The Academy is Doomed

Chapter 101

“Father, about that.”

Amon, clutching his aching back that had been hit all over, said.

“The potatoes growing in our territory seem strange.”

“What? The potatoes are strange?”

Immediately, his father Kaim’s face turned serious.

“Don’t tell me someone got sick from eating the potatoes you took to the Academy?”

“What?”

“That would be a big problem. The potatoes we have stored now would be from that harvest period. If people got sick after eating them, we should thoroughly inspect the entire warehouse…”

“No, no! That’s not it.”

Amon waved his hands and explained the whole story.

Our territory’s potatoes are full of mana!

Everyone who ate them got stronger, their vitality increased dramatically!

After hearing this explanation, Kaim frowned and said,

“Did you put some medicine in the potatoes you took?”

“What do you take your son for…? Anyway, I’m telling you because it seemed strange.”

“Hmm, what’s strange about it? We just planted the seed potatoes we bought from Eden.”

“Right? There shouldn’t be anything strange.”

Suddenly Kaim smiled.

Come to think of it, he began, and continued.

“Come to think of it, wasn’t it thanks to you that we bought and planted those seed potatoes?”

“What? What do you mean?”

“Originally, our territory mainly grew rye.”

Amon smiled bitterly as he felt the dull taste of black bread made from rye lingering in his mouth.

“But you said you saw it in a book, and suggested we plant and grow potatoes.”

“I did?”

“Yes. Something about how growing potatoes and rye together is good for the soil? You said potatoes are crops that turn over the soil and rye is a crop that covers the soil, so we should grow them together.”

“…I did?”

“Don’t you remember?”

“No…”

In reality, rye and potatoes are indeed compatible crops.

It preserves the soil and reduces labor.

That’s why the Drake territory still grew rye before potatoes.

“I remember you even picked out the seed potatoes.”

“Again, I did?”

“You must not remember because you were so young.”

Kaim shrugged and said.

“Anyway, they’re potatoes bought from Eden, what could be so special about them? Aren’t you just imagining things?”

“Imagining…”

Amon deliberately swallowed his words.

In times like these, it would be right to just say ‘I see’ and move on but he had to make one request to his father.

“Just in case, please don’t send the potatoes outside.”

“I can guarantee that. Because we don’t have enough to send outside anyway.”

“That’s fortunate, but what a sad reason.”

Right now, potatoes are the staple food in Drake territory.

They’re so scarce that people are encouraged to mix them with rye when eating.

It wasn’t for nothing that people here hunt monsters to fill their stomachs.

“Anyway, even if Eden develops and things get better, please don’t send potatoes outside. As I said before, just in case.”

“If Eden develops, wouldn’t we stop growing potatoes…?”

“Ah, right.”

* * *

It seemed difficult to solve the mystery of the potatoes right away.

Therefore, Amon was reading the family chronicles kept in his father’s study to resolve the second agenda.

‘When I read it before, the content was so ridiculous that I felt embarrassed and just skimmed through it, but this time is different. I need to learn well about the bad blood with our ancestors, even if just a little.’

So Amon was reading the chronicles as if reading a thesis.

And after reading for a while.

[As Amonis IV spoke, comparing the excellence of Duke Redmayne to the inadequacy of Grand Duke Drake, Grand Duke Drake said, “That bastard used to call me brother and senior when he was the crown prince’s son, but as soon as he became emperor, he became a bastard,” at which the Emperor’s face turned red like a ripe persimmon and said “Who called you brother…”]

Amon narrowed his eyes.

‘Huh? Were our ancestors and the imperial family on good terms during the crown prince era?’

Lost in thought, Amon started reading the chronicles carefully again.

[As Amonis VIII greatly praised Count Pendorean and said, “That Marquis Drake whom I couldn’t associate with since childhood, that bastard, I’m thinking of taking away his title and giving it to this one,” Marquis Drake said, “Frankly speaking, considering we’re from the same womb up there, if I’m someone you can’t associate with, since I’m older than you, you must surely be some picked-up bastard,” at which the emperor became greatly angered…]

Amon closed his eyes tightly and covered his face with his hands.

Even looking at it again, it was unbearably embarrassing.

‘The Pendorean Duke family must have something similar to chronicles too. Then such content would be written there…I’m so embarrassed. How can I hold my head up and live like this.’

