### Chapter 10
After finishing my call with the Senior Manager, it wasn’t long before I saw the Principal’s Secretary rushing towards me, out of breath. She mentioned that she would guide me to my lodging for the duration of my stay.
“You must have felt uncomfortable because of the students’ stares. I apologize for not showing you to your lodgings sooner.”
The Secretary bowed her head repeatedly as she spoke, but it felt like the true reason for her fluster was something else. Since an outsider was wandering around the Academy, it seems many were likely asking, “What is going on?” The staff, inundated with complaints from students, must have hastily sent the Secretary to me.
“There’s no need to apologize.”
I responded and then fell silent. Seeing that she had come out to a place quite far from the main building indicated she had really been looking hard. Telling her not to worry seemed to make her a little more anxious. I really couldn’t stop the actions of the Prosecutor’s Office, and with students (lots of them having blue blood) filled with anxiety and questions, it must have been quite a troubling situation for her. We will be seeing each other often, so I worried I had been too indifferent.
‘Have I been surrounded by too many idiots?’
It had been four years since I began my civil servant life due to the patriarch’s schemes. In those four years, various incidents piled up, leading to an undeserved promotion to Executive Manager, and now I was tangled up with three idiots for nearly two years.
Interacting with normal individuals had become a foreign concept to me. Is this considered a workplace accident? Black companies at least get reported to the state; if the government itself is a black country exploiting its own workers, where can I lodge a complaint…
With a heavy heart, I sighed internally and quietly followed the Secretary to my designated lodging. It seemed decent, probably because it was a room previously used by Manager-level Prosecutors.
“It’s shabby for an Executive Manager to stay in, but there are no larger rooms available at the moment. I’ll find a better room as soon as one opens up…”
“Oh, there’s no need. I like it.”
I had just thought it was decent, but if I said that, what did it make me? I waved my hand dismissively at the bowing Secretary and sent her back. Keeping her next to me would only make her nervous. It’s scary enough having a Manager-level Prosecutor who could turn the Academy on its head, so I’d say she had good reason to be jittery.
But I didn’t come here because I wanted to. If blame must be assigned, I’d rather it fall on the Minister for sending me here in the first place. That poor Minister, given the insults I’ve hurled at him behind his back, he’s probably going to live forever.
As I sat on the bed, pondering whether a sudden outpour of compliments for the Minister could lead to a sudden death, I fully realized I was now at the Academy. Having caught a glimpse of Louise, the protagonist, it felt like I really had come here. It felt reminiscent of my first day of military training, perched on the bunk in the dormitory, feeling that reality sink in. Such a doggone situation.
Still, starting tomorrow, I have to live as the Academy’s Prosecutor…
‘Damn.’
As I recalled my duties at the Academy, I was overwhelmed. The typical task of checking finances as a Prosecutor could be done in a breeze with a few glances. Typically, even if things were prolonged, the duties of a Prosecutor wouldn’t last more than a week.
Moreover, the Academy itself, due to its importance, was under constant scrutiny, leaving very little to investigate. It’s not without reason that there are legends about past Prosecutors legally coasting, dragging their feet while lingering at the Academy.
Yet I found myself immune to that.
‘Louise, Erich, Ainter, Rutis, Lather, Tannian.’
There’s an undercover agent among them who shares my blood, but I need to keep an eye on these six. The trouble is how I’m supposed to do that.
The diplomatic corps of the three nations were weeping bitter tears after their key figures shockingly declared they would enroll at the Academy. They desperately pounded on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’s doors.
Some even irrationally asked if they could send their entire country’s troops across. Of course, the Empire replied with a swift, “Cut that nonsense.”
However, with the safety of royal family members and a Saint candidate at stake, the diplomats were panicking. They kept trying to negotiate desperately with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry, which spent the entire weekend suffering incessant calls, ultimately allowed for a small contingent at the Academy, on the condition that the list of personnel would be submitted, and some of the Empire’s forces would be withdrawn.
When I looked at the list the Foreign Minister prepared, it included several from the royal knights and Holy Knights. It was no small matter.
‘They were few only in terms of numbers.’
Their combat strength was definitely not on par with their numbers.
As a result, the Empire also reduced their personnel carefully, ensuring a thorough replacement with elitist forces. Their justification was that they had reduced their numbers at the behest of the three nations. What could be done if anyone quarreled? The upper hand was with the Empire.
Through this concession covered in a shroud of grandiosity, the Ministry managed to negotiate favorable terms regarding some treaties they had been pushing for. It’s quite amusing. I’m the one being sold off, yet the Ministry is having a grand time reaping the benefits.
Regardless, what’s crucial is that numerous perspectives from the three nations are settling within the Academy. They likely noticed that this Prosecutor is different from the previous one. It’s clear that the Empire slipped in extra forces under the guise of regularly dispatching a Prosecutor due to their long-term dispatch method.
