Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Aftermath (1)
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Adelia Edelstein.
A grand archmage from the Liam Kingdom, she was an NPC who enjoyed considerable popularity even in the original story.
The chemistry between the young, innocent Adelia and the gruff Great Hero was one of the most highly praised couplings in Failure Hero.
In the Adelia route, the scene where the Great Hero entrusts Academy City to her was one of the top scenes picked by players.
The main heroine of Season 1 and a supporting NPC in Season 2!
Thus, Adelia was the pure-hearted heroine who managed Academy City alongside Higho, left behind by the Great Hero.
And yet, this Adelia was Alize's mentor!
As a veteran player, I was certain I'd never heard such information even once.
'Adelia doesn't appear until the latter half of Season 2's story. By then, Alex's party naturally has high combat prowess, so there was no point of contact.'
She shows up during the assault event, after which the hero party heads straight out to defeat the Demon King.
In other words, not only the protagonist Alex but also the party members recruited as allies in Academy City are at a considerable level of strength by then, so there's no real situation for Adelia to get involved in.
The only one who interacts with her at all is Alex, and even that's just to obtain clues about the Seven Great Powers' Demon God.
If even the protagonist of the previous work was like that, what about Alize?
'Who would ever think the Season 1 and Season 2 magician heroines know each other?'
If there had been even a hint of foreshadowing in the story, maybe.
But there had never been a single explanation like that until now, so it was hard to believe when it came out of nowhere.
'No wonder Alize's performance seemed overly strong...'
I'd thought her specs were suspiciously good from the early game, but it finally made sense once I realized she was Adelia's disciple.
'Considering Adelia at the ending point, it tracks.'
At that stage, Adelia had reached the pinnacle in every way.
It was only natural that her level exceeded 90, befitting her achievement in subjugating the Demon King.
She was a master of time magic using various gems.
One of only five grand archmages in continental history.
A mage who had achieved the legendary immortality.
Even the haughty dragonkin acknowledged her magical knowledge, so calling her a prophet in magic wouldn't be an exaggeration.
Aside from the Demon God—one of the Seven Great Powers and known as her master—no one could match her in magic, or so the world believed.
She was a top-tier powerhouse in the world's setting, a senior figure whom even active heroes couldn't dare look up to. That was Adelia Edelstein.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After a brief discussion about Noah, the topic shifted to the council of delegates.
"This time, I won't be able to help you either."
"As expected."
I nodded easily at her words.
In a way, it was a predictable outcome.
"You're already well past your term limits. Though you've continued as chairman with overwhelming student support, even now, eight years later, voices of discontent are starting to emerge."
"Hmm."
"And with this incident happening amid all that, not only the council—already eager to pull you down—but even within the board of directors, calls for replacing the chief chairman are rising."
Though still just a minority for now.
Continuing, Adelia looked at me with serious eyes.
"For now, the board side is being managed by me and the pro-chairman faction directors, but we lack the influence to extend that to the council."
"Troublesome."
Until now, my position as chief chairman had been solidified by an unusually high approval rating and the board's full backing.
But now, the board couldn't unify its support.
With a long-term authoritarian regime already in place, an incident tarnishing my record had occurred, so it was natural for those who already resented me to turn away.
As a result, opinions were splitting within the board, leaving even Director General Adelia unable to fully back me.
This put the board in a position where it couldn't block the council's checks.
'A headache. Normally, the board would step in to mediate the council's radical demands.'
The council, being a student self-governing body with regular turnover, tended to be radically progressive overall.
Thus, plenty disliked me as a symbol of the status quo, and if I showed even a slight opening like now, it would be full of people eager to exploit it.
'At least G1 is friendly to me, but G2 and G3 are the problem.'
The council reflected student grades, but G2 held the majority voice.
After all, the more people, the louder the voice.
Thus, unusually, G2's opinions dominated over G1's in the council.
'The official letter this time must be G2's doing. I don't know G1 or G3's stances yet, but it's safe to assume most of G2 are hostile to me.'
Since they've prepared a hearing, I can assume they've made full preparations to strike.
"I'll get the board back to normal somehow. In exchange, you'll have to persuade the council directly."
"Understood. Your handling of the board alone is a huge help."
No joke—it really was.