Anyway, what Marquis Drake, his ancestor, was saying resembled what older brothers typically say when teasing their younger siblings.

[…When the Emperor slapped Marquis Drake’s wife’s cheek, Marquis Drake wife’s fierce counterattack left the Emperor bedridden, and the court historians whispered that this must be what they mean by getting back what you give…]

No, now looking at it, it wasn’t a brother but a sister.

‘Marquis Drake’s wife certainly had a sharp tongue. Come to think of it, judging by the tone, they seemed to have been close in their young days this time too…?’

If they hadn’t been close when they were young, there would have been no reason to mention childhood.

Anyway, after that, he could find passages suggesting that they had relatively good relationships in their younger days.

The climax was from the time of Amon’s grandfather.

[Belial Drake, the heir of Viscount Drake, stole and ate the sausage that Crown Prince Sandrio cherished. The Crown Prince cried so bitterly that all the nobles attending the banquet couldn’t help but lament.]

[Nevertheless, due to their deep brotherhood, the two made up, but the Emperor could not stand idly by watching the arrogant behavior of Viscount Drake…]

In the end, although the two directly involved made up, the children’s fight escalated into a parents’ fight, and the current Drake family became a ‘Baron family’!

‘But no matter how you look at it, grandfather was wrong here. Stealing and eating someone’s sausage?’

Clicking his tongue, Amon shook his head.

‘You can’t resist sausage! Grandfather, this is where you made a big mistake!’

Soon after, Amon closed the chronicles and nodded.

It felt like a ray of hope was shining through.

‘Looking at the chronicles, generation after generation had good relationships with the crown princes. But for some reason, after they ascended to the throne as emperor, they started fighting like dogs with our ancestors. Obviously, the supreme position of emperor must have corrupted them.’

If so, wouldn’t there still be a chance to turn things around?

‘Maybe we can end the bad blood between the Drake family and the Amonis family in this generation.’

He would not make the same mistakes as his ancestors.

If he cultivates deep brotherhood with the crown prince from now on and maintains a close relationship until he ascends to the throne?

‘Unless someone suddenly goes crazy, there shouldn’t be any reason for the relationship to become twisted.’

Amon nodded firmly with determination.

“Alright. Let’s become close with the crown prince.”

But there was a problem.

“But where do I find the crown prince…?”

* * *

‘So this is what they mean by it being darkest under the lamp.’

Kai smiled bitterly.

‘I’ve wanted to help Senior Amon all this time but couldn’t find a good way, and to think there was such a city right below the territory.’

Since he planned to invest in Eden occasionally when he had the chance from now on, he wouldn’t have to see the sadness-filled Amon he saw when pledging to participate anymore.

As Kai stretched with a relieved face, he suddenly shuddered.

Then he frowned and scratched his ear.

“Why is my ear suddenly so itchy?”

* * *

“Father, do you know anything about His Highness the Crown Prince?”

Kaim narrowed his eyes at the question thrown while he was about to lift his spoon.

“His Highness the Crown Prince? Where did this sudden question come from?”

“I was wondering if you’ve ever met him before.”

Our ancestors maintained close relationships with crown princes throughout generations, after all.

“Didn’t I tell you before? My father, that is, your grandfather, was completely at odds with His Majesty the Emperor. And since I somewhat hastily inherited the title, I’ve never met His Majesty the Emperor, let alone His Highness the Crown Prince. I was already overwhelmed just trying to feed the people of this territory. Does that answer your question?”

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

For a noble, never having met the Emperor or even set foot in the capital was by no means an honorable thing.

Therefore, he could understand his father’s somewhat sharp response.

He had asked the same question before, after all.

‘Rather, Father should be thankful he hasn’t met that damned Emperor. Father is a bit weak-hearted, so if he saw that bastard Emperor throwing his weight around in front of him…’

Tears welled up in his eyes just thinking about his father trembling.

Soon, Kaim’s expression softened as he said.

“But why are you suddenly asking about this?”

“I was wondering if I could become close with His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“You’ve finally gone mad.”

Clicking his tongue, Kaim took a spoonful of mashed potatoes and said.

“Never mind and just eat your meal.”

“Yes.”

Amon nodded while chewing his mashed potatoes.

‘I’ll have to ask people who might know when I return to the Academy.’

