Broken Possessors of Infinite Regression Academy

The royal guard, unable to judge the situation before him, froze in shock. I was equally surprised. Laura’s words were tantamount to openly defying the emperor.

Even though it was highly likely that Laura would become the next emperor, the current emperor was still alive and present. To openly declare that she expected loyalty only to herself in front of the current emperor was a treasonous statement that could get me executed for disloyalty.

‘If it ever comes to that, I won’t just stand by and do nothing…’

The important thing was not that. I observed Laura’s expression. She was remarkably calm, as if asking me to trust her.

It was too late to turn back now that we had come this far. I had no choice but to trust her. I stopped what I was about to do and raised my head.

“As you wish, Your Highness.”

The royal guards stirred with a commotion far greater than before at the sight of me following Laura’s words instead of the emperor’s.

“William”

The emperor spoke, and his deep voice resonated through the room.

‘This is…’

As soon as his voice reached my ears, I felt as if someone was pressing down on my entire body. There was power in his voice itself. I couldn’t tell if he was deliberately testing me or if he was truly angry, but I had no choice but to stand my ground and endure the oppressive feeling.

“Yes, Father.”

“You have grown up well. Even bringing someone like that along.”

The oppressive feeling in his voice intensified. However, it still wasn’t strong enough to truly threaten me.

“That person is not ‘something like that’. Watch your words.”

“Did you tell me to watch my mouth?”

“The person I brought is a talented individual who will become the core of the empire that I will lead, and who will assist me more closely than anyone else. To arbitrarily judge and test the person I have chosen—how can you call yourself a father if you don’t even trust your own son?”

Laura’s words were quite harsh. I wondered if she was going too far.

“It is because I trust you that I wish to test you. Not as your father, but as the emperor of the empire.”

“That’s sophistry. Am I to understand that you don’t trust my judgment?”

“Then are you saying that you intend to disregard the emperor of the empire?”

Tension hung thick between the two of them.

“Mira Crate.”

After a while, the emperor finally addressed me by name. I couldn’t very well not answer when he called my name directly.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“As the legitimate ruler of the empire and the emperor of all its citizens, I command you to show respect.”

‘So that’s why you said that. Laura had hinted at this situation beforehand. Regardless of the context, you said that the emperor would eventually force me to show respect.’

I had no idea that she would confront him so directly, though.

“I will not. Shouldn’t an ambitious person look to the rising sun, rather than the setting one?”

I had to say something, so I recited the answer Laura had given me beforehand. Even though we had agreed on this beforehand, I felt awkward about openly defying the emperor right in front of him.

The emperor remained silent for a while. He could have ordered the royal guards to tear me apart right then and there, but at least for now, he didn’t.

“Hahahahaha! Hahahahahaha! Am I the setting sun in your eyes?”

The emperor laughed so hard that he seemed to be gasping for breath. The oppressive atmosphere that had filled the central hall dissipated. The stern expression of an emperor was replaced by the gentle look of a father gazing at his daughter.

“It seems you’ve finally found someone truly worthy of standing by your side, William.”

“Yes, Father.”

The atmosphere softened in an instant. I, on the other hand, felt bewildered. The emperor rose from his throne and gestured with his hand. The royal guards, looking bewildered, closed the doors and left.

The emperor strode towards us with large steps. His physique was truly imposing. He seemed no less muscular than Jake, the swordsmanship professor at Bellium Academy.

I glanced at Laura, silently asking for an explanation. Laura opened her mouth as if she had been waiting for this moment.

“It was a sort of code that I had planned beforehand, as well as a test.”

“Code? Test?”

“You see, an emperor is always lonely. One cannot easily trust anyone. However, one must have at least one person by their side whom they can trust no matter what. I wanted you to interpret everything from my first words to my father’s reaction as a test.”

“……Could you explain that in more detail?”

“Didn’t I tell you in advance how to behave? If you trusted me and didn’t submit to the emperor, you would pass the test. If you didn’t trust me and submitted to the emperor, you would fail. You trusted me and passed the test splendidly. It was a manly action befitting the man I chose.”

She could have told me that this was a test as well.

All I knew was that no matter what happened, I should trust her, and when the emperor asked me to show respect, I should answer as she had told me. Laura chuckled as she caught the questioning look in my eyes.

“You didn’t lend me your clothes, so this is a small revenge. Even in front of the emperor, I knew you wouldn’t be intimidated.”

“……What are you talking about, daughter? Not lending you clothes?”

“It’s a private matter, so don’t ask.”

The emperor, who had been intimidating with his voice alone just a moment ago, was now at the mercy of Laura’s every word.

No matter how much he begged, Laura refused to tell him about the clothes, so he eventually gave up and changed the subject.

