NOVEL NEXT Chapter 114
<114 - The Effect Was Impressive>
The member of the Red Fanged Mushroom Illegal Aquaculture Management Association, [Paper Company], decided to become even harsher to make up for their failure on the way to school.
While the third-year students monopolized the Giant King Crab, they started to monopolize the shellfish, which were the first-year students’ prey!
“If you want fish, pay with points! Fishing is not allowed!”
“Hey, aren’t you pulling out that fishing rod? If you don’t put it away right now, I’ll cut your fishing line with magic!”
Naturally, the first-year students protested.
“Who do you think you are, monopolizing the fish! Do you want to die? I’m gonna hit you with a cat punch!!”
With a cute resistance from the cat beastfolk, Xenia, who was jumping around in anger, and the first-year newcomers raising their voices in unison, the Paper Company responded cruelly.
“Hey, our newbies want to see some spicy action. Give them a taste!”
“Waves, rise up!”
“Water, surge forth!”
The waves that sprang up on both sides of the 20-person fishing boat crashed into Xenia and the newcomers who poked their heads out of the windows.
“Uwaah! The waves are coming!”
“Hold onto the windows tightly!! If you get pulled away by the tide, you’ll fall into the water!!”
“Eww! It’s too salty!!”
The Paper Company and the aquaculture farmers laughed out loud.
“Wahahaha! At this time, first-years are usually struggling to memorize mana patterns and manage their mana passes, not ordering water. They can’t possibly win against second-years!”
“Since you’ve grasped your position, hand over your points obediently and buy some fish. And tell me who the ice wizard is!”
“Also tell me who owns the Iron Charcoal Barbecue that cooked my mushroom! Then I’ll give you one fish for free!”
Drenched in water and with sad faces, the newcomers mustered their courage to shout.
“Do you think we’ll spill it just because you asked?”
“You nasty guys. There are strong ones among the first years too. We’ll tell those guys everything!”
“The one using iron plates is that delicious-smelling Leff Iron Charcoal Barbecue dude.”
The lower class students glared in disdain, wondering how they could betray a classmate’s identity to a senior.
“That guy is from the Empire! He said Xenia, hailing from the border, would fit perfectly with the uncivilized cat who screams in his home!”
“What era is this? That outdated racist talk ended over a century ago!”
“Indeed, Empire folks are so annoying.”
“It’s not surprising if he gets his identity sold.”
“So, when I asked for a photo, he showed me a baby who is only one year old! I can’t forgive anyone who treats Xenia like a pedo!”
“…Was that the issue?”
Now with mixed feelings, the first-year students learned that Xenia had confidently spilled Leff’s personal information and managed to receive some fish.
Now, after wrapping up the explanation of the ongoing events, she handed a fish to Isabel.
“So, could you cook one for me before we go? Isabel, you cook really well.”
Isabel, who had listened to Xenia’s touching story from start to finish, replied with a pout.
“Not happening. I’m going to help Oknodie.”
*
[Event: Claim the Rights to Shellfish]
Bad second-year seniors are monopolizing seafood.
The punks of the fishing zone.
It’s time to show those sea bullies what’s what.
Fight for the survival rights of the first years!
Even if it wasn’t an event notification urging them to fight, they couldn’t just leave them be.
But rushing headlong wasn’t a wise decision either.
To teach those seniors a lesson, they needed enough time to fight.
Simply bickering during breaks and travel time wouldn’t be enough to settle things.
So they waited for dinner time while managing the remaining class schedules.
“Oknodie, are you all set?”
“You’re going to take on the second-years? We’ll help too!”
“The third years lent us a ram! If necessary, we’ll charge at them with the ram!”
After hearing the story in the third period lecture [Fundamentals and Understanding of Mana Usage], Dorothy was a bit taken aback by the ram borrowed from upperclassmen attending other classes.
“Aren’t we doing a water battle?”
“But isn’t having a ram intimidating?”
“True! It’s better than nothing!”
“Thank you for your help! If we can kill a second-year, we’ll provide fire support. A third-year TA brought us a ballista, too.”
From the fourth period [Ranged Weapon Proficiency] class, the descendant of archers, Skola, brought along a huge ballista.
“…I appreciate the assist, but if you shoot a senior with a ballista, you’ll get punished!”
“What about arrows?”
“If they don’t cause permanent harm, it’ll end with a light punishment?”
“Then we’ll just shoot with bows.”
“But aren’t you in Group B? Why are you helping us?”
“Regardless of the border and Empire feud, I can’t forgive the second years for infringing on the first years’ food supply. Leff Iron Charcoal Barbecue was attacked, too.”
It seems Xenia’s cowardly information breach brought the Empire faction to aid them.
