Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: The Student Council Election
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"The student council president?"
"Yeah, I heard they're going to hand out some pretty sweet benefits, like with the mission rewards."
"Oh!"
Lying on the grass, I shot up.
It was a very tempting piece of information.
Of course, the benefits of being student council president were a bit different from the first-place mission rewards like the gold plaque, vacation pass, and immunity privilege.
'With benefits come responsibilities.'
But my mind was already racing with blissful possibilities.
What if I could get the benefits with minimal work?
I immediately threw a question at Mac, who seemed like he would know more details.
"Do you happen to know what kind of benefits are offered?"
"That hasn't been decided yet. But they said they'll announce everything soon."
"What about the other positions besides president?"
"There are two fixed vice presidents, and the rest of the student council members will be appointed at the president's discretion."
"Exactly!"
The president and the officers would probably have a lot of work.
But what about the two vice presidents?
Didn't it feel like a position where you could enjoy the benefits while shouldering fewer responsibilities?
"Huh? Ray, you just had a really wicked look on your face."
It seemed a sly smile had escaped me while thinking about the sweet perks of being a vice president.
I shrugged nonchalantly.
"Aren't you guys interested?"
"It'd be nice if we got picked... but everyone's going to be aiming for it. You think it'll be easy? The competition will probably be fierce since the mission just ended."
As Frixon said, during the subjugation mission, the teams that weren't in the lead tended to slack off.
Part of it was the difficulty of fighting the druids, but it was also because the benefits for the top ranks were vague.
It seemed they'd learned from that mistake and were offering clear rewards from the get-go this time.
Besides, it would be less dangerous than the druid subjugation.
'But that doesn't matter to me. I'll just push the president or officer positions onto the princes and take a vice president spot.'
The new dormitory building was nearing completion. If I played my cards right, I might even be able to change rooms.
I lay back down on the grass, imagining myself occupying the new building's penthouse.
* * *
Ten days after the mission ended.
The announcement for the student council president selection was finally made.
Instead of Hall Shivas gathering the students in the auditorium like before, the notice was posted on a large board.
Students chattered noisily in front of the bulletin board, sharing their opinions.
"So they're deciding the ranks through sparring matches, and the president gets all the authority."
"What about second or third place then?"
"It's up to the student council president, so who knows what'll happen?"
"You could get a decent score and still not make it onto the student council. The fight for first place is going to be intense."
"Still, you can get bonus points in the overall evaluation."
"Compared to the first mission, the rewards for second place and below aren't that great."
"That's why you have to win, no matter what."
I had gone to see the announcement and frowned as I listened to the students' murmurs.
'Wait a minute. The vice presidents aren't chosen by rank?'
My mind started to get complicated.
This would ruin my plan to just coast as a vice president!
I hastily pushed through the crowd to check the announcement myself, and there it was, written right at the top.
"The first-place winner of the tournament becomes the student council president and holds exclusive authority over personnel appointments?"
That meant if I let someone else take the presidency, I couldn't reap any of the juicy benefits.
And the chances of my teammates from Squad 15 winning the selection tournament seemed rather low.
Far more capable people than them would be challenging for the spot.
So, in the end, I'd have to become the student council president to get the benefits?
Ah, what a headache.
'But I don't want to do the work.'
According to the announcement, the student council president also held command authority in large-scale missions.
In other words, I'd have to handle student council duties on top of managing missions.
It felt strongly like the cons would outweigh the pros.
"So, you're not going to do it?"
Frixon's teasing voice suddenly came from my side.
Ah, this bastard was trying to provoke my competitive spirit.
In any case, I was going to participate in the selection.
Even if I didn't become president, I needed to place high enough to get the bonus points.
I couldn't miss out on the benefits that came with my final grade.
The reward for the first mission was amazing, so how much greater would the overall evaluation be?
As I was thinking, a commotion erupted from the side of the crowd.
"Move it, you worthless trash."
A group of people pushed through the students to get to the front of the board.
There was only one person in Venderford who would try to establish dominance like this.
The troublemaker, Vizolt Railton, had appeared with his cronies.
"Once His Highness the Second Prince claims victory, my position as vice president is secured. Then I'll have to shove these commoners into a corner. Tsk!"
After reading the announcement, he muttered while scanning the students with a lecherous gaze.
Then, the hangers-on who leeched off the power of the Marquess Railton family chimed in.
"Keke! As if they deserve to enjoy the same benefits as noble beings?"
