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Sunday.

I was currently reporting on work to Heinkel Headmaster in his office.

Although it was necessary, I had indeed acted independently without informing the Headmaster, causing a commotion within the academy in the process.

Naturally, news of the incident in the security dormitory yesterday would have reached Heinkel Headmaster as well.

So, I reported to Heinkel Headmaster that I had completely annihilated the organization targeting Titania, and that an investigation into the group’s backers was currently underway by the royal side.

Of course, I refrained from mentioning overly sensitive information, such as the fact that the Undying King was Titania’s brother.

“…That concludes what happened yesterday.”

“I see. Understood.”

Heinkel Headmaster stroked his long beard and chuckled heartily.

“Instructor Ion has really accomplished a great deed. Truly a fitting achievement for the name of The Faceless Hero.”

“…You flatter me.”

“Actually, various reports came in yesterday. It seems a man dressed in our academy’s instructor uniform was running around the capital in the dead of night, causing massive property damage…”

“……”

There was no choice but to take somewhat drastic actions for a swift resolution. If I had settled it verbally, it certainly would have taken much longer.

Heinkel Headmaster nodded and said.

“Of course, it must have been necessary. You’ve spared no effort for the safety of the students; I’ll take care of the aftermath.”

“I appreciate that.”

“Still, it seems like such a small reward compared to what Instructor Ion has done. Personally, I’d like to show my gratitude… hmm, what would be appropriate…?”

Seeing Heinkel Headmaster lost in thought as he stroked his beard, I spoke up.

“It’s fine.”

“Are you saying you don’t need it?”

In front of Heinkel Headmaster, who looked perplexed, I calmly nodded.

“I was merely doing what needed to be done.”

Titania is my student, and I believe it’s an instructor’s responsibility to protect their students.

It wasn’t a directive from anyone, nor was I hoping for a reward. I simply did what I was supposed to do.

Upon hearing that, Heinkel Headmaster’s hand stopped stroking his beard, and he was taken aback, unable to tear his gaze away from me. Then he soon let out a hearty laugh and resumed stroking his beard.

“Indeed, a friend’s words cannot be wrong.”

“…Are you talking about Kalstein Marquis?”

“Exactly. My friend Kalbard often says how odd and worrisome it is that a guy who could easily become a noble and amass treasures like mountains doesn’t ask for anything and acts like a monk instead.”

Heinkel Headmaster looked at me intently with his wrinkled eyes.

“It’s as if he seems someone who could leave at any moment.”

I kept my mouth shut in response to those words.

As the atmosphere grew heavy for no reason, Heinkel Headmaster laughed and lightened the mood.

“Oh dear, I feel like I’ve said something unnecessary. They say as you get older, you gain a tendency to ramble, and I suppose that’s no idle saying. I apologize if it made you uncomfortable, Instructor Ion.”

“Not at all.”

“Still, the one who worked hardest shouldn’t go empty-handed. I’ll slip in a bonus with this month’s salary, so I would appreciate it if you accepted it for the sake of my dignity.”

I reluctantly nodded.

I generally don’t need large sums of money and have no use for them, but it’s true that having money will always offer some benefits.

Just as our conversation was nearing conclusion, Heinkel Headmaster suddenly pulled out a newspaper-like document from the pile of papers on his desk.

“Ah, Instructor Ion. Have you seen this yet? Zegler brought it this morning.”

I checked what Heinkel Headmaster handed me.

It was a newspaper with the words ‘The Faceless Hero’ prominently displayed.

*

Sunday.

The only day left of this precious holiday.

While others went back to their families or engaged in club activities, enjoying their youth, Marian was alone in her room buried under paperwork, her eyes heavy with dark circles.

“Ugh… Aaaah!!”

Unable to contain the stress building in her head, Marian flung the papers on her desk away.

As she watched the papers flutter around the room like garbage, she felt a momentary relief, but naturally, it was up to Marian to reorganize them again.

“Ha… what am I even doing?”

The reason Marian was struggling with paperwork like this.

It was, of course, because of the establishment of the Student Council for the Opal Black Class.

Taking over an already well-operating organization just requires a handover process. However, building a new organization from scratch involves an enormous workload.

Being a noble, Marian had become skilled in paperwork by assisting her mother with managing their territory, but it was only natural that even she would struggle when buried under this much paperwork.

Of course, being this busy was a result of Marian’s own choosing.

