I Possessed the Heroine’s Teacher

I can’t let them kill the Crown Prince. If he dies, I’ll be a man without a string to hold me. Moreover, that bastard is going to be a father soon… But more than anything, I hated the idea of good-for-nothing fools who believe in justice or ideals dying.

I had to hurry upstairs. As I was about to climb the stairs, some guards blocked my way.

“You cannot pass from here.”

“Move, you bastards, this is an urgent matter.”

“And you seem to be seriously injured, we don’t know what happened, but you should receive treatment first.”

“I’m not the type of person who likes to warn people with words, you know? I’m being really nice right now… so move.”

“If you keep insisting, we’ll have to use force. We don’t want to harm someone who’s badly injured…”

The conversation continued in a loop. Back in the day, I wouldn’t have even had this conversation with these bastards. I would’ve just chopped their heads off.

“I’ll say this one last time. If you stop me, I’ll kill you.”

“… I apologize for the rudeness. It will only take a moment.”

“Taking your lives?”

If I tried to slit their arteries with the edge of my hand, I could have killed them instantly before their hands even touched me.

But then at that moment, a dignified voice interrupted.

“Stop!”

It was the Crown Prince. I withdrew my hand, and the guards also lowered their weapons and kneeled.

“Your Highness, this person insisted on meeting you and caused a commotion…”

These bastards are framing me. I made my intentions clear, and I hadn’t caused any trouble yet. These damn fools are pushing me into a corner?

“He is Count Halstead, my trusted aide. Please, allow him to come up.”

“Yes… we apologize.”

“No need for such formality.”

When I got to the second floor, the Crown Prince spoke to me from a balcony, overlooking the first floor.

“Are you sure you don’t need treatment for your wounds?”

“It’s just a scratch on the skin, the wound itself is shallow. A baby wouldn’t even die from this.”

“That was a close call.”

“Who’s to say otherwise? I almost died not by the Black Round Table, but by your own guards…”

“No, my guards almost perished. Didn’t you try to pierce their throats in one blow?”

This kid was able to see through that…? Does this bastard have some special ninja eyes or something?

“I’d like to know why you had to come all the way here to see me.”

Is he mocking me? After all, he almost lost his men.

“You need to leave quickly. Lady Lorcha and I will handle the hall, so you should hurry to the carriage…”

“Oh… I understand now. Could you explain why?”

I told him what I had learned. The music would soon end, and after a brief pause, the next track would start, at which point they’d make their move. I also told him that corrupt nobles were involved and that there was a leader among them. After hearing my story, the Crown Prince smirked.

“I was originally going to leave early since these balls are tiring, but… it looks like I’ll have to stay here.”

This damn bastard, why is he talking as if people’s words are like laxatives, and why the hell is he shoving them up his ass? Is that why he hates women?

“This isn’t the time for jokes. You need to leave quickly!”

“Haha, but didn’t you teach me this, sir? You’ve taught me the basics of strategy…”

“Huh?”

“First, if they are enemies, they must have anticipated that I would try to hide. It’s better to face them on my own two feet than to rely on an unstable carriage. That’s the first reason.”

Thinking about it, he was right. But still, what if…

“Second, the enemies are targeting me. In other words, this is a good opportunity to capture them.”

“Of course, but what about Your Highness’s safety…”

“Common folk on the streets live with their lives on the line. Hunters who catch beasts, herbalists who climb dangerous mountains, merchants who risk encountering robbers, knights and soldiers who face daily danger… Should I really save my life just because I’m the Crown Prince? What makes me so special?”

This bastard really…

“Your Highness, there are degrees to the value of life.”

“Hahaha, stop with the teasing. Didn’t you just tell me?”

[Those who always wear fine clothes and eat the best food bear the greatest responsibility. It’s not about sharing wealth with them, but working hard for them, you fool of a Crown Prince.]

This was something the Crown Prince had learned from Werner’s teachings. The bastard was still following them.

“If I can be of use to the people… as the Crown Prince, I will throw my life as bait and fish for them.”

