Chapter 71: Chapter 71

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: A New Semester

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On the carriage ride back to Jerion Academy.

Iris tilted her head, looking at me.

Her long black hair flowed down with the movement.

"Hanon, you look more tired than before the break."

"Do I?"

There was the Isabelle incident last night, and my own affairs this morning.

Perhaps that's why, without realizing it, fatigue had accumulated.

"Rest your head here."

Iris patted her lap, offering me a spot in the carriage.

I'd noticed this before, but Iris treated me completely like a younger brother.

'Makes sense.'

Iris was the youngest in the imperial family.

It seemed she secretly wished she had a younger sibling.

'It feels like she's doing everything for me that she would have done for a younger sibling.'

Looking at her like this, Iris was undeniably a seventeen-year-old girl.

The problem was, even if I wanted to go along with her wishes...

"What are you doing? Lady Iris told you to lie down, didn't she?"

Hania's glare from beside me was terrifying.

But I couldn't ignore Iris's words either.

In the end, I rested my head on Iris's lap.

The soft sensation of her thigh against my head was palpable.

I wondered if this was really okay, but...

Iris gently stroked my hair.

'It feels good, though.'

So I decided to stay put.

And then I fell asleep.

Perhaps Iris's lap secretly held immense magical power.

If her lap were distributed nationwide, insomniacs would disappear.

With that thought, I opened my dormitory door. It felt as if I'd just returned from a long journey after a long time away.

Stepping into my dorm room, I stretched languidly.

"Alright then."

I tossed my luggage aside and turned around.

The summer break had about eight days left.

Over these eight days, I planned to prepare for the upcoming Act 4.

And the very first thing I needed to do for that was...

'The Student Council President who grants one wish.'

Fulfill the event conditions.

Find the secret the Student Council President wishes to hide.

It begins.

* * *

During the summer break.

Vacations, by their very nature, pass in a flash.

Students, having finished their breaks, returned safely, one and all looking utterly exhausted.

The thought of facing another long stretch of academy life...

Everyone already wore tired expressions.

And among them...

There was one person whose face showed an exceptional amount of fatigue compared to others.

'Heh heh, this is hell.'

Bronze skin and golden hair.

His large physique exuded masculinity.

His name was Card Bellickman.

He was Jerion Academy's infamous playboy.

He was so notorious that he'd probably flirted with most of the well-known girls at the school.

Card's infamy was thoroughly spread throughout Jerion Academy.

Yet, he often received confessions from women, clearly a born scoundrel.

However, the truth was different.

He was from the empire's neighboring country.

He belonged to the Shadow Knights of the Panisys Kingdom.

His true identity was that of a spy who had enrolled in Jerion Academy, feigning to be an imperial citizen while concealing his identity.

He had two missions assigned to him.

One was to observe those who would become talents of the Haisyrion Empire and relay information.

The other was to scout talents for the Panisys Kingdom.

'What would people living in an empire superior to the kingdom lack that they'd want to be scouted?'

As a spy, he diligently carried out his duties.

Among these, Card chose to charm the daughters of the empire's key officials.

Countless pieces of information that their fathers or mothers might have inadvertently let slip.

Still lacking discretion, these girls would often fall for Card's coaxing and blurt out various things.

So, Card would go around pursuing this girl and that, extracting information about the empire from them.

Yet he never actually dated anyone, which led the angered women to badmouth him.

However, Card understood human psychology well.

That strange psychology where they believed he wouldn't do it to *them*, even if he did to others.

Because of that expectation, even women who initially ignored Card would often eventually give in.

Moreover, Card had an uncanny ability to pick out exactly those kinds of women.

Card possessed a natural talent for seeing through people.

The problem was that while carrying out these spy activities, he also had to maintain decent grades at Jerion Academy.

For Card, it was hell in many ways.

This time too, far from resting during the summer break...

He had observed the empire's movements and even visited the Panisys Kingdom before returning.

Thanks to that, Card's stamina was completely depleted.

'Just kill me. Kill me now.'

Thinking that, Card raised his head and saw students chattering in the dormitory hallway.

They were enthusiastically boasting about what they had done during their break.

Watching their carefree attitudes, Card couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.

Some people were enjoying their vacation and living happy lives at the same age...

While he couldn't even go home during his break and was just working.

It was truly an unfair life.

'That girl that guy liked...'

Card felt a mischievous impulse for a brief moment, but...

He quickly dismissed the thought.

He was someone who didn't meddle with girls who were already taken.

If he did, he'd be asking for trouble at the academy.

"Did you hear? They say a ghost appeared in the dorms."

"Oh, come on, there's no such thing."

"No, really. They say it came out of the swimming pool at night."

Listening to the students' idle chatter, Card walked past them.

Creak—

Card opened his dormitory door.

I should get some rest before tomorrow comes.

It was at that very moment.

There was already an early arrival in the room before him.

Hanon Airey.

He was the only boy whose thoughts Card, with his talent for seeing through people, couldn't decipher.

The problem was now.

Hanon's eye bags were so long they almost touched the floor.

What's more, he was covered in dust from head to toe, looking like he'd been up to something.

"Hanon?"

"Oh, Card."

Hanon casually tossed off his dust-covered clothes and pulled out a fresh set.

Around his neck hung a pendant Card hadn't seen before.

The small sword-shaped pendant looked quite expensive.

In Card's eyes, Hanon was a guy who simply never rested.

What on earth did he have so much to do?

At the academy, he'd be bustling around all day, and even after classes, he'd continue bustling, come back to the dorm, study until night, and then sleep.

Hanon was managing a schedule that even Card considered insane.

But now.

During the break, Hanon didn't show any sign of having rested at all.

