Tl/n (CSV): Sponsored Chapter. Thank you very much for your support, and a serious thanks to st8_lupe for helping me proofread/edit the chapters.

Our agents are collecting and analyzing the information from the region around Miller Castle.

Keep finished his report and stepped back.

Roan sat on a chair with his legs crossed and deeply immersed in thought.

The long coat he wore to the dance slipped down the chair.

Princess Aily

Somehow, Ailys face filled his head.

Why am I so concerned about her?

Love?

No way.

Roan shook his head.

He and Aily never met before today.

Also, there was no way that Roan, who was living his second life, didnt know the feeling of love.

No, he thought he knew.

Was there some sort of connection in the last life?

Even Roan cant remember everything.

It was possible that there is a memory related to Aily among those that he thought wasnt important.

He rubbed the tip of his chin while furrowing his forehead.

Sir Baron?

At that sight, Keep nervously stared at Roan.

Since his time in the 7th Squad of Rose troop until now, he had been watching Roans side.

Because he was fast and quick-witted, he became the head of the information squad when Amaranth troop was made.

Keep realized Roans expression was different than usual.

Worries about whether there may be a problem in the mission surged through his mind.

Hmm. Sorry.

Roan organized his thoughts a step late and turned towards Keep.

Excellent. Continue to actively use the agents to gather as much information as possible.

Yes. Understood.

Keep lowered his head with a look of relief.

Then, Roan hesitated for a moment and then raised his right hand.

Ah. And by the way

He lost his words for a bit and wavered.

After breathing in and out several times, he whispered in a small voice.

Within the information you gathered and analyzed, is there perhaps anything about Princess Aily Rinse?

Princess Aily Rinse?

Keep tilted his head.

Ill have to check separately for anything specific, but I dont really remember anything special ah!

As he continued his words, Keep suddenly exclaimed.

Staring at Roan, he asked in a cautious voice.

Are you perhaps talking about the shadow princess?

Yeah. Thats right. The shadow princess.

On Roans face, a slight look of expectation had appeared.

For some reason, Keep whispered in a small voice.

Around last year or so, it seems that the shadow princess caught a serious disease.

Serious disease? What kind of disease?

Roan frowned.

Keep shrugged his shoulders.

Were not exactly sure. It was a rumor going around Millers residents. Because the princess hadnt appear ever since last Fall to this Spring, it seems that everyone thought that she had been sick.

Didnt appear

Roan squinted his eyes.

If such rumor started to run even amongst the castles citizens, even the royal family wouldnt stay still.

At the moment, he unconsciously held a great interest in Aily.

Keep.

Yes. Sir Baron.

Keep lowered his head.

Roan gave a new order in a low voice.

Gather some information on the palace and the royal family. Even rumors and ghost stories like this one is fine.

The, the royal family?

With a surprised expression, Keep asked back.

Roan nodded his head.

Secretly. Dont go burrowing too deep.

If they werent careful, they could earn hostility from the palace.

Calming down his shocked heart, Keep lowered his head.

Yes. Understood.

Certainly, it wasnt an easy mission.

But it wasnt impossible either.

Lets show the information squads ability.

He wanted to show something that could match the Agens, no, an appearance that is greater than Agens.

And although he said the palace and the royal family

His eyes quickly spun.

It seems that he is interested in the shadow no, Princess Aily.

As expected of Keep.

Sir Baron. Just believe in me and the Information squad.

He clenched his fist.

Roan, perhaps knowing his thoughts or perhaps not, stared at Keep and smiled.

Thats it. Compete together, grow together.

Still water is doomed to rot.

With a satisfied expression, Roan stood up.

Then, is Tron Academy the next

His heart trembled.

In the last life, it was a place he couldnt attend even if he wanted to.

Will something happen again at that place?

The smile on his mouth grew deeper.

*****

Roans dream was big.

It was different than an ambition or a desire.

It was pure and hot.

Because of that, he learned words despite being a commoner and bought and collected all sorts of books.

And to him, the academy was like a holy land.

I really wanted to go there.

Looking at the grand entrance to Tron Academy, Roan bitterly smiled.

A place where he wanted to, but couldnt attend.

There were various reasons why, but the biggest reasons were his standing, wealth, and time.

