The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 103

The Medal Award Ceremony.

It was a distinguished occasion.

Especially since the medals we were to receive were bestowed by the Emperor himself.

‘Though the Emperor himself did not attend due to health reasons.’

Any medal awarded by the Emperor was the highest honor, but among them, three were exceptional:

The Imperial Cross Medal

The Sword of the Empire Medal

The Shield of the Empire Medal

I was to receive the Shield of the Empire Medal.

It was the highest honor given for saving the empire from danger.

Notably, among the group that accompanied me, I was the only one to receive this medal.

Mayor Mariam too received a medal, but it was one rank lower, and the others received general class medals.

‘No, I would have preferred receiving a general class medal too, why exaggerate my deeds!’

It was all because of Mariam.

She had greatly exaggerated my achievements when reporting to the royal family.

   

After briefly reminiscing, I sighed.

“…therefore, we award Van Ecclesia the Shield of the Empire Medal.”

“It is an honor.”

The entire hall was abuzz.

“Van the trash, receiving a medal, and one of the top three no less.”

“Should we start calling him Van the Legend now?”

“I still can’t believe it. Trash Van changed? Did they fabricate his achievements?”

“Surely the honorable Ecclesia family wouldn’t stoop to such levels. But it does raise suspicions.”

“But look, he’s quite handsome. Was the good-for-nothing always this dignified?”

“Because he’s Van the Legend now.”

Hmm.

The reaction of the capital’s nobility was indeed different from that in the Free City.

Now, it was hard to find anyone in the Free City who openly disrespected me.

Because they had seen and heard of my exploits firsthand.

However, in the capital, I was still largely seen through the lens of my previous ‘trash’ image.

Many seemed to react to this event with a ‘That trash did that? Really?’ attitude.

‘It’s a relief. If things stay quiet like this, the aggro will gradually die down.’

But then.

“Lift your head.”

“!!”

I found myself looking directly into the eyes of the person in front of me.

It was Prince Renius, the Second Prince.

With the Emperor absent, he was the one presenting the medals in his stead.

‘The culprit behind this whole mess is awarding me a medal. How absurd.’

It was more than just absurd.

I was furious.

He had tried to kill countless people in the Free City for his own greed.

He had even attempted to kill my students.

‘Such a person is more dreadful than Sylphin.’

That’s why.

The Black Flame Dragon caused an unexpected accident.

“To think a hero like yourself has emerged. His Majesty the Emperor was very pleased indeed. Please, accept the medal.”

Accepting the medal with due respect would have wrapped everything up smoothly.

But then.

“I apologize. I cannot accept this medal.”

“!!”

Everyone in the hall was wide-eyed.

Refusing a medal!

This was likely the first time such an incident had occurred in the history of the empire.

However,

“The disaster has not yet ended. I will accept the medal after the culprits behind the disaster have been caught.”

“What do you mean? Weren’t all the Three Evils executed on the spot?”

“I’m talking about the real ‘mastermind’ behind them.”

“!!”

Prince Renius’s eyes stiffened for a moment.

Because he was indeed the real mastermind.

I stared directly at Prince Renius and continued.

“The Three Evils wouldn’t dare to commit such audacity on their own. There must be someone who instigated them.”

“Is that merely speculation?”

“I have evidence.”

“!!”

Prince Renius’s eyes flickered faintly.

He tried not to show it, but it was clearly visible to me, standing right in front of him.

‘In fact, there’s no evidence.’

It was a bluff, but it was enough to unsettle Renius.

“What evidence?”

“I cannot say. The mastermind might be hiding among us right now.”

“!!”

The hall erupted into murmurs and whispers.

Notably, as this was the ceremony for the highest medal, everyone present was a significant figure.

“What nonsense is that Trash Van talking about?”

“It’s Van the Legend, remember.”

“Can we really believe what Van says?”

But then, someone stood up for me.

“Van’s words are not false. I will vouch for that.”

“!!”

It was Mariam.

“Van has secured evidence and has a guess as to who the mastermind is.”

I was slightly taken aback.

We hadn’t coordinated our story, but she backed me up on her own.

Anyway, unlike me, Mariam, potentially the next head of the Ecclesia family, was a political master.

Her words carried weight.

Gulp.

I heard Renius swallow.

If I exposed everything here, it would be the end for him.

‘Of course, since it’s all a bluff, exposing anything is impossible.’

But the truth wasn’t important.

I had ‘threatened’ him.

“As Mariam said, I have a guess who the mastermind might be. I won’t disclose it now due to the potential repercussions, but if that person dares to plot anything again, I will reveal all the evidence I’ve secured and ensure they pay for their crimes.”

The hall became noisy again.

Everyone was wondering who the mastermind could be.

Of course, the real mastermind, Renius, got the message.

“Haha. That’s impressive. Not only did you save the Free City, but you also have a guess at the mastermind. Remarkable.”

He pretended to be unfazed, but his complexion was pale.

‘That’s enough. For now, he won’t dare to make a move.’

Of course, this threat wouldn’t last long.

