I Am the Monarch – Chapter 112 : Tron Academy (4)

 

Confusion .
That was the first thing Roan felt .
No, to be exact, that was the first thing everyone in the training field felt .

“Just now, what did you……”

Before Roan could even finish his words .

“Please take me with you . I want to learn more by your side . ”

Brian shouted at the top of his lungs .
He didn’t care about the gazes from the academy’s professors as well as his classmates and juniors .

‘I’m not embarrassed at all . ’

Brian was sincere .
He was certain .
That he must follow Roan to escape the stagnation in his growth .
On the other hand, Roan was simply confused .

‘I do want to keep him by my side and use him, but……’

He definitely didn’t expect that Brian would approach him like this .
Roan awkwardly smiled and shook his hand .

“Even if you say something like that right now…… . ”

When he spoke that far .

“Since he’s that desperate, why don’t you just take him?”

A sharp voice was heard .
Roan, as well as everyone else’s gazes, turned and searched for the owner of the voice .

‘Princess Katy Rinse . ’

The owner of the voice was Katy .
With her arms crossed, she had on a strange smile .

“You might not know much about things in the capital, but Brian is a genius amongst geniuses that the entire kingdom is paying attention to . ”
“Yes, I know . ”

Roan lightly answered back .
With an expression that seemed to ask what the problem was, Katy continued to talk .

“Then what’s the worry? The kingdom’s best genius is even kneeling and asking you to take him . Just take him with you . ”

At those words, Roan replied in a calm and composed voice .

“Brian Miles is still a student . For now, he must graduate from the academy first . Then……’

His line of sight turned toward Brian .

“As princess said, the student Brian Miles is a genius that the entire kingdom is looking at . From the standpoint of the royal family, they wouldn’t look kindly upon such a genius going to a rural barony instead of the royal knight order . ”

Several students and the professors nodded .
Particularly, some knight school professors strongly concurred .

‘A mere barony is absolutely out of the question!’

The amount of resources and interest that the royal family has poured into Brian was colossal .
And it was difficult to imagine him going to the Tale Barony, where its owner had just become a noble, instead of the royal knight order .
At that moment .

“Sir Baron Tale!”

He heard Brian’s voice .
He spoke with a desperate voice .

“If you leave me here just like this, I may just die . ”

A threat .
No, the voice was too desperate to call it a threat .
Brian thought that this was the last chance .
With blood-boiling feeling in his heart, he continued to speak .

“It has been two years since I stopped growing for an inexplicable reason . I trained and trained while even cutting down on sleep, but there wasn’t a single bit of growth . I’m slowly falling apart . If this went on for just a bit longer, I may even take my own life . But……’

He stared straight into Roan’s two eyes .

“In today’s real duel with Sir Baron Tale, I saw some unknown possibility . ”

The light in his eyes was blazingly hot .
Roan calmly looked back at that gaze .
As if throwing up a ball of fire, Brian desperately shouted .

“Please consider it as saving a person’s life and take me with you!”

A strange silence fell down .

‘I knew Brian was worried, but to think he was this worried . ’
‘Right . He did become more and more lifeless as his seniority went up . ’
‘Certainly, he was bright and full of confidence in his first year . ’

The students imagined Brian’s former self .
Everyone’s faces became dark .
In truth, Brian who was the kingdom’s pride, the capital’s pride, and the academy’s pride, was in fact on the edge between life and death .
Everyone’s eyes turned toward Roan .
Roan gently stared at Brian .

‘If I don’t grab his hand here……’

Most likely, he will feel even greater despair and disappointment .
Unlike in the last life where he lived until twenty-eight, he might choose the terrible choice even earlier than before .

‘I guess…… I can’t say something like wait until graduation first . ’

It became hard to ignore the sincere and desperate look in his eyes any longer .
At that moment .

“Sir Baron! Please take Brian with you!”
“If you take Brian with you, we will definitely pay back your kindness . ”
“Please!”

Several students suddenly stood up and shouted .

“You guys……”

Brian’s expression was a bit surprised .
The ones lowering their heads toward Roan were Brian’s classmates in the knight school .
They were the friends he was close with in his first year when everything was well, but slowly became far apart as his stagnation began .
The students’ faces were just as sincere as Brian .

