A Famous Traitor and Treacherous Genius

131 – Scholarships for Excellent Clubs (4)

A long time ago – around 4 years ago to be exact.

So, the time when Naria and Astasia were at the orphanage as Jabeth and Ellie.

“From now on, we will start playing the division game.”

I used to predict future situations through several games for children in daycare.

“For this game, let’s make one premise. You can all become the heroes of Nostrum.”

The children blinked and listened.

“I will give each of you a wooden tablet with your talents written on it. The name of the wooden tablet is ‘potential.'”

Whether they are orphans or poor, fallen nobles, all children born in Nostrum yearn for heroes.

“I like heroes too. They’re cool. I respect them.”

I was like that before my regression.

“Exemplary heroes who saved everyone and willingly sacrificed themselves for the country. Everyone wants to be. To do that, you need enormous talent. You often see people with that talent too, right?”＜ Br＞

His father, Crimson Gibraltar, was a hero of his time, and Gibraltar was a hero for generations.

“However, this talent is not your real talent. It is just a talent created entirely for play.”

The children didn’t know.

“Among them, there are those who have the talent of genius traitors who will sell out the country. Yes, they are heroes from the empire’s point of view.”

Although I said it was just a game, the talent written on the wooden plaque was a characteristic of the talented people I remember.

“You can become a brewer who makes alcohol, you can become the 10th sword master on the continent even if you don’t reach the rank of margrave, or your military might not be that good, but you can have the talent to lead troops . And From now on…”

In order to divide the true side, I put forward two ‘agents’.

“It doesn’t mean anything, but here are the N Kingdom and the T Empire.”

Jabeth and Ellie.

Nostrum and Thersian.

“Don’t put any meaning into it. It’s just a side. One side has blonde hair, the other side has silver hair. That’s just the difference.”

I put two people at the forefront and made them replace ‘Jinyoung’.

“The blonde kingdom and the silver-haired empire. You must choose one of these to live in and become the hero of that country.”

It’s just a game.

It has no meaning, it is just a game to be enjoyed with 100 orphans at an orphanage that replaces the academy.

“The background setting of the game is roughly like this. The kingdom is the country where you live, but the king is incompetent, so it is difficult to live, and the empire is a country where everyone but the king is equal.”

“…”

“And you are all from the kingdom. However, if you look at the wooden tablets, there will be about 10 people with small marks on them. Those people are heroes from the empire that has infiltrated the kingdom.”

“…”

It’s just a ‘simulation experiment’.

“You have to decide which country you will follow from now on. Can’t someone with master-level talent go anywhere?”

“B-but… “

“It’s neither Nostrum nor Thersian. It’s just a game, a pastime. Isn’t it?”

“…”

“So Jabeth and Ellie, how are you going to get the heroes on your side against these people who could become future heroes?”

From an adult’s point of view, it’s just children’s absurd play.

“It’s not just Jabeth and Ellie. Think about it, you too. When you become the Prime Minister of this country, or when the king or royal family suddenly invites you and says, ‘You are our hero,’ what do you have to do for this country? Is it the most effective?”

Although children do not know what kind of administrative support they should provide for the country, they are well aware of how the great heroes of Nostrum were recruited and dedicated and sacrificed for the country throughout history.

“You can act like a hero you respect, or you can act however you want. There is no need to argue about the results. This is how it will be done every time from now on.”

Play is repeated.

That experience becomes strategy and tactics, and becomes a valuable experimentation ground for someone.

“Ah, yes. Was the kingdom and empire too complicated an approach?”

The simpler the rules, the better.

If play becomes ‘understanding’, it becomes not play but uncomfortable study.

“Then, shall we start with something very simple: splitting it in half?”

Although complex interests are intertwined, sometimes looking at the world simply is one way.

“Before we do that, keep in mind.” This is just a game and a healthy discussion. It’s not for us to criticize or fight among ourselves. It’s just a prank for fun. Or a preliminary step to a more complex game. So… Shall we split up? .”

With a clear warning.

“A kingdom where bread and soup must be eaten separately under any circumstances.”

Approach from the children’s perspective.

“An empire where there is absolutely no problem with eating bread dipped in soup, and bread can be used as a vessel for soup.”

“…”

The children’s expressions changed in an instant.

It’s as if some of the kingdom’s nobles saw the people of the empire pouring a lot of cold water into concentrated coffee.

