Devan tilted his head.
"What do you want from me?"
'He must be from a rich family. He's so rude.'
There was a rule in the academy that discrimination based on status was prohibited, but there was a subtle division between commoners and nobles.
Devan himself was notorious for being a troublemaker even though he was a commoner, but this kid was a typical commoner who looked down on people with his habitual tone.
"I read your paper on mobility in mountain warfare that you presented at the seminar three years ago, and I was interested, so I came to see you!"
"Oh, that one!"
Devan's expression brightened for a moment.
Looking back, that was the time when he had the most confidence.
He was at the peak of his career as a blessed talent before his relationship with the professors went sour.
'But now I'm like this.'
He answered Eurius's question sincerely. In fact, when he was doing well, there were often youngsters like him who came to him.
'But it's strange. There aren't many people who remember my name now.'
And he also chimed in very well.
"Indeed, it's much more original than the existing ones!"
Eurius smiled and then started to scratch his itch.
"But why are you still not graduating after several years? Is there a problem?"
Thud.
"Damn it. It's because they don't like my usual behavior!"
He slammed down his glass. He had been drinking for three years because of his useless pride.
"Your Highness, I came to escort you as ordered."
"Did you? It's just time to finish the conversation."
'Your Highness?'
Devan had a moment of doubt on his face. He had heard something somewhere.
[The first prince of the empire is coming to study at the academy.]
Of course, he had been working on his paper all day long, hoping to graduate this time, so he didn't even go to class, let alone see Eurius's face.
Devan was not stupid. He turned pale in an instant.
"Your Highness! I have committed a mortal sin. Please spare my life!"
'I'm crazy. I'm really in trouble this time!'
Devan fell to the ground in an instant.
What did this first prince have against him?
Eurius smiled inwardly and looked at him.
'Well, it's to fix your personality and make you my subordinate!'
When he asked the professors about Devan Calios, they all shook their heads.
"He has talent, but he's a troublemaker."
"He was a really promising talent until three years ago. But then..."
He had been wandering for three years because of his talent and bad personality!
That was the evaluation of everyone who knew him.
But Eurius shook his head.
'That's not the Devan Calios I know.'
In his previous life, Devan was not only famous for being an excellent strategist, but also for having a great character.
He was such a troublemaker?
So Eurius decided to meet him personally and see his personality.
'Anyway, if he keeps this personality, it's no use making him my man.'
Something must have happened in the future that changed his personality drastically. But he couldn't wait for that to happen at the academy.
"Get up. Devan!"
Eurius ordered sternly.
"Whatever punishment you give me, I'll take it. Just spare my life..."
Devan tried to say hastily, but Eurius shook his head.
"I don't intend to punish you or anything. I'm just really interested in your theory and wanted to ask you about it."
He picked up the paper he was writing and skimmed through it with admiration.
"As expected, you are an excellent talent as I thought."
Devan couldn't even guess what this emperor was thinking and stared blankly at him.
"By the way, your personality is a problem, as I said earlier."
[Ding!]
[The trait 'Emperor's Dignity' is activated.]
[Charisma and charm increase.]
Devan suddenly felt that Eurius in front of him looked like a giant.
He continued to speak.
"You're wasting your time wandering around for three years because of your useless pride!"
Eurius used his skill as well as his stern rebuke to make Devan bow his head more. He actually wasted three years of his life.
"I hope you change your personality."
He said his last words and left the bar with his knights.
Devan had nothing to say and stood in the bar for a while with his head down.
'It seems like there is some reaction. The first step is complete.'
If he had any intention of changing, he could move on to the next step.
That night.
Devan was thinking about what happened today while clutching his chest in his room.
"It was really amazing..."
He thought he was a spoiled noble at first, but he was actually the first prince! And the first prince's last words strangely resonated with his heart.
'I hope you change your personality.'
He repeated the first prince's words and picked up his paper that he had been researching seriously for a long time.
In fact, the papers he submitted for graduation were all just extensions of this one.
He picked up his pen and focused on writing the theory of the paper.
"Wouldn't it be better to place the cavalry on the right rear?"
