Chapter 130
Even now, the Empire continued its relentless campaign to eradicate black mages.
Black mages usually operated in sparsely populated areas across the Empire's vast territory.
Since such areas were generally mountains, underground regions, or the countryside, the Empire kept them under strict guard.
In the mountains, for example.
"How bold of you to dare plot becoming bandits on Imperial soil."
"S-sorry! We committed a crime worthy of death! We really... haven't even properly started yet... In fact, we're only at the stage of almost becoming bandits!"
"You mean you haven't killed any Imperial citizens?"
"That's right."
"Good. Then you can be put to use. From now on, you're forest rangers."
"...W-we'll work hard!"
"Good, you're quick on the uptake. If you'd refused, I couldn't leave potential criminals alive, so I would have had to kill you immediately."
Whenever they found bandits capable of reform, they turned every one of them into a forest ranger.
"A great many... strange and inexplicable phenomena occur underground in the Empire. Dungeons even appear from time to time."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
"Then we can repost the notice along the lines of, 'Those who wish to earn the Empire's honor are welcome to work underground.' We should also mention that their lives may be in considerable danger."
"...Wouldn't that make people even less likely to apply?"
"Trust me."
Underground, they informed those who viewed the Empire as a land of opportunity that exploring the depths could become a new opportunity for them.
Finally, as for the countryside....
"I don't understand."
"What don't you understand?"
"Why must I manage a rural fief in order to serve as a central Imperial bureaucrat? And one of those barren lands that must be developed from scratch, at that."
"Oh, yes, I suppose you could think that way. That is a perfectly reasonable question."
"Is it?"
"Indeed. I find myself wondering whether you should ask that very question directly to His Highness the Crown Prince. If you have grounds so reasonable that you question an imperial decree... a common man like me can scarcely imagine what they might be."
"...I was actually born with a pioneering spirit. I can go to even harsher environments than a rural fief like this... My real question was whether I was somehow too inadequate to do so."
"Good, you're quick on the uptake! Hahahahaha!"
The matter was cleanly resolved by putting the nobles to work.
Thorough personnel management and distribution eliminated the Empire's blind spots.
As a result, the black mages could not properly raise their heads anywhere within the Empire.
Of course, that did not mean they could stop operating altogether.
The black mages each wanted different things, but they shared a single goal.
To bring the Demon Realm to the surface and make the Demon King descend.
They had no choice but to summon darkness in order to create a new world.
They therefore had to destroy the Empire, known as the strongest power on the continent.
That was why they could not help but take an intense interest in the newly established Velos Academy in the Empire.
Velos Academy was known as a place where all the famous and capable people on the continent had gathered.
If they could attack the academy and cause a serious incident, the Empire's destruction would no longer be a mere dream.
To that end, the black mages planned to attack the academy during the midterm evaluation.
And there were two people who knew this.
One was the Crown Prince.
The other was....
"During this midterm evaluation... perhaps I should catch a black mage and prove my ability?"
It was Mirne.
+++++
Velos Academy held a total of four evaluations over the course of one academic year.
They were the first-semester midterm and final evaluations, followed by the second-semester midterm and final evaluations.
At the end of each semester, the cadets were reassigned to classes based on absolute grading.
In an extreme case, someone could even move from the last-place class to Class 1.
Velos Academy had four year levels, so there were only eight chances to change classes.
They had to enter a higher-ranked class within those eight chances.
Rumor had it that those who graduated with excellent grades would be given the opportunity to work for the Imperial household.
'If I get to work for the Imperial household, my life's made.'
'His Highness the Crown Prince looks after the people around him and rewards them according to their abilities. If I can stay by his side and catch his eye....'
The cadets began studying as though their lives depended on the approaching midterm evaluation.
If it had been a relative evaluation, they might have given up after realizing that so many outstanding people stood ahead of them.
But because it was an absolute evaluation, everyone refused to give up and devoted themselves to studying.
Velos Academy also provided an environment exceptionally well suited to concentrating on academics.
Tuition was quite cheap, and basic living expenses were low because prices in the surrounding area were inexpensive.
Even if they were still short on money, they could cover their living expenses through work at the academy.
If they truly set their minds to it, they could study and work at the same time while aiming for the highest class.
As the cadets' motivation boiled over.
The Crown Prince, who could not possibly let such a phenomenon pass him by,
"The Empire's gates are always open to you. You don't even need to knock. Stand up and move forward."
Perhaps because he had already tried it once.
"Come to my side."
