Chapter - 1 (Part 2)
Chaos and the Desire to Control
The office itself radiated elegance.
Golden lamps illuminated the room with warm light.
Intricate patterns decorated the walls.
Bookshelves stretched from floor to ceiling.
Yet despite the refined atmosphere...
The desk was buried beneath countless books and documents.
Standing behind it...
Facing the window...
Was the academy's principal.
Her posture was perfectly straight.
Graceful.
Strict.
As soon as we entered...
She slowly turned toward us.
"Oh."
"So..."
"You two are the ones who achieved first place in the entrance examination."
Her mature voice carried quiet authority.
...
She's strong.
I could feel mana comparable to...
No.
Perhaps even greater than Instructor Valerian Ashrune's.
Together, Shirohana and I bowed.
"Yes, Principal."
"It is an honor to meet the principal of this academy."
As I briefly glanced at the nameplate on her desk...
I read it.
Vivienne Arkwright.
She gave a small nod.
"Hm."
"First..."
"Take a seat."
She sat down herself as we occupied the chairs opposite her.
"First of all..."
"Congratulations."
"You both passed the entrance examination."
"And obtained first place."
A polite smile briefly appeared on her face.
Then...
It disappeared.
She folded both hands together on the desk.
Resting her chin upon them.
Her gaze sharpened.
"Well then."
"Let's get straight to the point."
"You two..."
"...faked your abilities during the practical examination."
The room instantly fell silent.
...
She knows.
But...
How?
I never sensed her mana.
Not even once.
Did she also possess a concealment skill similar to ours?
Or...
Did someone tell her?
If I had to suspect anyone...
It would probably be Valerian Ashrune.
Beside me...
Shirohana, too, seemed a little surprised.
Apparently...
Maybe even she hadn't expected this.
The principal suddenly laughed.
"Hahaha."
"Relax."
"It's not like I'm going to do anything."
After her laughter subsided...
She looked at us once more.
"In terms of raw strength..."
"I believe you two are the strongest people currently standing on this academy's grounds."
...
"So."
"I have a request."
She paused.
"...No."
"An order."
"Become this academy's guardians."
She leaned comfortably against her chair.
"In simpler terms..."
"I want the two of you to become the Student Council President and Vice President."
"You'll work directly under me."
"And among the students..."
"Your authority will be second only to mine."
She folded her arms.
"How about it?"
Silence filled the room.
I glanced sideways toward Shirohana.
...
She wasn't looking at me.
She was staring directly into Principal Vivienne's eyes.
A faint killing intent seeped from her gaze.
It looked as though she was calculating something.
Then she finally spoke.
"...This can't be the whole story."
"Can it?"
The principal smiled.
"So."
"You understand how these things work."
"No."
"It isn't anything illegal."
"If anything..."
"I want to eliminate the darkness."
She slowly stood from her chair.
"I can't accomplish that alone."
"I need people..."
"...who can work from within the shadows."
She looked directly at both of us.
"The price of your fame."
"And your authority."
"...will be standing beside me."
"And if we are ever exposed..."
"You'll share that burden with me."
The room fell silent once again.
Neither side spoke.
The atmosphere itself seemed to grow heavier.
A proposal.
An order.
Or perhaps...
The beginning of something far larger than either an academy...
or a student council.
----------------------------------
...How can I trust her?
The deal itself isn't bad.
If I secretly created a backdoor...
...No.
If they discovered it later, their trust in me would be damaged.
And for any organization...
Trust is one of the most important foundations.
...
Trust...
But on what basis am I supposed to trust
her
?
Do I even want to work for the "justice" she's talking about?
...
Though...
Whether it's truly justice or not...
This position would become an important ladder for my future.
After organizing my thoughts, I looked directly at Principal Vivienne.
"...On what basis can we trust you?"
"And..."
"How can you conclude, simply based on our strength, that we're on the 'good' side you're talking about?"
...
Let's decide based on her answer.
Even I felt a little nervous.
I still had no idea...
What other cards she might be hiding.
Vivienne slowly nodded.
"So..."
"It has come to this."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"It should."
She stood up from her chair.
"You may come in now."
...
The office door quietly opened.
I turned around.
"Yes, ma'am."
A familiar man's voice echoed through the room.
...
Valerian...
Ashrune?
Vivienne folded her arms.
"Your report on these two."
Ashrune lazily scratched the back of his head before beginning.
"Yes."
"If we're talking about Katsuhito..."
"His combat capabilities far surpass anything I have ever witnessed."
...
He continued as though reading directly from a report.
"Despite possessing that level of strength..."
"He captured two corrupt nobles."
"He also prevented one of our noble students from having his work stolen."
"And..."
"He's helped people in many small ways throughout these past few days."
...
Wait, that last part was a lie.
but...
How?
...
When?
Was he...
Watching me the entire time?
How much does he know?
More importantly...
How did I fail to notice him?
While countless questions filled my mind...
Ashrune casually walked over to me.
He leaned close enough that only I could hear.
"You may surpass me in raw strength..."
"But strength isn't the only form of power."
He smiled lazily.
"Take that..."
"As the first lesson from your teacher."
...
I always knew the possibility existed that someone possessed abilities I didn't.
Still...
I never expected reality to remind me like this.
...
Unpleasant.
...
Perhaps...
I had become slightly overconfident.
Ashrune stepped back before continuing his report.
"As for Shirohana..."
"I couldn't learn much."
"The only confirmed information is that she was inside the barrier where that massive destruction occurred."
He shrugged.
