I Got a Fake Job at the Academy

Chapter 732 - Side Story 5: Things You See When You Look Back (3)

Various gardens existed throughout the interior of the Devalk Imperial Palace. The place Rudger had come to was one of them, and it was a good place to have a quiet conversation away from people's eyes.

'Even so, not having anyone to monitor us. I wonder if this is really okay.'

It must be a measure taken knowing that this side had no intention of escaping. Moreover, if they unnecessarily increased the number of watchers, the mouths that could spread rumors outside would increase as well. For security purposes, this was rather the right choice.

At the center of the beautiful garden were chairs and a table for rest. Rudger naturally went and sat in an empty seat.

"You sit down too."

Perhaps because Rudger's attitude was too natural. Flora, who had been watching this with a somewhat flustered gaze, sat down in the opposite seat with a dazed expression. Terina did the same.

"......Somehow, this is different from what I expected."

That was the first thing Flora said after much deliberation.

"What were you expecting?" 

"Well, just, since you're a prisoner, I thought you'd be treated somewhat similarly to a serious criminal, if not exactly the same."

In fact, even similar treatment would have been a luxury. Rudger's epithet was the Prince of the Ruined Nation, and the Demon King.

Whatever his intentions were, he was a central figure who started the Holy War. Even searching through the entire history of the continent, one couldn't find a person with as much influence as Rudger. 

Such a person casually taking walks inside the Empire's palace? It was hard to understand by common sense.

"I was also a bit curious about that myself." 

"......Is it true that you're going to be executed?" 

"Oh my. Has the story already spread that far?" 

"The rumors are already rampant. And I just heard more detailed information through my personal connections. They say you asked to have the execution carried out yourself?" 

"Something like that. Demon King Heathcliff should no longer exist in this world." 

"Why?"

Flora couldn't understand. Rudger Chelici. No, Heathcliff van Bretus. From birth until now, he had only lived within a whirlwind of fate.

The stigma placed on illegitimate children by the Lumensis Order. Flora knew about it too. Because she had similar memories. No, even calling it similar would be an insult to Rudger. The brand carved on his back that she saw that day was far from small.

And considering how old he was when he escaped the Kingdom of Bretus, that brand had been carved since he was much younger. That alone was enough to harbor hatred toward the world.

It was a thought she shouldn't have as Duke Lumos, but as Flora, she couldn't help but sympathize with Heathcliff.

"We need to reveal the truth!" 

"What would change even if we revealed it?" 

"At least people would know why it happened. And there would be people who would defend you." 

"What about those who wouldn't? Those who would insist that what was wrong is wrong, even if placed in such circumstances? You wouldn't be unaware of the conflicts that would create." 

"I think revealing the truth is more important than that."

Rudger let out a small laugh at Flora's stubbornness. She had become emotional in the time he hadn't seen her. No, rather, she had become unrestrained in showing her true self.

"The person right next to you doesn't seem to think that way though."

Rudger asked Terina, who had been listening silently until now.

"What do you think about this claim?" 

"I think the truth should be buried, and Heathcliff should be executed as the Demon King." 

"Ms. Terina!"

Flora stared at Terina with a look that said ‘how could you?’ Of all people, wasn't she a comrade who fought together against the Holy Emperor in the Final Holy War?

"As a Guardian of the Nation, personal feelings don't matter. What I need to do is bring peace and security to the Empire. If we let things slide because we feel sorry, who will bear the catastrophe that follows?" 

"Everyone should endure it. They need to face the truth they turned away from and understand why this happened." 

"Sometimes it's better not to know. And even now, there are protesters outside claiming the Demon King is innocent. And they're having physical clashes with the anti-Demon King faction."

If the truth were revealed here, it wouldn't end as just the Empire's problem. People who say Heathcliff was right and people who say he was wrong would appear everywhere on the continent.

That would lead to endless disagreements and conflicts. In severe cases, violent protests, and even wars.

Even now, editorial cartoons in newspapers depict the current conflict.

"So is it okay for ignorant people to slander and curse him as they please?" 

"It's useless to try to enlighten that ignorance. Even if you tell them the truth, this world is overflowing with people who will turn away from it and refuse to listen to the end."

As a close example, there were the believers of the Lumensis Order. They refused to accept the fact that the Holy Emperor and the Order they believed in were wrong.

What followed was a hard-line response saying this was all the work of heretics. They even committed acts of terrorism, saying those who truly followed those words shouldn't be left alone.

This had continued from three years ago until now.

"People in the world won't believe you just because you tell them the truth." 

"That's their fault then." 

"Right. It's wrong. But do you know what's more dangerous than being wrong? Not being able to accept that you're mistaken."

The believers of the Lumensis Order had lived with faith as their motto, whether big or small. As deep as the religion's history was, there were people who had devoted themselves for more than 10 or 20 years.

To such people, if you tell them overnight that they were wrong and should know the proper truth, would they truly accept it?

"Flora. Stop trying to persuade the people of the world, not everyone is as strong as you." 

"Teacher!"

Perhaps because her emotions were stirred, Flora called Rudger as she used to. It didn't feel too bad, but now wasn't the time to pay attention to that.

"Even if you tell them they've been living wrongly until now, only a very small number will accept it. And among them, even fewer will truly repent."

The majority deny reality. They believe they are right and think the world is wrong. It can't be helped. Because all people are different. Someone who is friendly to one person has no choice but to be hostile to another.

The world was chaotic and complicated. Like tangled threads, people had always endlessly engaged in division and struggle.

