Knock-knock-.A knocking sound came from Professor Zimmer’s office.Zimmer, who had been checking once more the copy of the contract he’d received from Loen, slid it under the drawer for a moment and permitted the visitor to enter.“Come in.”“Good day.”The one who opened the door and entered was none other than Jeremy Gilbert.Jeremy, who always used to summon him to his office, had, for some reason, come here himself.Had there been a change of heart in the meantime?Zimmer took off his glasses and forced himself to greet him calmly.“What brings you here?”“I have something to tell you, Professor.”Jeremy sat comfortably on the sofa, took documents out of an envelope, and placed them on the table.“Upon close review, we found issues with the share transfer documents I previously gave you. I’ve brought a revised version.”“……”Jeremy shamelessly said he had brought a new contract, pretending to know nothing.Zimmer furrowed his brows.He had already heard all about what happened at the stock exchange through Loen. He had even cross-checked that information through various articles.Now that he knew the truth, having this sort of re-approach under the assumption that he knew nothing left a bad taste.But Zimmer showed no sign of it and took the documents Jeremy handed over.As he read through them carefully, Jeremy added,“As you must know, there was a recent article about a stock manipulation affair—quite the commotion. The guilds whose shares I transferred to you were involved in unsavory matters. I should have vetted them better before transferring; my apologies.”“……Right.”“But in a way, it turned out for the best. Your holdings nearly turned into wastepaper. So this time I’ve transferred shares from guilds I newly selected.”“……”Comparing the mana seals, this contract appeared genuine.Of course, unlike the previous contract, they were all newly founded guilds and didn’t seem likely to make much money.'I can see right through you.'Zimmer wanted to tear the papers in his hands right then and there, but he closed his eyes quietly with a low sigh.He might be foolish and slow-witted enough to have fallen for forged documents, but he wasn’t so stupid as to be unable to tell right from wrong at this very moment.'Getting angry at Jeremy now won’t change anything at all.'And Loen had told him not to reveal anything for the time being and to restrain himself.Maintaining a certain relationship with Jeremy and extracting information from him was one of his duties.'In any case, I’ve obtained what I needed.'Zimmer quietly clenched his fist.He had nearly had his nose cut off in broad daylight, but learned the circumstances through Loen; and he had obtained the fragment of the Light Dragon’s Heart that he had been at a loss as to how to acquire.His role now was simply to hold this professorship until Verdandi returned to her post.And afterward, to return to the kingdom, join the Second Prince Andrew’s faction, and build his strength.To take revenge on his elder brother, Egil Dmitry, and… to prevent Prince Jeremy from becoming the next king.Having finished his thoughts, Zimmer gathered up Jeremy’s documents.“Fine, I’ll take them.”***Sunlight streamed into the General Student Council President’s office.A precious guest visited today.A girl with snow-white hair like the first snowfall. Freya Gunhild.Today, for ease of movement, she wore her hair tied back in a ponytail and, instead of her usual light armor, wore her school uniform.Like a cat, she lightly touched her tongue to the teacup and pulled it away. It seemed she wasn’t good with hot things.“It’s been a while, Freya.”She gave up on drinking the hot tea, set the cup down, and answered,“……Didn’t we see each other just a few days ago at the meeting?”“Did we? I don’t quite recall.”Freya let out a small sigh and glanced around.“That aside, the atmosphere of the room is rather nice. The sofa is plush too.”Freya pressed down on the sofa she sat on with her hand. It was a leather sofa with fitting resilience and softness.“I spent some money.”I rose from my office chair and ran my hand over the sofa as I spoke.After raking in a large sum not long ago, I acquired another piece of furniture through the Underworld.[Libre’s Sofa.]Like the previously purchased phonograph, it was a piece that raised the space’s comfort level and slightly increased the favorability of visiting individuals.[Union General Student Council Office]Comfort 220Held Items [Cold Raymon’s Phonograph], [Libre’s Sofa][When installed in a player-owned space, the amount of favorability gain for visiting individuals increases slightly.]Originally, each raised favorability by 100, but the set effect had increased it a bit more. If I continued to add furniture one by one, the synergy would grow.In any case, perhaps thanks to the furniture’s comfort effect, every visitor had nothing but praise. The money had been worth spending.Sinking into the plush sofa, I spoke.“If you like it, you’re welcome to come more often. Ah, preferably in the capacity of Vice President of the General Student Council. The offer still stands.”“……”The Vice President position I’d offered at the start of the term was still valid.Freya had refused, but if she changed her mind, she would always be welcome.Of course, like Illeina’s secretary position, it was a largely meaningless honorary role, but someday it might become useful.Sip-.I wet my throat with tea and asked Freya,“So, what is the purpose of your visit today?”For the sedentary Freya to visit the President’s office, it must be quite a serious matter.In truth, I knew the reason, but even so, I had to ask directly.Freya fiddled with her teacup, pondered, and slowly parted her lips.“It’s a bit shameless, but… Loen, I need your help.”With a resolute expression, Freya asked me for help.Leaning obliquely back into the sofa, I gave a slight nod.