Surviving as the Fallen Northern Grand Duke

Chapter 16: Flames (1)

"……."

For a moment, everyone gathered in the entrance hall was left speechless.

They couldn't find an appropriate reaction to the extraordinary scene that had unfolded before their eyes.

Srrrk.

Thud!

Kevin Duran, the son of Duke Duran, a central noble, collapsed onto the floor.

It seemed that he had momentarily lost consciousness after being struck hard on the head.

"Young Master! Young Master!"

The servants who had accompanied him quickly attended to their small master.

And then,

Glance.

Everyone only cast sidelong glances at that massive man, but no one dared to speak to him.

That man, draped in a black fur cloak...

'How could someone be that tall...?'

His broad frame was no joke.

With a body like that, he could kill a man with a single strike even without any martial training.

That was why it took a while before anyone from Duke Duran's household dared to protest this act of violence.

After all, no one wanted to risk their life complaining on behalf of the duke's son.

Still, in the end, one brave individual stepped forward and questioned Johan.

"Sir! What in the world is—"

"What?"

Johan didn't even bother to respond properly.

He simply lowered his gaze, looking down at them, then swiftly turned and walked toward his servant, who had been subjected to the young noble's drunken antics.

The knight who had been with the unfortunate servant and Duke Duran’s son bowed to Johan.

"M-My lord."

Johan checked on his servant and asked,

"Are you alright?"

The servant, deeply moved, teared up as he responded.

"I am fine. But how could you go so far for someone like me...?"

As the servant continued looking up at his reliable lord with teary eyes...

Johan Kraubitz lowered his voice and asked,

"By the way…"

"Yes, my lord?"

"What exactly happened? I arrived late, so I didn't see what went down."

"……."

"……."

Victor, who had approached at some point, lowered his voice and asked Johan,

"My lord… Did you strike him without even knowing what happened?"

"Technically speaking, yes. But from a distance, it was obvious he was making a scene."

"……."

"……."

Ahem.

Victor gave a brief summary of the situation.

After all, it wouldn't be good if rumors spread that the Northern Grand Duke beat someone up just because they ‘looked annoying.’

So…

"He was making a fuss about getting alcohol."

Victor provided just enough context for his lord.

"Got it."

Johan Kraubitz, the Northern Grand Duke, swiftly turned back toward Kevin Duran.

He figured he ought to smack this brat one more time for causing such a commotion over alcohol.

But then...

"Young Master! Young Master! Please wake up!"

"Oh no! The young master isn't breathing!"

"Wait! Is that blood?!"

...

Johan quickly stepped away and climbed onto the stage.

If he lingered any longer, he’d undoubtedly be accused as the culprit.

For now, he chose to flee the scene.

Later, when Kevin Duran occasionally rambled nonsense, people would say it was because of what happened that day.

Anyway,

Standing on the stage, the Northern Grand Duke Johan Kraubitz...

Slowly surveyed the solemn entrance hall of Axen Academy.

Hmm.

'Everyone's standing at attention. Looks like only decent people got admitted.'

Of course, the real reason no one was making a sound was that they had just watched the Northern Grand Duke beat someone senseless before their eyes.

But Johan seemed oblivious to that fact.

"Line up properly."

Johan’s single command sent the new academy students, who had gathered from all across the continent, scrambling madly to find their places.

The servants of various noble families, watching their young masters sprint frantically, couldn’t help but feel a bit conflicted.

Regardless, Johan wasted no time and began the entrance ceremony.

"Stand at ease."

Snap!

As he looked at the rigidly disciplined fledglings, Johan considered giving a grand speech…

But instead, he decided to just say a few things he had always wanted to say.

"Welcome, first-year students of Axen Academy.

For the next several years, you will undergo Axen Academy’s systematic education and grow into warriors, mages, priests, doctors, herbalists, scientists, engineers, and more—individuals who will contribute to the advancement and peace of the entire continent.

I have heard that all of you are exceptionally talented.

As such, my expectations for your achievements are high.

I hope you will do your best to learn and strive to bring honor to Axen Academy.

And, if possible, let’s agree that after graduation, you will contribute to the development of the Duchy of Axen by working here.

The academy is nothing special, really.

Knights must endure relentless training every day.

Scholars must bury themselves in books, prepared to die for their studies.

Out in the world, the common folk toil daily to sustain their livelihoods—do you think you alone should be allowed an easy path?

Especially..."

Chak.

Johan held something up as he continued speaking.

"For the efficient operation of the academy, I have decided that students will not receive any of the privileges granted to nobles on the continent. So, I ask you to forget who you were in your hometown and dedicate yourselves to learning on equal footing."

Murmur, murmur.

The entrance hall instantly became noisy at Johan’s words.

It was all too clear what it meant to relinquish noble privileges.

Someone stepped forward to object.

"Who gave you the authority to do that?"

It was none other than Kevin Duran, the son of the Duran family, who had only now regained his senses.

The same young master who had been beaten half to death just moments ago raised his hand and spoke as soon as he woke up.

It seemed he was indeed a talent suited for academy life.

If he had the guts to stand up and challenge someone even after getting beaten like that, he would probably fare decently in whatever he pursued.

