Act 40

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After cutting out the rotten roots and tidying up, Razlot was lost in thought upon seeing Julian calmly tending to the orchids.

‘That nasty monster wouldn’t leave those who harbor grievances against him alone.’

It was evident that some members of the Dawn Society harbored hostility towards Julian, and he must be aware of it. Given his personality, ignoring such a fact would be absurd.

‘When managing orchids, I push one root towards the outer edge as a precaution. Like bait,’ he had said.

As always, he was prepared to break the dark intentions directed at him, and not just the blade held by those with ill will, but also the hand that holds it, and even their lifelines.

‘He must be planning to root out all the forces opposing him within the Dawn Society this time.’

The thought that this man, devoid of empathy, could use even his own life as bait seemed plausible.

‘……Gulp.’

Razlot swallowed his dry saliva at Julian’s chilling disposition.

“Is that all the business you had?” Julian asked quietly, noticing Razlot lost in thought.

Terror-stricken, Razlot lifted his head to meet his gaze.

With inscrutable slitted eyes and a faint smile, Razlot tried to maintain his composure as he spoke.

“There’s also a task assigned by the secretariat to ‘Closed Eyes’. They’ve requested to send agents for a mission on the upcoming Victory Day celebration.”

“Hmm….”

“Additionally, there are duties related to the role as a fencing instructor at the academy, including lecturing and assisting with practical exams.”

Even as he spoke, Razlot had a hunch that Julian would be involved in the Imperial Guards’ mission.

“If it’s Victory Day, then my master, the Sword Saint Hayden Reich, might also make an appearance.”

“Eh? Ah… Yes, it seems likely.”

Despite being expelled, it was an opportunity to meet his former master, the Sword Saint.

“What will you do? Are you also participating in this Victory Day celebration….”

“No. Somehow, I feel like taking on a simple task this time. I will take on the academy-related mission. Please assign the Imperial Guards’ role to another ‘Blind Eye’ agent.”

“I see. Then… Yes?”

Razlot, taken aback by a choice that seemed very uncharacteristic of Julian, couldn’t help but ask again.

‘I didn’t expect Julian, who is obsessed with climbing the ranks, to make such a choice… Could it be!’

To sweep up the ranks below the Bishop within the Dawn Society, the ‘Monsignor’ class, who are plotting an ambush.

Julian, the ‘Smiling Executioner,’ wasn’t choosing his missions for the sake of advancement.

Cunningly, he had chosen the ‘execution ground’ for those hostile forces that had shown animosity towards him.

With the palace bolstering its security for the important imperial celebration of ‘Victory Day,’ the academy’s security would inevitably be drawn to the palace as well.

‘That means the academy’s security will be looser than usual.’

Those harboring resentment towards Julian would not overlook the opportunity presented by the weakened security. They would surely attempt an ambush when Julian was handling academy-related duties.

‘And Julian is aiming for that…!’

Razlot was inwardly astounded by Julian’s plan to purge his enemies using Victory Day as an opportunity.

“Didn’t you hear? I said I would take on the academy’s mission.”

Realizing the truth, Razlot swallowed hard again.

“Ah, understood. I’ll convey that to Commander Odwin.”

Anticipating the imminent storm, he quietly hoped that it would pass quickly.

***

“Ha, haha….”

With a wrinkled forehead and beads of sweat, Vice Principal Allom Chorni wiped his sweat with a handkerchief, giving an awkward laugh.

Walking down the corridor of the main building of Bayer Academy, I paused to look at him.

“I did ask ‘Closed Eyes’ for someone to take on lecturing or instructor duties but…”

For someone in the position of Vice Principal of the academy, his laugh seemed somewhat restrained. Of course, it must be because of me.

“I never imagined Sir Julian would come himself.”

“Is that so?”

“I assumed you would be tasked with something else in preparation for the upcoming Victory Day. It’s always been like that, after all. Kek-kek.”

Allom’s words weren’t entirely wrong. The ‘Julian’ known to the public would have chosen duties related to Victory Day to present himself in a good light to the royal family.

But

‘Sword Saint Hayden Reich might also participate.’

In that sense, I chose the academy’s task over a royal duty for this ‘Closed Eyes’ mission.

“I expected a regular member to come, but it’s truly an honor to have Sir Julian himself.”

“Hehe, don’t mention it.”

Julian answered lightly, dismissing it as nothing.

“But are you sure you’re okay with this, Sir Julian?”

I turned at the concern in Vice Principal Allom’s voice.

“What do you mean?”

“There’s a special lecture for the academy students who are taking the practical exam this time among the tasks requested by ‘Closed Eyes’…”

What?

I was taken aback by Allom’s words but managed to hold back from asking further to avoid seeming clueless about the mission details.

After calming my inner turmoil with a cough, I opened my mouth.

“Yes, I’m aware.”

Upon hearing the answer, Allom’s expression began to brighten.

