How to Survive at the Academy chapter 164

The Battle for Ed Roth Taylor (4)

After all this is over, let’s go home.

This is what the commanders always say when they go out on the battlefield.

As they come to the forefront and pull the trigger for their own reasons, what everyone suddenly comes to mind is the scenery of their hometown.

The fact that there is a place to return to gives strength to endure the harsh reality at times. Whether it was your hometown or the arms of your family. It may not be so strange to think of ending this hellish life and returning to my hometown.

Being rich in the hazy world of the unconscious, such a difficult time seeped into one side of my memory.

Unfortunately, in this world, there is no place to call home.

*“Ed sunbaenim was hurt a lot. Princess Selaha.”

The frozen atmosphere is still unwilling to melt as Selah appears.

A strange chill circulates between the people gathered around Ed Roth Taylor and Selah. The numerous nobles who followed Selah also felt that the atmosphere was unusual and held their breath.

“Of course, I also got involved in the Roth Taylor family genocide, and I have been injured quite a bit here and there. In Seonghwangdo, this is not going to be taken lightly.”

Saint Clarisse mobilized the best cause to somehow secure Ed’s recruits against Selaha.

“Ed is a baptized member of the Telos Church, but he is accused of helping to harm me as a saint. It’s like a lamb to be taken to Seonghwangdo for a trial of the Holy Law.”

“…”

“The holy law of the denomination is a solemn law that even I, a saint, cannot break without care. Ed’s recruits must be guided by our Seonghwangdo side.”

“The holy law of the solemn denomination deserves respect, but the law of our imperial family is also in a situation where it cannot be easily overcome.”

Selaha quietly lowered her eyes and spoke.

The holy law of the denomination and the law of the imperial family. Who has the upper hand between the two has changed over time.

The fierce confrontation between the teaching and the imperial powers spanned hundreds of years. Sometimes the laws of the Holy Family, sometimes the laws of the imperial family, took precedence.

Recently, as Emperor Chloel’s power has risen to the sky, the imperial laws have begun to take on more weight. If the two started to collide, the priests of the Holy Hwangdo had no choice but to be a little more sympathetic.

“More than ten high-ranking nobles in our empire have died. There are many seriously injured. How can we sit still in Chloel’s imperial court?”

Originally, Princess Selaha did not want to confront the Seonghwangdo side.

However, the situation itself is completely unusual.

Ed Roth Taylor is a key figure in the imperial power structure that will lead to cataclysm in the future.

Even if it’s not Selah, anyone who wants to be influential will want to secure Ed and Tanya’s recruits.

Among them, Selah is the first person to have access to the two recruits. Because he was on the spot.

However, blocking Ed’s side, the characters are all huge.

“…”

After meeting them in person, Selah suddenly had no choice but to swallow dry saliva.

It’s not just the friends we had together at the Sylvanian Bachelor, it’s the figure of a gang protecting Ed with a desperate determination.

Yenica and Lucy, who played an active part in the Crepin subjugation, are also staring at Selaha with a cold gaze.

The reason the two faced the disaster at the Roth Taylor mansion was that they were determined to protect Ed Roth Taylor rather than a heroic spirit to reduce the number of victims.

Standing blankly in front of the zelkova tree, she looked up at Lucy Meryl, who had her white hair fluttering in the air.

Only then did Selah realize. She is more of a disaster than a hero.

He is not driven by political logic or calculation of interests. money, power, fame. They have no interest in the values that ordinary people hold to high values.

I do what I think is right, and I don’t care about anything else… outside the world.

Do you intend to turn even the imperial family into an enemy if you make up your mind? Even those feelings come flooding in, and Sellaha gets a sense of it.

If you touch that man recklessly, you might get very angry.

However, if you leave it as it is, you may end up getting even more angry in the future.

Even though he doesn’t look like he’s in a hurry right now, big guys like this are already following Ed.

It seems certain that the imperial power will be threatened if even a small amount of power is acquired or begins to form a power.

I realized why Fenia Elias Chloel was so conscious of that man.

I don’t know which part of that man I’ve seen, but he has the power to bring the big guys together.

