Book 2 Chapter 19
Episode 43
“Rain Ludwig, top student of the 1388th class’s mid-term exam!”
The moment his name was called, Rain, in a daze, involuntarily raised his fist. He couldn't understand what logic drove him to do so.
It was simply that his heart was pounding wildly.
- Only the top graduates of <Delaiten> are granted the opportunity to pay respects to Rin's remains.
Had he taken a step closer?
Had he advanced one more step forward?
Although a part of him felt uncomfortable taking such a position from his fresh 300-year juniors… he couldn't help it.
“When I first heard it from Kat, I was unsure, but I never imagined you'd become the top cadet.”
Madellia Page approached and fastened a decorative cord, made of dragon bone stone and brilliantly reflecting light, to his uniform cape.
“It’s the emblem of the top cadet. You'd better do your best if you don't want to lose it.”
The cadets, dumbfounded and doubting their ears, finally began to speak.
“Wow, is this for real?”
“That genius (calamity) young master is the top cadet?”
“He surpassed all the rising stars of the Eight Great Academies!”
Next, the second, third, and fourth top cadets were announced. The second top was Christa Warden, whom everyone expected to be first, the third was Nora Redon, and the fourth was Kaiden.
“Hmm♪”
Nora looked at Rain with a glint in her eyes, as if finding him more interesting than expected, while Kaiden silently stared straight ahead.
“……”
Meanwhile, Christa, the girl who had been blankly staring at Rain’s profile, eventually shook her head and bit her lip.
‘I’ll accept this defeat. I already admitted I lost in the labyrinth test.’
The top position, snatched away for the first time… the aftertaste was not just bitter, but spicy. The taste of blood filling her mouth was unbearably acrid.
‘The gap isn't that wide yet. We both received S grades, so the difference isn't huge.’
There will be plenty of opportunities to overturn this. So, so… there's no need to cry. She would only shed tears of joy after becoming first place. She had promised herself that.
‘That’s right. No need to cry, Christa.’
Amidst the pouring applause, Professor Caroline smiled encouragingly as she looked at her student, Christa.
‘Effort does not betray expectations. Someday, it will become the power to twist the flow.’
Therefore, perseverance that does not yield to adversity can be said to be a true asset.
‘Adversity creates training, and training creates persistence. The power of that persistence will become an invaluable asset in achieving your dreams.’
Therefore, adversity is not a downhill slope in life, but the greatest turning point, Christa. Don't be discouraged. You are excellent.
‘Excellence is not born, but reborn. You have the potential to become more excellent than any other cadet.’
So don't cry.
Because it's not time to cry yet.
* * *
The student council reached out during lunchtime that very day. A female student with cool blonde short hair and mischievous eyes came to the classroom.
The emblem engraved on her student ring was ‘Dragon with Spread Wings’. She was a second-year.
And, like Rain, she fastened her uniform cape with a decorative cord made of dragon bone stone. This meant she was the current top cadet of the second year.
“It’s been a while since we’ve met like this. Wow, that’s impressive, really impressive! Our Rain is the top student. The kid who used to just stare up at the sky like an idiot, wahahaha.”
Saying so, she cheerfully patted Rain's back as if they had always been that close. It wasn't particularly surprising. She was naturally that kind of person.
If they had met before, then they had.
They had met once at a Sega meeting. But that was before Rin had regained his memories.
“And hello, Christa!”
Christa, who had missed out on priority support from the student council, waved her hand bitterly, while other cadets blinked and exchanged glances.
“S-Sandra Keffel…!”
“The young lady of the Western Magus Family…”
“They say she’s a monster who’s never lost the top spot since her first year…”
Sandra, as if accustomed to such whispers, paid little attention and took Rain's hand, leading him down the hallway.
Her reputation within the school is impressive.
Indeed, the magic power residing in her body is also remarkable. Is this the person Professor Kyle mentioned?
“Alright, let’s go. Everyone’s waiting for you. There’s a mountain of work to do.”
“Are you the student council president, senior?”
“Me? Am I? I’m still only a second-year? I haven’t even become vice-president yet. I’m the secretary.”
Sandra lightly waved her hand.
Hmm, so it's not her?
If it had been, he would have been slightly disappointed. Sandra was impressive, but Professor Kyle had praised her so highly that he had been expecting several times more.
“Then, this student council president, which family or faction do they come from?”
At that, Sandra, who was walking ahead, laughed as if amused. Her expression showed she found it interesting that he knew nothing about the famous student council president.
“No family, no faction.”
“?”
“It seems they just learned somehow on the streets. But honestly, I don't see a way to catch up to that person.”
“???”
“You don't know? They're famous by the nickname 'Absolute Prince of the Streets'.”
A prince…
Even if it's just a nickname, could someone who isn't even a noble hold a title that can only be given to the children of Electors?
‘It's strange that the nobles haven't protested. Is their skill really that outstanding?’
The student council office was located on the 4th floor of the Dragon Wheel Hall, a prime spot overlooking most of the academic buildings.
For reference, clubs that can use the Dragon Wheel Hall, the main building, as their clubroom are all those with deep histories, and their number is less than five.
The student council's clubroom was larger than any clubroom Rain had explored so far, with elegantly curved desks, chairs, and lighting, and each member possessed remarkable magic power.
“Alright, this is Rain Ludwig, this year's top first-year cadet. He'll be the new face of the student council. Professor Kyle says he's a candidate for the next student council president.”
