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Chapter 97. The Student Council Arrives

I moved up to the second year without a hitch. Well, maybe it's a good thing I advanced, but... there's something that just doesn't sit right with me.

"Yeah, looking forward to working with you, Theodore."

"...Looking forward to it, Theodore."

Sitting next to me is Jeremiah, ranked first. On the other side, across from me, sits Hilalda, ranked third.

"Still, I thought you'd be ranked first. Can't believe you're second."

"Honestly, I would've been fine being tenth."

"That’d be boring though, right? Once this orientation is over, how about we duel and settle who's really first?"

"Absolutely not."

And so... for some reason, I’ve ended up ranked second. In the academy's orientation, we're seated in rank order, and here I am, awkwardly sandwiched between Jeremiah and Hilalda in the front row.

"Has there ever been a commoner ranked this high?"

"It happens often enough."

"Yeah, even Liester came from a commoner background, and she graduated top of the Chronos Magic Knight Academy as the ‘greatest genius’ of the school."

"Now that you mention it..."

So, it’s not that strange for a commoner to rank high... Even Frodil was from a commoner background, now that I think about it.

"So, Theodore, have you decided what you're going to do in the future?"

"...Why do you ask?"

"Didn’t the headmaster attend your advancement exam?"

How does he know that...? Does he have some mysterious network of information only dukes get?

"The headmaster never shows up for first-year exams. You must’ve been scouted, right?"

"Well..."

"Having the headmaster personally scout you is practically a guarantee of a high position in the future. I'd like to know why you’d refuse that."

Hmm... The Magic Knight Corps is a meritocracy, focused on results. But for someone like me, if the headmaster takes notice, I’ll probably rise through the ranks without any effort. Why wouldn't I want to join the Magic Knights? Well...

"I feel like I have to carry on Frodil’s will."

"That’s not something you need to—"

"No, no... It’s not about carrying a burden."

It's just... Even if his methods were rough and lives were lost, he fought for the kingdom, for humanity. I feel like I’m the only one who needs to understand that. It took me months after that battle to finally find my answer. Even the First Division Commander, Bors, told me not to force myself to carry Frodil’s will. But this is more like my personal conviction.

"Sure, maybe he rushed things, but what he said was still a form of justice. So, I feel like it’s my duty, at least, to know what he stood for."

"...I see."

"Wait a second. This sounds serious... Frodil? The Minister of Interior? What are you talking about?"

"Oh."

"Oops."

I’d been talking so much with Jeremiah lately that I forgot Hilalda was right there... and we’re still in the middle of orientation. Luckily, the academy director is droning on loudly, so no one but Hilalda seems to have overheard... but still, that was close.

"Maybe Hilalda has the right to know, though. She is the daughter of the Marquess of Miesis."

"Huh?"

Stop arguing with me across the table.

After managing to calm Hilalda down, orientation finally ended, and I headed up to the academy's rooftop alone. From here, you can get a good view of the royal capital... though it's a bit far.

Jeremiah’s words made me think seriously about my future for the first time. It feels like being a high school sophomore deciding whether to go to college or get a job after graduation. Becoming a Magic Knight is the safest bet. After all, my grades at the Chronos Magic Knight Academy are high enough, and I’m confident I’d rise through the ranks quickly after joining. I even think I could take on a division commander. 

The reason I wouldn’t become a Magic Knight? Once I do, I’ll only be able to serve the kingdom and nothing else. I don’t know what my future career will be, but I do know there’s something I have to do: carry on Frodil’s will and deal with the 'Dragon of the End.' Based on what Erixila and Ivy have researched, if I want to learn more about the Dragon of the End, I’ll have to head to the western nations. But if I become a Magic Knight, I won’t be able to visit countries we don’t have diplomatic ties with. So, for now, I can't become a Magic Knight... but maybe after everything is resolved, I could.

"Phew..."

"Did you know the rooftop is off-limits?"

"Huh?"

I didn’t know that. I turned around, expecting another student from some faction, but it was someone unfamiliar, smiling warmly.

"Nice to meet you. I’m Ophelia Bernard, newly ranked fifth in the third year."

"Bernard... as in the duke’s house?"

"Yes, that Bernard family."

Huh. In the Kuria Kingdom, there are two ducal families: the Frisberg family, which Jeremiah belongs to, and the Bernard family which this girl just mentioned. I think I remember reading somewhere that the Bernard family’s power has been waning... Maybe she enrolled in Chronos Magic Knight Academy to restore their influence? No, that can’t be. Nobles’ children usually just enroll here to add to their prestige.

"So... Are you here to scold me for being on the rooftop?"

"That’s part of it, but not the main reason."

Good... Wait, no, that’s still bad.

"The main reason is... to recruit you."

"For the student council?"

"Yes."

Ah, right... I heard the student council at this academy is made up of those ranked at the top. So, in my year, that’d be Jeremiah and Hilalda.

"Are you having trouble because the top three second-years aren’t in the student council?"

"It’s not exactly a problem. But... the council’s authority would be more solid if you joined."

Isn’t that what you call a problem?