Chapter 130
Chapter 130
The Gaping Gehenna (3)
The entire Academy was in a festive mood. But we weren’t. Part of it was because I already knew something was bound to go wrong, but there was a bigger reason.
“Arm wrestling isn’t allowed?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“They said any act of competing itself is prohibited.”
“Arrr.”
Aro, in her Silver Fox form, growled. She was the one who felt the most sorry seeing Winter completely deflated.
Every single festival plan our Religious Order had submitted was returned. Since it had been rejected three times, I wondered if the Imperial Princess had intervened, but she wasn’t someone with that much free time.
“This is a headache.”
More than anything, if that were the case, they wouldn’t have sent the Vice-Commander here in the first place. The Vice-Commander, who had been quietly drinking tea while facing Canis, finally spoke.
“They must have their concerns. It seems the Academy Director is quite determined this time.”
At her words, I nodded. I had already felt something was off from the time of the personal interview.
At this point, it would have been easier to just give up. There wasn’t any real benefit, and the Academic Department didn’t seem particularly pleased with us stepping forward anyway.
But the reason we were all gathered here, putting our heads together like this, was because of Winter.
“I-I’m really fine, though.”
Winter herself knew that better than anyone. Exactly two days. That was how long she had stayed in the dorm, steeling herself and giving up on the festival.
After those two days, she told us there was no way and suggested we scrap the plan altogether.
And we refused.
“No, we’re not fine. They dare reject us like that?”
That was the reason I was irritated. For Aro, it might have been about protecting Winter’s pure feelings, but for me, I simply didn’t like how the Academic Department was handling things.
It’s not like we were trying to smash everything—we were just doing arm wrestling. And they rejected it for such a ridiculous reason.
“So that’s~ what you’re focused on.”
Canis, who had been watching quietly from the side, snickered at my words.
“The Academy has simply changed its policy this time. Originally, the rules already prohibited competitions, but they were unofficially tolerated. Now they’re just enforcing it strictly…”
The Vice-Commander, well-versed in Academy affairs, continued. Everyone leaned in, listening closely.
“It would be better to switch to something more conventional.”
At her suggestion, we all fell silent. Seeing us suddenly quiet, she tilted her head.
“If that’s the case, it’s better not to do it at all.”
“Hm?”
“It’s funny, but my bad reputation hasn’t gone anywhere.”
“Ah.”
Only then did the Vice-Commander realize what I meant and let out a low sigh.
“Objectively~ most students~ are still scared of Dabi~ You saw it in the grand hall too~”
At Canis’s words, Winter completely slumped over. She must have thought there was no hope left.
I felt the same.
“Ah, if it’s a method, there is one that might work.”
The Vice-Commander, who had been quietly lost in thought, spoke up. Given that it came from her, it carried weight.
Seeing Winter’s sparkling eyes, the Vice-Commander smiled gently.
“If I can’t handle it myself, then I simply put forward someone who can.”
***
Even amid all the busyness and excitement, there were always those who moved like a quiet ripple. Soloven Rahorakti, the top student of the 2nd-year Combat Department, was one such person.
After finishing her training, she sat on a bench near the training grounds to cool down her heated body.
“Finished?”
Soon, a lively, breezy man approached like the wind. He was the second-ranked student of the 2nd-year Combat Department and Soloven’s longtime friend. He handed her some water as he spoke.
“You look free.”
“That’s about right.”
As the top student who also served as the 2nd-year representative, she would normally have had plenty to do, but thanks to the festival, she actually had more free time than usual.
Festival-related matters weren’t handled by individuals or year groups, but by larger organizations like clubs and Religious Orders, so there was nothing Soloven could really do.
“This time might be a bit boring, you know?”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
At the vice-top student’s lively remark, Soloven looked puzzled. Seeing her immediate interest, he flashed a cheerful smile.
“The Academy Director completely locked down anything combat-related this time.”
“I see. When you look at it, there aren’t exactly few people who get injured during festivals.”
Soloven nodded. While it was a bit disappointing in terms of fun, it was a reasonable decision if it was for the students’ safety.
“Not disappointed?”
“I am.”
She answered immediately. The vice-top student patted her shoulder with a sympathetic expression.
It wasn’t that she was disappointed about the lack of combat-related content. Normally, during a festival, Soloven would have been busy. She was, after all, the head of a proper club.
But not this time.
—Bang.
The briefly settled atmosphere vanished as the door burst open violently. The one who appeared after roughly opening the training hall door was someone both Soloven and the vice-top student knew well.
“Davide.”
“Finally found you. Sorry about the door. It wouldn’t open.”
Davide, with his sea-colored hair, greeted Soloven warmly. He even apologized.
Soloven, who had been about to scold him due to her troubled mood, was taken aback by the unexpected apology.
“The troublemaker of the 2nd years?”
“What are you talking about? There was also a vice-top student who got petrified and couldn’t do anything.”
“Haha. My friend, how can you say something like that?”
The two men chuckled as they exchanged lively banter. Their heated camaraderie only ended after they grabbed Soloven in between them.
“For your information, the training hall is reservation-based. Those without a reservation cannot enter. You’ve just trespassed.”
“?”
“In other words, you’ve damaged property. That door doesn’t open without a dedicated key.”
