Chapter 82

Katie grilled Hikaru with various questions, and it took about an hour.

In stark contrast to the exhausted Hikaru, Katie's eyes gleamed as she began to compile information about the "Holy Demon" — while making sure to hide the bullet she had given him. When Hikaru left the laboratory, the research assistants, who had been glued to the door, collapsed.

Ravia, apparently discouraged by the greatsword lecture training, refused to participate again. However, she said she would attend the magic tool lecture — because Katie had firmly told her, "You must attend from next time on." Hikaru, who had been told to attend the lecture by both Katie and League, and who wasn't particularly busy, had no reason not to attend the magic tool lecture.

"Good. You came."

And then the next magic tool lecture.

League looked pleased, leading three girls. Hikaru thought that with these three around, it would be impossible to have any secret conversations — but once the lecture started, he understood.

(They're sleeping...)

All three were sound asleep. Despite their lack of interest in the lecture, they were participating just to stick with League, showing an incredible level of determination.

(Hikaru-san)

League whispered.

Incidentally, with girls sleeping on either side of him, Hikaru and Ravia had secured seats behind League. League passed a note, scribbling away.

'Let's communicate through notes. Can you collect and burn the notes, Hikaru?'

(Do they think they're high school girls?)

Hikaru thought, but given League's lack of freedom, there was probably no other way.

'Okay. What do you want to talk about?'

'I want to connect with influential students from the other six countries before next winter. I need your help to do that.'

'Why me? You can do it yourself.'

'The students from Jalarzak in the greatsword lecture are also elites in Jalarzak. They seem to have a sense of camaraderie with you. It took Roye months to become friends with them, but it only took you one day.'

'They're just muscleheads, and I don't want to be friends with them.'

'The results speak for themselves. I want to use that. I'll pay you whatever reward is necessary to achieve this.'

'I don't need a reward, and I don't owe you that much. Besides, Jalarzak is special, and the other students don't know about it.'

'You've already made contact with Sir Sylvester, haven't you? He's been a student here for a few days since he found out you were at the academy.'

"..."

Hikaru stared at the note, thinking, "No way." An additional note arrived.

'Mr. Katie also seems interested in you. He's been paying attention to our note-passing. If we involve Mr. Katie, it will be easier to recruit students from Kotobi. That makes four out of the seven countries. Do you think I can ignore your existence?'

'It's a coincidence.'

Though he wrote that,

(That's a bit too much to be a coincidence, isn't it?)

Ravia whispered from the side.

(What do you mean by "too much"? It's a coincidence.)

(Hikaru involves too many people.)

(My specialty is "stealth.")

(You're not hiding well enough. Maybe you should hide behind a more prominent person?)

That made sense...

'Don't use me as a distraction.'

League must have heard the whisper, as he preempted Hikaru.

'League, this was your idea. You're the leader.'

'Let's make it Sir Sylvester. The dean is also from Tsuval, so it will be natural.'

League casually sold out his future comrade.

'I'm skeptical. Can you really bring student networks into politics?'

'We won't know unless we try. But it's worth doing. If we don't try, nothing will change.'

It was an optimistic opinion.

However, League believed it should be done and would do it.

Despite usually being unable to act much due to surveillance.

(What should I do?)

Ravia asked.

What would happen if Hikaru refused? Would Roye take over? Or the red-haired student?

The Romanian students would probably need time to connect with students from other countries, hindered by their history.

That's why Hikaru might be the best choice. Being from Ponsonia was a minus, but for most students, Ponsonia was less of a thorn in their side than the other six countries.

What should he do, when asked?

Hikaru felt — "I don't really care."

At first.

But after hearing League's arguments, he started to think.

He faced forward, pretending to listen to Katie's lecture. What he really wanted to hear was the conversation between Ravia and Hikaru. What Hikaru was thinking.

(The head of a Romanian clan... relying on someone from another country seems strange.)

That's how desperate he was.

Desperate, yet still pursuing his ideals.

The ideal of the seven allied countries becoming one.

(...It's like a ship that's already set sail.)

Hikaru couldn't deny being swayed by League's enthusiasm. He felt a sense of urgency, but also concern.

Since he still planned to attend the academy, he thought it might be okay to participate as part of his activities there.

Moreover, he wanted the Forsetia Union to be united for a peaceful life in this world.

But most importantly — he felt a desire to get involved in such a naive and idealistic endeavor because he now had someone to share everything with.

(It's your fault.)

He thought, looking at the girl sitting next to him.

Ravia tilted her head in confusion.

'I will cooperate within my limits.'

Hikaru wrote and passed the note to League.

However, it would be problematic if League always had girls watching him. It seemed League had applied to the academy for a "laboratory." If approved, the Romanian girls would not follow him there during research. This seemed somewhat dubious, but given that the girls had been sleeping through the magic tool lecture, they might indeed stay away from the laboratory. League wrote in a serious tone that he planned to stock up on materials that emitted a foul odor.

After the magic tool lecture, Hikaru headed to Katie's laboratory. The research assistants still looked displeased, but their expressions softened when they saw Hikaru with Ravia, perhaps realizing she wasn't a romantic rival.

"You don't need to leave, everyone."

He said with a forced smile — later, Ravia commented, "That was a suspicious smile." — which might have helped.

Katie, disappointed that it wasn't about the "Holy Demon," didn't pay attention to it.

"Though I may be presumptuous, I have two requests for you, teacher. They're not major, though."

"What are they?"

"One is to get your permission for the laboratory application."

"Oh! Has Hikaru finally become captivated by magic tool research?"

"No. A male student named League from the Romanian clan has applied. With your support, I believe the application will be approved quickly."

"Romanian... League...?"

When Katie looked confused, a research assistant whispered to her.

"Oh, a student from the Romanian clan who attends my lectures. That's rare."

"Is it really that rare?"

"Not for a regular student, but for a clan member, it is. Sure, I can help with that. I'll contact the office today."

"Teacher, he's a Romanian student!"

The research assistant protested,

"What? Did you want a laboratory too? If so, I can arrange it—"

"No! I really like this laboratory of Mr. Katie's!"

The research assistant panicked, apparently having a crush on Katie.

"? Well, if you like it here, that's fine. — So, Hikaru, what's the other request?"

"I want you to introduce me to a student from Kotobi."

"Introduce you to a student?"

"Actually, I'm planning to set up a place for information exchange on various lectures and want students from Kotobi to participate."

Katie's face clearly said, "I want to participate in that," but Hikaru ignored it. There was no way he would exchange information about the "Holy Demon."

"I don't have many acquaintances in the academy. A place for interaction would be nice. A student introduced by Mr. Katie would be excellent, wouldn't they? What do you think, everyone?"

The research assistants responded with flattery like "Of course" and "Mr. Katie is the best."

"Alright. Then I have someone in mind."

Katie said.

"My sister."

The seemingly unemotional but intensely passionate male, League.

Sylvester had also become a student somehow.

Hikaru will start moving to form a student alliance.

The remaining students are Kiriharu, Ludansha, and Yuraba.