Interview with the Dean (2)
As Sylvania Academy is large, its organizational chart is also extremely complex.
Still, organizations usually get simpler the higher you go. An organizational chart that looks like a spider’s web when unfolded cannot be this simple if you look at the top part.
McDowell, who simultaneously held the position of dean of the Sylvanian Faculty of Magic and the highest dean among the three deans, was a member of that simple organizational chart.
If you come down from the top, the name appears at the second branch. He is the person in the position right after the vice principal.
“The academic staff did not follow the procedure for your expulsion. They must have decided that there was no need to do so.”
He looked easy-going at first glance, with his bushy beard and old monocle on, but his attitude toward me was anything but.
I did not drink the tea served by the dean’s secretary. Even at first glance, the atmosphere was not friendly.
“Is there a need to go through the academic regulations, declare your expulsion, and go through the disciplinary committee in accordance with the regulations to expel you?”
Dean McDowell, sitting across from me, spoke with a stern expression.
It is an unexpected fact, but such a strong and weighty attitude is only the surface appearance of Dean McDowell.
They act in an overbearing way to cover up their soft and compassionate inner self.
This is a fact that cannot be known unless you proceed with the sub-quest, but it is not that surprising to me, who has already gone through all the mountain battles and completed most of the concept plays.
In the first place, if you are to hold the position of dean in a place as eccentric as the Ministry of Magic, it is inevitable that you will maintain a somewhat overbearing attitude.
The world of academic politics is full of people who climb up when they are looked down on. It is admirable that he maintains that character.
“If it doesn’t work out, the university will take ex officio expulsion procedures.”
So I couldn’t help but be confused. There are two reasons that made me wonder.
First, as mentioned above, why does Dean McDowell, who does not try to create a confrontation with students, behave in such an uncharacteristically threatening manner?
Second is his status.
He is the dean of the Sylvanian Faculty of Magic and the highest dean among the three deans.
This is a position that has no reason to be involved in the process and whether each student is expelled. Rather, he is in a position to review and approve the implementation plan.
Each position has its own duties.
The sight of just summoning a student, having him sit in the office, and discussing whether or not to expel him from school is a strange sight, as if he had gone to the district office to pick up a copy of his transcript, and the district mayor was looking at the civil complaint.
“Do you have any excuses for this?”
Of course, if you are a typical student, your thinking will not reach this point. You will experience panic at the very situation where a high-ranking person calls you out and sentences you to expulsion.
After thinking about it, I could see the intention.
The intention itself was to embarrass me.
“That is a reasonable statement.”
So, after saying that, I decided to think about it some more.
An unusual situation in which you are suddenly called out during a public event such as a school opening ceremony in a luxurious and luxurious reception room, a private meeting with a well-dressed and high-ranking person, an aggressive and threatening attitude, and a blinding situation in which you are sentenced to expulsion.
The higher a person is, the better he or she is at creating this kind of situational external pressure.
I’m trying to see my reaction in this situation.
Such questions inevitably follow.
Why?
Ed Rosstaylor is an ordinary student with only somewhat noble origins. He didn’t have any special magical talent, nor did he stand out in his handwriting.
Even that noble bloodline is nothing more than a somewhat unique calling card in Sylvania. It is full of children of all kinds of nobles and wealthy people, and even the princess is attending the school.
How can Ed Rosstaylor, who is just a student, waste such precious time talking to himself?
There were few possibilities. I sighed deeply.
“I would like to express my gratitude to Princess Fenia. She always looks after her people, even in the realm of learning, and always pays attention to even the smallest details.”
Words thrown out as if thrown out loud.
While discussing whether or not to be expelled from school, he suddenly mentioned the princess. Those words, which have nothing to do with the topic of conversation, may seem absurd.
What does that mean all of a sudden? Why is that story coming up now?
This kind of reaction should follow.
“what?”
However, the frown narrowed momentarily. It was only for a moment, but I caught that reaction.
“What do you mean now?”
However, the other person is also a person who has held the position of top dean for over 5 years. It takes less than a second to regain the momentary poker face.
However, that moment of embarrassment is enough to realize the truth.
As expected, just in case.
In the first place, if they were in a position to support me even by mobilizing the best dean… the only ones there were Principal Obel, Vice Principal Raina, and Princess Fenia.
There is no reason for the principal or vice-principal, who have no contact with me, to look down on me. Princess Fenia is much more likely.
