Chapter 25
Chapter 25
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Dormitory Ghost Incident (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
D/Z SAGA, Chapter 1, Act 1.
Subtitle: Dormitory Ghost Incident.
It's a profoundly meaningful episode that foreshadows the harsh life awaiting in Jefrin.
The episode itself is simple.
Rumors spread among the first-year freshmen that a ghost appears in the dormitory every night, and Eve comes to investigate.
Then something ghost-like really shows up, and they team up with Kelters to take it down.
It's just a lighthearted opener for Act 1, Chapter 1—mere drops in the ocean compared to the story ahead—but it holds a crucial branching point.
In short, the heroines' futures diverge based on the Act 1 choices.
Since the original game locks you into a heroine per route and branches endings based on your path, Kelters's actions naturally shape their futures.
Do well, and their affection maxes out, triggering ultimate awakenings and personal growth. Ignore them, and they veer off into other routes, twisted.
And Eve takes the biggest hit.
If Kelters takes the Magic Division route and becomes her knight, she becomes the Saintess of Light. But on Knight Division or hidden routes, she turns a bit off-color—or worse, snaps completely.
And in Act 1, Chapter 1.
If you resolve the incident before Eve arrives or fail to help her...
"If you enter the Knight Division route without managing Eve's affection, her behavior pattern is the most messed up one, I remember."
Dark princess.
Tainted light.
A petty, annoying student council president route that's just a hassle.
Oh my, how could anyone get even more irritating? you might think, but it happens. Somehow the annoyance just multiplies...
"That Eve was kinda like a total loser."
A narrow-minded person who judges everything by stats.
That's the ending for Student Council President Eve von Loengrin if you skip her route and deny her awakening trigger.
I still remember it.
'First-years average 12. Second-years 13. Third-years 14. Anyone below that gets expelled en masse.'
Yeah. She said that. And not just talk—she actually did it, wiping them all out.
Because of that, the late-bloomer party members for Hidden Route Act 4? Zero recruits.
Third-years at 14. If it stays like this, everyone under 14 gets the boot.
"......14?"
Eh?
Even now it's annoying, but without Kelters it'd be worse—Eve von Loengrin, my Imperial Bloodline registry mate and, unbelievably, legally my little sister.
They say we siblings were born unable to stand each other, but with all the authority skewed her way, her merciless blade will cut down her big brother.
"Awakening doesn't have to happen in Act 1, Chapter 1. You can hit 14 by Act 4 easily enough."
All stats at 14 is a scramble, but not impossible.
Even if others are low, pump one main stat to 16 and Eve'll spare you.
Yeah.
Eve will let me live.
"......Bullshit."
Beg my little sister for my life?
Rather than grovel to an Imperial Bloodline registry mate for a pathetic existence, I'd choose death!
Wolfram, sure, you've got no stats, no stamina, no nothing—but where's your pride?
Wolfram von Loengrin, Stamina 2, full send into inferno one-shot hell.
Entrust life to killing? Nah, won't live a life begging for survival.
Get to 16 and beg permission to survive in the academy?
No interest in that pathetic existence.
The path is clear.
That evening, Aila dropped by the convenience store.
She stared blankly at me practicing my signage lettering, then tilted her head.
"So, Wolfram, what exactly are you doing?"
"Honing myself to survive on my own."
"Pardon?"
"Gotta raise one stat to 17."
"Why?"
"So it's not pathetic."
"........?"
Aila kept tilting her head like she couldn't grasp it, then lost interest and started sipping the energy drink she called "Rebellion of the Five Illusory Stars."
"Anyway, that repetitive task actually has meaning?"
"Yep. It affects Craft."
"Ah, the stat boost from repetition. I know it. But mine never budged no matter how much magic practice..."
"Stats get farther apart each time one rises. You know that. Ten thousand mages at Magic Power 15 couldn't touch one at 19."
"Ugh, yeah. Heh."
Aila looked oddly pleased. Why?
Oh. Her Magic Power's 19, duh.
Anyway.
"But low stats rise easier from repetition."
"Oh? You can do simple hard work like that?"
"Effort-built Stat 1 equals Talent-built Stat 1 numerically, but usage level differs. You've used it more."
"Yes, spot on."
I said that and resumed my repetition. Aila watched with a faint smile, just like Nefti.
What's with these girls?
But scribbling and erasing signage mockups, even perfectly straight like with a ruler, won't boost Craft easily.
In D/Z SAGA, repetition stat gains need insane volume or high difficulty.
System probably deems signage low-difficulty.
So, up the difficulty...
"Ah, Donut Senpai. Thanks!"
"Itadakimasu! Thank you!"
