Published at 5th of December 2025 11:02 pm

Chapter 232 Part 2

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

'Were they having this kind of conversation with serious faces?'

As I approached to join their conversation, the dialogue I heard right away was like this. While I was slightly bewildered, someone unexpectedly called me from behind.

"Lucas Askanian Your Excellency."

French.

When I turned around, I saw a New Human with an ordinary impression, nothing special. As expected, he was a mage from the Academy Puissance representative team.

'Antoine Gramont.'

From prior research, that was his name, and he was an 18-year-old high school division top mage. Unlike Mathieu, he spoke purely in French only.

"I've heard a lot about you. Congratulations on being selected first."

"Thank you. You're Antoine Gramont, right."

"Ah, you know."

"How could I not."

"It's an honor. But... as I've heard, your eye color really stands out."

"......"

Now, whenever I hear this, it sounds like a challenge to fight.

In fact, unless his perceptiveness is extremely lacking, it would be somewhat accurate. I smiled and replied.

"I know."

Gramont blinked only his eyes with a smiling face. Whether he thought I wouldn't be able to answer properly, or even though he threw it, he seemed to have nothing to follow up with.

He narrowed his eyes, then smiled mischievously and asked.

"Is there magic on your eyes?"

"I don't know about that either."

"It's your own eyes? There are no more pink eyes in Askanian, right?"

'Hm.'

Mathieu Aubigny at least had no big problem in communication perhaps because of his age, but not this one.

Unlike Leo or Narce who act unlike their age externally, this guy acts exactly his age externally. I wasn't originally old either, so I have no intention of criticizing for age, and not all young ones are immature, but unlike other nobles, it's obvious he doesn't know how to cleverly mix malice in words.

'So that's why Mathieu Aubigny said he'd discipline them.'

But he comes right away without time to discipline and does this, what to do.

If I were the same age, I would have gotten angry, but it was just funny, so I only laughed.

"That's right. Do you have any good ideas about the cause of my iris color?"

Instead of answering, the guy gave a meaningful smile and shrugged his shoulders.

"I just wanted to say it's unique and cool. Does your magic come out in pink too?"

"If it's red series, it all comes out. You must not have seen the exam video."

"Not everyone has to see that video, right? Haha, I'm curious, if you show it to me later, it would be a great honor."

'Not everyone has to see that video', he's getting a bit angry alone and saying something he doesn't need to.

'It seems it's not wrong that my story keeps coming up in France too.'

He seems unable to understand me receiving public attention. The vibe is a bit different, but he's like a guy like Philip.

"I'll consider it if there's a chance."

When I smiled and answered like that, the guy seemed to immediately realize I wouldn't show magic.

"I heard you're number one. I'm also number one in the high school division, so it's nice to meet someone in the same position like this. Since we met like this, may I request a spar later?"

"You're number one."

At my words, the muscles around the guy's mouth stiffened slightly.

Dealing with such guys wasn't that hard. I stared at him blatantly and then grinned.

"Seeing you were selected here, I knew it. Rest comfortably."

I said that and turned away.

It's better not to create unnecessary trouble.

It's because of all such guys that the leader Mathieu Aubigny said 'I'll discipline them' earlier. That leader seems to have regrets about the empire but no intention to screw me over, probably because the age difference is large, so he doesn't see me as his comparison group.

Just a negative question of why the imperial family appointed a Pleroma student when they should be dealing with Pleroma.

But if it's peers, the story changes. Instead of stopping at questions one could sufficiently have, personal emotions easily mix in.

'Why do they unilaterally see me as a competitor.'

In a situation where Pleroma is rampant like this, there's nothing good about acting out like that.

I understand hating our country as a hotbed of Pleroma from abroadit's the emperor's karma, so this much is none of my business, but if they're going to show signs of looking down, it would be good to be a bit cautious in behavior.

After moderately eating and drinking at the banquet, at 3 PM, we could go outside.

Now it's all free time.

Both the Academy Puissance representative team and we could freely do what we wanted, and we just had to personally guide them to their lodging at 7 PM and provide security.

As soon as we warped to our team lounge at the school militia headquarters with the help of friends, Elias, who had been walking fine all along, limply clung to me.

"Luca."

"What."

"Walk for me instead. Wow, really, how many hours did they make us stand in the morning. And we have to do this again tomorrow."

"Walk properly."

When I detached him and scolded, Elias smiled and said.

"Ah~ When my leg was hurt, Luca was super kind."

"It's not like you're saying to get hurt once more, right?"

"No way. That won't do. How could I, the leg you protected~ Rather...."

Elias whispered in my ear.

"You saw those guys today."

I knew what he was talking about.

"I did."

"When did we hire mercenaries~? Why do people with no real combat experience act like that?"

The opposing representative team probably didn't openly show poor character to Elias, but subtly, a gaze looking down on the empire must have been felt in their words.

I shrugged and replied.

"Yeah. But England is like that too."

At least it's fortunate they're not related to Pleroma.

While thinking that, the moment I dropped Elias on the sofa and sat next to him, someone knocked on the lounge door where we were.

"Yes, come in."

One of the school's militia staff opened the door and came in.

After entering, he looked around. He seemed to be looking for someone, and when he saw me, he adjusted his expression.

"Ah, Lucas Askanian."

When my name was called, everyone's gaze in the lounge turned to me. The conversation sounds quietly decreased.

"The French representative team requested if you could guide them around the city from 4 o'clock, would that be okay?"

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