I’m an Ordinary Returning Student at the Academy

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – Prototype]

Chapter 148

Ooh! A medal bar, a medal bar! His Majesty has some sense after all. I was just about to rack my brains for ideas from my past life to suggest this, but I didn’t expect him to beat me to it.

It wasn’t always like this, but every official imperial event was absolute torture.

How many medals am I supposed to have on my chest? I kid you not, the left side of my chest could probably stop a few bullets.

The weight is no joke, either. It’s not an exaggeration to say my body’s balance is slightly tilted to the left because of the medals. Sounds exaggerated? Sadly, it’s true. Don’t believe me? You don’t, do you? I’m telling you, it’s real.

“Do you know? Right now, as you’re talking about the medal bar, your face is the brightest it’s ever been. It’s baffling. Did you want this that badly?”

“My apologies, Your Majesty. But it couldn’t be helped, the truth is, I was thinking just a little bit that having so many medals was inconvenient. Ah! That’s not to say I’m belittling the Empire’s medals in any way—”

I hastily tried to add more, but the Emperor waved his hand as if to say it was fine.

He already understood what I meant, and he had no intention of saying anything different, or so he said.

“Well then, that’s settled. I’ll have the relevant departments discuss replacing the medals with a medal bar and discuss the medal bar itself.”

“I am eternally grateful for your benevolence.”

“Benevolence, my foot. It’s even better that you’ve accepted it this way.”

Better? What do you mean by that?

“Honestly, seeing your chest laden with medals must be quite a pitiful sight for others. One or two is fine, but as they say, too much is as bad as too little. If it’s too flashy, it only diminishes its prestige. So, except for the Medal of Honor, I’ll have the other medals replaced with a medal bar.”

And thanks to that, there’s no problem with awarding you more medals!

—he added, and I couldn’t help but blurt out, ‘Huh?’

“Your Majesty?”

“What’s wrong? Ah, surely it’s not because of the additional medals I mentioned just now?”

“Your, Your Majesty’s words…”

“Of course, that’s the main reward. However, it can’t cover all of your achievements. The miracle in the Holy See is the Holy See’ business, and the fact that you raised our Empire’s prestige through that should be calculated separately.”

“…”

“At least, since you asked so earnestly, I’ll forget about increasing your territory or promoting you. But you’ll receive the medals. Since they’ll be replaced with a medal bar anyway, there’s no problem, right?”

No. Wait, Your Majesty? So… uh, ah! Come to think of it, he’s right again!

Promotions, territory expansion… Honestly, from my perspective, those are things I’d rather avoid.

It’s not like my family is from some backwater territory. We already hold the title of Count and possess ample lands. There were actually a few discussions about it.

But my father flatly refused, saying, ‘A warrior’s place is right here. Going higher, having more, it’ll only exceed our capacity and create more problems.’

And that applies to me too. With my sister becoming the Crown Princess, I naturally became the next head of our family, the next owner of the County.

But honestly, while I’m good with people, my foresight and political skills as a noble or head of the family are just average. The scope I can handle is right here.

In other words, instead of promotions or territory expansion, getting medals might be better.

Right. So let’s think of it as a good thing. Think. Think…

“Your Majesty, just one medal…”

“One is a bit lacking for a noble who received a miracle from Goddess and raised the Empire’s prestige through it.”

“Then just two…”

“How about four?”

“Three. Please, just three, Your Majesty.”

“Four.”

“Your Majesty!”

“Four.”

Damn it. Where have I seen this before? And of all people, this guy isn’t just some random tough guy, he’s the Emperor, so I can’t even argue! Gaaah!

“Or we could make it five.”

“Four! I am eternally grateful for your benevolence!”

* * *

After Karl left the Imperial Palace, the Emperor sat down and laughed heartily for a moment.

The Chamberlain and the Minister of the Imperial Household Ministry watched in silence.

“Chamberlain.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“How many years have you served alongside me?”

“If you’re referring only to your reign as Emperor, it’s been over 20 years. If you’re counting from your time as Crown Prince, it would be double that, plus another 10 years.”

“That’s right. You’ve been by my side for so long. So I want to ask you. In all that time, have you ever seen a young man like him? No, a noble like him?”

The Chamberlain couldn’t answer. No matter how hard he tried to recall, he couldn’t think of a single noble who was the same as Karl.

