[SIDE: Lea]
Hearing a knock on the door, I turned around while remaining seated in my chair.
“Come in.”
As I said this, the single door opened silently from the outside. It was a man wrapped in a black robe. One of the few intelligence agents I could give direct orders to.
“How was Rocks?”
As soon as I asked, the man pulled out several pieces of parchment from the hem of his robe.
“As per your instructions, I’ve been constantly monitoring Rocks-sama’s behavior since infiltrating the academy. So far, he hasn’t shown any violence or verbal abuse towards other students. Also, I checked with the faculty, and while he used to be notorious for tardiness and unexcused absences in his studies, he now attends without issue.”
Receiving such a report, Lea put her hand to her chin and tilted her head.
“…He really had become a bad child before. Just as Sensei Aoi said. As expected, we need to be careful in choosing who to monitor. Well, now he seems to be acting like royalty should, dealing with ruffians, so I’ll keep an eye on him a little longer… Anything else?”
When Lea asked this, the man shifted his gaze to another piece of parchment.
“There’s also information about his diet, outings history, and social relationships. Which would you like me to report on first?”
“I’m curious about his social relationships.”
Lea answered immediately to the man’s words.
“Yes. Regarding social relationships, it seems he was closest to a student named Felter-Cain before, but currently, Felter is intensively training in body strengthening magic taught by Aoi-Sensei, so they hardly meet. Rocks-sama now always attends Aoi-Sensei’s lectures, so he often talks with students from those classes.”
“Oh?”
Lea leaned forward with a face that seemed to say ‘Interesting.’
“I thought he would have become wary of Sensei Aoi after being overwhelmed by her… Could it be that he’s thinking of defeating her someday? Although I’ve only met her once, Sensei Aoi has an aura similar to a purebred knight raised in a family of knights for generations. With her unwavering personality guided by a sense of justice and affection for students, combined with her abilities, I don’t think even royalty of our level could stand a chance against her… Is he planning to challenge her head-on, I wonder?”
Saying this with a laugh, the man shook his head left and right.
“No, that doesn’t seem to be the case. He often asks those around him about Aoi-Sensei’s hobbies and likes, and he’s frequently seen wandering around the academy trying to approach her.”
When the man reported this with an expressionless face, Lea’s eyes widened in astonishment.
Then, she burst out laughing.
“Fu, ahahahaha! It seems that child has found someone he likes too. That’s a good thing. However, she’s a tough one. I’m not sure if she’ll be satisfied with him as a partner… but I’ll support him.”
Saying this to no one in particular, Lea started laughing again.
“Hm? What’s so amusing?”
Perhaps because the voice could be heard outside the room, Middleton, the king, poked his head in from beyond the door. The man in the black robe had already disappeared without a trace, but Lea spoke to Middleton as if such a person had never been there.
“Dear, there’s something I want you to hear. You see, Rocks…”
[SIDE: Wintervalley Council]
The world-class deep darkness that permeated the academy city was quietly and swiftly suppressed, coming under the control of a single woman, but very few people know this fact.
Thanks to Rocks’ efforts, it didn’t come to light, but anyone who set foot in the underworld would inevitably hear the words, “Don’t defy the Witch of the Academy.”
In Wintervalley, where Fidic Academy is located, there exists a “Representative Council” chaired by Glen, the academy’s principal. This is a forum for exchanging opinions, consisting of the heads and assistants of various guilds in Wintervalley, as well as some council members, to convey requests to Glen. However, Glen is not only the principal but also a magician representing the country, and an upper-class nobleman who rose to the rank of marquis in a single generation. Even the guild heads are quite hesitant when it comes to Glen.
Therefore, equal exchange of opinions is impossible even in the representative council. This is the same in most countries under monarchies.
Although Glen doesn’t intend it, even in this Wintervalley, there was a significant gap between the nobility and ordinary citizens.
Ironically, the so-called “Wintervalley Council,” where representatives of organizations engaged in illegal trade in the city’s underbelly gather, was in some ways a more equal assembly than the Representative Council.
Although it depends on the situation between organizations at any given time, in the Wintervalley Council, anyone with power can gain the right to speak.
The main purpose was to eliminate unnecessary conflicts, making it a somewhat democratically superior gathering in a sense.
However, the Winter Valley Council would drastically change its appearance one day.
The council, which used to meet once every two or three months, now convenes without fail in the first week of each month, with participants specified as representatives or those in similar positions.
Previously, only major organizations were involved, but now medium-sized and newcomer organizations are also forcibly summoned.
On this day too, the meeting is held on the third floor of a store operated by the Nevis family.
