"Hoo…"
Yuri let out a sigh.
He was currently standing at the entrance ceremony of the Academium.
"How did it come to this…"
Some time had passed since he arrived in the Empire. One thing led to another, and he found himself having to enroll in the Academium. Though he was a hero of the Allied Army, here at the Academium, he was nothing more than a first-year student.
As he closed his eyes and lamented his situation, someone seated a short distance away shot him a fierce glare.
Probably someone who would become his rival.
And in another direction, a female student with a pretty face was yawning.
She seemed like someone who would become his companion in facing future hardships.
Before long, the principal's address came to an end.
The students moved to their assigned classrooms. Strangely enough, Yuri had been placed in the class with the lowest aptitude.
Yuri chose a seat in the middle, where he wouldn't stand out.
Then suddenly, a high and beautiful voice rang out from behind.
"Could you move? I can't see the board because of you."
He turned around and saw a familiar face. Yuri's eyes widened.
"Huh? What are you doing here?"
"What are you talking about?"
She furrowed her delicate brows.
"Stop talking nonsense and move."
Yuri quietly stared at her face.
All her features were packed into that tiny face. It was a face he had once grown accustomed to, but seeing it again now, he wondered how he had ever gotten used to such beauty.
"Ekaterina."
"You know me?"
She tilted her head. The face that had looked annoyed now held a trace of curiosity.
Yuri realized it.
"This is a damn dream."
"A dream?"
"Yeah, a dream."
Right now, he was wandering the world of dreams.
"Since it's a dream, I might as well do what I want."
Yuri suddenly stood up from his seat and glared at Ekaterina.
"To think you betrayed me. I never expected that from you. You're really awful, Ena."
Without realizing it, Yuri had called her by her nickname.
"What kind of nonsense are you…"
"You wicked…"
Yuri wanted to slap Ekaterina's cheek, but couldn't bring himself to. Instead, he gathered strength in his fingers and flicked her forehead.
It was a prank the two of them used to do often. But unlike back then, this time, he meant it.
He flicked her so hard that Ekaterina's head came clean off.
"Huh?"
He hadn't meant to kill her, but seeing her neck separate, Yuri froze.
The students in the class all turned to stare at him.
They all had the same face.
"Murderer."
"Murderer."
"Murderer."
"Murderer."
Countless voices rang out as if they were one.
Yuri covered his ears. There were so many echoes that his ears hurt.
Ekaterina's body, now without a head, began to sway and tremble.
Then suddenly, from the severed stump of her neck, a black snake burst out.
***
"Gah!"
Yuri opened his eyes in shock.
As he sat up, he saw Jared collapsed by the bed, clutching his chin.
Was it a dream?
He recalled what had just happened.
The black snake lunged at him, and Yuri, reacting like the seasoned knight he was, struck its mouth without hesitation.
He thought he hit it well, but when he opened his eyes, it was reality.
Mumbling the words he hadn't managed to say before waking up, he muttered,
"Too slow."
Jared stared at him in disbelief.
"Your Highness?"
"Oh, Jared. I wasn't talking to you."
"What kind of person throws a punch as soon as they wake up?"
"Someone came at me in a dream."
Yuri sat up.
Perhaps because of the unsettling dream, he didn't feel great. His overall condition felt sluggish.
Was it the alcohol from last night, or the strange dream?
As he mulled over its content again, a wave of absurdity washed over him.
"After all that suffering, suddenly I'm enrolling in the Academium…"
It made no sense.
He should've woken up the moment the entrance ceremony started.
He was glad it was just a dream.
"Jared, I didn't mean to hit you, but I'm sorry."
"Apology accepted."
"I had this dream, and—"
"Oh, by the way, Your Highness. Aren't you going to the Academium today?"
"What?"
Yuri looked at him in shock.
"Why do you look surprised? You're going to the Academium today, aren't you?"
"Huh? Ah, yeah. That's right."
Yuri let out a sigh of relief.
"So that's why I had such a ridiculous dream."
He had been invited to the Academium as a special guest lecturer.
