The Identity of the Spinsters Class = [The Continent's Powder Keg]

The crow that had descended into the vice principal's office soon took on human form and greeted us. It was a small woman wearing a mask that looked exactly like a crow, pulled halfway over her head just like Principal Sekhmet. She introduced herself and immediately issued a command.

Being attacked by a student, getting caught up in terrorism, suddenly being placed under house arrest—after so many things had already happened, I wasn't even surprised anymore. I followed her silently as if under a spell, while Elena, who had become a weapon, trembled all over at Vice Principal Fea's appearance.

"What's wrong?"

"What about her? In what way?"

Just looking at her appearance, she seemed similar in size to Tom. Yet the sense of dignity she gave off—was that the mark of a long-lived species after all? If what Elena said was true, then the attack that had just happened was definitely connected to her.

"Stop staring. I don't like being looked at."

"I'm sorry."

Apparently her personality was quite prickly regardless of her speech. She didn't say another word the entire way. Eventually, even though I was supposed to be under house arrest, we entered the faculty building and arrived at the office labeled Vice Principal's Office. Only after sitting in a chair far too large for her body did she finally let out a breath.

"Do you like the academy?"

The first words she spat out were completely unexpected, like grasping at clouds. It was as if she'd seen a situation where a person could literally be roasted alive yet showed neither worry nor particular concern. Given the circumstances, it seemed she was the one who had set me up against Hazuki, so I couldn't understand why she was acting so brazen.

"What? I'm asking you a question."

"Ah, yes."

Still, she was my superior, so I answered politely.

"Of course I like it."

"What parts in particular?"

"Well, the infrastructure, for one. And the living space is wide and comfortable. It's a place that holds especially deep meaning in the world we live in."

"Because it's a symbol of peace?"

"That aspect is certainly part of it."

"Hmm~."

Because of the crow mask, I couldn't see her expression, but her attitude was clearly apathetic. Whether my answer displeased her or her personality was simply twisted, it felt dangerous not to choose my words carefully.

"Um… does Vice Principal Fea not like it here?"

"I have no intention of answering that."

Then why did you ask? The conversation wasn't going anywhere. You socially awkward little brat!

'You don't have to tell me. It's obvious.'

For now, we'd just have to wait for her to get to the main point. Vice Principal Fea seemed to be organizing her thoughts before she finally spoke again.

The words that burst out could be summarized in a single phrase: completely out of nowhere. I was wondering how I was supposed to respond to that when, without giving me time to finish the thought, she pressed her opinion on me like a demand.

"Ludo von Eisenwald. Do you know how Concordia Academy came to be?"

"Yes? Of course I do."

"Recite it for me."

It was common knowledge in this world, so there was no need to dig through my memory.

"Approximately one hundred years ago, for reasons unknown, every race on the continent—including humans—claimed supremacy and waged the Great Continental War of Annihilation, staking their very bloodlines and survival on the outcome. According to the long-lived nursemaid who raised me, even the smallest battles produced so much blood that it formed rivers. Even the most renowned scholars of the time could not find words to describe the horror."

The war was driven by incomprehensible hatred, and countless heroes rose to stop it.

Among them, the most prominent was none other than Principal Sekhmet.

"To put an end to that long conflict, Principal Sekhmet and many other long-lived beings and heroes rose up to sever the chain of hatred. In the process, countless lives—blue blood—were lost. Concordia Academy was built to honor those scattered lives and their devotion. As proof that their sacrifice was not in vain, today there is no one who does not know this story."

Nowadays many races lived together, but back then even more species coexisted than now. In other words, quite a few races had gone completely extinct because of the war.

"Your understanding is generally correct. But reality is far crueler than that story. You wouldn't know this, but I was one of the heroes who followed Sekhmet into that war. Those memories still feel vivid, so frankly, I don't enjoy talking about it."

…As expected. A long-lived species and vice principal of the academy. She really had been a hero of that era. Though I couldn't see her face, her clear disgust was evident in the way she spoke of those times.

"If it's not a pleasant topic for you, Vice Principal, why did you suddenly ask?"

"Because that's where the questions you two have begin. Especially you, Ludo. Your situation is deeply connected to this."

My situation was tied to a war that ended more than a hundred years ago?

"What do you mean? Weren't you going to explain why Lady Hazuki attacked me?"

"No. I'm going to talk about something more fundamental. You still don't know the real reason you were invited to this academy, do you?"

"That…"

I tried to deny it and say that I did know the reason I'd been invited. But even though I meant to answer immediately, I couldn't. And that was because I only knew everything in vague terms.

'That's right. Thinking about it again, something does feel off. They just said the class is full of problem children, that they're all like the Bellamore sisters with circumstances that require them to get pregnant, and that I'm the only one who can handle it. That was the whole explanation, right?'

