A scruffy-looking knight with a fierce expression inspected Arnold’s body.
“Your Highness, are you okay?”
“…I’m fine.”
Arnold tried to shake off the knight with a sullen look.
“I’m sorry, we should have arrived sooner.”
“Haa….”
In fact, every time Arnold acted that way, the knight maintained an apologetic expression while continuing the examination.
With a completely defeated demeanor, Arnold spread his arms, hoping to get it over with quickly.
I stared at him with a blank expression.
…This doesn’t seem like a hidden camera show, does it?
Arnold’s dismissive attitude seemed familiar, and the knight’s every gesture showed genuine concern.
Cold sweat started to drip down.
Why on earth am I stuck with such a distinctive character?
I just wanted to live quietly….
The desire to return to my cabin right away made me sit down with my hands on my face.
…Then, I’d be stealing the magic used by the Crown Prince’s family.
This isn’t going to get me thrown in jail for theft, is it…?
Or maybe for disrespecting the royal family.
I imagined myself locked in a cell, with Nameless coming to visit me.
…This isn’t right.
No matter how much I disregard others’ positions or power…
Royalty is the exception.
If I turn them into enemies, wouldn’t the whole empire see me as an enemy?
Including the Hero, the Saint, and even Camilla….
Ugh, I don’t want that.
As I rolled my eyes and watched the situation unfold,
“Ahaha….”
Perhaps the examination was wrapped up quickly, as Arnold looked at me with an awkward smile.
“I’m sorry, Professor….”
And then he bowed deeply.
…Is he doing this on purpose?
For a moment I was taken aback by Arnold’s sudden respectful apology.
“W-what is there to be sorry for?”
I waved my hands, trying to maintain my composure.
…I just want to get out of here.
Arnold, seemingly oblivious to my feelings, bent even lower and spoke up again.
“Uh… I think things might get a bit more troublesome in the future.”
“What?”
“I’m afraid there might be a visit to the palace….”
Am I really going to end up in jail?
I dropped my head, wearing a face like the sky was falling.
In this somewhat ridiculous situation, the knight who had been examining Arnold let out a chuckle.
“Are you the Crown Prince’s professor?”
He asked me that.
…Professor.
In a way, that fits, but I’m not an official professor.
I averted my gaze slightly and shook my head.
“Well, I guess I’ve been a professor for about a week.”
“Oh, so you’re the one who came in place of Iron Blood.”
The knight’s eyes sparkled, as if he understood something.
“With such overwhelming power….”
“…”
“It truly is strength deserving of coming in Iron Blood’s stead.”
The knight nodded, as if he understood.
Just how elevated is Camilla’s image that this kind of strength is believable?
Of course, Camilla’s overwhelming sword skills are praiseworthy, but…
…Camilla also wouldn’t be able to pull off something like this.
I puffed my lips out in irritation and turned my head.
Understanding my attitude, the knight seemed to realize there was a potential misunderstanding and spoke up again.
“Oh, I’m not belittling you at all, Professor.”
“…”
“I was merely amazed, so please don’t take it so seriously.”
Seeing the knight with a friendly smile made me nod somewhat.
Well, you can’t spit on a smiling face, right?
I definitely didn’t overly think about things either….
“Arnold.”
I sighed deeply and turned my gaze to Arnold.
“What do you mean things might get troublesome?”
“Uh….”
Arnold rolled his eyes before glancing at his knight.
The knight tilted his head, pointing to himself, and Arnold nodded.
“Um, Your Highness may become troublesome.”
With that, the knight coughed lightly and stood before me, speaking softly.
“I believe the Emperor will personally grant a reward.”
“The Emperor…? A reward…?”
“Just passing over this would be strange, considering you saved the academy and His Highness.”
As I was shocked, I looked at Arnold, who scratched his head awkwardly and avoided my gaze.
I shot him a piercing look and sighed heavily before speaking to the knight.
“Is there no way to refuse?”
I really don’t want to.
To be precise, I don’t want to see their faces while accepting gifts.
If I were to meet the Emperor, my future life wouldn’t be smooth sailing, would it?
