Chapter 72

<071. Pink Chicks (?)>

Jefrin.

The educational institution of the entire Loengrin Empire.

Basically, it includes 'talented commoners,' 'children of merchant families,' 'nobles or royalty,' and 'royal family members.'

Most of them are generally well-regarded in their hometowns.

While it was publicly declared that everyone, except for the greatest royal family members, was of the same class, how could the world function so simply?

Factions are formed, primarily by Loengrin Empire's nobles, followed by the nobles and royalty of the surrounding vassal states, or children of merchants spanning the entire empire.

Naturally, Jefrin has a mere four-year undergraduate period.

Beyond that, a harsh society awaits, where one must survive for decades, and the factions formed at Jefrin serve as a solid safety net for their future.

Thus, they form factions based on regions, hobbies, and majors, expanding their influence and balancing each other's power.

However, all these factions ultimately bow and lower their heads before the 'faction created by the Loengrin royal family.'

Currently, there are two royal family members enrolled as undergraduates at Jefrin.

One is Yev von Loengrin.

The faction ruled by the current second-year magic student, the princess, was not really a faction.

To be precise, the student council executives form her core faction, and they swear allegiance only to Yev von Loengrin.

Yev herself does not discriminate against other factions, often showing up at tea parties, sending representatives when she cannot attend, or writing congratulatory letters by hand.

For the factions, the fact that Yev von Loengrin does not favor any one side is a great comfort.

No, it would be better if she took sides. If she were to say something like, "Stir up conflict, oppose each other, and offer tributes to gain my favor," as the previous student council president did, that would be a real hell.

So, just when it seemed that the former student council president, Wolfram von Loengrin, who had created that hell and then disappeared into the annals of history, was making a comeback.

“...Did you hear? It seems that President Wolfram is forming a faction again.”

“W-What?”

Rumors were spreading that he was forming his own faction.

While there were many unsubstantiated rumors, a few names were clearly mentioned.

The Knight of Conviction from the second year, the Black Amethyst from the third year, the Dagger of the Abyss, and the Magic Merchant. It was said that he even conversed with the Elemental Knight.

Most of them were named individuals with significant titles.

However, just as rumors about who was in Wolfram's faction or not were circulating among Jefrin students, especially those in the current second to fourth years who had experienced Wolfram's reign, something appeared.

“...What is that? Is that a carriage? But why is a wolf driving it? And even on the driver's seat...?”

A carriage, or rather, something too massive and grand to be called a carriage, pulled by two horses.

The carriage was reinforced with steel plates and wrapped in pitch-black metal or black amethyst.

A symbol of power that made one's heart tremble just by looking at it. With eight wheels, it resembled a black dragon, instilling an instinctive fear in those who saw it.

Was a human so powerless and weak in front of a giant of steel? It made one feel small, yet it also inspired a different kind of admiration, though no one wanted to approach the carriage driven by the red wolf.

The carriage, or rather, the 'Wolfs Carriage' driven by a wolf, soon drew the attention of the entire public academic area.

This was because of the sign boldly written on it: "Wolfram von Loengrin's Convenience Store Run."

Everyone thought the same thing.

【That is the giant of steel that only Wolfram von Loengrin's faction can ride.】

【Those who are allowed to ride must be part of Wolfram's faction.】

And the people who could ride it were so famous that everyone nodded in agreement.

Black Amethyst, the student council president, the Knight of Conviction, the Dagger of the Abyss, and talents who could belong to the royal faction.

Most people watched them board the giant of steel driven by the wolf with a mix of fear, reverence, recognition, and envy.

However, there was one person, or sometimes three, who were completely out of place.

“...Ah, Mr. Wolf. Hello. Are you going to the convenience store?”

“...Grr.”

“Oh, I see. Yes, please take care of us today. Kids, he said we're going. Hurry up and sit down.”

“...Grr.”

“Miltja, you can actually communicate with the wolf? That's amazing. You have such a talent! Yogurt, weren't you surprised too?!”

“Vanilla, this... isn't just a wolf. It's... something incredibly great. Yes, that's what it seems like.”

“I think he's speaking with magic, but I can only faintly understand it. Ah, Mr. Wolf, it seems we can go now.”

“Grr...”

“Yes, Mr. Wolf. Let's go quickly! Miltja, hurry up and greet your beloved senior... No, not senior, but your beloved... Ah, Yogurt! Why did you hit me?!”

“Don't talk nonsense. Let's go, Mr. Wolf. We're all ready.”

“Grr.”

An incomprehensible selection of people.

It was the three chicks from the first-year public academic department.

‘...Why are they riding it?’

‘Are they a faction too?’

Without resolving the many questions of the Jefrin students, the giant of steel driven by the wolf set off with the three chicks.

***

That day, the three chicks visited the convenience store after a long time.

“Senior! Why aren't you frying donuts these days?! I want to eat donuts!”

“Hmm... I'm sorry. My child is being noisy. But I also want to eat donuts.”

