Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Club
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“You want anything?”
And yet… a house? No. Money? No.
…Half the world is way too much pressure.
[What can you even do?]
“You’ll have to figure that out yourself.”
But everything I think of is impossible.
…Honestly, catching a single disaster should be enough to earn me a noble title, right?
A disaster, no less?
Normally, slaying a disaster would come with piles of gold and jewels, plus a noble title thrown in for good measure…
[Can’t you make me a noble?]
“A noble? Want me to drag you straight to the Emperor? Should I put in a word?”
…I actually pictured it.
Me, standing before the Emperor, boldly shouting—no, boldly writing on my whiteboard—“Make me a noble!”
[No, I take it back. I think I’m good.]
“Right?”
[Yes, I think commoner suits me best.]
Even so, a mere student meeting the Emperor? No way.
Absolutely impossible.
…Okay, honestly, I’m not just any student… but still, totally impossible.
“What’s wrong? Want to be a noble that bad?”
[No, I like things as they are.]
“Good~ Being a commoner is perfect. That way I can keep you around after you graduate.”
[?]
“Getting a noble title would just make things complicated.”
[??]
“What.”
What do you mean, what.
How can she say something so ominous so casually?
Is it because she’s a dragon?
Does she lack emotions like a human would? Or is she just like that by nature?
Thinking back on Veronica’s actions, I was leaning toward the latter.
[What do you mean by that?]
“What else? Exactly what I said.”
[???]
“What? Don’t like it?”
[Yes.]
“I think it’s great.”
[But I don’t like it.]
“…….”
Veronica openly showed her displeasure, pursing her lips and pouting.
She even kept crossing and uncrossing her legs.
“So, anything you want or not?”
Something I want… Now that I’m actually thinking about it, nothing comes to mind.
An artifact? Pass—we’ve already got a bet going for that with Veronica.
In the end… I pulled out the modest request I’d been keeping to myself.
[Just make one club for me.]
“A club?”
[Yes.]
“You’re starting a club?”
[Yes.]
“You?”
[Yes.]
“Wow….”
[Yes?]
Veronica stared right through me for a good long while.
Her gaze said it all in one word.
‘You?’
‘Has she finally lost it?’
The thought was etched so clearly in her eyes that she didn’t even need to say it.
[What’s with that look?]
“I figured with your personality, you’d never do something like a club… Let alone start one yourself?”
[It could happen.]
“…They say people who change suddenly drop dead….”
[What are you talking about, Dean?]
“If you die, I’ll revive you.”
[Thanks so much.]
“By the way, you won’t have any free will.”
[Never mind, no thanks, Dean.]
“Ehehe….”
Veronica let out a meaningful chuckle, then opened her desk drawer and pulled out a sheet of paper.
She snatched my pen out of the air where it floated and scribbled across the page.
“Here, take this to the student council president.”
[Thank you.]
“But what kind of club are you making?”
[I’ll decide after it’s made.]
“…You’re asking permission for a club with no purpose?”
She was the one who signed the form without even asking in the first place.
[No purpose means we can do anything.]
“…That kind of shamelessness is a talent too.”
Good.
Even if it’s the ‘lowest’ talent, at least it counts as one.
I was deeply moved.
[I get by on that talent.]
“If something blows up from your weird antics… will you take responsibility?”
[You’ll handle it, Dean.]
“…You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”
[Yes.]
Veronica looked annoyed again, crossing and uncrossing her legs repeatedly.
It was starting to get on my nerves, so my mouth—no, my hand—moved first.
[Dean, crossing your legs stunts your growth.]
“……I’ll rip your face off?”
…I’d really touched a nerve this time.
I quickly moved my hand again.
[Almost said that.]
“……Adel, saying everything you want and then pulling that…”
Klaus shuddered beside me as he spoke.
Had he realized staying here longer might get him killed too?
“Ha… Whatever. I’ll assign a faculty advisor myself.”
[Can’t you do it, Dean?]
“I’m busy.”
I see.
She’s got time to sit there like a chuunibyou striking dramatic poses, but no time to advise a club.
“Get out already… Talking to you just gives me a headache.”
[That’s just because you’re getting old—]
“One, two, three—”
[Goodbye.]
***
On the way to the student council room with Klaus.
Why “with Klaus”? No idea.
He was just there when I walked out of the dean’s office.
“You still haven’t decided on a club theme?”
[Yeah.]
“…But will that even count as a club?”
[The dean approved it, so it should be fine.]
“If you’re going to the president, you should at least have a theme ready.”
[Why are you worrying about it?]
“Huh? It’s the club I’m joining. Of course I’m worried.”
[What about a swordsmanship club?]
“Hmm… Honestly, I doubt they’d accept me, and it sounds tough.”
Fair enough…
Even in the ‘Aka Calamity,’ most people join clubs for achievements.
The clubs themselves are basically networking sessions for nobles.
Commoners like me and Klaus? We’d just be shadows stuck to the walls.
