Act 8

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I sighed inwardly and met the gaze of the woman in front of me.

Odwin’s lavender eyes were staring at me intensely, filled with suspicion. Even the ‘grey haze’ floating around her head indicated ‘doubt’ – a color of emotion that represents negativity.

I guessed the reason behind it. It must be because I seemed different from the Julian she knew.

‘Is it because my speech is too lengthy…? Is it the formal language?’

No, that couldn’t be it. For Julian, using formal speech was a way to express ego and an identity. If anything, not using formal language would have made her more suspicious than she already was. After all, even his thoughts came out in formal speech, so what could he do?

Then what was the issue?

“Is there a problem?”

I couldn’t figure out what the problem was. Deciding that staying silent might only make her suspicions grow, I chose to brazen it out. In a way, being shameless was part of Julian’s usual demeanor, so it shouldn’t be a big issue.

“No, Julian… didn’t you usually just watch without saying much and then leave?”

Was that it…

What did this guy think of his superiors? It was baffling.

But if that was the problem, it was a relief. It was something I could get over.

“I was on a long break due to an injury. That was just a report.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Any problem?”

I scoffed lightly and dodged the question. My Julian-style response made her suspicion, as expected, fade away.

“I heard you were out of your mind, but you’re still the same.”

While it was somewhat reassuring to hear that I was “still the same,” it also oddly pissed me off.

No, I knew that Julian was supposed to be out of his mind, and I was faithfully playing that part, but hearing such an open assessment still didn’t feel good.

None of the people I had met so far had said it directly.

Odwin, this woman, was not ordinary. The fact that she didn’t hesitate to make such comments in front of Julian showed she was no ordinary person.

“Then, report. Were there any useful individuals in the entrance test?”

She asked with a serious expression as she returned to her seat.

It was a simple question, so I answered immediately.

“None.”

“Well, I expected as much. After all, you’re a disciple of the sword saint, Hayden Reich, so average skills must seem laughable to you.”

Odwin nodded her head and leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms.

“Still, there must have been someone with enough skill to be used as an apprentice. A few, at least.”

“There were none.”

“Huh?”

Startled, Odwin uncrossed her arms and quickly leaned forward from her chair.

“What, not even one person?”

“Yes.”

“Not a single one?”

I couldn’t tell how many times she asked, but my answer remained the same. I nodded.

Seemingly realizing the situation belatedly, Odwin’s mouth gradually opened wider.

“Why would you do that! The ‘Closed Eyes’ currently need all the manpower they can get, even if it’s just one person!”

“We can’t just accept any mediocre person just because we’re short on staff. All the applicants this time were not suitable for ‘Closed Eyes’.”

“But still! If we picked them as apprentices and tried them out, who knows if they could be useful!”

“It’s a waste of time. Even the positions for apprentices were too good for those candidates.”

I let out a short laugh.

Truth be told, it was a laugh of embarrassment.

I had disqualified everyone, but it wasn’t because of the candidates’ skills.

It was merely for my own purposes.

And yet to say that even the positions for apprentices were too good for them.

Even though it was an act, I felt brazen.

“Ah…”

As if troubled, Odwin pressed her temples firmly.

In the meantime, I slowly approached her and casually placed a piece of paper on the desk.

Odwin, looking puzzled, picked it up.

“What’s this now? Weren’t we talking about the entrance test?”

“Yes, this is related to the entrance test as well.”

“…What is it?”

“I’ve compiled some issues I found with the entrance test.”

“Issues?”

Odwin, looking annoyed, asked as if she was looking at a bothersome object.

“The candidates spar with an instructor and, after being approved, go through an interview where the final decision is made by the royal secretariat. What’s the problem?”

“It’s the method of sparring.”

“The method of sparring?”

To Odwin, who tilted her head in confusion, I laid out the story I had prepared in advance.

“It seems that the applicants lack a sense of caution. Even before they apply, they definitely need to know what the exclusive agency is about.”

“Well, if the instructor in charge says so, it must be right, but…”

Odwin began to read the ‘entrance test improvement proposal’ I handed over.

As her gaze moved down, her expression twisted more and more.

“…By applying for the entrance test, in case of any accidents, ‘Closed Eyes’ is not responsible?”

“Yes.”

“This means you want to increase the intensity of the sparring?”

“Correct.”

I nodded.

There were many restrictions in the ‘Closed Eyes’ entrance test.

