Chapter 237: The First-year Representative
Before I knew it, there was only one day left until the official Mock War.
“Villed, I heard you're participating too! Lapin and I will come cheer for you tomorrow!”
On the way to class that morning, Karin grabbed Lapin's hand and clenched her fist toward me.
'Cheering, huh.'
Right.
Karin and the other students seemed to think of the official Mock War as nothing more than a sporting event.
Before I discovered the variable known as the Lunatic, I had naturally thought the same.
It wasn't just Karin.
The other Schulers reacted the same way.
“I'm going all out. I'll make those cute little first-year chicks learn just how scary their seniors can be!”
“Ms. Kaelyn, even so, you shouldn't bully the juniors too much.”
“I won't bully them! I'll just spin them around in the air a hundred times! They'll be fine anyway, won't they? Professor Ruber's protective magic is there!”
“M-Ms. Kaelyn... Even with protective magic, isn't that still a rather cruel idea...?”
“Ahaha, I'm joking, I'm joking~ They're cute juniors, so I'll just play around with them a little!”
Before the theoretical class began in the Finders Department classroom, I overheard Ren's group talking.
Since more than half of the students in the Finders Department were Schulers, the official battle was naturally one of the Academy's biggest topics.
Perhaps because I had deliberately kept my distance from them, Ren's group hadn't gone out of their way to approach me lately.
'Whatever the case, that's for the best.'
In the game, the students admitted into the Finders Department changed depending on the protagonist's choices.
However, not once had I ever seen a route where Villed entered the Finders Department.
Moreover, Lapin—who was supposed to have died during winter break—was now openly attending the department as well.
'Still, Lapin has always been so quiet and unnoticeable that things seem fine for now.'
Although events had already diverged from the original storyline, Lapin and I quietly attended our classes together in order to avoid causing any major changes to the main scenario.
Since neither of us spoke during lectures, nothing had happened so far.
I was confident we could continue like this.
'……Though the rumors around the Academy have probably spread as far as they possibly can.'
I'd already suspected as much after my meeting with Professor Ruber, but the speed at which the rumors spread far exceeded my expectations.
Apparently, the stories had reached not only my classmates but even upperclassmen and underclassmen.
For example, people were saying I'd donated an enormous sum to gain admission into the Finders Department.
Others claimed I'd even forced Lapin, who had originally ranked near the bottom, into the department just so I could use her as my servant.
Rumors of every kind were circulating.
I didn't care about rumors concerning me alone.
However, I had no desire for someone else to suffer because of me.
“?”
When I looked at Lapin beside me, she simply tilted her head.
……Her expression remained as carefree as ever, completely without worry.
“Lapin, what do you think about the rumors surrounding you?”
“The rumors about me?”
“……Never mind.”
Contrary to my concerns, Lapin clearly had no interest whatsoever in rumors about herself.
'Well, if she's fine with it.'
I decided not to concern myself with the rumors anymore either.
……
After finishing the morning classes...
I ate a light lunch consisting of sandwiches I'd made myself, then headed toward the Main Building with Lapin for the afternoon common lecture.
Just as we were about to enter the building, someone came running toward us in a panic and stopped in front of me.
“Huff... Huff! Thank the Goddess! I finally found you, Junior Villed!”
It was Hayes, the bespectacled third-year senior from the Newspaper Broadcasting Club.
“J-Just let me catch my breath first!”
Like a goalkeeper, Hayes spread both arms wide to block my path while struggling to regain his breath.
……Why was he looking for me?
“It's been a while.”
After my brief greeting, Hayes smiled lightly before speaking.
“Hehehe, Junior Villed! Since you're participating in tomorrow's official Mock War, I assume you're well aware of it already, right?”
“……That's right.”
The moment I answered, Hayes pushed up his glasses dramatically as they gleamed.
“Then I'll grant you an opportunity that will never come again in your lifetime!”
“An opportunity?”
“Yes! An opportunity!”
Pointing a finger at me, Hayes continued.
“I'll specially invite you to participate as the Second-year Schuler Representative in tomorrow's interview for <Yggdrasil Morning>! Be grateful to me a million times for granting you such an honor!”
“I refuse.”
“No way! That's rejection so fast it broke records! You didn't even spend a second thinking about it! H-Hey, where are you going?! Please wait!”
As I tried to walk past him, Hayes clung to my wrist.
“Let go. Find someone else.”
“I can't! Do you have any idea how hard it is to even start a conversation with those elite Schulers?!”
“So you're saying I'm easy?”
“Well... Honestly, the other Schulers all feel so strict that I can't even breathe around them. But somehow, Junior Villed doesn't really give off that elite vibe, so you seem much easier to approach!”
“Hey. I'm not joking. Let go.”
“Come on, don't get mad! I only meant it that way! I was saying you seem approachable! That's a compliment, isn't it?”
“I guarantee you're the only one who feels that sense of familiarity.”
“I thought we were pretty close! I'm honestly shocked! We shared our hearts during difficult, lonely, painful times! Is our precious friendship really only worth this much?”
“Anyone listening would get the wrong idea.”
With a sigh, I recommended someone else who might agree to Hayes's request.
“Ask Ren. Since you were both held captive during the Succession War Incident, he'll probably help you.”
