By Zephyria 
I was quietly listening to their conversation as if I were a third party, and then I raised my head. The one who broke the atmosphere with laughter was a man with curly, dark reddish-brown hair. Perhaps because he had a scar on his face, he looked rough, and he smiled with his eyes curved.
“Duke Mabuir. You’re being too extreme.”
Then, the blond man glared at him.
“Duke Blest is being too optimistic.”
“Isn’t it better than being pessimistic about everything?”
Listening to the conversation between the two, it seemed that they were both Dukes like Valencia.
By the way, the surname Mabuir was familiar, so I kept thinking about it and realized that Mabuir was the same as Ibelia’s surname. I felt a strange sense of familiarity from that man I was seeing for the first time, so it must have been because he was her family.
The atmosphere was flowing as if they were about to grab each other by the collar and fight, so I was watching with great interest when suddenly, the door opened. As if wondering who was breaking the tension, everyone’s eyes turned to the door, and a woman with a fairly sturdy build and a very tall height confidently entered.
‘…Who is she?’
I had such a question, but soon I had a hunch. Soon, the woman who entered the conference room walked to the center with an unreserved stride, and the white-haired old man who was standing there gave up his seat. She stood with her hand casually on her hip and scanned the room, then cleared her throat briefly and said.
“So, it was about ‘our school’s student’?”
She had suddenly entered and was saying something so carefree. But it was also a statement that brought the topic that had been slightly off track back to the starting point.
‘Our school’s student.’
As expected.
It was clear that she was Raculus, the headmaster who was called the faceless headmaster, and the sole survivor of the Long-lived Race. Suddenly, her gaze turned directly to me. Just as I was startled and blinked, she said.
“As a bodyguard, I would like to recommend Cloud.”
Then, the people who had been focusing on the topic again began to add their words one by one. Was it because of her charisma? That person had some kind of power to grab the atmosphere as she wanted.
“Cloud… he’s definitely a reliable force.”
“But isn’t it too much of a waste of manpower to tie him down to protect just one person? This matter is important, but… realistically, I think it’s excessive.”
“No! More than that, Raculus! Suddenly appearing like this is very rude. If you’re going to attend the conference, either sit down and participate properly, or continue to act like an outsider as you have been!”
“Hmm. Sounds like a dog is barking somewhere.”
Raculus deliberately picked at her ear in response to someone’s criticism, teasing them. As a result, the face of the person who had pointed it out turned red. In addition, the voice of the person questioning her grew louder.
I ignored the human who was yelling loudly and focused only on Raculus. Her achievement, which she had revealed without concealing it with Mana Concealment, had completely captured my interest.
‘Amazing. 8-Star… and close to its peak.’
Zeon was also an 8-Star achiever, but judging from this, she had a slightly higher level of achievement than him. She was definitely the highest level achiever among the 8-Star achievers. The moment she crossed the threshold of enlightenment, she would show an explosive leap to 9-Star in an instant….
It was then.
Ardian, who had been quiet all along, suddenly raised his hand.
“Then, there is someone I would also like to recommend.”
His sudden statement was very calm and soft, but it made the room fall silent in an instant. I wondered who he was going to recommend, so I stared at him, and Ardian turned to me and curved his eyes.
“Since I am also an attendee, it’s okay for me to speak, right?”
Who could object to the Prince speaking?
Of course, no one objected.
Duke Blest even smiled kindly.
“Yes, Prince Ardian. Please feel free to speak.”
So, Ardian, who had obtained the right to speak, smiled.
“I would like to recommend Corso of the Hyde family. I am also very aware of the greatness of Cloud Hunter… but the Heavenly Eye cannot observe as much.”
People began to murmur as if they were convinced.
“The Hyde family, called the eyes of the Empire….”
“Hmm. Certainly.”
“If a family with the eyes of the Heavenly Eye, which can scan even places that cannot be reached by sight, comes forward, it would be trustworthy.”
“Since they are the Imperial Family’s loyal servants, they will work hard.”
The Hyde family, called the eyes of the Empire. It was the first time I had heard of the family, but from the flow of the conversation, it seemed to be a family with a special ability called the Heavenly Eye.
There are a few races who are born with such abilities. It’s not Magic, but the ‘unique power of the races.’ Demons are also one of those special races with such power in a broad sense.
“So, in other words, you’re going to openly monitor him, is that it?”
