Ch.135Election (4)

There’s no guarantee that foreign gods won’t appear before the election.

Since the Aether Belt has been blocked, they might not appear at all, but conversely, they could move earlier than expected.

I needed to make a decision considering all possibilities.

So I had to tell Zernya about this.

“If any constellation approaches you offering a contract, don’t even speak to them.”

“What?”

Zernya looked bewildered.

Oh no, did I get too close to her face?

I hurriedly tried to pull back.

“You’re dissing me right now, aren’t you?”

Instead, Zernya frowned and brought her face closer.

“You’re mocking me, saying no constellation would approach me because of my nasty personality. Think I wouldn’t notice your roundabout insult? Do I look that stupid to you?”

No. That wasn’t my intention at all.

“I’m genuinely concerned. That constellation might actually be a foreign god.”

“Foreign god?”

Zernya snorted.

“You sound ridiculous. Listen, foreign gods are dangerous just from hearing their voices. They’re fundamentally different from constellations.”

Their origins are actually similar.

The final stage of stellar evolution. Slightly larger stars can become black holes.

But that’s beside the point right now.

“Hey, even if you’re going to lie, at least be selective about it.”

“I’m not lying.”

There wasn’t time to discuss this in depth anyway. Telling the truth wouldn’t help since I couldn’t prove it at this point.

There’s a good method for situations like this.

“I just overheard some professors talking about it. Apparently, there are foreign gods that can mimic constellations’ voices.”

Appeal to expert opinion.

“Just keep it in mind.”

“…Why are you suddenly telling me this?”

“Because we’re friends.”

“Huh?”

“Friends share this kind of information casually. Don’t they?”

I casually tested her reaction. And I could see Zernya’s earlobes gradually turning red.

“F-friends? Who’s friends with whom? That’s ridiculous! Just because we’ve been getting along, you think we’re friends?”

“Aren’t we?”

“W-well, that’s…”

She’s so dishonest.

“We shared coffee during summer break and toured the lab together. I told you several times that I could leave, but you stayed until the semester started. I thought that made us friends.”

“…”

“That’s really unfortunate. If we’re not, I can’t help it. I’m sorry. I misunderstood.”

“Hey!”

“Yes, what?”

Zernya touched her earlobe and moistened her lower lip with her tongue, her voice trembling. Her shoulders quivered slightly.

But perhaps because of her Adelbein bloodline, she quickly returned to a poker face.

“Of course we’re friends. Who says otherwise?”

“You just said we weren’t.”

Zernya, who had been confrontational, quickly put on a brazen face.

“We are now because I just acknowledged it.”

“Friendship doesn’t need acknowledgment. It happens naturally when people get along.”

“N-nonsense.”

Wow, why does your expression crumble like a child who didn’t get a Christmas present?

Good heavens, Adelbein. How exactly does your family raise children? I didn’t know the backstory since she died in the college part, but this is even more dysfunctional than the Kersil family.

Actually, this is good.

I can lay some groundwork here.

“Zernya.”

“What?”

“Even if one of us loses this election, we’ll still be friends, right?”

“Huh? Well…”

“So play fair. You’re talented. Don’t use underhanded methods to become president and end up being criticized.”

***

Underhanded methods, huh? Zernya smirked as she stared blankly at the space Eidel had just left.

There was a family motto she had repeated since childhood.

The best (最高).

The obsession that direct descendants of Adelbein must always claim first place based on their outstanding appearance and refined talents.

One must always be the best. It doesn’t matter what underhanded methods are used in the process. What matters is the result. Winning is all that counts.

So this time, she had decided to use underhanded methods.

She climbed to the third floor of the Business Administration building.

Following the white stairs up, she came to a double corridor with two turns. Following the signs to the lounge, she found a sophomore sipping instant coffee.

“Ugh…”

A girl with a gloomy expression.

She knew who it was. She had completed all her preliminary research.

“Hello?”

“W-who…?”

“I’m Zernya von und zu Trisha Adelbein, running for the student council election. You’re also a candidate for the election, senior? I came to meet you.”

“W-well.”

The senior shook her head with a tearful expression. What followed was within the expected range.

“So you unified the candidacy?”

“…Yes.”

The senior was completely cowed. She seemed to have some ambition, but couldn’t straighten her back in front of a direct Adelbein descendant.

This is where she should speak up.

You shouldn’t withdraw, senior.

We agreed everyone would be evaluated fairly.

Aren’t you ashamed in front of the students who supported you?

If she persuaded her like that, the senior would likely stand up from her chair. She would tear up her resignation letter right here.

Repeat this about four times.

Then the sophomores would be divided, and with that alone, Zernya could easily secure the vice president position.

“…I see.”

At the last moment, Zernya withdrew her plan.

Sowing discord? That’s something she shouldn’t do.

It would only harm her if it backfired.

Of course, she could use Adelbein power to silence people. But she judged it wasn’t the right thing to do.

The same goes for Eidel.

If she dug up his weaknesses, her election would be guaranteed. She could become president and rise to an even higher position.

But she didn’t want to do it.

Friend.

