A Beginner’s Guide to Being a Scoundrel

Chapter 136

Chapter 136

The Academy’s one-year curriculum, consisting of three semesters, had all come to an end.

With the exception of a few who had lost their lives due to unforeseen accidents during the final exams of the third semester, everyone successfully advanced to the second year.

Naturally, I took first place in this third-semester exam as well, and by confidently claiming the top rank for the entire year, I achieved overall first place.

For reference, nothing had changed in that regard either—the second-year top student was Darius, and the third-year top student was Carius.

Seeing those faces receiving awards on the podium alongside me as fellow top students during the closing ceremony on the final day made me want to punch them once, but as someone equipped with common sense and refinement, I held myself back.

Amid everyone’s congratulations and envy, I felt the way they looked at me beginning to change. That was only natural, since it was already widely known that the top students of each year—including myself—were Imperial Princes of the Empire.

I had been called a scoundrel, but I demonstrated ability that no one could refute, and my exploits in the Holy Kingdom had truly put the finishing touch on it all.

The title of Hero, and the Pilgrim’s Path.

Word of it spread from the Academy Representative Team, who had witnessed it all clearly with their own eyes. The fact that they spoke of it despite being bound by various constraints, including a magic oath document, was astonishing in itself.

Just how much did they like spreading rumors?

To the point that Eriksen came to find me and asked whether the rumors were really true. When I lightly proved it to him, he let out a hollow laugh and sighed, saying that meant he couldn’t beat me.

Rather, he even nudged my side afterward and said he was counting on me from now on, as if he had fully made up his mind to get on my side.

Taking the opportunity, I asked him to look into whether there were any upperclassmen with ability who had been marginalized or unrecognized by those in power and might be willing to join me.

Even if they were mere extras, the fact that they had been admitted to Bayern Academy alone meant they had a certain level of potential.

I had more money than I could ever spend, and positions could be created as needed. If it came to it, I could have them swear an oath to my territory and make them knights.

If they lacked ability, I could just help them grow. Even if the world entered a Warring States period after graduation, guys like Carius and Darius would be actively clashing while expanding their forces to solidify their claims to succession.

All I needed to do was watch the pheasants and eat the eggs. I could crouch low and bide my time while cultivating solid core strength.

After the closing ceremony ended, Alice’s group moved to the Holy Kingdom at the Saintess’s invitation, leaving only Petra by my side.

Originally, she too had been invited by Silvia along with the others, but she had intended from the start to ask about my schedule before deciding. When I brought up the matter of the gathering, she said, eyes shining, that she would of course follow that instead.

“Sword Masters’ Gathering… I’m really looking forward to it.”

When I asked if that was really okay, she shook her head, saying that the Holy Kingdom could be visited anytime, but the Gathering of Sword Masters was a place only the chosen could attend. As someone who had walked the path of the sword herself, Petra seemed to have high expectations as well.

“But didn’t you say Werner would be going with us too?”

“Ah, things worked out on his side, so he’ll be attending as a representative of the Kingdom of Demedrio.”

Werner had originally been scheduled to accompany me as my attendant, but a message had arrived from his older brother a few days earlier.

King Isaac had originally planned to participate in all three days of the gathering, but due to the occurrence of an unexpected matter, he ended up only being able to attend on the final day.

As such, the order was for the two princes to attend the gathering as his representatives.

If Isaac himself wasn’t coming and it was just representatives attending, I thought that might actually be better. Even if he came on the final day anyway, once Werner joined my side by then, Isaac wouldn’t dare lay a hand on him.

Werner agreed that this seemed better as well, and happily headed that way, saying he would get to see his older brother for the first time in a while.

To be honest, there were parts that felt suspicious, but with Isaac himself absent, what could really be done? I was scheduled to attend from the first day anyway, so if anything happened, I could simply step in.

“Then… is it just the two of us for the first time in a while?”

Petra smiled shyly and fidgeted with her hands. When I subtly held out my hand, she hesitated but still took it.

“…….”

