Chapter 71 – Meetings

000

The inside of the conference room was noisy with the heads of each department exchanging opinions.

No, to be precise, if the head of another department makes an opinion.

It was mainstream for Lila to deny that opinion for reasons.

“We need to prevent the Enforcement Department from causing problems. Why don’t we have talented students from each department patrolling the academy?”

“Considering the size of the academy’s site, a fairly large number of students must be recruited. The academy is a place for studying, not a place for security.”

“If you are learning combat skills, you can think of it as an extension of practice.”

“You’re saying that considering the possibility that it will lead to a real battle, right? What if they get hurt there and suffer enough damage that they can’t be enrolled anymore?”

“Then, let’s place surveillance crystal spheres made by our magic tools department throughout the academy. If you connect them to the academy’s spirit vein, we can guarantee the operation of magic tools even for 24 hours.”

“It’s better than nothing, but that means ordinary students and teachers are being watched 24 hours a day, right? If the Kingdom knows, they won’t stay still.”

“It’s okay. If you hide in a street lamp or a bush…”

“That’s worse.”

“Sex.”

“You just want to say something!? Cleon! Quiet this woman!”

“Even if you tell me…”

Cleon lets go of her dissatisfaction with Riomes, her own student, whom she can’t even control herself.

Aruru also just shook her head with her wry smile.

Looking at the scene, I thought I could understand what Aruru was talking about.

Turn back time a little to yesterday.

If you go to Aruru with Lila and tell her that she would like to have her attend the meeting of the chiefs.

Aruru readily nodded her head.

“Of course. Actually, all the students at the meeting are excellent, but they’re not a bit assertive. I needed someone to coordinate my opinion.”

“… You really want to ask me for that?”

“I don’t know of a better person than Lila. Because I can respond to everyone’s opinions objectively and logically.”

When Aruru smiles, Aruru will say ‘Ugh…’ .` And she looks a bit embarrassed.

“The other chiefs also acknowledge Layla’s skills. Based on her impressions so far, there is no cooperation at all, and it’s a big wall to think that she looks down on them.”

“Well, it’s not a false perception.”

Lila murmurs, seeming to be a bit grumpy with her.

Cleon looked at Lila for a moment, then she turned her head to Aruru.

“There must be one or two people. Regardless of her personality, there are people who respect her as much as her abilities.”

“Of course. If it’s the head of the magic tool department, I can take it over.”

Layla also seems to remember who Aruru is talking about, but she doesn’t seem to be able to remember.

“Then, all that remains is to create a flow.”

“I’ll do that. Cleon helps me. It’s not difficult, I just have to talk about what I’m talking about.”

At Aruru’s words, Cleon nodded his head.

And after a moment of silence, Leila cautiously opened her mouth.

“…Thank you, Aruru Tromeia.”

“What. Ryla is also the head of the academy. Rather, we, who have never been called to a meeting until now, should apologize.”

“It’s not like that. Even empty words, I wasn’t a good person, and I still think… I’m self-righteous.”

As Lila darkened her face, Aruru gave a kind smile.

“A self-righteous person feels no guilt, no gratitude. And no self-reproach.”

Clearly, Layla was that kind of person in the past.

However, change came as she went through something big enough to shake her values.

And she loves herself.

She goes through her heart with the person she loves.

Slowly, little by little

She understood the sentence ‘for someone’.

“Are you regretting it? About your past self.”

“…”

Layla did not respond to Aruru’s words.

It’s just that she became a little lonely and clenched her fist.

“Regret isn’t a bad thing either. After all, people grow up with regrets.”

“…Do you have that too? Regrets like that.”

At Layla’s words, Aruru smiled a little bitterly.

“There was. But, it seems to have been resolved a little lately.”

Aruru’s smile was towards Cleon.

Cleon cleared her throat and turned her head away.

001

“All with this? Do you have any more plausible opinions?”

A two-hour discussion.

Smashing all the poor comments put forth by each chief about their department, Lila puts her hand on her desk.

The silence inside the venue must mean that there are no more ammunition prepared.

As Aruru said, everyone just talks about what they want to say in front of the enemy called the Enforcement Division.

There was no opinion in it, for the sake of the students of the academy, or to unify the opinions of all the seniors.

Although the way her chiefs looked at her hadn’t changed from when she started their meeting.

At least, Layla’s feelings for them were lower.

“If you ignored all opinions like this. Of course, Lyla Flamewatch, you would have prepared your opinions as well.”

It was the head of the political department who broke the silence.

Although he, too, gave Layla the plausible opinion of her `to oust her enforcement department, create a student group to protect her students, and her chiefs direct that group.’

Underneath, it was a structure in which students belonging to the organization were given more power than necessary.

He was pointed out and dismissed for his comments.

“Of course, before that. Where is the chief of the Archery department?”

“…Come to think of it, I haven’t seen you in a few days.”

