Tensei Shoujo no Rirekisho - Volume 3 - Chapter 81

81. Student Activities 9 – The 1st and 2nd Year Students These Days

The next day, I took a big bunch of signed papers and triumphantly submitted them to the principal, who gladly accepted them with a little ‘Hooray!’ This feels great! I’m glad I went all out! For the time being, since I had submitted the product of the signature event to the principal, I could only wait for the result.

And while I was waiting, an unprecedented dodgeball boom gripped the young ladies and gentlemen of the school. First- and second-year students played dodgeball in the fields after school, during lunch, and eventually during the breaks between classes. But isn’t the break between classes so short there’s barely time to dodge? Can’t we just rest? Can’t we just do it after school? Huh?

These aristocrat kids, once addicted, were completely obsessed and spent all their precious free time every day playing dodgeball. Until a little while ago, they were proper aristocratic children… I wonder if it was really okay to spread dodgeball. I’m worried their parents will get mad at me and say, “What kind of savage game did you teach my child! Reee!”

And perhaps due to the popularity of dodgeball, there was a boom among the first- and second-year students of giving each other nicknames. Miss Salome, who was so helpful at the first dodgeball match, casually referred to Miss Katerina as “Katerina”, and I took advantage of the situation to call Charlotte “Charly” or “Char”. Mwahaha. My, I wish I could have such a cute name…

“Lady Ryou of the Certain Victory, take a stick.”

When we gathered in the vacant lot after class to play dodgeball, a boy with a crew cut held a tube full of wooden sticks out to me. He’s one of the second year boys. I pulled one of the sticks out of the tube and it had a red ribbon on it. If you pull a stick with a red ribbon, you’re on the red team. It’s a lottery to divide teams for dodgeball.

“Yes! The goddess of victory is on the red team! We won!”

A boy who also seems to be on the red team said, delighted, and the white team looked a little disappointed. That’s right, the “Ryou of the Certain Victory” from earlier was my nickname… When we play dodgeball, my team usually wins, so they gave me that cringy nickname…

I don’t know who, but one of the people who loves dodgeball must be one of those “Eighth-Grade Syndrome” types, so whenever I play dodgeball they always use my complete nickname. I’d rather they used my normal name!! It’s even longer and harder to say than my original name!

At first I was disappointed and said, “I’d rather not…” but apparently most of the first and second year students had Eight-Grade Syndrome, and hyped it up, saying, “It’s super cool! Everyone else has nicknames! It’s cool!” so I let it go as is… I’m just embarrassed because I haven’t caught the cringe myself yet. Everyone, aren’t you too young to have Eight Grade Syndrome? Am I the only one embarrassed?

For example, Miss Katerina is called “Essential Court Supervisor” for her ability to prevent balls from rolling away with her favored wind magic, but for some reason, she just accepts it with a face that doesn’t seem displeased… Also, Charly is called “Miss Starting Bell”, but that’s for the shameful reason that she’s always the first one to be hit with a ball. Still, she seems to be a little happy… She looks satisfied, as if to say, “When the game starts I’m happy to step forward, and when I get hit, my job is done!” Or is that my imagination?

In addition, Alan, who’s surprisingly athletic and a very good dodgeball player, is called “Challenger Alan” in praise of his bold spirit in catching any ball. Originally Alan, who loves nicknames, seemed happy, but later he whispered, “I want a cooler name with more difficult words.” …Hmm.

A-anyway, I’m on the red team for today’s dodgeball game. As always, I’ll do my best. Because I’m Certain Victory Ryou!

Ah, I can’t, it’s embarrassing after all…

With the dodgeball boom and the nickname boom, I feel like the bonds between first and second years were getting deeper these days. There weren’t many third-year participants or above because their classes ran longer, but the upperclassmen who participated a little in the evenings were also welcome. Even if they’re upper class students, they’re still not to old to want to play.

However, the problem is… Originally, I spread dodgeball because of the signature event, and I held the signature event for the petition to read library books, but the all-important petition affair was not moving forward at all! It seems like it’s unexpectedly difficult to get a response, and when I checked on the progress with the principal who wasn’t responding, he said, “A little longer! Wait a little longer, I’ll do my best!” and I feel like he started sweating hard. Somehow it seems like it’s not working out.

Why?! You received it with such a happy feeling, principal! The principal was so apologetic I couldn’t blame him, but… He told me something like, “We may need help from Sir Henry after all”, but… I will absolutely never do that! Never!

As I thought, I have to succeed as a merchant and gain name recognition by the time I graduate… But there’s no guarantee the petition will be accepted… No, don’t think about it too much. I’ll just do what I can right now! First of all, I’ll open a market stall!

I’ve saved enough money to be able to open a market stall, but I haven’t been able to get started because I’m having a hard time deciding what to sell. At first, I thought it would be good to do lotions, but the alcohol and herbs used as ingredients are expensive. As you’d expect, when the cost is high, the profit is low. On the other hand, if you set the price to match, the kind of customers you get in the market wouldn’t buy beauty products like that…

“Ryou, what’s wrong? You look like you’re not feeling well…”

It was Cain speaking, as he looked at my face anxiously. It’s lunch break, but Sir Cain often has lunch with me these days. To tell the truth, Sir Cain is graduating this year, so we won’t be able to see each other at school anymore. So over the past year, he’s been trying to spend more time with his brother and his friends. That’s Sir Cain for you! Such a gentleman!

