“It’s over?”

As I left the detention center, an unmistakable hollow voice rang out.

Turning, I saw the Crown Prince holding a liquor crate, waiting with only one attendant. The attendant bowed politely upon seeing me and warped away.

“It was truly touching. The professor doesn’t even know you’re my disciple, yet you spent a whole hour visiting.”

“You think you’re in a position to say that?”

“Not even calling me ‘Your Highness’—that stings.”

She slowly approached, close enough to feel her presence.

“I may have used your professor, but as the dear homeroom teacher of my beloved cousin, I thought he’d be useful, so I asked for his blood as a bonus. Good thing I did.”

She’s talking about blood.

I sneered and asked,

“Good thing?”

“Who knew such a big fish was buried in there? If I hadn’t used Johannes Ron, I wouldn’t have met you.”

Her gaze pierced me. That’s the right word.

Her eyes fixated on mine so obsessively, it felt like she was studying the shape of my irises.

As my patience waned, she turned her head and said,

“Don’t be so prickly. The professor will live peacefully beyond his natural lifespan without issues. If he runs out of money, the imperial family will provide. If he needs attendants, a carriage, or a house, we’ll supply them. If he needs the best treatment, he’ll receive it under the Hohenzollern name for life.”

“…”

“Don’t believe me? He lent me a week, so I’ll repay him more. Once I release those used by me, I never let them live poorly.”

“Funny conviction.”

“Isn’t it the duty of a monarch to reward a subject who gave everything with utmost devotion?”

She turned to me with a radiant smile.

“In that sense, maybe Your Excellency should consider it.”

“My answer is a flat no. If you’re just wasting time like this, I’ll leave.”

“In a hurry, are we?”

Her tone shifted again.

She slightly blocked my path.

“I called you to apologize. I have something that might help you.”

“…”

“Something I’ve never shown anyone in my life—does that pique your interest?”

When I just stared without answering, she gave a gentle smile, stood beside me, and grabbed my elbow.

“We’re warping. I promise it’s not dangerous.”

She waited for my consent.

Anyway, Leo and I had already planned. If anything went wrong, he’d follow immediately.

If that didn’t work, I’d rewind time.

“Let’s go.”

I closed my eyes, and a cool breeze brushed my face.

‘A forest?’

The air carried a fresh, woody scent.

I slowly opened my eyes.

Not exactly a forest, but a park with many trees. It felt untouched by humans for a long time. Even now…

‘No, there’s one.’

Just as I thought no one was here, I saw someone leaning against a gas lamp, lying down. Their attire was nearly that of a beggar.

The Crown Prince, unbothered by their appearance, approached.

“Daniel.”

“…”

“Long time no see.”

She sat before him and waved her hand, prompting the beggar to react.

“Mmm.”

“Wake up.”

“Uh, it’s been a while. Elise?”

She didn’t respond.

Instead, the beggar kept babbling.

“Good to see you. Guess what I saw yesterday? A kobold ate my leg. We need to exterminate these damn monsters.”

“…”

What’s he talking about? Is he not quite right in the head?

The Crown Prince, used to it, smiled gently.

“A kobold? That’s just a fairy from folktales, Daniel. Time to wake from your dream.”

She took out the liquor she’d brought and poured it into his mouth without hesitation.

“Cough…!”

He choked, sat up, and coughed violently.

Astonishingly, his eyes cleared, and he looked at us with regained clarity.

“Hm, that’s it. Elise, long time.”

‘What’s “that’s it”?’

“Haha, looks like you’re finally seeing the world clearly.”

“Yeah. Still, my stance on exterminating kobolds hasn’t changed. They’re in my ears, gnawing at my brain.”

“Wasn’t it your leg earlier?”

“…”

I realized by now.

It’s not just sleep-talking. This man’s mentally unwell.

The beggar nodded at me.

“Who’s that?”

“My friend.”

“Friend? Don’t be a nuisance. That young man doesn’t think of you that way.”

Daniel scolded her.

Knowing his mental state, the Crown Prince just smiled softly, no matter what he said.

“So, why’re you here at this hour?”

“It’s almost morning. Don’t beggars wake early to beg?”

“You provide for me daily, so why would I?”

“Hahaha. Glad you’re doing well.”

She laughed, then pointed at me.

“Actually, I’d like you to tell me about this friend. Focus on what he doesn’t know.”

