HTACS 44

Chapter 44

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As most field-hunting RPGs go, there are terrain effects.

But D/Z SAGA—whether it’s about maintaining historical accuracy in odd places or being thorough with its own worldbuilding—has a strange obsession. When it comes to Easter eggs, they go all out, but they also have peculiar fixations.

In spring, “Sleep resistance decreases” and “Food effects increase.” These status effects apply to all students as seasonal traits. To resist them, you need willpower of 17 or higher.

That’s fine so far—but spring’s true value doesn’t end there.

At the end of the Eastern Forest zone created by the great First Emperor—

The Sanctuary of Flowers, a field that’s entirely a flower garden.

That insane field where fairies frolic and play—in spring, the pollen from the fully bloomed flowers flies everywhere.

The problem is that this pollen flies toward the academy grounds—and the defensive barrier designed by the ancestors does not consider pollen a hostile factor.

And so, everyone’s noses run. Tears stream down. Drool drips. A hay fever hell unfolds.

And the first side-story material is precisely this hay fever.

“That was a blind spot. Come to think of it, the season is clearly a thing—there’s no way a side story wouldn’t unfold.”

In games, side stories usually come with a message like 【Main episode completed. Side story unlocked.】 and you can play them whenever you’re bored—like a spin-off.

But in reality, they’ll just flow chronologically.

The one who suffers most in this hay fever episode is Eve von Lohengrin.

My family register mate.

—

Zephrin Student Competition.

The winners of the Divine Sword Tournament and Divine Magic Tournament were 【Jewel Sword Izolde】 and 【Black Crystal Aila】 respectively.

In particular, Black Crystal Aila Triesta’s impeccably clean battles left a deep impression on everyone—but separately, Jewel Sword Izolde’s battles were polar opposites.

True to her epithet, Jewel Sword Izolde uses magic swords made of jewels—starting from the lowest-grade Topaz, and each time one breaks, a higher-grade magic sword is summoned.

There’s the constraint of having to progress through stages—but simultaneously, if left to progress, she becomes difficult to stop.

In the Divine Sword Tournament finals, she drew up to her fifth sword against the fourth-year 【Iron Wall】, and as a result, craters were scattered around the arena as if bombs had dropped.

Naturally, since the venue also had to be used for events, they immediately contacted the labor office and began plastering.

“Nee-ssi. Eat and then work!”

“Just a little more!”

After confirming the location of the damaged areas and starting repairs, Nephti took off her work gloves and helmet at the worker’s call, laid down a spot, and sat down roughly.

“What’s today’s meal?”

“What else? Same as always.”

“I see. Cream stew with no chunks, and black bread…”

Nephti nodded. It was better than the days when she only ate grass—but still, she couldn’t shake a sense of dissatisfaction.

Receiving her portion of the meal, Nephti began eating slowly but steadily. Though they’d grown accustomed to working together over the past few days, the workers smiled bitterly at the sight of a young girl more accustomed to the worksite than they were.

“By the way, Nee-ssi, how much do you get paid?”

“I was getting minimum wage until recently, but it went up by 10,000 rin. Now it’s 80,000.”

“Wow. Already? You’re practically a skilled worker now. How many sites is this for you?”

“This is my second site.”

“Wow. So what do you do with the money? Buy clothes like kids these days?”

“Ah, the money.”

*Slurp.* After soaking the black bread in the stew like soup with rice, Nephti began eating comfortably with her spoon—and spoke just as comfortably.

“I send it home.”

“…Ah.”

“……Ah, I-I see. So your family situation is tough?”

“Don’t pry so much—if Nee-ssi doesn’t want to talk, she doesn’t have to.”

“No, ahem. Well… um.”

“Family… it’s tough, but not that tough. We can probably get by.”

“Oh, I see.”

Nephti continued casually.

“I got a letter from home recently.”

“…From home? What did it say?”

“My younger siblings said they want to attend Zephrin. So I’m earning this for their tuition.”

“…I see. Your siblings’ tuition.”

“Yes. Because I want to support my siblings’ dreams.”

“Phew. This is… forget clothes. I feel ashamed. Well, you know what, Nee-ssi? Hang in there—you’re really admirable.”

And so, finishing their meal in groups, Nephti stood up.

The armband on her shoulder gleamed beautifully in the spring sunlight.

“We should work a lot before it gets hot—make a big haul. Earn it in spring!”

