Chapter 41

It had been exactly two months since Godolphin assigned the task, after school.

“Excuse me!”

Allen pulled open the door to the staff room and bowed his head precisely 30 degrees.

This 'bow' had already become a familiar sight to the staff.

It was well-known that Allen would bow to the road before and after his morning run from the school gate, and also before and after his sprint up the hill.

Of course, Allen wasn't deeply thinking about the 'spirit of courtesy.'

He had seen baseball players bow to the field and judo players bow to the dojo with serious faces in his previous life, and thought, "How youthful and enviable," so he just did it out of a vague sense of admiration.

There was no explanation from the coach regarding this behavior.

When asked, Allen would simply say, "It's just a hobby," with a look of annoyance, but he never missed this meaningful gesture.

The team members, from the timing of Allen's bows, somehow grasped the spirit behind it and gradually began to follow this etiquette.

Moreover, the news that Allen had declined the invitation of Rudelio von Dyalmaque, a senior from 2A class with a haughty attitude, quickly spread.

The excellent students of the Royal Academy, integrating this minor incident with information gathered from the team members, concluded that Allen, despite his unconventional personality, disliked rude behavior and was particular about manners.

If Allen, who aspired to be an outlaw, heard this, he would immediately deny it, but considering his nature, having been polished as a professional in a major Japanese company in his previous life, it could be said that this conclusion was somewhat accurate.

Thus, a baseless rumor that "joining the hill sprint club without bowing is not allowed" was completed, and recently, someone even established a 'bowing research club,' making this behavior visible throughout the school.

Incidentally, Allen was appointed as the honorary director of this bowing research club.

He thought it was a bit exaggerated, but he couldn't refuse when Senior Tiara from 3A class, introduced by Senior Riad, asked him with a bow.

Allen, who entered the staff room, walked straight to the sofa where Godolphin and Muzyka were seated.

◆

“'Excuse me.'

I have heard of the noble spirit of 'courtesy' that you received from Mr. Zold.

From what I understand, it seems that you believe entering the staff room is a breach of this 'courtesy'...

Why does entering the staff room become a breach of courtesy?”

Godolphin asked me this, but of course, I didn't know the details.

I decided to answer based on a guess.

“I am showing my consideration for the seniors in the room, indicating that I am treating them with the appropriate respect.

Of course, in reality, the possibility of it being a rude act is low.

However, by entering, I might interrupt important conversations among the teachers or force them to put away documents that students shouldn't see.

Considering these foreseeable events, I still enter the room...

The phrase used when entering contains apologies and gratitude, as Mr. Zold explained.”

“...Do you really think that much just by entering a room, Mr. Lovain?

Isn't it too much to think that deeply?”

Ms. Muzyka asked, looking as if she couldn't believe it.

“I don't think that much every time.

Rather, I would say that I have ingrained the etiquette so that I don't have to think about it.

It's similar to the 'forms' in swordsmanship.”

In my previous life, I was so inarticulate, but in this life, I can come up with such sophistry one after another, which is incredibly convenient.

“I see.

Indeed, by ingraining it as a form, you can have the mental space to think further.

I would like to have a conversation with Mr. Zold, your tutor...

However, all his offers to become a lecturer at this academy have been declined.

Could you persuade Mr. Zold for me?”

Godolphin said this with a bitter expression, but I shook my head.

Of course, I have no intention of asking, and even if I did, Zold wouldn't come to this academy.

It's obvious.

“I'm sorry, but I won't support or oppose it.

Zold has his own path to follow, and if he says no, it's impossible for me to persuade that stubborn man.

...Now, to the main topic...”

I looked Godolphin in the eye.

“I want to hear the result of the task you assigned, based on the introduction by my teacher.”

Godolphin stared at me with sharp eyes and asked.

“Hmm.

You shortened the distance with most of your classmates from the beginning, didn't you?

I'm sure you knew that I wouldn't pass the task if you used such a method to reduce the load.

Why did you take such a method?”

I confidently stated the reason I had been thinking about.

“Because I judged that it was the best way to improve the team members.”

Upon hearing my words, Godolphin shook his head sadly.

“Un合格.

Allen Lovain.”

...Seriously?

“If I were in your position, I would have done whatever it took to get what I wanted.

Even if some friends couldn't keep up, I would have pushed the team members to the limit to create an elite team.

Saying you did your best is just an excuse for a loser.

What I sought was results.

...I am disappointed in you, Allen Lovain.”

The staff room was enveloped in silence.

Ms. Muzyca, standing next to Godolphin, was fidgeting.

But I was so angry at the old man in front of me that I didn't even notice her.

◆

‘Saying you did your best is just a loser's whine!

What I want is results!

Show me results!’

This was the catchphrase of the sales department manager I once worked under in my previous company.

He would give his subordinates impossible targets, yell at them relentlessly, and demand only results.

However, he wouldn't provide any specific strategies to achieve those numbers, a typical example of outdated power harassment.

No matter if it meant betraying customer trust or skirting the law, the only thing that mattered was the result.

Of course, this sales style would inevitably harm the company in the long run, but by the time the problems became apparent, the manager would have been promoted or transferred, so he didn't care.

Naturally, I hated this man, who had yelled at me for all sorts of unreasonable reasons.

The Godolphin sitting in front of me now overlapped with that manager.

This stubborn old man wouldn't change his mind about the failure.

I decided to fight him to the end, fueled by my resentment from my previous life.

“Hahaha!

Ahahaha!”

Godolphin looked at me strangely as I suddenly burst into laughter.

Looking him straight in the eye, I declared loudly, so that the entire staff room could hear.

“Disappointed...

That's my line, Godolphin!”

In the silent staff room, the sound of everyone holding their breath could be heard.