“Huh? No way. If that’s the case, you get out.”

I nearly let out a hollow laugh at his blunt refusal.

I held back for courtesy, but the Crown Prince laughed freely.

“Oh, I have to leave for you to talk?”

“Yeah. Or tell your story in front of him.”

“Hm, not bad. I want to be lifelong friends with Sir Ernst, so I’ll take this loss.”

She looked at me and said,

“Alright. One more sip first.”

She silently poured liquor into his mouth.

It should’ve been annoying, but her calm expression and practiced movements suggested she’d done this often.

The beggar gulped it down, looking at her with slightly sharper eyes.

“You’ve piled up more karma since we last met.”

“Karma, huh.”

“You and your kin are no different from Herod. My head hurts from the wailing, so tone it down.”

“Quite the insult. But historically, he was a great king, so I’ll take it as praise.”

“Lend me that slick tongue. If I argued with it, I’d live long with a sound mind.”

Instead of responding to his nonsense, she looked down at him quietly.

Daniel chuckled and spoke.

“This talk means little to us, so let’s discuss something that young man might like. Humans are a synthesis of finite and infinite, temporal and eternal, freedom and necessity.”

“Picked up Søren’s phrases somewhere new?”

“You’re not going to dig through books for it. What you need isn’t his work. He wrote that about human selfhood, but judging from another level…”

He wagged his finger, eyes darting, then fixed on the Crown Prince’s.

“The finite, infinite, temporal, eternal, free, and necessary being is none other than you.”

“Haha…”

“Chance made you so. Haven’t I always said? Elise, why do you keep me as an advisor?”

“…”

“For providence.”

She murmured with a faint smile.

“For providence, as you just said.”

“Even if it didn’t start by your will, isn’t it time to move? You know the master has appeared.”

“Maybe.”

She stepped back, as if done listening.

“That’s enough, Daniel. The one beside me doesn’t know himself, so tell me more about him.”

“No. Unless you turn back the calendar, I won’t give you a grain of rice.”

She silently poured more liquor. He jolted up, coughing harshly, then looked at us with a satisfied expression.

Yet he still didn’t speak. It was a maddening scene, but she seemed used to it.

Half-jokingly, she smiled at me.

“I’ll be stuck here forever if I stay. I’ll step out, so call me when you’re done.”

She cleanly vanished from the space.

The beggar hiccuped, as if breathing wrong.

I said nothing, but he spoke as if reading my thoughts.

“Don’t worry. I forget everything after this. I don’t spill secrets, especially of those who owe me.”

“…”

I was considering rewinding time, thinking he might read something and pass it to the Crown Prince.

I didn’t say it, yet he answered precisely.

‘Not just a beggar.’

The Crown Prince keeps him close deliberately.

His words must be worth hearing.

Even if, like earlier, they’re cryptic.

Codes can be deciphered, and I partly understood his earlier cryptic talk about the Crown Prince.

Anyway, nothing to lose.

I knelt on one knee to meet his gaze.

Instantly, he burst into wild laughter.

“Hahahaha!”

“What?”

“No, it’s just obvious. You really didn’t want to be Rosalind?”

Rosalind?

Why here?

I stared at him.

“You were supposed to play Orlando, right? But I say you’re finally in the right role. You came to live as Rosalind. You must live as her.”

A chill ran down my neck.

I stared into his hazy eyes without blinking.

“You’re ready for it, aren’t you?”

‘…As expected.’

No wonder Abraham keeps him around.

He’s not talking about a play.

He’s talking about why I had to come to this world.

“Or are you still far off? Doesn’t matter. You have no choice.”

I stayed silent.

It felt like a blow to the head, and I couldn’t voice my questions. Even expecting he wasn’t ordinary, knowing I came from another world was shocking.

But soon, my lips curved upward. I don’t know where she found and hid this guy, but this is a rare opportunity.

Even if I don’t understand the information now, hearing it ensures I can use it when needed.

“Besides, why should you, already Abel, become Orlando? You’re already yourself. Brothers killing brothers—what a play they’ve staged for centuries. If the ending had Abel’s blood crying to the heavens, people would’ve recoiled, but they all live happily, ‘as they like,’ don’t they? This is a rotten play. The Abel before me is walking through hell, and life doesn’t wrap up with love like a Shakespeare comedy.”

Abel.

