On My First Day Undercover, the Organization Collapsed - Chapter 173
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Organization Collapsed on My First Day of Infiltration Episode 173
A Special Guest, A Special Proposal (1)
The festa had passed its third day and entered the fourth and final day.
The end of the festa had finally arrived.
The popularity of the Sword School festa had reached its peak.
Barrier Breaker.
Blade Challenge.
And Labyrinth Exploration.
The performance ‘Flower of the Sword’ was the best among them all.
“Ugh! In the end, I couldn’t see it even once during the entire three days…”
“They’re doing it three times today! But I couldn’t buy tickets! They sold out right in front of me!”
“Will they do it next year too? What if this year is the end?”
In the end, those who couldn’t buy tickets even on the last day swallowed their tears of regret, while those who managed to get tickets rejoiced as if they owned the world.
The rumors had already spread far and wide.
Even today, countless people had camped in front of the Academy since morning to reserve performance tickets!
But today was the final performance.
And it was also the day when there would be a ‘special performance’ for the last showing, requested by the students.
And early in the morning.
Ziel was meeting with Berhal.
Berhal had simply given a pure morning greeting.
However, he was quite shocked by the response that came back along with the greeting.
“What? You invited who to the class?”
“The Knight Order of the Rihart Family.”
“Uh… that is to say…”
“It was a proposal from Daren Rihart Family Head.”
“…”
How on earth?
He had won over the Kundel Family Knight Order, but now the Rihart Family too?
“So we’re planning to have all the first years receive training.”
“I, I see. The first year students will be happy…”
“Yes. Originally, I was planning to conduct the guest classes only for students taking my course, but if one more knight order supports us, it seems all the first years will be able to attend the classes.”
“…Are you planning to take first place in next year’s exchange tournament?”
“I haven’t thought about it separately yet, but hearing what you’re saying now, it’s possible.”
“Hah….”
Just how far ahead was Teacher Ziel looking?
‘At this rate, the greatest class year in history will be born….’
No, maybe it had already been born?
The achievements this year’s First Years had produced were tremendous.
When they became Second Years and their skills improved even more, it was unimaginable what would happen.
Thinking about how the current Second Years and Third Years would be compared until graduation was almost pitiful.
“That… no.”
Berhal swallowed back what he was about to say.
Since they were inviting him anyway, he had thought about asking if he could guide the other years too, but he couldn’t bring himself to raise his fork.
After all, weren’t these results that Teacher Ziel had achieved?
To propose it under the pretext of year development, Ziel’s achievements so far were too great.
But this wasn’t the end.
“And there’s one more piece of news to deliver.”
“What is it?”
Berhal was greatly shocked by the answer that followed.
After being unable to respond for a long time, he finally managed to open his mouth.
“…Who’s coming?”
“His Imperial Highness Prince Dietrich Valdrain.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Truly?”
“Yes.”
Was this what dizziness felt like?
‘His Imperial Highness is coming here? To watch the performance?’
The Exchange Tournament opening declaration was fine since it was an official event.
Coming to the Festa was the first time this had ever happened.
No, since this Academy itself was established by the Imperial Family, strictly speaking it wasn’t that strange, but…
“Is there no… other reason?”
“There is.”
That’s right!
There’s no way he’s just coming to watch the performance.
‘His Imperial Highness seems to have been making various moves lately, is this part of his political maneuvering?’
“He said he’s coming to see me.”
“…”
Why is that an even bigger reason!
“Teacher Ziel, this won’t do.”
“Are you saying His Imperial Highness Prince Dietrich Valdrain shouldn’t come?”
“Well, of course… Ah, no! Rather than that, Teacher Ziel has already signed the contract! You’re an official teacher!”
Berhal cried out in anguish.
It was clear.
The Prince was coming to make another offer to Ziel!
‘He’s a persistent person. Well, the Valdrain blood doesn’t go anywhere!’
During his time as Imperial Knight Commander.
How many times had he experienced the First Prince’s stubbornness!
He would constantly come asking to be taught swordsmanship, so Ziel would scold him, and sometimes even risk danger to get angry at him, but it never worked at all.