We were still inside the Academy, and there were not a few people left around. When we walked hand in hand, gazes poured in and she seemed embarrassed at first, but soon she straightened her chest and walked confidently at my side.

“Are we heading straight to the gathering venue?”

“No, we need to stop by the palace for a bit. I have an audience with Father, and like I mentioned before, I’m planning to gradually establish a base in my lower territories. I’m thinking of finishing it during this vacation, so I need to prepare the things to be sent in advance.”

“Ah, finally?”

I intended to maintain the name of the Prince’s Palace, but move the important things over to my territory. Well, by ‘important,’ it was really just the wealth and artifacts piled up in the warehouse.

“This gathering is on a completely different level of importance compared to the Holy Kingdom.”

“Right. The people participating are on a different level.”

Of course, the senior figures from each nation participating were important, but what really mattered was that their disciples and successors would be present alongside them.

Among them were many who would be entering Bayern Academy as juniors next year.

“They’re the ones we need to look at. Descendants or disciples of heroes, or newly emerged powerhouses.”

Among them, the ones I needed to focus on first were the characters who had a fair amount of weight in the original work as well.

‘If I roughly list them all.’

The Sword Saint’s granddaughter, Leysias’s younger sibling, and Silvia the Saintess.

And the two heroes’ sons whom I was scheduled to meet at this gathering.

I remembered them as characters who, one a natural genius and the other a hard worker, displayed deep rivalry toward each other.

Originally, the Saintess’s side hadn’t come to Bayern Academy, but the likelihood of the development twisting had increased. In fact, the Holy King himself had shown a positive response to my words.

Like this, next year would see a large influx of new characters, and the story’s progression would become more dynamic. By then, the protagonist would have grown fairly strong as well, and the story would properly enter its main track, becoming even richer with things to talk about.

In industry terms, you could say the potential of the writing really exploded.

“They’ll be important figures going forward. We need to coax them well and pull them over to our side.”

If things followed the larger flow, they would naturally join us. No matter what, they were people who walked a path aligned with good.

‘Ah, I forgot to say hello to Chris.’

After Alice’s group left, I casually asked what would be done about Chris, and it turned out she had already received an invitation as well. She had reached the realm of a Grand Archmage, but having lived for hundreds of years, she must have reached a certain level with the sword as well.

There was a saying called manryu-gwijong, wasn’t there.

Someone who had mastered one field tended to quickly absorb others as well. Judging from what I had briefly seen, if one considered pure skill alone, I thought she might be similar to Alice.

When we met again at the gathering later, I wondered if I should request a sparring match at least once.

The palace I visited again after a long time was no different from before. Since I arrived a little earlier than scheduled, I ran into Parsi, who looked as though she had just finished cleaning and was putting away her tools.

“Your Highness!”

She greeted me with a bright smile. But as if she had just noticed Petra beside me, she quickly let out a small gasp, then neatly straightened her posture.

“It’s been a while.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Have you been well in the meantime?”

Perhaps because my fiancée was present, she seemed to be keeping her distance and minding her manners, which was adorable in its own way. Seeing that, Petra stepped slightly forward and spoke to her.

“You must have worked hard taking care of him.”

“…Ah, thank you.”

Parsi bowed deeply, flustered yet grateful at the words. It seemed she hadn’t expected us to come together. Taking the opportunity, I sat down as I was and explained what lay ahead.

“I’m planning to establish my base in my territory for now. So about your treatment.”

Though merely a maid, working in the Imperial Palace was an immense honor to them. Even if one were of commoner origin, with sufficient experience, it was possible to attain a status comparable to that of nobility.

However, Parsi spoke with a faint smile as though none of that mattered to her at all.

“As I told you before, I will follow Your Highness for as long as you go.”

“Parsi.”

At those words, I felt warmth bloom in one corner of my chest.

To be honest, I didn’t know why she followed me so devotedly.

Whether it was because I had saved her from August’s hand, or whether there was some other reason, I couldn’t say. But if Parsi hadn’t been there when this body was first inhabited, I wouldn’t have made it this far.

