The Crown Prince’s attacks were exactly like Adelbert’s movements.

Of course they were. This is his dream, after all.

Parrying the Crown Prince’s attack, I opened my mouth.

“It’s all in your head.”

[No, that can’t be. Her Highness had every reason to be disappointed in me….]

“How dare you presume to judge whether Her Highness truly thinks that way or not?”

[…!]

The body flinched, so I could tell the bastard was startled.

It was a repulsive thing to say, but I spat it out thinking it would fit his way of thinking, and sure enough.

Adelbert’s confusion broke, and instead, I felt his bewilderment.

It benefits me, but this bastard needs to fix his way of thinking ASAP if he wants to live normally.

Suppressing a sigh, I swung my Wand towards the incoming Vitriol.

Kwaang—!

Bright yellow Magic Power, like sunlight, scattered around, blindingly bright.

Strangely, even though it was Adelbert’s Magic Power, its color was as varied as Luca’s. Now, even its power was no different from what I usually produced.

Sweeping the Wand horizontally, I continued speaking.

“Didn’t you respect Her Highness? Is the person you respect someone who would speak like this and attack her younger brother with Vitriol?”

[…….]

“If so, that’s disappointing. Wow, this is my first time meeting the Crown Prince, but to think she’d be this ill-tempered and narrow-minded…. And a Pleroma on top of that?”

A wave of nausea surged up. I gagged and covered my mouth.

‘No, this son of a bitch…’

Resisting like this, huh.

Right. He has an extreme aversion to the very thought of disparaging the Crown Prince.

How much does he respect the Crown Prince to react like this just because I denied it a little?

Of course, thanks to that, things are going smoothly. Parrying the Crown Prince’s Vitriol just like when sparring with Adelbert, I continued.

“Is it not true? If not, say it yourself. Is that something your older sister would say?”

Sorry for keep calling her ‘older brother’, but since the environment has changed anyway, they didn’t use the exact words the old generation used.

“You might think you’ve always done your best, but your older sister, who grew up before you, probably wouldn’t think so. So, how did the Crown Prince treat your immaturity? Isn’t the reason you respect Her Highness because she is magnanimous and understanding, and because there’s something to learn from that attitude?”

I feel the Magic Power circulating in the body gradually calming down.

Good.

The bastard is starting to feel the disconnect.

Knowing how Elisabeth Hohenzollern used her younger brother, it’s burdensome to speak in her defense, but…

She wasn’t foolish enough to reveal her true colors right in front of him.

She grasped that Adelbert’s loyalty was extraordinary and leveraged the only disadvantage Adelbert had and her only advantage—the difference stemming from experience—to make him look up to her.

And the area where Elisabeth actively differentiated herself was precisely understanding and mercy.

I responded to Adelbert’s reaction.

“No. Right, it can’t be. How dare Elisabeth Hohenzollern be such a person? This is quite an insulting dream.”

Kwaang—!

Just moments ago, we were clashing with equal force, but now, the power is draining from the Vitriol the Crown Prince is throwing.

Outside this dream, Adelbert must have pushed away the Vitriol trying to settle in his core himself.

At that moment, the Vitriol barely blocking my Magic Power vanished instantly.

“…!”

It wasn’t because the Adelbert outside had completely expelled the Vitriol.

It’s Pleroma’s strategy.

The moment the Crown Prince’s head snapped back from my Magic Power blast, I squeezed my eyes shut.

Not because I couldn’t see, but because I couldn’t show Adelbert the entire scene.

[Aaaaaaaahk!]

Following the scream, there was the sound of something heavy falling to the floor.

Perhaps due to Adelbert’s terror, the world turned red. For a moment, I too held my breath in fright.

But normally, a body part doesn’t fly off just from being hit by a single magic spell.

It’s a fake, created to maximize Adelbert’s fear.

“It’s fake. A head doesn’t get cut off and fly away just from one magic shot!”

Even as I spoke, Adelbert was panicking as if he had truly witnessed a family member being murdered right before his eyes.

