Tensei Shoujo no Rirekisho - Volume 3 - Chapter 73

73. Student Activities 1 – Shining Second Year

Finally, I am in the second year! My juniors have also arrived: I wonder if someday I will be called a big sister! What should I do!

I tried to be excited and enjoy the new term, but in the corner of my eye, there was a sharp glare… Lady Katerina. Her piercing glare had intensified since we were freshmen. Come to think of it, one of her entourage–Miss Salome–had specifically said, “Be prepared after the vacation!” Somehow, Miss Katerina seems overbearing. Why? Be prepared, she said… For what?

Well, whatever. She’s just staring. Compared to Alan’s stalking incident when we were first admitted, it’s totally cute. I pretended not to notice Miss Katerina for the time being and went alone after school to the faculty building where the teachers were. My target was the head of the school. The principal.

“Mr. Principal. Is now a good time?”

With the documents I’d secretly prepared clutched in one hand, I spoke to the silver fox. I had staked out the principal’s office, and as he was rushing out, the principal turned to me in surprise.

“Oh, what is it?”

What a gentle voice! The principal seems to be a kind man. If so, this will be a smooth discussion.

“Actually, I have a favor I’d like to ask you.”

I gave him the hair toss and puppy dog eyes attack. I’m a cute little girl, this silver fox will love me, too. I’m sure of it.

“A favor?”

“Yes, um, please accept this document.”

I handed it over like a girl handing over a love letter, and the principal cautiously accepted the document and looked it over.

“This is… a petition? Open the magical books library to general students…?”

After reading part of the text aloud, the principle continued reading silently and earnestly. I wonder what his reaction will be. I think it’s going pretty well… He seems kind. I had finished reading all the books in the library as a first-year student and wanted to read books related to magic, so I went straight to the principal.

If my request is accepted, I’ll also be able to see the original book of all spells that rests in the depths of the library, “Grimoire of Salvation”. If I can see that book, I might get some hints about why spells are tanka poems, and my theory that the person who wrote the grimoire might have been Japanese.

Furthermore, if we can deepen our understanding of magic, we may be able to find a means for it to be used by everyone, not just magicians. If we can, this world will surely be more stable. It’s unstable because there are so few magicians. It would help to increase the number of magic users. And solve any problem with magic. The pioneer villages wouldn’t have to starve, and Boss Alex wouldn’t be burdened with the farmers.

Well, to be honest, I think it would be hard to get everyone to use magic. If it could be done, someone would have already researched it. But there may be something that only my knowledge can unlock, since the spells are all Japanese literature.

In addition to reading magic books, the document also requests other things to reduce inequalities like reducing magic history classes and changing the location of the library. Well, the main part is the release of the magic books, so the other petitions are more like supports.

“Wonderful! Did you think of this? You’re the one who did the freshman representative greeting last year, right? It was so impressive I still remember it!”

Oh, that’s a better reaction than I expected! I’m glad I did the freshman representative greeting!

“Thank you very much for remembering. I fervently hope you will accept this document’s proposals.”

“Right. Hmm, I can’t make a decision on these matters without speaking with the king. Are you the only one involved in this? Any other collaborators?”

Is that so…

Is the king the one who actually manages this school? I expected the principal to be the head of the academic world, but I can’t even ask him for a little favor, a little change to the system? I thought I’d made my attack, but… after all, I’ll have to get through the king and the magicians… I’d heard that the principal was from the royal family but wasn’t a magician, so I thought it would work.

“I haven’t recruited any collaborators… How many do I need?”

You can’t take just a single student’s suggestion to the king. Maybe I need a signature-gathering event.

“The more people there are, the better… But rather than numbers, higher-ranking magicians would make the best collaborators.”

Hmm, I see. I don’t have many friends. Look, I’m the type who makes a few deep relationships. You know, I could be popular if I wanted to, it’s just my policy not to! As I was comforting my heart over my few friends, the principle put his hand on my shoulder in concern.

“Don’t feel bad. Personally, I think you’ve really thought this through. I’ve been looking for something like this.”

For some reason he’s looking at me hopefully. No, wouldn’t it be faster for the principal to take action rather than expecting some child to do it? Aren’t you the head of the academic world? I wonder if his position in the academic world isn’t as high as I thought, even though he’s the principal… Well.

After that, I gave a casual goodbye and left the principal’s office. A signing event…

Later, in the ordinary library, I made a signature sheet and asked Alan, Charlotte, and Ritz to sign it. Everyone reads and studies differently, but usually people gather in groups of four at the library. At that opportunity, I put the signature sheet down in front of them. They already knew I wanted to read magic books, and they were happy to see fewer magic history lessons, so they signed it willingly. I don’t think there will be more free time just because there are no magic history lessons, it’ll just be some other lesson… I kept that to myself. Yep.

