The student council storage room was opened.
Not Wolfram’s old junk storage room, but the real Zefflin student council storage room.
“How many storage rooms are there?”
“This is Storage Room No. 4.”
“I see.”
So this is the storage room that appears in the story too.
If it’s No. 4, it’s probably the place packed with magic items.
Since it’s been a while, let’s take a look around and reminisce about old items too.
“Just so you know, if you take even one thing, you’ll really be expelled.”
“…I know.”
I won’t take anything. I’m really just looking. You trust me, right?
I turned on the light in the dust-filled storage room and took in the treasures placed neatly on the shelves, divided into sections.
“This is Storage Room No. 4?”
“…You’ve been in here often enough yourself. Why are you asking?”
“Hm.”
I couldn’t hide my surprise as I cast my gaze around.
“Nefty, this way.”
“…Huh? Huh?”
“You need to try on the Royal Guard special uniform. Or are you going to change in front of Wolfram?”
“I’ll follow. Please let me follow.”
“Good. Wolfram, stay right there.”
“I was planning to look around the storage room.”
“…If you so much as put one thing in your pocket—”
“Do you really think I could do that without getting past your magic? Put up a detection spell when I leave if you’re that worried.”
“…That’s true too. Fine, do as you like.”
“I will.”
“Just don’t come near us, or I’ll kill you.”
I shrugged, and Eve took Nefty’s hand and led her into the corner of the storage room.
I turned my body in the opposite direction and began looking around the storage room.
“The organization is certainly neat, but this…”
The quality is… lower than I expected.
“Shouldn’t the False Holy Sword be in this spot? And the Crimson-Blue Necklace over there—and where’s the Black Lotus Folding Fan compared to everything else?”
This place should be storing at least Tier 5 or above treasures, but what’s laid out here are Tier 7 iron swords and Tier 8 necklaces. Even the Black Lotus Folding Fan—Item No. 1 that you absolutely must farm from this storage room—wasn’t here.
Is it that it simply doesn’t exist in this world? Or is it that acquisition itself is impossible?
I know that this world has become one where you don’t challenge things because you only have one life—but seeing the state of the treasure storage room is truly concerning.
In D/Z SAGA, depending on the route, you might ally with the Celestial Realm, or the Demon Realm might invade, or the Black Flag might rebel.
In other words, events or accidents that turn all of Zefflin upside down happen almost once per route, depending on the route.
Of course, thinking that way, one might think, ‘Shouldn’t I be pushing Kelter, the Light Hero, right now?’—but with what plausibility?
Besides, I’ve cleared every route with a party without Kelter. I am the founder of the Level 1 Kelter run and the most perfect runner.
But…
“If the student council storage room is this understocked, equipment setups will get messed up later.”
In Eve’s route, Act 9 has a scene where she declares, ‘Now all of Zefflin must unite our strength!’ opens the storage room, and arms the students with the equipment inside. That moment was epic—but now you’re handing out rusty iron swords and spears? What am I supposed to do with that? Give me back my emotional impact.
“Hmm. No choice. Such is the fate of a bloodline mate who must lend a hand.”
Can’t be helped.
I’ll have to step up here.
Even if I can’t fill the storage room, at least I should set up the gear for the people around me.
This is what you call a carry bus and warm support. Be grateful to me.
In an RPG, setting up gear and running buses—that’s really not easy work.
“Wolfram! What are you doing over there?”
“Hm. I’m coming now.”
I heard Eve’s voice from a distance, and when I went over there, Nefty was…
“Weren’t you changing? Or was there no item?”
She was just standing there in her ordinary uniform.
“There was an item. The engraving is complete too.”
“But?”
“But she says she’s not mentally prepared yet.”
Prepared?
Prepared for what?
“Th-that, I’ll explain it myself, Senior.”
“Mm.”
“Th-that… it was such a grateful outfit, and truly a beautiful outfit. I’d even call it a completely new uniform—it has the feel of a Zefflin uniform, yet it’s a dress, and on top of that, it has magical defense. …I truly felt that this is what the Imperial Royal Guard wears.”
I tilted my head.
“As far as I remember, it’s an outfit with 【Minor Health Recovery Increase】 【Defense Enhancement】 【Magic Resistance Enhancement】 and 【Auto-Repair】 attached.”
“Ye, yes! It was truly a masterpiece that would be hard to buy even for a fortune.”
Right, right.
It’s for the fashion factor anyway.
“So when I wear that outfit in front of Senior—I want it to be when my mind is made up.”
“I see.”
“Yes. When I decide without hesitation to become a Royal Guard… I want to stand wearing that outfit, together with my conviction.”
Ah, I see.
The look is pretty, but she’s not ready to become a Royal Guard yet.
Whether she chooses to become a Royal Guard or not, that uniform is already Nefty’s.
