Academy’s Second Seat

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Upon hearing Yeniel's words, a single question came to mind.

"Why?"

Why is Evan seeking to meet with the Rebels?

No matter how much I thought about the connection between Evan and the Rebels, nothing came to mind.

For what reason is Evan searching for the Rebels?

Usually, there's some intention behind wanting to meet someone.

I couldn't understand his intentions.

When I expressed my doubts, Yeniel sighed.

"Do you remember what I said before?"

"What you said?"

"Before I went to the Rebels, I had mentioned something."

I distinctly remembered Yeniel talking with Astina before she left for the Rebels.

Among the conversations they had about Evan...

"Was it about Evan acting strangely?"

"Yes, I've had an uneasy feeling since then. Now, it seems to have worsened."

"Hmm..."

Lately, I hadn't paid much attention to Evan's state.

Maybe I never did.

In my mind, Evan was almost like a hero who could do anything.

The Evan I saw in the game faced all dangers around him and accomplished whatever needed to be done.

He endured bone-crushing efforts to protect those around him.

When I was at my lowest, the memory of such a comforting Evan was vivid in my mind.

Thus, when I first arrived here, my sole focus was on survival.

Thinking or worrying about Evan seemed like a luxury.

I was too preoccupied with my own survival to spare thought for someone with heroic qualities.

However, my thoughts changed after the last Rebel attack incident.

The story I heard from Haruna.

The world I saw was just an illusion shown by Beatrice.

Those events hadn't actually happened.

They were possible, but not a certain future.

The Evan here was just a normal adolescent boy.

Just a regular student who was also the top of his class.

It seemed contradictory to be 'ordinary' and 'top of the class,' but he was both.

So, I regarded Evan as a slightly more talented student.

I wasn't disappointed anymore, even if Evan didn't show the qualities I knew from the game.

After all, he was just a normal student.

But this strangeness was a different matter.

I only knew the heroic Evan, not the ordinary human Evan.

I didn't know what he wanted or how he would grow as a regular person.

The clear thing was that my presence wasn't completely unrelated to his change.

My actions had definitely influenced him in some way.

I sighed and opened my mouth.

"Do you know why Evan ended up like this?"

"I don't know for sure. I haven't always been around him. I only know what I've been told."

At Yeniel's words, I smiled.

"Thanks, really."

"Hmm..."

Yeniel tilted her head, looking puzzled.

She had been staring at me with a strange look for a while now.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Nothing's changed, yet..."

Yeniel muttered softly.

I wondered what she meant by that.

After staring intently at me for a moment, Yeniel finally turned her head away.

"Anyway, I'll make sure Evan doesn't meet with the Rebels. See you later."

"Ah, about that."

"Hmm?"

"Just leave it be."

"…What?"

Yeniel furrowed her brow.

"I've come up with a pretty good plan."

I said, smiling.

"Is this enough?"

Cromwell surveyed the papers he had plastered all around his room.

They were plans for the joint assessment of the first and second years.

He had pondered deeply over this particular joint assessment.

How should it be structured to provide the students with a valuable experience and earn favorable evaluations?

After much contemplation, Cromwell arrived at a conclusion.

The traditional practice of forming teams did not allow for an accurate assessment of each student's individual abilities.

In a team of three, there's always a chance that someone might just ride on the coattails of others.

It was an insufficient method to evaluate each student's individual prowess.

Therefore, Cromwell decided to make this evaluation an individual event.

But that wasn't all.

While previously the students in teams would compete against each other, this time he created an opportunity for cooperation.

He considered sociability as part of a person's competence.

One might argue that forming teams for evaluation was a valid approach.

However, the sociability that comes with pre-formed teams could be a matter of luck or various other reasons.

True cooperation skills would be assessed only after the evaluation began.

It was about quickly befriending and collaborating with those around you once the evaluation kicked off.

"This should work fine."

Cromwell thought, putting down his pen.

He had finished preparing the evaluation earlier than expected.

The individual skills assessment and midterms weren't ready yet.

Since the joint assessment would only proceed after these, he had indeed finished quite early.

Cromwell smiled contentedly at his completed work.

Recently, the vice-principal's duties were being managed by Principal McDowell.

It was a promise made when he was assigned the joint assessment.

Thus, Cromwell had become a job-holding unemployed person, free as a bird.

Though still a professor, he was now enjoying a life even more leisurely than that of a retiree.

