There's No Such Thing
Hearing the principal's words, I tilted my head and asked again.
“The warehouse?”
“Yes, the warehouse.”
A warehouse? What the hell was that? Since it wasn't a feature from the game, I tilted my head at Catherine and asked what it was.
Stella, looking at me like you don't even know that? with a teasing expression, began explaining.
“The legacies of great heroes who fell on the battlefield, heirlooms whose owners are unknown, and so on. That's what they collect in the warehouse. It's basically a treasure trove...”
Stella, unable to believe that I of all people had been granted access to such a place, turned to the principal and asked,
“Principal, can we hear exactly what's going on here?”
“It's at Miss Noah's request.”
“...Miss Noah's request?”
“Yes.”
At the mention of Noah's request, Stella—who had been raring to go like she was about to pounce—faltered for a moment.
“Miss Noah has already been attacked twice. That's unacceptable.”
“...A gag order, then?”
“There were opinions that it wasn't necessary since she's a commoner, but as an educator, I couldn't just let it slide.”
“You did the right thing. If you hadn't compensated Noah at all, I would have formally requested gratitude from the academy on behalf of House Iritz as its lady.”
Stella placed a hand on her chest, declaring it with utmost confidence. Catherine gave a wry smile at the sight and turned to me.
“And Miss Noah said she had no reason to receive such a thing.”
“Why?”
“You saved her both times, young Ian. Why should she get rewarded? That's what she said.”
With that, Catherine slowly bowed her head. Her slender black hair cascaded over her shoulders.
“Thank you so much. Young Ian, because of you, there were no casualties at the academy.”
“...Even without me, Noah would have been fine.”
“Maybe. But that doesn't diminish the value of your good deed.”
She said that and bowed her head once more. But I didn't have the luxury to care about such things.
Noah, you little...
After saving her twice, she's handing over her whole bundle like this? Giving out event rewards that didn't even exist in the game? If Project Luna had been this generous, word of mouth would have called it a god-game and it would've blown up.
Heirlooms, huh...
I'd have to check to know about the legacies, but the presence of heirlooms alone was huge. I wasn't exactly brimming with soul power for a summoning ritual right now, was I? With a heirloom, I could summon the appropriate summon on the spot—and I had game knowledge to identify which summon it belonged to.
Lucky break.
I was already looking forward to raiding the treasure trove.
After our discussion in the principal's office ended and we decided to open the warehouse later, Stella and I left the room.
To be precise, we were kicked out.
“Rumors spreading that you were in the principal's office at this hour wouldn't be good... Off you go.”
On top of that, Stella got demerit points.
“And Miss Stella? You used your summon inside the academy grounds, so demerits. Submit them later.”
“Eek— B-but I thought it was a real emergency...”
“Take responsibility for your actions, like a proper noble.”
Like a proper noble—like the lady of a duke's house—those words she couldn't ignore. So she obediently submitted her demerits.
On the way back, watching the slightly deflated Stella, I asked about something that bugged me.
“What happens if demerits pile up?”
“...You don't even know that? It deducts from your conduct score.”
“Does that affect your grades?”
“Obviously.”
Not only that, but accumulating demerits could lead to menial labor like classroom or bathroom cleaning, and in severe cases, suspension or expulsion, she warned.
I had no idea. Demerits affected grades? And poor conduct led to demerits?
I recalled my usual behavior. I'd skipped over 90% of homeroom teacher Oliver's classes, and in the training grounds, I'd even fought him one-on-one and taken down his summon.
...Am I screwed for top rank?
I started getting a little worried. Especially since the system hadn't even ruled it as a win yet.
Whether she sensed my anxiety or not, Stella was staring at me intently.
“What?”
“D-did you eat breakfast?”
“Like I'd have...”
Someone had woken me at the crack of dawn, so I hadn't even washed my face, let alone eaten.
She twirled her hair around her finger, looking relieved, and asked,
“W-wanna eat breakfast together then?”
“Oh, you offering?”
“W-who said anything about offering!? ...You'll eat what my maid made.”
“Maid? You have a maid too?”
“—? Don't you?”
She tilted her head innocently, as if having a maid was the most natural thing. I sighed, realizing it, and nodded.
“Fine. I'll swing by my room first, then head to yours... Get ready.”
“Why not come straight over?”
“You want me like this?”
“Ah— sorry.”
Stella glanced at my outfit and meekly agreed. I was fresh out of bed with eye boogers still in, wearing pajamas, barefoot—no shoes.
She said she'd head back first and went to her room. I parted ways and returned to mine.
Having spent some time in the principal's office, a few students were starting to wander the halls. They whispered at the sight of me in pajamas and barefoot.
If I weren't thick-skinned, I wouldn't have been able to lift my head.
