Chapter 458
"What do you mean, hi."
Jane set Neftis down on the floor and smacked her on the crown of the head.
“Ungaaang!”
Neftis let out a cry, clutching the spot and tearing up.
“That hurts!”
Jane’s expression didn’t change in the slightest as she spoke.
“How did you get in here?”
“Iiiin~ I clung to the teacup cart!”
Jane rose from her seat and signaled with her eyes to Maelyn. Maelyn quickly moved aside, and Jane picked up Neftis and set her in the seat of honor.
“We’re in the middle of student training. Do you have something to say?”
“Nope!”
Neftis grinned proudly.
“I’m just here to eat!”
“If you’re going to get in the way, please leave.”
“No way!”
Neftis raised her hand toward her underlings.
“Snacks! Bring me more snacks here!”
“Yes!”
It was the real Neftis, in the flesh.
The underling who received the order dashed off with a horrified expression. Jane, still glaring at Neftis, resumed the student instruction.
“Since Neftis is here as well, I’ll explain: the student council is directly under the Chancellor.”
Simon and the members nodded.
“And within the whole of Keyzen, only the Student Council President has the right to request a meeting with the Chancellor and submit student proposals.”
“Ehem!”
Neftis crossed her arms. With her mouth smeared in cookie crumbs, it didn’t add much dignity.
“Sigh.”
Jane took out a handkerchief and scrubbed her superior’s mouth with a bit too much zeal.
“Ughb! Bubbub!”
Neftis resisted, and watching this, Simon allowed himself a faint smile.
Meanwhile, Dick, Maelyn, and Kamibarez kept stiff postures, staring dead ahead.
Jane carefully folded the soiled handkerchief, tucked it away, and returned to her stern expression.
“Understood?”
“Yes, Professor!”
“Then, as Keyzen’s vice-chancellor, I will give your student council your first mission.”
The first mission.
All four’s focus reached its peak.
“The entrance ceremony for new students in two days.”
Jane smiled.
“You will be responsible for it. Manage this event yourselves and see it through successfully. That is all.”
The entrance ceremony was one of Keyzen’s biggest events. As a first mission, it was a heavy responsibility.
“All the necessary documents are here.”
Jane pulled a thick stack of papers from her bag and slammed them on the table.
“The schedule is already set, and the basic framework is complete. You can add what you want, change what you need. Extra budget is attached—try something new if you’d like.”
“Oh, so basically, spend money freely!”
Neftis chirped—only to be smacked on the crown again by Jane.
“You crown-breaker!”
Jane ignored the protest and continued.
“Normally, the Student Council President inauguration would be the day after tomorrow, but for this mission you’ll need a fitting gift.”
She pulled something from her bag.
“My goodness!”
Maelyn covered her mouth in awe. Dick clenched his fists with excitement, while Simon and Kamibarez exchanged smiles.
The very symbol of authority—just wearing it on your arm filled you with confidence.
It was the Student Council Armband, worn only by council officers.
“Now, come one by one.”
Jane herself placed the armband on each of their right arms. Neftis giggled.
“Looks good on you!”
All four touched their armbands with flushed expressions, brimming with pride.
“Then, I leave it in your hands. Student Council 330th.”
“Good luck!”
Encouraged by their elders, the four students responded loudly.
“Yes!”
* * *
At the same time.
Forbidden Forest.
“Phew!”
A third-year boy holding a shovel wiped sweat from his brow.
“This deep should be enough, right?”
“Good.”
Before them yawned a large pit. With a clunk, a pipe dropped into it.
Glug, glug, glug.
A reeking, unidentified liquid poured down the pipe, filling the pit. Students nearby pinched their noses or gagged.
—Uwaaaaa!
—Uuuuuugh!
The water of the pit rippled, then zombies within it thrashed their arms upward.
“Preparation complete.”
Ranked twelfth overall, Will grinned at the sight.
“And the booze for the kids?”
“Ready.”
“And the main event?”
“Looks like it’s just about to start.”
He pointed deeper into the forest. Loud laughter echoed from various spots.
“Excellent.”
Will’s lips curled in a grin.
“Call them over. Let’s begin before the student council interferes.”
