Chapter 8: -all only for you (3)

To the more outstanding student council, a premium-grade Inner Core!

“Indeed. It’s an item that can instantly boost the achievements of those of you who are currently expanding your mana capacity… no, your mana veins. Whether the representative monopolizes it or you distribute it fairly, that’s for you to decide.”

Just as I expected, a commotion instantly spread.

A premium-grade Inner Core was certainly a rare item, difficult for even a prominent noble family to acquire.

An opportunity to obtain such a thing — it was natural for everyone to light up with excitement.

“Headmaster! Though similar, I am confident that our General Student Council has achieved far more than the Nobles’ Faction!”

“What? What nonsense is that?!”

And as expected, they immediately began to eye each other warily.

My strategy was already a success up to this point.

“I’m not telling you to start bickering now. Since there’s much to discuss, we’ll decide who gets this Inner Core after the meeting.”

I first calmed them down, then gestured towards the other students who were gradually gathering.

In fact, many professors, who should have been busy, were also visible, along with students, at this unprecedented situation where the student council, whose authority had been quite formidable until now, was holding a direct meeting with the Headmaster, not even the faculty.

“Illia. Begin preparations.”

I gradually ordered the preparations.

Although it was a meeting with the student council, it was also the first time I would meet with general students since the entrance ceremony.

Today, I intended to explain my exact intentions to them and convince them.

“Then, we will now begin the public discussion between the two major student councils and the Headmaster.”

And in just a few minutes, I found myself sitting on the main seat of a makeshift stage, hastily set up under the bright sunlight, facing a multitude of students.

“F-first and foremost, our question is why you completely revised the existing educational policies and abolished the support programs.”

“As the professors already know, the education I pursue is not for you to study comfortably and without practical relevance, filling your heads with empty notions as you are now. My goal is to enable you to cultivate power that can be utilized to the extreme in real combat, saving your lives and those around you.”

I stated the facts as I had prepared beforehand.

As I spoke, I diligently scanned the crowd.

But it seemed almost impossible to find any familiar faces in this manner.

“Therefore, I’ve changed everything to maximize skill improvement. General Student Council President, you answer me. Is the mandatory support policy truly necessary now? Haven’t the days of discrimination based on status and origin within this academy passed? Is it right to provide support unrelated to skill even now?”

“But on average, we are clearly in a disadvantageous position…”

“Isn’t it a bit contradictory to demand compensation based on status and origin when you’re at a disadvantage, but then stay silent when you’re at an advantage?”

As I let out a wry chuckle, Brian, the president of the General Student Council, bit his lip in great embarrassment.

And then I saw the Nobles’ Faction smugly scoffing at his appearance.

Naturally, I thoroughly criticized the Nobles’ Faction too, for clinging to the school based on their lineage rather than skill.

Many students from the Nobles’ Faction turned pale, seemingly having never even considered such public disparagement.

“The ones who are harmed by you are not each other. It’s the other students with pure will and skill. I merely intended to focus on them. How will I do that, you ask?”

I ignored the frozen student councils, who couldn’t retort, and snapped my fingers.

At that, the heavy bags carried in by the secretarial staff, led by Illia, were dramatically unfurled, and their contents sparkled brilliantly in the sunlight.

Countless gold, silver, and copper coins, along with luxurious equipment and tools.

“These are all the items that were to be used for the abolished support policies. This place, Lagpedia, provides all basic necessities, including food, clothing, and shelter, so any nonsense about unfairness or inequality won’t be tolerated. In addition to these items, future rewards from the Headmaster will only be available to those who achieve excellent grades.”

Unlimited competition, harsh competition, ranking by grades, excessive academic fervor, and so on.

Were these some of the drawbacks of modern Korean society?

But at this moment, I felt they were necessary, so I gladly brought them out.

“Don’t you like it? Is it inconvenient? Then straighten your posture. And ask yourselves, ‘Is my skill not lacking?'”

To top it off, a provocation aimed at the entire student body.

