200 – Senior Professor’s Interest
Beke.
The student council executive’s apology was extremely clean and accurate.
The reason she was wary of me, her feelings for Iris, and other facts.
Looking at her ability to summarize such things in less than 3 minutes, I thought that she was indeed an executive of the student council.
But what is important to me is not receiving an apology.
“I know, too. What you need now is a quick turnaround, right?”
Beke was also well aware of that fact.
“Yes.”
“You don’t have to worry about the execution of the notice. As long as you meet the conditions, Ian, the execution will be postponed indefinitely until the ad hoc committee is convened.”
“Ad hoc committee?”
“Yes. A committee will be convened to determine whether the notice is appropriate. It will consist of professors, student affairs, and student council. And you, Ian, will be the planner.”
Suddenly an idea crossed my mind.
If the culprit who turned Danya into a cat is a person within the Academy, then he must be one of the people who is somehow connected to the notice.
‘Then he must be watching from somewhere.’
If we can convene a meeting right away, we may be able to track down the person involved.
“Can we open it right now? There will be qualified people on duty or whatever.”
“Yes. It’s an emergency meeting, so everyone’s in contact.”
“Good.”
Beke nodded her head and stared at me quietly.
“But… Can I ask you a question?”
“Yes.”
“Why are you doing this? Among the cats at the academy, is there one you really like?”
I did a quick calculation.
Is it really a wise choice to reveal that Danya is missing?
‘No.’
I don’t know who the culprit who changed Danya is.
They may be in the student council, the administration, or among professors.
Hide this information as much as possible.
At the same time, trace backwards.
No matter who it is, you need to be careful.
‘If this is some kind of terrorism…’
The main scenario, witch hunt, has already begun.
The culprit who made Danya like that would also be the culprit in the main scenario.
◆
——————
【 Convening an emergency meeting 】
An emergency meeting has been convened regarding the notice below.
Relevant professors and executives are requested to immediately gather at the location below.
——————
Faculty building of the Department of Engineering.
“…Ha.”
The professor’s soft sigh was heard from a lab where the lights were on.
“Things aren’t working out properly.”
He tapped the table impatiently.
Talk. Talk. Talk.
Several thoughts go through his mind.
However, he directed his thoughts in a direction that was as advantageous as possible.
‘My role is to issue notice of cat disposal.’
Like.
‘I won’t be involved beyond this. ‘Because this was the contract.’
Thoughts like
.
But anxious thoughts usually work well.
While he was holding his face in his hands and pressing his eyelids, a knock was heard on the door.
— Knock, knock, knock!
Characteristic rhythm.
Behind that, a small note always slips through the crack under the door.
A piece of paper with unknown handwriting, printed on a printer.
The professor heard it.
[ Be sure to enforce the notice. All cats must be disposed of and gathered in one place. ]
As expected, it is the same.
There is no way to be wrong with anxious thoughts.
“… What do you think of the committee?”
The conditions for convening a notice destruction committee are quite strict.
In other words, it is not easy to block once it is open.
But anyway, you will have to at least pretend.
As long as I received this note.
“Damn it.”
He cursed and put on his coat.
Should I call this a blessing among misfortunes?
The conference room was not far from his laboratory.
◆
An ad hoc committee convened on an emergency basis.
The eyes of those who participated in the meeting were full of fatigue.
A conference room with a head table and seven chairs placed in a circle below it. In a somewhat judge-like atmosphere, the person occupying one of the seven chairs opened his mouth.
“I don’t know if this is something that needs to be gathered so urgently?”
A greasy voice. Annoyed tone.
The person who said those words was a professor with a plump appearance.
At his words, the sharp-looking chair sitting next to him nods his head.
“It’s not like it’s a notice that will cause harm to human life. Even if unfair damage is caused, it’s only from stray cats. They are classified as harmful animals.”
Late time.
Complaints flowing out about the sudden convocation.
— Kangkang!
What stopped such complaints was the sound of the gavel that came from the head of the table.
The impressive old man with gray hair is the (former) vice-dean of the academy, and now the head professor of the faculty council, who has stepped aside and plays a role such as providing advice.
As the chairman of this temporary committee, he comforted the complaints of professors and administrative officers.
