The Extra’s Academy Survival Guide - Chapter 206

House Rothstaylor’s authority would never fade as long as the Kroel Empire continued to shine.

It was a phrase that would make one’s heart flutter just hearing it. The words of Bolcher Rothstaylor, the founder of House Rothstaylor, who had raised the flag of his House to the center of the empire.

Tanya Rothstaylor left behind her childhood as she finally walked down the halls of the mansion in a fancy dress. The memory of the magnificent sights of the halls of Rothstaylor stayed within her heart.

How lucky she was to be born as a member of House Rothstaylor in a time when it was shining.

In order to avoid tainting her house’s name, that young and strong girl was determined to become a person who wouldn’t bring shame to the name Rothstaylor.

Her dream was to prove herself to the world and raise the name of House Rothstaylor.

She lived for the sake of proving the greatness that was House Rothstaylor. However, such a beautiful and honorable journey wasn’t for everyone.

The beautiful daughter of Duke Rothstaylor, Tanya Rothstaylor. When would the day come when everyone greeted her with great respect and nervous hearts, simply from hearing her name.

To bear the weight of the name Rothstaylor, wield the power and honor that came with it, and to be the leader of it all.

The girl’s ambition burned like a flaming torch.

The determination to become one of the greats who would live on in history forever.

Despite being a mere child who had not even had her coming-of-age ceremony, she had such large ambitions.

Even at that young age, she had a brighter ambition than anyone else.

* * *

“I want to die…”

In the office of the student council president in Obel Hall, which was attached to the student plaza, Tanya was buried under paperwork. Her face looked completely sullen as she spoke, nearly muttering.

It had been about two days since her older brother, Ed Rothstaylor, had left for Cledric Monastery.

“……”

Student Council Committee Member Ziggs Eiffelstein stared at her corpse-like appearance, not knowing what to say.

The number of herbs and reagent ingredients used for research in the various clubs under the Alchemy Department that had been reported didn’t match the number the student council members personally counted during an inventory check.

Thus, a reconfirmation of the inventory was necessary.

When Ziggs came to deliver the documents to Tanya, he was surprised to see her buried in her desk like a deflated balloon.

“Student Council President Tanya… Can’t you review the documents first?”

Even though she was an underclassman of his, she still held the position of student council president. For a brief moment, Tanya looked up at Ziggs, who was showing her a great amount of respect… before putting her head back down on the desk.

“Ziggs. Why do you think people have to work?”

“Is it not possible to have a philosophical discussion after we finish our work?”

“Maybe we are just being swayed by the prejudices of society? Humans… we don’t live to work. There is definitely a more valuable reason behind God’s creation of man.”

“Student Council President, please think on that after you finish reviewing the documents. The student council inspection team is unable to proceed with their work until you sign off on them…”

“…Is it that important to check a club’s inventory of alchemy supplies right now?!”

“…It is. The Alchemy Department is full of troublemakers, so they might be up to something if they’re stealing inventory. We need to prevent such things.”

“…I guess it is important.”

After saying that, Tanya began to read through the inventory checklist written on the report while marking it with a quill.

All of a sudden, she swallowed her breath.

“Again… I started working as if it was as natural as flowing water…”

“Is working naturally so bad that you have to make that depressing expression?”

Ziggs looked at Tanya, who had a dead expression on her face. He suddenly had a strange feeling.

Tanya Rothstaylor. When she first came to Silvenia, she had a spark in her eyes.

She said some strange things about expelling Ed and becoming the student council president to raise House Rothstaylor’s name.

Regardless of what her goals were, her ambition and energy to achieve them was extraordinary for a girl of her age… Ziggs could only applaud her as her upperclassman.

However, those days had passed. A lot had happened over that relatively short period of time.

He expected that the young girl, born full of ambition, would one day become a seasoned realist after being exposed to harsh reality a few times.

However, how she ended up… was a little different from what Ziggs had expected.

“Ziggs, did you know that if you go along the right edge of the Pulan mountain range, you’ll reach Baron Cletton’s former mansion? I heard it’s on sale right now… for the same price as a shabby house in the capital. I can’t believe you can buy an entire mansion for that amount.”

Suddenly bringing up news of the sale of a former mansion and the price of a house in the capital… It was completely bizarre.

“It is close to several rural villages in Pulan, the air is clean, the water is fresh, and if you get bored with the quiet grassland breeze, you can always go swimming in the nearby river… I’m sure the scenery is beautiful as well.”

