Chapter Index

    “Let’s leave the matter about the Student Council President for later… For now, we should focus on Eric.”

    “How trivial. I’ll be taking my leave.”

    “Oh? Are you leaving already, unnie?”

    “Yes.”

    “Then I’ll go too~.”

    Chris also got up and clung to Ellia’s arm.

    “Chris. You don’t have any classes now, do you? Don’t use me as an excuse to skip.”

    “I–I have makeup classes!”

    “You, attending makeup classes? I’d sooner believe the President is wise.”

    “I AM actually wise!”

    …That’s the exact reason it’s unbelievable.

    At that moment, Luciella cautiously raised her hand and spoke.

    “If possible, I’d like to excuse myself as well. I have a swordsmanship technique I’ve been conceptualizing, and it’s not yet fully perfected…”

    “Urk…”

    Cecilia shot everyone a resentful glare, but what kind of Hero Party would crumble under such weak pressure?

    It was obvious to me too—everyone except the airheaded President found my presence uncomfortable.

    They didn’t want to waste time with a failure like me.

    Even without me, they would’ve found their own ways to grow stronger, to find a way to defeat the Demon King.

    So forcing them to face me—someone who only stirred up their guilt, someone they couldn’t even properly help—was pointless. What they truly wanted was something more clandestine… a one-sided reunion.

    “……”

    It was shameless beyond words, but as the “inferior party,” I had no choice but to understand.

    After all, within this academy, they held the power. If they refused to help, my happy academy life would vanish in an instant.

    I bent at a perfect 90-degree angle, looking up at them with desperate eyes.

    “Please. I’ll do anything you ask. Just tell me what you need from me.”

    “Wait, oppa!”

    Hmm?

    Chris looked flustered.

    Ah, right—she knew I had my memories. She must’ve worried my words would trap me.

    Even if it stung a little, the fact that I could yield like this was a blessing.

    Of course, Chris’ concerns were valid, but the other three didn’t know I remembered.

    So the more desperate I acted, the more they’d want to help me.

    But I decided to play it up even more, acting like I had no idea—like I was wholly unaware.

    Thud!

    I dropped to my knees, bending forward in a full prostration.

    The term dogeza might not exist here, but my desperation was unmistakable.

    It wasn’t like kneeling a few more times would wear them out.

    “Please.”

    “Stand up, Eric. There’s no reason for us to receive such a gesture from you.”

    “Sigh… So this is my sin. Fine. If Eric is asking… N-no! It’s not because it’s you, okay?!”

    “…Well, I was already planning to help oppa, so I guess I have no choice.”

    “……”

    Ellia remained silent but didn’t leave the student council room.

    “Excellent! What a splendid sight! Now, let’s discuss who will teach what!”

    “President Rin, are you enjoying this situation?”

    “Of course not!”

    “Then… Since Eric already knows most of the second-year curriculum, I’ll handle the basics.”

    “You, Chris?”

    “What’s that supposed to mean? Don’t you remember who handled his course registration?”

    “Ah…”

    So that’s why…

    “Then I shall oversee Eric’s basic physical training and combat skills. The Empire doesn’t need mere scholars—those without even minimal combat prowess are useless.”

    “As for me…”

    As everyone noisily debated what to teach me, Ellia suddenly stood up.

    “Are you jesting? We’re seriously going to teach him? Us?!”

    Ellia’s face was burning red.

    For her, this situation was beyond humiliating.

    No matter how guilty she felt toward me, personal pride didn’t just vanish.

    As a princess raised on constant praise, someone who had always proven herself worthy of her status…

    To her, I must’ve seemed like a pathetic fool who, despite having the power to see the future, achieved nothing with it.

    Even I had wished countless times that someone else had been isekai’d or that another had gotten the precognition. If I felt that way, how must she feel?

    “Ellia! Do you even realize what you’re saying?!”

    “Do I look like I don’t? I’m reprimanding this disgusting fool who forgets his sins and dares play the saint.”

    “Huh? What do you mean, Princess Ellia? Did Eric do something wrong?!”

    “This is our matter! Stay out of it, President.”

    “But you too are under my protection—even if you’re a princess, I won’t relent. That is the path Rin Saishia walks!”

    “President. Could you please stay quiet for a moment?”

    At my words, the President shrank back and busied herself with paperwork.

    Good. One nuisance handled.

