Dissolution Dilemma
Rimuru POV
It's the dead of night and I've been looking into the records of the battler that seems to idolize Ameri if Ronove is to be believed.
"'Elicos, Schnell', huh?" I mutter to myself, breaking the silence in the room. I'm currently looking at the picture of this particular student on the paperwork I'm holding.
He's the President of Ameri's 'fan club'; a decent student, based on his grades. He's better than average at least. I'm not usually one to judge based on appearances, but he does look like a bit of a weirdo in this photo. There's something about his expression that slightly unnerves me, I guess.
Gray-ish hair combed straight back, rectangular glasses, and an unsettling smile. Not in the same way as Kiriwo's, which seems friendly on the surface but is conniving and malicious, but the type with potentially lewd intent behind it. It's much more subtle since I assume that his object of infatuation wasn't there when this photo was taken, but there are still hints of it. I've become keen on reading smiles like this; I get them fairly often myself.
But back to why I'm specifically training my attention on this boy; he's been requesting some interesting materials for his battler. Slowly too, like he's been planning this for a while and is trying not to draw attention to his actions. A spray bottle, a kit commonly used to brew certain potions, a camera, and various ingredients that I don't have much knowledge about but enough to know that they aren't used often. He has gone around asking different teachers for different things, slowly accumulating what he needs. All of these teachers were good about keeping records thankfully, otherwise, the evidence wouldn't be very useful.
It's not a cut and dry case though, since he might've had other uses for all of that. I'll have to wait for Henri to come back and tell me what was actually in that residue he collected earlier so we can compare it to the list of things Schnell requested.
I'll probably have to confront him tomorrow after the election so I can determine whether I'm correct or not. Tracking him down first thing in the morning would cause too much drama with how tense things are at Babyls; I think it's for the best that I show a little patience and wait until after the dissolution election has concluded.
I'm happy since I feel like I'm finally getting somewhere with this investigation; only a few pieces away from completing the puzzle. I've got a good feeling about this 'Schnell' boy being responsible.
I hope tomorrow goes smoothly for Ameri; not for her sake necessarily, but more for Iruma's. That and for the school too since Ronove is an idiot and I don't want him in charge. Ciel already assured me he wouldn't win, though, so I don't know why I'm even worrying.
[[Heh.]]
Yes, thank you, Ciel. I'm glad to have you around, reassuring me when I worry about stuff.
**The Next Day**
Iruma POV
The room I'm in is large and very crowded, with a set of two elevated podiums in the center. Ronove and Ameri each stand at one, both platforms raised in the air so everyone can see them.
The announcer, Baraki, explains that each candidate will have three minutes to speak.
Ronove is blowing kisses at the crowd and waving at everyone like an overzealous politician. At the same time, Ameri looks very nervous, clutching the script the Student Council helped her write up and staring at her feet.
Ali said the spell is almost broken…c'mon Ameri, you can do this! I mentally cheer.
Whatever is keeping the spell in effect needs to be resolved soon; Ameri doesn't have much time. I have faith that she can pull this off, but still, I'm concerned.
Either way, you can still be her friend…whatever happens, everything will turn out alright…
I look over to my side; Rimuru is standing there, her arms crossed and her eyes observing the scene. A neutral expression is on Rimuru's face as she watches the introductions of both Ameri and Ronove, I can't tell if she's happy with this or not.
"Doesn't look like the spell's broken yet…" Rimuru mutters, sounding mildly annoyed.
"No, it doesn't. I hope Ameri will be alright up there; this crowd is huge!" I exclaim. The room is completely packed to the point of being mildly uncomfortable from the body heat. I think anyone would feel at least a little nervous speaking to a crowd as big as this one.
"Well, it is the entire student body after all." Rimuru shrugs, sounding unconcerned as she continues to peer at the two opposing demons.
"It is I, Ronove Romiere!" Ronove declares after being introduced by Baraki, the announcer. My eyes are immediately drawn to him and my mind focuses on his every word. This only lasts a moment, though, before I shake my head and my thoughts go back to normal.
"I really do dislike that magic of his…I'm glad I'm not affected." Rimuru comments. "It seems that you have enough willpower to break out of its hold at least," Rimuru says, turning to me.
"Is that unusual?" I ask.
"Look around you," Rimuru says, waving her arm, gesturing toward all the people around us in one large sweeping motion.
I look at the surrounding students and the vast majority appear enamored by Ronove. All eyes are on him; even the ones of students that are holding signs showing their support for Ameri.
