Medal award ceremony.
It was a glorious occasion.
Especially since what we decided to receive was a medal given by the emperor.
‘Actually, the emperor was unable to attend due to health reasons.’
All decorations given by the emperor were the highest honors, but there were three that were particularly special.
-Imperial Cross
-Imperial Sword Medal
-Imperial Shield Medal
What I decided to receive was the Shield of the Double Empire.
It was the highest medal given when saving the empire from crisis.
For your information, I was the only one among the group I came with to receive this medal.
The mayor, Mariam Nooyi, also received a lower level medal, while the others received only the general level.
‘No, I just wanted to receive a general-level medal, so why did you exaggerate my achievements?’
It was all because of Sister Mariam.
This was because my achievements were greatly exaggerated when reporting to the imperial family.
-I haven’t inflated anything? I just wrote down the facts.
-Wasn’t it your sister who called the White Eagle Knights?
-It was your idea, so you did it.
-… Is it because you want to give a blow to those who have been ignoring me?
-no it’s not?! Please don’t get me wrong. You don’t care if people don’t know how great you are?
After briefly reminiscing, I sighed.
“… Therefore, Van Ecclesia is awarded the Imperial Shield Medal.”
“It is an honour.”
Everyone in the hall was in an uproar.
“Banregi received a medal, one of the three highest medals.”
“Isn’t it called semi-legendary now?”
“I still can’t believe it. That banregi has changed. “Isn’t that manipulating the achievements?”
“I’m sure the honorable Ecclesia family wouldn’t have done something like that. Still, it’s suspicious.”
“By the way, you look really handsome. Was Banregi always so dignified?”
“It’s a semi-legend.”
hmm.
Certainly the reaction of the capital’s nobility was different from that in the Free Cities.
Nowadays, it is difficult to find anyone in the Free City who openly ignores me.
This is because they saw and heard my performance firsthand.
On the other hand, in the capital, I still had a strong image of Banlegi.
This time too, ‘Banregi? really?’ It seems that many people react to that level.
‘thank god. If we keep quiet like this, the aggro will gradually subside.’
but.
“Raise your head.”
“!!”
My eyes met directly with the person in front of me.
It was the 2nd prince, Renius.
Since the emperor was unable to attend, he was awarding the medal on his behalf.
‘It looks like the culprit of this incident is being rewarded. ‘I’m shocked.’
Actually, it wasn’t shocking.
I was angry.
Because of his greed, he tried to kill many people in the Free Cities.
They even tried to kill the kids in my class.
‘This guy is more terrible than Sylphine.’
That was why.
The Black Flame Dragon suddenly had an unexpected accident.
“I can’t believe a hero like you appears. His Majesty the Emperor was also very happy. “To receive a medal.”
If you show your respect and receive the medal, everything will end smoothly.
however.
“sorry. “I cannot receive that medal.”
“!!”
Everyone in the hall widened their eyes.
Reject the medal!
This would be the first such incident to occur in the history of the empire.
but,
“This disaster is not over yet. “I will receive the medal after I catch the culprits who caused the disaster.”
“What do you mean? “Didn’t they kill all the three evil beasts on the spot?”
“What I’m talking about is the real ‘behind the scenes’ behind them.”
“!!”
2nd Prince Renius’ eyes hardened in shock.
Because he was the real mastermind.
I continued speaking while looking straight at 2nd Prince Renius.
“There is no way the three evils could have committed such atrocities on their own. “There must be someone who instigated it.”
“Isn’t it just a guess?”
“There is evidence.”
“!!”
2nd Prince Renius’ eyes wavered slightly.
I tried not to make it obvious, but I could see it clearly as I was standing right in front of it.
‘Actually, there is no evidence.’
It was a bluff, but it was enough to make Lenius agitated.
“What evidence is this?”
“I can’t tell you that. “The mastermind may be hiding here right now.”
“!!”
There was a lot of commotion in the hall.
For your information, as this is the highest medal award ceremony, all those gathered here are big names.
“What is Banregi talking about?”
“It’s a semi-legend.”
“Can you believe what Banregi says?”
However, there was someone who helped me.
“What Ban said is not a lie. “I will guarantee it.”
“!!”
It was Sister Mariam.
“We have secured half of the evidence, and we also have an idea of who is behind it.”
I looked slightly surprised.
Even though I had never guessed what to say, he guessed it right for me.
Anyway, Sister Mariam, unlike Banregi like me, is a big name in politics who may become the next head of Ecclesia.
The weight was different.
gulp.
I heard Renius swallowing his saliva.
If I reveal everything here, he will be finished.
‘Of course, it’s impossible to expose it because it’s all fake.’
What mattered was not the truth.
I ‘threatened’ him.
“Like Mayor Mariam said, I am guessing who is behind it. “I’m not going to make it public right now because I think the repercussions will be big, but if he does something stupid again, then I’ll make public all the evidence I’ve obtained and make him pay for what happened.”
The hall became noisy again.
The question was who was behind this?
Of course, Renius, the real mastermind, understood what I said.
“hahahaha. That’s amazing. Not only did he save the Free City, but he also guessed what was behind it. “It’s great.”
I pretended to be okay, but my complexion was pale.
