LIGHTNOVELONLINE [Translator – Peptobismol]
Chapter 52 – At Linus’s House (6)
The story continues as follows.
Dian and Linus took down an enemy vanguard ogre together, disrupted the rebels’ supply line, starving them to death, ambushed and killed a night-moving enemy infiltration squad, and saved a civilian village under attack while escaping from a major battle. They climbed the walls of an enemy-occupied castle, opened the gates, assassinated several enemy commanders, and even beat Hindrasta out of the battlefield.
Finally, with Dian’s help, Linus succeeded in slicing the Demon King in half.
Just as Dian had confidently declared, they stormed the Demon King’s castle, sliced him in half, killed the Demon King, and put an end to the war.
The people of the Empire are well aware of all these events as the heroic deeds of Linus.
However, very few know that there was always another comrade involved in these exploits, except for a few high-ranking officers and imperial officials.
Most of the soldiers who had seen Dian up close during his early military days didn’t survive the war, and after he was promoted to a special operative, his identity was kept strictly confidential.
After the war, Dian rejected all offers from the Imperial Palace and disappeared. The Emperor, feeling both displeased and uneasy, erased all records related to Dian, and thus he was forgotten.
“If I hadn’t done that, I would probably be toiling in the Palace like you.”
Hours passed as they reminisced. The sun had set, and it was now late evening, shrouded in darkness.
Dian cut into a top-grade beef steak that Linus had specially prepared, smiling leisurely.
“As a supporting character, the best end is to retire quietly and live a peaceful life. Though things have gone a bit awry now.”
“You’re still saying things I don’t understand.”
Linus said, smiling at Dian.
Looking back, it had all been insane.
The prologue of the original story I had been transmigrated into started with the creation of the Demon King Slaying Special Forces.
Thus, Linus’s enlistment in the corps happened before the prologue, and I couldn’t foresee what would happen from enlistment to the prologue.
But I knew I had to keep Linus alive until the prologue, so I found him and dragged him around.
Linus was so full of righteousness that you never knew when he’d rush headlong into danger like a moth to a flame and lose his life.
He actually did several reckless things, but thanks to my timely intervention, he survived until the prologue.
If I had made even a single mistake during that time, neither of us would be here today.
“So, Dian.”
Linus asked while serving more food onto my plate.
“How’s the academy? Is it manageable?”
“Well, it’s not bad. It’s comfortable since I don’t have to watch my back.”
“When did you ever watch your back? You didn’t even care about the Emperor, so why would you be any different at the academy?”
Celine laughed as she spoke.
“Are you having any conflicts with the headmaster? From what Linus told me, she seems to be quite a stubborn person.”
“Stubborn? More like scared. You know she’s from the Nemara Clan, right?”
“Yes. She’s the daughter of the Dark Elf who prevented the Emperor’s assassination and was honored for it. I heard she was appointed as headmaster at the clan leader’s request.”
“That’s the reason.”
I explained to Celine and Linus about Kirrin’s dilemma.
The Dark Elves of the Nemara Clan wanted to be recognized as part of society.
However, their history of cooperating with the Demon King’s army prevented them from openly coming out of the forest. Instead, they sent their daughter to a public position.
Being a half-blood, she didn’t possess the typical Dark Elf cruelty and coldness, making her a suitable candidate to change the negative perception of the clan.
But the Second Princess distrusted the Dark Elves and wanted to secure Linus completely under her influence. She wanted to remove Kirrin and place someone else as headmaster.
Fearing being ousted and forced back into the forest, Kirrin was terrified of making any mistake that could provide an excuse for her dismissal. This led her to minimize and halt anything potentially problematic, even though she knew this would upset the Second Princess.
“It’s a vicious cycle, but I can understand the headmaster’s actions.”
Linus said.
“Dark Elves lack the essential emotions necessary for socialization. They pursue their goals without considering others, even their own family.”
“I saw it firsthand during the Battle of Lazoram.”
We had wiped out a Dark Elf infiltration squad attempting to flank us, which led me to question whether Dark Elves should be considered as sentient beings like us.
The atrocities they committed at Lazoram still send chills down my spine. Compared to them, the demon soldiers seemed almost kind and warm.
That’s why Kirrin felt so out of place when I first met her.
“And so, she begged me for help, crying on her knees.”
“Oh my.”
