TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 198
The atmosphere in the Student Council recently had not been good.
Because incidents involving Heretics kept occurring one after another, as soon as one issue was resolved, another would arise, and when that was dealt with, internal problems would surface, exhausting the Executives.
Trust in the Student Council was falling day by day. Since the continuous incidents showed no signs of stopping, the students’ dissatisfaction naturally turned toward the Student Council.
Complaints about how the Student Council, which received a modest amount of funding and substantial support from the foundation, wasn’t doing anything.
Honestly, it was true. The results they had shown so far were nothing short of disappointing. Student Council President Chartia couldn’t deny the students’ opinions.
“Haa…”
Recently, strange rumors had started circulating within the Academy. It was said that one of the Professors was connected to the Heretics.
With the Ranking Tournament just around the corner and the workload piling up, not to mention the ominous rumors, Chartia pressed her throbbing forehead and let out a deep sigh.
“Do you even have any sense?”
“…”
“The guys we set up as the Disciplinary Committee are busy drinking instead of working. As if writing the Ranking Budget Table wasn’t already killing us due to lack of manpower, even the Accounting Department Head joined them to have fun. Do you have any sense or not?”
Chartia was angry right now.
She was furious at the people who were slacking off during such a busy time. The Ranking Tournament hadn’t even started yet, and some people were already throwing drinking parties under the pretext of commemoration or whatever.
Some of them were still hungover, dozing off, while others were outright sleeping with their heads on the desk.
Feeling disillusioned with the Executives, who were showing the worst performance in the history of the Student Council, Chartia let out a sigh.
“It’s because you act like this that the entire Student Council is being criticized….”
The Executives, who had lowered their heads at Chartia’s whiny complaints, exchanged glances and whispered among themselves, saying things like, “She’s scolding us again today.”
Chartia let out a deep sigh. She no longer had the strength to reprimand them over such matters.
Faced with the critical matter of the Ranking Tournament, the lazy members didn’t seem like adults at all.
In a voice filled with irritation, Chartia spoke to the standing Executives of the Disciplinary Committee.
“I seriously doubt whether you’re even adults.”
“We’re sorry.”
“It’s ridiculous that you, who are old enough, can’t even do your jobs properly. Isn’t it?”
“We’re sorry.”
“I’m not asking if you’re sorry. You must’ve had some thought behind your actions to behave like that. Am I wrong?”
“…”
“Otherwise, why would you do such a thing? The rumors about the Disciplinary Committee are already terrible, so why go to a crowded tavern and make things worse? Haa…. Forget it. Never mind.”
Suppressing the growing irritation toward the Executives’ stiffening expressions, Chartia swallowed her frustration.
Honestly.
Yes, honestly, it was better when that guy was here.
As thoughts of a certain The Man surfaced in her mind, Chartia rubbed her throbbing forehead.
-I’ve caught the Underwear Thief.
-Hey… What were you thinking, beating the Second Son of the Count’s Family to a pulp? Even if he’s an Underwear Thief, you can’t go that far!
-It’s fine. You’re a Duke, after all. If he has complaints, he’ll come to argue. Though I doubt he’ll keep his head attached until then.
-Are you crazy?
-Isn’t the guy who steals underwear crazier than me? Anyway, I’ve done everything you asked, so you’ll give me the disciplinary action you promised, right?
-…
-I’m leaving.
If that guy were still here, a lot of things would’ve changed.
He used to handle the lazy Executives’ lives and minor crimes all by himself. While he wasn’t well-liked, his ability to get things done was unmatched.
-If you have complaints, take them to the Young Lady, not me. If you can’t, just sit in the back and suck your thumb.
Though he was a crazy bastard.
If Ricardo were still here, Chartia felt she would’ve ended up relying on him for many things, so she shook her head and dismissed her regretful thoughts.
‘It’s a shame…. Honestly, I wanted to keep making him work.’
Since there was no way to bring back someone who had no intention of returning to the Academy, Chartia swallowed her regret.
Besides, she was also someone who had hurt Ricardo in the past.
-Ugh… Never come back to the Academy again!
-Get lost already!
-Get out!
-We know we did wrong, but do we really deserve this kind of treatment?
-…
-I can’t understand it. Neither those students, the Academy, nor you, Princess.
-…
-They could’ve just let us leave quietly. But what can we do? We’re the ones at fault, so we have to accept it.
Recalling her hasty judgment in the past that had hurt him, Chartia bit her lip and began discussing an important agenda.
The issue of neglecting duties could be dealt with later. For now, it was more critical to quell the rumors spreading within the Academy.
If things continued like this, public sentiment toward the Student Council could plummet to the depths, just like during Olivia’s expulsion, so Chartia focused all her attention.
She didn’t want to relive the nightmare of that time. She was terrified of hearing everyone’s criticism and distrust being piled onto one person, as well as the students’ condemnation.
With a sense of urgency, Chartia addressed everyone.
“Have you heard the recent rumors circulating in the Academy?”
“…”
“You must’ve heard the rumor that there’s a Heretic among the Academy Professors.”
One of the Disciplinary Committee students, who had remained silent, let out a small laugh and responded.
