Royal Road of the Extra Scribe

76

The Academy returned after the war.

The atmosphere in the classroom couldn’t be good due to the deaths of the instructor Dugan and some cadets.

The scars from the war ran deep, with many cadets suffering from psychological trauma.

It was necessary to shake off such despair forcibly, and for that purpose, the formation of factions was carried out.

“You sure showed your faces, you cowards!”

“Jelson died because of you guys!”

Those who had participated in the victorious battles began to reject other cadets who had stayed in the rear.

‘Anyway, they’re doing something stupid.’

If there is psychological pressure, one could just quit being a cadet. But instead, they are building self-esteem by blaming others.

I sat down reluctantly, but soon a guy who seemed to be part of a group approached me.

“Hey, Ilaine. You were also in the rear, right?”

“…So what?”

The arrow had turned towards me as well. It was natural since it was publicly known that I had been in the rear.

“So what? You coward. What good are your grades? In reality, you’re just trash who abandons comrades and runs away in real combat!”

“Hah, so what? Ready to throw a punch?”

His actions were so distasteful that I couldn’t help but react sharply.

He scowled as if asking where I got the nerve to talk back.

“If you want, I’ll represent everyone and smash that pretty face of yours.”

“If you can, go ahead. I’ll tell you whose face will be smashed.”

“This guy…”

Nevertheless, he hesitated to attack, just clenching his fists.

In the tense atmosphere, Bannings hurriedly intervened.

“Wait! It’s not Alse! He suffered a serious injury in the first battle!”

Seems like there’s nothing like comradeship.

Bannings, who had talked with me at that time, knew that I hadn’t been injured, but still covered for me with a lie.

“Alse was in the rear unit that opened the way in the first battle. He was the commander of that unit! Of course, another officer actually led the unit, but anyway, he fought in that unit and got injured! There’s no reason to call him a coward!”

The cadet who had threatened me nodded with a bitter expression.

It was a gesture as if to exclude me from the witch hunt. The faction guys also seemed to back off, as if saying, ‘Don’t mess with Ilaine.’

Bannings let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew, you okay, Als?”

“Thanks, would’ve been a bit of a hassle if you hadn’t stepped in.”

“It’s more than just a hassle.”

Bannings glanced at the group of gang members huddled together and whispered.

“They seem pretty serious. Looks like they’re going to pressure those who didn’t participate in the battle to stop.”

“They know what they’re doing.”

“Be careful not to get caught up. It’s best to try to get close to the key figures if possible.”

Key figures. Casper Millias, Luan Chase, and following Dugan, there was Dorothy, who became the head of the Grimgood Viscount after him.

Among them, Casper, who could be considered crucial, stood at the center of the group with a stern expression.

‘He’s really unlucky.’

If I hadn’t defected, it would have been revealed as a fake when I appeared.

In my opinion, that was the lifeline Casper could grasp.

At that point, even if he was accused of being a liar, he could have somehow managed to get through the situation.

Now, it had turned into a crisis.

As a result of this incident, many of the peers began to admire him, and the influence due to impersonation had grown uncontrollably.

“But Wade, is that true? Bringing Violafr Dresden and… killing him?”

It was a question from a member of a gang.

To this, Casper furrowed his brows and questioned with just his expression.

“No, you sent Prince Romelo to face Europe and brought Violafr Dresden. I heard you brought him to kill him because you didn’t like Wade’s impersonation. Is that true?”

“That, that’s…”

He started to visibly panic.

I intentionally spread that rumor. Since Violafr had abandoned his previous status and started working under me, it was better for such stories to circulate.

Casper’s confusion was about something else.

“To punish the impostor…?”

“Huh? Wasn’t that it?”

“Oh, right! That was it.”

“Wow, Wade, impressive. Dresden is a well-known figure even in Europe. To dispose of the successor of such a place in that way. The other impostors pretending to be you must have wet themselves.”

Voices praising Casper erupted from all around.

Casper was just dripping with cold sweat.

‘At this point, it seems like everyone is aware and teasing him.’

Unless it was that, it meant Casper was truly in a situation where he couldn’t do anything. If it were to be revealed now that he was a fake, it was obvious what treatment he would receive from his peers.

The shadow of doom was slowly creeping up behind Casper.

After returning to the academy, for about a month, they suffered from measles due to the formation of gangs.

The military seemed to consider it a desirable state. The cadets had shaken off the pain of war and achieved internal cohesion.

While it would be a problem if these gangs grew, they seemed to leave them alone since they were just kids’ factions.

The repercussions of this were felt by the rejected cadets.

