Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Opening Party Encounters
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78
1
First, the rune investigation was left to Edmund and Clara.
Of course, no one knew how long it would take.
It might turn up results by sheer luck overnight, or it could drag on for months without issue.
It was a rune I hadn't found despite exploring every corner of the Broken World for over 3,000 hours.
There was plenty of chance for hints to emerge from places not implemented in the original game.
That was Edmund's domain, so I had no choice but to trust and leave it to him.
Anyway, for now, let's set aside the rune investigation.
Midterms for the second semester were still far off, and no lectures had truly begun yet.
At the start of a new semester like this, the obvious activity was clear.
"Already the opening party, huh...."
I sprawled on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
It was the familiar dormitory ceiling by now.
But there were still plenty of unfamiliar things.
Every semester start meant an opening party.
It sounded nice to say it strengthened bonds among classmates.
There were plenty of criticisms since it was for the Inner Circle, their own league, but....
In reality, it was just a standard opening party for the entire student body.
The only difference was the scale and quality, held in a separate banquet hall behind the main building.
Well, I had never attended one myself.
I'd seen it a few times through the monitor, though.
I couldn't help it for the first semester since I possessed the body after midterms.
That said, this wasn't limited to this world's opening parties.
Even in reality... no, I had attended exactly once.
I had forced myself to go to the first-semester opening party for my freshman year.
I'd been running around job hunting before enrollment.
Because of that, I missed all the orientation stuff and struggled with course registration.
Still, I made an effort to attend the opening party to meet my future classmates....
But groups had already formed among peers and seniors long ago.
I wasn't very sociable back then, so after getting pushed around, I ended up abandoned in a corner.
I just sipped alcohol silently with other kids in the same boat and went home.
So, not a great memory.
"Well, this time it'll be different."
At the very least, I wouldn't be drinking alone.
Honestly, drinking alone wouldn't be a problem.
What mattered more was that the buffet menu featured steaks from premium pork ribs raised on Fey feed.
As a bonus, the opening party would let me meet that person too.
They only appeared briefly in the game, so usable info was limited.
First, I'd create a connection at the opening party and naturally build a relationship to recruit them.
Thump thump. Choco tapped its legs.
I stroked Choco's head, ruffling it as it stared at me.
"Right, if I'm going to the opening party, I need to handle assignments first."
Who gives assignments in the first week of the semester?
Here.
From two professors, no less.
Damn you, Edmund and Bailey....
2
Esterro Academy's banquet hall was set in the middle of a forest.
The opening party started at night.
Perhaps to prevent getting lost, swirls of magical light formed ribbons through the woods.
Follow that soft glow, and you'd find the vast open banquet hall, ringed in light, awaiting guests.
No need for formal attire this time.
School uniform was enough, so I lightly headed to the banquet hall along the marble floors.
Complex yet artistic patterns were engraved on the walls, pillars, and even the high ceiling.
Follow the path, and soon you'd enter the banquet hall.
Tables perfectly arranged in symmetry left and right overflowed with delicacies.
Students in uniforms mingled freely.
Elegant yet lively music wafted through the hall.
Banquets themselves weren't familiar yet, but I was starting to get the hang of enjoying them.
Truth be told, enjoying it just meant doing whatever felt right.
I headed straight forward.
I loaded a plate with Fey-fed pork rib steak and sat at a suitable table.
As I savored the steak's resistance against the knife, slicing through meat and fat together, Louis in a suit sat across from me.
"What's this, no uniform, senpai?"
"I just came from an interview at the mage tower. Too lazy to change."
"Very on-brand for you."
"...You picking a fight?"
"Praise."
I took a big bite of steak.
Juices burst with each chew of the springy meat.
Paired with gravy made from those juices, it was endlessly rich, but that heaviness was the highlight.
"Anyway, how's the job hunt going?"
Louis scrunched his refined face dramatically.
I could tell the answer without asking.
Unfortunately, I had no job experience in reality either, so I couldn't help.
"Keep at it, senpai."
I offered him a slice I'd cut.
He let out a sigh and accepted the fork.
A man passed behind his neatly combed green hair.
"I've got business today, so I'll head out first."
"Huh? Yeah, okay. I'll head back soon too."
I parted from Louis, who was chewing his steak.
I hurried after the man who'd brushed past and called out.
"Kyriakos-senpai!"
Kyriakos turned at his name.
Kyriakos, second-year runner-up, uniquely a debuffer rather than a combat role.
He was 4-5 cm shorter than me and quite slim, so he didn't look the part at all.
