HSTAV 65

Chapter 65

“Yeah, that’s right. Karmon’s actions might seem a bit weird, but they’re definitely effective. It was the same during the last Dungeon Studies exam!”

As Royce nodded along and spoke, Elliot made an irritated face and whispered a question to me.

“Hey, Karmon. Why the hell are you suddenly hanging out with that guy?”

“It’s the Young Lady’s order.”

“Ah, really?”

“Yeah, she said to take him along and use him as much as we can.”

I added in my mind that he was a clueless idiot who didn’t know how the world worked.

Of course, I didn’t tell Royce that.

He might get severely shocked or even suffer internal injuries.

“So, what do we do now, Karmon? Is there anything else I can help with?”

“You’re quite enthusiastic, Royce.”

“Of course! Sister Cecily absolutely must become the Student Council President!”

It briefly crossed my mind that perhaps Princess Cecilia wasn’t entirely wrong, but I soon nodded and spoke up.

“Alright, let’s all do our best. If there’s any good news, it’s that the effects are appearing faster than I thought.”

“Effects? What effects are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“People are starting to pay some attention now. That was the most important part.”

Having directly experienced the systems of modern society, I knew better than anyone the power held by the media and public opinion.

I don’t know why, but here, in this medieval fantasy world, the Academy’s Student Council President election had adopted a democratic system.

Specifically, every student could participate in electing the Student Council President as a voter, with each holding an equal vote.

Well, maybe that was a limitation of this third-rate novel…

‘But anyway, it puts me in a very advantageous position.’

When ordinary people are exposed to stimulating and shocking information repeatedly, they eventually start to harbor doubts in a corner of their hearts.

And if that doubt continues to grow and grow, reaching a critical point at some moment…

‘It eventually comes to be regarded as fact.’

Whether it was true or false didn’t matter.

Isn’t there a famous proverb about that?

‘Where there’s smoke, there’s fire?’

Well, there is.

And very thick, hot smoke is billowing up profusely.

I know this from many examples and actual experiences, but what about the people of this world?

Then, Elliot asked me in a suggestive tone.

“Karmon, by the way, is the stuff written on the posters we put up really true?”

Instantly, I could feel the gazes of Bren and Royce focusing on me.

‘Well, even for Karmon, he probably wouldn’t just make up something completely false.’

‘Ah, surely it’s not bullshit, right?’

Reading the thoughts reflected in their eyes, I let out a slight laugh and gave a short answer.

“Of course, it’s all lies.”

“Wha, what?!”

“No way, wait a minute!”

“Hey, why are you guys so surprised? It’s obvious he’s just messing with us. Sigh, you guys are so dramatic… Karmon, stop teasing them and tell them the truth.”

As Elliot said this while tapping my shoulder, I shrugged and gave a short reply.

“Huh? I said it’s lies.”

“Ah, stop joking around!”

“Well, whether you believe me or not is your freedom, Elliot, but I don’t really joke about things like this.”

“Wha, what? No, then… Ah, no way?”

“Ka, Karmon. Tell me properly. Is it really lies? It’s not, right? Please tell me it’s not.”

“Karmon?”

In response to their calls, I just smiled and remained silent.

Then…

“…”

“…”

For a very brief moment, an exchange of emotions far deeper than numerous conversations and stories passed between their eyes.

“Should we just run away?”

“Isn’t it already too late? Our names are all listed in the election committee.”

“I can’t run away. I already promised to be with my sister, and we’re family.”

“Yeah, actually, I can’t run away either. I absolutely have to graduate from the Academy.”

With expressions of despair as if they had reached the end of the world, the three of them soon held each other’s hands and shouted.

“Let’s survive, everyone.”

“Let’s endure somehow. We just have to not get caught, right?”

“Yeah, if we live, we live together, and if we die, we die together.”

I spoke to them again.

“I’m thinking of doubling the number of posters from now on.”

At my sudden move to increase the workload, Bren showed his first sign of active resistance.

“Ah, no. No way. I, I won’t do it anymore. I’m dropping out here. I’d rather quit the Academy than…!”

