Episode 107 – What kind of leader do you want to be?
#One
A strange tension lingered in the academy.
Do you remember the atmosphere when there was a big event or something happened?
The election period for the first year president has arrived.
Young souls looking at those they support or do not like.
Candidates who have already become famous enough to know just by hearing their names entered the campus with countless eyes from the morning.
A whispering voice was faintly audible.
Still, the students proudly spread their chests and advanced.
“Are you ready?”
“yes. I am confident.”
Manus was walking with Anais in front of the school gate.
Maybe Cale went to school first, so he didn’t show up in the morning.
Anais maintained a bright face today.
It seems that a lot of the core that was heavy in the heart has disappeared.
When he saw her, he felt a sense of pride in his heart.
It seems that the things I invested time and spent my emotions and consulted were not in vain.
I could see that the time we climbed the tower together and grew up over the death ordeal was perfecting a person’s personality and skills.
“I wish you no luck.”
“yes. I have to go to the finals first.”
“Don’t be vigilant.”
Anais nodded.
That’s what they say, but both Manus and she knew.
That much is nothing to her, who has already thrown off one layer, the shell in which she was confined.
The two of them walked in different directions.
Anais looked at Manus’ back for a moment.
That black-haired senior looked like his parents.
A reassuring giant who doesn’t want anything in return.
Among the old stories, there was such a fairy tale.
The story of a tree that gave its all whenever it went.
‘A senior would only look at me as a junior, right?’
“hey-! Anais! Are you going alone?! I kept calling from the other side, but he didn’t answer, huh? You’re fine- ghast!”
“shut up. Noisy since morning-.”
Pearson rushed over and was pushed in the face by Anais with his hand.
The sudden shock took him back a few steps, unable to hide his bewilderment.
Anais looked at him with a bewildered expression and smiled.
When Pearson, who had been looking at her from a distance, hesitated, Anais, who had taken a few steps forward, looked back.
“Then he tilted his head slightly and asked in an innocent voice.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming?”
“uh? uh-. go go How are you feeling?”
“Condition? very good. You don’t think you’ll lose to anyone?”
Anais walked confidently with a beautiful smile.
A chaotic atmosphere prevailed in the academy from the morning, but she entered the classroom calmly and sat down.
Looking back, it seems that Cale hasn’t arrived yet.
What’s not going on?
These days, since each of them climbed the tower, there was nothing to run into except for being in the same classroom.
Guilt, worry, and uneasiness weighing down your chest.
‘Whoa-. It will be fine. Let’s not be anxious again. Anais.’
She let go of her anxiety with a single sigh.
Cale is a strong and upright child, unlike himself who wandered.
I believed you would do well.
Because I wanted to stand proudly in front of her and have a serious talk.
If it collapsed just like this, it wouldn’t be Cale who went through all sorts of hardships.
But contrary to her promise, Cale didn’t show up when class started.
Anais’s expression was gradually stained with anxiety and nervousness.
#2
[All first-year student council president candidates, please gather in the auditorium on the 33rd floor.]
huge tower.
A tower built with the mysterious and profound power of magic.
Inside, various and many facilities were asleep.
33rd floor.
As a place to handle various internal events, it was one of the few facilities not hidden in the veil.
Anais continued to look around as she moved to the 33rd floor.
The blue hair still showed no signs of appearing-.
‘Where have you been? It’s not like he entered the tower and couldn’t come out, right?’
I thought, of course, if he was that strong-willed kid.
With her naturally slack gait, her gaze constantly looking around, her behavior seemed relatively intimidated.
The gaze at Anais sharpened.
Targeting the weak is a hunter’s instinct.
Those who were aiming for the position of student council president were also students who were born with the qualities of hunters.
They instinctively pressed Anais.
“Anais, are you nervous after being so confident?”
“Kick-kick, isn’t Floyce a big deal too?”
“… … .”
Of course, Anais didn’t even hear the story properly.
Those who seemed to think that the lack of reaction was because they were too intimidated.
Those who got the momentum were excited and chattered.
“Hey, if you just applied, why don’t you just give up and go back now? We’ll elect the student council.”
“that’s right. Isn’t it a bit too early for Flois to become student council president?”
It is unknown whether the liver protruded from the ship or whether it was an intentional attack by recognizing that this place was an academy.
Bringing up a family meant going out into society and pretending to be with that family.
The unwritten rules of the academy don’t apply to society either.
When Anais heard that, he blankly turned his head and looked at the man who made fun of him.
The vaguely heard words insulted her family.
I wasn’t too upset when I heard those comments.
Why?
