"Whoa-hoo...!"
Dominic's sinister laughter pierced my ears. It sounded even more suspicious than usual.
"…What's that look for? Did something happen?" I squinted at him.
"They won't be able to read this newspaper."
"Why not?"
"I brainwashed them, didn't I? After that, I kept telling them how stupid, cowardly, and idiotic you were."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes! They must think this newspaper is completely false and exaggerated."
If Dominic's words were true, that would be fantastic. It would mean they wouldn't keep me in check for a while. Dominic is so helpful!
I was about to compliment him, but Dominic's proud voice rang out first.
"And I also told them that you're just doing your usual work and forgetting all about money."
"…Huh?"
"You're so incredibly stupid that the merchants won't believe the newspaper's contents, and the kids at the academy have been brainwashed to believe you're completely foolish."
"If they believe that, it's good for me…"
"Those two families will probably only trust Sejak's report for the time being. Hahaha."
I looked at Dominic with suspicion. No, you don't have to say that, though! Isn't this kid sorry for me?
However, thanks to his peculiar "help," I felt I could maintain my business without much hindrance for the time being.
"They won't bother you for a while."
"I hope so. I want them to ignore me until I'm excommunicated!"
"Hmm, yes. Don't worry. Today, I'm trying to figure out how to brainwash these three bastards."
Apparently, Dominic had a fun new "toy" to play with. I had been contemplating the outside world for a thousand years, but it had been a long time since I'd been outside and practiced magic, so it was exciting for him.
"Just play with them and put them back where they belong." I decided to cheer him on. I wasn't so tolerant of someone who watched over me. Besides, these were the same vile beings who used to torment Meldenik a lot.
"Meldenique, we're not done here."
"Figure out your topic."
"It is not long before you, a cursed vein, bear the name of Babyloa."
I used to make fun of him in this way. I became more satisfied and folded the newspaper in half.
"This newspaper will be in the academy, right?"
More importantly, this newspaper could help promote my store to the children. In truth, children these days didn't read newspapers much. But even just one person might read it and become interested in my stationery store!
"Then, I'm sure they'll read it and I'll have a guest." I nodded, thinking about that. I really wished just one more person would come.
At Imperial Maltend Academy
At that very moment, across the city, stood the Imperial Maltend Academy. Maltend Academy was divided into elementary, middle, and higher academies according to age group. These were further subdivided into advanced, intermediate, and junior classes based on talent.
The students of the middle and high school academies weren't very interested in the newspapers distributed there. However, the children in the upper classes of the elementary academy were different. Under the strict guidance of their professor, these children would read various newspapers during every study session.
It was the same today. The Times, a newspaper for commoners, wasn't of very high quality. It was typically considered a low-grade publication, especially for children from aristocratic families. But The Times was special. This was because the Empress herself had praised Astilde's sense of justice.
The Times newspaper, with Astilde's justice-filled writing, reached the advanced class, where the brightest children gathered in the elementary academy. The children placed a newspaper on their desks and huddled together, putting their heads together.
"Look, a pirate has appeared!"
"It's true! It's a Red Pirate!"
The literacy level of young children was lower than that of adults. Therefore, the rumors began to swell little by little. Of course, the poor naming sense of the "Red Cult Pirates," a merchant group that had nothing to do with actual pirates, also played a part.
"It's amazing…"
"You defeated the pirates! What kind of person is that?!"
"There's a mysterious horse down here!"
"Someone defeated the Red Pirates! They say he's a commoner?!"
In reality, Meldenik was not a commoner, but The Times' chief writer Astilde and the merchants' association believed that Meldenik was a middle-class commoner who had taken over an abandoned building. It was natural that the Duke of Meldenik had effectively escaped from his family's notice. Therefore, Meldenik was listed in the newspaper as "Mel the Commoner."
The children, who didn't know the full story, looked at each other, their eyes wide.
"Huh, a commoner?"
"Yes, there are some strange things written about him!"
On the other hand, the stationery store of the commoner 'Mel' sells not only various school supplies but also various foods. For example, beer candy. As a result of my research, this candy was very mysterious. (Omitted)
The children looked at the billboard displayed below the newspaper and opened their eyes wide.
"Beer candy, shall we go there?"
"What is beer?"
"…Adults eat it."
"Surely… we shouldn't drink beer?" One of the children's mischievous eyes sparkled.
"That's why I'm more curious!" Another brave child continued. "Shall we go?"
However, the child who was staring at the newspaper muttered softly.
"But… you said he was a commoner."
"Huh?"
"Aren't you lying? How can a commoner make such a great thing? Even nobles can't make it."
The excitement subsided slightly at the words that poured cold water on their enthusiasm.
"Oh…"
The academy generally made less distinction between noble status, but aristocratic children had a deep pride in their bones—the pride that they were much better than common people.
"Certainly it is impossible for commoners to make cool things." Young-ae, the granddaughter of an orthodox aristocratic elder, blurted out, and the heated classroom became a little cold.
"I heard that if you get close to a commoner, you will get sick."
Among them, a relatively open child mustered up the courage to speak out.
"Oh, that's just a rumor!"
"Still. I'm afraid of commoners."
Prince Axion's Realization
In the midst of all this, there was only one person who maintained a calm tone throughout: Prince Axion. He was reading his textbook and thinking about Mel in his head. He had decided to go to a stationery store, but he had been punished for going to the antique street to buy his brother's birthday present.
'I told you not to get hurt again.'
In short, he was grounded.
'I decided to go to Mel's stationery store… What if the bad guys who beat me bully Mel too?'
As he stared down at his nails in a daze, wondering if there was a solution, a chorus-like voice rang in his ears. It was the voices of the children around him.
"But what's a stationery store?"
"I don't know. Isn't it like a general store?"
A boy who was a member of the orthodox aristocracy spoke up. "Won't it be ruined soon?"
"I'm curious about the faces of the commoners who dealt with pirates, but shall we go before they are destroyed?"
"Hmm, did you see the new popular perfume this time? It was distributed by the Duke of Hessmann!"
"I saw it! You look like an adult, you're cool!"
"It will be made for us. I'm so curious about the perfume that Sheria Young-ae, the flower of the social world, wears!"
The children's interest in the fickle news began to cool down as quickly as soup.
By the way…
It was at that moment that Prince Axion, who had been staring down without thinking, jumped to his feet.
"Wait, stationery store?!"
"…Your Highness the Crown Prince?"
Mel was like that. I will do a stationery store!
Axion hurriedly looked around and went near the desk where the children were gathered. Then, the boy snatched the newspaper from another child's hand.
Breaking News: Mel, a commoner who runs a stationery store, defeats the 'Red Cult Pirates'!
What if the Red Shek Pirates are you…
"I think it was the Red Cult Pirates who beat me back then!"
At that moment, Axion shuddered as he remembered Mel's tiger-like eyes.
'Did you recognize and deal with the people who bullied me for me?'
Axion clenched his fists.
'It's like a knight; it's so cool…!'
Of course, Axion had forgotten that he hadn't even spoken the word "red" from "Red Shen Pirates" to Mel. Often, young children's memories are organized according to such convenience. This was precisely the case with Axion now.