“Student Council President Tanya…”

“Being able to go to the village to go grocery shopping, buy unusual ingredients, and try cooking a bunch of new dishes… I always leave those tasks to the maids, so I’m not great at cooking, but I still want to practice as much as I can. If possible, I’d like to learn embroidery as well. However, staying in the mansion would only turn me into an ignorant lady. It would be a good idea to attend social gatherings, book clubs, or volunteer groups in the Pulan region if possible. Once a week… is too much. Maybe just twice a month would be enough.”

“You’ve thought about this much more than I realized.”

“I don’t need all that many maids, either. There’s no need to act overly grand. It’ll be great if I can live there with a few trustworthy maids, like a family. I’ll make sure to take good care of them, too. On a summer night, we can light some fireworks through magic as well… Eating outside on a sunny day sounds nice… Also, there are many scenic views we can walk around… It would be great to get some exercise. A mansion like that… only costs that much…”

She sounded exactly like an old woman in the twilight years of her life, ready to retire.

However, Tanya Rothstaylor was undoubtedly a girl in the prime of her life, with many days left to live.

Tanya’s imagination suddenly bloomed as she spoke with a determined expression on her face.

“…I have a good idea.”

“I’m really nervous to hear it.”

“I’m going to make a retirement plan.”

“It has been less than half a year since you became student council president.”

The role of student council president wasn’t something she could just give up because she wanted to focus on her role as House Rothstaylor’s new head. However, she still needed to spend time focusing on her House.

For those who remained in House Rothstaylor, especially the various vassals and distant relatives located throughout the empire, Tanya Rothstaylor’s position was critically important. Politically, it would be a mistake to throw all of them away and go into hiding. It was also a matter of humanity, as well.

If Tanya left the House, it really wouldn’t be strange if House Rothstaylor truly disappeared from history.

In the aftermath of such a choice, how many people would fall to the ground in frustration? That fact alone forced Tanya to hold on to the role of the next head of house.

She couldn’t run away until things stabilized. Until that moment, Tanya would be unable to retire.

Ultimately, to raise House Rothstaylor to what it once was, she needed the full support of the next emperor. Even if not as much as before, she needed someone who could at least guarantee their authority to some extent.

Selah was hostile towards the house and Persica couldn’t be trusted. That left only Princess Penia.

So, in the end, the goal was to help Princess Penia by weakening her competition.

Tanya herself was slowly taking action to deal with Princess Selah… But after thinking about it, she realized she didn’t have to live such a busy life.

Strictly speaking… Everything she did was part of her duty as the next head of House Rothstaylor.

Wouldn’t it be fine to give up some of the authority she held as the student council president of Silvenia Academy?

The authority of the student council was also quite impressive, and she knew there might come a time when it would be needed… but it didn’t seem to be as important as she had once thought it was.

“After thinking about it, I don’t think the important position of student council president at Silvenia Academy is suitable for someone who is lacking in various areas and is rather immature like me. I still have a lot to learn… and I don’t think things through… I don’t suit this role at all!”

“Student Council President…”

“You think so too, Ziggs?!”

“…Before you should care about my opinion, you should know that after being elected as student council president, you cannot resign unless you satisfy one of the reasons for resignation stipulated in the school regulations.”

Hearing those words, Tanya’s face paled.

“What?! I said I’m not going to do it, so why do I have to?!”

“Didn’t you run for student council president? Re-electing someone else requires a huge amount of administrative manpower, and the vice president cannot take over as the president. After all, as the role that belongs to the one who represents all of the students, shouldn’t it be given to someone elected by the students directly?”

Tanya brushed her blonde hair back with soulless eyes. It was the complete opposite of how brilliantly she was shining earlier that year.

How much had her heart eroded over the past year…? She really went through so much.

Ziggs then spoke to Tanya bluntly, stating the facts.

“Wouldn’t it be better to just complete your term quickly?”

“I’ll die!”

“It might surprise you, but people don’t die that easily.”

Tanya squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head in complete despair.

“If I can’t resign voluntarily, maybe I can be usurped. Or even impeachment…”

“What are you even thinking?”

“What can the school do even if I declare I don’t want to work anymore?! I need to stand up for myself!”

Tanya looked up at the piles of papers on her desk. The amount was so massive that, frankly, it didn’t look possible to read through all of them in one day.

“I’m not going to take care of all of this! I give up! Do whatever you want! If I don’t do my work then the school will be in a difficult position as well. So, they’ll be forced to give me disciplinary action and remove me from my position! Yeah! I’m not going to work…!”

“…Well, if that’s your decision… President, you can do whatever you want…”

Ziggs shrugged as he thought about it for a moment. He then sighed deeply as he sat down at a wooden desk in the corner of the office.

“But the fact that you have all these reports being delivered to your office means that your role affects just as many people within the school.”

“…Ugh.”

