Chapter 517
Olivia said that just me standing with my arms crossed would be enough, but realistically, standing there with my arms folded won’t calm down the madness of the club members. To be precise, I can’t handle the students who have gone crazy under the incitement of the royals.
The academy is vast, the students are numerous, and the arenas are scattered all over. Unless I learn to use a clone technique, overseeing all the arenas is pretty much impossible. So whether I step in or not, the chances of a student causing trouble are never low. Human madness is that frightening and unpredictable.
“This will be our last activity.”
“Let’s work to ensure this class rivalry wraps up safely.”
Thanks to that, I ended up meeting with Villar to discuss security for the class rivalry.
Of course, it wasn’t a hasty meeting. Just as I’ve rolled every year to prevent club members from causing trouble, the Tri-Nation forces, led by Villar, have been rolling like dogs for the sake of their key figures’ safety. It’s a given that they’d be rolling this year as well.
Only, when the Tri-Nation forces move, they do so through me or the Principal, so as a mere student organization, the student council couldn’t treat the Tri-Nation forces as their own personnel. It’d be weirder if they thought they could command foreign soldiers, really.
‘It’ll probably just be some minor noise and then end.’
I collected my thoughts while looking over the patrol schedule Villar and I completed. The atmosphere for this year’s class rivalry is definitely unusual. The student council and leadership didn’t panic for no reason.
However, to prepare for it, the leadership squeezed every bit of resources dry, and the Tri-Nation forces and I plan to thoroughly supervise the arenas. Unless something beyond the inevitable noise caused by managing a few people dealing with a crowd happens, the chances of a major incident are low.
Indeed, the more manpower, the better. If I were the only one available to help the leadership, there would have been two or three incidents a day, that much I’m sure.
“By the way, Manager.”
While I was wishing for the successful conclusion of the class rivalry in my mind, Villar spoke up.
“I’ve heard something unusual recently.”
“Unusual, you say?”
His words were serious enough to make me think quickly. That Villar would mention something means it’s really something unusual, but I can’t put my finger on what it could be.
Moreover, since Olivia’s earnest request, the student council hasn’t contacted me, and Mar hasn’t communicated with the student council president either. It’s a peaceful situation with no critical variables.
“I heard a rumor about Rutis, but I’m not sure if it’s true. I thought you should know.”
Noticing my bewilderment, Villar subtly shook his head and added.
That didn’t keep me from feeling more anxious. Of all people, Rutis said it—
“I’ve heard that Marquis Idrid of the Empire is aiming for victory in this year’s class rivalry.”
“Excuse me?”
“And they say it’s Baron Hardiner who’s spurring him on.”
My mind, which had been racing, came to a grinding halt as if I’d just hit a wall.
Wait, what?
‘Who’s aiming for victory?’
The dynamic is shifting from a dominance between Rutis and Lather to a three-way competition?
‘Who’s inciting it?’
And the mastermind trying to change the main rivalry to a three-way competition is my own little brother?
In an instant, a rush of confusion and anger made my hands tremble. Naturally, I thought I only had to keep an eye on Rutis and Lather’s factions, or at maximum, the students from Ainter and Yuben. But if what Villar said is true, then students from the Empire, including Ainter, now become subjects of scrutiny.
And there are a ton of imperial students enrolled at the academy.
“That’s a puzzling rumor. If it’s true, this class rivalry will unfold differently than last year.”
“Yes. The academy will be swept up in a frenzy.”
Though both Villar and I are attaching the note of ‘rumor,’ I was bracing myself for it to be practically confirmed.
After all, a royal speaking to a subject—no matter how devilish Rutis may be, a royal is still a royal. Royal proclamations always carry weight, and they can’t just evade responsibility with a casual ‘Just kidding.’
Which means the class rivalry transforming from a two-faction thesis of foreign powers to one that includes the Empire, and that Erich is involved in this mess as well, is likely true.
‘What the hell.’
I felt faint. The class rivalry, already heating up, is going to go completely off the rails.
‘Damn little brother.’
I gently massaged the back of my neck with my trembling hand. If I didn’t do that, I felt like my blood pressure would shoot up to the heavens and I might just collapse.
Why would you do such a thing? In a rivalry that’s already a bother as it is… why add fuel to the fire? Why, of all people, my little brother?
I can’t believe it. I can’t comprehend the reality that my little brother just stabbed me in the gut. I haven’t mistreated him, and I’ve even set him up with two fiancées.
‘…What should I do?’
After a good moment of being overwhelmed with betrayal, my mind soon started to worry about the impoverished future.
What do I do now? If the imperial students go wild too, can we manage this all by ourselves? I feel like the leadership will collectively want to gnaw off their tongues.
Honestly, I want to gnaw mine too. I’d rather lie down from injury and avoid this whole mess for a while.
