Only I Know the War Hero’s Secret Chapter 5

Richard Cronell.

He was a man whose presence was far more overwhelming than the rumors had suggested.

Dressed in a pitch-black formal uniform tailored for the banquet, he exuded an intense air of intimidation, thanks to his towering height of well over 190 centimeters and his solid, muscular build.

On top of that, his appearance was so dazzling that he could easily be called a peerless beauty without the slightest exaggeration.

Beneath his neatly swept-back platinum-blond hair, his vivid blue eyes brought to mind the summer sea. His deep-set eyes, sharp nose, and clearly defined, seemingly sculpted jawline all accentuated his masculine beauty.

He looked less like the figures in newspaper illustrations and more like a god of war from mythology. Everyone stared at him, utterly entranced.

Even Mona, who paid little attention to her own appearance, let alone anyone else’s, was inwardly astonished by the perfect symmetry and balance of his face.

“He’s so handsome…….”

She heard Olivia mutter beside her, completely mesmerized.

After the man’s entrance, the banquet hall, which had fallen into a deathly silence, soon grew even more boisterous.

“What an extraordinarily handsome man!”

“To think such a magnificent man is a war hero…… The Empire’s future looks bright.”

“His bloodline, achievements, and appearance—there isn’t a single flaw to be found.”

Even as countless gazes and lavish compliments were openly directed his way, the man’s expression remained impassive.

He looked indifferent, or perhaps simply as though everything was a bother to him.

“How should I put it? He’s so perfect that he hardly seems like a fellow human being. Hahaha.”

Mona inwardly agreed with someone’s assessment from behind her.

Yes, there was something distinctly inhuman about this man named Richard.

‘Perhaps that’s what makes him even more captivating…….’

Having finished her brief assessment, Mona lightly pressed her lips together and recalled why she had come to this banquet.

Now was not the time to stand around entranced by a man’s good looks.

Whether or not the war hero had any humanity was far less important to her than finding Professor Thomas.

‘Damn professor. Why isn’t he anywhere to be seen……?’

Professor Thomas was nowhere among the people in her field of vision.

Instead, Mona spotted a man in the distance, near the terrace, who seemed likely to know where Professor Thomas was.

It was Professor Jerome from the Academy, who had once encouraged Mona to join the Department of Magical Formula Studies.

‘I’d better move before that familiar face disappears…….’

The problem was that, according to proper etiquette, an unmarried young lady was required to have a family member or partner escort her around the banquet hall. She couldn’t simply wander wherever she pleased.

‘Of course, someone as inconspicuous as me could probably run around all over the place without anyone paying attention.’

But there was no way her father, who had brought her along as a shield to reject Olivia’s marriage proposal, would willingly let her go.

Just then, a glint appeared in Mona’s eyes as she observed the movement of the people around her.

She had noticed the chief chamberlain, who had been standing beside the Imperial Family, briefly stepped away before returning with a military medal.

“Mona, where are you going?”

Count Veloz quickly noticed Mona trying to slip away and blocked her path.

“An unmarried young lady wandering around alone without an escort goes against Imperial etiquette…… Ack!”

At that moment, Richard moved toward the center of the banquet hall to receive his medal of honor, and the nobles began surging toward the middle in droves.

“Oh, no!”

While Count Veloz floundered after being swept up in the crowd, Mona took advantage of the commotion to quickly slip away from her family.

Then, swimming upstream through the crowd like a salmon, she made her way toward the terrace in the corner where the professor from the Department of Magical Formula Studies had been standing.

Just as Mona had expected, the professor, who was reluctant to move from his spot, was still standing on the terrace, chatting with an acquaintance.

“Grand Duke Cronell certainly has an extraordinary son.”

“To become a Dragon Slayer at just twenty-four years old…… Is such a thing even possible, Professor?”

“More remarkable than that is the high survival rate of his knights. It proves that he’s not merely a powerful fighter, but an outstanding commander as well…… Oh?”

While Mona was hovering nearby, trying to find the right moment to approach them, Professor Jerome unexpectedly recognized her first.

“Isn’t that Miss Mona Veloz? What a pleasure to see you.”

Mona squeezed out what little social ability she possessed, as though wringing out a dry cloth, and began speaking.

“It’s an honor to meet you at an event like this, Professor.”

“Hahaha. Everyone’s going wild over the war hero, so what brings you over here?”

“I saw that you were here, Professor Jerome.”

She had merely stated a fact, but the professor from the Department of Magical Formula Studies suddenly looked deeply moved.

“You’d turn down the chance to see the war hero just to come see me? Hahaha! You’re still such a studious young lady.”

As Mona broke into a cold sweat over the professor’s arbitrary interpretation, he spoke with a wistful look in his eyes.

“Miss Mona, have you considered pursuing a double major, even at this point?”

“……Pardon?”

“You’re far too talented to be confined to that obscure, inconspicuous Department of Monster Studies.”

Mona already felt as though her legs would split apart trying to manage a single major, and now he was suggesting a double major?

Was he trying to ruin her future?

Just as Mona was about to say something, the professor’s acquaintance interjected.

“Oh, this is the first time I’ve seen Professor Jerome praise a student so highly.”

