The Academy is Doomed

Chapter 71

Reinbelt, seeing Amon speaking with such gravity, urgently shouted.

“Disciple! What nonsense are you spouting…?”

Before Amon could protest at being called a disciple yet again, the others interjected like thunderbolts.

“Who’s this disciple of Reinbelt, huh?”

“He hasn’t even formally accepted you as his master yet!”

Even before he had to defend himself, loyal retainers stepped forward to chastise the rogue.

Amon, the king in name, shivered with exhilaration.

‘So this is the taste of power.’

As he savored the ecstasy of power, Amon stretched a hand out toward the clamor.

“Elders, please calm yourselves.”

“…….”

“Now, let’s hear your terms again. If you wish to take me as your disciple, there must be a condition tempting enough to entice me, wouldn’t you agree?”

At Amon’s gentle tone, Reinbelt confidently declared,

“I know of an incredible spot where wild mountain herbs grow…”

“Disqualified.”

Reinbelt’s chance to accompany Amon was gone!

Next, Demonic Heart burst into hearty laughter and spoke up.

“Hahaha! If we’re talking about my Dark Swordsmanship, it’s the very technique that produced ‘Redmane,’ the greatest swordsman of all time! Surely, everyone here is aware of that, aren’t they!?”

With desperation, Demonic Heart managed to spew out the long statement without losing his dentures even once!

Furthermore, despite the audacious mention of “the greatest swordsman in history,” the other knights, proud as they were, could only grind their teeth in silent frustration.

And at the mention of Redmane, Amon’s eyes widened.

‘Redmane? The legendary hero Redmane? Wasn’t that just a tale of heroism?’

The legendary swordsman who served as a loyalist to the 4th Emperor of the Empire and subdued the continent with a single sword during the era of warlords!

‘And the legend also says he slew a dragon….’

As if reading Amon’s thoughts, Demonicheart continued speaking.

“Hahaha! And as everyone knows, Redmane achieved the remarkable feat of slaying a dragon all by himself! Isn’t that the ultimate proof of the strongest swordsmanship? Am I wrong? Hm? Hm?”

Feeling like he had seized victory, Demonic Heart bragged on, while someone muttered under their breath.

“It was just a newly matured dragon, though….”

“What! Does a dragon look like a toy to you!?”

As Demonic Heart bellowed in rage, Amon shut his eyes tightly.

He could see it now.

The vision of himself becoming a great swordsman and ruling the continent.

And also his image as a ‘dragon slayer,’ exacting satisfying revenge on Caselag, who might have ruined his family estate!

If he achieved such skills, not even the Emperor would dare block his rise to power.

“Huff…!”

Just as Amon was about to shout “Accepted,” a thought struck him, and he frowned.

‘Wait, hold on a second.’

How did the Redmane legend end again?

“Um, Elder?”

“Hahaha! What is it, disciple?”

“In the legend of Redmane, didn’t he end up succumbing to madness and taking his own life?”

At that, Reinbelt, unable to hold back, jabbed a finger at Demonic Heart and shouted,

“Good point! The deeper you delve into Dark Swordsmanship, the more its insidious madness takes root deep in your bones! That crazy old man there even pulled out all his teeth with his own hands and had to resort to dentures!”

Amon immediately declared,

“Disqualified!”

What use was success if you went insane!?

At that moment, the silently observing Marquis Pid cleared his throat and spoke up.

“Ahem, there’s no need for me to go into detail about the Pid family, is there?”

“Oh, ohhh…!”

A family where every member had reached the level of Sword Master!

In other words, there was no doubting the excellence of their swordsmanship.

And how about the prospects of success?

‘They have enough wealth to stockpile chocolates just to snack on!’

In short, choosing the Pid family meant achieving mastery in swordsmanship, career advancement, and wealth all in one!

So just as Amon was about to shout “Accepted,” he stopped himself.

‘Wait, there could be an unexpected trap here too.’

Thus, in a polite tone, Amon said,

“It’s certainly tempting.”

“Haha, indeed. Become my disciple. I’ll help you grow into greatness.”

