All-Master Player Of The Academy [EN]: Chapter 136

◈ Chapter 136

68. It Won’t End Easily – 2

“Aha. But do you usually protect them like this during the exam? As far as I know, there wasn’t anything like that during Lakid’s time?”

I remembered hearing from students in the dormitory that deaths or injuries often occurred during Student Council President election exams.

But protection?

Aran Seth gave Ian a wry smile, noticing Ian’s puzzlement.

“This time is a little different from Lakid’s time.”

Lakid became student council president right after entering the academy, demonstrating exceptional skill and character.

Also, no other challengers were suppressed by him.

But this time, there was no one with Lakid’s exceptional talent.

“However, normal student council president elections have a lot of… noise, as well as problems. Especially the exam held in the Miyal Mountains.”

“Why? Are outsiders getting involved or something?”

“Yes. The Miyal Mountains can be accessed through routes other than the academy’s entrance.”

In other words, candidates might be attacked.

Or, a candidate could hire people to catch more monsters.

Aran explained that they prepare for such possibilities to some extent, but their defenses aren’t perfect.

However, Ian’s tracking skills and sensitivity slightly surpass even Hound, the hunting instructor.

He was requesting Ian’s help because he knew Ian would be more effective than most instructors.

“This is a favor. Please don’t misunderstand.”

A request, not an order.

A request based on past friendship and goodwill.

Meaning Ian was free to refuse.

“Of course, I can provide holy objects or artifacts as compensation for this.”

“That’s a given… but did you hear something specific that made you ask for this so suddenly?”

“Um. Yes. It’s about Rowena.”

“Why? Are you going to kill her if she becomes the student council president?”

When Ian asked jokingly, Aran Seth narrowed his eyes.

“Really?”

“A letter was sent to the faculty room with the exact content you said. And there are rumors that Krudin wrote the letter.”

‘Kirke. Can you check who sent it?’

“This has become a bit of a headache. Especially for Krudin.”

For a paladin who strives for nobility, this suspicion alone could be a significant burden.

Valentine suggested that the letter’s sender might be aiming for this very outcome.

“So. Couldn’t you find the person who wrote the letter?”

“No.”

Kirke could identify the sender by connecting to the truth [a magical ability], but the instructors couldn’t.

They had been secretly investigating for the past few days, but found no information.

“Geez. The election to select the student council president, the representative of the academy, is turning into such a mud fight.”

When Ian said this, dumbfounded, Aran Seth smiled bitterly.

“It wasn’t like this in the old days. The academy has deteriorated a lot.”

“But this is also an exam for the student council president election. You know that student council presidents are often caught up in scandals, right?”

“Well. I guess.”

Considering the power the student council president wields, it wasn’t surprising.

Being caught up in unfounded rumors, or facing suspicion.

Even in such situations, the student council president must be able to respond wisely.

That’s why the instructors don’t intervene unless the black propaganda is too severe.

The reasoning is that if candidates can’t withstand attacks during the election, how can they withstand them as student council president?

“Anyway, I want to prevent bloodshed. Ian. Will you help me?”

“I can do that much if there are no schedule conflicts. Don’t worry.”

Ian answered casually, put his hands in his pockets, and walked away.

As he walked away, Aran Seth sighed in relief.

* * *

Ian, having finished his meeting with Aran Seth, went to the library, finished reading the books he was looking at, and was about to leave.

A boy was sitting in the cafeteria in front of the library.

When he made eye contact, Mya jumped up and ran over.

Mya, who quickly climbed onto the table, cried out, and the boy sitting alone smiled at Ian as he approached.

“Ian.”

“Helid, isn’t it? What are you doing here?”

“New book came out.”

There were several mystery novels on his table.

“I wish there were more mystery novels in the library.”

He grumbled, disappointed.

Ian sat down in front of him.

Helid pushed the plate of cookies toward Mya when she showed interest.

“Myaa~.”

Mya started eating happily.

Helid, watching her, closed the book he was reading and asked.

“Ian. Are you interested in the student council president election?”

“No. Why?”

“No. The rumors are disturbing these days.”

Helid was naturally interested in investigating rumors.

So, he was already looking into the slander spreading during the student council president election.

“Don’t do useless things. Study. Study.”

“Haha. I’m working hard. I’m also training. But I need to know things to talk about with Leila.”

He was still completely focused on Leila.

Ian chuckled and raised his hand to signal an employee.

Helid ordered a drink for him and additional cookies for Mya, then opened his mouth when the order arrived.

“There were many slanders like this in the student council president election process even before Lakid. But this time it’s a bit much.”

“Is that so?”

When Ian replied indifferently, Helid shrugged.

“You really have no interest in the academy?”

“I’m interested in my own way?”

If he had no interest at all, he wouldn’t have used the academy as a base.

Helid smiled at his reply.

No matter how much he investigated and talked to Leila, Ian remained an enigma.

“Ah. And Count Eldan said that the Scarlet Kingdom will soon cancel your designation as an enemy?”

“Whether they do or not… I’ll still think of them as enemies. That’s fine. Who do you think will be the student council president?”

“Well. I think Rowena is quite promising for now. By the way, there was a rumor in the faculty room.”

