Chapter 22
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 22
My first weekend in the world of Myrillin Saga.
We were near Traum Plaza, the central hub of the Union.
As a reward for surviving a brutal weekday schedule, I had finally managed to secure some free time.
Of course, I wasn't exactly relaxing. I was currently on my way to Izelin Academy to carry out my duties as the Student Council President. Still, compared to my usual routine, this felt positively leisurely.
Nom.
Munch, munch.
Ciel was eating with her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel.
I glanced at the mountain of snacks in her hands and asked, “Do you really like sweets that much?”
To silence Ciel’s complaints about accompanying me on the weekend, I had already bribed her with visits to several dessert shops, but her rampage showed no signs of stopping.
She finished chewing the crepe in her mouth before shooting me a glare.
“It’s not just about the sweetness. I pity you, Roen, for being unable to comprehend such deep and subtle flavors.”
“No need to pity me. I find this much more delicious.”
Chew.
It was a chicken skewer I’d bought from a street stall. Hot, savory juices burst in my mouth, perfectly complemented by a salty and spicy sauce. It was grilled to perfection.
Tender meat was definitely superior to a mere lump of sugar.
As I tore into the meat, Ciel tilted her head, looking puzzled.
“You don’t usually care for meat. Have your tastes changed?”
“Well, you need to consume a variety of nutrients to stay healthy, don’t you?”
Roen’s body was frail.
It seemed he had a small appetite and rarely touched meat. For now, I needed to focus on eating protein to put on some healthy weight. I needed to build some muscle, too.
We enjoyed our weekend at a leisurely pace, arriving near Izelin Academy around noon.
It was an outlying area of the Union, not connected by the tram lines. Just like in the real world, prime real estate near a station wasn't granted to a minor academy like this.
We continued down a bumpy, unpaved road that felt more like a rural country lane. In the distance, a small building came into view.
As expected of a minor academy, the building was roughly the size of a modern elementary school. The adjacent dormitory and cafeteria buildings looked equally shabby and cramped.
“Is that it?”
“According to the map, yes.”
The place had a gloomy, desolate air about it, made even more so by the lack of people.
As we were observing the academy from a distance, a boy came trotting down the road from the direction of the school. Judging by the crest on his uniform, he was a student at Izelin Academy.
“Huh?”
He spotted Ciel and me from afar and tilted his head in confusion. He kept walking, still looking puzzled, then suddenly froze in place and cried out in shock.
“R-Roen?!”
The student looked as if he’d seen a ghost.
I got this reaction everywhere I went, so it wasn't surprising anymore. After confirming my identity, he turned on his heel and started sprinting back toward the academy.
Ciel watched him bolt and commented, “...I’m feeling second-hand embarrassment.”
“What’s there to be embarrassed about? Besides, that student wasn’t running away from me. He was probably going to inform Izelin Academy of my arrival.”
He seemed to be an associate of the Izelin Student Council President who had sent me the letter.
“I’ll bet my donut he wasn’t.”
“Fine. I’ll bet my chicken skewer. Let’s keep moving.”
As we got closer to Izelin Academy, the silence was broken by a growing clamor. It sounded like someone was beating a drum, mixed with the piercing clang of a gong.
When we saw the source, the situation looked more serious than I’d thought.
Gray shipping containers were set up near the school gate. Guardrails blocked the entrance, preventing anyone from passing, and students armed with clubs patrolled the perimeter. The drumming and clanging were noises they were making.
Is this an academy or a demolition site for a redevelopment project?
While Ciel and I were staring at this spectacle with dumbfounded expressions, a male student patrolling the area with a thuggish look pointed his club at us.
“Huh? Who the hell are you?”
He had a memorable mohawk, with the sides of his head shaved short and a spiky crest of hair in the middle. He wore a red armband on his right arm.
From the crest, he appeared to be a member of the Disciplinary Committee from Jerome Academy—the school currently in conflict with Izelin.
Judging by his question, it seemed this Jerome student didn't recognize me. Then again, while Roen was a public figure, not everyone at every academy would know my face. It wasn't like they had TV, the internet, or cell phones.
Instead of answering him, I straightened my collar and showed it to him.
Flick.
