There are many ridiculous reasons why Oknodie’s claims are absurd, but the one that left Jezel the most bewildered was this:
“Is it okay to discuss a mutiny right next to the butler?”
If that one person goes wild, all the students on the ship will be tied up like dried fish!
“Don’t worry. I’m just a butler and a representative of the Foundation here to serve you, Lady. I won’t harm you directly.”
“Did you hear that?”
“Well, that means there’s still a chance. How do you plan to execute this mutiny?”
“I’m going to threaten to turn the crew’s fingers, toes, and blood into [Points] if I don’t steer the ship to the teleportation-port!”
This is a mutiny; it’s the beginning of the Dark Princess’s wicked plans.
“When will it happen?”
“After the Points auction ends!”
“How many days until the auction?”
“One day!”
Jezel’s mind quickly calculated the route, speed, and distance. An uninhabited island three days away by a super-luxurious cruise ship equipped with a massive mana engine. For an ordinary large vessel, it would take at least 14 days to detour around the dangerous sea (sea demonic beasts), but they could cut that time to three days. Both the navigator’s skills and the ship’s equipment have to be top-notch for this to work.
This proves that the personnel of the Wahyhiemhai Foundation are not merely filling numbers or staffing various facilities.
‘I’m a little scared. Of their preparedness.’
Even if the underworld lords gathered their strength, they could imitate this to some extent. They had enough money to procure a ship and could gather people if they had the funds. However, finding high-quality items and reliable experts isn’t easy. In any scenario where money gathers, there are those with power who are greedy yet incompetent, scammers, and hostile organizations lurking around.
Having so many enemies, the Foundation successfully navigating a cruise ship of this scale is also a testament to its strength.
“I’ve asked before, but I can’t help asking again. How on earth do you know such information, Lady?”
Oknodie tried to mumble an evasive laugh in response to Jonnas’s curiosity, but Jonnas’s serious expression made it clear that wouldn’t work a second time. The little lady’s pleading glance subtly directed at Jezel was ignored as he coolly turned away.
Jezel was equally curious, after all.
“Uh… um… I peeked!”
“Where?”
“In the navigation room.”
Jonnas paused before asking again.
“You mean you infiltrated the critically important security facility, the navigation room, and got information before escaping?”
“Hehe.”
…The lady has become a spy for the Academy.
Not acceptable! Jezil prepared for the situation where he might charge at her shouting such things while digging into his backpack to get ready to retaliate, but Jonnas’s reaction was far more composed.
“You really studied hard at the Academy, didn’t you? You should be a little happier, Lady.”
The butler’s response was just as absurd as Oknodie’s, so Jezel felt utterly dumbfounded at the Foundation’s incomprehensible generosity.
*
Jezel sold the information that there was only one day left until landing on the uninhabited island to the students. Thanks to that, with just one day left, all the students were feverishly gathering Points.
_Buuuuuuuuuu━_
As the boat horn sounded and the cruise ship lowered the small boat for landing, students who had purchased their tickets using Points gathered closely.
Among 128 students, only 12 ended up on the ship.
They were either representatives pooling Points or exceptionally skilled individuals.
“Isn’t Your Highness bankrupt?”
“Hah~? There’s no way I’d be left behind like that♡ Look at how many weak crew members there are compared to me♡”
“…The crew members seem to be suffering.”
The high-ranking Countess Arcadia and the Second Princess Masugaki of the Empire.
“Oh, Gorilla Woman. I thought I had monopolized the Points earned through physical labor. Where did you get yours?”
“By breaking the training room record.”
The strong Son Ohchun and Hestia.
“I won’t let everyone’s gathered Points go to waste.”
“How boring. In the end, the items won will be divided equally among the group.”
“Speaking of which, Jaku, you also pooled Points from the others.”
“It wasn’t pooling. I’m just the strongest, so I stepped in and extorted from them by force.”
“…Can you really boast about that?”
The Mob, who gathered the weaker students’ Points, and Jaku.
“Bikini Warrior, fight!”
“Take me! Waaaah.”
“Thanks, everyone~! I’ll show the greatness of Bikini Armor after winning the auction!”
Taking advantage of the chaos, Ppyoi amassed followers with her charm and gathered Points.
“I’ll split it with you, so stop harassing me.”
“Is that a promise? A promise?”
“Ugh, just a moment.”
The dark horse of the lower class, Rosgini.
“There seem to be quite a few competitors.”
“Don’t get careless. Unlike us, they can join forces if needed.”
Warrior Ishtar and Saintess Yufi.
“Where did Jiang collect his Points?”
“The bathroom.”
“…?”
“People don’t hesitate to spend Points when they’re rushing to use the bathroom.”
“Wow. That’s great! I’ll have to try that when we go back to the Academy!”
