Academy Life Starting From Minus #4

The main heroines' routes open up more easily than one might expect. Victorica's normal Student Council route typically unlocks when your reputation with her reaches around +10. In terms of story progression, that usually happens if you've made it smoothly through the latter half of Act 1. On the other hand, Enio's normal Underworld route begins when your reputation drops into the negatives. If you manage to raise Enio's favorability while Luke ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠maintains a negative reputation, there's a chance she'll approach you one day and give you a gift.

It could be a low-grade health potion, or it could be nothing more than some weeds only good for selling as junk. But sometimes she gives you something truly valuable, like a collectible item such as the 'Core of OO Dungeon.' This system led to a playstyle where players would accept Enio's gifts and then reset the game over and over. We called it the Enio Run. I did it a lot myself. And now I'm actually doing it for real.

Clink.

“This is my goodwill, Victor. A small token of my pity for you.”

“I will not accept it.”

What Enio held in her hand was a jingling key. There was no way to know what kind of key it was right now. Had there ever been a scene in the game where Enio gave the protagonist Luke a key? No, there hadn't. Even with over a thousand hours spent solely on Enio Runs, this was an item I'd never seen before. So the game and reality really are different after all.

When I didn't move to take it, Enio shook the key again with a clink.

“I will not accept a refusal. I'd appreciate it if you didn't embarrass me twice. Even someone as tactless as you, Victor, should understand what that means, right?”

“Understood.”

“...That was simpler than I expected? I thought you'd resist a bit more.”

“There is no particular reason to do so.”

I accepted the key without hesitation. Refusing it now would only make Enio genuinely angry, and there was no need to stir up unnecessary trouble. Even if what Enio gave turned out to be junk, it usually had some use. At the very least, I could sell it at a shop for a bit of money.

Once I slipped the key into my pocket, Enio waved her hand.

“Then I hope you have a pleasant evening, Victor. They say ghosts have been appearing around Ludens lately, so try not to wander around too much at night.”

Evening? Now that she mentioned it, the sun was already setting. I wasn't particularly tired, but wandering around Ludens at night was quite dangerous. What if a surprise attack event triggered? So I decided to head back to the dormitory for now. But there was one thing I needed to do first.

“Enio.”

“Hm? Why are you calling me?”

“I will definitely return the favor for your goodwill.”

Victor was an inflexible guy. If he received a favor, he repaid it. If someone harmed him, he made sure to return the favor. Those two principles were absolute. So when I tried to simply turn and leave, a sharp pain twisted in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my stomach, making it impossible to endure. Thanks to that, I instinctively realized I had to offer Enio a 'return favor.' Besides, I personally hated being in anyone's debt. In that regard, my mind aligned perfectly with Victor's.

If there's a debt, repay it quickly. Otherwise, interest piles up. Just thinking about the times I'd suffered from snowballing interest made me furious.

However, Enio let out a skeptical snort, as if she didn't expect anything.

“I doubt the current you could offer me any meaningful return favor. If you go to the dormitory, you'll understand what I mean.”

The dormitory? What was she talking about? But the way she seemed to dismiss me sparked a bit of competitive spirit. I'd played for over 20,000 hours. To be precise, 24,850 hours. There was no way I couldn't come up with a proper return favor for a mere key like this.

“Enio, you are searching for an item, are you not? If it is what you seek, it is highly likely to be found near the third pillar of the eastern ordinary student dormitory.”

Among D&A's content was a quest about finding students' lost belongings. Returning Enio's lost item, the 'Yellow Ribbon,' would slightly raise her favorability. There were also minor sub-quests that would unlock, but regardless, it should be sufficient as a return favor.

“Then farewell.”

With a quick turn, I decided to leave before the conversation dragged on and created variables I couldn't predict. The sun was already dipping below the horizon and evening was approaching, so it was a wise decision. For now, returning to the dormitory seemed best. Would the place Victor stayed be the Student Council dormitory? What Enio had said about understanding once I went to the dormitory kept nagging at me.

“Here it is.”

Following my memories, I fumbled my way to the Student Council dormitory. It was far too luxurious and grand to be a place where students in their mid-to-late teens lived. There was even a fountain in the garden. But as I tried to enter the entrance, students wearing armbands blocked my path.

“Victor, you have been excommunicated from the Student Council. This is no longer a place for you to stay.”

“Yeah, where does a regular student think he's going?”

...Was this for real? I was slightly flustered, but thanks to Victor'sSteel trait, I was able to remain relatively calm. Right, there had been plenty of episodes where a Student Council officer demoted to a regular student suffered this kind of humiliation. Even Milone in Act 5 had gone through it. What had Milone said back then?

