Chapter 1455

When Davey came back to his senses, the first thing he saw was the back of a head with silver hair that glowed a faint violet.

He smelled a peach scent and assumed that was what had woken him up.

‘Ah, it's Per.’

His eyelids growing heavy again, he pulled the woman in his arms closer. She stirred uncomfortably, then quieted down.

The events of last night flashed through his mind, and he suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. Illyna and Aeria were also there, fast asleep, hugging his clones like body pillows.

“Davey, if you’re awake, you should let go now.”

“Ah.”

Despite hearing her disgruntled voice, he instead hugged her tighter. “Says who? You’ve gotta wait another hour.”

“...Let go.” Grunting, she turned her body and pushed his face away with her palm. Feeling the movement, the two who had been sleeping soundly slowly woke up as well.

Davey then dispelled the last two clones, got up, and headed to the bathroom.

He stood in the cold water, banging his head against the wall as he muttered that his whole body ached. He knew the burden was heavy, but he couldn’t help but smile.

It was the start of a pretty stiff day. However, being too focused on Troy meant having neglected the affairs of Heins Territory, which was a disservice to its people.

“Here are the budget reports for this time.”

“What happened here? Why so much?”

“That's... it's festival season, so every club requested funding. On top of that, we have faculty salaries, equipment costs, maintenance expenses, and more. Frankly, we're spending far more than we expected. Maybe we can cover it with the donations coming into Heins Academy?”

“No. If we start taking donations like that, the core will rot in an instant. Besides, taking half-hearted donations won’t do us any good.”

“But running it like this means the academy is constantly in the red. It could seriously impact the territory’s operations...”

Heins Academy’s tuition was cheaper compared to other academies. In fact, for some students, the classes were almost free. Even if Heins had more than enough money, that wasn't a sustainable way to plan for the future.

The academy tried to make up for it by placing its graduates with organizations that wanted to hire them and receiving compensation in return. It sounded simple enough, but it wasn't a reliable source of income.

After all, the academy didn't just produce infinite outstanding graduates every year.

“Amy.”

“Yes?”

“Is this the entire annual budget for the academy?”

She hesitated, finally responding, “It’s the monthly budget, sir...”

“I see...”

It seemed relying solely on what Heins Territory produced wouldn't be enough to keep things running.

In the early days, various kingdoms had provided large grants under the pretext of supporting war orphans, but they had no way to know how long that would go on for. He knew he'd have a much bigger problem on his hands once that funding started drying up.

“Your Highness, if I may be so bold, this kind of management isn't good. Other factors aside, Heins Academy is a hugely consumptive business.”

An eyebrow raised as he asked, “Sounds like you’re telling me to raise the tuition?”

“It’s cruel to say, but yes.”

They couldn’t run a school by digging up dirt.

After mulling it over, Davey nodded to himself. “I figured a situation like this would come up someday.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s fine, I’ll think this over. What’s the next item on the agenda?”

“Ah, yes! The Gourmet Research Society has—”

“What?! Again?!”

“Well, actually, they made a really popular product this time. It looks like they’ll earn quite a bit by exporting it overseas and to other territories.”

Davey thought they had caused trouble again, but they had actually done something big.

Yuria Helishana’s skills were certainly reliable.

Amy suggested, “How about we cover this month’s expenses with what they’ve earned?”

“Is it that bad?”

“Savings are a must, Your Highness.”

The territory wouldn't collapse without it, but saving was essential to prepare for the future.

After receiving the reports from Amy, Davey pondered for a long time. Unlike other things that fundamentally have productivity and profits, the Academy tended to consume a lot.

Yet, if he were to change a prestigious academy because of budget issues, it’d be a hit to his pride as well as a headache.

“It should run smoothly for at least a hundred years.”

After Amy left, he continued to think. A little later, the door opened, and Reina peeked her head in. She asked, “Do you have a moment?”

“What is it?”

She strode over and lightly placed her hand on his desk. “Troy.”

“Huh?”

Her gaze seemed unusual. “I heard you created another hero.”

“Uuuh. Yeah, I did, but I won’t demand anything of her. She’s still a kid. There's still at least six more years before she should start doing work.”

Reina was silent.

