Healing at the Academy convenience store

I was lost in thought after hearing Mille-feuille’s words.

Even though Kelters was initially defeated by Aila and learned a lesson, it made sense that he deviated from the main storyline when he defied Eve’s orders and ended up getting beaten. Considering this, something even worse could happen.

“Two weeks of suspension, right?”

“Yes. The student council president was very angry…”

Well, it makes sense.

Given Eve’s personality, she’s carrying twice the burden of others. Seeing a freshman not only defy orders but also fail to perform is disheartening.

Chances are high that ‘prejudice’ might activate, and Eve may view Kelters as trash. Although I know she’s not interested, if it becomes hostile, then what?

Even considering all of Jephryn’s 12 acts, the easiest route would undoubtedly be through Eve. But if it turns hostile…

“Um, senior?”

“No, it’s nothing. I was just lost in thought.”

“Yes, yes.”

Mille-feuille looked at me anxiously.

It’s also true for her. Although she dropped out at Act 1 Scene 3, this could be a catalyst for her awakening.

[This academy isn’t a bright place, you know.]

[But, or rather, therefore, we will go on for our fallen comrades!]

[That’s my belief, Kelters!]

Could Kelters say those cool lines right now? It might look like a childish fantasy.

The main story was something I had tried not to pay attention to, but as the story progresses, there’s talk of danger to the entire academy, dark organizations, demons, demon kings, and even world-destroying spaceships.

Damn that foolish Kelters guy. Just do it properly.

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

***

The next day.

Aila came by.

“What is it, Aila?”

“It’s the day for the rent!”

“…Right, it was 10 million Rin.”

“Yes.”

“Alright, wait a moment.”

As I said that, I took out the safe.

Let’s see, 10 million Rin. 10 million Rin…

“…Aila.”

“Yes?”

“Do you want to have a serious talk about our past and future?”

“…Heh?”

Aila’s eyes widened suddenly.

“I mean, we’re students… Wouldn’t it be better to talk about it after we graduate next year?”

“No, we must decide it now.”

“…Uh. Hoo. Alright. This Aila Tristar, the rebellious black obsidian that fears nothing in the world, will listen. Go ahead.”

Aila looked at me intently. Right, it’s a very important discussion.

“The rent for this building is too expensive.”

“…What?”

“I never understood why I bought this building in the first place, but I have no income, and a rent of 10 million Rin is excessive.”

“Wolfram, can I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

“Was the discussion about our past and future actually about the rent?”

“Isn’t it a sane conversation between a landlord and tenant?”

“…Alright. Fine. I will take the 10 million Rin. I won’t reduce it by a single Rin.”

“What? Didn’t you hear me? I said it’s unreasonable.”

Aila slammed her palm on the table and stood up.

“Wolfram.”

“Yes?”

“Rebellion is inherently unreasonable. There’s no such thing as a reasonable rebellion!”

With that, Aila left the convenience store. Her words were cool, but…

“Why is she so angry?”

***

The next day was a free day, so I started my business in front of the freshman dorm during lunchtime.

I had intended to become a bad man who steals money from young women, but what I ended up finding was a knight who steals my money.

“One full set of donuts, please. I have the money!”

Saying this, Nephti took out 20,000 Rin, and I nodded my head.

“Just wait a moment. I’ll make it right away.”

“Okay.”

If you have money, you’re a customer. Period.

Anyway, Nephti took the donuts, and we started chatting as usual. The first topic was the rent for our shop.

“I see. The rent is quite expensive.”

“Nephti, do you think so too?”

“With one million Rin a month, a family could live quite comfortably, right?”

“… That’s true. But Nephti.”

“Hm. What is it?”

While chewing the donut, the knight of faith nodded as if to encourage me to speak. Even though she’s a paying customer, I still had questions.

“Why are you here?”

“It’s lunchtime now?”

“No, I mean isn’t this a first-year area? And what’s with that outfit?”

“Oh, I’m currently doing fieldwork.”

“Fieldwork?”

“Yes. I am doing part-time work to repair the first-year dormitory that the graduate student wrecked.”

“I see.”

“I get paid 70,000 Rin per day.”

“Interesting. I can’t do manual labor.”

“Right, with your physical condition, why not try intellectual work?”

“Intellectual work?”

“Yes. I heard the Magic department is recruiting for intellectual tasks. Have you checked that area? You could also ask the student council president.”

Was there such an event? I’m pretty sure there wasn’t any event like that in Act 1 Scene 2.

“I don’t remember anything like that.”

“I do. I’d never forget anything related to money.”

Hmm.

