The excited clamor vanished, replaced by an atmosphere thin as ice. A hundred pairs of astonished eyes turned toward me. It reminded me of the day I first answered a professor's question. No one seemed willing to move, as if time had stopped for everyone but me.
The classroom remained dead silent until I reached the lectern. And even after. The professor himself just stared at the envelope in his hand, saying nothing of substance.
After a long, patient wait, just as I was about to speak, the professor began.
"...This is your first time entering the special class, isn't it? I checked and rechecked, but the final name on the special class roster was indeed yours."
"Yes, it's my first time."
"Rising from 98th place to 10th in one go is no easy feat. I can't even imagine how much effort you must have put in. I hope you continue to see good results in the future."
For the first time, the professor looked at me and offered a faint smile.
'All well and good...'
But why did you have to mention the 98th place out loud...?
Well, whatever. If Luca got a zero on his report card from a classmate whose name he didn't even know, then there's probably no one who doesn't know about this grade.
I gave the warmest smile I could muster and bowed.
"Thank you, Professor."
* * *
"Congratulations."
I headed to the training grounds as usual today. Leo was there, as expected.
"You too."
"Yours isn't surprising anymore, but you really making the special class..."
"Didn't expect it?"
"No, I thought with your tenacity you could do it, but seeing it actually happen is still a shock."
Leo patted the spot next to him.
I plopped down beside him and leaned my back against the wall.
After a silent moment lost in thought, Leo spoke up.
"So, planning to start soon?"
"Have to. Can't keep dragging things out against my brother."
"You saw the others' reactions earlier?"
I nodded, and Leo continued.
"It's not just our class. The whole school is reacting the same way right now."
"I know. Rumors will spread fast."
"Yeah, rumors will leave the school, leave the capital, leave the empire in no time. Of course, it's just school grades, so it won't cause a huge stir. It'll just be a passing topic among those heavily interested in Pleroma."
Leo went on.
"But among those 'heavily interested' are your brother and his colleagues. They can learn your news right now. Are you prepared?"
"Yeah. Someone had to fire the starting signal anyway."
Naturally, my brother hadn't given any signal until the moment he killed Luca.
If I don't change the course of events first, only the ending where he kills me some 700 days later remains.
Leo opened and closed his mouth several times, then brought up a slightly different topic.
"...Right. That plan you mentioned before, is it still valid?"
"Of course. It's just beginning now."
At that, Leo burst out laughing.
Then he got up.
"Alright, let's give it a shot."
* * *
The day of the September monthly evaluation.
I leaned my upper body toward Leo, who was focused on my words, and clasped my hands together.
"However, it's something to execute after the midterms, not now."
Leo's face stiffened with tension.
"...What is it?"
"I'm going to form an organization."
"..."
"..."
Our gazes clashed in the air for a long moment. Leo broke the suffocating silence.
"Planning to become a gangster?"
"No. A secret organization to study Pleroma."
Ignoring Leo's small sigh of relief, I continued.
"As you know, Pleroma has become a serious social problem. We'll analyze past Pleroma-related crimes, create predictive models to judge how they'll move in the future. If necessary, we could even propose our models to the Imperial family."
"Hmm, okay. Sounds plausible."
Leo nodded at my words. Then he looked at me with a slightly changed glint in his eyes.
"I get the external explanation. So, what's your real goal?"
'External explanation.' Good, he's catching on quickly.
Of course, this isn't what I need to tell Leo.
"To increase my allies."
"Your allies?"
"Yeah, I can't keep living misunderstood as Pleroma forever. As you know, my brother has high prestige both within the empire and abroad. Standing against him alone is impossible. You know there are countless people who believe in and follow him, right?"
"I know. Your brother... at this rate, he'll end up in biographies."
Leo clicked his tongue, furrowing his brow.
I couldn't help but pause for a moment.
It was similar to the line 10-year-older Leo said in the last chapter I read. I don't remember it word for word, but it might have been exactly the same. A subtle sense of nostalgia washed over me.
Anyway, it's a bit of an overstatement for now, but if my brother avoids useless politicking and lives as he does now, he could very well end up that way.
"...Right, so I need to make my own allies too. People who know I'm not Pleroma and share a common cause."
Leo raised the corner of his mouth at that.
"A common cause, huh. Conveniently, there's a common enemy called Pleroma. I see how your calculations are running."
"Yeah, we need to utilize group dynamics. Using an external enemy can strengthen community bonds. But right now, I'm the external enemy to the students, even if we're in the same school, same class. In terms of 'normality'."
The earlier tension had completely vanished. Leo smiled as if during training and flicked his finger.
"I like it. You're saying you'll use the very center of the in-group. Create a group that predicts Pleroma's actions and punishes them."
"Right. If the students won't incorporate me into their group, I'll just enter the group myself."
"You know that's usually not possible, right?"
"I know."
Leo leaned closer and spoke.
"You brought this up to me because my actions are important too, right?"
"Right, would my plan work without you? Thanks in advance."
Leo gave a dry laugh and nodded.
"Such an honor... Anyway, fine. I get your grand scheme. But you're the person standing at the extreme end of this issue. For you at the end to move to the opposite side is incredibly difficult. Are you prepared?"
"Just a hurdle. If I'm at one end, I just need to attach the other end to me."
"...Hmm."
"Then it'll just be a step away, won't it?"
At my nonchalant answer, Leo smiled.
"Alright, you seem to have thought it through. Let's hear the details."
"There are three key points in this plan. Invitation-only membership, secrecy, and credibility. I'll only share my story with those invited."
Leo nodded as if to say continue.
"Since the matter is sensitive, we need to properly stimulate their desires to prevent problems. Make them completely our side, loyal to the group, maintaining it voluntarily. Need for recognition, sense of belonging, self-efficacy should be enough."
