episode_0214

After sitting in the chair, I formally began my interview with the Principal.

Around the luxurious wooden desk were neatly arranged bookshelves, and the walls were adorned with paintings by unknown artists.

“First, I should introduce myself. I am Brecht Hausman, the principal of Aegis Academy.”

“Hello, Principal!”

The Principal spoke to me with a gentle smile.

His tone was friendly, as if he were speaking to an old friend.

“First, don’t be too nervous. You’ve probably already heard the explanation, but this is merely a formality. Understood?”

“Yes, I understand!”

I replied with a bright smile.

Truthfully, I was a little nervous, but our Violets’ specialty was relaxing.

The Principal offered me a plate of cookies from his desk.

There were chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal cookies, and even white chocolate cookies. My mouth watered just looking at them.

“I prepared these cookies, thinking you might like sweets. Please enjoy them.”

“Wow, thank you!”

I excitedly picked up a cookie.

The moment I put it in my mouth, the sweet chocolate chips and crispy cookie lingered on my tongue.

*As expected of a prestigious academy!*

*The cookies are also the best!*

Admiring them in my mind, 1st chomped on the cookie.

Some small talk ensued.

What I usually did, what my hobbies were, what I liked.

As the casual conversation drew to a close, the Principal cleared his throat and asked another question.

“Violet, there’s something I’m curious about. It’s quite rare for me to interview transfer students like this, but there are a few things I’d like to discuss with you. Can you answer honestly?”

I instinctively sensed the sudden change in his tone.

*Now for the main point!*

“Yes!”

“Alright then, I’ll ask my first question. What was your reason for joining our school?”

At that question, I paused in thought. There were, in fact, several reasons why I came to this school.

“First, the facilities seemed good. The dorms looked clean, and the sports fields and training facilities seemed nice, too. And…”

I continued, a smile playing on my lips.

“The seniors also seem very friendly. And I bet the food will be delicious!”

“I see. Whatever else, I can say our academy’s cafeteria is the best in the academy city.”

The Principal chuckled. Then, something else suddenly came to mind.

“Oh, and Adela Unnie! No, I mean, Senior!”

“You mean Miss Adela.”

“Yes, I met the student council president Unnie before coming here. She was really pretty and cool! I want to become a cool person like Unnie.”

The Principal also smiled and nodded at my words.

“Yes, Adela is a good student who sets an example. She’ll take good care of you as a new junior. And it’s not just Adela, is it? Everyone here will warmly welcome you.”

The Principal’s face still held a gentle smile as he spoke.

Suddenly, I had a subtle intuition. I felt a strange emotion lurking within Principal Brecht’s smile, directed at me.

It was similar to the way the inspector looked at me.

*What is it?*

*Did he hear something?*

The Violets grew anxious.

They remembered the herb theft they had committed at Aegis Academy a few months ago.

*What if we were caught?*

*Isn’t he going to expel us?*

As they watched with nervous expressions, the Principal, now with a serious face, slowly opened his mouth.

“From now on, I want to talk about something important.”

“Yes, what is it?”

The moment Principal Brecht opened his mouth, I nearly jumped out of my seat.

“Miss Violet, do you intend to continue your Ariel Group activities here?”

“Yelp!”

I dropped my cookie.

“My cookie…”

Violet pitifully tried to pick up the cookie from the floor.

Brecht stopped her and picked up a fresh cookie from the table for her.

“Mmm… delicious…”

Violet, still wary, accepted the cookie and munched on it.

*Ugh! When did the inspector rat us out?*

*Bad guy!*

Principal Brecht compared the contents of the document Seijis had given him earlier with the girl in front of him.

‘That document is useful.’

[…has a tendency to obsess over food, especially sweets. Has a slight voracious appetite.]

Brecht thought preparing cookies was not a bad choice.

Perhaps thanks to the food, the girl in front of him was sitting relatively calmly.

However, his opponent was a monster who had brought down a giant clan. The Principal didn’t let his guard down and continued the conversation.

“Don’t worry. I only heard about it from the inspector. No one else besides me knows this fact, so rest assured.”

“Really?”

“Indeed. So, Miss Violet, please put down that sword you’re hiding on your back.”

When Principal Brecht pointed it out, Violet, looking embarrassed, put the sword back into her inventory.

[Reacts violently if she feels her safety or the safety of those close to her is threatened.]

Recalling the passage from the report, the Principal cautiously explained.

“The reason I called you today is because there are quite a few things we need to address. This includes what happened during the transfer exam and interview, and there’s much I want to discuss.”

Principal Brecht slowly looked at Violet.

