CH 14

CHAPTER 14 – GYMNASIUM (3)

You’ve most likely seen a photograph of a sergeant sitting next to a four-star general with a nervous expression.

The point is that the angles are fixed and cannot tolerate even the slightest error. Of course, unless I’m in that situation, I can laugh it off.

But how would I react if I were in such a situation?

How would I feel if the soon-to-be emperor sat next to me, an authority figure who threatened to imprison the author of Xenon’s biography if he found him?

“Rina claimed that despite being a student, you have a lot of knowledge. It was fascinating to learn that Professor Magner was in trouble.”

“…thank you for your understanding.”

“Haha. Don’t be too concerned. Despite the fact that I am the Crown Prince, I don’t intend to harm anyone with authority.”

Even when Leort spoke with a friendly tone, I couldn’t help but smile. Although he was the crown prince, the person who wishes to imprison me in the imperial palace is sitting right next to me, so I can’t help but be nervous.

‘Because of the seating arrangement…’

Currently, I was sitting in a good spot to watch the sparring. A translucent glass was installed between the spectator’s seat and the arena, making it easy to watch. In addition, the glass was imbued with defensive magic, making it safe to watch.

However, the biggest problem was the seats. I wouldn’t know if it was one seat away from Leort, but it was a situation where Leort sat in the middle, and Nicole and I sat on either side.  The pressure was no laughing matter.

“I thought you were related to Nicole by looking at the color of your eyes, but I didn’t know you were really her brother. Come to think of it, Dave’s hair is red, too.”

“Do you know my brother too?”

“Of course. Most of those who work as teaching assistants at Halo Academy join higher-tier Knights, so you should always keep an eye on them. Oh, did you know that Dave became an Apprentice Knight?”

“Yes?”

It was the first time I heard of it.

I blinked open my eyes and looked at Nicole, who was sitting across from me. Nicole, too, opened her mouth in a regretful tone, as if she had forgotten.

“Sorry. I forgot. Actually, he was selected as an apprentice knight two days after the entrance ceremony. I think he also forgot for a while because he was meeting you.”

“Where did he go?”

“Navy Knights. Do you know where it is?”

As you know, I nodded.

It seems that Dave inherited our father’s talent and trained him to grind his teeth, and eventually joined the Navy Knights.

I was proud as a younger brother, but I felt a little sad when he left without saying a word.

“Then when is he coming back?”

“Well? I don’t know when the Apprentice Knights will be back after training. I’ll keep in touch though.”

“If you want, can I secretly give you a vacation?”

“It’s okay, it’s okay.”

Leort, who was sitting in the middle, raised one corner of his mouth and jokingly laughed awkwardly. I don’t know about anyone else, but the joke he made didn’t sound like a joke at all.

Chaeeng!

After a brief chatter, the match finally started in the arena. When I heard the noise of metal colliding with metal, I shifted my gaze to the arena. It was the same with Leort and Nicole.

In the center of the arena, Nicole’s friend, Adelia, was fighting with another man while holding a long sword. When a supposed student of hers attacked, Adelia effortlessly returned it.

I stared blankly at the two of them fighting as if they were dancing. It was difficult to even follow with my eyes.

‘So, actual fights look like this.’

I have often seen Dave or Nicole sparring with our father when they return home for vacation. However, he was not as fierce as Adelia now, and our father taught the problems one by one.

But now, she was pouring attacks with the mindset of having to defeat the opponent somehow. Anyway, Adelia’s opponent swung his sword without stopping. Naturally, Adelia counterattacked and accepted them one by one.

“Who is the student fighting against Adelia now?”

“He is Ian, and he has excellent records in swordsmanship.”

{T/N:- damn, why do the novels I translate have a lot of character name crossover…Just so y’all know, Ian is the original protagonist of ‘Demon Limited Hunter’ and I have slowly started translation for that too.}

“Hmm.”

Even while Nicole and Leort were talking next to each other, they focused on the match. I always received advice from my father when referring to the battle scenes, but it was different when witnessing it with my own eyes.

As Xenon’s biography is the story of the protagonist growing into a global hero, he fights numerous battles. To me, it was a fantasy, but to the people of this world, it was a ‘reality’. A world in which such strange things were not strange at all.

I was a little taken aback when my father praised me for being very realistic, even when I described an ability that was ridiculous by my standards.

‘Because they say it’s possible even with ridiculous abilities…’

If you just use mana to demonstrate these abilities, everything is acceptable. Rather, it would be impossible for people in this world to have a heavy lump of iron floating in the sea or a wagon moving without a horse.

So I was even more curious. In the future, a new culture called ‘Steam Locomotive’ will appear in Xenon’s biography, but what kind of reaction will it have? Would you say it’s impossible or would you say it’s possible?

I was looking forward to it but of course, I would be watching it from afar.

“By the way, Nicole. Have you read Xenon’s biography published this time?”

“Yes?”

While I was thinking about the future story in my mind, Leort suddenly asked Nicole. Nicole, who was concentrating on sparring, gave a very puzzled look at Leort’s question. It was probably because I was right next to him.

I was equally surprised, but I acted as if nothing was wrong, pretending to be casual. If I overreact here for nothing, I might get a strange look.

“I know you liked Xenon’s biography too.”

“Ah… yes. I’ve read seven volumes.”

“Right.”

Leort, who gave a short answer, looked at me this time and asked a question.

“How about you, Isaac?”

“…I read it too.”

“How many books?”

I have already envisioned the ending in my head and that too a sad ending. I rolled my eyes and repeated the lie I had told Marie.

