Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Mission
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A round table.
…The professors gathered snugly around it.
And in front of them, Veronica silently opened her mouth.
“Anyone with objections, raise your hand.”
““……….””
Silence from the professors.
She had asked for anyone with issues on this agenda to raise their hand, but…
No one did.
“…….”
The topic of the meeting was adjustments to Yoram’s academic schedule going forward.
After the Calamity of Lust descended, not just Yoram but the entire Empire…
The world had plunged into unprecedented chaos, and they had to decide whether to proceed with evaluations as planned amid it all.
“Really none? Then it’s decided like this?”
“Um… Dean.”
“Yeah. Alberto. Something to say?”
“If we proceed as is… won’t problems arise…?”
Professor Alberto cautiously raised his hand, cautiously spoke, cautiously mustering the courage to object, but…
“Well, then what? Give me your opinion.”
Everyone gathered here knew.
This meeting wasn’t for discussion—it was for announcement.
The shock from the Calamity of Lust wasn’t a mere incident; it had shaken the entire Empire.
And considering many of Yoram’s students were from the Empire…
Pushing evaluations through in this chaos was obviously reckless.
“What’s the problem with skipping midterms and advancing the break?”
“…….”
“See? You’re all quiet because there’s no issue, right?”
The casual “you all” she tossed out made the professors flinch.
Truth be told, there was no big problem for the professors.
Students took the evaluations, not professors.
…The issue was on the students’ side.
Proceeding with evaluations now would inevitably clash with the Empire’s chaos and cause major backlash.
But skipping midterms and advancing the break meant rankings based on just the finals…
That came with its own problems.
“But we can’t just skip evaluations altogether, can we, Dean?”
“I agree. Even so, skipping evaluations entirely…”
Voices rose that a single test for rankings would be unfair.
And… as a few professors finally voiced opposition, Veronica let out a long, frustrated sigh.
“Haa… So frustrating. Stop with the yes or no and suggest a better alternative. Got one?”
The professors shut their mouths.
She had hit the nail on the head.
“And you’re all in the same boat as the students.”
Of course…
The Empire’s chaos hit the professors just as directly.
Some faced pressure from their families to prepare for the calamity, others got dragged into power struggles amid the turmoil.
“Opinions? Speak up.”
“……None.”
“……No.”
The professors ultimately hung their heads powerlessly.
And… they could only hang them lower at Veronica’s following words.
“And this is already agreed with Taurus too.”
“……!”
At that name, the professors’ eyes widened.
Taurus von Leonhardt.
The current Emperor of the Empire.
If it was already settled with him… the professors might have no say at all.
“Still… I was open to better ideas…”
Veronica let out an “Mm…” and scanned the professors.
…Still just negation and worry, no proper suggestions.
“And you all need a break too.”
“…….”
“You all look like hell right now.”
At her words, the professors glanced at each other.
…Sunken dark circles, dry hair, cracked lips.
Fatigue piled thick, plain as day.
…Thwack!
Veronica slammed her palm on the table, making the professors jolt.
“Then, meeting’s over? No complaints?”
““……Yes.””
“Complain later and you’ll get a nuclear knuckle sandwich from me?”
Seasoned professors gulped involuntarily at that.
‘Nuclear knuckle sandwich’ written, ‘petit breath’ read, ultimately meaning ‘death’—Veronica’s signature triple logic.
Her mystical draconic tongue chilled spines.
“Alright… dismissed.”
Shoo shoo…
Veronica waved them off.
And… the professors shuffled out one by one, straightening hunched backs.
“Kaus. Done?”
“One moment, Dean…… Ah, finished.”
Kaus, standing beside Veronica, silently completed the letter.
A letter to the Emperor with the meeting’s results.
“Kaus. You’ll deliver it too far?”
“Yes. I need to head back soon anyway.”
“Hm… I should head to the Holy Kingdom soon too…”
At that moment.
A lightbulb flashed over Veronica’s head.
“No. I’ll handle this myself.”
“…You just said you have to go to the Holy Kingdom.”
“Ah. Not going to the Emperor myself.”
“……?”
“There’s that slacker playing ding-ding-dong.”
For example…
Someone in a mask… or whatever.
***
“Yes… so the midterm evaluations are completely canceled this time.”
It seemed to flow exactly as in the original story.
Just like the ‘Aka Calamity’ plot, second semester midterms passed.
Instead, winter break advanced, giving time to handle family issues back home.
“Of course, just the evaluations are gone… remember assignments continue as is.”
Students beaming at canceled midterms…
But groaning “Ah…” at the assignments remaining.
“From my perspective, cautiously… I don’t recommend it.”
“…….”
“Assignments are just that—assignments, not mandatory.”
Delphine was from the Empire too, so she knew better than anyone how chaotic it was now.
The calamity’s direct damage wasn’t huge, but politically and diplomatically, the Empire was hell.
And that chaos…
Weighed fully on Yoram’s students’ shoulders.
“If any students find assignments burdensome, please raise your hand now.”
“…….”
“I’ll pass it along separately.”
But…
No one raised a hand at Delphine’s words.
“…….”
Delphine smiled warmly at their resolute spirits.
Seeming to feel a professor’s fulfillment.
“Yes… understood.”
Thud.
Delphine opened her textbook, and students followed one by one.
I too, for once, didn’t bury my head in the bed-like desk up front and opened mine.
“Then… let’s move to the advanced stage today.”
Class flowed on.
As usual, in that time…
Scratch scratch.
I rolled my pen, doodling on the textbook.
***
“Carnel. You sure it’s okay to rip those up like that?”
Letters flying to Carnel nonstop.
She read each one then promptly burned or tore them.
“Hmph… Doesn’t matter.”
