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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Aftermath and a New Path
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The first thing I saw after opening my eyes was the familiar ceiling.
The scent of disinfectant stung my nose.
It was the infirmary at Jerion Academy.
'Did Poara bring me here?'
She must have seen the steel disappear, come in, and found me unconscious.
She certainly earned her keep bringing me.
I should thank her later.
I immediately tried to sit up.
At that moment, a faint pain shot through my body.
As much as I had used a High Healing Potion.
All the injuries had somehow healed, but my body remembered the pain.
Moreover, there was a price to using a healing potion.
Healing potions forcibly draw out the remaining healing power within the body.
As a result, extreme fatigue filled my entire being.
'Still, there were results.'
I had gained Steel Skin.
With this, I could somehow get through the mock battle.
Creak—
At that moment, the infirmary door opened.
Thinking it might be a medic, I poked my head out.
To my surprise, an unexpected person stood there.
"Senior Nikita?"
"Oh? Junior, you're awake."
For some reason, she was holding a sandwich in her arms.
As my gaze fell on the sandwich, Nikita chuckled softly.
"I've had a lot of work, you see. And it's not quite dinner time yet. I thought we could eat it together when you woke up."
So, she was returning the favor from when she bought me lunch earlier.
She truly was a person who disliked being indebted to others.
A gentle laugh escaped me.
"Another sandwich, after lunch?"
"Hmm, unlike earlier, this is tuna and chicken sandwich."
"I'd love some."
Can't resist chicken.
Nikita pulled up a chair beside me and sat down.
Then she unwrapped the chicken sandwich and handed it to me.
…Is she an angel?
"Thank you."
"I should be the one thanking you. I'm truly grateful for what you did in the Great Forest of Spirits. And thanks to you, I was also quite surprised."
Since the person she'd asked for help came back unconscious and carried, Nikita must have been startled.
After all, I had acted as if I could resolve it quite easily.
It was a natural reaction.
I felt a little sorry.
If something had gone wrong with me, Nikita, who had assigned the task, would have been in an awkward position.
"A Mystery."
The moment that word left Nikita's lips, my body flinched.
So, she finally found out.
"If I had known something like that was there, I wouldn't have sent you, Junior."
Mysteries are mostly dangerous, though sometimes beneficial entities exist.
The Great Forest of Spirits had a higher entity than a Mystery—a Spirit Lord.
Everyone believed there was no room for a Mystery to enter.
The absence of the Spirit Lord was a secret even spirits didn't tell their summoners.
As a result, even the teachers of the Spiritology Department hadn't realized until now that the Great Forest had turned to steel because of a Mystery.
'Of course, they would have found out eventually, within a short time.'
If the existence of the Mystery had been known, I wouldn't have stepped forward.
"By any chance, did the rumors…"
"They haven't spread. It's been made out that Poara, not you, Junior, resolved this incident."
That's a relief.
It's not yet time for me to step into the limelight.
My reveal should be during this mock battle.
'I need to make my mock battle opponent as complacent as possible.'
The students I have to face are those who have overcome magic dungeons and trained for half a year.
In contrast, I possess the skill level of a minor character who exits in Act 2.
To even slightly increase my chances of winning, I need to actively leverage the advantages I possess.
A transfer student who suddenly appeared in the second year.
Hanon's uniquely small stature.
And the provocative remarks I made as soon as I transferred.
No matter who my opponent turns out to be, they'll likely think I'm an arrogant punk.
Therefore, I wanted to conceal my full strength as much as possible until the mock battle.
Then, I suddenly looked back at Nikita.
Nikita was silently staring at me, her eyes curved in a knowing smile.
…I'd been had.
"I'm sorry, Junior. The student council hasn't made any announcements about this matter yet. The students don't even know if the issue has been resolved."
Clever Nikita.
I was completely fooled.
Waking up after fainting, my mind wasn't keeping up—that was my downfall.
From my reaction just now, Nikita had noticed that I had a certain desire.
I worried about how she would interpret this.
"Junior, I believe everyone has their own reasons and goals."
Nikita continued speaking as she unwrapped the tuna sandwich.
"So, if you wish, as I said before, we can say Poara resolved it. You merely helped out with this matter."
"...Thank you."
I replied awkwardly.
Then, feeling unnecessarily embarrassed, I picked up the chicken sandwich.
As I took a bite of the chicken sandwich, I felt my hand tremble.
It was proof that my body hadn't fully recovered yet.
Thanks to that, some sandwich ingredients spilled onto the blanket.
Nikita carefully picked up the spilled ingredients with her hand.
Then she smiled kindly at me.
"Still, I'd appreciate it if you at least gave me a heads-up next time. I wouldn't outright object."
Is she truly an angel?
"Actually, even if we announced that you, Junior, resolved the Mystery, the rumors would probably be overshadowed anyway."
"Pardon?"
Did something happen?
I don't recall any major incidents that should be breaking out around this time.
If it's related to the main storyline, that's a big problem.
"They say Poara made a contract with a new Spirit Lord in the Great Forest of Spirits."
"...Pardon?"
What kind of crazy talk is this?
"It's only a provisional contract, of course. Just borrowing power, but thanks to that, the Academy is in an uproar."
My mind went blank.
Poara, making a contract with a Spirit Lord?
This is something that never happened in the main storyline.
