I Became the Academy’s Pink Airhead

The student council president’s office of the .

Pink petals were falling profusely outside the window. But neither of the two people in the room had the leisure to appreciate that beautiful sight.

“What?”

Student Council President Alvit, who had been reviewing all sorts of documents, looked up in shock.

Between the stacks of documents piled like towers on the business desk, only a round face was visible. A middle-aged dwarf in neat formal attire with a stylish hat was watching her reaction.

Alvit asked again about the news he brought, even though she had already understood properly. It was such significant news.

“You’re saying there was an accident with the train that the kingdom-born graduates were supposed to ride—?!”

The pen she dropped rolled across the desk.

Just before that pen fell under the desk, the dwarf employee from the headquarters of the railway company dispatched from outside quickly bowed his head and blurted out the prepared statement.

“I’m sorry. We are truly ashamed. Since only the affected vehicle needs to be repaired, we will definitely resolve the transportation issue for the graduates within three days…”

And he began reciting the plan, setting the most precarious deadline realistically possible for now.

Transporting important personnel like ether ability user graduates back to their home countries was an important task. As such, the dwarf employee in charge of this task was a veteran in a high position even at headquarters.

The reason such a person was being so humble was because he had a strong desire not to go against the academy city’s mood.

‘If there’s a problem with the new route contract for the academy city ether train while new transportation methods are being developed, it would be a big deal…’

Thinking that, the dwarf employee glanced at the student council president’s seat of the .

“…”

Though it had only been about 2 years, the other party was in a position to lead the Valkyries… students of the academy city from numerous countries across the nine worlds.

He could not ignore the mood of someone with a status close to a president or chairman of the outside world. Therefore, the middle-aged dwarf employee’s waist began to bend quickly like a reed.

The sight of the dwarf employee bowing almost halfway.

Originally, this would have been reported by subordinate administrative students instead, but he volunteered to come personally and report on the damage progression.

Seeing that sight, Alvit rather felt sorry.

‘…There were no reports of human casualties. If there were, Senior Sigrun or Greta from would have come to inform me. Calm down… calm down. It’s probably just a mechanical failure.’

After gathering her thoughts, she opened her mouth in the gentlest tone possible.

“Ah, I’m sorry if I sounded accusatory. I apologize. The railway company must be the most troubled by the mechanical failure… Many of my seniors are from the kingdom, so I thought something had happened suddenly. Though that’s unlikely.”

The dwarf employee nodded as if understanding those words implying that human casualties would absolutely not be tolerated.

“…We are ashamed. My way of speaking was easy to misunderstand. As the student council president said, it’s not that an accident happened to the graduates riding the train, but a defect discovered during maintenance before boarding procedures.”

“I see.”

Though she had already expected it, Alvit was completely relieved hearing those words.

Even in the worst case, they avoided a situation where they would have to prepare funerals right after the graduation ceremony. It was truly a horrible thing she didn’t even want to imagine.

Whether as student council president.

Or as a junior sending off her seniors.

So Alvit could speak calmly.

“If no one has been hurt yet, that’s fortunate. We won’t question responsibility based on the speed of follow-up measures, so please proceed with maximum attention to safety. By the way, could you tell me how the defect occurred? The will support as much as possible.”

“Ah… about that.”

The dwarf employee also inwardly sighed in relief at the unexpectedly moderate reaction, and explained the whole story to the newly appointed student council president.

And while explaining, he was inwardly evaluating the new student council president.

‘Fortunately, the newly appointed student council president of this has a gentler atmosphere than the predecessor. I won’t have to worry about misspeaking due to tension.’

If even a trivial issue occurred around this time, the previous student council president would shoot death rays with her eyes. Thanks to that, it felt like there was no heart left.

Separately from the dwarf employee’s inner thoughts, Alvit was carefully listening to the details of the incident.

“The engine of the ether train bound for the kingdom broke down…?”

“Yes, because the ether concentration around the World Tree has risen sharply recently, the engine of the kingdom-bound train from an area with particularly low ether concentration failed to adapt and became overloaded.”

“…?”

Alvit tilted her head.

‘What’s this about machines getting altitude sickness…?’

It was common for machines to break down due to environmental changes, but it was strange that their adaptability differed depending on their place of origin, like living things.

So she expressed the question that came to mind as is.

“Do ether engines change depending on the environment they were produced in?”

The dwarf employee seemed to have received an opportunity to explain the cause of this issue, so he began answering promptly.

“For ether engines that move ordinary trains or vehicles, there’s little difference no matter where they’re made. But for giant train engines used for large-scale transport during graduation and entrance ceremonies, perhaps due to their size, the phenomenon occurs because mechanical life-ization like dwarves has progressed. In fact, engineers dispatched from headquarters are helping the giant engines adapt and live.”

“Heeh… I see.”

When the size exceeds a certain level, ether machinery undergoes mechanical life-ization.

So it’s affected by the environment depending on ether concentration.

It was somewhat fascinating knowledge for Alvit who was from the countryside.

‘I see… Mechanical biologization due to ether. I wonder if Kara knew about this?’

Alvit gaped in admiration at the fascinating phenomenon she unexpectedly learned about. But the dwarf employee’s expression still looked troubled.

“…Even for such giant engines, until now they finished adapting while going back and forth to the academy city, so this didn’t happen. But due to the rapid changes occurring around the academy city recently, they became overloaded. Normally we would conduct precision inspections over several months, but… the timing was very bad.”

“It certainly is bad timing.”

