Summer vacation drew to a close. Leaving the nostalgic Brave Territory behind, we returned to the Academy in the Royal Capital.
The journey back was entirely peaceful. There were no mysterious clearings of the general carriages or unexpected encounters with capture target characters. Discussing our memories of the territory over coffee and sweets, the atmosphere inside our carriage was the very picture of a youthful spring.
Still, despite the assassin attacks we had faced in the past, this total lack of incident left a bitter taste in my mouth. Was it the calm before the storm? I had secretly summoned a few demons to perfect my counter-strategies, so I was ready for whatever Patricia or Jelasis had planned. I would shut them down completely.
Or so I thought. Contrary to my expectations, there was no sign of either of them once we arrived at the Academy.
"The Sage Festival will take place during the second semester," Volsea Gran Cascade, the Headmaster, announced from the podium during the opening ceremony. "The grounds outside the dormitories will be opened so that guardians and the public may observe your academic diligence and personal growth. However, do not let yourselves be swept away by the festivities; maintain a demeanor befitting a student."
As I sat listening to the Headmaster’s speech, I scanned the room. I couldn't sense any magic from Patricia or Jelasis. All the other capture targets were present, so why were only those two missing?
Technically, the opening ceremony was an event. In scenes like this, where the entire student body gathered, a villain would usually cause a scene, followed by an episode where the Prince saved the day. From there, the story would transition into the preparation phase for the Sage Festival, which doubled as a school festival. One would expect the start of an after-school life defined by the frantic preparations typical of the youth genre. So, what was the hold-up?
For context, the festival included food stalls, plays, and various other cultural activities, much like the school festivals from my previous life. Apparently, it followed the traditions of the Ancient Sage. To top it off, there was even an Ikemen Grand Prix restricted to male students, where the capture targets invariably dominated the top ranks.
Since Edward was present this year, him sweeping the competition should have been a foregone conclusion. However, his current state of baldness was drawing an extraordinary amount of attention. The burns on his upper body were also severe, so he likely wouldn't be participating in a pageant that required swimsuit judging.
"Talking for too long will only bore you. That is all from me," Volsea concluded, and with those brief words, the ceremony ended.
As everyone stood to leave the auditorium, no one approached us to pick a fight. It felt peaceful, but that was likely because someone else was commanding much more attention than we were.
"I heard his rank in the line of succession dropped..." "Isn't that basically the same as being disinherited?" "I heard he lost all his hair in an accident this summer." "That commoner girl isn't even at school. I wonder what happened."
The hushed, snide whispers of the female students drifted through the air. Yes—it was the Bald Prince.
He really should have worn a wig, but Edward had arrived at the Academy with his smooth, bald head, maintaining an impressively dignified bearing. While it wasn't unusual for students to look a bit different after summer, the change in his appearance was so drastic that everyone stared. People’s mouths fell open before he even passed them. Afterward, they would invariably look back three times, frozen in place by the sight of his shining dome. Rumors had clearly preceded him; Edward was monopolizing every scrap of conversation in the school.
"Hmm. Lunchtime. Let us return to the dormitory, Clive." "Right you are. You’re shining today too, Your Highness." "Heh. Never skipping my daily skin care is the secret to this radiance."
He was so incredibly poised that I actually felt a hint of kingly aura radiating from him. I had wondered if he would be depressed after the incident in the Brave Territory, but he seemed to have moved past it. However, his entourage had clearly thinned out. Whether it was the absence of Patricia and Jelasis or the gossiped-about demotion, noble children had to respect their parents' political stances. Such a shift was inevitable.
You had better treasure Clive, the one who stayed, Bald Prince.
"From behind, he looks quite a bit like a boiled egg, doesn't he?" Mariana whispered, having caught up with me alongside Alicia. She was staring directly at the back of Edward’s head.
"That’s lese-majesty, pfft," I muttered.
"You’re the one laughing, too," Alicia chided.
She wasn't wrong. But since the man was as smooth as a peeled egg, it made me realize that high-ranking nobles like Alicia were truly built differently, right down to their diet.
As we were straightening our clothes, Edward suddenly spun around. He offered us a broad, radiant smile.
"Heh."
