Chapter 33
After the first raid class for first-years, it was time for student evaluations.
The professors in charge of the first-year raid—Marcus, Diranmidel, and Spitu—gathered in the faculty lounge with coffee.
Professor Marcus spoke gravely, his expression serious.
“…During the first raid class, a student not only left the beginner hunting grounds without permission but entered the mid-tier hunting grounds and even defeated a mid-tier Spirit Sprout.”
“Haha! Bet it’s Ebenkera.”
“You got it.”
Professor Spitu laughed heartily, as if he’d expected it.
“She’s fearless, the more I see her. Now her recklessness is almost amusing. She’s lucky she came back unharmed. I need to scold her until she cries.”
“…Still, defeating an elite mid-tier beast is impressive. If only she’d attend classes diligently.”
Thinking of Sigrin, who skipped his classes with feigned illnesses despite her talent, made Marcus' stomach churn.
Marcus clicked his tongue, and Professor Diranmidel, who’d been quietly eavesdropping, cautiously spoke.
“…Isn’t Sigrin a model student? She prepares and reviews well, sets a good example for friends, and creates a positive class atmosphere…”
“Huh?”
“What??”
The other professors burst into laughter at Diranmidel’s words.
“I’m serious…”
“She must only cooperate in your classes. That’s a relief, but it’s a bit irritating.”
Marcus clicked his tongue, thinking of Sigrin.
“Regardless, leaving the designated area during a raid warrants severe punishment. Actually, it wasn’t just Ebenkera—others need to be disciplined too.”
“They probably wanted better materials, showing healthy ambition. Maybe lighten the punishment a bit…”
“No, since it’s the first raid incident, we need to increase the punishment.”
Professor Marcus said sternly.
✦ ✦ ✦
When the student disciplinary list was posted on the bulletin board, a crowd gathered.
『
Sigrin Ebenkera (N/A): Unauthorized entry to mid-tier hunting grounds, unauthorized defeat of mid-tier beast, forcing other students to participate in the defeat.
Punishment: 5 days of probation, confiscation of credits, -50 credits due to lack of credits, 10 additional demerits, banned from attending 2 dungeon raid classes.
Luca Drümuel (N/A): Unauthorized entry to mid-tier hunting grounds, selling beast corpses.
Punishment: 3 days of probation, return 20 credits, 3 additional demerits, banned from attending 1 dungeon raid class.
Apple Sitimtri (N/A): Unauthorized entry to mid-tier hunting grounds.
Punishment: 3 days of probation.
Bilharan Dessart (Midriba): Unauthorized entry to mid-tier hunting grounds, suspected of unauthorized defeat of mid-tier beast.
Punishment: 3 days of probation.
Allendo Ogile (Midriba): Purchasing beast corpses from other students.
Punishment: Confiscation of credits.
』
“…Eek. Miss…”
“…What? They caught me trading beasts too?”
This can’t be…
This can’t be!!
Sigrin grabbed Bilha’s shoulders and shook him.
“I just sprained my leg and rolled down! I rolled down the hill because of a sprained leg!! Bilha, say something!!”
“Speak.”
“Argh!!”
The only person who could clear her name didn’t seem likely to testify properly.
The situation was dire.
Raids were graded after a month.
There were four raids in a month, and she’d already participated in one but was banned from two.
She had only one chance left.
And…
-50 credits??
She needed 500 credits for the raid class assignment, meaning she had to collect 550 credits in one session.
The weakest beast, a sprout, was worth only 1 credit. Even with good itemization, 550 credits was impossible in one go.
I can’t complete the assignment alone!
Just when she was pleased with perfectly completing her Niche Core Studies assignment, this disaster struck!
If she revealed her core’s location to the professors, they might lessen the punishment.
An Eye Core user couldn’t defeat a mid-tier beast, after all.
But since Eye Core users were rare, Sigrin didn’t want to flaunt her ability.
If this information reached rival families, it could cause trouble.
Ha… I wanted to complete the assignment fair and square. Where can I get help…
Sigrin frowned and spoke.
“Luca, is there something like an errand center here?”
“…To assassinate the professor who punished you?”
“What??”
She just wanted to ask someone to gather beasts in one place before the raid class, but how did it escalate to this?
“There’s no errand center at the academy.”
Luca chuckled, and Sigrin let out a long sigh.
What to do? She was headed for failure.
“Hey, Mafia.”
Someone cautiously tugged at Sigrin’s sleeve.
Looking over, she saw a sharp-looking female student.
Judging by the ribbon on her head, she was from Sereb.
“Can we talk for a bit?”
✦ ✦ ✦
“I don’t take assassination requests!!”
“Oh, really? How about half-killing someone?”
“No way!!”
The girl clung to Sigrin’s school uniform skirt. Fearing it might come off, Sigrin gripped her waistband tightly.
“Let go!!”
“Please, Mafia…! Here’s money, all the money I scraped together. If this isn’t enough, I’ll pledge my loyalty like Apple.”
“Wearin, you’re making Miss uncomfortable! You’ll get in big trouble!”
“The princess is in a bad mood from her punishment.”
“I’m begging Ebenkera with my life!!”
Sigrin sighed, still holding her skirt.
“If you’re risking your life, I’ll hear you out. Let go.”
Sniff “…Thank you.”
She’d been looking for an errand center, but somehow, she’d become the errand center.
The girl called Wearin had flushed cheeks. Wiping tears from them, she spoke.
“My little brother is in middle school. He’s tiny and cute, with big, round eyes. His name’s Cardin.”
“Bullying?”
“Uh… How’d you know?”
“Small, cute kids are easy targets for insensitive teens, especially if they’re timid.”
Wearin glanced at Apple, feeling a pang of sympathy as she saw her brother in her.
“Right. Can you help me just once? I brought payment!”
Wearin pulled out a piggy bank.
Crumpled bills poked out of its slot.
“No need for money.”
“I can be your subordinate like Apple! I’ll do anything you want! I’m serious!”
“They’re just middle schoolers. Why not deal with them yourself?”
“Well…”
“They’re Ogile kids, aren’t they?”
Luca, listening quietly, chimed in.
“Right?”
“…Yeah. Gus Ogile.”
“Ogile? Sounds familiar.”
Sigrin rolled her eyes and locked gazes with Bilha, who was spacing out.
Oh, right.
Allendo Ogile.
The student Bilha used as a curse suppressant.