The great disaster, or I should say, the great man-made disaster had suddenly struck the Royal Pioneer Academy.
The residential district had instantly turned into a disaster zone.
The teachers, who usually kept their hands off everything, were now panic-stricken and came rushing out of the school building.
An emergency rescue team was hastily formed by the staff, and they set about rescuing the students.
Fortunately, because the residential district had been protected by the blessing magic of "Divine Protection" and because the rescue response had been quick, all the students escaped with their lives.
However, the infirmary could not hold everyone, so the school grounds turned into something like a field hospital.
Moreover, the incident did not stay within the academy but spread outside as well.
The education committee and the PTA began to make noise and demanded a thorough investigation into the cause.
Principal Nekodran and the yes-man vice-principal were exposed to the storm as the people responsible for the academy…
But those cunning men took the initiative and made an outrageous announcement.
"This entire incident was carried out solely on the independent decision of Weiss-kun from Class 1-20!"
"Yes, exactly! Weiss-kun must have been trying to make up for his rank drop from using the infirmary the other day and got too eager for achievements!"
"In a pioneer academy, there is a rule that students' own will must be respected!
We teachers left it entirely up to their free will!
It is regrettable that we could not prevent the accident in advance, but it could not be helped!"
"Yes, exactly! Monaka-san from Class 1-2 and Kotone-san from Class 1-19 anticipated the collapse of the wall and called for evacuation!
However, the other students did not respond to the evacuation request!"
To everyone's astonishment, the principal and vice-principal shifted all responsibility onto Weiss and pretended to know nothing…!
Weiss naturally protested, but
"What!? You claim that we instructed you to build the base!?
There is no evidence of that anywhere!"
"Yes! Weiss-kun must be confused from the shock of the accident!"
"Umu, this is unacceptable! Truly regrettable!
To cause a major disaster that involved so many students, yet show no reflection at all and instead try to pin the blame on others!
Class 1-20 of Weiss-kun is hereby given a two-rank demotion!"
Class 1-20 C– ⇒ D
Incidentally, the other classes had also been demoted by one rank for using the infirmary.
"Compared to the other classes, how wonderful Monaka-san's and Kotone-san's classes are!
We evaluate their wisdom in not being deceived by Weiss-kun and grant them a one-rank promotion!"
Class 1-02 B ⇒ B+
Class 1-19 B– ⇒ B
Class promotion was a very honorable thing, and normally any leader would accept it with great joy…
Yet the two girls who led both classes protested together.
"No! We cannot accept this achievement!"
"Exactly! We only followed the instructions of a certain person!
Therefore, we believe this achievement should be given to that person!"
"The name of the boy we respect so deeply is… Le…!"
"Kyeeeeeee——————————!!!!"
However, this statement was cut off by the vice-principal's strange shriek and crushed by the principal's behind-the-scenes maneuvering.
Everything sent out from or coming into the Royal Pioneer Academy was checked by the principal and vice-principal.
Therefore, in this incident, Leopin's name did not leak outside even the first letter "Le."
But one might wonder.
Were there not supporters watching the entire event through magical devices?
Those people had certainly witnessed Leopin's actions.
Yet every one of them chose to ignore the facts.
Why?
Because they, like the principal and vice-principal, were born elites who had gained their positions through family background rather than ability.
Yes. They were the kind of people who would gain nothing even if the achievements of a commoner like Leopin became known to the world…
They were on the side of those who thought, "We must never acknowledge Leopin…!"
However, through this incident, Leopin's name was firmly etched into the minds of the supporters.
The boy whose only strength was dexterity still did not know.
In a place beyond his knowledge, a great power had begun to move.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
Weiss left the school building and wandered unsteadily through the residential district buried in rubble.
His usual confident, composed expression was nowhere to be seen.
His eyes behind his slipping glasses were vacant, and his mouth hung open.
"Th… this me… getting a two-rank demotion…"
A muttering voice leaked out as if in a nightmare.
"The servant of a sage… getting a rank demotion… impossible… Th… this must be a bad dream…"
Yet the whispered conversations of the female students passing by made it clear that this was reality.
"Look, it's Weiss-sama!"
"We're the same D rank now, so there's no need to call him 'sama' anymore!"
"That's true. Who would have thought that building a wall the way he said would cause a rank drop!"
"The worst! A so-called sage spouting nonsense—I'm so disappointed!"
That evaluation was unforgivable to Weiss, but he no longer had the energy to argue back.
Because an even harsher judgment was clutched tightly in his hand.
On the crumpled sheepskin parchment, the visible text contained a single short line.
"Disgrace to the clan."
Ever since he had read it, those words had been swirling around in Weiss's head in the voice of a certain person.
"Until now, every letter from Father was filled with pages of expectations for me…
Father must be extremely angry about this two-rank demotion…!
No matter what, no matter what, I have to restore my rank…
If things stay like this, I won't be able to remain the heir…!"
Just thinking about it made Weiss's knees tremble on their own.
Mustering the last of his strength, he walked behind some rubble and collapsed to his knees.
Then he clutched his head and screamed.
"No…! Anything but that, absolutely not…!
I am a sage! Unlike an unemployed loser like Leopin, I am a person whose future is guaranteed!
And yet… and yet…!"
Elites who have never known failure—or rather, who were never taught failure—have no resistance to setbacks.
Moreover, the previous failure had been due to Seebus's poisonous mushrooms, but this time the fault was clearly his own.
"I don't fail! I haven't failed at all!
Uwaaaaaaaa——————————————!!!!"
Unable to accept it, Weiss thrashed about on the ground for a long, long time.
Next time, even greater comeuppance awaits!