Chapter 219: The New Club, "Southern Development Research Society"

About two weeks have passed since the entrance ceremony, and the lunch break at the Royal Academy has become lively.

This is because club recruitment for new students takes place around this time.

“When you speak of a gentleman’s sport, it’s rugby. Won’t you form a scrum with us?”

A well-built student is calling out to a first-year who is similarly well-built.

Come to think of it, I heard that in England, rugby is a gentleman’s sport and soccer is a sport for the common masses.

I remember being surprised when I heard that story, thinking that Europe truly is a class-based society if even sports preferences differ by class.

“We’re holding a sweets tasting event~. Please have a bite if you’d like.”

In another area, an older female upperclassman has set up a banner dyed with the words “Sweets Research Society” and is calling out to people.

Oh, a first-year boy drifted over there unsteadily.

I wonder if a “sweets boys” movement is happening in this world as well?

While thinking about such unnecessary things, I was gazing at the scenery of the club recruitment.

“Will, you look like you’re sulking.”

“Because, Letty, it seems everyone gets nervous when we approach. I didn’t think we’d end up watching from afar because it felt like we’d just be a bother.”

“Fufu, royalty and high-ranking nobles have no freedom. That’s just how it is.”

Flora is smiling.

Royalty really are used to a lack of freedom from childhood, huh.

“William-kun, were there any clubs you wanted to join?”

The one who called out to us was my sister-in-law, Francois-san, who serves as the Vice President of the Student Council.

“No, Sister-in-law. People get tense when we get close. Before even thinking about a club I want to join, I can’t think of any club we could join.”

“Fufu, I thought that might be the case. The Royal Family and Ducal families are unexpectedly restricted, you see. The Student Council has some club-like aspects, but it’s probably still a bit too early for that.”

I would appreciate it if she stopped talking as if my joining the Student Council is a predetermined fact.

I want to lead a leisurely academy life.

“That is why I went ahead and created a new club.”

“Eh? A new club?”

“Yes, its name is the ‘Southern Development Research Society‘. It’s perfect for William-kun, who is developing the southern undeveloped lands while attending the academy, isn’t it? If I do say so myself, it’s a brilliant name.”

No, it’s a cliché name and I can’t sense any taste in it at all.

Recently, I was beginning to realize that my brilliantly talented sister-in-law has a surprisingly clumsy side to her.

“Francois-san. What kind of activities will this club do?”

“To put it bluntly, it’s a club meant to support you, William-kun.”

What does she mean?

“William-kun, you’ll teleport to the undeveloped lands when you don’t have classes, right? It’s a waste of time to travel by carriage to the Fairchild mansion every single time before teleporting. It would be efficient if you could just teleport from the clubroom, wouldn’t it?”

“I see, so you secured a clubroom so that Will can use Teleportation Magic without worrying about being seen by others?”

“That’s exactly right, little Letty.”

It’s true that I thought returning to the mansion in the Royal Capital every single time was a hassle.

“That helps a lot, Sister-in-law. But, can you really create a club for a reason like that?”

Tsk, tsk, tsk, my sister-in-law said as she wagged her index finger side to side.

“Of course not. I have thought of a proper reason. The development project of the southern undeveloped lands is heavily backed by His Majesty, and it’s a massive undertaking tied to the Kingdom’s future. Researching its development is beneficial for the academy’s students as well, right?”

“Your argument is perfectly sound, but will there be any other students joining the club?”

At Flora‘s question, my sister-in-law shrugged her shoulders.

“Who knows? You need five people to start a club, so I just put down my name and Lucas-kun’s name, though.”

“No, if the Student Council President and Vice President are in it, won’t other students hold back even more?”

“Isn’t it fine, William-kun? Just think of it as securing a space where the three of you can relax.”

Is something like that really okay?

Besides, if the club is just the three of us, I feel like I’ll become even less likely to make friends at the academy.

That’s what I thought at the time.

However, surprisingly, new students wishing to join the Southern Development Research Society would soon appear.