Chapter 116
Chapter 116
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: Countdown to the End
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The student council room's warehouse opened.
Not Wolfram's old trash heap from before, but the real Jefrin student council warehouse.
"Which warehouse is this?"
"Number 4."
"I see."
Just like I'd heard about in the story.
Warehouse 4 probably had a ton of magic items.
It had been a while, so maybe I'd take a nostalgic look at some old gear.
"I'm warning you, if you take even one thing, you'll really get expelled."
"...I know."
I'm not taking anything. I'm just looking, I swear. You trust me, right?
I lit the dusty warehouse, the air thick with the smell of age, and took in the treasures neatly arranged on the shelves, divided into precise sections.
"This is Warehouse 4?"
"...You've been here plenty of times yourself. Why ask me?"
"Hm."
I couldn't hide my surprise as I glanced around.
"Nefti, over here."
"...Pardon? Yes?"
"You need to try on the Royal Guard special uniform. Or are you planning to change in front of Wolfram?"
"I'll follow. Please let me."
"Good. Wolfram, you stay put."
"I was planning to browse the warehouse."
"...And end up slipping something into your pocket?"
"You think I could get past your mana detection? We can add a scan on the way out."
"......Fair enough. Do whatever."
"I will."
"But if you come near our side, I'll kill you."
I shrugged, and Eve took Nefti's hand, heading to the corner of the warehouse.
I turned the other way and started exploring.
"It's organized impeccably, but..."
The quality was... disappointingly low.
"Shouldn't the False Holy Sword have been here? And the Azure Crimson Necklace over there? Where's the Black Lotus Folding Fan?"
This place was supposed to hold tier 5 treasures or higher, but instead there were tier 7 iron swords and tier 8 necklaces. Even the must-farm number one item from this warehouse, the Black Lotus Folding Fan, was missing.
Were these items just not in this world? Impossible to obtain?
I knew life was precious and no one dared challenge the dangers anymore, but seeing the state of this treasure vault really worried me.
In D/Z SAGA, depending on the route, heaven allied with you, demons invaded, or the Black Flag rebelled.
Some incident or accident that turned all of Jefrin upside down happened at least once per route.
Of course, that might make me think I should back the current "Hero of Light Kelters," but what plot logic would justify that?
Besides, I'd cleared every route with a Kelters-less party. I was the originator of the level 1 Kelters run and the perfect runner.
But...
"If the student council warehouse is this sparse, it'll mess up gear setups later."
In Eve's route act 9, she declares, "Now all of Jefrin must unite our strength!" opens the warehouse, and arms the students with the gear inside. That scene hit hard, but handing out rusty iron swords and spears? Give me back my.
"Hm. No helping it. Time for the bloodline mate to step in."
Couldn't be helped.
I'd have to handle this.
I might not fill the whole warehouse, but I could at least gear up the kids around me.
That's peak bro support, warm and fuzzy. Be grateful.
Gear-setting and carrying in RPGs? Not easy stuff.
"Wolfram! What are you doing way over there?"
"Hm. On my way."
Eve's voice called from afar, and when I got there, Nefti was...
"Weren't you changing? No items?"
She stood there in her regular uniform.
"There were items. Enchantments done."
"Then?"
"She said she's not ready yet."
Ready?
Ready for what?
"I-I'll explain, Senior."
"Hm."
"It... it's such a gracious outfit, truly beautiful. More like a whole new uniform—Jefrin style, but a dress too, with magical defense... I thought, this is what the imperial Royal Guard wears."
I tilted my head.
"From memory, it's got 【Slight HP Recovery Boost】, 【Defense Enhancement】, 【Magic Resistance Boost】, and 【Auto-Repair】."
"Yes... yes! Worth a fortune, top-tier."
Yeah, yeah.
Looksmaxxing gear.
"So, when I wear it in front of you, Senior... I want it to be when my heart is set."
"I see."
"Yes. When I fully decide to become a Royal Guard without hesitation... I want to stand in it with my conviction."
Ah, got it.
Looks great, but she's not ready to commit to Royal Guard.
Whether she chooses it or not, it's hers already.
Still, she'll need to shine in adventures ahead.
What if she tanks in that?
Hm... that could be an issue.
"Exact timeline?"
"...P-Pardon?"
"How long do I wait?"
"D-Do I have to say?"
"I need to prepare too."
"...Ah, right. Then... by finals end. Yes... should be possible."
"Got it. I'll hold till then."
Job change to Royal Guard might add effects; need to check gear for her till then... Busy times.
"Done talking? Let's go."
"Hm."
"You didn't snag anything while alone?"
Eve stared; I shrugged.
"What does your mana say?"
"...Tch. Guess you're clean. Let's go."
Eve and Nefti led; I trailed last out of the warehouse.
"Eve, drinking mana potions?"
"...Obviously. Hmph."
"Last staff okay?"
"...Three magic effects, top-grade. ...Thanks for that."
"Good."
Idle chit-chat.
Meanwhile, lagging at the rear, I silently pocketed the item I'd placed along the "exit path."
Conversation drowned the sound.
Dexterity 14 delivers.
Eve and Nefti none the wiser.
"Score."
"What?"
"Nothing."
