All-Master Player Of The Academy [EN]: Chapter 251

126. Kinship – 1

Now that the work was done, all that remained was the return.

The Sword Saint, having returned to the Imperial Capital and entered the Imperial Palace, completed her report to the Emperor.

The Emperor, after hearing her entire report, groaned.

“So, Kirishnan really did such a thing.”

“Yes. She received power from Rubelin.”

“I see. That’s a shame. It would have been good to keep her.”

“Count Ian said that Kirishnan’s memories went to Princess Sharl. Shouldn’t we ask the Princess for more details?”

“Should we? Krepen, tell Sharl to come.”

“Understood.”

Krepen went outside the inner palace and brought Sharl.

The Emperor, looking down at her with indifferent eyes, asked calmly.

“What happened? Why did Kirishnan receive power from Rubelin?”

“According to her memories… it was to become Emperor.”

Born as the Emperor’s eldest daughter, she was the first to receive territory, and she had the staunch supporter known as the Iron-Blooded Duke.

However, the Emperor made Osnen the successor.

“That drove Kirishnan to despair.”

She had suffered greatly to govern and cultivate her territory, but the position of successor was taken by someone else.

She didn’t like that.

“Kirishnan thought that the reason Your Majesty made Osnen her successor was because of his talent for swordsmanship.”

That’s why she trained in swordsmanship.

She thoroughly concealed her swordsmanship training to prevent interference from other Imperial family members.

Not only that, but she also manipulated the emotions and personalities of other Imperial family members who might be a hindrance, just as she had done to Sharl herself.

“The reason Otal became so cruel was because she had been visiting and ‘educating’ him since he was young.”

“What’s so cruel about that?”

From Sharl’s perspective, who had been despised and tormented by Otal for a long time, it was cruel enough.

However, the Emperor merely snorted as if it were trivial.

“I see. So?”

Lacking talent in swordsmanship, she couldn’t properly train her sword like magic.

No matter how high a circle [level of magical proficiency] she created at a young age, the Emperor didn’t acknowledge her.

And eventually, she reached for the Star of Talent.

“Even then, Expert was the limit.”

“I see.”

She despaired and was frustrated.

Then Rubelin came to her and offered to give her power.

Of course, he didn’t give her swordsmanship talent that she couldn’t improve even with the Star of Talent.

What he gave her was a clue and power to connect with another dimension, and there was not even a price to pay.

“There’s no such thing as a free lunch in the world. How foolish.”

The Emperor spoke coldly, and the Sword Saint glared at him.

In the end, wasn’t this what happened because the Emperor ignored the long-standing tradition in the Empire and designated Osnen as the successor?

The Sword Saint was quite annoyed by the Emperor for saying such things.

“She continued her research, and in the process, the Iron-Blooded Duke fell.”

If things continued like this, she would fall along with the Iron-Blooded Duke.

That’s why she had no choice but to carry out research that was not yet perfect.

“That’s the research on dimensions?”

“Yes.”

After installing a dimensional gate in her tower, she obtains power from another dimension through that gate.

With the Tower of the Forgotten City closed by Ian, she took a gamble, thinking she could gain immense power if she did well.

“And she failed.”

“That’s right.”

The dimensional gate was not stable.

Not only that, but she opened a very dangerous dimensional gate.

“Shadows… The Sword Saint said you can cut shadows.”

“Yes.”

“Do it once.”

When the Emperor permitted, Sharl received a sword and unfolded her stance.

The Emperor watched it for a moment and nodded.

“That’s enough. Anyway, whatever the inside story, it’s true that Kirishnan did it.”

“Then…”

“Her status as an Imperial family member is abolished, and her territory is incorporated into the Imperial family’s territory.”

The Emperor, having made his decision, waved his hand.

As Krepen and Sharl left, the Sword Saint spoke coldly.

“Things have come to this because of your decision. What are your thoughts on that?”

“Is there a problem?”

“You’re amazing.”

“Thank you for the compliment. If you’ve finished your business, leave.”

“What about the Kesin issue…”

“From now on, we will punish those related to demons within the Empire. But there’s no reason to interfere with matters outside the Empire.”

“Kesin is trying to destroy the world with Rubelin. Are you going to just let that happen?”

“Are you saying that I should lead the Imperial Army and move myself?”

The Sword Saint thought for a moment and shook her head.

That was no different from the start of a war.

In the process, countless lives would die, and Kesin would try to use that.

‘Perhaps that’s why he went outside the Empire… What a cruel person.’

“I can solve the problems within the Empire, but shouldn’t you solve the problems outside the Empire?”

“But this time, you couldn’t solve it.”

To be swayed by Gehern like that and still talk like that.

The Emperor shrugged at the Sword Saint’s ridicule.

“I have nothing to say about that.”

“You should give Count Ian a reasonable reward for solving this problem.”

The Emperor tilted his head.

“Why are you saying that? What is your relationship with Count Ian?”

“I’m just saying what needs to be said.”

“Did you fall for him or something?”

The Sword Saint shook her head at the Emperor’s question.

“It’s not that kind of problem.”

“Then?”

“Didn’t you feel it?”