* * *

After talking about what had happened with his family, how Ami’s studies were going, and spending all his energy badmouthing his fellow teachers, the day passed in the blink of an eye.

Also, since he had briefly stopped by Eden to check if his brother was doing well, the time to return quickly arrived.

“Then mother, father. I’ll see you again soon.”

“Yes, come again. Headmaster, I entrust our Amon to you.”

In response to Kaim’s polite greeting, Anar’el, who had come to pick up Amon, smiled brightly.

“I should be the one asking! Don’t worry!”

“Haha, thank you.”

A moment later, after returning to the headmaster’s office, Amon asked, just in case.

“Nothing happened while I was away overnight, right?”

A question full of anxiety!

Anar’el smiled gently.

“Why are you worried when you were only away for one day?”

“Well, true.”

“You really have such special affection for the Academy!”

Seeing Anar’el laughing heartily, Amon smiled wryly.

He wished Anar’el would have some proper affection when she talked like that.

“It’s good if nothing happened. By the way, Headmaster.”

“Yes?”

“Have you ever met His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“His Highness the Crown Prince…You mean Sandrio’s eldest son?”

After being lost in thought for a moment, Anar’el shook her head.

“No. I’ve only heard about him from Sandrio and Victoria, but I’ve never seen him in person.”

“Hmm. I see, as expected.”

“What do you mean, as expected?”

Since he hadn’t expected anything in the first place, there was no disappointment.

‘But it’s okay. There are still many people I can ask.’

Surprisingly, there were many prestigious people at this Academy.

War hero Marion!

Sloth from the renowned swordsmanship family, House Pid!

One of the Empire’s Four Knights, Azure Sky Sword King Reinbelt!

The rogue from House Pendorean!

‘When you list them out, there really are only amazing people…’

If there was a problem, it was that the contents were quite lacking.

Anyway, if he caught them and asked, he should be able to get some decent information.

Amon hurriedly moved his feet.

* * *

“H-hey.”

“Huh? Elder Reinbelt?”

Kai opened his eyes wide.

“Why are you looking for me so urgently, Elder?”

At that question, Reinbelt looked around and said in a lowered voice.

“Amon is looking for you right now.”

“Senior? But why do you look so surprised?”

“No, no. He’s not looking for Teacher Kai, but for Crown Prince Kaias.”

Kai opened his eyes wide.

“W-why is he suddenly looking for the Crown Prince?”

“That’s what I’d like to know.”

Kai’s face turned serious.

‘Could he have noticed the investment in Eden through the merchant guild?’

But that couldn’t be.

Because he had thoroughly concealed the information, it would take considerable time even for his father, the Emperor’s direct intelligence unit, to reach the truth.

In other words, it was unlikely that Amon had realized the truth in just one day.

“Well, even if he’s looking, he’s just asking around.”

“The Crown Prince, about me?”

“Yes. Where he can be met, what he likes, things like that.”

Kai scratched his head with a wry smile.

“This feels quite strange.”

“This is no time to laugh, my friend. When he suddenly came to me and asked, I was sweating bullets.”

“How did you answer?”

“I told him how would an old man who only picked mountain vegetables know about His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Ha, hahaha…”

Reinbelt looked around again and said.

“Well, anyway, I’ve told you. From what I saw, it seems he’s going around asking several people including me, so he’ll probably come to you soon too. Think about what you’re going to say.”

“Yes. Thank you, Elder.”

After Reinbelt disappeared Kai rested his chin on his hand and fell into thought.

‘Hmm, how should I answer?’

Should I reveal my identity now?

No, it wasn’t time yet to face Amon as the Crown Prince.

To break the old bad blood, they needed to build a closer relationship first.

‘I should just give a vague answer this time.’

Anyway, he didn’t feel bad about it.

Judging by the fact that he was looking for him and asking about his preferences, it seemed Amon didn’t have negative feelings toward him as the Crown Prince.

‘If Senior Amon feels that way too, breaking free from the past bad blood might become that much easier.’

Satisfied, Kai nodded.

‘Now then, when will Senior come?’

Kai decided to wait for Amon.

And Amon did not show up before Kai all day!

Kai’s current identity was from House Straw!

Since it was a family he had never heard of, Amon naturally thought they wouldn’t know the Crown Prince and didn’t even think to ask Kai about the Crown Prince!