It was a natural reaction. It was a shocking sight even for me, a third party; expecting composure from the bastard was too much to ask.

‘Then I have no choice but to calm him down myself.’

Fuck, if I had entered this alone, it would have been certain death. I really can’t keep up with the ideas of these blood-sucking corpses.

Ignoring his screams, I gathered a large amount of Magic Power in my right hand. Then, I slammed my fist hard onto my left shoulder.

“…!”

I bit my lip hard.

It worked. Adelbert’s attention focused on the pain.

I seized the opportunity and shouted.

“If you truly respect Her Highness, you should realize this scene is an insult to her. Did Her Highness teach you to be this weak?”

Shouting at the top of my lungs had an effect.

Sensing they were losing the power struggle, the opponent changed the scene in the blink of an eye.

‘This place is….’

It’s the place where I first sparred with Adelbert. Elias’s training ground.

As if that wasn’t enough, a different person now stood before me.

Glancing at the floor, the blood and corpse were already gone. As expected, it was just feigned death.

That’s natural. You need to find and deal with the core, the center that continuously generates Vitriol; piercing the head won’t solve it.

‘Wow, this really is a dream.’

Seeing Nicolaus glaring at me with fierce eyes, I let out a chuckle.

To think I’d get to experience fighting myself.

Flicking my hand, I said.

“Let’s see what skills this Nicolaus here has.”

“Your Highness needs to learn some manners.”

The voice and tone are chillingly accurate imitations.

Thinking that, I swung my Wand wide.

*Kwaang—!*

Nicolaus created a shield of pure white Magic Power.

“Oh.”

Pure white?

Now they’re trying visual tricks too.

Is this an AI? What’s with the continuous learning?

Holding a Bavarian Royal Army wand, Nicolaus spoke lowly.

“I have watched all of Your Highness’s actions.”

“Really. Are you disappointed again?”

At the insolent words, Adelbert desperately tried to block my throat.

“Can it be expressed as disappointment? You are exactly as you were months ago. It was just the other day you tried to break Duke Elias’s leg, and now you attack the Crown Prince. That temper of yours hasn’t changed one bit.”

“Didn’t know I thought that about myself. Elias definitely told me to stop digging up the ground and wrap it up appropriately…”

Though I’m talking to Nicolaus, I’m actually talking to Adelbert.

He should have grounds for suspicion, but perhaps due to shock, Adelbert showed no reaction.

And this state, naturally, favors Nicolaus.

“Your Highness. You asked me to be your sparring instructor.”

“No. I don’t need it anymore.”

“Raise your Wand.”

“Why?”

“Wrongs must be punished.”

“……”

If someone said that in reality, they’d have to start contemplating what to engrave on their tombstone from that moment on.

Do you really think someone would talk to an Imperial Prince like that? Seriously? Given that Adelbert could fast-track a death sentence, he’d likely be the one dishing out the punishment…

Anyway, it seems Adelbert perceived the previous spar as a reprimand. That’s why Nicolaus appears as this kind of figure.

Without any formal stance, I just madly fired off Magic Power.

Nicolaus barely dodged and blocked the attacks. He seemed to try pushing back harder instead of just defending, but failed each time, extending the stalemate to nearly five minutes.

“How many more wrongs must you commit before you come to your senses?”

Kwaang—!

I erected a barrier to block the Vitriol and swung my Wand at the bastard again.

Continuing this stalemate is meaningless. The most important thing is to change Adelbert’s mind.

Actually, there’s a simple solution I can use right now.

I just need to let Adelbert know that I am the real Nicolaus.

However….

‘I can’t do that.’

Safety isn’t the issue.

With his loyalty, he wouldn’t tell anyone I’m Nicolaus.

The problem here is…

‘This bastard needs to learn how to make friends first.’

The problem is that Adelbert doesn’t know how to form relationships beyond respect.

If I reveal I’m Nicolaus, the bastard will start respecting me at school too.

To make him independent from the Crown Prince, I can’t let that happen.

To teach him about relationships beyond respect, I need to start as his friend, not as Nicolaus.

