《Exiled in a Class Trial for “Poor Dexterityâ€�.》 CH 1 ¡°This is my present to you all, please accept it.¡± ¡°Oh, wow! It¡¯s a pendent!¡± ¡°Nice! Leopin is really good with his hands!¡± Leopin is really good with his hands. And since the designs are matching, they are perfect for us who are going to school together. ¡°Well, with Leopin around, we¡¯ll definitely be number one class in our year.¡± ¡°Leopin! We¡¯ll still be friends in high school, won¡¯t we?¡± ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô I entered the Royal Pioneer Academy with my friends. The entrance ceremony is being held at the observation deck of the castle towering in the horizon covered with the morning fog. The entrance ceremony is being held on the observatory of the castle that rises in the morning mist on the horizon. We are dressed in our brand-new uniforms, and intently listening to the irritating voice of the principal pouring down from the stage. ¡°I am Nekodran, the first principal of this school! As you know, this school aims to discover young people who will lead the next generation! In a bit, ¡°Ritual of Ability Awakening¡± will be held, and your power will be revealed! You will use this castle for classes, and unleash your power to your heart¡¯s content in the untouched land around you and your supporters will give you the assistance you need to keep going!¡± The principal strokes his greasy bald head as if it is his signature pose. The long, thin man next to him seems to be the vice principal, and rubbing his hands in a flattering manner the whole time. ¡°Yes! As expected of the principal! Even this yes-man can¡¯t help but be impressed by your speech! And that cool pose! I hope you didn¡¯t go too far in winning the hearts of the female students! So let¡¯s have a round of applause!¡± The new students, lined up in a row, give a thunderous round of applause. The yes-man vice principal was in charge of the ceremony after the principal¡¯s speech. ¡°Yes! Let¡¯s begin the ¡°Ritual of Ability Awakening¡±! The person whose name is called must answer, go up to the stage, and place their hand on the crystal ball of the goddess statue. Then your status will be displayed on the crystal tablet above the stage!¡± There was a statue of a goddess in the center of the stage, and behind her is a huge crystal tablet that looked like a hanging banner. ¡°Let¡¯s start with class 1, year 1!¡± The school is divided into 20 classes, ranging from 1st class to 20th class. The number of students in each class is not constant since the students from the same junior high school were brought together to form one single class. My class is Year 1, Class 20, and I is the last one in my class. On the stage screen, the status and skills of the other classes were revealed one by one, eliciting cheers and applause from the students. The Royal Pioneer Academy was established this year, and only those who excelled in middle school were allowed to enter. My grades and athletic ability is average, but I managed to get in by supporting my classmates with my dexterity. ¡°All right, last one, class of 1-20! Mr. Weiss, this way, please!¡± Our leader, Weiss, a member of the student council, stepped forward and said, ¡°Yes!¡± He climbs up on the stage and touches the crystal ball of the goddess statue, and a status appears on the crystal tablet above our heads. Name Weiss Occupation Sage Lv 1 HP 1000 MP 1000 Status Life 100 Endurance 100 Toughness 100 Spirit 100 Resistance 100 Agility 100 Basic Skills Divine Wisdom The new students started cheering, ¡°Oooooooohhhh!¡± and a roar of joy erupted. ¡°Amazing, a Sage? That¡¯s a high level job right there!¡± ¡°And most of his stats are 100! Since 10 is considered average, he¡¯s simply a monster!¡± ¡°On top of that, your skill is so badass! It¡¯s divine skill!¡± The principal and vice principal are both overjoyed. ¡°Well, that¡¯s wonderful! Weiss will be the first child prodigy since the beginning of our school!¡± ¡°Yes! I¡¯m sure his classmates who are watching this will give him a lot of support!¡± Weiss fixes his square glasses with his fingertips and smiles. ¡°Don¡¯t be so surprised yet, everybody. I¡¯m not the only one in 1-20 class who¡¯s great. Let me introduce you to my wonderful friend! First up is Leopin!¡± As he suddenly calls my name, I become dazed, but my friends push me to go up the stage. Weiss shakes my hand and says proudly to the new students below, ¡°Leopin is very good with his hands! Look at the pendant around my neck! It¡¯s a gift from Leopin to our class as a token of friendship! As long as I have this pendant, our friendship will last forever! Come on, Leopin, let¡¯s show everyone what you can do!¡± Half embarrassed and half happy, I make my way to the statue. To tell the truth, I¡¯d been nervous about my status since yesterday. I wondered what would happen if my status was not good enough. But I felt like an idiot for worrying about that. Because I have my friends. No matter what my status is, our bonds will never be shaken. Because we are ¡°friends forever¡±! I place my hand on the crystal ball with the hopes of many of my friends. Name Leopin Occupation None Lv 1 HP 10 MP 10 Status Life 1(fixed) Endurance 1(fixed) Toughness 1(fixed) Spirit 1(fixed) Resistance 1(fixed) Agility 1(fixed) Concentration 1(fixed) Strength 1(fixed) Magic 1(fixed) Dharma 1(fixed) Intelligence 1(fixed) Liberal Arts 1(fixed) Five Senses 1(fixed) Sixth Sense 1(fixed) Charm 1(fixed) Luck 1(fixed) Dexterity 2000 Basic Skills Poor Dexterity (Jack of all trades, master of none) The hall goes completely silent. Then someone says. ¡°Eh? Occupation ¡®none¡¯? Does that mean he is jobless?¡± ¡°The statuses are mostly 1 ¡­¡­ And since it¡¯s ¡®fixed¡¯, it looks like his status won¡¯t increase even when he levels up!¡± ¡°Even so, it is too bad that there is only ¡°dexterity¡± which is basically a useless status!¡± ¡°And the skill looks bad as well. It is completely useless!¡± Suddenly, I hear a snap, as if something was ripped. When I look, I see that Weiss had torn off the pendant around his neck with all his might. Weiss drops the pendant to his feet and steps on it. ¡°Well, now then, let me introduce you to my wonderful companion! The mighty Monsoon!¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve been waiting for this!¡± says his classmate Monsoon, running up to the stage. The pendant is no longer around his neck as well. He isn¡¯t the only one. All my classmates who are waiting for their turn are not wearing my pendant either. My head goes blank. As I stand there in front of the statue of the goddess, I hear footsteps approaching. ¡°Get out of the way, you piece of trash!¡± Monsoon, the strongest student in my class, easily lifts me up and throws me off the stage. I am blown up like a real piece of trash and slam into the wall at the edge of the hall. I roll around on the ground like a stone that¡¯s been kicked away. But no one is paying attention to me anymore. CH 2 Chapter 2 : Saint Monaka, childhood friend ¡°Yes! It looks like there was a bit of garbage mixed in, but that¡¯s the end for the ¡°Ritual of Ability Awakening¡±! Now, we will tally up the abilities that have blossomed and rank each class!¡± ¡°Please wait, vice principal yes-man!¡± ¡°Huh? What is it? Weiss?¡± ¡°Before the ranking, we, class 1-20, would like to perform an exile.¡±, Weiss declares. This is a system to expel students who are slow or do not follow the rules from the class. If the majority of the students in the class agree, the named student will be expelled. In the case of Class 20 of first year, the total number of students is 20, and excluding the students to be expelled, there are 19. This means that if at least 10 students agree, the expulsion will be approved. Students who are expelled will be transferred to a class called ¡°Special Training Class¡±. The ¡°special training class¡± or in another word ¡°outcast class¡± is for useless students. This system is supposed to occur throughout the entire school life. However, exiling a student on the first day of school, at the entrance ceremony, has never been done before in any school. The yes-man vice principal groans at Weiss¡¯ ridiculously quick decision. ¡°Hmmm, I see! You¡¯re trying to prevent the rankings from declining by expelling the trash here!¡± ¡°Yes, the first step is always the most important,¡± Weiss replies while fixing his glasses. ¡°As expected of the Sage Weiss! All right, then, let¡¯s make a decision right here and now! Class 1-20!¡¡Raise your hand if you wish to expel the trash named Leopin!¡± ¡­¡­! And 19 hands go up. The boys and girls who were Leopin¡¯s classmates all view him as a lost cause now. But they have no way of knowing. They would never know that the regret of giving up on Leopin would be as deep as the ocean. And right after this¡­ ¡°Then we have a unanimous decision! Garbage to the incinerator! Leopin to ¡®special training class¡¯! That¡¯s it! Now that we¡¯ve cleaned up, we¡¯ll announce the ranks of each class!¡± And then the ranks were announced, and the top five classes were ¡­¡­. 1st, class 1-11, S rank 2nd, class 1-02, B rank 3rd, class 1-19, B-rank 4th, class 1-07, C+ rank 5th, class 1-20, C rank ¡°Whoa! I knew it, top three! Class 1-11, where all the students had advanced occupations, came out on top! The saint Monaka, who is called the reincarnation of a goddess, also did very well in Class 1-02!¡± Weiss bites his teeth at the result. ¨C¡¯Guh! We got C rank! I thought I was going to get a solid B because I took care of the big trash! The ability of ther trash is just too low.!¡¯ (Yes¡­ that was the ¡°Sage¡±¡­) ¡°And speaking of Saint Monaka, I have some good news for you all! To commemorate her debut as a saint, the first class of students to be healed by her will receive a prize of 10 million £¤Ender!¡± Saint Monaka, is the daughter of a highly respected family of saints. ¡®The first person to receive her love and affection, which all men long for, of course will be me, Weiss. With a reward of 10 million, you can make a big difference against the other classes! I want to get the best women and the money at once, and I¡¯m going to do whatever I can to get them both!¡¯ Weiss stares piercingly at the large catalog held up by the yes-man vice principal that read, ¡°Monaka-san and I Love You Award.¡± But he doesn¡¯t know. Or rather, none of the students in the hall know about it. No one in the hall knows where the girl with the lofty view is looking at now. ¡°¡­ Leo-kun?¡± Leopin, who had been spacing off in the corner of the hall, looks up at the sound of a bell-like voice. Up there, he sees such a beautiful girl that it seems like she is shining. Leopin worriedly looks at her. She is wearing a pure white robe that seems to be free of dirt and grime, and a neat uniform. Her skirt goes below her knees, and her pale white calves could be seen. Her long hair, flowing in the gentle breeze, giving off a flowery scent. Is Her eyes shining like jewels and her lips are like cherry petals, everything about her was fragile, yet divine. It is a far cry from the dirty Leopin, who looks like melted snow on the side of the road. Leopin asks the girl, ¡°You are?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t remember me, do you? I¡¯m Monaka, we went to elementary school together.¡± ¡°What?¡± Leopin¡¯s eyes widens, because the girl he remembers is so different from the one he had met. ¡°You¡¯re the crybaby Monaka? You¡¯ve grown so much!¡± ¡°Mou Leo~¡¡I¡¯m not a crybaby anymore!¡± Monaka holds her chest with both hands while smiling. The expression and gestures remained the same from their childhood. However, her breasts had grown so large that when she pushes them with both hands, they protrude from her sides. Leopin is almost taken aback, but he concentrates on staring at Monaka¡¯s face. ¡°We were separated in junior high school, but now we¡¯re going to school together again.¡± ¡°Yes! It¡¯s great seeing you again!¡± Monaka bows her head and gives him a big smile. But her face immediately darkens. ¡°Um, are you okay? Your face looks injured¡­¡± ¡°Ahh, I¡¯m fine. I mean, this kind of injury happened all the time in elementary school, didn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yes, you always protected me, didn¡¯t you? And I wanted to heal your injuries¡­¡± Monaka¡¯s cheeks flush as her words trailed off. ¡°Please be still and I¡¯ll fix you up right now.¡± Monaka gently touches Leopin¡¯s cheek with her finger white as white marbles. Then they both become envelopes in a white, clean light. The scratches on Leopin¡¯s face disappear and the bleeding from his mouth stops. Leopin touches his own face and exclaims in surprise at the miraculous power. ¡°It¡¯s amazing. Your sister was also a great healer, but your power is even better than that.¡± Monaka smiles like a loving mother. ¡°Thank you very much. I¡¯m glad that my first ¡®heal¡¯ was Leo-kun.¡± The two of them finally realizes that the hall is as quiet as if it had been cleared out. Looking towards the stage of the entrance ceremony, they see Principal Nekodoran and Vice Principal Yesman staring at them. Not only that, but all the students¡¯ eyes are glued to Leopin and Monaka. They are all gawking at them. ¡°Seriously¡­? Monaka, the woman of our dreams, is¡­¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s giving her first ¡®heal¡¯ to that piece of trash!¡± ¡°Uooooo!?!?!?!¡± CH 3 Chapter 3 : Status Conversion As soon as I realize that Monaka had ¡®healed¡¯ me, the students start in uproar. Weiss¡¯s eyes are open wide behind his glasses, and he is trembling. ¡°That ¡­ that can not be!? Monaka to Leopin!? That healing should have been directed at me!¡± The classmates of class 20 surround Weiss. ¡°Hey Weiss, what the hell did you do!¡± ¡°Why did you expel Leopin so quickly?¡± ¡°If Leopin had been in our class, the ten million would have been ours!¡± ¡°You¡¯re the lowest of all! You should take responsibility and cancel the exile!¡± Weiss glared at his classmates, gritting his teeth. ¡°You agreed to it, and there¡¯s no way you can rescind the exile now!¡± While my classmates in Class 20 are arguing with each other, two girls come over to us, looking bloodthirsty. One of them have a ponytail and a white breastplate on her uniform, while the other covered her face with a black hood. This duo may have been valets, but they enclose Monaka like light and shadow, scolding her. ¡°Monaka-sama! A saint¡¯s first healing is said to be very beneficial! How dare you give it to such a foolish, Horse bone!¡± ¡°Nin. If it is the first time healing someone for a person like Monaka-sama, there are many powerful people who would be willing to pile up gold to get their hands on something as valuable as that, and to give it to a Horse bone degozaru!¡± ¡°Onesco-san, Shinobuko-san! Leo-kun is not a horse bone! To me, he is a white horse: ¡­¡­! No, he is a prince who straddles it ¡­¡­.¡± (Note, the word Uma no hone ñR¤Î¹Ç, means something like ¡°a person of a doubtful origin¡±, thais is a strange word play, that¡¯s why this part sounds strange in english) ¡°Monaka-sama. We are your chaperones!¡± ¡°Nin. so, from now on, you are not allowed to do anything without permission.¡± Monaka gets dragged by the black and white duo back to the crowd of newcomers. Yes-man vice principal, whose soul had been pulled out of him on stage, finally comes to himself. ¡°Oh ¡­¡­ woo hoo! Silence! Quiet! I¡¯m using Monoka¡¯s award as an example, I¡¯m not really giving it away!¡± However he quickly goes back on his initial words when he is confronted with the question about the ¡°Love with Monaca Award¡± certificate in his hand. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be pleased to know that there are many other awards out there, thanks to the supporters¡­¡­. So if you do well during your time at the school, you can win a lot of money! Also, your school life will be broadcasted to the world through a magical device! As the first students of the Royal Pioneer Academy, please behave in a decent manner! And with that, today¡¯s entrance ceremony is concluded!¡± ¡°Wait!¡± The principal, who had been standing beside the vice principal, pushes the vice principal aside and steps forward, gazing sternly at all the new students except me. ¡°I have one last thing to say to you all! What we want is a golden egg. ¡­¡­! A good student is one whose supporters will pour money into the school like water! Students who do not produce money are rotten eggs, failures. ¡­¡­!¡± The principal suddenly cut off his words and looks at me with hatred in his eyes, as if he is looking at his illegitimate stepson. ¡°I will crush those rotten eggs without mercy, so be prepared. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô After the entrance ceremony, we are served a sumptuous buffet breakfast that had been brought in by a famous restaurant. I was told that there would be none for the Special Training Class, so I left the hall ahead of the others. Outside the castle, the school building, there is an expanse of unexplored plains and forests. From now on, we new students would have to explore this land while attending the school. There were no dormitories or cafeterias. Only the initial equipment for each profession is given to us, but the rest is all about the students¡¯ self-sufficiency. You have to cooperate with your classmates and sometimes even fight with other classes to survive. ¡°But I¡¯m all alone¡­¡± If you are sent to Special Training Class, you will not be treated well by anyone. It¡¯s nearly impossible to survive on your own, so those who fail once give up early. Feeling miserable, I open the status window. Then the reality hits me like with heavy weight and despair. ¡°Looking at it like this again, it¡¯s really terrible ¡­¡­. I don¡¯t see any future for me like this ¡­¡­¡± No matter how bad your status is, you can at least get an occupation as a garbage collector. However, it seems that I¡¯m so bad that I can¡¯t even get a job at the bottom of the list. ¡°My skills are also labeled ¡®poor¡¯¡­¡­. It¡¯s as if it¡¯s hinting at my future¡­¡­¡± With a sigh, I touch the ¡°poor dexterity¡± skill and expanded the skill tree. There are a number of skills in there. When you touch the skill name, an explanation window appears above the status window. ¡ª¨C ¡°What¡¯s this skill? I never heard of this skill in middle school.¡± I decide to try out the ¡°Dexterity Body¡± skill. In my head, I thought to myself, ¡°Dexterity, convert to life!¡± MP is reduced by 1, Dexterity by 100, and Life is increased!¡¡HP has also increased?! ¡°You¡¯re lying, ¡­¡­!¡¡If this status is true, it must be a pretty amazing skill ¡­¡­!¡± I am skeptical about this skill, so I converted the ¡°Dexterity¡± to another status. Suddenly, my well-honed five senses catch a voice like a rumbling wind. ¡°Oh, look, there¡¯s a piece of trash outside the castle! Let¡¯s play a game to kill some time! The first one to shoot through him with a bow and arrow wins! I¡¯ll start shooting!¡± Swoosh! I feel the sound of wind and reflexively raise my hand. The arrow was flying towards my head. Gashi! However, I catch it with my bare hand. I can¡¯t believe my super reaction. But the guy who took aim from the top of the castle has an even more incredible look on his face. ¡°That¡¯s a lie¡­ that trashy guy, caught the arrow¡± ¡°That¡¯s stupid!? He is not a Martial Arts Master!¡± The students with the bow, are wobbling on the veranda of the party venue I take the arrow and slowly turn to the students. ¡°I will give it back¡± And thow the arrow back at them. Bishuuun! The arrow flies back with lightning speed and pierces the wall behind its owner with a thud! The guys collapsed with a scream since they couldn¡¯t even move a single step. ¡°Hyaaaaaa!!!¡± ¡°He threw it back! He threw an arrow back at me from that distance!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous! It¡¯s at least 200 meters from here! You need to use your bow and arrow skills to reach it, but you can¡¯t throw it back with your bare hands.¡± ¡°Mo- Mooooonsteeeeer!!!!!¡± CH 4 Chapter X : Change of jobs The archers flailed around on the ground like cockroaches after having an arrow shot at. But instead of caring about that, I look at my hands. ¡°This is my power. ¡­¡­?¡± My vision and hearing have sharpened like beasts because my five senses increased. My moves have become as fast as winds because my agility increased as well. I can also send arrows farther than a bow because the strength of my arms increased. And with my increased concentration, I am also able to hit the target without a millimeter of error. ¡°It¡¯s as if my body doesn¡¯t belong to me anymore. ¡­¡­!¡± However, my fingers felt very uncomfortable. Because of the decrease in dexterity, I feel like the sense of my sharp fingers, which can thread a needle even with my eyes closed, has faded. But that¡¯s not a big deal, because I can always get it back. ¡°Wow, I can do anything with this. ¡­¡­!¡± With an elated feeling, I checked the effect of the other remaining skill. At the moment, there were three professions to choose from. While I am deciding which job to change to, some students come out of castel after finishing the party. ¡°Well, let¡¯s start building a new village! We have to go into the forest to gather materials! If we don¡¯t finish our houses by nightfall, we¡¯ll have to camp out!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t stay out in the open! I¡¯ll be a disgrace!¡± ¡°Yeah, only a piece of trash would lie down in the open air! If you don¡¯t want to be like the trash, you¡¯d better brace yourself!¡± Every class seems to be building a place to live first. A group of well-built men, probably warriors, entes the nearby forest carrying axes. Since I don¡¯t have the tools to chop down a tree, I decide to become a ranger. My profession changes from ¡°None¡± to ¡°Ranger¡± as my MP decreases 10 points. The ranger¡¯s occupational skill, ¡°Survival Technique,¡± appeares. As soon as I get the passive skill ¡°Survival Technique¡±, survival knowledge floods my mind. ¡°¡­¡­ Okay, first of all, I need to make some tools, a stone knife and a stone axe!¡± I follow the warriors into the forest. As I am rummaging through the fallen rocks, I hear a taunt. ¡°Hahahaha! What¡¯s that trash guy doing?¡± ¡°He¡¯s looking for a rock! Apparently he¡¯s lost his mind!¡± While the warriors are laughing and chopping wood, I find a stone that is just the right size to grip and sharpen the blade to make a ¡°stone knife¡± by repeatedly hitting it against a rock. After sharpening a larger, flatter stone, I tie it to a large tree branch with ivy plants. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ve made a stone axe!¡± This is my first craft in high school, and it made me so happy that I lift it to the sky like a hero¡¯s holy sword. Bashi! My body glistens in the light coming through the clouds. Suddenly, a window appears in front of me. ¡°You have leveled up! I couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°Oh!¡± at the unexpected surprise. I just made a knife and an axe, and now I¡¯ve already leveled up! Maybe it¡¯s because of my ¡®Dexterous growth¡¯ skill? Dexterity has increased by 100 points! The most you can get from leveling up is 5 points. And there are more professions that can be changed. Speaking of ¡°Appraiser¡±, it¡¯s quite useful in survival. I immediately try to change jobs. As a test, I use the ¡°Appraise¡± skill to examine my own stone axe. A window showing the appraisal result appears on the stone axe. Due to various bonuses, it has several times the cutting power of an iron axe. ¡°¡­ Several times of an iron axe! Seriously?¡± To my own surprise, as I shout to myself with the stone axe in my hand, the warriors come chomping at the bit again. ¡°Hahahaha, look at that! Look at that trash! He¡¯s so happy with his stone axe!¡± ¡°He¡¯s like a caveman!¡¡What can he do with that little axe?¡± ¡°Gyahahaha. I guess he¡¯d wet himself if he saw fire!¡± I ignore the ridiculous laughter and change my job to Lumberjack. I hold up my stone axe and activate my ¡°Fast Logging¡± skill at the large tree in front of me. Ooohhhhhh! Dogagagagagagaga!! Wood scraps fall like water droplets and cuts form in the big tree. The large tree wobbles towards the warriors. ¡°It¡¯s going to fall!¡± As I shout, the warriors run away spiders. Zuzun! This caused a huge impact that shook the earth, and the warriors who have failed to escape fell on their buttocks. ¡°What the hell was that ¡­¡­?¡¡You chopped down such a big tree in just a moment. ¡­¡­? ¡°We¡¯re warriors, we can barely chop down a thin tree with an axe¡­¡± ¡°No way! Wasn¡¯t that trash guy supposed to be jobless?¡± In spite of their astonishment, I roughly chop the tree into pieces with my stone axe to make it easier to carry. Can be used for building materials with various bonuses. CH 5 Chapter 5 : Let¡¯s build a house The next thing I knew, I was surrounded by three warriors. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Hey, you trash! What a waste of a fine log for a lowlife like you!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll put it to good use. Just leave the logs and go away!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do that. Your supporters are watching.¡± ¡°You¡¯re an idiot! Do you think that hurting one of the people in special training class is going to ruin your reputation?¡± ¡°If I hurt you enough, maybe my supporters will be happy! Gah ha ha ha!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it like that, but ¡­¡­. I felt sorry for you guys if you embarrassed yourselves in front of your supporters as soon as you entered the school. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°What do you mean!? We are warriors! There¡¯ s no way I can lose to a jobless man like you!¡± I grabbed my axe and took a stance. It¡¯s not the way you hold it when you cut a tree, but the way you hold it to fight a person. ¡°Your profession may be warrior, but ¡­¡­ I¡¯m an excerpt at axe combat,¡± ¡°If this is what you want then come at me.¡± ¡°Shut up, you bastard!¡± The warriors swing down on the iron axe, and I swing my stone axe in a side-swipe to knock it off its side. Zudokaaa! Battle Axe User skill, ¡°Weapon Destruction¡±. The iron axes that received the blows of the stone battleaxe explod one after another like cookies. ¡°Ehhh!?!¡± The warriors start shouting like they are in a nightmare with the remaining of their iron axes in their hands. ¡°What the hell is this? What does this mean?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know! But what are we going to do? My precious axe is ruined!¡± ¡°If they find out that we lost, our class is going to be ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Damn it! I¡¯m going to ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°¡­¡­ What then?¡± I thrust my stone axe at the feet of the warriors. That was enough to make them scream, ¡°Hii!?¡±. And then they fall on their knees at once. ¡°Yoo ¡­¡­, please forgive me!¡± He was on his knees with all his might, as if he had abandoned all shame and outward appearance. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry!¡± As I watch the warriors flee away, screaming, my body begins to glow. Then a window appears in front of me. ¡°You¡¯ve leveled up!¡± I was so happy that I couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°Oh!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve leveled up again. Was it for chopping down the tree and punishing the warriors?¡± Oh, now there are more jobs available. I was thinking of building a house, so this might be a good opportunity for me. I immediately change my occupation to a carpenter. ¡°All right, then, let¡¯s get on with building the house! First of all, I must carry the lumber that I cut down to a spacious area!¡± But carrying it by hand would take too much time, and since I still needed more wood to build my house, it would be more efficient to transport it all at once. So I decide to make a cart. I thought I would have a hard time since I didn¡¯t have any tools, but thanks to the skills of the carpenter, I am able to complete it in no time. With various bonuses, it can carry five times as much as a normal cart. I cut down five more trees and obtain a total of 50 pieces of ¡± Gisu Wood (Large)¡±. I load them into a cart and tie it to the cart with vines to keep them from falling out, then I leave the forest. In the distance, I can see the castle, the school building. Around it, a large number of new students are busy building a village. Apparently, each class is given a certain plot of land within which they have to build a house. I wonder where the land for my ¡°special training class¡± is. It is too much trouble to walk around and look for it, so I try to find it using my eyesight, which has been improved by my five senses. My eyesight is so good now that I can count the number of pasta sticks a hundred meters away. But I can¡¯t find it anywhere around the castle. I turned around from the castel to see if I could find it in other places¡­¡­. I see a sign in the forest that says, ¡°Garbage Dump (Special Training School Residential Site). ¡°You want me to live in the woods? ¡­¡­ Whatever.¡± I pull the cart and head back the way I came. I park the cart by the sign and begin to build the house. I¡¯ve always been good with my hands, so I¡¯ve been making things since I was a kid. I¡¯ve helped build houses before, but this is my first time to build a whole house from scratch by myself. However, as soon as I activate my ¡°Carpenter Carpenter¡± skill, ¡°Wooden Construction¡±, my body starts moving without hesitation. It is as if my body knew the process like an experienced carpenter who has built numerous houses. Since there are no nails, I use a construction method called ¡°Mokumigumi,¡± in which each piece of wood is joined together. It is as fun as solving a puzzle, and I easily get absorbed in putting the house together. Then, after all this time, I realize what I¡¯ve done today. ¡°I¡¯ve made a stone axe, a cart, defeated three warriors, and chopped down five trees in just one day ¡­¡­. And now I¡¯m building a house and I don¡¯t feel tired at all. ¡­¡­! 200 ¡°Endurance¡± status is a lot of stamina. ¡­¡­!¡± I realise that I built a magnificent two story building. With various bonuses, it is resistant to earthquake, fire, and corrosion. CH 6 Chapter 6 : Architectural competition that never started ¡°A- Amazing¡­¡± As I turn around, I suddenly hear a voice behind me and see Monaka standing there with her mouth agape. ¡°This ¡­¡­ was made by you, Leo?¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not even noon yet. ¡­¡­And yet, and yet, and ¡­¡­¡± Monaka¡¯s face flushes a rosy red. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you can build such a magnificent house! Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! I knew Leo-kun was amazing!¡± Monaka¡¯s eyes moistens and she makes a small gut pose in front of her chest. She¡¯s so calm in front of the other classmates, but in front of me, she¡¯s so enthusiastic. ¡°If you like it, I¡¯ll build you a house too.¡± Monaka gets taken aback. ¡°Oh, really!? Is that alright with you? ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô So I load the newly cut wood onto the cart and leave the forest with Monaka. A crowd of people have gathered at the site of Monaka¡¯s class, Class 1 and 2. Onesco, Monaka¡¯s self-proclaimed guardian, is standing on a rock and explaining to the people around her. ¡°I understand that you all want to offer Monaka a home! But Monaka-sama is the future High Priestess, so she needs to have a proper home! That¡¯s why I¡¯m going to judge the houses that everyone builds! The house we think is the best will be Monaka-sama¡¯s home!¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s do this!¡± ¡°If I can build a house with my first-class construction skills, Monaka will love it!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let him! Monaka-sama is going to live in our house! If Monaka-sama likes our house, we¡¯ll have won the rest of our school life! We can¡¯t let the other classes beat us! It¡¯s time for us, the ¡°Production Team¡±, to show our strength and work together to build the best house possible!¡± It seems that a building contest for Monaka has started. However, Monaka is so focused on me that she didn¡¯t seem to notice what is going on around her. Thinking that it didn¡¯t matter, I unload the lumber from the cart and start preparing to build. Then I hear a mocking laugh from around me. ¡°Hey, look at that! The trash guy is going to participate in the building contest!¡± ¡°You stupid bastard, what can you do by yourself?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got the building skills and my classmates are helping me, you can¡¯ t compete with us!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll do your best to build a kennel, and then we¡¯ll all laugh at you!¡± But as soon as the foundation is put in place, the laughter of those around us died down. ¡°Eh¡­ No way¡­¡± ¡°How can you build such a magnificent foundation, ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°That foundation must look like a two story building!¡± ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous! Even those of us with construction skills can barely make a single-story hut! That looks like a real house!¡± Don¡¯t be ridiculous! You can¡¯t let a jobless guy make a house for you! That would ruin our professional reputation!¡± I complete the house while they buzz about it themselves. I nod as I look up at the finished house. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not bad.¡± The house is resistant to earthquakes, fire, and corrosion. It has a pleasant scent, and living in it will be relaxing. In the forest, I found some kinohi trees, which make a fine wood, so I decided to use them for this house. A house made of kinohi would be perfect for a young lady like Monaka. She snuggles up next to me, her gaze bright with emotion. ¡°Thank you, Leo-kun, for such a beautiful house! I¡¯m so happy to receive another gift from Leo-kun!¡± Monaka put her hands to her chest to suppress her overflowing feelings. In addition, I¡¯d like to thank you for all your hard work! Oh, your face is dirty, so I¡¯ll wipe it off for you.¡± She takes out a small white handkerchief from her uniform pocket, stretches and wipes my face with it. ¡°I can¡¯ t help it, getting dirty is like a badge of honor for a carpenter. Besides, if you get that close, you¡¯ll smell it.¡± ¡°Fufufu~ I¡¯d love to smell you, Leo! And when I was little, I used to bury my face in it like this ¡­¡­.¡± Monaka smiles as she puts her face down on my sweat- and dust-covered shirt and starts to sniff and sniff. But then, a while later, she suddenly snaps. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! How could I be so rude? ¡­¡­!¡± My ears turn red as I walk away since I felt so excited doin something so outrageous and terrible. Compared to the house that I had just built, the houses that the new students had built were too shabby. The surrounding area of the houses look like a slum. Well, it¡¯s not unreasonable for those students who had been lads and lasses living self-sufficient lives for the first time¡­¡­. I used my ¡°appraisal¡± skill to examine a nearby shack that looked like it was about to collapse. It is poorly constructed and will collapse with the slightest load. There is a foul smell, and living here will be stressful. I think to myself, ¡°This is terrible.¡± I guess they didn¡¯t even bother to sort out the wood, and just used some wood that was not suitable for building materials. In addition, the processing of the wood is inadequate, and the way it was put together and finished is crude. ¡°With this kind of situation, even a small earthquake could wipe it out. ¡­¡­¡± I think to myself as I lightly push on the wall of the hut. And then¡­ ¡­¡­ DONGARA GASHAN! The hut collapses in an instant, like it is being folded. In fact, even the neighboring houses collapse one after another from the impact. Before I know it, all the houses in the slums have collapsed like dominoes. Leaving only the house I have built behind. The newcomers crumpled to their knees like those whose houses have been burned in a fire. ¡°Aaaaaaaaaaaaa!?!?!!?¡± ¡°The house I built! The house we built!¡± ¡°I worked so hard for so many hours to build it!¡± ¡°Uwaaaaaa!!! Mama!!¡± I feel guilty for that and I think about teaching them how to build a house. ¡­¡­ ¡°Ugh, I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m losing to a jobless piece of trash!¡± ¡°This is a mistake! There¡¯s no way a piece of trash could build a house like that!¡± ¡°Damn it! If that wasn¡¯t Monaka¡¯s house, I¡¯d burn it down!¡± My guilt disappears as they start to bombard me with their complaints. CH 7 Chapter 7 : Another split in the group Monaka is touring the house with a group of girls from her class. ¡°Look at this, everyone! Look at this entrance! The door opens both ways, and it¡¯s wide and very easy to get in and out! It¡¯s just like Leo! It¡¯s a wonderful house!¡± She praises the house and mentions my name in praise each time. I feel a little embarrassed, but if she is this much happy, then it is a good thing. I notice that Monaka¡¯s two companions, Onesco and Shinobuko, are standing next to me. ¡°I thought the house you will build will be absolutely out of the question.¡± ¡®Nin. I thought it would look like a doghouse from hell, degozaru.¡± ¡°Most of the other classes have one small hut for each student.¡± And the lower ranked classes have one house for two students. But the house you have built is so big and magnificent that it can be used by all ten members of our class. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Oh, you mean that. Monaka¡¯s class is all girls, so I thought it would be safer if everyone lived together. I think it¡¯s safer for you guys too, don¡¯t you?¡± The black-and-white duo bit their teeth and said, ¡°kuu¡±. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you are so considerate. ¡­¡­! It¡¯s a shame. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Nin. I admire you, even as an enemy, degozaru¡± ¡°But don¡¯t get carried away! I¡¯ve changed my mind about you a little, but that¡¯s only because you¡¯ve gone from being a horse¡¯s bone to a horse!¡± ¡°Nin, a bad horse at that. Degozaru¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just say thank you! But don¡¯t come any closer to Monaka-sama! Do you understand?¡± ¡°Nin. Next time we meet, we will try to kill you. Degozaru¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, Shinobuko-san! We have to check the house and see if there are any strange devices in it!¡± Onesco and Shinobuko then turned their backs on me. But as soon as they enter the house I have built, they both fall into a dreamy state. ¡°Wow, that smells wonderful ¡­¡­! ¡°It¡¯s so soothing, that it is. ¡­¡­! I don¡¯t know if it has anything to do with the fact that everyone still see me as an enemy but¡­ At this moment, I level up to level 4. ¡°Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!¡± Then suddenly I hear a scream, causing me to jump. ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô A little back in time. Weiss, the leader of the 1-20, is calmly analyzing the current situation. ¨CIt is said that it is normal for a pioneer school to start out in a shack. Because they don¡¯t have any materials or tools, and they¡¯re all level one. That¡¯s what we were taught in middle school, so there¡¯s nothing to worry about, nothing to worry about. ¡­¡­ But every time I see the reflection of a two-story house in the right lens of my glasses, that calmness peels away like plating. ¨CAnd yet, what the heck is that thing ¡­¡­? It¡¯s not a hut, it¡¯s a house. ¡­¡­! Only someone who is at level 10 or higher can build something like that! And every time I see a shabby shack reflected in the left lens of his glasses, I tremble. ¨CIn comparison, what the heck, my hut is ¡­¡­! I¡¯m a sage, one of the best in the higher ranks, and I designed it. ¡­¡­! And yet, and yet, ¡­¡­! Why does it look far inferior to the jobless Leopin ¡­¡­? Suddenly, I hear footsteps approaching from behind. They stop right behind Weiss and shout in surprise. ¡°oh, what the hell is that house!£¿¡± ¡°Wow! It¡¯s a real house!¡¡Who made that? ¡°Isn¡¯t that Leopin built by the house? There is no way that Leopin made that!¡± ¡°Whoa! How did the jobless Leopin build such a magnificent house?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that before. Leopin used to be a carpenter¡¯s helper!¡± ¡°Hey, Weiss! What¡¯s the meaning of this? We did exactly what you said, we gathered the materials and built the house!¡± ¡°So, how come all we got is this shabby little hut? It¡¯s nothing like Leopin¡¯s house!¡± ¡°I knew it was a mistake to exile Leopin. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Shut up about ¡­¡­! I¡¯m a sage, you know! I¡¯m a sage and my decisions are always right! It¡¯s not my fault that the hut is so shabby! It¡¯s the fault of the way you¡¯re building it!¡± ¡°What the hell? It¡¯s not our fault!¡± ¡°It¡¯s horrible! You can¡¯t blame everybody else for something like this!¡± Class 1-20¡¯s situation becomes tense. The person who always put an end to these situations was already gone. However they did not expect him to intervene in their quarrel. ¡­¡­ DONGARA GASHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Like dominoes, the shacks of class 1-20 collapse in a chain reaction. ¡°Aaaaaaa!!¡± The former classmates¡¯ eyes turn dark as their homes disappear in an instant. CH 8 Chapter 8 : The Prize for Building a Good House Meanwhile, in the school building of the Royal Pioneer Academy. Even in the luxurious castle, the two of them were in the most luxurious room. ¡°No! Oh no! I didn¡¯t know that trash and Monaka-san were childhood friends! ¡°Hmph! thanks to them, one of the awards was ruined! That prize money now has to be returned to the supporters¡­¡­.¡± The principal and vice principal have been trying to extort money from the supporters with some excuse or another. In this case, they set up prizes and give them to the students. The prize money, once in the hands of the students, would be consumed by the school throughout the students¡¯ school lives and eventually will end up in the principal¡¯s pocket. However, the principal and vice principal did not give Leopin the first prize, the ¡°Love with Monaka Award¡±. Because ¡­¡­. ¡°I¡¯m not going to give an award to someone from a special training class. If you do that, they¡¯ll run away with it in a second.¡± That¡¯s right. The ¡°special training class¡± is like an ¡°outcast room¡±. If you give a prize to a student who might quit at any moment, you will surely end up losing the money. For the elite principal and vice principal, giving money to a dropout is more humiliating than giving money to a thief. ¡°However, there is nothing we can do about what has already happened, so we¡¯ll just give up and think we¡¯ve tripped over a piece of garbage.¡± ¡°Yes! Yes! That¡¯s the principal, very positive!¡± ¡°By the way, vice principal, are you ready for the next award? If we don¡¯t give out our first award soon, our supporters will complain.¡± ¡°Of course! The next award is for building a nice house! We¡¯re going to go around the residential property and give the prize to the student who builds the best house!¡± ¡°Hmm. Hmm, I guess we¡¯ll get a winner this time. But just in case that piece of trash builds a nice house, ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that! The best that the unemployed trash can build is a tiny doghouse! Besides, I¡¯ve moved the trash¡¯s property into the forest!¡± ¡°I see, then it doesn¡¯t matter what kind of house that trash builds. It¡¯s just a matter of us not inspecting it.¡± The principal and vice principal looked at each other and smiled. ¡°¡±This time, 10 million will be in our hands ¡­¡­! Yee hee hee ¡­¡­!¡±¡± The two of them leave the principal¡¯s office and head for the residential compound outside the castle. But as soon as they left the castle, they saw ¡­¡­. ¡°Oh ¡­¡­! Look at that house!¡± ¡°Yes! It¡¯s a two-story house!¡± ¡°How could they build such a house with no materials or tools? ¡­¡­! Look at all the shacks around us, they look like garbage!¡± ¡°He¡¯s definitely going to be an amazing architect in the future!¡± ¡°There is no need to judge anymore! We¡¯ll give the prize money to the student who built that house! We will give the prize money to the student who built that house, and we will show off his excellence to all of our supporters!¡± ¡°Yes, yes! If he can build a house like that, we¡¯ll be able to raise a lot of money using him!¡± ¡°Yes! The student who builds that house is truly the golden egg!¡± With great enthusiasm, they headed for the two-story house. In the house were the female students of class 1 and 2. ¡°Oh! This house is the house of Class 1 and 2!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a fitting home for the future Great Saint, Monaka-san! This must be the house that Superboy gifted to Monaka!¡± Monaka replied briskly. ¡°Yes! The person I respect and admire the most built this house for me!¡± ¡°Oh, really? So you two have already vowed your futures together?¡± ¡°No, that isn¡¯t the case¡­¡­. Of course, if he will allow it, I will¡­¡­.¡± As Monaka fidgeted, the principal was convinced that this was a good idea. He secretly told the vice principal. ¡°Monaka¡¯s reaction suggests that he and Superboy are on good terms. Then we can give him the ¡®I¡¯m in love with Monaka award¡¯ as well.¡± ¡°I see, that¡¯s the principal! You¡¯ve got a brilliant head! Of course, I always carry the certificate with me!¡± The vice principal quickly took out two certificates from his inner pocket and asked with excitement ¡°Monaka-san! We¡¯d like to give that Superboy a special award! And it¡¯s a double one! It would be a great honor, so please don¡¯t be shy and tell us the name of the person you admire!¡± ¡°Ha, yes, ¡­¡­! That person¡¯s name is ¡­¡­ Leo-kun ¡­¡­! Leopin.¡± ¡°KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!¡± The vice principal suddenly starts screaming like a crazed monster bird, causing Monaka to shrivel up. Then he tires up the two certificates and runs out of the house with a face like a boiling kettle. The students on the grounds are in the middle of rebuilding their collapsed houses. The principal and vice principal stomps their feet in frustration. ¡°Gini ni ni ni ¡­¡­! The house, except for Monaka¡¯s house, is all garbage. ¡­¡­! This is all because of that garbage!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think that that trash would come to this place! I thought he was alone in the forest, covered in dust. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°In this case, vice principal, prepare for the next prize!¡± ¡°Yes, sir! I¡¯ve already thought of that! The next one will be the ¡®First to Level Up¡¯ award!¡± ¡°Oh, by the way, it¡¯s about time we had our first level-up! Judging by the level of activity, the class leader should be¡­¡­.¡± The principal and vice principal suddenly see a light in the corner of their vision, as if they have opened a jewelry box. They look at each other and then shout as if it is by spinal reflex. ¡°Congratulations on leveling up! Now, take this certificate ¡­¡­!¡± But this is the student they least want to meet. Leopin, who has just reached level four¡­¡­.! ¡°KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!¡± CH 9 As soon as the principal and vice principal see me, they run off towards the castle as if they have lost their minds. I am just stunned by the sudden and incomprehensible event. He said something about leveling up and some kind of certificate, but what is that all about? But there is something else that is bothering me more than that. It is the addition of ¡°ninja¡± to the list of professions available through the ¡°Dexterity Change¡±. A ninja is a type of assassin that originated in the east. Their well-trained bodies and the skills they develop through mental and physical training are called ¡°Ninjutsu¡± and are very much feared by the people. There are also ninjas here at the Royal Pioneer Academy, such as Shinobuko of Class 1 ¨C 2. But I¡¯m not sure if I can be a ninja or not. Is it really something that I, an unemployed person, can become? The only jobs that were available were lower level jobs. Anyway, let¡¯s go back to the house and find out. Monaka¡¯s house is completed, so I leave the residential area. When I return to the forest house, I immediately try to change jobs. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Leopin Occupation Carpenter ? Ninja Occupation Skill Shuriken Throw Increases the throwing speed, power, and accuracy of hand thrown weapons. Izuna Throw A throwing technique that restrains the target from behind ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Speaking of ninjas, there¡¯s the Shuriken, right? I took some leftover ¡°Gisu wood¡± and cut it with a knife to replicate a shuriken. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Gisu Shuriken Quantity 30 Quality Level 18 (Material Level 9 + Dexterity Bonus 9) Hand thrown weapon made from high quality Gisu wood. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª With various bonuses, it has excellent power, accuracy, and range. With my makeshift shuriken, I decide to get into the ninja mood right away. I throw the wooden star at a tree branch about 10 meters away from me. ¡­¡­ Spat! The leaves fall with a small bang. It¡¯s more powerful than I thought. Okay, next time I¡¯ll aim for the leaves further away. I feel like a kid again and throw the shuriken around. The fifteen shuriken I threw all hit the targets. It¡¯s not just the arrows I threw back this morning, but when you have the ¡®Concentration¡¯ status leveled up, everything really does fly where you aim them. As I am admiring myself, I hear a rustling sound of bushes behind me. I turn around to see a group of boys in sorcerer¡¯s robes approaching my house. ¡°What do you want?¡± When I called out to the first boy, he says in a familiar tone, ¡°Well, well, you¡¯re Leopin, right? I thought I¡¯d give you a special fire.¡± Then the students behind me shouted in protest. ¡°Hey, Nasuo, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°We followed you here to get fire, but you¡¯re going to give it to a loser like Leopin first!¡± The boy called Nasuo soothed the others, ¡°Well, well.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t panic, we¡¯ll make sure everyone gets fire.¡± Fire is considered to be the second most important thing in survival after drinking water. This guy, Nasuo, looked like a sorcerer, so he must have succeeded in starting a fire with his initial spell, ¡°ignite. He seems to be using his power to attract the attention of the students. Nasuo turns to me and shows off his ¡°Ignite¡± spell. After several unsuccessful attempts, he set the branch in his hand ablaze. He then waves the lit branch as if to say, ¡°Do you want it?¡± ¡°If you want it, get down on your knees and say so, Leopin, and ask the great sorcerer Nasuo for fire!¡± ¡°What are you doing here all of a sudden? I don¡¯t need a fire, I can make one myself.¡± I don¡¯t need a fire from others, because I can make one myself. Making a fire is easy with the ranger¡¯s survival skills. When I refuse, Naso becomes obviously unhappy. It¡¯s not the reaction you were expecting, apparently. ¡°Well, well¡­ There is no need to refuse it. Here, you can have it!¡± He throws the burning branch through the window and into my house. And then he laughs loudly to himself. ¡°Ha-ha-ha-ha! Everyone! This house is going to burn, so you¡¯d better take the fire with you.¡± The rest of the students laugh too. ¡°I see, that¡¯s what it¡¯s all about!¡± ¡°The trash guy knocked over our house and we didn¡¯t even know it, so we came to punish him!¡± ¡°As expected of Nasu, the great sorcerer of the future!¡± I didn¡¯t do anything, but the students are united in their efforts to keep me out of the house. ¡± Otoo, Leopin! You can¡¯t just go in there and try to get rid of it!¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s your fault for knocking over our houses!¡± Yes, it¡¯s your fault for knocking down our houses! You can sit there and cry and watch your house burn! You¡¯ll know a tenth of our sorrow!¡± However, the house does not start to burn for a long time, and one of the students who have been looking through the window shouts in a distressed voice. ¡°What? The fire¡¯s gone out!¡± No way! Why? There¡¯s not even a scorch mark on the floor. ¡­¡­?¡± That¡¯s ridiculous!¡¡How can a fire I started be defeated by a house that belongs to a piece of trash?¡± ¡°You guys really think about nothing but dragging people down, don¡¯t you? My house is ¡®fireproof¡¯, so it won¡¯t burn easily. Besides, if you want fire so badly, I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± In disgust, I gather up the branches and ivy that had fallen at my feet. I wrapp the ivy around a tree branch and set it on a stump as a base. Ivy Fire Starter Quantity 1 Quality Level 10 (Material Level 1 + Dexterity Bonus 9) This fire pit is made from the branches, stumps, and ivy. It is simple to make, but the various bonuses make it easy to start a fire. Then just hold the end of the ivy on the fire starter with both hands and pull on it alternately. ¡­¡­ ¡­¡­ Shgo-oohh! The tree branch spun at high speed, and in no time, a fire spark was created. I ignited the dead leaves I have prepared beforehand to create a bonfire. The students around me are stunned, as if they have seen a magic trick. ¡°What? What the heck was that¡­¡­?¡± ¡°You made fire in an instant! You¡¯re not a sorcerer, are you?¡± ¡°No, there was no chanting, so that wasn¡¯t magic!¡± They come to their senses and suddenly lower their hips. ¡°Hey ¡­¡­, Leopin. Can you share that fire with me?¡± ¡°Yes, yes. It¡¯s almost lunchtime, right? And we need to bring the fire back to class so we can prepare the meal.¡± ¡°Nasuo was too greedy before, but¡­¡­ you¡¯re different, aren¡¯t you?¡± I look around at all the goody-two-shoes through the flames. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m totally different. Not like any of you.¡± ¡­¡­Shupash! I throw the shuriken in all directions. After the fire breaks out, Shrikens turn into a shot of fire and stick on the hem of the robes of the students. ¡°What the hell? What are you doing? It¡¯s burning! It burns!¡± They immediately try to knock the fire out, but one of them shouts. ¡°Don¡¯t put out your precious fire! If you let it spread to the branches before you put it out, you can take it home with you!¡± ¡°Oh, yeah! Then we¡¯ll be heroes!¡± Achichi Need to hold on! Hold on!¡± The sorcerer students¡¯ are flailing around like they were barefoot on a burning griddle. They take the Gisu Wood that was piled up by my house and try to spread the fire. ¡°No, that wood is fireproof, so no matter how much you try, you¡¯ll just end up ¡­¡­.¡± But no one listens. In front of my eyes, the scene is unfolding. They are on the verge of being burned, screaming and struggling against the flames. When the fire burned out after a while, the length of her robe was as short as a super mini-skirt. They don¡¯t seem to have been burned anywhere, but they are crying because they couldn¡¯t even get a fire going. ¡®Ugh. ¡­¡­ Ugh! I was going to burn down the trash house and be a hero¡­¡­.!¡± ¡°No way, no way, no way our robes are going to be burned ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Oh, my God!¡¡Mommaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!¡± CH 10 After Nasuo and the others run away crying and screaming, my stomach rumbles. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten anything since this morning. Let¡¯s find some lunch.¡± In this ¡°Royal Capital Development Academy¡±, everything is self-sustaining, so we have to procure our own food. In that sense, having a house in the forest, a treasure trove of food, might be quite convenient. I mumble to myself as I walk deeper into the forest. I walk deeper into the forest, muttering to myself, and find a tree with nuts growing on it. ¡°Good, good, good luck.¡± I¡¯m a ninja now, and I¡¯m as light as a monkey, so I can climb trees with ease. I tire the nuts off the branch and put them in my uniform pocket. They are very nutritious and last a long time. As I continue deeper into the forest, I find a mushroom in the shade of a thick growth of trees. This one looks edible. Thanks to the ranger¡¯s survival skills, I am able to determine if it is a poisonous mushroom or not. But just to be sure, I use the Appraiser¡¯s Appraisal skill to check it out. They are not toxic, and fresh ones can be eaten raw. If you make a salad out of them, you can get a cooking bonus. ¡°Wow, you can eat them raw?¡± I take a bite of a freshly picked rushroom. Every time I bite into it, I hear a crunching sound. ¡°Yes, it has a nice crunch. It would be even better if it was seasoned.¡± As I squirm my eyes, I look around the dimly lit forest and see mushrooms growing everywhere. That¡¯s how I decide on today¡¯s lunch. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s gather some mushrooms and have a mushroom feast.¡± I tire a large leaf from the side of the road, fold it into a bag, and attach a handle with plant ivy. Can hold up to 50kg with various bonuses. Carrying the bag on my arm like a shopping bag, I walk through the forest as if I am shopping in a shopping mall. Whenever I see a mushroom that looks good, I ¡°appraise¡± it, and if it is edible, I throw it into my bag at random. On the way, I find an extraordinary mushroom. Normally, it mimics the poisonous ¡°Tabeshinudake¡±, but for one minute on a full moon night, it will reveal its delicious true form. If you eat it, you will be able to detect its true identity, but if you accidentally eat the Tabeshinudake, you will die instantly. ¡°Quality level 30? That¡¯s a super rare item! Okay, let¡¯s see if there are any more!¡± That¡¯s how I get hooked on mushroom hunting. Suddenly, in a corner of the forest with the sun shining through the trees, I find mushrooms growing in clusters like a field. On top of it, which looks like a carpet of two colors, red and blue, is a group of students. In the center of the group is a female student wearing a purple robe, holding a mushroom in her hand and tilting her head. ¡°Umm, this mushroom looks just like it, but the color is completely different¡­¡­ Can we eat it? A small man in the group popps up. ¡°Akemi-san! The red one is a poisonous mushroom!¡± Red mushrooms are poisonous! They have always been known to be poisonous!¡± ¡°The red one is poisonous! Really, Sheevus-san?¡± ¡°Hehe, this Sheevus is a thief! He¡¯s a thief and you should trust his instincts!¡± ¡°Oh, really? Then let¡¯s pick up the blue mushrooms and go home.¡± ¡°Wait a minute. When I call out to them, they all look at me. ¡°An ¡­¡­, you¡¯re ¡­¡­. You¡¯re Leopin, aren¡¯t you?¡± The female student called Akemi has the appearance of a mature woman, not quite looking her age. She has purple hair, snow-covered skin, long lashes, and moist lips. Just to be able to look into her eyes, which are filled with tear drops, made my heart beat faster. ¡°The blue one is a poisonous mushroom called ¡®harakudashidake,¡¯ which causes severe stomach pains and hallucinations when eaten. The red one is ¡®haranoboridake,¡¯ a mushroom you can eat.¡± Then Sheaves interrupts indignantly. ¡°Akemi, don¡¯t believe a word that Leopin says! He is trying to ruin your reputation by saying inappropriate things! He¡¯s only thinking about dragging others down just because he¡¯s at the bottom!¡± ¡°Sheaves, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s talking nonsense. You can¡¯t pick wild mushrooms on a hunch.¡± ¡°Shut up! Akemi, he¡¯s been spouting nonsense since middle school! I want you to believe me!¡± Sheevus is a classmate of mine from Class 1, Year 20. He¡¯s a goody-two-shoes, and he¡¯s a bit of a dick to all his classmates. Akemi made a distressed ¡°hmmm ¡­¡­¡± sound, and shows a sign of thinking. ¡°Hmmm, then I¡±ll take ¡­¡­. I think I will choose the red mushroom.¡± She gives me a quick wink. Sheevus protests, wide-eyed. ¡°Oh, no, no, no, no! I can¡¯t believe you¡¯d take the word of a failure like that ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°I thought you had eyes that weren¡¯t lying, Leopin.¡± ¡°Well, well, Akemi! I¡¯m going to bring back all the blue mushrooms! If you regret it later, I don¡¯t care!¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­¡­, that can¡¯t be helped. It¡¯s the ¡°fate¡± I¡¯ve chosen. Now, will you all help me collect the red mushrooms?¡± When Akemi says this, the men around her start to move like worker bees, probably because they got attracted to Akemi and became her followers. Akemi doesn¡¯t even help the men with their work, but approachs me with a charming smile. ¡°I¡¯m Akemi Leroux Valance, class of 1-6. It¡¯s a long name, so everyone calls me ¡®Akemi¡¯.¡± I feel a little self-conscious, for being spoken to by a beautiful woman. ¡°From your robe, you¡¯re a magician of production, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Hmm, I¡¯m an ¡®alchemist¡¯. Alchemy needs a lot of mushrooms, so I became the mushroom person for lunch. I¡¯ve used mushrooms for medicine, but I¡¯ve never eaten them, so I wasn¡¯t sure if they were good to eat or not. Thanks for the tip, Leopin. So, let me give you a favour.¡± ¡°No need to thank me, I can¡¯t just have my classmates eat poisonous mushrooms.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re so strange. It¡¯s normal to lie to the rest of the class in order to raise the rank of your own class. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m a ¡°Special Training Class¡±. Rank doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. So, which one do you prefer?¡± ¡°What?¡± Akemi takes the pouch out of the robe¡¯s bosom. It was written ¡°salt¡± on the bag. ¡°I have this one and the other one is ¡­¡­.¡± She indicated her ripe, fruity lips with the fingertips of her nails, ¡°This one¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what it is, but if I could have it, I¡¯d take this one.¡± I point to the sachet without hesitation. I need some seasoning. Akemi looks a little surprised and then giggles. ¡°Hmmm, you¡¯re really funny, aren¡¯t you? All the guys are at my beck and call, wanting my lips with all the color of their eyes. ¡­¡­ You¡¯re the first one who didn¡¯t want it. I¡¯ll ¡­¡­ give it to you then.¡± Akemi steps forward and puts a small bag of salt in my hand. She brings her face even closer to mine, and with a soft, sweet smell. Chu~ And kisses my cheek. CH 11 Akemi kissing me on the cheek. Beyond my hazy vision, the men are selflessly gathering mushrooms. Like worker ants devoted to the queen ant. ¡°Akemi-san! Look at all the mushrooms I¡¯ve collected! ¡°No, no, I picked bigger mushrooms than you! They look up and see what is happening, their mushrooms fall out of their hands. ¡°Ugh ¡­¡­, no way, right ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Why is Akemi kissing a piece of trash ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Oh, we¡¯ve never been held by a hand before!¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s an illusion! I¡¯m seeing things because of the mushrooms!¡± The men clutch their heads and begin to scream. Akemi finally pulls away from me. ¡°My family¡¯s kisses are said to bring good luck. I wish Leopin the best of luck. ¡­¡­ See you later.¡± Akemi smiled mischievously and turned away to walk away. After that, ¡± Please wait, Akemi-san!¡±¡±And the cronies chasing the mushrooms. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, but I press my warm cheek. Then I noticed that my body was enveloped in light. ¡®I didn¡¯t think being kissed would raise my level of ¡­¡­. Maybe she¡¯s right, maybe it really is a lucky kiss. ¡­¡­¡¯ ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô Then I go back to the house and cook the mushrooms I have harvested. The amount of mushrooms is great, it would be better to make a kitchen by the house with the skill I just learned. I switched to the profession, masonry. Before we start crafting with stones, let¡¯s first make some tools for the job. I make two items using wood from Gisu and a large stone I found near my house. A variety of bonuses allow you to adjust the force to your liking. With various bonuses, it can be used to cut hard stones. I look at the two items I have made and notice something. ¡®The material level is completely different. The wood seems to be of high quality because this is a forest, but the quality of the stone doesn¡¯t seem to be very good. Maybe I should just get the stones from somewhere else. ¡­¡­¡¯ I now have a new objective for tomorrow¡¯s exploration. For now, I¡¯ll stick with the stones found in this forest. I take advantage of my freshly made tools and carve out a rock that was sitting near my house to make a cooking utensil. Various bonuses make the fire last longer. ¡°Well, well, well. Now we can make some delicious ¡®roasted mushrooms¡¯.¡± I plunge some dead leaves and branches I have picked up into the Kamado and light it on fire. When the fire starts to burn, I place the mushrooms on the branches and roast them. When they start browning and making a sizzling sound, I sprinkle a little salt that Akemi gave me. The fragrant aroma of the mushrooms spread all around. My stomach starts rumbling and I can¡¯t take it any longer, so I eat the freshly roasted mushrooms. ¡°Ha! ¡­¡­!¡¡Huff!¡¡Huh!¡¡Ugh ¡­¡­ yummy ¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«! Freshly picked mushrooms are so good! I could eat these every day!¡± I eat up all the mushrooms I have picked in no time. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve felt this happy and full in a long time. As I rub my swollen belly and savor the moment of contentment, I see¡­¡­. I can see the principal and vice principal running at me from the other side of the forest. ¡°Tra- Trash, No, Leopin-kun!¡± ¡°Is it true that you have found a tatsumaki?¡± As I am in a daze, I ask back. ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°I told you at the entrance ceremony! The school life is supposed to be broadcasted to the world through a magic device!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been getting a lot of inquiries from supporters who say they saw Leopin-kun eating ¡®tattemake¡¯ on that broadcast!¡± ¡°If that¡¯s true, I want some Tatsumaki right now!¡± ¡°If that¡¯s true, give me the ¡®Tatsumaki¡¯ now! Then, this once, I¡¯ll use my power to get you out of the ¡®special training class¡¯ and put you in another class!¡± ¡°Yes! This is your one chance to escape this dump!¡± ¡°If you miss this, you¡¯ll be living in a dump for the rest of your life!¡± ¡°Huh. But I¡¯ve already eaten all of it.¡± ¡°Ki ¡­¡­ keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!¡± CH 12 As soon as the principal and vice principal realized that Tatsumaki was no longer available, they left with strange voices. What were they going to do with the Tatsumaki once they got it? ¡°It doesn¡¯t really matter. ¡­¡­¡± I¡¯m tired from all the things that happened this morning. I¡¯ve got a full stomach and I feel sleepy, so I¡¯m going to take a little nap. But if I go back to sleep, I¡¯ll probably get pranked by the guys who will come to mess with me. I turn into a ninja and climb a nearby tree. ¡°I could take a nap here without being disturbed.¡± I sit down on a tree branch, lean my back against the trunk, and take a short nap. ¡­¡­ ¡°Leo? Where are you? Leo?¡± A voice like a bell tickles my ears, and I wake up. When I wake up and look around, I see that it is already dark. Below me, I can see Monaka looking for me with the light of the stars. I call out to her from the tree tops, ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± and she squirms and shrugs like she¡¯s been struck by lightning. She shrunk her shoulders. ¡°What? What are you doing here?¡± ¡°What are you doing here at this time of night?¡± ¡°Oh, yes. Oh, yes. I thought I should thank Leo-kun for his help. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Thank you?¡± ¡°I want to thank you for the house you built for me. Thank you very much for the beautiful house.¡± Monaka bows her head deeply. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be happy to hear that. If that¡¯s the case, we could have met the next time.¡± ¡°Oh, and I brought you some dinner. Have you eaten your dinner yet? Monaka holds up the small pot in her hands and shows it to me. This reminds me of my hunger again. ¡°So, thank you, ¡­¡­. What are you grinning about?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen you climb a tree, Leopin.¡± ¡°I remember when we were kids, we used to climb trees together. Oh, Monaka, why don¡¯t you climb up too?¡± ¡°What, me too? I¡¯m not a tree climber! Even when I was little, I used the ladder that Leopin-kun made for me to climb up. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°I see, that¡¯s what I was thinking. ¡­¡­ Okay, hold on a second.¡± I jumped down from the tree branch. ¡°Kya!!?¡± Monaka, who presses her mouth with her hand as she is startled in an elegant way, I quickly build a ladder. Due to the various bonuses, it can be ridden by up to 10 people and will not falter. ¡°You have built ¡­¡­ the ladder in an instant?¡± Monaka is dumbfounded. I beckon to her to come up from halfway up the ladder. ¡°Come on, Monaka.¡± I hold out my hand, but she is still confused. ¡°Yes, yes, ¡­¡­. But climbing a tree is such a trifling thing ¡­¡­. I¡¯m going to go!¡± As soon as Monaka remembers something from the past, she snorts and takes my hand. I sit down on a branch with a pot in one hand and Monaka¡¯s hand in the other. Monaka is sitting a little too carefully, probably because she hasn¡¯t sat on a tree branch in a long time, but she gets used to it after a while. Monaka opens the lid of the pot and it is full of soup. ¡°Oh, how sumptuous! I can¡¯t believe you can get this much meat and vegetables already.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s leftovers from the party at the end of the entrance ceremony, reheated. Everyone is having this soup for dinner today.¡± ¡°I see, that¡¯s what it is.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t eat any of the food from the party, did you, Leopin? I was going to ask you if you¡¯d like to join my class. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Onesco and Sinobuko disagreed with you, didn¡¯t they? Don¡¯t worry about it. This soup looks delicious.¡± ¡°Serve it warm. Please eat it while it¡¯s hot. And please use this spoon.¡± I take the spoon, plunge it into the pot, and gobble it up. Monaka looks at me with the eyes of a mother watching her child. When Monaka saw that I am done eating, she smiles and takes out a white handkerchief. ¡°Mmmm, your mouth is dirty. I¡¯ll wipe it off for you.¡± ¡°Thank you. You¡¯re starting to look like your sister, especially in the way you take care of people.¡± ¡°Is that ¡­¡­ so?¡± Suddenly, she grabs her handkerchief and looks up at me with a hardened gaze. ¡°Umm¡­ Leopin-kun ¡­. I¡¯d like to ask you something, if you don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°What¡¯s with the seriousness?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been working with a female student from class 1-6 for a while now, and we¡¯ve been working on ki- ki- kikiki- ! It¡¯s ¡­¡­!¡± Monaka suddenly becomes sluggish and begins to tremble like a woodpecker pecking at a tree. ¡°What¡¯s that? ¡°ki¡±?¡± ¡°It¡¯s, it¡¯s, it¡¯s, it¡¯s, it¡¯s ¡­¡­ ¡­¡­! Kyaa!?¡± Monaka shakes so hard that she loses her balance and falls backwards. Before she falls from the tree, I quickly hug her and land on the ground, catching her in midair. ¡­¡­ Sta! By the time I get to the ground, Monaka is being carried by me in a princess hug and her eyes are blinking. ¡°I¡¯m sure I fell. I¡¯m sure I just fell. ¡­¡­ Why ¡­¡­? Thank you very much, Leopin!¡± Monaka is in a panic like a drowning sea otter in my arms. ¡°You didn¡¯t cry today.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°When we were kids, you almost fell off a branch and I held you underneath, remember? After that, you always cried like a baby, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Moou! I¡¯m not a crybaby anymore!¡± Monaka puffs out her cheeks and then immediately smiles shyly. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since ¡­¡­ I¡¯ve been hugged by Leopin-kun like this. It feels so nostalgic. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°I miss it too.¡± ¡°After Leopin rescued me from a tree branch, he always held me in his arms until I stopped crying. ¡­¡­ Then he took me home.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve taken you home.¡± ¡°What?¡± I walk through the forest with Monaka in my arms, who rolls her eyes. At first Monaka¡¯s eyes narrowed with nostalgia, but as we leave the forest and approachs the residential area, she suddenly begins to wince. ¡°What? Leopin-kun! There are other students around you! If they see you like this, they¡¯ll go to ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°What, you don¡¯t like it?¡± ¡°No, no, no, no. ¡­¡­!¡¡I don¡¯t mind at all! I don¡¯t want to bother Mr. Leopin. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°What? Don¡¯t worry about bothering me.¡± I don¡¯t care, I walk through the reconstructed huts. And then my surroundings start to buzz. ¡°Oh, hey, look at ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°What the hell is that trash doing hugging Monaka?¡± ¡°Why? Why is he doing that?¡± ¡°Could it be that the two of them are very close ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Shit! What the hell? Akemi first, then Monaka, all those only care about him!¡± The impact of the ground shaking caused the shack to fall over once again. The living quarters are swirling with envious glances and then screams. The next thing I know, Monaka is squeezing me and burying her face in my chest. Only her ears are peeking out from between her long hair, which is so red that I can see them even in the dim light. We arrive at Monaka¡¯s house a short time later, and I drop her off at the entrance. Finally, she turns around in front of the front door and lowers her red-hot face with a swoosh. ¡°Thank you so much for sending me to ¡­¡­!¡¡Good night, Leopin!¡± ¡°Oh, good night. See you tomorrow.¡± That was all I say, and I leave the living quarters. CH 13 Blowing in the night breeze, I turn back and head back to the forest. When I put my hand on the door of my house, which is illuminated by moonlight, I feel a strange sensation in my nostrils. It is a faint sweet smell, different from ¡­¡­ monaka. I think this scent is ¡­¡­. My ¡°five senses¡± status has 201 points. I¡¯m sure I can beat a dog in a sniffing match. Thanks to this, I am able to notice even the slightest change in the scent that drifted around. ¡°What do you want, Shinobuuko? I open the door and see a figure sitting at the back of the room. A small body, lit by the light coming through the window. You can¡¯t see her from the neck up because of the shadows, but the hood hanging down to her shoulders definitely belongs to that of a female ninja. The darkness whispers. ¡°¡­¡­ you bastard.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my line. I¡¯m not sure what you¡¯re getting at when you barge into someone¡¯s house unannounced in the middle of the night.¡± But Shinobuko ignores my words and proceeds at her own pace. ¡°Nin. What the hell are you, that you are? ¡°I¡¯m just an unemployed dropout.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t play dumb. I have seen it, that I did. I saw Monaka-sama fall from a tree, that I did, and you held her in the air as she landed.¡± ¡°What, were you peeping at me?¡± Shinobuko stands up without a sound. ¡°I¡¯ve been training as a ninja since I was born, and I saw you using the skill ¡°Izunaslow¡± without a doubt de gozaru. Even though I have been training as a ninja all my life, I have never mastered it. Why is that you, an unemployed man, are able to use it?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not a coincidence, that it isn¡¯t.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re going to keep playing dumb, then I have an idea-degozaru.¡± ¡­¡­ ba! Shinobuko raises both hands high It seems to be her own battle pose. But Shinobuko was small and her hands were short, so she looked like a threatening chick, which made me smile. ¡°Hey, hey, what are you doing? Are you going to dance with the little squirrels in the forest?¡± ¡°Nin! It is useless-degozaru!¡± Shinobuuko pounces on me like a kitten aiming for Jarashi. She has trained as a ninja all her life, and her body language is quite impressive. But it is too late. As I have 201 points in Agility. ¡°You seem to be standing still.¡± When I turn around and dodge, Shinobuko grasps the void where I was, and loses her balance with an ¡°oops¡±. A shiver runs through her small face. ¡°You are the first person to dodge my ¡°Tomoe Nage¡± since the chieftain, that ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°I see. I¡¯ll tell you what, no matter how much you try, it¡¯s useless. I¡¯m sure it will only tire you out.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Stop laughing-degozaru¡± Sinobuko is so pissed off that she jumps towards me again and again. All of which I fight off without even giving a second thought. After a while, she begins to catch her breath. ¡°This ghostly ¡­¡­ body language! It¡¯s like a chieftain ¡­¡­, no, it¡¯s more than that-degozaru ¡­¡­! And you¡¯re not even losing any breathing. ¡­¡­! You¡¯re a real ¡°monster¡±-degozaru!¡± It¡¯s not even a preparatory exercise for me, as I have an endurance status of 201. ¡°I told you, you¡¯ll only get tired. So go to bed.¡± I am about to continue, but Shinobuko jumps up and launches a desperate attack, like a Japanese flying squirrel pouncing on its prey, but I am able to dodge it with ease. Sinobuko is about to be knocked to the floor, but ¡°Oh, dear.¡± I grab her by the waist just before she crashes and hold her close. She jumps into my arms with the lightness and scream of a small bird. She¡¯s petite, so she buries her face in my chest with a ¡°Mug!¡±. Sinobuko looks at me with a huffy, upturned look and her hands tightly clasped around my shirt. ¡°A~ah, I¡¯ve been caught at last. This is meant to be, ¡°I¡¯ve caught you,¡± but she seems to interpret it the other way around. ¡°¡®Go to sleep¡¯ and ¡®I¡¯ll catch you¡¯ ¡­¡­! You¡¯re not going to put me through that-degozaru? ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°There is only one kind of ninjutsu that can be applied to a captured kunoichi-degozaru Bo¡­ ¡°Bochujutsu¡± ¡­¡­!¡¡No, ¡®bochujuchu¡¯ ¡­¡­! I wonder if Sinobuko had a short tongue as well as short hands, or if she couldn¡¯t say the ¡°bochujutsu¡± properly. She pouts like a duck, desperately trying to say ¡°bouchuu jutsu¡±, but eventually gives up. ¡°You¡¯re going to use that ¡®bochu-chu¡¯ to kiss not only me, but Monaka-sama as well!¡± ¡°What are you talking about? I put my hand on her head. ¡°You saw the way I carried myself and thought Monaka was going to be a handful, so you came to beat me up. But I¡¯m not going to do that. Monaka is a dear childhood friend to me. If she¡¯s in trouble, I¡¯ll help her, but I¡¯ll never attack her.¡± I say that seriously, trying to reassure Shinobuko. Finally, I smiled at her and said, ¡°So, don¡¯t worry.¡± But she doesn¡¯t respond. She looks up at me with her eyes wide open in surprise. A beat later, kaaaaahhh! She turns so red that she almost makes a noise. Shinobuko covers her reddened face with her black hood, and with a shoo! And then she pulls away from my arms. ¡°nin nin nin ¡­¡­.¡¡I¡¯ll let you off with this for today, degozaru!¡± She glares at me with an expression of mixed embarrassment and regret. ¡°But the next time we meet, we will kill each other-degozaru!¡± And with that, she climbs over the window and runs away. As I watch her go, my body gets covered in stardust in the darkness of the night. ¡°Level up? I didn¡¯t do anything special. The only thing I did was make the other girls in my class blush. ¡­¡­¡± CH 14 I¡¯m now level 6 and have more jobs available. Treasure hunter, that¡¯s going to be useful for future exploration. I change jobs just for the sake of it, and then a big sneeze comes out. I don¡¯t know what time it is, but I should probably go to bed. I have to get up early tomorrow. I lay down on the cedar wood floor. In the morning, the morning sun will shine in through the window, and it will serve as an alarm. So much has happened today. Tomorrow is the first day of work, so I¡¯m sure there will be more to do. As long as I have my ¡®poor dexterity¡¯ skills, I can handle it. ¡­¡­ I mumble to myself and close my eyes, falling asleep in no time at all. ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô I wake up suddenly. I don¡¯t know how long I have slept, but it must have been a deep sleep. It is still dark outside my window. In fact, it is almost pitch black, with not even the moonlight shining. What the hell, it¡¯s still night. I guess I¡¯ll go back to sleep. I think, and close my eyelids again. After a while, I wake up again, but it is still night. My head feels fuzzy, as if I have slept too long. I think it is strange, no matter how much I slept. It¡¯s funny, it should have been morning by now, right? My eyes are used to the darkness by now, so I crawl up and head for the window. On the other side of the window, I could not see the stars, not even the scenery was dark. ¡°What¡¯s going on here, ¡­¡­?¡± I reach out my hand to the outside and feel my palm hit something rough. I push with all my might, and my hand cracks! and a bright light shines through it. I am stunned by the piece of paper left in my hand. ¡°What the hell is this? There¡¯s a piece of blackened parchment on the window! No wonder the sun didn¡¯t shine! Who the hell did this!¡± But there was no time to search for the culprit. The sun was high in the sky, and I could tell at a glance that I have overslept. ¡°I didn¡¯t even eat breakfast.¡± I run out of the house without even eating breakfast and sprint through the forest as fast as I can. There is no one left in the living quarters, and everyone has already gone to school. I pass through the shacks and head for the castle, the school building. Just as I am about to pass through the main gate and enter the main entrance, I catch something out of the corner of my eye. I stop and look up at the castle towering in front of me. On the wall of the castle were a number of flags of the Royal Pioneer Academy, fluttering in the wind. It is supposed to be an ordinary sight, but ¡­¡­. I don¡¯t know why, but I can¡¯t help but be curious. I didn¡¯t have time to sit around here, but I couldn¡¯t help but feel bewildered, so I stare at the flags one by one. Then, the color of the flag in the middle changed. The flag of the Royal Pioneer Academy was blue, but there was a black one mixed in that looked like a pirate flag. I panic. ¡°Is this perhaps the treasure hunting skills of the ¡­¡­ treasure hunter profession?¡± This skill allows you to detect hidden treasures in your vicinity. The range of the ability to find it depends on your level and status, but even the best treasure hunters can only find it within a range of about five meters. ¡°But that flag is at least 50 meters away. ¡­¡­! How is it possible to find something that far away? ¡­¡­!¡± I am suspicious, but I couldn¡¯t help but check out the flag. Preparing to be very late, I change jobs to become a ninja. Relying on the few handholds on the walls of the castle, I climb effortlessly. Once I reach the flag, I grab the flag post and stretch out, placing his feet on the slight protrusion. I pick up the flag in question and find that it is aliened to the touch. I changed jobs to appraiser in the same position and activated my ¡°Appraise¡± skill. It is a large piece of leather with no blemishes, and is therefore quite valuable. I feel like my heart was going to burst out of me. ¡°Whoa! How could such an amazing thing be in such a place?¡± Speaking of dragon skins, they are one of the rarest of monster materials. In the first place, dragons are not only difficult to defeat, but also to remove their skins. ¡°This must be some kind of mistake, right ¡­¡­?¡± For now, I remove the ¡°Flying Dragon Leather¡± from its post and put it on my shoulder. After changing into a ninja, I let go of the post and jumped down, landing with a cat-like spin. ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô At that time, the students of the ¡°Royal Pioneer Academy¡± are in the courtyard of the school building, led by the teacher, Yes Man. ¡°Yes! That¡¯s the end of the morning class, the school orientation! And since today is the first day of school, there will be special lunches brought in by our supporters! We¡¯re going to have lunch here in the courtyard to get ourselves ready for the start of classes in the afternoon!¡± The students are excited when they hear about the lunchboxes. The yes-man vice principal say in a deliberate voice as he hands out the lunches to the students. ¡°Oh no, we only have these lunches for the ¡®special training class¡¯! And yet Leopin-kun is late! It¡¯s such a waste! Since it¡¯s such a waste, I¡¯ll be the one to treat him!¡± The yes man was smiling inwardly. ¡ª ¡°Operation Sleepyhead¡± was a great success. ¡­¡­! ¡®Last night, when Leopin had fallen asleep, I put a black parchment on the window. ¡­¡­! I¡¯m sure he slept through a lot of it and is turning blue on his way to school by now. ¡­¡­! I¡¯m going to embarrass him by showing his supporters that he¡¯s running so late. ¡­¡­!¡¯ ¡°Bon app¨¦tit! Oh, yes! I forgot to tell you guys something important!¡± Vice-principal Yes Man announces to the students who are eating out their lunches in the courtyard. ¡°We need to decide who will be the student body president of this school! The method is not an election or a duel, but a ¡­¡­ ¡®Treasure Hunt¡¯! Somewhere in the school building, I¡¯ve hidden the ¡®Flying Dragon Leather¡¯ provided by one of our supporters!¡± The students get excited when they hear the words ¡°Flying Dragon Leather¡±. ¡°I will make the student Council President the student who brought it to my place! Moreover, the¡±Flying dragon leather¡± is a gift as it is! The student council president of the pioneering school will own dragon leather equipment! They can raft the leather as they like, and prove themselves to be the Student Council President!¡± The students get more very excited. The students are so excited that some of them even took their lunches out of the classroom to go look for it. ¡°Fufufu! Even if you hurry, you¡¯ll never find it now! The reason is that the leather of the flying dragon is hidden in a ridiculous place and disguised with magic! After a week or so, the disguise magic will gradually lose its effect! That¡¯s why it¡¯s impossible to find it earlier than that! If someone can find it within a week, I¡¯ll not only give you the position of student body president, but also the position of vice principal. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m so sorry! I¡¯m late~¡± And leopin comes sliding into the courtyard. The yes man sees what is haphazardly hanging on his shoulder. ¡°Kki¡­¡­ keeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!¡± CH 15 I don¡¯t know why, but whenever the yes-man vice principal sees me, he screams. I wish he¡¯d get used to it by now, but today his scream is particularly loud. But I can¡¯t back down at this point, so I press the vice principal. ¡°Mr. Vice Principal! I found this on the flag outside the school building! It was disguised as a school flag, but it¡¯s ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Keee! Kyee! KYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!¡± The vice principal chases me off the courtyard lawn with his foot as if I am a monster. ¡°Why does Leopin have the skin of the flying dragon?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything about this being the skin of a flying dragon, but ¡­¡­? How can you tell just by looking at it?¡± Then the vice principal clamped his mouth shut with an expression of ¡°Oh no!¡± in the middle of lunch on the courtyard. The students, who were in the middle of lunch on the courtyard, jumped up and down, ¡°What?¡± ¡°Hey, that piece of trash is carrying a ¡®Flying Dragon Skin¡¯!¡± ¡°Really? It just looks like a black skin to me!¡± ¡°But the vice principal said it clearly! The Vice Principal clearly stated that it is the skin of the flying dragon. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then as soon as the vice principal receives it, that trash ¡­¡­, Leopin, will become student body president!¡± The students¡¯ murmurings makes the vice principal¡¯s face turn increasingly pale. I don¡¯t know what is going on, but the teacher, who has reached his limit in color, shouts as if he is having a nightmare. ¡°No, no, no! There¡¯s no way that¡¯s the ¡°skin of the flying dragon! I just misread it!¡± ¡°What? But this is really ¡­¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s just a dirty black skin! Don¡¯t let that nasty thing near me! You can do whatever you want with that garbage! Garbage is good for you, Leopin!¡± ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want it? Then I¡¯ll take it without reservation.¡± I unexpectedly got the ¡°Flying Dragon Skin¡±. The vice principal chases me away, saying, ¡°If you¡¯re done talking, I¡¯m going over there! I turned around and walked away from him. As soon as the conversation finishes, Monaka appears like a fresh breeze and says, ¡°Good morning, Leo-kun.¡± ¡°Oh, good morning, Monaka. It¡¯s already noon, though.¡± ¡°Fufu you overslept. Have you eaten lunch yet?¡± ¡°No, not yet. I haven¡¯t eaten anything since this morning.¡± Monaka was carrying a gorgeous double-layered bento box. ¡°Would you like to share half of this one with me?¡± I look around and see that everyone was eating the same lunch. Apparently, this is a gift from a supporter. The same as the buffet at the entrance ceremony, they probably don¡¯t have any for me. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. No, it¡¯s okay. The supporters brought this lunch for Monaka, didn¡¯t they? Then Monaka must eat it. If you don¡¯t, it will interfere with your classes in the afternoon. Besides, I¡¯ve got this, so I¡¯ll be fine.¡± I reach into my pants pocket and pop a seed from the Mashibai tree into my mouth. I picked them up yesterday when I went mushroom hunting. ¡°How about exchanging them for some nuts? I¡¯d like to have some of your nuts.¡± ¡°Really? In that case, ¡­¡­¡± I hand one of the nuts to Monaka and she stabs the chicken with her fork and holds it out to me. ¡°Yes, Leo, please say aaah~.¡± ¡°Ahhhh. ¡­¡­ Yeah, it¡¯s good. That¡¯s good chicken.¡± ¡°Fufufu, Thank you very much.¡± Suddenly, a sweet breeze blows. Akemi was standing there, brushing her wavy hair. ¡°I was wondering if I could have some of those berries. I want to use them for alchemy.¡± I said, ¡°Sure. Here,¡± and hand her the fruit. Then Akemi stabs a piece of broccoli from the lunch box of a servant-like student standing next to her and brings it to my mouth. ¡°Here, ahhh~.¡± ¡°Aah! ¡­¡­ Yeah, this is good, too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to know.¡± I notice that Sinobuko is next to me like a shadow. Sinobuko silently thrusts a sausage shaped like an octopus at me. Onesako, who has come to me with Sinobuko, shouts at her, questioning her sanity. ¡°What are you doing, Shinobuko? We¡¯ve come to bring back Monaka-sama, and now you¡¯ve come to him too¡­¡­?¡± Shinobuko shakes her head left and right, ¡°Ninin.¡± ¡°This is the final meal-degozaru. The next time we meet, this man will be dead-degozaru.¡± I eat the sausage as she shoves it into my mouth. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have another one ¡­¡­, please.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you another one, just for the fun of it. Yes, ahh~.¡± ¡°Nin. The fatter you make them, the more they will be worth cutting-degozaru¡± Monaka, Akemi and Shinobuko took turns bringing my lunch to my mouth. The students watching around me are so shocked that they couldn¡¯t hold their mouths shut. ¡°What the heck is ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Monaka-sama and Akemi-sama are so beautiful that they compete for the top five in the school¡­!?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe the two of them are good friends with such trash¡­!?¡± ¡°And that they are so close that they even let each other eat their lunches. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Shocking. ¡­¡­! I¡¯m doing everything I can for Akemi-sama and she won¡¯t even look me in the eye. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Ugh, I actually adord Shinobuko-san. ¡­¡­!¡¡And yet, and yet, ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m so jealous of ¡­¡­!¡± I am unexpectedly full from the three girls¡¯ ¡± ahh attack ¡°. And then my body started to glow. ¡°Oioi, just eating the lunch box has taken me to the next level.¡± CH 16 Leopin is having a friendly lunch break with a group of beautiful girls ¡­¡­. Leopin¡¯s classmates from Class 1-20 are also having lunch in the same courtyard. However, they are not eating well. Weiss, the captain of the class, takes off his glasses and wipes them with a handkerchief, rubbing his eyes again and again. ¡°Apparently, I¡¯m unbelievably tired from my new environment and the daily workload.¡± A few meters away from him on the lawn is Leopin, surrounded by three beautiful girls, not just a flower in each hand. ¡°I think I¡¯m finally hallucinating. ¡®The reason Monaka is next to Leopin is probably out of pity for his childhood friend.¡¯ It¡¯s not a favor, but a feeling of pity that a princess would have for a homeless person.¡¯ However, I can¡¯t explain why the alchemist Akemi, who is said to be the most beautiful girl in the school, is next to him.¡¯ So this is a hallucination, after all.¡¯ The best proof of this is that Shinobuko-kun, who is normally in charge of protecting Monaka from bad insects, is also with him.¡¯ Weiss is mumbling the same thing to himself to convince himself. On either side of him are the powerful Monsoon and the bandit Sheaves. The two are glaring at Leopin with grudge-filled eyes. ¡°Gugugugugugugug, that bastard, he¡¯s getting carried away. ¡­¡­! You messed with my dream girl, Shinobuko, like that. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Geez, why does Akemi-san have to go to that trash ¡­¡­! No matter how many times I approach her, she never seems to fall for me. ¡­¡­!¡± And finally, something strange started to happen to the girls in the class. ¡°Leopin was crazy about you when you were in our class, but ¡­¡­!¡± Seriously, I can¡¯t forgive him. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Hmm? Oh, Carol, are you jealous?¡± ¡°No, you idiot! Who the hell is that guy? I¡¯m just annoyed that Leopin, who used to be my assistant, is getting carried away!¡± ¡°Carol used to tease Leopin all the time, you know. Fake confessions, fake love letters, ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, he¡¯s my personal toy! And those women, without permission, are ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°No more idle chatter. Let¡¯s go, guys.¡± ¡°What? Weiss, you¡¯re still on lunch break! Where are we going, ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°To find the skin of the flying dragon, of course.¡± ¡°But Weiss, the vice principal said that it¡¯s been disguised with magic and won¡¯t be found for a week!¡± ¡°Monsoon, that¡¯s only if an ordinary person like you is looking for it. I¡¯m a Sage, I¡¯ll find it in less than a day.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my boy Weiss! I¡¯ll follow you wherever you go! ¡°Leopin was trying to become student body president by pretending that a piece of cloth he found in the middle of nowhere was the skin of a flying dragon.¡± It¡¯s a wickedly dumb way to do it, just like him.¡± He probably thinks that if he becomes student body president, we¡¯ll beg him to come back.¡± He doesn¡¯t realize how stupid and shallow he is.¡± The classmates burst into laughter. Weiss brings the scattered hearts of the class back together. He stands up quickly and told everyone ¡±From now on, we will work together as a class. Until we find it, Class 1-20 will be absent from all classes, and cultivation will be suspended!¡¡All right!¡± ¡°Yeaah!¡± The classmates stand up. They have no idea. They don¡¯t know that what they are looking for is already in Leopin¡¯s possession. ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô The members of class 1 and 20 ran around the school building, distracted from their classes, looking for the ¡°Flying Dragon Skin¡±. But they couldn¡¯t find it. At last, night fell and they are locked out of the school building. The members are exhausted from running around all day, but Weiss, the captain, does not give up. ¡°Even if we can¡¯t enter the school building, we can still explore! We have to look for the outside of the school building and the garden around the perimeter!¡± At that time, everyone is in front of the school gate, but they all slump over. Carol sits down on the ground and shouted ¡°I can¡¯t walk anymore, captain. It¡¯s late.¡± What are you talking about, Carol? Tomorrow morning, the skin of the flying dragon will be in our hands ¡­¡­!¡± Monsoon enters the conversation, ¡°Hey, hey!¡± ¡°Weiss! You¡¯re not going to ask us to search all night, are you?¡± ¡°As long as no one can find it, it¡¯s only natural¡±, Weiss replies as if it¡¯s obvious. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d find it in a day?¡± ¡°Yes, he did!¡± ¡°That¡¯s if your search works as well as I expect it to. I didn¡¯t expect you to be so incompetent.¡± ¡°Hey! That¡¯s not very nice, is it? We were looking for it just like you said!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! And we hadn¡¯t even eaten lunch!¡± ¡°Then I give you the Sage¡¯s precious lesson: ¡°If you don¡¯t work, you don¡¯t eat.¡± ¡°Let me tell you, ¡­¡­!¡± The mood in the class turns sour at Weiss¡¯ remark. The bandit, Sheaves, says hurriedly. ¡°Well, then let¡¯s eat here. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll come up with some good ideas after you¡¯ve eaten!¡± ¡°What? What are you talking about, Sheevs? There¡¯s nothing to eat here.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! We¡¯ve been so busy with Weiss, we haven¡¯t even gone to get food!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve prepared ¡­¡­ for this eventuality!¡± Sheaves flipped over his backpack. ¡°I¡¯ve been prepared for anything like this.¡± ¡°This is a ¡­¡­ mushroom.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Sister Carol. Yesterday, I went into the forest and picked up some edible mushrooms. There are so many that we can have a mushroom party.¡± ¡°Nice work, Sheevs!¡± ¡°If everyone is as good as Sheaves, we would have found the Flying Dragon¡¯s Skin by now. ¡­¡­ Let¡¯s take a break in consideration of Sheaves resourcefulness.¡± They do not know that what they are about to eat is the poisonous mushroom that Leopin had stopped them from eating yesterday. CH 17 The mushroom party was supposed to be a chance to restore harmony to the class. However, the party ended less than three minutes after it started. As soon as they took a bite of the mushrooms, their classmates were hit with a severe stomachache. Everyone¡¯s complexion turned paler than the mushrooms, and everyone rolled around on the ground, not caring if their clothes got dirty. ¡°Ugggghhh ¡­¡­!¡¡It hurts!¡¡It hurts!¡¡I¡¯m going to die!¡± ¡°This is bad, this is really bad! Someone call for help from the saints in the other class,¡­¡­! Someone please ¡­¡­!¡± But Weiss, who has a lot of pride, does not want for his classmate to call for help. ¡°Stop! Don¡¯t do anything disgraceful! If you¡¯ve been injured in battle, for example, it¡¯s a good thing, but you want to be taken care of by a saint because of food poisoning? That is disa. The whole clan is watching my every move!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the same for me! But that¡¯s not the time to be talking about it! But at least lets go to the infirmary¡± ¡°The infirmary is even more impossible! If I have to go to the infirmary, my class rating will be ¡­¡­!¡± The Royal Pioneer Academy also has an infirmary. It is a facility that is used to accommodate students who are injured beyond the control of the saint¡¯s students during the survival of the pioneers. However, if they use the facility, they will be heavily penalized by their class. Class 1-20 was up in the air. The class was divided into two groups: those who wanted to call for help and those who did not. They were supposed to be good adventurers, but they couldn¡¯t use magic or skills due to stomach pains. They struggled and rolled around like caterpillars fighting. It was an ugly, low-level battle, covered in tears and mud. And in the end, the dead and dying were all over the place. All the members of Class 1-20 had fainted in front of the school gate, white eyed and foaming. They were finally found in the morning and all sent to the infirmary. It was only the second day of school. This was an unprecedented event at the pioneering school. Although the students of class 1-20 were healed by the nurse on the same day, the cost was immeasurable. As a matter of course, they were sentenced to be downgraded to grade ¡°C-¡± from grade ¡°C¡±. ¡°Ugh ¡­¡­ ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh £¡£¡£¡£¡¡± At this blunder, Weiss screamed as if he were being burned alive by the flames. He didn¡¯t know that if only he hadn¡¯t banished Leopin, none of this would have happened. ¡­¡­ and time returns to the present, after Leopin¡¯s lunch. ¡ô ¡ô ¡ô ¡ô ¡ô ¡ô ¡ô ¡ô ¡ô ¡ô ¡ô ¡ô ¡ô ¡ô ¡ô ¡ô I was very late, so I couldn¡¯t attend the orientation in the morning. Thanks to that, I missed out on learning about the school¡¯s structure, but I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll get to know it better as I go along. In the afternoon, we had regular classes. There are two main types of classes at the Royal Pioneer Academy. The first is the ¡°general subject¡± classes that all students must attend. Such as the orientation in the morning. The second type of class is the elective class in the afternoon. There are several classes held at the same time, and you can choose the one you want. You can take a class that is close to your career, or you can take a different class to discover something new. Since pioneering is evaluated on a class basis, the class usually discusses and decides who will take what class. However, since I am all alone in the ¡°special training class,¡± I don¡¯t have to worry about anyone else. I looked at the timetable and decided on a class that looked like a good one. It is the ¡°Leather Craftsman¡± class. It is a production class that teaches how to use leather for crafts. I¡¯ve always been a craft lover, so I¡¯m pretty good with leather. I just got my hands on a flying dragon skin, and I¡¯ve also leveled up to become a leather crafter. I can¡¯t think of a better class for me to take right now. I¡¯ve decided on this one! As soon as I head to the classroom, I see that there are already many male students there. As I am about to sit down in an empty seat, I am approached by the vice principal, who is also in the classroom. ¡°No, Leopin! Your seat is right here!¡± Apparently, the vice principal has taken the trouble to follow me and has prepared a seat just for me. But it is just a floor in the corner of the classroom, with nothing spread on it. I was sitting at the very front, but I have no choice but to move to the very back. After a while, the teacher in charge comes in. She says, ¡°Hello. I was introduced to you at the entrance ceremony, but I¡¯d like to introduce myself again. I¡¯m Philafy, in charge of the leather craftsman and seamstress classes. Nice to meet you.¡± Ms. Philafy is a female teacher with glasses and fluffy hair who seems to have a calm demeanor. ¡°I¡¯m sure there are a lot of boys in the leather craftsman class. But it seems that there aren¡¯t too many of them, so we¡¯ve decided to have a joint class with the sewing class next door. Well then, everyone, please come in.¡± At the teacher¡¯s signal, many female students come in through the door leading to the next classroom. ¡°Oh!¡± The leather workers¡¯ students were all excited. Most of the leather workers were male students, and most of the seamstresses were female. ¡°Since we¡¯re all in this class together, the seamstresses should sit next to the leather workers. Even though the materials we use are different, it¡¯s better for us to learn.¡± One of the seamstresses was Monaka. The vice principal of the school set up a luxurious chair like a throne. ¡°Yes, Monaka, you sit here! Here, your supporters will be able to see the beautiful embroidery that Monaka¡¯s supple fingers have created!¡± Monaka¡¯s face lit up when she suddenly noticed my presence. ¡°Oh, Leo-kun!¡± She runs quickly and sits down on the floor right next to me without any hesitation. Then, with a cheerful expression on her face, she said. ¡°Vice principal! I¡¯m going to sit here!¡± ¡°No, no, no! How could a saintly woman like Monaka sit on the ground? ¡­¡­! If you do that, your supporters won¡¯t stand for it!¡± ¡°But Leo-kun, who is also a student, is also sitting on the floor, right? If Leo-kun wants to sit on a chair, I want to sit on a chair too!¡± ¡°Gugigigi Oh, no. ¡­¡­! I can¡¯t allow you to do that. ¡­¡­!¡± The vice principal clenches his teeth so hard that his mouth bleeds. His face turns red and blue as if he is being forced to make an ultimate choice. Eventually, he squeezes out a voice of anguish with an expression of strangle. ¡°Gui¡­¡­ Gui¡­¡­! I ¡­¡­ chair ! Why don¡¯t you sit on a chair, Leopin-kun.¡± So, I am upgraded from the floor to a chair. CH 18 Thanks to Monaka, I am able to sit on the same chair as everyone else, despite the head teacher¡¯s nastiness. Finally, the class begins. ¡°Okay, so today we¡¯ll be making leather cloaks for the leather workers and patches for the seamstresses.¡± It depends on the shape of the cloak, but since it doesn¡¯t have sleeves, it¡¯s not difficult to make. If you want to, you can call it a leather cloak even if you just cut the skin. In that sense, it is a perfect craft for an introduction to leather craftsmanship. In this school, everything is survival, but during the class, we are allowed to borrow materials and tools for our craft. By the way, you don¡¯t get to keep your creations, you have to deliver them to the school. The teacher continued in a calm tone. ¡°But today, as a special treat, the students who make good crafts can take their creations home with them.¡± Also, you can take home anything you made with the materials you brought in, regardless of how it turned out.¡± As for the materials, I had the Flying Dragon Skin, so I thought I could just borrow the tools. But here I was interrupted again. ¡°No! You can¡¯t lend out crafting tools to students of the Special Training Class!¡±, said the vice principal. Philafy-sensei said, ¡°What? Did we have a rule like that?¡± The vice principal completely ignored her words. The vice principal makes a fuss as if he is about to be beheaded. ¡°But I¡¯m going to lend you the magic iron needle and the magic iron scissors, especially for you, Leopin-kun! Other than that, you can¡¯t use a single scrap of lint from this classroom!¡± ¡°What? You can¡¯t make a craft with just fabric, a needle and scissors!¡± Philafy-sensei looked troubled. Vice principal puts his face close to my ear and whispers softly. ¡°I¡¯m going to use my magic needle and scissors to shred that thick skin and make it useless. Then I¡¯ll give you another skin as a special treat. It¡¯ll be a special skin, not one that¡¯s so tough, but one that¡¯s as good as the ones they give out to everyone. ¡­¡­!¡± I whispered back. ¡°So the vice principal knows, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡­? What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Ordinary needles or scissors are useless on flying dragon skins. So I was thinking of borrowing some magic tools from Philafy-sensei. But the vice principal tried to give me a magic tool, and I knew that this skin was a ¡®flying dragon skin¡¯ ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Kii¡­.. Kieeeeee¡±¡± He has another seizure. Monaka, who is next to me, was startled and joltes back into a shrug. Vice principal glares at me with his bloodshot eyes and thrusts a magic needle and a pair of scissors at me. ¡°Then do as you please!¡± I was trying to save you from the hallucination of you thinking you have the Flying Dragon¡¯s Skin!¡± However, you¡¯re a delinquent student who doubts the goodwill of others!¡± Here, I¡¯ll take your needle and scissors. I want you to play by yourself, tinkling, tinkling, tinkling, without thread!¡± ¡°Is that so? Then I¡¯ll do that.¡± I grin back and took the dull, shiny needle and scissors. It can penetrate materials that would otherwise be blocked by a normal iron needle. Can penetrate materials with piercing resistance up to 3 times the quality level. These scissors can cut through materials that would otherwise be blocked by normal scissors. Can cut materials that are resistant to slashing up to three times the quality level. Vice principal raises an eyebrow as I accept the magic tool with a fearless smile. Perhaps thinking I am bluffing, he quickly laughs it off. ¡°Mu-ho-ho-ho! It¡¯s no use trying to be tough like that!¡± How can you do leatherwork with only a needle and scissors and no thread?¡± If you can¡¯t even understand that, then you deserve to be in the ¡°Special Training School¡±!¡± Come on, everyone, let¡¯s have a laugh! Mu-ho-ho-ho-ho!¡± Vice principal leads the class in a chorus of laughter. I look around and see that everyone is laughing at me for being an idiot. Except for the two women. Philafy-sensei is just scowling, and Monaka is making wavy lines with her mouth like she wants to say something. I restrain her with my hand as she tries to stand up. ¡°Just watch.¡± That¡¯s all I say, and I get up from my seat. I walk between the seats to the window. The classroom is on the first floor, and the open window overlooks the backyard. The backyard is filled with plants and shrubs, flower beds that haven¡¯t been planted yet, and a small pond with no fish in it. I put my hand on the window sill and climb over and down into the backyard. ¡°Muhohohoho!¡± A sneer followed me. ¡°Look at you! I was wondering what he was going to do, but he ran off!¡± ¡°I knew it was just a big mouth!¡± I turned around and said to Philafy-sensei. ¡°Sensei, please don¡¯t worry about me, just go on with your lesson.¡± ¡°What? What? Yes, yes. Then you can all get your leather cloaks and patches from ¡­¡­.¡± The class resumes, but all eyes in the classroom are still on me. I don¡¯t mind and start my own work. I search for the finest vines in the backyard. It is strong and flexible, and can be used as a rope in emergencies. ¡°Okay, this looks good.¡± I peel the crane, which I cut with a stone knife, and split the fibers inside. I wash the split fibers in the pond water and dry them in the sun. In the meantime, I built a simple fire pit, made some tinder, and made a fire. All that is left to do is to roast the fibers in the fire, and ¡­¡­ would be ready. And that¡¯s when I notice intense looks on me. When I look towards the school building, I see that the windows of the classrooms are packed with students staring at me. ¡°What the hell is that piece of garbage doing ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°He¡¯s taking ivy off a stone knife and putting it on the fire. ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°What the hell does that have to do with leatherwork? ¡­¡­¡± Apparently, they have no idea what I¡¯m doing. I thought that Philafy-sensei would understand, but she and her students are also shaking their heads. ¡°I wonder what Leopin-kun is doing¡­¡­? ¡°But teacher, I¡¯m sure Leo-kun will do it! Good luck, Leo!¡± Monaka waved her hands enthusiastically next to Philafy-sensei. In the meantime, I finish searing the fibers to a good degree. ¡°All that¡¯s left to do is to twist them together. ¡­¡­¡± High quality, durable, and resistant to wear and tear. ¡°Whoa¡­ It¡¯s a thread!?¡± There is an exclamation. CH 19 As soon as they found out that what I am making is thread, the students at the window go into an uproar. ¡°That¡¯s amazing, Leo! I can¡¯t believe you made a thread!¡± ¡°Seriously, you can make threads?¡± ¡°I sew as a hobby, but I didn¡¯t know thread could be made like that. ¡­¡­!¡± The two teachers were the most surprised. ¡°No way ¡­¡­ are we going to make something from thread in a leatherwork class?¡± Leopin-kun ¡­¡­, what kind of student are you ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°No ¡­¡­ no! No, of course that kind of thread is useless!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure about that,¡± I say as I climb through the window back into the classroom. The students who have been watching me through the window give me a way like the sea parting. I return to my seat and put the freshly made ¡°Daijazuru thread¡± through the magic iron needle. With the threaded needle and the flying dragon skin in hand, I snap my neck. ¡°Then, let¡¯s go~ Uoooooo!¡± Dobabababababa! I activated my ¡°Leather Craftsman¡± skill, ¡°Leather Equipment¡±. With fierce vigor, I sew up the ¡°Flying Dragon Skin¡±. One of the female students said, ¡°Wow, that¡¯s amazing ¡­¡­! He¡¯s like a magic sewing machine ¡­¡­!¡± While the others are dumbfounded, what was once a piece of leather was turning into a coat in my hand. The first person to notice this is also Philafy-sensei. ¡°Oh, the collar! And the sleeves! Oh, even the pockets!¡± Leopin, are you trying to make leather clothes?¡± Making leather clothes is a very difficult task that we will be working on much further in class.¡± ¡°So ¡­¡­ it¡¯s done. ¡­¡­! It¡¯s a leather coat. ¡­¡­!¡± Without wiping the sweat from my forehead, I raise my jet-black coat to the sky. It was so black that it absorbed light, but then it began to glow vaguely. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious, that coat is ¡®high quality¡¯ ¡­¡­!¡± Philafy-sensei eyes widened from under her glasses. Surprise swept through the classroom. ¡°Ehhhhhhhhh!?!?!¡± This coat has higher protection than a normal coat, and is heat and cold resistant. The contents of your pockets are expanded tenfold by the magic of the flying dragon. Special Effects: Ignore Weight The contents of the pockets become weightless due to the magic of the flying dragon. ¡°High Quality¡±. This is an effect that occurs very rarely in the production of goods. It is similar to a ¡°critical hit¡± in the combat profession. It means that you have put all of your strength into your work, and as a result, you have captured the true essence of it. A ¡°high quality¡± product will give you a bonus, and you will be able to draw out the hidden magic of the material. Since I have just one uniform, I wanted clothes, so I made a coat out of the flying dragon skin,¡­¡­. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen a student make a magic item so quickly,¡­¡­!¡± Philafi-sensei¡¯s pupils are fully dilated as she staggers over to me. I reach out for the coat of the flying dragon and hand it to her, stroking it as if loving it. ¡°Ugh, this molding, this sewing, this finishing: ¡­¡­! Every stitch, every stitch, every stitch: ¡­¡­!¡± It¡¯s really ¡®high quality¡¯ ¡­¡­!¡± Philafy-sensei looks up like she is about to cry. ¡°I¡¯ve never made a ¡®high quality¡¯ product,¡­¡­.¡± It is said that even a professional leather craftsman may not be able to make one every ten years,¡­¡­.¡± I¡¯m not sure how easy it is to make such a difficult item. ¡­¡­ Leopin-kun is a genius, one in ten years. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Yes, Leo is a genius! I¡¯m sure of it!¡± Monaka claps her hands in delight. After Philafy-sensei¡¯s approval, the way my students look at me change drastically. Everyone is now looking at me with envy. ¡­¡­ ¡°No! That¡¯s a big mistake! The reason Leopin¡¯s coat is of such high quality is because of my needles and scissors!¡± When I see the vice principal tucking the magical tools he has lent me into his breast pocket. ¡°This is the Soig¡¯s divine needle and Kirsha¡¯s sword scissors that have been handed down in my family. With these, any fool can create high quality products!¡± Philafy-sensei is horrified. ¡°What? The legendary god item? But those two things aren¡¯t god items, they¡¯re school supplies. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°No! This is my personal property! Now, I¡¯m busy, so I¡¯ll leave you now!¡± The vice principal forcibly ends the conversation and hurriedly leaves the classroom. As soon as he stepped out into the hallway, I heard the scream, ¡°Keee!¡±, a familiar exclamation. The students who have gathered around me seem to have been completely taken aback. ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s what this is all about?¡± ¡°With the god item, anyone can make something of high quality, right?¡± ¡°Oh, I was so stupid to have even the slightest respect for this guy.¡± The students go back to their seats in a dazed state. I¡¯m back to my old position of ¡®unemployed trash,¡¯ but I don¡¯t care. ¡°I believe in you! I believe that the reason why the quality is so high is because you¡¯re amazing!¡± Because Monaka is the only one who still loves me as much as ever. ¡°I want to be a great craftsman like Leo-kun!¡± Can you please teach me how to use a needle?¡± I¡¯m a leather craftsman and she¡¯s a seamstress. So even though our fields are different, I can teach her how to use a needle. ¡°Okay, then let¡¯s try it together.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± I sit down shoulder to shoulder with Monaka and advise her to make a patch. ¡°You don¡¯t have to rush, just thread the needle slowly and with good aim.¡± ¡°Yes, Leo-sensei.¡± Monaka replies honestly and begins to tweak the fabric for the patches with cute eyes. ¡°The trick to making things is to put your heart and soul into it.¡± If it¡¯s a gift for someone, imagine that person smiling.¡± If you do that, you will naturally become more meticulous.¡± ¡°That person¡¯s smile ¡­¡­.¡± Monaka stops her hand and closes her eyelids as in prayers. I¡¯m sure she¡¯s thinking of someone she likes. ¡°Oops, you should use a combination of ¡®satin¡¯ and ¡®long and short¡¯ needlepoint for the outside perimeter, it will make the finished product look better.¡± The next thing I know, Philafy-sensei is peeking out from behind our desks. The teacher is nodding and taking notes incessantly. She said, ¡°¡­¡­ hmmm, imagine the person¡¯s smile and put your feelings into it. ¡­¡­ The perimeter is a combination of ¡®satin¡¯ and ¡®long and short¡¯. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°And ¡­¡­ is done! Leo-kun-sensei! Philafy-sensei!¡± Monaka¡¯s hands are enveloped in a familiar light. That light is so close to her that she flips over backwards in surprise. ¡°Oh my god, another ¡®high quality¡¯ ¡­¡­? It shows the great love of its creator. CH 20 ¡°I can¡¯t believe I made this ¡­¡­!¡± Monaka¡¯s eyes flutter in disbelief that she has made it. ¡°That¡¯s amazing, Monaka! You¡¯re one of the geniuses of the decade!¡± ¡°No, this is definitely thanks to you, Leo-kun!¡± I enjoy sewing, but I¡¯ve never done it this well before!¡± I¡¯ve never been this good at sewing before!¡± Monaka fidgets with her patches and holds them out to me. ¡°So, will you have this?¡± ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t mind? ¡°Ye- ¡­¡­ Yes! Originally, I made it with the intention of giving it to Leo-kun sensei ¡­¡­. No, I¡¯ll give it to Leo-kun!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take it if that¡¯s the case.¡± This badge was designed by ¡­¡­ Monaka¡¯s clan, I think.¡± ¡°Yes, it is a patch that resembles the emblem of my clan.¡± The heart symbol means the heart, and offering it means offering your heart to the person you are offering it to as well. ¡­¡­¡± Monaka quickly covers her face with both hands. I¡¯m not sure if you can see the facial expression, but the ears peeking out of the long hair are bright red. I don¡¯t know why all the girls who talk to me end up turning red ¡­¡­. I think to myself, ¡°Well, that¡¯s okay,¡± and quickly sew the patch onto my ¡°flying dragon coat. Then something even more ridiculous happens. It has higher protection than a normal coat, and is heat and cold resistant. It contains the blessings of a saint¡¯s pure love. The contents of your pockets are expanded tenfold by the magic of the flying dragon. Special Effects: Capacity Expansion The contents of your pockets are expanded tenfold by the magic of the flying dragon. Special Effects: Ignore Weight The contents of the pocket become weightless due to the magic of the flying dragon. Special Effects: Self-Repair Damaged items will be repaired over time. Special Effects: Auto Healing Slowly heals the wearer¡¯s HP. As I ¡®appraise¡¯ the coat with the Monaka patch on it, I forget to blink. Most of the time, when crafted items are combined, the quality level is either maintained or lowered. At first, I also expected the level of the coat to be lowered if I add a patch. I thought it would be okay because Monaka put his heart and soul into making it. ¡°No way, it¡¯s over level 100. ¡­¡­!?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. The higher the level of the equipment or item, the higher the quality. A level 100 item is no longer just a high school student, it¡¯s a professional, it¡¯s a master artisan. That¡¯s how big a barrier it is to get past level 100, and the craftsmen work bloody hard to get past it. ¡°But I crossed it with ease. ¡­¡­!¡± I stand in my spot. I am standing there, and Monaka is hurrying back and forth around me like a new wife, putting a coat on me. ¡°Wow, Leo, that looks great on you! It¡¯s very cool!¡± ¡°Oh ¡­¡­, thank you. Thanks to Monaka for this.¡± ¡°Fufufu, I¡¯m the one who should be thanking you! Please continue to teach me things, Leo-kun-sensei!¡± Monaka smiles innocently back at me. Next to me, Philafy-sensei is standing there with eyes that seem to be begging for help. ¡°Ex- excuse me, Leopin-kun, ¡­¡­.¡± I think there is nothing that I can teach Leopin-kun. ¡­¡­¡± But can you please choose my class again ¡­¡­?¡± ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô The next class was ¡°Physical Education¡±, a ¡°general subject¡±. Everyone has changed into the gym clothes that have been handed out at the end of the entrance ceremony, but I don¡¯t have any, so I attend the class in my coat. All the female students are wearing bloomers. Monaka and the other saints, who usually wear robes, are unusually lightly dressed. As I look at Monaka in her ponytail and bloomers, she notices me and waves back with a shy smile. At that moment, my body begins to glow. ¡°To let me level up with your eyes, you are indeed the great saint of the future.¡± As soon as I look at the status window, I notice something. ¡°There is an increase in the number of dexterity skills ¡­¡­, and there is a skill whose name I don¡¯t know ¡­¡­.¡± I thought I¡¯d see what the skill is if I look at the details of the skill, so I touch a series of symbols. By activating the skill multiple times, the whole effect will be revealed. ¡°Could this be a ¡®hidden skill¡¯ ¡­¡­? I¡¯ve heard of it. I¡¯ve heard that the skills of each profession are basically the same, but on rare occasions when you level up, you can gain skills with unknown effects. They are all powerful, and when you learn to control them, they can be a reliable weapon. I thought I¡¯d never have to deal with them as an unemployed person. ¡­¡­ I wonder how I can activate the effect, but I can¡¯t figure it out by thinking about it. I figure I¡¯d get some hints as I go along, so I shift my attention to the new professions that have been added. The new occupation is combat-related. I¡¯m going to be working out in gym class, so it¡¯s perfect. Able to use karate techniques Can use boxing techniques. Unleashes a destructive punch at a distance of about three centimeters. CH 21 I changed my job to ¡°Martial Arts¡±. I decide to try my hand at shadowing, but is interrupted by a loud voice. ¡°MEAT! I¡¯m the gym teacher, Nick Bakker!¡± The gym teacher, who introduced himself as Nick Bakker, is macho and muscular. He is a big man, even bigger than my former classmate, Monsoon. ¡°As some of you may know, there are some powerful magic spells around this school! One of the most common is ¡®Thirstlessness¡¯! It¡¯s a magic that allows you to live without drinking water!¡± I now realize that I didn¡¯t get thirsty even though I was sweating while working. Come to think of it, I¡¯ve heard of this. In pioneering, securing drinking water is a top priority, but also a difficult one. I¡¯ve heard that in the first days of school, it¡¯s not necessary to drink water. ¡°And then there¡¯s the ¡®Avoidance¡¯! It¡¯s a spell to keep monsters and fierce beasts away!¡± But this magic will be less and less effective starting tomorrow!¡± Do you know what this means? It means that from tomorrow onwards, monsters will be coming into your living quarters!¡± Nick Bakker-senei pointed with his stubby, ham-like hands at the groaning students. ¡°That¡¯s why physical education is mandatory!¡± In the coming classes, I¡¯m going to make you into full-fledged warriors in the flesh!¡± I¡¯ll be squeezing you hard, so prepare yourselves! MEAT!¡± He struck a bodybuilding pose, showing off his growing muscles. ¡°Today we¡¯re going to do something that¡¯s useful in all professions: hand-to-hand combat! Of course, I¡¯m not going to teach you any fighting techniques!¡± Only real combat!¡± Because monsters don¡¯t wait for you to warm up or level up!¡± Nick Bakker looked at me straight in the eyes of his many students. ¡°But I¡¯ll show you by example! There! What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know ¡­¡­?¡± Nick Bakker-sensei pressed his face with his palm, and laughed from the bottom of his stomach. ¡°Kukukuku. Apparently, this student thinks he¡¯s very famous!¡± Who the hell knows the name of that unemployed piece of trash? I¡¯m sure you know.¡± ¡®¡­¡­ I knew you knew that.¡¯ Nick Bakker laughed for a moment and then flicked his finger at it. ¡°MEAT! So, famous people, step forward! Let¡¯s have a real fight!¡± Then the students in front of me scatter to form a circle around Nick Bakker and me. Most of them are smirking at me. ¡°Oh, the trash guy is already on the radar!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll beat him up to make an example out of him!¡± ¡°As a manufacturing professional, I¡¯ve always dreaded PE, but this is going to be fun!¡± Some of the women has a different reaction. ¡°Good luck, Leo! Fight!¡± ¡°Good luck, Leo! I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll do great things that we can¡¯t even imagine. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Nin. I¡¯m sure the Leopin I raised will do it-degozaru.¡± Amidst a swirl of jeers and cheers, I confront Nick Bakker-sensei. Nick Bakker is waving his arms and snapping his sides. ¡°Celebrity! Before your face changes shape, I¡¯ll take the first blow unguarded!¡± You can punch as hard as you like!¡± ¡°Is that so? Well then, no problem.¡± I walked over to Nick Bakker-sensei. In the midst of this, I activate the ¡°Dexterous Body¡± skill of the ¡°Dexterity Poor¡±. Most of the dexterity is converted into ¡®muscle power¡¯. With this much strength, I would not be laughed at with a lame punch. I step into Nick Bakker¡¯s space and pull my fist back short, following the flow. I lightly throw a body blow, which is one of the boxing arts in Martial Arts. As soon as that punch landed in Nick Bakker¡¯s unprotected side, it is all over. Domuuuuun! The huge body flew up into the air. I think, ¡°Oh no.¡± ¡°I only gave it a quick poke to see how it went, but ¡­¡­¡± I wasn¡¯t sure if 2,500 ¡°muscle power¡± was too much. Nick Bakker-sensei flys a few meters and slams into the ground, slipping and sliding as he falls. Quiet astonishment took over the area. A group of boys surround me, trying to keep me from escaping, but before I know it, they are backing away. ¡°What ¡­¡­ was that, just now ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°It¡¯s ¡­¡­ punch ¡­¡­, right?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how a punch can blow you up like that! It looked like it exploded!¡± I think you should be more worried about Nick Bakker-sensei Then, a voice asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡±. I see Monaka jumping out from the crowd of girls. As expected of a saintly girl, she couldn¡¯t leave anyone alone when she sees them injured. As I am admiring her, Monaka came straight for me, not Nick Bakker-sensei. She grabs me by the arm and shouts as if to make sure I am sane. ¡°Leopin-kun, get a grip! Are you conscious? Are you injured in any way?¡± ¡°No, did you not see that? I¡¯m fine.¡± When I point to the fallen Nick Bakker-sensei who is lying on the ground, Monaka looks at me strangely, ¡°Oh?¡±. ¡°Nick Bakker-sensei, are you too tired ¡­¡­ to be resting here?¡± I am about to lose it. ¡°I knew you weren¡¯t watching!¡± Then Monaka¡¯s eyes widened as he said, ¡°No way!¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not true! I was watching you very carefully! I¡¯ve been watching Leopin-kun for a long time because I was afraid you would get hurt!¡± It seems that Monaka is only concerned about me, and not about Nick Bakker-sensei. The next thing I know , Nick Bakker-sensei has regained consciousness at the hands of the other healers. CH 22 Nick Bakker-sensei smiles proudly as he flaps his dusty body. ¡°MEAT! Did you see what I just did?¡± It¡¯s an advanced technique to minimize damage by lifting your body off the ground the moment you are struck.¡± It¡¯s really funny how you¡¯re so proud of your celebrity without even knowing it!¡± The surrounding students become relieved. ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s what this is all about. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°I thought it was funny. It¡¯s impossible to get a one-punch KO.¡± ¡°Yeah, maybe someone like Monsoon from Class 1-20 can do it! There¡¯s no way a jobless trash guy can do it!¡± Come to think of it, there¡¯s no sign of Monsoon, and none of the members of Class 1-20 seem to be taking part in this gym class. That aside, I ask Nick Bakker-sensei. ¡°But didn¡¯t you faint? Then the teacher¡¯s face turns as red as a boiling kettle. ¡°That¡¯s ¡­¡­! That¡¯s ¡­¡­! It¡¯s a very advanced technique called ¡®pretending to be dead¡¯! But that¡¯s not the point, the game is over! I¡¯m going to be serious next time, celebrity!¡± ¡°What, are you still doing that?¡± ¡°MEAT! Of course! I¡¯m not going to let you get away with it. ¡­¡­ No, you haven¡¯t shown me how it¡¯s done yet! I let you hit me with one just now, now let me hit you with one!¡± He is talking like a child, completely. Nick Bakker-sensei walks over to me with his log-like arms raised in the air. ¡°Wait, Sensei?¡± ¡°No questions! Come on, let¡¯s go!¡± I get in a hurry to activate my ¡°Dexterous Body¡± skill. I change the stats from ¡°Strength¡± to ¡°Toughness¡± in a hurry. Name Leopin¡± ¡°Occupation Martial Artist¡± ¡°Lv 8¡± ¡°HP 10¡± ¡°MP 10¡± ¡°Status Life 1¡± ¡°Endurance 1¡± ¡°Toughness 1 ? 2501¡± ¡°Spirit 1¡± ¡°Resistance 1¡± ¡°Agility 1¡± ¡°Concentration 1¡± ¡°Strength 2501 ? 1¡± ¡°Magic 1¡± ¡°Dharma 1¡± ¡°Intelligence 1¡± ¡°Liberal Arts 1¡± ¡°Five Senses 1¡± ¡°Sixth Sense 1¡± ¡°Charm 1¡± ¡°Luck 2¡± ¡°Dexterity 200¡± A massive, roaring arm closes in on my face. At the moment of impact, Monaka, who has returned to the crowd, screams, ¡°Kyaa!¡± and is holding her face with both hands. ¡­¡­ Gochiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnn! A sound like someone punches a stone wall as hard as they could, echoes throughout the schoolyard. It¡¯s not that I was blown away, but I didn¡¯t even move from the spot. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt at all ¡­¡­?¡± I let out an involuntary gasp. I barely managed to keep my composure, but inside I am filled with surprise. For a brief moment, my body hardens like a rock, and I become as solid as a mountain. I didn¡¯t even use magic, so why? The higher the ¡°toughness¡± status, the more able you are to withstand physical attacks. But no matter how high you raise it, it doesn¡¯t make your body heavier. In direct contrast to my cool face, Nick Bakker-sensei¡¯s face and fists swelled red at the same time. And then, as if he had been hit by a powerful counterpunch, he fell backwards. ¡°Oh no! My bones! BONES!!!!¡± Like a whale washed up on the shore, Nick Bakker-sensei goes wild with a thud on the floor. The boys around me are looking at me in fear this time. ¡°Oh ¡­¡­, no way, no way ¡­¡­! Not only did you take that punch and not care, but you didn¡¯t even do anything to fight back. ¡­¡­!¡± No, no, this is another one of Nick Bakker-sensei¡¯s advanced techniques. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s not possible! Look at this!¡¡Look at that garbage ¡­¡­ face Leopin! It looks as if you¡¯ve been exposed to a gentle breeze.¡± I think you should be more worried about Nick Bakker-sensei than you are about me. Then, a voice asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Monaka pops out again from the crowd of female students. I think it is going to happen this time, but Monaka is heading straight for me again. Monaka comes running towards me again, running so fast that I thought she was a hungry cat, touching me here and there to make sure I am okay. ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô Nick Bakker-sensei¡¯s broken bones could not be healed by the female students who were Healers (Young Saints), so he was taken to the infirmary in a stretcher. Physical education class had to end and it was after school. All the students went back to the school building to change out of their gym clothes. I am still in my uniform, so I leave the school grounds alone. On my way back to my home in the forest, I change jobs to ¡°Lumberjack¡± I rebalance my status, which has been skewed by the physical education class. ¨X¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨j¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨[ ¨U Name ¨U Leopin ¨U ¨d¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨p¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨g ¨U Occupation ¨U Martial Artist ¨U ¨d¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨p¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨g ¨U Lv ¨U 8 ¨U ¨d¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨p¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨g ¨U HP ¨U 10 ? 1810 ¨U ¡°Well, let¡¯s go back and do some work.¡± I go back to the forest and start chopping down trees with my stone axe. In the midst of all this, I keep thinking about Nick Bakker-sensei¡¯s words. ¡°Right now, there¡¯s protective magic around this school!¡± But starting tomorrow, the effect will gradually fade!¡± Do you know what this means? It means that after tomorrow, monsters will enter your living quarters!¡± If these words are true, then there is a possibility that we will encounter monsters tomorrow. The residential area where the other students are is crowded, so monsters are less likely to attack. If everyone took turns guarding the area at night, there would be no chance of a monster attack. But I¡¯m on my own. And since I live in the middle of the forest, there¡¯s no one easier for monsters to attack than me. So I decide to defend myself. ¡°I think this is all the wood I need.¡± Can be used for building materials with various bonuses I change my job to ¡°Carpenter¡±. With enough lumber to build a house, I build a fence and a gate around the house. With various bonuses, it is more robust than stone walls, and is resistant to earthquakes, fire, and corrosion. More robust than stone gates due to various bonuses, and resistant to earthquake, fire, and corrosion. The towering wall that surrounds the house is quite a reliable looking structure. And then something unexpected happens. When the house, gate, and wall ¡­¡­ come together, they begin to glow as one. No way, level up ¡­¡­! Just as I am thinking that, a window appears in front of me. ¡°Your home has evolved into a base!¡± CH 23 The time has returned a little and it is lunch time. Leopin was enjoying a friendly lunch with a group of beautiful girls when the Vice Principal was summoned to ¡­¡­. the principal¡¯s office. ¡°Vice Principal! How dare he! This was an event to select our school¡¯s first student body president!¡± I was going to make it dramatic by even bringing out the Flying Dragon¡¯s Skin, my treasure, but ¡­¡­!¡± And yet, it was so easy to be found by the trash of the ¡°special training class¡±! It¡¯s just not possible!¡± The Vice Principal was shouted at by Principal Nekodoran and jabbed his fingers together in an annoyed manner. ¡°It¡¯s just not right!¡± The flying dragon¡¯s skin was indeed disguised with magic and hidden in the school flag!¡± As long as the magic is still in effect, even a professional treasure hunter would have difficulty finding it!¡± The headmaster swung his fist at the desk in front of him. ¡°That is the best proof of your blunder!¡± What is difficult for a professional treasure hunter to find, is impossible for an unemployed trash to find!¡± It¡¯s your mistake, you didn¡¯t put any disguise magic on the skin!¡± ¡°But still, there¡¯s something wrong!¡± The Flying Dragon Skin was on the high wall of the school building! It was made so that a ninja or bandit could only climb up and take it, or a sorcerer could only draw it in with magic. There¡¯s no way an unemployed person who can¡¯t do anything can get it. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the same thing!¡± Because you didn¡¯t attach it properly, the wind or something blew it away!¡± ¡°Oh, no! I¡¯m not the kind of person who makes a lot of mistakes! I¡¯m not like that trash!¡± ¡°Then how are you going to explain your mistake of calling the flying dragon¡¯s skin ¡°piece of shit¡±?¡± That skin is a gem that was given to you by one of your most powerful supporters!¡± And he is very angry because you called it a ¡®piece of shit¡¯!¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s ¡­¡­! You heard wrong! I said ¡®the perfect one¡¯!¡± ¡°Then you should have taken the skin from the garbage when it was offered to you! And our supporters would not have been offended, and things would have been settled!¡± ¡°If I had accepted the skin from that trash, it would have meant that I accepted that trash as the student council president! The principal must know that it is impossible for a piece of trash from a special training class to become student body president!¡± ¡°Hmph! I¡¯ve had enough excuses!¡± I¡¯m not going to let him get away with it.¡± We have to do something to get it back! If you don¡¯t, you¡¯ll be demoted to assistant vice principal!¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± The yes-man flinched. If you don¡¯t, you¡¯ll be demoted to assistant principal! ¡°What about something like this?¡± Let that trash tear up the Flying Dragon¡¯s skin!¡± ¡°The precious skin was torn to shreds. ¡­¡­? What a foolish thing to do ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°That¡¯s the point! That¡¯s what I¡¯m trying to do! ¨C So the trash will be rejected by all his supporters as worthless!¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I see! That¡¯s an excellent idea! The more antagonism the trash attracts from its supporters, the more we can throw it away with impunity!¡± ¡­¡­ But how do we do that?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll leave that to me.¡± I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be able to get that idiot into trouble before you know it. ¡­¡­!¡± The principal and vice principal looked at each other and smiled. ¡°¡±This time, we¡¯re going to get that trash¡¯s ugly face off ¡­¡­!¡±¡± (this is said by the two) ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô Needless to say, this scheme ended in disaster. Instead of getting the Flying Dragon¡¯s Skin back from Leopin, it was turned into a coat. In addition, he lent Leopin a magical tool to assist him in his work. Yes-man ran out of the leather craftsman¡¯s classroom and rampaged through the corridors with strange noises. ¡°Keee! Keeeee! KEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! That garbage again! That garbage again! Damn it, damn it, damn it!¡± In the hallway, busts of the principal and vice principal are alternately displayed. The yes-men selected only the bust of the principal and knocked it down. Then, the man himself appeared. Seeing Headmaster Nekodoran running from the other side of the corridor, Yes-man hurriedly made up for it. ¡°Headmaster, we¡¯re in trouble! Leopin is an incredibly bad student! He¡¯s really a rotten egg, just like the principal said!¡± You should see the mess he¡¯s made of the hallway!¡± Yes-man naturally blamed Leopin. But the principal didn¡¯t care that his bust had been knocked over. It doesn¡¯t matter, it¡¯s a big deal! We have received an inquiry from a supporter regarding the god item owned by the yes-man vice principal!¡± ¡°Huh? God item?¡± ¡°The one you loaned to Leopin-kun in the leather craftsman class earlier! I didn¡¯t know you had such an extremely rare item in your possession!¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s actually ¡­¡­.¡± The principal quickly took the needles and scissors that were sticking out of the vice principal¡¯s breast pocket before he could say that he was speaking out of his mouth. And he worshipped them as if they were a gift from God. ¡°Ohhh! It is indeed a God Item At first glance, they look like ordinary needles and scissors, but they have a different aura!¡± ¡°Ah, the principal, that¡¯s actually ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Vice Principal! I¡¯ve been asked by the Royal Museum to display this item for their 100th anniversary! If one of our teachers is found to be the owner of the god item, his or her teacher rank will surely increase!¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not good! Those needles and scissors are from ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Vice Principal! You are not going to say that you can¡¯t lend them to the Royal Museum after lending them to that piece of trash!¡± If you say such a thing, you¡¯re insulting the Royal Museum!¡± ¡­¡­ In the end, without being able to tell the truth, the simple needle and shears were taken by the principal as a god item. The vice principal¡¯s stress accelerated even further. ¡°Gugigigi This and everything else is the result of that garbage!¡± This is all because of that piece of trash! I can¡¯t help it, I have to tear him to pieces!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter, vice principal? It¡¯s getting pretty rough!¡± The head teacher was raging in the corridor when the gym teacher, Nick Bakker, called out to him. At that moment, an evil black light bulb went off in the vice principal¡¯s head. ¡°Yes! Nick Bakker-sensei! What are you going to do in gym class?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s the first day of school, so we¡¯re going to go for a run around the forest for orientation.¡± ¡°No! No! It¡¯s more like a practical exercise! Today¡¯s P.E. will be hand-to-hand fighting!¡± I have a delinquent student who would love to have Nick Bakker-sensei¡¯s passionate guidance!¡± I¡¯d like you to beat them to a pulp so that they can get over their rotten nature!¡± ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô Needless to say, this scheme ended in disaster as well. And finally, heaven¡¯s punishment. The needles and scissors that were sent to the Royal Museum were immediately found to be fake by the experts. The vice principal becomes famous as a ¡°fake educator¡± in the education world. This was further complicated by the fact that Nick Bakker has been knocked out by Leopin. The ¡°Pioneer Education Committee¡± took the situation very seriously and issued an unusual statement on the same day. ¡°I can¡¯t believe there are not only fake educators, but also gym teachers who are easily beaten by students!¡± It seems that the quality of the students at the Royal Pioneer Academy is high, but the quality of the teachers is low!¡± Just as the students are evaluated by rank, the teachers are also ranked by the ¡°Pioneer Education Committee¡±. ¡°I have decided that the evaluation needs to be reviewed!¡± Therefore, the ranks of the Royal Pioneer Academy¡¯s principal, vice principal, and physical education teacher have been reduced by one rank!¡± Principal Nekodoran SS- ? S+ Yes-man vice principal A+ ? A Nick Bakker, teacher C+ ? C The head of the school board was informed of this. When the head of the school board informed them of this, Principal Nekodoran, Vice Principal Yesman, and Nick Bakker had a look on their faces like it was the end of the world. But they still didn¡¯t know. As long as they have Leopin, this was just the beginning. CH 24 I stand gazing at my house as it shines like a palace of light, a dreamlike scene. ¡°I had no idea that I would be able to build a base at ¡­¡­!¡± When I worked as a carpenter, my master told me that when a facility has walls and gates and the total level exceeds 50, it becomes a ¡°base¡±. The master also said, ¡°However, only buildings as large and magnificent as a fort can become a base! You can¡¯t get a base in any normal houses because they¡¯re not high-level enough! Well, if it¡¯s a house that was built by a legendary master, then maybe it can turn into a base!¡± At that time I listened to my master¡¯s words as if they were a fairy tale. I thought it was a story I had nothing to do with, but ¡­¡­. I open my status window, still in disbelief. And sure enough, there it is, under my status. ========== Base LV1 Size: Rustic house Base Skills: Activity Support Gain a status bonus for all activities in the base. ========== ¡°This is the status of the base!? Even in the world, they say that only the chosen ones are given ¡­¡­!¡± The skills of the base are for the leader of the base, that is, the person who has become the King. The person who the King has appointed as the administrator of the base can also use some of its power. In any case, it¡¯s a privilege reserved for the royal class, the most powerful people in this world. Still in disbelief, my body suddenly gets enveloped in the same light as the base. ========== Name Leopin Occupation Carpenter Lv 8 ? 9 HP 1810 MP 1810 Status Life 181 Endurance 181 Toughness 181 Spirit 181 Resistance 181 Agility 181 Concentration 181 Strength 181 Magic 181 Dharma 181 Intelligence 181 Liberal Arts 181 Five Senses 181 Sixth Sense 181 Charm 1 Luck 2 Dexterity 180 ? 280 ========== ========== Changeable occupations ========== ¡°Now that I¡¯m the master of the base, I guess I¡¯ve leveled up. ¡­¡­ Compared to the past, it¡¯s a satisfying level up. And the new profession is just right for me, isn¡¯t it?¡± I immediately try changing jobs. ========== Leopin Occupation Carpenter ? Trapper Occupation Skill Pit trap: Able to set up pitfalls Wire trap: You can set a trap using a wire. ========== ¡°Okay, let¡¯s get on with setting up defenses around the house. But first, let¡¯s make some tools¡­¡± I again change my occupation to ¡°Stonecrafter¡± to make a few new tools by chipping away at the rocks in the area. ========== Forest Stone Shovel Quantity 1 Quality Level 12 (Material Level 1 + Dexterity Bonus 2 + Occupation Bonus 9) Shovel made of molded forest stone. With various bonuses, you can carve soil and stone up to twice as hard as your level. ========== With a freshly made shovel in hand, I walk through the gate of the house and start working in the garden. Dig a hole and erect a spear made of pointed cedar wood at the bottom of the hole. Then cover the hole with tree branches and leaves. ¡­¡­ ========== Pit of Gisu Wood Spear Quantity 1 Quality Level 23 (Material Level 12 + Dexterity Bonus 2 + Occupation Bonus 9) A pit with a spear made of Gisu wood. Difficult to find due to various bonuses, and once you fall in, it is difficult to climb out. ========== I set up the first one. Next, I set another trap in the grass near the tree in the garden. ========== Dijazuru Thread Wire Trap Quantity 1 Quality Level 28 (Material Level 17 + Dexterity Bonus 2 + Occupation Bonus 9) This trap is made by combining a stone knife with the Daijazuru thread. If you get caught in the wire, you will be suspended in the air. Due to the various bonuses, it is difficult to detect, and once suspended, it is difficult to escape. ========== ¡°I can¡¯t believe such a primitive trap is over level 20. ¡­¡­ I must have made a hell of a thing.¡± I think about setting a trap outside the fence as well, but decide against it. I don¡¯t want Monaka to get caught when she comes back. Monaka is very polite, so I don¡¯t think she would climb over the fence to get in. But just to be safe, I put up a sign in the yard. ¡°Danger! Trap!¡± It seems that monsters don¡¯t understand human language unless they are at a very high level. I doubt that monsters in this forest are high level; so, they won¡¯t be able to read this warning. When I step out of the house, the forest have already turned a bright orange. ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô At that time, there was a great commotion in the principal¡¯s office. The principal and vice principal are discussing how to redeem themselves after being downgraded. A message appeared on the crystal board on the wall. ¡°Base reacting! Students from our school have set up a base!¡± They couldn¡¯t believe their eyes. ¡°A base? It can¡¯t be!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! There¡¯s no way they could have set up a base just two days after the start of school! Headmaster, our school was scheduled in two years, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! The record for the fastest time to set up a base in a pioneer school was 793 days after the start of school! I had a special education curriculum designed to break that record!¡± ¡°So, the magic device is wrong, isn¡¯t it? The magic device where there is a dot of light is malfunctioning! I¡¯ll order the staff to fix it immediately!¡± As the vice principal said this, he approached the crystal board on the wall and touched the message. Then the display switched to a map of the area around the Royal Pioneer Academy. On the map, a light dot flickered, indicating the location of the base. ¡°I knew I was wrong! It shows a forest far outside the residential area! This is a dumping ground and no one is ¡­¡­.¡± The two looked at each other with a bang ¡°Wait, ¡­¡­, no way! It can¡¯t be, it can¡¯t be ¡­¡­!¡± The head teacher mumbles a prayer as he manipulates the crystal tablet. He touches the light spot and selects ¡°Surveillance¡± from the menu in the window that appeared. The map switches to show the current status of the light spot. There is the figure of Leopin, stretching out with a long shadow, looking comfortable. Behind him, there was a single but magnificent house with walls and a gate. ¡­¡­ Looking at the light, which is a sign of the base, shines as brightly as the setting sun,¡­¡­! ¡°Ki ¡­¡­ kieeeeeeeeeee!!!!¡± CH 25 Leopin has created a ¡°base¡±. The principal and vice principal are completely devastated by this fact. ¡°Oh, really, a base has been created. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°We were supposed to have a base at our school in two years. ¡­¡­¡± The principal came to his senses and blew bubbles at the vice principal. ¡°Hey, vice principal! This is a unique opportunity! The record for the fastest time to set up a base in a pioneer school is 793 days! If we can set up a base in just two days, it will be a huge record breaker! If we apply for this, our drop in rank will be erased!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re right, but ¡­¡­. You can¡¯t apply for a base that was set up by trash from the Special Training Class at ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Gugu, that¡¯s right ¡­¡­!¡± The principal held his head in his hands, as if he had just forgotten a crucial detail. Suddenly, the vice principal said, ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°Principal! If that¡¯s the case, then we should move up our schedule and let the students build the base first! If one unemployed trash can build a base by himself, the talented students can build a base by themselves.¡± ¡°That ¡­¡­ is also true! Then we¡¯ll select a project leader from among the students and put him to work! They waited until the early morning of the next day and called a student into the principal¡¯s office. ¡°What can I help you with ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Oh, Weiss-kun! How are you feeling?¡± ¡°Yes, thanks to the teacher, I¡¯m feeling much better. You see, I was not the cause of this downgrading scandal. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Well, well, well, what¡¯s done is done! There is something I want you to do!¡± ¡°Yes! You¡¯re a Sage, Weiss! And I want you to take advantage of your abundant ¡®Intelligence¡¯ and ¡®Liberal Arts¡¯ status and turn the residential area into a ¡®base¡¯! ¡°A base? Isn¡¯t the building of a base still a long way off ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°No, no, with a student of your caliber at the helm, it can be done now! I¡¯m specially appointing you as the ¡®base chairman¡¯ by my authority!¡± ¡°You can use students from other classes to build the base!¡± ¡°Fuh, I see, I understand what you¡¯re saying. It¡¯s difficult to build a base with the current personnel and materials, but I can do it. No, I¡¯m the only one who can do it, it¡¯s safe to say.¡± ¡°So you¡¯ll take care of it?¡± ¡°Yes, but in exchange, I also have a request. If you succeed in establishing the base, please appoint ¡­¡­ me as the student body president.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a small price to pay!¡± ¡°Yes! If you¡¯ve broken the record for the shortest time to establish a base, that¡¯s more than enough reason to appoint you as student body president!¡± ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô I wake up to the morning sun shining through the window of my house and it feels good. ¡°Uuu~n. I slept well, and since there was no black paper on the window like yesterday, I didn¡¯t sleep in. I guess it was a good idea to build a fence around the house.¡± As I stretch, I look out the window of my house. And saw a huge Minomushi hanging from a tree in the yard. It seems to have been caught in a wire trap that I had set up, and as it struggles to get out, it becomes more entangled in the wire. The Minomushi slowly spun around to look at me. My eyes met with a familiar face. ¡°Shinobuuko, huh? You¡¯ve been trying to sneak into people¡¯s houses again, haven¡¯t you?¡± Shinobuko doesn¡¯t answer, but stares at me with her usual blank stare. The only thing that moved was her lips as she quietly said, ¡°Save me. ¡°Well, well, if you learn your lesson, don¡¯t ever try to sneak in again. If you need me, just come in through the gate.¡± I take out the ¡°Gisu no Shuriken¡± from my pocket and throw it at Minomushi¡¯s thread. The string snaps, and Shinobuko falls to the ground with a thud. Shinobuko crawls away, her body wrapped around the wire, moving like a caterpillar. She rolls over and turns around at me, ¡°The next time we meet, we will kill each other-degozaru! She spits her usual discarded words and slithers away. Then, as she continued, I heard a moan from under the window, ¡°Ugh ¡­¡­¡±. I look down to see that the pit had caved in. As I peered into the bottom of the pit, my gaze collided again with a familiar face. ¡°What are you doing, vice principal?¡± The vice principal lying at the bottom of the hole, barely pierced by the wooden spear I had set up. He looks like he is going to die and pleads, ¡°Help me ¡­¡­.¡± I feel sorry for him, so I go out into the yard and use the ¡°Gisu Ladder¡± I had made earlier to help him out of the hole. The vice principal seems to have injured his leg from the shock of the fall, but he seems to be in good spirits. When he notices that the suit he is wearing is tattered and covered in mud, he say, ¡°Geez! My custom-made suit is ruined! Commoners can¡¯t afford this suit even if he works all his life! I haven¡¯t even finished my monthly installment yet!¡± And because I¡¯ve been downgraded, my salary is going down! And yet, and yet, and ¡«¡«¡«¡«?¡± He hangs his head down, and pats the ground with frustration. ¡°Vice-principal. If you learn from this, please come in through the gate when you need me.¡± The vice principal then glares at me. ¡°There¡¯s no way I have any business with the students of the Special Training Class. ¡­¡­! ¡°Then why were you in that place?¡± But the vice principal doesn¡¯t answer. Instead, he uses a fallen tree branch as a walking stick and starts walking like an old man. Then he turns around at me, just like Shinobuuko. ¡°There are no classes today. It¡¯s free time for the whole school to explore. You should be digging holes and playing.¡± I don¡¯t even know if it¡¯s a throwaway line or not, and he staggeres away. As I watch him walk away, my body begins to glow like morning dew in the sunlight. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯ve done anything wrong ¡­¡­ by trapping my classmates and teacher to level up.¡± ========== Name Leopin Occupation Trapper Lv 9 ? 10 HP 1810 MP 1810 Status Life 181 Endurance 181 Toughness 181 Spirit 181 Resistance 181 Agility 181 Concentration 181 Strength 181 Magic 181 Dharma 181 Intelligence 181 Liberal Arts 181 Five Senses 181 Sixth Sense 181 Charm 1 Luck 2 Dexterity 280 ? 380 ========== ========== Changeable occupations ========== CH 26 I shout at the newly added occupation; I was waiting for it to come but I didn¡¯t expect it to actually happen. ¡°All right, Woodcrafter!¡± I already have two professions that deal with wood: Lumberjack and Carpenter. However, these two jobs are not suitable for making wooden accessories. I can make them, but they are not as good as the real thing. ¡°Now I can make furniture! Farewell to my empty house!¡± I immediately change jobs. ========== Leopin Occupation Trapper ? Woodcrafter Occupation Skill Woodworking: Work on wood Woodcraft: Create tools out of wood Wood Equipment: Create wooden equipment. ========== Using the ¡± Gisu wood¡± that is piled up in the garden, I immediately start crafting. Using a stone knife, I make a piece of wood and then use a mallet to put it together. The speed of work is different when you have professional skills. And the finished product is also much different. ========== Gisu Table Quantity 1 Quality Level 25 (Material Level 12 + Dexterity Bonus 3 + Profession Bonus 10) A large dining table made of high quality Gisu wood. The table is durable and can be cleaned with a simple wipe. ========== ========== Gisu Chair Quantity 10 Quality Level 25 (Material Level 12 + Dexterity Bonus 3 + Profession Bonus 10) Chair made from high quality Gisu wood. With various bonuses, it is durable and has a calming effect on those who sit in it. ========== The table and chairs are made in no time as well. Woodworking is fun. Building a house is fun, but there is something different about the detailed work of woodworking. I love the smell of the wood as it is being carved, it makes me feel relaxed. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m going to make more things this way!¡± I go on to make two more pieces of furniture. ========== Gisu Shelf Quantity 1 Quality Level 25 (Material Level 12 + Dexterity Bonus 3 + Profession Bonus 10) Shelf made of high quality Gisu wood. These shelves are made of high quality Gisu wood, and have various bonuses to make them more durable and make the items inside last longer. ========== ========== Gisu Bed Quantity 4 Quality Level 25 (Material Level 12 + Dexterity Bonus 3 + Profession Bonus 10) Bed made of high quality Gisu wood. With various bonuses, it is durable and provides a good night¡¯s sleep. ========== Now the house is quite vibrant. And the house starts to shine like it is happy. ========== Base LV 2 Size: Rustic house ? Normal house Population 1 Base Skills: Activity Support. Gain a status bonus for all activities in the base. NEW! Base Expansion. If an area adjacent to the base is cultivated or conquered, it can be made into a base ========== ¡°All right, the base is leveling up!¡± To tell the truth, I am curious about it. I am actually curious about the ¡°rustic house¡± in the size section. And with the new base skill, I can now expand your base. I am getting more and more motivated, but then my stomach growls. ¡°It¡¯s almost noon, isn¡¯t it? I think I¡¯ll take a break and go find some food.¡± As I leave the gate of the house, I can see the castle and the residential area of the school building through the tunnel of trees. In the residential area, there are many students gathered. I am a little curious about what they are doing, so I approach them ¡­¡­. Weiss is up on a platform addressing the crowd. ¡°From now on, everyone will be building a base under the guidance of me, the base chairman.¡± If this is promoted to a base, there will be nothing to fear, even if the effects of the magic ¡°Avoidance¡± fade.¡± Everyone! Do as I, the Sage, tell you!¡± If you do, this settlement will be a stronghold by nightfall!¡± The students replied, ¡°Ooh!¡± I can not tell if they were motivated or not. Well, as Weiss said, if the residential area becomes a base, the chance of being attacked by monsters will decrease. I just mumble, ¡°Good luck,¡± and return to the forest. ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô As usual, while I was gathering nuts and mushrooms in the forest, I met a girl who appears illuminated by the sunlight through the trees. She is aiming at a bird perched on a branch of a tree, and drawing her bow. Her stance is as beautiful as a painting. Her glossy black hair is tied up in a bun, her dark eyes create a contrast against her white skin, her nose is modest but clear, and her lips are cherry red. Her attire is particularly eccentric. Her jacket is as white as a saint¡¯s robe, but her skirt is bright red. ¡°Could that be the hakama ¡­¡­, the national clothing of the eastern countries?¡± The girl may have been distracted by my voice, and the arrow deflected far from its target. The target bird has left the branch and is circling above the girl¡¯s head teasingly. ¡°I¡¯ve shot all my arrows ¡­¡­. I can¡¯t face everyone with this ¡­¡­.¡± I call out to the girl who is slumping her shoulders. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have disturbed you.¡± The girl looks up and shakes her head from side to side. ¡± No, it wasn¡¯t your fault, I am just inexperienced.¡± ¡°You were hunting?¡± ¡°Yes, I was trying to give the people who are cultivating the land a little more energy. But I¡¯ve only ever shot at immobile targets, so it was impossible for me.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be too much of an apology, but let me help you.¡± ¡°Thank you. But, I don¡¯t have any more arrows left. ¡­¡­¡± As she bowes politely, I begin to cut the branch. ¡°You¡¯re a woodworker, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m unemployed.¡± ¡°Really? Then it¡¯s no wonder you don¡¯t know anything about it.¡± Arrows are not made of wood alone. You need something to make the arrow head ¡­¡­¡± After shaping about ten tree branches, I released the ¡°Gisu-no-Shuriken¡± into the sky. I think I hear a scream above my ¡°Pigya¡± head, and then items start to fall. ========== Mean Bird Thighs Quantity 1 Quality Level 3 (Material Level 3) Meat of a bird with a rich and juicy flavor. Grilled or fried, it provides a cooking bonus. ========== ========== Mean Bird Feather Quantity 10 Quality Level 3 (Material Level 3) Brightly colored feathers. Can be made into arrow feathers and quills. ========== ¡°Hmm? Did you say something?¡± The girl¡¯s dark eyes widen as she watches me catch the items. ¡°The bird that I couldn¡¯t hit no matter how hard I tried, you managed to hit ¡­¡­ in one shot! And, you can even hit it with a hand thrown weapon. ¡­¡­!¡± CH 27 With the black-haired girl in a daze, I begin the final step of the crafting process. I scrap and sharpen the fallen forest stone with a nearby rock to make an arrowhead. I shape a Mean Bird Feather and attach it to the back of the shaved arrow. ¡­¡­ =========== Hiroeda and Mean Bird Wood Arrows Quantity 10 Quality Level 18 (Material Level 5 + Dexterity Bonus 3 + Occupation Bonus 10) Arrows made from the feathers of Hiroeda and Mean Bird, and forest stone. Excellent accuracy due to various bonuses. =========== Un, it¡¯s not bad for something I made on the spur of the moment. After checking the results, I present the girl with a bundle of ten arrows. ¡°Here, I¡¯ll pay you back tenfold. If it¡¯s not enough, I¡¯ll make more.¡± ¡°Th-, thank you, so much¡­¡± The girl receives the arrows with both hands as if she is being bewitched by a fox. Her language and gestures are elegant, so she¡¯s probably a young lady like Monaka. And then my gaze is caught by the bow she was holding at her side. ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that a ¡®Seikyu¡¯?¡± I¡¯ve been watching your stance, and you¡¯re a user of the ¡®Kyudo¡¯ skill, right?¡± If that¡¯s the case, the bow you use must be the ¡®East Bow¡¯.¡± The archery skill differs from region to region, with ¡°Kyujutsu¡± originating in the western countries and ¡°Kyudo¡± originating in the eastern countries. It is the same to use a bow and arrows to shoot a target, but the tools and techniques are completely different. The girl answers with an expression of uncertainty. ¡°What? Oh, this one is ¡­¡­ made by a woodworker from another class. ¡­¡­¡± I take the bow from her half-heartedly, ¡°Let me borrow it.¡± It is so shabby that it does not need to be appraised. ¡°Really, it doesn¡¯t matter how much of a woodworker you are, you¡¯re just making it up as you go along. ¡­¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t take it anymore, so I look around for materials. ¡°What are you planning to do with it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to make a bow for you.¡± ¡°What?¡± While the girl blinked her eyes, I cut off a thick tree branch and sharpen it with a stone knife. =========== Shinarigi Wood (Small) Quantity 1 Quality Level 16 (Material Level 3 + Dexterity Bonus 3 + Profession Bonus 10) Soft and bendy wood. It is suitable for wooden weapons because it is difficult to break due to various bonuses. =========== ¡°Oh, that¡¯s wonderful. ¡­¡­ It¡¯s like magic. ¡­¡­ It¡¯s just that the shape and length of the bow is exactly the same as the one I used to use!¡± The girl¡¯s dark eyes finally shine like jewels, instead of being confused. ¡°That¡¯s right. The west bow has a symmetrical shape, but the east bow has an asymmetrical shape. If you¡¯re a beginner, you¡¯ll find the west bow easier to use, but if you¡¯re used to the east bow, you¡¯ll find it harder to use.¡± While I am talking about it, the main body, the bow handle, is made. All that is left to do is to tie the ¡°daijazuru thread¡± that I have brought along as a wire to make a string. ¡­¡­ =========== Shinarigi Wood Bow Quantity 1 Quality level 46 (material level 33 + dexterity bonus 3 + occupation bonus 10) An eastern bow made of Shinarigi and Daijazuru. It is light and strong, and has excellent power and accuracy. =========== The girl has a look of admiration on her face. ¡°Oh, splendid, ¡­¡­ too, splendid, ¡­¡­!¡± A bow of this quality is rarely found in my country!¡± ¡°I see. Arrows are consumable, but bows are meant to be used for a long time, so I was very particular about the materials I chose. Here we go.¡± I check the quality of the bow and hand it to the girl. The girl looks as if her cheeks are pinched from both sides by a fox and a raccoon. ¡°What? I can¡¯t accept such a magnificent bow from someone I¡¯ve never met before!¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, I made it because I wanted to.¡± I saw your stance and understood. This is the right bow for you.¡± Just try it and you¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, ¡­¡­.¡± The girl receives the bow in a dreamy state. She fixes an arrow, and squeeze it. ¡­ Pikarii! It¡¯s a beautiful pose. ¡­¡­ But I didn¡¯t miss her white fingertips that were about to release the arrow. ¡°Wait, you¡¯re feeling a little light-headed, aren¡¯t you? Take a deep breath and calm your mind.¡± She huffs, as if coming to her senses. She closes her eyelids, lets her chest rise and fall with a sigh, and then opens her eyes with a snap. Shyupaaaan! A blinding flash of light scatters the treetops of the forest. The arrow, like a ray of light, pierced the Mean Bird that was perched on the branch without giving it time to fly away. ¡°Piggy!¡± It groans as a scream reaches me. ¡°I¡¯m impressed with your one-hit kill. I knew you were ¡­¡­.¡± The next thing I know, the girl is lying face down at my feet. With the hakama sleeves and long black hair spread on the ground, she has her hands under her head and is bowing deeply. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± When I ask her, she says with her forehead on the ground. ¡°My name is Kotone, and I¡¯m from Class 1-19.¡± Please take me as your disciple!¡± Class 1-19 is led by a girl who is a ¡°Miko¡±. It¡¯s the same as Monaka¡¯s Class 1-2, and seems to be made up entirely of female students. Kotone¡¯s tone is decisive. ¡°You made a bow that feels like a part of my body just by looking at my stance¡­ In fact, you even saw through the confusion in my mind!¡± She looks up quickly and looks at me with an uncanny expression. ¡°Please, Master! I won¡¯t move even a little bit until you makes me your disciple!¡± This is the first time in my life I¡¯ve ever heard someone say ¡°Master¡±. I have no intention of taking an apprentice, but I chose my words to see what I could say to convince her. ¡°Hmmm, disciples are a bit ¡­¡­. I¡¯d be happy to give you some advice when I see you from time to time.¡± ¡°¡®Adobaisu¡¯, is it ¡­¡­? ¡°Yes. It¡¯s like advice.¡± ¡°Yes, sir. So, if Master finds me worthy, he¡¯ll make me his disciple! I¡¯ll do my best to be worthy of Master¡¯s approval!¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. ¡­¡­¡± CH 28 I was going to say no, but Kotone¡¯s eyes have already changed to those of a respectful disciple. ¡°Master. So, how much do I have to pay for your monthly fee?¡± ¡°You mean the monthly fee for advice?¡± I was about to answer immediately, ¡°I don¡¯t need it,¡± but then I thought better of it. ¡°Then will you befriend Monaka for that fee?¡± Kotone tilted her head in a cute way. ¡°Monaka-sama ¡­¡­? Are you referring to the representative of Class 1-2?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. She is a saint of a prestigious family, so her classmates are very careful and reserved.¡± If you¡¯re a young lady, you can talk to her without hesitation, so I want you to get along with her.¡± Kotone sighs with deep emotion. ¡°The first one to say such a thing to me was Master ¡­¡­.¡± Monaka-sama and I have the relationship of a saint and a miko.¡± All our classmates will do is compare us, as the same family of exorcists, and encourage conflict. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure what¡¯s going on here, but if you¡¯re from the same family of exorcists, you might as well get along.¡± I¡¯m not going to force you to do anything, of course, but if you feel like it, why don¡¯t you talk to Monaka?¡± ¡± I understand. As you wish, Master.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not an order. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Kotone samaaaaaaaaaaa!¡± Suddenly, a yell interruptes me. I saw a school-girl rushing towards us through the bushes. She looks like a warrior, and she is glaring at me with eyes like a wild boar. ¡°You ruffian! What are you doing to make Kotone-sama get down on her knees?¡± Get over here! I¡¯m going to end this right now ¡­¡­!¡± I¡¯m sure it is Kotone¡¯s attendant. I am sure she will not understand me, so I decide to run away. ¡°I¡¯m sure you can hunt all the birds you want with your bow and arrow, Kotone.¡± I don¡¯t have any advice for you right now, so I¡¯d better get going.¡± ¡°Yes, Master, please take care.¡± I stroll off into the woods. I am going to go back to the house, but on the way I find a zone where a certain plant is growing in clusters. ========== Green Onion Quantity 1 Quality Level 2 (Material Level 2) Wild Green Onion. It has a strong odor and pungent taste and is used for both food and medicinal purposes. ========== ¡°Green Onion¡± is a plant that originated in the East. It¡¯s a perfect food to eat after interacting with Kotone, a beautiful girl from the East. I immediately pick it up and bring it home. In the garden of my house, I start cooking it. I cut up the Mean Bird thighs and the Green Onions into bite-sized pieces, and stuck them alternately on the branches of the Hiroeda tree I have picked up. After skewering the meat, I lightly sprinkled it with salt that Akemi has given me, and set it on fire in the forest stone kamado. As they seared, the oil on the surface made a sizzling sound, and the irresistible aroma spread throughout the area. When it was browned, I lifted it out of the Kamado and went to ¡­¡­. ¡°It¡¯s done! ¡°Negima¡± is ready!¡± ========== Mean Bird Negima Quantity 8 Quality Level 10 (Material Level 5 + Dexterity Bonus 3 + Cooking Bonus 2) A type of skewer called a ¡°Yakitori¡± made from Mean Bird thighs and green onions. In addition to being edible, it is also good for fighting colds. It can be eaten with beer for a synergistic effect. ========== I used to help out in a tavern. The head chef there was from the East, and he taught me some of the East¡¯s dishes, mostly for drinking, but especially this ¡°Negima¡±. As soon as I bite into the meat, I feel the juices flowing out of the meat after the crunchy texture. I follow it up with some green onions. The green onions are crunchy and crispy, and their sweetness fill my mouth. ¡°U_¡­¡­ yummmm!¡± The taste makes me fly up to the sky. ¡°Green onions are spicy when raw, but they become sweet when grilled. I could eat as many of these as I want! I¡¯ll have to thank the chef for teaching me that!¡± Suddenly, the memory of the chef comes back to my mind. There was a time when I was in the kitchen and I was about to throw away the roots of the chopped green onions, but he stopped me. ¡°Wait a minute, Bouzu. There¡¯s still a use for that root.¡± The chef said and plunged the green onion root into a glass of water. ¡°That way, the stems will grow back.¡± I was skeptical at first, but a week later, the green stems were growing back. I paused my reminiscing and looked at the green onion root that had fallen in the corner of the kitchen table. ¡°Let¡¯s give it a try! Then I can eat all the green onions I want! ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô ¡°Kotone-sama, are you alright? The person who did this ¡­¡­!?¡± ¡°Tomoe, you must calm down. What is the matter with you?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be done about it! I can¡¯t believe you went into the forest when I wasn¡¯t looking!¡± ¡°I was hunting birds for you who are building a base. I only got one bird, but I got a lot of things.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, your expression is radiant. You¡¯ve been so down lately. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Tomoe, today for the first time in my life, I have found someone I love.¡± ¡°What? That¡¯s great! I¡¯m sure your father will be very happy to hear that! Weiss-sama, who is currently leading the development of the area, is a perfect match for Kotone. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°No, no, no.¡± What? It¡¯s not Weiss-sama? Then a Hero from Class 1-11? What kind of noble lord is he?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s ¡­¡­. An unemployed master. ¡­¡­! CH 29 In order to revive the stalks of leeks that have been reduced to just roots, you need water. A small amount of water can be obtained from the plant. ¡­¡­ ¡°I¡¯m going to have to find a watering hole.¡± I¡¯m sure that the magic that Nick Bakker-sensei mentioned about the magic of ¡°non-exhaustion¡± will be less effective in the future.¡± So I decided to search for a water hole for the afternoon. I leave the house feeling like going for a walk in the forest, but as I wander through the woods, I see more animals than before, including rabbits and deer. ¡°I¡¯ve only seen birds so far, but there are rabbits and deer¡­ Could it be that the magic of ¡®avoidance¡¯ is wearing off?¡± But if animals originally lived here, there must be a watering hole. I walk further into the mushroom field where I met the alchemist Akemi, and find myself in an open area. The sun shining brightly on the pond gives it a peaceful feeling. There is already a visitor on the other side of the pond, and deer and wild boar drinking the water together. ¡°It¡¯s a nice pond. It¡¯s nice and breezy.¡± I am somewhat tempted to take a nap, but I resist and decide to fetch some water. But now, I realize that I don¡¯t have anything to put the water in. ¡°Hmmm, what should I do? The pockets of my coat have an extended capacity, so I can fit it in there, but I don¡¯t like the idea of putting water in there.¡± As I am pondering on the edge of the pond, I hear the sound of unpleasant footsteps approaching from behind. ¡°Hey, bastard, what are you doing, huh?¡± I turn around and see three men with mohawks staring at me with tangling gazes. They are fiddling with a nail-studded club in their hands. Their bare skin is clad in fur, their arms heaving with muscle and their tattoos waving intimidatingly. It is a very standard barbarian bandit look. A man with a red mohawk approaches me. ¡°This pond is the territory of our class of 1-15! This pond is not a place for a lowlife like you to approach!¡± Class 1-15, ¡­¡­. I think this class comes from a school that trains bandits, barbarians, sorcerers and dark wizards. It seems that most of the class are boys, and there is only one girl. As I am thinking about this, the Mohawked men start laughing. The guy with the blue Mohawk sneeres, ¡°He¡¯s so scared!¡±. The man with the yellow Mohawk says, ¡°He¡¯s about to piss himself! ¡°No wonder! There¡¯s no one who wouldn¡¯t be scared in front of us Pila brothers!¡± I ask, ¡°The Pila brothers?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know us! This guy¡¯s so scared he¡¯s gone crazy! Then I¡¯ll tell you before I beat him up. I¡¯m Tin Pila! The blue one is Tsing Pila, and the yellow one is Twin Pila!¡± ¡°Now, you know? We are your fears!¡± ¡°We came here because of that vice-bastard!¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to make you feel like shit! So, the unemployed trash will be half killed here! Cry, scream!¡± ¡°Cry and scream! But I won¡¯t forgive you! Hahahahahaha!¡± The three Pila brothers are getting more and more excited on their own. I can¡¯t help but be amazed at how they can get so excited on their own. ¡°I see. If you want to be that violent, I can go along with you. ¡­¡­¡± Then a lightning bolt of blue streaked across his tri-colored Mohawk head. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me, die!¡± He raises his club and attacks me. His stance is as amateurish as you¡¯d expect from a barbarian. I change my job to ¡°Martial Artist¡± and take a boxing stance. With three lightning-like jabs in quick succession, I hit the three brothers with a light counter to their noses. All three brothers fall down, spewing nosebleeds at the same time. ¡°What? My nose! ¡«¡«¡«¡«?¡± ¡°My nose exploded! What the hell was that?¡± ¡°What the fuck did you do?¡± The three brothers fall back, holding their noses. ¡°Bmoooooooo¡­¡­!¡± Suddenly, I hear a tremendous snort behind me. I turned around and saw a large wild boar, tearing down the bushes. As soon as the big boar appears, all the animals in the pond run away. It seemed that the real owner of the pond has appeared. The three brothers crawl away, saying, ¡°Heeeeeeeee!¡± and climbs onto a nearby tree. I look at the boar, not moving an inch. The three brothers, who have evacuated to a safe zone, have regained their vigor. ¡°Hey, look, that piece of trash! He¡¯s all freaked out by the boar! It looks like he can¡¯t move a step!¡± ¡°The three of us could easily take on a boar like that, but that would be boring!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah! Let¡¯s watch from here as that piece of trash gets killed!¡± The big boar is breathing hard, kicking the earth with its hind legs, and looks like it was about to lunge at us. It¡¯s about twice my size and has sharp tusks, so I don¡¯t think I¡¯d stand a chance if I clash with it. ¡± Well, then ¡­¡­!¡± I kicked the ground. At the same time, ¡°BUMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! and a large wild boar came at me. From behind me, I heard the astonished voices of the trio. ¡°Oh, that piece of trash just charged in on himself!?¡± ¡°You idiot, you¡¯re going to die!¡± ¡°You¡¯re gonna die, you idiot!¡± Just before I collide with the big boar, I change into a ninja. I dodge the cannonball-like body blow by jumping just in time to scratch it. I grab the boar¡¯s tusks in midair and flip my body around. I pull up the tusks with all my strength and lift the boar¡¯s upper body. The boar¡¯s body is lifted up with only its hind legs high, like a carriage on a curb, like a roaring horse. I put both of my legs on the ground, sink my hips deeply to make a pause, and jump as hard as I can. ¡°¡±¡±I- It flew~~~~!?!?¡±¡±¡± The three men scream and then I fly into the sky with the great boar. With a huge rotation in the air, me and the big boar fall headfirst into the ground. However, the great boar¡¯s head is lower than mine, so it inevitably ¡­¡­ Dogoooshaaaaaaa!!!! The great boar is slammed face-first into the ground, causing the ground to cave in like a crater. The impact spread, causing the pond to ripple and the trees to rustle. The birds fly away and the three brothers fall from the trees like rotten fruit. CH 30 ¡°Fuggy? ¡°Yikes! ¡°UGH! The three brothers fall out of the tree headfirst into the ground. It is a strange position, like a collapsed fruit, but they are more fascinated by what was happening in front of them than their own position. ¡°What the hell was that ¡­¡­? What the hell just happened ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°The trash guy lifted the boar, flew over it, and dropped it. ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°What the hell is ¡­¡­? This guy¡¯s a monster!¡± ¡°¡±¡±Ru- ¡­¡­ Run away! Run away!¡±¡±¡±. The three brothers, with their necks still bent, jump up and down on all four feet like rabbits and ran away. I look down at the big boar as it turns into a drop item, and take a breath. ¡°Ninja¡± skills, ¡°Izuna Throw¡± ¡­¡­. I took a shot at it, but I managed to make it to work. ¡­¡­ However, the loot is quite luxurious for such a strong opponent. ========== Wild boar loin meat Quantity 1 Quality level 6 (Material level 6) Wild boar meat with a good balance of meat and fat. Cooking bonus can be obtained by saut¨¦ing. ========== ========== Boar Skin Quantity 1 Quality Level 7 (Material Level 7) High quality hide with minimal surface damage. Can be tanned to make leather products. ========== ========== Tusks of a giant boar Quantity 1 Quality level 8 (Material level 8) Large, sharp tusks. Can be used to make blades and ornaments. ========== ¡°Flesh, skin and fangs! It¡¯s just what I wanted!¡± I feel as if I have found a treasure. I immediately begin crafting with the materials I have acquired. First, the skin of a giant wild boar. The ¡°Flying Dragon Leather¡± I had gotten before had already been processed, but this one is still unprocessed. The skin would rot if it is left as it is, so it has to be ¡°tanned¡±. I take out ¡°Oorha¡¯s Bag¡± from my coat pocket. This is the bag I made before to hold the things I¡¯ve collected. I use the bag to draw up water from the pond and transfer it to the crater where the Wild Boar has been. Once a small pond is created, I add the skin of the boar. Then I collect the bark from the fallen trees around us. ========== Parampin Bark Quantity 1 Quality Level 2 (Material Level 2) Bark that has dried and become ragged. The astringent juice that can be extracted can be used for adhesives and dyeing. ========== The bark is just dry enough that as soon as I put it in a small pond, the water turns brown. You can soak the skin in the juice from this bark and then dry it in the sun. ¡­¡­¡­ ========== Boar Leather Quantity 1 Quality Level 22 (Material Level 9 + Dexterity Bonus 3 + Occupation Bonus 10) High quality leather with minimal surface damage. Can be used to make leather goods. ========== While I hook the leather onto a tree branch to dry, I begin the next task. I sit down on a rock that is just right for a chair, and shave the tusks of a giant wild boar into shape with my ¡°forest stone knife.¡± The only sound is the crunching sound on the banks of the pond, where the silence has returned. I noticed that the animals have returned and are drinking water. The tusks of the wild boar are curved and sharp, so they are easy to process. ========== Wild Boar Tusk Knife Quantity 1 Quality Level 21 (Material Level 8 + Dexterity Bonus 3 + Occupation Bonus 10) A knife made from the tusks of a boar. With various bonuses, it has the same cutting ability as a metal knife. ========== It¡¯s useful enough as it is, but it¡¯s not finished yet. I took my freshly made knife and cut off a small piece of freshly dried boar¡¯s leather. I wrapped it around the handle of the knife and started to ¡­¡­. ========== Giant Wild Boar Knife Quantity 1 Quality Level 30 (Material Level 17 + Dexterity Bonus 3 + Occupation Bonus 10) A knife made from the tusks of a boar. With various bonuses, it has the same or better cutting ability as a metal knife. The leather grip of the boar prevents slipping, making it easy to use and efficient. ========== ¡± Here it is ¡­¡­! A new knife ¡­¡­! ¡°The Forest Stone Knife¡± has served me well, but this knife is much sharper, more durable, and easier to use and it will be a reliable ally for me from now on.¡± Using the new knife, I continue my crafting. From the trees around the pond, I select the hardest kind of wood and use the knife to shave off a little bit of it. Further shaving of the shards and sharpening the tips like needles will result in ¡­¡­. ========== Ogrewood wooden needles Quantity 1 Quality level 16 (material level 3 + dexterity bonus 3 + occupation bonus 10) A needle made from the wood of Ogrewood. With various bonuses, it is as durable as a metal needle. ========== ¡°Okay, the needle is ready! Now I can start my leather work!¡± I lose track of time and get to work. I¡¯ve been doing this for a long time. It¡¯s been like that for a long time, when I¡¯m working on a craft, I often find the sun has set. Not caring what time it is, I thread the freshly made wooden needle with the thread of the Daijazuru. Then, just as I have done in school, I use my ¡°leather crafting¡± skill to sew up the ¡°giant boar leather¡±. An hour later, I have a number of leather bags in front of me. ========== Wild Boar Leather Water Container Quantity 10 Quality Level 52 (Material Level 39 + Dexterity Bonus 3 + Occupation Bonus 10) This jug is made of wild boar leather sewn together with daijazuru thread. This canteen can hold more water due to its elasticity. ========== ¡°Alright, now I can bring home some water!¡± Although I was supposed to be looking for water, I end up having an unexpectedly good time. I notice that the sun has set and the sky is a contrast of blue and orange. I plunge my water bottle into the pond and pump up the water. I push it into my coat pocket, which is now inflated like a water balloon. Fetching water is a lot of hard work, but with this magical coat, it¡¯s not hard at all. I say goodbye to the animals in the pond, and hurry home with a skipping pace. CH 31 ¡°It¡¯s getting late, but now I can get more green onions.¡± I mutter to myself as I pass through the gate of my house. Just before I cross the threshold, I feel my sixth sense kick in. I feel a shiver run down my spine, and with a bad feeling, I look back to see ¡­¡­. ¡°What the heck is ¡­¡­?¡± The residential area beyond the forest was covered by a high wall. It¡¯s not just a high wall, it¡¯s a wall as high as a fortress. And no matter how you look at it, it¡¯s made of nothing but wood ¡­¡­! I grab the handle of a cart loaded with Gisu wood that I left by the wall and start running like a horse ¡°What ¡­¡­ are they thinking?