The New Principal And The New Vice Principal

One month had passed since I enrolled at the Royal Pioneer Academy.

Because of various incidents, my base was still just an “ordinary house.”

But with the principal and vice principal who kept pestering me gone, I could finally focus on development…

—or so I had convinced myself.

That was, until the next principal and vice principal arrived.

At the morning assembly at the start of the new month, the new principal opened with quite an explosive greeting from the stage.

“I’m Kakerukun, appointed as the first new principal of this Royal Pioneer Academy! Nice to meet you! Right! And this here is Vice Principal Diraira!”

The new principal “Kakerukun,” with a bowl cut, flashy golden tuxedo, and an air of childish innocence.

And the middle-aged woman “Diraira,” wearing a bunny-girl outfit with a silver jacket draped over it.

The strangeness wasn’t limited to them — the schoolyard itself had changed considerably.

The stage used for assembly stood at the edge of the yard, but around us — the audience — paper-thin walls blocked the surroundings from view.

Standing on the stage, Kakerukun spoke cheerfully in a childlike high-pitched voice.

“My class is a ‘Gambler’!”

The students, who had been silent, immediately began murmuring.

“Seriously!? A Gambler!?”

“Isn’t that the so-called cursed class…!?”

“They say people given the Gambler class don’t live past twenty…!?”

“And yet he rose all the way to principal…!”

“That principal must be incredible…!”

“As you all know, the Gambler is called a ‘cursed class’! But at the same time, it’s also called the ‘strongest class’! Its power is said to surpass even a Hero! I’m a Gambler considered closest to that Hero! Right!”

Kakerukun puffed out his chest with a proud “Ahem.”

“After all, I’m a super gambler known as the ‘Man of Ten Billion’! With that power, I’ll guide all of you properly! Right!”

A thunderous applause erupted.

It seemed the fact that he survived past twenty despite the unlucky class — and became principal — had completely captured the students’ hearts.

“Oh, right! Diraira-sensei is my right hand, but I’ll introduce my left hand too! Right! The student council president, Weiss-kun!”

With the introduction, Weiss appeared from beside the stage.

After exposing the former principal and vice principal’s wrongdoing, Weiss had instantly become the academy’s hero.

“Now that a Sage like myself is the student council president, I shall show you astonishing development methods unlike anything before! Believe in me and follow me!”

The students grew even more excited.

I stood alone, away from the crowd.

Then under the new principal’s direction, the top class rankings were announced.

Since Class 1-11 still didn’t exist at this academy, it technically maintained the top rank.

Meanwhile, my former class, Class 1-20 — once fifth at the entrance ceremony — had fallen out of the rankings.

Instead, Akemi’s Class 1-06 and Kurumi’s Class 1-16 had ranked in.

I muttered quietly.

“Every class except first place has been involved with me…”

Then came the asset ranking announcement, but the principal suddenly said this.

“I personally don’t care about class rankings! Because the one with the most money is the greatest! Right!”

A very gambler-like value system, I thought.

“Before the asset announcement, we’ll play a simple game! It’s the ‘Cheers Game!’ The rules are easy! Each class will come onto this stage and toast with this glass! After the toast, everyone drinks the grape juice inside to clear it! I’ll even gift 100 million Ender from my own pocket! Right!”

“W-what…!?”

It was an outrageous reward one might think they misheard.

Just drinking juice together would earn 100 million…!

“However, there are a few rules! First, once the game starts, participants cannot leave midway! Win or lose, you play to the end! That’s basic manners! Right!”

I was foolish for briefly thinking he said something reasonable.

“Also, not everyone can play! Only classes with two or more members can participate! Lonely classes can just watch while sucking their thumbs! Right!”

Well, I expected that much.

“And the third rule — the grape juice contains a ‘Forgetfulness Potion’! Before drinking, you must swear during the toast to forget everything that happened during the past month!”

The Forgetfulness Potion was a magical medicine that erased specific memories from the drinker.

“As the first principal of the Royal Pioneer Academy, I want everyone to start fresh with that feeling! Right!”

I finally understood the reason for the generous prize.

The Forgetfulness Potion was forbidden to administer without consent.

Naturally — it could rewrite memories freely.

Normally nobody would willingly drink it.

But for 100 million Ender, anyone would gladly do it.

The principal glanced at me and stuck out his tongue.

“And I know there’s a naughty student here using drugs to show everyone hallucinations! Too bad! All those bad hallucinations will be completely forgotten in this game! Right!”

“WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!”

The new principal seemed to have completely captivated the students.

They looked up at him with admiration.

Above many of their heads… I thought I saw hearts — but actually not a single one.

Instead, effects like floating banknotes appeared.

However, among them, a few girls did have heart marks.

Looking closely, they were the usual group — Monaka, Kotone, and the others.

Rather than the principal’s speech, they seemed more concerned about me.

Like children checking if their parents had come to class observation day, they kept glancing back.

When our eyes met, heart marks appeared, and they waved shyly with small smiles.