Whatever, what're they gonna do?
Luckily, the kids just gossiped from afar—no one dared prank me directly. Not that I'd expect otherwise. Who'd have the guts to mess with the projected class topper and a 3-star summoner?
Back in my room, I quickly washed up, showered off the grime, changed into my uniform, and headed to Stella's.
Then I remembered men weren't allowed in the girls' dorm and turned back.
Knock knock.
“Who is it?”
About thirty minutes later, someone came to my room. Opening the door revealed a doll-like maid. Not beautiful—stiff and cold-looking.
“—Pardon the intrusion. Are you Ian Clark?”
“Yeah... Who're you?”
“Forgive my late introduction. I'm Nellia, the attendant serving Lady Stella.”
“Ah, you're late.”
“Yes, my apologies. She forgot men can't enter the girls' dorm... Lady Stella is waiting.”
I followed the maid to the girls' dorm. Thankfully, I got in without issue this time.
But as I entered, something felt off.
Wait, why's this place so much nicer?
Compared to the boys' dorm—my dump—it was incomparable. My single room was about 500 square feet, but these were at least three times bigger.
“This way.”
“Ah, yeah.”
Come to think of it, maids too, and dorms like this. Makes me suspect the academy's founder was a sexist.
Inside, Stella waited in simple loungewear.
“You're late!”
A long dress down to her ankles, with her ample chest highlighted mid-way, and a big ribbon at the waist to avoid looking chubby. I scanned her up and down.
Sensing my gaze, Stella turned away and pointed to the table.
“W-what're you staring at? Sit down already!”
“...Right.”
As I sat, Stella tilted her head at me.
“Why'd you come in your uniform?”
“You showed up to my room in yours earlier.”
“That was 'cause I planned to hit the principal's office.”
“...So you suspected me before even coming to my room?”
“No! I just wanted to ask what happened to Noah!”
“Why're you mad?”
“I'm not mad...! ...Okay, maybe it sounded like I was.”
She took a deep breath and looked at me.
“So why'd you? Planning to go somewhere?”
“Nah.”
“Then?”
“No other clothes.”
“...What?”
She stared like I'd said something stupid, but I had my rebuttal ready.
“Sorry, but unlike others, I'm from a cash-strapped rural barony. Can't afford clothes.”
“No way, even poor... Noah has a few outfits.”
As she gawked in disbelief at my poverty, Nellia arrived with food.
“Warmed up. Enjoy, milady, young master.”
“...Yeah, let's eat.”
“Dig in.”
“Hehe, don't choke in shock.”
Stella smirked smugly. How good could it be?
I eyed the food Nellia brought. Morning fare: golden meat stew, white bread, light salad. Basic stuff where the cook's skill made all the difference.
Slurp—one spoonful of stew, and I forgot all the morning's stress, focusing solely on devouring it. Dipping bread, wrapping in salad, shoving it all in. Scraping the bowl clean took seconds.
“...Tasty.”
“More?”
“...One more bowl.”
“Right away.”
The maid bowed and headed to the kitchen. While she was gone, I asked Stella about the dorm difference.
“By the way, why do you get such a huge room?”
“Huge? This? It's smaller than my room at home—uncomfortable.”
“...Still bigger than mine.”
“Only you commoners use those free dorms.”
“...What?”
“Yours are free dorms. This is paid. Didn't know?”
I didn't. Realizing it was paid actually eased my mind. Free would've pissed me off enough to riot, but paid? Fair enough.
“Here you are.”
“Ah, thanks.”
“You're welcome.”
I slurped down the fresh stew. As my spoon slowed, Stella pounced.
“Hey, Ian.”
“...Yeah?”
“Y'know, now you can enter the treasure warehouse and get a heirloom—”
“Yep.”
“So, about that bet we made... Can't we just call it off?”
Hearing that, I grinned and took another spoonful.
So that's why the royal treatment. But nah.
Your bet. No matter what.
Absolutely!
“No.”
No take-backs.
Summoned by the principal, I headed to her office with slight tension.
Knocking at the door, her voice came from inside.
“[Wait there-.]”
Soon, Catherine emerged, gave a light greeting, and headed somewhere.
Following her, she led to a secluded corner students rarely visited.
What's here...?
But when she tapped a hidden spot, a wall slid open, revealing stairs.
“Come along. First time in the warehouse, right?”
Flashing a beautiful smile, she descended. Following, she gave warnings.
“Don't touch the sealed items deepest inside—they're dangerous.”
“No matter how tempting, only one item allowed.”
“And don't linger; you get 30 minutes to browse.”
So many rules, but I couldn't complain. Nodding that I understood, we finally reached the warehouse.
This is...
The first secret of this isekai world I'd never seen even in the game.