ALL NOVEL chapter 37
37 – War on the Table (2)
The Count’s personal training ground.
I came to the training ground without Noir or my father and quickly swung the baton.
“Sir Robert. You are from the Academy, right?”
“Yes!”
Robert holds a wooden greatsword and strikes the pole.
“After graduating from the academy, I came to Gibraltar right away!”
“Aren’t you going to the empire?”
“Do it, master!”
Robert is embarrassed, but he easily catches the attack I stabbed with the baton.
“If you’re trying to embarrass me and win a round…!”
“No, it’s purely conversation.”
“You said that during sparring?!”
“Sparring. My attacks are now being unilaterally blocked by Kyung.”
I swing the baton again.
It is impossible to beat a middle-level knight with a 13-year-old body, even with the power of mana.
“I’ll stick with this this time.”
“Ugh, I’m not a scarecrow!”
“But other than you, there is no one who would accept it so deliciously.”
“Ugh!!”
Continue swinging the baton.
Robert counterattacks by swinging his great sword from time to time, and I adjust my posture while narrowly dodging the attacks.
“There would have been an option to go into exile and enter the Imperial Academy.”
“Of course, it might have been easier that way!”
The biggest difference between a kingdom and an empire is the ‘academy’.
“For a guy like me, who comes from a noble background, even if he went to the academy, he was no better than a rock!”
The kingdom’s academy is made up of 70% nobles.
Not only the students, but all the faculty and staff are nobles.
“What about hanging out with commoners?”
“What dangerous words! If you say that, you will be treated like a fool among the nobles!”
The remaining commoners are the children of wealthy merchants or servants brought by noble sons.
“Rather than disrespecting the commoners, they will say that I insulted the entire nobility!”
“That’s right.”
Or an employee doing odd jobs.
“Nobles are superior beings from the moment they are born. They cannot even be compared to commoners.”
The number of students who pass the exam with miraculous odds is so rare that only a handful can be counted each year.
“So the Academy just became a dating market where love is ignited before marriage.”
“A city, a mayor…!”
“It’s not wrong.”
So, the kingdom’s academy was used as a social gathering place in many ways.
“Rather than training their bodies like this, men drink moonshine and enjoy a debaucherous lifestyle.”
The purpose is exchange rather than education.
“Women enjoy tea time together every day, discuss which noble man is the best candidate, and compete with each other.”
A place where meeting is pursued rather than teaching, and pre-adult children of nobles gather to explore marriage partners.
“A romance like that of your parents is a truly unique case, and isn’t it common for most people at the academy to come out looking for a marriage partner?”
Both father and mother attended the academy.
The academy did not care about the age of admission, and thanks to this, my father was able to meet his mother at the academy around the same time despite the age difference.
“What would it have been like if Kyung had gone to the Imperial Academy? He got dumped by a noble lady… Wow.”
“It was not a selfish attack!”
So what about the empire?
“If I had gone to the Empire, I would have just done my best to study and train!!”
The Imperial Academy is a thorough educational institution.
“You would have studied for all three years at the academy! Is that an academy? It’s a military academy under the military!”
“It’s not wrong.”
“I must have worked hard to find Master somehow! He made me wake up at dawn to study, and then studied until midnight and then made me sleep!”
“That’s the correct answer.”
If a hero emerges whenever a crisis arises in the kingdom, the empire established an academy in each region to somehow find talent for such a hero.
Promoting holistic growth through diverse experiences.
As the goal is to cultivate talent by incorporating various good rhetoric –
‘The empire used the academy as the first start of its rule.’
In order to one day rule the kingdom, the empire wanted to establish an academy in the kingdom.
Ujijik!
The moment the great sword and the baton came into contact, the pole could not bear the weight of the sword and broke.
“Oh, master?! Are you okay?”
“It’s okay. As expected, it’s great. Thank you for showing off your skills without mercy.”
Although I dodged all the attacks, the area where the great sword grazed felt slightly sore, as if it had been scratched.
“That’s because you grow up so quickly, Master.”
“Do you think you can become a low-level knight?”
“You can become a knight in the sense that you put mana into your weapons, but if low-level knights truly try to kill you….”
Robert crossed his arms for a moment.
“…In sparring, you lose.”
“What about actual combat?”
“……2:8?”
“That number is enough. Thank you.”
In the case of a situation where people kill and kill each other.
20% Win rate against low-level knights.
Only 13 years old.
“Young Master. I’m really afraid. When you become an adult, you’ll become the Master as if you were taking candy out of his pocket.”
“Didn’t you know? I’m actually a genius. I’m not only good at using a sword, but I’m pretty good at everything else.”
“Just as I wonder what it would have been like if I had been born in an empire instead of a kingdom, you too, sir, if you had been born somewhere other than Gibraltar….”
“It’s a meaningless assumption. I’m also in Gibraltar and Nostrum on the same longitude.”