“Oh, that junior is Her Imperial Highness's knight. He feels way too much like a super elite. That's impossible. Too intimidating.”
“……You're awfully picky for someone conducting interviews. Then Kaelyn, the top-ranked second-year, would definitely accept.”
“Oh, as expected of Junior Villed! Great eye! Actually, she had already agreed to the interview!”
“Then just interview her. Why are you bothering me?”
“Unfortunately, Professor Peria, who oversees us, canceled it today because she was worried Junior Kaelyn might accidentally say something outrageous during the interview!”
“I see. That's unfortunate. Well, that's the last recommendation I've got. Hurry up and go find someone else.”
“The interview has to be published tomorrow morning! There's really no time left! If it isn't you, Junior Villed, who's standing right in front of me, I'll miss the deadline! Please, just come with me!”
“Man... You're unbelievably stubborn.”
“Are you worried your identity might become known? The interviewer's name will remain anonymous, and it'll take place in a completely confidential location, so you don't have to worry about anyone finding out! Even I won't reveal your identity! Please!”
“……Sigh.”
Hayes's eyes filled with tears, and there was absolutely no sign that he'd let go of my arm.
If we stayed like this any longer, I'd obviously be late for class.
Rather than wasting time arguing, it would probably be better to finish it quickly.
As long as my identity remained hidden...
And provided Hayes granted me one request in return...
Participating in the interview wasn't such a bad deal.
“Fine. I'll do it.”
“Whoa! Thank you so much, Junior Villed...!”
“But.”
I raised one corner of my mouth.
“You're asking me to spend my precious time. I can't do it for free.”
Hayes nodded with tears in his eyes, looking utterly defeated.
“……Sob. Fair enough. Give and take. There should obviously be compensation! Last time, you took newspaper advertisement rights in exchange for giving us information about the Black Knight's photograph. So... what do you want this time?”
“I want the right to submit an article of my choosing. If you agree, I'll participate in the interview.”
The moment I answered, Hayes crossed his arms and stood his ground.
“Are you seriously trying to bribe me? Whether you realize it or not, I'm the Editor-in-Chief of <Yggdrasil Morning>! It's my duty to publish articles that are fair and objective above all else!”
“Really? That's quite an admirable sense of duty, Editor-in-Chief. Then go find someone else.”
The moment Hayes released my arm, I took the opportunity to leave.
As soon as I started walking away, he shouted.
“I-I never said I wouldn't! Fine! I'll give you article submission rights! But absolutely nothing that causes public controversy or violates our neutrality! That's my conscience, and it's the one line I absolutely refuse to cross!”
“Okay. Then we've got a deal.”
“Excellent, Junior!”
To celebrate reaching an amicable agreement, Hayes and I shook hands.
Being able to publish any article I wanted in Yggdrasil's most popular newspaper was an enormous advantage.
Even if I didn't need it right away, the day would surely come when it would prove useful.
“……In that case, Lapin, I'll be back shortly. Just save me a seat in the back as usual. I'll come there after the interview.”
“Okay. I'll sit with Karin. Take your time.”
After asking Lapin for her understanding, I allowed Hayes to lead me away.
“Come on, hurry this way! The First-year Representative has already been waiting!”
“……Waiting?”
“Yes. They've been waiting for almost three hours.”
At first, I thought I'd misheard.
“……Wouldn't most people have just gotten up and left by then?”
“Normally, yes! But this person has incredible patience. I even received a Magical Communication saying they're still waiting! I'm so grateful I could cry!”
Waiting.
Even if it were a senior's request, to calmly remain seated for three hours...
'More importantly, the First-year Representative. I wonder who it'll be.'
Since someone like me had been dragged in as the Second-year Schuler Representative, there was no way the other participant would be the first-year valedictorian or runner-up.
A perfectly ordinary freshman was far more likely.
'Or perhaps... one of Shen's siblings.'
Although Shen had supposedly returned to the Academy, he still hadn't shown his face in the department.
Nor had I met most of the younger siblings he said he'd introduce to me.
So far, the only one I'd encountered was Kaiel during the entrance examination.
Shen had five younger siblings in total, meaning there were still four I hadn't met.
'Perhaps one of the children bearing the Brand will be participating in this interview.'
The probability was only one in one hundred and twenty.
Still, it wasn't zero.
I couldn't afford to let my guard down.
'Anyone patient enough to wait three hours definitely isn't ordinary.'
Only someone with extraordinary patience could endure something like that.
While wondering who the First-year Representative would be...
We eventually arrived at the Newspaper Broadcasting Club in the old building.
“……So this is where the interview's being held.”
“Of course! This is the perfect place to guarantee confidentiality!”
I followed Hayes into the clubroom.
Passing the members busily working away, Hayes led me toward a small meeting room in the corner and opened the door.
“First-year Representative, thank you for waiting! I've brought the Second-year Schuler Representative!”
I looked toward the student seated at the meeting table.
And for a brief instant...
My breathing stopped.
……It was someone I knew well.
A figure strikingly similar to the illustration I'd seen in the game stood before me.
A male student with sharp eyes, resting his chin on one hand.
He sat at the table, wearing a crooked grin as he looked straight at me.