2
Hero Academy.
That was the name of the game I possessed.
As the name suggests, it was about protagonists growing into heroes at the academy, confronting the forces of evil.
‘Whether it’s the forces of evil or whatever, it doesn’t concern me. The protagonists will handle it anyway.’
I leisurely sipped my tea.
‘I should enjoy this. Diamond utensils are the best.’
The Ban family was considered the top in the empire.
If you equate it to South Korea, it was one of the largest conglomerates, so one could achieve the dream of playing and eating as much as they wanted.
‘Live quietly, receive a reasonable share of the wealth, and then become independent.’
Although ‘Ban’ was not the eldest son but the third child, it was better.
No burdensome obligations to impose.
‘Even if you inherit only the leftovers of a duke, you can become richer than a Gangnam building owner.’
A bright and sunny future naturally brought a smile.
“hehehe. Nice. Very nice.”
A somewhat cringe-worthy voice unintentionally came out of my mouth.
‘Ah, frustrating. Can’t I fix this way of speaking?’
It was due to the awakened latent trait ‘Charisma of the Black Flame Dragon’ after possession.
Every action of mine was filled with adolescent fantasies.
For example,
“Master, I will clear the tea cups.”
“Very well. You’ve worked hard. I won’t forget your efforts.”
A dignified voice.
The original intention was to say, ‘Thank you for your hard work,’ but it came out translated like that.
The maid looked at me as if saying, ‘What did this kid eat wrong?’ and I felt embarrassed.
‘I was always the odd one out even on Earth, so this way of speaking doesn’t suit me.’
Whether fortunate or unfortunate, the charisma of the Black Dragon didn’t show any sign of my embarrassment and confidently displayed itself.
As the maid left, I muttered again in my juvenile way.
“hehehe, it’s good. Life is like a paradise.”
I am a famous eccentric called ‘Baron Eclesia’.
So even though I had become an adult, I held no position in the aristocracy.
Eating, sleeping, and fooling around were all I did.
‘This is the life I’ve always wanted!’
Just as I was about to take a nap, the butler came to find me.
“Master, the Duke is summoning you.”
“My father?”
I looked puzzled.
I had only seen him a few times since becoming a ‘Baron’.
‘I have to make a good impression on the Duke.’
The Duke was my only shield in this world.
If I were to be driven out of the aristocracy, this peaceful life would come to an end.
“Understood. I will go now. Please give my regards to Father.”
Was I being juvenile again?
The butler looked at me with a strange expression.
“Something has changed about you.”
“…Speaking foolishly. I merely discovered the dignity that I should originally possess as a Duke’s lineage.”
The original intention was to say, ‘No, I am trying to show courtesy as the Duke’s child.’
Transcendent translation pause.
“…Nevertheless, your confident demeanor looks better than before. Fortunately. Perhaps the Duke might change his mind as well.”
“??”
What is he talking about?
“Please hear the details from the Duke. I sincerely wish good luck to the young master’s future.”
The butler left, leaving behind something tremendously ominous.
I knocked on the Duke’s office with a perplexed face.
Knock. Knock.
“Father, sir, it’s Ban. I’ve come as summoned.”
“…Come in.”
A cold voice echoed.
In front of the desk by the French window where the sunlight poured in like backlighting, a middle-aged man with a cold impression was seated.
Duke Eclesia of Houam.
He was not only the father of this body but also a giant recognized in the empire, a named character with a significant influence on the game.
‘This charisma is no joke. Is it not on par with the charisma of my Dark Flame Dragon?’
His gaze was sharp as a blade.
Unlike me, a fake dressed up, it was ‘real’ charisma.
‘Not just a simple noble, but also in charge of the Sword Masters and even the administration.’
He was the epitome of deception.
‘…I shouldn’t waste my breath needlessly.’
I made an effort to appear as polite as possible, waiting for the Duke to speak.
In the Duke’s gaze upon me, a hint of contempt brushed through.
“Ban, I’ve decided to expel you from the aristocracy.”
I couldn’t quite grasp the meaning for a moment.
‘…Expel me?’
I was taken aback belatedly.
It meant I would be cast out from my family.
‘Why, all of a sudden?!’
“…Why, indeed? Please state your reasons.”
I was bewildered, but I had been through thick and thin.
I asked without showing my surprise.
The ‘Charisma of the Black Flame Dragon’ added dignity and confidence to my demeanor.
The Duke seemed momentarily surprised by my appearance, but in a cold tone, he uttered.
“Do you not know? Look back at all the garbage you’ve committed so far.”
“……”
As my sister said, I, ‘Ban,’ was the worst scoundrel in the Empire.
“As the Ecclesia Duke, we do not acknowledge those without qualifications into our bloodline. I have waited long enough as a father. I no longer wish to see the likes of you. Leave the family immediately.”
Sincerity was palpable.
The Duke was truly attempting to sever ties completely with his son.
“No! After becoming a diamond spoon, how can something like this happen!”
I clenched my fist.
“I need to persuade.”
Who am I?
I am the business genius from my past life.
I began to find a way.
“Right now, the Duke isn’t genuinely hating the ‘half.’ It’s layered disappointment.”
I didn’t become a business prodigy just by bowing my head.
I had to give the reaction the other party desired.
“Bowing down here and apologizing outright won’t work. They’ll see it as fake.”
I had to take a different strategy.
“What the Duke wants is a change in his son. He needs to see a confident appearance.”
“Do you not regret this decision?”
“!!”
