LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 37 - String (2)
Chapter 37 – String (2)
“Come, sit down comfortably. What would you like? Honey tea? Black tea? Or perhaps, sweet hot milk? The tastes of children these days change so quickly. It wasn’t like this 10 years ago. If they change so quickly, how is someone like me supposed to keep up? Don’t you think it’s really too much?”
“Ha ha…”
I was currently seated on the sofa in the principal’s office at the top of the western tower. Before me, an elf woman was incessantly muttering to herself while considering which type of tea to offer me.
“I was admiring the blooming crownflowers in the garden, and I heard your voices from there, so I came to see what was going on. And I’m sorry about what happened earlier. I’ll apologize to you. One of the priests went back home last week, so there was a temporary vacancy.
And it wasn’t usually like that, but lately, that child Eloise has been a bit sensitive. Well, she broke up with the man she was dating last week, you know? She said he cheated on her, this was the third time… That child is also old enough to get married, but how come she still doesn’t have any good judgment about men? This is really a big deal.”
It seems the girl named Eloise was the staff at the administration office. The principal continued muttering to herself, shaking her head, and then focused on brewing the tea while humming a tune.
The afternoon sunlight streamed through the west-facing window, bathing the entire room in warm light. The atmosphere in this room was full of tranquility, but I couldn’t appreciate it at all.
‘This person is especially difficult to deal with, what the hell is this……’
At first glance, the principal boasted a flowery spring maiden-like appearance that seemed pure, but it was just a facade. Don’t be deceived.
No one in the present Empire was older than this woman. As if to represent her long life, the woman had many titles.
The principal of St. Clifford Academy, the Seeker of the High Forest, the Daughter of the Archer of the First Hero Party, the 3rd seat of the Empire’s Top 10, etc., although she had not received any official titles because she had repeatedly declined them, it was simply that she did not need them.
Even listing just the above titles was enough to show her great prestige and according to my knowledge, in the near future, one more line will be added to those titles.
That is, the title of ‘Helper of the Hero Party.’
And that would mean she was a major character from the original work that I didn’t want to be associated with.
* * * * *
Unlike me, who was only thinking about running away, the principal was still very excited.
“It’s been a while since a student has come to the principal’s office. Everyone is so scared of me that they just tremble, but it’s been a long time since a student has looked me in the eye and greeted me. I always thought I was treating the children sincerely, but maybe I was making some mistakes. The children’s perspective may be different from mine. What do you think?”
“Ha ha… ”
In response to the principal’s question, I chuckled, feigning a smile. Looked into each other’s eyes? When did I do that? And I didn’t come; you practically dragged me here.
This person, at first glance, you might mistake her for a bright, natural personality, but there is a completely different side hidden within her. It was not for nothing that she has been the principal of this academy for over 100 years.
Who in this empire can withstand the deep mind that has accumulated over the long years?
And if it were only the mind, I wouldn’t know, but the principal was also a person who possesses the powerful ability of Judgment, which supports it.
It wouldn’t do. Although I was forcibly brought here, if I mixed words with this person and made even a slight mistake, my entire background could be laid bare. Documents and whatever aside, it would be better to leave this place.
“Um, Principal. Excuse me, but I’m in a bit of a hurry…”
“Oh, look at my mind. I’m so excited that a student came for the first time in a while, I just talked about myself. Well, you said you needed a dorm room withdrawal form, didn’t you? Simple paperwork can be handled here, so I’ll help you. Let’s see, your name is Edwin… Edwin Reed…? Huh..”
Just as I was about to escape with a suitable excuse, the principal suddenly remembered the original purpose, clapped her hands together, and pronounced my name after seeing the nameplate attached to my school uniform.
“Edwin Reed… Edwin Reed…”
The principal’s expression upon seeing my name somehow changed very subtly…
…and I just felt uneasy for no reason…Wait a minute,
If it were the principal, major incidents in the academy would be reported on a regular basis, and since the disciplinary action I received was very serious by academy standards, it was natural that it would have been reported to her as well.
If that is the case, the report would of course include information about the parties involved, and it is possible that the principal still remembers my name.
If that’s the case, it explains why she’s showing such a subtle reaction.
The Principal loves all students of the academy, regardless of their social status. If she confirms that the instigator of those incidents is the same person as the one in front of her, I can’t imagine how she will react to me…
It’s bad luck. It’s too bad. I shouldn’t have been dragged here in the first place… Why was she out flower-watching at that time?
“Hmm… Edwin Reed… Class-D.”
Unlike me, who was feeling uneasy, the principal muttered my name leisurely while looking for documents, and it seemed that she found the documents she was looking for shortly after.
And as she read my documents, her expression began to change constantly.
“Hmm… indeed…”
The principal, who continued to flip through the documents, paused for a moment and then suddenly began to look back and forth between the documents and me.
It seems that she was comparing the part of my portrait in the academic record with my face.
It seems that she is experiencing the same confusion as the employee at the Academic Support Department.
The principal looked at me back and forth for a long time, and then suddenly sat down on the sofa in the office and spoke to me.
“Student, you said your name was Edwin. Shall we talk for a minute?”
The principal’s voice suddenly felt like it had gotten thicker, and then I suddenly started to feel a creepy gaze coming from the front.
Is this…the principal using her ability on me? No way.
Of course, I also want to be confirmed that I am the same person as the portrait in the academic record, but that’s all.
I closed my eyes to avoid the principal’s gaze, and I desperately prayed that she wouldn’t be able to confirm my most secret parts.
After a while, I felt the creepy gaze disappear, and I carefully opened my eyes and looked at the principal in front of me. She seemed to be struggling with something, her expression contorted as if something was not going well.
“Is today not good either… no, that’s not it…”
It seemed like she forgot I was even there, muttering to herself.
“Goodness, is this what aging does? I can’t help it in the face of time. But still…”
“Um, Principal…?”
“Huh? Ah.”
When I spoke up, the principal seemed to snap back to reality. She cleared his throat for a moment, then readjusted her expression and looked back at me. However, the initial kindness and gracefulness disappeared from her demeanor. Now, her expression was office-like and cold.
“…For now, it’s certain that you’re the same person. I’m curious about what could have happened in two months to change someone like this. However, it’s the student’s personal matter, and I won’t pry into it. There’s no indication of using magic or anything.
I’ll let the Academic Support Department know, so go and change the portrait later when you have time. If you don’t want this kind of trouble to happen again, be careful.”
“… I’ll keep that in mind. Then I’ll just get up…”
“Sit down, Edwin Reed. I’m not finished talking yet.”
The principal stopped me when I was about to get up.
Judging by the facial expression and tone, she seemed to be about to pour out a sermon…
“Well, Edwin. According to the academic record, you’re supposed to return to school in two days. Have you had any reflection in the meantime?”
“What do you mean by reflection?”
“It’s a matter of course. Of course, I’m asking about the actions you committed against your classmates. I said it clearly at the entrance ceremony, didn’t I? Once you enter the academy, the distinction between your previous social status becomes meaningless. And this is not just my will, but it is also protected by the supreme national law.
So, how can it be right for a mere student to ignore all of these things and oppress your classmates based on a purely personal reason that you don’t like? Edwin Reed. Answer my question once.”
It seems like the principal had no intention of letting me go easily.
—— End of chapter —–
Translator’s Notes:-
You can read the story ahead on my ko-fi (10 chapter ahead so far). Read here :- https://ko-fi.com/sacredtexttl/tiers
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