The Demon Saint is Missing, so I Ran to Another World

Draft Dodging (Part 2)

**Greg**

"Achoo!"

"That was a powerful sneeze, Lord Santos."

"I told you, just 'Greg' is fine, Lord Gracchio," was my reply to my colleague's comment. Ever since I came back from Alexa's tower, I hadn't got any rest. Tons of letters from various demon clans requesting that their children be repatriated to their cities were sent to my office. They never hid their intention to have their kids enlisted in their militaries, in anticipation for a conflict.

Of course, as a teacher—and a 'proverbial' second parent—I will not accept such reasons. Not if I can help it. Fortunately, this land's kidnapping laws isn't well-defined compared to my old world.

While I did say that I won't act like an arrogant isekai MC who does as he please depending on his whim, this was a different occasion. I better play that card well. Still, reading and replying to these letters...

"..."

Well, it's not like I could do anything about it; I did ask the two other head scholars to forward such requests to me, after all.

Then I also received the news that Princess Noir—one of my best supporters and benefactors—left for Darkmoor after learning about the impending return of her brother. Yes, while Shevaun could also be relied upon, having the demon lord herself standing beside me felt more reassuring. Besides, though I don't want to think about it, the Usarved Princess was my 'access' to 'resources' if ever the situation turned for the worst. Now that she was gone, I had to 'make do' with the little that could be spared.

Man, this is so stressful.

And as if not to end my woes, there was this demand from the Biorno clan vassals that we hand over the student who killed the Lord Emile Biorno, as well as return the control of this school to a designated member they would choose. All of those over the threat of military action. The good thing was, the Goblin Legion under the Lord Tenguri and a detachment of Usarved army led by Shevaun Ilkes stood between us and them.

Got to be thankful I made prior connections, or the reforms we implemented would be wasted.

In any case, I called for an emergency conference with my fellow head scholars, Shevaun, the Lord Tenguri, and his wife, the Lady Baraquiel. My position about the issues confronting us was clear: the Conclave won't hand its students just to be drafted, and it would remain an independent institution of learning. However, to prop those ideas up, I needed military might. This was Cherflammen, and to speak to a belligerent demon clan on equal terms meant that one had to be prepared to fight a conflict, no matter how much we try to avoid it. So, the meeting was to ask my allies was could be done to secure more support from them, and coordinate our strategies.

"As my mistress ordered," Shevaun declared, "I and the Usarved army under my command would support the policies laid out by the Lord Head Scholar Greg Santos."

"The Goblin Legion would never abandon its member in the field," the Lord Tenguri followed. "And the Lord Kuro—I mean, the Lord Greg is an honorary legionnaire. My command would stand by him!"

"I'm an orc knight, and I support your ideals, Lord Greg, so you can count on my strength," the Lady Baraquiel said. "However, I can't say about my kin. I know that they're asking the Conclave to allow the orc students to return to Orcdwelt to be enlisted."

"Yes, it's true, milady," I confirmed. "And I'm grateful that you chose to side with me on this matter."

"You helped my daughter, after all, milord. And my husband would be long dead if you didn't save him and his goblins back in the Great Rising of the Dead. My life is the very least thing I can offer for you."