Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Ambush

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Sudden events crashing into your life are things you’ll experience countless times if you live long enough.

If you happen to face such situations, it’s better to maintain the mindset of, well, these things happen. It helps you stay calm.

“How is academy life going, Carlisle Belfast?”

“…Great.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Even if you’re suddenly called to the headmaster’s office, you can manage somehow with that kind of mindset.

Carlisle looked at the old man sitting with his legs crossed on the table.

He’s the head of an educational institution, but judging by the atmosphere radiating from him, this is more like a field commander who’s been through hell and back on the battlefield.

You could call him the personification of the phrase ‘battle-hardened veteran’.

Sear Whiteburn. Headmaster of Cradle.

Former Hero.

And also,

[He’s someone who could be called the strongest at this point in time.]

‘He’s stronger than you? This person?’

[More than me in this era, yes. He fulfilled his duty bestowed by the Holy Sword to fight against the most powerful evil of his time. There’s no way he could be weak.]

…Wow.

Hearing the Holy Sword’s voice calmly acknowledging this, I can’t help but click my tongue inwardly.

From what I heard, during the era when the system was collapsing, he was a human who fought one-on-one bare-handed against one of the Archduke Demons.

And if it weren’t for the dire circumstances he was in, he definitely would have won.

‘He’s a monster.’

While I’m wondering what such a terrifying human wants with me, I stood still.

“Actually, I wonder if it even matters whether you’re doing well or not in your life here. You’re not attending any classes, are you?”

“…”

That’s true.

Carlisle was about to respond, but before his words could continue, Sear’s sentence fell first.

“I want to assign you a job instead.”

“Pardon?”

“I mean, I want to give you work to do instead of fulfilling your duties as a student. I heard you received word from Siona that you’d be assigned this kind of task?”

Ah.

So the price for skipping classes is to be paid with my body.

“Actually, considering the severity of the situation, I should go out personally. It’s a matter of serving the Imperial Family.”

Carlisle’s eyes narrowed.

‘Imperial Family?’

It’s not a name with good memories.

Thinking about how those bastards responded after the Hell Invasion, it can’t be helped.

Bastards who didn’t give a damn about the people and were only busy filling their own pockets even when humanity was hanging by a thread.

Bastards in whom you couldn’t find even a trace of noblesse oblige no matter how hard you looked.

“…Why is a member of the Imperial Family coming to an educational institution like this?”

“To attend classes. Nominally for education. Practically, it’s a demotion.”

“…”

“They’re dumping one imperial family member who’s been pushed out of the mainstream here. To get them as far away from the imperial palace as possible.”

Is this really something a headmaster should be discussing with a student?

It has that familiar scent of Gray about it.

The scent of someone who absolutely doesn’t care about others’ opinions, thinking they’re the only one in heaven and earth.

“Still, royalty is royalty. Originally, I should be looking after them. But I’m thinking of entrusting that to you and my junior.”

By junior, does he mean Gray?

Entrusting Carlisle and Gray with escorting the person expelled from the Imperial Family.

The question is, why didn’t he call Gray along and only call me to have this conversation?

“But why aren’t you going personally, Headmaster?”

“Because I find it bothersome.”

“…”

“I’m busy to death, so I don’t see why I should babysit some little kid.”

Are all Heroes like this?

Maybe the Holy Sword is actually passed down through generations to weirdos with twisted personalities.

While Carlisle was harboring such impious thoughts, the headmaster continued speaking while sipping his hot tea.

“A Hero is public property. The fact that you’ve taken on the role of protecting humanity means you can’t take sides with any particular faction. Getting involved with any force inevitably causes backlash.”

Even if it’s just briefly taking on escort duty.

In short,

It means you can’t cause trouble. If a Hero causes trouble on top of an already troublesome situation, the aftermath becomes terrible.

Especially when dealing with people who carry the important banners of various nations.

Sear looked at Carlisle and grinned.

“You seem to have excellent performance as a restraint for my junior.”

“…”

Ah.

The reason for calling only Carlisle, where both Carlisle and Gray would be sent together, was just perfectly explained by that.

He’s telling me to work hard to hold Gray back from causing trouble.

“Well, that’s not the only reason.”

“…Pardon?”

“Heroes aren’t perfect from the beginning.”

Sear smiled brightly while looking at Carlisle.

“Do well. Call me if it gets really dangerous.”

…It was like a professor throwing an assignment at a student.

◆

Of course, it’s true that Carlisle harbors resentment toward the Imperial Family, but that doesn’t mean he hates every single person belonging to it.

And the human in front of him right now is that exception.

Illia Grace. The 4th Princess.

Her real name is much longer, but as Carlisle remembers, she’s the weakest member of the Imperial Family who isn’t even allowed to speak it in official settings.

The reason he doesn’t particularly dislike her stems from that fact.

There’s nothing to like or dislike about her. He didn’t even know such a person existed.

“Ah, hello—”

A little girl who barely reaches Carlisle’s waist bowed her head with a tearful expression.

Obsidian eyes that are the symbol of the Imperial Family, and purple hair.

She’s like a doll.

And like a doll, she’s small and fragile.

Actually, it would be stranger if she weren’t. What could you expect from a child who’s barely seven years old?

And the place this child is dragged to immediately upon arriving at Cradle is the ‘Monster Subjugation Mock Battle’, the class most avoided by new students.

“…”

It’s a schedule with malice that’s all too obvious. You can see nothing but the intention to torment her. Even the method is utterly petty.

