Chapter 29
The current Student Council President of the Imperial Academy, Demian Connor, was born as the third son of the Connor family, a common viscount family. With his ambiguous status as the third son of a viscount, Demian was just an ordinary noble kid who dreamed of a bureaucratic career from a young age.
Since the title would pass to his elder brother, the eldest son, Demian had to find his own path. Therefore, he chose the bureaucratic route and joined the Student Council.
Unlike clubs that served social functions, it was somewhat conventional for students aiming to become bureaucrats to run the Student Council. This meant that students with uncertain statuses within their families often found themselves as members of the Student Council. Thanks to that, they were somewhat getting a taste of bureaucratic life through their busy schedules.
However, Demian had no complaints about that. It was a path he had chosen, and his current struggles would become valuable experiences for when he aspired to become a bureaucrat in the future. Since graduates from the Student Council frequently transitioned into bureaucratic roles, the Imperial Administration often granted extra points for those who had been in the Student Council.
However, starting last year, when Demian became a second-year student, a red flag was raised in his Student Council life.
“I’m Marghetta Valenti. Nice to meet you, seniors.”
In the Student Council, where you had a gathering of nobodies, an invasive species had suddenly made its debut. When the sudden appearance of the Duke’s daughter struck, Demian nearly lost his footing and almost collapsed, but he stood firm thanks to the mental fortitude he had honed over the past year.
Unfortunately for Demian, who had earned the position of vice president due to his recognized abilities, he was assigned the role of looking after the new first-year students who had just joined the Student Council. Upon realizing this fact, he felt a strong desire to sit down and weep.
In his state of grievance, he demanded to know what the heck was going on from the current president, but the president silenced him with one phrase.
“So, you want me to refuse the Duke’s daughter, huh?”
Demian internally wept.
After that, every day he trudged to the Student Council room with the morale of a soldier heading to the frontline. He prayed fervently, asking for just one more day to pass without incident, for the noble lady to lose interest and leave the Student Council voluntarily. Sadly, the Duke’s daughter showed up every single day without fail.
As time slipped by, an atmosphere arose during a Student Council gathering where first-years were asked why they had joined the council. It happened by chance, but everyone present was eager to know just one person’s reason.
“I know someone in the Administration. I thought I might become a bureaucrat to see that person.”
Watching the Duke’s daughter, who replied with a cheerful smile, Demian pondered. Wouldn’t it just be easier to summon that person directly instead of becoming a bureaucrat?
‘Whoever they are, I absolutely loathe them…’
That day, Demian genuinely cursed an unknown bureaucrat from the Administration.
Yet, in a twist of fate, Marghetta went through her Student Council life smoothly and even showed some respect to the senior members. Of course, for the seniors, having a Duke’s daughter as a junior felt like the ultimate form of torture, but nonetheless, things were going surprisingly well.
A year passed, and Demian was elected President of the Student Council. Now all he needed to do was graduate and wave goodbye not only to the Duke’s daughter but also to the precarious world of the Student Council. Imagining himself stepping into the Imperial Administration after graduation, he fought fiercely to hold on.
But his endurance seemed to be reaching its limit today.
‘Oh, Your Majesty, Enen, please! I beg you!’
Before Demian’s eyes, a man was flipping through the documents submitted by the Student Council, and he felt a chill as the harbinger of death — the specter brought along by the Duke’s daughter — loomed. Demian squeezed his eyes shut once more.
The current chief auditor of the Ministry of Finance, Carl Krasius, stationed at the Academy as an inspector. There was no way Demian, with aspirations of becoming a bureaucrat, didn’t know that name.
The Emperor’s hunting dog, the Crown Prince’s sword, the Ministry of Finance’s rabid dog. He was a trusty servant of the royal family, barking when prompted and biting when commanded. The reputation — both famous and infamous — that he had built up over two years was staggering.
Especially when you considered he was the one who had torn through the Asilon Marquis family, serving as the strongest supporter of the second prince and being related to the Empress. There was practically no one who could stand against that family, save for the royal family and the five ducal houses.
For noble blood, being demoted in rank was a horror worse than death itself. After having issued such a punishment, word had it that Carl Krasius mocked the family as he left. Following the disgrace, the head of the Asilon family reportedly committed suicide, overwhelmed by shame.
…And now, that very man was here scrutinizing Demian’s work.
“Hmm.”
‘Oh dear God…’
The Executive Manager continued poring over the documents. Both Demian and the other council members trembled like prisoners awaiting execution. Only the Duke’s daughter remained unfazed, smiling comfortably.
“Not bad.”
“Huh?”
