Chapter: 292
It’s club application season. As the name suggests, it’s the time for freshmen to choose the clubs they’ll be active in for the next three years. Last year’s club application period was when Louise’s relentless efforts to find an advisor for the pastry club shone bright. I can’t forget the time I had to collect applications from two princes and one future saint.
So now, reflecting on that shock, I’m preparing for this year’s club application season. The foreign students who enrolled hoping to network with royal family members were taken care of by Villar and, well, the magicians flocked to Lather, but there are always those unique individuals with unparalleled action power and madness out there. No matter how well those two might control things, there’s guaranteed to be a student who breaks through that control.
—At least, that’s what I thought.
‘Where is everyone?’
No one. It’s already the third day of the club application period, and not a single student has submitted an application. Well, technically, there was one—Sera, who confirmed her admission before the school started. It’s essentially the same as no one applying at all.
This is strange; it shouldn’t be like this! When you gather five students, at least one is bound to be a weirdo, right? No crazy newbies among the freshmen? Ridiculous. The world can’t possibly be this beautiful and easy!
Yet, the bizarre reality is saying otherwise.
‘What the heck is this?’
I’m confused. Did another pastry club pop up when I wasn’t looking?
“Oh, those who want to join a club have been guided to a debate club. It’s a chance to learn about pastries alongside discussion.”
So it really happened.
While I was stuck in thought, I asked Lather during club hours, and Tannian, who was beside him, jumped in instead. It was such an unexpected comment that I just stared at Tannian blankly.
“I thought you might be confused, so I took care of it. I completely forgot to tell you though.”
Tannian chuckled as he noticed my gaze, but that chuckle made my mind even more dazed.
A debate club, officially named “A Discussion and Exploration Club on the Contemporary Era through the Comparison of the Old and New Testaments.” What a religious-sounding club! No reason at all for students wanting connections with royals or wizards to join a club like this.
But Tannian pushed the students wanting to join the pastry club into this debate club. The reasoning? It’s strange for students who can’t even make pastries to join the pastry club.
‘…Promotion match?’
That thought flickered through my mind instinctively. Just like that, the second league debate club popped up, causing the pastry club to rise to the first league. If you can’t gain experience in the second league, there’s no way up—and probably no one will be able to move up until my assignment ends in the first league high above.
‘Wow.’
This is incredible. While I was anxious about stopping new members, Tannian didn’t block them but guided them to another space instead. After all, 100% blocking is impossible, so he zeroed in on the goal of preserving the pastry club.
Is this… the future saint? Is this the sort of intellectual maneuvering needed to become a symbol of the continent’s primary religion?
“I don’t gamble on probabilities. I’m just paying for a brief hope of instant wealth and the thrill of playing a game.”
I felt my heart swell. Wait, isn’t this the same Tannian who was all about excitement at casinos? Why is he suddenly like this now?
No, no. He probably knows how to work when it’s work time and play hard when it’s play time. If I think about it, didn’t he perform brilliantly during the Twilight Cult suppression? I was a bit frustrated when he fell for Louise, but he wasn’t someone lacking in intelligence or character.
“Did I meddle in something unnecessary?”
Caught up in a cultural shock and the need to let go of my biases, Tannian cautiously asked.
“No, no, you did well.”
I hurriedly answered that absurd question. If it’s meddling like this, I welcome all the meddling in the world.
Honestly, I was touched. I was already happy that Lather volunteered for the role of number three, but now Tannian willingly stepped up to be number four behind the scenes!
‘You reap what you sow.’
I rolled my eyes at the struggles I went through for these kids last year. Thinking of how those suffering and torturous times have been rewarded brings tears to my eyes.
Those little dogs of mine—they’re puppies that know how to show gratitude… From now on, I’ll just call them puppies…
“That probably won’t last long.”
In the midst of my touching moment, a voice cut through from Rutis, but I couldn’t refute it. It wasn’t exactly wrong.
‘It is a temporary measure.’
Though Tannian’s genius move created a holding ground, it’s only a hope because they could advance to the first league. If there’s no sign of getting what they want while in the debate club, they’ll likely spiral back into madness.
But still, even if it’s temporary, it’s better than nothing. At least we’ve bought some time—time to formulate a perfect plan—
“Is there an Armein origin among them? Then would it be okay if I showed my face occasionally?”
If we find them…?
“Would you mind? I feel bad asking first, but I’d be so grateful!”
“Of course, I’ll have to do something if they’re coming all the way to the Empire.”
Rutis, as always, burst into a hearty laugh at Tannian’s words. Yet weirdly, I felt like there was a halo around Rutis.
“What a kind gesture. Yes, it’s a virtue of those above to take care of their devoted subjects.”
“Haha, you flatter me.”
Even Marcilio, who had been watching Louise bake cookies, seemed impressed by Rutis’s unexpected gestures and softly spoke up.
“Well, I suppose I can’t be idle.”
