257 – Apostle of Grace -2-

The executives sat around the round table.

About twenty student council executives filled the seats with stern expressions.

Student Council President Shartia.

“You all must have heard. Freshmen are going missing.”

Mikhail.

“I’ve heard, but I’m not sure. Whether the juniors were kidnapped or it was voluntary.”

Yuria.

“I’ve heard too. There’s also a student from our department who suddenly lost contact…”

Hanna.

“Why is there never a quiet day at this academy?”

Ruin.

“Why am I called here? I’m useless anyway.”

In addition to these, about twenty student council executives were sitting and listening attentively to Shartia’s words.

An issue that had come up in the student council two months ago.

-The disappearance of the first-year cadets.

At first, they concluded it was due to personal caprice and absence without leave, and they referred the matter for disciplinary action. But as the number grew to two, then three, the student council began to sense something was amiss.

It wasn’t just absenteeism; it was disappearance.

The student council thought the magnitude of the case was exceeding the category of deviance that comes with the sense of liberation upon becoming an adult.

“In the past three months, more than twenty students have been absent. As of today, it’s twenty-two.”

Hanna nodded at Chartia’s words and spoke in a heavy voice.

“It’s serious.”

“Right.”

“Isn’t this beyond what we can handle? I think we should ask the royal family for help this time.”

The crown prince, who had been listening quietly, shook his head and let out a deep sigh.

“It’s impossible.”

Hanna’s eyebrows twitched at the prince’s powerless words, and she retorted.

“What do you mean ‘impossible’? There are two royals in the student council.”

“That’s why it’s impossible.”

“How can you say it’s impossible without even trying? You’ve heard, too. It’s beyond our scope.”

“Not seeking outside help has been a rule since the academy’s founding chancellor established it. ‘Resolve matters within the academy.’ If the professors and the chancellor decide it’s beyond what a student can handle, then…”

“Nonsense.”

Hanna clicked her tongue and glared at the prince.

“What?”

“It’s because of your position, isn’t it? ‘The crown prince resolved the issue without the royal family’s help.’ You’re being stubborn because of this reputation, aren’t you?”

“Histarnia Hanna.”

“What? Isn’t the academy supposed to be equal for everyone? Are you trying to suppress me with your power?”

“You’re crossing the line now. Just because you’re Histarnia.”

“Wow, scary. Should I drop out then?”

“…”

-Bang!

As the atmosphere turned icy, Chartia slammed her fist on the desk and shot a sharp glance.

“Both of you, stop it! What are you doing, acting so childishly?”

Hanna, undeterred by Chartia’s scolding, continued to challenge.

“Senior, think about it. We haven’t been able to handle what’s happened at the academy so far.”

“I said stop.”

“The incident at the ranking tournament, and the time Hans used dark magic, honestly, it was too much for us, and if it weren’t for the butler at the ball…”

Hanna looked at Ruin, Mikhail, and the crown prince and said,

“Honestly, we haven’t solved anything on our own, have we? If we at least ask the butler for help…!”

-Bang!

“Ricardo is on a leave of absence. Frankly, he’s practically an outsider, almost expelled. And you want to call someone like him and ask for help because of our situation? What do you think people will call us?”

“…”

“This batch is the worst.”

“…”

“In my time, we handled everything ourselves, but now the academy is practically dead. The problem with kids these days is this. Is this all they know how to say? What do you think your peers would say?”

Chartia spoke to Hanna with a voice filled with injustice.

“I know too. That our situation isn’t good, but what can we do? We have to seize this opportunity to win back the people’s hearts.”

“Still…!”

“It’s not just our faces that are getting smeared, it’s the entire academy.”

Chartia, being the student council president, had no choice but to speak out. She knew as well. That the issues at hand were too much for just the student council to handle.

But this time was different.

Chartia gestured lightly to the student standing beside her. To distribute what she was holding in her hand.

The student next to Chartia nodded lightly and began placing the papers he was holding onto the seats where the officers were sitting.

“We can resolve this issue.”

The officers unfolded the papers and looked at them.

And they gasped.

“What’s this? How long have you known about this?”

On the unfolded paper was a map with circles drawn around the locations where the missing students were last seen, based on eyewitness testimonies.

Hanna looked at Chartia with wide eyes, unable to draw such a map without having been there.

“Weren’t you busy?”

“Busy. I feel like I’m going to die with the mountain of work I have, but we have to put out the urgent fires first, don’t we?”

“Wow…”

Chartia unfolded the map and spoke with a voice tinged with confidence.

“I’ll say it again, we can solve this with our own strength. There’s no whiff of heresy, and the disciplinary committee has even confirmed the locations.”

Chartia nodded at Rohan, the head of the disciplinary committee sitting at the far right of the round table, conveying her appreciation for his hard work.

Touched by Chartia’s sentiment, Rohan nodded lightly and carefully stood up from his seat.

“That’s right. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”

“Really?”

-Nod.

