episode_0038

I asked the chairman in shock.

“Wh—how did you do that? All of the academy’s facilities are protected not just by first-class barriers but also by multiple defensive spells! There’s no way anyone could just—”

“Hmm? You’re surprisingly slow on the uptake, aren’t you? One shouldn’t pry into a lady’s secrets, my junior. Still, that inquisitive spirit of yours is quite admirable! It’s like looking at my first-year self!”

“Ugh…”

The chairman in his first year? That’s not someone I particularly want to resemble.

“Then, may I take my leave now?”

“Hold on. Don’t you have a problem right now that you shouldn’t just run away from?”

At those words, my body stiffened.

“Lin Saisi here. As student council president, I cannot stand by and watch a student in distress. Especially when that student happens to be the very man our precious student council officers are all concerned about!”

“Concerned? That’s not really the case with them. And my problem isn’t something you can solve either, Chairman.”

“I suppose so. After all, no matter how much you listen to someone’s troubles, perfectly resolving them is impossible!”

“You say that like you already know.”

“Which is why the only thing I can offer is advice. Most troubles can at least find a starting point with this.”

“If you’re going that far, I’m a little curious. What is it? This ‘advice’ of yours.”

“A knot doesn’t unravel in a single pull. You understand, don’t you?”

Hearing that, I couldn’t help but nod.

Yeah, who was I to think I could be some savior or handle everything alone?

Just look at me from the previous world.

I tried to shoulder everything by myself, struggled to solve it all alone, and failed—wasn’t that miserable ending proof enough?

“You’re free to do whatever you can! But don’t confuse the order! Only by doing what you can do will you achieve what you want to do. If you try to force something for the sake of your desires—”

“I’ll just break first. So, I have a request, Chairman.”

“Hm! What is it?”

“Is Cecil still here?”

“She’s still in the student council room! You should hurry before it’s too late. I’ll help too!”

“Got it, thank you, Chairman!”

Huh?

Help?

“The path is that way!”

“Thanks…”

Fortunately, I had no trouble finding Cecil.

No, scratch that—the moment I turned the corner, the student council room’s door practically jumped out at me.

That must be what the chairman meant by a “small consideration.” Though for something called “help,” the scale feels excessively large.

When I arrived back at the student council room, only Cecil was there, quietly flipping through a book.

“Cecil!”

“Eric? Did you forget something?”

“Math. Please explain it properly.”

If I don’t change first, nothing will change.

Running away from the student council room was just a tantrum because I didn’t want to face that damn suffocating past again.

After all, the thing that’s given me the most intense trauma right now is none other than them.

The pressure of stepping into their kingdom, the thought of naturally getting entangled with them and having to navigate those bonds—just thinking about it made my head throb.

“Sigh…”

“Eric?”

This place, more than anywhere else, triggers my trauma.

The most peaceful place, yet paradoxically, the most terrifying place for me.

“Eric… I’m sorry.”

“Huh?”

Noticing my trembling legs, Cecil cautiously stood up and walked toward me.

“I was thoughtless. Of course, this place would be incredibly frightening for you…”

Cecil wasn’t entirely wrong, but she wasn’t entirely right either. What I feared now wasn’t hostility or punishment here—it was indifference.

No matter what I did, no matter what I said, the hero party that remained silent, buried in their own duties—I couldn’t bear facing them again, not after two lifetimes.

“Hey, Eric. If it’s too hard, should we find another place?”

For a moment, the word “yes” swirled in my mouth, but I forced it back down.

“It’s… fine. It doesn’t bother me.”

We could study somewhere else, but in the end, it would just be the two of us.

Naturally, we’d attract attention, and the news would spread like wildfire.

“That troublemaker Eric ended up being a nuisance even to the Saint candidate!”

No matter how much Cecil insisted it was her own goodwill, people would only see it as pity.

And there was an even more important reason than that.

“But you—no matter who looks at you, it’s obvious you’re not okay!”

“It’s fine.”

Running away here would be easy. All I’d have to do is whine to Cecil.

The world would keep turning just fine without me trying to do anything.

Even if I shouted for people to do their part, they’d just live their own lives.

Like they did before I died.

But if I turned my back here, I’d end up unable to do anything else.

Selfish, one-sidedly imposed duty or not, I wasn’t cold enough to abandon it all and run.

Is this personality why I kept getting tossed around? With that self-deprecating thought, I spoke.

“Just… give me a little time.”

“You made the right choice. Let’s rest for a bit, and once you’ve calmed down, we can find an empty seat in the quiet library—”

“That’s not it. I’m waiting for the other officers to arrive.”

“Huh?”

“If I’m going to accept help, I might as well do it properly. You all must have a lot to say to me anyway.”

“Huh? Things to say?”

“You know, like my bottom-tier grades or how one misstep could get me expelled. If I want to be acknowledged, I’ll have to prove myself anyway.”

Facing them is scary, but if we can reconcile, my academy life will become much easier.

“Are you really sure about this? If calling them here ends up hurting you, it’ll be my fault.”

“I trust you’ll make sure that doesn’t happen, Cecil. Haha.”

“If you’re saying that much… alright. I’ll gather everyone, so wait here a moment.”

“Understood. I’ll wait here, so please bring them.”

“What are you talking about?”

Snap—!

With a light flick of Cecil’s finger, the empty chairs in the student council room were suddenly occupied by their respective owners, as if they’d materialized out of thin air.

“Eek?!”

“It’s been a while since an emergency summons. And one from Cecil, no less.”

“I’m curious what agenda prompted this summons.”

“Hahaha! As expected, you never disappoint! I didn’t think you’d call us in just minutes.”

As I stood there gaping, Cecil explained.

“What in the world…?”

“It’s a privilege of the student council officers. Without something like this, we’d never manage to gather.”

Everyone except the chairman, who knew the context, finally seemed to notice Cecil was talking to someone and turned their heads. I found myself under the collective gaze of the three former hero party members.

“E-Eric?! Why are you here?!”

“Brother?”

“…Surprising.”

“Haha… Hello. Some of you I’m meeting for the first time, others I’ve already met, but it’s an honor to see all of you student council members like this.”

I bowed deeply, greeting them politely.

“Wait, was he the reason for the emergency summons?”

“That’s right, Chris. But don’t worry—your brother hasn’t done anything wrong.”

“Then why call us here?”

“Studying! It’s time for the student council to step up and help a poor student in need!”

I wish the chairman would just stay quiet.

“Studying? You expect us to help him, Chairman?”

“That’s right~! Eric and I are in the same group for an assignment, and he asked for help catching up with the rest of you. I couldn’t refuse, of course.”

“You’ve got quite the silver tongue. You were the one who roped him into this, weren’t you?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Eric was the one who suggested asking for your help, wasn’t he?”

“Brother did?”

“My apologies, everyone. I’m Eric Grave. I never imagined I’d introduce myself to you like this, but…”

Chris was mixed in, but in this space, she was my senior, so I decided to act accordingly.

“Hold on. I get what you’re saying, but what’s with the chairman? The way you’re talking, it sounds like you two know each other. Brother, were you and the chairman involved in something?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. We just crossed paths occasionally in my first year because I was the Grave family’s heir candidate.”

“Hm! That’s right—Eric and I are complete strangers!”

You say that, but your face says otherwise.

This is the Lin Saisi I know. Honestly, his honesty is the problem.

Our chairman has always been perfect in every field, but I wish he’d refrain from acting. There’s a reason for that.

You can’t lie when your face gives everything away.