The shoots that will become a major root cause should be trampled down while still young. However, for Selaha, the methodology did not immediately come to mind.

Saint Clarisse seems to be even thinking of mobilizing political influence, and she cannot even use absolute force unless she mobilizes key personnel of the Imperial Army.

If we don’t secure Ed Roth Taylor here, we don’t even know when we’ll have a cause to subdue him again.

Selah’s intuition shouts. This is your last chance.

If he cannot be stamped with authority, he must first be brought to the imperial court, either by compromise or by deceit.

The next time you meet Ed Roth Taylor, you have no idea where he will be.

“Ed Roth-Taylor’s hard work deserves praise.”

Selaha slowly closed her eyes, opened them, and spoke.

“We need to take him to the imperial court and treat him, then report his hard work to Abamama so that he will be rewarded.”

When Selaha said that, the atmosphere among the members was reversed.

Selaha lowered her tail. Unbelievable that fact, there was a murmur among the nobles.

They couldn’t complain about what that meant against Selah, but they couldn’t help but stare at each other with bewilderment at the unexpected reaction.

“Of course the same goes for Tanya Roth Taylor. The reason I am trying to secure these two recruits is because I can best understand their position and represent them best within the Imperial Palace.”

Seeing Selaha’s reaction, Lortel chuckled under the robe.

Saying so, Selah is trying to hand over Ed Roth Taylor’s recruits to the Elte Chamber rather than the Imperial Court.

Even if the negotiations were successful, Ed Rothtailer would come under Lortel’s management anyway. In that case, with the support of the Elte Chamber, you will be able to recover your body, regain consciousness, and think about a new way to overcome Selaha’s back.

it’s an outsider

Since Selah has been involved so far, no matter which option she chooses, she will have no choice but to be drawn into a situation that favors Ed Roth Taylor.

Whichever way you choose, you’ll be left with nothing but the path leading to the cliff.

This is why the merchants of Old Deck never turn Lortel into an enemy.

Naturally, everyone had to look at Selah with questionable eyes.

It is suspicious that Selah, who had been so bound by status and authority, came out with such a cooperative attitude.

However, Selaha’s rant is a temptation of the devil.

If Selaha really sticks to Ed’s side, she can take an advantageous position in the fact-finding that will take place in the imperial family.

Princess Fenia will also be on Ed’s side… If they support each other, it might be a lottery, not a punishment.

“…”

It’s a natural story, but once Ed’s recruits are handed over to the Imperial Castle, it’s irreversible.

Once Ed’s life is taken hostage, everyone in the party is impatient. Therefore, it is difficult to hand over Ed’s recruits to Selaha easily.

That doesn’t mean you can’t become a body chased by the Imperial Castle like this. Ed Roth-Taylor is in desperate need of a break.

“The fact-finding and hearing are not necessarily done in the imperial family.”

At that moment, Tanya raised her dusty body and spoke.

“I will remain on this mansion site.”

At those words, Selaha and everyone else’s eyes turned to Tanya.

“There may be still living users, and restoration work on the mansion site has to be started. Because I can’t leave it like this. I’ll have to recover my father’s body too. All the people in the imperial family must return.”

“then…”

“I will take responsibility for the remaining family power.”

Young Tanya’s eyes remain alive.

Even though I don’t have anything in my hand anymore, I don’t feel emptiness or disappointment. Rather, a strong will remained.

“Whether it’s jail time or a reward, I want to do it after I finish what I have to do.”

Tanya quickly pulled out a thousand shabby things from her bosom. It was the torn cloak that Arwen was wearing.

The cloak was already full of dust and frayed here and there, but… the eagle, symbolizing the valor of the Roth Taylor family, was drawn like a purple one.

Tanya put on her cloak and tied her hair back in the wind blowing in the wind and spoke.

“Like it or not, I was the savvy heir to the Roth Taylors. So… now I am the head of the Roth Taylor family.”

In front of the broken and burnt down site of Roth Taylor’s mansion, Tanya speaks proudly as if she was like what it was like.

“I will make decisions about family matters. I also decide on my brother’s recruits. I will go.”

At those words, the whole group hardened like ice. Only Lucy was staring at him with sleepy eyes.

