The Teacher of Budding Villains Suffers Today, Too - Chapter 83

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 83
Rachel’s footsteps carried her toward the Crown Prince Palace. The reason was singular: she had received a letter containing the news that Crown Prince Lucas could perform Mana Operation.
At first, she had doubted the letter. But as she read through it, finding layer upon layer of evidence, her suspicion gradually dissolved.
She wanted to see Lucas as soon as possible. At moments like these, she could only wish the distance between the Crown Prince Palace and Rachel’s Palace were shorter.
“I’ve come to see the Crown Prince.”
Rachel spoke to an attendant, who answered her with a gentle smile.
“Where might Lucas be at present?”
“Rachel.”
Lucas walked toward her. He appeared somewhat hurried. Rachel beamed and approached him.
“Lucas. I came because I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“Would you come with me to somewhere quieter for a moment?”
Rachel made her request. Without hesitation, he led her to the quiet Garden.
“Lucas. Is it true that…”
Rachel spoke carefully, and Lucas took in her words, his eyes holding hers as if to say he would listen to anything.
“You can perform Mana Operation, can’t you…?”
At Rachel’s cautious question, Lucas did not answer. Instead, he fixed her with an unreadable expression.
“Lucas.”
“The Emperor would gain nothing from knowing this, so I’ve been forced to hide it. I wanted to apologize to you.”
Just as she’d suspected—Lucas quietly confirmed it.
“The Emperor doesn’t yet know that both Theo and I can perform Mana Operation. If he learned the truth, he would surely become more wary of us.”
Rachel understood Lucas’s position well. For that reason, she nodded quietly.
“Can you understand such circumstances?”
“Of course.”
Though she felt a touch of disappointment, it quickly melted away at his honest answer. Rachel regarded him with eyes full of trust.
“By the way, over a hundred people came to the Mana Tower today, I hear.”
“Yes. More and more commoners are arriving, and it’s deeply rewarding. Many of them truly possess the ability to perform Mana Operation as well.”
Rachel spoke with a radiant smile. Lucas gently stroked her cheek and met her gaze.
“How many apprentices have you selected in total so far?”
“Twenty-nine.”
In roughly a week of recruitment, twenty-nine commoner apprentices had been chosen—about four per day, which was quite an impressive pace.
Rachel envisioned the commoner apprentices and imagined their potential. They would surely become great assets to the Empire.
“What have the Emperor and the Nobility said about this?”
Rachel asked carefully.
“It would be a lie to say they approve. There’s still considerable opposition.”
A slight sigh escaped Rachel’s lips at the disappointing news. But Lucas squeezed her hand reassuringly.
“And I’ve been putting considerable effort into resolving the concern you mentioned.”
“The concern I mentioned?”
“You’ve always wanted all the children of the Empire to receive universal education. I intend to raise this matter with the Nobility again.”
“Ah…”
“Don’t worry. I will secure victory no matter what.”
As worry clouded Rachel’s face, Lucas smiled reassuringly.
“A Nobility council will convene soon. I’ll go and refuse to bend on my position. Wish me success.”
Lucas offered her a confident smile. Rachel managed to nod.
* * *
The Nobility council was convened. The one who convened it was none other than Crown Prince Lucas. He summoned the Nobility without disclosing the topic at all.
The Nobility grew tense. Why was Lucas calling upon them? They could not shake the thought that this would certainly bring words unfavorable to their interests.
The Assembly Hall was thick with tension. The Nobility exchanged wary glances and guarded their words. No one could predict what ripples even a single utterance might create.
Lucas, too, was troubled. Because the Emperor—his father—had handled the Nobility clumsily, their power had grown formidable. Once they had tasted such authority, the Nobility had no desire to relinquish those privileges.
‘Where did things go wrong?’
At the founding of Tirnes, the Nobility’s power had never been so great. But as time passed, their strength had grown steadily, until at last it became so considerable that they dared contradict the Emperor’s wishes at every turn.
‘This is something that must be confronted.’
Lucas had no intention of surrendering to them. By any means necessary, he would crush the Nobility’s resistance and voice his convictions.
The Nobility, perhaps reading that resolve, entered the Assembly Hall with grim faces. Lucas regarded them with an expressionless stare.
“The reason I’ve summoned you here today is simple.”
Lucas began to speak slowly.
“To say something you will dislike.”
Lucas spoke candidly and without reservation. The Assembly Hall stirred slightly at his words.
“Building on what was discussed before, I intend to establish Educational Institutions for children throughout the Empire in the near future. Education will have nothing whatsoever to do with social station.”
The moment Lucas finished speaking, the Assembly Hall grew cold as if drenched with ice water.
“I’m not certain what you mean by that….”
Duke Ocklea opened his mouth cautiously. Among those with close ties to the Empress, he was one of the few who remained favorably disposed toward Lucas.
“Exactly as I said. I wish to open a world where not only noble children, but ordinary commoners can acquire knowledge as well.”
“Your Highness! What manner of statement is that?”
Duke Patel raised his voice.
“Setting aside all else, if you establish a new Educational Institution, how do you intend to bear such enormous costs?”
“Those expenses cannot possibly be covered by the taxes we alone pay.”
“Surely… you didn’t summon us merely to shoulder the burden of those funds?”
Duke Hanover asked, his tone growing thoughtful. Lucas merely smiled, as though unbothered.
“Your Highness!”
Duke Bavaria trembled, his frame shaking visibly. As a man of considerable wealth, he would be the first to suffer if the establishment of an Educational Institution proceeded.
“I am opposed to this.”
“I too stand in opposition, Your Highness.”
The Anti-Crown Prince Faction nobles voiced their objections with palpable fervor.
Meanwhile, the Pro-Crown Prince Faction nobles held their tongues. They too had no desire to see gold slip from their own coffers. This was precisely what Lucas had anticipated. What nobleman would willingly pay higher taxes?
“It would be unjust to demand that you simply surrender your wealth without consideration.”
So he understood that.
Fire flickered in the eyes of the Anti-Crown Prince Faction nobles. Yet Lucas’s expression remained serene, which only seemed to provoke their anger further.
“Bear the expense, if such is my command. Then tell me—what is it that you desire?”
Lucas spoke first. What did they want?
A thin, brittle silence followed.
“If there is nothing you desire, I shall take it as such.”
Lucas spoke with perfect composure. At once, Duke Hanover, catching his breath, opened his mouth.
“We are so taken aback that it is difficult to voice our thoughts immediately, but surely there must be some appropriate compensation, Your Highness.”
At Duke Hanover’s words, the other nobles nodded. They too did not know at once what compensation they ought to receive, but neither did they wish to surrender their coin without recompense.
“Then allow me to propose something first.”
As Duke Hanover finished speaking, Lucas opened his mouth. In his gaze there was no emotion to be discerned.
“War with Anareo draws near.”
War. That single word carried immense weight. The nobles stiffened instinctively. The war between Tirnes and Anareo had long loomed like an unresolved task.
Yet the Crown Prince himself was the one broaching the subject. The nobles could not ease their tension.
“To those who contribute funds, I shall grant preferential access to Logging Rights and Mining Rights in Anareo.”
Logging Rights and Mining Rights. The nobles stared at Lucas without blinking. Anareo’s vast forests and gold of the highest purity—these two things meant wealth beyond measure.
“I hope this gives you some inclination to cooperate with me.”
Lucas smiled toward the nobles. In that smile lay an undeniable sense of victory.

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