Chapter 20 – The New Student is Busy

Returning from her visit to Luciel’s bedside.

Along the way, he helped Neferti up a total of five times after she tripped. That was an extra.

Afterward, she stopped by a place to buy coffee for the student council members.

“What. Why are you here?”

“Deus? Oh. Even the student council president…?”

There, Deus encountered Yurisiah, hesitantly taking orders.

“What. Don’t tell me you’re working a part-time job?”

“Ah, uh-huh! I’m, it’s just for today though.”

So you’re also strapped for cash. This is rather unfortunate.

Deus knew very well how easily embarrassed Yurisiah was.

Even so, to be working a day job like this… Arms crossed, he hummed low in thought.

‘To become like Deus! First, gotta do something about this personality!’

Though what Yurisia actually wanted was something else entirely.

“Hmm?”

In the meantime, Neferti kept glancing between Deus and Yurisia.

She soon let out a ‘Hoo!’ of admiration, and snapped open her fan with a *chak!*

“Oh my. What’s this? Junior. I thought you had absolutely no interest in the opposite s*x. Have you already made yourself a girlfriend in the meantime!? Hehehehehe!”

“Eh? That’s not it at all, though?”

“No need to be shy. Dating in the cradle isn’t forbidden, you know! Ohohot! Ohohohohot!”

Ah, I’m telling you, that’s not it. Why are you making poor Yurisia uncomfortable like that?

Look at her. She’s fidgeting, unable to handle such ridiculous talk.

A black-haired foreigner, and a romantic interest? She’d be grateful if he didn’t just call her barbaric.

“By the way. Why is Jojo hanging out by the window over there?”

“Ah. That’s… I came to work and he suddenly followed… S-Sorry…”

“Sorry for what? Looking at that guy’s temper, do you think he’d go if you tried to take him? He probably just followed Yurisia because he was bored.”

Deus’s gaze went to where Jojo was sprawled out in a basket, taking a nap.

Before him lay tributes reverently offered by students. Things like Churu treats and snacks.

What a life a cat leads. Treated like visiting royalty.

Looking at him sprawled out like that, I even thought of poking his jelly belly.

‘After all, the world belongs to the cute, the pretty, and the handsome…!’

Goodness. This is the first time I’ve ever been envious of a cat.

Just sitting there, and people offer tributes all on their own!

And here I am, broke after blowing all my savings on exercise equipment!

The martial arts club did provide a ‘reward’ as a token of their appreciation.

But that was already exchanged for workout equipment at a private gym long ago.

In other words, Deus’s wallet was so thin, it was practically just bone.

Maybe I should work here too. I briefly considered it.

During the time between classes, after finishing my workout, it should be doable.

Money isn’t everything in the world, but having it makes the world easier.

But that thought. I abandoned it just 10 minutes later.

—*Thump!*

“Ugh.”

He smacked his forehead straight into a ceiling beam inside the cafe.

A cafe designed to give a cozy feeling and make a good impression on students.

For Deus, who was a head taller than most, it was poison itself.

“De, Deus. Are you alright?”

“Yeah. I’m more worried about the cafe ceiling.”

If it cracked, I’d have to pay for it.

If it ended there, it might have been fortunate.

—*Crack!*

“Whoops.”

Dodging a student suddenly sprinting past with coffee in hand, he braced himself against a table.

But the table, alas, couldn’t withstand the force, and one of its legs simply snapped.

Following that, the tabletop itself cleaved in two.

“…”

“…”

From Yurishia, who was painstakingly about to deliver the order she had taken.

To Neferti, who had just received her coffee and was about to leave.

The cafe owner, caught in the midst of fulfilling a rush of orders, along with his employee assisting him.

And finally, the students chattering amongst themselves as they sipped their coffee at their respective tables.

“…”

“…”

All of them, in silent unison, turned their gaze upon Deus, the one who had ordained the table’s demise.

“Umm, junior. If you’re upset, wouldn’t it be easier to just say so…? We can understand you…”

At Neferti’s words, Deus could only clutch his head in dismay.

No! President! That’s not it at all! I’m not angry in the slightest!!

“Listen, student. I don’t know what’s bothering you, but I think it’s best to restrain yourself. Causing a ruckus in the Cradle will only hurt you in the end, you know?”

Owner! You’re supposed to be angry that I broke your furniture!

Treating me like some dangerous beast, it just makes me, well, this person, very sad!

“M-My apologies! I promise I won’t bring Jojo here again without permission!”