Representatives from each organization who have already participated once sit quietly in their designated chairs, silently waiting for the meeting to begin. Amidst this, representatives from newcomer organizations, invited for the first time, appear with a few subordinates.
“…Huh? This is impressive. What a bunch of big shots we have here.”
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As a bald-headed man utters these words in a brazen manner, everyone’s eyes naturally turn to him.
For a moment, the skinhead’s face tenses, but he quickly snorts and shrugs his shoulders.
“Don’t look down on us just because we’re still a small organization, you hear? I’m Kanemara of the Basilisk-Claw, the Venomous Dragon’s Claw. We’re gonna be a force you can’t ignore from now on, got it?”
As Kanemara laughs, his subordinates also laugh and look around. Though they’re laughing, their hands are placed on the swords at their waists, clearly ready for combat.
While they’re on guard with such tension, there’s a strange temperature difference.
The reaction is lukewarm. No, rather, some are even looking at Kanemara and his group with derision rather than hostility.
Just as Kanemara opens his mouth to complain about this, the sound of footsteps is heard.
The sound is light, with no sense of heaviness. But clearly, the atmosphere in the room becomes tense and heavy. Feeling something off, Kanemara and his group turn around towards the source of the sound, behind them.
There stood a small woman with black hair in front of the open door.
Her eyes are cold, devoid of any emotion. Seeing this, Kanemara unconsciously takes a step back.
After observing the tense faces one by one, the woman opens her mouth.
“It seems the main members are all here. Well then, everyone, please be seated.”
The last words were directed at Kanemara. Hearing her unexpectedly beautiful voice, Kanemara furrows his brow.
“…Who are you? I thought the Nevis family was the only organization with a woman as its representative.”
As Kanemara speaks in a seemingly casual manner to put on a brave front, Karila, sitting in a chair at the back of the room, calls out to him.
“Shut up and sit down. Unless you want to regret it.”
At Karila’s stern words, Kanemara instantly becomes visibly upset, but noticing the cold stares around him, he reluctantly sits in an empty chair.
The black-haired woman, who had been quietly observing this exchange, confirms that everyone is seated before reaching for the bag on her shoulder. She takes out what appears to be parchment and begins distributing it to each person.
Finally, a parchment reaches Kanemara as well. He looks at the contents with a puzzled expression.
“…This month’s financial report? Nevis family, White Ash, Blood-soaked Black Wolf…?? Monthly anomaly report, two inter-organizational conflicts, no illegal slave trade, no acts of violence against citizens… What is this?”
Though he can understand what’s written, he can’t grasp its meaning. Kanemara slaps the parchment with one hand in such an attitude. As the dry sound echoes, the black-haired woman nods slightly and answers.
“Kanemara of the Basilisk-Claw, the Venomous Dragon’s Claw, correct? As this is your first time participating in the Winter Valley Council, let me explain. Those of you who are not registered with any guilds and are not public organizations of the country or city will be managed through this Winter Valley Council. However, the management isn’t particularly strict. First, the prohibition of illegal slavery. Then, the prohibition of violence and fraud against general residents. Lastly, the prohibition of direct conflicts between organizations. Monthly reports are created based on reports from each organization. At that time, organizations that violate the rules will face penalties such as fines, and I will severely punish those who make false reports. Also…”
“W-Wait a minute!”
Interrupting the woman who was calmly explaining the council’s rules, Kanemara shouted in confusion.
“W-What? What is this? Is this woman some envoy from the knights, and the council is controlled by the country? Business should be free as long as we respect territories, right!? Why isn’t anyone complaining!? Don’t you think this is strange!?”
As Kanemara yells, Garonne of the White Ash turns to him with an annoyed look.
“…This city is deeply involved in business with not only various countries but also major guilds and trading companies. In other words, there are enormous profit opportunities scattered here and there. Then, rather than us competing while doing business, it’s better to cooperate and secure stable profits…”
“H-Hey, hey, hey…! You’ve got to be kidding me!? Cooperation? Stability? What’s the point in seeking such boring things!? Don’t you have any ambition to become the king of outlaws and make everyone bow down to you? To monopolize everything!?”
Kanemara shouts, more as if pleading something rather than in anger. While others were exasperated, only the black-haired woman nodded expressionlessly and spoke.
“I understand your assertion. However, I cannot accept opinions that threaten the peace of this city. If you intend to continue with similar claims, I will have to pass judgment.”
“…What? Are you going to call for backup or something?”
To the threatening Kanemara, the black-haired woman, Aoi, sighs and answers.
“If you wish to pursue that claim, you’ll have to defeat me first.”
And so, the deep darkness of Winter Valley fell into the hands of one woman.
The council members secretly referred to this woman as [The Witch of the Academy].
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