“She’s the first student I’ve ever seen who scored full marks on my formula exam, yet lost the top entrance ranking because of etiquette, a subject where practically everyone gets full marks.”

“So there really are students who can get full marks on your exam, Professor……!”

“Indeed. Miss Mona was the only one who correctly answered the question about a low-mana maintenance defense formula using triple mana circulation.”

“What!? Even I, a practicing mage, would have difficulty solving such a high-level problem within the allotted time. Why would you put that on an Academy entrance exam……?”

“I came up with it for fun! For fun! That’s how you discover such interesting students, after all. Hahaha!”

While Mona fumbled for an opportunity to join their conversation, the professor’s acquaintance turned to her.

“Did you say your name was Miss Mona? Research into multiple mana circulation has been attracting even more attention lately. If you’re interested, come visit the Magic Tower. I could arrange an internship for you.”

First, a double major, and now they wanted to drag her into an internship at the notorious Magic Tower.

Were these people demons?

“There’s still time, Miss Mona.”

Mona broke into a cold sweat as the man even handed her a business card bearing the Magic Tower’s seal.

“……I’m afraid it’s much too late.”

“Hahaha! That’s what makes Miss Mona so interesting!”

“…….”

“Three years ago, when I invited you to join the Department of Magical Formula Studies as a researcher, you said, ‘I don’t think it would be very interesting.’ You remember that, don’t you, Miss Mona?”

“Yeees…….”

“I was quite bold myself at your age. Ah, those were the days.”

For some reason, the professor kept roaring with laughter and launching into stories that began with, ‘Back in my day.’

From tales of how he had casually taken on formulas that everyone else considered impossible, to anecdotes about how he had rejected an unreasonable proposal from the Academy’s dean.

Only after listening to the elderly professor’s lengthy reminiscing was Mona finally able to ask about Professor Thomas.

“……Hmm. So you’re looking for Professor Thomas because he hasn’t been coming to his research lab lately?”

“Yes.”

“How thoughtful of you to worry about your supervising professor’s well-being! The students under me, on the other hand, spend all their time hoping I’ll get sick and cancel class. Hahaha!”

“……Um, Professor. If the professor Miss Mona is looking for is Thomas Levett, I think I saw him over there, in the corner of the balcony.”

Surprisingly, the one who provided a useful clue was the mage who had offered her an internship.

Just as he had said, the moment Mona turned her head toward the outer balcony, a familiar mustache passed through her field of vision.

“He was gathered with some of the biggest fools in the Magic Tower. Tsk. The victory celebration is just an excuse. They’re obviously going to sneak off to their social club.”

“Thank you!”

Growing impatient, Mona gave them a quick bow before hurrying away.

“Hahaha. Such dedication to academia.”

Watching Mona’s retreating figure, Professor Jerome laughed heartily, looking rather proud of her.

“Indeed. With such a dazzling war hero right before her eyes, she still chose to seek out a professor from her department. That’s extraordinary enthusiasm.”

The Magic Tower mage nodded with a smile, as though agreeing with him.

“She certainly has more than enough talent for a double major. I’m becoming more and more interested in her.”

“Judging by how she pursues her studies regardless of the time or place, she’d make an excellent Magic Tower intern as well.”

“Now, now. I saw her first.”

Even after Mona had disappeared, the two continued chatting about things that would have horrified her.

 

***

 

“Mona! Where on earth did that girl disappear all of a sudden!?”

Amid the bustling crowd, Count Veloz anxiously looked around for her.

Meanwhile, Olivia was urging her twin brother, Liam, to get a better view of Richard as he received his medal.

“Liam! Make some room. I can’t see Lord Richard’s face properly.”

Liam, who had been rising onto his tiptoes and searching for a gap to squeeze through at Olivia’s command, let his shoulders droop.

“Sister, the front is already completely packed with people. It’s impossible to get through.”

“Olivia, don’t be so impatient. Just wait until the victory ceremony is over and the after-party begins. Surely you’ll get a chance to dance with Lord Richard.”

At their mother’s advice, Olivia bit down on her lip.

Most of the young ladies around her were just as eager as she was to catch even a single glimpse of Lord Richard.

This was no time to sit around so leisurely.

“……All right, Mother. Still, we need to secure a spot as close to the center of the banquet hall as possible if we want to stand out.”

Watching his wife and Olivia stubbornly hold their ground near the center, the Count spoke with growing anxiety.

“My dear, Mona has disappeared. I think we should go look for her…….”

“Is that really what’s important to you right now?”

“Father, you’ve already rejected the Russell family’s marriage proposal, which was tied to our family’s business, anyway.”

“W-Well, that’s true…….”

Faced with the two women’s forceful arguments, the Count meekly backed down and fell silent.

“It’s taking quite a while.”

“Indeed.”

The Veloz family did their best to avoid being pushed away from the center of the hall until the victory ceremony ended.

But when the ceremony finally came to a close, sighs of disappointment could be heard from all around.

“Haah…….”

“What’s wrong?”

“I heard that Lord Richard won’t be attending the after-party. He wants to devote himself to mourning the fallen rather than celebrating the joy of victory…….”

“Oh my…… The war hero is noble even in spirit.”

Their long wait had been in vain. Richard Cronell disappeared without attending the after-party, let alone dancing with anyone.