132nd Episode
“I was so surprised at that moment! Truly, you are the Prince!”
After the late afternoon class ended.
Fallon, the heir of the Porne Count family from the Ocel Kingdom who attended the same class as Arterion, was following him around as usual, chattering away.
Beside him was Lauga, the woman who acted as Arterion’s shield, but she hardly moved her lips.
His mouth kept opening and closing like a fan, once again launching into tales of Arterion’s exploits.
“The final of the First Selection! The brave Prince emerged through the dense fog! Our prince, without a moment’s hesitation, unleashed his sword strikes upon the wicked villains, and as a result, we proudly…!”
“……”
Arterion’s steps halted as he was returning to the dormitory.
By chance, he spotted a familiar figure approaching from the opposite direction.
A man holding a cup of richly aromatic coffee in one hand.
The man, who had dark circles under his eyes, greeted Arterion first.
“Are you heading back now, Arterion?”
“Professor Lucien….”
Lucien, the professor in charge of Class 2, where Arterion, Fallon, and Lauga were, continued the conversation in a calm voice like a mist.
“I saw the match. You were exceptional.”
“……”
“You don’t seem very pleased…. Are you not satisfied with winning the First Selection?”
Seeing no change in Arterion’s expression, Lucien shook the glass he was holding and brought it to his lips.
Slurp.
The coffee, brewed with an excess of beans, was more than just bitter as it swirled around Lucien’s mouth.
Radiating the rich aroma of coffee beans, Lucien sought forgiveness.
“I apologize. I know my behavior is lacking in etiquette. But life gets so busy that I can’t help but cling even to the smallest moments.”
“…You seem particularly tired lately.”
“Ah, that’s always the case. Being a professor is busier than you’d think. You, Arterion, won’t have to worry about becoming a professor later… Oh, right, you won’t have to worry about that.”
With only a slight change in his tone, Lucien took another sip from his glass and seemed ready to leave.
“Anyway, congratulations, Arterion. Whatever you decide to do, as your professor, I’ll support you, even if it’s just a little.”
Even if his congratulations felt insincere,
Arterion slightly bowed his head in respect to the professor.
Lucien also made a little gesture of bowing his head and was about to take his leave.
However.
“Oh, by the way.”
The liquid in the glass Lucien was holding shook. He stopped Arterion in his tracks again.
He continued what he thought was a finished conversation.
“Aren’t you taking the electorate somewhere today?”
“……”
“It’s not out of any particular intent; I just thought I’d ask if I might as well give minimal congratulations.”
“Still, I thought I’d at least ask for a bit of congratulations.”
“Congratulations….”
“I heard that another candidate went out with his election entourage… I think they said they went to a fancy restaurant…”
Lucien trailed off, not casting a glance at Fallon and Lauga, who were also part of Arterion’s entourage.
It felt less like he was scolding Arterion and more like there was some other intention behind his words.
Lucien knew exactly who the candidate he was referring to was.
However, to be precise, there was a flaw in his expression.
Arterion was well aware that Lucien was deliberately speaking in circles.
He briefly glanced at Fallon and Lauga standing beside him.
“…I’ll think about it.”
With that, he made his exit.
As Lucien observed Arterion’s party moving away, he brought the steaming cup of coffee, still emitting a fragrant steam, to his lips.
“Is that implying you don’t want to talk about him…?”
With the bitter drink shaking off his drowsiness, he too strolled down the hallway.
*
The evening right after the first selection had ended.
I took the candidate I was supporting and his election entourage out for a treat.
It was meant to celebrate the hard work of the past few days and discuss future plans.
The reason I went through such trouble wasn’t simply because of Alicia.
If it were just her, it wouldn’t matter much.
But it wasn’t something I could wrap up with just a few compliments or gifts for Erica and Saint Diphelia of the Portlet Family.
This time, instead of the course restaurant I went to with Erica during the first semester, I had booked a different restaurant.
Originally, all the reservations were full, but mentioning Schugenharz’s name got us a spot.
Indeed, having an illustrious family name comes with its perks.
