episode_0037

“Everyone, take your seats. Class will begin shortly. I won’t take attendance separately, but I trust those of you who don’t want to repeat the year will remember to be present.”

The professor’s stern voice echoed through the classroom, and the students, who had been chattering noisily, gradually settled into their seats.

Yet, the ones who had been talking just moments ago remained clustered together, sitting side by side.

Me?

I was still slumped in the very back, in a seat where no one else sat.

Regrettably, Jim didn’t seem to be taking this class. If he were, he’d have claimed the seat next to mine in an instant. I couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed.

“Alright, everyone. Class is about to start, right?”

Meanwhile, Cecilia, who had guided me here, was already sweating as she tried to peel away the swarm of students gathering around her—just like with Chris.

I was thinking celebrities have it tough, when Cecilia suddenly pushed through the crowd and made her way toward me.

“Huh? Wha—?”

Before I could even stutter out a response, she was already standing right in front of me, offering a gentle smile.

“Excuse me. May I sit with you?”

“No.”

I wasn’t insane enough to willingly place a ticking time bomb next to myself.

“Heheh. I expected that answer. But this is for your own good.”

“For my good?”

“Well, the others are a bit uncomfortable, but… Your side still feels the safest. Who knew having no one approach me could be this relaxing?”

“It seems you’ve completely forgotten my request from a few minutes ago to stay away from me.”

“Hmm… Eric. How much do you know about this class?”

“This class? You mean ‘Magic and History’?”

“Yes. Do you know what we’re supposed to learn in this subject, what the professor is like, what’s important to remember?”

“…I don’t.”

I admitted it honestly. Owning up to ignorance was infinitely better than pretending to know and being exposed later.

Cecilia nodded as if expecting that answer.

“Then, would you mind waiting just a little longer? I suspect it won’t be long before you’re begging me to stay by your side.”

“That’s ridiculous… Why would I ever do that?”

Within ten minutes of the class starting, I deeply regretted those words.

“From this, what we can deduce about the social power structure regarding heroes is as follows. Even after the First Heroes like Light and Aurella, demon kings continued to emerge. Thus, heroes were continually chosen, and with each selection, mages across nations—including those from the Magic Tower—attempted to analyze this divine energy. Elegor and Igesis were the most notable pioneers in this regard…”

The lecture proceeded at an absurd pace.

It felt as if the professor was assuming we already knew everything and breezing past critical details.

No—truthfully, I couldn’t understand a single word of it.

The Elegor-Igesis Hypothesis? The Fourth Magic Tower Collapse? And among its instigators, Rebecca and Seravi?

Unknown names and events swirled chaotically in my head.

It was as if I was studying history from scratch—getting force-fed everything from founding myths to modern-day events. Frustrated, I glanced around, certain others must be struggling too.

This had to be a difficult class for everyone, not just me.

“…Huh?”

All the other students nodded along as if they understood, diligently taking notes.

And among them, not a single person looked as lost as I was.

“Well, Eric?”

Cecilia flashed a smile so deviously smug it was hard to believe she was the Saintess, waving her notebook in front of my face.

“Notes. I could lend them to you, if you like?”

“Tch… You think I’d fall for such an obvious trap? Humans are creatures who, when given one thing, always greedily ask for two.”

“Oh? But if things stay like this, you’ll end up repeating another year… Didn’t you promise everyone you’d change?”

Her notebook was meticulously organized, the handwriting so neat that even a glance clarified things.

But I wouldn’t yield.

I couldn’t.

No one could fault me for exacting a bit of revenge on the woman who had tormented me.

So—

So, if I copied from her notes, it wasn’t because Cecilia persuaded me.

I was simply using her to survive in this world.

“Ugh… Sniff…”

Swallowing bitter tears, I began transcribing Cecilia’s notes—along with whatever she wrote mid-air.

Infuriatingly, her summaries were flawlessly clear.

“That concludes today’s lecture. Now, one additional announcement.”

With a surprising amount of time still left, the professor clapped his hands lightly.

“Thus far, you’ve acquired enough knowledge in Magic and History over this semester to avoid being completely dismissed in scholarly circles. Now, it’s time you learn how to apply it.”

A foreboding murmur spread among the students, and their fears quickly materialized.

“Form groups of four. Your task is to analyze a current societal issue within the Empire and propose a solution, linking it to historical precedents. Presentations will be held on the final day of the semester. That’s all.”

Group work?

A presentation?!

As I sank into disbelief, Cecilia extended her hand to me once more.

“You’ll join me, right? For the group project.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Oh? Do you not want to? If you can manage the presentation alone, that’s fine too, but—”

“Ghk!”