"How about we make all the dorms multi-person rooms? We can shove all of them in there, and we'll take the rest."
"That's a great idea."
I didn't know if a mere student council vice president had that kind of authority, but one thing was certain.
Surprisingly, Franz seemed to hold Vizolt in rather high regard.
'Is he someone who expresses the prince's inner thoughts without tarnishing his image?'
Until now, the Second Prince had let this fool run wild.
Of course, one could think he was hesitant to restrain him due to the Marquess Railton family's standing within the empire.
But to me, it looked like he was letting it happen on purpose.
"But you know, Frixon."
"Hm? What is it?"
"I can tolerate most things, but I can't stand the thought of that guy becoming vice president, can you?"
"Oh... That's the pettiest reason for running I've ever heard, but damn if it isn't persuasive."
I shrugged and deliberately walked past Vizolt's group.
The cronies, who had been swaggering at the other students, flinched slightly.
They were trying hard to deny it, but it seemed the memory of being beaten once hadn't gone away.
"Hmph! Nothing to see here. Let's go."
"R-Right."
They feigned indifference and hastily left.
The basic course students then looked at me with sparkling eyes, as if I were some kind of savior.
Somehow I'd become an icon of comebacks, and it was a bit burdensome.
"It feels like you've gone from hero to saint."
"Shut it, you're embarrassing me."
I pushed down on Frixon's head as he teased me and started walking.
Preparations for the student council president selection proceeded smoothly.
There was no mandatory participation clause, but the number of entrants was considerable.
More than half of the 200 students submitted applications.
After a three-day registration period, the selection tournament finally began.
"Look at this. The bracket's out."
Squad 15 had been disbanded, but the former members had grown close and stuck together.
Close enough to huddle together and look at the tournament bracket Frixon brought over.
"Looks like they adjusted the tournament groups a bit."
"Yeah. It doesn't seem completely random."
There were a total of 126 participants, divided into 16 groups.
The students from the advanced course, presumed to be the top contenders, were evenly distributed.
It was likely a measure to prevent the strong from eliminating each other in the preliminaries, ensuring good talent wouldn't be lost early on.
Of course, it didn't really matter to me how the bracket was set up.
'I'm in Group 9.'
The only opponent worth noting in Group 9 was the recommended scholarship student, Ripley.
His father was a retired knight, so he was a talent who had received systematic swordsmanship training since childhood.
But then, a name caught my eye.
'Raul?'
It was Raul, the third prince of the Reilhash Kingdom.
The unfortunate royal who dreamed of a comeback through success in the empire.
Perhaps because we had formed a connection when I was operating under my original identity, my eyes were naturally drawn to him.
'Too bad, but it looks like advancing to the main tournament will be difficult for him.'
I wasn't ignorant of Raul's ambitions, but I couldn't just hand over an opportunity like this.
I'll have to utterly crush him...
No, I should probably handle him just enough to let him save face.
* * *
On the day of the president selection tournament.
The students were divided between two training grounds.
Fortunately, my former Squad 15 teammates and I weren't assigned to the same group.
It was a relief not to have to eliminate my friends right from the start.
"The Group 9 preliminaries will now begin. Contestants one and two, to your positions!"
Perhaps because it was the preliminaries, there was no grand ceremony.
The matches were simply conducted dryly under the supervision of the teaching assistants.
That was how it was at the beginning, at least. When a particularly close match occurred, all eyes would turn to that training ground.
Just like when I, number one of Group 9, faced off against number two, Ripley.
"What bad luck. To think my first opponent is you."
"I know, right? It's a shame."
My opponent on the training ground had a grim expression.
He was a kid who could easily place in the top ten if he made it to the main tournament.
How unfair must it feel to run into me in the preliminaries?
"Don't hold back. Even if I lose, I want to fight like a true knight."
"Hoh?"
Watching Ripley speak with such grim determination, I couldn't help but nod.
His fighting spirit was so distinct, it was a rare sight, and my own body felt like it was heating up in response.
'A remarkably steadfast mindset. I can't go easy on a guy like this.'
*Shing.*
As I drew my practice sword, an assistant walked to the center and briefly explained the rules of the match.
"The rules are the same as a knight's duel. However, taking the opponent's life is forbidden."
The assistant's raised arm swiftly dropped as he gave the starting signal.
"Ready... Begin!"
*Thud! Vwoom!*
The moment the match started, Ripley charged at me with terrifying speed.
'Oh? Look at this guy.'