Chapter 449
“Hahaha! We’re back!”
The next morning, Simon and his group arrived at Roke Island through the teleportation magic circle.
From the hill where the teleportation circle was installed, the sight of Keyzen’s campus spread out clearly before their eyes.
By now, it was not only familiar, but even felt dear to them.
“Guys! Hurry down….”
“This way, idiot.”
When Dick tried to go down the usual route, Maelyn pointed to the opposite side.
“We’re second-years now.”
“Ah, right!”
With the main gate of Keyzen as the center, the right side was the first-year campus, and the left side was the second-year campus.
The range of activities was somewhat divided. Of course, that was only a loose distinction, since many areas overlapped between first- and second-years anyway.
Thus, Simon’s group went down a different path than usual and entered the second-year campus.
“So this is it.”
“It really does feel different!”
If the first-year campus gave off a romantic vibe with its mix of rest areas and athletic spaces, the second-year campus exuded a professional and smart atmosphere.
It was truly a space where scholars lived.
Every park bench and streetlamp along the roads looked sophisticated, while massive libraries and research buildings rose like towers. Around them, cycads and cherry blossoms were blooming in abundance, with radiant petals fluttering gently in the air.
‘I’ve never come this far in before.’
Simon also recalled that since the club buildings were near the second-year campus, he had passed through from time to time. The four of them looked around with faces full of excitement at the schoolyard where they would now live.
“Wow! Look there! It’s the Golden Steak restaurant!”
Maelyn’s interests, as always, were directed toward food.
“There’s the Taverna restaurant too! It’s supposed to be Keyzen’s best place to eat! I really really wanted to go there when we were first-years!”
“Can’t you just go if you want?”
When Simon asked that, Maelyn shook her head.
“Once, when I was a first-year, I went to the second-year dining hall with the class rep, and the seniors gave us every dirty look you can imagine. Like, ‘Where do first-years think they’re going!’ That kind of vibe.”
“Our seniors were kind of petty like that.”
Dick chuckled and pointed his thumb at himself.
“But I’m different! I’ll be an amazing senior! I’ll really treat the juniors well!”
“It’s always the ones who say that who end up tormenting the juniors.”
Meanwhile, Kamibarez was looking at a map posted on campus.
“Everyone~ It looks like we go this way. Here’s the central main building!”
“Good job, Kami! Let’s hurry, we’re already late.”
They had been told by their minions to head to the central main building upon arrival at Keyzen.
Before long, the four found the largest building among the many research facilities.
At the entrance, a teaching assistant stood with minions, guarding the door. When she spotted the four, she spoke up.
“You’re a little late. Please state your names…… Ah!”
Her eyes widened. Maelyn’s too.
“Head assistant sister?”
“Maelyn! Kamibarez! Oh, and Simon and Dick as well! It’s been a while!”
She was Professor Jane’s head teaching assistant.
“Sister!”
Overjoyed at the reunion, Maelyn tried to run into her arms, but the assistant placed her hand on Maelyn’s forehead and pushed her away.
“How dare you. Term has started, so address me properly as teaching assistant.”
“Aw, come on, sis~ We’re second-years now.”
When Maelyn whined, the assistant chuckled and let it slide.
“Then I’ll confirm attendance for all four of you.”
Checking their names on the clipboard, she looked at them with a regretful smile.
“What a pity. The A-class Group 7 that stuck together so closely will have to scatter after today….”
But instead of disappointment, the four exchanged meaningful smiles.
“Looks like Professor Jane hasn’t told you yet, Teaching Assistant.”
Maelyn flipped her sky-blue hair and walked past her.
“You’ll find out soon enough!”
Dick laughed like a scheming villain as he passed by.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Simon bowed as he went by.
“It was nice seeing you! Teaching Assistant!”
Kamibarez also bowed politely and trotted after Simon.
‘…What’s this.’
Blinking, the head assistant watched the four disappear inside.
