Members, You Stay There. The Advisor Will Return Home (2)

I had six students I needed to watch over. Half of them were from the Empire, and the other half were foreigners.

The students from the Empire could just return to their own homes during the vacation. Louise was from Baron Nairds family, Erich was from Earl Krasius, and Ainter was from the Imperial Palace. The foreign students without a home in the Empire could simply go back to their own countries.

Wouldnt it be better to return to their country and be treated well than be in a distant and unfamiliar Empire? Over there, they probably had tons of people they could boss around with a flick of their finger.

But then, why?

Why wont you go back? Why are you planning to stay at the Academy during your vacation?

Of course, there were many students who stayed at the Academy during vacation. The dormitories were open, and the city built around the Academy was decent. However, most students who stayed in the Academy were usually commoners whose lives depended on their Academy grades and those whose homes were really far away.

Why would these three foreigners care about their Academy grades? They had more to gain by doing something else during the vacations rather than staying here. Because their homes were far away? Then what the hell do teleportation magicians exist for?

How unexpected.

I managed to say, barely resisting the urge to smack the three of them over the head with the cookie jar next to me. I must hold on. If I lose my mind here, it will cause an international dispute, and I will have to go to prison. Adding another line to my criminal record would be problematic.

Still, wouldnt it be better to go back since theres nothing to do at the Academy?

In my mind, I wanted to say, Shut up and get out of here! But either way, there really wasnt anything they could do at the Academy. Besides, Louise was also going to return to her territory

Fuck. Dont tell me?

Once I graduate from the Academy, I wont get any other opportunity to visit the Empire. Thats why I think nows my time to travel around the Empire and expand my horizons.

Rutiss words confirmed my speculation. He might say hes going to explore the Empire, but its obvious where this damned guy was planning to go.

Were busy during the semester, so vacation is the only time we have.

Lather joined the conversation, advocating for their reason to stay at the Academy. Did they really have to say it one after the other?

They had definitely talked about this beforehand. If only one wanted to stay behind, it would be harder to justify their actions, but if the three agreed to it, it was a whole other story. This wasnt a random act.

These cunning bastards.

I couldnt help but tremble in anger at the thought of Sir Villar. If Villar had known about this beforehand, theres no way he would have had such a bright expression. He wouldve probably looked tired from trying to persuade these three idiots.

And those guys knew that and kept it a secret until just before the vacation. If they had told him in advance, Villar would have made things difficult for them. Ruthless bastards

Is everyone going to stay at the Academy?

Louise, whod been talking quietly with Irina, subtly lifted her head. Her eyes were on the textbook, but her ears were clearly listening to our conversation.

You cant travel every day. Wont it be boring?

Its fine, Lady Irina. After all, theres three of us.

To be more precise, its three plus a dozen others. Your escorts are also humans, you bastards.

Judging by their firm response to Louises question, it seemed like they really wouldnt go back.

Damn it.

If everyones in the Empire during the vacation, it might be okay to meet during the holidays. Maybe we could do a holiday trip.

I said those words after pondering for a long moment, and it received an enthusiastic response. Louise probably didnt mind, and the club members were happy because I had provided an excuse for them. Seeing that made me feel bitter.

This is the best option.

Surprisingly, this really was the best option. If I couldnt prevent these three from staying in the Empire, it would be easier to manage them if all the club members were together rather than individually visiting Louise.

We should decide where well meet up.

Lets decide leisurely.

Irina, do you want to come?

H-huh? Me too?

Whenever I heard the club members conversations, I quietly grabbed a cookie from the jar. It felt a bit crumpled, but it was okay. The semester was over, anyway.

***

I quickly summoned Villar as soon as the club meeting was over. I told him it was important, and Sir Villar arrived in less than five minutes. As he took his seat, I shared the dreadful situation with him.

Sir Villars reaction wasnt that of silence or anger. It was something that transcended those emotions. He quietly grabbed a cup of tea with a smile on his face.

Is he really smiling in this situation?

Theres something I heard in my previous life. Only a third-rate person cried in hard situations. A second-rate person was someone who endured. Then, what kind of person was a first-rate one? It was someone who laughed even when things got hard.

Villar is a first-rate person. Because of this horrible reality, he became someone transcendent.

But it seemed like he hadnt become a complete first-rate person. The hand holding the teacup was shaking. Yet, he was acting as if he were calm.

Im surprised.

= Fuck.

Those were the first words Villar said while smiling. We both knew what those words meant.

Regardless of Villar staying here for the second semester, he was about to return to his homeland. He was on the brink of returning home and eating with his family. And suddenly, he was faced with extended duty.