The Genesis figure killed by his brother Cain’s jealousy. Contextually, it’s closer to Luca’s story.

Now he’s talking about Luca, not me.

“Is my brother Cain?”

“I don’t know your brother. But I know your blood seeps deep into the earth, crying innocence.”

“That’s not my blood.”

“Only God knows. I’m sleepy. As you heard, half my brain’s gone…”

Why’s he on about brains again?

Even if it sounds like nonsense, I can’t end the conversation. I grabbed the liquor bottle and asked,

“Want some?”

“Oh, yes, yes. Good.”

He took it with trembling hands and guzzled.

Each drink seemed to clear his mind, not intoxicate him.

He opened his eyes sharply and shrugged.

“What’ll you do? Our Almighty Father won’t cast Cain out of Eden, even if he kills his brother. Why’d you make that choice?”

“What choice did I make?”

He ignored my question, rambling on.

It sounded like that.

“Cain was permitted to live in Eden by God. But these Shakespeare characters solve everything in Arden Forest! As if Cain doesn’t matter, whatever’s in that forest resolves all conflicts—is that Yahweh and Shakespeare’s will? I’m no sage, but you know.”

He closed his eyes, lost in thought, then opened them as the wind blew.

“The world’s a stage, and all humans merely players. They have their exits and entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts.”

“…”

“And you’ve lived as all humans. So now, more than any character, you must become Rosalind. You have to.”

“I don’t see how that relates to why I’m here.”

Be Rosalind.

In what sense?

The comedic romance protagonist? I’ve done that countless times in reality.

Since my late teens, my career was filled with it. Whether I wanted it or not, my life and job were acting out emotions the world deemed most valuable, though they meant nothing to me.

As he says, in the 21st century, I was never *not* Rosalind.

And now I must become her?

“You’re already prepared.”

He stared at me intently.

He hadn’t answered a single question, just spouting his own thoughts.

“You may want it or not, know it or not—it doesn’t matter anymore. Want to know why?”

“…”

“Caesarea’s around the corner. Enjoy the trip.”

A kindly smile spread across his face.

Then, his head dropped, as if powered off, losing consciousness.

I slowly stood.

“Cryptic, isn’t it?”

The Crown Prince’s voice.

“A gift I can’t give again, so treasure it.”

“Where’d you find him?”

“Long ago. I heard of a lunatic spouting creepy nonsense in southern Prussia, so I went to see…”

She laughed, gazing into the air as if recalling the past.

“And found this gem. If you decipher it well, it’ll be useful. He’s led me to victory so far, but his spark’s fading, or something. To think he’d let Sir Nicolaus hold his life.”

If deciphered well, it’s useful.

I agree.

Following the catacombs and my bouquet’s message, now I’ve got this to decode.

She grabbed my arm and continued.

“By the way, it’d be nice to know what you heard.”

No need to respond.

I nodded to move, and she warped us.

The scene before me was the street near the prosecution. A cold winter breeze blew.

Releasing my arm, she looked at the dawn sky and said,

“You must be satisfied with how it turned out. You killed the Chairman, returned the professor to normal life, crushed Primrose Path… Your standing as Nicolaus is stronger than before.”

Fixing her gaze on me, she smiled.

“I lost this time.”

“…”

“So, today’s gift is for living peacefully going forward.”

“Peace, huh.”

“Didn’t I give you my information? Well, it’s only useful if you can decipher his words.”

I just smiled, saying nothing.

She seemed done detaining me, checking the sky’s color before speaking.

“It’s quite late.”

Unlike before, she gave a clean, smiling farewell.

“See you later, Sir Ernst.”

* * *

Three hours later, I arrived at school.

“You look super sleepy, Lucas~”

Narce said, seating me.

No wonder I look sleepy.

I don’t know how many nights I’ve pulled.

Plus, I’d grown used to no morning classes, so being called at 8 a.m. wasn’t exactly familiar.

‘Still, I know why they called us this early.’

I smiled, looking at our class’s interim homeroom professor.

As the professor gave various announcements and wrapped up the morning assembly, he smiled, surveying the students.

“Everyone, good news. The 2nd-year Magic Department Class 2 professor will return this Friday, the day of the third exam.”

“Huh?”

“The professor? Wasn’t he on leave?”

The students’ eyes widened. They didn’t know about his detention, but all regretted his sudden, unannounced departure.

