Ashen Flame of Revolution (2)

“It’s pointless to speak to a royal dog.”

Fran, who stood up and covered the magazines, whispered with pieces of tart on his face.

“Yes, yes, dogs or whatever. What did you not like to change the text like that?”

“The editor-in-chief revised my argument as eclectic. Without consent… No, what are you doing on your own?”

Fran spat out his thoughts, clearly thinking the unauthorized modification was quite unfair. This hot-blooded boy seemed to be unable to be a willing activist even though he had passion. It hurt his pride to reveal his inner feelings to a person he didn’t like, noticeable in the rough way he gestured with his hands as he wiped his glasses. At that moment, Kleio glimpsed a faint white line on the back of his hand.

‘What? Looks like a stigma.’

“If you do that, they’ll get dirtier. Hand them to me.”

“Alright, I…!”

When he tried to take the glasses, Fran reflexively pushed Kleio. Kleio grabbed his right hand as he did, letting his ether go. Bright golden light burst out between their hands. Fran moved fiercely away, but it was too late to cover it up. Scarlet lines drew the shape of a trumpet as Understanding revealed the identity of the unique skill.

[Unique skill: Propaganda

-It gives the power of propaganda and agitation to the words and writings of the user.

-User can amplify the anger and courage of the majority of the public.

User: Francis Gabriel Hyde-Wight

Number of people affectable at the same time: ∞]

It was a unique skill.

‘In the previous manuscript, I thought this guy was strangely

persuasive…’

“What did you do?!”

“I just checked that mark.”

“What does that have to do with anything?!”

“I also have a stigma. Nice to meet you.”

It was an unconvincing excuse even to Kleio. Fran picked his glasses off the floor and glared at Kleio like he was an enemy. The boy was stronger than he looked, so it was fortunate it hadn’t come to blows yet.

‘He barely knows me, so why does he hate me like this…?’

“Gibril Blanche… I remember that pseudonym. You wrote a good article about me not so long ago. Why did your attitude change?”

“I put a picture of the monster, Melchior, and you all over the newspaper, and it seemed like that? I was disappointed in you!”

Fran raised his voice as he pointed. Hatred and fear oozed into his answers. It was an offense beyond personal dislike.

“Fran, what do you know about the crown prince?”

“Nothing.”

“Why do you dislike him so much then?”

“What on earth could I know about such an existence?”

It was a surprisingly meaningful answer.

‘Has he noticed the prince’s unique skill? No, Melchior wouldn’t have been so careless. Then why is he scared?’

“Have you actually seen the prince?”

“…I have.”

Fran’s voice became quiet like he recalled a fearful past.

‘Arthur seemed to have some underground intelligence organization, and Melchior has his own secret intelligence department. The answer is obvious, then.’

Just mentioning the crown prince rattled him, so he guessed he was caught by a colleague or something along those lines.

‘Even Dione was worried that I would be on the people of interest list of the secret intelligence service.’

It wasn’t Kleio’s irritability that made him feel like Melchior had the qualities of a dictator. If you had the ability to read the human mind and to bend it to your will, even a saint would become a monster.

‘I don’t know how important Fran is, so I need to be careful.’

Kleio started by quietly making a circle. As Fran flinched back, he pulled him back in as his body trembled. Once the circle spread out, he used the magic formula of [Soundproofing][Shielding] to ensure their privacy.

“[The secrets of the magic will last!]”

It was a magic shield that made use of Dione’s own mantra. He thought it would be useful, so he diligently memorized her mantra.

“Fran, as long as this magic lasts, no magical tools, human eyes, or ears can eavesdrop on what we’re saying. You don’t have to worry.”

“You…”

“Speak honestly. The photos in the newspaper weren’t taken because I wanted them.”

Kleio looked closely at Fran’s eyes through his glass lens.

“You know well.”

For the first time, the walls that Fran put up started to crumble.

‘Has he calmed down?’

“If you don’t want to tell how or when or where you got involved with the prince, you don’t have to. But if you need help, please tell me.”

“…Why are you doing this?”

“That’s… Are you interested in science?”

“Science?”

“Metallurgy, chemistry…?”

“Did you see my papers?”

Fran’s speech, which had softened a little, became cold once more.

‘He wrote a thesis and thought I found it?’

“Yes, yes.”

“I don’t know where you read it.”

“I was personally interested in the problem of processing tiplaum, so I was looking for someone who could help.”

“Tiplaum… I don’t know what you want, but that’s in the past. I’ve found my real goal in life.”

The magic formula ran out and vanished. When the shield disappeared, Fran’s mouth closed shut. Kleio felt like pulling out his hair.

‘Why the hell did you become a journalist, not a scientist?! The future is in science and engineering!”

It was a sincere scream from a (former) print media worker.

***

After that, several weeks passed without seeing Fran. The field trip, the last school event before midterms, had arrived. He thought he would have to retake Behemoth’s spartan class, so Kleio’s heart was heavy.

Aeeeeeee-

The train entered the tunnel.

“Woaahhh!”

“It’s a tunnel!”

“Oh, my hat!”

The twins in the same cell as Kleio made a fuss. The compartment next to them with Arthur, Isiel, Nebo, and Fran was still very quiet.

“Guys, it’s dangerous, so sit down!”

Cel, having quickly snatched up Leticia’s hat before it flew out the window, reprimanded the twins.

“Okay, Cel!”

“Thanks!”

In the train cabin, there were two rows of seats with a table in between. Lippi, who closed the window, sat down to Kleio’s right. Leticia was on his left.

