Chapter 129: Flower Arrangement Club (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 129: Flower Arrangement Club (1)
We are the Flower Arrangement Club.
The members of the Flower Arrangement Club gathered in their club room for the first time in a while.
Since every single member held a significant social status, it wasn't easy for everyone to meet in one place, even if they were in the same club.
Furthermore, due to various incidents and accidents since the club's inception… some had been intentionally running away.
However, Daisy’s recent declaration—“Everyone, please gather in the club room!”—had brought them all together like this.
“I’ve called you all here today for the sake of our club’s goal!”
Once she confirmed everyone was seated, Daisy let out a small sigh and began to speak in a voice brimming with intense resolve.
“……”
“……”
At her words, everyone’s attention focused on her.
Who was it that said authority comes from power?
In the presence of a Club President who had even thrashed a member of the Dragonkin, no human dared to utter a word of protest.
…The fact that this was a Flower Arrangement Club, and not a Magic or Swordsmanship Club, was a bit of a flaw.
Still, possessing authority in a place filled with royalty and their peers was a very important matter.
“First of all, our goal is to produce results at the upcoming Founding Festival.”
At that, not only the second-years but even the freshmen nodded without complaint.
She was finally revealing her ambitions.
They believed that this alone would cause a great upheaval within the Academy.
‘Certainly, with our current lineup, conquering the Founding Festival isn't just a dream.’
‘With the seniors' skills, they could even beat the third and fourth-years.’
‘They say there are several favorites to win, but who could possibly stop President Daisy?’
Since everyone present had witnessed ‘that day,’ the idea of Daisy losing to anyone was unimaginable.
Therefore, they took Daisy’s subsequent words as mere humility born of her personality.
“It won't be an easy goal. Our club could be considered the underdog, after all.”
They might be few in number, but in terms of raw elite power, they were a group that overwhelmed even the Swordsmanship and Magic Departments.
There was no way such a club would have a goal that wasn't easy…
“Our goal is the 24th Imperial Continental Flower Arrangement Championship!”
“……?”
A moment of silence fell over the room.
Among the freshmen, some wondered if the Founding Festival’s swordsmanship or magic tournaments had only been running for twenty-four years.
“With our current level, it will be a difficult task. I hear that not only famous experts from across the continent but even eccentrics from the East across the sea often participate in the Continental Flower Arrangement Championship.”
As Daisy continued her solemn speech, the members began to snap out of it one by one.
“However, our goal is victory!”
Hearing Daisy’s unnecessarily grim determination, everyone finally realized.
“Ah.”
Ah, right.
We’re the Flower Arrangement Club.
…Why did we think we were participating in the sword or magic tournaments?
“……”
“……”
“……”
Looking at Daisy’s face, set with tragic resolve…
—You showed us all that stuff just a while ago!
Everyone could only scream inwardly in a silent outcry.
2. The Suspicious Second-in-Command Unknown Even to Imperial Agents.
“…And that’s what happened.”
Bellian had been doing his absolute best to assist Daisy in her grand ambitions.
Thus, he reported to his superior just how sincere Daisy was about this current goal.
“Hmm…”
Aeryun looked at Bellian, the Academy infiltration agent, as he finished his report and thought:
‘The more I look at him, the more he seems like a spy.’
Was it because of Adam Smith, who insisted the man was a spy for the Dark Mages or the final boss of the enemy side?
Aeryun shook his head slightly to clear the suspicion that grew every time they made contact, and asked with genuine curiosity.
“Why?”
Even if he ignored the suspicious appearance of the being before him, he couldn't ignore the content of the report.
“Pardon?”
“No, I mean, why are they suddenly participating in the Continental Flower Arrangement Championship?”
Bellian blinked a couple of times, tilted his head, and answered.
“Well, because it’s a Flower Arrangement Club?”
“…Ah.”
Aeryun had an epiphany at Bellian’s “isn't it obvious?” tone.
‘The club was a Flower Arrangement Club, wasn't it?’
In truth, it was a Flower Arrangement Club in name only.
He had momentarily forgotten the club’s official activities because their rate of exterminating Dark Mages far exceeded that of the Imperial Intelligence Department, and even its superior organization, the Intelligence Bureau.
“So. Why?”
However, even with that realization, nothing changed.
I mean, why would a Flower Arrangement Club suddenly go out to an event like that?
“Well, it’s to prevent the club from being disbanded…”
“Disbanded?”
He wondered what kind of madman would dare disband a club where the Imperial Prince and the princes and princesses of great powers were gathered, but…
“Uh, well. Even though we met the membership quota, we haven't had any actual activities lately…”
“Ah…”
Come to think of it, it was true that the Flower Arrangement Club lacked any proper activity records to speak of.
And for good reason.
‘…We were the ones who blocked them, weren't we?’
Until last year, he hadn't believed Adam Smith’s claim that Dark Mages appeared whenever the Flower Arrangement Club moved.
But now, there was too much data to ignore.
Even recently, when the Flower Arrangement Club tried to do some volunteer work, didn't a Demon Tribe member pop out?
Consequently, Aeryun had been secretly blocking the Flower Arrangement Club’s applications for external activities.
As a result, the club, whose activity records were dwindling, had to build up achievements to prevent being disbanded.
And the highest-rated achievement was winning a competition.
Among those, the easiest for Academy students to enter were the various tournaments held during the annual Imperial Founding Festival.
“……So, why?”
Another question arose.
I mean, if they just entered the swordsmanship and magic tournaments, the Flower Arrangement Club would sweep them.
