Volume 7 Chapter 46 You Nailed It. You Understood Well
During morning class, Randy was caught napping, and at lunch, Burk scolded him in the courtyard as usual. Randy looked miserable, but soon after, he overheard there would be a speech before the upcoming vote.
"Huh? A speech?" Randy's voice sounded pitiful, like a lost puppy.
Liz explained patiently, "When there are multiple candidates, each one has to give a final speech in front of the entire school before the vote."
Randy nodded slowly and sipped his fruit juice. After a quiet pause, he muttered, "A speech..."
"Who has to give it?" he asked.
"You, Randy."
"Me? Seriously?"
"Yep. No mistake."
Luke sighed and said, "It's no misunderstanding. You're on the stage."
Randy raised his eyebrows in shock.
"A speech? Me? What am I supposed to say? The weather?"
"You idiot. It's for the election."
Wayne joined Luke, laughing in disbelief, "You really don't get it, do you?"
Randy just kept muttering, "Really? What's a speech anyway?"
Their friends watched with half-amused expressions. Cecilia poked Liz.
"So... you guys have the speech ready, right?"
Liz and Ellie exchanged a glance, then shook their heads, awkward smiles on their faces.
Cecilia's eyes widened. "Why not?" she asked silently.
Liz whispered, "Ellie and I decided... to leave it all to Randy."
She glanced toward Randy with a small smile.
Cecilia grinned mischievously, teasing, "When you fall for a gentleman, they seem way cooler, don't they?"
"Wha—" Liz and Ellie blushed furiously.
Cecilia laughed softly and looked back at Randy.
"Well, it's a good day for a big moment."
Watching Randy mumble to himself, Cecilia thought bitterly, Yeah, they do seem bigger now.
"If it's Sir Randolph, maybe there's hope."
She sighed softly, still looking thoughtful.
"And those three bags... or wait, that's something else."
* * *
Today was the student council president election. All afternoon training was canceled for speeches. Randy wasn't sure why—Edgar was a first- or second-year, and no one had run before—but this time there were three candidates, and Randy was one of them.
Backstage at the large auditorium for the first time, Randy peeked at the crowded audience and muttered, "This is the worst. It's packed."
All the students were there, so the seats were full. Randy, overwhelmed, held his head and whispered, "Why are so many people here?"
He kept peeking nervously from behind the stage. Edgar, nearby, snickered.
"You look nervous. Scared now?"
Randy turned, expression serious.
"...What?"
"Why're you talking to me like we're friends? You want to be friends?"
It was a genuine question. Edgar's face flushed red.
"W-Who do you think you are—"
"Good. I don't like you either, but if you said you wanted to be friends, I wouldn't know what to do."
Randy sighed in relief. Edgar scowled.
"I don't like you either."
Dario laughed quietly nearby.
"Don't take what this fool says seriously, Your Highness."
Randy frowned.
"Why're you talking like we're friends? You want me to forgive you?"
Edgar clicked his tongue, annoyed. The tense vibe between the two was thick, and Randy sighed again.
"What's with you guys? Aren't you friends?"
Edgar and Dario sneered in unison.
"Talking to us like friends... We'll never be friends with you."
Randy blinked, confused.
"Huh? It doesn't look like you're close, right? That's normal. It's just a simple question, nothing more. Or are you so desperate for friends you're twisting it?"
Randy groaned, frustrated. Edgar and Dario stood and shouted "No!" at the same time.
Randy wasn't done.
"It's fine. You two always twist what's written to suit yourselves. That's bad. Stop it."
He sneered, "Maybe you should study your own language better."
Turning back to watch the audience, Randy lost interest.
Edgar and Dario grimaced but said nothing, glaring at his back.
They couldn't argue.
Despite everything, both were top students and understood perfectly. From Randy's "Want to be friends?" question to "It's just a question," they'd completely lost the upper hand.
They were fully on the defensive now.
At this moment, silence was the safest choice. No matter what they said, their words would only be twisted with logic and arguments. So for now, Edgar and Dario remained silent, simply glaring at Randy.
After a long stare, both finally sat back down, trying to calm themselves and avert their eyes from him. They must have realized that glaring wouldn't ease their anger.
Once again, the stage wing fell into a tense quiet. Each waited silently for their chance.
Randy, as always, cast an envious glance toward the audience seats visible from the side of the stage. Unlike the strange tension in the wings, the students filling the seats laughed and chatted happily.