“Y-Young Master… Is it really okay for me to be eating such a precious meal?”
As I sliced into the meat that had a hint of red blood, a delicious aroma wafted through the air, and Alicia looked at me with uneasy eyes.
“Is it really not fitting for me… Ah!”
I playfully flicked her forehead with my finger.
Some things never change with her.
“You should have adjusted by now.”
“It’s just that this is also my first time in a place like this…”
“Just eat quietly.”
“Yes, Young Master….”
Alicia replied, carefully cutting her meat in front of her.
As she did, the dark blue fabric of her dress flicked gently.
I wondered why she was being so cautious with her knife skills since she usually handled them well, but it seemed she was worried about getting any stains on her clothing.
Saint Diphelia quietly observed this scene before unexpectedly asking, as she preferred a bit of conversation over the silence of the dining table.
“Alicia, that dress is really pretty. It matches your skin tone perfectly. Where did you buy it? …Or was it custom-made?”
“Ah, thank you… Well, this dress is… um…”
Alicia glanced nervously at Erica sitting opposite her.
Erica, not knowing what was going on, tilted her head and turned her gaze toward me.
Unable to hold back the awkward tension any longer, I chose to speak.
There was no reason to hide it.
“I bought her a few pieces of clothing before she entered the Academia. That’s where this one came from. It’s a bit far from here, but I can tell you the location or designer if you want.”
Back then, Alicia’s casual wear was just a patched-up rag, to be honest.
If I didn’t buy her clothes, I’d be the one embarrassed.
“……”
Somehow, Erica’s gaze turned calm as she avoided looking at me and focused back on Alicia. Her small lips began to move.
“I think the pink dress you wore during the welcome party was from the same place.”
“Ah, you saw me at that time…?”
“Well… it just happened that way.”
As Erica guessed, the dress Alicia wore for welcoming the new students was one of the outfits I had bought for her.
Right now, when Erica is speaking, she’s referring to the moment when I sent Alicia to apologize to Emily.
That scene was when I reunited with Vargan and Erica after a year and the day I first faced Erica after my reincarnation.
…The sharp expression on Erica’s face is still vivid in my mind. She’s tough even now, but compared to back then, she’s a graceful lady.
Erica moved the knife with her small hands, slicing her food slowly before suddenly shooting me a cold glare like an arrow.
…I’m sure she was better than before, but somehow she seems sharper now.
She said, “You must be really busy, huh? How many places do you plan to scatter seeds to expect such a great harvest?”
It’s true that I’m busy.
It’s also true that I’m preparing for the future harvest, but this misunderstanding is not right.
I set down my knife and wiped my mouth before responding.
“There’s no need to be envious if it’s about Clemens. That guy tends to take an interest in those he likes. It’s just something someone like me would say.”
“I don’t know about envy, but it must be nice to catch the eye of that great senior.”
“Don’t sulk over such actions that would tarnish the meaning of engagement.”
“Hmph, sulking? Who’s sulking?”
Erica turned her head sharply and took a sip of wine.
Maybe it’s because she has a small mouth or the wine is weak, but the amount she drinks is less than her spirit suggests.
I also resumed my meal, putting a piece of meat in my mouth.
I chewed without savoring it and swallowed it down. It’s good meat, and I know it’s been well-cooked, but right now…
“……”
“Alicia, what are you staring at so intently?”
“Yes? …Oh, ah! I’m sorry, Young Master.”
Alicia, who had been quietly observing like a secret photographer, suddenly had life spark in her eyes.
I considered giving her another light slap but decided against it.
At this rate, it felt like I wouldn’t finish my food or say what I wanted to.
Ignoring the involuntary shivering of Alicia’s body, I clinked my wine glass twice, gathering the table’s attention.
… Anyone watching must think I’m torturing her.
“I’d like everyone to pay some attention for a moment.”
Time had passed, and the atmosphere had relaxed; now was the perfect moment.
After confirming that everyone’s eyes were on me, I continued.
“The flow of the first selection has gone just as I thought. You could say it has shaped up exactly as I desired.”
