Chapter 93
"Run! Simon!"
Kamibarez fired off a volley of Bloodshots, taking down the students chasing them.
The range and speed were far superior to normal explosive Bloodshots, like that of a sniper.
With her covering him, Simon sprinted at full speed without obstruction, and finally—
—Class A, Simon Follentia. Entry into the mansion confirmed.
He stepped onto the entrance of the mansion. Hearing the mansion's announcement, Simon let out a long breath and placed his hands on his knees.
"You're late."
Loraine, who had been waiting inside, waved casually. She was in the middle of returning her Skeleton Horse to subspace.
"A little trouble came up."
Simon replied, wiping the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.
"Oh my, looks like I'm the last one!"
Serne was approaching the mansion.
Around her, more than a dozen students were desperately blocking attacks or taking hits in her place, shielding Serne with everything they had. Thanks to their escort, Serne reached the mansion entrance with an effortless and graceful stride.
—Class C, Serne Eindark. Entry into the mansion confirmed.
"Good work, slaves."
She snapped her fingers.
The feathers stuck to the students’ bodies scattered into the air and disappeared. As they came to their senses, they looked around in confusion.
"Huh, what the…?"
"Why am I here?"
Loraine narrowed her brow and approached Serne.
"Don’t you think that was a bit low? You could’ve easily made it on your own, so why drag others into it…"
"I just used my ability fairly. What's the problem?"
Serne twirled around, giggling.
"If it bothers you, go tell your mommy. Ask her to get me expelled or something."
"Don’t talk crap. Things will never go your way."
The two started growling at each other. Simon, caught between them, sighed inwardly.
'Being stuck between these two is seriously draining my will to live. Really.'
"Simon!"
Kamibarez came running and tightly grabbed Simon’s hand.
"Thank goodness! Really, thank goodness! Are you okay? You're not hurt anywhere, are you?"
"..."
Seeing her genuine concern, Simon felt his mood lift instantly. Somehow, he even felt touched.
Yeah, this is what it means to be human.
"I'm fine, Kami. Thanks back there."
Kamibarez flinched and quickly let go of his hand. Then, awkwardly staring at her toes, she looked up again with a sheepish smile.
"So, Simon?"
Serne called his name as she walked toward him. Simon instinctively stiffened with tension.
"You owe me big, right?"
"…Y-Yeah. Thanks for your help."
He had no choice but to admit it. Serne raised a finger to her lips and smiled slyly.
"Ahh, I do like this kind of vibe sometimes. What should I make you do?"
"I mean, I do owe you, but it’s not like I promised to grant a wish or anything."
"I know, I know. Then…"
"Simon!!"
Bang!
Maelyn, who had returned after fighting Elisa, stormed in with a fearsome presence.
She shoved Serne’s face aside with her palm and stepped in front of Simon. Serne let out a dramatic "kyaaah!" and pretended to collapse, but Maelyn paid her no attention.
"I warned you! I told you, if you ran into that chick, avoid her at all costs!"
"Huh? Uh, yeah."
"Then why are you with her?!"
"Well, it’s complicated…"
Just then, Serne clung to Maelyn’s arm with a smile.
"Kyaaa! Maelyn! What are you doing here?"
"Ah, shit! Get off!"
Maelyn shoved her face away with a murderous voice. Serne pouted and stuck out her lower lip.
"Aww. So mean. Seri just wants to be close with Maelyn."
"Seri my ass! That’s creepy, stop it!"
Maelyn cringed as she spoke. Then, as if something occurred to her, her eyes sharpened.
"And you, what the hell. You stuck a feather on me without me knowing, didn’t you?"
"Uh-huh?"
"Why would I attack Simon?! That was your doing!"
Serne tilted her head.
"Seri doesn’t really know~"
"Don’t play dumb!"
Maelyn’s face turned bright red with fury. Serne wagged her finger back and forth, speaking in a babyish tone.