Well, that’s not the only reason. The main reason is Sleazy. Sleazy kept bothering me and wouldn’t take no, and Alan kept fighting back, so sometimes it caused a dreadful atmosphere. However, when Sir Cain and his followers join us, incredibly, the atmosphere relaxes.

“Umm, I was thinking about the petition I submitted to the school, which doesn’t seem to be working out.”

When I answered Sir Cain’s concern, Sleazy, who was sitting next to him, butted in with his usual smile.

“That’s why I told you to let me help out. Chicky, what’s the point of acting so tough? Just think it over and take my hand.”

This guy! While I was thinking that and watching Sleazy, my henchman Alan slapped his hand away. That’s right, well done, minion.

“Ryou doesn’t need a hand from Uncle Henry!”

“Don’t, Alan, you might hurt me.” Sleazy sighed at Alan sullenly.

Sleazy shows faces to magicians that aren’t that nasty smile. That disgusting smile of his is reserved for livestock, since he loves domesticated animals. As I watched the two interact, Charlotte, who was sitting next to me, brought her face furtively to my ear.

“Ryou, you seem to hate Sir Henry for some reason, but why? I think he’s really cool…”

Charlotte, no, don’t tell me you’re fooled by his appearance. After all, it’s what’s inside that counts.

“Sir Henry doesn’t have a very good personality. Or should I say, I physically can’t stand him…”

“Oh, is that so? But Sir Henry is very popular. He’s kind, he’s cool, he’s got strong magical power… not to mention he’s a candidate for the next king.”

Yeah, I know. I know. The current king has no magical children, so if something happens to him, his younger brother, Sleazy, may become king. There were four magicians born to the previous king. The first magician is the current king. The second-born magician is a necromancer, so he can’t take the throne, the third is dead, and the fourth is Sleazy. Furthermore, Sleazy appears to have great magical ability, and since he’s an adult, wouldn’t it be best to let him become king? That’s the gossip. No way. I don’t want to be a citizen of a farm kingdom ruled by Sleazy.

“Sir Henry is popular…”

My soft, troubled response faltered. What will happen if he becomes king…

“Yes, he’s very popular! The king’s wife is chosen from magicians with solid bloodlines, but women who can’t use magic are often chosen as concubines, many girls at school are aiming to be Henry’s concubine!”

Wow. Is that how it is… Sleazy’s harem, Sleazy’s farm… I mean, are school girls really thinking about becoming concubines at this age… They’re so precocious… But maybe it has something to do with how they’re forced to become adults at fifteen…

Speaking of which, when I visited Rainforest last vacation, I noticed that Alan received a huge number of matchmaking letters. Yeah, aristocrats are something else. Thinking about that, I looked at Alan, who was still bickering with Sleazy. The way things are, it seems like Alan isn’t thinking about a fiancée yet. Sir Cain is next to Sleazy and Alan trying to calm them down. Sir Cain must be fourteen already. He’ll be an adult next year. I wonder if he’s thinking about getting married…

“Hehe, Ryou, do you like Sir Cain after all?” Charlotte threw out while I was watching the Rainforest brothers.

Eh? What’s this all about, Charlotte! Asking if I like Sir Cain, well, if I have to say yes or no, then I like him, but… But Charlotte had a faint blush on her cheeks like she’s getting all romantic. But Cain is still fourteen years old. Certainly, height-wise, he’s grown quite a bit, but, you know, his shoulders are still thin… He’s just not my type yet. He has to be at least as old as I was in my previous life. I mean, I’m only eleven. Isn’t it too early to talk about our love lives? Didn’t I say they were precocious?

“I like Sir Cain and respect him, but I don’t feel the way you think I do, Miss Charlotte.”

When I replied, Charlotte looked very surprised and opened her mouth again.

“No way, then are you actually into Sir Alan…?”

“No, not him either…”

“I thought so. Of course it’s not like that! I was a little surprised.”

Charlotte, you’re laughing a lot. Weren’t you a little too surprised? I-I don’t think that badly of Alan, but… well, he’s not a romantic target. He’s a minion. Is Alan one of those boys who aren’t that popular… I don’t think his looks are bad, but, well, he’s Alan. I feel a little sorry for my henchman.

However, Alan is still a child, and probably hasn’t fallen in love yet, so he shouldn’t care. When he hits puberty, I’m sure he’ll quit being my henchman, become stylish, and be popular with girls. When that happens I’ll quietly grant him independence.

“Come to think of it, it’s about time for the Mana Drain, isn’t it. Are you going shopping at the market again? All four of us are in the same group this year, so I’m looking forward to it.”

While Charlotte and I were talking romance, Ritz butted into the conversation. Oh, now that you mention it, the Mana Drain trip is coming up. Last year’s Mana Drain trip was pretty rough. A demon attacked us. That time Henry… no, wait, Sir Cain was pretty cool! He was really amazing to be able to cut off a demon’s arm!

“Ooh! Everyone going to the market, that sounds like fun! I want to go!”

Charlotte agreed to Ritz’s proposal. Yeah, I think that’s good, too! This year the four of us will be grouping up for the Mana Drain, so I might be looking forward to it. Above all, this year Sleazy is in a different group. Last year I hadn’t realized that Henry was Sleazy, but if I think about it, I might have had a bit of an inkling. Well, but this year my group members are good friends, so I’m sure it will be more fun than last year!