To claim to be the head of a family that is already in ruins is the same as declaring that I will burn to death.

The Roth Taylor family was a family that plotted rebellion against the imperial family, slaughtered high-ranking nobles, and even plotted to summon evil spirits.

However, the exact fact-finding has not been completed yet… Until the conviction is confirmed, you can exercise your decision-making right according to the family law.

“Whether Ed’s brother goes to Pulan, Oldek, Holy Emperor… or the Imperial House… it’s up to you.”

“But right now, Ed-senpai is unconscious.”

“no. I just woke up So I woke up.”

Lucy denied Clarice’s words. At the same time as those words, an alien sound was heard.

– Percussion.

The sound of a dagger hitting a zelkova tree.

Suffering from high fever and chills, it was difficult to control himself, but Ed slowly got up with his weight on the dagger. Ed’s party, who was facing Selaha, all looked at him in surprise.

“Ed!”

Yenika quickly ran and supported Ed’s body. Just by grabbing her shoulder, she felt the heat, and Yenika swallowed dry saliva. Ed’s physical condition was more serious than he thought.

“Ed, we need to go somewhere and get treatment…”

“Cool, cuddle..!”

Ed’s eyes slowly revealed through the messy bangs. All the faces of his companions entered his gaze.

“Kaa…”

“Ed brother. now…”

“I vaguely… heard what you were talking about…”

Grasping his hazy mind, Ed took hold of the center of gravity of his body.

It wasn’t a good situation, but Ed clenched his teeth and opened his mouth.

“I am… Whoops… Whoops…”

Tension swelled between the gang.

There is still a lot of vacation left in Sylvania.

Yenica Palerover must return to Pulan as scheduled, and Lortel Keheln must return to Old Deck to finish her business.

Clarisse is also in a position to return to Seonghwangdo, and Lucy has a pretty face.

Princess Selaha also intends to take Ed to the Imperial Castle to complete this task.

It is not difficult to choose who to follow. Lortel has already written all the tricks, so no matter which option you choose, the situation will eventually be in Ed’s favor.

Therefore, there is no such thing as a correct answer. Ed Roth-Taylor just… says whatever comes to his mind.

“Whoop, whoop, whoo…”

So, who will you go after in the end?

At the site of the burning mansion, he ended his long and bitter fate with the Roth Taylor family.

But there is still a lot of work to be done. ＜ Failed Swordsman of Sylvania > is still the journey left.

Still, Ed Roth-Taylor… wanted to rest for a while.

*The Imperial Central Army attacked the mansion site.

The well-trained Central Army quickly seized the scene and skillfully divided the manpower and began conducting field investigations.

Princess Selah saw the scene and wiped her face once. And I remembered the figure of a man looking down at everyone with a dying face.

“Ed Roth Taylor.”

Serving Dest in front of the majestic imperial carriage, Princess Selaha looked up at the ruined Ros Taylor mansion.

“What the hell is he worth…?”

In the eyes of Princess Selaha, that level of power was not seen.

However, the talented people gathered around Ed Roth Taylor are not easily accessible.

The intuition I have now is that his presence is likely to act as a bigger variable than I thought in the future competition for the emperor.

“By the way, I can’t see Penia.”

Fenia went out from the tent with cold eyes and did not show up at all.

“I heard that the imperial army reported that immediately after that, he rode out to the imperial castle on horseback.”

“What? You went back to the imperial court?”

“You seem to have decided on something… but… you seem to have moved quickly to reach the Imperial Palace before Princess Selaha.”

Selaha frowned and closed her mouth. Even Fenia, who was helpless, seems to have developed a will.

It’s not hard to figure out what you’re up to, but it’s something that goes a long way.

Only Persica is busy, but when even Penia starts paying attention to the emperor, things get more complicated.

After all, Ed Roth-Taylor is a landmine in many ways. The repercussions are too great if you try to tamper with it or dismantle it.

Selah swallowed her dry saliva.

Still can’t let it go It seems necessary to leave it on the side of the memory.

Sitting next to the carriage, I see a number of nobles returning to their estates after completing their investigations.

