Chapter 11

Chapter 10

Unwilling Main Characters Gather - 1

Not long after finishing my call with the deputy, I could see the secretary, who had been next to the principal, running over in a hurry. Then, he said he would show us to where we would be staying during our assignment and led us to the accommodation.

"The students' gazes must have been uncomfortable. I apologize for not guiding you to your accommodation sooner."

The secretary, who bowed his head several times, said this, but his true feelings seemed a bit different. There must have been many people asking what was going on with an unknown outsider constantly wandering around the academy. The faculty, plagued by a series of student complaints, must have sent the secretary in a hurry.

"There's no need to apologize."

I replied and closed my mouth. Given that they had come all the way from a considerable distance from the main building, they must have searched quite diligently. It must have been quite difficult, caught between the students' anxious and questioning gazes (many of them blue-blooded) and the inability to stop the inspector's actions. Feeling a bit awkward, I wondered if I had been too inconsiderate since we would be seeing each other often.

'Have I been around too many idiots?'

I started my civil service career four years ago due to the machinations of the head of the family. During those four years, various events led to my unexpected promotion to the head of the inspection department, and I've been bickering with the three troublemakers for about two years now.

My communication with normal people has reached a point where it feels foreign. Shouldn't this be considered an industrial accident? If a company is blacklisted, you can report it to the government, but what can you do if the government itself is a black country...

With a heavy heart, I sighed inwardly and quietly followed the secretary to the accommodation where I would be staying. It was quite decent, being a room used by senior inspectors.

"This room is a bit shabby for an inspector, but there are no other available rooms at the moment. We will try to find another one as soon as possible..."

"No, that's not necessary. I like it."

I thought it was fine, but what kind of person would I be if I said that? I waved off the secretary, who was about to bow repeatedly, and sent him back to the main building. If I kept him around, he would just keep looking at me nervously. Besides, how terrifying must it be for a department-level inspector to turn the academy upside down?

But I didn't come here because I wanted to. If you blame someone, blame the minister. Minister, you're definitely going to live a long life, given the amount of curses you've received from me.

Sitting on the bed, I wondered if praising the minister would suddenly cause his death. Despite already seeing the academy and the protagonist Louise, it only now feels real that I'm here. It's like sitting on a bunk bed in a training camp, finally feeling the reality of enlistment. What a mess.

Anyway, from tomorrow, I have to live as an inspector at the academy. Have to... but...

'Damn it.'

Thinking about what I have to do at the academy makes me feel lost. The financial audit, which is the main task of an inspector, can be completed with a few sweeps. After all, what's so special about an inspector's job that can't be finished in a week, no matter how long it takes?

Moreover, the academy, due to its importance, is already under constant scrutiny, so there's nothing much to inspect. It's not a legend that previous inspectors stayed at the academy because they legally slacked off from their regular duties.

But that doesn't apply to me.

'Louis, Erich, Ainter, Ruitis, Lather, Tannian.'

There's one spy with the same bloodline among them, but I have to keep a constant watch on these six. The problem is how to do that.

The foreign ministries of the three countries, who shed tears of blood over the sudden announcement of their key figures' enrollment, desperately tried to protect their nationals by knocking on the door of the imperial foreign ministry. They even made the unreasonable request to send their own forces to the imperial territory, to which the empire naturally replied, "That's enough nonsense." It's impossible unless the foreign ministry is collectively on opium.

But with the safety of the royal family and influential candidates at stake, the foreign ministries of the three countries went blind. They consistently and desperately tried to negotiate with the foreign ministry. The foreign ministry, which felt like being constantly woken up by early morning calls, finally allowed a small number of forces to reside at the academy on the condition that they submit a list, and withdrew some of the imperial forces. Looking at the list provided by the foreign minister, there were a few royal knights and holy knights. It was no joke.

'They were just a small number.'

Their combat power was far from being a small number.

As a result, the empire also reduced its personnel and thoroughly replaced them with a small, elite force, even more so than the three countries. The empire's justification was that they had reduced the number as requested by the three countries. What can you do if you're annoyed? The empire is the one in charge.

Through this compromise, the foreign ministry could adjust some of the treaties they had been pushing and pulling with the three countries to their advantage. But it's frustrating. Why are the foreign ministry officials celebrating when I'm the one being sold?

Anyway, the important thing is that, despite being a small number, the forces from the three countries are staying at the academy. They must have noticed that this inspector is different from the previous ones and that the empire has sent more forces than promised under the pretext of regular inspections.

If such a person is hovering around and monitoring their key figures? I wouldn't be able to stand it either. The head of security might come running to grab me by the collar.

'At least the number has been reduced...'