Just then, someone’s arm came down on Bren’s shoulder.

“Bren, even though we were born on different days…”

Elliot began to persuade him in a more subtle and low tone than ever before.

“Now that we’ve become a community bound by a shared fate, shouldn’t we die together when the time comes?”

“Se, Senior…?”

Simultaneously, Royce, who didn’t have any particular friendship with the other two, also put his arm around Bren’s shoulder and spoke.

“If our will and purpose are the same, shouldn’t even death be nothing to fear on the path of men? Besides, we’re on the same team!”

“Ro, Royce?”

Bren, flustered by the sudden situation, looked back and forth between Elliot and Royce, but their expressions didn’t change.

And finally.

“…Alright. I’ll join you too. I don’t know why our dying day has to be the same, but I get it.”

“That’s what brothers are, Bren. From today, you and I, and Roy…ce? S? Anyway, the three of us are brothers who live and die together.”

Witnessing an impromptu oath of brotherhood straight out of a fantasy world right before my eyes, I couldn’t hold back my bursting laughter and ended up giggling uncontrollably.

The class ‘Potion Brewing and Application’ was quite popular among the first-year freshmen.

“If you’ve finished brewing your potion, submit it and leave on your own.”

This was because the professor in charge had little interest in managing and educating the students.

“Everyone, brew the potion according to the instructions on the board and the textbook. Once brewing is complete, submit it as usual and you may leave.”

A teaching assistant, not even the professor, came forward, gave that explanation, and then slipped out of the classroom.

Naturally, the students instantly became noisy and immersed themselves in their own chatter.

I just slumped over my desk and let out a strange sound.

“Hwaaaaahm.”

I need to rest a bit during classes like these. I’m dead tired.

Anyway, neither the professor nor the assistant actually checks the submitted potions.

It’s just the act of submitting that’s important, so…

“Let’s just get some sleep.”

Muttering to myself, I was about to close my eyes and have my own quiet healing time when…

“Princess Francicia really did that, I heard?”

“Ah, no way. Even so, that’s too much. That’s unfair.”

“I don’t know, but the rumors say so? Those posters wouldn’t just go up for no reason.”

“Right, the campus newspaper covered that story a while ago too.”

“I don’t know, I don’t know. I’ll believe Princess Francicia no matter what.”

The sound of students gathering and gossiping reached my ears.

‘It’s certainly spreading incredibly fast.’

Far from falling asleep, my ears perked up and I focused on the other students’ conversation.

‘How is it, Your Highness? The taste of modern election public opinion warfare is quite fiery, isn’t it?’

I imagined she was probably lying on her bed right now, wrecking several pillows.

At that moment.

“Shouldn’t you all focus a bit more on the class, huh?”

“Me, Mellin!”

At the familiar voice cutting in with a sharp tone, I subtly raised my head.

There stood the familiar duo of Elaine, with a flustered expression trying to stop her, and Mellin, her face slightly flushed, staring at the students who had been whispering moments before.

‘Ah, they’re taking this class too.’

“No need to make a racket over useless rumors and disturb others’ studying, right?”

“What’s with her? She’s being ridiculous all of a sudden.”

“Is she part of the Princess’s election committee or something?”

Naturally, the target of their gossip shifted from Princess Francicia to the duo of Mellin and Elaine.

“Huh? What did you say? If you have something to say, come say it to my face confidently? Don’t just cowardly talk behind my back.”

“……”

At her firm retort, the group that had been eagerly chewing out Mellin and Elaine soon shut their mouths and spoke.

“Hey, let’s go.”

“Seriously, does she think she’s all that? So annoying, really.”

As the group of girls muttered and left in a crowd, Elaine, who had been wearing an uneasy expression, spoke in a slightly complaining voice.

“Mellin, why are you doing this? There’s no need to pick a fight with them.”

“Ah, I don’t care. They keep irritating me. And they were disrupting the class anyway. Forget it, let’s just finish up and get out of here too.”

It feels like it’s been a while, but they’re still the same.

