Chapter 33: Smitten, Stamped, and Signed

“So, how do we start a club?”

“Hmm…”

Bisus’s question left Sofia and Artoria deep in thought.

“Didn’t you say you attended the academy?” Artoria asked Sofia.

“I did, in my world, but I never dealt with this kind of thing. Student affairs like that are usually handled by the academy administration. Why don’t we check there?”

“Good idea. Let’s go.”

With time to spare before classes, the trio headed to the academy’s central administration building.

The academy’s administration office handled all administrative tasks.

After visiting the student affairs department, the three left with answers about club creation.

“So, it’s about the minimum number of members,” Sofia said, crossing her arms and rubbing her chin.

“Didn’t even think of that,” Artoria said, mimicking her pose.

“I didn’t either. Makes sense, though—without a minimum, you could have one-person clubs,” Bisus added.

[Eclipse] never mentioned starting a club, so it hadn’t crossed their minds.

Who would’ve thought the academy rules required at least five members to form a new club?

The student affairs office didn’t handle such matters directly.

According to a staff member, no new clubs had been formed in the past five years, and club creation was the student council’s exclusive authority.

“Then we need to secure two more people before going to the student council,” Bisus said.

“The question is who,” Sofia mused.

Someone free from political ties, who wouldn’t interfere with their plans.

“…Naber?” Sofia suggested, a name popping into her head.

“Right!”

Naber Schreig!

Someone indifferent to the continent’s politics and likely to agree to Bisus’s request.

“Let’s find Naber. That leaves one more person,” Bisus said.

Jenice roamed the academy, desperately searching for Bisus.

The strange visions from the previous night weren’t memories of the past but glimpses of a future yet to come.

And Bisus was in all of them.

To unravel the mystery of those future fragments, she needed to find him.

“If it’s my master’s request, I can’t refuse. I’m in!”

“Thanks, Naber. Alright, who’s our last member?”

Jenice spotted Bisus talking with Naber Schreig.

Found him!

“Bisus!” she called, beaming.

“…Jenice?”

He turned to her.

“Bisus!”

She ran toward him.

“Jenice! Perfect timing!”

“…Huh?”

Intending to tell him about the strange visions, Jenice suddenly found herself dragged along.

“Great, that makes five!”

What’s going on?

Knock knock

“Come in.”

Bisus opened the student council door and stepped inside.

“Hello.”

“Yes, what brings you here?”

A scholarly-looking male student with glasses greeted him.

The student council secretary.

A polite character secretly in love with the president.

He doesn’t show it, but he’s highly capable.

Behind him, council members were busy handling paperwork.

I thought the council was just a playground for high nobles, but they’re busier than I expected.

Bisus saw the council in a new light.

“I’d like to start a club. I heard club creation is under the student council’s authority.”

“A club? I’m afraid I can’t process that myself. Do you have the paperwork?”

“Yes, here.”

Bisus showed the forms he’d filled out at the administration office.

“Looks good. Please wait a moment while I inform the president.”

The student left briefly.

The student council president. Diabel.

The main villain of [Eclipse], leader of the “organization.”

I came to start a club and ended up facing the final boss.

It’s just a club, so it shouldn’t matter, right?

“The president has approved. Follow me.”

Bisus followed the secretary to a separate office at the back of the council room.

“You can go inside.”

Creak

Bisus opened the door and entered.

“Oh, nice to meet you.”

An elegant, refined beauty sat at a desk, sipping tea.

“Bisus Grangnole, correct?”

“President, a student named Bisus Grangnole is here to see you.”

“…What?”

Bisus Grangnole? That guy?

Diabel was stunned by the name.

Why was the man who haunted her thoughts all night here to see her?

Did he somehow know she’d spied on his intimate moment?

No, that’s impossible.

Even Sword Masters or archmages couldn’t detect her stealth.

“He wishes to start a club. It’s under your exclusive authority.”

Club creation.

Now that she thought about it, that was a thing.

No clubs had been formed during her tenure, so she’d never dealt with it.

So it’s not about last night.

Diabel sighed in relief.

“Should I send him in? The rules require a personal meeting with you first.”

“Yes, let him in.”

“Understood.”

The secretary placed the paperwork on her desk and left.

Moments later, Bisus entered.

That’s the guy from last night…

The silhouette of him entangled with a woman flickered in her mind.

Calm down, Diabel.

You’ve seen plenty of romantic scenes.

Why does this one shake you so much?

Taking a deep breath, she spoke.

“Oh, nice to meet you.”

She sipped her tea.

“Bisus Grangnole, correct?”

“Pleasure to meet you, President.”

“Likewise. So, you want to start a club?”

“Yes. As the paperwork states, the five of us want to form a small club.”

“What’s the purpose of this club?”

“To advance our skills.”

“Skill advancement…”

Diabel skimmed the documents.

A club for improving swordsmanship.

Four swordsmen and a saintess.

The minimum five members required, but far from ordinary:

The saintess of the Holy Kingdom.

The daughter of the republic’s governor.

The heir of an imperial swordsmanship family.

And…

If approved, this club would shake the academy’s dynamics.

But with tomorrow’s planned attack, it’d likely be overshadowed.

It shouldn’t interfere with the “organization’s” plans.

In fact, tying these heavyweights to a new club might make things easier.

“I see no issues. I approve the club.”

Diabel stamped the paperwork.

“Thank you, President.”

Bisus smiled brightly, took the documents, and left.

“Bisus… Grangnole.”

A name she’d never heard before, a person she’d just met.

Yet why did seeing his face bring tears to her eyes?

Why did his name feel so nostalgic?

The saintess and the republic’s princess were charmed by him too.

Was he using some hypnotic sorcery?

Boom

Diabel unleashed her supernatural killing aura across her body.

No.

It’s not sorcery.

His very presence made her tremble.

Am I… smitten?

No way.

No man but my master could ever sway me.

Bisus.

What are you?

The former Demon King, who once drove the continent to ruin, was thrown into turmoil by a boy she’d just met, yet felt she’d known forever.