Rohan unfolded the map and began to speak calmly. He confidently detailed the information he had brought, continuing his explanation.

“It’s a three-hour carriage ride away. It’s a considerable distance, but not too far, and it’s not too far from the capital either. Requesting support should be relatively easy…”

The executives’ reactions to Rohan’s words were mixed. The spirited leaders of the honor council nodded in agreement, eager to restore their tarnished reputation from the last incident, while Yuria and Hanna reserved their words, displaying a pessimistic attitude.

“Excuse me.”

In the midst of the sharp silence, Hanna raised her hand and blurted out a question to Rohan. After all, he hadn’t mentioned the most crucial fact.

“Then, where is the place you’ve circled? Looking at the map, it seems like a cave or a forest. I honestly think it looks like a heretic’s hideout, isn’t it?”

With a grimace, Rohan shook his head firmly in response to Hanna’s retort.

“No, that’s not it. There was a cabin there.”

“A cabin?”

“More like a bandit’s den. The missing kids all had a common thread—they were involved in gambling. Even without going into detail, you can guess why they disappeared.”

“They were taken because they couldn’t pay their debts. Is that what you’re saying?”

-Nod.

Hanna tilted her head ambiguously and clicked her tongue.

“It still looks strange to me.”

Hanna swallowed her silence against the unyielding public opinion and bowed her head.

“Alright, I understand. Mikhail, don’t you have anything to say?”

Mikhail, who had been listening quietly, flinched at Hanna’s question and cautiously opened his mouth.

“Mr. Student Council President, may I express my opinion?”

“Speak.”

“Thank you.”

With a sigh, Mikhail stood up and carefully voiced his opinion.

“I positively consider the opinion Hanna expressed earlier.”

Hanna’s lips curled up slightly, bolstered by the support. Agreeing with her meant gaining significant strength. The assurance of not having to partake in the unsettling matter improved Hanna’s mood.

After all, Mikhail was the one who would oppose hiring a butler.

However, Mikhail unexpectedly voiced an opinion that no one anticipated.

“I support the decision to hire Ricardo for this matter.”

At Mikhail’s words, the atmosphere in the room turned icy. It was Mikhail, of all people, who had brought up Ricardo’s name.

The one who despised and hated Ricardo the most, the person who had suffered the most damage after Yuria, had directly mentioned Ricardo’s name, filling the room with an air of shock.

Chartia, with a grim expression, couldn’t bring herself to respond positively to Mikhail’s opinion. Words were easy, but bringing him along came with many restrictions. They had to go as far as Hamel to confirm his willingness, and there were many watchful eyes. Chartia let out a heavy sigh and calmly spoke.

“That’s impossible.”

“…”

“I told you. Bringing Ricardo along is too conspicuous. And there’s one thing you’ve all been mistaken about.”

Chartia rubbed her throbbing forehead and spat out her opinion briefly.

“Ricardo has never once come at our request. He always shows up on his own accord and causes a scene. He’s not someone we can just summon.”

A scene. Although she used the word ‘scene’ in front of everyone, Chartia actually meant it as nothing short of salvation.

Chartia let out a heavy sigh and said,

“We’ll leave tomorrow morning.”

“…”

“Those in favor, raise your hands now.”

Everyone except Hanna and Yuria raised their hands. Some did so with the thought of the trembling juniors at this very moment, while others wanted to restore their honor as soon as possible.

Chartia nodded slightly and threw out another question. This time, asking those opposed to raise their hands.

“Two… Ruin, what about you?”

Chartia glared at Ruin, who had propped his about-to-burst legs on the round table, and said,

“What do you want to do?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Ruin replied,

“I don’t want to go.”

“What?”

“Wouldn’t I just be a burden if I went? I’d rather stay at the dorm. Whether the student council gives me a penalty or kicks me out, I don’t care.”

Chartia’s sigh deepened.

And so, the meeting filled with everyone’s anxiety and expectations came to a close late into the night.

The next early dawn.

The student council executives gathered in front of the academy.

Their destination was a cabin halfway up a mountain on the outskirts of the capital.

***

At that moment.

I stroked the head of the lady who was knitting and let out a languid breath as I greeted her.

“Lady.”

“Hmm.”

“What are you making?”

The lady lifted her hand to show a chimera made of yarn and smiled brightly.

“Scarf!”

“…”

“How is it?”

Quite a bizarre design.

I couldn’t comprehend how a scarf could have legs and a neck, but I gently stroked the lady’s head and said in a soft voice,

“Do you remember me saying that I might have to step out for a bit recently?”

“Mhm.”

“It looks like I’ll be away for a day or two, is that alright with you?”

The lady nodded vigorously as she watched Darbav playing with Gomtang in the mansion’s courtyard.

“Yeah. I’ll play with Daddy.”

“Understood.”

“And bring back something tasty when you come!”

“Sure.”

I smiled faintly and stroked the lady’s head again.

My destination was the wild mountains of the capital.

The hermit’s sanctuary.