Published at 6th of December 2025 6:43 am

Chapter 266

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Yeah.

It took a long time. Right?

Leo's calm question came. I didn't answer and just smiled.

It had taken a long time. Only after turning time upside down once and going through two terrors could I finally keep the promise.

The reason Leo had told me to come to Bavaria after the opening ceremony was before the archbishop's terror even appeared. So, even when I hadn't accomplished any particular merits, he had planned to give me a medal like this....

Thinking about that made me let out a hollow laugh. Leo had prepared this in advance for Lukas Askanien's identity. Even without any basis to award me.

Was this why you lied about having work and went ahead?

I do have work.

Leo shamelessly pointed to my medal and himself.

I wanted to smack him for teasing, but for now, I held back, remembering that I was the same age as this guy.

I didn't know when this FM lump had become like this. Actually, he was still an FM at school or in Eschet, but seeing these rare moments where he joked like other kids made it twice as absurd.

Were you surprised?

Leo asked with a face subtly laced with playfulness. He seemed to expect an answer that he was surprised. He'd probably waited for this day without properly telling me, planning to make it a surprise gift.

I tilted my head and asked.

What do you think?

You must have been.

I wasn't.

No? You must have been pretty surprised. I can picture your face when you got the letter.

You, let's talk later.

Hm? Okay.

Why did he take that seriously.... It was supposed to mean let's fight.

I couldn't tell where the conversation was joking and where it was serious. At this unpredictable talk, I gave up saying more. Instead, I relaxed my shoulders and straightened my posture. The distance that had gotten a bit closer during the talk returned to normal. And I said seriously.

Thanks.

.

Leo looked at me wordlessly.

The grand master of this knight order was the king, not the crown prince. The one who permitted entry was the king, not the crown prince, and the letter I'd received earlier was completed with the king's seal, name, and stamp.

But this was his doing. Others might not know, but Leo, I, and the king knew. The one who gave me the medal and brought me into the knight order was none other than Leo. Looking at the numerous badges on his uniform, I continued.

This is the first for me. So now I owe you even under this name.

At those words, Leo smiled faintly.

Debt? It sounds nice, but it's not true.

Why does it sound nice?

This is what you accomplished, Lukas.

He continued in a calmer voice.

Because of the burdens on our shoulders, we can receive honors more easily than anyone else just by coming of age and achieving minor merits. You were born like us, yet you couldn't. This is the moment you should have gotten long ago.

.

The one who pushed through all the tribulations to get here is none other than the current you.

The current me.

Contrary to Leo's intention, those words sounded a bit different to me anew.

Yeah, me. The one who got here is me. I knew, but it was a fact I hadn't consciously realized. How many times had I truly, wholly accepted my merits as 'my' merits? Had there even been? In this unrealistic reality where I was the butterfly and the butterfly was me, it felt like 'me' was pulled out in that instant, and my strength drained. I laughed. To have such thoughts through words from a human who wouldn't know even in dreams.

It was joyful but despairing, and yet still joyful. However, my heart felt tightly clogged.

It was best not to think deeply. At least not now.

In the meantime, Leo smiled gently and said.

So... you can't thank me. Rather, I should say it. Thanks for entrusting your first knighthood to Wittelsbach. It's an honor.

This is also the first. Thanks.

It wasn't a response to what he'd just said. At the beat-late answer, Leo tilted his head slightly, thought about my meaning, and smiled.

The sound of the national anthem playing grew louder. It was time to end the ceremony. He patted my shoulder once.

See you later.

***

I thought I'd be able to return to the lodging after it ended, but I had to go to the waiting room.

We had to go out to the court garden, Hofgarten, to take commemorative photos or something. In a situation as unstable as now, having to meet reporters. It was ceremonial, so unavoidable, but not comfortable.

Kkiiik

Luka!

As soon as the door opened, a familiar voice rang out.

Elias was lounging obliquely on the waiting room sofa. It was a welcome face. As soon as I entered, he sprang up like a spring and pulled my shoulder.

Congratulations! Our Luka did well~

Did well? It's embarrassing.

Embarrassing? Even saying that, your expression is so mechanical it's surprising.

Does that mean he wasn't embarrassed at all? I was quite flustered when Saint Hubert suddenly came out. It was probably Leo's doing not to tell me the medal type even in the letter.

When I roughly answered with a laugh, Elias grinned and scanned my attire. His interest went to the medal.

This is really... Order of Saint Hubert.

Elias carefully wrapped mana around his hand and supported my medal.

Now I saw Elias was also in Prussian formal wear. It was hard to tell because he had it loosened like a slob, but at a glance, he didn't have a badge with the same ribbon color as mine.

You've received a medal in Bavaria before too.

Yeah, right. Bavarian Crown Order of Merit. From the contaminated mosquito incident last year.

