Chapter 84

The prayer that the appearance of the sixth character is most effective also means that there is nothing I can do for Louise right away. It’s a situation where tears might come out involuntarily. Still, I can hold onto a small hope. One semester out of six has passed, and the first year of the three-year academy is only in its early stages. Apart from my position, which requires me to observe this frustrating show for five more semesters, the club members still have many opportunities.

Of course, it’s only a small hope. I don’t really expect much. After all, not having expectations means not being disappointed.

‘Was it always like this?’

I suddenly reached a fundamental question. In the original work, it was like this, but maybe it’s frustrating because I’m watching it in real-time? For readers, the dates are conveniently skipped, but I have to watch it day by day, which must be maddening.

If that’s the case, it would be better. Then I would have tried to be the inspector for the first semester every year and let someone else take over for the second semester. That way, I could see progress during the six-month break, and the frustration would disappear.

A whisper from deep within my heart said, ‘Those idiots will be the same even after six months,’ but I ignored it.

The period when the smell of ink, not flour, fills the club room has returned. It’s a positive sign that the final exams, the last schedule of the semester, are approaching.

‘Now it’s really the end.’

I frown as I flip through the textbook pages and watch the students scribbling with their pens. I feel sorry for them, but I can’t help but be relieved at this moment.

Vacation is a period that everyone looks forward to, but this year it’s especially so. The principal and vice-principal of the academy must be very nervous with important figures from the academy’s inner circle wandering around. Their expressions brightened when they said the important figures were about to return to the capital.

Vilar’s mood also brightened as time passed. At the beginning of the semester, he looked increasingly haggard, but now, with the prospect of returning to the capital, he seems to have reached a state of endurance.

‘It’s a happy thing, right?’

Vacation is definitely a happy thing. It means a temporary release from the task of monitoring and dealing with important figures who could lose their heads over a small mistake.

However, after being summoned to the institution due to the Ma Jong Gong incident, I realized that the academy is relatively a paradise. If I return to the institution, I’ll be immediately caught up in the inspection department’s work and live a day-to-day life, not knowing when I’ll be summoned by the higher-ups.

A subtle position where I’m happy but can’t be happy. If I hadn’t realized this, I could have gone to the institution happily, but I’ve already taken the red pill and seen the truth.

“Louise, that’s not how you solve it.”

“Oh, right.”

While my heart was crying over the bitter reality, I heard the voices of two women. It’s an impossible situation in a club room with one girl and six boys.

“Thanks, Irena!”

“You got this one wrong too.”

“Oh.”

It’s possible if the girl is Louise’s best friend. Irena, the hero who improved the club’s gender ratio from 6:1 to 3:1, started coming to the baking club room naturally a few days ago. If she came just once, it would be understandable, but she comes every day. Don’t you have another club?

“Since the exam is coming up, we decided not to have meetings. It would be good to study with Louise. Is that okay?”

“Sure, do as you like.”

When I asked, she said she didn’t need to go to her own club. Since she said so, there’s no reason to stop her, so I said it was fine.

‘They’re having meetings.’

I’m one of the club advisors and have a communication channel with the vice-principal, so I know the academy’s situation well. I also know that other clubs gather during club time to study, even if they don’t meet at all.

Irena’s club, the gardening club, has never missed a meeting, even on the day she brought the rowan seedlings.

‘I can’t ask.’

Irena is already watching my reactions. Recently, it’s not because of the inspection department’s false accusations but because she’s testing me with gifts.

If I said something like, ‘Why are you lying?’ she might panic and run away. After all, there’s already a slightly embarrassing incident between Irena and me, so I feel bad about stimulating her.

Even as she talks with Louise, she keeps glancing at me. It’s funny how she avoids eye contact when our eyes meet.

‘It’ll be fine.’

I don’t want to provoke Irena, but there’s nothing to blame her for. Skipping her own club to visit a friend’s club—while it might be strange from a certain perspective, it’s not really a problem.

Even if she’s a noble who maintains her dignity, she’s still a teenager. Recalling my pre-reincarnation memories, it’s the age when friends are important. It’s a completely plausible situation.

“This one is wrong too.”

“Eek…”

Seeing Louise’s poor learning ability, Irena’s presence seems to have a positive effect.

“Irena, can you help with this too?”

“Oh, that one?”

And the other members don’t seem to mind Irena’s presence.

