Chapter 38
"Really, why is there such a fuss about erecting a tombstone for this?"
The highest-ranking person at Annwood Academy, standing at the pinnacle.
Principal Dwener kept grumbling.
An incident 20 years ago, where a student died at the academy.
Admitting and recognizing the academy's fault was burdensome enough, but erecting a tombstone and offering compensation as if for a distinguished service was another matter.
"Ugh! The pain in the frontal lobe of my brain, struck by a demon ten years ago!"
Dwener groaned, clutching his head.
Partially peeled off, somewhere in a corner of his head.
There was actually a small wound there.
'That demon from back then comes to mind again. Such a brutal creature.'
The wound was Dwener's pride, almost like a medal of honor.
In truth, it was a wound he got from falling while watching others fight a demon.
But since Dwener fainted at the same time he fell, he firmly believed it was a wound inflicted by a demon.
"Kuku, let's calm down. The wound might reopen. That heinous demon, even in death, torments me. But I, Dwener, will never be defeated!"
The demon would probably say, 'Ah... that's a bit...' and want to heal the wound himself, seeing such an overreaction and misunderstanding.
Anyway, Dwener continued walking through the forest.
He had a secret place where he spent time whenever he was stressed.
"Oh, looking healthy today as well."
A small pond hidden in the forest.
Several carp there greeted him.
Well, actually, it was the envelope in his hand.
"Right, right, weren't you cold last night? No one caught a cold?"
The carp opened their mouths and inhaled bread crumbs.
Watching them, Dwener felt his brain pain – no, his stress – melt away like snow.
"...Why am I here?"
Dwener pondered.
He was a noble, but not from a highly esteemed family.
He had heard of a glorious time thanks to an ancestor who fought a great demon, but that was a long time ago.
Currently, his family was in such a state that it wouldn't be strange if it collapsed any moment.
Back when he was roaming noble parties to find a job, treading the path...
"I met Duke Aziz de Herizeus."
One of the pillars of the empire, the Herizeus family.
Duke Aziz, the current head, personally spoke to him.
He had begged for any job, bowing low, and right after getting drunk and passing out the next day.
...An unfamiliar ceiling. The ceiling of the principal's office at Annwood Academy, naturally.
'Me, a fallen noble, waking up to find myself the principal of Annwood Academy, the empire's finest!?'
I'd be cursed if I named a novel like this.
But the fact that he had become the principal was an undeniable reality.
So Dwener...
"Kuku, surely he recognized my abilities. Truly, one of the pillars of the empire."
It's the shell of a fallen noble that had prevented him from being recognized!
It was those idiots who couldn't recognize a talent like him who were the problem!
- Having finished justifying himself, Dwener resolved to perform excellently in his role as principal.
But his life as principal was not easy.
'Aywin de Herizeus and Rodelin de Lucid.'
Managing Aywin, the student council president, was tough enough, but it became harder after Rodelin enrolled last year.
A polite child usually, but once she starts working, she lights a fire in her eyes.
If even one number or one letter is wrong, she would attack from both sides.
If a signature was late, causing a delay in the schedule, he had to be confined in the principal's office for a week, working.
'It can be late sometimes! Not everyone has perfect handwriting!'
But Dwener couldn't stand up to the two of them.
Their outstanding abilities were one thing, but both came from very powerful families, so it was difficult to confront them.
Even now, he had fled from the exhausting power struggle between Aywin, the student council president, and Rodelin, the vice president.
'Aywin... he blatantly ignores me.'
But it was unavoidable.
After all, it was Duke Aziz de Herizeus who had placed him here.
Aywin is the grandson of the Herizeus family.
Therefore, he couldn't be treated recklessly.
Knowing this, Aywin must have felt justified in his disrespectful behavior towards him.
"How frustrating, so frustrating. How did my family end up like this..."
Even Dwener, with his exceptional (?) abilities, found it difficult to tolerate the near-contemptuous disregard.
It was while seeking peace of mind watching the carps that he noticed someone approaching from afar.
'A student? No one ever comes here...'
Had they lost their way?
Soon, he could see the child's face.
Eyes so small they were barely visible, like slits.
"Student, how did you get here? The path must have been rough..."
"Keke, sorry. I have poor eyesight..."
The boy scratched his head.
Did having small eyes mean poor eyesight too?
"Dear me, you should have been careful. I'll escort you back. Just wait a moment, I need to feed these guys first."
A child with an ominous appearance and aura.
However, Dwener showed no particular reaction to him.
He was rather dull and without much thought.
'Hehe... carps... snacks... student council... scary.'
The boy, observing Dwener, seemed to have an idea, suddenly striking his palm with a fist and exclaimed.
"Could you be... Principal Dwener?"
"Huh? You know me?"
"Of course! Aren't you the great 18th Principal of Annwood Academy!"
The boy let out an admiring exclamation.
It was only natural for Dwener's shoulders to lift.
"Hmm, yes, I am the 18th Principal, Dwener. Pleased to meet you. What's your name?"
