Chapter 58

※I made some adjustments to the overdone parts.

The new semester has begun, and we have become second-year students.

New freshmen are entering. I, as the student council president, gave a speech to the current students at the entrance ceremony. As usual, I cited the words of His Majesty the King, "Those who pass through this gate must abandon all titles," and emphasized that within the academy, we should not bring up our parents' noble titles and should treat each other as equal students and friends.

"During your time as students, please don't worry about such things and make many friends. Create a classroom where you can joke around without worrying about status and where there is no bullying due to status differences. I hope you have a fulfilling school life. This experience will surely be a plus in your lives..."

I had to say that much... because I've been struggling with it myself even now.

The first task of the student council is to allocate club funds.

In the student council room, I'm working with the vice president, a third-year student named Remy, the treasurer, a third-year student named Olivia, and a second-year student named Hartis.

We've compiled data from the past five years and created a graph to show the trends. Olivia made the graph. She's excellent.

The club with the highest per-member budget is the drama club, and the lowest is the literature club.

"...The literature club has a low budget, huh."

"It's just paper and pens, after all..."

Hartis, the student council secretary and a member of the literature club, smiled wryly.

"The literature club should try to create more activity records."

"They only publish and display an anthology at the school festival."

The students here are mostly busy noble knights who dislike being busy. Overall, club activities are quite low-key. I guess that's part of the school culture. It would be fine if they studied more, but that's not the case, which is a bit disappointing.

"Thanks to Sera's suggestion, we are currently creating a puppet show for the children at the orphanage."

"That's great! Please make sure to include that as an activity record this year!"

One of the problems with club funds is that they are often left unmonitored after allocation, leading to unclear usage.

"I think the issue is that the student council arbitrarily evaluates and allocates the funds. How about we gather the club presidents for a meeting?"

So, for the first time, we gathered all the club presidents for a meeting in the student council room to explain their activities.

To my surprise, the kendo club president is Powell Hargan, the musclehead. He won last year's school martial arts tournament and has been boasting since he became president this year. I see...

"Every club has almost no activity records. The drama club only performs at the school festival, the kendo club only participates in the school martial arts tournament, and the same goes for the art club, literature club, and music club. Why aren't you participating in inter-school competitions or exhibitions?"

"Flora Academy is a noble academy. We don't compete with commoners. It's not worth it."

Powell is justifying himself with a nonsensical reason.

"That's why Flora Academy is isolated and doesn't know its own strength, like a frog in a well. From this year, please create some activity records outside the school. First, we will reduce your budget by two-thirds. The remaining one-third will be reallocated based on this year's activity records. Each club must submit a plan for this year's activities, including a budget request for purchases and usage, to the student council by the end of this month. This is something that should have been done before. We used to do it properly, so let's go back to that. Understood?"

The art club, literature club, and music club, which don't use much of the student council budget, have no objections, but the kendo club and drama club strongly protest, citing tradition and precedent.

"We can't allocate budgets to clubs with no activity records. Please submit a proper activity plan before protesting. That's all."

Since we have to start from scratch, it's quite troublesome...

While we're at it, after school, I'll visit each club to observe their activities.

The music club is excellent. They have a proper orchestra.

Most members are from the upper class, so they bring their own expensive instruments and don't use much of the club budget. It's like a rich kids' club.

"We prioritize enjoying music together, so we feel we are quite active..."

In other words, they can't be lured with the club budget.

"That's a waste. Please participate in music competitions held domestically. It will also help spread the name of Flora Academy to students from other schools and the general public."

"That would require a lot of practice..."

"Set a goal and try it once. Please. The student council will handle the entry for you."

"Uh..."

The next is the literature club.

Everyone is drawing puppet shows, including Sera. It's a friendly and enjoyable atmosphere. This kind of club is nice too. The president is a third-year student, and Hartis, who is the student council secretary, is the vice president here.

"Next week, we'll have our first performance at the orphanage! I'm looking forward to it!"

Sera is already well-known as "Sera-nee" at the orphanage, so it should go well.

"I'll come with you. Everyone, do your best!"

"Okay!"

"What are you doing, Sera?"

"Peach Boy!"

...What's that?

"Peach Boy is a story about a boy born from a large peach that floated down a river, raised by an old couple, and goes on to defeat the demons on Demon Island with the help of a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant."

"Can a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant really do that? I don't think they have enough strength."

"He also has the 'Kibi Dango' potion and the cheat weapon, Muramasa. It's basically a stealth mission."

I doubt a stealth mission with such noisy members will succeed, but good luck, Peach Boy. Don't do anything reckless.

Next, the art club.

They work with pastels and watercolors, giving it a refined noble feel.

"Shin suggested making a picture book for the school festival. I tried it out..."

When I see it, wow, the character drawings are terrible! It's a myth about the goddess Ranathes, but it's a mess.

"It's no good. To create a story, you need to be able to draw people..."

"Then, how about focusing on figure drawing this year?"

"Good idea. We can take turns being models and pose for each other."

"Ah, ah!"

The female members gather with their sketchbooks!

"President! Please, can you be the model?"

Oh no, me as a model!

"Please!"

For some reason, Hartis and I are set up to dance, and we are posed. Hartis does look like a girl, but is that okay, ladies of the art club? I don't want you to get too excited.

Later, I suggested to the president, "The best goal would be to create oil paintings and exhibit them at the royal salon. Can you aim for that?"

"Um, that might be a bit difficult this year."

Well, they are students, so I can't demand too much.

I also visit the drama club.

I don't really want to go because the pink-haired girl is a member.

"Aaaah! Shin-kun!"

She's sharp! She spotted me first. She's definitely the heroine.

"Hey, my rival, are you here to spy on us?"

