Chapter 45

<044. The Flame of Purification>

Like most field-hunting RPG games, there is a terrain effect.

However, D/Z SAGA either adheres to historical accuracy in peculiar ways or is thoroughly consistent with its own world.

When they add Easter eggs, they do so boldly, yet they have strange fixations.

In spring, “sleep resistance weakens” and “food effects increase.” These status effects are applied to all students due to the seasonal characteristics. To resist them, one’s willpower must be 17 or higher.

Even so, the true essence of spring doesn’t end there.

At the end of the eastern forest, created by the great first emperor.

The Flower Sanctuary, where the entire map is a flower field.

The crazy field where fairies run around laughing is where, every spring, the pollen from blooming flowers flies around.

The problem is that this pollen flies toward the academy, and the defensive barrier designed by the ancestors does not recognize the pollen as a hostile factor.

Everyone starts to sniffle, cry, and drool. It’s a hay fever hell.

And the first side story material is precisely this hay fever.

“A blind spot. Thinking about it, with the seasons being so distinct, it’s only natural that side stories would develop.”

When it comes to side stories, a typical message like “Main episode has ended. Side stories are now unlocked.” appears, and you can play them whenever you’re bored, like a spin-off.

However, in reality, things will just flow in chronological order.

In this hay fever episode, the one who suffers the most is Yvonne von Loewen.

She’s my household mate.

***

The Jefrin Student Competition.

The winners of the God of War and Demon God festivals were the “Jewel Sword Isolde” and the “Black Crystal Ayla,” respectively.

In particular, the clean and precise battle of Black Crystal Ayla Triestar left a deep impression on everyone, but the battle of Jewel Sword Isolde was at the extreme.

Jewel Sword Isolde, living up to her name, uses a magic sword made of jewels, starting from the lowest, topaz, and summoning a higher-level magic sword each time it breaks.

While there is a constraint that she must follow the steps, if she follows them, it’s difficult to stop her.

In the final of the God of War festival, she pulled out her fifth sword against the fourth-year “Iron Wall,” and the result was craters all over the arena as if bombs had fallen.

Naturally, since the venue needed to be used for the event, they immediately contacted the labor office, and repairs began.

“Hey, eat and work!”

“Just this one thing!”

Nephty, who was about to start repairs after checking the location of the collapsed area, took off her work gloves and helmet at the call of the laborer and sat down roughly.

“What’s up today?”

“What do you mean? It’s always the same.”

“Right. Cream stew without chunks and black bread...”

Nephty nodded. It was better than just eating grass, but she still felt a lingering sense of dissatisfaction.

Taking her share of the meal, Nephty started eating slowly but steadily. The workers smiled wryly, having grown used to her being more familiar with the site than they were, despite working together for only a few days.

“By the way, how much do you earn, Nephty?”

“Recently, it went up by a thousand rin. It’s eighty thousand now.”

“Wow. Already? Soon you’ll be treated like a regular worker. How many sites have you worked on this time?”

“It’s my second site.”

“Wow. So what do you do with the money you earn? Do you buy clothes like other kids these days?”

“Money?”

Slurp. Nephty dipped her black bread into the stew, making it like a bowl of rice, and started eating it comfortably, speaking just as casually.

“I send it home.”

“...Oh.”

“...Ah. So, your family situation is... difficult?”

“Don’t pry so much. If you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to.”

“No, ahem. It’s just... um... hmm.”

“Home... is a bit difficult, but not that bad. We can manage to eat and live.”

“Eh? Oh, right.”

Nephty continued as if it was no big deal.

“A while ago, I received a letter from home.”

“...Home? What did it say?”

“My younger siblings want to attend Jefrin. So, I’m earning money for their tuition.”

“...I see. Your siblings’ tuition.”

“Yes. I want to support their dreams.”

“Hmm. That’s... I feel ashamed. You know, Nephty, you’re really strong and hardworking.”