His signature was vivid purple hair tied back at the nape.
His face was quite refined, but the sharp eyes and hazy purple gaze gave a subtly eerie vibe.
No, probably preconception.
I knew his backstory: raised as a hunting dog for the Ballato Family, who ruled Esset's back alleys until a few years ago.
The Ballato Family fell apart when their boss died during Wifera's consolidation of illegal groups, unable to quell internal chaos.
The Corbus Family took the vacant throne of the back alleys.
How Kyriakos ended up at Esterro Academy was unknown.
"Did you call me?"
Kyriakos tilted his head slightly, scanning me from head to toe.
"New face. Do you know this one?"
"I was impressed by Mullat Contio."
Mullat Contio was the annual Esterro Academy event.
A tournament to crown the strongest among participants, regardless of academics.
Kane was called the strongest for winning Mullat Contio.
Kyriakos was mentioned during that event, so he definitely participated.
"Preliminaries dropout, though."
"...."
No, you're the runner-up.
Weren't you hyped as the mad dog of the alleys, death god in human skin, with all sorts of grand titles?
"Still, it was a memorable match."
I somehow smoothed it over.
Gaps between passing mentions in settings and reality were inevitable.
Kyriakos just nodded curtly at my response.
"So, what business with this one?"
"Nothing major. Just wanted to talk since Mullat Contio left an impression."
"I see. Your name?"
"Theo Agrit."
Kyriakos touched his lips with a straight hand.
"Recalling... ah, yes. The failing student from the rumors."
"...Glad you remember me somehow."
"Now etched in memory. Theo Agrit. This one will head back now. If you have further business, find me at Sotris Hall."
I bowed my head.
With that, Kyriakos quietly left the banquet hall.
His expressions still showed scant emotion, his speech unique, and his thoughts hard to read.
Who would've thought he'd dropped out in prelims....
But his skills were real, so I had to recruit him.
At least the first impression seemed decent.
Now, maybe I should enjoy some food and head back.
"So this is where you were."
"...You always pop up out of nowhere, Leon."
Leon cocked his head.
His wide blinking showed he had no idea what I meant.
No self-awareness of appearing silently.
"More importantly, were you looking for me?"
"Yeah, got something to talk about."
"Ah... You mentioned that before break."
Something to discuss after break ended.
Reason still unknown.
Leon nodded, gesturing outside the banquet hall.
3
Just stepping out of the banquet hall distanced the noise.
Music still played softly, but the chirps of crickets savoring late summer were clearer.
"So, what is it?"
Moonlight outshone the artificial lights.
Under it, Leon gazed quietly at me.
His red eyes, infused with moonlight, held a strange allure.
"Do you know of the group called the Precursors?"
Didn't expect him to ask so directly.
But given who he was, I nodded honestly.
With what I'd done, pretending ignorance now would be forced.
"As expected."
"Your tone says you know them too."
"I do. And I'm hunting them."
Of course.
The Precursors still lurked beneath the surface, but Leon was already pursuing them for revenge.
"You probably know, but the Precursors are deeply rooted in the kingdom. No, across the continent. Tricky foes."
I nodded.
Not something to face alone.
That's why he needed comrades like Ethan, Noel, Kane, and others.
"They're not even fully active yet, from what I gather. If they start in earnest, I'm doubtful I'd win."
Why panic so early?
Sure, they were big-scale, but not unbeatable.
Think I'd prep the holy sword early and scout party members for nothing?
You can do it.
We're counting on you. Fighting!
"...So, I've decided to give up."
Right, sometimes giving up is a strat—
"Hey, wait. What?"
"I've decided to give up."
"No, hold on. Stop, time out. What did I just hear? You're giving up...?"
"They're not foes I can handle alone. Recklessness and courage differ. Dragon told me that day."
Yeah, Dresia said something like that.
Still, some things you give up on, some you don't?
"I'll give up fighting alone. Instead, I want to join you."
"....What?"
"I know you're hostile to the Precursors too."
No, not really.
I just blocked a bomb going off in front of me; not hostile.
"This life was resolved to discard long ago. Use me as you will."
"What resolve? No plans like that, so do your own thing. Don't go in expecting death. Just live long and healthy in peace."
"Thanks for the concern, but no peace until the Precursors are crushed. Please. Take me in."
"Take you in how...?!"
You're telling me to abandon my peaceful life!
You cruel bastard— the demon from another dimension was here!
Ah, no good.
No communication.
My nape cramped, so without looking back, I bolted from the spot.