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Chapter 179: The Red-blooded Dreamer (5)

"Ah, really?"

I nodded absentmindedly at her words, and then belatedly felt that something was amiss. I had just heard today that the Masked Unit was to be deployed to us, and yet they were arriving tomorrow at noon?

Traveling from the capital to the academy would take several days by carriage, and even the nearest teleportation magic circle to the academy wasn’t exactly close.

'Were they somewhere else?'

Perhaps they were nearby on a mission and moved as soon as they received the dispatch order. Or maybe they left not today but a few days ago.

Either way, what did it matter? The important thing was that the 4th Manager and the Masked Unit were on their way.

"That's a relief. The sooner we meet, the better."

I genuinely felt relieved. I was so eager for their arrival that I wanted to send a teleportation magician if possible.

So far, I've been managing the 1st and 2nd Managers alone. They’ve been unusually quiet, but those two were like ticking time bombs. I couldn’t let my guard down.

With the arrival of the 4th Manager, I could finally breathe a sigh of relief. The balance between the sane and the insane would be restored, from 2-to-1 to an even 2-to-2.

— It's an honor.

So I spoke with heartfelt sincerity, and the 4th Manager bowed her head.

I would have definitely given her a bonus if she was still a part of the Prosecutors' Office. It's been years, but I still felt the loss.

"Should we meet in the forest where we met last time?"

I said, trying to calm my bitter heart. Since they were coming as a group, meeting at the academy would attract too much attention.

The forest we used as a rendezvous point for the Third Honor would be an ideal meeting spot.

— Yes, we'll head there.

"Good. Let's meet at lunchtime."

It would be around lunchtime, so I should bring something to eat. They would probably just make do with military rations.

Louise’s cookies would not be enough for the entire Masked Unit, so I should stop by the store.

'I should take the 1st Manager along.'

It wouldn’t hurt to bring her along since she was currently idle. The 2nd Manager was busy, so we’d better leave him be.

That thought made me pick up the communication crystal I had just set down on the desk. She would throw a fuss and complain that it wasn’t work-related if I just suddenly brought her along tomorrow.

— Executive Manager?

"Oh, it's me."

Leaving this brat behind and going somewhere else felt risky.

***

Fortunately, the 1st Manager followed without much resistance.

What a good manager. As a reward, I granted her the privilege of being able to help in carrying the food.

"Did you call me to carry your stuff?"

"Yes."

I answered succinctly to the 1st Manager’s grumbling.

I took her along more out of anxiety than necessity, but saying so would only upset her. It was better to just consider her as a porter. It would be better for the both of us.

Either way, the 1st Manager followed, albeit grumbling, perhaps because it was food for the 4th Manager

'What’s the deal with this brat?'

I glanced at the 1st Manager and then looked straight ahead again. Her social connections always puzzled me.

She was close friends with the Crown Princess and even with the 4th Manager. It was as if she liked to befriend people who were the opposite of her.

Come to think of it... while she had white hair, the Crown Princess and the 4th Manager had silver and gray hair respectively.

‘Do they connect on a hair-color basis?’

It seemed that there was something about grouping together with similar hair colors.

...Wait. Then, what about the 3rd Manager...?

"Ugh, why did you buy so much?"

The 1st Manager’s timely whining stopped the thoughts that would’ve made the 3rd Manager feel left out.

Sorry, 3rd Manager. I'll stop patting your head with wet hands for now.

"There are many people to feed; this amount is necessary."

"Anyone would think you’re donating to an orphanage."

Hearing that, I checked the food we were carrying. I had one in each of my hands, and the same went for the 1st Manager. There were four bundles in total.

Was it too much? I wasn’t sure. Maybe it was too little for those who were on the field?

"It might not even be enough for one meal."

"Wow..."

The 1st Manager let out a mixed sigh at my response.

Why, though? It really seemed like there was too little.

***

I knew that the Executive Manager cherished the Masked Unit ever since they were the 4th Division. It was understandable given the many memories that tied him to the 4th Division, but...

'It’s a weird kind of favoritism.'

Something felt off. It didn’t feel like how someone would treat their beloved subordinates or colleagues. It wasn’t even like how someone would treat their tools. It felt more like he was watching over an orphan who was shivering in the cold, worrying whether that pitiful orphan might go astray or be too hungry to move.

'Sure, there are orphans among them.'

There were quite a few orphans in the 4th Division. Even Penelia got orphaned in the Great War. Essentially, the Executive Manager picked up those kids.

Of course, that was an old story. Right now, they were practically nobility and were able to thrive anywhere. It would spell doom for the empire if the emperor's special forces lived in poverty.

"Should I have brought the 2nd Manager as well?"

"Then we’d definitely have leftovers."

I hastily shook my head at the Executive Manager’s serious contemplation.

The amount of food we had was more than enough for a day and not just a meal. Considering the 4th Division, they’d probably eat it all, thinking that they couldn’t waste what the Executive Manager gave them.

