Chapter 291 : Chapter 291

Chapter 291. Academy Autumn Festival (2)

Radel ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍walked around the booths with his arms full of potions.

He was handing them out to the friends who had come to help at the integrated major booth.

Since participation in one’s major booth was the rule during the autumn festival, they had all carved time out of their schedules to come lend a hand.

He knew very well how much that meant.

They surely wanted to spend their breaks enjoying the festival, yet they had gone out of their way to come here.

With sincere gratitude, Radel distributed the potions to everyone.

“Thank you for helping. Drink this while you work.”

“Your Highness!”

“Thank you very much, Your Highness!”

The large-built friends operating ‘Cradle of the Supreme Deity’ wiped the sweat from their brows as they accepted the potions.

What Radel handed out was a prototype of a new potion he had made together with Tunia.

It was a recipe that had emerged while improving a hangover cure, and drinking it made one’s mind snap awake.

No matter how exhausted someone was, as long as the effect lasted, it forcibly restored clarity.

In modern terms, it was like an energy drink.

Radel had taken to calling it an awakening agent.

“Huh? That is strange. My head feels clear.”

“Same here. I feel like I can work a bit more.”

“Doesn’t it feel like strength is welling up?”

Vitality began to circulate through their bodies.

A few minutes later, the large-built friends were in a state where they could work again.

“There will be a сменa in the afternoon, so you can rest then.”

“Rest? That will not be necessary, Your Highness.”

“Haha, thanks to the potion you gave us, we are brimming with energy!”

“All right, let us get back to work!”

They were no longer the friends from the beginning of the semester who had dragged their feet because they did not want to fight or attend mana training lectures.

Seeing them reborn as exemplary workers even moved Radel a little.

‘People really do grow.’

Radel had no idea that he himself was the one who had brought about that change…….

After handing out even magic power recovery potions, Radel turned and headed off to find the next group of friends.

“This time, I should go to the ones at ‘Into the Supreme Deity’s Embrace.’”

Since it was a new ride, even more people would be gathering there.

“I should hurry and bring them this awakening agent—hm?”

As he moved busily, Radel spotted a pouch someone had dropped.

Judging by the location, it seemed to belong to someone who had ridden ‘Into the Supreme Deity’s Embrace.’

Without much thought, Radel picked up the pouch and opened it.

His expression turned puzzled.

“What is this?”

Inside were nothing but small stones.

Had someone who liked stones lost it……?

“That is an odd taste.”

Planning to find the owner later, he tucked the pouch into his clothes.

***

“Boring.”

Contrary to his followers’ wishes, Leon was working diligently.

True, he was sitting under a canopy his followers had set up, lounging on a luxurious chair while gnawing on fried chicken, but he was, by all definitions, working.

Of course, it was not difficult work.

At least, not for that ‘Leon.’

Whenever people boarded the Ferris wheel, Leon merely raised his staff and spoke a simple word.

“Move.”

Creeeak.

“Wow! It is moving!”

“Mom, look! The blond prince is over there!”

“Shh. He is working, dear.”

The children riding ‘World of the Supreme Deity’ with their mother shouted excitedly.

From the Ferris wheel, Leon’s seat was clearly visible.

Once Leon’s followers realized that, they lined up again and again just to ride ‘World of the Supreme Deity.’

“If only I were an academy first-year, I would at least have a pretext to help His Highness!”

“To think being born too early is a sin!”

“Ah, Your Highness……!”

The only thing they could do was openly admire the noble and beautiful prince.

“The 8th Prince…… how dare he make His Highness do such a thing?”

“How utterly impudent!”

Though it was easy magic for Leon, keeping the Ferris wheel rotating at a constant speed required delicate mana control.

Compared to that, blasting away with unrestrained elemental magic was easier.

“But such perfect magic…….”

“Ah, if only time would stop……!”

“If only we could keep watching His Highness like this forever……!”

The Magic Supremacists alternated between admiration and anger, enjoying the integrated major booth more than anyone.

Even to Leon’s eyes, everyone who came here looked happy.

He occasionally spotted people connected to the imperial family, even some tied to his maternal grandfather, but…….

‘It does not matter.’

It was a feeling he had not experienced in a long time.

That sense that nothing mattered.

“Move.”

Even with such simple magic, time passed smoothly.

Everyone had their own tasks, all working toward the same goal.

Thoughts of eliminating Radel, of distancing himself from his followers—

the things that had troubled him now felt distant.

Besides, if one attended the academy, one had to participate in the festival anyway.

He even found himself thinking that this was better than running a separate booth.

‘You two joined forces and saved Mother, did you not?’

……It was not because the words of his mother from his dreams came to mind.

That had only been a dream.

It was because it was an integrated major.

Because the integrated major consisted of only Radel and himself.

‘Yes. That is why.’

And yet, Leon noticed that something inside him had changed.

Something that had seemed utterly immovable.

Creeeak.

‘World of the Supreme Deity’ came to a halt.

He raised his staff and said,

“Move.”

It began moving again.

For ‘Leon,’ that was not particularly difficult.

***

After distributing potions to his friends, Radel stopped by the fried chicken stall last.

The place overflowed with heated enthusiasm.

