"Oh! You're finally here, you really made me wait, Ryoji!"
Nero shot up from behind his desk, face alight with a bright, enthusiastic smile as he strode forward to greet him.
"Are there just the two of you here?"
Ryoji's gaze swept across the Student Council room.
As the Council's primary domain, it was naturally vast, easily more than two hundred square meters. The room wasn't lacking in grandeur either: desks, red carpet, chandeliers, towering bookshelves… every detail radiated extravagance.
Behind Nero's desk stood an enormous floor-to-ceiling window, revealing a manicured garden and fountain outside. The place looked less like a student facility and more like a castle.
"There's still one more in class," Nero replied with a playful sway as she circled in front of Ryoji, green eyes darting across his body from head to toe. Satisfaction bloomed on her refined face.
"Perfect! Beauty like this deserves to belong to me alone!"
Not even emperors were guaranteed such privilege.
Ryoji ignored Nero's fervent gaze and shifted his attention to the other presence in the room.
She had dark brown skin, with animal-like ears and a tail sprouting from her body. Her figure rivaled both Nero's and Mata Hari's, though the way her shirt hung loosely, buttons carelessly undone at the chest, drew even more attention to the matching brown scar across her chest.
She was seated on a sofa, surrounded by stacks of documents and several calculators, working with an intensity so fierce it was as though she hadn't even noticed Ryoji's arrival.
"Her name is Sheba. She's a third-year senpai and our Student Council treasurer," Nero explained at last, only after drawing in a satisfying sip of Ryoji's energy before retreating a step.
"There's also a vice president under me, but she's a good student, only comes here after class."
So far, the Council consisted of President Nero, Treasurer Sheba, and one unnamed Vice President.
"That's it? Just three people running this entire Student Council?" Ryoji frowned, incredulous. "What's the point of claiming such a huge building then?"
"Well, Mata Hari counts as half, and with you, Ryoji, that makes four and a half. Besides, this school doesn't have that many students anyway, there's no need for a huge Council!"
"Actually, it's because President Nero only just took office," Sheba chimed in without looking up, casually dismantling Nero's grandeur while her fingers danced over the calculator. "The previous members all retired, and our president is quite the elitist, very few meet her standards."
"Details like that are unnecessary!" Nero coughed sharply, brushing off the awkwardness.
"Now then… where were we? Ah yes, this building. Strictly speaking, it's not school property at all. I had my family build it for me."
"…Huh?"
"It's hard to grasp just by saying it. Come, I'll show you!"
Grabbing his arm, Nero dragged Ryoji out of the office and began leading him through the sprawling building.
"The second floor has this office, a conference room, and a few bedrooms. But the real gem is on the first floor, it's entirely for leisure! Sports halls, music rooms, a swimming pool… you name it. And of course,-"
They stopped at a door radiating gentle heat. Nero pointed proudly inside.
"-a hot spring, complete with sauna. My pride and joy. After a long day of work or training, soaking here washes all fatigue away."
"…Having money really does mean you can do anything."
Ryoji couldn't suppress his envious sigh.
"Exactly! Money is power!" Nero agreed, nodding vigorously.
It was no wonder the campus whispered about President Nero's lavish lifestyle.
After finally laying eyes on the Student Council building, Ryoji at last understood the meaning of extravagance.
Of course, He also realized something far more crucial.
Including the vice president who had yet to arrive, the Student Council seemed to consist entirely of women. The only male member here… was Ryoji himself!
And to make things worse, or perhaps better, there was only one hot spring room in the entire building!
His gaze immediately sharpened, carrying a depth that suggested all sorts of "accidental intrusions" could happen at any time.
This Student Council is amazing!
Coming to such a vital realization, Ryoji couldn't help but sing its praises.
"Hahaha! To hear you say that pleases me more than anything! After all, this building is one of my proudest creations, it's me who designed it!"
"You designed it?"
"Of course! I am a genius, after all! Architecture, sculpture, singing, dance… I am omnipotent!"
Nero puffed herself up with pride as she listed her endless talents.
Come to think of it, that was part of her lore… what was the skill called again? Emperor's… Cheat?
No, that wasn't it. Ah, Imperial Privilege! A Noble Phantasm-like ability that allowed Nero to temporarily acquire skills she normally had no right to possess, essentially rewriting the rules themselves.
Such a cheat-like power, Ryoji could only look on with envy.
"So, what's my position?"
After they finished touring the entire building, Ryoji posed the question while the two of them were making their way back toward the second-floor office.
"There are still quite a few posts left. For instance: Disciplinary Officer, Secretary, Accounting Assistant… which one would you prefer?"
"Whichever's the easiest."
"Hum hum, I knew you'd say that! Then without question, it would be Secretary!"
"Then Secretary it is."
In most Student Councils, jobs that let you slack off were rare. And in TYPE-MOON Academy's Council, which was staffed by only a handful of members, each person carried a very real workload.
Nero, however, was already scheming.
The Secretary's main duty was recording minutes and filing Council documents. Mostly pen work, requiring no particular brainpower.
But more importantly, it was the closest position to the President, meaning the Secretary had to accompany her everywhere, to every department, always by her side.
In plain terms: her personal secretary.
As expected of the heir to Japan's largest conglomerate, even at this age, Ryoji had already mastered the tricks of office politics.
"Oh right, take this!"
Nero suddenly remembered something and stealthily pulled Ryoji into a corner.
At first, Ryoji thought Nero was about to make some bold, lustful move, and was already debating whether he should offer a token resistance. But instead, Nero pulled a sleek black card from her pocket.
"I know you're not the type to lust after money, but at least allow me to show a little sincerity. Consider this a token of my goodwill!"
A… black credit card!
"Well, since it's your heartfelt gesture, it would be rude of me not to accept. You really are a sincere person!"
Though his expression was one of reluctant resistance, Ryoji smoothly accepted the card while showering her with praise.
"Ahaha, don't compliment me so directly, I'll feel embarrassed!"
Nero pressed a flushed hand against her cheek, twisting her body with a bashful smile she couldn't contain.
'So easy to win over… a wealthy patron!'
After circling the building, the two returned to the Student Council chamber. Nero, of course, didn't even think about knocking, she boldly pushed the door wide open.
Inside, a long-haired girl with her arms crossed, her expression tinged with impatience, was the first to greet their sight.
"Oh? Vice President Aozaki, you're here already?"
Nero instantly straightened her expression, discarding the playful grin, and donned the serious dignity of a Student Council President once more.
(End of Chapter)
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