"And Seri’s ability isn’t about creating feelings from nothing. It works by amplifying existing emotions. If you attacked Simon, it’s not because I made you, it’s just your own feelings coming to the surface…"
"Stop with the bullshit and die already!"
The two tangled up in a fight. Well, it wasn’t much of a fight, Maelyn was pummeling her while Serne just took the hits.
Boom!
"Serneeeeeeeeeee!"
A thunderous voice rang through the mansion. Serne gave a bitter smile.
"I really am a woman full of sin."
"?"
The one stomping through the mansion was none other than Special Class No. 10, Malcolm Randolph.
"You bastard!"
In a single step, he grabbed Serne by the collar and lifted her up. She didn’t resist, letting her arms dangle.
"You dare control me and make me do such humiliating crap?"
"Oh my~ I have no idea what you’re talking about…"
Crash!
Malcolm slammed Serne hard onto the floor. As she collapsed, murmurs rose all around.
"…It’s only you."
Malcolm growled.
"You’re the only one who could disgrace someone like that! You toy with people like they’re dogs?"
Serne, lying on the floor, silently wiped the blood off her lips. Malcolm’s grip on his staff tightened.
"I don’t give a damn about the Ivory Tower, you bitch. You seriously need a beating."
Just as Malcolm raised his staff high, Simon quietly appeared behind him like a shadow and grabbed the staff.
"…!"
"That’s enough."
Malcolm tried to force his arms down, but the staff wouldn’t budge. His startled gaze turned backward.
"And who the hell are you?!"
"This is a non-combat zone."
Malcolm bit his lip and strained with both hands, but couldn’t break Simon’s grip.
With so many students watching, and now facing unexpected humiliation, Malcolm’s face flushed red as he reached for Simon’s head with his left hand.
"Then you die too—!"
Whoosh.
A black dagger silently flew past Malcolm’s eye.
Thunk.
It embedded itself in the wall.
Loraine, sitting at a table with her legs crossed and sipping juice, was staring at him with red eyes.
'…Loraine Arkbold. You too?!'
It was just a thrown dagger, but Malcolm felt the strength drain from his entire body.
His fighting spirit broke, and the tension in his arms released. Simon also let go of the staff.
"Dammit…"
Malcolm shoved Simon’s shoulder and stormed up the stairs. As soon as he vanished, the surrounding silence broke into murmuring once more.
"You okay, Serne?"
Simon extended a hand.
Serne smiled and took his hand to stand up. Nearby, Maelyn watched with arms crossed and a visibly uncomfortable expression.
"Thanks, Simon."
"Good. Then, let’s call it even—"
"As if~"
Serne gave him a bright eye-smile.
"You’re not seriously saying we’re even just because you cleaned up the mess after someone poked the lion’s nose, are you?"
Simon flinched.
He had hoped to let it slide, but that clearly wasn’t going to work.
"If you’re giving out rewards, ask Malcolm. You just saved his life~"
With that, Serne waved and walked off. Loraine, having finished her juice, stretched and said she was heading off for a shower.
"Oh, right. Where’s Dick?"
Simon turned to Kamibarez and asked.
"We’re still waiting for him."
"Of course, I thought he’d be here first."
There were about 10 minutes left. The students who had been guarding the mansion’s perimeter were now beginning to enter one by one.
Team 7 members continued to wait in front of the entrance for Dick.
"Maelyn. Did you happen to see Dick, even for a moment?"
"...I don't know."
She answered curtly, turning her head away sharply. Why does she seem so upset?
Now about 5 minutes remained. In a final rush, students flooded inside, and even Elisa and the students who had been guarding the perimeter till the end came in.
"You dare sink my ghost ship?"
As soon as she entered, Elisa scowled and glared at Maelyn. Maelyn chuckled and waved her hand, as if to say, get lost.
"If you don’t like it, come at me again. I’ll sink all your other ships too."
"Grrr...!"
Elisa trembled with rage, but held her tongue and turned her back. Watching her, Simon blinked.
