The Emperor, who let out a scream, was on the verge of fainting.
The unfocused pupils served as proof of this. Had the Knight not rushed out first, a catastrophe would have occurred where the pinnacle of continental power fell to the floor.
Indeed, it was the kind of reflexes one would expect from a martial artist who had seen the edge of a sword. Even I momentarily lost track of the new phase.
If there was only one blemish, it was the fact that the one who caused the Emperor to almost collapse was the Knight.
A hurried tone flowed from the maiden’s lips.
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Are you alright?!”
Still, being a member of the royal family, it seemed she used formal language during official duties.
However, the Emperor appeared to have no leisure to notice that change.
“Uncle would never… how could the pillar of our Imperial Court be like this? To think he had a desire to become such a small girl…!”
“…Nephew, what nonsense are you talking about?”
A grinding sound echoed as he gritted his teeth.
The source was, of course, the Knight. His complexion still bore a smile, but the form of his clenched teeth was unsettling.
It was on the verge of exploding.
Having sensed that, I slowly took a step back. I didn’t want to get caught up in a conflict among the royals.
The young woman assisting the Emperor seemed to share a similar sentiment. She was already trying to leave her spot when our eyes met, and she offered an awkward smile.
The premonition soon became reality.
“Even you and Sir Ian alone in a room… Ah, Shi-en… I’m sorry for being a foolish father…!”
“I’m telling you, that’s not true!”
Her outburst turned her ears bright red.
The sincerity of her words was reflected in the miniature furniture that was on the verge of being shattered by the aftermath. Only after causing such a commotion a few times could the Knight and I sit opposite the Emperor.
“…In other words, you’re saying the Great Witch turned my uncle into a girl?”
“Yes, would I willingly be in this state? It’s a problem related to the abnormal high temperatures in the central region, so I had no choice but to comply… Tch, what do you even think of this uncle?”
It took several minutes to convince the Emperor.
Even then, the Emperor still couldn’t shake off his skeptical gaze. He hadn’t even fully regained his composure, as the hand holding the teacup exhibited slight tremors.
And the Emperor did not commit the folly of hiding his doubts by trying to read his uncle’s mood.
That was understandable. He was undoubtedly the pinnacle of the continent.
“Is that really true?”
“Of course! How many men want to become a young and pretty girl?!”
Hmm, the Emperor swallowed heavily.
It seemed he deemed there was some validity in the Knight’s claims. Despite that, he didn’t completely dispel the look of suspicion.
“Surely, even uncles must have at least one secret preference.”
“…Is that for real?”
“During the times wandering the continent, there were no rumors of infidelity; how could I not have doubts when you look at swords every night? After all, you’re a human made of blood and flesh…”
Now, it was the Knight’s turn to fall silent.
The Knight cleared his throat and began to feign indifference. The slight blush on his face represented his embarrassment.
It seemed he at least had explanations.
“I can’t just spread the royal blood without proper reason.”
“No matter how, that cannot be… Huh, fine. In any case, that’s good news.”
The Emperor sighed deeply and turned his head.
He had the look of someone fully aware that saying anything more would be pointless. Instead of discussing his transformed uncle, he turned to me as a conversation partner.
“Ian Fercurus, you’ve been under a lot of stress. I’m sorry to make you indebted once again.”
“Oh, no! Everyone is suffering, so how could there be any debts?”
I blurted out a response in a tense manner.
However, to my surprise, the Emperor seemed to like my words. The old man’s hand, with a faint smile, stroked his beard.
“Indeed a knight’s exemplary statement. But what I’m grateful for is different.”
“…Excuse me?”
His confession made me tilt my head in confusion.
The central part of the Empire, including the Academy, was suffering from unprecedented abnormal high temperatures. I had also heard news that farms preparing for harvest were suffering greatly.
Moreover, the ‘Vampires’ and their bloodline were groups considered enemies of humanity’s mages.
That was no issue to be neglected. In other words, my words were sincere, not modesty.
The Emperor was not one to miss such things.
Seeing my bewildered expression, the Emperor offered a wry smile.
“Did I not say before? To make my daughter, Shi-en, a disciple of the Great Witch.”
“Ah! That’s what you meant. Since you mentioned something related to the royal family’s secret…”
“Have you heard of ‘Dragon’s Blood’?”
With the questions fired in succession, I closed my eyes and fell into thought.
‘Dragon’s Blood’.
There was no way I hadn’t heard of it.
“Are you referring to ‘Dragon’s Blood Script’?”
“That too is closely related to Dragon’s Blood. Did you not receive the ‘Dragon’s Blood’ in the past?”
My head nodded without delay.
The royal family’s vision elixir, ‘Dragon’s Blood’.
It was something that couldn’t easily be obtained. Its efficacy was that good, but the only route I had to acquire it was through winning the ‘Hunting Festival’.
Along with me, all my companions who participated in that year’s festival were awarded a vial each. I had actually taken it after drinking and passing out, though.
The Emperor began to tell the backstory about it.
“One of its materials is highly pure ‘Dragon’s Blood’. It’s refined over a long period from the blood of genuine royalty… Only with the reprocessed Dragon’s Blood can you grant the Dragon’s Blood Script.”
No wonder, I felt something was missing with the potion I hadn’t used.
Probably ‘that’ was used to grant the Dragon’s Blood Script.
Even if I had used it, I wouldn’t have found a more rational use for it. Thus, I felt thankful, and I didn’t curse it internally.
Instead, I carefully nodded in agreement with the Emperor’s words.
“Who knows that method…?”
“Of course, it’s only the reigning Emperor. The Dragon’s Blood Script doesn’t symbolize the Emperor’s representative for no reason… The moment you receive the Dragon’s Blood Script, the power of life and death is given to the grantor.”
