Chapter 34

033. ㄱ

After listening to Millie's words, I fell into thought.

It's understandable that Kelters got a harsh lesson from Ayla at the beginning, but even after disobeying Eve's orders and barging in to play the hero, he got knocked flying with just one hit and naturally split from the main storyline. But thinking about it, something even more terrifying might happen.

"Two weeks of suspension, right?"

"Yes. The Student Council President was really angry..."

That's to be expected.

Given Eve's personality, the burden is twice as heavy as others, and a first-year student added even more burden by disobeying orders and failing to perform well...

There's a high probability that 'prejudice' will kick in, and Kelters might be treated like trash.

I know she doesn't care, but if it turns to hostility, what should I do?

This Jefrin Act 12 is the easiest to complete, no matter what anyone says, in the Eve route. Hostility...

"Um, senpai?"

"No, it's nothing. I was just lost in thought for a moment."

"Yes, yes."

Millie, trembling with anxiety, looked at me.

The same goes for her. She gets eliminated in 1-3, but that becomes the catalyst for Kelters' awakening.

[I know this academy isn't a bright place.]

[But, no, we will move forward for the sake of our fellow students who couldn't achieve their dreams!]

[That's my, Kelters' belief!]

She even delivered such a great line.

Can Kelters deliver that line now? He'd look like a middle schooler with a crush.

I tried not to pay attention to the main storyline, but once the story progresses past the midpoint, the entire academy is in danger, and there are hints of dark organizations, demons, the Demon King, and world destruction.

Damn, you silly CoolPies. Do it properly.

I sighed as I looked at the pink chick fidgeting in front of me.

I can't just tell her, "Go and become Kelters' stepping stone after getting expelled!"

"Millie von Sabre."

"Yes, yes! Please call me Millie, senpai!"

"I'll write this report well. Thank you for the meal."

"No, no. I really enjoyed it too!"

With that, the pink chick bowed her head and left.

Thinking about it, Vanilla's hair is light yellow, Yogurt's is green, and Millie's is pink.

Looking at the pink chick's hair, I nodded.

"Like the colorful chicks sold in front of elementary schools."

At the same time, I suddenly remembered the chick I bought for 500 won from an orphanage to raise, which died two days later.

"Everyone fought over who would get the legs when they cooked it as a soup or fried chicken."

It was a good memory and a sad past.

The pink spray chick that died pointlessly came to mind.

"Since it's alive, anyway."

I hope it doesn't die soon.

***

The next day.

Ayla came to visit.

"What is it, Ayla?"

"It's the day to pay the rent!"

"Right. It was a hundred, wasn't it?"

"Yes."

"Understood. Wait a moment."

Saying that, I went to get the safe.

Let's see, a hundred rin. A hundred rin...

...

...

"Ayla."

"What is it?"

"Shall we have a deep conversation about our past and future?"

"......Huh?"

Ayla's eyes widened in surprise.

"O-our future? Future... Hmm. Ahem. Isn't it a bit sudden? We're still students and..."

"No, we must. It's a conversation we must have now."

"W-Wolfram? In our Tristar family, Jefrin's grades are very important to be recognized as a full member. So, it would be better to do it around the end of next year when we finish our undergraduate studies?"

"No. There's something we need to decide now."

"......Uh. Sigh. Alright. I, Ayla Tristar, the rebellious black crystal that fears nothing in this world, will listen carefully. Speak."

Ayla seemed to have composed herself and looked at me intently. Yes, it's understandable, it's a very important conversation.

"The rent for this building is too expensive."

"......What?"

"I don't know why we bought this building, but I've wanted to say this for a while. There's no income from the store, and a hundred rin rent is too much."

"Wolfram. I have a question."

"Go ahead."

"Was the conversation about our past and future actually about the rent?"

"Yes, but isn't it a healthy conversation between a landlord and a tenant?"

"......Yes. I see. Fine. I'll take the hundred rin. I won't reduce it by a single rin."