Imagine that kind of individual waddling around, observing the key figures from their respective nations? Ah, I wouldn’t be able to stand that either. The bodyguards would probably come rushing over, ready to grab my collar.
‘Moreover, the number has indeed decreased…’
While shifting to elite forces has resulted in barely any loss of combat effectiveness, the fact remains that the number itself has diminished. No matter how superhuman someone is, they can only inhabit one body. Unless they can produce clones, unforeseen circumstances can arise.
The good fortune was that the previous stationed forces at the Academy had been overabundant, so even with the recent withdrawals, there remained a reasonable presence. Yet, the sudden reduction has created echoes of instability that I would need to keep watch over.
“What a pain.”
It was all organized. The situation seemed absurd, but as I looked closely, it was indeed awful.
A sigh escaped me. With the forces of the three nations and the Academy staff, unless someone insane emerged, it seemed unlikely any significant troubles would arise within the Academy. Ultimately, the issue circled back to the miraculous six.
To be honest, Erich appeared to have the least to offer among them, so wouldn’t it be better to say there were just five? Though he’s my little brother, that’s just a fact.
The important thing is getting close to them naturally. However, there seems to be no means to approach them while maintaining the suspicion of the three nations. Sure, there’s a chance security might slacken during classes, but as the Prosecutor, I lacked the justification to approach students during learning hours.
A student investigation? “Hey, student! I’m a Prosecutor. May I check your wallet?” Am I a crazy person or what?
There’s nothing for it. All I can do is keep watch from afar and await an opportunity to arise. Eventually concluding with a near-negative resolution, I leaned back on the bed. Is there really no chance for approaching them legally?
—
The second week of the new semester. It’s time for new students to choose and join one of the many clubs existing within the Academy. Naturally, since most of the blue-blood students dominate the scene, joining a club to form valuable connections became the priority over mere personal interests.
Moreover, through the guise of being senior members of a club, they could connect with graduated nobility from their circle, making clubs a significant social platform within this giant social house named the Academy.
For someone like Louise, who purely enjoyed being around people, such complexities didn’t matter at all. The mere thought of gathering friends from different grades and classes to enjoy a shared hobby thrilled her. From her father’s offhand mention about clubs, Louise had high expectations building up for them.
But was it some divine prank trying to frustrate her? Just as she learned that starting a new club was also an option, she found herself blocked by an obstacle. To establish a club, a minimum of three students and an advisor were required. She thought gathering just three would be a piece of cake, but alas, she faced failure.
Despite wooing her friends like Irina into joining, they all informed her they had already picked other clubs. Even though they adored Louise, they couldn’t forsake their duties as nobles and miss out on social engagements. Sure, if Louise was truly insistent, they might’ve considered it, but it was just a club after all, wasn’t it?
“Louise, let’s just join another club.”
Erich was the only one who accepted Louise’s proposal. Hearing his words caused Louise to sadly lower her head. Had she not known about the possibility of opening new clubs, her disappointment wouldn’t have been so profound.
“But… I wanted to create a pastry club…”
The pure sky-blue of her eyes glistened with unshed tears. Seeing her like that, Erich felt a sting of pity, but what could he do? After all, he couldn’t just sign his name as ‘E’ and ‘Rich’ on the member list. But then, as if the heavens had seen fit to play with Louise long enough, it granted her a sledgehammer to break that wall down.
“Miss Louise, have you found enough members for your club yet?”
A young gentleman, shining with golden hair and regal purple eyes that represented royalty, stepped forth. The third prince of the Empire, Ainter Livnoman—the very person Carl had desperately tried to avoid in the morning—made his approach toward Louise.
“Ah, Your Highness!”
“Your Highness.”
As Louise and Erich sprang to their feet in urgency, Ainter chuckled lightly, urging them to remain seated.
“Please, don’t do that. We are all equals in this Academy, after all.”
While technically it held true that all students at the Academy were considered equal, this was nothing more than a theoretically baseless statement with regards to the Academy running under strict neutrality. Life at the Academy lasts three years, yet after graduation, the ensuing life can span decades… Putting that aside, Ainter chuckled upon glancing at the list where only two names were written.
“Fortunately, with me included, this makes three people.”
“Yes…?”
With that statement, Louise’s eyes widened in surprise, and Erich looked equally astonished as he stared at Ainter. Pay no mind to their expressions, Ainter took it upon himself to write his name down on that club-forming application.
Only then did Louise break into a wide smile, while Ainter, upon seeing her happiness, smiled in satisfaction as well. Hence, the third prince Ainter became the second sacrifice captured by the catnip known as Louise.
Thus, the charming girl with pink hair, Louise, joyfully sprinted off with the club application in hand. Now, she only needed to find an advisor to complete the process!
“I’m sure I’ll find someone quickly!”
Thankfully, many teachers adored her; she believed it wouldn’t be long before finding one willing to take on the advisor role. Lost in thoughts of sharing the pastries she’d crafted with her friends, Louise’s mind was racing with excitement.
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