While the combat power remains almost the same, the number has indeed decreased. No matter how superhuman they are, they can only be in one place at a time. Situations they can't cover might arise.

Fortunately, the existing forces stationed at the academy were excessive, so even with the withdrawal, the basic structure is still maintained. The problem is the cracks that have appeared due to the sudden reduction, which I have to monitor.

"Damn it."

The summary is complete. I thought it was a vague mess, but it's a concrete mess.

A sigh escaped me. As long as there are no crazy people diving into the academy, the academy itself won't have any problems, given the presence of the empire's forces, the forces from the three countries, and the academy faculty. Ultimately, the problem circles back to the miraculous six.

...Honestly, Erich is the weakest among the six. Shouldn't it be the five? He's my brother, but it's a fact.

The key is to naturally approach the five. But currently, there's no way to approach them without arousing the suspicion of the three countries. Even during class, when the guards are less vigilant, I, as an inspector, have no reason to approach the students. Student inspection? Student, I'm an inspector, can I check your wallet? Oh, you're crazy.

There's no choice. I can only watch from a distance and seize the opportunity. Concluding with a decision that's almost a postponement, I leaned back on the bed. Is there any way to approach them legally?

The second week of the new semester. It's the time when freshmen choose and join one of the numerous clubs at the academy. Of course, since most students are blue-blooded, joining a club is more about building a tight network than pursuing a simple interest.

Moreover, through the club, they can connect with graduated nobles, making the club another social venue within the giant social arena called the academy.

For Louise, who genuinely loves people, such complexities were not a consideration. The idea of friends from different grades and classes gathering to enjoy the same hobby was something she found very appealing. After hearing about the clubs from her father, Louise had been eagerly looking forward to joining one.

But was it a prank from the heavens to disappoint such a Louise? Learning that new clubs could also be established, Louise tried to set up a club but hit a wall. She needed three students and a faculty advisor to establish a club. Louise thought it would be easy to gather three students, but she failed.

When she tried to persuade her friends, including Irina, they all said they had already joined other clubs. No matter how much they liked Louise, they couldn't give up their social roles as nobles in the clubs. Of course, if it were something more serious, they might have considered it, but it was just a club, after all.

"Louise, why don't you join another club?"

Erich, the only one who accepted Louise's invitation, saw her bow her head dejectedly. If she hadn't known that new clubs could be established, she wouldn't have been this disappointed.

"But... I really wanted to start a baking club..."

Her clear blue eyes, like the sky, were tinged with a slight moisture. Erich felt sorry for her but what could he do? He couldn't write 'E' and 'Rih' on the club member list. And the heavens, satisfied with this level of trouble, provided a hammer to break the wall.

"Louise, have you found the members for your club?"

A noble prince with radiant blonde hair and purple eyes, symbolizing the royal family, the third prince Ainter, approached Louise.

"Ah, Your Highness!"

"I greet Your Highness."

As Louise and Erich hurriedly stood up to show respect, Ainter smiled and waved them off.

"Please don't. This is an academy where everyone learns on equal footing, isn't it?"

Of course, the academy students are nominally equal, but this is a hollow clause, on par with the academy's absolute neutrality. The academy life is three years, but the life after graduation is decades... Glancing at the club application form, Ainter saw that only two names were written and smiled.

"Fortunately, with me, we make exactly three."

"Really...?"

Louise's eyes widened for a moment, and Erich looked surprised at Ainter. Ignoring their gazes, Ainter wrote his name on the application form with his own pen.

Only then did Louise smile broadly, and Ainter, seeing her smile, smiled contentedly. The third prince Ainter was already the second victim, captivated by Louise.

Thus, the pink-haired girl, Louise, ran off with a big smile, holding the club application form. Now that the most difficult part, gathering members, was done, she just needed to find an advisor.

'I'll find one quickly!'

Fortunately, there were many teachers who liked her. She believed she would find one among them quickly. Already, she was imagining herself enjoying her favorite baking and sharing snacks with her friends.

Author's Note

To commemorate writing the 10th chapter, which is the Magono line for unlimited consecutive updates, I reviewed the responses of the readers who have shown me so much attention.

What particularly caught my eye were the comments about the brick font and the point of view... Indeed, these are issues that need to be addressed. I apologize for the inconvenience caused by my lack of skill.

Now that I know the problems, I will do my best to improve. I hope the novel will be more comfortable for the readers to read from now on.

Starting from Chapter 11, I plan to update once a day. I would like to update twice a day if possible, but even once a day might be a bit tight.

Thank you for reading this chapter!

Thank you for the support, DaraRatJji, Grayel, and OO451!