CH 72

"Rudy Astria, would you mind handling this?"

"Yes, of course."

After Astina was hospitalized, I started spending a lot of time in the student council room when I wasn't studying.

I'd planned on exercising, but helping out with the student council took priority.

The council was struggling without her since she typically shouldered a considerable amount of the work.

That's why when I offered to help, the members warmly welcomed me.

With time, as I helped, I started getting closer to the other council members.

Initially, they were somewhat wary around me, but after watching me for a while, they seemed to get a better understanding of who I was.

However…..

"It feels like we're piling too much work on someone who isn't even a council member, Vice President," Rie pointed out.

Her interference became a frequent hurdle, even in my conversations with others.

"Rudy Astria, why don't we have lunch together?"

"Rudy, let's go for lunch."

Before anyone could respond, Rie would butt in and derail the conversation.

While I had gotten closer to the council members, I could never hold a proper conversation with them because of Rie's constant interruptions.

"Hey, let's go," Rie nudged me, ready for lunch.

I looked at Rie, then at the pile of work on the desk in front of me, "We're all about to eat, why don't we all go together?"

Rie frowned at my suggestion, "I don't want to."

I shot Rie a glare, but she held my gaze defiantly, creating a tense atmosphere.

The council member who'd initially invited me to lunch awkwardly chimed in, "Ah, we have somewhere else to go! Sorry, Rudy. Maybe you could go with Rie first?"

"What?"

I looked at the council member, confused.

"We can go after you've eaten..."

"No, no, it's something we need to do right now!"

He glanced at Rie, nervously waving his hands.

"Well, if you're busy, what can you do?"

Rie smirked, feigning sympathy.

"I, I'll go!"

"Alright~ Take care~."

The council member hurriedly left the room.

"...Why is he like that?"

"What did I do~?"

Rie shrugged, a sly grin on her face.

She had an annoying face, but soon I sighed and nodded.

"Alright, let's go eat."

At my words, Rie's face lit up with a smile, "Sure!"

So, we ended up heading to the cafeteria together and finding a seat.

"What are you doing after this?"

"After eating?"

I thought for a moment before replying, "I think I'll go check if the magic tools have arrived."

I couldn't help but wonder just how much Vice Principal Oliver had been exploiting his position.

Despite ordering a massive quantity of magic tools last time, more were still due to arrive.

"Ah, from the Fred family...."

Rie mumbled to herself and seemed lost in thought for a moment.

She hesitated briefly before she carefully spoke up.

"Rudy, I didn't plan on bringing this up, but..."

"Yes?"

Rie looked at me seriously.

"There's something suspicious about the Fred family's recent activities."

"The Fred family?"

I was puzzled.

The Fred family, where Anton is from, was brought up out of nowhere.

I was aware it was about time for Anton's secret story to unfold, but hearing about their suspicious activities made me uneasy.

"Recently, the Fred family has been investigating Levian."

"...Levian?"

That name coming up now seemed out of place...

"Actually, it's not too odd. The Fred family was originally tasked with the investigation into Levian's disappearance."

Rie rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

"But it's odd that they're reopening the investigation after so long. They essentially left it as a cold case."

Her explanation made me furrow my brows.

Then, Rie reassured me with a smile.

"Don't worry, we're trying to figure out what's happening. But just to be safe, you should warn Luna."

I nodded in response to Rie's advice.

Suddenly, Rie's eyes widened.

"Ah...!"

She glared at me, saying, "I, I'll tell her. I'll be the one to warn Luna."

"What?"

"I'll do it."

Rie looked at me as if she was flustered, but also as if she was pressuring me.

"Let me do it."

Rie leaned in closer as she spoke.

I sighed in response.

She's been acting so strange lately.

"Alright, you tell her."

I agreed, but still I thought I should warn Luna myself.

"Six carriages..."

I stood in front of the main building, watching the approaching carriages.

But something seemed off.

Five were cargo carriages, but one was a standard passenger carriage.

"What's going on?"

The paperwork had stated there would be six cargo carriages.

I couldn't help but be suspicious about the unexpected carriage.

"Excuse me."

I approached and stopped the carriages.

The coachman appeared puzzled.