“That’s right. Before summer comes… Ah, summer.”

“Hm? What’s wrong, Nee-ssi?”

“Nothing. Summer is coming… Then the Commotion of the Flowers season is approaching.”

“What’s that?”

“A ton of pollen flies around. It’s already that time… I’ll have to ask my senior about it later.”

Having thought that far, Nee-ssi—no, Nephti—stood up.

—

As I was worrying about the upcoming hay fever season, I heard a *knock knock* at the convenience store door. A glance out the window showed the usual brown-haired girl staring intently in.

“Come in.”

“Excuse me.”

Nephti, still wearing her hard hat, work gloves, work boots, Ex-band, and even ankle guards, slipped into the convenience store.

Usually, when customers like this came to the convenience store, they’d buy a sports drink and leave. Or makgeolli and convenience store jokbal.

In my case, I remember getting chewed out for bringing back cold brew when I was sent to buy coffee during manual labor.

“So, what did you come to buy?”

“Huh? I didn’t come to buy anything.”

“…Go back.”

“That’s harsh. Well then… give me something cool and sweet to drink. You know, the one with ice cubes floating in it.”

The way she talks is really becoming like a real field worker. Well, she is actually doing field work. I served her an iced smoothie, and Nephti beamed.

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

“Yeah. So, what brings you here?”

“Do you happen to know about the Commotion of the Flowers, Wolfram-nim?”

“You’re talking about that too. Of course I know.”

“Yes. Then this will be quick. I tend to get in bad shape when the pollen spreads—do you happen to have any medicine that boosts immunity?”

“An allergy?”

“What’s an allergy?”

Must be nice living so comfortably, really.

“No. Couldn’t you just wear a mask?”

“Masks are monopolized by Yggdrasil, so they’re expensive.”

“Hmm.”

During this Commotion of the Flowers season, if you get the pollen allergy and sneezing status effects, your accuracy drops and you suddenly get stunned.

I remember buying masks and equipping the main characters before going hunting.

In the original, masks were quite expensive for consumables. The price was around 1,000 rin—terrible for the early part of Act 1.

“How much per mask?”

“10,000 rin.”

“Crazy.”

I’d rather just go head-to-head with the pollen.

“So you came to ask if there’s anything wearable.”

“Yes. Actually, I can afford it with my current daily wage. But this Commotion of the Flowers thing makes the atmosphere in Zephrin a bit tense.”

“Tense?”

“Yes. Most nobles don’t hesitate to spend 10,000 rin and wear masks, but commoners like us can’t.”

“Discrimination is natural outside, but Zephrin’s foundation is equality for all except the student council president.”

“The money people bring in isn’t equal—so how can things be equal? Everyone knows it, but there’s still a strange atmosphere…”

At Nephti’s words, I nodded.

“Then there’s no choice but to meet with that person.”

“Who do you mean?”

“The only student in this school who holds rank.”

—

Even if he’s a fallen prince with no connections—a prince is still a prince.

The surname Lohengrin doesn’t just disappear. So with a little trickery, I requested a meeting with Eve—and it was accepted quite easily.

Sitting in the office waiting for Eve, I leisurely sipped a cup of tea.

Everyone kept glancing at me—it made my heart tighten.

Come to think of it, I’m the trash who nearly ruined this academy. Walking in here is practically the same as asking to be killed.

But Eve didn’t order anyone to kill me, so there’s no way they’d poison my tea. Haha.

Right…?

Stop glancing at me, everyone—it’s really scary.

No. If I show fear, that’s when someone might actually pull a knife.

So here, I’ll be bold—chest out, shoulders back, and smile.

“Why are you all glancing at me like that?”

“Y-yesss?!”

The one who served the tea was a second-year—Eve’s subordinate.

I know her as someone who gets along fairly well with Kelterus and handles odd jobs. In the original, she was a kind senior who helped Kelterus when he was struggling. Clarice, I think.

“To you who follow Eve, I must be a thorn in your eye. Come on—did you poison this tea?”

“Not at all! That’s absurd!”

Clarice’s legs trembled as she looked at me. I can trust her not to do that. If someone else had served it, I might wonder—but according to my internal setting book, Clarice’s hobby is brewing tea.

“I’m joking. Don’t be so tense.”

“Ah…”

Saying that, I downed the tea in one gulp and chuckled.

Now my boldness has been conveyed to everyone. Look—this Wolfram doesn’t run and doesn’t hide.

