Chapter 44

"What is this!"

I really wish the Student Council President would stop barging in while I’m having lunch in the cafeteria with the Student Council members… Look, Cerea, Jack, and Silfa are all surprised, and even Harthis, who became friends with us the other day and is sitting with us, is startled. Everyone in the cafeteria is looking at us.

"This is the Student Council event schedule that was decided with the President's approval, which I printed using a mimeograph and distributed to each class during the morning homeroom."

"That’s not what I’m asking!"

The President is angry.

"President, please calm down. Your back pain will worsen."

"Back pain?"

"The other day, I heard a little from the Minister of Education. He said, 'I heard from a civil servant that the little girl from Stradis has such severe back pain that she needs a special carriage to lie down in to come to school. Should we approve this?' So, I asked him to approve it. Please take care of yourself."

"Gr…."

In other words, whether the absolute queen of the school, Student Council President Eleana, can continue to come to school in the Duke's four-horse carriage instead of a regular carriage depends on me. Do you understand?

"The Duke of Stradis hasn't attended the imperial council for years due to back pain. His Majesty even said, 'That family is always dealing with back pain,' with a laugh. Please don't worry everyone so much, President. Take care of yourself."

"…"

"But it’s good to see you looking well. If you’re feeling fine, I’ll ask the Minister of Education to cancel the application…."

"Ouch. Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch…."

The President has crouched down. Everyone in the cafeteria laughs.

"Please take a seat. Let’s eat together."

The Vice President, with a terrifying look, glares at me while pulling out a chair for the President, who then sits down at the table next to Jack.

"Please explain the content of your question again, clearly, so everyone here can understand."

"What is this Student General Assembly? I don’t want it to be added to the schedule without my permission!"

Is that what this is about?

"Conducting the Student General Assembly is the duty of the Student Council. It’s clearly stated in the Student Council Operating Regulations. It’s done every year. The list made by the responsible teacher was missing it, so I asked the teacher to add it. It has already been approved and signed by the President."

"I don’t remember approving anything like this!"

"You must have overlooked it. If you can’t even do a basic check, you should be more careful. You just glanced at it and signed it, didn’t you, President?"

Laughter and disapproving glances come from the cafeteria, and the President turns red.

"Anyway, why don’t we have the Student General Assembly? It seems you’ve unilaterally decided not to have it for the past few years. Is there something that would cause problems if we had it? The Student Council’s activity report and financial report should be presented to all students. Is there something you’re hiding?"

"…The Student Council is a traditional organization. It gains the trust of the students…"

"That’s why the Student General Assembly is the place to gain that trust. Who can say they’ve gained the trust of the students by arbitrarily abolishing it? It’s time to stop slacking off, President. At the very least, show your competence by hosting the Student General Assembly."

"You bastard…"

The Vice President mutters. I’ll just ignore it.

"Especially, make sure the financial report is thorough. That’s the key part of the Student General Assembly."

I drive the point home. In other words, make sure to cover the costs of all the food and drinks you’ve had in the Student Council room from your own pocket.

"The Student General Assembly is at the end of the school year. There’s still almost a year to prepare. It’s more than enough time. Please do it properly, President."

"…How dare you speak to the President like that."

The Secretary-General glares at me with a fierce look. She’s a devoted follower of the President.

"‘Those who enter this gate must abandon all status.’ Did you enter through the back door, Secretary-General?"

The cafeteria laughs, and the Secretary-General glares at them to stop. Has she never been laughed at before? I prepare several self-deprecating jokes to make people laugh, but most of them end with "Cerea got mad."

"The first event of the school year is the sports festival. Let’s