Even if it were a place where the virtue of learning took precedence over the nobility of social status, the princess’s words could not have been ignored.
In some ways, this is truly Princess Fenia’s way.
You could just bring in the soldiers, tie them up, and tell them to reveal their true intentions if you don’t want to be expelled.
Did I think that there was no way I could really reveal my true feelings if I did that?
Or did he think that such barbaric and coercive means were not his style and were meaningless?
Probably both.
In conclusion, it was the right decision.
Even if they had tied me up and scolded me, there was no way I would have revealed that I was really a possessed person and a separate person from the person called Ed Rothtaylor.
Is there any way to do something that would make you look like a crazy person?
They probably had to find another way.
“No, my words came out in vain. I’m sorry. Haha… What did you say… I was nervous… Hahahahaha…”
He scratched the back of his head as if embarrassed and hesitated. I tried to smile as foolishly as possible, but Dean McDowell’s eyes became sharper as he looked at me.
He is already a person with strong bones.
He realized that I was trying to measure him.
Oops… the push and pull went a little too deep.
“I was just… kind of thinking about what the ‘right answer’ might be.”
I decided to just go forward with confidence.
“Why would they invite a mere student like me to sit down and measure my dishes? What should I say to be the ‘correct’ answer?”
I know that an expulsion sentence is just a token thing.
That fact was naturally assumed as a premise. This meant that, to some extent, I understand your true feelings.
If the other person was an overbearing and overbearing person, it would have the opposite effect. It may feel like you are trying to match them, which can make you feel bad.
But I know. Dean McDowell is surprisingly not authoritative in that regard.
“To sum it up, I think what I did was wrong… but I don’t think it was a mistake that would warrant expulsion.”
“If you look through the school’s internal regulations, it’s enough to make it grounds for expulsion.”
“Aren’t internal rules and regulations always ambiguous and ambiguous? There is a lot of room for interpretation. That means there is a disciplinary committee and students are given the opportunity to speak out.”
I decided to go with a general answer.
“In that case, I have no choice but to utilize all the opportunities given to me. I have to persuade the disciplinary committee members as much as possible, put up posters in the school building, and persuade my classmates. I also have to appeal that I have been treated unfairly.”
It will be a headache for academics.
“Are you threatening me now?”
“Not at all. I really mean this.”
He spoke with a confident face.
In the first place, threats cannot be established. What kind of threat is it when a student on the verge of expulsion threatens the best dean?
If you make up your mind to expel a student, you can ignore all such minor disturbances. It may be noisy and annoying for a while, but it ends there. In the first place, there was no way that there would be any classmates who would sympathize with Ed Ross Taylor.
“I just do everything I can. Then, if I get expelled… there’s nothing I can do. But I think I’ll regret it later if I don’t do anything and just get expelled.”
After saying that, I took a sip of the tea the secretary brought out.
“Is this… the ‘correct answer’?”
It feels like we are having a conversation while wearing a mask. It will be the same over there.
A moment of silence.
McDowell rested his chin and looked at me for a while, and then he opened his mouth again.
“Princess Fenia said something a bit difficult about you. At this point, I can somewhat agree with what she said.”
A secret conversation with a princess who was gifted with the blessing of insight to gauge humanity.
I don’t even hide the fact that it was Princess Fenia’s instigation that made me keep an eye on me.
We haven’t exchanged a single word about this, but we already know each other.
“He’s as cunning as a fox, but he doesn’t have any mean intentions.”
“If you say that, doesn’t it seem like I’m just playing tricks?”
“They are calmer than the students who were shaking when I took them to the dean’s office and made them sit down.”
Did I act too calmly? That kind of thought comes to mind. Even if it was a mistake, I can’t pick it up now.
“Anyway, let’s go out. I’ll hold off on whether your answer is correct or not.”
“Then what happens to the expulsion case?”
At those words, Dean McDowell burst out laughing. This is the first time we see Dean Lee’s real face.
“You are very clever too.”
There was no intention to expel him from the beginning. Didn’t you also notice that fact?
The person who refined those words back was the Dean McDowell I now knew.
*
It almost became X…!
I sighed in relief as I threw the firewood into the bonfire.
I’m not sure what it is, but I feel like it was a very important turning point in my future path.
That’s what you say, but if you had answered wrongly, you might have really lost your head.
As I closed the door and came out, I caught a glimpse of McDowell through the gap, but the relaxed and smiling look was gone and he was once again in agony with a serious look on his face.