* * *
Simon’s 330th student council was already in their very first meeting.
The four sat on sofas around the center table. The weight of their responsibility was heavy, but their enthusiasm overflowed.
The focus of discussion: “An entrance ceremony that will truly help the freshmen.”
“How about this? We make a segment where seniors introduce their majors directly to the freshmen!”
Maelyn suggested brightly.
The other three responded vaguely, so she hurried to add:
“Remember our first day as freshmen? In the first class with the advisor, we got sorted into groups for group projects.”
“That’s how we met.”
Dick spoke.
“When Simon brought Maelyn into Group 7, it was so cool!”
Kamibarez giggled. Maelyn’s face flushed red.
“Ugh, ah! Don’t wander off into the past! Focus, focus!”
She banged the table to pull their attention back.
“The point is, within two or three days of entering, you already have to choose your preferred subject track. But back then, none of us really knew what we were good at, or even what was taught in each subject.”
Simon quickly understood her point.
For first-year group projects, it was advantageous to form groups with members from different subject tracks.
But assembling four students all with different tracks was surprisingly difficult. In the worst cases, you could get “three Magical Combat applicants and one Toxicology” all in the same group.
Some who weren’t sure of their track picked arbitrarily just to fit into a group, only to spend the whole first year stuck in a class unsuited to their talents.
‘Hmm.’
Deep in thought, Simon spoke.
“So you mean, we help them make better choices during group formation by giving advice? Not a bad idea.”
“Yes, exactly, Simon!”
Maelyn clapped her hands in joy.
“Well~ I don’t think it’s such a big problem though.”
Dick voiced opposition.
“I applied for Darkness Dynamics, and you applied for Katarology, Maelyn. But by second year, everyone had found their right place anyway, didn’t they?”
“Idiot! That’s only because I was an all-rounder in every subject back then! Most others don’t have such a wide range to choose from.”
“Random self-brag there.”
“B-but I heard from some classmates…”
Kamibarez spoke timidly, and the three turned their ears to her.
“They said, because of group roles, they had no choice but to focus particularly on the subject they were assigned within the group. Even if later they realized they liked Katarology and it was fun, they couldn’t switch because they’d be stepping on another group member’s toes.”
“……”
Simon closed his eyes at those words.
He recalled what Aron had said in their very first Summonology class.
—In the classes you’ve already taken, I’m sure you’ve been told how great our major is, why you must take it.
—Personally, I disagree. Students need to hear both the pros and cons clearly, so they can choose properly.
Those words still left a deep impression on Simon.
“Maelyn and Kami are right.”
Simon opened his eyes and concluded.
“Other than the professors’ introduction on the first day, there’s almost no explanation of each subject. If we, as seniors, explain the pros and cons from a student’s perspective, it’ll be helpful to the freshmen.”
“Yes! I agree!”
“Me too!”
“Hearing it like that, it does seem necessary.”
With Dick also agreeing, the proposal was accepted.
After that, the four worked on concrete plans.
“If we’re going to do this, we need objectivity. It’d be best if an actual major student of each subject came to talk.”
At Dick’s words, Maelyn rested her chin on her hand.
“Then should we ask the second-year representatives?”
“As if they’d agree.”
Dick shook his head.
“Whether they say yes or no, there’s no need to start owing favors to the very people we’ll be clashing with soon.”
Kamibarez also nodded.
“Since department representatives are directly tied to their department’s interests, it’ll be hard for them to honestly talk about the downsides from a student’s perspective!”
Maelyn agreed at once.
“Right, then we just pick regular majors, not the department reps. No need to overcomplicate it, right? I’ll do Darkness Dynamics myself.”
There was no need to look far. Maelyn glanced at the other two.
“Summonology will obviously be Simon, and Haematology will be Kami!”
“M-me? Is it okay even if my grades aren’t that great…?”
“Grades don’t matter! It’s about speaking truthfully from experience as a senior who studied a year earlier! And as for Toxicology…”
When Maelyn turned her head, Dick was already pointing at himself with a hopeful expression.
“…We’ll ask Claudia.”
“Whaaat, why!!”
Dick slammed the desk and jumped up.