He casually tossed out words of encouragement that poured oil on the flames in the cadets' hearts.
The moment the Crown Prince finished speaking, the cadets' morale began boiling over like mad.
"Hurrayyyyyyy!!!"
"I'll become a new person at Velos Academy! With a new status!"
"The Empire's gates are always... open!"
And then.
[ The morale of the Velos Academy cadets has soared so high that it seems capable of piercing the heavens. ]
[ You have united the hearts of the cadets. ]
[ What an incredible feat! ]
[ One Empire Tech Tree point has been awarded as a reward. ]
The Crown Prince, too, was sweetly raking in rewards from the current situation.
'For the time being, I should invest a lot of points in the Empire Map.'
Originally, whenever I obtained points, I would think about where to invest them.
But now was not the time for that.
Now that the black mage group was certain to attack during the midterm evaluation.
I needed to invest points in the Empire Map to identify their attack route more clearly.
[ Points have been invested in the Empire Map to a certain degree. ]
[ You can now choose a specialized field for the Empire Map. ]
[ The most recommended specialized field at present is Basic Black Mage Detection. ]
"If you're handing it to me as if I'd been waiting for it, there's no reason not to use it."
Crown Prince Bellon steadily continued preparing for the black mages' attack.
So that he could erase them all before they could do anything the moment they appeared.
And so that Mirne would not receive any rewards whatsoever.
He needed to move with absolute thoroughness.
+++++
"...Lately, whenever His Highness the Crown Prince comes to the academy, everyone seems determined to stick close to him."
Pavan briefly summarized what was happening in Class 1 at present.
Naturally, Crown Prince Bellon could not come to the academy very often.
Since he was practically standing in for the Emperor, the Crown Prince had many decisions to make.
Except when he was free, he was not at the academy, and this drove the women who were fond of him crazy in more ways than one.
"If I weren't attending the academy... I'd be rolling around in His Highness the Crown Prince's bed right now."
Arveda continued speaking with a dazed expression as she stared into empty space.
"I've never even been to school... I only enrolled because I wanted to attend with Your Highness... But at this rate, I'm the only one attending diligently, aren't I? There have even been more days when I didn't see Your Highness."
Pavan sympathized with her.
Pavan had dreamed of an academy life with the Crown Prince that would have at least a youthful romantic atmosphere, even if it was not quite lovey-dovey.
A life where they helped each other study, shared lunchboxes, and went to school together.
But.
'He does so well that he doesn't need my help studying, and as for meals... there are plenty of people besides me preparing lunchboxes, while we don't even know when he'll come to school.'
The problem was that the Crown Prince was busier than expected.
Pavan wanted to step forward and help him if possible.
'There are things I can solve by stepping in, and things I can't. And the things Your Highness is doing are the latter.'
Only problems Pavan could not rashly step into were spread out before them, so there was nothing Pavan could do.
Pavan was not the only one who thought this way.
It was the same thought shared by everyone who wanted to assist the Crown Prince at his side.
As they all prepared for the midterm evaluation while merely imagining being together with the Crown Prince.
"Theo, His Highness the Crown Prince's Wand Number One! I beg your pardon for speaking out, but might I ask you a favor?"
"A favor? It's intriguing to hear you put it that way, Theo. Very well, I'll grant you one."
"Could His Highness the Crown Prince give some special praise to whoever earns the highest score in the midterm evaluation?"
"Special praise?"
"Yes, exactly."
Frustrated that no one was willing to take the lead, Theo stepped forward himself.
It was a powerful statement and request, enough to make everyone's eyes widen.
"Haha, if that's all, I can certainly do that. First place naturally deserves a reward to match. I could even give them a piggyback ride."
The Crown Prince took Theo's words very lightly.
And at that exact moment.
Fwoosh!
Something that could be called a new flame began blazing throughout Class 1.
++++++
Time passed quickly, and the day of the midterm evaluation arrived.
"Even for basic detection, its performance is certainly impressive."
I checked the Empire Map and confirmed that a group of black mages was slowly approaching.
'Mirne is sure to appear, and if I play my cards right, I might even be able to get her suspended using the excuse that she came outside during the Academy's midterm evaluation.'
The probability of the Empire transforming into the Demon Realm while Mirne attended the academy was likely low.
Then what if I made her repeat a year and get suspended as much as possible, extending that period?
'I could buy an extremely long time before the gates to the Demon Realm opened.'
There is usually at least one student who repeats a year at every school, isn't there?