In the end, it was me who got taken away.


    Originally, Cain was the one who should have been reprimanded, but now the focus had shifted to me.


    Moreover, it wasn''t Jane who took me, but Pascal.


    With a brief "Come with me for a moment" and a smile, Pascal led the way.


    It was an order I couldn''t refuse.


    <i>Creak-</i>


    Pascal opened the door to an empty ssroom, closed it behind me, and cast "Whisper of the Wind."


    This atmosphere... it feels strangely familiar.


    Instead of the podium, Pascal sat on a random desk. It suited him oddly well, with his youthful face and physique."Student Frondier. Come to think of it, we haven''t had a proper talk."


    Pascal said.


    Thinking back, it was true. The first time I met Pascal was when he participated in ss as a teacher.


    We had a dangerous spar when he mistakenly thought I could use Aura, then I pretended to be controlled by him to deceive the monster Kraken, and then there was the day the devils attacked the Imperial Pce and the Zodiac gathered.


    Every encounter with Pascal has been during a crisis.


    "There''s so much I''m curious about."


    Pascal said with a smile. There wasn''t a single cloud in that smile, so I couldn''t tell what he was feeling.


    So this is how people can hide their emotions. Pascal''s smile grows more imprable with each passing day.


    "I heard you were the one who stopped the devils when they attacked the Imperial Pce. You were also in charge of the operation during the Imperial Pce meeting, and the power you used to defeat Belphegor, how you obtained it, why Constel hid it... There''s so much I want to ask, but."


    Sigh. Pascal let out a sigh.


    "I have no choice but to repeat the same old story."


    "...That we should postpone it forter, right?"


    "Right. That''s not what we''re going to talk about today."


    Pascal''s eyes met mine. Even within his smile, his eyes were cold.


    "So, what is it about? What that girl named Cain just said."


    "...After Cain was captured, I spoke with her in the prison."


    I had no choice but to briefly exin the situation to Pascal.


    The things I had said to persuade Cain.


    "..."


    After listening to my story, Pascal''s eyes dimmed. He seemed lost in thought for a moment before opening his mouth to ask me.


    "What do you think, Frondier?"


    "...I''ve never thought of killing His Majesty,"


    "Not that."


    Pascal shook his head.


    "The caste system."


    "...!"


    The caste system.


    In this world, people are divided into royalty, nobility, andmoners.


    However, it''s not as strict a hierarchy as it was in the Middle Ages.


    The very possibility that I mentioned to Cain, that Aster could overturn the caste system if he became the protagonist of the war, already means that the caste system of this time has weakened considerably. ?a???Е?


    The fact that the Indus group received support and the existence of Constel itself, an educational institution where all castes gather, are also evidence of this.


    But the weakening of the caste system and itsplete abolition are entirely different matters.


    For some, the caste system is of utmost importance.


    Pascal said.


    "Actually, there have been discussions about that in the Imperial Pce before."@@novelbin@@


    "Is that so?"


    "Yes. It was Her Highness Sale''s words. At that time, His Majesty''s health was not good. It was a time when Her Highness Sale was being considered as the next emperor."


    Sale. Philly''s second daughter.


    Unlike the first and third daughters, who greatly resemble Philly''s ck and white sides, Sale is ambiguous in both aspects. She prefers to take a step back, which naturally led her to develop an observant personality.


    Sale, in her own way, took a step back, observed the whole picture, and suddenly spoke.


    ─There are many people in the Empire who are better than me.


    "...That''s very much like Her Highness Sale."


    "Yes. The moment I heard those words, I felt a chill. When I discreetly asked herter, it was just as I had guessed. It seems Her Highness Sale was thinking of abolishing the caste system if she ascended to the throne as emperor."


    That''s probably true.


    The reason I judged that the caste system would disappear was also because of the possibility of Sale bing emperor.


    "What do you think? Frondier. Should the caste system be abolished?”


    "..."


    I closed my mouth for a moment.


    As a matter of course, for someone who lived in the original world, the caste system is fundamentally difficult to ept.


    However, considering the current situation of the Empire, I can''t just blurt out anything.


    If I try to abolish the caste system now, there will be tremendous bacsh from the nobles and the Imperial Pce, and besides, that''s not the real problem.


    The barrier will copse.


    Currently, a system is in ce where each noble protects their territory and maintains an army to guard the barrier. If the caste system is destroyed now, there will be no one left to protect the barrier.


    ...However.


    "Yes. Eventually."


    I said.