I Will Carry as an Academy Veteran

22

No matter how much I immersed myself in the game, at the core, I was still human, so there were days when I took a break from it.

But really, who takes a break from a game, saying they’re not online 365 days a year? Come on! You might think that way, but it was true.

People need a day off, right? And if you die and get stuck in the game, who’s going to take responsibility for that?

So, what did I do on my days off?

It was simple.

On my days off, I would lie on my bed, spread out all the guidebooks and illustration books, and read through them, exploring all the information and settings from various games.

On those days off, as I stuffed all those settings into my head, I had one thought.

This game.

There are way too many guys hiding something.

Well, I get that having secrets adds depth to the interaction with the protagonist, making it easier to immerse oneself in the game and the characters.

Lumen Rebirth.

He’s supposed to be hiding his ‘identity,’ but judging by his demeanor, he doesn’t seem to be hiding anything at all.

White hair, crimson eyes.

And if there’s even a hint of royal blood mixed in, there’s inevitably an innate elemental magic that emerges.

Why would a princess hide her identity and enroll in school without a single clue? It’s a somewhat cliché story.

Even if it’s a mishmash fantasy world, this place is medieval, so if there’s an empire, there’s bound to be an emperor.

Just look at me and Evnis fighting for succession; naturally, the emperor’s children would also engage in power struggles for the throne.

Becoming the ‘strongest royal’ and the ’emperor’ is the law of the Salenias royal family.

Strength doesn’t just refer to physical prowess; it encompasses the political power to outmaneuver opponents, schemes, and intelligence.

Even in terms of legitimacy and rank, when the weakest falls behind, the sixth princess, Lizelirias, who excels in physical strength, couldn’t withstand the internal struggle and fled the palace.

Of course, the emperor knows this and understands her position.

Any incidents related to her disguised identity are all suppressed by the emperor’s transcendent power, silencing any dissent.

So, I was trying to give a brief overview.

“…Someone said it was you, Adrian.”

Were we acquainted?

“Why did you come looking for me?”

I don’t know.

I don’t know anything about Adrian, so how would I know what connection he had with the sixth princess?

“I’ve heard the news. Seems like you’ve hit rock bottom. Was this the path you truly desired?”

Wasn’t Adrian a wanderer at heart?

As the sword at my neck descended, I raised my head.

I stood up and looked at her.

Her eyes, shining vividly in a ruby-like red, gazed back at me.

“Judging by your actions, it seems like that pretense of yours is still going strong.”

A very significant line.

Do you know a lot about ‘Adrian’?

There was no such story in the information I received.

Her silvery hair fluttered in the wind.

Truly a knightly appearance.

I slowly opened my mouth.

“I have come to ask for help, Your Highness Lizerilias.”

“…”

First of all, the flaw is her recruitment into the Punishment Division.

If you can’t understand what the other party is saying,

you can just ignore it and speak for yourself.

As I responded, she looked at me with a somewhat displeased expression.

Could I have made a mistake?

That can’t be.

Thanks to the 【Dignity of Lineage】, there is no flaw in my etiquette.

“Relax…”

“?”

“Relax, speaking… you said that last time.”

No.

When was that?

I blinked my eyes. Even though she was a senior in the academy and concealed her status, the princess exuded nobility as she closed her eyes tightly and spoke hesitantly.

“10 years ago, when we first met.”

Ah.

Was that so?

No, what could we have met for 10 years ago?

“Do you not remember? You were just a page boy back then.”

I see.

Repelheit is a prominent family in the west, the right hand of the royal family.

So, before I possessed him, during the succession ceremony of the page boy in the pure Adrian era, the Sixth Princess came, and

During our meeting, we decided to speak comfortably to each other.

In the caste society of today, there is nothing to say even if my head falls off, but

10 years ago, Adrian was eight, and the princess was nine.

“Your Highness, that’s from when we were young…”

“You swore you wouldn’t lie in front of me, Adrian.”

