Such an Excellent Student!
“As you instructed, Dean, I’ve completed the investigation.”
“Oh! Sir Geis! Excellent work!”
The Dean greeted Serge Geis with a bright smile, quite unlike the way he treated the other professors. Of course, he had no choice. This was the man His Majesty cherished above all others. Even as Dean, he couldn’t afford to treat him carelessly.
At any rate, the Dean had given Serge Geis a certain task. And now the results had arrived.
“This is the evidence.”
“Evidence…?”
Thomas, who had been defending the Iljin Society until moments ago, wore a puzzled expression. The Dean gestured toward him.
“Open the box yourself.”
“Me?”
“That’s right.”
“Ah, understood.”
Thomas carefully opened the box Serge Geis had brought. Creak.
His face instantly twisted in shock.
“Hiiik…!!”
It was no wonder. Inside the box was the severed head of a man.
“Hurk!! Wh-what is this…!!”
“H-how could you bring something like that into the sacred Academy?!”
Most of the professors were nobles and scholars. Naturally, they were horrified by the sight of a decapitated head—especially one that had been freshly severed, with blood still dripping from it.
Of course, Serge Geis was long accustomed to such sights. He picked up the head without the slightest change in expression.
“This is the head of the Black Market’s owner.”
“Th-the Black Market?”
“Indeed.”
Everyone’s faces turned pale at his words. The Iljin Society students had only just confessed, yet Serge Geis had already returned with evidence—ironclad evidence, at that.
“When I went there myself, I found a genuine underground market. I also confirmed they were selling magic paper.”
“Th-that can’t be…!”
“It was real?!”
Everyone was stunned. This was an incident of considerable magnitude.
Serge Geis continued, still holding the head aloft.
“The owner of this head and the student named Finn were blood relatives—distant kin from the same family, I believe. That’s how Finn was able to use the Black Market.”
“B-but why cut off his head…?”
“He was quite strong, and he knew his manners. So before he could suffer any humiliation, I took his life myself.”
“Th-that’s…”
They couldn’t fully grasp his reasoning, but no one pressed the matter. The man standing before them was the Royal First Sword. It was easier to simply let it go.
With the evidence now presented, there was no room left for excuses. The Dean’s expression turned icy as he spoke.
“I intend to expel every Academy student involved in this affair. Furthermore, I will report this to His Majesty so they may receive additional punishment. Their noble titles will likely be stripped. Does anyone object?”
Of course, no one did. Everyone agreed with the Dean’s decision. Satisfied, the Dean nodded and turned his gaze toward one particular person—Professor Thomas, who had been so vocal just moments ago.
“As their faculty advisor, do you have anything to say?”
Thomas’s face went deathly pale.
“W-well, that is…”
He looked extremely uncomfortable. At this rate, he might even lose his position as a professor. The matter was that serious. In the worst case, it could even reach His Majesty’s ears. It was a disaster.
‘I’ve heard rumors that His Majesty holds grudges…’
If things went badly, his own family would suffer greatly. But he had no defense to offer. He simply lowered his head in defeat. By trying to protect the Iljin Society students, he had only made his own position far more precarious.
The Dean nodded at the sight. At least the man knew his place.
Then he moved on to the next item.
“Now, let us discuss the Mercenary King, Jace Allen, who resolved this incident.”
I entered the conference room with a blank expression. Creak.
Dozens of professors turned to look at me. Some regarded me favorably, while others glared with open hostility.
‘The hostility… probably because I’m in the Special Class.’
The Special Class had suddenly appeared at the Royal Academy and was receiving special treatment. It was only natural that some professors would resent it.
I paid them no mind. The rest didn’t matter. What mattered to me were people like Serge Geis and Armel, who were currently wearing pleased expressions.
“You’re here. Take a seat.”
“Yes.”
I sat in the empty chair at the end of the table—the one directly facing the Dean.
‘Up close, he looks rather strict.’
The Dean studied me for a moment, then smiled. It was a surprisingly warm smile, contrary to my expectations.
“You’ve done a great service. You’ve lanced the festering boil within the Academy.”
“Not at all. I merely did what any student attending the Academy should do.”
In truth, I had done it to win the Special Class representative election—and to improve my reputation while I was at it. But I couldn’t say that.
Still, this wasn’t my usual way of speaking. I’d only put on a humble act because the man looked like a typical old hardliner. And it seemed to have worked. The Dean’s gaze toward me grew even more favorable.
