episode_0063

It felt familiar. An eerie feeling, as if something was scanning my entire body, not an attack, but a strange feeling. I heard that Prince Chartreau also attended the Academy, so I thought he would naturally know how to use magic, but I smiled cautiously at this familiar feeling and looked at Chartreau.

“Didn’t you go too far when we first met?”

“Ah, as expected, testing the academy’s wizards is difficult. Still, since you are the one entering the palace, I ask for your understanding.”

Shurn was just looking at us blankly as we talked, and I put my hand in for a handshake and spoke to Chartreau.

“You don’t seem to be much different from your younger brother.”

“I may think this is a compliment, but my younger brother is still quite polite. Lord Shurn, I will take you with me from now on.”

“I will follow His Majesty the Prince’s orders.”

After greeting us, Shurn began to carefully walk backwards, while Chartreau smiled at me and pointed forward with his palm.

“Would you like to go to the palace with me?”

“I don’t know the ways of the palace, Your Highness.”

“Let’s go together.”

Prince Chartreau was not the prince of whom there were many rumors. If you listen to Ceresria’s story, it seems like she went to the academy and then returned to the palace, but there didn’t seem to be much of a difference in age. If I had stayed at the academy, would I have been in the 5th year, or would I have already graduated? As I was curious about that, Chartrot walked down the street and spoke to me.

“What magic do you use? Since you have silver hair, do you use ice magic?”

“Not all silver-haired people use ice magic… … Use ice magic.”

“There was one person like that among my juniors. I don’t know if you know, because he may have graduated. There is a friend named Erica Fornas, who is Archmage Arnold’s disciple. Do you know?”

“You are my teacher.”

“Somehow, the vibes were similar. How is Erica doing? I heard a rumor that he was in the 5th grade, but I don’t know any details.”

“You were given the title of Frost Queen as a 5th grader. I had no idea you were close to His Highness the Prince.”

“The Frost Queen… … It’s a fitting title, because she was strong even when I was attending the academy.”

As I was slowly listening to Chartro and the story of the Academy’s past, a large palace suddenly came into view. This is Hereia Palace. It was a majesty worthy of its name. Just looking at the decoration on the wall that seemed to emit light on its own and its enormous size made my heart feel majestic just by looking at it. Naturally, as he clenched his fists, Chartro smiled and opened his mouth to the guard.

“I came to see my father. This is the guest, Mr. Astan of the Academy. Please allow entry.”

“ people received!”

The guards quickly approached the door and opened it while shouting, and Chartro moved into the palace as if he was used to it, and I followed carefully behind him. It was a place with a strangely familiar atmosphere. Is there anything much different from the place where you had an audience with Lord Denatus? So, I slowly took a breath and looked ahead.

The king was sitting high up in the throne room, as if waiting for us. The black hair that resembled Ceresria and Chartreau had not faded, and the red eyes were shining even from this far away. It was an incredibly intimidating feeling that took my breath away just by looking at it. Thinking that this is what the king of a country is like, I carefully slowed down my steps.

As I walked slowly, my surroundings came into view. Ceresria was standing next to a woman, and opposite her were two women and a man. They are the royal family. The highest of Araelia.

As I was walking forward carefully, Chartreau went forward first and knelt down, and I followed him, carefully knelt down and bowed my head.

“May the light of Araelia reach me, I came running to God Shaart, upon receiving the call from my father.”

“I wondered how it was late, but I saw that you had brought a guest.”

“I said I would guide Lord Shurn as he entered the palace. If you decide to punish me for being late, I will gladly accept it.”

“Ha, it’s ridiculous to punish someone for that. What are you doing? Wake up quickly.”

Chartro carefully got up from his seat and headed to Ceresria’s side, and I just lowered my head and waited for her to speak.

“Ceresria. You’re the guest I brought here, so you’re not even going to introduce me?”

“I was waiting for you to speak, father. My name is Astan, and I am a first year student at the academy. He is from Araelia, and is one of my few close friends from the academy. He is also a wizard who recently captured a spy for the Demon King’s army requested by Ignolia, and is a disciple of the Frost Queen Erica Fornas, a disciple of Archmage Arnold.”

“Yes, it’s Astan.”

And when I heard the sound of something moving, I swallowed carefully. I wonder how long I have to keep my head down, but if I do it wrong, my head might get blown off. As I was swallowing my saliva and waiting for words, I heard a small laugh.

“You’re a fun kid, raise your head.”

