Translator: Kell Editor: Weasalopes
Students Alliance Conference – Preassembly
「Why this place for the meeting, though?」Hikaru muttered .
The first meeting of the students from the seven nations was today, and it would be held at none other than the tavern Three Cheers for Booze . The pub itself was supposed to be closed today, but Hikaru asked the Master and the man lent him the key . He even told Hikaru to open the place if he wanted to .
「Well, that’s because this tavern is a gathering spot, and no one would think that students would be here . I thought it was the perfect place . 」League, who was already waiting in front of the tavern, answered . 「I was beginning to feel anxious since you weren’t around yet . Although there’s not a lot of people who would come here, there’s still the off chance that someone sees me . 」
Hikaru glanced around and found no one . His Mana Detection didn’t sense any people on the streets either . It was League’s idea to tell everyone to come alone so they wouldn’t be wary of each other .
「I came here early to open the place and you came even earlier . You must be really looking forward to this . 」
「I’m betting everything on this day . 」
You’re exaggerating, Hikaru thought . But League was dead serious . He was not the type to joke around in the first place .
They entered the tavern . Hikaru checked the fridge and started boiling water . Lavia helped with preparing tea, while League sat on the counter .
「Hikaru, thank you so much for your help . 」
「Where’d that come from?」
「I didn’t expect you to gather everyone so quickly . 」
「I told you each one has their own quirk . Can’t be all too positive about this . 」
Hikaru had already told League about the students he made contact with .
「Still, I’d like to thank you . 」
「That’s a flag, you know . 」
「A flag?」
「Ah, a flag is—」
The door opened .
「Oh! Looks like I got the right place . Sir League, thank you for inviting me to this meeting . Oh, and Hikaru! Long time no see!」
It was Silvester, cheerful as always . If this man became the next King of Zubura, the nation would be in good hands . He was the complete opposite of League, who almost never smiled .
「Lord Silverster . I mean, Silvester . Let’s drop the titles . 」
「Ah, right . 」
Silvester flopped down on the seat beside League . The Green Ogre heir contacted him through the principal . Surprisingly, he looked forward to this meeting .
「I never thought someone like you was a student here, Hikaru…」Silvester said .
「What do you mean by that? I’m still young . 」
「You’re strong enough to kill a Lesser Wyvern alone . Are you practicing magic in the academy?」
「Wait a minute . Hikaru killed a Lesser Wyvern alone?」League cut in .
「I told you about it, didn’t I?」Hikaru asked .
「No, you didn’t . I thought you formed a party with some people . 」
「I went with Lavia . 」
Lavia nodded .
「Who’s this beautiful lady?」Silvester asked, finally noticing her .
「Ah, she was there when we fought the wyvern . 」
「I see . So she was supporting with holy magic . 」
Aside from Healing magic, one could also learn Support Magic when strengthening their faith .
「Yeah, something like that . 」Hikaru said .
「No . Hikaru told me to stay back and went to kill it alone . 」
「Lavia…」
「It’s the truth . 」
She nonchalantly put tea leaves in the pot .
「Hikaru, what’s the meaning of this?」
「That’s it . There’s nothing more to it . Anyway, enough chit chat . The next guest is here . 」
The door opened and Claude entered . Astonished at the empty and dark place, he looked relieved as he spotted Hikaru at the counter .
「I’m Claude Zahard Kirihal . Hikaru invited me . 」
「I’m League “Green Ogre” Rumania . I’m the one who asked Hikaru for help . Thank you for coming here today . 」
「And I’m Silvester G . Zubura . I believe we met each other at a party once . No need to be formal here . 」
Silvester’s tone was friendly . But Claude, knowing that he was the next king of Zubura, didn’t know if he should be nervous or cool; he sauntered to the counter, but didn’t take a seat, still confused .
「Claude, how about some cold tea?」Hikaru asked .
「Th-That sounds good . Thanks . 」
「Please have a seat . 」
Urged by Hikaru, he finally sat down on a stool . He drank the tea in one gulp and exhaled .
「Hey, League . Hikaru’s being polite . 」Silvester said .
「I know . A rare sight . 」
「I can hear you, you know . 」Hikaru said .
「It’s weird . All three of us have pretty much the same standing in Forestia, but you’re polite with Claude, and crude when talking to us . 」Silvester said .
