Chapter 356 - A Page of Gushing Youth!
After finishing the communications with Thompson and Layla, I pushed the kidnapping incident out of my mind. I'd focus on something else until there was more news.
Alright, time to switch gears to the Magic Doll Club. They should be practicing now, and I had to tell them that the Student Council approved the budget.
Just as I was heading toward the club building, I realized something and changed direction.
"Is the girl with the ringlets still asleep...?"
It's been a while since I left her; surely someone must have found her.
Even though it's a holiday, there are dorm students at the academy, and students and faculty should be passing by for club activities and other business. At least some student must have seen her. It's a sad situation that so few students would try to get involved with the delinquent Edith, despite her high status, but then again, she brought it on herself.
What a handful. I'll take care of her as an instructor, I guess. I felt like letting her sleep was fine, but if she woke up and took it out on some random student, that might lead to more trouble.
"Tsk. What a nuisance."
I carried the girl to the club building, and as I entered the clubroom, I was greeted with suspicious looks as well as greetings.
I told them to keep practicing, and the club members were obedient enough to follow. Still, the reliable President couldn't just ignore it. I had no choice but to give a vague explanation to her when she came to ask about the situation.
"Don't worry about her. More importantly, I have good news."
"Good news?"
"The Student Council approved the budget. In full. Now we can replace the equipment."
I told her while rolling the ringlet girl onto the floor.
"Really?! And in full... But why now?"
"Well, things work out. Anyway, arrange the replacements immediately. How long will it take to get them?"
"Since we're just buying ready-made ones, we can get them right away if they're in stock. At worst, we can check a few shops and get enough. I was thinking of buying extra dolls since our numbers haven't reached the limit yet. If it's okay with you, Sensei, can I go now? If the negotiations go well, they might even deliver them to the academy by tomorrow."
"You're quick. The budget was approved, but it's only been authorized on paper, you know?"
"If it's authorized, there's no problem. I'll talk to them about paying later."
Her proactive attitude was very pleasing. It was a refreshing amount of motivation.
With a bright smile, the President immediately declared the replacement of the magic dolls to all the members, gave instructions for additional practice menus, and then left in a hurry.
The heat in the clubroom was rising. While I, as the advisor, watched over them, they repeated their basic training with more spirit than ever.
About an hour must have passed since I started watching the Magic Doll Club's practice.
As expected, the skills of the little sister and Harriet were exceptionally high. Even when operating dolls from two generations ago, their movements were very smooth and clearly different from the other club members.
Still, it seemed Harriet was holding back her true power to match the little sister's level. I didn't mind, but it seemed she decided not to show off too much skill.
In retrospect, Harriet's judgment might have been the right one.
It wouldn't be strange for someone associated with the Anastasia Union to demonstrate mana manipulation several levels above a normal person. Having them at a level just below mine—much better than the average student—was the right balance.
As I watched the members who were practicing so intently they didn't even take breaks, occasionally throwing out advice and warnings, it seemed the ringlet girl who was sleeping nearby finally woke up.
She got up slowly and looked puzzled.
"Finally awake. Hey, ringlets. Sit here and rest."
"...Who are you calling ringlets?"
While complaining, she wasn't at her best yet, so she obediently sat next to me.
"I'm thirsty."
"I'm not your servant. Fine. Here, drink."
She looked a bit hesitant about the water I'd already been drinking from, but she must have been very thirsty, as she drank it down until her throat made sounds.
Once her thirst was quenched and she had some composure, she finally realized how ragged her outfit was and seemed a bit embarrassed. This part of her was like a normal girl of her age.
Seeing that, I took my tracksuit jacket out of my bag, removed the bugging device that was still attached, and handed it to her.
"Wear this for now."
"...Is there nothing else?"
"Don't be greedy. It's a luxury item despite how it looks, so return it later."
Even though it's just a tracksuit, the performance is at an absurdly high level. I'll lend it to her specially.
The girl in the purple tracksuit looked funny because of the gap in her appearance.
"...The Magic Doll Club seems different from the rumors."
The girl, who had been watching the practice while sitting next to me for a while, seemed surprised by the lively practice scene.
"If you're talking about a spiritless, gutless club, that's a thing of the past."
"Because of you?"
"Of course. It's obviously because of me."
I responded to her sarcastic tone with an attitude that dismissed her words as nonsense. There was no need to be humble about the facts.
The girl, who looked dissatisfied and fell silent, was watching the practice intently. Perhaps because of the unusual situation, the girl with the murky eyes seemed unusually honest.
"...But it's not bad."
She's definitely acting strange. The small mutter was probably meant for herself. My sharp ears caught it, though.
It was surprising that the girl who usually mocked those who worked hard was impressed. I thought she was someone who naturally looked down on others and made fun of them.
Well, anyone can change with a little spark. The students of the Magic Doll Club are a good example. Seeing them work hard would impress even the cynical Edith.
"Heh. Watching them sweat during their youth actually made you turn over a new leaf? You're surprisingly easy."
"I didn't!"
She shouted back reflexively as soon as I teased her. She's cheeky, but I don't hate that spirit.
"You might as well change while you're at it. So what if your family background is grand? So what if your abilities are superior? Listen. If you stay as you are, you'll be a scoundrel forever. Just as you realized yourself."
"Could you stop being meddlesome? It's just a nuisance. What's wrong with being my true self?"
That was certainly meddlesome. If I were told that, I'd probably respond just like her and punch the person to shut them up. Actually, if someone told me something so arrogant, I'd definitely beat them half to death and make sure they never spoke so cheekily again.
But I'm a woman who allows herself to be selfish. I put my own circumstances aside and spoke selfishly.