"Maybe it's because of your…um…'condition', but most of the demons here can't seem to break free of it willingly. From what I've seen, it wears off over time or needs to be broken by an outside force in most cases." She whispers.
By 'condition' Rimuru means the fact I'm a human, I assume.
"Why is it that you're immune? Outside of just being strong." I ask.
"Nothing outside of that, actually. I suppose my partner is a contributing factor too. She's always protecting me from stuff that could influence my thoughts like that, nullifying any sort of mental effects without me even needing to ask."
"Oh yeah…her…" I respond, recalling Ciel; Rimuru's self-proclaimed wife that lives inside her.
Wait…did I just feel my ring quiver?
I felt a strange sensation from my Gluttonous Feeder Ring for some unknown reason, but it only lasted for a moment. My thoughts about this are quickly interrupted, though.
Ronove, having finally stopped posing for the mass of students watching him intensely, speaks up again.
"The main thing I am going to propose to all of you is this:…it's ~pleasure~!" Ronove declares loudly.
He breaks out into a full-fledged dance and song number, wowing the crowd with the same brand of promises he's been spewing from the start.
"There's just no point in being bored. Ever. Do not revere pain and suffering, instead praise fun! And now, at long last, let us frolic in this idyllic rapturous haven of pure ~delight~!"
Almost all of the students, minus the Student Council and Rimuru, are now chanting Ronove's name. They're all fully won over by his charm and things are looking grim for Ameri.
Over the chanting, Baraki announces that it's Ameri's turn to speak, but the crowd doesn't stop cheering for Ronove.
She begins muttering some things into her microphone, but it's almost inaudible over the roar of the chanting crowd.
Why aren't the teachers intervening? None of this is fair for Ameri, she isn't even getting her promised chance to speak to everyone!
I start to panic a little, worried that she will lose everything. Wracking my brain for anything at all I can do to help Ameri in this situation, I remember the obvious; Rimuru. She can fix this, right?
I look over at her and see that Rimuru doesn't look very happy; her arms are folded and she's staring at Ameri with a somewhat stern, annoyed expression.
"Rimuru, shouldn't you do something? I thought you said things would turn out alright!" I plead desperately.
"I want to give her a chance to do this on her own," Rimuru replies, still glaring at Ameri.
I muster up a bit more courage to try to push Rimuru further.
"B-but look what's happening! Nobody is even listening to her, how does Ameri stand a chance like that?!"
Rimuru sighs, shakes her head, then looks at me.
"Cover your ears," Rimuru says bluntly.
"Huh?" I worry.
"I said…cover your ears; things are about to get loud." She repeats in the same tone but this time a bit more forceful.
I nod and do exactly that, not taking her warning for granted.
"You guys too!" she says to the four Student Council members nearby.
They all shrug but end up listening to Rimuru and following my lead.
Rimuru clears her throat, closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, then opens her mouth.
"Silence!" Rimuru shouts in an intense, commanding tone, loud enough to shake the entire room and its inhabitants.
Everyone falls quiet and stares at her, many of them shaking and taking several steps back, completely intimidated by Rimuru. I'm also scared by the coldness in Rimuru's voice, but I know she is only doing what I asked her to.
It wasn't just her volume that stopped everyone, but the way Rimuru said what she said. Her tone, her severity; the command felt like you had no choice but to follow it. I can't describe it any other way.
I'm reminded of soon after Rimuru came here, her warning me that things were going to get loud, and not long after the entire mansion shook. At the time I didn't realize that it was purely her voice that was responsible. I honestly should've figured this out earlier when the entire botany tower trembled under the power of her voice that one time she lost her temper with Azz and Sabnock. For whatever reason though, that incident didn't click with me as connected to the first one back then.
"Hehe…I knew Kalego's catchphrase would work…no wonder he uses it!" Rimuru chuckles softly, sounding satisfied with herself, before continuing.
"Ameri only gets three minutes to talk, so let her use them, dammit!" Rimuru continues, stone-cold in tonality, but not nearly as loudly now that she no longer has to shout over everyone's chanting.
There's a murmuring among the crowd, but it's now quiet enough that Ameri can be heard.
Ameri makes eye contact with me from up on the extremely tall podium and I watch some of the tension on her face fade. She takes a deep breath, seemingly focusing her thoughts, before attempting to address the crowd again.
For Ameri's sake, I hope that she can do this.