To attend the academy, he needed to at least be from a noble family or have a nobles recommendation.

Additionally, he needed to pay a colossal tuition fee and spend four years there until graduation.

To Roan, it was a place that he could only stare at.

I heard that theres a special lecture from Baron Tale?

Baron Tale bullsh*t. Its Roan, Roan.

Yeah. For an exiled convict, he got lucky and became a Baron overnight.

He became like that because he caught the princes eye.

The academys students that passed by Roan began babbling words of ridicule.

They didnt recognize Roan at all.

Nobles kids

Roan smiled bitterly.

The mindset of the students that should be leading the kingdom was too laughable and immature.

Following the students that continued to complain, he moved his feet.

The ones walking in the front stole a glance behind.

What?

Is he someone you know?

Dont know. Is he a first year? Or maybe a transfer student?

The students frowned and whispered between themselves.

They couldnt imagine that Roan, the hero of the expedition and the one who recently became a Baron, might be around the same age as them.

Since the academys fourth year students age was nineteen, there was merely a difference of a single year away from Roan.

When the students eyes met his, Roan smiled at them.

What? Why is he smiling?

Whos he supposed to be?

The students expressions twisted.

That moment.

Ah! You came?

From far away, he heard a familiar voice.

Roans and the students gazes followed the voice.

Its Ian Phillips.

The owner of the voice was Ian.

Waving his hand, Ian ran from the academys main building.

Hhm. Hes that Ian Phillips, right?

Right. The firstborn of Count Phillips and Miller Castles, no the kingdoms greatest genius.

Hes a freshman that started this year.

Yeah. Doesnt he look like hes greeting us?

The students pointlessly came to their own conclusions.

I thought he would be arrogant since hes the firstborn of a count on top of being a genius.

It looks like hes quite the well-mannered brat.

Then, the brats awkwardly waved.

Before they knew it, Ian was right in front of them.

Yes. Good to see you. Ian. Im the fourth year Pi

When the student at the front introduced himself.

Excuse me.

Ian pushed the students to the left and right and went up to Roan.

Eh?

What?

The brats who were pushed aside frowned and looked at Ian.

Their eyes naturally focused on Roan and Ian.

Ian bowed right away.

Welcome. Sir Baron Tale.

For you to even come out to meet me, thank you very much.

A fair and clear voice rode the wind into the students ears.

Huk!

Ba, Baron Tale?

Hes that Roan?

With a completely shocked expression, the brats looked at Roan.

When Roan met their gazes, he brightly smiled and slightly nodded his head.

Hph!

The students gulped and quickly lowered their heads.

However much they insulted and looked down upon Roan, they couldnt keep their heads up in front of a kingdoms noble.

Si, Sir Baron Tale. A, about our talk just now

The voice sharply shook.

Although they were certainly sons of nobles, their positions werent something that could hold up against Roan who held a true title of nobility.

Roan cheerfully smiled and stood in front of them.

Ian tilted his head, wondering what had happened.

Its okay.

A gentle voice.

Roan extended his hand and brushed each of their head.

A completely natural and adult-like act.

At the unexpected hand, the students who had their heads lowered bit their lips.

Damn it. Hes completely treating us like kids.

Even so, they couldnt raise their heads.

At the same time, Roan tapped their shoulders as he brightly smiled.

Work hard.

With a word and an act, he cleanly split the hierarchy between himself and the students.

Kuu.

The brats, still with their heads lowered, couldnt move without permission.

Roan averted his gaze and looked at Ian.

Should we head to the location of the lecture?

Ah, yes. Follow me.

Ian took hold of himself a second late and nodded his head.

Within that short moment, he understood the entire situation.

Thats why, you always have to be careful about what you say.

Ian snickered and shook his head.

Soon, Roan and Ian disappeared from sight.

Only then did the students raise their heads and sigh.

Huu.

To think that brat was Baron Tale.

Seriously. That rumor about a giant was a complete lie.

Then, one of the brats spoke with a quiet voice.

Maybe, could it be that his skills and exploits are also exaggerated?

As soon as he spoke, the rest of the students clapped.

Thats it!

That could be it!

Quickly putting their heads together, the brats continued to quietly talk.

Then, should we test if Roans skills are real?

Test? Us?

At those words, the student who spoke first shook his head with an eerie expression.

