It’s counting prime numbers.

Of course, this would feel like a betrayal from the Disciplinary Committee’s perspective.

After all, the reason Waden had knelt and pleaded with me was because I had experience of going to the battlefield without using weapons and returning alive.

“…Please continue your explanation.”

But does he have his own thoughts?

Contrary to expectations, Waden didn’t immediately get angry or refuse the lesson.

“Is that okay?”

“It was my choice to ask for learning from you. If it’s within the bounds of teaching, not forcing a direction, I think there must be a reason.”

If it’s not forced…

Yes, at least I was in a position to consider and respect the circumstances of the Disciplinary Committee.

Using fierce weapons to maintain public order in times of peace would make the public uneasy.

The reason I brought weapons here was solely to persuade them under the guise of ‘education’.

“First, let me tell you one thing you’re misunderstanding…”

I grasped one of the weapons for this purpose and told the truth.

“The teacher also used weapons on the battlefield.”

It’s not a lie.

From the start, those on the front lines were all monsters.

Jumping directly into the midst of such beings to rescue people was only possible by getting covered in a lot of blood, regardless of friend or foe.

“In the first place, going to the battlefield empty-handed was just to keep my body as light as possible, but if necessary, I would boldly grab weapons discarded on the battlefield or throw them at enemies.”

Yes, the main strategy of the Red Cross unit was local procurement. Although we started empty-handed, we tried everything permitted when standing on the battlefield.

That’s why I’m certain. Dealing with all kinds of dangers without holding weapons is practically close to idealism.

“Even if I don’t point this at you, you must at least learn to assume situations where this is pointed at you.”

I had an obligation to teach that to the children who admired me.

Even more so because, although it’s called an era of peace, remnants of that time still linger.

“Is it because even if we don’t use weapons, our opponents don’t need to respond accordingly?”

“That’s part of it, and also, you need to actually hold a weapon to learn how to break it down easily. Of course, from my position, I’d like you to handle at least one weapon for self-defense, but…”

My voice trailed off as I continued speaking.

Then, as if answering, I pointed the dagger I was holding at the Disciplinary Committee members, then chuckled and turned the handle towards them.

“…I won’t force you if you insist on bare hands even at the end of the education.”

Yes, how to use what they’ve learned is ultimately up to the learners.

The handle of this dagger being presented now is also their choice whether to grab it or not.

“…I understand.”

To this non-forced option, Waden stood up and answered.

“For now… at least for this training camp, I’ll carry out everything you teach without complaint. Let’s postpone deciding on our policy until after we receive this education.”

Waden grabbed the handle of the dagger I was presenting.

The Disciplinary Committee members watching from behind also seemed to be following his lead.

Yes, it’s always good to see a child with a deep learning attitude.

“Well then, everyone come here and take one weapon each that you like.”

Hoping that they can achieve what they want during these three days.

As I looked out the window with such hopes, suddenly the face of another child who had received my teachings came to mind.

That child…

I wonder if Dale is doing well while I’m away?

---

Three days.

It was really nothing for the Student Council.

Because three days is far from enough to finish the work needed to be responsible for tens of thousands of students at Maris.

But even so, it’s work that can’t be postponed even for a moment.

That’s why Maya, the president, was trying her best to fulfill her duties today as well.

“Dale, could you bring me the next document?”

But there are no absolutes in this world.

“Pardon?”

“The documents. Aren’t there more left to approve?”

Maya Karis, the Student Council President who had piled up processed documents on the president’s desk, turned to look at the boy sitting at the accountant’s desk.

Dale Enberton.

Until just three days ago, he was considered a person of concern, but now he was seen as an irreplaceable helper who was not spared trust.

It’s natural.

Even simple paperwork is enough to surpass ordinary hard labor in volume.

Nevertheless, Dale had carried out the work without showing any signs of complaint or fatigue even once.

“Um… There aren’t any.”

“What?”

And because of that, Maya couldn’t immediately accept the words that came back now.

No documents?

What does that mean?

Since she became president, this president’s office had always been full of documents waiting for approval, but could it be that this child, tired from three days of labor, was telling a lie?

“The one you just stamped was the last one…”

“Huh, huh? That can’t be. Isn’t there something we haven’t checked? Like under the desk or…”

No, for this child, that would never happen.

This thoughtful child who would bring tea or massage her shoulders when there was time. Isn’t she feeling not just gratitude but trust towards him now?

Despite this, Maya, unable to believe the current words, searched around the president’s office.

She rummaged through the desk, storage cabinets, bookshelves, and even the completed approval documents, but there was no work left for her to do anywhere.

‘Is, is it really gone…?’

Yes, there was no more work left for her to handle in this Student Council room.

What does this mean?

‘With that just now, is all the work finished?’

Work is finished?

Is that really possible?

“President.”

“Huh!?”

Maya startled back to her senses.

Then she turned her hollow eyes towards Dale and started shaking his shoulders.

“Ye-Yes! Tell me! There’s more work, right? Just say anything. I’ll prepare right away…”

“Waah! Calm down, President!! The work is all done! You can rest now!!”

Dale shouted urgently while being shaken mercilessly.

Even the reality she had denied several times at first, after repeated emphasis, she finally had to accept.

“That can’t be… Really?”

“Yes, yes. You can rest now.”

“…Re-Rest?”

Rest?

What was that?

“You’ve been working without even a wink of sleep for almost three days. Now that the work is done, I think it would be good for you to get some sleep.”

“Ah, yes, sleep… Sleep, right. Yes.”

Belatedly realizing that her state was strange, Maya sat on the sofa and clutched her head.