A violent, bone-chilling shudder racked my entire body. It was a wave of dread I had never experienced before. Neither facing battle-hardened soldiers nor high-ranking monsters had ever elicited such a response. I could only watch in silence as Edward walked away as if nothing had happened. What was that?
"Ororororororo."
Behind me, Mariana suddenly threw up.
"Gah! Mariana, not here!" Alicia cried. Splatter hit her feet, and her beautiful face twisted into a terrifying mask of rage.
...Edward was a frightening man.
"Today’s lunch was an egg sandwich, but I've lost the urge to eat it. Here, Alicia, you can have mine." "I find it difficult to accept a gift for that particular reason."
It was noon. Since classes were finished for the day, the three of us were having lunch back at the Western-style building Alicia and I used as our dormitory. The Mariana Vomiting Incident had caused quite a scene, but I had settled things instantly by isolating the mess with a barrier. I took the sandwich from Mariana, who had lost her appetite.
"I'll eat it. I don't mind."
On a battlefield, eating amidst blood and guts was common. Seeing soldiers wet themselves out of fear wasn't rare, either. Besides, I ate monsters; I could stomach anything.
"Speaking of which," Alicia said, shifting the subject, "the Student Council will be decided this semester. How were your term-end exam results?"
The Student Council consisted of the top six performers from each year, who were forcibly appointed. It was meant to be a learning opportunity for noble duties, assisting with school events. For some reason, it was an object of admiration, and everyone studied hard to get in, hoping for a connection to the royalty who were always members.
In the game, one of the capture targets was the Prime Minister's son, a brilliant student. Progressing his route involved being recommended to the council. The story usually involved working late in the empty Student Council room, listening to him vent about noble society and uncovering fraudulent accounting while the romance progressed. It had nothing to do with us.
"I was second in the written exams and about tenth in the practicals," Mariana said. "What about you, Alicia?" "Third in the written and thirteenth in the practical. Ragna?" "I don't really know."
It was a sad state of affairs. I had taken the tests properly and should have aced the written portion. I had even sent that examiner flying again during the practical. Yet, for some reason, the word 'Failed' had been written on my report card. That word had then been crossed out in red ink, leaving the whole thing a mess.
"Here, look." I showed them the paper I had left in my room. "Goodness... what is this?" Alicia murmured. "I didn't know a grade could look like that," Mariana added.
It was probably a scheme by that examiner who hated me, though Volsea had likely corrected it. I didn't know my actual rank, but I didn't care about the standings in a children's playground. The only logical rank was first.
"Well, considering the situation, there's no way we'll be on the council, so it doesn't matter," I said. "I suppose so," Alicia agreed.
Rather than just the top six, the teachers usually hand-picked the members based on preference, so we wouldn't be chosen.
"But if you want to join, Alicia, I'm willing to use direct action. If you want to show them up, you should be at the top. You have the qualities of a leader, after all." "I'll sneak into the faculty room, find the list of nominees, and then I'll take them all—" "—House! Calm down. I have no interest in the council. I was just curious about our scores." "Woof."
The leash was back for the first time in a while, so I stayed obedient. Mariana looked at me with an envious expression, but I wasn't giving up this position, you vomit woman.
"I was actually looking forward to the Sage Festival," Mariana said. "I wonder what your class is doing, Alicia?" "Who knows? We haven't discussed it yet." Alicia took a sip of her coffee. "Really? Please let me know once you decide! I want to know." "Yes, tell me about yours as well. I'll come visit."
I wondered if nobles actually did things as a group. Would they hold a tea party? A play? I suspected they were more likely to hire a professional troupe and just watch. But the Ancient Sage’s traditions forced the students to put on their own displays. It made no sense to me.
Knock, knock.
As we were chatting in the living room, a knock came from the front door.
"Hmm? I wonder who that is." "I'll get it."
I opened the door to find Volsea standing there. "It has been a while, Ragna Velle Brave." "Headmaster."
Volsea shot a quick glance at Alicia and Mariana in the back before returning his focus to me. "Upon the recommendation of a certain individual, I am appointing all three of you to the Student Council. I have come to inform you in advance, as I understand you each have unique positions to consider."