“But let me hear what the last elder has to say as well.”

“…What!?”

As Amon took a step back, Marquis Pid hastily added,

“You’d better decide now.”

“Excuse me? And why is that?”

“Urgh….”

For some reason, Marquis Pid looked flustered and hesitated, before gritting his teeth.

With the expression of a man spilling his lifeblood, he exclaimed,

“Fine! Then I will permit you to marry my only daughter, Sloth!”

The offer of marriage to his cherished and beloved only daughter, Sloth!

At the Marquis’s trump card, Amon roared,

“Disqualified! Disquaaaalified!”

“What!?”

Leaving the stunned Marquis behind, Amon turned his eyes toward the last remaining contender, Diana.

Leisurely stroking her cat, Diana glanced at Amon and spoke.

“Hmm? My turn?”

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

“Hmm.”

The cat, still angry from being knocked off earlier, was clawing and snapping its teeth aggressively, but Diana, as expected of a Grand Sword Master, effortlessly dodged and kept petting it.

Smiling faintly, Diana spoke.

“Do you remember what you said earlier?”

“…What? What did I say?”

“Yes. You said you liked power, money, and so on.”

“…!”

Diana continued,

“My family…surely you’ve heard of it?”

“…Excuse me?”

“The Pendorean family.”

“Pe-Pend…!”

Amon’s eyes widened in shock, as if they would split open.

The Pendorean Ducal House!

A prestigious family that had served the imperial household since the time of the Empire’s seventh emperor!

‘And a family so esteemed for their dedication and loyalty that rumors claim they might soon be elevated to the rank of Grand Duchy and govern an entire principality…!’

With a serene smile, Diana spoke.

“Well, of course, I’m old enough to have stepped back from active affairs and handed the estate over to my son…but surely there’s no need for me to elaborate on the advantages of being my disciple?”

Amon, as if enchanted, nodded.

Even though Diana had stepped back from the forefront of power, as the grand matriarch of the Pendorean family, her influence must be colossal.

In fact, it was said that her son, the current family head, still consulted her for all major decisions concerning the family.

“What do you think? Will you become my disciple?”

“…….”

“Well, if you don’t want to, there’s nothing I can do. The choice is yours.”

With an air of indifference, Diana even took a casual step back!

Seeing her composure, Reinbelt continued shouting about mountain herbs, Marquis Pid kept yelling about a marriage with Sloth, and Demonic Heart was flustered over his dislodged dentures!

Watching this, Diana discarded her mask of composure and dealt the final blow.

“Fine, fine. If you become my disciple, I’ll give you a mountain. You can gather all the mountain herbs you want.”

An overwhelming display of wealth that directly targeted Reinbelt!

Reinbelt collapsed in a heap.

“And marriage? Oh, right, I happen to have a granddaughter of marriageable age. If you’re interested, I can arrange a marriage with her.”

A critical hit aimed at Marquis Pid!

Marquis Pid clutched his neck in despair.

“And… hmm, do you have any interest in going mad?”

“No.”

“Then that’s settled.”

Demonic Heart didn’t even make it as a contender!

With the competition utterly crushed, Diana extended her hand.

“Well, what do you say? Will you become my disciple?”

Her voice was warm, motherly, and gentle. Overcome with emotion, Amon wept as he clasped her hand.

“It would be my greatest honor, Master.”

“Hohoho. I, too, am grateful to the heavens for granting me such a disciple.”

Smiling gently, Diana stood and said,

“Now then, kneel down…”

Amon was already kneeling.

“V-Very well. Then let us perform the oath between master and disciple.”

“Yes, Master!”

“Hohoho! It’s still too early to call me Master.”

“If I don’t call you Master, what else would I call you?”

It was a sight he had seen somewhere before, causing Reinbelt to clutch the back of his neck.

Diana drew her sword, pointing it at Amon as she spoke.

“Do you swear to dedicate yourself to the sword as the disciple of Diana Pendorean?”

“Of course!”

“And do you vow to eliminate the enemies of the Pendorean family and serve as a loyal subject of the Empire?”

