TL/Editor: Raei
Schedule: 5/Week Wed-Sun
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Professor Gracie looked utterly exhausted.
She had been busy with class preparations, organizing various research materials, and handling academy paperwork.
To top it all off, midterms were approaching.
Her workload seed endless.
"If it keeps going like this, I might die...!!!"
Her once radiant complexion from her initial days at the academy had faded.
Her skin looked dull, and dark circles had ford under her eyes.
She appeared so drained that if she collapsed, no one would be surprised.
"At least after the midterms are over..."
She tried to find solace in that thought, but even after the midterms, the pile of work seed endless.
Despair set in.
Gracie's face turned somber.
"Mom... I've been tricked..."
Despite her age, Gracie found herself looking up, as if seeking her mother's guidance.
Knock, knock.
"Professor, may I co in?"
A knock echoed from outside her lab.
"Ah, yes? Sure, co in."
Upon Gracie's response, the door opened, and two figures entered.
Rudy Astria and Yuni Von Ristonia.
A duke's son and a princess.
She was surprised to see them suddenly in her lab.
"Hello, Professor."
Rudy greeted with a gentle smile.
Gracie, puzzled, wondered why these two had co to her lab.
She was sure this was her lab.
There seed to be no obvious reason for them to be here.
"Um... You do know this is my lab, right?"
Gracie shifted her gaze between Rudy and Yuni.
She wondered if they had mistakenly co to the wrong room.
"Yes, we're here to see Professor Gracie."
Rudy replied with a slight tilt of his head.
Taken aback, Gracie quickly stood up.
"Oh, right! Of course! Please sit down! Would you like so tea or snacks? I can get them right now!"
Gracie swiftly guided them to a table.
These two were significant figures in the academy.
Though she was a professor, this wasn't the ti to act distant.
If they were to speak highly of her, perhaps she could get a teaching assistant... or if she was lucky, even two.
She had to make a great impression.
"I'd like black tea, please~ with lots of sugar."
Upon Yuni's request, Gracie nodded enthusiastically.
"Alright! Rudy, would you like sothing?"
"No, I'm good, thank you."
Gracie hurried to boil so water.
As she was boiling the water, she occasionally glanced at Rudy and Yuni.
Yuni, while calmly observing the room, swiped a finger across the table in front of her.
"Eek."
"Ah."
She realized she hadn't cleaned that table since she started using this lab.
That was a problem.
She couldn't start off on the wrong foot.
"Boil!"
Using her magic, Gracie instantly brought the water to a boil.
She poured the hot water into the teacup and cast a spell inside the room.
"Clean!!!"
As the spell took effect, the surrounding dust and stains began to vanish.
Gracie added a few sugar cubes to the cup filled with black tea, extending her hand toward her desk.
"Reposition."
At her command, the scattered docunts lifted into the air and neatly arranged themselves.
In an instant, the room was spotless.
"Now, have you been waiting for a while?"
Gracie smiled warmly, taking a seat across from Yuni and Rudy.
She had tidied up using magic in just an instant, but she phrased her question playfully, as if she'd taken her ti.
Observing Gracie, Rudy remarked,
"You're quite skilled with everyday magic."
At Rudy's comnt, Gracie chuckled awkwardly.
"Ahaha... It just beca a habit after living alone for so long."
Gracie wasn't of noble lineage.
After her graduation from the academy, she joined the ranks of the royal wizards at the lowest tier and beca a noble in na only.
Thus, she found it uncomfortable to ask others to clean for her, and usually tidied up on her own.
But, her proficiency in these spells wasn't solely for cleaning.
Being at the lower tier among the royal wizards ant she'd often been tasked with tidying up the labs of her senior colleagues.
Being the kind-hearted Gracie who struggled to say no, she often ended up cleaning up by herself.
That's how she ca to master these everyday spells.
These spells were Gracie's unique tools for survival.
"Anyway, why have you co to see ? Preparing for midterms? Having difficulty with so problems?"
Gracie asked in the kindest tone she could muster.
"Professor, do you need a teaching assistant right now?"
Rudy asked, a teasing smile on his lips.
Gracie's eyes widened, and she was suddenly enveloped in anxiety.
She recognized that smile.
It resembled the one people wore when they were about to scam her, especially when they dangled a bait she couldn't resist.
Having been tricked by nurous scams and temptations before, Gracie could sense sothing suspicious.
"Um... well..."
She hesitated, feeling as if acknowledging his words would lead her right into a trap.
Then Rudy, placing a hand on Yuni's head, spoke.
"Both Yuni and I can serve as your teaching assistants."
"What?"
The proposal caught Gracie off guard.
But then, she realized it might be a wonderful opportunity.
Having Rudy, the likely future student council president, and Yuni, a royal princess, in her lab was an incredibly enticing prospect.
She could already envision many assistants eager to join just for a chance to connect with them.
In her excitent, Gracie slamd her hand on the desk.
Bang!
"What should I do to make this happen?"
Hearing Gracie's enthusiastic response, Rudy replied with a gentle smile.
"No, you don't have to do anything. Just..."
"Just what?"
"I'm set to beco the student council president, right? So, I'll be quite busy."
"Yes, that makes sense."
Gracie began to feel a growing unease.
"And if I'm to be the student council president, it ans the academy students and professors recognize my abilities. Additionally, I hold the Second Seat."
Rudy, saying all this, looked her squarely in the eyes.
The more he laid out his credentials, the more her unease turned to certainty.
"So, there should be so extra conditions for , right?"
"Anything you want! I'll give you everything!"
But Gracie was already reeling.
Indeed, Rudy was a talent anyone would covet.