The current student council consisted of four members in total. This was probably natural, as generally only the top and second-top cadets could join.
“Over there is Felix Drake. The vice-president.”
A boy with a small physique and a gentle impression gave a slight bow. The emblem engraved on his ring was 'Roaring Dragon', and he was a third-year cadet Rain was meeting for the first time.
A third-year…
Just that alone meant he could be seen as a genius who had perfectly completed two years of <Delaiten>'s academic structure, where half of the students dropped out each year.
“And this is Triwis. She was the general affairs officer until now, but now she’s the accountant.”
A second-year female student, who had been sitting in the corner processing a mountain of documents, nodded her head expressionlessly, like a doll.
“Is all that work?”
“Normally, that much piles up at the beginning of the semester. Now that Rain is the general affairs officer, he’ll have to do it, right? Until the next officer arrives.”
What?!
An emotion that could only be described as horror flickered in Rain’s eyes.
“What are the student council's activity hours?”
“We gather every day after classes. If there's no work, we just have a short meeting and finish, but if there is, we have to do it all until it's done.”
“Hmm, it seems my capacity is far too insufficient to join such an excellent group.”
He would quickly give up.
Because such a heavy-labor group didn't suit him at all. Just then, someone sitting by the sun-drenched window spun their chair around.
“Rain Ludwig, you say?”
The moment he first saw that person… Rain’s eyes widened greatly with two shocks.
Firstly, it was because of their appearance.
With flawless white skin and evenly distributed features, they weren't just handsome; they were beautiful, even more so than many beautiful women.
Rain's appearance was also quite that of a handsome young man, but this person was almost an anomaly, beyond standard definition.
“And over there is President Valensidis, whom you asked about earlier!”
And the other shock was… the faint vestiges of black magic lingering in that person's eyes.
No, one couldn't call them vestiges.
It was simply intuition.
Something eerie, which he had felt while facing countless black mages in Rin's era, writhed in that person's cold, inorganic eyes.
‘And this one…’
Even by Rin's standards, not just Rain's, this was a formidable expert. Though they hadn't shown hostility, their back pulsed with tightly compressed magic, like being pricked by needles.
“Just take him back. He's less than I expected, unlike what I heard. Christa Warden, whom Felix brought last time, would be better.”
“What are you talking about, President?! The whole school is in an uproar right now because he surpassed five rising stars of the Eight Great Academies to claim the top spot.”
Sandra smiled, as if mediating. Perhaps due to the difference in status, she didn't seem to be using honorifics.
“What I don't like isn't his talent, but his attitude.”
Valensidis pointed at him with long, stark white fingers that had calluses so deep they were unsightly.
Is he a sword user?
No, the location of the calluses is different from those caused by a sword. What kind of weapon does he use?
“Did you think you'd just be revered when you joined the student council? Like when you were in your mansion?”
“It's not exactly like that.”
“Then why did your attitude change the moment you were told to do general affairs? Answer truthfully.”
Now, what to do about this person.
If he were to shout, 'This guy is a black mage!', who would believe him? That person has earned the school's trust for two years, while he has only just gained recognition, so that solution is dismissed.
For now, he gave a light shrug.
“To be honest, it’s bothersome. And I don’t even understand why I’d have to take on such a task.”
“You'd rather die than serve your fellow students? Your mindset is fundamentally flawed.”
“I’ve heard that a lot since way back.”
Since a very, very long time ago.
Since Rin’s era, that is.
As he responded so boldly, a strange glint appeared in Valensidis’s eyes.
“No, this can’t be entirely blamed on you alone. Born a noble in a country that blindly pursues aristocracy, you naturally came to possess such a mindset.”
“Aristocracy, what?”
“Those who stand above, that is. They shouldn't only seek to be served. One who can protect and serve the powerless is truly qualified to stand above.”
Why, for a moment, was it that?
That the smiles of Rista and Friede flashed by, carried on the warm spring breeze that rustled the curtains by the window.
“Don’t you think so? That such individuals are truly worthy of being served under the name of king or noble. Not just becoming a noble simply because they were born into good lineage.”
“……!”
“The student council will be a place to learn that very mindset. You'll also learn that the student council is not an organization that earns students' respect merely by its members' grades. Whether you take on the duties or flee is entirely your choice, so I won't say more.”
Beyond his deep wariness, a distant interest arose.
What on earth is this person?
All the black mages he had met so far were either consumed by an excessive lust for power or possessed the mindset of a madman.
‘Is this guy hiding his true identity with sophistry, or is he normal but dabbled in black magic for some reason?’
In the past, he would have immediately turned hostile the moment he knew someone was a black mage…
But remembering the rumor that even the innocent little Turayna had dabbled in black magic, he decided to leave a sliver of doubt.
Rain, who had met Valensidis's gaze for a while, scratched the back of his head with a sigh.
“Seeing you speak with such passion, it seems you earnestly want me, despite your words. Alright. General affairs? Fine, I'll do it.”
It wasn't that he had become interested in student council activities. Nor had he decided to fight a black mage. It was this Valensidis person that had piqued his interest.
The student council could be considered a legitimate place to observe and monitor this person.
If he were in a situation where he was bound to be ambushed, he would rather choose to observe and attack first, instead of being caught off guard.
“Instead, as the President said, I might be inadequate and unable to perform my duties properly. Will that be alright?”
Valensidis wore a scornful sneer on his lips, as if finding it amusing.
“You don't need to worry about that. I'll correct everything one by one.”