Pleroma isn't going to stay quiet either. It's a clear signal.
They are openly showing their desire for revenge, especially against Nikolaus Ernst, the Crown Prince who supported him, and the Kingdom of Bavaria. The whole insect incident was a bust, and they lost an important figure planted in the Federal Council. From their perspective, the losses are already significant. It's not strange for them to act out like this.
'But that doesn't mean they only see Bavaria as the target for revenge.'
If that were the case, they would have committed their crimes on Bavarian soil.
Pleroma holds anger towards the Imperial family and the Imperial government as well.
But...
'The fact that none of the victims died is worth noting again.'
All the victims are mages and nobles. Killing them could have escalated into a full-scale war between Pleroma and the Empire.
So, this is nothing but a warning. A warning not to push any further.
'Now I understand why Narke said it wouldn't be a big problem.'
This theatrical display is insignificant now.
In fact, they've practically agreed to enter a semi-wartime state.
At this level, even my brother's attention will inevitably be divided by Pleroma's crimes.
'...And I need to check the movements from the Papal States even more thoroughly.'
They said my brother's task could take a year, or more. So, while there are at least nine months left before he returns to the Empire, if the situation changes, the task he's handling could change too.
I finished my thoughts and looked around.
Panicked voices, not organized at all, jumped out from here and there, grating on my nerves. People from the hospital were carrying Oswald away on a stretcher.
Another amplification magic spell unfolded in the air, and a new broadcast came through.
[Attention all students of the Imperial Second Academy. From 11:10 PM, access to all buildings except the administration office, the main building, and the campus hospital is restricted. All students are to proceed to the main building immediately.]
* * *
"Taking attendance."
Even though it was past 11 PM, we couldn't return to the dormitories. The school had locked down most buildings, and investigators from the Imperial family were roaming the campus.
The professor called attendance with a dark expression.
Excluding Oswald, who was taken to the hospital, all 49 remaining students were present. The professor closed the attendance book and spoke.
"As you know, an incident occurred today in the capital where mages were attacked. External outings will be prohibited for the time being, but I ask that all students remain vigilant... and always be careful even on campus."
The professor deliberately avoided looking in my direction, but the students' gazes briefly stuck to me before falling away.
It's obvious what they're thinking.
Anyway, since I'm not Pleroma, I had no choice but to meet the eyes of the students looking at me. When our eyes met, the students hurriedly averted their gazes.
The professor tidied up and approached the door, speaking.
"Wait here in the classroom. We will notify you again when the dormitories are opened."
I looked around at the students.
Whether because of the play or because of Pleroma, students kept glancing at me.
'I'm grateful for the professor's meddling.'
It's a situation where suspicion could easily fall on me, being seen as Pleroma. Whether I went outside during that time or not almost became a critically important issue.
Thanks to the professor assigning Leo to me, I have a clear alibi.
Just in case, I checked the favorability of the students whose eyes I met. Since it wasn't very low, it seemed they weren't genuinely avoiding me, but rather giving me occasional glances because, well, rumors are rumors.
'More than that, right now... it's not the time to think about that.'
I looked towards where Leo was sitting.
Leo had been sitting with his head bowed, eyes unfocused.
He probably wants to go to Bavaria immediately to discuss countermeasures with the King, but the school's lockdown prevents it. Especially if a royal, practically the face of the nation, went out and something happened, it would be a problem the school couldn't handle.
The Bavarian students also didn't look too good.
Melvin was among them, and perhaps due to the energy drain from the incident, he looked almost dead just from his expression.
The vice-class president, seeing the depressed atmosphere, cautiously stepped up to the lecture podium.
"Guys."
The students looked up at him. The vice-president rolled his eyes with a face that seemed to wonder if he'd come out for nothing, then finally opened his mouth with a grave expression.
"Let's all visit Oswald in the hospital tomorrow."
"Yeah... we should."
"Isn't that obvious?"
"Were you not planning to go?"
"No, no... of course I'm going!"
