The World Is Mine For The Taking

As I made my request to the King, his eyes widened in astonishment. His reaction mirrored that of the Queen, whose surprise was evident as well.

"How did you come to know of this?" inquired the King, his previous disinterest replaced by keen attention.

"The manner in which I obtained this knowledge is irrelevant at present. What matters is that the existence of such magic has been confirmed, correct? Therefore, may I be granted the knowledge?" I pressed.

Indeed, if there existed a magic capable of bringing individuals from other worlds into this one, then surely there was a possibility of discovering a magic to return them to their respective worlds. With diligent research, I could potentially find a way back to my own world.

Upon hearing my request, the King paused for a moment before exhaling heavily. "That is something I cannot grant you," he declared.

His response didn't come as a surprise to me. Obtaining such knowledge was likely not an easy feat, even for the winner of the King's game. Nevertheless, I persisted, "Why not?"

"Because it is beyond my capabilities," he replied matter-of-factly. "Only the master of the wizard guild possesses the knowledge of summoning heroes from other worlds. Despite my royal authority, I cannot compel him to teach you the spell. Therefore, I cannot fulfill your request. You must reconsider your desire."

As it became apparent that my initial request was beyond the King's power to grant, I shifted to my second option.

"In that case, may I be permitted to join the ranks of the magic knights?" I inquired.

Becoming a magic knight held significant appeal for me. As a member of this esteemed order, I would have access to a wealth of magical knowledge from various sources, not limited to books alone. This would provide me with an ideal opportunity to explore the intricacies of summoning individuals from one world to another.

Additionally, being among the magic knights would afford me numerous chances to interact with individuals possessing such arcane knowledge, including the master of the wizard guild himself. Moreover, in the event of a catastrophe threatening the kingdom, being part of the magic knights would enable me to witness firsthand the summoning of heroes from this world, should the King issue such a decree.

Unfortunately, the King informed me that granting my request to join the magic knights was beyond his authority.

"I have no power to grant such a request. Only the commander of the magic knights holds the authority to accept new recruits. While I possess ultimate authority over them, the decision to admit new members lies solely with the commander. Therefore, I cannot fulfill your wish. Furthermore, unless you have graduated from the gold class at the academy, you are ineligible to join the magic knights.

Even through this avenue you are attempting, you cannot bypass this requirement. I advise you to reconsider your wish."

It seemed I had hit another dead end. It appeared that I would have to pursue my goals through more conventional means.

"Then, I request an audience with the Headmaster of the academy," I declared.

The King arched an eyebrow in curiosity. "An audience with the Headmaster? Pray tell, for what purpose?"

"The administration has hindered my progress beyond the bronze class," I explained. "I seek resolution to this matter."

"Very well," conceded the King. "Your wish shall be granted."

With his approval, I secured an audience with the Headmaster.

***

After my brief audience with the King, I was escorted out of the castle by Miss Veronica and Professor Irene. As we made our way, Miss Veronica spoke up, her tone cool and collected.

"It's quite surprising that your request was so simple. Is that truly the extent of your desires, or are you satisfied with such a wish?" she inquired.

I found her sudden interest in my affairs rather unexpected, but I decided to indulge her nonetheless. "To achieve my goal of becoming a magic knight, I must first overcome the obstacles set by the administration," I explained. "That means graduating from the gold class is my priority."

"Why do you aspire to become a magic knight? I recall our first encounter when you inquired about my swift induction into the ranks at a young age. Perhaps you harbor some ulterior motives? Care to divulge?"

"Why should I confide in you?" I countered.

"Perhaps I can be of assistance. My sister holds the position of Commander and was responsible for my early admission. If you reveal your true intentions, I may be able to persuade her to extend the same opportunity to you," Miss Veronica proposed.

I halted abruptly, causing the others to do the same. Meeting Miss Veronica's gaze, I sensed an intensity in her red eyes, like fiery ruby orbs peering into my soul. Maintaining a neutral expression, I awaited her next move. Meanwhile, Professor Irene observed our interaction with growing unease, sensing the tension in the air.

"That's quite the offer," I acknowledged. "But I can't help but wonder what you're after. So, let's cut to the chase. What do you want from me?"

"I won't beat around the bush. I'll be direct," she stated. "You're acquainted with a boy named Leon, correct? The black-haired one."

At Veronica's inquiry, Professor Irene let out a yelp behind me, but I chose to disregard her reaction.

"Why?" I questioned.

"I'm simply curious about him," Miss Veronica replied. "Do you happen to know anything about his origins? His parents, perhaps?"

"I'm afraid I don't," I admitted truthfully. Leon had been rather tight-lipped about his background. All I knew was that he had been raised by nuns, and that was the extent of my knowledge.

"I see," Miss Veronica mused. "Very well, then." With that, she turned on her heel and continued walking, putting an end to our conversation.

That question seemed rather peculiar, but I shrugged it off.

I expected us to resume our exit, but it appeared that Professor Irene had something on her mind.

"W-What do you want from Student Leon?" she stammered.

Miss Veronica halted once more, turning to face her. "And who might you be?" she inquired.

"I-I'm his professor," Professor Irene replied nervously.

Miss Veronica scrutinized Professor Irene from head to toe. "I fail to see how it's relevant for a teacher to inquire about my intentions regarding Leon, don't you agree?" she retorted.

With that, Miss Veronica turned around again and continued walking. I followed her, agreeing that a teacher shouldn't meddle in their student's personal business unless absolutely necessary. This situation was clearly unnecessary. I glanced over my shoulder at Professor Irene. She looked quite dejected, standing there motionless. When she noticed we were getting farther away, she hurried to catch up.

After a while, we finally exited the castle. A carriage was waiting for us.

"Well then, until we meet again, Shredica," Miss Veronica said with a slight smile. "I hope you'll become a magic knight one day so we can be in the same order and fight battles together. That might take years, but if you want to speed up the process, ask Leon about his origin. If you find out, I'll talk to my sister about considering you for the magic knights.

Until then, let's see how your path unfolds."

After saying that, she walked back into the castle. I approached the carriage, lost in thought. What should I do? Should I cheat my way out to get back to my world by finding out more about Mr. Leon, or should I take the slow and steady route? Honestly, speeding up my progress sounds much better.

In that case, I might have to blackmail Mr. Leon more to learn about his origins.

"Maybe I should do just that," I muttered as I climbed into the carriage.

Lost in thought all the way back to the academy, I didn't notice anything around me. That's why I missed the sad expression on Professor Irene's face.

***

Irene's POV

After returning home from accompanying Shredica, who had just made a request to the king following her victory in the King's Game, I collapsed onto my bed, burying my head in the pillows. A wave of exhaustion washed over me, making it difficult to muster the energy to rise. The reason for my current state of lethargy stemmed from what Veronica had said.

"I fail to see how it's relevant for a teacher to inquire about my intentions regarding Leon, don't you agree?"

That realization hit me hard. I was merely Student Leon's professor, with no reason to entertain such thoughts. Yet, the praise stung deep within my heart. It was painful to hear others label me as his professor, a reminder of the boundaries between us. Even if I desired to love him as an equal, societal norms dictated otherwise.

The notion of a relationship between a professor and a student was often frowned upon. I was meant to remain in my role as an instructor, and that was how it should stay.