Watching the two of them, I soon couldn’t fight off the overwhelming drowsiness and fell into a deep sleep.

And a while later.

Tap tap tap!

“Everyone, please submit. Time’s up.”

At the teaching assistant’s call announcing the end of class, I got up from my seat and took out the potion I had roughly prepared in advance from my bag.

Thunk!

Then, I lightly tossed the potion into the submission box, gave a brief nod to the assistant, and headed out of the classroom.

But just then.

“You’re the one who did it, aren’t you, Royce?!”

“What are you talking about? No. Why would I do that?”

Right in front of me, I saw Royce and Mellin facing each other and shouting loudly, with Elaine standing beside them looking不知所措 (at a loss).

“The rumors say it was Princess Cecillia’s side that did it, so I was just wondering. Anyway, Royce, you know that if you win the election with such cowardly methods, it’s meaningless, right?”

“Ah, seriously, it’s not us! This is unfair, so unfair!”

“Th, that’s right. Mellin, Royce said it’s not them.”

Looking at Elaine saying that, Mellin muttered with a slightly mischievous glint in her eyes.

“Who knows. Maybe only Royce is clueless like a fool.”

“Pfft. Who do you think is the real fool here? Hey, if you’re so curious, I’ll arrange a meeting with Sister Cecillia for you. Ask her yourself.”

“No, there’s no need for that…”

“Hey, Mellin. Are you by any chance part of Princess Francicia’s election committee? Why do you keep suspecting us and picking fights?”

“Hey, what does it matter which side I’m on? I’m just asking a legitimate question as a member of the same Academy.”

“Oh my, the champion of justice has arrived.”

“Ch, Chelsea! Claire! Over here, please stop these two!”

Along with Elaine’s voice, familiar faces approached from quite a distance away.

Simultaneously, I made eye contact with Chelsea and Claire.

“Huh? Karmon?”

“What? Karmon? Why are you suddenly saying that bastard’s name?”

“Karmon is here? Where?”

Ah, I just wanted to pass by quietly…

Well, since it’s come to this, I should at least say hello, right?

I haven’t committed any sin, so no need to avoid them.

“Hey, long time no see. Good to see you all.”

“Ka, Karmon. Hi… there. Long time no see.”

“Crazy bastard, why are you acting all friendly, you freak.”

The reactions were exactly as expected.

I soon went over to Royce’s side, lightly put my arm around his shoulder, and said.

“I’ll borrow Royce here for a bit. Royce, we have to go to the next meeting together. You probably need to attend too.”

“Meeting? What meeting? Did we have a meeting?”

“What meeting?”

“An election committee meeting, of course. Royce and I are both part of Cecillia’s committee.”

“Huh? You two are on the same committee? Wow, amazing.”

“No wonder there have been so many bad rumors about that side lately. There was a reason.”

“Somehow, I kept hearing bad rumors from their side recently, so there was a reason.”

Facing Mellin, who continued to show hostility, I pulled Royce along slightly and said goodbye again.

“Well, anyway, we have to go now, so let’s see you all next time.”

“……”

Along with Chelsea’s appearance, who had remained silent and hadn’t uttered a single word since initially calling my name.

“Umm. See you later, Royce. And goodbye, Karmon too.”

And Elaine, who always responded to greetings brightly.

And…

“Hmph, go or don’t, whatever.”

Mellin, who turned her head away and acted annoyed, barely acknowledging us.

I left my former Dungeon Studies team members, whom I was somewhat glad to see, behind and departed with Royce…

“Wait a moment, I’m coming too.”

Instantly, at the familiar voice calling out to me and Royce, I turned my head to see the usually quiet Claire standing there.

‘Ah, right. She was a team member too.’

But what does she mean ‘coming too’?

Tilting my head in confusion at Claire’s incomprehensible shout and looking at her, Claire, unlike her usual self, spoke up again.

“I’m also part of Cecillia’s election committee. I joined yesterday.”

“What?!”

“Claire, you too?!”

Everyone present couldn’t hide their surprise and bewilderment and shouted in unison.