Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Student Council President Election Calling the Storm (5)
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“Number two! Everyone! Let’s reform for the great comrade Adella, who’s breaking her bones for the academy!!”
“““Let’s reform!!!”””
The day of the final battle. Before the last speeches began ahead of the vote, Adella and her followers circled the campus, handing out flyers to students and chanting slogans.
Adella, who had declared herself the one to lead the academy, gave her enthusiastic speeches to the crowds with half doubt and half belief.
“Lady Adella, here’s some water.”
“Ah, thank you. Aren’t we going to the canteen, though?”
“They say student interest has dropped a lot lately, so there’s no need to visit. Apparently, it’s hard to approach due to some unknown magic.”
“Then I’ll go alone...”
“Ahem, the final speeches for the candidates will start in the auditorium soon. Then the actual voting right after, so you’ll be very busy.”
“Okay...”
Adella, now even wearing a bizarre laurel wreath on her head, nodded with a sullen expression.
Originally, she had planned to become student council president and tell her teacher she’d dedicate the academy to him, so marry her.
But as time passed, her distance from him only grew farther.
“One last thing to check before the speech. Next are the lists of applicants for student council secretary and vice president. You need to review them all by today.”
“...”
Thinking she was as good as elected, her followers dumped mountains of future work on her.
As she flipped through the thick documents one by one, she realized the student council president’s duties were far from what she had imagined.
“Let’s head to the grand auditorium. It’s about time.”
“Ah, wait a...”
Finally, Adella took in the beloved canteen visible far away with both eyes.
For some reason, it felt like the distance between her and Louis would never close.
Since returning from the North Sea, there had always been another woman by his side. She recalled the sight of him escorting Luhillen Viscount with a soft smile at the restaurant.
Even now, inside the canteen... he was probably alone with that woman. Adella didn’t even want to imagine what happened between them.
Crunch.
Something in her heart felt like it was grinding away. An intense pain she wouldn’t feel even if her heart were ripped out.
Like this—could she really tell him to marry her after becoming president? What did she even know about Louis to say such a thing?
What I want, what I desire...
“Adella.”
A familiar voice amid the noisy chants. She had been staring piercingly at the canteen hidden among the trees, thinking it was a hallucination—but
“Foolish girl.”
When she turned, he was a bit closer.
“Tea... Teacher?”
In his usual casual attire and genuine expression. But unlike always, with a slightly embarrassed smile.
He held out his hand.
“Want to go on a date, right now?”
The massive auditorium close by, and the small canteen far away.
But Adella realized neither was where she wanted to step.
“Yes.”
She returned a smile more beautiful than a princess leaving the castle with her knight, and shouted brightly.
“Let’s go!”
Leaving the bustling academy grounds, Pharenchia at the end of May was like a white dove scattered on a canvas of peace.
The afternoon sun wasn’t too harsh, gently lighting our clothes with cool breezes each time we passed a fountain.
But without time to take in that beautiful daily life, we walked staring only at each other’s feet.
Walking side by side on the street, we should have exchanged glances and flirted now and then, but both Adella and I clearly showed our awkwardness.
“Adella, want some of that?”
I was the first to speak, pointing to fairy floss—cotton candy—sold on the street.
Our first date, which should mean more than her student council position. At my age, I couldn’t spend the day timidly chasing after a girl.
“I’ll have some...”
Adella, still shy, nodded. She even tried a ladylike bite to share, but ended up eating it all herself.
“Want a hot dog too?”
Next was a snack mixing carbs and protein properly. With loads of sodium and sugar, Adella’s tension gradually eased.
“It’s yummy~.”
A woman who eats heartily is attractive. Even more if she’s pretty.
What started as our pounding-heart first date somehow turned into a food tour.
Pharenchia, located in the central Penheim Kingdom, had developed food culture thanks to tourists and nobles from various regions.
Of course, no Korean food, especially kimchi, but otherwise, many menus weren’t much different from Earth.
Sharing food reveals personality. Learning about Adella this way wasn’t bad.
“Want to try that? It’s stir-fried silkworm pupae.”
“Sure.”
“What about mint choco?”
“Love it!”
Hm, not bad.
“They say it’s a drink mixing red drake eyeballs with soda, stirred with pine needles! Want a sip?”
Not ba...
“Shall I blow it up?”
“You wanna die?”
Bad. Her outrageous remark made my words rough.
After filling our stomachs somewhat, we browsed clothes and accessories in the commercial district.
I had bought her food, but she spent on this side.
“Try this on too.”
To me, who always wore worn-out dirty t-shirts, Adella held up clothes she liked one by one.
She even paid for quite expensive ones without hesitation.
