263 – The Girl Who Likes Mikhail -1-

Three days after an incident occurred due to the student council’s unilateral decision.

“Fourth-year of the Magic Department, Class A, Chartia.”

“…”

“The faculty is greatly disappointed with this incident.”

Chartia sat alone in front of numerous professors. Alone, excluding the students who were involved in the incident.

The reason she sat here alone was one. To be held accountable for this incident.

Chartia, the chief responsible, bowed her head and gave the answers the professors wanted. Any unnecessary remarks weren’t what they wanted, and she didn’t want to deal with the hassle.

“…I’m sorry.”

The professor of the fourth-year Magic Department, sitting in the middle of the desk, asked Chartia. Why did you decide on your own and cause this trouble, when you cited the rules that the academy’s affairs should be resolved by the students themselves when seeking advice, and now you’re speaking comfortably?

‘Disgusting.’

As if they would listen to anything she said anyway. Chartia barely contained her twisted insides and nodded to the professor’s question.

“If it seems impossible with the students’ power, isn’t it natural to seek the help of a professor?”

-Crack.

“The reason professors are at the academy isn’t just to teach students but also to ensure their safety.”

“…”

“Do you realize that you’ve abused your authority, Chartia?”

“I thought we could handle it with our own strength. When I sought advice last week, the professor didn’t even pretend to listen.”

“I told you to wait and see. I never said to start trouble on your own.”

“There was no answer for a week.”

“Student Chartia!”

“And if it weren’t for us, you wouldn’t have noticed there was something wrong with the barrier stone.”

“…”

“Moreover, Sister Elysia has been using mental magic on students for three years…”

“Where in the world is there magic that lasts for three years?”

“…”

Chartia stopped speaking and let out a deep sigh at the professor’s cold response, who wouldn’t listen to her words anyway.

“I’m sorry.”

She had to spit out the answer they wanted.

Chartia clenched her fists and listened to the professors’ lectures for a long time.

She bowed her head, holding back the anger rising within her at the sight of those who comfortably lectured about the need to change old regulations and that they had never seen a student council president who caused so much trouble at the academy. They didn’t care about the students’ safety at all.

“I’m sorry.”

She thought it would all end after today.

The reason they called her separately was obvious. It was a hint to step down from the soon-to-end presidency sooner.

It was clear even without listening to the end.

“…”

Chartia waited with a relieved heart for the punishment about her to be pronounced from their lips.

After all, she no longer coveted the position of student council president. She thought becoming president would gain her some support from the nobles, but it was no help at all. Instead, she made more enemies than ever while serving as president, which was of no help in the treacherous palace life.

Chartia wished for this moment to end quickly, listening to their talk in one ear and out the other. She wanted to rest now. She wanted to see the bear Olivia was raising.

-Grrr.

“,,,”

Chartia wanted to leave quickly.

The professor, who had been lecturing non-stop, seemed to have run out of things to say, let out a deep sigh, and opened his mouth heavily.

“The dean, myself, and the academy’s faculty have had many discussions.”

“…”

“And we’ve concluded that this won’t be the last incident. The number of incidents related to heretics is increasing, and we believe the student council has failed to make the right decisions.”

“That’s…!”

If only I could end this with my own responsibility, but the professors seemed to have sharpened their knives this time, cutting off Chartia’s retort without hesitation. They then stated their conclusion.

“From today onwards, we plan to divide the authority of the student council. To someone who can make wiser decisions and has shown outstanding performance.”

“It’s my fault. So let it be just me…”

“No. This is an issue for the entire student council. It’s also the academy’s fault for giving too much power to students with immature thinking.”

“…”

“Don’t worry. There won’t be any direct harm to you, Chartia.”

“That’s not the problem, is it!”

“Be quiet.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Regardless, the academy’s decision is final.”

The professor said with a smile.

“You know the person well, Chartia. It’s the person who was the student council president when you were a freshman.”

“What does that mean…?”

“Since they’ve decided to come here, please greet them. Say hello to the new director.”

-Knock knock.

As the professor finished speaking, a knock came from behind Chartia. A polite and measured knock.

“Gulp…”

-May I come in?