After what felt like an eternity, the positive verdict sent Demian into a stupor. He couldn’t help but snap his mouth shut at his own foolishness, but fortunately, the Executive Manager seemed unfazed by it.
“There are a few clumsy touches, but nothing major. You could handle actual work without a hitch.”
At the Executive Manager’s declaration of innocence, the atmosphere melted away drastically. Especially for the treasurer and accountant, who looked as if they might burst into tears at any moment. Only then could Demian let out a sigh of relief.
“Your name is Demian Connor?”
“Yes, yes! That’s me!”
Just as the tension lifted, Demian felt it surge back upon hearing that voice. But the Executive Manager, ignoring Demian’s stiff demeanor, took out a business card and jotted something on the back.
“Here you go.”
“Ah, yes.”
With great care, Demian accepted the card being offered by the Executive Manager. On the back were his own name and the signature of the Executive Manager himself.
“Are you planning to take the bureaucratic exam after graduation? There’s no need for that. Just take this to the department you want, and they will assign you a suitable position.”
Demian’s eyes bulged wide. Even though he had willingly chosen to join the Student Council, he hadn’t done so out of joy. The vague status of being a third son of a viscount and the lack of connections had forced him to seek bureaucratic work through the exam. Joining the Student Council was simply a necessary evil for some extra points.
But now, a golden opportunity had appeared before him. While the Executive Manager had referred to it as a “suitable” position, in reality, counting the unfeasible options would be far quicker than finding those that were viable. Especially if it was within the Ministry of Finance.
“Thank you very much!”
Demian bent deeply in gratitude towards the Executive Manager. He now realized just how misguided he had been by all the negative rumors. There was no way a person like this could be as malevolent as they claimed.
“Being devoted to the Empire itself is enough gratitude.”
Look, he’s an outstanding individual.
*
Pity washed over me as I observed the trembling Student Council President. I was prepared to overlook anything as long as there wasn’t any trace of embezzlement. After all, from the President’s angle, it had truly been a rough blow from Marghetta’s trickery.
‘Oh, not bad.’
But it wasn’t even necessary. No, I may be far removed from being a conventional Executive Manager, but I had seen and notified plenty over these last two years. Navigating through reports like these was a piece of cake. The more I examined it, the more competent it appeared
Undoubtedly, he had some rookie mistakes, but all that could easily be sorted out once he started his life as a bureaucrat. Is this guy actually impressive?
‘Demian Connor, right?’
A sense of newfound curiosity blossomed in me as I looked at the President. I had stumbled upon a valuable gem. It would be helpful to have someone like him around, especially since he was aiming to become a bureaucrat.
Thus, I wrote a referral letter right there. I can’t let this potential gem suddenly have a change of heart and abandon his bureaucratic aspirations. Once I grant this referral letter, it’s a done deal. Forgetting it would feel like a faux pas.
“Thank you!”
The President was clearly touched, bowing and expressing his gratitude. What a cute expression; I’m the one who should be more grateful. The more low-ranking aides out there, the closer my retirement approaches. Swapping a business card for a referral isn’t a hassle at all!
Wow! Bureaucrat! Cheaper than a business card!
With that, our urgent inspection concluded, leaving both the President and myself satisfied.
As I exited the Student Council room, I left behind the President, who was saluting fervently, along with fellow members shooting me eager glances. I had a hunch about what those gazes meant.
Yeah, he definitely didn’t draft that alone. Don’t worry, my little fishies; when the time comes, I’ll even write referral letters for you, whether you want them or not. If you try to run, I’ll drag you to the Ministry of Finance myself.
“Thank you, Sir Carl. See you tomorrow.”
“Eh? Tomorrow?”
“The preparations aren’t finished yet, so it would be a great help if you could confirm any changes immediately.”
Marghetta, who had followed me out, spoke with a bright smile. I had no choice but to nod. If I turned her down, she might run off to Louise, creating more chaos to deal with.
“Would tomorrow work at the same time?”
“I’ll come if you wait for me in the clubroom.”
“What an honor.”
The Duke’s daughter coming to pick me up? What a stroke of luck.
As I chuckled, Marghetta joined in my laughter.
*
And that night, once classes and club activities had finished:
– I heard you’ve met my daughter.
“Ah, yes.”
My knees buckled involuntarily, and my chin dutifully lowered. Before me appeared the glimmering visage of a man materializing through the communication portal.
– You said as if you’d never see her again. How intriguing.
“Haha…”
The Iron-blooded Duke made a sudden call, wrapping me in a beautiful surprise.
…Dying by poison would be faster than hanging yourself, wouldn’t it?
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