The Emperor shook his head at her accusatory words.

He was feeling it too.

“The immense sense of incongruity that Count Ian possesses. That incongruity is preventing him from feeling personal emotions.”

“Yes. He’s a good person, but…”

That sense of incongruity.

That immense, indescribable sense of incongruity was instinctively preventing her from approaching him deeply.

‘But…’

Doesn’t Sharl feel that sense of incongruity?

She crossed her arms and recalled the expression and attitude Sharl had shown Ian earlier.

* * *

When Sharl returned to the Imperial Academy, quite a few people approached her, unlike usual.

“P-Princess. You’re here?”

“Thank you for your hard work!”

People who usually wouldn’t even glance at her were approaching.

Sharl tilted her head at their behavior.

Why were they doing this?

The answer was soon clear.

‘It’s because the Iron-Blooded Duke has fallen.’

Most of those who approached were heirs of families who were deeply or loosely related to the Iron-Blooded Duke.

But the Iron-Blooded Duke had fallen.

Behind that fall were the Emperor and Ian.

“You have such a good relationship with Count Ian… And you even entered the Imperial Palace under the Emperor’s orders…”

In other words, the Emperor, who had resumed his political affairs.

And Ian, a strongman who could bring down the Iron-Blooded Duke.

They were trying to maintain their power by showing favor to Sharl, who had ties to both of them.

Seeing them, Sharl smiled bitterly.

“Did you hear something…?”

“Our family has no significant connection with the Iron-Blooded Duke. Your Highness, please, any misunderstandings that have occurred…”

Sharl, watching them, sighed softly.

She waved them off casually and entered the dormitory, where she found a man sitting in the lobby.

It was Ian, who had left earlier.

Sharl stared silently as he played chess with the students of Fredon Academy.

“Oh? Princess. What are you looking at so intently?”

“Your gaze is unusual? It’s piercing.”

Wildi and Oerina approached her.

Sharl was startled and stepped back.

“Why are you looking at Ian like that?”

“…It’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing, is it?”

Oerina teased her playfully, and Wildi pinched her side.

Sharl turned her gaze to them and asked cautiously.

“Are you…?”

“Yes? Why?”

“No…”

After telling them what had happened outside the dormitory, Wildi didn’t think much of it.

It was natural that things looked different when the position changed.

“It’s just because the Princess isn’t used to it.”

“Is that so…”

“But actually, there aren’t many people who can get used to that. There aren’t many people who can respond to that immediately…”

Oerina glanced at the sofa.

Wilval, who was playing chess with Ian, looked desperate.

“As far as I know, Ian is the only one.”

“Well, Ian is a bit special.”

As they spoke, Sharl closed her mouth.

Then, she stared at them intently before cautiously opening her mouth.

“Are you close to Count Ian?”

“Very close.”

“We may not share blood, but you could say we’re like family.”

“Have you known him for a long time?”

“Ah. Well, not really.”

They had known Ian since he moved up to Intermediate Class B.

In terms of time, it hadn’t been that long.

“To be so close even though it hasn’t been long is quite surprising.”

And there was one more surprising thing.

“Um. Well, that is.”

But she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

As Sharl hesitated, Widiya, who had been watching the chess game, approached.

“What are you doing here? More importantly, what’s wrong with the Princess? It looks like you’ve fallen in love?”

“This Princess, what!”

“Why don’t you look in the mirror and say that?”

Widiya immediately took out a hand mirror and showed it to her.

In the mirror, she could see the blush on her face and her moist eyes.

Seeing that, Sharl squeezed her eyes shut.

“Let’s not talk about this here, let’s go to the room.”

Widiya smiled and took Sharl, Wildi, and Oerina upstairs.

As soon as they entered the room, Widiya, who had prepared tea and snacks, said with an excited expression.

“So? Who did you fall for so hard?”

“Um. That is.”

“Who else could it be but Ian? After all, Ian is the only one who keeps sticking with Princess Sharl, right?”

“Um. Ian… You have very unique tastes.”

Wildi and Oerina nodded at Widiya’s words.

Sharl looked at them with an even stranger expression.

“Objectively speaking, Count Ian is attractive enough. And his face isn’t bad either. Also, his personality is a bit quirky, but… still, isn’t he good enough?”

The three were embarrassed by Sharl’s question.

Certainly, that’s how it looks from a third party’s perspective.

“But why are you like that?”

“Well… I don’t get those feelings for Ian.”

“Um. Right. We can be close to him as people, but… it’s a bit much to go deeper?”

“Of course, I don’t dislike him. Honestly, Ian isn’t someone you can dislike.”

“But why are you like that? No, aside from that, it doesn’t seem like Ian has any of those stories [romantic interests].”

Wildi sighed deeply and opened her mouth.

“The sense of incongruity that Ian has… I think it’s hard to have a relationship like lovers because I feel that. And he doesn’t seem to want a deep relationship either.”

“Incongruity…?”

“Didn’t the Princess feel it?”

“Not really…”

“What is obvious to him is different from what is obvious to us. When you experience that… you start to think like this.”

She said what most people who met and knew Ian felt.

“He and we are different.”