episode_0140

Naturally, news of a commoner freshman suddenly turning the academy upside down spread throughout the empire, prompting an investigation into Luciella.

Given that she was an unprecedented anomaly appearing at a time when the social hierarchy had been firmly acknowledged for decades, thorough scrutiny was inevitable. Was she possibly the illegitimate child of some noble family? Had she acquired power through illicit means?

The investigations continued relentlessly, but Luciella remained silent, answering only what was necessary. Eventually, the student council president intervened and put an end to it. She acknowledged Luciella and vaguely inducted her into the student council, dismissing further disputes. No aristocrat or student dared challenge the president’s authority outright.

Even though Luciella wasn’t an official imperial noble, there was no concrete evidence to openly accuse the only daughter of the Saihyi Merchant Guild of wrongdoing. And so, Luciella was ambiguously accepted—both as a member of the student council and as a commoner student. Still, the discrimination against her didn’t vanish overnight.

With that in mind, I turned to Luciella.

“Speaking of which, has it gotten any better lately?”

“‘Better’? What do you mean?”

“I was thinking back to when you first enrolled. Everyone was making a fuss, calling you the academy’s unprecedented genius and all that.”

“Ah. That time.”

“Nowadays, I can guess the situation even without seeing it myself. How did that happen?”

My memories only extend to Eric Grave starting his second year at the academy this time around. In previous iterations, I had naturally progressed step-by-step since first year, but in this timeline, Eric Grave had already ruined his first year by the time I woke up—so of course, I had no idea what kind of life Luciella had lived.

Though, in the previous world, I was too preoccupied with the idea of helping them to even bother asking.

“What do you mean, ‘how did that happen’?”

“Well, you seem to be blending in quietly like the other commoner students now. I was just wondering how someone who was acknowledged as a genius a mere year ago ended up like this.”

“I did nothing.”

“Huh?”

“Literally, nothing. As a result, most people lost interest in me. Of course, there were those who looked down on or belittled me… but I judged it was tolerable. My mere existence would unsettle most students anyway. So instead, I chose to do nothing and become a target of disdain. Ultimately, with the president as my supporter, even those who dismissed me couldn’t act recklessly.”

“Wastefully considerate of you.”

In short, Luciella had deliberately acted incompetent so others wouldn’t resent her. That way, they’d assume her talent was either a fluke or fleeting. Given that I barely know anything about Luciella myself, how much more ignorant must the other students be?

Even in the original work, beyond being described as the hero who would draw the sacred sword, Luciella had no noteworthy backstory explained.

Come to think of it… that’s a bit strange?

I stared intently at Luciella’s face.

“What?”

“Any chance you have a hidden master? Or some secret birth origin you didn’t know about?”

“No. If I did, I’d have told you first. The moment I grasped a sword, I instinctively knew how to wield it—and so I did. That’s all.”

“……”

Right. Who her master was, what kind of life she’d led—none of that matters to me now. What’s important is that she’s walking alongside me, and soon, she will draw the sacred sword.

At least until then, I should continue believing in her. With that thought, another question surfaced.

“Wait, then why did you listen to me back then?”

If Luciella wanted to avoid attention and quietly fade into the background, she could’ve just lost when I challenged her to the third training ground. For someone like her, throwing a match subtly wouldn’t have been hard.

“I couldn’t refuse after you asked. If Eric said so, there must have been a reason. I simply followed your lead.”

“Well, thanks for that.”

“What’s got you two chatting so happily?”

Thump—

An arm dropped over the shoulders of Luciella and me as we walked side by side.

“Whoa?!”

“What’s the matter?”

“No need to be so tense. Aren’t we all student council members? Try to relax a little.”

“Your Highness, should the imperial princess really behave so casually?”

The arm draped over our shoulders belonged to Elia.

“Does it matter? I’ve just wrapped up urgent affairs anyway. Even Father was pleased. Said he’s always indebted to Duke Grave.”

“This isn’t the place for such talk. Continuing this familiar tone all the way to the academy sounds dreadful. If you have something to say, let’s do it in the student council room.”

“As Eric said, it’s not wise for the imperial princess to be seen moving so casually with us. If word spreads, it could even affect the coming imperial succession—”

“Luciella. I never took you as one to care about such things? Don’t worry. My affairs… I’ll handle them myself.”

Elia’s eyes burned fiercely as she spoke, and I raised a hand to stop Luciella from continuing. Elia must have her own reasons for appearing at the academy like this.

Otherwise, the imperial princess wouldn’t be brazenly attending classes like an ordinary student.

“Let’s continue in the student council room. After all, I’m under Luciella’s protection today—though I can’t guarantee she’ll extend that to you as well, Your Highness.”

Luckily, Elia accepted my suggestion, lightly patting my shoulder before striding ahead.

“She’s still like a storm.”

“That’s precisely why the empire trusts her. That storm won’t rage indiscriminately within our borders.”

Now then, what exactly is Elia’s business?

———

“As a member of the student council, I’ll be participating too.”

Elia’s intentions became clear surprisingly fast.

By the time I entered the student council room, everyone else was already gathered. Before I could sit, Elia confidently made her declaration.

“Participating in what?”

“Isn’t it obvious? The Fiend Festival. It’s happening again this year, naturally. Now that the troublesome matters are settled, even the imperial princess can’t skip classes without reason while part of the student council.”

“Ah.”

Hearing that, lightning struck in my mind. While I was lost in thought, the others were already deep in discussion.

“It’s already that time of year again… Hmm, how should we decorate this time…?”

“Don’t worry about the budget! I, Lynn Saihyi, shall grovel before the guild and Father to squeeze out every last coin possible!”

“That’s hardly a remark befitting the student council president.”

“What choice do I have? Duke Grave’s family isn’t pitching in, neither is Count Rurstal’s, and even the imperial palace hasn’t contributed a single copper!”

“Well, when you put it that way…”

“Our father wished to contribute as well, but unfortunately, our household finances aren’t in the best state… My apologies, Madam President.”

“Hmm. Part of me wants to request the church redirect some of its donations our way… but that wouldn’t be right, would it?”

“No.”

Leaving the deflated president be, I turned to Chris.

“What about our household?”

“Until our parents return, we can’t freely use the family funds.”

“Then how come you support me?”

“That’s from my personal allowance. Unlike you, I was granted independent assets by our parents.”

“Ah, right.”

“More importantly, are you fine with this? Regardless of the ball, if you don’t perform well in the exams, people will distrust you again.”

“Exams… Ugh.”

“The festival matters, but you shouldn’t neglect your studies for it. Especially since you barely attended classes in first year…”

The Fiend Festival.

As its name suggests, this is the academy’s grandest annual celebration—an event held without fail since the founding of Fiend Academy. Open to both imperial citizens and foreigners alike, it’s a colossal festival.

Its crown jewel is undoubtedly the grand ball, where the entire academy transforms into a dance hall. A massive social gathering—a festival.

Here, students mingle with those they’d rarely meet otherwise, washing away academic stress and indulging freely. Even professors turn a blind eye to minor transgressions during this time.

A true festival where everyone can laugh. Noble or commoner, top student or failing one—for this brief period, all revel without worry, feasting on delicious food and enjoying each other’s company.

Anyone can attend. Profitable beyond measure, both internally and externally. That’s the Fiend Festival.

…If only midterms weren’t the following week.