“Millia. Then have a good trip.”
“It’s a shame Johann can’t go with us…”
“I’ll take Karina and come back soon.”
“So Karina will be able to hear my speech too?”
“I’ll try my best.”
“I’ll be waiting!”
I’m a bit worried, but… well, she’ll manage just fine.
I waved back at Millia, who was waving at me, then turned my body.
I wonder how Karina will look after a month. With pleasant thoughts, I headed toward the Sanctuary.
———————-
“Ugh… I’m so nervous.”
“Oh my, that’s not like you, Millia.”
“Aren’t you nervous, Perinne?”
Millia turned to look at Perinne, who was staring back at her with a surprised expression. It was a sight she had never seen from Millia before.
Perinne smiled gently and said to Millia, “Don’t think too hard about it.”
“Well… I still feel nervous.”
Millia nervously fiddled with the paper that had her finalized speech written on it. She thought she wouldn’t get nervous in a place like this, but when the time came, her heart started racing.
‘I hope I don’t mess up…’
“Haha! Don’t think too much about it! You just have to give a speech for 5 minutes in front of the students!”
“Speaking of which, Olive’s hands are shaking like crazy.”
At Olive’s contradictory demeanor, Millia and Perinne burst into laughter. It was quite a ridiculous sight. Mimosa, who had been staring intently at her speech in the corner, snorted at the scene.
‘Guess she thinks this is a kid’s game.’
Mimosa, who didn’t like Millia, Karina’s friend, even found Millia’s nervousness distasteful. After all, she was the girl who naturally took the seat next to Karina that she had wanted so much.
It was annoying for her, who was trying to become a priestess, to see a girl who wasn’t even a believer in Kalon Church getting close to Karina and speaking casually with her.
“Did you prepare well for the speech, Perinne?”
“I just prepared it normally.”
“Can you really prepare a speech normally?”
“Well, since I prepared it normally, I can say it’s ordinary, right?”
“Exactly! I prepared it normally too! I had to struggle helping everyone in the Knight Department with their speeches! They were all troubled since they’re more accustomed to wielding swords than writing!”
Olive was getting a bit boisterous, trying to shake off his nerves. His loud antics filled the waiting room with a lively atmosphere. The three were trying to dispel their nerves like this.
“Is this how the student council candidates are supposed to be… aren’t you being too loud?”
One person from the corner spoke up with a sharp tone, dissatisfied with the scene. At Mimosa’s voice, the three naturally turned their gaze towards her.
“Mimosa, aren’t you nervous?”
“Under the duty of serving Kalon, such candidate speeches are not a difficult task.”
Her cold voice left no room for friendship. The three exchanged worried glances, instinctively turning their eyes away.
‘Mimosa better not get elected…’
‘I bet it would be super hard working under her.’
‘Scary.’
Although they didn’t speak, the three’s thoughts coincided.
If Mimosa became student council president, things would really get tiring. No one wanted to work under that hysterical woman. Especially Millia, who had received Mimosa’s piercing glares a few times, hardened her resolve even more.
‘I absolutely do not want to be her vice president!’
“Cough, cough. Did you prepare well for your speech?”
“Principal Merlin!”
When Principal Merlin entered the waiting room, the four candidates stood up in unison and greeted him politely. After receiving the students’ greetings, Principal Merlin stroked his beard and scanned the candidates.
Three were maintaining a lively atmosphere despite being competitors, while one stood apart, exuding a sharp vibe.
‘I wonder if this is okay…’
I can only hope nothing goes wrong. With a smile, Principal Merlin informed the four students that the speeches would begin soon.
“Ugh, I’m nervous. I hope I don’t mess up.”
“Just hold on for a bit.”
“Honestly, I’d feel less nervous challenging the dean to a duel!”
“…”
“It will start in 10 minutes, so until then, do your final checks.”
“Yes!”
With that, Principal Merlin turned and vanished out of the waiting room.
“Phew, only 10 minutes left…”
Millia mumbled while pretending not to notice the piercing glares from behind her.
“Olive, you’re first, right?”
“Y-Yeah! I’ll have to read my speech again! I need to avoid mistakes!”
“Then let’s each take some time for our final checks.”
Silence fell in the waiting room. Millia began to review her speech one last time, occasionally glancing at Mimosa.
————————
“Olive, it’s your turn.”
After Principal Merlin’s announcement, Olive stood up with a spirited step and headed toward the stage, holding the paper with his speech written on it.
This was Olive’s first time standing on a stage, looking at the students.
Knight Department, Magic Department, Liberal Arts Department, and… Theology Department.
The realization that students from all four departments were gathered in front of him made Olive let out an excited huff.
‘Be vigorous and loud!’