Carnel unfolded a new letter with one hand, snorted, and flicked it away.
To scatter as ashes.
Contents were obvious.
‘Empire’s chaotic, show your face.’
‘Help us and we’ll reward you.’
Stuff like that.
“They’ll manage.”
Surface help, but real intent clear.
Sly letters from those desperate to connect with Carnel… and Delbar somehow.
“Delbar wouldn’t waver at trash like this.”
“Hmm… true.”
Violet looked down at the ash piles on the floor.
Her nodding familiar.
And beside her…
“Hm… President.”
Klaus, in a ridiculous apron, mask on, broom instead of sword.
Holding an ornate letter stamped elegantly in one hand.
“What is it?”
“Could you burn this one too, maybe?”
Whoosh.
Klaus offered the letter with a sheepish look.
“This…”
Carnel unfolded and read it.
Rough contents:
‘Interested in your talent and potential. Willing to sponsor, so let’s meet.’
Polite tone, but essence same.
‘Let’s join hands. I’ll give, you give.’
“Hm… this one…”
Carnel and Violet said in unison after reading.
“What bullshit.”
“Total crap.”
Fwoosh!
Gone to ashes before words finished.
“Even so, isn’t this too blatant?”
“Word of S Class entry spread already, I guess.”
Swish swish.
Klaus swept the student council room floor calmly with broom.
“But, junior.”
“Yes?”
“No issues for you, junior?”
“What do you mean…?”
“Well… Empire’s in uproar… just checking if you’re okay.”
Broom gathering floor dust paused.
Klaus’s head tilted.
“Hm… no family left in the Empire.”
“Ah…… Uh… sorry.”
Violet realized her slip…
Scratched her head awkwardly.
“No, Senior. It’s all in the past.”
Klaus shook his head nonchalantly.
All past.
Family’s death, how it happened.
Klaus had no time to look back, charging forward.
“Rea…lly?”
Violet swallowed silence, then deliberately changed topic to break awkwardness.
“Ahem! So, how’d that thing from before go, junior?”
“…Right! Why won’t you tell us!”
“Ahaha…….”
Carnel’s magic circle.
Klaus followed the Adel tracker… but wouldn’t talk about it.
Thud.
Dust gathered, Klaus tidied up swiftly…
“Then, have a good one, Seniors!”
Bowed quickly, fled to club room next door.
But… no paradise in flight, they say.
[Uuu traitor]
“Uuu!”
“…….”
“…Good to see you. Klaus.”
There, club members eyed him displeased for some reason.
***
“Adel.”
On way to club room.
Delphine suddenly called my name.
[Yes]
“Do you draw well?”
[Suddenly?]
“Saw you doodling during lecture.”
[.]
She saw that.
Hard to see from back row.
Sharp eyes, our Professor Delphine.
…Tot tot tot.
Lev hopping behind me like a bunny.
“Lev.”
Delphine turned to Lev now.
“…….”
Lev nodded silently.
“Lecture making sense?”
“……Hard.”
Right.
I fully agreed with Lev.
Honestly, Yoram classes were all brutally tough.
“Well, today’s content was tricky.”
“……Treating mana’s reason and emotion… don’t get it.”
“That part?”
Conversation only they understood.
I trailed blankly, lost thread.
“Magic must be overly rational… but sometimes emotional.”
……Yeah.
Pretend I didn’t hear.
No need to rehash that brutal lesson.
Block ears, mull dinner menu—far easier.
Clunk.
Ears blocked, walking, soon at club room.
“Grrr….”
Inside, a cat stretched long on sofa carpet below, napping.
Tail twitching faintly, soft snores.
“Oh right, Adel.”
[Yes]
“Big trouble.”
[?]
No… again?
Club barely survived closure a week ago…
Can’t even last a week before new crisis.
“Seems… cat talking alone wasn’t enough achievement.”
[Ah]
“Worst case, social service too. Adel.”
Still… counted as achievement at least.
Best of worst, I guess.
‘Hm….’
Glanced up, no Klaus.
Probably helping student council again.
Honestly… seemed he frequented council room more than club.
…Clunk!
And… perfect timing, Klaus appears.
“Hi—”
[Uuu traitor]
I wrote that on whiteboard…
Snap!
Neru, sleeping beside—not, below me, rose and raised paw.
“Uuu!”
“…Good to see you. Klaus.”
Delphine watched, pinched brow in utter exasperation.
“…Trai—traitor?”
[Joking]
Of course joke.
No feelings here.
Just… even in club’s renewed closure crisis…
Seeing Klaus glued to council room, felt like teasing sometimes.
‘Hm. Alright then.’
And once more…
Bang!
Door flew open rough.
“Hey! Adel!”
Veronica stormed in with gritty voice.
Door slam alone raised hackles, voice made me flinch instinctively.
Whoosh!
Something flew from Veronica’s hand to me.
…Pretty scroll with ornate patterns.
Thud.
I fumbled catch, tilted head.
“Mission. Mission.”
[Mission?]
“Yeah.”
[Wha—]
As I scribbled on whiteboard.
Veronica snatched my pen! Whoosh!
…Grabbed nearby paper, started drawing.
Scribble…! Swish swish!
Map done in seconds.
Not doodle—proper map.
“Here.”
Paper over scroll.
Now held map and mission scroll.
Two items.
[What’s this]
“Location.”
I lifted paper.
Map center, one circled spot.
‘…Drew all this already?’
…Right.
Veronica’s a dragon.
[Reward?]
Barging in with mission suddenly.
I’m not that easy.
At least bag of gold coins.
“Reward?”
Seemed no prep even…
[Regret—]
“Skip class?”
[Go now?]
Map again…
Familiar spot.
10 minutes? Fast, under 5.
Perfect.