"My speculation is..."
"That both the destruction and the barrier were created by Katsuhito and Shirohana."
"And..."
"It's safe to assume they're closely connected."
"Whenever I've successfully located her..."
"She's been together with Katsuhito."
...
I glanced sideways.
Shirohana...
Was smiling.
A tiny smile.
Even while staring at Vivienne with unmistakable killing intent.
...
As mysterious as ever.
I looked back toward Vivienne.
"...Now I understand why you recommended this position to us."
"But..."
"That still doesn't answer my question."
"How can we trust you?"
For the first time in a while...
I felt uneasy.
The situation had already moved beyond everything I'd anticipated.
Beyond everything I thought I understood.
Vivienne quietly closed her eyes.
"...I don't."
She walked toward one corner of the office.
Almost hidden within the wall...
A concealed compartment clicked open.
She reached inside and retrieved several documents.
Returning to the desk...
She placed them before us.
"...But."
"I can give you these."
Property deeds.
Official status records.
Every page carried her personal seal.
"You may verify them yourselves."
"If you ever believe I'm planning to betray you..."
"Submit these documents."
"I have nothing more valuable than this to offer as proof of my sincerity."
She leaned back into her chair.
Calmly.
Without hesitation.
...
They're genuine.
No forgery.
No illusion.
Real.
I raised my eyes.
"...Why are you willing to go this far?"
Vivienne quietly closed her eyes once more.
When she opened them again...
She looked directly into mine.
"Cuz..."
"My friend died here."
"Because of this political struggle."
"Because of status."
"Because the authoritative entity that should have been able to resolve the issue failed to do so."
Her voice remained calm.
Yet every word carried unmistakable conviction.
"Do I need any greater reason..."
"...to cut the roots of evil?"
...
So...
That's what she considers evil.
I remained silent for several moments.
Then...
I made my decision.
"...Very well."
"It would be rude of me to refuse after you've shown us this much."
"I agree."
I reached for the contract.
Just before my fingers touched it—
A tremendous wave of mana burst from beside me.
The room instantly froze.
The temperature plummeted.
Ashrune's expression sharpened for the first time.
Even Vivienne's eyes widened slightly.
Shirohana remained seated.
Yet invisible chains of mana spread throughout the office.
Her eyes glowed faintly.
"I can kill both of you..."
"Right now."
"In an instant."
"And no one would ever know."
Her voice was frighteningly calm.
No anger.
No excitement.
Only certainty.
"...However."
"Since Katsuhito agreed..."
"So will I."
She stared directly into Vivienne's eyes.
"But..."
"Don't think for even a second..."
"That you'll walk away safely..."
"If you try anything funny."
Silence.
Vivienne slowly released her own mana.
Her pressure expanded throughout the office.
Meeting Shirohana's head-on.
...
Even though...
It didn't feel like Shirohana was using her full power.
Vivienne still managed to stand against her.
...
Interesting.
Vivienne nodded.
"I'll remember that."
Neither woman looked away.
For several long seconds...
Their eyes remained locked.
Finally...
The pressure disappeared.
Shirohana calmly signed the contract.
I signed mine shortly afterward.
Vivienne stood.
Then extended her hand.
"...From today onward."
"We are comrades."
Shirohana accepted the handshake.
So did I.
The agreement...
Was complete.
----------------------------------
Once everything settled...
Ashrune had already collapsed onto the sofa.
Rather than sitting...
He looked closer to someone taking a nap.
Vivienne let out a small sigh.
"It's getting late."
"We'll discuss everything else tomorrow."
"Before you leave..."
"Give me your Contact Skill number."
We exchanged Contact Skill numbers.
Along with our Contact Cards.
After confirming everything...
Vivienne smiled faintly.
"Very well."
"I'll contact both of you tomorrow."
Shirohana and I stood.
We bowed politely.
Then quietly left the office.
-------------------------------
Neither of us spoke.
We simply walked together through the academy grounds.
The moon had already risen high above us.
For some reason...
She walked even closer to me than usual.
Eventually...
We reached the academy entrance.
She stopped.
"...Well then."
"Katsuhito."
"See you tomorrow."
She gave a graceful, shallow bow.
A gentle smile appeared on her face.
Moonlight reflected across her silver-blue hair.
Her eyelashes shimmered softly beneath the night sky.
Then...
Without another word...
She disappeared into thin air.
...
Again.
----------------------------
By the time I returned home...
It was already late.
I quietly opened the front door.
Mother...
Was waiting.
"...Ara."
Her smile...
Was terrifying.
"What exactly were you doing until this late?"
"And without contacting us?"
...
Ah.
I forgot.
...
Mother immediately began lecturing me while I ate dinner.
I quietly accepted every word.
After finally surviving the lecture...
I escaped to my room.
The moment I closed the door...
I threw myself onto the bed.
"...What a day."
I stared blankly at the ceiling.
Thinking back over everything that had happened.
The principal.
Ashrune.
Marcus.
The student council.
Shirohana.
...
Wait.
Shirohana.
I suddenly remembered our Contact Skill exchange.
Curious...
I opened my Contact List.
...
...
...
What?
I immediately sat upright.
She hadn't merely registered her contact information.
She had also linked her
Telepathy
directly to mine.
...
How?
More importantly...
How did she know...
That I possessed a Telepathy skill?
A skill...
That had already vanished from history.
...
...
Ah...
I'm exhausted.
...
Let's just sleep.
I... I must be on my guard...
I murmured, slowly closing my eyes as I drifted into a deep sleep.