Chapter 86

“Student Leon. Please proceed to the grand hall now. Her Imperial Highness has come to congratulate you on your achievements and the dedicated guidance of the professors.”

It was an announcement from the faculty.

‘Congratulate? Why don’t you just hand over the goods.’

Leon Rothe Dale, a second-year student at the Academy, muttered listlessly as he scratched his dirty blonde hair streaked with patches of dark brown.

He was dressed in his rare formal attire today.

His beard had been shaved, and he’d been forced to eat a meal.

Since starting medication, his appetite had waned, and he’d been eating only one meal a day. But today, they insisted he eat, so he did. It was because of the Imperial Princess’s visit to the academy.

Word was she was already in the grand hall, waiting with the students. Officially, it was to encourage Leon and the Department of Swordsmanship faculty.

‘Princess… if she’s here, maybe she could buy as much medicine as she wants.’

No, she wouldn’t buy it; she’d get it for free. She’s royalty after all.

Actually, Leon had a connection to an Imperial Princess from his first semester—a junior he’d befriended.

Anais Carlisle. They’d grown close through countless accidental encounters. She wasn’t just any princess; she was the ruler or something of the Eastern Chinguk Empire. In the end, she was the daughter of the Britannia Emperor and granddaughter of the Chinguk Emperor.

With that kind of status, surely she could have had Alan, the CEO, produce her remedies.

Yet, why had Anais personally made her own syrup…? It was still a mystery to him now. Honestly, its efficacy wasn’t great.

‘Still, criticizing her would be wrong.’

He wanted the Health Syrup to remain as a memory.

And speaking of which, could this visiting princess today be Anais?

Back at the end of the first semester, he saw her leave in a carriage, her expression somewhat melancholy. Leon had smiled brightly to send her off.

If Anais was in the grand hall now, he planned to ask her to put in a good word with Alan.

It’s what friends do.

Isn’t it fair for friends to help each other with small favors?

“Maybe I should ask Anais if she’s here. If I say I’ll petition His Majesty the Emperor for her release from her monastery confinement, she might help for free. She might even give me a little fresh air.”

Leon stopped mid-sentence, sensing something was wrong.

Anais was confined to the monastery by royal decree; how could she be sitting in the grand hall? She’d definitely still be in the monastery.

Confinement meant being locked away.

Leon had nearly asked a difficult favor of someone already suffering. He couldn’t trouble someone already in a tough spot. Perhaps the two Morphine tablets he had earlier were affecting him.

He needed a more realistic solution.

But Leon wasn’t overly anxious about it.

After all, he was receiving enough Morphine.

When he only got two doses a day, it was truly tough. He’d have to endure more than half a day without the medicine. Sometimes strange sounds would ring in his ears.

Now, though, he got four doses a day. As long as he timed it right, he could spend all his waking hours in blissful intoxication.

If only he could add a bit of Bulongyi to it, all his worries would vanish, and he’d enter a land of happiness.

‘Though it’s really about the dosage now; one pill feels too weak.’

That was a problem to be solved step by step.

Leon decided on his priorities and recalled what he needed to do first.

First, he had to meet Alan.

He intended to honestly ask for more Bulongyi, even though it had been promised, flexibility was key.

Starting with a bold request for 100 pills, planning to negotiate down pill by pill, that was the basic principle. After all, even securing half would mean 50 pills; getting only a quarter would still give him 25—both would be tremendous achievements.

“Alright. Let’s negotiate.”

“Leon?”

“Uh… No, I wasn’t talking to you, Professor.”

“…I understand.”

Leon clenched his fists. Shortly after, he entered the event venue.

The grand hall, where most of the academy’s formal ceremonies took place, was filled with people.

The atmosphere was scattered, but when Leon appeared, the murmurs ceased.

“Second-year Leon Rothe Dale from the Department of Swordsmanship! And the five professors of the department, including Professor Brennan! Please step onto the platform immediately.”

Leon slowly ascended the platform.

He wasn’t tense.

He only wished the event would end quickly.

Still, he anticipated the prize money the princess would bestow. With that money, he could secure some Bulongyi more easily.

‘Though, Alan really is an idiot. If he sells through the academy cafeteria, he’d make a fortune. Students pay 50 talers for opium, but imagine what they’d do for Monglongyi and Bulongyi… Ugh… This is why people need to be smart.’

It was truly regrettable.

Leon muttered this as he stepped onto the platform. There stood Imperial Princess Victoria Carrail, not Anais.

Her near-platinum blonde hair, unnecessarily elaborate ceremonial attire, a somewhat melancholic expression despite her high standing—all this seemed to contradict Anais’ earlier claim that her sister was an excellent person.

Still, Leon maintained appropriate decorum. He needed the money for his medication.

***

The First Princess, Victoria, scanned Leon Rothe Dale from head to toe.

“At first glance, he seems normal.”

Really, has he become someone with no hope of escaping the grasp of drugs?

