Chapter 17

Chapter 17

At the end of February, the streets near the University of St. Jan’s were filled with crowds.

This was due to the inauguration ceremony finally commencing at the leading educational institution established by the Great King. Many who had taken the entrance exam last November had been eagerly waiting for this moment.

At this point, a hustle of Frechenkaya merchants attempted to empty the pockets of newcomers and their families arriving from distant lands, while various “traditional games,” including pickpocketing, were rampant.

Despite the piercing cold of early spring mornings, the excited and happy newcomers, as well as onlookers empathizing with them, filed through the entrance of St. Jan’s University.

“What’s that?”

That is until someone pointed to the sky and made a puzzled sound.

One by one, people started pointing peculiarly towards the sky.

Soon, as the morning light cast long shadows over the university grounds.

“A warship...?”

“An aerial battleship...?”

“Insane!! Isn’t that, isn’t that the Kalion’s flagship?!”

Many people gathered in front of the university were thrown into panic.

“S-Sir! Kalion’s warship is in the Frechenkaya airspace...!”

“Even I can see it.”

A silver-haired court official gripped his hair, bewildered.

“Surely.... Our agents said Elpheira would come by land via Tylesse, didn’t they?”

“That... Ahaha! I know! Clouds, the ship flying above the clouds... right... The recent weather has been rough. That’s why they couldn’t determine if Kalion’s dignitaries were really coming by land or crossing the airspace with an armed warship. It makes sense”

“No, sir. Common sense dictates that we would never be able to plant an agent in Kalion! After all, that place is...”

Elven territory... How could we... plant them... without getting caught right away....

When an intelligence officer breaks out in a cold sweat and says, “We’re screwed if we report this to headquarters.”

In an era where peace had become a crude joke, a warship was descending from the sky.

It was early spring.

Elizaveta shouldn’t kill the elves.

Ivan continued to ignore the people engulfed in confusion and walked, thinking that their intentions were probably obvious.

– Haven’t you repeatedly experienced terror attacks targeting the Hero Party children in your territory?

– How messed up is your border control that we’re dealing with this?”

– Elpihera is the pride of our country too, do you expect us to trust her to you? Now we’ll protect our own. Thank you for your hard work and cooperation!”

It was hard to argue against. Isabelle and Ecdysis had been involved in the train accident, and it was nearly miraculous that they all came out unharmed.

Even Elizaveta had received a warning from Ivan beforehand. But who dared to provoke a crisis at this time in Krasilov?

Krasilov, embroiled in chaos due to the fierce quarreling between the princess and the prince, and the country’s military strength largely intact after the war. Would an external force dare?

Unless they wanted to die.

Elizaveta would have felt unjustly accused. She probably didn’t expect such crazy folks to exist. Anyway, this incident could be dismissed as some kind of incident. Even the elves of Kalion wouldn’t have committed diplomatic offenses beyond “violent protests.”

“She’ll be damned if I’m going to tell her there’s going to be numerous terror attacks at the academy in the future.”

The prospect of seeing Ironblood Liza crying again was tempting, but Ivan decided against it, not wanting to continue insulting his superior.

Besides, he has no desire to face Elizaveta directly in the first place. After all, it could be a bit awkward.

“Hmm.”

Elizaveta wrote letters frequently, and Ivan neatly replied each one. The main reason was not wanting to engage in personal conversation, followed by not wanting to be involved with royalty.

He should have been more cautious, given that he might be appointed as an officer in a few years. It was a matter of reflection.

She was only fourteen when she wrote that first letter. Unexpectedly, being promoted to an officer of the Cleansup Unit in just five years was unimaginable. Moreover, he was offered to become a Royal Guard at that time, but Ivan refused it.

The scene of the princess and the commoner exchanging words could have been dragged into a political attack by someone’s notice. It was necessary to avoid the misunderstanding that the Great King secretly sent someone to support Elizaveta.

“Huh? Mister?”

Oscar had set off three days later than Isabelle. It was because Isabelle didn’t want to go with him even if she was about to die.

And when news of Isabelle’s accident reached Tylesse.

– Advance! To Frechenkaya!

– Tear apart the feet of Krasilov’s bears!

– A country that forgets history has no future! Don’t forget the heroic deeds of the heroes, people of Tylesse!

The streets of St. Mathilde were full of citizens holding such placards. The daughter of a hero, not in an accident abroad but missing due to terrorism, what could be the problem.

Fortunately, news quickly spread that Isabelle had survived without any injuries, and the protests dispersed. But the vigilance and distrust in Tylesse had risen sharply.

In the midst of this, he even heard a firm word from his father, Jill Ber the border guard.

“When you enroll, no matter what happens, make sure Isabelle doesn’t even scratch a hair.”

“Even if I die?”

“Your life is less precious than that kid’s life, no matter how I think about it.”

“You’re really something. If you really care about her, why didn’t you switch her and me back then? I heard you were close to the Hero.”

“If I could, I would have done it twenty years ago. Son, me and Julia always wanted a daughter.”

“Wow, you two really bad parents.”

Recalling the strict guidance of Tylesse’ knights, the great Border Guard Jill Ber, Oscar controlled his expression but then composed himself.

“I’m a staff member at St. Jan’s University.”

“Excuse my behavior. Due to recent unfortunate events, please forgive my rudeness.”

“Okay.”

“May I ask which department you’re in? I’ve never seen your name on the faculty list.”

At this point, Isabelle’s ears perked up. He wasn’t a professor?

“I’m a gardener.”

“Uh...”

“...Hmm...?”

His skill? A gardener?

Isabelle looked at him in shock, unsure of what to think with those deep eyes that revealed no expression, despite the disheveled beard.

“Uh, what?”

She then chuckled and lightly hit Ivan’s side. Ivan reflexively moved to reach for his waist before realizing his axe wasn’t there and naturally dropped his hand.

“A government agent, right? A secret agent or something? Wow, university life is really thrilling. What could you be hiding to have a government agent planted here?”

Isabelle whispered and soon composed herself.

“This is between us, okay? Understand? Don’t talk about it elsewhere, okay?”

“If it’s a secret between us, I think you should watch your mouth more.”

“Come on, I’m the Hero’s daughter. Solemnity, secrecy, justice.”

“Did the hero ever say that?”

As the whispered conversation between the two continued, Oscar’s expression strangely changed.

“Miss?”

“Oh, yes. Sir. Petrovich, thank you for guiding me. Wow, the campus is so wide, I almost got lost! Goodbye!”

Was there a drama department in the Arts Faculty at St. Jan’s University? Ivan seriously considered recommending Isabelle to take an acting class as part of her education.

At that moment, in the main hall where St. Jan’s University’s entrance ceremony preparations were in full swing, someone was blankly staring into space.

“What’s this? Status... Window?”

[Congratulations!]”

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