Seeing the positive response, the professor raised his voice.

“With the professor returning, morning classes will normalize after the third exam. Great, right?”

That wasn’t great, as the students didn’t respond.

But the professor’s return brightened everyone’s faces. The scene showed how much our homeroom professor cared for us.

The interim professor answered trivial student questions and ended with a reminder.

“Only four days remain to practice for the third exam. Manage your condition, maintain teamwork, and train your best.”

“Professor, what’s the third exam like?”

“I can’t tell you that, haha. But you don’t need to feel pressured.”

No student felt pressured.

After facing surprise scenarios like a train station and the Alps in the second exam, we were confident we wouldn’t flinch at any field.

“As you know, after the third exam, the final qualifiers and teams will be announced. With the professor returning on exam day, shouldn’t our Class 2 proudly claim the top team spot?”

The students’ faces grew serious. A gulp echoed somewhere.

It was truly the final stretch.

The month-long first-to-third exams were ending, and teams for external deployment would form in early February.

Berserk incidents had dropped significantly from early January, averaging 50 to 100 daily in the capital, but that’s no reason to relax. It’s not a small number. Since it typically takes multiple mages to handle one case, it means 50 teams are needed.

“That’s all for the assembly. Go train.”

Students advancing to the third exam rushed out with more energy than usual.

As I lazily got up to leave the classroom, someone grabbed my shoulder.

“Lucas.”

“Oh, Yulia.”

“You look exhausted. Did you train a lot over the weekend?”

“Haha…”

I brushed it off with a laugh.

Our team didn’t train much on weekends, unlike weekdays. How could we, with Primrose Path to handle? Most teams were similar.

Then, Tsheringen stopped abruptly.

“Ah.”

“What?”

“You got your ear pierced, Lucas.”

Though I’d done nothing wrong, my heart sank.

It wasn’t long ago that I had to hide it from my brother, so I wasn’t immune yet.

And, more importantly…

‘I have cognitive distortion magic on.’

Sure, maintaining it consumes stamina, so I didn’t cast it strongly, but it’s surprising she noticed something so small.

As I thought this, my core tingled.

Looking up, I saw Leo, heading to the training grounds with friends, glance back from the corridor’s end. As usual at school, he gave me a cold look before turning and disappearing downstairs.

‘What’s this bastard doing?’

I prepared to strike his core if he sent another signal, but thankfully, Leo didn’t provoke further and just went down.

Rubbing my core, I asked Tsheringen,

“Does it stand out?”

“No. Can I take a quick look?”

It doesn’t stand out, yet she noticed. Like Leo, her combat magic skills must sharpen her observation.

“No problem, but… look? Why?”

“Yeah. Is that okay?”

“Go ahead…”

“Haha, thanks.”

Tsheringen reached toward my artifact but froze, her expression hardening. Before I could wonder, she smiled and said,

“It’s sky blue.”

“Really? It’s barely colored.”

“Lucas.”

“…”

Why’s she suddenly saying my name?

Did she sense the class leader’s magic power? I stared at her, thinking that.

But her words were unexpected.

“Would you accept an artifact as a gift? I have one that’d suit you.”

“…Oh.”

That’s what this is?

Relieved, I laughed and shook my head.

“Thanks, but I’ll pass. It’s hard to remove.”

“How about another piercing?”

“Must be high-quality.”

I’ve never seen her push like this.

We rarely talk outside training or magic, so I lack data.

She pointed to her own ear.

“Yeah, it’s good. I wear it daily. It stabilizes core fluctuations, helping during training. These artifacts’ magic lingers, so the effect persists even after removal.”

“Sounds nice.”

“Let me know if you’re interested.”

“Got it. And…”

I smiled, tapping where my necklace was.

“I made good use of the artifact you gave me before. Thanks.”

It helped during the baptism.

Kept my humanity intact.

Tsheringen’s eyes widened, then she beamed.

“No big deal. See you at evening roll call.”

She waved and headed to the training grounds.

I turned to Narce, who’d been lingering nearby, waiting for the conversation to end.

“Lucas! Heike wants to eat dinner together tonight. Wanna join?”

“Sure.”

Narce kept chatting until we reached the training grounds.

This is school, and I’m Lucas here, so I can’t talk about Primrose Path or other matters. It’s right, but chatting with a friend after so long felt fresh.

