When I was working as a civil servant, I was found out to be a muscle-brained knight by the princess knight and got sent to the front lines - Episode 174: Afterword for Part 4 / Character Introduction

Episode 174: Afterword for Part 4 / Character Introduction

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[Author’s Afterword]

Hello everyone, this is Cape.

How did you find the “Memories of Youth” arc? I wrote it with all my might, reminiscing about my own fulfilling and bittersweet youth…  

…Just kidding. I’m sorry, that’s a lie. I actually had nothing from my own youth to draw from, so I wrote it with sheer momentum. I hope you enjoyed it regardless.  

To those of you who are still students, please enjoy the present to the fullest! And to the adults reading this, make sure to rest when you need to, while keeping a good sense of responsibility. Let’s all keep enjoying life together!  

Anyway, before I knew it, Part 4 reached around 100,000 words, which is about the length of a single book. So, I decided to wrap it up for now.  

Some of you may have felt that the epilogue was a bit rushed. But from the start, I had planned for Part 4 to cover the first-year arc, up until Erin and Jez started dating. The second-year and third-year arcs at the Royal Academy will come in due time!  

Other story arcs like the “Northern War Devil Arc,” “Fall of the Izmirnaia Autonomous Zone Arc,” and “Welcome the Tomboy Saint Arc” are waiting. But in Part 5, we’ll return to the present and dive into the thrilling “Great Schism Arc!”  

I began serializing this story on January 30, 2024, and as of August 13, 2024, I’ve written enough content to fill four books. Even I’m surprised at how long I’ve kept this up. I honestly didn’t think I’d be able to continue the serialization for this long.  

This is all thanks to the many readers who continue to follow the story and regularly post comments and reviews. You all are a huge source of motivation for me. Thank you so much!  

Also, just yesterday, on August 12, we hit 8 million page views. When I stop to think about it, 8 million PVs is pretty incredible. I’ll keep the series going, so I hope you continue to enjoy it.  

On that note, multiple publishers that you might know have contacted me about adapting the series into a manga or republishing it. I was thrilled when I received these offers. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved.  

However, splitting up the rights might make things complicated when it comes to media mixes. So if possible, I’d like to consolidate everything. I hope to receive offers that understand this. …I know I’m counting my chickens before they hatch, but as a reasonably mature adult, I want to handle the contracts carefully.  

I apologize to the readers who are eagerly waiting, but please bear with me as I continue to calmly work on the serialization while daydreaming about the possibility of books, manga, and anime adaptations.  

Now, once again. Part 1 was a classic war story. Part 2 was a classic political administration story. Part 3 was a classic reverse isekai story. And Part 4 was a classic romance academy story. So, Part 5 will be a classic diplomacy story (seriously).  

Jez Norman, 26 years old. Please look forward to the continued adventures of the commander of the 11th Legion (Civil Servant), who still hasn’t quite shaken off his bureaucratic mindset!  

August 13, 2024  

-Cape  

PS: The first chapter of Part 5 has already been scheduled for publication!

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Character Introduction as of Part 4

[Main Characters]

Jez Norman  

Our protagonist. He finally gets together with Erin at the end of the academy arc. Since being adopted by the Norman family at the age of 8, he has been honing his skills in Norman-style combat techniques. But by the time he entered the Royal Academy, he felt like he had hit a wall. After encountering Victor, he undergoes a “magical modification.” In his personal life, he starts dating Erin at the Christmas of their first year. “It’s beautiful because I’m seeing it with you.”

Erin Saylor  

Though it seemed like this part was all about her, Erin surprisingly struggled against Seraphina. She’s a genius who has consistently ranked first overall in every exam since the entrance exam of the Royal Academy. She joined the student council right after enrolling. When she first met Jez, she acted like a villainous noblewoman, which made him think, “She’s an interesting girl.” After many twists and turns, she starts dating Jez at the Christmas of their first year. “The moon is beautiful today, too.”

René Tashman  

I hesitated to put her in the “Main Characters” section, even though she’s supposed to be the main heroine. The phenomenon where the heroine in the title becomes background noise is something I call the “In-Something-san phenomenon” (according to Cape’s research). But it can’t be helped. Ten years ago, Princess René (12 years old) had no interaction with Jez and the others at the academy. She briefly encounters Jez in Chapter 136. This encounter motivates her to further pursue martial arts, but René herself has no idea that the person she met was Jez. Let’s look forward to how this will turn around. …Can we really expect it to?

