I Got a Fake Job at the Academy
Chapter 438: The Visitor (2)

In the vast training ground of the Devalk Imperial Palace, Luther, the Knight Commander, stood in place, calmly waiting for his opponents while holding his drawn sword.

Luther silently watched as the empire's renowned commanders each warmed up and prepared their weapons.

"The rest may step back."

At Luther's voice, Enya, along with Doria and Veronica, had no choice but to comply.

A high-ranking knight tends to receive respect wherever they go.

In fact, even reaching the level of a high-ranking knight was difficult without considerable talent.

However, the people gathered here were those who had reached the pinnacle of talent.

It wasn't just talent alone. They possessed something else that others didn't have.

Even high-ranking knights were no different from ordinary soldiers following orders in this place.

"You'll need to stay as far away as possible. It's not that having witnesses is bad. I'm saying this because you might get caught up in it if you're at an awkward distance."

The three accepted that warning, thus, only five people remained in the vast and desolate training ground, four masters and Luther.

"I think I've waited long enough. Shall we begin now?"

Luther showed his confidence by offering the first move.

The four masters didn't ask why Luther suddenly came with a sword, or why he wanted to fight.

The only dialogue that swordsmen who had reached this level needed was the dialogue of swords and they were about to have plenty of such dialogue from now on.

"Who will step up first?"

No sooner had Luther finished speaking, the four masters rushed at Luther simultaneously, with no need to decide who would go first.

Each of the four possessed their own intense individuality and personality.

Terina Lionhowl, rigid and strict with rules.

Johann Oceanus, narcissistic and self-paced.

Reinhardt Kimbel, lazy and finding everything troublesome.

Pasius, gentle and calm, but somewhat lacking somewhere.

However, the four moved as one body without any prior arrangement.

It was like watching a well-coordinated stage play.

The commanders targeted Luther from four directions, swinging their respective weapons.

Their opponent was the continent's strongest swordsman.

Now that he had given them the first opportunity to attack, they needed to use all their strength to take him down.

"Not bad."

Luther smiled with his eyes at the sight.

The momentum rushing toward him like waves proved that their skills hadn't rusted at all over the years.

"However."

It was good that their skills hadn't deteriorated but that alone wasn't enough.

Simply staying in place over the years was no different from falling behind.

That day, Luther realized that this era had many people with outstanding talent and that they were trying to catch up to those ahead at an incredible speed.

‘I will test you, who are the pillars of the empire and revered by all knights.’

A knight is one who constantly moves forward.

Have you truly moved forward?

Luther's sword moved.

The opponents' weapons were four but the blocking weapon was just one.

Mathematically speaking, it was a very disadvantageous situation where one hand had to block four hands.

Nevertheless, Luther's single sword stroke deflected all the attacks coming simultaneously from four directions.

"If that's all you've got, I'll be greatly disappointed."

‘Especially since my standards have become quite high recently.’

The commanders, who had recovered their deflected weapons, tried to continue their next attack.

Their swords blazed with intense aura blades, a symbol of masters but just before the aura blades reached Luther the storm contained within his body was released.

* * *

Eileen couldn't help but let out a sigh at the scene unfolding before her eyes.

'I wondered what was happening when Commander Luther said he called for people, but.'

The sight of the massive grayish-white dome covering the entire training ground was far beyond common sense.

Moreover, the dome was continuously rotating in real-time.

The imperial training ground is built very sturdy as it's a training facility for knights.

It's designed to withstand considerable bombardment and large-scale magic but this clearly exceeded those specifications by far.

Even the imperial guards standing watch from afar couldn't close their gaping mouths at the sight of the massive vortex.

'Well, that's to be expected. Commander Luther isn't called the strongest knight for nothing.'

Royal Guard Knight Commander.

The Continent's First Sword.

The Strongest Knight.

All are terms referring to Luther Wardot and Luther never once did anything to tarnish that reputation.

What made this possible was related to his wind aura, known as Tempest.

True to that name meaning storm, Luther could generate power comparable to natural disasters despite being a sword-wielding knight.

Just look at the dome currently covering the entire training ground.

The knights' training ground exceeds 1 km in diameter, yet that storm was covering the entire training ground.

It was truly an impossible scale of power.

The sight of the grayish-white storm raging was chilling even from a distance and the horror was intensified by not being able to know what was happening inside.

'I hope they don't get injured enough to disrupt their duties.'

Eileen felt uneasy knowing that Pasius, her subordinate, was inside as well.

Although Luther had called for him, taking someone else's subordinate for a duel as he pleased...But Luther was someone who listened to no one except the emperor.

Things like being from one of the three duke families or being an imperial princess meant nothing before Luther.

Even to the emperor, Luther merely gave the impression that he showed maximum courtesy because he was the leader of the homeland he wanted to protect.

'A person who has been quiet all this time suddenly putting on such a performance means.'

Surely he must have felt something from meeting Rudger that day in Leathervelk.

Just as Eileen was making a serious expression, the storm dome covering the entire training ground disappeared like a blown-out candle.

'Is it over?'

The duel time wasn't that long.

If pressed to say, about 15 minutes but for people at the master level and above, the length of time wasn't important.

Those who entered combat spent time at a density incomparable to others.

One minute for them was far heavier than an ordinary knight fighting continuously for over an hour.

The training ground revealed after the dome disappeared was truly devastating.

The white outer walls built to match the Devalk Imperial Palace had collapsed here and there, revealing their desolate framework and the marks that looked like they were carved by some giant beast were chilling just to look at.

'At this rate, it needs to be demolished and rebuilt rather than repaired.'

At that moment, someone slowly walked out from inside the training ground.

Just by the build and gait, Luther immediately recognized who it was.

Eileen stepped forward to stand before Luther.