“Then I shall simply retrieve my belongings.”

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

There should be items or money that this guy had been using in Victor's room. Even if it wasn't the Student Council dormitory, I could probably rent a room at an inn on the outskirts of the academy. However, the armband-wearing student who appeared to be from the Disciplinary Committee shook his head.

“No, Victor. All your belongings have already been disposed of. We cleared everything out earlier, so even if you go to your room now, it'll be completely empty.”

What? Was this what Enio had been referring to? Even Milone Ludwig, the first-year who had been the Student Council accountant before being demoted to a regular student, hadn't had all her dormitory belongings disposed of. The sub-quest in Act 5 had been about helping her move those belongings to the regular student dormitory. Clearing it within the time limit gave Strength points, so it had been quite useful.

But why had all of my—Victor's—belongings been disposed of?

“And this is a message for you from Lady Victorica.”

Flutter.

The Disciplinary Committee member handed me a single sheet of paper. What was written on it was...

* * *

“That idiot Victor. He ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠must have realized what he's done by now. If he'd quietly accepted expulsion, he wouldn't have had to see such a miserable sight. The Arclight family would have paid off his debt for him too.”

Megaira sneered.

“And to think he even broke off the engagement with the Arclight duke's daughter. Why would he do that? Just why would he do something so stupid? It's no different from cutting his own safety line with his own hands.”

At Megaira's mocking laughter, Enio replied indifferently.

“Well, they say another woman appeared.”

“But there's no way Victor would have another woman. That guy even said he never held hands with Victorica. For that steel-plate of a man to have another woman…?”

“I think so too.”

Walking through the dark streets, Enio fell into thought. Even for Enio, hearing that Victor—the hunting dog of the Arclights—had broken off his engagement with Victorica was surprising. And another woman on top of that?

The youngest of the triplets, Megaira, scanned their surroundings before speaking in a hushed voice.

“I'll be honest only with you, Lady Enio. There was no 'scent' of another woman on him. Since it's coming from me, it's certain. Which means Victor was lying.”

“Megaira, I know your trait well. But there's no way that Victor would lie. That's the kind of man he is.”

“I know that, but I'm telling you it's true?”

The first-year Megaira puffed out her cheeks in frustration. She seemed upset that she wasn't being believed. But Victor lying? Enio couldn't accept it. Having looked at Victor's profile countless times, Enio knew it well. Perhaps even more than his fiancée Victorica, his rival Enio might understand Victor better than anyone.

However, Victor's actions today had completely deviated from Enio's expectations.

“Breaking off the engagement, huh…”

Maybe it wasn't a lie. There really could be another woman. They might not be dating yet, but perhaps he'd developed feelings for someone else. 'Right, he's an inflexible man. It wouldn't be strange for him to break off an engagement just because he'd fallen for someone in his heart. If so, who could it be?'

Enio's dark heart was filled with interest. If she could see that detestable Victorica of the Arclights get angry and frustrated, she wouldn't mind wasting as much time as necessary. That was why she'd deliberately gone looking for Victor today. It would have been even better if she could claim Victor, who had rejected Victorica, for herself.

“More importantly, Lady Enio, do you really believe what that Victor said? There's no way what you're looking for would be under a pillar in the regular student dormitory.”

“I think so too. But Victor wouldn't lie. Besides, I'm personally curious.”

Enio and Megaira's steps did not stop. Just as Victor had said, they arrived at the back of the ordinary eastern student dormitory in Ludens. The shabby delinquent students who saw Enio hurriedly stubbed out their cigarettes and bowed their heads.

“E-Enio, miss. Good evening.”

“At ease. I didn't come to see you lot. More importantly, do you know where this third pillar is?”

“Ah, if it's that, it's over there. We just numbered the pillars from the ruined temple for convenience and use them as meeting spots. But as far as I remember, there shouldn't be anything at the third one. What brings you there?”

“Who knows.”

Enio's steps, passing by them, stopped at the place called the third pillar. And there, beneath it, she discovered something sparkling. It was a yellow strip. To be precise, a yellow ribbon.

Megaira, who picked it up, frowned.

“What is this, a yellow ribbon? It looks rather nice, but it doesn't seem to be yours, Lady Enio. Just as I thought. We shouldn't have trusted that Victor guy's—”

“Give that to me. I'll dispose of it myself.”

Before Megaira could say anything more, Enio reached out and took the ribbon. The lost ribbon. The only yellow item among Enio's possessions, which were otherwise only black or red. Something she'd kept secret from everyone. Even Megaira, who was as close as a real sister, hadn't known—

—Why had Victor known about the ribbon she'd lost, the one she couldn't find, couldn't ask anyone about, and had been anxiously worrying over?