That’s not it, Yurishia! Besides, Jojo came here of his own accord, didn’t he?

As if he’s the type to go anywhere just because someone tells him to. He only does what piques his interest!

Deus left the café with a brand new moniker: The Destroyer.

It seemed that a normal part-time job was an impossible dream.

*

The Cradle’s main building. The Student Council resides on the second floor.

“The President is arriving!”

One of the officers sitting at the far end of the Student Council room bolted upright.

His posture was stiff with military precision. One might mistake the room for a military barracks.

However, this wasn’t just because the Student Council was that kind of place.

“Ugh. I wish he wouldn’t do that.”

“Just let him be. His father is the Commander of the Empire’s 3rd Army Corps, isn’t he?”

The Head of General Affairs, Idelshia, a third-year student, echoed the Vice President, Casarr.

Upon hearing this, Idelshia let out a small “Ah…!” and nodded in understanding.

“His home atmosphere must be filled with a military vibe.”

“What’s more, he idolizes the Student Council President. Even more so because they’re both Wind element users.”

Neferti, the Student Council President, who was even the object of her junior colleague’s admiration.

But the truth was…

“Hurry and snatch her coffee! The President is about to fall over any minute now.”

“Hehehe! What are you saying, Vice President! I’m perfectly fin… Waaaugh!!”

― *CRASH!*

At Kasar’s prompting, the Head of the Athletics Department swiftly snatches the coffee from her hand.

Immediately after, Neferti, having landed squarely on her rear, is helped up by the Head of Student Affairs.

“Are you alright?”

“Ah, ohoho! I’m, I’m quite alright! This is nothing at all!”

Honestly, President. Your eyes are brimming with tears. You should probably rub them.

Kasar sighed, taking a sip of the coffee Neferti had bought for him.

Hm. Just as he thought. The caffeine is bringing his sluggish body back to normal.

“Alright. Let’s begin the Yorem Student Council emergency meeting.”

The Vice-President, Kasar, starting things off, gives a brief explanation of the current situation.

“Currently, one of Yorem’s Seal Stones has been damaged and sent to the Repair Room. The two spares we had were already used last winter. Meaning, for the time being, we’ll have a Seal Stone absent from its position.”

“Can’t we manage with the seven operational ones, somehow?”

“Each stone is responsible for a certain area. No matter how we readjust the seven, there will inevitably be gaps.”

In fact, widening the distance between the Stones too much could weaken certain areas.

Kasar concludes that trying to fix one problem could lead to problems in two places.

“Therefore, the teachers have agreed to take shifts monitoring the area near the damaged Seal Stone. Our student council will also prepare for the worst-case scenario. President?”

Neferti, taking her turn, steps forward to address the officers.

“In the unlikely event of a Gate appearing, the teachers and the dispatched units will be entirely responsible for combat. Our student council will focus all our attention on evacuating students, and preparing for any possible secondary situations.”

“President.”

The Head of Student Affairs hesitantly raises their hand.

“Yes, Head of Student Affairs?”

“If there’s no time to wait for the teachers or the dispatched units… or if they’re occupied. What do we do?”

“In that case, we’ll consider it an exceptional situation, and everyone will have to do what they can as Ability Users.”

What they must do as Ability Users. The duty they bear.

Protecting the Empire from the Gates, guarding the people from the Monsters.

From the first to the last.

“However!”

Neferti slams her hands on the desk, as if to ensure they won’t forget.

“As I said before, our student council prioritizes the evacuation of students above all else. Whether it’s a Gate with an extremely low threat level, or an unthreatening Monster. No matter what.”

They are the student representatives, carrying the name of the student council here at Yorem.

The safety of those students is the most important thing they must consider.

“There are only two instances where combat is unavoidable. After the students have been evacuated, we must act for their safety. Or, in order to evacuate, we must break through an obstruction.”

“Understood, President.”

“Eh! That’s not loud enough! Can we even call this the Yorem Student Council? Again!”

“P-President. We’re not children, that’s a bit…”

Kasar, as Vice-President, tries his best to dissuade the President.

But Neferti’s insistence didn’t stop, and in the end, it was the officers who waved the white flag.

“Understoood…”

“Louder!”

“Understood! President!!”

“Alright! From the student council’s start, everyone will be swamped, but everyone, please strive to— Ukyahh!!”

—Thud!

They should at least put a mattress on the floor, even if just inside the student council room.

Kasarr and the other department heads. Everyone was thinking the same thing.