Leo exhaled a short, seemingly bewildered laugh.
"...You, what... never mind. Yeah, that should be effective. Gathering in secret and touting a cause isn't bad for a sense of belonging either. Is that why you're making it invitation-only?"
"The order is reversed. Operating closed-off was simply the best for my situation. I just found points to utilize from that."
There's a significant difference between being pushed along by circumstances and utilizing them.
The environment is always limiting anyway. Wait for conditions to be perfect for a smooth start? I'd be better off waiting for the day my brother kills me.
Thought determines the nuance of words, and that subtle difference changes the message conveyed to the other person. So if this is my only remaining option, I shouldn't be pushed along. I must analyze every element and utilize them appropriately.
'Of course, primarily it's Leo who needs to step forward, not me, so everything I just said must be consciously understood by Leo.'
The need for recognition, sense of belonging, and so on.
In that sense, I chose a good comrade. He should be sharp enough for this.
Leo burst out laughing.
"Honest."
"Have to be. You're not the target of the group, you're a partner."
"Way to say you trust me..."
"Right, let me correct that. You're my most reliable friend."
"Oh, yeah. That's... a relief. What a wonderful expression."
Leo narrowed his eyes with a face full of doubt.
If I say it directly, he reacts like this, what the...
I laughed at Leo's reaction and returned to the main point.
"You're the right person for this job."
"You just openly said you'd stimulate their need for recognition, and now you say this to me?"
At Leo's laugh, I shrugged.
"True. I'm just stating a fact. If I just go up to them and say, 'Please join our secret group studying Pleroma,' will they feel a need for recognition?"
"They'd be lucky not to dismiss it as nonsense."
"Right. But if the one proposing is you, it's different. Your social position and trust can fill their need for recognition in one go. So... before I show my face, I want you to persuade your friends first. Can you do that?"
"Yeah, that much. Not a difficult task. But..."
Leo, who had been nodding readily, looked straight at me and asked.
"You know this is an optimistic scenario, right? People's hearts don't always move within predictable ranges. So far, you've only talked in generalities."
"That's why we need to choose the invitees carefully. And... we have a friend whose unique ability is insight."
Actually, this plan wasn't drafted with Narc in mind.
Even without resorting to unique abilities, Leo already has a good eye for people. Most people at this school are friends he's grown up with anyway.
I added, keeping that in mind.
"Of course, your judgment alone is sufficient. People who don't take words at face value, always think sideways, or those without desires shouldn't be invited from the start. I'm sure you already have a sense of who's suitable without me having to say all this."
"I know. I already have a rough picture in my head of who to bring."
Fast.
With Leo's judgment and Narc's ability for an additional check, the risk drops significantly.
If problems still seem likely here, we can use mental manipulation magic.
'Originally, after midterms, I won't even need to desperately hide my information.'
There's no way my midterm grades won't reach my brother's ears.
Once the first signal of change has been fired, it's fine.
Leo, lost in thought for a while, tapped his temple with a hand propping his chin.
"You have plans for the actual work, so that's why you settled on this group, right? Confident it can succeed externally too?"
"Of course."
Leo nodded.
"Alright, good. Just from the content, there doesn't seem to be a particular need to refuse. If you manage to break free from your brother before the application withdrawal period, we could use the group's external achievements during admissions. If the achievements are more solid, you might even enter the Imperial service at a high position from the start."
Anyway... you're going to make a new emperor, so that won't be a problem, I wanted to say.
"So, how do you plan to persuade them you're not Pleroma? Not planning to bring up your brother's story, are you?"
"Of course not."
I answered with a smile.
My brother must remain the hero.
In this scenario.
* * *
Again, the week after midterms ended.
"What time did Narc say he'd come?"
"In an hour!"
"He said he'd come in an hour."
I recited Pie's answer verbatim to Leo's question.
On the monthly evaluation day, I explained the plan to Narc in the carriage on the way back. He gave a more enthusiastic positive response than expected.
Leo nodded.
"So, planning to start gathering today?"
"Yeah."
"How many are you thinking?"
"Three or four per week."
The faster the better, but considering physical limitations, I set a moderate goal.
Ding—!
〈 Chapter 3. Constant Dripping Wears Away a Stone (1) 〉
Suggestion 3: Live Boldly! Recruit 10 group members. (1/10) (71 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds)
* Route 1 — 〈 Chapter 4. Constant Dripping Wears Away a Stone (2) 〉
* Route 2 — 〈 Chapter 4. Don't Put Off Until Tomorrow What You Can Do Today 〉
"..."
I held my head and called Leo.
"Leo."
"Yeah?"
"Join my organization."
"Aren't I already in? What nonsense."
Ignoring Leo's words, I checked the suggestion window.
Suggestion 3: Live Boldly! Recruit 10 group members. (2/10) (71 hours 59 minutes 47 seconds)
'Good.'
With Narc, that makes three.
So now I need to bring in seven within 72 hours...
I read the title of Route 2 again.
'Don't Put Off Until Tomorrow What You Can Do Today'.
It feels like the title is speaking to me.
I smiled, feeling strength enter my fist.
Fine. The faster, the better for me. Let's try it, succeed or fail.
Just need to bring in two or three each day. The problem is those 72 hours are all weekdays, and the only time for persuasion is the evening.
'Need to save some time.'
Gather two at once?
No. Any method that leaves even a slight feeling of replaceability must be excluded.
We planned for Leo to persuade a student for about an hour, then have a conversation with me afterward.
The conversation with me is key. We need to clear misunderstandings and present the group's purpose.
'Providing one more thing to really drive the point home would probably speed things up.'
There is a way.
Looks like taking the high road is out.
I dismissed the suggestion window and got up.
"Leo, I'll be right back."
—-----------
T/N:
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