C245: Director of the Planning Department (1)
Rudger's words caused a stir inside the conference hall.
"What did you just say?"
"Candidate for the Director of the planning department?"
The teachers didn't realize what was going on until they pondered Rudger's words.
"What are you doing?"
Hugo Burtag screamed and jumped out of his seat. There was a lot of dissatisfaction in his voice.
Rudger's unfeeling gaze reached Hugo.
"What's the matter?"
"What's going on? Are you asking because you don't know that?"
Hugo's face flushed with anger. He wanted to hit Rudger, who shamelessly asked him a question.
"A candidate for director of the planning department? Nonsense! No, why are you doing it your way in the first place!"
"I never said I would do it my way."
"Then what did you just say! Are you trying to play with me now?!"
When Hugo shouted so, his faction, the aristocratic teachers, agreed.
Chris Benimore, he was just folding his arms, but he was also uncomfortable with the situation itself.
"Do you know what is going on Miss Merylda?"
"No. I'm also very surprised."
"Huh. Suddenly the atmosphere is weird."
Selina, Merylda, and Bryno were quite nervous about the strangely flowing situation in the conference room.
Meanwhile, Hugo's protests continued.
"The teachers were called out of the blue and thought something was wrong, but this was way over the line! Do you think Theon is that funny?!"
"Stop it."
President Elisa stepped up, restraining Hugo.
However, Hugo glared at the president with angry eyes as if he would never back down this time.
"President, it was all your work."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't try to get away with it. I've turned a blind eye to your countless abuses of power, but I can't let it go this time."
Hugo has interfered with everything the president did so far. Nevertheless, he kept a certain limit, and one of them would take a step back if they felt they were disadvantaged.
Elisa also stared at Hugo with a ridiculous gaze.
'Why are you so shameless when you pulled yourself out knowing that if you go too far, you'll face a headwind?'
Hugo did not see her gaze, but he decided to continue more confidently. He could never back down when it came to the position of director of the planning department.
"Does it make sense to suddenly replace the position of director of the planning department which has been vacant for so long with a new teacher?"
"Why are you opposing it?"
"Are you asking such an obvious question? He doesn't deserve it. What are his qualifications!?"
When Hugo shouted, the president's expression quickly turned cold.
"Mr. Hugo Burtag, keep your voice down. Do you think this is your house?"
"……."
Hugo, who was trying to argue further, closed his mouth due to the huge pressure flowing out of the president's body. Only then did he realize that he was too excited.
However, Hugo would have avoided looking at her in the past, but this time he did not.
The president smiled again, regaining his momentum.
"Mr. Hugo, you just asked me what his qualifications are, right?"
"….Yes."
Hugo also replied in a more relaxed tone, perhaps having calmed down a little.
"Isn't it nice to talk quietly like this? Then I'll ask. Have you seen the recent presentation Mr. Rudger did in the Arcane Chamber? You're not going to say you didn't see it, are you?"
"Well, it's…."
Hugo broke out in a cold sweat. That event, which had already spread among the wizards, was something that even Hugo had no choice but to know even if he didn't want to.
Anyway, it was an experiment that increased the amount of mana emitted, so it was shocking. Because of that, he even contemplated whether to put an iron plate on his face and give Rudger a reconciliation handshake.
Then, an amazing thing happened. Rudger had disclosed to everyone the achievements he had explained in the Arcane Chamber. It was an act that cannot be accomplished without being insane
Among the wizards busy making great discoveries on their own, Rudger's behavior was weird. Most people, however, praised his great ambition.
The name Rudger Chelici has become much greater than just his reputation as a Theon teacher.
Hugo took out a handkerchief and wiped his sweat.
"I've seen it, but……."
There was an agreement that only those who have worthy achievements can sit in the seat of the planning director of Theon. However, considering Rudger's recent move, it couldn't have been more appropriate.
At this rate, Rudger would become the new planning director. Not his own person, but a person under the influence of the president.
"Yeah, but…… Ability right now……!"
"Ability?"
Hugo felt sick when Elisa asked back with a smile.
No teacher was as good as Rudger, at least to the best of his knowledge.
The new magic or theories that Rudger showed were impeccable. If so, the only part worth poking was the actual skills, but that part was also difficult.
Didn't Rudger even win the magic contest that was held during the festival?
Rudger Chelici proved himself not only to be ahead in theory, but also to be outstanding in practical magic.
Many teachers were even surprised when it was revealed at that time that he could handle light attribute magic.
"……Above all, he had a short career."
In the end, all Hugo could argue was that Rudger was a new teacher.
Now that this was the case, Hugo decided to go out shamelessly.
"He is a new teacher and hasn't even worked for a year. It's not fair for him to take the position of planning director."
Elisa smiled with her eyes as she watched Hugo.
"Oh, my. Mr. Hugo is saying something strange, too. Since when did we care so much about careers?"
"Ugh! Don't neglect careers!"
"Then, Ms. Marie Ross should be the director of the planning department."
"Are you going to say that now? Why are you trying to fill that position with your people?"
"My people? Who are my people and who aren't in Theon?"
The president opened her eyes wide and looked completely puzzled.
Hugo twisted his face.
'Wordplays won't work now……!'
Theon is nominally fair to all but that's only nominal.
In reality, the classes were divided among students, and factions existed even among teachers.