    Still… Disgusting fool? After everything I’ve endured, hearing that stings.

    Then, Chris leaned in and whispered something into Ellia’s ear.

    Slowly, Ellia’s face turned red… then redder.

    “—so… that’s why.”

    “I-I see…”

    Ellia sat quietly, lowering her head, then reluctantly raised her hand.

    “M-Manners in noble society, miscellaneous studies… and imperial history. I’ll handle those.”

    Chris beamed at me. What the hell did she say?

    “I know all of you find me uncomfortable. That’s why I intend to accommodate you as much as possible. It wouldn’t be fair for me to just take without giving back.”

    “Don’t say that. We’ll do our best for y—”

    “That won’t do! Your training and growth must come first. Helping me can wait.”

    Even if I got held back, I refused to let these girls suffer the same.

    The rewards given to top students during exams were far too valuable.

    Anyone who couldn’t see that clearly hadn’t really glimpsed the future.

    “Now that everyone has their assigned subjects, let’s discuss schedules.”

    I glanced around.

    “If any of you can say, ‘I can personally tutor Eric Grave after school without it affecting my life,’ please raise your hand.”

    Thankfully, all hands went up—even the President’s.

    “President, why you? There’s no reason for Eric to study third-year material already.”

    “No particular reason! I just wanted to join in your youthful endeavors!”

    “Lower your hand, President. This isn’t a matter for your amusement.”

    “Understood!”

    The President reluctantly lowered her hand.

    Honestly, what’s her deal?

    “Alright then. Today is Chris’ turn first, right?”

    “Yep. Leave it to me. I’ll drill it into you properly.”

    “Haha. That sounds scary. Go easy on me.”

    “Pfft. How else will you catch up to the others? You’ve got a lot to make up for! Right?”

    “Fair enough. I’m in your care.”

    “Hold it, Eric.”

    Cecilia frowned at how casually Chris and I spoke.

    “Yes? What is it, Lady Cecilia?”

    “While I was the one who initially suggested you needed training… Have you always spoken so casually with Chris?”

    “Huh? Ah, we recently switched.”

    “Recently?”

    “Yes. After talking things out, we cleared up a lot of misunderstandings. Plus, we’re siblings AND underclassmen, right? Why not keep things friendly?”

    “……”

    “……”

    “…Unfair.”

    The one who spat those words was Ellia.

    “Excuse me? Unfair?”

    “Eric. From now on, you will also speak casually to me.”

    “Absolutely not, Your Highness. Just addressing you could cost me my head—why would I take that risk?”

    “Then—”

    “The same goes for Lady Cecilia and Lady Luciella. Listen closely!”

    “Hey, oppa. Isn’t that a bit too much?”

    “You wouldn’t get it. Have you already forgotten what happened in the cafeteria? Right now, I’m the one who has to be careful about others.”

    “Then just force everyone to use casual speech.”

    Fed up, the President dropped that bombshell with a bored look.

    “Huh?”

    “Perfect! Henceforth, all academy students—regardless of seniority—shall speak casually. No hierarchy based on status, wealth, or lineage.”

    “Wait, even if you push for something so major so suddenly—”

    “Additionally, exploiting followers, family influence, or personal authority for undue advantage is forbidden. Effective immediately.”

    “Hold on—!”

    Luciella shot up, facing the President.

    “Objections?”

    “…I’m comfortable with honorifics. May I continue using them?”

    “Granted.”

    “Thank you.”

    Next was Cecilia.

    “Then, President~ As a saint, honorifics have become second nature to me… May I keep using them?”

    “Granted!”

    “Thank you~!”

    “Farce.”

    As Ellia said, granting exceptions to two people made the President’s intentions obvious.

    Of course, she didn’t know, but I used honorifics to distance myself from the Hero Party.

    Unlike Chris, whom I’d reconciled with, the other three were still walking time bombs.

    They knew it too—that’s why none approached me first.

    But speaking casually with them?

    Just imagining the implications of that made my head spin.

    All or nothing, I thought, daring to ask the President myself.

    “I-I’m still far behind everyone else! Out of respect, I must use honorifi—”

    “No need for such stiffness! How can you learn if you’re trapped in formalities?”

    With a flourish, the President snapped open her fan.

    “No further discussion!”

    Of course.

    I forced the widest smile I could muster and slowly enunciated:

    “N-Nice… to… meet… you.”

    Ugh. Tastes like sand already.

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