‘Brian is our pride . ’
‘I have watched and know how hard he worked . ’
‘Brian always swung his sword without missing a single day . ’

For Brian, their classmate and friend, they lowered their heads .
At the same time, Roan, who had completely dominated and won against Brian who was called the kingdom’s greatest genius, felt an unknown awe .

“We beg you as well . ”
“Please take Brian with you!”

Soon, voices that sympathized with Brian sounded off from here and there .
Instantaneously, the training field was in an uproar .
With a curious look, Katy looked at Roan .

‘Baron Roan Tale . Now what will you do?’

Her large eyes were saying this .
Feeling that gaze, Roan inwardly made a bitter smile .
‘Is this also fate……’

His heart beated at the shouts that poured down .

‘Pierce and Brian, and Harrison and Chris too……’

Somehow, he managed to have the kingdom’s greatest geniuses as his subordinates .
Roan moved his feet towards Brian .

“We beg……”
“Please take……’

Instantly, the students who had been loudly shouting all closed their mouth .

“Student Brian Miles . No, Brian . ”

Roan extended his right hand .

“The moment you grab this hand, we will go together . ”

Instantly, Brian’s expression brightened .
But on the other hand, Roan’s voice became composed .

“It won’t be an easy path . Think about it thoroughly before……”

When he spoke up to that point .
Brian immediately grabbed Roan’s hand .
Smiling brightly, he stood up .

“I don’t need to think about it . I am already your subject . ”

Brian trusted his judgment and decision .
There wasn’t a speck of doubt in his eyes .
Seeing that sight, Roan made a faint smile . (t/n: seriously, what’s up with all these bitter and faint smiles?)
Then .

“Waaaah!”
“Thank you very much! Sir Baron Tale!”

Cheers poured out .

“Brian . You definitely have to become a sword master!”
“I’ll cheer for you!”

The students’ cheers continued .
Katy, who had been watching from the side, also clapped and came up onto the stage .

“Congratulations . ”

He wasn’t sure who she was congratulating .
A strange light glowed in her eyes .
That light was a mix of curiosity, goodwill, childishness, and playfulness .

“I want to prepare a place as a congratulation, so…… what do you think?”

A treat to a meal out of the blue .
Roan replied with a difficult expression .

“I already have an appointment with Principal Fred Brown . ”

At those words, Katy immediately looked at Fred .

“Principal! You can come with us too . Would that be fine?”

A childish look .
Fred cheerfully smiled and nodded his head .

“If Baron Tale is fine with that, then I’m content . ”

At those words, Katy looked again at Roan .

‘Just like the prince said, she’s a complete tomboy . ’

Inwardly making a bitter smile, Roan lowered his head .

“I will follow princess’ words . ”
“Good!”

Katy clenched her fist and was delighted .

“There’s a restaurant on Sears Street that makes unbelievable steaks . Let’s go there . ”

She looked rather elated .
Roan and Brian glanced at each other and then followed Katy down the stage .
The students were still cheering .

‘Brian’s popularity is quite amazing . ’

Roan marveled as he looked around the training field .
Of course, there were those among the students who complained with dissatisfied and displeased expressions .
Roan didn’t want to especially pay them any attention .

‘They will fall on their own . ’

The era that was coming was a one when people’s true colors and abilities were important .
The ones who discriminated and flattered people based on standing, money, and political power will die out by themselves .

‘Of course, there will be those who persistently hold on, but……”

He planned on personally cutting them down .
At that moment, Ian walked up from between the students .

“Princess . May I come as well?”

A bold request .
While Roan looked with a surprised expression, Katy brightly smiled instead and pinched Ian’s left cheek .

“Sure . Since our cute Ian wants to go, of course we’ll take you along . ”

A shocking sight .
Roan’s two eyes became round .

‘The genius strategist and administrator of the future, Ian Phillips, is getting his cheek pinched!’

It was a sight that was simply impossible to imagine .

‘Were Ian and Princess Katy originally close friends?’

He thoroughly searched his memories from last life, but nothing that was related came up .

‘Princess Katy only had Pierce . ’

Also, Ian didn’t marry and lived alone until he died .

“Princess . I’m now a student of the academy too . Please don’t treat me like a kid so much . ”

Ian complained with a slightly annoyed but cute expression .
That sight was also a shock .

