The incident involving the attack on the Glory Society spread my name throughout the Ivory Tower.
It was about time the rumors started circulating.
For some reason, Karl and Lumin were chatting in my room again today. I made them turn and sit facing me.
“I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“My Attribute is Triple Destruction.”
Karl tilted his head, while Lumin's eyes widened.
“I don't really understand, but it's amazing, right?”
“I-I knew it.”
I shook my head.
“No. It's merely rare.”
A Destruction Attribute almost never appeared outside House Draco.
On extremely rare occasions, someone was born with a single Destruction Attribute, but those cases could be counted on one hand. There was no precedent for anyone possessing more than one.
It was not as though Destruction Attributes were common even within House Draco.
Yet I had been born with three of them.
Because the Arcane Path of Extinction was so rare throughout history, once my Attribute became known, I would draw needless attention.
“But my Attribute has been sealed.”
“W-what does that mean?”
“It means I can't use Destruction magic. I was given a student ring that seals my Attribute because it was considered dangerous.”
I showed them the silver ring on my left index finger.
It was engraved with intricate recessed patterns, and mine looked slightly different from theirs.
Lumin fiddled with my ring and muttered, “S-so that's why you received a Superior just for doing something as minor as Flower Blooming…….”
“Your true feelings are showing.”
“Ah! I-I don't know what it feels like to have your Attribute sealed, but it's still amazing that you can use magic at all!”
I glanced at the copy of Introduction to Magic on the bookshelf.
Recently, I had been learning magic again from the very beginning.
Magic had always been like moving my arms and legs to me, so I had never needed to make an effort.
But now, like any other mage, I had to practice repeatedly to succeed at even the most basic spell.
Not only Flower Blooming, but summoning wind or starting a fire.
These were things I had been unable to do before my Arcane Path was sealed.
It was fun.
“So I have a request for both of you.”
“What is it?”
“If anyone asks about me, make sure you actively tell them that my Attribute has been sealed.”
Anyone who wanted to pry into me would obviously approach Karl and Lumin first.
“It'll become troublesome if lunatics approach me wanting a magic duel, asking to see Destruction magic, or wanting to study my Arcane Path.”
Karl and Lumin looked at each other, then nodded at the same time.
“G-got it! Leave it to us!”
“That's easy!”
Why did those eager expressions make me even more uneasy?
***
“You were born with Triple Destruction?”
As expected, people like this began approaching me as soon as break time came.
“I'm curious. Can you show me what Destruction magic looks like?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I…….”
I was about to give a rough explanation when Karl cut me off.
“You're behind on the news, aren't you?”
“What?”
“Armand's Attribute has been sealed! He can't use magic properly! He's only half a mage—if you can even call him one!”
“What do you mean?”
“It's a Destruction Attribute! The Headmaster designated Armand a top-priority dangerous individual under special watch! She even made a ring that seals Armand's Attribute so he can't cause trouble! Look at the ring. It's a special ring made personally by the Headmaster!”
“R-really?”
“I'm telling you! Now you understand why Armand received a Superior after managing nothing more than Flower Blooming, right?”
“Uh…….”
“But don't underestimate Armand. You must have heard that he beat up Obern. The current Armand is a lunatic who's better at fighting than magic. Can you imagine what would have happened if his Attribute hadn't been sealed?”
“I-I see.”
Are you trying to help me or screw me over?
The student who had come to ask about my Attribute walked away with an uncomfortable expression.
Karl looked at me expectantly, clearly awaiting praise.
“Karl, where did those lines come from?”
“Lumin's been going around saying that.”
“That bastard…….”
I would have to raid Lion Class and apprehend him without warning.
Next, the well-informed Marco approached me.
“Armand, I heard the news.”
“So you heard.”
“It's just like you.”
“What is?”
“All of it.”
Marco grinned.
“Becoming the Mystery Society's Manager and declaring war on the Glory Society.”
“I never declared war.”
“That depends on how one looks at it. And then there's your Triple Destruction, and the ‘rumor’ that your Attribute has been sealed. It's all very much like you.”
He emphasized the word rumor as though trying to imply something, but it was not what he thought.
“It isn't a rumor. It's true.”
“Of course.”
Marco winked.
Please never do that again.
“Armand, you seem even more interesting than I thought.”
“I'm glad you're entertained.”
“Let's continue getting along as well as we have.”
Marco gave me a thumbs-up and returned to his group.
It was deeply uncomfortable that this suspicious bastard considered me one of his own kind.