Alvit looked around at the mountain-like piles of documents with bitter eyes. The mountain range made of documents was still increasing in number even now.

‘Of all times, during such a busy period…’

Graduation ceremony and entrance ceremony.

This period was when personnel from the academy city and outside world interacted most actively.

Even if they didn’t complete the full academic term, there were students who left for the outside world beyond the rules of the World Tree and academy city… but officially, this period was the only time for student movement.

Transporting numerous outside world goods and sending back tens of thousands of graduates one by one.

It could truly be called an operation.

‘Moreover, I can guess the reason why the ether concentration is thickening…’

Alvit raised her head and looked at the World Tree where pink petals were fluttering.

“…”

The World Tree that looked no different on the outside except for the blooming flowers. But even now, it must be changing rules to resolve numerous distortions of the world.

“…”

Alvit turned her head again to look at the dwarf employee.

Anyway.

What’s important now was follow-up measures for the incident.

To him who had taken responsibility for the problem that had already occurred and was an expert in his field, this was all she could say.

“…Please proceed with attention to safety.”

“We will make every effort to safely board the graduates.”

The two thanked each other for their consideration and greeted each other.

* * *

Alvit returned to by moving her flash wings, her unique ether skill, for a break.

‘Peepeep and goddess suddenly said they’d go live outside, and Rota and Kara have business at different schools… It’ll be quiet today.’

But as soon as she returned to school, she had to stiffen.

What she saw before her eyes were familiar seniors wandering around the school. Those who should have already headed to the outside world were all still here.

Alvit spoke in a bewildered voice.

“Senior Clara? Senior Hilde? Why are you at our school…?”

“Ahaha…☆ The train broke down so…”

“I know that, but the opened accommodations for waiting graduates… We even made an advisory broadcast for headcount.”

Clara shrugged and made excuses.

“Hmm~ Just? A feeling of not wanting to follow the advisory? A feeling of wanting to stay at the alma mater longer for the last time—☆”

Beside her, Hilde nodded in agreement.

“Mm. I understand that feeling. These days, if I don’t smell Lara’s bare skin… scent before starting my daily routine, I can’t focus due to longing. It’s important to wrap up lingering feelings before starting anything.”

“What are you saying, honey~☆”

Really.

I don’t know what they’re saying.

While Alvit was watching with dumbfounded eyes, the two were gradually pressing their bodies together. Hot mist formed around them, and the temperature seemed to rise about 3 degrees.

“No, shouldn’t at least Senior Hilde, the former student council president, not say such things…?”

Alvit blurted out her complaint.

Hilde, whose face had become like a rice cake from pressing cheeks with Clara, mumbled.

“I’m no longer a student but an ordinary citizen now. As long as it’s not illegal, I don’t particularly have to follow the FM of the academy city. I didn’t want to follow the advisory of the , and I wanted to look around my lover’s alma mater.”

“That’s right—☆”

What nonsense is this.

“Seniors, you shouldn’t do this to me…”

Alvit began to feel drained thinking of the efforts made to assign accommodations for the graduates drifting during the day.

‘Should I have just told them to sleep at their respective alma maters?’

But regardless of such feelings Clara smiled brightly and patted Alvit saying:

“Calling someone who’s graduating now Senior! Just casually call me Sister~♪”

“Suddenly calling you sister now…”

It was such a firm answer that even Alvit herself felt it was a slip, but for some reason Clara’s face brightened even more.

“Right? If someone suddenly tells you to call them sister, it’s weird for the person who suddenly starts calling them that, right? Yes☆”

What is she saying after telling me to call her sister herself?

‘What on earth was Senior Clara trying to say…’

After laughing for a while like that, Clara soon scratched her head as if embarrassed.

“W-Well… It is a bit embarrassing to come back right after crying together like that☆ The thing a graduate shouldn’t do most is coming back right away—♪”

“You knew that well and still ignored the advisory and came back?”

“Ahaha—☆”

Hilde clenched both fists beside her and said:

“It’s okay, Lara. Lara is beautiful even when crying.”

“Ahaha, my honey… A pink airhead doesn’t like being praised anytime—☆ And saying crying looks beautiful is malicious flirting aiming for a weakened woman☆ It’s even written in ancient texts♪ Judge well!”

“…”

“Ah, you’re deflated.”

Eventually, the two seniors most familiar to Alvit began whispering while holding hands. Rings with jewels matching their respective hair colors sparkled on their joined hands.

“…”

If Alvit activated her inner ether and listened closely, she could hear the conversation content. But she didn’t particularly want to do that, so she turned her eyes away.

And there… were various human figures.

A delinquent who came after showering in short shorts.

“What are you looking at. Is this your first time seeing me?”

“Please at least put on a top. Senior Eir.”

“Don’t want to.”

“…”

A scholar reading a book in red training clothes.

“Wh-What are you looking at. Do you have a problem?”

“Not really, but do you have to read right in front of the main auditorium…? We have a newly set up reading room.”

“M-My choice…”

“…”

An actor spending time at the water fountain wearing sunglasses.

“Hmm~ To perform the student council president role well… Splendid, ordinary person! Ohoho!”

“Why…?”

“Oh~ Hoho! Do you want to know why this lady is here?”

“Haah…”

“…Say you’re curious.”

“I don’t want to.”

“…Hic.”

A farmer crouching in a flower bed with withered flowers checking their condition.

“Hm? Alvit came~”

“Senior Anna too…?”

“Well, that’s right? Haha.”

Alvit looked at all of them and muttered in a bitter tone.

“This damn school.”

Well, I guess that’s how it is…