Chapter 21


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    Within the expansive grounds of Rosenstark, various buildings served diverse purposes.


    Among them, the “Creoa Lounge”, centrally located in the faculty building, was an opulent rxation space exclusively for the staff.


    The first weekend after the start of the semester, fatigued professors gathered at the Creoa Lounge for a social event.


    “Oh! Professor Eitrobin, isn’t it? How was the orientation this time?”


    “Haha, the students’ level is so outstanding that it worries me. As a professor, I still have much to improve.”


    “Despite your sess in elevating your family’s status, you continue to be humble.”


    The gathering was boisterous from the start.


    Arriving not toote, Kasim found a corner for himself.


    He leisurely sipped wine and observed the scene.


    Professors moved swiftly across the floor, resembling bees transporting honey.


    ‘I can’t escape the feeling of irritation. No matter how you look at it, it’s no different from the social circles of the nobility,’ Kasim thought.


    Frequent factional fights, checks and bnces, interference, and ttery – even in Rosenstark, considered the continent’s premier educational institution, one couldn’t seem to escape the messy by-products of human gathering.


    “Well, I don’t particrly dislike it.”


    For Kasim, this social hall was a morefortable ce than a cradle.


    He redirected his steps to a ce where enriching conversations were taking ce.


    The destination was soon determined – a round table where senior professors, including elders, had gathered.


    “Hmm. Professor Redymer seems to be absent again today.”


    “I didn’t expect him. He hasn’t attended a gathering like this even once since his appointment.”


    “By the way, did you hear about Professor Redymer during the ‘Extreme’ orientation?”


    “Oh, Professor Pierre!”


    A middle-aged female professor weed Kasim with surprise.


    Kasim, with his characteristic benevolent smile, naturally pulled out the chair next to her and took a seat.


    In contrast to the majority of younger professors who were brusque and standoffish, the amiable Kasim was quite popr among the senior faculty.


    …Though the affection wasn’t necessarily reciprocated.


    “You’ve gathered here. What interesting discussions are going on?”


    Naturally, he knew what topic was being discussed.


    Currently, the hottest potato among the professors was undoubtedly Ted Redymer.


    He had purposely inquired, aiming to provide the pleasure of talking to the elderlydy who enjoyed gossiping.


    “Hoho, it’s not much of a story. It’s just that Professor Redymer raised his sword against a student….”


    Kasim widened his eyes in feigned ignorance.


    “Really?”


    “Professor Pierre seemed surprised too. Whether it was interfering with Andreas at the Phileas Hall or raising his hand against a student, he has a more aggressive temperament than one might think.”


    “Humph, he’s always been an impulsive fellow. I told you so.”


    It was precisely at that moment that an unexpected old professor intervened in their conversation.


    Hispletely bald head showed no traces of hair, and his stubbornly closed lips hinted at the erosion of the once sturdy physique.


    The bald elder’s name was Labin Hawk, a senior professor at the academy with a tenure of 25 years.


    He was also one of the three instructors in the Combat Department at Unir when the Hero was a student.


    Kasim sighed quietly.


    ‘That gentleman is the most stubborn and inflexible professor I know.’


    What’s worse is that he seems to be quite drunk, as evidenced by the reddish tint on his cheeks.


    “He’s not someone suitable for academia. What does he think he’s teaching with that much rawness when he hasn’t even matured?”


    “Professor Labin, isn’t yournguage a bit too aggressive? Haha…”


    “Did I say anything wrong?”


    The surrounding attention focused on the raised voices.


    ‘Hmm, I shouldn’t havee for nothing.’


    Kasim subtly timed his departure.


    Professor Labin, ignoring the difort evident even in other professors due to his overly direct criticism, continued speaking.


    “Being good at fighting doesn’t necessarily mean you’re good at teaching. The rich experience in front of the ss makes a good professor. Isn’t that right?”


    Kasim silently ridiculed him.


    The reason for his strong resentment was obvious.


    ‘He’s probably upset because he got pushed back by his own student.’


    In Unir, you couldn’t take the same course twice.


    In other words, students taking the Hero’s lectures couldn’t take Labin’s.


    The exceptionally talented neers, and among them, the top 30, were all taken by the Hero.