At that moment, Willow’s words came back to him. He also remembered Reina going crazy because he had received a stigmata from the outer dimension.

‘No way, was she really right?’

Davey looked up at her with an uneasy expression. She then flashed him a bright smile. “Yes, I’ll support it.”

“Huh?”

“However, a hero is a hero, so how about I, the previous one, teach her a thing or two? Would that be alright?”

Hero Reina. She was once called the Hero of Light.

Although she'd lost the overwhelming sword talent she'd once possessed, which kept her from reaching the level of growth Illyna had achieved, she perfected the technique of creating and wielding a light energy sword on her own.

He figured Aris’s ability combined with that would probably create an amazing synergy.

She presented him with a document. “Please approve this.”

“The Protection Department, Graduate Student Recruitment Notice?”

“Yes. This time I’ll teach both your saintess from the outer dimension and the newly born hero.”

Davey felt a chill from her smile. He wasn't sure why she kept using the unsettling term graduate student. He also couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about her, just as Willow had feared.

“You’re not thinking of taking the two of them and working them like the graduate student zombies in the Academy, are you?”

Davey knew how much Josiah Frances had been worked by Archbishop Alice, her supervising professor and superior.

That wasn't all, either. He had once seen Maximus’s younger brother from the Terraria Kingdom walking around the campus in a half-zombie state just weeks after entering the graduate program.

“No way,” she insisted. “I wouldn’t work them like that.”

“Right?”

“I’d work them half to death.”

Davey immediately ripped up the document. “Reina.”

“Yes?”

“Do you want to join the Dean’s Research Lab as a graduate student?”

Her face brightened at the question. “Really?!”

“No...”

That confirmed it. Reina was definitely not mentally stable, in a unique way. She’d probably take them in under the pretext of graduate students and then work them to death for the sake of survival.

That seemed too harsh to do to the young Hero Aris.

* * *

Pallan Empire.

Evangeline O’Rowane was entering the Imperial Palace of Pallan in a special carriage made by Heins Academy.

“Ugh, this is so uncomfortable,” she complained to her mom.

“Very uncomfortable?” Illyna smiled faintly as Evangeline grumbled, tidying up various spots on her dress. “When you enter the banquet, you’ll be wearing something even more uncomfortable.”

“I still think this is ridiculous. We should wear comfortable clothes.”

“Right. I’d like to let you do that too,” Illyna said with a wryly smile. “But this is what high society parties are like. They’re horrible places where you have to smile even when you’re uncomfortable. You were the one who chose to go, right Eva?”

“I didn’t know it’d be like this...”

“Consider it as an experience. Wearing clothes like that is a courtesy to the host.”

Illyna had originally recommended not going because of the hassle, but Evangeline had chosen to attend anyway.

Eva slumped and muttered to herself, “Right... all I can do is hang in there.”

“Welcome. Are you coming from Heins?” the knight guarding the Imperial Palace asked.

Then the butler replied, “Yes, that’s correct.”

“Very well. Please step inside. We will guide you.”

“Did knights originally escort, Boston?”

“Whoa! Your Highness! It’s been a while!” The White Bird knight beamed the moment he saw Illyna. “Your Highness came too?”

Tone lukewarm, she responded, “Well, it’s Eva’s first official event, so I had to be there.”

“Haha, I see.”

“But why is it the White Bird?”

“That... this isn’t really a conversation for here...”

“Is there a problem?”

“The cuckoo sang.”

At that single phrase, her expression hardened. “The cuckoo? Not the kite?”

“Yes.”

They were code words, indicating the topic was not something to be discussed just anywhere.

“Mom, what does it mean that the cuckoo sang?”

“Let’s go inside first. Boston, please keep a good watch.”

“Have a pleasant time, Your Highness. For your information, the letter Your Highness sent is safely stored in the Knight Commander’s office.”

“Burn it after you read it, you lunatics...”

“How could we do that? You’re the one who led our knight corps, after all. If we did what you suggest, the future Knight Commander would spit up blood.”

“...”

Thinking they were crazy, Illyna shook her head. The carriage began to move again.

“Mom, what does that mean?”

