Chapter 111: One Eyed Inspector (9)

「When I see it, it seems your growth was not achieved by mere effort alone.」

Emperor Leonidas.

He stroked his square jaw as he looked down at the one-eyed inspector.

「Once every year, I visited the Academy to see how bright the future of the nation was. And, each time, there was one question that arose.」

Whenever the ruler of the Empire spoke, the masses collectively held their breath.

Thanks to that, his voice resounded majestically through the vast stadium.

「Why is it that the current generation is not stronger than the last?」

At the Emperor’s question, the Academy professors wore heavy expressions.

Among them, the white-haired headmaster seated in the VIP section lowered his head in embarrassment.

「Even though we have veteran professors who have experienced war and far more improved facilities.」

I silently watched his speech.

「And after investigating for myself, I realized that today’s young people lack one thing.」

Leonidas tapped the deep wrinkles at the corners of his eyes with his finger.

His face was deeply marked by years of experience.

「It is spirit.」

The students in the stands turned their eyes away from the Emperor with troubled faces.

Their looks said, ‘We’ve worked hard enough already. What more is there to strive for?’

But.

「Student Sonia. Where did your spirit come from?」

I knew.

I knew how the spirit that led her to victory in the match was forged.

“I…”

Sonia opened her mouth in front of the thousands watching.

Then she spoke of the reason she had thought of during practice, the reason why she had trained so hard.

“When I first picked up a sword, I didn’t have a particularly noble goal.”

The red-haired knight quietly looked down at the sword in her hands.

“I only thought that if I became an excellent knight, my father would no longer worry about me, since I was born with a frail body. That’s why I chose this path.”

The only cadet praised by the Emperor.

Everyone began to listen intently to her words.

“What a kind heart.”

“That’s true. My daughter never once said a harsh word to me…”

Empress Margaret looked at the girl’s crimson eyes with a gentle smile.

The stern expression had long disappeared from Bishop Paul’s face as well.

Looking at his daughter with a touched expression, he said,

“But I never knew she was thinking of me so much…”

The Bishop looked down at his daughter with apologetic eyes.

Then, at her next words, his sad eyes widened in shock.

“But suddenly, I had one thought.”

Because the girl, who had always been quiet, began to speak her true feelings proudly in front of everyone.

“Whether me focusing only on knighthood, because I was conscious of my father, was really what he wished for.”

Bishop Paul’s lips parted at the words that his daughter had understood her parents’ hearts.

The Archbishop and the Empress, who had been silently watching, reacted the same.

Even the Emperor wore a faint smile at her profound sincerity.

“It was not the result. Even if my father rejoiced that I had grown with dignity, there would be nothing left for me afterward.”

Sonia brushed aside her disheveled bangs.

Then, she revealed to everyone the flaw she had hidden her entire life—her blind left eye.

“So I decided to set a goal not for others, but for myself.”

Everyone looked at the face of the one-eyed inspector.

At the different appearance of her eyes.

“I will become the Commander of the Knights.”

A pupil gray with the mingling of black and white.

Those who had seen it until now had feared that strange color.

“I will show everyone that even with a frail body and difficult circumstances, it can still be done.”

Perhaps because she revealed it so proudly, as though nothing was wrong.

Her face looked completely different from usual.

“And to become a model for juniors who struggled as I did.”

Sonia raised high the sword she held tightly.

And, holding a flag ceremony, she declared to the greatest power on the continent.

“That is the spirit that allowed me to stand here.”

The Academy’s professors and students.

Even her father.

All widened their eyes at the confident cry of the girl who had always been quiet.

But soon, their gazes shifted elsewhere.

Because Sonia, who had spoken so confidently before everyone…

“And the teacher who helped me to have this goal is none other than…”

She pointed to a man as her benefactor.

“Julius Roger.”

The moment after I had just returned from subduing the Student Council President.

When Sonia pointed to me, the eyes of thousands turned in my direction.

Toward the former Chief Secretary standing between Loni and Saint Istina.

「Julius Roger…?」

The Emperor furrowed the deep valley of his brow as if trying to recall my name.

Then, with the penetrating gaze of a ruler who pierced all things, he looked straight through me.

「That name… I’ve heard it before.」

A name known to the Emperor.

At those awe-inspiring words, Margaret softly stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, he is the man we were to meet this afternoon.”

