The student council was the highest authority within the Academy.
Naturally, its members enjoyed certain privileges.
"Ah, brother. You've arrived?"
"I wondered why you applied for such a large space, and now I see. In just a few days, you've built yourself an entire forge."
Oparn, too, was one of its beneficiaries.
That said, the privileges only extended to the use of Academy grounds.
The smelter — no one knew how he had brought it in.
An anvil and hammer, full of dents that bore witness to his years.
Rows upon rows of ores, gemstones, and smithing tools.
The fact he had built such a proper workshop was purely his own capability.
"You flatter me. For a gargoyle, this much is child's play."
The size of his smithy was itself a symbol of his pride as a gargoyle.
Even though he spoke with an indifferent tone, those broad, outstretched shoulders could not be hidden.
"Ahem, that aside… Could I ask you a favor? I think you'll like it too."
I knew full well how capable he was.
Since I had recruited him, it was only right that his talents be put to good use.
"A favor, you say?"
"I was wondering if you could apply the flame enchantment you worked on before, but to this one."
What I held was a pure white dagger.
Thanks to its original user's consideration, it had already been reshaped into the form I found easiest to wield.
"…Is this perhaps…?"
"Yes. Lady Luciana's sword. I suggested reinforcing it, and she willingly lent it to me."
"Oooh! So this is the blade that cleaved the heart of the high-ranking demon Revine…!"
Oparn turned the sword over, examining it closely.
He was not only a warrior but also a blacksmith, rivaling dwarves — so it was no surprise the weapon intrigued him.
"The horn, here."
"Oh. That must be Revine's horn."
A top-tier material for polish.
Satisfied, Oparn nodded, then suddenly stiffened.
"…But, brother, without a relic to stabilize it, the horn's power might destroy the weapon. I, for one, have no desire to incur the wrath of the student council president."
Hey, same here.
Who would dare risk breaking her beloved weapon after seeing that monstrous special technique?
"Don't worry about that. A relic will arrive in a few days. I've already requested support from my family."
Once again, speaking with Luciana made me feel the brutal weight of the gap between our families.
"A relic, you say?"
"Yes. The reinforcement method is dangerous. Without one, the weapon could be destroyed."
"Hmm. Well, now that she's the student council president, her family will be overjoyed. They'll surely provide a relic or two as a reward."
That was the difference of a duke's household for you.
I had to sweat blood with transparency tricks and switcheroos just to scrape one together, while she treated it like slicing steak.
'Meanwhile, even as vice-president and the second-ranked freshman, my family only sent me a congratulatory letter.'
Such was the misery of being the third son of a poor baron family.
"…If that's the case, then I'm relieved. Whew. Still, I'd love to examine the student council president's weapon a little longer."
Once again, curiosity gleamed in Oparn's red eyes.
"Lady Luciana wants it handled as quickly as possible."
"Of course. I'll give it my best."
Not that your eyes say the same.
'…Well, I'll let him be.'
Knowing his nature, that obsession would only help. He'd never do anything to actually harm the weapon.
"Ahem. That's the main request. But I have another favor, more urgent."
Luciana was, of course, my top priority. But in terms of urgency, this other matter came first.
I presented him with the prepared materials.
"…Hmm? A mana stone, as expected. But this one… is a spirit stone."
"Correct. Pour my blood into the mana stone as always."
"Ah, yes. A gift for Lady Batory, then. And the spirit stone — how should I work it?"
Not as rare as a high demon's horn, but still a precious reinforcement material.
"Turn it into an accessory. I've already done rings and necklaces, so earrings would be best. As a gift for a noblewoman."
"…Forgive me if this is rude, but may I ask who the recipient is?"
"Liura Kaspera."
His eyes narrowed slightly, betraying a very obvious misunderstanding.
"Not in that way. Our relationship is one of uneasy coexistence, former enemies forced to cooperate."
"Then why give her a gift?"
"Because she exceeded expectations in her work."
Her talent for reading her surroundings had been maddening when she was an enemy, but as an ally, it was invaluable.
'Don't falter! If Luciana Speda, the leader of the Imperial Faction, is standing at the front to block the demons, how can we, as the Noble Faction, run away first?!'
Especially in the battle with Jaihin.
It was largely thanks to her that the noble faction's pride had been roused, securing their support.
This gift was nothing more than encouragement for a competent subordinate, a recognition of merit. Nothing more, nothing less.
"…I see. Well, it is nice to work with rare materials again, ever since the underground palace collapsed."
"Buy whatever's missing with this."
I handed him a pouch, and Oparn sucked in a sharp breath.
Months of living among humans had given this exiled prince a commoner's sense for money.
