Chapter 191 : Chapter 191
Chapter 191. Academy Follower Gathering
Tarun Venders, a second-year student majoring in Combat Magic, was passing in front of the Academy’s main building.
The memory of climbing the tower with Radel a while ago came to his mind.
‘Is that guy always being threatened with death by his twin brother.’
He had no reason to be close to the imperial family.
At least, not until Radel became his direct junior.
Tarun was someone who poured all his interest solely into Combat Magic.
Although Estina, the 4th Princess, had consistently persuaded him to join her faction, Tarun had politely refused.
A follower of the imperial family and factions.
To Tarun, they were all just bothersome matters.
‘Right, let’s not think about it anymore. It has nothing to do with me.’
The Venders Marquisate was a representative neutral noble family.
For the sake of the family, it was better not to get involved in the struggle for the throne.
He had only gotten entangled by chance this time.
From now on, he intended not to pay attention to disputes between the imperial family members.
“Excuse me, are you perhaps Senior Tarun Venders of the second year?”
Someone appeared in front of him.
Seeing that the color of the tie was black, he seemed to be a student of the Black Falcon Dormitory.
“That is correct. Who are you?”
“Hello, I am Edward Paradik, a first-year student. I came to find you because I have something to deliver to you.”
Edward Paradik?
Tarun’s eyes scanned Edward.
The son of the Paradik Earldom, who is quite famous in high society.
Looking at Edward, whose firm mouth was impressive, Tarun made a puzzled expression.
“You have something to deliver to me?”
“Yes, there are many watching eyes, so let’s go over there.”
Edward led Tarun to a place where there were no people.
Then, after looking around, he carefully took something out of his pocket.
“This is……?”
Tarun could not help but be flustered upon seeing the invitation Edward had secretly handed him.
Because the following was written on the cover of the invitation.
‘Radel Silvert Cretian Follower Gathering.’
Why give this to me?
Tarun’s face stiffened.
Edward also stiffened his face and nodded.
“That is correct. It is as you expected, Senior. I heard the news that you became the 8th Prince’s new follower, so I thought I should visit you before it was too late.”
I am that junior fellow’s follower?
Tarun was dumbfounded by the incomprehensible situation.
‘Don’t tell me this is a rumor leaked from Senior Estina’s side?’
Since they saw him protecting Radel on the 20th floor, it was understandable to misunderstand, but…….
That did not mean Tarun had become Radel’s follower.
While he was feeling at a loss as to where to start clearing up this misunderstanding, Edward whispered secretly.
“We did make contact with prospective followers from the outside once. Although it still needs organization. From now on, we plan to lay the foundation starting from inside the Academy, where the 8th Prince is mainly active.”
“No, I am…….”
“I heard it from the Prince. He said that Senior Tarun is an incredible expert. Was it Wind Wall? It is truly reassuring that someone who uses such tremendous magic is with us.”
“What? COUGH!”
Tarun ended up choking on his saliva at Edward’s words.
Radel had already spread that embarrassing magic name all over the neighborhood.
“COUGH, COUGH!”
“You do not need to be so shy, Senior. You are indeed a humble person, just as the Prince said.”
Tarun missed the timing to say no because he was coughing.
Edward quickly bid farewell to Tarun while looking around to see if he had caught anyone else’s eye.
“Then I will be going now. I have to distribute invitations to other attendees as well.”
Without even a moment to correct the wrong information, Edward left like the wind.
“……Just why on earth?”
Only the invitation that had found the wrong owner remained in Tarun’s hand.
* * *
Armandy stared piercingly at the invitation held in his hand.
A welcome message for the selected people was written on the inside of the invitation.
‘We invite you to the Radel Silvert Cretian Follower Gathering.’
Do I have to go here?
Me, a follower of the 8th Prince?
Conflict swirled within his mind.
He was dumbfounded when he received the invitation from Edward.
Although he had infiltrated pretending to be a student as a secret agent, he never dreamed he would have looked like a follower of the 8th Prince.
When Armandy asked why he gave him this invitation, Edward showed a reaction that he did not understand.
‘Why did you give this to me?’
‘What are you talking about? Are you asking because you really don’t know?’
Edward made a face that said it was absurd.
‘It’s enough even if I don’t get confirmation from you. It’s troubling if you act like this just because you’re close to the Prince. You might have known the Prince before me, but the representative of the follower gathering is me.’
Furthermore, he disappeared while saying something strange as if he was misunderstanding something.
Was he not speaking as if Armandy was throwing his weight around just because he was close to Radel?
From Armandy’s standpoint, it was just absurd.
Still, as an elite agent of the Ability Management Bureau, he could not miss such an opportunity.
There might be information that could only be obtained there.
‘No, nothing good comes from getting entangled like this!’
Armandy was already helping Radel unofficially.
There were times when it was voluntary, but there were many times when it was involuntary.
‘No more, Armandy!’
Armandy’s mind was shouting to turn back.
……However, his feet were honestly heading toward the meeting place.
Armandy arrived at the meeting place after conflicting hundreds of times.
