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In Professor Briana’s lab, there was a visitor.

With long platinum blonde hair and red eyes just like Gilbert.

It was Princess Knight Seraphina.

Seraphina, accompanied by her guard knight Yanik, was facing Professor Briana. On the reception table, two steaming teacups were placed.

“Good day, Master and Princess Seraphina.”

“Finally, you’re here. Disciple.”

A rare smile appeared on Seraphina’s lips. Gilbert realized from that smile that Seraphina had come here because of him.

“First, sit here.”

As Gilbert sat down, Professor Briana prepared a new teacup and placed it in front of him. The clear tea poured from the teapot, and the fragrant aroma tickled his nose.

“Master, may I speak to the disciple first?”

“Isn’t that why you came here?”

“Hoho. It’s satisfying that Master knows my heart so well.”

Gilbert sipped the tea while watching the playful banter between master and disciple. Even to Gilbert, who was a tea novice, the slightly bitter taste that lingered on his tongue made it clear that this was good tea.

“Was my conversation with Master that amusing?”

“I’m not sure what you mean, Princess Seraphina.”

Honestly, it was amusing, but he feigned ignorance. He decided it was best not to get caught up in Seraphina’s pace.

From what Gilbert remembered, Princess Seraphina was cold when her favorability was low, but once she became Professor Briana’s personal disciple, she often played mischievous pranks.

Did she find her new disciple cute? At least when playing as the protagonist Ian, it was understandable, but now it was the bold Golden Sun. Gilbert, with his towering height of over 190, wasn’t keen on receiving such treatment.

“It doesn’t seem so… But that’s not important now. Disciple. No, Gilbert Lion Heart.”

Seraphina’s expression changed. The dignity befitting the Empire’s first princess settled upon her.

“Give your command.”

“I cannot help but praise your recent achievements. Not only did you eliminate the parasites gnawing at the Empire, but you also risked your life to protect the academy cadets who will become the Empire’s future. How could I withhold praise from you, who have shown such heroic qualities?”

Seraphina’s clear, deep red eyes fully captured Gilbert.

She no longer saw Gilbert as the troublemaking young master of a count family.

Of course, one act of heroism wouldn’t erase his past misdeeds.

Bad rumors would still follow him, and those who gossiped behind his back wouldn’t disappear.

But Seraphina was the princess.

She couldn’t help but see Gilbert in a new light after he perfectly resolved an incident that could have tarnished the Demia Academy’s reputation and the Empire’s name.

It was rare for a freshman to single-handedly destroy seven colossal mechs. Those who could achieve such feats were destined to make a name for themselves. Whether on an imperial level or due to Seraphina’s personal preferences, Gilbert was now a figure that had to be secured.

“As the Empire’s princess, I highly commend your contributions.”

“I only did what had to be done.”

“Pleasant words indeed. And there’s one more thing I must tell you.”

“Please speak.”

“I intend to root out those arrogant Resistance scum. They deceive innocent citizens under the guise of freedom. I cannot stand by and watch these terrorists act as if they have a noble mission.”

A chill emanated from Seraphina’s words. Born to be an emperor, she had fought on the battlefield as the Empire’s sword even before entering Demia Academy. She remembered the many who had shed blood to protect the Empire, the nobles who had fallen before they could bloom.

The wise Seraphina understood their goal of establishing a republic. She knew all too well that the commoners, trampled by the nobles, had raised the banner of republicanism to protect themselves.

Indeed, the Republic of Respublika was born from such reasons. Founded on the premise that the state belonged to all citizens, Respublika was a nation born from endless civil wars between nobles and commoners, under the ideology of “citizen rule.”

A nation stained with blood, born from struggles where blood was repaid with blood.

But even Respublika had its problems. Divided into noble and citizen factions, civil wars still raged.

Though it seemed like a good place where citizens’ rights were recognized, the reality was different. Endless civil wars had devastated farmlands, causing food shortages, and many had died or been injured, leading to military weakness.