¡± As I walk up to the wall, the whole picture became clear. The wall is made of bare logs with no bark cut off, and the wooden structure is in disarray. The wall is 50 meters high by eye measurement. Like a malnourished giant, it swayed dizzily in the wind. Everywhere I look, I see scenes that make my blood freeze just looking at them. The scaffolding is a mess, and it is a miracle that no one has been injured yet. I jump into the living quarters, feeling my stomach turn cold. I shout to Weiss, who is standing on the stage, giving orders like a commander. ¡°Weiss! What a mess you¡¯ve made! You can¡¯t even build a house, let alone a wall. ¡­¡­ Weiss has completely misunderstood my dismay. ¡°I¡¯m a Sage, I can do this before I brush my teeth in the morning.¡± ¡°No! No! Stop the construction and demolish the wall right now!¡± If you don¡¯t, you¡¯ll be in big trouble! Look! The walls are shaking just from the wind!¡± ¡°Hmm, this is why the failures who have only one point of ¡®intelligence¡¯ and ¡®liberal arts¡¯ can¡¯t get through ¡­¡­.¡± This is called a seismic isolation structure, and it disperses vibrations by shaking.¡± ¡°This is not a seismic isolation structure! It¡¯s just a poorly constructed structure!¡± You¡¯re putting everyone¡¯s lives at risk by wielding knowledge you¡¯ve only heard about!¡± But Weiss doesn¡¯t seem to realize the gravity of what he has done. He shrugs his shoulders and laughs in disgust. ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking, Leopin.¡± You want to get some attention by making a fuss about something that¡¯s not going to happen.¡± What¡¯s next, ¡®the wolf is coming¡¯?¡± The students who have been working around me burst out laughing. I decide it is useless to say anything, so I turn my back on Weiss and start running. ¡°If this is the way it¡¯s going to be, I¡¯ll just take Monaka and the others to ¡­¡­!¡± I head to Monaka¡¯s house in the middle of the residential area and find her and Kotone in the doorway. When they see me rattling my cart, they both smile like flowers. Monaka is as bright as a flower in the sun, and Kotone is as calm as a flower in the moon. ¡°Oh, Leopin-kun! I heard from Kotone! I heard that you made Kotone your apprentice! If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯d like to join ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Monaka-sama said earlier that she was taught embroidery by Master.¡± That means that you are my sister disciple.¡± ¡°Sister?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Monaka-sama is the first disciple and I am the second.¡± ¡°Ehh!? I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m Leo-kun¡¯s number one!¡± I am in a rush to see Monaka, whose cheeks are still loose from worrying. ¡°I¡¯m going to build a fence around this house. All right?¡± ¡°What? What do you mean?¡± ¡°The walls are going to fall down! If the walls fall down on the outside, it is okay; but if they fall down on the inside, we¡¯ll be in big trouble! But if there¡¯s a wall around this house, the damage will be minimal! You guys could protect it all by yourselves!¡± I start working without waiting for Monaka¡¯s answer. The living quarters are divided into sections for each class, and Monaka¡¯s Class 1-2 had been assigned a rather large area. I unload the Gisu wood from the cart and set it up one after another along the perimeter of the land. Monaka and Kotone are staring at me like sisters as I work furiously. ¡°Umm, Leo-kun, ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Umm, Master, ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡±Can we help you with something, ¡­¡­?¡±¡± ¡°Forget about that, you guys tell the other students to take refuge inside these walls!¡± We could evacuate them to the school building, but there are no classes today and the school building is closed. Evacuating them outside the living quarters would be quite dangerous as many people would have to pass by the wall. ¡°So we have no choice but to turn this house into an ark ¡­¡­!¡± Monaka and Kotone must have understood my desperation, because they start scrambling to help me. Monaka and Kotone, who are usually so quiet and unconcerned, call out in a hoarse voice. ¡°Everyone! Leo-kun says that the walls around the perimeter are about to collapse! It¡¯s dangerous, so please evacuate to my house!¡± ¡°Everyone! Everyone! The Master¡¯s words are correct! Everyone, please believe in Master and evacuate!¡± The appeals of the two most beautiful girls in the school attracted a lot of attention, but as soon as they found out that I was involved, they left as if they had lost interest. ¡°Che, what¡¯s going on here. What¡¯s that trash bastard doing again? ¡­¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just Monaca that¡¯s involved, but Kotone as well. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not possible that the wall designed by the wise Weiss will collapse!¡± ¡°Yes, yes! There is only one thing to believe in, what the Sage says!¡± In the end, ¡­¡­ We took refuge inside the completed wall. Monaka¡¯s Class1-2 , Kotone¡¯s Class 1-19, and Alchemist Akemi¡¯s Class 1-6. Moreover, even their classmates didn¡¯t believe me, and it seemed like they have\ no choice because their leader told them to. We went up to the second floor of the house and watched from the window to see what would happen. ¡°Leopin, are you really sure it is going to collapse? If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll downgrade you to a horse bone!¡± ¡°It¡¯s also a horse bone that can¡¯t even get broth, that it is.¡± Monaka¡¯s attendants, Onesco and Shinobuko, are annoyed. ¡°It¡¯s not that I want it to fall over. I¡¯m not hoping for it to fall down, but it gets windy around here at night, so the wall won¡¯t last the night.¡± Instead of overnight, the moment came quickly. The wall, which has been wobbling like a flabby giant, finally ¡­¡­. ¡­¡­ go ¡­¡­ go ¡­¡­ go ¡­¡­! With a sound like the sky shaking, it shook exceptionally loudly. ¡­¡­G¡­¡­Ra¡­¡­A¡­¡­! The body fell forward as if to cover the entire residential area with darkness. In the middle of the way, it broke from the bottom of its feet, and a log like a giant¡¯s knee poured down. Doguwaaaa ¡­¡­ shhhhhhhhhh £¡£¡£¡£¡ There was a roar from all directions, as if a mountain had collapsed, and a cloud of dust rose up like an iridescent cloud. Logs poured down in an avalanche, swallowing the students in the residential area in an instant, before they could even scream. A muddy torrent of logs and dirt rushed toward the house with the earth shaking. The schoolgirls who were watching from the window hugged each other, ¡°Kyaa!¡± They hugged each other. But the stormy waves were held back by the barrier I had built. The residential area, which had been in a state of false prosperity, instantly turned into a sea of rubble. The place was silent, and the house we were in was like a ship drifting on the horizon of a submerged planet. CH 32 A great disaster, or rather a great man-made disaster, suddenly struck the Royal Pioneer Academy. The residential area has turned into a disaster area. Even the teachers, who normally don¡¯t care about the situation, were overwhelmed and ran out of the school building at this time. A rescue team of staff members was hurriedly formed to rescue the students. Fortunately, the protection spell ¡°Divine Protection¡± had been cast on the living quarters and the rescue team was quick, so all the students were alive. However, the infirmary was full, so the school became a field ward. Moreover, the commotion was not limited to the school, but spread to the outside. The school board and the PTA began to make a fuss and demanded an investigation into the cause. Principal Nekodoran and the Yes-man vice principal were put in the middle of it as the ones in charge of the school. ¡­¡­ They were clever enough to make a preemptive and outrageous announcement. ¡°This whole thing was done at the sole discretion of Weiss of Class 1-20!¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right!¡¡I¡¯m sure Weiss was trying to make up for the loss of rank he got from using the infirmary the other day, and was in a hurry to take credit for it!¡± ¡°In a pioneering academy, the wishes of the students must be respected!¡± We, the teachers, left them to their own free will!¡± It is regrettable that the accident could not be prevented, but it is inevitable!¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right!¡¡Monaka-san from Class 1-2 and Kotone-san from Class 1-19 were calling for evacuation in anticipation of the wall collapsing.¡± But the rest of the students didn¡¯t respond to the call to evacuate!¡± The principal and vice principal put all the blame on Weiss and turned a blind eye ¡­¡­! Weiss, of course, protested. ¡°What? Oh my God, you¡¯re saying that we ordered the base to be built?¡± There is no such evidence!¡± ¡°Yes! Weiss must be in shock from the accident and his memory is confused!¡± ¡°Hmm, this is not good! This is really regrettable!¡± After causing a huge disaster involving many students, he has no remorse, but instead tries to blame others! Weiss-kun¡¯s Class 1-20 will be handed down a punishment of two ranks down!¡± Class 1-20 C- ? D Incidentally, the other classes were also downgraded by one rank for using the infirmary. ¡°Compared to the other classes, how wonderful Monaka and Kotone¡¯s class is!¡± In recognition of your intelligence in not being fooled by Weiss-kun, you¡¯ve been bumped up one rank!¡± Class 1-02 B => B+ Class 1-19 B- ? B The promotion of a class is a great honor, and a normal leader would be overjoyed to receive it. However, the girls who were the leaders of both classes protested together. ¡°No! We can¡¯t accept this achievement!¡± ¡°Yes! We were only following the instructions of a certain person!¡± We think this achievement should be given to that person!¡± ¡°The name of the boy we admire so much is ¡­¡­! Leo ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Kyeeeeeeee~~~!¡± However, this statement was interrupted by the strange voice of the vice principal and squashed by the principal¡¯s rooting. All of the things that are sent out from the Royal Pioneer Academy to the outside world are checked by the principal and vice principal. Therefore, in this case, not a single word of Leopin¡¯s name appeared on the outside. But doesn¡¯t it make you wonder? Isn¡¯t it possible that some of the supporters were watching the whole thing through the magic device? Those people are certainly witnessing Leopin¡¯s activities. However, everyone was silent about the fact. This is because ¡­¡­. They, like the principal and vice principal, were born elites who had earned their positions not by their abilities, but by their families. So. You can find a lot of people who have no benefit from the spread of the activities of the commoner, Leopin ¡­¡­. They were on the side of ¡°Leopin should not be recognized!¡± But with this incident, Leopin¡¯s name was definitely etched in the minds of his supporters. The boy with only dexterity does not yet know that a great power is beginning to move in a place he does not know about. ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô Weiss walks out of the school building and staggers through the rubble of the living quarters. His usual confident and relaxed expression is gone. His eyes are glazed over and his mouth is hanging open. ¡°This ¡­¡­ me, two ranks down, that¡¯s ¡­¡­.¡± A voice that sounds like it was having a nightmare leaked out, mumbling. ¡°It¡¯s impossible for a Sage like me to be downgraded. ¡­¡­ This ¡­¡­ is a nightmare. ¡­¡­¡± But the whispering of the passing girls reminds him that this is real. ¡°Look, it¡¯s Weiss!¡± ¡°We are D-rank students, so you don¡¯t have to use ¡®sama¡¯ anymore!¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. If we build the wall like he says, we¡¯ll be downgraded!¡± ¡°That¡¯s disgusting! I¡¯m so disappointed in you for calling bullshit on a Sage!¡± That assessment is unforgivable to Weiss, but he doesn¡¯t have the energy to argue now. Because he has an even harsher assessment clutched in his hands. On a crumpled piece of parchment that appears to be sticking out, there is a short sentence. ¡°You are a disgrace to your family.¡± That sentence has been swirling around in Weiss¡¯s head for some time now, as the voice of a certain person. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t help it. ¡­¡­ Now, in all the letters you¡¯ve given me, you¡¯ve written many pages about your expectations of me. ¡­¡­¡± He was very angry about the two rank downgrades. ¡­¡­!¡± I have to restore my rank by any means necessary: ¡­¡­.¡± If I don¡¯t, I¡¯ll never be able to be an heir ¡­¡­!¡± Just thinking about it made Weiss¡¯ knees start to buckle. As he walks into the shadows of the rubble, he falls to his knees with a crunch. Then he presses his head down and shouts. ¡°No! ¡­¡­! I¡¯m not going to let that happen. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°I¡¯m a Sage! Unlike Leopin who has no job! I¡¯m a man with a promising future!¡± And yet, and yet, and ¡­¡­!¡± The elite who have never known failure, or have never been taught failure, have less tolerance for failure. And while the last failure was due to Sheaves¡¯ poisonous mushrooms, this time it was clearly his own fault. ¡°I¡¯m not a failure! I didn¡¯t fail! I didn¡¯t fail!¡± Uowaaaaaaaaaa~~!¡± Weiss can¡¯t accept that, and he slumps on the ground. CH 33 ¡°I¡¯m not ¡­¡­ a failure, ¡­¡­. It¡¯s not my fault. ¡­¡­¡± Weiss mumbles as he walks zombie-like back to the grounds of Class 1-20. There, he finds his classmates working to clear away the debris. When they see Weiss, they all rest their hands and look at him like he is a needle in a haystack. No one says anything, but their attitude makes it clear, they are clearly blaming Weiss. He feels a stinging pain all over his body, and he couldn¡¯t help but scream. ¡°The wall collapsed on me. It¡¯s not my fault that the wall came down!¡± ¡°You¡¯re blaming us again,¡± Monsoon says, as if to nail him. He was going to do that, but Weiss baits his teeth when he is preempted. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Then whose fault is it?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s ¡­¡­¡± As he is caught, Weiss feels an unprecedented sense of suffocation. In order to get rid of the suffocation, he immediately mentions a person¡¯s name. ¡°Y-, yes, Leopin.¡± Leopin was so jealous of my success that he secretly broke down the wall. ¡­¡­!¡± It is just a mouthful, but as soon as he says it, Weiss¡¯ breathlessness disappears like a lie. Yes, for him, blaming someone else is already as good as breathing. ¡°What?¡± All of his classmates reacted. Weiss says again, ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± ¡°Is that for real, Weiss?¡± ¡°Yes, I did see it. Yeah, I saw it happen. I saw the wall come crashing down at his hands.¡± ¡°Damn it, I¡¯m gonna blast that son of a bitch!¡± By turning Leopin into an enemy, Weiss has not only made his mistake go away, but has also brought the class back together. He says with great enthusiasm. ¡°Wait, Monsoon. Just an iron fist is not enough for him.¡± Let¡¯s give him a taste of his own medicine.¡± ¡°What? What do you have in mind?¡± ¡°Ah¡±, Weiss looks over at the girl with the flamboyant face musing, she has curly hair and a worn out uniform, she can¡¯t even afford a place to live right now, but she¡¯s wearing a lot of makeup. ¡°Now is the time to use your magic, Carol, and unleash your ¡®Fireball¡¯ on Leopin¡¯s house.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± roars Monsoon. ¡°If we burn his house down, he¡¯ll know what we¡¯re going through! ¡°Carol! Burn Leopin¡¯s house down with a bang!¡± Then, when he comes out, I¡¯ll beat him up so badly that he won¡¯t be able to stand on his feet!¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea!¡± The classmates were excited. But only Carole remains with a pouting expression on her face. ¡°I¡¯m not going to do it.¡± Weiss frowns, ¡°What?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t listen to the orders of the Sage, the leader of the class?¡± Then you must have a good reason for that, right?¡± And then Carol averts her gaze and says with a pout on her lips ¡°¡­¡­ Leopin doesn¡¯t break people¡¯s things.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking about Leopin. He is a stupid, helpless guy whose only skill is his dexterity, but ¡­¡­.¡± But he was serious about his passion for making things.¡± He would never make fun of something that someone else had worked hard to make.¡± That¡¯s why Leopin didn¡¯t break any walls.¡± ¡°Hmm. Carol, you¡¯ve been making fun of Leopin for a long time.¡± What do you know about Leopin?¡± Carol¡¯s eyes, which had been strained until then, peeled back to reveal a pair of eye shadowed eyes. ¡°I know a lot more than you do! I made homemade chocolate for Leopin ¡­¡­!¡± Carole presses her mouth with a look of ¡°oh no¡±. She quickly makes up for it, her cheeks turning even redder. ¡°And anyway! I believe in Leopin and ¡­¡­!¡± Oh, no, no, no! I¡¯m not going to set fire to your house, that¡¯s for sure!¡± If you want to do it, Weiss can do it on his own!¡± Weiss¡¯s brows twitch. ¡°Do you believe in ¡­¡­ Leopin more than me?¡± This was the most humiliating thing he has ever heard. The plating on his mind that he has been trying to keep calm is peeling off with a clatter. ¡°You can¡¯t trust Leopin over me!¡± Leopin will have to be alone for the rest of his life!¡± Do it, Carol! Burn his house down!¡± ¡°Absolutely not! Who is going to take orders from you?¡± ¡°Ugh. ¡­¡­! Then take this ¡­¡­!¡± Bam! Weiss raises his fist in the air. It is the first time he had ever used violence by force against a classmate. Carol shrugs her shoulders and closes her eyes. When she opens her eyes, she sees¡­¡­. Weiss, who has been grabbed by the arm, is trembling. ¡°Let go of me, Monsoon! From now on, I¡¯m going to give this woman a trashing ¡­¡­!¡± Monsoon holds Weiss¡¯ arm and speakers quietly. ¡°I believe in you, and that¡¯s why I¡¯ve done everything you¡¯ve asked.¡± But I don¡¯t like it when you hit a woman.¡± A man¡¯s fist is there to beat up a man he doesn¡¯t like.¡± If you hit Carol, I¡¯ll throw you in the garbage.¡± ¡°Guh ¡­¡­!¡± Weiss¡¯ eyes are bloodshot. ¨CYou¡¯re a piece of trash! You¡¯re going to throw me away. ¡­¡­? You can throw away trash, but you can never throw away humans! The choice has always been mine, made by a human being. ¡­¡­! You guys, oversized garbage, don¡¯t have any right to choose. Weiss yells , ¡°Let go!¡± And walks away from Monsoon¡¯s hand. He points his finger at all his classmates to confront them. ¡°I¡¯m a Sage! And I¡¯m the chairman!¡± And I¡¯m the chairman of the committee! I want to remember that the chairman of the committee has the authority to hand out penalties!¡± ¡­¡­ bang! Weiss holds up his hands toward the horizon. ¡°¡­¡­ Heaven, earth!¡± Let the fools know their place!¡± ¡­¡­ Goooo~! The air in the area trembles. The classmates retreats in astonishment. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious, you can¡¯t be serious. ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°St- stop, Weiss!¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing to do with Assi! Forgive me!¡± ¡°Then prostrate yourself!¡± Or else you¡¯ll be wiped out!¡± Baaan!! Weiss raises his hands to the sky. He is finally going to wield his ¡°wise man¡¯s authority¡± over the entire class. And not only Carol, but all his classmates are astonished. When they fearfully open their eyes, they see¡­¡­. ¡­¡­Dogwag¡­¡­shhhh! The figure of Weiss is blown away as if he were obliterated by a full horizontal swing. He goes straight into a pile of trash that is a temporary garbage dump, headfirst. He is buried under the collapsing garbage, with only his buttocks sticking out, twitching. It is a miserable sight, but none of the classmates can see Weiss anymore. Who the hell did this ¡­¡­! They look at the place where Weiss used to stand. There, to their surprise, stands¡­¡­! ¡°Eh ¡­¡­ Leopin?!?!?!¡± At that moment, Leopin is carrying a log on his shoulders and has his back to his classmates. But he reacted to the call and turned around, ¡°Eh?¡± He turned around. The boy looks around at his stunned classmates and the pathetic looking chairperson with a dumbfounded expression. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry. I thought something hit me, but it was Weiss, wasn¡¯t it?¡± The boy leaves. The members of Class 1-20 are left dumbfounded, but one girl steps forward as if impelled to do so. ¡°Ah, ¡­¡­! Leo ¡­¡­! Than-(Ariga-)¡­¡­ Pin¡­¡­!¡± This was the first time the girl, who could not be honest, expressed her gratitude. It was supposed to be a few words, but for the girl it was far more difficult than casting a great spell. The boy looks back. ¡°¡­¡­ ¡®Arigapin¡¯? What¡¯s that?¡± The girl couldn¡¯t even look at the boy¡¯s face anymore and quickly turns away. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. You¡¯re not in my class anymore, so don¡¯t talk to me like that!¡± ¡°Okay, okay, I get it. See you later.¡± The boy turns his back on the girl again. The girl doesn¡¯t have enough courage left in her to try again. CH 34 After the disaster, I tried to help clear the debris. But was stopped by the principal and vice principal before I could finish carrying the first log. ¡°It¡¯s not good for you to be here!¡± ¡°Go back to the dump! Shoo, shoo!¡± After being chased away like a stray dog, I thought it was okay and went back to my house. I remembered what I was going to do, and the next morning, I immediately made a planter out of leftover Gisu wood. ========== Gisu Planter Quantity 4 Quality Level 25 (Material Level 12 + Dexterity Bonus 3 + Occupation Bonus 10) A planter made from a combination of high quality Gisu wood. Due to various bonuses, it is fire resistant and plants grow better than normal planters. ========== I set up the planter in the garden and take out my ¡°boar¡¯s leather water bottle¡± from my coat pocket. I fill it with water from the pond I had fetched and place the roots of the green onion in it. ¡°Alright, I hope you guys grow healthy again.¡± As I speak to the roots, I notice that my body becomes enveloped in light. ========== Name Leopin Occupation Trapper Lv 10 ? 11 HP 1810 MP 1810 Status Life 181 Endurance 181 Toughness 181 Spirit 181 Resistance 181 Agility 181 Concentration 181 Strength 181 Magic 181 Dharma 181 Intelligence 181 Liberal Arts 181 Five Senses 181 Sixth Sense 181 Charm 1 Luck 2 Dexterity 380 ? 480 ========== ========== Changeable occupations Production System Lumberjack Appraiser Carpenter Masonry Leather Craftsman Woodcrafter NEW! Mana Farmer Exploration System Ranger Treasure Hunter Combat System Battle Axe User Ninja Martial Artist Trapper ========== The occupation that has been added after leveling up is the ¡°Mana Farmer¡±. Like the Farmer, the Mana Farmer is a professional who grows crops. However, there is a big difference between them. A Mana Farmer uses magic in the process of cultivation. In other words, he is a magician who specializes in farming. However, there are not many people who have a talent for magic but want to tinker with the soil, so it is a very rare profession. In any case, it¡¯s a job that I hope for and desire right now. ========== Leopin Occupation Carpenter ? Demon Farmer (Mana Farmer) Occupation Skill Field Cultivation Knowledge and skills to grow crops in open fields Wind Cultivation Gain the power of the wind spirit to extend the area to be cultivated Breath of Light Gain the power of the Spirit of Light to stimulate the growth of crops. ========== I change my job to ¡®Mana Farmer¡¯ then it happens to me¡­. The moment I change jobs, my vision becomes a new color. It is as if the thin membrane that had been covering my eyeballs for so long has been removed, and everything became clearer. Technically speaking, the grass in the garden turned a vibrant green and began to glow as if to say, ¡°Look at me! Look at me!¡± I mumble the names of the plants in my garden like it was natural for me. ¡± Hacobeniso, fumitsuke-so, triple clover¡­ ¡­¡­ What had been just ¡®grass¡¯ could now be recognized as a unique living thing. I see, with my ¡®field cultivation¡¯ skills, I can now recognize the different types of grasses: ¡­¡­! I suddenly notice a vine growing on the wall of my garden. That¡¯s ¡­¡­! I approach it as if attracted by it, and crouch down to dig in the ground. As I pull on the vine, the ground crack open and a small red root pops out, like a small bird¡¯s egg. ========== Sweet Potato Quantity 1 Quality Level -9 (Material Penalty 9) A wild sweet potato. They are very fertile, but are too small to be edible. ========== I knew it. It¡¯s a wild sweet potato. ¡­¡­! I can¡¯t believe there¡¯s a familiar vegetable buried so close to me. ¡­¡­! I thought I was getting pretty good at being self-sufficient, but I guess I wasn¡¯t quite there yet. ¡°But now I¡¯ve got the perfect vegetables to start farming.¡± I cut off a vine from a sweet potato that was growing in my garden. ========== Sweet Potato Seedlings Quantity 1 Quality Level -9 (Material Penalty 9) Cut wild sweet potato seedlings. They are very fertile and can be grown in any area, but the varieties that can be grown are inferior. ========== I wanted to start farming right away with these cut seedlings, but there was still some preparation to be done. ¡°It¡¯s hard enough to work in the field with bare hands.¡± I say to myself as I fly to the cart near my house. I take the Gisu Wood from the cart and pull out the Great Wild Boar Knife from my pocket. With my Woodcrafter skill, I quickly makes up the tools. ========== Gisu Hoe Quantity 1 Quality Level 25 (Material Level 12 + Dexterity Bonus 3 + Occupation Bonus 10) This hoe is made from a combination of high-quality gisu wood. Due to the various bonuses, it is stronger and lighter than a normal wooden hoe. ========== ¡°We¡¯re all set!¡¡¡­¡­ Now, where shall we make the field?¡± I look around at the surrounding forest. When I first came here, the area was covered with Gisu trees. But they had been cut down for lumber, so now I have a much clearer view. I decided to make a field right next to the house, because it looks like I can make a good clearing by removing the remaining stumps. The first thing I do is to dig up the stump with the ¡°forest stone shovel¡± that I made before. Of course, I wouldn¡¯t throw it away. I chop stumps up with the forest stone axe and turn it into firewood. ========== Gisu Firewood Quantity 60 Quality level 16 (material level 2 + dexterity bonus 4 + occupation bonus 10) Firewood cut from a gisu stump. The fire lasts longer than normal firewood due to various bonuses. ========== ¡°You can never have enough firewood!¡± Finally, it is time for the long awaited first farm work. I grabbed the ¡± Gisu Hoe¡± and shout high into the sky. ¡°Enchanted Wind!¡± The Demon Farmer¡¯s ¡°Wind Farming¡± spell is activated. (Demon/Magic use the same kanji) ========== Leopin Occupation Demon Farmer (Mana Farmer) LV 11 HP 1810 MP 1810 ? 1800 ========== Leaves appear out of nowhere and wrap around my body like a whirlwind. I felt a strange power in my arms, and I couldn¡¯t help but roar, ¡°Oh ¡­¡­! ¡° ¡°This was my first time using magic, after all. How does it work? ¡­¡­! That¡¯s great!¡± I swing the hoe down towards the ground. Zakk! As the blade of the hoe buries itself in the ground with a pleasant sound. ¡­¡­ Shwah! The soil around the 1 meter square loosens up as if it is bubbling. ¡°Ooh! I can¡¯t believe I can till all the soil at once with one swing! This is so easy!¡± The feel of the soil through the hoe and the sensation of tilling the soil. It is very fresh and fun for me. ¡°I should have done it sooner! Besides, it¡¯s a legitimate craft!¡± Like a child given a new toy, I dig into the dirt with enthusiasm. Feeling the strong smell of earth rising up from the ground as if a life that has been asleep until now has awakened. At first, I planned to make a 10 meter square field and grow sweet potatoes as a test. But I enjoyed tilling the soil so much that I found myself tilling a 20 meter square field. I stand in the center of the field, wipe off my sweat, and look around. ¡°This is all I need. Now, let¡¯s plant some seedlings.¡± I stab the base of the ¡°Sweet Potato Cuttings¡± I kept in my pocket into the soft ground. Then I spread my hands and shouted at the sun. ¡°Light, ¡­¡­!¡¡Be the force that makes new life sprout in this land. ¡­¡­!¡± I activate my ¡°Demon Farmer¡± skill, ¡°Breath of Light¡±. My body again becomes enveloped in a warm glow, and the light spreads across the field through the soles of my shoes. The next moment. Zomomomo~!! The thirty-centimeter cut seedlings planted in the ground begin to grow as fast as the earth cracks. I almost jumped at the sight, as if time has started to flow faster. ¡°I- In an instant like this, ¡­¡­?¡± It has to be. I look at my status and see that my MP was completely empty. ========== Leopin Occupation Demon Farmer (Mana Farmer) LV 11 HP 1810 MP 1800 ? 0 ========== ¡°Well, this magic will continue to work as long as you don¡¯t stop it. ¡­¡­ If you use 1800 MP, it¡¯ll get this big. ¡­¡­¡± I notice that the sweet potato leaves have spread out from the field and have invaded the surrounding forest. CH 35 I am in the center of a ¡°sweet potato field¡± that has been completed in just a few seconds. With dense foliage growing around my feet as if I am part of the forest. ¡°¡­¡­ I feel like I¡¯ve become a ¡°Druid¡±.¡± In the meantime, let¡¯s see how the sweet potatoes come out. But I wasn¡¯t expecting much. Because the seedlings I used as a base were of a very low quality, level -9. ¡°I was just going to make a few to try out, but I think I made too many.¡± While feeling a bit sorry for myself, I pull the roots at my feet like a tug of war. Then a small but beautiful red color appears from the soft soil. ========== Sweet Potato Quantity 10 Quality Level 4 (Material Penalty -9 + Dexterity Bonus 3 + Profession Bonus 10) A sweet potato grown in a field. Small, but sweet and fertile. ========== ¡°Oh! The quality level has improved!¡± Moreover, the original sweet potatoes were as small as little quail eggs, but they have grown to the size of chicken eggs. Of course, it¡¯s not as big as the vegetables sold in the stores, but it¡¯s a good first crop. ¡°And there are so many of them. ¡­¡­¡± The sweet potatoes are clustered on a single root like a bunch of grapes. ¡°I¡¯m sure this will be enough to keep me fed for a while.¡± ¡­¡­ But what about the important part, the taste?¡± As I am curious, I try them. I gather up some dry grass and leaves from around the area and make a pile in front of the gate of my house. I put the harvested sweet potatoes inside and lit a fire. The fire blazes up with a crackling sound. The smoke is thick and fragrant. ¡°Somehow, it smells really good. ¡­¡­¡± I like the smell of bonfires, but I think I like the smell of baking sweet potatoes even more. It¡¯s kind of like a sweetness that spreads in your mouth even though you haven¡¯t eaten it. ¡­¡­ The next thing I know, I see three figures walking towards me from the living quarters. It was the trio of Monaka, Akemi and Kotone. The three of them seem to have become friends after the recent catastrophe. All three of them had a woozy look on their faces as they dart towards me like fairies seeking nectar. Their twitching noses are as cute as the fluttering of tiny wings. When I called out to them, ¡°Were you attracted by the smell?¡± all three of them come to their senses as if waking up from a dream. ¡°Oh, Leo-kun!¡± ¡°When did we arrive at Master¡¯s residence ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Fuwa? We were going to go to your place, but then we smelled something good from outside the forest, and we found ourselves here ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Leo-kun. What is this scent?¡± ¡°Yes, it is an irresistible and very seductive scent. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°You can¡¯t make a scent that attracts you this much even with an alchemical love potion.¡± I have to find out what it is at all costs. ¡­¡­¡± The girls were staring at the fire, their mouths slurping. They seem to be eager to eat. ¡°Since you¡¯re here, why don¡¯t you eat?¡± I poke around the campfire with a tree branch and take out a sweet potato. ========== Baked Sweet Potato Quantity 10 Quality Level 8 (Material Level 4 + Dexterity Bonus 4) Baked sweet potatoes. Sweet and filling. ========== ¡°Un, I think you can eat this now. Be careful, it¡¯s hot.¡± I hand one to each of them and start bouncing them around in my hands. ¡°Leo-kun, are these sweet potatoes by any chance?¡± I¡¯ve never had them baked like this before.¡± ¡°It¡¯s considered impolite to eat them while standing outside, but ¡­¡­.¡± If you are the one inviting me, I can¡¯t help but eat it.¡± ¡°Mmmm, I can¡¯t take it anymore. ¡­¡­!¡± The three of them simultaneously split the sweet potato in two. A golden cross-section appears. ¡­¡­ fluffy. With a steam that is indescribably sweet. The girls forgot their manners and gulped! ¡°¡±¡±Itadakimasu!¡±¡±¡± They dig into the hot sweet potato as if they haven¡¯t eaten in days. Perhaps it is the heat, but the three of us all say, ¡°Huh! Huff! Huff Huff!¡± But as soon as they swallowed it, they were like, ¡°¡±¡±Ooh ¡­¡­ ohiiihiiiii (Delicius)¡±¡±¡± They are holding their mouths with their hands and shouting in surprise. As expected of a group of young ladies, the gesture of surprise is also elegant. ¡°I didn¡¯t know baked sweet potatoes could taste so good. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s very sweet¡± ¡°Oh my God, it¡¯s melting my mouth!¡± After that, all three of them gobble up the sweet potatoes like kids on a roll. I try one myself and find it to be sweet and crunchy, no wonder the girls are crazy about it. ¡°Do you want some more? I¡¯ll cook some more, and eat as much as you like.¡± ¡°Are you sure you want to ¡­¡­?¡± Monaka looked at me with a mixture of expectation and reservation. ¡°Yeah. I have plenty.¡± I then make about 20 more baked sweet potatoes and we all eat them together. By the time we finished, everyone was full, but the women were nodding off. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? You looked so happy just now.¡± ¡°Actually, ¡­¡­ we came to ask Leo-kun for advice about food.¡± ¡°We¡¯re having a very difficult time clearing the rubble from the living quarters, and we can¡¯t get enough food. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯re having a very difficult time clearing the rubble from the residential areas.¡± ¡°But I can¡¯t believe we¡¯re the only ones eating such delicious food and being so full. I feel so guilty.¡± ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s what this is all about. Then take some sweet potatoes with you.¡± The three of them looked up, ¡°What?¡± ¡°But Leo, didn¡¯t we eat all the sweet potatoes earlier?¡± ¡°I told you there are more, see?¡± I point with my thumb to the sweet potato field next to my house. The girls are shocked as if they are entangled in the vines that grew so thickly that they could not see the ground. ¡°Well, Master. I don¡¯t know much about crops because I¡¯m not familiar with agricultural products.¡± How many sweet potatoes can be grown in this field?¡± ¡°Well, if you dig around a little bit ¡­.¡± I¡¯d say we¡¯ve got about two tons in this field?¡± ¡°Ni ¡­¡­ ni (Tw- tw) ooohhhh!¡± The girls has their hair standing upside down and are screaming in a shrill voice. CH 36 I harvest sweet potatoes to help the students in the residential area with their food shortage. With my ¡°Demon Farmer(Mana Farmer)¡± skills, I can grow as many vegetables as I want. I pile all the sweet potatoes in the field into a cart, leaving only the seed potatoes behind. One cart wasn¡¯t enough to hold it all, so I had to build another one. ¡°I could take them to the residential area, but the principal and vice principal have told me not to come in for a while.¡± Can you get someone to help me?¡± Akemi then called the boys around her. They carried the heavy cart like worker ants, without complaining. As I was watching them go, Monaka said to me anxiously. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t mind if we take it? Leo-kun has worked so hard to grow these vegetables. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. It was fun.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Leo-kun is really ¡­¡­ really amazing.¡± Not only did you build such a magnificent house all by yourself, but you also built my house ¡­¡­.¡± On top of that, you saved us from the disaster and even the food crisis ¡­¡­. It¡¯s so great, I¡¯m going to be ¡­¡­ overwhelmed. ¡­¡­!¡± Monaka¡¯s eyes were becoming puffy, so I teasingly put my hand on her head. ¡°Hey, Monaka the crier is back? I used to pat you on the head like this when you cried.¡± ¡°M- Mou- I¡¯m not crying anymore.¡± Monaka is embarrassed to admit it. She mumbles in a whisper, squeezing her chest with both hands as if to calm her raging heart. ¡°But I want you to stroke my ¡­¡­ head. ¡­¡­¡± ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô The three girls, Monaka, Akemi, and Kotone, say goodbye to Leopin and leave the forest. However, once they leave the forest, hell awaits them. The residential area is still filled with rubble, and the removal work is slow. Only the pathways are barely open, but they looked like a garbage dump. It is a far cry from Leopin¡¯s house, which has been cleared and even has a field. Akemi murmures in exasperation. ¡°I don¡¯t even know which one is the garbage dump.¡± There are two reasons why the removal work is not proceeding Most of the students of the ¡°Royal Pioneer Academy¡± are young men and women, so they¡¯ve never had to remove rubble before. But that is only a minor reason. The biggest reason is the fact that this place had been left with all the debris all over the place It is the rule of debris removal. The rule is that each class has to remove the debris from its own premises. The students are only thinking about themselves, so they just removed the debris from their own property and left it on the property of other classes. In other words, it was just a bunch of garbage going back and forth on the grounds. ¡­¡­! So, while the grounds of the top ranking classes were quickly cleaned up, the grounds of the lower ranking classes are still left with rubble. Some of the students even begin to live in the rubble, making it look more like a slum than a pioneering academy. The three girls make their way through the homeless students to Monaka¡¯s house in the center of the school. Monaka¡¯s house is like a shelter because nothing had happened thanks to Leopin¡¯s fence and because it is a large property. The students become excited when they see a pile of sweet potatoes brought in on a cart. They gather around as if they are receiving rations during the war. They are grateful. ¡°Wow! That¡¯s a lot of sweet potatoes!¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t eaten much lately, so this is great!¡± ¡°That¡¯s Monaka-sama and Kotone-sama! They brought us so much food!¡± ¡°Thank you, thank you, thank you!¡± But their prayers are interrupted by the two girls. ¡°Please stop. We didn¡¯t bring these sweet potatoes.¡± ¡°Yes, we did not. So you must thank him before you eat it.¡± ¡°What? You two didn¡¯t get the food? Then who the heck did ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Leo-kun¡± ¡°Master did.¡± The answers spun out are different. But the person they were referring to was the exact same ¡­¡­! ¡°Leo-kun offered us the vegetables he is growing for himself because we are in need!¡± ¡°Oh, how generous the Master is!¡± ¡°So these vegetables will only be given to those who properly thank Leo-kun!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Please take them with Master¡¯s permission!¡± ¡°E- Ehhhhhh~~? ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô ¡°I¡¯m so full of sweet potatoes.¡± I think I¡¯ll take a nap and continue my work in the field in the afternoon.¡± I go back to the house and lay down on the bed. As I was falling asleep, there was a knock at the front door. ¡°Hmm, what is it? Monaka and her friends again? I am feeling so tired. ¡­¡­¡± I get out of bed and open the front door to find a strange girl standing there. ¡°What¡¯s up with you?¡± Before I could ask, she quickly bowed her head. ¡°Leopin-kun! Thanks for the sweet potatoes!¡± I understand what she meant. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry about it.¡± I am sleepy, so I quickly shut to the door. But the girl put her troubled face in the doorway. ¡°Hey, wait a minute! Please tell me ¡°I am not in pain!/it doesn¡¯t bother me/I am not hurt by it¡±¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± She says to me that if she doesn¡¯t say thank you and I don¡¯t say ¡°I am not in pain!¡±, she wouldn¡¯t get the sweet potato. ¡°I don¡¯t know why that¡¯s happening, but you can just pretend I said it.¡± The girl pointed to the window of my room with a troubled look on her face. There Shinobuko is peeking out. ¡°Nin. I am making sure that I have said thank you properly, that I have been ordered by Monaka-sama-degozaru.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a ¡­¡­ hassle, that ¡­¡­!¡¡You don¡¯t even need to thank me. ¡­¡­!¡± But the girl is looking at me with a face like a hungry puppy. ¡°Ah, okay, ¡®I am not in pain!¡¯. Is that okay?¡± Then the girl¡¯s face fills with gratitude, as if she has actually received a blessing from me. ¡°Thank you, Leopin-kun!¡± She bows her head once more, and then quickly disappears. I think it is going to be quiet, but another male student pokes his head in the door. He looks up at me with a pouting expression, waiting for me to say something. When I didn¡¯t say anything. ¡°Hey, just say, ¡®I¡¯m not in pain!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s going to say it?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me! You¡¯re a dropout from the special training class with a big attitude!¡± ¡°Who is the one who is trying to get this dropout to give him food? If you don¡¯t like it, you don¡¯t have to eat it.¡± ¡°Oh, ¡­¡­, ¡­¡­, no! It¡¯s a lie! Leopin-kun! Please, I¡¯ll have a sweet potato, ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Then get down on your knees and ask for it.¡± ¡°Guh! ¡­¡­¡¡You bastard. ¡­¡­!¡¡Oh, ¡­¡­!¡¡Please, Leopin. ¡­¡­!¡± The first girl who came to me, who was able to say thank you properly, I said to her once, ¡°I am not in pain!¡± But for those who are defiant, like the next male student who came, I make him get down on his knees. Some of them said, ¡°Screw you! Who would get down on their knees for trash?¡± and left. But they couldn¡¯t overcome their hunger, and after a while, they came back, crying and throwing out their bodies. ¡°Please!¡¡Please, Leopin-kun, no, Leopin-sama~!¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten anything good in a long time!¡¡If Leopin-sama abandons me, I¡¯ll starve to death!¡± Uoooon Uooooon! (Sobbing sounds XD)¡± I didn¡¯t know that a single sweet potato could make them throw away their pride to this extent. ¡­¡­ I am beyond stunned, I am even impressed. CH 37 It seems that the work of clearing away the rubble is not quite finished yet, so the school is temporarily closed. However, it is decided that the morning assembly would be held in the schoolyard every morning to communicate information. Today, the first day of the meeting, the vice principal stood on the stage and immediately made an announcement. ¡°Yes! I¡¯m going to hand out special tickets to everyone!¡± You will receive a ticket with your name on the front cover!¡± With that, something began to be handed out from the front of the line of students. But it didn¡¯t come to me, who was standing at the end of the line, out of the group. The vice principal continued, holding up a sample of the ticket. It was in the form of a booklet, with a bundle of bills with strips of paper inside. ¡°This is called a ¡°Slave Ticket¡±, and it¡¯s distributed in the pioneer academies!¡± I¡¯ve heard of ¡°slave tickets¡± ¡­¡­. In pioneering schools, currency is implemented as the pioneering progresses, and it seems to be a kind of paper money. This is a kind of currency has a set face value, just like normal currency, but it is only an indication of value. In terms of usage, ¡°one paper is worth one time.¡± To see what one ticket is worth ¡­¡­. ¡°To put it simply, this ticket is a ¡®do-whatever-you-want¡¯ ticket!¡± For example, when you want something, instead of bartering, you give this ticket to the other person.¡± And you must obey whatever they ask you to do with this ticket!¡± Yes, when you give a ticket with your portrait on it, you give the other person the right to order you around one time.¡± However, this ticket has no coercive power, so you can refuse to do what you are ordered.¡± If you do so, what happens is that the value of the ticket decreases as a penalty.¡± If you continue to refuse orders, you will eventually become like a piece of paper.¡± As long as you do what you are ordered, the ticket will maintain its value.¡± You can continue to use it as a substitute for currency.¡± Of course, you can¡¯t do anything that would violate the school rules, let alone the law!¡± If you do, your ticket will be invalidated!¡± It may be useful in some ways, but there would be a lot of psychological resistance to actually using it.¡± Since you have to listen to whatever they want, even if it¡¯s only once.¡± In fact, even in other pioneer schools, tickets are rarely exchanged.¡± After finishing the explanation, the vice principal looks at the ticket slip in his hand and is surprised. ¡°No! The ticket I was using for the explanation belonged to a student of the ¡®Special Training Class¡¯! They were just like trash, so I borrowed them for the explanation!¡± The vice principal throws the ticket at me with a whoosh. My ticket flys over the heads of the students, who look up at me and laugh. ¡°Look! That ticket!¡± ¡°Wow, the value is zero! It¡¯s just a piece of paper!¡± ¡°Of course it is! No one wants a ticket from that trash from Special Training Class!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not even a piece of paper to wipe your ass with! Hahahahaha!¡± I pick up the ticket that has fallen at my feet. The ticket, covered in dust, has a single ¡°0¡± and a malicious portrait of me on it. ¡°Yes! You can use this ticket to make a deal with everyone starting today! Of course, you can also use it to show your gratitude!¡± As if he remembered something, the vice principal snaps his fingers with an ¡°oh¡± in between. ¡°There¡¯s one more thing I¡¯d like to inform you of! As soon as the tickets are released, a new evaluation system will be introduced!¡± Behind the stage, a plate-like object covered with a purple cloth is brought in. When the cloth gets removed, it is revealed to be a ranking board with the title ¡°Asset Ranking¡±. However, it only has a title, and the first, second, and third places are all blank. This means that there are no classes ranked so far. ¡°This ¡®asset ranking¡¯ is a ranking of the total assets of each class!¡± The tickets I just handed out are also assets, but they don¡¯t count for you or your classmates!¡± In other words, only tickets given by other classmates count as assets. Otherwise, Class 1-11, with the highest valuation at the moment, would be the undisputed leader!¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to make all sorts of deals with them and get tickets as fast as I can!¡± The vice principal happily took the inventory from his pocket. ¡°As an incentive, the first class to gain assets and enter the ranks will receive the ¡®First Ticket Prize¡¯! It¡¯s a chance to increase your assets by another 10 million Yen!¡± ¡°Oh!¡± The students cheered. ¡°In addition, Monaka and Kotone, who were very active in the last disaster, have been given special golden plated tickets! The first student to get this gold ticket will receive the ¡®First Gold Ticket Award¡¯!¡± The students buzz at the vice principal¡¯s words. ¡°Wow, a gold ticket!¡± ¡°That¡¯s what they deserve!¡± ¡°I bet the value is huge!¡± ¡°Of course they are! I¡¯m sure there are plenty of people who would pay anything if they could command those two!¡± ¡°But don¡¯t those two make wishes come true without using tickets?¡± ¡°Yeah, if they use the tickets, it¡¯ll be as a sign of gratitude!¡± ¡°Wow, I wonder what kind of person would get a ticket from those two?¡± ¡°In the past, it would have been Weiss-sama, but he¡¯s not so hot anymore, so it would have to be the hero!¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough chit chat for now! That¡¯s the end of the morning meeting, you¡¯re dismissed! Everyone, let¡¯s continue with the restoration work!¡± The vice principal claps his hands, and as if that is the signal to start, two figures rush out from the line of students. The figures come running towards me, their long hair puffed up by the wind. Before I can even ask what was going on, the two girls hand me a ticket. ¡°Please, Leo-kun! Please take all of my tickets!¡± ¡°Please, Master! I want you to use everything I have for your benefit!¡± Both of them, with flushed faces, speak up at once. Then, with their tickets protruding, they simultaneously turned their faces down. It is like a simultaneous confession, they are making the ultimate choice. The students, who were about to be scattered, gather their voices as if they have become one again. ¡°E- Ehhhhhhh!?!?!?¡± CH 38 Monaka and Kotone suddenly throw all their money at me. Two gold tickets peek out from the booklet presented to me. Both of them are shining with gold and have the profile of two beautiful girls on them. What surprises me more, however, are the number of zeros. There are more zeros than I could count at first glance. It puzzles me in several ways. ¡°No, I can¡¯t just accept ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Kyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee £¡£¡£¡£¡¡± The strange voice that has become a tradition interrupts me. ¡°No! You can¡¯t give tickets to students who are trash and are in the special training class!¡± Monaka and Kotone look up and protest indignantly. ¡°Why is that, vice principal? I¡¯ve always been indebted to you, Leo-kun.¡± You said it was okay to use it to show your gratitude!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, sir! Master always gives me guidance, too!¡± It is an overwhelming gratitude that cannot be expressed in words!¡± ¡°No ¡­¡­! No! Gratitude is something that the inferior does for the superior! You two are much, much better than Leopin-kun!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true! You¡¯re much better than me, Leo!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! There is no one else like you, Master!¡± ¡°A- ¡­¡­ Anyway, if I say it doesn¡¯t work, it doesn¡¯t work!¡± But Monaka and Kotone persist. ¡°Then, if it¡¯s a thank you, it¡¯s fine! Right? Leo-kun built a magnificent house for me.¡± ¡°I am under the tutelage of Master! If I give you this voucher as a monthly reward for that, it¡¯s not strange at all, right?¡± ¡°Guh! Gunununu!¡± The vice-principal is flustered. ¡°The cost of the house¡± and ¡°the monthly fee¡± is a normal business transaction. If you deny it, you might as well deny the ticket itself. The vice principal is dripping with sweat like a frog stared at by two snakes. Eventually, he squeezes out a voice like his intestines were twisting. ¡°Guh! If you want, you can give them one ticket of the lowest denomination. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°¡±Thank you very much!¡±¡± Monaka and Kotone were full of joy. But I also think that this is not a bad idea. The whole booklet would have been a bit of a bummer, but one ticket at the lowest denomination would have been a small price to pay. But that is a big mistake. They happily tire off the booklet and carefully hold out the bills with their hands. When I saw the face value, my eyes nearly popped out of my head. ¡°There¡¯s ¡­¡­ ten thousand!¡± That¡¯s right, ¡°10,000,000¡± ¡­¡­! Seven zeros. ¡­¡­! The students, who have become fools, are astonished, ¡°Ehhh?¡± ¡°Ehhh, no way! The lowest denomination?¡± ¡°Seriously? The most expensive ticket I could get was 10,000 Yen!¡± ¡°No, but if you can command the girls, it might be worth it!¡± ¡°Wow! That¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about, a Saint and a young lady of the Miko family!¡± I am sure if I want to accept a total of 20 million Yen. But the girls are looking at me with anticipation. ¡­ Well even if I get them, I just don¡¯t have to use them. If they are satisfied with that, I¡¯ll just take them. ¡­¡­ I put out my hands and put two bills in my hands at the same time. They are supposed to be a light bill, but they have a strange weight to it, as if they are filled with the bodies and minds of the girls. The vice principal shouts, ¡°Gyah!¡± ¡°I knew that was a bad idea! If the garbage gets it first, we¡¯ll be in big trouble!¡± But it seems to be too late. There is a clattering sound from the ranking board on the stage, and it is¡­¡­. ¡°Kyeeeeee!!! Stop it, stop it, stop it, stop it, stop it. £¡£¡£¡£¡¡± The vice principal runs back to the stage with a dying look on his face. The moment he lifts a nearby chair to destroy the ranking board. 1st place Special Training Class 20,000,000 Yen. The ranking board crashed! And a lone class is ranked. ¡°Kyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee £¡£¡£¡£¡¡± The vice principal, who has turned into a bizarre vocal talent, swings his chair down and hits the board hard. He tries to nullify the result. And swings the chair up again. The students back away from the stage like a receding tide, and the vice principal is seized by the teachers around him. ¡°Calm down, vice principal! This ¡°magic board¡± was borrowed from the court¡¯s magicians¡± A PE teacher, Nick Bakker, slaps him, and the vice principal comes to his senses. Even though the whole school is watching, he finally breaks down in tears. ¡°Ugh! ¡­¡­!¡¡Ughhhh!¡¡I thought I could give you an award this time, this time. ¡­¡­! I thought if I could just get that trash ticket down to zero, he¡¯d be out of circulation. ¡­¡­!¡± Suddenly, the ranking board started to rattle again, and the ranking is updated. No. 1 Special Training Class 21,000,000 Yen. I notice that I have a third ticket in my coat pocket. The face value was ¡°1,000,000¡±. Six zeros. The portrait is of Akemi, winking at me. When I look at it, Akemi has a blank look on her face. ¡°Hmmm. My ticket is not paper money, it¡¯s wind. Blowing me wherever I want to go. That¡¯s all there is to it.¡± Before I know it, another ticket is fluttering in front of me. The ticket is hanging from what looks like a fishing rod made of vines on a tree branch. I follow it with my eyes and see a Shinobuko hanging a fishing line. ¡°Nininin, uri uri. If you can take it, take it. ¡­¡­¡± Shinobuko flicks me in the face with her ticket. I snatch the ticket with a swipe. It is so fast that Shinobuko¡¯s eyes lit up. No. 1 Special Training Class 21,100,000 Yen. The amount is ¡°100,000¡±. There are five zeros. The portrait is of a white-faced Shinobuko. I had zero money in my possession until then, and the ticket was worth zero. ¡­¡­ During the morning assembly, I instantly become the richest person in the whole school. CH 39 It was a little back in time, last night. Inside the principal¡¯s office late at night, the evil duo was snarling like an out-of-control dog. ¡°Grrrrr.¡¡That trash base is now at level 2. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Gurururururu ¡­¡­!¡¡The residential area over here hasn¡¯t even finished clearing the rubble yet. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°And we haven¡¯t even given out the awards yet! Our supporters are running out of patience!¡± ¡°We¡¯ve got to do something! We¡¯ve got to get rid of that garbage base, restore the living quarters, and award the prize!¡± If we don¡¯t do something about any of them, we¡¯re going down in rank again!¡± The two of them growled like dogs trapped in a cage. After a while, the principal clapped his hands. ¡°That¡¯s right! All you have to do is set fire to that garbage base! That¡¯s one problem solved!¡± The bald man who naturally recommended arson to his subordinates was a fearsome old man. ¡°That¡¯s what I was going to do!¡¡But there were traps around the house, and I got into a lot of trouble!¡± The vice-principal said with anger at the thought of having his favorite tuxedo ruined came back to him, and he bit down on his handkerchief. The devil whispered in his head. ¡°What? That¡¯s right! Headmaster, I¡¯m releasing the ¡®Slave Ticket¡¯! If you do, the problem will be solved at once!¡± ¡°What? Is that true?¡± ¡°Principal, excuse me for a moment!¡¡kosho kosho ¡­¡­¡± (I¡¯m guessing wispers)¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a good idea!¡± ¡°If we use the Slave Ticket, we can control the students at will! We¡¯ll set up a ¡®Purchasing Department¡¯ and collect tickets from the students!¡± ¡°The tickets are supposed to be exchanged between students.¡± You mean we¡¯re going to get them?¡± ¡°Yes! With a ticket, the student is as good as a slave to us!¡± We will be able to give them orders that we couldn¡¯t give before because of public opinion!¡± Up until now, the principal and vice principal had wielded their power over the students as they wished. However, there was a limit to their power. Because they were educators, and they needed to do so in the name of ¡°educational guidance¡±. However, with the Slave Ticket, they will be able to give orders that transcend the relationship between educator and student. For example, ¡°In order to teach my students the importance of promises, I¡¯m going to give them an order with all my heart! I¡¯m going to teach my students the value of commitment.¡± ¡°I see. I know what you¡¯re after! It¡¯s not the small students you¡¯re after, but the big ones, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right! If only we could get our hands on Monaka and Kotone¡¯s tickets, ¡­¡­! We can order them to stay away from that garbage! The value of the Slave Ticket will be a measure of your social credibility after graduation! That way, there is no way they can refuse!¡± ¡°Whoa! If you take away Monaka and Kotone from that trash, the trash will be truly alone and ¡­¡­ the base will be in ruins.¡± ¡°Yes! And that¡¯s not all! If we reduce the value of that trash¡¯s ticket to zero, we can completely shut him out of the ticket circulation loop!¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right! And if we have a prize associated with the ticket, that trash will be helpless!¡± ¡°Yes! Yes! It¡¯s a plan that kills two birds with one stone!¡± The principal and vice principal looked at each other and smiled. ¡°¡±This time, this time ¡­¡­!¡¡That garbage is finished. ¡­¡­!¡¡Yee hee hee ¡­¡­!¡± However, this evil scheme ended in a huge failure, which is now a common pattern. After the morning assembly, in which only Leopin got rich, the vice principal returned to the principal¡¯s office with his shoulders slumped. What awaited him there was a follow-up notice. ¡°¡­¡­ Yes-man vice principal, I just received a notice from the board of education. You have been downgraded two ranks.¡± The vice principal becomes so astonished that his heart nearly leaps out of his mouth. ¡°And two ranks? What? Why?¡± ¡°The king happened to be watching the broadcast of the morning assembly. Not only were you disgracefully distraught in front of the king, but you probably didn¡¯t hand over the award you declared in front of the students.¡± ¡°Th- That! I couldn¡¯t give the award to that trash! That¡¯s why I tried so hard to cover it up!¡± Leopin was supposed to be the double winner of the ¡°First Ticket Award¡± and ¡°First Gold Ticket Award¡±. When Monaka and Kotone pointed this out, the yes man ate the certificate with a strange voice. This made the students feel completely uncomfortable. Even though he had gone to such lengths to keep his prize, the king had seen him. ¡­¡­ ¡°In addition, you tried to destroy the magic board borrowed from the court. It¡¯s a miracle that you only lost two ranks.¡± Yes-man head teacher A ? B+. ¡°Kikki ¡­¡­ keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! ¡°It¡¯s too noisy. Acting yes-man vice principal. ¡°Whoa, acting vice principal, ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be helped. Only A-ranked teachers are allowed to become vice principals. You¡¯re a B-ranked teacher, so you¡¯re the acting vice principal.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! If you become an acting vice principal, your salary will be even lower!¡± My family has always been in the position of vice principal! I can¡¯t face my family! Please do something about it¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Shut up! If I don¡¯t get rid of you, I¡¯ll be ¡­¡­¡± Oh, no, it¡¯s nothing! It¡¯s already been decided!¡± ¡°Aaah!¡¡Principal!¡¡Principal!¡¡Please, please, please! Please forgive me!¡¡Please forgive me! ¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«! ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô When the vice principal is down two ranks and crying and screaming ¡­¡­. I am back at the forest house, and I have moved up one rank. Ah, that¡¯s wrong, it is a level up! ========== Name Leopin Occupation Trapper Lv 11 ? 12 HP 1810 MP 1810 Status Life 181 Endurance 181 Toughness 181 Spirit 181 Resistance 181 Agility 181 Concentration 181 Strength 181 Magic 181 Dharma 181 Intelligence 181 Liberal Arts 181 Five Senses 181 Sixth Sense 181 Charm 1 Luck 2 Dexterity 480 ? 580 ========== ========== Changeable occupations Production System Lumberjack Appraiser NEW! Carpenter ? Shin-Ra Carpenter Masonry Leather Craftsman Woodcrafter Exploration System Ranger Treasure Hunter Combat System Battle Axe User Ninja Martial Artist Trapper ========== ¡°¡­¡¯Shinra(Ceres) Carpenter¡¯ ? That¡¯s a top-tier production job!¡± CH 40 The job ¡°Shinra Carpenter¡± is the highest ranked job of the ¡°Carpenter¡± category. Their skills are not much different, but the buildings they work on are said to have mystical powers. There is even a rule that only Shinra Carpenters are allowed to build cathedrals and temples to worship the gods. They are considered to be the elite of the production professions, as they are required to have not only the skills of a carpenter, but also a high level of ¡°Dharma power¡± parameters. To be able to change careers to something like this would be pretty amazing. But I thought about it for a while, and then lay down on the bed in my room. ¡°But I don¡¯t really have any use for it right now¡­¡­? I don¡¯t really believe in God, so there¡¯s no point in converting this base into a temple. ¡­¡­¡± I usually try out new professions as soon as I get them, but I just couldn¡¯t bring myself to try out ¡°Shinra Carpenter¡±. ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô Since then, the residential area of my classmates has developed rapidly. They couldn¡¯t even get rid of the rubble before, but now they have wooden houses that look like a settlement. The reason for this is because the school has opened a ¡°Purchasing Department¡±. It was a facility where various items could be exchanged for tickets, and the vice principal was the manager of the store. ¡°Yes! Come on in!¡± Would you like a ¡®Level Up Potion¡¯ that will instantly level you up?¡± You can level up to level 5!¡± Today we¡¯re having an opening sale, and you can get one for only 2 million yen!¡± The ¡°Level Up Potion,¡± which is the highlight of the sale, was bought by many students and sold out immediately. ¡°Then, let¡¯s move on to the next item!¡± A professional contractor will clear away the rubble in no time, and it will cost you 3 million yen!¡± The same professional house building service costs 7 million yen!¡± Some of the products were even able to bring in outside contractors. Although the price was quite a rip-off, as long as you paid the ticket, you could have it done by a professional without getting your hands dirty at all. Classes with enough tickets immediately jumped at the chance to buy a set of ¡°Rubble Removal¡± and ¡°House Building¡±. For the lower-ranked classes, those are unaffordable because the value of their ticket is set too low. Their sites are still buried in rubble as usual. As a result, the residential area became a land where the gap between the rich and the poor is wide open. Then Monaka and Kotone came to visit me at my house. Kotone says to me with an anxious look on her face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to ask you to do this. It¡¯s very painful for me to ask you to do this, but ¡­¡­¡± ¡°What is it? Just say it.¡± ¡°I would like you to build a house for my class. ¡­¡­¡± I heard that Kotone¡¯s class has been in Monaka¡¯s house since the disaster. ¡°Leo-kun. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t like the idea of living with Kotone¡¯s class. But the vice principal came to see me. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°No! Kotone-san¡¯s class will be living on their own property soon! If you don¡¯t, the other students won¡¯t be able to catch up!¡± If you¡¯re a student of Kotone¡¯s caliber, you¡¯ll need a nice house!¡± But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve thought of everything!¡± The vice principal said, and before Kotone could say no, he brought in a professional Shinra carpenter. ¡°Yes! If you leave it to this skilled carpenter, he will build you a magnificent house worthy of Miko¡¯s Kotone! Now, give me your tickets!¡± Kotone clenched her fists as she reminded me of that time. ¡°I want to dedicate all my tickets to you, Master. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°I see, so that¡¯s why you came to ask me to build you a house. I mean, if that¡¯s the case, you should have told me earlier.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± ¡°I was wondering what was going on ¡­¡­ since you were making a formal request. If it¡¯s a craft, I¡¯ll do it even if you don¡¯t ask.¡± The two girls held hands and said, ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°Good for you, Kotone!¡± ¡°Yes, thank you very much!¡± ¡°Well, let¡¯s get on with it. But first, I need to carry some building materials. Can you help me?¡± I go into the forest while Monaka and Kotone are gathering the manpower. I select and cut down the best trees I can find to make a house that would rival the one I built for Monaka. In addition, I picked some flowers that could be used for this craft. ========== Kinohi Wood (Large) Quantity 100 Quality Level 24 (Material Level 8 + Dexterity Bonus 5 + Occupation Bonus 11) Beautiful, lustrous white wood. The wood is resistant to moisture and has a relaxing scent that makes you feel pious. ========== ========== Honeysuckle Flower Quantity 20 Quality Level 16 (Material Level 2 + Dexterity Bonus 5 + Occupation Bonus 9) Beautiful vermilion flowers. Fragrant and calming. ========== After putting the collected items on the cart, I load the ¡°Gisu Planter¡± in the garden. Then Tomoe, Kotone¡¯s valet and a strong woman, carry them to the residential area. The vice-principal is there, and several Shinra carpenters have already started working. The vice-principal laughs at Kotone¡¯s protest. ¡®Muhohohoho! What do you think you¡¯re doing by bringing such unemployed students here?¡± ¡°I want Master to build me a house! Stop the work now and go back to ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°No! No! Then you are free to do as you please!¡± But if it¡¯s not as good as what the Shinra carpenters are making, I¡¯ll crush it immediately!¡± I didn¡¯t pay any attention to this exchange, but pulled a line into the empty space on the property and started the foundation work. Then even the Shinra carpenters got involved. ¡°What are you doing, kid?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going to build a house for Lady Kotone, are you?¡± ¡°Listen to me, boy! We are not just carpenters, we are Shinra carpenters!¡± Do you know what it means to build another house next to this one?¡± ¡°It¡¯s called a ¡®Heavenly Game¡¯, and it¡¯s a serious battle for your life, judged by the God of Heaven! Look at the sky! It was sunny a minute ago, and now it¡¯s suddenly cloudy!¡± ¡°This means that the Heavenly Game has begun! The losing house and craftsman will be shot by thunder!¡± ¡°If I play with an amateur like you, the game is already won! Just stop and go home before you get burnt to a crisp!¡± I was so focused on my work that I barely heard what they were saying. ¡°What did you say?¡± When I asked they had their hair upside down for some reason. ¡°This ¡­¡­ guy is a joke!¡¡He¡¯s trying to fight us professional carpenters, the Shinra Carpenters!¡± ¡°You are totally underestimating us if you think you can compete with us alone!¡± ¡°Apparently, you don¡¯t care about your life!¡¡I don¡¯t care what you guys do!¡¡Let¡¯s give this kid a lesson in what it means to be a professional!¡± ¡°Who!¡± The craftsmen resumed their construction with vigor. As I watched their backs, I muttered to myself. ¡°I don¡¯t know what it is, but I¡¯m glad they¡¯re motivated. Craftsmanship is more fun when you work hard, and you can make something good out of it.¡± CH 41 Kotone¡¯s Class 1-19 has been assigned a plot of land as large as Monaka¡¯s class. Thanks to this, even though they are building two houses at the same time, they don¡¯t get in each other¡¯s way at all. The Shinra carpenters, and the others working, occasionally look at me and laugh. ¡°Look at that kid, he¡¯s really going to have a go at us.¡± ¡°The only house he can build by himself is a shack.¡± ¡°He¡¯s doing something he can¡¯t do just to show off for Kotone.¡± But their faces immediately stiffen. ¡°Look at ¡­¡­ that foundation ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°That kid¡¯s building a foundation!¡¡He¡¯s building a real house!¡± ¡°And he¡¯s doing it so fucking fast!¡± ¡°Hey, he¡¯s working alone. How come he¡¯s working faster than us?¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t just stand there!¡¡Hurry up!¡± Once the foundation is in place, I take a break. Then just as I am taking a break, Monaka and Kotone walk up to me. ¡°Thank you for your hard work, Leo-kun! I¡¯ll wipe off your sweat!¡± ¡°Thank you for your hard work, Master!¡¡I¡¯ve brought you some water!¡± Monaka wipes my face with a white handkerchief. Kotone put her hands on a wooden cup filled with water, put it to my mouth, and males me drink it. The Shinra carpenters, who are watching, are so shocked that they drop the wood they were carrying with a clatter. ¡°That¡¯s a lie, right¡­. Why is Lady Kotone taking care of you ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°And she looks so happy. ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°What¡¯s more, it¡¯s the saint Monaka who¡¯s next to her.¡± ¡°Why would a saint and a miko and the daughters of a noble family care for a kid like that?¡± ¡°Who the hell is that kid?¡± ¡°Damn it, I¡¯m jealous ¡«¡«¡«¡«!¡± The adults are stomping their feet, distracted from their work. In the meantime, my house is completed. ========== House of Kinohi Quantity 1 Quality Level 41 (Material Level 24 + Dexterity Bonus 5 + Occupation Bonus 12) A spacious, single-story house made of premium, high-quality Kinohi wood. With various bonuses, it is resistant to earthquake, fire, and corrosion. It has a pleasant scent, and living in it is relaxing. ========== When Kotone sees the finished house, she becomes so ecstatic that she feels like she is about to ascend to heaven. ¡°Fu¡­ Fuwaaaaa.¡¡A- Amazing. ¡­¡­!¡± And Monaka is just as happy as I am. She crossed her arms as if praying and jumps up and down excitedly. ¡°Wow!¡¡That was amazing!¡¡It¡¯s so amazing! You built such a magnificent house!¡¡Leopin is too good!¡± The Shinra carpenters are pinching their cheeks, hoping it is all a dream. ¡°No way. ¡­¡­!¡¡No way, how, how. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°It¡¯s impossible for a kid still in school to build such a magnificent house all by himself. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°The wood, the design, and the exterior are all perfect. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°We couldn¡¯t have built a house like that even if we wanted to. ¡­¡­!¡± But it isn¡¯t finished yet. I take a breath and ask Kotone. ¡°I¡¯m going to build the fence last, but we don¡¯t need a gate, do we?¡± Kotone replies, seemingly still not awake from her dream. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. It is not allowed to build an ordinary gate in Miko¡¯s house. ¡­¡­¡± The saint and Miko¡¯s houses have no gate. This is a sign of the spirit of charity that says, ¡°No matter who comes, do not reject¡±. By the way, when they built a fence around Monaka¡¯s house, they did not build a gate for the same reason. ¡°So, since we don¡¯t have a regular gate, we¡¯ll offer a special service.¡± I put aside the wood for the fence and start crafting with the leftover wood. It isn¡¯t too difficult, though. First, I line up the planters I have brought with me on the ground, and lay some stones underneath to create a space. I fill the planter with water and float the ¡°honeysuckle flowers¡± I have collected. After that, I put firewood under the planter and set it on fire. The planter was ¡°fireproof¡±, so it wouldn¡¯t start to burn. While waiting for the water to boil, I proceed with other work. I carve four of the leftover gisu wood into a unique shape. Miko couldn¡¯t help but look at them. ¡°Master, could that be ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Yes, it is.¡± The planter had just started to gurgle. Monaka, who have been peeking into the planter, shouts, ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°Pretty ¡­¡­!¡¡The water is turning a very bright vermillion color!¡± ¡°It¡¯s about time too.¡± ========== Honeysuckle Dye Quantity 60 Quality Level 33 (Material Level 16 + Dexterity Bonus 5 + Occupation Bonus 12) A vermilion dye made by boiling the flowers of the honeysuckle. It is highly fragrant and will make you feel calm. ========== I dunk the shave ¡°Gisu Wood¡± into the planter containing the dye. ¡°Well, Leo-kun. What in the world are you doing with this? ¡°Monaka asks. ¡°It¡¯s a technique called ¡®plant dyeing,¡¯ in which the dye is extracted from the plant and used to dye other things.¡± We waited for a while, and when we pulled up the wood, it have turned a beautiful vermillion color. Now all I have to do is assemble it and it will be ready for ¡­¡­. ========== Kinohi Torii Quantity 1 Quality Level 74 (Material Level 57 + Dexterity Bonus 5 + Occupation Bonus 12) This torii is made from the high quality wood of the Kinohi tree, and dyed with high quality dyes. The wood is dyed with a high quality dye. It is fragrant and makes those who are near it feel pious. ========== Like a saint in a cathedral, Miko lives in a building called Jinja. In Jinja, there is a uniquely shaped gate called ¡°Torii¡±. Kotone¡¯s jaw drops open in surprise; she was speechless. Instead, the Shinra carpenters started to make noise. ¡°You little brat, you even made a torii!¡¡He¡¯s totally on a roll!¡± ¡°Hey, kid!¡¡This building is considered a temple when it¡¯s built!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know that only Shinra carpenters are allowed to build temples?¡± ¡°The gods will be angry!¡¡No, even if the gods allow it, we won¡¯t allow it!¡± ¡°If this kid builds a great temple, we¡¯ll be out of business! Hey, you guys, tear down this fake temple!¡± ¡°Yes!¡¡He¡¯s an unqualified temple builder and a Godless delinquent! I¡¯m going to ruin it and make them regret it!¡± Before I know it, the vice principal is leading the way, carrying a huge wooden mallet, a carpentry tool. And the vice principal and the Shinra carpenters are coming toward the house I had built with a shout. But suddenly, the cloudy sky flickered and *Thunder sfx* The torrential thunder that pours down from the heavens is beating down on the attacking men like a judge. CH 42 The lightning from the heavens came down without warning. The power of the lightning is so great that the point of impact leaves a huge hole in the ground, as if a meteorite landed here. Inside the hole, the vice principal and the Shinra carpenters, whose entire bodies have been charred, are lying in a heap of white smoke. Behind them, the house they have been building explodes with a bang. Screams raced through the crowd of students. ¡°What the hell happened? Lightning struck out of nowhere!¡± ¡°Did God really get mad at us?¡± ¡°But that wasn¡¯t lightning magic, no matter how you look at it! It was God¡¯s thunderbolt of judgment!¡± Monaka is pacing left and right. ¡°This is bad! The saints can¡¯t heal injuries caused by the Lightning of Judgment!¡± We need a healer! We need the health teacher¡­¡­!¡± There is a great panic in the air. In the midst of this, the dark clouds above my head begins to clear. From between the clouds, a light like a ladder sent down by God appears and pours down on the house I built. Kotone stood there and just stared at my house as it began to glow in the light. ¡°G-, God has approved ¡­¡­! This house is undoubtedly a Jinja (Shrine) ¡­¡­!¡± With a trembling voice, Kotone falls to her knees, hangs her head deeply, and begins to pray with her fingers clasped together. I walk up to her, looking at the charred group being carried away in a stretcher. ¡°I see you like it.¡± I say to her, and she looks up at me. I am shocked. I am surprised to see that her dark eyes are almost drowning in moisture. Kotone jumps into my chest with a great emotion. ¡°Oh, thank you ¡­¡­!¡¡I didn¡¯t know your master was capable of building a jinja. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s just a coincidence. God must have been in a good mood.¡± I strok Kotone¡¯s head, as I always do with Monaka. The shiny black hair is soft and soothing to the touch, different from Monaka¡¯s fluffy hair. Kotone closes her eyelids and lets herself be pampered. ¡°Master¡¯s hands ¡­¡­.are very, very gentle. ¡­¡­¡± But she comes to her senses and prostrates herself on the ground. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m so sorry for being so rude!¡± ¡°No, there¡¯s nothing to be sorry about. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Oi, Leopin!¡± I am suddenly shouted at from behind. It is Tomoe, Kotone¡¯s attendant. Her long black hair is tied up in a ponytail, and she is wearing a hakama and a sword belt. Tomoe, taking advantage of the fact that Kotone is down on her knees, grabbed me roughly by the collar. ¡°I want to talk to you! Come here, come here!¡± Tomoe lifts me up with one hand and pulls me into the shadows of the rubble with a thud. The hand that have been gripping my collar moves to my chest, and I am lifted up again. Tomoe glares at me with a fierce glare. ¡°What the hell are you, ¡­¡­?¡± I answered as I was hung up. ¡°You know me, I¡¯m just a jobless guy.¡± ¡°How can an unemployed person make Jinja? Tell me the truth!¡± ¡°With my skills, I¡¯ve changed my job to ¡®Shinra Carpenter¡¯.¡± I don¡¯t tell anyone about my ¡®dexterous job change¡¯, which is my skill, because I know how this person will react. ¡°If you¡¯re going to lie, lie better than that! There¡¯s no way you have the skills to get a new job!¡± Tomoe grabs me and shakes me. ¡°Since you appeared in front of Kotone, Kotone has been talking about you all the time! And that¡¯s not all! Whenever she wakes up in the morning and before she goes to bed at night, she always gets down on her knees in the direction of your house!¡± ¡°What, you want me to tell her to stop doing that?¡± ¡°No! No! Why would a horse-bone like you be able to monopolize the heart of Lady Kotone? (again, horse-bone is someone of dubious origin)¡± Kotone has many fine masters wooing her. But she doesn¡¯t care!¡± ¡°Do you know that?¡± ¡°In the first place, a horse-bone like you has no business talking to Kotone! If you understand, stay away from Kotone.¡± Tomoe throws me off roughly. ¡°Good. This is the last warning! If you break it, my sword will not stand idly!¡± She twists her waist and shows me the two swords she is carrying. One is a bamboo sword and the other was a handmade wooden sword. ¡°Hey, wait a minute. What¡¯s with the wooden sword?¡± I suddenly jump on her waist, which makes her jump with fright. ¡°What? This wooden sword was bought at ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Hmmm. Hmmm¡­ I didn¡¯t know that the purchasing department sold such poor quality goods.¡± I continue to look through the rubble. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, whoever made it and whoever uses it, it will never improve.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? And what are you doing?¡± ¡°Just wait a minute.¡± Oh, I find some Ogrewood. It¡¯s not quite as good, but it¡¯ll do. I find a good length of Ogrewood, so I cut it with the Great Knife of the Wild Boar. Tomoe gives me a strange look, as if she has just encountered a monster whose name she didn¡¯t know and who is also creepy. ¡°What the heck is ¡­¡­ really going on here, you ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°I told you, I¡¯m just jobless. Okay, I got it.¡± ========== Ogrewood Wooden Sword Quantity 1 Quality Level 19 (Material Level 2 + Dexterity Bonus 5 + Occupation Bonus 12) This wooden sword is made from Ogrewood. Due to the various bonuses, it is easier to wield than conventional wooden swords, and has a higher attack power. ========== I say , ¡°Come on, use it.¡± Tomoe takes the wooden sword of Ogrewood in her hands with hesitation. She takes the eastern sword stance and swings it down a couple of times from the top of her head. ¡°What an easy swing ¡­¡­!¡¡It¡¯s like it¡¯s part of my body. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that right?¡± I said, and Tomoe waves away her admiration as if ashamed of it. ¡°It¡¯s easy to swing, so what? The power of the sword is what matters!¡± ¡°I see. Well then, try swinging it at this rock.¡± I point to a waist-high rock right in front of me. Tomoe laughs and says, ¡°Ha!¡± ¡°You¡¯re mistaking a wooden sword for a hammer or something! A rock will bounce off the weapon even if you¡¯re serious! A wooden sword like this will just break!¡± ¡°I see. Well then, try to break it.¡± When I say provocatively, Tomoe takes a stance in front of the rock ¡°You! You think I¡¯m a powerless woman! I¡¯ve broken countless pieces of wood like this, as well as the bones of those who courted Kotone.¡± ¡°Nnnn!¡± The wooden sword is swung with a lot of energy, and successfully cuts through the center of the rock. However, the wooden sword is not damaged at all. Eventually, a crack appears on the rock. Tomoe¡¯s eyes are wide open as the rock parts with a bang. ¡°E¡­¡­eeeeeee!!!!¡± CH 43 Tomoe is so taken aback by the fact that the wooden sword I made smashed the rock that she let go. She eventually looks at the blade of the wooden sword with admiration. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it. ¡­¡­!¡¡I can¡¯t believe that a wooden sword can cut through a rock. ¡­¡­! ¡®Zaniwa Zangan¡¯ (Cutting rocks) is one of the goals of the samurai. ¡­¡­!¡± And it¡¯s so easy to do ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Not bad, huh?¡± I call out, and Tomoe shakes her head as if water has been splashed on her face. Immediately puts the tip of the wooden sword against me. ¡°Bastard What are you trying to do? You are the enemy, and you are sending salt to me!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t consider myself an enemy.¡± ¡°Shut up! ¡®I don¡¯t consider myself an enemy.¡¯ ¨C Shut up! If I wanted to, I could cut your skull in half with my rock-cutting sword (Zan¡¯iwa Sword)!¡± ¡°You seem to like it a lot that you even named it.¡± And then Tomoe¡¯s face turns red hot, like the setting sun. ¡°No, that¡¯s not ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Oh well, let me borrow it.¡± I take the wooden sword from Tomoe and carve the inscription into it with my knife. ========== Ogrewood Wooden Sword (Branded ¡°Zan¡¯Iwa Ken¡±) Quantity 1 Quality Level 19 (Material Level 2 + Dexterity Bonus 5 + Occupation Bonus 12) This wooden sword is made from Ogrewood. Due to the various bonuses, it is easier to wield than conventional wooden swords and has a higher attack power. ========== ¡°Here, I¡¯ll give it back.¡± Tomoe begins to lose it again when she sees the wooden sword with the inscription. ¡°So cool, ¡­¡­!¡± She is like a young swordsman who has just picked up her first sword. ¡°Take good care of it, okay? See you later.¡± I am about to turn away, but Tomoe persistes, ¡°Wait!¡± ¡°What, do you still need me?¡± ¡°Yes! You still haven¡¯t answered my question! ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Why did you give me such a weapon ¡­¡­?¡¡Answer me!¡± ¡°What, you¡¯re still worried about that? That¡¯s because you¡¯re trying to protect Kotone.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°There are a lot of bad insects around Kotone, right? I thought a wooden sword of poor quality might not be enough to protect her.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the first of them!¡± ¡°Maybe so. I don¡¯t care if I¡¯m a bad bug or not. I¡¯m just sharing your feeling of wanting to protect Kotone. That¡¯s why I made it.¡± Tomoe¡¯s face is still red, and she bits her teeth, ¡°GUNUNUNU¡­¡­!¡± She grinds her teeth. Then she puts her hand into the pocket of her hakama and takes out a booklet of ¡°Slave Tickets¡±. She tore one off roughly and shoved it to my chest. ¡°Take it.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Take it! I don¡¯t want to owe you anything!¡± Tomoe takes my hand and shoves the ticket into it, then quickly turns away. As she leaves , she looks back only once. ¡°Don¡¯t get too close to Kotone.¡± That¡¯s all she says, and she walks away. I hold the ticket in my hand, which has a portrait of a crisp-looking Tomoe with a value of 100,000, and looking over her broad shoulders. ¡°She went from ¡°Don¡¯t get close to her¡± to ¡°Don¡¯t get too close to her,¡± which means ¡­¡­.¡± I got some recognition, didn¡¯t I?¡± Then the familiar light enveloped my body as I chuckle to myself. ========== Name Leopin Occupation Sin-Ra Carpenter Lv 12 ? 13 HP 1810 MP 1810 Status Life 181 Endurance 181 Toughness 181 Spirit 181 Resistance 181 Agility 181 Concentration 181 Strength 181 Magic 181 Dharma 181 Intelligence 181 Liberal Arts 181 Five Senses 181 Sixth Sense 181 Charm 1 Luck 2 Dexterity 480 ? 580 ========== ========== Changeable occupations Production System Lumberjack Appraiser Shin-Ra Carpenter Masonry Leather Craftsman Woodcrafter Exploration System Ranger Treasure Hunter Combat System Battle Axe User Ninja Martial Artist Trapper NEW! Trainer(Tamer) ========== ¡°Oh, so your new profession is trainer-tamer. That¡¯s an unknown field for me.¡± While returning to my home in the forest, I quickly change jobs. ========== Leopin Occupation Shin-Ra Carpenter ? Trainer(Tamer) Occupational Skills Animal Attraction:Makes you more likable to animals. Animal Training: Train any animal within a 1 meter radius of you. Untrain: Release the trained target. Use Animal: Command a trained animal Animal Emotional Visibility: Allows you to see changes in animal emotions. ========== The forest is full of animals, isn¡¯t it? I think I¡¯ll start taming them for training. I think it¡¯s easier to train animals that are less intelligent. I look around the house and spot a rabbit twitching its nose in the distance. I try to approach it gently, but it just rustles the leaves and runs away desperately. Undeterred, I try to approach the birds, squirrels, and deer, but to no avail. The animals in the forest are too cautious to approach me because they are being actively hunted, including me. ¡°It¡¯s impossible to do it suddenly. ¡­¡­. Now that I think about it, trainer-tamers are supposed to put the animals they catch in traps or something in cages and acclimate them over time. I change my job to trapper. On the spur of the moment, I make a simple net cage out of tree branches. In addition, using a tree branch wrapped with ¡°Daijazuru¡¯s thread¡± as a holding rod, I could make ¡­¡­. ========== Hiroeda Bird Trap Quantity 1 Quality Level 20 (Material Level 1 + Dexterity Bonus 6 + Occupation Bonus 13) A trap made from the branches of the Hiroeda tree to capture birds. Due to the various bonuses, it is difficult to escape even if you catch a large bird. ========== I set the traps on the flat ground near my house. I sprinkl nuts under the net basket and set up a stick to hold it. I hide in the grass, holding the string attached to the stick. After a while, a Mean Bird comes down. It pounces on the scattered bait, and as it gets under the trap¡­¡­. ¡°Now!¡± I tug on the string. The netting slams shut, trapping the Mean Bird inside. I jump out of the grass and hold the net basket from above as I slide in the ground. Then I say, ¡°Be quiet! ¡± and invoke my ¡°Animal Training¡± skill. But no matter how much I try, the Mean Bird is still flailing about. I finally lose my patience and let him go. The Mean Bird circled above my head with a laughing cry. ¡°It¡¯s hard to train, isn¡¯t it ¡­¡­? What the hell is going wrong? Status is plenty ¡­¡­.¡± After mumbling, I finally realized. ¡°That¡¯s it! I am missing the ¡°charm¡± status! I think charm is the key to the success rate of training skills!¡± I immediately activat the ¡°Dexterous Body¡± skill of the ¡°Poor Dexterity¡± skill. I put 3000 points into ¡°charm¡± at once. ========== Name Leopin Occupation Trainer(Tamer) Lv 13 HP 1810 ? 10 MP 1810 ? 10 Status Life 181 ? 1 Endurance 181 ? 1 Toughness 181 ? 1 Spirit 181 ? 1 Resistance 181 ? 1 Agility 181 ? 1 Concentration 181 ? 1 Strength 181 ? 1 Magic 181 ? 1 Dharma 181 ? 1 Intelligence 181 ? 1 Liberal Arts 181 ? 1 Five Senses 181 ? 1 Sixth Sense 181 ? 1 Charm 1 ? 3001 Luck 2 Dexterity 580 ? 200 ========== Then, almost immediately after a pause ¡­¡­ doo doo doo doo doo doo ¡­¡­! The earth shakes from around me. Is it an earthquake? I think it was an earthquake, but I soon find the cause. All sorts of forest animals are sprinting towards me from all directions, their eyes beady. ¡­¡­! ¡°Oh no! I set my charm too high! The effect of the passive skill ¡°Animal Attraction¡± has become too strong! Hurry up and restore ¡­¡­!¡± But the next moment, I am mangled by the fluffy animals. CH 44 I¡¯ve become the top idol of the forest. Birds are constantly clinging to my face, squirrels are burrowing into my body, rabbits are clinging to my feet, deer and wild boar are brushing against my face. ¡°Yup, I didn¡¯t know being a celebrity was so hard. ¡­¡­!¡± I crawl for my life out of the smokescreen of the animals¡¯ infatuation. I hurriedly reduce my ¡°Charm¡± status to one. The animals suddenly come to their senses. As if they¡¯ve realized that I¡¯m a celebrity look-alike, they return to the forest with a sullen look on their faces. ¡°Huh. ¡­¡­. I never thought I¡¯d get into this kind of trouble if I raised my status.¡± I drastically reduce the ¡°charm¡± and evenly distribute the points. ========== Name Leopin Occupation Trainer(Tamer) Lv 13 HP 10 ? 2010 MP 10 ? 2010 Status Life 1 ? 201 Endurance 1 ? 201 Toughness 1 ? 201 Spirit 181 1 ? 201 Resistance 1 ? 201 Agility 1 ? 201 Concentration 1 ? 201 Strength 1 ? 201 Magic 1 ? 201 Dharma 1 ? 201 Intelligence 1 ? 201 Liberal Arts 1 ? 201 Five Senses 1 ? 201 Sixth Sense 1 ? 201 Charm 3001 ? 101 Luck 2 Dexterity 300 ========== ¡°A hundred points wouldn¡¯t be too much to scoff at.¡± I pull myself together and decide to go to the pond in the forest. As usual, there are animals drinking water in the pond. Normally, when I approach the pond, the animals stop drinking and become wary. But the fawn and the rabbit at the edge of the pond come bouncing up to me like pets whose owners have come home. When I crouch down to pet them, they don¡¯t seem to mind. Rather, they rub their heads against my hand as if to say, ¡°Pet me more.¡± ¡°It¡¯s so cute. I don¡¯t need to train her anymore. ¡­¡­¡± I think to myself, but then I put my mind to it. The fawn is looking up at me with dull eyes as I activate my ¡°training¡± skill. ¡°Become mine! Training Taming!¡± The fawn reacts as if it has heard a thunderclap. And a heart-shaped light rises from its head. ¡°Looks like it worked. ¡­¡­ Sit!¡± The fawn folds its knees and sits down. ¡°Stand up!¡± I say, and it immediately stands up. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s great! Turn!¡± The fawn spins around to my finger movements like a dog trained in tricks. ¡°Haha, that¡¯s cute! It¡¯s so cute!¡± I grab the fawn by the face and squeeze it, and it squeals sweetly. ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s go for a walk in the woods, follow me!¡± As I start walking, the fawn waddles after me as if it is following its parents. And the rabbits line up behind us, making me feel like a forest piper. As I skip, the fawn and rabbits jump up and down. They are so cute and happy that I forget to look ahead. The next thing I know, there¡¯s a huge rock in front of me, and I hit it before I could dodge. ¡­¡­ Fluff! But the feeling is too soft for a rock. As I wonder what happened, the rock swells up ¡­¡­! It is a bear that looks to be twice my height. Its huge fur-covered body shines with shark-like eyes. There is a large scar on its chest, and I know. ¡°This one is¡­.!¡¡It¡¯s the ¡°Owner/Master/Leader¡± of this forest. ¡­¡­!¡± I immediately try to jump away, but the bear moves much faster than I expected. The bear uses its blade-like paw to press down on my side. ¡°Oh, no, ¡­¡­!¡± I shout, and my body is lifted high into the air. The bear growls high in the air, as if it has already won. ¡°Wooooooooooooooo¡± It is a heavy bass sound that made the surrounding air shake. I immediately use my ¡°Dexterous Job Change¡± and attempt to change my job to Ninja. At the same time, I used ¡°Dexterous Body¡± to allocate my status and try to get enough power to compete with the bears. ¡­¡­ But no matter how many skills I activated, the effect does not take effect. ¡°Why?¡¡Why can¡¯t I use my ¡®poor dexterity¡¯ skill?¡± I didn¡¯t know the cause, but I am in a desperate pinch. I flail my legs. ¡°Let go of me! Let go of me!