Because they’re friends?

Yes. Rivals but friends. The only person who has been kind to her, who has always been lonely.

She admits it somewhat. Zernya didn’t want to lose that relationship.

“I respect your decision, senior. Well then, I’ll be…”

Zernya got a coffee for the senior and left. Her heart felt tight, as if being pricked. The fact that she had bugged him remained unchanged. Perhaps she was feeling guilty.

This is all because of Eidel.

If she hadn’t met him, she wouldn’t have felt anything about using others like chess pieces.

“Playing fair, huh. Ha.”

Zernya let out a hollow laugh. Then she suddenly rummaged through her clutch bag at the sound of an incoming call.

“…Father?”

[Yes, Zernya. I heard you proudly took first place in the summer semester too. I’m proud of you.]

“It’s only natural.”

Someone who never contacts her calls like a ghost at times like this. Zernya shrugged and grinned.

[That’s right. Of course. And I heard you’re running for student council president this time.]

“You knew?”

[Of course. I expected it.]

What exactly was he expecting?

[Being student council president is a basic step to gaining connections and power. Whether you become a doctor or start a business later, having experience standing above others will be important.]

The same words she had heard before continued. Be better than others, work harder, you must always be first. Don’t be afraid to put someone beneath your feet.

Zernya just repeated, “Yes, yes,” indicating she understood.

[It’s also a good opportunity to beat the third son of Rheinland.]

“Yes. I’ll do my best.”

[Not your best, but be the best. Don’t be picky about means and methods. Conveniently, that boy has done many bad things in the past. Dig into that, or threaten the professor researching resonators, and knock him down.]

“…”

Zernya stood still, unable to close her mouth.

Threaten?

That’s going too far.

“…Professor Stranov is an outsider. He’s also a member of the Ten Great Families.”

[You’ve gone soft, child. I told you. Don’t be picky about means and methods to win.]

Click.

The call ended.

Suddenly, she felt a chill.

Digging up past wrongdoings is quite common. It’s a negative strategy used in politics. A method to increase support by tearing down opposing candidates. Let’s say that’s somewhat acceptable.

But what if she messed with Eidel’s professors?

That would be the end.

If caught, she would face backlash.

She would also cross an irreversible river with Eidel.

Zernya shook her head vigorously.

No.

She couldn’t fall that far.

“Ugh.”

Suddenly her waist ached.

She didn’t know why, but it felt like her lower back was breaking. A sensation like being devoured by a Darwin-type monster.

Was this some kind of precognition?

Although Zernya didn’t believe in primal feelings, this time she was overwhelmed by the sense that she shouldn’t cross the line.

“Ha, fine.”

She decided to think differently.

“Who does my father think he is?”

When he’s beneath me anyway.

He’ll become a back-room old man after passing on the family headship, yet he has so much to say.

Eidel is much more impressive. At least Eidel was willing to put her on the same level as his future self.

She moistened her throat and picked up her tablet. While scribbling something, she heard a telepathic message in her head.

[“Hello, what are you doing?”]

It was that constellation from before.

[“It seems you’re revising your pledges. How’s it going?”]

“I told you I’d handle it myself…”

‘If any constellation approaches you offering a contract, don’t even speak to them.’

“…but anyway.”

This is dangerous.

The timing is too strange.

How did Eidel happen to mention that information today of all days?

[“It seems that boy is determined to come between us.”]

“What do you mean?”

[“You humans consider us as specs, right? Contracting with me would help with the election too. Yes, I can heal sick people with my ability. Without any special medical knowledge.”]

Having one’s thoughts read is quite troublesome.

The constellation started chattering.

Seeing that you have a conscience, you’re not a bad child. Rather, I like you. I hope you become president in the election. I’m cheering for you, so do your best.

In short, it was asking for a contract.

“No thanks.”

Zernya brushed off the constellation’s attempt to butter her up.

“I don’t want to receive blessing from a constellation whose name I don’t even know.”

[“That’s because this is a blind test. If you heard my constellation name, anyone would want to contract with me.”]

“Since I haven’t heard it, I don’t want to contract.”

[“Why are you following that boy’s words so well? Do you really think I’m a foreign god?”]

Not quite.

Actually, I’m not sure.

Eidel is something of an expert on foreign gods.

He wouldn’t joke about something like that.

“Go away.”

[“…Then I have no choice.”]

The constellation retreated obediently again. This makes it seem like a real constellation.

Anyway, what’s important now is the election. Zernya continued revising her pledges.

Zernya’s pledges were divided into two main directions.

Medical field pledges such as strengthening discount benefits for Stellarium General Hospital students, providing temporary drowsiness shelters for those studying all night during exam periods, and expanding on-campus health and fitness facilities,

And general pledges like improving scholarship systems, changing the GPA evaluation method in the job market to be equal with other academies, and activating an online used bookstore in the Bamboo Forest.

This way, she could leverage her strength as a medical student while creating a broad support base.

She revised and revised and revised again.

For the upcoming candidate debate.

And.

“Heh, heheh.”

Finally, it was complete.

“Just wait.”

I’ll step on you lightly.