「Yes . It’s quite strange . 」League added .
「Not you too, League . Besides, you’re the one who told me to be more polite to up the chances of success . Do you remember how we met, anyway?」Hikaru said .
For League, it was at the Adventurers Guild when Roy stirred trouble . For Silvester, while fighting the Lesser Wyvern .
「Yeah, I thought so . Not really how you meet people normally . I didn’t think I’d see you ever again so I didn’t care about how to address you . 」Hikaru added .
「And now you’re our biggest supporter . You never really know what’s gonna happen in life . 」League said .
「Yup . It’s a great thing we acquired Hikaru . 」
「No, you didn’t “acquire” me! And my help ends today!」Hikaru answered back .
「You’re from Ponsonia, right? But you talk to them like you’re close friends…」Claude said .
「I wouldn’t say that…」
「Could you talk to me like that too? Like, be more rude or something…」
Hikaru took half a step back .
「What? Are you the type who gets turned on when berated?」Hikaru asked .
「O-Of course not! That’s ridiculous!」Claude protested .
「Silvester, I think we chose the wrong guy from Kirihal . 」
「I agree . This is a serious matter . 」
「No! I’m not like that, okay?!」
In the meantime, Lavia poured more cold tea into Claude’s cup .
「It looks like you’ve loosen up a little, Claude . 」she said .
On his feet with mouth open, Claude sat back down .
「Ah, so that’s what’s going on . Thank you . I may have been feeling tense . My throat’s dry . 」
As Claude drank his tea, Hikaru sensed several people approaching with his Mana Detection .
「All right . It looks like the rest of the gang is here . Let’s move to the table . 」Hikaru said .
Luka arrived next . Not long after, Ivan, one of the Jarazack students studying the great sword, showed up . And then Catherine, Lavia’s friend from Euroba . She had bluish hair, braided to both sides . Her purple eyes painted her as someone quiet – or rather, gloomy . Her skin had a tinge of blue to it, a feature of the people from Euroba .
「We have six people so far . All that’s left is…」League said, glancing at Hikaru .
「Kotobi . Professor Katy said her younger sister will come . 」Hikaru said .
「I looked it up, but apparently she doesn’t have a younger sister . 」
「What?」
「How did you tell her about the meeting place?」
「I just told Professor Katy directly . I know this sounds strange, but I don’t think she would lie to me . 」
「Really?」
And then…
「Sorry, I’m late! I got lost . 」
A woman appeared . She looked coldhearted, with a tattoo of a flame on her face .
「Is that you, Professor?」Hikaru asked .
「No, it’s her sister, Katyna . 」she answered .
「No, it’s definitely you . 」
「Nope . My name is Katyna . 」
Hikaru checked her Soul Board . Katy .
「If you keep on fooling around, I might have to do something about this . 」
Hikaru rolled up his shirt to show the revolver .
「W-Wait a sec, Hikaru!」
Katy approached him quickly, putting her arm around his shoulder .
(It sounded interesting so I wanted to be part of it!)
(I told you we needed a student . )
(Oh, come on . You’re exchanging ideas, right? It won’t hurt to have a professor’s opinion too . I’m sure I can help . I’ll show you . )
(Don’t tell me you wanted to participate because you thought this meeting would be related to the holy mana…)
「O-O-Of course not! No, no…」
「Hikaru-san . 」League spoke . 「I think it’s fine . Opinions from non-students will be valuable . 」
「You heard the man!」Katy exclaimed, pointing at League .
The words “beautiful, but hopeless” came to Hikaru’s mind .
「Fine…」Hikaru said, heaving a sigh .
And so the meeting, attended by six students and a professor, began .
【Participants】(In Order of Power)
League “Green Ogre” Rumania – Heir to Rumania’s most powerful clan
Claude Zahard Kirihal – A young man from the Zahard family, an enemy of the Miralka family where Queen Marquedo comes from
Luka Lordgrad Ludancia – Ludancia’s third princess
Ivan Jarazack – The son of an elite swordsman in Jarazack
Catherine Euroba – Daughter of a family whose members hold many posts in the government
Katy Kotobi – A professor in the academy, she’s from a family that owns some of the richest mines in Kotobi
Silvester G . Zubura – Crown prince of Zubura
※Hikaru – Observer
※Lavia – Waitress