[So you’ve been tagging along for that?]
“Yeah, pretty much.”
His casual answer showed he had a serious freeloader mindset too.
“Theme… theme, huh….”
[What about a socializing club?]
“Socializing?”
[For kids lacking social skills. We hang out, build friendships, and help them recover their social graces.]
Of course, “social recovery” was just a fancy name.
In reality, we’d just gather, chat, goof off, and kill time.
All I care about is racking up achievements, so it’d be easy to run, low responsibility… a socializing club in name, freeloading paradise in practice.
“Hmm… Sounds good?”
[You get it too.]
“But… clubs need at least four members.”
[Oh.]
It finally hit me.
Veronica’s approval meant Carnel’s was basically guaranteed.
She said she’d handle the advisor, so I figured procedures were covered…
But I completely forgot about the minimum member requirement.
‘……’
Then, in the corner of my vision, a familiar silhouette appeared.
Ears twitching atop a head.
A tail swaying gently with every step.
[Hold on a sec.]
I went over and convinced the cat-girl with the twitching ears to join us.
“Nya?”
“…Hi?”
“Nice to meet you, nya.”
Neru.
Not lacking in social skills, but definitely underdeveloped socially.
She is the perfect recruit for our socializing club.
“They say club activities can reduce disciplinary points if you participate diligently. Is that true, nya?”
[Obviously.]
“Ooh….”
Good reaction. Halfway hooked on the perks already.
“…….”
And so, me, Klaus, and Neru.
The three of us lined up in front of the student council room door.
Knock. Knock.
“Who is it?”
The door opened, and Violet popped out.
“Little bro?”
“What!?”
Violet calling me made the student council members sorting papers behind her all jump in surprise.
…Why the shock?
“What’s this… a club application?”
[Yes.]
“You are starting a club, little bro?”
[Yes.]
Violet took the paper, tilting her head and muttering to herself.
“How’d you even get the dean’s approval… She’s so picky….”
[It's all thanks to living a virtuous life.]
“Hmm… Doesn’t seem like you’ve lived *that* virtuously, little bro.”
Even faced with Violet’s facts, I stood firm.
After all, I had the approval stamped by our great Dean Veronica.
“Carnel~ Little bro is here.”
“Ahem. I see.”
Carnel had been sneaking glances at me earlier but now awkwardly turned as if just noticing.
“W-What brings you here?”
“He wants to start a club.”
“A club… And you have the dean’s approval?”
“Wait… the dean’s signature…”
Violet peeked at the paper and froze solid.
Her face showed pure dilemma—should she say it or not?
“Uh….”
“Something wrong, Violet?”
“Little bro… You didn’t do this, right?”
Violet turned the paper toward me.
And there… I witnessed something utterly shocking.
In the two signature spots for dean and student council president, the dean’s slot had…
「ㅗ^_^ㅗ」
A massive, crude, and downright rude doodle scrawled across it.
[I don’t think so.]
“…For real?”
[I don’t do low-class doodles like that.]
“Oh… Right?”
Violet handed the paper to Carnel with a dubious, displeased look, like she couldn’t quite believe it.
“Ahem… Have you decided on a theme?”
[Socializing.]
“…Socializing?”
[A club to build social skills.]
“Social skills…”
Carnel glanced between me and Neru.
Then… she nodded, looking somehow convinced.
“Indeed… You all could use it.”
With that, Carnel picked up his pen and scribbled something—signature or scribble, who knows.
“More importantly, you know you’re short one member, right?”
[Gasp]
Carnel glanced indifferently at my feigned surprise, then smirked faintly.
“Well… I’ll let it slide this time. Handle it yourselves.”
[Thank you, President.]
“Anyway, little bro… Have you set up a clubroom yet?”
[No.]
Clubroom.
Truth be told, there are plenty of empty classrooms next to Class S.
If I asked the dean for one, she’d probably hand it over.
Right then… Carnel coughed once—no, twice.
“Ahem!”
He shot to his feet and struck a dramatic pose, hand on his chest.
“No helping it… As president, I must aid my underclassman!”
“Wow~”
The student council members all wore fanatic expressions, clapping in perfect, mechanical unison.
“Follow me!”
Carnel flung open the door and strode out.
I led Neru and Klaus after him.
And… she stopped right next to the student council room.
I looked at the nameplate above the door.
「☆Confinement— Disciplinary Room☆」
An X was slashed through “Confinement,” but for some reason, “Disciplinary Room” below it sparkled.
“Carnel… You still haven’t cleaned this up?”
“J-Just wait a moment!”
Carnel slipped inside and shut the door.
Then…
- BOOM!!!
Something exploded.
Dust puffed out from the door crack.
“Oh dear….”
Click.
The door opened again.
Pale smoke wafted from within.
The room was spotless… or rather, completely empty.
Carnel spread her arms wide with a beaming smile.
“Ta-da. It’s vacant now.”
Finally… she yanked off the “Disciplinary Room” nameplate and crushed it to dust with her fist.