I Became the Teacher of the Imperial Family’s Bastard

087. Heiron (5)

Tibria was busy stabilizing the noisy grand duchy.

Normally, Heiron during a cold wave would be quiet, but this time, the crown prince, the grand duke, the saint, and the next tower master all came together.

With such high-profile guests arriving in droves, how could the grand duchy rest?

Fortunately, the northern people, who liked to be active, were happily preparing to entertain them.

“There’s no need for a grand meal. Just serve something hearty!”

Tibria also laughed heartily, enduring this heat with joy.

But that didn’t mean she was always talking about joy.

After finishing her work, Tibria went to Shuperte’s room.

He was a son she had given birth to herself, not an heir.

How could her heart be at ease when her son was floundering, unable to find his way?

“Shuperte, are your shoulders stiff?”

“……”

“You, not even listening when your mother is speaking.”

Tibria pressed her thumbs into Shuperte’s shoulders, which had been tied up all along.

She thought it would be more painful if she didn’t loosen the muscles.

However, the response she received was quite sharp.

“Then untie me. Instead of keeping me tied up like this.”

“You know I can’t do that.”

“I said I’m fine.”

“It’s always the ones who aren’t fine who say that.”

The sharp words were met with a response as solid as a wall.

But ironically, even this was a ‘conversation’ that Tibria had missed.

After all, hadn’t it been months since Shuperte had been holed up in his room without speaking?

Seeing his face and exchanging words brought a sense of relief to her as a mother.

“I’m sorry.”

Tibria hugged Shuperte.

He showed discomfort when she patted his head.

But he didn’t lash out as sharply as before.

It wasn’t that she didn’t know the reason; Shuperte had always been that kind of child.

“Good boy. My son.”

“…I’m not a child.”

“To me, you’re still very young.”

Despite his rough demeanor, he couldn’t treat those he cherished carelessly.

He only spoke gruffly, worried they might get hurt.

Like a hedgehog with its quills raised.

Because he was such a son, Tibria sincerely wished.

“I hope you don’t go down a bad path.”

“……”

“I’ve always felt sorry. Obsessed with training, obsessed with work, I couldn’t take care of you. I was too harsh on you, who lost your father early.”

Words of apology were inevitable.

When her husband died, Shuperte was still an infant.

Too young to discuss the responsibility or maturity of an heir.

Even with such a child by her side, Tibria couldn’t spend much time with him.

There were too many things Tibria had to do, having just become the Grand Duke.

It always weighed on her mind.

It was clear that her son’s rough personality was also her responsibility.

But Shuperte firmly denied that point.

“You only carried the responsibility as the pillar of the empire. Mother, you don’t need to feel any guilt.”

Tibria chuckled.

Saying things he didn’t mean.

“Stop pretending to be mature. It would be nice if you could rely on me. If you have any worries……”

She couldn’t continue.

Shuperte’s tightly closed lips showed he had no intention of talking further.

Tibria let out a short sigh and stood up.

“Rest. Once my investigation is over, I’ll spend some time with you. Let’s go for a walk together.”

It was at that moment, as she turned to leave.

“…I have no intention of doing anything bad.”

It was a small voice, but she heard it clearly.

Tibria’s eyes widened.

She didn’t turn back.

A small smile appeared on her lips, and that was it.

“Alright, I believe you.”

Tibria left the room.

* * *

Aindel’s wait wasn’t long.

Not the next day, but that very evening, late at night.

Yuren had scraped together all of Shuppert’s research materials and handed them over to him.

Of course, just receiving the materials wasn’t the end.

Above all, the current state of his body was the problem.

Because he had gone blind, he couldn’t see the materials directly and had to hear them through a voice.

In this part, Beatrice stepped in.

“Number 21 is…”

Amusingly, at that moment, Eindel smiled.

‘Ah, as expected, she’s brilliant.’

The student’s research was conducted from a creative perspective.

It was sharp and insightful, just as Eindel knew, and it led to conclusions different from the existing ones.

How enjoyable it would have been if they had researched together.

Even though he felt regret, thinking about the effort put into continuing the research alone made him swell with pride.

Lost in such sentiments, he continued to listen to the story for a long time.

Eindel, recalling his original purpose, refocused his concentration, and it was then.