The yellow chick was always noisy, and the green chick was pretending to be calm beside her.

“Ah, Senior, hello... Hehe.”

And the pink chick, blushing, bowed her head slightly.

“Sit down. I'll fry donuts for you now.”

“Wow, really?! Wow! Yay!”

“Vanilla, be quiet. Senior, I want to try a new flavor.”

“Thank you. Hehe...”

It took a little time for the oil to heat up, but I placed a donut in each of the noisy chicks' mouths and sat down.

Vanilla and Yogurt were busy with their donuts, so I asked Miltja, who had caught my eye.

“How's your recent life?”

“Recently?”

“Yes. Has anything unusual happened?”

“No, not really. Nothing significant.”

“What about the overall atmosphere of the first year? I haven't heard a proper story since you defeated Kelters.”

“Hmm. Ah... There is one thing. About Kelters...”

“Tell me about it.”

Kelters, being the protagonist, should be the center of the story, but his every move can put the academy in danger. I straightened up with interest and asked Miltja for the next part of the story.

“Kelthers... has been removed from the position of top student due to issues with his character. An agenda was raised to re-evaluate his position as top student due to reasons like interfering with student council duties and poor academic performance. Up until that point, there was still a chance for evaluation... but he was caught by the dorm supervisor for leaving the dorm at midnight to buy snacks...”

“Did he do something like that?”

“Yes. So he was removed from the top student position. Of course, he has applied for a re-evaluation. The problem is what happened after that. The second-in-command of the first year has declared that this time, he will aim for the top student position.”

“...Gail Strike.”

“Yes, the eldest son of the Strike family. But that guy has started to take a keen interest in Miltja.”

“Why?”

“He seems to think that if Miltja joins his faction, he can have someone who defeated the former top student under his command. In other words, he wants to use Miltja to undermine Kelthers' re-evaluation application.”

Hmm. I see.

Gail Strike was a rather annoying rival even in the original story.

Anyway.

“You know quite a bit. Good information.”

“...Because I'm a candidate for the next student council executive. Hehe. I'm a capable first-year.”

“Good. Have more donuts.”

“Yes!”

“Ah! I was going to say that too. Give me one too!”

“Sure. You can have one too.”

“Yay!”

Thus, I gave more feed to the two chicks and looked at the pink chick, who was watching me with an awkward smile.

“It seems you're in trouble.”

“Yes... I don't want to join any faction...”

“However, factions are a good system. There's no harm in joining one.”

“No, I already have a faction in mind.”

“...Is that so.”

“Yes. It's an amazing faction. Standing by the leader's side is my goal.”

Saying this, she blushed and glanced at me, muttering.

Standing by the leader of a faction. Whatever faction it is, it must be a very challenging task.

“Good. I'll support you.”

“Really? You really support me? Can I stand by the leader's side for the rest of my life?”

“Hmm. I don't know what faction it is, but if that's your wish, I'll help you achieve it.”

“...Ah. You don't know. Ah, ...I see. You don't know what faction it is.”

The pink chick, unexpectedly dejected, glanced at me again, puffed her cheeks slightly, and muttered incomprehensible things like, “That's why... Senior Ayla also...” and “No, rather, if no one has achieved it...”

“Wow! It was delicious! Anyway, that's why we came to see you, Senior! Senior, please help Miltja!”

“...We can't deal with Gail Strike. Senior, is there any other way?”

Hmm. A way to deal with Gail Strike.

Actually, the best way to reject a faction proposal is to prove your strength.

But I doubt Miltja wants that.

Does she want to fight again?

“Miltja, even if you defeat Gail Strike, do you want to reject his proposal?”

“Yes, very much.”

A definite answer.

Even her smile was cold and terrifying.

“...Umm? Is that so? I see.”

“Yes. I don't want strange rumors to spread. I don't want to hear that he's targeting me. I don't like any of it. I really, really don't like it.”

“I understand. I'll help you.”

She might want help more because she, like me, had a role of 'early exit.'

Anyway, it would be interesting to watch a chick grow into a chicken.

“Then...”

“I'll start devising a plan from tomorrow, just like when you defeated Kelthers.”

“Really? Wow...! Yes, I'll come every day from tomorrow. Senior!”

“...You don't have to come every day.”

“I'll come every day. Thank you!”

Saying this, the three of them left the convenience store, giggling. They even took a box of donuts each. How much do they love donuts?

Anyway, Gail Strike is quite an interesting and troublesome opponent.

As I was thinking about strategies to deal with him, Parteas passed by, smirking.

“Do you know?”

“Know what?”

“A hawk is a predator that snatches its prey in one go. A skilled hunter.”

“I know.”

“Huh. However, from my hunting experience, both chickens and hawks look similar when they are young.”

“So what?”

“If you mistake a young hawk, which might hunt you, for a chick and feed it, you might be eaten one day. Something like that.”

“?”

What does that mean?

As I tilted my head, Parteas chuckled and passed by me.