Chapter 84: The President’s Assistant
“It’s a guy who has been so completely consumed by a paranoid devotion to the Holy Will that he’s beyond saving,” Qingruo said, shaking her head in disdain. “As an instructor at the Holy Academy, such a heinous act will surely be met with a severe sentence. Even if he’s not executed, he’ll likely spend the rest of his life in prison.”
“I just hope… the Headmaster won’t be implicated.” Diye looked at the giant, who was unconscious yet still had a chilling smile on his face. What kind of twisted piety could drive him to commit such an unscrupulous act without any remorse? However, with an academy instructor being the attacker who had almost killed several female students, the Headmaster would likely face some criticism.
But at least, Diye and Qingruo had solved the case together. Although the four girls were injured to varying degrees and had undoubtedly suffered a great psychological blow, their lives were not in danger.
Afterward, Qingruo stood guard at the scene, while Diye went to get the patrolling teachers from the castle. The guards and nuns soon arrived.
Soon, the Headmaster, Galil, Charle, and several other teachers also arrived.
“There was no sexual assault,” a nun reported to the Headmaster after treating the girls.
This was not surprising. Morton was not a lecher, but an extremely paranoid fanatic. He probably believed his actions were holy to the very end.
“Take them to the castle for treatment and care immediately. Teacher Charle, you will be personally responsible for their safety,” the Headmaster said, dressed in a dark red hunting suit with a white scarf around her neck. Her formal attire, without any sign of disarray, clearly indicated that she hadn’t slept at all that night.
Although the attacker had been caught, it was not guaranteed that there were no other extremists in the academy. The emergence of such an ideology was not a sudden event, nor was it confined to the Holy Academy.
“Take this guy back as well, and take good care of him,” the Headmaster said, glancing at the stout, middle-aged man who had been lying there since they entered the tomb. In a sense, the paranoid defender of the Holy Church, Morton, hadn’t even bothered to kill him.
“This Dean…” Diye looked at the balding, stout, middle-aged man being carried away. “From what I’ve seen, besides being a lecher who likes to harass female students, he doesn’t seem to have committed any heinous crimes. He was just used by Morton. As a civilian, he did his duty by choosing to seek help when he discovered the situation.”
Morton, although a criminal, had to be treated according to Imperial law since he had been captured, and then put on trial. Morton was soon bandaged and treated by the nuns and then carried away by four Imperial soldiers, in shackles.
Headmaster Kousaki couldn’t help but look at the two tall girls standing together. “Qingruo Reid**, Yalan Diye… I didn’t expect them to solve this case so quickly. The academy can at least be saved from a crisis, for now.”
Kousaki’s gaze swept over Qingruo’s beautiful face and chest, then settled on Diye. “This girl, the cousin of the legendary Imperial hero, little Yedi? She, like her eyes, is incredible…”
…
The next morning, when Diye arrived at the academy castle and entered her classroom again, she felt a completely different atmosphere.
There were no more suspicious or exclusionary gazes, only awe and wonder.
“Y-Yalan, I-I’m sorry!” Although Shana and Sophia were not yet back in school, Malian rushed over as soon as Diye entered and bowed deeply.
“W-we shouldn’t have listened to those rumors and suspected you like that, and, and treated you like that. Lady Shana can’t apologize to you in person for now, so I’m apologizing on her behalf. I’m so sorry!” Malian’s short hair fell over her face.
“It’s nothing. It was all a misunderstanding. We’re all classmates, there’s no need for this,” Diye nodded slightly, returning the gesture gracefully, then walked to her seat under the watchful eyes of everyone.
“Lin Mei…” Diye couldn’t help but look at the empty seat beside her. Although Lin Mei had many external injuries, they were not life-threatening. With the treatment of the nuns, she should be able to return to class soon, right?
“Wow~~!” Behind her, Cast, seeing Diye sit down, cheered, his legs propped up on his desk, his hands raised in applause. “Welcome back to our class’s heroine, our new queen!”
Many of the usually rowdy boys joined in the cheering.
Heroine? Hardly… Compared to Yedi, one of the legendary heroes who had defended the entire Empire and defeated the seven great demons, what was this small matter to Diye? “As for queen… hehe, I’m no queen. I was just following my senior sister’s orders…”
Aaron walked up to Diye solemnly. “Yalan, no, you don’t need to get up.”
He bowed deeply before her, a knight’s salute. “Thank you, Yalan Diye. You have driven away the shadow over our academy. And thank you for saving my good colleague, my important partner, Miss Shana.”
“I sincerely apologize for my previous suspicion of you and my thoughtless, harsh attitude,” Aaron knelt on one knee.
“Aaron, is that an apology or a marriage proposal?” Cast cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted.
“Hahahahaha!” The whole class, including some of the girls, burst into laughter.
“A knight is kneeling before you, our new queen Yalan,” Cast said, shaking his head and cheering.
Diye also lowered her head, not because of their teasing, but for other reasons, her face feeling slightly hot. “Eh, I’m really not a queen…”
If it were just a choice between being a queen and a maid, among women, of course I would choose to be a queen. Who wouldn’t?
