Chapter 65
Chapter 65
“Yeah, you’re right. Kamon’s actions might seem a bit strange, but they’ve been effective. Remember the dungeon exam?” Lois nodded in agreement, prompting Elliot to whisper irritably.
“Kamon, why are you dragging that guy around all of a sudden?”
“It’s Lady Cecilia’s orders.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah, she said to keep him close and use him as much as possible.”
Of course, she added that he was a naive fool, but I kept that part to myself. No need to cause Lois any unnecessary stress.
“So, what should I do next, Kamon? Is there anything else I can help with?”
“You’re quite eager, Lois.”
“Of course! Lady Cecile has to become the student council president!”
For a moment, I considered that Lady Cecilia might not have been entirely wrong about Lois, but I nodded and spoke.
“Then let’s all do our best. The good news is that our efforts are starting to show results faster than expected.”
“Results? What results?”
“People are starting to take notice. That’s the most important part.”
Having experienced modern society firsthand, I knew the power of media and public opinion better than anyone.
For some reason, the student council president election at this medieval fantasy academy was conducted using a democratic system. Every student had an equal vote and could participate in electing the president.
This might be a limitation of a third-rate novel, but it worked in my favor.
Most people, when exposed to shocking and provocative information repeatedly, would eventually start harboring doubts. Once those doubts grew and reached a tipping point, they’d start to accept it as fact.
Whether it was true or false didn’t matter. There’s a famous saying: “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”
Yes, there is smoke. Thick, hot smoke billowing up.
I knew this from countless examples and real experiences, but what about the people in this world?
Elliot’s subtle question interrupted my thoughts.
“Kamon, are the things we wrote on those posters true?”
I could feel Bren and Lois’s eyes on me.
‘There’s no way Kamon would make up things out of thin air.’
‘No way it’s a lie, right?’
I chuckled and gave a short reply.
“Of course, it’s all lies.”
“What?!”
“No way, hold on!”
“Hey, why are you two so surprised? It’s obvious Kamon’s just messing with us. Relax, Kamon, stop teasing and tell them the truth.”
Elliot nudged my shoulder, but I shrugged and replied.
“No, seriously. It’s all lies.”
“Come on, stop joking!”
“Believe me or not, it’s up to you, Elliot. But I don’t joke about this.”
“What? No way… Seriously?”
“Kamon, please tell me you’re kidding. It can’t be all lies, right? Please say it isn’t.”
“Kamon?”
I smiled and stayed silent.
“……”
“……”
It was a short moment, but their eyes conveyed more than any words could.
“Should we just run away?”
“It’s too late. Our names are already on the election team list.”
“I can’t run either. I’ve committed to my sister, and we’re family.”
“Yeah, I can’t run either. I need to graduate from the academy.”
Feeling as if they were facing the end of the world, the three exchanged words of despair, then held hands and shouted.
“Let’s survive together.”
“Let’s stick it out. We just need to not get caught.”
“Yeah, live together, die together.”
I spoke up again.
“We’re going to double the number of posters.”
Seeing their faces turn to horror, Bren was the first to voice his dissent.
“No, I can’t. I quit. I’d rather drop out of the academy…!”
At that moment, someone put a hand on Bren’s shoulder.
“Bren, even though we weren’t born on the same day, we’re now bound by the same fate.”
Elliot spoke softly, his voice filled with a strange sense of camaraderie.
“We’re in this together now. We live and die together.”
“Senior…?”
Even Lois, who wasn’t particularly close to Bren, put his arm around Bren’s shoulder and added.
“When our goals and purpose align, we shouldn’t fear death. We’re a team, after all.”
“Lois?”
Bren looked back and forth between Elliot and Lois, but their expressions remained unchanged.
Finally, Bren sighed and nodded.
“Alright. I’ll stay. I don’t understand why our deaths have to be synchronized, but I get it.”
“That’s the spirit, Bren. From today on, you, me, and… Lois, are brothers who live and die together.”
Watching this sudden brotherhood unfold before my eyes, I couldn’t hold back my laughter.
* * *
The class on ‘Potion Making and Application’ was quite popular among first-year students.
“Once you’re done making your potions, just submit them and leave.”
The professor in charge had little interest in managing or teaching the students.
“Follow the instructions on the board and the textbook to make your potions. Once you’re finished, submit them and leave.”
The assistant, not even the professor, gave the instructions and then left the room.
Naturally, the classroom quickly turned into a hub of chatter and noise.
I slumped over my desk, letting out a groan.
“Ugh, finally, a break.”
These kinds of classes were the only chance to get some rest. I was exhausted.
Neither the professor nor the assistant actually checked the submitted potions. The act of submission was all that mattered.
“Let’s just get some sleep.”
