Supporters

It was an event held to celebrate Onesuko-san completing the Holy Knight’s first trial in an astonishingly short time.

It should have become the first achievement for the Royal Pioneer Academy, but…

It was far from something that could be called a great success.

For a very small few, it was a success beyond success—an unforgettable memory that would last a lifetime.

But for the majority, it was a failure beyond failure, a memory that could only be described as a nightmare.

The influence that boy had exerted was immeasurable.

The aftershock had reached even the Royal Capital, far beyond the academy.

A certain room within the Royal Castle.

A custom-made chandelier, enough to fill the ceiling like a Milky Way.

Its light was white and pure, making the room glitter as if it were heaven.

A long white table like a cloud, and those seated before it looked exactly like gods.

Beyond the short side of the table, the floor rose one step to a special seat that could be mistaken for a throne.

A man like a chief god sat there, but the light was so intense his entire body was washed out in white.

On both sides stood two women like goddesses, their skin shining dazzlingly, though not as blinding as the man’s.

The two women opened their mouths at the exact same moment.

““Chairman, what happened with yesterday’s matter?””

A noble-looking man seated at the very front of the table bowed his head with a sharp “Ha!”

“All memories among the guests regarding that trash were erased by magic. We also rechecked every Magical True-Photo Device used by the reporters, and deleted every true photo related to that trash.”

The angel-like woman glanced at the chief-god-like man, then returned a satisfied smile.

““The Lord says: Good. Those actions all violate the law, but they do not violate God. Therefore, those actions shall be affirmed by our power.””

“Ha! I am deeply grateful. If what the trash did were to leak outside, it would give unnecessary hope to the low-class masses. Those of the lower strata must not be allowed to be exceptional. No matter how capable they are, crushing them with everything we have protects the status of us in the upper strata.”

““The Lord says: The children must also be educated correctly in this way. For now, only a handful believe in that trash, but if this continues…””

“Yes. There will be no oversight on that point, either. Under the Lord’s name, we will deliver severe divine punishment to the principal and vice principal who caused this incident. And the new principal and vice principal will assume office early next month. They are carefully selected, so this kind of disgrace will no longer occur.”

The goddesses spread their arms like wings.

““The Lord says.””

Then they stretched their mouths wide in a grotesque grin, as if they might split.

““Trash belongs in the dump, where it rots away…!””

That day, the morning papers of the Leak Eight Kingdom were completely colored by Onesuko-san—and by Monaka-san and Kotone-san as well.

In the true photos, the girls had already seen “Leopin Fireworks,” so they wore smiles like they were at the very peak of happiness.

But they did not know.

Not even a trace of the boy existed on those pages—not even the letter “L.”

Leopin’s great deeds had been crushed by the supporters before they could ever spill outside.

More than that, it was as if no such student had ever been enrolled—his very existence had been erased.

And the two commissioners responsible for this incident received an unusually severe punishment.

Normally, this type of rank change would be delivered by letter, but this time it was a direct notice delivered in person by an emissary from the committee.

The emissary, tall and broad-shouldered, dressed in a black suit and a tight skirt, pronounced judgment with a stern expression.

“Acting Principal Nekodran, and Acting Vice Principal Yesman. Our Board of Education has determined that we must reassess the evaluations of both of you in light of this incident. Therefore, we will demote you both three ranks as Acting Principal and Acting Vice Principal of the Royal Pioneer Academy.”

“Wha… WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAT!?!!?”

The instant the notice was delivered, the principal’s office became a cauldron of screams like never before.

In the history of teacher rankings, a three-rank demotion had no precedent.

It meant not only that the incident had been treated as grave, but that an unprecedentedly powerful force had moved behind the scenes.

Nekodran had dropped to a rank below vice principal, and Yesman had fallen all the way to the rank of a mere ordinary teacher…!

“N-nyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!?!!?”

“K-kyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!?!!?”

Almost without pause, the office became a cauldron of frenzy like never before.

The fallen duo immediately clung to the emissary’s legs.

“Onesuko-kun’s achievement was basically accomplished because I was there! I should be praised, not demoted three ranks—this is too cruel, indeed~!”

“Yes, that’s right, indeed! No, that’s wrong, indeed! Onesuko-kun’s achievement existed because of me, indeed! So please punish only this bald fatso, indeed!”

“Y-you insolent fool, indeed! If I listen in silence, you ‘indeed’ man…! Enough already—stop getting in my way, indeed!”

“That’s my line, indeed! You only got the principal’s seat because of your pedigree—don’t act so arrogant, indeed! If the bald fatso weren’t here, I would have become principal ages ago, indeed!”

“You keep talking and talking, you…!”

“You asked for it, indeed!? I hated it even when you touched me with those filthy hands—pushing me is unforgivable, indeed!”

Still clinging to the emissary’s legs, the two began shoving each other like monkeys.

It escalated little by little, and finally developed into a full-on grapple…

Or so it seemed—until, at the very last instant, a brutal flying knee strike slammed into both of their faces.

…Doguwa… Shyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!

A thigh spun gracefully through the air as a black tight skirt flipped up.

““HIGYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!?!!?””

With their screams, the men went flying and smashed into the office doors.

They slammed the double doors open with a bang and rolled out into the hallway.

As if nothing had happened, the emissary adjusted her posture and coldly spat at the two collapsed outside.

“Neither of you has the authority to use this principal’s office any longer. We will now conduct an inspection of the room. If inappropriate items are discovered, you may receive additional disciplinary action, so be prepared. In any case, this room will be locked after the inspection, and the key will be handed over to the newly appointed principal and vice principal who will assume office on the first day of next month.”

And the principal’s office door was shut as if to sever the matter completely.

…BATAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANG!!

To the two of them, that sound was like a judge’s gavel delivering a death sentence.

It became a cruel reverberation that echoed and echoed in their heads, forever and ever.