Crackle-crackle—Black smoke billowed as the container burned bright.A crushed barbed fence and traffic cones rolling across the ground.And……Crunch—The [No Entry] sign crushed under Princess Illeina’s foot.This was the front gate of Izelin Academy.Until just a short while ago, this place had been °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° occupied by Jerome Academy’s side, but now it had been completely dismantled by Izelin’s students.It wasn’t that there was no resistance, but Jerome Academy’s Disciplinary members ultimately chose to retreat.Even if their individual force might be strong, numbers win the day.“Phew.”Illeina withdrew the mana dwelling in her staff, then pulled away the hair plastered to her cheek with sweat.Together with the students, she looked at the ruins with a flushed face and voiced her impression.“……I feel so relieved, Philip.”“Y-yes, Your Highness.”When the princess held out her hand, Philip, who had been attending at her side, hurriedly took out a water bottle and offered it.Watching Illeina gulp down water, I found myself newly surprised.'I thought she was all bookish; she’s got a tough side, too.'Seeing her drink with gusto made me thirsty as well.“Ciel.”I held out my hand to Ciel as if to ask for water, but the answer that came back was disheartening.“There is none.”Tch.“……Philip.”“Ah. Yes, Lord Loen. Here you are.”I took the water Philip handed over and soothed my burning throat.In the meantime, as if she had calmed her feelings, Illeina asked me,“So then—we have, for the moment, set things in motion according to your order, Lord Loen. What will happen next?”“What will happen, huh……”I stroked my chin slightly and recalled what had just happened.We agreed mutually to make a contract and immediately set about an operation to break the current situation.The first was exactly this.'Dismantle Jerome’s defensive line occupying Izelin Academy’s gate.'So Illeina led the students under her and, truly wreaking havoc, drove out Jerome’s Disciplinary members.Of course, this wasn’t simple venting—it was a political decision that carried several meanings.First, it was a proclamation that the Izelin side would no longer stay silent and would oppose Jerome; second, through this victory-that’s-not-quite-a-victory, it was to boost the morale of Izelin’s students, who had sunk into dejection and helplessness.Third, it was to draw out Illeina’s opposition faction that currently existed within Izelin Academy; and lastly, of course, to provoke the Jerome side and elicit their response.The first and second proceeded according to plan, and the rest would proceed as planned as well.After briefly ordering my thoughts, I answered Illeina’s question.“You already suspect it. This is the start of proper friction. Before long, Jerome’s side will bring their main force.”Stir a hornet’s nest, and the bees will burst out and attack.Since we kicked this off in such grand fashion, the Jerome side won’t be able to keep from reacting.“However, before that, we need to put our own house in order.”I shrugged and pointed toward the inside of the academy.The enemy within is always more dangerous.Just as I expected, a group of students was belatedly running here from the school building side.They crossed the field in one bound and shouted at Illeina.“Your Highness! What on earth are you doing!”Roland. Roland Spitz—figure of the peace faction in Izelin and the First Prince’s confidant.Centered around him, students who had long held complaints against Illeina swarmed over and began to reproach her for the current state of affairs.Illeina looked at them and answered calmly.“Isn’t it obvious, Roland. I am protecting Izelin Academy.”“Protecting it! Your Highness, do you understand what consequences will follow from what you just did?Roland raised his voice at a princess of a nation.This showed, plainly, how strong the First Prince’s faction and the peace faction were—and how weak Illeina’s position was.Ignoring his rudeness, Illeina stated her will.“How could I not. I understand more than enough—excessively so. And I also know that no good future awaits even if we sit still as we are.”Even at Illeina’s composed response, Roland didn’t lower his voice.“No. If only Your Highness would bend your stubbornness, everything can be resolved peacefully. The Jerome side has guaranteed our students’ safety and said they would accept academic record transfers unconditionally in the event of consolidation. Do you know how many students are suffering right now because of you?”Pointing to the students who had followed behind him, Roland raised his voice.At this, Philip at the princess’s side shouted,“Roland! What reckless words to Her Highness!”“Reckless? If my words are wrong, then refute them, Philip. The gate being closed so students have to commute through a rat hole, being tormented daily by their threats and trembling in anxiety, being unable to sleep because of the noise they make—all of it is because you insisted on your way!”“Ghk……”Clenching his fist, Philip couldn’t make any reply.Of course, the fundamental cause lay with Jerome Academy’s side, but you couldn’t say Illeina bore no responsibility at all for the hardships students were currently suffering.'Even if it isn’t Illeina’s fault, you can’t say there’s no responsibility.'That is the position of a leader, the Student Council President—and the duty of royalty.Roland skillfully used this to dump all responsibility on Illeina.“All the hardships we are experiencing now are your fault, Your Highness. I, Roland, must offer frank remonstrance even at the cost of my neck.”As if he were some loyal retainer, he shouted at Illeina with an air of triumph, and his followers who had come with him also shouted loudly in support.Just then—“Don’t make me laugh.”I had been quietly listening to their exchange, and I cut in at a suitable timing.Roland frowned as he looked at me.“……Loen? Don’t tell me you dragged Her Highness into this.”“And if I did, what of it.”“Why? You’re an outsider to begin with. Why are you interfering in our academy’s affairs and getting in the way?”