NOVEL NEXT Chapter 125
<125 - Sinister Information>
Even in the third year, there are discrepancies.
Some are truly strong, while others make you wonder, “Is this really a third-year student?”
The guy who fainted from Jigoku’s gun was one of the weak ones.
It makes sense, really.
How strong could those who earn points just by going around on patrols actually be?
The real monsters participate in missions that involve way more points and profits instead of wasting time on that.
‘Must be just the level of a mob in the third year!’
To be fair, that’s exactly the level of a senior.
“Can a first-year beat a third-year?”
“Must be in the upper class.”
“Oh, that explains why he didn’t flinch even when selling drugs.”
The third-years muttered quietly, but thanks to my [Auditory] skill experience points, I overheard their conversation.
A moment later, the squad leader, Icarus, floated down slowly, showing he had no intention of causing harm.
“Sorry, juniors. Looks like one of our squad members overcooked a bit.”
“Don’t come any closer. If you attack again, we’ll report it to the student council!”
“Haha, it’s not like that. I’m just here to pick up that pathetic friend who fainted over there, so cut me some slack.”
Icarus sent some other squad members to retrieve the squad member who had thudded into a tree.
“Be careful with that bloodstone; if those who know its value see it, they’ll definitely covet it.”
“I’ll handle it!”
Seeing my overly cautious attitude, Icarus clammed up like a government worker afraid of getting a complaint.
“What did you do? You sent some words and sent those guys back who were supposed to be stopped by bullets?”
“I borrowed some power!”
“Power?”
At Gift Academy, the power of the student council is quite formidable, rivaling the royal decrees of any kingdom.
For instance, once a princess caught breaking the school rules was dragged to the student council. When the king sent a long letter threatening that if anyone touched his daughter, they’d ruin his life, the student council replied, “Whatever, we can just move to another country~.”
That senior is a third-year student currently active in the student council.
‘Compared to such seniors, those just patrolling are not even worth mentioning!’
Jigoku looked at me with admiration.
“Even if I hadn’t helped, you would’ve managed fine on your own, right?”
“No way! Thanks to Jigoku using that expensive elemental cartridge, things went smoothly! If they thought we were an easy target, they would’ve just robbed us and ignored the student council.”
“Is that so? Hmmm. I suppose it’s a relief that you see it that way.”
Jigoku leaned in and whispered in a subtle tone.
“Does this mean we’ve settled the debt from last time?”
“Talking about the Monster Warehouse?”
As I nodded at the anxious Jigoku, his tense face lit up with a smile.
“What happened with Oknodie? What did the higher-ups say that made the seniors just go back?”
After Hestia hurriedly ran over and relayed the situation, Rosgini showed her concern.
“What if it really is dangerous?”
“Hmph. That won’t happen.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I know this stuff better than anyone in the world!”
Energized materials are rare even within the academy.
Bloodstones are materials used for casting blood magic.
It’s a new energy source conceived from the idea of mana-depleted mages using the bio-mana found in living beings’ blood.
If mana spores can be unlawfully cultivated and gobbled up, there’s no reason not to use bloodstones.
Unlike mana spores, which everyone considers precious, right now the value of bloodstones is low due to the perception that such old-fashioned techniques are hardly used anymore.
‘Easy to acquire but undervalued items. It’s like finding a lottery ticket!’
Soon, among the external professors invited to the academy, a blood magician will be added.
High-level students may already be receiving education on blood magic.
By then, if mana runs short, they’ll start drawing blood to use, causing the value of bloodstones to skyrocket!
‘Of course, dangerous magic comes with safety issues, and regulations will become stricter.’
Just a little time later, blood magic will be tightly regulated with usage rules and qualification requirements.
When that happens, the value of bloodstones will plummet again.
But as a veteran player, if I sell them off beforehand, I don’t mind if I can’t get the highest price; it’ll be enough to get a carriage season pass at a decent uptick.
Rosgini is a prospective student of the Magic Department.
Not only is she listening to classes by Professor Weird, a master of nature magic, but she has also attended several lectures from other professors.
Recognizing her potential, some seniors working as teaching assistants view Rosgini favorably, occasionally chatting or sharing information with her.
– Rosgini is taking Professor Weird’s lectures, right? You should be careful.
– Why’s that?
– I heard that professor has been testing whether nature affinity increases by feeding stones to fourth-years.
Hearing the rumors made sense of the peculiar rumors about Oknodie.
‘Oknodie isn’t eating stones because she’s dull; she’s doing so to increase her nature affinity!’
Surely it isn’t just casual eating.
In the magic tower, they would analyze even the oddest research projects with unexpected practical approaches.
