A week has passed since Raus and the others decided to enroll in Memoria General Academy.
Thanks to Rika taking charge of the enrollment procedures, Raus, Rebecca, Carol, Reina, Seras, Yuri, and Aria will become students of the academy starting in April.
According to Rika, while there are no other heads of noble households, there are a fair number of sons and daughters, including heirs.
Therefore, a Noble Department has been established for these sons and daughters.
The curriculum of the Noble Department primarily focuses on territory management, but it also includes learning etiquette for tea parties and evening parties.
Furthermore, the fact that everyone except Reina and Seras has evolved will generally be kept a secret.
While it’s necessary to explain to the Headmaster and the teaching staff, it could cause unnecessary trouble, so students will not be informed unless absolutely necessary.
It’s true that even if someone evolved to High Class as a minor, there are less than ten such individuals throughout history, and absolutely none have reached Ancient Class, so it would be difficult to believe.
In light of all this, an international conference is being held today at Amagi Castle.
Count Cuervo Istlias, who is well-regarded by Hilde and the Soldiers, and whose rule is believed to influence the future of Solemne, has also arrived at the castle via Grand Soldier’s Master Delfina’s traveling. It has also been decided that he will become independent at the beginning of the new year.
“Cuervo Istlias, as we’ve discussed before, I officially recognize you as King and grant you independence as the Countship of Enlo Istlias, along with the two regions adjacent to the Countship of Istlias.”
“Yes! I am resolved to fulfill my duties to the Heavenly Empire and its people with all my might.”
Count Cuervo, a human male, will become the king of a nation bearing his family name after the new year.
From Emperor Reinhardt and Hilde’s perspective, the independence of twelve nations in the Solemne region is the ultimate goal, and the Countship of Enlo Istlias is the first step towards that.
It will begin as a countship, and if the nation can be ruled continuously without any issues, it will become a marquisate, and then, with the approval of the Celestial Emperor and all three kings and three dukes, it will be able to adopt a new country name.
Although the position of king is subordinate to the Heavenly Dukes, who have succession rights to the throne, this is largely due to Solemne being a defeated nation.
“The condition for the Countship of Enlo Istlias to become a marquisate is that the legitimate son, Larva Istlias, who will be enrolling in Memoria General Academy next spring, graduates without any flaws and is enthroned as Crown Prince. At present, this seems like a difficult task, but if an opportunity arises, you will be expected to achieve results step by step.”
“I understand. Larva is undergoing re-education, so I will strive to meet Your Majesty’s expectations.”
“I am counting on you.”
Countships and marquisates existed on Earth as well, but since the territory remained the same as a count’s or marquis’s domain, they might be closer to semi-autonomous regions with extraterritorial rights rather than fully independent nations.
I am not very knowledgeable about this, and Mako only has game knowledge, so it might not be precisely accurate, but Emperor Reinhardt, Hilde, and the kings seem to think this is appropriate for the independence of the Solemne region.
Therefore, the Countship of Enlo Istlias will be subject to irregular audits, and the Grand Soldier’s Master has authority over the Soldier’s Guild.
While they possess more power than territorial nobles, if their rule becomes too oppressive, they risk having their royal status revoked and their territory placed under the direct control of the Heavenly Empire.
Of course, this applies to territorial nobles as well.
“Regarding Memoria General Academy, several individuals from High Class and Ancient Class will also be enrolling.”
“W-what did you say!?”
“It’s understandable that you’re surprised, and I’ve asked you to monitor your son, but that’s merely a secondary matter.”
It’s natural to be surprised when High Class and Ancient Class individuals enroll.
They are all minors, and normally, anyone who evolved at such a young age would be considered crazy, but in reality, Raus and Rebecca evolved to Ancient Class at the age of fourteen, so even if Count Cuervo doesn’t believe it, there’s nothing that can be done.
“Their backgrounds will be provided in a report later, but you are absolutely forbidden from mentioning this to anyone. Of course, this includes your son.”
“That goes without saying, but you mean even my son?”
“Yes. While status doesn’t apply within the academy, it doesn’t disappear. Therefore, there’s a possibility of him using his status to force them into unreasonable actions.”
“That… cannot be denied.”
He is already acting with impunity in his territory, so it’s predictable that he will cause trouble even after enrolling.
However, if they are aware that High Class and Ancient Class individuals are monitoring them, it will be difficult to reform that foolish son.
Therefore, the fact that Yuri and the others have evolved must be kept secret, except for a select few.
While the teaching staff at the academy needs to be informed, there’s no need to inform the students.