“I’ve heard the rumors. You’ve developed healing magic, haven’t you? Thanks to that, we can finally get rid of the thorn in our side, the Starlight Sect. I offer my gratitude. But how did you develop healing magic? It’s a magic that has never been recorded in the empire’s history.”

“The imperial princess should know. Ask her.”

“Daughter?”

“No, absolutely not.”

I passed the question on to Laura as we had agreed beforehand, and Laura flatly refused. The emperor begged on his knees several times, but his pleas were met with cold rejection.

“You’re already crazy about men and throwing your father away like a worn-out shoe!”

“I’ve never thrown you away.”

His tone and behavior made him seem more like a neighborhood uncle than an emperor. He reminded me of Priscilla’s father. That man was also henpecked by Priscilla and his wife.

‘I wonder what happened to Gloria.’

Thinking of Priscilla’s father led me to think of her sister. That woman was also bewitched by a succubus, even if she was a duke’s daughter, she wouldn’t have been exempt from the detection magic. I wondered if she had been caught.

“……Alright. I owe you one, and as the emperor ruling the empire and as a human being, I also have a grudge against the Starlight Sect.”

“I didn’t do it for a reward…”

I still hadn’t used the wish token I received from the chairman.

“Would you like to receive compensation from every magician in the empire one by one, or would you like to receive one compensation along with the praise of the emperor?”

“……I would like to receive the compensation directly from Emperor Your Majesty.”

“That’s right. It’s a very wise choice.”

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.

.

The Starlight Sect was a powerful religious organization with a large number of followers throughout the empire, so the empire wouldn’t be able to kill all of its followers.

They would probably only kill those who were deemed irredeemably corrupted and spare the rest. The decision to label someone as irredeemably corrupted would be made by the other party, so my task was to unite the survivors. After all, the top priority was to drive out the demons.

“……Do I really have to become a saint?”

“Yes. Among the members of the sect who were corrupted by the demons, there’s only one saint who hasn’t lost her light. When you pretend to cast a purification spell and remove her status ailment, it will look like a miracle.”

“But did the emperor approve of this? The Starlight Sect just collapsed two days ago, and now you’re going to create a new religion?”

“It’s difficult for the current emperor, but later, when Laura ascends the throne, we’ll make it look like the power of the goddess has descended upon her. From now on, you’ll be a saint under the emperor. It’s not like you’re trying to build your own power base like a pope. You’re just strengthening the emperor’s support base, so he’s very happy about it.”

“But why didn’t you consult me about this… Do I have to live even more virtuously now?”

Rosalia, who was appalled at the idea of playing the role of a saint, looked at me with bewilderment.

“Hey, Mira. Was it okay to say that in front of that person?”

Priscilla tilted her head. Laura, who had been casually eating dessert between us, answered.

“It’s fine.”

“Why?”

“Because, like you, I was also dragged into this world as a possessed person. Also, I am the author of ‘How to Survive as the Hero’s Childhood Friend’, the work that created this world. Does that explain it?”

Priscilla and Rosalia froze simultaneously. Even Priscilla, who rarely showed any change in expression other than when she was with me, looked shocked.

‘Did you want me to take care of this so that you could reveal it to them?’

It was ridiculous.

When I asked how to reveal her identity to the other possessed people, she told me to leave it to her, but was this why she wanted to take care of it?

Kik, the two of them looked at me at the same time, as if to confirm if what Laura said was true.

“Yes. But I haven’t been able to recover all my memories yet due to certain circumstances.”

At those words, Rosalia began to tremble and then rushed over to Laura, grabbing her by the collar.

“You’re the one I’ve been looking for!”

“Why, why are you doing this to me?!”

“Why am I doing this? Because I finally have the chance to confront the person who designed the saint’s outfit! Do you know how embarrassed I was to wear that outfit?!”

“That, that wasn’t my design! Why would I design such a perverted outfit?!”

“Are you trying to indirectly call me a pervert?!”

A ruckus ensued. Before it could get out of hand, I quickly separated the two of them. Laura looked aggrieved, but since she had revealed herself as the author, she didn’t try to defend herself further.

“Hmph. We’ll see about that. As soon as we get out of here, I’m going to check.”

“I, it’s really not me……”

I calmed down the two of them, who were indignant for different reasons, and Priscilla, who had gotten caught in the middle, and just as I was about to offer them some dessert, I heard footsteps outside. I raised my index finger to my lips and opened the door.

“Hiiiiik?! Mr. Mira?!”

Aria, who had been about to enter, took a step back in surprise.

“Sorry. Did you get hit?”

“No, I didn’t get hit. I was just about to come in when the door suddenly opened… I guess the timing was just too perfect.”

“That’s a relief. Did you come to rest? Do you want me to get you something?”

Aria shook her head.

“I came to look for you, Mr. Mira. Do you have time?”

“I do have time, but why? Who’s looking for me?”

“……I think you should go see the chairman for a moment.”