Chapter 70
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Extra
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The Meikahel University's main building stood tall like a grand castle.
At its highest floor was the chairman's office.
The president's office where I'd visited before was spacious and had a dignified atmosphere, making it an excellent room, but it was incomparable to this place.
With its high ceilings and two-story structure, the office reminded me of a real-world penthouse.
This was my first time handling work since becoming chairman.
Of course, it wasn't much.
The chairman was the highest authority in this school.
Unless there were major issues, there was virtually nothing to do on a normal day.
I checked the pile of documents stacked on the desk.
They were the personal information and middlehigh school records of the current students, as I'd requested from the school.
Even as chairman, I wasn't supposed to freely access students' personal info.
But when I asked the school, they meticulously compiled and delivered it.
Probably more intimidated by the name Ruelverta than the title of chairman.
I leaned back in my chair and stared into space.
318 days until service begins
Time kept flowing onward.
Soon, this world would face harsh trials.
When wars broke out everywhere, the Empire would have no choice but to join.
And the students of this school wouldn't be exceptions.
From now on, I'd spend a long time classifying the students.
Those with potential and those without.
There would surely be strong backlash.
But this was all just to save even one more of you....
My tyrannical actions wouldn't last less than a year anyway.
Until then, curse me behind my back all you want.
"Alright then...."
I arrogantly sat and began skimming through the documents.
Several eye-catching names stood out.
Named characters who would shine later in the original story.
But the students I needed to scrutinize weren't them.
The named characters in this school would grow fine without my intervention.
What I wanted was to nurture the non-named characters. In other words, the growth of the extras.
I'd already confirmed in reality that the original named characters alone weren't enough against players.
We needed more capable characters. More combat power was always better.
And those who could enter Meikahel University must include plenty of promising extras.
"Can't have them buried as extras."
I quickly sorted the documents.
Classifying named and non-named wasn't too difficult.
After a few minutes of work,
A familiar face caught my eye.
"Kuk...."
It was Wendy.
I didn't know when it was taken, but the photo showed her clearly tense, which made me chuckle.
In the picture, Wendy's eyes were brimming with tears.
What a cute kid.
Since I'd sent her to school, I hoped she'd study hard and make friends.
Thinking about it, I wasn't much different from Wendy in reality.
With poor family circumstances, college was a pipe dream; after high school, I jumped straight into work and was always busy.
So seeing Wendy attend school filled me with a strange sense of pride.
I'd been so excited that I'd impulsively bought her a personal carriage.
Was this the feeling of a parent with a daughter? Simple vicarious satisfaction? Or maybe both.
"Feels like I've become a doting dad...."
I wiped the smile from my lips and resumed classifying students seriously.
After a while,
Knock knock.
A knock sounded.
The mirror on the desk magically showed the visitor outside the door.
Seeing who it was, I furrowed my brow.
There was no reason for this person to come here at this hour.
"......Come in."
I tapped the mirror with a finger, and the door opened.
The visitor appeared before me.
"Count. Are you busy right now?"
"Bella...."
It was Bella Izarkhel.
Her beautiful silver hair sparkled under the lights.
Her enchanting eyes, like a winter lake, gazed at me.
"......I thought today was a day without lectures."
"Oh...? Does the Count remember my lecture schedule?"
I nodded.
"I've checked the lecture schedules of all professors working at this school. Even part-timers aren't exceptions."
"Hmm.... It'd be nice if the Count were just honest."
What was that supposed to mean?
I scowled.
"Right now, I'm not the Count. I'm the chairman."
"Oops.... I forgot. Chair.man.nim. Is it a bother for a mere part-time lecturer to visit like this?"
"One more word, and it will be."
"Hehe.... So cold."
Bella covered her mouth and laughed.
It was the kind of laugh that would make any man fall for her, but whether due to 'Patience' or immunity, I remained utterly calm.
Like looking at a pretty pebble.
But lately, was it my imagination that she smiled more around me?
She'd never smiled in front of Tristan before.
"......So, what business do you have with me?"
"Ahem.... Check the time."
"?
As Bella said, I glanced at the wall clock.
Time had flown by; it was past 1 p.m.
I'd been so focused on the documents that hours had passed unnoticed.
Seeing my reaction, Bella spoke as if she'd expected it.
"You haven't eaten yet, have you?"
"Huuu...."
Wendy couldn't remember how class had gone.
Even she could tell.
The morning class atmosphere had been extremely chaotic.
And the cause was entirely her.
