Chapter 57

Two hours ago.

“Two hot dogs are ready~.”

“Thank you!”

Arowell received the hot dogs with both hands.

After escaping from the crowded throng, Arowell walked toward a bench.

There, Nixie was sitting leisurely.

“Here, this one’s yours, Nixie.”

“Thanks.”

Nixie took the hot dog and bit into it.

The more he chewed, the wider his eyes grew.

“This is good.”

“Right? It was so popular that I had a hard time waiting in line.”

When Arowell beamed, Nixie answered with a faint smile.

“Sorry, Arowell. Next time we have to line up, leave it to me.”

“Yeah!”

Arowell replied with a bright smile.

They sat on the bench, gazing at the noisy crowd.

Not only were food stalls lined up, but there were also facilities for various games.

This place overflowed with entertainment.

Both cadets and civilians alike seemed excited in the festive atmosphere.

“Can I take that?”

“No way. If you take it without permission, the Student Council will scold you.”

Every cadet who passed by this street glanced at the posters stuck on the nearby wall at least once.

On the poster, the words “Maggrim Festival!” were boldly written.

It seemed to be some singer’s performance—just how famous was she?

Not only here, but those posters seemed to attract attention everywhere.

Nixie grew a little curious.

“There are still three hours left until that performance starts.”

“Yeah, everyone here is waiting just for that.”

It was just as Arowell said.

No matter what, today’s festival’s biggest highlight was the concert of the famous songstress ‘Lady Maggrim.’

“I don’t know much about songstresses, but there seem to be plenty of people waiting for this.”

When Nixie spoke as if it was nothing, Arowell was shocked.

“What, Nixie, you’ve never listened to Lady Maggrim’s songs?”

“That’s right, not even once.”

“That’s perfect!”

Arowell grabbed Nixie’s hand.

“If you watch her live this time, you’ll become a fan for sure! Lady Maggrim’s performances are really amazing. If you have time, want to go together?”

“Hmm.”

He seemed to hesitate a little…

But Nixie didn’t look particularly unwilling.

Moreover, he could feel that Arowell was more enthusiastic than usual.

Did she really like this Lady Maggrim that much?

Then maybe going together wouldn’t be so bad.

Nixie belatedly nodded.

“…If Arowell wants it, then I’ll go.”

“Yeah, it’ll be really fun. You can look forward to it!”

Just then, as Arowell held Nixie’s hand with both of hers.

Quick footsteps approached.

“President! This is impossible!”

Someone’s urgent voice was heard on the phone.

Nixie and Arowell instinctively turned their heads toward it.

A bespectacled male student was dripping with sweat.

“This has never happened before, what on earth is going on… Yes, even if we ask Mr. Keirin, it’s impossible to control! Ah, yes! I’m sorry!”

The bespectacled student kept bowing toward empty air.

“Yes, yes! Understood, President!”

When the call seemed to end, he quickly ran off somewhere.

Nixie and Arowell blinked as they watched.

“He makes quite a fuss while talking on the phone. From what I heard, was he with the Student Council?”

“Yeah, it looked like it… I wonder if something happened?”

Nixie and Arowell just watched quietly.

……And then, elsewhere.

At the very top of the Yggdrasil Student Council Hall.

Creak.

The bespectacled cadet, panting heavily, quietly opened the door.

Through the large window, pure white sunlight poured in.

“You’re late.”

A figure stood with the sunlight at her back.

Her long black hair gleamed in the light.

With her fingers interlaced, she sat at the table, staring in silence.

Her face was hidden in the shadows, making it hard to see clearly.

But on the nameplate on the table was written: “Student Council President – Klein Adin.”

……Yes. This was none other than the Iron-blooded Student Council President ‘Adin.’

“Uh, um…”

The bespectacled cadet swallowed hard before carefully opening his mouth.

“A-as I said, there were clearly no problems during rehearsal…”

“And you call that an excuse?”

When she stood up, her face was revealed. Her sharp gaze was now tinged with red light.

Seeing that, his legs gave way.

“Eeek! I-I’m sorry!”

The bespectacled cadet bowed his head repeatedly.

Adin clicked her tongue.

“You should have found a way no matter what. We went as far as spending precious budget to bring her here.”

Just as Adin’s gaze grew even harsher.

Bang!

The Student Council room’s door swung open forcefully.

“President, I’m here!”

Keirin waved cheerfully.

His greeting showed no sign of formality.

“Oh, welcome, Keirin!”

Even the Student Council President answered with a bright voice.

Before long, she even wore a warm smile.

This person… Could she really have a split personality? The bespectacled cadet began to wonder.

“Keirin, was it hard to break through the control?”

When Adin asked, Keirin nodded.

“Yeah, President. I don’t think this one’s possible.”

“Why, what’s the problem?”

“It’s the work of someone who handles mana far better than I do.”

A transparent barrier had spread near the performance hall, blocking the flow of mana.

The highlight of Lady Maggrim’s performance was the spectacle of spreading mana.

If mana was blocked, everything became meaningless.

Was someone playing a prank, or was there another motive behind this interference?

“To spread such a barrier, it would take at least someone like Professor Belzrover of the Dark Attribute!”

“Keirin. I know you well, so between us there’s no issue. But if someone else heard, wouldn’t it sound like you’re accusing Professor Belzrover?”

“Ah, oops, my mistake. Anyway, it seems someone that great is interfering!”