"Your true self? You're saying something so sleepy. 'The way I am now is fine'... I won't allow such laziness."
Some might kindly say it's fine as you are and to find your true self slowly, but I think that's a terrible thing to say despite sounding kind.
"You won't allow it... you have no right to say that to me."
"That's true. Even if I'm an instructor, I'm ultimately a stranger. I'll have almost nothing to do with your life. That's why I can say it so light-heartedly."
"W-What?"
"I'll say it again. You're fine as you are? If you give in to those words, you'll be a scoundrel until you die. Listen. Work on changing yourself. Work on becoming even a bit better. Don't compromise and gloss over your lousy self with words like 'true self'. It's nothing but laziness."
I spoke while keeping my eyes on the practice through my sunglasses, not even looking at the girl.
In fact, I didn't care how she lived, but it would be good for me if she changed so I could have an easier time as a lifestyle guidance instructor. If left alone, she'd likely cause more trouble.
The stinging criticism seemed to have given the delinquent something to think about, as she didn't talk back but stayed silent.
I didn't think she'd listen obediently, but maybe she's worrying a bit like a young person. Just as I thought that, I realized she was looking at me. She seemed like she wanted to say something.
"What is it?"
"I want to ask one thing."
"I'm an instructor here. I'll answer not just one thing, but two or three, if it's something I can answer. What is it?"
I'll give the troubled girl some advice. Though I didn't think my advice would be helpful at all.
It must have been hard to say, as the girl hesitated quite a bit after saying she wanted to ask.
"...What do you think the real me is?"
"Huh?"
Oh no. I never expected to hear such a quintessential 'youth' question from the delinquent Edith. It was so unexpected that I accidentally let out a stupid sound.
"Ahem! Well, the 'real you', huh? That was an unexpected question."
"Never mind."
She became sullen after my failure to act appropriately. Even that attitude seemed cute at this moment.
"Phew... Listen. Do you think there's such a thing as a firm 'you'? The real you? I don't know what you mean by that, but there's no such thing. If I have to say, all of it is you."
"All of it... the me now and the me yesterday are definitely different."
"Of course. Both physically and mentally, that's exactly right. You are different. Well, I don't care about the physical part."
She's probably talking about the mental aspect. The honest her now and the her until yesterday are completely different. But that's only natural.
"The you now, the you who was being stubborn with Jienko Nigi, the you who acts like a delinquent at the academy, and even the you when you're alone... they're all the real you, no doubt about it. It's only natural that you have different thoughts and attitudes depending on the situation. Why are you even questioning that? Most importantly, if there were a 'real you', so what?"
I continued while she remained silent, thinking about something.
"The 'real you' doesn't matter. Conversely, who do you want to be?"
"...I don't know who I want to be."
"If you have time to worry about a 'truth' that might not even exist, you should just become who you want to be. So that that feels like the 'truth'."
It's a simple story. It's stupid to think about it so much.
Still, I don't think the common 'finding oneself' is bad, and I think some things can be seen by doing that.
I'm just a perverse person who won't say 'it's fine as you are' and 'let's find your true self slowly'. If you're dissatisfied, it's just your mistake for asking me; go ask someone else again.
"...I'm sure that no matter what, a life with many enemies awaits me."
"What's wrong with having many enemies? I'm not telling you to be a good person. Actually, don't be afraid to make enemies. From my perspective, a woman with no enemies is untrustworthy. Such a person is either living with lies and deception or is a boring person who lives life safely and harmlessly."
See? My words are no help.
After all, I have enemies everywhere. I have many companions too, though. It's a way of living, but it's definitely not something to recommend to others.
Because it's abnormal to be constantly monitored and targeted by bounty hunters and assassins. But I'm a woman who can enjoy that abnormal situation. She made a bad choice by consulting such a woman.
I might have said too many stupid things because I was feeling a bit full of myself. The girl stared into the distance and finally stopped talking.
"I've returned. Evil Banshee-sensei, I've successfully arranged everything!"
The President reported as soon as she returned, with a glowing smile.
Her loud report reached the members who were practicing, and they were filled with excitement again.
"Well done, Humaira. Once the new ones arrive, we'll practice with the new models immediately."
"Yes! Now if only we could increase the number of club members to the limit, but that seems difficult."
The limit for a magic doll match is twenty-five. If the numbers are lacking, it's a disadvantage at that point. I'd like to increase the numbers if possible.
"Oh, that's right. Hey, ringlets. You're free anyway, aren't you? Join this club."
"What?! Why should I?"
"Don't complain; just join. People get up to no good when they're free. You're exactly like that."
"Y-You're being so high-handed..."
"Humaira, take care of this girl. She's a scoundrel who does nothing but complain, but she's got grit. Besides, she seems to be top in magic practice, so she might be some help."
A President who isn't intimidated will likely not be afraid of the delinquent Edith. She's reliable; I can leave it to her.
"Indeed, if she takes it seriously, we can have some expectations. And we need numbers... fine. From tomorrow, make sure you come every day without being late."
"So arrogant! Who do you think you're talking to?! Besides, I haven't said I'll join—"
"Shut up. If you're late or skip, I'll blow you away, so be ready. And you said you wanted obstacles. The Magic Doll Club is aiming for the top, so it's perfect in that sense. Anyway, make sure you follow President Humaira's orders, got it?"
"Like I said, you're being so high-handed—"
If I keep her under surveillance and keep her busy with the club, she won't have time to get up to mischief. It's also a reinforcement of our strength; it's truly killing two birds with one stone.
Good, good. We're getting new magic dolls, and the path to a comeback will surely move forward with great momentum.