Chapter 38
Irix was right. Yes—compared to me, someone from another world, Irix definitely knew more about the academic process.
I looked at the student record.
In the grade section, it didn’t say “absent.”
Everything said “attended.”
Which meant I had at least taken the exams.
I had just scored zero on all of them.
At this level, anyone could tell it was intentional. I must have submitted blank papers on purpose because I wanted to quit school. It made sense that the school judged Elpini to have no intention of continuing.
If so, shouldn’t I follow that intention? I was only borrowing this body, so I should respect the original owner’s will.
But before I could finish thinking, Irix spoke.
“I’ll do it.”
I said I wouldn’t.
And why are you the one saying that?
“Alright, understood.”
Teacher, why are you answering Irix?
“However, since you didn’t apply for remediation before the break, there are procedures required.”
Good. Whatever those procedures are, I won’t do them.
“I’ll do everything.”
…Why do you keep answering, Irix?! I said I don’t want to!
Teacher Tolt spoke.
“We judged that Elpini failed all subjects intentionally.”
“And what led you to that conclusion?”
Again, Irix.
Yes, please continue speaking—guardian Irix.
“As you can see, the grades were fine before, and then suddenly they became like this… That makes it intentional. No matter how little someone studies, they still have basic ability.”
The academic supervisor kept talking only to Irix. I decided to just let the two of them talk.
“So we determined it was an act that disregarded the authority of the school and that we must respond strictly.”
“Before deciding that, shouldn’t you have looked into why the student did it? If something like that happened, there must have been a reason.”
Still Irix.
“The school cannot interfere in a student’s private life.”
“That’s not what you said to me last time. You even made me visit the counseling office.”
What exactly did you do last time?
“Ah, well…”
The supervisor’s smile faltered slightly.
“You asked me all sorts of questions, so why didn’t you do that for my senior?”
“I’m not in charge of counseling, so I’m not sure.”
What on earth did they ask that made Irix hold such a grudge?
It wouldn’t be good to be on bad terms with him. When he eventually destroys the world, he might put my name into the basket labeled People to Kill.
Wait—was there a story from the school staff’s perspective?
There was. Only one chapter, though.
“Very well, Irix.”
Now they were fully addressing him.
“Please meet with the vice principal. Explain honestly why the intentional failure happened. If it’s something the school can solve, we will solve it; if it’s something we can understand, we’ll understand and give another opportunity.”
Amazing. With just one complaint from Irix, things were resolved so easily.
But there was one major problem.
I didn’t know what that “reason” was.
So I gave the most common answer anyone would understand.
“I didn’t study.”
“That’s not the point, Senior. They’re asking why you intentionally didn’t.”
“I was playing.”
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
Irix’s eyes sharpened.
“You submitted blank papers on purpose! Otherwise those scores wouldn’t be possible.”
What made him so confident?
“It could just be that I didn’t study and didn’t know the answers.”
“All of them? Every single one?”
“Yeah.”
I nodded quickly.
“That makes no sense. You said this is your first time failing. You advanced every year and then suddenly, with only one semester left, you turn in blank papers? Of course there’s a reason.”
“…”
“Tell me, Senior.”
“I was playing.”
“All through exam period?”
“Yeah.”
Irix crossed his arms and stared straight at me. His eyes burned fiercely.
Good thing I couldn’t see Aether—otherwise I might’ve seen the murderous intent in him.
“Say it properly. Do you think you’ll get remediation talking like that?”
“Irix, I’m not worth saving.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You have to graduate. There’s only one semester left. Even if you hate it, I’m going to make sure you graduate!”
Ah… Why was I being scolded over something this trivial by a future villain candidate who would destroy the world?
Was it because I made him wear strange clothes?
Well, I did greatly damage the dignity of the future villain so that no one would join his world-destruction plan. That was a serious crime.
“Elpini Sienira, speak.”
“Well…”
After thinking for a long time, I smiled slightly.
Statistically, that smile always irritated Irix.
“I just stopped wanting to study.”
I shouldn’t have brought him to school. If I had left him alone, instead of getting angry at a failing student, he’d probably be planning world destruction.
“Then you didn’t want to before, but now you do? You came back to school, didn’t you?”
That was possible.
Elpini had been on a train heading to school—and alone, meaning it was voluntary.
On the way, however, the involuntary ghost known as me possessed the body and forgot everything.
Before I could answer, Irix spoke to Teacher Tolt.
“We’ll meet the vice principal.”
“Understood.”
Teacher Tolt stood up.
I wanted to stop him.
Couldn’t I just fail?
“I’ll inform the vice principal. Please wait here.”
He entered the office next door. When the door closed, Irix—who had been quiet—suddenly started laughing strangely.
“Heh… heh.”
“…Irix.”
“You failed everything and only came now. You should’ve done this before vacation. That would’ve been easier.”
How did he know that?
“Why would that be easier?”
“At that time, teachers want to finish their work quickly. So whether it’s retests or extra classes, they tell you right away. This school is full of failing students, so there are many remediation options.”
“How many times can you fail?”
“Unlimited.”
It was a school where admission was hard, promotion was hard, and graduation was extremely hard. Despite its ridiculous name, it definitely wasn’t easy.
How did Meimon graduate early from a school like this?
Was there some special system for top students?
No—wait.
Depor graduated too.
“But how do you know about remediation? Have you failed before?”
Irix looked offended.
“As if I’d ever fail. I just know because there are always failing students whenever I come here.”
“So you come here often.”
“For my classes. You have to apply in person for special classes.”
“Special classes?”
“Yeah.”
“Is that all? Feels like there’s more.”
Irix hesitated.
“…Well, I also came here a few times after fighting.”
Considering he could knock down several grown men instantly, if he fought ordinary students… the result was obvious.
They probably couldn’t expel him because he was the son of a prime minister. The teachers must’ve had a hard time cleaning up after him.
“….”
They should’ve just expelled him. Then when he eventually destroyed the world, he could proudly say he was a former student, not a current one.
Finally, Teacher Tolt returned.
I hoped the vice principal had refused—but no.
“He asked you to come in together.”
The teacher pointed at Irix.
Irix stood up naturally, then paused.
“Does the vice principal need to see me as well?”
Teacher Tolt fell into thought.
Tick. Tock. Time passed.
How many memories was he searching through?
“That incident has been resolved. Or no—was it that incident? No, that one was settled too. Or perhaps… that incident?”
How many “incidents” are there?
At last, deciding which one it was, Teacher Tolt smiled brightly.
“That violence case was resolved since Berkarte voluntarily went to the reflection room. He also wrote a reflection letter. It was somewhat insincere, but acceptable. The basic requirements were met.”
So the future villain had crouched in a tiny classroom writing I’m sorry a hundred times.
“What exactly did you do?”
Compared to destroying the world, everything else was minor.
Or maybe all those small incidents would pile up and eventually lead to world destruction.
Irix ground his teeth.
“Be quiet. Don’t you have anything to worry about, Senior?”
“Nothing comes to mind.”
And the student record I glanced at earlier had no incidents listed.
The first real incident was failing every subject.
“Maybe you caused so many incidents you can’t even remember?”
“Enough, enough.”
I pointed to the vice principal’s door.
“Let’s just go in.”
Hopefully, this time, I could successfully drop out.