'I thought I was gonna die of embarrassment....'
Every student's gaze in the lecture hall was on Wendy, not the professor.
Because of the morning incident.
Bathed in sunlight like a spotlight on her way to school, she'd drawn the attention of the entire student body.
She'd received way too much attention.
No, at least during the entrance ceremony, Tristan had been there, so she endured.
She'd wanted to show him she'd changed.
But.... This was definitely not the attention she'd intended.
Oblivious to her feelings, Myohail chuckled heartily.
"Hoho. Don't worry. No one will dare ignore our disciple now."
'I wanted to be ignored....! I-I wanted to attend school quietly like air....'
"Ahem.... From the start, as top entrant, you were bound to draw attention. So feel proud. Aren't you the freshman who beat a legendary sage?'
"Uuu.... Master, I resent you.... Why put me through this trial....'
"Kekel. If you're gonna resent, resent your overflowing talent. But... my disciple. I've been curious since earlier."
"Y-Yes?"
"Why are you eating in a place like this...?"
Wendy was sitting in a bathroom stall.
At lunchtime, to avoid people's eyes, she'd hidden in a secluded women's restroom.
......
!..
....
She took out the bread she'd brought and took a bite.
"Munch munch.... It's quiet here, right...?"
"No.... Isn't quiet the norm...? Who comes to such a remote bathroom...
"
At Myohail's dumbfounded reaction, Wendy desperately made excuses.
"B-But...! Th-The cafeteria has too many people.... They're all nobles....
I'm a commoner, so if I make a mistake....'
"Hoo.... At this rate, no one will believe you're a sage's disciple....'
That was when it happened.
Creak.
The door opened, and Wendy's shoulders jolted.
Someone had entered the bathroom.
"Really.... Why am I in this mess...."
Through the door crack, she saw a female student with beautiful black hair.
Her face in the sink mirror exuded a noble young lady vibe.
But her words and actions were far from noble.
"Ugh, annoying! So annoying! That damn brat...! What the hell did she do to my spell formula!?"
She cast magic several times into the air with her fingers, but it wasn't working.
'The effect is certain.'
'Yes...?'
'Nothing. Heh heh.'
Myohail seemed to know something.
"Ugh...! Screw it!"
Giving up, she irritably kicked off her shoes and peeled off her socks. Water dripped from the sock tips.
Looking closely, she was soaked through.
"Damn it.... When the hell is Laurence coming? Can't even attend class.... What a sight...."
Wendy held her breath because of the grumbling girl.
'Wh-What do I do....'
She needed to leave to finish eating, but drying her clothes didn't look quick.
Wendy carefully shifted position to avoid detection.
Then, an oblivious sound leaked out.
Rustle!
It was the bread bag in her hand.
"......Who's there?"
'Eek?!'
The female student peered this way through the door crack.
Her eyes were like she wanted to devour someone.
"Come out nicely. Or else...."
"I-I'll come out...!"
Overwhelmed by the fearsome aura, Wendy surrendered meekly.
Not only that, she apologized profusely.
"S-Sorry, so sorry...! I-I wasn't trying to peep...!"
"You...?!"
Seeing Wendy, fire sparked in the girl's eyes.
"Speak of the devil...! Here to mock me?"
"N-No...?"
Wendy looked up at her.
Up close, she seemed familiar.
Tilting her head, a face emerged from Wendy's memory.
"Ah.... A-Ah! Th-That.... The morning water splash...!"
"Water splash?! You messing with me? You know whose fault this is...!"
"N-No? Wh-What??"
As Wendy made a confused face, the girl's expression twisted in rage.
"Ha! Playing dumb to the end?!"
The girl pulled a wand from her bag.
A wand was a mage's tool and weapon.
A clear sign of attack intent.
'Eek?! Wh-Why are you doing this...!?"
"I haven't forgiven you yet, but this wand will never forgive you!"
"Wh-What does that even mean...?! Either way, no forgiveness! I surrender! Surrender!"
Wendy raised both hands to show no resistance,
But the thoroughly pissed girl was beyond reason.
"Take this too!"
As she swung the wand, a ring of water appeared and began wrapping around Wendy.
A desperate crisis.
'M-Master...! Wh-What do I do?!'
'Tsk tsk....'
But Myohail, watching the whole scene,
Muttered calmly.
'Excessive greed always leads to self-destruction....'
His tone implied no need to even deal with her.
Sure enough.
The water ring around Wendy suddenly trembled violently.
And burst.
"Kyaaaaak!"