"Hanon, what on earth did you do during the break to look like that?"

Hearing Card's question, Hanon turned to look at him.

Hanon's eyes often seemed to see right through Card.

Even though it was Card who possessed the special ability to see through people...

Whenever Hanon's eyes felt like they were dissecting him, Card would get a strange feeling.

"Just, a bit busy. Card, it looks like the same goes for you."

Could this guy actually be a spy from somewhere?

Card chuckled briefly, thinking that.

"Yeah, you're right. Guess we're in the same boat."

"Right?"

Hanon wasn't the type to pry.

Because of that, it seemed he wouldn't need to use the excuses he'd prepared for what he'd done during the break.

"Tomorrow, we have to go back to the academy, so I should get some rest today."

"Agreed."

Card agreed with Hanon, tossed his luggage aside, and flopped onto his bed.

Card once again thought it was fortunate to be in the same room as Hanon.

* * *

Second semester of second year.

The start of Act 4, Scene 1.

Today, as always, I finished my morning training with Aisha.

"Senior, it seems you've been consistently training even in my absence."

"Of course. Now, if I don't train, I get restless."

Aisha, my training partner, smiled brightly at my words.

"As expected of you, Senior. As your training partner, I'm incredibly proud of you."

"It's all thanks to you, Aisha."

Aisha and I looked at each other, our solid friendship shining brightly as training partners.

"By the way, Aisha, what did you do during the break?"

"I visited my family estate."

Aisha's family estate: the County of Vizvel, a Border March.

Aisha had visited Vizvel, known as the warrior tribe of the North.

"I met my older sisters and brothers after a long time and trained with them. I'm even stronger now."

Aisha had become even more formidable.

"You'll come with me to the next Magic Palace, Senior, won't you?"

During the last Summer Magic Palace event.

I had informed my teammates in advance that due to personal circumstances, my partner for this time would be someone else.

As such, Aisha wanted to go with me to the next Magic Palace event.

A smile spread across my lips.

"Yes, we'll go together next time."

This Autumn Magic Palace event is preparation for the Winter Magic Palace.

I also planned to actively descend into the Magic Palace.

After finishing training with Aisha.

I returned to the dormitory and thoroughly washed up.

Then, after changing into my uniform, I headed out.

For now, I still had to pretend to be in a relationship with Hania.

It was a bit troublesome, but it was better to stick close to Iris for a while.

It wasn't entirely a bad thing for me either.

'Besides, it's about time for students to start showing resentment towards the student council.'

The student council boycott commotion that would occur in Act 4, Scene 1.

It was time for the main players of this commotion to slowly begin their movements.

And Iris's role was to instigate the commotion from behind the scenes.

Since she had received orders from Duke Robliaju to take control of the student council, she would surely carry it out.

Arriving in front of the girls' dormitory, I saw students busily moving about, preparing for the second semester.

A few students glanced my way, but I paid them no mind.

"You're early."

After waiting for a while, Hania emerged just then.

"I always do morning training. What about Lady Iris?"

"She'll be out soon."

Hania said that, letting out a short sigh.

Soon after, Iris appeared, walking out.

Unlike her usual self, who slept in late...

Today, she didn't look sleepy in the slightest.

'She stayed up all night.'

The only time Iris wouldn't sleep at all was when she received orders from Duke Robliaju.

She had clearly received orders to seize control of the student council right at the start of the second semester.

"Lady Iris, good morning."

When I greeted her, Iris looked at me.

She tossed her black hair, then abruptly reached out both hands towards me.

Seeing this, I flinched and instinctively took two steps back.

Iris blinked her eyes, her hands still outstretched.

Then, realizing what she had been about to do, she clenched and unclenched her outstretched hands.

During the academy break, I was often called upon to help Iris sleep.

Because of that, she had developed a habit of trying to hug me whenever she saw me.

To make matters worse, Iris hadn't slept at all today.

Her body, instinctively craving sleep, had tried to embrace me as if I were the comfort doll she hugged while sleeping.

"Lady Iris, at the academy, *I'm* his girlfriend."

Hania took my hand and smiled sweetly.

Iris realized her mistake and slowly lowered her hands.

Even so, she looked at me with incredibly regretful eyes.

Her eyes were like a puppy whose comfort doll had been taken away.

Some things were just not allowed.

No matter what, if I were hugged by Iris in front of the students, there'd be no turning back.

"Hi everyone, good morning."

At that moment, a familiar voice was heard.

It was a voice I hadn't expected to hear in front of the dormitory.

When I turned my head, Isabelle was standing there.

She wore a bright smile, with a sleepy Sharin leaning on her side.

"Good morning to you too."

"Oh, right."

I hadn't expected to receive a morning greeting from Isabelle, so I replied blankly.

Then she tilted her head, looking at the three of us who were standing still.

"If we stay here any longer, we'll be late for the academy. Aren't you going?"

Hania blinked, then tilted her head.

"Isabelle, are you coming with us?"

"Yeah, why not?"

"There's no reason why not, but…"

Hania glanced at me.

It was well-known that Isabelle and I were arch-rivals.

It was puzzling that she would want to go to school together even with me here.

"Oh, it's fine. I heard about the situation last time."

Hania's eyebrow twitched.

When she glared at me, I shrugged as if to say I couldn't help it.

"So you don't have to worry about it."

Hania looked back and forth between Isabelle and me.

"It's not about not having to worry about it, it's just that…"

Hania had a lot to say, judging by her expression, but...

As Isabelle said, if we delayed any longer, we'd be late.

"Alright, yes, let's go."

And so, we began our walk to school.

Iris, Hania, Isabelle, Sharin.

And me.

The problem was, everyone except Sharin was looking at me with strange eyes.

…What kind of combination was this?