Elias pointed to the sky-blue and white badge and grinned. He'd received a slightly lower one. From Bavaria's perspective, it would have been hard to immediately give too big a medal to a collateral imperial who the emperor subtly checked. Still, Elias would receive the Order of Saint Hubert someday. Because he'd become emperor.

Elias fiddled with my medal for a while and said something unexpected.

Ah~ It's a shame. I wanted to give you a medal too....

Not one you want to receive?

Hm.

He raised his eyebrows and shrugged. His eyes, fixed on the medal, now turned to me.

Leave a spot open, Luka.

.

Got it?

In Elias's eyes saying that, there was a zeal that could lead to treason charges.

This was why he'd reacted lukewarmly to my earlier words. And well he might, because to be in a position to give Prussia's medal, he'd have to become emperor.

'I like it.'

This ambition.

I tilted my head.

It'll be hard to leave open.

Ah~ As expected. Guess I'll have to step up.

Elias snickered and plopped back onto the sofa. When I sat next to him, Elias whipped his head around and said.

And how did you know it's hard t leave open?

What.

With an expression like his mouth was itching, he clenched both fists and made a strange sound you'd hear in the wild, then brought his face close to mine.

Now, from here on, we have to go on a nationwide tour, Luka. Right after taking photos in Hofgarten, we depart!

Depart right away? Why. We have to wait for the schedule.

Why? Our Luka~ doesn't know~

I looked at him with eyes asking what, but he didn't seem inclined to say. He just kept teasing. He pulled out a newspaper cut to 1/4 size from his clutch and fluttered it.

Well, you couldn't read the newspaper~ Right?

You know well. Give me that at least.

Wondering if I should....

Wondering?

Of course. I moved my hand to my waist and quickly thrust my wand.

Kwaang!

Uwaak!

Elias blocked his front with both arms and fell onto the sofa.

He widened his eyes at me, let out a hollow laugh, and dispelled the veil. My and his mana scattered in the air. He grasped the tip of my wand with his hand and said.

Luka, is your motto something like 'life is real battle'?

There are too many high schoolers today.

Huh? You too.

Yeah, that's true....

Elias alternated between the newspaper and me, then said as if resolved.

You have to go out soon, right.

Yeah.

Elias stood from his seat and led me.

Thanks to frequent visits to this castle since childhood, he knew the layout well. We quickly entered the corridor toward Hofgarten.

The sunset was slowly setting.

He stood in front of the mana field connecting Hofgarten and Munich Residenz. This mana field looked like a thick marble block, but it wasn't actually. Anyone with mana could just slip through.

Elias pulled out a crumpled newspaper from his clutch and said seriously.

Luka. I'll show you. But don't get disappointed. I'm serious now. There's a reason we deliberately didn't show you the newspaper.

Hm.

From the media war talk to Anhalt, I already had some expectations. Even if the Anhalt government tried to seize this opportunity, it was unavoidable that a significant portion would be mixed with negative and anxious reactionsfor example, various suspicions and future terror concerns.

Give it. I'm prepared. But why is the newspaper only 1/4?

Be glad there's even this.

Elias pushed the crumpled paper into my hand with a resolute face and curled my hand again. At that resolute face, I slightly furrowed my brows and unfolded the paper.

[Lukas Askanien, Imperial Mage's Noble Sacrifice Saves 600,000 Lives]

?

No, didn't you say there's a reason for not showing the newspaper? Isn't this the opposite?

Uhahahaha!

Elias laughed and smacked my back.

Weak to praise~ If it were me, I'd eat it up.

Eat what? The newspaper? I shook my head vigorously and said.

This isn't the important part now. I need to see the whole Imperial Newspaper. What good is cutting out just one article like this.

Ah~ Need to see the whole? You think I only brought the good articles?

Elias tapped my ear. At that moment, a familiar face warped in. Narce was holding a newspaper, smiling brightly. Those eyes were similar to Leo's from earlier.

.

Now I knew everything.

I should have realized from the very first time they stopped me from checking the newspaper. From Leo now, everyone was conspiring to tease me.

Anyway, even this situation was planned, but since they brought the newspaper, I'd endure. I snatched the newspaper like taking it and read.

[[Breaking News] Terror Circumstances Discovered at Pentalon Host Site, Lukas Askanien Missing]

'Hm?'

A bit old, right? Arranged in chronological order from a few days ago~

Narce, reading my thoughts, laughed and said.

I nodded and read the title of the next issue's article. Even just pages 1 and 2 collected made the paper endless.

[The Heinous Terror Targeting 1.9 Million Ends with 53 Minor and Serious Injuries... Who is the Hero?]

