I disagree!

　My Student Government Association membership.
　While decisions were being made in that direction, something cut through the air in the meeting room.

　With a huff, everyone turned to look at it.
　Beyond that, it was Lucien, the Student Government Association Secretary.

　With eyes full of strong determination, he received the gazes that were released from several.

　The one who reacted in particular was Vael.

You want to hear the reason why, Lucien Secretary? Of course, it's not a half-baked reason.

'Let me be clear, Mr. Chairman. I still don't trust this man.

What kind of credit is that?　Your identity?　Social position?　Or is it competence?

Everything. Everything that shapes this man. ........But what I don't particularly trust is that he is a [villager]. He could be a member of the 'Kakumei Nooshis'.

　A wild boar?

　In other words, The Revolutionary Candidate.
　Yeah?　I feel like I've heard this before.
　Yes. As I recall, when Bornga's father was trying to sell his mountain land, his business partner had a name like that.

'What's that 'revolutionary aspirant' thing?

Don't play dumb!　How could I not know them?

'Lucien, you're getting too hot. You might not really know, Lacelle.

　It was Payella, the vice president, who chided the secretary.
　But Lucian doesn't back down.
　He's staring at me as if I were his parents' avenger.

　Surprisingly, it was Rowan who explained on behalf of the JAMA members.

''The 'Revolutionary Volunteers' are a terrorist group made up mainly of [villagers].

　Its slogan is "Liberation of [villagers]".
　It is a terrorist group that demands the rights and status of the [villagers] and carries out terrorist activities in various countries.

Their methods are outrageous. For example--

A suicide mission with a bomb.

　If you think about it, it's easy to understand.

　The [villagers] who don't have magic, and the forces that control the six major occupational magic.
　If played properly, the latter will win in all likelihood.
　However, depending on how you do it, the 【Villagers】 also have a chance to win.

　In other words, a one-way ticket suicide attack.

　Compared to 300 years ago, the number of 【Villagers】 has decreased considerably.
　However, even now, in terms of population ratio alone, they still outnumber other professions.
　In terms of numbers, [villagers] have an overwhelming advantage.

　Violence in numbers is an unexpectedly troublesome thing.

　A simultaneous uprising of the oppressed [villagers].
　Even I, myself, feel a little sweat running down my spine.

　Now that I think about it, the words of my father, Luxor, who entrusted me with the future of the 【Village People】, may have been in anticipation of this.

''I understand. Then, Lucien. How do I acknowledge him?

Let me duel with you.

Ho.....

　Vael narrowed his icy eyes.
　Lucian continued to speak.

''If you can beat me, I will grant him membership in the Autonomous Society. But if I win - Lacel Singh Stark, you will be expelled from the school. Your presence is too dangerous.

Doesn't that seem a bit unfair?

'Then if I lose, I'll drop out of school too. And Master Vael. I will also quit being your sword.

Does this mean you're moving out of our home?

　For a moment, I couldn't see the story, but Payella explained it to me.
　It seems that Lucien was originally the son of the Rivild family's butler.
　The reason he enrolled in school was to take care of Vael's personal affairs.

　In other words, Lucien is leaving the Rivild family that he has served for many years.

　The Rivild family is a duke.
　As a steward, he is paid a high salary and has no trouble making ends meet.
　But Lucian was willing to fight me even if it meant abandoning his position and family history.

　It was never for the sake of the school, for example.
　It was all for the Lord I serve.
　It was all for the sake of the Lord we serve, and to keep away the dangerous factors, big or small.

　He was willing to go that far and challenge me.

'All right.'

　Vael closed his eyelids quietly.
　The inside of the conference room buzzed for a moment.
　Payella, who had been watching the exchange beside her, expressed her opposition, but the chairman did not retract his words.

''However, he'll take it, but...''

　The icy eyes are turned to me.

　To be clear, I don't understand the least bit of master-servant love.
　I would lay down my life for others.
　It's a feeling I don't understand, as I did with Sarasa and Cecil.

　But I have a purpose.

　To be strong.
　That's why I'm hiding in the school's dungeons.
　If anyone stands in the way of that, I'll beat them down mercilessly, even if it means someone else has to give up their life.

'If that's what it takes to join the local government association........ I have no objection to it. Let's take that duel.

　Thus, a rematch between me and Lucien was decided.


　◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆


　We can't lose........

　Lucian Clefield checked the feel of his beloved sword.
　The one he was holding was a dagger curved like a sickle.
　He grips it with one hand, one swing at a time.
　In other words, two swords.
　This was the main characteristic of the Clefield sword martial art that he had developed to protect the Lord.

　A dagger that could be used indoors for small movements.
　Each is grasped with the forward and reverse hand and held closely to the body.
　They consider the sword as an organ of the body, and based on a defensive kata, if necessary, they will cut the head of the villain.
　Because of its "dancing" like appearance, it was called "sword dance" by the Lord.

　His greatest characteristic was probably his speed.
　A steward must serve the Lord's side faster than anyone else.
　From this philosophy, the Clefield family emphasized speed.
　The body is stripped of excess fat and squeezed to the limit.
　The twin swords have also been carefully selected, and their thickness has been trimmed down to the very edge of the hardness standard to reduce their weight.

　Even if the opponent is a 【Mage(Wizard)】, he will not fall behind.

　At a distance of about 10 paces, I'm confident that I can cut its head off before it chants.