“You just said grades don’t matter!”
“Even so, being ranked 400th is pushing it, you idiot. At least someone who studies should be speaking, don’t you think?”
“Ghhk!”
With nothing to say, Dick slumped back down, grumbling.
“…Out of sheer humiliation, I swear I’ll raise my grades.”
Kamibarez gave an awkward smile, then looked back at everyone.
“Then how about asking the class rep to handle Katarology?”
Simon nodded.
“Good idea. For Spiritology, I’ll ask Cindy.”
Jaime Victoria, Claudia Menzies, Cindy Vivace.
All three were top-ranked majors with solid reputations. Since they were on friendly terms, they’d probably agree without issue.
“Let’s see…”
Dick bent his fingers, counting.
“So what’s left is Elemen–er, Magical Combat! Anyone got acquaintances in Magical Combat?”
Maelyn and Kamibarez shook their heads. After a moment’s thought, Simon raised his hand.
“If no one else, I’ll take it.”
“Okay! Then it’s all settled!”
* * *
And so, a new segment was created for the entrance ceremony.
The four also discussed stage setups and special effects, and agreed to draft guidelines.
“Black magic is prohibited indoors, but we can get special permission, right?”
“I’ll talk to Professor Jane.”
Simon said, jotting notes. But the budget looked a little tight.
“Guys, guys! I found a way to save money!”
Maelyn, flipping through documents, shouted out.
She circled the name of the MC for the entrance ceremony with her quill.
“The MC is this guy Jason, but isn’t he too expensive for just a single day, even if he is famous?”
Simon lowered his head.
Jason Biker. Daily fee: 50 gold.
Yeah, pricey.
“You want to replace him?”
“Yep. I can get someone far more famous for only 10 gold.”
“For a mere 10 gold? Who?”
Maelyn smirked meaningfully and wrote a new name over the old one.
「Seiyur Griezmann.」
“That lying illusionist—I worked with him at the theater during vacation. He’s huge in Langerstine.”
“Sounds great!”
Kamibarez clapped like a seal, but Dick looked doubtful.
“But his popularity’s peaking right now. Can you really get him for just 10 gold?”
“Of course! He’ll come the instant I call. Honestly, I think he feels like he owes me. Plus, with his illusion magic, he can replace half the stage effects—extra cost savings!”
Simon admired it.
“That’s actually a brilliant move.”
“Heh-heh! That’s the skill of a vice-president!”
Dick quickly scribbled out calculations on a blank page.
“Then let’s use the leftover budget to prepare wine for the VIPs.”
Maelyn narrowed her eyes.
“Why waste money on booze for old geezers?”
“Hey, it’s different for them.”
Dick said seriously.
“Older VIPs who’ve retired love being honored. Imagine: they come in without expectations, then attendants approach them saying, ‘The students prepared this’, and pour them wine. Won’t they be moved?”
“……”
Maelyn rested her chin on her hand, and Dick pressed on.
“In Dresden’s noble etiquette, there’s a tradition called the Old Chair. We’ll recreate that! For just one glass of wine, the student council earns a reputation for thoughtfulness. Almost no student council has ever done this.”
Simon nodded.
“Nothing to lose by trying. Let’s go with it.”
Matters of adult etiquette were best left to Dick, who had real business experience.
* * *
The four’s meeting stretched late into the night.
Perhaps it was the weight of responsibility for the entrance ceremony, but their momentum didn’t fade in the slightest.
They had endless ideas—enough that they felt like they could go all night if needed.
“But Maelyn, can you really bring Seiyur here?”
“One hundred percent! The season’s over, he’s free—he’ll come right away!”
“Simon, Simon! In last year’s feedback, it says lots of the chairs were broken!”
“Right. Let’s check the auditorium tomorrow.”
“Ugh, look at this. Way too many speeches from the elders. It’s suffocating. Can we cut some of them?”
“I’ll bring it up to Professor Jane.”
And so, the meeting reached its end.
Just as Simon got up to make coffee—
“Hm?”
A white note was sticking out of his pants pocket.
<Meet me tomorrow evening! – Neftis>
Now that he thought of it, there was still a gift from Neftis waiting for him.
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters