hould be carried out. Karian who was the singer couldn't stop that performance without some particular reason.

In that case, he would have to perform.

Karian had to stand on stage and sing in front of the microphone.

Just thinking about it, he had a kind of feeling as if his body were being torn from the pressure.

(I wonder if filth monsters will attack tomorrow.)

Karian walked towards the files while thinking about childish delusions, but he didn't show those emotions on his face at all.

(No no no, that's too outrageous no matter what. In that case, if an Academy City comes near this place, and then the festival is halted because of a Military Arts Competition.... No, even that would just mean the festival was extended. Then, it really has to be filth monsters. If filth monsters invaded the city, and damaged the city interior, and it wouldn't be time to hold a festival anymore.)

Karian began imagining. Letting filth monsters come near the city, and engaging them in the outer regions. Military Artist students would go fight, but as for allowing the filth monsters to invade the city....

No, that kind of thing wouldn't be allowed.

Even in his delusions, Karian was still a perfectionist. He calmly planned Zuellni's battles, and when he thought of the battles the students had experienced up to now, he pushed aside that possibility.

It was possible that filth monsters would suddenly come to attack the outskirts and would be confronted. Only Felli had the power to spread a sensing web around the city. Though there were other Psychokinesists on the lookout right now, it didn't mean that they were completely alerted.

However, it was almost impossible for filth monsters to invade the city and only cause light damage.

Because, Zuellni had Layfon Alseif.

The Lance Shelled City Grendan had many strong residents, and that man had won the title of Heaven's Blade successor there at a young age, and had come to the Academy City because he lost that honor. To him, a large group of larvae was an annoyance that had only numbers, and even a grown mature phase wasn't his opponent. When he had defeated an aged phase, he had entered a bitter struggle because of his equipment, but in this situation where the chance of encountering a filth monster wasn't high, it was unlikely that they would run across an aged phase filth monster, and the probability of such a battle happening tomorrow was almost zero.

(Damn you, Layfon Alseif!)

Even though Layfon had only come to Zuellni by chance, Karian had still used him completely, so he had no right to blame him for this.

"Ah, President."

When he returned to his senses, Serine was standing in front of him.

"Nn, what is it?"

After dispersing his evil delusions, Karian raised his head. Her expression was sad and depressed.

"Well, would President please join tonight's practice?"

After she cautiously said this, the secretary group held their breath.

"Only tonight is left for practice. Please, join our practice."

Serine lowered her head, and Karian was speechless. Karian had originally tried to leave before the others could say such things, but he had escaped from reality because of the overwhelming pressure, and missed the opportunity to leave.

(Damn!)

Karian paid attention to keep from leaking anything into his expression while desperately searching for an excuse to deal with Serine.

However, she was the first to speak.

"We know that you doesn't want to do this, President. But we want to do things in the festival other than Student Council activity. We have to choose something that doesn't require a lot of time to practice. Because everyone can play instruments, we decided to form a band. I'm sorry for making such a reckless decision."

Serine's words slowly drove Karian into a corner.

"Don't say that."

"No, we're requesting President to do something that you don't like, so I have to lower my head a few times."

Karian was slowly running out of places to go.

"Since you can perceive my feelings, why don't you just not include me? It's fine for your singer to play an instrument at the same time."

After saying this, Serine and the other secretaries all lowered their heads. Though it was only through the wall, Karian had heard their performance skills. With their skills, it was impossible to sing while playing.

"Well.... we could do it, but that's not what this is about."

"Then what is it about.... No, I shouldn't ask. Anyway, since you can leave me out of it, please do so."

Karian stood up.

Hurry, he had to hurry up and escape.

Karian took the bag placed next to the table, and then stood up. He had work that he had to do. But, it was alright even if he delayed that work till tomorrow. In any case, in this critical juncture, he had to flee the scene even if he had to become a villain.

"We want to do something with you, President!"

Shirley was the one who shouted this out. The fact that the soft-spoken her had desperately said such words dragged out Karian's conscience.

(Tch!)

Karian clicked his tongue.

(What's wrong? Karian Loss. Hurry, Karian. Are you the kind of person to stop in this kind of place? You're the villain who ruined your sister's and another student's lives without concern for the peace of the city. In that case, what do you need to be concerned about. Move, go. Reach your hand to the door!)

However, he wasn't able to stride forward.

Shirley continued speaking.

"We want to make memories together with President. The Student Council's activities are also very fun, but we wanted memories more like a student's."

Move, Karian Loss.

Karian couldn't move, unable to lift his legs as if they were buried in the floor. Since his feet couldn't move, then he could use his hands. Hurry up and reach for the door. Regardless of the method, he should quickly escape this place.

"We're begging you!"

The secretaries stood up, bowing their heads to Karian in unison.

"I can't sing!"

Karian shouted this. That shout spurred him to action, letting his limbs move again. Karian quickly moved in front of the door, and left the Student Council room.

Karian walked to his apartment without looking back.

The day of-

The festival that Karian had announced was beginning.

At the Student Council President's message broadcasted to the city by loudspeaker, every corner of the city broke out in cheers at the same time. Vendors shouted loudly to customers, and advertising balloons danced through the sky, with the sound of firecrackers also resounding.

However, a heavy atmosphere lingered in the broadcasting room, completely contrasting with the joyful atmosphere that the entire city gave off.

Karian left the broadcasting room as if escaping from that awkward atmosphere, and none of the secretaries chased after his back.

(That should be enough.)

He only had a small bit of satisfaction in his heart. An extremely bitter feeling filled his chest, an evil and painful feeling. Even if this was a city with only students, politics were still politics, and it was impossible not to dirty his hands. This wasn't the first time Karian experienced such feelings, but the pain today had left an incredibly bitter aftertaste for him.

The secretaries had to go to the plaza in order to prepare the things the band needed. It was the City Police's work to deal with the disputes that happened during the festival.

There was no longer anything Karian had to do during the festival. Should he return to the Student Council room to continue yesterday's work? Though Karian thought about it, his feet headed somewhere other than the Student Council building.

This was a park in the residential district. This park was normally a resting place during noontime break, but today there was no one here. According to the schedule, there should be cultural societies holding activities in nearby lecture halls, but today the park wasn't in the students' vision. From the beginning, Karian had known that there wouldn't be anyone coming here.

He sat on a bench and looked at the sky. Today's weather was excellent, and could be said to be good weather tailor-made to a festival.

"Really, what am I doing."

Karian couldn't help but mutter.

Until now, Karian still hadn't considered participating in the performance, but he didn't regret not saying he would participate. This way, he didn't have to conform to everyone's opinions. He also believed that Serine and the others' plans had failed, because they had given him a chance to flee.

Even so, the bitter feeling still hadn't disappeared.

Normally, Karian should have observed the festival with the secretaries under the name of patrols, but right now he could only pass the time here with nothing at all to do. Karian understood that it was that kind of misfortune that brought him his bitter feeling.

He gazed at the sky.

When the colors of the sky began showing traces of the sunset, a lot of time had already passed.

Just then, a figure appeared in the edge of his vision.

When he realized who it was, Karian abandoned the thought of escaping. Doing that kind of thing was completely meaningless, because he clearly understood the decisive difference in physical ability between the two sides.

"So you were in this kind of place."

Vance emotionlessly stared at Karian who sat on the bench.

"I wasted effort running around to many places."

"Is it alright not to be patrolling, Military Arts Head?"

"I don't want to be told that by the untrustworthy Student Council President."

Vance didn't sit next to Karian, but stood in front of him.

"The secretaries' looks were all very depressed. I know the entire situation."

"In that case, you should know I wasn't wrong."

"Actually, I saw the boss abandoning his responsibility for his subordinates."

"What did you say?"

"To not have revised the schedule, isn't that neglecting your position?"

"........"

Karian couldn't retort, and could only stay silent.

"It's not like you at all. If you don't want to participate, you should have many means you can utilize."

"That's true, but I really can't ignore their sincerity."

"In that case, you should go step up to the plate. You were the one who decided to have a festival, but then you let it be stepped on? That kind of thing definitely couldn't happen, right?"

"But...."

"I heard that you said you couldn't sing, huh."

"........Nn."

"You couldn't have...."

Vance's hinting words made Karian turn his face to the side.

"Hah, I guessed it."

A big smile emerged on the Military Arts Head's face, and that made Karian show an unhappy expression. It was less humiliating for Vance to know this than for other people to find out. But even so, Karian didn't particularly want that man to know.

"Is that bad?"

"So that's how it is, a perfectionist like you obviously wouldn't want to do such a thing."

"Everyone has their weaknesses."

"That's true. Right, everyone has their weaknesses, that's nothing embarrassing."

"In that case, can we stop this matter here?"

"I can't do that, because you still have to step up to the plate."

"What did you say?"

"You have to fix the moods of the secretaries. Judging from their current appearance, problems will appear later in the general affairs of the Student Council. Morale has already plummeted, so how will you deal with that?"

"That...."

Karian tried responding, but noticed that he didn't have the slightest idea, so he silently shook his head.

"Go."

"Don't joke around."

"Go be a laughingstock."

"I don't care if I make people laugh. But, I don't like being laughed at."

"In that case, make everyone smile."

"You want me to be a clown?"

"A clown is quite an incredible profession."

"........"

That was indeed true. But, if someone asked him whether he wanted to be a clown, the answer would definitely be negative. If there were a reason, or it were for him to acquire something he wanted, Karian could force himself to be a clown. However, he didn't desire to deliberately be a clown.

"You're wrong."

"Where am I wrong?"

"The people you need to make smile aren't the listeners, but the secretaries."

"........"

"They're important manpower that the Student Council needs to operate. In order to return to normal morale, you have to be responsible for their smiles."

"........"

After Vance said that answer, Karian stared at him without looking elsewhere. The dark mouth that was tanned by the sun curved in a smile, but his eyes held a serious look.

"Really, I never would have thought that the day would come when I would be lectured by you."

"It's you who made me always be a king of complaints."

"That's true."

Karian stood up from the bench.

"Right, since you came to push me anyway, you should be able to help me with something, right?"

This place was quite a distance away from the plaza where activities were being held. After looking at the clocktower to check the time, Karian looked at Vance, and looked at the displeased expression of the Military Arts Head who was being asked by the Student Council President to violate school rules, and then smiled.

A gloomy atmosphere filled the waiting room.

They were the final band to take the stage. In the vast waiting room, there was no longer anyone else from different bands. The bands who had participated had tidied up their things and then left, and all that was left in the room were the things of the band that was currently performing.

"....Anyway, everyone do your best, I'll sing."

"Nn."

After Serine said that, Shirley only replied quietly. The faces of the other two also darkened, and they clutched their instruments and drumsticks.

"I never thought that President would hate singing in front of everyone this much."

"Nothing we can do...."

Roxella continued Miralia's words, understanding their meaning. Just by thinking a bit on why the President would hate singing in front of others this much, she could easily surmise that conclusion. Since they had become students, these few secretaries had always been by Karian's side, so it wasn't hard for them to imagine that the perfectionist him wouldn't perform his weakness in front of others.

"Nn, we didn't look into it enough, we should apologize to President."

"Correct, I hope that you all will do that."

A voice suddenly sounded, and the secretaries looked over in surprise.

Standing in the entrance to the waiting room was Karian.

"President!"

After walking in front of the secretaries who had cried out in surprise, Karian looked at them. Karian had already seen the instruments in their hands.

"Wearing this should be fine, right?"

After checking that the secretaries wore clothes the same as what they normally wore, Karian hooked his finger in his collar. He had just experienced the movement abilities of a Military Artist, and sweat not caused by heat had made his neck and back a bit uncomfortable. It was a bit unsightly to open his collar in front of others, so Karian could only let his neck air out a bit.

"Y....yes."

"Then, President...."

After Roxella nodded, Serine cautiously opened her mouth.

"Nn?"

"Could I ask...."

"I have no choice, since things have already been decided after all."

"....I'm really sorry."

"No, I should be the one to apologize. I should have been honest with you all earlier."

"President."

"But, I have to ask you something first. Is it really alright for me to sing? Just like you predicted, I don't sing well, so the outcome will definitely be terrible, and your beautiful performance will be ruined by me. Even if things become like that, you won't care?"

"Right!"

The first to reply was Shirley. She replied loudly with a shaking voice, seeming like she would cry at any time.

"We want to make memories together with President."

Their gazes and the words that he had heard before made a smile emerge on Karian's face, and he turned to the side.

(How embarrassing.)

Like that, Karian stood on the stage.

The microphone stand in the center flashed brilliantly.

The fact that the Student Council was truly standing on stage made the gathered audience cast their surprised voices and gazes towards them.

"Hello, everyone."

It would be fine if he stood just like he did in front of the podium - Karian continuously said that to himself, but he still raised his voice a bit because of tension. That reaction made the audience laugh.

An embarrassed smile emerged naturally. He had no choice but to do it, and Karian wove his confrontational mood into his words.

"Though I don't sing very well, please listen, everyone."

Afterwards, the rhythm of the drums began to form.

1, 2, 3....

Aggressive guitar lines swept through the air, and piano notes depicted smooth curves, and time slowly flowed past.

The rhythms of drums and bass shook the earth.

The secretaries performing an intense piece with serious expressions surprised the audience, slowly dragging them into a world of music.

Karian who felt the notes from his back also had similar feelings. A live performance that directly entered his ears instead of passing through from next door had that kind of shocking power. Karian was surprised, and he never would have thought that they had this kind of side to them.

The intense but short overture was about to end.

Karian opened his mouth.

In order to project his voice, notes, and the lyrics, his mouth, which usually bluffed and wove words to lobby and convince, opened.

Sound came from his mouth.

In that moment, the vibrations formed from the secretaries' performance was wiped out, and a sound a hundred, no, ten thousand times stronger assaulted the entire plaza. The ground shook, the trees trembled, and the air split open.

That extraordinary fact made the audience speechless, even forgetting to cover their ears. However, that only lasted for a moment. In front of that weapon of sound that gave them physical pain, the audience plugged their ears, and struggled to keep from falling to their knees. A violent sound surpassing the microphone's tone control dominated the plaza, and it still continuously expanded to a larger area. The air filter continuously shook, and the scene outside the city distorted because of it.

Even the Electronic Fairy Zuellni who had joyfully come to the plaza frantically plugged her ears (though it was unknown whether there was any meaning in doing so), and escaped in a flash back to her home, the center of the Mechanical Department. However, the Electronic Fairy hadn't been able to escape that shockwave, and fainted inside the Mechanical Department.

The city's legs stopped, as the machinery had malfunctioned due to the abnormal situation occurring inside the city. The city made strange motions as if its gears hadn't caught fully, and not long after those movements became cityquakes. Even the students who weren't in range of the violent sound felt the abnormality through the cityquake.

The City Police who didn't know anything sounded the emergency alarm, telling the students to quickly hurry to shelters. In the situation where filth monsters might be attacking, the merry festival feelings of the Military Artists was erased, and their hands grasped their Dites as they prepared to group. But the seventeenth platoon wasn't in that scene, nor was the Military Arts Head there, and even the Student Council President hadn't made an announcement about what the abnormality was about.

The abnormality continued for about the length of a song, and then stopped.

"....Nn."

After singing, Karian sighed. He had deliberately kept from looking at the audience while he sang, and because he was too concentrated, he hadn't even heard his accompaniment very clearly. But, Karian had followed the rhythm and burned the lyrics into his mind, and sang along with the rhythm. He could read music, and he could remember the lyrics of the song, he just couldn't sing them in their original notes. It was a kind of disconnect between the brain and the body - a helpless feeling made Karian feel impatient.

But, it would be a lie to say he weren't satisfied. Just making a lot of noise was something that made one happy. He could definitely sing, and it made him emotional.

But, Karian didn't listen to the accompaniment while singing. He sang for himself, rather than for others.

"That doesn't really count as singing together, does it?"

Karian murmured softly to keep the microphone from picking it up, and then looked at the secretaries behind him somewhat apologetically.

Until now, he hadn't paid attention to the silence around him.

He turned around to look at the audience under the stage, the emcee on the side of the stage, and the workers.

Everyone had fainted.

"Nn...."

Karian mumbled softly, and then shook his head with an expression of giving up.

He would never sing again.

He silently made that decision.