All-Master Player Of The Academy [EN]: Chapter 228

“And we can’t ignore the wizard Schlei either.”

A Master swordsman and a 7th Circle wizard.

The Iron Blood Duke had such powerful individuals as his subordinates.

“This Imperial Princess has also heard of them. They are very strong…”

“Are they stronger than me?”

“In this Imperial Princess’s opinion, they are.”

“What do you think, Saintess?”

“W-Well? I don’t really know about that. But according to rumors, Saint Kraman said he could fight and win against the Forest Keeper [a powerful, nature-aligned warrior]…”

“The problem isn’t just that, Ian. You are alone.”

But the Iron Blood Duke had enormous military power and authority.

If he wanted to strike at Ian, most of the knights in the capital might mobilize.

“So, I recommend not causing friction with them.”

Charl said with concern, and Ian smiled.

“What does that mean? That smile.”

“It’s nothing.”

‘Everyone says I can’t, so I want to do it even more.’

Ian’s expression wasn’t that of someone who had given up.

It was just a look of slight interest, a sneer as if to say, ‘What can you do?’

In other words, if the time came to confront the Iron Blood Duke, Ian would move without caring about numerical inferiority or anything else.

Celestia hesitated and then said seriously, “The Moon Temple in the capital will provide support. And I will request support from other locations as well.”

As Celestia spoke, Charl slightly lowered her head.

Unlike her, she felt bitter that there was nothing she could do to help.

“No support is needed.”

“Yes? But still. Ah. How about this? Contacting the Sword Saint [one of the strongest swordsmen in the world]…”

“The Sword Saint is not needed either.”

Ian said indifferently and looked at Charl.

“Then let’s go. And I’ll leave the cleanup here to you.”

“Ah… yes.”

Leaving Celestia, who nodded slightly, Ian moved to another location with the hesitant Charl.

They went to a few more places, but they didn’t find any more altars or traces of the Red Moon Order.

Without any additional discoveries, they began to return to the academy.

“……This Imperial Princess is still useless.”

“Hmm?”

Ian turned his head.

Charl, who hadn’t said a word since earlier, let out a heavy sigh.

“Even before, I was captured by the demon… I feel like I’m just holding you back.”

The arrogance had disappeared.

That appearance, trembling with apology and regret, might have been Charl’s true self.

Seeing her insecure, fearful, and bowing her head in guilt, Ian turned around and approached her.

“I told you, mentality is important.”

“That’s a story only someone as strong as you can tell.”

“Do you want power?”

“If I want it, can you give it to me?”

“Of course. If you pay the price, I can give you as much power as you want.”

“P-Price?”

Charl flinched and stepped back.

Ian said to her with a nonchalant tone, “Your eyes are full of lustful thoughts. It’s not that kind of thing.”

“……Then what do you want?”

“The spirit of rebellion. If I give you power… can you continue to live resisting?”

“Does that mean… this Imperial Princess has to attack my brother Osnen? Is that what you’re saying?”

“Not necessarily. I just like seeing people resist injustice. If you really want to, you can resist me.”

“Why such a thing…?”

Ian shrugged at her questioning look.

“It’s a preference. Respect it.”

“……How strange. I always thought people wanted money or power.”

“I’m not interested in that kind of thing.”

Money?

If I make and sell a few Titans [powerful magical constructs], I can earn a huge amount of money.

Power?

Ian’s influence was already significant not only in the academy but also in the Magic Tower, the Alchemist Guild, and other organizations such as the Relic Society.

Just using that, I can gain power equivalent to that of a marquis in an ordinary kingdom.

And if I properly reveal my power, there’s no need to even mention it.

Also, once the world collection is over and the hero Ian Brandon is complete, it’s a world I’ll leave without regret.

So, what meaning would money and power that only work in this world have?

“I can raise you to Master level in a few days.”

He reached into his bag and took out a small box.

As he opened the box, a pleasant fragrance tickled Charl’s nose.

“With just this, you can reach Master level at once. Hmm. Saying it like this makes me sound like a medicine peddler.”

“This Imperial Princess hasn’t even awakened her aura. I’m only a 2nd Circle mage at best. But is it possible?”

He nodded.

Charl clenched her fist.

“……I will do it.”

Ian held out the box.

As Charl received it, he said as he entered the academy, “We’ll be training from dawn tomorrow, so take that before you sleep.”

“Training?”

“Even if you have a basket of jewels, you have to string them to make a treasure. You have to polish and oil it to make it useful.”

* * *

Back in her dormitory, she changed into comfortable clothes and sat on the bed.

Too many things happened today.

Because there was no one to spend time with.

Because no one approached her.

She was tired of pretending to study in the library, pretending that she wanted to be alone.

So, she just spoke to the boy in front of the academy, but so many things happened.

“Haa.”

Charl let out a heavy sigh and looked at the empty bed.

It had been three years since a roommate had entered this room.

No one wanted it.

Everyone avoided being roommates with her, saying they would rather be roommates with the son of a baronial family with power than share a room with a princess in name only.

She shook her head as she looked sadly at the empty bed.

“It’s okay.”

Using a tone that almost no one in the imperial family used anymore, she reached out to the table.

It was the medicine Ian had given her earlier.

When she opened the box, a pleasant fragrance tickled her nose again.

“Is it real…?”

Can I really become stronger if I take this medicine?

Can I escape being treated as just an empty shell of a princess?

Charl bit her plump lips tightly.

And, with trembling hands, she picked up the medicine in the box and put it in her mouth.

Surprisingly, the medicine melted as soon as she took it and flowed into her throat.

“Hmm?”

She didn’t feel anything particularly strange.

‘What… changed?’

There was no change in her circle, and she couldn’t feel any aura.

She tilted her head and lay down on the bed.

Still, she had a little bit of expectation that something might happen since it was given by the strong Ian.

Charl, who always had trouble sleeping due to fear of tomorrow, was able to sleep comfortably for the first time in a long time.

As she fell asleep, a few hours passed, and it was dawn.

The locked door opened.

Two masked men who came inside looked down at her with cold faces.

“It’s strange. Why did the Seer suddenly tell us to bring this woman…”

“He suddenly sensed a huge potential, didn’t he? Let’s just skip that part.”

“By the way, is it okay to touch the princess?”

“It’s okay.”

The two who were whispering raised a cloth to Charl’s face, who was sleeping soundly.

The sleeping pill on the handkerchief went into her nose.

As they confirmed that she was sleeping even more deeply, the two were about to lift Charl.

The extinguished candles and lamps lit up.

The masked men were flustered as the room suddenly brightened.

Clearly, there was no one here until just now, but a boy was sitting at the table.

“Hey.”

The boy smiled at them.

Ian said in a cold tone, “Where are you trying to take my sister?”