"Damn. No matter how many times I look, it's real."
With a resigned sigh, Randy sat down in the chair prepared for him. No matter how often he looked, the crowd wouldn't shrink.
(But just staring at the wings only makes me feel worse...)
Randy sighed again and noticed Edgar and Dario sitting quietly—such a stark contrast to their earlier fiery expressions.
Dario was focused on his manuscript, and...
"That's right... everything went wrong from that point on."
Edgar muttered softly, gripping a dull-glowing golden orb in his hand.
(That thing... wasn't it sealed away by some research institute? According to the vice principal's story...)
Catching Randy's gaze, Edgar quickly hid the orb, protecting it.
(No, I don't need it right now.)
Randy inwardly sighed and looked away from Edgar. He didn't understand why Edgar clung to that strange object so tightly, nor why it seemed so important. There were many things Randy didn't know, but he understood that now wasn't the time to ask.
Still, he resolved to report everything to the branch principal later.
'Now, we will begin the election for the first student council president of the Alexandria Branch of the Maximilian Imperial Academy.'
At Lucius's announcement, the students erupted into applause.
'Before the voting begins, let's hear the final speeches from the candidates.'
The applause shifted into excited cheers. This was the climax of the week-long election period and the most important moment for every candidate.
No matter who led during preliminaries, many had their fortunes reversed here. The power of a speech—one that conveyed the vision of the academy—should never be underestimated.
That's why every student had to listen carefully and decide.
Despite the cheers filling the stage wings, Dario and Edgar remained calm, showing no signs of nervousness. They were clearly veterans.
As for Randy...
"It's a pumpkin. Wait, a pumpkin? Or maybe a radish?"
He was the most nervous he'd ever been in his two lives.
"Ah, this is bad. I think I'm gonna throw up..."
At that moment, Randy stared blankly ahead and was called by the supervising instructor.
"We will proceed in the order of candidacy. First up, Weissman."
With a confident "Yes," Dario strode onto the stage.
Watching Dario walk with such assurance, Randy couldn't help but send chaotic thoughts in his mind: Please slip... slip...
Dario reached the podium and bowed deeply before scanning the audience.
"'I choose because it looks fun.' Is that really your reason to choose?"
The crowd murmured at the blunt opening, but Dario pressed on without hesitation.
"There will be many decisions ahead. Will you judge your future by whether it's 'interesting' or not?"
Raising his voice, he looked out at the audience.
"What will you learn here? Magic? Swordsmanship? Strategy? No. What you learn is the determination to take responsibility for your own future. This academy isn't a playground. It's a trial ground for those who will shape the next generation."
He clenched his fist and took a deep breath.
"Those who only seem to be having fun shine brightly. Surrounded by friends, cheered on by crowds—they may look like heroes. But what's really behind those smiles? Ideals? Policies? No. Just momentum and the crowd's energy."
Dario looked straight ahead, hand pressed to his chest.
"But I am different. I have a path I believe in. I've vowed to build order with my own hands—even if that means betraying my homeland. No matter the criticism, I will not shame myself."
The audience murmured, surprised by his bold confession of betrayal.
"That is my resolve for the future. What about you? Who among you can truly say, 'I want to entrust this academy to you'?"
"Is it someone who laughs with everyone? Or someone who can lead their determination?"
His voice echoed throughout the hall.
"Entrust it to me—your future, the world's order, the academy's pride!"
Spreading his arms wide, he lifted his chin proudly.
"This is not a game. This is real academy life. Those with resolve, follow me. I am Dario Weissman!"
As he finished, thunderous applause erupted from one corner of the auditorium. The cheers spread like wildfire.
The academy, full of ambitious and forward-thinking students, was clearly impressed by Dario's strong leadership promise.
The uneasy feeling around Randy only grew. Dario's challenge—Is it enough just to have fun?—had struck a nerve with many, strengthening their desire for a firm leader.
Dario's speech was a perfect counter to Randy's weakness.
Returning to the wings, Dario raised his hand high, basking in the unified support. He even chuckled softly as he passed Randy, who sat there defeated.
"Next, Victor!"
Amid the mounting pressure, Randy was called. With a flat "Yes," he stepped onto the stage.
The room quieted, eyes all on him.
What kind of speech would he give after that powerful performance?
Everyone waited expectantly... but the silence began to crack.
Just standing there, speechless, Randy caused a sudden stir.
"Is he even thinking at all?"
Whispers spread around the room. The tension was real.
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