Chapter 86

Translator: Kell | Editor: Weasalopes

Students Alliance Conference – Preassembly

「Why this place for the meeting, though?」Hikaru muttered .

The first meeting of the students from the seven nations was today, and it would be held at none other than the tavern Three Cheers for Booze . The pub itself was supposed to be closed today, but Hikaru asked the Master and the man lent him the key . He even told Hikaru to open the place if he wanted to .

「Well, that’s because this tavern is a gathering spot, and no one would think that students would be here . I thought it was the perfect place . 」League, who was already waiting in front of the tavern, answered . 「I was beginning to feel anxious since you weren’t around yet . Although there’s not a lot of people who would come here, there’s still the off chance that someone sees me . 」

Hikaru glanced around and found no one . His Mana Detection didn’t sense any people on the streets either . It was League’s idea to tell everyone to come alone so they wouldn’t be wary of each other .

「I came here early to open the place and you came even earlier . You must be really looking forward to this . 」

「I’m betting everything on this day . 」

You’re exaggerating, Hikaru thought . But League was dead serious . He was not the type to joke around in the first place .

They entered the tavern . Hikaru checked the fridge and started boiling water . Lavia helped with preparing tea, while League sat on the counter .

「Hikaru, thank you so much for your help . 」

「Where’d that come from?」

「I didn’t expect you to gather everyone so quickly . 」

「I told you each one has their own quirk . Can’t be all too positive about this . 」

Hikaru had already told League about the students he made contact with .

「Still, I’d like to thank you . 」

「That’s a flag, you know . 」

「A flag?」

「Ah, a flag is—」

The door opened .

「Oh! Looks like I got the right place . Sir League, thank you for inviting me to this meeting . Oh, and Hikaru! Long time no see!」

It was Silvester, cheerful as always . If this man became the next King of Zubura, the nation would be in good hands . He was the complete opposite of League, who almost never smiled .

「Lord Silverster . I mean, Silvester . Let’s drop the titles . 」

「Ah, right . 」

Silvester flopped down on the seat beside League . The Green Ogre heir contacted him through the principal . Surprisingly, he looked forward to this meeting .

「I never thought someone like you was a student here, Hikaru…」Silvester said .

「What do you mean by that? I’m still young . 」

「You’re strong enough to kill a Lesser Wyvern alone . Are you practicing magic in the academy?」

「Wait a minute . Hikaru killed a Lesser Wyvern alone?」League cut in .

「I told you about it, didn’t I?」Hikaru asked .

「No, you didn’t . I thought you formed a party with some people . 」

「I went with Lavia . 」

Lavia nodded .

「Who’s this beautiful lady?」Silvester asked, finally noticing her .

「Ah, she was there when we fought the wyvern . 」

「I see . So she was supporting with holy magic . 」

Aside from Healing magic, one could also learn Support Magic when strengthening their faith .

「Yeah, something like that . 」Hikaru said .

「No . Hikaru told me to stay back and went to kill it alone . 」

「Lavia…」

「It’s the truth . 」

She nonchalantly put tea leaves in the pot .

「Hikaru, what’s the meaning of this?」

「That’s it . There’s nothing more to it . Anyway, enough chit chat . The next guest is here . 」

The door opened and Claude entered . Astonished at the empty and dark place, he looked relieved as he spotted Hikaru at the counter .

「I’m Claude Zahard Kirihal . Hikaru invited me . 」

「I’m League “Green Ogre” Rumania . I’m the one who asked Hikaru for help . Thank you for coming here today . 」

「And I’m Silvester G . Zubura . I believe we met each other at a party once . No need to be formal here . 」

Silvester’s tone was friendly . But Claude, knowing that he was the next king of Zubura, didn’t know if he should be nervous or cool; he sauntered to the counter, but didn’t take a seat, still confused .

「Claude, how about some cold tea?」Hikaru asked .

「Th-That sounds good . Thanks . 」

「Please have a seat . 」

Urged by Hikaru, he finally sat down on a stool . He drank the tea in one gulp and exhaled .

「Hey, League . Hikaru’s being polite . 」Silvester said .

「I know . A rare sight . 」

「I can hear you, you know . 」Hikaru said .

「It’s weird . All three of us have pretty much the same standing in Forestia, but you’re polite with Claude, and crude when talking to us . 」Silvester said .