‘But he always showed a sharp and serious face even though he is young . ’

Without a doubt, he now looked like an ordinary kid .
Furthermore, the difference between Katy and Ian’s age was merely two years .
It was not like there was a big difference in their age .
Katy spoke as she brushed Ian’s head .

“Ian . You’ll always be a little kid to me . From that moment ten years ago when you got lost in the palace library and cried . ”
“I was only six at that time . And I wasn’t the only one crying back then . Back then, princess definitely……”
“Sshhh! Stop right there . ”

Katy’s eyes wandered off as she shook her head .
Swallowing the words on the tip of his tongue, Ian smacked his lip as if disappointed .
Roan, who had been watching all along, chuckled .

‘So they knew each other ever since they were really young . Now that I see them like this, they look like siblings . ’

This kind of experience was fascinating to Roan too .
Since these were things he couldn’t possibly have, see, or hear about in the last life .
At that moment .

‘Hm?’

Roan’s gaze that was staring at Katy and Ian trembled a little .

‘Princess Aily . ’

He could see Aily, who quietly stood up amongst the group of students and was walking away .
Roan unconsciously became frantic .

“Princess Katy . ”
“Un?”

Katy, who was playfully frolicking with Ian, looked at Roan .
Roan made a short bow .

“May I invite another person?”
“Who? I’m fine . I like it when things are loud . ”
“Then . Just a moment……”

Roan faintly smiled and moved his feet .
Katy and several people’s eyes chased Roan’s back .
With slightly hurried steps, Roan walked toward Aily .

“Princess Aily . ”

A softly calling voice .
Aily, who was just about to leave the training field, hesitated and then turned around .

“Sir Baron Tale . ”

Smiling shyly, Aily slightly lowered her head .
Certainly, the way she interacted with people was different than Katy .

“Thank you very much for the lecture . ”

Aily’s cheeks blushed red .
Roan brightly smiled and nodded .

“I’m glad you liked my lecture . By the way, um, princess……”
“Yes?”
“If you perhaps have time, would you please come eat with us?”

A sudden request .

‘What am I doing?’

Roan himself was surprised at what he did .
He awkwardly smiled and looked behind him .
Aily’s gaze naturally followed behind .
Wearing a peculiar expressions, Katy, Fred, and Ian stood there .

‘The person he wanted to invite to the meal is Aily-sis?’

Katy’s expression was slightly surprised .
But she soon shook her head .

‘If it’s Aily-sis’s personality, she’ll immediately reject……’

When she had thought up to that point .
Aily, who everyone was watching, faintly smiled and nodded .

“Sure . Let’s go . ”

At those words, everyone’s expressions besides Roan’s was surprised .
It was completely unexpected to think that Aily, whose rumor as a shadow princess was well know, would accept a sudden invitation to a meal .
On the other hand, Roan was simply happy and satisfied with this situation .
He quietly stared into Aily’s two eyes and smiled .

‘Thank you very much . ’

Such words hung at the tip of his tongue .
For some reason, he wanted to save his words .
It was difficult to say even a single word .
But he was sure of at least one thing .

‘Princess is also happy . ’

Aily’s two eyes conveyed those words .

‘I’m glad I did the special lecture . ’

Between his last life and the current life, he felt that this was the best decision he made amongst many .

‘The weather is really nice today . ’

Roan stared up at the sky for no reason .

*****

A windowless office lit by a single candle .

“Those guys again?”

An enraged voice echoed through the space .
The owner of the voice was a middle-aged man with neat brown hair and round glasses .
Behind the glasses, his eyes shone with a sharp light .

“Yes . It seems they’re now putting their hands on the palace as well . ”

The young man on the other side of the middle-aged man lowered his head .
His face was filled with restlessness .
It was because he only reported bad news these days .
As expected, the glasses man slammed down on the desk .

Boom!

“Since they are hillbilly bumpkins, they just don’t seem to know about the situation in Miller at all . Even we are simply taking a lick . ”
“They are definitely insane brats . ”

The young man immediately chimed in .
Suddenly, the light in the glasses man’s eyes turned cold .
Every time the candle’s flame quivered, his shadow repeatedly expanded and shrank .

Gulp .

The young man quickly closed his mouth and nervously gulped .
It felt as if his breath was smothered .
With the tip of his finger, the glasses man tapped on the desk .