‘Why do they look so happy when they’re supposed to be splitting up?’
* * *
The four arrived at the basement of the main building.
Following the neatly spread carpet, they came to a large hall lit by countless candles, resembling a grand banquet hall.
A party was already in full swing.
Cheerful music filled the air, while minions in aprons bustled about carrying trays. At the round tables, second-year students with red badges on their collars laughed and chattered boisterously.
‘So many familiar faces!’
All around, Simon recognized people he knew.
“Simon!”
Turning his head, he saw Toto, from A-class and the Mutant Club, waving.
“Oh, Toto! How’ve you been?”
“Me? Same as always!”
“Hey there, loser.”
Maelyn waved in her own cheerful way, but when Toto’s eyes met hers, he instantly shrank back, bowing his head timidly with, “Ah, h-hello.”
“Maelyn! Kami! It’s been so long!”
At that moment, a girl rushed forward and hugged both Maelyn and Kamibarez at once.
“Kyaa! Who is it?”
The hugged ones couldn’t see the face, but Simon could.
“Been a while, class rep.”
It was Jaime Victoria, the honorary class representative of A-class.
Just imagining not seeing her trademark ‘raised hand’ during question time anymore made Simon feel a little regretful.
“Oh my, come on. I’m no class rep anymore.”
Jaime laughed bashfully and slapped Simon’s arm, before happily greeting Dick as well.
“So, class rep! Which department are you going for?”
In this context, “which department” referred to only one thing—the upcoming ‘department selection’.
“Me? Of course, Katarology.”
At her answer, Dick shook his head as though in pity.
“That’s too bad. You’ll be separated from Hector, your crush….”
“Ahhh! Aaaaaaaah!”
Jaime screamed and lunged at him, covering his mouth. Maelyn giggled.
“Class rep, you’re so cute~”
“Hey! Maelyn! You’re the one who said it!”
“What are you talking about.”
Maelyn swept her side hair with feigned dignity.
“Everyone in A-class knew about you and Hector, except you two. Why take it out on me?”
“Ugh, if I’m going down, you’re coming with me.”
Jaime silenced Dick with a ‘Silence’ curse, then, with a sly smile, turned to Maelyn.
“Hey, guys, don’t you want to know who Maelyn likes….”
“Hey!!!”
This time it was Maelyn’s turn to go red and leap at Jaime. The atmosphere was lively and noisy.
Beyond them, Simon reunited with others as well.
Girls from A-class he had been close with, Cindy Vivace and Claudia Menzies.
And a boy he had only known by face, never spoken to before—Scott Snyder—he greeted him as well.
“Ohhh, Four-Hundred Dick! You look a bit fresher!”
For reference, “Four-Hundred Dick” was a nickname mocking Dick for passing in 400th place. Scott had just come up with it three seconds ago.
The boys standing behind Scott snickered and laughed.
“Tsk, tsk-tsk-tsk-tsk.”
Dick smugly wagged his index finger from side to side.
“Life at Keyzen isn’t all about numbers. Well, not that ‘ordinary students’ would understand.”
“Doesn’t sound convincing coming from someone ranked 400th.”
“Ah~ these ‘ordinary students’ really make my mouth itch. Should I just spill it?”
Dick grinned slyly, about to counterattack, when—thud!—something bumped into him from behind.
“Ah, who the hell?”
Dick turned back, irritated.
“Open your eyes and watch where you’re—hup!”
Broad shoulders, a muscular body, piercing eyes.
Like a giant hill, a man glared down at him fiercely.
“Get lost.”
Ranked 3rd, Hector Moore.
Dick muttered something about him still being a jerk, while Simon, next to him, wore a slightly tense expression.
“……”
But Hector said nothing, simply walking past Simon.
“Huh.”
Dick blinked.
“Wasn’t that a world first?”
“What was?”
“Hector just walked past you without picking a fight. Isn’t that like some end-of-the-world omen? Gonna be five suns rising tomorrow?”