Prince Renius was no ordinary figure, and he would eventually realize my current threat was a bluff.

‘But making him lay low for a while is enough. The trouble the Rapalt Ducal Family will cause is overwhelming enough.’

After that, the medal award ceremony ended.

The others immediately returned to the academy through the portal, but I stayed behind.

“Let’s have a meal together with the family, it’s been a while.”

My Father, Duke Huam, held onto me.

“If it’s with the whole family, then?”

“Ron and Cal are also home right now.”

I nodded.

A question suddenly popped into my mind, and I blurted it out.

“How did I do today?”

Duke Huam remained silent.

Then he looked at me.

Chills.

Duke Huam was never known for his warmth.

He was stoic, but the look he gave me just then was incomparable.

Cold?

No.

It was more like he was devoid of all emotion, as if he saw everything in the world as merely tools.

‘…This is the true nature of Duke Huam.’

Of course, this didn’t mean Duke Huam was a heartless monster.

There was an exception.

His ‘family.’

“Father?”

“…No.”

Duke Huam quickly returned to his usual expression.

“Your performance today? It was splendid. I’m proud. Truly, my son.”

“…….”

“Anyway, let’s meet for dinner. Perhaps even the youngest might show up.”

Duke Huam patted my shoulder as if he was proud and then disappeared.

From that moment, I realized something.

‘Duke Huam knows that the Second Prince is the mastermind behind this incident.’

And he chooses to observe despite knowing.

Why?

‘The inner thoughts of Duke Huam are never fully revealed in the story.’

Regardless, I shook my head.

A new problem had arisen.

‘The youngest might come to dinner?’

‘Van’ has 4 siblings.

I’ve already met three of them.

The only one I haven’t met is the youngest, the fifth.

‘I was hoping to continue not meeting that person.’

All of Van’s siblings are exceptional talents.

Among them, the youngest stands out the most.

Even the eldest, Ron, and the second, Mariam, who is eyeing the succession, fall short compared to the youngest. 

The problem was,

‘…being capable in a troublesome way.’

Meaning, this was a person I should avoid getting involved with.

Truly, it was like navigating a minefield.

‘What about the Ascendant? Can I just sneak out of the royal palace without acknowledging it? There was no specific invitation to meet.’

However, just then, I heard a voice calling me.

“Van brother!”

“!!”

A clear, high-pitched voice.

Turning around, a 17-year-old?

A doll-like pretty girl, around the same age as the students at the academy, was running towards me with a bright smile.

“It’s been so long! I missed you!!”

A cry as if there was an existing friendship.

I recalled a certain setting.

Though Van was a loner despised by everyone, it wasn’t true that he had absolutely no one he could call a ‘friend.’

One of them was the girl before me.

‘I never expected to meet her like this.’

Pondering how to address her, I opted for a safe response.

“The great protector of the empire… .”

A grandiose title.

Considering the girl’s ‘true identity,’ even such a title seemed insufficient.

However, the girl pouted as if she didn’t like it.

“Will you make me upset if you call me that? Won’t you call me like you used to?”

I felt awkward.

This girl was no longer ‘Van’s’ ‘friend.’

The girl, who was once a rare source of happy memories in ‘Van’s’ recollections, no longer existed.

She was not ‘Van’s’ ‘friend’ but had become ‘a great being’ that no one in the empire dared confront.

Yet, like a child insisting on her way, she continued to whine.

“Ah, I’ve always wanted to see Van brother. It seems it wasn’t Van brother after all.”

“……”

“When I asked you to let me run away with you, you ignored me. Coward~”

Hearing this, I eventually had to give in to the girl’s request.

“…I am honored to meet Your Highness, Princess Esmeralda.”

At those words, the girl, Princess Esmeralda, smiled brightly in the manner of ‘Van’s’ ‘friend.’

 

*    *    *

 

The Third Princess babbled on endlessly.

“Do you know how much I’ve missed Van brother?”

“Why? Did you like me by any chance?”

“Ugh. Can you not delude yourself? You’re not my type except for your face, Van brother. I was just bored. Nobody else talks to me.”

It wasn’t a lie.

Wandering around the imperial palace, I met countless people, but no one attempted to engage in conversation with her.

They would hurriedly pay their respects and then disappear as if fleeing.

Terrified.

As if they had encountered a monster.

‘Naturally. To be honest, I’m scared too.’

The Third Princess pouted, perhaps sensing my feelings.

“Just for today… no, even half a day. If that’s too long, then two hours… even just one hour!”

“Understood.”

“Really?”

“But, I have a condition.”

“What is it? I hope it’s not too troublesome~”

“Please stop pretending to be my friend.”

“!!”

The smile vanished from the Third Princess’s face.

Shivers ran down my spine.

A fear that seemed to crush the soul.

Unlike any being I had encountered before.

Of course.

“Your friend Princess Esmeralda has already died, hasn’t she?”

I looked straight at her and spoke.

“Guardian.”

The title for a Level 9 Ascendant protecting the imperial family.