The vice-president shook his head with a hollow laugh, then raised his voice as if finding it absurd.
To think someone's joking in this situation...
But thanks to that, a few students chuckled slightly. Although it was closer to a hollow laugh than a proper one, the atmosphere eased a little.
The vice-president looked at those students and spoke.
"Thanks, everyone, for working hard on the festival today. It must have been tough preparing while studying and practicing the whole time, you all worked hard. And thanks to our class president for putting in so much effort too."
Leo finally looked up and smiled. But it didn't last long.
"Um, also, at the end, we almost had a big... problem. Lucas."
The vice-president looked at me.
The other students' gazes also fixed on me.
"Thanks for doing well even though we dumped it on you with only 20 minutes left, and sorry it must have been really flustering. Everyone would feel the same, right?"
"That's right, thanks~!"
Elias suddenly cut in, widening his eyes and sending a half-threatening look to the other students. Some students were already nodding in agreement even before that, their hearts grateful.
'...Whatever the case, this kind of atmosphere is a bit hard to endure.'
In reality, I would have changed the topic immediately. Anyway, it's a situation that benefits me now, so I have to bear it.
"Thanks to you, we got to show off what we prepared for two weeks well, and we gathered a big audience. I remember you haven't participated much in class events before, but from now on... if there are events, let's work hard together."
"Okay."
As if he really didn't expect me to answer, the vice-president paused for a moment before speaking again.
"That's a relief. I'll look forward to it from now on, Lucas. Finally, everyone really worked hard today, and once we get to the dorms, let's not think about today and get some proper rest, guys."
The students responded with applause.
Thanks to someone stepping up to talk, the suffocating atmosphere loosened considerably. He seemed to be trying to fulfill the role in place of the class president.
And...
'It's a relief that attention was diverted from me to the play because of Pleroma.'
My image, I mean.
I had just managed to shift the direction of my image a little, and before I could even properly feel it, wariness towards Pleroma was being draped over me again. At least this provided some ventilation.
Then, the professor came in and tapped the desk.
"Everyone, first-year students are now moving to the dormitories. Class 2-B will leave in 10 minutes, so gather your belongings."
* * *
By around 4 AM, the campus investigation had ended, and the investigation targeting outsiders who had visited the school was all wrapped up, with everyone leaving the school.
I went up to the dormitory rooftop and found Leo leaning against the railing, looking down at the school.
—"Leo."
Leo turned towards me.
Since I asked Elias to relay it, Leo knows I can speak using divine power.
Though this is probably the first time he's experiencing it directly.
I sat at a table a little distance away and gestured for Leo to go back to looking at the school.
"Not in the mood for that right now."
Leo cast a soundproofing spell and pulled out a chair on the side not visible from other buildings to sit.
—"You were watching carefully the whole time, and now you're like this."
"I came here because I have something to say."
—"Right. I came to check on your mental state and to have a strategy meeting."
"Strategy?"
—"Not about this incident. I haven't told you about it."
I briefly explained my plan to Leo.
Leo muttered while looking at the forest behind the school.
"I see. Needing to get the orphanage list... it really isn't about this incident."
—"Right."
"But the fact you're telling me this now means you don't plan to cancel it."
Honestly, Elias and this guy...
The faster they understand, the better for me.
I turned a page in my book and continued.
—"Yes. But if the Kingdom tells me to restrain my activities, I won't refuse."
"That won't happen. I won't move as they wish."
Leo answered firmly.
I gave him a brief glance before looking back at the book.
—"Good, that's a relief."
Seems he doesn't regret it either.
This incident happened because Pleroma holds hostility towards the Empire, Bavaria, and Nikolaus.
It's a situation where he could blame himself for provoking Pleroma and putting innocent citizens in danger.
—"So, regarding pushing forward with this plan, what's your opinion?"
Succeeding in this plan would mean utterly ignoring Pleroma's warning. It might even create new victims.
"Do it."
—"Simple."