The golden star pinned to my white collar was the symbol of the Union's Student Council President.
“What’s that? An accessory?”
“...”
I guess you only see what you know. He couldn't even recognize the badge of office.
“Shoo, shoo. Get lost before you get hurt.”
“We have no business with outsiders.”
“Don’t get involved unless you want to bleed. Got it?”
They threatened us, brandishing their clubs menacingly. Instead of backing down, I faced them and asked confidently, “Quite sure of yourselves, aren't you? By what right are you occupying the entrance to Izelin Academy?”
“What are you talking about? This land already belongs to us, Jerome Academy. The only territory Izelin has left is inside the school gate.”
He pointed his club toward the school.
So that was the source of their confidence. It seemed Jerome had bought up all the land surrounding Izelin Academy. I doubted Izelin had sold it willingly; there was clearly a story behind it.
“I see. In that case, I’ll be passing through.”
“What? Says who? This is private property.”
“Take one step over, and we’ll beat you to a pulp.”
The thugs aimed their clubs at me, but their threats were meaningless.
“There is no place within this Union I cannot go. Ciel.”
Ciel showed them the Union key card I had given her earlier.
It was the Union Pass I had received from Chairman Hengard. It was not only proof of access to any location within the Union but also a kind of official warrant that granted the Student Council President the right to inspect any area without restriction.
Within the Union grounds, no one could block my entry.
“What’s this? A Union Pass?”
“What is it?”
“Not sure, but he looks like someone important.”
The thugs muttered amongst themselves before heading into one of the containers. They must have decided this was beyond their pay grade.
A moment later, a student who appeared to be in charge came out. He was a brutish-looking boy… though from his face, I would have mistaken him for a middle-aged man. He had a long scar on his face and bowed his head curtly to Ciel and me.
“A pleasure to meet you. I am Crowlin Harvel, head of the Jerome Academy Disciplinary Committee. May I ask who you are?”
“Roen Devalis. This is Ciel Euraphia, my secretary.”
Ciel gave a silent nod.
When I stated my name, Crowlin’s expression shifted, and his attitude became slightly more respectful.
“What brings the ever-busy Student Council President all the way out here?”
“Busy? Not at all. I came here out of boredom. I thought I’d take a walk.”
“...Coming all the way here for a walk. You certainly take a peculiar route.”
I smoothly deflected Crowlin’s veiled sarcasm.
“Everyone in the Union knows I’m peculiar. Now, I need to pass through here. Will you allow it?”
After a brief pause, Crowlin gestured toward the academy.
“As you wish.”
“So you can be reasoned with.”
“However, if you attempt to cross for any reason other than a walk, we at Jerome Academy will have no choice but to respond.”
“...I take back what I said about you being reasonable. And to be clear, I wasn't asking for your permission.”
I pushed aside the metal barricade blocking the path and strode inside.
“...!”
“You may not know, since the position has been vacant for so long, but the Student Council President has the privilege to go anywhere within the Union.”
“...”
Just as Crowlin’s face hardened with displeasure, a voice called out.
“We’ve been waiting for you, Student Council President Roen.”
A group of students emerged from Izelin Academy to greet me. A female student at the head of the group caught my eye.
Eleina Izelin, the Student Council President of Izelin Academy.
She was a beauty, with the pale skin and silver-blue hair characteristic of high nobility. She greeted me with a polite curtsy. Beside her stood the same male student who had seen me on the road and bolted.
Just as I’d predicted, he hadn't run away; he had run to call them.
A slight smirk touched my lips, and I whispered to Ciel.
“Hand over the donut, Ciel.”
“...Tch.”
She clicked her tongue softly, then pulled a bag of donuts from her satchel and handed it to me.
*
The Student Council office of Izelin Academy.
Perhaps because it was a poor academy, the office wasn't much different from a regular classroom. It just had a sofa and a table instead of desks and chairs, and the space was a little neater.
Slurp.
The drink they served was cheap, instant coffee. Well, I was more familiar with coffee anyway, so it wasn't bad. It went well with the donut, too.
“It’s peaceful here.”
I leaned back on the old, sunken sofa and gazed out the window. Unlike the metropolitan Union center and the massive major academies, Izelin Academy had the tranquil feel of a rural school. It was quiet, and the chirping of insects was soothing.