"Oh, if it isn't the Imperial Princess. What brings you to the training ground?"

"Commander Luther. Don't you think you went a bit too far?"

"Ah, you mean this?"

Luther turned around and glanced at the ruins he had created.

"Well, I'll pay all the repair costs. I have more money than I know what to do with anyway."

"What about the other commanders? They are important military assets of the empire. If they need long-term recovery, it will create a hole in the empire's security."

"The hole is already there. A very big hole. I'm trying to fill it now, even if it's late."

A cold smile played on Eileen's lips at those words.

"That's rich coming from someone who failed to notice a coup d'état happening."

"...I have nothing to say about that. That's precisely why I felt I had no choice but to act in the current situation."

"What's the condition of the other knight commanders?"

"They'll all get up soon."

Only then could Eileen properly observe Luther's expression.

His face was filled with satisfaction.

"Just knowing that the empire's future isn't completely dark at this moment is a great achievement, I think."

"...What exactly did you see that day in Leathervelk?"

Luther didn't answer Eileen's question, he just stared into space with eyes swirling with complex emotions.

He seemed to be feeling regretful, yet also joyful and even Eileen couldn't fully grasp his inner thoughts.

"Sigh. No need to waste energy here. Commander Luther, I know well that you dedicate yourself to the imperial family so I won't dig into what happened then."

"I am grateful for the princess's mercy."

"So let's think about productive matters going forward. There will be something to move on soon."

"What kind of matter?"

"Intelligence has come in that the Elf Kingdom is preparing for war."

Luther's expression twitched at the word war.

"That sounds interesting."

* * *

Hugo Burtag broke out in a cold sweat.

Looking at Rudger, his feelings were quite complicated.

At first, it was naturally anger. After all, he was the main enemy who had brought about such a downfall to himself, who had held power in Theon but what came next was fear.

After all, Rudger was superior to him as a magician, as a teacher, and as a human being.

Although Hugo was an arrogant noble, he wasn't bold enough to pick fights with opponents who were truly beyond his reach.

"Do you know each other?"

Yekaterina asked, looking back and forth between Hugo and Rudger.

In that situation, Hugo chose one method.

"Ha ha ha! Teacher Rudger! It's been so long! My, my. I almost made a huge mistake without knowing anything!"

That was to act friendly with Rudger.

Rudger silently stared at Hugo's behavior.

While inwardly flinching at that unreadable gaze and expression, Hugo maintained his composure outwardly.

"Ah, if Teacher Rudger has agreed to guide Queen Yekaterina, I can certainly trust in that! Aren't you the pride of our Theon!"

"Is that so?"

That blunt tone couldn't have been more frightening and Hugo's cheek twitched, but he didn't lose his smile.

"Ha ha. I was thinking I might have to volunteer for this difficult role if there was no one else. But since that's not the case, what a relief, right? Oh my, look at the time. I have somewhere else I need to be, so I'll take my leave first."

Hugo made such excuses and escaped from the place, almost running past Rudger.

Rudger glanced at that retreating figure before shifting his gaze to Yekaterina.

When the guards waiting outside approached wondering what was happening, Yekaterina waved them away saying it was nothing.

At that sight, the guards withdrew, leaving only Rudger and Yekaterina in the reception room.

Yekaterina looked at Rudger with a strange gaze before asking.

"You two aren't very close, are you?"

The question was so direct that Rudger couldn't help but let out a small laugh.

"Did it seem that way?"

Rudger used formal speech.

At his attitude of trying to maintain his position as Theon's teacher since this was an official occasion, Yekaterina felt a strange disappointment and pouted her lips.

"I'm not stupid. I wouldn't think people are close when one acts like a frog in front of a snake."

"Your discernment has improved a lot."

Rudger nodded as if impressed.

At that sight, Yekaterina glared at Rudger with a sulky face.

"Why is someone like that still at Theon? The feeling of admiration I had coming here is getting quite diluted."

"What kind of person do you think he is?"

"An arrogant, selfish person who's faithful to his desires."

"You saw correctly."

"Is it okay for someone like that to remain at Theon?"

Yekaterina seemed far from convinced.

"He has some interesting aspects if you observe him. Just now too, seeing him smile while being afraid of me makes it even more so."

"Why is that?"

"Because it's his own way of living life to the fullest."

"...I don't understand."

"He's speaking with a smile to someone who's practically his enemy. Considering his arrogant nature, it must be truly humiliating and shameful. Could Your Majesty do the same?"

Yekaterina thought carefully before giving her answer.

"I don't think I could."

"That's why I leave him be. Because he does what others can't do. At least I highly value that spirit. In some sense, I rather like someone who knows they have to roll in the mud and actually does it."

"Roll in mud...like."

"You seem to have some strange misunderstanding, but it's a metaphor. I trust you weren't actually thinking of rolling in mud after hearing that."

"O-Of course not! I know that! Metaphor! Obviously!"

"..."

‘Seems like she doesn't know.’

Rudger shrugged his shoulders slightly as if it couldn't be helped.

"Moreover, it's better to keep him inside and watch him than to drive him outside."

"Ah, I understand that one. You can't know what he might plot outside your sight, but at least you can read his intentions when he's in view, right?"

Rudger nodded to Yekaterina who was looking at him with an 'Am I right?' expression.

For some reason, that simple action brought a broad smile to Yekaterina's face.

It was impossible to imagine she was the queen ruling over the cold northern lands.

"You haven't changed at all even after becoming queen."

"Do I have to change?"

Rudger was momentarily lost for words at the innocent question.

"...Well, I suppose you don't have to. However, you'll need to show a different side to the person we're about to meet."

Rudger stood up from his seat.

"The President is waiting. Shall we go?"