On the third day after the incident caused by the Student Council's unilateral action.

"Magic Department, 4th year, Class A, Shartia."

"..."

"The professors are greatly disappointed with this incident."

Shartia sat alone before numerous professors, without any of the other students who had participated in the incident.

There was only one reason she was sitting here alone: to be held accountable for what happened.

As the person in charge, Shartia bowed her head and gave the professors the answer they wanted. She didn't want to make unnecessary comments since that wasn't what they wanted to hear, and she didn't want any trouble.

"...I apologize."

The professor of the 4th year Magic Department, seated in the center of the desk, questioned Shartia. He asked why she had acted on her own judgment, pointing out that when she had sought advice, she had cited regulations stating that academy matters should be resolved by students, but now she was making convenient excuses.

'Disgusting.'

They wouldn't listen to anything she had to say anyway. Shartia barely contained her twisted feelings as she nodded in response to the professor's question.

"Isn't it natural to seek a professor's help when something is beyond a student's capabilities?"

*Clench.*

"Professors are at the academy not only to teach students but also to protect their safety."

"..."

"Do you understand that you've abused your authority, Shartia?"

"I thought we could handle it ourselves. When I sought your advice last week, you didn't even pretend to listen."

"I told you to wait. I never told you to take matters into your own hands."

"You gave no answer for a week."

"Student Shartia!"

"And if it weren't for us, you wouldn't have even noticed the anomaly in the barrier stone."

"..."

"Moreover, Sister Elysia used mental magic on students for three years..."

"What kind of magic lasts for three years in this world?"

"..."

Shartia stopped speaking and let out a deep sigh at the professor's cold response, which showed he had no intention of listening to her. No matter what she said, he wouldn't listen.

"I apologize."

She had to give them the answer they wanted.

Shartia clenched her fists and listened to the professors' lectures for a long time.

They said they had never seen a student council president who caused so many incidents at the academy, and that they needed to change the old regulations. Despite having no real concern for student safety, they comfortably lectured her. Shartia bowed her head, suppressing the anger rising within her.

"I apologize."

She thought this would all be over after today.

The reason they called her separately was obvious. They probably wanted to hint that she should step down from her position as student council president, which was nearing the end of its term anyway.

She didn't need to hear everything to know what was coming.

"..."

Shartia waited with a light heart for them to announce her punishment.

She had no desire to remain student council president anyway. She had thought becoming student council president would help her gain some support from the nobles, but it hadn't helped at all, so she had no lingering attachment. Rather, being student council president had only created more enemies and hadn't helped her navigate the harsh life at the Imperial Palace.

Shartia let their words go in one ear and out the other, hoping this meeting would end quickly. She wanted to rest now. She wanted to see the bear that Olivia was raising.

*Growl.*

"..."

Shartia wanted to leave quickly.

The professor who had been lecturing non-stop finally seemed to run out of things to say. With a deep sigh, he spoke gravely.

"The Chancellor, myself, and the academy faculty have had many discussions."

"..."

"And we've concluded that this won't be the last incident. With the increasing number of heretic-related incidents and the Student Council's inability to make proper judgments, we've made a decision."

"But that...!"

The professors had apparently sharpened their knives this time, cutting off Shartia's objection immediately. Then they announced their conclusion.

"From today, we will be dividing the Student Council's authority. We'll give it to someone who can make wiser decisions and has shown excellent performance."

"This is my fault. So just me alone..."

"No. This is a problem with the entire Student Council. It's also the academy's fault for giving too much authority to students with immature thinking."

"..."

"Don't worry. You won't be directly harmed, Shartia."

"That's not the issue!"

"Be quiet."

"I apologize."

"Anyway, the academy's decision is final."

The professor smiled as he spoke.

"It's someone you know well, Shartia. The person who was student council president when you were a first-year."

"What do you mean...?"

"He's coming here now, so greet him. Our new director."

*Knock knock.*

As the professor finished speaking, a knock sounded from behind Shartia. A polite and precise knock.

"Gulp..."

"May I come in?"

"Yes."

