By the time things finally settled down, students from the stadium began leaving in scattered groups.
The noise that had filled the place only moments ago gradually faded, leaving behind the faint echo of footsteps and conversation.
...
Yet Reinhardt Elthorn remained at my side.
Without saying a word.
"Well..."
"Why are you still here?"
He turned toward me with an unusually serious expression.
"Isn't it obvious?"
"A servant stays by his master's side at all times."
...
For someone with his personality, that tone felt almost unnatural.
Still, it would be a problem if he actually started following me everywhere.
--------
"By the way..."
Ashrune's voice suddenly reached my ear.
His breath was close enough that I could feel it against my skin.
"Do you know that a master is responsible for every action their servant takes under the master's order?"
"...Whether the servant succeeds or fails."
He whispered the words with an amused calm.
...
Right.
I already knew there would be a cost.
Nothing ever came without one.
Ashrune laughed quietly.
"Didn't I say I believed in cost?"
"Though what I told you just now is the common cost that comes with a master-servant relationship."
"There are more depending on the situation."
"And on necessity."
He turned away and began walking toward the exit as if the matter were no longer important.
--------
"You don't need to stay with me all the time."
"I can't do that."
Elthorn answered without hesitation.
"...Then let's do this."
I looked at him.
"I'll implant a summoning seal in your hand."
"With that, I can summon you and speak to you whenever I need to..."
"Or if I'm in real danger."
Elthorn glanced at his own left hand for a moment, then held it out toward me.
"Hmm..."
"Okay."
I placed my palm over his.
"Hereby..."
"I make Reinhardt Elthorn my servant."
"Become my sword and shield."
"Swear your absolute loyalty to me."
His response came immediately.
"I, Reinhardt Elthorn, hereby swear my absolute loyalty to Katsuhito Kurogane."
...
Ah.
He actually took it seriously.
Well...
I can perform this skill without a chant as long as the participant has the will to accept it.
Still...
It sounds cooler this way.
I extended my hand.
Elthorn smiled and took it.
We shook hands.
--------
Then we started walking toward our classroom.
But just as we moved forward—
Something descended from above.
A strike.
It came down like a shooting star in broad daylight.
Both Elthorn and I jumped away in time, each moving in opposite directions.
The ground exploded beneath the impact.
Dust rose into the air.
A shadow stepped forward from the center of the crater.
"Ohh..."
"So you can dodge my attacks now?"
"Shame of our family, Reinhardt Elthorn."
The voice was deep.
Calm.
Harsh.
A man emerged from the dust.
He was taller than me.
More muscular too.
Even compared to Reinhardt, his build was clearly more imposing.
He walked straight toward Elthorn.
"I heard a report."
"You became the servant of a commoner."
His tone remained controlled.
Yet beneath it...
The anger was obvious.
He stopped directly in front of Reinhardt.
The shadow of his body swallowed Elthorn completely.
A frightening presence pressed down on him.
"Nii-san.(Elder Brother)"
Elthorn straightened himself as much as possible.
Even so, I could see the hand gripping his spear tremble slightly.
...
Older brother?
I didn't expect this problem to appear so quickly.
The man glanced at the mark on Elthorn's left hand and immediately understood what had happened.
"Tch."
His eyes shifted toward me.
Then he turned his spear and swung it in my direction.
A sharp air slash shot toward me.
...
Ah.
So that's it.
He's trying to handle me first, so that none of this ever happened.
...
Quite a good brother, in that sense.
I simply stood there.
The slash struck my barrier and dispersed.
The barrier behind me cracked instead.
His brother smiled faintly.
Then he turned and began walking toward me.
"You are quite strong."
"So, respecting that strength, I ask you to cancel this contract."
"In exchange, I will promise you a good position in the future."
...
So you're trying to buy me.
Not a bad offer.
...
Unfortunately...
I can't afford to lose my tool.
"My answer is—"
Before I could finish speaking—
"Elder brother."
Elthorn stepped forward.
"Now I'm his servant."
"I have judged him worthy of offering my life."
His voice trembled slightly.
Yet the conviction behind it was unmistakable.
His brother stopped.
...