What on earth is this guy up to?

I kept my mouth shut, and the princess looked at me with urgent eyes.

…I guess I have to go along with it for now.

“…I understand. Senior Lumen.”

“Mm, good.”

She nodded with a light smile.

By the way, it’s quite surprising, considering we already knew each other.

I can easily take you there.

“So, what’s the plan?”

“…There was a bit of an issue, Your Highness.”

“Adrian.”

“There was a bit of an issue, Senpai.”

“That’s right.”

…

I briefly explained the situation.

“By any chance, do you know about the demon summoning incident?”

“I’ve heard about it. A demon appeared in the 1st-year Merin Hall, and my junior, Ern, dealt with it.”

“More precisely, Kalen blocked it, and Kalen nearly defeated it, which Raina von Wolfgang and Ern handled.”

“So?”

I casually threw out the main point.

“I found the culprit. The one behind the summoning chaos.”

“…Indeed, a matter that cannot be left alone.”

“So I’m trying to catch them, but the problem is that it’s difficult. So, I’d appreciate some help.”

The princess listened quietly to my words.

She raised her head.

“I’m sorry, but it’s complicated.”

“…Can I hear the reason, Senpai?”

“I can’t tell you the reason. Just know that it’s complicated.”

She doesn’t reveal the reason.

And she refuses.

Well, I think I have a rough idea.

“…You don’t want to experience an inevitable situation due to unnecessary heroics, is that it?”

“…”

Her position is somewhat unique.

Lumen Ribens, the ‘representative of the Knight Department,’ can attract attention at any time.

She is merely a created status, and above all, when she is ‘Lumen Ribens,’ she is not ‘royalty.’

Living as an ordinary student in the Knight Department, she does not aspire to the throne.

She also does not join other noble factions and always maintains neutrality.

That was the contract she made with the other nobles.

Despite being called the lowest-ranked 6th princess in terms of hierarchy and authenticity, she is undoubtedly a part of the pinnacle of the empire.

She can directly participate in the royal race and may even join the ranks of other nobles.

If she, who is obligated as a noble to deal with ‘demons’ and ‘monsters,’ gets involved in such matters, even if unintentional, other nobles may perceive it somewhat sensitively.

Historically, matters related to demons and monsters were solely the responsibility of the royal family and the Repelheights.

Even though she is the ‘representative’ of the Knight Department.

That’s why, in the original work, it is said that even with just one intervention in the ‘demon incident’ in Chapter 1, she was haunted by the same family for quite some time.

It’s hard to understand quickly, but that’s the politics of this ‘royal family.’

“It is not polite to read others’ minds.”

The princess let out a deep sigh and raised her head to gaze at the night sky.

I looked at her in silence.

I always thought this while looking at Rejelirias in the game.

She is truly different inside and out.

“Let me make a rude remark for a moment. Senior, you are not of the royal family now but Lumens Rebenz. Is that possible?”

“…I’ll try.”

“Senior… Are you… a fool?”

?”

The princess raised a question mark above her head in response to my words.

“Do you want to avoid unnecessary competition? Why? Don’t you have ambitions to become an emperor?”

“You’re exaggerating, junior. It’s not something I can easily say. But… you’re sharp. I have no intention of ascending to that position.”

“Yet your expression right now says otherwise.”

Upon my words, the princess involuntarily grimaced.

“I give up in advance. No, I’ve already given up. Why? Haven’t you always wanted to become an emperor?”

In theory, that was the case.

Silence.

But the princess, looking up at the night sky, replied.

“I’ve just seen reality.”

Her eyes darkened.

“I am the 6th princess. I have too many competitors above me. I lack the strength and justification to defeat them all. As you know, not a single courtier supports me.”

All she has is outstanding power.

“So, you’ve given up?”

“Adrian, if you were a commoner…”

“I will become the successor of Repelheight, senior.”

