To Be a Power in the Shadows!

The Festival of the God of War ended up going to Nee-san.

Student Council President Rose’s sudden intrusion left me a bit nervous about how things would turn out, but I’m glad I managed to make something out of the situation with just a bit of ad-lib.

The atmosphere of the entire venue had been taken out of my hands, but then in a flash of brilliance I realized that that works in its own way. True enough, I managed to make good use of it and turned it into the pattern where I get to take everything home.

I totally clinched it.

The world is constantly in motion, and people’s thoughts are also constantly in motion. My stage does not necessarily go according to my script. From now on, I shall continue to improve my ad-libbing skills and flexible thinking such that I would be able to react to any situation.

And so with that, the royal capital returned to its normal self after the Festival of the God of War ended.

It seems that some people are running helter-skelter because of everything that happened with Oriana Kingdom, but it’s completely unrelated to a run-of-the-mill noble like myself. The academy also started the second semester without any further issues.

Apparently something-or-other faction is going at it with something-or-other faction inside Oriana Kingdom. It’s the rumor everywhere that a civil war would probably break out before the end of the year. If a civil war really does happen, then I would very much like to intrude on it. I’m really looking forward to it, actually.

The academy without Student Council President Rose is continuing as normal.

I do feel bad for her, but that’s about it. People are trashing Student Council President Rose and saying that the incident was related to a love affair or a struggle for the inheritance of the throne or whatnot, but nobody seems to know for sure. But regardless of the reason, I personally support her way of life, so I hope that she’s living well somewhere.

Nee-san seems to have been busy with various things after winning the tournament, but everything was finally settled before autumn break and she managed to come back to the academy.

She sure got famous in the blink of an eye.

But then after she became free, she would come bug me every single day, so I had no choice but to arrange a celebratory dinner for her.

And that’s why right now, I am having a meal with Nee-san at a restaurant under Mitsugoshi Group.

I can swear that what I had reserved was the time-limited super cheap poor people course, so even I’m confused about this astonishingly luxurious fare and treatment.

“I didn’t actually expect you to be so resourceful. Even the food at the palace wasn’t this good……”

So says Nee-san while looking at the dazzling dishes.

Moreover, this is a private room that is clearly for VIPs.

I was worried whether they mistook me for someone else so I asked a staff member while on my way to the toilet, but apparently that was not the case.

Seeing as this restaurant is under Mitsugoshi Group, did I perhaps get a free upgrade for being friends with Gamma?

I’m a bit scared about being billed an ungodly amount after the meal.

“Actually, I’m friends with the president of Mitsugoshi Co.”

“Liar.”

“No, I’m serious. That’s why they’re giving us such good service, I think.”

“You see, jokes need to be funny and easy to understand, or else people won’t get it. Don’t worry, I’m not doubting you. I properly understand that you’ve put in a lot of effort for my sake.”

Nee-san flashes me a sweet smile.

It’s been so long since I’ve seen Nee-san in such high spirits. So I decided to just let the matter rest.

“I actually really love the food at Mitsugoshi restaurants. Their menu is always filled with new and delicious dishes. Ah, it’s my first time having roast beef.”

“Heeh~”

In this way, the two of us enjoy the meal together.

“Annerose got eliminated, Iris-sama withdrew halfway, and that Jimina guy got disqualified. So I won pretty much by luck.”

“Guess so.”

“You were supposed to deny that.”

“That’s not the case at all. Nee-san won by your strength!”

“Indeed, of course it was by my strength. But there are some people out there who don’t think so.”

“That makes sense, considering the circumstances.”

“Do it again.”

“How foolish they are to not acknowledge Nee-san’s strength! Have they no eyes to see?!”

“There’s no helping it. That’s how the masses are. But I am not a woman who would take this lying down.”

“Isn’t it about time for Nee-san to learn how to be more ladylike?”

“I am just about to get angry.”

“Those ignorant fools! They must be made to understand Nee-san’s strength and beauty!”

“Naturally I intend to do so. So cooperate with me.”

“No, thanks.”

“Denied. This is also for your sake, after all.”

“My sake?”

“Yep. You, what do you plan to do after you graduate? You won’t be able to get into anywhere proper with half-hearted grades.”

“Even if you ask me that all of a sudden……”

She has a point, I haven’t really thought much about what I’ll do after I graduate. Our house will most likely be succeeded by Nee-san, so I’d probably have to find a job some other place.

A dazzling place like a knight order does not fit me.

A more mob-like job…… oh, right.

“Being Gatekeeper A sounds good.”

That role that gets to stop the protagonist and say ‘you can’t pass if you don’t pay the entrance tax.’

“‘Gatekeeper A’? What’s the ‘A’ for?”

“It means ‘normal,’ I guess?”

“You…… gatekeeper is not an occupation for a noble. In the first place, it’s an exhausting job with low pay where they have to take two shifts back to back without much rest.”

“Oh, really?”

No rest sounds quite tough. It might negatively affect my activities as a power in the shadows.

“How about being a jailkeeper?”

“It’s even worse. That job is only for human trash to do.”

“‘Trash’…… Well anyways, decisions for the future can be made in the future. As long as I can do the thing that I want to do, I don’t mind what job I get.”

“What is the thing that you want to do?”

“It’s a secret. It’s the thing that’s most important to me, so of course I’m not going to tell it to anyone.”

“Sure, sure, so you don’t actually have anything. Stop spouting random things to postpone problems to the future.”

“Why did you come to that conclusion?”

“How about you think back on your own actions so far?”

“Well, whatever.”

“No, it’s not ‘whatever.’ This is your future that we’re talking about. Leave your autumn break free. If you do as I say, then I’ll be able to somehow get you into a knight order.”

“What is it that you plan on doing?”

“Fufu. The subjugation for the progenitor vampire ‘Queen of Blood’ is about to begin. All you’ll have to do is stay behind me.”

Nee-san flashes me a fearless grin.