"Then I'll enter."

Shartia squeezed her eyes shut at the sound of the man's voice from behind her. She was afraid to meet him again.

She had never actually experienced it firsthand.

She hadn't joined the Student Council back then. She had only heard rumors from her seniors.

The man who was said to be the strictest and most rigid among all the academy's student council presidents. And the most difficult man to deal with.

*Creeeeak.*

"Nice to meet you. From today, I will be serving as the academy director..."

"It's been a long time."

The professor interrupted the man and greeted him warmly, as if showing off their acquaintance.

The man slightly bowed his head in response to the professor's greeting.

"I was speaking. Please don't interrupt."

"...Pardon?"

Despite the professor's surprised expression, the man confidently stated his opinion without concern.

"Let me introduce myself again. I am the senior director who has come to assist the council members' judgment without infringing on the students' freedom."

"..."

"Histania Malik."

Malik smiled as he greeted them.

'I should set up something called a convenience store here.'

He thought of the business idea he had discussed with Ricardo.

***

At that same time, a commotion could be heard in the academy library.

*Crash!*

*Shiver...!*

"What the..."

Hannah, sitting in the library, dropped the book she was reading and turned around, feeling a sudden chill.

"What is it...?"

Hannah turned around, feeling the anxiety that she might meet her brother at the academy. She always felt this chill when her brother was about to visit the academy.

-Beat me to death.

-...Pardon?

-I heard from the red-haired butler. How wrong I was.

-Please don't do this and get up. I'm just...

-Hit me. This is all I can do for you right now. I want to apologize when you're ready to accept it.

Hannah shook her head with a hollow laugh.

"No way..."

Knowing that her brother, who had graduated, had no reason to visit the academy, Hannah dismissed her worry as meaningless and picked up the book that had fallen to the floor.

-How to Seduce an Older Man.

An excellent book, indeed.

"Whew..."

Hannah, who usually avoided books, was reading in the library for the first time in a while. She had piled up mountains of books on the desk that would provide her with extensive knowledge, given her lack of dating experience.

-The Junior Who Devours Her Senior.

-The Neighbor Woman Who Commits Adultery with the Butler.

-The Red-Haired Knight and the Princess.

Hannah rubbed her throbbing head and let out a deep sigh at the information that was hard to find.

*Gulp.*

Novels that were merely erotic weren't much help.

"...So I should push my chest forward?"

Still, Hannah had gained some harvest of her own.

Hannah buried her face in the book and enjoyed reading diligently. Small bits of knowledge would accumulate and could be used effectively in practice.

"If I wear a shirt and naturally spill coffee on my chest..."

And at that moment.

"My, my~ Who do we have here?"

A familiar voice reached Hannah's ears. The voice of a noble that made her likability drop just by hearing it.

The woman with purple drill-shaped hair was covering her mouth and smiling.

"Ohoho~! Why is the Empress of the Swordsmanship Department, with nothing but rocks in her head, in such a precious place? When all you need to do is swing your sword like a brute."

"Haah..."

"Ohohoho!!!"

At the appearance of the unwelcome visitor, Hannah let out a deep sigh and closed her book. It wasn't her hobby to associate with this crazy woman who proclaimed magic to be the best.

Hannah looked at the woman sharply and said:

"Why are you picking a fight again?"

"Ohoho...! It's been exactly one year. Since you thoroughly trampled me at the ranking match. It's the first anniversary!"

"Stop bothering me and get lost. I'm studying right now."

"Studying?! Histania Hannah is studying?!"

"Shut up."

"Eek!"

At Hannah's sharp gaze, the woman flinched and turned her head away. Then, as if determined not to lose, she squeezed her eyes shut and firmly stated what she wanted to say.

"Ohoho... Don't look at me like that. It's scary."

"That's why I said, go away."

"I came because I was worried you might be getting motion sickness, seeing someone with rocks for brains reading a book, but you're being cold."

"Who are you calling a blockhead?"

"Ohoho...!"

She was a woman with flowers blooming in her head in many ways.

And.

She was one of the people who liked Mikhail.