HTACS 11

Chapter 11

After Aila had come and gone, and after I’d set my future course, I skipped school for two days.

Thankfully, it’s still intercession—truly a blessing.

“Ugh… ughhhhh.”

The delayed-onset muscle soreness had finally arrived—the aftereffects of going with Nephti to harvest beans.

I can guarantee—it wasn’t *that* strenuous. But Wolfram’s trash-tier endurance couldn’t even handle two simple tasks: walking for two hours and picking beans.

“Endurance… 2.”

If I don’t do something about this goddamn endurance stat, I might actually die. That thought crossed my mind—but there’s nothing I can really do about it.

“The quest that permanently increases endurance appears in the latter half of Act 1…”

But from what I’ve confirmed, D/Z SAGA hasn’t even started Act 1 yet.

Probably around next month, Act 1 will begin. The story progresses as the new students enter.

Zeppelin Academy ends its term in December and starts again in April, with a free training period and winter break in between.

During this time, you can seek learning by attending professors’ lectures, or train yourself.

It’s like a winter intercession of sorts.

In my case, since I’m a magic major, I’d attended classes to somehow keep up—but I’ve come to think I should probably give up on intercession.

“…If I go, I’ll genuinely die.”

This goddamn endurance is the problem.

First, the convenience store. Let’s focus on establishing the convenience store first.

—

The next day.

I dragged the cart to the front of the Magic Quarter at dawn, set out the candy and dried pollack soup as always, and waited for customers.

“Ughhh… huuuh… soup… please…”

“Help yourself.”

“Y-yes… I’ll… do that…”

A graduate student who could barely pronounce words scooped up the soup, drank it, and let out a deep breath.

“You look more exhausted than usual. Did something happen?”

“…The professor took us out for a drinking party to mark the end of term.”

“…Ah. That can happen. You have my sympathies.”

“……”

Graduate students are basically their professors’ parts, after all. If the professor says “let’s drink,” you gotta go. It’s not like you get to skip lab the next day—of course, it varies by professor, but this one seems to have drawn a tough one.

“Have another cup.”

“…Th-thank you.”

Saying that, the graduate student chugged the soup. After finishing, wiping his mouth, and patting his belly, he grinned at me.

“What?”

“Ah, nothing. I was just thinking—contrary to the rumors, His Highness seems like a decent person.”

“Are you talking about the idiot who sowed discord between the Knight Department and the Magic Department, bought weapons at absurd prices, got swindled on grimoires yet bought them anyway, and eventually laid hands on the Imperial heirlooms?”

“…I apologize.”

“No. I’m not blaming you. It’s the truth.”

That was Wolfram.

A bundle of inferiority complex. A fool who reached for things he could never have. Wolfram may have loved swords and magic—but swords and magic didn’t love him back. A fool who couldn’t face that harsh reality.

“I’m always in the lab, so I don’t really know what kind of president Wolfram-nim was…”

“He was exactly as the rumors say.”

“…Is that so? You don’t seem that way, though. Here you are with a cart—like a street vendor.”

“I have no big ambitions anymore. All I want is for my convenience store to succeed, learn a skill or two, and graduate.”

“…What’s a convenience store?”

“A place that sells things like these.”

“…Ah. A grocery store. I never imagined Wolfram-nim would open one. I’d like to visit sometime. Where is it?”

“Magic Zone 8.”

At my words, his eyes went wide and he asked again.

“…For real?”

“Yeah. In a corner of Magic Zone 8.”

“Wait—what insane bastard would open a store in a place like that? Even my demented grandfather wouldn’t—…sorry.”

“…No. I know. You’re right.”

“Hrk. Ahem. Anyway—it’s way too far. Sorry. I don’t think I can make it.”

“……Right.”

“Ah—but if you keep setting up your stall here, I’ll come by every morning. Yes.”

“……”

Was that supposed to be consolation or encouragement?

I stared at him, and he paid and hurried back to the research building.

Damn it.

“The location’s that bad?”

No one answered—but I already knew.

“Ah, how could anyone open a convenience store in a place like that? Kekek.”

Knowing was the problem.

—

Back at the convenience store, a non-customer was waiting.

Eve von Lohengrin.

She was standing sulkily in front of the store, and I frowned.

“What?”

“I didn’t come because I wanted to.”

“Then go back.”

“I have business. At least open the door.”

“……”

Once she came inside, Eve let out a breath and sat down.

“I’ll state my business quickly and leave, Wolfram von Lohengrin.”

“Fine.”

“I came for the handover.”

“…Handover?”

“Yes. Originally, I was going to kick you out and handle things myself—but since you’re stubbornly insisting on staying at the Academy, I figured we should at least do the handover. This is your duty, you know that, right?”

“Fine. Do that and leave.”

It wasn’t a major task.

The next student council executive team had already been decided from the moment they moved to oust me. All I had to do was verify how the budget had been used.

Wow—but he really spent like trash. Why the hell did he buy a Tier 7 grimoire for 100 million rin? Are you an idiot?

“How could anyone spend money like this?”

