[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
Chapter 11: The Senior Who Cares About Their Junior
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was a familiar ceiling.
The faint sll of disinfectant tickled my nose.
It was the dical room equipped at Zerion Academy.
‘Did Foara bring here?’
Seeing the steel disappear, Foara must have found passed out and brought here.
I should thank him properly next ti.
I tried to get up imdiately.
At that mont, I felt faint pain throughout my body.
Even though I used a high healing potion,
while my wounds were all healed, my body still rembered the pain.
Moreover, healing potions have their costs.
Healing potions forcibly amplify the body's innate healing power.
As a result, the severe fatigue left behind filled my entire body.
‘Still, it was worth it.’
I had gained steel skin.
With this, I should be able to handle the mock battle sohow.
Creak.
At that mont, the door to the dical room opened.
I thought it might be the school nurse, so I poked my head out.
To my surprise, it was soone unexpected.
"Senior Nikita?"
"Oh? You're awake, junior."
For so reason, she was holding a sandwich in her arms.
When my gaze landed on the sandwich, Nikita let out a small laugh.
"Work's been piling up. I haven't had dinner yet. I thought we could eat together once you woke up."
Ah, it must be her way of repaying for buying her lunch earlier.
She really is soone who hates being indebted to others.
I let out a small chuckle.
"Another sandwich after lunch, huh?"
"Hmm, but this ti, it's tuna and chicken sandwiches, not like earlier."
"Thanks, I'll enjoy it."
Who could resist chicken?
Nikita pulled out a chair next to and sat down.
She unwrapped the chicken sandwich and handed it to .
‘...She really is kind.’
"Thank you."
"No, I'm the one who should thank you. I genuinely appreciate what you did in the Great Forest of Spirits. You gave quite a scare too."
I must have really startled her, considering I was carried back unconscious.
It's no wonder.
I had confidently claid that I could handle it with ease.
Her reaction was entirely natural.
I felt a twinge of guilt.
If sothing had happened to , it would have put Nikita, who had entrusted the task to , in an awkward position.
"Junior."
The mont that word left Nikita's mouth, my body stiffened.
So, she figured it out.
"If I had known sothing like that was involved, I wouldn't have sent you."
Mysteries can sotis be helpful, but they are usually dangerous.
The Great Forest of Spirits is supposed to be guarded by a Spirit Lord, a being superior to Mysteries.
Everyone thought no Mystery could enter because of its presence.
The absence of the Spirit Lord was not sothing even the spirits would reveal to spiritologists.
As a result, not even the Spirit Arts assistant teacher could predict that the Great Forest was turned to steel because of a Mystery.
‘Though, of course, they would have figured it out eventually.’
If it had been known that a Mystery was involved, I wouldn't have stepped in.
"Did the rumors..."
"They haven’t spread. Everyone thinks Foara resolved the issue, not you."
That's a relief.
I’m not ready to be in the spotlight yet.
The ti for to erge is during the mock battle.
‘I need to make sure my opponents underestimate as much as possible.’
The students I’ll face in the mock battle have spent half a year clearing magic dungeons and training.
anwhile, I’m just a newcor with the skills of a minor character who exits in Act 2.
To slightly improve my chances, I need to maximize the advantages I have.
I’m a transfer student who joined as a second-year.
I have Hannon’s characteristic petite build.
And I made so bold statents as soon as I transferred.
Whoever my opponent is, they probably think I’m just an arrogant brat.
So, until the mock battle, I need to keep my true abilities hidden.
Then, I glanced at Nikita.
Nikita was calmly watching with a faint smile.
‘...She got .’
"Sorry, junior. The student council hasn’t made any announcents about this incident yet. Most students don’t even know it’s resolved."
Clever Nikita.
I was completely fooled.
Getting up right after fainting left my head too foggy to think straight.
Nikita must have deduced from my earlier reaction that I have so specific intentions.
How she interprets this is what worries .
"Junior, I believe everyone has their reasons and goals."
Nikita unwrapped her tuna sandwich as she continued.
"So, if you want, I’ll stick to what I said earlier and keep this as Foara's achievent. I see it as you assisting him."
"...Thank you."
I replied awkwardly, lifting the chicken sandwich to distract myself from the embarrassnt.
As I took a bite, my hands trembled slightly.
A sign that my body hadn’t fully recovered yet.
So of the sandwich ingredients fell onto the blanket.
Nikita calmly picked them up with her hand.
Then, she smiled gently at .
"Still, I’d appreciate it if you gave a heads-up next ti. I wouldn’t reject it outright."
‘She really is considerate.’
"Honestly, even if we announced you handled the Mystery, the rumors might get buried anyway."
"What?"
Did sothing happen?
As far as I know, nothing major was supposed to occur around this ti.
It could be a disaster if it’s linked to the main story.
"Foara made a contract with a new Spirit Lord in the Great Forest of Spirits."
"...What?"
What kind of nonsense is this?
"Of course, it’s a provisional contract. He’s just borrowing so power, but the academy is in an uproar because of it."
My mind went blank.
Foara, making a contract with a Spirit Lord?
That’s unheard of, even in the main story.
‘Originally, Lucas received a blessing from the Spirit Lord as a token of gratitude.’