“Oh. Didn’t he say that he would apply for a leave of absence for the past few days, saying that he would track down the Enforcement Division’s hideout by himself?”

The inside of the conference room is again enveloped in silence.

Nobody remembered him.

“Well, well. I agree with that opinion. All of you are full of thoughts of taking advantage of this opportunity to expand the power of the department. You only need to do what is necessary.”

“Needful?”

“Yeah. Enforcement and finding where they’re hiding, and capturing them all. Creating a group, or creating a surveillance system. It’s the opposite of attracting normal students.”

At Layla’s words, Aruru also nodded her head.

“I agree with her. We are here as representatives of each department. We are by no means special people. It is against the purpose for us to decide something and change the school’s policy.”

It was all the more weighty because it was said by Aruru Tromeia, a hero chosen by the holy sword and the daughter of a ducal family.

The commoners’ students as well as the aristocratic students nodded their heads.

“But in order to eventually find out where it’s hiding-“

When the head of the Sacred Division continued to say something, the head of the Sacred Division quietly spoke.

Riomes raised his hand.

“Shall we… Take out the information?”

Everyone’s eyes are focused on Riomes.

She was also a person who didn’t have a proper opinion.

This time, he speaks with a serious voice and a smile on his face.

“I was thinking about that too. I heard that the Enforcement Department students who fought Cleon earlier were recovered. Didn’t you think of digging them up for information?”

At Layla’s words, a student from the Sorcery Department spoke.

“Of course I did. But everyone was so tight-lipped that I thought of using a confession agent…”

His gaze turned towards Aruru.

“They said that ordinary light things wouldn’t work, so I tried to use a highly concentrated self-confessor, so I stopped it.”

“…The medicine used for the confession is basically poison to the body. Of course, I doubt they need mercy.”

When Layla responds to Aruru’s words, some of the chiefs nod to her.

“It’s not mercy. But once we, the Chief, use such a tactic, there’s no guarantee that one of these guys won’t do something worse.”

“Definitely. It’s a bit of a big story for a student’s level.”

Cleon quietly supported Aruru’s opinion.

This is an adventurer and an adventurer.

Or if it’s a conflict between adventurers and criminals

Cleon wouldn’t have stopped whether he used a confessional or a mind control spell.

However, their duty was always learning and research.

Just because the other side has lost it, they don’t have to either.

Fighting at the same level as your opponent was not a very smart move.

“Then. Let me try to extract the information.”

Riomes speaks quietly.

It was worth seeing that everyone’s faces quickly turned into fear or disgust.

“Eh, why is everyone making such disgusting faces… “

“Are you trying to elicit information… That means you’re going to sexually torture them?”

When the head of the political department spoke cautiously, Riomes widened his eyes.

Then, after a while, he quietly covered his mouth and smiled.

“No. No matter how much I say I’m a person in the sex department, how could I do that to someone outside the same class?”

“…”

“…Did you really think so? That’s surprising. Students from the Sex Department never mix with other departments unless they’re in a romantic relationship.”

Cleon listened to the story and said, ‘Is that so…` I just thought.

To be honest, when I heard that she was digging up information, I felt the same way as a political student.

“There is a lecturer here who mixes with students from other departments.”

Aruru speaks quietly in a voice that only Cleon can hear.

Then, Cleon clears his throat so that the other students cannot hear his voice.

However, when Cleon’s eyes are focused on clearing his throat, Cleon thinks he needs to say something and opens his mouth.

“So, you’re interrogating them in Riomes’ own way?”

“That’s right. It’s a peaceful way and no one gets hurt. It feels good there.”

After nodding at Riomes’ answer, everyone stiffened at the last sentence.

“…Please don’t lower your expectations in the last sentence after being relieved in the previous sentence.”

“Rather, don’t expectations rise?”

The day of understanding her state of mind seemed never to come.

“You’re responsible for digging up information, right? Riomes.”

The head of the Department of Divinity talks to Riomes with an expression of disbelief.

For her, who has been asked absurd, mischievous questions such as ‘What is the difference between the Department of Divinity and the Department of Sexuality?’

The sex department was also an evil organization.

“Of course. Ah, but that’s right. It would be nice if Instructor Cleon could help.”

But whether you know her heart or not.

Riomes answered in a light voice and looked at Cleon.

“…It’s temporary, but if a student in my department wants to do something… I’ll have to take responsibility.”

[It will be fine. Cleon?]

The next moment, Lyla’s telepathy is heard.

Her voice was full of worry like never before.

Although she was quick to respond to the various opinions of the chiefs, she was embarrassed because she could not read Riomes’ thought pattern.

Then, Cleon quietly nodded.

I couldn’t have imagined at this point that I would regret it right away.

002

In case of emergency, Cleon heads to the place where the students are detained with Aruru and Layla.

Riomes, who stood at the forefront, was walking while humming as if he was in a good mood.

“Riomes. If there was a way to get information from them, why didn’t you do it?”

