CHAPTER 112
The Academy Badge>
In the capital city of the Holy Eldar Empire, Dyunais, there was a luxury hotel for foreign ambassadors.
It was called Hotel Sarkas.
This beautiful building, built in an art nouveau style with steel and glass, was located by the river, facing the Karl Bridge—the gateway into Dyunais. Staying there were Gimel, the national advisor of Garmhau, and his group, including First Prince Kais.
As the sun set, workers walked along the river lighting up street lamps with magic. They used long poles to open the lamp covers and cast glowing spells on the magic stones inside.
The lights reflected in the river, creating a beautiful night view.
Prince Kais sat on the hotel terrace, enjoying the sight.
“Your Highness, the windows are dangerous. You could be shot.”
warned Linser, a female demon and one of his aides.
“Don’t worry. If I can be killed by a shot like that, I’m not fit to be king anyway. It’s worth the risk for this view.”
“Still…”
“It’s fine, Linser. Look at the width of that river. No one can shoot the prince from that far,”
added Carmine, another aide, who trusted the prince’s abilities.
Publicly, they were disguised as foreign merchants. They kept an eye on the hotel entrance and windows, always on guard.
“Strange. The Emperor isn’t making any suspicious moves,”
Linser said, scanning the area with opera glasses.
“To them, we’re precious guests. If their enemies are fighting among themselves, they won’t interfere. Why help unite their enemies?”
said Veras, a cold-looking man with glasses, trying to guess the Empire’s plans.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
“Excuse me. Lord Gimel, Countess Aura von Polchen is here to meet you.”
“Countess Polchen?”
Aura was Izolde’s mother and also the Emperor’s mistress. While it was an open secret in society, it wasn’t something you’d mention directly to foreign guests.
“Let her in.”
Aura entered the room with a masked maid following behind.
“It’s been a long time, Prince Kais. And Lord Gimel.”
Prince Kais didn’t respond—Aura was of commoner origin in Garmhau, and thus not allowed to speak directly to royalty. Gimel replied in his place.
“It’s been a while, Aura. But weren’t you part of the intelligence bureau, loyal to the Grand General?”
“My loyalty lies with the people of Garmhau. If anyone truly frees them, I’ll serve them—regardless of status.”
It sounded noble, but it really meant she could switch sides depending on the situation—a typical double agent.
“So you’ll swear loyalty to Prince Kais, then?”
asked Veras while adjusting his glasses.
“I can’t promise that.”
“How dare you! Are you mocking the prince?”
Carmine shouted, drawing his magic wand. But the prince stopped him.
“Enough. Veras, you asked knowing you wouldn’t get a good answer. That’s petty.”
“Apologies, but I had to ask.”
“Not here. She’s the Emperor’s mistress. You wanted to punish her in the middle of the capital?”
If Aura insulted the prince, they couldn’t punish her here without serious consequences. But letting it go would harm the prince’s dignity too. Kais criticized his aides with a sigh.
“You are truly wise, Prince Kais. I now understand why Lord Gimel believes in you.”
Aura praised the prince, but it also implied his aides were lacking. Everyone caught the insult.
“So why are you here, Countess?”
“I’ve brought this.”
Aura held up a clear necklace—it was an academy badge with an RFID chip. Strange symbols were written on it in an ancient language that was actually the logo of a company from another world: “Plain Games Inc.” But people here couldn’t read it.
“What is this?”
“It’s the symbol of Dyunais Academy. With this, you can become a director of the academy.”
Everyone was shocked.
“Wasn’t the Grand General Bernhardt the only one with one?”
“This is a newly found one, not the one he holds.”
Aura smiled.
“Thank you for such a valuable gift. But how can I repay you?”
“Please think of the people of Garmhau. Also… my daughter is a student at the Academy. If she’s ever in danger, please protect her.”
With that, Aura politely left the room.
Prince Kais looked down at the academy badge in his hand and gave a bitter smile.
“An unexpected treasure. It seems Aura isn’t on my side or Bernhardt’s. Could she be the Emperor’s choice?”
“Ah…”
Veras and Linser let out soft sighs.
As soon as Aura left, shadows began moving by the river outside. That meant there had been agents hiding nearby, watching everything. The prince’s aides hadn’t noticed them at all.
“What will you do, Prince? This might be a trap.”
“Trap or not, I can’t refuse this gift. If I do, both allies and enemies will doubt my abilities. Even if I can’t meet my supporters’ hopes, I must at least meet my enemies’ expectations.”
Prince Kais firmly picked up the badge.
Later, after Professor Magram’s afternoon class, it was evening break time.
Students from Zephyros dorm rushed over to Izolde, who had missed the earlier class.
“Are you okay, Izolde? Why did you skip class?” asked Rudolf.
“Ah… I wasn’t feeling well, so I took a short rest.”
She lied. The administration had already decided to keep her involvement with the dungeon and demon soldiers a secret, so this excuse wouldn’t seem odd.
“I see. You did seem off yesterday. Are you okay now?”
“Yes, I feel much better.”
Hearing his concern made Izolde feel guilty. Rudolf didn’t know she was part demon, or that her mother was a spy. It felt like she was deceiving him.
Just then, her old friends Kate, Nora, and Mina showed up. They had always spent time gossiping together in noble society and now wore their usual sly smiles.
“Izolde, are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“You missed something funny today. Do you know what Lady Idnia did during class?”
“What?”
“She said she needed the restroom and just ran out during the lecture.”
“She said that? During class?”
To nobles, this was humiliating. For a girl from a powerful duke’s family to announce she had to use the bathroom—it was beyond shameful.
“Yes! Can you believe it? A noble lady must have dignity!”
“It was hilarious.”
The girls gossiped and laughed about Idnia’s behavior. Normally, Izolde would have joined in.
But now she couldn’t.
Idnia had saved her. She had even left class to do it. Mocking her for that would be unforgivable.
‘She doesn’t care about others laughing at her. She even stood up to a demon squad alone… Would such a person be afraid of a few girls’ gossip?’
Izolde remembered Idnia’s noble and heroic figure, standing tall against danger.
‘Wait… I’m thinking she looked… cool? Like a real hero?’
Izolde shook her head. She was feeling many things—gratitude, fear, doubt.
‘She saved me… but how did she know where I was? She appeared too conveniently. How did a mere student find the exact dungeon?’
She still didn’t fully trust Idnia.
So she spoke carefully:
“Stop it. You don’t understand the real Idnia. She’s… someone on another level. She’s scary.”
“Huh?”
“Izolde…?”
The girls were confused. Izolde had always gossiped with them—now she looked serious.
She knew just defending Idnia would only upset them. But by saying Idnia was scary and different, she protected Idnia without upsetting her friends.
But someone else was listening.
Rudolf had also heard Izolde’s words.