Ameri POV
This is it…
Standing up on the podium, I watch as everyone seems to take Ronove's side. I haven't even gotten my turn to speak yet, but most of the students look like they've already picked him over me.
Then, Baraki says it's my turn to speak, but nobody is paying that any mind. There are only a few students watching me, but it won't be enough, I know that.
At least Iruma won't abandon me if I lose…
I try to start reading my speech, but my words come out soft and stutter. Unsure and pathetic, meek and quiet. Nothing that would convince anyone to vote for me.
I start to lose hope, accepting that I can't do this, but then the room seems to shake under a sound louder than the entire student body chanting Ronove's name.
"Silence!" a voice that only takes me a moment to recognize as Rimuru shouts and immediately quiets everyone.
I look at her and see the crowd backing away from the girl, scared for a moment. She seems to think something is funny and says something that I have no chance of making out from this distance before she speaks up again.
"Ameri only gets three minutes to talk, so let her use them, dammit!" Rimuru says in a loud, but not room-shakingly loud, voice.
Iruma is standing next to Rimuru with his ears plugged with his fingers. He pulls his hands away from his head and looks up at me with his bright blue eyes.
Yes…I remember…he believes in me…my members believe in me…even Rimuru seems to be standing up for me…how could I consider giving up?
That look of determination, encouragement, and ambition. Iruma believes in me, no words are needed to make that crystal clear.
He went to all that trouble comforting me yesterday, encouraging me to keep going and try my best today, and I thought of letting all that go to waste?
Even if I'm stuck like this, with Iruma at my side, I can do this!
The room, now quieted by Rimuru of all people, is not fixated on Ronove anymore, giving me a chance to make my speech and have it be heard.
So, I start again with my speech, but this time I wing it. I don't need the script my battler members so kindly helped me write, I simply need to speak from the heart and be myself.
"I know I'm pathetic and cowardly…and I tried to run away…and yet, someone still believes in me despite all that," I say into the microphone in front of me.
As the words escape my lips, the fear holding me back begins to fade. Confidence begins to replace it and my volume rises.
Ready to finally do this, I swat the microphone away, no longer feeling like I need it.
Third Person POV
"The treasured quality of mine that person put their belief in, was my desire!" Ameri shouts, her voice clear and heard throughout the large room despite her no longer using a microphone.
Everyone is shocked, the girl who has been so quiet and timid for the last few days is seemingly back to her old self. She has pushed through the effects of the spell, but it's not quite broken yet.
"So what do I want to do? After seeing all of your faces together here, I remember now. I remember, though I'm weak and useless, why I still wanted the position of President. It's because of your high expectations of me. But more importantly, above all else, it's because I desire to make this school the best institution there ever was!" Ameri declares with even more vehemence, shouting at the top of her lungs, full of passion and drive to make her point.
Even Ronove, her opponent, is gawking at her in awe. Ameri has managed to pull all the attention of the student body away from him despite his Charisma bloodline magic being in full effect. Rimuru may have been the one to initially shatter his hold on his fellow students, but Ameri kept their attention despite Ronove's efforts to draw them back in.
"You are demons! That takes priority over your student life! And all demons are made of desire! Do not settle for idle pleasure, be proud of your desires and honor them!" Ameri continues, gesturing to the crowd, appealing to their feelings.
Many of them are getting inspired and excited, their deepest wishes coming to the surface of their minds, their dreams filling their thoughts.
"Tell me, what is your true desire? Is it within your reach right now?" Ameri asks, causing many of the students to go starry-eyed, picturing their utmost desires coming true.
Not Ronove's 'fun', but things they truly want deep down. The type of things that take work, dedication, and drive. Achievements that would fill the demons with satisfaction and not simply distract them from their worries.
This is why Ronove wanted to overthrow Ameri while she was weakened; this is why he took advantage of the circumstances. Ameri is too good at speaking to the hearts of Babyls' students, and now that she's acting like her old self, he doesn't stand much of a chance.
"If it's not, then get off your laurels and find out how to attain it! Because Babyls is the place to feed and nurture a demon's highest aspirations! And therefore, if you want to take the control of your desires into your own hands…"
Ameri rips the bow off of her uniform, and at the same time, something inside her changes. The spell that's been plaguing her finally shattered; her passion was enough to give it the final push toward dispelling and now she's back to her old self.
Holding the bow up above her head like a trophy won in battle, she continues her speech.
