“…What did you just say?”
Saint Rebecca couldn’t believe her ears.
But Adrian, still wearing his bright and cheerful smile, firmly repeated himself.
“Just as I said. I’ll become an instructor at the academy.”
Rebecca, taken aback, couldn’t help but trail off.
“No, that’s…”
It was true.
Adrian had suddenly appeared before her and, with just a few words, turned the Great Temple’s main building upside down.
The other instructors, who had been summoned because of this commotion, were strongly opposed.
“Are you saying you don’t trust us?”
“No matter how great a hero you may be, teaching young cadets is a whole different matter!”
As she listened to their protests, Rebecca kept her expression cool while wondering:
‘Why now?’
Currently, Prince Dominik—whom the emperor personally entrusted—is staying at the academy.
The emperor had also passed along a discreet request:
> “Make sure Dominik is not brought into the spotlight in any way. Keep him hidden as much as possible.”
Rebecca recalled the emperor’s words once more:
> “He must not be noticed by anyone. Understood?”
But if Adrian were to become an instructor, it would be difficult to fulfill the emperor’s request.
Adrian was, in every way, the kind of perfect hero you’d read about in fairy tales.
Which also meant… he had a relentlessly righteous personality.
Of course, Rebecca found Adrian’s upright nature admirable, but—
‘This isn’t good.’
She barely managed to lift the corners of her stiffening mouth into a smile.
Then, with as gentle a voice as she could muster, she spoke.
“Of course, if you were to guide the young cadets yourself, it would be a tremendous help.”
“…Saint Rebecca?”
The instructors looked at her, startled.
Maintaining a sincere expression, Rebecca continued:
“But you are destined for much greater things. It seems like a waste for someone like you to be tied up with such a small matter…”
“I disagree. I believe this is one of the most important tasks.”
Adrian firmly drew the line.
“Isn’t this about nurturing the future leaders of the Great Temple?”
“Sir Hero—”
“Or perhaps…”
Adrian looked straight at her.
“Is there some reason I shouldn’t serve as an instructor?”
His gaze cut right through her.
Rebecca flinched slightly, shoulders stiffening.
But Adrian wasn’t done speaking yet.
“Also, calling the job of an instructor ‘a small matter’ seems rather disrespectful to those who work tirelessly to train these cadets.”
Ah—!
Rebecca inhaled sharply and turned around.
The instructors were already staring at her with complex expressions.
“What I meant was… everyone has their role, that’s all.”
Rebecca forced a laugh.
“If we all do our best in our respective positions, the Church will only grow stronger, right?”
“Well, when the Church appointed me as a hero…”
But Adrian refused to back down.
He countered her point by point.
“I never thought my duty was just to put on airs and call myself a hero.”
“That’s not what I meant…”
Rebecca tried to speak, but Adrian was faster.
“As a hero of the Church, I believe I should also take responsibility for its future.”
“…That’s…”
“And if I can contribute, even in a small way, to training future talent…”
Adrian smiled gently.
It was a smile like a blade.
“I would find that truly rewarding.”
“……”
Rebecca bit down hard on her lower lip.
A righteousness that wouldn’t compromise for anything.
A hero without a single flaw.
But at this moment, Rebecca found that perfection unbearably irritating.
Then, Adrian added casually:
“Besides, didn’t you make a promise to me?”
Rebecca stiffened again.
A past conversation with Adrian suddenly resurfaced in her mind:
> “Still, we’ll do our best to keep an eye on Prince Dominik.”
> “So please trust us too, Sir Hero.”
…Yes, she had definitely said that.
But ever since Adrian left the Empire, Rebecca had half-forgotten that promise.
With the emperor’s trust on the line, why should she care about a prince who had lost his favor?
Sometimes, minor things must be sacrificed for the greater good.
But Adrian seemed to think differently.
“I couldn’t help but feel responsible, seeing that promise wasn’t being kept. So I’ve decided to handle it myself.”
He drove in the final nail.
Rebecca opened her mouth to protest—then shut it tightly again.
A moment later.
She smiled sweetly and gave Adrian a slight bow.
“All right. If you’re willing to devote yourself personally, we will gladly welcome that.”
But her gentle tone carried a hidden thorn.
“Thank you.”
Adrian, feigning ignorance, gave a radiant smile.
The same smile Rebecca always praised internally for its perfection.
“I never doubted that you’d make a wise decision, Saint Rebecca.”
—
Upon hearing his fate from the Great Temple, Dominik looked stunned, as if he’d been hit in the back of the head.
“…You’re really not punishing me?”
Adrian nodded.
“That’s right. Considering everything you’ve endured… and you were just trying to protect our Mei, weren’t you? I took that into account.”
He couldn’t take Dominik directly under his protection.
Nor could he move carelessly within the temple, just to help that boy.
So then—
‘I’ll just keep him within sight.’
Adrian grinned as he added:
“Also, from now on, I’ll be participating in cadet classes as an instructor.”
“Y-you will, Sir Hero?!”
Dominik looked shocked.
Adrian was the Empire’s only Sword Master.
It was far too extravagant for someone of his caliber to be teaching mere holy knight trainees.
Even officially ordained knights would line up to learn from him.
“Well, not as a regular instructor—more like a special lecturer.”
Adrian shrugged and patted Dominik on the back.
“So go thank Mei. She testified that you didn’t do anything wrong.”
“…Ah.”
Dominik opened his mouth to say something, then shut it again.
From deep within his chest, something warm and overwhelming welled up.
A moment later—
He gave a small nod.
“Yeah, I’ll make sure to thank her.”
—
Click.
The door opened.
Dominik and Adrian stepped into the room together.
Mabel, who had been sitting nervously, shot to her feet the moment she saw Dominik.
“Dominik oppa!!”
She ran over and threw her arms around his neck.
“…!”
Dominik froze in place, completely stiff.
