Chapter 85
While we were lost in thought, a student approached us.
He bowed politely to Leonard first.
“Hello, Professor Leonard Blast! I’ve long heard of your reputation. They say you were the greatest professor in the history of the Imperial Academy!”
“Hm, so you’re a student of the Imperial Academy.”
“Yes, it’s an honor to meet you in person, sir! I am Gerrid, second son of Baron Hagent.”
Gerrid turned to look at Jack, then gave a sharp smile.
“Professor Leonard, may I make a proposal?”
“A proposal?”
“Yes. I heard that this commoner is your disciple. Is that true?”
“And what of it?”
When Leonard confirmed it, the student bit his lower lip, then raised his voice confidently.
“I cannot accept that a commoner like him is your disciple! So, I’d like to challenge him to a duel!”
“A duel?”
“Yes! If I score higher than that commoner in the upcoming exam, please take me as your disciple instead of him!”
“Oh?”
Leonard’s black eyes flickered with interest at the unexpected proposal.
“Well, Jack. What do you think?”
“I accept.”
“Good attitude.”
Leonard smiled in satisfaction when Jack accepted without hesitation. Gerrid, on the other hand, clenched his fists tightly, his face stiff.
Guess his pride’s hurt because Jack accepted too easily.
And since Leonard clearly believed Jack couldn’t possibly lose, that only made it worse. When Gerrid noticed me looking, he clicked his tongue.
He reached out a hand toward Jack and said with a grin,
“Let’s do our best.”
“……”
But Jack ignored the hand and walked toward me instead. Gerrid’s shoulders trembled with anger before he turned sharply and went back to his group.
I watched Jack with worry. Of course, I didn’t think he would lose—Jack was a genius even Leonard acknowledged.
But I couldn’t help feeling uneasy about all this attention being drawn to him.
Sensing my concern, Jack looked at me and smiled.
“It’s okay.”
It was as if he knew exactly what I was thinking. I looked at him for a moment, then nodded.
“Alright.”
Soon, the exam results were announced.
The emperor, having just received a report from his chamberlain, was utterly dumbfounded.
“You’re telling me Seid didn’t even participate in the tournament?”
The chamberlain bowed deeply in shame.
“Yes, Your Majesty. He suddenly left the venue… We tried to follow, but he had already disappeared.”
“That fool!”
Bang!
Unable to control his anger, the emperor slammed the desk. An ink bottle toppled over, staining the documents black.
“A prince of the Empire—representing the royal family—skipped the very first tournament hosted by the Imperial Court? Does he think that’s acceptable?!”
“My deepest apologies, Your Majesty.”
The emperor pressed his fingers to his forehead and spoke coldly.
“When you find Seid, lock him underground and don’t let him have a single drop of water for a week. And he’s not to leave the palace for a month. His outings are over.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The emperor closed his eyes.
I meant to use Seid to restore the prestige of the royal family…
He hadn’t expected the fool to actually flee the venue.
Determined not to let this slide, the emperor suddenly looked up.
“Then who won first place?”
The chamberlain hesitated before answering.
“Well, that is…”
The emperor let out a short, incredulous laugh at the response.
Before long, the rankings began to appear.
Names and scores were displayed on a large floating orb in the waiting hall.
The announcement began from 5th place upward.
[5th Place: Richard Evne]
“I did it!”
As soon as his name appeared, Richard shouted with joy, and those around him congratulated him warmly.
[4th Place: Kirik D’vo]
“Fourth, huh. Not bad.”
“You did very well, young master.”
“Hmph, well, of course.”
Kirik raised his chin proudly, pretending not to be pleased.
Then the next name appeared.
[3rd Place: Gerrid Hagent]
“Third!”
The very student who had challenged Jack.
“Congratulations, young master!”
“I knew you’d make it!”
Cheers surrounded him from all sides.
With a smug smirk, Gerrid turned toward Jack.
“Well? Now you see my skill, don’t you?”
“……”
“Ha, speechless? I understand—it must be quite the shock.”
When Jack didn’t react, Gerrid took it as confirmation.
He then looked triumphantly at Leonard.
“Professor Leonard! Did you see that? Now you can—”
“You’re quite impatient, aren’t you? There are still ranks yet to be announced.”
“You can’t mean second and first place, surely? You’re not serious, are you? There’s no way that’s possible.”
“You’ll see soon enough. Be patient.”
“Fine then. Seeing it with your own eyes might be even better.”
Gerrid was drunk on victory.
Then, the next rank appeared.
[2nd Place: Canasis Jadeboro]
“As expected of the student council president!”
“Congratulations!”
Despite the praise, Canasis’s expression was grim as he stared at the orb.
Meanwhile, Gerrid was practically celebrating.
“See? Even the second place is out! Is there really any point in waiting?”
When Leonard remained silent, Gerrid turned and shouted at Jack.
“Why don’t you just admit defeat already? If you apologize now, I’ll forgive your insolence!”
But Jack didn’t reply. Gerrid glared at him, then sneered arrogantly.
“Fine. Keep clinging to your pride. It’ll make it all the more painful when I crush you.”
“First place is about to appear!”
Someone shouted. Everyone held their breath as they waited.
Then—beep!
[1st Place: Jack Freet]
“……”
Silence fell heavy over the hall.
Gerrid rubbed his eyes, certain he was seeing things. When he looked again, his face twisted in disbelief.
“T-This can’t be! There must be some mistake!”
“Are you suggesting the Imperial Academy’s results are wrong?”
Leonard’s sharp tone cut through the air. Gerrid flinched, stepping back.
Still, he muttered weakly,
“But still! How could a commoner…!”
“Knowledge knows no class or birth. If your eyes can only see that far, it seems the Academy’s standards have fallen.”
Leonard shook his head in disappointment.
The Academy students around them flushed red with anger at his words, but none dared to argue.
After all, Leonard Blast was once hailed as the greatest professor in history—and now served as tutor to the heir of the powerful Duke of Crayman.
All eyes turned toward Gerrid, who had brought shame upon the Academy.
“Why did he even challenge something he couldn’t win?”
“He should’ve just accepted the loss quietly instead of embarrassing himself.”
“He’s made the whole Academy look foolish.”
Under the barrage of criticism, Gerrid bit his lip.
Third place was an excellent score, yet he had only succeeded in ruining his own reputation.
Watching it all, I sighed deeply.
I never wanted him to get tangled up in pointless drama like this.
My philosophy as a guardian was to let Jack learn about complicated human nature later in life—but clearly, things rarely go as planned.
I quietly led Jack away from the crowd, to where fewer eyes could see him. He didn’t need any more attention.
“Headmaster.”
“Hm?”
Jack called out softly, and I turned, puzzled.
“What is it?”
His expression was… strange. Unusually hesitant.
But then he shook his head.
“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
Even so, I could tell it wasn’t nothing.
“Jack, did something happen?”
It was the first time I’d seen him look like this, and I began to worry.
Jack quickly shook his head again.
Seeing my concern, he sighed faintly and spoke quietly.
“It’s just… you don’t seem very happy, Headmaster.”
“Huh?”
I don’t seem happy? Oh—
I looked at him, startled, as he murmured, avoiding my gaze.
“…I worked hard. I just wanted to make you proud.”