“Oh, isn’t it just because so many things have been happening lately? Our Academy is so strict about selecting Professors.”
“…I know. That’s exactly why I’m saying this.”
Clenching her fist, Chartia swallowed her frustration.
In a place where everyone knew how rigorous the hiring process was, the very existence of such a rumor was strange, Chartia thought. Others might call her overly sensitive, but as someone responsible for the students’ safety, she couldn’t take this matter lightly. Naturally, everyone present should’ve felt the same way.
“Don’t take this lightly. Think about it seriously. If something happens like During the Ball, who’s going to step in this time?”
Chartia glared at the faces of the Executives seated at the table as she spoke.
“Are you going to rely on a dropout for help again like last time?”
At Chartia’s pointed remark, the Student Council Executives reacted as if they had stepped on thumbtacks, raising their voices in protest.
Especially Rohan, a Third Year Student from the Swordsmanship Department who was in charge of the Disciplinary Committee, clenched his fist and shouted at Chartia.
“Wasn’t it because we had our own issues to deal with? We explained everything back then, so why are you bringing it up again!?”
“You had issues to deal with? And yet you didn’t even evacuate the students? You couldn’t take down a single member of the Heretical Forces, and you all had the audacity to act like heroes for surviving? Do you have any idea how absurd it was for me? I had to enforce a gag order to stop the rumors from spreading…”
‘Honestly, I’d love to expose everything…’
-You’ll keep it a secret, right?
-…
-We have an image to maintain. The Student Council’s reputation is already at rock bottom.
Recalling what Ricardo had said During the Ball, Chartia kept her mouth shut. It was a request from someone who always credited others for his achievements. She couldn’t speak freely. She couldn’t repay the help she’d received by betraying him.
Moreover, as Ricardo had pointed out, if rumors spread that the Student Council had been utterly powerless, malicious articles would undoubtedly follow, and she couldn’t boast about anyone’s achievements. Everything felt contradictory.
Gathering her complicated thoughts, Chartia spoke.
“Do your job properly. The Ranking Tournament is in three hours.”
The Student Council Executives, under Chartia’s heavy gaze, slowly began nodding.
All except one.
“Um…”
Magic Department Executive Ruin, that is.
Chartia looked at Ruin, who had raised his hand, with a puzzled expression. It was unusual for someone who usually propped his feet up on the desk to be sitting upright and raising his hand.
Looking at Ruin, Chartia asked.
“What? Do you have something to say?”
As everyone’s attention focused on him, Ruin awkwardly lowered his raised hand and shook his head.
“No, nothing.”
“What is it?”
“I was just wondering what we’d do after the Ranking Tournament today.”
“Are you joking?”
Ruin clenched his fist and thought.
‘No way. I can’t say it, not even if I die.’
‘How could I admit it? How embarrassing would it be to say I got humiliated trying to learn Dark Magic?’
Suppressing the confession rising in his chest, Ruin lowered his head, while Chartia delivered her final warning and words of encouragement to the Executives.
“As you all know, the Ranking Tournament is an important event involving both 1st Year and 4th Year students.”
Chartia issued an order to leave as she spoke.
“Don’t lose because of carelessness. Win. Got it?”
The final Student Council meeting ended like that before the start of the Ranking Tournament.
*
Left alone in the meeting room, Chartia sat on a chair, biting her nails with an inexplicable sense of urgency.
“What is this?”
Something felt uneasy. An unsettling anxiety lingered in her heart, as if something was about to happen.
Unable to concentrate on work due to the chilling feeling that something might happen at any moment, Chartia bit her nails and fell into deep thought.
Ten minutes passed like that.
Or maybe twenty minutes.
Chartia’s eyes caught sight of a small letter envelope on the desk.
A neatly sealed letter in a brown envelope, sealed with wax. It was a letter Ricardo had left behind when he came to collect his payment last time.
-Why haven’t you paid me?
-Sorry, I’ve been too busy.
-Did you know that this money determines both your and my livelihood?
-Uh…?
-It’s a joke.
-Are you crazy?
-No. Oh, by the way, this is a letter containing my heartfelt feelings. It’s written with all the frustration of not being paid, so make sure to read it.
-I don’t want to. Take it back.
-I refuse.
She had been too busy to read it, but with her mind already cluttered, Chartia smiled faintly, thinking it was a good distraction, and reached for the letter.
“You won’t even be able to read it anyway. Why did you write a letter?”
It was ridiculous.
Surely, it must just contain insults.
With a light heart, Chartia began opening Ricardo’s letter envelope. Slowly revealing the contents of the envelope, Chartia carefully took out the letter.
“Filthily illegible….”
It took her two hours to finally read the letter.
[Doesn’t the Mental Arts Professor seem suspicious? I ran into them on the street today, and they were grinning while looking at some strange book. It’s not my taste, but….]
As soon as she read the letter, Chartia grabbed her outer garment and ran to the Arena.
[Just be careful.]
[I’m busy this time.]
*
The Arena echoed with the cheers of everyone.
Tense, Ruin lowered his head and clenched his fist as he looked at his first opponent.
-The opponent that Senior Ruin from the Magic Department will face this time is…!
“F*ck.”
-Mikhail!
Nothing was going right.