Victor Alchemis  

Without a doubt, he’s a key character. It’s hard to believe, but he didn’t appear in Part 1 and only made his debut in Part 2. His presence is so strong that even the author can hardly believe it. In his first appearance in Part 4, Chapter 134, he showed up as a protagonist-like guy with bangs. He looked like he belonged in a gal game. He was a scrawny guy with a frail build, and there was no trace of the Victor Alchemis from ten years later, at least in appearance. But inside, he was unmistakably Victor. Later, he gets his head shaved by Miriam.

Miriam Stonewell  

Certainly a main character, but she’s rather unfortunate in that she doesn’t interact much with Jez, leading to very few appearances. The Stonewell family are barons but have close ties with the marquess Alchemis family. After consulting with Victor’s mother, Miriam became his overseer and is undoubtedly contributing to world peace. However, unfortunately, she has a tendency to create dependent men. “He’s hopeless without me.”

Seraphina Lorentzi  

First appeared in Chapter 136. Initially, she seemed like she was just filling the tomboy slot, but she turned out to be a dark horse in Part 4. In the current timeline revealed in the main story, she is the first woman to kiss Jez. Although she enrolled in the Royal Academy of the Kingdom of Tashman as a “Saint Candidate,” her true identity is the granddaughter of Ignatius II, the current Pope of the Divina Church, and the head of the Lorentzi family, one of the Original Five that govern the Divina Papal State. After her father, the previous head of the Lorentzi family and a Cardinal, was assassinated, she inherited the family at a young age. She loses the ability to use holy magic after employing conceptual armament to save Jez during their stay in Capricia. This leads her to drop out of the Royal Academy and return to the Divina Papal State. “Farewell, youth!!!!”

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[Northerners]

Linnea Haugen  

First appeared in Chapter 134. The daughter of a long-serving family of stewards in the Norman household and someone who naturally knows Jez. Her father is Gerald’s secretary. She also enrolled in the Royal Academy as an assistant to Jez. Though she only had a minor role in Part 4, her moment to shine will come in the “Northern War Devil Arc.”

Ida Niemi  

First appeared in Chapter 134. She, too, is from the North. Her mother works under Gerald and serves as a regiment commander in the Second Legion. Jez once got thoroughly beaten by that regiment commander in a mock battle. Like Linnea, Ida had a minor role in Part 4, but her moment will come in the “Northern War Devil Arc.”

Ole Halvorsen  

First appeared in Chapter 134. Although a commoner by birth, his talents were recognized at a young age. It led him to attend the middle school in Foresval, a major city in the North, as a scholarship student. He was a schoolmate of Jez. Like the others, he only had a minor role in Part 4, but his time to shine will come in the “Northern War Devil Arc.”

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[Royal Academy Affiliates]

Levius Tashman  

First appeared in Chapter 136. A third-year student at the Royal Academy and the second prince, serving as the student council president. He observed Jez being approached by René and Lilly from afar before stepping in with an unreadable demeanor. He has a markedly different atmosphere from the first prince, Leo, and the third princess, René. After graduation, he plans to study abroad.

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[Others]

William Saylor  

Reappeared in Chapter 156. Erin’s father and the Governor of Zelinia. In his youth, he served as a soldier in the Royal Guard and gained the trust of King Ramses, who later discovered his administrative talents. William then left the Royal Guard at a relatively young age to pursue a political career. After building a successful career in the capital, he became the governor of the port city of Zelinia, a position often seen as a stepping stone to the position of prime minister. In Chapter 164, he ran across the water to save Katarina. “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY WOMAN!!!!” He made a name for himself in the Royal Guard with his dual swords and ice magic, eventually marrying into the prestigious water magic Saylor family despite coming from a humble baron’s house. Later feared as the “Ice-blood Prime MInister” by other nations, his most treasured possessions are his beloved wife and daughter. He will never forgive anyone who harms them.

