Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: 7. Is Your Back Safe? (1)
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#1 Their Side: Risen de Roa's Side.
"...What could it be."
It wasn't the faculty lounge after a long time away.
Just a week ago, I'd been in this very familiar lounge, racking my brain over what I'd gotten caught for.
Had I been busted for selling footage from the surveillance magic device using Loki's Shoes?
Nah, that couldn't be it. Our customers were all super loyal.
I was selling it hard to guys and girls alike, and I'd even planned a limited-edition special for next week! No way they'd rat me out!
Maybe it'd been discovered that I'd secretly used student council funds for personal stuff?
But I'd spread it out across so many accounts, even the meticulous treasurer hadn't noticed.
Or had I really gotten caught peeking into the changing rooms?
As I mulled over all these possibilities, one of the professors in the lounge delivered a bombshell.
"Ah, not here. Go to Professor Niserwin's private lounge."
"Have mercy!"
"W-What!"
In that instant of mortal dread, I clung to the professor's leg.
Whatever it was, I'd been well and truly caught.
What the hell had I done wrong? It couldn't be that bad, or they wouldn't summon me to see Professor Niserwin!
"I did wrong. I'll figure out exactly what and reflect on it deeply! So please... please, anyone but Professor Niserwin!"
"How did Professor Niserwin make even you this terrified..."
Looking up at the professor who gazed down at me with something like awe, I could only feel my dread mounting.
"Professor, I don't even know what I did wrong, but killing me for it is too much!"
"No, it's just going to Professor Niserwin's lounge..."
"That's as good as a death sentence!"
What reasons does a student have for going to the faculty lounge?
Running an errand for a professor? Sure.
Career counseling? Possible. Especially for a fourth-year on the verge of graduation.
Delivering something to the student council? Yeah, since I was the vice president, after all.
But if that professor was Professor Niserwin? Totally different story.
Professor Niserwin held near-absolute authority over the academy's education and was second only to the dean in academy operations.
Why would someone like that summon me?
For education matters, they'd call Lady Aris or the president. For operations, the president, treasurer, secretary, or other student council insiders.
Sure, I looked like vice president, but I didn't really do much!
So the only thing left was one: getting chewed out by a professor!
And on that front, I was publicly acknowledged as number one in the academy—hell, even I admitted it!
Going to Professor Niserwin's office, home to the Silver Devil, meant only one thing: death!
"I'll work hard. I'll live a clean life from now on! So please, anyone but Professor Niserwin..."
"No, that's a great attitude, but telling me won't change anything..."
I begged, clinging to the professor's leg, but the conclusion didn't budge. And then—
"Huh? Bro? Master's calling, what're you doing here?"
Turning my head at the creaking sound, I saw a petite silver-haired girl.
It was as if Professor Niserwin had foreseen this and sent the devil herself to drag me away!
"Professor, if I die, cremate my bones and scatter them in my family garden."
"Should sis kill you here, bro?"
"I'll go! Right now!"
Best not to question why she called her big sis self "sis" while calling me "bro." Last time, the one who'd commented on her "thud-thud" footsteps got pummeled.
And so, trembling in terror, I arrived at Professor Niserwin's lounge.
The door slammed shut with a bang, feeling like it sealed my life away for good. Or so it seemed.
Smaller than the main lounge but spacious enough for one person, this space—remodeled from the vice-dean's office in the academy's glory days just for Professor Niserwin—held only bookshelves crammed with tomes, a modest desk, and a single fancy sofa.
"You're a bit late."
At the center, Professor Niserwin propped her chin on the desk and regarded me sternly.
Gulp.
I swallowed hard without thinking.
Even in this heavy air, the Silver Devil hopped lightly onto the desk.
"Master, this guy's a flight risk. He was clinging to another prof bawling his eyes out?"
"Eek!"
She told her! Damn it, should I run? But could I even escape?
Loki's Shoes might work, but last time, this Silver Devil had snatched them right up without a care!
Only one option left: possession!
-Fuck off, Athena already spilled everything. Where do you get off trying to die together?
But Loki shot it down the second I thought it. Damn, word had already spread to the divine realm!
-It's not like a few beat-up gods are new. Five divinities got knocked out cold and forcibly recalled—no way the heavens wouldn't hear.
Damn, no options left. Was this how I'd die? Your contractor's about to get killed—aren't you gonna fight?
-Hilarious. I know the full story. She won't kill you. Might wish for death, but she won't, so you're fine.
Wrong. No hope. Should I just bite my tongue clean? Nah, one punch from that devil would scare even the River Styx away. Time to beg.
"I'm sorry!"
"Huh, Master. Bro's pride must've run away."
Pride mattered less than my life. So please, put that fist down, Devil!
"I'm not scolding you for being late. I just have something to discuss, so sit."
