NOVEL NEXT Political balance
Forte and I are scheduled to enter Lyojia High School on April 6, a week from now. In this conservative rural area, there aren’t many other options for our future.
If our grades were excellent, we could have aimed for the elite Miravenia School of Magic in the city, but since we're both fairly average students, attending the local school is the only choice. Still, considering that about half of the students here start working after graduating middle school, we’re fortunate to be able to attend high school at all.
The high school is about a 45-minute bike ride from home. While it’s not exactly close, most students commute from home for this distance.
But for them to tell us to live in the dorms, there must be some special reason.
“I’ve already discussed it with Largo’s parents, so there’s no need to worry,” Akira-san said.
“But why? I can commute from home, can’t I?” I asked.
“I've done everything I can, and while Edgehope Corporation has agreed not to interfere with you, there's no telling what Edgeguard Corporation might do,” Akira explained.
Edgeguard Corporation? I recalled seeing their badge at the witch’s mansion.
“Aren’t Edgeguard Corporation conservatives? They have different ideologies from the liberal Edgehope Corporation, right?”
“On the surface, yes.”
“Are you saying the reality is different?”
“That’s a question you can ask here, but don’t say it outside. If they demand proof, they’ll pressure you relentlessly. As a student, you might get away with it, but in the adult world, that’s not tolerated.”
I caught a glimpse of the murky side of the adult world. They pretend to be separate entities, cleverly using both the left and right sides to their advantage. When one approach doesn’t work, they use the other.
Moreover, acknowledging this unspoken deceit is considered part of "being an adult." The same manipulative rules likely apply not only in our small village but also in the city and even other worlds. It was exhausting to think about.
Seeing my dissatisfaction, Akira-san added, “The adult world is built on complex relationships. Edgehope and Edgeguard aren’t just dirty organizations. They survive by accepting both good and bad. When I was younger, I also pushed myself hard to expose the dark side of society. At the time, I believed I was doing the right thing, but pursuing justice also means embracing the darkness that comes with it.”
In his suit, Akira-san’s back seemed lonely.
“Well, putting that aside, your body is my precious daughter’s, so I’ll assign you a bodyguard.”
“A bodyguard?”
“He’s a male student from a conservative family. If any trouble arises around him, Edgeguard Corporation will have to handle it internally, so they won’t be able to interfere.”
I see. The world works in interesting ways.
“Thank you. But what about Forte in my body? Will she be okay?”
“Your family is part of a conservative political party, right? You’re involved enough to have voting rights in the leadership elections.”
That made sense. Now that I thought about it, even the newspapers at home were conservative. In fact, it wasn’t just our household—most of the neighbors were the same.
This area is primarily farmland. If the conservative party wins the election, economic benefits follow. Naturally, people support conservatism, and conservative candidates always win in elections.
In contrast, Elise-san and Akira-san are rare liberals in this area. Naturally, Forte, raised by them, also grew up liberal. I heard they met at a prestigious liberal school in the city. Tired of the city’s hustle, they probably moved to the countryside, seeking a slower pace of life.
So, while being treated like their real daughter and enjoying a peaceful life, I was set to enter the girls' dorm.
“My name is Lala! I’m half demon and half human! Let’s be friends!”
And so began my new school life with my new companions.