For instance, if something were to happen to them.
There’s no guarantee that they wouldn’t come looking for me, and just the Emperor knowing of my existence would restrict my actions.
I don’t want to lose my freedom.
Anyway, it’s best to keep a low profile with the high-ups.
“You can’t refuse? But it’s the Emperor’s reward, right?”
“I’m not interested.”
With that mutter, I stepped back slightly, causing the knight to tilt his head in confusion.
“If you do well, you might even receive a title.”
“Huh, a title….”
I most definitely decline that as well.
Nameless doesn’t particularly like nobility, but beyond that—
Offering a title is too insincere, isn’t it?
It’s as clear as day they’re trying to leash me to the empire.
“Well….”
But I didn’t want to show any more signs of dislike than this.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
This knight isn’t mine, but the Emperor’s.
There’s no need for him to know that I don’t want to be leashed.
With a deep sigh, I shot another glare at Arnold.
That guy.
From saying I’ll be a bother, he’s already got a handle on my temperament.
It’s like he knows me well, even though we haven’t spent much time together.
Tsk, it’s not like he’s a Crown Prince for nothing.
As those thoughts passed through my mind, someone came to take care of Arnold, and I was about to leave.
“Master.”
“…When did you arrive?”
I noticed Nameless staring at me with a sulky face.
…When did they show up?
I had so much to think about; I wasn’t paying proper attention to my surroundings….
Nameless glanced behind me and answered.
“I’ve been here since you looked at that escort.”
“…Escort?”
I tilted my head at the incomprehensible words.
…An escort?
There’s no one around who could be called an escort.
Hmm, that descriptor might be better suited for Nameless…
As I kept my lips sealed, wondering, Nameless frowned and spoke again.
“There’s that annoying student who dared to come here with you, isn’t there?”
“Ah… you mean Arnold.”
It seemed a bit exaggerated, but overall it was somewhat true, so I nodded.
However, Nameless looked even more displeased for some reason, furrowing his brow.
“…When did you two have a formal introduction?”
“…”
I averted my gaze, looking around awkwardly.
…What kind of student gets mad because I didn’t introduce him?
But—
I can’t deny I understand why Nameless is upset.
No matter how worried I was about my body, it’s true I came alone, deceiving him.
As I awkwardly sweat and avoided his gaze.
I noticed Anna chatting with the knight while checking Arnold’s condition.
…This is my chance!
“Anna!”
“Oh, Harang Professor.”
Anna’s eyes sparkled as she looked at me.
…She seems like she could end up being chatty too.
However, it’s certainly a hundred times better than listening to Nameless’s nagging.
Nameless watched me with narrowed eyes, and I deliberately ignored his gaze, focusing on Anna.
I forced a smile and opened my mouth.
“When did you arrive?”
“I arrived with my disciple.”
“…Oh, I see.”
“More importantly, Professor Harang—”
I continued to ignore Anna’s next words and kept thinking.
Now that I think about it, Nameless and Anna were moving together…
I turned swiftly to look at Nameless.
Just a moment ago, he was glaring at me, but now he began to avoid my gaze.
“Nameless, when did you get so close to the principal?”
“…We’re not close.”
Nameless mumbled quietly, and I continued to press him.
“What? Anna’s eyes are shining like that. Didn’t you talk about something on the way?”
“…Huh? No, I didn’t—”
Anna flailed her arms in panic, but Nameless ignored her and spoke to me again.
“Speaking of which, it seems like you’re quite close with that student too.”
“Me? He just stuck to me without asking—”
Arnold shook his head the same way, but I brushed him off and turned back to Nameless.
“Nameless, you were first!”
“It was the Master who initiated it!”
A messy argument broke out, and before long, I turned my head and snorted.
“Hmph!”
“Huh.”
*
Before even five minutes had passed.
“Uh, Nameless, I think I was a bit harsh.”
“No, Master, I think I got emotional.”
Cheon Ha-rang and Cheon Mu-myeong shook hands and continued to apologize.
Anna and Arnold looked on with bewildered expressions.
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