Aeryun asked while recalling Asran and Arwen, who had performed magnificently last year even as freshmen.
“There’s no way participation in a swordsmanship or magic tournament would be recognized as an achievement for a Flower Arrangement Club.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. There’s no connection. Especially since those two are also members of the Swordsmanship and Magic Clubs. The credit for those two tournaments went to the Swordsmanship and Magic Clubs.”
“…Then why wasn't the Flower Arrangement Club disbanded last year?”
“I prevented it by taking second place.”
“…You took second place?”
“Yes.”
“Wasn't last year’s winner an eccentric who appeared from Xing in the East?”
It had been such a dramatic event that even amidst the chaos of the Dark Mage invasion, the useless gossip had reached Aeryun’s ears.
To think the runner-up, overshadowed by that overwhelming first place, was right in front of him.
“He was a person of marvelous skill,” Bellian muttered softly with a look of reminiscence.
“……”
Who the hell is this guy?
Is this guy really the mastermind?
The seeds of suspicion planted by Adam Smith began to sprout, bit by bit.
Fortunately, the event where Prince Ellen gains enlightenment after a few training sessions and awakens as a Sword Master did not occur.
…Well, if someone became a Sword Master just from a bit of training, they wouldn't be a RoFan male lead candidate; they’d just be the male lead.
No matter how much Prince Ellen was the strongest in this world-view, he couldn't become a Sword Master just yet.
…He really shouldn't.
Please.
“I’m gonna die…”
The Minor Sword Emperor, who was sprawled on the floor just like me, let out a sigh.
Unlike us, who were from other countries, the Sword Emperor was pushing the Minor Sword Emperor much more ruthlessly—perhaps because he was a citizen, and his own blood relative at that. He looked even more pained than we did.
…Not that we were having an easy time, though.
“Wouldn't it be faster to just steal Daisy’s magic sword?”
“…You’ll be struck by divine punishment from the Goddess.”
If I were going to be punished for something like that, it would have happened a long time ago.
I rolled off the floor and stood up, looking at Prince Ellen, who had his eyes closed while holding his sword.
“…He’s not actually going to awaken like that, is he?”
“…No way. Do you think becoming a Sword Master is that easy?”
Whether it was me asking or the Minor Sword Emperor answering…
Contrary to our words, our tones were filled with anxiety.
Becoming a Sword Master at this age?
For the Minor Sword Emperor, it meant having a permanent rival to be compared against.
For me, it meant I’d have to keep grinding until I became a Sword Master myself.
They say you should seek out hardships while you’re young, but…
Isn't this more than enough suffering?
I’d thought it would be nice to become a Sword Master someday, but I wanted it to happen naturally. I didn't want to put in enough effort to be forced into becoming one.
Honestly, with my current status, I could probably retire now and live comfortably for the rest of my life.
The only ones working harder than this would be the Dark Mages.
“I need to hurry up and defeat Daisy or something.”
“How?”
“As expected, if you use a Confession Attack…”
“No, I mean, why is my confession an ‘attack’?”
“…Do I really need to explain?”
“……No, who do you think you are? Why do you keep picking on only me!”
“I am someone. I’m Daisy’s official lover.”
“……That’s a fake.”
“For now, officially, even the Pope knows me as her lover.”
“……When are you going to quit that?”
“I don't know either.”
We had become quite comfortable with each other. Among the male students at the Academy, excluding the members of the After-School Dessert Club, the Minor Sword Emperor was probably my closest friend, so we could joke around easily.
“So, really, try to win.”
“Daisy has no interest in fighting right now. She’s doing nothing but flower arranging every day, determined to win the flower arrangement competition at the Founding Festival.”
“……Why?”
“Because we’re the Flower Arrangement Club?”
Despite his words, he looked just as confused as I was, and I couldn't help but narrow my eyes.
A Flower Arrangement Club event out of nowhere?
I smell something.
The scent of a RoFan development.
“…Still, it’s an opportunity.”
“For what?”
Instead of answering, I staggered over to Prince Ellen.
Then, I whispered softly into the ear of the Prince, who was solely focused on his sword.
“Your Highness.”
“……”
“What are you doing right now?”
“……”
“The others are probably in the club room, doing flower arrangements with Daisy.”
At those words, Ellen’s posture—which had been still as if he were separated from the world and had reached a state of selflessness—began to waver.
“While arranging flowers, their hands will naturally touch. And then they’ll hold hands…”
“……!”
“The others will be having all that physical contact while learning flower arrangement, but Your Highness is…”
“……!”
Seeing the sword shaking noticeably now, I delivered the final blow.
“The fact that she was taken by me… well, there’s the excuse that it’s fake. But if she’s taken by a fellow club member, isn't it really over?”
“Urgh!”
His concentration shattered. Whether it was from the training or the unpleasant imagination, Prince Ellen began to sweat profusely and glared at me resentfully.
“Aren't you going? You said Daisy insisted on winning.”
“Adam…”
“If you win… knowing Daisy’s personality, wouldn't she give you a hug out of joy?”
“I’m going!”
Had he imagined it? His resentment vanished, and Prince Ellen shouted urgently before sprinting away.
After watching him for a while, I turned to the Minor Sword Emperor, who was staring at us with an expression of utter disbelief. I tilted my head.
“What are you doing?”
“What?”
“You’re in the Flower Arrangement Club too. Aren't you going?”
You’re going to be the only one left behind.
At those words, he agonized for a long moment before finally starting to run as well.
“Solo Leveling.”
Left alone in the special training grounds, I began to swing my sword once more.