“Now. “What will you choose?”

We played like this often.

“Why do I have to dip my bread in soup…?”

“No, you can eat it like that. It’s soft.”

“Isn’t it getting mushy?”

“That’s because you’ve never tried hard bread!”

No, often. A lot.

“Does this have something to do with the kingdom and the empire…? Master, isn’t this a test for us?”

“Does it matter! How can you use bread as a soup bowl or something? “This is an insult to bread!”

“Bread bowl…? Looks delicious…?”

“Do you know that’s why you baked bread?! Do you know how hard it is to bake bread? If you baked bread to make dishes, you wouldn’t have baked it in the first place!”

There was a lot of trial and error, trouble, and fighting, but it became a lot of fun.

“…Two princesses, take note. Watching them do that will be of great help in the future.”

As a result, if your childhood experiences are of great help later, it will be a good opportunity.

The orphanage is ultimately a stepping stone for activities at the academy.

And in the words of children who have started to fight emotionally, all kinds of bizarre and foolish logic come out to persuade the other person.

If you can find at least one plausible opinion out of 100 ridiculous opinions, the game has achieved its goal.

“Indeed.”

And.

“I don’t know if it will be helpful, but I will refer to it every time.”

It may be surprising, but Naria has perfect memory.

Even if the topic changes, the side changes, the children’s talents change, and the rules of play change.

“Hey! You speak the truth! You are from the Empire! You must have been an Empire citizen in your past life! How can you say that you sprinkle salt on fruit before eating it!”

“Oh, no! I just like the theme of this game is the Empire… You, you! You’re from the same hometown as me and you’re going to see it that way?! Huh?!”

“Shut up, you traitor! After all, you are from the Empire! Am I right?! How can you put salt on tomatoes instead of sugar!”

“No, why are you doing this with something like this?!” The talent I have is just… Huh? This is why it’s splitting in half… Ah!”

Throughout the entire play, these absurd and absurd words are exchanged, but Naria will remember and store all of those conversations in her head.

“It’s loud!” I’m absolutely right!”

“Hey, look at this! The master played a prank again!”

“…A master of talent who is easily incited by others…? Ah! Me, master, master!!”

“I never said there was only one talent, and I never said there weren’t hidden talents.”

And later, she will use it as her own logic.

The contents inside may be slightly different.

“Next time, I’ll have to use fried chicken instead of a bread bowl.”

“Fried chicken…?”

“Fried chicken should be eaten as is. No, fried chicken should be eaten dipped in sauce.”

“Is there any point in arguing about something like that, master…?”

“Ellie. Usually in things like this, your true intentions come out when your own interests are at stake, right?”

Children are ultimately human, simple people who cannot hide their true feelings any more than adults.

“Based on the opinion of the winning country, tomorrow’s lunch special will be decided accordingly.”

“…”

Unreasonable.

“It makes no sense to put sauce on fried chicken! It gets soggy!”

“You can eat it for that taste!”

“Noisy! You imperialist! You tasted ketchup and even your tongue defected to the empire!”

“What does that have to do with ketchup? I would put ketchup on my fried chicken!”

“He is an apostle! He is a traitor! You traitor!!”

The logical nature of children is sometimes a powerful force.

And now, 4 years later.

Naria Geo Nostrum brought up the ‘invincible logic’ that came up whenever discussions arose among children at Orosol Academy.

Tradition.

Conservative.

And patriotism.

* * *

Academy Central Square.

Flutter, flutter.

Naria Geo Nostrum is waving the national flag on a spear.

People who saw it from afar were drawn to the flag and gathered in the square. Those gathered were puzzled when they saw the person waving the flag one by one, and when they saw the people who had gathered, people gathered again and said, ‘What is going on?’.

“Everyone.”

At that moment, a cool breeze blows and the flag flutters in the wind just by holding the spear.

“Join my club, [Patriotic Club].”

At Naria’s declaration, the expressions of those gathered in the square began to change one by one.

“There is one condition for joining my club. Someone who loves Nostrum. That’s it.”

Even though others were watching from afar, out of sight, I felt that Naria was truly venomous.

“Age, gender, status, origin. None of it matters. If you love Nostrum, you are worthy of joining my club.”

I’m not a mind reader, but I think I can hear the voices of the students gathered in the square.

-So you’re saying that if you don’t join the club, you’re a traitor to the country?