"What? Didn't you hear me? I said the rent is unreasonable."

Ayla slapped the table and stood up.

"Wolfram."

"What?"

"Rebellion is inherently unreasonable. There's no such thing as a reasonable rebellion!"

With that, Ayla huffed and left the convenience store.

It was a great line, but...

"Why is she so angry?"

***

The next day was a free period, so I started selling at the entrance of the first-year dormitory during lunchtime.

I intended to be a bad uncle who takes the pocket money of young chicks, but the one who came was a knight who takes my money.

"Give me a full set of donuts. I have the money!"

Seeing Nephthys take out 20,000 rin, I nodded.

"Wait a moment. I'll make them right away."

"Yes."

If you have money, you're a customer.

Indeed.

Anyway, Nephthys took the donuts, and we started chatting as usual.

The first topic was our shop's rent.

"Is that so? The rent is expensive."

"Nephthys, do you think so too?"

"A hundred rin a month can feed a whole family."

"......That's true. But Nephthys."

"Um. What is it?"

Nephthys, the knight of belief, nodded as if to say, "Talk while eating the donuts."

She's a paying customer, but I'm curious.

"Why are you here?"

"It's lunchtime now?"

"No, I mean, isn't this the first-year area? And what's with that outfit?"

"Oh. I'm working on-site now."

"On-site work?"

"Yes. I'm doing part-time work to repair the first-year dormitory that a graduate student broke."

"Ah."

"I earn 70,000 rin a day."

"Right. I can't do manual labor."

"Yes. With your stamina, it must be tough. How about a job that uses your brain?"

"Use my brain...?"

"Yes. I heard the Magic Department is looking for people who can use their brains. You should check it out. You can also ask the Student Council President."

Was there such a thing? There was no such event in 1-2...

"I don't remember."

"I do. I won't forget anything related to money."

Hmm.

When you say it like that, I have nothing to say.

The Magic Department has a job that pays well.

As I was thinking that, a voice came from outside the cart.

"Hey, you! Time's up! Stop chatting and get back to work!"

"Yes! I'm coming!"

Nephthys clapped her hands a couple of times and nodded.

"It's time to work. I'll be going now."

Looking at Nephthys, she was wearing a hard hat, work gloves, and an X-band. She was dressed like a construction worker.

I used to eat dust like that. A strange feeling welled up inside me.

"Thanks for your hard work. Take a few more to share with the workers."

"Yes, thank you."

"......Is your family still short on money?"

"Oh, this is to replace the longsword I broke. Can't Jefrin provide better equipment?"

Nephthys bowed her head.

"......"

She wasn't sending money home.

Bring me donuts.

***

Anyway, based on the information from Nephthys, I thought about what might be happening at this time, but nothing stood out.

1-2 was a story within the first-year students, about Kelters sneaking out with friends at midnight to get a snack and avoiding the security guard to return to the dormitory.

It's impossible for someone on suspension to do that, and he might get expelled if he tried.

In such a case, the best thing to do is to ask the person directly.

Eve happened to visit the convenience store, so I asked her.

"Is there anything the Magic Department is doing now?"

"Hah. Do you think I'll give you that information? What do I trust you for..."

"Five packs of candy."

"Hmm. If it's for this season, then preparing for the midterm practical exams? And the regular curriculum? I heard they're preparing at the secret base in the north."

"Is that so?"

Hmm. That matches my thoughts.

Then, besides that...

As I was lost in thought, Eve continued.

"Really, nothing else?"

"There isn't. Why are you asking about the annual events when you're not even the Student Council President anymore?"

"Two more packs."

"Hmm. Well, there's nothing special... Oh, right."

"What is it? Speak up."

"Come to think of it, it's not a Magic Department event, but the annual event is coming up."

"Annual event?"

"Don't you know? It was held last year too. The Jefrin Student Competition."

"Oh."

Then I realized.

That's right