Chapter 136

Chapter 136

From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.

Episode 136: Elections (5).

“Excuse me, why haven’t you submitted your resignation?”

Senior Sinclair from the Political Science Department—the candidate they had all agreed upon—lowered his voice in the campaign headquarters, his face hardening.

Zelnya and I had stopped by to gather election placards and ended up witnessing this remarkable scene.

“Who hasn’t submitted it?”

“Not me.”

“Me neither.”

“Me… me neither…”

“Don’t you all realize you haven’t submitted it?”

Sinclair raised his voice in frustration. Quietly, I took out my emergency popcorn from my pocket. Before long, half of it was snatched away by Zelnya.

Crunching on the instant popcorn, Zelnya began to chuckle.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. Just realizing that they fall apart even without me meddling.”

Human greed knows no bounds, and politicians are no exception.

Even within the school, the position of student council president is a place that fuels the desire for power.

Power struggles, division, and negative strategies can occur even at the student level. One must endure everything to sit on the throne.

And those who cannot see the bigger picture are quickly weeded out.

At that moment, second-year students were exactly like that.

“Really, how did it come to this…”

An hour before the public debate.

There were a total of five candidates.

Originally, there were supposed to be three, but two who were blinded by the desire for the presidency had betrayed Senior Sinclair. Thus, the current five-way race was formed.

It was an extremely advantageous structure for Zelnya and Aidel.

And without much fanfare, the debate began.

After presenting their main pledges, the candidates took turns attacking their opponents. The first right to attack was given to a second-year senior.

Currently, the one with the highest approval rating was Aidel.

Naturally, he became the primary target.

“Candidate Reinhardt, you have many pledges concerning graduate school welfare. Even though there is a separate graduate student council, I wonder if the college student council should be concerned with this.”

Zelnya nodded. It was a reasonable point.

“That is a pledge for the third-year seniors who are planning to go to graduate school. The seniors do not have the right to be elected, but they do have the right to vote. So we must not fill our pledges with things that exclude them.”

“So such discussions should be held in the graduate student council…”

“When seniors enter, they do not immediately have voting rights in the graduate student council. And in the graduate program, they are busy with research. Even if they have rights, they do not have time to exercise them.”

“So the college needs to help them?”

“Yes. Since we share the same space, use the same administrative system, and learn from the same professors.”

“No matter how you look at it, the budget issue is…”

“We have already received investments from the professors.”

Aidel took out his prepared materials.

Graduate school consultation center, moving walkway to the research group, Graduate School Day event, lab tour, graduate school promotional video production, and the establishment of the Graduate School Malpractice Eradication Committee.

“We have received support for these various projects.”

“How on earth… How… No, can that really be enough?”

“If it’s not sufficient, we will secure additional capital.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to focus on undergraduate student welfare with that money?”

“We plan to discuss the specific budget allocation with the General Affairs Department.”

“Your speaking time is up.”

The senior who attempted to attack Aidel was utterly defeated. With the Reinhardt name backing him, his promises didn’t seem hollow.

Next, Aidel seized the right to attack.

The senior who had challenged him gulped down mineral water repeatedly. However, Aidel didn’t even glance his way.

Instead, his eyes met those of Zelnya von Adelwein.

The two first-years locked gazes.

“You have proposed a pledge to restructure the school health insurance support. Specifically, what are your plans?”

As expected. Zelnya gave a sly smile. She knew he’d attack from there.

“Do you know the procedures of our school’s student health insurance association?”

“I don’t know them well.”

Yeah, you wouldn’t know. You’re a science freak who only knows about research. I’ll tell you what absurdities remain in the Stellarium.

“First, you have to be enrolled in the Federal Health Insurance for more than two years and use a hospital in the southern region. Pharmacies are excluded. This is where the problem starts.”

“What kind of problem?”

“Why do you have to be enrolled for two years? Why do you have to use hospitals only in the southern region?”

Zelnya began to explain in detail.

“Because dependent qualifications are recognized, students born and raised inside the Ether Belt are fine—their parents pay the insurance fees for them. But what about students from the frontier regions?”

Aidel’s jaw dropped. No matter how obsessed he was with research, he could understand this much. Seeing his expression, Zelnya continued her counterattack.

“They’re not even covered by health insurance. The public authority doesn’t reach that far. And after struggling to get into Stellarium, they can’t get their co-pay reimbursed. They’re the same academy students!”

Zelnya pounded her chest in frustration.

“Moreover, reimbursements are only possible in the southern region. It’s regional discrimination. Hospital tax rates vary by district! The school is trying to save every penny it can—they’re using tricks!”

In fact, most of Zelnya’s actions were an act.

So-called crocodile tears.

The fact that a diamond spoon—a girl who grew up with everything she needed—was saying this was comical in itself.

But some might see it differently.

“Wow, she’s really thoughtful.”