Pikar spins in and appears. Why is he here?

"Why are you here?"

"I joined the drama club. I was moved by Cinderella at last year's school festival. I finally found a stage where I can shine. This is where I belong!"

Then, he takes the pink-haired girl's hand and starts dancing.

"P-Pikar-sama, we're in the middle of practice! We can practice later!"

"Who cares, my heroine... Love cannot stand still."

Well, let's not care. I'll talk to the president.

"Last year, Cinderella was a hit, so this year we're planning a more ambitious production. We'll focus on one play and prepare for it from now."

"Wow, like a professional theater company."

"Pikar joining the club means we can expect support from Count Valjean. I believe this year's production will be a historic one for the drama club. Please look forward to it."

So, Pikar and the pink-haired girl will be the hero and heroine. I don't really want to see it.

"It would be a waste to perform only at the school festival. It would be nice if we could have a repeat performance somewhere."

"Um, I don't think that's possible. After all, students' main focus is their studies, and there are no student drama competitions in our country."

That's right. There are no drama clubs in public schools, so there are no competitors. I need to think of something.

Finally, the kendo club. Jack is in the kendo club, so I'll talk to him.

"How's the kendo club?"

"Ah, Powell is just showing off, so it's not fun anymore. I've been slacking off recently."

...That's too casual, Jack.

"Is that what's happening?"

"Yeah."

"...Most importantly, is he strong?"

"To be honest, I don't know. He gives orders for practice swings and forms but doesn't swing a sword himself. He doesn't allow real combat matches. That's why the members aren't getting stronger."

That's why.

"He just wants to win this year."

He's making sure the members don't get stronger than him.

"...I see."

"He might be secretly practicing somewhere."

"Not secretly. He trains openly with the royal guard recruits."

"Really?"

"School club practice is interrupted by the pink-haired girl's screaming, so the other members can't focus..."

I called out Schwartz, my bodyguard from the royal guard, to verify.

"Yes, Powell Hargan. The son of Captain Hargan. He does train at the royal guard's training ground. As the captain's son, everyone accommodates him."

"...I really don't like this kind of mixing of public and private affairs. What about Schreiger?"

"The deputy captain handles most of the captain's duties, so he can't be on the field."

The captain is really in deep. Should I fire him?

The next week, on the day Powell was training, I visited the royal guard's headquarters.

From talking to the guards, I learned that Powell is disliked by the lower-ranking members. They have to let him win, so they hold back and intentionally lose.

"...I'll be his opponent. Is there anything to hide my face?"

"His Highness will take care of it!"

Everyone is excited. I see.

"Put on a helmet with a face guard."

They prepare everything for me. With a hidden face and simple armor, I'm ready to go.

Powell arrives.

"I'm here for training. Please take care of me!"

What's with that attitude? You might be the captain's son, but here you're just a hindrance. You're only causing trouble for everyone.

"Sir, it's perfect. A commoner man wants to join the royal guard today. Can you test his skills?"

"...Interesting. Sure, I'll take him on. Bring him in."

Everyone encourages Powell, who is quite pleased.

In a circular ring, I'm brought in with my face hidden by a helmet.

In a high-pitched voice, I say, "P-please take care of me," acting nervous.

"Are you a commoner? A commoner like you joining our proud royal guard is a hundred years too early. Show me your true strength."

He points a steel practice sword at me, who only has a wooden sword. This already seems unfair. Do you think you're already in the guard? You're still a student. Wait until you graduate and pass the guard's entrance exam before you say that...

"Begin!"

"Yaaaaah!"

I dodge his incoming sword, sweep his feet, and throw him to the ground. I grab his arm, twist it behind his back, and press my knee into his shoulder...

Snap!

I dislocate his shoulder joint in one go!

"Aaaaaah!!!"

Powell screams!

I grab his flailing leg and hook it with my foot, spinning him around...

Snap!

I hurt his ankle!

"Gaaaaah!!!"

To shut him up, I fall on him, elbow his forehead, and slam the back of his head into the ring, knocking him out.

"O-ohhh..."

The surrounding guards clap sparsely.

"Terrible..."

"Merciless..."

The collective sighs. I guess my body moved on its own because he fell so defenselessly.

"Wait, wait, wait. What did you teach him?"

I look around the guard.

"As a warrior, even falling has a proper way. No one falls so defenselessly. He would be immediately finished off. Do you think enemies or monsters will wait for him to get up? Did you teach him that?"

"We didn't teach him that!"

On purpose. That's terrible.

"...Your Highness, aren't you stronger than before?"

"That's not swordsmanship anymore, it's just fighting..."

Well, you're right about that.

"But if I showed the royal style of swordsmanship, I'd be recognized."

Powell is carried away on a stretcher.

"...Your Highness, won't this cause a big problem later?"

"Just say that everyone beat me up and threw me out of the castle. You got revenge for the young master. It shouldn't be a problem."

"Will that really work?"

"A commoner who challenged Powell one-on-one in a formal match and was thoroughly beaten won't dare ask for his identity or seek revenge. Who would he complain to?"

"That's true..."

About a week later, I saw Powell at school.

He had a bandage on his head, his arm in a sling, and was limping with a cane. Maybe I went a bit too far.

"He quit the kendo club. A third-year student became the new president."

Jack reports to me, trying not to laugh.

"...What happened to him? How did he get such injuries?"

I ask, feigning ignorance.

"He went on a warrior's pilgrimage outside the castle and helped when a carriage was attacked by bandits. He defeated them all but got injured himself."

"That's impressive. Should we give him an award at the student council?"

"Are you serious?"

"Of course."

Jack shrugs. "Forget it. It's obviously a lie."

Well, anyone would think that...

Next: "58. The Correct Use of Political Marriage"