Since this person has no political foundation to resist, even if she’s treated like this anyway, that’s why they’re doing this kind of thing.

The fact that there’s no escort sent from the Imperial Family and Carlisle and Gray are taking on that role clearly explains her position.

‘…The headmaster seems to be looking out for her by assigning Gray, though.’

The Imperial Family seems intentional on cruelly tormenting this child.

It matches exactly with the habits of the Imperial Family that Carlisle remembers.

‘Demon realm.’

A trash group filled to the brim with demons where not even fragments of human hearts exist.

It’s the kind of nature befitting a group that will collapse like a sandcastle the moment the current emperor on the throne dies.

“If, if it gets dangerous, please take good care of me…”

“…”

Ah, she bit her tongue.

Princess Illia covered her mouth with both hands, tears welling up in her eyes.

Carlisle smiled bitterly and knelt down.

Meeting the princess’s eyes, he said quietly.

“You should stop using honorifics, Your Highness. That itself could be considered discourteous.”

His gaze briefly caught something behind him as he said that.

Cardinal Felix tilted her head in response to that gaze.

The benevolent smile hanging on her lips felt like it was saying ‘Is there some problem?’

“…”

The fact that you’re here is the problem itself.

A Cardinal of the Orthodox Church should be busy beyond measure, but I don’t know why she’s personally participating in such an individual class.

Can a high-ranking official of a supranational organization like the Orthodox Church really move around this casually?

“We are people here to escort Your Highness. You can treat us lightly without any problem.”

…I’m used to taking care of people with broken personalities anyway.

Thinking that, I try not to look toward Gray. If I did, a retaliatory strike would immediately fly my way.

At Carlisle’s words, the princess nodded up and down earnestly while tears welled up in her eyes.

“But, but still… I can’t just casually treat people who are suffering for my sake like that.”

“…”

What is this? An angel?

After serving someone who would say things like ‘You should be grateful to be chosen for the task of escorting me’, hearing such words—

“…Miss, miss. Your Highness, the Princess is safe.”

“Tsk.”

Gray withdrew the foot she was about to kick Carlisle with.

Meanwhile, Her Highness the Princess looked back and forth between Gray and Carlisle with round eyes. She looked completely oblivious to what had just happened…

“…”

Hmm.

It feels like there are landmines scattered everywhere from the start.

‘Holy Sword.’

[What is it?]

‘Will this be okay?’

[It won’t be okay, obviously.]

‘…’

I’d appreciate it if you could say something even slightly hopeful.

“Today’s schedule is simple. We just need to go around this cave once. You can think of it as having an adventure.”

Carlisle continued speaking while matching the princess’s eye level.

Gently, so as not to frighten the child, leading the atmosphere so she wouldn’t lose interest.

[Do you have experience with children? You’re quite skilled at this.]

‘I’ve seen a lot of them.’

[…? I don’t think you’ve ever mentioned being married.]

‘Children aren’t just young kids. There are also kids who are just big in body.’

If it’s experience with seeing a kid who was uselessly strong and made him suffer to death, I have a lot of that.

[…What do you mean by that?]

‘…’

[…Explain.]

Ignoring the Holy Sword, Carlisle diligently escorted Her Highness the Princess.

It was a smooth process. If something hadn’t suddenly exploded at the cave entrance.

“—?!”

The princess was startled and hid behind Carlisle’s legs.

Then the dirt burst. From underneath, a Magic projectile shoots up.

However, Gray, who reached the front in an instant, casually knocked it away with the back of her hand as if it were bothersome.

“…It’s a Magic barrier.”

Gray said leisurely.

“Sometimes among monsters, the smart ones plant these to repel intruders and sound alarms. This is just recreating that for the mock battle.”

“—HICCUP.”

“So don’t be so scared. Are you a coward?”

“…”

There’s nothing she won’t say to a seven-year-old kid.

Meeting eyes with the princess who was startled and trembling while clinging to Carlisle’s legs, Carlisle smiled gently again.

“Sometimes there are surprising things like this, but don’t worry. Miss and I will protect Your Highness.”

“…Y-yes, yeeees—”

After coaxing and soothing her like this, Her Highness the Princess finally let go of Carlisle’s legs while sniffling.

“Miss. Could you please escort Her Highness a little ahead?”

“No.”

“…”

Please do at least that much.

Gray stood stiffly, looking at me with eyes that seemed to say ‘Who are you to make requests of me?’

“…Please. I have something to examine briefly.”

“What’s the compensation?”

“…I’ll somehow get you a few bags of snacks from the school festival.”

“Hmph.”

The negotiation was settled.

The big child took the small child’s hand and disappeared into the cave.

[Don’t view me and that thing the same way.]

‘That’s a difficult request.’

With that thought, Carlisle swept over the ground that had just exploded.

‘No matter how I think about it,’

It’s strange. 

That’s the thought that came to mind the moment I saw the barrier explode.

What just happened was absolutely not the kind of power that should come out in a ‘mock battle’ class like this.

Originally, there were devices like that, but it feels like someone forcibly amplified the power considerably.

“…Hero.”

[Yes.]

“When you said ‘obviously it won’t be okay’ earlier, did you mean this?”

Carlisle said while placing the device that had just detonated on his palm.

Sure enough, the feeling that someone had forcibly worked to greatly increase the power was transmitted.

But the real problem isn’t that

The terribly familiar ‘energy’ coming from it is the problem.

“This is death energy.”

The smell of sulfur.

The smell of hell clinging to the bottom of the soul.

◆

-System Message

▶ ‘Main Event: Ambush begins’.