They looked uncomfortable to move in, focused only on formality—not my taste, but she insisted on handing over a heap of bags.
“I don’t need this many...”
“You’ll use them all.”
To the happy-looking Adella, I wanted to give something back. Luckily, I had a germanium bracelet from the canteen remodel drawer in my pocket.
“Want this?”
“You’re giving it to me!? Yay!”
Adella put on the shiny bracelet and checked herself in the store mirror repeatedly.
I considered deducting points for her pseudoscience vibe but let it go since she looked so delighted.
The bright sun began to set. From the academy, fireworks signaled the election’s end rising into the sky.
Rule violation. Without Adella at her final speech, she’d be disqualified, and Erzebet would take the presidency.
Her cuteness wasn’t my favorite, but since she seemed to have racked her brains, this would do.
Now that the goal was achieved, we could head back, but for some reason, my feet wouldn’t move.
“Teacher... I, I want to rest a bit.”
Adella seemed to feel the same.
“My stomach’s so full, I feel like puking...”
Or not?
Anyway, instead of returning to the academy right away, we sat on a bench in a quiet street, silently facing the setting sun.
Gazing at Adella’s profile lit by the sunset, I fell into thought.
What exactly was Adella to me?
Being lovers means not just loving each other but stepping into each other’s lives.
After falling into this world, my life was pitch-black darkness, past and present combined. A karma swamp where even a handful of mana couldn’t breathe, drowning me.
On the other hand, Adella Sylvestra de Roshiar, second daughter of the Roshiar family, had to master the ultimate white magic called the White Horse Path.
I likened it to opposing symbols of mana and karma simply, but from the start, I didn’t match her or anyone.
No matter what I said while handing over expensive formal clothes fit for a wedding, I couldn’t respond to her wishes.
“Teacher.”
The lips that whispered innocent love to me in a starry rural village now turned this way again.
The hero’s oath to protect was too heavy, burying my iron ankles in this land, and the gentle breeze from Adella’s small mouth couldn’t lift it.
I had no right to tie my future with someone. If Adella loved me, she’d have to give up much.
Pain, regret, pity, self-blame, resentment, longing—clumped into a vicious, horrific inner self she could never reach.
Could we call lovers a relationship where one doesn’t fully commit, staggering and clinging unilaterally?
But—
“Shall we rest at that hotel for a bit?”
When the usually comical, innocent, and dim girl showed her sincere side, even cold me had to yield; she displayed a conviction, or pure emotion, strong enough.
“Sure.”
I could only nod with a bitter smile.
Now it was time to decide.
“Next student, come here.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. Close your eyes and shout long Liv Baor III.”
“Th-that’s...”
“Keeeeek—!”
“All good. Next!”
In the grand auditorium after voting ended.
Senior priests dispatched from the Temple of Light were treating students one by one. A Pharenchia resident who saw the suspicious mass hysteria reported it, and the situation was grasped late.
Some followers who couldn’t accept their leader forfeiting slipped out the back door.
Vice Bishop Pernen, who ordered pursuit, handed Erzebet a blessed rank-3 protective charm and clasped his hands.
“Congratulations on ascending to student council president, Princess. The Pharenchia branch of the Temple of Light hereby reaffirms our close ties with the Penheim royal family.”
“Ah, thank you...”
“By the way, for even this citadel of education to harbor seditious ideas. There must still be forces lurking in the kingdom.”
“No, this time...”
Erzebet, clutching her throbbing head, let out a deep sigh and said,
“I have no idea anymore.”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing. I sincerely thank all servants of Hela who strive for humanity.”
“Haha, no need. Traces of groups worshiping demons and black magic are still found up north. Just recently, an analysis request came to the Rubie Church headquarters...”
Pernen chattered on beside her, but Erzebet’s mind was elsewhere.
In the end, she couldn’t win on her own. She only got elected with that man’s help, through a loophole at that.
Even enduring massive shame staining the royal name.
—Eh? Luhillen Viscount. Haven’t gotten purified yet? I’ll do it.
—I don’t need that crap... Aaaagh! I said don’t!
—Ah, you’re normal. Sorry. The third-years’ contamination was so severe I...”
—Enough! I’m busy, so I’m off. The guards’ complaints aren’t minor; I need to handle that first.
Fraudulent votes—no, but if exposed, it’d be a huge laughingstock.
If Louis used this to blackmail her, what then?
“Piy—.”
“Shut up, Piy. This is all your fault.”
“Piy—.”
“Don’t mention Louis liking me again. Never, not ever.”
Shooing Piy mocking her from her shoulder, she covered her stinging face with both hands.