Reborn as the Head of the Stolen Mage Family

Chapter 61

The five-day holiday ended, and Eddie and Marcel boarded Verdi to return to the academy.

Through the window, Shainborough and the family members lined up in front of it grew distant.

Among them, Eddie's expression as he looked at Sylvia was a little subtle.

It would probably be the last time he saw her current self.

Eddie hoped that the current Sylvia would last as long as possible before being replaced.

‘That way, I can buy enough time to properly investigate the external forces.’

While heading to the academy, Eddie closed his eyes and focused on stabilizing his energy.

He didn't check Marcel's aura, nor did he care about the atmosphere between them.

Marcel's emotional state or energy was no longer of any concern to Eddie.

Since he no longer controlled his magic, only a semblance of a connection remained, like a well.

What would happen to Marcel in the future would be determined by his choices.

‘This will be the last time we ride the same transport ship.’

Eddie briefly took in the interior of Verdi before closing his eyes again.

He had a fleeting thought that he might miss this luxurious turquoise transport ship a little.

Of course, if he were to ride it again next time, he would be doing so as its owner.

* * *

The students who had returned from their holidays were busy unpacking their stories.

"I went to our new villa on the Sovereign Coast and......"

"We invited an opera singer to our mansion for a party and......"

"I watched the Lankross finals from the VIP seats and......"

Most of them were just bragging about how luxurious their vacations were.

But interestingly, the next heads of the two pillar families of the Luxorin were quiet.

And intriguingly, the reasons for their silence were similar.

Alexein, who was scolded by his father throughout the holiday for the disgrace he suffered in the representative election.

Marcel, whose plan to oust Eddie failed, and instead, his inferiority complex was revealed to his father.

Both of them failed to achieve their goals and were disgraced.

While the two maintained their silence with stiff faces, Eddie and Joy sensed a change in the atmosphere.

The biggest change was, of course, the reaction to Eddie.

No one looked at him as just Kirhausen's tail anymore.

From at best ‘Marcel's servant who knows a thing or two about magic’ to ‘a talent Kirhausen has discovered and is pushing.’

Eddie's image had changed like that.

Although the inside story was different, Kirhausen's move to leave the tail who had become the vice president alone was enough to cause a misunderstanding.

The gazes towards Joy had also changed.

Before the representative election, she was ‘the leader of an annoying group of commoners.’

But now, she was perceived as ‘a commoner with outstanding abilities.’

Of course, she was still noted more for being a commoner than for her excellent abilities.

Still, compared to before, when she was just a ‘cheeky commoner,’ it was a remarkable improvement in perception.

[There will be a student council meeting after school today regarding the 1st-year field trip and midterm exams.

Time: 5 PM

Place: 1st-Year Student Council Room]

A notice in such a situation.

The first activity guide for the 1st-year representatives and student council members was posted on the bulletin board.

The expressions of the three grade officials looking at the bulletin board were different.

The president with a stiff face and the vice president with a subtle smile.

And the student council apprentice member brimming with anticipation.

They were the most watched grade officials in the entire school, but there was no unity among them yet.

The three of them headed to the student council room separately after school.

.

.

.

The meeting was not long.

A discussion about the midterm exams, which were three weeks away, and the 1st-year field trip, which was a week away.

It seemed like a big decision would be made, but in reality, it was just a confirmation of what was done every year.

Only one thing had changed.

More than half of the 1st-year professors in charge of deciding the field trip location were absent from the meeting.

The three vacant seats were all occupied by senior professors who had come down to teach 1st-year classes.

Anyway, the places to go for a field trip were all the same.

They were bored of talking about similar places every year.

In the end, the meeting concluded in a situation with many absentees, like this.

"Then, with the unanimous consent of the two professors present and the grade officials, we will decide the location of this year's 1st-year field trip as recommended by the dean."

Everyone agreed with the vice dean's words that concluded the meeting.

"One supervising professor has not yet been decided, so the professors, please remain. The three of you may leave."

After bowing to the vice dean, the three 1st-year officials left the student council room with the handouts they had received.

Alexein ignored Eddie, who was trying to discuss when to deliver them to the students, and returned to the dormitory.