‘What conditions is he bringing this time to try to tempt me…’
“There was no such talk. He just sent a letter saying he’s coming to see me.”
“…Do you believe those words, Teacher Ziel?”
“That’s what was written in the letter, so I’m just telling you as it is.”
“Oh my…”
“And what you’re worried about won’t happen.”
Ziel reassured Berhal.
While Berhal nodded for now, his anxiety wouldn’t easily disappear.
‘If I were the Dean, I really would have given him everything.’
In fact, an official teaching position plus incentives and snack allowance was the best they could promise at this point!
Anything more would require overturning every regulation, and there would be severe backlash from existing faculty.
“Really, Teacher Ziel?”
“Yes. I’ll remain at the Academy.”
Grab!
Berhal grabbed Ziel’s hand.
“You absolutely cannot leave.”
“Yes.”
“Without Teacher, our Sword School will collapse!”
“I see.”
“Not ‘I see’ – I’m being serious!”
“I understand. So I’ll let go of your hand.”
Ziel pulled his hand away.
“Prince Dietrich Valdrain will be invited to the final performance.”
“Mm-hmm. I see. Understood. I’ll go too.”
Berhal made a resolution.
He would stick by Ziel’s side no matter what when that time came.
He felt he could only be at ease if he could at least eavesdrop on whatever conversation those two would have.
“Oh, and… I heard the story. You came up with an amazing idea together with Professor Emeric from the Arcane School, right? About the black market tickets.”
“Ah, yes. Today we caught 30 ticket scalpers and confiscated 138 black market tickets.”
“That’s incredible, absolutely incredible.”
“We didn’t catch them all.”
“Even that much is incredible. Well, there was a bit of commotion… but you caught those scoundrels who needed to be locked up, so you did very well.”
“Thank you.”
“Mm-hmm. Thanks to that, today should be a bit more comfortable. The word has spread completely.”
“No. This morning we also caught 5 more people suspected of being ticket scalpers.”
“Those persistent bastards. Anyway, thanks to Teacher Ziel and Professor Emeric, we’ve discovered a good method.”
“Yes. Professor Emeric Kent suggested we sell the idea.”
“Oh.”
Ziel accepted that proposal.
On the condition that Emeric would handle it himself.
Ziel wasn’t interested anyway.
“With that, he talked about providing a ticket scalping detection service to famous theater troupes in the capital.”
“That sounds like it has business potential. Are you participating too, Teacher?”
“No. I just decided to sell the idea. Professor Emeric Kent said he would give me a share.”
Berhal was a little surprised.
“Professor Emeric Kent seems to owe Teacher Ziel a great deal. Seeing how he goes out of his way to inform and give him such things.”
“Is that so.”
“Yes. Ordinary people would just start their business and not pay for the idea.”
“Hmm. Professor Emeric Kent did say once that his realm improved thanks to me.”
“…Whatever help you provided, it must have been tremendous for a mage.”
He had already heard that Arcane School was turned completely upside down.
Along with rumors that Professor Emeric had temporarily taken charge of the third years, a symbol of power.
‘Wait, if this continues… how many people will Teacher Ziel have backing him?’
He thought Teacher Ziel had just dealt a proper blow to Arcane School.
But to go beyond that and turn them completely into his allies.
‘Scary, so scary. Pretending otherwise while pulling everyone to his side… This kind of person should be in politics. No wait, no! He should stay at the Academy!’
Anyway, Berhal once again realized Ziel’s greatness today.
“Well then, I’ll be going. It’s performance time now.”
And so Ziel headed to the performance hall again.
Throughout the entire festa, he had watched the students’ performances without missing a single one.
And today was the day of the final three performances.
“Amazing! That was really cool!”
“I love you Celiaaaa!”
“Delev! Delev! Look over here!”
“Quantus winked!”
Both the morning and afternoon performances were successful.
The audience was ecstatic and their popularity reached its peak.
Despite the measures taken, scalpers continued to be caught and people were still being stopped at the entrance – proof of just that.
“Come on! It’s the last one, just let us in!”
“That’s not allowed.”