“I’ve only read up to book 5. Even if I try to buy a book, it’s sold out every time…”

“Huh? Didn’t Nicole read up to book 7? Did she not lend it to her younger brother?”

“I was going to borrow it anyway. Except for vacation, my sister didn’t have much time at home, so I was sorry to even borrow it.”

“Ah. If that’s the reason, it makes sense.”

Leort nodded and responded that he understood. It was an unexpected crisis for me, but I seemed to have somehow overcome it, fortunately.

It was time to focus on sparring, hoping that the conversation would be cut off after that.

“I… Leort-nim.”

“Huh? Why are you calling me?”

“Leort-nim, if you find the author of Xenon’s biography, will you really lock him up in the Imperial Palace?”

Until Nicole asked a question full of concerns and worries.

I listened quietly, pretending to be focused on the sparring as much as possible. I could understand to some extent why she asked Leort such a question. Since the Crown Prince put such a word in the newspaper, it was natural for her to be worried as an older sister.

In the meantime, Leort listened to her question, sighed, and shook his head. It was slightly different from the reaction he showed on the day of his admission.

“It’s a joke. It’s a joke. You don’t have to take it too seriously. At first, I was very angry, but now I want to wait slowly.”

“Then finding the author is…”

“The work must continue. Moreover, if we look at the expected developments in the future, I think it will be a little dangerous.”

At Leort’s answer, Nicole and I looked at him with surprised expressions. When the Crown Prince, who had superior intelligence than others, said such a thing, it can’t easily be ignored.

I crossed my eyes with Nicole, who was sitting next to me and asked Leort quietly.

“Why?”

“I… Ah, before that Isaac? If you don’t mind, can I tell you? It contains the plot of book 7.”

{T/N:- my respect for the crown prince went through the roof…I see internet trolls giving spoilers and my man, the crown prince, is asking for permission before giving spoilers.}

“I don’t mind.”

I already know everything.

Leort thanked me again and then went on to explain.

“Anyway, I expect that the main culprit who put Xenon in crisis at the end is a nobleman.”

I looked at Leort with a surprised face. His prediction was correct.

At the end of Book 7, Xenon goes on a reconnaissance alone, and contrary to the saying that it is a safe place, it is a demonic zone with monsters and barriers. Fortunately, he showed his wits, broke the barrier, and broke through the area, but there were a lot of traps and raiders waiting for Xenon.

Xenon, who was still fighting the assailants with a tired body, eventually gets hit with an arrow in the chest, and Book 7 ends there.

Of course, thanks to the necklace that Mary, the heroine of Xenon’s biography, gave as a gift, the fatal wound was avoided. After that, of course, he’s going to be unmatched and find the person behind it.

‘It’s not like I’m throwing a bait in front of him…’

I think I may have found the parts that I was curious about after reading through them several times. I don’t know why, but as a writer, I felt proud.

But the most important thing is not this, so I threw that idea away.

“If the main culprit is really a nobleman… will there be any big problems?”

This question was asked by Nicole, not me. Leort answered without taking his eyes off the arena.

“It’s not like any other book, and since it’s Xenon’s biography, it might be a problem. I’m worried that the aristocracy’s perception will change for the worse as it changed the perception of the demons. There are many books that criticize the aristocracy, but most of them are close to satire, and they don’t have the same ripple effect as Xenon’s biography. “

Was it like that? Such concerns were understandable.

Despite the fact that I always wrote in the introduction that it was a fictional story, the perception of the demons changed radically. Therefore, if the mastermind who threw Xenon into the trap was revealed as a noble, there is a high possibility that various problems would arise.

But it’s ok, I’m not stupid, and I’ve prepared enough. The situation that Leort is concerned about will be a famous scene that reveals the aristocratic power and darkness.

A battle between a nobleman who looks down on his people and a nobleman who truly cares and takes care of his people. It is a part of the political battle, but it will taste fresh from the moment Xenon, who has returned from his exile, appears.

“…if that’s really the case, what would you do?”

Nicole asked Leort in a very cautious tone. To that, Leort replied roughly, waving his hand.

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep writing. It’s a protection concept, never pressure. It’s a useless assumption in a situation where you don’t even know who the author is in the first place.”

“Is that so…”

That alone puts a lot of pressure on me, Crown Prince.

I smiled bitterly and turned my head to the arena. As if the match was over, Adelia and her student were facing and greeting each other. Unlike a student who seemed to collapse at any moment while panting for breath, Adelia was the same as before the spar.

“Well, I guess that’s enough. I’ll go now.”

When the match was over, Leort jumped up from his seat. I looked at him with questioning eyes as he stood up.

“Are you leaving already?”

“I’m smart, too. It’s better to go quickly because you’ll be uncomfortable with me. But it was fun.”

Leort disappeared suddenly, leaving only those words. I looked at his back as he walked away and then looked at Nicole.

At the same time, Nicole was also looking at me, and we both laughed bitterly, without saying who said it first.  It seems that she, like me, had a tight chest.

“Isaac.”

“yes.”

“I’ll have to be careful in the future.”

“I was going to do that anyway.”

“By the way, is it really a nobleman who put Xenon in danger?”

The development that Leort had expected earlier was impressive. I looked around, confirmed that no one was there, and quietly opened my mouth.

“Yeah. Do you know Count Crost? He’s the culprit.”

“… …”

“Sister?”

When I revealed the identity of the culprit, Nicole’s expression turned serious. I must say she was shocked by something.

While I was confused by that, Nicole muttered in a confused voice.

“…I didn’t ask who… it was…”

“Ah.”

I accidentally revealed a spoiler.

{T/N:- that settles it. Crown Prince >>> MC}