He opened his eyes wide at the sudden voice. It was indeed a good idea.
"Huh?"
Devan felt his heart drop.
"Your Highness!?"
"Shh!"
He signaled him to be quiet. It was Eurius.
It was easy for him to sneak into a normal student's room without being noticed with his trait of Contradiction Addiction.
"I told you before, I'm interested in your theory, so I visited you secretly."
He then read his paper and exclaimed.
"Indeed, it's much more original than the existing ones!"
He had no choice.
But regardless, Eurius started to ask questions with a raised expression, pointing at the paper.
"But what about this part? It seems like you're stuck here, but wouldn't this work?"
Devan's eyes widened for a moment.
Indeed, that part was where he couldn't solve for months, but the emperor's suggestion was exactly piercing through the core of it.
"Your Highness's insight is truly amazing!"
Devan also got excited as soon as he started talking to Eurius. He pointed out where he was stuck and sometimes even solved it for him. How could he not feel good?
Besides, his theory, which had been ignored in the academy lately, was recognized by none other than the emperor of the empire.
The two of them lost track of time and immersed themselves in the discussion for hours.
But Eurius, who knew the truth of this discussion, was quite surprised.
'Indeed, Devan is a talent that I must bring to my side. He was already writing this content!'
The paper that Eurius and Devan were talking about was a book that all the military experts on the continent would have at least one copy of as a basic book of warfare in the future.
[Devan Calios's Basic Book of Warfare]
But he seemed to have established this theory from his academy days. It was a remarkable talent.
All Eurius did was point out the contents of the book of warfare that he had read in the future. But Devan, who didn't know the inside story, naturally saw him as a genius of warfare who surpassed him.
'I'm ashamed, he is the first prince of the empire who is not even specialized in warfare, but he has such insight. And I've been arrogant because of my mediocre talent.'
Devan had a big realization at this moment. He had to reflect on himself. It was based on a misunderstanding, but this incident would have a great impact on his life in the future.
"Oh, it's already this late."
Eurius prepared to leave and spoke seriously again.
"As I said before, I think you are a talented and excellent talent. I want to take you to the empire so much."
"Thank you for your overflowing praise."
"But as I said earlier, your attitude yesterday disappointed me a lot."
"..."
Eurius spoke with sincerity this time, even though it was a play until now.
"There are many times in life when things don't go as planned. But you can't just wander around! Your competitors are moving forward in the meantime."
His last words were so sincere that they dripped with his experience of failing miserably in the future.
"I hope you use your talent with a humble mind."
He finished his words and left the room, then disappeared in an instant as he did when he came.
'Phew, at least he realized his mistake. I can move on to the next step!'
Eurius thought that even though he wasn't sure, he had a good chance of making him his man now.
'There's a saying that if you're meant to be, you'll succeed no matter what!'
He was someone who would eventually come to his senses and become one of the best strategists on the continent in the future anyway.
He would make that happen sooner!
That was the second step of Eurius's strategy to bring Devan to his side.
…
Devan felt like he was possessed by a ghost for all that happened today.
He met the first prince at the bar and talked to him, and then he came to his room at night and discussed warfare and gave him advice and disappeared?
It was a dreamlike story that no one would believe if he told them.
But Devan learned something from this incident.
…
The next day.
"Professor, I apologize for all my actions so far."
'What did he eat wrong?'
Devan's professor looked at him with wide eyes.
"I know I can't cover up all my mistakes in one moment. But I'm going to try my best from now on."
Devan bowed his head earnestly for the last time.
"Please forgive me."
The professor first looked at him with suspicion, but then gently held his two hands that were bowed down.
"To be honest, I've been waiting for you to say that."
Yes!
Devan was a rare genius in the academy. The professors couldn't miss his talent.
'But talent is useless without character!'
That was their unanimous thought. So they deliberately made him rot for years to correct his habits.
"If you have that mindset, I'll help you as much as I can."
Devan and the professor smiled at each other. They finally found their way after being apart.
'Your Highness! Thank you so much!'
Devan couldn't help but thank Eurius in his heart.