Healing at the Academy Convenience Store - Chapter 1027

“There’s no concrete evidence. But my instincts are always right, so Regina did it.”

“Do you have any evidence?”
Don’t you think I would know the seed variety?

Eve threatens the elf representative into pledging loyalty and provides him with high-grade seeds. The representative publishes an op-ed in the Yggdrasil Times questioning Wolfram’s wrongdoing.

“There’s no correct Syndrome, but my gut feeling is always right, so it must be Regina’s doing.”

“Wow, a bombshell… Okay. Let’s say Regina Ciel did it… What are we going to do about it….”

Eve started to think while grinning.

Well. Since I’m ahead in both authority and power, I could just call her over for some magic training or something, and give her a good beating. That would be enough.

I’ll leave that as it is for now…

I need to come up with my own countermeasures.

So that I won’t be subjected to such ridiculous nonsense in the future.

***

There are two main ways to create my own power.

One is to delve deeper into darkness and bring the entire Black Flag group under my control. I’ve already killed Ciesta, and I can easily infiltrate the Black Flag’s internal affairs. I’ll become the big boss.

And the other is the forces of light. In other words, I completely absorb the Yang group. Or become their idol… It’s a fair play, but it’s the most certain. I’ll find guys who will support me unconditionally.

Of course, the latter is overwhelmingly better.

This is different from the common perception that the Yang side is easier to operate, because even if I get my hands on the Black Flag in Zephyr, those guys won’t even be able to graduate, but if I get my hands on the Yang group, I can maintain a friendly relationship even after graduation.

So the forces of Yang. I’ll either take over a group whole or build a friendly relationship with them.

And the most useful group among them is…

“Yggdrasil?”

“That’s right. I’d like to have a conversation with the representative of Yggdrasil.”

I ask Sylphy to get the elf group in Zephyr, Yggdrasil, on my side.

First of all, if I have my own supporters, Regina won’t be able to pull such strange pranks.

“Hmm. I don’t think there’s any reason for Wolfram to meet you on our side…”

“No, if there isn’t, we can make one. Can’t we?”

I took out a seed from my pocket and handed it to Sylphy, and she clapped her hands and said, “Ah.”

That’s right.

It doesn’t matter how much Yggdrasil hates me.

As an elf, I’ll make an offer that they can never refuse.

***

And so, I met with the representative of Yggdrasil.

I attended alone so that the rumors wouldn’t spread to Sylphy.

The meeting room where I was the only one present.

The faces of the five or so people on the other side were not very good.

“I thought it was something important when the student council called me… I didn’t expect you to come out instead of Eve-nim. Is Eve-nim absent today?”

“No, coincidentally, that’s wrong from the beginning. I’m the one who called you. Wolfram von Lohengrin.”

“Do you have something to talk to us about?”

“Well, if you look it up, you’ll find a few things.”

“We don’t intend to do that. We’ve had a very enjoyable time today. So let’s get going.”

“It’s good to get up, so I’ll give you each a present.”

“A present from you…”

Don’t be so cold.

I squeezed something in my pocket and threw it on the table.

The grains that were in it spread out on the table with a clatter.

The faces of the elves hardened when they saw that they were plant seeds.

“To handle seeds in this way, manners…”

“Hmm. I’m sorry, but I have too many seeds. I’ve been careless in handling them because it’s hard to dispose of them.”

“Plants are also a life. No matter how common the grass may be, each one has value.”

So saying, the elf representative gathered up the seeds and looked down at them.

Right after that.

He stopped dead in his tracks.

“These seeds… No way… Wait, no way. But this scent… Why?”

“Why? Aren’t those seeds weeds?”

“Ah, huh. Hmm… No. They’re very ordinary seeds… They are. We’ll collect them and grow them nicely.”

“Yeah. That’s fine. Take them all.”

“Th, then…”

“But that’s really amazing. Even the nobles of the elves can treat the bellflowers of Ranzania, Istacia, rusty roses, and heptahydrangeas as ordinary seeds.”

At those words, the elf representative’s face turned pale.

At those words, the face of the elf representative turned pale.
The front page of the elemental newspaper distributed around Yggdrasil ran an editorial entitled, “Was it really all Wolfram’s fault?”