There's no way the president wouldn't know that.
Nevertheless, the reason why she came forward like that was because she had the freedom to show off because she was in a really advantageous position.
"……Even so, won't other teachers feel deprived?"
"Is that so? Hmm…"
Elisa smiled as she clapped her hands together as if it was a good thing.
"Then let's go with the majority rule!"
"……What?"
"Mr. Rudger has already proven his skills and made achievements that will remain in the future so let's go with the majority rule. Isn't it good to ask other teachers' opinions, too?"
"……."
Hugo felt something was wrong with the word majority.
Although there were not so many teachers in Theon, almost half of them were part of the aristocratic faction but the neutral teachers couldn't be excluded.
Vierano of Spirit Studies was one of the representatives of the neutral teacher.
'But in such a clear cause, will the neutrals really side with us?'
This was exactly what made Hugo nervous.
Teachers who insist on neutrality remain neutral because they don't want to get caught up in troublesome situations in the case of a serious dispute. However the current situation didn't belong to that type.
"Then I'll proceed with a show of hands. Raise your hand if you don't think Mr. Rudger Chelici is suitable for the position of director of planning director."
The aristocratic teachers began to take notice.
'He figured out how to increase mana emission. Can we interrupt him like this?'
'If the cause is this clear, I don't think we can win at all costs.'
The nobles were not belligerent enough to fight meaningless battles, even though they formed factions.
They united not just to continue a stable life as aristocrats, but to fight to protect the authority of the aristocrats even at risk.
In addition, they were anxious about how to deal with Rudger.
Even if they oppose it Rudger would be the head of the planning department but the main reason was that they would be marked since they raised their hands.
"You punks!"
Some teachers raised their hands when Hugo glared at them, but some still did not.
Among them was Chris Benimore and as he stood still the other teachers also stayed still in sympathy with his behavior.
'Mr. Chris, what are you doing?'
Hugo rebuked him with his gaze, but Chris refused Hugo's order by shaking his head.
"Then please raise your hand if you agree."
With the president's voice, most teachers raised their hands and Hugo's face turned pale at the sight.
Just by eye measure, the number of approval was overwhelmingly high and even Vierano voted in favor.
The result of the vote was obvious.
"It goes without saying that the number of people in favor is overwhelmingly high. You think so, too, Mr. Hugo?"
The president asked, but Hugo could not answer.
"Then, I declare here that Mr. Rudger has become the director of the planning department by the principle of majority rule. All right, Mr. Rudger, please tell us how you feel."
Rudger stood next to the president and glanced through the crowd.
Most of the teachers had interesting expressions on their faces but some members of the aristocratic factions hurriedly avoided Rudger's gaze as soon as he reached them.
"First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude. Thanks to everyone's support, I was able to sit in an undeserved seat."
Rudger's tone was stiff, but his voice was extremely polite.
"However, many people have not yet cleared up their doubts. I am fully aware of that as well. So I'll show you through my future activities that I'm not just wearing a sweatshirt (obtained a position with connections not ability)."
The words were nothing special but when Rudger said them they were strangely persuasive.
'This guy might really do something.'
The teachers gathered at the meeting shared the same thought.
"Clap, clap, clap."
There was a burst of applause in the conference room and when Rudger bowed his head and stepped down, Elisa stepped forward and changed the subject.
"Then I'll talk about the next agenda. You all know that it's time for the field trips soon, right?"
The teachers nodded at her words.
"This time we are going to the capital, Lindebrugne. There, we will collaborate with the Imperial Magic Society and other mentors, so please prepare well."
* * *
Rumors that Rudger became the planning director quickly spread throughout the country. However, rather than being surprised, the students took it for granted.
"Planning Director? Well, Mr. Rudger deserves it."
"Still, he's a new teacher, but didn't he get a great position?"
"Well, it's better than nothing."
"Well he also revealed the way to increase the amount of mana emitted."
Considering Rudger's steps so far, it was not surprising and what the students thought was more important than the other issues.
"The field trip will be soon, right?"
"Right. I heard we're going to the capital this time."
"I'm curious. What's the capital like?"
Students who had never been there had high expectations for the capital of the Exilion Empire.
"I heard there's a lot of food in the capital".
"I want to go downtown!"
"The Crystal Palace is the capital."
Leathervelk is also a huge city comparable to the capital Lindebrugne, but even so, the capital had its own romance.
In addition, mentors guided students during this field trip, which stimulated students' curiosity about which wizards would come this time.
"Did you hear the rumor? I heard that the mentors are especially splendid this year."
"Really? I'm looking forward to it."
"I want to meet the wizards of the New Tower. After I graduate here, I plan to go there."
"I want to join the Magic Society."
While most of the students had conversations about their dreams and expectations, there were some who did not. Leo, for example, was like that.
'Sigh.'
Leo frowned and sighed quietly inside. He didn't usually look bright, but he looked especially worried today.
Leo also knows about the field trip this time but he was worried because just a while ago someone contacted him.
[Leo, I got a report from Theon that they are heading to the capital]
The Liberation Army, where Leo is a semi-forced member, contacted him that they had plans to move when the students would head to the capital.
[The time for revolution has come. The comrades who have been oppressed will rise up.]
The message forced Leo to wrap his head because he didn't know what revolution they were talking about was.