Chapter 14

013. (Former) Knight of Conviction

From then on, Nefiti and I often met and immersed ourselves in the development research for the freshmen welcome party.

For some reason, she never asked for pay, and instead smiled happily while eating a lot of donuts.

By the time Nefiti had eaten all kinds of donuts under the guise of helping me, it seemed we had thought through everything, and the welcome party was just a week away.

She had her own duties in the Knight's Club and left, and I was also very busy.

Eve, the main character of this welcome party, was naturally going to be extremely busy, and Aila had not shown up either.

During this time, I made significant progress, managing to do one push-up a day and still be fine the next day.

"Good. If this continues, reaching a stamina of 3 is not a dream."

2 and 3 are certainly different.

I finished one push-up and fell asleep.

......Anyway.

Ordering supplies to match the date. Confirming the location and time for the street stall.

After checking the maximum output of the magic stone for the street stall, the hygiene conditions, and the expiration dates of the items, it was the day before the freshmen welcome party.

"From tomorrow, my life as a third-year student will begin."

Until now, it was a seasonal semester, so I could skip classes, but from now on, I can't.

I have to endure all the contempt, neglect, or even violence and social lynching.

At the same time, I have to save the convenience store.

"......I have to save the convenience store. I have to graduate. It's an incredibly tough job for a third-rate villain."

I am prepared.

But if I don't make a fortune at the freshmen welcome party tomorrow, I'll go bankrupt......

Surely that won't happen?

***

Jefrin has a total of 100,000 students, but this includes undergraduate, academy students, and faculty. When only considering undergraduates, each year has between 20,000 and 10,000 students.

The average age of admission is sixteen.

After four years of study in the first half, they can return to the world at twenty, or they can add three more years to draw a bigger dream, or they can stay here forever as a graduate student. There are three choices.

Therefore, the arrival of new students in Jefrin, who will draw their future, is quite a joyful event.

A total of 18,000 new students.

Jefrin's grade management is quite strict.

The probability of a new student graduating is about 60%, and half of them drop out.

This auditorium, which can accommodate tens of thousands of people, could be called another Colosseum.

First-year students stand in the center of the stage, and second-year students look down from the audience seats.

The surviving second-year students observe the first-year students as if evaluating them and chat.

"......A new student."

"Out of these, how many will survive?"

"Hey, want to bet on who will be the first to be expelled?"

Ignoring their chatter, I scanned the crowd of 20,000 with my eyes.

In the main game, there is someone I must be wary of and someone I should try to recruit.

But that's from the protagonist Kelters' perspective.

"......"

So, Wolfram only looks for one person.

The red-haired boy who will become the greatest light hero, now with an innocent expression.

"I can't see him."

Of course. Is 20,000 a small number?

More importantly......

"Hey, look over there."

"Why? Wasn't he supposed to be expelled? Why is he here?"

"......Prince Wolfram is here? ...Crazy."

"Damn...... I'm leaving. I don't feel good."

"It's because of him that Dupel was expelled."

......

Thinking about it, in the crowded Grand Square, it's perfect for getting stabbed in the crowd. If I cut up the body and throw it in the eastern forest, the goblins will eat it and grow well.

Let's get out of here. Just as I was about to stand up as quickly as possible,

"Wolfram, you're here?"

"......"

A girl with a smile that reminded me of black crystal approached me.

***

My fiancée and overall vice-president, the icon of rebellion, smiled at me.

"Aila."

"You said you would do business at the freshmen welcome party. Did you come to see me?"

"That's right. I'm on my way to prepare."

"......Ah, I see."

Why do you look unhappy?

"Anyway, I'll be leaving soon. If you're interested, come find me. It's in the Commoner Sector 3."

"Sure. Anyway, I'll come to see the 'training' later, right?"

"If I have time."

Aila looked displeased.

"You told me to win perfectly, and now you say you might not come? Do you think that makes sense?"

"......"

"I want a proper answer. Wolfram?"

"......"

That's how it is.

Here, it's important to speak as much as possible to avoid getting stabbed in the back by Aila. Work, my cerebral cortex.

A way to finish the business without upsetting Aila......

Ah.

First, I naturally raise the corners of my mouth and mock her as if what she said wasn't funny. Then I shrug.

"Originally, you would have won by skill alone, and now you've trained. Do I really need to see the result?"

"......Huh?"

"I just told you to be fully prepared. If Aila Trista wavers even once against a mere commoner, wouldn't that be unforgivable?"

"H, hmm."

"Your rebellion should be the most secret, the most meticulous, and the most perfect. Isn't that right?"

