Bet (4)

"Honorary Student Council Member?"

It was a setting I saw in the third year of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱.

I didn't expect to hear about it so soon.

Had it already been introduced?

"In an emergency, you get the authority of the student council. There's no need to worry about student council duties; just act when necessary. In exchange, Baby, you'll have the obligation to protect the students and the academy."

"I've never heard of it before."

"It's something the Headmistress approved this year. Since it hasn't been officially announced yet, it's natural you haven't heard of it."

That made sense. It was about time for it to be introduced.

'Honorary Student Council Member… Sounds quite good, doesn't it?'

In all sorts of scenarios that occurred in Year 2, if one could act with the authority of the student council and the responsibility to protect the students…

If I get caught up in an incident, I wouldn't have to worry about being suspected.

In other words.

'It actually becomes more convenient.'

Not only the authority of the student council, but even the duties could be useful to me.

In the scenarios and sub-events of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, it would become significantly easier to act according to my plan.

"Honorary Student Council Member is half the duties of the student council, so you can enjoy about half of the student council benefits. You'll even receive a scholarship."

Even a scholarship.

'It's quite a privilege…'

The authority given only in "emergency situations" was a bit limiting.

Those "emergency situations" also included times when I had to act as the Nameless Hero.

Of course, when Year 2 started, the frequency of demon appearance drastically decreased, so it might be okay. The strategy of the Evil God changed from spamming out demons to sporadically sending out stronger ones.

Therefore, the issue was whether my actions would be constrained by Alice's commands.

"So, does that mean, in an emergency, I have to follow Senior's orders?"

"No, that's up to you."

That's unexpected.

"You don't need to follow my orders as an Honorary Student Council Member. Again, your only duty is to protect the academy and its students. If you don't want to continue, you can quit anytime."

It didn't seem bad.

No, it was a very sweet offer.

It might have been a trap set by Alice, but no matter how I examined what she said, it turned out to be advantageous for me.

Just as I reached that conclusion, Alice raised her index finger and added, "However."

"There's a condition."

As expected, there it was. That was reassuring.

If it was going to be an offer that only benefitted me, it would make me feel uncomfortable and resist it as if it were a scam.

"What's the condition?"

"Occasionally go on a date with me."

Correction. It seemed like a scam.

"We're in the middle of a bet. I think it's only fair that you give me a chance too."

Alice mumbled after taking a spoonful of parfait.

'I haven't accepted the bet yet.'

She was advancing the conversation on her own.

Isn't she jumping the gun?

Seeing me silent, Alice tilted her head and prodded, "Isn't that right?"

"Yeah… that's true."

Well, I wasn't planning on refusing the bet anyway.

There likely wasn't any trick Alice could use to harm me through the bet itself.

On the contrary, it might be opportunity to uncover her secrets.

Anyway, it seemed like Alice had decided to use her charm as a strategy.

Knowing her true nature, I found it hard to adapt to this approach.

"How about it? Want to try being an Honorary Student Council Member?"

"That is… Thanks for the offer, but I'll need to think about it."

I replied with a polite smile.

If I had rashly agreed to be an Honorary Student Council Member, I might have regretted it later. Now was the time to step back and think.

***

"We can't be together for long. I have a meeting later."

Alice looked at the tall clock tower and said that to me. We were walking on a bridge crossing the lake together.

It was a place densely lined with many flowers. Various potted plants hung on the railing, and their leafy vines stretched down.

Among them, Alice seemed like a beautiful rose.

It was as though touching her for her beauty could result in one being pricked by thorns.

"Did you have a meeting?"

I asked, looking at Alice's back.

"Yes."

"I thought we would be together until the evening at the very least."

"That must be disappointing. Not being able to spend more time with me."

"That's not it…"

I never intended to spend much time with Alice anyway. I was planning to leave soon, as I couldn't postpone my training.

A brief silence followed.

The sound of crickets, occasionally accompanied by the splash of fish in the water, could be heard.

Then, I opened my mouth. There was something I wanted to ask Alice.

