Episode 45

It took a long month just to travel from the eastern branch to Troben.

This was also thanks to the change of horses at the Assassin’s Branch, so it would have taken twice as long if he had just come.

Still, the travel time was boring.

“Finally arrived. Aww! I’m sick of it.”

Benderford University was built on a plain about 5 miles (8 km) east of the capital.

Rather than a school, it seemed to be looking at some huge fortress.

I couldn’t get rid of the feeling that I had chosen a place where Troben’s defense was weak.

In a way, it was very practical, but the problem was that it was somewhat far from the capital.

‘No, I can’t enjoy it like this, right?’

Whenever I had time, I planned to go to Salon Mascal and drink Garos Queru.

It would have taken a year just to get there.

I don’t know when classes end, but I thought it would be better not to go out during the week.

As I approached the entrance on horseback, soldiers standing guard stood in my way.

“stop!”

It must have been a guard guarding Benderford.

I don’t know where he belonged, but his training was pretty good.

It wasn’t because there was a special reason that they stopped me.

I just needed to verify my identity.

After showing the admission certificate and the identification card issued by Count Ruberic, the soldiers quickly opened the way.

“You can leave the horse at the stable inside.”

I slowly rode my horse towards the place the soldier pointed out.

After passing the drawbridge and the thick walls, a road paved with flat stones came out.

The architectural style and build quality were quite similar to the Troben resistance.

Seeing how he put his arms into it, I could feel that the emperor was putting a lot of thought into it.

‘Well, it’s the place where the successor will be born, but how can I not pay attention to it?’

Although not as good as Black Rin’s Island, Benderford also had its own grandeur.

The large and neat exterior of the main building, the dormitory, and the four towering spires were in harmony.

The site was very large, so it didn’t feel crowded at all.

While I was looking at the splendid architecture, someone suddenly approached me.

“Are you an incoming student?”

“Yeah.”

“Give me the reins.”

The person who spoke to me was a man dressed in a neat imperial suit.

It seemed that Iza was a stable keeper.

Benderford certainly seemed to defy mediocrity.

Even the servants who worked in the stables were neat in appearance and seemed very bright in their manners.

“The entrance ceremony starts at 11:00. Please go to the main hall on time.”

“All right.”

After entrusting the horse, I moved to the main building under the guidance of the stable keeper.

I was curious about the purpose of the seemingly spacious gymnasium and various outlying buildings, but I didn’t have much time.

‘See you later.’

As I hurriedly hurried my steps, I could see students sparsely.

Most of them, like me, were walking from place to place with curious eyes.

“Why do you have to walk? I think the wagon will be able to enter. Can’t you get out of the way right away?”

However, there were also those who could not abandon their sense of privilege and made a great distance to the stable keeper.

“Horses are not allowed on campus.”

“No, so why not! Are you ignoring the power of the Railton family?”

“This is a rule made by His Majesty the Emperor. If you want to argue, go to the imperial palace.”

“…”

Of course, I kept my mouth shut at the emperor’s solemn command.

‘The ancient sage Jirobo said this. If there are five humans, one of them is garbage.’

Is it also the law of conservation of psychic power?

It was a pretty familiar name anyway.

Wasn’t Railton a Marquis from the northern part of the Empire who infiltrated some time ago to save Rovik?

When I turned my head, a young man with auburn curly hair caught my eye.

‘The old man looks like he won’t listen.’

Grumpy cheeks and self-righteous eyes.

Guessing, it seemed that the personality was unconditionally different.

Sure enough, the guy moved on with a brisk face full of dissatisfaction.

It looked like it wanted to kick something, but not a single common stone was rolling around on the floor.

“Please don’t get involved.”

Shaking my head, I hurried on my feet.

Because there was nothing good about bumping into a nerd who doesn’t care.

I had to realize that I was just a merchant’s son, a donation student.

Upon entering the auditorium, the students who had already arrived were talking in groups of twos and threes.

The search battle seemed to have ended a long time ago, and a few groups of close friends were in a state of unity.

Of course, there were people like me who were standing on the outskirts.

It was probably a student from a commoner who came in through donation or recommendation.

‘They said something about political competence, but they’ve already reached the point of creating power?’

The first thing that caught my eye was a man who was always leading the atmosphere with a smile.

An impressive figure with short black hair, red eyes, tall height and a solid body.

The author is Franz Bertos, the 2nd Prince of the Empire.

He said he had a talent for swordsmanship, and indeed the level seemed quite high.

Since he had a handsome face, it seemed like it would be good to establish a political position.

It’s easy for a good-looking guy to make his own side.

I read his profile and gave him the nickname Yangachi, but somehow it felt right.

‘Then that must be the 3rd prince over there.’

If Franz was leading the largest crowd, the second was definitely the 3rd Prince Ellington.

