I Became a Mythical-Tier Tamer Due To A System Error Chapter 104

On the way to the Main Building.

This morning was unusually noisy.

“Hey, did you hear that story?”

“Yeah. I was shocked too.”

Did some incident happen at the Academy?

Or could it be that someone found out I bought Clovarium for a million gold?

“Want to go to the Student Council room later?”

“They said it’s already too late. The building is already packed.”

It didn’t seem like the story was about me.

‘Student Council, huh.’

The current date was in November, right before the main episode in December, the Final Exam arc.

This was a side episode related to the Student Council.

‘So the story’s following the original flow.’

Ren and the Princess’s group happened to discover that the Vice President committed corruption.

They then hounded him persistently until he was impeached.

‘I guess this must be the foreshadowing of that story.’

I thought things were progressing smoothly, but that was only a brief illusion.

“Who would’ve thought that guy was the Black Knight.”

“It was revealed kind of anticlimactically though.”

I blinked at their words.

‘The Black Knight?’

……Did my identity get revealed?

But the cadets around me didn’t seem particularly interested in me.

I felt something was off.

‘What’s going on here.’

They said they figured out who the Black Knight was.

But it didn’t make sense that they would leave me, the owner of that mask, alone.

‘In the first place, how did they figure out who the Black Knight was?’

I spotted a cadet nearby reading a newspaper.

It was clear some information must have leaked through that.

“I’ll buy that newspaper.”

I showed him a gold coin, and his face lit up as he immediately handed it over.

Taking it, I started reading from the front page.

「Breaking News! The identity of the Black Knight revealed!

The Black Knight was one of four strong candidates chosen by this article’s writer, Reporter Haze!」

The Black Knight’s revealed identity was……

「Student Council Vice President, Jed Rubin!」

The front page was decorated with two large photos.

The first was a side view of the Black Knight standing on a grassy field.

The second photo had the same angle, place, and background as the first.

The only difference was that instead of the Black Knight, it showed the Vice President’s side profile.

「The Vice President usually doesn’t show himself often.

He had been secretly performing good deeds while hiding his identity behind a mask. Here’s what I found during my investigation.

Testimonies from the director, teachers, and children of Crank Orphanage say the Black Knight donated giant crab meat to them……

At the same time, the illegally occupying giant crustacean, the Master of the Sea, was dealt with at Yggdrasil’s beach, returning the shoreline to the students. Through this reporter’s investigation, it can be deduced that the Black Knight secretly defeated the Master of the Sea.

Additionally, reports say the number of monsters within campus grounds has decreased since summer break.

Everyone knows the fact that after defeating the villain Verdi and rescuing the Princess, he disappeared without claiming any credit.

Do not let the left hand know what the right hand is doing! Though the Black Knight hid his identity while doing good deeds, it was pointless. If it’s me, Reporter Haze, a 1st-tier journalist, I’ll chase him down to the ends of the earth and uncover the truth! Even now, I’m running around investigating the Black Knight’s unseen deeds. Please send any tips to the following mana communication contact……」

“……What kind of hero worship nonsense is this.”

I couldn’t even bring myself to sneer.

‘I only did those things because of quests.’

I had hidden my identity when defeating Verdi to keep the main story intact.

I had dealt with the Master of the Sea only to protect my Sea Farm.

And sure, I had hunted down monsters in the forest during summer break, but that was only to expand my farm.

‘And now they’re calling all that good deeds?’

It was all based on facts but exaggerated to please readers.

‘Of course, exaggerating helps sell papers, but still…… they’re going overboard propping me up.’

Honestly, I almost wanted to use Shurk’s ability, go to Haze, and beg her to stop writing articles about me.

……But there was a much more serious problem.

‘Someone has claimed to be the Black Knight.’

That someone was none other than the Vice President, Rubin, the boss of this side episode, who impersonated the Black Knight.

「When I requested an interview with Vice President Rubin, he ultimately confessed that he was the Black Knight.

With this, this article concludes that the Black Knight’s identity is none other than Yggdrasil Student Council’s Vice President!」

Things had gotten complicated.

I never expected someone to impersonate me.

‘The Vice President’s public approval rating must be at its peak right now.’

Even if his corruption got exposed, he could use the Black Knight identity as an excuse to justify it.

The introduction of the ‘Black Knight,’ who didn’t exist in the original story, had long since caused small cracks in the main narrative.

I couldn’t preserve the entire original storyline.

But I had to at least preserve the skeleton of the plot.

‘The core of this episode is the Vice President’s impeachment.’

If I couldn’t impeach him before the Final Exam, the main storyline would collapse.

‘I need to think carefully about how to approach this.’

I threw the newspaper into the trash and headed for the Academy’s Main Building.

Ren and the Princess, upon hearing the news, immediately headed for the Student Council Building.

The building was already crowded with people.

“……Damn it! Get lost! Didn’t you hear me say get lost already? I told you several times the Vice President isn’t here!”

A sharp-eyed student shouted desperately.

Although he wore a badge signifying his membership in the Student Council on his chest, the cadets didn’t pay his words any mind.

Instead, the crowd only grew larger and more chaotic.

“Black Knight!”

“Vice President Rubin! Please come out!”

“Long live Vice President Rubin!”

Just as the disorderly crowd swelled.

“What are you all doing?”

A clear voice rang from the entrance of the Student Council Building, filled with cadets.

At the same time, the crowd parted as if by the miracle of Moses.

Through that split emerged…… long black hair.

