My Magical System

The emperor wasted no time getting to the point.

"The conflict between the great clans in the academy may appear to be a simple struggle between two powerful academy factions," he said in a calm voice. "However, I no longer believe that is the whole story."

Eman remained silent, allowing the emperor to continue.

The atmosphere inside the private chamber grew heavier. The other sound from the distant palace halls seemed to disappear, leaving only the sound of birds outside.

After a brief pause, Eman finally asked, "Has Your Majesty investigated the matter?"

"We have."

The emperor nodded without hesitation.

"Outside the academy."

Eman frowned slightly.

"The Imperial Intelligence Bureau has been monitoring the noble families connected to both clans. We have gathered reports from merchants, border officials, and even several independent informants. But inside the academy…" The emperor slowly shook his head. "That is another matter entirely."

He leaned back in his chair before continuing.

"The Imperial Palace has no authority to conduct investigations within the academy without sufficient cause. If we were to send spies or imperial agents inside, the academy's higher authorities would immediately question our intentions. The Great Noble Alliance would also demand an explanation."

Eman quietly listened.

"The academy has always maintained its independence," the emperor continued. "That arrangement has existed for generations. Unless the unrest directly threatens the safety of the empire itself, the Imperial Family must remain neutral."

A bitter smile appeared on his face.

"It is one of the prices of preserving balance."

Eman slowly nodded.

He had already suspected that the academy possessed far more autonomy than ordinary educational institutions, but hearing the emperor confirm it made him realize just how influential it truly was.

The academy was almost a nation within the empire.

Even the emperor had to respect its independence.

After allowing Eman enough time to process everything, the emperor suddenly changed the topic.

"Tell me, Eman."

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"What do you think about the war between the Red Tyrant Clan and the Blue Serpent Clan?"

Eman blinked.

"Are you asking about my prediction of the outcome… or the reason the war began?"

"The latter."

"The reason for the conflict."

Eman fell into thought.

After organizing his thoughts, he answered honestly.

"From what I know, the conflict started because of the ancient ruins that appeared on the border between the Gentlewind Family's territory and the territory controlled by the noble family supporting the Red Tyrant Clan."

"Both families claimed ownership of the ruins. Neither side was willing to back down, and eventually the dispute spread into the academy. Crippling the clans, which is the rival family's main force, and dominate them using their own."

The emperor stared at him for several seconds.

A trace of surprise flashed across his eyes.

"You already know that lot?"

"I happened to learn of them."

The emperor slowly nodded. He truly admired Eman's insight.

"Your information is correct."

"However…"

He folded his hands together.

"That is only the surface."

Eman's eyebrows furrowed.

"The ruins are merely the spark," the emperor said quietly. "They are not the fire."

Silence filled the room once more.

Eman could tell from the emperor's expression that whatever he was about to reveal was far more serious than a territorial dispute.

"What do you mean, Your Majesty?"

The emperor looked toward the window overlooking the capital before speaking again.

"Several weeks before the conflict erupted, I received a confidential intelligence report."

"It warned that someone was deliberately creating conditions that would ignite a large-scale conflict inside the academy."

Eman's expression became serious.

"Someone… planned this?"

"We do not know. We only know that too many coincidences occurred within a short period."

"The ruins appeared."

"Political disagreements suddenly escalated."

"Resources began disappearing."

"Several influential individuals started making unusually aggressive decisions. Even long-standing allies abruptly turned hostile toward one another."

The emperor slowly exhaled.

"None of these events alone would be enough to arouse suspicion. But together…"

"They form a pattern."

Eman's thoughts immediately began racing.

He remembered many seemingly unrelated incidents that had happened since arriving at the academy.

The sudden rise in tensions.

The increasingly frequent provocations.

And the unusual movements of several noble families.

At first, he had believed they were simply consequences of political rivalry.

But perhaps they had been carefully orchestrated from the beginning.

The emperor looked directly into Eman's eyes.

"That is why I sent you the letter."

"I wanted to warn you before you became caught in the middle of everything. And…"

His voice became quieter.

"I hoped you would investigate in my stead."

Eman looked surprised.

"Me?"

The emperor nodded.

"The Imperial Palace cannot interfere directly with academy affairs."