There could be magic to digest stones, or special drugs or physiques that regulate stomach acidity, or even bizarre technologies.
Is she really just mindlessly feeding stones?
She’s a top-tier professor and a fourth-year, after all!
‘Nah, there’s no way she’d be that foolish.’
Common sense tells you humans can’t digest stones.
Naturally, I have no thoughts of following her example.
Yet, I’ve gained some insight.
When it comes to stones, Oknodie is quite knowledgeable.
Especially since that girl loves to eat.
So, how much more does she enjoy and know about edible stones?
Moreover, the item Oknodie obtained this time is blood ‘stone’.
It’s an item they desperately wanted enough to recruit daily party members for a hefty sum, solving 10 meals worth 50 points each.
She’ll either eat it or use it for research; she’ll figure it out!
“Those mosquitoes were a bit scary.”
“…You know my ears are still ringing from your screams, right?”
“What can I do if it’s genuinely terrifying? I’ve never seen mosquitoes that big in my life!”
Sure, Zilot is a coward, but the cynical Echo really reaped the points.
“How can you not even lift a finger?”
“If you hired the wrong staff and they turned out to slack off, that’s the owner’s fault, not the staff’s.”
“If I had paid for it myself, I would’ve demanded a refund. Oknodie really is a nice person.”
Echo, who snagged 50 points easily, stuck out her tongue and teased as she walked away.
Still, since I had earned points too, Rosgini left in a good mood.
“What are Oknodie and Hestia talking about?”
“They said they were going to find someone to buy the bloodstone and test the waters.”
After a fierce wage negotiation, the Thunderbolt Celestial Divine Church nun Nise, who received honey candy in place of animal narcotic catnip, spoke while licking her candy.
“It’s truly astounding. To pull off such a reckless operation and succeed, even facing third-years without any casualties.”
“The third-years aren’t monsters; they’re seniors. Why would you think there’d be casualties from fighting seniors, not mosquitoes?”
“Oknodie’s vibe felt odd.”
Arcadia recalled.
The Oknodie who had stopped being just a good child.
With the illusion of a good kid shattered, rumors resurfaced about Oknodie.
Even if she isn’t a heartless assassin as the rumors suggest, if she’s not the sweet girl I knew, there’s a chance she harbors some killer instincts.
What worried her most was the thought of Oknodie killing a senior.
“Have you heard of the Wiheomhae Foundation?”
“I understand it’s a scholarship foundation that nurtures talented individuals from various nations.”
“Recently, there’s a rumor that if Oknodie refuses to be trained as an assassin by the foundation, she might be threatened to become a prostitute.”
The students who took the Developing Insight course promised to keep it a secret, but Arcadia, informed by the rumors, uncovered it from those who had attended.
“I feared that Oknodie, raised in such a harsh foundation, might endanger her classmates or even kill a senior.”
At Nise’s unexpected heavy topic, she paused savoring her honey candy.
“Are you afraid of that girl, or are you just worried?”
“Both. I worry she might stray down the wrong path and feel afraid of that.”
“Why do you care so much about Oknodie?”
Nise’s question was valid.
“Scholarship students like her, or those who might choose between becoming a prostitute or an assassin, aren’t just limited to Oknodie. What makes her special in your eyes, Arcadia?”
“At first, I just thought she was cute, but as time went on, I saw her kindness.”
Even knowing the stark realities of the weak, culture-lacking Kingdom of Florence, Oknodie spoke favorably of the kingdom and showed consideration.
She stood up for weak and oppressed students, never hesitating to confront injustice.
The princess of the Kingdom of Florence, Arcadia.
Hestia, the berserk fighter everyone avoids.
And the inferior student mob whom no one acknowledges.
From the hearsay I’ve listened to, and personal experiences I’ve had, Oknodie possesses a pure heart that seems unbelievable given her troubled upbringing.
“Though, purity isn’t eternal. Her heart will eventually be tainted and worn down, losing its true self by the hands of the foundation.”
“That’s why you want to protect her, right?”
“Exactly.”
Nise found that reason understandable in response to Arcadia’s heartfelt confession.
“Are you gaining understanding then?”
“I understand.”
Nise nodded in affirmation.
“Princess, you’re going to suffer a great wound soon.”
“…What?”
“I have information bought from the instructor by spending points.”
Nise said,
“Starting next week, the academy’s evaluation scores and overall rankings for each year will be posted.”
“Scores…? What does that have to do with me or Oknodie?”
“I received wind that around this time each year, inferior students from the Wiheomhae Foundation cause incidents.”
The lowest-performing student among those from the same foundation as Oknodie will likely stir up trouble.
“This will likely be a turning point in Oknodie’s academy life and for you, Princess Arcadia, cherishing her.”