Johan, in response to the question, pointed at the document in his hand.

Then, in a low voice, he said,

"Your dad."

"...What?"

"Your parents all gave their permission. They signed this agreement stating that academy students should be treated and disciplined entirely equally, just like commoners, you moron."

"...Yes, sir! I was just curious! Please continue!"

Kevin Duran was a kid who could read the room incredibly well.

In an instant, he dropped his rebellious stance, straightened his posture, and stood at attention while looking at Johan.

Tsk.

Johan wrapped up his speech.

It was essentially the academy’s entrance declaration.

"In short, from today onward, the academy instructors are your absolute superiors.

Even among students, authority will be structured according to grade levels.

If you fail, you’ll keep trying until you succeed.

And if you still fail, we’ll... encourage you gently.

However...

If anyone tries to climb over their place, I will beat them to death—even if I have to step down from my position as Northern Grand Duke to do it.

So, obey the instructors and focus on learning.

That is all."

It was an entrance ceremony that left everyone wide awake.

When the ceremony ended and the students headed to their assigned dormitories...

Kevin Duran marched in perfect right-angled steps.

After receiving a report from Secretary-General Erina, I returned to the headmaster’s office.

Oh, why am I in the headmaster’s office?

Because until we find a suitable academy headmaster, I have decided to serve as the inaugural headmaster myself.

I figured that, for the sake of the students' character development and emotional growth, it would be best if I took direct charge of their education.

Watching the sharp-eyed students who entered today made me quite satisfied.

They were all so bright-eyed and promising—surely, they would become the pillars of the Duchy of Axen’s future.

Especially since, after just three years of training, some of them would undoubtedly play a major role in preventing this world's apocalypse.

I have exactly five years before I will once again need to use the Northern Continent’s Essence.

I must raise these kids well so they can stop the apocalypse at all costs.

Of course, I also need to continue refining my swordsmanship to become stronger…

'Yeah, that’s impossible.'

With my mana heart's angina acting up, I could drop dead any day now.

There was a clear limit to how strong I could become.

The fact that I couldn’t use aura alone was already a massive handicap.

That’s why I could only hope these kids would fight for this world in my place.

'One farm for crops in the greenhouse, and another farm for people right here at the academy.'

Thinking about the future harvests of these two parallel farms, I couldn’t help but salivate.

But this was just the beginning of it all, so I reminded myself over and over not to be impatient.

By the way,

‘I cried a lot earlier.’

Krisha, who had grown deeply attached over the past two weeks, clung to Johan and Erina, refusing to enter the dormitory.

She begged to stay at the ducal castle and live happily with Johan, Erina, Noich, and the knights instead.

"This is all just favoritism. You need to follow the same rules as everyone else."

"I don’t like the dormitory. Can’t I just stay here?"

"No."

Even Johan himself felt that he was being a bit cold, but he had no choice.

Especially...

‘If she stays by my side, that event might not happen.’

Johan had a theory about Krisha.

To test it, she had to live on her own.

Right after bringing Krisha to the castle, memories of books he had read during his Northern Grand Duke succession lessons surfaced.

So...

‘It’s not certain that the event will happen, but I’ve already prepared for it…’

Now, he just had to wait patiently.

‘It’s so quiet…’

At the same time, Krisha, who had entered a ‘dormitory’ for the first time in her life, felt bewildered.

Of course, it was natural.

She had never lived apart from her family before…

‘And I have a whole room to myself.’

Having such a spacious room all to herself was also a first.

So it wasn’t unreasonable for Krisha to feel lonely in the dormitory.

The room was furnished with a wooden desk, chair, furniture, and a soft bed.

It was a cozy, vintage-style space.

Thanks to Erina Trotsky's excessive efforts over the past few days, Krisha’s room was as elegant and refined as that of a noble lady.

Other children her age would likely be excited to explore their new room, but...

‘Big sis said she’d visit often.’

Krisha was struggling to fill the emptiness left by her family’s sudden absence.

So she waited for night to fall.

If she fell asleep, all these thoughts would disappear.

Then she wouldn’t feel lonely.

Sitting on the bed, she waited idly for night to come.

And that night, for the first time in a long while, Krisha suffered from her sleepwalking symptoms again.

This time, it was far more destructive.

Kwaaaaaaaang!

A thunderous explosion echoed through the air.

Since Johan hadn’t been able to sleep and was just rolling around on his bed, he immediately got up and ran to the window.

He threw it open and looked toward the source of the sound.

"As expected… It's coming from the academy."

It seemed the event had happened much sooner than he had anticipated.

He had expected at least a few more days, but for this to occur on Krisha’s first night away from him…

"She must have been holding back quite a lot."

He smirked.

Whoever was behind this must have thought tonight was the perfect opportunity.

Without hesitation, Johan wrapped his fur cloak around himself and fastened his longsword at his waist.

And once again, he made Noich work overtime.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

"Yes, my lord! What is it?"

"Contact the academy and summon all the mages and priests. And bring me Erina Trotsky. Tonight, I…"

Yes, tonight,

"I will personally perform an exorcism."