“Damn it! When will we see this again! Just let us in!”
Even those high-ranking nobles who supposedly valued their dignity were making a scene.
Of course, those nobles were dealt with without the Academy side even needing to step in.
“You could just buy tickets legitimately and enter, couldn’t you?”
“Fa, Family Head!”
“This is where the children are performing. Stop making a fuss and leave.”
“…Yes, I apologize.”
It was precisely the student parents.
They would glance at the face of whoever was causing trouble and send out the right person, and if that didn’t work, Amos or Daren would step in.
Or it would be sufficiently handled by Olton’s side, who now firmly believed they were all in the same boat.
“It’s finally gotten quiet, Family Head. Haha.”
“Olton Sopen Family Head. But why have you been sitting next to me since yesterday?”
“Well, this is the closest spot…”
“Move away a bit. You’re disgusting.”
“Yes.”
Now they were just one step away from a perfect ending.
Only the final performance remained.
Unlike the past three days, the final performance was additionally scheduled for the evening!
“By the way, what’s with those front seats? Why are they being kept empty?”
“That’s what I’m saying. It’s quite a spacious area…”
There was one spot that all the audience members who had rushed in right after admission started today had been eyeing.
The very front row.
It was the seat with the best view of the stage.
“Is someone supposed to come?”
“Come on, everyone who’s coming is already here. And aren’t all the Family Heads of Kundel and Rihart over there?”
“Then what, are His Imperial Highness or His Imperial Majesty coming?”
It was just as one noble was snorting with derision.
“L-look there…”
“Oh my!”
“Good heavens!”
As if it were a prophecy-
“Clear the way! The Imperial procession approaches!”
A special guest had arrived.
The very person who had sent a letter to Ziel.
Dietrich Valdrain.
The 2nd Prince of the Valdrain Empire.
“Why on earth would His Imperial Highness come here…?”
“Shh! Keep it down!”
Most of the audience was flustered.
Some people were shocked.
Others were so stunned they couldn’t even speak.
Festa.
They never expected him to come watch a performance, not just give an opening speech like at the previous Exchange Tournament!
Of course, about two people just bowed their heads without any particular change in expression.
It wasn’t because they were calm.
They already knew.
‘I didn’t think he’d actually come.’
‘Did he come because of Teacher Ziel?’
Amos and Daren.
They had been informed, having already gone through that long ‘eve festival’ together.
Of course.
‘Th-these two seem to know, but why didn’t I?’
This was news to Olton.
“This way, Your Highness.”
“Mm. The best seat indeed.”
“It seems the Sword School prepared it in advance.”
“Tell Teacher Ziel I’m grateful.”
“…Uh, to the Sword School?”
“No. To Teacher Ziel. Make sure to tell him that.”
“Ah, understood.”
He didn’t quite understand why he should specifically mention Ziel and convey gratitude when it was the Sword School that prepared the seat…
‘His Highness still hasn’t given up.’
Relio immediately understood the intention.
And he felt sorry.
‘At this rate, he’ll really become an icon of rejection.’
To think that despite his princely dignity, he still couldn’t let go after being rejected multiple times by the same person!
‘If you save that heart of yours and use it on a woman later, you’ll surely achieve your goal, Your Highness.’
But these were words he couldn’t bring himself to say out loud.
“It’s starting.”
In the midst of all this, the performance was about to begin.
The final performance.
As dusk settled, the stage with the beautiful setting sun behind it!
Boom!
A thunderous sound announcing the beginning.
And-
“Ooh!”
“The opening is different!”
This time was different from the performances of the past three days.
Like the invisibility magic from the first performance, this time-
Whoosh!
Flames erupted.
Flames that covered the entire stage!
“It’s fine, Sir Relio.”
Relio, who had urgently tried to block the way, stepped back sheepishly.
The flames weren’t hot.
“This is… an illusion created by magic.”
That’s right.
It was an illusion.
A fire illusion that Emeric created at Ziel’s request!
A sea of fire that filled the stage.
Above it-
“It begins!”
“Ooh!”
The First Years and Gilbert, who had been hidden behind invisibility magic, appeared.