"You fought Special Class No. 7 and won?"
"Well, I wouldn’t say I won, but it's all about matchups."
Maelyn chuckled quietly. She looked like someone with a solid ace up her sleeve.
"It’s the countdown to going home!"
Students waiting by the entrance began loudly counting down from 10. Everyone tensed up, staring at the door.
"5!"
"4!"
"3!"
"2...!"
And just as they were about to say "1," Dick stepped onto the mansion grounds with a relaxed stride.
"Wa-ha-ha! Made it!"
"Dick!"
Beeeep!
—Survival Island has ended. All students, please cease combat and wait in a safe location.
—Students outside the mansion will be teleported in order. Do not step outside once the teleportation magic circle activates.
"Woooooo!"
"It’s over!"
"Let’s eat steak, not monsters!"
"Who’s down to hang out in Rochest tonight?!"
The students inside the mansion cheered, savoring the end. Simon grinned and high-fived Dick.
"What took you so long?"
Dick chuckled.
"I just hung around nearby, waiting until it was safely last minute. No need to take unnecessary risks, right?"
"Glad you're okay, Dick!"
"What’s so safe about walking in with one second left?! Jeez, you dumbass!"
Simon slumped back onto a nearby sofa, relaxing. The thought of returning to Keyzen made his body feel limp.
Step. Step.
That was when Hector approached Simon, dragging his jangling scales behind him. The three people nearby flinched, wary of him.
"...Simon Follentia."
Simon looked up at Hector. Now what?
"That monster that appeared on the southern island."
Hector's eyes gleamed as he continued.
"Was that your kill?"
Simon gave a dry chuckle and shook his head.
"Think whatever you want."
"..."
Hector stared at Simon in silence, then turned around and walked up the stairs.
* * *
A short while later, the entire first-year class returned to Keyzen.
The dormitory bathrooms and public baths were packed with students. Those who had already washed up at the mansion just changed clothes and headed out to Rochest, while others immediately went looking for food.
And then—
"Yes, it’s all over safely. Of course. I'm fine."
Serne was speaking to someone through a communication crystal orb.
—What about persuading Simon Follentia?
"Oh, that? I failed~"
She responded nonchalantly.
"Turns out he’s not the type who reacts to threats or intimidation."
—He’s not Special Class No. 1 for nothing. Then we’ll proceed as originally planned. We’ll begin the operation this week...
"But you know,"
Serne interrupted the man’s words.
"Do we really have to kill him?"
—Yes. There’s no other choice. If he’s not an ally, he’ll only become an enemy. We need to move before Keyzen catches on...
"Uncle."
Staring down at the crystal orb, Serne propped her chin with one hand and smiled with her eyes.
"You’re working super hard. Are you, by any chance, interested in the position of Legion Commander?"
The man’s face on the other end of the orb twisted with embarrassment.
—W-What! That’s outrageous! How could you say such a thing?!
"Aahaha! Sorry. Just joking."
She waved her hand gently.
"As someone on the front lines, and the heir to the Ivory Tower, I’ll issue the next directive."
—Pardon?
"Give me just a bit more time."
—Y-You mean...!
She smiled sweetly.
"Simon Follentia is irreplaceable. Eliminating him to steal the Legion is a mistake. I’ll take my time and try to persuade him slowly."
—But...! Please reconsider! This is about the future of the Ivory Tower! Even as the heir, such a grave matter can’t be decided so freely...
"I’ll speak to my father directly. I’ll take full responsibility. Alright?"
And with that, she unilaterally ended the call.
With an elegant wave, she summoned the feather that held her teacup closer. She picked up the cup and took a sip of coffee.
Sip.
Enjoying the sweet taste, she looked up at the ceiling with a strange smile.
"I’ll be counting on you, Simon Follentia."
And so, the Simon assassination plan of the Ivory Tower’s hardliners was indefinitely postponed, placed under Serne’s full authority.
Superb.