The impact of the death of Alberto, the Mage Tower Master and head of the academy, was greater than expected.

The people of the empire were showing anger beyond questions at the tragic death of the prestigious Mage Tower Master.

"No, Alberto-nim was so tragically killed, but what is His Majesty the Emperor doing!?"

"Hey, watch your words."

"Ha, do you think I can watch my words now? Isn't that right! It's not just anyone, it's Alberto-nim!"

Alberto had a pretty thick fan base since the academy was established.

A benevolent and wise master of the Mage Tower.

A benevolent mage who did not spare his support in nurturing talent.

An outstanding mage who was recognized not only in the empire but also worldwide.

The people of Arant, who had such a mage, were very proud.

Such a Mage Tower Master was tragically murdered.

But the emperor was just standing by with his hands folded at the death of Alberto, who had devoted himself to the country, so it was natural for the people of the empire to be angry.

"Didn't you hear the news?"

"What news?"

"I mean the news about His Majesty the Emperor."

"Well, he must be eating and sh-tting well."

"Oh my, this man doesn't know anything, does he? Come closer."

The man, who had lowered his voice, gestured carefully. The man who had approached him also lowered his voice.

"That's..."

"What is it...?"

"There's a rumor that His Majesty the Emperor has become a fool."

"Ha! Brother, you too. Where is there such an absurd rumor!?"

The man snorted at the absurd words of the man who was called 'brother'.

The emperor became a fool? What would happen to the empire if the emperor became a fool after Alberto's death?

"It's true. You know, don't you? My cousin, Derek, who works at the imperial palace...!"

"...Is it true?"

"Yes. The information that Derek gave me must be accurate. He said... he can't even control his bowels..."

"Ha, then what will happen to the empire from now on?"

Worry settled on the man's face.

"Well, how would we know that? The high-ranking people will take care of it themselves..."

"Ha... this is a big problem..."

***

The academy's cafeteria.

"You guys heard it too, right? About Alberto-nim."

"I know."

Pola and Skir also seemed to have heard the quickly spreading rumor.

"Then what should we do?"

"They'll take care of it themselves."

Skir, as if he had heard something as the young master of the duchy, was just stirring his salad with an indifferent expression.

Skir had been depressed for a while after his older brother, Stun, had returned home, and he was just starting to get better these days.

"You're so calm. Aren't you, Rookie?"

"Well, Skir's words are not wrong. They'll take care of it themselves."

"What? Are all nobles like this?"

Lucas, who she had thought would take her side, also showed a very calm appearance.

"It's not something we should worry about. And even if we worry, nothing will change."

"No, but still! The head of the school is d-dead...!"

Pola lowered her voice, as if it were a story she couldn't say out loud.

"Sister... then we don't have a head of the school now...?"

"Yes..."

Nella also had a serious expression, as if she was scared by the news that someone had died.

"It'll be okay. Don't worry too much."

Lucas comforted the children gently.

In fact, if he had his way, he would have said that that bastard was worse than a demon, so even a sad expression was a waste.

But what would the children know? Terrible things should only be experienced by old dragons...

"Then what will happen to our festival?"

"...That's right. We don't have a head of the school either."

Nella also nodded her head at Pola's words.

The festival. It was a festival in name, but in fact, it was a big competition held by the imperial family every few years to gauge the skills of the academy students.

Of course, there were also many small events for the beginner class students and others who could not participate in the test, and there were also many events for the people of the empire and the distinguished guests from other countries.

"I don't know about that."

"Hmm..."

But since the head of the school had suddenly died, it was as if the organizer who would be in charge of all these events had disappeared.

"Well, they'll take care of it."

"I've already decided what to participate in for this festival!"

Pola seemed to be worried that the festival might not be held.

"What were you going to do, sister?"

At the academy festival, there were major competitions for students in magic potions, magic application, magic defense, and engraving and code-breaking.

In addition, since there were rare prizes as well as prize money, the students each chose a field they were confident in and participated.

"I'm going for magic application! What about you? Have you thought of anything?"

"Hmm... I'm thinking of magic potions...?"

"Ahem... it's okay even if it's not held."

On the other hand, Skir had a slightly relieved expression at the thought that the festival might not be held.

"Why? It's not held every year, and if not this time, who knows when it will be held again!"

The reason why the festival was not held every year was simple.

Because the time when the funds and prizes for holding the festival were properly gathered was different each time.

"J-just, it's complicated... and my family is also sponsoring..."

"Hmph, nobles are so annoying. Especially you!"

"Ugh..."

While Skir and Pola were bickering, Lucas was lost in thought for a moment.

'The festival... which temple was sponsoring this festival...?'

There was always a temple that sponsored the academy festival.

The scale of the festival was large, and there was also an intention to recruit believers at this time.

"Ha... more importantly, if the festival isn't held this time, will it be held next year?"

"Ahem! That would also be fine. It's better than forcing it to proceed when the head of the school is not here..."

"Hey! It doesn't matter to you, but I really want to win a prize in this competition!"

"It's not that it doesn't matter. I'm just..."

As Pola shouted, Skir tried to make an excuse but closed his mouth again.

'...Is it because of Stun?'

There would be only one reason why Skir was hesitant to participate in the festival.

He must be afraid that he might get a worse grade than his older brother, Stun.