“I understand your hard work. However, it is definitely part of the discipline. It won’t take long, so try to calm down little by little.”
The voices filled with dissatisfaction faded away as he spoke.
At least the chairman was a professor who was respected by everyone.
“Everyone agrees that the notice was issued too suddenly in the first place. In fact, it was a notice that was processed in a pastiche manner.”
After saying that, he took a look at the document that summarized the situation.
That alone determined the conclusion of this meeting to some extent.
“Please stop by.”
With his words, a young man walked into the conference room.
A young man who looks somewhat devastated but at the same time healthy stands in the middle of the conference hall.
After looking around, he looks at the chairman and bows his head politely.
“This is Ian Black Angus.”
Rebellious but polite.
The chairman gave Ian a passing grade for his first impression.
“Okay. Why did you hold a meeting?”
The chairman deliberately got straight to the point.
It was also a kind of test. I wonder if that image is real.
Ian answered resolutely.
“This is because I did not agree with the intention of the academy’s notice to dispose of cats indiscriminately.”
“Do you mean their lives too?”
“Yes.”
The chairman was silent for a moment.
At least in his opinion, Ian was not the warm-hearted type who was confused about the lives of animals.
That’s why I asked.
Tell me the truth.
“What if it’s only the life of a wild animal?”
Ian’s head started to spin.
Their lives are also precious.
That would usually be the answer.
But not for Ian himself.
Only one of them, Danya, is precious.
The chairman’s gaze is sharp, as if penetrating the truth.
Ian explains why he held the rally.
The Chairman explained why he had no choice but to ignore this notice.
“I’m sorry, Chairman, but you shouldn’t say ‘at best’.”
The conference room was shaken by Ian’s answer.
A cadet pointing out words to a professor, especially a senior professor?
“Oh, that…!”
The chairman stopped an angry employee from speaking.
Then he asked Ian.
“Why do you say that the word ‘gogak’ is wrong? Is it anger at describing the life of a wild animal as ‘just’?”
“No.”
“Then?”
“An academy cadet was the first to raise the issue of notice. By breaking through several complex and unfeasible conditions.”
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The chairman’s eyes lit up at Ian’s answer.
“Is this a story about public opinion?”
“That’s right. The school has student autonomy. If they want to keep using that term, they should at least listen to my opinion.”
“It’s a threat.”
“Let’s call it politics.”
So soft.
The chairman’s hands were shaking violently.
Are you angry?
The moment when several faculty members who were looking at him tried to distance themselves.
“Khahahaha!”
He burst into laughter.
“He’s a very interesting guy.”
“Thank you.”
“That’s a good reason. Whatever you say, it’s not our concern. So what’s the concern?”
“The power of that argument is probably of interest.”
“That’s right. That’s right. Students don’t understand that. You’re a very smart kid.”
“That’s high praise.”
The chairman nodded with satisfaction.
He looked around at the professors and executives gathered below him.
“That’s right. Do you have any opinions?”
Professors and executives remained silent.
Since the chairman had firmly established that the content was not important, there was no point in making a point in Ian’s words.
The fat professor, who was observing those around him, opened his mouth.
“After listening to it, there is no need to refute it. It’s just a matter of revising a notice like this.”
“That’s right. There’s no need to make things complicated and burdensome. But.”
The chairman’s eyes were focused on a professor.
He seemed quite uncomfortable and had something to say.
“Professor Engelgard, do you have something to say?”
Professor Engelgard of the Department of Swordsmanship.
His eyes, which had deep dark circles, trembled slightly as if they were full of worry.
He smacked his lips a few times and then opened his mouth.
“It’s hard to agree.”
“In some ways, it’s nonsense.”
“The fact that students can freely make announcements from the school is-“
The chairman cut him off.
“Professor Engelgard.”
“… Yes.”
“300 Cadets held a rally. It was nothing special.”
“……”
Professor Engelgard slightly lowers his gaze.
The Chairman continues.
“At least the professor can get the consent of 300 people on this issue?”
“… No.’
Engelgard closed his mouth after saying those words.
However, he just glared at Ian with those dark eyes.
“Then, with this, the temporary committee will be disconvened. The notice will be destroyed.”
Thump, pound, pound—!
The firm sound of the gavel echoed throughout the conference hall.