Chapter 21

Chapter 20

When the superior points, the subordinate rolls - 2

I couldn't help but be moved by the black bear's greeting, which suddenly appeared and high-fived me. For an animal, it was better than most people. Grateful for the gesture, I returned the high-five, and it seemed to be overjoyed, rolling on the ground. This must be its way of showing appreciation for my response.

The poor thing, it must have grown up without receiving love and longed for affection. Just a touch from a human and it was willing to show its belly.

'Unexpectedly tough.'

Well, to be honest, I hit its abdomen with the intention of killing it. But since it had been a while since I used my fists, I misjudged the force, and the result is this rolling around, not quite dead. It seems tougher than a regular bear, probably because it's from a dungeon.

It's a bit of a blow to my pride, but it's also fortunate. If such a creature had appeared while my club members were around, it could have caused unexpected trouble. Now, it's just lying there, but if it had charged at my club members in a rage, it would have been a serious problem.

'It's also quite large.'

I alternated my gaze between the bear's abdomen, where I had punched it, and the bear that was struggling to get up. The dungeon is a bit wide for continuous walking, and this bear is large enough to carry a person. Good, this is a matter of fate.

As I walked towards the bear, it panicked, but it calmed down when I showed it my fist. It's tough and has decent intelligence. Is this the mystery of the dungeon? I stroked the bear's nose, which had learned to stay still through its good intelligence, and spoke.

"You, let's do one thing together."

Lend me your back.

Indeed, a mount makes the body more comfortable. I could quickly tour the dungeon, which I found tedious to walk through on two feet, and the harmful assistants were found by Wengi, who could track them by smell, so I didn't have to do the hard work.

Wengi is the name I gave to the black bear I'm riding now. Since it's so helpful, it deserves a name. I was going to call it "Bear" but thought that was too simple, so I named it Wengi.

"Do you like Wengi?"

─Chu...

"Good Bear."

It seems to mean "good." I stroked its head, and I could feel its body tremble with satisfaction.

The harmful assistants in the dungeon are stronger than other beasts, but I've never heard that they have good intelligence. Is this one a special case? Well, who cares. I'm not a scholar studying the dungeon ecosystem.

So, I rode Wengi for about an hour, touring the dungeon. If I miss anything, who knows what disaster could happen on the picnic day. It was a stroke of luck that I found out about the dungeon in advance. If it were really a stroke of luck, it wouldn't have appeared in the first place.

'The terrain is really a mess.'

I'm currently breaking through the obstructing trees, but thinking about walking this forest path with the six of them makes me shudder. If even one of them gets hurt, it could cause a terrifying escort mission that would shake the continent. The terrain is so bad, it's like hell.

Of course, I've destroyed that hellish future with my own hands. I sighed in relief and got off Wengi's back, and Wengi looked at me with a relieved expression. It seems to have noticed that I'm about to leave. This is really not the intelligence of a regular bear.

"Wengi, is there anything left?"

There was no answer, but I could tell from its eyes. The eyes that said, "There's nothing left, please go away." I chuckled at the eyes and stroked Wengi's head.

"Really nothing? I think there's one more."

─Chu?

Wengi's eyes filled with growing unease, making sounds that seemed to say, "I really don't know," hoping that it wasn't what it was thinking.

"You're still here."

With those words, I struck Wengi's head. Fortunately, this time I controlled my strength properly, ending it in one blow. I took special care to send it off without pain, as I had developed a bond while touring the dungeon. Dying without pain is a mutual favor.

Looking down at Wengi (who it was) as it fell, head split, I felt a bit melancholic. I even briefly wondered if this was a story where Louise enters the dungeon and keeps it as a pet. It's a bit large for a pet, though.

If this creature had any fault, it was being born in the dungeon. If I had left it alive, it might have jumped out during the picnic, causing mutual embarrassment.

'In your next life, be born as a noble's pet.'

I briefly prayed for the bear's peace and turned away. Now, I need to leave this tedious dungeon.

Ah, it was Wengi, not the bear? Whatever, it doesn't matter. It's a name I won't call anyone anymore.

After temporarily finishing the dungeon purification and returning, fortunately, it was before the club time started. If the vice-principal hadn't informed me in the morning, a disaster would have occurred with the six gathered in the club room without me. Thinking about it makes me a bit scared. The six gathering out of my sight...

'Terrifying.'