One of the rules was that the instructor must ensure the safety of the applicants during the test process. Naturally, it was absolutely unacceptable for any applicant to be injured or killed. If such a misfortune occurred, the responsibility would always lie with the instructor.

‘The applicants at the Bayel Academy on that day must have been aware of this rule.’

Yet, the reason they got scared and gave up on the test because of my “I will kill you” remark is simple. It was because the person who said it was me, ‘Julian Crypart Frason.’

Would I really break the rules?

Even if that thought initially crossed their minds, remembering the number of bodies that had piled up under the name ‘Julian’ would make them doubt again.

‘If it’s that madman, he might actually do it.’ Like this.

It was a gamble that was only possible by exploiting this.

As Odwin examined each of the improvement proposals, she frowned.

Eventually, she picked up the paper with her fingers and shook it.

“Fine, I understand. I’ll submit it to the council.”

“Yes, thank you, Captain Odwin.”

“But, you didn’t select anyone in this entrance test just because of this, did you?”

“Of course not. Talent recruited through a flawed test is utterly useless. We are an exclusive agency of the royal family, aren’t we? Tarnishing that noble name is unforgivable….”

“Ah, I got it. I got it!”

I shrugged nonchalantly, seeing her face turning into a grimace.

Rambling insanely when it comes to anything related to the ‘royal family.’ That was also ‘Julian.’

***

After Julian left, silence lingered in the captain’s office.

Leaning back in her chair, the current captain of ‘Closed Eyes,’ Captain Odwin, turned her gaze back to the documents Julian had left behind.

The document was an improvement proposal for the ‘Closed Eyes’ entrance test.

Normally, a mere member wouldn’t have the authority to do this much, but Julian’s position within ‘Closed Eyes’ was incomparably higher than that of a regular member.

To put it plainly, he was right below the captain herself.

That’s why such a proposal for improvement was accepted.

Even more, wasn’t he of noble birth, albeit from a collateral line?

“Still, it’s unlike him to interfere with the regulations in this manner.”

Odwin looked at the document with interest.

Julian’s handwriting filled a page to the brim,

But all this content was merely a smokescreen to hide one crucial means.

In the end, the important content is one thing.

“Under no circumstances will ‘Closed Eyes’ be responsible for any accidents that occur…………”

If this new rule is applied, it literally means that no matter what happens during the entrance test, the instructor will not be held responsible.

Even if someone dies, under the protection of the royal family, they would be ‘innocent’.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that the essence of the entrance tests conducted so far will change. After all, most of those who apply for ‘Closed Eyes’ are either fallen nobility or commoners who can maintain political neutrality.

They have no power, or more precisely, no authority. It’s easy to dismiss the complaints of such people.

“Julian must know this too. So, the real purpose of this improvement proposal must lie elsewhere.”

Odwin closed her eyes momentarily to organize her thoughts. Why would someone who normally had no interest in regulations suddenly submit such a document?

“Ah!”

Then she remembered one fact about a ‘scheme’ that took place during the entrance test. The Elder Council and the Thorso family had conspired to tamper with this entrance test.

She had a rough understanding of the situation herself. Sitting in the important position as the captain of the royal exclusive agency ‘Closed Eyes’, even if she didn’t want to hear it, all sorts of news naturally flowed in.

As her thoughts reached this point, the puzzle pieces in her mind came together, and she understood why this seemingly useless ‘improvement proposal’ was submitted.

“It’s a warning.”

Yes, this was a warning. A warning from Julian to the Thorso family and the Elder Council.

‘I see through your schemes. If you try the same thing again, I won’t let it slide like this time.’

Realizing Julian’s inner thoughts (?), Odwin immediately called for a servant waiting outside.

Not long after, the captain’s office door opened hastily.

She handed over the proposal Julian had written to the servant who came in.

“Could you pass this on to the council?”

“To the council?”

“Yes.”

“Understood, Captain Odwin.”

After bowing politely, the servant took the documents and left the captain’s office.

Watching him leave, Odwin placed her right hand on her chin and fell into thought.

“He’s changed after that serious injury.”

The ‘Julian Crypart Frason’ she knew was a terribly cruel warrior with a corresponding level of martial prowess. Nothing more, nothing less.

With a chilling smile and squinted eyes that revealed nothing,

It was almost impossible to read his emotions, but until now, that hadn’t mattered.

Julian was merely a dog loyal to the royal command.

He executed orders from above without harboring any dissatisfaction, an emotionless sword.

But the problem is… such a dog has begun to have its own thoughts.

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