Chapter 88
Chapter 88
A Greeting Is Everything
From the perspective of the Principality of Betelgeuse, which had been devastated by the war against the Demon King and the demon race, as well as the many other victims who had suffered even before that, Dunais Academy would appear as an entity that possessed immense power yet stood by idly, ignoring the suffering of the people.
However, the side that sought to seize control of Dunais Academy was also problematic.
“So that’s why you seek the Arcane Astra. But what exactly is this Arcane Astra?”
“I don’t know the full details either, but I’ve heard it is the very core that makes Dunais Academy what it is, and the source that maintains the covenant binding the Empire’s Five Prisoners.
If one were to obtain it, it is said they could freely utilize the Academy’s resources.”
“Is that so? Hmm. Personally, I find it hard to imagine those free-spirited professors—the so-called Five Prisoners of the Academy—submitting to orders.
But even just being able to freely open and close the Academy’s transfer gates…
That alone would be of tremendous value.
So then, if the Arcane Astra is found, should I report it to you, Fiona? Or to Prince Lorenzo?”
“I am the one in charge of the Papal mission within the Academy.
Prince Lorenzo is our allied collaborator.
Archduke Mazdari is a man of deep faith.”
“I see. So that’s how it is…”
This was why Lorenzo had taken a step back. Though he had sworn loyalty to the Papal State, whether that oath would hold when the Arcane Astra actually appeared before him was another matter.
“Understood. If I come across any information regarding the Arcane Astra, Miss Fiona, I will share it with you.”
“Actually, that alone is not enough…
I would like you to join our team moving forward.
Lady Idnia, I would appreciate it if you would operate under my and Prince Lorenzo’s command.”
Fiona openly told Idnia to place herself under her authority.
“That’s rather forceful.”
Even Lorenzo was slightly taken aback by the bold statement.
But Fiona was serious.
“Lady Idnia is far too outstanding.
If I don’t keep someone like her under watch… well, it’s unlikely, but what if she were to obtain the Arcane Astra and keep it to herself without sharing information?
More importantly, it’s fine if our team achieves better results,
but it would be a problem if their side outperforms us.
The Saint candidates can compete among themselves for designation, but within the team, they should quietly follow my lead.”
In truth, Fiona, who had been trained as a Papal envoy since childhood, harbored a subtle inferiority complex toward the Saint candidates.
Unlike them, she had no prestigious family background—she had simply been selected out of necessity.
Deep down, she had wanted to become a Saint candidate herself.
Marie, at least, she could accept.
A common farmer’s daughter, placed in a convent after her parents lost their children to yellow fever and sought to purify misfortune—Marie had risen through her own merit.
In that sense, Fiona felt a sense of kinship with her.
In fact, in the original story, she treated Marie warmly and helped her often, making her a well-liked character.
But someone like Idnia, who possessed noble status and a brilliant lineage, also becoming a Saint candidate—that was difficult for Fiona to accept.
And now, by coincidence, she had been given the role of managing the Papal personnel within the Academy.
Strictly speaking, it was a middle-management position overseeing Vatican-affiliated individuals, but Fiona had interpreted it as authority over the Saint candidates themselves.
“I cannot allow personal feelings to interfere with my mission.
I am merely acting as a superior, demonstrating the proper methods of the Papal State with a bit of strictness.”
Thus, Fiona justified her inferiority and jealousy.
“Hm. This is a new experience.
In the original game, Fiona was quite friendly, but she seems to have a poor impression of me.
I suppose when the circumstances change, so does how people see you.
Why is that? Is it because my status is too high? Hmm. She’d probably get along well with Professor Sadia.”
Idnia didn’t feel anger at Fiona’s rude demand.
Instead, she felt excitement—like discovering a new route in a game.
Still, one thing was one thing, and another was another.
“Hm. I don’t think that’s appropriate.”
Idnia calmly refused Fiona’s proposal.
“…Pardon?
Is it because you are a noble lady that you cannot follow the command of someone like me, a commoner?”
“No. If you put it that way, it would also be disrespectful to Prince Lorenzo.
What I mean is, since we belong to different dormitories, is it really necessary for us to act together?
We are all in different environments, so wouldn’t it be better to operate independently?”
It was a perfectly reasonable argument.
Both Fiona and Lorenzo had no choice but to agree inwardly.
“I see. Then please report your progress so far.”
Fiona shifted and demanded results from Idnia.
“Regrettably, I have nothing worth reporting yet.
Just keeping up with my studies has been quite challenging.”
“Is that so?
I’ve heard that Lady Idnia occasionally leaves the dormitory at night.”
“Ah, that is part of my efforts toward academic improvement.
It’s my secret study method, you see. It seems word has spread even to those in the Notos dormitory.”
Idnia responded smoothly, but inwardly, she was quite surprised.
She had assumed that the Academy professors might know about her nightly outings.