“…Wait, wait a moment.”

“Yes?”

There was something strange.

Eindel’s expression suddenly turned pale.

“Could you read that part again?”

“Which part are you talking about?”

“There, the part about the theory of soul power you just mentioned… the seventh sentence…”

It was a small irritation.

But thinking it was Shuppert’s personal research, Eindel scrutinized it more meticulously and felt a sense of dissonance.

‘…No.’

This isn’t it.

Considering the research he had done and what Shuppert originally intended to achieve with alchemy, such calculations and conclusions shouldn’t have come out.

It felt like his blood was turning cold.

That research was…

“…The soul is ultimately an auxiliary. The thinking power and physical strength that grant identity lie in the body, and the role of the soul is merely to generate possibilities. Is this the part?”

It was clearly heading towards a taboo.

Clang!

Aindel sprang to his feet.

He knew that theory.

He had seen a similar theory while investigating incidents in the history of life alchemy.

“Ah, no! We must stop it…!”

“Why, what’s the matter?”

Yuren stepped forward.

His voice was filled with tension, and Aindel hastily replied.

“I must meet him. If he has such thoughts, we must never, never leave him alone. For the sake of the future, if not for now!”

“No, I mean, what on earth is this…!”

“Resurrection of the dead!!!”

Clang, all the noise in the space ceased.

Aindel continued with a pale face.

“It wasn’t about creating life! What Shuperte is researching is an experiment to resurrect the dead! We were wrong!!!”

He believes in the pillar of the flesh.

The power of the soul is presented as a mere driving force for it.

This was a study to restart biological activity by injecting the energy of the soul into a stopped body.

Despair filled Aindel’s heart.

Because now, it wasn’t just about attempting such research.

“Uh, the season! It’s the cold season now… Oh, what is the moon today!”

“…It’s a full moon.”

“Ah, no!”

Thud!

Aindel, who was trying to move in a hurry, tripped over his own feet and fell to the floor.

“Sir!”

Historia exclaimed in surprise and helped him up.

But Aindel could not calm down and shouted into the air.

He had no choice.

Knowing the case of this research meant,

“We must stop it! Take me to the Grand Palace at once!”

Knowing the outcome as well.

* * *

Dreams are generally unclear and proceed according to the flow of consciousness.

But Schubert’s dreams were different.

He didn’t know since when, but Schubert’s dreams had definite causality and plausibility, showing specific events and situations.

It didn’t end there.

Somehow, Schubert was able to talk to others through his dreams.

Could he have become a nightmare demon?

He had thought of that, but it was different.

To be precise, it was because the nightmare demon had entered Schubert’s dream.

“Is the work going well?”

There was a woman lying on the bed, smiling brightly.

She was a red-haired woman with an impressively vulgar outfit, blue veins rising on her flour-like white skin.

She was an enemy, being of the outer realm.

One could simply see it that way, but in the alchemy of life, all creatures are equal.

Judging by personal feelings rather than collective emotions, she was not hostile to him.

Rather, she was helpful.

Schubert sat on the chair in his dream room and answered.

“It’s today. The things I mentioned?”

“I’ve moved everything. Yes, the reagents and other preparations you mentioned are all there.”

Schubert took a deep breath and exhaled.

It was soon.

The end of this dragging research.

“A variable has arisen. The Crown Prince and the Grand Duke have come.”

“Hmm, I can help with the escape itself. What about after that?”

“That’s enough. It’s the cold season, so it will be hard for them to follow. Even if they come out, it will be harder to find my location.”

It was a night when a snowstorm would rage.

Footprints would soon disappear, and the escape route was already planned, so it wouldn’t be easy to find.

If the nightmare demon’s words were true and the escape itself was successful, there would be no more threats.

The succubus smiled slyly and crossed her legs.

One could say it was an expression of confidence, but Schubert frowned.

It wasn’t the first time.

“Stop with the vulgar temptations. It’s making me nauseous.”

“That’s harsh. Aren’t we colleagues? You could do it once for the sake of memory.”

“We’re just in a cooperative relationship.”

“That’s a shame. It’s hard to find pure energy like yours.”

The succubus, who had been smacking her lips, gave up on persuading him.

Then she got up from the bed and approached Schubert.

