I Will Carry as an Academy Veteran

43

The opening ceremony of the athletic festival is just an hour away.

Everything is moving really fast right now.

Knock, knock.

“Senior, it’s me. Can I come in?”

I found myself in the blue team’s office alone.

Lumen, sitting in the representative’s chair, had a very tense expression.

Well, it’s understandable.

There wasn’t time to have a drink or chat.

So, I got straight to the point.

“Senior, did you see? They’re here.”

“Yeah, I saw. They really came.”

The day after receiving a letter from the 5th prince.

Lumen Reebens, or Princess Lilirelias, responded with a refusal in her letter.

In response, the enraged 5th prince Lutellus decided to attend the athletic festival opening ceremony in person to make a speech, and also mentioned that he would meet his younger brother.

Meeting only through words.

“It’s no different from trying to expose the senior hiding their identity.”

“…Right.”

It’s a kind of political pressure.

By exposing their identity, they are pressured to either make others choose to serve under a different noble even if not the Fifth Prince, or to participate in the royal race themselves.

“All attention will be on Lutellus from the masses, so if we make a mistake, I could reveal myself as the princess right there.”

“It’s unavoidable. In that case, it might be better to think of this as an opportunity.”

“…Opportunity?”

She looked at me, and I continued to explain.

“The senior is already the representative of the Blue Team. The most popular in the Knight Department, respected by all, and the strongest.”

She nodded silently with a blush on her face.

“Isn’t that also an achievement of the senior?”

“…Are you talking about being the representative of the Knight Department?”

“Yes. You can use that. On the other hand, when the Fifth Prince Lutellus was a student in the Magic Department, did he have as much popularity as the current senior?”

“No. Adrian, do you think you would have popularity with that person?”

…Well.

If that Fifth Prince in the game I know had any popularity, I’d be surprised.

He would just be surrounded by his minions.

“Then let’s set the senior’s goal right here.”

“Goal?”

“If everything goes according to my plan, during this three-day Sports Festival period, the senior will be summoned to participate in the royal race, and immediately ascend to the Fifth Prince’s side.”

“…What?”

“However, after defeating Lutellus and ascending, the senior will also face the scrutiny of all heirs from the First Prince onwards.”

“…”

“Sweet words will be said in public, but behind the scenes, there will be continuous undermining.”

Her face darkened.

Well, that’s understandable.

The political battles of the nobles are as ruthless as walking on thin ice.

And now she’s jumping into it, facing attacks from siblings and ultimately having to defeat them all.

“It might sound like a joke coming from me, but does the senior really have the determination to dive into this mud fight?”

“I do. No, if I didn’t have it from the start, I wouldn’t have crossed over to your side.”

She gripped the hilt of her sword with a familiar gesture.

“I’m fine.”

“… “

“I’m really fine. No, I actually want this. I will become the emperor. And for that one seat, I will prevent siblings from shedding blood for it.”

“Good determination, senior.”

In that case.

For her splendid debut, there is only one thing she needs to do.

Actually.

When you think about it, this Sports Festival is the perfect stage for her debut.

The most important point here is that during the Selenium Athletic Festival, outsiders are allowed to enter.

The Empire’s most prestigious academy, where other academies come to scout promising talents, neighboring kingdoms, the royal family, even parents who simply came to see their children, and tourists who came to enjoy themselves.

People from all over the empire and nearby kingdoms gather on this tiny island.

What if she reveals her royal identity there?

The impact would be enormous.

“Well then, Seniors. I hope you make a promise with me.”

“I’ll do anything. Just tell me what.”

“In that case, Senior, lead the Blue Team to victory.”

“…Huh?”

Just work hard.

That’s it.

“The Athletic Festival is a competition where the Department of Magic and the Department of Knights cooperate. There, the senior will achieve a flawless victory against a hundred teams. Without giving up a single event, overwhelmingly.”

“Then…”

“The students of the Department of Magic and the Department of Knights, as well as the students of the Blue Team, will believe in and follow the senior, and all the students of the overwhelming White Team will applaud the senior.”

The passion will probably peak on the final day of the Athletic Festival when the winning team is decided.

And people from all over will be ecstatic about the emergence of a new successor to the throne.

“But, even with that alone…”

“For the last one, I will create a decisive justification for the senior. So, the senior should focus only on the senior’s tasks.”

I smiled.

Creating the most important ‘justification’ for her declaration of succession.

That is what I should do.

For the ‘protagonist’ on stage, I must create the stage for her.

“Got it. Adrian, I trust you.”

“Um, remember that. The senior’s task is to lead the Blue Team to victory.”

“Um, understood. I will definitely lead the Blue Team to victory without giving up a single event.”

After nodding, I stood up.

“I think the opening ceremony is about to start, so I’ll go first, Senior.”

As I was about to leave, a small voice was heard.

“…Thank you, Adrian.”

Nothing.

It’s just a gift sent to the lord by a loyal subject.

“Smile a little.”

“Hm?”

“A face full of seriousness doesn’t suit a ruler.”

After saying that, I closed the door and left.

I heard some commotion from inside, but well, it should be fine.

Now, it’s my turn to move from this side.

“Justification.”

There.

Nowhere to retreat now.

Act 2 and her grand lace debut.

Must juggle two tasks and finish flawlessly.

* * *

The Salenium Sports Festival has finally begun.

With a bang, fireworks explode.

The large stadium is packed with numerous students, and on the stage, there is the Student Council President, Canary, walking in the air.

Unlike her usual self seen in the council room, she is dressed neatly in the school uniform, even wearing the Student Council cape.

[Honorable students of Salenium! It is declared that the Salenium Sports Festival is commencing from now on…….]

The speech was concise and ended shortly.

Canary lightly turned her body and pointed to the other side of the stage.

