First Prince Haurezel set down his documents and looked around the room.
The battle-hardened knights raised their heads, meeting his gaze. Directly before him sat his sister.
"What do you think, Scarlett? I’d like to hear your thoughts."
"My thoughts, brother?"
Scarlett knew who Leo was. However, she had not made the events of that day public; she could hardly admit to the world that the First Princess had been rescued by a mere boy. Furthermore, Gaia had described him only as a talented young swordsman under his tutelage.
She knew there was more to the story, but since she understood that was all Gaia was willing to say, she hadn't pressed for details.
"There are precedents for Academy students achieving First Class Merit in their first battle," she said. "However, in every case, they were already knights. There is no precedent for a commoner... someone from the rank of a simple squad soldier."
"True," Haurezel replied. "Personally, I’m considering investing in his potential and granting him a Two-Star rank."
"—!? Is that not perhaps premature?"
"You think so? It is the second time he has saved this country, after all."
"..."
Scarlett glared at her brother, but he only offered a gentle smile. It seemed the name Leo had already reached his ears. Word had likely leaked from one of the knights on the battlefield, though the Prince hadn't seemed to know the boy's exact location until now.
"I’m in agreement with Lord Haurezel," a knight spoke up.
It was Iricobert. He was wrapped in bandages from head to toe, but he wore his military uniform proudly over them.
"That kid's talent isn't at a normal level, sir. He has the kind of potential that’ll eventually let him stand on equal footing with his Lord. If we’re going to promote him, I say we do it now."
"Iricobert. You are being disrespectful," a voice interjected.
"…Sorry, sir."
Admonished by Dunkel—a Three-Star knight of the Gaia Knight Order sitting beside him—Iricobert went silent and folded his arms.
"Hmm. Iricobert agrees... but does the boy even intend to become a knight? I heard he participated via the general enrollment," Haurezel mused.
"Lord Haurezel, if I may?"
All eyes turned toward the speaker: the Academy’s Student Council President, Jin Ashtress.
"Through Lord Gaia's arrangements, Leo is set to enter the Academy starting this term. I met him this morning and found him to be an extremely likable, fine young man. His desire to become a knight is firm, and his talent is remarkable. Though the circumstances were sudden, he recently emerged victorious in a duel against the Two-Star Knight Deskis via emblem depletion."
"Ho... Wasn't young Deskis considered the best among our new generation, Scarlett?"
"Yes. While he has his eccentricities, I can personally guarantee his ability."
"Heh... Talented, strong-willed, and a fine young man. He sounds like a knight straight out of a picture book. What about his lineage?"
Jin Ashtress answered promptly. "He was born to a female knight named Starless Nina, who retired due to injury. Technically, her house holds a knight peerage, but as she has already retired, they are effectively treated as commoners."
"I see. A knight for a mother. And his father?"
"Unknown. It’s unclear if the father ever recognized him. It appears he has lived alone with his mother since birth."
"Is that so... that must have been a difficult life."
Haurezel then looked to the man sitting beside him—the one who had remained pointedly silent: Gaia Featherfield.
"Now then, Gaia, this was your recommendation. Do you have anything to add?"
"In that case," Gaia replied, "I have a proposal."
◇ Leo
The following evening, as the sun began to set, I stood in my still-empty dormitory room. I dressed in my new uniform and set off for the royal castle with Flare.
Today was the Meritorious Star Decoration Ceremony.
"By the way, Flare, aren't you getting anything? You were right there with me."
"Eh, maybe a knuckle sandwich from Papa? Just kidding. I’ll probably get Fourth Class Merit. It’s basically a participation prize with a small monetary award."
"Why just that?"
"I didn't actually defeat anyone myself. I cleared a path for you, Leo, but I couldn't... I didn't kill anyone."
"I see."
A bounty for taking lives. The system was a natural part of war, but the thought made my heart feel heavy. I had slain several One-Star Knight Commanders, rallied the collapsing right wing, and taken down the enemy general alongside Iricobert-san. These were the rewards for those acts.
"Look, that’s Arcana Castle! The Sword King’s palace!!"
"I could see it from a distance, but... man, it’s huge."
It was an artistic marvel, reminding me of the Sagrada Familia. I wondered how they had built something so intricate without modern heavy machinery, but with Crest Power, it was probably easier. It was essentially like having a world full of people in high-performance power suits. They could run up walls and carry boulders with ease.
When we reached the gate, Flare was waved through on sight. As expected of a high-ranking noble's daughter.
We were guided deep into the heart of the castle. The ceilings were towering, covered in solemn, intricate murals. Gold filigree, mysterious stone statues, and massive chandeliers decorated the halls. It felt like the Palace of Versailles. I remembered seeing it on TV back in my old life.
We walked down a long corridor. To our right, a vast garden stretched toward the horizon, filled with fountains and hedges trimmed into a rectangular maze.