Even the heartless Oknodie and Jiang were included.
With 12 students on board, the butler Jonnas and maid Reap each piloted a boat.
“Please don’t expect to be treated like slaves. You’ll end up being bitten like Countess Arcadia.”
“Hmph. It’s not going to be a boring event like that.”
The uninhabited island was too large for 14 people, including the butler and maid, to stay on.
As soon as they landed on the island, Mob, staring at the boat that was leaving, asked dumbly,
“When does the auction start?”
“At this time every day.”
“What? Did you come here without knowing anything?”
“Because everyone pooled their Points just for the chance that an auction would be held…”
Jaku looked at Mob’s armor with a pitying expression. Wearing heavy armor on a hot and humid uninhabited island while participating in an auction that only reveals one item a day is a foolish act.
“What’s with that sudden unpleasant look?”
“If it’s too hard, just forfeit.”
“Hah. There’s no way I’d forfeit in a secret auction where treasures of the Foundation might appear.”
He had endured everything to come here, sacrificing the luxury facilities and gourmet food, thanks to everyone’s help.
There’s no way he’d give up so easily.
Mob was brimming with enthusiasm.
_Grrrrr._
Until he got hungry.
He shoved the black bread he had brought as an emergency supply into the food slot of his helmet, which only opened during meal times, and chewed it up, tasting the saltiness that came from the sea breeze.
It was hard, with the worst texture, and when dissolved with saliva, it even had a salty taste. The worst black bread.
Naturally, the drinking water he brought was all gone.
At this rate, he wouldn’t even have the luxury to waste stamina on training.
_Clack, clack._
Determined, he set off to search for food.
_Clack, clack…_
He soon sat down on the ground with a weak thud and sighed.
“Rosgini you crazy girl… What on earth are you doing…”
Before his eyes, scarlet flames danced among the plants. Trees bearing fruit were catching fire in real-time, falling to the ground.
The Red Mage Rosgini brazenly responded.
“I’m just reducing competitors. If you don’t want to starve, forfeit the auction. If you couldn’t bring enough food and water to prepare for situations like this, then you don’t deserve to enjoy the auction.”
Students who had learned various survival techniques at the Academy in order to survive were certainly not an exception, including Rosgini herself.
“I have to at least take one item on the first day, no matter what.”
Mob, who clung on desperately, vowed that he’d pour all of his 250,000 Points into getting even just one item.
“I will now present the first item of the uninhabited island auction. Today’s item is a [Box of Black Bread].”
“I’m forfeiting.”
That was a very quick resolution of his determination.
*
Jaku sensed that things were getting tough.
He had already predicted Rosgini’s arson. He understood the importance of food and water and had enough in his backpack. The other students who got the information were likely just as prepared.
Yet, out came the item of black bread.
They were selling supplies for a long battle that unprepared students would need. It might taste awful, but having it could allow them to last at least one more day in the auction than others.
‘That’s something I’d only consider when I had excess points…’
How valuable the subsequent items would be and how many Points the competitors had gathered remained uncertain. Thinking of a long battle, spending Points seemed unwise.
If he wasn’t careful, there could be an unfortunate event of returning with a pile of just black bread.
Having pooled a certain percentage of everyone else’s Points, he participated, and returning empty-handed would make even Primer doubt his skills and look down on him.
“The starting bid for the auction is 1,000 Points. Bids will increase by 1,000. Is there anyone participating?”
Jaku decided to go all in.
“Jaku bids 10,000 Points.”
“10,000?”
“For just black bread?”
Jaku had a winning strategy.
‘As the auction progresses, items presented will become more valuable considering I can see the next day’s items if I survive a day on the uninhabited island.’
That means the longer he lasts, the more valuable the auction items he could access later; ultimately, it hinged on how much food and water he could secure.
If everyone else lost their stamina and couldn’t endure hunger and thirst, he could monopolize all the late auction items at the lowest Points.
‘Except for Jezel, who might have a large stash of food in her magic backpack—there won’t be any competitors.’
At that moment, he was confident in his auction victory strategy when Jonnas, acting as the auctioneer, opened his mouth.
“Reap bids 20,000 Points.”
“…!”
The new tail of the Foundation.
The assassin maid Reap sneered at Jaku with a derisive look.
Jaku bit his lips tightly and raised his hand.
“Jaku bids 30,000 Points.”
“Reap bids 40,000 Points.”
“Jaku bids 50,000 Points.”
Points climbed steadily.
While watching, Jiang threw a pebble into his mouth and then spat it out at Oknodie.
“Oknodie, are you not in on this?”
“Late game strategy? Nope!”
“Are you hoping to get food from Jezel?”
“That too, but I can always just snatch it from whoever wins the black bread auction!”
“…”
That was enough to deflate Jaku’s enthusiasm as he continued the auction.
