Chapter 29

7. Student Council

Lunchtime.

I still hadn't finished reading the book.

Even though it was a thin book of just 100 pages, it was much more difficult to understand than the previous ones.

'The lecture by Professor Ilya will start after lunch.'

I was in a situation where I could only sigh deeply.

I was passing through the first-floor lobby, looking for a place to sit and read the book while having lunch.

"Hmm."

I stopped in front of the bulletin board.

The bulletin board had various notices and social club membership guides.

The most eye-catching were the notices for joining the Literature and Art Department and the Demisa social club.

However, what I was focusing on was something else.

"Student Council membership application notice..."

Since I need to progress with the quest, I have to fill out and submit the application.

[The thrones are curious about what the Student Council does.]

After looking around and confirming that no one was there, I whispered softly.

"The Student Council is a magical knight corps, led by the student council president and vice president, who have the best grades, and is created to eliminate monsters and demons."

The president and vice president are selected from the fourth year after summarizing the grades of all students from the first to third years.

They are like the captain and vice-captain of a knight corps.

"The Student Council regularly participates in monster hunts, and this is reflected in their grades. They are also the first to be dispatched when a demon appears."

Clyde and Damian have always been part of the Student Council, making them highly legitimate student council officers.

However, Tereza and Mimos are not part of the Student Council.

Hunting monsters and demons is a very dangerous task.

"Student Council officers are selected through interviews."

Once a member of the Student Council, a magician has a much higher chance of death compared to other students.

If they fail to prove their performance as an officer, they are expelled mid-way.

Being expelled is considered a severe disgrace, making it impossible to enter the social circle, effectively ending their life as a noble.

However, there is a reason why many notable individuals consistently apply to the Student Council.

The title of being a Valhalla Student Council member is a stepping stone to sudden success.

Graduates from the Student Council receive the protection of the Willow Dukedom and are officially invited to the royal court to receive the emperor's medal.

This hidden card is a significant advantage for those who need a title or are competing for the successor position in their family.

'The problem is that all of this is useless to me.'

The Willow Dukedom is the enemy of Squire's family, so that's a no-go.

I don't need a title, so that's also a no-go.

Even though a pension is not bad, it doesn't benefit me as a Squire's daughter.

Besides, I have the previous duke's slush fund.

Therefore, I don't want to engage in activities like the Student Council, which is like setting a death flag, but what can I do?

'Fighting monsters is better than commuting.'

I sighed deeply and turned to the side.

"…! P-P-Professor."

Professor Ilya was standing just three steps away, looking at me.

I felt my hair stand on end.

'Wow, I thought my heart would drop out.'

I suppressed my confusion and bowed slightly.

"Hello."

Professor Ilya nodded slightly and glanced at the book in my hand.

Oh, I hadn't finished reading it, and now I'm meeting him like this.

I tried to move the book behind my back, but Professor Ilya spoke faster.

"You should read the other two books first and then this one last."

I blinked in surprise.

Professor Ilya must have thought I was reading this magic book first and gave me advice.

Yesterday, Professor Ilya clearly said,

"It's best to read it as quickly as possible. You need to understand it all to attend this year's lectures."

'Did he mean to read all three books before the lecture?'

Confused, I tried to explain.

"I was reading the other two books first."

"…You finished them?"

"Yes! But this book is difficult, so I couldn't read it quickly."

I, who never sent an email for assignments or grades in college, was now giving a detailed excuse for not completing an assignment.

But the other party is a demon.

My lips moved on their own, defending myself.

I also showed him the paper bag with a sandwich.

"I planned to finish reading it during lunch. That's why I bought a sandwich!"

Professor Ilya looked at me with an indifferent gaze, as if asking, "So what?"

His silence made me more anxious.

In the end, I confessed.

"I don't think I can finish reading before the lecture… I'm sorry…."

My voice became smaller and smaller.

'I thought he wouldn't kill me, but now I'm scared…'

I desperately hoped that I had misunderstood Professor Ilya and thought I had to read everything before the lecture.

It would have been better to have worked hard and not slept.

While I was fidgeting with the book in my hand and looking around, Professor Ilya asked an unexpected question.

"Did you sleep?"

"…What?"

"Did you sleep?"

I blinked and answered hesitantly.

"Yes, I did."

I did take a short nap.

Professor Ilya looked at the area around my eyes silently.

Ah, do I have dark circles? They didn't seem severe when I looked in the mirror.

I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand.

Holding a book and a paper bag in both hands, it looked like I was wiping away tears or washing my face like a cat.

Neither action was proper etiquette.

Tereza, being a character who doesn't strictly follow etiquette, didn't care, but I felt self-conscious under Professor Ilya's gaze.

When his silence felt a bit too long, Professor Ilya spoke.

"Follow me."

"…? Ah, yes!"

I followed Professor Ilya with a nervous heart.

The path we took was strangely familiar.

We stopped.

The place where Professor Ilya stopped was his office.

"Come in."

Why is he calling me to his office today?

I had no idea what was going on or what Professor Ilya was thinking as I entered his office.

Professor Ilya pointed to the sofa with his chin, and I obediently sat down.

'What is he going to do now?'

I hugged the book and sandwich in my arms and looked up at the professor, who was so tall that I had to crane my neck.

Was it the height of his gaze that made me feel intimidated?

Or was it the sunlight streaming through the window, which highlighted his sharp and handsome features like an angel's?

Professor Ilya looked incredibly sacred and noble.

Just looking at him, I felt he had the dignity of an archangel more than anyone else, and my mouth opened involuntarily.

I couldn't find any trace of corruption in him.

He just exuded a transcendent aura that was overwhelming.

While I was blinking in a daze, Professor Ilya's lips seemed to stretch horizontally for a moment.

'A smile…?'

The faint expression quickly disappeared, and his lips opened.

"Are you planning to join the Student Council?"

"Yes. How did you…"

"I saw you looking at the bulletin board."

The Student Council membership notice was indeed the second largest on the bulletin board after the Literature and Art Department and Demisa notices.

However, people usually wouldn't associate Tereza with the Student Council.

'He's really unbiased.'

Professor Ilya, without sitting on the sofa as before, headed towards the door and said to me,

"I'll be back before the lecture starts. Stay here until then."

"Stay here? Alone?"

"Yes. Alone."

Ding!

[Throne 'Rotten Taste' has donated 1,000 coins.]

[Oh, imprisonment?]

'Professor Ilya wouldn't do that unless he's crazy.'

Professor Ilya added,

"Didn't you say you were going to read the book during lunch?"

"…Yes, that's right."

"Read it here. Mark the parts you need explanations for."

I tilted my head at his unusual kindness but soon nodded.

"Okay. Have a good day, Professor."

"…Okay."

Professor Ilya slowly answered, turned his gaze slowly, and left the office.

Ding!

[Throne 'Gourmet' has donated 1,000 coins.]

[A young, handsome genius professor and a love story… This is precious.]