¡± But of course, the bear would not let me go. The bear lowers me to its eye level and opens its mouth with a gulp. It has such a big mouth that it can swallow my head in one gulp. ¡°If I don¡¯t, I¡¯m going to be killed. ¡­¡­!¡¡If this happens, I¡¯m going to be ¡­¡­!¡± The moment he tries to eat me, I¡¯m going to give him a blow to his throat with all my might. ¡­¡­! I swung my fist, but again, he is faster than me. ¡°Guoh!¡± As I roared, it¡¯s mouth approached me at once, and before I can fight back, I took his attack right in the face. ¡­pero pero! A warm, wet tongue attack. ¡°Uwopu! T- tongue!?¡± I think it is going to be fangs! As I think about it, my face is licked all over the place. ¡°Oh no! That tickles!¡± The bear moves his face even closer and rubs his cheek against my face. Squealing with each rub. ¡°Y- You could be ¡­¡­! Become mine!¡¡TAIMING!¡± I feel the bear¡¯s hair all over my face and activate my ¡°Training¡± skill. A heart mark appears on the bear and I command, ¡°Put me down¡­¡­!¡± Then the bear lowers my body to the ground, seemingly regretting its decision. I fall back on my butt. ¡°I guess bears can be tamed with ¡°animal fascination¡±. ¡­¡­ Thanks to this, I¡¯m saved. ¡­¡­¡± The bear stares down at me and mewes, ¡°Kuhn,¡± as if it missed me. ¡°Wow, okay, okay, don¡¯t look at me like that. Sit down!¡± The bear then sits on his butt to mimic me. It makes a loud thumping sound, but it sits down quietly like a stuffed animal. It is such an adorable gesture despite its large size that I couldn¡¯t help but blurt it out. ¡°Do you want to come to my house?¡± I ask. I ask him if he wants to come to my house, and the bear raises his paws in delight. ¡°All right, then, from now on, you¡¯re my friend!¡± ¡°Kuoon!¡± (I dont know onomatopeias for bears growls XD) ¡°We¡¯ll have to give you a name, ¡­¡­. Yeah, how about ¡®Mark¡¯?¡± ¡°Kuokuon, Kuoon!¡± ¡°Ha-ha-ha. That tickles! All right, Mark, let¡¯s go back to the house!¡± ¡°Kuoon!¡± I climb on Mark¡¯s shoulders and head home. This is the moment when the ¡°Special Training Class¡±, which had been all alone for so long, gains a new friend. CH 45 As Mark and I are walking back to the house, we see several figures coming from the gate of the house and going inside. The silhouettes are large, so it doesn¡¯t seem to be Monaka and his friends. I jump off Mark¡¯s shoulder as a precaution. ¡°Wait here for a minute. I¡¯m going to check on them,¡± I tell Mark, and quietly approach the house. I peek out from behind the gate and see that there were four men hanging out in front of the house. ¡°Oooh, you trash, come on out!¡± ¡°How dare you do this to me last time!¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to repay you in abundance today!¡± Three of the men has colorful mohawks, so I recognise who them immediately. ¡°What, three hoodlums?¡± I call out to them. The three of them turn around at the same time.¡±Ohhh¡± They are wearing something that looked like a neck brace, probably the aftereffects of a fall from a tree the other day. In spite of their painful appearance, they seem to be as vigorous as ever as they come out of the gate and bounce vulgarly. ¡°Gyaha! It¡¯s not too late for you to have such a big attitude!¡± ¡°After all, we brought our brother Boodles with us today! ¡°We¡¯ve got our brother here today!¡± ¡°Poodle? A large man with a face like a dog, who has been waiting behind them, steps forward. He is twice as tall as me, and a good match for my former classmate Monsoon. He is dressed in the style of a barbarian bandit, but unlike the three boar-furred brothers, he is wearing bear fur over his head. In his hand is a bear claw that resembles a bear¡¯s paw. The three hoodlums go ¡°Hyah!¡± ¡°Gahhh!¡¡This guy is totally intimidated by my brother!¡± ¡°Of course he is, after all, Boodles¡¯ brother is known and feared as ¡®Boo the Bear Killer¡¯!¡± ¡°He¡¯s torn many bears to pieces with this Bearclaw!¡± ¡°Even the Master of this forest runs away when they see him¡­¡± Then Mr. Bu opens his mouth full of confidence. ¡°I¡¯m in need of a new fur coat, ¡­¡­. I¡¯m trying to get rid of the Master of the forest. ¡­¡­. That bastard runs away when he hears the sound of this thing. ¡­¡­¡± Bo-san says with a smile while playing with his bear claw. ¡°So, can I skin you instead ¡­¡­?¡± He asks casually. ¡°But that Bearclaw isn¡¯t your initial equipment, is it? So you bought it at the store, right? For someone who pretends to be an outlaw, buying a weapon from a store is something¡­¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t help but laugh, because it is kind of funny to imagine that scene. A blue streak immediately appears on their foreheads. ¡°Screw you, you¡¯re dead!¡± They attack me in the same pattern as before. But even though I didn¡¯t do anything, they fell backwards with a scream. ¡°Aaaaahhhhhh!¡± Then they turn pale and run away, quickly climbing a tree. I wonder what is going on, but before I know it, Mark is standing behind me. The goons shout with strange expressions of tears and laughter. ¡°Hyah!¡¡Look at the face of that piece of trash!¡± ¡°Here, the bear, the master of the forest, is all finished!¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure my brother can handle a bear like that!¡± ¡°Of course, of course!¡¡But it would be boring if I just took action! So let¡¯s watch from here ¡­¡­ as that trash bastard gets beaten up!¡± I say to Mark with my hands in my coat pockets. ¡°Hey, Mark, they¡¯re trying to fuck you up. Why don¡¯t you take them on?¡± Mark then shouts, ¡°WOOHOOOOO!¡± Mark is over three meters tall, so he can reach the top of the tree. Just a light touch with his paw sends the hoodlums into a panic. ¡°Hee ¡­¡­!¡¡Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!¡± ¡°Damn ¡­¡­, don¡¯t come, don¡¯t come, don¡¯t come!¡¡Don¡¯t come!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ¡­¡­ help me, help me, help me!¡¡Help me! Help me! Help me!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to die!¡¡I don¡¯t want to die, I don¡¯t want to die, I don¡¯t want to die!¡± They finally start crying unabashedly. Thinking that they would learn their lesson if I threaten them enough, I order them to ¡°Drop it, Mark.¡± Mark clings to the tree, shakes the goons off like chestnuts. Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! They are slammed to the ground with a sound like bones breaking. Still they try to escape, but their legs and feet are too weak to do so. I¡¯m not sure what to do. What the heck is that? He¡¯s taming the bear known as the ¡°Nushi¡± of this forest. ¡­¡­? ¡°What the hell is ¡­¡­ that?¡± ¡°You tamed the master of the forest!?¡± ¡°That¡¯s awesome. ¡­¡­! I¡¯ve always wanted a bear. ¡­¡­!¡± But now ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°¡±¡±Run !¡¡Run! Run! Run! Run!¡±¡±¡± With their legs bent in strange directions, the hoodlums crawl away looking like they have a normal body. I sigh, ¡°Good grief.¡± ¡°At this rate, there¡¯s going to be more of them attacking this house. ¡­¡­ Mark, would you mind keeping watch while I¡¯m gone?¡± Mark replies cheerfully, ¡°Guon!¡± ¡°All right, then, let¡¯s make a home for you. Your body is too big to fit in the current house. I remember that bears dig holes in the ground for their dens.¡± I take out the ¡°forest stone shovel¡± I have made earlier from my coat pocket. I set my sights on the open space in front of the gate of my house and thrust the shovel into the ground. However, I don¡¯t have the skill to dig holes yet, so it doesn¡¯t go very well. Instead, Mark dug it up with his paws. ¡°Oh, bears are good at digging holes, aren¡¯t they? ¡° While I am admiring the hole, I make a roof in front of it using the wood of Gisu. ¡°If you make it like this, the hole won¡¯t collapse as easily.¡± As I say ¡°I see¡­¡±. Mark squeals back. ¡°Kuon!¡±. ¡°Then we covered the roof with dirt and to ¡­¡­. I¡¯ll put your name on the roof, too.¡± I scrape the surface of a piece of wood I have left over and make a name plate that said ¡°Mark¡¯s House¡±. ========== Gisu¡¯s den (Mark¡¯s house) Quantity 1 Quality Level 28 (Material Level 12 + Dexterity Bonus 3 + Profession Bonus 13) A den for bears, reinforced with gypsum wood. These dens are made of Gisu wood, which provides excellent heat retention, ventilation, and resistance to collapse. ========== Mark says , ¡°Kuon Kuon!¡¡Kuon Kuon!¡± and is so happy that he raises his paws. He immediately goes deep into the den to test its comfort. When I peek in a little, I find him happily rolling around and smelling the place. Suddenly, a voice called out to me from behind. ¡°Hello, Leo-kun.¡± ¡°Oh, Monaka?¡± As soon as I turn around, ¡­¡­ Dokyuuuun! For some reason, Monaka stiffen, looking as if she has been pierced through the heart. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I ask. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, ¡­¡­!¡¡Wait, wait, wait, wait, excuse me, ¡­¡­!¡± Monaka takes a few steps backwards and then, leaving behind only a flowery scent, jumps into the shade of a nearby tree. The bottom of the robe that you can see glimpses of is shaking. I¡¯m not sure what¡¯s going on here. ¡­¡­ I feel a little uneasy about Monaka¡¯s reaction, which I have never seen before. She is mumbling something, and I know I shouldn¡¯t, but I activate my Dexterous Body skill. I increase the parameters of my five senses, raised my hearing and tried to listen. ¡°¡­¡­ Why is that?¡¡Leo looks even cooler and cooler. ¡­¡­!¡± Leo-kun is always very cool, but today he is even cooler. ¡­¡­!¡± The girls in my class said that a cool boy is called a ¡°handsome man. ¡­¡­!¡± He¡¯s handsome: ¡­¡­!¡¡You¡¯re too handsome, Leo. ¡­¡­!¡± I can¡¯t look at Leo¡¯s face properly anymore: ¡­¡­!¡± What should I do, what should I do ¡­¡­?¡± If this continues, I¡¯m going to go crazy. ¡­¡­!¡± This is the first time in my life that I¡¯ve been called handsome. I suddenly think to myself,. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because I have a higher parameter of ¡°charm¡± ¡­¡­?¡± CH 46 My status was revealed in the ¡°Ritual of Ability Awakening¡± at the entrance ceremony. Among them, the parameter of ¡± Charm ¡± was ¡°1¡±. Now, I suddenly understand why I have been unpopular for so long. But now, I have 101 points of ¡± Charm ¡°. I don¡¯t know how high that is, but I think Weiss¡¯ charm was 50 points. Weiss has been popular since he was a little boy, so the fact that he is twice as attractive is outrageous. And based on me, that¡¯s 101 times more. I¡¯m sure Monaka would be suspicious if his childhood friend suddenly becomes 101 times more attractive. For the time being, I decide to put the ¡°charm¡± back to normal. ========== Name Leopin Occupation Trainer(Tamer) Lv 13 HP 2010 MP 2010 Status Life 201 Endurance 201 Toughness 201 Spirit 181 201 Resistance 201 Agility 201 Concentration 201 Strength 201 Magic 201 Dharma 201 Intelligence 201 Liberal Arts 201 Five Senses 201 Sixth Sense 201 Charm 101 ? 1 Luck 2 Dexterity 300 ? 400 ========== I go over to Monaka, who is still shivering in the shade of a tree. When Monaka notices me approaching, she turns around with a shriek ¡°Hyah! Her face is flaming red, but her eyes flutter as she sees that I am back to my normal self. ¡°Oh ¡­¡­ eeh? ¡­¡­?¡± She takes out a white handkerchief and rubs her eyes with it. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, ¡­¡­. I was surprised to see Leo-kun looking so cool like a different person. ¡­¡­ It seems that I was mistaken. ¡­¡­¡± Monaka, who is in the middle of her words, waves her hand and says again, ¡°Ah it makes it sound like Leo is not as cool as he usually is. I¡¯m sorry! Leo-kun is always cool and very nice!¡± ¡°But wasn¡¯t it better for me to have been mistaken?¡± Monaka shakes her head from side to side. ¡°No, I don¡¯t. I¡¯m a big fan of ¡­¡­ any Leo-kun. No, no, no!¡¡It¡¯s nothing!¡± Monaka has been flapping her hands for a long time, but her movements stop immediately. Her face, which should have been bright red, turns completely pale like a sudden turn. ¡°Re¡­¡­Leo-kun¡­¡­b, Behind you¡­..¡± The reaction alone is enough to give me an idea of what was going on. ¡°Ahh this is ¡°Mark¡± I¡¯ve been taming. Mark, say hello to Monaka.¡± He is still behind me, bowing his head and saying ¡°Kuhn¡±. Monaka¡¯s face is still pale, but she bows back hurriedly. ¡°Thank you very much for your kindness!¡¡My name is Monaka, and ¡­. Eh ¡­. ehhhhhhhhh!?!?¡± Monaka¡¯s eyes are rolling around and screaming. It seems that too many things are happening and Monaka can¡¯t catch up with that. Monaka is on the verge of having a stroke, so I support her and she squeezes and he clings to me. ¡°My, My my, did you really train that bear? I¡¯ve heard of it from the showman, Mr. Tamer. He said that it is very difficult to train wild bears, even for professionals, so even professionals train bred bears!¡± ¡°Well, maybe I¡¯m lucky, then, let me give you a ride.¡± ¡°Yo ¡­¡­ are you sure? Hyaaaaaaaa!?!?!¡± Before we could finish our exchange, Monaka and I are being held up by Mark¡¯s hands. He lightly places us on his shoulders as if he is handling a kitten. Monaka is hugging Mark¡¯s face and looking down at him stiffly. ¡°It¡¯s amazing ¡­¡­! I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re letting me ride on your shoulders, ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Not a bad view, huh?¡± ¡°Ha, ha! To tell you the truth, it was my dream as a child to play with a bear. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Okay, well, have fun with it. Okay, Mark, let¡¯s get you to bed!¡± Mark throws us down and lays down. ¡°Whoa! ¡°Whoa! ¡± and then we all fall down on Mark¡¯s stomach. The top of Mark¡¯s stomach is so soft that it feels like a trampoline. Monaka¡¯s eyes light up like a child¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯ve always dreamed of lying on top of a bear. Oh, but lying outside is such a naughty thing to do. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°What are you talking about? It¡¯s just you, me, and Mark here. Let¡¯s get out of the house and have some fun! That¡¯s it!¡± I bounced with all my might, and Monaka flips over. Mark squeals happily as we laugh at each other. Mark squeals happily. His face is so gentle that I can¡¯t believe it from the wound on his chest. After that, we lose track of time and play around as if we are kids again. As we watch the sun set over Mark¡¯s chest, Monaka says, ¡°Mark, thank you so much for today. I haven¡¯t had this much fun in a really long time.¡± Mark squeals back, ¡°Kuoon!¡± Mark squeals back, a steamy heart mark rising above his head, apparently very satisfied. ¡°But Monaka, are you okay? Your robe is very dirty and covered with hair. Aren¡¯t you going to be scolded when you get home?¡± ¡°Yes. But I am very happy about this. And my sister said so, too. The reason why the saint¡¯s robe is pure white is so that she can get dirty by interacting with many people. And ¡­¡­¡±. Monaka suddenly turns her head to me. And then she looked back at me with a bold, upward glance. ¡°I- It¡¯s the best thing for a saint to get dirty with the person you ¡­.. chuki¡± The words that she says almost didn¡¯t enter my mind. This is because I have witnessed something that is hard to believe. From the top of Monaka¡¯s head, it is as if she had blown dandelion fluff into the ¡­¡­ air¡­ There were countless hearts floating in the air. ¡­¡­! I accidentally scrub my eyes with the sleeve of my coat. No matter how much of a trainer you are, you can¡¯t see changes in human emotion. ¡­¡­ That¡¯s impossible, isn¡¯t it ¡­¡­? CH 47 The next morning. I get a call that classes are to resume after the restoration of the residential area is completed, so I head for the school. When I peek into Mark¡¯s house on my way out, I find him curled up and sleeping soundly. I feel too sorry to wake him up, so I left the forest without talking to him. The living quarters are being worked on by a professional contractor, and the work is progressing rapidly. To avoid disturbing the work, I walk around the outside of the residential area. There are a number of temporary tents set up, and students are working on something. Akemi, the alchemist, has rented out a tent all by herself and is stirring a large pot. When I try to approach her, I am confronted by a group of cronies. But Akemi notices, and with a crane¡¯s call, ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s okay, he¡¯s okay,¡± the men regretfully give way. I approach Akemi and ask, ¡°Alchemy?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± was the short answer. ¡°Haha, there will be a store in the residential area soon, so I¡¯m preparing for its opening.¡± There is only one business for an alchemist. There is a sign beside the tent that says ¡°Akemi¡¯s Potion Shop¡± with a black and purple flower logo on it. The next thing I know, Akemi is reaching out her nail polish fingertips to me and gently removing something from the shoulder of my coat. ¡°The hair of the beast.¡± Mark¡¯s, I think. ¡°Mm-hmm, hold on a second.¡± Akemi whispered with a sexy exhale and dropped the pinched hairs into a small pot simmering nearby. She adds some sweet potato roots and a mushroom called ¡°haranoboridake¡± to the pot. As she stirs, she mumbles something that sounds like an incantation. ¡­¡­ pong!¡¡There is a puff of white smoke. Only a small amount of red liquid is remaining at the bottom of the small pot, and Akemi carefully transferrs it to a small bottle. ¡°I¡¯ll give you this.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the Whirlwind Voice Potion. If you take it, your voice will be carried farther by the wind. The distance the voice can reach depends on the strength of the roar of the beast it¡¯s made from. ¡­¡­ With one drop of the potion, you can whisper to someone at least 50 meters away. But that voice will be heard by everyone 50 meters away.¡± ¡°That could come in handy, depending on how you use it. How much?¡± ¡°Oh, no, thank you. You gave me all the materials I used. I don¡¯t want to give you anything in return, but you can come visit me when the store is open.¡± Akemi¡¯s long eyelashes flutter, and she winks as if her pheromones are leaking out. I feel like I am getting a bonus, so I gratefully take the medicine. Akemi and I part ways and I head for the school building. Today¡¯s morning class is an elective. As I walk through the school gates, I am thinking about what class to take when I see ¡­¡­. The vice principal spots me and flies at me like a fly. ¡°Leopin-kun!¡¡I¡¯m going to follow you!¡¡I¡¯m going to take you to the class you should be taking!¡± ¡°The class I should be taking?¡± ¡°Yes!¡¡The students of the Special Training Class are immature, stupid people who don¡¯t know what class is right for them. That¡¯s why there is a rule that if a teacher gives you a lesson, you have to take it!¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡¡If that¡¯s the case, I understand. What kind of class is it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s still a secret!¡¡Follow me and you¡¯ll find out!¡± What I am taken to is an outdoor classroom on the outskirts of the school. There are stables and corrals around, which gives me an idea, but I kept quiet and went along. The classroom is like a big tent, and the students are already seated. All of the students have small animals on their desks and are caring for them. I am seated in the back, in the far corner. A few moments later, a very sexy woman in a flashy dancer¡¯s outfit comes somersaulting up to me and jumps on the podium. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Domanna! I¡¯m the teacher of Trainer-Tamer! I treat pets and students alike! I¡¯ll give the good ones a nudge and the bad ones a shove, so don¡¯t let me down! I¡¯m going to see how good you are, so let¡¯s get started with the Pet Battle!¡± ¡°Pet Battle¡± ¡­¡­ is a battle between trained pets. It¡¯s as popular a test of a trainer-tamer¡¯s ability as a pet race. Domanna-sensei looks around at her students as she continues. ¡°Well, is there anyone who is a little bummed that they forgot their pet or don¡¯t have a pet yet?¡± I honestly raise my hand. I have a pet, but it¡¯s sleeping at home. I am the only one who raised my hand, and the whole class laughs. Ms. Domanna calms everyone down with a ¡°Yes, yes,¡± and then points at me. ¡°You¡¯re Leopin, aren¡¯t you? If you don¡¯t have a pet, I¡¯ll lend you one just for today! But as a bonus, after school, you¡¯ll get 10 whippings!¡± I think I misheard and ask back, ¡°What?¡± ¡°I told you before! I said before that I treat pets and students the same! And I have to whip the ones that don¡¯t! But if you show me something amazing during this class, I¡¯ll let you off with a simple whip!¡± The vice principal, who is right behind me, clapped his hands loudly. ¡°Yes!¡¡Whips for failures!¡¡That¡¯s a wonderful educational policy! Then I¡¯ll lend you a special pet that I cherish very much!¡± I can¡¯t help but feel that the story is going in a strange direction, or that it¡¯s already been made up from the beginning. The vice principal kicked a small cylinder-like object at his feet and rolled it over to me, as if he didn¡¯t want to touch it. Inside, there is a small rat. It is stuffed into the cramped tube, unable to move, and it is squeaking in pain. ¡°You should use that! Garbage and rats are a perfect match! Mu-ho-ho-ho!¡± I pick up the tube and pull it out of the stressful-looking tube. You can use your trainer tamer skills to train the rats ¡­¡­. But first, let me adjust my charm. I activate the ¡°Dexterous Body¡± skill of the ¡°Poor Dexterity¡±. I¡¯m going to increase my ¡°charm¡± status by about 100 ¡­¡­ for now. ¡­Let¡¯s just say it now, ¡­¡­. Why do I always have an unbalanced status distribution? It is very difficult for the ¡°Dexterous Body¡± to distribute increases and decreases, and if you are not careful at all, the values will be concentrated in one parameter at a time. I was distracted by the head teacher¡¯s constant laughing and ¡­¡­. My charm has once again gone over the limit. Top idol, again. ¡­¡­! The next thing I know, all the students¡¯ pets in the classroom are looking at me like I¡¯m their favorite. And then they all come rushing towards me at once. In an instant, I¡¯m like an ¡°animal tree¡±. The students all look as if their souls have been ripped out of them because I have suddenly taken the pets away from them. ¡°Eh Ehhhhhhhh!¡± CH 48 The trainer-tamers were in an uproar. ¡°What the hell? What¡¯s going on, ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°The pet that does what I say is ¡­¡­, so it ignored my orders and went to ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°And of all people, you¡¯re going to the unemployed piece of garbage. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Look, all our pets have hearts in their eyes!¡± ¡°No way! That¡¯s the greatest expression of affection from a pet!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen that look before, not even on me, the pet owner. ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that legendary ¡­¡­?¡± I think I have done something wrong, so I hastily lower my charm. At the same time, the vice principal comes flying in.. ¡°Keeeeeee! Leave him! Leave! Pets! You¡¯ll get sick if you stay attached to that thing!¡± Finally, the pets return to their owners. The next thing I know, Domanna-sensei is by my side, arms outstretching in great admiration. ¡°Wow, ¡­¡­ Wanda Ho! I¡¯ve never seen a student so smitten with an animal before! All the whipping I said earlier is wiped away! As a reward, I¡¯ll give you the best nudge ever!¡± Domanna-sensei squeezes my head like an animal. Then she pushes her cleavage into my face and give me a big hug. I can¡¯t breathe, and I am like, ¡°Mugioh!¡± As the boys say, ¡°Looks so nice!¡± and the girls glare, ¡°The worst¡± The vice principal interrupts again, his face changing color. ¡°No, no, no! Domanna-sensei! The students are watching! Not to mention the supporters at ¡­¡­!¡± But Domanna-sensei keeps choking me and says without a hint of remorse. ¡°Oh, come on, vice principal! He¡¯s a genius! He¡¯ s going to be a world-famous trainer-tamer! So you can reward him with something like this ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°No way! And that¡¯s a problem! If you don¡¯t do as we discussed, ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± After all that, Domanna-sensei reluctantly lets me go. The vice principal moves to the podium with Domanna-sensei in tow. ¡°Cough! Let¡¯s get back on track and continue with the lesson! Since it¡¯s a pet battle today, we¡¯ve prepared a special prize for you! The student who is recognized by Domanna-sensei will receive the ¡®Domanna¡¯s Nudging Award¡¯!¡± When the students hear that there is a prize, they cheer, ¡°Oh!¡± Everyone seems to suddenly become motivated. However, one of the female students blurts out. ¡°It seems like Leopin-kun was being nudged just now. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Keeeeeee! This award is valid from now on! From now on!¡± ¡°Then, everyone, move outside to the arena! There is a tournament list, so let¡¯s start in that order!¡± Following Domanna-sensei, I go out through another exit of the tent. There is a kind of ring made of heaped up dry soil. On the blackboard, there is a tournament list, and the first round is ¡®Leopin vs Special Guest. ¡°Let¡¯s get started then! Let¡¯s see, the first one to fight is ¡­¡­. Leopin! Get up to the blue corner of the ring with a bang!¡± I follow the flow of the crowd into the ring and enter the blue sand area. ¡°Now, let me introduce you to your opponent, Leopin-kun! The Sage Weiss, who has joined this class especially for today!¡± Weiss slowly emerges from a small tent near the red corner. I am expecting to see who is coming out, but I am a little disappointed. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you. I didn¡¯t know you are also a trainer-tamer.¡± Weiss chuckles. ¡°I¡¯m not like you, you know. I have a special job, status, family, popularity, wealth, everything. And of course, my pets. ¡­¡­!¡± Weiss holds up his hand in a rude gesture and shouts, ¡°Come on, Black Panther!¡± ¡­¡­ bang! A black shadow soars above the ring and lands in the air, spinning gracefully. It is a black panther with shiny black fur. In a very theatrical way, Weiss says, ¡°This is the reason why I am here in the forest. This is my pet, which I found in the forest and disciplined.¡± ¡°Whoa! The students go wild. ¡°Oh, wow!¡¡It¡¯s a black panther!¡¡That¡¯s one of the strongest animal pets I¡¯ve ever seen!¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to tame unless you¡¯re a professional, right?¡¡And you¡¯re a student and you¡¯re able to do it!¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, Weiss is a Sage. ¡­¡­!¡± The students are looking at him with envy, even though Weiss seems to be making a lot of mistakes lately. And then they cast pitying glances at me ¡°You trash, you¡¯re done. A rat and a Black Panther are no match ¡­¡± ¡°You know, in pet battles, you can even attack the owner, right?¡± ¡°Oh, poor thing. ¡­¡­ You¡¯ll probably get hurt badly. If you¡¯re not careful, you could end up dead.¡± I raise my hand and ask the teachers. ¡°Well, Sensei. Can I call my pet too?¡± ¡°M-ho-ho-ho! Of course you can! If you have a pet, you can call as many as you want! But it¡¯s no use trying to buy time like that!¡± I take a chance. I put a drop of ¡°Whirlwind Voice Potion,¡± on my finger which I opened in my coat pocket, and licked it off. Then I hold up my hand and shout gallantly ¡°Come on! Mark!¡± ¡­¡­ But nothing happens, and the area erupt in laughter. ¡°Hahahahahahaha!¡¡Come on, it¡¯s Mark!¡± ¡°Come on, you¡¯re imitating a Sage!¡± ¡°And what¡¯s a mark? That¡¯s a pet name you came up with on the spur of the moment!¡± ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking, Leopin. What¡¯s next, ¡®The wolf is coming¡¯?¡± ¡°M-ho-ho-ho!¡¡All that¡¯s coming are the blackbirds!¡¡Mu-ho-ho-ho¡­¡­-ho-ho¡­¡­?¡± Laughter erases from the surroundings. Because everyone heard it, felt it. The air around them trembles and the earth shakes with an overwhelming presence. ¡­¡­! ¡­¡­ doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo! A cloud of dust, tearing down the tents around us, and he¡¯s coming. It is a tremendous sight, like a landslide approaching. ¡­¡­ boom! Everyone except me is shaken by the huge body that appeares through the tent. ¡°Ehhhhhh!¡± CH 49 Like a god of destruction, something appears in front of us. It is an existence as great as the power of its appearance. The trainer-tamers panic and run for cover. ¡°Whoa!¡¡It¡¯s a bear!¡¡It¡¯s a bear!¡± ¡°And that bear isn¡¯t a native of the forest!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure how a wild bear can get in here! The protection ¡°spell of avoidence¡± should still be in effect within the school!¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s because it¡¯s my pet.¡± My words seem to reach them even in the midst of the mayhem, thanks to the effects of the ¡°Whirlwind Potion¡±. The students who are trying to escape in a huff stop in their tracks. ¡°Th- That¡¯s a lie ¡­¡­, isn¡¯t it ¡­¡­?¡¡You trained a bear?¡± ¡°And you¡¯ve trained a bear so violent that it¡¯s been called the Master of the forest. ¡­¡­? ¡°It¡¯s not a violent bear. He¡¯s a gentle bear. Come on, Mark.¡± I beckon to him, and Mark enters the ring, squealing like a dog and wagging his round tail. Monaka and Kotone appear shortly after, out of breath. ¡°Ha, ha, ha. ¡­¡­!¡¡We finally found you, Leo-kun. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Oh ¡­¡­, thank you for waiting, Master ¡­¡­!¡± The two of them, who normally don¡¯t run, seem to have run as fast as they could to get here. It is refreshing to see two neat and tidy people drenched in sweat. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, you two? What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°That ¡­¡­ is our line!¡¡I heard Leo¡¯s voice saying, ¡°Come here!¡± and I thought he was calling us. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°I have to leave class in the middle of the day to look for you, Master!¡± ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t you who called us. It is ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Wow, great ¡­¡­!¡± A voice calls out from behind me. ¡°It¡¯s not just the bears, but Monaka and Kotone as well. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°I thought the king was the only one who could summon those two. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s more, the two of them are so desperate to find it, they¡¯re even more desperate for that garbage. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Weiss¡¯s voice drowns out the rest of the crowd, as if he is not amused. ¡°I know Leopin! You must have taken advantage of them in some despicable way that I¡¯m afraid to mention!¡± Both of them immediately deny it, but Weiss doesn¡¯t listen. ¡°I saw right from the start that you are a lowlife who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals! That¡¯s why I banished you!¡¡That¡¯s why I¡¯m trying to purge you now!¡± Domanna-sensei says, ¡°Could it be that this is a showdown of fate! It¡¯s blazing!¡± She snaps her fingers. ¡°And now that both pets are here, let¡¯s go for it! It¡¯s a pet battle!¡¡Ready, go!¡± As if to take the lead, Weiss takes the whip on his hip and strikes the ground with a crisp blow. ¡°Go!¡¡Black Panther!¡¡First, we have to kill that filthy bear!¡± I brace myself. Mark may have more power than the panther, but he¡¯s definitely faster. If I¡¯m not careful, I could get my neck ripped off with one blow. ¡­¡­! But my fears are unfounded. The Black Panther ignore Weiss¡¯s orders. He was lying down at his owner¡¯s feet, cooing and sneezing. ¡°What are you doing, Black Panther? Get up and fight! Are you still my pet?¡± But the Black Panther remains in full relaxation mode. Weiss, who has lost his nerve, finally strikes the Black Panther with his whip. The Black Panther cries out, ¡°Gah!¡± And then he stands up, his golden eyes glittering. ¡°You¡¯re finally ready to go! Come on, bite them, Black Panther!¡± ¡°Gow!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not for me! The enemy is over there! Oh, no! No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!¡± It is a comedic exchange, but this is no time to laugh. The Black Panther is on top of him, scratching his face with its claws, and is about to bite off his throat. I hurried over to Weiss. As I slid in, I held up my hand to the Black Panther. ¡°Be mine! Train Taming!¡± However, ¡°You can¡¯t do that!¡± said Domanna ¡°The ¡®Training¡¯ skill doesn¡¯t work on other people¡¯s pets! Run away right now! Oh, no! No! Kyaaaaaaa!!¡± The warning turns into a scream midway through. The Black Panther jumps on me. The vice principal jumps up and down with joy. ¡°I did it! I¡¯ve finally succeeded in making that piece of trash go aw¡ª¨C!¡± The next moment, however, it is the vice principal himself who is shouting, ¡°Hoongya! ¡°Hahaha, that tickles!¡¡Hahahahaha!¡± The Black Panther is licking my face like a purring black cat. The tongue of a feline is rough like a file, and it hurts when it is licked. But the Black Panther¡¯s tongue is so smooth that it doesn¡¯t hurt at all. Domanna-sensei slumpes down and said, ¡°That¡¯s ¡­¡­ bullshit ¡­¡­.¡± On the contrary, the trainer-tamers are also too surprised to sit down. ¡°What the ¡­¡­ hell?¡¡How can you train someone else¡¯s pet?¡¡The only thing is that it should be absolutely impossible!¡± ¡°Hey ¡­¡­, I knew it! He stole our pets, even if only for a moment! He used the technique of the legendary trainer Tamer!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe that ¡­¡­!?¡± ¡°Yes, the Brain Destruction Taming Revolution! Only the legendary trainer Tamer can use this skill to steal other people¡¯s pets. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°The trainer-tamer who is robbed will be so humiliated that he or she will become a cripple. ¡­¡­? You are lying, right!? I can¡¯t believe a student just did ¡°NTR¡±. Tell me it¡¯s not true.¡± The trainer-tamers are holding their heads as if their brains are being torn apart. ¡­ And no, I don¡¯t think it was ¡°NTR¡± I think the Black panther is just a pet, not a trained pet. That¡¯s why it didn¡¯t listen to Weiss commands and my ¡°training¡± skill worked. Weiss end up fainting with the whites of his eyes showing. CH 50 Weiss regained consciousness and was screaming while being carried on a tankard. ¡°¡­¡­ Black Panther, you¡¯re not a pet if you attack your owner! No, it¡¯s ¡°exile!¡± If you don¡¯t want to be killed, get out of my sight!¡± But Black Panther ignores him as usual. He is being patted on the stomach by Monaka and Kotone, and is wiggling around. ¡°Oooooooooooohhhh!¡¡Remember that, ohhhhhhhhh!¡± With a scream that seems to tear his entire body apart, Weiss disappears into the school building. He seems to finally understand where they were taking him on the way. ¡°No, no, no!¡¡Please don¡¯t take me to the infirmary! If I go any lower, I¡¯m going to¡­¡­! Aaaaahhhh! £¡£¡£¡£¡¡± As the Sage¡¯s screams rang out, the vice principal also hurriedly try to return to the school building. ¡°Well, I¡¯m going to have lunch.¡± ¡°Wait a minute,¡± she said, grabbing my shoulder. ¡°What is it? Domanna-sensei.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t finished awarding the prize yet, have you?¡± The vice principal is so flustered that he mouthed, ¡°Gykuu!¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t play dumb with me! I was supposed to give a prize to the student I recognized!¡± ¡°I explained to Domanna-sensei that the prize money is to be awarded to Weiss. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Yes, I was asked to help punish the failing students. I was told he was a dropout, so I took him on with a bang! But Leopin wasn¡¯t a dropout, he was a trainer-tamer who was as good as anyone! That¡¯s why I¡¯m going to give him the prize.¡¡If you don¡¯t want to give it to me, you can send it to the school board ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Gyah!¡¡That¡¯s all , I want you to stop! I¡¯ll give it to you. ¡­¡­!¡¡I¡¯ll give it to you!¡¡You can give it to me!¡± Then the prize giving ceremony was hurriedly held for me. Perhaps the vice-principal was too disappointed, his eyes were bloodshot, and he gritted his teeth as if his veins were about to break, and presented me with the certificate. ¡°G¡­..!¡¡G¡­¡­!¡¡G¡­¡­!¡¡I¡¯m not going to let this ¡­¡­ grudge ¡­¡­ go unrelieved ¡­¡­!¡± It didn¡¯t seem like a blessing, and when I tried to take the certificate, the vice principal wouldn¡¯t let go. If you don¡¯t want to give it to me that badly, you can just let it go, but Domanna-sensei won¡¯t let you. ¡°Damn you, vice principal!¡¡Just give up and let go! Monaka, Kotone, and Leopin, pull that way! I¡¯ll be over here pulling Mark-kun and the vice principal! Black Panther!¡¡Black Panther, you bite the vice principal¡¯s leg and hold him down!¡± The four of us and the two animals split up and pulled, and we finally got the certificate. Perhaps at this moment, the ¡°asset ranking board¡± was rewritten. No. 1 Special Training School 31,200,000 Yen. But there were only three people who congratulated me. ¡°Congratulations, Leo!¡± ¡°Congratulations, Master!¡± ¡°Leopin, you¡¯re going to be the greatest trainer ever, Tamer! I can assure you that you will continue to come to my classes. I guarantee you¡¯ll be a great trainer-tamer!¡± ¡°Kuon!¡±¡± Myaa!¡± Oops, it was three humans and two animals. Monaka tilted her head and asked, ¡°What is ¡®puff-puff¡¯ nudging? ¡° ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô I finished my morning class and said goodbye to Monaka and Kotone. I had to take Mark and Black Panther home. The Black Panther seems to have been ¡°banished¡± by Weiss, so I decide to keep him. As I walk next to the residential area with my two pets in tow, I see a few students crying here and there. ¡®Ugh ¡­¡­ ugh ¡­¡­ ugh ¡­¡­!¡¡My house, my house, my house¡­ ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°A big rock-like thing went by at great speed and messed up ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Just when I thought I had a house that wouldn¡¯t fall over, ¡­¡­!¡± Apparently, Mark has destroyed their house. Several of the higher class wooden houses have been reduced to rubble. A pet¡¯s misbehavior is its owner¡¯s misbehavior. As an apology, I thought I¡¯d rebuild the house into something more magnificent, but ¡­¡­. ¡°Ugh, now that I have a house, I was going to tear down the house of some unemployed trash this time!¡± ¡°We were all going to go over there at noon today and mess it up!¡± ¡°And now my house is ruined! Aaaaahhhh!¡± I hear screams everywhere, and my guilt is erased. On the way home, I think about what to name the Black Panther. ¡°Well, how about Tom?¡± ¡°Myaah!¡± The Black Panther raises his paw and purrs. ¡°Okay, you¡¯re ¡®Tom¡¯ from now on! Nice to meet you, Tom!¡± ¡°Tut!¡± I hear a protesting squeal from my shoulder. A rat crawls out of my coat pocket. ¡°I forgot all about you. You¡¯re ¡­¡­ well, how about ¡®Jerry¡¯?¡± And the rat says, ¡°Excuse me!¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re a girl! Sorry, sorry. I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry. How about ¡­¡­ ¡°Jueri¡±? It means ¡°jewel,¡± so it¡¯s perfect for you, cutie.¡± ¡°Chu-!¡± Jueri stretched up and clung to my cheek like a kiss. I return to the forest, flirting with my pets like this. The house welcomes us with a warm glow. ========== Base LV 2 ? 3 Size: An ordinary house with a family of animals Population 1 Beasts 3 Base Skills: Activity support Base Expansion NEW! Base Defense: Gain a bonus to the base¡¯s defense. CH 51 Time goes back a little. The place was the principal¡¯s office of the Royal Pioneer Academy. Ever since the school opened, there had been a dark and somber mood there, but only today was there the sound of laughter. The floor was covered with ¡°Slave Tickets,¡± and the seated principal and vice principal were scattering them like flowers in a flower garden. ¡°Hahahaha! The students used the tickets like hot water! Thanks to them, we made a lot of money!¡± ¡°Yes! Most of the students are now at our mercy!¡± But then he came to his senses and slumped his shoulders. ¡°But ¡­¡­ we couldn¡¯t get tickets for Monaka-kun and Kotone-kun. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right, ¡­¡­. The real goal was to get them away from the garbage. ¡­¡­¡± The principal and vice principal always brought products that they thought Monaka and Kotone would enjoy and encouraged them to buy them. But their reaction was always the same. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sensei. I have already decided how to use my ticket. Well, Leo ¡­¡­.¡± Monaka was about to say ¡°Leo-kun¡±, but stopped talking. She learned that if she mentioned Leopin¡¯s name, the vice principal would go crazy. Monaka refused softly, but Kotone said crisply. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. All of my tickets are my monthly fee to my master. I offered to pay in full, but he refused, so I have no choice but to keep them.¡± Thinking back to that moment, the principal stood up as if he was about to burst out of his boiling guts. He trampled on the ticket at his feet as if to take it out on Leopin. ¡°That little brat¡¯s tickets are useless no matter how many you collect!¡± ¡°No, no!¡¡I¡¯m stopping, Headmaster!¡¡Even so, thanks to the purchasing department, we were able to restore the living quarters to its former glory!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point? It¡¯s just that the great minus has returned to a mere minus! In addition to that, it¡¯s not possible for any other pioneering school to have professional craftsmen intervene!¡± It¡¯s not like other pioneering schools, there are a lot of sons and daughters of famous families enrolled in the Royal Pioneering Academy. In other words, the school is full of elite students, so there were a lot of expectations and the school was opened with a lot of fanfare. However, once the doors were opened, the school was in such a state that even the living quarters could not be built properly. The leadership of the principal and vice principal was being questioned all the time. The principal was so angry that he took it out on the vice principal. ¡°And what about the prize money? The supporters are even demanding that the prize money be returned!¡± ¡°Yes, yes! That ¡­¡­ is what I¡¯m thinking about! I¡¯ve found a class that trash can¡¯t even follow! And for that class, I¡¯m going to be awarding the first prize!¡± ¡°What? We tried that with both PE and Production! What exactly is that class that the trash can¡¯t keep up with?¡± ¡°Yes! That¡¯s the class of ¡°Trainer Tamer¡±! If it¡¯s a class, that trash can¡¯t even touch it!¡± ¡°Oh, I see!¡¡The trash is hated by the students, so there is no way the animals will like him!¡± There was a knock at the door. ¡°Who is it?¡± The principal shouted, and the gilded door opened with a click. ¡°Excuse me. Principal, vice principal.¡± ¡°What is it, Weiss-kun?¡¡What do you want?¡± ¡°Are you still holding a grudge on what you did the other day?¡± ¡°No, sir. I was passing by the corridor, and I heard something that sounded like a fun story. ¡­¡­. Please let me help you with that story. If you leave it to me, the Sage, I will drive that trash to voluntary expulsion.¡± ¡°What, voluntary expulsion?¡¡That¡¯s a wish come true!¡¡Do you have any better ideas?¡± ¡°Yes, I do. I have a Black Panther at home. I can get it from my parents house and use it to beat up that trash in your ¡°Trainer Tamer¡± class. ¡­¡­¡± In pioneer schools, it was a rule that parents were not allowed to support the students. They are not allowed to name the supporters either. Therefore, Weiss¡¯ proposal was a clear violation of the rules. Normally, the principal and vice principal would be in a position to scold him, but ¡­¡­. The two were impressed. ¡°I see!¡±, they said in admiration. Weiss pushed his glasses as if he had them. ¡°Then I¡¯ll send a message to your father and ask him to arrange for the Black Panther. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll cooperate if I tell him it¡¯s for my return. Can you two take it and hide it somewhere where it won¡¯t get out?¡± ¡°Yes, then we have a secret route that will never be discovered!¡± ¡°Yes!¡¡After I receive it, I¡¯ll pretend it¡¯s a teaching pet and hide it in Trainer Tamer¡¯s classroom!¡± ¡°Oh, if you¡¯re going to hide a tree, you might as well hide it in the woods! It¡¯s all a perfect plan, without a single flaw! All in all, it¡¯s a perfect plan! Weiss, if it works, you will be returned to your original rank!¡± ¡°I¡¯m counting on you. If my wisdom as a Sage is combined with the power of the two of you, ¡­¡­¡± ¡°This time, this time ¡­¡­!¡¡This time, for real, that garbage is over. ¡­¡­!¡¡Yee hee hee ¡­¡­!¡± Needless to say, this scheme ended in super failure. It may be as natural as ¡°morning comes after night.¡± But for them, the dawn never comes. The vice principal, who had been robbed of his prize, returned to the principal¡¯s office with a downcast look on his face. ¡­¡­ The principal was writhing on a leather chair, holding his head. ¡°I¡¯ve just been notified by the Board of Education that I¡¯ve been downgraded one rank!¡± Principal Nekodoran S+ ? S The vice principal was overly surprised, ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°The Board of Education got wind of the Black Panther smuggling! It was an absolutely undetectable route, but why? Why is that, aaaaaaa ¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«!¡± The principal is banging his head against his desk in confusion. ¡°Aah, how sweet it is,¡± the vice-principal said, pinching his buttocks and trying hard to hold back a smile from breaking out. Yes, the vice principal was aware of it. He knew that the principal had been trying to save his own skin in the previous case where only the vice principal had been downgraded. So this time, as a revenge, the vice principal sent a message to the school board as soon as the operation was planned. ¡°The principal is conspiring with Mr. Weiss to smuggle pets. I was against it, but he threatened to make me unable to stay at the school if I revealed it!¡± The vice principal chuckled. ¨CThis way, if the mission succeeds, we can get rid of the trash and also get back at the principal. Even if the mission fails, only the principal and Weiss-kun will suffer from the mud. Whichever way it goes, that bald man will have to pay the price!¡¡Muhohohohoho ¡­¡­! This evil scheme had come to fruition. The principal noticed that the vice principal¡¯s cheeks were relaxed and glared at him. ¡°Are you so happy that I¡¯ve been downgraded? But there was no time to laugh. The supporters were pissed off because you gave the prize money to that trash. They want you to take full responsibility for the prize money you gave to that trash. If you don¡¯t, they¡¯ll cut off all support in the future. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Ki¡­. Kieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!?!?!?¡± CH 52 When Weiss is released from the infirmary, he wanders down the hallway of the school building. Along the way, there is a bulletin board and a large crowd of students. On the bulletin board, a notice for Class 1-20 is immediately posted. Year 1, Class 20, D ¡ú D- Incidentally, if the matter of the Black Panther smuggling had been revealed, it would not have been possible to go down one rank. But this matter was kept in the dark. Because the school board had made a disciplinary action against Weiss¡¯ father. It would have been a huge scandal if it was known that the great sage had provided secret support for his son. Weiss tries to walk past the bulletin board without looking at it, but the buzzing is too much for him. ¡°Hey, look! Class 1-20, they¡¯re down again!¡± ¡°What, again?¡¡What the hell did they do this time?¡± ¡°Apparently Weiss was injured by his own pet in the trainer-tamer class!¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s lame!¡¡How is it possible for a trainer-tamer to be attacked by his own pet?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not normal, but it¡¯s not surprising for a Sage guy like him.¡± ¡°And rumor has it that he was saved by some unemployed trash!¡¡Otherwise he would have been killed!¡± ¡°Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!¡¡Being saved by unemployed trash is so lame!¡± ¡°Yeah!¡¡I¡¯d be too embarrassed to stay in school!¡± ¡°And if you get demoted next time, you¡¯ll be ranked E, the bottom group!¡± ¡°Yeah!¡¡I¡¯d die of embarrassment!¡± ¡°Ugh ¡­¡­ ohhhhhhhhh!¡± Weiss runs out of the school without a moment¡¯s hesitation. That day, he was seen running around screaming all over the school building and living quarters. ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô It was late in the day when Weiss returned to the house of Class 1-20. In the cafeteria, his classmates had just finished dinner, and on Weiss¡¯s upper seat was a completely cooled menu. Weiss didn¡¯t wipe his dirty face, take off his tattered Sage robe, or even sit down. ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± Monsoon, who is relaxing in a seat next to him, asks back, slumped down. ¡°What do you mean with, what do you mean?¡± ¡°It should be a rule that the meal begins with my declaration. Why did you eat without my permission? ¡°I don¡¯t know. We were all here except for Weiss.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mess with me. I¡¯m the leader of this class.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s messing around. You haven¡¯t done a single thing to be a leader.¡± ¡°I mean, Weiss is the reason why we¡¯re falling behind isn¡¯t it?.¡± Carol, who is sitting across from Monsoon, fiddles with her hair. ¡°I was fighting to punish Leopin. He¡¯s even more evil than people think, and he¡¯s trying to wreak havoc on this school. It¡¯s all his fault that our class is so far behind ¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Monsoon stands up with the momentum of overturning the dining table. ¡°It¡¯s all because of Weiss that our class is behind in development! You don¡¯t seem to know, so I¡¯ll tell you, how do you think the rubble was removed? Who do you think built this house? Who do you think prepared the food?¡± Monsoon held up the palm of his hand, indicating his classmates sitting at the dining table. ¡°It¡¯s all us! We¡¯re the ones who used the slave tickets to buy them! Weiss is the only one who hasn¡¯t produced a single Slave Ticket!¡± Weiss didn¡¯t like being ordered around by others more than anything, so he hadn¡¯t offered a Slave Ticket for any reason. Weiss raised an eyebrow and said uncomfortably. ¡°I suppose that¡¯s to be expected, I¡¯m a Sage. It¡¯s your job to work up a sweat, ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Then lead us like a wise man! All Weiss is doing is dragging us down!¡± ¡°It would have been better if Leopin had been here.¡± The classmates agreed with her words one after another. ¡°Yeah, maybe he¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Leopin built Monaka and Kotone¡¯s house, it was amazing.¡± ¡°If Leopin had been around, we could be living in a house like that right now. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°By the way, Leopin has already grown sweet potatoes.¡± ¡°Yeah, I got to try a few, but they were really good!¡± ¡°If only Leopin had been around, we wouldn¡¯t have to worry about food now. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Weiss howls and slams the dining table with a slam. ¡°Take it back, Carol! You think we would have been better off with Leopin? That¡¯s impossible! You¡¯re out of your mind!¡± Carol stands up. ¡°It is Weiss who is out of his mind! That¡¯s enough, I understand it, Leopin is many times better than you!¡± ¡°You think that an unemployed trash is better than a Sage like me? ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡¡And Leopin cared about us many, many times more than you! He¡¯s not looking down on us, he was working for the class more than anyone else!¡± The classmates were completely overwhelmed by Carol¡¯s rage. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you sister Carol? You¡¯ve never complimented Leopin before!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m complimenting him. I¡¯m just saying what people are thinking instead.¡± Weiss keeps his head down and clenches his fists. ¡°Take back your word Carol, you¡¯re the second most influential person in the class after me ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°I told you, I¡¯m not going to listen to you anymore!¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s time to purge¡­!¡± Weiss bares his bloodshot eyes and tries to hit Carol. But the side of his face becomes ugly and cracks with a rocky fist. Weiss¡¯s head is blown off with such force that his neck is about to be torn off. He hits the kitchen door, but his momentum does not diminish. He is thrown out of the door with such force that he smashs into the garbage dumpster outside. As Monsoon closes the open door, ¡°I told you I don¡¯t tolerate people who hit women, so cool down for the night. I¡¯m as tired of you as you are of Carol.¡± Bang! Weiss weeps as he wriggles in the garbage. ¡°Gu ¡­.. Gugigigi! Why, why is that¡­. Why are you taking it away from me. ¡­¡­! The rank of my class, the house I built, and the feelings of my classmates¡­¡­! Carol, Monsoon, and even my pets and father, ¡­¡­!¡± An unprecedented sense of defeat and humiliation crushes him. But the fire in his eyes do not extinguished. ¡°I¡¯ll never ¡­¡­ forgive you, I¡¯ll never ¡­¡­ forgive you!¡¡I¡¯ll never forgive you. ¡­¡­!¡± In fact, it burns even brighter. He howls to the sky as if he is spitting fire. ¡°Leeeeooooopiiiiiinnn!!!¡± CH 53 The next morning. I wake up to the light of my skin. ¡°I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d level up in my sleep.¡± It is still early in the morning, and the room is a little dim. ¡°I could go back to sleep, but ¡­¡­. It¡¯s my first day off from school today. Since I woke up early, I might as well go for a morning walk.¡± I try to get out of bed, but Tom is curled up like a black cushion under the bed, and I almost step on him. ¡°Black Panthers are hard to see in the dark, so you have to be careful.¡± I climb over Tom, get up, stretch, and go to the window. There are two working pitfalls in the yard. There are signs that someone has crawled out of them on their own, so this probably isn¡¯t the first time they had been trapped. ¡°But I could almost understand why the level had been raised. Fua~ah.¡± I open the status window while yawning. ========== Name Leopin Occupation Trainer(Tamer) Lv 13 ? 14 HP 2010 MP 2010 Status Life 201 Endurance 201 Toughness 201 Spirit 181 201 Resistance 201 Agility 201 Concentration 201 Strength 201 Magic 201 Dharma 201 Intelligence 201 Liberal Arts 201 Five Senses 201 Sixth Sense 201 Charm 1 Luck 2 Dexterity 400 ? 500 ========== ========== Changeable occupations Production System Lumberjack Appraiser Shin-Ra Carpenter Masonry Leather Craftsman Woodcrafter NEW! Potter Exploration System Ranger Treasure Hunter Combat System Battle Axe User Ninja Martial Artist Trapper Trainer(Tamer) ========== ¡°So the new occupation is potter huh. I might have done a little pottery as a hobby.¡± As I walked out of the house, mumbling to myself, there was a lot of noise outside the gate. Mark is pacing left and right. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mark?¡± I ask, and Mark stomps his feet, looking at me as if he doesn¡¯t know what to do. He is holding up his hands, which are filled with a golden liquid. ¡°Is that honey, by any chance?¡± ¡°Kuon, Kuon, Kuon!¡± I could tell by the way he is barking and his gestures. Apparently, he has picked up an unexpectedly large amount of his favorite honey when he went hunting. Mark said, ¡°I can¡¯t eat it all!¡± he whimpers. ¡°Wait a minute, I¡¯ll get a wooden container ¡­¡­¡± Then I reconsidered. ¡°Yes, honey is a thing, isn¡¯t it?¡± I leave Mark behind and go out into the forest. And of course, don¡¯t forget to change jobs. ========== Leopin Occupation Trainer(Tamer) ? Potter Occupational skill Clay making: Can make clay for pottery Pottery goods: Creates plates, cups, etc. Ceramic ware: Making vases, jars, etc. Large ceramic objects: Making sarcophagi, bath pots, etc. Mass production: Reduce the time required for drying and firing pottery. Destroy Pottery: Increases attack power against pottery. ========== Once you become a potter, you will be able to identify the type of soil and stones under your feet. I am surprised to find out that there are many different types of stones, even if they are just stones. ¡°Forest stone, green earth stone, sand stone ¡­¡­ Oops, I found ¡°pyritic sand ottessa. There¡¯s also Granite over here.¡± ========== Yellow iron sand Quantity 100 Quality Level 1 (Material Level 1) Iron minerals in rocks have separated and turned into sand. Sticks to magnets. ========== ========== Granite Stone Quantity 4 Quality Level 2 (Material Level 2) A type of volcanic rock. Hard, fire-resistant, and weather-resistant. ========== ¡°There are no volcanoes, but there are volcanic rocks, so I wonder if there used to be a river around here. There might be a source nearby if I look hard enough.¡± Just because I¡¯m a potter, I can¡¯t help but think about the origins of this forest. ¡°I¡¯m just a potter. I¡¯ve just got the materials I need.¡± I go back to the house with the sand and rocks and tell Mark, who is still pacing left and right. ¡°If you¡¯re going to keep doing that, you might as well step on these stones and break them into little pieces. Please.¡± I place the granite stone at Mark¡¯s feet and begin to work. ¡°Oops, before that, I should change my job to ¡®Masonry.''¡± I pick up some forest stones from around the area and shape them together, then pile them up to make a small archway that I could bend down through. ¡°All that was left to do was to cover the area with forest soil so that there were no gaps. ¡­¡­¡± ========== Forest Kiln Quantity 1 Quality Level 21 (Material Level 2 + Dexterity Bonus 5 + Profession Bonus 14) A simple baking kiln made of forest stone and forest soil. Various bonuses make it easy to adjust the temperature. ========== ¡°Okay, it¡¯s done!¡¡Now I can make my first pottery!¡± When the kiln gets ready, I check on Mark, and he is grinding granite into powder. And he is so hooked on the process that he forgot about the honey on his hands and used his toenails. ¡°That¡¯s about right, thanks, Mark!¡± I crouch down at Mark¡¯s feet and mix the granite with the iron pyrite, which has turned to sand. Then, using a water bottle from my coat pocket, I add water and mix it together. ¡­¡­ ========== Granite Clay Quantity 40 Quality Level 22 (Material Level 3 + Dexterity Bonus 5 + Occupation Bonus 14) Granite stone, iron pyrite, and water are added to make clay. ========== The clay has an ochre color from the iron pyrite mixed with it. I place the clay on a flat rock and use it as a workbench to shape it. I have about half a pound of clay left over, so I make another one. ¡°Now all I have to do is bake it and it will be ¡­¡­!¡± I excitedly put the clay in the kiln and put firewood in it. In fact, the firing time needed to be about 10 hours, but with the ¡°mass production¡± skill of the ¡°potter¡±, it can be reduced to 1 minute. I couldn¡¯t wait to take out the clay, and it has hardened perfectly and is shining brightly like a small sun. ========== Granite Clay Bottles (High Quality) Quantity 2 Quality Level 52 (Material Level 22 + Dexterity Bonus 6 + Occupation Bonus 14 + Quality Bonus 10) Granite clay is baked. It has a pattern of discolored yellow iron sand. ========== ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it to be of such high quality!¡± The jar is bright yellow, with black bee-like patterns on the sides, probably caused by the burning and discoloration of yellow iron sand. ¡°Just right for a honey jar.¡± I take the freshly made jar to Mark. Mark is overjoyed and pours honey into the jar. In the middle of this, I hear footsteps approaching. I look over and saw that it was the same bumpy duo. ¡°Gosh ¡­¡­ garbage ¡­¡­!¡¡N- No, Leopin-kun!¡± ¡°Is it true that you have baked ¡­¡­ high quality jars?¡± ¡°Huh, did you see that?¡± ¡°A very great potter was watching that moment! Of course, I¡¯m certain it was a mistake, but just to be sure, I went ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Even if it¡¯s true! I know that a jar burned by a dropout like you isn¡¯t worth a dime! But the master said he would love to see it!¡± ¡°So give it to me! I won¡¯t do anything wrong! But if it¡¯s garbage like you, I won¡¯t accept it!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! If your jar isn¡¯t too bad, specially from the hell called ¡®Special Training Class¡¯ ¡­¡­ I cut off the principal¡¯s words mid-sentence, ¡°I refuse.¡± ¡°The jar was baked for Mark, so it can¡¯t be given to anyone else. If Mark is willing to give it up, that¡¯s a different story.¡± ¡°Mark?¡± The bumpy duo hummed. At this point, they finally seemed to realize that there was a bear nearby. Mark barked, ¡°Guo!¡± ¡°¡±Fu- Fukyaaaaaaaaaa!?!?!¡± The two of them run back at once, screaming like cats with their tails on fire. CH 54 I decided to visit the residential area in the afternoon. I heard that the restoration and construction work has been completed, so they are finally going to start up in earnest. ¡°It would be a shame to go empty-handed, so I might as well make some souvenirs to take with me.¡± Mark is dancing happily with a jar of honey in his hand. Tom seems to have woken up as well, so I leave them be and head out. In the residential area, there is still debris on the lower-ranked class grounds in the corner. But in the middle and upper classes, located on the main street, there are many houses lined up. Although all of them are simple wooden structures, there are workshops for production students and stores for students who want to become merchants. There is even a restaurant, and the terrace is crowded with students enjoying a leisurely lunch. All the main streets are bustling with energy and activity, just like the beginning of a new era. Looking at them, I feel invigorated. ¡°It¡¯s so nice! So many small energies coming together to create many times bigger energies, this feeling! I joined a pioneering academy just to experience this!¡¡Let¡¯s see. ¡­¡­¡± Out of curiosity, I thought I¡¯d take a peek at the store that caught my eye: ¡­¡­. At the entrance, there is a sign that says, ¡°Special training class students, not allowed.¡± I look around and see that all of the stores had signs saying no to me. They all look the same, so someone must have put them together and handed them out. ¡°Good grief, I can¡¯t even do shopping in a store?¡± But there is one store that didn¡¯t have a sign on it. The sign says ¡°Akemi¡¯s Potion Shop¡± and there is a long line of boys waiting to get in. ¡°I¡¯m not a big fan of waiting in line, but I promised Akemi I¡¯d come visit her when she opened ¡­¡­.¡± So I have no choice but to go to the end of the line. A female student holding a sign shouted, ¡°Oh!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to wait in line, Leopin-kun. Because Akemi-sama told us to let him through as soon as he arrives. This way, please.¡± The female student leads me through the line as if I am a VIP. I am greeted with jeers from the others in line. ¡°Damn, you¡¯re unemployed and you don¡¯t have to wait in line for ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Normally, it¡¯s a privilege only for Hero and Sage. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Why does Akemi-sama patronize that piece of trash? ¡­¡­!¡± After passing through the open entrance, the store is crowded with customers. The shelves are lined with small bottles of potions, casting a mysterious glow in the sunlight. A female student at the checkout counter is loudly ushering them in. ¡°Yes! Anyone who buys a potion will be allowed into the next room for five minutes! After five minutes, please go outside and get back in line~!¡± Even though I haven¡¯t bought anything, a female student leads me to the next room. The room is buzzing with the enthusiasm of the male students, who are all peering into the windows on the walls of the room. The back of the room looks like an alchemy workshop. Akemi is working in the dark room with the curtains closed, using only candlelight. It¡¯s a mysterious, fascinating, and scary sight. The fragrance wafting through the air was sweet, and the boys are like flies attracted to an insectivorous plant. ¡°So, if you shop, you get to watch Akemi work for five minutes. Why would you want to see that?¡± Still, it seems that Akemi fans love it. All it took was a slight tilt of Akemi¡¯s head toward the window and they started saying, ¡°Oh, she saw me! ¡°No, she saw me!¡± ¡°No, she saw me!¡± I wonder if this is as far as I can go, but of course she leads me into the workshop. The jeers from the other side of the window become much worse. ¡°What the hell is that bastard doing in the workshop?¡± ¡°Akemi-san¡¯s workshop is so top-secret that it¡¯s called ¡®The Secret Garden¡¯!¡± ¡°It¡¯s every man¡¯s dream! And yet, and yet, I¡¯m jealous~~!¡± A lot of gazes, packed with murderous intent, sting. I feel so uncomfortable that I decide to just say hello and get out of here. ¡°Hey, Akemi. It looks like you¡¯re doing very well.¡± ¡°Fuu, That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Here¡¯s something to celebrate the opening.¡± While I am making small talk, I reach into my coat pocket and pull out a piece of pottery and present it to Akemi. ¡°This is a mortar and pestle ¡­¡­?¡± ========== Granite Clay Mortar Quantity 1 Quality Level 42 (Material Level 22 + Dexterity Bonus 6 + Occupation Bonus 14) Baked from granite clay. The outside of the mortar is decorated with a flower pattern. With its various bonuses, it can crush and mix more evenly in less time than a normal mortar. ========== ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ve recently taken up pottery making. I made this mortar because I thought it could be used for alchemy work.¡± As soon as Akemi sees the pattern on the outside of the mortar, she froze. ¡°Oh, Is this, by any chance, ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a ¡®Black Purple¡¯ flower. I mixed the flower itself into the glaze, so the color looks exactly like it. Isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Why do you think I like this flower ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Why not? It¡¯s on the sign outside.¡± I saw the store sign when I met Akemi working in the tent. I remembered the black and purple flowers along with the words ¡°Akemi¡¯s Potion Shop¡±. Akemi let out a sigh of amazement, ¡°Oh my god ¡­¡­ I¡¯m so surprised ¡­¡­.I can¡¯t believe there¡¯s a man who can recognize the Black Purple flower. ¡­¡­¡± This is also thanks to the ¡°Magic Farmer¡± occupational skill. Akemi¡¯s eyes, lit by candlelight, reflect like water. Her glossy lips move and she speaks moistly ¡°¡­¡­ I¡¯ve always had something on my mind.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say it out loud, so come over here. Come closer to me, okay?¡± When I do as I was told, Akemi moves her face closer and whispers into my ear as if she is breathing on me. ¡°Hmmm. ¡­¡­! I¡¯ll never let go of the first man who gives me this flower. ¡­¡­!¡± The next moment, Akemi is like a spider pouncing on its prey. ¡­.Gaban¡­..! She hugs me. ¡°What?¡± Before I can react, my body is enveloped in a soft touch. ¡­.Chu, chu, chu¡­.! And on my cheek, I feel a soft sensation as if I am being sucked. From the other side of the window come a loud scream that sounded like an explosion. ¡°Ehhhhhhhhhh!?!?!¡± CH 55 On the other side of the window, there is a chorus of screams from the blue-tinged Akemi fans. Everyone is scratching their faces, and it looking like a massive outbreak had occurred. ¡°No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!¡± ¡°How could Akemi-sama give that guy a ¡®lucky kiss¡¯?¡± ¡°There was a rumor that she kissed a trashy guy in the forest before, but I thought that was a lie!¡± ¡°I thought that was a lie! ¡­¡­ Stop it!¡¡Get away from Akemi-sama!¡± Akemi is hugging me so tightly that I can¡¯t pull away even if I wanted to. No, normally I would have been able to get away from her if I wanted to, but ¡­¡­. It is the sweetest feeling ever, and I can¡¯t muster up the strength. I feel as if my strength is being sucked out of me, or perhaps a new strength is being poured into me. My cheeks are being groped, but I couldn¡¯t tell what expression is on the faces of both me and her. I look sideways in the mirror on the wall and see Akemi sucking on my cheek with a look of ecstasy on her face. It is as if she is a queen spider sucking on her wrapped prey. I am left to my own devices for a while, but eventually Akemi¡¯s classmates rush into the workshop and manage to pull me off. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was just a little distracted by the whole ¡­¡­ thing.¡± Akemi puts on an indifferent face as she fixes her messy hair and uniform. My cheeks are covered in hickeys, which I manage to remove with the help of a handkerchief. ¡°So, I¡¯m going to go now.¡± ¡°Hmm, wait a minute, I need a favor.¡± I ask with a hint of alarm. I ask back, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so defensive. I just need you to gather the materials needed for alchemy. Of course, I¡¯ll return the favor.¡± The ¡°Whirlwind Voice Potion¡± that Akemi gave me was a great help. I¡¯m not reluctant to cooperate, because I might need it in the future. ¡°What do you need?¡± ¡°Hmm, well, ¡­¡­. Right now I need black sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, yarrow¡¯s petals, rotten orchid leaves, clam moss, burnet roots, griffon bird gizzards, goblin claws and leopin nails.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll collect them when I¡¯m out exploring the woods or something. ¡­¡­ What did you say at the end?¡± Akemi does not change her expression, ¡°What was it?¡± ¡°No, you said Leopin¡¯s nails.Do you want my nails?¡± ¡°Ah, I thought you might give them to me if I mentioned them in passing. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Is it on the same level as goblins, my nails? What are you going to use them for?¡± Akemi puts her index finger to her lips and winks at me in a lusty voice, ¡°Na-i-sh-o.(Se-cret)¡± I can¡¯t help it, I¡¯m losing my pace when I¡¯m dealing with her. I think to myself, ¡°Oh well, I¡¯ll see you later,¡± and turn to leave the store. As I turn away, I don¡¯t even notice Akemi sticking her tongue out at me like a naughty little devil,¡­¡­. ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô There doesn¡¯t seem to be anything else to do in the residential area, so I decide to head home. On the way, I feel my body shining. ========== Name Leopin Occupation Potter Lv 14 ? 15 HP 2010 MP 2010 Status Life 201 Endurance 201 Toughness 201 Spirit 181 201 Resistance 201 Agility 201 Concentration 201 Strength 201 Magic 201 Dharma 201 Intelligence 201 Liberal Arts 201 Five Senses 201 Sixth Sense 201 Charm 1 Luck 2 Dexterity 500 ? 600 ========== ========== Changeable occupations Production System Lumberjack Appraiser Shin-Ra Carpenter Masonry Leather Craftsman Woodcrafter Potter NEW! Confectioner Pastry Chef Exploration System Ranger Treasure Hunter Combat System Battle Axe User Ninja Martial Artist Trapper Trainer(Tamer) ========== ¡°¡­¡­ pastry chef, huh~ I groan when I saw my new occupation. A pastry chef is a very unrelated occupation in pioneering. In the middle of pioneering, the first priority is to secure food to fill the stomach, rather than food for taste. It can be said that the demand for confectioners increases at the end of the pioneering period, when people begin to have more time to live. ¡°I wish I was a cook at least.¡± I mumble to myself as I return home. Mark greets mse like he has been waiting for me to come home. ¡°Kuon!¡¡Kuon!¡¡Kuon!¡± Mark holds out to me a jar of what must have been honey in it. ¡°What is it?¡¡Did you get a lot of honey again?¡¡Are you going to share it with me?¡± ¡°Kuon!¡± ========== Honey Quantity 1000 Quality level 6 (Material level 6) Honey from the hive of a bee. It is very sweet and can be used as food or medicine. ========== There is a golden liquid inside the jar, and it is thick. I put my finger into it and take a lick. ¡­¡­ The sweetness fills my mouth as if my teeth are on fire. ¡°Oh, ¡­¡­, that¡¯s sweet!¡¡I haven¡¯t eaten anything sweet in a long time, and it tastes so good! Thanks, Mark!¡± As I am patting Mark¡¯s belly, Tom, who is standing beside me with a pouting face, stands up. He turns away and disappears into the forest, but comes back a few moments later with a bunch of flowers and grass in his mouth. It is a plant with a small flower and a pod-like fruit. Tom drops it at my feet with a smug look on his face. ========== Black Sesame Quantity 30 Quality Level 2 (Material Level 2) Wild black sesame seeds. Seeds can be used for food and oil. ========== ¡°Whoa!¡¡That¡¯s Black Sesame!¡¡Where did you find them?¡¡Akemi just asked me to get it for her!¡± Tom immediately lays down and wiggles as if to say, ¡°Pet me.¡± As soon as I started getting pets, I was worried about their food ¡­¡­. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect them to give me food. ¡­¡­!¡¡Great job, guys!¡± CH 56 After frolicking with Mark and Tom for a while, I head to the field to work in the field. ¡°Heeyaaahhhh!¡± I hear a scream from the gate that sounds like a piece of silk being untied. When I return to see what is going on, I find that a female student has collapsed. Mark and Tom are standing close by, sniffing and puffing. ¡°Oh, so she was surprised by Mark and Tom. That¡¯s understandable. After all, it¡¯s a bear and a black panther.¡± The collapsed girl has a small cocked hat on her semi-long head, and her bangs are so long that they cover her eyes. She is dressed in the school¡¯s standard uniform, but her skirt is long enough to make her look uncomfortable. She is holding something like a paper bag, and she fainted while holding it tightly as if it were her own child. I walk up to her, crouch down, and help her up. ¡°Hey, you okay?¡± I shake her, and she wakes up with a groan, ¡°Ugh ¡­¡­¡±.¡± I can¡¯t tell where she¡¯s looking because of her slicked-back bangs, but she probably saw me and freaked out! She had her mouth wide open and said. ¡°Ah, a- a- A bear, a bear, and a black lion ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a lion, it¡¯s a panther. They¡¯re both my pets, don¡¯t worry.¡± Mark and Tom are sitting a little distance away from us. She whines back. But she is still a bit skeptical. ¡°A-ha, ¡­¡­ that, that, that ¡­¡­¡­¡± ¡°What, did you come here for me?¡¡Or are you just passing through?¡± She nods her head, and I can¡¯t get the gist of it. ¡°For the time being, you can go inside and have some water.¡± ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô I invite the girl into my house and offer her a wooden cup of water. She doesn¡¯t let go of the paper bag, but fearfully reaches out with her hand and takes the cup, gulping it down. ¡°Have you calmed down a bit?¡± She jumps out of her chair at the sound of my voice. ¡°Ye-, yes! Ah-um-um, thank you very much!¡± Hmm, at first I thought her tone is so slurred because she was scared of Mark and Tom, but ¡­¡­. Apparently, this is who she is. ¡°I¡¯m Leopin. What¡¯s yours?¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡¡My name is Kurumi, I¡¯m in Class 1-16!¡± ¡°I remember Class 1-16 has a lot of cooks. From the way you look, it looks like you¡¯re one too.¡± the girl who called herself Kurumi shrugs her shoulders and says, ¡°Yes, ¡­¡­. But, but¡­ I¡¯m a ¡­¡­ pastry chef,¡­¡­.¡± Kurumi keeps her head down and talks in whispers. ¡°Patissier pastry chef is not needed by any of the ¡­¡­ people in this school,¡­¡­. I think I¡¯m going to be ¡°exiled¡± from my class soon,¡­¡­. If I get kicked out, I¡¯ll be ¡­¡­.¡± In the middle of her words, Kurumi notices something and looks up. She shakes her face from side to side, so that her hair swirls. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry!¡¡I didn¡¯t mean to say anything bad about you, Leopin. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. So you¡¯ve come to check out the ¡°Special Training Class¡±?¡± ¡°Oh, yeah, that¡¯s part of it, but ¡­¡­. I have a favor to ask you, Leopin. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°What is it?¡± I ask and Kurumi hugging the paper bag that she is holding so dearly to her chest even more tightly. And then, as if gathering up her courage, she looks up and says. ¡°P- P- Please share the ¡­¡­ sweet potatoes with me! Before I¡¯m banished, I want everyone to have something sweet to eat. ¡­¡­!¡± Kurumi suddenly has a dreamy look on her face. ¡°When I was given Leopin¡¯s baked sweet potatoes before ¡­¡­ They were so delicious. It was very, very delicious. ¡­¡­ As soon as I took a bite, it was like a golden land in my mouth. ¡­¡­ That was the only time I was able to laugh with my classmates, even though I was useless. ¡­¡­ If I could taste that deliciousness again with everyone, I would have no more regrets. ¡­¡­¡± Kurumi¡¯s tongue is fluid when talking about sweets, and her stammering has disappeared. ¡°You have a sweet tooth, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°How do you know, ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°I can tell. I can tell when you talk about it so passionately.¡± Kurumi turns her head away in embarrassment. ¡°Well,¡­¡­, actually, yes,¡­¡­! But my family has a restaurant that specializes in spicy food, and my family all loves spicy food. ¡­¡­! Wawa, if they find out that I like sweets, and that I¡¯m a confectioner, I¡¯ll be in big trouble. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°If you want sweet potatoes, I¡¯ll give you some. But just baking sweet potatoes is not really a pastry, is it? You¡¯ve been given a skill, so why don¡¯t you use it to make some sweets?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been looking at it for a while, and I¡¯ve been thinking about it a lot,¡­¡­. Oh, and sugar, I bought some in the purchasing department ¡­¡­.¡± Kurumi squirms and shows me the paper bag she is holding to her chest. On the paper bag, the word ¡°sugar¡± is written in handwriting. ¡°I can¡¯t find any other ingredients that I can use to make sweets, The cooking utensils were too expensive for me to buy ¡­¡­. I tried to get a classmate to lend me one, but when I told them I was going to make candy, they wouldn¡¯t let me. ¡­¡­ W- w- without any tools or ingredients,¡­¡­. You can¡¯t make candy with just sugar,¡­¡­.¡± I said, ¡°Really?¡¡I don¡¯t think so¡­¡± Perhaps she didn¡¯t think she¡¯d get a rebuttal, but Kurumi is flabbergasted. ¡°Well, it¡¯s tough to make it with just sugar, but you can make it with water.¡± ¡°Th- that¡¯s ¡­¡­. It¡¯s called ¡°sugar water,¡± not candy. I¡¯m sorry, I was being cheeky ¡­¡­. But, but, there is no such thing as candy that can be made with just sugar and water,¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Hey, follow me.¡± I say as I get up and leave the house. Kurumi is surprised, ¡°Eh??¡± and follow me quickly. I go to the kitchen in the garden and first change my job to ¡°Masonry¡±. I take the two rocks out of my coat pocket and compare them. ¡°Granite is tougher, but it¡¯s a poor conductor of heat, ¡°Great king stone¡± is the best, but we don¡¯t have any right now. Lets use ¡°forest stone¡±.¡± I decided on ¡°forest stone¡± as the material, and used the ¡°forest stone chisel¡± and ¡°gisu mallet¡± I had made earlier to cut it. Process it into a large, deep dish-like shape. In addition, shave the ¡°Gisu Wood¡± into a stick shape and attach them together. ¡­¡­ ========== Forest Stone and Gisu Frying Pan Quantity 1 Quality Level 34 (Material Level 13 + Dexterity Bonus 6 + Occupation Bonus 15) A frying pan made of forest stone and gisu wood. Even when heated, the wooden handle allows you to hold it without using a pan grip. Due to various bonuses, it is lighter than an iron frying pan and cooks food better. ========== ¡°Okay, it¡¯s done.¡± I look at Kurumi, and her eyes light up. ¡°E- Eh?¡¡Th- that¡¯s a lie, right? I can¡¯t believe how fast you can make a frying pan,¡­¡­. And it¡¯s a lot better than what they sell in the purchasing department,¡­¡­.¡± CH 57 Just by showing her how to make a frying pan, Kurumi feels as if her soul has been drained. ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯re going to get anywhere with that. Can you put some sugar in this thing?¡± I take a small wooden plate from my coat pocket and hand it to Kurumi. ¡°¡­¡­ What are you doing?¡± ¡°I just told you, we make sweets with water and sugar.¡± I finally unleash my profession. ========== Leopin Occupation Masonry ? Pastry Chef Occupation Skill West Baked Goods: Creates baked goods from the West. East Baked Goods: Create baked sweets from the east. ========== ¡°Okay, if you have East¡¯s ¡®baking¡¯ skills, you¡¯ll be fine.¡± I say, and add water to the pan with the leather water bottle I take out of my pocket. Then, for some reason, Kurumi bows her head apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry ¡­¡­!¡¡Wow, I said that there is no such thing as sweets that can be made with only sugar and water. ¡­¡­ But it¡¯s true!¡¡Oh, just sugar and water, whoa, candy ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not mad at you for saying that. Just give me some sugar.¡± ¡°Ye-, yes, ¡­¡­.¡± Kurumi is scared and puts the sugar from the paper bag onto the wooden plate. I feel a little uncomfortable, as if I am intimidating her. In the meantime, I make a fire using Hiroeda¡¯s fire pit and stoke the wood in the forest stone kamado in the cooking area. Kurumi, who is watching the scene, forgets herself once again. ¡°What the heck ¡­¡­?¡¡Ugh, no way. ¡­¡­?¡¡Fire is so easy to make ¡­¡­!? It¡¯s like magic, without even a match.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re surprised every time, you¡¯ll have a hard time in the future. Sugar?¡± ¡°Ha, yes!¡¡Here you go!¡± I take the plate of sugar that is offered to me with a nervous look and drop it into the pan of water. I mix it with a wooden spoon to make sugar water. Kurumi is looking at the pan with a disappointed look on her face, as if to say, ¡°I knew it, sugar water ¡­¡­.¡± I come up with an idea. ¡°Well, since we¡¯re here, we might as well have some of that.¡± I can¡¯t help but do it when I think of it, so I lower the heat and move away from the fireplace. ¡°I- In- in the middle of cooking.¡¡What are you going to do now, ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll only take a second.¡± The reason I stepped away from the pan was to prevent wood chips from getting into the pan. Wood shavings mean that, yes, the next step is to become a woodcrafter. While changing jobs, I take out a piece of ¡°Gisu Wood¡± from my pocket. When I pull out the ¡°Great Knife of the Wild Boar,¡± Kurumi backs away with a ¡°hii¡±. But as soon as she sees the woodwork coming out of my hand, her cheeks turn pink. She has been backing away from me for a while, but now she is coming closer. It is just like the reaction of a stray kitten when a person it has feared offers it food. ¡°So ¡­¡­, so ¡­¡­, could that be ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Yes, that could be it.¡± =========== Gisu Cake Mold (Small) Quantity 10 Quality Level 33 (Material Level 12 + Dexterity Bonus 6 + Occupation Bonus 15) A small confectionary mold made of Gisu wood. With various bonuses, you can remove the molded sweets neatly. =========== As soon as she picks up a heart or star-shaped wooden mold, Kurumi makes that dreamy look on her face again. ¡°Wow ¡­¡­ is so cute ¡­¡­!¡± But then she quickly snaps back to reality. The next moment, she reacts as if I am a ghost, and backs away again. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you could do ¡­¡­ masonry as well as woodworking. I can¡¯t believe what you made is of higher quality than what they sell in the purchasing department,¡­¡­. Why such an amazing person like Leopin is ¡­¡­. In the ¡°Special Training Class¡±?¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯ll have to ask the principal and vice principal about that. Now, I¡¯m going to use that mold, so can I have it back?¡± ¡°Ha, yes, ¡­¡­. Well, well, well¡­ ¡­¡­ Oh, what do you need a candy mold for, ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s for pouring the ingredients into the mold that we¡¯re making.¡± ¡°What?¡¡What? Are you going to use sugar water in the mold? ¡°No, even if you do that, sugar water will still be sugar water. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Well, just watch.¡± The sugar water in the frying pan is boiling down to just the right level. I lift the pan and pour it evenly into the pastry mold. ¡°Next, let it cool for about five minutes and you¡¯re done.¡± ¡°Well, well, well, well, you see, even if you let it ¡­¡­ cool, the sugar water will still be sugar water. ¡­¡­ What?¡± Kurumi¡¯s mouth is agape at the shape that came off the mold. One after another, translucent, hardened objects fell from the molds. Kurumi, who was catching them with her hands, could not stop her astonishment. ¡°Eh, eh, eh, eh!¡¡What, what, what, what?¡¡Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh!¡± She shouts with a breathless expression. ¡°This is ¡­¡­ here, this is ¡­¡­ here, this is ¡­¡­ here, this is ¡­¡­ here!¡¡What kind of candy is this?¡± ========== Gekko Candy Quantity 8 Quality Level 25 (Material Level 4 + Dexterity Bonus 6 + Occupation Bonus 15) A simple candy made by boiling down sugar and water. Due to various bonuses, it is not sticky to the touch. The sweetness of the candy will make you feel happy. ========== ¡°It¡¯s a candy from the East. The confectioners of the East call it the ¡®smallest but greatest candy. It has only two basic ingredients, but that allows for infinite variations with other ingredients.¡± Kurumi stares at the pale yellow candy like it is a jewel shining in the moonlight. ¡°So pretty ¡­¡­!¡¡I didn¡¯t know you could make such beautiful candy with just sugar and water. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°The taste is simple, but not bad. Try it.¡± ¡°Ye- yeah ¡­¡­!¡¡Itadakimasu!¡± Kurumi takes a bite of the heart-shaped Gekko Candy. ¡°So- So tasty¡± The next moment, her whole body flushes, as if her entire body had become a heart. In addition, as if it is leaking out, the heart mark is flying all over the body. Before she could regain her excitement, she once again backed away from me. Her mouth is so big that it looks like her entire face is a mouth, and she is flustered. ¡°I had no idea that you could make such a delicious snack with just sugar and water. L- Leopin ¡­ What in the world are you? Masonry!¡¡Woodworking!¡¡Fire making, candy!¡¡You can do anything and everything and be perfect at it. ¡­¡­! I can¡¯t believe that there is such an amazing person here in this world. ¡­¡­! And why are you in the ¡°Special Training Class¡±?¡± She goes into shock and collapses. CH 58 I take care of Kurumi, who has fainted. When Kurumi regains consciousness, she shrinks down like a turtle and bows her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry ¡­.. Leopin! There is no way you can make sweets with just sugar and water,¡­¡­! I¡¯m sorry, I was wrong!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, just look up.¡± Then Kurumi glances up, seemingly in a good mood. ¡°Well,¡­¡­, well,¡­¡­, well,¡­¡­. I¡¯d like to ask you a favor ¡­¡­. Can you tell me how to make Gekko Candy?¡± ¡°You saw how to make it, right? You just make sugar water and boil it down.¡± ¡°But, but, I¡¯m very, very clumsy. ¡­¡­ I can¡¯t make it ¡­¡­. I¡¯ll probably have to learn how to make it ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Really?¡¡Then try making it.¡± So, I lend Kurumi the kitchen at home and let her make it. ¡­¡­ ========== Terrible Gekko Candy Quantity 1 Quality Level -12 (Material Level 4 + Occupation Penalty 6 + Failure Penalty 10) A poorly made candy made by boiling down sugar and water. It is sticky and stale. It smells burnt and bitter, and is irritating to eat. ========== I¡¯m shocked in so many ways. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen an item with the word ¡®terrible¡¯ on it.¡± When the quality of an item is low, the word ¡°shoddy¡± is added to the beginning. But if it¡¯s too badly made, the word ¡°terrible¡± is added directly to the beginning. I think I saw a chocolate with ¡°terrible¡± in the same way a long time ago. ¡­¡­ No, that old story is not important. Now I have to deal with the ¡°terrible¡± here. I taste my homemade candy and tell Kurumi, who is overwhelmed with despair. ¡°This is going to take a lot of training. Are you ready for this?¡± Kurumi looks up suddenly. ¡°Yes, ¡­¡­!¡¡Of course I¡¯m ready!¡¡Please teach me how to make pastries!¡¡Chef Leopin!¡± After that, we worked on making ¡°Gekko Candy¡± until the evening. In the middle of the day, we ran out of sugar, and Kurumi had to run to the purchasing department to buy some. However, Kurumi¡¯s ¡°Gekko Candy¡± was still terrible. ¡°We¡¯ll have to train all night long! Kurumi!¡± ¡°Yes, Chef Leopin!¡± Kurumi is a scared and timid girl. However, she seems to have more passion for sweets than anyone else, and she followed my strict instructions without a single whine. As I make the candy over and over again, the ¡°terrible gekko candy¡± is upgraded to ¡°inferior gekko candy¡±. Finally, at the end of the night, I went to ¡­¡­. ========== Gekko Candy Quantity 1 Quality Level 1 (Material Level 4 + Failure Penalty 3) Candy made by boiling down sugar and water. Sweet. ========== Despite the plain description, we finally finished the ¡®regular Gekko Candy¡¯ ¡­¡­! ¡°Yaa ¡­¡­ yaaaaaaaaay!¡± At this moment, we both shout for joy and hug each other. Kurumi is trembling in my chest, looking up at me. Her eyes, peeking out from behind her slicked-back bangs, shone brightly. ¡°Yes, yes, I did!¡¡Chef Leopin!¡¡At last, I could make sweets!¡± ¡°Yeah, you did good.¡± I pat her on the head and she looks happy, ¡°Heheh ¡­¡­¡±. But then she suddenly came to her senses, turned red as if she was going to explode, and pulled away from my arms. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry!¡¡I was so happy I just couldn¡¯t help myself. ¡­¡­!¡± Kurumi bows her head so fast that it leaves an afterimage. I present her with a frying pan and a wooden mold. ¡°This is to celebrate your first success. Take this with you.¡± ¡°What? ¡­¡­?¡¡Are you sure you want ¡­¡­?¡¡No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m always ready to make something. You¡¯ll get more practice with this.¡± And then Kurumi begins to shake like a chihuahua. ¡°Oh, ¡­¡­ oh, ¡­¡­ thank you, thank you, thank you, ¡­¡­! I¡¯m a ¡­¡­ screw-up and a slow ¡­¡­ no matter what I do! E- eve-, everyone hated me. ¡­¡­!¡± Tears stream from her slicked-back bangs. ¡°But, but, but Chef Leopin is ¡­¡­! But Chef Leopin has been so good to me, even though I¡¯ve been such a failure. ¡­¡­! ¡­¡­ Uwaaaaaaaaa!¡± Kurumi, who is supposed to be away from me, jumps into my arms again. She buries her face in my chest, wailing like a little child. I stroke her head until she calmed down. ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô That day, the little girl with dreams presents her menu to her classmates for the first time. It is another level of quality, and was well received by her classmates. It is immediately added to the menu of the cafeteria. The ¡°Gekko Candy¡± is renamed ¡°RPG Candy¡± and is displayed in small bottles in the store. It was a big hit with the students who were busy exploring and doing schoolwork. They were easy to carry around and easy to eat when they were tired and needed something sweet. The ¡°RPG Candy¡± became one of the new specialties of the settlement. The adults, who were hungry for achievement, would not miss it. ¡°Yes!¡¡Now we can finally give an award to a decent student!¡± Like a hyena who finds a fawn that has strayed from the herd, the first to fly to the school was the yes-man vice principal. He spoke to Kurumi, who was working as a vendor in front of the cafeteria, with a big smile. ¡°Well, you¡¯re Kurumi, aren¡¯t you? I¡¯ve seen through your talent for a long time!¡± The yes-men had blatantly ignored her when they found out that Kurumi had become a ¡°pastry chef¡± during the ¡°Ritual of Ability Awakening¡± at the entrance ceremony. But now he rubs her hands and buzzes around her like a fly. ¡°Your supporters are paying attention to the sweets you make! I¡¯m so proud to have a student like you in my school! I¡¯d like to taste the first creation of this future super confectioner!¡± ¡°Ha, ha, ¡­¡­. So, line up and ¡­¡­.¡± The head teacher ignores her words, taking advantage of the fact that Kurumi is not a good talker. He takes a jar of candy for sale, opens it without permission, and eats it. ¡°Yes!¡¡Delish!¡¡My cheeks are melting! What do you call this wonderful candy?¡± ¡°Ha, ha. ¡­¡­. It¡¯s called ¡°RPG Candy¡±. Waa, wawaa, I named it after the person I admire the most, ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I see, I see!¡¡Not only the taste, but also the name is delicate! It seems that the personality of not only Kurumi, who made the candy, but also the personality of the person that Kurumi respects is exuding from it!¡± While the vice principal was praising the candy, this thought was running through his mind. ¨CThe head teacher was praising him very highly, and he was thinking about this in his head. The student whose name begins with ¡°R¡± and who is so respected is ¡­¡­. It must be that person from Class 1-11! Muhohohohoho! A unique opportunity to score points has come to me! His tongue never stops churning. ¡°Yes!¡¡I¡¯m very impressed! I¡¯m very impressed! Kurumi-san¡¯s Class 1-16 will move up one grade!¡± Class 1-16, C- ? C ¡°We¡¯ll also give you a prize! I¡¯d like to know so that I can repay the favor to the person you respect!¡± ¡°Ha, yes, ¡­¡­!¡¡It stands for ¡°Leo R. Pin P. Gekko G. Candy.¡± ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Gooooooooooooooooooood ¡­¡­!