His previous anxious demeanor seemed to stem from the worry that I might refuse to give the lecture.

However, the actual realization that I had to teach made me anxious.

‘To teach these kids?’

Honestly, part of my motivation was to avoid the ‘Sword Saint’, but I had thought that instructing at the academy’s practical exam would be easier than the previous ‘Closed Eyes’ entrance test.

Yet, the mere thought of having to teach someone was already making my head spin.

“So, when should I start this special lecture?”

Believing the task wasn’t entirely impossible, I asked Vice Principal Allom for the schedule as calmly as possible.

“Er… today… wasn’t that why you came?”

Damn.

Upon hearing Allom’s response, I cursed internally.

***

As the premier educational institution in the Adratan Empire, Bayer Academy’s curriculum was notoriously challenging.

For the academy students, a ‘special lecture’ represented a brief respite from their grueling schedule.

Thanks to this, Linne took her seat in the classroom, enjoying the amiable atmosphere for the first time in a while.

“Linne, you’re here? The guest lecturer hasn’t arrived yet.”

Paruna, a classmate who had arrived earlier, greeted her. Linne responded with a casual greeting before burying her face in her desk.

‘I’m so tired.’

She was overwhelmed by fatigue, like a high tide.

Training late into the night with swordsmanship the day before and the day before that, she was completely exhausted.

Ordinarily, she wouldn’t have pushed herself so hard considering the academy’s curriculum, but today was the day of the special lecture!

“How lucky we are to have a special lecture.”

“Right, right. It doesn’t really affect our grades much, and all we have to do is sit quietly and listen to the guest lecturer talk.”

“I heard from a senior last year that they usually invite someone from ‘Closed Eyes’ for the knight aspirant course.”

“Then it must be a commoner?”

“A lecture by a commoner, pffft!”

Despite feeling sorry for the guest lecturer, given the relative unimportance of this session, Linne decided to use this time for some rest.

“The guest lecturer has arrived!”

At Paruna’s words, Linne also noticed the ‘guest lecturer’ entering.

“…Huh? Wait, that person…”

“What? What…?”

The chatter in the classroom began to quiet down like dominos falling, and an air of silence spread.

An individual who seemed entirely out of place was stepping up to the podium.

…Why is that person here?

Linne was just as speechless.

The fatigue that had heavily weighed on her eyelids until a few seconds ago melted away upon seeing the face of the guest lecturer.

“The guest lecturer, a member of ‘Closed Eyes’, Julian Crypart Frason. I look forward to today’s lecture.”

A man who could well be termed a nemesis.

At his introduction, all eyes in the classroom were on him.

The classroom, previously abuzz, now felt as quiet as a serene lake, as if the prior commotion was merely an illusion.

“Don’t be too nervous. I’m here today to give a brief lecture as an instructor for the upcoming practical exam.”

Julian smiled lightly and looked around the auditorium. A few students who made eye contact with him flinched and swallowed hard.

His demeanor suggested that this wasn’t his first time standing at a podium. There was a sense of ease about him.

Linne couldn’t stop wondering as she observed him.

‘What’s in it for him?’

Why would he volunteer to be an instructor for the practical exam? What benefit does he see in it for himself?

“Today, in this special lecture, I actually… don’t have much to say.”

What does he want to say?

Linne frowned, puzzled by Julian’s cryptic statement.

It was one thing to be part of ‘Closed Eyes’ duties, but quite another for an invited lecturer to claim their teaching wasn’t significant.

“Why do you all study swordsmanship?”

The classroom was filled with tense air and students with shriveled expressions.

Although they did not harbor animosity towards Julian, the atmosphere could not be described as positive.

‘Awkward.’

Though such gazes were not unfamiliar to him, the fact that he had to teach these gathered individuals made Julian feel awkward.

This question, thought out to alleviate the awkward atmosphere, was met with nothing but empty coughs; it seemed no student was willing to answer Julian’s question.

How embarrassing this is.

Yet, Julian, without showing his discomfort, began to look over the students one by one.

When he spotted a familiar face among them, he breathed a sigh of relief internally.

“It seems no one is willing to answer. Then, let’s ask Miss Linne.”

“…Me?”

Linne, suddenly called upon, looked at Julian with surprise.

“Why are you learning swordsmanship, Miss Linne?”

“Why are you asking me…”

Linne, about to express her usual discomfort towards Julian, paused mid-sentence.

Right now, he’s the lecturer.

And she’s just a student at the academy.

Given the circumstances, Linne spoke with a softer tone than usual.

“Why did you pursue and hone your swordsmanship skills, Sir Julian?”

Unable to grasp the intention behind his question, she instead asked Julian.

It could be an easy question for some but sensitive for others, given it might delve into personal reasons.

Thus, Linne asked, essentially saying, ‘Now you answer.’

“Isn’t it obvious? For advancement.”

However, the man standing at the podium was far from ordinary; he was unabashedly candid.

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