For a Friend, We Go to War
There was one class that was at least somewhat less burdensome alongside the divine beast lessons.
"Today... we'll learn... how to gather... herbs in the forest... while avoiding... divine beasts... and spirits... and how to brew... potions... anytime, anywhere..."
Basic Alchemy. If you asked other students if they wanted to learn alchemy, they'd refuse outright, screaming that it was too hard. But for me, it was relatively easy.
Especially lately, with all the theory lessons—they were surprisingly fun. Learning about elven lifestyles, things only elves could sense and experience, and how they avoided or befriended divine beasts and spirits, and so on.
"Any... questions... perhaps...?"
"Professor?"
"What... is it...?"
"Is this on the exam?"
"Yes... memorize... all the theory... thoroughly..."
Murdersonal's beautiful face twisted in a strange way. Hmm... was that a smile?
"If you don't... you might... regret it... later..."
A chill ran down my spine for some reason.
I rubbed the back of my neck gently.
What the hell? Why do I feel like we'll be surviving in the forest or something?
...Nah, just my imagination.
No matter how much they turned the academy into a forest, there were limits. It was a massive island, sure, but limits existed.
So it'd be fine.
...Probably.
As the summer festival approached, you could see the professors and assistant professors getting busier by the day.
Rushing through lessons, preparing for the festival—it was chaos, like the soles of their feet were on fire.
The students were squeezed into their schedules too, but still prepping for the festival.
"Got all the theater props ready?"
"Of course! I splurged on the expensive stuff!"
"Awesome! I secured the spot, so let's head there and rehearse."
"Vocals! Sound check!"
"Got it! Song start!"
"Aaaaaa~"
Aigoo, such fresh-faced kids.
I watched the rehearsing students with a warm smile.
One sweaty guy practicing hard locked eyes with me.
"What the— a first-year?"
"Why's a first-year here? You seeing things?"
"Nah, that's the famous one."
Hey, I am kinda famous!
But calling me a first-year?
Wait... these guys weren't first-years...?
"Sorry, but this is second-years and up only."
Oh, they were upperclassmen?
"Aigoo, my bad. Thought you were my friends. I'll head out then."
"Hold up."
The second-year playing vocals stepped forward and grabbed my wrist. Eek! Sexual harassment!
"You ever done theater...?"
"Nah, got prior commitments!"
"Wait! Kid!"
Close call!
Watching's fun, but doing it? Hell no.
Act? Not a chance!
"?"
I spotted Professor Murdersonal diligently crafting something with the assistants.
What the heck was that?
Hmm, looks like a gorilla... or a zombie?
"Professor?"
"Eugene... student...? What... brings you...?"
"Is that for the festival...?"
"Dodging... ancient monsters..."
"......"
Why the hell would you...?
"We're doing a restaurant!"
And why are you suddenly on fire?
I have no idea what she saw, but Ashy slammed the table, her passion blazing.
Eodukshini snatched the nearly flying food with some weird skill, but I stole a few pieces before it could shove them all in its mouth.
"Watch it."
"Oops, sorry! Anyway, opening a restaurant's been my dream! We could run a big one together!"
"We've known each other less than a year?"
"Shh!"
Hey, dreams can form in months.
"Doesn't that sound fun?"
"What about club prep?"
"I'm ready for anything!"
"Sure. Don't whine to me later about losing and why I made you do this."
"I can handle anything!"
Ashy declared confidently, then flashed a sly grin and leaned in close.
"So what're you ordering? Something naughty?"
"...Pervert demon!"
"Eek!"
Why me!
I shielded with Eodukshini, and Ashy shook her face off and backed away.
"Anyway, I really wanna do a restaurant. So let's do it!"
"Just for the festival?"
"After graduation, if we're bored, we could open one together! With a house upstairs!"
Hmm...
Not bad.
Might as well enjoy the festival—better than doing nothing.
"What about you guys?"
"I'm... fine with it."
"Your club's not busy?"
"Not really... They're nice enough. Just kinda unmotivated."
"Your club name..."
Outcast Romance Association
"......"
Why'd you join a place like that...?
"How's club lately? Fun?"
Adria flinched.
"?"
I'd asked casually, but her reaction was off.
She avoided my eyes, glancing away.
What the...?
"Hey?"
"Uh, yeah. Yeah. It's not bad at all."
"I asked if you're busy."
"Of course not busy!"
"......"
Something's weird. But I didn't pry—changed the subject.
I'll look into it later.
"How about we sell gukbap at our restaurant?"
"You're insane?"
No, why not gukbap!
Shh. Shush.
I secretly tailed Adria.
She glanced around, then slipped into the clubroom.
Sophisticated Culture Club
"......"
I activated the invisibility artifact I'd gotten from Professor Nipella earlier.
-Eugene, don't use this in the women's baths or anything.
-Professor.
-?
-Adria, Jenella, and Ashy barge into my room all the time, treating it like theirs. They dress way too casually. Do I really need to avoid them and head to the baths...?
-...Sorry about that.
I darted in just before Adria closed the door.
Hmm. Lots of girls.
No one greeted Adria as she entered.
She sat cautiously, gauging the room.
"So, shall we discuss the upcoming inter-club tournament?"
The highest-status-looking student spoke up.
Second-year upperclassman. No, from her clothes... at least noble. High-ranking too.
Counts and above don't chase brands. Custom stuff, no logos usually.
If everyone's in pricey brands and she's not...
"Any good ideas?"
"I dug up info on the format."
"Oh? Spill."
"Mostly team coop games..."
She's being iced out.
Adria's problem?
No.
...It's politics.
The students were shunning her.
Ignoring her, treating her like she wasn't there—even sweating to avoid her input.
Treating a princess like this?
...If a powerful rival princess backs them, it's different.