Not just her or other teaching assistants, but even the nobles of the capital would lose their minds over soone of his caliber...
The individual who had even swayed Ian Astria, known as the head of the noble faction.
Soone bearing the esteed Astria na.
This wasn't just any talent.
He was a monuntal figure.
And Gracie would be overwheld if things stayed the sa.
It felt like making a deal with a demon.
But doing nothing might an death.
She was sure of it!
To survive, she could bear with these demands.
Rudy probably wasn't worse than a real demon.
"For starters, you can pay her salary to ."
Rudy indicated Yuni as he spoke.
"...What?"
Yuni looked at Rudy, clearly taken aback.
"You don't need money, right?"
"Well, that's true."
Taking a colleague's salary.
"And I'd like my salary to be at least five tis higher than others. After all, my presence alone will promote the lab and offer various benefits, won't it?"
An outrageous salary proposition.
"Oh, and occasionally, I'd like you to carry out the research I'm interested in. I'll only suggest aningful research projects, so you don't have to worry."
The audacity.
"And also..."
"Wait a mont..."
Gracie wondered,
'Am I actually dealing with a demon here?'
She couldn't hide her shock.
She had thought his demands might extend to a higher salary or so help with academy assignnts.
But as the list grew, it was clear these weren't ordinary demands.
He seed to be aiming to take control of the very foundation of the lab.
The most heartbreaking part for Gracie was that even knowing this, she couldn't refuse his irresistibly sweet proposal.
"May I continue?"
"There's more?"
"Oh, it's nothing much."
Rudy shrugged it off.
"I just need so materials for my research, so I was thinking of using what's in the lab."
"That... That's fine."
She could accept that.
Many assistants in other labs used the research materials for their work.
Having said that, Rudy took out a sheet of paper.
It listed all the conditions he had just ntioned.
"So, can you accept all of these conditions?"
With a sly smile, Rudy tilted his head slightly.
He seed devilishly charming.
Rudy swiftly pushed the paper toward Gracie.
After staring intently at the contract, Gracie clenched her eyes shut and picked up a pen.
"Thank you. It's a wise decision."
Extending his hand, Rudy offered a handshake.
After this whirlwind eting in the research lab,
"Oh... Mom, did I make the right decision...?"
Gracie collapsed onto her desk, letting out a distressed cry.
---
Raei Translations
---
The day before the student council president elections.
Though I was the only candidate, the students still had a choice.
To abstain.
If a certain percentage abstained, that year would pass without a student council president.
Still, I didn't believe that would happen.
I was confident.
But, confidence aside, there were things that needed to be done.
I walked slowly up to the podium.
Before the student council president elections, a speech.
It was customary before officially taking the position.
Ah, ah.
I touched the magic tool placed before .
After a quick test, I could hear my voice echoing from behind.
I looked outwards.
Countless faces stared back.
So familiar, others not.
Both professors and students stood in front of .
This was my first such experience since my entrance ceremony speech.
Though back then, it wasnt really a proper speech.
Dear students, hello. I am your student council president candidate, Rudy Astria.
I greeted them with a smile.
Winter has passed, and spring has arrived. Flowers have blood, and new students have joined us. The friends we saw just yesterday have matured into second-year students, while our seniors are forging their own paths.
When I first entered the academy, all I wanted was to survive.
I didn't pay much heed to those around .
Since entering the academy, Ive had many experiences. They've led to form many friendships and experience joyous monts.
Luna's library incident, Rie's assassination attempt, Harpel's intrusion during Hocoming Day, and the Serina incident.
Life in the academy brought nurous challenges.
But through those events, I made friends.
Real friends, not just characters from a ga.
Though facing these challenges was tough, and at tis I wanted to give up, I often thought it might be easier to just let everything go.
It was risky.
Every rescue attempt carried a risk that I could lose my life.
There were monts when I wished to abandon these challenges and live a normal life.
Especially since watching my life and those around constantly at risk was agonizing.
But I couldnt give up. I knew a sweet reward awaited. When I look back in the future, I'll be able to say enduring those hardships was worth it.
Lately, I've been imagining.
Imagining a ti post-graduation, surrounded by close friends.
We would share stories.
Discussing the hard tis.
Joking about tis we narrowly escaped danger.
Sharing laughter over our adventures.
I wish for all of you to taste such sweet rewards. Even if the journey is a little tough, never give up. Embrace your youth. Embrace the shining present.
That's why I couldn't give up.
The very reason I stand on this stage today.
I now face the future head-on.
Not just relying on the future I know.
If need be, I'll reshape the future.
Because I can.
A wonderful academy life awaits all of you.
I'll embrace the present and challenge the future.
If the future seems bleak, I'll reshape it.
Break it and rebuild it.
And then, I'll confront the consequences of my choices.
I am Rudy Astria, your candidate for student council president.
---
Raei Translations
---
Chatter filled the air.
Should we treat ourselves to sothing tasty today?
Luna mused as she tidied up so books.
A celebration party sounds perfect.
Rie replied with a chuckle.
Can we invite Emily too?
Kuhn asked as he placed so docunts beside .
Start organizing these first.
Locke, who had been absent lately, was present today.
I glanced at the naplate in front of .
Student Council President. Astina Persia.
Gently, I wiped off the thin layer of dust from the naplate using a handkerchief nearby.
You forgot your naplate, Astina.
Ah, seems so.
Rie shrugged nonchalantly.
I opened a desk drawer and carefully placed the naplate inside.
Then, I set my own naplate where Astina's had been.
Student Council President. Rudy Astria.
A smile crept onto my face as I looked at the naplate.
Then, addressing everyone, I proposed,
How about a party today?
Today, I beca the student council president.
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