A gentle aura still surrounded his lips, but his eyes shone sharply.

“I heard about your last interview. You answered that strength and violence come first when the interviewers asked you.”

The Principal looked directly into Violet’s blood-red eyes.

“If a problem arises at the academy, how do you plan to handle it?”

“What kind of problem?”

“For example, if another student or teacher makes an unreasonable demand? Like at Polaris, where you used to attend.”

At the mention of Polaris, Violet slightly furrowed her brows.

The academy itself had vanished in a mushroom cloud one November morning, but Polaris’s outrageous actions were still a topic of conversation among gossips.

Violet, who had been darting her eyes around, spoke as if she had made up her mind.

“Well, I’ll try to solve it through dialogue first. But if they’re hopelessly bad, then I’ll beat them down with guns and swords. That way, the academy will be peaceful!”

“Did you solve problems that way at your previous school? Even before you brought down Magnvis?”

Violet hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“That’s brave of you. You did well.”

“Huh?”

Violet was puzzled by the Principal’s unexpected reply.

“I have no intention of reprimanding you for what you’ve done so far. Even if the methods were extreme, they were clearly necessary. That’s how the world of Awakened Ones is. Justice without power is meaningless.”

Violet’s expression brightened instantly. Her network filled with anticipation.

*He acknowledges us!*

*He’s a good Principal!*

However, the next moment, Principal Brecht spoke firmly.

“However, there’s one thing you must understand. Remember that unnecessary violence, like at Polaris, is not used here. Aegis Academy strives to resolve problems according to rules and principles. I hope you understand.”

“What if a problem does arise?”

“I won’t stop you from resolving minor conflicts and disputes through personal duels. Duels are a basic aptitude, after all. However, if a major incident occurs, I ask that you inform the professors and the student council first, rather than handling it personally. Our academy’s student council is different from Polaris’s student council, which had that murderer Kroshel. Just look at Miss Adela, wouldn’t you agree?”

Violet thought deeply.

*That’s right! Adela Senior is kind!*

1st nodded, gradually agreeing.

The Principal’s words seemed correct. It was obvious who was better: a kind senior who patted your head, or an obnoxious psycho man.

“Understood, Principal. Then I’ll try to resolve problems through dialogue as much as possible.”

“Mere words won’t suffice. There are a few additional promises I need you to make.”

The Principal raised a finger in front of Violet’s eyes.

“First, do not use weapons with excessive firepower, including explosives, carelessly within the academy.”

“Gasp!”

“Second, you must continuously participate in the special programs offered by the academy.”

“And the last?”

“Preferably, you should follow the instructions of the student council and the professors.”

*Hmm… The Principal’s words are indeed true.*

The Violets interpreted the Principal’s instructions, and since there was nothing particularly wrong with them, they decided to live as model students for at least the time being.

“Understood, Principal. I’ll keep my promises!”

As Violet smiled brightly, the Principal, relieved, responded with his usual benevolent smile.

“I believe you. Judging from your past actions, Miss Violet, you will be able to adapt well to our academy. I will also support you.”

When the interview ended, Violet stood up. Just as she was about to leave the Principal’s office, the Principal’s low voice from behind stopped 1st.

“Wait a moment. Just one more thing. Miss Violet, what would you do if someone precious to you were hurt?”

Violet was bewildered, but decided to answer honestly for now.

“I’ll crush them all! Every single one.”

“Is that so… Then I’ll add one more promise.”

The Principal, unusually, furrowed his brow and adopted a serious expression.

“This might contradict what I just said, but in the unlikely event, truly, in the highly unlikely event that a major crisis befalls this academy, then don’t mind those promises I just made and act. Understood?”

Principal Brecht’s voice carried a resolute will.

Feeling confused, Violet replied that she would, then left the Principal’s office.

As the sound of the girl humming a tune faded down the corridor, the Principal sighed.

“A crisis will surely befall the academy, either in the near future or far off. Though there is certainly instability, when that time comes, she will become an excellent guard dog to protect the academy.”

Recalling Seijis’s words, Brecht muttered.

“The student council and professors are going to have a hard time.”

She’s a child who pulls out a sword at the slightest displeasure. Everyone will have quite a hard time during her adjustment period at the academy.

However, dealing with the eccentric people of the world who enroll as academy students is the destiny of Awakened One academies, a tradition passed down through generations.

‘It is the duty of an educator to guide talent in the right direction. I should also meet the students who are said to be this child’s friends.’

While the Principal was pondering, Violet ran outside like someone free of worries.

“Yahoo!”

It was a clear day in January.