Chapter 26: Sweet Cookie

A rebel hideout filled with wounded people.

“Rina!!!”

Bang!

“With a voice full of anger, the suit-clad man began to shout.”

Cain.

“Where were you!! Why didn’t you show up on time!!”

She was supposed to come to help them after the promised operation was over.

But for some reason, Rina did not appear even after the operation to kidnap the Princess began.

“Why did you lie to me?”

But regardless of the primal anger directed at her, Rina showed a rather displeased expression.

Grind.

“…What did I lie about?”

“Why did the monsters suddenly attack? That wasn’t in the plan. Do you know how many innocent people were injured?”

Her mission was to detonate a mana-powered bomb to destroy the Academy’s protective barrier.

To divert people’s attention elsewhere and then join the scene later.

But she had never heard of a plan for monsters like Ogres to attack.

It’s all a necessary sacrifice!

“Necessary sacrifice? Innocent people were hurt. Is that really the revolution you talked about?”

Their goal of changing an unfair world.

She herself had sympathized with the purpose of changing the world to some extent.

But the way they did it was too radical, unlike what she had thought.

The plan to kidnap the Princess is the same. What does kidnapping her have to do with your great beliefs? That’s just an excuse.

In the first place, she thought the plan was too unreasonable.

Kidnapping a royal heir who could become the next Emperor is a task that carries a high degree of risk.

But to hide the details of the operation from herself, who was participating in such a plan.

She knew that most of the members of the Red Wolf harbored deep resentment towards the royalty and nobles.

That said, she had no intention of understanding their mad obsession.

“I only helped you because you said you would save my younger sibling. But now you’re plotting this dirty
behind my back?”

Rina growled as if she was about to grab his collar.

Due to that, the atmosphere became tense for a moment.

I’m done with this I saved you only to repay the favor of helping me find a clue to save my sibling. I will no longer act with you.

With those words, Rina used her mana to erase the tattoo on her wrist.

Although a scar would remain, she no longer wanted to be associated with them in any way.

“Bang!”

Glaring at the people looking at her, she stormed out the door.

But everyone at the scene did not stop her.

“!!!”

“…What are we going to do now?”

Sigh. There was a setback in the plan.

Damn that white-haired man.

Thinking of the Academy student who interfered with him.

“Cain growled in a low voice.”

We must kidnap the Princess somehow. His plan must not be disrupted.

“…….”

He muttered in a voice that no one could hear.

I was not wrong. This is all just a process of changing the world righteously.

Said.

A luxuriously decorated room.

I was sitting blankly on a sofa in the middle of it, waiting for someone.

…Why am I here?

I was dragged here on a whim.

But I’m just bewildered as to why I was brought here alone.

After the unidentified terrorists ran away.

I was taken by the knights and interrogated.

Information about a person named Rina and the red wolf-shaped tattoo on the bodies of the terrorists.

There was no other information I knew, so I was soon released.

So, thinking that I could finally rest, I was returning to the dormitory.

I was suddenly grabbed by a person who looked like a butler and brought here.

I should have asked who it was.

I came along on a whim because of his dignified yet polite appearance.

But I can’t easily guess who wants to see me.

The owner of this room will appear if I wait.

I emptied my mind and put one of the cookies in front of me into my mouth.

“Oh…. It’s delicious?”

I haven’t tried many desserts in this world.

But the cookie I just put in my mouth seemed to be of quite high quality.

I relaxed and quietly savored the sweet taste.

Creak.

Don’t spare the healing potions and prioritize supplying them to the students in critical condition.

Understood.

The door opened and someone entered.

I swallowed the contents of my mouth and turned my head slightly to check the identity.

A female student with purple hair and adorned with all kinds of fancy accessories.

She was entering the room through the door with the butler who had just guided me here.

Did you wait long?

Anna Blackwood, the Student Council President and the Princess.

She smiled at me.

“No.”

Actually, I was a little bored waiting.