Ignoring Nicolaus’s words, I repeated my attacks and spoke to Adelbert.

“Hey. I thought about that book thing.”

[…….]

“Do you think a Bavarian Crown Prince’s guard can make such political remarks to a Prussian Prince? Think logically.”

Just then, Nicolaus’s expression crumpled.

Now I see, these guys change quickly when they think I’m winning. He spoke in a deliberately angry tone.

“How did Your Highness interpret my reply? When I said expectations are meant to be broken, it wasn’t meant as permission to repeat such rude words and actions.”

‘Oh…’

I’m the one who wrote the letter, but if Adelbert interprets it himself like this…

That’s good for me. I wonder how well he grasped the intention.

Smiling, I asked.

“Then tell me, what was your intention in writing that?”

“It merely meant not to feel excessive pressure about the exam, not to abandon your manners. Isn’t that obvious?”

“Be more specific.”

“……”

Nicolaus didn’t answer, focusing on attacking me.

Smiling, I muttered.

“Everything I said that day just bounced right off. Not surprising.”

Earlier, I said I wouldn’t reveal my identity because I’d start as a friend.

But as long as I don’t explicitly state I’m Nicolaus, it should be okay to prod a little, right?

Smiling, I said.

“Your Highness.”

[…?]

Realizing I was talking to him, not Nicolaus, the flow of Magic Power in the body shifted slightly.

“I told you. That statement was made hoping Your Highness would practice not entrusting your value to others. I explained it before, do you still not understand?”

I can feel Adelbert getting quite flustered.

Naturally. The senior he thought of as some vampire is talking like Nicolaus, of course.

“Your Highness said that the point where the Crown Prince’s expectations are directed is the result you desire. But if others’ validation harms your core, it’s poison, not medicine. In that case, you sometimes need to distance your heart from that validation.”

[No, now…]

“In other words, it doesn’t mean it’s okay whether you mess up the exam or not, but rather that others’ expectations are something you can break or not, something you should place where it won’t damage your core even if shattered. Do you understand?”

Even if he understands intellectually, he won’t be able to practice it. I didn’t say it for him to understand.

If he were the type to get it, he wouldn’t have been fucking up so badly until his mid-twenties.

However….

It’s enough to confuse the bastard about my identity.

I thrust my Wand forward as I had been doing.

Kwaang!

Nicolaus’s Vitriol was pushed back, and soon I heard the sound of a desperate landing.

‘Good.’

Just like sending off the Crown Prince, this time it’s a success too.

Power began to drain from Nicolaus’s Vitriol. Now that the Vitriol’s influence has weakened, this is the chance.

‘What should I do?’

Since it’s a dream, I can feel the bastard keeps losing consciousness and resetting his thoughts. I need to be quick.

Should I strike that Nicolaus, who might have a core, or should I purify this entire space?

The conclusion came quickly. Remembering that this space itself is Pleroma’s creation, what needs to be done is clear.

I could feel Adelbert getting flustered by my overly confident voice.

[How do you….]

“Who knows.”

I changed my Wand into a Staff and drew power from my core.

“How do you think I know?”

I can feel Adelbert wavering like crazy.

Correspondingly, the Vitriol’s power must have diminished as well. Unlike before, when we were evenly matched, now I can deal with it.

As if understanding my intent, the space turned completely black.

Chanting the purification ritual, I gripped the Staff tightly.

—Know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.

*Kwaaaaang—!*

The moment I poured all my power into the Staff, an intensely blinding light spread out.

***

“…!”

“You’re back.”

Narce looked down at me and said.

Adelbert was still deep asleep.

‘It’s over.’

Perhaps because Narce had been continuously infusing us with Divine Power, my body felt refreshed despite having suddenly collapsed.

He answered the question I was about to ask first.

“Five minutes have passed.”

“Really?”

35 minutes left until the exam.

Looking at Adelbert, who was now emitting normal wavelengths unlike before, I channeled Divine Power into my fist.

Seeing this, Narce’s jaw dropped.

