How to Survive at the Academy chapter 208

Youngest retiree (3)

“I will tell you straight up. I have gathered you all here to protect Sylvania as much as possible from the power conflict that will arise across the Empire in the future.”

Tanya, who sat at the top of the table under the auspices of the student council secretaries, brought up the basics.

It’s not the style to talk round and round in the first place. Tanya, who currently serves as the president of the Sylvania Academy, was known for her slick work and honest opinions.

Even in this place where famous nobles are gathered, he does not waste time with useless greetings or stories.

Let’s just say something and leave. Such an attitude was clearly revealed, and it seemed that Tanya’s arrogant and unpretentious temperament was revealed without any additions or subtractions.

Tanya herself probably just wanted to finish quickly and go back to work.

“In particular, regarding the imperial dispute centered on the imperial family… I admit that everyone’s opinions are bound to diverge. If you have different supporters from your own family, you are in a position where you have no choice but to agree.”

Opinions may differ. The problem is that they don’t have a choice on that opinion.

Tanya paused for a moment and saw the students sitting in a circle in the small meeting room. All of them are reliable and strong, but they are successors who are still working on their studies in the land of learning.

It is not the people who support the princesses, but the heads of the families to which they belong.

Depending on the support set by the adults, the students under them also change their course of action.

The Roth Taylors, the Bloom Rivers, and the Callamores all joined together in favor of Princess Fenia.

The Islan family, the Rokin mercenaries, the Ginnypale family, the Reigus family, and the Eniston family joined the Persica princess side,

Houses Elpelan, House Whitefelt, and House Nortondale were attached to Princess Selaha.

Tanya made every effort on her own, and some even thought that she was conciliatory, but she could not completely stop it. Eventually, the core aristocratic family split into three branches. In fact, it was a natural result.

In the upcoming power struggle, these are forces that bet on completely different sides.

Of course you have to be sensitive. In particular, the results of the competition between students may directly affect the power of the family during the unified competition to be held during the Crestor Festival.

The integrated competition, where the successor’s capabilities can be shown openly in front of everyone, is an opportunity for nobles to show off their brilliant succession structure.

“I’m not going to force you to get along. However, we do not want the situation in which even the students of Sylvania are divided into various branches in the aftermath of the power conflict.”

Among the silence, Tanya spoke calmly.

“We are students. All you have to do is do your duty as a student.”

It is impossible to completely close the intensifying power conflict. However, efforts are made to minimize it.

That was Tanya’s policy.

“I agree. No matter who becomes emperor, Sylvania must continue as a land of study.”

The first to raise their voice and agree to it was Ziggs Eiffelstein from the 2nd year Ministry of Magic.

He was a member of the student council and was practically a representative of the Islan family. Naturally, he was in favor of Tanya’s opinion, so he raised his voice first in order to create an overall consensus.

“I think it would be good to take this opportunity to resolutely warn the students that there are no students bringing the conflict over the imperial power to Sylvania.”

“me too… I agree… ”

After Ziggs, there was a student who gave his consent in a crawling voice.

It’s not too cold, but a girl with a thick shawl on her shoulders and a very tired look. It was Elka Islan.

He was a librarian who belonged to the Islan family located in the northern region and was attending Sylvania with Ziggs.

It’s a lot worse than when I met Ed before. The students already knew the story that the chronic asthma was getting worse.

“Elka. It’s okay if you don’t talk too much.”

“no… Anyway, the Islan family announced that they would follow Princess Persica’s policy… I will respect the movements of other families as well.”

Elka smiled like that, giving Tanya’s opinion more strength.

Dorothy Whitepeltz, the senior pensioner’s senior, who was listening intently in a corner, also agreed.

“Right. Even students have to come together. Although I don’t know how the conflict over the emperor’s power will end, no matter how it ends, we will work towards reconciliation… ”

“However, we may have to look at reality first. sister.”

The one who cut Dorothy Whitepeltz’s horse was Joseph Whitepeltz, a member of the first-year Ministry of Magic. Her younger brother and the youngest member of the Tog Magic Society, he was a gifted man who used lieutenant magic before he was even mature.

He had a pretty scholarly appearance with his bangs neatly pulled back and the remaining hair tied in the back of the tail.

“What… ? Joseph… Again, you’re against me… ?”

“I am not blindly opposing it. We are graduating from this Sylvania in a few years. On the other hand, as members of their respective families, they have to live their whole lives.”