However, as I thought, I got three magicians’ signatures immediately! I’m expecting Sir Cain’s as well. And thus ends the signature event. Because I’m that type of person, the type who interacts deeply but narrowly! Quality over quantity. Sir Cain is now a fifth-year student, and the other three are magicians. Furthermore, Alan is a Count’s son and magician. I think that’s good. Let’s go to the principal’s office with these members.

If that’s no good… We might need to make a demonstration with placards like, “Resist!” or “Freedom!” or “I’m human, let me read magical books.” In that case, it seems like I’d better strengthen my influence… I have a Count’s family name, but when I turn fifteen, the value of that name will disappear. Not just for me, everyone thinks that. No matter your efforts, only those who have graduated can get a title. But while students aren’t given titles, if they are active enough they can earn one at the same time as they graduate and attract the attention of others.

The easiest title to obtain as a student is that of Merchant. You just have to produce results in some kind of business. Regardless of the demonstrations, I was already thinking of getting a Merchant title. It’s just a matter of whether I should start working to get a Merchant title right now.

Ah, Claude’s grinning face came to my mind just now. Bah, it’s not because Claude told me to gain a title while I was a student! It’s my own volition!

I put all my effort into my delusions and decided on an immediate goal. Set up a stall in the capital city’s market! For now, in order to become a Merchant, I think it’s reasonable to open some kind of stall in the market first. It’s close to school. Since it’s the custom to sell products by laying them on a sheet in the market, initial costs shouldn’t be too high. However, I believe there’s a stall registration fee required to do business. Since it’s an amount I wouldn’t be able to pay just by working, I wonder if Mama Kou will help me earn some pocket money before I open my market stall.

That said, I still haven’t decided what I would sell even if I did open a stall. Hmm, what could I do…

“Ryou? What’s with the long face… You’ve been reading the same page for a while now.”

Alan asked me with a worried face as I was staring at my book and thinking.

“I’m just thinking a little. Nothing’s wrong.”

“Is that so? That’s good… But if you have any problems, you can talk to me.”

Oh, is my minion taking care of me now? Alan’s gotten in the habit of worrying about his boss! Alan’s settled down more ever since we returned to school after the vacation. Maybe the trauma of my being attacked by bandits has been lightened a little. Come to think of it, while I was talking, he sat and listened to me. The Alan of a year ago would have turned his back and given no indication he was listening. When I think about it, Alan has grown up.

“Thank you very much. I want to open a stall in the market, but I was thinking about what to sell.”

“Ryou, you’re going to open a stall in the market?”

Miss Charlotte came and sat next to me with sparkling eyes and jumped into the conversation.

“Yes, I believe so.”

“It would be great to have your own shop!”

He he, thank you. It’s not that big a deal, but when people say it’s my own shop, it makes me nervous.

So then, my own shop… Thinking back to my previous life, many girls said that their future dream was a cake shop. A cake shop… would be delicious.

“For a product to sell in the market… Wouldn’t the ice cream you made before be good? It was delicious.”

“Yeah! I think that’s good too! The ice cream tasted really good.”

Miss Charlotte agreed with Alan’s suggestion, and Ritz also nodded.

Well, ice cream is certainly a curiosity, but it might sell… But…

“I don’t think I can deal with ice cream. It’s hard to store, and honestly it takes a lot of time and effort. If possible, I want something that can be made in large quantities and stored.”

I want to mass produce something and make a killing by running out of stock! Although the ice cream shop is also a dream. It’s delicious… Ice cream… All you can eat leftovers… Oh, I’m wavering a little.

“Then, what about medicine? Kou has a drugstore, doesn’t she? Why not sell that medicine?”

I hummed and nodded at Ritz’s new proposal. I thought of that, too. Mama Kou’s medicine is amazing. In particular, the cosmetics have been selling very well recently, and even now the shop is prosperous just by word of mouth. However, medicine requires expensive raw materials to make. I didn’t think I could make a big profit on it, so I set it aside. But it might be better to deal with goods I’m already familiar with. It is the first time I’ve ever started a business.

“Yeah, that’s it. Let’s think along those lines. In any case, I’ll be helping Kou in order to earn the market fee, so let’s consider that for a while.”

“Hehe, it seems fun to open a shop, anyway! I want to do what I can to help!” Charlotte said with a flowery smile.

Thank you! I’m so happy! Come and help out! I’ll have a lot of support. Alan, too. I’m expecting security for my big factory from Alan!