Chapter 80: Summoned by the Duchess
A few days had passed since the rampage of Prince Rodel Aiwood, the Third Prince. Perhaps due to the absence of the foolish prince, the academy life continued peacefully without any particular issues. Since that incident, Rodel had received a suspension and was currently confined to his home—specifically, the castle. Thanks to the proper treatment from the academy’s school nurse, the boy from Class D who had been burned during the incident was left with only minor scars and was able to carry on with his daily life without any hindrance. However, the identity of the person who had beaten Rodel and his two retainers remained a mystery. Any magical attacks conducted within the academy without permission were a violation of school rules, regardless of the circumstances. Yet, given the situation, the faculty had merely announced to the students to “come forward if they wished to confess,” and it seemed they were not actively searching for the culprit.
“Rest-san, do you have a moment?”
One afternoon after class, in the classroom of Class A, the Duchess Celestine Crocus unexpectedly approached Rest. While Celestine interacted with her classmates evenly, it was rare for her to single out an individual.
“Is there something you need?” Rest asked.
“Yes, I have something to discuss, and I would like you to come with me…”
“I don’t mind, but what is it about?”
“Not here…”
Celestine subtly glanced around the classroom. It seemed there was something she found difficult to discuss in front of others. Rest stood up from his seat.
“Ah, then shall we change locations?”
“May we join you as well?” Viola and Primula chimed in, also standing up.
“I don’t mind…,” Celestine replied with a gentle nod.
“Of course.”
Rest and the Rosemary Sisters exited the classroom, following Celestine down the hallway.
“It seems you’ve been quite active, Rest-san,” Celestine began as they walked.
“What do you mean?”
“Word has it that you defeated Danyla Betras, the second-ranked student in the Knight Department’s first year, during the Swordsmanship class.”
“Oh… I see. So he was the son of a count.”
Rest recalled the boy he had faced during the first Swordsmanship class. He hadn’t known his full name, but it seemed it was Danyla Betras.
“Count Betras is one of the prominent figures in the knight order, and although Danyla is the third son, he is exceptionally talented with a sword and has high expectations for his future. The fact that a student from the Magic Department managed to defeat him has become quite the topic of conversation among the Knight Department.”
“Ah… is that so?”
Rest hadn’t thought Danyla was that strong. He had assumed he was a competent opponent, but it turned out he was the second-ranked student in the Knight Department’s first year.
“Well, it’s only natural for you, Rest!” Viola exclaimed.
“Indeed, Rest-sama. We take great pride in your achievements!” Primula added, puffing out her chest with pride.
It seemed they were genuinely pleased that Rest had gained recognition among many students.
“And then… there’s the matter of Prince Rodel from the other day.”
“Eh…?”
“I apologize for the delay in expressing my gratitude… I sincerely appreciate you resolving the issue with the prince.”
“…What are you talking about?”
It was almost certain that she was referring to the violent incident caused by Rodel, but Rest feigned ignorance.
“You don’t need to hide it. It seems that some of us, myself included, have noticed.”
“Noticed…?”
“Rest-san, you are being evaluated by the faculty more than you realize. They say you showcased advanced techniques that rival those of a court magician during the entrance ceremony.”
“Ah…”
Rest had indeed used a Quartet technique during the entrance exam. While many of the examinees had not noticed it, the Headmaster, who had been supervising the exam, certainly knew, and the information had been shared with other faculty members.
“Using Smoke Screen Magic to subdue the prince without revealing your identity… That’s not something just anyone can do. Given the location and circumstances of the incident, the candidates are limited unless they are faculty or upperclassmen. Although they haven’t made it clear, it seems that among the faculty, it is almost certain that it was you who defeated Prince Rodel.”
“…………”
Rest’s expression darkened. He had thought he had concealed his involvement well, but it appeared that some people had figured it out.
“Um… I understand that the faculty knows about it, but how does Celestine-sama know?”
Primula raised her hand timidly to join the conversation. While it was clear that the faculty was aware of Rest’s abilities, it was unclear how Celestine had come to know.
“I am a special scholarship student in the Magic Department and the fiancée of Prince Rodel. As a supervisor for the students, I am informed of such matters.”
“I see…”
“And there is another reason… Ah, here we are.”
Since Celestine had mentioned she wanted to talk, Rest had assumed they would go to a café or a salon within the academy, but instead, Celestine led them to a different building used for the staff room and club activities.
“Um, where exactly are we…?”
“I apologize… The one who wishes to speak is not me, but rather a certain honorable person. Please allow me to explain further once we arrive.”
“…………?”
It seemed that the discussion was not with Celestine but with someone else. Given that a duchess like Celestine used the term “that honorable person,” it was likely someone of considerable status.
“This way.”
They arrived at a room marked “Student Council Room.” When Celestine knocked on the door, a prompt response of “Please come in” echoed back.
“Excuse us.”
Celestine opened the door and ushered Rest and the Rosemary Sisters inside. There were three individuals in the room. The first was a male student seated at a desk in the back. He had short golden hair and was an upperclassman with a strikingly handsome face, his physique clearly muscular and well-trained. The other two were a man and a woman standing by the walls on either side. The man on the right had brown hair and a rugged face, with a large, robust build. The woman on the left had cool features, silver hair, and a tall, slender model-like figure.
(Since this is the Student Council Room… these people must be the student council officers, right?)
And the one at the desk was likely the Student Council President. Although Rest had never met him, he knew who the current president was.
“Thank you for coming. It’s nice to meet you.”
The male student who appeared to be the Student Council President stood up from his desk to greet them.
“I am Andrew Aiwood, the Student Council President for this term. I am a third-year student in the Knight Department and, incidentally, the Second Prince of this country.”
The Second Prince Andrew Aiwood. He was the half-brother of the foolish Prince Rodel, who had caused trouble just days prior.