　But this time, the opponent is a 【Village】.
　Moreover, he has the same level of chanting speed as the master he serves.
　No, it might be more than that.

　Even so, I will win.

　He jumps into the bosom and cuts the man's head off.
　That's just it.

　Standing between Lucien and Lacelle was Vael, the judge.

　The place is moving.
　It's a training room surrounded by thick walls of magical silver on all sides.
　The magic of 【Hardness Increase】 and 【Magic Destruction】 was further activated in the magic silver, passively.
　Even if you use magic a little flamboyantly, it's durable enough to not break.

　Slowly Lucien and Lacelle get into position.
　Ten steps in distance.
　If it was me, I would be able to approach them in two steps.
　This distance was already a kill zone for Lucien.

　But it would be the same for Lacelle as well.

　The conditions were 50-50.
　Now it was just a matter of who was faster.

　That's all there is to it!

Hey!

　Lucien lands a kick to the ground.
　Magic doesn't activate.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

　The only thing you can rely on is your body.
　I've been bullied and trained for speed since childhood.
　And a strong sense of loyalty to the Lord (Vael) is all that's left.

　This is it!

　Lucien was sure.
　The timing was perfect.
　He is slightly tense, but not in bad shape.
　His muscles were reasonably relaxed.
　His breathing was right.
　All that was left to do was to accelerate.

　All I have to do is to hold this sword at my opponent's throat.

　I'll win!　For Vael!


　◆◇◇◇◇◇


　JUDO!

　A roar echoed through the training room.
　It shook the room violently.
　At the same time, a dazzling light covered his vision.
　It was a huge lightning attribute magic.
　Earlier, it slammed into the place where Lucien had been, making a sound like scratching iron.

　The pressure of its magical power was tremendous.
　The wall of magical silver (mithril) that the school had mastered with the best of technology was instantly breached in resistance and cracked with both sharp sounds.

　More explosions.
　From the center of the explosion, a thick cloud of smoke rises.

　All of those who were witnessing the explosion had astonished expressions on their faces.
　Even Vael, who is known as the [Frozen Dog Witch], is frozen.
　I stared at the explosion with my magic activated position.

　After a while, the full extent of the situation is finally revealed.
　Countless cracks appeared in the room covered with magical silver, and the hypocenter was sinking as if it had been dropped by a giant iron ball.

　And the center of it--.

　There was the blackened figure of Lucien.

"Lucien!

　It was Payella who ran up first.
　I immediately checked her pulse.
　I patted my chest in relief.

'She's alive.... That's good to hear. Now, recovery--

　He begins to heal Lucian's body, which was burned by the heat of the lightning attribute.
　The one I'm using is 【Great Recovery】.
　To be able to use advanced magic at that age.......
　She must be one of the fiercest people in the homeowners' association as well.

''I thank you, Lacelle Singh Stark.

It's nothing.... I haven't done anything to get you to thank me for it.

'No, you really (sic) fought Lucian. It's my thanks for that.

　Vael looked at the young man, his classmate and squire, who was being healed by Payella.
　You can see some compassion in his narrowed eyes.
　If it were true, she would be so worried that she wanted to fly away and hug him.
　Perhaps the reason she didn't do so was because her pride didn't allow her to do so.
　It was the Lord of Lucian who approved of this match.

''I see. But I didn't really mean it...''

　Vael laughed.
　He looked a little amused.

'Hmm.... That's a lie. It certainly wouldn't have been the maximum in terms of output. But lightning attribute magic is difficult to control. It's much more difficult than ordinary people think........ You aimed at the very edge of a fatal wound and barely saved Lucian. You could have taken a life with just one more push, but you went out of your way to control your magic and save that guy in the most difficult way (I'd like to see you, I'd like to see you, I'd like to see you, I'd like to see you.) What do you call it if you don't call it serious?

　I cowered my shoulders.

'That's as good as it gets, Chairman. You have an excellent eye for detail.

Hmm..... You're embarrassed.

What will happen to him?

'I could have saved my life for someone who could have easily cut me in my sleep if I'd wanted to. And what does that mean? He's not so hardheaded that he doesn't know what it means. He's not going to be fired. This one's my squire. Only the Lord can fire a squire.

　'Besides,' the chairman continued, 'I understand his concern.

"I can understand his concern. Lucien's mother was killed in a suicide bombing by [villagers]. He doesn't want that to happen to me, either.

You understand him very well, don't you?

Of course. He was--


　You're my best friend, you know.


　◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆


　We're taking a break for the time being.

　Lucien is fine.
　He was able to heal from his injuries thanks to Peira's magic.
　All we have to do now is wait for him to recover his consciousness.
　According to the [Cleric] stationed at the school, he would wake up tomorrow.

　We go outside and breathe in the air for the first time in a long time.
　We talked about going out for dinner, so Cecil, Sarasa and Rowan went to the school cafeteria.

　I was invited to join them, but there was too much going on today.
　As expected, my body was screaming, and when I said I wanted to go back to the dormitory early to rest, the three of them let me go easily.

　Currently, I'm trudging home alone.

　The sun was dipping into the shadows of the distant royal castle, and the sky was tinged with the color of red.
　I stopped suddenly, watching it.

　I let out a big breath.


　Whew......... I wasn't taking it easy, though.


　I was reminiscing to myself on the grounds of an empty school.