Where in the world is there such a law?

Is there anything that divides the world in such a dichotomous way?

Rather than seeing the world only in black and white, there are also gray and colored colors in the middle, so why divide black and white?

I want to argue, but who can argue?

“Everyone who loves the great Nostrum, let’s love Nostrum with me.”

The opponent is a person in power.

“I stand here as a person who loves Nostrum. I would like to put aside my status as the only princess or the next king at Orosol Academy and create a club to interact with people who truly love Nostrum.”

Putting it down for a while doesn’t mean you’ll take up that status again later.

If you don’t join the club, it means you don’t truly love Nostrum, and you’re going to accuse me of being a traitor.

Isn’t this actually a verification of ideology?

‘That’s right.’

Verification is correct.

“Everyone, come here and sign. If you are a citizen of Nostrum. If you have come to study at the Academy in Nostrum. If Nostrum is alive within you.”

“Uh, um…”

Everyone looks at each other and hesitates.

No one is willing to put their hand on the club membership application form and list on the desk.

In this case, the most sure way to grab people’s attention.

It was like that when we played [Partitioning Game] Or [Spy Game] At daycare, but-

“Andy Jefferson.”

“Hee, hee?!”

One person.

Make a scapegoat.

“The eldest son of the Jefferson family. Please come forward.”

“Why me…”

“The Jefferson family is descended from the great hero Sir Cyphonio, who swore allegiance to the kingdom 213 years ago. Is that right?”

“Yes, that’s right, but… “

“As a descendant of Sir Cyphonio, you must have respect for the founder of the family, the man who has allowed you to live as a member of the baronial family until now.”

“Oh, well, that is…”

I was bitten.

To put it the other way, I asked the right question.

From noble mtl dot come

“Descendant of a hero. Love and devotion to Nostrum. Don’t worry. You have potential.”

“…!!”

“I believe that Nostrum lives and breathes within you. Surely you, a descendant of the great Sir Cyphonio, would never say that you do not love Nostrum?”

“Yes, I love you! Of course!”

“If so, sign it.”

“…”

“Prove your love for Nostrum with a signature or by joining a club.”

It’s unreasonable.

“This is unreasonable… No matter how much you call me a princess, you’re trying to force me to join like this…!”

“Force? But even so, I have to make you join my club.”

“…Why?”

“I can see it. Your potential. That towering nose, like the legendary Sir Cyphonio. Yes, let’s call it intuition.”

It may be far-fetched, but if you mix one word here, the story changes.

“I think you will be a hero for this country, sir.”

Romance.

“Anyone who loves Nostrum can become a hero.”

“…What is the reason you want to bring me into the club like this?”

“Reason? When a member of the Nostrum royal family creates his own person, is there always a need for a reason?”

And, history.

“There is no particular reason. I just trust my intuition.”

“…Could you please give me the application form?”

First, a club member signed the application.

“Hmm.”

I look at Andy Jefferson’s back as he signs his name with a somewhat tearful face.

And as I looked at the familiar shadows looking at Andy, I prayed and prayed in my mind over and over again.

‘Please.’

Andy Jefferson.

Please take me with you.

‘Master level bounced check, please take it as a hero in the empire.’

One piece of information as a regressor.

Andy Jefferson is a nobleman and traitor from the kingdom, and even though he was from the kingdom, he deceived many of the upper class of the empire-

-Count! Well, I’m not a fraud! What can I say? It’s their fault for being deceived! Well, in the first place, sending money carelessly to your family without even asking how they are-

Ta-euang.

The cancer of the kingdom that I personally shot down, the greatest fraudster.

“For Nostrum!!”

“Yes. For Nostrum.”

Information only I know.

Even Naria doesn’t know.

That’s why.

Even if you become Naria’s closest associate at the academy.

“I, Andy! As a member of the Jefferson family and a nobleman of Nostrum, I firmly pledge to love Nostrum!”

Even the Habsburgs don’t know whether this man is truly a hero or not.

Unless I tell you.

‘Be sure to betray me. Before the root is revealed.’

If we compare it to the culture of an empire.

Originally.

‘Be sure to betray and show off your talent to the crown prince in a very cool way.’

You don’t know if the lottery ticket is a loser until you scratch it.

‘The rare trickster, [Siren].’

Later.

The Imperial Newspaper called this man [Boyce Fisher].