    For Labin, who chased after reputation and achievements, it was a terrible situation.


    ‘If it weren’t for the Hero, those talents wouldn’t havee in the first ce.’


    Kasim thought Labin seemed to have forgotten that.


    Kasim was about to leave when the sound of wine sses being cleared and new ones being ced caught his attention.


    ‘Is it a new maid?’


    Though he didn’t boast about it, Kasim had memorized the faces of all the maids working in the faculty building.


    The maid currently serving was new.


    Like other maids, she had a neat and beautiful appearance.


    Her elegant and friendly smile was captivating.


    ‘Is she from a noble family? They’ve replenished the staff in the faculty building since the semester started; it’s quite unusual.’


    Kasim, who was about to casually strike up a conversation, was unfortunately interrupted by Labin’s drunken ranting.


    “He’s probably luring young kids like a herd to take them to hellish battlefields again…!”


    It was the same repertoire that came up every time.


    Other professors had already run away, leaving Kasim to grasp the arm of a passing young professor for an emergency escape.


    “Oh, Professor Eitrobin! You came at just the right time. I’ve be interested in the investment proposal you mentionedst time.”


    “Professor Pierre? Didn’t you say you had no interest at all?”


    “Well, thoughts change ten times a day. Now, let’s go over there and talk.”


    After that, Kasim became the busiest bee, buzzing around the banquet hall.


    By the time the party ended, he had gathered as much useful information as the emptied wine sses.


    “Alright, this should be enough.”


    There was someone who needed such information, and proving its usefulness was crucial for his teaching career, something he knew he wouldn’t get another chance at.


    “You must know how to be satisfied with what you have.”


    Mediocre status, mediocre wealth.


    It was the advice that his father, living a mediocre life, had always given him.


    Kasim was well aware that taking another path wasn’t an option for him.


    —


    A ghost resides in the Imperial Pce.


    As one strolls through the pce, one might asionally hear a mournful sound.


    Visitors with weak constitutions often believed the rumors.


    Since the current emperor’s ascension, an unknown and long-standing rumor has gained even more traction.


    …Of course, the reality was a bit different.


    Ah-ah-ah-ah!


    Ugh!


    In the underground prison, the sounds of echoing screams and cries made the jailers shudder.


    “Ho-how many hours has it been?”


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    “…I don’t know, maybe one or two hours? It’s better to die than endure this.”


    “But seriously, what crime could they havemitted for Her Majesty to personally intervene?”


    “We don’t know. Even if we did, we shouldn’t… haa.”


    Thud!


    As the footsteps echoed through the long corridor of the prison, the cautious chatter of the jailers came to an abrupt halt.


    Thud!


    When the elegantdy with silver hair, exuding an air of authority and scent of blood, revealed herself, the jailers prostrated themselves on the ground to wee their emperor.


    “Yo-Your Majesty!”


    “Summon the healer. We need to keep them barely alive.”


    The emperor’s sharp eyes scanned the corridor they had just traversed.


    “However, once they’re healed, hang them upside down. These wretches don’t deserve the privilege of sleep.”


    “We will obey!”


    After finishing her words, Emperor Euphemia, her tired body in tow, headed toward the special pce.


    In reality, she didn’t need to personally torment the ‘traitors.’


    The imperial pce was filled with skilled torturers.


    This was more of a venting session.


    However, the anger hadn’tpletely subsided.


    ‘No, it only became more intricate.’


    No matter how many times she had nearly killed them through torture or otherwise, those moments where her rationality was hanging by a thread were frequent.


    Euphemia’s hand still twitched as if holding a torture tool.


    “….”


    The emperor halted in front of one of the numerous special pces.


    Slowly, she took measured steps.


    An eerie garden devoid of any signs of life weed her, with dry branches rustling in the wind as the only sound.


    As the emperor spoke, the sensation in her hand began to fade.


    “So, are these all of them?”


    “I apologize, but we haven’t confirmed that yet.”


    A silhouette with a flipped hood suddenly emerged behind the emperor.


    A white mask covering half of the face glimmered eerily in the moonlight.


    With an unimpressive height and a contoured figure, the attire revealed her femininity, but nothing else.


    “They appear to be mere pawns. There’s no one here worth obtaining useful information from.”