¡± The vice principal collapses as if he has been poisoned. Next to her, Kurumi¡¯s classmates are giving her some advice. ¡°Kurumi, if it¡¯s Leopin, shouldn¡¯t it be ¡®LPG Candy¡¯?¡± CH 59 The vice principal spits out the candy and begins to thrash about, clutching his throat. ¡°Gghhh!¡¡Gghhh!¡¡Gghhhh!¡¡Gooooooooooooo!!!?¡± The students who had flocked to the candy sales flee if the tide has turned. It is a complete business obstruction. Kurumi is just frightened. ¡°Wh-what¡¯s wrong with you, vice principal?¡± The Vice Principal grabs Kurumi by the shoulders as she crouches down to help her up. And he crawls up as if he is coming up from the depths of hell to stand. ¡°How dare you make me eat garbage? ¡­¡­!¡± Kurumi is so frightened that she tries to run away, but the vice principal grabs her by the shoulders and wouldn¡¯t let her go. He approaches the dust-covered face as if to cover it and whispers softly, ¡°I¡¯m changing the name of this candy right now ¡­¡­! Yes Man Gekko Candy. ¡­¡­! If you do, you will have much happiness. ¡­¡­¡± Kurumi asked in a shaky voice, ¡°¡­¡­ happiness? ¡° The vice principal suddenly says in a cat-like voice. ¡°Yes,¡­¡­!¡¡I¡¯m going to give you a prize ¡­¡­! And one of our supporters is a top-notch pastry chef. ¡­¡­! I will recommend you to that person. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Wait, you¡¯re recommending me to a top-notch pastry chef ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Yes, ¡­¡­!¡¡If that happens, you¡¯ll have your own store in the future, and you¡¯ll be showered with honor and money. ¡­¡­! Your future will be all rosy. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Eh, well, you know¡­ ¡­¡­¡± Kurumi pauses to think for a moment. She is just scared of the sudden change in the attitude of the vice principal. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I have to decline. ¡­¡­ This candy is from Leo¡­. huh?¡± He clutches her shoulder, and Kurumi¡¯s words are cut off by the pain. The head teacher¡¯s voice changes and begins to sound threatening. ¡°If you refuse, then many misfortunes will come your way. ¡­¡­! You will be scolded by your teachers, you will flunk your tests, your classmates will ignore you, and you will not get any recommendations. ¡­¡­! The store you finally open goes out of business, ghosts live in your house, and you¡¯re in debt ¡­¡­! Your future is going to be black and gray. ¡­¡­!¡± Kurumi is a timid girl, and the vice principal thinks that he could win her over by threatening her. As proof, Kurumi can¡¯t stop shaking. The sky is cloudy at the time, and the girl is shrinking as if she has been thrown out into the winter mountains. However, light shines through the clouds, and the ¡°RPG Candy¡± lined up at the sales counter begins to glow. The glow was reminiscent of the candies the boy has made. That light is the sun for the girl. Kurumi looks up and says crisply. ¡°I refuse to accept ¡­¡­! This candy is a very important recipe that I learned from Chef Leopin! To me, Chef Leopin is much greater ¡­¡­ than a top-notch confectioner! Of course, Chef Leopin is much greater than the vice principal ¡­¡­! And to me, he¡¯s more important than anyone else!¡± ¡°Kki ¡­¡­ kieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee £¡£¡£¡£¡¡± As soon as he said the name ¡°Leopin¡±, the vice principal screamed like a vampire with a stake in his heart. He lets go of Kurumi¡¯s shoulders, which he has gripped so tightly, and backs away as if in agony. The vampire head seems to have failed to suck the blood. ¡°Guugigigi! Guugigigi! Guugigigi! If this happens, I¡¯ll take the last resort.¡± The head teacher put his hand into the pocket of his tuxedo and took out a certain thing. ¡­¡­Baa! There were two tickets that were from Kurumi. The value is 1,000 for both. A girl with her bangs hanging down is depicted as a portrait with her head lowered. ¡°That¡¯s ¡­¡­!¡± Kurumi said. ¡°Yes, it is!¡¡That¡¯s the ticket you paid for when you bought the sugar in the purchasing department! I didn¡¯t want to use this hand, but¡­ I¡¯ll use this ticket to command you!¡± ¡°Aah!¡± The people around them buzzs. ¡°Oh, hey, it looks like the vice principal is giving orders with the ticket!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know teachers were allowed to use those!¡± ¡°What the hell is he trying to order us to do, ¡­¡­?¡± The vice principal¡¯s face twists into a grimace, and he takes advantage of the opportunity. ¡°Everyone should be watching closely, but I¡¯ll tell you! The moment when the students who were deceived by the garbage wake up! By the power of my justice!¡± He raises one of the tickets to the sky. ¡°The effect of the ¡°Slave Ticket¡± is activated!¡¡I order you, Kurumi of Class 1-16!¡± With the open hand, he points at Kurumi as if to pierce her. ¡°From now on, you are forbidden to approach Leopin-kun of the Special Training Class!¡± ¡°Ooohhhhhh!¡± The crowd of screaming is boiling. ¡°It¡¯s the ¡­¡­ Leopin ban!¡± ¡°Does that mean I can¡¯t go near Leopin for the rest of my life? ¡°Doesn¡¯t that hurt or itch you, ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so!¡¡Look at this kid¡¯s face, Kurumi! She looks desperate, like the world has gone to hell!¡± The face of Kurumi, standing there, looks like paper. It is as if the head vampire has sucked all the blood out of her face and she is completely drained of blood. The head teacher is completely enthused by the reaction of Kurumi and the crowd. In a fit of pique, he adds an extra word. ¡°If you break this ban, Kurumi-san will be expelled!¡± The ticket held up by the vice principal disappears in a fizz like a soap bubble. This is a sign that the order has become effective. ¡°Ooohhhhhh!¡± The crowd boils over again. ¡°Oh no, they¡¯re going to ban me if I go near Leopin!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that really bad?¡¡If he comes, we have to run, don¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Apparently so!¡¡Look at this Kurumi girl¡¯s face!¡± ¡°It¡¯s like the world turned into heaven. ¡­¡­ Huh?¡± There is a great deal of talk about this. The girl in the middle is still trembling. But the trembling does not come from fear or sorrow. It is a cry of gratitude and joy that reminds her of her unexpected happiness. ¡­¡­! ¡°Oh ¡­¡­ thank you!¡¡Thank you!¡± The girl bows her head so hard that her body brakes in two. The vice principal said, ¡°What?¡± The girl¡¯s cheeks turn rosy instead of regaining their bloodiness. ¡°I¡¯ve been struggling with this all day! All my classmates have come to need me! I was so happy about that. ¡­¡­ In my heart, I always wanted to train more in pastry making under Chef Leopin! The head teacher pushed me, didn¡¯t he? He told me to flap my wings to make my dreams come true. ¡­¡­!¡± The girl opens her arms like a baby bird taking off for the first time and dashingly declares. ¡°I¡¯m going to Chef Leopin right now and I¡¯m going to be expelled! I¡¯m going to join the ¡°Special Training Class¡± and stay by Chef Leopin¡¯s side until I graduate. ¡­¡­!¡¡No, we will be together forever ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Ki Kieeeeeeeeeeeeeee!?!?¡± CH 60 In a corner of the residential area, there is a commotion in front of the cafeteria where the students of Class 1-16 have set up a store. ¡°Really?¡¡Kurumi is happy to be expelled!¡± ¡°It seems like she always wanted to go to the special training class!¡± ¡°Are you insane?¡¡Why did you go to that hellhole, ¡­¡­?¡± Everyone in the room looks at each other in disbelief. But the two girls who happened to be there are different. The saint and Miko, who are more beloved than anyone else in this school, are the only two who are frozen in place as if struck by a bolt from the blue. Both of them have a look on their faces that says, ¡°That¡¯s the way to do it?¡± Yes, the girl who yearns for hell is not alone. ¡­¡­! ¡°Chef Leopin!¡¡I¡¯m coming ¡­¡­!¡± Kurumi, who have been sentenced to banishment, looks completely refreshed and tries to run away from the scene. But the vice principal, who has turned into a monster bird, blocked her way with both hands flapping like wings. ¡°Ki Kiekiekiekie! Kieeeee!! I rescind the order I just gave you!¡¡¡±Expulsion¡± is revoked! Kurumi-san will remain in Class 1-16! Everything I said is not true¡­!¡± Then, the remaining Kurumi ticket disappears in a fizz from the end of his flapping hand. The vice principal says, ¡°Gah!¡± and jump up as if he has been shot out of a gun. ¡°No!¡¡It¡¯s not an order, sir!¡¡I¡¯m just rescinding the order I gave earlier!¡± But no matter how much he appeals, there was no way he could get his tickets back. ¡°I was going to use the other ticket I have left and reorder you to never go near that trash again!? KEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!¡± The head teacher, whose backup plan is crushed, grabs the shelf where the ¡°RPG Candy¡± is placed with a gulp, wondering what he is thinking. ¡°Keeeee!¡¡Just as I had suspected, Kurumi-san was a bad student! She¡¯s selling evil candies and influencing the other students! I¡¯m going to mess her up right here and now!¡± Kurumi stops. ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t do that vice principal!¡± ¡°No!¡¡Shut up!¡¡I hate bad students!¡¡I¡¯m going over there!¡± ¡°Kya!?¡± Kurumi is violently pushed, but is caught by the strong arms of a certain female student. Continuing on, the vice principal is grabbed by the collar like a cat and is lifted into the air. She holds Kurumi in one hand and hoists the vice principal up with the other. There is only one female student who could do such a feat. The vice-principal¡¯s eyes peel back as he flaps his legs. ¡°To- Tomoe!? Instead of helping the delinquent student, I can¡¯t believe you would use violence against a Teacher!?¡± Tomoe glances at the vice principal with a quiet glint in her eye. ¡°This is what violence means!¡¡¡­¡­ Hmph!¡± Tomoe throws away the vice principal he is holding with a rough snort. The vice principal looks at Tomoe as if he is a child who has been beaten by his parents for the first time. ¡°No!? You¡¯re Kotone¡¯s attendant, what are you doing?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about!¡¡The way the vice principal is acting now, I don¡¯t think he¡¯s an educator! I can¡¯t stand the sight of you now. ¡­¡­ Go away before you embarrass yourself even more! If you don¡¯t, I will smash your skull open with my rock-cutting sword and bring you back to your senses by force!¡± The vice principal backs away from the students, ¡°Hyee!¡± But as they giggle, he wields his bravery. From the inside pocket of his dusty tuxedo, he grabs a ticket and throws it into the air. On the front of the ticket is a picture of the members of Class 15, a class of troubled children. ¡°Yes!¡¡The three Pila brothers!¡¡Boodle-kun!¡¡I¡¯m coming out! I¡¯m going to punish Tomoe for hurting me!¡± As the tickets fizzle out, four men appear through the crowd. Dressed as barbarian bandits, they are wearing neck bands around their necks and bandages on their hands. They look very painful, but they are more brave than the vice principal. ¡°Hyah!¡¡I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d be able to use violence with the approval of the vice principal!¡± ¡°This woman used to have a problem with us!¡± ¡°Just because she¡¯s a woman doesn¡¯t mean she can¡¯t hurt us!¡¡I¡¯m not gonna let her get away with it!¡± ¡°Hunting female bears can be quite fun. ¡­¡­!¡± The gangsters completely turn into the head teacher¡¯s minions and immediately surround Tomoe. Tomoe does not move from the spot and looks around at the hoodlums with a stern gaze. ¡°I¡¯m not going to be the one to dust off the fire.¡± ¡°Ha-ha-ha-ha!¡¡It¡¯s too late to ask for forgiveness now!! It¡¯s too late to be embarrassed in front of all these people. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll crush every spark of fire that comes my way. ¡­¡­!¡± Tomoe finally draws her sword. ¡­ Shuran! Her power is so strong that even the hoodlums aare scared to death. The vice principal thought it was a bad idea and started to take out new tickets as if it were a card game. ¡°At this moment, I¡¯m activating Tomoe¡¯s ticket!¡± Tomoe is astonished by the unexpected counter-attack, ¡°That can¡¯t be ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right!¡¡It¡¯s the ticket Tomoe paid for when she bought the wooden sword at the store! The order is to you, Tomoe, not to fight back!¡¡You¡¯ll be sorry for the mess you¡¯ve made!¡± Monaka and Kotone are the first to try to run in, but they are held back by the other attendants. ¡°Please stop, vice principal! ¡°Stop it, Tomoe!¡± Their pleas are drowned out by the noise of the crowd. Tomoe quietly kneels down and sits on the ground with her knees together. She places her beloved sword beside her and slowly closes her eyes. ¡°The most important thing for a warrior is the life of his lord. And the next most important thing is the pact with others. I¡¯ll fulfill my pact with the vice principal right here and now. ¡­¡­ Do as you please.¡± ¡°Mu-ho-ho-ho! I know it sounds tricky, but you can¡¯t fight the power of the ticket! You can¡¯t resist the power of the ticket!¡¡I¡¯m not afraid of you because you¡¯re not resisting!¡± As soon as the vice principal realizes that Tomoe was not going to fight back, he takes the initiative and attacks her. The goons follow suit. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid!¡¡I can do whatever I want!¡± ¡°Stop it ¡­¡­! The screams of the two girls ring out. Not only the girls, but all of their classmates shrink back. When they opened their eyes fearfully, they found ¡­¡­. ¡­¡­ Dogwa ¡­¡­ Shaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! The five goons are blown away as if they are being erased by a full horizontal swing. They plunged headfirst into a pile of garbage that had been temporarily used as a waste disposal site. ¡°Fugyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?!¡± The impact causes the pile of scrap wood to rattle and collapse, burying them alive with a scream. It is a tragic scene, but none of the classmates can see the hoodlums anymore. Who in the world did this ¡­¡­! I look at the person who is casually walking away. I know it is him,¡­¡­. ¡°Le- Leopin!!?!¡± Leopin is turning his back on his classmates with logs on his shoulders. However, he reacts to the call and turns around, ¡°What?¡± The boy looks around at his stunned classmates and those buried with only their legs sticking out with a mocking expression. ¡°Ah, sorry, sorry. I thought I hit something, but it was a thug. It seems that there is one new addition to the group. ¡­¡­ Well, it¡¯s a thug, isn¡¯t it?¡± CH 61 Like the hero who saved the city of the West, Leopin left. The thugs were rescued from the rubble by the school¡¯s rescue team. They were about to be carried to the infirmary in stretchers, but the goons refused the stretchers. Not because they wanted to, but because their classmates took them away as if they were going to be stolen. Among them, there was only one person who was resisting like crazy. ¡°No!¡¡That¡¯s not right!¡¡I¡¯m the vice principal!¡¡I¡¯m not a student of Class 1-15!¡¡That¡¯s why let me go!¡± The burly men dragged him away like a captured alien. ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me, you bastard!¡± ¡°You talk just like him, but there¡¯s no way that rich bastard vice principal is dressed like that!¡± ¡°It¡¯s true!¡¡I want you to take me to the infirmary at least!¡¡I¡¯m hurting all over!¡± ¡°We,Class 1-15, are not going to the infirmary!¡± ¡°Are you going to humiliate us any further, you bastard?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to burn your guts out! I¡¯m going to beat your rotten guts out!¡± ¡°Kieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee¡± The vice principal was taken to the slums of the residential area, which is the territory of Class 1-15, and was beaten to a pulp by the delinquent students. Thanks to the treatment he received there, his injuries were not serious. ¡­¡­ Because of the delay in treatment, he was left with an unexpected aftereffect. It was a scar on his face. On his forehead, the words ¡°fake vice principal¡± appeared in big letters. Needless to say, when he looked in the mirror, the vice principal¡¯s strange voice echoed throughout the infirmary. The vice principal changed into a new tuxedo, wrapped an awkward bandana around his head, and returned to the principal¡¯s office. There, he found an angry principal who looked like he had steam coming out of his head. ¡°Acting vice principal, I¡¯ve just been informed by the school board! You¡¯ve been downgraded two ranks!¡± ¡°Kieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! What is it?¡¡I didn¡¯t do anything to get ranked down!¡± ¡°There are two reasons! The first is because you used the infirmary!¡± ¡°No!¡¡No way!¡¡Teachers are not supposed to be penalized for using the infirmary!¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but there are too many times!¡¡And the reason is too much! How can you be struck by God¡¯s lightning, or try to teach your students, and get hit in return? ¡­¡­! There was a flood of criticism from supporters!¡± ¡°Gugugu, ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°The other reason was that you failed to give the prize money again! The prize money was about to be handed over to a future top pastry chef, but ¡­¡­! The supporters are pissed that their young buds have been nipped in the bud!¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s ¡­¡­!¡¡If you give it to Kurumi, you¡¯ll have to give it to that trash too! If I give it to that trash, I¡¯ll have to pay for it myself!¡± ¡°You should have just given it to him!¡¡I don¡¯t care if it hurts your pocket or not, it¡¯s none of my business!¡± ¡°No ¡­¡­ no!¡¡No. ¡­¡­ No! ¡­¡­ That¡¯s too much!¡± ¡°The supporters said that they will make arrangements with the school board to downgrade me if I give them the prize money now! Now, choose, acting vice principal, yes-man! There are two choices. You can either accept the judgment and go down two ranks from ¡°B+¡± to ¡°B- at ¡­¡­. Or you can give the 10 million to Leopin and only go down one rank from ¡°B+¡± to ¡°B¡±. ¡­¡­ This is a ¡°no¡± choice for both yes men. ¡°Guu, ¡­¡­ Gugigigigii, ¡­¡­!¡¡I don¡¯t like either of them!¡± He had multiple blue streaks on his forehead where the word ¡°fake vice principal¡± was written. ¡°If you do not choose, you will automatically be downgraded two ranks!¡± The principal¡¯s relentless voice troubled the vice principal so much that he could practically see the running lights. ¡°Gii Gigigii! Gigigii! Gigigii!!¡± He could no longer speak, and only let out a grunt that creaks like a rusty machine. ¨CIf I go down two ranks, I will be the same as Hira teacher. (Hira teacher is a regular teacher) But that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m going to give that trash any more money. ¡­¡­! In order to get my son into this school, I¡¯m going to need a lot of slush funds. ¡­¡­! But, but but, if I become a hira teacher, he won¡¯t even be eligible for admission. ¡­¡­! ¡°Gii ¡­¡­ Gieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee £¡£¡£¡£¡¡± ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô The next day, I didn¡¯t wake up very well. ¡°I heard birds chirping all last night, I had a weird dream that the vice principal was being nice to me, even in a dream. ¡­¡­¡± However, my body seems to be in great shape, and when I woke up, I had leveled up. ¡°It is becoming a habit for me to check my status as soon as I wake up.¡± ========== Name Leopin Occupation Woodcrafter Lv 15 ? 16 HP 2010 MP 2010 Status Life 201 Endurance 201 Toughness 201 Spirit 181 201 Resistance 201 Agility 201 Concentration 201 Strength 201 Magic 201 Dharma 201 Intelligence 201 Liberal Arts 201 Five Senses 201 Sixth Sense 201 Charm 1 Luck 2 Dexterity 600 ? 700 ========== ========== Changeable occupations Production System Lumberjack Appraiser Shin-Ra Carpenter Masonry Leather Craftsman Woodcrafter Potter Confectioner Pastry Chef NEW! Artisan Fireworker Exploration System Ranger Treasure Hunter Combat System Battle Axe User Ninja Martial Artist Trapper Trainer(Tamer) ========== ¡°My new occupation is Artisan Fireworker, huh? It is still an early occupation, even more so than the pastry chef last time.¡± Needless to say, an Artisan Fireworker is a craftsman who can make fireworks. It is a crafting job, but it is also a magic job, because it involves the use of gunpowder higusuri, in which the spirit of fire resides. The skills are as follows. ========== Occupation Artisan Fireworker Occupational Skills Toy firework creation: Create toy fireworks Making fireworks: Making fireworks Making trick fireworks: Making trick fireworks ========== I¡¯d like to make fireworks, but I don¡¯t have any ¡®gunpowder higusuri¡¯. Even if I did, my priority would be to use it for weapons.¡± In that sense, fireworks are more of a luxury item than a snack at this pioneering school. ¡°I¡¯m sure Monaka loves fireworks. I hope I can make them for her one day.¡± I mumble to myself as I leave the house to go to school. It is a sunny day and the sun is shining brightly. Tom is laying on the roof of the house, enjoying the early sunshine. ¡°Yesterday, I made a step for him to get up on the roof using some scrap logs I got from the residential area. It looks like it¡¯s quickly becoming Tom¡¯s catwalk. I¡¯m off, Tom.¡± Tom sleepily waves his black tail to see me off. I am about to leave the forest feeling refreshed, but as soon as I see the tree at the entrance to the forest, I thought, ¡°Whoa!¡± Because there is a bloodstained certificate on the tree, just like a cursed doll. There are scratches all around, and it even looks like someone has hit their head on it. The certificate has the following title. ¡°Award for raising Kurumi-kun.¡± 1st place: Special training class 41,200,000 yen Acting vice principal Yes-man B+ ? B CH 62 The first morning meeting of the school. There, something was handed out by the vice principal. The vice principal begins his speech wearing a tuxedo and a bandana, a strange combination. ¡°Yes!¡¡Now that the living quarters are in order, the students will begin to explore the area! However, exploration is a very dangerous activity! So I¡¯ll give you this just in case!¡± It was a red tube the size of my palm. ¡°The one I just gave you is a signal firework! Point the head of the firework upward and press the butt part hard, and fireworks will shoot up into the sky!¡± Fireworks are also used as ¡°signals¡± for communication. Because if you can shoot them up into the sky, you can see them from a distance. ¡°But that¡¯s not a firework signal for communication, it¡¯s a firework signal for rescue! When the fireworks go off, the rescue team rushes to the location! It¡¯s good to use when you¡¯re exploring and can¡¯t get back on your own! But ¡­¡­!¡± The head-teacher grins and prefaces his statement, glanced at me at the back and continued. ¡°If you are rescued by a rescue team, it will be considered the same as being sent to the infirmary, and you will lose one rank! So think carefully before you use it! By the way, this firework is set off by a mechanism that makes it easy to see who set it off!¡± The vice principal holds up the sample fireworks he was holding to explain, and presses his buttocks, saying, ¡°Pop it.¡± And then the fireworks go off!¡¡The fireworks burst into flames and shot out light bullets. The light bullets go up to the sky with a whirring sound, and then burst. With a bang, the fireworks scatters small light bullets all over the area and starts drawing letters. They filled the blue sky. Please save me! I was a fool for disobeying you Vice Principal! I¡¯m quitting the School, so please save me!¡¡Leopin. The students in front of me burst into laughter. ¡°Wow, you can see those letters when you launch it?¡± ¡°This is so embarrassing!¡¡I can¡¯t go back to school if they see me like that!¡± ¡°But we¡¯ll be fine! We¡¯re not some trash who¡¯s a failure! We¡¯re not going to screw up while exploring!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah!¡¡I¡¯m sure the next fireworks will be the same!¡± The vice principal takes the words of the students and says, ¡°That¡¯s right! Everyone at this school is so good that we don¡¯t really need this! Therefore, the first student to use it will not only be downgraded one rank, but will also be punished further! You will forfeit all of the prize money you have received so far!¡± The students clap and cheer, ¡°Oh!¡± I came across a simple question. I wondered if the ¡­¡­ prize had ever been given to anyone other than me. But that¡¯s okay. I don¡¯t have any use for the prize money. Finally, the vice principal adds an explanation. ¡°Oh, just so you know, you can¡¯t launch someone else¡¯s distress signal without permission and try to downgrade it! In order to prevent fraud, the magic device confirms not only the name of the firework that was set off, but also the appearance of the person who set it off. Only when it¡¯s determined that it¡¯s not a prank will help arrive! Also, the size of the rescue team and how fast they come depends on the rank of the student who launched them! If you want help in a hurry, use the distress signal of a student with a high rank.¡± ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô After the morning assembly, the morning class is ¡°Physical Education¡±, a ¡°whole subject¡±. Nick Bakker-sensei, looks around at all the students and says, ¡°Meat!¡¡Today, we¡¯re going to have a ¡®special marathon¡¯ between the classes! This is a very hard marathon, so only a limited number of boys will be able to participate! But if you can endure it, you¡¯ll get a great grade! Each class must choose one boy who is good at endurance running! Classes 1, 2, and 19 are girls-only classes, so you may not participate!¡± Since I am the only one in my class, I have no choice but to participate. Nick Bakker-sensei continues with a long rope in his hand as he joins the chosen boys. ¡°Now, those of you who have been chosen, wrap this rope around your waists! Then we will all run together on a single rope! This rope has the magical effect of ¡®weightlessness¡¯!¡± Nick Bakker-sensei pulls out two more corkscrews. ¡°And all participants are to put on these earplugs and run without looking! Do you know what will happen if you do!? Those who lag behind will be dragged along by the ropes without mercy, and no amount of crying or screaming will reach the ears of the first runner! This is the ¡®Hell Hell Marathon¡¯ that was held in the army I was in!¡± ¡°Hiii!¡± The students scream. I don¡¯t react and try to tie the rope around my waist without saying a word. Then the vice principal, who has been there for some time, gets involved and says , ¡°No! No!¡± ¡°Wait a minute!¡¡Leopin-kun, why aren¡¯t you wearing your gym clothes?¡± I answer honestly. ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t get one at the entrance ceremony. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°What kind of delinquent student doesn¡¯t wear gym clothes? At least take off that ridiculous coat before gym class! I¡¯ll take special care of it for you!¡¡¡­¡­ forever ¡­¡­!¡± I don¡¯t catch the vice principal¡¯s last words, but I have a bad feeling about it. I was wondering what I should do, when someone slips off my coat from behind. ¡°Leo-kun, we¡¯ll take care of your coat for you!¡± ¡°We will protect the Master¡¯s precious garments at the cost of our lives!¡± It is Monaka and Kotone in their bloomers. ¡°No!¡¡You can¡¯t do that!¡¡It¡¯s not possible for a saint and a miko to take care of an unemployed person! And with such tight clothes on ¡­¡­!¡¡You¡¯re a good girl, give it to me!¡± ¡°No, vice principal!¡¡We¡¯ll take care of this coat! Because we are Leo-kun¡¯s assistants!¡± Monaka says crisply. Before I knew it, she is in such a role. ¡°That¡¯s right! Ashitanto! It is a natural duty for Ashitanto to take care of your clothes!¡± Kotone couldn¡¯t say ¡®assistant¡¯. The vice principal glares at me with a red face, as if on the verge of exploding. ¡°Guu! Gigigii! A- Asistant¡­.!! It¡¯s my dream to have a beautiful assistant,¡­¡­! It¡¯s not just me, the vice principal, but even that pig has yet to fulfill this dream. ¡­¡­! And that jobless, gets 2 of them! Gugigigigiii! Gigigigigiiiiiiii!!¡± I thought it was time, so I hugged Monaka and Kotone by the shoulders and quickly evacuated from the vice principal. From behind came a strange voice like an explosion. ¡°Kii Kiieeeeeeeee!¡± CH 63 Despite the odd hiccup, the boys participating in the Hell Hell Marathon are connected together by a single rope. As I am thinking to myself, ¡°I look like a prisoner,¡± I see Mr. Nick Bakker standing next to me with a rope tied around him. As soon as our eyes met, I am immediately entangled. ¡°MEAT!¡¡¡±Sensei you¡¯re joining us too?¡± That¡¯s the look on your face, celebrity!¡± ¡°No, not really.¡± I tell him the truth, but it seem to have rubbed him the wrong way. Nick Bakker-sensei stares at me and whispers. ¡°The last time you embarrassed me in P.E., ¡­¡­! You¡¯ve got to be careful not to get carried away. ¡­¡­ I¡¯m not only good at fighting, I¡¯m also good at endurance running ¡­¡­! I don¡¯t know if I can keep up with a military-grade marathon. ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ll do my best.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t afford to be complacent now!¡± Nick Bakker-sensei looks up and shouts to all the students in the schoolyard. ¡°And so, the ¡®Hell Marathon¡¯ begins!¡¡There is no course in this ¡®Hell Marathon¡¯! We will leave this schoolyard and run north and north until the last person gives up! All non-athletes are free to do as they please! Students, are you done with your warm-up exercises? Line up at the starting line!¡± We line up in front of the white line drawn in the middle of the schoolyard, with Mr. Nick Bakker in the center. ¡°After my signal, you will plug your ears while running! Let¡¯s go!¡¡Let the ¡®Hell Marathon¡¯ begin!¡± Before he could finish his announcement, Nick Bakker-sense started running like he was caught off guard. I follow him and put in my earplugs. Just before the sound was cut off, I hear a yell. ¡°Oh my god, that piece of trash, seriously, this time it¡¯s over. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°You know, all the selected members were on the track team in junior high school, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, if I ran at the same pace as those guys, I¡¯d be exhausted in no time and dragged along!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be torn to shreds like a piece of trash!¡¡This is going to be fun!¡¡Ha-ha-ha-ha!¡± My eardrums are almost contaminated by the vulgar laughter, but the yellow cheers purified them. ¡°Good luck, Leo! ¡°¡±I wish you good luck, Master!¡± As I wave back to them, I think of them and get ready. I activate the ¡°Dexterous Job Change¡± skill of ¡°Poor Dexterity¡± and change my occupation to one where I would be good at running. In addition, I activate my ¡°Dexterous Body¡± skill to ensure that I have the necessary stats to run a marathon. ========== Name Leopin Occupation Woodcrafter ? Ninja Lv 16 HP 2010 ? 1010 MP 2010 ? 1010 Status Life 201 ? 101 Endurance 201 ? 1001 Toughness 201 ? 101 Spirit 181 201 ? 101 Resistance 201 ? 101 Agility 201 ? 1001 Concentration 201 ? 101 Strength 201 ? 101 Magic 201 ? 101 Dharma 201 ? 101 Intelligence 201 ? 101 Liberal Arts 201 ? 101 Five Senses 201 ? 101 Sixth Sense 201 ? 101 Charm 1 Luck 5 Dexterity 700 ? 300 ========== For now, a thousand of ¡°Endurance¡± and ¡°Agility¡± would be good. The next thing I know , the leading group has left the school grounds, and I am in a ditch. The men in front of me were pulling me along like a dog on a sled. Everyone would occasionally look back and say, ¡°Watch this ¡­¡­!¡± They look at me with hostility. ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô ¡°Hey, hey, are you sure you¡¯re okay to start off so fast?¡± Leopin throws out such words, but since everyone is wearing earplugs, his voice should not have reached anyone. The students in the lead group are muttering such bitter words and turning them into running power. ¡°Damn that piece of garbage ¡­¡­!¡¡It¡¯s will be a while before you can afford to be so relaxed. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t treat Monaka and Kotone as assistants, of all people. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m so jealous. ¡­¡­ No, that¡¯s outrageous. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to drag that piece of trash around as soon as possible. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll show Monaka-sama and Kotone-sama how thoroughly he¡¯s been torn apart. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll both be disgusted with him. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Watch this, you trash. ¡­¡­¡¡I¡¯m only good at running ¡­¡­!¡± Leopin is not very good at running marathons, but the other participants have been selected and are all as agile as the rest. Thanks to this, the pace of the ¡°Hell Marathon¡± is quite fast right from the start. They are all united in their efforts to bring Leopin down, and keep running at almost full speed. But when they turn around after running about 10 kilometers through the grasslands, Leopin has a cool face. ¡°Damn ¡­¡­!¡± They said with enthusiasm, and pick up the pace even more. But after 20 kilometers, 30 kilometers, and 40 kilometers. Leopin doesn¡¯t even break a sweat, and without changing his expression, he keeps up with them. The boys, on the other hand, are drenched in sweat and all have agonized expressions on their faces. ¡°Haa, haa, haa ¡­¡­!¡¡I¡¯ve already run forty kilometers!¡± ¡°So why do you look so fine, ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Is he a monster?¡± Nick Bakker, who is running in the lead, turns around, sweat gushing down his face. ¡°Me¨C MEAT!¡¡No, I¡¯m just skinny-dipping!¡¡He must be in a lot of pain!¡± They are wearing earplugs, but they are able to communicate through normal conversation. The reason for this may go without saying. ¡°Me- MEAT! Everyone, keep up the good work!¡¡At the 50 km mark, there will be something! Then we¡¯ll be in heaven and he¡¯ll be in hell. ¡­¡­!¡± And then the ¡°Hell Marathon¡± reached the 50km mark. There is a tent with a sign saying ¡°Rest Area¡±. Inside the tent, a vice principal in an apron is beckoning loudly. ¡°Good woork!¡¡This is a good place to take a break!¡± The first group of students jump into the shade of the tent and collapse in a heap. The vice principal takes a pair of scissors and snaps off the ropes connecting them to Leopin. Leopin also goes inside to take a breather, but the vice principal blocks his way. The vice principal is saying something, so Leopin takes off his earplugs and listens. ¡°You see, it¡¯s clearly marked!¡± The vice principal points to a sign that says, ¡°Rest Area¡±. In small letters at the bottom of the sign, it says, ¡®Not for use by students of the special training class. ¡°Come on, come on, I¡¯ll be going that way!¡¡You¡¯re interrupting the good students¡¯ break! The failures to suffer alone in the hot sun!¡± The vice principal shoos Leopin away. The students behind him, holding a fan and a glass of water, says sarcastically. ¡°Oh, my God!¡¡It¡¯s like heaven in here! It¡¯s like hell out there compared to here!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pity he can¡¯t come to this nice place! I can¡¯t help it, he is a failure! That trash is going to burn in the sun!¡¡Hahahahahahaha!¡± ¡­¡­ dodo dodo dodo ¡­¡­. Suddenly, there was a sound of something approaching from behind. Leopin looked back and saw a carrige. There is a Domanna-sensei in the driver¡¯s seat of the carriage. She was beating on the reins ¡°Haya!¡± . As it pulls up in front of Leopin. ¡°Dodon, sorry to make you wait!¡± ¡­¡­ Zshhhhhhhhhhhh! The carriage slides to a stop, skidding to a halt. The signboard on the side of the carriage read in large letters. ¡°Special Training Class, Exclusive Resting Place¡±. ¡°Eh ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!¡± CH 64 Suddenly, my own private resting place arrived. Why Domanna-sense?¡¡I thought, but I soon find out why. The wooden window of the carriage snaps open, and there are girls like Margaret at the window. (Dunno the reference XD) ¡°Leo-kun!¡± ¡°Master!¡± ¡°Did you perhaps ask for help? ¡°Yes!¡¡We were worried about Leo-kun, so we asked Domanna-sensei for help!¡± ¡°Then Domanna-sensei offered us a carriage!¡± Monaka and Kotone look relieved to see me again. It¡¯s only been about two hours since we parted ¡­¡­. ¡°Leo-kun, you must be tired!¡¡Please come up here!¡± ¡°Yes!¡¡We have prepared a place for you to rest!¡± The two of them are smiling as always, but then they remember something and slump down as if embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Honestly, we would like to come down and welcome Leo-kun. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. But I¡¯m a little hesitant to go outside in this outfit. ¡­¡­¡± I take a closer look and see that the two girls peeking out of the window were dressed differently than usual. Instead of white robes and hakama, they were wearing gaudy colored short-sleeved clothes. I wonder what the hell is going on, but open the door at the back of the carriage and walk in¡­¡­. ¡°Oh, a cheerleader outfit.¡± As I said this, I hear a startled voice from outside the carriage, ¡°Cheerleader oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!¡± ¡°Monaka-sama and Kotone are wearing cheerleader outfits?¡± ¡°No way!¡¡I can¡¯t believe the Saint and Miko are dressed like that. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Damn, here¡¯s the vice principal in an apron!¡± ¡°Look at me!¡¡Look at me! Look at me! Look at me!¡± Monaka and Kotone are kyaa~ing and reddening, cupping their breasts with one hand and tugging at their short skirts. Rubbing their thighs together with their tightly closed inner thighs. ¡°I, this, I¡¯ve never worn a skirt this short in my life. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°I- I¡¯ve never worn a western costume before. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°If you¡¯re going to be so embarrassed, you don¡¯t have to do it.¡± The two of them simultaneously shake their heads from side to side. But, Domanna-sensei said. ¡°If you¡¯re going to support him, you have to dress like this.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It is said that this chiyagaru(Cheerleader Girl) has the effect of cheering up the gentlemen. If it is for the sake of the Master, I put it on with the intention of jumping off the stage of Shimizu.¡± ¡°Leo-kun¡­¡­¡± ¡°Master ¡­¡­¡± The two of them look up at me with cherry-red eyes. ¡°¡±Are you feeling recovered now¡­¡­?¡±¡± Before I can answer, Domanna-sensei, who is watching from her seat. ¡°That¡¯s right, Tozen! Super feeling better, isn¡¯t he? Otherwise, he¡¯s not a man!¡¡Hey, Leopin!¡± I nod back, ¡°Yes, Sensei,¡± and then look at Monaka and Kotone. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯m feeling much better now.¡± I didn¡¯t feel tired at all, thanks to the increased ¡°endurance¡± I had boosted. But I am more than happy with their attention. Monaka and Kotone have been looking at each other with a mixture of embarrassment and anxiety. But as soon as they hear my thanks, they burst into a smile and say, ¡°Pah ¡­¡­!¡±¡¡and a blossoming smile appears on their faces. Then they happily begins to take care of me. ¡°Good, good, ¡­¡­!¡¡Leo, please sit down in this chair!¡¡I¡¯ll wipe off your sweat!¡± ¡°Master, please drink some water! I¡¯ll make you a cool breeze.¡± Monaka wipes my sweat with a handkerchief and Kotone fansd me with a large fan. I want to say, ¡°No, I can ¡­¡­ do that myself,¡± but I can¡¯t bring myself to say it when I see their faces. From outside the carriage, I hear a buzzing voice. ¡°Oh, hey!¡¡I can catch a glimpse of Lady Kotone through the window!¡± ¡°What are you doing? Why is she fanning herself with a fan!?¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be that she¡¯s fanning that garbage. ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous!¡¡A miko as good as Kotone wouldn¡¯t be fanning someone else!¡± ¡°Right, right, right!¡¡I wish I was in the position of that garbage ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m not jealous of him! Kotone-sama is so afraid of approaching an ordinary man!¡± As I silently accept what Monaka and Kotone are doing, the service becomes even more excessive. ¡°Leo, I¡¯m going to recline your chair next!¡¡I¡¯m going to rub your shoulders.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to massage your feet!¡± The two of them begin to rub my body with a breathtaking combination. I want to say, ¡°No, I¡¯m not that tired. ¡­¡­,¡± but I had to pull back before they smiled at me. The voices from outside the carriage are turning into a scream. ¡°What the hell are they doing?¡¡What are they doing inside ¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«?¡± ¡°Monaka-sama said something about ¡®rubbing¡¯ just now. Is that a massage?¡± ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous!¡¡There is no way a Saint like Monaka would give a massage to someone!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right!¡¡Rather, that trashy bastard should be in a position to ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m so jealous of him! Monaka-sama is too divine and precious to be touched by an ordinary man!¡± Outside, there are shouts and screams, and the sound of rolling around on the ground begins. When I finish resting, the two beautiful girls see me off, and I step out of the carriage ¡­¡­. For some reason, the boys are there, covered in dust and leaves. Their eyes are bloodshot, and they are breathing heavily on their knees. They said they were in heaven just a moment ago, but they look like they had just crawled out of hell. ¡°Yoo, that¡¯s unforgivable. ¡­¡­!¡¡You trash! ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve taken our beautiful flower and turned it into a flower on both hands. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way a jobless dropout can do that. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Like Weiss said, he must have a weakness for both of them. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°We have to help them. ¡­¡­!¡¡We¡¯ll use our power to ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°¡±We¡¯ll drag you around ¡­¡­ until you¡¯ll never feel that way again!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll show ¡­¡­ you what happens when you made us serious to the bone!¡± CH 65 Leopin came out of the ¡°Special Training School¡¯s dedicated rest area¡± looking refreshed. The vice-principal glared at him, clenching his teeth as he saw that even his skin had improved. ¨CGugigi! I was going to show that trash what ¡°Hell¡¯s First Street¡± is all about. ¡­¡­! I didn¡¯t expect them to rush to help him. ¡­¡­! But the better you do here, the harder the hell is going to be. ¡­¡­! The vice-principal looked at the boys, who were stretching carefully, burning with obsession. ¨CThis is a battle that we cannot afford to lose, so we have used a lot of the school¡¯s operating funds to prepare for it. ¡­¡­! First of all, the water in the supply station over here is mixed with a potion of ¡°10 times endurance¡±. ¡­¡­! The average endurance of the students is more than 50 points, and they are all elite. Some of the best students have super high school level parameters: ¡­¡­! And now, with the help of potions, they have 500 points ¡­¡­! It¡¯s like they never get tired anymore. ¡­¡­! The side effects can be quite severe, but I don¡¯t care. The vice-principal continued to stare at their feet. ¨CAnd that¡¯s not all! He had them change into special running shoes: ¡­¡­! What a magic item for 10 times the agility: ¡­¡­! Finally, even the parameter of ¡°Agility¡± has been increased to 500 points: ¡­¡­! This is exactly what the running ghosts are: ¡­¡­! If you¡¯re not careful, you¡¯ll lose your legs and become a real ghost, but I don¡¯t care. ¡­¡­! The headteacher looked at Leopin again and smirked. ¨CThese running ghosts will lead you to the real hell. ¡­¡­!¡¡Muhohohohoho. ¡­¡­! He doesn¡¯t know. Maybe he¡¯ll never know. The boy with the new rope tied around his waist has no idea how much status he has. ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô The students were once again bound together by ropes. Nick Bakker, the center of the group, shouted. ¡°MEAT! Let¡¯s continue with the ¡°Hell Hell Marathon¡±! ¡°But first, we¡¯re going to change a few rules! All rest stops will be disabled, and the marathon will continue until everyone collapses! Also, no cheering is allowed!¡± The vice-principal quickly chimed in. ¡°Yes! That¡¯s why I¡¯m leaving you here, Domanna-sensei!¡± Monaka and Kotone, who had been peeking out of the window, looked blatantly disapproving. ¡°Oh no, vice-principal! We were going to follow Leo while supporting him!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, sir! This is why I dressed up as this chiyagaru(Cheer Girl)! ¡°No! If you guys were here, it would be the Heavenly Marathon! ¡°That¡¯s against the purpose of this marathon! Please go home quietly!¡± However, the two girls still persisted, ¡°Ehh~?¡± ¡°Monaka, Kotone, you don¡¯t have to worry about me, just go back first.¡± ¡°I fully appreciate your feelings, so I don¡¯t need to rest until I reach my goal. Thank you.¡± Leopin soothed, and the girls were finally convinced. ¡°Then, let¡¯s go home! Leopin, do your best! Hiyaa!¡± The carriage driven by Domanna was leaving like the wind. The vice-principal shouted after all this time, ¡°Gah!¡± ¡°Now that the rest stop has been discontinued, there¡¯s nothing for me to do!¡± Domanna-sensei! I need a ride too!¡± The vice-principal desperately chased after the shrinking carriage. By that time, Nick Bakker had already made his start. And the ¡°Hell Marathon¡± resumes. All the participants except Leopin had been doped up, so they were running as fast as Domanna¡¯s carriage, just with a lighter heart. Leopin followed nonchalantly, saying, ¡°Oh, they¡¯re really into it.¡± The students laughed at each other as Leopin wore real earplugs and could not hear anything. ¡°Heck, you can only be like that for so long!¡± ¡°Now he¡¯s running slow with a stupid look on his face, not knowing that I¡¯m taking it easy on him!¡± ¡°Now we¡¯re running like a gale!¡± ¡°Can you keep up with all the power we¡¯re about to unleash? No, I don¡¯t think so! With 500 Agility!¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to drag you away!¡± ¡­¡­ Zaa¡­¡­! The leading group synchronized and kicked the ground at the same time like a racehorse, and started running without a second glance. ¡°Huh, that¡¯s a lot of speed! I¡¯ve never seen anything like it!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! I¡¯m wearing shoes that are not allowed in track and field!¡± ¡°And I¡¯m not even out of breath running this fast!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! I¡¯m drinking a potion that¡¯s banned in all sports!¡± ¡°MEAT! Gentlemen! He¡¯s probably being dragged around like a ragdoll by now!¡± Let¡¯s enjoy it while we go for our winning run! ¡°Let¡¯s all look back at the same time! One-Two!¡± It goes without saying what the reaction would be after that. ¡°Eh, eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee~¡± The guys in the lead group were so stunned that their eyeballs and tongues almost flew off elsewhere. The distance between them and the following Leopin hadn¡¯t changed at all since the restart. In fact, even their expressions were the same, as if they were looking for a mistake. A warm-up, a light marathon ¡­¡­. No, he was still as fresh-faced as if he were enjoying a holiday walk ¡­¡­! ¡°Ugh ¡­¡­? No way! How can you keep up with me?¡± ¡°We¡¯re faster than a professional track and field athlete.¡± ¡°What the hell? What the hell is that?¡± ¡°Me- MEAT! No, he¡¯s just trying to be slimy!¡± If it¡¯s endurance ours is overwhelmingly superior! If we take it to an endurance battle, he¡¯s going to be exhausted! ¡°Run! Keep running!¡± Their composure disappears at once. They stopped even looking back and ran briskly forward. But it was futile, no matter how much they tried. At any rate, there was double the difference between Leopin¡¯s and their ¡°agility¡± and ¡°endurance¡±. Leopin is running at his own pace because he doesn¡¯t feel like he¡¯s competing. Whenever he feels like it, he can snap past them and knock them to the bottom. ¡­¡­! And finally, the moment arrives. ¡°Ha, ha, ha, ha! I can¡¯t, I can¡¯t, I can¡¯t ¡­¡­! I can¡¯t run! I can¡¯t run any further. ¡­¡­! ¡°Oh, shit! That piece of trash is still following me!¡± ¡°He¡¯s got 500 endurance, and he¡¯s following us.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s the devil! It¡¯s the devil!¡± ¡­zudoo, shaaaaaa!! The lead group tangled their legs and crashed in a big way. Leopin, coming up from behind, said. ¡°Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, don¡¯t push yourself too hard.¡± He jumped over the fallen boys with a light step. Then he ran off. The boys were gasping for air, but with the last bit of strength they could muster, they shouted. ¡°Wait, wait! Leopin! Wait!¡± But he was wearing real earplugs, so their voices didn¡¯t reach him. And so the hell begins. ¡­¡­! ¡­.zuzazazazaza!!! ¡°Fuu, ¡­¡­ Fugyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!¡± Not only did the lead group quickly become the bottom group, they began to be dragged along as if they were in a public execution. CH 66 Leopin was not enraged. Even though he was exposed to the schemes of evil and tyrannical, he continued to run. ¡°I used to not like running marathons, but now that I¡¯m doing it, it¡¯s surprisingly fun.¡± He smiled and blew away the wind. It was a refreshing sight but behind him, ¡°Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!¡± The screams of being run over never ceased. The men were being rolled around and crying out with dust and sand all over their bodies. ¡°Stop! Stop! Stop! Please!¡± ¡°Please stop! Leopin-kun! No, Master Leopin!¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to die!¡¡I¡¯m gonna die! I¡¯m gonna die!¡± He was wearing real earplugs, so Leopin couldn¡¯t hear him. The ropes that held them together had a ¡°weight ignoring¡± effect, so no matter how hard they were dragged, Leopin couldn¡¯t feel it. The men resist, stomping like dogs who don¡¯t want to come home from a walk, or clawing like cats who don¡¯t want to go to the hospital. But these actions were meaningless to Leopin, who ran like a horse. Leopin kept running, completely forgetting that he had his classmates behind him, who looked like dried persimmons. Through the jagged wasteland, jumping over streams, leaving footprints in the sand, and clambering over stepping stones in the swamp, Leopin entered a strange forest. Then, as he entered a strange forest, he felt a slight resistance in his waist. Finally, Leopin slowed down and looked back. ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô I looked behind me for the first time in hours, and my heart jumped. The scene was so horrifying. Nick Bakker-sensei and the boys had turned into mud puppets. They were reaching out as if to drag me into the mud. If someone¡¯s body hadn¡¯t accidentally gotten caught in a tree, I wouldn¡¯t have noticed. I took off my earplugs and crouched down beside the muddy figure. ¡°Are you okay, Nick Bakker-sensei?¡± Nick Bakker-sensei said breathlessly. ¡°Ugh. ¡­¡­ Ugh! Mee- MEAT! Hee ¡°Hell Marathon¡± is ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°This is the end of ¡­¡­ and ¡­¡­ to ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°What? But isn¡¯t it supposed to go on until the last person goes down ¡­¡­? I can still run, can¡¯t I?¡± Then Nick Bakker-sensei got scared and said, ¡°Hiya¡± As if it was a forbidden word, he covered his face and started to cry. ¡°Ugh! Ugh! ¡­¡­! Mee, meat ¡­¡­! No, don¡¯t run ¡­¡­! Don¡¯t run anymore. ¡­¡­!¡± I felt like a marathon runner who had just been diagnosed with a serious illness, and running any further would shorten my life expectancy. But I couldn¡¯t keep running if I had to. I untied the rope around my waist and took the mud dolls by the hands and tried to make them stand up. But they immediately fell like a newborn fawn. It seemed that their legs and feet were hurt pretty badly. The boys crawled to their feet and let out sobs. ¡°Ugh ¡­¡­! Ugh ¡­¡­! If it¡¯s true, if it¡¯s true,¡­¡­!¡± ¡°That guy¡ñ¡ñ should have been like this,¡­¡­! Ugh!¡± ¡°Hiccup, gosh! Why, why, we¡¯re the ¡­¡­ ones!¡± ¡°Ugh, ¡­¡­!¡± Everyone finally started crying, and I was in trouble. ¡°Hmmm, I¡¯ll go for a run and call for help.¡± But immediately, the mud dolls clung to my legs, ¡°Don¡¯t go!¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to leave us here and go back alone!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not fair!¡¡It¡¯s all Leopin¡¯s fault we¡¯re in this mess!¡± ¡°Take responsibility! You¡¯re going to send us home in one piece!¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes!¡¡If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll tell the vice principal!¡± The mud puppets united in their condemnation of me. I was about to abandon them and go home, but then I thought of something. ¡°Oh, yes, the ¡®distress signal¡¯ ¡­¡­. If I use that, I can call for help.¡± As I reached into my pocket, I realized that I wasn¡¯t wearing a coat. ¡°Oh no, I left my distress signal with my coat.¡± I ask them. ¡°Hey, does anyone have a distress signal?¡± But the mud puppet students shook their heads, saying, ¡°Of course not, it¡¯s a gym uniform. But the bigger mud puppet says, ¡°Meat! Then I¡¯ve got it!¡± He raised his hand. Nick Bakker-sensei reached into his jersey pocket and pulled out a dirty red tube. ¡°I can¡¯t lift my arm because I hurt my arm because of Celebrity-sama.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re going to take the blame for that.¡± He said it in a way that caught me off guard, but I accepted the distress signal. ¡°I understand. I¡¯m going to launch it outside the forest because there are trees above us here and it might get caught.¡± I left the mud dolls and headed out of the forest. I raised the red tube toward the sky in the approaching evening darkness. But suddenly, the vice principal¡¯s words came to mind. ¡°Oh, just so you know, it¡¯s useless to launch someone else¡¯s distress signal without permission and try to downgrade it!¡± In order to prevent fraud, the magic device confirms not only the name of the firework launched but also the appearance of the person who launched it. Only when it¡¯s determined that it¡¯s not a prank will help arrive! Also, the size of the rescue team and how fast they come depends on the rank of the student who launched them! ¡°If you want help in a hurry, use the distress signal of a student with a high rank.¡± ¡°If you want help in a hurry, use the distress signal of a higher-ranked student?¡± I mumbled and tried to return, but the group of mud dolls deep in the forest were sitting in a circle, whispering to each other. They were glancing at me from time to time. I became suspicious and activated the ¡°Dexterous Body¡± skill of ¡°Dexterity. I increased the ¡°five senses¡± parameter to make my hearing more acute and tried to listen in. ¡°Nick Bakka-sensei, you were actually planning to drag that trash bastard around and half-kill him, then leave him here in the woods, right?¡± ¡°Meet! That was the plan. I was going to do just that. The magic effect of evasion doesn¡¯t work at all when it comes to the forest around here.¡± ¡°Besides, at night, the monsters are everywhere.¡± ¡°I see, that¡¯s why you made me take off my coat, which seemed to contain a lot of equipment!¡± ¡°Meat! That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°And then, when you leave them behind, just give them that distress signal and say goodbye. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°So it¡¯s one of two things: get killed by a monster or quit the school. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Uhyaa! (wheezing). Either way, it¡¯s hell for that bastard!¡± ¡°Meat! My plans have changed a bit, but I¡¯m pretty sure he¡¯s going to quit this school now!¡¡MEAT!¡± I thought to myself, ¡°No way ¡­¡­,¡± and changed my job to ¡°Appraiser¡± I used my ¡°Appraiser¡± skill to appraise the red tube I had on hand. ========== Distress signal Quantity 1 Quality Level 3 (Material Level 8 + Occupation Penalty 5) A firework made by mixing gunpowder. When shot off, it creates a text in the sky. The content of the sentence is. ¡°Onegai dakara tasukete! I was an idiot to ask you for help! I¡¯m going to quit GAKUEN now, so please take care of me! Leopin.¡± (t/n: I wanted to translate this, but¡­ I think it looks funnier this way, it was a very bad mix of katakana) ========== ¡°That¡¯s what it was all about ¡­¡­!¡± It all made sense to me. As soon as I set off this firework, help will surely come. After that, they¡¯re probably going to use the text of the distress signal to force me to leave school voluntarily. After thinking about it for a while, I started to feel a little depressed. ¡°¡­¡­, it¡¯s okay to just abandon them and go home, isn¡¯t it?¡± It¡¯s not like I have any obligation to help them. ¡°Hmmm, but I don¡¯t like the idea of them dying¡­¡­¡± I thought about it for a while, and then a good idea hit me. ¡°I didn¡¯t think it would come in handy here. ¡­¡­!¡± ========== Occupation Ninja ? Artisan Fireworker Occupational skill Create toy fireworks: Creates toy fireworks Create fireworks: Creates a firework Making fireworks: Create a trick firework ========== I used my ¡°make fireworks¡± skill to tweak the mix of gunpowder for the distress signal I had. Then I went back to the mud puppets and threw the red tube back at the mud puppet boss. ¡°I¡¯ve changed the name of the distress signal to Nick Bakker-sensei. I¡¯ll leave you to it.¡± I raised my hand in a shooing motion and started to run quickly out of the forest again. CH 67 Leopin ran off into the sunset. The mud puppet army watched in dismay as his silhouette grew smaller and his shadow grew longer. But then they came to their senses. ¡°Mi-, Meat! Oh no, he¡¯s getting away!¡± ¡°Nick Bakker-sensei! Maybe that trashy bastard was eavesdropping on our conversation?¡± ¡°No, he didn¡¯t! He was at least a hundred meters away from where we were!¡± ¡°And it would be crazy to think he could hear us whispering from that distance!¡± ¡°What are we going to do? He left us here!¡± ¡°We ¡­¡­ all have to call him back!¡± They shouted into the setting sun. ¡°Heeeey!! Hey, celebrity! Come back here, you good boy!¡± ¡°Come back, you trash!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me, you¡¯re abandoning us!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah! If you really think you¡¯re not coming back, I¡¯ve got an idea!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right! We¡¯ll bully you to death tomorrow!¡± ¡°You know you¡¯ll get in trouble if you make an enemy of us, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°If you understand that, then come back here quietly!¡± They were crying out to Leopin just a moment ago, but after a short break, they were in this state. The reason why they can behave so arrogantly is because they have been raised to be selfish since childhood. And that is why they have been wielding their selfish position without understanding their own situation. ¡­¡­ ¨CThey soon began to panic at the silhouette, which showed no sign of coming back. ¡°Mii- MEAT! I¡¯ve gone too far! You¡¯ve been teased so much that you¡¯ve lost your nerve!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll never call you a celebrity again, so come back!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not garbage ¡­..Leopin! Please, come back!¡± ¡°We¡¯re the same friends who ran the Hell Hell Marathon together!¡± ¡°We¡¯re already friends, aren¡¯t we? We¡¯re already friends!¡± There is no other situation where the word ¡°too late¡± would be more appropriate. With the sun, Leopin¡¯s figure is disappearing into the horizon. As the forest grew darker and darker, they finally heard the voice. It was not a human or an animal, but a demon¡¯s cry. ¡°Gah, gah, gah!¡± It was enough to make the mud puppets jump up and down. ¡°Whoa! Oh, that noise, could it be ¡­¡­?¡± The bushes shook violently, and a green-skinned creature jumped out. The mud dolls twisted their faces in fear and screamed. ¡°Go- Goblin!!!!!¡± As the goblins licked their tongues, the mud dolls tried to run away. However, they are unable to stand on their feet and are quickly surrounded. The mud puppets hugged each other and shouted at the top of their voices. ¡°Help us! Help us, Leopin! No, Leopin-sama!¡± ¡°My friends, no, my best friends, we¡¯re being attacked by goblins!¡± ¡°No, no, no! Don¡¯t come, don¡¯t come!¡± ¡°No, Leopin, come here! Come here!!!¡± ¡°Hurry up! Leopin-kun! Hurry, hurry, hurry!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll die if you don¡¯t! I¡¯m going to die!¡± In such a predicament, if you shouted like this, the heroes would usually come running. But they were now too late for anything. The goblins, taking advantage of the mud puppets¡¯ exhaustion, kicked their feet at them as if to taunt them. Therefore, the mud dolls started crying out in disgrace as the goblins kicked them. ¡°No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!¡± ¡°Help me, help me, help me!¡± ¡°Please, please, please forgive me! Please forgive me!¡± Suddenly, one of the mud students noticed. ¡°Yes, yes, Nick Bakker-sensei! Distress signal! Please launch a distress signal!¡± ¡°Mii-, MEAT! I can¡¯t do that! I thought he said he changed his name!¡± ¡°Of course he¡¯s bluffing! The only person who can rewrite the words on a firework is an Artisan Fireworker!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, that trash is unemployed! That trash is unemployed! How can that trash do what we can¡¯t do? ¡­¡­!¡± That¡¯s what you would normally think. But for Nick Bakker, that one word stuck with him. ¡°What¡¯s the point of him bluffing in this situation, ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°And he was running like the devil to get away from us. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Maybe¡­..!¡± And finally, the tails of the truth are caught. It¡¯s not only that he witnessed Leopin¡¯s superb performance, but also ¡­¡­. It was only because he had been subjected to it three times that he was able to reach the extreme. ¡°If it¡¯s him, it¡¯s Leopin,¡­¡­!¡± ¡°He can even rewrite the fireworks ¡­¡­!¡± However, his tail was cut off with a muffled sound. ¡°Hey, how long are you going to keep this up, you muscle-bound bastard?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll launch it for you, so give me a distress signal!¡± ¡°Meat! How dare you speak like that to a teacher! I¡¯m going to teach you a lesson!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as teachers and students in this situation! Hey guys, take away the distress signal from this musclehead!¡± They finally start to split up. ¡°Damn, this musclehead got some serious stupidity!¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t push me! Damn it! Don¡¯t try to push me out!¡± ¡°You¡¯re the reason the trash got away! Take responsibility and be my shield!¡± The mud puppets are scrambling and brawling. The goblins were stunned, ¡°What are these guys doing?¡± so stunned that they stopped kicking. One of the goblins saw a red tube rolling around at his feet. The goblin picked it up with a curious look on his face and started fiddling with it. Nick Bakker tried to stop him with all the strength he had left. ¡°Yah ¡­¡­ stop it!!!!!!¡± But it was too late. They were no longer in a position to do all that. The red tube burst into flames. Nick Bakker said, ¡°Ahh!¡± as he reached out for the light bullet that was rising to the sky. His expression was as if he was in despair ¨CDodooooooon A roar and countless sparks exploded in the sky. The sky, which had already darkened, was illuminated by a light that looked like a blooming flower. The letters that emerged shone so brightly, filling the sky, that it seemed as if they could be read anywhere in this country. ¡ª¡±Onegai dakara tasukete(Please Help ME!)! It was stupid of me to follow you, Vice Principal!¡± ¡ª¡°I¡¯m going to quit Gakuen(The School) now, so please take care of me! Nick Bakker!¡± CH 68 After Leopin left the mud puppet army behind, he ran back to the school as fast as he could because it was almost dark. He was expecting to find no one in the schoolyard at night, but Monaka and Kotone were standing there with the goal tape in their hands. Leopin cut the goal tape. The record he had set broke the world record for the ¡°Hell Marathon.¡± However, the record was never made public and was buried in the dark. For Leopin, it didn¡¯t matter. The fact that the two girls had waited for him and congratulated him so generously was the best reward of all. The three of us cuddled up and watched the fireworks light up the night sky like a celebratory firework. ¡°Wow, ¡­¡­ it¡¯s beautiful!¡± ¡°The writing is disturbing, but it¡¯s so beautiful.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like a flower that blooms and then scatters. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Not only Monaka, does Kotone like fireworks too?¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± ¡°In fact, I have always wanted to watch fireworks with my master like this.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad your wish came true, Kotone!¡± ¡°Yes, thank you, Monaka-sama. It has been a wonderful day.¡± ¡°Come to think of it, I haven¡¯t thanked you both. I feel that I was able to finish the race today thanks to you two.¡± Monaka then rested her head against Leopin¡¯s white knuckles. Kotone, seeing this, dutifully followed suit, like a kitten imitating its predecessor. ¡°Okay, okay, thank you both.¡± Leopin stroked Monaka with his right hand and Kotone¡¯s head with his left. The two girls squeezed Leopin¡¯s shirt and held each other¡¯s hands to share the joy. ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô Now, despite his status as a teacher, Nick Bakker had used the ¡°distress signal¡± before anyone else. From this point on, he was eager to somehow make Leopin take the blame. However, he was seen being beaten up by goblins by the rescue team, and Leopin was on the school grounds at the time. It was impossible to shift the blame to Leopin, no matter what ultra-C grade excuse he came up with. The vice-principal, who was the initiator of this case, instead of defending Nick Bakker, quickly took the position of cutting him off. ¡°¡®No! Nick Bakker-sensei! You¡¯re a gym teacher, and you¡¯re making your students do something as crazy as the Hell Marathon!¡± ¡°Furthermore, you made them run until they couldn¡¯t return home, and then they were attacked by goblins and called for help!¡± ¡°I wonder how you were recruited to teach at the Royal Pioneer Academy!¡± ¡°MEAT! Oh, no, vice-principal! I¡¯m doing what the vice principal told me to do ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°No! Shut up!¡± It¡¯s terrible for a teacher to blame not only Leopin, who was not a garbage ¡­¡­, but also me! ¡°I¡¯d like to downgrade you two ranks, but I¡¯ll let you off the hook for that since you volunteered to resign!¡± ¡°Now, pack up your things and get the hell out of here!¡± ¡°No ¡­¡­, no way!¡± The first dropouts finally appear in the Royal Pioneer Academy. This was initially predicted by many people. The first one to disappear would be that boy whose only advantage was his dexterity. But as it turned out, the first to be eliminated was not him, or even a student, but a gym teacher ¡­¡­! Nick Bakker is a member of a prestigious family full of famous athletes, and Nick Bakker himself was once active in the military. And the ¡°Royal Pioneer Academy¡± where he taught will be a prestigious school of the future that is sure to make a name for itself around the world. As a founding teacher of the school, it was not a dream that he would even join the royal family in the future. Where did this elite of the elite go wrong,¡­¡­? Yes, Leopin ¡­¡­! Because he made an enemy of Leopin,¡­¡­, everything in his life has been thrown into a downward spiral,¡­¡­! In the early morning of the next day after the decision was made to expel him from the school, Nick Bakker was clinging to a thick pillar of the school and shouting. ¡°Mii, MEAT! No, no, no! No, no, no, no, no! No! ¡®If they find out that I¡¯ve been fired from this school, I¡¯ll be expelled from my clan as well!¡¯ ¡®If that happens, I won¡¯t be able to live anymore!¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s over! Everything is over!¡± At last, the school¡¯s guards ripped Nick Bakker off by force and carried him away in a cage for animals. He was screaming behind the bars like a gorilla being sold to the circus. ¡°He-¡­¡­, help me-!¡± ¡°It-, it was my fault! Thinking about it, I had a hunch during our first gym class!¡± ¡°You¡¯re better than anyone else in this school. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°That feeling was confirmed when I went to the Hell Marathon!¡± ¡°Ah, what an irony. ¡­¡­! At the last minute, I realized how good he was. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°It should be easy for you to break through these bars and get out of there!¡± ¡°So please! Please let me out of here right now!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do anything, I¡¯ll do anything!¡± ¡°Let me stay with you! Let me work in your house!¡± ¡°Leopin! Leopin! Leopin!¡± ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô I woke up feeling as if I heard a cry for help. ¡°Hmmm, what is that, an imaginary voice? ¡­¡­¡± Then, as usual, I noticed that my body is glowing. ========== Name Leopin Occupation Ninja Lv 16 ? 17 HP 1010 MP 1010 Status Life 101 Endurance 1001 Toughness 101 Spirit 101 Resistance 101 Agility 1001 Concentration 101 Strength 101 Magic 101 Dharma 101 Intelligence 101 Liberal Arts 101 Five Senses 101 Sixth Sense 101 Charm 1 Luck 5 Dexterity 300 ? 400 ========== ========== Changeable occupations Production System Lumberjack Appraiser Shin-Ra Carpenter Masonry Leather Craftsman Woodcrafter Potter Confectioner Pastry Chef Fireworks Artisan Exploration System Ranger Treasure Hunter NEW! Mapper Combat System Battle Axe User Ninja Martial Artist Trapper Trainer(Tamer) ========== CH 69 The moment I saw the newly added profession in the status window, I snapped my fingers. ¡°Mapper, huh? Just what I need!¡± In a pioneering academy, once the initial preparations for pioneering have been made and the living infrastructure has been secured, the exploration begins. This is the equivalent of searching for places where useful materials can be found or doing preliminary research to further expand the base. There are bound to be monsters and underground labyrinth dungeons around, so this is where the combat students come into their work as well. They accompany the mapmakers as bodyguards as they create the maps. In return, they receive the completed map and use it for further exploration. ¡°I was going to buy a map made by one of the other students¡­¡± But I couldn¡¯t find anyone who would sell it to me, so I didn¡¯t know what I was going to do. ¡°But now, problem solved!¡± I ran out of the house with great enthusiasm, ready to start making a map of the area. But then I realized something. ¡°Oh, but I don¡¯t have anything to write on.¡± Students who become mapmakers are given a set of writing utensils as their initial equipment. But I¡¯m unemployed, so I haven¡¯t received anything. ¡°As expected, without anything to write with, there¡¯s nothing I can do¡­¡± As I was pondering this, I saw a leaflet blowing in the wind and stuck to my leg. When I picked it up and read it, I found it was a description of a person. It was the same as my ¡°Slave Ticket¡± portrait, with a portrait of me with a touch of evil. Underneath it is, ¡°If this face rings a bell, run! This student has a complex about being unemployed and incapable of anything, and he¡¯s jealous of us! He uses the power of drugs to create hallucinations and make himself look like he has abilities! Even more despicable, they take advantage of the girls¡¯ weaknesses and make obscene demands! There have been a number of cases of forced massages and forced kisses.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s spreading these rumors?¡± But now I know why there¡¯s no end to the people who get involved with me. As I was about to tear up the leaflet, ¡°Gyaah!¡± I heard a distant scream. I looked up and saw many of the same leaflets scattered around the entrance to the forest. On the other side of the forest, there was a male student being chased by Tom, the black panther. The boy was being rolled and trampled all over by Tom. In the end, he was covered in paw stamps and ran back to his living quarters. Just as I guessed. ¡°Hahaa~. I guess they were trying to put up flyers on my wall to harass me.¡± But Tom found out and chased him around, so he probably left the leaflets and ran away. Then it hit me. ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯ve got the paper!¡± I picked up the leaflets that were scattered around. In no time at all, I had enough paper for several notebooks. ========== Leopin¡¯s portrait drawing. Quantity 300 Quality Level 2 (Material Level 12 + Defacement Penalty 10) A personal description made of high-quality parchment. There is a warning text about the person in the description. The contents of the text ¡­¡­ ========= I didn¡¯t want to see that hoax again, so I quickly closed the appraisal window without reading it all the way through. I closed the appraisal window without finishing it. ¡°Now all I need is something to write on it and I¡¯ll have ¡­¡­!¡± From there, I didn¡¯t need to hesitate anymore. I quickly headed back to the house. ¡°I believe I still have some leftover Ogrewood from the scrap wood.¡± I took the Ogrewood wood out of my pocket and used the large boar knife to cut it into pieces the size of my fingers. I put it into the forest kiln that I had built when I was a potter. All that¡¯s left to do is to put in the firewood, wait a while, and it will be ready for use¡­¡­. ========== Charcoal from Ogrewood Qty 30 Quality Level 8 (Material Level 1 + Dexterity Bonus 4 + Processing Bonus 3) Charcoal made from heated Ogrewood. ========== ¡°Charcoal is ready! Ogrewood is suitable for making charcoal, so you get a processing bonus!¡± The charcoal from the Ogrewood was a beautiful jet black color with no irregularities. ¡°It would be a shame to destroy it, but ¡­¡­¡± I took out the Granite Clay Mortar from my coat pocket. It¡¯s the one I made when I made the mortar I gave to Akemi. I put the charcoal in the mortar and ground it with the handle of my knife. ¡°After that, I added some Granite Clay, which I had leftover. I think the best ratio is about seven parts charcoal to three parts clay.¡± Since I didn¡¯t have a scale, I tore up the clay by eye and put it in a mortar. As I kneaded the clay with my hands, the ochre-colored clay quickly turned black as it was covered with charcoal powder. ¡°I tore this black clay into small pieces and divided them evenly into ¡­¡­. Then stretch it into a long, round stick.¡± I was excited at this point, and I was having fun crafting like a kid playing with clay. I had about thirty sticks of clay, so I lined them up on a wooden board and slid them into the ¡°Forest Firing Kiln¡±. I waited with excitement for the final stage of my first craft to be fired. And finally, ¡­¡­! ¡°It¡¯s done!¡± ========== Charcoal Pencil with Ogrewood and Granite Clay Quantity 30 Quality Level 34 (Material Level 30 + Dexterity Bonus 4) Charcoal pencil is made by mixing charcoal from Ogrewood and Granite Clay and heating them together. Can be used to write on any kind of paper. ========== I grabbed my first pencil and tried to write on the back of the leaflet, not caring that my hand would turn black. It left a solid black stroke on the parchment. ¡°Yes! Regular charcoal pencils don¡¯t work well with parchment paper, but this one does. This one writes perfectly!¡± Like a young child who¡¯s been given his first crayon, I couldn¡¯t stand it any longer. My whole body was itching, but I managed to control myself and started the final craft. With a fluttering heart, I changed my job to ¡°Woodcrafter¡±. I sliced one of the Gisu stumps that were left in the garden and shaved it into a rectangle to make ¡­¡­. ========== Gisu Clipboard Quantity 1 Quality Level 23 (Material Level 2 + Dexterity Bonus 4 + Occupation Bonus 17) Clipboard made of Gisu wood. Includes pen holder. Various bonuses make the paper stay in place. ========== ¡°Now we have everything we need! All right, let¡¯s get to mapping!¡± I ran out of the workshop like a rabbit with a lit butt. Then, Tom came running up to me with a piece of his pants in his mouth, ¡°Pyaa!¡± (I don¡¯t know why a panther makes that sound XD) ¡°Oh, Tom, thank you for guarding the house.¡± ¡°Pyaa!!¡± ¡°Yeah, you want to come with me?¡± ¡°Pyaa!¡± I decided to go with Tom to explore the forest. (e: This panther sounds cute XD t: I don¡¯t know why it makes that sound XD) CH 70 I dragged Tom with me and bravely walked into the forest. Then, in the heat of the moment, I activated the ¡°Dexterous Job Change¡± skill of the ¡°Poor Dexterity¡±. ========== Leopin Occupation Woodcrafter ? Mapper Occupational Skills The Art of Discovery: Find hidden passages Plane map creation: Creates a plane map Absolute Memory: Memorize a landscape perfectly after seeing it once. However, if you engage in combat, you will lose all memories up to that point. ========== This forest was already like my own garden, as I used it to procure food and materials. However, when I looked at it from a bird¡¯s eye view as a mapper, I found many new discoveries. ¡°There¡¯s an animal path in the bushes. I¡¯ve been coming and going around here a lot, but I hadn¡¯t noticed it at all. I wonder what¡¯s up ahead. ¡­¡­?¡± The path, which was barely big enough for one person to pass through, was divided into several branches. I took a random path and found a rabbit¡¯s nest with baby rabbits playing inside. I didn¡¯t want to scare them off, so I quietly took a different path. The animal path was quite complicated and maze-like, but I made some unexpected discoveries. Along the way, I came across a dark place where trees were stacked on top of each other, and I found a flower half buried in the ground. ¡°Could this be Yorutsumekusa ¡­¡­?¡± (Night Sagina japonica) (The problem is this was written on katakana XD) ========== Yorutsumekusa Quantity 1 Quality Level 16 (Material Level 16) Wild Yorutsumekusa. It grows in the dark forest and hides in the soil during the day. It can be used for alchemy and as medicinal herbs. ========== ¡°Yorutsumekusa doesn¡¯t come out of the ground until nighttime. You¡¯re lucky to find it in the daytime.¡± This was one of the materials Akemi had asked me for, so I quickly collected it. As we continued along the path, we came to a place where both sides of the bushes were stained red like they were on fire. ¡°Oh no, I didn¡¯t know burned grass grew here. ¡­¡­¡± ========== Scabiosa Japonica Quantity 1 Quality level 7 (Material level 7) Wild Scabiosa Japonica. If you touch it with bare skin, you will get a rash like a burn. Can be used for alchemy and medicinal herbs. ========== ¡°If I¡¯d gone through this with no knowledge of plants, I¡¯d have been in big trouble. But I¡¯m getting what I was asked to get.¡± I tucked my hand into the sleeve of my coat and pulled out the ¡°Scabiosa¡±, avoiding direct contact. I carefully tucked it into my pocket and continued on my way until I came to a familiar place. ¡°Oh, we¡¯re at the pond. If we take the shortest route, it will be much faster than the route through the mushroom field. I think I found a shortcut.¡± I recalled the route I had taken so far and wrote a rough outline on my clipboard. Thanks to my absolute memory skill, I can remember the route I took clearly. All I need to do now is to put it on paper with my ¡°Planar Mapping¡± skill and I¡¯ll be on my way. ¡°I¡¯ve got a map of the pond. And it has the locations of rare materials and shortcut routes. It¡¯s a great way to find out what¡¯s out there. ¡­¡­ It¡¯s kind of fun, like a treasure hunt.¡± ¡°Well, let us have some fun, too.¡± A few boys came from the direction of the mushroom field and called out to me. They were wearing leather armor, so they looked like warriors. They were unfamiliar to me, but their attitude was very friendly. ¡°We came here to look for mushrooms, but we don¡¯t know which ones are edible.¡± ¡°Hey, why don¡¯t you try some of the mushrooms we picked?¡± ¡°What¡¯s with you guys?¡± ¡°What¡¯s with the rebellious attitude? We¡¯re at the top of the class, remember? We¡¯re gods to the bottom class, the Special Training Class.¡± ¡°Or do you have a weakness for us, like Monaka-sama and Kotone-sama? Then let¡¯s see it, huh?¡± This isn¡¯t the first time I¡¯ve been unreasonably tangled up with someone, but it seems like it¡¯s getting worse. Perhaps my description is circulating in the living quarters. ¡°I don¡¯t like his attitude! He¡¯s a failure, but he acts like he can do everything by himself!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do anything without your drugs!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just knock him out and show you what we¡¯re made of!¡± ¡°Oh, yeah, and then I¡¯ll force you to eat mushrooms!¡± ¡°Yes, yes! Then we¡¯ll know what mushrooms we can eat and Monaka-sama and Kotone-sama will be happy, two birds with one stone!¡± I was puzzled. If I change my occupation to a fighting occupation, I won¡¯t be behind these guys. However, as soon as I fought them, the effects of my absolute memory would wear off. I would forget the structure of the animal path I had just taken. ¡°Hmm, but I can¡¯t turn my back on them¡­¡± ¡°What the hell are you whispering about?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too late to apologize!¡± ¡°Come on, cry it out!¡± The boys attacked me with their fists in the air. I thought I was finally going to get hit, but just before they hit me, they were blown backwards as if they had been hit by a blast. ¡°Hiii¡ª Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!?!?!¡± Their gazes were fixed on my thighs. When I looked, I saw the black panther Tom who seemed to have slipped out of my shadow and was growling, ¡°Grr~¡±. That reminds me that I had a reliable bodyguard. The boys fell back on their haunches, flapping their legs. ¡°Hiii¡ª Hiiii!! Black panther!¡± ¡°He¡¯s really got a black panther!¡± ¡°When I heard the rumor, I thought it was a big black cat or something, but ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe it¡¯s real. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t panic! It¡¯s just a hallucination we¡¯re having! And once you know that, you won¡¯t be afraid!¡± But when Tom opened his mouth, the boys screamed as if their throats had been ripped out. ¡°Gyaaaaaa!! Run! Run! Run! Run! Run!¡± Then, on all fours, they ran off in a desperate attempt to escape. I call out to them. ¡°Hey, there¡¯s a pond behind you, you better watch out ¡­¡­.¡± Immediately after, there was a big splash! ¡°Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Help me! Help me, help me, help me, help me!¡± ¡°What the hell? I¡¯m sinking, I¡¯m sinking, I¡¯m sinking!¡± ¡°I¡¯m drowning! I¡¯m drowning! I¡¯m drowning!¡± The boys were up and down, floating and sinking, struggling. ¡°Oh dear, don¡¯t you know how to swim when you¡¯re wearing your gear?¡± I could have left them alone, but the animals that had come to drink from the pond looked annoyed. ¡°I might drink this water if it comes to that. ¡­¡­ I don¡¯t want it to get any dirtier than it already is.¡± I threw a large branch from a nearby tree as a lifesaving rope. CH 71 The boys crawled out of the pond, ¡°Remember this!¡± and ran away like wet rats. Finally, the area regained its tranquility. ¡°Now I can draw the map calmly.¡± I sat down on a rock by the pond and finished the map on my clipboard. ¡°The map from my house to the pond is now complete. I¡¯ll piece it together and we¡¯ll have the whole forest in one place.¡± I inserted a new leaflet into the clipboard and looked around. ¡°I think we should go further into the forest, this is the place where I first met Kotone.¡± I thought that maybe Kotone would be there, but she was not. Instead, there was Onesco, Monaka¡¯s attendant. Onesco was sticking her hand into a crevice in the rock, frowning and groaning. ¡°What are you doing?¡± I asked, and the crease between his eyebrows deepened. She stuck one hand in the air and pointed with the other hand. ¡°¡®Leopin, you¡¯re such a jerk! You took advantage of the fact that we were childhood friends to do this and that to little Monaka!¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t possibly say such a lewd thing to you!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen a little of you, but you¡¯ve failed me! Prepare yourself!¡± ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± ¡°I am going to give you an educational lesson in ¡­¡­! Mugugugu!¡± Onesco tried to stand up, but one hand seemed to be stuck in the gap between the rocks. I sigh. ¡°I don¡¯t know how this happened, but I¡¯m glad I was the first one to find you.¡± ¡°What do you mean? Will you take advantage of my inability to move and do the same thing you did to Monaka-sama?¡± ¡°No, I won¡¯t. No, I mean that it would have been a disaster if a monster had found you. Wait a minute.¡± I looked around. Just in time, I saw the fruit I was looking for growing near a rock. I tore off one of the clusters of green nuts and peeled off the skin. Inside, I found a fruit that looked just like a walnut. I grabbed two of them and crushed them in my hands. I transferred the crushed nuts to a wooden cup I had taken from my coat pocket. ¡°What the hell are you doing ¡­¡­?¡± Onesco looked worried. I continued my craft with the usual, ¡°Well, just watch.¡± I took out a leather water bottle from my coat pocket and poured the water into the wooden cup. All I had to do was stir it lightly with my fingers and I¡¯m done. I splash the liquid in the cup into a crevice in the rock. There was Onesco¡¯s arm there, so naturally I got soaked. ¡°Kyaa! What are you doing¡ª arara??!¡± Onesco¡¯s arm slipped out of the gap and she fell back on her butt and looked at the hand that had just come off as if it were a miracle. ¡°Eh? Ehh?? I was stuck since the morning, and no matter what I did, I couldn¡¯t get out. ¡­¡­? I was even going to launch a distress signal, and in a matter of seconds, without using any force! Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh!?¡± Onesco flopped down into a girl¡¯s seat and looked up at me incredulously. ¡°Wh- What the hell did you do? What the hell is that liquid? No way, it¡¯s a hallucinogenic drug!¡± I replied, looking at the little white liquid left in the cup. ¡°Aah, it¡¯s called Araimi, and when you break it up and mix it with water, it becomes like a detergent.¡± ========== Araimi Detergent Quantity 1 Quality Level 6 (Material Level 2 + Dexterity Bonus 4) Made by dissolving Araimi in water. In addition to removing dirt and grime, it also makes things slippery. ========== Even after hearing my explanation, Onesco was still skeptical. ¡°Oh, no. ¡­¡­. I didn¡¯t know there was such a magical fruit. ¡­¡­¡± And then she glanced at me. ¡°I¡¯ll just ¡­¡­ Thank you for your help.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± ¡°I do care. I don¡¯t know how you can help someone with a shirt that dirty by using detergent. ¡­¡­¡± The conversation took an unexpected turn, and I said, ¡°What?¡± in a dumb voice. ¡°If you can make detergent, you can probably wash a shirt. So why are they so dirty?¡± She seemed to be curious about my shirt. ¡°No, I was too lazy to wash it. It doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s ¡­¡­ something like that.¡± The school has a special rule that only female students can use the shower rooms and laundry facilities in the school building. This is the reason why Monaka and Kotone always smell good and always wear white robes and hakama. I felt awkward, as if I was being implicitly accused of being lazy, so I changed the subject. ¡°By the way, why were you sticking your hand in that rock?¡± This time, Onesco looked uncomfortable. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± I replied, ¡°Hmmm,¡± and peered into the gap in the rock where Onesco had been sticking her hand. At the far end of the hole, I saw something that looked like a dull, shiny blue stone. ¡°It looked like a fragment of a gemstone. That¡¯s what she was trying to get.¡± Onesco turned his face away from the hole, her mouth agape. ¡°Yes. Laugh if you want.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not laughing at you. If it¡¯s jewelry, everyone wants it.¡± I patted the breast pocket of my coat. ¡°And I¡¯ve got some gemstone jewelry over here.¡± As if on cue, a mouse crawls out of my breast pocket. I stretched my arm out to the hole as if I were escorting her, and she slipped down my arm and into the hole. A few moments later, she returns with the gemstone from the bottom. She dropped it into my palm with a flick of her hand. I stroked the jewel with my fingers as it went back into my breast pocket. Then I offer the other jewel to Onesco, who turns away, ¡°Here, take it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± Onesco turned her head and her slanted eyes widened even more at the sight of the gemstone. ¡°Eh¡­. Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!¡± CH 72 Onesco received the gemstone, scooping it up with both hands. She then let out a scream that was a mixture of delight and confusion. ¡°What? What? What? Why, why!? How could it be so easy to get something that I couldn¡¯t get no matter how much I tried this morning?¡± ¡°Why, why, why, why? Why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, ¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«?¡± She was so excited, like a little girl with a star in the palm of her hand that she could never reach. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re so happy.¡± Onesco raised her head and looked up at me with sparkling eyes. ¡°I¡¯m so happy! I¡¯ve always wanted jewelry!¡± ¡°Le- Leopin-kun. Than- ¡­¡­!¡± The words that were about to come out of her mouth caught her off guard and she quickly clamped her mouth shut. And then she cleared her throat and said. ¡°Well, I guess I should thank you for ¡­¡­.¡± I asked her a simple question. ¡°Didn¡¯t you almost say ¡®thank you¡¯ just now?¡± Then Onesco lifted her eyes and said, ¡°No way!¡± ¡°No, of course not! That word is the greatest expression of gratitude in my family of knights! It is made with a kiss, and it is a pact of knights to give their lives for that person! It¡¯s not something that can be said lightly!¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s a big deal.¡± ¡°Pikyiiiiiii!¡± A deafening scream interrupted us. I was momentarily dazzled by the flash of brilliance. A huge white bird with wings larger than my outstretched arms was rushing in and attacking Onesco. The bird picked and pulled Onesco¡¯s hair with its beak, scratched her hands with its toe paws, and then flew away. When Onesco was kicked in the back legs, she almost fell down, ¡°Kyaa?¡± I reached out and pulled Onesco into my arms just as she was about to fall. Onesco was turning blue in my arms. ¡°Ahh, the jewel is gone! The bird must have taken it! Wait ¡­¡­!¡± Onesco tried to run away, but I held her shoulders and wouldn¡¯t let her go. ¡°Let me go, Leopin-kun!¡± ¡°Calm down, Onesco. Relax, Onesco, they¡¯re flying. You can¡¯t reach him from here.¡± Onesco was completely distraught. ¡°Why are you so calm? It took my precious jewel! I can¡¯t just give up now that I¡¯ve got it!¡¡Without it, I, I, ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not giving up either. I¡¯m just saying that it¡¯s out of our reach.¡± ¡°What?¡± Onesco is puzzled. ¡°What does that ¡­¡­ mean?¡± ¡°It means it¡¯s like a jewel in a tiny hole. If we can¡¯t do it, we can ask one of our friends who is good at it. Here.¡± I pointed at the bird as it flew away. The moment Onesco looked up. ¡­ Shubaa¡­.! A black shadow flew from a tall tree. It had the lithe silhouette of a cat. If I had built a sporting goods store, I might have adopted it as the store¡¯s logo. Yes, I had ordered Tom, who had been standing behind Onesco like a shadow, to climb up the tree while Onesco was being attacked by the bird. As a backup plan in case the bird got away. Tom and the bird tangled violently in the air. The way the black and white creatures intertwined was like a yin-yang sign from the east. The bird was trying hard to kick Tom off with its toe, but when Tom¡¯s bite caught the bird in the neck, the game was over. Tom put the bird down like a cushion and landed with a thud. Tom came stumbling back with the retrieved gem in his mouth. Onesco was astonished. ¡°Hii, Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!¡± She was trying to get away from me, but now she¡¯s clinging to me. ¡°B- B- B- Black panther!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s my pet.¡± ¡°No- no way!¡± Onesco¡¯s pupils were wide open as she looked at me. ¡°When I heard about it from Monaka, I thought it was a big cat or something, but ¡­¡­! I can¡¯t believe it¡¯s real. ¡­¡­!¡± Oh dear, I didn¡¯t realize that Onesco had the same level of perception as the boys. ¡°Look, Tom says he wants to give it back, take the jewel.¡± Onesco gingerly held out her hand, ¡°Un¡­¡­un¡­¡­¡±. When Tom dropped the jewel into her palm, she squirmed irresistibly. ¡°He was so cute! Aahh! How cute!¡± When Onesco stroked Tom, he lay back down like he was in a submissive pose. ¡°Kyaaaaah!¡± Onesco let out a loud squeal and stroked Tom¡¯s belly, ignoring the jewelry. ¡°Aaah! Cat, cat, cat, cat! Big kitty! Leopin, what¡¯s the name of this cat?¡± ¡°Tom.¡± ¡°Ahhhh! Tom, Tom, Tom! Cute, cute, cute, cute!