“The enemies of the family are my enemies, and I shall become the mule that carries the burden of the Empire!”

Smiling with satisfaction, Diana Pendorean flipped the sword she held, extending the hilt toward Amon.

“With this, you are now my disciple and are henceforth under the name of the Pendorean family.”

“A-Aah…!”

“As proof of this, I bestow this sword upon you.”

Amon, with tears streaming down his face, humbly accepted the sword.

“Thank you, Master!”

“Hohoho, yes. It’s a fine sword, so use it well.”

At the moment Diana gently patted Amon on the shoulder—

“Hey, Diana, you old hag.”

“…Old hag?”

“N-No, Diana. Isn’t there something missing in the oath between master and disciple? The most important part of the Pendorean family’s pledge?”

As Reinbelt stubbornly interrupted until the very end, Diana scoffed.

“Hmph, you mean the part about striking down the enemies of the Empire?”

“Exactly.”

“An outdated and old custom. It’s been quite a while since that clause was last enforced.”

“W-What…?”

“Strike down the enemies of the Empire? Where are such enemies these days? After the Great War, hasn’t the entire continent been under the Empire’s authority with a solemn peace treaty for a century?”

“…Guh!”

Having failed in his final interference, Reinbelt scratched his head irritably.

Diana, who had snorted at him, turned to Amon with a warm smile.

“Now then, disciple. Let us go. There is much to teach you.”

“Yes, Master!”

“By the way, you said you were a teacher at the Amonis Academy, didn’t you? Do you plan to continue?”

“I’m quitting! Oh, but I would like to bring along the students I was teaching, if that’s alright….”

“Hohoho, very well. Let’s arrange it in due time. In any case, let us go quickly. I also want to introduce you to my granddaughter.”

“Yes, Master!”

As the two walked off, brimming with camaraderie and confidence, they opened the door to the private chamber—only to find themselves face to face with an entering middle-aged man.

“…Hm?”

The man, who had just stepped into the room, widened his eyes.

“Diana?”

“…Y-Your Majesty?!”

It was the current Emperor of the Amonis Empire, Amonis XVIII. Diana was so startled that she immediately fell to her knees.

The Pendorean family, the Empire’s foremost loyalists! Hastily kneeling, Diana spoke.

“Y-Your Majesty, what brings you here…?”

“Hahaha. With a gathering of the Empire’s Four Great Knights, how could I not show my face even once?”

“I heard you were unwell…I am deeply concerned that this might strain your health.”

As she said, the Emperor had been bedridden following the failure of the Velslime wasteland project.

But the Emperor quickly helped Diana to her feet, saying, “Hahaha. If you humble yourself, it only makes me feel more unworthy. Please, rise.”

“Y-Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor, smiling warmly, suddenly turned his gaze.

“But…”

The Emperor’s smile vanished, and he looked down at Amon, who was kneeling stiffly next to Diana, his expression hardening.

“May I ask why you are in the company of… this damned fellow?”

“Damned fellow?” Diana was taken aback by the harsh words, but she quickly responded.

“Forgive my late introduction. This is Amon Drake, whom I have recently taken as my disciple….”

At that moment, the Emperor muttered.

“Disciple.”

“…Pardon? Yes, that’s correct, Your Majesty.”

“The damned scion of the Drake family, a disciple of Diana Pendorean?”

“Yes? That’s…The damned scion of the Drake family?”

Tilting her head in confusion, Diana looked at the Emperor, who now had a face flushed red with anger and was clutching his neck, swaying unsteadily.

“Y-Your Majesty?!”

“A disciple… That damned scion of the Drake family, as Diana Pendorean’s disciple… urgh….”

“Your Majesty!? S-Someone, anyone! His Majesty has…!”

The Emperor collapsed, and the sight threw the entire assembly of the Empire’s Four Great Knights into utter chaos.

Meanwhile—

“…….”

Amon knelt silently, his eyes closed.

Once again, reality had struck.

“I’ve failed again.”

A single transparent tear rolled down Amon’s cheek.