Principal Sekhmet had slapped me on the back and spouted nonsense like "Get every girl in that class pregnant." The idea that the class contained many important guests and that leaving them unattended would cause trouble was nothing more than my own speculation. In other words, I was still missing something crucial.

Vice Principal Fea seemed to see right through me and let out a sigh.

"That ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠idiot brought you here after saying something ominous like 'the continent is in danger,' but then gave you nothing but vague information afterward?"

"Yes… now that I think about it, that's exactly what happened."

"How did you interpret the Spinsters Class when you heard that?"

"I thought that since all the girls in the class are important figures, if I neglected them and something happened, it would strain relations between the royal houses and put the continent at risk. So I've been keeping a close eye on them."

"You understood the order, but you had no idea what she was really thinking, so it felt like you were just chasing clouds?"

"That's right."

Just from Vice Principal Fea's questions and attitude, I could tell. She was implying that the real reason I'd been hired wasn't that at all. Elena seemed to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠have noticed too and was listening intently. Once we were ready to hear the truth, the vice principal finally revealed what was inside.

"How many years does the average human live?"

Wait, this was supposed to be her true feelings, but it was another question that felt like grasping at clouds. I felt deflated, and Elena asked in clear disbelief.

"No. This is an extremely important question. How many years do you live? Answer me quickly."

The vice principal was dead serious about everything. I steadied myself and answered.

"The average citizen of the Eisenwald domain lives to about sixty. However, there are countless ways to extend one's life in this era, so in special cases I understand people can easily live past one hundred."

In places like the Land of Ten Thousand Medicines, special elixirs could extend life. Long-lived species naturally had long lifespans, and among demi-humans, lifespan varied wildly by race. Plus, this was a world where magic existed openly… Honestly, I had no idea what the point of the question was.

"Here's the second question. In your eyes, does the Great War from a hundred years ago truly feel like something from the distant past? Do the scars carved back then really look like they've all disappeared now?"

"That…"

Only then did I finally understand Vice Principal Fea's intention. A hundred years ago. Even for a human, that was recent history. But for a long-lived being like Vice Principal Fea…

"Yes. To me, it feels like it happened yesterday. Most of the long-lived species who experienced that war feel the same. Among the longer-lived demi-humans, many speak of those events as if they happened last week. And it's the same for humans. There are still plenty of people who directly experienced the atmosphere of that time."

I couldn't think of anyone in particular, but Elena was different.

"Well said. You there, the Bellamore girl. In your opinion, do those old people truly enjoy the peace of today?"

"Or do they occasionally bring up old stories and show glimpses of deep-seated malice?"

"That's your answer."

The vice principal had drawn the answer she wanted out of Elena. From that, there was only one conclusion I could reach.

"So you're saying there are still many people whose souls remain bound to the battlefields of a hundred years ago?"

"Souls still bound to the battlefield… That's an excellent way to put it. Even among our long-lived race, there are plenty who hate humans. I am one of them. I've lost count of how many times I've thought in my heart that humans should just die and this damned academy should crumble."

"When I think about what you humans have done for the past hundred years and continue to do, even curses like that seem cute."

"Kidnapping demi-humans and long-lived beings, turning them into slaves, treating them as toys."

The crow glared at me. Though the mask hid her true intent, it felt like she was saying that's nowhere near enough.

"And now you people preach peace, while some of the old ones act like they're the victims."

"But isn't that what war is? In truth, the long-lived and demi-humans did the exact same things to us. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠We enslaved elves, elves enslaved us. We treated demi-humans like livestock, so they treated us like livestock. It's not a situation where one side can unilaterally condemn the other."

The moment I said it, I immediately regretted it. The logic of we were wrong, but you were wrong too was the perfect way to offend the other party.

"Exactly. That's why it's a problem."

"…Huh?"

However, Vice Principal Fea wasn't simply someone who condemned others. Rather, she had been waiting for exactly this kind of reaction and used it to steer the conversation.

"Just as humans harbor old grudges and seek revenge, there are many among the demi-humans, long-lived races, and fairies who desire the same. And those bloodthirsty gazes are currently aimed at this academy. As long as this place—the symbol of peace—stands strong, the thing they desire most, the Great War, can never happen."

At that point, one of the questions that had been bothering me was naturally resolved.

I took out the talisman I kept in my pocket. It was a spirit-summoning talisman personally crafted by the Kagurayama faction—the same one the terrorist targeting Aisha had carried. I'd found it strange that such an item was in a terrorist's hands, but perhaps it was connected to the truth Vice Principal Fea was revealing.

"Are you saying that even the circulation of items like this is part of a scheme to bring down the academy?"

"Of course. Even within Kagurayama, there are many elders who crave revenge. They may have tried to shake the academy while pretending it was merely a personal issue with Aisha Nasriya."

With the conversation reaching this point, the reason the principal had hired me became increasingly clear. Just as I'd initially suspected, our class really was the Continent's Powder Keg.