Joseph’s opinion was justified. He was confident in his attitude of speaking confidently in front of everyone.

“Is it the family policy or the harmony of Sylvania? If you have to choose between the two, you have no choice but to lean towards the family.”

“… ”

“The Whitefelds family doesn’t force us to do that, but neither do other families. Then, even asking those students to ignore the family policy and to cooperate only for the sake of reconciliation in Sylvania… On the contrary, it may be too demanding.”

There is no logical flaw in Joseph’s coherent speech.

Joseph’s words directly pinch the reality in this place where he talks about unity in a blunt way. It was a pretty naive remark, but no one felt uncomfortable.

Because that’s the reality.

“Certainly, I’m not sure if House Elpelan will respect my opinion.”

Dyke Elpelan, the head of the 4th grade combat team, wearing a gauntlet with a huge body, spoke with a voice as magnificent as that bear.

“I would like to fully respect President Tanya’s opinion, but if the Lord makes up his mind and orders me to distance himself from other supportive families… To be honest, I don’t know how far I can resist.”

“It’s the same with me.”

It was also Tracyana Bloomriver, a member of the 4th grade, who expressed consent.

In the first place, she was already making every effort to completely blend into the power of Princess Fenia, according to the policy of California State Sinir Bloom River. In this place, more than anyone else, she is a serious girl. It is because they are thinking about life after graduation.

Therefore, in order to be as close as possible to the Roth Taylor family, he maintains contact with Ed Roth Taylor, and is also quite favorable to the student council. All such course of action followed the family policy.

“Our 4th graders are about to graduate. It is only a few months from now that I have to remain as a student, so it is unreasonable to ignore the family policy.”

Tracyana said as she ran down the ends of her long hair.

“We will try our best to be as harmonious as possible, but if things don’t work out… We are in a position where we have no choice but to move in our own way.”

“I’m not a family puppet, so I don’t know. Traceyana-senpai.”

The one who confronted those words head-on was Aig Lokin, a member of the first-year Magic Department, who had been sitting in a crooked posture since before.

Short haircut and a sharp look. As a rival of Joseph Whitefelts, he is famous among first-year students. Even in front of his senior 4th grader, Tracyana, he didn’t show any dread at all.

“… What?”

“Our Rokin mercenaries teach us to stay away from those without conviction who are swayed by the group and err in judgment. In the end, the world decides on my own, and I wonder if it is right to leave it up to the family to decide who to follow and what to do.”

Traceyana narrowed her brow at the cheeky attitude. Nevertheless, Aig continued the story without hesitation.

“Our Rokin mercenaries officially supported Princess Persica, but I do not agree with that opinion.”

“Aeg, you might be able to, but… Isn’t it too harsh to demand your beliefs from people in different circumstances?”

“Okay, Joseph. Do I have to take into account the circumstances of others as well? I just need to carry out my convictions. If you live swayed only by other people’s circumstances, you won’t be able to take care of yourself.”

Aig grinned and handed the baton to the other side.

“Am I wrong, Clara-senpai?”

“What? me?”

“Aren’t you the one who is more skeptical of the will of the Danielheim family? I think that belief is really great.”

A girl who was silently listening to the story in the corner of the small meeting room.

Short hair that looks sharp and cute freckles. Clara Danielheim, the eldest daughter of Viscount Danielheim and a close friend of Yenica Palerover, answered in a bewildered way.

Clara hates the place where such political talks come and go. He was just manipulating the tips of his nails, waiting for the right time to finish.

“I really hate the old people in my family, but… I hate cheeky kids like you. Don’t pretend to be friendly.”

“Ugh… ”

Aig frowned as if in pain, but his playful attitude was still there.

“Well, there are a lot of great nobles in this place. It wouldn’t be a place for someone from a mercenary unit like me to express their opinions. I’m sorry.”

“If you’re going to keep that cheeky attitude, then just leave. Aeg.”

Surprisingly, it was Wade Callamore, the first-year combat team chief, who fell over with such an Aig.

The white hair was still there. His eyes were also quite calm compared to before.

“You are not the only one who knows how to carry out your convictions. and… ”

Wade continued to speak, then turned his gaze to one side.

At that place… Delus Einshaven, a member of the first-year pension club, sits quietly.

Baron Einshaven is quite famous among the alchemy families in the southern part of the Empire. No matter what he said, the long-haired boy named Delus just sat still and smiled.

