Chapter 720 None of my Concern

Eleanor Tempest looked at Ezra with an amused expression.

He single-handedly changed the entire atmosphere among the students simply by speaking straightforwardly.

He didn’t even appear concerned that some of them might take offense at being called weaklings.

And to make things worse...

He is basically ranked third, in his year.

Calling students weak-minded should have been enough to make them furious, especially coming from someone who holds such a high position amongst the First-Year.

Yet, instead of them turning against him, many actually began reconsidering what they had been thinking about him.

It is really an unexpected development.

Quite interesting.

Eleanor had been watching the students throughout Ezra’s address.

The program had started with questions concerning the first candidate... Prince Tristin Aethelmont, but the accusations surrounding him had gradually taken over the discussion.

For a while, it had seemed as though the entire event would become an opportunity to question his character.

Now, however, the attention had shifted.

She paused her thoughts and looked at Ezra before glancing towards Vera.

Vera tilted her head slightly, looking at Eleanor from the corner of her eye, as though she had already expected her to turn in her direction.

Eleanor moved her gaze away without reacting.

"I only have one question I would like you to address."

She said calmly.

Her attention returned to Ezra, and she adjusted her sitting position, crossing one leg over the other.

"Yesterday, we had some students, especially those who had something to say about the privileges nobles have over non-nobles."

She paused briefly.

"Do you think your current situation benefits from the privilege of being a talent of Ash, or is there another reason?"

She asked calmly.

It was a question that brought the discussion back to the original issue raised by some students the previous day.

Ezra’s gaze lingered on Eleanor for a moment.

He then turned towards the students gathered below the stage.

The podium stood between him and the audience, but he didn’t remain behind it.

He faced the gathering directly, allowing his voice to carry across the open space.

"There are two types of privileges."

He said calmly.

"The first, which came up in yesterday’s argument, is the privilege of birth."

He raised his right index finger.

The students watched him.

This was something most of them understood very well.

They had grown up in a society where family background could determine a person’s opportunities long before they had the chance to prove themselves.

It was particularly noticeable within the Royal Academy.

Even though the Academy provided its students with an education, not everything they needed came without cost.

There were times when the allowance received from their families was necessary to purchase study materials and Alchemy materials.

For students from very wealthy and powerful households, such expenses were rarely a serious concern.

Their families could afford to provide what they needed, whether it was expensive equipment, additional materials, or other resources that could help them improve.

Those from low-status noble households and non-noble families didn’t always have the same luxury.

The difference wasn’t limited to the materials they could afford.

It could also be seen in the opportunities available to them and the support they received outside the Academy.

Ezra lowered his index finger slightly before raising his middle finger.

"And the second is the privilege you earn."

He completed the two types of privileges he had listed.

A few students exchanged confused looks at the second one.

Some appeared to be considering what he meant, while others seemed to understand the distinction immediately.

Ezra continued without rushing his explanation.

"It is the privilege you gain from the hard work you put in to display your strength. When that strength becomes a benefit to your family, it is only natural for them to value you. Every family cares about those who can benefit them, so it is obvious they will give such people preferential treatment."

He explained to his fellow students.

His words were simple, but the distinction was important.

Being born into a powerful family was one thing.

Earning a position within that family through one’s own ability was another.

Both could grant a person advantage, but they didn’t come from the same place.

Some students who had initially focused on the privileges of noble birth now had another point to consider.

The Academy was filled with people who had different family backgrounds.

There were those who relied on their household’s influence, while others had gained recognition through their own abilities.

In some cases, the two went hand in hand.

Ezra wasn’t claiming that one kind of privilege didn’t exist or that the other was automatically fair.

He was simply distinguishing between them.

"Now, for the main question..."

Ezra lowered his hand and looked across the crowd.

"The Student Council has already said they would conduct a fair investigation, which is the right thing to do. Even though the person accused of committing the crime is already known for things like that, we cannot simply make assumptions. That is not how an Alchemist’s mind should operate."

He paused.

The question of Basil Evermont’s accusation had been hanging over the program since the beginning.

It had even become the center of Tristin’s earlier address.

Ezra wasn’t dismissing the accusation.

Neither was he claiming that Basil was innocent.

He was bringing the matter back to the investigation.

"We should let the investigation take place and allow all the evidence to be revealed. Now, that doesn’t mean they can’t get things wrong. At the end of the day..."

He briefly raised his right hand slightly up as he spoke.

"Privileges tend to have tiers, even within the two types I mentioned."

Ezra continued.

The Student Council had promised a fair investigation, but that didn’t mean every decision made by people in positions of authority would automatically be correct.

Those responsible for handling such matters could still be influenced by their own interests, just as privileges could exist at different levels.

"But is that not why you are all trying to vote for the right representative, and even for the person who will take over the position of Student Council President?"

He said calmly.

Although it sounded like another question directed at the students, it was actually his conclusion to the question Eleanor had asked.

He wasn’t telling them to blindly trust the Student Council.

He was pointing out that the Academy had given them an opportunity to choose the people who would hold those positions.

The responsibility didn’t end with questioning the people currently in charge.

They also had to consider who would replace them.

For a moment, the students remained quiet.

The discussion that sparked the whole chaos leading to this program had started with the privileges nobles enjoyed over non-nobles which led to the bombshell that was dropped on the Academy news, then moved towards the accusations surrounding Ezra and Basil.

Now, it had returned to the elections.

There were still candidates waiting to speak.

The representatives of the different factions still had to convince the students that they were suitable for the positions they were pursuing.

