Many were outraged by Professor Sadako’s misdeeds, but the one who was most furious was undoubtedly Arcadia.
Throwing a tea party, carefully selecting and bringing desserts for Oknodie from all over the world, and if there were motives to slander the child, she didn’t hesitate to unleash the dignity and eloquence of a noble to crush them.
Dira, the beloved child she had treated like a teddy bear, had lost her lively demeanor, having eaten dirt and spat it out. How could anyone not be furious?
“We have to concede. If resolving it among peers doesn’t work, we have to ask for help beyond that.”
“B-but can we do that? All the seniors are just crazy people trying to earn points by exploiting juniors, having sold their souls for grades!”
“Prill, not all seniors are demons. Sometimes, an angel shows up amid the drought like a bean sprout.”
“What kind of good deed did they do?”
“They looked me in the eye and greeted me three seconds late, but only took 50 points as greeting fees.”
“…”
Even amid Prill and Kanilian Truffle’s grumbling conversation, Arcadia stood firm.
“The Western Noble Union’s bonds will surely continue even with someone who has once deviated from Seoguyeon like me. I am a proud noble from the West!”
“According to the student council newspaper, the military buildup in the Deutsch Kingdom has raised tensions among neighboring countries?”
“Speaking of which, I keep hearing stories about Grand Duke Andersen getting summoned by Senior Velvet, the strongest in Seoguyeon, throughout winter vacation, returning covered in soot.”
“Maybe he’s making a secret weapon.”
“…That’s just him being forced into a part-time job; don’t misunderstand.”
“During the entire vacation?!”
Seeing her efforts to uphold the prestige of Seoguyeon fall apart felt like watching a wrapping paper being torn apart, so Arcadia quickly changed the subject.
“Regardless of Senior Velvet’s character! There are many strong people in this world whom we can’t handle alone with just our Class 981. It’s the same for Professor Sadako’s residence, the Catacombs. We need to get help from our seniors!”
“There’s no way they’ll help for free… how are we going to do that?”
“We’ll requisition points. And… on a personal level, I’ll owe Senior Velvet.”
“Goodness! Please stop, Lady Arcadia. I know because I wake up early to be the Forest Guardian, but Grand Duke Andersen has been out chasing monsters in the gemstone mine, often returning late and heading back to work again in just a couple of hours!”
Despite Forest Guardian Dorothy’s warning, Arcadia, having already made up her mind, began to push forward unimpeded.
“Ho ho. Helping that Oknodie? That sounds incredibly interesting. I’m intrigued! Let me lend a hand.”
“If Astarot is getting involved, the deputy director of the Environmental Cleaning Department, the Lizard-Man Titta, will join too! I’m sure everyone else will as well!”
When transfer student representative Astarot showed interest in Arcadia’s story, even the unmanageable forces of Professor Sadako and the war generation transfer students seemed curious as they expressed their willingness to join.
“…The child is kind, so we can’t just send her off to die alone. Let’s consider saving the deputy director.”
“How the hell did someone like that even become our deputy director in the student council? It’s infuriating. Shouldn’t it be based on skills?”
“No way. If the strong got to sit in those positions, there’d be battles for power every day—it’s clear they just slapped a title on a weakling.”
Looking at Titta, who was acting as a token deputy director, Arcadia and her Class 981 peers inwardly muttered.
So, that’s the position Titosso has among the transfers.
But the next ally wasn’t from such an untrustworthy clique of executives.
“Lady Arcadia. We’re only acquaintances as noble ladies who enjoy regular tea parties to increase nobility. We can’t lose a dear companion at our valuable tea party, so I’ll join in a little for that reckless uproar. Ahh━ha ha!”
Noble lady Mandela Castera.
Leading the familiar 980 Class Four Kings and upperclassmen appeared on the windowsill, looking down at everyone.
“By the way, why are the seniors up one level from the assembly point?”
“Of course, to show the insurmountable gap between the heavenly 980 class and the earthly 981 class.”
“…Instructor. I’ll report the students who are putting their feet on the windowsill and dirtying the facilities…”
Third-year students rushed out of the window or darted back inside.
Either way, gathering through stairs was the same, and seeing their disheveled appearance induced pity.
“Hmm? Didn’t our numbers increase?”
“Wait a second, the atmosphere is so dreary I thought they were all third-years suffering together, but those over there are second-years!”
A group of students wearing dirty, tattered cloaks lifted their heads.
“Seoguyeon!”
“Grand Duke Andersen?!”
“That guy, what has he been up to this time?”
Andersen declared with a stern face.
