I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City - Chapter 87



86 – Heir, Sion Testarossa -2-

“Came to escort you.”

Yoo-ho, concealing the smile blooming on her lips with a fan, pointed to the ice flowers that had bloomed brilliantly.

Sion, startled by the sudden appearance of these heavyweights, couldn’t easily move.

Powerhouses whose limits were impossible to gauge.

A sensation where even the movement of a finger, the blink of an eye, and every breath were readable.

‘Why are these people here…?’

Argen Blizzard, the White Tiger Palace Guard Captain, and Yoo-ho, the highest administrator of Tigrova.

Famous figures who, despite not having the Frozenheart name, were called the closest aides of Emperor Seol-ho.

That’s why Sion was confused. What was she, that they would empty the White Tiger Palace and come to greet her with such utmost courtesy?

“Th-that…”

As the girl stiffened with tension,

Yoo-ho, with a swaying movement, approached and awakened Sion with a deep voice.

“His Majesty the Emperor is eagerly anticipating this meeting?”

That they couldn’t make their king wait was the first reason for their arrival.

The second reason was that any guest receiving Emperor Seol-hos favor and attention would bypass all formalities and be immediately treated as a state guest.

If they failed to properly protect Sion, it would tarnish the reputation of Emperor Seol-ho, who had summoned her.

That’s why the people here were prepared to throw away their lives like mere straw to protect the guest if necessary.

Sion came to her senses at Yoo-ho’s words.

Recalling what I’d learned, I hurriedly showed my respects.

“T-thank you… Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

The moment the greeting finished, I returned the gun to my bag.

I stepped into the ice flower, taking my place. Yoo-ho stood next to me, a bright smile on his face.

“This Snow Fang Valley () has quite a few sights to see, but its location isn’t ideal, so it’ll take a considerable amount of time to reach White Tiger Palace.”

He meant to cut down that time.

The thought of shortening the return journey made Sion feel good.

Shhhkkk.

The ice flower petals gathered and slowly closed.

Looking around, I saw that ice flowers had bloomed everywhere, neatly swallowing even the guard captain and his soldiers.

“Are you uncomfortable or cold?”

“No. I’m fine.”

Was Yoo-ho controlling these ice flowers?

It was amazing. The inside was at the perfect temperature.

‘Are we moving?’

Yoo-ho was just standing still, but after the petals closed, I didn’t feel any sense of movement.

No vibrations or noise could be felt either.

“Heh heh…”

Yoo-ho let out a small laugh, looking at Testa Rossa’s lineage, which was different from what he expected.

Sion couldn’t move his head but carefully rolled his eyes, expressing his curiosity, looking very innocent.

“We’ve arrived.”

“!”

Sion’s lips parted slightly at the sight of the White Tiger Palace revealed as the petals opened.

From Seolah Valley, where the sky train had arrived, to the front of the capitals White Tiger Palace. Had they really arrived already, after traveling such a distance?

Yooho seemed satisfied with Sion’s transparent reaction.

He twitched his fox ears! and closed his fan.

“It’s not like I can do this just anywhere, you know?”

“Still, you’re amazing… I didn’t even feel us moving.”

“Hoho! If only the Captain of the Guard reacted like that, it would be so much more rewarding to use my power.”

Argen Blizard, who had received the gaze, was already having the soldiers lined up and waiting with an expressionless face.

In the blink of an eye, a path had been created for Sion to enter the White Tiger Palace.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes…!”

Guided by Yooho, Sion confidently began to walk.

This was the real lions den, from here on out.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

The capital of Tigrova was the same as it had been when Sion’s parents were alive.

But the place where the royal family resided had changed, so the White Tiger Palace was a place Sion was seeing for the first time.

‘It’s vast.’

That was Sion’s first impression.

Having grown to my full size and feeling it like this, it was definitely wider than the palace I used to play in as a child.

A massive gate met me at the end of my steps.

The gate, made of an unknown metal, was frosted over like a work of art.