“I wonder just how many students and faculty members will have their hands tied as you lay in your bed, refusing to work. After all, there are a lot of people waiting for your stamp of approval.”

“I-It’s unfortunate, but…”

Responsibility!

Ziggs Eiffelstein knew all about it.

Tanya Rothstaylor was a girl who could never neglect her responsibilities, no matter what she said…!

“But I also have… my own… situation…”

With a painful expression on her face, she somehow managed to resist. Indeed… Her willpower had definitely grown…

“…Elka’s asthma has gotten worse, so I’m also quite worried these days.”

“…Huh…? All of a sudden…?”

“That girl is my lifelong friend, but… even when her disease is worsening each day, she’s still stubborn enough to keep up with her studies. I’m quite worried about her health.”

“That… Why, all of a sudden…?”

“But here in Silvenia, where kids all across the empire come to study in a closed environment, I was hoping the student council could create a means to give priority to students with medical conditions. And provide them with dedicated rooms to heal in. All that was left was the approval of the student council president.”

Ziggs then stared at a pile of papers with a blank expression on his face.

“I’m sure the report is somewhere in that pile.”

“That… you should have told me sooner…! I can take care of that right away! Why are you only telling me now?!”

“It is not good for me to receive special treatment just because I am a member of the student council. So, I kept silent. Aren’t we in a position where we have to be fair?”

Ziggs closed his eyes as he spoke honestly.

“Each one of these reports piled up may mean the world to someone else. For you, it might just be a daily task, but for others… That pile is an accumulation of their earnest wishes.”

“…Ugh…”

“Knowing that fact, I couldn’t dare ask you to prioritize my needs first.”

If the requests were pushed away, others in the school who were eagerly waiting would only be able to sigh.

“If you continue to delay working, the papers will only continue to pile up without ever being properly considered.”

Tanya also knew that to some extent. While the priority items were at the top, she couldn’t just ignore the rest of them easily.

She was well aware of the position she was in. Ziggs knew it, too.

Tanya was not the type of person who would easily give up, saying that it was out of her control.

“Do you think I would get shaken… Just because you said that?!”

“……”

“Umm… Uhh…”

“……”

“Euk… Uhmmm… Fine…”

Tanya closed her eyes tightly, as if in pain. Closing her mouth, she began to slowly go through the documents.

“Seriously… I seriously… Can’t… Uhk… sob…”

It looked as if she was being tortured, but in the end, it was her choice.

No matter the case… She was a girl who couldn’t be free from her responsibilities…

In the end, she always walked back into the swamp of work on her own two feet.

The scene was heartbreaking to witness.

* * *

“Student Council President Tanya came by the day before yesterday. It was while you were in the monastery. It was rather surprising in many ways.”

It had been two days since I returned from Cledric Monastery.

Perhaps because of what I went through over the past few years, I didn’t feel like I fell behind even though I missed class. It was rather fortunate.

However, that didn’t mean I was just playing around with my heart at ease while in the monastery.

In the monastery, I continued to diligently train in repairing to raise my proficiency level. Eventually, I was finally able to use the Bow Crafting Skill. I started to prepare to craft a bow that would suit me perfectly.

In doing so, I had no choice but to visit the Elte Store.

After all, there was no one other than Lortel who could get me better materials, at least within Silvenia.

“I was on complete opposite terms with Tanya in the last student council election, right? And we don’t get along all that well in school, either. So, for her to personally come all the way to the Elte Store to see me… I was rather surprised.”

I went to talk to Lortel to try and purchase high-quality materials from her. Before getting to the main topic, Lortel, who was sitting in the office, brought up Tanya as if she had something to say.

“Okay? What did she come to talk about?”

“Something… that was a bit difficult to understand.”

Wasn’t Lortel a person who could read others’ inner thoughts better than anyone else? For her to be confused, what was Tanya planning?

“She heard of rumors of corruption within the Elte Company. She said that she was going to gather the authority to conduct an investigation into it, regardless of how we felt.”

“That… Doesn’t sound like Tanya?”

“Right? Although she is in a position where she has to take an aggressive stance towards the Elte Company, it was still a bit strange.”

Tanya was always busy. So, unless absolutely necessary, she wouldn’t have come all the way to the Elte Store.

“As the student council president, I’m sure it’s her job to always keep a close eye on the Elte Company. That position of hers requires her to constantly threaten Elte so that we won’t be able to spread our wings freely.”

“Are… you in a bad mood, Lortel?”

“What? I do not know. In the first place, she’s your younger sister. And since it seemed like she had made such a sudden move because of some plan, I couldn’t be upset with her.”