A procession of splendid wagons spurs towards their respective estates. Among them, you can see the carriage on which Yenica Pale Rover is riding and the carriage on top of which Lortel is riding. The same is true of the ridiculously large chariot of the Holy Emperor.

In any case, from the point of view of the imperial family, the person involved in the case was needed to properly testify about the mansion case.

Ed Roth-Taylor was the most suitable, but in the end Selah was unable to secure Ed due to strong checks.

Instead, it could have been negotiated to have the other party to the case face Hwangseong to testify as a substitute.

However, the opponent could not be held hostage or move according to Selaha’s intentions. Among Ed’s party, he threw the most out of control.

Selaha, guided by Death, climbs into the carriage and sees a girl lying on the seat across from her, waving her legs. There is no such thing as etiquette at all.

It is impressive to see the witch’s hat on her head while twisting her messy gray hair.

As if wondering what happened to the princess in front of her, the girl lay down on the carriage and exhaled a shaky breath.

Lucy Meryl.

The sorceress who will attend the imperial investigation as a replacement for Ed Roth Taylor… was a time bomb beyond Selaha’s control.

It’s unlikely that this wizard will be cooperative, so all Selahah can do is send her back after investigating.

It was a completely unsuccessful compromise.

* The completed Lortel’s villa was not as big as expected.

With those resources, he would be able to build the largest mansion on Aken Island, but Bellmaia tilted her head at the surprisingly modest scale.

Still, after seeing Ed’s camp scene, it made sense. If Lortel’s residence is too large, a sense of incongruity will arise.

Lortel just wanted to live with Ed and live with him, not to overwhelm him with his splendid wealth.

Therefore, the size of the small villa was understandable.

“If you come back from vacation, you can live there right away.”

The northern forest where the crescent moon shines.

Bell Maia, who came to inspect the camp after work that day, felt a new sense of emptiness.

The biggest reward I got from working as a maid in Ophelis Hall was to help students who were having a hard time adjusting to an unfamiliar environment and to maintain their lives.

That’s why this vacation period, when students leave Aken Island, feels empty. I’m quite used to it now, but when I play around the empty Ophelis Hall and the Bachelor, I get a strange feeling.

That said, when it comes to school, I’m too busy again… There’s no middle ground. It’s not a bad environment for her, who is a workaholic.

After closing the door at Lortel’s small villa, Bel Maia stretched once to relieve her wrinkled body.

The way she stretches, who is always cold and blunt, feels unnatural, like a robot stretching.

Is it because there is no one watching, the tension is relieved a bit?

Obviously, Bell Maia was also influenced by the relaxed atmosphere of late summer.

A shadow of a grasshopper brushed past the crescent moon. Only then, when he became aware of the sound of grasshoppers on a summer night, the sound of a skeleton tickles his ears.

Leaves swaying in the moonlight. The sound of them rubbing each other faintly settled between the camp buildings.

Idaji is also peaceful, as if you have come to another world.

With that thought in mind, the moment I turned around to return to the Ophelis Hall, a boy appeared from among the grass.

“…!”

Bell Maia, who maintains a somewhat blunt expression on her face, was also a little surprised this time.

Ed Roth-Taylor, who he knew had returned to his hometown, stumbled through the grass and walked into the camp.

Even if I pretended, my face was red and lameness was not a normal condition.

Taking advantage of Bellmaia’s bewilderment, he slumped down on a tree stump near the campfire… and dropped the leather pocket he was carrying on his shoulder.

His luggage bounced off the floor several times.

“Eh, Master Ed? Weren’t you going back to school at the end of vacation? The others… how…?”

When Belle Maia asked in bewilderment, Ed Rothtaylor took hold of his hazy mind and swept his face.

“You were at camp, Bell.”

“…Yes? Oh yes…”

“Light a fire. It’s a bit difficult for me to use magic right now.”

Saying that in a dying voice, Bell lightly drew his magic power and started a bonfire.

As if welcoming the owner who returned after a long absence, the camp fire subtly lit the surroundings.

Ed sat in front of him, swept his face, and sat down with his head down, with his forearms resting on his knees.

The warm heat tickled his face.

