Chapter 2666 – 2666. God’S Atlantis

I explained the plan to Elena.

“…You’re going to incite a riot among the current students of the Imperial Academy, and in the ensuing chaos, steal the Starway bracelet that’s being kept there?”

“We can’t just steal it. That Starway bracelet is an offering to the goddess. The process is important. This much of a spectacle should be satisfying. There are actually quite a few divine beings looking forward to it.”

「The King of the Celestial Realm is sparkling with anticipation.」

The King of the Celestial Realm, for example, was very pleased just hearing the plan.

“…Hmm. It might be better to modify the plan a little. In the grand scheme of things, it’ll work. The Imperial Academy might look decent on the surface, but if you look closely, it has quite a few problems. However, take out this phrase.”

Elena pointed to a piece of paper that said “Democratic Empire.”

“Why? Democratic Empire. It sounds good.”

“The Empire is a nation of the Emperor and nobles. Democracy? It’s the most heavily guarded ideology. And the Imperial Academy is an educational institution for the children of nobles. The moment you utter the word democracy, you’ll become the enemy.”

We decided to modify the detailed plan a little. It was easier because Elena directly helped out.

Then, something suddenly piqued my curiosity.

“Why is it that only nobles attend the Imperial Academy? Usually, in fantasy academies in other worlds, commoners are mixed in too, right? Is it to build connections or something?”

There are many academy stories where the protagonist is a commoner.

“If you want to build connections, it’s more effective to throw social parties. Why would you send your child to the academy for four years? It’s obviously for education. A noble’s child is a noble. But just because they’re born a noble doesn’t mean they know everything from the start.”

“They could just be educated at home.”

“Nobles are busy. Especially lower-ranking nobles with little or no title. They don’t have the time to educate their children themselves, and they’re not professionals either. Above all, hiring a reputable tutor requires money and connections. Therefore, the children of nobles without wealth and connections were often uneducated and foolish.”

I thought of the nobles of the Ustia Empire. The Ustia Empire had many nobles. Knights, mages, and even administrative officials were considered quasi-nobles and included in the nobility. Of course, they were nothing compared to the real nobles with titles.

“In the very old days, the children of lower-ranking nobles were put into practical work without education. This caused the Empire to falter for a while. The perception of lower-ranking nobles also worsened, and when they were about to revise the system of hereditary titles, the great mage Hallen, who was from a lower-ranking noble family, stepped forward and established the Imperial Academy.”

“So, even though it’s called the Imperial Academy, it’s not related to the Imperial Family?”

“It’s the only academy in the Empire approved by the Imperial Family. It’s just named that because the academy is only in the Empire. If you think about it, it has nothing to do with the Imperial Family. The students of the Imperial Academy pay to receive education. The amount is not small, and there are quite a few students who take out loans.”

The Imperial Academy was a school, or rather, an academy, where anyone could attend as long as they were a noble and paid money.

Still, it was definitely a place not to be ignored, as it was where the children of nobles gathered.

“Even for me, it’s a burden to use large-scale illusions to manipulate it.”

It had already been revealed that Elena’s illusions were not absolute. If things at the Imperial Academy escalated, Gabriel of the Angelus Legion could step in and dispel the illusions. Then, even Elena wouldn’t be able to avoid responsibility.

“It’s okay. We’re not going to use illusions, but we’ll compete fairly with agitation and fabrication. We just need to be able to disguise our identities.”

“That much is easy. You could say there’s almost no risk.”

As I was planning with Elena, I suddenly noticed her outfit.

The white uniform of the Imperial Academy. Through the skirt, I could see her thighs, barely covered by stockings.

“Elena, you look cute today.”

“Hehe. You’re only saying that now? You can look closer, you know?”

Elena said, spreading her arms wide.

I strode towards Elena.

Elena’s heels lifted up. I grabbed her cheeks and kissed her.

• • •

A man with blond hair and glasses leisurely took a sip of his coffee.

It was Rowan Grab, the student council president of the Imperial Academy. As the heir to the Grab barony, he liked the quiet of the student council president’s office.

But that quiet was soon shattered.

Bang!

The student council door was violently opened, and a female student appeared. It was Mila Kopel, the vice president with a robust figure and green pigtails. Being from the knight department, her body was all muscle.

“President! It’s a disaster!”

“A disaster? What kind of disaster is it that makes you come in so ungracefully? Mila, I told you not to act like a commoner.”

“President, are you insulting me by calling me a commoner right now?!”

Mila’s face instantly contorted. Rowan flinched. It was as if a tiger’s face was appearing next to Mila’s face.

“I just meant it as a figure of speech. How could the best female knight of the Imperial Academy be a commoner? Haha.”