Those who were not nobles were openly beaten, and even if they were nobles, if they didn’t curry favor with the gangs, they were scorned by the commoners.

With no clear figure to control this role of the teacher, the situation was deteriorating day by day.

‘They’re still just kids, after all.’

The problem was about legitimacy. In reality, the majority of those who turned their backs and ran away were scared, which made the factions even more aggressive.

In a way, it was a natural phenomenon.

“But… does this mean I’ll end up becoming an outcast?”

I wasn’t part of any faction, nor was I being harassed by them.

Although it seemed like my lack of allegiance didn’t sit well with the factions, Banings always shielded me, saying, “Alis is naturally aloof,” and even Dorothy, one of the core members of the faction, would protect me, saying, “Alis is my benefactor. Don’t speak ill of him.” So, it was a peaceful state.

Peaceful in words, but being unaffiliated with either side left me quite bored without anyone to talk to.

“Yes, this is good.”

Being preoccupied with Rainfall’s internal affairs, it was better to take a breather at the Academy.

Returning home felt even heavier.

Sure enough, Rainfall’s study was stacked with internal affairs documents up to eye level.

Olaf, who had been dealing with them all day, greeted me wearily.

“I’ve handled everything. Alis, you just need to review and approve.”

“Why don’t you just approve it?”

“Say something reasonable. I’m not the official Rainfall administrator.”

“I’m not the official Rainfall administrator either.”

Somehow, Olaf and I would pre-approve, and the final approval would be done by Anton or other Rainfall administrators.

It was the pinnacle of inefficiency, but there was no way around it.

As a test, when I entrusted the internal affairs to the administrators of Rainfall, they didn’t handle the work properly, leading to complaints from Biscetta Cren.

But asking for competent internal affairs personnel was tricky because I was hesitant about who Juras would appoint.

“We have to solve the internal affairs issue with our own strength.”

I considered this a process of gaining experience for running the country in the future. Until capable internal affairs personnel gathered, all I could do was endure.

I sat at the study table, reviewing the documents one by one.

Olaf shrugged his shoulders and said, “Most of these are about the upcoming festival.”

“Come to think of it, it’s that time of year.”

Rainfall, now a mid-sized city, had seen the scale of its festivals grow.

With these festivals attracting the surrounding population, it was certain that Rainfall’s population would explosively increase during the festival period.

Until last year, when the city was not as large, there were no major issues, but this year was different.

“But why now of all times?”

Olaf expressed a fundamental question.

“Usually, when we talk about festivals, they are primarily about spring festivals celebrating fertility or autumn festivals commemorating the harvest. Summer festivals are rare. How can you enjoy a festival in the heat?”

“Crossing has different circumstances.”

The barren land of Crossing made it impossible for summer farming.

“So, in early spring, they focus on raising soil levels and only start cultivation in late spring. That’s why they don’t have time for a spring festival. Additionally, in autumn, they need to harvest, and it’s a major season for fishing. Therefore, they don’t have the luxury of holding a festival in the fall. That’s why Crossing has a summer festival for autumn and a winter festival for praying for next year’s harvest.”

“I see.”

“I thought Euforpe, located in the same northern region, would be similar. Isn’t it?”

“Still better than here. …Well, if that’s the case, it’s a good opportunity to promote your book.”

“…Excuse me?”

I thought I misheard.

“Well, what are you promoting?”

He’s wearing a look as if he doesn’t know anything. Did you think people would buy it on their own just because you wrote a book? You have to sell it by running around until it gains momentum.”

“By running around with my feet….”

I decided to publish a version without the explicit scenes under my name. My pen name means “platinum” in English.

“If this edition sells well, the sensual novel section will naturally thrive, so please work hard.”

“Sigh….”

Unexpected novel promotion work.

From Noble mtl dot com

It seems like this festival will be quite lively.

* * *

In a meeting room.

It felt like a different world there.

Even though it wasn’t a high place, the air was heavy, and the insects seemed to hide instinctively as if sensing danger.

Sitting side by side were three leaders of the Western tribe exuding a deadly pressure. The atmosphere was so intimidating that a weak-hearted person would likely cower.

However, the guests they were hosting showed no signs of shrinking back.

“I didn’t expect the head of the construction company to come.”

One of the leaders, a young man. He was called Irwana, praised as the giraffe in the West.

“Did General Svenner himself come to visit?”

Jemuto, who came to the West with his entourage. Although Svenner and the West were in an alliance, the air between them was far from warm.

Jemuto’s subordinates were on high alert as if they could draw their swords at any moment, and the West’s subordinates were the same.

Jemuto spoke, “We’ve come after hearing about your plans. Let me be clear. That war is not an option.”