It was an expected attitude, so it was nothing surprising.

On the contrary, Eddie and Joy continued to talk with relieved expressions.

"Good. Let's just catch up on our stories."

"Sure."

The two of them walked around the school grounds, looking for a place out of sight.

But Eddie already had a place in mind.

It was the closet at the end of the 3rd-floor corridor.

The very place Derrick had tried to enter to receive a cheat sheet on the day of the entrance exam.

"La Amusiento."

Grrrr-

When Eddie chanted the spell, the brick wall opened inwards.

The two of them entered the closet.

Joy burst out laughing at the thought of Derrick's humiliating experience with the closet on the day of the entrance exam.

"Ah, no way… was the note from Derrick Jenkins that was discovered back then your doing too?"

"Thanks to that, I got a weakness to make Jenkins move as I wished at least once."

"Hmph…… You, really, what the……."

Joy shook her head as if she was dumbfounded.

"How's being a student council apprentice member? Is it manageable?"

"It's only been a few days. I'm still adapting. But even if it's not manageable, I'll make it work."

That was our promise.

Eddie was satisfied with Joy's resolute words.

"Hoo… right. Then ask me what you're curious about now. It seems like the conversation will be faster that way than if I start unpacking my stories."

"...Alright."

Joy was a little nervous before the serious questions began.

She was contemplating what to say first.

Of course, Eddie wasn't completely at ease either.

Because he didn't plan on telling Joy everything yet.

"You said your ultimate goal was to regain your lost power and family."

"Right."

"Are you… a descendant of a fallen noble family… or something like that? Are you trying to raise a family that was ruined because of Kirhausen and get revenge on them?"

"Hmm… yes and no."

"Hey, don't think about giving me a vague answer now. And don't even think about lying."

"Hmph. If I was going to lie, I would have done it already. Deceiving you is no big deal."

"This……."

Joy flared up at his seemingly dismissive words.

However, she couldn't refute Eddie's words.

A strange trust that Eddie would be capable of it had somehow formed.

"I'm not a fallen noble or anything. But it's true that I lost all my power, wealth, and even my family because of the current Kirhausen."

"Then are you really trying to get revenge… or something? Against that Kirhausen?"

"I'm not trying to get revenge 'or something,' I'm trying to get revenge 'first'."

"Hmph."

"Becoming Marcel's tail and entering the academy are all part of the plan. I plan to reveal all the crimes of the current Kirhausen and completely destroy them."

Anyway, Eddie's words flowed like water.

Since it was impossible to hide it completely, he mentioned revenge, his most superficial goal.

Of course, that alone was more than enough to make Joy nervous.

"...You're a much more dangerous guy than I thought, you."

"Right. So be careful with your questions and answers."

"……."

Gulp. Joy unknowingly swallowed hard.

She had a feeling that if she asked any more, it would be impossible to back out.

No, perhaps…….

‘It might be too late to back out already.’

After hesitating for a moment, Joy made up her mind.

In fact, she knew it too.

From the moment she followed Eddie into the closet, the situation had become irreversible.

So she bravely asked.

"Then what's the reason for including me in your grand plan? Is it just because my abilities are superior to the average for my age?"

"That's also true, but most importantly, you have a clear sense of purpose and vision. The righteous future I envision is a magical world with many people like you. Of course, minus that stiff stubbornness."

"What… so you're not going to use me to bring down Kirhausen?"

Joy asked in a disappointed tone.

Her thought that he would include her in his revenge plan was wrong.

Eddie nodded, affirming Joy's question.

"I don't plan on involving you that deeply yet. To be honest, just because I helped you with some assignments and improved your image within the grade, do you think you can bet everything on me?"

"...No. Not to that extent yet."

"Right. I don't think we've built that much trust or justification between us yet either. Making the current Kirhausen an enemy means literally putting your life on the line."

‘Life’.

At the heaviest word of all, Joy felt a chill run down her spine.

Eddie was right.

Perhaps she should back out of this plan or conspiracy, whatever it was, right now.

But…….

‘Why is his expression so composed while he's saying such incredible things?’