He was seriously evaluating me.
He is a person who can never let down his guard.
Well, anyway, the die is cast, so I just do what I have to do.
[New finished product]
Simple drying rack A simple wooden drying rack for drying laundry or food. The support is not strong so it cannot support a lot of weight.
Production Difficulty: ●○○○○ [Production completed. Crafting proficiency has increased. ]
As I wipe my sweat and look at the completed drying rack, it is good news. I slowly felt the need to check my life skills as well. I was so hectic and busy that I didn’t have time to check my detailed proficiency level.
[Life skill details]
Grade: Beginner Artisan Specialty: Woodworking Dexterity Lv 10 Design Lv 2 Gathering Lv 3 Woodworking Lv 7 Fishing Lv 3 Cooking Lv 4 Dexterity mastery level is 10… Dexterity is the
basic of all life skills. This is the skill that has the most notable correlation with the talent stat among the overall stats.
As the skill level of dexterity increases, the level of increase in skill level of other skills also increases noticeably.
Additionally, the significance of level 10 in a skill was great. Reaching proficiency level 10 means that you have acquired the basics of that skill.
When mastery level exceeds 10, the experience required to advance to the next mastery level increases noticeably. From here, proper ‘investment’ must be made.
I flopped down on a flat rock, basking in the heat of the campfire.
It’s too hard and cold compared to the sofa in the dean’s office. Still, it feels like a perfect fit for my butt, perhaps because it’s a rock that has been in my care ever since I fell into this world.
Sitting in the camp, which was now completely comfortable like my own home, I opened and closed my palms in front of my eyes.
“As expected… shouldn’t he have been born a nobleman?”
Certainly, life-related skills increase significantly faster than combat or magic-related skills.
Even if you are born with talent, you will not be able to bloom if the environment does not support you. Because he was treated like a noble and grew up wondering what to do, he wasted this ability.
Well, you probably thought that making things yourself, cooking, or repairing things was vulgar. Since my status is like that, there is nothing I can do about it.
“But after going through all that hardship, I was able to create a somewhat livable environment.”
Compared to Ofilis Hall, which has the best facilities in Sylvania, I may be in a situation similar to being homeless, but I have become attached to this camp that I built with my own hands.
Besides, I didn’t feel particularly hungry today because I ate a lot at the school opening ceremony. I think I can just fall asleep like this.
“But I can’t just fall asleep.”
Today we just finished the school opening ceremony, so we have quite a bit of time left. Also, unlike in the morning when I walked to school at a canter out of fear of being late, I walked leisurely on the way home from school, so I had a lot of energy left.
I picked up some books that were randomly lying on the grass. I was planning on sleeping like this and reading a book before it gets dark. It was a book about various edible plants and wild herbs borrowed from the student library in the faculty building.
Knowledge is the power to survive. If you become better equipped to distinguish between edible grasses, your eating habits will expand further.
“I wish I could make a workbench or a reading table. I’ll give it a try over the weekend.”
With that in mind, I lay down on the makeshift wooden shelter and opened the book.
And I fell asleep in 10 seconds. It was almost like fainting.
Actually, I was a little tired…
*
The Dean’s office of the Ministry of Magic in the corner of the faculty building.
Dean McDowell was sitting on the living room sofa, resting his chin. It had been a while since Ed Rosstaylor left.
“Hmm…”
There was a lot of work to be done, but he sat motionless and was deep in thought.
The dean’s secretary, who was organizing documents, sighed inwardly without McDowell noticing.
It’s been quite a while. Dean McDowell often found himself doing nothing but deep in thought.
It is natural for work to be delayed, and the secretary’s permission to leave work is not given on time.
I thought to myself that I wouldn’t be able to get home on time again today, and decided to clean the secretary’s office, which I had been putting off.
‘You’re going a bit long this time… What are you thinking so deeply about?’
The secretary looked out the star-filled window, looking at Dean McDowell, completely frozen like a statue, lost in thought.
Thanks to the clear weather today, the starry sky was very beautiful. I opened the window and let in some air for ventilation.
“Secretary Agnes.”
At that time, Dean McDowell finally opened his mouth.
“Is my acting a bit too obvious?”
“yes?”
Dean McDowell’s behavior was so perfect that it sometimes made you wonder if he had a double personality. At least the Dean’s secretary, who was always by his side, knew about it.
When the secretary bothered to ask such a question, he just stammered and said that it was not true.
The night in Gyosu-dong was deepening.