Silence.
A pause stretched between them.
Then Valdrik slowly opened his eyes.
The anger in them had sharpened into something firmer.
Something resolute.
"Katsuhito Kurogane."
"Prove your worth to me."
He pointed his spear directly at me.
...
Ah.
Another duel.
--------
By the time I faced Valdrik, class time had already begun.
It was noon.
A hot, bright noon with the sun hanging high overhead.
Reinhardt had been moved to the audience seats, where he sat watching in silence.
Valdrik stood on the field opposite me, his entire body radiating pressure.
He straightened and spoke in a deep voice.
"My name is Valdrik Elthorn."
"The eldest son of the Elthorn family..."
"...and servant of the Second Prince."
I gave him a slight nod.
"My name is Katsuhito Kurogane."
"Student Council President of Daimadō Mahō Gakuen."
Valdrik's lips curled slightly.
"Let's go fair and square."
He dissolved his spear, apparently intending to fight me on equal terms.
...
So he's similar to his younger brother.
Valdrik suddenly rushed in.
His speed was faster than Reinhardt's.
However...
The instant he attempted to throw his first punch—
My kick struck the side of his face.
His reaction speed was impressive.
He managed to twist his posture into a defensive stance just before the blow fully landed.
Still...
I had put more force behind that kick than the one I used against Reinhardt.
The impact sent Valdrik flying.
He slammed into the stadium floor hard enough to crack it.
...
At minimum...
I need to fight at this level if I want to win against him.
He was almost twice as strong in raw power and technique.
Reinhardt watched in stunned silence.
So he was holding back...
That thought was written clearly across his face.
--------
Valdrik rose from the crater he had created.
He wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.
"...Ah."
"Now I understand why Reinhardt entrusted his loyalty to you."
He raised his eyes toward me.
Then I lifted one finger.
A flame burst into existence at its tip.
In an instant...
The fire condensed into a sphere.
Then the color slowly shifted.
Red.
Orange.
Blue.
A flame the shape of a blazing orb, deepening toward blue as it stabilized in the air.
Valdrik stared at it, his eyes widening for a brief moment.
I remained silent and watched him.
Then Valdrik smiled.
His eyes closed for an instant.
"...Ah."
"I understand now."
He opened his eyes again.
Water began gathering around his arm.
It twisted and condensed, taking the shape of a bow.
His other hand drew across empty space.
A water arrow formed along the string.
Then he pulled.
The arrowhead sharpened.
The force accumulated behind it.
The pressure expanded wide behind him like a rising tide.
I erected a second barrier above the academy's existing one.
The air around both of us grew heavy.
Our attacks were building.
Expanding.
Pressing outward with increasing force.
Then...
Both attacks were released.
They collided in the air with such intensity that the academy's existing barrier cracked immediately.
The impact tore through the field.
The ground beneath us shattered.
Earth and stone exploded outward until my own barrier absorbed the worst of it.
The barrier directly in front of me cracked slightly.
...
Ohh.
Valdrik wasn't able to completely block the impact either.
When the dust finally settled...
He stood back up.
Only barely.
His body had taken severe damage.
Blood covered parts of his face and uniform.
Even so...
He took a stance and tried to advance.
He still wanted to continue.
...
Ah.
I can use this.
At the moment he took another step forward—
I summoned Reinhardt between us.
A good opportunity to test his loyalty.
The moment Reinhardt appeared, he looked startled.
But only for a second.
He immediately understood what I wanted him to do.
He intercepted his elder brother's attack with his spear.
The force pushed Valdrik back.
Valdrik's feet slid across the stone.
He stared in disbelief at the sight before him.
His own younger brother was standing in front of him.
"Isn't it against the rules?"
I asked calmly.
"Summoning is part of my power."
Valdrik's eyes shifted to Reinhardt.
Reinhardt stood there, still barely steady, but his expression was unwavering.
Then Valdrik looked back at me.
The conviction in my eyes seemed to reach him.
...
"Ah..."
Valdrik exhaled quietly.
A smile slowly appeared on his face.
Then his strength gave out.
Valdrik collapsed just after speaking.
