Ch.100Student Council (2)

“Amelia, you know.”

After training, during maintenance time.

Irina, sitting next to Amelia, suddenly asked.

“Have you ever thought about becoming the family head?”

Irina smiled as she spoke cleverly.

Amelia, who had been wiping sweat with a handkerchief, stopped moving.

“Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”

“Well…”

Irina opened her eyes and stared at Amelia.

A completely pure face without any doubt. Clear eyes without the slightest hint of negativity.

‘She really is innocent.’

“Just curious, that’s all. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if I became the head of the Kairos family.”

“I heard you gave up on that yourself.”

“Hehe, I shouldn’t be the mean older sister who fights with her younger sibling. Well, truthfully, I don’t think being the family head would be much fun anyway.”

“Being the head of a family isn’t something you do for personal amusement.”

“Amelia, you’re too rigid.”

Irina whined and hugged Amelia’s arm. Amelia waved her hands frantically.

“P-please let go of this.”

Only after a brief struggle did the clingy Irina finally let go.

Amelia sighed and looked up at the sky.

“I do think about it sometimes.”

“You do?”

Irina asked with interest. Amelia met her gaze and nodded.

“I’m human too, after all. The people of Windsor Duchy are warm. Nobles and commoners alike. But… honestly, the territory isn’t a place where people can live.”

“Hmm, but I heard you received a new territory recently.”

“That only solved one of the many problems Windsor Duchy has. The location itself isn’t good. So when I see those things… I wonder what choices I would have made if I were the family head.”

“That’s it?”

Irina tilted her head.

“Yes. My sister is someone I could never dare to approach. I should stop at just dreaming of ideals.”

Irina held up one finger.

“But being strong doesn’t mean you can run a territory well.”

“I never said my sister was only strong.”

“Huh?”

There was a reason why the succession had essentially been settled on Irene Windsor.

“…Irene has a power that draws people in. Even without telling them to follow her, they bow their heads on their own. Her commanding presence is on a completely different level from mine.”

Irina had never met Irene Windsor.

‘I’m curious. Just how impressive is she?’

All she knew about Irene Windsor was what she had heard from others.

Irina casually threw out a comment.

“Methods that use fear to control others are bound to break down eventually. Irene Windsor’s approach might be highly effective in the short term, but it will cause side effects everywhere. Rather, I think Amelia has excellent qualities as a family head…”

“Lady Irina.”

The ambient temperature seemed to drop by several degrees.

Irina actually felt a chill. Goosebumps rose on her arms.

Amelia spoke with a cold gaze.

“Please don’t cross the line.”

Amelia stood up as if she had nothing more to say and walked away with determined steps.

Irina stared at her retreating figure for a long time.

“It seems Irene Windsor commands deeper loyalty than I thought. She kills people so readily, yet is she kind to her own family?”

The corners of Irina’s lips curved up gently.

“Makes me jealous.”

**

The divide between commoners and nobles runs deep.

Although direct conflicts were decreasing due to the demerit system, that didn’t mean relationships had been resolved.

Nobles gathered in the Expert Class, while commoners gathered in the Common Class.

They had drawn an implicit line and avoided crossing into each other’s territory.

“She’s making something weird again.”

“Don’t you think the Academy has been changing quite frequently lately?”

“Always in favor of the nobles. Suddenly they’re talking about student representatives. How is this equal at all?”

Commoners whispered as they looked at the notice posted in front of the Common Class.

“Should we protest?”

“Let’s ask Justin.”

“Justin is in training right now. What about Lady Catherine?”

“Catherine will probably be with Justin.”

“Hey, do we really need to ask them? Protests are free. We should make the most of the rules set by the First Emperor before we graduate from the Academy. When else can we stand up to nobles?”

“Everyone! Gather around! Let’s go together! Commoners die if they scatter!”

As usual, loud-voiced commoners began to incite, and most commoners agreed—

But not everyone agreed with them.

Some commoners no longer wanted to fight with nobles, and there were quite a few students who just wanted to study magic.

‘I need to do my homework.’

A commoner student wearing a very worn-out uniform was one of them.

Her name was Asha.

She was an ordinary commoner student in the “Common Class,” where those with common talents gathered.

And she was being bullied.

“I-I need to do my homework… so…”

Unfortunately, Asha’s quiet words came at a bad time.

She spoke just as the murmuring had died down. Everyone heard her small voice.

The atmosphere immediately turned awkward. Hannah stood in front of Asha with her arms crossed. She spoke with a vicious expression.

“Why do you keep saying things like that? Everyone is trying to work together, but you always throw cold water on it.”

“S-sorry.”

Asha bowed her head deeply.

She had an extremely timid personality.

Just now, the strong thoughts in her mind had accidentally slipped out as a mumble.

She never imagined anyone would react to it.

“Hey.”

Hannah tapped Asha’s shoulder.

“I didn’t ask for that. Tell me the reason. Why do you sprinkle ashes when you can’t even help?”

“W-well.”

“Ugh, this is so frustrating.”

“…If I don’t do homework, it’ll be risky.”

“What? I can’t hear you.”

Hannah frowned and brought her ear closer.

“I… need the scholarship.”

“Ah.”

Hannah smirked.

“Right. I forgot. Even a beggar like you is at the Imperial Academy, where only the best talents gather.”

“…!”

Not all commoners were the same.

Most were wealthy commoners, almost like minor nobility. Many were children of merchant guilds.

The Academy’s tuition was very expensive.

Fortunately, the scholarship system was good, and students with above-average grades could receive full tuition waivers.

But the Empire’s high cost of living…

Various experimental materials and other supplies made that insufficient.