Professor Niserwin pointed to the chair across from her, but I couldn't move right away...
"Wanna sit after a beating?"
Fair enough. Had to move.
I shot up and sat, still tense as hell.
Ugh... right in front of Professor Niserwin.
Even in her weekly class, no one took the front row out of sheer intimidation—and this was closer!
But those thoughts vanished at Professor Niserwin's next words.
"No long talk. Skip Night Self-Study tomorrow."
"Pardon?"
My mind went blank.
Why had we fought so hard?
Why strived to win the Imperial Tournament?
Why suffered under the Silver Devil?
One answer.
To escape this damn Night Self-Study!
And now, she was letting us skip it.
Me alone?
"Not for free, right? What do I have to do?"
"As expected of the vice president. Quick on the uptake."
Her satisfied nod confirmed my hunch.
Nothing was free with Professor Niserwin.
She gave commensurate value, never handouts.
Especially for Night Self-Study!
"During tomorrow's Night Self-Study, side with the professors, Risen. Simple."
What? Betray my own? Why?
"Human history is filled with wars. No race has waged more than humanity. Even other races' wars usually involved humans, big or small."
Smiling faintly at my expression, Professor Niserwin spoke in a gentle, storyteller's tone.
"And so, despite baseline abilities ranking low among races, humans devised countless tactics and strategies."
"W-What does that have to do with me betraying the students..."
"Divide and conquer."
"Pardon?"
"Divide and conquer. One of humanity's most effective strategies throughout war's history. Seducing enemy leaders with honey traps, sowing distrust between king and vassal to make the king kill his own—simple, practical."
I knew what it was. But why have the student council vice president pull that in the academy?
"You don't get it yet. What if a spy from another academy infiltrated ours?"
What nonsense was this?
Even as rivals in the Imperial Four Great Academies and events like the Imperial Tournament, no one sent actual spies.
"Hypothetically. Just if."
"It'd be trouble."
"Yes. Betrayal from allies causes massive chaos. Especially from high-ranking ones."
She nodded approvingly at my half-hearted reply.
"So, to prepare for that. I need you on the professors' side, Risen."
"...And in exchange, no Night Self-Study tomorrow?"
"Yes."
What to say? Should I question why the academy even trained students like this?
Wasn't I normal for thinking that? Even if people called me abnormal, this proved I was sane, right?
-Right. Even I, the black sheep of the gods, guarantee this academy's insane!
Good, divine assurance. Damn, the academy's gone mad in my final year!
Betray them? Why did it pull at me so hard? It pulled hard!
No Night Self-Study tomorrow!
"Oh, and all prep like after-school study? Gone. Attendance too. Tomorrow only—no morning classes. Come at 10 a.m., leave at 5 p.m."
What was this? Things that were daily life last year now felt like dreams.
"...For real?"
Whoosh!
At my question, the Silver Devil yanked the curtains behind Professor Niserwin shut.
The room darkened, and Professor Niserwin's face turned deadly serious.
"Indeed."
Her tone shifted with that single word. What was this short, trustworthy reply?!
"The Imperial Tournament win is as good as sealed this year. Better secure your gains, no?"
Ugh, true! Yuglasia losing now was unthinkable!
But!
"But I have comrades..."
The president, always prim but accomplice in mischief.
The vice president I fought with but sometimes missed.
The treasurer chasing me with bills when I skimmed council funds, the secretary sulking when I dumped work on her.
And all the comrades (students) who'd battled countless battlefields (Night Self-Studies)!
"Some of your comrades already agreed to join us."
Ugh, traitors? Already? Before me?!
We'd sworn to escape Night Self-Study together, but for this...!
'Not "but"—irresistible for fourth-years. Can't blame 'em. But me!'
"It's good experience for the other students too. Getting backstabbed is rare outside life-or-death battlefields. Experiencing it now builds resilience for future betrayals."
But Professor Niserwin blocked every retreat.
"The academy festival's unpredictable. Better test coping with fewer key members."
"Ugh... Th-That's..."
"So, what's it to be?"
Ah, no choice! It was inevitable! B-But!
"Urk... Wh-What if I refuse..."
"No penalties. Just keep it secret."
Damn, done. Every scenario, I was trapped.
No helping it!
"Why?"
I stared at the student council executive, eyes wide in disbelief.
The rearmost line: weakest but vital student council members.
We ambushed the summoners with recovery skills, knocking them all out.
No recovery left on the 8th floor now. Felt a twinge of conscience, but too late!
"You're going too far, Risen!"
My conscience stung at the vice president's teary glare, so unlike her usual self. But no choice.
"Ugh... How... How could you!"
Finally, the president collapsed trembling with betrayal, like a dagger to my heart.
It hurt. Hurt so much.
But!
"Yee~ haw!"
That pain? Healed clean the next day with no Night Self-Study at all.