"You'll pay compensation—no question about that. As for the losses, go talk to Madam Fumio about it yourself. Now then… the one holding the camera. Yeah, you. Don't look around—there's only one person here carrying a camera. Come over."
Kael sent the matter of compensation off to be handled with Fumio Daimido, then turned his attention to the cameraman.
Almost everyone present was just hired muscle, but the cameraman wasn't. He was clearly a professional—after all, that kind of equipment wasn't cheap.
No one would let a random thug handle it.
"The livestream's still going, right?" Kael asked as the man approached, visibly nervous.
"Y-Yes… it is."
The cameraman was pale with fear. Kael's presence alone was overwhelming—just one sentence earlier, coupled with the pressure he radiated, had crushed everyone on the scene. Then the gang leader had received a call ordering a retreat.
The cameraman wasn't stupid. He knew that Kael's threat had worked—that the current Director and the Elite Ten were genuinely afraid of retaliation.
Facing someone who could stand above both the Director and the Elite Ten, it would've been strange not to be nervous.
Even if he was just the cameraman, he'd still been standing with the thugs. Who knew if Kael would lump him in with them?
"Relax. I'm not here to make things difficult for you," Kael said calmly. Then he looked straight into the lens.
"The person on the other side of this camera—Azami Nakiri, you're watching too, aren't you? Listen carefully. I'm going to say this once."
"Don't go poking at Polar Star Dormitory whenever you feel like it. If I'm willing to play with you, then you're qualified to sit at the table. If I'm not—then you don't even deserve to stand across from me."
"Remember your place."
With that, Kael waved the cameraman away.
—
In Azami Nakiri's office, every word had come through loud and clear.
The message couldn't have been more obvious.
The only reason things had stayed civil before was because Kael had tolerated it.
This time, they'd pushed too far—and lost that privilege.
It was like a chess match. When he was in the mood, he'd sit down and play properly. But once he lost interest, he'd flip the board and walk away—and there wasn't a damn thing you could say about it.
The Elite Ten were drowning in regret.
How had they been stupid enough to listen to Azami's sweet talk in the first place?
They'd thought backing Azami would bring them greater benefits. Instead, yes, he'd become Director—but a Director shackled by Kael at every step, unable to carry out anything meaningful.
Sure, their authority had increased on paper. But inside the academy, they no longer knew how to face the students.
As long as Kael was around, no one dared to stir up trouble in front of him.
And regret was useless now.
From the moment they'd defected and signed that ruling, they'd been bound to Azami—sink or swim.
They didn't even need to imagine what would happen once news spread.
Sure, the livestream hadn't been public. But far too many people had been involved.
Expecting hired thugs to keep secrets was a joke—and Polar Star Dormitory alone could spread the story across all of Totsuki in no time.
"You're all dismissed. I'll think of another solution," Azami said at last.
The Elite Ten exchanged looks, their faces grim, and left one by one. No one spoke. None of them had the energy.
—
Back at Polar Star Dormitory, the gang leader paid up, bowed repeatedly, and hurried his men away without daring to linger.
Just like that, the crisis vanished—almost before anyone had time to process it.
"Kael, that was incredible! You were seriously overbearing just now!" Yuki Yoshino rushed over, eyes shining.
"No kidding! A domineering Chef's Heart like that—so cool!" Zenji Marui said, starstruck despite his bookish nature.
"One sentence from Kael and the problem disappeared. Those guys really were clowns," Alice Nakiri added with a grin.
She'd panicked for a moment earlier too. She'd had no idea how to stop them from tearing down Polar Star Dormitory—and then Kael had solved everything in one stroke.
It also made her realize something.
She wasn't just a Totsuki student—she was a Nakiri. Sure, relying on family influence all the time wasn't ideal. But there were times when you should use it.
It didn't matter whether the method looked pretty—only whether it worked.
Kael's actions had opened an entirely new door for her.
"Azami won't be making any big moves for a while," Kael said. "Things are a mess on his end. But as long as he's still Director, he'll probably try to work around me."
"Now then—about the Research Society Alliance. It still needs a leader. They wanted me, but I've thought it over."
"I won't take the position. Erina should."
Everyone turned toward Erina Nakiri. She blinked, completely caught off guard.
"W-Wait—why me?"
"Because you're qualified," Kael said simply. "I've got too many things to handle. I can support the alliance, but I can't lead it directly."
"To be alliance leader, you need authority—enough that everyone willingly follows."
"And in all of Polar Star Dormitory, only you—with God's Tongue—carry that level of weight."
Kael had thought this through carefully.
He'd pushed Azami hard—maybe too hard. If Azami collapsed outright, who would serve as Erina's whetstone?
So instead, Kael would let Erina stand at the front, leading the Research Society Alliance against Central.
She needed to face Azami directly to overcome her psychological scars. Without that confrontation, nothing would change.
And among all the students, she was the most suitable choice. Even back in middle school, her authority had been absolute.
If it were Soma or the others—even with Four-Star-level skill—there would be dissent. But Erina? No one would object.
Most importantly, the alliance would become her support.
In the original path, when Azami targeted Hisako, Erina gave up without resistance.
But now?
She had thousands behind her. The vast majority of Totsuki students belonged to research societies. Even if some refused to join under the new self-funded system, the alliance still represented the majority.
That weight of responsibility would force her forward.
With enough on her shoulders, she wouldn't break so easily.
"Yeah! If Kael isn't doing it, then Erina's the only one who fits!" Yuki agreed immediately.
"Though… Isshiki-senpai could qualify too, right?" Soma said casually.
"Oh? Someone still remembers me?" Isshiki Satoshi said with a smile.
"Let's be real—when he was Elite Ten, he didn't help much," Daigo Aoki shot back.
"Exactly. If Azami had secured six seats earlier, Isshiki-senpai might've defected too," Shoji Sato added cheerfully.
"Hey! That's too much!" Isshiki panicked. "I was on your side!"
Laughter filled the dormitory.
"Ahem. Aren't we getting off topic?" Ryoko Sakaki cut in, mercifully.
Isshiki gave her a grateful look.
"Yes, yes—Erina-sama's matter," Hisako Arato said firmly. "This is a good thing. It'll keep you from shutting yourself away."
"And the busywork?" she added calmly. "Leave that to me."
Alice leaned closer. "Come on, Erina. It's Kael's idea—and he'll be backing you up."
Erina's heart skipped.
After everything Kael had done—saving her mother, standing between her and her father—he'd become her anchor.
Leading the alliance… with Kael by her side.
The thought filled her with anticipation.
"…Alright," Erina said at last. "If that's what everyone thinks—then I'll do it."
Kael silently gave Alice a thumbs-up.
—