“……”The two proposals I presented to her.Either preserve her pride and sink as is, or obtain the chance to rise again even at some cost.Whichever of the two Illeina chose, I had no intention of blaming her.It’s because it’s hard to easily judge which one is right or wrong.In this world there are those who, at the crisis of national ruin, fight to the end and burn with fighting spirit, and there are also those who surrender quickly to the enemy and save many lives.If you ask which of the two is right, I don’t know the answer.I merely respect the choice, and the result is for later generations to judge.As that heavy silence flowed through the office—At last Illeina parted her lips.“I……”She steadied her breathing, then gripped my hand hard.In her eyes looking at me, instead of the earlier anger, there was a blazing longing.“I have more than enough resolve. Even if it is a filthy and rough road, I will gladly walk it. It’s fine even if a bright future does not await at the end. That is the rightful duty of one born royal. So please, help our academy, Lord Loen.”Illeina, holding my hand tight.In that trembling I felt emotions quietly boiling up inside.Whichever she had chosen, I would have respected her will—but personally, this was the answer I had been waiting for.“Good. I’ll gladly help. I will aid Izelin Academy with every method I can bring to bear. Before that……”Swish—I released her hand, then lowered my head to offer words of apology.To draw out an answer like just now, I had deliberately spewed without hesitation words that insulted her and the kingdom.Whatever the intention, if you’ve been discourteous to the other party, apologizing is right.But Illeina waved her hand as if there was no need.“It’s all right. There’s no need to apologize.”“Oh?”“Rather, I’m grateful. You gave me—who had been hesitating—a chance to decide. On the contrary, I should be the one to apologize to you, Lord Loen, for losing my temper.”Illeina instead offered me courtesy and words of apology.“……Well, if that’s the case. I’ll accept the apology.”This makes the conversation move faster—good.I smirked and slumped back into the sofa.It seems we’ve taken the first step well, so let’s move straight to the point.“Then let’s hear the detailed story of what’s happened so far.”***The male student we met on the road earlier. Philip, the princess’s guard knight.Through his mouth, I was able to hear the circumstances and the whole story of how Izelin Academy came to be in this situation.A long, rambling tale spanning nearly two hours.After a long while explaining the situation the academy was in, Philip finished in a dispirited voice.“……That’s what happened.”“Mm.”Click—I set down the tea I’d been drinking and let out a low hum.It was tiring to sit and listen quietly for two hours, but through it I could obtain various pieces of information about the history and progress of the dispute between Jerome Academy and Izelin Academy up to the present.Combined with what I already knew, everything fit perfectly.I let out a small sigh and said,“It’s checkered.”“Truly so.”Ciel, quietly drinking tea while sitting beside me, agreed as well.It’s because the situation Izelin Academy was in was more serious and complex than I had thought.'The cause of this incident began with a declaration of war from the military great power Jerome.'A few years ago, the Jerome side suddenly proclaimed an invasion of Izelin.The pretext was the reabsorption of Izelin, which had once been a vassal state of Jerome and then gained independence.Following the declaration of war by military powerhouse Jerome, Izelin’s national opinion split into war party and peace party, and even now, it is said, conflict continues to be brewed in the kingdom.And the figure of the peace party who advocated surrender, and the former student council president of this Izelin Academy, First Prince Brad Izelin.They say the bastard, right before graduating from the Union, colluded with Jerome Academy and made a secret pact.The fact that part of Izelin Territory was sold off to the Jerome side is said to also be because of that matter.However, because it was a secret pact and the contract stipulated that the territory would be sold after the prince graduated, ordinary students who don’t know the inside story of this affair in detail are directing arrows of blame at the current student council president, Illeina.Moreover, because the situation is so bad, factional strife between students is intensifying even within Izelin Academy.'A total mess.'The kingdom, which you could call the academy’s home base, is in turmoil, and on top of that there’s strife among the students.With any proper study atmosphere gone out the window, how could the ranking in the Competitive War not drop.Having roughly arranged my thoughts, I spoke.“Checkered. But that’s how affairs in the world are.”Fairy-tale stories where evildoers are punished and justice triumphs are rare in this reality.Because that is an unreachable ideal land, a dreamlike story for children—so we call it a fairy tale.'From the start, this Union is a silent battlefield.'There is no fairness here, and no such thing as a mediator. It’s just a carnage pit where, if you’re weak, you’re trampled and swallowed.I had roasted her fiercely earlier, but in truth, Illeina must fully understand this fact.Because that’s the station of a princess of a nation.But she must not have wanted to accept such a cold reality.Thus, as the last lifeline of her escapism, she must have sent a letter asking Loen—who symbolizes the public authority of the Union—for help.Ordinarily it would have been meaningless, but in the end it became a wise decision.Maybe if it were the scoundrel Loen, but if it’s me, I can sufficiently resolve this situation.Philip asked me in a cautious voice.“So then, Lord Loen. Is there any way to resolve this situation?”“Of course.”Slurp—I emptied my coffee cup, then declared boldly.“If you follow my words to the letter, I can resolve this problem within a week.”“……!”“W-what method is it?”Philip’s mouth fell open, and Illeina, too, hurriedly asked me about the solution.But I can’t just tell them for free.I’ve come this far—shouldn’t I have some gain as well?The “Cognition Acceleration Stone,” one of the Academy’s Three Great Divine Tools sleeping in this Izelin Territory.Let’s lay the groundwork in advance to obtain ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ this legendary artifact.After organizing my thoughts, I made a proposal to Illeina.“Before that, let’s make a mutual contract.”“A contract…… you say?”“Right. In return for me helping you, you likewise will be of help to me. Surely you’re not going to ask me, who made time on the weekend to come all the way here, to help for free?”