"Bavaria has no intention of restraining Nikolaus. Shouldn't Pleroma know that? I'm actually thankful you brought a new plan at such good timing."
Contrary to his appropriate smile, a chill lingered in his tone.
"..."
Seems he's angry.
Regret? What regret? I misjudged. He wasn't that weak-willed.
Feeling guilt and regret is natural, but much depends on how long one dwells on it and how one sublimates it. He seems to have fortunately escaped from that earlier anguish.
Anyway, he's right.
If, despite the warning, Nikolaus publicly shatters Pleroma again, Pleroma will be extremely pissed off.
Unless Bavaria chooses to bow down to Pleroma, Nikolaus's activities will always be welcome.
—"What if new victims appear?"
"..."
—"Bavaria has exactly two options. Confront Pleroma strongly, or truly stay quiet. There's no middle ground."
I asked about this indirectly earlier, but since it's an important issue, I need to be more certain.
Also, I have a proposal for Bavaria.
But with no way to contact them in the current situation, I have no choice but to send a letter in Leo's name... If Leo shows even a hint of hesitation now that I've asked again, I should hold off on making the proposal through him.
After a long silence, Leo spoke.
"If you're asking not me as a person, but my position, then we must accept the immediate damage. Giving in to Pleroma's warning would bring greater long-term damage."
'...Hmm.'
I nodded.
With that resolve, I can discuss it with him.
Then, Leo continued.
"And, we have a plan too."
* * *
Two hours later, I picked up a copy of the newspaper issued at 6 AM in the dormitory lobby.
[Bavarian Royal Magic Department Establishes Extra-Jurisdictional Defense Mobile Unit... Crown Prince Leonard Wittelsbach of Bavaria & Nikolaus Ernst First to Join]
From today, Nikolaus is assigned to the Pleroma Response Unit operating in the capital.
I only thought of making the proposal; I didn't expect to receive the same proposal from Leo.
'Anyway, the result is the same, so it doesn't matter.'
Rather, it's more convenient since things are progressing quickly.
I went back up to my room and prepared a warp spell.
Due to the aftermath of yesterday's events, there are no classes today, so I can spend my time freely.
Fortunately, the restrictions on warp magic within the campus have been lifted, allowing free access to meeting places or Leo's training ground.
And the place I'm going to now is Leo's training ground. We agreed to meet there at this time.
As I warped in, Leo spoke without even turning around.
"You're here."
"Yeah."
"Did you hear? We can't go outside for the next five days."
Out of the blue?
All students are prohibited from going outside until this weekend. They seem worried that allowing weekend outings might lead to another accident.
Leo put down the cloth he was using to polish his wand and turned around.
"It's good. You won't have to drink the medicine, so there shouldn't be any issues with your condition worsening midway."
"Right."
"Be honest. Excluding special magic like divine power, your combat magic skills are still at rock bottom."
"..."
Listen to this brat...
I smiled and shook my head.
"Not rock bottom, Leo."
"Okay, that's true, but you could do more. Honestly, I'd like to tell you to use disease-type magic for all five days..."
Don't tell me he's telling me to skip class for training now...
But, thinking about it, it's not bad. Since Pleroma is acting like that, I need to start properly organizing my skills.
It's just creepy hearing this from a magic maniac.
Leo picked up his wand.
"A bit much? Let's make proper use of even the spare time we have, Lucas."
Ding—!
〈 Chapter 5. Good Things Require Time (1) 〉
Proposal 1: Achieve 'Technique' Score 4 (0/1) (119 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds)
* Route 1 — 〈 Proposal 2 〉
* Route 2 — 〈 Chapter 6. Don't Praise the Day Before Evening Falls 〉
'...It's been a while.'
Unlike before, since I also intended to raise it, it's not much of a burden.
Instead, the fact that he gave this as a proposal even though I had the same thought...
It must mean things will escalate to a point where it will be problematic if I don't raise my Technique to 4.
"Okay."
I'll do it. Skipping class.
—-----------
T/N:
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