#11. I’m fucked.

News of the Mindo’s intrusion into the Lunia Academy spread through the Empire like wildfire.

As expected, the news did.

“They captured Mindo?”

I’m going to the Imperial Palace.

Of course, what reached the Imperial Palace wasn’t mere rumor, but a ‘report’.

A much more detailed, far more accurate report that surprised the Emperor time and again.

That Rachel Arte was the Mindo’s target.

And that this Rachel Arte had fended them off almost single-handedly.

Finally.

“Rain Ortiz?”

That a mere freshman had dealt with two Mindo.

Surprise followed surprise.

And it was cause for celebration.

“Hahaha!”

The Emperor of the Merrybear Empire, Reinhardt von Merrybear, let out a hearty laugh.

The biggest headache for the current Empire was none other than the Mindo. The Mindo rampaging in various regions were the source of endless troubles.

“How many Mindo were captured?”

“Thirty-two in total, Your Majesty.”

“Good. We’ll torture every last one of them until something comes out.”

Information was paramount.

To eradicate those damned Maou cultists, information was needed more than anything.

“Ah, come to think of it.”

Rain Ortiz, was it?

He grew curious about this individual.

“Is the student unharmed?”

“He is, Your Majesty.”

“I wish to know more details.”

“As it happens, there is a report on the student available.”

“Excellent.”

The vassal delivering the report was the Emperor’s most loyal confidant. His name was Alex, a friend to Reinhardt since childhood.

Alex began the report.

The laughter vanished from Reinhardt’s face in an instant.

Not in a purely negative way. He simply couldn’t believe it.

“…Is such a thing even possible?”

“Frankly, Your Majesty, I also find it difficult to believe.”

Untested information couldn’t have reached the Imperial Palace.

Apparently, Rachel and Meriel’s testimonies backed up all these deeds.

But…

How could one believe it?

That a mere student had invented a new technology, solved an intractable problem, and changed the future of an entire field of study.

“…Is there a paper on the intractable problem?”

“Professor Meriel says the student had no intention of writing one.”

“She could have written it herself.”

“Apparently, since she didn’t solve it directly, she wouldn’t write it…”

Reinhardt fell silent.

His silence held the same meaning as always, a habitual stillness when contemplating something.

At times like these, Alex knew his duty. To aid his decision.

“Have a look at this.”

Alex produced a crystal orb.

It was a recording orb, and the contents depicted none other than Rain Ortiz’s examination.

Reinhardt grinned.

“It seems the only way is to see for myself.”

A remarkable talent has been born.

*

“…Your Imperial Majesty seeks me?”

“Yes.”

“No, but why?!”

“A report about you was submitted.”

“…Pardon?”

A heart-stopping piece of news.

His Imperial Majesty.

The Emperor of the Merrybear Empire.

Knew of me?

“I didn’t want this to happen. I had a feeling it would.”

Then maybe you shouldn’t have said anything.

But one couldn’t say that.

It would be akin to telling the Emperor to lie.

“Anyway, we don’t have time. Let’s go quickly.”

“…Now?”

“Now.”

Rachel seized my hand and immediately cast a space-warping spell.

When I came to my senses, we had left the Academy. I wondered if it was the Imperial Palace…

“Wow, it *is* the Imperial Palace.”

We stood before the Imperial Palace.

Professor.

“Even so, isn’t this all too sudden?

I haven’t even prepared myself yet.”

“…Even if you’re displeased, bear with it. I can’t help this either, you know.”

She is displeased, but what Rachel says is true. It’s an imperial order; what could a mere professor do? This must be quite bewildering for her as well.

“Damn it, what if I lose it…?”

Though, it seems the person herself is worried about something else entirely.

“Hah…”

Still, she seems tense. Rachel took a deep breath.

Fixing her own hair, then fixing mine.

And then, we entered the Imperial Palace.

As soon as we entered, a magnificent scene unfolded before our eyes.

Decorations plastered in gold, and in any case, luxurious lighting and structures.

“What took you so long?”

And then, Meriel.

Huh?

Why is *she* here?

“I couldn’t just skip class without a word, could I? I sent out a notice.”

“Is that what’s important right now?”

“It might not be important to the professor, but it’s important to me.”

They’re still bickering, even here.

Thankfully, I didn’t have to intervene.

“Thank you for accepting the invitation.”

It was thanks to an official from the Imperial Household arriving.

“I am Alex. Please, this way.”

We began to walk, following Alex’s guidance. At first, I thought we were heading to the audience chamber, but that wasn’t the case.

The place we arrived at was just an ordinary reception room.