“It’s strange.”
Those who wince at her stupid words.
“Why aren’t you angry when you say that? It’s a strange thing.”
“… … That child-.”
“Have a good time with each other. After all, the academy proves it with skills.”
Anais left those words and continued to look around.
Those who had been ignored for no reason snarled.
Like a hyena who was dazed and got hit by a real beast.
Either that or not. Anais continued to search for Cale without hiding his concern.
As if ignoring her concerns, Cale’s figure did not appear.
Even the moment the candidates are all seated and waiting for the interview.
“Has everyone arrived? Then we will begin the interview.”
“Commoner Kale didn’t come!”
Someone raised their hand and said.
The professors of each grade slightly frowned.
The student council president is chosen to represent the entire school year.
It was the chairman’s job not only to decide the big and small things, but also to participate in any event in advance and prepare for it.
Failure to keep the time commitment alone is a significant deduction factor.
Speaking of Kayle, he was a freshman who was attracting attention for his outstanding magic skills.
Believing only in magic skills and falling into arrogance was the behavior shown by many people.
‘I wasn’t that kind of kid in my usual class, but-.’
Trent, a full-time freshman professor, remembered the name Cale.
There was nothing conceited in her twinkling eyes that I saw in class.
I thought that something might be wrong.
As he was about to say something, the auditorium door opened with a loud noise.
There, there was a blue-haired one standing in a rather startling look.
Neatly cut short hair.
A face enhanced with light makeup.
Even the button on the uniform that was always untied was neatly fastened.
Her blue eyes were as bright as if she were looking at little Manus.
“sorry.”
“Kale, you-“
“Hello, Anais.”
She smiled.
Anais stared blankly at his friend, shocked.
‘How could it be like that… … .’
Time flows equally for everyone.
Anais has achieved tremendous growth in a short period of time.
She may have been mistaken.
He said he only grew up and climbed the stairs.
The stairs he climbed were two steps, one step at a time.
It was clear that the friend in front of him had grown up in a different way than he had.
“You came just in time. Please sit down.”
“yes.”
what the hell happened
Everyone who knew Cale looked at her with their mouths open.
“Well, everyone is here. We will start the interview now. When your name is called, come inside.”
A strange atmosphere of tension lingered in the space, which had become like a job interview.
After the first candidate was called in, Anais glanced at Cale, who was sitting next to him.
Cale closed his eyes for a moment, then looked at Anais with those intelligent eyes.
“Are you okay now?”
“You, what happened?”
“Yeah, I just thought about it a little. About several people.”
Cale said calmly.
Anais was overcome with a sense of incongruity at the sight of her soul as if it had changed.
But from every angle, she was Cale.
“Thank you for your concern.”
“No, I… … .”
“I’ll hear more about it later. Do we have to compete with each other now?”
The smile on her face was even more radiant.
Anais nodded blankly.
Where did the fierce friend go, and how did such a strong classmate come out? … .
What surprised her was that Cale, who had been so worried, popped out.
Rather, it would be welcomed if she actively stepped forward, if she showed no stuffiness.
The lump in his heart melted away from Cale’s smile.
The feeling of guilt gradually fading away was like taking a shower with holy water.
“Yes, and… … Sorry.”
“me too.”
After a moment of silence, Cale opened his mouth again.
“… … Top, will you go up together?”
“huh. I have become quite strong.”
The two of them exchanged feelings that they hadn’t been able to share in the meantime.
Cale remembered that time.
The time when they disappeared for three days after declaring that they would not climb the tower together.
What did your friend do then?
In the time when she was most worried, she wondered what her friend was doing.
Cale asked cautiously.
“At that time, it looked very difficult, how was it?”
“… … I wanted to become stronger, so I entered the tower alone.”
“alone?”
“huh. Really, I thought I was going to die.”
“I could have gone with Pearson.”
It seemed like they were talking casually, but Cale still couldn’t forget Anais that day.
It wasn’t even this bright, and it seemed that no one could save her.
After all, what made her… … .
“Because I had to apologize to Manus-senpai.”
“… … .”
“Student Anais, please come in.”
The assistant’s voice mercilessly cut off Cale’s lips.
Anais stood up from her seat with a determined expression.
She turned to Cale and said.
“The unfinished story… … .”
“-Bye.”
Cale smiled and nodded.
Shortly after Anais entered for the interview, Cale heard a small voice in his ear.
“… … i envy you.”
She looked back, but nothing was where the voice came from.
Did I hear you wrong?
Cale stared at him for a moment, but then turned his head away.
The feelings of someone full of expectations were also trampled mercilessly.