“It’s true. He passed the difficult entrance exam for the academy's law department.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I remember it clearly.”
Patrick looked at Baron Schneider with eyes full of disbelief. Seeing his son, whose face was filled with an expression that seemed to say, "My father isn't that kind of person," Baron Schneider let out a sigh.
“I passed the exam, but I couldn't attend the academy. Do you know why?”
“Because you had no money?”
“That’s right. The law department is a five-year program, but if you actually want to graduate, you need to plan on studying for ten years." "After graduating from such a place, entering a judicial office, learning the ropes as a bureaucrat, and working as a man of the law, it's a place where it can easily take twenty years.”
“...”
“For our family’s finances, it was impossible to support a son studying in the capital for twenty years. That's why, even though I passed the exam, I had to refuse admission myself.”
“I see.”
“But, do you know what was more regrettable than the fact that I couldn't enter the academy?”
Ah, I shouldn't ask this, should I? If I ask, I'll get caught in it… But he couldn't just not answer his father, who was staring at him intently.
“What is it?”
In the end, he asked in a small voice, like the buzzing of a mosquito. And the Baron, with a look full of regret, began to speak...
“It was the sight of my parents, who were so sorry for the fact that they couldn't send me to the academy.”
'Damn it, I'm caught.' Bringing up my dead grandparents? Is that even allowed?
The Baron spoke in a voice filled with regret.
“Every parent wants to provide their child with the best education. Now that I’m a parent myself, I understand. I can imagine how my father and mother must have felt, seeing me disappointed, feeling even sadder than I was.”
“No, but, people have their own circumstances, don't they? Maybe they were surprisingly okay with it.”
“I still remember it. The voice of my father as he held my hand and told me he was sorry…”
“Uh, that’s… that…”
“My mother also spoke through her tears. She said she was sorry, just crying and saying she was sorry…”
“Eeeh… so, that is...”
“She was someone who lived her whole life frugally. She had disposed of all the jewels she brought when she married and had never once indulged in luxury, yet she apologized to me, her son, for not having money.”
“Eh… that is quite pitiful, but…”
“That day, when my father found out I had refused admission to the academy, he drank alcohol, which he normally couldn't even handle…?”
“Ah, I get it. I get it!”
In the end, Patrick yelled. This is cheap. This is really cheap.
But the problem was…
“I’ll go. I’ll go, alright?”
Whether it was cheap or not, there was no way to refuse. He was going on and on as if not being able to attend the academy was the family's lifelong regret. What could he do?
“...”
“Ooh. Good, you’ve made a good decision.”
“...”
Seeing his father’s expression instantly change to a bright smile, Patrick’s face turned sour. Was what he just said really the truth? Could it be that I was just played?
But seeing Lawrence next to him, also tearing up and dabbing the corners of his eyes with a handkerchief… 'It seems like it wasn't a made-up story.' And what could he do?
He'd already said he would go. The Radiant Dragon Grandmaster has his pride; he can’t go back on his word, can he? If his friends from his past life found out…
[You used to go back on your word all the time.]
[What’s that bastard who lied every time he opened his mouth saying?]
[Didn't you say promises are made to be broken?]
Yeah, they'd probably say something like that. Ah, whatever, you bastards. Anyway, this time, I have no choice.
Fine.
It's not like I have anything to learn at that academy place, but since he says he wants to see his son succeed… 'Let's go with the feeling of being a filial son. As quickly as possible.'
And so, Patrick’s admission to the academy was decided.
“Hey. Did you hear?”
“That the young master is going to the academy?”
“Really? The young master? To the academy?”
“The knights’ faculty, I bet?”
“Could it be the Department of Public Administration… ah, no. Considering his obsession with money, that seems more his style.”
“Hmm… but you know.”
The soldier who brought it up spoke with a serious expression.
“Is it okay for our young master to go to the academy?”
“...”
“...”
“...”
A terribly heavy silence fell. What kind of place was the academy? Wasn’t it the kingdom’s top educational institution, which selected only those with exceptional talent from among the nobility to nurture as talents for the nation's future?
To that academy, renowned for its tradition and honor…
“Our young master is going.”
“To the academy, of all places.”
“To the academy…?”
While they were talking, Oliver said what the other soldiers were only thinking but didn't dare to say out loud.
“The academy is ruined.”
“Hey, you punk.”
“No matter what, you can't say that.”
“Right. Even if you think that way, how can you say it out loud?”
It seemed they all thought similarly. Oliver grumbled as he spoke.
“I mean, let’s be honest. Think about what our young master will do when he gets there.”
At Oliver's words, the other soldiers thought for a moment. About what would happen at the academy once Patrick enrolled.
[Hooo, so you're my senior?]
[Hoooooo, so you're a professor?]
[Hoooooooooo, so you're the chancellor?]
[Why should I care about that? Get over here, you're dead. You're not coming!?]
Having finished their flights of fancy, the soldiers looked at each other, smiled brightly, and said.
“It’s ruined.”
“Yep, it’s ruined.”
“They’ll have to take down their sign.”
“Why would Count Parmas do something like this? Isn't the Count’s daughter also attending the academy?”
“What would that old man know?”
“Tsk tsk tsk. He’ll go down as the greatest traitor in history.”
The soldiers found the source of this whole incident not in Patrick, but in Count Parmas. Patrick was already an unavoidable existence. He was a disaster, something close to a natural phenomenon.
Therefore, if the academy were to be ruined, it would be only right to find the source of that ruin in the Count who threw that disaster into the academy.