Eve threatens the elf representative into pledging loyalty and provides him with high-grade seeds. The representative then publishes an editorial in the Yggdrasil newspaper questioning Wolfram’s guilt.

I suppose you didn’t think I’d know the variety of the seeds.
I simply instructed a subordinate to select some bribes for the elves, and I assumed you’d accept whatever they gave you.
I continued speaking as I laughed heartily.
This is where it gets important.
“Elves are treacherous and inscrutable, but I thought that when it came to cherishing nature and dealing with plants, they would be transparent… But you allowed greed to cloud your judgment and tried to pass off the value of these seeds as lower than they were… Wouldn’t it be terribly amusing if word of this got out?”
“W-who would believe such rumors…?”
“Won’t this fellow spread the word?”
As I snapped my fingers, a wind infused with elemental power blew through the conference room.
It had clearly surpassed the intermediate level and reached the advanced level. It was a lapis lazuli wind that mere Zephyrin students wouldn’t be able to detect.
“Sylphide… the servant elemental of Evergreen Grove… A-an advanced wind…?”
“That’s right. And now, it lends me its power.”
As I snapped my fingers again, a voice could be heard amidst the lapis lazuli wind. “No, these are very ordinary seeds.” It began with that and recorded our entire conversation.
And the elves realized what that meant.
“An advanced wind elemental spirit. And it was recorded with elemental power by the eldest daughter of the Evergreen Grove family. That would be sufficient evidence to be accepted as proof, wouldn’t it?”
“W-well… then….”
“If we were to submit a formal protest to the Elven Kingdom with this, you would all be treated as unqualified, worthless trash and forcibly repatriated… Let’s see. The charges would be accepting bribes, falsifying value… deceiving the royal family… I could make up whatever I wanted. Haha.”
Now the fellow’s face was trembling.
However, the expressions of the other elves were icy cold. From that exchange, it was clear that none of them were close to the leader except for the errand boy. They were clearly showing signs of wanting to cut off his tail.
“I suppose your friends behind you are thinking of scapegoating you with the leader’s arbitrary decision. What a wonderful friendship, don’t you think?”
“T-that’s not….”
In any case.
Who could blame them for being sneaky?
“Well. You’re in a dilemma. If I were to make a big fuss and publicize this, your friends will abandon you. There is only one way for you to survive now.”
“S-survive….”
“To sit back down in your seat right now and beg me for my life. Spare my life. Treat me with respect. Something like that.”
“T-that’s… my pride….”
“Will that precious pride of yours protect you if you’re kicked out of Zephyrin?”
“…….”
“Now. Everyone, take your seats. Let’s continue the meeting.”
The fellow stumbled back to his seat, and the other elves reluctantly followed suit.
Very well done. I shall reward you.
I took out more seeds from my pocket and scattered them on the table.
This time, it was for all five of them.
Perhaps they had learned their lesson, because none of them were foolish enough to grab them, but I could hear the sound of their eyes rolling.
“These are clearly very high-grade seeds. They are filled with life, and they will sprout into fine shoots, making the world even more beautiful. Isn’t that right?”
I glanced at them with a smile, as if they might actually start shooting beams of light from their eyes.
“I will give all of these seeds to you. If you simply listen to what I have to say, I will provide you with fine seeds. Just by following my orders a few times, you will have the opportunity to grow beautiful saplings and the finest flowers.”
“W-what do you w-want from… me.”
“Oh, nothing much. First of all…. I would like everyone in Zephyrin to know that Yggdrasil and Wolfram von Roengrin have fostered an atmosphere of reconciliation. The rumors within the fortress have been quite loud. If you do that well…. I will grant each of you a sapling of the highest-grade tree, the Incarnate of Nature.”
“T-the… Incarnate of Nature….”
“For your information, I already have an elven lover. I have no ulterior motives in giving these to you ladies. You know that, right? Even if you were to reveal the source, it wouldn’t tarnish your purity.”
That was the clincher.
Each of them hurriedly stuffed the seeds into their pockets.
The next day.

The front page of the spirit newspaper published by Yggdrasil featured an op-ed titled, “Was it really all Wolfram’s fault?”