The more they talked, the more secrets were revealed on Eddie's side.

But for some reason, Joy didn't feel like she was gaining an advantage at all.

On the contrary, she was closer to being anxious.

Eddie's plan was dangerous, but his promise to help her achieve her goals was sweet.

And it was true that she was a little interested in the idea of bringing down the current Kirhausen.

‘Maybe it's not interest… but the inherent anger of a lower-class member of the magical world.’

The fall of the prestigious families that looked down on commoners like herself.

Honestly, it sounded like it would be exhilarating.

In any case, the more Joy listened to Eddie's story, the more her interest grew rather than her resistance.

And the story that followed was even more exciting.

"As you already know, your name and mine are already being mentioned a little in the magical world. But this isn't enough."

"We need to become more famous…? Weren't you deliberately keeping a low profile and becoming an insider of Kirhausen?"

"That was because there were things that could only be retrieved by becoming an insider. The retrieval is over, and now it's time to get out."

"……."

"To get out safely, we both need to rise to a position where the current Kirhausen can't touch us carelessly."

"……."

Joy, who was looking at Eddie, gave a subtle smile.

"So that's what you meant by helping me achieve my goals……."

"Don't you like it?"

"Not at all."

A firm and immediate answer.

Along with it, her red eyes, now open, stared straight at Eddie.

Eddie nodded as if he was pleased with the answer.

With this, a formal cooperative relationship was formed between the two.

"First of all, know this. I'm leaving Kirhausen soon."

"Where will you go after you leave? Isn't getting attention within the academy the fastest way to become famous?"

"I said I'm leaving Kirhausen, not the academy."

Leaving Kirhausen.

But staying at the academy.

Combining the two words, Joy said with a fed-up expression.

"...You're planning to stir up some trouble again soon, aren't you."

Nod.

Eddie's eyes, recalling his plan, flashed with a golden light for a moment.

* * *

That evening, Eddie went to the student lounge with two pieces of paper.

The number of students in the lounge was roughly 40 to 50.

Judging that this was enough, Eddie cleared his throat in the center of the lounge.

"May I have your attention, please? I have an announcement."

At the sudden loud voice, everyone looked at Eddie.

Although his nominal master, Marcel, and his superior in the representative body, Alexein, were watching, Eddie didn't care and brought out his prepared words.

"From now on, important announcements will be posted as handouts on the bulletin board in the lounge. And if you have any suggestions, you can put an anonymous note in the suggestion box next to the bulletin board."

"……."

"First of all, today's announcements are about the field trip and midterm exams, so for now……."

"Hey, what nonsense are you talking about now?"

Alexein couldn't hold back any longer and cut off Eddie's words with a sharp voice.

Then, he burst out laughing as if he found it absurd.

Thump, thump.

Alexein approached Eddie and roughly snatched the papers from his hand.

"What do you mean, without a single word of consultation with me, the president? And where is the bulletin board in this lounge to post handouts? You've become quite full of yourself since you managed to become the vice president……."

"So I tried to consult with you, the 'president,' earlier, but you didn't even listen to me and just left."

"What?"

Eddie pointed out Alexein's mistake as if he had been waiting for it.

Alexein was angry, but he was soon at a loss for words and faltered.

He couldn't think of anything to refute Eddie's words, which were based on sound reasoning.

"And the bulletin board… ah, there they are."

Everyone's heads turned to follow Eddie's gaze.

The academy janitors entered the lounge entrance with various materials.

Following Eddie's instructions, they quickly installed a large bulletin board on the lounge wall with magic.

"A little more to the left there… yes, that's right. Thank you."

"The suggestion box will probably be installed tomorrow morning. The vice dean said it's the first time a suggestion box is being installed, so he would choose the materials himself."

"I see. Understood."

Eddie's attitude in communicating with the janitors was extremely natural.

As if he had been a representative for a long time.

All the students blankly watched Eddie and the janitors.

And when the janitors finished the installation and left, Eddie finally explained to the dumbfounded Alexein.

"When I told him I wanted to make a grade announcement bulletin board, Vice Dean Sinclair said to go ahead."

"What……."

"Let's go together next time, President."