“Please wait here a moment. I will request an audience.”

The Captain of the Guard took a step toward the massive gate, about to speak, when.

Someone within, sensing our presence, spoke first in a solemn voice.

Enter.

It always happened. The Captain of the Guard glanced at the two gatekeepers.

“Open.”

At the Captain’s command, the two beastmen guarding the gate bowed their heads and moved.

Kugugugu!!! The gate opened, and a mountain of a figure sitting on a throne filled Shions vision.

‘That man…’

The father of the lively beastwoman girl, Noah Frozenheart, and the current ruler of Tigrova.

One of the strongest, as many people agreed.

The Snow Tiger Emperor, Rex Frozenheart.

Could we even be the same species?

An unconsciously rising aura made my entire body tremble.

I felt certain that if that man were to twitch a finger with murderous intent, I would die.

Even so, the girl, who had waited for this moment, summoned her courage.

She bowed respectfully during the brief silence and spoke.

“I…”

“Enough. I’m done with tedious procedures. I detest formalities, so be at ease.”

The Snow Tiger Emperor, with a hand like a pot lid propped on his chin, fixed his gaze on Sion, standing beside Yuho.

A brief moment of scrutiny was all he needed to reach his conclusion.

He curled his lip, revealing sharp fangs.

“Indeed, the blood of Testarossa. You are certainly Weber’s child.”

Hearing his father’s name from the Snow Tiger Emperor’s lips, Sion unknowingly twitched.

Yuho encouraged him, saying that he was free to speak if there was anything he wished to say.

Sion cautiously found his voice.

“Is it… because I resemble them?”

“The basis of my judgment is not appearance. It’s because there is a unique hue that the same bloodline possesses.”

Perhaps those who had come to meet him knew this as well, which was why they hadn’t questioned his identity.

“If you are curious about appearance, then let me say, Sion Testarossa-nim greatly resembles his parents. Is that not so? Captain of the Guard.”

Argen Blizzard gave a small nod, affirming the statement.

Both of them held clear memories of seeing the Testarossas.

“To the main point.”

The Snow Tiger Emperor simply uttered those words, and yet he commanded their full attention.

Sion quietly waited, watching the man on the throne as he prepared to speak.

“Where have you been until now?”

“…”

“That day we sent Webber to speak with his kin, we found a mass of elf corpses in the conifer forest.”

Sion’s mouth felt like sandpaper. His shoulders were heavy.

What he revealed here would clearly become the truth regarding the Tigrova elves.

So, while being as careful with his words as possible.

‘I’ll state the facts.’

He had no intention of lying in the first place.

Besides, he had a gut feeling that lies wouldnt work in front of these people.

“Ill begin from the point I can remember.”

Under the gaze of the Tigrova ruler and his aides, Sion revealed the events that came to mind.

He didn’t believe himself to be innocent.

His past of acting as he was told despite his doubts, that was a sin.

“And…”

His eloquence wasn’t graceful, but without rationalizing himself, Sion did his best to explain,

and poured out everything, even the information the elder heads had confessed.

Even the fact that he was able to escape danger thanks to the friends he made when he went to the academy city.

“…That’s all.”

After listening to Sion’s story to the end, the Snow White Emperor and his aides showed no signs of wavering.

Having experienced so many varied things in their lives, they accepted the situation calmly rather than being shocked.

“The Reverse Praise Society. Those bug-like things… a tiresome name, indeed.”

The Snow White Emperor scratched his thick neck with his hand and continued thinking for a short while.

Most of it would be for Yuho to struggle with, but he’d also resolved a long-held curiosity, so there was much to do.

But it wasn’t a matter to discuss in front of a guest.

Seolho the Great decided to focus on communicating with the girl before him.

Weber Testarossa is my close friend.

You were acquaintances with my father from the beginning?

Seolho the Great stroked his beard at Sions words, then chuckled.

We met only once.

There was just one encounter. That was the day we settled things. Still, hes my close friend.