When I heard the king’s words, I raised my head and looked at him, and he was looking down at me with interesting eyes. It was a similar situation to Denatus, but the sense of intimidation felt significantly different. I was scared, but it wasn’t that big of a fear. As I looked at the king with the tension slowly disappearing, the king opened his mouth.

“I heard the story, that they stopped the spy of the Demon King’s army who was hiding in Ignolia.”

“Not my credit, Your Highness.”

“The report from the Knights of the Blue Rose says that they won against a spy who hid in the underground waterway alone. Is the report from the Knights of the Blue Rose wrong?”

Since I couldn’t come up with an answer to the laughter in my voice, Chartro spoke with laughter.

“In the first place, wizards have a habit of giving credit to others, father.”

“That might be true, I’m curious. Your skills in catching a spy of the Demon King’s army, Celestria, how would you feel if you were the one to deal with it?”

“It may be difficult for me to win completely. I am strong enough to hide in Ignolia, so even a third year, let alone a first year, would not be able to do that easily.”

It’s called “, but I’m also curious about his skills… … I want to see your skills lightly, but if you do it in this palace, it might cause trouble, so I think it would be good to hold a light martial arts festival. I tell Lord Shurn to hold a martial arts festival hosted by the palace. Would you like to go out sometime?”

“If that is your name.”

“Good, then let’s go to Chartro. Please convey my words to Lord Shurn. The Mutu festival hosted by the palace begins in two days. As a prize, um… … What would be good? The winner would be given the title of minor noble and 10 retainers.”

“ people received.”

“And Astan, you will participate in the finals of the martial arts competition. Is there any disagreement?”

“No, Your Highness.”

“Father, then how about awarding Astan as well? I also request a reward for driving out the Demon King’s army’s agents from Ignolia.”

“Ceresria, do I look like such a small-hearted person?”

“No, Your Highness.”

“Let’s do this separately from Ignolia’s work. Since he is still a student at the academy, it would be ambiguous to give him a noble title, and would it be better to give the title to his family?”

It was something I thought about, but it wasn’t what I wanted. The moment I was about to open my mouth to think about that, I heard Ceresria’s voice in my ear.

[Astan, if you want a noble title, make a fist with your left hand. If you want another award, make a fist with your right hand.]

I looked at Ceresria in surprise, and she was smiling at me. I carefully clenched my right hand into a fist, and when she saw me, she turned her head and opened her mouth to the king.

“Your Highness, Astan is still in his first year, so I think it would be too early to give him a title. And giving a title to his family would be a good enough award, but there is already someone who rules Astan’s hometown, so his family is in his hometown. You may have to leave.”

And then, a woman on the other side of Ceresria opened her mouth. Her aura was significantly different from that of Celestria. At first glance, they seemed similar, but unlike Celestria, she was a woman with a gentle aura. If you see that the person is wearing the most extravagant attire… … Is she a queen?

“No one wants to leave their hometown, Your Highness.”

“Then that is also a problem. Which award do you think is worthy?”

“Can I say something?”

And then the woman next to the queen opened her mouth. Maybe she’s a princess.

“Tell me.”

“I think what commoners want most is money. If you have money, it is possible to live a life worthy of the envy of nobles, and if you have money, wouldn’t you be able to buy what you want while staying in your hometown?”

“It is the most comfortable, but the most insignificant award. Astan, what do you think? What prize do you want?”

I slowly spoke in the king’s voice.

“I think it is still too early for me to receive a noble title. I am still in my first year at the Academy, and I think I can receive a noble title even after I finish my third year and return to Araelia and enter the royal palace, but I don’t have money. This is what not only me but my family wants most. If my family came here and were asked the same question, they would answer money.”

“Hmm… … okay. I’ll prepare that part separately, okay? I don’t think there’s anything more to say now, so I’ll just end this. Ceresria, please serve our guests.”

“I will follow your orders, Your Highness.”

“And there will be a light banquet in the evening, so everyone is welcome to attend.”

When the king stood up, servants and maids came and began to attend him, and slowly began to leave the palace one by one. As I carefully stood up, Ceresria came towards me and smiled.

“Why did you refuse the title of nobleman?”

“This is a very undeserved award, and of course life would be better if my family became nobles, but my father and mother are people who enjoy farming. If he suddenly became a nobleman, he would probably come to the palace right away and refuse the title.”

“Um, yes. The knights have prepared accommodation for you. Would you like to come with us? There is a lot of time left before the banquet.”

“Please.”