[Pentalon Emergency Committee, Terror Resolved in Cooperation with Imperial Mage Lukas Askanien]

[Pentalon Emergency Committee, Cannot Rule Out Lukas Askanien's Terror Involvement... Not Informing in Advance Was Strategy to Prevent Chaos]

6 PM and 7 PM articles respectively. The flip-flopping was confirmed in real time.

['Osnabruck Diocese is Looking for You' Shouted, Where Did Missing Lukas Askanien Go?]

[Duke Gustav Hohenzollern, Imperial Mage Lukas Askanien Grasped Terror Circumstances Right After Cross Appearance... Indifferent Response Was from Emergency Committee]

[Lukas Askanien, High Possibility of Pleroma Abduction]

[Statement from Imperial Academy Faculty... Government Must Reflect on Driving Students to Death]

[Decisive Response Prevented Catastrophe: Testimonies from Government Officials on Lukas Askanien]

[Terror Victims' Alliance, Respect for the Dedication of Askanien Imperial Mage]

[Dedication for Subjects Who Branded Incurable Congenital Disease as Pleroma... Anhalt Royal Repays Enemy with Grace]

[Hero's Victory: Lukas Askanien Shatters Heinous Terror Aimed at 600,000 Lives]

[Lukas Askanien Returns in Near-Death State, Unconscious but Recovering]

'No... How many times did they publish in that short period?'

And the number aside, the tone keeps escalating? It's embarrassing to read more. I really can't see this. They wrote this for me to read?

Even that article about repaying enemy with grace seems like it could provoke strong backlash. Since I could really be Pleroma, an article urging not to lower vigilance could come out. We have to block articles like that.

Whether because my hand dropped from the onslaught of burdensome articles in succession, or reading my thoughts, Narce covered his mouth and giggled.

Wow... Lukas looks like his head's going to explode.

Don't read thoughts.

Got it.

Anyway, I'm starting to get the sense.

How those hot-faced praise articles ended up splashed big on the Imperial Newspaper's front page.

Crowd psychology made reporters or individual masses not feel repulsion to those articles. Idolization created by collective hallucination. A typical feature of crowd psychology in chaos situations. It meant public opinion had clearly tilted to one side.

.

I wiped my mouth and smiled faintly.

If it came to this, the marquis's media war talk meant, as a politician taking his first step, he needed to solidify his position by stepping on firm ground.

The Anhalt aide's story about 'Anhalt subjects being in confusion' meant they were confused because the nuisance lump they'd extremely rejected and hated became the empire's hero. So, show your face as soon as possible to grasp the country's discipline as a member of the ruling family.

Good. Thanks.

Even planning this as a surprise. It just made me laugh.

As I tried to hand the newspaper back to Nace, Elias shoved it back into my arms.

No, look more! You didn't see to the end!

What now....

I read the last newspaper title.

[Wittelsbach Bavarian Royal Family Awards Order of Saint Hubert to Empire's Hero Lukas Askanien]

Empire's hero? Was that a word the Imperial Newspaper could use? As soon as I thought that, Narce laughed again. Since Elias said to see it for a reason, I moved my gaze to the body text he'd marked.

[Prussia Kingdom and the Duchies of Brunswick-Saxe-Altenburg-Saxe-Meiningen-Saxe-Coburg-Gotha are discussing medal awards, while the Grand Duchy of Baden and Duchy of Anhalt have already finalized the type and grade of honors to award.]

...Huh.

As I just moved my lips wordlessly, Elias noticed my fluster and teased.

That's why you asked why the nationwide tour starts tonight? Luka, it's not just press conferences for you. Until the last schedule returning to Bavaria, you have to go around receiving medals nonstop.

Huh....

So that's how he knew it was hard to leave a badge spot open. I'd joked earlier, but anyway, there was plenty of space for badges.

I burst out laughing and said.

I didn't expect this.

Worth not letting you see the newspaper!

Whew....

Ah, and you have to go on a trip with us too.

Trip? With this schedule?

Yeah. Yulia said let's go on a trip after it ends. Baden will support!

Of course. I already knew the talk. That this day would really come, it had been so far until here.

I let out a hollow laugh while reading the medal award announcements even I didn't know about in the newspaper.

Then, matching my schedule means the trip is nationwide too? In 2 nights 3 days?

Something like that. A bit short for a nationwide circuit? If we whine to His Majesty the King to postpone the audience a bit, he'll let us play more?

Use the whining....

I let out a hollow laugh and held out the newspaper to Elias.

An alert sound came from the artifact hooked on my ear wheel. It was time to go to Hofgarten. As I turned around, encouragement came.

Don't be anxious and go enjoy it more, Lukas.

It was Narce's words. He'd probably sensed me being conscious of the reporters from the start.

When I turned my head, he smiled softly and pointed outside.

The empire is on your side now.

***

We'll end it here. Thank you.

After the commemorative photos, the Bavarian government held a brief press conference in Hofgarten. It was called a press conference, but considering my health, the government limited the number of entering reporters to ten. Citizen entry was completely banned.