It was a sudden revelation of a royal secret.
Without realizing the weight of that information, my dazed gaze turned to the Knight.
The Knight, who was elegantly sipping tea, confirmed the truth.
“…That’s correct. The Dragon’s Blood Script is closer to a concept that changes your constitution. It’s like refining the blood again. In that process, many authorities pass to the grantor. They can know the life and death authority, and even current position.”
“No, then…?”
“The structure makes it impossible for the Emperor not to trust it. Except, you were the exception.”
After hesitating for a while, I decided to choose silence.
I couldn’t imagine why such information was being handed to me.
The one who cleared that doubt was the Emperor.
“Anyway, you would’ve found out sooner or later… Somehow, you must have been in contact with the one who granted you the Dragon’s Blood Script, right?”
As he placed his teacup down with a thud, the Emperor’s gaze locked onto me firmly.
I was momentarily lost in thought, but he was not an opponent I could afford to let my guard down against.
In the meantime, he had concluded all his calculations.
No matter how precious the information, if the opponent had obtained it, it becomes worthless. Furthermore, by sharing such confidential information, he could apply subtle pressure.
Secrets that must not leak out can act as a kind of shackles.
However, it seemed the Emperor didn’t particularly intend to bind me.
“…In any case, to continue with the story about ‘Dragon’s Blood’. Every royal has this ‘Dragon’s Blood’. But sometimes, children are born with particularly thick ‘Dragon’s Blood.’”
“Princess Shi-en.”
The name that came reflexively poured from my mouth without filter.
“Is Princess Shi-en one of them?”
“Yes. In other words, her blood itself is different from normal people like us… And excessive talent can also become a curse.”
The Emperor sighed deeply and eventually leaned back against his chair.
He appeared fatigued at first glance.
“Throughout the long history of magic, there have been very few individuals with such talent. I wish my daughter would not despise her own power… After all, it’s the blood I passed down.”
“So, you wish for the Great Witch to become her teacher?”
“Correct. The royal family’s secret and all the rest… are useless phrases. My true intention lies therein.”
That was when I finally understood the Emperor’s words of apology.
“It’s a request from a foolish father.”
With a sad smile, the Emperor presented an offer that could not be refused.
“Help our daughter learn to love herself. She’s a child who has been wounded since childhood… The Great Witch should know how to wield that power.”
Helping the Great Witch would naturally give me a say in matters.
As the Great Witch had publicly declared, I would be able to influence the ‘selection of a disciple’. In that process, it would mean supporting Shi-en.
For a moment, I hesitated, but then I steeled myself and spoke.
“I will surely do so. However, I cannot confirm at this time how many of the vampire bloodlines are out there…”
“Oh, about that.”
The Emperor seemed to suddenly recall something and pulled out several documents from his robes.
They were lists. Written next to them were specific buildings within the Academy as well.
When I made a peculiar expression, the old man playfully winked.
“I’ve caught them all after hearing the report. Feel free to interrogate them.”
My tasks were drastically reduced in an instant.
I moved forward, still unable to shake the bewildering feelings.
“Can it really be this easy?”
“Then what?”
The indifference in the Knight’s response to my fundamental question was striking.
He appeared to be rather relaxed, even yawning.
“Does collecting information and securing key figures have to be difficult? The Emperor is at the Academy, and the Empire’s Intelligence Department is lurking in the shadows.”
“Yet, the Dark Cult wouldn’t be easily caught…?”
“Then you should do well.”
As he said this, the Knight smiled slightly.
It was a wild yet charming smile.
“Interrogation is not our job. The Intelligence Department is currently investigating the whereabouts of everyone missing for several days. There, they should reveal some information, but crucial details must be extracted directly.”
“Don’t you think the Intelligence Department could do better at the interrogation?”
“Identifying true vampires can be challenging. I can manage with commoners, but I can’t recklessly handle so many nobles.”
After all, the family of the Findleston, which held key positions in the Empire’s Intelligence Department, was also a noble family.
It would be difficult to suppress dozens or even hundreds of nobles without justifiable cause.
Still, the Knight didn’t seem particularly worried.
“But, didn’t you report earlier? That vampires have shown particularly sensitive reactions to you… Furthermore, due to the vampire’s spell, you’ve experienced changes as well. It’s worth looking forward to.”
“What if it still doesn’t work?”
“Then, we have to take action. What choice do we have?”
I didn’t utter the foolish question of ‘What action?’.
The lives of hundreds of students were in my hands.
Just then, while I was deep in thought,
“Ah! Senior Ian!”
The voice of a maiden grabbed my ankle.
Turning my gaze slightly back, I saw hair the color of the night sky fluttering. And with it, her unique gray eyes.
The Fifth Imperial Princess, Shi-en.
Although it had been a while since we last met, she was always a welcome sight as a junior. Just as I was about to wave back happily, a thought streaked through my mind like lightning.
Wait, ‘interrogation’?
As I hesitated for a moment, Shi-en offered a polite bow, smiling broadly.
“Have you been well? Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot about your reputation, Senior Ian.”
The one who looked astonished was the Knight walking alongside me.
The sight of the girl jumping up and down with wide eyes was quite a spectacle.
At least she was pretty.
“No, Shi-en! How could a royal bow so carelessly…!”
“…So, Senior Ian.”
However, the Knight’s anger didn’t last long.
Shi-en’s voice, which she spouted with a smile that remained, was particularly cold and sharp.
This must be the first time she had treated her niece this way.
The Knight froze, struck by shock. One could almost hear the sound of him crumbling.
No matter; Shi-en narrowed her gray eyes and asked,
“Who is this girl?”
Her gaze was undeniably colored by hostility.
The Knight was left looking miserable.
Autumn was a cruel season for the maiden.