Having decided to enter the academy, Patrick also had to prepare various things. He was told he would live in the dorms, but he still had to pack his personal belongings himself. He could buy bulky items in the capital, but he had to pack everything he could take with him.
And…
“One attendant is allowed per person?”
“That’s right. Since most of the students are children of nobles, they are permitted an attendant. However, it's only one per person.”
“Tsk tsk tsk, those bastards who gather to study have rotten spirits. They give you a place to sleep and food to eat, what more do you need? An attendant? What kind of attendant?”
“Then are you not going to take one?”
“Come to think of it, it seems like a good rule. Please assign Chandler to me.”
“...”
“...”
Why not?
If everyone else is doing it, it’s convenient. Thus, Patrick packed a few things and designated Chandler as his attendant, completing his preparations for entering the academy. Or so he thought.
“The one to accompany the young master is me.”
That was before April showed up like this.
“You’re coming to the academy?”
“Yes.”
“You??”
“Yes.”
“To the academy?”
“Yes.”
Seeing April answer without a hint of hesitation, Patrick chuckled and said.
“No.” It was a firm answer, as if there was nothing to think about.
And April, too, spoke firmly.
“I will go.”
“Hey. Does that even make sense?”
Patrick yelled.
Normally, people would flinch when Patrick acted this way, but there was no change in April’s cold expression. Patrick said to her.
“You are aware of your own beauty, right?”
“Yes. I am.”
As long as there are mirrors in this world and one is not visually impaired, how could one not be aware of their own beauty? April’s beauty, having recovered from the brink of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians, was so beautiful it could be said that her very existence shone. To take her to the academy?
It was obvious what would happen.
[Ooh, a beautiful woman. What? A commoner? I am the troublemaking son of a high noble. If you obediently become mine, the House of Schneider will be safe.]
It was obvious that something like this would happen. Taking April to a place filled with the well-to-do sons of high noble families was no different from taking a nap covered in blood amidst a pack of starving wolves.
“Right. This time, Patrick is right.”
“Indeed, April’s beauty will be a source of trouble.”
For once, Baron Schneider and Butler Lawrence also agreed with Patrick’s opinion. But this time, April was also resolute.
“Where the young master is, is where I should be. If I cannot fulfill that role…”
April took out the twin swords from within her robes and respectfully offered them to Patrick with both hands as she spoke.
“I no longer have any value in existing. Please, strike my neck with your own hands, young master.”
“... Wait, time out.”
Patrick left April as she was and took a few steps away with his father and Lawrence. Then, the three men gathered and began to whisper among themselves.
“What should we do? She seems serious.”
“She is certainly not a child who jokes.”
“This seems to be no ordinary resolve.”
They knew that April followed Patrick blindly and fanatically. Didn’t she try to follow him on the subjugation as well, only barely refraining because Patrick stopped her? To her, Patrick's admission to the academy was a disaster of cataclysmic proportions.
If he entered the academy, she would have to be separated from Patrick for several years. For her, whose only joy in life was to be by Patrick's side and be of help in his life, that was a punishment worse than death.
“What do you mean, what should we do? Just let her go.”
At that moment, Ava stepped forward and said a word.
“You’ve come, my lady.”
“Yes. I came because I thought this might happen.”
Ava gently stroked April’s shoulder, then took her hands and pushed her forward.
“She wants to go this badly, so why not just let her? In fact, April will be much more helpful than Chandler.”
“No, she would be helpful, of course she would, but…”
“My lady, please think of April’s beauty. She is a child who is causing a string of lovesick patients even within our fief. If we take her to the capital, it will certainly cause problems.”
Hearing those words, Ava smirked and said.
“Everyone is forgetting one thing.”
“What is that, my dear.”
“Our son is entering the academy, isn't he?”
“That’s right. It’s a joyous occasion for the family.”
“A joyous occasion, right? It is a joyous occasion. But…”
Ava gazed at Patrick for a moment, then smirked and said.
“Problems are bound to arise from that alone, anyway.”
“... Huh?”
“Come to think of it…”
Only then did Baron Schneider and Butler Lawrence realize. Patrick's admission to the academy. It was such happy news that they had forgotten, but thinking about it now, this alone was already a problem.
There was no way problems wouldn't arise. In such a situation, April is added? What's the point of pouring a bucket of oil on a wildfire that's already burning out of control?
At that moment, Ava gently stroked April and said.
“We're not going to lock April up and hide her for her whole life, are we? This child also has the right to proudly show her abilities to the world.”
“Hmm…”
The Baron groaned. It was true. Her presence was overshadowed by Patrick, but April was also a master who had reached the six-star knight.
To reach the six-star knight at that age was a talent that could kick the faces of all those people in the world called geniuses or what have you. It's more like a reward... no, that's going too far. In any case, April possessed brilliant ability and talent.
But just because her beauty might cause problems, should they just lock her up in the fief for her whole life and have her do maid work? She herself wouldn't complain even if they did, but… 'Thinking with my conscience, it's not right.'
Although he didn't show it as openly as Ava, Baron Schneider also cherished April like a daughter. He was also aware that a parent who only keeps their child in their embrace because it's dangerous is the worst kind of parent.
“April, do you really want to go with him?”
“Where the young master is, is where I should be.”
“Alright. If that is your will, I will respect it.”
“Father.”
“Quiet. Why?”
“It’s obvious what kind of trouble she’ll cause if she goes to the capital, isn't it?”
“You can just protect her, can't you?”
“Why are you increasing my troubles?”
“I'll return those exact words to you.”
“Ah. This is driving me crazy.”
No matter how much he complained, it was useless. Now that his mother and father had joined forces, he was already losing the popular vote. And above all…
'She might actually die.'