“Huh? Wait, Lucas…!”

Kwaang—!

“Heok!”

The moment I struck the bastard’s heart, Adelbert convulsed and his eyes shot open.

He bolted upright, saw the two of us, and looked startled.

“…!”

“You’re awake.”

“S-S-Surely… Senior.

“Nope.”

“No, how did you know what I was going to…?”

“That’s not important right now. Let me just say, this one used the Divine Power.”

I nonchalantly pointed at Narce.

Narce is famous around campus as a mage who uses Divine Power, so the bastard will probably accept it.

Honestly, it feels weird lying after talking about truth and all, but if the bastard knew the truth, he’d fall into denial, so hiding it is probably beneficial for everyone.

Narce silently channeled Divine Power into Adelbert, checking if any Vitriol remained that hadn’t cleared yet.

While he did that, I looked into Adelbert’s eyes and said.

“You almost succumbed to Vitriol. You know that, right?”

“…Senior, in my….”

“Went into your body, yes. As you can tell from that, it was a dream. It seems Pleroma plans to expand their activities in this direction.”

“……”

The bastard just clutched his head with a shocked expression.

*Tiring—!*

Favorability +5

“…?!”

Suddenly again?

This bastard keeps tossing Favorability points out of the blue.

Then, a new notification window popped up.

*Tiring—!*

Congratulations!

‘Mission 1: ‘Favorability +300 within the deadline (500/300)’ Success!

‘Route 1 ― 〈 Mission 1 〉’ is confirmed.

Bonus Reward ― +10.0 Points

‘Hmm?’

What’s that last part?

And 500 points? Now?

Come to think of it, I had already surpassed 210 points three days before the 1-2 exam started.

At this rate, I probably hit 400 points when the 1-2 exam finished.

So…

‘Does that mean they gave me 10 extra points for accumulating more?’

A total of 25 points.

I can hardly believe this situation. Is this really okay?

Actually, I need to raise Favorability even without missions, so if they give more for not stopping at 300 and accumulating more, I welcome it.

‘I should raise them one by one after the 2nd announcement.’

I closed the window with satisfaction.

Meanwhile, Adelbert removed the hand covering his face and said.

“…Thank you.”

“You seem to remember?”

The bastard didn’t answer, lost in thought.

The anxiety he felt in the dream was no longer visible on his face.

Thanks to the dream, it seemed his thoughts had actually become clearer.

After a long silence, Adelbert answered me.

“Yes, I remember. I’m sorry. I kept holding you back in there, Senior.”

“It’s natural since you took the drug.”

At those words, Adelbert’s gaze turned fierce.

I could immediately tell what he was thinking.

Someone drugged an Imperial Prince an hour before an exam, put him to sleep, and tried to induce *Vitriol*. Naturally, he’d be furious.

But now is not the time to look for them.

“We’ll find the culprit later. I brought this friend here without reporting it because I was worried it might harm you, Junior . As such, we can’t go blabbing about it right now.”

Adelbert slowly nodded at those words.

But there’s no reason to stop here. It’s worth pushing him until the exam.

I opened my mouth.

“Let’s make one thing clear.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Someone desperately wants you to fail.”

“……”

“They probably intended to kill you or turn you into a Pleroma. Failing before even taking the 1-2 exam would be a given.”

Adelbert’s eyes turned icy cold.

It seemed his thoughts had reached that point now too.

Expectations had served as motivation to maintain high grades, but ultimately, they only burdened him. It couldn’t be called good motivation.

Then, just change it.

Fortunately, the bastard had a bit of a temper.

I know what works best for guys like this.

Vengeance is the best for short-term use.

Smiling, I tapped the bastard’s shoulder.

“You know how to return the favor successfully without me telling you, right?”

Adelbert answered silently with a smile.

His face already showed solid resolve.

***

The first year’s primary exams were completely over.

And, without time to worry about the first-year exams, I had been in Bavaria and just returned to the second-year dormitory.

It was now time for the announcement of the second-phase teams.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep