Theodore Diye.
The wielder of the Holy Sword and the strongest holy knight.
The youngest Deputy Commander in the history of the Order of Holy Knights.
The young man who possessed these remarkable titles bowed courteously before Julian.
“My name is Theodore, and I will serve as Your Highness’s personal guard from today onward.”
“Good. Welcome, Sir Diye.”
Julian struggled to keep the corners of his mouth from rising.
“I am Julian Barnabas Istvan. I hope that you will assist me in liberating Arpad Academy from this day forward.”
“I will devote my life to protecting Your Highness while you carry out God’s will at the academy.”
So this actually worked.
Julian studied the knight before him with renewed admiration.
‘Bloodline truly is everything in a class-based society!’
With a single request, he had obtained the strongest holy knight as his personal guard.
Even at a glance, Theodore Diye was clearly an exceptional holy knight.
His black hair, characteristic of the direct line of the ducal House of Diye, intelligent gray eyes, and handsome, distinctly masculine features all spoke of his extraordinary lineage.
His powerful physique looked as though even a needle could not pierce it, while the divine power radiating faintly from him suggested that his martial prowess and mental fortitude were equally formidable.
‘He is every bit as impressive as the rumors said. I made the right choice in securing him as my guard.’
Even with the Empire’s greatest divine power and the Temple’s support, this would have been impossible had Julian not been an imperial prince.
“Good.”
He rose with a smile.
“Now that Sir Diye is here, shall we get moving?”
“Right now?”
“We have to move immediately. We do not have time. Do you have any idea how long I have been waiting for you?”
“For me……?”
Theodore looked slightly taken aback.
He had assumed that he had been summoned merely to lend his reputation to the Academy Liberation Army. Did the Third Prince have another purpose in mind?
“Your Highness, forgive my impertinence, but may I ask where we are going?”
“Hmm. First, we will visit the Imperial Magic Bureau.”
Julian spoke as casually as though he were suggesting that they go out for lunch.
“We are going to conduct a search and seizure.”
“…….”
Theodore froze for a moment. Julian continued calmly.
“Do not worry. It is nothing difficult. You only need to block the entrance, glare at them, and overturn a few boxes of documents.”
“……Pardon?”
***
In one secluded corner of the Imperial Magic Bureau was the office responsible for Arpad Academy.
It had once been bustling, but now that five years had passed since the academy was sealed, it was a quiet place with only a single administrative officer remaining.
BANG.
The door suddenly flew open, and Julian entered with Theodore.
“What is all that noise—Y-Your Highness?!”
The officer, who had been lounging around and drinking in broad daylight, sprang to his feet as though launched from his chair.
Julian did not even glance at him before giving Theodore an order.
“Take everything from here to there.”
“Understood.”
“Pardon? Pardon?!”
The officer felt as though his soul were about to leave his body.
It was a dead-end office where no one cared what he did, whether he drank or played cards, so long as he remained at his desk on weekday afternoons.
What in the world was happening?
“It is an h-honor to have you here—No, that is not the issue!”
The confused officer stammered as he shouted.
“Your Highness, w-what are you doing? You cannot simply take those documents! I was never informed of anything like this……!”
“Neither was I, Officer.”
Julian cut him off coldly.
“I was never informed of what has been happening inside Arpad Academy.”
“That……!”
“You are aware that the Academy Liberation Army is currently being organized. Naturally, as its commander, I should have received reports regarding the academy’s current situation—”
Julian had already settled sideways into the officer’s chair. He drew out his words as he watched the man squirm.
“Yet not only did I receive no reports, no one told me anything at all.”
“Th-that is……”
The officer nervously wet his lips.
“Th-there has been a misunderstanding, Your Highness. The academy has not been operating properly since the blockade, so…….”
“Officer, it appears to me that you do not fully understand your current situation.”
Julian glanced at the cup of alcohol on the desk before continuing.
“When word spread that I would lead the Arpad Academy Liberation Army, I was inundated with petitions. Most were letters from the families of academy students.”
“…….”
“Is that not strange? Those families claimed that they had received letters from students inside the sealed academy.”
“…….”
“And that is not all. Imperial officials are certain that survivors remain, and although the Imperial Magic Bureau is perpetually understaffed, it has not abolished the office responsible for the academy.”
He tapped a finger against the armrest of the chair.
“What does that suggest? Does it not mean that the Empire remains in contact with those inside the academy and continues to provide them with support?”
Julian’s voice dropped threateningly.
“Then why has the official responsible for that communication failed to report to me, the commander of the Liberation Army?”
The officer’s face turned blue.
He had realized that he could no longer pretend ignorance.
“I-it was not because I had any particular intention. It is merely that matters concerning the Liberation Army do not fall under my jurisdiction…….”
“Officer, this is not the time to make excuses while worrying only about how the Crown Prince Faction might react.”
Julian smiled brightly.
“You should also worry about the Deputy Commander of the Order of Holy Knights.”
“……!”
“The holy knights risk their lives fighting demons, while the official responsible at the Magic Bureau conceals the information he possesses. Imagine how deeply that must grieve our wielder of the Holy Sword, Sir Theodore Diye.”
Theodore, who had moved behind Julian at some point, nodded firmly with a stern expression.
“Look at him. He is so distressed that his fist is moving on its own.”
BANG!
Theodore immediately answered with his fist.
CRACK!
The oak desk split in half like a piece of firewood beneath a single blow.
“Hic.”
The officer’s mouth fell open as a hiccup escaped him.
Julian shook his head at the sight.
“You should consider yourself fortunate.”
“……Pardon?”