“Hm. Is it the Sports Festival supplies preparation you mentioned before? Seems my prediction was correct.”“Tha…t’s right.”Freya drooped her shoulders as if embarrassed.Back when the four student council presidents gathered and discussed the Sports Festival, I had clearly warned Freya.Among the guilds selected as suppliers for the Sports Festival were some with bad rumors; I told her to find backup routes to obtain supplies in advance.Most of those guilds selected as suppliers were now smashed by sanctions from the Financial Supervisory Office.Funds from those guilds had gone straight into my bank account, the Underworld vault, and Sheika’s hands.It was only natural that Freya couldn’t procure the supplies needed for the Sports Festival.How could bankrupt guilds who had become beggars possibly deliver on time?In a powerless voice, she explained calmly,“……The supply contracts were unilaterally canceled, and we cannot even reach those guilds. Upon checking, the guilds are already bankrupt, having been sanctioned for stock manipulation charges.”“The Sports Festival is right around the corner, so it’s too late to secure other guilds.”“That’s right. We searched in all directions, but we couldn’t find a supplier that met the conditions.”“See, didn’t I warn you beforehand.”Freya bowed her head deeply as if ashamed.“……My thinking was shallow. I will certainly repay the favor. Is there no way?”“Sounds like you’ve looked into all the other options.”“Yes.”It seemed Freya had ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) run around herself to respond to this situation, but it didn’t look like she had much to show for it.That was only natural; with less than two weeks left until the Sports Festival, there were no guilds capable of providing supplies for thousands of students.In the end, she had come to me as the last resort.I needed a pretext to get involved with the Sports Festival anyway, so this worked out nicely.'I do feel a slight pang of conscience, but…'Looking at Freya’s gloomy expression, I let out a small sigh.It was like breaking a swallow’s leg and then setting it again.Of course, strictly speaking, those guild bastards were the ones in the wrong from the start, and I simply did what I ought to.But the end result was that only the blameless Freya got hurt.Moreover, this supply contract had been concluded through Jeremy.It was not entirely her fault, and from Freya’s position, it would be hard to demand responsibility openly from her senior, Jeremy.And assigning responsibility wouldn’t solve the situation anyway.After a brief thought, I slowly nodded.“Fine, I’ll help.”“……Do you actually have a way?”Freya’s eyes shone as she clenched both hands placed atop her knees.Looking at her widened eyes, I smiled faintly.“Of course. Through a route I know, we can replace a fair amount.”I had long since asked Sheika separately, predicting that things would turn out this way.Namely, the enormous custom-made tents needed for the Sports Festival, the simple chairs, folding desks, parasols, and various other supplies.They had been procured with great difficulty from Mante, a port city on the continent closest to the Meteor Isles.Even with the preparations made early, the schedule was razor-thin; had I not predicted this situation, we never could have prepared in time.“But… I can’t help for free.”Gulp-.At my demand for compensation, Freya swallowed nervously, her face tense.She seemed anxious, unsure what condition I might demand.“In exchange for helping you this time, someday at a meeting, exercise your voting rights for me.”“Meaning.”“There’s an agenda I absolutely must pass.”“Could you perhaps tell me what it is…”“That I cannot tell you.”“……Goodness.”Strictly speaking, it wasn’t that I couldn’t tell her; to be precise, I had nothing to tell.Nothing was decided yet. It was merely one of several preparations for the future.Just as I had proceeded smoothly with the Territorial War thanks to Elena’s help in the past, the day would come when I would need Freya’s help.The difference this time was that voting rights carried a slight compulsion.“Well? Will you accept it?”Freya showed signs of hesitation.“……Hoo.”Freya let out a deep sigh.She then downed the now-cold tea in one go and answered with a firm expression,“I refuse.”***After Freya left the General Student Council President’s office.“……What will you do now?”As Ciel cleared the empty teacup and saucer, she asked me.“That I did not expect.”I propped my chin on my desk and closed my eyes.Since I fell into this Miruelin Saga, things had mostly gone according to my plans.There had been a few variables, but nothing that deviated greatly from the framework of my plan.But even I had not predicted this reaction from Freya.Rationally speaking, it was an offer she could never refuse.The holding of this Sports Festival was not only Freya’s personal career but also an opportunity to turn fierce public sentiment directed at Verdandi.And if, with Jeremy’s supposed help rendered moot and even a burden, she successfully held the Sports Festival, her approval rating and grip on the student body within the academy would rise as well—it was truly a golden opportunity.Yet she refused it on the grounds of mere personal feelings… or by using the pretext of uncertain risk in the future.“Hoo.”I let out a deep sigh and leaned back in my chair.'Given how things are, it can’t be helped.'Annoying as it was, I wouldn’t hold a grudge or cause her harm.Just because she refused my proposal didn’t mean I would cancel the already placed orders and ruin the Sports Festival—that would be beneath me.After a moment to collect my thoughts, I slowly opened my eyes.'If she stubbornly refuses to accept my favor… I’ll just have to stuff it into her pocket by force.'So-called “pocket stuffing.”No one would dare refuse my favor.

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