Simon looked at Hector’s back. Whether Hector truly hadn’t seen him, or saw him and pretended not to, he just passed on and started talking with students from his faction.
‘Well, whatever.’
Simon let out a quiet sigh.
‘We settled it the way he wanted at the end of first year. No reason for him to pick fights anymore.’
Thud!
Hector sat down and drained a glass of wine in one gulp.
“Torr Torr Hector~”
The girls of his faction giggled and clustered around his table.
“What’s this, what’s this? Why did you just pass by Simon Follentia?”
“……Shut up.”
Hector slammed his wine glass down and gnashed his teeth.
“I’m already going crazy holding it back.”
* * *
The party grew livelier.
But the problem was that the hall was overcrowded. By chance, Simon had lost track of Maelyn and Kamibarez, and Dick was nowhere to be seen either.
Left alone, Simon found himself—
“Simon! What did you do over vacation?”
“I helped my father with his work, and did a bit of training….”
“Really? Really? I helped my dad too. We’re so in sync~”
“Simon! What are you doing this weekend?”
—surrounded by four girls.
“From Special Admission No. 1 straight to Rank 1, you’re amazing!”
“Could you teach me too?”
“Do you have someone you like?”
A barrage of questions rained down. Sweat soaked the back of Simon’s neck.
‘Th-this is overwhelming!’
Having lived sixteen years only in the mountains, this innocent country boy found such situations unbearably heavy.
Normally, Maelyn, as the queen of the female hierarchy, would snarl and chase away approaches, but now she wasn’t here.
Even when Simon tried to stand up, saying he needed the bathroom, the girls clung to his arms with sheer physical force, chattering nonstop so he couldn’t escape.
“So anyway, you’re not dating anyone, right?”
Among them, the most forward blonde winked.
At Keyzen, connections were power.
Before the grueling second-year life began, bolstering ties was only natural. And if the seemingly clueless Rank 1 student’s girlfriend spot was still empty, then all the more reason.
It would be foolish not to aim for it.
With a bewitching smile, she gently loosened her tie. A button was deliberately undone, and Simon’s face visibly flushed.
Amusing.
A boy in his growth years was such a pitiable creature. With just a little stimulation, he could be toyed with at will.
“Simon. Why are you turning your head?”
“Well, that’s…”
“Did you know? At the department party later, the third-years will make us do talent shows.”
Her tongue flicked playfully as she leaned closer, wafting her perfume under Simon’s nose and emphasizing her body.
“So, I prepared something for the talent show.”
Feigning shyness, she whispered seductively into Simon’s ear.
“Want to see it?”
“W-wait a sec…!”
Thup!
Then, the girl suddenly placed her left hand under her chin—
Snap!
—and her other hand on the side of her head.
Then, stupidly, she began scratching her scalp.
“Ook ook! Ook-ook-ook!”
“?”
Out of nowhere, she started imitating a monkey.
Hunching her back, legs spread awkwardly, she broke into a clumsy dance. The four girls around Simon also joined in, all “ook-ook”ing like monkeys as they stumbled away.
“How tasteless.”
Tok, tok—
A crystalline soprano pierced Simon’s ears.
Swaying ivory hair, a slender figure, the beauty mark beneath her eye, and the radiant smile at her lips exuded untouchable class.
“The writhing of salmon leaping for social ascent. Filthy, yet a little pitiful.”
She stood before Simon.
At once, male students rushed in, setting up chairs behind her, placing a table between them, and laying out food, wine, and snacks.
Simon, without knowing how, was also guided into a seat, wine glass and handkerchief in hand. Meanwhile, she accepted her escort as if it were second nature.
“Been a while, hasn’t it?”
“Serne…!”
With a nasal hum, she sat gracefully, wine glass in hand.
“As expected—”
Serne propped her white chin with a finger, stretching her eyes languidly, smiling sweetly.
“It’s more comfortable when people of the same caliber meet, don’t you think?”
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters