Recruiting Party Members from Hell (3)

Edel Di Bison came to her senses five minutes later.

"How could you make me drink it so suddenly like that?"

"I had no choice. If I'd just left it, you would've gotten drunk again."

"I may look like this, but I'm not that weak to alcohol."

The water bottle Edel had chugged was still half full. She must've been pretty parched. I put the remaining hangover remedy back in its case. As expected from something meant for real-world use, its effects were top-notch.

Edel coughed a few times, dry-heaved dryly, then slapped her cheeks and sat down at the table. To make sure she wouldn't go blowing the green bottle again, I discreetly set it aside. Then, carefully, I broached the main topic.

"What happened that you ended up repeating for five whole years?"

It was a pretty provocative question for a freshman to ask a third-year. So I kept my tone as neutral as possible, like an interview. Edel just sat there calmly, saying nothing.

"Well, there's a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠reason for it. Everyone thinks I'm just stubbornly refusing to graduate, but that's not true."

Instead, Edel started spilling her own story.

"It's not that I won't graduate. It's that I can't."

"You couldn't graduate?"

"Yeah. I failed the end-of-term exams every time. Year after year. The last two years, I didn't even take them, and just repeated."

As she spoke, Edel waved ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her hand through the air—right where the green bottle had been. I handed her the water bottle instead.

"From what I heard, you weren't even showing up to classes."

"Everyone already knows that, so why bother going? I'd already stacked up enough credits. I just couldn't pass the final exam. Huh, where'd that glass go...?"

There were no glasses here—just small cups the size of shot glasses. Edel poured the remaining water into one and downed it in a gulp. The motion felt both familiar and strange.

"Since I stopped going to classes, everyone started treating me like some kind of monster. You have any idea what that's like?"

"No clue."

"You couldn't even imagine."

I had a rough idea, but I played dumb. It seemed like the best way to keep the conversation flowing.

"Every time I go to class, it's all strangers. No one talks to me. I do assignments alone. Eat alone."

"......"

"Some kids even called me 'auntie.' And here I am, still in uniform."

That was probably because she wandered around with her hair so messy it covered her whole face, making it hard to guess her age. In reality, she was just barely into her mid-twenties—a young age. She looked wrecked now in every way, but I remembered Edel Di Bison from the game looking quite pretty. Specifically, after graduation.

The real issue was that Edel Di Bison's self-esteem had hit rock bottom. No matter how capable someone is, if they're just slouched and listless, they lose all appeal. In times like these, listening is the strongest medicine—not empty words of comfort. No need to look far; Camille Esperand had been exactly like this during our Esperand training.

"You wouldn't know this feeling, right? And you shouldn't. Ignorance is bliss."

It didn't feel like the right line for this, but whatever.

"You've been through a lot, senpai."

Edel Di Bison had become Arsen's living fossil. Treated like a returning student after years away. Shunned by her peers, unable to fit into any group. Sitting in class with underclassmen who used to be her juniors—that alone would've been stressful, creating a vicious cycle that dragged on.

How do I know? I'd seen it firsthand. A buddy of mine who'd enlisted, goofed off after discharge, then reenrolled—he went through the exact same thing.

"...I'm weak in real combat. I wasn't before, but at some point, I just... became that way."

Edel bowed her head, emotions welling up briefly.

"Everyone knew, so I stopped going to classes and just reviewed at home... I mean, here. That's why I always ace the theory. But I crumble in practice—that's the problem."

"Whenever it's real combat, my hands shake, I can't use half my power, that kind of thing. So everyone thinks I'm deliberately refusing to graduate."

"I don't think that. I want to do it."

She was rambling a bit, but it wasn't Edel's fault—Arsen was the problem. Their curriculum was 50% theory, 50% practice. Fail either, and no graduation. Extra points for excelling in one helped, but only for first- and second-years. Third-years, the graduating class, were all practice-focused. No matter how good your theory, if you flop in combat, you're done.

And since Edel was in the combat major, it hit harder. Switching to non-combat was only possible up to second year; third-years had to drop out and re-enroll. Giving up everything she'd done so far wasn't easy.

That's how Edel Di Bison became Arsen's resident ghost. Leave her be, and she might actually turn into one.

"Anyway... I rambled on. That's my situation. You said you needed help? With what?"

"I want you on my team for this group assignment."

Edel froze like she'd heard something outrageous.

"M-Me? Me?!"

"Yes. I need you, senpai."

I decided to be direct.

"You weren't listening? I told you—theory perfect, but weak in practice."

"I heard everything. That's why I'm asking."

"You heard that and still say it? I can't fight in real scenarios! How could I be a team member?"

Her words were a firm refusal, but I could see it—the corner of her mouth twitching.

"If I join, I won't help at all... You okay with that? Is there even anything I could do?"

Edel was fighting to suppress a rising smile. She looked expectant. Time to feed that a little. The Esperands didn't just teach killing—they taught handling people. For moments like this.

"You just said it yourself, senpai."

"Wh-What did I say?"

"Theory perfect."

Edel faltered, so I continued calmly.

"Be our team's brain. You might be weak in practice, but you're great at magic interpretation."

"Well, yeah, but..."

"No one else can do it. Our team's all first- and second-years—short on experience."

"That's bad... Without someone like me, it could really go south?"

"Exactly."

Even with my Watcher's Eye, it couldn't compare to Edel Di Bison. Mine was inferior overall. Sure, mine had better versatility, but it was basically a downgraded version of hers.

Strictly speaking, Edel wasn't a combat agent. Even after graduating with the Player's help, she appeared in the story as a non-combat role.

"I thought I had no talent..."

"No way. You have talent, senpai."

Edel Di Bison's talent was Interpretation and Exploration. Perfect for deciphering magic and gathering intel. That's why, post-graduation, she got offers from the Hunter Association and landed a key position—rising from her hardships to the center of it all.

"But I'm really weak in practice. I might not do anything when it counts."

"It's fine. It'll work out."

"Even after repeating five years for that...?"

I nodded. Edel didn't know why she'd repeated five years, but as the Player, I did.

"Senpai."

"Yeah?"

"Could you turn around for a sec? Just a moment."

"Uh... like this?"

Edel turned without suspicion.

"Guh?!"

I combed her messy hair with my hand, then smacked the back of her head hard enough to knock her out. Gently, I carried the unconscious Edel Di Bison to the bed and laid her down.

Showing was faster than telling. Then I activated Watcher's Eye and scanned the floor.

The foul stench in Edel's room. The eerie chill permeating the third-year dorms.

Edel probably didn't notice. Numbed from spending so long in this cursed space. But as an outsider, it hit me the moment I entered—enough to wrinkle my nose. The room's environment was that bad. Stay here long enough, and you'd develop illnesses you never ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had.

In the original story, Edel had debuffs listed. Uncovering their source was the Player's job.

I lifted the floor mat where the yin energy was strongest. Grasped the small wooden box embedded there. Covered it back up.

I'd said she might become a ghost—and this dorm actually had one. In the original, clues came from a side episode, 'The Library Ghost.'

...What the hell?

Unlike the original, the yin energy was now so intense it raised goosebumps even standing still. Probably from the recent ghost commotion in the dorms. Leave Edel any longer, and she might've become a second banshee.

I checked my blinking watch, wooden box in hand.

A message from Iri.

Iri had succeeded in being a loner, just like in the original. She'd gotten offers everywhere but chose me. A melee DPS joining? No downside. Plenty of spots left on the team anyway.

The watch showed past midnight. Another timer ticked to zero in sync.

A few hours earlier, student council room.

Rebecca, leaning back in her chair to rest, opened her eyes. A giggling laugh echoed louder than expected.

"What's so funny? You look like you're in love or something."

"Oh, not love. Not yet."

"...Not yet?"

"Yeah. Not yet. Not quite."

Sylvia Leopard's eyes were glued to her watch, grinning ear to ear. Had she found someone she liked? Rebecca stiffened briefly at the unfamiliar sight, then sensed movement behind the student council room door.

Bang!—

The door flew open roughly. A fuming second-year male cadet stood there.

Rebecca handled the intruder calmly.

"What brings you here, Rian von Hildegaard."

"I know everything. Rebecca, you're obsessed with freshmen? Even got an offer to help them?"

Rebecca's brow furrowed slightly. No one outside the council should've known—how did he find out?

"It's none of your business. You're not even in the student council anymore."

"None of my business? Bullshit."

The ominous vibe made Sylvia Leopard rise from the sofa. Rian glared at her once, then turned back ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to Rebecca.

"I'm a Hildegaard. You're a Grander."

"That deal's done. Our families never accepted you anyway."

"Fine, water under the bridge."

Rian von Hildegaard strode forward, slamming his hand on Rebecca's desk.

"You're really joining? Freshmen playing house?"

Before responding, Rebecca glanced at Sylvia, who quietly excused herself. The door closed soundlessly. As the knob turned, Rian spat out his pent-up words.

"Why obsess over freshmen? What's missing in your life? They pay you or something?"

"Refrain from baseless vulgarity."

"Anyway—are you joining?!"

Bam!—

His fist slammed again. The desk shook; an ink bottle toppled.

Rebecca shot Rian a cold glance, then replied emotionlessly.

"Yes. I will participate."

"Ha, for real."

Rian growled like he might start something, then stormed out fuming. Sylvia Leopard crept back in.

"What was that, Rebecca?"

"Nothing. Not worth your worry."

"Good... then."

Rebecca cleaned the spilled ink and leaned back. Three months since being ousted from the council, and that stalker still wouldn't let go. Her throbbing headache felt worse.