Only then did I realize I had no choice.

“Fufu. Don’t worry, Eric. From topic selection to research to the presentation—I’ll handle all the tedious work. You just focus on how we can expose the Church’s vulnerabilities with me.~”

True to her word, despite my presence, the sheer influence of the name Cecilia Rustain was beyond imagination.

There were still students lining up to join our group even with me dragging it down.

“Dave Jegan! Pleased to work with you, Lady Rustain!”

“Sheryl Sharia… Let’s do our best.”

Wait, were we already at four?

I recalled a famous ninja instructor’s saying: “In any team of four, there’s bound to be one useless member.”

Or was it five?

Either way, with this many students gathering, there was no way this project would go smoothly.

So, I needed to step up—

“How about this issue?”

“That’s plausible, but a similar proposal was drafted 13 years ago. We’d just be retreading old ground.”

“Then what about this?”

“Ah, that’s a project already being handled by the Church.”

“Well, in that case—”

“Oh! I know about that one. Lady Sharia’s idea is good, but…”

While everyone engaged in heated discussion, I was once again adrift in an ocean of unfamiliar knowledge.

“By the way, Young Master Grave… Do you have any suggestions?”

“We’ve been talking for a while now, and you haven’t said a word.”

“Uh… Well… You see…”

Wait.

Was I the useless one here?

Seemingly sensing my struggle, Cecilia spoke up.

“Given Eric’s current state, he won’t be much help to the team.”

“Yeah…”

“Definitely looks that way.”

“And given his circumstances, I doubt he knows how to study on his own. His situation seems worse than expected, but I’ll help him. After all, assisting those in need isn’t just the Student Council President’s privilege—right?”

“W-Wait… Are you suggesting we study alone together?!”

I’d rather die than accept that. No matter how Cecilia spun it, this was an offer I absolutely had to refuse.

But the method Cecilia proposed was far more terrifying than I imagined.

“Of course not. Do you really think I’d do this alone? The entire Student Council will assist you.”

“…What?!”

While I was horrified, Dave and Sheryl nodded in approval.

“With the Student Council’s help, we can trust it’ll be thorough. You’ll receive precise and proper instruction.”

“…I agree.”

“Then, if you’ll excuse us, let’s wrap up today’s meeting. I’ll contact you separately.”

“I-I’m totally fine with that! Just call whenever!”

“Just don’t make it too late…”

“Wait, hold on! Everyone! Are you serious?! The Student Council?! Me?! This is insane!”

“Now now~ Resisting is pointless~”

With the other two waving goodbye, I was left with no choice but to trail Cecilia toward the Student Council room—like a helpless animal being led to slaughter.

Cecilia was much stronger than she looked.

Though we ran into a few seniors and professors along the way, all of them took one look at us and conveniently stepped aside, as if they’d drawn their own conclusions—which only fueled my irritation.

“Here we are. Most of them won’t be here at this hour… except maybe the President.”

Creak—

The Student Council room door opened.

“Shall we?”

The room was exactly as I remembered.

The President’s seat at the head of the spacious room—empty far more often than not.

Beneath it, arranged to the sides, Ellya and Cecilia handled the paperwork the President dumped on them.

Beyond them, Christine grumbled while Luciella scrambled to tidy things up amidst the workload.

“…Ah.”

A place I had never dared to wish for—

A dazzling, radiant space where they shone brightest.

A place of youth and hope, now right before my eyes.

“GYAAAAAAAAH!”

I tore my hand from Cecilia’s grip and bolted like a madman, desperate to put as much distance between me and that room as possible.

“Eric?! Eric!”

I couldn’t go in.

No—I shouldn’t.

A place where they all were—somewhere I must never step foot in!

“Hah… Hah…”

After just a few minutes of running, I was already gasping for air.

Fortunately, Cecilia didn’t seem to be chasing me.

“Hah… Hah… Hah… Hrk?!”

Just as I steadied my breathing—

A pure white arm shot out from the wall in front of me, grabbing me by the collar.

“Hahaha! You let your guard down far too quickly! Didn’t I teach you never to drop your vigilance in enemy territory?”

“Th-This isn’t enemy territory… President!”

“For you right now, is there anywhere more dangerous than this?! They’re all lying in wait, ready to tear into you the moment you let your guard down!”

“Ugh… Can’t argue with that…”

I didn’t even fully understand why I’d run, but the instinct to flee had been overwhelming.

Maybe that was what the President meant by enemy territory.

“Fufu. Even so, though, I never expected to see you panic this badly. Some moves are just useless in practice, huh?”

With that, the President stepped out from the academy pillar—

Literally phasing through it as if she had never been there at all.