“Hey, is it still going to take long?”

“It will be ready soon!”

“What about the lean meat?”

“Coming right up!”

Under the tent, a Lizardman wearing a headscarf—Lando Chau—was directing the others.

It could hardly be called a fully equipped kitchen, but they were doing their utmost.

Radel approached them with a broad smile.

“It is tough, right? Drink this while you work.”

“Human lord!”

The Lizardmen cheered at Radel’s appearance.

“It is the human lord!”

“Hey, we have been waiting for you!”

“Calling warriors over just to butcher chickens!”

It sounded like grumbling, but they were all clearly welcoming Radel.

They knew that he had found a water source for them in the desert.

Savior of the clan.

To them, Radel was more than just an employer.

“Of course we will do anything!”

“Right! We are proud Lizardman warriors. This kind of knife work is nothing!”

“Haha, that is truly reassuring.”

Smiling, Radel handed out the potions and moved on to the neighboring tent.

If the Lizardmen handled ingredient preparation, frying the chicken itself fell to the Meteor Shower Knights.

“Commander! Sweat is pouring down like crazy!”

“Shake it off over there! If it falls into the chicken, we are dead!”

“Would it not be more humane for the Lizardmen to do the frying? They are lizards, so they do not even sweat!”

The burly knights of the Meteor Shower Knights complained, but their hands never stopped.

They were men who had learned a variety of skills in Raviedel.

They hunted often, but farming, building houses, and raising livestock—daily labor of that sort—had been done alongside the residents of Raviedel, one task at a time.

Before they knew it, they had grown accustomed to it.

They were steadily becoming excellent workers.

Even Radel could see it.

Radel walked up to them and greeted them.

“So, how is frying chicken? Is it manageable?”

“Huh?”

“Your Highness, the 8th Prince?!”

The Meteor Shower Knights cried out in surprise.

They had gone to Raviedel by the decision of their commander, Beck Ardan, and thus knew little about the 8th Prince, who was their lord.

They had only heard from the vice commander, Serge Sorte, that because they caused trouble so often, the only person left to trust was the 8th Prince.

Unsure how to treat Radel, they fidgeted awkwardly.

Just as Radel was about to speak with them—

“Hey, Your Highness.”

Someone addressed him.

“Let us talk for a moment.”

It was Beck Ardan, commander of the Meteor Shower Knights.

***

Was making them fry chicken too much?

Radel thought as he looked at Beck, who stood silently before him.

‘It was too much. Still, they are a knight order.’

Calling them all the way to Marcellent to help had indeed lacked consideration.

The Lizardmen knew Radel well, but the Meteor Shower Knights did not.

Their commander had merely attended a follower gathering.

He had never explicitly said he would support Radel.

They had simply appeared in Raviedel one day and started helping out.

‘Without even a single contract.’

Their pay was being handled by Chariot, the lord’s deputy, but that alone was not enough to say the Meteor Shower Knights were Radel’s followers.

If the commander said he had not expected this and could not fry chicken anymore, that would be understandable.

Radel decided to strike first.

“Why did you want to see me? Is frying chicken too hard?”

At that, the sword scar running across Beck’s right eye twitched.

“What are you talking about? Frying chicken—”

“I know. The oil is hot, there is smoke everywhere, your head reeks of grease, and later, even the smell of chicken makes your stomach churn. I know all of it.”

“No, compared to hunting magical beasts, oil is not that—”

“I know. Having a knight order come all this way just to make chicken must hurt your pride. I understand. Even if you leave now—”

“That is not it!”

Beck shouted, looking incredulous.

When Radel’s eyes widened, Beck waved his arms wildly.

“No, I mean—!”

He ran a large hand down his face, then let out a deep sigh, looking troubled.

“Hoo. I just wanted to say thank you. That is all.”

“Thank you?”

This time, it was Radel’s turn to be surprised.

“Yes. In any case, you gave us work. To be honest, we had nowhere else to go. If it were not for you, Your Highness, the Meteor Shower Knights would have scattered to the winds.”

It seemed the debts weighing on the Meteor Shower Knights were greater than Radel had expected.

They grew poorer the more requests they took on, clashing with clients or damaging equipment.

Going to Raviedel in the first place had been Beck’s impulsive decision.

‘If you truly wish to become my followers, remember one thing. Whenever a problem arises, you must abandon me without hesitation.’

That remark from Radel had rubbed him the wrong way.

Beck had done his own research on the 8th Prince.

Though the vice commander Serge had pressured him into moving, Beck had not been keen.

The Meteor Shower Knights serving under such a powerless prince?

Yet seeing Radel calmly tell them to abandon him made Beck change his mind.

Was it not unexpected?

And oddly interesting.

Moreover, when they went to Raviedel, even more interesting things awaited them.

They farmed with the Lizardmen and hunted at sea.

Crossing swords nightly with the territory residents, Beck found himself genuinely liking Raviedel.

After arriving there, everything became enjoyable.

No.

It had started from the moment he met the 8th Prince.

He laid his true feelings bare.

“I like my current life.”

“I see. Still—”

“Hey, Your Highness.”

Seeing that Radel did not quite understand, Beck spoke with a serious expression.

“I am saying that I will support you now.”