After our rigorous morning courses, Lia, Rose, Claude, and I—the Student Council members for Class 2-A—walked to the Student Council room for our regular lunch meeting.
“Whew… Those classes were pretty tough,” I said.
“What the heck was Reia thinking? I know those were our first classes in a while, but she didn’t have to work us that hard…,” Lia said.
“I think you’re the only one who considers those classes just ‘pretty tough,’ Allen,” Rose said.
“Damn you, maggot,” Claude cursed. “I’ll never make sense of your insane stamina…”
Lia, Rose, and Claude all looked beyond exhausted.
We continued to talk until we reached the Student Council room. I knocked on the door, then opened it to reveal a truly shocking sight.
“Lilim, draw up a document to submit for approval at the next staff meeting. Tirith, I want you to look over this year’s budget.”
“O-okay…”
“Umm…”
Shii was briskly dishing out orders as Lilim and Tirith—both pale-faced—did their best to follow. I stared at them, dumbfounded.
“Wh-what the…? The upperclassmen… They’re actually working…?!”
Shii never did a lick of work despite being the Student Council president, Lilim’s head looked like it would explode any time we discussed a topic that was even slightly difficult, and Tirith often spent entire meetings lazing on the sofa. Yet here they all were, working away… And voluntarily, no less?!
Don’t tell me… Is this the influence of a Soul Attire?!
The thought occurred to me that they might have been attacked by someone with a mental-manipulation Soul Attire, but I quickly dismissed it. I felt no disturbance in my spirit power.
Which meant they were, for some reason, working of their own accord.
“Hey, Allen… What are you implying by that?” Shii asked.
“We’re perfectly capable of working when we feel like it!” Lilim said.
“That was kind of rude, Allen…,” Tirith said.
The three of them glared at me.
“Ah-ha-ha, sorry. This is just so novel to me that I said what I was thinking out loud…”
As the vice president of the Student Council, I was normally the one doing all the work, but I had probably been exaggerating a little.
“Still, Shii, why are you working during lunch?” Lia said.
“What inspired this sudden shift in work ethic?” Rose asked.
“Did something unusual happen?” Claude followed up.
Shii nodded, her expression troubled.
“‘Unusual’ is right. This year’s already in disarray.” She slumped in her chair and pointed at a desk. There was an academic calendar for the Thousand Blade school year on it.
“Wow, this takes me back,” I said.
I picked up the schedule and briefly read through it. All the events we’d had last year—the entrance ceremony, the Elite Five Holy Festival, the New Student Recruiting Period, the Club-Budget War, the First-Year Tourney, the Sword Master Festival, the Thousand Blade Festival, the Christmas party, and more—were slated for this year as well.
“What’s wrong with it?” I asked. I’d drawn up this schedule at the end of the last school year and had already gotten it approved by the staff.
“The schedule you put together last year…has been completely changed,” Shii said.
“…Huh?” I said, my mind going blank. What did she mean by “completely”?
“For example…the First-Year Tourney, which is used to decide the first-year slot in the Sword Master Festival, is being held in three days,” Shii said.
“Three days?!” I cried out, shocked. That made absolutely no sense. “You must be joking… We can’t possibly hold that event three days from now! What about the Elite Five Holy Festival?!”
“This year’s Holy Festival is canceled. Instead, the Sword Master Festival will be held at the end of this month,” Shii said.
“H-huh…?”
The First-Year Tourney was in three days, the Elite Five Holy Festival was canceled, and the Sword Master Festival was at the end of the month…? Shii was right. It was a total mess.
“Why was the schedule jumbled up so much?” asked Lia.
“Who the heck is responsible for this?” said Rose.
“The Holy Knights Association headquarters sent orders to each of the Five Powers. Well, I guess it’s the Four Powers now that the Principality of Theresia has been conquered, but whatever. I don’t really get why, but apparently this is an order from above!” Lilim answered.
“The Holy Knights Association’s goal is to hold the Sword Master Festival earlier than usual and find skilled swordfighters. At least, I think that’s what they’re after…,” Tirith added.
Shii snapped her fingers. “Well, Allen and the second years just got here, so how about we break for lunch?”
“I second that!” Lilim chimed in.
“I’m beyond starving!” Tirith said.
We took our seats and ate lunch like we always did. Naturally, our conversation was focused on the Student Council work we were going to do once classes were finished.
“I’m splitting us into teams to work on different events after school,” Shii said. “Lilim and Tirith, you two take care of the First-Year Tourney. Start by making a schedule for the day of the event and getting approval from Chairwoman Reia in her office. Once that’s done, make an announcement poster to put on the first-year bulletin board. That needs to be done by the end of the day.”
“Slave driver…,” Lilim said.
“I’m getting depressed just thinking about all that work…,” Tirith said.
They both looked like they’d rather do anything else.
“Lia, Rose, and Claude, you’ll handle Recruiting. That will probably be a lot of work because it’s a school-wide event…but I know you three can do it. Go to the Broadcasting Club first and arrange for them to announce the New Student Recruiting Period schedule to the whole student body. Then divide up how the facilities are used equally between clubs so no one complains.”
“Sure thing,” Lia said.
“You can count on us,” Rose said.
“Understood,” Claude said.
I had no doubt the three of them would be just fine.
“Finally, Allen and I will adjust the entire schedule and respond to any issues that arise around campus. If any of you have questions, don’t hesitate to come and ask me for help.”
Shii had efficiently split us up and given us a plan of action.
“You really know how to take charge, President,” I said.
“Hmm-hmm, of course I do,” Shii said smugly. “Things are about to get pretty busy. I’m counting on you, Vice President.”
“You got it. Okay then, let’s give it our all.”