“That’s why you’re president now. If I’d spent it a little more wisely, I’d still be president at this election. Do you really think some embezzlement in Zeppelin would affect the Imperial Family?”

“…How can you talk like that?”

“Hmph.”

Fair point. Even I thought that was a bit much.

As we went through last year’s budget usage, the conversation gradually lengthened.

It was truly—truly—a fantastic budget. Even I looked at it and thought, “Wow, how could a human being do this?”

“Seriously—why did you buy this Broadsword for 10 million rin?! You can’t even wield it! And what am I supposed to do with this year’s budget proposal?!”

Well, uh…

Sorry, but *that* was Wolfram, not me.

I felt like if I stayed any longer, it wouldn’t be some nameless extra but Eve herself tearing my gut open with a Holy Light Spear—so I quickly stood up.

“What are you doing? Sit down!”

“Hmph. I’m just getting a drink—my throat’s dry.”

I hurriedly escaped to the back workroom, opened the drawer where I’d prepared various beans, grabbed Strawberry Beans, Milk Beans, and Sugar Beans, and lightly mixed them.

【Combination Success!】

【Strawberry Shake Beans】

Ignoring the description that appeared below, I brought out two glasses of Strawberry Shake Beans. As the soft pink drink emerged in transparent cups, Eve’s eyes lit up.

“H-hmph. What’s this?”

“Our convenience store’s next flagship product.”

“Convenience store?”

“This grocery store will soon be renamed a ‘convenience store’—one that strives for the convenience of all students.”

“Are you saying you’ll dedicate yourself to the students now?”

No—it’s for my own self-interest, ambition, and advancement.

But I didn’t say that. Holy Light Spear is a defense-ignoring, light-element single-target spell—I’d die if it hit.

Just as Eve was about to put her lips to the straw, I held her back with my hand.

“Why?”

“Chill it with a freezing spell before drinking. That’s the proper way to enjoy it.”

“…Really? Shouldn’t the store serve it chilled, then?”

“Like I could do that.”

At that, Eve paused for a moment.

She knows well that neither swords nor magic ever loved Wolfram.

An odd silence fell, and an incantation flowed from Eve’s lips.

“Freeze.”

The Shake Beans, now chilled with a thin layer of ice. Eve tasted it—and the corners of her mouth twitched.

“Hehe.”

“…When you smile like that, it’s really unpleasant to look at.”

“Shut up for a bit. …Hehe.”

That pure smile.

Back before I entered this game—Lee Yeongjin, not Wolfram—had been an orphan, so he’d always yearned for family.

But… seeing one’s little sister smile so innocently and cutely right in front of you—apparently, the resistance kicks in at the genetic level of an older brother. Goosebumps erupted all over Wolfram’s body.

“H-hmph. Not a bad taste. So how much will you sell this for?”

“…Probably around 12,000 rin.”

“That’s expensive. Isn’t your current location the Magic Quarter?”

“Right.”

“Then how about saving this for the new student welcome festival instead?”

Eve said that, tapping her cup lightly.

“Not a bad suggestion. I’ll consider it.”

“If someone gives you proper advice, you should at least say thank you. Seriously.”

Eve grumbled, and I silently took a sip of my shake. Then I desperately held back my trembling eyes.

At some point, my shake had also been chilled cold.

I glanced at Eve—and she averted her gaze.

“I won’t charge you for the shake. Instead, buy some candy on your way out.”

“I don’t have money.”

“Buy it under the student council’s name.”

“Who’s the one who blew the budget? And you’re saying that now? I buy my candy with my own allowance!”

—

By the time the work was done, it was the dead of night.

Not just dusk—pitch-black night.

Checking the clock, it was past ten. In early spring, ten o’clock was darkness itself.

“Alright—I think I can draft the budget proposal somehow.”

“Is that so. Good luck with that.”

Eve let out a sigh.

“Yes, Wolfram. The student council under me will be different from yours. I’ll change the Academy too. So just stay holed up here quietly and do your convenience store… or whatever it is.”

“I planned to do that even without you saying it.”

“Then I’ll be going—I need to draft the budget proposal.”

“Busy, aren’t you.”

I shrugged and only offered an interjection. No need or reason to offer to walk her out.

If there were an attack, I’d die in one hit anyway—and Eve would walk back alive.

“Yes—busy as can be. I also have to prepare a splendid yet substantive new student welcome festival for this year’s freshmen.”

Saying that, Eve bowed and turned around.

“By the way—there’s one thing I’d like to ask.”

“Go ahead. Keep it short—I’m busy.”

“Who’s this year’s new student representative?”

At that, Eve’s eyes went wide—as if she’d received a truly unexpected question.

“Why are you curious about that?”

“Just curious. I have no intention of approaching them.”

“No—you wouldn’t… actually. Come to think of it, it’s not entirely unrelated to you.”

“Hmm.”

“This year’s representative is a commoner, oddly enough. The name is…”

Eve then spoke the name I remembered—the one most deeply etched in my memory.

“Kelter.”

Soon—with one unplanned character, the convenience store owner, added into the mix—the main story of the game begins.