Enio felt her face flush hot at the realization that her hidden 'yellow side' had been discovered. At the same time, a strange emotion began to sprout in her heart.

'Could the woman Victor has fallen for be…?'

“...What the hell. Hmph.”

“Lady Enio, I'll go smack that Victor bastard in the back of the head! How dare he waste your time!”

“Th-that won't be necessary.”

“Hehe, of course. Even if I don't do it, this prison academy will beat Victor to a pulp anyway.”

* * *

It felt like getting hit in the solar plexus with a baseball. And for good reason—200 million Rene in debt? Even with over 24,000 hours of playtime, this was the first I'd heard of Victor having such a debt.

“200 million Rene.”

Rene was the unique currency mined and used only within Ludens Island in this world. 200 million Rene was roughly equivalent to 200 million won in Korean currency. At the same time, it was more than enough money to devour a person's entire youth in an instant.

I knew that better than anyone. I was Ha Seungri, the guy who had barely managed to pay off 200 million won in debt. And in the game I'd bought to heal after finally clearing that debt, I'd ended up with another 200 million Rene in debt! I felt like foam was going to come out of my mouth!

200 million. 200 million! 200 million!!!! 200 million!!!!!!!! Of all the hateful amounts, that cursed 200 million that had eaten up my entire life had come back to ruin my life again! If it weren't for Victor's steel mentality, I might have really shoved my fist in my mouth and rolled around on the floor!

I calmed myself and examined the repayment details and debt history. Fortunately or unfortunately, as Ha Seungri, I was someone well-versed in paying off debts. First, it was essential to clearly understand the state of the debt. I was personally curious too. Victor, a second-year at Ludens, was only about eighteen years old. Just what had this guy done to accumulate 200 million in debt at that age?

Fortunately, the loan was consolidated into one large sum. When repaying debt, it was better to consolidate everything into one payment rather than paying multiple places simultaneously. It was easier to manage that way.

“Debt from the Student Council, huh.”

This was basically a student loan. Someone might ask how a student loan could be 200 million, but Ludens Academy was called a prison academy not just because it was built on a heavenly island that no one could easily enter or leave. It was because of its irrationality.

First of all, everything needed to live costs money. Food. Clothing. Shelter. In Ludens, where resources were scarce in many ways, students had to be self-sufficient for all of that. Only those from incredibly high nobility like Victorica received some support from home. For regular students who couldn't, the academy's tuition alone was about 50 million Rene per semester. It was no different from money leaking out with every breath you took.

Since we're on the topic, let's calculate it. With two semesters a year, total tuition is 100 million Rene. Dividing that by 365 days comes to about 270,000 Rene per day. In hourly terms, even if you're doing nothing, you're spending roughly 11,000 Rene per hour.

“No wonder debt piles up.”

The saving grace was that this academy had plenty of ways to earn money. There were dungeons, and monsters that dropped Rene when defeated appeared in the fields.

“But not everyone is good at those dangerous tasks.”

That's why the Ludens Student Council had a loan system to lend students money for tuition and living expenses. Victor's current 200 million Rene debt was exactly that. The problem came when you couldn't repay it. Those who failed to repay their debts...

“Would end up doing hard labor here, or perhaps die hunting monsters in dungeons or fields. Or they'd live their entire lives in even harsher conditions on the mainland, where the exchange rate is ten times cheaper, with their lives mortgaged to the debt.”

There was no option to not repay. The Student Council's Disciplinary Committee enforcers like Victor would come to collect. It was practically impossible to avoid repaying while evading the elite enforcers selected for their skills. The result was a hell of inescapable debt. That was precisely this prison academy, Ludens.

The Student Council members at least had the special privilege that interest and debt enforcement were suspended during their enrollment period. So was it because he'd been demoted to a regular student that this debt had now begun to be imposed on Victor as well? So being demoted from a Student Council officer to a regular student meant this.

“Alright. Well, it's not that big a deal.”

So what if it's 200 million? I can just pay it off. In reality, I'd paid off 200 million before my youth had completely withered away. There was no way I couldn't pay it off in this D&A.

“In fact, I can do it even better.”

It took me five years in reality, so here I'll aim to clear it before graduation in three years. No, two years.

“No, within this year before it ends. One year.”

That was my goal for now. No matter what, if I could just graduate safely from this place, the diploma would mean I'd never have to worry about getting a job for the rest of my life, right? I'd repay all the debt within a year, become rich, and this time, I'd truly heal.