…If they figured out what was really going on, that terrifying archer squad might target them, so they couldn’t let that slip!
“So, what’s the plan for retaliation? Are we going to float a boat on the water and ambush them with a barrage?”
“No!”
“We should lure them near the windows and charge the ram through the window to drop it on the boat for a surprise attack, how about that?”
“Then the seniors might get killed!”
“You’re too soft.”
“Right. If you’re saying no to this and that, what do you want to do?”
Skola and Dorothy voiced their complaints.
Both weren’t shy, fitting for archers.
In their minds, were second-years now targets to be shot down when spotted?
This is why it’s scary to deal with damage dealers.
I think every time, but when arranging a party later, I shouldn’t forget to conduct personality checks for the archer positions.
“What about an assassination plan? We could sneak under the boat, drill a hole, and sink it.”
“Leave the bodyguarding to me. If I’m discovered while drilling a hole in the boat, I’ll risk my life to stop it!”
“I appreciate the sentiment, but hold on!”
So many students like Jiang and Mob, who suddenly got fired up, made it a hassle.
“Let’s at least try talking first!”
Having said that, they drifted the boat closer to the 20-person fishing boat driven by the second-year seniors.
“Hey, seniors! Can we talk for a bit?”
“Are you looking to buy in bulk? I can give you 10% off, but don’t expect much!”
“We didn’t come to buy fish!”
The senior wearing a paper captain’s hat shot back with a grim expression.
“Then what did you come for?”
“We demand you immediately stop monopolizing the shellfish rights over first years! If not, we’ll inform the student council about everything you did today!”
“Oh, first years know about the student council? That’s something, but now what?”
The senior made an annoyed face and arrogantly stated.
“We traded properly and received compensation. We set a reasonable price. Don’t think the student council will side with you just because you told them.”
It seemed there was no room for compromise.
However, they had a plan on their side and stepped up with an effort to solve things through conversation.
“Then, if it becomes known that you were illegally cultivating Red Fanged Mushrooms, that won’t be an issue?”
“You little brat. You’re one of the first years who ambushed our aquaculture!”
The expressions of the seniors suddenly turned fierce.
It was a common event that sometimes occurred when dealing with bulky muscle.
Having gone in for what seemed like a casual negotiation, the seniors came at them with extreme intensity, unlike the times they had been scared and cowardly.
“No! I was just eavesdropping on what the other friends said and came out to mediate!”
“Mediation?”
“I’ll keep it a secret that you were illegally cultivating Red Fanged Mushrooms, so please stop the harassment against the first years!”
“If so, what about the damage we suffered? The loss from the Red Fanged Mushrooms we grew with great care to produce Mana Spore Sacs was ruthlessly taken and eaten?”
“Since we’re cute first years, can’t you let it go just this once?”
“Like that would be a good excuse!!”
Some second-year students murmured behind the paper-hat-wearing senior.
“They are cute.”
“Though small, this one speaks very clearly.”
“Hey, I have some jerky. Want one?”
“What kind of jerky?”
“Squirrel jerky.”
“I’m good, thanks.”
Hmph.
I actually have pretty high standards!
“Ugh! You all need to step back. Why are you playing around with a kid? These little brats have harmed our business. We won’t compromise until we’re reimbursed for that damage!”
A senior pushed me back with his palm as he climbed onto the boat.
Oh yeah, this is just what I was waiting for.
There are many ways to end violence in this world.
Overpowering them with stronger force.
Appealing for help from professors or the student council.
“Yowch!”
I acted it out by dramatically spinning 360 degrees and crashing down with a light push.
“Hey, you!! When did I hit you that hard? Stop faking it and get up fast!”
As he roughly tried to lift me, I kicked the ground, flying back ten meters before making a big splash into the water.
After about three seconds in that state, Jiang and Mob hurriedly dove into the surface and pulled me onto the lifeboat.
“Oknodie was attacked!!”
“Those cowardly jerks! To use violence against someone who went to negotiate peace!”
The solution I often relied on during my muscle-bound days returned.
Indeed, the self-inflicted intimidation tactic.
Without incurring penalties from the student council or academy for mutual battery with hard-earned points, the opponent would be blamed, and everything would go smoothly.
…That had been the plan initially.
But since I was using a slender kid’s body instead of a muscular one, the effect was far greater than expected.
“These trash!!”
“Where’s the justification to hit such a small child!!”
“Let’s take revenge on the Oknodie!!”
“We don’t care about seniors. Knock them all down!!”
Suddenly, our classmates charged toward the seniors aboard the 20-person medium-sized fishing boat.
Regardless of class or borders—whether upper or lower class, near or Empire—they were all completely furious and rushed in.
…A brawl broke out.