The countries had been planning to reorganize the escort forces during the vacation. But now, they wouldnt be going back. The people from their homeland would ask him why the princes didnt return, and the people next to him were going to ask why couldnt they return. At this point, Enen cant say anything in defense even if Villar cursed him.

Its an unexpected event.

Villar took a sip of tea with trembling hands and sighed. As expected, Villar wasnt aware of this. If hed kept his mouth shut despite knowing this, I would have lost faith in people.

Im also a bit overwhelmed because I wasnt expecting this to happen.

I spoke with a forced smile. I wasnt only a bit overwhelmed. If the people from the three countries decided to stay at the Academy, it wasnt just the escort forces that had to be tied down. Automatically, I had to stay at the Academy, too.

Damn.

Staying in the Academy during the vacation was impossible for me. It might have been possible if I were a faculty member, but I also had a job as the Executive Manager of the Prosecutors Office. Up until now, the Senior Managers and Managers had been holding on, but that was assuming that I would return during the vacation.

I had to go home. If I didnt return for the holidays, the Prosecutors Office would be without an Executive manager for almost a year. And if this happens every vacation for three years, that would mean that the top decision-maker of the department would be without its head. Are you kidding me?

In the end, the meeting with Villar ended with only sighs. The issue was too big for us to resolve at our level. We also didnt have the authority to forcibly send the princes and the Saint candidate back to their home countries.

What should we do?

What the hell.

And it also wasnt something I could solve on my own. As soon as Villar left, I called the Minister. He was speechless for a while. If the Prosecutors Office continued without an Executive Manager, it would also be bothersome to the Minister.

Are they really going to stay at the Academy?

As far as I know, theyve never lied.

A noble quality befitting of such important individuals.

In this situation, I wish they were people who lied all the time instead.

The Minister seemed to share my sentiment as he muttered something with a furrowed brow. Luckily, the communication crystal didnt pick up the low sounds. He was probably cursing in many different ways.

I think well somehow be able to manage it this time.

Yes, one year might be possible. But what about after that? Can you guarantee it wont happen again?

That

No, I cant guarantee that.

The people who had conspired among themselves to pull this off was beyond common sense, and if I casually judged that this will only happen this once, it would be careless of me. It would be probably easier for them to do it again next time.

The only good thing is that there isnt anything urgent.

The Minister, who rarely let out a sigh, began to think. It seemed like there wasnt anything urgent I had to deal with. Thankfully, it seemed like there wasnt anything I had to command personally even if we expanded the scope to the second half of the year. At least, not yet.

For the time being, process things through the communication crystal.

Yes?

Why do we have to do it in such an inefficient way?

What can we do? You cant personally come to the capital, and the Senior Manager cant go to the Academy, either.

Thats right, but

Unable to refute, I nodded awkwardly. It would obviously be inefficient compared to face-to-face, but some communication was better than not being involved at all.

Hold on like that until we find another solution.

For now, the fire at my feet had been extinguished.

The fire that had scorched my feet was just extinguished, but in exchange, a meteorite fell on my head. This time, it was a disaster brought about through Tannians mouth.

Were planning to go to the capital.

The capital?

The day after I had the first emergency meeting with Villar and the second with the Minister, a new bomb was dropped during club time.

Is there a need to go all the way to the capital?

Although I answered normally, my insides were burning. No, you guys cant go to the capital. You really cant go there. Id rather you visit Boyar again, but not the capital!

How can we claim to have seen the Empire if we havent seen the capital?

It could be during a school trip.

Haha. It hasnt been confirmed that were going to the capital yet, so we should go while we have the time.

Upon looking around, I saw that the other members seemed to support Tannians idea. Its either they had already conspired before, or they really liked the idea.

The capital sounds great!

Louise, who seemed to fall into the latter category, was already brimming with anticipation. The only one who could stop this madness also seemed hooked up on the idea of going to the capital.

It will be too crowded.

Haha, brother. Wont it be weirder if a place were visiting is empty?

He wasnt wrong, so I remained silent.

And then, I was left alone in the clubroom after the club meeting ended.

Those bastards

I gulped down a glass of water to soothe my burning insides.

Staying at the Academy only disrupted my primary duties. Traveling around the Empire would tire their escort force. Add the capital to that and the Principal was also done for.

However, the capital was different. If a foreign dignitary visited the capital for personal reasons other than the Academy schedule, the scale becomes uncontrollable.

Fuck.

A lineup that couldnt be compared to a mere Executive Manager and a Principal had taken over the stage.