Chapter 341 - My Beloved Students!
Upon investigating the Student Council Building, I noticed something else. There seemed to be several students in the club building. Moreover, it looked like they were from the Magic Doll Club. Even though it was still early for bedtime, their dedication to practice was commendable, but it seemed a bit excessive.
They couldn't possibly be fooling around in the club room, but as an advisor, I should at least check on them.
The only people in the club building this late at night were from the Magic Doll Club. I wasn't planning to catch any intruders, so I was about to enter the club room without much caution when I remembered something.
I was currently dressed in a casual young adult style. I wore sunglasses and let my hair down instead of tying it up in a high ponytail. This was good enough.
I burst into the club room, and as expected, the unexpected visitor drew everyone's attention.
"Evilbanshee-sensei? What brings you here at this hour?"
"That's what I was going to ask. I’m impressed by your dedication, but how long do you plan to keep this up?"
"We intend to make up for our past laziness through practice. We've been taught effective methods, and we have the Academy's permission for nighttime practice, of course."
I see. While I wish you had consulted me before seeking permission, I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm. Besides, I'm not always here after school, so it's hard for you to reach me. As an advisor who respects autonomy, I'll remain silent on this.
"Sensei, listen. Hermira, the club president, is trying to set up practice matches."
That's premature. Improvement doesn’t happen overnight, and using second-generation Magic Dolls won’t cut it. However, their spirit and initiative are commendable. I didn’t expect them to be this dedicated.
"Practice matches, with whom?"
Using mediocre Magic Dolls in practice matches with us wouldn’t be meaningful. There’s a significant difference in the quality of the equipment.
"I doubt any school would refuse a challenge from ours. To be honest, they can't afford to say no."
On the surface, it’s an elite all-girls school attended by royalty, and a hotspot for numerous nobles and the wealthy. Even without our involvement, other schools would find it difficult to refuse our challenge due to the social hierarchy. That’s how it seems.
"I see. But you’re likely to lose badly. Can your pride handle that?"
"We know we’ll lose, but it will be a different experience. We believe we can learn more from a match against another school, and it will help us develop match sense."
If you’re that determined, go ahead. Still, it’s odd.
"We’ve been lazy until you arrived, but the change is quite noticeable. It’s a bit unsettling."
"U-unsure..."
"Sensei, that’s mean. We’re all trying our best."
"I didn’t mean it badly. But why?"
To practice so diligently at night, I’d like to know your motivation.
"It’s not a significant reason, but we joined the Magic Doll Club out of admiration. In my case, my mother and grandmother were members, and I don’t want to disappoint their expectations."
"In my case, my sister and aunt were in this club at the Academy."
"I joined this club specifically to attend this Academy."
It seems many members have family or relatives who were former members. Many members also joined out of admiration for the Magic Doll Club, which is a prestigious extracurricular activity.
Indeed, in the back of the club room, there were numerous trophies from the club’s glorious past, neatly displayed in a prominent place, untouched by dust. These trophies were a tribute to the predecessors.
The influence of relatives and the admiration of the club. Everyone must have joined with positive intentions.
However, the club’s decline at this Academy led to a loss of motivation. Then, my arrival, with my exceptional skills, reignited their enthusiasm.
"It might seem greedy, but once you realize that hard work can change the status quo, it’s natural to feel motivated."
"With Evilbanshee-sensei as a tangible goal, we don’t want to let our mothers and grandmothers down."
"We’ll do our best. Hard work never fails, right?"
Effort. It’s a cliché, yet a noble word. Without it, achieving great things is impossible.
But effort doesn’t guarantee success. No matter how hard you try, it might not work. There’s no guarantee, and it could be futile.
Still, if you have something you want to grasp or achieve, you have to try. You need to put in the effort that’s commensurate with your goal.
"Well said. Very well. As I said before, I’ll eventually let you win. But don’t think you can easily make up for the second-generation dolls and the accumulated laziness."
"Of course. Also, we’re short on members, so we plan to bring back those who left. Is that all right?"
"You can still participate with fewer members, but that’s fine. I’ll leave that to you. Do as you please."
Given the late hour, I dismissed them for the day. There’s school tomorrow, after all. While it’s good to focus on club activities, I won’t tolerate neglecting your studies. It’s about excelling in both academics and extracurricular activities.
I’ll ensure that no one has any complaints and that everyone grasps what they can. I won’t make it easy for anyone, regardless of their direction.
I’ll push them to their limits. If they want to grasp something big and challenging, that’s to be expected. If they’re serious, I’ll rise to the challenge too.
The next day, I started as usual.
I’m gradually getting used to this life, and my sleep quality isn’t bad. Given the demanding job, rest is crucial.
Club activities, student guidance, and protection—none of these are easy and involve complicated elements.
I can delegate simple protection tasks to my team, but I need to solve problems one by one.
The most troublesome issue right now is Edith Ribbonstrat and the Student Council. I want to resolve this quickly, but I’m not sure how.
While considering all this, the day passed quickly, and it was already after school. Time flies.
I decided to switch gears and head to the club for guidance.
"Wait a moment."
On my way from the back of the school to the club building, a voice called out. The student who stopped me was quite mature-looking. Without her uniform, I wouldn’t have recognized her as a student.
