Chapter 52

In just one day after entering the Schlaphe Dormitory, I had amassed 1,150 coins, of which I had spent roughly 800.

“Master, this way,” Selly called out, waving her hand with the ordered items piled behind her in the first-floor lobby.

“You got everything I asked for?”

Frost Heart operated on a free-market system, making it not too difficult to purchase various items since there was a market selling all sorts of goods.

“Of course. But why do you need a longsword after joining the Magic Department?”

“…I just think it might be necessary.” After all, a staff couldn’t penetrate a monster’s hide.

Shing—

When I drew the sword from its sheath, the blade gleamed. Despite the cross guard being slightly rusted, it seemed to be a good weapon.

“And these potions… I bought them from the Alchemy Department as you said, but I’m not sure if they’re exactly what you wanted because I’m not familiar with them.”

“Did you show them the order form?”

“Yes, but it was hard to pronounce.”

I checked the sack Selly brought. The potions were correct, and the quantities matched.

“Hmm, they didn’t try to cheat.”

“What are you going to use these for?”

In the Schlaphe Dormitory, sudden mock training exercises simulating monster invasions, akin to a five-minute readiness alert in the military, are conducted. Though there’s no immediate need to worry with the new semester just beginning, one can never be too sure. That man had a history of manipulating the third test.

“Consider it as being prepared. By the way, wasn’t there more I asked for?”

Selly scrunched up her face and pulled out something wrapped in paper. The fishy smell wafted from the slimy object.

“…I removed all the bones myself. But why do you need something like this? If you want to eat fish, you could just go to the cafeteria.”

“Cooking requires care.”

Selly sniffed her hands and grumbled.

“Ugh, the smell won’t go away even after scrubbing with soap…”

Soap? She wouldn’t have coins to buy it, so it must have been given for free. I suddenly became curious about how the attendants here lived. Contrary to my expectations, Selly seemed quite content.

“Do they give you soap?”

“Huh? Oh, yes… they provide various things.”

Here, we have to buy everything.

“Food too?”

“Of course. The meals are good. I was worried at first, but the bed is warm, and the room is comfortable. The people are kind too.”

This was unexpected. I had always assumed the attendants were treated poorly. The nobles here were surrounded by people who starved from the cold and hunger. �

“…Better off than some nobles.”

“Excuse me?”

“Nothing. Go rest now.”

After sending Selly off, I gathered the items and took out the mirror with today’s instructions written on it.

[Do not use the stairs at the end of the right hallway. Use only the left hallway. If you mistakenly use the stairs, you will find the same floor repeating. Do not panic, stay calm, and wait. Someone will come to rescue you in the morning.]

“Hmm.”

Today, I shouldn’t use the right hallway.

***

After arriving at Room 303 in Building 3, I unpacked and took a shower. The Knight Department’s classes seemed to be running longer, as the shower room and hallways were eerily empty.

Back in my room, I placed the fish Selly had prepared on a plate by the door and lay on the bed, recalling today’s classes.

The first-day class was solely about herbology. Professor Hall’s herb gathering task took a staggering five hours. Only Gravel and I received an A+. Ricks, who split the roots with his partner, got an A, and the rest received Bs. Given that it was an arduous task for freshmen, the scores were generous, which still led to dissatisfaction among the peers.

– It must have been tough waiting. Hersel, go deliver it to Professor Rockefeller right away.

On my way back from delivering to Rockefeller during class, I overheard the Magic Department students talking to Professor Hall from a distance.

– Did you give special treatment because he’s from the Tenest family?

– Right, we haven’t seen it for hours, isn’t this too suspicious?

It was obvious that the Lethe guys smirking from afar had set the mood like this. Because of them, Professor Hall was put in a difficult position.

– Ricks found one too, didn’t he?

– Ricks said Hersel gave it to him.

– Why is he the only one who found it? Did the professor give him a hint?

Ricks’s face turned to one of bewilderment, as if blaming himself for the situation. Given his character, he couldn’t take credit and had honestly stated the source.

– Right, Gravel.

Naturally, the blame then shifted to the easy target, Gravel, who had partnered with me.

– Be honest, you were with him, weren’t you?

– N-no, that’s not…

– Why hesitate? Just tell the truth.

– So, you’re in cahoots too, huh?

Unable to watch any longer, Ricks intervened.

– Even if there are bad rumors about Hersel, stop making baseless assumptions. It’s possible he found it by chance. Don’t raise issues without proof.

Though the Lethe guys hid in the crowd, making snide comments, Ricks’s popularity ensured they didn’t gain traction.

– Ricks wouldn’t do that.

– Right, I’ve known him since childhood, and you guys are mistaken.

– Some of you know, right? Didn’t he lend you gloves when your hands were cold? And he carried me when I fell.

With public opinion on Ricks’s side, the situation seemed to settle down. Yet doubts persisted, and Gravel and I remained the subjects of gossip. At that moment, I approached and said,

– If you’re going to gossip, don’t do it behind my back. Say it to my face.

When I confronted them, they started sweating and avoided my gaze. I sneered at them.

– Go ahead, keep it up. Most of you will be stuck in the Schlaphe Dorm for three years anyway. Your only joy will be gossiping and envying others.

The group glared at me fiercely, but I smiled smugly.

– I have a conscience; I’d feel bad taking even that from you. So, gossip all you want. You’ll go crazy if you don’t.

– H-Hersel…

– Don’t pretend you know me, Gravel. You’ve been a burden the whole time, and now it’s the same.

Surprisingly, timid Gravel wasn’t disheartened. She just stared blankly at Ricks and me. That’s what happened in today’s class.

– Hersel.

‘What?’

– Do you enjoy making enemies?

‘Is that fun?’

– Even if you show kindness, don’t expect others to recognize it.

Donatan’s words made me laugh involuntarily. He probably thought I was merely provoking my classmates and deflecting anger onto Gravel. But my actions were calculated.

“If a show-off like me shows kindness, there’s always a reason.”

Since being possessed, I was always the one taking the blame. Now, people’s criticism barely fazes me. Given that, why would I refuse a reward in exchange for some criticism?

[Ricks Don Orien]

• Blessing

◆ Devoted Sage’s Grace

◆ Knowledge belongs to no one. It is for everyone.

Magic power increases with the number of people showing favor to the owner.

When defeating monsters, it slightly increases the mana of those who show favor.

• Traits

◇ Mana Recovery ◇

◇ Gentle Charisma ◇

The ‘Devoted Sage’s Grace’ was the most needed blessing for me. Even a slight increase in mana was permanent, allowing me to cast more spells. This was why I set up Ricks in the first place.

***

Having just finished my shower, my hair was still wet. Ricks, with the string he used to tie his ponytail around his wrist, went down to the first-floor lobby. Gravel was sitting on the long seat.

“Ricks, over here, over here.”

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“No, I just got here too. You wanted to ask me something?”

Ricks nodded and asked in detail how she obtained the Merilly root. He heard some suspicious points.

“You prepared the rope from the start?”

“Yes.”

That meant he knew in advance that it was in the cave under the cliff.

“But I didn’t get any hints from the professor. At that time, Hersel was dealing with the Lethe guys, so he didn’t have the chance.”

If not from the professor, there was a possibility he got the information from elsewhere. Ricks then felt what he was doing was ridiculous. The idea of considering it cheating was absurd. After all, many new students had sought advice from seniors.

‘Some even paid 5 coins for herbology information. It turned out to be a scam though…’

In essence, many had cheated, and the professor seemed to turn a blind eye. When someone sought help from a senior, the professor overheard but just walked by.

“Sorry for wasting your time, Gravel.”

“Wait a minute.”

“Is there something more?”

“No, it’s just… Others talk badly about Hersel, but I don’t think he’s as bad as they say. He helped me when I was in danger.”

Ricks blinked. Gravel, usually timid and always on the fringes, was rarely assertive.

“And he spoke harshly to the others probably to protect me from harm.”

“That might be how it seemed. But that guy…”

The rumors about Hersel were all terrible deeds that Ricks couldn’t understand. This made him even more suspicious. Maybe the way Hersel acted towards Gravel was just a façade to win her favor.

“Be careful, Gravel. That might be his method. He has a bad reputation with women.”

Ricks couldn’t trust that man at all.

***

It was a sound sleep until the horn and bell rang loudly. As soon as I opened my eyes, I said,

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Was it real that there was a monster defense drill just two days after the new students arrived? It had to be Rockefeller’s revenge. He had the authority to initiate it, and I had pissed him off a lot yesterday. Even so, I never expected he’d order something like this without training the freshmen first. That bastard must have a heart as small as a needle.

Fueled by hatred, I quickly moved. While packing the bag filled with the items Selly had bought, I saw a black cat eating the fish by the door. It turned to smoke as soon as our eyes met.

– Was the fish for that?

‘It’s said that befriending it brings luck.’

Now wasn’t the time to dwell on that. I rushed out the door. In the hallway, Asle was yawning with his mouth wide open, and Limberton looked anxious. Then, urgent footsteps and loud voices from the stairs filled the air.

“W-weren’t we not supposed to worry for a while?”

“Oh, that lunatic Rockefeller is starting drills already after just a few days with new students!”

“Wait, what was today’s rule?”

Judging by their talk, they had to be second or third years.

“Is it a war or what!”

“Don’t panic, Limberton. You’ll get used to it quickly.”

“What the heck is going on?”

“Well…”

Just then, Rockefeller’s voice echoed through the dormitory.

– A swarm of monsters has attacked. Schlaphe Dorm students, arm yourselves immediately. This situation is both a drill and real.

Frost Heart occasionally held such events without notice. It was supposedly to prepare for monster attacks in the heart of the labyrinth, but in this case, it was just petty revenge.

– The monsters are ice oxen, totaling 300. Good luck.

After the announcement, Limberton sighed in relief.

“So, it’s just a drill?”

“It’s a drill that feels real. It’s like the third test. It means we could die.”

“…I figured. I’m too tired to be surprised. But Hersel, seeing you packed your bag well, you’ve prepared something again, right?”

Limberton raised an eyebrow, half-lidded eyes scrutinizing me. I chuckled.

“Looks like you’ve gotten used to it already.”

The situation wasn’t entirely unfavorable for me. Although the invasion was supposed to occur two weeks later, the time difference wasn’t significant. The monsters were the same, and I was prepared.

“Shall we go make a haul then?”

Time to double the 800-coin investment.

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