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The unprecedented attack on Demia Academy sent shockwaves through the empire’s society.

Originally one of the continent’s top academies and a pride of the Infractus Empire, Demia Academy had been an impregnable fortress since its establishment, never once breached by outsiders.

Given that it was a gathering place for the empire’s most promising talents and noble heirs, the academy had always prioritized safety, making such an attack seem impossible.

Rumors even circulated that Demia Academy was the second safest place in the empire, next to the imperial palace. The protective and barrier magic surrounding the academy numbered in the hundreds, if not thousands, and dozens of autonomous colossal mechs were said to be on constant patrol.

Though operating these mechs consumed significant funds, the empire spared no expense in using tax money to ensure the safety of the academy’s cadets.

Yet, Demia Academy was attacked by those identified as the New Resistance. While the academy had previously been targeted by the old Resistance, those attacks were limited to uninhabited islands where exams were held, not the academy’s main grounds.

Even so, the fact that the academy allowed an invasion on the less secure uninhabited islands was still a blemish. At the time, the First Princess, Seraphina, personally led an operation to suppress the Resistance, an incident the empire considered a disgrace.

But this time, the attack occurred during one of the empire’s major events—the Lion King’s Birthday Celebration. With numerous external guests in attendance, the severity of the incident was on a completely different level.

The presence of distinguished guests from other nations meant the situation could easily escalate into a diplomatic crisis. Had the attack not been swiftly contained, the empire’s reputation and honor would have plummeted, and they might have faced hefty compensation demands.

Of course, the fact that the attack happened at all raised questions of responsibility, but that was a matter for later.

The empire wanted to avoid highlighting the issue. While Demia Academy was officially an independent institution, it was, in reality, deeply connected to the empire, much like an imperial agency.

The academy’s headmaster had long been from the Durementum Marquis family, a staunch supporter of the emperor. It was even said that the first headmaster was granted a middle name to be passed down through generations, a testament to the family’s loyalty.

Thus, those in the know regarded Demia Academy as the face of the imperial family.

This attack was akin to smearing that face. The indiscriminate destruction and terror activities in the presence of foreign dignitaries exposed how complacent they had been.

Though security had been heightened and preparations made, the attack still occurred. The number of colossal mechs that breached the academy exceeded 100, an unthinkable figure.

This was an unforgivable disgrace for the imperial family and a worst-case scenario that gave the noble faction a strong argument.

The noble faction saw this as a golden opportunity to increase their influence. The previous emperor’s iron-fisted rule had significantly weakened the nobles, but the current emperor’s continental appeasement and pro-nobility policies had allowed them to regain some ground.

The current emperor, no fool, kept a close eye on the nobles, ensuring they didn’t grow too powerful. As a result, the nobles had to operate within the boundaries set by the emperor.

In this context, the academy attack was a godsend for the nobles, who were eager to elevate their status.

Sadly, while the attack resulted in casualties, those in power were more concerned with how the incident could benefit them rather than the victims.

They worked tirelessly to expand the noble faction’s influence, and it seemed their efforts would yield significant results.

Even the emperor of a great empire couldn’t simply bury such an incident, especially with foreign envoys present.

However, the imperial faction had a card to play.

When an incident couldn’t be covered up, the best way to divert attention was to create another event. Of course, exposing a scandal involving the noble faction during such a chaotic time wasn’t ideal for the empire.

After all, both the imperial and noble factions were part of the Infractus Empire.

Thus, the best approach was to announce groundbreaking news that would shift focus. The academy attack provided the perfect material.

An academy cadet who suppressed rebels threatening the empire.

A man who risked his life to protect fellow cadets and civilians celebrating the anniversary.

A once-notorious scion of a count family who proved himself a hero in a crisis.

Gilbert Lion Heart.

He was the propaganda the imperial faction needed.

Initially, most nobles scoffed at the imperial faction’s announcement. While rumors of Gilbert’s reformation had circulated in social circles, his past reputation led many to dismiss them as baseless.

Though he had recently been awarded a sixth-class knight title for his role in suppressing the Resistance, few believed the accounts of his heroics. Even the empire’s citizens were skeptical, especially in the Lithuania Territory, where the Heart Count family resided.

Why?

Gilbert’s past actions provided ample evidence to doubt his transformation.

However, the imperial family’s release of recorded magical footage changed everything. The footage, captured by the academy’s security projectors, showed Gilbert’s heroic actions—defending cadets and civilians with a magical barrier and single-handedly defeating 23 colossal mechs.

The public’s reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Gilbert, once dismissed as a troublemaker, now embodied the heroic figures from history books.

The imperial faction capitalized on this, promoting Gilbert as the empire’s new hero and successfully diverting attention from the academy attack. The incident, which could have been a dagger aimed at the imperial family, was quietly buried.

The noble faction lamented missing a golden opportunity, but with the tide turning against them, there was little they could do.

Thus, the New Resistance’s attack on Demia Academy became a historical footnote, marked by the rise of a single hero.

***

“Anna, does my hair look weird? It feels like it’s sticking up.”

“Miss, you’ve asked that thirty times already. You look as beautiful as ever, so there’s no need to worry.”

Dorothy Flamma Heart, the youngest of the Heart Count family, had been complaining about her hair to her maid, Anna, since early morning. Her usually well-kept hair seemed to be irritating her today. No matter how much she smoothed it down, it felt unruly.

Maybe it’s just in my head…

Anna, her loyal maid, patiently reassured her each time, though she knew Dorothy’s hair looked no different than usual.

The reason for Dorothy’s anxiety was simple: her eldest brother, Gilbert Lion Heart.

Dorothy stopped fussing with her hair and recalled the events of that day.

 

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