“Isn’t she only eighteen?”

“Much better than the previous student council that didn’t even discuss it.”

A young lady from a wealthy family who hasn’t even come of age having such admirable thoughts for the common people?

Such was her strategy.

“I will change this point. Instead of two years, you can join after just three months. The criteria will be relaxed so that all general hospitals in each region of the Federation are applicable. The deductible limit will also be doubled from the existing amount.”

“Is it realistically possible?”

“If it’s about capital, we can attract as much as we need.”

Aidel echoed what she’d said moments ago. It was a win-win situation, showcasing that Adelwein had as much financial power as Reinhardt while boosting support.

“As I mentioned before, I plan to carry out a number of pledges focusing on the health and the rest of the students. The budget for library nap rooms and gym expansions has already been prepared.”

“Ooh!”

“Wow!”

The audience couldn’t hide their amazement. A good reaction. That exclamation—I wish to hear more of it.

Aidel refreshed his throat with mineral water and resumed his attack.

“The tuition freeze proposal is also part of your pledge. If you raise the deduction limit, shouldn’t tuition also go up to some extent?”

“We’ll discuss it thoroughly with the school.”

“If there’s no specific plan, it’s likely to end without results.”

“Here’s my thought. Keep the total deduction for six semesters fixed but increase the amount per semester.”

“Isn’t that just a trick?”

“It’s a flexible use of medical funds.”

“Your speaking time is up.”

The two who had clashed took sips of water, their throats parched. Zelnya twisted her lips into a smile.

Thump, thump. Her heart pounded.

Why is that? Debating with you fills me with exhilaration. It feels like I’m alive.

“I will now give Candidate Sinclair the opportunity to critique the opposing candidate.”

The expressions of the second-year seniors visibly hardened.

They must be sensing the urgency.

“Which candidate do you think is good?”

“I think the two first-years are the best, right?”

“That silver-haired girl speaks really well. It’s my first time seeing her today, but I think I’ll vote for her.”

The fear of becoming a mere accessory candidate.

The anxiety of becoming experience points for the two first-years.

The unexpectedly high level of debate.

Especially Zelnya, who had just scored significant points. Her clear explanations, decisive personality, and kindness toward those from the outskirts.

Zelnya looked at Senior Sinclair.

The scene overlapped with that of a beast baring its fangs, and Sinclair’s lips dried up.

Bring it on.

I’ll cut you down instead.

That’s what her gaze seemed to say.

“I… I have a question for Candidate Reinhardt.”

He turned his attention to Aidel, who seemed relatively mild. After all, Aidel had the highest approval rating, so he had to take a shot.

However, previous candidates had already asked almost every conceivable question, and Aidel had defended himself perfectly.

In short, there was nothing to criticize.

“Question, the question is…”

“Go ahead.”

Sinclair bit his lip. At this point, it was do or die.

“When you were researching the resonator…”

“Yes, yes.”

“There are rumors that you engaged in research misconduct.”

“What?”

Zelnya furrowed her brow. For a moment, she thought she had misheard.

“It has been confirmed that you are acquainted with Professor Feynman and Professor Stranov of Eruyel Academy. We suspect that you may have illicitly included your name in the paper by leveraging these connections…”

It seemed she hadn’t misheard.

Sinclair was doubting Aidel’s genius mind.

It wasn’t entirely unreasonable. How could a first-year college student publish a paper in as the first author, no less? And within just a year? What kind of skills could he possibly have to write four papers?

Even for a professor, that would be difficult.

Could it have been influenced by an Outer God?

To an outsider, it might seem like there was some black money involved.

However, Zelnya had seen it clearly.

How hard he had worked during the summer break.

“We request an explanation for this.”

“There is nothing to explain.”

Thud.

Zelnya struck the desk, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Aidel von Reinhardt has nothing to explain regarding any research misconduct. He is innocent.”

“Candidate Adelwein, this is not the time for you to respond…”

“It’s acceptable if it’s for testimony.”

How dare they nitpick over such trivial matters when they can’t even compare to Aidel? Against her rival?

They’ve messed with the wrong person today.

“Please, grant me the right to speak,” Zelnya said, locking eyes with the moderator.

The moderator downed his water in one gulp and hastily nodded.

“I grant Candidate Adelwein the right to speak for testimony.”

“This past summer semester, before the seasonal session, I visited the said laboratory with Candidate Reinhardt. There, I recorded a video of Candidate Reinhardt and Professor Stranov working together.”

“W-What?”

Sinclair flinched, and Aidel jumped up in surprise.

“Wh-why do you have that…?”

“What do you mean, why? I’m the one who filmed this back then.”

Zelnya shrugged, raising an eyebrow.

“Then, I will submit the evidence tape.”

With a sly smile, she placed the film on the table.

Now, can you say your name and student number to the camera?

Ah. What the hell.