Anyway, she’s supposed to be active in adventures from now on.
What if she says she wants to tank while wearing that?
Hmm… That would be a bit of a problem.
“Exact timeframe?”
“…Huh, huh?”
“I’m asking how long I have to wait.”
“Um, well. D-do I have to say that?”
“I need to prepare as well.”
“…Ah, ah. I see. Th-then, I’ll have an answer ready by the time the final exams are over. Yes. By then… I think it will be possible.”
“Understood. I’ll mark that time as well.”
I want to check if more effects get added when she changes class to Royal Guard, and I need to see if there’s any equipment that suits Nefty by then… I’m quite busy.
“Are you done talking? Then let’s go out.”
“Mm.”
“You didn’t take anything while you were alone in the storage room, did you?”
Eve stared intently at me, and I shrugged at her gaze.
“What does your magic power say?”
“…Tch. I suppose you really are innocent. Fine. Let’s go.”
Eve and Nefty took the lead, and I walked at the back, exiting the storage room.
“Eve. Are you taking the magic potion?”
“…Of course. Hmph.”
“Is the staff from last time working well?”
“…It’s a top-class item with three magic-related effects attached. …I’ll thank you for that.”
“I see.”
We exchanged trivial chatter.
Meanwhile, walking slowly at the very back, I silently picked up an item placed on the ‘exit-side route’ and slipped it into my pocket.
The conversation masked the sound.
Dexterity 14—its effect is reliable.
Eve and Nefty didn’t notice.
“Loot acquired.”
“What did you say?”
“No. Nothing.”
I’ll repay you later by crafting something.
I really will repay you, you know?
—
“The final exam… Magic Power 21… 21, how do I ugh…”
“The final exam… top of the class… defeat everyone and show Senior…”
“The final exam… answer… what answer will I…”
The next day, the convenience store was haunted by the specters of the final exams.
Oh my, what is this.
This kind of academic elitism isn’t good. Shouldn’t we raise our children as global talents who compete in the world market with creativity and imagination?
Completely unrelated to my thoughts, sounds like “Ughhh,” “Grrr,” “Wueeeeng,” “Uoooo” played as the convenience store’s background music, and the screams of students exhausted by their studies rang in my ears like a Dolby surround sound symphony—
“Is this the Plains of the Dead?”
“Rudika.”
Rudika Hassan Shadow had come.
The Plains of the Dead… that was the land to the northwest.
She knows about that place—she has quite the depth of knowledge.
“Wolfram. Have you been well?”
“Mm. What business do you have?”
“Ah. It’s nothing much. It’s just that last time’s sauce has become ‘familiar,’ you see.”
“……”
Saying that, Rudika shrugged.
Rudika Hassan Shadow, after all… since all her senses are gradually fading, she can’t taste anything unless it’s spicy.
And last time, the sauce received praise from Rudika for being sufficiently thrilling and deliciously spicy.
“……I see.”
“Mm. That’s how it is.”
Rudika shrugged and lightly laughed it off before continuing.
“I’m a little afraid. If this continues, won’t all excitement disappear from everything?”
“……”
I kept my words brief.
This seems like a part where I shouldn’t speak carelessly.
We shared a silence.
This gloomy feeling is somehow nice in a mature way.
“By the way, why is everyone acting like that? Is it a mass status effect?”
Rudika pressed the ‘reject sharing’ button first.
How willful.
“It seems to be because the final exams are coming up soon.”
“……Ah. I see. That makes sense. Final exams are important.”
“Don’t you think so?”
At my question, Rudika shrugged.
“If Rudika wanted to get good grades, wouldn’t she have gone to the Knight Department instead?”
“That’s true enough.”
Rudika’s grades within her year are upper-middle.
“Rudika envies them. Those children who are crushed by finals, suffering, struggling—I envy them.”
“Was that your taste?”
“That’s not what I meant!”
Rudika cleared her throat with an “Ahem.”
“For Rudika, Zefflin is… nothing more than a means.”
“A means, you say.”
“Yes. If I wanted grades and wanted to enjoy my school days, I would have chosen the Knight Department that suited my aptitude. I wouldn’t have gone to the Magic Department, where everyone acts so high and mighty.”
“…The Hassan Shadow family’s chronic weakness has always been magic.”
“Mm. In the end, assassination is about concealing your presence and approaching to cut them down. To ‘erase’ your presence—that’s impossible from the start.”
“The essence is ‘how well you can fool the opponent’s detection.’ In that sense, the Ciela family’s space-dominating magic, Eve’s overwhelming magic power, and Triasta’s complete defense-type black crystal barrier are troublesome for assassins.”
“…You know it well. Wolfram is impressive.”
“Hm.”