¡± Onesco is a picture-perfect honor student, always looking crisp with slanted eyes. She exudes an aura of unapproachability, but now she¡¯s like a different person. No, she looked like a high school girl of her age. While Onesco was frolicking with Tom, I collected the drop items from the bird that Tom had killed. ========== Griffon Bird¡¯s Gizzard Quantity 1 Quality Level 5 (Material Level 5) A light, crunchy bird gizzard. In addition to being edible, it is also used as a material for alchemy. ========== ========== Griffon Bird¡¯s Wind Feather Quantity 1 Quality Level 22 (Material Level 22) This is one of the rarest of the Griffon Bird¡¯s feathers. Depending on the angle of the light, it changes color to white, light blue, or silver. It has a special effect when used as a feather decoration due to its hidden magical power. ========== ¡°Oh, yes! I got another item from Akemi! And I even got a rare item that might be worth processing!¡± CH 73 I returned to Onesco as I tucked the collected drop items into my coat pocket. Onesco was playing with Tom the whole time, and seemed to be enjoying herself more than ever. Her eyes, which are always lifted tightly, seem to have become somewhat calmer. Suddenly, she murmured. ¡°¡­¡­ I dreamed of being a holy knight. I came from a family of knights, and we¡¯ve served great men for generations. My parents also told me to be a knight in the future. ¡­¡­ At first, I didn¡¯t want to go down that predetermined path.¡± ¡°But,¡± she continued, turning Tom over and stroking the hairs on his back. ¡°I changed my mind after I became Monaka-sama¡¯s classmate in middle school. I was touched by Monaka-sama¡¯s kindness and deep compassion. ¡­¡­ I began to feel strongly that I wanted to protect her. But in order to really protect the saintess, you have to become a holy knight. ¡­¡­¡± The ¡°Holy Knight¡± is one of the higher positions of knights. It is possible for a knight to serve a saint, but he cannot accompany her to a sacred place such as a sanctuary. But a holy knight is a knight approved by God, so he is allowed to enter the sanctuary. Maybe, I think. ¡°Did you need that gem to become a holy knight?¡± ¡°Yes, it is, and there are a few trials involved in becoming a holy knight ¡­¡­. For the first test, you have to fit three jewels, red, blue and yellow, into the hilt of your sword, the initial equipment of a knight.¡± Onesco said so, and pulled out the sword she carries on her hip, sheath and all, and showed it to me. There was indeed a small indentation on the handle for the jewels to be inserted. ¡°Three different colored gems, that¡¯s a lot of work.¡± In a pioneering academy, it¡¯s quite difficult to get gems. ¡°Well, it¡¯s very hard to find. You have to find the mine first, and gems are hard to come by.¡± I¡¯ll take over the word. ¡°Even if you¡¯re lucky enough to get a gem, it¡¯s not considered a gem in its original state, so you have to process it. It¡¯s got to be the job of Jewelers.¡± A jeweler is a higher job than a stonecrafter. It is only at the end of the pioneering period that higher-level jobs appear, and there are not always students who become jewelers. Filled with a full body massage, Tom slipped out of Onesco¡¯s hands and jumped onto the rock. Onesco says regretfully. ¡°The trials of a holy knight are not limited to that. There are many students in this academy who aspire to become Holy Knights, but maybe not even one of them can become one. But I¡¯m not going to give up and I¡¯m going to do my best for Monaka-sama.¡± I almost didn¡¯t hear that determination in her voice. Because I was distracted by Tom on the rocks. Tom clawed at the rocks, scratching them crisply. The rock is torn to shreds like a wafer. Onesco marveled. ¡°Wow, Tom, you really do claw at rocks.¡± To me, that in and of itself wasn¡¯t a surprise. The Black Panther¡¯s claws are too soft for wood, so he uses rocks to sharpen them. I saw that scene a few times when I was in the forest house. I made a new discovery today. Tom is not only licking his claws, but also occasionally licking the rocks with his tongue. Countless spike-like objects sprang from its tongue, scraping away at the surface of the rock like diamond files. I¡¯m suspicious. ¡°When I tamed Tom in Pet Battles, he jumped on me and licked my face ¡­¡­. But then, Tom¡¯s tongue was slippery. ¡­¡­¡± I approached Tom, wondering what if. ¡°Tom, can I see your tongue for a second?¡± At my call, Tom looks up with a ¡°?¡± Tom always forgot to put his tongue away when I called him when I groomed him, and he had the same expression on his face. Tom¡¯s scowling tongue is renewed. I looked at the spikes coming in and out of the surface of his tongue and I was convinced. ¡°Well, Tom¡¯s tongue is like a claw, and the spikes can move in and out at will: ¡­¡­! It also has spikes that can ¡­¡­ scrape off rocks!¡± I turned my palm toward Onesco. ¡°Onesco, lend me a bit of that gem you got earlier!¡± ¡°What the hell are you going to do?¡± Just lend it to me for a bit!¡± I accepted the stone that was offered to me with a look of being caught off guard. I pinched it between my index finger and thumb and held it close to Tom¡¯s mouth like an examining vet. ¡°Tom, can you get the spikes out?¡± Tom made a strange sound, and then, with a jerk, a spike popped out of his tongue. It was as long as a sword mountain, so I was a little surprised. ¡°I didn¡¯t know spikes could grow that far, but it doesn¡¯t have to be that far, just enough to show the tip.¡± Then Tom makes a small, difficult face, but answers the request. As he leans in closer to the golden eyes, he retracts the spikes as if they were linked. When it was about the size of a coarse file, I put a stop to it. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s the length, can you stop it at that length?¡± ¡°Hyuah.¡± I changed my job to ¡®Stonecrafter¡¯ just in case. I place the gem on Tom¡¯s tongue and move it around as if I were rubbing it. With a ¡°zari!¡± sound, the rough stone was scraped away. My heart races at the sight of its smooth surface. ¡°Oh, ¡­¡­? You can¡¯t process jewelry without high-level tools, but ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Hey, hey, Leopin-san, what the hell are you doing?¡± Instead of Onesco¡¯s words from behind my back, I got carried away and chipped away at the gems. All the while, Tom didn¡¯t seem displeased and stayed put with his mouth open as if he was getting a cavity filled. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s roughly the shape, now can you make the eyes more detailed?¡± Then Tom¡¯s eyes narrowed and he became jittery. ¡°Oh, no, that¡¯s not what I meant, I just need you to retract that spike on your tongue a little more.¡± ¡°Hyuah.¡± When Tom retracts the spikes just far enough, the surface of his tongue becomes like sandpaper. ¡®Good, good,¡¯ I said as I applied more of the gemstone to the surface, polishing it. ¡°Okay, I got it!¡± ¡°Hey, you got what?¡± At the voice behind me, I turned around and threw the jewel, ¡°Here, I¡¯ll give it back.¡± Once a rough stone, it¡¯s surface was cloudy, but now it¡¯s as clear as the water¡¯s surface. The geometrically cut surface sparkles and shines when it catches the sunlight. ========== Aquamarine Quantity 1 Quality Level 24 (Material Level 20 + Dexterity Bonus 4) A jewel in which the power of the water spirit resides. By processing and decorating your equipment, you can gain the power of water. ========== ¡°Eh- Eeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!¡± CH 74 Onesco catches the jewel I threw with both hands like a drop of life. She alternates between staring at her hand and my face, blinking her eyes repeatedly and shaking her head, wondering if this is a dream. Eventually, she managed to squeeze out a scratchy voice. ¡°Geez, you processed ¡­¡­ a gemstone, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Oh,¡± I replied shortly. I¡¯m not sure what to do, but I¡¯m sure it¡¯s a good idea. And then, as if realizing the gravity of the situation, he looked up and said. ¡°Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! You really processed a gemstone? It¡¯s very difficult to process a gemstone! You¡¯re supposed to be unemployed, how could you do that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true, I¡¯m unemployed. I may not be as good at my day job, but I¡¯m not bad, right?¡± ¡°Not as good as your real job? No way! It¡¯s so neatly cut! You¡¯re unemployed, what have you done to it?¡± ¡°Are you trying to belittle me or praise me, are you happy or not? Well, anyway, that should put you in the pattern.¡± Onesco dropped her gaze as if she had been played. She drew the sword from its scabbard and gingerly placed the blue gem in the hollow of the hilt. As if attracted by a magnet, the jewel ¡­¡­ clicked! ¡­..gakiiiin! It made an instantaneous impact on the hilt. Instantly, the entire sword was enveloped in a faint blue light. Onesco gasped, ¡°That¡¯s amazing ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°If it was poorly processed, the jewel would not fit and would have to be flicked on. It¡¯s like a sword welcoming the jewel. ¡­¡­?¡± Then she began to shake and shiver. ¡°I can¡¯t believe ¡­¡­!¡¡I can¡¯t believe I got my first gem so quickly. ¡­¡­! I was prepared for it to take a year to get the jewel. ¡­¡­! I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d be able to do it in less than a month of enrollment. ¡­¡­! And even if you get the gemstone, I was prepared for it to take at least three years before I could find a student who could process it. ¡­¡­! I had no idea that there were students who could process it in less than an hour. ¡­¡­!¡± Her voice was completely shaky. She stared at me with eyes so moist they looked like water-marine jewels. ¡°Th- Than-! This time, I interrupted her with my index finger. ¡°It¡¯s a very important pact, isn¡¯t it? If so, save it for someone more important. I processed the gems, but most of the credit goes to Tom. If it weren¡¯t for Tom, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to get my hands on it.¡± Tom squealed happily, ¡°Pyaa!¡± He leapt from the rock and landed beside Onesco, squealing happily. ¡°To- Tom!!!!!¡± And Onesco hugged Tom. Onesco pushes Tom down and buries her face in his stomach and grinds on him. I stood up, stretched, and looked up at the sunlight through the trees. ¡°Well, let¡¯s see what we can find.¡± A muffled voice came from Onesco, who was still on his stomach, ¡°Searching for what ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a griffon bird nest. I was wondering if it was around here.¡± I switch to ninja and start to climb the nearest tree. Tom notices this and breaks free from Onesco¡¯s hold, ¡°Pyaa!¡± He follows suit. ¡°Tom was good at climbing trees, wasn¡¯t he? Come with me, then.¡± ¡°Piao!¡± An honor student¡¯s voice came from the ground to discourage the two crunchy kids. Leopin-kun! What are you doing up a tree?¡± ¡°I told you, we¡¯re looking for a griffon bird¡¯s nest.¡± ¡°Are you sure there is one? And what are you going to do with it?¡± ¡°Well, just watch.¡± ¡°Watch out! I don¡¯t care if you fall in! Tom, come here!¡± Tom and I ignored Onesco¡¯s warning and climbed up the tree. As we crossed the branch like tightrope walkers, we heard a scream. I heard a scream. ¡°Really, stop! You can¡¯t fall down!¡± I replied, balancing myself on the branch with an oops. ¡°You¡¯re a worrywart too, you¡¯re just like Monaka. When I was a kid, every time I climbed a tree, Monaka would fuss down there.¡± ¡°So you¡¯ve been bothering Monaka for a long time! I knew you had been bothering Monaka for a long time, and it was only natural that Monaka was fussing over you! She was worried about you!¡± ¡°That means Onesco is worried about me, too.¡± ¡°Ba ¡­¡­ you idiot! No, of course not! I¡¯m worried about Tom! I¡¯m not worried about you. ¡­¡­! I don¡¯t care if an unemployed person like you falls to his death!¡± I saw a shiny object in the bottom of a big tree. The bottom was covered with dead grass, and there were pieces of mirror and silver cutlery scattered around. ¡°I see it!¡± I twisted a branch and jumped to the tree. ¡°No! No! No way! Please don¡¯t die!¡± I heard a dying voice from below. ¡°I¡¯ve found the griffon bird¡¯s nest!¡± I reported from the top of the branch, peering down at my feet, and Onesco froze, looking up at me. She covered her mouth with her hand and squeezed her chest. ¡°That gesture also looks somewhat like Monaka.¡± ¡°Yes, ¡­¡­. It¡¯s not that important. It¡¯s not safe, come down here ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not how it works. This is where it all begins.¡± ¡°What the hell are you trying to do, Leopin? A griffon bird is a bird, right?The only thing in a bird¡¯s nest is an egg, right? Why would you risk injury to go and get them? ¡­¡­¡± I answered as I rummaged through the nest in the pit. ¡°When I saw the gemstone in the crevice of the rock, I thought to myself, ¡°Why would a gemstone be here?¡± But it¡¯s not like someone dropped it or something?¡± I heard a voice at my feet, as if it had realized something. ¡°Could it have been ¡­¡­ dropped?¡± ¡°Yes. The gryphon bird has a habit of collecting shiny things. The reason why he attacked Onesco and tried to steal the gemstone was because he thought that maybe he was the original owner. And if he ¡®dropped¡¯ it, it means there¡¯s a nest somewhere up there.¡± My prediction was right on the money. And if it was a griffon bird that dropped the gem, it must have been ¡­¡­. ¡°Whoa, there it is! We got the yellow gemstone and the red gemstone!¡± ¡°Eh- Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!?!¡± CH 75 I take out two gemstones from the griffon bird¡¯s nest. When I held it between my fingers and showed it to Onesco on the ground, she slumped down. ¡°No¡­ lies¡­, this can¡¯t be possible¡­ It¡¯s absolutely impossible to find three gems in one day¡­¡± Onesco seemed to be saying to herself. My ¡°Really?¡± didn¡¯t get through. ¡°Yes, yes, it¡¯s a dream, it¡¯s a dream, it¡¯s a dream. I¡¯ll tell you again and again until you wake up, this is absolutely a dream ¡­!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a dream, it¡¯s just that your desire to become a holy knight is real.¡± I said, sitting down on a branch. Just then, Tom came and sat down next to me. Onesco was sitting in a girl¡¯s pose, looking up at us with hazy eyes, as if in a dream. ¡°So¡­ what does that mean¡­?¡± ¡°If you have a dream that you want to achieve, if you wish for it strongly enough, and if you work hard to make it come true, you will attract just what you need. That¡¯s why you found a gemstone stuck in a rock in this place, it¡¯s called fate.¡± ¡°Is this fate ¡­? Is this why I met you ¡­?¡± ¡°At least, that¡¯s what I think, and this has been my dream, too.¡± ¡°Your dream ¡­?¡± ¡°Yeah, I wanted to be able to do this and support her dreams, so I guess we were drawn to each other.¡± I smiled at her from the tree tops, and Onesco jumped like she¡¯d been struck by thunder. And then, for some reason, she suddenly becomes sluggish. ¡°Hi, hihihi¡­¡­ attracted to each other!¡± ¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t used to have powers like Monsoon, or magic like Carol, so fighting wasn¡¯t really my thing. So when I joined this school, I decided to support everyone¡¯s dreams with my craft. ¡­Okay, I¡¯m done.¡± I let go of the two gems from the tree, ¡°Here, take it.¡± The cut red and yellow gems fall, their brilliance mixing in the air and sprinkling an orange glow. ========== Fire Sapphire Qty 1 Quality Level 24 (Material Level 20 + Dexterity Bonus 4) A jewel in which the power of the spirit of fire resides. You can gain the power of fire by processing and decorating your equipment. Lightolin Qty 1 Quality Level 24 (Material Level 20 + Dexterity Bonus 4) A jewel in which the power of the spirit of light resides. By processing and decorating equipment, you can gain the power of light. ========== Onesco received it with both hands, as usual, and her eyes darted around. ¡°I¡¯ve got all three of the ¡­ gems. Yeah, this is a dream. I mean, I¡¯m on medication that¡¯s making me hallucinate. Because there¡¯s no way I can get through the first trials of a holy knight so quickly. Even Elrond, the legendary holy knight, took three years.¡± I nodded to myself. ¡°And the best proof of this is that I would never feel this way about a boy. I decided not to fall in love with a boy, but to devote myself to Monaka-sama. I should be careful, I almost gave a boy a ¡®knight¡¯s bow¡¯ with the power of the potion.¡± Onesco was mumbling about something, but suddenly looked up. At that moment, her face, which had been hot red for a long time, turned pale in a flash. ¡­¡­ biyoyo ¡«¡«¡«¡« hmm! It was just at the moment when I started to twirl the branch and leap through the air like I was leaping from a diving board. ¡°Kyaa¡­!¡± I flew in the air, aiming away from Onesco, intending to spin in midair and land carefully. But what was Onesco thinking? She had an impatient look on her face, her hands outstretched, and she ran in to catch me. ¡°Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!¡± *¡­¡­ Doshhhhhh!* I got a hug like I hit a body just before I landed, and my whole body was blown away. Unfortunately, there was a low cliff at the end of it, and Onesco and I rumbled down it in an embrace. ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô The shock of rolling over made the boy dizzy, but managed to stay conscious without losing his mind. On the other side of his whirling vision, he sees the figure of a girl. The girl is covering the boy and is looking at him. The boy¡¯s face was covered with the girl¡¯s long hair. The boy realized that he was in a position where he was being straddled by the girl. The boy asks, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± but there is no answer. ¡°Are you okay? Are you in pain? If you can¡¯t move, I can¡­¡± The boy tried to sit up, but the girl quickly intertwined her fingers with the boy¡¯s hand. She made a lover¡¯s connection and pushed the boy down gingerly. ¡°What the hell, Onesco¡­?¡± But the boy¡¯s words were cut short. Because the girl¡¯s eyes were now as moist as jewels sunk to the bottom of a deep sea. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ I ¡­can¡¯t!¡± ¡°¡®Can¡¯t¡¯ what?¡± The girl was filled with rage for the first time in her life. ¡®¨Cgee, I¡¯m trying to convince myself that I¡¯m hallucinating, that I¡¯m on drugs, but ¡­!¡¯ ¡®No, no, no, no, no!¡¯ ¡®I can¡¯t contain this ¡­! This feeling ¡­!¡¯ ¡®The feeling that he¡¯s really a great guy is ¡­!¡¯ ¡®Because he found three jewels, the test of a knight, and even processed them!¡¯ ¡®And that¡¯s in just a few hours, not a year, not even a day. ¡­! It¡¯s ¡­amazing! It¡¯s so amazing¡­!¡¯ ¡®And I can¡¯t believe you didn¡¯t use that achievement to ask me to do something slutty for you. ¡­!¡¯ ¡®On the contrary, I can¡¯t believe you¡¯d give away your accomplishments to a pet. ¡­!¡¯ ¡®No! It¡¯s too different ¡­!¡¯ ¡®The men I know and this man¡­! I¡¯ve never met a man like him!¡¯ ¡®Now I can see how Monaca feels about you! That¡¯s why Monaca-sama is always talking about this guy ¡­!¡¯ ¡®And when she talks, she always has a happy face, which makes me feel ¡­! Oh, my mind has already taken over, too ¡­! I¡¯ve already made up my mind! I¡¯d give it to this guy¡­! For me, the first and last ¡­!¡¯ And the girl moved. Towards the boy who was immobilized. The cherry-red lips finally spit out the forbidden words. ¡°¡­Le¡­. Leopin-kun¡­. Thank¡­. you¡­.¡± The girl overlapped her lips on the boy¡¯s. CH 76 My vision was filled with Onesco¡¯s moist eyes. She¡¯s so close that I could almost count the number of her wet eyelashes. The sweet, flowery scent of flowers, I think. I wonder why girls smell so good. And finally, even our breaths mingle. ¡°¡­ Le- Leopin-kun¡­ Thank¡­ you¡­.¡± It was a voice that seemed to transfer the soul from his mouth. And then silence¡­ for a beat. ¡°Ni- Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiin!?!?¡± A scream, like a cat being chased by a rabid dog, fell from the sky. I quickly flipped Onesco¡¯s body off. Onesco rolls to the side, ¡°Kyaa!¡± And right after that, we switched places. *Doshhhhhhhh!!!* The girl in the black cape fell on her butt on my stomach. She is small and light, but as expected, it is hard to resist a full-body hip attack on the stomach. I squeezed out a ¡°Gofu!?¡± and folded my body into a crook. ¡°Sh- Shinobuko-san!¡± said Onesco. Shinobuko was on top of me, catatonic and shaking. ¡°Ni ¡­¡­ ni ni ni ¡­¡­ ku, a black panther, that¨C it was on the tree-degozaru ¡­!¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s probably Tom, he¡¯s Leopin¡¯s pet, he¡¯ll be fine.¡± Onesco says soothingly, coming back to me. Shinobuko hugged Onesco with a shuffling motion, like a flying squirrel jumping from tree to tree. Onesco was not surprised then she suddenly hugged and patted her head, ¡°Oh, you were so scared.¡± Then she turned to me and said, like it¡¯s normal. ¡°Whenever she¡¯s scared, she hugs me like this, and the night we tell her a ghost story, she stays like this until morning.¡± Shinobuko shook her head from side to side, clinging to Onesco like a jittery koala. ¡°It is not true, it looked like I hugged you but it was an optical illusion. In fact, it was the other way around, Onesco held me in her arms, she did that, and this is the Ninpo ¡°Konakijiji no Jutsu¡±, Nininin.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, I get it.¡± Onesco stands up, looking like she¡¯s about to taunt a child. She said, looking down at me with her usual hung eyes as I fell. ¡°I¡¯d better get back to Monaka-sama. I¡¯ll just say thank you. I used to think you were a bad horse, but from now on, I¡¯m going to think of you as a regular horse.¡± ¡°Nin nin. So that¡¯s why you were straddling him a while ago.¡± ¡°No, of course not! It was just an accident! Shinobuko-san, if you say such lewd things, the ¡®lewd obake¡¯ will come at night!¡± ¡°Nin?!¡± Shinobuko buried her face quickly in Onesco¡¯s chest, like a child afraid of thunder. Onesco patted the back of her head and dexterously pulled out a booklet of slave tickets. She tore a sheet from it and pitched it to me, her cheeks tinted in an awkward way. ¡°Take it, or I won¡¯t be happy at all. But don¡¯t get me wrong, this is just a small token of my appreciation! Well, I¡¯ll be going now!¡± Onesco walked away without him, and Shinobuko, still in her arms. ¡°The next time we meet, we will kill each other-degozaru¡± She said with the authority of a mother koala and the stance of a baby koala. I looked down at the ticket that was handed to me and was taken aback when I saw the value. And I didn¡¯t even know it. This ¡®little bit of gratitude¡¯ is causing a hell of a lot of happenings in faraway places that I don¡¯t even know about¡­ ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô At this time, Headmaster Nekodran was not in the ¡°Royal Pioneer Academy¡±. They were in the royal capital, a land more than 4,000 kilometers away from the academy. He is standing on the stage set up in the conference hall of the royal castle, dressed up more than usual. On the stage, there was a banner that read. ¡°The Leek Eight Kingdom, Royal Pioneer Academy, Presentation of Educational Achievements¡± In front of the stage, reporters from not only this country, but even from neighboring countries are packed. The principal was holding a magic loudspeaker and was bathed in the flashes of the magic shinsha devices. He cuts them off with a smile and a cough. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be happy to hear this. But my ¡®Royal Pioneer Academy¡¯ will soon be this civilized!¡± His voice echoed throughout the venue, and the audience cheered ¡°Oh!¡± ¡°The school hasn¡¯t even been open for a month and they¡¯re already on the verge of installing a magic device!¡± ¡°As expected, there is only Principal Nekodran, who was said to be the hope in the family!¡± ¡°Could it be that the magic device in the back was developed at the academy?!¡± ¡°No, this is a ¡®magic board¡¯ on loan from this country¡¯s magic research institute!¡± ¡°That board says ¡®asset ranking¡¯! Could it be that that¡¯s the first time it¡¯s been introduced, ranking the assets of the students of the academy?!¡± When the principal nodded ¡®Mm!¡¯, the reporters cheered again. The first place of ¡°Asset Ranking¡± attracts attention. 1st place, Class 1-19, 46,315,300 Yen ¡°Wow, number one has assets far exceeding 40 million Yen! To earn that much in one month of opening the school is ¡­!¡± ¡°Class 1-19 is the class where Miko¡¯s Kotone is the leader!¡± ¡°Yes! Even the best academies can barely make a million ¡­! That¡¯s what I¡¯d expect from a group of outstanding sons and daughters!¡± ¡°By the way, Headmaster, why is that ranking board from second place down covered with cloth?!¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s because it¡¯s still a period of time where information about the Royal Pioneer Academy is limited to its supporters. The breakdown of this ranking board has a significant impact on the market rate in this country and the position of the families of the parents. It would cause a lot of inconvenience to many people if it were made public without permission. But it would be a shame not to publish it at all, so I¡¯ve made a special effort to publish only the first place.¡± ¡°I see.!¡± the reporters agreed. But needless to say, this is only a prelude. The second place, just below the first place, covered by a cloth, was never to be shown. The headmaster chuckles. ¡®I managed to fool them just fine.¡¯ ¡®If this continues, the existence of that garbage will not leak out to the outside world.¡¯ ¡®After all, it was the right decision not to bring the vice principal. That man has been acting strange lately. As soon as something happened, he would have a seizure and start screaming and acting out. If we don¡¯t cut him off as soon as possible, we¡¯ll be in danger.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ve been in a tizzy preparing for this presentation for a long time. Once this is done, I must hurry to find a new vice principal. Then we will be in a strong position and I will be a legendary headmaster. ¡­! This presentation was a great success and a fitting start to the legend. No matter how much that ¡ñ¡ñ garbage is, it can¡¯t touch a place 4,000 kilometers away.¡¯ ¡®Only God could do such a thing! Garbage should be buried in a garbage dump! Yippee ¡­!¡¯ He was still underestimating him. The boy he calls trash is not just any boy, though. If the boy wanted to, he could easily show his face here at any time¡­! ¡°That¡¯s it for today¡¯s presentation at ¡­ Next, we¡¯ll move on to the press conference.¡± Just as the principal was about to leave the stage with his closing words, the ranking board behind him suddenly began to move. ¡°What the hell is ¡­?¡± The principal rushes back to the stage. He didn¡¯t think it was possible, but just as he was about to pounce on it to cover all the ranking boards with cloth just in case¡­ He just popped out of nowhere! 1st Special Training Class 51,200,000 Yen CH 77 Time to go back a bit. In the Royal Pioneer Academy, the headmaster was alone with his head in his hands. ¡°Soon, we will have our first educational presentation in The Royal Capital! The situation of pioneering can be misrepresented as much as you want¡­!¡± The pioneering status of a pioneering school is not disclosed to the outside world for a certain period of time after its opening. The system was designed so that only those who had been named as supporters could know the status of the development. The reason for this is that it is a kind of ¡®prior privilege¡¯ in order to identify and invest in the more talented students as soon as possible. At the presentation, the pioneering situation is only explained in the materials, so it can be faked as much as possible. But there is one problem that cannot be helped. ¡°At the presentation, I have to reveal the magic board of ¡®asset ranking¡¯¡­! Because our school is the first to introduce it, and I¡¯m sure the assembled reporters will be asking about it!¡± It would have been enough to publish it as it was, but there was a reason why he couldn¡¯t just do that. ¡°The number one asset ranking is, without a doubt, ¡®Special Training Class¡¯! It would be a big deal if the outside world knew that such a failing class was in first place!¡± The students at the Royal Pioneer Academy are the sons and daughters of powerful men and women, all thoroughbreds who will lead the country in the future. This is because if it is discovered that they, who are supposed to be excellent, have only lower assets than the failing class, even the principal¡¯s leadership qualities could be questioned. ¡°At least, at least knock it off the ¡­¡­1 place! As long as we get another class in first place, we¡¯ll manage to fool them the rest of the way!¡± But even that was a conundrum. At any rate, the first-ranked ¡°Special Training Class¡± has a huge asset of 40 million Yen Ender. ¡°How in the world can I make the rest of the class earn over 40 million before the presentation ¡­¡­!?¡± The principal first wondered if he could somehow put together a reason to award a prize to one class five times. However, the prize money has supporters who provided it, so if they give it without an appropriate reason, they could be criticized. Suddenly, there was a violent knock on the door of the principal¡¯s office. The frustrated principal yells back, ¡°Shut up! I¡¯m thinking!¡± A muffled but boisterous voice came from the other side of the door. ¡°MEAT, I beg your pardon, but I must inform you in a great hurry that there has been a great accident!¡± ¡°It was a major accident!? Gosh! I don¡¯t want any more problems! What the hell is going on?¡± ¡°Just now, the yes-man vice principal was struck by the thunderbolt of judgment and carried to the infirmary! Apparently, he¡¯s been punished by the heavens for trying to destroy the ¡®Jinja''(Temple) that was made for Class 1-19!¡± ¡°¡­Jinja, is that ¡­!?¡± The moment he hears the word, the headmaster¡¯s head snaps up as if he¡¯s had a revelation. The headmaster immediately ordered Nick Bakker to arrange something for him. What a surprise that is, ¡°The Money Box¡±! ¡°I was told that in the East, they put donations in these boxes. It¡¯s hard to make 40 million in business, but it¡¯s easy to make a donation. And if you¡¯re as charismatic as Kotone, that¡¯s even better!¡± The headmaster is delighted and has Kotone¡¯s Jinja brought in the money box. However, Kotone¡¯s response was curt. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I must decline.¡± ¡°Why, it¡¯s a unique opportunity to make a fortune while you sleep!¡± ¡°This is indeed a Shrine, but there is no deity yet.¡± ¡°You can just make that stuff up as you go along!¡± ¡°But not so fast, because this is the first Jinja I¡¯ve ever had. A sacred object that is placed in the first jinja is more precious to the Miko than her own child¡­ It is outrageous to think that you can just decide to do that.¡± Kotone had been resolute all along, but at this point, her cheeks suddenly flushed with a pout. While sitting upright, she looked away and shyly drew the character for ¡°no¡± on the floor. ¡°I would like to receive my first Shintai(It¡¯s an object where a deity resides) from my master¡­¡± However, the headmaster trampled on both the girl¡¯s innocent feelings for God and her pure feelings for her master. What a surprise, he verbally lured the female students of Class 1-19 and set up a money box in the Shrine without permission during that time. He called out to the students from the other residence halls. ¡°Now, this is a money box, a box in which you can give gifts to Kotone! And Kotone said she wanted a Slave Ticket! She also said she¡¯d love it if they put in a lot of tickets!¡± The boys sprang out. They were going to give Kotone a Slave Ticket as a token of their appreciation, but she didn¡¯t accept it. Therefore, for them, the money box becomes a long-awaited ¡®tribute box¡¯. The boys rushed around the box, throwing in their Slave Tickets as if they were giving their all. The headmaster can¡¯t stop laughing at the sight. ¡°At this rate, it¡¯s only a matter of time before Class 1-19 tops the asset rankings! hahahahahahaha!¡± But then, suddenly, the laughter stopped. ¡®But if Kotone refused to receive the money, everything would be lost.¡¯ It is safe to collect the money box before Kotone and his friends come back. That way, the rankings are safe. ¡®I will keep the money box until Kotone and his friends understand the beauty of the tickets.¡¯ The principal hurriedly added to the crowd of boys. ¡°Everyone, please don¡¯t tell anyone what you¡¯ve donated, especially the students of Class 1-19! Kotone likes boys who are reserved! The portrait on the ticket is enough to convey your feelings!¡± I had put wheels on the money box, so it was easy to take it away. In the end, the Class 1-19 is made to top in the asset ranking without their knowledge. Laughter returned to the headmaster¡¯s face as he checked the ranking board. 1st place, 1st year, class 19, 46,315,300 Yen Ender 2nd Special Training School 41,200,000 Yen Ender ¡°Ba-ha-ha-ha! I did it, I finally did it! I took that garbage out! No matter how much that garbage earns, the difference of more than five million cannot be reversed. Now the presentation is safe and sound! Bahahahahaaaaa!¡± That principal¡¯s smile should never be broken ¡­until the presentation is over. But it is no longer necessary to say that it disappeared with the seizure. The moment the ranking board was updated in the presentation hall, the principal lifted a chair nearby with all his might. He shook off the restraints of those around him and was gunning down the ranking board. ¡°Nigyaa, nigyaa, nigyaa, nigyaa!!!¡± ¡°Hey, Headmaster Nekodran has gone berserk!¡± ¡°What the hell¡¯s going on here?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, but it¡¯s the best scandal of all, shoot it!¡± The flash was cooked more intensely. The disgraceful behavior of Principal Nekodran made the headlines of the next day¡¯s morning paper. CH 78 The next day, a day after the Leek Eight Kingdom Royal Pioneer Academy¡¯s presentation of educational results. When the headmaster returned to the school from the royal castle by the magic circle of transfer, he was exhausted and gaunt. ¡°The presentation was a complete disaster.¡± When I returned to the principal¡¯s office in a daze, I found someone sitting in the principal¡¯s chair. The figure turned away and looked toward the window. ¡°Wh-¡­ who is it?¡± The headmaster let out an ¡°ah¡± as the figure turned around without making a sound. ¡°What are you doing in that place? That is where I, the principal, sit!¡± In front of the headmaster, the yes-man is always flattered like a grasshopper, but today he was different. He slumped down in his leather chair as if he were the superior being. ¡°No, this is no place for you to sit, Acting Headmaster Nekodran.¡± ¡°What, you don¡¯t mean ¡­?¡± ¡°The school board has informed me that you are two ranks down.¡± ¡°Ni¡­ niigiiiii!?¡± There are so many things that come to mind that the principal can only scream now. After a few moments of agony, as if he was going to be buried alive, he reopened as if he were crawling out of a grave. ¡°But I am the headmaster until a new headmaster arrives, so that seat is mine!¡± ¡°Can you say such a thing to me now? I have received another concession proposal from the school board. We¡¯re trying to stop the two-rank downs, you know ¡­!¡± Nekodran throws away his pride in an instant. ¡°I want you to say those things quickly! Soooo, you can sit in that chair for a bit! After all, you are the future headmaster!¡± Nekodran rubs his hands together, and the yes-man takes another no for an answer. ¡°No! The reason why you made such a mistake this time is because you didn¡¯t bring me to the presentation! I want you to promise me something! From now on, I¡¯ll be sure to accompany you to any public event that might lead to a higher rank!¡± ¡°I- I got it! I got it! I¡¯ll take you with me next time!¡± ¡°Then you¡¯ll sign this contract.¡± The yes-man thumps a piece of parchment on the desk, which is covered in writing. ¡°What do you mean, a contract? A contract for such a promise is an exaggeration! It¡¯s between you and me!¡± ¡°No! In my house, there is a commandment. ¡®Bald, fat, and nose-haired¡­never trust a man with all three.¡¯! Come on, come on, sign this!¡± Nekodran feels grandly disrespected, but reluctantly signs the contract. And the yes man told him that the concession plan is ¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll pay for the repair of the magic board I broke during the presentation! Then the school board says it will only be one rank down!¡± ¡°Oh! Can money be the answer? Then it¡¯s much better than two ranks down! After all, if you become an acting principal, your salary will be much lower! So, how much do I have to pay you? Is it ten million yen?¡± ¡°No! 1 billion yen!¡± ¡°What ¡­1 billion? It¡¯s too expensive!¡± ¡°There are only a few of those magic boards in this country, and they¡¯re very valuable! That¡¯s how long it¡¯ll take to fix!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way I can afford 1 billion! Even if I spent all my money, 50 million would be my limit!¡± ¡°Well, then I guess it¡¯s two ranks down.¡± ¡°Damn ¡­ that¡¯s not right!!¡± Nekodran found out why the yes-man was being so bossy today. He knew that I couldn¡¯t pay 1 billion yen for what I did. When it comes to two ranks down, Nekodran drops from ¡®S¡¯ to ¡®A+¡¯ rank. From the ¡°the most top group¡± to the same ¡°top group¡± as the yes-men. That means I no longer have a choice. If I became the acting principal, I would not be able to face my family. And the headmaster has just built a new mansion. Even if you stand on your head, you can¡¯t get 1 billion or any other kind of money from¡­! ¡ªYes ¡­ No, there is! The best part, the reserves are at ¡­! Then Nekodran ran out of the headmaster¡¯s office as if he heard the evil god¡¯s call. He left the school building and tumbled into an unpopulated warehouse on the edge of the courtyard. There¡¯s that ¡ñ¡ñ money box there ¡­! Nekodran couldn¡¯t resist and dived into it. He drowns in a sea of bills called Slave Tickets, as if he had gotten rich with a lucky pendant. ¡°Bahahahaha, we can cash this in on the black market route! It is illegal to leak a student¡¯s slave ticket to outside parties, but we can¡¯t say that anymore! I don¡¯t care what kind of orders the paid students are given by outsiders! Since it is the greatest loss to this school that I am no longer the headmaster, bah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!¡± He doesn¡¯t know. Thin hair and a thin roof over his head. That a thunderbolt like a heavenly net is spreading in the blue sky beyond the separation of two thinnesses. (The thin hair and the thin roof.) *DOGO!!!!* The thunder of judgment is back ¡­! No wonder. It was too vicious to be called a money-dropper. The 46,315,300 Yen slave-tickets that were in the money box were burnt to ashes. The charred principal was taken to the infirmary and survived. In a pioneering school, it is very unusual for the principal, who does not usually teach, to be sent to the infirmary. Moreover, it is unprecedented that even the principal, who has no more opportunity to do so than the vice principal, is sent to the infirmary. Nekodran was also deprived of a choice and went down two ranks. Principal Nekodran: Rank S ? A+ It was an unlikely situation that both of the upper management of the school would act as substitutes! CH 79 The headmaster¡¯s office of the Royal Pioneer Academy is the most luxurious of all the school buildings. The furnishings glisten in the light of the chandeliers, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. But those who were there were shivering and huddled together like stray cats in a winter alleyway. ¡°There is no more ¡­ left to go! Perhaps the chancellor has begun looking for a new principal and vice principal ¡­!¡± ¡°The vice-principal too!? ¡­ That means me too¡­¡± ¡°Why did you think you were the only one who could survive? Of course, Deputy vice-principal! You¡¯ve screwed up too much, and you¡¯re the only head teacher who¡¯s been struck by the thunderbolt of judgment!¡± ¡°Even the acting principal looks like a pig!¡± The two of them were about to get into a bad fight, but they managed to control themselves. ¡°This is not the time to be fighting ¡­!¡± ¡°That ¡­ is right! If we don¡¯t do something, we¡¯re both finished!¡± ¡°Damn it, if only that trash hadn¡¯t been there, none of this would have happened!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! I shouldn¡¯t have done anything lukewarm like exile, but dropped him out of school!¡± The two hate Leopin, but Leopin¡¯s actions lead to an unexpected opportunity. ¡°Good news, Headmaster ¡­, Onesco of Class 1-2 has passed the first trial of the Holy Knight!¡± ¡°The shortest record for the first trial of a holy knight is three years! It¡¯s impossible to accomplish an ordeal that¡¯s supposed to take longer than creating a base in such a short amount of time!¡± ¡°It¡¯s true! The Holy Knight Association sent me a certificate!¡± ¡°Oh, wow, my luck has finally turned for me! It will be to my credit if I can make this known to the outside world!¡± ¡°Yes, it will be to my credit! We¡¯re going to invite a lot of guests from outside and have a big commemoration ceremony!¡± ¡°Onesco will be on the front page of the newspaper! If you can recommend me in the comments there, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll rise in the ranks!¡± ¡°If you can comment on the fact that it¡¯s because of my guidance, I¡¯m sure to move up in rank, and I won¡¯t even dream of moving up two ranks!¡± A bumpy combination that expands dreams. But suddenly, the face of a boy came to mind. ¡°I¡¯m sure there¡¯s no way ¡­ that piece of garbage is going to show up in your face¡­? For example, he processed gems to achieve the trial. ¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way that piece of trash can work on jewelry, he¡¯d be a freak of dexterity.¡± ¡°But you can never be too careful. Even if that garbage was involved, just don¡¯t let others know about it. For once, no matter what, failure is not an option. ¡­!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do everything I can to get rid of that garbage!¡± ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô When I woke up in the morning, my body was unusually not glowing. Oh well, I thought, I¡¯ll just leave the house to go to school¡­ Around the entrance to the forest, a crowd had formed. The school¡¯s guards are lined up in a row, blocking the way. At the center of it all was the vice principal. The vice principal shouted at me from a distance. ¡°Leopin, not ¡­, you must not step out of that big house today!¡± Neither the vice principal nor the guards would come near me at all, as if I were a biker. I shouted back. ¡°What? Why?¡± ¡°Onesco has completed the first test of the Holy Knight! Today, we¡¯re renting out the school for the day to celebrate! Specially, many guests from outside are coming! A lot of newspaper reporters came and took a lot of photos! If any of the dropouts from the ¡®special training class¡¯ were to run out, we¡¯d be in big trouble!¡± Outsiders are not allowed to enter the pioneer academy unless there is a special event. It¡¯s a ¡°school festival¡± to show off the progress of the development, and class visits. However, when a student makes a particularly outstanding achievement, a celebration is sometimes held with guests to honor that achievement. This time, it is the latter case. I don¡¯t understand why that would get me grounded, but I get it as a reason. Besides, I¡¯m used to being treated like this. I reluctantly agreed, but the vice principal added an extra word that seemed to take away even my enthusiasm. ¡°There will be lots and lots of delicious treats! If you stay quiet at home, I¡¯ll puff that smell and send it to you!¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t want that! Anyway, I understand! I¡¯ll be working in the fields all day today!¡± ¡°No, you can¡¯t leave the house!¡± The vice principal cut him off with a bang and pointed a finger at him and shouted. ¡°Come on, guards, lock that bad boy up in his bad house! And keep a close eye on him and don¡¯t let him out, not even one step!¡± The guards, however, do not move an inch. They were wobbling and shaking their heads from side to side at the vice principal¡¯s command. I wondered why I was so far away, but then Mark and Tom rubbed up against me and I understood. Well, the vice principal and the guards are afraid of my guard dogs. The vice principal was hysterically ordering the guards to charge, but when none of them moved stubbornly, he finally relented. ¡°Then that¡¯s enough! You¡¯ll stay here for the rest of the day to make sure that bad boy doesn¡¯t leave this forest! If that fat boy tries to take even one step, I¡¯ll beat him mercilessly to the point that he¡¯ll run away screaming!¡± That order was fine, and the guards returned the salute in unison with a zap! I wanted to be a little mean, so I ordered, ¡°Go, Mark, Tom.¡± As soon as the two beasts, large and small, raced out of the forest with a ¡°Goaah!¡± ¡°Hiii!? Gyaaaaaaaaaa¡­..!!!!!!!!!!!¡± The guards ran away like spiders with girlish screams. The vice principal, who didn¡¯t get away fast enough, got bitten in the pants by Tom. *Biriii!* And the fabric was being eaten off their buttocks. ¡°This tuxedo was bought just for today! It hasn¡¯t even been an hour since I put it on! Gyaaaaaaaaaaaa!?¡± The shameful figure of the vice principal is driven away by Tom and leaves with his raw buttocks bare. That made me feel a little better. CH 80 A large number of supporters endorsed the commemoration of Onesco¡¯s achievement. The event was held on a grand scale with a large amount of donations. The ceremony will be held in the schoolyard of the Royal Pioneer Academy, which will be gorgeously decorated. Although it was limited to within the Leaky Eight Kingdom, many influential people and reporters visited the event. The location of the Royal Pioneer Academy is considered a top secret, and its location has not been revealed. The magic that allows you to travel long distances in an instant, the ¡°magic circle of transition,¡± is also usually kept secret so that only those involved with the school can use it. However, only for today, it is specially released. The principal and vice principal were hosts, rubbing their hands incessantly in front of the gate welcoming the guests. ¡°Welcome, welcome, welcome! I am the principal of this school, and I am the one who raised Onesco-kun!¡± ¡°Yes, we had some support from the principal, but I was the one who mainly taught Onesco-san!¡± The principal and the vice principal poke each other with their elbows and while being full of appeal towards others. ¡°You could entrust your precious sons and daughters with us!¡± ¡°Then I will make sure they become great students!¡± Suddenly, one of the supporters stops in front of the principal and vice principal. In a moment, they were both upright. ¡°Hi!? Oh, thank you so much for coming!¡± ¡°Of course, we¡¯ve shut out that trash! Not even a ¡°re¡± can get in!¡± Both of them are so fearful that they even forget their usual endings. The supporters nodded silently and walked through the welcome gate. They were ushered into the entrance marked ¡®Royal VIP¡¯ by the staff. The bumpy duo puffed out their chests, ¡°Phew¡± ¡­¡­. ¡°Oh ¡­¡­ I don¡¯t feel like living in front of that man ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Jesus¡­¡­ the principal was like a bullfrog with a snake staring at him¡­¡­.¡± Once all the guests were present, a ceremony was held to commemorate the event. There is a stage in the hall, and the area around it is filled with reporters. There were guest seats a little further where the guests were seated around tables decorated with white cloth. A sumptuous meal is being served. There were standing food booths on either side of the hall, and all the students were delighted with their first meal in a long time. Monaka, Kotone and the other students in the top class were in a special glass-walled room. Soon after, the fireworks that signaled the start of the stage event lit up the sky, and the orchestra began its live performance. Onesco, the principal, and the vice principal took the stage to loud applause from the entire audience. The vice principal will serve as the chairperson. While grasping the ¡°magic loudspeaker¡± with the pinky finger lifted, he coughs. ¡°When Onesco-san was given the profession of knight at the entrance ceremony, I knew exactly what to do! This brilliant student is a diamond in the rough, and I¡¯ve given her special guidance! Sometimes sternly, sometimes gently, ¡­¡­. And then we made vows! Let¡¯s climb the stairs to Holy Knight together ¡­¡­!¡± Not only the vice principal, but also the principal used all the time he could to show the guests that this was his credit. Onesco looked on at the scene with a scowl. ¡°Finally, in honor of Onesco¡¯s achievement, Class 1-2 will move up two ranks!¡± Class 1-2 B+ ? A ¡°Now, Onesco-kun, tell everyone how happy you are and how much you respect me!¡± Finally, the loudspeaker was pointed at Onesco. Onesco tried to take the loudspeaker, but the vice principal refused, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll take it for you.¡± I had no choice but to go on and say thank you. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for coming to see me today. I had always dreamed of becoming a Holy Knight, but I never thought I would be able to take the first step so quickly. I owe it all to one person¡­no, it¡¯s all because of that person.¡± The vice principal turns the loudspeaker he was pointing at himself and interrupts to say, ¡®That¡¯s me, isn¡¯t it? Onesco said firmly, shaking his face from side to side. ¡°No, sir.¡± The principal further interrupts to say, ¡°After all, it¡¯s me!¡± ¡°No, not at all, it was Leo ¡­¡­ who got me through the ordeal.¡± ¡°Kki ¡­¡­ Keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee £¡£¡£¡£¡¡± The familiar strange voices were more destructive than usual because they were coming through the loudspeaker system. It will be as if lightning struck the entire venue. The glass was cracked and the guest of honor shrank back, holding his ears. Normally, the vice principal is usually knocked out here ¡­¡­. Today, he was different. The vice principal peels his eyes as if he were looking at a traitor, giggling! He hid the loudspeaker behind my back so my voice wouldn¡¯t leak out, and spoke over me with it. ¡°I knew it. As expected, Onesco-san had a weakness with that garbage¡­! you¡¯re Monaka¡¯s attendant, so I was right to wonder if he was involved. ¡­¡­! If you speak that name, you¡¯ll be in terrible trouble. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°What?¡± Onesco guffaws, but quickly retorts. ¡°I don¡¯t have any weaknesses! He really helped me! Leopi¡­!¡± ¡°Kieeeeee!!!! You¡¯re still saying that? ! Then I have an idea!¡± The vice principal jumped back and stuck his hand in the pocket of his tuxedo. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to use this one, but I had no choice!¡± ¡­¡­ Shubba! He pulled out his hand with something held between his fingertips ¡­¡­. ¡°¡®Hey, that¡¯s ¡­¡­ my ticket! And that¡¯s two tickets!¡± ¡°This is what Onesco used to buy!¡± The vice principal smiled and held up the ticket with his fingertips tightly. ¡°Slave-ticket in effect, I order you Onesco ¡­¡­! I forbid you for the rest of your life from pronouncing or writing the word ¡®Leopin¡¯ or any word that sounds like it!¡± ¡°Ehh- Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!?!¡± At last, someone other than Leopin drew out this scream. The vice principal¡¯s face is contorted like a hannya. ¨CYeah, I did it. ¡­¡­! At last, at last, ¡­¡­! We¡¯ve got that garbage contained. ¡­¡­! I¡¯ve won ¡­¡­! Now I¡¯ve won ¡­¡­! Then, instead of canceling this instruction, I can go to ¡­¡­. I¡¯ll have Onesco call my name instead of that garbage. ¡­¡­! That way, we can get that garbage to ¡­¡­! Perfect, perfect, perfect win. ¡­¡­! However, it was only a moment of glory that seemed to be an illusion. The ticket at the vice principal¡¯s fingertips, that portrait of Onesco, shook its head from side to side with a shake. What, it refused orders. ¡­¡­! After all, it¡¯s still ¡­¡­! ¡°Kki¡­¡­ keeeeeee!!!!!!!¡± CH 81 No way, the Slave Ticket refused the order ¡­¡­! ¡°Kki¡­¡­ keeeeeee!!!!!!!¡± The vice principal was screaming like he was about to have a stroke. This time, the vice principal seemed to be knocked out ¡­¡­. He no longer has a choice, and he steps into his sanity just in time. The vice principal spread out the ticket and stared at it as if he¡¯d grabbed a counterfeit bill and had a hole in it. ¡°There are a number of reasons why a slave ticket might refuse an order ¡­¡­! I¡¯m sure the order was too heavy for the value!¡± Yes, the value of the Onesco tickets that the vice principal had was ¡®100,000¡¯ for both tickets. The weight of the orders that can be made depends on the value of the Slave Ticket. It was too cheap for a girl still in high school to be ¡®banned for life¡¯ from using certain words for 200,000 Yen. Incidentally, this judgment is made based on certain criteria, depending on the magic that was cast when the Slave Ticket was created. Furthermore, as a side note, the ¡®ban on approaching Leopin¡¯ that was previously handed down to Kurumi is a pretty cheap order. This is because Leopin is a ¡°special training class¡±, an existence that is not taken seriously by anyone. Rather, the command ¡®You must stay with Leopin¡¯ would be more expensive. The vice principal shouts as he shakes off the oncoming madness. ¡°I¡¯m going to try ¡­¡­ again! The word ¡®Leopin¡¯, and any word that sounds like it, is hereby banned from pronunciation and writing for 50 years!¡± But the answer to the order is, again, ¡®no¡¯. ¡°Well, then, 40 years ¡­¡­! Ugh, 30 years! Well, then, 10 years ¡­¡­! Yeah, that¡¯s enough! It¡¯s only forbidden for one day!¡± Finally, after conceding that much, the portrait shakes its heavy head. But something else happened. To his surprise, both tickets fizzled and disappeared. ¡°Keeeeeeeeeeeee! The two types of ¡°pronunciation¡± and ¡°writing¡± have been determined to be two orders. The vice principal kneels on the ground. From below the stages, voices could be heard. ¡°What the hell was that guy doing¡­¡­ earlier?¡± ¡°Maybe he¡¯s a comedian in the making?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why he¡¯s acting like such a moron!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, if he¡¯s not, he¡¯s crazy!¡± ¡°This is a surprise sideshow, I¡¯m sure!¡± The audience was excited and yelling. The vice principal mistook this for support and, becoming undaunted, confronted Onesco again. ¡°¡®Well, now Onesco-san can¡¯t talk about that rubbish any more! Once you say it, the value will go down! If you still want to, you can tell me!¡± Onesco grits her teeth as she realizes now that the vice principal is up to no good. ¡°Gosh, ¡­¡­, you¡¯re not fair ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a coward! I¡¯m trying to help Onesco, who was deceived by that garbage! I¡¯m the one who should be respected!¡± ¡°¡®It is not for us to be instructed as to whom to respect! I¡¯ll judge for myself by what I see, hear, touch and ¡­¡­ feel! Besides, I¡¯m not done talking, give me the loudspeaker!¡± The vice principal, having succeeded in containing the words, easily surrenders the loudspeaker. Onesco turned to the crowd with a determined look on her face. ¡°I beg your pardon! I¡¯ll go on with my story! I owe my ordeal to one and only one person! That person¡¯s name is ¡­¡­! In her ear, words like a humming song are spoken. ¡°Oh, can I tell you something? I don¡¯t care what happens if you break my orders¡­ The pioneer life in the future is going to be very bleak. I¡¯m sure you master, Monaka, will be sad too!¡± Onesco huffed, looking at the special glass-walled room. There, standing up, Monaka and Kotone are banging on the glass with a bang. But the thick glass doesn¡¯t even transmit the vibration. Both of them were screaming desperately, their mouths clenched like goldfish seeking oxygen. The vice principal chuckles. ¨CCustom-made, soundproof, magic glass! I locked them in that thing because I knew that even if I contained you, Monaka and Kotone might scream that trash¡¯s name! Now there¡¯s not a single chance in the world that that piece of trash¡¯s name will ever come up! I wonder what would happen at this point. ¡­¡­ After all, in the end, it¡¯s my victory. ¡­¡­! Onesco was depressed, her shoulders slumped with disappointment. ¨Csorry, Leopin-kun ¡­¡­. I wanted Leopin-kun, who was always oppressed, to get recognised by everyone. I was going to take this opportunity to tell them how great Leopin-kun is. ¡­¡­ I can¡¯t do it. ¡­¡­ Because if I break the promise of a slave ticket and the value goes down ¡­¡­. I¡¯m going to make Monaka sad. ¡­¡­! Forgive me, Leopin-san ¡­¡­! A knight cannot betray the master she serves. ¡­¡­! Onesco, who looks up quickly, is a shell of a person who doesn¡¯t look very bright. Stunned eyes, pale skin, and powerless lips, spinning the snatched end of the word. ¡°That¡¯s all I have for you today, ¡­¡­, really ¡­¡­.¡± The principal and vice principal were hugging each other. ¡°As long as Onesco-san¡¯s greeting goes off without a hitch, it¡¯s as good as a win!¡± ¡°¡®I did it, and there will be no more of that rubbish coming out in a heap!¡± ¡°¡±I didn¡¯t have to piss off the supporters!¡±¡± They are still ¡­. Even during this period, he was still despised.. The boy they call trash, though, is not just any boy. Whenever the boy is ready, he can be found here, not just in a hurry, but ¡­¡­. It¡¯s so easy to show up like the sun. ¡­¡­! ¡­¡­ Hyuuuuuuuu ¡«¡«¡«¡«! Suddenly a whistling sound came out of nowhere. And in the next moment ¡­¡­. Everything that was there was witnessing it. A huge ¡°Leopin¡± that fills the heavens ¡­! ¡°Eh- Eeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!?!?¡± CH 82 After the vice principal left, I spent the morning working hard in the fields. The field next to the house is further extended towards the meadow outside the forest. I thought about expanding the field deeper into the forest, but it would be difficult to cultivate, and above all, the forest is a treasure trove of materials. I take a breath as I look around at the huge 100 meter square plantable land. ¡°Now, what shall we plant? I think the first one is ¡°Sweet Potato¡±. In addition to being easy to grow, they can be used as food in case of emergency. The runner-up was ¡°Black Sesame¡±, which Tom got for me. Sesame seeds can be used to produce oil, which would make life even easier. ¡°The bigger the field, the bigger the dream.¡± I was mumbling to myself. ¡°Kki ¡­¡­ Keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee £¡£¡£¡£¡ A familiar squeal arrived from the academy. You can find a lot of people who are interested in this type of product. ¡°Come to think of it, it¡¯s about time the Onesco commemorations started. Sorry I can¡¯t be there, but I¡¯ll be celebrating later ¡­¡­¡± Suddenly, I have an idea. ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t say later, I can celebrate now. As long as I stay away from the venue, the vice principal won¡¯t complain.¡± I head to my home workshop, changing jobs from ¡®Mana Farmer¡¯. On a workbench made of Gyss wood, I placed a bundle of ¡°distress signals¡± that I had taken from my coat pocket. ========== Distress signal Quantity 1 Quality Level 3 (Material Level 8 + Occupation Penalty 5) The fireworks are made by mixing gunpowder and higusuri. When launched, It draws a sentence in the sky. The statement: I¡¯m begging you, take care of it! I¡¯m an idiot for asking you for help! I¡¯m quitting School. Please take care of me! Leopin!¡± ========== The distress signals were distributed in one set of 12 to each student. Even if they are used up, they will not be replenished, and they will have to live on these 12 signals for their pioneering life. ¡°I guess they can¡¯t take care of a guy who calls for help a dozen times.¡± The way they¡¯re treating me now, it¡¯s unlikely they¡¯ll take care of me once I¡¯m in distress. ¡°So to me, this distress signal is just a firework.¡± With the ¡°Great Knife of the Wild Boar,¡± he cut off the tip of the distress signal. Then the gunpowder mixture started leaking out in a rough and tumble manner. ¡°We¡¯re celebrating, so let¡¯s go big.¡± I dismantled four more distress signals and piled up a total of five gunpowder mounds on the workbench. In the pile of gunpowder mixture, there is a small glass ball glittering. ¡°The fireworks are just a visual landmark, but this is the main body of the distress signal. If I launch this guy by mistake, it¡¯ll mean I¡¯ve asked for help, so I¡¯ve got to get rid of it.¡± He shuffles through a pile of gunpowder mixture and collects five life-saving balls, which he puts away in his coat pocket. ¡°After that, I can use the Artisan Fireworker skill to tweak the arrangement of the fireworks.¡± I try to wrap my hands around the pile of gunpowder mixture that I¡¯ve dusted off. Then, I activated the ¡°Fireworks Creation¡± skill. The previous text floated over my vision. When I touched the letters with my finger, the letters distorted as if I had dissolved paint in water. ¡°It¡¯s not easy to get the shape right. It¡¯s kind of like holding a whipper with your foot and writing on the cake. But I¡¯ve been practicing untying ropes with my feet, and I¡¯ve managed to ¡­¡­ do it. I was able to change the arrangement in a good way. All that¡¯s left to do is to put this gunpowder mixture back into the tube and put the lid back on ¡­¡­. ========== Fireworks piece Quantity 1 Quality Level 24 (Material Level 3 + Dexterity Bonus 4 + Profession Bonus 17) The fireworks are made by mixing gunpowder and higusuri. When launched, It draws a sentence in the sky. The text displayed is¡­¡­ ========== ¡°It¡¯s much better quality than the original signal.¡± I wanted to launch early, so I quickly closed the appraisal window without reading it all the way through. ¡°All right, let¡¯s make five fireworks in a row!¡± I bundled up the five freshly made fireworks and set them up on my work desk. As it was, I pushed the butt of the firework against the desk. ¡­¡­ Shubha! It flies up into the sky flashily. ¡­¡­ huuuuuuggghhh ¡«¡«¡«¡«! I was looking up at the smoldering ball of light that was going up into the sky with my hand like a chisel. ¡°Five fireworks of quality level 24 means level 120 in simple calculation. It would be the highest level in my craft, but ¡­¡­¡± With the sound of an explosion, a huge halo spread across the sky. But after that, nothing happens. ¡°No way, man. Did I make a mistake? Right after I mumbled that, a flower bloomed in the sky. ¡­¡­ Poppin¡¯! In the blink of an eye, the flowers spread to fill the sky. Red, blue, yellow, green, white ¡­¡­ the sky turns into a field of flowers of extreme colors. A black panther made of black roses runs through it. After the black panther¡¯s run, the scattered petals become three-colored jewels that paint the letters. ¡°Congratulations, Onesco! From Leopin.¡± The letters were bigger than the sun as if they were enveloped in the sky. I reflect on myself. ¡°Oh no, I made it a little too big, I think I¡¯m going to confuse all the Onesco¡¯s in the world.¡± CH 83 ¡°Congratulations, Onesco! From Leopin.¡± A message of blessing fills the sky. This was greeted with astonishment. Onesco stiffens as she looks up at the sky, ¡°L-¡­ Lies¡­.¡± The eyes, which have lost their vitality, are illuminated with seven colors. The light returned to her eyes, as if the brilliance had taken over. ¡°Lieess?! LiesLiesLiesLies!? Lieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It¡¯s AmazingAmazingAmazing Amaaaaaaazing £¡£¡£¡£¡¡± Eyes that no longer know whether they are dreams or reality, but are filled with joy. Onesco repositioned her magical loudspeaker and pointed to the sky. ¡°He¡¯s the one who helped me get through the trials of the Holy Knight! He¡¯s my prince on a white horse!¡± The reporters below the stage are holding their magic recorders up to the sky. ¡°Wow, I¡¯ve never seen fireworks like this before!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t see fireworks like this even at one of the world¡¯s largest fireworks displays!¡± ¡°It¡¯s made by Leopin ¡­¡­? Never heard of him!¡± ¡±He must be quite a talented pyrotechnician and firework student!¡± ¡°¡®Tomorrow¡¯s front page is a double special with Onesco, the legendary holy knight, and Leopin, the legendary craftsman!¡± The guests of honor stared up at the sky as if their necks had been locked in place. ¡°Wow, beautiful ¡­¡­, I¡¯ve never seen such magnificent and beautiful fireworks ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Even a court pyrotechnician couldn¡¯t set off fireworks like this ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Leopin ¡­¡­, who the hell are you ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Either way, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll become one of the world¡¯s leading craftsmen in the future!¡± ¡°¡®Yes, we must invest in him as soon as he opens to the public!¡± The supporters were taken aback. And then they let out a ¡°great ¡­¡­!¡± and came back to themself. All at once, they give the principal and vice principal a hard look. The principal and the vice principal recoiled from the deadly gaze. ¡°Ha, Baldy Fatty, you¡¯ll handle it!! Baldy Fatty was in charge of the fireworks!¡± ¡°You are bald and fat! I am the principal of this school!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be finished if you don¡¯t do something soon!¡± ¡°Guh ¡­¡­!¡± The principal looks around with veins rising on his face. Then a group of people waiting next to the orchestra sparked a thought, ¡°Oh yeah, that¡¯s a good idea!¡± ¡°Pyrotechnicians, move up your schedules and let¡¯s get this fireworks show started! And ignore the program, it¡¯s going to be a ¡®fight fireworks show¡¯! Anyway, hit them and get rid of those damn ¡®Leopin¡¯ letters!¡±¡± In this world, there is something called ¡®fighting fireworks¡¯. They hit each other with fireworks, and the winner is the one who remains in the sky after the other is gone. The principal¡¯s countermeasure was to ¡°overwrite the fireworks¡±. ¡°¡®There are ten professional craftsmen over here! The fireworks set off by a single unemployed person will be extinguished like a piece of trash!¡± The pyrotechnician sets up a fireworks tube like a small turret and starts firing at once. ¡­¡­ Bashyuuu! Bashyuuu! Bashyuuu! With a sharp firing sound, countless light bullets were released and attacked the character of ¡®Leopin¡¯. ¡­¡­ zudan, zudan, zudan, zudan! With a gunshot-like explosion, ¡°Leopin¡± becomes a beehive. The principal laughed in high spirits. ¡°In my power, ¡®Leopin¡¯ is no match for me! Between a good principal and a mere unemployed person, the match was obvious! Bahahahahaha ¡­¡­ eh ¡­¡­¡± But that high-pitched laugh was more fleeting than a sparkler, more ugly than a dirty firework, and it scattered. ¡°Hey, why don¡¯t you disappear! Why is it still in the sky?¡± The word ¡°Leopin¡± still shines brilliantly even though it was subjected to such a concentrated fire of fireworks. The visitors, who had become spectators of the fireworks display, shouted, ¡°Whoa!¡± ¡°Wow, I can¡¯t believe it won a fight with fireworks!¡± ¡°Those leopin fireworks aren¡¯t just beautiful and big, they¡¯re strong!¡± ¡°Seriously? Normally the strength of fireworks is inversely proportional to their beauty!¡± ¡°And they¡¯re professionals. It takes ten men to make a firework! ¡°¡®They¡¯re professional fireworks, I bet they¡¯re level 10! Bouncing off those 10 people means that the level of that Leopin¡¯s firework is ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Hyah, 100 ohhhhhhhhh!¡± ¡°¡®That¡¯s ridiculous, there can¡¯t be level 100 fireworks! And there¡¯s absolutely no way that a student would make that!¡± ¡°No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! If they really were level 100 fireworks, then even the world champion of fighting fireworks would be treated like a child by Leopin!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got to get a real shot of Leopin in action!¡± All the students at the standing party ducked under the table as if a major earthquake had hit. ¡°That¡¯s a lie. That¡¯s a lie. That¡¯s a lie. That¡¯s a lie.¡± ¡°It¡¯s impossible for an unemployed trash to set off such a magnificent firework!¡± ¡°He must have blackmailed the legendary fireworks maker into making them!¡± ¡°Either that, or we¡¯re just being hallucinated by his drugs! That potion must have been made by blackmailing a legendary alchemist!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t look at it! Don¡¯t look at it! Pretend you didn¡¯t see it! If we do that, we ain¡¯t lost! We ain¡¯t lost to him!¡± The place was already a mess. Here and there, the screams of anguish, joy and sorrow are intermingled. The girl who is the guest of honor has messed up the party she is the star of. But instead of getting angry, she¡¯s jumping up and down like a little kid. ¡°Yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay! Thank you, prince!!!¡± The girl scatters countless hearts from her entire body and sends them flying into the sky. It added more color to the Leopold fireworks in full bloom. CH 84 The event celebrates Onesco¡¯s accomplishment of the first trials of the Holy Knight in a remarkably short period of time. It was supposed to be the first achievement for the ¡°Royal Pioneer Academy¡± ¡­¡­. It was far from what one would call a great success. For a very few of us, it¡¯s a super success and a memory we¡¯ll never forget. For most, however, it was an object of failure and a memory that can only be described as a nightmare. The impact this boy had is immeasurable. The aftermath reached the royal capital, which is farther away from the school. A room in the royal castle. A specially made chandelier that fills the ceiling like the Milky Way. Its light is white and clean, making the room shimmer like heaven. The long white table is like a cloud, and those who sit in front of it are just like gods. Beyond the short side of the table is a special seat that is so high up that it could be mistaken for a throne. There is a man sitting there who looks like a main deity, but his whole body is glowing white from too much light. On either side stood two goddess-like women, their skin glowing dazzlingly, though not as brightly as the man¡¯s. The two of them open their mouths at the same time, at exactly the right moment. ¡°Chancellor, what happened yesterday?¡± The aristocratic-looking man sitting at the very front of the table hung his head, ¡°Ha!¡± ¡°All memory of that garbage has been magically erased from the guests. All of the reporters¡¯ magic recording equipment has been cleaned and all of the recording equipment related to that trash has been erased.¡± The angelic woman glanced at the man who looked like the Lord God, then returned a satisfied smile. ¡°The Lord says, ¡®Very well. All of those actions are against the law, but they are not against God. Then the deed will be affirmed with My power.¡± ¡°Haha, thank goodness.¡± If what the trash has done is leaked to the outside world, it will give unwanted hope to the lower social classes. Those in the lower classes of society must not be excellent. Crushing them at all costs, no matter how capable they are, will help protect the status of those of us in high society.¡± ¡°¡®The Lord says that ¡°the children also must be so rightly educated.¡± Now only a few people believe in that garbage, but at this rate ¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡®Yes, There¡¯s no omission in that, either. The principal and vice principal who caused this incident will be severely punished by God in the name of the Lord. And the new principal and vice principal will take up their positions early next Month. They are so well chosen that such blunders will no longer occur.¡± The goddesses spread their hands like wings. ¡°¡®The Lord says¡­''¡± Then, they spread their mouths with a gaping grin. ¡°Garbage is what rots in the dump, and ¡­¡­!¡± ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô On that day, the morning newspaper of the Leek Eight Kingdom was all colored with Onesco, Monaka and Kotone and the others. The girls in the photo shoot were smiling like they were at the peak of their happiness because they had just seen ¡°Leopin¡¯ Fireworks¡±. But the girls don¡¯t know. That there is not even a trace of the boy on that paper, not even the word ¡®Le¡¯. Leopin¡¯s feats were all but erased by the supporters before they were leaked to the outside world. On the contrary, even the existence of such students was erased, as if they were not enrolled. And the two commissioners, this time, will be dealt with unusually harshly. This kind of change in rank is usually communicated by messenger, but this time it was a direct notification by a messenger from the committee. The messenger, whose tall, broad-shouldered body is wrapped in a black suit and tight skirt, declines with a stern expression. ¡°¡®Acting Principal Nekodran, and Acting Vice Principal Yesman. We, the Board of Education, have decided that we need to reevaluate our evaluation of both of you for this one. Therefore, the Acting Principal and Acting Vice Principal of the ¡®Royal Pioneer Academy¡¯ will be downgraded three ranks.¡± Acting Principal of Nekodoran A+ ? B+ Acting Vice Principal Yesman £Â ? £Ã ¡°Eh- Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!?!?¡± The moment they received the notice from the school board, the principal¡¯s office turned into a melting pot of unprecedented screams. In the history of the faculty ranks, there has never been a three-rank drop. It not only meant that the situation was taken seriously, but also that an unprecedentedly powerful force was at work. The Necodran is now ranked below the vice principal in one stroke, and the yes-men is now ranked as hira teachers ¡­¡­! ¡°Nii ¡­¡­ Nigyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!¡± ¡°Kki¡­¡­ keeeeeeeee!!!!!!¡± Almost immediately, the principal¡¯s office is transformed into a melting pot of unprecedented madness. The fallen duo quickly hung on to both of the messenger¡¯s legs. ¡°¡®Onesco¡¯s achievement is pretty much because of me! It¡¯s too much to be praised, but to be three ranks down! ¡°No, no, no, no! Onesco-san owes her success to me! So I just want you to get rid of this bald fat guy!¡± ¡°If you hadn¡¯t listened to me, you¡¯d have heard about ¡­¡­! Enough, you must stop interfering with me!¡± ¡°That¡¯s my line! Don¡¯t act like you¡¯re so high and mighty when you¡¯re only the Principal because of your family! If it weren¡¯t for you, bald fat man, I would have been Principal a long time ago!¡± ¡°Just let me tell you, you ¡­¡­! ¡°I hated it when you touched me with your hands, but now you¡¯re pushing me!¡± Clinging to the messenger¡¯s legs, the two begin to push each other like monkeys. It gradually escalated and eventually developed into a grabbing match ¡­¡­. Just before it looked like they were going to do it, she hit both of them in the side of the head with a powerful kick to the knee. ¡­¡­.Dogaa¡­. shaaaaa Her thighs fluttered in the air as she flipped up her tight black skirt. ¡°¡±Higyaaaaaaaaa!?!¡±¡± With a scream, the men flew away and crashed into the door of the principal¡¯s office. As it is, she bangs open the double doors and storms out into the hallway with a rumble. The messenger, straightening herself as if nothing had happened, said coldly to the two who were lying outside. ¡°Both of you are no longer authorized to use the principal¡¯s office. And now we are going to investigate the room. If anything is found to be inappropriate, the two of you may be subject to further additional disciplinary action, so be prepared for that. In any case, the room will be locked after the investigation and the keys will be handed over to the new principal and vice principal, who will take up their posts on the first day of next month.¡± And then the door of the principal¡¯s office closes as if to cut it off. ¡­.. Bataaan!! For both of them, the sound was like a wooden mallet that had been sentenced to death. It became a cruel reverberation that stuck in their heads forever and ever. CH 85 The clock tower on the grounds of the Royal Pioneer Academy rings, signaling the end of the morning classes. At that time, Nekodoran and Yesman were in the courtyard of the school. In the center of the courtyard, there is a statue that resembles the school¡¯s first principal and vice principal. The statue was a fountain, and the two of them were releasing water from their mouths with big smiles on their faces. The fountain is surrounded by specially made benches, and there is a sign that says, ¡®No seating except for the highest class!¡¯ It was considered to be one of the several resting places for the chosen ones in this school. Nekodoran and Yesman look up at the statue with completely mangled expressions. ¡°Haha ¡­¡­, I¡¯m sure by the beginning of next month this statue will be dismantled ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°As soon as the statue is gone, ¡­¡­ we¡¯ll be gone from this school, won¡¯t we ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°The area around our statue was a resting place for golden chicks, born from golden eggs. ¡­¡­ At lunchtime, it was always filled with the smiling faces of golden chicks. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to ask if I can at least keep my statue ¡­¡­. That¡¯s the last thing I¡¯m going to leave for my students. ¡­¡­¡± Suddenly, a group of students walked by behind them, and they heard whispering voices. ¡°¡®Hey, there¡¯s someone sitting on that cursed statue! ¡°¡®Wow, it¡¯s rumored that sitting there is a contagious sign of stupidity! ¡°¡®And you won¡¯t be able to stop the ranks going down! ¡°I mean, could that be him sitting over there? ¡°¡®Whoa, it¡¯s true, let¡¯s move on, the fact that he¡¯s even here means that the curse must have doubled! ¡°I can smell a loser in the air! No wonder there¡¯s no one around, let alone a bench!¡± The sound of students¡¯ footsteps leaving as if they were running away. Tears spilled down both of their cheeks. ¡°Ugh ¡­¡­ ugh ¡­¡­, why, why did I have to suffer this ¡­¡­. Just a few days ago, all of my students respected me more than their fathers. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s true,¡­¡­, if we don¡¯t do something about it, I¡¯m going to be lumped in with the old man who smells like he¡¯s aging, and that¡¯s going to be the black history of this school,¡­¡­.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s nothing we can do about it. ¡­¡­. 10 more days until we get a new principal. ¡­¡­ ¡°It¡¯s as impossible for me to regain my former position by then as it is for someone to make this bald man fluffy. ¡­¡­! ¡°¡®Ugh ¡­¡­ oooooooooooooooooooooooo! Nekodoran and Yesman hug and cry together, no longer being seen. There, once again, footsteps approached from behind. ¡°Don¡¯t give up on me just yet.¡± They turned around and couldn¡¯t help but hum at the person they saw. ¡°Weiss-kun!¡± ¡°I have an idea, and I think it¡¯s the best way to get you both back on track.¡± ¡°What is itl?¡± The two were quick to bite. ¡°There¡¯s less than two weeks until we¡¯re kicked out of the school!¡± ¡°Yes, I am a Sage, and nothing is impossible. But you¡¯ll both have to make a reasonable sacrifice.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do anything as long as I can stay at this school and continue to be the vice principal!¡± ¡°I¡¯m more than willing to bet my life on it!¡± ¡°¡±Very well, then please seal the ¡®magic circle of transference¡¯ after the messenger from the school board returns.¡± ¡°If you do that, this school will become an island on land! and if the outside world finds out what we¡¯re about to do, they might get in the way. However, if the ¡®magic circle of transference¡¯ cannot be used, the outside world will not be able to touch it for a week. And in order to contain the students inside, you must declare a ¡®state of emergency¡¯ and prohibit them from leaving their living quarters.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no war or emergency, and you¡¯re declaring a state of emergency? ¡°¡®No, this is war for us, and the enemy is as vicious as the plague. If we don¡¯t do that much, we¡¯ll never be able to completely obliterate it.¡± The words came out of Weiss¡¯ mouth so loudly that the duo repeated again, ¡°Well, obliteration!¡± ¡°What is it that you¡¯re trying to destroy? ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t mean ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s Leopin! I¡¯m sure you two are aware of that. It¡¯s not your fault that everything you do is going wrong. It¡¯s all because of that garbage ¡­¡­, because that plague of a guy is dragging our feet ¡­¡­! People listen more to sweet and gentle lies than to bitter truths. It is the essence of human nature, and the people who are here now have been raised that way. This is evident from the fact that wild rumors about Leopin are spreading like wildfire. This is true not only for students who are still mentally immature, but also for adults.¡± The former headmaster and vice principal¡¯s pupils are left dilated, as if they have been enlightened by an evil religion. ¡°It was because of that garbage that my life, which had been going so well, suddenly went crazy!¡± ¡°Yes, it all makes sense when you think about it!¡± ¡°Then, I will make full use of my remaining power to declare a state of emergency!¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll be the one to seal the ¡®magic circle of transference¡¯!¡± Weiss shakes his palm as if he is playing with both of their hearts. His eyes shone with a mysterious glint. ¡°But that¡¯s not all, we need more power to eradicate the plague. The power of the name ¡®gold¡¯. Since the two of you have been forced out of your positions, the school¡¯s funds are no longer at your disposal, right?¡± ¡°¡®Then there is no problem, I have hidden the slave tickets I collected from the students! If we exchange them for cash, we will have a fortune! And if that¡¯s not enough, we can always dip into your savings!¡± ¡°Yes! In this case, I¡¯ll throw in the backdoor deposit I¡¯ve been saving for my little boy!¡± ¡°¡®No, it¡¯s not enough. When you were appointed as the headmaster and vice principal, you both received preferential treatment from the government and set up a mansion in the royal capital, right? We¡¯re going to sell it and build a war chest. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°¡±E¡­¡­eeeee!!!!¡±¡± CH 86 That was about three days ago. During the morning assembly, the vice principal made an announcement. ¡°As you all know, this school is surrounded by magic called ¡®thirstlessness¡¯, which means that even if you don¡¯t drink water, you don¡¯t have to worry about it! There¡¯s an outside contractor coming in for three days starting today to work on this magic! We¡¯ll be working in the living quarters and the forest, so don¡¯t get in the way!¡± I didn¡¯t know yet. That this is my first test in this school, the Seven Days of Fire. That, premonition. From the principal and vice principal, to being the last declaration of war ¡­¡­. ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô The first day of ¡°Seven Days of Fire¡±. I woke up much earlier than usual, so I organized my materials and rechecked my own status. My current level is 17, but looking back at the professions I¡¯ve gained in the past, I¡¯ve found that there are quite a few new skills. ¡°That new skill looks pretty good, I¡¯ll have to try it out in class today.¡± I thought it was time to go, so I went outside to get ready for school. As we walked through the forest, a loud alarm rang out from the castle, the school building. ¡°I¡¯m the headmaster of the Royal Pioneer Academy, Nekodran! I hereby declare a state of emergency in my name! From now on, for the next seven days, no teaching or exploration will be done! Students, you are forbidden to leave your living quarters at all!¡± ¡°Declaring a State of Emergency¡± ¡­¡­! It can be issued by the chief executive officer of the academy when the academy is in a crisis. For example, if a dangerous monster such as a dragon is confirmed in the vicinity, or if there is a conflict with the indigenous people, or if a plague spreads. I hurried to the living quarters to see what happened. But heavily armed guards were posted around the living quarters, and shields like an iron wall blocked me. And if you look closely, those soldiers were classmates. One person looks at me through his shield and smirks. ¡°¡®Heh, you surprised me, you piece of trash. We¡¯ve been mobilized as the SS to declare this state of emergency. If you perform your duties well, the headmaster will recommend you for the Kingsguard.¡± ¡°The SS has been delegated considerable authority. I could have you beaten to death for trying to enter the living quarters.¡± For once, I might be on the wrong side of the fence. There are ten opponents, and they are fully armed. Besides, if we let these guys get into the living quarters, the real guards will just rush in. I guess I¡¯ll just have to back off quietly here. ¡­¡­ Then I saw two schoolgirls rushing towards me from the residential area. It is, after all, or rather, the people that I know. ¡°Leo-kun!¡± ¡°Master!¡± When the state of emergency was declared, the two of them were the first to worry about me. But I was being thwarted by the SS, who treated them much more politely than I was treated. ¡°Monaka-sama, Kotone-sama, please return! Especially during a declared state of emergency, you¡¯ll need to follow our instructions! Violating instructions can lead to a downgrade!¡± However, this is not an opponent that such threats can be used against. ¡°Then, if I accept the rank down, may I go to Leo-kun¡¯s house! If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯m willing to ¡­¡­ go as far as you want. The SS clicks its tongue, ¡°Tsk!¡± One of them suddenly said something like this. ¡°Yes, ¡­¡­, we¡¯re above the students now, aren¡¯t we? Besides, you¡¯re given the power to order your students around, right ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Well, then I can do whatever I want with these two! All we have to do is cover our trash with it!¡± ¡°Great, we can clean up and the trash can be cleaned up ¡­¡­, two birds with one stone! I rolled my tongue. To be able to think of something so instantly ghastly is a kind of talent, you might say. ¡°In the name of the SS, I order you to give Monaka-sama and Kotone-sama a physical examination! An iron gauntlet reaches for both of their hands. The two were huddled together, screaming. ¡°No! Don¡¯t do that! What are you doing!?¡± ¡°Stop right now! The only one who can see our bare skin is our master!¡± ¡°¡®¡­¡­ I don¡¯t know why I should look at it¡­.¡± I twirled the stone axe I had taken out of my coat. ¡­¡­ zudoka, shhhhhhhhhh! The big piece of armor that was about to attack Monaka and Kotone was blown to the side. The gazes of those who were there focused on me. ¡°Leo-kun!¡± ¡°Master!¡± However, the girls¡¯ figures were immediately covered up by the SS who jumped out from the side like an iron gate being closed. ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve done it! You¡¯re so weak, you¡¯re so stubborn!¡± ¡°¡®Hey, look at this guy, he¡¯s got a stone axe!¡± Seeing me standing with a stone axe in my hand, the SS laughed. ¡°Gyahahahaha! You¡¯re going to stand up to our equipment with a rock!¡± ¡°Ihihihihihi! You can¡¯t even scratch our steel shields with that! ¡°Hyahahahaha! Let¡¯s show them what happens when you mess with the SS!¡± I quietly slumped over. ¡°You¡¯re the one who needs to be reminded. ¡­¡­¡± I looked up and glared at them. ¡°Let¡¯s see what happens when you mess with Monaka and Kotone. ¡­¡­¡± From the bottom of my stomach, I feel anger rising up like magma. I don¡¯t care how you treat me, but I will not tolerate anyone messing with Monaka and Kotone. The SS who were glared retreated as if they were uncomfortable, ¡°Ugh ¡­¡­!¡± But one of them shook his helmet-covered head. ¡°Don¡¯t let that unemployed piece of garbage scare you! We¡¯re fully loaded! I¡¯m not going to be messed with by some caveman with just a stone axe!¡± He throws down his shield, pulls out the steel battle axe he carries on his back, and challenges me. And in the next moment, he was echoing a battle cry and a scream at the same time. ¡°¡®Die gyuw¨¡!!!? He takes a counter blow, and his helmet pops off and his face crumples. The SS is slammed face down on the ground as if it had been hit by a blow from a Titan. The SS around me backed away with a ¡°Whoa!¡± as if they were avoiding someone who had fallen from a height. ¡°¡®Oh, no, you split my helmet with a stone axe!¡± ¡°Only we ¡®Battle Axe User¡¯s can do that! And a pretty high level one at that!¡± ¡°¡®No, no matter how high the level, you can¡¯t break steel with a stone!¡± I say to the guys, who are all scared out of their minds. ¡°It¡¯s a strange coincidence, I¡¯m also in the mood for being a ¡®Battle Axe User¡¯ right now. ¡­¡­! ========== Leopin Occupation Battle Axe User Occupational skill Weapon Destruction (active): Temporarily or permanently disable the target¡¯s weapon. NEW! Kabuto Wari (Active) [Helmet Splitter]: Temporarily or permanently disable the target¡¯s head equipment. On a critical hit, it causes a concussion, rendering the character unable to move for a while. ========== ¡°I¡¯m in a mood? You¡¯re in the mood to pull off something like this?¡± ¡°Oh, no, ¡­¡­! This guy¡¯s too good to be true! He¡¯s a monster!¡± ¡°R-¡­.. run away ooohhhh!¡± The SS relieved themselves of their duties and tried to escape with their crunching armor. However, perhaps because the leader was not used to wearing heavy armor, he soon stumbled and fell, struggling like an upturned turtle. ¡°Sa-¡­¡­ save me!!!!!!! £¡£¡£¡£¡¡± CH 87 Monaka and Kotone rush up through the huge Don Turtle-filled place. They both looked half relieved and half as if they were about to cry. ¡°Leo-kun! ¡­¡­ I¡¯m glad you are fine ¡± ¡°Thank goodness you¡¯re alive and well, Master.¡± I wanted to stay with them both, but that¡¯s not how it works. The reason for this is that the real guards will come running as soon as they hear the commotion. ¡°Listen to me, both of you. There was a state of emergency declared, which means there was something bad going on around here. I¡¯m going back to the house now, so you guys go back to your house. And don¡¯t ever, ever leave Onesco or Tomoe.¡± Monaka and Kotone must still be coming here under the watchful eye of their valet. I said something that was not meant to be nailed down or heartfelt to either of us. ¡°I only deal with the best of the best, and I¡¯ll stop being your master if you escape the living quarters and go down in rank. That¡¯s why I¡¯m staying home and staying quiet during the state of emergency, okay?¡± My heart ached a little as Monaka and Kotone looked at me like children abandoned by their parents. I leave them in the hands of Onesco and Tomoe, who arrive late. Then I quickly left the living quarters before the guards arrived. My mind is buzzing like never before as I walk quickly back to my home in the woods. ¡°What the hell is going on ¡­¡­?¡± When I returned home, gasping for air, I took my water bottle from my coat pocket and opened it at once. As the water quenches his thirst, he lets out a gasp and furrows his brow. ¡°I¡¯m thirsty. ¡­¡­?¡± It¡¯s been quite a few days since I joined this school, but this is the first time I¡¯ve ever craved water. And that¡¯s what ¡­¡­ is all about. The effect of the range spell of ¡°thirstlessness¡± has worn off. ¡°But three days ago, I thought the vice principal said in the morning meeting that they were going to do maintenance. ¡­¡­?¡± Besides, it¡¯s unnatural to be so thirsty so suddenly. Even if you can cut it, the effect of range magic is supposed to fade away slowly¡­¡­. ¡°Could it possibly have something to do with the declaration of a state of emergency?¡± Either way, we¡¯ll need to make sure we have a way to stay hydrated. But for this day to come, I have a good idea of where the water is. I left the house without even sitting down in my chair. I dragged Mark and Tom to a pond in the woods. And then I was immensely disappointed. ¡°Yes, the pond was filled in ¡­¡­!¡± The pond is filled with soil and looks like a tombstone. I knew that it was not due to a natural phenomenon, but clearly due to human hands. The reason is that a sign saying ¡®It was a shame¡¯ was standing on the top of the earth. At that moment, I understood it all. ¡°I see, that¡¯s what¡¯s happening! The maintenance of the range magic of ¡°thirstlessness¡± meant that the area of effect was limited to the school building and the living quarters. ¡­¡­! And on top of that, they even reclaimed the pond, which means that the principal and vice principal are trying to starve me ¡­¡­!¡± Humans are fine without a little food, but they can¡¯t live for a week without water. But with the ¡®Ranger¡¯ ¡®Survival Technique¡¯ skill, I can get water from plants and such. Besides, there¡¯s plenty of clean water in the school building. It¡¯s got running water, fountains, and a pool. The school building must be crawling with security guards under a declared state of emergency. But with my skills, it¡¯s easy to find water in the school building. Yeah, it¡¯s not like I¡¯m the only one. Me, if I¡¯m alone, ¡­¡­. I looked at all the animals gathered around the pond. They all look at the reclaimed pond and have a despairing look on their faces like, ¡°This place is no good either. ¡­¡­¡± They got caught up due to me, which ended up making them lose their watering hole. Of course, animals may be able to quench their thirst by drinking the morning dew, but there is a limit to that, too. I looked around at them for a moment and then ¡­¡­. I climbed on top of the heap, snatched up the joke of a sign and threw it away. ¡°Guys, it¡¯s my fault Pond¡¯s in this mess. I¡¯m so sorry for taking away your precious water.¡± I don¡¯t know if they understand me. But I said it with all my heart. ¡°I¡¯m gonna find a new watering hole for all of us. So I want you to trust me and follow me, and we¡¯ll find water.