Chapter 38. Honor (3)

"Really, what kind of fuss is this to set up a tombstone for such a thing?"

The person with the highest position at Andwood Academy, standing at the pinnacle.

President Dwenner kept grumbling.

An incident where a student died at the academy 20 years ago.

It was already a daunting task to admit and acknowledge the academy's fault, but now they were also setting up a tombstone and compensation at the level of a distinguished service.

"Ugh! The pain in my frontal lobe from the demon attack 10 years ago!"

Dwenner clutched his head and groaned.

On the side of his half-bald head, there was indeed a small scar.

'That demon from back then is coming to mind again. He was a truly vicious one.'

The scar, which was both Dwenner's pride and a medal of honor.

In reality, it was a scar he got from falling while watching others fight the demon.

However, Dwenner, who fainted as soon as he fell, firmly believed it was a scar inflicted by the demon.

"Huff, calm down. This might make the scar burst. That vicious demon, even in death, continues to torment me. But I, Dwenner, will never give in!"

The exaggeration and misunderstanding were so severe that if the demon saw, it would probably say, "Ah... that's a bit..." and want to treat the scar with its own hands.

Anyway, Dwenner continued to stroll through the forest.

He had a secret place where he spent time whenever he was stressed.

"Oh, you're all healthy today, too."

A small pond hidden in the forest.

A few carp welcomed him there.

Actually, it was the envelope in his hand that they were welcoming.

"Good, good. Weren't you cold last night? No one caught a cold, right?"

The carp opened their mouths and sucked in the bread crumbs.

Seeing this, Dwenner felt the pain in his frontal lobe... no, the stress, melt away like snow.

"…Why am I here?"

Dwenner fell into thought.

He was a noble, but not from a prestigious family.

He had heard that his ancestors had a glorious era due to fighting a great demon, but that was a long time ago.

Currently, his family was in a state where it could collapse at any moment.

While he was going around noble parties to find a job, he met...

"Viscount Ashiz."

The House of Herzeg, one of the pillars of the empire.

The current head, Viscount Ashiz, personally approached him.

Bowing deeply, he asked for any job, and the very next day, after passing out drunk...

...a strange ceiling.

Of course, it was the ceiling of the Andwood Academy president's office.

'I, a fallen noble, opened my eyes to become the president of the empire's top academy, Andwood Academy?'

If a novel had a title like that, it would probably be criticized.

But the fact that he had become the president was an undeniable reality.

Therefore, Dwenner...

"Hmm, they must have recognized my abilities. Indeed, one of the pillars of the empire."

The reason he hadn't been recognized until now was because of the shell of being a fallen noble!

The problem was the fools who couldn't recognize someone with his abilities!

-After finishing this self-justification, Dwenner vowed to perform his role as president excellently.

However, his life as president was not easy.

'Awin de Herzeg, and Rodelin de Lucid.'

Even controlling Awin, the student council president, was difficult, and it became even harder when Rodelin entered last year.

Usually a polite child, but once work started, his eyes would blaze.

One wrong number or letter, and both would tear into him.

If he signed late and caused a delay in the schedule, he would be locked in the president's office for a week, doing nothing but work.

'It could be a bit late! Not everyone has perfect handwriting!'

But Dwenner couldn't resist the two.

Not only were their abilities outstanding, but both came from powerful families, making it hard to treat them casually.

He had just fled from the tension of the student council president Awin and the vice president Rodelin's power struggle.

'Awin... that guy even openly ignores me.'

But it couldn't be helped.

Wasn't it Viscount Ashiz de Herzeg who put him in this position?

Awin was the grandson of the Herzeg family.

So he couldn't treat him casually.

Awin also knew this, so he treated Dwenner casually.

"Frustrating, so frustrating. How did our family end up like this..."

No matter how capable (or so he thought) Dwenner was, being ignored to the point of contempt was hard to bear.

While finding peace of mind by watching the carp, he saw someone approaching from a distance.

'A student? No one usually comes here...'

Had they lost their way?

Soon, he could see the child's face.

Eyes so small that the pupils were barely visible.

A boy with eyes so small they could be called slits.

"Student, how did you get here? The path must have been difficult..."

"Hehe, I'm sorry. I have poor eyesight..."

The boy scratched his head.

Do small eyes mean poor eyesight?

"Be careful. I'll take you there. Can you wait a moment? I need to give these guys their snacks."

The boy, who had a sinister appearance and emitted a sinister aura.

But Dwenner didn't react much to him.

He was naturally dull and had no particular thoughts.

'Hehe... carp... snacks... student council... scary.'

The boy, who had been quietly observing Dwenner, suddenly seemed to remember something and exclaimed, hitting his palm with his fist.

"By any chance... are you President Dwenner?"

"Huh? Do you know me?"

"Of course! The great 18th president of Andwood Academy!"

The boy exclaimed in apparent admiration.