After putting down the broken bar, I pressed the muscles here and there to relax them.
“Kyeong. Then, I’ll give you a quiz.”
“Ugh. How about we just continue sparring?”
“Is it okay for a knight who graduated from the Grand Nostrum Academy to be unable to even answer a political quiz for 13-year-olds?”
“Politics was not included in the academy completion process!”
“Because the nobles who grow up in such academies continue to practice hereditary succession-“
The kingdom was ruined.
“Okay. It’s a simple question. Why does the empire want to build an academy in the royal capital? Just tell me the answer to that as soon as it comes to mind.”
3 Years.
Sir Robert became my sparring partner, and in return I taught him different ways of thinking.
“Hmm…. To establish peace by strengthening the friendship between the empire and the kingdom. I guess this is the superficial reason to put it out there.”
“25 Points. One hint. The royal family started a redevelopment project three years ago at the location where the Academy building will be built.”
The kingdom prepared the land three years ago.
Morgania was the one who personally prepared and conducted it.
“Is this going to be a ceasefire rather than a ceasefire?”
“50 Points. The Academy is the beginning.”
I took the broken rod and aligned it in the center.
“Even if this is the case for the current generation, which has already created resentment, the young people who will live in the future should not cause conflict and live in harmony with each other. To that end, the empire is pushing for the establishment of an imperial-style academy. In the middle of the royal capital.”
“Aren’t the operations run by the kingdom? Then aren’t they just giving money to the enemy country? It’s good for us.”
“Of course, you have to get as much profit as you give out. What is that? There are many things, but even if you guess just one of them, you will get 100 points.”
“Then this question and answer is over! Uhm….”
Sir Robert began to think more seriously than when he had received my attack.
“…I understand! Correct answer!”
“What is it?”
“They are a world of beauties who send beautiful girls from the empire to study in the kingdom and then try to seduce you!”
“……Ha.”
Suddenly, I burst out laughing.
“Sir Robert. Come to think of it, he applied for leave a while ago. Four days.”
“Yes, yes! Well, if it’s okay…”
“Come back for a week. I’ll tell my father.”
“Yes?”
Sir Robert’s mouth twitched.
“200 Points.”
“……Are you suddenly saying something that makes you scared to go on vacation?”
Robert was happy at first, but then he answered with a serious expression.
“Isn’t the empire setting up an academy in the kingdom to take away key talent from the kingdom?”
“Yes.”
“You’re saying that the goal is to send handsome men and women to seduce the kingdom’s young people and make them turn to the empire or betray them!”
“Exactly.”
The initial investment cost to build an academy is at least tens of billions.
And the annual operating expenses are similar.
It’s not even just a regular academy, it’s a ‘university’ level academy?
‘Hundreds of billions of won are ridiculously spent.’
Even if I give it in cash, I’m worried about some scammers, but if I build a building in the name of education, how will people accept it?
“The empire will probably send international students. And they will attract the kingdom’s young people.”
Future.
Just as countless boys and girls fell into the empire out of love for its people.
“I see… By the way, Master. Did the cutoff line go up this time?”
“Huh?”
“Originally, the score was out of 100, right? 200 Points means….”
“Sir Robert. A knight’s intuition is-“
“Seeing how you’re talking, I guess I’ve stabbed the core of the empire?”
“…….”
Anyway, people called knights.
“That’s what the Empire is ultimately aiming for. Even if you stab the Count, he won’t come out, but you still don’t have a partner, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Four years from now.
“If you think about how the Imperial Academy of the Empire operates, only those who are 17 years old will be admitted as first year students.”
“Huh? How old are you….”
“Because it’s imperial style.”
In the past, when I turned 17, I entered the academy established jointly by the kingdom and the empire.
“Then, there will be a lot of beautiful girls of the same age as you and the Empire. hahahaha, that’s right.”
“Why?”
“Considering your level, you would have to bring at least the princess of the empire. Is that possible?”
“Huh.”
For a moment, laughter broke out.
“Yes. We should at least bring the princess.”
* * *
The promised date has arrived.
Gibraltar was busier than ever, and everyone in the family wore formal attire to welcome guests to the county.
“Her Majesty Queen Carmen is coming.”
Gugugugu.
The sound of countless horses’ hooves echoes.
The carriage that stopped at the main gate of the mansion was made of the highest quality ebony wood.
‘Your taste is still the same.’
Like all the Morgania family, they like old-fashioned things.
Morgania says.
A person with a strong core does not need to decorate himself extravagantly.
At first glance, it seems like something very serious, but if you pay even a little attention, you can see that all of these things lead to wealth and luxury.
‘A carriage made from ebony trees that are hundreds of years old in the elven forest.’
Rattling.
The door opens.
Without the driver having to open it, the light of mana sparkles and the carriage door opens automatically.