That short line said everything we all knew: like Rutis making appearances for students wanting connections with royalty, Marcilio would occasionally come to those wanting to learn.
“That would be great for the little ones.”
Seeing Marcilio smile at me almost brought me to tears.
Hey, past me, are you watching? I was rolling around the Academy with nothing to my name, and now I feel like I’m surrounded by the Great Captain, the dragon lord, and the phoenix!
Yeah, this is a proper assignment. This is what true work feels like.
“Thank you. The students will surely be happy about it.”
So I expressed my gratitude sincerely. If Marcilio shows up once a week or even bi-weekly at the debate club, the wizards will be satisfied. They’d likely comply with the promotion system for more opportunities and strive for advancement to the first league.
Of course, no one would actually make it to the first league.
“Thank you too. For students from foreign lands, the presence of royalty must provide reassurance.”
“It’s nothing special. Isn’t it my duty to recognize how hard it is for my juniors to live abroad?”
As I thanked Rutis, he returned with a perfectly normal response. At this point, the 77th season Rutis and the 78th season Rutis might as well be different people altogether. In the pre-reincarnation soccer game, doesn’t the player’s stats change with each season?
Coincidentally, the one who crushed the Fifth Empire is also the 78th season Rutis. Seems fair to think they’re indeed different beings.
In the end, during the club application period, the only person who submitted an application was Sera. Thanks to the solidarity of the pastry club members, we managed to protect our precious club.
“Confirmed: the pastry club has one new member…”
This victory was also something the Vice Principal was pleased about.
He worried that an oddball would join the pastry club, possibly colliding with current members and causing chaos in the Academy. Recently, his complexion had been turning whiter by the day, so we could only imagine the stress he was under.
But after looking at the member list I submitted, his complexion considerably brightened. Only one new member. And she was just an ordinary noble young lady whom I and Erich knew. From the Vice Principal’s viewpoint, it must feel like a miracle given the worst-case scenario he was anticipating.
“The club consists entirely of second-year members. Once they graduate, it may face dissolution.”
With a gentle gaze scanning the member list, the Vice Principal spoke with a somewhat relieved tone.
It’s true if the club only has second-year members, we should really worry about the future. To put it bluntly, doesn’t that mean we’ve become a stagnant group that has cut off new entries? Not exactly cut off, but actively pushed them away, at that.
Anyway, as the Vice Principal mentioned, if we maintain this trend, the pastry club is heading for dissolution. That’s likely what the Vice Principal subtly wishes for. The pastry club had caused most of the Vice Principal’s stress, so imagine how happy he’d be if that horrifying trauma disappeared.
“Louise seemed a bit regretful. She said she’d consider accepting new members next year.”
However, regrettably, the chances of the pastry club willingly dissolving are slim. After all, the club’s founder, Louise, wants it to continue.
“Really? That’s a relief. It’d be a shame for a club filled with students’ memories to vanish.”
At my words, the Vice Principal’s attitude shifted in an instant.
In reality, once the current members graduate, whether the pastry club remains or not wouldn’t matter to the Vice Principal. Although it might trigger some trauma, without royals or nobles, the pastry club would just be one of many clubs.
Well, maybe if other royals or nobles entered after the current members graduate, it could shift things, but the odds of that happening are low. Even more so, the chances they’d join the pastry club are even lower.
“Yes, the members are quite attached to the club. They’ll surely reminisce about their school days after graduation, so the club must remain.”
“Haha, well said.”
Nostalgia for the club and school memories. The direct and apparent mentions caused a change in the Vice Principal’s gaze.
What thoughts would high-ranking individuals hold if they had fond memories of the Academy, especially if the very club they once belonged to is still thriving? They’d likely feel compelled to donate generously to ensure their juniors flourish in a good environment.
The royalty, who were once a pain during their school days, donating money after graduation could be quite the delightful situation for the Academy, right?
‘Money has no sin.’
The problem lies with the people.
*
Thanks to Cal’s considerate actions, it’s been a few days since I joined the pastry club.
It would be a lie to say I’m not afraid of this unfamiliar space, but with Erich beside me and the other members being kind, it hasn’t been too hard to adapt. The president, Louise, is truly sweet too.
Yet there’s only one thing I still can’t comprehend—
‘Pastry club?’
It doesn’t feel like a pastry club at all.
I stared blankly at Rutis, who’s absently playing chess, and Lather, who’s equally zoned out. Louise is kneading dough, but no one seems to mind that there’s chess happening. And rather, everyone treats this scene as if it’s the norm, which is quite confusing.
“Now, I convert this into a bishop.”
“…Four bishops?”
“Yup. What do you think? Isn’t it innovative?”
Lather almost muttered a curse in response, or at least that’s how it felt.
“Looks like Lather’s losing again.”
I shifted my gaze subtly at the unimpressed voice.
‘Ah.’
And then I realized after seeing Erich’s expression remaining dull in response to that scene. This is the normal here.
…Then I suppose I better adapt!
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