Supreme Ruler: Reincarnated as the Emperor's Bastard Son

It was the beginning of summer, 318th year in the calendrer of Chronos.

Four years have passed since Ashoka and Sudhatta returned to the royal palace.

Although they stayed in the royal place for a short time, they ultimately choose to live in the magic tower where their grandfather and their mother resided.

Sudhatta had grown into an incredibly handsome young man and was currently receiving the training by Sage Vyasa himself as it seemed like he was more suited to pursue the study of magic than the sword.

Where as Ashoka who returned to the royal palace decided to move to the Tower of Wisdom, where the Sage of Wisdom, Sage Chanakya resided.

It was a sort of a means for self defense for Ashoka.

As Ashoka was doubtful that the one who attempted the assassination on them was the emperor himself, he decided it was safe for him to stay besides Sage Chanakya who was only one in the empire who could be considered as an equal to the emperor.

At first when he came to the Tower of Wisdom, he was very much surprised.

Unlike his thoughts magnificent and luxurious tower, the Tower of wisdom wad located in the forest that ran through the borders of the capital.

Unlike the 7th magic tower, it was very humble place where only those who got permission from Sage Chanakya resided.

"We will end the training with this. Good work today, Young Master."

"Phew, is it already time, Karguel?"

Karguel, he was young commoner genius, whom Sage Chanakya himself raised from childhood.

Besides most of members of the Secret knights were commoners unlike the royal guardian which only composed of powerful nobles.

Karguel himself rose to the position of 2nd vice captain of Sage Chanakya's knights from his humble background as a commoner.

And currently, this young 7-star knight was in charge of teaching the basics and foundations of swordsmanship at the Tower of Wisdom.

As he was the direct pupil of Sage Chanakya, everyone respected him very much.

"Haha, surely you jest. Please take a look at the apprentices around you, Young Master. They are all on death's door."

Ashoka took a look around him. There were young boys and girls around his age.

Just as Karguel stated, they were all sweating profusely, panting and wheezing to catch their breaths.

'I guess he's right. I would've been in the same state as them.'

Three years ago, when Karguel was assigned this job, his training regimen quickly gained the reputation of being harsh and intense.

The apprentices are young elite trainees who stood out amongst other trainees in the magic tower and were selected to become future secret knights members.

The competition to become a knight order member is high, and the apprentices have to undergo difficult training in order to gain that rank.

However, despite their expertise and experience, many apprentices dropped out due to being unable to endure Karguel's severe training.

Ashoka also felt like the training was very hard when he first joined but he didn't complain and kept up with him.

As time passed, Ashoka was able to adjust to the regime.

'It was a hard indeed'

Having recalled the past, Ashoka shook his head to stop thinking about it.

"Moreover, you will have to attend Sage Chanakya's training session in the afternoon."

Ashoka nodded to Karguel's point.

These days, Ashoka trains swordsmanship under Karguel as well the usage of mana and its applications under Sage of wisdom, Chanakya, who was the strongest magician of the Mauryan empire.

It was very hard.

And Ashoka had very little time to spare for himself, but the fact that he would get to train under the strongest magician motivated him to keep going.

Besides, Sage Chanakya had himself came forwards to teach Ashoka, so he couldn't say no to him.

Though it brought Ashoka both the admiration from the apprentices and the jealousy from his other siblings who learned the fact, Ashoka didn't care less.

"That's true. Then I should go get lunch now."

"Will you partake with the other apprentices today as well? The nobles who are training in the magic tower appears to be angered your actions…"

It was not only commoners who resided in the magic tower, even some of the nobles who wanted to study under Sage Chanakya also lived them.

But as Nobles didn't like the commoners they usually eat their meals in a separate hall, which is why Karguel was asking the question.

"I'd rather eat with these apprentices with whom I train every day, not the nobles who seem displeased about my very existence."

"I understand, Young Master."

Karguel nodded with a smile on his why.

It was one of the reasons why he liked Ashoka who treated everyone normally, little did he know that Ashoka grew up in a environment that was below the standard of commoner in his previous life.

Servants began to bring their meals to the training ground.

There was an enormous pot with rice, vegetables and meat. It was a simple and crude meal, but the ingredients were top-class.

The apprentices stood in line, waiting for the food to be distributed. Ashoka didn't follow them since 'Jean Paul' was in charge of getting his food.

That's right!

Jean Paul who was separated from Ashoka after leaving the tempest manor, somehow managed to get into the tower of wisdom to train with Ashoka again.

"Thanks."

"Not at all, Young Master."

"As if. Sit down, let's eat."

Jean was currently 13-year-old, one year younger than Ashoka.

Although he had the status of a baron, in originality, he was no different from a commoner.

It was because their household didn't have any power in the empire and currently in decline because of Jean's father's mysterious disappearance four years ago.

More than that there was no good talents in tha Paul household, who could revive their family.

Even by how the things are going, Jeal was destined to fall behind in Karguel's training and lose his qualifications as a apprentices, getting kicked out of the Tower of wisdom.

But seeing the innocent kid, Ashoka felt somewhat of a pity.

"Is it good?"

"It's delicious. I am always grateful to the Tower for allowing me to eat such good meat, as well as to Prince Ashoka for sharing his portion of meat with me…"

"Enough, enough. Sigh, how do you give the same answer every single time without a single mistake? Did you memorize the phrase by heart or something?"

Jean coughed and blushed in embarrassment.

"You need to learn how to speak simply and concisely, Jean. The others are ignoring you because you keep giving a speech every time you open your mouth, you know?"

"I-Is that so…"

"Shoulders straight! Have some more pride. You're a apprentice in Tower of Wisdom."

"But my grades are the lowest, and I have yet to become a 2-star knight…"

"Geez, do you think anyone can become a apprentices in the strongest magic tower? You've already achieved a lot by reaching where you are currently."

He's quite timid, and has little to no self-confidence. He's as innocent and naive as one can be.

That's why Ashoka was still confused.

'How did he manage to complete the training in tempest manor?'

Ashoka glanced at his surroundings. After making sure no one else was looking in their direction, he quickly passed his remaining pieces of meat to Jean.

"Eh, prince?"

"Shush. I'm not feeling hungry."

Ashoka pretended to eat until lunchtime ended as he vacantly watched Jean.

'Jean Paul… I'll try my best so that you don't fall behind and get kicked out.'

It wasn't just because Ashoka wanted to keep him by his side.

'Strength can be achieved but not loyalty.'

He wanted to keep loyal knights by his side when he leave the magic tower and make his appearance as the 16th prince of the Mauryan empire.

He also felt somewhat empathetic towards this boy, who seemed like his past self.

'If he has the potential, it would also be beneficial to keep him by my side. I'll have to keep guardian knights around me and command them in the future, anyways.'

Once lunch ended, Ashoka stood up and Karguel approached him.

"I shall see you tomorrow, Young Master. Oh, tomorrow we'll be having spars during training."

"Alright. Good work today, Karguel."

"Thank you, Young Master."

Once Ashoka returned to his room, there stood Hema with a change of clothes in her arms and a hot bath behind her.

Although the duty of nannies ended as soon as the prince enter the royal palace after becoming 10, Hema decided to serve Ashoka by his side.

"Good work during training, Young Master. Sage Chanakya's lesson will begin in three hours."

She handed over the change of clothes and a towel to Ashoka, calmly reporting him of his next schedule.

"Alright. Thanks, Hema"

He wanted to drown himself in a hot bath after such exhausting training.

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