“Don’t ignore that there are some who are thinking among those who are silent.”

Wade talked only that far and looked at the students again.

all silence.

There was tension among the students for a moment.

“Oh, anyway! I completely agree with the opinion of not fighting uselessly… ! Ooh, what are we going to do when we fight each other!”

Just having a conflict with other people was unwelcome and terrifying Clevius. I just wanted to think that useless things don’t happen and good things are good… Elvira, who was sitting next to him, seemed to disagree again.

Elvira, who was sorting reagent bottles by touching them, narrowed her eyes and spoke frankly.

“I tend to carry out my convictions. I feel sorry for Chairman Tanya, but if you ask me if the bachelor’s degree is more important or the Enniston family more important… I will raise the hand of the Enniston family.”

“What, what… !”

“Are you so surprised, Clevius?”

“House Enniston supported a different faction than House Nortondale!”

“The harmony between the academics and the harmony between you and me are completely different matters. Stupid Clevius.”

Elvira, who narrowed her eyes and pulled Clevius’ cheeks straight, let out a deep sigh.

“I will not sit still if there is a force that threatens the Enniston House.”

At Elvira Enniston’s declaration, there was silence again in the left.

Some seem to agree with that opinion, and some still want to avoid unnecessary friction.

Both sides of the argument have validity. In fact, it was the most painful situation for leading the group.

“Now do it in moderation. Whoo… ”

Tanya, who was sitting at the top, covered her forehead as if she had a headache, and sighed deeply. Then the students all at once stopped expressing their opinions and quietly listened to her.

Seeing that, Tanya had a sad expression on her face.

Obviously, it is Tanya Roth-Taylor who is sitting in the seat of the student council president who is playing the pivotal role in this situation.

As long as she doesn’t hold her center, it’s not strange if she splits into three at any time and a big fight breaks out.

There is no way someone who can replace Tanya’s role like that exists in the current academic world.

The student council president must be there.

Tanya wanted to cry.

* I tried firing an arrow through the bow made from birch wood.

It ran across the camp with a rattling sound and was pounded into the zelkova tree next to it. The neatly embedded arrows were trembling in the aftermath of the vibration.

“… ”

The taste is good, but the power is not satisfactory.

Above all, there is a desire to use the power of magic equipment to give additional effects, or to embed spirits. It’s hard to find a bow of this quality.

It seems that satisfactory performance will come out only by adding some groundbreaking elements of production, but it was still difficult to get a hold of the balance.

“Ed! Look at this! Voila!”

“… ?”

When he returned to the campfire with the arrows captured, Yenica was showing Ed’s uniform shirt open.

“Look, the old days are gone!”

“What, were you washing?”

“yes! Before coming back from vacation last time, my family brought me soap made by mixing lye and oil! Look, I only changed the soap, but the results are so different. Isn’t it amazing?!”

It definitely feels like new. I clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap

Yenika seemed very proud, and while smirking, she raised her nose bridge and spread her shirt out.

So I sat by the campfire and swept my chin, pulling the bowstring again, and Yenika was folding the finished laundry. The sight of the two of them sitting near the bonfire at sunset, each doing their own thing, seems to be completely familiar now.

“By the way, there are only two months left until the Krestol Grand Festival. I am looking forward to it because it is said to be the biggest festival in the empire that comes only once every four years… !”

“I should also prepare for the Unified Contest at that time, but I think it will get busier.”

“yes. Still so excited! The town of Torren in Pulan was so remote that nothing happened during this great festival. At best, it’s just sharing some food with the villagers… That’s what I usually do… ”

Yenika smiled as she rolled her feet. This was the first festival I had when I came to Sylvania. Being freed from the rugged mountain life will really come to life, so I was just excited.

“The academic atmosphere is not good these days. Did you say that the atmosphere at the student meeting that Ed went to today was also upbeat?”

“yes. The atmosphere among the heirs of the aristocracy is not very good these days.”

“therefore… I hope that the atmosphere will be relaxed a bit starting from this festival period. Hehe.”

Yenika smiled brightly and piled up the well-organized laundry.

I was slowly slashing the tip of the bow with a dagger, grabbing the handle again and pulling it again and again.

“So am I. When the dispute is over soon, the academic atmosphere will return to what it was before.”

There was a boy sitting next to me like water flowing naturally, so I and Yenika were looking at him as if it was funny.