The sun was setting. Lortel, with her reddish-brown hair hanging to one side, sat at her fancy office desk. Her back faced the late evening sky, which was rather reddish.

A cool early autumn breeze blew by, fluttering the curtains. A moment of peace.

Even though Tanya came by and threatened her like that, there was no sign of agitation in her expression. In the first place, Lortel was not someone who would be shaken up over such a thing.

“However, I’m confused because I can’t figure out what her intentions are at all. From the start, the school and our store have never gotten along well. Why did she personally come to see me? Ah, Lienna. Can you bring me a list of the inventory? Things that can be used as materials for making bows.”

“Y-Yes….”

Secretary Lienna, who had once again become Lortel’s chief secretary, still had her shy attitude.

She always looked embarrassed with her every move. Still, she was faster in her work than expected. In the first place, Lortel was no different than the king of the Elte Company, so she needed someone who could keep pace with her.

“So, I did some background research on Tanya. It wasn’t just with our store that she acted strangely.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I heard that she had a conflict with the school as well. She had members of the student discipline team placed in front of the student center, making sure everyone was in dress code. Also, she was unnecessarily pressuring the student clubs… Anyway, these days it seems that she has been outside doing quite a bit.”

Lortel swept her hair back, tilting her head as she spoke.

“It clearly seems as if she wants people to complain about her.”

“Certainly… Even for the Elte Company, I’m sure it was uncomfortable having to suddenly be called on for an inspection.”

“It seems that there is something she wants. It’s frustrating because she isn’t easily showing what it is.”

Lortel’s office was more cluttered than before. As proof that the branch had completely fallen into her grasp, both her personal items and household items were scattered around.

“Anyway, there is a joint competition this semester. It’s a rather big event that even Emperor Kroel is attending. So, shouldn’t she be busy preparing for it? I wonder if she even has the time to be making such moves?”

“I’m sure she has her own plans. The last time we met, things looked a bit difficult for her.”

I had met with Tanya briefly before going to the Cledric Monastery. Although she complained about this and that, she certainly had a vision for the future of House Rothstaylor and her work as the student council president.

“I’m sure the public opinion of the students isn’t all that great towards her. I wonder if she’s doing okay?”

“No. Rather, the student support for President Tanya is now unparalleled compared to the previous student council presidents.”

“…What?”

“The fact that she continues to do her best as the student council president despite the misfortunes House Rothstaylor has faced… Despite being a first year, she’s respectful yet honest with her upperclassmen. I’m sure she has an enormous workload, but she never neglects her studies. The fact that she listens to and responds to all of the opinions of the clubs, classes, departments, and the like… To be honest, she has so much support behind her that our store is having issues holding its own against her. Though, it’s not like I would have tried to restrain myself against her in the first place.”

I took a sip of the tea that Secretary Lienna had given me, then responded in a bewildered tone.

“But you just said she was doing all sorts of displeasing things?”

“Regardless of her actions, how it will be perceived completely depends on whether the person looking at her is favorable or hostile.”

“Then…?”

“It seems that her sudden disciplining of various groups has been interpreted as being a wonderful student council president. One who is strict with discipline and knows how to distinguish between public and private.”

“……”

I remembered Tanya sitting in her office, looking at all of those documents with dead eyes.

Suddenly, Secretary Lienna came back with an inventory list and a new cup of tea.

“Student Council President Tanya… objectively speaking, she’s rather cool, right? Even though she’s a first year student… How can I say it? She has the more mature aura of an upperclassman…”

“Really…?”

“Everyone knows how hard Tanya is working to take care of everyone, so they are being extra considerate towards her. I heard that some of the clubs are even voluntarily bringing missing report funds and donating them.”

Tanya certainly was a girl who was passionate about everything.

Even after becoming student council president, her attitude towards life had not changed. It seemed that she was continuing to run around doing her best, all while complaining to herself.

The girl who only knew what it meant to be a member of House Rothstaylor had grown on her own accord to fill the shoes of student council president.

She really was… admirable!

Yes, the most appropriate expression to describe her was admirable.

“I think that her reason for taking such aggressive actions is to deal with the possible violations of student rights in advance. I don’t know for sure, but… Since she’s the student council president, I’m sure that’s the case.”

Secretary Lienna spoke about Tanya with a level of certainty.

“Tanya… She really is a trustworthy kid.”

I agreed with her.

After growing emotionally quite a bit, Tanya had become a person who could stand tall as the heir of House Rothstaylor.

Well, it wasn’t even my real body. So, even though it was a bit much to say we were true siblings…

I still felt as if she was the only blood-related family I had left in the world. Supporting her when I could… That was what I needed to do.

Tanya… you must be going through so much…!