After finishing their meals in small groups, Nephty got up. The armband on her shoulder gleamed beautifully in the spring sunlight.

“We need to work a lot before it gets too hot. We need to earn a lot in spring!”

“Right. Before summer... Ah, summer.”

“Hmm? What’s wrong, Nephty?”

“No, it’s just that summer is coming... So, it’s almost the time when the flowers start to act up.”

“What do you mean?”

“The pollen flies a lot. It’s that time already... I should ask my seniors for some tips.”

Thinking that far, Nephty got up from her seat.

***

While pondering the upcoming hay fever season, knock knock. The sound of someone knocking on the convenience store door echoed. Glancing out the window, I saw the usual brown-haired girl staring intently at me.

“Come in.”

“Excuse me.”

Nephty, wearing a safety helmet, work gloves, work boots, and ankle guards, slipped into the convenience store.

Usually, when this type of customer comes to a convenience store, they buy a rejuve or makgeolli with convenience store chicken feet.

In my case, I remember being scolded severely for bringing cold brew coffee when asked to buy coffee for manual labor.

“So, what did you come to buy?”

“Huh? I didn’t come to buy anything.”

“...Go back then.”

“That’s too harsh. Well, then... Can I have something refreshing and sweet to drink? You know, the one with ice cubes.”

How she talks is really starting to sound like someone who does manual labor. She really does do manual labor. Handing her a smoothie with ice cubes, Nephty smiled.

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

“Sure. So, what brings you here?”

“Do you know about the ‘flower activity period’?”

“You’re talking about that too. Of course, I know.”

“Yes. Then, let’s get to the point. I get a bit unwell when the pollen spreads. Is there any medicine to boost immunity?”

“Is it an allergy?”

“What’s an allergy?”

Living comfortably must be nice.

“No. Just wear a mask, won’t that do?”

“Masks are a monopoly of Yggdrasil and are expensive.”

“Hmm.”

During the flower activity period, if you get hay fever and the sneezing status effect, your accuracy drops and you suddenly stiffen.

So, I remember buying masks for the main characters and going hunting.

But masks were quite expensive even in the original game. The price was around a thousand rin. For the early part of Act 1, it was quite steep.

“How much does each one cost?”

“Ten thousand rin.”

“Are you kidding?”

I’d rather just face the pollen head-on.

“So, you’re asking if there’s something wearable.”

“Yes. Actually, I can afford it at my current level. But the ‘flower activity period’ makes the atmosphere at Jefrin a bit tense.”

“Tense?”

“Yes. Most nobles don’t hesitate to spend ten thousand rin and wear masks, but commoners like us can’t afford them.”

“Discrimination is natural in the outside world, but the foundation of Jefrin, except for the student council president, is equality.”

“Money isn’t equal, so how can it be equal? Everyone knows, but it still creates a strange atmosphere...”

I nodded at Nephty’s words.

“Then, we have no choice but to meet someone.”

“Who are you talking about?”

“The only student in this school with a rank.”

***

Even though he’s a prince who has been expelled and is now a rootless wanderer, he’s still a prince.

Since the Loewen family name hasn’t changed, I used a bit of a trick to request a meeting with Yvonne, and it was accepted quite easily.

While waiting for Yvonne in the office, I sipped tea leisurely.

Everyone glancing at me made my heart tighten.

Thinking about it, I’m the trash that almost ruined this academy, and coming here is almost like asking to be killed.

But Yvonne didn’t tell me to kill myself, and I haven’t been poisoned, right? Haha.

Right?

Everyone, stop looking at me like that, it’s really scary.

No, if I show fear, I might really get stabbed.

Here, I need to be bold, stand tall, and walk in with a smile.

“What are you looking at?”

“Me, me?!”

The one who brought the tea was a second-year, one of Yvonne’s subordinates.

I know she’s friendly with Kelthers and does odd jobs. In the original story, she was a kind senior who helped Kelthers when he was in trouble. Her name is Clarisse, I think.

“To you, who follow Yv