"Maybe I should enjoy some drinks today."

Just as Cromwell was indulging in these pleasant thoughts, there came a knock.

Tap tap—

A knock sounded at Cromwell's door.

"It's Rudy Astria. May I come in?"

Cromwell raised his eyebrows.

He had a bad feeling.

Whenever this guy was involved, things tended to go awry.

And it wasn't just Cromwell who thought this way.

Gracie, Robert, McGuire—all the professors Cromwell was close to shared the same sentiment.

To the professors, Rudy Astria was like a bomb that unpredictably triggered numerous incidents.

"Come in,"

Cromwell said.

Rudy opened the door and entered.

"Professor, it's been a while."

"Cough... Yes, it has. Since winter break, right? I heard you became the top student. Congratulations."

"Ah, thank you."

Cromwell scrutinized Rudy Astria's expression.

His expression was unchanging, impassive.

The way Rudy entered didn't suggest urgency.

Cromwell felt a bit relieved.

Just knowing it wasn't an emergency was satisfying enough.

"So, what brings you here?"

Cromwell asked.

At Cromwell's question, Rudy smiled.

"It's about the Rebels."

"…What?"

Thud—

Cromwell abruptly stood up from his seat.

Of all times, why now?...

Just when he thought he could relax, the mention of the Rebels made his heart sink.

They were the most troublesome and problematic group lately.

To think Rudy would bring up such a headache-inducing matter.

Rudy seemed slightly taken aback by Cromwell's intense reaction.

"Oh, it's not that the Rebels have attacked us right now. It's just something related."

"Haah… And what would that be?"

He couldn't leave the students or others in danger.

Having heard such a story, as a vice-principal, he had to take action.

No matter how troublesome, it wasn't something to weigh against people's lives.

"Do you know Evan, the former top student of the second year?"

"Evan, you say."

Cromwell was well aware of him.

He had been paying attention to Evan since the last joint assessment of the first and second years.

He was interested in Evan's mana control technique and had been keeping an eye on him.

Evan's mana control had yielded incredible results since his first year.

The ability to slice through and nullify others' magic was something only Evan could do.

Even professors in related fields hadn't mastered such a skill.

Evan's other achievements were also quite remarkable.

His eco magic was developing differently from others.

Ecological magic, typically involving the growth of plants or using animals to cultivate the surroundings, was taken a step further by Evan, who could handle not only flora and fauna but also special elementals.

Special elementals were usually contracted using something other than elemental affinity.

However, Evan could handle them without a contract.

This was a new discovery for eco magic.

It shifted the idea that elementals, along with plants and animals, could also be part of ecology.

Despite such discoveries, Evan was always alone.

He severely lacked social skills.

McDowell had also mentioned something about him.

Evan was always in a gloomy state, never approaching anyone first.

He seemed like someone waiting for something... an odd fellow indeed.

Mulling over his thoughts about Evan, Cromwell spoke.

"What about him?"

"Has Evan ever been involved with the Rebels?"

Cromwell had heard many reports about the Rebels recently, but he had never heard Evan's name mentioned in relation to them.

"I'm hearing this for the first time."

"Hmm… According to what I've heard, it seems Evan has some connection with the Rebels."

"A connection? Are you suggesting he's joined the Rebels?"

"It doesn't seem to be that, but there are signs he's trying to make contact with them."

Cromwell stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"So, what are you suggesting? That we should monitor him?"

Rudy smiled.

"You always understand quickly."

"It's impossible within the Academy. Such actions are against the Academy's principles. However,"

There was still a way.

"We can keep an eye on any movement he makes towards the Rebels or attempts to communicate with them."

Rudy nodded, appearing satisfied.

"That would be enough."

"Alright… And,"

"Yes?"

Cromwell pressed his fingertips against his forehead.

"What else have you brought? Continue."

The matter concerning Evan was honestly trivial.

It was something that could be handled swiftly.

He wasn't already in contact or planning anything; it was merely a suspicion that warranted surveillance.

It was unlikely that someone like Rudy, a walking bombshell, would come only with such a minor issue.

Certainly, there was something more peculiar...

"There's another matter I'd like you to prepare for."

Cromwell's eyes widened.

Here it comes.

"…What is it?"

"When Evan tries to make contact with the Rebels."

Rudy lifted one corner of his mouth.

It was a sly smile.

"I'm thinking of using it as an opportunity to catch them."

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