But to bring more than this? That would be overkill. Someone would surely end up throwing up.

'Those kids are really straightforward.'

They were genuinely diligent and quick-witted. They might be blunt and serious like Penelia, but they were good people.

It was just that their loyalty to the Executive Manager was to the point where it was almost fanatical, resembling Penelia’s.

'Where did he even pick them up from?'

I seriously wondered. Did the Executive Manager choose them, or did they become like this from being with him?

If it was the former, then his discernment was quite frightening. But if it was the latter, then his charm was terrifying. Either way, it was all because of the Executive Manager.

"Maybe I should buy more—"

"Let's go! The kids are waiting."

I barely managed to stop the Executive Manager from turning around to buy more. We couldn’t even carry more, so why bother?

'He’s just like a grandmother.'

He seemed to be trying to feed them just a bit more. From the perspective of the eaters and onlookers, he was being overly generous.

For some reason, the familiar scent of a grandmother wafted from the all-too-familiar Executive Manager...

***

Everything had gone horribly wrong.

This was the conclusion I arrived at after much deliberation. It wasn’t just a mess; it had become a full-blown catastrophe.

— It seems we'll have a new comrade, perfectly fit for the new world we envision.

"Haha, is that so?"

I almost blurted out 'That’s absurd,’ but I didn’t say it. That was enough. What I internally thought was my own business.

However, Eriko’s expression as he spoke so peacefully and joyously almost looked comical.

That was correct. According to what Eriko said, he would indeed be a comrade fit for greatness.

'But only for this world.'

It was unfortunate he was someone who was maintaining the current world and not the new world Eriko imagined.

'This is the end of it.'

The new students at the academy this year were spectacular. With the empire’s prince, foreign princes, and even the next saint enrolling, how could it be considered modest?

The leadership was ecstatic. The gathering of symbolic figures of the corrupt caste system meant that we could show our resolve to the continent if we could pull off a major operation.

'Idiots.'

I was dumbfounded by their simplistic thinking. Surely we weren’t the only ones with such thoughts.

Sure enough, the empire sent a big shot shortly after the entrance ceremony. They sent the Executive Manager of the Prosecutors' Office under the guise of a Prosecutor.

I almost grabbed the back of my neck at the unexpected arrival. Meanwhile, the leadership only reacted to the prospect of more blood to shed without coming up with any real strategy.

'It’s always the people on field that suffer.'

I was the only one trembling with anxiety over such foolish actions. The Executive Manager of the Prosecutors' Office was right beside us. He was a dangerous entity, capable of striking at any moment.

And in this worst-case scenario, Eriko was busy spreading republicanism. To put it nicely, he was quite dedicated to his role; but to be frank, he was clueless.

Daring to spread republicanism with the Prosecutor around? That’s utter madness.

'How have we lasted this long...?'

Fortunately, the Executive Manager focused on monitoring the foreign students and did not deal with me or Eriko. I’ve been lying low since the Executive Manager's arrival, so there was nothing to catch me on.

But as I lived each day with a trembling heart—

"By the way, Mr. Robin. There’s this chap named Charles Steiner. He’s a new assistant teacher who just arrived."

As soon as Eriko mentioned that, I had a hunch.

'It’s over.'

A new assistant teacher during the semester? That was possible. That such an assistant teacher was hired by Gerhardt, who usually didn't hire one? It could also happen. And that Gerhardt had recently become close to the Executive Manager? Yes, that too was possible.

But to say that the new assistant teacher was moving around and was actively getting chummy with Eriko? No matter how I thought about it, these consecutive events weren’t coincidental. They were all planned.

'I lasted quite a while.'

Until now, I felt anxious about when the Prosecutors' Office would swoop in, but facing the reality left me feeling empty. They said that a person must learn to let go at the right moment, and it was indeed true.

Of course, I had no intentions of dying yet.

'I haven’t been caught yet.'

Unlike Eriko, I really, really kept a low profile. Besides, my role was more about surveillance than plotting.

However, fleeing wasn’t an option. Disappearing at this time would only raise suspicion, and escaping from the drawn swords of the Prosecutors' Office was impossible.

Then, there was only one way out.

"I actually never liked republicanism."

I murmured, staring blankly at the ceiling. Just converting would solve everything.

The empire was somewhat merciful to those who surrendered. If I admit my foolish dreams and express my desire to embrace the emperor’s mercy, I could survive.

Fortunately, the information I held was somewhat useful. After all, I never imagined that I would rise to this position after joining the Red Wave in order to make a living.

‘Shit.’

Regret washed over me as I recalled my past choices. I was crazy, and insanely so, to have thrown myself into a group of idiots.

When the kids from my village entered the academy, it truly chilled me. They managed to succeed without straying off the path unlike me, who was older.

'Regretting it now is pointless.'

I should just be thankful that those kids didn’t recognize /genesisforsaken