"Senior Alice."

"Yes, Baby?"

"What will you do if I win the bet?"

"If you win?"

"If you fall for me first. We haven't talked about what happens if I win."

"I never thought about losing."

What kind of bet is that?

"Hmm."

Alice pondered with her head down for a moment, then suddenly looked at me with a mischievous smile.

"Even if that happens, how will you notice? I'm confident in not showing it."

"Then I'll make sure you can't help but express it."

When I repeated her words back to her, she chuckled softly.

"That's funny. Well… if I lose, you can do whatever you want to me, Baby."

Alice said this with a smile and then turned around.

'She said I can do as I please…'

Did she truly not even consider the possibility of losing?

Really…

Her answer left much to the imagination.

* * *

Verga Rayphelt, a muscular male student with dark green hair, walked through a corridor of the Magic Department.

His imposing presence alone drew the attention of all the students there.

He was known for his large stature, even among the students of the Knight Department.

Among the Magic Department students, who focused more on magical than physical training, he stood out noticeably.

"You."

"Y-yes…!"

In the second-year corridor.

When Verga placed his hand on the shoulder of the second-year male student and spoke, the male student was extremely startled.

"Tell me where Isaac is."

Verga spoke in a commanding tone.

He had just come from checking the second-year Class B classroom. It was completely empty.

"I-I don't know… I'm not close with Isaac…"

"…Useless guy."

Verga pushed the student aside and hastened his steps.

In the wide corridor, the student's body rolled helplessly on the floor twice. He was terrified but felt an intense relief that the situation passed without further harm.

The aggressor was Verga Rayphelt, an elite member of the Black Tigers and a hunter of the Magic Department.

Ordinary magic didn't work on that man. His defense was exceptional.

There were hardly any here who could wield magic that could penetrate his defenses.

Moreover, Verga was infamous for his ferocious temperament. Having witnessed him pushing the student just now, the others could truly sense his notorious reputation.

"And you? Do you know where Isaac is?"

"I-I don't know… Aaah!"

"Tch."

Verga, without sparing the female student, roughly pushed her aside.

Her frail body collided lifelessly with the window. She grimaced and groaned, clutching her shoulder.

"Isaac!! If you're here, come out now!!"

Verga's deep voice resounded thunderously through the second-year corridor.

"I am Verga Rayphelt!! I've come to duel with you again!! Come out in front of me right now, Isaac!!"

His suppressed feelings of anger poured out through his words.

"Um, excuse me…"

"…What is it?"

When a female student courageously spoke up, Verga glared at her with eyes like a wild beast.

The female student, suddenly startled, broke out into a cold sweat.

"Ah, Isaac, he… was called by the Student Council President earlier…"

"The Student Council President…?"

The Student Council President, Alice Carroll. One of the main powers of Märchen Academy.

She's looking for Isaac? Why?

The thought that came to mind was a student council recruitment offer.

If he was called by the Student Council President, there seemed to be no other reason than that.

"Isaac, that guy…"

In the student council?

"How audacious."

The idea of Isaac, who would be utterly defeated in a proper duel with him, joining the student council was almost laughable.

Well, it wasn't like his skills were too poor, and he did have a pretty face, almost like a girl's.

Verga thought that Alice intended to use him like a slave.

"Is that guy in the student council room right now?"

"That, I'm not sure…"

Verga clicked his tongue in annoyance and moved on.

Students in the corridor stepped aside to make way. Verga walked through the cleared path as if it were expected.

He headed towards Bartos Hall, the center of academic administration.

He couldn't enter the student council room, but by lingering around Bartos Hall, he might encounter Isaac.

It was then.

"…?"

A blond male student blocked Verga's path.

Verga stopped and glared threateningly at him.

It seemed like he was intentionally blocking the way.

"…Who are you?"

As Verga asked in a deep, annoyed voice, the blond male student silently deployed a light green magic circle.

Whooosh──.

Wham──!

A strong force of mana rushed in like a fierce wind.