The smell of grass, along with the familiar sound of insects at night, stimulated the tip of my nose. Ed felt the strength in his shoulders loosened and his stiff muscles slowly relaxed.

Bell Maia looked at it… and stood behind her without saying a word for a while.

The shadow of the camp, which had been dangling in the moonlight, also split into several branches and covered the camp when a new light source called a bonfire appeared.

The heat of the fluttering flames seemed to rub his body.

“…was the journey difficult?”

Bell, who had been waiting for Ed for a while with his hands clasped behind him, asked slowly.

Ed thought for a moment when he heard the question.

Those who roamed the battlefield would eventually wander in search of a place to return to. Wasn’t he too different?

The traces of suffering, rolling, and clenching teeth after falling into this world for the first time remain intact in this camp.

The first wooden shelter I made, the first fishing rod I made, the first campfire I made, the hut, spear, hunting tools, shackles, wild animal skins, magic training books, woodworking bench, hammer, fishing net….

Was this camp the place to return to after turning around?

I was more attached to this camp than I thought, where we had a hard and hard time together… I wanted to come back even with a body that had been torn apart.

Ed refused the proposals of his friends to return with him, and eventually returned to the camp alone.

Yenikawa, who was about to abandon her plan to return home, Lortel, who was willing to follow even at the expense of her business, and Clarisse, who tried to adjust the entire schedule of the prosperous period, all refused. Tanya even encouraged her to recover from the body because she would stay in the mansion to finish the work.

She glances up at the crescent moon in the sky… and ponders Bellmaia’s question.

Was the journey difficult?

Of course, this trip on vacation was difficult.

Returning to the Roth Taylor mansion, fighting for his life, somehow ending his affair with the Roth Taylor family, was torn apart. Although it was a brief summary of the journey, it was so arduous and difficult that even Ed, who never said anything he hated, had no choice but to sing a song.

There was still a lot of work left to be done.

He somehow ended his affair with the Roth Taylor, but it seems that he exerted some influence on the imperial power structure, and had to think about what to do with the remaining power of the Roth Taylor family. There is still no clear way to catch Seong Chang-ryong Velbroque, and there are still plenty of academic calendars left for next semester.

Of course, it’s never been easier to look at the road you’ve been through. From the days when they lived together to survive in this forest to the present, Ed lived every moment trying hard.

So, the place I wanted to finish work and return to was… in front of this campfire.

“Of course it was difficult. I almost died several times.”

Then Ed answered.

“So… I wanted to come back here quickly.”

“…”

Bell glanced at Ed’s back, clasping his hands. He looked like he needed nursing care right away, but now he seemed to want to be alone.

Still, I was worried about leaving it unattended, so I was thinking about it for a while… and suddenly I felt uncomfortable.

“By the way… you finally spoke up.”

“Yes, you win.”

“I’m glad you understand. However, because of a change of heart…”

“Hey, Bell.”

Ed bowed his head and called out Bell’s name softly.

Through this vacation’s journey, I feel like I’ve finally tasted the life of Ed Roth Taylor.

＜ Failed Swordsman of Sylvania > Act 1, Scene 1. It is the life of a third-rate villain who is the first to leave.

The moment when the whole journey began… Ed Roth Taylor discovered the scene where he was about to end his life and vaguely remembered the senior maid who would have stopped him, and he spoke in a low voice.

“You are a better guy than I thought.”

“…”

“I am grateful in many ways.”

At his sudden words, Bell tilted his head for a moment…

“It’s overrated.”

With that said, Bell left the camp at a quiet pace, leaving him in front of the bonfire.

He suddenly turned around and saw him resting in front of a soft bonfire in the dark forest.

From tomorrow onwards, I should definitely check his physical condition, but I think I should let him feel the scent of camp alone for tonight.

The chief of the maid of Ophelis is always good at getting things done. Reading my employer’s inner thoughts and letting them go as they please is probably a necessary virtue.

So Ed Roth-Taylor sat in the corner of the camp for a while, watching the bonfire.

There was a lot of work left to be solved, but I needed time to forget everything for a while and take a break.

Quiet summer nights deepen. The pale crescent moonlight permeated through the forest.

The long summer vacation was slowly coming to an end.