episode_0170

The wheelchair Elia brought me with an apologetic look, as if to say there was no other choice, was undeniably luxurious—adorned with intricate decorations and even embedded with several gemstones. The seat was as plush as it looked, making it the most perfect wheelchair I could imagine.

It was so magically comfortable that, for a moment, I caught myself thinking, Maybe getting around like this isn’t so bad after all.

But the expressions of everyone else looking at me were far from bright.

I quickly racked my brain and came up with a plausible answer.

“Hmm, it’s a bit uncomfortable.”

Seeing the two of them relax slightly, I was sure I’d given the right response.

“Of course. It’s ridiculous to make Oppa use something like this.”

“Mmm. Unfortunately, this was the best I could arrange on such short notice. If given the chance, I’ll provide a more proper assistive device.”

Ah.

So these two weren’t happy with the wheelchair. Glancing around, I noticed Cecillia and the Student Council President weren’t saying anything either, but their expressions showed agreement.

Am I the only commoner here? The only one satisfied with this?

As if erasing my thoughts, Cecillia approached and gently took my hand.

“Ah, Eric… How could someone like you…”

“No, it’s not that serious—!”

“You call this not serious?!”

“Wha—?”

Cecillia lightly punched my leg. Of course, since my legs were as good as dead right now, I felt nothing.

“The sick can be healed. The injured can recover. But this… With this, I can’t do anything…”

“It’s fine. Elia didn’t mean for this to happen. Besides, I was the one who ultimately agreed to break the contract. And with this thing, I can actually get around faster than before, so maybe it’s not so bad?”

“Oppa, that joke isn’t funny.”

“Agreed.”

Even Luciella, who had stayed out of the debate over how much more luxurious the wheelchair should be, chimed in, leaving me no choice but to shut my mouth. If I so much as criticized Elia here, it felt like the entire group’s dynamic would collapse, so I deliberately stayed quiet.

Cecillia just looked at me with pity. Luciella clenched her fists, but thankfully, it seemed even they had resigned themselves to my current state.

Perhaps sensing the mood had settled, Elia casually steered the conversation to the topic she wanted.

“Hmm, the Holy Sword. With that, most of our problems would be solved! Good thinking, Elia.”

“Oh? Do you happen to know where the Holy Sword is, President?”

“Huh? Of course not! I’m hardly the kind of person worthy of being chosen by the Holy Sword, haha!”

“Haa…”

“No need to worry. I’ve already done some research on the Holy Sword’s location.”

“You have? There’s barely any information about the Holy Sword—what kind of research could you have done?”

“The details are… complicated. Many of the paths to it are too dangerous for anyone outside the imperial family to know.”

“Right.”

Chris didn’t press further. In truth, everyone present except the President already knew where the Holy Sword was and how to summon it.

If someone who knew our circumstances saw this conversation, they’d find it downright comical. Here we were, all aware of the truth, yet carefully dancing around it to avoid suspicion.

But our ever-earnest President remained oblivious, smiling brightly as if he’d just uncovered something new.

“Great! Then it’s time to focus on our main task—preparing for the festival.”

“Ah, wait a moment, President.”

I raised my hand from where I sat.

“Hmm? What is it, Eric?”

“There are a few suggestions I’d like to make. Especially given the current situation.”

I laid out my festival plan to everyone. The President initially opposed it vehemently, but after my desperate persuasion, he finally relented. Well, given that we were already planning to search for the Holy Sword, he probably would’ve agreed even if I’d suggested canceling the festival outright.

“Hmm… Showcasing the academy’s achievements to attract investment instead of a rowdy festival… Not a bad idea, but it feels too far removed from what a festival should be.”

“That’s exactly why we should do it. With rumors of the Demon King circulating and unsettling whispers both inside and outside the empire, this academy must demonstrate that it’s nurturing the future hope of the empire. A noisy festival would just be forgotten. We can always hold a grander one later when things settle. Besides, with exams overlapping, students can focus more on their studies.”

“Hmm, but there are quite a few people who’ve been looking forward to this festival…”

“Then why not hold the festival somewhere else?”

Luciella, who had been quietly listening, interjected.

“Hold it somewhere else?”

“Even if it’s the academy’s festival, the essence is just people gathering to enjoy themselves. So it doesn’t have to be at the academy.”

“Oho! That’s… Do you have a location in mind?”

“The marketplace.”

“The marketplace?”

Luciella calmly explained her plan.

“The marketplace is always crowded—not just with locals, but people from other regions and even foreign visitors. So we hold the festival there. Of course, security would need to be tighter.”

“Hmm…”

The President fell into thought, and so did I.

What’s she thinking?

My suggestion to downsize the festival was precisely because of the dark mages. If our plans failed and those lunatics infiltrated the festival, it’d be a repeat of past events.

Sure, in this timeline, Luciella the Hero was supposed to pull off an epic stunt by catching the Holy Sword mid-festival, but minimizing casualties was still preferable. And now she wanted to hold it in the marketplace?

“I’m against it.”

“Same. It’s too chaotic. Coordinating with the entire marketplace and managing performances there would require too much oversight.”

“That’s why we should do it. A festival is best when it’s loud and lively. If the essence is people enjoying themselves, then the academy’s festivals have been too closed-off, don’t you think?”

It was only then that I realized Luciella’s intent. Her eyes brimmed with overwhelming confidence—the kind born from knowing she could handle even meteor strikes.

She must be planning to secure the Holy Sword this time.

“It’s too risky.”

I chose my words carefully. While it was practically a given that Luciella would obtain the Holy Sword during the festival, I couldn’t outright say that. We’d only just discussed its location—it’d be suspicious to act like we already had it.

Besides, Luciella wasn’t invincible. Even if she were, she couldn’t protect everyone around her.

“Holding a festival in the marketplace? What if someone with ill intent starts a riot? The damage would be uncontrollable compared to the academy. Didn’t we just say the dark mages are acting suspiciously? If they sneak in and cause trouble, can you stop them in time?”

“Ugh…”

Luciella flinched, as if struck where it hurt. Having wielded the Holy Sword once, she must’ve been confident she could handle it.

“I know you’re strong, but overconfidence ruins everything. Besides, if we invite everyone to a loud festival in the marketplace, how is that any different from the Imperial Festival?”

“And if Elia’s involved, it’ll get political.”

Chris shook her head lightly.

“Personally, I don’t mind holding a festival, but if the student council gathers people in the marketplace now, everyone will assume there’s a political motive. Rumors will spread that Elia’s acting like she’s already emperor, controlling the academy from within.”

“I hadn’t considered that.”

Luciella nodded obediently. Knowing just how strong she was as the Hero, I simply nodded along.

“Hmm. Luciella’s proposal had merit… but it seems premature for now! We’ll go with Eric’s plan. Chris, Elia—I’ll leave compiling the guest list to you two. You’d know better than a merchant like me who’s suitable to invite.”

“President. I am a duke’s heir, you know.”

“Oppa, stay quiet.”

“You can’t even remember the names of classmates you share lectures with. What makes you think you’d know who to invite?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

The President then turned to Cecillia and Luciella.

“You two, I’ll entrust security during the event to you. Of course, the professors will be there, so it might be excessive, but having people like you around is reassuring.”

“Of course, President.”

While the President wrapped up, I motioned to Elia.

“What is it?”

“Come closer.”

With a puzzled look, she leaned down and brought her ear to my lips.

“Stay after class today. I have something to discuss. Don’t let the others notice.”

“Mmm. Got it.”

Elia whispered back, her expression oddly… satisfied?

Why?