"Where did you get such a fortune…?"
"I'm the vice-president, aren't I? The council budget includes an allowance for maintaining appearances."
Of course, I skimmed a little extra on top of that.
Elizabeth's sharp eyes had noticed, but she let it slide with only a glare.
"Your forge looks a bit empty. As a gargoyle noble, shouldn't you stock it properly?"
"…Brother!"
"And you're a student council member now. Go squeeze some allowance money out for yourself too."
That's how you live as a human, after all.
"I'll take it to heart. I'll tell Georg as well. She's a council member too."
"True, and being a commoner, it'll be good to put her in your debt."
"And her shabby armor needs repairs. That greatsword could use work too…"
I chuckled at his muttering.
"Georg is a mercenary. She'll manage within her means."
"Brother, you don't know her well enough. A mercenary must never skimp on equipment. Yet she sends nearly all her earnings back home."
…Huh? That was news to me.
Even I, who had devoured the original work, had glossed over details like that.
After all, who cared about the private life of a side character irrelevant to the story?
But Oparn somehow knew.
"Think about it, brother. One must first secure oneself before supporting others."
"…True."
"Yet she gives far beyond her means. To the guild, to the orphanage… She never stops. No matter how often I advise her otherwise, she just smiles and nods."
…And since when was he this talkative?
'No, on second thought, this matches the original.'
The cheerful side he'd shown in the presence of the Saint.
I had only ever seen him in his serious role as an exiled prince, so this side of him felt fresh.
"You seem quite close. But keep in mind, she's an ally — and also a rival."
Especially with her growing influence among mercenaries.
The adopted daughter of the northern guildmaster, backed by tradition and support.
And a rising star of unmatched talent who had suddenly appeared.
The mercenaries would be divided on whom to follow.
Just like in the original.
"So keep it balanced. For all we know, one day she might stand against us."
"…Then I'll do my utmost to prevent that."
Well, not that she was much of a threat.
Even if she rebelled, she'd be nothing more than a minor nuisance compared to Luciana or me.
'Though the true boss of that arc is a different matter.'
Professor Marks.
He had once helped me master both mana and aura — but he was also a headache waiting to happen.
'…Still, that episode is far off. I'll prepare at my leisure.'
For all I knew, he might never turn dangerous at all.
With me supporting Luciana, no anti-commoner policies would ever take root.
"Finish the work quickly, especially for Batory's gift. I promised her long ago, and she's still waiting."
"Understood. I'll make sure she doesn't notice until it's ready."
"Yes. That will please her most."
I wasn't ignorant of her feelings. How could I be?
But between my priorities — ensuring Luciana's safety above all — and the tasks at hand, there was simply too much else to do first.
"Hans Byron!"
Like, for example, the awakening of potential allies.
"Long time no see, Lady Roberc. Please handle the door with care. This forge is my subordinate's pride."
"Ah. As student disciplinary chief, I've no intention of damaging my subordinate's property. You're the one I came to see. Let's talk elsewhere."
I could feel Oparn's exasperated gaze on the back of my head, but I deliberately didn't look.
"One is more than enough, but how many women does brother have…"
I could already picture the look on his face.
"You must have gathered enough evidence by now."
The reason she had come to find me, even during my private business, was none other than the arrest of her mother's assassin.
"Yes. Not just for my personal matter — his crimes in the central region were extensive as well."
She handed me documents that appeared to be the evidence.
"He really made quite a haul."
Crime was simple: if you weren't caught, nothing mattered.
He should have done as I did, and skimmed a little through trusted acquaintances.
"An imperial official guilty of embezzlement and bribery… He's truly swollen with arrogance."
"My thoughts exactly."
But the sheer number of incriminating clues made me wonder at her obsessive pursuit.
"So? What do you plan to do once he's arrested?"
"…I'd like to execute him on the spot. But first, there's something I need to know."
The hand holding her whip trembled.
"Too many things don't add up. Why would the man who assassinated a duchess be living here as a wealthy official?"
"A familiar stench. Isn't this common in the west? Special treatment for convicts, that sort of thing."
"…Indeed. He must have backing. Someone bold enough to oppose House Roberc."
We'd see if she could still say that after learning the truth.
I smiled wryly, watching the girl filled with resolve.
[Quest triggered!]
[The death of Camilla Roberc's mother hides many suspicious details.]
[After long pursuit, you've finally found the man who may hold a fragment of the truth.]
[Uncover the secret behind the death of the fourth Duchess of Roberc.]
[Reward: NPC "Camilla Roberc" affection increase]
And at the bottom of the quest log, the trap was revealed.
[Failure Penalty: NPC "Camilla Roberc" downfall]