「Yes . It’s quite strange . 」League added .

「Not you too, League . Besides, you’re the one who told me to be more polite to up the chances of success . Do you remember how we met, anyway?」Hikaru said .

For League, it was at the Adventurers Guild when Roy stirred trouble . For Silvester, while fighting the Lesser Wyvern .

「Yeah, I thought so . Not really how you meet people normally . I didn’t think I’d see you ever again so I didn’t care about how to address you . 」Hikaru added .

「And now you’re our biggest supporter . You never really know what’s gonna happen in life . 」League said .

「Yup . It’s a great thing we acquired Hikaru . 」

「No, you didn’t “acquire” me! And my help ends today!」Hikaru answered back .

「You’re from Ponsonia, right? But you talk to them like you’re close friends…」Claude said .

「I wouldn’t say that…」

「Could you talk to me like that too? Like, be more rude or something…」

Hikaru took half a step back .

「What? Are you the type who gets turned on when berated?」Hikaru asked .

「O-Of course not! That’s ridiculous!」Claude protested .

「Silvester, I think we chose the wrong guy from Kirihal . 」

「I agree . This is a serious matter . 」

「No! I’m not like that, okay?!」

In the meantime, Lavia poured more cold tea into Claude’s cup .

「It looks like you’ve loosen up a little, Claude . 」she said .

On his feet with mouth open, Claude sat back down .

「Ah, so that’s what’s going on . Thank you . I may have been feeling tense . My throat’s dry . 」

As Claude drank his tea, Hikaru sensed several people approaching with his Mana Detection .

「All right . It looks like the rest of the gang is here . Let’s move to the table . 」Hikaru said .

Luka arrived next . Not long after, Ivan, one of the Jarazack students studying the great sword, showed up . And then Catherine, Lavia’s friend from Euroba . She had bluish hair, braided to both sides . Her purple eyes painted her as someone quiet – or rather, gloomy . Her skin had a tinge of blue to it, a feature of the people from Euroba .

「We have six people so far . All that’s left is…」League said, glancing at Hikaru .

「Kotobi . Professor Katy said her younger sister will come . 」Hikaru said .

「I looked it up, but apparently she doesn’t have a younger sister . 」

「What?」

「How did you tell her about the meeting place?」

「I just told Professor Katy directly . I know this sounds strange, but I don’t think she would lie to me . 」

「Really?」

And then…

「Sorry, I’m late! I got lost . 」

A woman appeared . She looked coldhearted, with a tattoo of a flame on her face .

「Is that you, Professor?」Hikaru asked .

「No, it’s her sister, Katyna . 」she answered .

「No, it’s definitely you . 」

「Nope . My name is Katyna . 」

Hikaru checked her Soul Board . Katy .

「If you keep on fooling around, I might have to do something about this . 」

Hikaru rolled up his shirt to show the revolver .

「W-Wait a sec, Hikaru!」

Katy approached him quickly, putting her arm around his shoulder .

(It sounded interesting so I wanted to be part of it!)

(I told you we needed a student . )

(Oh, come on . You’re exchanging ideas, right? It won’t hurt to have a professor’s opinion too . I’m sure I can help . I’ll show you . )

(Don’t tell me you wanted to participate because you thought this meeting would be related to the holy mana…)

「O-O-Of course not! No, no…」

「Hikaru-san . 」League spoke . 「I think it’s fine . Opinions from non-students will be valuable . 」

「You heard the man!」Katy exclaimed, pointing at League .

The words “beautiful, but hopeless” came to Hikaru’s mind .

「Fine…」Hikaru said, heaving a sigh .

And so the meeting, attended by six students and a professor, began .

【Participants】(In Order of Power)

League “Green Ogre” Rumania – Heir to Rumania’s most powerful clan

Claude Zahard Kirihal – A young man from the Zahard family, an enemy of the Miralka family where Queen Marquedo comes from

Luka Lordgrad Ludancia – Ludancia’s third princess

Ivan Jarazack – The son of an elite swordsman in Jarazack

Catherine Euroba – Daughter of a family whose members hold many posts in the government

Katy Kotobi – A professor in the academy, she’s from a family that owns some of the richest mines in Kotobi

Silvester G . Zubura – Crown prince of Zubura

※Hikaru – Observer

※Lavia – Waitress