“Sigh… Your Highness, may I say something?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Your Highness is the biggest fool among my students.”

“Hahaha! A fool, you say? What a funny expression. Should I decapitate you for this blasphemy?”

The Crown Prince waved his hand near his neck as if pretending to cut it. Though it’s not exactly the same, this bastard is quite similar to my friend. A fool who believes in justice and ideals.

“I can’t just leave my fool of a disciple to die.”

“I don’t need you to protect me. I’ve learned some martial arts, you know.”

Well, it looks like he’s got some skills. He learned magic from Werner and, if I remember correctly, he trained in swordsmanship on his own.

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

I turned and walked away.

“Since the Crown Prince is the best bait, I, Werner, will pull in the net.”

“Looks like Teacher Werner has become quite a reliable fisherman.”

The fourth track ended, and I jumped off the balcony. I wanted to do a superhero landing, but I felt like my knees would break, so I gave up. Heroes are defined by their mindset and actions, not by their posture, so who cares about how I land?

Maybe it was the aggressive landing technique? Or was it because this hero, Werner, used a landing style that wasn’t a superhero landing that surprised them?

Either way, it didn’t matter. I circulated my mana throughout my body, and the dye magic I had cast on myself was undone. A few nobles who recognized my face gasped and covered their mouths.

“You… You’re…”

“It’s Werner! The runaway grand mage has returned!”

“I heard you were dead, so what is this…”

It wasn’t like I was Tanahan or anything, so the commotion was a bit much. I cleared my throat and shouted.

“Yes, it’s me, Werner Alton, I have returned!!! And let me get straight to the point, if you don’t want to die, everyone better get down on your knees!!!”

Everyone was stunned and couldn’t do anything. Then the Crown Prince spoke.

“This is a royal order! Sir Werner is my trusted aide! If you refuse his orders, I’ll consider it treason!”

Upon his words, the nobles hesitantly began to kneel. Damn, this really shows the power of status. They hesitated when I spoke, but the moment the Crown Prince spoke, they were on their knees.

“Hey, you idiot!!!”

“Master!”

From afar, Lorcha and Iris came running. Lorcha ran toward me and kicked me with a Hyper-Terapascal kick. This time, I barely avoided it, and after landing safely, Lorcha grabbed me by the collar.

“You said it’d be dangerous if you were exposed! We even did that stupid couple act because of it, and you ruined it?! You and I are really enemies now, you bastard…”

Lorcha started swearing fiercely. Damn, this kid could open up a noodle shop with a foul-mouthed grandma after retiring. I bent over and whispered into Lorcha’s ear.

“The Black Round Table is going to attack soon, most of the nobles involved have already fled.”

“What…?”

“Make sure the nobles gathered here are safe. My disciple and I will take care of them.”

“… Got it.”

Nodding, Lorcha went off, and I quietly whispered a command to Iris.

“Iris, fight near the Crown Prince. Keep an eye out for any suspicious movements.”

“But Master…”

“What? Are you worried I’ll get my head cracked open?”

“…”

“Don’t worry. I won’t die.”

I patted Iris’s head. However, as I did, Iris, who had lowered her head slightly, noticed my wound and asked.

“… Who did this to you?”

“Oh, it was just from a fight…”

“If you get hurt again, I’ll lock you up in a cabin on a remote island for the rest of your life.”

Iris licked her finger and applied it to my wound.

“Ugh, that stings.”

“This cute disciple’s spit is like a potion. It’s a cure-all.”

“Heh… And you better not get hurt either.”

“How do you think I’ll get hurt?”

From the fight with Glacies, Iris’s skill was on par with mine. I could trust her with the rear guard. If she does well this time, maybe I’ll grant her a wish.

The song hadn’t even started, but before I knew it, the enemies had surrounded the ballroom like a swarm of bats. The reason the ballroom windows had darkened was likely because of them.

Then, transparent glass-like rain fell as they stormed in, and I grabbed the holy relic that Lancelot had given me.

“Unfold, Enoch.”