HTACS 27

Chapter 27

Eve left, and I remained.

I put away the accessories, opened my notebook, and began writing something on paper.

What ending would unfold if Eve proceeded through Act 1, Chapter 1 without meeting Kelterus?

At the very top, I had written “Eve von Lohengrin going from raw sweet potato to steamed sweet potato,” but I drew a big X over it.

“Come to think of it, I forgot about this.”

Namely, the possibility of clearing it being impossible.

“Originally, if she swung with her mana of 22, the ghost and everything else would just fly away.”

But thinking of the original work, Eve von Lohengrin can’t do that.

Because the moment she goes wild with mana 22 in the first-year common dormitory, all the nearby first-years would get dizzy and fly away—so Eve restricts her mana as much as possible.

And… for various reasons, the 1-1 enemy has bad compatibility with Eve.

That’s why she borrowed Kelterus’s strength, and that’s why Kelterus was helpful. If she could just go wild freely, why would Kelterus be needed? Eve could handle everything herself.

“Hmm, I never even imagined a scenario where she couldn’t clear it…”

So what happens if she can’t clear it?

I don’t know. In the first place, even with Kelterus, after a game over, no one ever saw what happened afterward—it just went back to the title screen.

Zephrin might go to hell, or it might not… This game has far too many variables depending on routes and branches.

But from 1-1, a failure ending beyond even steamed sweet potato Eve.

“Hmm.”

Why can’t she clear it?

Because Kelterus isn’t there.

Then what.

Should I find someone to take Kelterus’s place?

—

The next day.

Someone to roughly take his place showed up in the morning.

“…You mean the first-year common department dormitory at night?”

“That’s right.”

“Why on earth are you going there? No, are you telling me to go?”

“Go today and help deal with the unusual incident that occurs.”

“But still, I’m a second-year now, and entering carelessly is a bit…”

Nephti tilted her head, and I pulled out some bills.

“200,000.”

“But that’s against the principles—”

“250,000.”

“It’s not easy, but—”

“300,000.”

“What time should I start?”

“Just go with Eve when she heads to the common dormitory.”

“…The student council president is going to the common dormitory?”

At first, Nephti didn’t quite understand my words, but then—”Ah”—and nodded.

“Come to think of it, I’ve heard about it. The fledglings were saying a ghost appears in the common dormitory.”

“That’s right. And Eve is apparently trying to solve it alone today.”

“Aha. Since the president is Wolfram-nim’s younger sister, you’re worried about her.”

She said that and looked at me as if I were admirable.

Get that disgusting imagination out of here.

“Hmm, fine. I’m a second-year, but I think I’m fairly trusted in the Knight Department, so if I say I came because I’m worried about the fledglings, everyone will accept it.”

“Yeah, I’m counting on you.”

“Yes. A brother’s concern for his sister—confirmed.”

That’s not it.

—

If Nephti joins up with Eve and resolves 1-1, nothing could be better.

“Hmm. Hmmm.”

The next day, having skipped class, I quietly began writing down攻略 information for 1-1 in my notebook.

The story of 1-1 in the original was as follows:

Common Dormitory Ghost Commotion.

Last year’s student council president, Wolfram von Lohengrin, was expelled and that was the end of it. The reign of Eve von Lohengrin—called the Princess of Light—had begun, but that wasn’t something the first-years could feel.

Rather, the first-years’ hearts had sunk even heavier.

That was only natural—because not long after classes started, one-tenth of Zephrin had withdrawn or been expelled.

Unable to keep up with classes, tasting their own limits, called geniuses back home but broken by the pain of being criticized by professors here—they left this place of learning called Zephrin.

If they had left gracefully, it would have been one thing, but their lingering thoughts remained in the dormitory, and emotions of sadness and pain gave tendency to the mana emitted by the first-years.

Eventually, the mana ran wild, and a mass of lingering thoughts that wandered the common dormitory in the middle of the night was born.

A blue, human-shaped mass of mana, wearing a freshman uniform, crying plaintively as it roamed the dormitory corridors, lamenting that it wanted to stay a little longer, that it also wanted to do well.

