"In the North, every four years, a massive magical beast attacks the fortress. Significant support is provided from the center, and our Liberion Academy also lends a hand."
During the second-year general elective class on Magical Beast Studies, the professor spoke.
"These beasts possess no rationality and are void of emotions like fear. Given that such an attack is anticipated this year, some of you might even be dispatched there."
As I listened to the professor, I tapped my desk with my fingers.
"Now, don't worry too much. The academy wouldn't put the students in too much danger. While students undoubtedly provide assistance, the main purpose of your involvement is to gain experience. After all, we have numerous veterans experienced with these beast attacks."
The professor seemed to think our grim expressions were due to fear.
He couldn't be more off the mark.
Noticing something was wrong, the professor glanced at the clock.
Class had already exceeded its scheduled time by over 15 minutes.
Seeing the students' frustrated faces, the professor chuckled,
"Ah, look at the time. My apologies, we'll conclude today's lesson here."
At his words, a collective sigh of relief spread throughout the class.
On the first day, we already had an extended lecture.
"This just won't do..."
I mumbled to myself.
I contemplated dropping this course and taking another elective.
Besides the Royal Politics course that Luna and I planned to sign up for, there were a few other electives to consider.
But this one just didn't seem right.
After all, my real opponents aren't monsters; they're people.
There's no point in learning extensively about monsters.
With that thought, I began to walk.
The afternoon following the end of the class was bathed in the gentle warmth of spring.
However, I had an errand to run.
I exited the Academy and headed towards a certain bakery.
"Ah, you're here?"
Rie, sipping her tea, greeted me at the bakery.
"Why meet outside? Couldn't we have just met inside the academy?"
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})The student council presidential elections were gradually approaching, and it was time to start preparing.
While sipping her tea with a sly smile, Rie responded,
"This place is delicious, right? Discussing matters over something tasty might lead to better ideas."
This was the bakery where Rie and I had tea after school.
Although we didn't have tea that time, I recalled the delightful snacks we had enjoyed.
I took a seat opposite Rie.
"Do we even need 'better ideas'?"
Frankly, there wasn't much to worry about for the upcoming election.
There weren't any second-year students capable of running, and with Rie's reputation, the student council president's position was practically guaranteed.
She smirked,
"True. So, do you dislike having tea with me? Or are you planning to pick a fight?"
"I apologize. I'll just quietly have my tea."
I yielded, wilting under Rie's playful tease.
Rie had decided to become the vice president, but I never saw her as someone subordinate to me.
If Rie had truly run for the student council presidency, even I wouldn't be certain of victory.
But Rie stepped back out of consideration for me.
"So, when should we get the recommendations from the professors?"
"It's easy to get the recommendation letters. Just get them from Professor Robert and Professor Mcguire. I'll take care of the rest."
"What about the other student council members?"
"For the first year, that guy you mentioned, Kuhn, and a couple others should do. For higher positions, it's best to go with familiar faces like Locke and Luna. Luna has her teaching assistant duties, so she might be busy, but it's always better if someone we know fills the higher roles."
I was comforted by Rie's confident attitude.
It seemed she had already thought through all the parts I was still wondering about.
While we were on the topic of second-year students, Rie suddenly clapped her hands and asked,
"Speaking of which, why hasn't Yeniel come back?"
"Huh?"
Yeniel hasn't come back?
Caught off guard by the unexpected question, my expression turned bewildered.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})I hadn't thought about Yeniel at all.
She wasn't the type to stand out much anyway.
Plus, since Astina had been overseeing matters related to Yeniel, I hadn't paid her much mind.
"You don't know either? I thought you'd know something."
Could she still be with the Rebels?
Or something else...
Seeing my worried face, Rie sighed.
"Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned it. If anything had happened, Astina would have told us. Since we haven't heard anything, let's just wait a bit longer."
"Mmm..."
Despite Rie's words, I couldn't shake off the unease.
Still, Yeniel, being a former assassin from the Rebels, I expected her to return somehow.
But when I thought of the leader of the Rebels, I couldn't help but feel anxious.
Noticing my frown, Rie waved her hands dismissively.
"Let's leave that topic. I've been curious about something else."
"What are you curious about?"
Rie then leaned forward, giving me a probing look.
“Is Yuni still flirting with you?”
“...Flirting?”