Well, if you put it that way, there’s nothing more to say.

Doing money-related work in the magic department, huh.

Just as I was thinking that, a voice came from outside the door.

“Hey, you! Time’s up! Stop chatting and get to work!”

“Yes! I’m coming now!”

Nephti clapped her hands a few times and nodded her head.

“It’s time to work. I’ll be going now.”

Looking at Nephti, from her hard hat to her leather gloves and cross-band, she’s literally dressed for construction work. She used to eat ‘dust meals’ just like that. A sense of nostalgia hits me.

“You’ve got a lot on your plate. Take a few more to share with your coworkers.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Is money still tight at home?”

“No, this is for the longsword I broke. Can’t Jephryn provide something better than standard-issue gear?”

Saying that, Nephti bowed her head.

“…”

I thought you were sending money home.

Give back my donuts.

***

Anyway, based on the information I got from Nephti, I tried to think about what could be going on right now. But I couldn’t put my finger on anything.

Act 1 Scene 2 was an internal story of the first year, and Kelters wanted to eat a late-night snack, so he snuck out with his friends and returned to the dormitory while dodging the guards.

The guy currently on suspension wouldn’t be able to do that, and if he did, he might actually get expelled.

When in doubt, it’s best to ask the person involved.

Just as Eve came into the convenience store, I asked.

“Is there any work being done at the Magic Department right now?”

“Ha. You think I’d give you that information? What makes you think—”

“Five bags of candy.”

“Hmm. If it’s this season, then maybe preparation for midterms and practicals? Apart from the usual curriculum, that’s all there might be? I heard they’re preparing it in the secret base in the north.”

“I see.”

Hmm, so far it matches my thoughts.

Then what else…

“Is there really nothing else?”

“Why are you asking so much about the annual event when you’re not even a student council president?”

“Two more bags.”

“Hmm. Well? Really nothing out of the ordinary… Ah, right.”

“What is it? Come on, spill it.”

“Come to think of it, it’s not exclusive to the magic department, but there is an annual event.”

“Annual event?”

“Don’t you know? They did it last year too, the Jephryn Student Competition.”

“Ah.”

I finally realized.

That’s right, there was that.

***

My childhood.

Under the grandiose pretext of cultivating digital knowledge among children, the orphanage had a computer.

Of course, the specs of that computer were not good, and it was filled only with classic games that could run on low specs.

Among them was a classic nurturing game called ‘Princess Making.’

The reason I suddenly bring this up is because the Jephryn Student Competition has aspects that remind me of the nostalgia of that ‘Princess Making’ game.

In ‘Princess Making,’ under the pretext of an annual autumn harvest festival, the girl I raise participates in the competition and brings home prize money. This is quite profitable, so every year she competes according to her development stage and wins prize money.

Jephryn is the same. No matter which route you take, the Jephryn Student Competition is held at the beginning of each year. In other words, a seasonal event. It happens without fail every season at this time.

‘I might have overlooked it, thinking from a first-year student’s perspective.’

If you participate in this competition as a first-year student, naturally, winning a prize would be the limit. Just like in ‘Princess Making,’ where you don’t get good results unless you participate in the competition at the age of 10.

I’ve been caught off guard, to say the least.

“From what I remember, the total prize money is 10 million Rin.”

First place gets 5 million, second place 3 million, third place 2 million.

In the game, the money is deposited directly into your account, without any withholding tax or income tax deductions. It’s a sweet event that, by original standards, I plundered every year starting from my second year as Kelters.

If I aim for it, it’s 5 million.

The goal is to definitely take 5 million.

I will skip both the martial arts and magic tournaments. How would one proceed with those?

I will also skip the authority of Maestro and the sincerity of Yggdrasil. I don’t want to have weapon training with dwarves or a sewing contest with elves.

Then the only section I should aim for is just one.

‘The only possible category for participation is Magic Craft.’

A battlefield where magical engineering tools are made to compete against each other.

And in that battlefield, the one who always faces me in the finals when I play as Kelters is the senior of the third year.

“Merchant Regina Ciel.”

The main heroine of the merchant route and a dangerous older woman who likes to mess around with Kelters.

And then,

[Goodbye. Aila Tristar. Kelters. Execute.]

[…Yes, senior. Goodbye.]

[…Regina, Regina Ciel!]

The heroine who leads Aila to ruin along with Kelters in the third act.

Because the genius Aila Tristar never won against her, she became known for always coming in second, and Regina is the most dangerous woman among the third-year students.

‘So, Regina Ciel is the enemy.’

I chuckled.

It was worth trying.