"I'm Zero. It's surely a stroke of luck. Meeting the heir of the Seigan family here."
"Hm? You know of my family?"
"Keke, of course. How could I forget the great and grand Seigan family who defeated the 4th Legion Commander Balapar 200 years ago."
His voice was full of admiration.
Dwener swelled with pride unknowingly.
"Hmm, well, an ancestor did kill a demon minion."
"To call the Legion Commander a minion! Truly the heir of the Seigan family."
"Hmhm, those demons are nothing special. I myself battled dozens of them 10 years ago. This scar is from that time."
Dwener nonchalantly showed a scar on his head.
Zero exclaimed in admiration again.
'He knows my family. A true student.'
How wonderful it would be to have such an excellent student by his side, instead of Aywin and Rodelin.
He wanted to bring him to the student council immediately, but it was impossible.
It was certain Aywin and Rodelin would interfere from both sides.
'I can't drag this child into that hell because of my greed...!'
Krhm.
The Principal was ready to sacrifice himself for the sake of a student.
Dwener felt like he could cry at his own noble sacrifice.
"Keke, but... you seem to be troubled. Is something bothering you?"
"Well, there are various issues when you're in this position. There are those who ignore me..."
"What? What?! Ignore you! Who are these ungrateful wretches! I'll go and teach them a lesson right now!"
Zero seemed ready to dash off immediately.
Dwener had to stop him.
Thus, Dwener was weak to flattery. Because...
Until now, no one had ever flattered him.
Of course, Zero's skill at flattery played a role too.
Sway sway. Tinkle tinkle. Bounce bounce!
Zero's extreme flattery nearly cracked Dwener up!
Ultimately, he ended up mentioning the very issue that was causing him such a headache.
"Actually, there's something that's been troubling me lately."
"What's bothering you?"
"I have to provide compensation to a student who died 20 years ago. It wasn't even during my time as principal..."
Moreover, the Lucid family had issued an apology that very morning.
'Even though the Lucids said they would pay all the compensation... it's the academy's prestige that's taking a hit.'
A student had died at an academy meant for teaching.
And they didn't know about it for 20 years?
It was enough to make one want to be stoned to death. He might even have to step down from this position he had earned through his abilities.
'But that's not the only problem.'
Aywin wanted to quietly brush it off as a mistake from the past.
Rodelin hoped they would apologize together, considering her family's involvement.
Honestly, Dwener wanted to side with Aywin.
'But now that the Lucids have made it public, we have to align our steps too.'
Why did such an incident have to happen while he was the principal?
It was then that his head wound began to throb.
The boy named Zero opened his mouth.
"What a moving story."
"Huh?"
"To take upon yourself the filth for the honor of a student, even though it wasn't during your time. What a deeply moving story."
"Is, is it?"
"To bear dishonor, that is the true teaching of honor! I am genuinely moved!"
Dwener's ears fluttered.
To bear dishonor. Somehow, it sounded like a magnificent phrase.
'Is it? Well, it seems right. Willingly bearing dishonor. This is the mark of a great principal...!'
But Zero's words didn't end there.
"The Emperor might even bestow a reward on you. Such a great principal, I would have definitely given one."
"Uh, umm...!"
"Your name might even be recorded in the Imperial Chronicles. As an outstanding educator of the era."
His name in the Imperial Chronicles?
Dwener's ears visibly twitched.
Yes, that's what he should do.
Especially since the Lucids had already made a move, he had no choice but to align with them.
'First, I should report to Duke Aziz...'
"You're not seeking someone's permission, are you?"
"Uh, umm?"
"That's what 'incompetent' people do."
Incompetent.
The word Dwener hated the most.
Conversely, the word he loved the most was competent.
"With your position as principal, you should be able to handle such decisions without reporting. Acting first and reporting later eases the superiors. That's what a 'competent' person does."
"Competent...?"
"Yes, Principal Dwener, you're competent!"
"That's right! I'm a competent principal! I just remembered something I need to take care of. I'll be going now!"
Dwener started to run off hastily.
Zero, watching his back, muttered.
"Kekeke, just as planned."
A smile crept onto the boy's lips.
A very, very wicked smile.
* * *
"Principal, where did you go off to again?"
As soon as Dwener returned to his office, Aywin shot at him.
Partly because there were documents 30 cm high waiting for his signature.
"As I said earlier, an official apology from the academy is impossible."
"President, a person died at the academy. An apology is mandatory, compensation comes next."
Crackle!
Invisible sparks flew between Aywin and Rodelin.
Dwener, who had fled outside earlier due to the suffocating atmosphere, felt choked up again.
'But now, I'm okay.'
Because the boy named Zero had given him courage.
"Prepare to draft the apology."
"You've made the right decision. An apology is absolutely impossible... What?"
"Prepare the apology. We'll also prepare for a re-investigation and compensation, and a tombstone with a distinction befitting a contributor."
--TL Notes--
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