Chapter 17
They say that people cannot be fixed, and personally, I agree with this statement. Reflecting on my four years as a civil servant, I realize that humans are not only unfixable but are also creatures that can provoke deep-seated hatred. Oh nature, I apologize for the humans that inhabit this world.
However, now if someone were to ask me whether a person can be fixed, I can proudly declare that it is absolutely possible with enough effort!
‘I’m not one to easily shed tears, but this is making me want to cry.’
Just a few days ago, with the heartfelt advice I provided, Erich managed to change. With a warm smile, I beheld the sight of Erich, engrossed in baking next to Louise.
“In moments like this, just do it this way!”
“Oh, I see.”
Look at Louise, teach Erich enthusiastically with a smile full of light. To be honest, it seems Erich isn’t so much into baking as he is into simply hearing Louise’s voice, but that was the very purpose of my advice.
Bravo, Erich! Win her heart!
As Erich took the lead in the absurdly competitive race, it seemed the other four competitors began to feel a wave of panic, trying to join the baking frenzy. However, Erich, for the first time basking in favorable circumstances, had no intention of giving it up and cleverly rebuffed any interference from others, holding his ground ever since.
This is a little infuriating. Why has this guy, who could do so well if he just tried, been acting like this all along?
‘Well, I guess he’ll manage just fine from now on.’
Though I resorted to some shock therapy on Erich out of frustration, I wasn’t the one to dish out relationship advice. Now that he has succeeded in overcoming that frustration and made strides, it’s time for me to trust him. After all, I’m an advisor, not some matchmaker playing puppet master in a love story.
“Wow, now Erich is really doing well!”
Look at how the corners of his mouth are lifting!
With a mix of pity and pride, I gazed at the two of them until my eyes met with Louise’s. She smiled and gave a slight nod, to which I reciprocated with a bow of my own.
Thank you for treating my hopeless little brother so kindly… Though it was Louise who captivated him in the first place, that’s just the power of the original story, so I can’t complain. From now on, I’ll consider her to be a guiltless angel.
Erich, the weakest, continued his rebellion for several days. No, I misspoke. The reign of Erich, the strongest, persisted for several days. To think he would take the lead among a dazzling array of rivals, I’m sure the lord would be cheerful about it. The harvest from the Krasius family’s offspring is plenty!
“Advisor, do you have a moment?”
Just as I was about to step out with a buoyant spirit, Lather, who had inexplicably stayed until the end, stopped me. Well, it was easy to guess he had something to say. He wouldn’t still be here otherwise.
“Sure, what’s up?”
Yet, without a clue about his intent, I offered him a seat and fetched a jar of cookies from the shelf. The jar was brimming with cookies made by Louise, whose output vastly exceeded Erich’s.
Lather’s mouth twitched a bit upon seeing the cookie jar. What did the royal chef feed him to make his tastes so finicky? I brought these for our long chat, but it looks like they’re just for me. They taste heavenly!
As I casually took a cookie and popped it in my mouth, Lather silently observed my actions. He drummed his fingers on the desk a few times, lost in thought. After some deliberation, he opened his mouth as if he had made a determination.
“I won’t beat around the bush since I’m sure you’re busy.”
In reality, despite his claims, my days weren’t overly hectic right now. The six people who gathered in the club surprisingly conducted themselves quite well, so I had nothing requiring intervention. I guess I can be a little grateful for that.
… No freaking way, what am I thinking? They’re the very reason I came to this Academy! Is this Stockholm Syndrome? Am I actually feeling grateful towards the perpetrators?
Despite this dreadful and sorrowful inner turmoil, as I nodded and agreed, Lather spoke straightforwardly without any prelude.
“Did you give Erich a nudge?”
I had just popped a second cookie into my mouth when I froze and stared at Lather. I couldn’t help but wonder how he interpreted my silence, but he continued talking.
“Ever since you took Erich out a few days ago, his actions have become noticeably proactive.”
Well, of course! If someone wasn’t motivated after being given such unfiltered advice, are they even human? At least my brother is a normal guy.
“And since then, your attention has been frequently directed toward Erich.”
That’s true. I believe in my brother’s ability to change, but I was still nervously watching in case my advice didn’t quite hit the mark. Luckily, Erich has been leading the race, putting my worries to rest.
“So it seemed to me that Erich began acting on your advice.”