Although Skir's skills had improved a lot, he was still a long way from catching up to his older brother, Stun.

"Rookie! You don't care if the festival isn't held!?"

"It would be nice if it were held, but as Skir said, it's not good to hold it in a chaotic situation."

"Tsk... all nobles are the same..."

Pola's lips pouted, as if it was an unexpected answer.

"It's not like that..."

It was when Lucas was about to comfort Pola.

"Hi? Did you all have a good lunch?"

"Oh? Professor Aman!"

The children all raised their heads and looked at him at Aman's cheerful greeting, who had come at some point.

"I think you've all heard the news."

The children also lowered their heads at Aman's melancholic expression.

'Tsk. He killed him himself... his acting is top-notch.'

Lucas shook his head slightly, as if he was at a loss for words.

"So you should all be careful. I've strengthened the barrier at the academy, just in case."

"P-professor. Then is our festival not being held?"

Aman shook his head at Pola's question.

"No. The festival will proceed as scheduled. I've decided to be the organizer."

"Really!?"

"Of course. I'll try my best to proceed as safely as possible, so you all just go to the competition and show off your skills."

Aman, who smiled brightly. Pola smiled brightly at his answer, but a shadow fell on Skir's face.

"Which temple is sponsoring this time?"

"Oh, Lucas-gun. The Demon God Cult is sponsoring this time."

"...You mean the Demon God Cult?"

"Yes. So they say. I was also a little surprised to find out when I took on the role of organizer this time..."

The Demon God Cult. Of all the temples, why the Demon God Cult?

Of course, it didn't mean that the Demon God Cult was bad. Just as there was light where there was darkness, they were also a necessary religion.

In addition, he was the god who was the basis of the demons and monsters, and the demons were also a race.

It was just that the gazes or perceptions of people and other races were not good.

"The Demon God Cult... the one that serves Taras...?"

"Oh, that's right. Skir-gun."

"But why the Demon God Cult? Isn't the Demon God Cult bad...?"

"No. Pola-yang. The Demon God Cult is also just a temple that serves the Demon God Taras. Among all the gods created according to the will of the main god, there are no evil gods."

"Ah... I see..."

Pola, who was a little discouraged by Aman's sharp rebuke, nodded her head.

"More importantly, everyone. Aren't you curious about the prizes this time? The posters will be up tonight anyway, but should I tell you in advance?"

"Yes! Okay!"

Pola, who raised her head brightly, as if she had never been discouraged.

"Right. The first thing that comes to mind is that there's a love potion among the prizes for the magic potion competition."

"A love... potion? Was that really a thing?"

"Haha. Of course. The love potion is a mysterious potion that has been passed down from ancient times. Of course, the duration varies depending on the other person's feelings... but the effect is very certain."

"Wow..."

It was getting worse and worse. To give a love potion as a prize to an academy student? How many love dramas had been caused by that!

"What else is there?"

"Hmm... ah! For the code-breaking and engraving prizes, there's a top-grade engraving book and a master key."

"A master... key?"

The top-grade engraving book was also amazing. The engraving book, which was needed to engrave magic on an object, could engrave stronger magic the higher its grade.

But a master key? He couldn't tell whether this academy wanted to raise the students as mages or as thieves.

"Yes. The master key is literally a master key. Ah, of course, it can't open a lock with a high-level magic on it. And..."

There's more?

"For magic defense, there's a top-grade recovery potion, and for magic application, there's a top-grade mana stone."

They were truly jaw-dropping prizes. The top-grade recovery potion was a potion that could save a person on the verge of death.

And a top-grade mana stone. It was to the point where he was curious about what the prizes of the previous festival were.

The children's mouths were wide open as they looked at each other every time Aman opened his mouth.

'Is this why they can't hold it every year?'

Lucas was also quite surprised by the scale of the prizes. He had thought that appropriate prizes would be offered since it was a festival held at the academy, but every prize that came out was top-grade.

"I hope you all work hard in the fields you're confident in and get the prizes. Of course, these are the first-place prizes, but the other prizes are also very generous."

"...Yes!"

"Now, then! Have a good rest of your lunch break and listen to the class well."

"Yes! You too, professor, have a good day."

"Goodbye."

As Aman left, receiving the children's farewells, Pola held Nella's hand and began to lay out her plan in detail.

"I'm going to change my plan! I'm going for engraving!"

"Why?"

"Listen well. Among the things Professor Aman just mentioned, the most expensive one is the top-grade engraving book! It's hard to get, and even if you get it, it's hard to use."

"Okay."

"So if I get first place and receive it!? I'll just sell it!"

"..."

"Why aren't you answering?"

"No. You're right, sister."

"You don't think I can get it, do you?"

"..."

It would be nice if she said no, even if it was an empty word. Nella's eyes were on the distant mountain.

"I think so too! So I have to go for engraving even more. Actually, I was going to go for magic application because the difficulty was easy... but the thing I'm most confident in is engraving!"

Since when...?

Pola had said it like a habit every time she took the engraving class, 'It's too difficult and I don't want to do it!'

But now she was saying that the thing she was most confident in was engraving?

"I-it's true! Just you watch! Even if I don't get first place, I'll get in the top 5!"

"...Good luck. You can do it, sister."

(End of Chapter)