"Yo. I figured you'd be showing up soon."
"Iricobert-san!!"
Iricobert-san was waiting at the end of the hall. I ran over to him.
"Are you okay already? Your injuries were terrible."
"You bet! That Dragon King... his sword strokes were so damn clean that the wounds actually healed better than a messy cut."
"I see... I'm sorry. It's because I was too weak."
If I had been stronger, I could have done more. But Iricobert-san just ruffled my hair as usual. My skull actually hurt from his grip.
"Just win the next one. That arrogant Dragon King brat might act high and mighty, but you’re the stronger kid. I'm sure of it."
"............Yes!"
Iricobert-san gave me a broad, toothy grin, and I nodded back.
The three of us continued through the castle until we reached a pair of incredibly massive doors.
"For Second Class Merit and below, a General or the Commander-in-Chief hands out the awards personally," Iricobert explained. "This Throne Room is reserved strictly for First Class Merit."
"I see."
"On that note—after you!"
The doors groaned open.
The Throne Room was a sea of brilliant gold. Inside, rows of people stood who were, at a single glance, far stronger than I was. I saw Gaia-san among them. There were also people of high status who weren't knights... like Frederica-senpai. She gave me a tiny wave. Right, she’s a Duke’s daughter.
Jin-senpai was there too.
Everyone turned to look at me as the doors opened. It felt like I was being appraised. No—I definitely was. Directly ahead of me stood the Princess, as beautiful as the day I met her, and a man who was likely the Prince.
Tension spiked through me, and my muscles threatened to lock up.
SMACK!
"Ow!?"
Iricobert-san slapped my back with enough force to wind me and laughed boisterously.
"Go on, get moving, you stupid brat!"
"I'm not a brat anymore."
"Hah! Talk about cheeky... Fine then. Let’s go, Leo."
"Right!"
I took a firm step forward, heading toward the seat of power where the true monsters of this country dwelled. Iricobert-san and I knelt together before the assembly. We waited through a long-winded preamble before the announcements began.
"For First Class Merit: Iricobert Manifest. Step forward."
"Ha!"
Iricobert-san stepped forward and knelt again. Princess Scarlett began reading his achievements.
"...And you brilliantly struck down the enemy general with your own hands. Therefore, I award you First Class Merit. Your reward shall be ten Platinum Coins."
"I accept with gratitude."
"It was a magnificent effort, Iricobert. You are always a pillar of our defense."
Princess Scarlett gently patted his shoulder, and the presentation ended. It felt a bit like a sports awards ceremony.
Iricobert-san stepped back amidst thunderous applause.
"Hahaha, now I can go on another legendary spending spree," he whispered to me.
"Wait, what are Platinum Coins worth?"
"A hundred gold coins each."
So ten Platinum Coins is a thousand gold coins. If one gold coin is roughly a million yen... that’s a billion yen? My head spun. Wait, am I getting that much too?
"Next. Also for First Class Merit: Leo. Step forward."
A wave of murmurs broke out among the nobles. This time, it wasn't Princess Scarlett calling the name, but Prince Haurezel. He looked to be in his mid-thirties.
"Leo... a commoner?"
"But he's wearing the Academy uniform."
"A scholarship student, perhaps?"
"First Class Merit at that age? Impossible..."
"Has anyone heard of this boy?"
"No idea."
The fact that a "Leo"—a commoner without a family name—had achieved First Class Merit was clearly an anomaly.
I raised my head and walked forward, my heart hammering. Mimicking Iricobert-san, I dropped to one knee before Prince Haurezel.
"Leo... regarding the Battle of Emerald Plains. You have done a great service for the kingdom. Reports state that you personally slew five or more of Dragonia’s One-Star Knights and single-handedly rallied a right wing that was on the verge of collapse."
Should I correct him? Flare worked just as hard, and so did the other knights...
I glanced at Gaia-san. He gave a small, encouraging nod, so I decided to stay silent.
"Furthermore, you led that wing to victory and charged the hill alongside Iricobert. I am told that without you, the path to the enemy general would never have been opened."
I can practically feel Iricobert-san giving me a thumbs-up behind my back... he definitely embellished the report.
The room buzzed with even louder whispers.
"And finally," the Prince continued, "you halted the Dragonia Dragon King, Valzak Dragonia, with your sword, preventing the re-bestowal of their Emblems. If not for your actions, the Battle of Emerald Plains would undoubtedly have ended in our defeat. Gaia has confirmed as much."
Gaia-san too? Everyone is definitely fluffing up my story...
"In recognition of those achievements... Leo. I grant you First Class Merit."
"Um... er. I accept... with gratitude?"
I wasn't even sure what I was supposed to be accepting yet. I looked up, and Lord Haurezel offered me a kind, knowing smile.
"Tell me," he said. "What is it that you want?"