Exceptional students could receive enough support to comfortably attend the Academy, but…

Unfortunately, Asha wasn’t one of them.

“How did someone as insignificant as you even get into the Academy? It’s because of people like you that nobles look down on commoners. You know that?”

“……”

“Not even answering now. Hey.”

Hannah pushed Asha.

It wasn’t a particularly hard push. But Asha tripped on her chin and fell.

As she fell, her clothes caught on a desk—

Riiip.

…Her uniform tore from chest to elbow, revealing her undergarments.

Without money, Asha wore an old uniform that had probably been worn by several people before her, and this worn-out uniform could easily tear with just a little impact.

“Ah, ah.”

Tears welled up in Asha’s eyes. She curled up, clutching her torn clothes.

Hannah looked somewhat flustered seeing this.

“Hahaha!”

“I always thought it looked precarious whenever I saw her. Especially around the chest.”

“Where in this world would you find a size that fits such a ridiculous bulk? Serves you right.”

“My goodness, how poor do you have to be that you can’t even afford a proper uniform? Pitiful.”

Some thoughtless commoners laughed at Asha.

Hannah’s eyes wavered. She didn’t know what to do.

“W-well.”

Asha struggled to stand up and forced a smile.

“Ha-haha. I’m fine. I can just sew it up. It-it tears easily… anyway.”

Asha tried her best to act as if nothing was wrong.

She didn’t want anyone to dislike her.

She bowed her head, covered her chest, and quickly ran out of the classroom.

**

Even after moving to a secluded place, Asha’s tears showed no sign of stopping.

“Sob, hic. It’s not like I want to be poor…”

Commoners envy nobles.

But Asha envied the commoners who could afford to envy nobles.

At least it meant they didn’t have to envy other commoners.

But even in this situation, Asha—

‘The uniform, I barely found one that fits. What am I going to do now? I have no way to get another one.’

She was worried about her uniform.

The pitiful state of her situation made her cry even more. As she was wiping her endless tears—

Rustle—

She sensed someone’s presence. Asha quickly stood up. She covered her chest and moved away.

“Hello.”

“!”

A small child who barely reached her navel was looking up at her.

Asha immediately realized this was no ordinary child.

Of course, anyone attending the Academy would recognize this child.

Ruide Christopher Windsor.

The youngest of the Windsor family, a genius magician, and the youngest professor.

Unlike her, someone who attracted everyone’s attention just by walking around.

“Name.”

“Pardon?”

Confused, Asha responded with bewilderment.

Then, realizing he was asking for her name, she hurriedly said:

“Ah, I’m Asha.”

“Nice to meet you, Asha.”

“N-nice to meet you too.”

Ruide extended his hand.

Asha just stared blankly.

‘Is he asking for a handshake? No, that can’t be. He wouldn’t want to touch the hand of a dirty commoner like me…’

But Ruide’s hand remained extended.

It seemed more impolite to refuse.

Asha reluctantly took his hand.

It was a very soft and small hand.

Ruide shook her hand and said:

“Want to join the Student Council?”

“…What? W-what? Huh?”

Asha stammered in shock.

Ruide continued unchanged:

“Don’t want to?”

“I’m not the kind of person who…”

“Do it.”

“W-what?”

“When I say do it, do it.”

“Y-yes, sir!”

“Good. You’re the secretary starting today. Come to the main building tomorrow.”

Ruide said this and walked away briskly.

But he stopped after walking a short distance. He turned around and walked back to Asha.

A black space appeared in the air, and Ruide’s hand went inside it.

After rummaging around a bit, he pulled something out.

“Wear this.”

“…!”

Ruide used telekinesis to put a robe with the “Windsor Duchy” emblem on Asha.

It was a generously sized robe that covered Asha’s torn blouse.

“I’m lending it to you. Pay me back in 50 years.”

Only then did Ruide seem satisfied and disappeared. This time he didn’t look back.

Asha stared at Ruide’s retreating figure with a dazed expression for a long time, then looked at her hand where his warmth still lingered.

“Is this a dream?”

The robe draped over her shoulders was incredibly soft and warm.

**

“That should take care of things.”

By including a commoner in the Student Council, the final piece was complete.

Damon might be capable, but he seemed clumsy when it came to handling people.

‘…Not that I should be talking.’

Anyway, as a bonus, he’d also helped a pitiful child.

Now all Ruide had left to do was relax comfortably.

Ruide returned to the professor’s office with light steps.

The fox cushion, which he had initially resisted out of pride, was now very much to his liking.

He planned to lie down there, eat snacks, and take a nap.

Creak.

Ruide opened the door to the professor’s office.

“…What is this?”

It looked quite different from usual.

The walls were densely covered with abnormal patterns.

Magic circles and complex formulas were arranged without the slightest gap, glowing orange.

This magical energy color belonged to Ella.

At that moment, a memory from the past flashed through his mind.

-What kind of research should I do?

-Immortality research?

“N-no way.”

Was she seriously working on that?

He hurriedly opened the door to the workshop and entered.

It was the same here. A dark room. The only light came from magical formulas.

“Ah, Professor!”

Ella was sitting in Ruide’s seat.

She smiled brightly when she saw Ruide.

‘…Blood?’

A red liquid was floating in the air on the desk, gathered like slime.

‘More importantly, why does she look like this?’

Ella’s entire body was soaked with sweat, and her complexion was haggard as if she hadn’t slept for days.

However, her cheeks were flushed red.

Her expression was also very bright. Beyond bright, she was excited.

She stood up, approached with large strides, and bowed at the waist, saying with a smile tinged with madness:

“I was just about to complete the research you mentioned, Professor.”