In times like these, with frequent wars involving colossal mechs, it was merely a good prey for other nations. A country weakened economically and militarily had only one path left.

In that sense, Seraphina despised the Resistance, who couldn’t even read the tide of the times and only craved freedom. And when these despicable beings dared to challenge Demia Academy and the Empire, it was only natural for Seraphina to be furious.

“And who dares to touch my disciple? You are now my one and only disciple. Those scum who spout nonsense should not dare to touch you.”

A chilling aura emanated from Seraphina’s red eyes. Being a disciple of the Empire’s first princess carried such weight. That’s why Gilbert had to seek Seraphina’s permission before becoming Briana’s personal disciple.

Gilbert could now truly grasp the position he was in. It was something he hadn’t fully understood in the game.

“This is a challenge to me as well. In that sense, I have a proposal for you.”

“Please speak.”

“Do you remember the promise we made?”

“You said you would allow me to become your disciple if I proved my worth.”

“Indeed. In my eyes, you have proven your worth. So you can forget that. Instead, help me root out those scum.”

As expected. Gilbert had played through Tactical Combat countless times, and it always went this way.

Of course, the prerequisite was to deal with the Resistance first.

This was the part where the protagonist Ian was fully acknowledged as a disciple, and he would receive an invitation to participate in the Resistance eradication operation.

Even if you missed this event, since the Resistance eradication was the main story, you would naturally participate. But participating as the princess’s disciple was different from participating as a regular cadet.

Being by the princess’s side meant more encounters with key Resistance members and better rewards.

“Do I have the right to refuse?”

“You have a knack for amusing me. Surely you’re not thinking of refusing?”

Who would refuse the princess’s offer?

Under that gaze, Gilbert shook his head. Even Gilbert couldn’t do something as crazy as refusing the Empire’s princess. There was nothing to gain from refusing this offer.

“Of course not. I will follow your will, Princess Seraphina.”

“I knew it. My disciple is refreshingly straightforward. Good. You have fully proven yourself as my disciple, so from now on, call me master.”

“I will try.”

“My disciple is quite shy. Master, my business here is done.”

“Understood, disciple.”

Professor Briana poured more tea into Gilbert’s empty cup and spoke.

“Gilbert, you’ve worked hard.”

Contrary to Gilbert’s expectations, Professor Briana only said one thing. Just a single word of acknowledgment.

Gilbert was slightly surprised, expecting her to ask about the use of the Winter Sword’s secret technique, but recalling Professor Briana’s nature, he nodded inwardly.

“To Princess Seraphina… *ahem* Master, as I said, I only did what had to be done.”

Seraphina finally stopped her fake cough after hearing Gilbert call her master. Gilbert suppressed the urge to sigh at her shamelessness.

“No, you did more than that.”

“I hope I didn’t tarnish Master’s reputation.”

“Not at all. You did well. Above all, I wanted to tell you this first.”

Briana looked at Gilbert with a rare softness in her eyes. She seemed deeply moved by how Gilbert had risked his life to protect the academy cadets.

“And as your master, I cannot help but praise you. What you used at the end was the Winter Sword’s Ice Drill, right?”

“…Yes.”

“You’re quite the exceptional one. Already using your master’s secrets. Your Ice Drill was flawless. I won’t ask how or when you learned it. Some are just born to do the impossible.”

And we call such people geniuses.

Professor Briana didn’t say the last part out loud. She didn’t want her talented disciple to become arrogant.

“That’s all I have to say. Princess Seraphina has already said everything.”

“May I leave now?”

“Before you go, Professor Horizon has something for you.”

“Could it be…?”

“Yes. He said it was a bet item… You won something bigger than expected.”

Professor Briana took out a wooden box the size of two palms and handed it to Gilbert. Given the nature of the item, even Professor Horizon would have taken time to bring it.

It wasn’t something that could be easily obtained, even with the next-generation development nearing completion.

Gilbert looked at the wooden box with pride, finally holding the prototype artificial spirit in his hands. He felt so satisfied that he could skip dinner tonight.

 

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