At that moment, Raculus made a very sensitive remark. Her wild gaze stared intently at Ardian, and everyone seemed to be watching the two of them.
“I only recommended it out of concern for a friend.”
Ardian remained calm, unfazed by her words. As the subtle war of nerves continued, the white-haired old man, who had been hesitating and watching them, cautiously interjected.
“I will present both of your recommendations to His Majesty the Emperor as fairly as possible. Would that be acceptable?”
I wanted to ask if that so-called Emperor would really consider this situation fairly, but I didn’t interfere. Either way, I didn’t like it. It seemed Raculus felt similarly.
“Only if you can trust the Imperial Family.”
She grumbled with a sulky face, and another angry voice flew in from somewhere. Of course, Raculus, not even listening, waved her hand dismissively and glanced at me one last time before abruptly leaving. She used Space Transition to depart.
Coming and going without a trace, she was truly an elusive, wind-like person. No… more like a typhoon than the wind.
“Lady Raculus ended up just making a recommendation and leaving.”
“Haa! Let’s continue the discussion.”
The meeting continued for some time. Although this agenda focused on protecting me, they also intended to discuss related matters while they were gathered.
Therefore, the discussion included strengthening security at the Merzel Academy and even speculation that a spy might be hiding among the Barrier users.
It was an interesting time.
In the case of the Barrier user, there was no concrete evidence, so it ended with a decision to observe further.
As people began to rise from their seats after the meeting, the outside was already bathed in a golden sunset. I was about to return to the dormitory with Polargehen when a cheerful voice called out from behind me.
“Ray!”
Turning around, I saw Maximun and Esili approaching. I paused and waited, and Esili, who had been cheerful, immediately made a sulky face and began to nag.
“You were going to leave without even saying goodbye, weren’t you?!”
I should have just left. While I was averting my gaze, Polargehen nodded in greeting, and Ardian also smiled at them.
“It’s a pleasure to see you, Lord Maximun, and Lady Esili.”
Esili suddenly became demure.
“Yes. Greetings, Your Highness.”
Her tone was completely different. She wasn’t so cautious and docile with me or Leshnold. I felt a strange sense of incongruity, but it wasn’t unusual since the other party was royalty.
“Prince Ardian, you’ve grown up wonderfully in the meantime.”
As Maximun left his regards, Ardian responded with another smile. I didn’t know, but it seemed they and Ardian were already acquainted.
“Then, see you next time. Take care.”
“Excessive concern.”
I replied to Esili’s worry and turned away. She continued to nag from behind, complaining that I had no charm, but Polargehen, inevitably urged by me, used Space Transition, so I didn’t have to listen to her nagging any longer.
“You both worked hard today. Go in and get some rest.”
“Yes.”
“Classes will resume soon. See you then.”
Polargehen dropped us off in front of the dormitory and left. I took the first step in the quiet atmosphere, and Ardian slowly followed behind me. I wondered how far he intended to follow, but he eventually accompanied me to my room.
I stopped in front of the room and turned around.
Then, Ardian spoke first.
“If there are no classes tomorrow, will you go on a date with me?”
“…No.”
“Then I’ll have to hope there are classes tomorrow.”
He only chuckled as if he expected the rejection. Ardian turned halfway around.
“I’ll be going now. Dream of me.”
Ardian’s receding back.
I stared intently at that straight back and threw out a word.
“I’ll believe it. That you’re not my enemy.”
That was closer to disbelief than conviction. I wanted to believe that his insistence on attaching ‘someone he recommended’ to me wasn’t a betrayal. Ardian stopped and turned back around.
“Don’t worry. I’ll never be your enemy.”
There was no sign of prickliness or falsehood on his face.
I hoped that was his true feeling, not a mask.
As time passed and the resumption of classes was decided, ‘Corso’ from the Hyde family, who was to be my guard, appeared before me as the first class began…
“I am Corso Den Hyde. Please take care of me.”
The black cross pupils engraved in his yellow irises, a characteristic of the Heavenly Eye, gave an alien feeling different from ordinary humans.
In fact, I had expected this to happen. He said he would fairly present the opinions to the Emperor, but the person making the suggestion was his younger sibling, and he put forward a family that was a loyal confidant of the Imperial Family, so it wouldn’t look good on the surface.
But….
Clearly, only this man was supposed to be my guard. It was strange. There was another grinning guy next to him.
“Hello. Student Raymond.”
…Why is Cloud Lavende here?