The final performance by a total of 101 people had finally begun.
Whoosh!
Swords were swung-
Swish!
Everyone held their breath with each thrust.
Those who had seen it several times, those seeing it for the first time, and even the Prince felt moved.
Mortis, who had been involved since the preparation of this performance, also nodded.
‘This is it, this is it. Perfect until the very end… This is one of my masterpieces. No wait, is it Teacher Ziel’s masterpiece?’
Perfect art performed by students wearing performance costumes he had designed!
This was truly the art he had been pursuing.
‘Should I completely change the direction of my next collection?’
While Mortis fell into serious contemplation, Dietrich forgot his dignity and stood with his mouth agape.
‘This is… a different kind of shock from Imperial Palace performances…’
Imperial Palace performances.
He had watched them countless times since childhood.
It wasn’t that they lacked inspiration.
He was amazed every time.
But this amazed the Prince in a different way.
Perhaps because it was performed by children his own age.
A corner of his heart seemed to stir.
‘If I had also entered the Academy…’
In impossible imagination, Dietrich felt envy.
Envy he could never reveal in front of others.
Though he had enjoyed many things as a Prince, that unfulfilled desire was unfolding on that stage.
Whoosh!
And this time, fire ignited on the swords.
He had seen it several times during his street patrols.
That very trick where wandering performers coated their swords with oil and set them on fire.
But the students’ performance was even more beautiful.
“I heard the previous performance was like mana swords. Looking at people’s expressions, this ‘Fire Sword’ seems more beautiful.”
Dietrich nodded at Relio’s whisper.
Could there be a more beautiful sight than this?
The fire sword dance performed by the students sparkled brilliantly through the falling and scattering sunset.
‘Is this youth?’
A sword dance performed without a single error!
And after Gilbert’s solo sword dance, when they finally reached the end.
“Perfect.”
Dietrich stood up as if he had been waiting and applauded.
Along with him, the other audience members poured out tremendous applause and cheers.
“It was the best performance of my life!”
“Amazing! Sword School is the best!”
“Yon! It’s Father! Look over here!”
“Quantus! Hahaha! That’s my son!”
The cheers and applause that mixed together chaotically covered the performance hall, beyond the Sword School event area, and even to the Academy.
A performance that was truly perfect until the very end!
Dietrich finally made his decision.
‘I should make a different proposal today.’
“Sir Relio.”
“Wooooah! Amazing! Your Highness, Your Highness! Did you see that!”
“…”
He was about to ask solemnly when he saw Relio cheering, leaving him speechless.
A moment later.
“Did you call me?”
“Yes. I called you.”
“Ah, I’m sorry. I was completely absorbed in the performance…”
“No. It was a performance worth getting absorbed in. So what I wanted to say is…”
Relio doubted his ears at the words that followed.
“C-could you say that once more?”
The corners of Dietrich’s mouth turned up.
Seeing his surprise, it really was an amazing proposal.
“I asked how about putting that performance on the Imperial Stage.”
“….”
Now Relio was completely speechless.
“What do you mean so suddenly….”
“Isn’t it incredible. It would definitely captivate the attention of the Imperial Court Members.”
This was a pure proposal.
This enormous desire to show it to others because he was so deeply moved!
Of course, there was also a slight mix of courtship toward Ziel.
And there was also some political intention in it.
Precisely an opportunity to make an Inscription of his existence on the Imperial Court Members.
However, it wasn’t a proposal solely for himself.
‘If they just complete the performance, the status of Sword School and the First Years, as well as Teacher Ziel, would rise too.’
If it unfolds just like that, it would be a Stage that could perfectly captivate even the Imperial Court Members and more!
In other words.
It was also an opportunity to raise their presence and the status of Various Families.
“If not now, it seems like there won’t be another opportunity.”
“But Your Highness, whether the Imperial Family will accept….”
Unlike Relio, Dietrich had confidence.
“Isn’t that right. Now that we’ve solved Siren’s problem and gained the Imperial Family’s trust….”
It was precisely the justification.
“Isn’t this the right time to propose to His Imperial Majesty?”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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