I was shocked.
Originally, I intended to say, “Please reconsider,” but due to the transcendent translation, an overly formal tone came out.
“Of course, I understand that my past is regrettable. However, it seems your father is also trapped in the past. It’s spoken without thinking straight.”
“…Have you changed?”
“As my father is witnessing at this moment.”
“You…”
The duke glared at me as if he could kill me.
As if he could pierce through my insides.
I felt my heart pounding with tension, but I steeled myself.
“I can’t afford to lose here.”
Even while bending my waist, in business, you must instill trust when necessary.
Now is the time to assertively move forward.
The charisma of the Black Flame Dragon assisted me.
The duke twitched his eyebrows at my confident demeanor.
“…You’ve changed. To a subject I couldn’t even look in the eyes before.”
“…”
“But I still can’t trust you.”
The duke clenched his fist.
“Here’s what we’ll do. Either dedicate yourself to the military or enter a government position to prove that you’ve changed.”
I inwardly made a face, chewing on the expression of swallowing excrement at his words.
Both paths were full of hardships.
“To face the forces of evil head-on in both the military and government.”
The duke chuckled mockingly.
“When members of our family reach adulthood, they are aware that they must serve in the military or government office for a mandatory period of four years, right? You’ve simply been delayed due to being deemed irredeemable trash.”
Come to think of it, even in the game, ‘Ban’ held some kind of position. But that was just because he behaved like garbage.
‘What should I do? Neither the military nor bureaucracy is acceptable.’
I know the scenario of this game inside out.
Both had to be avoided at all costs.
However, judging by the atmosphere, not doing anything would be a crisis of being expelled from the family.
Being expelled from the family would be the end of my goal of living a comfortable life.
With the knowledge from the game, I can somehow survive, but I’ll have to go through tremendous hardships.
‘I need to come up with a solution.’
At that moment, a brilliant idea struck me.
“Isn’t it necessary to serve only in the military or bureaucracy?”
“What?”
“I will fulfill the family’s duty in academia.”
The Duke looked puzzled.
“Academia? You?”
Here, academia refers to educational institutions.
In other words, the academy.
I have to become a professor.
‘Compared to a soldier or bureaucrat, being a professor is much better.’
Soldier, bureaucrat, professor.
Isn’t the title of professor the most comfortable-sounding?
And I had a secret weapon to suck up to the professor.
“Yes, I can do it no matter what.”
But then, a problem arose.
The duke suddenly exploded like a fire.
“Even those who call themselves talents cannot go to the place of the academy’s faculty, and you think you can? Are you trying to insult me right now?”
Matching the title of “Hero Academy,” the academy had a great prestige in the empire. The professors had high status, and only the best talents could stand in the academy’s lecture hall.
“Or, could it be that you’re seeking my recommendation? You!! Because of what I did to prevent you from being expelled from the academy, how much disgrace did I suffer?! That’s it! It’s my fault for trying to take your story seriously!”
The duke rose from his seat with a fierce energy.
I was shocked, as if I had seen a ghost.
“Calm down.”
“Calm down?! Don’t make me laugh. I could just…!!”
“I will become a professor of magic.”
“What?! You, who couldn’t even reach the first rank after studying for 10 years?!”
“Father, I am clearly saying that I will become a professor of magic.”
“!!”
Was it because of the power in my voice?
The duke was taken aback.
“I have a plan. I will not only be appointed as a professor, but also establish a merit recognized by the academic community.”
“…What kind of nonsense are you talking about?”
I thought to myself.
‘If it’s my Master Sorcerer ability, then it’s possible.’
– Possesses the potential to become the Master of Magic!
– Instinctively penetrates the essence of magic!
From Noble mtl dot com
It could be said that it was an ability specialized for professors.
Of course, I had a weakness for magic insensitivity.
‘It’s not necessary to be strong to become a professor.’
Magicians are divided into two types.
Practical type and scholar type.
I thought of becoming a ‘magic scholar’ and a professor in the field of magic theory.
‘With my Master Sorcerer ability, magic theory should be a piece of cake. I’ll be able to enjoy the life of a professor while sucking up the benefits.’
But there was still a problem.
I had to persuade the Duke.
“Even if I say it, he won’t believe it.”
Not only did he not believe, but the atmosphere was such that he could beat me up right away.
Distrust towards ‘half’ was deeply rooted.
‘There’s only one way at a time like this. I have to throw a strong winning move.’
“I will prove it to my father.”
“How are you going to prove it?”
“Please spar with me.”
“What?”
The duke looked at me as if I were crazy.
Of course, I knew I was crazy.
Because such a message had come to mind.
＜The judgment of the matchmaker’s judgment is manifested before the match with the duke!＞
It was one of the latent abilities I had opened.
The ability to know the odds.
– Chances of winning against the duke in a match: 0%
But.
“I’m not asking to spar right now. I’m not ready yet. So… how about a month from now?”
＜The judgment of the matchmaker’s judgment is manifested again based on a month of training!＞
– Chances of winning against the duke in a match a month later: 0%
It remained unchanged.
It was only natural.
The duke was a sword master, after all.
There was no way I could win in just a month.
Even so.
The charisma of the Black Flame Dragon lifted the corners of my mouth.
Different from my previous personality.
A voice, unpleasant even to my ears, flowed.
“On that day, I will present astonishment to my father.”
The reason I threw such a crazy bet.
Finally, this message came to mind.
– The probability of being able to serve a blow to the duke after one month of training: 100%