The Tamer Monarch
Chapter 57: Sezile Family

Chapter 57: Sezile Family

"You see," Angelica continued, "this large scale cooperation, from arranging food to preparing it, to setting up proper camps. Everything is designed to train students for military life."

"And the biggest, most important part of this entire exercise," she added, "is conditioning the students to follow orders without question."

"This time, you were only asked to obey without any questions asked. And luckily, no unreasonable orders were given," she said. "But next time, that may not be the case."

"Orders will be issued. Most likely illogical, perhaps even contradictory. You will want to question them, but you would not. Not openly. With every additional camp, you will be pushed closer to blind obedience."

"By the time you finish your fourth year at the academy," she said, her tone turning serious, "you will be perfectly conditioned to follow commands from anyone placed in charge. No matter how absurd or dangerous."

Athar stared at her, stunned. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. Was everything really so calculated, so deep?

"But... not every student joins the army, right?" he asked hesitantly.

"True," Angelica nodded. "Not everyone is selected. But the moment you are admitted to the academy, a file is opened in your name. Every achievement, every failure, every merit you earn is carefully recorded. You are fully profiled."

"And only the top few, the cream, are chosen for the army."

She paused, then added with quiet bitterness, "And over those four years, you will be brainwashed into believing that serving in the army is the highest honour. That sacrificing your life for the empire is the noblest thing you can ever do."

Athar took some moments to process all what he was hearing.

"But Master," Athar finally voiced what had been weighing on his mind, "as citizens of the Empire, is it not our duty to protect this land and its people? This place birthed us. Should we not be prepared to lay down our lives for it? This is our homeland after all."

Angelica chuckled lightly, confusing him.

"What you said is not wrong, Athar," she replied. "But let me ask you. What do you believe the army is actually used for?"

"To protect the Empire," he answered without hesitation. "To defend its people from the monsters in the Forbidden Forest. If the army were not there, those beasts would overrun every human settlement."

"That is what Instructor Vale taught us in the very first class. He said the goal of cultivation itself is survival. That we have no option but to cultivate so that we can stand up against those monsters from the forbidden forest."

"Oh?" Angelica arched an eyebrow. "The old theory of the monster hordes rampaging from the Forbidden Forest..."

Athar felt a flicker of doubt. With everything she had already revealed, was this going to turn out to be another illusion? Another lie?

"Athar," Angelica said gently, "I would not deny that if left completely unchecked, there is a risk, yes, a real risk that monster hordes could pose a threat to our cities."

"But," she continued, "the danger is not as catastrophic as they make it sound. It is exaggerated, hypersensitized to the point of fear mongering."

"The monsters are not exactly sitting on the edge of our civilization, ready to strike at any moment. If left unchecked, they will surely expand to our homeland. It is natural. We too decimate forests and expand our civilisation."

"But it is not like as if they are seeking an active conflict with us," Angelic added.

"In the name of eliminating this supposed threat," she said, "regular army squads are sent deeper and deeper into the Forbidden Forest."

"Obviously, they are on monster hunting expeditions. But they have another objective."

"To gather resources," she added, her voice turning flat.

"Those hunts you participated in? The ones organized under the guise of training or security? They are primarily about resource acquisition. And unlike students like you, the army does not get to keep what they find."

"No," she said, voice tinged with bitterness. "The army does not serve as a protective force for the people, not most of the time. They serve as a private army for a handful of elites sitting at the top. It’s their wealth, their enterprises, their monopolies that benefit from all those missions."

Athar was left stunned, the words hanging in the air heavier than anything he had expected to hear.

He didn’t know how to respond.

"Those very elite control everything," she added. "They tap into the very same sentiment of protecting the homeland and form a force utterly loyal to them."

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While all this was being discussed between Athar and Angelica another meeting was ongoing between Edward, the Principal and Quint, head of the disciplinary division.

"Headmaster," Quint greeted as he entered the office. He was holding a thin file, which he placed neatly on the desk in front of the headmaster. Angelica was imprinted on the cover of the file.

"Take a seat, Quint," the headmaster said.

Quint nodded and sat down on the chair directly opposite him.

"Summarize everything," Edward ordered.

"Yes, Headmaster," Quint replied, opening the file.

"Miss Angelica joined the academy four years ago. Her appointment did not follow the usual recruitment protocols we have in place."

He paused, then continued, "She was brought in through a recommendation, specifically, a personal letter from the Sezile family."

Edward gave a slight nod. He was already aware of this part. After all, the letter from the Sezile family had been addressed to him directly.

"Given the sender, we did not dare disregard the request," Quint said. "Angelica was appointed as a practical instructor. We never asked for her cultivation level, her bonded beast, or any other formal qualifications."

"But as a teacher," he added, "she has been impeccable. Her command over her subject is exceptional. In just five years, she became one of the finest instructors in the entire academy."

"She has kept a low profile otherwise. She rarely involved herself in any internal matters. The only times she ever voiced an opinion were regarding our silence on Boss’s business. She never hid her disdain for our inaction, but beyond a few remarks, she did not interfere."

Quint closed the file with a quiet snap.

"The only exception she ever made," he added, "was for her personal disciple."

"So, we basically know nothing about her," Edward remarked after few moments.

"Can we not ask her directly or maybe Sezile family?" Quint suggested hesitatingly.

"Do you think the Sezile family will intervene because of a simple letter from me?" Edward replied.

"Headmaster," Quint continued. "I do not think, Angelica has full backing of Sezile family. Neither she might be very strong."

"If she did have the full backing or really was that strong, why would she we working here in this backward town? In all probability, she might have been able to gain some favour from the Sezile family and thus they recommended her here."

"I think it is her beast that is unique," Quint added. "She did not suppress us because of her rank or mana. It was something else. Maybe some skill from her beast."

Edward did not reply as he continued sitting thoughtfully.

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