And the students themselves would eventually have to make their choices.

The current Student Council was a good example of the importance of choosing the right people.

They were handling the accusation involving Basil and the girl who had accused him by allowing the investigation to proceed instead of simply deciding who was guilty.

That was the sort of responsibility the next representatives would have to take on.

Eleanor watched the students for a moment.

Ezra had answered her question without making the privileges of nobles and non-nobles sound like an issue that could be settled with a simple declaration.

He had acknowledged the existence of both kinds of privilege and brought the matter back to the choices the students were expected to make.

It was a straightforward answer.

"Alright, before we end your turn, I want to know something, Ezra Ashenlocke."

Eleanor spoke lightly.

She shifted her attention towards him again, moving on from the previous question.

"Who is the candidate you will be voting for, or who do you expect to be a good leader?"

She asked.

"Willow, because she’s a perfectionist who is serious-minded about whatever she sets her mind to. She would be strict, but overall, she’s the most competent leader. Then Vera comes next, and that’s because I’ve seen her lead before. She was a good leader."

Ezra answered calmly.

Willow’s expression remained much the same as she listened to him.

She didn’t turn towards Ezra or make any attempt to respond to his praise.

Her attention remained in his direction, though there was a slight change in her expression that she didn’t bother to hide.

For some reason, she did like that he knew a bit about her.

It wasn’t an elaborate compliment, nor had Ezra gone out of his way to praise her.

He had simply mentioned what he considered to be her strengths and explained why he regarded her as a competent leader.

That was enough.

"As for who I will vote for, it will be between those two. And before you ask me about Prince Charles..."

Ezra continued.

"I haven’t seen enough of him to make a decision about him."

He replied straightforwardly.

Willow’s expression returned to its usual state.

"Stop making that hidden face, Homewrecker-Two."

Vera cut into her quiet moment almost immediately, her tone casual and accusing.

Willow closed her eyes briefly.

Then she turned towards Vera, who wasn’t even looking at her.

"You really do like pissing me off."

She said seriously.

"Do I?"

Vera replied casually.

Her attention remained elsewhere, as though she hadn’t just interrupted Willow’s moment.

Willow didn’t immediately answer.

She simply looked at Vera for a moment, her expression making it clear that she wasn’t amused.

Vera, on the other hand, gave her no further attention.

Eleanor watched the brief exchange before returning to the matter at hand.

"Okay, I don’t have any more questions."

She said calmly.

Ezra had answered everything she wanted to ask.

There was no reason to prolong his turn when the remaining candidates still had their own speeches to deliver.

"Then I will be taking my leave."

Ezra replied.

"You won’t stay and watch the remaining speeches, Ezra Ashenlocke?"

Louis Evergrey asked.

He was one of the five Student Council members handling the program.

Unlike Eleanor, who had been responsible for questioning Ezra, Louis had been observing the proceedings alongside the other members.

His question was a simple one.

The program was still ongoing, and several candidates had yet to speak.

Ezra’s departure would mean missing the remaining addresses, including those of students who were competing for the general representative position.

Ezra looked at Louis’s simple expression.

"I have other things to handle. As for the rest..."

He paused briefly.

"It’s no longer my concern."

He replied flatly.

"Okay."

Louis answered with a simple smile.

There was no reason for him to insist.

Ezra had already completed his turn, and the Student Council could proceed with the program without him.

With that...

Ezra left the stage.

He stepped away from the podium and made his way towards the exit of the Mix Arena.

The students’ gazes followed him.

Even when Eleanor called the next candidate, Stacy Brittan, a cousin of the Royal Line, the attention of many students remained on Ezra.

Stacy was the next person scheduled to speak, and the program continued as intended.

Yet the departing Gun Alchemist had become a difficult figure for some of the students to ignore.

Some were still considering his answers.

Others were more interested in the fact that he had refused to remain and watch the rest of the speeches.

Among those watching him were Felix and Tristin.

Their gazes were especially displeased.

A few other prominent members of their groups also kept their attention on Ezra as he left the stage.

Felix’s expression had grown unpleasant.

Whatever he had expected from the program, Ezra’s address had not helped matters.

Tristin, too, seemed far from satisfied with how things had turned out.

But Ezra paid no attention to them.

He had delivered what he said he would do in the Golden Circle Faction.

However, what he had done wasn’t the real deal.

At least, not yet...

***

"That was really scary, Master."

Lucy said, placing both hands against her chest as she looked at her master.

She had been holding herself back throughout his address.

Now that her Master was no longer standing before the entire gathering, she could finally let out some of the tension she had been carrying.

The pressure had been considerable.

He had been questioned in front of the students, and the accusations against him had been brought up repeatedly.

Even Prince Daniel and Tristin had made their positions clear.

Yet Ezra had continued speaking in the same calm manner.

"And the pressure was really on."

Cyrus added calmly.

He walked alongside them, having watched the entire exchange from below the stage.

The three continued towards the exit of the Mix Arena.

Behind them, the program was still underway.

Eleanor had already moved on to the next candidate, and Stacy Brittan was preparing to deliver her address.

The remaining candidates would have their own turns.

The students would listen, question them, and eventually decide who they wanted to represent them.

Ezra didn’t reply to Lucy or Cyrus.

There wasn’t really anything he needed to say.

He simply kept walking at the same pace, leaving the Mix Arena behind.

Whatever happened next in the program was for the candidates to handle.

He was done with his own part.

Bonus Chapter for Magic Castle!!!!