I Favor the Villainess Chapter 38Conflict intensification

“It turned troublesome…”

Said Rod-sama.

“Today as well citizens appeared in front of the gate in great numbers. The academy can’t function like this”

Lambert-sama said bitterly.

Somehow, the story about the courtyard incident leaked from the academy and spread among the ordinary citizens.

The citizens who’ve heard the story were angered, and so began repeatedly protesting in front of the academy.

For now they haven’t tried to force their way through the gate, but who knows what will happen if they’re left alone.

“… Deed-sama’s excuse is a little forced”

Sein-sama said with a sigh.

When Yuu-sama and Lambert-sama asked for his story, Deed-sama roughly explained.

According to him, he pulled out his wand only to pose, he didn’t plan to use magic, or to cause such a serious injury.

However, it’s the fact that there’s an injured person, moreover, with whole-body burns he’s seriously injured.

Even if he said he wasn’t going for it, nobody would agree.

“What’s the citizens’ reaction?”

“An arrogant noble used unreasonable violence against a poor commoner, seems to be what they’re saying”

“In reality, it’s roughly like that… Somehow, I’m not satisfied with the explanation”

Rod-sama stroked his chin.

Being Yuu-sama’s guard, Deed-sama has considerable magic skills.

At the same time, as he’s working close to royalty, he’s received strict training not to act rashly.

Self-restraint has been drilled into him, his magic control is also above ordinary.

Would such a person act like that even if his master was insulted.

“For Deed, that’s unthinkable”

Yuu-sama declared.

“However, what happened says it all. I examined Deed-sama’s magical wand, and there wasn’t any particular evidence of a failure, it couldn’t be an accident”

So said Lambert-sama who accompanied Yuu-sama.

I touched on it a little before, but he’s a magical tools specialist.

His observation is persuasive.

“… Really, why such a thing…”

Yuu-sama hung his head.

Seeing Yuu-sama, with his appearance of a prince, disheartened is truly painful to look at.

“It’s no use lamenting over it. Let’s focus on what to do from now on”

“You are right”

Claire-sama agreed with Rod-sama who said so to change the atmosphere.

“Honestly, dealing with the problem outside the academy is beyond our powers. It’s the country’s… and depending on the situation, the army’s job”

The Order of the Academy is an organization that only deals with the problems inside the academy.

Citizens’ protests are outside its jurisdiction.

In the first place, there’s no way for about a dozen of children to calm down a protest.

“Let’s focus on what we can do. How is the situation inside the academy?”

“It’s roughly the same as with the citizens. Commoners are angry at the nobles’ tyranny. Due to criticism of nobles by commoners during the lectures, they cannot be held”

Lambert-sama answered Rod-sama’s question.

I think the courtyard incident is unreasonable, but I feel the direction of their anger is wrong.

“How do you think it can be settled?”

Rod-sama asked Lambert-sama another question.

“Honestly, I have no clue. If some kind of punishment was given to Deed-sama, the situation would start calming down…”

“What punishment could it be?”

“It’s difficult. Maybe if he was a lower-rank noble, but Deed-sama is a medium-ranked noble with connection to the Church. If he received excessive punishment, we’d face inevitable opposition from the noble side”

At any rate, the wounds sustained by Matt this time were so grave, normally it wouldn’t be strange if he had died.

Thanks to the Church, which after seeing how grave the situation made full use of high-ranking water magicians and valuable magical tools in his treatment, Matt narrowly escaped death.

As for the Church, I guess they couldn’t let him die no matter what.

“What’s the reaction of the noble students?”

“Currently, there’s no change on the surface, but it seems some are starting to make radical assertions that commoners are getting conceited”

“… It keeps getting worse”

Rod-sama bitterly muttered.

“Claire-sama, what does he mean by worse?”

Not understanding Rod-sama’s sense of impending crisis, I asked Claire-sama.

“Is your head just a decoration? Well? If the conflict intensifies, the middle ground will disappear”

“The middle ground?”

“It is where both the noble and commoner side can settle on a conclusion. Although both parties remain completely dissatisfied, they can reach an agreement, it is a thing like that”

“It’s a weasel word”

“You cannot do politics by seeing everything in black and white?”

I guess that’s how it is.

“For now, I’ll persuade the noble side with Sein and Yuu. If the future king lightly cautions them, their slightly radical acts will die down”

Rod-sama said, folding his arms.

For nobles, the words of royalty equals God’s.

“Misha, Rei, I leave persuading the commoner side to you. Skillfully have them blow off steam”

“I’ll try”

“Eeh”

I’m not good at difficult things like politics or bargaining.

“Do not eeh here. It is a direct order from Rod-sama, give it your all”

“Then, Claire-sama, please tell me to do my best. Affectionately”

“Do not say stupid things, it is an emergency”

“I’m deadly serious. If you don’t tell me that, I will not work”

“Isn’t it fine to tell her that”

Rod-sama gave me, who threw a tantrum, a helping hand.

Although it was mixed a wry smile.

“Hey, what are you saying, Rod-sama”

“Now, quickly, quickly!”

“This… Getting carried away…!”

“Quickly!”

I persistently urged.

Yup, I’m getting carried away.

“… Do your best, Rei”

Claire-sama said unwillingly.

“It’s lacking affection. Redo”

“Listen up, do your job!”

It can’t be helped then.

In the next few days, each of us ran about trying to calm the conflict within academy as much as possible.

With the princes’ persuasion, led by Rod-sama, the noble side showed signs of calming down.

As expected, royalty’s words seem effective.

On the other hand, the commoner side remained vigorous.

The number of scholarship students in the academy may be inferior, but they have support of the public opinion now.

Responding to the everyday demonstration in front of the gate, they carried out frequent protests.

As a result, a vicious cycle of the noble side complaining and the commoner side becoming enthusiastic about it was born.

◆◇◆◇◆

The day of the punishment announcement came.

In the courtyard which was the scene of the incident, a great number of both nobles and commoners await the proclamation.

And, the punishment was announced.

“… This is… not good”

Claire-sama muttered solemnly.

――Deed Marey is sentenced to one week of house arrest――

This… as expected, it’s too light.

Commoner students seem to share my reaction, angry roars reverberated from all around.

“Claire-sama, this way. This place is dangerous for nobles”

Lene pulled Claire-sama’s sleeve.

“But, that will do nothing to calm down the uproar!”

“It’s impossible now. Everyone is frenzied. They won’t listen”

“… Kh”

“Claire-sama, Lene is right. Let’s evacuate for now”

Desperately persuading Claire-sama, who refused to back down, we managed to leave the scene.

“… What will happen from now on…”

Claire-sama’s mutter may reflect every student’s feelings.