But even Lucas, the protagonist, could only reach the level of high-tier spirits in the Spirit Arts route.
Yet Foara, a re supporting character, ford a contract with a Spirit Lord?
It’s unbelievable.
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
w
‘...No, wait. If I think about it, Foara always had an exceptionally high affinity for spirits.’
On the other hand, Lucas only had a moderate affinity.
He wasn’t beloved enough by spirits to warrant anything extraordinary.
‘Could it be that bringing along soone with high spirit affinity during the Steel Empress event unlocks the chance to contract a Spirit Lord?’
I have no idea.
The Steel Empress event was supposed to be Lucas’ power-up scenario.
To begin with, Lucas was the only one to enter the Great Forest of Spirits after hearing a mournful voice from sowhere.
‘Foara made a contract with the Spirit Lord?’
When I defeated the Empress of Steel, not a single spirit showed up.
It turned out they were all siding with Foara.
The academy was understandably in an uproar.
The problem is that this event will have a significant impact on the main storyline.
As the contractor of the Spirit Lord, Foara’s influence is bound to grow imnsely in the future.
‘If Foara were to boycott the student council now…’
Who knows how many students would rise up?
‘Could they really handle that?’
To think that taking Foara with would lead to such complications.
Suddenly, I feel a wave of chronic headaches and stress-induced stomach pains.
‘It’s my responsibility.’
I’ll just have to deal with it sohow.
“...I heard Foara is aiming for the student council.”
“Hmm, yes. Foara’s older brother was once the student council president of Zerion Academy.”
Nikita smiled wryly, as if pitying her a little.
“His brother was such an exceptional figure. I guess he’s trying to follow in his footsteps.”
I hadn’t realized Foara had such circumstances.
“Of course, now he’s grown into soone to be proud of, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”
He beca the contractor of the Spirit Lord.
There’s no way that’s not a big deal.
The problem lies on my end, as soone who has to manage the storyline.
“...Do you think Foara will continue to target the student council?”
Perhaps because my expression was serious, Nikita tilted her head.
“That doesn’t seem to have changed.”
I made up my mind.
I will bring Foara into the student council, no matter what.
Soone as influential as the contractor of the Spirit Lord needs to be managed closely.
That way, I can minimize any unpredictable variables.
“Thank you for letting know.”
I swallowed the rest of my sandwich.
I gained steel skin and now had the wild card of being the Spirit Lord’s contractor.
“But junior, I actually ca to discuss sothing more important than this.”
Nikita cleared her throat and straightened her posture.
She stretched her back, as if trying to appear more dignified.
Though, with her appearance, she just looked endearing.
“Are you confessing to , by any chance?”
“Unfortunately, junior, I’ve never felt romantic feelings for anyone.”
“Well, I respect and love you, Senior Nikita.”
“Your respect and love are a bit too much.”
Was this a confession t with a rejection?
“And I’m sorry, but my ideal type is soone taller than .”
This was news to .
Though, as Hannon, I’m only slightly taller than Nikita.
Since this was just a joke to lighten the mood, I also straightened my posture.
“This incident, both the student council and the Spirit Arts departnt are very grateful for.
Even though you’ve been reluctant to reveal how you resolved it yourself, at least I know the truth.”
Nikita said this while looking in the eye, her lips curling into a gentle smile.
“You’ve done a lot of hard work. I wanted to express my thanks.”
“I accept your thanks.”
“And as for your desire to join the student council, after a positive review, we’ve reached a decision today.”
Nikita handed a badge.
It was proof of official mbership in the student council.
“With the authority of the vice president, I hereby recognize Hannon Irey as an official mber of the student council.”
I didn’t expect to be accepted right after this incident.
Surprised, I took the student council badge from her.
The badge, engraved with both a sword and a book, reflected Zerion Academy’s emphasis on excelling in both academics and combat.
Steel skin and now mbership in the student council.
The Great Forest of Spirits event has truly been rewarding.
I gripped the badge tightly.
For so reason, it felt like the first achievent I’d earned through my own efforts in this ga-like world.
“I’ll work hard from now on.”
“Fufufu, I’m looking forward to it. We’ve been short-handed, so having a talented mber like you is great news. I’ll put you to work.”
“Please do so within reason, so it doesn’t affect my studies.”
“Don’t worry too much about that. Being on the student council cos with bonus points, so it’ll help offset anything you miss.”
That was part of the reason I wanted to join the student council.
Thanks to the bonus points, even if I fell behind in so classes, I wouldn’t fail.
“Well then, rest up.”
With her sandwich finished, Nikita stood up to leave.
After seeing her off, I started tidying up my bedding.
My body had recovered, and the sun was setting.
It was ti to return to the dormitory.
Creak—
Just then, the hospital room door opened.
I turned my head, thinking Nikita might have forgotten sothing.
Instead, I saw soone even more unexpected.
“...Hello.”
Long, black hair cascading like silk, and a sculpted face.
Pale skin as white as snow, and eyes that glead red like embedded rubies.
Her elegant appearance was reminiscent of a noble, long-haired feline.
People called her the ultimate villainess.
The one who devoured both princes and princesses, climbing to second in line to the imperial throne.
The Third Princess, Iris Hysirion.
She appeared in my hospital room.
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
w
Reviews
All reviews (0)