If not just the council but the board turned against me in this situation, dealing with it would be impossible.
With approval on my side, I could muddle through somehow, but it would consume a lot of time.
It might even derail Noah's growth plan significantly, so without her, things would have been truly precarious.
"Who's the council chairman this time?"
"Probably the student council president of Gold Star. The chairmanship rotates strictly among G1."
There were seven G1 academies in Academy City, and the council chairman rotated among them.
Yeoncheol had it last year, so Gold Star's turn this year.
But at my words, Adelia frowned slightly.
"Hmm... Gold Star, huh. They're always a bit slippery."
A specialized academy focused on shamanism.
Not lacking in other fields, but unrivaled in shamanism above all others.
And students learning shamanism tended to have serpentine cunning.
Traditionally, Gold Star's student council presidents were inscrutable schemers.
Adelia must be wary of that nature.
"It's fine. SKY—including Gold Star, Slaine, and Yeoncheol—are friendly to me anyway."
G1 was generally favorable overall, but SKY—Slaine, Yeoncheol, and Gold Star—had especially deep ties, with my aides in their student councils.
"So no need to worry about the chairman. The issue is the mainstream forces like G2."
They held both real power and legitimacy, a force that could truly threaten me.
Until now, I'd avoided attacks by being a flawless chairman, but that's over—they'll come at me without restraint.
'I've prepared countermeasures, but with a major demon incursion, smoothing it all over will be tough.'
The silver linings were no deaths and minimal property damage.
If there had been fatalities, I'd have to resign immediately.
In that sense, my earlier overzealous response had yielded good results.
"Still, be careful. Even if G1 favors you, G2 and G3 think differently."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Yes, I can't underestimate them.
From now on, my battlefield wouldn't be one of clashing swords and spells, but of castles and curses.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Kiiik—thud—
"……."
Adelia quietly stared at the door Yeon Je-seong had exited through.
"Can he overcome this trial?"
Gently caressing her empty teacup, she murmured into the air.
Then, from the seemingly empty space, a familiar voice replied.
{...Of course ho. You know that too ho. He's not a man to crumble over something like this ho.}
"Right."
This was unusual, but similar crises weren't unheard of.
He had overcome them admirably before, so excessive worry was unnecessary.
Adelia nodded slowly, agreeing with Higho.
"Yes. He wouldn't break over something like this."
{More importantly, the board's not settled yet ho?}
"Almost done. The one causing the stir is a newbie who just joined recently. I 'politely' requested they reconsider, and they accepted."
{Well done ho. We can't afford delays in the plan over this ho.}
"I know. Once his preparations are complete, I'll move to support him anytime."
{...Your word choice is odd ho?}
"Hehe, just kidding. But isn't he quite attractive even as a man?"
{...No idea ho. The only man I acknowledge is the Great Hero ho.}
"Maybe. Sometimes I get a sense of déjà vu. Being with him feels like being with Hwarang at times."
{That's…!}
"So you feel it too."
He resembles him.
Not in looks or skill.
But in that unique aura.
Murmuring that, Adelia continued since Higho fell silent.
"Anyway, we'll keep supporting him like this."
{Got it ho.}
"Until the moment he subjugates the Demon King someday."
Staring blankly at her teacup, she suddenly recalled the past.
Even after graduating from Slaine, he hadn't relinquished the chairman position.
In that unprecedented situation, Adelia had visited him personally to probe his intentions.
Why stay here instead of heading to the front lines?
But his response was utterly unexpected.
"...For the subjugation of the Demon King."
She closed her eyes calmly, reminiscing.
While others focused only on pushing back the front lines.
This man claimed not just recovery of the holy lands, but Demon King subjugation.
Anyone might have laughed at such audacity.
But she alone couldn't laugh.
"The third time. I've heard those words three times."
Long ago, Hwarang, who subjugated the first Demon King with her.
Alex, who felled the previous Demon King with his precious disciple.
And now, Yeon Je-seong, gathering strength over years.
"Higho, do you know?"
{Ho? What ho?}
"Sometimes, when you live long enough, people like that appear."
{Ho?}
"People who seem to transcend eras, as if from the future."
{From the future ho?}
"Yes. And the world calls them this."
Protagonists.
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