No. Theres that guy in our grade.

That guy? Ah! That guy!

Promptly, the students faces brightened.

The brats looked at each other with a cruel light in their eyes.

For now, lets go convince that guy.

A cold voice rolled down on the ground.

******

Its an honor to meet the hero of the expedition.

No. Im more honored to have the chance to meet Sir Fred Brown, the principal leading the kingdoms greatest academy.

Holding the white-haired old mans hand, Roan lowered his head.

The old man wearing a clean suit was Fred Brown, the one who was leading Tron Academy for the twentieth year.

Hes someone that I wanted to meet at least once.

Roan was unimaginably moved.

It was a moment where a small goal from the last life had been achieved.

If I could, I want to chat, but it seems that there isnt much time left for the special lecture. Let us talk after the lecture is over.

Yes. Understood.

That was what Roan wanted as well.

To him, who wanted to build an academy in the Tale Barony, a talk with Fred was a chance that could become the flesh and bones of his plan.

Now, do follow me.

Fred walked a step in front and Roan followed behind him.

Coming out of a simple office of the principal, they crossed the wooden hallway.

Passing through several buildings, they headed towards the garden behind the academy.

The location of the lecture was prepared in the open air instead of inside a building.

Because there were too many students that wanted to audit, we prepared the place in the academys training field.

Fred turned towards Roan and apologized.

Roan wordlessly nodded and gazed in front of him.

He could see a tall wall covered in vines.

There was an entrance at the center and several words were ornately written on top.

< Tron Academy Training Field >

The door was wide open.

Fred walked ahead and Roan followed behind.

Then.

Huuk!

Scorching heat was felt.

Ah

Roan quietly exclaimed.

The field was enormous.

It was twice as large as the field where the Amaranth troop held drills.

Excluding one side, chairs filled the three sides of the field.

An unbelievable number.

Students sat in each and every one of those chairs.

It was an incredible number of students, but they didnt let out a single sound.

They simply stared in curiosity while exuding heat from their entire bodies.

More than a thousand pair of eyes stabbed into Roan.

Are they trying to pressure me?

Roan smiled bitterly inside.

Then, he heard Freds voice.

It seems everyone has high expectations. For now, shall we go up onto the stage?

Yes.

Roan replied shortly and followed Fred up the stage.

On the stage, there was a vertically long table and a loudspeaker made of a magic stone and a magic circle.

We will now start the special lecture of Sir Baron Roan Tale, the hero of the Istel War and the monster expedition. Everyone please welcome him with a round of applause.

As soon as he finished, claps sporadically resounded here and there.

A scene as if clapping against their will.

Fred furrowed his forehead at the sight, but didnt criticize them.

Its something Baron Tale will have to solve on his own.

Truthfully, he wanted to see Roans ability.

Slightly lowering his head at Roan, Fred walked off the stage.

Now, only Roan was left on the tall stage.

He stood in front of the table and looked at the students.

Everyones expressions are ones saying let see how well I do.

An undisguisable antagonism could be felt from their faces.

Of course, there were also students like Ian who showed signs of curiosity, desire, and respect.

Hm?

Roan, who was scanning the students faces with Kalians Tear, frowned at the tip of his nose.

Royalty is also here.

As expected of the kingdoms greatest academy, he could see several princesses among the students.

And the one who stood out amongst them.

Princess Katy Rinse and

His eyes stayed in one place for a long time.

Princess Aily Rinse.

For some reason, his ears felt hot and he became happy.

For a while, Roan motionlessly stared at her face.

What the?

Whats up with him?

Because Roan stayed silent for a long time, the students began to chatter.

Only then did Roan finally take ahold of himself.

Its not the time for that.

With a smiling face, he lowered his head.

Nice to meet you. Im Baron Roan Tale, who will be giving the special lecture today.

Even though he introduced himself, the field was silent.

Woah!

Only Ian cheered without worrying about others.

Roan slightly lowered his head toward Ian, and then made a faint smile.

Hm.

The students gazes pour down.

Calmly taking on those gazes, Roan spoke with a soft voice.

The topic I want to talk about today is

Playfulness flashed in his eyes.

About what would you do if you knew about the future.

< Tron Academy 1> End

Translator : CSV

Proofreader: st8_lupe.