There’s a sofa, a desk, and a chalkboard…

A chalkboard?

“Welcome.”

My thoughts were cut short.

A heavy, resonant voice. Though I was hearing it for the first time, I could instantly recognize the owner of that voice.

The three of us simultaneously bowed. One knee on the ground, head lowered to the floor. It was the etiquette used when greeting the Imperial Family.

The Emperor, who had been pouring tea in the corner, smiled as he revealed himself.

My mind immediately became a tangled mess.

Wow, seeing him in person for the first time.

Are there no other attendants?

Why is he pouring the tea himself?

…Am *I* supposed to drink that?

Shit, I’m definitely going to get indigestion.

“Rise.”

The three of us rose at once. The synchronous movement, as if rehearsed, was almost comical, but laughter wouldn’t come.

“You are Lain Ortiz, is it?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Huhu, do not be nervous. I dismissed even my guards for your sake.”

Even so, to dismiss his guards…

I couldn’t help but suspect the rumors might be true.

『The Emperor of the Merrybear Empire is a Sword Master.』

Indeed, the Emperor was a magnificent middle-aged man, every bit the Sword Master.

“Be seated.”

The Emperor took his place on the master’s sofa first, and I, Rachel, and Meriel followed, settling onto the guest sofa together.

“To the matter at hand… Lain, my boy. I wish to verify you.”

“Verify… me, Your Majesty?”

“Indeed, verify. Do not take offense. It is only because your actions are so impossibly outstanding.”

Offense is not the feeling. One mustn’t take offense at something like this in front of the supreme ruler of a nation. A short life, that would be.

It is merely… nerve-wracking. With a side of regret.

“What would you like me to verify, Your Majesty?”

Alternating and direct current?

A machine I built myself?

Or perhaps…

“I would like you to solve a difficulty here and now.”

I thought as much.

I understood the chalkboard’s purpose.

“Ah, of course, it will be a problem you have solved once before, Lain, so it shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“I will try, Your Majesty.”

I honestly don’t want to.

It’s like a commoner shouting, ‘I’m a genius!’

But the Emperor is watching. I cannot possibly refuse.

I stood up immediately.

Well, if verification is all that is required, that is well enough. Finish this quickly and return.

Taking the pen from Alex, I went straight to the chalkboard.

‘Erdon’s Conjecture,’ is it.

‘System, please.’

[ Initiating calculation. ]

I’ve experienced this once before. There were more people then.

…Of course, that crowd was far less intimidating than the one watching me now.

[ Calculation complete. ]

“—That is, there is no solution.”

Even so, I execute it perfectly.

I released a sigh, tinged with relief, as if to expel the accumulated pressure.

The Emperor watched me for a moment, then clapped and smiled brightly.

“Excellent.”

Seated, Rachel and Meriel discreetly flashed me a thumbs-up.

“No greater proof could exist.”

The Emperor rose and approached me. I desperately wished he wouldn’t, but no matter how much I inwardly screamed, it would never reach him.

“Rain Ortiz!”

“Y-yes?”

“How would you like to work for the Imperial Household?”

My mind stalled, for a moment uncomprehending.

Where?

“Work environment, salary… I’ll meet and support every condition you desire. I’ll even see to your early graduation from the Academy. What do you say?”

“Uh… that’s…”

I don’t want to.

I want to live a normal life.

No matter how good the terms of a job were, I loathed it if it went beyond the realm of ‘normal’.

But…

“…”

Like Rachel, my pursuit of normalcy would not be accepted.

So, what excuse should I make?

“I like the Academy.”

“Hm?”

“I like Professor Rachel, Professor Meriel. I like the things I’m learning here.”

“…”

“And so, I wish to learn more. I want to stay here.”

A moment of silence passed.

I continued.

“If, after I graduate, you still feel the same, I implore you to offer again.”

This is madness.

To refuse a position offered by the Emperor.

Still, this felt right.

This is comfortable for me.

“…Is that so.”

Thankfully, the Emperor seemed to accept it.

“Then, let us do this.”

The Emperor said, smiling benevolently.

“For the remaining four years, at the Academy…”

I listened to his words, returning the smile.

“Showcase your abilities to your heart’s content.”

“Pardon?”

The smile quickly faded.

“The Department of Magical Engineering, the Department of Magic, the Department of Alchemy, the Department of Knighthood, the Department of Theory, and so on…”

Wait a moment.

“I’ll allow you to attend classes in all departments.”

Just a moment, please.

“Have you do all that you’re capable of.”

No.

“Haha, prioritizing learning above all. Truly a fine person.”

I’m screwed.