"......H, ho, hmm, you know well. That's right. Isn't it?"

"Then the result is already decided. Whether anyone watches or not, it won't change."

"T, that's right? Hehe. As expected, Wolfram. The one I recognized as the wing of rebellion."

So, what is the wing of rebellion?

Anyway, seeing her smile happily, it seems I've survived another day.

By the way, there was something I needed to ask Aila when she was in a good mood.

"By the way, have you met the opponent? The commoner named Kelters."

"Yes, I met him. A red-haired young man. He had a farmer-like expression."

"Is that so. Was there anything unusual?"

"What do you mean by unusual?"

"About the weapons or equipment he has."

This is important.

Jefrin has a concept of starting difficulty, and if it's an easy difficulty, good equipment is provided at the beginning.

"Hmm...... I don't remember clearly, but he had a straight sword with a hilt as red as blood. It was slung over his shoulder. It looked like a fine piece, but I don't know what kind of sword it was."

"A hilt as red as blood."

There is no starting difficulty that provides such equipment, but since this Jefrin is reality and I have no idea how it works, I decided not to think too deeply about it.

However, I have a rough idea of what the weapon is.

"Was it a two-handed straight sword that reaches from his shoulder to below his waist?"

"Yes."

"I see. He had that weapon."

"Do you know what kind of weapon it is?"

"Not sure, but Aila, be cautious of his breakthrough."

"......?"

It's a weapon that should only appear in Act 2, and I have no idea why he has it.

I gave Aila a rough warning and turned around.

"Are you not going to see the opening speech by Eve?"

"There's no need to invite trouble here, is there?"

"That's true. Wolfram."

"Hmm?"

"How does it feel to have the throne taken away?"

"That thing is just a fake."

I pretended to be strong in front of Aila, but in fact, I have a high opinion of Eve.

First, the student council president of Jefrin is usually a royal, so they are usually 'appointed' as the student council president and then enter Jefrin.

I entered as a first-year and was expelled after the second year.

The one who expelled me was Eve, who was a first-year at the time.

Eve, who wanted to understand Jefrin's life, went on inspections whenever she had free time and discovered my tyranny.

Unable to bear it, Eve raised the banner of rebellion, declaring that she would be the student council president from next year. She built connections with existing students, collected data, and cross-verified it.

Then she wrote a letter to her father, the emperor, and had me removed from the president's position. That's the history of the rebellion.

What a scary kid.

"I see. You are looking at something bigger that I can't see."

"That's not it."

"Hehe. Is opening a street stall in the commoner sector this time also for your rise?"

I didn't say anything in response. Aila nodded.

"Of course. I knew it. Deliberately antagonizing the nobles, making yourself a fool, and then gaining the support of the commoners to rise to the stage...... It's a thrilling rebellion."

"......"

What does that mean?

"So, I'm a little disappointed."

"What do you mean?"

"If we had talked a little longer, if we had gotten to know each other a little better...... We might have been able to prevent your downfall."

What is she talking about?

Aila seemed to be writing an epic in her head.

Anyway, I shook my head. I need to stop her before she does something.

"This is the most comfortable state. Everything is going according to plan."

"Of course. ...But, I wanted to see your wings of rebellion, even if it meant your downfall."

"......"

I shook my head without saying anything.

Then I left the auditorium without saying anything more.

If I talk any more, my brain will only think about rebellion.

***

When I went to my street stall in the third district for the commoner freshmen, there was a customer waiting.

It's not really a customer, but it was Nefiti.

"You're here. The preparations are complete."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

Other street stalls were buzzing.

Most of the students here are part of Maestro, and there are also those from the Magic Department and the Knight's Club.

So, there are quite a few people who recognize Nefiti, known as the Sword of Conviction of the Knight's Club, and of course, quite a few who recognize me, the top pop star of the academy, Wolfram.

Everyone was staring with wide eyes at the two of us starting a business together.

Hmm. This feels like I'm doing something terrible. I have nothing to lose, but she has a lot.

"......You want to guide me? How presumptuous. But I like it. That's what the Sword of Conviction of the Knight's Club should be."

"Y-yes?"

"Hmm. But seeing your spirit, I'll cooperate today."

I shouted this loudly, and the interest of the surrounding people quickly faded. This is enough bait, and the kids here will spread the word about Nefiti.

The Knight of Conviction is trying to guide the trash student council president by opening a shop together.

"......Thank you, Prince."

"Hmph. Get ready for business."

"Yes!"

Nefiti, who noticed my intention, bowed deeply in gratitude