“Do you know Duke Toulouse? His daughter attends the academy and asked me for personal tutoring.”
I told Linus about my encounter with Knightley Toulouse.
Linus listened with great interest.
“That’s quite a remarkable coincidence, Duke Toulouse’s daughter becoming your student. So, did you agree to tutor her?”
“Yeah. It was hard to refuse someone crying so desperately, and I was curious too.”
“Curious about what?”
“How far she could progress under my teaching.”
I explained how I trained Toulouse, and both Celine and Linus burst out laughing.
“Dian! Are you trying to raise a hero party?”
“Well, she managed to do it all. She’s got a bit of an attitude, but she seems competent.”
“It makes sense, given the Toulouse Family’s history of producing martial talents. The current Duke of the Toulouse Family is no exception.”
Duke Toulouse was one of the most sensible and capable commanders among the noble army during the war.
If it hadn’t been for him, the noble army would have been annihilated without a proper retreat.
However, the Second Princess, who led the 3rd Corps with her officers of common birth, overshadowed him, which is why he didn’t receive much recognition.
“Raise that child well, Dian. If you elevate the standards of the graduates, the Second Princess will be pleased too.”
“Her personality could use some work too. When will you help with that?”
Linus chuckled softly and shook his head.
“Using common sense, dealing with people is more your expertise than mine.”
“And why is that common sense?”
“Should we ask the demon officers in our cells? They’ll answer immediately.”
“They’d unanimously agree.”
[Translator – Peptobismol]
Celine burst out laughing.
The conversation then shifted to topics like the reorganization of the Combat Department, the establishment of the academy’s commercial district, and Hindrasta’s disruptive antics.
“I have a thought, Dian.”
Celine said cautiously after listening for a while.
“I think you need to be careful about how you conduct yourself at the academy.”
“Why?”
“It’s just a feeling….”
The mention of her ‘feeling’ made Dian tense up.
Celine, being a hunter, had an incredibly keen instinct for sensing danger.
Unlike the renowned Qirana hunters, who were skilled in traditional hunting methods passed down through generations, Celine was naturally born with the instincts of a hunter.
Her ‘feelings’ had saved them from countless dangers, so Dian knew better than to dismiss them.
“No matter how I look at it, it seems like Headmaster Kirrin likes you.”
Celine said. Kirrin genuinely seems to want to rely on Dian, and she might even be trying to find ways to get closer to him.
“Really…?”
“It’s just a feeling. I’m not certain.”
“I agree with Celine.”
Linus said.
“From everything you’ve told us, it seems she sees you as a savior. What about Knightley? What’s her deal?”
“Not sure about Student Knightley.”
Linus’s question made Celine shake her head with a hint of negativity.
“I think she’s possessive. She wants to have you all to herself, like a precious, expensive ornament.”
“Well, whatever. It doesn’t really matter.”
“Of course not. Have you ever been influenced or swayed by anyone? Except for Lormane, that is.”
At the mention of Lormane, Dian’s mood darkened noticeably.
“Lormane… She’s terrifying.”
“Exactly.”
“Which is why…”
The three of them fell silent, focusing on their meals for a moment.
“But about the academy’s infirmary priestess.”
After a while, Celine broke the silence.
“You mentioned she’s a Divine Oracle Priestess and that Lormane recommended her.”
“Yeah. She wanted to send thirty bishops, but I insisted one would be enough, so she sent her.”
“Hmm, I see…”
Celine set down her fork, her expression turning serious, and Linus looked somewhat concerned.
“Has she done anything unusual at the academy?”
“Aside from being incredibly quiet, she’s very competent at her job.”
“Alright… but still…”
Celine, stroking her chin thoughtfully, spoke cautiously.
“Be careful with that priestess, Maya.”
“Why is that?”
“Lormane sent her, right? Lormane wouldn’t send a Divine Oracle Priestess she personally teaches to your academy without a reason.”
“True, Lormane wouldn’t do that. But so far, there haven’t been any signs of anything.”
“There’s definitely something. Lormane isn’t careless. What could it be… what could she have instructed…”
As Celine tapped her fingers on the table, lost in thought, Linus, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.
“Dian, you said the priestess works at the infirmary, right? Don’t they keep patient logs there?”
“Yes, every time I visit, I see her diligently…”
Dian trailed off, and Linus nodded.
“That might not be just patient logs.”
[Translator – Peptobismol]