That was the full story behind the 1-1 Common Dormitory Ghost Commotion.

“Here… Eve can’t cut down that vengeful spirit.”

The superficial reason: because nearby first-years might be affected.

And also—Eve von Lohengrin, as student council president, hesitates when facing such mana filled with sad resentment.

At the moment the situation becomes deadlocked, Kelterus, who was beside Eve von Lohengrin, raises his sword, charges toward the vengeful spirit, and cuts it down in one blow.

And Kelterus says this:

【Sorry, but we can’t afford to stop here either.】

Saying that, he sheathes his sword and smiles at Eve.

【You’re a really good person, President.】

【Wha—?! I-I’m not teasing you, Senior!】

Eve blushes at Kelterus’s words, and the episode ends, but…

“…There’s no way Nephti would say that to Eve, and it’s a relief I don’t have to see that disgusting sight.”

I truly thought so.

“Hmm. So from here on is the problem.”

I sank into thought, considering the deed that would take place tonight.

Suppose Nephti and Eve handle the incident together. Then what action should Wolfram take?

“How can I sneak in, eat only the clear reward item, and slip out?”

Yes.

You guys handle the clearing.

Let the kind and good-hearted knight of conviction and the great princess of light liberate the wandering mass of lingering thoughts.

This third-rate extra convenience store owner plans to do his best to pull off a hit-and-run—eating only the reward item and escaping.

—

Eve von Lohengrin tilted her head, looking at the Knight Department student glued to her side.

“Nepterian?”

“Yes. Student Council President Eve von Lohengrin.”

Second-year vice-top.

A girl of exemplary conduct, trusted by those around her, whose every step was evaluated as that of a proud knight itself.

“Why are you here?”

This was the common dormitory in the evening.

Eve had instructed the first-years to stay in their rooms as much as possible, and had intended to handle this ghost commotion alone—so she couldn’t help but question the sudden visit from a fellow student.

This was quite surprising.

She hadn’t officially requested support from the Knight Department, and had even ordered her subordinates not to involve themselves. Having a third party increase in this situation was nothing short of unpleasant.

However, Eve did not antagonize Nephti. She didn’t show any hostility either.

That was only natural—during last year’s common department days, Nephti’s conduct had been impeccable, and although her stats were a bit lacking, Eve believed she would someday become a diligent worker for the Empire.

Nephti kept faith and lived by conviction—a knight among knights. Eve’s prejudice had judged Nephti as a good person.

“I heard a ghost appeared in the common dormitory. Um… I came to help.”

“I appreciate the sentiment, but you can go back. I can handle this much alone.”

“Haha… It’s presumptuous of me to say, but I can’t do that. I humbly ask for your leniency.”

“Why?”

“I received a down payment—I mean, um. Someone who’s worried about you asked me to serve as your bodyguard until this incident is resolved.”

Strictly speaking, not everything she said was a lie, and Eve was greatly surprised by those words.

“There was such a student. …I’ve only just become student council president, and yet someone who worries about me enough to commission you…”

“Yes. Well, it’s a request from someone who worries about you as if you were real family. So—may I dare to act as your shield?”

Eve stared intently into Nephti’s eyes and let out a small sigh.

How could she refuse?

But before that—

“What are your stats? And your skills?”

“Huh? …Ah. Well, my stamina is 16 and…”

After hearing Nephti’s stats in full, Eve nodded.

It was hard to say they were excellent, but they were stable and respectable. She was lacking in offense, but all her skills were focused on defense and protection.

“Alright. Then I’ll entrust you as my shield.”

“Yes! But… does a ghost really exist?”

Eve couldn’t hide her gloom as she murmured in response to Nephti’s question.

“…About that ghost. I have a rough idea of what it is.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It’s probably the first-years’…”

“The first-years’?”

“…It’s not too late to confirm what it really is after we meet it. Let’s start from the upper floors and work our way down.”

“Y-yes!”

—

Late afternoon. Just before 1-1 began.