Even during regular class times, my heart is on edge with the six scattered. A club time with all of them together? I wouldn't be surprised if one of the five suddenly went crazy and started issuing duel challenges. I wouldn't be surprised, but it would be devastating. If someone starts challenging others to duels, I'll have to step in as the opposing battler. I'll really beat them up.

With that thought, I entered the club room and sat in my usual spot. I felt something unfamiliar in the club room. It seemed cleaner and subtly more luxurious.

As I turned my eyes to look more closely, I saw a letter on the nearest desk. It was from the vice-principal.

'What is this?'

Why would the person I saw this morning leave a letter? I should read it since it was sent.

[ I replaced the broken desks and, while at it, replaced everything. I did this while you were away to avoid any inconvenience to the inspector. I hope you are satisfied with the newly renovated club room. ]

"Ah."

True vice-principal...!

Reading the letter without much thought, I couldn't help but be moved. I was impressed by the vice-principal's artistic action, which went beyond the call of duty. This is it, this is a true person. A talent worthy of being the vice-principal of the Academy, the empire's highest educational institution!

If even one of the 1, 2, 3 bastards had done half as much as the vice-principal, my job satisfaction would have skyrocketed. I'd even carry them to and from work. I would have cherished them so much that I would have seriously considered them as candidates for the next department head when I retire.

Of course, it's a futile assumption. It's a dog's life.

"Hey? Big brother, you changed the desks?"

As soon as she entered the club room, Louise said this. As the most sincere member of the confectionery, she immediately noticed the change. The other five seemed to notice only after hearing Louise's words. This is normal, so there's no need to blame their intelligence.

"I replaced them because they were broken. I did the others while I was at it."

"By yourself? Why not with us?"

"It was the vice-principal, not me. If you see him, thank him."

"Okay!"

With her sky-blue eyes sparkling, Louise excitedly looked around the club room. She must want to check everything that has changed. Honestly, I couldn't tell much difference. It was subtly different, but I couldn't pinpoint what had changed.

As she led the five to inspect the club room, Louise turned to me, seemingly remembering something.

"By the way, big brother. You went out this morning, didn't you? Was there something going on?"

"Huh?"

What, how did you know?

Seeing the confusion in my eyes, Louise awkwardly twirled her hair and continued.

"I saw you going out of the school gate this morning."

"You express not paying attention in class like that."

Considering the location of the building where Louise was in class and the time I went out, she must have been staring out the window on purpose.

Looking at Louise, who wasted her class that I wanted to hear but couldn't, with a disapproving eye, she seemed embarrassed and turned away, laughing. Well, I'll let it go. What's the point of getting angry at you...

"So, where did you go? Is there somewhere to go around here?"

Whether to monitor my conversation with Louise or simply out of curiosity about the details, Ryutis interjected. Ryutis' eyes, which had awkwardly turned away, were again fixed on me.

"I went to the picnic site for a site visit."

"Why do a site visit for a short picnic? What problem could happen during the picnic?"

As she said this, I carefully looked at the area around Ryutis' neck.

I really want to give her a good slap. It might escalate into a diplomatic issue, but just one... I solved this problem right before it happened. Is this the right time to say that in front of the vice-principal who just solved it?

Being careful not to let the impulse take over, I gave a suitable answer and forced myself to look away. If the impulse overcomes reason, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will come after me with eyes wide open.

"That hill is supposed to have beautiful cherry blossoms!"

Turning my eyes from Ryutis, I saw Louise. Cherry blossoms, a flower that suits Louise. But "beautiful," it seems someone has been blowing smoke to get her to go there. Some dog must have done something to bother me...

"Oh, the one Irena mentioned last time? That's where it is."

I immediately knew the identity from Erih's words. Ah, Irena... that's her. The one who was next to Louise when I first met her.

Surprised by the unexpected identity, I quietly closed my mouth and only listened to Louise's excited words. If Irena was the cause, I couldn't blame her.

Irena. Louise's closest female friend. Not as much as the five participants in the Louise competition, but still one of the people I keep an eye on. That's why I check her status from time to time.

And her full name is Irena Yorun. The daughter of a family that was struck by lightning in a clear sky, as a de facto representative of the inspection department before being dispatched to the Academy.

Shit, Section Chief 3, you bastard. Your shit is still here.

The witness to a business-related accidental death, which I never expected to see, was a reminder of my guilt.

Author's Note (Author's Postscript)

Trivia: 故 Wengi (熊이, EP. 19 ~ EP. 20). A name no different from "Bear."

Thank you for reading this chapter!

Thank you, Young Chang, for your support!