Reincarnated as a Genius Prodigy of a Prestigious Family - Chapter 165

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Reincarnated as a Legendary Talent Genius of a Noble Family Episode 165

110. Truly Befitting of Sogress (2)

Imperial Chief Clerk Hank.

In charge of all Imperial events, he hoped today would pass safely as well.

The Emperor had an unpredictable temperament, prone to rage at any time for any reason. This tendency had grown stronger since the war ended.

So Hank always prepared events with the utmost, utmost care for such an Emperor.

Today’s audience ceremony was no different.

Of all times, the heirs of Duke Termion House and Count Sogress were coming.

So he had prepared the audience ceremony excluding all elements that might displease the Emperor…

‘Life, really…’

Who would have thought the Emperor would act like that from the start.

What was bothering him?

Was it the formal wear? Or the timing of entry? Or perhaps this morning’s breakfast wasn’t good?

Amid all sorts of thoughts, Hank had an intuition.

Today’s audience ceremony wouldn’t be easy.

Perhaps…

Something big might happen.

“Speak.”

It was then that Dane opened his mouth amid the Emperor’s heavy voice.

“This audience might be an opportunity for His Majesty the Emperor to see our two houses anew.”

Everyone was inwardly surprised by Dane’s confident yet calm words.

But it was still too early to be surprised.

“See anew?”

“That’s right. We didn’t come here because we committed wrongdoing.”

How many people could speak so fearlessly before the Emperor?

Even any of the retainers here would find it difficult to remain so composed when standing before the Emperor.

But Dane Sogress was doing just that.

A mere 14-year-old Academy freshman.

“You didn’t come because of wrongdoing… So the rebellion your house showed me has no reason to be mentioned now, is that it?”

But the Emperor soon began to entrap him. It was the Emperor’s specialty.

Using his authority to crush opponents while catching and shaking their words.

“That’s not the case. I am Dane Sogress, heir of Count Sogress. That fact won’t change even in death.”

An answer continuing amid the piercing tension.

Dane continued his next words without hesitation.

“However… I don’t want to ruin today’s joyous occasion that His Majesty the Emperor has prepared because of such matters, so I speak thus.”

The Emperor looked at Dane at those words-

And burst into laughter.

“Continue your report.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Dane’s voice continued without any change in tone.

“Perhaps today’s audience might become an opportunity for His Majesty the Emperor to release some of your anger about past events.”

“Expectation… You expected my anger would be appeased by ‘merely’ such things?”

“If it could be appeased even slightly, I thought that alone would be sufficient. I too don’t think Your Majesty’s anger would be fully appeased by this much.”

The Emperor tilted his head.

Why wasn’t that fellow trembling?

By now, regardless of logic, he should at least be stuttering or have his voice shaking…

There was no such sign at all.

‘Is this because he’s from Count Sogress?’

Had Count Sogress given him some hint before coming here?

But even so, the one standing before him wasn’t Count Sogress but Dane Sogress.

So his interest grew more and more.

“Therefore, I hope this audience will be the beginning.”

“Beginning… You mean reconciliation?”

“That’s right.”

“Ha.”

The Emperor looked at Dane and asked.

“Why do you think so?”

Emperor Danter VIII expected this kind of answer.

Well, because reconciliation would be better.

But Dane’s answer was different.

“Because the Empire must be one.”

The Empire must be one.

The moment he heard those words-

The Emperor finally burst into laughter.

“Hahahaha…”

This time it was laughter with a slightly different meaning.

And the retainers who heard such laughter for the first time were flustered.

Had the Emperor ever laughed like that?

‘He’s laughing…’

‘It doesn’t seem like mad laughter…’

‘Dane Sogress, what a bold fellow.’

The Emperor continued laughing for quite a while after that.

As if he would use up all the laughter of his lifetime today.

Meanwhile, the retainers thought.

The Empire must be one.

Why the Emperor was laughing at these words.

Emperor Danter VIII stopped laughing at some point.

And asked.

“The Empire must be one… Would you explain the meaning of those words?”

