Chapter 33
Chapter 33
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Rent Woes and the Prize Money
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Milmyu's words sent me deep into thought.
Sure, Kelters getting schooled by Aila early on was one thing, but he'd defied Eve's orders, barged in playing the hero, taken one hit, and flown off. Naturally, that derailed him from the main story. But now I realized something even worse could happen.
"Two weeks' suspension, right?"
"Yes. I heard the Student Council President was furious..."
And she had every reason to be.
Eve was the type to carry twice the burden anyone else would. In a situation where she felt powerless, a first-year disobeys orders, adds to her load, and doesn't even pull off anything noteworthy...
There was a high chance her 'prejudice' skill would trigger, making her see Kelters as trash.
I knew she wasn't interested in him, but outright hostility? That could be trouble.
Out of all twelve acts in Jefrin, the Eve route had the lowest difficulty, no question. Hostility...
"Um, senpai?"
"No, it's nothing. Just lost in thought for a moment."
"Y-Yes, sure."
Milmyu stared at me, trembling with unease.
Her too. She gets eliminated in 1-3, but that sparks Kelters' awakening.
This academy isn't all sunshine and rainbows.
But we'll push forward for our fallen classmates who couldn't chase their dreams!
That's my conviction—Kelters' conviction!
She delivers those cool lines, after all.
Could Kelters pull that off now? He'd just come off like a chuunibyou kid.
I'd tried ignoring the main story, but past the mid-game, the whole academy's in peril—dark organizations, demons, demon lord, world-ending foreshadowing.
Damn that chuuni Coolpis. Do it right for once.
I sighed, eyeing the fidgeting pink fledgling before me.
But I couldn't exactly tell her, "Go get yourself expelled by Kelters right now and be his stepping stone!"
"Milmyu von Sabre."
"Y-Yes! Just call me Milmyu, senpai!"
"You'll write this report well. No need for thanks."
"N-No, I ate it all up gratefully!"
With that, the pink fledgling bowed deeply and stepped back.
Come to think of it, Vanilla's hair was pale yellow, Yogurt's green. Milmyu's pink.
Looking at the fledglings' hair colors, I nodded with an aha.
"Those colorful chicks they sold in front of elementary schools."
That reminded me of my own childhood at the orphanage—buying one for 500 won, swearing I'd raise it, only for it to die two days later.
"We fought over whether it'd end up as boiled chicken or fried, and who got the legs."
Good memories. Sad past.
I pictured that pink-sprayed chick that died so pointlessly.
"Since it survived this far..."
I hoped it wouldn't die anytime soon.
The next day.
Aila dropped by.
"What's up, Aila?"
"Rent day!"
"...Right. One million, was it?"
"Yep!"
"Got it. Hang on a sec."
I fetched the safe from the back.
Let's see, one million lin... one million lin...
...
......
"Aila."
"Yeah?"
"How about a deep talk on our past... and our future?"
"...Huh?"
Aila's eyes went wide.
"O-Our future? Like... marriage? Um. Cough. Isn't it a bit sudden? We're still students..."
"No, it has to be now. Absolutely."
"W-Wolfram? To be recognized as a full member of House Trista, my grades at Jefrin are crucial. Maybe next year, after undergrad ends?"
"No. We need to settle this now."
"...Ugh. Fine. I, Aila Trista, the Black Crystal of rebellion fearing nothing under heaven... I'll hear you out."
Aila steeled herself, staring right into my eyes. Yeah, steel up—it's a big deal.
"This building's rent is way too high."
"..............Pardon?"
"I have no idea why you bought it, but I've wanted to say this for ages. No revenue from the shop, and one million lin rent is insane."
"Wolfram. Question."
"Shoot."
"Was this 'past and future' talk... about rent?"
"It is. Healthy landlord-tenant stuff, right?"
"...Fine. Here's your one million lin. Not a single lin off."
"What? Didn't you hear me? I said the rent's unreasonable."
Aila slammed the table with a bang and stood up.
"Wolfram."
"Yes?"
"Rebellion is unreasonable. There's no such thing as rational rebellion!"
With that, Aila huffed and stormed out of the convenience store.
Cool line, but...
"Why's she so mad?"
The next day was a free period, so I set up shop in front of the first-year dorms during lunch.
I'd planned to be the bad uncle fleecing the baby chicks' pocket change, but who showed up was a knightling here to rob me.
"One donut full set, please. Got the money!"
I nodded as Nefti pulled out twenty thousand lin.