“Watch your words. I almost challenged you to a duel, President.”

“…Hmm. I’ll be careful. So… what is this disaster that makes you come in like this?”

“The Imperial Academy is trying to open up!”

“Open up?”

“Due to operational issues at the Imperial Academy, they’re saying they’re going to accept commoners as students next year!”

Rowan’s eyes widened, and he jumped up from his seat.

“Accept commoners as students at the historic Imperial Academy?! Has the academy gone mad?!”

“The number of students at the academy has been steadily decreasing for a while now.”

“That’s because this world has become Atlantis. The Empire’s birth rate is also at an all-time low.”

“And the exiles are making a name for themselves in Atlantis. There’s also talk of bringing them into the Empire… Similarly, there’s talk of the Empire making capable commoners nobles to embrace them! And the start of that is our Imperial Academy!”

“What?! No, wait. I haven’t officially heard any of that. Is this reliable information?”

“Would there be smoke without fire? The rumors have already spread among the students!”

The rumors have already spread among the students?

Rowan felt a sense of crisis.

If he didn’t step up and do something here, the students would definitely ignore him. Moreover, opening the school to commoners? That was absolutely unacceptable. Nobles taking classes and studying with commoners? The thought alone was horrifying.

“…What’s the atmosphere like among the students right now?”

“Look out the window.”

He turned his head sharply. Outside the window, a group of students had gathered. They all looked angry and their expressions were not good. The atmosphere was serious.

“……I can’t just stand by.”

Tap tap tap!

Someone came running in from outside in a hurry. It was Person, the student council secretary, a small man with brown hair.

“President! The students are demanding the temporary establishment of a Unity Council regarding this academy opening incident!”

“Unity Council? What’s that?”

“A committee where all students unite to oppose the academy’s tyranny! It’s a temporary organization formed for this incident!”

“I see. Is there anyone among the students who wants to be the head of the Unity Council?”

“Shouldn’t the president take on this role?!”

Rowan felt a slight chill run down his spine. If things didn’t go well, wouldn’t he be the only one taking the blame?

“I’m busy leading the student council. It would be better to bring in someone else. Vice President, how about you try it this time?”

Vice President Mila immediately shook her head.

“I know my limits. It’s beyond my capabilities. The only one who fits that position is the president. If you successfully complete this task… all the students will respect you.”

“Hmm.”

Rowan pondered.

The leader of an organization is dangerous. If something goes wrong, the leader is the one who has to take responsibility. But conversely, if the organization succeeds, the leader can reap the greatest rewards. High risk. High return.

‘Would the academy really fight the students if they’re crazy? If the students protest as a group, the academy staff will back down appropriately. The students are the owners of the academy. An academy without students is not an academy.’

He had decided.

He decided to take on a new hat to gain greater rewards.

“Alright. I’ll be the head of the Unity Council. But even if it’s a temporary organization, I can’t run it alone. I need members to form the Unity Council. They need to be people who have influence in the academy. Therefore… as the student council president, I will issue an emergency summons. I will call the representative students from the knight department, the magic department, the administration department, and the heads of the clubs.”

“Yes! President!”

It didn’t even take 30 minutes for the summons to be issued and everyone to gather. Things were going too smoothly.

‘It’s the first time I’ve issued an emergency summons… and everyone attended. This is what it means to be the student council president.’

Rowan trembled, feeling the sweet taste of power.

“…Ahem. You must have heard what happened on your way here. The academy is trying to accept commoners.”

“Absolutely not.”

“We must stop that at all costs. It will ruin the traditions of the academy.”

The gathered students spoke up one after another. If they refused here, they would be branded as traitors by the students gathered outside.

“Yes. I also share the same opinion. The Unity Council is a temporary organization to oppose this. The Unity Council is a place where students are represented, and I need your help. We need various positions… I would like you to take on those positions.”

“……”

The representative students were silent. They were busy looking at each other.

Then, one person raised their hand and stepped forward. It was a black-haired student I had never seen before. The student council president felt a sense of déjà vu for a moment, but he brushed it off. Just because he was the student council president didn’t mean he knew the information of every student.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Jin Corona, the president of the tennis club. The students are demanding a quick response. So, let’s just decide the positions by drawing lots.”

“No. We can’t decide such an important matter by drawing lots…”

“Isn’t it meaningful that we’ve gathered here like this? The academy will eventually accept our demands and yield. The students are the owners of the academy, how dare the faculty oppose us?”

“Hmm. That’s true. If there are no objections, let’s decide the positions by drawing lots.”

And so, the Unity Council of the Imperial Academy was born.