Their magical abilities, surveillance methods, and even fog magic far exceeded her imagination.
Even Baroness Willem, who appeared so lax, could demonstrate a grand spell like Source Frost magic—so the so-called Five Prisoners of the Empire needed no further explanation.
But ordinary people should not have noticed.
So how did Fiona, from another dormitory, know?
“If it’s not someone from our dormitory, they shouldn’t know I go out.
Marie wouldn’t have leaked it… she doesn’t seem to have many friends besides me.
Then perhaps there are followers of the Trinity Church within our dormitory.
Fellow dorm residents would naturally notice.”
As Idnia pondered this, Lorenzo intervened.
“Miss Fiona, that’s enough. Someone is approaching. It would not be wise to reveal your status as an envoy so soon.”
“Ah, yes. Understood, Prince Lorenzo.”
It seemed that although Fiona was in charge, real authority lay with Lorenzo.
Though he cooperated with the Papal envoy, he likely had his own plans.
“We haven’t mentioned the most important part yet. Lady Idnia, we have discovered the entrance to a massive dungeon beneath the Academy.”
“…What?”
Idnia remained composed, but Marie gasped in surprise.
Everyone knew that Prince Lorenzo and his group moved around at night, supposedly to procure goods from the black market.
But that had merely been a cover.
Their true objective was to explore the Academy and obtain the Arcane Astra.
“Well, I already knew, but it seems we have guests. We should end this conversation here.”
Feigning surprise, Idnia turned toward the newcomers.
“Wow, this is a vegetable garden? Incredible.”
The newcomers were Karl and the students from Boreas Dormitory.
They greeted Idnia.
“Lady Idnia, so this is where you were.”
“You were amazing today. Watching you deal with Baroness Willem was impressive.”
“Hahaha, that was something else!”
The Boreas students had developed a sense of admiration after seeing Idnia outmaneuver Baroness Willem.
“But why are you here, Lorenzo?”
“I was curious about the garden. Karl, it seems you’ve grown quite close to Lady Idnia.”
“Well, she did ask me for a rather special favor.”
Karl exaggerated Idnia’s simple request about Volson as if it were something significant.
Lorenzo, realizing it was meant to tease him, fell into thought.
“It must have been something trivial.
Still, the northerners seem quite fond of Lady Idnia.
When did she win over these barbarians?
I thought the center of attention would be Crown Prince Rudolf, but it seems Lady Idnia is the true key figure.
I hadn’t paid much attention since the Principality of Betelgeuse had declined…
And yet, someone who rarely appeared in high society is so adept at handling people.”
While Lorenzo was thinking, the northerners wandered freely around the garden, even examining the ice storage Idnia had just made.
“Oh! An ice storage…”
“These turnips… wow, I’ve never seen them grow this well.”
“Turnips are usually emergency crops planted after frost ruins everything.”
“Hey, can I try one?”
“What are you saying? You’re from a knight’s family.”
“I didn’t eat enough at lunch. Oh, right, I’ll pay in Aka coins.”
Watching them, Idnia smiled.
“Well, if you’re buying, I have no reason to refuse.
But let’s discuss that after everyone has gathered and we’ve set the club’s operating policies.
Speaking of which… it seems everyone has arrived.”
Crown Prince Rudolf, Isolde, and the students from Zephyros and Euros dormitories joined them.
Now, all members of the Wizard Ball club were present.
“Thank you for waiting. I apologize if we kept you.”
“Not at all. We were just preparing a few things in advance.
Now then, let’s establish the rules for the Wizard Ball club.
For now, I will serve as the interim club leader.
Does anyone object?”
“Of course not.”
“Naturally.”
“And for managing the vegetable garden, I will appoint a head of agricultural techniques. Miss Marie of Astraea.”
“…Me?”
“You will oversee the technical aspects of farming.
Now then, is there anyone here with experience in Wizard Ball?”
“I’ve played it under the women’s rules at the convent.”
Two students from Notos dormitory, Alisa and Esther, raised their hands.
“Women’s rules?”
“No bending the elbows when throwing, running starts allowed.
Directly striking players is prohibited.
Damaging players directly or indirectly with throws is also forbidden.
It’s a game often played in convents.”
“I see. Marie, you were educated in a monastery, correct?”
“Yes, but we didn’t have enough people who could use magic, so we just played a ball game instead.”
“A ball game?”
“Yes, kicking a ball across a field into the opponent’s goal.”
“Ah, that.”
Idnia nodded, realizing it was essentially soccer.
“Then for Wizard Ball techniques, I’ll leave instruction to those with experience.
As for garden labor, please follow the assignments given by me and Miss Marie.
I promise to distribute tasks as fairly as possible.
Any objections?”
“……”
“Well… no, not really.”
Lorenzo and Karl realized that by agreeing to this club, they were handing a considerable amount of control over to Idnia.