Chapter 266: An Absurd Proposal, A Unanimous Refusal
While Lucifer was still contemplating the variables of his victory, Totsuki Academy was far from peaceful. To be more precise, a select group of its most powerful students were anything but.
The campus lay shrouded in the deep blue of pre-dawn stillness. Most students were still lost in their dreams, with nearly three hours to go before the first bell. But within a single, stark conference room, a clandestine meeting was already underway. Seven or eight of the academy's most elite figures had gathered, their presence a stark contrast to the quiet outside.
Eizan Etsuya, carefully wiping his glasses with a silk cloth, sat poised in his chair. He glanced at Eishi Tsukasa, the First Seat, who was curled up on his own chair like a cat, teetering on the edge of sleep.
"So," Eizan began, his voice a low, smooth purr of impatience. "Why exactly have you summoned us all at this ungodly hour, Senior Rindou?"
Kobayashi Rindou, her fiery hair partially hidden by a goofy sleep cap, was sprawled across the conference table like a melted candy. "That question..." she mumbled into the polished wood, "Let's talk about it after Kuga and the others get here..."
Kinokuni Nene, holding a thick book with perfect posture, spoke softly, her voice crisp as a winter morning. "If I am not mistaken, I believe I know the subject of this meeting. But I must ask, why is Nakiri Erina not included?"
Akanegakubo Momo, hugging her stuffed cat Bucchi tightly, replied in a detached, doll-like tone. "Because Erina is... special. Ah... they're here."
Just as Momo finished her sentence, the door swung open and Terunori Kuga stomped in, his usual fiery energy dampened by a visible layer of annoyance. "Seriously, why are we having a meeting now? Isn't it a little early for this?"
Still draped over the table, Rindou merely cracked open an eye, her sharp, feline gaze landing on Kuga. The Eighth Seat flinched as if struck. He immediately changed his tune, puffing out his chest defiantly.
"If we hold a meeting at this hour, how can Senior Rindou and the other girls get enough beauty sleep! Senior Tsukasa! You really need to reflect on your poor scheduling!"
Eishi, startled from his near-slumber, tilted his head. "Huh? I'm sorry..."
"Wait a minute..." Eizan drawled, a smirk playing on his lips. "This meeting was called by Senior Rindou."
Kuga's mouth twitched. He'd just sold out the wrong person. Rindou shot him a glare that could curdle milk, then yanked off her sleep cap, her expression suddenly sharp and focused.
"In that case, everyone's here," she declared, sitting up straight. "The meeting can officially begin!"
Kuga looked around, confused. "Everyone? Nakiri Erina isn't here yet."
"Among the ten of us, Erina is a special case," Rindou said dismissively. "We don't need to worry about her for now. Let's get started."
The playful atmosphere vanished in an instant. No one else spoke, their expressions turning serious. A meeting actively called by Kobayashi Rindou—arguably the first since she'd joined the Elite Ten—was not something to be taken lightly. It had to be about something critically important.
Rindou pulled out her phone, handled to a specific message, and held it up. "I'm sure you all received this email, right?"
Nods rippled around the table. Kuga, however, looked completely lost. "What email?"
A collective, exasperated sigh seemed to fill the room. Eizan shook his head slowly. "As expected, it's too much to ask a monkey to possess basic intelligence. He's talking about the rebellion email, Kuga."
"What rebellion?"
Kinokuni Nene closed her book with a soft snap. "Before you ask that question, perhaps you should consult your phone instead of showcasing your less-than-amusing sense of humor."
Kuga was about to retort when he caught Rindou's death glare. He wisely shut his mouth, fumbled for his phone, and began scrolling. A moment later, his eyes widened.
"Huh? What the hell is this? A vote of approval? Are these people insane..." His voice grew louder as he read.
"What is this? Impeach the Director and support this guy to take over? Oh my god! Why would anyone support him? This is pure delusion of grandeur!"
"I can't... What kind of monster wrote this? Is this a scam email? 'A brand new future for gourmet'? Someone's been watching way too many cartoons! This is so chuunibyou!"
Everyone listening to Kuga's escalating complaints nodded in silent agreement. Rindou, in particular, felt a deep sense of validation; every word out of Kuga's mouth perfectly mirrored her own thoughts. The sender of this email was, without a doubt, dangerously unhinged.