Ziggs, holding a pile of papers, picked up a pork skewer that was cooking near the campfire, and muttered.

“… ”

“Oh, the liver is soaking well. Yenica sunbaenim’s cooking skills are getting better day by day. Isn’t this quality that can be sold for money?”

“yes? okay? Ed is also saying that these days, hehe… ”

In the meantime, it can be said that Bessish’s smiling face, as if compliments are good, is truly Yenica’s.

“… Not that, since when have you been here?”

“It’s a bit of a hindrance to the two of you having a close conversation, so I just thought it might be okay to just sit by the fire.”

“that… okay… ? Yes, if you come, you can tell me that you have come… ”

Ziggs put the yakitori in his mouth, gripped the pile of papers, and glanced around the camp roughly.

“just… Bachelor’s was running around a bit. Regarding the student council work.” “What’s the connection between traveling around the university and student council work?”

“What… I would appreciate it if you think of it as a patrol-like feeling. Anyway, there’s nothing wrong with this side. I’ll just go.”

Ziggs got up from his seat and spoke without stopping his murmuring.

“Oh right. Sir Ed. It’s the confederation of the Krestol Grand Festival, which will be held next month. There will also be competitions between the seniors of each grade level. Ed is the senior in the 3rd grade at this point, so I think we will have a match with the senior in the 4th grade.”

“… Is that so?”

“Yeah, probably, when all the people from the imperial family have visited, you will be standing in the dungeon with Dyke-senpai, the chief of the 4th grade combat team.”

Dyke Elpelan.

In the final exam with Professor Kaleid, it was the bear-like man who broke in at the end and tried to protect Ed.

Its speed is so fast that it doesn’t match its hefty size. The heavy destructive power of each fist.

He was a warrior with a strong and exciting style, enough to be said to be the king of the Elpelan family.

“It is not an easy opponent. Either way, he’s the one who took the top spot in the year. He is the most senior among them.”

“I also know roughly the power of that senior.”

“yes. Besides, the Elpelan family officially supported Princess Selaha… I will not allow Daik-senpai to lose in the Dalian scene, where Princess Selaha is watching right in front of her.”

Ziggs snapped the last piece of yakitori and said.

“Dike-senpai will probably do his best. He is a person who can shatter stone walls with determination and raise his fists. Even if only one is allowed… That’s the duty room.”

“okay. Thanks for the advice.”

“no. Then come on.”

Jiggs nodded that he ate the skewers well, and then sneaked back through the bushes.

Jiggs continued to look around the camp as if something was wrong, even as he proceeded through the bushes like that… Eventually, I swung my way forward as if it was all right.

“… So, why did Ziggs come after all?”

“Well… Since the student council’s work is so extensive, there must have been some circumstances. by the way… Laundry, I’ll bring it to you.”

“yes? are you okay. Keep watching Ed. I have to clean up my stuff anyway.”

“No, it’s a bit of a pity to even ask you to clean up.”

I grabbed the laundry that was on Yenika’s lap and walked towards the hut.

The hut, which has just been completed, looks grand on the outside, but is still weak on the inside.

The basic furniture arrangement is finished, but it is just the basic furniture arrangement.

From the small hut he was using before, he had to move furniture to this hut, which had more space, so he couldn’t use the allotted space.

It seemed that it would take a little more time to put more convenient furniture on the first floor and renovate the second floor into a workshop. It would be nice if the missing woodworking skills could be more proficient in the process.

It still looks flat, but the fact that the space has been enlarged feels really good.

I grabbed my laundry and headed towards the shabby wooden closet tucked away in the corner. It’s just a matter of organizing your clothes.

I wanted to finish it quickly and finish making the practice bow, so I opened the door wide.

As if for granted, Tanya, with her school uniform robe hanging down, was sitting with her lap on her knees.

“… ”

“… ”

“… Hello, brother.”

I guess I didn’t say hi.

I was speechless, so I couldn’t even answer that.

“that… ”

“… ”

“Surprisingly, it is comfortable in the closet. Do I have to say that it sinks slowly? Last time I hid in the closet… I think I might become addicted. It might not be bad to go in and sit down once in a while… .”

“… ”

“The feeling of being left alone in the world, breathing in this silence, is unexpected… . It’s not too bad… ”

“… ”

“Anything… . Please tell me, brother… It’s me who was caught hiding, so why do I have to appeal… ”

Because it’s my country… I don’t know what to say.

It was a really difficult day.