¡± I said and walked off the heap, heading deeper into the forest. The only ones who followed me were Mark and Tom. ¡°I guess that¡¯s just the way it goes. ¡­¡­¡± There is a way to raise the parameters of ¡°charm¡± and take them without a choice. But I didn¡¯t want to do that. ¡°¡®If that pond is being reclaimed, then all the other watering holes may be ruined. No matter how hard I look, I may never find a watering hole. That¡¯s why I wanted only those who would believe in me to follow me. But ¡­¡­ I can¡¯t ask them to believe me when you¡¯re talking to the animals I¡¯ve hunted so much. ¡­¡­¡± But either way, I¡¯m gonna find a watering hole for my animals. ¡°¡®But how do I go about finding a watering hole ¡­¡­?¡± In the first place, the wildlife must be more professional at finding water than I am. And yet, the fact that they are so overcome with despair means that this surrounding area must have been wiped out. ¡°¡®Which means we¡¯ll have to look pretty far. There¡¯s no way I could find it if I walked around aimlessly. ¡­¡­¡± I¡¯m suddenly reminded of something. It was once when I was looking for stones for clay to make pottery. ¡®If there are volcanic rocks without volcanoes, was there once a river in this area?¡¯ Maybe there¡¯s a source nearby if we look hard enough. ¡°¡®¡­¡­ Yes, let¡¯s just follow where the volcanic rock is! Then we can find the tributaries of the river, and hopefully the headwaters!¡± I take out a map of the area from my coat pocket. From where we first found the volcanic rock, we walked on, guessing the terrain. Then I found a depression where it looked like there used to be a river. ¡°¡®All right, let¡¯s follow this towards the back of the forest. However, there is no guarantee that there is a river ahead. It¡¯s just a thin hope, like a spider¡¯s thread. ¡°But now I¡¯ve got to hang on to it. ¡­¡­!¡± I walked for a few hours, praying. The depression had been buried by earth and sand and had ceased to exist. I wasn¡¯t tired, but the mental drudgery would bring me to my knees with a gulp. ¡°The only lead I have is gone. ¡­¡­! What the hell am I supposed to do, ¡­¡­?¡± Suddenly, I felt countless footsteps behind me and turned around. Mark and Tom, who were behind me, also seemed to have noticed something unusual and turned the back of their fuzzy heads towards me. Zap, zap, zap, zap. ¡­¡­. The true identity of the fawn bringing the animal army is ¡­¡­! The fawn in the lead looked familiar. ¡°You might be the first ¡­¡­ I¡¯ve ever trained! Could it be that you¡¯ve convinced everyone to ¡­¡­!¡± The fawn nodded and let out a ¡°kewl!¡± and jumped up and down in front of me. I was about to falter, but then I felt motivated again. And then a miracle happened. ========== Name Leopin Occupation Battle Axe User Lv 17 ? 18 HP 1010 MP 1010 Status Life 101 Endurance 101 Toughness 101 Spirit 101 Resistance 101 Agility 1001 Concentration 101 Strength 101 Magic 101 Dharma 101 Intelligence 101 Liberal Arts 101 Five Senses 101 Sixth Sense 101 Charm 1 Luck 5 Dexterity 400 ? 500 ========== ========== Changeable occupations Production System Lumberjack Appraiser Shin-Ra Carpenter Masonry Leather Craftsman Woodcrafter Potter Confectioner Pastry Chef Artisan Fireworker Exploration System Ranger Treasure Hunter Mapper Earth Vein Master (NEW!) Combat System Battle Axe User Ninja Martial Artist Trapper Trainer(Tamer) ========== CH 88 I was glowing, surrounded by so many of my friends. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d be leveling up at a time like this. ¡­¡­! And the newly added occupation is ¡°Earth Vein Master¡± ¡­¡­! An Earth Vein Master is a kind of magician, but they can¡¯t use fancy magic. There¡¯s only one magic you can use, and that¡¯s ¡®dowsing¡¯. Dowsing is the magic of taking the power of the earth¡¯s veins into the body through the soles of the feet and searching for something somewhere under the earth. By watching the movement of a stick or pendulum in your hand, you can find out the direction of a water source or a mineral vein. The activity is terribly unassuming, but don¡¯t underestimate it. It is said that some of the legendary treasures discovered in the past would not have been found without the power of this Earth Vein Master job. Whatever it was, it was a profession I could really use for right now. I no longer have to think about it. ========== Leopin Occupation Battle Axe User => Earth Vein Master Occupational skill Wood Dowsing (Active): Dowsing with a tree branch. Especially useful for finding water sources Gold Dowsing (Active): Perform dowsing with metal. Particularly useful for finding ore. ========== ¡°¡®All right, let¡¯s get on with the dowsing! I think, for dowsing tree branches, the Habashiri branch is suitable. And if you¡¯re looking for more sources of water, it¡¯s better with dead branches.¡± Fortunately, there are plenty of tree branches in the forest. I picked up a dead branch that had fallen under the Habashiri tree. I place the branch in the palm of my hand and secure it around the front of my chest with the arms at sides. This is the dowsing pose. I closed my eyes and whispered softly. ¡°Spirits of the earth, ¡­¡­ lead me to where the waters are ¡­¡­.¡± When I open my eyes with a click, the effect of the skill ¡°Tree Dowsing¡± is activated. The branch that I had been holding in my palm began to sway unsteadily like the needle of a directional magnet. ¡°If we walk in the direction of this branch, which is ¡­¡­, then we can all go.¡± I start to walk with a lot of animals in tow. It was the beginning of a long, long journey. ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô Seven Days of Fire, Day 2. No water was found. Wandering in the vast forest and camping on the roof of a tree. I felt as if the plants in the forest were not in good health. ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô The Seven Days of Fire, Day 3. No water was found. The morning dew and the moisture from plants and fruits kept me from starving and drying out. But I haven¡¯t had a drop of water in my mouth. The ones I found, I gave them all to the animals. ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô The Seven Days of Fire, Day 4. No water was found. I got headaches and weakness. I shook my status back, ready for an even longer run. The ability to survive, and for the heart to not falter. A sense for not missing the slightest clue. ¡°And this ¡®Good Luck¡¯: ¡­¡­¡± For the first time since I became ¡®Poor Dexterity¡¯, I tried to multiply points for the ¡®Luck¡¯ parameter. However, I notice that only ¡°Luck¡± can¡¯t be assigned points no matter what I do. ¡°Why ¡­¡­?¡± Normally, I can let things slide with a simple ¡°oh well¡±, but the dryness is driving me to frustration. I almost started screaming, but I gave up on my ¡®luck¡¯. ========== Name Leopin Occupation Earth Vein Master Lv 18 HP 4001 MP 4001 Status Life 101 ? 401 Endurance 101 ? 401 Toughness 101 ? 401 Spirit 101 ? 401 Resistance 101 ? 401 Agility 101 ? 1 Concentration 101 ? 201 Strength 101 ? 201 Magic 101 ? 401 Dharma 101 ? 1 Intelligence 101 ? 401 Liberal Arts 101 ? 1 Five Senses 101 ? 201 Sixth Sense 101 ? 201 Charm 1 Luck 5 Dexterity 100 ========== Thanks to this, my mood and physical condition have completely recovered. ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô The Seven Days of Fire, Day 5. No water was found. I thought the effect of dowsing would be stronger if I took off my shoes and went barefoot, so I did that. We found several ponds that had been reclaimed. I snapped the ¡°It was a shame¡± sign with my knee. Due to the lack of water, the plants in the forest were visibly wilting. ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô Seven Days of Fire, Day 6. No water was found. I miraculously lasted nearly a week of activity without water. If it had been a normal person, he would have been stuck long ago. My mind and body are screaming with pain, but my appearance is no longer hopeless. My clothes were black with dust. My hair is disheveled and my skin is completely dull. However, only the eyes did not lose their shine ¡­¡­, I believe in that, and continue walking. ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô The Seven Days of Fire, Day 7. The entire school was gathered in a square in the middle of one of the residential areas that was still under lockdown. On a special stage, there was a huge crystal plate like aurora borealis. On top of it, there is a big sign. ¡°Let¡¯s all watch the expulsion of the trash, the tragedy, the end of those who were trifled with by the principal and vice principal!¡± On a special seat above the stage, Nekodran lounges around with a high and mighty attitude. The yes-man was happily running all over the stage. ¡°Well, well, well. Today is finally the last day since we declared a state of emergency! We¡¯ll be celebrating that joy in the form of a big event! And we¡¯ll all see the end of the trash together!¡± The crystal plate that was projected in a flash, there was Leopin covered in dust and sand. With a thin tree branch in one hand and a thick tree branch as a walking stick, he staggered along. It was as if we were wandering in a desert, even though the area was a forest full of greenery. Some of the girls scream, as if their hearts have stopped. Unable to stay, they tried to get out of the morning meeting, but were blocked by the SS and guards. But only a few of the girls showed such defiance, and many of them were excited. ¡°Whoa, the trash guy looks like a refugee!¡± ¡°This is it, this is what I wanted to see!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, the dropouts from the ¡®Special Training Class¡¯ are there to entertain us by getting torn to shreds like that!¡± Both Nekodran and Yesman are pleased with the positive response from the students. ¡°That trash is so stupid, he doesn¡¯t even know where the water is! If we don¡¯t do something, he¡¯ll die! Oh, you poor thing! That idiot is going to die without ever finding anything! Suddenly, Leopin, behind the crystal plate, started running as if he had been played. The yes man points and laughs hysterically. ¡°He¡¯s gone mad at last! There¡¯s no water in that area! I¡¯m the one who ordered the contractors to reclaim it! There is a ¡­¡­ that I have kept tightly hidden. Kee¡­¡­ keeeeeeeeeeeeeee!¡± ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô I ran to the side as my dowsing stick was giving me the most powerful response ever. Through a thicket of folded thorns, we cleared the rocks of a crumbling cliff and entered a cave at the far end of it. It was a small cave, about the size of a small room, with light shining through the chipped ceiling. I gasped at the pedestal, lit up like a spotlight, and the thing sitting on it. ¡°What, the treasure chest ¡­¡­?¡± Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯m raising the parameters of my sensory system, but I suddenly felt like I heard this blanket statement. ¡®How did you know that? You¡¯re never going to find it without a hint. ¡­¡­! No, you can¡¯t open that! If you open it, we¡¯ll get in trouble! I didn¡¯t hide it to give it to trash like you ¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«! CH 89 At the school¡¯s morning assembly, ¡°Let¡¯s all watch the expulsion of the trash!¡± When it started, it was met with derision, but in an instant it was gone. At any rate, the fake vice principal of the school started to make a noise with his usual strange voice. ¡°Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak! Don¡¯t do it, don¡¯t do it, don¡¯t do it, don¡¯t do it, don¡¯t do it, don¡¯t do it, don¡¯t do it, don¡¯t do it, don¡¯t do it! I sold my newly built house and even went into debt for this scheme! And yet, when that box is opened, it becomes more and more ¡­¡­! KEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!¡± It was a cry of the soul, but it could not reach Leopin, who was far away. Leopin, who is on the other side of the crystal plate, walks to the treasure chest as if he were receiving a set meal. After cautiously examining it for traps, he opened it. ¡­¡­ puckering ¡­¡­! Then the cave is filled with excessive light and exaggerated music. When the box was opened, the magic power caused a performance to occur. ¡°The yes-man vice principal¡¯s treasure hunt game ends here! Great job, Class 1-11! Wonderful job, heroes! This treasure is all yours! On the contrary, my heart is yours, too. ¡­¡­! As a token of your loyalty, I¡¯ll even upgrade your rank! The rest of the classes are trash, so we¡¯re going to poach them! So I hope you¡¯ll continue to love this yes-man!¡± The five certificates pop up in a swoop with a flirtatious voice. From the other side of the crystal board, a sigh that seems to reveal disappointment escapes. ¡°Huh, it¡¯s ¡­¡­. ¡­¡­, there¡¯s no amount of this stuff that¡¯s ¡­¡­.¡± Disappointed, Leopin twisted the five inventories into his coat pocket. It is his way of not wasting anything. The yes-man on stage was indignant. How dare you call five catalogs ¡°this¡± ¡­¡­? What¡¯s more, in this treasure hunt game that I have devised with all my heart and soul, how can he suddenly reach the goal without any hints ¡­¡­? What a bunch of airheaded trash! I can¡¯t let you do this! I can¡¯t let you do this! I can¡¯t let you do this! The buzzing of the students doesn¡¯t stop. ¡°Yes, five catalogues at once!¡± ¡°So, how much is all that garbage worth? As if to play out the answer, the magic board that was placed by the stage updated its number one position with a clatter. 1st Special Training School 101,200,000 Yen Leopin has finally reached the 100 million yen ender mark. ¡­¡­! ¡°Kki ¡­¡­ keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee £¡£¡£¡£¡¡± The Yes Man is flapping his hands and stomping his feet in shock and frustration. The astonished gazes of the students below the stage were directed at Leopin, who had set a new record. But that quickly turns into contempt for one person. ¡°But that treasure hunt game is obviously bogus, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, they must have set that up on the premise that Class 1-11 would find that treasure! ¡°And he was even trying to get them to rank up!¡± ¡°On the contrary, you call us trash. ¡­¡­! The direction of the event, which was originally supposed to be about laughing at Leopin¡¯s fall, was gradually changing. ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô After leaving the hidden cave, I dowsed again to find the water source. At this time, I was making full use of my five senses to make sure I didn¡¯t miss even the slightest sound of water. Then I heard the one I¡¯d been waiting for. ¡­¡­ Splash! ¡°It was the sound of a fish bouncing on the ¡­¡­ water!¡± I ran out again like a rabbit. As if to overtake even the tip of the branch indicated by the dowsing, I forgot myself and sprinted. Then a depression in the damp earth appeared in front of us. It¡¯s a long stretch across, and it¡¯s definitely ¡­¡­! ¡°¡®At last, at last, there was ¡­¡­ a river!¡± I was about to jump in, but I stopped at the edge. It was definitely a river, but there was no water at all. On the bottom there are only dying fish and a few mud puddles. Obviously, this is where the river used to be until recently. I guessed by the differently designed ¡°Zan-nen-datta(It is a pity~)¡± sign in front of me. ¡°The headmaster and vice principal blocked the source of the river. ¡­¡­!¡± It seems that the ringleaders of this case have finally stopped hiding their true identities. A life-size signboard of the headmaster of Nekodoran and the head teacher of Yes Man, where you can hear their laughter, ¡°Ba-ha-ha-ha!¡± They both hold up a banner-like ¡°Zan-nen-deshita. Underneath the letters was this. ¡°I¡¯m giving you a special, last chance! Shout to the sky, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, principal and vice principal, I¡¯m sorry, especially to the principal!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pay back all the money I¡¯ve won so far, and I¡¯ll voluntarily drop out of school, so please spare my life, Mr. Principal! If you do, I might be able to help you!¡± ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô At that time, on the stage, Nekodoran and Yes Man, who had come to life, were once again on a roll and bickering. ¡°That trash is in despair, he has finally realized my power! It was worth spending a lot of money to get the water away from him!¡± ¡°M-ho-ho-ho!¡± This is the climax of the show, and I want you all to see it! I want to see that trash crying out and regretting defying me!¡± The students in the audience went up in frustration with the yes man, but they didn¡¯t think any better of Leopin, so they got excited again. ¡°So that¡¯s what this is all about, catching up with that trash and having him declare himself expelled!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s funny how that piece of trash has been getting away with it all this time!¡± ¡°It¡¯s impossible to be close to Monaka-sama and Kotone-sama and have 100 million in assets!¡± ¡°¡®If that trash would just give up, we¡¯d finally have a decent school! ¡°¡®With the pond and the river blocked, there¡¯s nothing he can do about it! ¡°Now, I want you all to join me in chanting, ¡°There, give it up, give it up!¡± And then the call of ¡°Give-up¡± arose. On the other side of the crystal board, there was the back of a boy who grabbed the edge of the sign, looked down, and slumped his shoulders. Everyone can imagine how exhausted he looks. He slumped down and wailed as if to throw away all his glory and all his shame. ¡­¡­! Finally, the boy moved. He bent his knees and collapsed ¡­¡­ without strength. But just before his knee touched the ground, he suddenly stretched up. ¡­¡­ bang! A flying knee kick. ¡­¡­! He had struck the signboards of the principal and vice principal with a stunning blow that would remind you of the school board¡¯s messenger.. And he doesn¡¯t just cut it in half, he kicks it and crushes it to pieces. In addition, he took out ¡°Hiroeda¡¯s fire-making stand¡± from his coat pocket, and set fire to it. ¡­¡­ Go-o-o-o-o-o-o! Let the fake principal and fake vice principal go down in flames! ¡­¡­! ¡°Eh- Eeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!¡± CH 90 I look around at the animals in front of the bonfire I made with the principal and vice principal¡¯s signs. ¡°¡®Even though the water¡¯s dried up, we¡¯ve finally found the river! If we move upriver from here, we¡¯ll surely make it to the headwaters! So let¡¯s get rid of what¡¯s blocking the river and you¡¯ll have water! We¡¯re almost there, we¡¯re almost there!¡± The animals listened to my declaration. Regardless of the meaning of the words, I think they got what I was trying to say, and they squealed back at me in unison with a war cry. ¡°All right, then, let¡¯s get some food! Let¡¯s have a party to celebrate! You can catch all the fish you want in the river!¡± The carnivorous beasts descend to the muddy river bed with a whoosh, and bite into the jumping fish. I took the fruits and nuts I had collected along the way from my pockets and scattered them with gusto. ¡°There, all of you can eat over here too!¡± The herbivorous beasts are also very happy because they have been moderating until now. They catch fruits and nuts with their mouths like a man who has paper money falling from the sky. Mark brought me a big fish. ========== Mosan Qty 1 Quality Level 12£ü(Material Level 12) A fish that is born in a river, goes out to sea, and has the habit of returning to the river of its birth to breed. The fish that return to the river just before breeding are the most fatty and are considered to be in season. You can get a cooking bonus by grilling or making soup. ========== ¡°Oh, Mosan, my favorite, thank you!¡± I handle the Mosan I received with the ¡°Great Knife of the Giant Boar¡±. I cut them into rounds and grill them on skewers made of tree branches. The skin is charred and the fat drips down. ========== Mosan-yaki Qty 5 Quality Level 20£ü(Material Level 12 + Dexterity Bonus 1 + Cooking Bonus 2 + Seasonal Bonus 5) It¡¯s just baked morsels, but the original flavor of the ingredients is brought out in abundance. It is very fatty and very delicious. ========== I bite into the hot Mosan-yaki as if I were biting into a thick slice of ham. The crispy texture of the skin is followed by a chewy texture. The fat, filled with the blessings of this river where Mosan was born and the rich flavors of the sea where they grew up, spread ¡­¡­ like a jewel. I had two of nature¡¯s bounty in my mouth. ¡°Ummm ¡­¡­ ummmmmmmmmm?¡± It¡¯s just grilled fish, but it¡¯s unstoppable, unstoppable goodness. I¡¯m sure this is just another empty sound, but out of nowhere. ¡­¡­ Gosh! And I thought I heard a throaty sound. ¡°Ugh ¡­¡­ yummmmmmmmmmm!¡± ¡°That¡¯s nice, that¡¯s nice, I love Mosan!¡± ¡°But since I came to this school, I couldn¡¯t eat, so I¡¯ve been holding back!¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been eating emergency food at the school ever since the state of emergency was declared.¡± ¡°I¡¯m being made to eat something that¡¯s pasty and not very good at all. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Why only that rubbish eats something that looks so good ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Damn, I¡¯m jealous!¡± ¡°To tell you the truth, I was a little unhappy about it.¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t say it out loud, I only murmur it in my mind.¡± ¡°I bet if you put salt on this, it would be even better: ¡­¡­¡± If it¡¯s salt, I have some in my coat pocket that Akemi gave me. But I couldn¡¯t just sprinkle it on. Because it makes you thirsty. I haven¡¯t had a drop of anything that could be called water in a week. I¡¯ve managed to stay active thanks to my status, but my throat is parched to the point of tingling. But I can¡¯t let that weakness show. Because I guessed it when I saw the principal and vice principal¡¯s ¡®zan-nen-datta¡¯ signs. I¡¯m sure the principal and vice principal are out there somewhere watching me, ¡­¡­! Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have written ¡®Cry out to the sky¡¯ on the sign. That¡¯s why I¡¯m enjoying the best meal of my life right now. I¡¯m not going to let your schemes ruin my happiness. That¡¯s what I¡¯m going to show you: ¡­¡­! When I finished my meal, which was much more sumptuous than usual, the fawns and kuribohs came over to me and started licking my face. ¡°You must be thirsty, wait a minute.¡± I took a water bottle out of my pocket and ¡­¡­ filled it with water I had accumulated on the road. I thought, but there was not a drop left. ¡°M-ho-ho-ho!¡± Look, everyone, the water bottle is finally empty! We¡¯ll finally get to see that trash cry it out! ignore those blank stares and pet the kids.¡± ¡°Hang on, I¡¯ll make you some water in a minute.¡± ¡°M-ho-ho-ho! He¡¯s lost his mind at last! He¡¯s talking about making water, something only a god could do! If an unemployed person can do such a thing, I, the vice principal, will turn water into wine!¡± I ignore those grating voices and take out a wooden cup from my coat pocket. With the tip of the knife, I made a small hole in the bottom of the cup. Then turn the cup upside down and fill it with stones, gravel, and sand. I packed them in such a way that they became coarser towards the bottom, like a stratum. To finish, I took off my coat and ripped one of the sleeves of my shirt. It¡¯s unbalanced, so I¡¯m going to rip the other one out and make it short sleeved. You can stuff that detached sleeve into the top of the cup at ¡­¡­. ========== Gysu Wood Cup Filtration Filtering Equipment Qty 10 Quality Level 31£ü(Material Level 12 + Dexterity Bonus 1 + Occupation Bonus 18) A device for purifying dirty water using a cup made of gypsum wood. The filtration rate is very fast due to various bonuses. It also eliminates harmful substances, even moderate poisons can be completely erased. ========== Place an additional wooden cup under the finished filtration system. ¡°All that¡¯s left to do is get some of that mushy water into the top of the filtration system. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°M-ho-ho-ho! He¡¯s finally started playing in the mud! In despair, he has regressed into an infant! What a pathetic figure! It¡¯s fun to see the trash go down, it¡¯s really fun! Moo-hoo-hoo ¡­¡­?¡± The moment the clear liquid dripped from underneath the filtration system in a trickle, there was an empty sound like the rustling of trees. ¡°It¡¯s ¡­¡­ why! How can mud that¡¯s supposed to be dirty be turned into water just by putting it in a cup with dirty dirt in it!¡± ¡°And that water is so beautiful ¡­¡­, it¡¯s sparkling like a jewel ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Really ¡­¡­It¡¯s like magic ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± KEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! CH 91 I used my ranger survival knowledge to build a filtration device. Normally this kind of device takes a tremendous amount of time to get water. However, the filtration system, with a quality level of over 30, purified the water as fast as spring water. The young animals are given a cup full of water to drink. He tried to put his face into the cup, but I restrained him with words and my hand. ¡°¡®Wait, wait, little ones first, there¡¯s plenty of mud here, we¡¯ll make as much water as we can, don¡¯t panic.¡± Then the animals began to drink the water in turn. I pat him on the head and say, ¡°All right, all right, you¡¯re doing great.¡± When I can get water like I always have, I¡¯ll hunt and eat these animals and use them as tools for pioneering. It seems kind of weird to give them water and keep them alive when you might eventually kill them. ¡­¡­ But that¡¯s okay. I don¡¯t want to see animals dying because the principal or vice principal got involved in a playful way to make me suffer. If you¡¯re going to die the same way, you¡¯d rather be hunted down and die as someone¡¯s flesh and blood than die in a heap without being of any use to anyone. It¡¯s still the same act of killing, and it may be hypocritical, but that¡¯s how I see it. I noticed that the animals were lined up waiting for their turn to drink water. I didn¡¯t train-tame them, and I have a ¡®charm¡¯ parameter of 1. ¡­¡­ ¡°Well, it looks like they¡¯ve grown quite attached to me during our journey to find a watering hole.¡± ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô Leopin¡¯s work of giving water to animals was a target of ridicule. ¡°Muhohohoho, I¡¯m so thirsty that I¡¯m giving precious water to useless animals ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°If I were smart, I¡¯d keep the water to myself! I¡¯m sure watching the animals drink water while the river dries up and looking so miserable is exceptional!¡± ¡°Ahhh, I knew that piece of trash was just a dropout to be put in a ¡®special training class¡¯!¡± ¡°Water is a precious commodity in the frontier, but you can¡¯t give it to animals!¡± Most of those present were cynical. Some of the ladies, however, were crying. ¡°Ugh ¡­¡­ leo kun ¡­¡­ how kind ¡­¡­ you are!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe you care more about the animals in the forest than you do about yourself. ¡­¡­!¡± Up until now, there were only a few people who recognized Leopin, who could be counted on the fingers of both hands. But here comes a change. ¡°Look ¡­¡­, Leopin is giving water to the animals ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be thirsty yourself, but you¡¯re putting animals first. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Now I think I know why Leopin-kun tamed our animals and Weiss¡¯ Black Panther: ¡­¡­!¡± Leopin¡¯s actions had deeply impressed ¡­¡­. Yes, they were trainer¡¯s. They praise him with every word. ¡°Leopin, you¡¯re the epitome of a Tamer ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°I was wrong about ¡­¡­ Leopin. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°I said some awful things to Leopin-san in class ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Next time I see you, I¡¯ll have to apologize. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Leopin-san, will you forgive me ¡­¡­?¡± It¡¯s a tiny little hope in their hearts. It¡¯s only the size of a needle hole now, but once it¡¯s open, it¡¯s never going to close again. Yeah ¡­¡­! This was the moment when Leopin¡¯s actions clearly took root in the hearts of his classmates. ¡­¡­! ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô After I finished rationing water to the animals, my clothes were completely covered in mud. Brushing off the mud with my hands, we made our way along the dried-up river. After a while, a large valley lay ahead. The soil of the cliffs was damp and the wind blowing up from the bottom was cool and chilly. I have a hunch. ¡°Here ¡­¡­ is the main stream, and I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a place up ahead that¡¯s impounded! Everybody, let¡¯s get down there and move on!¡± I slide down the steep cliff with the animals. As usual, the bottom was muddy, and I rolled around in a heap. Me and the animals are finally covered in mud all over. However, it was even harder from here. With mud dripping from every part of my body, I set off upstream ¡­¡­. The bottom of the valley we were in led to the top of a mountain in the distance, with a steep slope. In addition, I can¡¯t go as far as I want because my feet get caught in the muddy ground. Aside from me, the animals seemed to have reached their limit. But the light in the eyes has not been lost on anyone. Everyone mustered up their last bit of energy and trudged through the muddy pile, believing that there was a water source ahead. A small animal rides on the back of a large animal, and when the large animal¡¯s foot gets stuck in the muck, the small animal gets off and digs it up. It no longer transcends the boundaries of species, and both carnivores and herbivores help each other to keep going. A voice that seemed to mock us deafened us. They don¡¯t even know they¡¯re trapped and they¡¯re carrying on! This was our real aim! ¡°At last, at last, the final moment has arrived! The trapperr professionals are waiting for you, and they will launch the biggest and strongest trap!¡± ¡­¡­ gogo gogo gogo ¡­¡­! The earth shakes as if to drown out the empty ear. It gets bigger and bigger, and the shaking becomes so strong that I can¡¯t stand up. ¡°Oh, ¡­¡­, what is that?¡± When I found out what the vibration was, I let out a snort. He turns around and shouts with his parched throat. ¡°There¡¯s a big rock coming down, everyone run, run, run, run!¡± What a huge rock that filled the bottom of the valley was rolling down from the top of the mountain. Moreover, the river must have been blocked by that rock, because there was a lot of water rushing from the other side of the rock. And perhaps, but the rock was ejected by some mechanism. It is coming at us at such a furious speed that even the floods are being left behind. ¡°Bahahahaha! When you reached that main stream, I made you remove the stopper that was holding the rock! It is calculated that it is impossible to escape from a rock that rolls with such force at the bottom of that deep valley!¡± ¡°M-ho-ho-ho! I¡¯ll give him water after he¡¯s been turned into a rock and flattened! I never thought he¡¯d want water so badly that he¡¯d get so much of it after he died. ¡­¡­! What an ironic, pathetic end for a piece of trash!¡± The deafening ringing in my ears further accelerates my impatience. If I change my job to Ninja now and swing my agility to the max, I¡¯ll be able to escape from that rock. But all the animals that followed me would be wiped out. ¡°What do I have to do to save both mine and the animals¡¯ lives?¡± I¡¯m going to change my job to a combat job, put my muscle strength to the max, and smash that rock. ¡­¡­! But there¡¯s no guarantee that it will work, and if the timing is off, you¡¯re wiped out. There¡¯s only two things I can do. A sure escape or an uncertain attack: ¡­¡­! ¡°Ni¡­¡­ run away, please run away, Leo-kun! You¡¯re not going to stand up to that rock? That would be suicide!¡± Mixed in with the plaintive screams, I heard a noisy yapping. He¡¯s going to die in the mud! ¡°Whoever dragged us through the mud deserves what¡¯s coming to them! You¡¯ll be wailing and screaming like Nick Bakker!¡± I¡¯m in for a big game of one or two. The choice was neither a sure escape nor an uncertain attack. I was betting my life on a big, stupid hole. I was finally run over ¡­¡­ like an alinco by a rock that was right in front of me. ¡­¡­ doh ¡­¡­!!! I never had to. Gooooooooooon!! With the sound of an explosion, a large rock shattered into pieces. With that shockwave, the mud that had been clinging to my body popped and peeled off. Dust passing over me like a blizzard. The shattered pieces hit my body in pieces like hailstones. It looked like a typhoon had passed. But I was still standing there. Didn¡¯t move a muscle. ¡­¡­! ¡°Eh Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!?!?¡± CH 92 Leopin collided head-on with a mountain of rock. The fierce sound echoed all the way to a special stage in a far-off residential area. Instantly, a huge cheer erupts. ¡°YAY!!!¡± ¡°The bastard¡¯s finally dead, dead, dead!¡± ¡°Evil will be destroyed in the end!¡± ¡°I knew the first student to retire would be that dropout!¡± ¡°¡®Now that the trash has been cleaned up, this school will finally be decent!¡± Some trainer-tamer students shrug their shoulders in disappointment. ¡°Mr. Leopin is dead. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°He was so adored by the animals. ¡­¡­ ¡°Oh, I just finally realized how awesome Leopin-kun is. ¡­¡­¡± The headmaster and vice principal hugged each other and were happy. ¡°I did it, I did it, I did it, I won at last! It was worth throwing everything I had into it, and justice will prevail after all!¡± ¡°It was only me who could do it¡­ a home run with the bases loaded! I¡¯ll be praised by my supporters, and now I can return to my position as vice principal!¡± Monaka and Kotone were crying their eyes out. Her valets are also saddened. ¡°Aaahhh, Leo-kun, Leo-kun aaahhh!¡± ¡°Aaahhh, what a pain in the ass, Master!¡± The crystal plate on the stage is covered with noise and dust. It had become a barren land where no living person was allowed to even stand. It seemed to me that ¡­¡­. As the cloud of dust fades, a vague silhouette emerges. One of the students noticed this and pointed to the crystal plate. ¡°Look at ¡­¡­, who¡¯s there?¡± Ha ¡­¡­! and again the crystal plate attracts attention. You can find a lot of people who are interested in this kind of thing. It seemed that ¡­¡­. Suddenly, he bends forward and begins to shake his body. And all shall hear a voice as of an empty ear. ¡°I thought I was going to die, ¡­¡­! ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô As I coughed, an unfamiliar window appeared in front of me. ¡°A hidden skill has been awakened! I knew it. I knew it. It was a one or two way bet, but it looks like I was right. I open the status window and touch the ¡®Poor Dexterity¡¯ skill tree with my still trembling fingertips. ========== Jack of all trades and master of none Dexterous growth Dexterous body Dexterous career change £¿£¿£¿£¿£¿£¿£¿£¿ ? Absolute protection ¡°Fudo¡±. ========== This skill, which was full of ¡°?¡± marks, is a ¡°hidden skill¡± that I gained when I reached level 8. This ¡®hidden skill¡¯ is said to reveal its name and effect if you can activate the effect multiple times. The first of these effects was accidentally triggered during a gym class. The moment Nick Baca hit me, I hurriedly increased the ¡®toughness¡¯ parameter with my ¡®dexterous body¡¯ skill. Then, when Nick Baca punched me, I felt nothing more than a mosquito bite. On the contrary, my body became hard like steel, albeit only for a moment. Like a great tree with its roots in the ground, I did not move even a millimeter from my spot. On the verge of being swallowed by a rock, I was reminded of it, and I took a chance on that possibility. Yes, the parameter that I bet my life on is neither ¡°agility¡± nor ¡°muscle power¡± ¡­¡­. The ¡®toughest¡¯ of the big holes: ¡­¡­! I touch the name of the hidden skill I¡¯ve uncovered. ========== Absolute protection ¡°Fudo¡±. Activated when you increase the ¡°Toughness¡± parameter by 2000 or more within 0.033 seconds of receiving an attack. Until the end of that attack, you can become ¡®immobile¡¯, reducing all physical damage to zero and nullifying knockback. ========== I had already run out of spirit, so I couldn¡¯t get that into my head at all when I read the explanation. ¡­¡­ dodo dodo dodo dodo ¡­¡­. I feel the earth rumble again and I look up at the mountain. Then, this time, I saw the water rushing in. ¡°Yes ¡­¡­, no matter how long-awaited the water is, it¡¯s a little too much!¡± One problem gone, another problem started. I look back with impatience. All the animals were on the ground, their ears covered by their paws, shrinking like turtles. ¡°Everybody, run to ¡­¡­!¡± I was about to scream when I noticed a huge piece of driftwood lying beside the animals. ¡°¡®Ugh ¡­¡­ ohhhhhhh! I muster up the last of my strength and run gamely toward the giant tree. I spared no time to change jobs and attacked with a stone axe and a knife. ¡°That¡¯s it, that¡¯s it, that¡¯s it, that¡¯s it!¡± I had never crafted so selflessly and to the death before. ========== The Mysterious Wooden Ark Quantity 1 Quality level?£ü£¨Material level?) An ark made by carving unidentified driftwood. ========== ¡°Everyone, hurry up and get on this boat! The animals gathered and clung to the boat at almost the same time we were swallowed by the muddy water. ¡­¡­ Doggon, shhhhhhhh! ¡°Ya ¡­¡­ did it! This time, I really, really won!¡± ¡°¡®Well! That was an optical illusion!¡¯This God¡¯s flood operation is my favorite¡­!¡± However, this voice soon turns into a strange voice. Our ark surfaced as fast as if it were flying. It floated on the surface of the water with a splash that seemed to break through the thick clouds. ¡°¡®Nigyagyeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is like a miracle brought about by God. And it was a scream of breaking evil, as if the devil had been thwarted. CH 93 We clung tightly to the ark, trying not to be swept away by the murky waters. When the current calmed down, he crawled up and pulled the other animals up with all the strength he had left in his carapace. Although there were some injured animals, no one was missing and they boarded the ark. I was so exhausted that I turned over in the boat in a heap. ¡°Well, as expected, I¡¯m tired ¡­¡­!¡± The spray of the waves falls like rain. As soon as it was in my mouth, it disappeared like it was seeping into the cracked earth. ¡°Oh, yum¡­¡­, water is such a good thing¡­¡­!¡± The animals are very happy. They were running and rolling around in the boat, enjoying the blessed rain with all their might. I jumped up when Mark splashed me with water. ¡°Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! We played in the flooded boat, splashing each other. Carnivores and herbivores all get together and have a blast. The mainstream, which had been choked off, regained its flow, and water returned to the dried-up tributaries. It¡¯s a sight like blood flowing through capillaries. The wilted leaves regain their brilliance, and the downcast flowers blossom toward the sky. A large living thing named ¡°Forest¡± that has regained its blood is coming back to life. I instruct the animals to turn the boat around by shifting their weight and move to a tributary. In no time at all, the boat had made the seven-day journey and brought me close to my home. And that¡¯s not all. Even the old tributary that used to be near my house is back. The ark glided across the depression, bouncing off the landslide. They finally opened up a river just a stone¡¯s throw away from my house: ¡­¡­! ¡°I didn¡¯t think you could make a river ¡­¡­! and ¡­¡­ I did! I did!¡± So far, watering the fields has been quite a challenge. I had to fetch water from a pond a short distance from my house. The amount of water that can be carried by human power is negligible. That¡¯s why I could only grow ¡®sweet potatoes¡¯ that didn¡¯t need much water. ¡­¡­ ¡°¡®Now we can grow crops that need a lot of water! It¡¯s going to make farming even better, that¡¯s for sure! Yee haw!¡± When the ark reached the front of the house, it rode up from the river and stopped. I picked up the animals one by one and helped them get off the boat. ¡°When we leave this boat, we¡¯ll live as forest animals, as usual. I hunt you for a living and you attack me for a living.¡± The animals disappear into the forest, and I watch every last one of them go. ¡°¡®Ah, I¡¯m finally free of the big incident, now I can finally get back to my carefree life. Mark and Tom, who were beside me, and Jewelry, whose face was poking out of my breast pocket, squealed, ¡°Coo!¡± and ¡°Pyaa!¡± and ¡°Tut!¡± ¡°Having said that, I can¡¯t help but feel a little lonely.¡± But I didn¡¯t have time to be sentimental about it. Because in front of the house, there was a crowd of people like a flower garden. As soon as they see me, a storm rushes in. ¡°Le-¡­¡­ leoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!¡± ¡°¡®Oooh ¡­¡­ master aaaaahhhh! Monaka and Kotone, who shed tears like morning dew, hugged me with all their might. The valets are blooming all around me. ¡°What were you thinking, Leopin, doing all that dangerous stuff? ¡°Nin, it seems that the ninjutsu I taught you has come in handy, that it has, but tomorrow we will be killing each other-degozaru.¡± ¡°To break such a huge stone without using a sword. ¡­¡­ Hmm, I don¡¯t even know where to begin. A little further away, Akemi was watching with a sexy sigh. ¡°Hmmm ¡­¡­, how much do you people ¡­¡­ need to make me nervous?¡± Further away, in the shade of a tree, a small cocked hat was coming and going. When my eyes met Kurumi¡¯s, who peeked timidly, she withdrew with a snap! ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô Time to go back a bit. At the moment of the second miracle by Leopin¡¯s Ark, the residential area was in a panic without any disaster. ¡°¡±Nigyaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!¡± The principal and vice principal scream as if pierced by the thunder of God. The students prostrated themselves on the ground, as if terrified of the judgment. ¡°U¡­¡­ it¡¯s a lie, lie, lie, lie!¡± ¡°How is it possible that he broke a rock and built a boat in a matter of seconds and survived the flood ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a dream, it¡¯s a hallucination, it¡¯s a hallucination of that garbage, or else it¡¯s ¡­¡­! Ugh ¡­¡­ oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!¡± There are screams of ego collapse all around. Monaka and Kotone wipe each other¡¯s tears with a handkerchief and stand up, hand in hand. ¡°Kotone, let¡¯s go to Leo-kun¡¯s place! ¡°Yes, Monaka-sama!¡± The students were surrounded by the SS and guards, and they were not allowed to leave the school. It was to show Monaka and Kotone, who couldn¡¯t stand to watch Leopin die, the reality of the situation, even if they didn¡¯t like it. ¡­¡­ But now the siege was as if it did not exist. Because everyone had witnessed the miracle of Leopin and had completely fallen apart. ¡°Oh, no, no, no, no. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°My future was going to be so rosy if I joined the SS and helped take care of that garbage. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Those two totally had me fooled. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°If they find out we¡¯ve done this, we¡¯re screwed. ¡­¡­!¡± Monaka, Kotone and the others leave the stage of madness while the others are overwhelmed by despair. The pure white girls scuttled away, shaking their clothes like wings. The black-clad girl gazed at him with a thoughtful expression. ¨COh, if only I could keep up with those two, oh, and ¡­¡­! Umm, yeah, it¡¯s now or never! If you miss your chance now, you¡¯ll never see Leopin and ¡­¡­ again! The girl was determined to get away from her classmate, who was standing there dumbfounded. But it ends up being an attempt, not even taking the first step. Because¡­ ¡­¡­ Dojahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Because a loud sound, like the devil¡¯s blackmail, rang through the place. And for some reason, Weiss, with a band of musicians in tow, sashayed onto the stage, so ¡­¡­! ¡°¡®Hahahahahaha! Heroes are the ones who show up at the last minute ¡­¡­! The unfaithful people who have thrown the school into chaos, you will receive the brilliant judgment of me, the Sage!¡± CH 94 It was Sage Weiss who appeared on stage with a magnificent live performance. He¡¯s been on a downward spiral ever since he started messing with Leopin. His classmates have abandoned him, and his initial equipment, the Sage¡¯s robe, is in tatters, his glasses are cracked, and his hair is shaggy. The way he looked, he had fallen like a slum dweller ¡­¡­. He now wears a dazzling robe like a phoenix. As soon as he stepped out to the center of the stage, he flipped his robe as if he were flapping his wings and brushed his silky hair up with theatrical movements. Then he fixes the glasses with new lenses. He pointed his finger at the duo huddled at the edge of the stage. ¡°Necodoran, Yesman! I, the Sage, saw your evil deeds long ago! But to capture you in the decisive moment, I had to wait!¡± ¡­¡­ Dojahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! An orchestra that plays loud music. The duo kept their cheeks together and their eyes fluttered. ¡°What the hell is this ¡­¡­ all about?¡± ¡°It was you, Weiss,¡­..who suggested this plan to us,¡­¡­.¡± Weiss shrugs his shoulders. ¡°My goodness, what a despicable bunch of people, trying to pin the blame on me at this point in time.¡± Instantly, the faces of the Necodoran and Yesmen turned red, as if they had been set on fire. ¡°You can¡¯t possibly be trapping me, the Principal!¡± ¡°No! You¡¯re a student, but you¡¯re a bad boy for tricking me, the vice Principal!¡± The pair of them try to grab onto Weiss as if it were a spinal reflex, ¡°¡±Ugh!¡±¡± But a tall woman who was conducting at the head of the orchestra intervened. Then a powerful blow was unleashed. Her thighs fluttered gorgeously in the air as she flipped up her white frilly skirt. Nekodoran and Yesman took a knee strike to the face and they rolled backwards with a rumble, nose bent. ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± ¡°What the hell are you?¡± The woman who kicked them in the knee no longer needed to answer, and she put her hand on the hat she was wearing. She quickly took off the emblazoned one that the kingdom¡¯s marching band wears. ¡°Oh, you! Oh, no, you! ¡°Hey ¡­¡­ that¡¯s the school board ¡­¡­? Yes, she was the messenger who told Nekodran and the Yes Men that they were three ranks down. She tucked her hair into a quick bun and went back to her usual secretary look. And then she releases her words in cold blood. ¡°¡®Instructor Nekodoran, Instructor Yesman, this Mr. Weiss here has told me all about your schemes. You were removed from your positions as principal and vice principal, but you still clung to your power and tried to plunge the school into chaos. ¡­¡­ What¡¯s more, to seal the ¡®magic circle of transference¡¯ so that no one from the outside can interfere with it. ¡­¡­¡± Weiss, who was beside me, quickly added. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing that I, as a wise man, was able to break the seal with my genius intelligence, but if I hadn¡¯t been there, it would have been a big problem.¡± Nekodoran and Yesman said back, forgetting themselves. ¡°You¡¯re the one who told us to seal the magic circle!¡± ¡°It¡¯s no wonder he was there when I was sealing it, watching how I did it! That¡¯s why it was so easy for you to disarm it, right?¡± ¡°Not only that, but declaring a state of emergency, re-creating the magic of non-thirsty range, reclaiming ponds, blocking rivers, and all that ¡­¡­! ¡°Everything was planned by Weiss! He whispered to me like a demon in the courtyard of the school!¡± But Weiss doesn¡¯t care. ¡°How do you feel now?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°¡®I¡¯ve had the devil¡¯s whispers from you guys before too. He told me to use them to build a base, regardless of the fact that the other students are still inexperienced. It failed because of them, but you people put all the blame on me. Of course I protested, but you people didn¡¯t listen. That¡¯s what you¡¯re feeling right now.¡± ¡°GUNU¡­¡­!¡± ¡°I, you know, pay back double what is done to me, and of course I will pay back double the punishment.¡± With a grudging bow, Weiss stepped back. Then the school board messenger stepped forward. ¡°I hereby sentence Nekodran and his yes-men to this punishment.¡± The two of them both shrieked, ¡°¡±NOOO!¡±¡± They hold each other tightly, as if they were little brothers staring at a witch, refusing to let each other go. ¡°He was an educator, but he wielded power that he didn¡¯t have and disturbed the order of the school, which is a very serious crime. it will be considered a rebellion against the kingdom by the Royal Pioneer Academy,.¡± Like a judge¡¯s wooden mallet, the heel is stamped with a dang! ¡°Therefore, you are under arrest for sedition! The ringleader will be sentenced to a long period of forced labor and possibly life in prison depending on the circumstances!¡± Instantly, the brothers became more than strangers, they became enemies. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be able to find a lot more information on this subject in the coming weeks.¡± ¡°What are you talking about, you bald, fat man? You threatened me with a bald spot if I didn¡¯t obey you!¡± ¡°You, I can¡¯t take it anymore! You¡¯ve been disrespecting me with every word you speak! I¡¯ve always wanted to kick you out!¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about! I¡¯ve always wanted to kick your ass!¡± ¡°NIGYAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!¡± ¡°KEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!¡± Their hatred for each other reaches its peak, and they finally start to fight each other. ¡°¡±Gaf beloha gabebab johaba!¡±¡± The Nekodran and the Yes Men, together, are captured by members of the school board dressed as a band. They hold on to each other and are tied around each other with a rope. They were taken away in a caged carriage, echoing with a harmony of screams like a monster bird having its feathers plucked and a fat cat having its hair clipped. CH 95 The real heroes are When the principal and vice principal were caught as criminals, my hands were full of flowers. I was stroking Monaka and Kotone¡¯s heads as they cried in my chest. ¡°It seems that Monaka¡¯s crybaby nature has spread to Kotone.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a crybaby,¡± said Monaka. Kotone had a look of tears and laughter on her face. ¡°I was taught from a very young age to be resolute at all times. I used to keep it, but not anymore since I started to serve my master. Just thinking about Master made my cheeks loosen and my chest tighten up again. But Monaka-sama told me that it was all right. After that, I stopped pretending to be something I wasn¡¯t.¡± Then she smiles awkwardly and says, ¡°Ehehe. It was as if she was imitating Monaka. ¡°Besides, if my master can love you like this,¡­¡­, tears are not so bad,¡­¡­.¡± Kotone shyly faced down. Monaka looked up this time, as if they were twins who were breathing together. I thought she was going to say something, but she mumbled for a while and then ¡°Oh, um, Leo, ¡­¡­. We obeyed Leo¡¯s orders and stayed quietly in the living quarters. So, can I have that ¡­¡­ ¡®special treat¡¯?¡± I replied mildly. ¡°A special treat? Okay, what do you want?¡± I noticed that Kotone had also looked up. ¡°No, Master, we want to give it to you. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s a reward for you guys, and I get to take it? That¡¯s weird. ¡­¡­¡± I¡¯m at a loss for words. Monaka and Kotone were both staring at me with eyes that were glimmering, and I was staring at them. The cronies behind them stare at me with stern eyes. It¡¯s kind of like if you say no, you¡¯re a misanthrope. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what to make of it, but it¡¯s a good idea. If it¡¯s not a slave ticket or something, I¡¯ll take whatever I can get and be given¡­¡­¡± I¡¯m at a loss for words once again. Because I was pinned down by the feeling of fluttering petals falling and sticking to my cheeks. ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô Time goes back a bit, to the living quarters stage. Weiss was surrounded by loud cheers. ¡°I had no idea that Weiss-sama had seen through the evil scheme between the principal and vice principal!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, because he¡¯s a wise man, a genius beyond our reach!¡± ¡°Thank you, Weiss-san!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll follow you for the rest of my life!¡± By decimating the vicious duo, Weiss had completely become the hero of the entire school. ¡±Class 1-20¡¯s rank is going down, but it must have been true that their classmates were bad!¡± ¡°Of course, the others were pulling Weiss-sama¡¯s leg!¡± The members of the Class 1-20 are looking annoyed and seem uncomfortable. Monsoon yelled back, but he was outnumbered and his voice was completely drowned out. From his perch on the stage, Weiss looks around at the students below him. Not a trace of his former downfall remains in his expression. He has a perfect smile on his face, as if he has never experienced a failure or setback. ¨CAfter all, I¡¯m a genius: ¡­¡­! Not only did he get back at the principal and vice principal, but he used them both as stepping stones to regain his former trust. ¡­¡­! This operation could have gone either way, success or failure: ¡­¡­! If the previous headmaster and vice principal could have eliminated Leopin, he would have sold a great debt of gratitude to them both: ¡­¡­! If I can¡¯t eliminate them, I¡¯ll eliminate their predecessors with my own hands. ¡­¡­ I¡¯m going to show the new principal what I¡¯m made of: ¡­¡­! I¡¯m sure the new principal will think highly of me once he finds out that I was a key player in this one: ¡­¡­! And with the help of the new principal, I¡¯m, I¡¯m ¡­¡­! I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t catch your name ¡­¡­! I¡¯m too lazy to kill. ¡­¡­! When Weiss realizes that he has a stern face, he quickly glosses over and changes his expression. Then, with a swoop, he raised his hand. With that, the crowd goes silent like a tame pet. ¡°Today is the day that the first evil was crushed, and I have a special treat for you.¡± The crowd cheered, ¡°Oh! ¡°It¡¯s your right to kiss my cheek. ¡­¡­!¡± After that, the reaction was all over the place. Some scream ¡°Kyaaa!¡± and others with disappointment of ¡°What the ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to draw a winner and give you two the right to kiss me, so let¡¯s see if any of you ladies think you¡¯re the one.¡± Then most of the girls in the room raised their hands and said, ¡°Yes! Carol folded her arms and snorted, ¡°This is stupid.¡± Weiss looked for one of the two girls first. But he can¡¯t find them. ¨Cthose two are especially clean and modest. I¡¯m sure she was too embarrassed to be here just imagining her kisses for me. Oh, well, they¡¯re my main dish. It¡¯s better to save the fun for last. Besides, my illustrious history of popularity will continue into the future. I think I¡¯m going to have to settle for less than an appetizer here. ¡­¡­ Weiss then nominates a female student at random. The girls who were chosen were both madly exclaiming, ¡°Kyaa!¡± They walk up to the stage, barely able to stand, as if they had been chosen for the grand prize of an audition. Weiss wrapped his hands around their waists and embraced the dreamy girls, receiving ¡­¡­ a kiss of blessing. Just before the end, the men began to rustle. ¡°Whoa, hey, look at ¡­¡­, that thing ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going to be able to get kissed by both of them, are you ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°¡®Ugh, no way, no way, no way, no way, no way, no way!¡± Weiss inwardly mocked. ¨CI don¡¯t know why ther¡¯re surprised now. I¡¯m a genius, an athlete, and a handsome guy, and this is me. ¡­¡­ I¡¯m a Sage who is not under the feet of unemployed trash, and this who I am ¡­¡­. There is nothing unusual about kissing two schoolgirls. ¡­¡­ That¡¯s why you folks are ¡­¡­! But just before their lips touched his cheek, Weiss realized. That no one was looking at me anymore. The audience¡¯s envious gaze is directed over the ¡­¡­! ¡°Get out of the way, you ugly bastards!¡± Weiss shakes off the female students roughly and looks up to the heavens. What a great place to be there, ¡­¡­! On the crystal plate, directly in front and in a close-up, is the face of Leopin ¡­¡­. And the profile of those beautiful girls who put their lips to his cheeks. ¡­¡­! The wise man was shouting like a fool. ¡°¡®Ugh ¡­¡­ oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!¡± CH 96 Those who have lost everything Nekodoran and Yesman have been detained by the school board. They will be judged by the ¡°Royal Supreme Court¡± of the Kingdom of Leek Eight. During the trial, the presiding judge did not utter a single word about Leopin. Finally, the time of judgment arrived. ¡°¡­¡­ The accused is a teacher, a sacred position, and at the Royal Academy, one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the world, he is in charge of the children who will carry the future, and yet he is privatizing the Academy! Sealing the ¡°Magic Circle of Transition¡± and refusing external interference is tantamount to holding the children of powerful people hostage! Therefore, I sentence you to a severe punishment! You will be dragged to King¡¯s Landing and be forced to work in the Zamamisarase Mine!¡± ¡­¡­ Doggon! The judge¡¯s gavel of judgment swung down, and a merciless sound rang through the place. That, combined with the verdict, resembled the sound of a beheading blade falling. Criminals who are sent to the Zamamisarase Mine will not be assigned a period of incarceration. Because once you¡¯re in there, you can¡¯t get out again. Yes, even if they¡¯re dead: ¡­¡­! The dismissed defendants, Nekodran and Yeshman, went on a mad rampage. ¡°Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, ¡«¡«¡«¡«! It¡¯s not my fault, it¡¯s Sage Weiss who seduced us! That boy is terrifying, he¡¯s the devil!¡± ¡°Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, ¡«¡«¡«¡« And we only did what our supporters told us to do! It¡¯s a horrible thing! It¡¯s a horrible thing ¡«¡«¡«¡«!¡± A guffaw escaped from the audience. ¡°Oh dear, those people, they are trying to frame the son of the Great Sage, Weiss-sama ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re trying to drag your supporters into it. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°I guess it was true what they say about losing their head: ¡­¡­¡± That evening, an issue of the newspaper buzzed around the royal capital. ¡°The headmaster and vice principal of the Royal Frontier Academy are in disarray! They¡¯ve taken the children of powerful people hostage and plotted to overthrow the kingdom!¡± The students of the school, including Monaka and Kotone, were famous even at a young age, so the citizens¡¯ animosity towards them grew quickly. The next day, the route of the ¡°royal city dragging punishment¡± was packed with many people. Necodoran and Yesmen are forced to wear prison uniforms with horizontal stripes and are exposed like animals in a caged carriage. As soon as they left the jail, they were subjected to a torrent of abuse. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me! You can¡¯t take children hostage like that! ¡°I can¡¯t allow it, for them to make my beloved Monaka-sama sad!¡± ¡°You¡¯re dead, you bastards!¡± At last, some people even started throwing garbage. Garbage rains down, and Nekodoran and Yesman are completely covered in garbage. They embraced each other and cowered at the bare malice. ¡°Stop, stop, stop, stop!¡± ¡°Kieeeeeee!¡± There seemed to be no more blame in the world. However, as soon as the carriage passes a posh residential area where the wealthy live, they see hell on earth. A well-dressed father and son, who had never seen a horse-drawn carriage before, passed by, full of happiness. ¡°You¡¯re moving into your new home today!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Daddy¡¯s house! Yay!¡± ¡°he thinks you¡¯re his daddy!¡± ¡°What are you talking about, Mom? He¡¯s always been my dad! You were a housemate before, weren¡¯t you! No, maybe he was a livestock! he looked like a pig!¡± Nekodoran had his face between the bars, his face contorted like a pig¡¯s, and he was reaching out towards the parent and child. ¡°Who is that man? Has she been having an affair while I was away?¡± ¡°Oh, my God, look, the prisoner!¡± ¡°Oh, my God, it¡¯s a mess! It¡¯s covered in garbage!¡± ¡°¡®So it¡¯s true what they say in the papers about you being crazy! I¡¯m all about my dad!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mess with them both. Those prisoners are going to live in a living hell for the rest of their lives. If you get involved, they¡¯ll end up infecting us with their misery.¡± ¡°Ginny! Ginny!!!¡± Abandoned by his family, Nekodoran cries out. Seeing this, the Yesman laughed creepily. ¡°M-ho-ho-ho, it¡¯s nice to see that you think of others as your pawns, so you end up throwing them away! On that note, my family has a strong bond with me! I¡¯m sure that by now, they¡¯re talking to some influential people to get me released!¡± However, his laughter was interrupted with a thud by a flying stone. ¡°What are you doing? It¡¯s not trash, it¡¯s a rock, it¡¯s dangerous!¡± Behind the lattice is a family of yes-men who should have a strong bond with ¡­¡­! ¡°I got it! I got it!¡± ¡°Well done, boys, well done! Because of that trash, we had to move!¡± ¡°That means he¡¯s a bad guy, Mom!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, he¡¯s also a disgrace to the clan, I don¡¯t care if I have to kill him here!¡± If you look closely, you¡¯ll see that it¡¯s not just the family, but his whole clan was occupying the roadside. They were throwing plenty of rocks at them, which they must have prepared beforehand. The inside of the cage becomes a further picture of hell. ¡°You guys, I quit, I quit, I quit, I quit, I quit, I quit, I quit, I quit, I quit, I quit, I quit, I quit, I quit, I quit, I quit, I quit, I quit, I quit! ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re not the only one. Don¡¯t drag me into this!¡± ¡°Your overweight body will finally come in handy one day! ¡°I can¡¯t take it anymore! NIGYAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!¡± ¡°KEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!¡± ¡°Gaf beloha gabebab johaba!¡± They no longer have any allies and there is no tomorrow. They lost everything and only deepened each other¡¯s mental and physical scars in desperation. CH 97 New principal and vice principal A month has passed since I entered the Royal Pioneer Academy. Thanks to a number of incidents, my base of operations remained an ¡®ordinary house¡¯ as usual. However, since the principal and vice principal, who are always trying to block me, are gone, I can now concentrate on pioneering ¡­¡­. And I thought I was. Until the next principal and vice principal arrived. The new principal immediately gave us a powerful speech at the morning meeting at the beginning of the month, on that stage. ¡°I¡¯m Kakeru-kun, the first headmaster of the Royal Academy of Settlement! And over here is the vice principal, D¡¯Lila!¡± The new headmaster, ¡°Kakeru-kun¡±, with his shaved head, fancy golden tuxedo, and full of father-boy feeling. And ¡°D¡¯Lila¡±, a middle-aged woman dressed as a bunny girl and wearing a silver jacket. It wasn¡¯t just them that were strange, there were quite a few oddities in the schoolyard as well. The stage that serves as the morning assembly platform is located at the edge of the schoolyard, but the area around us, which is the audience seating, is covered with a divided wall so that we cannot see our surroundings. Kakeru-kun on stage said innocently in a high-pitched voice like a child. ¡°My occupation is ¡®gambler¡¯!¡± The students, who had been keeping quiet until then, started to make a lot of noise. ¡°Seriously, you¡¯re a gambler?¡± ¡°It is said to be a cursed profession, that ¡­¡­? ¡°¡®It is said that a man who is given the occupation of a gambler will not live to be twenty years old, and yet ¡­¡­! ¡°And yet you¡¯ve risen to become a headmaster. ¡­¡­! ¡°That principal must be pretty amazing ¡­¡­! ¡°As you know, gamblers are known as the ¡®cursed profession¡¯! But at the same time, it¡¯s also called ¡®the strongest profession¡¯! Their power is said to surpass even the bravest! I¡¯m the gambler who is the closest thing to a hero, right? Kakeru-kun pounds his chest, ¡°Ahem. ¡°After all, I¡¯m a super gambler ¡­¡­ who¡¯s been called the ¡¯10 billion man¡¯! I¡¯ll use that power to lead you all!¡± A round of applause erupts, ¡°Oh!¡± The fact that he was given the unfortunate job of a gambler, but lived to be over 20 years old and became a school principal seemed to win the hearts of the students. ¡°I¡¯ll introduce you to my right-hand man, but I¡¯ll also introduce you to my left-hand man! It¡¯s Weiss-san, the student body president!¡± Weiss appears from the side of the stage as the new principal is introduced. Weiss has become a hero in the school for exposing the wrongdoings of the former principal and vice principal. ¡°Now that I, a wise man, have become the student council president, I will show you an amazing method of cultivation that is different from anything you¡¯ve seen before! I want you all to believe in me and follow me!¡± The students get even more excited, ¡°Wow! I was standing there alone, out of the way of the group. Then the new principal proceeds to announce the top of the current class rankings. 1st place, class 1- 11, S rank 2nd place, class 1 ¨C 02, A rank 3rd, Class 1 ¨C 19, Rank B 4th place, class 1 ¨C 06, C rank 4th, Class 1 ¨C 16, Rank C Class 1-11 it remains at the top as a rank. And my former class of 1 -20 , which was ranked 5th at the entrance ceremony, has fallen out of range. Instead, Akemi¡¯s class, 1 ¨C 6, and Kurumi¡¯s class 1 -16, were ranked. I mumble to myself. ¡°Except for number one, that¡¯s the class I was in. ¡­¡­ Then the asset ranking was announced, and the principal said something like this. ¡°I¡¯m like, Hey, I don¡¯t care about class rank! Because the one with more money is greater, right? It¡¯s a gambler¡¯s value, I¡¯ll give you that. ¡°So, before we announce our assets, I¡¯d like to play a quick game! The game is ¡°Cheers Game¡±! The rules are simple! Now each class will come up on this stage in turn and we¡¯ll toast with these glasses! After the toast, if we all drink the grape juice inside, we¡¯re clear! I¡¯ll give you 100 million Yen from my pocket money, hey!¡± ¡°What ¡­¡­ eh?¡± It was an unbelievable gift that I thought I heard wrong. I can¡¯t believe we¡¯re getting 100 million Yen just for juicing the whole class: ¡­¡­! ¡°But there are a few rules ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ! First of all, once the game starts, no participant can leave in the middle! Whether you win or lose, play the game to the end! This is a natural part of good manners, isn¡¯t it?¡± I was stupid enough to think for a moment that he would say something decent. ¡°But not everyone can play this game! The only class that can participate in this game is the class with two or more students! Keep your fingers crossed for the lone class, hey!¡± Well, I knew it would be something like this. ¡°And the third rule is that the grape juice is laced with a potion of oblivion! When we make a toast, we will swear to forget everything that¡¯s happened in the past month before we drink it!¡± A potion of oblivion is a magic potion that has the effect of erasing certain memories from those who drink it. ¡°I¡¯m the first headmaster of the Royal Pioneer Academy, so I want all the students to start over with that in mind! I see, so that¡¯s why you¡¯re getting a big discount. I¡¯ve got a point about this weird game. The Potion of Oblivion is forbidden to be drunk without the person¡¯s consent. It¡¯s only natural, since you can falsify your memory as much as you want. There is no one who would willingly drink after a very painful experience. But if you can get 100 million Yen, anyone would be happy to drink it. The headmaster glanced at me and flicked his tongue out. ¡°And I know that there¡¯s a bad boy in here who¡¯s using drugs to make people hallucinate! You¡¯re going to forget all about those bad hallucinations in this game!¡± ¡°Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!¡± The new principal seems to have completely captured the hearts of the students. The students look up to their new principal with respect. From the top of the heads of many of these students, I thought I saw a heart mark ¡­¡­, but not a single person put it out. Instead, the effect was like paper money. But among them, there are also a few female students here and there who are making heart marks. But if you look closely, it¡¯s the usual suspects like Monaka and Kotone. The girls seemed more concerned about me than the principal¡¯s speech. She glances behind her like a child at a class visit, checking to see if her parents are there. When her eyes met mine, she made a heart mark and gave me a small wave with a sly smile. CH 98 Cheers Game The new Principal¡¯s speech on his new position turns into the venue for the ¡®Cheers Game¡¯. ¡°Well, let the games begin! The class that gets called up gets to go up on stage and grabs a glass of juice! ¡°The first one is¡­ well, I guess¡­ 7, my lucky number! Class 1 ¨C 7, get up on stage!¡± Class 1 ¨C 7 is a class consisting only of senior merchants, and is also known as the ¡°Australian Merchant Union¡±. Among all the students, some of the best-dressed students in the school took the stage. They took a glass of blood-red liquid and raised it to the sky without hesitation. ¡°We¡¯re going to forget everything that¡¯s happened in the past month, especially all the bad things that trash has done! Cheers!¡± They clinked their glass and downed it all at once as if celebrating the best moment. When they finish throttling, their faces are clear as if the possession has been removed. ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve won this game! Here¡¯s your prize!¡± Kakeru-kun strikes a deliberate ¡°maaaay¡± pose, then shoves his hands into the pockets of his golden tuxedo. He took his hand out again and opened it like a flower. Kakeru-kun 10 billion ? 9.9 billion In the next moment, light banknotes flew out from his hands like a blizzard and were sucked into the bodies of the students of Class 1-7. The ranking board that was attached to the stage is updated. 1st place, Class 1- 7, 105,201,900 Yen 2nd place, Special Training Class 101,200,000 Yen The updated ¡­¡­ figures were greeted with cheers like the moment a demon was defeated. ¡°Whoa, whoa, look at that thing!¡± ¡°Finally, that piece of trash is down for the count!¡± ¡°Suck it, we did it, we did it, we did it!¡± Then, one after another, each class took the stage and gave a toast that was unbearable to hear. ¡°Thank you Principal, I¡¯ve been having trouble sleeping thanks to the hallucinations that garbage gives me! ¡°This will be a school where the righteous will be rightly appreciated, and the trash will go to the dump! ¡°I¡¯m sure our Akemi-sama will come to her senses with this! The glass is struck and the asset ranking board is updated. Every time the name ¡°Special Training Class¡± sank in, the boys in the audience turned their heads back and said, inaudibly. ¡°That piece of trash has a face like a kesak! ¡°Oh, he¡¯s all dented up, that¡¯s good!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not gonna let trash like you take them! Leopin was indeed disappointed. It wasn¡¯t because my asset ranking was declining. ¨CIf you¡¯re going to lose your memory of the past month, it¡¯s ¡­¡­. Are you saying that the people I¡¯ve fought off so far are coming back to bite me in the ass? ¡­¡­? In addition, my house has only recently been able to be quite due to the spread of traps and weapons,¡­¡­. It means that all of them will be reset at ¡­¡­. Ugh, what a pain in the ass! And finally, it was the turn of that ¡ñ¡ñ class. ¡°And now, everyone¡¯s favorite class 1- 19, please get up on stage! Then the students below the stage naturally give way. On the other side of the crowd that looks like a broken sea, there is an army of beautiful girls in kimonos. They are so beautiful that you don¡¯t have to be a man to admire them, and the black-haired girl at the head of the group raised her voice. ¡°We refuse to make a toast. The students who had opened the way were surprised, ¡°What?¡± But Kakeru-kun seemed to have plenty of time to spare. ¡°¡®Oh, really? Well, then I¡¯ll be damned! Is there anyone else in the class who doesn¡¯t want to make a toast?¡± Then, some students raised their hands. ¡°All right, then, will that class all get up on stage? Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t force you to make a toast, because this is a game, right?¡± On the stage were Monaka¡¯s Class 1-2 , Akemi¡¯s Class 1- 6, Kurumi¡¯s Class 1-16, and Kotone¡¯s Class 1-19. The majority of the class was made up of female students. The girls¡¯ faces and bodies are scrutinized by Kakeru-kun as if he were prizing them. ¡°Wow, you guys are so cute, I wonder if I could make you my bride!¡± Kotone, who was facing Kakerukun like a representative of the girls, answered in no time. ¡°Please tell us the reason why you brought us to the stage.¡± ¡°¡®Of course it¡¯s to be toasted! Oh, don¡¯t worry, I know what you¡¯re going to say!¡± Kakeru-kun slumps slightly and smiles a shady smile. ¨CYou¡¯re gonna get me in trouble! You greedy bitch! I know what you¡¯re thinking! If you want a toast, you¡¯re gonna have to give me more! But you¡¯ve got the wrong guy! I¡¯m a ¡®gambler¡¯ ¡­¡­! This kind of greedy bitch is easier than disciplining a puppy: ¡­¡­! I see you, I see you. ¡­¡­! The look of fear on the faces of these greedy women at my words after this: ¡­¡­! Kakeru-kun looks up and sniffs mysteriously. ¡°In other words, if you want more money, then I¡¯ll give it to you!¡± With absolute confidence, she pointed her finger at Kotone with a V sign. ¡°Boom, 200 million!¡± As Kotone pouted, Kakeru-kun was convinced of victory. ¨CWell, you didn¡¯t think I was going to double down on you, did you? Ahhhh, the positions were easily reversed! Now, let¡¯s see some discipline, gambler style! Not only do I want to make her kneel, but I think I¡¯ll make her cry just to make an example out of her! I¡¯m gonna make sure these girls can¡¯t resist me again! The students below the stage, who have already received 100 million, begin to buzz. ¡°What, 200 million? ¡°What, you didn¡¯t tell me I could double my money?¡± ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s what this game is about!¡± ¡°Damn it, I¡¯m hit! It¡¯s just like Kotone to notice that!¡± ¡°It¡¯s amazing that you managed to double your money!¡± ¡°But it doesn¡¯t look like it! Look at the faces of Kotone and the others! You¡¯re so surprised, you¡¯re scowling!¡± ¡°If someone suddenly said 200 million, everyone would be like that! ¡°As expected of a headmaster, he took advantage of your opponent¡¯s request for a raise and counter punched them!¡± ¡°It seems that Kotone has been completely swallowed up by the headmaster! Looks like we¡¯ve got the wrong guy!¡± Kakeru-kun, feeling good about his performance, puts the finishing touches on the plan. ¡°¡®Ahhh, looks like we¡¯re going to have a toast! But, unfortunately, you¡¯ve already rejected me! If you want to cancel it, you¡¯ll have to ask nicely! Get down on your knees and say, ¡®Let me make a toast!¡¯ how about it!¡± Then Kotone came back to herself. She looked at Kakeru-kun as if he were an alien from another planet. ¡°Oh, ¡­¡­? What are you talking about, Principal? We¡¯ve always refused to toast ¡­¡­?¡± Kotone didn¡¯t seem to understand at all, so Akemi, who was on the same stage, added. ¡°¡®Ummm, the headmaster thinks we¡¯ll be toast if he hangs up the money. On the contrary, you seem to think that I would gladly give up my memory of Leopin.¡± Then the naive duo of Kotone and Monaka chimed in, ¡°What? Then she glares at Kakeru-kun with a snap, as if something important has been stained. ¡°Principal, no matter how much money you give us, we will never make a toast! I¡¯m willing to bite my tongue and take my life if I have to let go of my Master¡¯s great memory!¡± ¡°Yes, absolutely not! I¡¯m finally reunited with Leo! The memories I have with Leo are irreplaceable. ¡­¡­! I was much, much happier in the month I spent with Leo-kun than in the years I was without him!¡± And the stage turns into a leopin choir of girls. The girls surrounded the principal and began to talk eloquently about how wonderful Leopin was. Kakeru-kun is like a toad surrounded by mirrors, and he can¡¯t stop sweating. Finally, Akemi blurted out with a thud. ¡°Haha, what a sad person that only games and money can keep people together: ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Ha¡­¡­ hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!¡± CH 99 The Unexpected Ambush Kakeru-kun has been troubled since his first day in his new job. He was about to explode, but just before he did, the vice principal, who was standing aside, shouted loudly. ¡°This whole deal is void because it¡¯s against the rules! Her voice rang through the schoolyard, and the students shut their mouths. The rules that were announced using the silence were surprising.¡± ¡°To begin with, in the ¡®Cheers Game¡¯, there is a rule that if less than four classes refuse to make a toast, then the whole school must make a toast! Kakeru-kun is immediately on board. ¡°I just remembered that there¡¯s a rule about that, too! That¡¯s the vice principal! She¡¯s my trusty dealer, isn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°What?¡± They said in astonishment. ¡±Oh no! That¡¯s too much!¡± said Monaka and Kotone. Onesco stepped forward to protect them. ¡°¡®Principal, you¡¯ve just decided that because it was us four classes that refused to do so! ¡°What? I told you in advance! ¡°This game has some ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ rules! I just remembered a rule I forgot! And you make it sound like I¡¯m cheating! If this game is invalidated, the 100 million I gave you will be ruined!¡± Not wanting to let 100 million go down the drain, the students downstairs agreed, ¡°That¡¯s ¡­¡­ right, right, right!¡¯ ¡°This is a farce and I will not stand for it! Let¡¯s go, Lady Kotone!¡± Tomoe says as she cuts him off, prompting Kotone to do the same. But the Principal quickly moved around in a crabby, crunchy sideways motion. ¡°Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! And it¡¯s a legitimate educational curriculum, designed by me, the principal, and approved by the school board! If you break that, you can¡¯t complain about being downgraded!¡± ¡°Guh ¡­¡­, you cowardly ¡­¡­!¡± Kakeru-kun smiles back at Tomoe, who bites her teeth. This game is designed to erase the memory of Leopin¡¯s exploits and make him fall again. Aside from the rest of the little bastards, it wouldn¡¯t matter if Monaka and Kotone didn¡¯t make a toast! We¡¯re gonna erase his memory from everyone but him. ¡­¡­! Then he¡¯ll be a sad hero that no one will recognize. ¡­¡­! Suddenly, a hand went up from a female student below the stage. ¡°Principal, I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°What is it? Kakeru-kun looks in the direction of the voice. Only the arm of the female student could be seen because of the large students in front of her. ¡°¡®That rule was just forgotten by Sensei, it wasn¡¯t added later, was it? Once you say something, you don¡¯t change it later, won¡¯t you? For example, later on, it was not 100 million, but 1yen, so you should return it.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s a given! Because if I do that, then I, as a parent, will definitely win and there will be no more losses! That¡¯s not really a game anymore! I may have forgotten something, but I¡¯ll never change what I¡¯ve said once, so don¡¯t worry!¡± The female student says, ¡°I see,¡± and pushes her way forward past the students in front of her. The girl with curly hair and gal makeup said, looking deliberately dull as she shoved her hands into the pockets of the mage woman¡¯s robe. ¡°Then I¡¯ll stop toasting my class too. I don¡¯t want to forget about the leopin.¡± The simulation in Carol¡¯s brain was perfect. The new Principal and the new student council president are going left and right, and my imagination has already grown to the point where I¡¯m being hugged by Leopin. ¨CYes! If Aashi¡¯s class refuses to toast, there will be five classes: ¡­¡­! Then Ah-So, we won¡¯t have to forget about Leopin¡¯s exploits: ¡­¡­! Besides, if I make a decision like Kotone, Leopin might turn to me again. ¡­¡­! Carol gulped and turned to the Principal, spinning his meticulous thoughts into words. ¡°Well, ah ¡­¡­ ah dry ¡­¡­ class ¡­¡­ quit ¡­¡­. Because Leo ¡­¡­ forgot ¡­¡­ pin ¡­¡­ yadda ¡­¡­¡± But it is as tattered as the scarf she once knitted. She¡¯s usually sharp and blunt about everything, but when it comes to Leopin, she¡¯s just mumbling. The girl had less than five seconds to show. Weiss, who was offstage, cringed at the sudden revolt of his classmates, but shrugged and stepped forward. ¡°¡®My goodness, Carol seems to want to forget about Leopin as soon as possible. Principal, it can¡¯t be helped if this happens. Since we¡¯ve already decided to toast the whole school, why don¡¯t we have the remaining classes do it all at once?¡± ¡°Yes ¡­¡­ yes! Let¡¯s quickly finish this game before any weird interruptions come in!¡± However, that was not the case. Instead, an unexpected ambush comes forward. ¡°Principal, we, the first three classes, refuse to toast! To the great tamer, Leopin-san, we salute you!¡± ¡°Ha¡­¡­ hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!¡± The students of Class 1 and 3 all carry birds and small animals on their shoulders. Yes, the class of Tamers had finally risen up. They want to keep the memories of Leopin alive ¡­¡­! Leopin was sitting with his back to the stage, not just out of the mosquito net, but as far away as the fire on the other side of the river. He finds that he can¡¯t participate in the ¡°Cheers Game¡± and is tired of watching and trying out his training taming on Alinco in the schoolyard. ¡°¡®Hmm, it doesn¡¯t work. Arinco is not an animal, so the ¡®training¡¯ skill doesn¡¯t work ¡­¡­? I want to turn up the ¡°charm¡± and give it a try, but I don¡¯t want it to be like the last time. ¡­¡­ It would be bad if I ruined the game the Principal is playing to get to know everyone.¡± He doesn¡¯t know. Even if he doesn¡¯t do anything at all, the game is becoming a mess just due to his presence. CH 100 With the addition of Class 1 and 3, the number of classes refusing to toast has grown to five. Once they crossed the four classes of toast refusal, he can no longer enforce them in the name of the rules of the game. Kakeru-kun has been caught out again. He seemed about to explode at last, but again the vice-principal shouted high in the air. ¡°I have one more new rule to announce!¡± This time, as expected, there were shouts of ¡°Ma¡­¡­ again!¡± from below the stage. Undeterred by the criticism, the vice principal, D¡¯Lila, held her hand up to the writing wall next to the stage. Then 10 treasure chests fly out from behind the wall and land on the wall. Apparently, D¡¯Lila is a wizard. D¡¯Lila snaps her fingers, and the ten treasure chests open all at once. Then two kinds of signs popped out of the open box. The five treasure chests are signs that say ¡°Atari! Plus 50 Million Yen!¡± The remaining five treasure chests are signs that say ¡°Huzzah! Minus 50 Million Yen ¡°. That was all he needed to know, and Kakeru-kun took over. He nodded his head with tears in his eyes, as if he was exaggeratedly impressed. ¡°¡®The girls¡¯ feelings for Leopin have touched my heart too! That¡¯s why I wanted to give Leopin-san a present too! The Leopin Millionaire Game is about to begin! I mean, hey, Leopin-kun, Leopin-kun!¡± Leopin was too preoccupied with Alinco to notice when Kakeru-kun called out to him. One student throws a rock at him, and knocks! ¡°Ouch!¡± he turns around. Leopin turned toward the stage and giggled. Because all eyes were focused on him. The Principal says, pointing towards a row of treasure chests. ¡°Mr. Leopin! Look over there! See all those treasure chests? That treasure chest is about to be closed and shuffled, and then you get to pick the box! If you get a hit, I¡¯ll give you 50 million Yen ! But if you get a bad one, I¡¯ll take the 50 million yen , okay?¡± Leopin sighs and gives an uninterested nod. ¡°If you get a hit, you win, if you get a miss, I win! You can pull the treasure chest as many times as you want! If you can get five in a row, you¡¯ll win 250 million yen!¡± ¡°Huh.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s a condition for quitting, and you can¡¯t retire until you get at least one ¡®bite.¡± ¡°But I only have 100 million Yen .¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just call it a loan for the rest!¡± The explanation of the rules continues, weaving in and outrageous things. At this point, the Principal suddenly turned the conversation to Monaka and Kotone. ¡°It¡¯s time to chime in! If your class declares that they will cooperate with Leopin-kun, the number of Ataris in the treasure chest will increase by one per class! However, the class that declares cooperation must make a toast if Mr. Leopin draws even one ¡°wrong¡±! In other words, you¡¯re betting on Leopin¡¯s memory to give him an advantage!¡± Now I know why The Cheers Game turned into The Leopin¡¯ Millionaire Game. The Principal wants Monaka and Kotone to make a toast to the game. Monaka raised a small hand with a curious look on her face. ¡°Um, Principal ¡­¡­, if all five classes here cooperate with Leo-kun, all ten treasure chests will become ¡®Atari¡¯, ¡­¡­?¡± Then the principal fidgeted deliberately. ¡°Don¡¯t make me say it! I told you! I was touched by your feelings for Mr. Leopin!¡± Monaka and Kotone are two young ladies who have been raised to believe that world is all butterflies and flowers. She was not familiar with the bad intentions of others, but was intelligent about the good intentions of others. ¡°You can find a lot of people who are interested in this kind of thing.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Vice principal, but I misjudged you. I don¡¯t do any kind of gambling, but if that¡¯s the case, I¡¯m happy to help.¡± The girls who refused the toast were pure, and knew no suspicion of others. This is especially true if the other party is a principal. However, one girl was different. ¡°I¡¯m sure there¡¯s more to it than that, but okay, I¡¯m in. Men and danger are just like horses ¡­¡­ to ride, you know. Aan, it¡¯s a dangerous bet, it¡¯s kind of tantalizing ¡­¡­!¡± In the end, all five classes bet their ¡®toast¡¯ and offered to help Leopin. In the treasure chest that was lined up by the side, the tag of ¡°not good¡± is replaced with ¡°atari¡± by the head teacher¡¯s hand. The ten Ataris lined up in a row were spectacular. Naturally, frustration ensues. ¡°It¡¯s too unfair to win them all! ¡°And that¡¯s a total of 500 million! The top class of us is 100 million, why would you ¡­¡­ give a trashy guy like that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure what to make of that.¡± But their frustration vanishes in an instant. ¡°Then the ¡®Leopin Grand Poor Man¡¯s ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ Game¡¯ is about to begin! At the principal¡¯s signal, the ten treasure chests slammed their lids shut, and the wall of writing that surrounded the students was transformed into a ¡­¡­ ZBAHHHHHHHHHHHH! And then, as if to snap it open, it dispersed. The view that opens up at once, in the spacious schoolyard ¡­¡­. There are over a thousand treasure chests. ¡­¡­! The treasure chest has flown away and they no longer know where it is. In front of the stunned students, the principal and vice principal burst into laughter at having done so! ¡°Kaka kaka kaka!¡± It¡¯s stuck! It¡¯s stuck! No one said the treasure chest was 10 ¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«! Now Leopin is going to be in debt. ¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡« The principal and vice principal take each other¡¯s hands and begin to dance. Monaka and Kotone, who have never been deceived by anyone before, are completely blank. The rest of the students were very excited. ¡°So that¡¯s what this is all about! The principal was one step ahead of us after all! ¡°I¡¯m not going to let that bastard give me any ¡± ! ¡°Look at that trashy face!¡± ¡°Ha-ha-ha, you¡¯re at your wits¡¯ end, like you¡¯re in debt!¡± Leopin, who is in the middle of the vortex, still looks like someone else. For a while he gazed around at the myriad of treasure chests, like jellyfish drifting in an unseasonal sea, until he suddenly turned to the stage and saw ¡°¡­¡­ Are you sure you want me to take it?¡± ¡°Kaka-kaka-kaka! You can have as many of them as you like! Even if you want to stop in the middle of the game, it¡¯s useless! After all, the rule is that you can¡¯t stop until you get a bite!¡± Leopin gave another absent-minded reply, ¡°Huh,¡± and then strode into the forest of treasure chests. After scurrying around for a while as if looking for something, he stopped in front of a certain treasure chest and opened the lid without any hesitation. ¡­¡­ Pucker up! Immediately afterwards, the sign ¡°Atari¡± flew out with fanfare and confetti. ¡°Ha¡­¡­ hassaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!¡± CH 101 Cursed Occupation Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent The 10 treasure chests are made exactly alike, but when you look at them like this, they¡¯re totally different. The paint is faded, the hardware is slightly rusty, and there are drag marks glimpsed at the bottom. When you¡¯re making things, you start to notice the little differences, but ¡­¡­. After gaining the skill of ¡°Poor Dexterity¡±, not only animals, plants and trees, but also everything in sight looks very different. Maybe it seems especially so because the parameters of ¡°five senses¡± and ¡°concentration¡± have been multiplied many times. While I was looking at the treasure chests with such thoughts in my head, I somehow ended up being forced to play a strange game called ¡°Leopin the Poor¡±. The new principal and vice principal had apparently gone to the trouble of bringing 2,000 treasure chests into the schoolyard for the game. But they don¡¯t know; or rather, none of the people here know. That I could be a treasure chest professional at any time if I wanted to. So, I quickly changed my job to ¡°Treasure Hunter¡±. After confirming with the principal, I activate the treasure hunter skill, ¡°Treasure Discovery¡±. The skill of ¡°Treasure Discovery¡± does not make the treasure glow. It conveys a slight but definite sense of discomfort to my senses. If I were to use an analogy, it would be similar to the feeling of ¡®feeling a gaze¡¯. I walked through the forest of treasure chests, searching for the pupil-less heat vision. Eventually, I opened one of the treasure chests that I sensed and found a sign that said ¡°Atari¡± popping out from inside with fanfare. And. ¡°Ha¡­¡­ hassaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!¡± The principal¡¯s strange exclamation appears. ¡°The odds are one in two hundred, so how could you possibly guess it in one shot?¡± I found the next winning treasure chest a short distance away from the first one I found. When I open it, more confetti blows out than before. Apparently, the blessing also gets more flashy when you get a hit in a row. I opened the treasure chest like a butterfly walking from flower to flower. By the fourth piece, the fanfare is enough to shake the entire schoolyard, and the confetti soars skyward like a geyser. The students who were watching my game are frozen like statues. Even the principal, covered in confetti from the wind, he stood there without shocked. ¡°Ugh ¡­¡­ no way, right ¡­¡­? I can¡¯t believe he got four in a row right ¡­¡­? ¡°Hey, how do you know it¡¯s a hit ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s been less than a minute and you¡¯ve made 200 million ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°¡®Crap, I¡¯m not going to be able to hit all of these!¡± A student¡¯s screaming voice brings the principal back to his senses. As he tumbled off the stage. ¡°¡®Yah ¡­¡­ don¡¯t do that!!!!¡± He rushed over to me in a desperate manner. He looks like he¡¯s about to cry with his nose all red and he¡¯s huffing and puffing. ¡°This game¡¯s over! This game¡¯s over!¡± ¡°Yeah, but the Principal said I can pull the treasure chest as many times as I want ¡­¡­. Since you¡¯re here, here¡¯s some more: ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Stop it, stop it, stop it, stop it, stop it!¡± The principal hung onto my leg and began to wail. I think he¡¯s probably crying fake tears because I¡¯m not crying at all. ¡­¡­ I was starting to feel sorry for him, so I decided to leave it at that. In the end, there were 14 classes that toasted in the ¡°Cheers Game¡±. That game dropped me out of the top 10 in the ¡®asset rankings¡¯ for a brief period of time. But like a treasure chest, if you open the lid, you¡¯ll find ¡­¡­. 1st Special Training Class 301,200,000 Yen 2nd place, Class 1-7, 105,201,900 Yen I was back, with a huge lead over second place and below. ¡­¡­! ¡°Ha¡­¡­ hassaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!! Haan haan haan haan haan haan haan haan haan haan haan haan haan haan haan haan haan haan haan haan haan haan haan haan haan haan haan haan haan haan haan £¡£¡£¡£¡¡± The Principal screams as if he is having trouble breathing. Waving his hands in the air, he was dragged away from the schoolyard by the vice principal. I didn¡¯t pay attention to such a spoiled principal and was distracted by my own body glowing. ¡°¡®It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve leveled up, maybe gambling is a good experience for me?