only person who can do this is probably a priest.

Seraphina, who drank the Horok tea, enjoyed the exquisite flavor. Perhaps because it was selected as a special product among the teas supplied to the imperial family, the taste was excellent.

“Priest. There is only one reason why Yeo bothered to change a long-standing tradition. It’s for the new students coming in the future.”

“Are you a freshman?”

“Okay. The honor is given to the winner of the first-year competition. Think about it. If the overall winner of the competition is selected as before, there is a risk that the same person will hold the position until the moment he or she graduates from the Academy. At least, it can be said that there are no other Lion Kings as long as they are at the Leisure Academy.”

Gilbert nodded inwardly as he watched Seraphina savoring the taste of tea.

Certainly, even in Tactical Combat, she never gave up her position as the Lion King unless the user defeated her with skill. Seraphina’s pride did not allow it.

But now, for some reason, she coolly gave up the position. I thought about what the purpose was, but I couldn’t find anything that would benefit her. The concerns she mentioned a moment ago were not enough to warrant changing the rules.

“You still look unconvinced.”

“I think you want me to be in trouble.”

“Oops. This is why I don’t like quick-witted priests. Wouldn’t it be fun if you already noticed?”

Are you sure it’s true?

I thought that if there was no benefit, the only thing I could do was make fun of myself, but I had no idea it was real. I couldn’t believe that they changed the selection method just to make fun of the priest when the Lion King Parade was an important festival even within the empire.

Of course, fun wasn’t the only reason for changing the selection method, but I couldn’t help but think that it had a huge impact. Looking at that funny expression, I couldn’t confidently say no.

“This is my first time seeing the priest in trouble. With this alone, Yeo’s intention was successful.”

“Sister-in-law.”

“There is no need to look at it that way. Could it be that they changed it with the intention of making fun of Priest Yeoga? Of course, there was no such intention at all. But there was also a need for change. The symbolism of the role of the lion king of the parade is certainly not small. That’s why I wanted to select the Lion King from among the new talent that enters the academy every year. Like the Lion King, who continued his conquests without rest, I wanted to show that the Academy’s talent is endless.”

“Did you want to highlight more symbolism?”

“That’s right. Meanwhile, I also had the heart to make fun of the priest. It doesn’t do anything inefficient. Even the priest knows that well.”

Gilbert, who saw Seraphina looking beautiful even when she put down her teacup, agreed. Seraphina from Tactical Combat was definitely the type that valued efficiency. Even talking to them was not easy due to their basic dignity as members of the royal family.

Just being an alumnus lowered the hurdle, but it wasn’t as formal as it is now. I thought this was also something that changed as it became reality.

“In that sense, this Lion King must be performed by a priest. Even though only about half a year has passed, the priest’s actions have left a deeper mark than any other academy cadet.”

“There’s nothing I can do about this.”

The attack on the Academy occurred on the very day of the Lion King’s birthday. Before that, I tried to preview the attackers’ infiltration route, but the whole plan went awry.

There is no choice.

If I didn’t have time, I had no choice but to make it in pieces. While preparing for the parade, I told myself that I would somehow make time.

“So, please take care of your role as the Lion King this time. Of course, I believe that a priest will do a great job without any problems.”

“I accept orders.”

“As expected, the priest is strict about everything.”

Seeing Seraphina shaking her head, this time Gilbert raised his teacup. Although it cooled down a bit, the scent remained.