*
As I observed the stiff-faced manager rubbing the back of his neck, I brought the teacup to my lips.
‘These siblings sure are causing a ruckus.’
It’s a thought that might hurt the manager’s feelings if he knew, but when it comes to stirring up trouble, the manager is no less than Baron Hardiner.
The manager fainted Rutis two years ago, and last year, alongside Duke Marcilio, put on quite a performance cutting a meteorite in half. To be honest, even if this year’s rivalry is rowdy, what the manager did was wilder than anything the students could come up with. After all, when students fight, it’s just kids having a spat.
Thus, I managed to keep my cool. Unlike the manager, who seems to forget his own record, I’ve built up a hardiness I didn’t ask for over two years. I can confidently laugh at how the students are flapping around.
…
‘If only the manager hadn’t come.’
That thought suddenly crossed my mind. Because of notable figures’ enrollment, including Rutis, the manager came to the academy, but the incidents initiated by those key figures and those stirred up by the manager are quite equal.
No, in some cases, the manager might be the one causing more chaos. At least Rutis didn’t go carving meteors in front of a continent full of people.
‘Covering one’s own mess by burying it under others’ incidents.’
The manager’s methodology is truly praiseworthy. It’s a marvelous technique no one can follow.
‘Thank goodness there’s no one like that in Ainter.’
This would also make the manager feel sad if he knew, but it’s the truth. As a martial artist, I hold the manager in high regard, but living alongside the manager as a bureaucrat may just blow out my wick. It’s likely he’d be at the epicenter of all sorts of uproars and incidents, and I’d either be physically dead or mentally fried just being around him.
‘And the manager would probably come out unscathed.’
That is the most terrifying scenario. A walking calamity without a scratch.
“Villar.”
Just as I was beginning to appreciate the three-year curriculum’s impending end, I set my teacup down as the manager spoke.
“Yes, manager?”
“I’ll talk with Baron Hardiner myself.”
I nodded lightly to a statement I expected.
If my brother steps in, this situation from worsening can be halted.
*
As soon as I saw Erich walk into the club room with a calm expression, I almost sliced him with a neck slice technique.
But I held back because my future sister-in-law Sara was right next to him. No matter how mad I get, I can’t go slugging my little brother in front of his fiancée.
‘Damn it.’
But the more I thought about it, the angrier I got. Because of the couple I set up, I can’t hit my little brother? How’s that for unreasonable?
“Hey.”
Anyway, as soon as I saw Erich, I flicked my finger. I barely managed to hold back the part following “you little brat.”
I must have really matured now that I’ve become the head of the family. This is the dignity of someone bearing responsibility.
“Come here for a sec.”
“Uh, okay.”
At the short and concise command, Erich hastily walked over to me.
Seeing that made me let out a snicker. The fact that he came without question means he thinks he’s done something stupid.
‘If only Sara weren’t here.’
In that moment, the first father-in-law’s chamber of truth flickered before my eyes. Father-in-law, why did you create such a terrifying thing? But… oh, that must be the wisdom honed by age…
“Class rivalry—”
“Brother, I can explain everything.”
Erich cut in before I could finish my sentence.
“Go ahead.”
It was a preposterous act that would make the very foundations of seniority scream in horror, but it might be better to hear Erich’s explanation first. I could unleash a string of curses in the middle if I didn’t allow him to explain.
“It’s strange for the imperial students to lose in the Imperial Academy. Plus, this is the year when the royals graduate, so we have to secure a victory to raise the empire’s status.”
“Hey, you!”
However, the justification that it was merely a matter of pride made my fury flare even more.
The empire’s status has been sufficiently elevated by me and Trixie, you idiot.
“Oh! Brother! Erich will die if you keep that up!”
Unable to restrain my anger any longer, I locked my arm around Erich’s neck in a chokehold, causing Sara to panic and hit my arm.
I feel sorry for Sara, but I think I’d need to do this for about ten seconds to work off my frustration. Just until he’s on the brink of unconsciousness.
Erich’s sudden act was met with forceful retribution.
“If the end is happy, even previous hardships become beautiful memories.”
Yet Ainter, captivated by Erich, had already changed.
It’s truly a tragic situation. Erich could still be fixed, but a royal and marquis is untouchable.
“So let’s make the end a victory for us.”
“““Imperial Glory! Victory is ours!”””
After the opening ceremony of the class rivalry, Ainter, vowing victory before the imperial students, looked like a general embarking for battle.
But is it just me? Seeing Ainter, who respects all his peers with politeness, gives off an indescribable, subtle madness. I thought I heard that respect between classmates was against the academy rules.
‘He surely isn’t normal either.’
Half of his blood is the blood of the situation. The other half is from Ainter.
Thinking about it, being normal in such a composition is already pretty weird.
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