'Originally, Lucas received a blessing as the Spirit Lord's thanks.'
But even Lucas, the protagonist, was limited to high-ranking spirits, even if he chose the spirit user route.
But Poara, who was merely an extra, a minor role, contracted with a Spirit Lord?
I couldn't believe it.
'…No, wait. Come to think of it, Poara's spirit affinity was higher than any other spirit user's.'
In contrast, Lucas only had a slight spirit affinity.
Not enough to be showered with love by spirits.
'Could it be that if you took a companion with high spirit affinity when going to deal with the Steel Empress, you could contract with a Spirit Lord?'
I don't know.
The Steel Empress was, after all, an event to strengthen Lucas.
From the start, Lucas was the only one who entered the Great Forest of Spirits, having heard a mournful voice from somewhere.
'Poara contracted with a Spirit Lord?'
When I defeated the Steel Empress, those spirits were nowhere to be seen.
They must have all been with Poara.
No wonder the Academy was turned upside down.
The problem is, this incident will significantly impact the main storyline.
As a contractor of a Spirit Lord, Poara's influence will become immense from now on.
'What if Poara, as she is now, were to boycott the student council?'
Who knows how many students would rise up in protest.
'Can I really handle that?'
I never imagined things would get so twisted just by bringing Poara along.
I suddenly felt like I was getting a chronic headache and stress-induced enteritis.
'It's my responsibility.'
I just have to deal with it somehow.
"...I heard Poara aims for the student council."
"Hmm, that's right. Poara's older brother was once the student council president of Jerion Academy."
Nikita smiled bitterly, a hint of pity in her expression.
"Her brother was apparently quite accomplished. So she's trying to follow in his footsteps, somehow."
So that was Poara's situation.
"Of course, now that she's become a proud younger sister, there won't be any problems."
She's become a Spirit Lord's contractor.
How could there be a problem?
The problem is on my side, as I have to lead the main storyline.
"...Senior Nikita, do you think Poara will continue to aim for the student council?"
Perhaps because my face was serious, Nikita tilted her head.
"That seems unchanged."
I made up my mind.
I'll somehow draw Poara into the student council.
She's a Spirit Lord contractor, after all.
It's better to manage her from close by.
That way, I can minimize the creation of new variables.
"Thank you for letting me know."
I finished my sandwich.
I had gained Steel Skin, and a new variable had emerged: a Spirit Lord's contractor.
"More importantly, Junior, I came here to talk about something more significant than this."
Nikita cleared her throat with a 'hmm-hmm'.
Then she straightened her back, adjusting her posture.
Nikita seemed to grow a little taller.
It was likely an attempt on her part to appear dignified.
But given her appearance, she only looked adorable.
"Are you perhaps going to confess something?"
"Unfortunately, Junior, I've never felt romantic affection for anyone."
"But I respect and love you, Senior Nikita."
"Your respect and love are a bit much, Junior."
One confession, one rejection, I guess.
"And I'm sorry to say, Junior, but my ideal type is someone tall."
This was a new piece of information.
Indeed, in Hanon's form, I was only slightly taller than Nikita.
Since it was merely a joke to lighten the mood, I also straightened my posture.
"Regarding this incident, the student council, as well as the Spiritology Department, are deeply grateful.
Although you, Junior, don't wish to reveal that you resolved it yourself, at least I know."
Nikita said that and looked at my face.
Then she curved her lips into a gentle smile.
"You've worked hard. I wanted to express my gratitude."
"Thank you."
"And regarding your wish to join the student council. After positive consideration, we reached a conclusion today."
Nikita handed me a badge.
It was a badge signifying membership in the student council.
"By the authority of the Vice President, I officially recognize Hanon Airey as a member of the student council."
I never would have thought I'd be accepted immediately because of this incident.
A little surprised, I accepted the student council badge from her.
The badge, adorned with both a sword and a book, was truly fitting for Jerion Academy's student council.
It clearly symbolized that student council members should possess both scholarly and martial arts skills.
Steel Skin, and now a student council member.
The Great Forest of Spirits event truly poured out rewards.
I gripped the badge tightly.
For some reason, it felt like the first achievement I had earned with my own power since coming into this game world.
"I'll work hard from now on."
"Heeheehee, I'll be looking forward to it. The student council has a lot of work, and since a talented individual has joined, I'll have to work you hard."
"Please keep it within limits that don't affect my studies."
"Student council members receive bonus points, so you don't have to worry too much about that."
That was also precisely why I had gone out of my way to join the student council.
Thanks to the student council bonus points, I wouldn't fail even if circumstances prevented me from focusing entirely on my studies.
"Alright, get some rest then."
Having finished her sandwich, Nikita finally got up from her seat.
I saw Nikita off and then tidied up my bedding.
My body had recovered, and the sun had set.
I was thinking of heading back to the dormitory soon.
Creak—
At that moment, the infirmary door opened.
The moment I turned my head, thinking Senior Nikita might have left something behind.
I discovered someone even more unexpected than Nikita.
"...Hello."
Long black hair and chiseled features.
Skin so unnaturally white, and ruby-like red eyes.
Her appearance brought to mind an elegant long-haired breed.
She was widely known as the Final Villainess.
The one who swallowed up princes and princesses, and finally ascended to second place in the imperial succession.
The Third Princess, Iris Hysirion.
She had appeared in the infirmary.