This was my first official conference appearing directly.

Just before dispersal, one reporter asked permission from the guards and approached me.

Congratulations on being knighted in the Order of Saint Hubert. I was truly impressed by the courage Your Excellency showed.

Thank you.

There are many subjects who want to see Your Excellency, so it was truly an honor to see you first like this.

I don't know where to put myself.

I said that and shook hands with him in farewell. He might be speaking a bit overly because I was from the ruling family, but anyway, it was as Narce said. There were no ones like government aides with eyes flashing to find political material in every word I said. I could relax and handle it. Knowing this was the overall atmosphere made me more comfortable.

The reporter grinned at my words and replied.

Don't know where to put yourself? Your Excellency is fully qualified to receive honors. See you again in two days.

He seemed to be participating in the next monarch audience too. I briefly greeted the other reporters like that and finished all official schedules for today.

It was already 6 o'clock.

After all press left, I sat at the tea table set up in Hofgarten's pavilion. Naturally, with Leo.

From the commemorative photos to sitting here, he'd said nothing and just smiled, so I looked around first and opened my mouth.

Isn't this a really burdensome situation?

Hm, why?

The one who gave the medal and the one who received it taking a commemorative shot and then sitting together at a table? It feels like I have to PR development potential and future aspirations to score points.

Hahaha.

Leo unusually laughed out loud, then propped his chin and said.

Then say it once. First, your feelings on becoming a Wittelsbach knight?

I said in the Antiquarium earlier. It's good.

.

Leo let out a hollow laugh. Then, as if self-suggesting, he muttered.

Yeah, I already knew I had a friend like this.

Look at this bastard....

Lukas.

I raised an eyebrow in place of answering. Leo organized his laugh and continued calmly.

You checked the knighthood, right.

Yeah.

You know well that you've become the empire's hero. From now on, you'll receive merit plaques and medals from some of this empire's 26 federal states. How does it feel?

.

I crossed my arms and leaned back on the chair back. And I stared piercingly at Leo's expression. When he showed an ambiguous smile and discomfort at the continued observation, I smiled and answered.

The first honor Bavaria gave me is something I'll never forget in my lifetime. No, I can't forget it.

.

This is the answer you wanted.

Yeah. Can't say no.

Leo averted his gaze and glossed over.

What this guy's thinking, obvious. The 'You won't go to Baden, right.' I'd heard long ago still lingered strongly for me.

He'd planned to give me a medal for some reason even before I resolved the archbishop's terror, but since Pleroma launched a massive terror and I was set to receive medals from numerous countries, he couldn't take the 'unique' title, so it must have bothered him a bit. He'd want to act like he recognized my potential first, but in the end, it'd be buried in everyone's choice.

And he'd wanted to give me a more memorable gift, but that too became a bit ambiguous from his position only, perhaps thinking I might take the medal lightly.

Wrong. The sincerity in trying to fill what I lacked was fully conveyed. Bluntly, even if one of the empire's 4 kingdoms, like Kingdom of Saxony or Kingdom of Wurttemberg, gave the highest grade medal, I wouldn't feel this much gratitude.

'Anyway... planning to make this a surprise.'

What a ridiculous guy.

Then, Leo, propping his chin and looking around, muttered.

I'm glad you came to Bavaria now too.

You too. Meaning not just Nicolaus but Lukas Askanien too. I twisted one corner of my mouth up and said.

I knew you'd say that.

Yeah? Your predictive power is improving.

And this guy was getting more shameless. I could feel the satisfaction about securing human capital in those words, making me let out a hollow laugh.

Sorry, but I promised loyalty to yur mother. The grand master isn't you.

Yeah, doesn't matter.

Leo drank his tea and answered shortly.

Yeah, it would matter to this bastard.... Later, when he becomes Bavaria's monarch, it won't matter.

I snickered and said.

I should bring you to Anhalt sometime too.

Ah, put me in your knight order?

Leo widened his eyes, then laughed and said.

Good. Do that for sure.

He's assuming I'll become monarch.

Anyway, if it meant building more relations with Bavaria, it was a good deal.

It wasn't just him zealous about securing human capital.

I too was gradually pulling people from each ruling family to my side starting from Leo, and would continue.

I finished the remaining tea, stood up, and said satisfactorily.

Now, let's go slowly. They said we depart after this ends.

Hm, you already heard that. Do you know where to?

Anhalt, probably. Since the first press conference is there.

Elias said he'd pack the luggage. Now we had to warp to the Bavarian border. As I extended my hand meaning to warp, Leo shook his head.

Called a carriage.

Carriage?

Suddenly? As I narrowed my eyes, Leo smiled faintly and said.

We're taking the train from here. It's your first trip; we have to enjoy it properly.

Share