Bakery Club Member Recruitment Drive! (2): A Spirit Mage Joins the Party!
With a message like A Spirit Mage has joined the party! and what felt like a cheerful ding-ding! ringing in his ears, Aren could finally put more effort into his sales pitch now that the headcount shortfall had dropped to just two—thanks to the young lady.
In truth, he wasn't doing much himself. Theo was handling almost all the promotion single-handedly.
"...Looks like no one's interested."
"Can't blame 'em. It's not an established club—they're asking people to join one that's barely getting off the ground."
But the real problem was the total lack of results. Even though Theo had targeted guys who seemed like they'd be into this sort of thing, not a single one had given them the time of day. They brushed past like they were shooing away street peddlers.
Hmm, bad spot? Maybe we should move...
Aren was mulling over options and bouncing ideas around with the other two when—
"Grand Duchess!"
"Just take a quick look over here!"
"...Huh?"
A scream-like shout echoed from the right side of the corridor where they stood, followed by a massive crowd surging toward them. And right in the center of that throng was one face that stood out above the rest.
Isn't that the Bronheim duchess? Dragging people around like they're her entourage...
"Duchess! Any interest in the flower arranging club? Lots of ladies are into hobbies like this these days...!"
"How about the tea ceremony club? It's a chill spot to sip tea and chat—no pressure!"
"Don't girls love board games? I'm actually thinking of joining one myself—maybe we could...?"
Whoa. Is this what it's like being an alpha female?
Not just her classmates, but even the red-ribbon second-years were buttering her up with polite speech and showering her with invitations. Swap the genders, and it'd be straight out of a romance novel: the crown prince parading around with his flock of admirers.
"Sorry, I'm not interested in clubs. If that's all, I'll be— Hmm?"
"Greetings, Duchess."
Aren locked eyes with the Grand Duchess as she shook off her followers and pushed through the crowd.
"What are you doing here...?"
"We're recruiting for the bakery club too."
"Hey, Miss Bronheim."
"Oh, hello."
"Lots of familiar faces."
She approached with her usual stoic expression, perhaps recognizing Theo's face as well.
The crowd's jealousy was palpable. It wasn't anything special between them, but chatting amiably with the icy Northern Grand Duchess was bound to spark suspicions.
"A bakery club, huh? Didn't peg you for the type."
"Well, I'm a guy too. I've got some interest."
"I see. That's... unexpected."
He'd lied without batting an eye, and seeing her buy it stirred an odd pang of guilt. Sorry. Zero interest. Just sticking close to the protagonist to keep tabs on him.
"Hmm..."
Aren watched her stare at the application form, not even entertaining the wild thought of maybe? Sure, the young lady might bake, but this woman? Picturing her with bread or cookies was impossible. She was probably just feigning polite interest because she knew the promoter.
"Sorry, could I borrow a pen?"
"...Pardon?"
...Nope.
Her gaze fixed intently on the form, she suddenly reached for a pen. Aren wasn't that dense—he knew exactly what that meant.
Was the mighty Northern Grand Duchess actually joining the bakery club? The woman who looked better in armor and sword than oven mitts and an apron?
"Are you... joining our club?"
"Yes. Would that be a problem?"
"No, we're thrilled. We were short exactly two for approval. Just curious about your reason."
Pure curiosity—no more. Why the bakery club? Is this because Theo's the canon protagonist?
"No big reason. Just thought it might come in handy someday."
"Handy how?"
"Mm. See, I grew up in the North. Rice doesn't grow well up there, so we rely entirely on wheat. Soldiers in the field make do with frozen bread or biscuits."
"And?"
It sounded plausible enough, but it circled back to what's that got to do with the bakery club? so he prompted her.
"So, if I learn now, I could whip some up if their stomachs start rumbling on the battlefield. That's the idea."
"You take an oven to war?"
"Of course not. It's brutal conditions—hard to even light a fire."
"......"
Then how do you bake? Did she even realize what she was saying?
"Anyway, that's why. If you're not keen, feel free to refuse."
"No, no—we're overjoyed. Just curious. Welcome aboard."
"Good. Then I'm glad."
Whatever her reason, it wasn't his business. He wasn't prying that deep.
"Looks like we're clubmates now. See you in the clubroom—take care, Roze Tail."
"...Y-yeah."