Verga's eyes widened as he reflexively assumed a combat stance.

"It's you…"

The blond male student, Tristan Humphrey, a second-year from the Magic Department.

He glared at Verga with a face full of anger.

However, his voice was notably low.

"What's the reason for pushing around my subordinate?"

The male student Verga had initially pushed around was…

One of the self-proclaimed subordinates who had been flattering and following Tristan since the first year.

He was someone who had already received the favor of Tristan.

After witnessing that student being pushed by Verga, veins throbbed fiercely on Tristan's forehead.

"Hmph! Insolent little wizard, daring to use a magic circle in front of me…!"

"I know who you are. Verga Rayphelt, an elite member of the Black Tigers."

Tristan walked leisurely to the side and flung open the closed windows. The tense students quickly distanced themselves from them.

Tristan turned his head, narrowed his eyes, and glared at Verga.

"You want to duel Isaac again? Ha! Do you want to repeat your last defeat? It was truly pitiful last time!"

"This… this brat… How dare you spout such nonsense!!"

Last semester, the fact that Verga had been defeated by Isaac was like a sore spot for him.

Even though he was causing a commotion in Orphin Hall, he had intended to fight in the dueling arena.

Excited at the thought of avenging his humiliation from last semester, Verga ultimately fell for Tristan's provocation.

Swoosh─!

Verga clenched his fist and, pushing off the ground, leaped towards Tristan.

A speed that transcended his bulky frame.

But at that moment, a fierce wind whipped through the corridor.

Whooooooosh────!!

"…!!"

At the sound of the wind, Tristan's figure instantly disappeared from Verga's view.

Bang───!!

"Ugh!!"

Suddenly, Verga felt a blow to the side of his head as if struck by a club, taking the full brunt of the mana from the wind explosion.

A direct hit. Verga's large body was flung helplessly through the window that Tristan had opened.

In the middle of the corridor, Tristan, wrapped in wind mana, was retracting his extended leg.

He had left the window open in anticipation of this situation.

No matter how angry he might have been.

He foresaw that there would be property damage. He simply couldn't allow it since it would go against his values.

"Phew!"

Whoom─!

Verga regained his posture mid-air and landed on the ground with both legs, a thunderous impact sound echoed.

Verga's sturdy body was unscathed even by such a fall.

However, his head was spinning. Blood poured from his nose and mouth, despite being wrapped in [Basic Protection Magic]…

Though he had been excited and let his guard down, Verga couldn't help but feel dismayed.

It was a moment when his highly praised defense seemed like a useless thing. Just moments ago, Tristan's attack had demonstrated tremendous power.

Verga had no way of knowing that Tristan's attacks had even been effective against a powerhouse like the Diamond Paladin.

Whoooosh───!

"…!!"

As the strong wind rushed in, Verga hastily drew his double-handed axe from his back, trying to counterattack.

However, by that time, Tristan's knee had already slammed into his face.

In terms of speed, Tristan was far above Verga.

Bang───!!

The sound of air splitting and a shockwave. A loud boom.

The knee strike infused with wind mana.

The explosion of the condensed wind mana engulfed Verga all at once.

Several teeth were knocked out, and his face momentarily caved in.

Tristan, riding the wind, lightly landed on the ground.

Verga weakly dropped his double-handed axe and clutched his broken nose and bloodied face, collapsing onto the ground.

Verga groaned in pain, "Uuurrgh…" rolling on the floor.

Students in Orphin Hall watched the confrontation between Tristan and Verga through the windows, swallowing nervously.

"Pathetic. Groaning over this much."

Tristan withdrew the wind mana that enveloped his body and looked scornfully at Verga.

"Isaac, that damn guy, is stronger than me. With you whining like this, you stand no chance against him."

Verga's eyes widened in shock.

More than the physical pain, it was Tristan's words that plunged him into deeper shock.

"Fool… Know your place."

Tristan clicked his tongue in disdain, turned his back on Verga, and left.

All that remained was a heavy silence.