I Became a Veteran Heroine in a Harem Story

“I had intended to guarantee maximum autonomy to students outside the Year Council, but the situation has changed.”

“I heard from Deina. You’re right, other students shouldn’t complain about this. It’s not just about those stupid irregularities, but their own lives at stake.”

Immediately after leaving the Student Council room, I brought up the topic while leading the Year Council back.

Erich, having heard from Deina, spoke up in a serious voice supporting me. Perhaps Erich sympathized with my words even more than Deina did.

After all, he was someone who had experienced all that pain and devastation firsthand.

“But forcing it will backfire. Therefore, our most important task is to awaken them to the importance of training and improving their skills on their own. For that, you all will need to work hard.”

I assigned one mission to the Year Council. It was to persuade and convince their peers and squad members to realize the reality.

Honestly, I wasn’t worried about this part at all. Because there was Deina, a heroine specialized in political sense, and Erich, the protagonist.

I firmly believed they would carry this even if I did nothing.

“Isn’t it too weak to just persuade them with words to work hard? People tend to work harder when there’s a reward or a competitive element.”

“Sounds like you have something in mind. If it’s not an empty joke, say whatever it is.”

In the midst of this, of course, Erich was the first to come up with an idea. I couldn’t help but chuckle, not knowing what would come after that mischievous expression.

“Since representatives from each department are gathered here, let me suggest this: how about a competition between departments? Starting with which department has more early qualifiers.”

“Then what’s the prize? Permission for overnight outings that the Year Representative can grant?”

Once Erich started the topic, Lunara picked it up, and they began a heated discussion among themselves.

I quietly observed this most welcome sight. Sure enough, contrary to Raines’ confidence, this was a bet with plenty of chances to win.

“We have plenty of time. Discuss slowly and report back.”

Since it wasn’t appropriate to make a fuss on the street, I sent them back to their respective dormitories.

I too decided to call it a day and headed straight to my room.

I didn’t have much free time as I also needed personal training time.

* * *

“I’ve really gotten used to it now.”

A morning similar to usual. Waking up at my regular time, I smiled blankly while getting ready.

Grooming my long, flowing hair every day and the skirt that initially felt so awkward that I thought I’d go crazy, now felt as natural as if it had always been that way.

I had been scheming to somehow change the regulations to wear pants, but now I’d given up on that. Rather, the skirt was much more comfortable to move in.

I never cared much about the possibility of showing my underwear, which was nothing more than a mere piece of cloth, during vigorous movements, but in this crazy world where harem stories were the norm, it wasn’t really shameful for female warriors to show their underwear during battle.

‘Well, but this is a bit…’

After finishing my preparations, I finally picked up the black garter belt to secure my socks on my thigh.

Actually, this wasn’t something I wanted to wear. It was an item that Deina forcefully gave me to wear last night.

“Even though there’s no established rule, this has been exclusive to seniors all this time. We’ve had to keep readjusting our socks uncomfortably all this time. Now you should take the lead in promoting that such customs no longer exist.”

It wasn’t a trivial gift. Since she gave it to me with a justification I couldn’t possibly refuse, it was impossible to reject it based on my personal feelings.

‘I’ll get used to this too, like the skirt, with time.’

I just hesitated a bit, but it wasn’t something I felt extreme aversion to.

Having completed my preparations perfectly, I opened the door and left the room.

The always busy morning dormitory was always a battlefield with students rushing because they overslept.

“Were you waiting again?”

“Well, we have to go together anyway.”

As I was about to go downstairs, I saw Isabel standing quietly at the entrance. After I told her not to come to my room, she had been waiting here since that day, hoping to move with me.

Probably, the other squad members would be waiting in the garden.

I was curious about her intention, but since it wasn’t strange for friends to go around together, I couldn’t push her away forcefully.

“Good timing. I had something to say today.”

“Huh?!”

When I muttered that I had something to say, Isabel flinched and looked back at me.

The squad members would probably already know what happened at the Student Council yesterday, but what I was about to say was something different.

“Early qualification competition…?”

“The Year Council will notify all squad leaders today. We’re thinking of holding a competition within our year, and giving a reward to the most outstanding squad from the most outstanding department.”

On the way to the classroom, I told my squad members about the discussion from the Year Council yesterday. Their expressions became intriguing.

They looked like they were holding equal parts expectation and fear.

“Do you want to see the Spear Arts Department fall behind?”

“N-no, that’s not it.”

“It’s difficult to achieve without everyone coming together. Everyone needs to put effort into training.”

I spoke in a stern voice. This was exactly the same as the confrontation with the seniors. It’s impossible for one individual’s excellence to significantly raise the overall average. After all, an average is an average.

“Those who fall short… become a huge burden…”

Then Isabel’s voice began to shrink. Hearing that, I understood why she was so deflated.

Isabel was clearly a lower-tier student.

She was one of those common students who had no personal goals and was just forcibly drafted. It’s nearly impossible for such people to approach training with enthusiasm. However, the reality was that these most fearful individuals were the most vulnerable in actual combat.

“Think of training for yourself, not for your squad or year, with the future in mind. You don’t need to think of yourself as lacking talent. Talent is meaningless unless you aim to be the strongest. If you can at least do the basics, you’ll see a way to survive.”

Train and fight for yourself—this was what I wanted to tell others. Of course, whether they understand and gain insight from it is up to them.

“I heard the Year Council is pushing for an interesting initiative. The duel with the Student Council… is it to prepare for that?”

“That’s correct.”

“The instructors I met at lunch also praised it as a good idea. A good opportunity for students to voluntarily engage in training.”

Before the afternoon class ended, instructor Dmish approached me, apparently having heard the news.

He showed interest, saying that our self-initiated competition was a very good method.

“Then may I ask for your cooperation. If there are rewards that the instructors can give, participation will be higher.”

“Rewards that instructors can give. Is the overnight permission granted by the Year Representative not enough?”

“Please give permission for external leave. More than one night and two days. It would be effective if combined with the first vacation.”

While at it, I made a request to him. A leave to go outside was literally a reward that would drive students crazy.

Whether going home or just going out to play, just being able to leave this Academy and find freedom was meaningful in itself.

“Leave permission is a high-grade reward that can only be granted by the Year Director or higher. I can suggest it, but don’t expect too much.”

“That’s enough.”

“However, may I meddle in one thing?”

“Of course.”

After getting a good answer, I nodded in satisfaction, and he hesitated for a moment before speaking again. Since I couldn’t say it wasn’t necessary here, I continued to listen to him.

“If you set too large a reward, the competition will become overheated. Since it’s a group competition based on grades, it might create resentment and barriers between peers. It’s impossible for everyone to achieve outstanding results.”

“I think being resented by peers is better than being brutally killed on the battlefield.”

“Wait, such words…”

“As you said, it’s impossible for everyone to get the results they want. In fair competition and struggle, rise and fall are determined by one’s own efforts, so those who fall should be made to whip themselves harder.”

I don’t know how he sees me to say such things, but I was neither a hero nor a parent trying to embrace everyone.

Rather, for the weak, I could be an axis of evil promoting survival of the fittest and polarization. I ignored such things. I didn’t care about being cursed or worshipped.

My help was limited to showing them reality and creating the platform. Achievement is something one gains through competition.

‘If there’s a carrot, there should be a stick. Anyway, Erich won’t just sit by even if I do this.’

I decided that saving people was the protagonist’s role.

“Sacrificing the minimum for the maximum. You speak as if you’re a knight who could be in the field right now.”

Dmish clicked his tongue and waved his hand. It was a signal to leave now.