Well, of course—you were the most frustrating when breaking through maps or running mock battles with you.
Anyway.
“So I envy them. Because I… have nothing enjoyable other than spicier food.”
“……”
Hey now, you.
Saying such dark things in front of an adult.
No, no. A young person should laugh once for every three leaves that fall.
“Really nothing?”
“…Hm?”
“I asked if there’s really nothing.”
“……”
“The expedition to the Sleeping Mountain Range we went on together. The subsequent golem destruction incident in the Eastern Forest. And then the conquest of the Blessed Heights. Wasn’t all of it enjoyable?”
“…Ah.”
“Was it fun, or wasn’t it?”
At my words, Rudika laughed, saying “Ah-ha.”
“It was fun. That’s right. …Truly fun.”
“Rudika. I’m not in a position to say anything just because you’re feeling down.”
“……”
That’s only natural—the loss of Rudika’s senses is not unrelated to Lohengrin.
Rudika Hassan Shadow may not know, but according to official setting, the Shadow family was called the Empire’s Shadow Dagger.
I don’t know exactly what that means, but in this world, when something has “Empire’s~” as a prefix, it usually means the Imperial family is involved.
“Personally, I think numbness of the senses and death of emotion are separate things. I was… happy back then. Rudika Hassan Shadow.”
“Yeah. I was happy too. Wolfram von Lohengrin.”
“Then from now on, look for something even more enjoyable. Even without me, even alone—finding it on your own could be the answer.”
“……Can I find it?”
“Of course you can. This world is overflowing with enjoyable things.”
I played this game for 20,000 hours.
There’s no way this world isn’t fun.
I guarantee it.
“……For example?”
“First, try devoting yourself to your studies. Rudika Hassan Shadow. Like getting good grades in the final exams?”
“What’s that… Can that really become my enjoyment?”
“You won’t know unless you try. You’ll know once you do. I intend to put in effort too.”
“……Yeah. I understand. You’re right. I’ll give it my all too.”
Rudika laughed, shrugging her shoulders as if she’d heard something truly amusing.
“Then, Rudika will take her leave now.”
“Mm.”
“Wolfram! Thanks to you, I feel so much better. Yeah. My heart was quite troubled because of the practical exam, but thanks to you, I feel happy! You give it your all too, Wolfram!”
“I’m always at full power.”
With that, Rudika left the convenience store.
Immediately after, I approached the three who were still making sounds like “Ughhh,” “Grrr,” “Hoeeng.”
“Hey, you three. Are you okay?”
“…I’m fine.”
“I’m a wriggler… not a wriggler, I’m a wriggle guard… no, Royal wriggle…”
“I have to defeat five people. For my goal. Defeat them all, defeat them, and after defeating them…”
Nefty, whose brain seemed to have overheated and lost all coherence, and Millefeuille, staring intently at her own fist, couldn’t think of returning—only Ayla, though somewhat lacking in energy, answered my question.
“I see. Do you want something to drink?”
“Hmm… Something sweet and cold, please. Wolfram.”
“Understood.”
I brought a yogurt smoothie, and Ayla removed the straw and drank straight from the cup.
She set the cup down with a “Pwah!” and the yogurt smoothie traced a line around her lips.
“Ayla. Your lips.”
“M-my lips?”
“Wipe them.”
“…Ah, yes.”
Ayla picked up a handkerchief and wiped her lips.
A moment later, with some sugar finally supplied to her brain, Ayla—back to her usual energy—looked at the surrounding corpses and let out a deep sigh.
“…Well, now that I look at them, everyone seems to be worried about the practical exam.”
“It seems that way. You’re no different, are you?”
“Hmm. I suppose so. Zefflin regulations require a sparring practical in the end-of-term exams. I caught a glimpse just now—Rudika came too, didn’t she?”
“Mm. She did. Though since you lot were collapsed like the dead, she didn’t get to greet you.”
“…Hmm. Was it advance reconnaissance? Would she have needed to go that far… no, rather, she might have thought she needed to do more than reconnaissance.”
“What?”
“She is that kind of opponent. Hehe.”
?
To summarize Ayla’s words—
Among those here, there’s someone who will face Rudika in the first semester final practical.
Everyone here is Millefeuille, Nefty, and Ayla.
Let’s see. Millefeuille is a first-year, and Nefty is a second-year.
That leaves only one person—Ayla Triasta.
“Isn’t there some misunderstanding? Ayla, you have to spar with the Ciela family’s daughter, so among those here, a third-year Magic Department student would be…”
“What are you talking about, Wolfram?”
“?”
“The top two in the third-year Magic Department overall standings. One is Rudika Hassan Shadow. And her sparring opponent.”
Ayla raised her index finger, lightly pressed it against me, and smiled.
“It’s Wolfram von Lohengrin.”
