I Will Carry as an Academy Veteran

31

The Student Council of Salenium.

Literally, a group of those who lead this academy.

The rules established by the former Emperor strictly prohibit the intervention of adults, including professors.

Therefore, the Student Council, a body composed solely of ‘students’, has gained immense power and truly holds the full authority of the academy, to say the least.

From major issues such as each department’s budget to minor matters like tuition payment or establishing new clubs.

They are in charge of almost everything that happens in the academy.

Perhaps because of this, regardless of social status, just being a graduate of Salenium’s Student Council is a solid guarantee for a successful career path after graduation.

Hence, freshmen earnestly aspire to join the Student Council… with the setting that the Student Council always welcomes them with open arms, regardless of their background…

“Here we are.”

“Ah.”

A large building in the central district.

Following Schkross’s guidance, I entered that building…

And saw.

“Eugh, eugh…”

“Ah, ah…”

A strong scent of caffeine that made my forehead involuntarily furrow.

Numerous people swimming in that scent.

“Schkross, what are all these?”

“No need for you to know.”

She dismissed it like that and began to pass through the tower of documents and staggering zombies.

As we turned the corner, the sounds quickly faded, and I looked back once, softly speaking.

“If they seem short-handed, shouldn’t you, as a member of the Student Council, help out?”

“It’s a different department.”

What the…?

Anyway, with her help, I arrived at the top floor of the Student Council building and Schkross lightly knocked on the door.

So, this is how one meets the Student Council President.

I didn’t expect to meet so soon.

“President, I have brought Adrian.”

“Let him in.”

A strangely childish tone of voice.

And when Shukros opened the door, inside were a round table and two people.

And I saw the one at the center.

Holding a lollipop in hand.

Twin tails tied with ribbons on blue hair.

Red eyes gazing at me.

And.

“Hello, Adrian.”

A chair.

Piled high with cushions to sit on.

“Mint, give the guest more cookies.”

As she shook the lollipop in her hand, a student who popped up beside skillfully cleared the empty plate and placed a plate full of cookies.

A fourth-year student of the Department of Magic and the president of Selenium, Canary.

The granddaughter of the current principal who had disappeared into another dimension.

Despite being the president, she is not the ‘head’ of the Department of Magic because she rarely attends classes due to student council activities.

Nevertheless, she is said to have already fulfilled all the graduation credits.

“Was it surprising to see the president of the student council act so childishly for the first time?”

“Surprising? The president of the student council, Canary, has a high reputation as a great sorceress.”

“Well, you know your stuff. Sit down.”

The half my height girl gestured for me to come over.

She indicated the seat opposite hers, and as I sat down, tea was served to me as well.

“The reason I called you today is simple.”

She jumped off the chair with six cushions and walked towards me.

Approaching me with a serious expression, she said, “What’s your scheme?”

I stared blankly at her.

“Why pretend not to know? I heard you planned and thwarted everything with Reyna von Wolfang. Reyna von Wolfang, that’s one thing. But the problem lies in your involvement. Naturally, suspicions arise, don’t they?”

She returned to her seat and crossed her legs, sitting on top of six cushions.

“…I did nothing. Everything was planned by Reyna, Lumen Ribbons, and Evnis Sohojak, and I just helped.”

“Oh, really? Evnis Sohojak was told that everything was your merit.”

Really?

What the heck is that guy thinking?

Evnis did that?

“Well, that’s why I called you. What exactly are you thinking this time? When you acted like a fool, you stayed quiet, but suddenly you’re stepping up now. If you’re planning something dark again, you need to spill it right here. [Decree: Bestow: Speak].”

As she reached out her hand, an irresistible pressure squeezed my body.

Decree.

Magic that changes ‘reality’ according to the ‘words imbued with magic.’

Indeed, the granddaughter of a great sorceress.

Truly unreasonable.

But I have an unreasonable card up my sleeve too.

Bloodline dignity is wriggling!

Due to repeated skill usage, a new feature is unlocked! From now on, you can apply ‘Intense Oppression’ to a designated target.

What’s this?

Something new has emerged.

‘Intense Oppression?’

That moment.

[Tip. What is Intense Oppression? Beyond the normal state of mind, it exerts unbearable mental pressure on the target character. The higher the bloodline difference, the stronger it becomes!]

Bloodline dignity elevates the bloodline.

Through ‘Gaze’, ‘Intense Oppression’ manifests!

It has no effect on ‘Pure-blooded Nobles’! It completely shatters the ‘Mental Concentration’ state of a commoner with a bloodline level of 1.

Shine brightly! Repelheight!

“Euk!?”

The startled Kanaria, clutching her forehead, the magical pressure pressing on my body vanished without a trace.

Was I seen through?

This wasn’t exactly magic, but my ‘ability,’ so even if I were the granddaughter of a great wizard, I wouldn’t have been able to stop it.

Since it was a completely unfamiliar form, I wouldn’t have been able to handle it either.

“Student Council President, you don’t look well.”

“Oh, did you refuse the command? What on earth did you do?”

“Let me explain first. I am not plotting anything harmful to this academy.”

“Your words have always been cryptic.”

“I know I’ve lost your trust. So, this time, I intend to prove it myself. Isn’t the midterm coming up soon?”

Midterms.

The upcoming Salenium’s biggest event.

“I will prove it. In that midterm, I will get a perfect score in at least one subject to show my innocence. What do you say? Will this be enough for you to believe in my innocence?”