The results of the first selection were in, with Arterion in first place, Clemens in second, and Diphelia in third.
Looking at this ranking, one might question what was so well done about only placing third.
However, if you consider that I wasn’t aiming for first place this time, it might look different.
“The fact that Arterion won in a close contest among the three candidates indicates a certain influence.”
This first selection was just the groundwork for the election and not the end in itself.
Prince of the Ocel Kingdom, Arterion.
He was the one who was piled upon by Clemens, who swept a significant portion of the votes from the Ocel Kingdom.
The most famous student in the Academia isn’t me or Arterion; it’s Clemens.
The fact that I fought nearly on equal terms with her and won must have been a refreshing shock to the voters.
“Arterion’s approval ratings will see a good raise due to this selection. Moreover, these ratings are drawn from Clemens.”
The power of the same group is surprisingly solid and doesn’t easily move away from within.
However, this also means there can be fluctuations within the same group.
It means that things can change.
The nobles of the Ocel Kingdom, who are particularly wary of the royal family, may well jump ship to Arterion.
Ah, of course, I’m not setting the stage to push Arterion as the Student Council President.
I’m just someone who wishes for Diphelia to become the Student Council President.
According to Frieda’s report from the audience stands during the match,
Clemens’ approval rating is 65%.
Arterion’s approval rating is 10%.
Diphelia’s approval rating is 20%.
Others 5%.
“For Diphelia to win, Arterion needs to siphon votes from Clemens.”
We also need to show our capabilities in this process, but for now, we needed to create cracks in Clemens’ solid foundation.
It would be even better if this arose from within.
“Of course, our approval rating would also rise accordingly. We’ve had a good run against them and have even bothered that ‘famous’ Clemens.”
According to the original story, Clemens, who could be called a master of aerial combat, would set an overwhelming record in this election and become the Student Council President.
In her main stage.
She made her representative wyvern fall flat.
I had my own bittersweet feelings toward my familiar, but nevertheless, it was a clear achievement.
“Today’s gathering is prepared to celebrate that achievement and comfort the efforts made. Especially for raising the mana resonance. Erica, Alicia.”
“I won’t step into that pit again….”
“Thank you, Young Master.”
At the same time, it was also a meeting to outline future plans.
After wetting my throat with wine, I continued.
“There’s quite a bit of time until the second election, and now that the resonance has increased, it should pass smoothly, so there’s nothing special to prepare.”
The second election will not be conducted as a match like the first, so it won’t be widely watched.
If we want to gather votes, we need to pay attention to the big event at the Academia that comes before the second election.
“From now on, each of you should prepare for the ‘festival.’”
This is one of the main episodes of the second semester, where Spirit Summoner Francesca and the ancient dragon caused chaos.
…At the same time, it’s a time when the forces of the Goddess Church infiltrating into Academia are active.
Hearing this, Diphelia spoke up with a question.
“By preparation for the festival… do you mean to prepare for the battle with the second-year seniors?”
“Pretty much. Each of you needs to raise your prowess and show it before everyone. It would be bad to show weak appearances.”
On the last day of the festival, where first-years play heroes and second-years take on villain roles, there are many outsiders flooding into the Academia without any third- or fourth-years around.
Though it’s more about preparing to fight against other foes as second-years, I don’t mention that since it’s still an undisclosed future matter.
“We must approach the festival in top condition.”
The structure will be vastly different from the original.
Francesca’s magic has developed much more than in the original.
Moreover, a distinct change is occurring with the movements of the Goddess Church at this moment.
To deal with any potential surprises, we need solid power.
“For the election.”
I raised my glass, filled with new red wine.
Alicia and Diphelia followed suit, raising their glasses in unison. Erica lifted hers slightly, looking a bit annoyed.
“The election is for each of our purposes.”
What the focus of that purpose is doesn’t matter.
It can be about oneself.
It can be about Academia.
Or it can be for someone else.
“That’s all that matters.”
What I desire is merely the delicious fruit that will eventually be harvested.