That leader bitch. I hate her guts. Daring to bully my friend?
This is politics, huh?
Fine.
Sophisticated? I'll smash it all. Turn it to bubbles.
Dirty memories surfaced.
"Then..."
"Adria, as a newbie, you don't need to join in. Alright, everyone up. Meeting's over."
"“Yes! Good work!!”"
"Adria, you clean up. Newbies gotta do that much."
"......Yes."
I wanted to wreck the place, but if I did, Adria'd have to clean—so I held back.
Instead, memorized every face.
"Mosik. Round up the kids."
I summoned the club right away. A few days was enough to turn feral idiots into decent ones.
Academy entrants at least—they bulked up fast, progressed quick.
Now? Perfect. Enough to smash political punks!
"All here."
"Hands up if you can hit girls here."
"......"
"None? When one's short, another covers."
Whoosh!
"No complaints if I lower 'em. Hands up if you're noble here."
Shh...
"No complaints. Hands up if you can handle your parents' fuckups."
"Uh, Eugene?"
"?"
"Where we going?"
"Tool shed."
"Huh?"
"Some bitch touched my friend. Nah, bitches."
My eyes blazed.
"I don't tolerate shit or bullying. So today, I go to war for my friend. Got it?"
"......"
"All set?"
"......"
"No answer? Want me to avenge you instead?"
"No!!!"
"Good! Grab tools!"
The gangster vibe made one kid tear up.
"I-I'm the last direct descendant of the Volcanic Sect..."
"They wouldn't want a wimp like you."
Weird obsessions, my ass—Volcanic Sect? I snorted, hoisting a tool.
"N-No...!"
"Volcanic Sect my ass, more like Bandit Den! Charge! Burn it all!"
"Woooo!!"
These punks are nobles too!
Nobles fight nobles, you idiots!
Adria dragged her exhausted body back to the dorm.
Normally she'd go to Eugene's, but...
Since joining the club... it felt awkward. Scared he'd figure out her secret.
Bzzz. Bzzz.
Her pager lit up. She fought the urge to smash it.
Fucking bitch.
Megan, heir to Count Gegvolg. If the vacant ducal seat opened, they'd be top contenders.
Untouchable on her own, and she was her sister's ally, not hers.
God, she hated it.
Wanna quit it all.
As a newbie, they piled on chores and errands...
Even as a princess, low succession rank, no faction—hard to fight back.
To professors or principal? No dice.
Eugene might... but
Don't wanna burden him.
If she told him, he'd help. But even Eugene couldn't fix this easily.
If he stepped in, it'd be violence—and he might get hurt bad.
Just endure a bit. Once their excuse to bully vanished, she could flip it.
Knock knock.
Clubroom door. Clatter inside.
"?"
-Come in.
"Huh?"
Not the usual voice. Wait, it was—but not supposed to be here.
No way?
Adria flung the door open.
"Wh-what...?"
The room, plastered with luxury to flaunt nobility, was trashed.
Like a storm hit—smashed everywhere, stuff scattered.
And in the center.
Eugene, thug-style, spitting on the floor, club over shoulder. Filthy Megan on knees, hands up.
"Hands down properly. Not listening?"
"I-I'm holding them..."
"What kinda second-year's this weak? Barely an hour. Folks'd think I had you lifting weights."
"N-No..."
"Straight!"
Megan's trembling arms shot up at Eugene's shout.
Adria's head spun.
Am I seeing this? Megan on knees... and Eugene did that?
"Hey, you psycho!!"
"What? Why?"
"You can't do that to a senior!!"
"It's fine, no problem. Right?"
"Y-Yeah..."
No way that prideful noble's saying that?
What the hell happened?
Beat her down first...?
"Now. Apologize."
Megan dropped hands, bowed hastily.
"Deeper."
"Th-this much...?"
"Deeper. Forehead doesn't have to touch, but it should."
"???"
Touch or not? What skit is this?
Am I missing something?
Her forehead barely missed the floor as Megan stammered.
"S-Sorry... the vice principal made me, no choice..."
"No excuses. Before I burn that ass-kissing tongue."
"S-Sorry..."
"Not to me—to her."
"S-Sorry..."
"N-No... you don't have to..."
"Nah, I gotta accept it."
"But..."
Earlier you said no need?
The absurdity faded; Adria's head spun again.
Evening. Megan dragged her aching body to the dorm.
Waiting maids gasped at her state.
"M-Miss..."
"......Out. All of you."
They fled without a word.
Years of service—they knew not to when told.
Worrying might get them—and families—fired.
Click.
Door shut; someone entered.
Megan turned, cursing inwardly.
"Vice principal. This contradicts what you said."
"No idea what you mean."
Slick old bastard.
If not for his sway in the first princess faction—biggest since her academy enrollment—she'd never deal with him.
Megan shrieked.
"No word on clashing with the War God's priest!"
Their contract: Isolate tenth princess Adria.
With clause: No interference from the War God's priest who bisected an ancient monster.
But?
"Breach of contract."
The priest snapped when he saw his friend bullied—charged like a gangster boss!
True to his rep, brutally violent. Froze her on sight, then bats, swords, fists flew without hesitation.
Never hit properly, even by nobles—pure shock.
Hate it.
Thought he was okay-looking at first!
"Handle your vice principal shit."
"Contract's not done."
"You broke it first. I said no beef with the War God's priest!"
The vice principal frowned at her outburst.
What noble acts like that...?
Nobles were noblest. No blood purer.
Only royals above—among them, those embracing him were truly noble.
Gods? Couldn't descend, just divine power.
Mana covered that. Humans superior—nobles most.
Yes. Must be.
"Just a student. Disciplinary committee tomorrow."
"Fine. Try it."
Megan turned away, head throbbing.
"I'm staying out."