‘it’s okay. ‘I won’t be thinking about doing anything for a while now.’
Of course, it wasn’t a threat that would last long.
2nd Prince Renius is no ordinary great man, so he will realize that my threat was a bluff.
‘But it’s enough to make you cringe for the time being. The four months that Duke Rafalte will cause will be too much.’
Afterwards, the medal awarding ceremony ended.
The others went straight back to the academy through the portal, and I stayed behind.
“Let’s have a meal with the whole family after a long time.”
My father, Duke Huam, caught me.
“What if it’s with the whole family?”
“Ron and Carl are home at the same time.”
I nodded.
I suddenly had a question and asked.
“How was I today?”
Duke Huam kept his mouth shut.
Then he looked at me.
Creepy.
To begin with, Duke Huam does not have a friendly personality.
He was blunt, but the way he looked at me just now was nothing compared to that.
cold?
no.
It was like an inorganic substance devoid of all emotions.
As if everyone in the world is viewed as a tool.
‘… This is the true face of Duke Huam.’
Of course, this did not mean that Duke Huam was a monster without blood or tears.
There was an exception.
It was ‘family’.
“father?”
“… no.”
Duke Huam quickly returned to his original expression.
“How do you look today? It was great. I’m proud of you. “He is also my son.”
“… … .”
“Anyway, I’ll see you in the evening. “Maybe even the youngest will show his face.”
Duke Huam touched my shoulder as if he was honored and then disappeared.
I realized one thing from that sight.
‘As expected, Duke Huam knows that the second prince is behind this incident.’
Even if you know, you are watching.
why?
‘Because Duke Huam’s true feelings are not revealed until the end in the scenario.’
Anyway, I shook my head.
A new problem has arisen.
‘The youngest might come in the evening?’
There are five brothers in the class.
Three of them are already acquaintances.
The only one I couldn’t meet was the youngest, the fifth child.
‘I was hoping we wouldn’t see each other again.’
The brothers in the class are all outstanding talents.
Among them, the youngest is the most outstanding.
The eldest, Rondo, and the second, Mariam, who was looking to become the next successor, were not enough for the youngest.
the problem is,
‘… The problem is that he is competent in a bad way.’
In other words, he was a person who should not have anything to do with.
There were really land mines everywhere.
‘What about the ascendant? Wouldn’t it be okay to just pretend not to know and leave the imperial palace like this? There was no talk of meeting separately.’
But, then there was a voice calling me.
“Brother Ban!”
“!!”
Clear high-pitched voice.
Turning my head, I wonder if he’s about 17 now?
A girl as pretty as a doll, about the same age as the students at the academy, was running towards me with a bright smile.
“long time no see! I missed you!!”
A call that originally seemed like a friendly relationship.
I came up with one setting.
Ban was a loner who was despised by everyone, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t have anyone he could call a ‘friend.’
One of them was the girl in front of me.
From Noble mtl dot com
‘Still, I never thought we’d meet like this.’
I was wondering what to call the girl and chose an easy answer.
“The great one who protects the empire… .”
A grandiose term.
Considering the girl’s ‘true identity’, even this modifier was insufficient.
However, the girl pouted her lips as if she did not like it.
“Do I get upset when you call me that? “Aren’t you going to call me like you used to?”
I felt embarrassed.
This girl was no longer Van’s ‘friend’.
The girl who was the protagonist of rare bright memories in ‘Ban’s memories no longer existed.
Because the girl is not just a ‘friend’ of ‘Ban’, but has become a ‘great being’ that no one in the empire dares to face.
However, like a stubborn child, he continued to whine.
“Ah, I always wanted to see you. “I guess he wasn’t half your brother.”
“… … .”
“Even when I asked you to let me run away, you pretended not to notice. “Coward~”
After hearing that, I had no choice but to listen to the girl’s request.
“… “I would like to meet Your Highness Esmeralda, Third Princess.”
At those words, the girl, the 3rd princess, smiled brightly as if she were class’s ‘friend’.
* * *
The 3rd princess chattered constantly.
“Do you know how much I missed Brother Ban?”
“Did you like me by any chance?”
“Wow. Please don’t get me wrong. Aside from the half-brother’s face, it’s not to my taste, right? I’m just bored. “Because no one talks to me.”
It wasn’t a lie.
I walked around the imperial palace and encountered many people, but no one tried to talk to the girl.
He just hurriedly paid his respects and disappeared as if running away.
Sick of fear.
Like facing a monster.
‘of course. Honestly, I’m scared too.’
The 3rd princess pouted her lips as if she sensed my thoughts.
“Just today… No, just play for half a day. If it’s too long, 2 hours… “Even if it’s just for an hour!”
“All right.”
“Really?”
“Instead, there is a condition.”
“What is it? “It shouldn’t be a problem~”
“Please stop pretending to be my friend.”
“!!”
The smile disappeared from the 3rd princess’s face.
Oh soso.
I felt a chill.
It was a fear that felt like it was crushing my soul.
It was not compared to any being I had ever met.
It was natural.
“Isn’t my friend Esmeralda already dead?”
I looked straight at the other person and said.
“Great Guardian.”
Lv. that protects the imperial family. 9 It was the title of the ascendant.