Episode 199: Secret Eavesdropping During a Meeting
“Ah, she’s gone… really gone? Really disappeared? She’s not just turning invisible to catch us off guard, right?”
“Don’t lump me with you, Ryuko.”
After Solciera vanished, Ryuko wiped the sweat from her forehead and leaned back in her chair.
Ryuko, who had witnessed the death of the scholar, was genuinely terrified of Solciera more than anyone else.
Because of this, when dealing with impostors, Ryuko went all out with stealth and status ailments to eliminate them thoroughly, though she referred to it as an elegant assassination technique.
“Phew, let’s resume the meeting then. President Dia of the Student Council, please continue… President Dia?”
Looking over, Dia was staring blankly at the spot where Solciera had disappeared.
Her expression was dreamy, as if feverish.
And then…
“It’s royal…”
“Eh?”
“That person was extremely royal! Does anyone have her contact information!? I would very much like to be friends with her…”
“President Dia, we’re in front of everyone.”
“Rest assured. When I play, I’ll invite Ryuko too.”
“Please don’t… no, it’s not about being polite. It’s a serious refusal.”
In Ryuko’s mind, Solciera had become walking death.
The depths of her serene demeanor, reminiscent of a tranquil night, were incomprehensible to any ordinary high school girl.
It was even conceivable that understanding her might turn someone into a recluse.
However, the other S Ranks were different.
Everyone present showed no fear toward Solciera.
“Um… aren’t you guys scared? I think she’s pretty terrifying.”
“Is that so? To me, she just looks like a perfect playmate.”
Rokuhara, who had once fought Solciera seriously, understood her better than anyone in a way.
Their communication wasn’t through words but rather through exchanges of killing intent and fatal moves.
This had built a unique relationship between Solciera and Rokuhara.
“I-I think she’s scary!”
“Right! It’s good there’s someone normal here…”
Ryuko nodded while holding hands with Eina, whose eyes were tearing up.
Seeing this, Mizuki raised her hand hesitantly and said,
“No, Solciera is a good person. At least, she’s helped me multiple times. Surely, deep down, she’s a kind-hearted girl.”
“Kind… huh? Is Solciera kind?”
Facing Mizuki’s smile, Ryuko couldn’t say anything.
She couldn’t bring herself to reveal the image of Solciera cruelly showing illusions to scholars and killing them from the heart.
It felt similar to keeping the secret of Santa Claus’s true identity from children.
“One day, I’d like to properly thank her. If I invite her to Factom General Academy, do you think she’ll come?”
(That would probably cause a huge disaster…)
Ryuko turned pale imagining the worst-case scenario.
Rokuhara, the only one among the S Ranks present who knew her true nature, didn’t respond.
He likely wasn’t interested.
“—I’ve finished eating…”
“Oh, Tatarai, I have some snacks. If you want something to drink, I can also make you some soup.”
With that, Ryuko pulled out a thermos, a set for soup, and some snacks from her expanded domain.
Considering how drastically different her behavior was compared to before when she seemed fearful, everyone present thought anew:
—What is this person?
No matter how much fear or difficulty she faced, she remained normal.
Untouched by madness, always staying average as a girl.
Ryuko continued to be an ordinary girl.
“…So, Ryuko, you’re indeed an S Rank, aren’t you?”
“Eh, hahaha, not really! Ah, President Dia, would you like some soup?”
“I’m already tired of it.”
Part of the student council’s warehouse was filled with goods Ryuko had secretly mass-produced.
Dia, who had been consuming Ryuko’s soup for about half a year, was honestly fed up with it.
Incidentally, another reason she disliked it was because the package featured Ryuko’s overly annoying smile.
Still, the reason why they tolerated Ryuko’s actions was solely due to her candidacy for the student council president position.
“Watatori Ryuko, you truly are fit to be the student council president. Isn’t it time you consider standing at the top of this academy?”
“No way. I’m completely unsuited for that kind of role… Ah, would you like some, Eina?”
“Yes, please.”
“Don’t eat. Night snacks are bad for your health. I’ll take the whole bag for breakfast.”
Rokuhara, trying to manage Eina’s health as much as possible, took part of the soup and tossed it into his expanded domain.
Eina looked sad and said “ah…” but he didn’t seem to care.
Rokuhara looked at Ryuko and spoke.
“Though it’s none of my business, shouldn’t you seriously start engaging with the role of student council president?”
“What? I’ve clearly said I don’t want to.”
While making soup, Ryuko responded half-heartedly.
The luxurious conference room gradually filled with the aroma of soup.
“I can’t be the student council president. Stop teasing me… I mean, saying it makes me feel sad.”
“Uh, that’s because the students of Kroma are rebellious, or maybe because they love too much…”
“It’s fine, President Dia… comfort just makes the wounds sting more. Anyway, even if I became the student council president, everyone would just trample on me, and besides, I can’t properly use the sanctuary…”
Ryuko was a regular high school girl.