Did the number of times they met or the length of time matter?

If they simply liked each other, then they were friends.

Im not just flattering him because its in front of his daughter, Weber Testarossa was a remarkable man.

Seolho the Great untied the animal hide from his wrist and revealed a scar.

Flesh that had been pierced and closed in a circular shape. It was clearly a bullet wound.

Ive never been wary of guns in my life. Until I met Weber, that is.

A scar this deep is one of the few enjoyable experiences Ive had in my life.

The Royal Guard Captain, who had been standing still, seemed to somehow empathize.

After touching his scar and recalling the time, Seolho the Great,

announced, to keep a promise with his friend, the time having arrived.

“To seat an elf from the Tigrova Conifer Forest in a key positionthat was a promise to Weber Testarossa.

The kings gaze shifts to the Chief Administrator.

Yuho bows low to receive the command.

Yuho. You may create a new position. See to it that Testarossa’s honor is upheld.

It shall be done.

Two sentences, and a vast procedure flies by like a shot.

Shions voice rises, urgent.

W-wait, please, just a moment!

Oh my, is there perhaps a position you have your eye on?

Yuhos question receives a denial from Shion, who instead reveals his curiosity.

…Did my identity remain active?

When the gaze of the Snow Tiger Emperor settles on him, Yuho answers.

When the period of disappearance exceeds a certain time, a person is naturally declared deceased. But the identity can be revived, so I intend to have yours reinstated immediately after this audience.

So it is.

To the gaze that asks if that suffices, Shion offers a respectful bow.

Thank you!

This resolves a major hardship.

Tigrova is one of the three great powers governing the academy city of Elysium.

If his identity is revived, he will need no special procedures or requests to reside in the academy city.

Is there anything else you wish to say? Weber was quite the talkative type. Speak your mind.

Sion swallowed hard at the words of Emperor Seolho.

She brought up the most crucial point.

“I am truly grateful for your offer of a position. However, I… wish to live in the academy city for now.”

In short, what this girl desired was freedom.

Everyone present shared subtle smiles at the girls misunderstanding, it seemed.

“Child of Testarossa.”

“Yes…!”

“We are not bound by our positions. Everyone sits in Tigrova of their own will. I have no intention of saddling you with troublesome work just because you hold a high post.”

He concluded by saying that they should do what they can when they feel responsible and capable.

Then, he gave further orders to Yuho.

“Rather than offering a menial job, a purely honorary title would be better.”

“I shall make the arrangements.”

A sense of relief washed over him, he’d finally kept his promise.

Emperor Seolho exhaled and looked at the elf girl.

“Sion Testarossa.”

“Yes…!”

“You would want to avenge your parents yourself, wouldn’t you.”

“Yes, I would!”

Emperor Seolho nodded, satisfied with her unwavering answer, stating he would be watching.

He then granted Sion a background.

“From this moment on, Zion Testarossa is under the protection of Tigrova. Remember that fact wherever you go, and live with pride.”

Thank you!

“And get along well with our daughter too. She has more to teach than you might think.”

When Zion showed an attitude of wanting to do her best,

Emperor Sulho continued with a chin flick, and Yuho pulled out a book from his sleeve.

Zion, not knowing why, accepted the book being handed to her.

An explanation followed.

“This is an account book converting the personal estate left to Testarossa. Sort out what you’ll take and what you won’t, and tell Yuho.”

“This is Yuho’s true specialty, so you can trust him. I’ll get you the best value without any losses, you know?”

Yuho said with a playful smile, telling her to open it.

With gratitude, Zion opened the ledger, and.

“?”

She froze completely at the sight of the numbers she was seeing for the first time.

It was an amount that felt unreal to be called money.

‘How many zeros is this?

She couldn’t possibly count it with her fingers in front of Emperor Sulho.

From noble mtl dot com

Before showing an unsightly sight, the girl closed the ledger, saying she would carefully review it,

and brought Rohan and Clara to mind.