"There's no need to increase conflicts here. Rather, burying it quietly is also a method." 

"Is that okay? Aren't you resentful? According to your words, Teacher, humanity has developed this way from the beginning." 

"That's not an incorrect claim either. Conflict and discord don't always produce the worst results. However, this is just my personal wish."

A gentle breeze blew. It was a natural sensation that couldn't be felt in imaginary space.

Rudger, who closed his eyes for a moment to feel that touch, opened them.

"History has been wounded too much. Even if it's an expedient method, I hope we can savor this peace that has been given to us for once." 

"But......you'll be unhappy." 

"Why would I be unhappy?"

Rudger corrected Flora's claim, saying that was a completely wrong thought.

"I'm not unhappy. Someone who thinks of me came to see me, didn't they?" 

"......" 

"And I have no particular attachment to my life as Heathcliff. If I had to say the most important moment in my life, it would definitely be when I lived in Theon."

Rudger looked at Flora with a gentle smile.

"The moment I first met you and taught you." 

"......!"

Flora's shoulders flinched and her cheeks flushed red. Terina, who had been sitting quietly beside her, also let out a "Hmm" sound.

"And the Guardian of the Nation, though she acts this way on the outside, has the same thoughts as you, Flora." 

"......Was I caught?" 

"Because I didn't feel any hostility in your eyes." 

"You told me to act with the bigger picture in mind."

It seemed they had already had some conversation before coming. Flora glared at Terina with a reproachful look. Of course, Terina wasn't weak enough to flinch at such a gaze.

"......Right. As a Guardian of the Nation, I must prevent conflict, but still, he's a comrade who once fought the Holy War together."

"That's enough for me."

Flora sensed that persuasion wouldn't work on Rudger's stubborn attitude. Right, this person was always like this, even when pretending otherwise. Pushing through to the end with what he believed was right.

If that's what Rudger wanted, it would be to push forward with an equally firm conviction. Whether it's wrong or right in public perception, truly believing it's right and putting it into practice.

That was the attitude of the Übermensch (a concept in the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche) that Rudger pursued. Flora understood this intellectually but found it difficult to practice. In the end, she only realized that she couldn't become an Übermensch.

"So what are you planning to do now?" 

"Heathcliff will be executed as the Demon King who started the Holy War. That's what should rightfully happen." 

"Of course, that would be a fake death row inmate who took over the identity of Heathcliff, right?"

Rudger affirmed with a faint smile.

"You grasp the key point well. You've grown a lot." 

"When I first heard you agreed to the execution with your own words, I wondered what on earth that meant. But when I thought about it carefully, it wasn't that."

He agreed to the execution. However, that was for the Demon King as a symbol of evil, not with the genuine intention of dying.

"Will that really work?" 

"Heathcliff's life is nothing but shackles to me. It's not that I have no attachment, but if I can sever it, it's right to do so boldly." 

"Ha. I was going to seriously submit a petition to His Majesty, but I'm the only fool who worries." 

"That's not true."

Rudger stared intently at Flora and said.

"I feel grateful that you came all the way here and worried about me. Your actions were never in vain."

"......That's why I feel like a fool."

Flora stood up from her chair. She turned her head away as if to hide her reddened face.

"Are you leaving?" 

"I've been very busy since becoming a Duke. And, we've talked enough about our reunion." 

"Don't worry. We can continue to meet next time too."

Flora didn't respond and just left. It was a coy action, but Rudger knew it was to hide her embarrassment. More than anything, at the last moment before leaving, there was a smile on her lips that he briefly saw.

"So, are you done with your business too?" 

"Actually, I came for different business." 

"What is it?" 

"Arsène Lupin."

A nostalgic name came from Terina's mouth. Right. There was certainly such a time.

The thief of the century, a criminal that Terina tried to catch but could never catch.

"Oh my. So you came to hold me accountable for that crime?" 

"That was my intention at first. The series of incidents that occurred in Leathervelk were all connected to you. But as time passed, my thinking changed too." 

"Didn't you say you act for the greater good?" 

"By that logic, it's also ridiculous for me to arrest you for something that happened in another country. I just wanted to confirm. Mr. Owner of Royal Street." 

"Huh."

Seeing that she had said this much, it seemed Terina had already settled on her own answer in her heart.

"You've changed Terina Lionhowl." 

"Right. I've changed."

Terina recalled the Holy War. Her subordinates who were controlled by brainwashing. Alex, who sacrificed his life to save her adjutant. Even the other comrades who joined hands and fought against the Holy Emperor.

What is right and what is wrong. Who is justice and who is evil. Even after the Holy War ended, Terina couldn't help but endlessly ponder.

"Demon King Heathcliff, who caused countless incidents in the past, will be executed. But Rudger Chelici won't be because he's an innocent teacher from Theon who has nothing to do with this incident."

Terina had pondered a lot about whether she could say this in front of the person involved. Rather, because of what happened in the past, she thought her resolute personality might work against her.

But when she actually met and conversed with him, contrary to her worries, she even felt refreshed to the point where she felt foolish for having worried until now.

"Thank you for listening."

Terina stood up from her seat with words of gratitude. As she was about to leave, she spoke to Rudger.

"Oh right. My friend Casey told me to definitely convey this message."

Casey Selmore. At the appearance of that nostalgic name, Rudger's eyes showed interest.

"What message?" 

"She wants to see you. Don't run away this time."

Hearing those words, Rudger couldn't hold back and burst into laughter.

"Hahaha. What a persistent young lady."

So persistent that it seemed she still hadn't given up.