While they might be bothered by another presence in their battleground with Louise, fortunately, no one has rejected Irena.

Of course, no one is foolish enough to show hostility towards Louise’s best friend and risk a severe penalty in the competition. Well, they are foolish, but not that foolish. They just lack awareness.

“I’m glad we have Irena. There were often times when I didn’t know something and no one else did.”

“Thank you…”

“Ha-ha, feel free to be comfortable. We’re fellow students, aren’t we?”

“Oh, right.”

Even the prince of the same nationality, who is the most terrifying presence to Irena, treats her warmly. This leaves no room for the princes to push her away.

“I’m really—so glad to have Irena.”

“Tickles.”

Irena, who is hugged by Louise, and Louise, whose head is gently stroked by Irena. Sometimes they look like sisters rather than friends. It’s a heartwarming scene.

Except for the fools who look at Irena enviously from behind.

***

The trigger was trivial.

“From today, I’m going to focus on studying.”

Hearing Louise’s determined words, I had a thought. If the baking club stops activities to study for exams, it wouldn’t be strange for the gardening club to do the same, right?

Of course, the gardening club has never missed a meeting since the academy opened, but a new student might not know that.

‘It’s an opportunity.’

At first, I was too embarrassed to go to the club, but now that I’ve calmed down, I have no reason to go. Even if my senior said it was fine, I can’t say the club is on break every day. It might be okay for a day or two, but if it continues, it will look strange.

But if I say the club is on break to prepare for exams, it’s a valid reason. It’s a plausible situation, and studying with a close friend is not strange.

I feel bad about using Louise, but...

“Hey, Louise? If it’s okay, do you want to study with me?”

“Really? Is it okay?”

“Yeah, I don’t have anywhere else to go.”

“Great!”

Since Louise said it’s okay. Yes, it’s something Louise wanted too. I’m not using her.

‘I’m sorry.’

I reminded myself, but seeing Louise’s cheerful face, I couldn’t suppress my guilt. What does Louise want? It’s a cowardly act based on friendship.

“Oh, it’s been a while. Come in.”

I felt a little guilty about my reaction to my senior’s words.

“Thanks for the gift. It really livened up the club.”

“I’m glad.”

And my senior, who really seems to not know about the language of flowers, made me even more frustrated. It’s fortunate, but it’s also frustrating...

‘It’s too much.’

Relief and frustration coexisted. How can he be so indifferent to a lady’s gift? It makes me feel like I was the only one who struggled with the gift.

If the rowan’s meaning was not ‘the only... love...’ but ‘tolerance and forgiveness,’ I think my senior wouldn’t have known either. I really put a lot of thought into the gift.

“My senior is taking good care of them.”

Hearing Louise’s whisper, my heart eased a bit.

***

The combination of the baking club’s six members and one runaway from the gardening club gathered every day to prepare for the exams.

“Why are there so many subjects?”

“It’s not a practical exam, so it’s fine to do it half-heartedly.”

The complaints of the typical physical types, Erih and Ruitis, echoed in the club room. As the days passed, their expressions darkened, and now they openly grumble about studying. Exams drive students crazy in any world.

“Still, it’s only two more days until vacation, right? Let’s just keep going a little longer.”

Erih, who had been slouching, picked up his pen at Ainter’s words.

“Yeah, we need to keep going. I want to go home in a good mood.”

“Oh, you’re going home?”

“Why do you sound like you’re not going?”

“I’m not going.”

Hearing Ruitis’s calm words, my mouth, which was chewing a cookie, stopped.

“Huh? You’re not going?”

Ruitis’s words were also surprising to Erih, who asked with a hint of doubt. Come on, you’re not going anywhere.

“It’s not close from the empire to Armeini. I’ll be back in two months anyway, so it’s better to stay at the academy.”

“You can use teleportation.”

“There are many things for a magician who can travel that distance to do.”

This bastard, why do you only have a sense of public service at such times?

“I agree. I was thinking the same thing.”

Lather, who had been quietly writing something, also supported Ruitis’s words. You too, not going?

Out of curiosity, I subtly turned my gaze and saw Tanyan nodding with a smile. Hey, no way, right? You’re not going?

“It seems we all think the same. Ha-ha, it looks like we’ve become close over time.”

I imagined Villar, who would be weeping and pounding the ground in frustration.