Everyone was always driven by ambition, their eyes gleaming at the thought of fame.

Their loyalty to the Empire, their fervor for the Imperial family, ultimately stemmed from such motivations.

“I can see why the Crown Prince calls for that young man so often.”

He’s not a burden. Above all, he’s enjoyable. With his intentions so transparent yet resolute, from the Crown Prince’s perspective, he must be a brother-in-law he can confide in.

Some are already worried that the Crown Prince and a certain family are becoming too close.

The Emperor himself had harbored such concerns. After all, this was the future Emperor’s wife’s family, the maternal family of the future Emperor’s heir.

But seeing him now, seeing the future head of the Emperor’s wife’s family, the future head of the maternal family, the Emperor strongly felt that such worries were unfounded.

‘At the very least, he’ll be a reliable uncle to the Imperial grandchild.’

Of course, people can change, so he couldn’t be completely at ease. But that was for the future emperors to worry about. If they turned even a loyal subject like him away, it would be a reflection of their own lack of qualities as emperors.

“Minister of the Imperial Household Ministry.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. You command.”

“Inform the Ministry of War and Justice to discuss the medal bar. Ah, of course, excluding the Medal of Honor. That can never be diminished.”

“And…”

The Emperor paused in thought before continuing.

“Look into similar cases and find out what kind of medals are awarded in such instances.”

“I will do my best to research all precedents, Your Majesty.”

There hasn’t been anyone canonized while alive, but there have been those who made significant contributions to peace with the Church.

If we can figure out what kind of treatment and medals they received later, the next steps will become clear.

“Also, inform the Ministry of Education to prepare a biography on Karl Adelheit, the heir to the County of Friedrich. It might be a bit early, but seeing how things are, it seems like something we should do right away.”

Biographies of several loyal nobles had been in the works for some time.

However, work on them usually began when the noble’s activities were nearing their end or after their death. There was no precedent for starting one while the subject was still alive and well, especially in their prime.

But the Minister of the Imperial Household Ministry, without raising any questions, bowed his head in agreement.

“I will inform the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to begin immediately, Your Majesty.”

I hear the Holy See are also planning to create a biography of Karl. How embarrassing would it be for the Empire to be a step behind? He’s a noble of this Empire, a subject of the Imperial Family.

“It’s human nature to want to give more when someone keeps refusing. Hahaha!”

“…”

Somehow, it seems like our Emperor has taken quite a liking to that young man.

He liked him, but the young man kept refusing everything, so at first, the Emperor understood, but the things the young man accomplished were all so extraordinary that the Emperor seems to have decided to just force them into his hands.

* * *

Ugh. Medals! I thought he wouldn’t give me any, but he’s giving them after all! Oh dear, oh my!

“Why the long face?”

When I returned home, my father and mother, who happened to be in the garden, asked me that.

I ran to them and told them about the Emperor’s outrageous act. Seriously, I told him I really didn’t want to receive any more, but he said he’d give me four?!

“His Majesty’s grace is truly vast and deep.”

“Karl, be even more devoted.”

“…Yes, sir.”

Of course, my parents, who had literally dedicated their lives to the Empire, were simply overwhelmed by the Emperor’s kindness.

“Ah, Father.”

“What is it?”

“About the territory expansion, or maybe a promotion to…”

“Are you trying to ask if I’m disappointed?”

In the past, Father had refused those things. But that was in the past. People can change their minds.

And if it’s not for himself, but for his son’s future… he might be a little disappointed. That’s what I thought.

“Karl, remember this. Once you graduate and get married, you’ll be the head of our Adelheit family, the lord of the County of Friedrich. Your will is what matters, not your father’s.”

“But still—”

“If you declined, you must have had your reasons. I have no intention of prying. So if you’ve made your decision, stick to it. That’s what an Adelheit man does. That’s what the lord of the County of Friedrich does.”

As expected of Father. His words are a great help. Honestly, I was a little worried…

“Ah, of course, you should be prepared for your wife to nag you about it.”

“…Huh?”

“I also got an earful from your mother about how I should have accepted the territory expansion or promotion instead of declining… Ouch. Honey? Wait a minute. Gaaah!”

Hmm. Is it just my imagination, or does it look like Father’s side is about to be ripped apart?

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – Prototype]