In the spacious, ancient classroom, in a dim corner, Xingyu rested her face on her hand and smiled leisurely. “This woman, she’s impressive in more ways than one…”
The commotion continued until the homeroom teacher, Charle, arrived. Charle also updated everyone on Shana and Lin Mei’s condition, reassuring everyone.
…
This Friday afternoon, perhaps because of the various matters that the teachers and the Student Council had to deal with after the attack, classes had been ending early these past few days, and this afternoon was no exception.
“D-Diye, Senior Sister.” Diye was just about to pack her school bag when Minna ran over, blushing, and bowed to her.
“Eh? Senior Sister?” Diye was puzzled.
“Ah, ah, I-I’m sorry, I said it wrong. Um, someone is looking for you outside, Senior Sister Diye, so I…” Minna stuttered, pointing to the classroom door.
“Ah, is that so?” Diye stood up.
“Diye.”
Just as Diye was about to leave the classroom, Minna called out to her from behind.
Diye couldn’t help but turn around.
“Th-thank you, Diye, for saving Lin Mei, for saving this class.” Minna’s hands were clasped in front of her, and she bowed deeply to Diye, almost at a ninety-degree angle, her two large braids swinging.
“Not at all, Minna. I should be thanking you. If it weren’t for…” Diye saw the frightened look in Minna’s eyes and didn’t continue, just nodded at her with a sincere gaze.
Minna, blushing, her hands clasped to her chest, watched Diye leave the classroom, her heart pounding heavily.
Diye went to the corridor and found three academy students already waiting there. One was a tall, handsome boy in a third-year swordsmanship uniform. The other two, a boy with light-colored curly hair and a somewhat melancholic expression, and a small girl with a light purplish-red ponytail, looked like first-year students.
“Excuse me, are you Senior Sister Yalan Diye?” the girl with the ponytail asked.
“I am. And you are…” Being called “Senior Sister” was still a bit strange for her, but if they were first-year students, it wasn’t wrong.
“We are members of the Student Council,” the small girl and the boy said in unison, clearly a little nervous in the presence of such a newly renowned genius at the academy.
“Our Student Council’s meeting today has approved the President’s nomination to add you as an official member of the Student Council,” the tall third-year student stepped forward, and the two first-year students consciously made way. The tall boy extended his hand to Diye. “Yalan Diye, on behalf of the Student Council, we formally invite you to become one of us.”
Diye’s chest rose and fell slightly. Perhaps because of the resolution of the sudden attack, this moment had come sooner than expected. It had to be said, the Student Council’s reaction was fast. Of course, it was probably her senior sister’s idea…
“It’s my honor,” Diye said, elegantly extending her hand and, maintaining a proper distance, she shook the tall boy’s hand politely.
“Yalan, if it’s convenient, please come with us. The President is waiting for you,” the tall boy said.
“Yes, then please wait while I get my school bag, if that’s alright,” Diye said politely.
“Of course,” the tall boy replied, very gentlemanly.
Diye followed the three Student Council members out of the academy castle. Walking behind them, she thought to herself.
Joining the Student Council meant Diye could be closer to protecting Qingruo. At the same time, it was also a way to report back to the Underground Witch Church. Her plan was in motion, and it was progressing quite quickly.
As for what came next, she had many excuses. After all, the plan to seduce her senior sister, that kind of emotional, subtle, and ambiguous matter, who could say for sure?
If the seduction was temporarily unsuccessful, she couldn’t be blamed, right? If the Witch Church sent another witch to try, would they succeed?
Impossible.
Diye had full confidence in her senior sister on this point.
From the window of a teacher’s room in the castle, Xingyu stood watching Diye walk with a few members of the Student Council, one hand on her hip, the other supporting her chin. “Hehe, the plan seems to be going even more smoothly than I thought.”
…
“Please go straight up. The President is waiting for you. She said she would personally give you your specific arrangements after you join the Student Council,” the tall, handsome boy and the two first-year students said, leading Diye into the Student Council hall and to the staircase.
The third floor was generally off-limits to ordinary Student Council members.
“Alright… thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. We’re all colleagues in the Student Council now,” the tall boy smiled.
The two first-year students looked at Diye with a hint of admiration as she walked up the stairs. The small boy was even blushing a little.
Diye was very perceptive. She could feel the strange gaze of the small boy on her. She wasn’t too repulsed by it, only because the melancholic little boy’s personality was a bit similar to her own when she was a boy.
She walked up the quiet third-floor staircase, her footsteps echoing in the ancient hall.
“Her senior sister… what kind of work will she arrange for me? Hmm, I think since I solved the attack so beautifully for her, she should praise me first, right?”
Reaching the third floor, at the large double doors, Diye knocked gently.
“Come in,” her senior sister’s somewhat mature voice came from inside.
Diye pushed open the door and entered Qingruo’s large office. The weather was slightly warm, and a few rays of gentle, warm golden afternoon sunlight shone through the greenhouse-like terrace windows, into the slightly dim, somewhat elegant, yet intellectual and serious office.