「Ah, the candidate for advisor recommended by the Empress?」

Leonidas, as if remembering, quietly looked down at me.

As though evaluating whether I was a man worthy of his attention.

「I heard you are the master of a foundation, but you look younger than I thought. Come up.」

At the Emperor’s summons, I bowed my head in a sharp salute.

Afterward, I climbed to the VIP section with reverent steps.

It was clearly just an ordinary Academy courtyard.

And yet, with the people standing inside, the atmosphere became as grand as if it were the highest chamber of the Imperial Palace.

And before my eyes now…

The representative of the Imperial State Religion.

The master of the Empire.

And in addition, there were the Commander of the Knights, the Empress, the Bishop, and many others.

「So, you are Student Sonia’s teacher, Julius Roger.」

“I am not her teacher. I merely gave her a word that helped her grow a little further.”

I answered in a humble voice.

Then the Emperor, with his hands clasped behind his back, slowly shook his head.

「Every event that changed history began with someone’s single whisper. That is why advisors and strategists exist.」

As expected of the ruler of the continent.

There was something indescribable in his voice, something that overwhelmed the masses.

It was the same feeling as when I met the Grand Duke of the North.

No.

Perhaps it was even far stronger.

「And an excellent strategist possesses the ability to persuade others to follow their words. That is a gift as special as leading a great army.」

The Emperor pierced through my narrow eyes.

And he asked.

「I heard you are barely twenty years old. How did you obtain such an ability?」

Whether I was someone useful to him.

「The ability that made a student, meeting you for the first time, open her heart to you.」

I had to choose my words carefully here.

Perhaps this very moment was the greatest trial of my life.

A chance to restore my family, and to no longer be anyone’s shadow.

Now was not Sonia’s time, but mine to be judged.

“I…”

The Empress and Saint Istina looked at me intently.

With eyes that said, “Speak well enough to satisfy us.”

“Once, as a secretary cadet of the Luton family, I dreamed of becoming Chief Secretary to serve my lord.”

At my words—that I had once been a subordinate of the Luton family—the Emperor’s brow twitched.

His relationship with the Grand Duke of the North was not exactly good.

But that rivalry was precisely what I aimed for.

“So I studied and pondered what it would take to become someone indispensable to my lord.”

「And what was the result of that study?」

At the Emperor’s question, I answered humbly.

And at that shocking answer, the Empress and the Saint who had recommended me turned pale.

“The result was that there is no need to live so entirely for others.”

My reply was bold—too bold to be spoken before the Emperor.

「No need to live for others?」

“Yes. To serve someone means to devote yourself without a trace of selfishness, to look only toward their success, and to make that success the very reason for your own life.”

I paid no mind to the Emperor’s voice, which had turned sharp.

Instead, I continued with pure honesty and unwavering firmness.

“But when I looked back on myself, I realized I was not such a selfless person. In the end, my own safety came before my lord’s.”

I placed my fist over my left chest.

And I spoke my selfishness directly to the Emperor.

“For someone like me to become another’s closest aide would ultimately mean deceiving him. So I stepped down from the secretary’s position with honesty.”

I slowly turned my head toward the arena.

Then, extending one hand firmly, I conveyed my true feelings.

“Rather than pretending to serve someone while seeking my own gain, it is better to reveal my convictions, offer my counsel with pride, and receive fair compensation. That is the reason I can earn trust from others.”

「……」

The Emperor, after hearing my words, let out a small sigh.

He released his hands from behind his back and seemed to savor my reply with interest.

「So, rather than a hypocritical loyalist, you are a businessman who works for fair payment.」

Leonidas chuckled faintly and took a sip of water from the round table.

His strong Adam’s apple moved prominently, like that of a lion, king of beasts.

「Hearing your words reminds me of a certain man.」

The Emperor pointed his massive finger at my face.

「A man of your caliber must already know that I do not get along with Grand Duke Baylis Luton of the North, yes?」

“Yes, I am aware.”

I, who had once served his sworn rival.

The Emperor fixed me with a fierce gaze.

「Do you know why, despite that, I have not removed Duke Luton?」

“I do not know.”

I answered humbly, and the Emperor carelessly set down the golden cup.

As though he knew I was pretending not to know the answer.