Katarina Saylor  

First appeared in Chapter 158. Erin’s mother and William’s wife. When she first meets Jez, she warmly says, “Jez-kun, please take care of Erin, okay?” She is revealed to be the commander-in-chief of the Tashman Kingdom’s Salal River Navy in Chapter 161.

Lilly Johnson  

Lilly couldn’t quite make it into the main cast of Part 4. She appeared briefly in Chapters 136 and 137. …Her biggest mistake might have been forgetting that there was also a similar event where René said, “I was able to become stronger thanks to you.”

Kailan Matra  

First appeared in Chapter 140. A student in the same first class as Jez and others. Coming from the eastern region, he usually serves as the leader for students from the East. According to what Jez overheard, he’s also the leader of the first-year students loyal to Crown Prince Leo, who graduated four years ahead.

Edelmar Solennis  

Briefly appeared in Part 4. In Chapter 146, he seemed to be investigating Jez’s past with Seraphina. By this time, he was already an Archbishop.

Marquess Byron Alchemis  

First mentioned by name in Chapter 163. Finally, though just by name, Victor’s father makes his appearance. He’s the designer of the Queen Amentis III and the leading engineering technologist of his time. Though somewhat diverging from mainstream alchemy, Lord Byron has demonstrated his talents in fields such as engineering, architecture, civil engineering, and shipbuilding. Jez has heard of him, but with his genius comes many scandalous rumors. The Queen Amentis III, which Byron constructed years ago at the royal family’s request, is the result of his knowledge, skills, passion, and resources.

Cynthia Clark (10 years old)  

Reappeared in Chapter 165. “My name is Cynthia. I’m not lost; I’m here to clean up.” Look behind you…

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[Locations]

Lake Eldoa / Tiris Forest Belt 

First appeared in Chapter 139. The location for the orientation camp. About 200 km from the capital, it serves as a summer retreat for the capital’s residents, including royals and nobles. However, it is also a spot where monsters frequently appear.

Kingdom of Garanhorn  

First appeared in Chapter 155. A neighboring country southwest of the Kingdom of Tashman.

Salal River  

First appeared in Chapter 156. The large river that forms the border between the Kingdom of Tashman and the Kingdom of Garanhorn. This massive river originates from the Voldia Mountains, and from the vast Lake Rubiana in the middle. It stretches several kilometers wide downstream and over a hundred kilometers wide near its mouth. The Salal River and Lake Rubiana are almost as large as a small sea, playing a vital role in trade between Tashman and other countries.

Port City of Zelinia  

First appeared in Chapter 156. A port city located on the shores of Lake Rubiana and the starting point for cruises along the Salal River. As one of the most crucial trade hubs, it’s a royal domain. The Zelinia Governor’s Office and the Salal River Navy’s headquarters are located here, making it one of the most important western cities in the Kingdom of Tashman.

Port City of Capricia  

First appeared in Chapter 157. A port city on the Salal River on the Garanhorn Kingdom side. It’s a cruise destination.

Order of St. Lucius Knights  

First appeared in Chapter 170. A holy knight order owned by the Lorentzi family.

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[Martial Arts, Techniques, and Skills]

Norman Style Combat Technique: Level 1 – Batsai 

First appeared in Chapter 137. Used to subdue the suddenly attacking child, Princess René.

Norman-style Combat Technique: Level 3 – Shatter Cipher 

First appeared in Chapter 142. Jez used this technique to protect Erin from the boss monster that appeared during the orientation camp. The phrase “Saylor, are you okay?” is said to trigger a *thunk* effect when used together.

Reformed Norman-Style Technique: Earth-Shaking Step

First appeared in Chapter 147. “…Did I do something wrong?” Although this phrase sounds playful, this technique is actually one of the first key moves where Jez began finding his own style beyond Norman techniques. By ten years later, Jez no longer uses the Norman style. Thanks to morning training with Victor, he was already surpassing its limits by the first semester of his first year.

Earth Strike 

First appeared in Chapter 148. A simple punch using a prototype conceptual armament. The impact was so strong that the Royal Academy’s grand arena literally floated due to the recoil.

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[Magic and Spells]

Reversal Technique  

First appeared in Chapter 140. This technique literally reverses the effect of a spell. Victor used it on a monster-repelling barrier to attract monsters instead.