“In the unlikely event that he is deemed beyond reform, he will be immediately expelled. Expulsion would also affect his guild registration, and at that point, his succession rights will be revoked, and he will be prohibited from leaving the country. This has the consensus of the Three Kingdoms and the Three Duchies, so even I cannot overturn it, nor do I intend to.”
Emperor Reinhardt murmured this in a small voice, but the fact is that the Three Kingdoms and the Three Duchies have also agreed that if Larva Istlias fails to reform, he will be forbidden from leaving the Countship of Enlo Istlias.
If he were to be exiled, their own country would have no further involvement, but the country he is exiled to would not know what might happen to him, and since he is a descendant of royalty, it would be troublesome to deal with.
Moreover, in that case, it would be the foolish son’s own doing, and with all countries currently busy with reconstruction and development, they have no time to get involved in such trivial matters.
Therefore, it has been agreed that under no circumstances will he be allowed to leave the country, and beyond that, the Istlias Count-Royal Family will handle him as they see fit, with no further intervention.
“Yes, as a parent, I am responsible for my child’s misdeeds. In the unlikely event, Larva will be disinherited and confined for life along with his mother.”
It is natural to prepare for such an eventuality, but in the case of that foolish son, the prevailing opinion is that reform is impossible.
This is precisely why there are many voices calling for his younger brother to be the next in line for the count-royal throne, but the nobles of Solemne were largely incompetent, and most of them had received punishments.
Therefore, it has been decided to give minors a chance for reform.
Larva Istlias’s enrollment in Memoria General Academy is the first step toward that goal.
With the independence of the Countship of Enlo Istlias in the new year, Larva will become a prince, and thus his status will be among the highest in the General Academy.
However, status is not recognized at the General Academy, and furthermore, the teaching staff’s positions are guaranteed by the Celestial Emperor, the Three Kings, and the Three Dukes, so acting presumptuously based on one’s status would be an act of aggression against the highest powers of Philia Continent.
This is why the measure of enrolling Larva, who behaves selfishly, is being taken.
“Mm. Then, I will introduce those who will be enrolling under my and the various kings’ instructions. However, they are not present at this gathering, so you will only need to review the list.”
I, too, take a look at the list Emperor Reinhardt distributed to the attendees.
“Regarding royalty, apart from the addition of H.R.H. Yuriana and H.R.H. Seras, there are no significant new changes.”
The royalty are as follows:
* Amister Heavenly Empire
H.R.H. Yuriana Esmeralda Heavenly Duke (15 years old)
Yuri is a Heavenly Duke and currently the second in line for succession to the throne. Normally, she would be the one to be guarded, but she has not only evolved to High Class but also reached nearly Level 60.
Therefore, this time she will be the one guarding others, and while her status is the highest among the incoming students and she is also among the older ones, that is a slight concern.
* Torencia Phantom Kingdom
Lucia Minato Torencia, Second Princess (12 years old)
Diana Minato Torencia, Third Princess (10 years old)
The two from Torencia are Hilde’s cousins. Princess Lucia is the eldest daughter of Hilde’s mother’s eldest sister, and Princess Diana is the eldest daughter of her immediate older sister, and both are Vampires.
Hilde’s younger sister, Princess Brunhild, is slated to be the next Queen of Torencia, followed by Princess Lucia, and then Princess Diana.
Technically, they are cousins of the King, but since both their mothers have held the throne, according to Torencia’s customs, they are referred to as princesses.
In the Helios Orb, individuals are numbered from first to last regardless of gender based on birth order, but in Torencia, it’s complicated because it’s based on the age order of princesses with succession rights.
Incidentally, species without succession rights are called princes or princesses, but they are expected to leave the royal family upon reaching adulthood.
Both are acquaintances, and I’ve heard that Princess Lucia is considering registering with the Scholar’s Guild, and Princess Diana with the Crafter’s Guild.
* Alegria Beast Kingdom
H.R.H. David Alegria, Crown Prince (10 years old)
I have met H.R.H. David several times.
He is the prince of Ulfy, and recently, upon celebrating his 10th birthday, he was officially enthroned as Crown Prince.
It was shortly after the labyrinth floods of Gagun Labyrinth and Laofen Labyrinth had subsided, so unfortunately, I was unable to witness the enthronement ceremony. However, I heard that it was a cause for celebration in Alegria for quite some time, as he is the first male ruler in several generations for Alegria.
It seems that H.R.H. David is interested in registering as a Hunter.
* Lichtenfels Grand Duchy
Seras Lichtenfels, Third Princess (12 years old)
Seras is not only an acquaintance but also a member of Wing Crest and Raus’s fiancée.