"What's with the carriage in the back?"

"Huh? We have no idea."

The coachman shook his head, clearly clueless.

Then, a man stepped out from the carriage at the back.

He was a butler, neatly dressed in a suit.

"Who are you?"

The man bowed and responded.

"Good day. I am Carol, a butler from the Fred family."

I cut to the chase without any formalities.

"What's with the carriage in the back?"

Carol replied with an awkward smile, looking apologetic.

"I apologize. We failed to ready six cargo carriages, so one passenger carriage was arranged instead."

Upon closer inspection, that carriage indeed bore the Fred family's emblem.

They used a family carriage because they didn't have enough cargo carriages?

I was skeptical.

I walked directly over to the carriage and swung the door open.

Inside, small boxes were stacked up.

"Ah, we transported fragile items separately in this carriage."

Carol, coming up behind me, laughed and explained.

His smile was undoubtedly amiable, but it gave me a bad feeling.

"Alright for now. However, I will report this to the other professors."

"Haha... Okay."

I shut the carriage door and surveyed my surroundings.

I noticed the mercenaries who were hired to escort the carriages.

Then, I glanced at the documents again.

"There seem to be more mercenaries than listed, aren't there?"

Carol scratched his head at my statement.

"I apologize. Recently, due to rebel activity, we felt compelled to hire more mercenaries. It's for added security."

His explanation made me frown.

"Please send them away."

"Huh?"

Carol looked at me, baffled.

"Send the mercenaries away. This is an academy. No matter how many extra you hired, you cannot bring them inside. They should be waiting outside."

"Well...."

As I voiced this, I noticed a vein bulge on Carol's forehead.

While grinding his teeth, Carol asked a peculiar question.

"But... aren't you Rudy Astria...?"

"That's correct."

I replied to Carol's question matter-of-factly.

Was he hoping to just push and brush the matter under the rug?

But I was not some ordinary student.

What could they possibly do to me?

"But... why..."

Carol seemed frustrated and stopped mid-sentence.

He stared at me.

His attitude began to irritate me.

They were in the wrong, yet they were giving me such a look?

I spoke assertively.

"Get them out."

"...Excuse me?"

Then, Carol reacted with an even more shocked expression.

"Didn't you hear me? Get everyone out. Do you think I'm easy because I'm a student?"

At my stern words, Carol bowed his head in surprise.

"I-I'm sorry. We will all leave."

"Guard."

I signaled for a nearby guard.

"You called?"

"Expel all these people and reprimand the guards at the entrance who let them in without proper checks. I will submit a written report regarding this incident."

"Ah, understood."

Following my orders, the guard escorted all the mercenaries, save for one or two, towards the academy entrance.

After confirming this, I glanced at Carol who was still bowing his head.

I replied haughtily.

"Don't overstep your bounds just because the principal isn't here."

At that, Carol looked up at me in surprise.

Ignoring him, I walked towards the cargo carriages and announced.

"I'm going to check the items."

While I was examining the goods, Carol disappeared.

I didn't care where he went; he had been granted permission to enter.

"Hmm..."

I paused for a moment, lost in thought.

The look in Carol's eyes from earlier.

Despite my aggression, his gaze didn't falter.

Instead, he looked at me even more sharply.

"How cheeky..."

I felt a twinge of irritation.

However, the irritation faded quickly.

A smirk took its place.

"I really am becoming like a noble."

Carol was walking through the academy.

"What on earth?"

The Fred family and the Astria family had a fairly cordial relationship.

Rather, they were close to being comrades on the same boat.

Yet, the plan was starting to derail.

He had sent a letter to Ian Astria, assuming that Rudy Astria would also be informed, but it seemed that he had miscalculated.

"Did he not relay the message?"

Carol frowned and muttered to himself.

"Sigh... I don't know."

It was infuriating that he had been challenged by a mere student, but given the difference in their statuses, he couldn't protest.

"I have to do what I was told to."

Carol stopped his steps as he reached a specific room.

He knocked on the door.

"It's Carol. May I come in?"

A voice from inside answered.

"Yes, come in."

Carol opened the door and entered.

Vice Principal Oliver was sitting inside.