    The emperor’s dry eyes turned towards the enigmatic figure standing behind.


    Even she who feared nothing, stiffened under the emperor’s gaze.


    “Or maybe I should melt them with my own hands? Would the oue be different if you were the one doing it?”


    “…I apologize again, Your Majesty.”


    “I was hoping for a different answer.”


    After the fake Hero left for Rosenstark, the emperor relentlessly pursued the identification of traitors within the empire, utilizing all avable resources, including the intelligence department’s personnel.


    “One thing, there were no significant results.”


    They were operating as a well-organized covert organization.


    Despite capturing a few pawns, tracing their connections proved impossible.


    They were adept at cutting ties.


    The divisions were so well established that even the foot soldiers were often unaware of their involvement in treason.


    Therefore, if they couldn’t directly hit the higher-ups, the investigation would be meaningless.


    “I am diligently focusing on tracking the upper echelons connected to the demons, but since the defeat of the Demon King, their activities have sharply decreased…”


    Mother Ghost, the head of the Emperor’s secret department responsible for identifying traitors, once again lowered her head deeply.


    “Observe with caution and take action as soon as any suspicious activity is detected…”


    ‘Silence.’


    The Emperor’s eyes gradually became stern.


    For a long time, humans had coborated with demons.


    It was inevitable.


    Humans were vulnerable to desires, and demons knew how to cleverly exploit that weakness.


    Betrayers sold things that should never be sold, indulging in their desires.


    Once, she thought she had uprooted them.


    But they had slowly crawled out somewhere, like insects, and eventually devoured the most precious thing she had.


    Ted.


    Remembering that loss, something intensely hot seared her throat.


    It was not just hot; it was hard and sharp, causing severe pain.


    “Allocate all avable personnel to the task of identifying traitors for the time being.”


    “…I will carry out Your Majesty’smand.”


    “If many points are marked, they will connect in lines. If you can’t connect them, pull each one out individually.”


    The Emperor continued speaking.


    “Has there been any contact from the ghost sent to Rosenstark?”


    “Yes. The disguised agents have sessfully infiltrated, and they have reported sessful contact with the Hero.”


    The elite agents of the secret department, also known as ghosts, had been sent to Rosenstark.


    The Emperor referred to them as “fake heroes.”


    Suddenly, the Emperor recalled Ted and his face.


    Her expression furrowed.


    “I mentioned sending number 3. The child with puppetry as ‘Ability,’ wasn’t it?”


    “Yes, Your Majesty. We sent the highest-ranking ghost avable.”


    It was at that moment, beneath the white mask, that lips subtly formed a curve, marking the only sign of a smile.


    “I didn’t know Your Majesty would remember a child seen only once until now.”


    “He had a unique ability.”


    “Now he is in a fully optimized state. There should be no hindrance to mission execution. Please do not worry.”


    Euphemia nodded.


    “Very well, withdraw for now.”


    “Yes, I will withdraw. Have a peaceful night, Your Majesty.”


    Mother Ghost slowly retreated and melded into the surroundings, leaving silence to settle in the garden.


    Even though herpanion had vanished, the Emperor did not immediately leave.


    She stood there for a while with an inexplicable expression, then slowly moved to sit against a tree on one side of the garden.


    Her golden eyes reflected the ruined pce.


    The pce where she had stayed since her princess days.


    The memory of that time pierced her like fragments.


    “Living alone in such arge pce. Isn’t it lonely?”


    It was during vacation.


    As soon as they became friends, she invited him to the pce.


    Looking back, it was somewhat amusing.


    Perhaps she wanted to boast about her background to a friend she had finally made.


    She hoped that her aristocratic status would, as usual, be a lubricant for their rtionship.


    “Staying alone in a ce like this makes you look like that.”


    She hadn’t expected such a reaction.


    Experiencing a past that felt so distant, Euphemia took a deep breath.


    “An extraordinary fellow.”


    After that, he stayed for three days.


    Pretending to practice swordsmanship, he even cut down all the trees in the garden.


    Thump!


    Euphemia reached out her frozen hands and swept the rough underside of the tree she was sitting on.


    Once.


    Twice.


    The pce was as quiet as it was then.


    In the profound silence, the Emperor whispered softly.


    “…An extraordinary fellow.”


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