...Except for the noisy clanging of gongs coming from outside the gate.
As I was silently observing my surroundings, Eleina was the first to speak.
“I sent the letter, but I honestly didn't expect you to actually come.”
“I understand. I didn't expect to come either.”
“...?”
“It’s true.”
I never imagined that among all those malicious letters, there would be one asking for my help. I had heard about Izelin Academy’s situation, but there were no related quests in the game. Even the Cognitive Acceleration Stone, one of the 3 Great Divine Artifacts sleeping on these grounds, was usually obtained through a different quest.
This meant that this was a completely new event for me as well.
“Anyway, asking me for help… You’re not exactly normal either.”
“...That’s how difficult our current situation is. As you can see.”
Eleina fiddled with the teacup in her hands, her face clouded with worry.
Most of what she had written in the letter was true. In the academy’s current state, it would be difficult for the Izelin students to continue their studies. The atmosphere was unsettled due to Jerome Academy’s disruptions, and the facilities were outdated.
The students’ faces were lifeless, their passion for learning extinguished. It wasn't that the students lacked effort; it was simply the circumstances. Anyone would lose their drive when placed in such adverse conditions.
“...In a situation like this, a merger might not be such a bad thing.”
If they were absorbed, talented students could transfer to other academies to continue their studies, and the Izelin Kingdom, which was preparing for war, could divert the funds to its military.
However, those without enough talent to transfer and those who couldn't afford the Union's murderous tuition fees would all be expelled. That would be most of them. Furthermore, the Izelin Kingdom, if expelled from the Union, would lose its only link to the international community. Jerome’s advance would also gain momentum.
As I mused aloud with cynicism, Eleina clenched her fists. “Sir Roen, how can you say such a thing?”
“Why can’t I? It’s natural for minor academies to be weeded out. Just as it’s natural for weak nations to be swallowed by powerful ones.”
“...!”
At my cold words, Eleina’s eyes widened. Ciel, standing beside me, tried to intervene.
“Sir Roen.”
She was telling me to stop, that I was going too far. But I held up a hand, signaling her not to interfere.
“No. I haven't said anything untrue. This world has always operated on the principle of survival of the fittest. The history of humans, who consider themselves superior to beasts, is not so different.”
I tapped the teacup lightly with my teaspoon.
Clink.
With a clear sound, ripples spread across the surface of the liquid.
“Weak tribes were swallowed by strong ones, and weak nations were destroyed by powerful ones. The Union, a microcosm of the human world, is no different. This is the proper order of nature.”
As I uttered these words, Eleina spoke, her voice trembling.
“...So, are you telling us to just accept this reality? Do you know what hardships our students are suffering because of their dirty tricks? Isn’t it the role of the Union and the Student Council to ensure a stable academic environment for students?!”
Despite Eleina’s desperate cry, I cleaned an ear with my pinky and replied nonchalantly.
“What are you talking about? Expecting fairness in war? You’re being hopelessly naive. The Union became a proxy battleground for various nations long ago. Have you still not understood that?”
“...”
“War is inherently dirty. In war, you do whatever it takes to win. In that respect, Jerome is worthy of being called a military power. On the other hand, seeing you lash out at others after having your own things taken away... I can see why Izelin is a weak nation.”
At the insult to her homeland, Eleina bit her lip hard. “Take... that back, right now.”
She looked like she was restraining herself from lunging at me. I kept my expression neutral and answered leisurely.
“Take it back... Fine. But before that, I’ll give you a choice.”
I placed both hands on the table, then opened one.
“If you wish, I will take back what I just said and formally apologize to you. In exchange, I will walk away and not interfere in this matter at all.”
“...”
“And, there is another option.”
I opened my other hand and firmly grasped Eleina’s, which was trembling with rage.
Thud.
Staring directly into Eleina’s eyes, which were filled with anger and sorrow, I spoke so she could hear me clearly.
“If you are willing to endure all manner of humiliation and disgrace, and wish to overcome this situation even if it means borrowing the strength of another—then I will help you.”
“...!”
“What will it be, Eleina? Are you prepared to walk that narrow and difficult path?”