“Huh, are you trying to prove innocence through grades now? Then let me add a condition: in the midterm of ‘Elemental Magic Linkage Studies’ that our Daisy is attending, if you defeat Daisy and take the top spot, I’ll acknowledge you. How about that?”

She waved the candy as she spoke.

“Even geniuses find it hard to keep up at Salenium. No matter how smart you are, if you keep fooling around, you won’t have good grades. And our Daisy has always been the absolute number one in Elemental Magic Linkage Studies. Even Reyna von Wolfgang always gave scores lower than Daisy in Magic Linkage Studies.”

Hmm, is that so?

I am a troublemaker who even received a disciplinary warning.

Daisy von Schkross is the absolute number one in ‘Elemental Magic Linkage Studies.’

To prove my innocence by defeating her.

Indeed.

Surely, there is no greater upheaval than this.

Of course, generally, defeating Daisy von Schkross in Magic Linkage Studies is like winning against Evnis in arm wrestling.

“I accept.”

“Oh, oh?”

“If I defeat Daisy von Schkross in the midterm, then the Student Council will acknowledge me, right? Fine, I accept.”

I have confidence in not losing.

Without a second thought, when I accepted, the Student Council President Kanaria nodded in disbelief.

“…Well, okay. Got it. But actions speak louder than words.”

“Then, let’s get to the point now.”

At those words, the student council president nodded.

“Yeah, it’s about Melwood Elion. Considering the fact that his grimoire belonged to the demons, he managed to avoid expulsion with that taken into account.”

“What kind of disciplinary action was it? Was it a warning, or something more severe?”

“Well, it was quite serious.”

More serious than that… What kind of punishment could it be that they’re saying it was that serious?

As I looked at the student council president, she crunched on her lollipop, then whispered with a grave expression.

“Melwood Elion’s discipline was…”

And then.

As I heard the content of the discipline that followed, I let out a brief sigh inwardly.

“Enrollment in graduate school.”

But compared to his misdeeds, it was a mild punishment, so we could only nod silently.

No matter how much graduate school may seem like hell, the Selenium School of Magic was an even greater hell.

Survive, and you gain honor, reputation, connections with professors, your own thesis, and many other benefits.

Fail to survive, and you’re trapped there forever.

“I see, understood. So, who is his assigned professor?”

“He’s with Professor Walnut, specializing in general elemental theory and elemental applications.”

Phew.

* * *

Additionally, Canary mentioned that in the case of something like the ‘demonic concept,’ investigations were conducted at the student council level.

It was somewhat fortunate that it wasn’t actual demons, just the ‘demonic concept manifesting, but it was still a matter that needed attention.

“Oh, you’re here.”

Upon leaving, Lumen was waiting outside the student council room.

She took me outside, saying she had something to discuss.

We walked the night streets.

“Melwood-senpai choosing graduate school as a disciplinary measure was quite a meaningful decision.”

“Is that so?”

“Adrian will graduate in two years.”

“That’s right.”

“Melwood-senpai accepted the proposal to be on your side. So, when you graduate, society will have to wait for you for two years.”

“Got it.”

“In that case, it’s better to enroll in graduate school and graduate at the same time. It may not be the wisest choice, but senpai made the best one.”

After nodding, Lumen turned to me.

“Adrian, you’ll become a successor, right?”

“Isn’t that obvious? If I become a successor, senpai will become an emperor. But before that, I have to deal with midterms first.”

“Yeah, hehehe. I’ll be looking forward to it.”

With those words, she headed towards the Knight Department, mentioning that she still had unfinished assignments to take care of.

After that, about a week of ordinary days followed.

But even though they were ordinary, attending classes, working on assignments, and training myself remained the same.

There was still quite some time until the start of Chapter 2, but that time couldn’t be wasted.

In all aspects, a seasoned player must always pursue extreme gains and efficiency even in the most ordinary and unmatched daily life.

Even if you stumble over a rock while walking down the street and fall, isn’t it the epitome of a seasoned player to calmly get up, saying, “The reason I fell here is because the hidden dungeon opens here,” and nonchalantly walk into the dungeon?

Well.

Even in daily life, having lunch with Reyna every day, returning with Kalen whose schedule coincides after training, chatting while wielding the Relvrian and Wooden Sword, encountering the junior Milije or occasionally bumping into the busy Er’an running around in all directions, it’s all just a repetition.

All of these naturally lead to “likability management” and “preparation for Act 2” and “midterm exams” under my thorough calculations.

All the sudden pop quizzes were successfully completed, and in Basic Swordsmanship Introduction, I finally received a “Physical Enhancement Quest” from Professor Bedel.

Yes.

Let’s live diligently.

By working hard, the breathing will ease up a bit in the future.

The chances of survival will also increase, you know.

And.

“What’s up? What’s going on now?”

“Heh, nice timing.”

Finally, today, I met one annoying fellow.

Ebness.

“This time, I’ll watch you closely. You won’t get a good score anyway. Just give up on the vain hope of defeating me quietly.”

Pointing at me with his index finger, he declared, then without waiting for my response, swiftly turned around and walked away at a brisk pace.

It’s hard to tell if he’s running or walking.

Is he not going to listen to me now?

Watching the figure moving away, a crooked smile involuntarily formed on my face.

I know very well what that guy is talking about.

Am I going to lose like this?

“Like that would ever happen.”

And exactly one day later.

“Alright, next week is the midterm. You know the scope, right? Everyone, prepare well.”

The guy who terrifies everyone in Salenium has arrived.