A splendid building with an arched ceiling lay next to the school gate. It was the largest single space within the entire Academy. It wasn’t all that different from the sort of large auditoriums in Japan that were used for entrance ceremonies, graduations, and the like.
On the final evening of the Academy Festival, the interior of the building had been decorated for one such large event. Actually, it was decked out even more than that. Pale blue curtains were set up over the windows, fluttering about gently as if to match the color of the wind. Ornaments on the wall were placed next to them to contrast the colors. A thick carpet, adorned with flowers here and there, was spread across the floor.
The scene before me was well beyond the closing festivities of a school event, and this was before the festivities had even begun.
I looked over this from behind the curtains on the stage deep within the auditorium.
“It’s quite extravagant, isn’t it?”
“Well, it’s meant to be a party for the major donors of the Academy and the nobles who lavishly spent their money during the festival itself. The parents of the commoner students are also gathered here, aiming to talk with those attendees.”
An upperclassman stood next to me and answered my candid comment. He was one of the sponsors for this event, the heir to the Kendalls.
“I see, so that’s why they’re all so enthusiastic.”
I looked at our student council president standing in the middle of the venue. Hilda went out of her way to get changed for the evening party. Her beauty certainly did shine in this kind of setting; that violet dress she wore really did suit her.
A little further away from her, Leonardo was still in his uniform, giving orders to the other student council members. They were headed toward two rows of long white tables in the auditorium.
The two Carlest siblings were at the table further to the back, somehow having regained their willpower, giving orders to their own employees.
Maria was at the other table making preparations for the banquet as well.
Carlest vs. Kendall.
The confrontation of gold companies aiming to be the next guild representative was about to begin. In other words, this was where the real showdown started.