It was natural for Dwenner's shoulders to rise.

"Hmm, yes. I am the 18th president, Dwenner. Nice to meet you. What's your name?"

"I'm Zero. It's a great honor to meet the successor of the Seigen family here."

"Hmm? You know our family?"

"Hehe, of course. How could I forget the great and illustrious Seigen family that eliminated the 4th Legion Commander Ballaphar 200 years ago?"

A voice filled with admiration.

Dwenner couldn't help but feel proud.

"Hmm, my ancestor did eliminate a demon's lackey."

"To call a great demon a lackey! Truly, you are a worthy successor of the Seigen family."

"Hmm, demons aren't as scary as they seem. I fought dozens of them in a bloody battle 10 years ago. This is the scar from that time."

Dwenner showed the scar on his head as if it were nothing.

Zero, the boy, exclaimed in admiration again.

'He knows our family. A true student.'

How wonderful it would be to have such an excellent student by his side, unlike Awin and Rodelin.

He wanted to bring him to the student council immediately, but it was impossible.

Awin and Rodelin would definitely criticize him from both sides.

'I can't drag this child into that hell for my own selfishness...!'

Sigh.

A president who sacrifices himself to protect a student.

Dwenner felt tears welling up at his own noble sacrifice.

"Hehe, but... you look troubled. Is something wrong?"

"Hmm, being in this position, various things happen. Some people ignore me..."

"What, what? Ignore you! Where are such ungrateful people! I'll go and teach them a lesson right now!"

Zero, the boy, seemed ready to run off.

Dwenner stopped him.

Thus, Dwenner was weak to flattery. Why?

Because no one had ever flattered him before.

Of course, Zero's flattery skills were also excellent.

Swish, tinkle, wiggle!

Extreme flattery that made Dwenner squirm!

In the end, he even brought up the current issue that was giving him a headache.

"Actually, I have a concern lately."

"What kind of concern?"

"Apparently, we need to compensate a student who died 20 years ago. Even though it wasn't during my time as president..."

Even this morning, the Lucid family had announced an apology.

'Although they said they would cover all compensation... the academy's reputation has been damaged.'

A student died at an academy that teaches students.

And they didn't know about it for 20 years?

It was a situation where he could be stoned to death. He might even have to leave this job, which he had secured through his recognized abilities.

'The problem doesn't end there.'

Awin wanted to blame it on past mistakes and quietly move on.

Rodelin, on the other hand, wanted to apologize together, acknowledging her family's responsibility.

Honestly, Dwenner wanted to side with Awin.

'But since the Lucid family has announced it, we have no choice but to follow suit.'

Why did this happen while he was president?

Just as the scar on his head started to throb, Zero spoke.

"What a touching story."

"Huh?"

"To take the blame for something that happened before your time, for the honor of a student. What a touching story."

"Is it?"

"To bear dishonor, that is the true teaching of honor! I am truly moved!"

Dwenner's ears perked up.

To bear dishonor. It sounded like a cool phrase.

'Is it? Well, it does seem right. To willingly bear dishonor. That is the image of an excellent president...!'

Zero's words didn't end there.

"His Majesty the Emperor might even award you. Such an excellent president, I would definitely give an award."

"Ugh, ugh...!"

"Your name might even be recorded in the imperial annals. You could proudly leave your name as an outstanding educator of your time."

His name in the imperial annals?

Dwenner's ears moved so violently it was visible.

Yes, let's do it.

Since the Lucid family has moved, there's no choice but to follow.

'First, I'll report to Viscount Ashiz...'

"Surely, you're not going to ask for permission?"

"Ugh, ugh?"

"That's something 'incompetent' people do."

Incompetent.

The word Dwenner hated the most.

Conversely, the word he liked the most was competent.

"At your position, you can make such a decision without reporting. Taking action first and reporting later makes things easier for your superiors. That's what a 'competent' person does."

"Competent...?"

"Yes. The competent President Dwenner!"

"That's right! I am a competent president! I have something to take care of. I'll go first!"

Dwenner started running.

Zero, the boy, muttered as he watched Dwenner's back.

"Hehehe, just as planned."

A smile appeared on the boy's lips.

A very, very evil smile.

* * *

"President, where have you been again?"

As soon as Dwenner returned to his office, Awin shot at him.

Partly because there was a stack of documents 30 cm high that needed his signature.

"The academy cannot officially apologize, as I said before."

"President, a student died at the academy. An apology is a must, compensation comes next."

Crack!

Invisible sparks flew between Awin and Rodelin.

The atmosphere was suffocating. Dwenner, who had fled outside just a while ago, couldn't bear this tension.

'But now it's okay.'

Zero, the boy, had given him courage.

"Prepare the apology letter."

"You've made a good decision. An apology letter is absolutely impossible... What?"

"Prepare the apology letter. We will also prepare a re-investigation, compensation, and a tombstone with the treatment of a distinguished service."