He had gotten connected when he admitted Gott to a rehab clinic, and being one of the most prominent figures on the continent, the Academium had asked him to give a lecture.
For Yuri, it was a welcome opportunity.
"Finally, I'll get to see that guy's face."
"That guy?"
"Edran."
"Aha…"
He was the one who had sold drugs to Gott and hired Pamia from behind the scenes.
At first, Yuri had planned to abduct him, but perhaps fearing retaliation, Edran always traveled with his family's soldiers as bodyguards. So Yuri hadn't been able to meet him alone.
But at the Academium, he couldn't bring bodyguards.
Yuri planned to use this opportunity to have a friendly chat with him.
"And while I'm at it, I'll check on the students from Briol too."
Since they were struggling abroad, the prince ought to commend their hard work.
If they changed their minds and defected to the Empire, it would be a national loss.
"My jaw hurts."
"Endure it."
Yuri stood up.
"I overslept. We'll have to leave right away."
"Yes, Sir Laurent has already made all the preparations."
"Well done."
Yuri washed up, put on clean clothes, and, as always, strapped Guilty to his waist before leaving the Duforia Hotel.
The carriage was already waiting for them.
Apparently, the arrangements had been made, and the coachman politely greeted Yuri.
"I shall take you to the Academium."
The carriage arrived at the destination in no time.
Standing tall in the middle of a massive estate, the Academium looked more like a fortress than a school.
Through the building's windows, students in class could be seen, and in the training grounds outside, others were practicing swordsmanship.
Their skill wasn't bad.
"So this is it. The place where I'll give my lecture."
Yuri stepped out of the carriage, paid the fare, and entered.
The tuition fees were said to be high, and sure enough, the interior facilities were lavish.
Beyond the main hall, carpets were laid along the corridor, and on the walls hung portraits and bios of the famous alumni the Academium had produced.
The dean came out to greet him.
"Your Highness, thank you for accepting our invitation."
"And you are?"
"I'm Peter, the dean of the Academium."
"Nice to meet you."
Peter was not known for swordsmanship or magic, but as a scholar. While Yuri didn't sense a strong aura from him, his round eyes behind his glasses were filled with intelligence.
"We didn't expect you to really come. The students of the swordsmanship department, in particular, have been looking forward to this lecture."
"Swordsmanship department, huh…"
Gott, whom he had hospitalized, and Dale, who had lured him to the Duforia Hotel, both belonged to the swordsmanship department.
As Yuri recalled Dale, someone he could never have imagined learning swordsmanship, he asked:
"I'm just curious, but, do they expel students if their skills are too poor?"
"No, that's not the case. They simply continue their training in the lower-tier classes."
"I see…"
"May I ask why you're asking that?"
"I saw someone who belongs to the swordsmanship department, but he was so weak, I could hardly believe he was learning swordsmanship."
"Hahahaha…"
The dean laughed.
"I can't say there aren't such students. They're poor souls who were forced to come here by their families."
"I figured."
"Well then, shall we head to the lecture hall?"
The dean took the lead and walked up the stairs.
Upon reaching the third floor and passing through a large door, a vast auditorium unfolded. The audience seats stretched all the way up to the ceiling, with the stage at the center.
Yuri nodded.
"Spacious."
"Yes, all students from every department are scheduled to attend."
"Will they all fit?"
"They will."
Yuri smiled.
"So when does the lecture begin?"
"They're scheduled to gather after the next class. There's a waiting room over there—shall I arrange a private space for you to rest?"
"No need. I'll stay here."
"Understood. The other lecturers will be arriving soon as well."
"How many are there?"
"Two, including you."
"Got it."
Behind the podium was a large room meant for the lecturers to rest.
As soon as he sat down, Yuri admitted,
"We've got a problem."
"What is it?"
"I haven't prepared a single thing for the lecture."
"Pardon?"
"What should I do?"
"Then why did you accept the offer?"
"How else was I supposed to get inside and either kill or beat up Edran?"
"You accepted a lecture for that reason? Your Highness, honestly…"
Jared let out a dry chuckle. Beside him, Laurent offered a serious suggestion.