Schubert closed his eyes.

What happened next was planned.

“Just half a day. That’s all you can use my power for.”

Information was engraved in his brain.

It was about the succubus’s temptation, its usage, and its application.

He felt as if all the blood in his body had turned cold.

Not metaphorically, but physically.

When he opened his eyes, it would be reality.

A truly terrible reality.

But it was okay.

He had planned all this to prevent it from getting worse.

“See you in a bit. This will be the first time we meet in person. I’m nervous.”

With the voice behind him, Schubert opened his eyes.

The room where the succubus had disappeared… reality came into view.

Unlike before, his body was bound, but it was no longer an obstacle.

“Ignite.”

Whoosh―!

The ropes binding his body turned to ashes.

As he stood up, the stiffness was momentary, and he didn’t feel the cold at all.

The succubus’s power had blocked the cold.

As he left the room, there were guards, and the moment they were startled, Schubert waved his hand.

“Sleep.”

Thud!

The guards collapsed to the ground, asleep.

Shupert gave them sweet dreams.

“It’s okay.”

No one would be sacrificed.

Even if there were sacrifices, one would be enough.

After watching the guards for a moment, Shupert turned and disappeared into the darkness.

“Whew…”

Breathing into the air, breathing dreams into the breath.

The grand mansion began to fall silent.

* * *

After hearing Eindel’s words, I rushed to the mansion first.

But what I saw was a scene that made my blood pressure rise, as expected.

“Ugh…! You’re finally here.”

The prince staggered out to greet me.

“What happened?”

“I don’t know. Suddenly, I felt drowsy. Something seemed off, so I tried cutting it with a spell…”

“Tsk, never mind.”

Swish, I drew a line in the air with my finger.

There was a supernatural force entangled around the prince’s body.

When I cut off what seemed to be the cause of the drowsiness, the prince finally stood up straight.

He frowned and asked.

“Where is the grand duke?”

“He’s gone. I headed to his room first, but he had already disappeared.”

“Damn it. Really. What were the guards doing?”

“They were asleep.”

A sigh escaped.

It was at that moment.

Bang—!

The grand duke appeared, breaking through the wall.

Sparks were flying around my body like lightning.

It was as if I was burning my body with mana to chase away sleep.

A glittering gaze shot at me.

“To find, Shuperto…”

Well, I guess we have to.

Seeing the urgency, I spoke up.

“It feels like something is going to happen today. This setup has become too familiar.”

Can’t we just take it easy for once?

Thinking about how it’s always on the edge made me strangely uneasy.

I just didn’t ignore it.

“So I sent someone else.”

“Hm…?”

“There are many people better at tracking than me.”

The prince blinked.

He shrugged his shoulders.

Why else would I come here alone?

“Contact me when you find him…”

It was at that moment.

Beep—!

The communicator hanging on my waist rang.

I raised an eyebrow.

“Found him right away.”

This will be less of a hassle.

* * *

“It’s a snowy mountain.”

Historia blinked as she infused holy power into Aindel’s back.

Peto replied, trembling.

“Ugh… Sis, this is really nerve-wracking.”

“But it went that way.”

“Can I back out now?”

Beatrice replied in an irritated voice.

“If you can get back inside the fortress without my magic in this weather, then go ahead.”

Peto lowered his head with sad eyes.

Of course, it was Beatrice’s magic that allowed them to come out in this cold wave.

Even a short distance away meant death.

Peto knew this and couldn’t say anything.

“Cave? Or the temple?”

Beatrice adjusted her sight as she looked into the distance.

What came to mind was Yuren’s words before they arrived here.

―I’ll go to the mansion, so you go outside the fortress. If you find any small traces, follow them.

―What if the Grand Duke is inside the mansion?

―I’ll contact you with the communicator. If you find something, you alert first. Oh, and one more thing.

Finding the traces was from before.

There was a reason for following without stopping.

―No matter how I think about it, there’s no way the Grand Duke would be alone. If he’s going to do something, he’ll join in.

―Ah.

―Don’t catch him until you find the base. Keep your location marked on the communicator at all times.

How far did he foresee?

Beatrice tensed up.

‘I have to do well.’

It was going as Yuren predicted.

So, this flow must not be interrupted.