"I can't! I can't read any more of this!" Kuga slammed his phone down. "Who sent this idiotic message?!"
Nene offered a quiet, cutting observation. "Proof positive, Kuga. While you may be a fool, there is someone in this world even more idiotic than you."
Eizan let out a sharp bark of laughter. "Hahaha! I couldn't agree more. Especially with that last part."
"Eizan! You want to fight?!" Kuga shot to his feet.
"Only brutes resort to fighting," Eizan said coolly, adjusting his glasses. "And with your current height, I'm afraid you wouldn't even be able to reach my chin."
"Eizan! That's a personal attack!"
Before the argument could escalate, Rindou slammed her palm flat on the table. The sharp crack silenced the room. "Both of you, be quiet! Let's talk about the serious business first. I need to know your thoughts, right now. Do you agree or disagree?"
Isshiki Satoshi, who had been observing with a placid smile, waved his hand gracefully. "No matter how I consider it, I cannot agree. Firstly, the ideals stated within have nothing to do with my own path. And secondly, it is all simply too idealistic to be practical."
Kuga crossed his arms. "Don't even ask me. I think I made my opinion pretty clear just now."
Eizan pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, his expression calculating. "I refuse to agree to such an uncertain investment. Besides, right now, I would much rather focus on my culinary studies. I've suddenly come to realize how lacking I truly am."
Confused glances were exchanged around the table. Eizan's mouth twitched in annoyance. "I'm serious. I benefited greatly from Ren's lessons. I, Eizan Etsuya, can be a scoundrel, but I haven't forgotten that I am, first and foremost, a chef. I highly doubt this person's 'reforms' can bring me more wealth than what I stand to gain by honing my own skills to a higher level."
Eishi Tsukasa, now fully awake, clapped his hands together softly, his expression blank with surprise. "I never expected Eizan to say something like that..."
"Is it so strange for me to say such things?" Eizan shot back irritably. "I am perfectly capable of weighing advantages and disadvantages, and I know what my main profession is—especially when that profession has the potential to earn me more money than any scheme."
Sōmei Saitō, the stoic sushi master, cracked a rare, playful smile. "I believe what Tsukasa meant was that he's surprised you would actually admit to being a scoundrel, Eizan."
A wave of nods confirmed the sentiment. Eizan's face contorted, his expression a vivid mix of indignation. These people were truly unbelievable.
Rindou cleared her throat, a grin spreading across her face. "In that case, it seems we have a rather unexpected unanimous rejection."
Saitō's smile widened. "So, Tsukasa also refused?"
"I am more willing to trust the results that Ren's lessons will bring me," the First Seat said, his voice uncharacteristically firm. "And I'm already in my third year. Wasting time on these political games is pointless. All I want now is to graduate safely, then travel the world to hone my culinary skills."
Everyone nodded, a silent consensus solidifying in the room.
Rindou's grin turned predatory. "In that case... shall I contact our mysterious benefactor?"
No one spoke. They simply watched as Rindou calmly dialed the contact number from the email. The call connected almost immediately. A smooth, confident male voice chuckled on the other end.
"Is this Miss Kobayashi Rindou, the Second Seat? Are you calling to deliver some good news?"
Rindou let out a low, dangerous chuckle of her own. "Oh, it's definitely good news. I'm just not sure if it'll be good news for you. You see, we held an Elite Ten meeting this morning to discuss the contents of your email, and we finally reached a conclusion..."
"And what is that?" the man asked, his voice still laced with arrogance.
"It was unanimous..."
A beat of silence hung in the air, thick with anticipation. Then, as one, every person in the room leaned toward the phone on the table and roared.
"REJECTION!"
[Akarin's Note:
Enjoying the story? Dropping a quick review, comment, or Power Stone means the world to me and keeps these daily updates flowing!
Want to read 50 chapters ahead or just want to help keep a shameless translator alive? (My livelihood actually depends on this, haha 😭). You can support me directly here:
(P.S. Just remove the brackets and replace the [.] with a regular dot . to use the links!)
✨ Patreon (50 Advanced Chapters): patreon[.]com/AkarinTL
☕ Ko-fi (Support / Sponsor): ko-fi[.]com/AkarinTL
🔗 All My Links: linktr[.]ee/AkarinTL
Thank you so much for reading and keeping this project alive!]