At this, the leaders’ expressions twisted.

One of the leaders, a woman. Tetera, showed her displeasure without filtering.

“Not an option? What gives you the right to control us? You don’t think that in this alliance, you stand above us, do you?”

“….”

“Don’t get delusional. We originally planned to destroy Svenner, who was blocking our path, and expand to the continent. We extended our courtesy due to the flattering words you’ve been spouting.”

The growling of Tetera prompted an elderly leader among the heads, a man named Hanneman, to object.

“Calm down. Understand Jemuto’s position. It might be better diplomatically not to act hastily.”

Currently, Svenner was in the worst diplomatic position due to being accused of the assassination of the King of Blulang. Europe, their former ally, had turned away, and Tunkai remained silent.

Publicly criticized by other countries in the Middle East, Svenner was in a diplomatic deadlock.

In such a situation, starting another war could mark them as public enemies and potentially lead to the formation of an anti-Svenner alliance.

“But, Jemuto, this could also be an opportunity. While all nations suffer heavy losses from this war, our army remains intact. Now is our chance for the West to expand to the continent.”

“And there was someone we planted in Blulang for that purpose.”

“Of course, but the situation in Blulang has changed. There is no guarantee that he can carry out our plans.”

Blulang was now preparing for civil war, with its military strength significantly increased. Alongside, they had heightened their guard against the West and Svenner, making it difficult to intervene.

“So, let’s turn our eyes elsewhere to conquer something else. Would you understand as an ally?”

“Somewhere else… It’ll probably be Beccabia without a doubt.”

Beccabia, a country whose power had drastically weakened. In the previous Chimera War, they had hastily sent their troops to gain diplomatic leverage.

If the West were to invade Beccabia in the current situation, there was a high chance Beccabia wouldn’t hold out.

The West planned to destroy Beccabia and establish a foothold to expand to the continent.

Objectively, a clear strategy. However, after a moment of silence, Jemuto speaks.

“The likelihood of your schemes being revealed is high.”

“What does that mean?”

“The mastermind behind the recent assassination of the Bryulang king. If it wasn’t you, it must have been Crossing. He’s involved in that Crossing. The all-knowing Judas. There’s a good chance he can anticipate your moves.”

“hahahahaha! If Jemuto Gong speaks to that extent, he must indeed be exceptional, but it’s rather unpleasant to be likened to being in the palm of someone’s hand. Are they underestimating us too much?”

“It’s a realistic story. He knew about Bryulang’s betrayal in advance. The same goes for Beccabia that you are planning to conquer. After the Triad War, Crossing needlessly left Beccabia alone. Even though they could have absorbed the territory by destroying it. I believe it’s a trap set to lure you in.”

“Are you saying we deliberately created this situation to invade Beccabia? Surely not. No matter how great a person is, would they have painted such a big picture?”

“It seems that’s the kind of person he is. The spies assigned to him gathered and said. An unparalleled genius. A monster beyond measure. If you act rashly, you might end up being devoured by him. So, it’s better not to engage in this war.”

Jemuto’s philosophy of war was firm.

He doesn’t engage in uncertain wars. In his view, this war had too many variables.

Irubana, who had so far maintained a polite attitude, now snarled like a demon, visibly angered by Jemuto’s consistent stance.

“…Devoured? By us? Me!? To that extent, Svenner brat.”

Irubana’s unmasked demeanor startled Svenner’s people.

“It’s us who do the devouring. Our vengeance, honed over a hundred years, is not that dull.”

Jemuto remained calm, showing no reaction to this change.

“Are you going to join the battle, Irubana Thren?”

“Unfortunately, no. I intended to capture Judas or whoever alive and offer them as a prize, but…”

Only Hanne decided to speak up.

“I have decided to participate. You know my skills, don’t you?”

“…”

Jemuto, thinking it was useless to say more, simply nodded.

“In that case, I advise caution. Besides Judas, there is another person you should be wary of.”

“…?”

“Mercenary Wade. There’s a possibility he might join as Judas’s lieutenant. It would be wise to be as vigilant as you are with Judas if he shows up.”

“Who is he really?”

“We are still figuring that out, but there are too many impostors causing confusion. It’s hard to make a hasty judgment if Crossing is also manipulating things.”

“Hmm, if you say so, he must be a cautious individual. But don’t worry. If he’s that caliber of a person, I have dozens under my command.”

“I hope your words hold true.”

Jemuto turned and left. With Svenner’s approval, there was no room for hesitation.

The West immediately began a large-scale military reorganization.

They swiftly gathered up to 130,000 troops.