She’d lived in the dark for so long, it was great that she could finally see her golden age!

“If Tanya’s words and actions were seen as offensive, I apologize as her older brother, Lortel.”

“O-Oh my… I’m only going to be more flustered if you apologize, Ed. You don’t need to apologize for anything, because I don’t feel upset in the slightest.”

“I see. Well, I still want to support her when I can.”

I then spoke with certainty.

“If possible, I am hoping that she will be able to serve as student council president again next year… So, I hope you will continue to support her as well, Lortel! Please put your faith in her, too!”

I grabbed Lortel’s hands tightly as I conveyed my determination.

Lortel was completely flustered by my sudden confession. She fidgeted, hiding her face and looking down.

“I-If that’s what you want, I have no intention of opposing it. Well, if it’s what you really want, I can make sure she is reappointed as president… It’s not that difficult… I’ve already done it once before…”

“Okay. Thank you for trusting her, Lortel.”

“W-Well, it’s nothing much.”

Lortel swallowed her breath as if trying to keep her composure. She then spoke slowly.

“Did you hear that Tanya selected only famous aristocratic students to hold a meeting with this time? I’m sure you were called on as well, Ed.”

“Yeah. I figured she was going to talk about the empire’s government and the future rather than problems within the school.”

“They will definitely lend their strength to her. I’m only a commoner, so I won’t be able to attend, but… Your position is a bit different, isn’t it Ed?”

Lortel tended to work behind the scenes. She was not one to attend such meetings.

“I don’t know what her real purpose for the meeting is, but… I’m sure that everyone will agree and support her.”

“I see. Well, I hope you can continue helping her when possible.”

“Of course. The Elte Company and the student council should continue to maintain a friendly relationship.”

Lortel grinned like a snake as she made eye contact with me.

The fact that it was a relationship built on trust where she could both give and receive without any suspicions seemed to be something she was enjoying quite a bit.

* * *

[As thanks to the student council president, Tanya, who always works hard for the students’ rights, I am gifting you eighty pieces of high-quality wooden furniture to be used in Obel Hall, an ornamental statue that was brought directly from the Imperial Palace, and annual memberships to Laplace Bakery.’

I would once again like to express my sincere thanks for the hard work of all the student council members, who always enforce justice and maintain order.

– From the Elte Company’s Silvenia Branch. Sent by Deputy Director Lortel Kehelland.]

In front of the Obel Hall, which was used by the student council, all kinds of high-quality furniture and an ornamental statue were placed.

The student council members who heard the news ran out in surprise with their mouths wide open.

In addition to all of that, they were all given free annual memberships to Laplace Bakery, the most famous bakery in the commercial district. They all looked ecstatic, the corners of their mouths raised.

“Hey! From here, all the way there! Let’s go and bring everything inside! Let’s start with taking out the old furniture in the office! Let’s just get rid of all the old stuff!”

The executive committee members were already starting to carry the furniture, given as gifts, into Obel Hall.

And Tanya Rothstaylor, who came out afterwards, looked at the scene in front of Obel Hall with her mouth wide open.

“Uhm… President…”

The speaker was the fourth year combat department’s top student and overall top student, Daike Elpelan. He had short-cut hair and a large body. With a dumbfounded expression on his face, he asked a question.

“The Elte Company, not even the executives of this entire school could do anything against them… So, what kind of trick did you use…?”

Tanya looked at Daike with wide eyes. Without saying anything, she looked back at the scene of people carrying the furniture around.

Tanya obviously had no idea what was happening. She didn’t know what she had even done. She simply went to the Elte Company, the most important organization in the school, and caused a scene with the mindset of being impeached. She did it partially out of desperation.

She was wondering how they would bite back at her. As she nervously waited for the Elte Company to retaliate over her actions, the blade of condemnation suddenly flew back in an unexpected and terrible way.

“Woah… Did the Elte Company really send all of this?!”

“This is the first time I’ve ever seen the Elte Company act friendly with the school…”

“I heard that Student Council President Tanya went to the commercial district to discuss something… But what kind of magic did she cast…?”

“How can that snake-like Lortel Kehelland suddenly show her respect to the school to this extent…?”

“This… This is our student council president…”

“Seriously… I can’t believe what I’m seeing with my own two eyes…”

In the front yard of Obel Hall, which was full of gifts, the student council members and passing students all spoke in awed voices.

“At this rate… you’re really going to be stuck in office until next year…”

A cold sweat began to trickle down Tanya’s face.

Above the blue sky, Ed Rothstaylor, who she trusted deeply, was looking down at her with a thumbs up.

His expression was more satisfied than anyone else’s could be.