"…then shut up and follow me to see our ambitions all the way through!" Ameri screams to the enamored crowd, not only having taken back her position and authority but her sense of self as well.
The sea of students erupts in cheers, thrilled to see that Ameri is back to herself.
Ameri takes a step back, out of breath from the shouting. It's done; it's over. Ameri has won back the respect and admiration of Babyls and she feels an immense amount of relief now that the tension is gone.
Iruma watches on, smiling from ear to ear. He knew Ameri could do this and it brings him nothing but happiness to see her manage to break free from the influence of the mysterious spell.
Rimuru is also smiling, but his expression is closer to somewhat amused than happy like Iruma; acting more like he's watching a cheap comedy than anything. Rimuru knew this would be the outcome since Ciel said it would be, but he still finds fun it to watch it all unfold.
The four main Student Council members, Smoke, Kimaris, Johnny, and Grave all seem to be holding back tears of happiness at the return of their President. They all had faith in her, but things got a bit hairy at the end there.
The rest of the student body is also very happy and glad to have their President back. Ameri truly is a role model for many of them and seeing her back to the type of person they all admire is amazing to see.
Ameri watches the crowd, silently observing all the students chanting again, this time shouting her name in place of Ronove's. She feels guilty for letting herself be weakened like she was, she feels horrible for not being able to uphold her duty to the school, and she still feels sorry for all the trouble she's caused, especially for a certain someone.
The boy who's stuck with her through it all; the boy who dragged her back onto her feet and reminded her of her true motivation and ambition; the boy she's grown so close to since meeting him.
Iruma.
Ameri's red-orange eyes focus on him in the mass of hundreds of students. He's like a light in the dark, his beaming smile filling her heart with warmth as he waves at her gleefully.
Nobody else matters as much as Iruma right now because Ameri has just made a realization.
That feeling she's been experiencing for a while now, Ameri never knew what that was but she's finally put the pieces together. An explanation for that strange sensation that wells up in her chest every time she sees Iruma, hears his name, or even simply thinks about him. There's no other explanation.
She's fallen deeply in love with him.
Yes, Ameri is in love with Iruma, she can't deny it any longer. She has no idea what to do about it, but she's finally admitted this fact to herself and it's somehow both terrifying and comforting at the same time.
And with that, the dissolution election is concluded, with Ameri being the clear victor.
All is well; all is settled; all that is, except for the question of who's responsible for this mess in the first place. That still needs to be resolved, and Rimuru has a good idea of who the culprit may be.
Rimuru POV
I knew Ameri had a huge crush on Iruma, but I haven't seen her look at him like that before. She practically has hearts in her eyes right now while staring at him from up on the podium.
I think Ameri has finally figured out that she's attracted to him.
Now I just need to wait for Iruma to figure it out too…
It's funny watching teenage love bloom like this and I'm curious where it'll go. Will Ameri make a move soon? Or will Iruma finally pick up on her feelings? Who knows?
I feel a sharp gaze from behind; it's Ameri's father, and I think he's picked up on her feelings as well. I look behind me and find him glaring at Iruma while leaning up against a wall off to the side.
"You should go congratulate her; I have something to take care of, okay?" I say to Iruma.
"Huh? Oh yeah, I should, shouldn't I?" Iruma responds.
I gently nudge him in Ameri's direction with my elbow before walking over to her father. We still haven't concluded the investigation, so I need to speak with him about the results of the test done on the sample we gathered.
"Why do you look so angry? Ameri won the election and managed to break free of that spell; what more could you ask for?" I ask, grinning at Henri. I know his 'overprotective-father-mode' is fully engaged right now.
"He has seduced my little girl…I will have to keep an even closer eye on that boy!" Henri grumbles.
"Oh, c'mon now! No need to get so upset about a little bit of teenage romance!" I chuckle.
I see his eyes squint at me from behind his pentagonal glasses.
"I do not wish to discuss this further with you…I will just have to have a word with my daughter later about this…'situation'." Henri mutters.
"Yes, we should focus on who cast that spell. I assume you have the results from the sample, right?" I ask, already fairly sure I'm right. Why else would he be back?
"Yes." he quickly responds.
"I have a new prime suspect, along with a list of materials he might've used to make the potion, so let's go compare notes from our investigations and see if I'm right or not," I explain and gesture for him to follow me.
Henri simply pushes up his glasses and gives an approving grunt and nod, still upset about his daughter falling for Iruma.