Her elder sister, the First Princess Ciel, married Emperor Reinhardt, and her immediate elder brother, the Second Prince Adrain, was enthroned as Crown Prince upon the founding of the Grand Duchy of Lichtenfels.
Adrain is the same age as Carol and had also wished to enroll, but he had already registered as a Hunter and even been promoted to B-rank, so he had to be turned down, or so I heard.
These are the royalty with whom we are acquainted.
* Acquario Bridge Principality
H.R.H. Nebrina Acquario, Crown Prince (13 years old)
H.R.H. Nebrina is an Undine and the sole heir to the Bridge Principality of Acquario.
This is not limited to Acquario; the independence of the Three Principalities was quite sudden with little time, and thus all of them are short on heirs.
The current Grand Duke of Acquario, Her Majesty Isabella, is 32 years old, but it is said that she is currently pregnant with her second child, so perhaps they are in a better situation than other countries.
The issue with H.R.H. Nebrina seems to be his timid and retiring nature. Although he has been enthroned as Crown Prince, there is doubt as to whether he will be able to fulfill his duties as Grand Duke if he remains this way.
Therefore, there are great hopes that he will change even slightly through his life at the academy.
* Denebulate Bridge Principality
Lyra Denebulate, First Prince (12 years old)
Illumina Denebulate, Second Princess (12 years old)
These two are twins, a boy and a girl, and both are Dwarves.
However, their abilities are said to be almost equal, and Duke Urs of Denebulate is reportedly agonizing day and night over whom to designate as Crown Prince.
Both wish to register as Crafters, and furthermore, they dislike the fact that becoming a Duke will reduce their time for Crafter activities. Thus, while they are blessed with successors compared to the other three principalities, it is a headache of a different kind.
The reason for their enrollment seems to be to determine which of them is more suitable to be the Crown Prince.
* Flug Beast Principality
H.R.H. Aurora Flug, First Princess (14 years old)
And the sole enrollee from the Beast Principality will be H.R.H. Aurora, a Fox-kin.
She was formerly a Duke’s daughter from Valentia and is said to be acquainted with Prim. However, both are now princesses and have the first succession rights to the Beast Duke’s throne. Thus, for H.R.H. Aurora, Prim is both a good confidante and an older sister.
She openly states her desire to become a Hunter after enrolling, as she admires Prim.
I had intended to meet her eventually, but I regret that it hasn’t happened until now.
To this list, we add Larva Istlias, the First Prince of the Countship of Enlo Istlias (12 years old, Human).
“Although there are two additional individuals, their purpose is more for surveillance and escort rather than learning.”
“Two Ancient Class and three High Class individuals. I didn’t expect them to have evolved, but just being members of Wing Crest is convincing enough.”
Furthermore, the members of Wing Crest who will be enrolling are also properly introduced.
Raus and Rebecca are understandably surprised, but it’s understandable that even Yuri, Aria, and Carol, who are close to Ancient Class, are not believed.
“I find it a bit much that His Heavenly Dukedom and Her Grand Duchy will be acting as escorts. However, given their levels, there’s little need for escorting, is there?”
“Externally, they will be considered escorts. However, even for royalty, the rule is that escorts are not provided within the academy.”
“That’s right.”
“Count Cuervo, I will tell you again: if your son causes an unacceptable problem, or if he behaves disrespectfully towards any of the individuals on this list, he will be expelled immediately and stripped of his succession rights.”
Emperor Reinhardt reiterates this to Count Cuervo. Larva will have the lowest status among the royalty.
The reason status is not recognized within the academy is simply because the guilds have adopted such a policy, and the academy is following suit.
Therefore, courtesy is required towards those of higher status, and classes for that purpose are included, but the Istlias Count-Royal Family will be formally established as the Istlias Count-Royal Family, so there is a possibility that Larva will become arrogant.
However, the Count-Royal Family is subordinate to even the Heavenly Dukes, let alone the Three Duchies, so there’s a chance he could be expelled the moment he enrolls.
“I understand. Until enrollment, Larva will be separated from his mother and undergo intensive re-education.”
Count Cuervo understands this as well.
The fact that his previous rule has been recognized means he will become the Count-Royal, but his foolish son’s actions could lead to the family’s downfall in an instant. If that happens, not only will he be punished, but his younger son and wives may also face punishment.
Therefore, Count Cuervo declares to Emperor Reinhardt with determination in his eyes.
“I am counting on you. Now, for the next agenda item…”
The topics concerning the academy seem endless.
As it is the first general school and a joint project of the Federation Heavenly Empire, no amount of discussion is enough, and time is always insufficient.
I understand that these are important discussions, but a full day is still quite exhausting.
I want to go home now…