“Everyone! Nice to meet you! I am Olive Cromwell! A candidate for the student council president from the Knight Department!”
His thunderous voice drew everyone’s gaze. Olive felt many piercing looks and took a deep breath.
For a speech, a loud voice, or rather, a rhetoric was important.
He inhaled deeply enough to tighten his chest muscles and started speaking in a booming voice that echoed throughout the auditorium.
“Dear students! As a candidate of this academy’s Knights, I wish to lead all of you!”
Olive filled the 5 minutes with his speech. Students reacted, some affirming while others found it burdensome due to his passionate voice.
“That concludes my speech!”
‘Phew, I finally finished!’
Now all that’s left is the results announcement.
Olive bowed and quietly returned to the waiting room.
“Then, next is Lady Perinne Neraid! Please come forth!”
With the professor acting as the host’s call, Perinne emerged from behind the curtain with elegant steps. Perinne quietly stood on the podium, looked over the students with her blue eyes, and took a deep breath.
“Greetings to the students attending the finest academy, Kalon Academy. I, the young noble of the Neraid family, extend my greetings.”
With graceful movements, Perinne offered a noble bow.
As applause erupted from the students, she smiled softly, gathered her voice, and started her speech.
“As a representative of the Magic Department-”
Unlike Olive, Perinne continued her speech in a clear, though not loud voice. The main content of her speech highlighted the improvements she would make if elected and additional promises.
Students nodded along as they listened to her pledges.
It was easy for her to gain support from students since she emphasized maintenance of various facilities and remodeling the student lounge as her key promises.
“…Thank you.”
Perinne left the stage with an elegant step while receiving applause from the students.
‘Next is my turn.’
Mimosa put on a feigned smile as if she were giving a mass. Regardless of her feelings, she had to present the best image during her speech.
Passing by the departing Perinne, Mimosa stood on the podium, scanning the students. Unlike before, the atmosphere was now quiet. With only some support from the Theology Department, Mimosa unconsciously clenched her teeth.
‘Those fools! This seat is meant to be held by our Theology Department! Don’t they realize they must protect the Saint’s position?!’
As Mimosa’s fierce gaze swept over the Theology Department, the students raised their hands reluctantly, making a sound of applause.
“Hello, Kalon Academy students. I am Mimosa from the Theology Department. I dare to say from this place that this seat should originally belong to the Saint!”
A sigh echoed from somewhere. But to Mimosa, such sounds were inaudible.
‘When our Saint was here, it was an unspoken tradition for the student council president to be given to her!’
Such a tradition could not be broken during her term.
How could she possibly bestow the dishonor of becoming the first Saint to break tradition?
At least, that’s how Mimosa thought, and her voice carried a somber weight.
“I will promise on behalf of the Saint that this school year shall be the most glorious. I will faithfully reflect the various opinions of each department and lead our school life, and as the Saint prays for us with us…”
‘What is she saying?’
Millia frowned, listening to the speech in the waiting room. Why was she rambling like this without even receiving Karina’s permission?
‘Looks like she hasn’t been disciplined enough!’
Of course, as a priestess major, she wouldn’t base her expertise on a 300-to-1 ratio, but it didn’t change the fact that she wouldn’t listen. Millia vowed to report Mimosa’s behavior to Johann and Karina and stood up.
The end of the third speech was approaching.
“…Therefore, I urge you all to vote for our Saint…”
‘How blasphemous!’
Suppressing the rising anger within her, Mimosa completed her speech.
However, what returned was not applause, but murmurs.
The students, hearing Mimosa’s speech, whispered and tilted their heads.
“Was she representing the Saint?”
“I’ve heard there’s a tradition, but… do we have to do it?”
“The Saint is in the Sanctuary, right?”
‘I must endure. If I let my rage over the utterances of those blasphemous beings take over, it would only lower my standing.’
“…Thus, I conclude my speech.”
Mimosa turned while biting her lip. She spotted Millia waiting for her turn. Millia, displeased with Mimosa, pouted like a baby bird as she stared at her.
Just then, Mimosa brushed past Millia as she left the stage.
‘Why is she smiling?’
Millia couldn’t comprehend Mimosa’s creepy smile.
“The last speaker is Millia Quartz! Please step forward!”
Millia shook off her unease and walked toward the podium. The paper with her speech was placed on the podium. Among the candidates, Millia was the smallest in stature, and as she appeared, the students recognized her and cheered her on with applause.
“Millia! Good luck!”
“Fighting!”
“Show us a great speech!”
Her slightly tense shoulders relaxed. Millia smiled brightly as usual and recited the first sentence of her speech.
“Since the moment I entered the academy, I have wanted to become the student council president. To me, being student council president means…”
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