“Kenneth Roadkhan sent a threatening letter?”

“…How did you know that?”

“I have my own way of knowing. And you know it too.”

“Well, I’m good at this kind of investigation. Anyway, it seems like it will be a bit of a headache if she becomes president.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Do you know the Roadkhan Count family? It’s one of the rival families of the Salt Marquis family. And Kenneth himself is an excellent spiritist who can summon two high-level spirits.”

“Oh ho.”

“In addition, there are many people who follow him in the academy… If Rowena becomes the student council president, she will cause friction in everything.”

“Why? Does he want to become the student council president and become the successor [to his family]?”

“No. It’s a personal feeling. Kenneth hates Rowena very much.”

“Why?”

“He confessed and got rejected. It’s love and hate.”

This is why relationships between men and women are scary.

If you can’t have it, you’ll destroy it.

There is a limit to being arbitrary.

As Ian frowned, Helid nodded in agreement.

“He wouldn’t want to see the woman who rejected him rise to power. Honestly, I sympathize with his feelings.”

“Don’t be obsessed.”

“You don’t care about anything in the world, so that’s why. Originally, there’s nothing as scary as the relationship between men and women.”

Helid said this and opened his notebook.

Inside was a portrait of Leila.

“I’m glad that our Leila doesn’t have that, though.”

“Being single isn’t bad either.”

“But it’s good to have someone to lean on when you’re having a hard time. Especially you…”

Helid started to speak but stopped himself.

Ian killed his entire family himself.

There was no need to bring up family matters to such a person.

“…Um. Shall I introduce you to a lady? If the Scarlet Kingdom cancels your designation as an enemy, the noble families will rush in.”

Ian holds the title of Baron, but has no territory or family.

In other words, if he marries, he can be adopted as a son-in-law immediately.

That’s why powerful noble families, regardless of the country, were considering Ian as their top son-in-law prospect.

“No thanks.”

“Really? Ah. And Ian. Can I ask you a favor?”

“What favor?”

“I want to stop the bad rumors about Rowena from spreading.”

The people who are running for student council president now.

In particular, there were rumors spreading about Rowena, Krudin, and Eose, who were promising candidates.

Ian was also hearing such rumors in the cafeteria, library, and restaurant, so Helid, who was investigating them, knew better than most.

“Can I use your name at that time?”

With Helid’s extensive network, information gathering skills, and ability to manipulate rumors, it wouldn’t be difficult.

But why would Helid do that?

When Ian asked, he shrugged.

“Leila is close to Rowena. She told me she was worried.”

“I don’t think that woman cares about rumors?”

“Still. I don’t care who becomes the student council president, but I want to help because Leila wants it.”

“Okay. Well. Do as you please.”

How much influence would he really have even if he used his name?

Ian was confident that Helid wouldn’t bother people unnecessarily.

By the time the two had finished talking, Mya had eaten all the cookies.

“I enjoyed this.”

“You’re welcome.”

“But aren’t you going to tell the instructors about Kenneth?”

“If they ask me how I found out, I’ll have a headache too. The process of obtaining information is not always pretty.”

Helid shrugged and asked Ian, who got up.

“But why don’t you tell them?”

“Just in case. Those kids are bound to cause trouble…”

Ian smiled slyly.

“Things might happen in the process.”

“Things?”

“People sometimes reach out to places they shouldn’t in order to prevent things they can’t do with their own power.”

“Does that mean he might summon a demon?”

“There’s a possibility. Let’s watch and see, and if there’s a problem, it’s okay to step in. Then I’ll go.”

As Ian left with Mya, Helid waved his hand and focused his attention on the book he was reading.

* * *

Was it because Helid, using Ian’s name, took action?

The bad rumors about Rowena slowly subsided.

Of course, he couldn’t completely erase the rumors that had spread, but he was able to reduce the continued spread of negative information.

And around the time when the black propaganda and slander subsided.

Finally, the student council president election exam began.

“The start was the written exam, right?”

As Ian asked, entering the restaurant after taking the metallurgy class with Bala, Bala nodded.

And he immediately ordered the A course, full of meat.

“Do you only eat meat every day?”

“Why do you only eat that [referring to Ian’s food]?”

Ian always ate sparingly, as usual.

Bread, a piece of meat, vegetables, soup.

Even that was shared with Mya.

“It can’t be because you don’t have money.”

Bala cut the boiled meat for himself and put it in front of Mya.

While Mya was happily munching on it.

A student came into the restaurant and shouted.

“The written exam is over!! There are two perfect scorers!”

“What?!”

“Who is it! Kalod?!”

“It must be Wikan! You bastards!”

Names he had never heard of were shouted from here and there.

And the student who came in said firmly.

“It’s Rowena Salt and Krudin Falcra! Eose is in 3rd place!”

At those words, those who were arguing looked deflated, and Ian chuckled.

“Aren’t they going to attack them with something sharp?”

When Bala said, chewing the meat, Ian shook his head.

“It would be nice if things ended with just that.”

In Ian’s judgment.

“But I don’t think it will end that easily…”

This student council president election was unlikely to end so simply.