[Late at night, Academy Faculty Meeting Room.]
“How much could they possibly need in the Old School Building?”
“As much as possible. Varied. Everything they ask for.”
“But there are only four of them, isn’t that excessive?”
“Well, who knows? Four could turn into sixteen.”
“That’s a bit of a stretch, isn’t it, Senior? Why would they choose the uncomfortable Old School Building when there’s a perfectly good dormitory?”
“Because it’s an opportunity to learn non-attribute mana directly.”
“The theory is simple enough, and with enough effort, anyone can master it. There’s no need to learn it directly from the one who created it.”
The debate continues.
Those seated around the large oval table in the wide meeting room wield sharp tongues, exchanging opinions more keenly than any sword or staff.
“Is it really worth investing that much in the Old School students?”
“What are you saying? They’re special admission students. Thanks to them, we can now recognize the existence of Angels.”
“But it has also provoked the Church. They are demanding a full investigation into the four students from the Old School’s Vermilion Bird class, excluding the Mercenary King’s granddaughter.”
The instructors continued to speak while glancing at the profiles of the four displayed on the large magic stone screen before them.
“The princess of a newborn empire. The disciple of the [Grey Witch]. We’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. But what about this one?”
At the center of the meeting room, a face illuminated by magic power appeared on the wide screen.
“Red Sol Phoenix? Was there ever such a family name or middle name? He even considers the Phoenix surname more important than his first name, Red.”
Red Sol Phoenix. He looks like a blond, tanned delinquent, but at the same time, with his neatly styled hair, he also passes as a proper student—
“Is he a minor or an adult? He declares he’s going to build a harem and just waits to be swarmed by women like some kind of playboy?”
At first glance, he could be mistaken for an adult.
“Playboy? Is that something you should be saying about a male student?”
“I’m sorry, but I agree with the term. Based on his actions, he’s acting like one. Whether he’s suppressing his magic or that’s just all he’s capable of, Phoenix behaves like a typical playboy. He’s probably waiting to marry a woman he seduces.”
“And yet, he declared he’d have a harem.”
“That’s because after declaring he wants a harem, the real romance comes when he falls for just one person. After all, rejecting the other harem members and dedicating himself to one makes the romance shine even more.”
“You’re writing a romance novel here.”
“…Enough.”
The man sitting quietly at the head of the table, Dean of Academic Affairs Ederson Lionheart, tapped the table, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Why has this discussion shifted to such topics when we were supposed to be talking about providing supplies to the Old School?”
“Brainstorming, Dean. Talking about various things like this sometimes leads to ideas.”
“And have you come up with any ideas? Related to the topic at hand?”
“As for the supplies for the Old School…”
One instructor raised their hand.
“I think showing them the products from Silverstar Trading Company will suffice.”
“Silverstar?”
“Yes, it’s the most popular and widely available company, where anyone can purchase items at a reasonable price.”
“Oh, you’re still using such an old-fashioned term? It’s ‘group’ now, not ‘trading company’—”
“Enough.”
Dean Lionheart lightly tapped the table again. The soft ‘thud’ seemed to freeze the air in the meeting room.
“So, will you proceed or not?”
“Dean, there’s no need to release mana like that. It’s making us all tense.”
“Yes, while all the instructors here have minimal mana control, when someone of your rank, S-rank, presses us with it…!”
“Perhaps.”
Instructor Kadisha, representing the Old School, quietly raised her hand.
“Are you upset because your beloved granddaughter couldn’t attend the weekend meal due to the Old School’s situation with the Angels?”
“Instructor Kadisha…!”
“After all, there’s no reason for anyone but Instructor Esta and me to be at the Old School over the weekend.”
“Instructor Kadisha. When are the students supposed to submit their list of needed supplies?”
“By tomorrow, Saturday, at 1 p.m.”
“I see.”
Dean Lionheart stroked his beard and looked out the window.
“What percentage of male students have not attended classes this week, staying holed up in the dormitories?”
“…13%.”
13%.
13 out of 100 male students had not attended a single class during the first week of the semester.
They remained shut inside their dorm rooms, as though their rooms were a safe haven.
“Ever since the rumor spread that Miss Angelica attacked the Old School aiming for the men, that is… Phoenix…”
“Do you think they’ll come out to buy essential items?”
“…Ah!”
One instructor gasped in realization.