Her expression stiffened momentarily at my declaration.

Understandably so.

“…What.”

“After graduating from here, I will return to the family, defeat even the current ‘successor’ alongside my step-sister, and take my place.”

A moment of silence.

She was the first to speak.

“You, that story…”

“It’s impossible. Everyone said so. But I will achieve it.”

One could call it arrogance.

“A tree I can’t climb? Wrong. There is no tree I can’t climb. Giving up without even attempting the challenge is what losers do. Senior, then let’s make a deal.”

But I am confident I won’t be wrong.

“…It was an oath back then, and now it’s a deal. Let me say it again, do you understand the significance of proposing a deal to the royal family?”

“Would you rather die trying than fail?”

I reached out my hand.

“I, Adrian, will be the future successor of Repelheight. When I take that position, first and foremost…”

At my subsequent words, her eyes flickered.

“The 6th Princess, Rejelirias De Salenias, will be summoned for support. Those from the West who dare oppose the Western Lord’s support will have no chance.”

That’s it.

In reality, if you choose Lumens Rebirth’s heroine route, there’s an ending where she becomes the Empress, competing with other heirs after winning the palace’s secret battle.

Defeating the palace’s ambush and competing with other successors to elevate her to the throne, the Empress Maker ending.

I found it quite entertaining.

“Support for me…?”

“Yes.”

“I am the 6th Princess, the lowest of all, with no influence. Do you really think I can win in the race for the throne?”

“Whatever others say, I believe I can at least do it, senior.”

Looking into her eyes, I said, “I, Adrian, will support the 6th Princess Rejelirias. Even though I may be just a powerless commoner now, my loyalty remains unwavering. What do you think, senior? Two of us with nothing here joining forces to defy fate, breaking all obstacles in our way and ascending to the skies.”

She looked at my outstretched hand with trembling eyes.

Soon, as if determined, she nodded her head and reached out her trembling hand towards mine.

I held that hand.

And I realized.

It wasn’t the hand of royalty.

Not soft, but rough and firm, like that of a seasoned warrior.

Yet, I could feel warmth within it.

“After that incident, I thought you had changed.”

“…Hmm.”

What mischief has this Adrian been up to?

“But you, you haven’t changed at all. The image of you that I promised not to forget is still here. I apologize. For forgetting the promise, for changing so recklessly, it was all my fault.”

Changed.

“In my eyes, senior, you haven’t changed a bit.”

Always the same as I saw in the game.

At my words, the princess smiled faintly.

It seemed like she understood my words in a different light.

“…Is that so. Thank you, even if only in words.”

* * *

One week after recruiting the princess.

In terms of content, about 5,700 characters passed in a busy week, and finally, the day we had been waiting for arrived.

“…Really, you’ve been brought here.”

The place was a study room in the central district library.

I scanned the gathered faces.

Calen, Milije, Reina, Evanis… one vague character, and Relbrian?

Seeing Relbrian chatting with Reina, it seemed he had come at Reina’s request.

“Oh, Adrian. Nice to see you. Today, at the request of a friend, I find myself here.”

“Hello.”

“……Hmph, you are late. What time do you think it is now?”

“You’ve arrived.”

“I’m here!”

After exchanging greetings with them, or rather receiving something that wasn’t a greeting, I headed to my seat with Lumen Reibns, no, the princess.

Reyna was standing where the whiteboard was.

And at the front row……

There was a lad with sparkling eyes looking up at me.

“Hello!”

Eran.

Black hair, blue eyes, a large sword slung over his back.

The protagonist of this damn game.

“…Counting on you.”

“Me too! Senpai!”

I lightly shook hands with the lad and took my seat.

Reyna, after confirming everyone’s seating, spoke.

“Well then, let’s begin the strategy meeting.”

Alright.

There’s no turning back now that we’ve come this far.

And naturally, as long as I’m here, no one in this place will die.