“……”“I dragged Ciel along even though she didn’t want to come. For her sake, at least……”“Do not use me as a pretext.”So that won’t fly. Anyway.Illeina was briefly flustered, but soon nodded without hesitation.“Of course. If anything, this makes me feel at ease. There is no such thing as unconditional goodwill in this world. If it’s something I can do, I will do anything.”***Southern region of the Union. Jerome Academy Territory.“Loen?”At the Disciplinary Committee’s report, a girl with an eyepatch over one eye snapped around.“Yes, President Chepesh. About three hours ago, he passed through our domain and headed to Izelin Academy. He seems to be scheming something together with Illeina.”At the unexpected information, Chepesh Jerome, the Student Council President of Jerome Academy, faintly furrowed her brow.Leaning back diagonally in her chair as she pondered, she soon spoke.“There’s no need to care. What could come of that idiot and the princess of a doomed nation putting their heads together. Right, Josefin?”At Chepesh’s rhetorical question, the male student called Josefin nodded.“That is true.”Chepesh’s words were most reasonable.A hollow-title General Student Council President, scoundrel Loen.And the princess of a small nation, a tragic student council president not even supported by her own country’s students, Illeina.Even if those two contrive some scheme, there’s no way this situation will be overturned.'The affair is already out of their hands.'Chepesh smiled thinly as she looked at the secret contract she had once shared with Brad.From the start, this plan was a perfect stratagem proceeding from the previous generation.If time just flows on without incident like this, they can close Izelin Academy without lifting a finger.'From of old, the internal traitor is the most fearsome.'The seeds of fissure were planted long ago, and they have finally sprouted and are splitting Izelin Academy.Chepesh looked at the male student bowing his head before her.This Josefin, currently carrying out duties under her, was also a student from Izelin.He had once been Illeina’s right hand, but now he has turned to Jerome and is performing tasks that pressure Izelin Academy.The classified information he brought had also been quite helpful in this affair.In any case, unless there’s a big variable, the plan will proceed as expected.An academy closed down in the Union practically loses its voice in the international community.Before the all-out invasion of Izelin, closing their academy is essential.There’s no need to violate the clause prohibiting war between Union member nations.Tap tap—Chepesh drummed her fingers on the desk and continued thinking.……Someone like Loen can’t even be called a variable.For this plan to be hindered, the involvement of one of the Four Great Academies or a large academy of equivalent scale would be necessary.But there’s no way such a giant academy would personally roll up its sleeves to help a small academy like Izelin.No—most students probably don’t even know this sort of thing is happening.The only person who would care about the affairs of such a small academy is a layabout with nothing better to do, like Loen.Having thus arranged her thoughts, Chepesh opened her mouth.“Don’t concern yourselves with them. Proceed with the plan as is. However, to prepare for the unforeseen, we should reinforce our personnel.”Josefin nodded.“A good decision. I will dispatch additional Disciplinary members.”“Yes, handle it that way.”With this, they had prepared for the unforeseen as well, so there should be no problem…… or so she thought at that moment.Bang—Suddenly the office door opened, and a student dashed in in a hurry.“President! It’s an emergency!”“What is this commotion. How uncultured.”Chepesh narrowed one eye and glared at the problem student.Chepesh furrowed her brow and fixed the troublesome student with a stare.But despite the rebuke, he rushed to report.“T-the…… Izelin bastards are dismantling our side’s defensive line!”“What?”Thud—Making a mockery of her rebuke about lacking culture, Chepesh slammed the desk and sprang to her feet.“Due to a large-scale collective action by Izelin Academy, the defensive line installed at the school gate has been completely collapsed!”“……!?”'What did I just hear?'Eyes widened in shock, Chepesh’s mind raced.The defensive line surrounding the academy with the Izelin gate as the standard is, legally, Jerome’s territory.For those bastards to forcibly dismantle the place is a clear treaty violation and an intrusion against Jerome Academy.“Insane. Our Disciplinary Committee?”“T-that…… due to numerical inferiority, they say they have temporarily retreated.”Grit—Chepesh ground her teeth.No matter how elite the students she had dispatched, since the area in question is naturally Izelin Academy’s front yard, they can’t help but lose in a numbers fight.Was the troop deployment insufficient? Was she too complacent?'……No, that’s not it.'Chepesh bit her lip and shook her head.From the start, it makes no sense that such an absurd thing is happening.How on earth do they plan to handle the aftermath.“……!”As she was thinking that, the face of one who cares nothing for the aftermath flashed through Chepesh’s mind.'Loen—could it be that bastard scoundrel’s doing!'Chepesh’s eyes flashed open as she clenched her fist.No mistake. It’s clearly that bastard who caused this mess without thinking of the consequences.There’s no other way to explain such an abnormal situation.Of course, it’s a bit strange that Princess Illeina, who had been passive about Loen’s nonsense, moved together with him.'Backed into a corner, they chose to move first—so be it.'Even if they lose the pretext, they must have realized that if they don’t move immediately, they’ll sit still and get closed down, and only now did they move.“Foolish.”Chepesh smiled faintly.But Illeina’s judgment was wrong.From our Jerome standpoint, this is fine as it is. No—if anything, the plan has sped up.There’s no need to wait for the Competitive War; they’ve now obtained a pretext to immediately sweep those bastards out of this Union.Tap—Chepesh slammed the desk with both hands, then ordered Josefin.“Go and gather every Disciplinary member at once. We will personally march on Izelin Academy.”***“Pardon? You want me to gather the students?”Illeina asked back, eyes round.“Why are you so startled. I mean it literally.”I pointed out the window, speaking unruffled.“Gather every Izelin student you can mobilize right now. And clear away those monstrosities blocking the front of the school gate.”The first step to saving Izelin Academy.Start by wrecking their setup.”

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