--------
Reinhardt turned toward me, silently asking for permission.
I gave a small nod.
"Yeah, you can."
Just as Reinhardt was about to carry his brother toward the medical room, another voice cut through the stadium.
"Take him to the medical room!"
The heavy voice carried clearly across the grounds.
Vivienne Arkwright.
A few students immediately moved to assist, and Valdrik was carried away by several people while Reinhardt followed with the others.
The principal began walking toward me.
"Well..."
She glanced briefly at the scene.
"Ah... no need for explanation."
"I've already heard everything from Ashrune."
"What I'm here for is to see the aftermath of things."
Her gaze moved across the shattered stadium floor.
"...Haa."
"This ground is going to need maintenance."
Then she looked at me.
...
Sounds like she wants to make me do the work in exchange.
Naturally.
"By the way..."
"How far did you get in assembling the student council committee?"
Principal Vivienne asked without much ceremony.
"After making Reinhardt my servant, I'll add him to the student council committee."
"I see."
"Well, I found another member already."
A voice came from the stadium entrance.
Two figures were walking toward us.
Shirohana...
And another girl beside her.
They approached without hesitation.
Shirohana gestured slightly toward the woman beside her, silently telling her to introduce herself.
The girl bowed gracefully.
"My name is Celestria Varnhilde."
"I am Shirohana-sama's personal servant."
"Please feel free to call me Celestria, Kurogane-sama."
...
Ah.
I had forgotten Shirohana was a noble.
Still...
If Shirohana could use a skill at my level or even higher, then...
My eyes moved briefly to Celestria's hands.
There was no sign of a summoning seal.
Then I looked at Shirohana's face.
She had remained fixed on me the entire time, her lower face hidden behind her sensu (folding fan).
...
"Well then."
"Now that the Student Council has four members..."
"It would be a good time to begin Student Council work."
"You three, come with me."
Principal Vivienne began walking toward the exit of the stadium.
...
I would much rather go home and sleep.
But apparently not.
--------
We left the stadium and headed toward another building within the academy grounds.
It was a two-story structure.
The principal opened the front door.
We entered, and I looked around.
Inside were a meeting room, kitchen, hall, storage room, separate bathrooms and toilets for each gender, and a room for staying overnight on the first floor.
Principal Vivienne sat down on the sofa in the hall.
"Here are the keys to every room."
"You may use this house however you please."
We began climbing the stairs from the hall.
The carpet covering the wide staircase was soft beneath my feet.
At the top, there was a straight corridor leading to the
Student Council President's Office
.
From there, a two-way corridor overlooked the area below.
In that corridor, there were two rooms.
One appeared to be a library.
The room opposite it contained a wide variety of weapons.
Shirohana remained silent beside me, quietly observing everything as we moved.
--------
When we reached the office door, Celestria stepped forward, took the key, and opened it for us.
She bowed slightly.
"Please."
I entered the room with Shirohana.
A table and chair stood near the center of the room, positioned in front of the window.
There was also a sofa, an additional table, a cabinet, and several other pieces of furniture.
...
I wonder if this academy had a Student Council in the past.
Shirohana walked behind the chair, rotated it outward, and smiled at me.
"...Ah, thanks."
I sat down.
Shirohana stood beside me.
Celestria remained in front of us.
"You two look perfect together."
Celestria said it with complete sincerity.
...
Ah.
Oh.
Hmm.
--------
"You done seeing?"
Principal Vivienne asked as she entered the room.
She tossed a bundle of papers onto the desk.
"Inside these are the details for work separation and each role."
"Now that I have other matters to attend to, I'll take my leave."
With that, the principal turned and left.
I picked up the papers and started reading them while Shirohana read alongside me from the side.
The roles required for the Student Council were:
President
Vice-President
Treasurer
General Affairs Manager
Information Officer
Public Relations Officer
...
Hmm.
"Celestria-san."
I looked toward her.
"Will you take the role of Treasurer?" i asked .
"Leave it to me, Kurogane-sama." Celestria replied, bowing with graceful poise.
Then...
Reinhardt seemed like he could handle the General Affairs Manager position.
That still left the Information Officer and Public Relations Officer.