Thus, she got easily discouraged and found things bothersome just like anyone else.
Knowing this well, Dia stayed silent, realizing there was nothing she could say. Once Ryuko hit this state, the only thing left was to wait for her to recover by eating sweets on her own.
No matter how earnestly Dia tried to persuade her, Ryuko evaded it skillfully using her ordinariness as a shield.
Dial knew this was Ryuko’s clear rejection.
Yet, stopping her wasn’t an option.
Because Dia sincerely, without any exaggeration, valued Ryuko as a person.
“…This academy is quite troublesome.”
Rokuhara, who vaguely understood the situation, could only sympathize with Dia.
■
Somehow, Ryuko is trying to escape from becoming the student council president, but she will end up as the student council president of Kroma (spoiler alert).
According to the original story, by the final battle, you’ll be the student council president.
Congratulations, Ryuko!
“My Road, instead of eavesdropping, wouldn’t it have been better to participate in the meeting normally?”
“It’s safe because it’s mysterious eavesdropping ^.^”
“What’s safe about it?”
It’s safe because it’s mysterious.
Right now, I’m enjoying the breeze, overlooking the city as a solitary mysterious beautiful girl.
I don’t have time to participate in the meeting.
“You’ve been saying that, but I don’t understand what it means.”
Eventually, you’ll understand it through your soul.
By the way, what exactly is a sanctuary?
I haven’t seen Ryuko use one in the original story.
“I apologize, My Road, but I don’t know either.”
If such a setting exists, I believe it would appear in the original story too.
Is the sanctuary an object? Or a phenomenon?
“It’s a phenomenon. It’s a special magical formula applied throughout this district. A unique contract between the student council president and the general students creates this phenomenon, akin to our dual-star form. It generates magical power based on mutual trust. Fascinating, isn’t it?”
Star Reader’s Staff…!
You’re so reliable. I forgot you’re an intelligent device!
“It’s all written in the pamphlet. Even children know this.”
Then, doesn’t that make me and Kame idiots by comparison?
“I cannot physically view the pamphlet without permission, so I am not an idiot.”
Are you indirectly calling me stupid?
“Being ignorant isn’t something to be ashamed of, My Road.”
“BakaShiera has its appeal too ^.^”
You’re calling me stupid!??
“Coolly doing silly things all the time like Solciera would be interesting. Tripping on steps or wearing uncool T-shirts as casual wear, even stylish stupidity could work, right?”
That kind of character breakdown belongs to fan fiction!
Ignorance isn’t allowed for Solciera!
Let’s study about the sanctuary!
“Then, there’s a perfect place nearby. There’s a tower that manages the sanctuary’s magical formula. It’s open to the public, and you can also see explanations of past student council presidents’ sanctuaries. Why don’t we go there?”
Past sanctuaries…!
That sounds cool! Let’s go!
“Ha ha ha, don’t get so excited that you trip, My Road.”
Don’t treat me like a kid.
Star Reader’s Staff, guide me quickly.
“The transfer magic circle will appear straight ahead.”
This isn’t just guiding; it’s beyond that level.
“Come on, let’s go. It’s closed at this hour, but it doesn’t matter to a mysterious beautiful girl ^.^”
I’m transferring through the magic circle.
Let’s head to the exciting Sanctuary Museum.
“Actually, it’s an important facility managing control systems, but…”
“So, is it okay to break in at night?”
It’s fine. No one’s watching anyway.
Of course.
Being a mysterious beautiful girl, illegal entry is standard practice.
“This is… the sanctuary tower. So, it’s like this, huh?”
While saying something profound, I stepped inside the tower.
The interior was spacious, resembling a museum with numerous exhibits.
At the center stood a massive crystal pillar stretching towards the sky.
This must be some important-looking item.
“Fuzzy prediction, but it’s correct. This is the computing device of the sanctuary system created by the first sanctuary user.”
Wow, it’s beautiful.
“Your impression is childish.”
“Childish!? Am I a child!?”
Ignoring both of them, I reached out to the crystal.
Just then…
“Hello, young lady. Aren’t you lonely wandering around at this late hour?”
A dignified, beautiful voice.
Turning around, there stood a red-haired beauty.
Who is she???
“Nei Manka, a teacher and actress at this academy. All her stage performances sell out instantly. Apparently, she’s extremely popular… according to the pamphlet.”
Thanks, pamphlet!
Still, this situation… am I in trouble?
“Trouble…”
“Trouble.”
An army of fakes like Solciera would be considered pests to her.
No choice, let’s go with Plan B before she acts.
“What’s Plan B?”
“Mysterious statements to confuse the situation ^.^”
“Wasn’t that Plan B all along?”
Shut up.
Alright, let’s start.
“Let’s activate a mystic eye just in case.”
“Just in case isn’t a valid reason.”
I summoned unnecessary geometric patterns in my right eye, readied a large sickle, and tilted my head.
Then I said,
“Ah, are you inviting me to dance?”
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