Ttogak, ttogak.
Queen Carmen gets off the carriage.
Green shoes that match your eye color, and a black dress that matches your hair color.
Translucent cardigan draped over the shoulders.
Although it is a light outfit without any jewels or decorations that are rarely seen in the royal capital, Queen Carmen’s aura is already overwhelming those around her.
‘It’s probably over 1 billion.’
Dress, cardigan, shoes.
Just for that alone, you can already see the price.
“It’s been a while, Queen Carmen.”
“…Gray Gibraltar.”
Queen Carmen walked straight from her front door and stood in front of me.
“You’ve grown a lot.”
“Yes. It’s a growth period.”
“…….”
When I was young, I looked up at the queen, but now it’s different.
“I think I’m taller than the Countess. Am I mistaken?”
“It’s a little big.”
“……I see. That’s enough. What about the Count?”
“Of course, it’s in the living room. I came to meet you.”
I reached out to Queen Carmen.
“I will escort you.”
Some of the knights following the queen frowned.
How dare someone like Gibraltar’s eldest son escort them?
Even if the Count came out to greet us in person, it wouldn’t be enough.
“Stop.”
Queen Carmen waved her hand at her knights as if she was annoyed.
“Only Sir Mente will follow, the rest will wait outside.”
“Yes!”
As soon as the queen’s orders are given, all the knights take their seats.
‘That’s amazing.’
Really-
“You seem to think, ‘When I say something, someone always asks why.'”
“…Queen.”
“hehehe, I was like that too when I was young.”
Queen Carmen extended her hand to me, and I took her hand, as was customary, and led her up the stairs.
“Let me tell you in advance, your mother cannot come out.”
“I know. I don’t plan on running into you….”
“If it’s okay with Queen Carmen, she said it’s okay for us to meet and go.”
“…….”
Queen Carmen entered her mansion very slowly, and I walked at her pace.
“We have a new baby. Is it a boy?”
“I don’t know.”
“Didn’t the Count tell you?”
“Even my father didn’t bother to check.”
When you become a master, you can tell whether it is a daughter or a son by flowing mana waves.
But my father did not do that.
“Are you saying you will love me as your child regardless of gender? Ha.”
Queen Carmen smiled bitterly.
“I thought about being a stepmother to three children, but there’s nothing I can’t do to be a stepmother to four children.”
“There’s nothing you can’t say in the mansion. Your father is listening to everything.”
“Tell me to listen. The queen of a country has come out and I’m stuck in her drawing room again-“
“Your words are harsh.”
In an instant, Queen Carmen grasped my hand tightly.
“I should have told you that I wouldn’t divorce even if I had to die.”
“Uh, uh…?”
Queen Carmen blinked her eyes and froze in place at the red-faced man coming down the stairs in the center of the mansion.
“Grey.”
“Yes, father.”
“You’ve had a hard time. I’ll take care of the rest.”
My father approached me with a slightly sullen look on his face, and I let go of Queen Carmen’s hand and stepped aside.
“…….”
Looking slightly towards the front gate, I could clearly see the Knights of Morgania outside the mansion looking agitated and rolling their eyes left and right at each other.
“Grey. You guide Sir Mente. I will escort him personally.”
“Yes, father.”
Does Queen Carmen know?
What a great sacrifice I made to drag my father from the living room to the main stairs of the mansion.
‘I really had a big heart.’
Once this meeting is over, I will experience hell against my father.
Still, it’s good.
“Carmen.”
“Ah, yes, yes. No.”
The effect was amazing.
The queen broke down.
“…Huh, Count? If you don’t mind….”
“…….”
Her father whispered in Queen Carmen’s ear, and soon Queen Carmen bowed her head and held out her hand to her father.
“Grey. Just what…?”
Sir Mente approached.
We met again after a few months, but she was not in a state to share the aftermath of our reunion.
“How on earth did this happen…?”
What did Sir Mente say when he saw his father climbing the stairs holding Queen Carmen’s hand?
“Am I dreaming right now?”
“No. It’s reality.”
Like someone who saw a ship flying in the sky.
Or like a person from the royal capital who heard the news that his father betrayed the kingdom and opened the canyon gate to welcome the imperial army.
“If I didn’t hear wrong just now….”
“Lady Morgania. This was the title my father used to call Queen Carmen in the past.”
It was that kind of expression.
“It was already over when I called your name, Carmen.”
Queen Carmen is to her father, she has always been an easy woman.
“Lord Mente. No, Master.”
In the past and present.
“I am.”
And after becoming governor, even in the future when his father, who had become a ruined person, was betrayed and executed.
“If I weren’t Gibraltar and her parents’ son, I personally might have wholeheartedly supported Queen Carmen.”
Queen Carmen loved her father enough to take her own life upon hearing the news of her father’s death, and is still in love with him.
“Personally, I really want to support unrequited love.”