“Ohoho, and modest as well…!!”
After a few more words of praise, he got to the point.
“I called you here for a reason. I wish to reward you.”
“A reward?”
My eyes lit up slightly. If it was a monetary reward, I’d gladly accept. ‘I’ll need to start producing magic tobacco soon.’
Not only that, but the Steel Mercenary Group required maintenance costs. However, my expectations were once again off the mark.
Academy students were, after all, among the wealthiest. They had no need to worry about money the way I did. As a result, the reward wasn’t material—it was an honor.
“I hear you’re running for Special Class representative.”
“Um… yes, that’s correct.”
I gave him a slightly puzzled look at the sudden topic.
‘Why bring that up now?’
Then the Dean spoke again.
“Wouldn’t it be only right for an outstanding student like you to become the representative?”
“Pardon? What do you mean…?”
“Indeed. Why bother with an election? I’ll simply appoint you as the representative myself. Hahaha!”
He wore an expression full of goodwill. It seemed he genuinely meant it. But my face…
…froze solid.
“Hmm? Why the long face?”
I immediately composed my expression and forced a smile.
“It’s just… this isn’t the reward I wanted.”
“Oh…? You don’t want it? Why not?”
The Dean clearly understood the significance of the Special Class representative position. That was why he had made the offer. It was a role representing the most elite students—an honor with both symbolic weight and tangible benefits.
But as I’d said before, I didn’t have time. And this wasn’t the way I wanted it.
‘He’s offering to appoint me after I already declared I’d run in an election?’
This was no different from becoming a second Hero. The Study Gallery would probably criticize me even more harshly than they did the Hero.
‘They might even say I stirred up trouble in the cafeteria just to become representative.’
Medieval people clearly didn’t understand the importance of elections. That was why he could make such a suggestion.
Still, I had no choice but to say something I didn’t mean.
“I want to be elected fairly through a vote. This is a position representing the Special Class students. Only a representative chosen by them can truly hold meaning.”
“Ohoho…! What a noble sentiment…!”
It was complete nonsense, of course. But I couldn’t bring up the idea of consolidating votes here. Getting through this moment was more important.
“I spoke too hastily. To say such unnecessary things to such an outstanding young man…”
“Not at all. I can still feel the sincerity of your intentions, Dean.”
“Hahaha! Even your words are charming. I like you even more.”
“Thank you.”
At least that much was fortunate—the Dean seemed genuinely pleased. The problem was that he seemed too pleased.
The Dean rose from his seat and approached me, clapping a hand on my shoulder with a friendly smile.
“Then I’ll look forward to watching you claim the representative position on your own merits.”
“Pardon? Ah, yes. Thank you.”
In that instant, I felt something had gone terribly wrong.
‘Wait…? Does this mean… I can’t consolidate votes anymore…?’
I had planned to gather enough votes, then withdraw after consolidating with another candidate. But my own words had just made that impossible.
‘No… that’s not what I meant at all…’
The other professors were looking at me with warm approval. They all seemed deeply impressed by my statement. In their eyes, I had just declared that I would win the representative seat fair and square.
After saying all that, I couldn’t possibly withdraw from the race now.
“He truly is an outstanding student.”
“My word… I’ve been harboring prejudices against mercenaries all this time… To think there are such fine mercenaries as well.”
“Jace Allen… I’ll have to reevaluate him.”
I forced an awkward smile at their praise. It looked like I was stuck running in the representative election after all.
‘This isn’t what I wanted…’
Election day arrived.
I sighed as I stepped outside. In the end, I hadn’t been able to consolidate with anyone. There were no suitable candidates, and I’d already made that declaration at the professors’ meeting. Withdrawing was no longer an option.
The one silver lining was that we’d caught the paper thief. Serge Geis had also cleanly resolved the Black Market incident.
‘They said the Black Market owner’s head was cut off, didn’t they?’
He was essentially the leader of the men who had stabbed Robin. Serge Geis had done it in my place, but it still counted as a form of revenge.
At any rate, the troublesome matters had been resolved. I no longer had to worry about them, which meant I had time to spare.
‘Well, since it’s come to this, I might as well try being representative.’
I had finally made up my mind. If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it. Since things had turned out this way, becoming representative and getting closer to the top spot was the right move.