Again, Lather maintained silence, his gaze fixed on me. Perhaps he was asking if his theory held any weight or pondering what to say next. Well, only he knows his intent; he isn’t one for expressive faces at all.
“That’s right. I offered Erich some advice as his older brother.”
At my calm acknowledgment, Lather let out a small sigh. I can tell this reaction; it feels like acknowledging that a regrettable theory turned out to be true. I’ve encountered this reaction far too many times.
“Advice as an older brother, understood.”
“Is there a problem with that?”
“Not at all. It’s just that I didn’t anticipate the Advisor would involve himself.”
After that, Lather intertwined his fingers on the desk and tilted his head.
“Of course, us five, including Erich, were all being cautious about each other.”
Well, I’m aware of that quite well since I’m the one closest to watching it unfold.
It was frustrating to witness their game of careful observation, yet it wasn’t entirely incomprehensible. The five could only meet Louise after enrolling in the Academy, and their competitive landscape that involved her was one they were stepping into without prior acquaintance. To strategize, they needed to figure out the character of their rivals.
To summarize, they had dragged their social habits right into the Academy.
“That standoff situation crumbled once Erich took charge and even approached Louise directly.”
Lather seemed to sigh once again, frustrated at how the equilibrium had been disrupted by Erich’s boldness.
“Sometimes moving quickly instead of biding time is indeed the right approach.”
At such a lamenting statement, I couldn’t help but be shocked, even considering the person before me belonged to royalty.
‘What’s wrong with him?’
If he can figure out that Erich’s change stems from me, he at least possesses basic common sense. Very basic common sense, but it’s there! Hence, he would likely realize the importance of stepping up first.
While some love-struck idiots were busy digging their own graves, Erich managed to break free from that tug-of-war and went straight for success. Just as Lather noted, taking swift and assertive action was crucial for winning over Louise.
After pondering this, I ended up voicing my thoughts. Since he was the one who initiated this entire conversation, I figured I could express myself a little more honestly.
“So you acted like that even while knowing this…?”
At my murmured statement, Lather found himself without words, quietly turning away.
A heavy silence descended in the club room.
*
With Lather gone, I was left alone in the club room. I found myself staring at the place he had just occupied.
‘What a strange fellow.’
A chuckle involuntarily escaped my lips as I recalled Lather’s previous statement.
“I hope you simply keep watching, Advisor.”
The purpose of our conversation, which Lather, with evident embarrassment, had finally shared just before leaving, was for me to refrain from offering further advice to Erich. Not only that, he asked me to stop interfering in their competition altogether.
He must have felt anxious. He likely concluded that my support for Erich would make it unfair. However, asking me to refrain explicitly from aiding Erich would have been too blatant, so he broadened it to encompass the entire competition among the five of them. As if it made any difference since I didn’t intend to help anyone other than Erich anyway.
Naturally, I had resolved to leave the competition to Erich from here on out, so I nodded in acquiescence. It seemed that my response eased Lather’s concerns. His expression relaxed, and he even apologized for his request. I wasn’t upset by this, so I accepted his apology graciously.
“Have I been underestimating these kids too much?”
Without realizing it, it appeared I had treated the five club members as mere male leads blinded by love from some boring story. Even after being here for five years, fully aware that these individuals were not the flat characters from a novel, I still overlooked their nuances.
To be brutally honest, watching these guys engage in such a painfully simple game of one-upmanship made it hard not to view them as mere fools. Any other sane person would have thought the same way. They clearly had a shortcut to success; why on earth were they dodging it and dancing around the edges?
Yet, even with Erich transforming thanks to my advice, and Lather struggling to navigate disadvantageous circumstances, the five displayed a diverse spectrum of behavioral patterns, and they were anything but simple characters. Witnessing this firsthand brought a pleasant sense of delight—perhaps they weren’t just puppets of the original story, but genuinely infatuated and striving sincerely for Louise.
“Now go ahead, keep within the limits and do your best!”
I hummed to myself, popping another cookie into my mouth. Just as Lather hoped, I wasn’t about to grant any unfair advantages to anyone. However, should the competition take a turn for the worse, I’ll need to step in and intervene.
Now that I think about it, isn’t this joy just a defensive mechanism? Perhaps I subconsciously need something positive to endure the storm brewing among these five individuals.
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