Describing Yuni's actions towards me as 'flirting' made me chuckle.
Of course, Yuni has blonde hair*, but that's hardly relevant here.
"You said she confessed and you turned her down. So why does she keep sticking around you?"
"I'm not sure about that either. I'm actually more curious."
The fact that Yuni had confessed to me.
Everyone at the academy knew about it.
It was bound to spread since the confession took place in front of so many people.
“Stay away from her. She's really shady and weird. Never, ever, EVER! get close to her,”
Rie warned me about Yuni with great emphasis.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})“But she's your family...”
“Oh my, what does being family have to do with anything?”
Just as she was about to respond, someone suddenly interrupted from behind.
I turned to see a beaming Yuni.
Rie jumped up from her seat, startled.
“Why are you here?”
“It’s not like I can’t be here. Right, Rudy?”
Yuni glanced at me cheekily.
“Well, I suppose so, but…”
Rie's brow furrowed.
“Wait, Rudy, are you siding with her?”
“I’m not really taking sides. She just…”
"It's just stating the obvious, right, Senior?"
Yuni interrupted with a teasing tone.
“Ugh…”
Rie clenched her fist, glaring at me, while Yuni watched with a mischievous grin.
However, Yuni then changed her tone, clapping her hands,
“I didn’t come here to discuss that. I have something else to say.”
Rie narrowed her eyes, giving Yuni a displeased look.
"What do you want now? If you're heartbroken, stay in your room and cry like a tragic heroine. Why do you keep showing up?"
"Mind your own business. This isn't about you. What are you to him? His lover?"
“Lover?!”
Caught off guard by Yuni’s words, Rie stepped back hesitantly.
“I might like him, but what are you to him? Nothing, right?”
Yuni’s rapid-fire questions clearly flustered Rie.
I stood up, approaching Yuni.
Without holding back, I thumped Yuni on the head.
Thump!
"Ow!"
Yuni clutched her throbbing head, tears forming in her eyes, and looked up at me in disbelief.
“Senior?”
I frowned at her.
“What are you doing? If you came to cause trouble, leave."
“But…”
Seeing her hesitation, I snapped,
“If you won't leave, then we will.”
I walked over to Rie and grabbed her wrist. “Come on.”
“Wait, what?”
As I led Rie towards the exit, Yuni suddenly grabbed Rie's other wrist, stopping us.
"Don't go!"
I responded firmly,
“We’re leaving.”
“Please stay!”
“We’re going.”
Yuni and I began to pull on Rie’s arms in a tug-of-war fashion.
“Ow! Why are you suddenly doing this with me in the middle?”
Caught in between, Rie's arms were being yanked from both sides.
With a quick tug, I pulled Rie towards me.
“Ah!”
In doing so, Rie stumbled into my embrace.
I steadied her, our eyes meeting.
“Are you okay?”
“Huh?”
She appeared a bit dazed but didn’t seem hurt.
I gently let go of her and we continued walking forward when Yuni's voice rang out.
“I'm sorry!”
I turned to face Yuni, who had raised her voice.
“I apologize! Please, just hear me out for a moment!”
Yuni said with a somewhat embarrassed look.
I let go of Rie's wrist and crossed my arms, staring intently at Yuni.
“Go on.”
“I mean…”
Her voice trailed off as she cast a frustrated glance at me, and I couldn't help but see a resemblance in her expression to Rie's.
I had to suppress a chuckle, but I kept my stern demeanor.
If I showed weakness now, I’d end up being pushed around by Yuni.
I waited for her to continue.
“I didn't want to bring this up like this, but… um…”
Her gaze dropped, and she murmured something under her breath before looking back at me.
“I'm planning to run for student council president.”
“…What?”
I raised an eyebrow at her sudden announcement.
She's considering the role of student council president? As a first-year?
It wasn't against the academy's rules for a first-year to run, but it was unconventional.
While the academy prided itself on its liberal environment, there were still traditions.
Typically, a second-year student would run for president.
On the rare occasions that a first-year did run, their chances of winning were slim.
“I have a strategy to win, the right people to help me, and I’m confident,”
Yuni said with determination.
“But if you, Rudy, were to date me, I won’t run. If I don't enter the race, it would be much easier for you to secure the president’s position.”
With that, Yuni extended her hand towards me, flashing a captivating smile.
"So, what do you say?"