“So in the end, you’re saying you have no solution either.”

Adin let out a quiet sigh.

Keirin’s mana control was on quite a high level, but still inferior to the saboteur.

To surpass Keirin in control would require a far more delicate mastery of mana.

Yes.

As Keirin said, it would be impossible for anyone but someone of professor-level skill.

But right now, finding out who the culprit was didn’t matter.

……The game of finding the culprit could wait until later.

Adin made that decision.

For now, ensuring the performance went smoothly was the top priority.

Adin quietly turned her eyes to the map.

There was still a solution left.

Adin turned her head toward the bespectacled cadet.

It was a bonus that her eyes turned sharp again.

“Use the abandoned performance hall near Havertz Park.”

“What? Ah, hasn’t that place been deserted for a long time…?”

“Better than not being able to hold the performance at all. Or do you have another way?”

“…N-no, I don’t.”

“Three hours isn’t too late. Set it up now. Don’t forget to announce the change of venue. Go quickly.”

“Yes, understood!”

The bespectacled cadet hurried out of the Student Council room.

……An hour later.

“…Once again, we inform you! Lady Maggrim’s festival performance venue has been changed…”

“What, wasn’t it supposed to be in the main hall?”

“They’ve been broadcasting since earlier that the location’s been moved.”

“Then let’s hurry and secure seats in advance.”

Countless people moved toward the newly announced location.

Karin and Rupina saw this and quickly stood up.

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity had arrived.

“Rupina unni, the cake is ready, right?”

“Yes! Everything! It’s ready!”

It was worth trusting Villed’s words and preparing in advance.

Karin rushed to the next booth.

“Hey, hey! Lapin!”

Lapin was asleep at the table with the sea otter.

She quickly shook the sleeping Lapin awake.

As Lapin rubbed her eyes drowsily and sat up, the sea otter also yawned and opened its eyes.

“Karin?”

“Customers are coming! We… need to get ready, like Villed said!”

“Okay, got it.”

Lapin stood up and looked at the sea otter.

– Beep!

Just by exchanging gazes, they communicated.

“Oh, right.”

As if recalling something, Lapin rummaged through a nearby box.

A small bow tie and a gentleman’s hat.

“Come here.”

– Beep.

Lapin put the bow tie on the sea otter and placed the hat on its head.

Dressed up, it looked even cuter.

Unable to resist the cuteness, Lapin hugged the sea otter tightly, then went outside the booth.

Many people were walking in this direction.

Just as Villed had said repeatedly.

Lapin set the sea otter down on the ground and waited for the right moment.

Time passed, and as the crowd drew closer—

“Oh my, look at that.”

“Isn’t that a sea otter?”

“Seeing a sea otter here!”

“It looks like a prettily dressed doll.”

The sea otter alone drew attention.

But what Lapin had prepared wasn’t just this.

Villed had told her to grab as many people’s eyes as possible.

And he had even told her how.

Lapin locked eyes with the sea otter and spoke softly.

“Triple axel.”

At her words, the sea otter’s eyes sparkled…

Spin~.

It leaped high and spun rapidly.

Three full rotations.

Thud.

And a perfectly stable 100-point landing.

“Clap, clap, clap.”

Lapin pretended to clap, making clapping sounds with her mouth.

– Beep.

The sea otter tipped its hat with one hand like a gentleman and bowed to the people.

“Wow~!”

“Amazing! How did they train it?”

“It listens so well.”

Once it showed tricks, people began gathering at the booth one by one.

The triple axel was a great attention-grabber, but…

Compared to what Lapin had prepared, it was nothing.

“Here.”

Lapin threw three balls to the sea otter.

– Beep!

The sea otter caught them all and tossed them into the air.

– Beep, beep, beep…!

Perfect juggling.

The three balls spun circles in the air.

“Wow…!”

“I’ve never seen a sea otter do tricks before!”

“It’s so cute!”

It was drawing considerable attention.

That condition was fulfilled.

What mattered was… this was only the true beginning.

It only meant they had earned the chance.

“But what’s this booth even for?”

As people fixated on the sea otter, they began taking interest in the booth standing alone in the empty field.

After all, most booths were set up near the main hall of the Academy.

It was natural they’d find this one odd.

“V’s Equipment Shop?”

“They’re selling equipment in a place like this.”

“The stuff sold near the main hall is kind of mediocre. I heard there used to be places that sold master-level gear, but not anymore, it seems.”

“Hm… maybe…”

One bespectacled customer stroked his chin, closely observing the equipment displayed at the booth.

The person beside him nudged his shoulder and said.

“Why, planning to buy? At best it’s just student-made.”

“No, this time the quality looks unusual…”

After some hesitation, the bespectacled customer spoke to Lapin.

“Are you the one running this booth?”

“Yes.”

“If it’s not too much trouble, may I appraise some of the equipment here?”

“Yes.”

Lapin answered and tilted her head.

…Strange.

Everything was happening exactly as Villed had said.

She thought for a moment, then focused back on the sea otter.

“Well then, let’s see…”

The bespectacled customer picked up a titanium bracelet with a confident look.

…but before long, his expression changed drastically.

He couldn’t speak for a while.

Then he picked up a silver watch…

“Eek!”

A strange sound escaped his mouth.

The customer next to him chuckled.

“Why so shocked? Is it master-level?”

“No…”

The bespectacled customer replied, sweating profusely.

“…It’s above that.”

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