It was President Adin walking out.

Every cadet in her path stepped aside.

“President……”

A Student Council member, worn out from failing to control the crowd, looked at her with reddened eyes as though finally relieved.

“Vice President Rubin is not here, so return to class. If you come to the Student Council Building again without a proper reason, you will all be expelled.”

As Adin’s blue eyes flashed, the cadets scattered nervously, leaving only two behind.

“……”

Ren and the Princess remained.

“President Adin. I must meet him.”

“……”

Adin couldn’t refuse the Princess’s words.

Not only because of her high status, but also because there was no way Adin didn’t know the Black Knight had saved the Princess.

“……Please come in, Your Highness.”

Leading first, Adin entered the Student Council Building, and Ren and the Princess followed behind.

Climbing the stairs to the fourth floor, the Student Council President’s Office came into view.

Bang―!

Opening the door, they saw a student standing by the window.

“Your Highness?”

Messy semi-curled black hair.

Clear, clean eyes and the gentle features of a handsome young man.

He was the one called the Black Knight, Vice President Rubin.

Arlhardt, overjoyed, wanted to rush toward him at once.

But with so many eyes watching, she needed to maintain dignity.

“It’s good to see you again.”

“It is I who should be grateful for the honor of meeting you again, Your Highness.”

Rubin lowered his head slightly and smiled.

The Princess steadied her trembling heart and spoke.

“Black Knight, no…… Vice President Rubin. During the Victory Festival last time…… you saved my life. I truly wanted to thank you.”

Rubin shook his head.

“Think nothing of it.”

“……I will inform the Empire. An appropriate reward will be arranged. Please, you must accept it.”

After a moment of hesitation, Rubin finally nodded.

“I did not help expecting a reward, but I shall accept it gratefully.”

There were countless things the Princess wanted to say if she ever met the Black Knight again.

She had even decided everything she would say while climbing the stairs.

“……Yes.”

Arlhardt held her words there.

The trembling in her heart cooled into stillness.

This felt different from when she had faced the Black Knight within the barrier.

‘……Something’s strange.’

Was this really the Black Knight she had thought of……?

Every time she looked into Rubin’s eyes, a heavy tightness filled her chest.

“……Then, I shall take my leave.”

As Arlhardt opened the door and stepped into the hallway, Rubin only bowed in reply.

Ren followed the Princess into the hallway as well.

Come to think of it, Ren hadn’t spoken a single word earlier.

“Ren, didn’t you say you wanted to ask the Black Knight to teach you swordsmanship?”

“That’s correct.”

Ren wore a hesitant expression.

“……But when I actually saw his face, I couldn’t bring myself to speak.”

“Do you perhaps think he isn’t the Black Knight?”

At the Princess’s question, Ren quickly shook his head.

“That’s not it, Remina! ……No.”

Ren’s complexion darkened further.

“To be honest, I don’t know either. Maybe it’s because he was different from the image I had in my mind. He just didn’t seem like the person I admired.”

So it wasn’t just me.

It wasn’t only me—Ren too felt something off about Rubin.

……Meanwhile.

After the Princess and Ren left, the Student Council President’s Office grew quiet.

All communication lines were cut, and outsiders were forbidden from approaching.

Adin was sitting at a table handling paperwork.

“Vice President.”

Adin spoke while staring at the documents.

“Did you properly check this month’s records?”

“Of course.”

“……”

Adin lifted her eyes from the papers and looked at Rubin standing by the window.

“But are you really the Black Knight?”

As she watched him with suspicion, Rubin smiled.

“Of course.”

“That’s strange.”

Adin’s gaze showed she did not believe him at all.

“You, who love money so much, have no reason to hide your identity for months. If it had really been you, you would have revealed yourself immediately to claim the credit.”

“……President, you only know one thing and not the other.”

Rubin walked toward the desk where Adin was sitting.

“A masked hero makes for a good way to draw attention. I was planning to reveal my identity after enough attention had gathered anyway. And also.”

Rubin smiled brightly as he spoke.

“……Whether I reveal my identity or not, isn’t that my choice?”

“Ha.”

Having observed Rubin for two years, Adin was certain he was not the Black Knight.

However, there was no concrete evidence.

And since the only person who claimed to be the Black Knight was the Vice President, no dispute would arise unless the real Black Knight appeared.

“……I don’t care what kind of hero play you’re up to, but let me give you some advice—step away from the Student Council while I’m still being nice.”

Without taking her eyes off Rubin, Adin tore the documents in her hand into shreds.

“Demanding kickbacks from partner companies, manipulating account books, and skimming money little by little. A year of this should be enough. Did you think I wouldn’t notice until now?”

A few months ago, Adin had sensed embezzlement inside the Student Council.

Recently, she realized the ringleader was Rubin.

And now, seeing him try to deceive even the Princess, she couldn’t hold herself back.

“……President Adin.”

Yet Rubin’s confidence was overwhelming.

“Seems like you still don’t understand your position. It’s the President who should be stepping down.”

Rubin pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket.

「Impeachment Document for the Student Council President

Reason: Budget overspending, embezzlement, and falsification of records

Evidence: …….」

It was shameless beyond belief.

Seeing the contents that tried to frame her, Adin’s eyes widened.

Rubin did not bother to hide his vile smile.

“I am the Black Knight. The hero of Yggdrasil with everyone’s support behind me. Do you dare lay a finger on me?”

“……You sly bastard.”

As Adin clenched her fist, the pen in her hand bent in half.