Healing at the Academy convenience store

As the ominous energy dispersed, rising into the sky, I could distinctly hear it.

It coalesced into a single entity and departed after uttering a solitary statement.

[…Thank you. Mr. President.]

‘Do they still refer to me as ‘president’? …No, to them, I must be their final president.’

Immediately afterward, Zolf collapsed right on the spot.

From his slight movements, it appeared that he wasn’t lifeless.

Such a frail individual.

But just as I entertained this notion, my legs gave way, and I found myself seated heavily on the ground.

‘Congratulations on your graduation.’

I lacked the mana to trigger that last phrase.

Instead, it appeared to have sapped my stamina. This function wasn’t in the original. What happened?

Nevertheless, as I reclined, a distant urgent voice reached my ears.

“Wolfram! Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Attend to the injured.”

“Yes, yes!”

I gestured to Nephti, signaling her not to approach, and she quickly turned to check on Eve and Kelters.

I lay there, lost in contemplation.

While this convoluted tale might only be at the prologue, Act 1, Scene 1, it had surpassed my capacity to comprehend.

Kelters became useless, Eve was thrown back, and Wolfram intervened. Who could have predicted that it would unfold this way?

Yet, I halted them.

Just as Kelters had done in the original, releasing the grievances of the expelled students, I too managed to resolve their resentment.

‘Perhaps luck played a role.’

Whether it was the authenticity of my words as the former student council president that resonated, or maybe Zolf’s favor toward me, or the potency of the royal bloodline skill.

Regardless, in any case…

“I won. I survived.”

That’s all that matters.

After giving my all, Wolfram von Roangreen survived once more.

“Ah, this is truly draining.”

I need to retrieve the clear item, but I lack the strength. I should rest briefly before heading to the reward room. I need a moment to catch my breath.

I have ample time. Act 1 has concluded.

“What on earth happened here!”

“…Huh?”

Just when I thought it was all over, it seems it wasn’t.

“Zolf was here! And even Wolfram? What’s going on?”

“Professor Lantica Grace…”

“Hmm. This is serious. Did Zolf cause this chaos? We need to go to the lab and discuss this in detail.”

“…What?”

“Wolfram, come with me to the lab. We need to have a calm discussion and understand the situation. Get ready.”

Wait, what?

I thought it was finished?

Why is the professor suddenly here? Does this even make sense? No, this isn’t right. Wait, stop! Don’t come near me!

As the professor’s grasp was about to reach me, a voice shrouded in light intervened.

“No, we’ll conduct the inquiry first.”

“…What?”

“Eve.”

Even as she endured the professor’s furious gaze, she continued without hesitation.

“It’s been only a short time since the new semester began, and such a significant incident occurred in the freshman dormitory. I believe this is a matter I should handle, with full authority from the royal family.”

“…Well, that may be, but he’s still my student.”

“It’s difficult to hand him over. To avoid confusion in the investigation, we’ll look into it first.”

“Hmm, I have my reputation as a professor to uphold. …Even if I release Wolfram, I must take Zolf.”

“We’ll formally submit a request to the royal court. If you receive royal consent, let us know.”

“…Alright, I understand. I’ll leave now. See you at the graduate building.”

Saying so, Professor Lantica departed, clicking his tongue in irritation.

Wow, Eve really stepped up.

Despite Eve von Roangreen wielding unmatched authority as a student council president, her counterpart was also a renowned professor in the empire.

This power struggle must be challenging for Eve. Why is she going all out?

Could there be something to uncover if she were to investigate both Zolf and me?

Perhaps… to eliminate me entirely? To shackle me and cast me into the ocean?

As fear gripped me, Eve, cloaked in light, approached me.

I don’t like this.

Please, save me.

“Wolfram… How do you feel? I mean… Are you… okay?”

“?”

What did she just say?

***

By the time Eve von Roangreen regained her composure, the situation had mostly stabilized.

After shaking her head to clear her thoughts, the first thing Eve did was perform a self-assessment to confirm her identity, age, place of birth, and the knowledge she had acquired. Her memory was clear, and she proceeded to analyze the current circumstances and why she had fainted.

The exceptionally gifted wizard Eve quickly deduced the reasons behind her blackout and her current location.

CRASH!

She heard a noise from within the vicinity and, startled, Eve swiftly moved towards the inner part of the hall.

She stumbled.

“Ugh…!”

Although her mind was sharp, her body wasn’t cooperating, causing her to sway.

But she couldn’t stop.

Ironically, after encountering that entity, she understood its nature.

It was resentment. It was colorless mana directed by intense emotions.

And those strong emotions were the anguish left behind by freshmen yearning to graduate, intensified by the overwhelming desire of a graduate student to finish his journey.

Hence, it was a task for the student council president.

“It’s alright. I can handle it.”

She didn’t know how she had managed to reach this point safely after fainting, but her hands and feet trembled.

She had come perilously close to death. It was the first time in her life that she had lost consciousness. If a small rock had struck her head, it might have been fatal.

“But I have to press on.”

It’s alright. She took a deep breath.

Even with a generous assessment of her magical prowess, it stood at level 17, surpassing human limits. If she fully harnessed her magical weapon, she could end it in a single strike. She might have been caught off guard and fainted, but she was prepared to fight back.

There was only one nagging concern.

Before she passed out, she had glimpsed a man’s figure.

The seemingly feeble human whose name appeared alongside hers in the family records.

“Could he be here…?”

However, given his mysterious nature, there was no guarantee that he wasn’t present.