The fact that my Attribute had been sealed was not a rumor. It was entirely true.
Well…….
I lightly touched the bead inside my inner pocket.
I could now use my sealed Attribute, if only for a brief time.
“Everyone, attention!”
The front door suddenly opened. Chepin appeared and pinned something to the bulletin board beside the blackboard.
“The official notice for the First-Semester Midterm Independent Project is out. Everyone, read it!”
The students crowded around the bulletin board.
News about the Independent Project was already out?
After carefully securing the notice with thumbtacks, Chepin approached me.
“Armand. I saw something in the faculty room that I think you should know about.”
“What?”
“It's about the Mystery Society. I only caught a glimpse, but it looked like they were going to discipline the Mystery Society over the recent incident.”
“Discipline us? What about the Glory Society?”
“I didn't see anything about them.”
“They let the Glory Society cause a commotion in front of the Main Tower every year, yet they punish only the Mystery Society for playing one prank? Does that make sense?”
“Complaining to me won't change anything…….”
“What punishment?”
“I think it said the club subsidy would be reduced.”
“I see.”
That much was fine.
I had become Manager merely to strike a deal with the Vice Headmaster. I felt no sense of duty to develop the Mystery Society.
If the club subsidy was reduced, they could collect membership dues or something.
“Thank you for telling me. Was there any information about the Independent Project?”
“Not yet. They said they'll explain the details separately since it's our first one.”
As an academy that valued practical experience, the Ivory Tower conducted Independent Projects twice each semester, allowing students to leave Ivory Island and experience the field firsthand.
Any accidents that occurred in the process were each student's own responsibility.
Under imperial law, every student at the Ivory Tower was an adult.
“Armand, what are you going to do for the Independent Project?”
“I'm still considering it.”
“I'll probably go somewhere near my hometown if I can. I should be able to receive help there.”
“That sounds reasonable.”
Chepin seemed to want me to join him, but I merely nodded.
“Good luck.”
“Yeah, you too.”
I already had a general idea of what I would do for the Independent Project.
When it came to assignments, one should always choose something easy that earned good marks.
***
I thought the reduction of the club subsidy would pass without incident.
But it did not.
Unexpectedly, the Mystery Society's members reacted seriously to the news that their club subsidy had been reduced.
The atmosphere had sunk so low that it would not have been strange for the Mystic Music Box to suddenly begin playing a requiem.
The senior whose eyes were normally sleepy but became sharp when she removed her glasses—Senior Jepi, whose name I had finally learned—spoke.
“We have no choice. We'll have to leave it to the Manager.”
Senior Jepi patted my shoulder.
“Me?”
“Yes. The Manager has to solve it.”
“Understood.”
That was fine.
I could pretend to do something, then claim it had been beyond my abilities.
Again, the Mystery Society held no great meaning for me.
It was merely a tool for establishing a cooperative relationship with Nekzul.
Whatever happened, happened.
I leaned back against the sofa without a care, but Senior Jepi sat beside me and muttered, “I'm counting on you, Armand. Once the club subsidy is cut, we won't even be able to sit on this sofa anymore…….”
“What do you mean?”
“All the clubrooms at the Ivory Tower are technically rentals. We pay rent to the Ivory Tower.”
So this was the insane academy that extorted money from its students.
“Without the club subsidy, the Mystery Society won't be able to keep its clubroom.”
“I see.”
I answered as though I found it unfortunate, but I was not particularly shaken.
Even if the Mystery Society ended up on the street, I did not care.
I only had to earn good grades and graduate as the top student.
From now on, I would live for myself.
Unaware of my true thoughts, Senior Jepi continued.
“If that happens, the Mystery Society's Mystic Objects will be confiscated too. Students aren't allowed to keep things like those privately.”
“By Mystic Objects, you mean…….”
“For example, our Mystic Music Box.”
I looked at the box sitting in the middle of the clubroom.
By now, even that sight felt familiar.
The Mystic Music Box had not been opened for some time because there had been no new recruits. Was it feeling stifled?
“The Mystic Music Box will fall into the clutches of the evil Ivory Tower and be stored in the Storehouse Tower.”
“That…….”
I realized I had clenched my fist without noticing and relaxed it.
Get a grip, Armand. You have to live for yourself now.
The Mystic Music Box might actually receive better treatment if the Ivory Tower confiscated it.
Right now, it sat alone on a table like a piece of junk. In the Storehouse Tower, they might wrap it in soft velvet worthy of the Mystic Music Box.
“And Elizabeth III won't be able to represent us anymore.”