I also wanted to go back to my room and rest.

But I’m not so ignorant as to act recklessly in front of someone whose status is clearly different from mine.

First of all, I would like to express my gratitude.

Anna gracefully bowed her head and expressed her gratitude for saving her.

No. I didn’t do much.

I humbly accepted her thanks.

And I actually think so too.

The knights arrived at the scene shortly after I dealt a blow to the gang.

So maybe even if I hadn’t stepped in, Anna wouldn’t have been kidnapped.

Of course, there might have been a few injuries in the process.

But what brings you here today….

“If it was just to express her gratitude, wouldn’t it have been enough to do it later?”

I gave her a subtle hint that I wanted her to get to the point.

To get straight to the point.

Anna took a sip of coffee, as if her lips were dry, and continued.

As you know, Mr. Louis. Many people were injured in this incident.

Many students were injured due to the sudden appearance of monsters.

And there are people who were caught up in the bombings that occurred in various parts of the Academy due to the terrorists.

Although there have been no deaths yet, it is extremely rare for such an accident to occur at the Academy.

As a result of the Student Council discussing this incident with the Academy. An important opinion came up. Let’s create a self-governing group to protect the Academy.

“Could this be it?”

I was listening carefully to Anna’s words when a thought suddenly struck me.

Made up only of Academy students.

“group tasked with protecting the Academy.

Guardian Knights.

It’s a group that doesn’t exist yet, but it’s a group that is later formed as the story progresses in the comic.

The Student Council wants to take this opportunity to recruit Mr. Louis as a member of the self-governing group.

It seems that the timing has been moved up a bit due to the terrorist attack by the forces trying to kidnap the Princess this time.

But it’s questionable.

Why is she suggesting this to me?

The Guardian Knights are formed by selecting students from among the Academy students and forming a group that engages in more student-friendly activities.

A group that solves students’ problems.

A group that punishes troublemakers when they cause trouble.

Of course, there is currently a similar group called the disciplinary committee.

But the Guardian Knights have the authority to act more directly.

Legally guaranteed arrest and investigation rights.

A kind of self-governing group limited to the Academy.

But.

‘Why me…?’

In the comic, the Guardian Knights can be said to be a group that has degenerated into a kind of Princess’s bodyguard.

Originally, Anna only had the power of the Student Council President within the Academy, despite having the title of Princess.

However, starting with the Guardian Knights, she gradually began to exert the influence of the Imperial Family within the Academy.

Therefore.

The Guardian Knights are a very closed group that only her closest aides can enter.

But I don’t know her.

And I’m not a talented person with outstanding skills.

“Will you accept the offer?”

Moist eyes looking at me.

I feel a subtle pressure.

But.

I refuse.

I looked straight into the Princess’s eyes and refused her offer.

“…What?”

As if she didn’t expect me to refuse her offer.

She asked back, embarrassed.

“W, why?”

I’m not interested in such bothersome things.

A person with ambition might bite the bait she offered.

No, most other Academy students wouldn’t refuse.

As she is considered the next Emperor.

The Guardian Knights will definitely be a good opportunity to enter the Princess’s line.

But I don’t want that.

Why would I do something so bothersome?

There’s no particular benefit for me.

I don’t have any particular desire for power or material things.

I just want to live a more fantasy-like life.

I’m not interested in being a civil servant.

I’m not interested in a stable, boring job with a guaranteed retirement.

Anna didn’t seem to have any intention of forcing me any further, so she quietly nodded at my words.

It’s a shame, but I can’t help it.

“Then may I leave now?”

Yes, please tell me anytime if you change your mind later.

Anna leaves room until the end.

But I don’t think my mind will change.

I was about to get up from my seat after finishing the meeting with Anna when I suddenly pointed to the cookies on the table and asked her.

“Can I take a few of these?”

“Of course. But do you like these?”

“Hmm…. A little?”

I took a few of the cookies on the table. Thinking that I should bring some to Elena later.