That was why I wanted to repay her just as much.

“Then we should think about moving your family as well. Life will be better in my territory. If it comes to that, I can just build living quarters right next to my estate.”

Then she could spend time with her family after work as well.

In any case, I would be away for several years due to Academy life, and even after that, I wouldn’t be at the estate very often because of activities outside.

At those words, Parsi’s face visibly brightened. Though her family had come to the capital, access to the Imperial Palace was not free. Meeting once or twice a month would already be considered frequent.

“If that happens, I would be deeply grateful.”

“Is there anything else you want?”

At my words, she shook her head. Saying she had already received more than enough, she instead smiled gratefully at me.

“Then, shall we rest for today. Parsi, after dinner, guide Petra to her room. Tomorrow, there’s an audience scheduled with Father, so…….”

Knock, knock—.

Just as the conversation was about to end, someone knocked on the door. Since I hadn’t sensed anyone approaching, I slightly frowned and turned my head, and a voice came from outside.

-Your Highness, this is Nepe, commander of the Royal Knights.

“Nepe?”

The Royal Knights were an order that protected the Imperial Family, a position that only those counted among the strongest in the Empire could attain.

Nepe was the commander of that order, someone I had crossed paths with a few times before. Muscles that couldn’t be hidden even beneath his knightly uniform were firmly set in place. Feeling the unprecedented power emanating from within, I inwardly let out a note of admiration.

‘He’s straightforwardly strong.’

He was probably ranked among the top even among the Empire’s Sword Masters.

Judging by pure skill alone, he was strong enough to be compared to the Emperor, and in a sparring match, he was an opponent with whom I could only barely reach a draw by squeezing out every bit of strength I possessed.

Of course, things would be different in a fight to the death, but he was unquestionably not someone to be taken lightly.

“It seems Your Highness has advanced even further than before.”

After a light greeting, he looked at me with admiration. I smiled faintly and replied.

“I am merely ashamed of how immature I still am.”

“Hahaha, now you’re even being humble.”

Light pleasantries were exchanged. It was a pleasant atmosphere.

After all, wasn’t this a world where strength and power were everything?

No matter how much I had once been called a scoundrel and looked down upon, now that I had produced visible results, there would be no more such treatment.

“By the way, there will be a gathering hosted by the Sword Saint in a few days. Will you be attending as well, Commander?”

“Hahaha, I do not leave His Majesty’s side. If His Majesty goes, then I go. If he does not, then neither do I.”

It was a vague answer—he might go, or he might not.

‘…Had Gilgamesh ever attended the gathering?’

There were times when a king of a nation, being a Sword Master, had participated. But I didn’t recall ever hearing that the Emperor himself had attended.

“So, for what purpose did you come to see me?”

Once we finished exchanging news, I asked his business. Hadn’t he just said he never left the Emperor’s side? That meant he wouldn’t have come without a reason.

As if he had been waiting for those words, Nepe looked at me with narrowed eyes.

“Isn’t there an audience scheduled with His Majesty tomorrow?”

“That’s right.”

“And yet, upon hearing that His Majesty arrived at the palace together with the young lady of Leipzig, he said he wished to meet you both together.”

“Y-You mean His Majesty said that?”

Up until then, Petra, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, spoke up with a visibly flustered expression. At that, Nepe nodded with a mischievous smile.

“Yes. It seems he has heard that the two of you have been getting along well lately. I cautiously expect that once Your Highness graduates from the Academy, he may tell you to marry immediately.”

“…….”

At the word ‘marriage,’ Petra’s face reddened. Even so, she cast a glance at me with eyes that seemed to hold some expectation.

“…So, do we go right now?”

“Yes. By now, His Majesty should have finished his work, so it would be best if you went with me.”

‘Tch.’

I let out a groan inwardly. It wasn’t that I had never thought about marriage. It was something that would certainly come someday, and a decision I would eventually have to make.

But looking at Petra beside me, fidgeting with her fingers and gazing at me, it seemed I wouldn’t be able to escape easily at all.