At Soloven’s kind explanation, Davide made a dumbfounded face. After staring blankly for a moment, he shamelessly shrugged.
“I’ll pay.”
“Ha. Seriously.”
It was a refreshingly straightforward answer. Watching him, Soloven let out a small chuckle.
“More importantly, what did you come to find Soloven for?”
“Ah. I’ve got a proposal.”
Davide answered simply at the vice-top student’s question. At the mention of a proposal, Soloven tilted her head.
There didn’t seem to be anything worth proposing in the current situation.
“It’s about the Chivalry Research Club.”
At Davide’s words, the training hall fell silent. The Chivalry Research Club—also known as the CRC—had been completely destroyed by Davide’s own hands.
Soloven, who had been its head, showed a slightly uncomfortable expression. Although the club had been at fault first, it still felt odd to bring up something that had already been settled.
“I thought that matter was already concluded.”
Her tone was calm. Although the situation had ended somewhat ambiguously, it was true that Davide had ultimately forgiven them.
Soloven was deeply grateful to him for that.
“Let’s revive it.”
“Hm?”
“What?”
Davide uttered those words. Words neither Soloven nor the vice-top student had ever expected to hear from him.
“You…!”
At last, the vice-top student covered his mouth with one hand, his eyes welling up. Seeing his sudden strange behavior, Davide’s eyebrow twitched.
“You’ve grown up!”
“Seems like you’re done growing. Get up—I’ll personally send you to the afterlife.”
With his eyes gleaming, Davide immediately stood up, but Soloven grabbed his arm and pulled him back down into his seat.
“I’d like to hear the details.”
Seeing Soloven show interest, Davide let out a fierce smile.
“We’re reviving the CRC. Just changing the name. Honestly, ‘Chivalry Research Club’? That name’s embarrassing.”
“…It’s not embarrassing.”
“Let’s just go with that.”
Davide’s explanation was simple. He intended to revive the disbanded CRC.
From Soloven’s perspective, it couldn’t have been more absurd. The very person who had played a decisive role in dismantling it was now the one suggesting its revival.
“The reason?”
“Benefit. You know our Religious Order’s Winter, right?”
“That white kid?”
At the vice-top student’s words, Davide nodded. Soloven recalled Winter’s face.
There was no one who suited the color white as well as Winter. She might be fragile, but she was a commendable junior who knew how to care for others.
“Seems like Winter wants to enjoy the festival a bit. But you know—my reputation is a bit too infamous. I want to run things a bit more… normally this time.”
“I see. You’re planning to include Winter in the revived CRC’s content. No, in this case, would it be a joint activity between the Anaye Order and the CRC?”
At Soloven’s words, Davide clapped his hands.
“A club disbanded by the Academy’s authority can’t be re-established with its original members. So we just make something similar, then take you guys in. Well, you’ll be busy with Religious Order work anyway, so I’ll hand you full authority.”
“Hmm.”
Soloven fell into thought. The conditions were so good that it made her hesitate even more. Considering Davide’s nature, the reasoning didn’t feel sufficient.
Going through all this trouble just for the enjoyment of a single priest of his Religious Order? And even offering the extraordinary condition of accepting those who had once disregarded his religion?
“State your condition. If it’s something I can grant, I will.”
“?”
At her words, Davide looked puzzled for a moment before nodding.
“A condition? Hmm. Give me a second.”
After briefly asking for understanding, Davide fell into thought. Soloven and the vice-top student clicked their tongues at his behavior.
If it were acting, it would have been talent worthy of applause.
“Let’s have a group dinner once. You’re paying. Gather all the members.”
“…A group dinner?”
Soloven frowned slightly. She couldn’t understand why such a condition had come up.
“It’s nothing much. Just have a dinner after it’s all over. Our Religious Order hasn’t even had one yet, so we should at least do it once.”
Can a person really change this much?
Thinking that, Soloven shook her head. His selfish and domineering nature hadn’t gone anywhere. But there was clearly something different compared to a year ago.
A year ago, there had been nothing around Davide. He hadn’t even been on good terms with his family. But now, that wasn’t the case.
“Alright. Thank you.”
Now, Davide had something called a Religious Order. Soloven believed that connection had brought about this change in him.
“But forming a club takes quite some time. Even if we apply right now, it’ll take at least a week. That would be just two days before the festival starts.”
“Yeah. I already made it.”
Soloven was momentarily speechless. She needed a moment to process what she had just heard.
“…You made it in advance?”
“Yeah. So all you have to do is inform your members and get them to join. After the festival, you can go back to gloomily discussing chivalry among yourselves or whatever.”
With that, Davide stood up. At his chin gesture as if asking for confirmation, Soloven nodded seriously.
“Ah, more importantly. Vice-top student.”
“Hm?”
Just as he turned to leave, Davide suddenly called out to him. The vice-top student looked at him with attentive eyes.
“Are you taking something these days?”
“?”
“No, it’s just… you smell strongly like trees.”
At the unexpected remark, Soloven looked at the vice-top student. He simply stared back at Davide without much reaction.
She stepped closer and sniffed, but nothing seemed particularly different.
“There’s a wisteria forest north of the Combat Department building. The trees there are really cool and nice. Lately, I’ve been taking naps there.”
“Ah, really? I should check it out too. Alright, I’m off.”
At his words, Davide nodded and, after a brief farewell, disappeared.