“That was good tea. If you refine your skills, you might be able to work in the Imperial household.”

“…Whoa.”

Clarice’s face turned strangely red. What’s with her?

“What are you doing—flirting with my subordinates? Are you imitating the bad boy from those romance novels sold at bookstores?”

As I was tilting my head at her reaction, Eve opened the office door and entered.

Or—is that Eve?

Her entire face was covered by a white mask with a golden trim, and her voice echoed from inside. Despite wearing the student council president’s exclusive cape, her height and build made me tilt my head.

Rather than Eve—she looked more like, well, Darth Vader.

Since it’s a golden full-face helmet, let’s call it—

“Golden Eve?”

“Who’s Golden?!”

Saying that, Eve tore off the full-face helmet and threw it to the floor.

*Clang! Thud-thud-thud.* The helmet bounced and flew far away.

It is Eve after all.

—

After sending Clarice out, Eve and I began our conversation alone.

Staring at Eve’s face, it was bright red and her eyes were bloodshot.

This isn’t because she’s depressed or struggling—she’s just extremely sensitive to pollen.

Even the side story is an episode about curing Eve’s hay fever somehow.

And even if she’s been crying, I have no reason to worry.

She’ll figure things out on her own.

“Just get to the point. I have other things to do.”

“I know. I don’t want to look at your face for long either. Do you want to put your helmet back on?”

“Go die.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Idiot.”

“Moron.”

We said that and raised our middle fingers at each other. Isn’t this the warm daily conversation of siblings?

“Anyway—just the point. The Commotion of the Flowers is coming soon. You know about it, right?”

“…Yes. Of course.”

“So I’ve received several requests and questions on my end. But I’m also genuinely curious—I came to ask you to gather opinions.”

“What?”

“Do you have a countermeasure for hay fever caused by the Commotion of the Flowers? I hear Yggdrasil’s masks are too expensive.”

“…Actually, assuming the masks are washed and reused, if we place a bulk order to supply all students, we could manage it for around 1 billion rin.”

“But?”

Eve glared at me and ground her teeth.

“Last year. Someone. Embezzled. The funds!”

“Ah.”

That would be me. Hello? How have you been? Haha.

“I’ve actually been having quite a lot of discussions about that part. I myself am in a lot of trouble right now.”

“A lot of trouble?”

“Look. That helmet over there—it’s protective gear made exclusively for the student council president for the Commotion of the Flowers.”

“You mean that Golden Helmet?”

“It’s a seasonal tribute item made to protect the student council president from all pollen, apparently. They say Yggdrasil and Maestro prepared it together.”

“…Did those two want to mess with you at the same time? If it were me, I’d just order a 20,000-rin mask and use that instead.”

At my words, Eve shook her head.

“As a tribute item—the official who receives it must wear it personally to show that ‘your loyalty has been conveyed to me.'”

“So that’s why you’re Golden Eve.”

“If you call me that one more time, I’ll skewer you with a Light Spear and make your whole body shine.”

“Hmm. Hmm.”

Well, her being rigid is the same in the original as it is now.

I’ll consider that Eve’s characteristic—anyway.

“So what are you planning to do about this Commotion of the Flowers? Just let it pass as ‘it’s the season, what can you do?'”

“Tch. Thanks to someone. …At first, we were going to do that. But a while ago—very recently—a good idea came to mind.”

“A good idea?”

“Yes. All thanks to Wolfram. I suppose I should thank you for this part.”

“?”

As I tilted my head, Eve cleared her throat with a *ahem* and spoke.

“A ticket to open the door and step outside for the first time in 300 years. I want to propose that opportunity—to our generation, to this era.”

“?”

Wait, why does that come up?

Don’t.

Don’t do it.

“Follow me. I’ll take you there. …That’s what someone said at the Magic Craft competition.”

“R-right.”

Ughhhhh.

I wasn’t embarrassed when I said it myself—but hearing someone else say it is mortifying.

“Anyway, I got inspiration from that speech. Yes. We just need to go out. To solve the problem, we just need to go. As someone suggested—even without that person’s ‘ticket,’ I’ll become the guide myself. So—let’s go to the Sanctuary of Flowers ourselves!”

“…Go there and do what?”

Eve snorted and snapped her fingers.

“We’ll burn it down. If there are no flowers, there’s no way pollen will scatter, right?”

Wow.

I hadn’t thought of that.