Mumbling to myself, I closed my eyes, ready for some quiet time. But just then, a conversation among some nearby students caught my attention.
“I heard it’s true about Princess Francia.”
“No way, that’s too much.”
“I don’t know, but that’s the rumor. There has to be a reason for all those posters.”
“Yeah, even the school newspaper mentioned it recently.”
“I don’t care, I’m still going to believe in Princess Francia.”
Their chatter pierced through my thoughts.
‘The rumors are spreading quickly.’
Instead of falling asleep, I found myself perking up my ears to catch more of their conversation.
‘How’s that, Princess? This modern election propaganda sure packs a punch, doesn’t it?’
I imagined her lying in bed, angrily tearing apart her pillows.
At that moment:
“Can’t you all focus on the class for once?”
“Me, Mellin?”
The sharp voice broke in, causing me to glance up. There was Elaine, looking flustered, while Melin stood beside her with a slightly flushed face, glaring at the chattering students.
‘So they’re in this class too, huh.’
“Stop spreading useless rumors and disrupting everyone’s studies, okay?”
“What’s her problem?”
“Does she think she’s part of the princess’s campaign team or something?”
Naturally, the gossip shifted from Princess Francia to Melin and Elaine.
“If you’ve got something to say, come and say it to my face instead of cowardly whispering behind my back.”
“……”
Her firm retort silenced the gossipers, who then quietly muttered among themselves.
“Let’s go.”
“Who does she think she is?”
As the group of girls walked away, Elaine spoke to Mellin with a slightly reproachful tone.
“Mellin, why do you have to pick fights? There’s no need to argue with them.”
“I don’t care. They were being annoying and disruptive. Let’s just finish and leave.”
Watching them, I couldn’t help but think they were the same as always.
Unable to resist the pull of sleep any longer, I finally drifted off.
***
“Everyone, please submit your potions. Time is up.”
I woke to the sound of the assistant’s announcement. I got up and grabbed the roughly made potion from my bag.
Plop.
I dropped the potion into the submission box and nodded briefly to the assistant before leaving the classroom.
At that moment:
“You’re not involved in this, are you, Lois?!”
“What are you talking about? No, I’m not.”
Right in front of me, Lois and Mellin were having a heated exchange, with Elaine looking flustered beside them.
“I heard it was done by Lady Cecilia’s camp, so I had to check. You know it’s meaningless if you win through such underhanded tactics, right?”
“Seriously, it wasn’t us. This is so unfair!”
“Yeah, Melin, he said it wasn’t him.”
Elaine tried to diffuse the tension, but Mellin’s eyes glinted mischievously as she muttered.
“Who knows? Maybe Lois is the only one who doesn’t know.”
“Do you think I’m an idiot? If you’re so curious, I can introduce you to Lady Cecilia. Ask her yourself.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“Hey, Mellin, are you part of Princess Francia’s campaign team or something? Why are you always suspicious and critical?”
“Does it matter what team I’m on? I’m just asking legitimate questions as a fellow academy member.”
“Oh, here comes the knight in shining armor.”
“Chelsea! Claire! Come over here and help me with these two!”
Elaine’s shout drew familiar faces towards us, including Chelsea and Claire. They spotted me at the same time.
“Huh? Kamon?”
“What? Kamon? Why bring him up?”
“Kamon is here? Where?”
Ah, I wanted to pass quietly… but now I should at least greet them, right?
“Hey, long time no see. Good to see you all.”
“K-Kamon. Hi… long time no see.”
“Why are you acting like we’re close, you jerk?”
As expected, their reactions were varied.
I approached Lois, slinging an arm around his shoulders.
“I need to borrow Lois. We have a meeting to attend, don’t we, Lois?”
“A meeting? What meeting? We have a meeting?”
“A meeting?”
“Of course, the election team meeting. Lois and I are both part of Lady Cecilia’s campaign team.”
“What? You two are on the same team? Wow.”
“No wonder there’s been bad rumors from that side lately. Makes sense now.”
Ignoring Mellin’s continued hostility, I began to lead Lois away, but not before saying goodbye.
“Anyway, we have to go now. See you all later.”
“……”
Chelsea remained silent, her expression unreadable.
“Yeah, see you later, Lois. And goodbye, Kamon.”
Elaine, as always, was bright and friendly in her farewell.
“Hmph, go or don’t, I don’t care.”
Mellin, as usual, was visibly annoyed.
As I walked away with Lois, someone suddenly called out.
“Wait, I’m coming too.”
Turning around, I saw Claire, the quiet one.
‘Oh right, she was in the same group.’
But what does she mean by coming too?
I gave her a puzzled look, and she spoke again.
“I’m also part of Lady Cecilia’s campaign team. I joined yesterday.”
“What?!”
“Claire, you too?!”
Everyone’s shock and confusion were palpable.
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