Right, her current self is in a state of tremendous fatigue due to several days of all-nighters.

In this situation, wouldn’t it be a waste to blow away the leisure that has finally come?

‘That’s right. Let’s postpone the thank-you or the follow-up until after I’ve relieved the fatigue accumulated in my body.’

With that, Maya flopped down on the sofa, trying to savor the leisure that had finally come.

But for some reason, her bloodshot eyes weren’t thinking of closing.

Is it because she hadn’t taken off her glasses?

“Dale. It’s a really strange question, but may I ask you one thing?”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“How do you sleep?”

“…Pardon?”

“No, it’s just, for some reason my eyes won’t close…”

It’s definitely not a joke.

It’s just that sleep is being disturbed by tension, obsession, or anxiety beyond fatigue.

What if I don’t wake up again if I close my eyes, or what if a major problem occurs while I’m asleep, and so on…

Such thoughts stimulate survival instincts, secreting hormones that create an awakening effect in the body, suppressing the desire to sleep and elevating consciousness.

‘Should I… should I look for work even now?’

If there’s no work left, shouldn’t I create work to handle?

As such extreme thoughts came to mind, Dale, who had been watching the president, approached her side and carefully offered a suggestion.

“If you can’t sleep… how about counting prime numbers?”

“…Prime numbers?”

“Yes. When I can’t sleep, I count prime numbers.”

The boy sitting next to the sofa, looking up at her.

“If it’s okay, would you like to count together?”

It was a pure gaze without any malice.

Yes, this child was always like this.

“Huh? Ah, yes. Then let’s try it.”

It’s a bit strange to count prime numbers, but what does it matter?

Whatever it is, there’s no harm in trying. Soon, Maya, leading her tired mind, started counting prime numbers in front of Dale.

“So, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11… What was next?”

“It’s 13. Then 17.”

“Yes, that’s right. And then 19, 23…”

The sight of counting prime numbers with a junior in the Student Council room alone.

It might seem strange to others, but somehow, just counting prime numbers made her feel at ease.

‘That’s right, as Dale said, let’s calm my mind by counting prime numbers for now. Prime numbers are numbers that can only be divided by 1 and themselves… It should help in finding composure.’

143, 251… 359, 473…

As the number of digits gradually changed, peace settled in her heart.

A smile began to slowly form on the president’s lips as she felt that sense of relief.

‘No, rather than that, it’s probably the relief of having someone by my side. I’ve been working alone all this time.’

Yes, the president is a position elected only once a year at Maris.

That loneliness is far lonelier than even the prime numbers that can be divided.

In such a situation, how much comfort would the fact that someone is by your side provide?

‘That’s right, this child is not some kind of problem child. This child is…’

Although it might be too much for one person to support so many people alone, because of that, she has developed the discernment to surround herself with the right people.

That’s why Maya was confident.

That this boy was a ‘talent’ worthy of having by her side.

At the same time, the fact that such a boy, despite class hours, was placed in the unfortunate position of receiving protection… and management disguised as such, by her side.

-Thud.

As she felt such pity, suddenly a dull sensation was felt near her knee.

Along with that, the mouth that had been counting prime numbers closed, and Maya’s gaze turned to the boy’s head lying on her knee.

“…Dale?”

She called his name, but no answer came back.

Of course. The boy resting his head on her knee was currently deep in sleep, making only quiet breathing sounds.

“Hehe, I see. You were very tired too.”

Well, while she might be used to work, hadn’t he been helping with professional accounting work for three days, something he had never done before?

A child who had enthusiastically assisted her, even taking remaining work to his dormitory to process.

Although she had failed to fall asleep herself, she didn’t want to disturb this boy’s sound sleep.

She just wanted to watch over him, stroking his hair or cheeks…

“…Huh!?”

Maya let out a gasp as she finally realized the position of her hand.

‘Wh-What am I doing? Trying to touch the cheek of a sleeping child…!’

No matter how unable to chew through fatigue she might be, touching a defenseless child’s body at will. Is that something befitting a president?

Realizing this, she tried to hastily remove her hand, but for some reason, the hand that had once made contact didn’t seem to want to leave its place.

‘So-Soft…’

Strength naturally entered the hand that had made contact, and eventually, the curved fingers lightly grasped the flesh of the cheek.

The soft cheek flesh that changed shape according to the movement.

‘Is a boy’s cheek this soft?’

Holding her breath at that texture, she applied force, and the cheek flesh started to stretch due to that force.

“Mmm…”

Yet the boy remained asleep, oblivious to the world.

As if having a good dream, a faint smile had appeared on the boy’s face at some point.

-Gulp.

Saliva finally started to be swallowed down her dry throat as she saw that smile.

“Ju-Just once.”

Eventually, a desire she had never felt before started to boil up from within her heart.

‘Just once, hugging him…’

Something she would never do normally.

But her tired mind made her forget the sense of betrayal she should have, and the trust she had in the boy was soon eroded by desire, leading her to force the action.

As her both hands moved to embrace the boy.

“President. I’m back…”

At that moment, Feria, the Student Council secretary, opened the entrance door and stepped into the room.

“Kyaaaah!”

Startled by the sudden intrusion, Maya hurriedly jumped up from the sofa and leaped towards the window.

Her body, acting without reason, was about to smash the window grandly…

-Thud!

…but failed to do so.

Instead, she bounced back and fell flat on the floor.

“…President? What are you doing?”

“……”

Maya pressed her head further into the floor while remaining silent.

It would have been better if she had lost consciousness from the impact, but she had never hated her insomnia as much as today.