According to Alan—who was sitting with Siena upstairs in the grand hall’s second floor—Leon was far gone. But looking at his face, there was still a glimmer of hope.

His eyes were slightly hazy, yet they stared directly at her. Though he was thin, his appearance was far from that of a hopeless addict. His mouth was closed properly, and there was no muttering or shaky hands.

Despite her surprise, Victoria slowly began to speak.

“Leon Rothe Dale.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“You have achieved something remarkable at a young age. Your feats are not only exemplary for this era but also will stand as a role model for generations to come. Every child in the empire who dreams of becoming a knight might hope to emulate you. I, too, commend you.”

“Thank you.”

All of this was merely routine courtesy.

The real conversation was yet to come.

“Leon. Do you know why I address you with the honorific ‘Sir’?”

“…No, I do not.”

“You could soon earn a title if you wish. It’s unconventional to grant such a title while still in school, but given your skill, this isn’t excessive. The empire is willing to break tradition in favor of talent.”

“…”

Princess Victoria continued to laud not only with encouragement, but also with offers of reward, as planned in her discussions with Alan.

Yet, Leon’s reaction was none. Though the students watching from below were openly impressed, the recipient of such lavish honors remained unmoved.

“…It is not just the title. If you agree, I will also bestow upon you a mansion located in the Goldbridge District. Originally, this estate housed royalty closely related to the imperial court. You surely recognize the extraordinary nature of this perk.”

“Thank you.”

“And I will provide you with attendants to manage and care for the mansion. Four gardeners, and multiple male and female servants will be assigned to attend to you. Naturally, their salaries will be covered by the royal court for as long as you live.”

“…”

“One more thing. I will arrange a suitable position for your father. Would the position of director in the state-owned Britannia Trading Company suffice?”

At this point, murmurs rippled through the hall.

Isn’t this too lavish even for a master? The murmurs most likely reflected these thoughts, given that Leon wasn’t just any master but someone infamous for his eccentricities.

The students, who earlier envied Leon, now wore expressions of bewilderment.

Still, Leon himself remained unperturbed.

‘He truly has no interest in wealth and rank.’

Perhaps it was a lack of interest in worldly possessions. More likely, his focus lay elsewhere entirely.

What could possibly make someone disdain titles, grand estates, and family welfare in favor of drugs? Could lying in a daze, mindlessly smiling after taking medication, really be more appealing? It was impossible to comprehend.

“Leon Rothe Dale. If you consent, I will relay this proposal directly to His Majesty.”

“Yes, I am extremely grateful.”

“There is, however, one condition.”

Leon stared blankly, seemingly uninterested.

Victoria casually announced:

“Stop taking the drugs.”

“Pardon?”

“I told you to stop taking the drugs. Along with the title, the estate, the staff, and even the favor toward your family, you must simply forgo the drugs. Some students believe morphine and ephedrine aid in their training, but you’ve already surpassed that barrier, haven’t you?”

“No, what…!”

“Give up the drugs. Then you can have everything.”

Instantly, Victoria noticed cracks forming in Leon Rothe Dale’s previously stoic expression.

It wasn’t just a frown.

His distorted face now glared ferociously at Princess Victoria.

***

What nonsense is this? Stop taking the drugs?

‘What’s this nonsense about drugs right now?’

Leon clenched his teeth as frustration bubbled within him.

He wanted to curse this brazen expression of the First Princess, but he held back. It would be foolish to argue with the princess under the watchful eyes of the hall filled with professors and students.

Just hold on.

‘Tell her you’ll quit and then secretly continue later, right?’

He had been promised a title and an estate—once there, he could privately indulge in his medication.

Engaging in a physical altercation with the First Princess of the empire in this hall would be madness. Leon swiftly averted his gaze from Victoria.

“Ah… I apologize. About that…”

Attempting to apologize and move on, his plans were thwarted by another incendiary statement from the First Princess.

“In any case, obtaining them will soon be impossible. I’ve just instructed Alan at Medoff Pharmaceuticals to halt the production of ephedrine. This will remain suspended indefinitely until its effectiveness is verified. The distribution of morphine outside military channels will also be tightly controlled.”

What? Indefinitely?

Leon’s vision began to blur.

What did he even achieve as a master for? Why did he wield a sword against demons?

It felt utterly unfair. But fighting it was futile. The overwhelming emotion left him struggling to form words, forcing him into a bitter laugh while gazing pitifully at Victoria.

At this point, one of Princess Victoria’s bodyguards produced a small medicine bottle.

Leon perked up briefly, hoping for some kind of reprieve, but it was immediately dashed by her next words.

“This is your last dose. It was originally intended for you, but it’s about to be disposed of. Once again, if you give up the drugs…”

Dispose?

Quit?

At the final breaking point of his restraint,

“Screw it—!!”

With eyes wild, Leon erupted in a fierce cry, lunging towards the knight holding the bottle.

It was a desperate attempt to reclaim his coveted Bulongyi that had been stolen from him.

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