Multi-Incantation, Seventh Level Magic: Seven Heavens Concord

First appeared in Chapter 151. A masterful technique demonstrated by Victor during the preliminaries of the magic tournament. Due to its difficulty, it’s a rare spell used in actual combat. The number of modern wizards and alchemists capable of casting this spell is very limited.

Combination Attack: Just a Punch  

First appeared in Chapter 162. A combined attack by Jez, Victor, Erin, Miriam, and Seraphina. An improvised team move suggested by Victor.

Eighth Tier Ice Magic: Ice Storm Blossom

First appeared in Chapter 164. William used this to save Katarina, who was captured by monsters. It’s one of the deadly techniques that would later make him feared as the “Ice-blood Prime Minister” by other nations.

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[Magical Items and Tools]

Prototype Potion: Energy for Hunting Monsters  

First appeared in Chapter 140. A potion Victor shared with the class during the orientation camp. “Remember, it’s energy for hunting monsters, okay? Don’t skip the middle part when reading just because the name is long.” According to Seraphina, the Church might classify this as a semi-forbidden substance due to its potency. Abbreviated as “MonCal.”

The Bass  

First appeared in Chapter 146. A protein drink. Victor named it “The Bass” with the intention that, like the bass part in music, it serves as the foundation, supporting all training. Got it? It’s “The Bass,” so don’t mispronounce it. This is Victor’s original protein drink, developed out of his love for potion-making. He made Jez and the others drink it after their morning training sessions. Since Victor drank it himself, it’s safe to say it’s okay.

Just Gloves and Boots  

First appeared in Chapter 148. These are still far from complete, but Victor was secretly working on them as prototype conceptual armaments. Conceptual armaments are designed to embody a specific concept, and most of them change shape. However, what Victor created this time maintains its original shape, aiming to amplify the inherent concept of that shape. In that sense, it’s more accurate to call it an enhancement magic rather than a true conceptual armament. For example, the boots are meant to give the wearer the power to tread firmly on any surface and traverse all terrains, while the battle gloves are designed to punch, destroy, and protect the fists. Although this has its own merits by correctly amplifying the original purpose and concept of the shape, it’s still far from being a complete and powerful conceptual armament.

Prototype Conceptual Armament: Skywalker—The Boots That Can Fly 

First appeared in Chapter 153. A conceptual armament that embodies the idea that “fools and smoke like high places.” By wearing special boots and using pre-installed magical field generators, the wearer can walk in the air. This prototype eventually becomes fully functional ten years later, allowing the wearer to fly freely with just the boots and without being limited to specific locations. However, at this stage, it can only be used in certain areas.

Prototype Conceptual Armament: Astral Shift—Singing to the Sky

First appeared in Chapter 153. This magical tool partially turns the user’s body into an astral form, thereby nullifying some of the world’s influences. This prototype conceptual armament was inspired by the idea that other realms, such as the celestial or fairy realms, have been suggested to exist for a long time. Victor wondered if it was possible to shift his existence out of this world, and that curiosity led him to create this. Little did he know that this invention would later lead him to recognize multi-dimensional worlds, reach other worlds, create mysterious terminals, and even transform into “Vikpo.” Even Victor, the creator, hadn’t realized this at the time.

Prototype Conceptual Armament: Elemental Shift—Treasured Things

First appeared in Chapter 153. This device allows the user to convert the surrounding magical elements into their own mana. It’s a technology that could essentially become a perpetual motion machine. Victor, who paid attention to the existence of magical elements in the air, created this out of his “waste not, want not” mentality. This would later become the foundational technology for various conceptual armaments made for Jez. At this stage, while the extraction of magical elements from the air was successful, storing them was still a problem. To solve this storage issue, Victor began to focus on Jez’s unique constitution.

Prototype Conceptual Armament: Scouter—The Apparatus for Measuring Magical Power

First appeared in Chapter 153. A magical tool that quantifies an opponent’s magical power and approximate combat ability when viewed through monochrome glasses. This is one of the technological elements that would later connect to pseudo-divine tools. How dangerous this magical tool is can be understood by the reaction it caused: as soon as Victor started explaining it, the members of the 1st Legion and the Royal Guard, already stationed in the grand arena, heightened their alertness, and the members of the 0th Legion hidden among the audience also went into battle mode. Glasses that can assess an opponent’s strength just by looking? How could he have created something so perilous? Does he understand the impact this will have on the world? …Victor himself probably didn’t care at all.