"Give me a minute. Right up."
"Yep."
Money talks.
Damn right.
Anyway, Nefti got her donuts, and we chatted as usual.
First topic: our shop's rent.
"I see. The rent is steep."
"You think so too, Nefti?"
"One million lin a month could feed my whole family."
"...Yeah. But Nefti."
"Hm? Spill."
The Sword of Conviction nodded, munching donuts like she was ready to talk.
Paying customer or not, I had questions.
"Why are you here?"
"Lunchtime?"
"No, I mean—this is first-year turf, right? And what's with the getup?"
"Oh. Doing fieldwork now."
"Fieldwork?"
"Yeah. Part-time fixing the first-year dorm commons that grad student wrecked."
"Ah."
"Seventy thousand lin a day."
"Nice. Manual labor's not for me."
"Yep. With your stamina, it'd be rough. Why not use your head instead?"
"Brain work, huh..."
"Yeah. Heard the Magic Division's hiring for that. Check it out? Or ask the Student Council President."
Was there such a thing? No event like that in 1-2...
"Doesn't ring a bell."
"I know it does. I wouldn't forget money stuff."
Hmm.
Hard to argue there.
Magic Division money gig...
As I pondered, a voice called from outside the cart.
"Hey, Nefti! Break's over! Quit yapping and get back to work!"
"Coming!"
Nefti clapped her hands twice and nodded.
"Time to work. See ya."
Glancing at Nefti: hard hat, work gloves, X-bans. Full demo gear.
I'd eaten my share of dust like that once. Nostalgic twinge.
"Good luck. Take extras for the crew."
"Thanks, boss."
"...Still short on cash at home?"
"Nah, this is for the longsword I broke. Can't Jefrin issue better than standard gear?"
Nefti bowed.
"......"
Not sending it home?
Bring back the donuts.
Anyway, basing my thoughts on Nefti's intel, nothing specific came to mind for this timing.
1-2 was internal first-year drama: Kelters sneaks out at dawn with friends for snacks, dodges guards, back to dorms.
Suspended guy couldn't, and it'd probably get him expelled for real.
Best to ask the source.
Eve happened by the store, so I did.
"Anything going on in the Magic Division?"
"Hah. Think I'd tell you? On what basis..."
"Five candy packs."
"Hm. Midterms practical prep this season? Regular curriculum otherwise. Heard they're prepping at the northern secret base."
"Gotcha."
Hmm. Matches my thinking.
Anything else...
As I mulled, Eve continued.
"Really nothing else?"
"Told you. Why's a non-president grilling me on annual events?"
"Two more packs."
"Well... nothing special, but... Oh, right."
"What? Spit it out."
"Not Magic Division only, but annual event's coming up."
"Annual event?"
"You don't know? Happened last year. Jefrin Student Competition."
"Ah."
Then it hit me.
Oh yeah, that.
My childhood.
Under the grand banner of "fostering kids' info tech skills," the orphanage had a computer.
Low-spec, of course. Packed with old games that ran on potatoes.
One was Princess Maker, a classic raising sim.
Why bring it up? Jefrin's Student Competition scratches that itch.
In Princess Maker, every fall harvest fest, your girl competes for prize money. Juicy prizes, tailored to your build each year.
Jefrin's the same. Every route, early each year: seasonal event.
Happens this time annually.
"Was thinking first-year only and missed it."
First-years max out at placing. Same in Princess Maker at age 10—no wins.
Caught in a blind spot.
"Total prizes ten million lin, I think."
First: five mil, second: three, third: two.
Game wires it clean—no taxes.
Honey event I recall Kelters milking yearly from year two.
Aim true: five mil.
Goal: snag five mil and bolt.
Skip Martial God, Magic God tourneys. No sword or spell fights for me.
Skip Maestro prestige, Yggdrasil sincerity. No dwarf weapon duels or elf sewing contests.
One category left.
"Magic Craft. Only one I can enter."
Magic engineering showdown: build gadgets, compete skills.
In finals as Kelters? Always her: third-year top.
"Great Archmerchant Regina Cielra."
Merchant route main girl. Dangerous sis who toys with Kelters.
And
Farewell. Aila Trista. Kelters. Execute.
...Yes, senpai. Goodbye.
...Regina! Regina Cielra!
The heroine dragging Aila to ruin in Act 3 with Kelters.
Genius Aila never beat her once, earning eternal runner-up rep. Most dangerous third-year woman.
"So, Regina Cielra's the foe."
I chuckled.
Worth a shot.