“Phew. Phew.”

I slipped out of the convenience store and headed toward the first-year common dormitory.

After agonizing to the point of losing hair, I’d roughly decided on a route.

“There’s a back path in the common dormitory. If I take that route, I can reach the clear room without being spotted.”

The clear room.

The room that appears behind the boss after defeating it, where the reward items spawn.

So while Nephti and Eve are fighting hard, I’ll be waiting in the clear room and just take the items and run.

There’s no risk of being caught in the process.

Even if I am spotted, I can just brazenly claim I came to check if Nephti was doing her job properly.

As I was heading toward the common dormitory—a heavy elderly male voice rang in my ears.

“…Phew, hah. Uh… Is that Student Wolfram over there?”

“Professor Lantica Grace?”

It was an elderly professor with bloodshot eyes, tie loosened, gasping for breath.

The demon who had tried to bury me in graduate school—she was there.

Her eyes lit up as she approached me with heavy steps.

“What a coincidence meeting you here. Hmm. Shall we go to a café for a bit? Or how about a meal? I know a good steak place. I’d like to discuss academics over a meal—would that be alright?”

“…Ah, um. Well.”

Eat steak paid for by the professor and discuss academics? Are you seriously a psychopath?

I need to refuse desperately, but if I misspeak and the professor takes offense, it could affect my grades—and that would be disastrous.

This really is hellish difficulty, dammit!

“Hmm. Professor, I’m currently heading to the first-year common building to inspect the cart I use for business. We can have a conversation anytime later, can’t we?”

“Hmm. I see. So you’ve been doing business here. I heard you were near the graduate school, so I was investigating around there… Understood. Now that I know where you do business, I have plenty of time. I’ll drop by after class tomorrow.”

Don’t investigate!

Don’t come looking for me, you lunatic!

“Th-then, Professor, why are you here?”

“Ah, one of my lab students hasn’t shown up for work without permission, so I came to catch—no, to find him. Haha.”

“R-right.”

“Yes. From what I heard, he was spotted near the first-year dormitory saying he wanted to become a freshman again—so I came to personally catch and destroy—no, to find him. Even if he’s a graduate student, he’s still my student. It’s a professor’s duty to guide them onto the right path.”

“U-um. Yes. I understand.”

“Anyway, Student Wolfram, if you see that bastard—no, that student, please tell him to return quickly as I’m looking for him. His name is Zolf.”

“…Understood.”

Zolf.

He still hadn’t gone back.

“Hoo. Hah. Just wait until I catch that bastard…”

Watching the professor disappear into the darkness with those words, I prayed for Zolf’s soul.

“Ah. This isn’t the time. I need to hurry up and pull off my hit-and-run.”

Now was not the time to worry about a runaway graduate student.

—

As a result—

I succeeded in infiltrating the dormitory quickly.

This back path is the one Kelterus uses for nighttime activities until Act 3—systemically, it’s never been spotted once. I was worried since Zephrin had become reality, but this route was clean enough that such concerns were unnecessary.

I successfully infiltrated the room behind the first-floor hall where the wandering ghost would fight.

“Phew.”

I caught my breath, sat in the corner of the room, cracked the door open slightly, and watched the situation.

I didn’t sense any presence.

Just as I thought.

In the original, Eve ordered all first-years to stay in their rooms and began patrolling alone. That’s what made Kelterus great—because Eve actually asked for his help.

Right now, Nephti and Eve would be searching the upper floors, and eventually, they’d encounter the ghost on the first floor.

“…Uu, uuah. Uuaaaaa…”

“Oh. The boss.”

This brings back memories.

That’s a mass of mana filled with the strong thoughts of freshmen.

A sad portrait of our era, born from the obsessive desire to stay at Zephrin.

I listened to the freshman’s sorrowful voice.

That crying was truly pitiful, and it was a message showing just how harsh Zephrin was.

Quite nostalgic. So surely—

“Graduation… Ph-doctorate… Graduation… Freshman… Master’s… No. Doctorate…”

“?”

Was that how it cried…?