The meaning of those words.

Dane looked at the Emperor for a moment and finally opened his mouth.

“The war has ended, but the war isn’t completely over. The Empire is an entity that will always face challenges.”

“Challenges… You mean we’re not prosperous enough to prevent even challenges?”

“Only the strong can receive challenges.”

Dane now answered confidently without being overwhelmed even by Emperor Danter VIII’s characteristic word-catching.

“So the Empire is prosperous. The more prosperous it becomes, the more constant challenges it receives. The Drenik Empire was like that, and the secret society recently discovered was like that. Of course, such challenges will continue in the future.”

The Emperor gestured with his hand as if to continue.

“So the Empire must become one. To not crumble before any challenge, we must join forces. Next time, stronger challengers will emerge, and the Empire must stand firm against them.”

He was declaring that the Empire must become one.

A mere 14-year-old boy.

No one had expected this.

“And the process of becoming one requires reconciliation, and I hope today’s audience will be that very opportunity.”

Everyone couldn’t help but be amazed by the words flowing like clear water.

Some retainers were so shocked their mouths hung open.

Even Hank, who had been watching, no longer showed his anxious expression and stared blankly at Dane.

“Haha…”

Emperor Danter VIII finally nodded.

“So this is why my son praised you endlessly.”

Emperor Danter VIII recalled his recent conversation with his son, Edward Danter.

Edward had said then.

Dane Sogress.

A talent who will play a great role in the Empire in the future.

Emperor Danter VIII is very suspicious. In fact, all emperors are like that. So he didn’t trust his son’s words until he saw for himself.

But-

Now it seems he can trust him.

That fellow called Dane Sogress.

“That was an excellent answer, Dane Sogress.”

“I am deeply honored, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor finally smiled slightly.

“Everyone, raise your heads.”

Everyone raised their heads.

And the Emperor, looking around at them, spoke.

“From now on, I shall bestow rewards upon those who subjugated monsters this year and caught forces threatening the Empire.”

At those words, Hank could finally feel relieved.

Today’s audience ceremony…

Along with the thought that it would end without any major incidents.

* * *

The award ceremony began.

The rewards for the subjugation came first.

The promised crowns were delivered to us in pouches that looked equally valuable.

Originally, the award ceremony was supposed to be held at the Academy, but since we exposed the secret society during this subjugation, we ended up receiving them together for that reward.

“Furthermore, I grant you the authority to enter the Imperial Treasury.”

Here was my reward.

The treasury access pass I earned by taking first place in the individual category.

When I asked Hank before coming to the audience, he said I just need to go in and pick out whatever I want.

Well, I can think about that when the time comes.

What’s more important are the things that will happen from now on.

“Next are the rewards for detecting rebel forces during this subjugation. Dane Sogress of Sogress County assisted His Highness the 3rd Prince in detecting the force called the ‘Secret Society.’ Its ringleader was the Department Head of the Magic Department at the Imperial Academy…”

Chief Clerk Hank explained what had happened during this subjugation.

“Huh, rebellion you say.”

“To think such forces existed within the Empire…”

“They tried to threaten the Empire by inciting monsters! How wicked!”

Gasps erupted, and some were enraged.

As if aiming for this reaction, Hank seemed to deliberately pause his words here and there.

“…Thus, the Empire has decided to execute those identified as the secret society and imprison their ringleader indefinitely in the underground prison. Furthermore, His Majesty the Emperor has personally ordered rewards to be given to Dane Sogress of Sogress County, who helped expose these forces.”

And now came ‘our’ achievements that would follow.

I couldn’t hide my joy.

“Belonging to His Highness the 3rd Prince’s ‘direct unit,’ the ‘Magic Summoning Exploration Spear Swordsmanship’ club, including Dane Sogress, during this subjugation…”

Because our club’s official name was actually mentioned in the Imperial Palace!

I glanced back slightly.

Everyone’s expressions were stiff.

Those guys are happy but too nervous to show it.