「That fellow, too, was born exactly like you—a ‘merchant.’ When given payment, he always produced results worthy of it.」

The Emperor slowly closed his eyes, as though recalling his achievements with Duke Luton.

「But he never sought any deeper bond with me. Because of that, my side was filled with flatterers who only pretended to be loyal.」

Leonidas, eyes closed.

From what I knew, he was famous for severely questioning even his closest aides if they committed any crime.

「After cutting them down, one by one… in the end, no one remained at my side.」

The Emperor slowly opened his eyes again.

And, pointing at me before him, he spoke.

「At that moment I realized. There exists no true loyalist in this world—no one who would devote their life for me.」

The ruler of the Empire laughed faintly.

「In the end, the Grand Duke of the North, who demanded fair payment, proved to be the most honest vassal.」

“……”

I bowed my head.

And, hiding my expression, I showed respect to the Emperor.

「Thank you for your honest answer, Roger.」

The Emperor placed his hand on my shoulder as I bowed.

「Hearing your conviction puts me at ease.」

The Empress and Archbishop Thomas.

Both of them let out a sigh of relief at the sight of the Emperor satisfied, regardless of how the process had gone.

Yet the expression on my face as I received his encouragement was very calm.

Because ever since my days as Chief Secretary, serving those at the very summit, I had known.

The loneliness of those who lived at the highest peak, unable to trust anyone.

A life spent in constant suspicion, never knowing when betrayal might come.

For such people, a businessman who works for proper payment is far more comfortable than a hypocritical loyalist.

And the greatest of them all was the Grand Duke of the North.

「I shall summon you separately before long.」

At the Emperor’s composed words, the VIP section regained its peace.

But the reward was not merely the restored atmosphere.

「Commander of the Knights.」

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At Leonidas’s call, a middle-aged Sword Master stepped forward.

「Give this bold young man a State Guest Badge.」

A State Guest Badge.

It was a sacred honor that meant one was the Emperor’s guest.

「In one month, envoys will come from the Northern Union of States. At that time, I myself shall make use of your ability.」

The Commander of the Knights produced a golden lion badge.

The Emperor himself pinned that badge onto my formal jacket.

「Of course, with proper payment.」

“I will cherish this as the eternal honor of my family, Your Majesty.”

The giant-bodied Emperor nodded calmly.

Then, turning away from me, he addressed everyone.

「Ah, yes. I must also reward his achievements in Haman and here at the Academy.」

Among the great figures lined up behind his throne,

Emperor Leonidas looked toward the headmaster of the Imperial Academy.

「Octavian, now that I think of it, what is the graduation advancement rate at the Academy these days?」

“F-forty percent, Your Majesty…”

At the pitiful advancement rate, the Emperor fell silent for a moment.

Then he glanced quietly back at me and spoke.

「The reason for the low advancement rate must be the tuition.」

As though he knew that two years ago, I had been unable to graduate from the Academy because of tuition.

「It would be good to create a new track for the graduating class. A special track for talented students who cannot afford tuition.」

“May I dare ask, what exactly is this special track you have in mind?”

The white-haired headmaster asked.

Then the Emperor raised his head proudly and spoke.

「From what I’ve heard, the Erian Foundation educates and supports many talents. Would it not be good to entrust them with moral education this time?」

To have the Empire’s finest talents trained at my foundation.

It was a bold move, befitting the supreme commander of the Empire.

「So that more students like Sonia, with admirable spirit and clear goals, may emerge.」

Leonidas looked down from the lofty courtyard at the arena.

At his nation, enjoying its peak since the end of the war.

「From now on, an age will come where battles are fought not with swords, but with money.」

At the Emperor’s grand words, everyone turned their eyes to one man.

To me, who had once been nothing more than a shabby secretary cadet.

「In that era, men like Director Roger of the Foundation will lead the Empire.」

The ruler of the Empire raised the very hand that had built this nation.

At this, countless high ministers showered me with applause.

Sonia, who had won the match, and Loni as well.

Bishop Paul, who looked proudly at his daughter’s figure.

Even Saint Istina, who looked both happy and strangely uneasy.

“With reverent heart, I shall obey your command, Your Majesty.”

Now, the Imperial Court’s acknowledged talents would flock to my foundation.

Those without money, but overflowing with passion and talent.

Those of humble birth, but destined to become nobles in the future.

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