“Hah… Can’t one of you move over…?”

“I hate that. We’re going to share snacks.”

“Lei, you don’t even fill one whole seat.”

The train they were taking was a limited express train to the city of Dubris. The first-class cabin seats weren’t narrow at all, but Kleio couldn’t move with the two twins pressing in on him on both sides. Thanks to that, Cel had an entire row to herself. She stretched out her legs comfortably.

“Oh, thank you, guys. Thanks to you, I can sleep easily.”

Today was a day off for their autumn field trip. On a four-days and three-nights schedule, the first years were going to the King’s Forest in the northern part of the Pintos mountains. Professor Maria Gentile explained why, but Kleio hadn’t paid attention.

“If we go to Dubris, we should harvest some chestnuts.”

“You can eat some Montblanc.”

“It sounds delicious.”

“Let’s go to the forest as soon as we arrive!”

“I want to see the animals.”

As if they had already been to the forest, the twins were excited about their plans upon arrival.

“Animals? Are there any in the forest?”

“Yes! Many!”

“Do you like animals too?”

“Of course! My favorite is rabbits!”

“Mine is pigeons!”

Kleio smiled softly.

‘What cute kids.’

That easy thought broke right away, however.

“A freshly hunted rabbit is delicious when grilled with mustard.”

“Pigeons are tasty when stuffed with autumn mushrooms and baked.”

“If you catch a rabbit, you have to drain the blood right away.”

“Do you?”

“Ah! I want to eat soon.”

‘They like them… in the sense of food? Ugh.’

It slightly offended Kleio’s modern sensibilities. It was Cel who first noticed his uncomfortable appearance.

“Hahaha, Lei, were you shocked? Or do you want to hunt too after you caught that demon?”

“No… Demons aren’t really living things. They vanish after they die. I doubt it’s the same as a mountain beast.”

“That’s why you’re from the city!”

“Are you using a sword or a bow?”

Leticia immediately gave Kleio a face.

“Why use swords and bows for hunting? I have a gun. Isn’t that right?”

“Right! We’re good with firearms too!”

“Angellium’s own hunting enthusiasts are quite famous in the southwest.”

“Last time, I caught fourteen.”

“I caught twelve, but I won’t lose this time!”

Lippi and Leticia boasted of their achievements as they struggled against each other. Kleio considered the situation as he recognized he was the weakest member among them.

“Do you go to the King’s Forest often?”

“Yes! Every year! During the student swordsmanship contest!”

“We met Cel there too!”

“Really?”

“Yes. Was that the first we met three years ago? They’re still cute, but when they were ten, it was like they were walking dolls!”

“Haha. Thanks, Cel.”

“Cel was also handsome then and now.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Cel winked at Lippi with her silver eyes and pushed back her indigo blue hair scattered by the wind.

‘A student swordsmanship contest…’

That contest was mentioned before in the manuscript. It was an even Arthur had won when he was eleven. It was a competition for all children under the age of sixteen who trained with the sword in Albion, so it wasn’t odd that most of Arthur’s future companions had been there before.

‘Shall I check it?’

“Then, Cel. Did you know Arthur or Isiel before you went to school?”

“Yes. Isiel was originally famous for winning the competition every year since she was nine.”

Cel pushed her upper body a little more towards Kleio, her husky voice unheard outside the room, thanks to the noise of the train.

“But what I really can’t forget was Arthur. His sword technique stood out even when he was eleven, but then he withdrew. Anyone who saw it was thinking of the legend of Leonid the First.”

‘That seems to be the same as the last manuscript. When Aslan learned of Arthur’s growth, he began to send assassins.’

“Leonid… Can you stop using such a metaphor?”

“What else can I say? Are you afraid of being condemned? Arthur is also a prince of the royal family.”

Kleio’s eyes narrowed. Cel’s voice was unusually low as she spoke. He looked at her carefully but couldn’t read what she was thinking.

“I haven’t seen it often since. It was a pleasure to see it at school.”

“Are you an idiot?”

Cel paused for the moment as she reconsidered what to say and how far to take it. Eventually, she continued in a light tone as if her mind was made up.

“Of course, these days, I don’t hide my strength.”

“Isn’t it because it’s pointless to, even when it is hidden?”

“Well, it is hard to stand out next to Arthur.”

“Is that so?”

“Look, the Angellium twins and I are already at level 3. Isiel is at level 4, and Arthur is already level 5. Our year is called the Golden Year, didn’t you know?”

“How would I know that?”

“Ahaha, stop talking so silly. By far, you are the ace of our year. Sir Kleio, the future arch-mage!”

Cel reached out and tugged at his collar.

“Is that even you?”

“Do you not like that title?”

“Hey!”

“Hahaha. It will be fun. You can even go tour the tiplaum mine and the temporary research center.”

“Is that so?”

“You fell asleep when Professor Maria was explaining.”

“My stamina is weak.”

“Wow, increase your endurance! Anyway, it’s our privilege to tour the mine. Prince Melchior gave us special permission, and it’s even said that the annex of the winter palace was offered as lodgings.”

“The crown prince…?”

An ominous feeling went down his spine. It was an event not mentioned in the original manuscript. It was unlikely that nothing would happen.

“Now, Prince Melchior is inspecting Dubris. He even said he would have dinner with the students of the school, the ‘future of the country,’ as he said it.”

‘He’s at it again!’

The trip was a trick. It was no coincidence Melchior was involved. The limited express train ran without hesitation toward the prince’s trap.