Prototype Conceptual Armament: Love2000—Affection Parameter  

First appeared in Chapter 153. This device displays the affection of anyone within its effective field who makes eye contact with the user as a percentage, with 100% as the maximum. This magical tool was eventually designated as forbidden by the state, and all research and development were frozen. …They were frozen, right?

Magic Jammer  

First appeared in Chapter 155. Miriam proposed to the government and the academy to begin research and development of the Magic Jammer as a countermeasure against abnormal entities.

Queen Amentis III  

First appeared in Chapter 157. A luxury cruise ship brought to life by the combined technological prowess of the Tashman Kingdom. The name “Queen Amentis” honors the wife of the first King of Tashman, a founding hero who led her troops across the Salal River and secured a landing site slightly away from the present-day Zelinia. The Tashman Kingdom has repeatedly named its largest ships operating on the Salal River after her. The Queen Amentis III is a very large cruise ship, approximately 250 meters long, 30 meters wide, with a capacity for around 700 passengers, 600 crew members, and 400 cabins.

Queen Amentis III (Battle Mode)  

First appeared in Chapter 161. In battle mode, various parts of the ship open up to reveal numerous gun ports, and the main engines switch to high-powered magical engines. A protective barrier is deployed over the bridge, transforming it into a combat command center. Despite its massive 300-meter length, this ship is a high-speed jet vessel equipped with hydrofoils. In passenger mode, it operates like a normal ship using standard magical engines, steering with screws and a rudder. However, in battle mode, hydrofoils emerge from the bottom of the ship, and the engines switch to military-grade high-output magical engines, allowing it to achieve high-speed maneuvers with jet propulsion. The Queen Amentis III typically cruises at around 20 knots, roughly 30 to 40 km/h, in passenger mode, which is by no means slow. But in battle mode, as a jetfoil, it reaches a speed of around 40 knots, approximately 80 km/h. The main cannon, “Sphinx’s Fang,” appears as the bottom of the pool suddenly splits open, draining the water and revealing an enormous magic cannon far larger than any other. This design is based on the Thunderbird system.

Jet Ski  

First appeared in Chapter 164. Created by Marquis Byron Alchemist, this was a side project developed alongside the water jet engines for the Queen Amentis III. In response to a request from the navy, he miniaturized the water jet and mounted it on a small one-person craft. It  resulted in a jet ski capable of high-speed combat on the water with excellent maneuverability. Although large-scale production has not been achieved due to cost, a few prototype units were deployed to the Salal River Navy.

Cursed Dagger  

First appeared in Chapter 168. A dagger prepared for the assassination of Seraphina. It is likely a type of ceremonial weapon forbidden by the church, originally meant to be sealed away in the Divina Papal State. Any wound inflicted by this dagger nullifies or hinders healing magic.

Conceptual Armament: I am the resurrection and the life – Resurrectio  

First appeared in Chapter 168. A secret rosary passed down in the Lorentzi family. Its effect is “recovery from any status abnormality,” which essentially means that as long as one is not completely dead, full recovery is possible. However, such an item cannot be used repeatedly. Once its effect is triggered, the rosary crumbles into dust. This rosary is one of the few special conceptual armaments known to exist in history, even within the Divina Papal State. The original is said to have been given directly by God to the founder of the Divina Church, but the original text has been lost. Seraphina later provided the shattered rosary to Victor.

Tapioca Drink  

First appeared in Chapter 172. A mysterious beverage that Victor and Jez served at the cultural festival. Its effects are…

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[Royal Academy Events] 

In the first semester, new students participate in orientation camp, midterm exams, the magic tournament, and final exams. After a summer vacation of just under two months, the second semester includes post-holiday exams, the cultural festival, sports day, and final exams. Following a short winter break, the third semester features the martial arts tournament and year-end exams. In the second and third years, additional events such as long-term expedition camps, school trips, study tours to other countries, and graduation exams are added to the schedule.