“Yes.”

-Then I’ll come in.

Chartia clenched her eyes shut at the man’s voice coming from behind. She was afraid to meet that man again.

She had never actually encountered him before.

Because she hadn’t joined the student council at that time. She had only heard rumors circulating among the seniors.

The most knife-like and dogmatic man among all the past academy student council presidents. And the rumor was that he was the most disagreeable man.

-Creeeak.

“Nice to meet you. I’ve been appointed as the academy’s director starting today…”

“It’s been a while.”

The professor interrupted the man with a friendly greeting, as if boasting of their familiarity, in a kind voice.

The man slightly bowed his head in response to the professor’s greeting.

“I was speaking. Please don’t interrupt.”

“…Yes?”

Despite the professor’s flustered appearance, the man spoke his mind confidently, undeterred.

“Allow me to introduce myself again. I’ve come to assist the executives’ decisions without infringing on the students’ freedom, as the senior director.”

“…”

“I am Histania Malik.”

Malik greeted with a smile, offering a handshake.

‘A convenience store here would be ideal.’

He thought, recalling the business idea he had discussed with Ricardo.

***

At that moment, a loud noise echoed through the academy’s library.

– Thud!

– Shiver…!

“What’s that…”

Hanna, seated in the library, suddenly felt a chill and dropped the book she was reading, turning to look behind her.

“What is it…?”

The uneasy feeling of possibly encountering her brother at the academy. Hanna had always felt this chill whenever her brother visited, prompting her to look back.

– Beat me to death.

– …Yes?

– I heard it from the red-haired butler. How much I’ve erred.

– Please, don’t do this and stand up. After all, I…

– Hit me. Right now, this is all I can offer. I want to apologize when you’re ready to accept it.

Hanna chuckled bitterly and shook her head.

“Surely not…”

Knowing her graduated brother had no reason to visit the academy, Hanna dismissed her worries as unfounded and picked up the book from the floor.

– How to Seduce an Older Man.

Quite the enlightening read.

“Sigh…”

Hanna, who usually kept her distance from books, had come to the library after a long time to read. She had piled up a mountain of books on her desk, hoping to gain profound knowledge, given her lack of romantic experience.

– The Underclassman Who Devoured Her Senior.

– The Neighbor’s Wife Who Committed Adultery with the Butler.

– The Red-Haired Knight and the Princess.

Hanna sighed deeply, massaging her throbbing head as she struggled to find the elusive information.

– Gulp.

The risqué novel was hardly helpful.

“…Just push out my chest?”

Still, Hanna had reaped some sort of harvest.

She buried her face in the book, eagerly enjoying her reading. After all, accumulating trivial knowledge could be decisively useful in practice.

“Wearing a shirt, I just naturally spill coffee on my chest…”

And at that moment.

“Oh my, who do we have here?”

A familiar voice reached Hanna’s ears, dripping with the disdain only nobility could muster.

The woman with purple drill hair covered her mouth, smiling.

“Ohoho~! What brings the Empress of the Swordsmanship Department, with nothing but rocks for brains, to such a distinguished place? You should stick to swinging your sword mindlessly.”

“Haa…”

“Ohohoho!!!”

With the unwelcome guest’s arrival, Hanna let out a deep sigh and closed her book. Fraternizing with a madwoman who screamed about her love for magic was not her hobby.

Hanna, with a sharp look, said to the woman,

“Why are you picking a fight again?”

“Ohoho…! It’s been exactly a year. A year since you trampled me in the rankings. Today marks the anniversary!”

“Stop bothering me and get lost. I’m studying right now.”

“Studying?! Histania Hanna is studying?!”

“Shut up.”

“Eek!”

Challenged by Hanna’s piercing gaze, the woman flinched and turned away. Then, with a defiant squint, she blurted out the words she was dying to say.

“Ohoho… Don’t look at me like that. It’s scary.”

“Just go away.”

“I came here worried you might get seasick from reading, with all those rocks in your head. But you’re so cold.”

“Who are you calling a blockhead?”

“Ohoho…!”

She was, in every sense, a woman with flowers blooming in her head.

And.

She was one of those who liked Mikhail.