Since Edward had requested in the invitation to gather secretly so that no one would know, he moved without catching other people’s eyes as much as possible.
“You came.”
“Nice to meet you.”
As Armandy arrived, those wearing robes over their heads greeted him.
Although everyone was covering themselves, it was enough to recognize each other.
As expected, the figures of Academy first-years were seen the most.
Edward’s friends, the trio of bulky friends, and the friends who helped when catching the swamp serpent at the beginning of the semester, etc.
Most were figures who had received help from Radel or had worked with Radel at the Spring Festival.
And among them, Gusto was sitting there, proudly revealing his face.
“Wait, why is Gusto here?”
“Can someone affiliated with the Supreme Deity Order act as a follower?”
“No matter how close he is with Prince Radel…….”
Other followers whispered while looking at Gusto.
It was not like Gusto would not feel those gazes.
Gusto looked around and spoke firmly.
“The Supreme Deity Order will officially support the Prince soon. Is there any problem?”
That scary guy.
Armandy stuck out his tongue inwardly and quietly sat down.
No matter what, he was an apprentice holy knight, yet he was not just confident but brazen.
It was an attitude that he could not be left out if it was related to Radel.
Furthermore, according to the information Armandy knew, conflict was arising among the bishops in the Supreme Deity Order regarding the issue of officially supporting Radel.
It meant it was an issue where internal agreement had not yet finished.
But isn’t Gusto speaking as if it has already been decided?
Gusto’s strong conviction that the Supreme Deity Order would naturally have no choice but to support Radel could be felt.
‘At that rate, just let him be a follower.’
Perhaps everyone had the same thought, as the buzzing noise subsided.
It was the beginning of the follower gathering in earnest.
* * *
‘More people came than expected.’
Edward swallowed his saliva.
It seemed everyone who received an invitation had come.
From now on was important.
Radel still did not have a particular force worth putting forward.
Edward was the only one who could be called an official follower, and even that had not been long since he started activities.
‘Although the Prince said there was no need to gather followers urgently…….’
Edward’s thought was different.
Edward was not someone who would not know what Radel experienced recently with the 4th Princess and the 9th Prince.
The social butterfly of high society.
Perhaps thanks to Edward’s S-rank Trait, friends constantly delivered information to Edward.
Hearing about what happened at the Combat Magic Tower, Edward secretly ground his teeth.
In Edward’s view, there was no part where Radel fell behind among the imperial family members.
Rather, he was a person far superior to other royals.
He even possessed a benevolent character and composure that they did not have.
‘It can’t go on like this. We must solidify a foundation to properly support Prince Radel.’
Only then would he not be looked down upon by other royals for having no force.
He intended to change things starting from inside the Academy at the very least.
As the representative of Radel’s followers, Edward felt a heavy sense of responsibility and opened his mouth.
“I am glad to be able to invite everyone to one place like this. You all came without telling anyone as I requested, right?”
Then, people nodded their heads.
Someone raised their hand and asked.
“By the way, why do we have to gather secretly?”
The bulky friends also shouted.
“That is correct. Isn’t it not a crime for us to support Prince Radel?”
“We are proud. We are ready to prove our loyalty at any time!”
Edward, who was listening to their words, raised his hand to calm them down.
“I understand your feelings. However, we are a gathering for Prince Radel to the end. I thought it was right to hide our existence to be helpful to the Prince.”
“What does that mean?”
“It is hard to admit, but we are currently numerically inferior to the followers of other royals. In times like this, the more we expose our power, the more disadvantageous it is. We must move so that the enemies cannot notice.”
At his persuasive words, people were convinced.
“Then what should we do as followers?”
“Good question. In my opinion, following the Prince’s will and achieving the Prince’s goal together. I wonder if that isn’t the path of a true follower. We gathered today to discuss that.”
Everyone who heard Edward’s words fell deep into thought.
They thought about the same topic.
What is the Prince’s goal?
“Wouldn’t becoming the Emperor be the Prince’s goal, inevitably?”
“He is the first-year representative of the Academy in name, so wouldn't he have an intention for magic? I believe he might desire the position of the next Academy Principal.”
The followers were divided into opinions of those who said to support him so he could become Emperor soon, and those who said to push him to become the Academy Principal.
However, at that moment, one person, whom they didn’t even know was present, opened his mouth.
“You are all wrong. That guy does not want such things right now.”
It was none other than Tarun.
He had eventually been unable to ignore the invitation and ended up attending Radel’s follower gathering.
“That guy…… surviving is the priority right now.”
At his words, everyone’s expression became serious.
Furthermore, Armandy’s words were added as well.
“Would just surviving be enough? The Prince wants to live comfortably.”
At Armandy’s words, Gusto made an expression saying it was unexpected and added.
“I also agree with that statement.”
When their remarks ended, the followers lost their words and became quiet.
Because everyone knew what it meant to live comfortably after being born as a royal.
Perhaps it could be a more difficult task than becoming the Emperor of the Empire.
Someone slowly opened their mouth.
“……The Prince has great ambition.”
Everyone’s heads nodded.