Surprisingly, the atmosphere didn’t lean to one side but was pure chaos, yet I expected that from today onwards, a majority of the students would dislike me quite a bit.

Of course, I wouldn’t care about that at all.

“The meeting is over, so now there’s a small event left.”

The meeting ended quite quickly.

Firstly, the student councils, having been verbally battered by me, had no mental fortitude left, and all their questions had been answered without reservation, and my will was extremely resolute.

Instead, the student councils, who had been knocked out by the mention of an event, began to revive.

“By what criteria do you intend to select?”

“Indeed, you were divided in many aspects. Overall, you’re similar, but it’s difficult to favor one side. So, I want to resolve this by the tradition of us Magic Knights.”

“T-tradition, you mean…”

Illia, who was acting as both host and my aide, stammered in surprise.

I glanced at her, and she seemed to have roughly anticipated my intentions, sending desperate glances to stop me.

But seeing that look, I felt an even stronger rebellious urge to do the opposite.

“To prove one’s strength.”

Grinning, I leaped up and stood on the desk.

Naturally, everyone’s attention instantly focused on me.

Receiving their gazes, I pointed my hand towards what the staff were bringing in.

“From now on, I will imbue this dummy with my mana and leave it. Each student council should try to destroy this dummy by any means necessary. The student council that succeeds in destroying it will receive the promised Inner Core as a reward.”

[Ice Wheel Art: Absolute Zero]

I unleashed mana towards the dummy, engulfing it in blue ice and completely freezing it.

“What are you doing? Start. First come, first served.”

All that remained was to incite competition.

Naturally, the student councils rushed forward, squabbling over who would go first.

“A-are you leaving?”

“It’s obviously going to take some time. Instead, Illia, you stay here and maintain order. I need to go to my office to handle the rest of my duties.”

With that, I subtly turned and left.

I guarantee that at the students’ current level, they absolutely cannot break that thing.

However, around evening, when mana is gradually depleted, if ‘someone with ample experience’ strikes it with all their might, it might be possible to shatter it.

****

“Get out of the way! Blaze!”

“Ugh… it won’t budge!”

“Haaah!”

A harsh, one-sided beating by countless students upon a frail dummy.

But even scorching flame magic and a sword swung with all the might of a reinforced body could not break the dummy, which was merely coated with a thin layer of ice like a film.

“It’s impossible. It’s not even a proper defensive spell, just an object imbued with mana, how can it be like this…”

Although Eve was criticized for lacking skill and unfairly monopolizing privileges, in truth, the majority of students belonging to both student councils were the most outstanding individuals representing their respective factions.

Therefore, they also understood how absurd this situation was.

While there was a difference between a student and the Headmaster, their full power being unable to defeat a mere dummy imbued with strength was beyond their comprehension.

“This one too, huh.”

“Miss Eisenberg. If even you can’t do it, then it will be difficult with magic.”

Roman, the president of the Nobles’ Faction, smiled bitterly as he looked at the blonde female student who had lowered her hand after casting a larger and stronger flame spear spell than others.

Her name was Lizel Rotten von Eisenberg; she was known as the most outstanding mage among them, meaning if her magic didn’t work, there was no other way.

“The Nobles’ Faction’s fifth turn is over. Now it’s the General Student Council’s sixth attempt.”

At that moment, Illia, who was checking the pocket watch in her hand, confirmed that time was up and managed their challenges.

Simultaneously, sighs and irritated grumbles erupted from various places.

It was starting to get exhausting.

Many had already left due to other engagements.

“Did the Headmaster give us an impossible task?”

“…Even if so, we can’t give up.”

In response to Roman’s words, Lizel, who had removed her gloves, bit her lip and shook her head.

This was because the resting General Student Council students had recharged their fighting spirit and were approaching again.

“You said this time would be different, but if it’s not going to work, why don’t you quietly return to your dorms?”

“Hah. What a rude foreign woman.”

Especially when her eyes met with a dark-haired female student who had her hair tightly tied back, she let out a wry chuckle without realizing it.