“If that’s the case… No, that fool…”

She knew Wolfram’s stats. Stamina 2, Magic Power 3.

He would stand no chance against that monstrous entity with a magical power of 17.

With unsteady legs, Eve made her way toward the hall.

And there she witnessed,

“[I Command]”

Though she had never admitted it in her life, she couldn’t deny,

The majesty of the student council president, who had once stood at the pinnacle of ten thousand Jephryn students.

“Take it, Zolf. You’ve done well enough.”

There he stood, with a mere stamina of 2 and a magic power of 3, engaged in conversation with someone far above his league.

Surmounting an insurmountable barrier in terms of sheer numbers, simply by being human.

Eve clenched her teeth.

It felt as though she was being shown the path she should tread as the president of ten thousand Jephryn students.

“[Congratulations on your graduation. You’ve worked hard.]”

“Why now? Only now?”

Why didn’t he reveal this side of himself during his tenure?

“Why are you doing this now? It’s too late.”

***

Approaching steadily, Eve stared into my face. She let out a deep sigh and then flicked her finger. Oh, I’m going to die now. It was a short life.

“Nephterian, orders from the student council president. Calm the first years so they don’t panic and ensure they stay in their rooms.”

“I acknowledge the order.”

With that, Nephti shot up to the second floor like an arrow. No, don’t leave. Protect me.

“Wolfram.”

“What?”

“First, let’s heal that body of yours.” 

[Light Spear: Rapid Healing]

As she finished speaking, a window of light quietly approached me and began to spin rapidly. In a short time, I felt my strength swiftly returning.

It appears she has no intention of ending me here.

“…Thank you.”

“It doesn’t look good for a royal to lie down like that in front of others.”

“Now, I’m just an ordinary student. I’m not the president, nor am I a royal in Jephryn.”

I stood up, brushed off the dust, and noticed that Eve’s expression seemed somewhat dark. Was something amiss?

“By the way, this is quite a mess. The student council’s repair bill is going to be substantial.”

“Indeed.”

Zolf’s antics had utterly wrecked the first-year common dormitory hall. The first-years residing on the upper floors of the dormitory must have been jolted awake by the commotion.

Nevertheless, the quarantine measures are stringent. Only Kelters had managed to emerge in this situation. Perhaps there’s a royal decree prohibiting any resistance against the royal family?

“Wolfram.”

“Yes?”

“I have a rough idea, but could you explain?”

“…It’s not overly complicated.”

I proceeded to explain to Eve what had transpired.

The situation with the graduate student. The professor’s directives. Zolf’s escape.

“I see.”

“That guy is probably going to be expelled, right?”

I glanced at Zolf.

It’s regrettable, but someone must be held accountable for such a debacle.

However, the response was unexpected.

“Perhaps, perhaps not.”

“After causing this much trouble?”

“It wasn’t solely the graduate student’s fault. It’s the culmination of years of grievances that have built up in Jephryn. It might be challenging to place all the blame on him. I’m contemplating handling it differently.”

“Why?”

“If we continue to receive graduate students like this from the magic department, the empire might gradually weaken. Can you imagine a graduate student with over 20 magic power becoming a pawn of the professors?”

“All loyalties should be directed towards the empire, shouldn’t they?”

Eve nodded.

“Politics involves justification, backgrounds, vested interests, and taking sides. As long as we can justify that ‘this is where justice lies,’ with the royal family backing us, offering a few research opportunities to the professors who support the royal side should suffice.”

Eve’s insights were unsettling.

“We might also propose a bill through the assembly.”

“What kind of bill?”

“A bill that officially recognizes graduate students as full-fledged individuals?”

I instinctively agreed with Eve’s words. It seemed like a necessary step.

“You’re quite considerate.”

“Hmph.”

I wondered what had brought about this change in Eve. She hadn’t exhibited such growth in the original storyline.

Lost in thought, I heard Eve mutter.

“Big brother…”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing. It’s just unusual for you to take such a proactive stance.”

“Haha, I feel like I’ve acted out of character as well.”

“…Are you getting power-hungry again? Is all of this in pursuit of another shot at the student council presidency?”

I didn’t respond. It wasn’t worth replying to.

What is she implying?

However, Eve seemed to interpret my silence negatively and let out a deep sigh.

“First, how about returning to the student council, even if it’s just for minor tasks? An opportunity might present itself?”

“I absolutely don’t want to. Why should I go back there? You can handle it on your own.”

“Eeek!”

Saying that, Eve became visibly angry and turned away.

What’s bothering her?

Why is she so upset?

***

Afterward, Eve stormed off, still seething. Once she had calmed down, she picked up Zolf and cast a fleeting glance at Kelters, who was in the distance, before vanishing.

Hang in there, Kelters.

In any case, in this hall devoid of any spirits, neither Zolf, the professor, Nephti, nor Eve, I made my way to the clear room.

And there, an item lay on the ground.

“…Where did this drop from?”

Although I tilted my head in confusion, I recognized the item and decided not to dwell on it too much.

“It’s out of sequence, but I finally obtained it.”

I joyfully read the system message that appeared before me.

[Gloves of Order acquired.]

[Experience Gain increased by 10%.]

[Gloves of Balance set effect activated.]

[You gain a slight resistance to ‘All Stats Ailments’.]

[You randomly acquire one ‘8T’ skill!]

A final item for Act 1. The beginner set effect from the Gloves of Order.

“It was a challenge.”

But the outcome was incredibly rewarding.

Oh, it’s quite satisfying.