“Wasn't that the personal property of the senior in the cat mask?”
“We made it together for a club assignment. It's club property. If the clubroom disappears, it'll be dumped in the Storehouse Tower too…….”
I swallowed.
I should not care where Elizabeth III went, but I had unintentionally destroyed Elizabeth I.
If the grandmother was shattered and the granddaughter imprisoned as well…….
And Elizabeth II was already in Clase's clutches, making this a tragedy spanning three generations…….
No.
I forcibly steeled myself.
It was only a crystal ball. Whatever happened to it was none of my concern.
“Armand, we have to recover the subsidy somehow. Understood?”
“I'll try.”
Now that I had resolved to live for myself, I had to follow only my own personal interests.
Then a low voice rang out from the entrance to the clubroom.
“What are you all doing?”
The Mystery Society's clubroom was normally filled with so much nonsense that nothing anyone said drew particular attention.
Only moments ago, one senior had howled bizarrely that their parents had forced them to enter the Ivory Tower and that their true dream was to become a classical singer, yet no one had cared.
But this voice was different.
Every member turned to look, and I reflexively did the same.
“I return after a long absence, only to find you all looking utterly indolent.”
The speaker was a man like an ancient tree, his voice devoid of emotion.
Aurelius stood there, leaning on his cane.
For a moment, I wondered whether he had come to see for himself after hearing that his student had become the Mystery Society's Manager.
“Faculty Advisor!”
At Senior Jepi's words, my mouth fell open.
Of course. A club needed a faculty advisor.
But Aurelius was the Mystery Society's advisor?
“Where is Yurik?”
“The Club President hasn't been coming much lately. Well, we have a new Manager now, so it'll be fine. Armand, greet him. You know him well since he's your homeroom teacher, right?”
“Yes…….”
I know him, but I didn't know my homeroom teacher was the Mystery Society's advisor.
As always, however, I did not let it show.
“Good afternoon, sir. This is the first time I've seen you in the clubroom.”
“Yes.”
Aurelius gave a slight nod and spoke.
“You have a plan, I assume.”
“A plan for what?”
“The club subsidy reduction.”
“I intend to file a formal appeal with the school.”
“Do you think that will work?”
“If it doesn't, there is nothing we can do. It is the school's decision.”
I answered politely.
What other option did I have?
Aurelius gazed down at me for a moment before speaking.
“Resolve it.”
“Excuse me?”
“Maintain the Mystery Society's clubroom by any means necessary.”
“Even if you tell me that…….”
“As the Mystery Society's advisor, I hold a special affection for the club. Protect its clubroom by any means necessary.”
The word affection was not convincing when spoken with that expression.
I asked politely,
“Even if the clubroom disappears, the Mystery Society itself won't cease to exist, will it? The Mystery Society is not a place. Rather, freed from the restriction of a clubroom, the entire Ivory Tower could become the Mystery Society's clubroom…….”
“Enough nonsense.”
“Yes, sir.”
Aurelius went beyond firmness. He made it impossible for me not to act.
“Now that you have become the club's Manager, you must bear the corresponding responsibility. If you fail to maintain the clubroom, your Student Record will become considerably longer than it is now.”
“Excuse me?”
“Your Conduct Score will plummet.”
Leaving those words behind, Aurelius walked out of the clubroom with his cane leading the way.
I stood there blankly for a long moment.
He said he would deduct my points.
Why?
It was unreasonable.
“Armand, what are you going to…….”
“Everyone, hand over your money!”
I shouted.
“As the Mystery Society's Manager, I am requisitioning the members' assets. Hand them over at once! Let us overcome this crisis together! Are we strangers to one another?! I'm checking your pockets!”
“C-calm down!”
While abusing my authority as Manager, I was eventually subdued by Karl and Senior Jepi and left sprawled across the sofa.
I stared into empty space.
All I had wanted was to quietly prepare for exams, collect good grades, and become the top student.
But the world would not leave me alone.
Karl, who was pinning me down, spoke.
“What do we do, Armand? Is there really no solution even for you?”
“There is a way.”
“Armand, are you doing diaphragmatic breathing? Your stomach's moving up and down!”
Yes. I had merely found it bothersome.
I was Armand.
Wherever and whenever, my talent revealed itself like an awl piercing through a pocket.
“We can't reverse the subsidy reduction. Then there is only one solution.”
“What is it?”
“Donations.”
I shoved Karl aside, sending him down onto his backside, then rose and opened my eyes wide.
“We'll enter high society and find a patron.”