[And!]

All eyes turned to the other side of the stage.

[Today, we are honored by the presence of distinguished guests who have come to grace this occasion.]

At those words, the first to step onto the stage were the knights.

“Adrian, is that……”

“Well, it’s the Royal Knights.”

“What? A member of the royal family is attending this sports festival as a guest?”

Does Reyna not know either?

The crowd was buzzing besides.

It seems that the visit of Prince Lutellus was kept completely confidential.

Adorned in gleaming silver armor and helmet, and a group of knights adorned in white and black carrying flags moved forward gracefully.

And amidst them, someone revealed themselves.

Sleekly combed white hair.

Sharp features and tall stature.

Eyes shining in red.

The Fifth Prince, Lutellus, took the mic, raised one hand, and spoke with a smile.

[Oh, hello.]

Even with a somewhat casual greeting, no one dared to show disagreement.

Perhaps it would be impossible.

They are, after all, the creators of this ‘Salenium’, in a way, their ancestors.

Even meeting their eyes is a grave offense.

That’s the nature of aristocracy.

“Does everyone know who I am? I am Lutellus. Since I have come to grace this occasion, all of you should look upon me and praise me. Oh, no need for flattery. I just came here to speak.”

“Adrian? The speech seems a bit……”

“Don’t listen, Reyna. Ignore it. I’ll shield you, so cover your ears.”

“Yes, yes. I understand.”

Reyna covered her ears with both hands, and I stood in front of her, hiding her form.

[Ahahahaha! I have been well received. Well then, I should also offer my own gratitude. Now, from this moment on! I declare the Sports Festival for my proud alma mater Salenium!]

As he spoke, the knights took their positions, and beside them, instead of fireworks, petals of silver and red mixed fluttered in the air.

The canary who received the mic extended her hand and shouted.

[We have listened to the words of His Royal Highness! Now, let’s start right away! We’ll begin with the first match!]

The first match.

[The first match is…….]

Whatever.

I know it anyway.

Stretching, I looked up at the stage.

[It’s a 1-kilometer flag-snatching race!]

* * *

Wow!

Students shouting in sync with the opening ceremony could be seen from the corner of the high stage.

“I really don’t like this. Why are they interfering when I just want to watch?”

A black outfit that bared the shoulders.

And a woman wearing a mask unfolded a fan and said.

On either side of her, two students in Salenium uniforms were nodding in agreement.

“We agree, miss.”

“I also agree.”

They seemed distinctly ‘abnormal.’

As if possessed, their eyes were vacant.

She confidently folded the fan again.

“Today, Salenium will see us again. Right? Slave 1, Slave 2?”

“Yes.”

“That will be the case.”

After letting out a sigh, she crossed her arms and looked down at the stadium in the middle of the opening ceremony.

“……This is the dirty work of a third-rate villain starting in the early stages. When this damn heat reaches its peak, that’s when the real show begins.”

One eye with a purple iris shines from behind the black half-mask that covers the eyes.

“Everyone, do you remember the name of the person we need to bring?”

“Yes, miss. All preparations are perfect.”

“The person we need to bring is not just anyone but one person.”

Her purple eyes followed one person in the crowd.

A sharp-faced man with blonde hair and blue eyes, silently looking up from below.

Once infamous as a rogue and even considered a candidate for a ruler as a former officer of ‘Darkness.’

But he had somehow completely severed ties with ‘Darkness,’ and upon investigation, it was noted that he was now more loyal to Salenium than anyone else.

He had even participated in the ‘1-Kilometer Flag-Snatching Race.’

“hahahahaha, ahahahahaha! It’s hilarious, I feel like my stomach will burst from laughing.”

A traitor.

The one who betrayed us.

The lips beneath the mask drew a faint smile.

“Adrian.”

The name called during his time as an officer of Darkness, ‘Tyrant.’

Ability is at its worst.

Only special lineage is possessed.

He associated with ‘darkness’ and did not hesitate to engage in various evil deeds led by darkness.

He pre-empted a good position in the black market, raised prices, and emptied the merchants’ pockets.

Under his status as ‘Repelheight Baron’, he extorted even more money by saying, ‘When I become a baron in the future, I will give up the position of count.’

If someone who realized they were deceived later raised objections, he would dismiss them and pass the stall to the second priority, who offered more money, saying it was not his business.

He monopolized the privileges that ‘darkness’ could possess, embezzlement was a matter of course.

He secretly instigated the seven lieutenants of the Union to become hostile to each other.

Even within darkness, if there were those who opposed his will, he unhesitatingly expelled them to the ‘outside.’

For those who originally lived in darkness, being thrown into the light was a punishment tantamount to death.

Therefore, during his time as a lieutenant, the chaos of darkness was at its peak, and the woman who loved chaos believed in him and followed him.

But after the last ‘Lieutenant’s Meeting’ a few months ago, he suddenly left his lieutenant position and disappeared.

He never showed his face in the darkness again.

She blushed and reached out her hand.

“I want to see you, who betrayed us, thoroughly ruined.”

After he disappeared, darkness changed rapidly.

The hardliners dreaming of a violent revolution in Salenium were divided from the moderates who believed in gradual erosion. Those who shook hands yesterday turned into enemies today, and every day, the battlefield of blood and struggle opened.

“He must not return as ‘darkness’ again. Darkness is always in a state of chaos, yes, now is the best time.”

After the disappearance of the ‘tyrant’, she succeeded the position of ‘puppeteer’ and became a new lieutenant of ‘darkness.’

“I’ve been curious for a long time, what taste your ‘mind’ is. Well, anyway, you’ll find out soon.”

Turning around, their ‘group’ melted into the darkness and disappeared.

The signal flare of Act 2, which had been twisted wildly, was fired like that.