“Close the door.” Senior Sister Qingruo, dressed in the same academy uniform as Diye, was sitting in an old leather chair in front of the window. The chair was not only exquisitely crafted, but also had a particularly high back.
“Ah, alright…” For some reason, her senior sister’s tone was not as enthusiastic as she had expected. Shouldn’t she have welcomed her to the Student Council first? Or was this all just a matter of course for her senior sister?
Diye didn’t think too much about it and turned to close the door.
“Lock it.” Behind her, came her senior sister’s somewhat cold voice.
“Eh?” Diye shuddered. For some reason, she felt a strange sense of worry. But joining the Student Council today was a good thing, and the attack had been resolved. What was there to be worried about?
Diye, as Qingruo commanded, examined the fine, sturdy brass doorknob for a moment and locked the door from the inside. The door was so thick, and the lock seemed very sturdy. Locked in, it would be impossible for anyone outside to get in…
After locking the door, Diye walked towards Qingruo. But she felt that her senior sister, sitting against the light, had a somewhat oppressive aura and didn’t seem pleased. This made Diye stop a few steps away from her, her feet on the carpet.
“From today on, Diye, you are my President’s Assistant,” Qingruo said, her legs crossed, her hands resting on her knees.
President’s Assistant? I can report this success to the Witch Church, right? To have infiltrated the high echelons of the Holy Academy’s Student Council so quickly. Diye couldn’t help but smile wryly to herself.
Indeed, President’s Assistant was a very, very high position for someone who had just joined the Student Council. Although the rank itself might not be that high, in the eyes of everyone, and in terms of the actual power and authority it held, it even surpassed the various department heads of the Student Council.
This President was no ordinary person. She was the idol and core of the entire academy. And she, Diye, had been appointed to the position closest to this President.
Just like Galil, could she be considered an ordinary maid?
Of course, thinking of her past self, this was nothing to be proud of. Diye couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. In the past, she had achieved great military merit, and the Emperor himself had wanted to bestow a high official position on her, which she had graciously declined. Was being appointed an assistant worth being so smug about?
“What’s wrong? What are you thinking?” Qingruo asked.
“N-nothing. Thank you… President.” Actually, Diye was still used to calling her “Senior Sister.”
“I called you here today for two main reasons. One, of course, is this. From now on, during your free time and the fixed leave time of the Student Council, you will come to this office. As for your specific work, I will arrange it for you then,” Qingruo said, her legs crossed, her tone somewhat casual.
“Yes,” Diye said, standing not far away, her head slightly bowed. Since she had been appointed her assistant, she should naturally be obedient to her, right?
Right, that contract… Diye remembered Qingruo had promised to give her an answer. It seemed there wasn’t much to do this afternoon. She could find a chance to bring it up with her big sister.
“Diye, about the attack that happened at the academy… thank you,” Qingruo suddenly said, her tone somewhat solemn, but her legs still crossed.
“Not at all,” Diye finally felt a little more comfortable, bowing her head slightly and smiling.
She couldn’t help it. Being praised by her senior sister made her body react. This was not something her once-indifferent will could control. It was probably the effect of the transformation.
“The Headmaster also asked me to convey her thanks to you. As for your reward, the academy will announce it publicly later,” Qingruo said.
“Thank you, but I didn’t do it for a reward…”
“Was it because of Teacher Yedi’s request?” Qingruo uncrossed her legs, her legs slightly together to one side, a very feminine posture.
“Teacher’s instructions are as my own,” Diye said, her head bowed, her heart a mix of emotions.
“Hmm, when you see Teacher Yedi, please also express my greetings and thanks to him,” Qingruo’s voice was filled with respect.
This change in tone made Diye a little unsure of how to face her. “I will.”
She could only say that.
For a moment, there was a brief silence.
“Senior Sister, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going back now?” Diye didn’t know why she had asked this. She still had to ask about the contract, but as soon as Yedi was mentioned, her mind became a little confused. She couldn’t, while thinking of herself as Yedi, meekly beg her, beg her to pardon the contract between them.
“Hmm? Diye, didn’t you hear what I said just now? From this moment on, you are my assistant. After class is Student Council work time. I’m here, how can you go back? Stay.” As Qingruo spoke, she casually re-crossed her long legs, a symbol of the President’s authority, over the other.
“I understand…”
“Also, I have something else to ask you.” Her senior sister was silent for a moment, then turned her head to look out the window.
“Eh? What… what is it?” Could it be that her senior sister is going to ask about the contract? Although I don’t really want to bring it up right now, if she asks, that’s another matter. Diye couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy.
“The self-criticism, have you written it?” her senior sister asked, her voice cold and serious.
“Eh!?”
Her senior sister’s words were like an electric current of holy power, striking Diye and making her body tremble.
The self-criticism???
She had completely forgotten about it! Under normal circumstances, she would never have. In fact, she had remembered it a few times in the past two nights, but after solving such a major academy attack and experiencing a fierce battle, who, who would still remember that?
But who would have thought that her senior sister, after arranging for her to join the Student Council and appointing her as her assistant, would suddenly bring this up at a time like this!?