“Why, you ask. Because I can’t just sit and watch you and your cronies sell off Izelin Academy, take a seat apiece from Jerome, and live high on the hog.”“……!”“W-where did you get such nonsense!”“Don’t slander Sir Roland! Liar!”At my shocking statement, Roland and his followers, startled, pointed and shouted, but I only snorted.“Hmph.”What I said was neither nonsense nor a lie nor slander.Though there wasn’t a related quest, as you progress through the story, you learn the process and outcome of the Izelin Academy consolidation incident.Jerome Academy of course didn’t keep its promise, and most students, starting with Princess Illeina, had to cease their studies and leave the Union as they were.And only a handful—starting with Roland, who had rendered merit in this plan—successfully transferred into Jerome Academy and lived out their academy life in swagger.Of course, as is always the case with a traitor’s end, that didn’t last long either.Thus, Izelin, expelled from the Union, became isolated from the international community, and Jerome invaded Izelin as planned.The Union is, by modern standards, the only continent-wide integrated organization—like the UN.It’s a place where the blood relatives of each nation and house, and the talent monsters, gather; its diplomatic weight is considerable.Even setting aside the nominal clause prohibiting war between member nations, merely belonging here carries a not-insignificant deterrent against war.“You think everything that comes out of your mouth counts as words? Take that back, now!”Roland, face beet red, jabbed a finger at me.That just meant I had struck the sore spot and he was flustered.But apart from his feelings, such an attitude grated badly.I furrowed my brow and stepped forward one pace.“Take it back, huh……”Step—I came to a halt right in front of the flustered Roland and stared straight into his eyes.When I drew close, he flinched and stepped back a pace.But I paid it no mind, met his gaze, and lowered my voice.“And just what are you, to dare spit casual speech at me.”“……!”“I may be the Union’s General Student Council President, but before that, I am a scion of House de Valis. Even your princess does not address me beneath my station. Got a few petty connections and now nothing’s in your eyes?”“Urk.”At my chilly threat, Roland twitched and swallowed hard.For the son of some provincial small nation’s nobility to put on airs before Loen, heir to House de Valis—That’s some overinflated guts.Loen may be someone hated by all, but he’s not someone who gets looked down on anywhere.Staring at the punk turned to stone, I continued.“And I haven’t said anything wrong. According to my informants, it’s already confirmed that some in your clique have done secret dealings with Jerome Academy. I could rattle off that list of names.”“T-that’s absurd! Proof—do you have proof?”“When culprits get pricked, they always say that. Of course I have proof. If you want, I’ll show you. But—can you handle it?”“……!”When I flashed my eyes and jerked my chin toward the many people gathered here, Roland went completely stiff.If I were to really produce evidence in such a public place, he’d be fit for immediate disposal on the spot.A thief’s feet tingle—he won’t have the nerve to provoke me further.Just then—“Lord Loen. Please calm yourself. Setting suspicions aside, this is not the place to judge right and wrong.”Illeina, just in time, stepped into the conversation and mediated between me and Roland.“……Very well.”I let out a small sigh and stepped back one pace.Her mediation was fortunate for me.I stepped back readily as if to show I respected her.In truth, I had no material proof that those punks had attached themselves to Jerome.'I bluffed a bit.'I’d pressed him using house prestige for that reason, and Illeina had cut in with perfect timing.Looking at Roland and his clique, Illeina issued a warning.“Roland. I will let today’s rudeness pass believing it was done out of concern for the students. But I will not endure it hereafter. If you will be of no help, then at least remain still. Withdraw.”“……”After swallowing his anger, Roland spoke to Illeina in a more refined voice.“Your Highness. As it stands, we will inevitably have to fight them. Must you see useless blood shed?”In his words was implied not only the situation Izelin Academy faced, but also that of the Izelin Kingdom.In the end, even if it means preparing for war, will you oppose the enemy—that was what he asked.To this, Illeina spoke in a voice full of conviction.“It is not useless. If it is to protect something, blood will of course be shed. And, if someone must take the lead…… I will be the very first to do so.”“……I understand Your Highness’s will well. Let us return.”Having finished the conversation, Roland led his followers and headed back toward the academy.Watching the bastard’s back as he receded, I snorted.“Heh.”'With this, the internal opposition in the academy is roughly settled.'The sudden dismantling of the gate’s defensive line.If Roland took no action regarding this situation, Jerome Academy could call him to account, so he’d rushed out late to make a show.Well, in Roland’s position, he likely also intended through this incident to rally the peace faction, press Illeina, and cement his own power.But instead of achieving his intended goal, he only ended up arousing suspicion that he was in collusion with Jerome’s side.With this, his lukewarm followers will begin to harbor doubts one by one and turn their backs on him, and naturally the strength of Illeina’s opposition within the academy will weaken.The third objective is achieved as well.What remains is the last.'All that’s left is for Jerome Academy to show up.'No sooner had I finished that thought than, from far off, a group of students came running, kicking up dust.“Long time no see, Illeina.”The one at the very front of that group—A girl with violet twin-tails, an eyepatch over one eye.Illeina clenched her teeth quietly as she looked at her.“Chepesh…… Jerome.”The arrival of Jerome Academy’s main force.

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