With a cool signature, the Bronheim duchess left as if she'd gotten exactly what she came for. Staring at her retreating back, Aren half-expected a message to flash before his eyes: Ding-ding! The Grand Duchess has joined the party!
The Grand Duchess has joined the party!
＊
This time of year at Teleos Academy was always a madhouse. Returning students scurried about, desperate to inject fresh blood into their clubs.
But the hype often boiled over, leading to petty clashes or accidents between students.
"Lens, everything okay?"
"Yes, thankfully. Last year's incident must've made everyone more cautious."
"Good."
That's why student council president Siel was patrolling the buildings with secretary Lens Pernova in tow.
But her real focus wasn't the inspection.
"Just need to find an accountant now."
"Think it'll be that easy?"
She was scouting for talent to fill the open accountant position.
Tradition held that the accountant role went to a freshman—to give the new sprouts a chance.
"I'm not even sure anyone wants it. It's a heavy lift for newbies..."
"True."
Siel nodded reluctantly at Anel's concerned advice. It hadn't always been this tough. They'd handed it off lightly to freshmen before.
But last year changed everything. The cultural affairs director—responsible for club issues and budgets—got busted taking bribes for budget hikes. The role shifted to the accountant.
Club leaders weren't pushovers. Notifying them of budgets in meetings took guts, force of will, and steel nerves. Hotheads often escalated from arguments to duels.
Finding a freshman with the muscle, backbone, and boldness? Needle in a haystack.
"Sigh, if only an accountant would just drop out of the sky..."
She sighed heavily while crossing the chaotic hallway when—
"Huh?"
Siel's head snapped sideways at the sudden voice. A brown-haired boy was gawking at her, making a fuss.
"Dude, we're busted—run!"
"W-what?! Why are we running?!"
"'Cause we didn't get permission!"
"We're like illegal street vendors?!"
The three in the booth scrambled to pack up boxes and bolt.
Figuring it out, Siel approached with a wry smile.
"Relax. I'm not gonna be a hardass on fresh faces like you. Calm down."
Rules were rules, but she knew some of these faces—she'd look the other way.
"You're Roze Tail, right? Spirit and summoner top scorer."
"H-hello, senpai."
She greeted the pink-haired girl first, then glanced left. The black-haired guy in the middle caught her eye.
She'd noted him at orientation as unusual, but yesterday's test chaos etched him in deeper.
Especially because...
"You're Aren, right?"
"You remember me."
"Of course. You're the first—and last—junior to call me 'Siel-senpai' on sight."
"I see."
His bold first-name basis had piqued her interest. She licked her lips unconsciously—a habit when spotting someone intriguing.
"So, what're you all doing here?"
"As you see, club recruiting. Trying to launch a bakery club with this guy, but we're one short. Hence the mess."
"Hm."
As president, she knew the rules cold: four minimum for approval. Made sense.
Clubs weren't just hobbies. They built networks, especially established ones with alumni ties.
Joining a brand-new one? Rare.
Snagging two is impressive. This guy's got pull.
A spark of intrigue lit her mind.
"Ah, so you're one short right now?"
"Yeah."
"Then I'll join! Sound good?"
"Pardon? You, Siel-senpai?"
"Yep!"
Lens gaped at the bombshell, but Siel was set. As Ruendel's princess, she'd met elite tycoons—her eye for people was sharp. And it kept drifting to this guy over even the spirit topper beside him.
This boy's worth keeping close.
Accountant offer later. Build rapport first, then lure him to the council step by step.
"Can council officers do clubs?"
"Yep. Lens here is secretary and in the classical literature club."
"Huh, didn't know."
Hiding her intentions, Siel smiled at his raised brows.
"Besides, with juniors this enthusiastic, I can't just stand by as president and senpai. Gotta help, right?"
She expected an easy nod, but he glanced at his companions and tilted his head.
"Why our club, though?"
"Who knows? Might bake for my future husband someday. Girls gotta know their way around this stuff to score points these days!"
"No one's asking a princess to bake."
With a wry grin and nod, he handed over the form. Siel signed on the spot, returned it, and bounced.
"See ya! Good luck!"
The booth erupted in joy the moment she left.
"Wooo! Three more—we did it! All thanks to you, Aren. Thank you!"
"I didn't do much—they came on their own. But yeah, saved us time. Right, miss?"
"Ehehe... Girls. Ehe... So many girls around Aren..."
Everyone but one broken girl.