“Were it up to me, I would drag you to the Grand Plaza before the Imperial Palace and proclaim, ‘This man draws a salary from the state while obstructing the Arpad Academy Liberation Army.’ However, our Sir Theodore Diye is so righteous that he insists upon examining the documents and determining who is at fault first.”
Theodore instinctively looked at Julian.
‘Me? When did I say that?’
However, he was the Deputy Commander of the Order of Holy Knights, a man who had endured countless trials.
Understanding quickly flashed through his eyes, and he spoke.
“Your Highness.”
“Hmm?”
“On second thought, I do not believe I need to insist upon taking the righteous course.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Your Highness’s intentions are sufficiently righteous. I will escort the officer to the Grand Plaza before the Imperial Palace immediately.”
“Eek!”
***
In the end, the official responsible for Arpad Academy begged them to take the documents and leave.
With the current public mood, he could not allow himself to be dragged into the Grand Plaza, stoned by furious citizens, and have his life brought to an end.
Theodore watched the holy knights carry away a mountain of documents before turning toward Julian.
“I expected him to resist a little more.”
“Why? Was it too easy?”
Julian chuckled.
“He has always been that sort of man.”
For a moment, he recalled his previous life.
Indeed.
The officer had been one of Choi’s classmates at the academy.
After Choi failed the low-ranking civil service examination, the man had constantly contacted him to brag that he had passed the intermediate examination and invite him to a celebratory meal.
He would pretend to be concerned for Choi, only to speak ill of him to their other classmates behind his back.
Even during their academy days, he had bowed and scraped before those from powerful families while constantly looking for ways to torment Choi, who had excellent grades but no connections.
‘Now that I think about it, I am getting angry all over again.’
Perhaps he should have tormented him a little more before leaving.
Julian unconsciously frowned. Theodore studied his expression.
“Your Highness, are you feeling unwell?”
“I merely feel frustrated whenever I think about the official responsible for the academy at the Magic Bureau.”
“I see…….”
Theodore nodded in agreement. Julian’s earlier words came back to him.
-The holy knights risk their lives fighting demons, while the official responsible at the Magic Bureau conceals the information he possesses. Imagine how deeply that must grieve our wielder of the Holy Sword, Sir Theodore Diye.
It had been a threat intended to intimidate the officer, but it had contained the truth.
What had surged within Theodore the moment he saw the Magic Bureau official drinking alone in an empty office?
Anger. Frustration. Helplessness.
‘Is the Order of Holy Knights truly the only group trying to save the academy and drive out the demons? What are the Empire and the Magic Bureau doing?’
The prince before him had understood those feelings better than Theodore himself.
Theodore became certain.
‘The Commander was right. The Third Prince truly intends to liberate the academy.’
Only now did he understand why the Commander of the Holy Knights had supported Julian so enthusiastically, behaving like an overproud fool.
-Theodore, the Third Prince has requested you as his personal guard.
-Pardon? Then what will happen to my duties as Deputy Commander?
-Forget about your duties as Deputy Commander and concentrate on protecting him. He is more than capable of accomplishing what he has set out to do.
The Commander’s eyes had shone with excitement.
-I envy you for being able to witness his miracles at his side! Had I been ten years younger, I would have gone myself!
-Even if you were ten years younger, I would still be stronger than you.
-……Did you see me ten years ago? Did you? You would have been a sniveling brat swinging a wooden sword back then!
-I had already been chosen by the Holy Sword ten years ago.
-Just go! Hurry up and leave!
That was how Theodore had come to serve as Julian’s personal guard, but he had been reluctant inwardly.
Everyone in the Empire knew that Third Prince Julian was the Mad Prince. Theodore had wondered what the Commander could possibly have seen in him.
‘The Commander was right. The Third Prince truly has changed.’
Theodore looked at Julian and spoke.
“Your Highness.”
“Hmm?”
Julian turned toward him.
Seeing the lingering youthfulness in his face, Theodore found it difficult to believe that this was the same person who had so skillfully threatened the officer moments earlier.
After hesitating briefly, Theodore asked a question.
“There are many other holy knights and imperial knights. Why did you choose me as your personal guard?”
“Well, I am certain the other knights are strong. However, they do not possess that.”
Julian pointed toward Theodore’s waist.
The Holy Sword.
“Demons can read the human heart, and they are skilled at temptation. They may manipulate those around me and force them to attack me. As the wielder of the Holy Sword, I believed that you would be immune to a demon’s temptations.”
“……I see. So that was your reasoning.”
It was a rational conclusion.
Nevertheless, Theodore felt slightly disappointed.
In the end, Julian had wanted the wielder of the Holy Sword rather than Theodore himself.
“And I intend to become the headmaster.”
“The headmaster?”
“Yes. I do not intend merely to command the Liberation Army and leave afterward. I will drive out the demons and rescue the students until the academy has been fully restored.”
Julian’s golden eyes grew solemn.
“It will not be easy. This will not end merely by attacking the demons. We may also have to cut down the students, professors, and staff members who became followers of the demons during those five years.”
“…….”
“I thought it would be best to walk such a difficult path beside the strongest holy knight. It would be even better if that person were decisive, bold, and shared my convictions.”
Julian grinned at Theodore.
“After what I saw today, Sir Diye appears to be precisely that sort of holy knight.”
Theodore blinked at the unexpected words.
After an awkward pause, he returned Julian’s smile a moment later.
“……Please call me Theodore. After trying it today, I found it more satisfying than I expected.”
“So it seemed. You throw a good punch, Theodore.”
“I am even better with a sword.”
“I look forward to seeing it.”
“You will have that opportunity soon.”
Just as Theodore had said, the day of the decisive battle swiftly approached.