I'll craft and repay later.
For real.
"Mana 21 on finals... how to hit 21..."
"Top finals... beat them all for Senior..."
"Finals answer... what should I..."
The next day, the convenience store was haunted by finals' specters.
Oh my, what's this?
Love this meritocracy. Our kids should compete globally with creativity, right?
Irrelevant to me, groans like "Ughhh grooo waaah oooh" became the store BGM, students' study-weary screams booming in Dolby surround in my ears.
"Is this the Plains of the Dead?"
"Rudika."
Rudika Hassan Shadow had arrived.
Plains of the Dead... northwest region, yeah.
She knows her stuff.
"Wolfram. Doing well?"
"Hm. What's up?"
"Ah, nothing much. Last sauce felt 'familiar.'"
"......"
Rudika shrugged.
Rudika Hassan Shadow... senses fading, so only spicy registers.
Last sauce? Thrilling, tasty spicy, her verdict.
"......I see."
"Yeah."
She shrugged lightly, chuckled, continued.
"Kinda scary—will everything lose thrill?"
"......"
I held my tongue.
Not my place to pry.
Silent bond.
This gloomy vibe feels mature. Nice.
"Why the mass freakout? Group debuff?"
Rudika broke it first.
Willful one.
"Finals soon, probably."
"......Ah, right. Makes sense. Finals matter."
"You don't think so?"
She shrugged.
"If you cared about grades, you'd be in Knight Division."
"True."
Her year rank: solid mid-upper.
"Envy them. Stressed over finals, suffering... jealous."
"That your kink?"
"Not like that!"
Ahem, she cleared her throat.
"Jefrin's just a means to me."
"Means."
"Yeah. For grades or school fun, I'd pick fitting Knight Division, not strutty Magic Division."
"...Hassan Shadow's perennial weakness: magic."
"Hm. Assassination's tricking ki, closing in, slash. Erasing ki? Impossible."
"It's about fooling senses. Ciela spatial control, Eve's overwhelming mana, Trista's perfect black crystal barrier—nightmares for assassins."
"...You know your stuff. Impressive, Wolfram."
"Hm."
Yeah, you wrecked me most in maps and mock battles.
Anyway.
"Seeing them? Jealous. Nothing fun but spicier stuff."
"......"
Tsk, kid.
Don't say edgy stuff in front of grown-up.
No, no. Youth should laugh when leaves spin thrice.
"Really nothing?"
"...Hm?"
"Nothing at all?"
"......"
"Sleeping Mountains expedition together. Eastern Forest golem smash after. Heavenly Plateau conquest next. Not fun?"
"...Ah."
"Fun, right?"
She laughed, "Aha."
"Fun. Yeah... really fun."
"Rudika, no right to judge your gloom."
"......"
Her fading senses tied to Loengrins.
Rudika Hassan Shadow, Shadow clan: empire's shadow dagger officially.
Whatever that meant, "empire's" prefix usually meant imperial trouble here.
"Personal take: dulled senses ≠ dead emotions. I had fun then... Rudika Hassan Shadow."
"Yeah. Me too, Wolfram von Loengrin."
"Then seek more fun. With or without me, alone even—that's the way."
"......Can I?"
"Of course. World overflows with fun."
My 20k-hour game.
Can't be boring.
I guarantee.
"......Like?"
"Study hard first. Rudika Hassan Shadow. Ace finals?"
"What... that my fun?"
"Try to know. Do it, find out. I'll grind too."
"......Yeah. Right. I'll go all out."
She laughed heartily.
"Gotta go, Rudika out."
"Hm."
"Wolfram! Mood lifted tons. Practical's been heavy, but you cheered me! Go all out too!"
"Always do."
She left.
I approached the still groaning trio.
"You three. Okay?"
"...I'm fine."
"Longworm... no, long guard... royal long..."
"Beat five. For my goal. Beat all, beating, after beating..."
Nefti garbled like brain overload; Milmyu stared at her fist, lost; only Aila, low energy, replied.
"Got it. Drink?"
"Hm... sweet and cool, please. Wolfram."
"On it."
Caramel smoothie fetched; Aila chugged cup-first, straw aside.
Puha! Lips lined with smoothie.
"Aila. Lips."
"L-Lips?"
"Wipe."
"...Ah, yes."
She dabbed with face towel.
Sugar hit; near-normal energy, she sighed at the zombies.
"...Looks like everyone's stressing practicals."
"Seems so. You too."
"Yeah. Jefrin rules: finals include duels. Saw Rudika glance in?"
"Hm. Yeah. You lot looked undead; no greet."
"...Hm. Scouting? Or thinks we need more?"
"What?"
"Worthy foes. Heh."
?
Aila's summary: Rudika's finals opponent here.
Inside: Milmyu, Nefti, Aila.
Milmyu 1st year, Nefti 2nd.
Last: Aila Trista.
"Misunderstanding? You duel Ciela lady; no 3rd-year Magic here..."
"What? Wolfram?"
"?"
"Top 3rd-year Magic ranks: two. Rudika Hassan Shadow... and her opponent."
Aila poked my chest with finger, grinned.
"Wolfram von Loengrin."
...
......
..........Me?