“Let’s send a supply truck to the dormitories as well! Set up a golden carriage in front of the male dormitories, so they can buy what they need without having to be near the girls!”
“That way, we can avoid any suspicion of favoritism toward the Old School. Great idea.”
“Good. We don’t want rumors spreading later about why we’re giving special treatment to the Old School students or why we’re paying more attention to them than planned.”
Dean Lionheart’s sharp gaze swept over the room.
“Word must not spread that they know how to handle ‘Angels’ or that they have a way to awaken someone who’s been overtaken by an Angel’s spirit.”
Gulp.
The instructors swallowed heavily.
“It’s not because of non-attribute mana, right? Like Instructor Gilad said, non-attribute mana is difficult, but its theory can be learned and applied by anyone. They might target the Ashen Witch’s successor because of that, but…”
Dean Lionheart gestured with his chin.
“Phoenix. So far, only he has succeeded in awakening someone from the Angel’s spirit. Something every instructor here has attempted and failed at.”
“…”
“We must prepare. It’s already been over three days since the Angels appeared. If Angels start to emerge all over the continent…”
“If it were ordinary commoners, they might not bother, but any noble with a bit of wealth will come to the Academy. Specifically, to seek out the only one who can heal them—Phoenix.”
“Yes. And remember, he’s a student at the Academy.”
Bang.
“If we mishandle the crisis at the Old School, we’re the ones who will be ruined. Do you think you can handle all that extra work?”
“…”
“So, we mustn’t look at the issues raised by the special class, the Phoenix class students, with disdain. Instead, we need to ensure that the privileges we give them don’t appear as such. For example…”
“For example?”
“The ‘supply list’ they’ve submitted.”
Dean Ederson turned his gaze to the empty list on his desk.
“Whatever they ask for, we must provide it.”
Three blank sheets of paper.
And behind them, a hidden sheet filled with all sorts of items in Ederson’s rough handwriting.
“I see, Dean.”
Kadisha raised her hand.
“So, can you honestly say there was no personal motive behind the proposal to build a gymnasium for all three dormitories?”
“K-Kadisha, you stay in the Old School, don’t you?”
“And you’re planning to fill the empty space with exercise equipment? Are you trying to turn the area next to my infirmary into a workout zone?”
“Well, physical training is…”
“If building a facility the size of three classrooms isn’t special treatment, then—”
The instructors’ night stretched on.
* * *
Yunia visited late at night.
The item she brought out was a ‘fashion magazine.’
“So, this is what you wanted, Miss Yunia?”
“Yes. W-wait, hold on!!”
As I opened a page from the magazine, Yunia panicked.
“Not that!”
“I didn’t expect you to want something like this, Miss Yunia.”
“This isn’t what I asked for!”
The page I had opened featured a man with a cool smile, lying on the beach in nothing but a pair of skimpy swim trunks.
“Are you hoping to see me in this? After seeing this swimsuit ad?”
“What are you talking about? This is a warning for people not to walk around like that this summer.”
“…Hmm?”
I looked more closely at the magazine.
I thought it was Yunia’s favorite fashion magazine, but it was filled with all sorts of warnings instead.
– This summer, the sunlight is incredibly strong.
– Why not try a full-body swimsuit instead of going bare?
“So, it’s warning men not to go shirtless?”
“Yes. And what I actually wanted was…”
“No.”
The moment Yunia flipped to the next page, I drew a firm line.
“No rash guards.”
Rash guards were a no-go.
“You can think about swimsuits later in the summer, for now, let’s focus on something else. Miss Yunia, you’re looking for casual clothes, right?”
“Yes.”
Was that a hint?
Though she seemed a bit disappointed at the ‘no rash guard’ rule, Yunia’s face lit up with a cheerful smile.
“Phoenix, could you… perhaps write women’s underwear on the supply list for me…?”
Yunia turned the page with a serious expression.
“L-like this…?”
“…Oh.”
As expected.
“Are you asking me to be the p*rvert who orders women’s underwear?”
“You can just explain it, can’t you? Like, um…”
Yunia pointed at a model wearing red lingerie.
“‘I think this would suit Yunia, so I’m gifting it to her.'”
“Oh. Miss Yunia.”
I pointed at the model in the magazine.
“If I order this as a gift, how would you wear it?”
“Well.”
With a straight face, Yunia extended her pinky toward me.
“You can certify it… directly.”