“Hmm. I’m not sure, but... it’s nothing. I’ll handle it, so Eva, don’t worry and go to the party. Go in, talk and greet people appropriately, and eat some good food, and then everything will be resolved when you come out.”

Saying that, Illyna took a short breath and stepped out of the carriage.

“Mom?”

“Sorry. I’ll have to call Sister Perserque to look after you.”

Saying that, she immediately activated a crystal ball. “Sister, it’s me. There’s a bit of a problem, so could you come to the coordinates I sent?”

It was only three minutes before light shimmered in the air, and Perserque appeared via warp magic.

Those who could use the 8th Circle magic Warp were extremely rare on this continent. What she’d just done was a testament to her skill.

“Illyna.”

“I’ll tell you the details later. Please look after Eva for me.’

Hearing that, Perserque’s gaze fell upon Evangeline, who wore a complicated expression. “Uh... Mom...”

“Don’t worry, honey. I’m here.”

“Yes...”

Illyna announced, “Then I’ll go to the White Bird Knight Corps Headquarters for a moment.”

“Illyna.”

“Yes?”

“Be careful.”

Even though Illyna was the only person in their world with the power to threaten Davey, Perserque still worried about her.

Perhaps because she was grateful for that kind heart, Illyna smiled faintly, took a short breath, and then pushed off the ground. A small cloud of dust rose momentarily as she shot into the sky.

She jumped over buildings and flipped through the air, but no wards or alarms were triggered.

“Illyna’s been running away and getting into trouble ever since childhood. This is nothing.”

When Davey and Illyna reunited after the Grand Duchy incident, the fact that she scaled the Heins Territory manor wall wasn’t something that came out of nowhere.

Poof!!

Reaching the Knight Corps Headquarters in an instant, she walked past the knights who were on high alert.

Even though the alarm hadn't gone off, the patrolling knights flinched and drew their swords.

“W-who is it?!”

“Barden, Victor, she greeted.”

“Y-Your Highness?”

Only after realizing that it was Illyna did they look at her with an awkward expression, eventually nodding in understanding.

“Right. If it’s Your Highness, I suppose it’s normal for the alarm not to go off...”

“Your skills still haven’t rusted, I see. As expected of someone destined to become the Queen of the Night.”

“Do both of you want to die?”

“Ahahaha!”

“But Your Highness, what brings you to the Pallan Empire?”

“My daughter is attending the banquet. I heard the cuckoo is singing.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the main gate of the headquarters opened, and an aged, bearded knight appeared. The man remarked, “Ah, it seems the message was delivered. It was originally just to keep you mindful, but...”

“It’s been a while, Deputy Commander,” Illyna greeted. “Or no, you’re the Knight Commander now, aren’t you?”

“To Your Highness, I will always be the Deputy Commander. If that is the case...”

“It’s practically my daughter’s debut. I can’t let the cuckoo sing.”

The Knight Commander broke out in a cold sweat at her smile.

She was Pallan’s cherished jewel, a genius who’d reached the supreme Expert level right after coming of age in the past.

However, in the eyes of the Swordmaster Knight Commander, Illyna was in a realm he dared not look up to.

“Just how much stronger did you become in that time?”

“It was partly thanks to my ancestors. Thanks to them, I don’t even back down when I fight with Davey.”

“Is Grand Duke Davey treating you poorly? The Knight Corps will immediately...”

“No, I was just kidding. He loves me, and I’m happy too.”

The Knight Commander chuckled at her smile. “Since you've already found us, there's no helping it. Please, come in. It won't be easy to pass information to Your Highness now that you've married out to another family, but I'll handle it at my own discretion.”

“Good. But I don’t like the term ‘married out.’ Pallan is still my family and my home.”

As they entered the Knight Corps interior, the waiting knights, excluding those on patrol, beamed when they saw her.

“Your Highness!”

“Did you come back?!”

“Heavens. Since our Princess of Destruction is here, we can finally breathe easy... Cough!”

As Illyna walked, guided by the Knight Commander, she casually kicked a teacup from a nearby table, sending it flying to hit one of the knights.

The cocky young knight couldn't put up any resistance. He went flying and blacked out on the spot.

“Call me that again if you want to die, Bargo.”