After all, with only five members in a class of eight, it would have been easy to operate it like a small club if they chose to do so.

But Marian, with her experience in territorial management, understood that the budget is better when it’s larger.

She also knew that once a budget is allocated, it can’t be increased unless there’s a significant reason, but it can be decreased.

Although there were currently only eight students, more first-years would gradually join the Opal Black Class as the semester progressed.

If applications for budget increases were necessary then, it would be a cumbersome and complicated process. It was much better to endure the pain now and receive a large budget all at once.

And most importantly, the most significant issue.

That was Marian’s pride.

Despite being a formal class, receiving a budget smaller than other classes, being ignored or mocked at student council meetings due to being a small class was something Marian’s high pride could never accept.

She still remembered how the Student Council President had made a discomforted face after reading the budget application she submitted and bluntly said, “It’s a bit too much for just eight people, isn’t it?”

Frankly, it was a valid point. For a class of only eight compared to the thousands in the Diamond White class, receiving the same budget was unrealistic. It would be hard to answer the question of what they would do with that much money for just eight people.

However, it was also true that just because the Opal Black Class had a small number of students didn’t mean they should be looked down upon or treated shabbily compared to other classes; she hated that more than anything.

Thanks to that, Marian had been holed up in paperwork all weekend, squeezing out non-existent reasons why the Opal Black Class needed to be allocated such a large budget in addition to the standard application process.

Of course, if the Opal Black Class truly was just an eight-member small class, her attempts would have been utterly futile, but unfortunately, the Opal Black Class contained many formidable individuals.

From Marian, the granddaughter of one of the Seven Heroes of the Continent, to the presence of the Imperial Princess Elizabeth—those factors surely wouldn’t go unnoticed on their side.

Though fundamentally, it wouldn’t be good to treat a student council in which the princess is the vice-president too poorly.

Philion Academy emphasizes equality, but as always in organizations run by people, it’s impossible to be completely free from power dynamics.

Long live power. Long live vested interests. Long live the princess.

Ironically, the princess had briefly helped yesterday but then disappeared somewhere with some urgent matters and hadn’t returned since.

“Haah…”

If I think about it, it’s all Instructor Ion’s fault.

What kind of high-achiever plan B was it that I’m going through all this trouble…

I can’t take it anymore. My blood pressure is rising; I need to grab some candy just to cope.

As I thought this, I opened the drawer, but the snack container that was once filled with chocolates was now completely empty. I had eaten them all one by one whenever I needed one.

Normally, I would have given up and focused on my work again, but unfortunately, Marian was craving sugar at the moment.

‘Now that I think about it, wasn’t there candy in the lounge?’

Thinking it would be nice to take a short break from paperwork and grab a cup of tea, I headed toward the lounge and ran into Schurz, who had just returned to the dormitory.

Having gone to his family’s home for the weekend, Schurz was holding a newspaper with a serious expression on his face.

“Schurz. You’re back already?”

“Hmm? Kalstein?”

“I told you to call me by my first name.”

“Oh right, I forgot. It doesn’t come naturally yet.”

Since the first day of the semester, Elizabeth had suggested that the students in the Opal Black Class all call each other by their first names.

If this weren’t an academy, it’s funny to think we’d be calling the princess by her first name, but honestly, Marian preferred calling people by their first names over any noble titles.

As she watched the boy’s awkward smile, Marian recognized the newspaper he was holding as the Sangria Daily, the most famous one in the capital.

“Are there any interesting news? I’ve never seen you so seriously holding onto a newspaper before.”

“Oh, there’s one shocking news, I must say.”

Schurz exaggeratedly said, as if to provoke a reaction.

“They say The Faceless Hero has appeared in the capital!”

“What??!”

The Faceless Hero?

In the capital?

Wait, why is that person suddenly here?

Of course, it was true that The Faceless Hero was in the capital, but very few people outside of me should know this information, right?

Did someone find out? Now that I think about it, I seemed to have stayed out later than usual yesterday. What on earth was I doing out there?

The sudden news of The Faceless Hero, who had disappeared for several years.

Knowing the identity of The Faceless Hero, Marian was extremely concerned about the content of the newspaper. However, the one who reacted most strongly to Schurz’s words was not Marian.

The lounge door slowly opened, and Osnia walked out into the lobby.

Her expression was unusually tense as if she had caught wind of their conversation.

“Tell me more about that.”

This was the first time Marian had seen Osnia’s eyes tremble like that.

 

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