I quickly recalled her name from the student directory and photos. She’s Ruth from the House of Cleados, the Student Council President. Her hairstyle matched the photos exactly.
"...You’re the Student Council President Cleados, right?"
She’s the Student Council President, a baroness, while Edith Ribbonstrat is a marchioness who isn’t even in the Student Council. Their relationship is a mystery. Given Edith’s higher status, you’d think she’d be in a leadership position, but that’s not the case.
Suddenly, the top of the Student Council is contacting me. Maybe they’re probing for information about last night’s alarm.
"Yes, that’s me. Yukareed Evilbanshee-sensei, please call me Ruth."
I stopped and looked at her through my sunglasses as she approached with a friendly smile.
She’s a captivating student. Her beauty and figure are so mesmerizing that even a naive young man could easily fall in love. Despite her youth, her refined charm and elegance are befitting of a noblewoman, and her confident demeanor makes her a fitting Student Council President. Compared to the unruly curls of a delinquent, she’s far more suited to the role.
"I don’t intend to get too familiar with students. Whether you’re the Student Council President or not, I won’t relax my disciplinary standards. Pass that on to the other council members."
"Oh, we aim to maintain proper conduct. We won’t trouble you, Sensei."
That’s rich. The Student Council, the most suspicious group of all. I’d like to see them explain the abnormally high security in the Student Council Building.
"So? If it’s just a greeting, we can talk more comfortably in the Student Council Building."
Attacking her slightly, she only gives a sultry smile. If she were a confident criminal, she’d invite me to her stronghold. With more than just magical perception, actually entering could reveal more.
"Fufu, have you seen the Rooftop Garden, Sensei? The view from the hilltop, stretching to the sea, is beautiful."
She seems to be avoiding any situation that could expose a weakness. She doesn’t seem to be the type to slip easily.
Troublesome. One punch might bring out her true colors.
"Ruth-sama! Are you here?"
Just as I was getting tired of this probing, I was interrupted.
Ah, this is the girl who mistook me for a suspicious person at the Student Council Building and even drew a sword. The female knight-like student positioned herself between the Student Council President and me.
"You... No, are you Evilbanshee-sensei? Excuse me for a moment. Please pay attention to your appearance in front of Ruth-sama."
She reached for my neck without hesitation, ostensibly to adjust my collar. I let her, even though I thought a tracksuit was already casual enough.
I looked at the Student Council President, who was trying to suppress a smile. I guess I’m still underestimated.
"The meeting is about to start, Ruth-sama."
"Oh, it’s already time? Evilbanshee-sensei, I planned to give you something useful today. Please take this."
Confused by her words, I accepted the ring she offered. I wasn’t sure of its significance, but I decided to accept it, figuring I could handle any tricks.
It’s a wide silver ring with a pattern of roses, buttons, or peonies. If I saw it in a store, I’d buy it; it’s a well-crafted piece by a skilled artisan.
"What is this?"
"A token of friendship. It bears the Student Council’s emblem and should be useful for your guidance."
I see. It seems the Student Council, a group of power-holders, believes no student would dare oppose them in this Academy. By using the ring, they think it will make your guidance easier.
Hmph, fine. If it makes my job easier, I have no complaints. But this is more than just a ring.
"What is its magical effect?"
"You noticed. It enhances the wearer’s magical power and stabilizes their mind. It’s a very convenient magical artifact. Please try it on."
Suspicious, but even with magical perception, I can’t determine its actual effects. It doesn’t seem to be rigged to explode or be laced with poison. If it works as described, it’s a valuable magical artifact.
I don’t usually wear rings as they get in the way, but I’ll try this one.
"...Indeed. Magical enhancement and mental defense are impressive. But you shouldn’t give such a powerful artifact to a stranger."
"It’s a small token of my appreciation. Please wear it always."
A fitting gesture from the noble House of Cleados. This magical artifact could be worth millions of Gists. It might also be a bribe of sorts.
Satisfied with my reaction, the Student Council President, along with the female knight, left, citing a meeting.
Left alone, I stood there for a moment, sighing.
"I’m clearly underestimated."
First, the tracksuit. I detected a faint magical reaction from the collar. Touching it, I found a small button-like object firmly embedded in the collar.
I had already detected it with precise magical perception during her unnatural gesture of adjusting my collar. Not noticing it would be strange.
"Ah, ah."
I see. This is likely some kind of listening device. I didn’t expect them to bring something like this.
At first, I thought it was just a transmitter, but it reacts slightly to my voice or sounds. It also runs on my magical power, so its effects will last indefinitely. They probably expected that I wouldn’t check the collar of a tracksuit or that I wouldn’t notice a small button-like object. Even without advanced magical perception, I’d notice such an object. In other words, they probably don’t mind if I find it, which means I’m being underestimated.
And the ring. It’s not just a gift. It has magical enhancement and mental defense, but it’s also likely a transmitter.
So, they set this up to monitor me and find my weaknesses. It’s a mutual thing, but they probably didn’t expect me to notice both of their setups so quickly. They’re cute.
Well, what should I do? Should I let them continue, or should I play along?
Since the Student Council approached me, I might as well think of ways to use this. I’ll pretend not to notice until I come up with something.