“The affection of Seoguyeon cannot be abruptly severed even if one group deviates. Lady Arcadia, whether you want it or not, we will aid you.”
“From just your expression, you seem quite impressive, yet your sword, which is touching the ground, seems very shaky. What exactly have you been doing?”
“I just attended a class on ‘Playing with Balls’.”
“Then why can’t you manage your body?”
“I was using a stone that weighs 300 kg.”
“…Honestly, that cursed hand of his, sigh. I’m not sure if receiving help is a good idea.”
In response to Arcadia’s anxious reaction, echoing footsteps suddenly grabbed her attention.
“Don’t worry about Andersen. I’ve trained him directly a number of times.”
Even if it wasn’t the characteristic sound of shoes, many recognized Velvet.
“That person is this year’s candidate for Student Council President from the Executive Corps, right?”
“Thanks to Senior Velvet, who devours the five senior classes, has the Grand Duke’s cursed hand finally found the luck to overcome it?”
Fearsome Velvet.
The monster of the Executive Corps.
The strongest of Seoguyeon.
Many titles were called upon her, yet the Class 981 students couldn’t relate to them.
After all, those who commit crimes and cause trouble don’t usually encounter Velvet.
“Such a naughty deed is done entirely by that witch; I can’t even show you my insides.”
“Oh, look at those kids? Seems like there are some bad ones. I can see some fear in the way they look at Velvet, huh?”
“Aren’t those Andersen’s kids?”
“No way. Nobles care too much about breeding. There are height restrictions for candidates, too. Surely there aren’t any short ones in noble families?”
“True.”
“…”
The sharp comment hit hard, revealing undeniable injustice within Jiang and Titosso.
So being short was a symbol of not being noble!
Despite that injustice, the reason Jiang held fear was because he once witnessed Senior Velvet during the library expedition with Oknodie.
Clearly, Titosso was just shivering not due to any reason but because they were terrified of their seniors.
“Those seniors…”
“Ooh, Grand Duke. Do you know Seoguyeon’s veterans?”
“We haven’t seen many of them. Can you introduce us to them?”
After enduring extensive hardship, Andersen felt sorry as the Class 981 nobles eagerly anticipated political gains from the seniors’ connections.
“They aren’t the kinds of seniors who can provide you with the benefits you’re thinking of. They’re the ones who linger here instead of going home because they don’t want to work or delay graduation, plotting to take the main family seat while they sever heads.”
“Ah…”
“Oh…”
“Goodness…”
With unspeakable disappointment, Andersen poured cold water on their hopes.
“Don’t forget the proper respect toward seniors just because you think there’s nothing to gain. They are individuals who might suavely sever ties with their own families, and a junior nearby could be left to marinate in a dungeon for years upon graduation.”
“……….”
In any case, not graduating meant that the wide-open roads waited at the end; there was no way nobles affiliated with Seoguyeon would be normal.
The initial comfort of group assembly was fading away, and a sense of villain collective began to emerge as Cassia suddenly blocked the sun.
“Right now, it’s day. If we wait longer, it’ll be night.”
The undead are nocturnal.
At night, they grow stronger, boosted by the moon’s power.
“Wait, then we really attacked at the hardest time yesterday?”
As Ppyoi recalled the struggles from the previous early morning, she seethed.
“Sorry! I was super pissed then.”
Seeing Arcadia’s honest apology and the unquenched revenge in Ppyoi’s eyes, she hastily shoved her cursed Bikini Armor back into her bag.
If just one villain showed up, that person would seem unusual, but if all gathered were suspiciously villain-like, then it’s the collector who’s peculiar.
Realizing this obvious fact a moment too late, Ppyoi promised to maintain good etiquette in front of Countess Arcadia and corrected her unruly posture, straightening up.
“There’s a lecture tonight.”
Velvet pointed towards the entrance of the Catacombs with an ostensibly indifferent face but a subtle smile.
“Which means we should wrap up the picnic quickly.”
The giant heels of Senior Velvet kicked the first gate of the Catacombs.
With a bang, the door flew open, crashing into the door below, making a series of thud-thud-bang sounds that indicated its demise.
Obviously, the undead that were supposed to be between the doors got crushed and scattered.
“Since our senior is busy, we better hurry. Everyone, let’s charge ahead!”
With a brave stride towards the path that was completely cleared down nearly ten floors, Arcadia boldly advanced.
Is this right? Did I call forth someone too powerful? What if Senior Velvet asks for transportation fees afterward and fleeces all my points?
Amid all kinds of unease and fear swirling in the hearts of the second years, the advance of the Catacombs Second Expedition had begun.