"Sure."
Making donuts for first-years, I pondered.
How to massively boost efficiency.
More money's nice, and stocking the store...
As I fried donuts, a weird shriek came from behind.
"Eek. Eeeeek!"
"Wh-what?!"
Monster inside Jefrin?
Too early for that episode?
I whipped around. There: terrified first-years, and at their gaze's end—it.
Disheveled hair, ragged clothes, trembling hands.
I sighed deeply.
Why's this here?
"M-monster? Senpai, is that a monster?"
I shook my head, calming the first-year.
Don't worry. That's no monster.
It's...
"A grad student."
The frightened fledglings left muttering "That's a grad student?" "How could a person..."
Soon, just me, the grad student, empty cart, four donuts and a shake demolished. He exhaled heavily.
Good we knew each other, or I'd have called security.
Anyway, this zombie-like dawn visitor at freshman dorms now? No clue why.
Grad student's name: Zolf.
He kept thanking me.
"Tha-thank you. Thank you."
"Whatever. Why here? Lab time, right?"
"......Y-yes."
Zolf flinched, nodding frantically.
Hm.
Nefti mentioned after cart shift recently:
【Yesterday, another one regressed mentally and fled the lab, vowing to relive freshman year.】
"Fled the lab?"
"......How'd you know?"
"Rumors. Some grad student regressed, ditched for freshman days."
"N-no! I'm fine. Just... wanna go back to first-year."
That's what crazy means.
Anyway, grad student at a sales spot scares off first-years.
And per "this world's" lore, bad spot for him.
"Magic Grad, right? Not good for you here."
"Y-yeah. I know it's a dumb dream."
"Not that. Bad for kids' education."
"Huh?"
"Magic Power what? No need. Grads min 16."
"Yes."
"And grad-level manifestation, willpower, control—freshmen can't dream of matching."
"...Yes."
"A strong-willed mage prowls unprotected freshmen sans mental barriers or spells. Know what happens?"
"......Infection."
Exactly.
Jefrin first-years in common dorms for refined greenhouse cultivation, basically.
Bar few prodigies, first-years' magic weak.
Meaning: they don't know mana use, constantly leak it, shove back in, chaos.
Foreign wills slip in during? Bad for health. I.e., fledglings infectable by grad darkness.
Cheers to Jefrin brass pitting monsters like Aila against Kelters. Abusing commoners. Insane.
"Got it. I'll go back. Gotta. Run now, only 33 million lin student debt left. Back to Lantis Prof's lab. Yeah. New experiments too. Ha... haha......"
From that prof's lab, huh.
New research gig.
Heart aches.
Sorry.
"......"
"Haha. First-years so bright. I gave up their four-year grad ring. Haha... Studied three more for academic achievement... degree... ...Heh, hehehe."
Tragic story, but bad for kids too. No rebuttal.
"Uh, y'know. Here."
"Pardon?"
"D-donuts, one set. On me. Hang in there."
"...Thank you."
That evening.
Detoured Maestro for supplies, holed up making knick-knacks.
"Oh."
Slight Craft effect. Nice phrasing.
Stacks up to guaranteed +1 stat, per memory.
Probably 0.01 to 0.1 range. System-random, but around there.
"Not bad."
From Maestro: basic accessory kit, fancy diploma paper with seals.
Crafted fake ring, then brush out text on paper.
【 】
【This person has completed doctoral studies at our academy's graduate program...】
Hm. My handwriting flows masterfully, official-looking.
Fool someone.
"...Came to check what you're doing, and you're forging official docs?"
Sudden creepy voice.
Look up: Eve glaring, incredulous.
"Forging? No plans."
"Then what? Fake grad to scam a job? Ring looks real enough."
"...Hmph. Just a hobby."
"Why?"
"You know how brutal Jefrin grad school's."
"......Yeah."
Low pay, prof slaves. Lab phantoms.
"Selling these as accessories, mental solace."
"Huh?"
"Stare at it, feels like you graduated. Comfort. Academy fertilizer, long-term."
"Hey, Wolfram."
Eve shook head, continued.
"That's called forging official docs."
"......"
Is it?
Maybe.
I shrugged, finished PhD cert and slipped in ring.
"...Sigh. Anyway, here for something."
"What?"
"As Student Council President, gonna exorcise the 'ghost' in first-year common dorm tomorrow... None in your term?"
I paused silently, then casually shook head.
"None. First I've heard."
"Really? Okay, I'll trust you."
"Good luck."
"Yeah, real hassle. Ghosts? As if."
Eve shook head, left store. I sighed softly at her back.
"It really begins."
Latest tomorrow night.
Main story Act 1 kicks off.