Project GB is an official initiative by Re:Library.

“Ignis…”

At Estea’s strained, suppressed voice, Hom’s face twisted. As for Ignis, he merely cast Estea a brief glance before folding his arms and fixing Marie with a combative stare.

“Well, well… if it isn’t the former student council secretary.”
“It’s been about a year, yet you seem entirely unchanged. How tiresome, Ignis.”

Marie met Ignis’s insolent provocation head-on, a provocative smile forming on her lips. Hearing her reply, Ignis’s expression hardened, and he glared at her with undisguised hostility.

“I thought you’d be up to your usual sly tricks right after returning to school, but now you’re bringing something in without permission?”
“I’ve grown over this past year—I’m no longer just an ordinary student. Of course, this steam vehicle and what I’m about to do have all been properly authorized. I’ve obtained permission from the appropriate parties. Someone of your rank as mere vice president has no authority to object.”

Marie smiled sweetly, though her eyes remained sharp as she glared back at Ignis.

“Hey, this is bad… You should stop, Marie.”

Melua, unsure how to defuse the explosive tension, shifted restlessly from side to side as she whispered to Marie. But Marie only gave a small shake of her head in response.

“Do you even know who you’re talking to? Don’t assume I’ll remain vice president forever.”
“Is that your declaration of intent to defeat Estea in the upcoming student council election? Even though your only talent lies in inflating your own abilities by relying on the power of the Dulan family?”
“…Tch! You’ve got a lot of nerve!”

The ones who reacted faster than Ignis were his followers. As they took the bait, Marie let out a haughty laugh, looking down on them with a smug expression full of superiority.

“Oh-hohoho! Raising your voice just because you’ve been called out on the truth—how utterly lacking in refinement.”
“Hah! I don’t want to hear that from someone who associates with human wannabes.”

Ignis shot back at Marie, casting contemptuous glances toward Farah, Alfe, and Hom as he spoke. Alfe bit her lip, holding herself back, but Farah reacted differently.

“Nyahahahaha!”

At that moment, Farah suddenly burst out laughing, eyeing Ignis and his followers with clear amusement.

“W-What…? What’s so funny?”
“Well, I was just thinking—maybe the reason you lost so quickly at Zersteller was because you look down on people like us.”

Ignis’s expression changed instantly at Farah’s remark, a low growl escaping him.

“Grr…!”
“Ufufu.”

Perhaps finding the scene amusing, Marie let out a small laugh.

“I may be a commoner, but still—Senior Marie has proper authorization. Picking a fight just because you don’t like someone… I wonder how that reflects on you as a noble.”
“In this case, if you still find it unacceptable, shall we settle this with a duel, like we did in the dorm courtyard before?”

As if to shield Estea, Hom brought up their previous courtyard duel. Having once provoked a duel through baseless accusations only to be defeated by Hom, Ignis shook with irritation before turning his back on us.

“I don’t have the time to indulge in a duel every single time. …Remember well. No matter how much you struggle—whether it’s you human wannabes or that top-ranking honor student of a student council president and her little entourage—in the next student council general election, the one who will win is me.”
“Of course, I’ll remember that. It was such a lovely line—I almost regret not recording it. It would have been perfect to broadcast across the academy once you suffer a crushing defeat in the election.”

Chuckling softly, Marie continued to provoke Ignis even as he faced away from her.

At some point, a crowd of students had gathered around us, watching the exchange from a distance.

With Senior Marie’s announcement over the school broadcast drawing attention to the front gate, it was only natural that this commotion would attract even more eyes.

Even Ignis seemed to realize that pressing the conflict here would put him at a disadvantage. Without another word, he led his followers away and returned to the school building.