"Talk about your time with the Allied Army, mix in some life lessons, and pretend there's some deeper meaning. You can pass it off as life advice."
"That's a good idea. Laurent, you've got a surprisingly cynical streak, don't you?"
"Oh, no, not at all. I'm only thinking of your benefit, Your Highness…"
Just then, a commotion started outside. It seemed like a staff member was speaking with someone, and soon the door burst open.
"Why do I have to give a lecture in a place like this?"
"Please understand, you already accepted the offer…"
"I said I couldn't do it, didn't I?"
"I apologize. It's too late to cancel today…"
"I said I won't do it. Is there a problem with that?"
"N-No, sir…"
He was a mage, dressed in a robe.
He looked to be in his forties, and his difficult temperament was written all over his face.
His brows were furrowed, and whenever he complained, wrinkles spread across his entire forehead.
"How much do these brats even understand of my lecture…"
Then his eyes fell on Yuri.
He narrowed one eye.
"What's with that kid?"
"I believe he's one of the lecturers…"
"Academium's really gone downhill."
Yuri tilted his head.
Ever since his interview in Monthly Empire, no one had picked a fight with him like this.
Could there really be someone in the capital who didn't recognize the face that had graced the front pages of newspapers and magazines?
Jared whispered,
"His eyesight seems bad."
"Really?"
"He squints whenever he talks. It's probably because he can't see."
"I thought he was just scowling because he's got a nasty temper."
"That too. He's blind and has a nasty temper."
At that moment, the mage snapped,
"What are you whispering about?!"
The man beside him, flustered, hurried over to Yuri.
"Um, the mage is a little… not in the best mood right now…"
As he spoke, he caught sight of Yuri and his eyes widened.
"Huh? Prince Yuri of Briol?!"
"That's right."
"Wow, I didn't know the prince was one of the lecturers. It's an honor to meet you. I read your interview—loved it."
"Thanks."
The mage squinted at Yuri again.
Yuri asked the man,
"Why doesn't he wear glasses?"
"He's just really stubborn…"
"You there, boy!"
"Yes?"
"Come here."
The mage, having realized who Yuri was, seemed to have decided to just ignore him. Rather than loudly complaining, he sat down and started pestering the man next to him.
The man could only bow his head and respond obediently.
Yuri patted Jared on the shoulder.
"Be thankful you've got a good boss."
"Yes, sir…"
Yuri sat with Laurent and Jared, talking about the lecture, while the mage grumbled alone in the corner.
Jared whispered,
"I asked an Academium staff member earlier. Apparently, he's pretty famous in the capital. He's from the Empire branch of the Mage Tower, and rumor has it, his students drop like flies."
"Is he any good?"
"Just around expert level? They say his lectures are boring, but he really enjoys giving them. He uses them to brag about himself."
Jared chuckled quietly as he whispered.
As they continued chatting, noise began to grow outside. Countless footsteps echoed through the building—it seemed the students were taking their seats in the lecture hall.
Soon the dean entered the waiting room. When the door opened, a buzz of chatter spilled in.
"Today, two individuals will be delivering lectures. Hmm, the first speaker will be…"
Yuri raised his hand. He wanted to finish his lecture quickly so he could spend the remaining time having a private talk with Edran.
But the mage raised his hand as well.
"I'll go first."
"I raised my hand first, though?"
"Does that matter?"
"Then what does?"
Yuri stood up. The mage flinched slightly.
The dean stepped in to mediate.
"Ha ha, let's not fight. I'll just flip a coin…"
The dean flipped a coin to determine the order. In the end, the mage would go up first.
The mage dramatically flicked his robe and strutted out confidently.
Yuri's eyebrow twitched. He rose from his seat.
"Your Highness, what are you doing?"
"I'm curious."
Yuri said,
"I want to see what that mage's lecture is about. Want to come?"
"Uh, sure."
Yuri exited the waiting room with Laurent and Jared in tow.
In that instant, every gaze in the lecture hall turned to Yuri.
The mage, standing on the podium, twisted his face in displeasure.