Tap! Tap! Tap!

The steady sound thoroughly filled the office .

Taap!

The finger finally stopped .
The glasses man scratched the desk with the tip of his finger as he stared sharply at the young man .

“Baba . ”
“Yes, yes!”

The young man, Baba, stood up straight and loudly answered .
The glasses man squinted an eye and continued his words .

“Are you just going to watch and let those insane **** continue to run around?”
“N, no sir . ”

Baba quickly shook his head .
The glasses man’s face slowly turned hard .

“The capital region around Miller Castle is our, Janis information agency’s, turf . It’s not where some country bumpkins from the kingdom’s East can run around . You got that?”
“Yes, yes sir . Understood . I’ll send the kids and teach them a lesson . ”

The glasses man’s face twisted at Baba’s words .

“You idiot! Do you want to start a war with a noble?”
“The, then?”

Baba asked back with a helpless expression .
The glasses man exhaled a short sigh .

“Huu . There are a lot of powerful guests who received our help . There are guests who are still receiving our help too . Just why do you think we’ve been providing those guests information and looking after them? It’s all to receive some help in times like this . Ok? Understood?”
“Yes, yes sir . Understood . ”

Only then did Baba finally understood the glasses man’s words and plan .
The glasses man’s rage calmed down a bit only after seeing Baba’s expression .

“Good . Then I’ll leave the work to you this time, Baba . Carefully clean it up . ”
“Yes . Understood . ”

Baba replied with a seriously nervous face .
Within his head, many people’s faces passed by .
The glasses man waved his hand at that Baba .
Telling him to now leave .
Baba said a short goodbye and soon exited the office .
The glasses man, who was left alone in the dark and small office, licked his dried lips and made a strange smile .

“Was the name Baron Roan Tale……”

The tip of his mouth and eyes slightly trembled .

“The one who just became a noble shouldn’t act too greedy . ”

A murderous light reflected in his eyes .

“Even on this floor, there’s something called pecking order . ”

*****

A strange mood settled on the dinner table that Katy prepared .
Roan, who could be called the main character of the dinner, was busy talking with Ian, Fred, and Brian .

“Are you really going to build an academy and a library?”
“Yes . If there’s room in the funds, I also wish to make several smaller educational structures as well . ”
“That’s quite an amazing plan . ”
“But it won’t be easy . ”

Katy attempted to enter the conversation several times but didn’t feel like it .

‘Boring . It’s not fun either . ’

Things like academies, libraries, or administering branches weren’t fun and were hard to understand .
In the end, she turned her gaze toward Aily, who was on the other side of the table and was quietly focusing on her food .

‘Why did that sis agree to the invitation if she wasn’t even going to say a word?’

In the first place, it was a mystery as to why she decided to come and eat together .
Aily, who was about to put a piece of meat into her mouth, realized Katy’s gaze a bit late .
Looking at the sister a year younger than her, she made a faint smile .

“What are you smiling at?”

Katy was straightforward .
There was no decorum or twist .
She asked about whatever she was curious of and said whatever she wanted to say .
Aily put down the knife and the fork she was holding .

“I smiled because I’m happy . ”
“At what?”

Katy asked again .
There was no bad intent .
As the pair’s conversation started, Roan, Fred, Ian, and Brian also stopped their conversation and looked at the girls .
Still with her smile on, Aily replied .

“At everything . The food is good, the mood is good, the company is good . ”

The voice was really clear and gentle .
Katy slightly squinted her forehead and tilted her head .

“That famous shadow princess likes these things?”

She even mentioned that unpleasant nickname, shadow princess, as if it was nothing .
At those words, Aily whispered with a quiet voice .

“It seems that the shadow became long enough to touch here and there . ”
“It… became longer?”

Katy didn’t understood and asked again .
Aily slowly nodded her head .

‘Un . A light came close by . ’

She didn’t let out those last words and rolled them inside of her mouth .
The smile that hung on her mouth became slightly deeper .
Seeing Aily wordlessly smile, Katy as well as Roan and the others tilted their heads .
They still didn’t know much about the shadow princess .
Much more than others, she had many secrets .

< Tron Academy 4 > End .

 

 

Translator : CSV

Proofreader: st8_lupe .