"But you…"

"You are an academy student."

"You possess enough ability to protect yourself."

"And unlike my officials, your movements inside the academy would not immediately attract suspicion."

The emperor smiled faintly.

"Sometimes an ordinary student can uncover truths that an emperor cannot."

Eman let out a quiet laugh.

"That's a heavy responsibility."

"I know."

The emperor's smile quickly disappeared.

"There is another reason."

He hesitated for a moment.

"So far, we have found no evidence. But…"

"I suspect that one of the summoned Heroes may already be involved in this."

The room suddenly felt much colder.

Eman's pupils contracted.

"The Heroes?"

The emperor nodded gravely.

"It is only a suspicion. There is no proof. But if one of them has already chosen a political faction…"

"The balance of power inside the empire could collapse overnight."

Eman understood immediately.

The Heroes were not ordinary individuals. Each possessed extraordinary talent and overwhelming growth potential.

Wherever they stood, countless nobles would gather around them.

Their existence alone could determine the outcome of wars, succession disputes, and political conflicts.

A single Hero supporting one faction would dramatically increase that faction's influence.

If several Heroes united under the same banner, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Eman himself had intentionally avoided involving himself in imperial politics.

He had no desire to become a pawn in the endless struggles between noble families.

His goal had always remained simple. He wanted to build his own faction. Not to oppose the empire, or overthrow the Imperial Family. But to create a place where his companions could live freely without being manipulated by anyone.

A place governed by his own principles instead of the ambitions of nobles.

That dream had never changed.

However…

If someone was secretly manipulating events from the shadows, ignoring the situation might eventually threaten everything he hoped to build.

The emperor patiently waited for his answer.

After thinking for nearly a minute, Eman finally spoke.

"I'll give it a try."

The emperor smiled.

"I expected no less."

This also happens to align with what Hemina asked him. Mina requested his help regarding the investigation.

"Then I appreciate your cooperation."

Eman also had another personal reason.

He disliked how the Blue Serpent Clan had dragged the Merciless Clan into the conflict.

Whether intentionally or not, they almost made the Merciless Clan the sacrificial pawn. As a result, the members of the Red Tyrant Clan almost crush the Merciless Clan without him knowing. It all happened while he was away.

That was unacceptable.

He honestly did not care which side ultimately won the conflict between the Red Tyrant Clan and the Blue Serpent Clan.

If both destroyed each other, it made little difference to him.

But he would not allow the Merciless Clan to become collateral damage for a war they had never intended to join.

The meeting gradually came to an end.

The emperor stood from his chair.

"I have already taken enough of your time. Be careful, Eman. The people moving behind this incident are far more dangerous than they appear."

"I understand."

The emperor extended his hand.

Eman respectfully shook it before leaving the secret room.

The palace corridors remained as magnificent as ever.

Sunlight streamed through towering stained-glass windows, painting colorful patterns across the polished marble floor.

Imperial guards stood motionless on both sides of the hallway like statues. Servants quietly stepped aside as Eman walked past.

Just as he rounded a corner…

He froze.

Three young men and two women stood waiting outside an audience chamber. Apparently, they had been waiting for the emperor to finish his previous meeting.

The moment they saw Eman, time itself seemed to stop. Both sides stared at each other in complete silence.

One of the young men slowly widened his eyes.

His lips trembled.

"Y… Yeman…"

His voice was barely above a whisper.

Yet every person present heard it clearly.

Eman's heart skipped a beat.

He knew those faces. There was no way he could mistake them. They were his former university classmates from Earth.

Memories from another world flooded into his mind in an instant. But something immediately felt wrong.

Back on Earth, more than three years had passed since he had left university. Even if they had somehow arrived in this world recently…

They should have looked older.

More mature.

Instead…

They appeared exactly as they had during their university days.

Not a single wrinkle.

Not a single sign of aging.

Even their hairstyles and expressions looked strangely familiar, as though time itself had frozen for them.

The five Heroes continued staring at him with expressions of complete disbelief.

Shock and confusion was visible on their faces.

Every emotion flashed across their faces at once.

Finally, one of the women covered her mouth with both hands.

"No way, is it really you, Yeman?" Eline asked.