“…the point of providing tactical turning points, the point of courageously infiltrating the monsters’ camp, the point of subduing the ringleader, the point of making remarkable contributions in finding evidence…”

It seemed Edward had told everything without missing a single detail, as our achievements were introduced one after another-

“Therefore, the Imperial Palace wishes to bestow additional rewards upon those who showed such brave conduct for the Empire.”

Finally, we had rewards right before our eyes.

“First, to the ‘Magic Summoning Exploration Spear Swordsmanship’ club, I bestow 1,000 crown gold coins.”

1,000 crown gold coins.

Before even starting individual rewards, they’re giving us gold coins first.

It’s not a huge amount, but what does the amount of money matter?

“I hope you will continue to work for the Empire’s peace and fulfill your duties as Academy students.”

“We are deeply grateful.”

Naturally, they wouldn’t hand over all 1,000 gold coins as is, so what we received was a pouch with subspace set up, just like before.

By the way, the duties of Academy students.

I don’t know what we should buy to fulfill our duties, but I think we’ll start by buying furniture as Leila wants.

We’ll also invest some in mana stones and buy lots of exploration equipment.

I think that would be fulfilling our duties reasonably well.

In the midst of this, I suddenly made eye contact with the Emperor.

Of course, I wasn’t the one looking at him.

I felt his gaze, so I just rolled my eyes slightly, and he had been looking this way since earlier.

His gaze is strange.

How should I put it…

It’s exactly like my expression when I have a strawberry tart in front of me.

At this moment, I recalled Father and Mother’s advice.

Don’t hide your true feelings.

The person who hates the sound of scheming minds the most is the Emperor.

I faithfully followed those words.

And-

“D-Dane Sogress student. What are you doing right now…”

I plan to follow them now too.

“Please avert your gaze immediately. Why are you meeting His Majesty the Emperor’s gaze…”

A retainer beside me whispered.

Because I was continuing to meet the Emperor’s gaze without avoiding it.

I had never heard Hank say ‘don’t make eye contact with the Emperor.’

Instead of listening to the retainer’s words, I continued to look at the Emperor…

Hank’s voice reciting the rewards also stopped for a moment.

And at this moment, it seemed like only the Emperor and I existed in this space.

Because everyone was holding their breath.

I’m not sure what the result of this action will be.

As always, I think about the results before I act. Because that’s how I can always achieve the best outcomes.

This is the same.

Father and Mother’s advice.

Edward’s advice.

And the Emperor’s behavior I’ve seen so far.

All of those things, combined with my composure, led to this conclusion.

Don’t avoid his gaze.

Indeed, what conclusion will come of this?

“…”

“…”

Unfortunately for the others, amid a silence that felt like eons-

“Interesting.”

Finally, the Emperor opened his mouth again.

The Emperor chuckled.

“To think there would be another person besides Sier who is bold before me.”

Sier would be the Knight Commander of the 1st Imperial Knight Order.

“Chief Clerk.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What was the originally promised reward? The reward to be given to that student, Dane Sogress.”

“It is a set of Imperial armor personally bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor.”

The Emperor stroked his chin at those words, then looked at me and continued speaking.

“It would be nice if there were one more reward befitting that confidence.”

The audience murmured.

A good conclusion.

One more reward.

This was exactly how it felt when Uncle Jis from our Count’s Castle would give us an extra ice treat when buying one.

“Yes, that fellow would be fitting.”

“By that fellow, you mean….”

“‘Chiron.'”

At the mention of ‘Chiron,’ the murmuring grew even louder than before.

“If it’s Chiron….”

“Good heavens. A reward…well, it is fitting.”

“Hmm… His Majesty the Emperor is testing him like this….”

“If it’s that ‘Chiron’… isn’t he a fellow no one dares to challenge anymore?”

What’s got everyone acting like this?

“Dane Sogress, I’ll see if that confidence of yours can be maintained even before ‘Chiron.'”

The Emperor looked at me and grinned.

The face of a mischievous child plotting something amusing.

“He’s quite a rough fellow, so do try your best.”

And soon I would learn about ‘Chiron’s’ true identity.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————