A pretty young man with a relatively small body, long black hair, and blue eyes.

It wasn’t as gloomy as it was written in the appendix of the directive.

He’s a little talkative and doesn’t lead the conversation.

Clearly, from a distance, the two groups seemed somewhat different.

Franz’s side was lively, and Ellington’s side was calm.

“It’s just a different feel, but I can’t say which one is superior.”

In particular, Adele, who is called the comet of the duchy, and Sophia, the heir to Pennant, were with Ellington.

So, at least the number of them didn’t seem like the 3rd prince was at a huge disadvantage.

By the way, Sophia I never thought I’d meet that woman here again.

From the outside, there was no need to mess with the mission from the start, because he used to use the seven-fold technique.

‘Well. Is that a flower garden over there?’

I looked at Ellington’s entourage with satisfaction, then looked away.

Besides those two groups, the top tier was diverse.

The direct descendants of the four generations, the crown princes of each country, and the successors of local marquis families were of that type.

Among them, there were a few people who were quite familiar.

‘… … McTees?’

The blue-haired boy he had met at the sunspot appeared in front of him as a young man before he knew it.

He was almost the only outsider who knew my real face and name.

Like a closed family, Mack seemed uncomfortable with the auditorium crowded with all kinds of people.

The sight of him confined to a corner and communicating with the spirits of the earth was unmistakable.

‘I was wondering when I would pay for the black dragon sword, but the day we meet unexpectedly is fast approaching.’

It didn’t bother me too much that he knew my identity.

Now that he has changed his impression with the Chiljeolyongsul, he won’t even recognize him.

After Mac Thiess, it was the Feltons who caught my eye.

‘Wow, that’s Felton no matter who sees it. Isn’t that the level of wearing it on your forehead?’

A man with a stout body, fiery red hair, and a large greatsword slung over his shoulder.

Even though the weather must be quite chilly, she wears only sleeveless leather armor.

It was as if the bluff had taken over his brain.

‘If it’s a direct descendant of my age, he’s probably the only one. Camille Felton.’

I recalled Camille’s profile from the order appendices.

Not much is known, but Lee Ja also gave off an unusual atmosphere.

In fact, will there be an observer in the hobu?

Even if he was the third, he was the son of Simeon, the Great Emperor of Hocheon, so he must have been one of them.

Other than that, there weren’t many people who were considered to be at the top.

Of course, it may be that I don’t know because my knowledge is narrow.

“Move.”

Took.

Suddenly, a nervous voice came from behind.

‘Ah, there was that dog car class too, right?’

Railton’s heir, Bizolt, who had been scrambling with the stable keeper, entered the auditorium and pushed the people away.

Seeing that they didn’t say anything and moved away, it seemed that they were the lowest class, donation or recommendation students.

That’s why he must be acting so rudely.

“It’s been a while. Your Highness, the 2nd Prince. Ah! You will soon become the Crown Prince, so would it be better to change your title in advance?”

“hahahaha! Nothing has been decided yet, so do as you normally do.”

It was quite disgusting to see him go to the side of 2nd Prince Franz and fart.

He was just about to lick his shoes.

I was about to look away with a displeased expression, when suddenly a woman with dark brown hair who covered her face with a fan caught my eye.

‘As expected, he came too.’

The one who proudly watched the situation with only her eyes open was my third sister, Isabel, who was like my enemy.

Unlike me, she seemed to have entered Benderford as a direct descendant of Landswalger.

He probably knew my disguise and name, so it was only a matter of time before Isabel noticed.

Of course, that wouldn’t hinder the mission.

Even though she’s a bit sloppy, she’s not that stupid.

‘But when does this guy’s entrance ceremony start?’

Even after entering the auditorium for quite some time, no one came up to the podium.

I was just chatting and chatting with the students.

Those who did not belong to the mainstream kept an eye on the stage with a bored expression.

So do I.

Suddenly, however, the air felt heavy.

The red curtains installed inside the auditorium swayed, and dull footsteps were heard.

thud!

The atmosphere in the audience calmed down due to the echo that weighed down the mind and body.

The chatter that was buzzing soon disappeared.

There was no student who did not feel that heavy momentum.

The energy that radiated into the auditorium was astounding.

It was at that time that everyone’s eyes were focused on the existence beyond the curtain.

Whoops!

A much stronger energy wave than before came pouring out, and the red curtain was drawn back.

“Whoop!”

“Ugh!”

At the same time, moans erupted everywhere.

It was the sound of students who couldn’t overcome the momentum, falling down one by one.

Wow!

But the storm-like momentum did not seem to abate.

Again, the intensity only increased.

Soon after, the being with the curtains open came up on the podium, looked around the audience and said.

“Welcome to Venderford.”