Narce moved from artifacts to training.

“Oh, right. Aren’t you curious about Team 1’s teamwork?”

Team 1 is Leo and Tsheringen’s.

With the other four members all bottom-tier, now that team qualification is out and only individual qualification remains, they’ll each strive to stand out, unlike before when they harmonized for team points.

I’d thought before:

“They somehow built a solid team.”

They struggled early but quickly found balance.

I’m just impressed by their ability to create teamwork in a every-man-for-himself atmosphere.

“Yeah, you heard. Leo and Yulia are something else~ But our team will do better!”

“Probably.”

I answered, opening our training ground’s door.

Like yesterday and the day before, the third training session was peaceful.

Truly, it was rare these days.

Amazingly, nothing happened from Monday to Friday, and during that time, I organized Primrose Path’s Abraham investigation records, sending them real-time to international bureaus to block the Crown Prince’s nonsense. Purifying Bavaria, supplying divine power for Wittelsbach potions, and advising on imperial berserk incidents were my entire routine.

It felt like returning to the days before Abraham appeared.

‘This is the right pace, but it doesn’t feel real.’

Thus, four days passed without incident.

Friday.

The third exam day arrived.

* * *

[*We will now begin the 2nd-year student corps third selection.*]

Here again.

I thought, looking at the Imperial First Academy logos plastered around.

Unlike before, it wasn’t the gymnasium but the training grounds used by the First Academy’s student corps.

“Finally, the third exam.”

“Waited a month for this? Finally the end.”

Chatter echoed among students lined up before the start.

Then, a broadcast came from above.

[*To all 2nd-year students advancing to the third exam, the exam regulations will be announced shortly. First, we’ll reveal the third selection matchups.*]

‘Hm?’

Matchups?

Unexpected.

The students’ reactions mirrored mine.

The third exam is more about individual qualification than team exams.

Students ahead muttered quietly.

“Huh, what? Are there bonus points this time too?”

I checked the chart.

Team 1 vs. Team 3, and Team 2 vs. Team 4.

The two winning teams each get 1 bonus point.

‘Hm.’

The low bonus points aside…

‘Team 1 and Team 3. Skipping a team to pair them?’

Team 1 vs. Team 3 means I’ll see Leo against Elias.

I’m on Team 2, so it’s not my concern.

Team 4 has no close friends except Melvin, so fighting them is good. Plus, Team 4 lacks standout members—just a solid upper-tier team.

‘Too bad for those two.’

Leo, Yulia, and Elias.

It’ll be a bloody exam.

Since the second exam filtered out the truly unskilled, a team matchup for bonus points shouldn’t exist. Why?

‘They’re all good.’

Especially Teams 1 and 3, evenly matched, making it impossible to predict a winner.

Well, since it’s come to this, I’ll enjoy watching Elias’s team and Leo’s team face off for bonus points. It’s a rare sight.

I relaxed my shoulders, thinking that.

[Announcing Team 1.]

“Announcing?”

Murmurs rose around me.

I felt the oddity too.

The teams were already set.

What’s this about?

[*Team 1: Josefine Luon / Hildegard Blomberg / …*]

“Huh?!”

“What’s that? I’m on Team 4!”

“What? The teams…”

Narce, beside me, looked at the matchup chart in shock, then gaped at the next name.

[*… / Narce Farnese / Leonard Wittelsbach*]

“Huh?!”

“…?”

I was stunned too. What’s this?

Narce is on my team. Now suddenly with Leo?

‘These crazy bastards did what on exam day?’

Of course.

I thought during third training, ‘It’s going *too* smoothly.’

Yeah, too smooth.

Typical Imperial Second Academy. A school that drops you in the Alps without gear wouldn’t let the final exam be this peaceful.

It was so absurd, my lips curled up.

[Team 2.]

[Team 2: Victoria Biermann / Joachim Gleichen / …]

No time for this.

Time to think.

Team 1 is all top-tier. Two are nearly untouchable.

Team 2, all mid-to-low-tier.

Compared to Team 1, it’s weak. No issue. They’re facing Team 4, not Team 1.

So, who’s on Team 3, facing that formidable Team 1…

[Announcing Team 3.]

[Team 3: Lucas Askanian / …]

“…”

Narce and Leo’s gazes pierced me simultaneously.

My prediction was spot-on.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep