Reincarnated as a Genius Prodigy of a Prestigious Family - Chapter 302

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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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Reincarnated as a Legendary Talent Genius of a Noble Family Episode 302

194. It’s Definitely Not Because of the Tart

Priscilla sighed.

She had a bitter taste in her mouth.

Until now, she had been secretly meeting someone while knowing it was wrong.

The seniors had done the same.

It was the logic that since the Theology Department would become priests or knights immediately upon graduation, they should enjoy themselves to the fullest beforehand.

But now that she had made up her mind to walk that path, she could no longer do such things.

“Dorian.”

Dorian was certainly a good person.

Someone who always stepped forward for difficult tasks and thought of them as his own.

Even if he fell behind Leila and Dane in terms of combat power, he was more than reliable enough.

So, honestly, she had given it a lot of thought.

Should she abandon the path of priesthood even now?

But it didn’t seem possible.

Not only the numerous high priests of the Grand Temple whom she called old men, but also the students of the Theology Department looked up to her.

Her innate divine power.

Due to that talent, she was expected to be the one who would shoulder the Empire’s Holy Church in the future.

Such were the expectations toward Priscilla Neriel.

“Sigh.”

What could she do about it now?

It was only brief, but it had been enjoyable.

The past year, that is.

Meeting that fellow called Dane Sogress, meeting his friends, and going on adventures she never could have imagined.

“I should prepare to become a priest.”

Now there were 2 years left until graduation.

Though it was said to be 2 years, after 1 year she would receive an early assignment to the Grand Temple and begin walking the path of a true priest.

Then, not only marriage, but romance would be impossible as she would have no freedom unlike before.

An ascetic lifestyle would be a given… and despite it not fitting her personality, she would have to give blessings with a loving and peaceful face.

But what could she do?

That’s what she was born with.

From birth, she had been told constantly without rest that she must devote herself to the divine.

“It’s a bit regrettable.”

Priscilla recalled the past year.

There had been many interesting things.

My goodness, to experience such adventures.

Meeting demons, visiting the dwarven underground city, encountering unbelievable beings, and among all these things, meeting the most unbelievable fellow called Dane…

And also meeting a man named Dorian who made her briefly consider her future.

“Sigh.”

It was when Priscilla was sighing and steeling her resolve.

“What are you doing?”

“Dane.”

Dane appeared inside the elevator that had just opened.

“You’re early? I thought you’d be at the training ground until late.”

“Yeah. I came because I have something to do today.”

Dane, who said that, asked.

“We’re going on an expedition this weekend, do you have time?”

“An expedition? I have plans this weekend…”

“It’s a day trip. It’s called the Del Orno Ruins, not far from here.”

As Dane told his story, she heard the word ‘demon’ mentioned.

“…Demon?”

“To be precise, demonic energy. This pendant reacted to demonic energy. And it apparently came from those ruins.”

“It smells a bit.”

“Right?”

Priscilla was startled for a moment.

The interest she showed without realizing it.

Her mouth reflexively reacting to the word ‘expedition’.

‘Really, me too.’

She must have been influenced at some point.

By this interesting group, that is.

“Anyway, you’re going.”

“Uh, y, yes.”

Right, this would be the last time.

She would tell them after returning.

About withdrawing from the club and having decided to walk the path of priesthood.

“But… is Dorian going too?”

“He should be, right? I haven’t asked him yet though.”

“I see.”

“Why?”

“Oh, no. It’s nothing.”

Priscilla quickly changed the subject.

“But didn’t you say you came early because you had something to do?”

“Something to do? This.”

“Huh?”

“Asking you to come on the expedition together.”

“Ah…”

Dane chuckled at Priscilla’s dazed reaction and headed toward his room.

“Well then, I’m going.”

“Yeah.”

Click.

The door closed, and Priscilla sighed again while running her hand through her hair.

Her heart was already racing at the word expedition.

“Sigh. At this rate…”

Wouldn’t it become even harder to tell them?

But this really was the last time.

Really…

It had to be the last time.

I somehow managed to get Priscilla to join the expedition party.

This was the best I could do.

I couldn’t stop her from withdrawing from the club, nor could I prevent her from leaving.

She still seemed to be conflicted, but I couldn’t make the choice for her.

What happened after would be up to them – whether Dorian could change her mind, or whether Priscilla would decide for herself.

“Now then…”

Should I go take a look at this fellow called Benatio?

When I asked Dorian, he said he had helped with the ‘confession’.

Dorian was from the Combat Department.

So I wondered how they had met since they had no particular connection, but apparently Dorian had put up an advertisement in the central plaza.

“Is that mission really true?”

At this point, I’m starting to doubt its authenticity.

They say it’s counterintelligence, but isn’t this quite elaborate?

When I think about it, there’s no way someone as important as the Emperor would give an order to ‘find out what Dane Sogress likes.’

He’d just call me over, sit me down, and either persuade or threaten me.

The Emperor I’ve seen would do exactly that – he’s not the type to subtly coax people around.

Therefore, I found myself questioning as I recalled the day Benatio got caught by Chiron while spying on me at the training ground.

The counterintelligence evidence and orders found in his pocket that day.

Was that really genuine?

“It’s too sloppy, even for something sloppy.”

At this point, I suspect he just dropped it on purpose.

Counterintelligence indeed.

Back then I didn’t suspect anything because it was too clumsy, but now doubts are starting to arise one by one.

The way he persistently hovers around, and the meaningless things he says when approaching me during lectures.

Natural patience.

“What could it really be?”

If he really is counterintelligence, he’d be carrying out the Emperor’s mission, but is that really his actual mission?

I was walking across the academy grounds thinking these thoughts when—

“Student Dane Sogress?”

It was definitely late after sunset, but I heard someone calling me, so I turned my head to look…

“There’s an express delivery for student Dane Sogress, so I came to find you.”

It was an Academy delivery person.

Just how do they know where to find me?

If you were to pick the most mysterious and puzzling things at the Academy, these people would definitely be in the top five.

“Express delivery, you say…”

“The sender is the Imperial Palace.”

The Imperial Palace.

For me, who was just thinking about Benatio with suspicion, this is quite coincidental timing.

“Here, just sign this delivery confirmation.”

It’s probably not a bomb.

I signed first and accepted the package.

Actually, calling it a package is an understatement – you’d believe it if someone said it was a case for storing precious gems or relics.

And the surface stamped with the Imperial Palace’s wax seal.

“Well then, I’ll be going.”

In the meantime, the delivery person disappeared like the wind, and I, left alone, moved to a different spot.

“Express delivery from the Imperial Palace.”

There’s no room for doubt.

Surely the Emperor wouldn’t send me explosives.

Connecting it with the counterintelligence matter from earlier makes it feel a bit complicated, but whatever.

Rip.

I boldly tore off the seal and opened the lid.

And I came face to face with it.

My absolute favorite food in the world.

“It’s a tart.”

A strawberry tart, no less.

The appearance, gold leaf, and crispy edges that make your mouth water just looking at them.

“This is no joke.”

Sorry to Leila, but this looks much more delicious than what was served at Duke Termion House’s party.

That’s why suspicion crept in.

The Imperial Palace – meaning His Majesty the Emperor – sent this…

What’s the intention?

Simple goodwill?

Obviously not.

“Hmm.”

But I can’t exactly return or throw away a gift sent by His Majesty the Emperor himself.

That would be a crime of impiety regardless of my talent and status.

If I mess up, not only me but my family could suffer damage too.

Absolutely, absolutely not – I’m not eating this tart right here on the spot just because it looks delicious.

“Mm. Mmm.”

And a short while later.

I licked my lips while looking at the now-empty case.

To think I devoured it in an instant.

“Maybe I should have saved some for my sisters.”

No.

Since His Majesty the Emperor personally sent this via express delivery, it’s right that I eat it all myself.

It’s definitely not because I was being greedy.

“But still… if it was express delivery rather than sending someone separately to bestow it…”

Such questions arose amid all this.

Then he chose a secretive method.

At this point, I’m not sure.

“I’ll have to watch a little longer.”

For now, I ate it as the Emperor intended.

So it’s time to wait a bit.

That Benatio fellow watching me from afar over there.

I need to watch a little longer to see how that guy will act.

No matter how I look at it, his mission doesn’t seem to be finding out what I like.

If that were the case, he could just write ‘likes strawberry tarts very much’ and be done with it.

Surely the Emperor wouldn’t give such ridiculous orders.

I shook my head and got up from my seat.

“I should prepare for the expedition.”

Benatio will continue following me around anyway.

For now I’ll let him do as he intends, but he’s someone I can subjugate anytime.

So I’ll leave him be for now.

It’s definitely not because of the tart.

“Is this right?”

Benatio was troubled.

He had heard the story from the counterintelligence captain.

Soon, His Majesty the Emperor’s gift would be bestowed upon Dane Sogress.

A special order to confirm his reaction, then record everything without omission and submit a report.

He did record everything without omission.

It’s just that he wonders if this is right.

“He inhaled it so unsuspectingly like that?”

Of course, since it’s food bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor, he should act that way even if it contained garbage, but…

“Could he possibly know I’m watching?”

He eats it deliciously ‘as if showing off.’

And right there on a bench not far from where he received the express delivery.

Normally, if it’s a gift from His Majesty the Emperor, you’d open it somewhere quiet or undisturbed.

“No matter how I look at it, this is strange.”

Dane Sogress is special.

No, he’s beyond special—he’s a talent unlike any before.

So his way of thinking must be different too.

“He doesn’t seem to be a fellow without manners though.”

No matter how I look at it, I can’t figure it out.

For now, he did write ‘ate it very deliciously,’ but is that really true?

I can’t help but think he might be aiming for something with that response.

Thanks to that, what Dane Sogress likes probably won’t simply come down to strawberry tarts.

His Majesty the Emperor gave direct orders.

But I can’t exactly respond to those orders by saying that, as it turns out, Dane Sogress seems to like strawberry tarts the most.

“This really is an unusual mission.”

How else would I be harboring doubts I’ve never once had in all my missions until now?

The Intelligence Agency is a group that simply does what they’re told.

For me, the ace of such a group, to harbor these kinds of doubts.

‘I can’t get a read on him at all.’

Indeed, what does he really like?

Should I at least make abstract guesses?

“Even his eating of that tart seems like he’s deliberately showing it off.”

Could he have possibly noticed that I’m watching him?

That can’t be.

I’m a professional at stealth.

I’ve honed my stealth arts beyond that of most assassins.

“I’ll have to keep watching him for now.”

I’ll hold off on winning over those around him one by one to extract information.

Because Dorian’s confession failed.

On one hand, fortunately, even though Dorian failed, he did give him an outing permit saying he worked hard, but that would make it harder to approach him further.

‘I’ll think about the next target slowly… For now, I should focus on academy life while keeping watch over Dane Sogress.’

Currently, I’m a mid-term transfer new student in the Swordsmanship Department.

I must stay faithful to that identity.

Only then will I be able to faithfully carry out my mission too.

I haven’t earned Dane Sogress’s suspicion yet, so I just need to investigate him step by step.

Anyway, these misunderstandings that weren’t quite misunderstandings were steadily piling up.

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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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