Aruru points out the stumbling block when she brought up the story.

Then, Riomes answered without turning his head.

“If you dig up information in a state where opinions are not properly gathered, it will only make them more assertive and specific.”

“…That’s right.”

If they find out information about the Enforcement Division, they will use it to give opinions only for their own interests.

It would be okay if it was all refuted and pointed out by Layla.

That seemed to be what Riomes was thinking.

“Is there really a way to dig up information without using a confession? I’m saying, but mind control magic doesn’t work. It also damages the brain and soul.”

“Don’t worry, I don’t know how to use such magic.”

Lila, too, speaks as if she’s worried about her ways.

Riomes didn’t care and just laughed.

Aruru and Layla’s gazes are directed toward Cleon at the same time.

“…I trust the students in my department.”

“Oh, thank you. Instructor Cleon. It’s an honor.”

In fact, it was a bit dubious.

Half of that trust is in her younger brother, Demis.

The place I arrived with such an uneasy mind.

Outskirts of the academy, the building of the punishment room owned by the law department.

If you break school rules or are punished and suspended from school.

You will stay here, not in a dorm.

Among them, the most vicious students until expulsion is decided.

Punishment Room – To put it simply, you will be living in a prison for students.

All of the Enforcement Department students who attacked Cleon were subject to expulsion without fail.

Just to dig up information about them, now they were put in the punishment room.

Guided by a law student who plays the role of a jailer, head to the prison where the recently detained are.

There, I saw people imprisoned quietly in a room, wearing handcuffs that drain magic.

There are two inside.

One male student and one female student.

“These are the most recent Enforcement Department students. They are the ones who attacked Aruru-sama at the restaurant.”

At the jailer’s words, Aruru and Cleon check on them at the same time.

If you look closely, the female student side was burned and fainted by Cleon’s magic of her.

The male student is the one who was cut by Aruru.

The wound was already healed with healing magic, but the body was fine.

Mental exhaustion seemed inevitable.

“But Riomes-nim. Why did you ask them to gather them in one room?”

At the words of the jailer, everyone’s eyes are focused on Riomes.

“That’s right, these two. They’re lovers. It’s pitiful to keep them apart, right?”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. I can see it.”

As expected, the head of the sex department.

“No, it’s strange that even the head of the sex department knows that just by looking at it.”

With Lyla’s tackle, which seems to have read Cleon’s thoughts of her, Cleon also returns to his senses of her.

Riomes said that and looked at the jailer.

The jailer cautiously opens the prison door.

With a squeaking sound, the heads of the two people inside rose.

In an instant, my body trembled as if I was going to get up and run away.

As soon as I saw the faces of Aruru and Cleon, I sat down again as if those thoughts had disappeared.

“You’re wise.”

Although Cleon had intended to stop them on the spot if they did something.

It was fortunate that they were calmer than I thought.

“What’s going on? Are you trying to get some information from us?”

At the boy’s words, Riomes nodded.

“That’s right. I need your help…”

Saying that, Riomes walked inside.

“Jailer, please move away for a moment. Mr. Laila, the soundproof barrier. Instructor Cleon, would you like to come inside with me?”

Then give instructions to each one.

“Wait, wasn’t it sexual torture?”

At Cleon’s words, Riomes looks back at him with a smile still on his face.

“Yes. But it’s going to get a little noisy.”

“…”

Layla’s face looks a bit suspicious, but for now, she spreads a soundproofing barrier to prevent the sound from escaping to the surroundings.

“I?”

“Aruru-sama is watching over there. You can watch our Sex Department in action.”

“Uh, um… Okay.”

Since he had no instructions, Aruru asked Riomes if he wanted to do something.

Riomes stood in front of the female student while giving her an appropriate answer.

And when you put your palms together as if you were putting your palms together.

Black and white magical powers start flowing from her hands her down her arms her.

It was a ‘bilateral conversion of magical power and vitality’ that Demis coordinated by borrowing the power of the Orb.

She was a person who had reached the point where she could do it naturally, even without the help of aids.

And that magical energy circulates around her entire body, eventually concentrating on the index and middle fingertips of her right hand.

“What… Are you planning to do?”

The female student looks up at Riomes with a worried face.

“You don’t have to be scared.”

Then Riomes smiled, bent his knees, and spoke at eye level with the girl sitting there.

“Concentrated on the fingertips, this is the magical power of human life force converted. Once it penetrates the opponent’s body, it can control that body to some extent.”

“Sir, are you thinking of controlling my body to spread information?!”

Riomes shook his head at the girl’s trembling voice her.

“No, I can’t go that far. The best I can do with this is… Amplify the sensitivity of others’ bodies. I usually use it on myself.”

In the next moment, Riomes’ fingers touched the forehead of the girl who couldn’t move.

Like a stone being thrown on the surface of water, ripples occur on her body and Riomes’ magical power spreads.

“Should I lightly do it 3,000 times?”