¡± ========== Name Leopin Occupation Treasure Hunter Lv 18 ? 19 HP 1010 MP 1010 Status Life 101 Endurance 101 Toughness 1001 Spirit 101 Resistance 101 Agility 1001 Concentration 101 Strength 101 Magic 101 Dharma 101 Intelligence 101 Liberal Arts 101 Five Senses 101 Sixth Sense 101 Charm 1 Luck 5 Dexterity 500 ? 600 ========== ========== Changeable occupations Production System Lumberjack Appraiser Shin-Ra Carpenter Masonry Leather Craftsman Woodcrafter Potter Confectioner Pastry Chef Artisan Fireworker Exploration System Ranger Treasure Hunter Mapper NEW! Earth Vein Master Combat System Battle Axe User Ninja Martial Artist Trapper Trainer(Tamer) NEW! Gambler ========== I chuckled at the newly added occupation. ¡°¡®Hey man, I¡¯m not going to take this seriously ¡­¡­¡± I was curious to see what kind of skills I have though, so I¡¯m going to try and change jobs. ========== Occupation £üTreasure hunter ? Gambler HP 1010 ? 301200000 ========== ¡°Whoa!¡± My HP suddenly became a ridiculous number, and I was taken aback. ========== Occupation Gambler Occupational skill Money Blood (Passive) The money in your possession is your HP. Last One£ü (Passive Cooldown 30 days) If you lose your all bet all bet gambling Stepping on the brink of death with 0 HP. Pepperlock Scissors (Active) Can predict the opponent¡¯s move in rock-paper-scissors £¿£¿£¿£¿£¿£¿ One of the hidden abilities of The Gambler. Activate the effect of the skill multiple times to reveal it. ========== The ¡°cooldown¡± in the ¡°Last One¡± skill is a limit on the number of consecutive uses of the skill. Normally, you can use the same skill as many times in a row as long as you have MP. However, some of the more powerful skills require a cooldown. In that case, the effect cannot be activated again until the specified period has passed. Whatever it is, you can find it at ¡­¡­. I looked at the list of occupational skills and found out why gamblers are called the ¡®cursed profession¡¯. ¡°It¡¯s too nasty to die when you have zero money in your pocket. ¡­¡­ Come to think of it, I heard that gamblers always have an amulet filled with gold hanging around their necks, and they wear it when they sleep and when they bathe. Well, I can always change careers.¡± CH 102 Merchant When Kakeru-kun arrived at this academy, he had 10 billion in his possession. He had seen what the previous headmaster and vice principal had done and had been told about it by supporters, and he was the first to take action against Leopin. He spotted Monaka and Kotone, two of the most powerful people in the school, and devised the ¡°Cheers Game¡±. He wants to take away Leopin¡¯s memories from the two of them and isolate Leopin. Then, in ¡°Leopin the Poor¡± Game, he puts Leopin in debt. Not only was he going to make Leopin a genuine trash of the school, but he was going to drive him into the trash of society. However, Kakeru-kun was successfully defeated in return. He had completely underestimated him. The depth of the bond between Leopin and the girls. And Leopin¡¯s, dexterity! In the end, Kakeru-kun failed to achieve his goals in both The Cheers Game and The Leopin¡¯s Game. On the contrary, he lost 1.6 billion. Kakeru-kun 9.9 billion ? 8.4 billion Kakeru-kun and D¡¯Lila return to the principal¡¯s office after forcibly interrupting the morning assembly for the first time in office. Kakeru-kun was rolling around on the carpet, plucking at the fluffy bristles with both hands and taking it out on it. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry ¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«! That piece of garbage just ruined my plans like ¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«! I¡¯ll Remember, ¡­¡­! Remember this, Leopin! Don¡¯t think you can cause me, this gambler, 1.6 billion in damage and get away with it for free¡­ ohhhhhhh! ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô Classes that day were only in the morning, so it was soon after school. The weather was nice, so I decided to go home and work in the field. ¡°¡®Now that I expanded the field, and a river has come through nearby, maybe today is the day we can find some new vegetables to plant. When I left the house, Tom was opening a street vendor outside the gate. Tom would pull some weeds out of the woods or hunt some small animals and lay them out on the ground for me to see. Most of them are weeds or animals that are not fit to eat. ¡­¡­ I found some unexpected bargains today. ¡°Whoa, there¡¯s ¡®wheatgrass¡¯ and ¡®apple¡¯!¡± ========== Siebold¡¯s stonecrop (Hylotelephium sieboldii) Quantity 10 Quality Level 2£ü(Material Level 2) Wild wheatgrass. It is considered to be one of the three major grains, and when ground, flour can be obtained. ========== Princess apple Quantity 10 Quality Level minus 2£ü (Material Penalty 2) Wild Princess Apple. Small and hard flesh, not suitable for eating. ========== ¡°If we can grow these two things, we¡¯ll have grain and fruit! I took out from my pocket a weed called ¡®canip¡¯, the currency of this market, and gave it to Tom. Feline animals seem to love this ¡®canip¡¯ and become drunk when they smell it. Tom was also quick to enjoy the grass. I grab the ¡°wheatgrass¡± and head for the field. The fields around the house already extend out of the forest and are quite large. ¡°Let¡¯s level the soil lightly and then plant the wheatgrass.¡± He changed his job to Mana Farmer and started working in the fields with his ¡°Gisu Hoe¡± and ¡°Wind Cultivation¡± skills. As I was tilling the soil with a zigzagging motion without looking aside, I noticed that someone was in the field. I don¡¯t know who they are. At any rate, they had made a hole so deep in the middle of the field that you couldn¡¯t even see the top of their head, and was spreading dirt around without restraint. I¡¯ve been harassed a lot in my life, but I¡¯ve never been this annoyed. I flew over and looked into the hole and saw one of the girls wiping her face with a cloth, as if she had worked up a good sweat. ¡°Fwiw, after all that digging, we should be fine.¡± ¡°Yeah, just the right depth for your grave.¡± When I called out to her, the female student looked up, ¡°Oh.¡± She had a short cut haircut and a boyish face. She cracks her acorn eyes and rewraps the cloth around her head, without seeming to take offense. ¡°Ehehe, don¡¯t thank me, I just did it on my own!¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°I just wanted to help out in the fields, so I¡¯ll do it for free!¡± Apparently, this female student intends to think that she has helped work the fields with this act. Besides, the fact that ¡°free stuff¡± is the first thing that jumps out at me is ¡­¡­. ¡°Are you, by any chance, a merchant?¡± The girl nodded so loudly that she almost made a noise, ¡°BUNK!¡± ¡°I¡¯m Ma-chan from Class 1-9, nice to meet you!¡± Class 1-9, also known as the ¡®Merchant¡¯s Union¡¯, is a class made up of lower class merchant students. If the Class 1-7, which is full of senior merchants, is the sun, the girls can be said to be the shade. Martyn raises her hand and calls out to me. ¡°Hey, hey, pull me up!¡± If they were doing it with bad intentions, I¡¯d bury them alive. ¡­¡­ I took Ma-chan¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Goodness gracious, you seem to have good intentions.¡± After I pulled him up, she said, ¡°Well, let¡¯s do some work!¡± She was about to dig another hole, so I hurriedly stopped her. ¡°I was so impressed with Leopin-kun¡¯s greatness that I just wanted to help you in any way I could!¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m glad you feel that way. ¡­¡­¡± I was about to say something when I suddenly came across a question. ¡°Why do you remember me?¡± Class 1-9 is supposed to have drunk a ¡°potion of oblivion¡± in the ¡°toast game¡± ¡­¡­? Then Maachan sticks out her tongue, teh-heh. Sticking out his tongue was also a habit of the new principal, but she was much cuter than that little boy principal. ¡°I¡¯m not ¡­¡­ taking those pills, or any of us in Class 1-9, for that matter. They all pretended to drink it and then threw it away.¡± I¡¯m hit with a bit of a surprise, like a cat suddenly popping out of my blind spot. ¡°How could you ¡­¡­ not have drunk it?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to forget about Leopin because I didn¡¯t want to forget about ¡­¡­ you.¡± I was about to get a little nervous, but a burst of smiles blew me away. ¡°Information is as important to a merchant as money! If I gave away a month¡¯s worth of information, I¡¯d lose a lot of money!¡± ¡°¡®Maybe so, but you guys got a hundred million yen in exchange for forgetting, didn¡¯t you? I don¡¯t care if the principal tried to trick you into drinking it, that¡¯s fraud ¡­¡­, isn¡¯t it?¡± Machan still didn¡¯t seem to take offense. ¡°¡®Merchants, you see, outsmart others in order to make more money. Ah, but it¡¯s only the same merchants who can outsmart you, not the customers.¡± She added with an innocent smile, as if she had anticipated my tsukkomi. ¡°¡®But if you have a lot of money, like the principal, ¡­¡­. I might just outsmart you a little bit. ¡­¡­ ehehe!¡± I thought I saw the shadow of a different type of little devil than Akemi. ¡°Now, now, Leopin-san! Enough chit chat, let¡¯s get on with the fieldwork! We need to fill this field with crops! Now, what¡¯s next?¡± ¡°Fill in that hole.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Once you fill that in, we can move on to the next job, so get to it.¡± ¡°Darn it, I dug so hard!¡± With her mouth agape, Machan uses a shovel to put the hole back together. Even after that, she still wanted to help, so I decided to teach her how to do it properly. ¡°¡®Don¡¯t dig it up with a shovel, use this wooden hoe to plough it. I¡¯ve already taught you how to do it, so why don¡¯t you go plow the other half?¡± ¡°All right! Maachan runs as energetically as a dog and begins to plow the field, albeit awkwardly. Suddenly, I looked toward the house and saw it sparkling. ============ Base LV 3 ? 4 Scale: An ordinary house with a family of animals ? A deserted village Population: 1 Animals: 3 NEW! Bystander 1 Base Skills Activity support Expansion of base Protection of base NEW! Agricultural Support Gain a bonus to quality in farming in the base. CH 103 Sesame and Wheat Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent The ¡°bystander¡± ¡­¡­ is not an official member of the base, but a provisional member, I suppose. They¡¯ve been approved as temporary personnel because Ma-chan is working for the base. Whatever it is, it¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve leveled up my base. I plowed the field as hard as Ma-chan did. After that, we took a short break and finally started the long-awaited sowing. There are three fields in my house now. One is growing sweet potatoes, and two are empty. ¡°Hey, little Leopin, what are you planting?¡± I said to Ma-chan, who asked excitedly. ¡°Black sesame and wheat.¡± ¡°Sesame and wheat? They are the flesh and blood of our merchant business! Oil from sesame seeds and flour from wheat. Those are the products that merchants continue to handle from the time they start out until they become veterans.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ll sow the sesame seeds, and you sow the wheatgrass seeds, will you?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes, yes, let¡¯s sow, let¡¯s grow, let¡¯s reap, let¡¯s sell ¡­¡­, let¡¯s eat!¡± Ma-chan frolics like a child, jumping around the field and spreading seeds. She¡¯s one of the most energetic and outgoing girls I know. Ma-chan returned a short time later, looking refreshed, as if she had just finished an early morning marathon. ¡°Hah, I¡¯m done sowing!¡± ¡°Thanks for your help, it¡¯s been a pleasure. ¡°Now we just need to let it grow.¡± ¡°Ehehe, I¡¯m looking forward to it!¡± Ma-chan smiles innocently. But I could see that there was a slight evil intention behind it. ¡°So, what do you want? ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°They say a merchant can¡¯t hold his tongue, can he? I didn¡¯t think it was possible to help out in the fields without getting something in return.¡± Ma-chan sticks out her tongue, ¡°You found out?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯d like to be able to handle the crops grown in this field in my class¡¯s Merchant Union. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°You mean you want to sell it in a residential neighborhood.¡± ¡°Of course, save enough for Leopin-kun to eat, and just take the extra!¡± ¡®Mmm,¡¯ I groaned, and Ma-chan clasped his hands together in worship. ¡°Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please! The purchasing department is also run by the ¡°Australian Business Federation¡± ¡­¡­. If we don¡¯t do something, our ¡®Merchant Union¡¯ will be made to work for them!¡± The role of the merchant is ¡®distribution and sales¡¯. They are the intermediaries who sell the weapons and items made by the artisan students to the combat students. In some cases, such as Akemi and Kurumi, artisans sell directly to the public, but only in the beginning. As pioneering progresses, so does the division of labor. An artisan can maximize the profit of the goods he makes by meeting a good merchant. Merchants can secure quality goods by meeting good craftsmen. In this early stage of pioneering, both craftsmen and merchants must be desperate to find partners. And that¡¯s when Ma-chan came forward as my business partner. Ma-chan continues to speak without taking a breath. ¡°That¡¯s not the only thing that¡¯s troubling me! The market price is also controlled by the wealthy merchant union, and the flour in the purchasing department is now 10,000 Yen per kilogram!¡± ¡°What, 10,000 yen a kilo? That¡¯s expensive!¡± In contrast to my loud voice, Ma-chan¡¯s voice was hushed. ¡°¡®This is what I heard, but the principal has instructed me to try and annoy Class 1-16. Class 1-16 have refused to play the ¡®Cheers Game¡¯, haven¡¯t they? That¡¯s a class full of cooks over there, so I think they¡¯d be especially damaged without flour.¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it is. ¡­¡­¡± Until just now, I was of the opinion that it didn¡¯t matter which way the flour was distributed to the residential areas. But right now, I don¡¯t give a shit either way. If even walnuts are in trouble, then by all means my flour should be distributed. I told Ma-chan. ¡°I¡¯ll let you handle my flour, but on one condition. Make sure you distribute them to residential areas at a fair price that everyone can afford. Can you promise me that you won¡¯t go into business choosing who to sell to, or use it to curry favor with the principal or anyone else in power?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to do it ¡­¡­, I promise!¡± Ma-chan nodded repeatedly with a serious expression. I decided to trust those eyes, as pure as copper coins. ¡°Okay, then we have a deal.¡± ¡°Ho¡­¡­ really? Ya¡­¡­ yay!¡± Then Ma-chan¡¯s eyes suddenly change and start shining like gold coins. I was a little nervous, but she said, like she was taking the initiative. ¡°I promised you, and I¡¯m not saying no!¡± Ma-chan was full of energy all the time, but once she cleared her purpose, she became even more energetic. ¡°I¡¯ve decided I¡¯m going to help out not just today, but tomorrow, too, because I think it¡¯ll help me grow up faster. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow then, bai bai!¡± I hurriedly stopped her as she tried to leave like a gale. ¡°Hey, hey, wait a minute! It¡¯s a good opportunity, so wait a little bit. Then maybe you¡¯ll have something better to do.¡± Ma-chan turns around in a running pose, ¡°Huh?¡± I had already activated my ¡®Dexterous Job Change¡¯ skill and changed my job to ¡®Mana Farmer¡¯ at this time. I spread my hands out towards the field in front of me. Then I told her. ¡°Let the light ¡­¡­ be the force that makes new life sprout in this land ¡­¡­!¡± Next thing I know. They sprout from the ground all at once, as if time was sped up. The lush stalks grow with such vigor that they impel the heavens. Sesame fields are overgrown with leaves and the pods are bell-shaped. The wheat fields had passed through the fresh green and had become a sea of gold. Sesame and wheat, which were just sown, grew rapidly at once. Ma-chan, who was watching the scene by the field, was turned over as if she had been pushed up by the growing plant. Like a vision of twilight, her orange eyes are even more wide open. ¡°¡®Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Why, why does it grow so fast! It usually takes six months for a crop to grow ¡­¡­! To grow that in such an instant, it¡¯s like magic ¡­¡­!¡± Ma-chan looks up at me with a huff. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what to make of this. These days, unemployed people can do magic. It¡¯s amazing that you can use magic and have no job! I did it, I did it, I did it, I did it!¡± Ma-chan jumped up and came over to me and held my hand. ¡°To tell you the truth, I was worried that the Merchant¡¯s Union would be made to work for the Great Merchant Union before Leopin¡¯s crops could grow! But with this, I can look back at those kids from the Great Merchant Union, I can immediately harvest this and sell it in the residential area!¡± Ma-chan stares at the ears of wheat swaying in the wind in front of her like a horse with a carrot dangling from it. ¡°Don¡¯t be in such a hurry, are you going to take the wheat from the harvest in its original form? If it¡¯s going to be distributed in the settlements, it¡¯s going to be flour.¡± Then Marchan¡¯s eyes, which were just getting bigger, rolled up in wonder. ¡°Could it be that the wheat and the flour growing right in front of you are two different things?¡± I¡¯ll take a guess at that response. Ma-chan wants to handle the flour, but she doesn¡¯t know how it¡¯s made. ¡°That¡¯s why you felt like you were helping out by digging a big hole in the field. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°What? What did you say?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing, we can¡¯t just harvest it and market it, it needs some more work.¡± ¡°¡®Oh yeah, but I get it, what do I have to do, let¡¯s do it now!¡± ¡°¡®Hey, hey, it¡¯s already evening, it¡¯s late today, we¡¯ll do it tomorrow, we¡¯ve got to get some tools. ¡°I¡¯m going to go home early and go to bed, and I¡¯ll be here first thing in the morning. So don¡¯t eat what¡¯s in here yet, okay?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can eat this much by myself. ¡­¡­¡± Before I could finish my words, Ma-chan was running off with the lingering scent of a spring flower. I look at that bottomless, energetic back and shrug my shoulders. ¡°Oh dear, it¡¯s going to be a busy morning tomorrow.¡± CH 104 Let''s make a waterwheel! Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent The next day I was woken up at an ungodly hour by Ma-chan. ¡°Good morning, Leopin! Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up!¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s ¡­¡­, it¡¯s ¡­¡­, it¡¯s still dark, isn¡¯t it ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°¡®But the sun will be up soon, and if we don¡¯t hurry, the whelps will run away! I was dragged out to the field. The sky is still a swarming blue, with a hint of light blue across the horizon. It was dark, and both Mark and Tom were snoring too. The wheat and sesame in the field are hanging their heads as if they are asleep. In the midst of all this, Ma-chan is waving her arms and legs in the air like the sun is shining a little earlier than usual. ¡°¡®Come on, come on, what are we going to start with today, the harvest after all!¡¯ ¡°Yes, if you like, you may harvest the wheat.¡± I¡¯m going to use my ¡®forest stone knife¡¯ to teach you how to harvest wheat. After that, I lent the knife to Ma-chan and we decided to head for the woods. ¡°I¡¯ll be in the woods gathering and then setting up the other tools, so you¡¯re on your own for the harvest.¡± ¡°Okay, I got it, I got it, I got it, I got it.¡± I take out a hand-drawn map from my coat pocket as Ma-chan waves her hands in the air. I made this one when I was wandering through the woods in Seven Days of Fire. ¡°¡®In the course of looking for a watering hole, I made a rough map of the location of the materials I saw. Let¡¯s see, first we¡¯ll go to the cliff with the ¡®daija crane¡¯, then we¡¯ll tour the forest with the ¡®bamboo wood¡¯, and then we¡¯ll go to ¡­¡­¡± After constructing the route in my head, I shake my arms and legs to loosen up my body, as if I were imitating Ma-chan. ¡°So, let¡¯s have a ¡®pickup marathon¡¯ at ¡­¡­!¡± I then ran around in the woods until the sun was all out of my face. The harvest was perfect, and I returned home with a big smile on my face and plenty of material stuffed in my coat pockets. While walking by the river near my house, I bump into Mark and Tom. Mark¡¯s nose was swollen up like an apple. ¡°Mark, your nose is all red, did you get stung by a bee or something?¡± Mark nodded with tears in his eyes, ¡°Kuon.¡± In his arms, Tom is holding him, and he is making a weak ¡°pyaa¡± sound. ¡°Tom¡¯s got a broken leg, where the hell have you two been? Wait a minute, I¡¯m sure I saw something that could be used as a herb.¡± In this marathon of collecting, I found not only the materials I needed, but also the materials I wanted, and threw them into the pockets of my coat at random. This made it even more difficult for me to keep my pockets ¡­¡­. ¡°I¡¯ll have to sort out my pockets when I¡¯m not too busy, oh, there it is. As I was tossing out the contents, I found the medicinal herbs I was looking for. ========== Centataki Quantity 1 Quality Level 7£ü(Material Level 7) A wild centataki with many small, hard fruits. Can be used in alchemy and as an ingredient in medicinal herbs. ========== This is a paste when you grind the berries, it can be used as a wound remedy. It¡¯s knowledge I gained in The Ranger¡¯s Art of Survival. The fruit of Centataki is smaller than a grain of bean, and also hard. I transferred it to the mortar I kept in my coat pocket and tried to grind it , but there was no sign of any crushing at all. ¡°If I put too much pressure on it, the pot might crack. ¡­¡­ I guess I¡¯ll just have to be patient.¡± Then I just kept trying to grind it until my arms got tired, and it took me an hour to finally get it down to a rough paste. ========== Centataki ointment Quantity 1 Quality Level 12£ü(Material Level 7 + Dexterity Bonus 5) An ointment made by beating and crushing the fruit of the centataki a thousand times. It is effective for insect bites, boils, lacerations, burns, bruises, sprains, muscle pain and stiff shoulders. ========== That¡¯s how I know what this plant¡¯s name means. ¡°It¡¯s a difficult herb to make, isn¡¯t it? It¡¯s not worth it unless you¡¯ve got some serious medicinal value.¡± I¡¯ll try it out as soon as I can to prove the point. I applied Centataki to the affected areas of Mark and Tom. Then the swelling in Mark¡¯s nose shrinks by about two-thirds, and Tom recovers to the point where he can stand and walk on his own. ¡°¡®It¡¯s amazing how it works, no magic or prayer can heal an injury to this extent, this means I¡¯ll be completely healed by tomorrow. And I think. I thought if I could keep this medicine on hand, it would be useful in case of emergency. ¡°¡®But it¡¯s a pain in the ass to beat a thousand of them every time. ¡­¡­¡¯ Most of the craft work is fun, but some of it requires a lot of patience. In those cases, I¡¯ve always tried to find a way to make it easier. ¡°I wonder if there¡¯s any way to make a thousand whacks easier to a hundred, or even ten?¡± As I thought about it while looking at the river flowing beside me, a flutter came down immediately. ¡°¡®Yes, a waterwheel, we could build a waterwheel and have it do a thousand whacks! I walk right back to my house. I pulled a cart loaded with gisu lumber parked by the house and retrieved it. When I return to the river, I change my job to ¡°Carpenter¡± with the ¡°Dexterity Change¡± skill. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve done any carpentry.¡± After aiming at the flat land on the riverbank, I furiously activated my ¡®Building¡¯ skill. The long hut was built to follow the river. ========== Gisu Hut Qty 1 Quality Level 35£ü(Material Level 12 + Dexterity Bonus 5 + Occupation Bonus 18) The row houses are made of high quality gisu wood. Various bonuses make it resistant to earthquake, fire and corrosion. ========== The room has no dividing walls, but is connected like a corridor. And there is no floor, so you can go in and out with your feet on the ground. There was no doorway, and I made it big enough for a cart to pass through. It¡¯s a complete ¡®workshop¡¯. ¡°All right, then, let¡¯s build the waterwheel! I¡¯ve been making little waterwheels and turning them in the river since I was little. ========== Gisu water wheel Quantity 5 Quality Level 35£ü(Material Level 12 + Dexterity Bonus 5 + Occupation Bonus 18) The waterwheel is made of high quality Gisu wood. Various bonuses make it resistant to wind, water, and corrosion. ========== He builds a water wheel that is more than a size larger than his own body. It was as tall as Monsoon, and to me it was like a giant. ¡°The waterwheel is fun to make if you imagine the scene when it¡¯s turning.¡± Let¡¯s get this thing set up. A log is passed through a hole pre-drilled in the row house. The waterwheel was fitted into a log that jutted out toward the river. Then the size is perfect. It didn¡¯t reach the surface of the water or scrape the bottom of the river, but it caught the water and started to turn. ¡­¡­ Go, go, go, go to ¡­¡­. Five series of waterwheels lined up on the river. Its powerful rotation makes you excited just by looking at it! ¡°¡®Yes, yes, this is it! This is what a waterwheel is all about! All right, let¡¯s get to work installing the mortar and pestle!¡± As if I had been given a share of the power of the waterwheel, I continued my work. I made up what I was looking for at such a high speed that I couldn¡¯t believe it myself. ========== Gisu millstone Quantity 5 Quality Level 35£ü(Material Level 12 + Dexterity Bonus 5 + Occupation Bonus 18) The mortar is made of high quality gis wood. Various bonuses make it highly durable. ========== Gisu cover Quantity 5 Quality Level 35£ü(Material Level 12 + Dexterity Bonus 5 + Occupation Bonus 18) Pestle made of high quality gis wood. Various bonuses allow you to efficiently empower your materials. ========== I put the board between the waterwheel and once it stops moving, I set the mortar and pestle on the rotating shaft of the waterwheel. In the mortar, I poured the fruit of the centataki that I had stored. And if I take the board off ¡­¡­! The waterwheel begins to gurgle again, and its rotation moves the pestle up and down. The pestle is slammed into the mortar by the weight, gossamer and grinding the fruit. ¡°Hmmm, it¡¯s just a pestle moving up and down mechanically, but I never get tired of watching it.¡± When I was chipping away at it in my mortar, I could only do a little bit of medicine in four hours. But when I let the waterwheel do its thing, it made a lot of pills in an hour. ========== Centataki ointment Quantity 50 Quality Level 17£ü(Material Level 7 + Uniform Bonus 10) An ointment made by beating and crushing the fruit of the centataki a thousand times. It is good for insect bites, boils, lacerations, burns and bruises. Various bonuses make it effective for sprains, muscle pain and stiff shoulders. ========== ¡°I can¡¯t believe the quality level is so much better than my homemade stuff! You¡¯re doing great, you¡¯re doing great! Hahahahaha! Keep up the good work!¡± That was the moment for me when five reliable Titans became my friends. In addition, a fluttering occurs in his brain, as if a bomb is about to explode. ¡°That¡¯s right, ¡­¡­, we¡¯re going to have to automate that thing, too. ¡­¡­! CH 105 Merchant Payper Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent When I got back to the house, I found Ma-chan looking for me. ¡°Where the hell did you go, Leopin-kun? You didn¡¯t come back for a long time, so I was running around looking for you! ¡°Oh, I was just setting up some stuff, are you done with that?¡± ¡°Yeah, look at that!¡± In the field were piles and piles of wheat sheaves. ¡°All right, then, let¡¯s load this wheat on the cart ¡­¡­ and get on with it.¡± As soon as I say it, the merchant who is about to run out is called out as if she was stupid. ¡°Puh-lease?¡± As I looked, I saw a group of three people walking towards me from the entrance of the forest, including a male student wearing a nobleman¡¯s jacket, the headmaster and the vice principal. Ma-chan asks in a mixture of surprise and disgust. ¡°Oh, Master Payper, how did you get here?¡± Then the boy called Payper thrust a paper bag at me, giving me a look. ¡°Here, I¡¯ll give you some of this, it¡¯s flour we carry in the store.¡± The more I ignore him, the more obnoxious Peyper¡¯s attitude becomes. ¡°Pay, I mean you, there, trash. I¡¯m offering you a special gift of the finest flour you¡¯ll ever eat. Why don¡¯t you get your ass over here and get it, or are you so pathetic that you can¡¯t even understand a word I¡¯m saying?¡± Still, I ignore him, and Payper approaches, mumbling. He clenched his fist around the paper bag and thrust it at me, right under my nose. ¡°I think we have a deal. I¡¯ll trade one kilo of this flour, which is sold at the purchasing department for 10,000 Yen, for some wheat grass here.¡± Ma-chan is giddy. ¡°Wait, Mr. Payper! There¡¯s enough wheatgrass here to fill a whole field! I can¡¯t believe you traded that for a measly kilo of flour. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°¡®Oh, I know, Ma-chan, I know. You¡¯re trying to tell me that the top-quality flour that our wealthy merchant association deals in is completely out of proportion to the low-quality wheatgrass that the garbage grows? Don¡¯t get me wrong, I am paying it forward, including the wheatgrass that will be growing in the fields.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, yeah!¡± I listened to the exchange between the payer and the merchant as if it were someone else¡¯s business, and somehow tried to ¡°appraise¡± the contents of the paper bag in front of me. ========== Low quality flour Quantity 1000 pieces Quality Level ¨C 9£ü (Material Penalty 2 + Occupation Penalty 3 + Failure Penalty 4) Powder made from ground wheatgrass seeds, edible. The flour is rough and unpalatable, and the husks are mixed in. No matter how you cook it, you won¡¯t get the bonus, and it gets dry when you bake it. ========== ¡°I don¡¯t know which is lower quality ¡­¡­. And selling something like this for 10,000, it¡¯s a scam beyond a rip-off. ¡­¡­¡± It was a soliloquy, but Peyper gave a sigh like he finally understood. ¡°Your low-quality wheatgrass would be called a fraud if it were distributed by a common merchant. But with the wealthy merchants¡¯ union, even this trash can be turned into gold. How they do it is a secret, but Pay and his friends have more power to create gold than any alchemist.¡± He looked up suddenly and continued looking up at the wall of my house next to the field. On the wall, birds are resting their wings in a row. ¡°Look, look, the birds have come to sniff out the real gold in Pay¡¯s hand.¡± Payper shakes the paper bag he¡¯s holding up to my nose provocatively. ¡°¡®Come on, come on, come on, take it or I¡¯ll give this gold to those birds. Then the deal¡¯s off. You¡¯re a trashy little peasant, and your last chance to get involved with the noble merchant Pay is gone.¡± ¡°Those birds didn¡¯t come for your flour, they came for me. They¡¯ve come for my wheatgrass.¡± The Payper made a cupping gesture with the hand that wasn¡¯t holding the paper bag. ¡°You¡¯re no better than a bird, aren¡¯t you? There¡¯s no way any creature would want to eat that trashy wheatgrass instead of the top-quality flour I handle.¡± Then Kakeru-kun, who had been eerily silent until then, intervened as if he had been waiting for us. ¡°Let¡¯s play a game! The game is called ¡°Which Wheat Game? Let¡¯s see who can attract more birds, Payper¡¯s flour or Leopin¡¯s wheatgrass! The losing side is, um, let¡¯s see. ¡­¡­¡± Kakerukun makes a thinking gesture with his hand on his chin and his tongue flicking out. He pretended that he thought it was very cute. But the only one who was smiling was the vice principal. The vice principal pulls out a stack of cards from the inside pocket of her ginormous, fancy jacket. ¡°Principal, you can even draw one of these ¡®Punishment Cards¡¯.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s the way to do it! You¡¯re the head teacher! You¡¯re my trusty dealer!¡± The card that the principal drew said ¡®slap¡¯. It¡¯s a very simple punishment. ¡°The loser gets a slap on the wrist from the winner! Oh, and just so you know, this game has been approved by the school board and is proper educational instruction! Then let the games begin!¡± I hadn¡¯t said I would or wouldn¡¯t do it, but Peyper threw down the paper bag with a ¡°PAY!¡± It had fallen into position opposite a pile of harvested wheatgrass, splattering its contents grandly on the ground. ¡°Come on, birds! Even humans can¡¯t eat the finest food that only a select few can eat, but only today! Devour and devour! And I¡¯m going to teach this trash with only 1 ¡®intelligence¡¯ a lesson! That all living things are enchanted with gold and do not look at rubbish!¡± As if the declaration was a signal, the birds on the wall took off at once. ¡­¡­ blah blah blah blah blah blah blah!!!! When they realized that humans would not blame them for stealing and eating, they flew so fast that they scattered their feathers. To the wheatgrass pile ¡­¡­! ¡°Pah¡­¡­ pahhhh!¡± The birds of the forest were not interested in the ¡®finest flour¡¯. They are pecking at the pile of wheatgrass in a big flock. I called out. ¡°Hey, take it in moderation.¡± As the owner, I knew I had to share some of it. But Peyper was out of his mind. ¡°That¡¯s Pei¡¯s wheatgrass! Peay! Peay! Shh, shh, shh, shh, go away!¡± ¡°When did it become your wheatgrass?¡± The payer didn¡¯t listen and jumped on the pile of wheatgrass with a strange voice. As soon as he tries to shake off the birds, they strike back and peck at him all over. ¡°¡®Pah! Pah! Pah! Ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch!¡± Peyper is chased by a huge number of birds and runs away from them. Eventually, when he realized he couldn¡¯t escape, he ran toward me. I give him a counter slap on the cheek as he challenges me. Supa! The cheeks are beaten soundly, and the birds take flight at once. ¡°Kamikireeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee¡± With a strange scream, the payper buzzed away like a piece of paper. He slid across the ground and stuck his head into the pile of flour he had thrown away. CH 106 Leopin Flour Game Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent I figured he¡¯d learn his lesson and leave. But after he wiped his face with his wipe, he resumed negotiations as if nothing had happened. ¡°¡­¡­ Think about it, if you have wheatgrass, it¡¯s a waste. You don¡¯t understand, but you can¡¯t eat wheatgrass as it is. I¡¯m not telling you how to do it, but you have to go through a couple of steps to get it into flour.¡± After what he¡¯d been through, Payper was still looking down on me. ¡°Turning wheatgrass into flour is impossible for a piece of trash like you. However, we have many menial workers in our wealthy merchant association. It¡¯s easy to make flour if you let them help you. Yeah, I guess, with this amount of time, a day would be a piece of cake.¡± I don¡¯t know about Payper. Me and Ma-chan were making flour in the workshop in the yard of our house since a while ago. ¡°Pah, now that you know, we have a deal.¡± He broke off the conversation unilaterally and signaled Ma-chan with his chin. ¡°¡®Go back to your living quarters at once, Ma-chan, and fetch your servants. And carry this wheatgrass out.¡± ¡°What, menial labor, could it be ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Pah, I¡¯m talking about you guys in Class 1-9. You haven¡¯t been able to do anything merchant-like. The principal is weighing in on that, and has already approved it.¡± Kakeru-kun, who was behind the Payper, nodded with a big smile, ¡°Yes!¡± The principal also pretends that there was no victory or defeat in the earlier game. ¡°Ugh, no, no ¡­¡­!¡± said Ma-chan. Why is Payper here, and why are the principal and even the vice principal with him? But as I listened to him, I could understand the situation roughly. So you¡¯re just a harlot who wants to take my crops for whatever reason. So I grew crops in a place where they could see them from their living quarters, and they immediately came to me like vermin. I spit them out all at once. ¡°I¡¯ve already made a deal with Ma-chan for the wheatgrass.¡± Then Payper made that pissed off leaning look again. ¡°Pah? Didn¡¯t you listen to a word I said? Wheatgrass can¡¯t be sold in the settlements, it has to be made into flour. Or what, are you going to turn wheatgrass into flour and give it to Ma-chan?¡± Peyper had a burst of laughter as I nodded, ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Pah, pah, pah, pah, pah! You turn wheatgrass into flour all by yourself? You have no idea how hard milling is and how much manpower it requires!¡± As if they had agreed on it beforehand, Kakeru-kun came out again. ¡°All right, let¡¯s play a game, the Leopin Flour Game! If you can turn all the wheat piled up here into flour by the time the noon bell rings in the clock tower, Leopin-kun wins! Mr. Pei-Pei, you¡¯re giving up this wheatgrass! But if you can¡¯t get it all into flour by the time ¡­¡­¡± Kakeru-kun¡¯s face twisted teasingly like an erotic middle-aged man. ¡°Mr. Leopin¡¯s lost, lost, lost! From now on, all the crops grown in Leopin¡¯s field will belong to Pei-Pei! Class 1-9 will go from being the ¡°Merchant Union¡± to the ¡°Subordinate Worker Union¡± and work for Pei-Pei-kun all the time!¡± The erotic middle-aged man lifts the corner of his mouth with a nip at the end. Ma-chan tried to interrupt, ¡°Oh no!¡± he shouted more as he pushed her away. ¡°Okay, Leopin, are you ready? Oh, no, you can¡¯t say no! Because this game was also approved by the school board, proper educational guidance! It¡¯s a loving education for you, you know!¡± Am I going to be forced to participate in the game again in a random way? ¡°Principal, that¡¯s all very well, but there¡¯s no advantage for me in winning at all. If I win, please allow the ¡®Merchant Union¡¯ to distribute my crops in the settlement. And it¡¯s also forbidden to harass the Merchants¡¯ Union.¡± Kakeru-kun replies as if it were a spinal reflex. ¡°If Mr. Leopin wins, his crops will be endorsed by me! I won¡¯t let anyone stand in my way of being sold in the residential area!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you ever forget that word.¡± ¡°Let the games begin!¡± As soon as he gave the signal, Ma-chan came at me with a bloody face. ¡°Hey, why did you take the game!¡± I deal with them while I load a pile of wheatgrass onto a cart. ¡°You can¡¯t help it; you said no, and they said no.¡± ¡°¡®But noon is only about three hours away! And yet, to turn this amount of wheatgrass into flour all by yourself, that¡¯s crazy! Master PayPer said that milling takes a day and a lot of manpower!¡± ¡°Well, I suppose it takes manpower.¡± ¡°Leopin-kun, can you use magic to turn wheat grass into flour?¡± ¡°¡®There¡¯s no such magic, just maybe it¡¯s easier than magic, well just shut up and follow me.¡± Then, Ma-chan looked as if she was caught off guard, ¡°What?¡± and suddenly turned red. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me to shut up and follow you. It¡¯s not ¡­¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± I finish loading the wheatgrass and pull the cart to leave. ¡°Pah, where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± ¡°Kaka Kaka, you¡¯re trying to run away in broad daylight! Peyper and the principal follow me, skipping along. The anxious, irresistible Ma-chan and the mousy, smiling vice principal follow. I guess I don¡¯t need to tell you where I¡¯m headed anymore. It was a river in my neighborhood, made by the last ¡°Seven Days of Fire¡±. ¡°All right, let¡¯s get to milling.¡± As soon as they see the building by the river, several exclamations are exchanged. ¡°Su- suishaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa¡± CH 107 I built a waterwheel to make it easier for me to make ¡®Centataki¡¯s Ointment¡¯. Not only that, but it had been customized into a milling shed to make wheatgrass milling easier. ========== Automatic milling shed Quantity 1 Quality Level 120£ü(Material Level 214 + Dexterity Bonus 5 + Profession Bonus 18 + Limitation Penalty 117) Automatic milling shed, made of high quality Gis wood. Threshing, milling and sieving are fully automated. Various bonuses allow for high speed and high standard milling. ========== Yes, if you have this, you can turn wheat grass into flour in no time at all. I was concerned about the ¡°marginal penalty¡± attached to it, but the level is over 100, which is pretty super high quality. Well, let¡¯s see how great it is and let¡¯s give it a try. As Ma-chan, PaiPer, the principal and the vice principal all stood there dumbfounded, I removed the stopper that had stopped the water wheel from moving. ¡­¡­ gosh darn it!!!! As if the frozen giants had come to life, the water wheel began to turn. With that, the machines that looked like the internal organs of a giant began to pulsate with activity. A lively rhapsody begins to be played here and there in the water mill, with a whinny and a clatter. I carry the bundle of wheatgrass from the cart into the water mill and stand in front of the threshing machine, which is the starting point. Threshing machines are usually foot-operated, but this one is a great machine that automatically rotates with the power of a water wheel. ¡°All we have to do is put some wheatgrass on top of it and we¡¯re good to go. ¡­¡­ ¡­¡­ crunch crunch crunch! With hair-splitting vigor, the wheatgrass turned into a single vine stalk. The berries and branches fall onto a belt under the thresher and are raggedly carried to the next process. Ma-chan and Peyper shouted at the same time, ¡°¡®Ah!¡± ¡°¡®Oh, could that be the magic belt conveyor!¡± ¡°Pa ¡­ Paa !? That¡¯s stupid !? Speaking of magic belt conveyors, they are only installed in the state-of-the-art factories in the royal capital !?¡± ¡°Looks like it,¡± I reply. ¡°When I was in elementary school, we went to a factory for a field trip, and I saw it there. I gave it a shot, and it turned out better than I thought it would.¡± In the meantime, the fruits of the wheat grass carried by the conveyor are put through the ¡°rice sieve¡±. Only the smaller berries fall to the lower conveyor, and the husks that cannot pass through the sieve eventually fall out of the sieve frame and accumulate in a box outside the conveyor. Only the berries are firmly sorted and go to the final process. The fruit was sucked into the millstone, which continued to turn, and was crushed into a powder on the final conveyor. The last conveyor is routed back to the starting point. The flour piles up in a wooden saucer next to me. It was so beautiful and shiny that it could be mistaken for gold sand. ========== Wheat flour (high quality) 1000 pieces Quality Level 51£ü(Material Level 31 + Uniform Bonus 10 + Quality Bonus 10) Powder made from ground wheatgrass seeds, edible. Various bonuses make you feel happy when you eat. Any cooking method will give you a cooking bonus, and if you do not fail to cook, you will be granted a meal effect. ========== The flour made by ¡°Automatic Flour Milling Machine¡± is very high quality. The shining flour rides up to me on a belt, building a golden mountain. It looks like a mine that has dug up a huge vein of gold. The surrounding area was in the throes of a gold rush. ¡°Eh !? Eh !? Eh !? Eh !? Yeah, lie !? High quality flour is a gift to the king! ?? But why! ?? ¡° ¡°Pay !? Hmm ¡­ Originally, the world¡¯s best flour was manually milled by a¡± miller ¡°who is exclusively for the court, and it can only be done very rarely ¡­!? There¡¯s no way you can make it in such a rag hut! ?? ¡° ¡°How much would it sell for? How much would it cost!?!?¡± There was a complete panic in the milling shed. I was already starting to worry about something else than that. ¡­¡­ If nothing is done, the saucer will be full ¡­ If all the wheatgrass were ground into powder, it would amount to about 3.5 tons. If we keep going like this, we¡¯re going to fill this shed with flour. When the receptacle is full, you can stop the waterwheel and transfer it to another part of the house. ¡­¡­ If we want to finish milling by noon, we need to keep the waterwheel running as long as possible. Is there any good way to do this? ¡­¡­ At the moment I thought that, I was surrounded by the light of leveling up as if I were crossing over. ========== Name Leopin Occupation Carpenter Lv 19 ? 20 HP 1010 MP 1010 Status Life 101 Endurance 101 Toughness 1001 Spirit 101 Resistance 101 Agility 1001 Concentration 101 Strength 101 Magic 101 Dharma 101 Intelligence 101 Liberal Arts 101 Five Senses 101 Sixth Sense 101 Charm 1 Luck 5 Dexterity 600 ? 700 ========== ¡°Poor Dexterity¡± (Jack of all trades and master of none) Dexterous growth Dexterous body Dexterous job change NEW! Dexterous Toes Absolute protection ¡°Fudo¡±. ========== ========== Changeable occupations Production System Lumberjack Appraiser Shin-Ra Carpenter Masonry Leather Craftsman Woodcrafter Potter Confectioner Pastry Chef Artisan Fireworker NEW! Seamstress Exploration System Ranger Treasure Hunter Mapper Earth Vein Master Combat System Battle Axe User Ninja Martial Artist Trapper Trainer(Tamer) Gambler ========== ¡°Finally, the level 20 mark! There¡¯s more ¡®poor dexterity¡¯ skills!¡± In the midst of the clamor, I chuckled to myself and quickly checked the effect of the skill. ========== Dexterous Toes Use your dexterity to make your toes as dexterous as your fingers. ========== ¡°Does this mean, in essence, that I¡¯ll be able to use my foot as another hand ¡­¡­?¡± If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯d double the efficiency of working on a sit-down type of craft. And I, wondering what to do with a flour shed full of flour, got just the right occupation. I set up in front of the thresher, using two wooden boxes in the shed as a desk and chair. And then I activated the ¡®Dexterous Job Change¡¯ in ¡®Dexterous Job Change¡¯ and changed to the profession I just got. ========== Occupation Woodcrafter ? Seamstress Occupational skill Soft seams (active) Weaving yarn and plants Hard seams (active) Weave wood and metal Embroidery (active) work out of cloth Handicraft (active) Creating small items with fabric Sewing (active) Create clothing with fabric ========== ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get on with it, I¡¯ve got the ingredients. While watching the threshing process from the side, I started another task. He took the ¡°Gisu Mallet¡± from his coat pocket and pounded the threshed wheat grass to soften it. When it becomes soft, join the wheatgrasses together and put them into a single strand. ¡­¡­ ========== Stroopwafel Quantity 1 (Material level 31 + Dexterity bonus 7 + Occupation bonus 20) Dried wheat grass is twisted together to make a single rope. Various bonuses make it stronger and less likely to break than regular strop. ========== Ma-chan asked curiously. ¡°¡­¡­ Is that a rope, by any chance?¡± I said, ¡°Yeah,¡± and set the new wheatgrass in the thresher. I braided the wheat grass that I had just finished threshing as a second rope. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you could make rope out of wheatgrass. ¡­¡­ Could this be another form of knitting?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s called ¡®straw braid.¡± ¡°But at a time like this, what¡¯s the point of making rope?¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to make a sack, and before the catch basin overflows with flour we¡¯re going to refill it and carry it out.¡± The flour piling up unhurriedly next to me is already as high as my seat height. ¡°Oh, ¡­¡­ I see. ¡­¡­!¡± The rope was finished while Ma-chan was admiring it, and now I braided it with my ¡®straw braid¡¯, or ¡®soft seam¡¯ skills. The ¡®strop¡¯ that was a long string became a piece of fabric. ¡°All right, that¡¯s it: ¡­¡­!¡± ========== Straw cloth Quantity 1 Quality Level 85£ü(Material Level 58 + Dexterity Bonus 7 + Occupation Bonus 20) A cloth made of woven strop. The various bonuses make it stronger, warmer and more breathable than regular straw cloth. CH 108 Rock-paper-scissors game Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent ¡°I¡¯d really like to bag it, but we¡¯re running out of time right now, so here goes.¡± I laid the freshly made cloth on the floor and tilted the saucer to transfer the pile of wheat. ¡°All you have to do is wrap it up like a furoshiki and tie it around with a strop. That¡¯s about 10 kilos of flour in one bag. Ma-chan, I¡¯m sorry, but could you go load this onto one of the wagons outside?¡± Ma-chan was puzzled, but she quickly responded by rolling up her arms and saying, ¡°Oh ¡­¡­ yeah, I got it!¡± She is full of energy, but her strength seems to be a bit low, and she is carrying a 10 kg bag with some effort. ¡°Hey,Leopin, can I get one of my classmates to help me carry this in?¡± ¡°Yeah, do that.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m off for a bit!¡± Leaving behind such words and a lingering scent like the sun, Ma-chan runs away from the water mill shed. As I watched her energetic back, I muttered to myself. ¡°¡®It hasn¡¯t been an hour yet, but I¡¯m already producing a ton of wheat. At this rate, we¡¯ll have it all in flour by the noon bell.¡± As long as you don¡¯t get in the way of your work. ¡­¡­ But it seemed to be a fleeting hope. Because in the corner of the hut, where I glanced sideways, Payper and Kakeru-kun were in the middle of a whispering conversation. After a while, Payper came at me with his slant eyes, like a boss who found an incompetent employee in a factory. ¡°Pa ~? After all, you look like a kuru kuru par. You have to do this game by yourself, but with the help of a merchandiser. ¡° ¡°We¡¯re in the milling business, and all I¡¯m asking Ma-chan to do is carry the flour after it¡¯s milled.¡± ¡°¡®Pei! Well, Pei is a generous merchant, so I¡¯ll give him special recognition. Instead, we¡¯re going to play another game with ¡­¡­ pay!¡± You knew you were going to lose, so you thought of a further evil scheme with Kakeru-kun. ¡°I¡¯m in the middle of milling and knitting straws at the same time. You want me to play more games here?¡± ¡°Pah, if you refuse, you¡¯ll lose by foul play! ¡°Since this is a game in exchange for accepting Ma-chan help, Leopin-kun is obligated to take it, right? I don¡¯t know, it¡¯s all over the place. ¡°Okay, but make it a simple game where you don¡¯t have to move from this spot. ¡°Here¡¯s a game even a curmudgeon can play, rock-paper-scissors! And the punishment game is the same as the ¡®Which Wheat Game¡¯ earlier, a slap!¡± Peyper¡¯s cheeks, still red, pressed together as he declared the punishment. Apparently, he still holds onto the fact that he was beaten and is trying to get back at me. I got the profession of ¡®Gambler¡¯ the other day. The Gambler has a skill called ¡°Paper Rock Scissors¡± that allows me to know my opponent¡¯s hand in rock-paper-scissors. As long as I have that in me, I don¡¯t think I can lose. ¡­¡­ ¡°Are you sure you want to do this ¡­¡­?¡± I swallow my words. I have a ¡®dexterous profession¡¯ skill that allows me to switch to various professions, but I¡¯ve never told anyone about it. Because such a skill had never existed before, and I didn¡¯t expect them to believe me. I felt frustrated, but when I thought about it, there was a convenient aspect to it. In the game of this world, the occupation of the opponent is an important information. If you know your opponent¡¯s occupation, you¡¯ll naturally know what skills to use and be able to narrow down your tactics. I¡¯m ¡®unemployed¡¯ to them, so they think I ¡®can¡¯t do anything¡¯. That treat is going to be a huge advantage for me ¡­¡­! ¡°Okay, fine, rock, paper, scissors.¡± I take off my boots and go barefoot as I accept. ¡°Pah? What are you doing?¡± ¡°¡®I can¡¯t keep my hands off the straw knitting, so I¡¯ll have to play rock-paper-scissors with my feet. That¡¯s good, that¡¯s chokey, and that¡¯s par.¡± I held up my feet, curling and spreading my toes to show each hand. ¡°Pei, rock-paper-scissors with your feet, you foolish ¡­¡­! Well, let¡¯s get started!¡± ¡°Before you do that, you¡¯re gonna get down on your knees and play rock-paper-scissors in front of me.¡± Peyper looks like he¡¯s about to bite his tongue off, ¡°Payyy?¡± ¡°¡®I can¡¯t help it, I¡¯ve got my hands full and I can¡¯t slap you. ¡°You¡¯re not going to slap Pei on the cheek with your foot, are you? Pei hadn¡¯t even been hit by a hand in all his life, you know?¡± Peyper presses his cheek again, tears of frustration in his eyes. Apparently, it was very humiliating to be slapped by me. ¡°I can¡¯t help it, I¡¯ve got my hands full. If you don¡¯t like it, why don¡¯t you make it another punishment?¡± ¡°Pei, no, I have to slap you to get Pei off my back!¡± Then Kakeru-kun, who was standing beside him, put his hand on Payper¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Payper, you won¡¯t lose! I know how strong you are at rock-paper-scissors, you know!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, principal! I understand! I¡¯ll compete on that condition!¡± Paeper folds his knees and looks up at me like a defiant thug. I secretly activated my ¡®Dexterous Job Change¡¯ skill for ¡®Dextrous¡¯ and changed my job to ¡®Gambler¡¯. When you activate the ¡°Paper Rock Scissors¡± skill, a slap-shaped aura appears above his head. The ¡­¡­ first move is paper or ¡­¡­. It seems ¡­¡­. Then let¡¯s use scissors ¡­¡­. As soon as I thought that, the aura above his head turned into rock. ¡­¡­ What do you mean? Then I¡¯d take Paper, ¡­¡­. Then the aura changes again, and it changes to scissors. ¡­¡­ What¡¯s going on here, just now? Why is his hand changing hands? I¡¯ll find out what that means soon enough. Just behind the crouching payer was Kakerukun, his hands hanging slack. At first glance, it looks like a natural way to stand, but if you look closely, it looks like he¡¯s touching the payer¡¯s back. ¡­¡­ Oh yeah! Kakerukun is activating his ¡®Paper rock Scissors¡¯ skill too! So he can read the moves I make and tell the payer over my back! That¡¯s why his move was changing to match the move I was thinking of making! Well, I knew they¡¯d try some tricks, but I didn¡¯t think they¡¯d pull something like this: ¡­¡­! As it is, it¡¯s a game of luck, where you don¡¯t have to think about anything. That¡¯s the right way to play rock-paper-scissors, but is there anything you can do about it? ¡­¡­ I suddenly have a flash of inspiration. That¡¯s right, in my head I¡¯m thinking ¡®I¡¯m going to play rock-paper-scissors with Kakerkun¡¯ and think of a move. For payers, you can play ¡®the opposite hand of that¡¯. I try not to look at Kakerukun and focus on him. If you¡¯re going to play rock-paper-scissors with ¡­¡­ Kakerkun, the hand you¡¯re going to play is ¡®scissors¡¯. ¡­¡­! Instantly, out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Kakerukun grinning at me. ¡°All right, let¡¯s do it!¡± ¡­¡­ bah! Hands and feet collide with each other as if they were sparks. Payper¡¯s hand was, as expected, ¡°Rock¡±. And my feet are at ¡­¡­. ¡°Pa¡­¡­ Paper!¡± I hit his cheek soundly with my clumsy hand, or rather my clumsy foot, without asking any questions. Supa! ¡°Kamikireeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee¡±(Kami as in paper XD) Peyper took a blow to the sole of my foot and buzzed off to the side and out of my sight. CH 109 Full-blown rock-paper-scissors Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent Payper who got a foot slap from me. He was head-sliding on the ground of the water mill. He looked up like a ballplayer with a broken dream, pressed his cheeks together, and ¡°Pay!. No, I have never been hit before ¡­! And with the soles of a feet. ¡­¡­!¡± Payper¡¯s cheeks are red and coated with dirt. He looked up at me with resentful eyes for a while, then stood up and dragged Kakeru-kun outside the hut. I sharpen my ¡®five senses¡¯ and try to listen. ¡°Pei, principal, that¡¯s not what you said! Didn¡¯t the principal use his gambler¡¯s skills to know his opponent¡¯s rock-paper-scissors hand!¡± ¡°Ah ¡­ that¡¯s that ~? It¡¯s funny ~? You must have seen that trash hand ~?¡± ¡°Please be firm! Pay doesn¡¯t mind if you don¡¯t make him bumpy! Besides, if you make it bumpy, it will not be milling, and you can win the ¡°Leopin Flour Game¡±! ¡° ¡°Yeah, I know, I¡¯ll do better next time, just leave it to me, okay?¡± After an impromptu strategy meeting, the two return and try to continue the janken. I said to Peyper, not stopping to knit straws. ¡°¡®I think you¡¯ve had enough. You¡¯re not having the best day. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to give up and go home before we start losing?¡± ¡°Pei, I don¡¯t think so! If you win, you¡¯ll get high quality flour from ¡­¡­! Oh, no, we can prevent trashy flour from making its way into the settlements!¡± ¡°Now that you¡¯ve given me such a righteous reason, ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Just keep going! I¡¯ll play this rock-paper-scissors game as many times as you want until you¡¯ve won or lost the ¡®Leopin¡¯ Flour Game¡¯! I¡¯m gonna beat you to a pulp and make you look like you¡¯ll never be seen again! All right, let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go, ¡­¡­!¡± Then from within the water-mill there was a constant repetition of dry sounds, screams, and exclamations. Supa! ¡°I can¡¯t chew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What, why! Why did I lose again? Damn it, one more time!¡± Supa! ¡°Bite crumbs!!!! I¡¯m doing exactly what you told me to do! Geez, one more time, one more time!¡± Supa! I repeat such a thing for about an hour. My foot slap was hitting Payper¡¯s right cheek and left cheek alternately. By the end, his cheeks are so swollen that he can¡¯t even keep his eyes open. Tears poured from his eyes, wetting his cheeks like bright red balloons. ¡°Pah ¡­¡­ pah ¡­¡­ pah~~~! Why, why, why, why ¡­¡­! I¡¯ve been on my own since the middle of the game,¡­¡­, and the odds should be one in three,¡­¡­! Why, why, why, why? Why can¡¯t I win? Why can¡¯t I win? ¡«¡«¡«¡« Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!¡± Payper finally breaks down crying and starts pounding the ground with his fists. Just then, Ma-chan was there with her classmates, the students of the Merchant Union. Payper doesn¡¯t even know they¡¯re here, and he¡¯s shaking back tears. ¡°Ugh¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Hick¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Hick¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Hick¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Hick¡­¡­! Pei, Pei won¡¯t give up. Oh, ¡­¡­! One more time, one more time. Oh, ¡­¡­! Janken!¡± ¡°¡®Oh, come on, don¡¯t do that again, you don¡¯t stand a chance.¡± The students of the Merchant Union who witnessed the exchange between me and Payper. Everyone is terrified. ¡°What the ¡­¡­? What the hell is going on¡­¡­?¡± ¡°I was told by Ma-chan that Leopin had built a contraption that mills the flour automatically. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m threshing and I¡¯m knitting, okay?¡± ¡°Not only that, but they¡¯re playing rock-paper-scissors ¡­¡­ with their feet!¡± ¡°And from what I¡¯ve seen, it looks like you¡¯ve never lost a game. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°How many things are you doing at the same time ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°What¡¯s more, what¡¯s going to make me have to thresh, knit, and play rock-paper-scissors at the same time ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Look, a rock-paper-scissors opponent!¡± ¡°Oh my God, could it be Master Psyper? Why does he have to look so terrible?¡± ¡±Oh no, the Senior Merchant Payper is kneeling down to Leopin-kun!¡± ¡±Normally it¡¯s the other way around! How can the unemployed Leopin-kun make the senior merchant Payper-sama kneel?¡± And then something comes along that shakes them up even more. ¡°This time, this time, this time, I¡¯m going to win. ¡­¡­!¡± Supa! ¡°¡®Oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!¡± ¡°S¡­¡­ slap ahhhhh?¡± The unemployed slap the senior merchant. It seemed to them, as lowly merchants, to be an act tantamount to blasphemy. But the God they worship is no longer there. God¡¯s face is a mess of tears and snot, and he¡¯s flailing around on the ground, screaming. There was not a trace of the self-satisfied arrogance and arrogance that many of us know. Payper, a senior merchant, rolls around on the ground in his water mill, wailing like a spoiled child. Leopin, an unemployed man, pays no attention to him and continues knitting like a deaf grandmother. From the side, it was an infinitely bizarre sight. The students of the ¡°Merchant¡¯s Union¡± in Class 9 of the first year who were there were just bewildered. ¡°Gu-¡­¡­ guys, don¡¯t be absent-minded, the bags of flour have accumulated a lot in front of Leopin, let¡¯s load them on the cart.¡± ¡°What? Hey, hey, hey, Ma-chan! How can you be so calm in this incomprehensible situation!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to lie, I¡¯m surprised too. I went to call everyone and came back to find Leopin beating up Payper, I thought it was a good ¡­¡­ bad dream.¡± Ma-chan¡¯s voice was faintly trembling, but she was more calm than anyone else in the ¡®Merchant Union¡¯ present. ¡°But I¡¯ve gotten used to it because every single thing Leopin does is outrageous. If you¡¯re involved with Leopin-kun, if you¡¯re surprised by something like this, I don¡¯t think there will be enough surprises for you.¡± ¡°This ¡­¡­ is the extent ¡­¡­ of beating up a senior merchant and making him cry!¡± ¡±This isn¡¯t a problem that can be solved like this, among the senior merchants, there are people that even the nobles can¡¯t get their heads around!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯m letting Master Pei-Pei get away with this ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°¡®Yes, normally I would, but Leopin-kun is not normal. Leopin-kun treats me, a low-ranking merchant, the same way he treats Payper-sama, a high-ranking merchant. That¡¯s what¡¯s normal for you, Leopin.¡± As he said this, a powerful light shone in her eyes. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ve decided to trust Leopin-kun and make a deal with him! Because if we don¡¯t, we, the Merchant Union, will be made to work for the nobels. I joined this school because I wanted to be a merchant, and Leopin-kun is supporting me in that dream! So I¡¯m going to follow ¡­¡­ Leopin-kun, not Pei Pei-sama!¡± Machan says it out loud and starts moving quickly. She stepped over the sobbing payper and loaded a sack of flour onto a cart. The sight of her motivated even her friends who had succumbed to power. ¡°So¡­¡­ that¡¯s right¡­¡­, we came to this school to become merchants¡­¡­!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not here to be used as a pawn by a high-ranking merchant! Everyone, let¡¯s do it! Let¡¯s get Leopin¡¯s flour distributed to the settlements!¡± ¡°Whoa!¡± ¡°Wait, before you carry me out, play a game with me at ¡­¡­!¡± Kakeru-kun tried to call him off, but a hand was gently placed on his shoulder. It was the vice principal with a look of frustration on his face. ¡°Principal ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Gosh ¡­¡­, that¡¯s right ¡­¡­!¡± But Kakeru-kun is not giving up. ¡°Can I have some of that flour, please? If you give it to me, I¡¯ll let you move up one rank in Class 1-7, hey!¡± At that word, the movement of the class 1-7 who had been working without looking aside stopped. They looked at the grinning headmaster, then shifted their gaze to the class leader, Ma-chan. And as for Ma-chan, she was staring at a figure. It was a leopin boy, as if ¡­¡­ he was already a mosquito. The boy hums and moves his hands and feet at the same time, knitting two stroke roses at the same time. The boy didn¡¯t even try to look at her, let alone interrupt the negotiations, even though the flour might possibly be intercepted. He just weaves straw silently and earnestly. Ma-chan, that profile alone was enough to fill my heart with joy. The girl looks the principal straight in the eye and says crisply. ¡°¡®I can¡¯t do that, principal, because I promised Leopin that this flour would be distributed to the residential districts at a fair price.¡± ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s what you want? This is your chance to move up one rank. Besides, even you lowly merchants can tell who¡¯s mood is worse, me or Leopin-kun. Then it¡¯s okay if I break that promise, right?¡± Leopin-kun also said, ¡°Don¡¯t use me to please the principal,¡± and maybe Leopin-kun even saw this coming. ¡°Guh-nuh ¡­¡­!¡± Kakeru-kun glares at Leopin as he is struck down with words. Leopin, however, continues to weave straw as usual without a care in the world. Ma-chan says with a huff. ¡°If there is anyone who would interfere, I will inform the principal, so if that happens, please help me!¡± A cart piled high with flour is carried away by a large group of students. Kakeru-kun and the head teacher could only watch the scene with their fingers in their mouths. CH 110 The many games that Kakeru-kun teamed up with Payper to play on Leopin all ended in disaster. Kakeru-kun returned to the principal¡¯s office, feeling like he¡¯s gone broke in a casino. The vice principal, who also serves as his secretary, calls out languidly. ¡°Principal, you have a press conference in King¡¯s Landing this evening, and you have to deliver your inaugural address to the outside world.¡± ¡°Oh ¡­¡­ Oh, I remember that one ¡­¡­¡± Kakeru-kun is getting more and more upset. He was planning to use the press conference as an opportunity to take credit for getting rid of the incompetent student in the ¡°special training class¡±. According to his own calculations, the ¡°Leopin Millionaire Game¡± that he set up for Leopin on his first day in office should have left him in debt and he should have run away at night a long time ago. If he had made a big announcement about it, he would have been able to get his Leopin-hating supporters to admit that he was competent: ¡­¡­ But the boy is still alive and well. ¡­¡­! Kakeru-kun who couldn¡¯t make any kind of credit story. Disappointed, he went from the school to the royal capital with the magic circle of transition ¡­¡­. At the press conference, unexpected words came out from the reporters. Principal Kakeru-kun, is it true that the academy has already established wheat fields and flour is beginning to be distributed in the residential areas?¡± ¡°In the past, it took at least a year for flour to become available in the pioneer schools without the need to import it from outside!¡± ¡°As expected of Principal Kakeru-kun, not only is he a gambler, he¡¯s also a jackpot principal!¡± Kakeru-kun turns blue, ¡°Nah, why ¡­¡­ it!¡± But his cheeks were soon flushed with praise from the reporters. ¡°I didn¡¯t think it was something to brag about, since flour distribution is like a real bet against me!¡± ¡°So it was the result of principal Kakeru-kun¡¯s guidance, but the students who were put into circulation also seem to be quite talented!¡± Producers, or farmers, are essential to the distribution of wheat flour. However, in this ¡®Leaky Eight Kingdom¡¯, the secondary industry and below was treated as ¡®work that anyone can do¡¯. In other words, agriculture, fishery, industry and construction are considered to be occupations for lowly people and have a very low social status. There are exceptions, such as Shinra Carpenter, but it is from the tertiary industry and above that they are socially celebrated. The tertiary sector refers to those who do not do simple labour. They are considered to be in a position to use the producers¡¯ jaws and are considered to be of a higher rank. Therefore, the reporters were also more concerned about who distributed the flour than who made it. Kakeru-kun replies in a good mood as he is taken for a ride. ¡°Kaka Kaka, it¡¯s the ¡®Merchant Union¡¯ of Class 1-9 that distributed the flour!¡± ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t know it was the ¡®Merchant Union¡¯, that¡¯s quite a feat!¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯ve decided that Class 1-9 will move up two ranks!¡± Class 1 ¨C 9, E ? D- ¡°It¡¯s true that it¡¯s an achievement worthy of a two rank increase! But there was another class in the academy, the ¡®Great Merchant Union¡¯ ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Oh, they¡¯re no good, they¡¯re always interfering with the distribution of flour, so I¡¯ve decided that Class 1-7 will be punished one rank down!¡± Class 1 ¨C 7 C- ? D+ What a Kakeru-kun, he announced a change of three ranks as he let his tongue do the work. When the leaders of both classes found out about this, they roared out inf joy. ¡°¡®Ugh ¡­¡­ oooohhhh!¡± I¡¯m a low-ranked merchant and I¡¯m now a middle-ranked merchant? And can I be ranked the same as a high-ranked merchant? ¡°Is this a Dream!!?¡± ¡°Kaka¡­¡­ can¡¯t take it!!!! Senior merchant Pei and the others! Pei and the others who were ranked high when they first entered the school! I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m going to be ranked the same as a low level merchant!¡± Kakeru-kun is then lifted up by the reporters and returns to the school in high spirits. However, he was once again thrust into the depths of disappointment. by the Board of Education, by a notice of two ranks down. ¡°Nah ¡­¡­ why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why?¡± But I couldn¡¯t say that I didn¡¯t remember myself. Because he¡¯d screwed up two things. For one thing, he praised the Merchant Coalition in front of the reporters, while depreciating the Australian Merchant Coalition. To praise the lower class merchants is to denigrate the upper class people. If it had been the other way around, there would have been no problem, but that would have upset the supporters of the school. The other thing was that I had high quality flour right in front of me, but I missed it. When it comes to high quality flour, it is equal to gold in this world. He should have taken it by any means necessary and offered it up as a political tool for his supporters. ¡­¡­ That, I didn¡¯t ¡­¡­ no, I couldn¡¯t ¡­¡­! Kakeru-kun was on the verge of going insane, but he immediately made a donation to the school board and lobbied to have the measure rescinded. The money it took to pretend the two rank downgrades didn¡¯t happen was a whopping 1 billion ¡­¡­! Kakeru-kun 8.4 billion ? 7.4 billion Kakeru-kun was flailing about with the intent of tearing up the newly replaced carpet in the principal¡¯s office again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry ¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«! I can¡¯t believe I¡¯ve lost not once, not twice, but ¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«! That¡¯s a billion yen in losses, twice over ¡­¡­! I won¡¯t allow it. ¡­¡­! I won¡¯t allow it, Leopin. ¡­¡­! Not double, ten times. ¡­¡­! I¡¯ll pay you back tenfold and make you cry like a baby! ¡­¡­ wow!¡± ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô The flour I made and milled was bagged by Ma-chan and the other members of the Merchant¡¯s Union and sold in the residential areas. It is called ¡°Leopin Flour¡± and is sold for 1000 Yen, one tenth of the price of purchased flour. Needless to say, these sold like hotcakes, but only the lower classes bought them. Because buying flour with my name on it was the most humiliating thing that could happen to someone in a higher class. The only two classes at the top that bought my flour were Monaka and Kotone. However, flour, which was previously reserved for the rich in the residential areas, has become a common food. The total sales of flour will be 3,500,000 Yen. I split this sales money in half with the ¡®Merchant Union¡¯. Special Training School: 302,950,000 Yen. Class 1- 9: 1,750,000 Yen. The residential areas are still dominated by the ¡°Coalition of Great Merchants¡± as usual. But the existence of this flour was a blow to the previously monopolistic market. ¡°If we can distribute crops other than wheat flour from here, the distorted market will gradually become better. And more than anything, I want to support Kurumi¡¯s dream of becoming a pastry chef, even if just a little.¡± When you can imagine the consumers who will use and eat what you have made, you will be motivated. The day after the flour fiasco was a holiday and I was up earlier than usual. ¡°Well, it¡¯s a beautiful day, so let¡¯s get to work.¡± When I went to the field, muttering to myself, ¡°I should harvest sesame soon,¡± I found an unexpected visitor. Monaka and her Class 1 ¨C 2, and Kotone and her Class 1 ¨C 19. A total of 20 female students from the two classes were waiting for me. For some reason, everyone is wearing bloomers, and the thighs of the saints and Miko and the others, who are rarely shown, are dazzling. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, dressed like that?¡± When I called out, the faces of Monaka and Kotone were brilliant. ¡°Oh, Leo-kun! Let us help you with your work, too!¡± ¡°I heard a rumor that the Master was planting a field with the members of the Merchants¡¯ Union, so I came here as his disciple. Monaka was holding a small rake, like the ones used for tide-picking, and Kotone was holding a small shovel, like the ones used for playing in the sandbox, excited like a child who wants to help her parents with the yard work. Her skin is white, not associated with field work, and her hands are as clean as kitten paw pads. I don¡¯t think you can be much help, but if you want to help me, I¡¯ll take that cat¡¯s hand. ¡°Well, would you mind digging up an empty field with that shovel? Onesco, Shinobuko, and Tomoe can probably handle a blade, so you can harvest sesame with me.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± With energetic voices, the followers of the saints and Miko scattered. The trio of attendants were mumbling, but once they started harvesting, they seemed to enjoy it and competed with each other to reap the sesame seeds. The sweat pouring out of the beautiful girls¡¯ bouncing smiles. It is a very peaceful and heartwarming scene. The girls were welcomed into my base. ========== Base LV 4 ? 5 Scale: Deserted marginal village ? Hometown marginal village Population 1 Beasts pets 3 Bystander 1 ? 21 Base Skills Activity support Expansion of base Protection of bases Agricultural Support NEW! My Second Home Being at the base makes me feel calm. CH 111 A bustling village Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent Thanks to the help of the two classes, the field work became even more lively and fun than usual. Monaka and Kotone don¡¯t mind getting dirty, but they are working hard at tinkering with the soil. Then, Ma-chan and other members of the ¡°Merchant Union¡± arrive. ¡°Leopin-kun! I came to help with the field work! ¡­ that? Is the field more lively? There were other people besides us who could help.¡± ¡°Oh, she heard the rumors and came all the way here, she may be a bit stiff for you guys, but I hope you get along.¡± ¡°Hehe! Leopin-kun has already surprised me so many times, I won¡¯t be surprised by anyone else¡¯s presence! And there aren¡¯t many things that would surprise me more than slapping Master Payper!¡± Ma-chan, with her classmates in tow, rolled up her sleeves and headed for the field. But as soon as they saw the guests spread out in the fields. The Merchant¡¯s Union fell like dominoes, all falling on their asses at once. ¡°Why, why, why are there people from Class 1-2 and Class 1-19 here?¡± ¡°And Monaka-sama and Kotone are here too!¡± ¡°I knew that the two of you were close with Leopin-kun, but I didn¡¯t expect it to go this far. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Oh oh! What the hell is that !? The two of them are promised to become ¡°Princess Miko¡± and the ¡°Great Saint¡± in the future ¡­! ¡° ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re working in the fields!!!! The members of the Merchant¡¯s Union roll further back and dexterously get into a kneeling position. They looked up at me with a frightened look on their face, wobbling and shaking. ¡°Hey, Leopin-kun! No, Master Leopin! Gosh, gosh, I¡¯m sorry!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, I didn¡¯t know that Leopin-sama was capable of giving orders to Monaka-sama and Kotone-sama!¡± ¡°Please forgive me for my repeated rudeness¡­¡± I was kind of surprised. ¡°Look up, everybody, and don¡¯t get down on your knees, I¡¯m just an unemployed guy, I¡¯m not a big shot.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s a lie! How can Monaka-sama and Kotone-sama take advantage of a mere unemployed person?¡± ¡°The only students who can talk to Monaka-sama and Kotone-sama at this school are the Sage and Brave ones!(If my memory serves me right, there is a class full of jobs like ¡°Hero¡± or ¡°Braves¡±)¡± ¡°No, Monaka and Kotone don¡¯t change the way they interact with others based on their status or occupation, and they will treat everyone with open arms.¡± I called out to them both. ¡°Hey, Monaka, Kotone!¡± Those who are astonished, ¡°Oh, that¡¯s it !? Calling them like dogs ¡­!?¡± Far from worrying about Monaka and Kotone, they rushed to me with joy like a puppy. ¡°Monaka, Kotone, here are the guys from Class 1-9, the Merchant¡¯s Union.¡± When I introduce them, the members of the ¡®Merchant Union¡¯ get down on their knees even harder. Monaka and Kotone sat on the floor beside Maachan, wondering what she was thinking. ¡°You¡¯re all trying to thank Leo-kun, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡®Then let us join you. I¡¯m so grateful to you, Master, that even if I did it three times a day, morning, noon and night, it wouldn¡¯t be enough.¡± ¡°And now, ladies and gentlemen, please join us!¡± ¡°Master, thank you for always guiding us!¡± As Monaka and Kotone led the way, many men and women bowed deeply to me. ¡°Oh, my God. ¡­¡­¡± I¡¯m scratching my head. The wall of the house beside it began to shine like a gold screen again. ========== Base LV 5 ? 6 Scale Ordinary marginal village ? Ordinary village Population 1 Beasts pets 3 Bystander 21 ? 41 Base Skills: Activity support Expansion of base Protection of base Agricultural Support Second home NEW! Beast support: Improves the abilities of the beasts in the base. ========== My base has finally become a ¡®normal village¡¯. ¡°But I¡¯m the only one who lives here, and the others are guests.¡± When I mumbled something, they protested. ¡°Kuhn!¡± and ¡°Pyaa!¡± ¡°¡®Sorry, sorry, you¡¯ve been some fine resident.¡± The next thing I knew, Mark and Tom were in a field. Mark imitates Monaka and uses a rake to level the soil in the field, while Tom imitates Kotone and picks up dirt with a cat punch. On more than one occasion, Mark and Tom would share the fruits of their hunting with me. ¡°But this is the first time you¡¯ve helped me work like this. Could it be that the effects of the base skill ¡°Support for our family animals¡± immediately appeared? If those two can work the fields, they could be quite an asset.¡± I¡¯m going to start crafting it into a reality as soon as I can. There were two different ones I made, both simple wood crafts. ========== Gisu Plough Qty 1 (Material level 12 + Dexterity bonus 7 + Occupation bonus 20) Farm tools made of high quality Gisu wood. It can be towed by oxen or horses for efficient tillage of the soil. Various bonuses allow the plow to pull with less force and less soil resistance than a regular plow. ========== Gisu and Bamboo Wood Rake Qty 1 Quality Level 48£ü(Material Level 21 + Dexterity Bonus 7 + Occupation Bonus 20) This farming tool is made of high quality cedar wood with a radiating bamboo wood tip. Used for raking up dead leaves and hay, and for leveling the soil. Due to various bonuses, the work efficiency is very high compared to normal rakes. ========== I attach the finished plow to Tom¡¯s body. A plow is a wide farm implement that looks like several stags attached to one another, and can be pulled to plow a large area. Originally, it was pulled by an ox or a horse, but Tom seemed to have as much power as an ox and a horse, and he plowed the field. And I¡¯ll give Mark the rake. The rake is called a ¡®kumade¡¯ in the east, and as the name suggests, it is a farming tool that looks like a bear¡¯s hand enlarged. Mark was also quick to use the rake and carefully leveled the soil that Tom had dug up. The combination of the two was like a couple who had been together for many years. ¡°At this rate, we might as well expand into new fields.¡± Right now, there are three fields in this base. ¡°Sweet Potato Field, Wheatgrass Field, and Black Sesame Field.¡± ¡°¡®Because if we¡¯re going to distribute crops to the settlements, we need to grow a lot more of them. I tell Mark and Tom to head for the meadow. I wasn¡¯t sure if my intentions had been understood, but they both squealed back as if to reply, ¡°Kuon! The beasts began cultivating the grassland right next to the field. I suddenly realize that I can see about 10 of my classmates hanging out around the gate of my house. All of them had small animals on their shoulders, so I knew at a glance that they were in Class 1-3, the class of the tamers. I walk up to them and call out. ¡°What¡¯s up? What do you want?¡± Then the trainers bowed down, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Leopin-kun!¡± ¡°¡®Oh dear, it¡¯s one of those days where you get to bow your head, I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re bowing but face it anyway.¡± They stood upright and mouthed excitedly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I ever made fun of you, I just wanted to apologize!¡± ¡°Please let us help you with the field work!¡± ¡°Though we¡¯re the only ones who can help, not the pets!¡± It was meant to be a joke, and the trainers laughed and said, ¡°Ahahahaha!¡± But I take it seriously and ask back, ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°¡®Don¡¯t you know that, Leopin, because farming is not in your pet¡¯s instincts?¡± ¡°Even the most respectable trainer can¡¯t order you to do something that isn¡¯t in your instincts!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know that. ¡­¡­ Well, whatever it is, I¡¯d appreciate it if you could help me. My people are cultivating the land now, can you help them?¡± The members of Class 1 ¨C 3 responded casually, ¡°Ok!¡± and headed for the field. I worry that they¡¯ll be just as cowed as the ¡®Merchant Union¡¯ if they see Monaka and Kotone in the field. The trainers were indeed surprised by Monaka and Kotone, but not so much as to turn them over. But as soon as they saw Mark and Tom working the fields¡­ The trainers flopped down like d¨¦j¨¤ vu and were all on their asses at the same time. ¡°Why, oh why, is there a bear and a black panther working on a farm?¡± ¡°How dexterous a bear can be with a ¡®kumade¡¯!¡± ¡°¡®Oh my God, it¡¯s even said that it¡¯s harder and more impossible to get a pet to do farm work than it is to train a circus performer! ¡°Yeah ¡­ Leopin isn¡¯t nobody! The legendary Tamer¡± ¡°Re¡­¡­ Leopin-samaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!¡± ¡°Here we go again: ¡­¡­ I¡¯m scratching my head. The wall of the house beside it began to glow three times as if it were pure gold. ========== Base V 6 ? 7 Size Ordinary village ? Lively village Population 1 Beasts pets 3 Bystander 41 ? 52 Base Skills Activity support Expansion of base Protection of base Agricultural Support Second home Beast support NEW! Cooking Support: Gain a bonus to the quality of the food in your base. CH 112 The Gal and the Pastry Chef Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent In this short amount of time, the base had increased by three levels. Leopin murmurs as he looks up at his home, surrounded by light. ¡°Could it be that adding more people is a shortcut to increasing the level of the base ¡­¡­?¡± Currently, the only official residents of this base are me, Mark and Tom. Leopin decided to live alone when he was driven to this land away from his residence. I had resigned myself to the fact that the only involvement I would have with my classmates would be in class. ¡­¡­ ¡°¡®If helping out at the base counts, then I guess we can get more residents. Then, let¡¯s call out to Akemi ¡­¡­¡± Leopin looks towards the living quarters, where Akemi would be. Then, a figure glimpsed behind a tree around the entrance to the forest. When I look at it, it retracts with a ¡°snap! But even though they could hide their body, they didn¡¯t seem to notice that their tiny cocked hat was peeking out. Hiding behind a tree is Kurumi, a pastry chef girl. The girl usually carries a bag of sugar with her, but today she had replaced it with a small shovel. ¡°Wow, ¡­¡­ I¡¯m helping Chef Leopin with his, oh, ¡­¡­!¡± But just as she said that, the girl¡¯s face turned as red as an apple. ¡°Mmm ¡­ Mmm, I can¡¯t! I can¡¯t! Ah ¡­ After saying that, I¡¯m gonna go in front of Leopin!¡± The ¡°such and such¡± that the girl was concerned about was this one word that she once said when she was forced by Yes Man to change the name of ¡°RPG Candy¡±. ¡°Oh, ¡­¡­, I refuse! These candies are a treasured recipe I learned from Chef Leopin! To me, Chef Leopin is much greater than a superb confectioner: ¡­¡­! Of course, it¡¯s more than just a vice principal. ¡­¡­! Besides, he¡¯s more important to me than anyone else!¡± It is the first confession of love in a lifetime for the girl. I thought that Leopin would not be there, but shortly after this, Leopin buzzed the yes-men with a log. ¡°Also ¡­¡­ too, if Chef Leopin had heard about that ¡­¡­! Wah, wah, wah, I ¡­¡­ am so embarrassed, I¡¯m dying!¡± The girl crouches down in the shade of the tree, presses her face, and squirms like a little child. Because of this, she didn¡¯t notice people approaching nearby. A voice pours down from above her head, ¡°Yo¡±, and the girl flips over, ¡°Pyaka! ¡°Well, well, well, you¡¯re one of them, aren¡¯t you, all tipping over today.¡± ¡°Oh, ¡­¡­, Chef Leopin!¡± The girl covered her eyes, which were hidden by her bangs, with her hands further and looked at the boy through the slight opening. It¡¯s as if you¡¯re looking at a celestial body that if you look directly at it, your eyes will get hit. Yes, for the girl, the boy was now a brilliantly shining presence like the sun. The boy, who had too much glare and even a halo, crouched down and held out his hand to me. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± The girl gives a drawn out reply, ¡°Ha, ha!¡± as she is helped up. I¡¯d say something, but¡­ ¡°Oh, ¡­¡­ that, that, that, that, ¡­¡­ that, that, that, that, ¡­¡­!¡± I can¡¯t find the words. The hand that is still clasped by the boy is unexpectedly pulled. ¡°¡®You¡¯ve got a shovel, which means you¡¯ve come to help me work the fields, haven¡¯t you?¡± The boy¡¯s face smiled, ¡°That helps.¡± It is beautiful as if the girl¡¯s vision was covered with gauze. ¡°Le ¡­¡­ Leopin, Chef ¡­¡­ It was enough to make the girl feel flustered, as if she had no feet on the ground. ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô The boy didn¡¯t know. That there is more than one person to love. From the shade of the tree where Kurumi was hiding, there was another girl in a tree further towards the entrance of the forest. The girl is trembling to the beat of her heart, as if she can¡¯t control her raging heart. ¡°I bought the best shovel from ¡­¡­ the store, and I didn¡¯t ¡­¡­ forget anything, did I?¡± In both of the girl¡¯s hands, she was holding a heavy iron shovel, not just for farm work, but for military use. This was the first time she had ever held anything heavier than a sorcerer¡¯s staff. ¡°Oh, I hope my hairstyle¡¯s okay, and I need to make sure my makeup is on.¡± The girl uses a silver shovel as a mirror and adjusts her hairstyle. This was already the tenth time she had been confirmed on this spot. I pull lipstick from my uniform pocket onto my lips and brace myself. ¡± ¡­¡­ All right, that¡¯s a batch! Now I can make it look like I just happened to be passing by the field and ask for Leopin. ¡­¡­ No, no, no, I¡¯m not going to call out to him, I¡¯m going to have Leopin call out to me!¡± ¡®Whoa, it¡¯s Carol! You¡¯re finally here, I¡¯ve been waiting for you! Wow, that¡¯s one fine shovel! It¡¯s a far cry from those other girls with their toy shovels! Please, help me work in fields like this!¡¯ ¡®Hmm, if you¡¯re going to ask me that much, I might as well help you.¡¯ The simulation in Carol¡¯s brain was perfect. The woman is turning left and right, and her fantasies have already grown to the point where she is being hugged by Leopin. Suddenly, the girl¡¯s heartbeat jumped up a notch. Because I saw a boy walking towards me from the field. ¡°It¡¯s ¡­¡­ Leopin! Leopin, it¡¯s coming this way! Could it be that you knew that I (atashi) was hiding here!¡± She¡¯s usually known as a cool girl, and is even feared by some because she says everything in a straightforward manner. But when it comes to the boy, her mind is instantly stirred. ¡°Yeah ¡­ it¡¯s dangerous! An emergency has occurred! Hairstyle, makeup, facial expression! Is it okay, is it okay !?¡± She hurriedly dressed herself for the eleventh time and created a sullen expression. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be able to figure out what¡¯s going on. ¡°It¡¯s ¡­¡­ perfect! Now I can make peace with Leopin. ¡­¡­¡± However, the person I love stops in front of me. ¡°What ¡­¡­? What¡¯s wrong, Leopin ¡­¡­?¡± When she peeked in suspiciously, she saw that there was another girl in a cocked hat hiding in the woods, and Leopin was crouched facing her. A few moments later, Leopin holds hands with the girl in the cocked hat and walks back into the field. The gal girl who hadn¡¯t been noticed was screaming in her mind as if she had been abandoned. ¨CLe- ¡­¡­ Leopin, Leopin, Leopin, Leopin, Leopin, Leopin, Leopin! I¡¯m right here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CH 113 Bread maker Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent The number of ¡®bystanders¡¯ in my base became 53 with the addition of Kurumi. Kurumi seemed to be particularly uncomfortable working in the fields among the girls. She kept falling down, and she was dragging everyone down rather than helping them, but I¡¯m grateful for that feeling alone. And for the first time since I¡¯ve been at this school, I¡¯ve had decent contact with many of the students. Until now, I¡¯ve been treated like trash and the only people who listen to me are Monaka and Kotone. ¡­¡­ Now I¡¯ve got fifty students talking to me. I guess it was a good thing, because by noon, when all the work in the fields was done, I was surrounded by a gentle light. ========== Name Leopin Occupation Mana Farmer Lv 20 ? 21 HP 1010 MP 1010 Status Life 101 Endurance 101 Toughness 1001 Spirit 101 Resistance 101 Agility 1001 Concentration 101 Strength 101 Magic 101 Dharma 101 Intelligence 101 Liberal Arts 101 Five Senses 101 Sixth Sense 101 Charm 1 Luck 5 Dexterity 700 ? 800 ========== ========== Changeable occupations Production System Lumberjack Appraiser Shin-Ra Carpenter Masonry Leather Craftsman Woodcrafter Potter Confectioner Pastry Chef Artisan Fireworker Seamstress NEW! Bread Artisan Exploration System Ranger Treasure Hunter Mapper Earth Vein Master Combat System Battle Axe User Ninja Martial Artist Trapper Trainer(Tamer) Gambler ========== ¡°A baker, bread maker, that¡¯s just the job I¡¯m in the mood for!¡± Just the sound of the clock tower bell announcing noon reached us from the living quarters. Monaka and Kotone came to my side and wiped my sweat from both sides as they said. ¡°¡®Good work, Leo-kun! What about lunch?¡± ¡°Master, please let us prepare lunch ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°No, you¡¯ve been helping out in the fields, and as a thank you, I¡¯d like to treat you myself. Besides, since we¡¯re all going to be eating outside, would you two mind laying out a rug around the field?¡± Monaka and Kotone reply with a perfect score of ¡°Yes!¡± I had knitted and prepared ¡°Strokerose¡±, and one by one they were laid out on the ground by the field. ¡°¡®Ladies and gentlemen, please take a seat over here!¡± ¡°Master is going to treat us to lunch and dinner.¡± When Monaka and Kotone showed them the way, the crowd cheered, ¡°Wow! When you¡¯re both daughters of famous families, it sounds like you¡¯re going to come up with something amazing. ¡°Well, well, well. The bar¡¯s been raised.¡± I activated my ¡®Dexterous Job Change¡¯ skill to live up to those expectations as much as possible. I¡¯ve moved on to the most appropriate profession now. ========== Occupation Mana Farmer ? Bread Maker Occupational skill Smelting (active): The texture of the bread can be adjusted by the amount of dough kneaded. Fermentation (active): Shorten the fermentation time of the dough. Yeast (Active Special): Yeast can be created in a short time ========== We went to the cooking area in the garden of our house and washed our hands with water from the river before starting to cook. ¡°First we have to make the yeast.¡± First, I take out of my coat pocket the ¡°Princess Apple¡± that I bought at Tom¡¯s Market a while ago. I removed the stems, washed them, and cut them into 8 wedges. Leave the skin and core intact and place in the jar in the cooking area. Then pour in the water and seal it with a wooden lid. ¡°It¡¯s supposed to chill here for about three days. ¡­¡­¡± I put my hand on the lid and activate the Bread Artisan occupational skill, ¡®Fermentation¡¯. Then, within three minutes, I heard a swooshing sound coming from inside the jar. ¡°Already done, so fast!¡± When I opened it up, I found apple water with a number of pearly bubbles floating in it. ========== Princess Apple Yeast Qty 1 Quality Level 34£ü(Material Penalty 2 + Dexterity Bonus 8 + Profession Bonus 21 + Base Bonus 7) Yeast made by fermenting Princess Apple. In addition to baking and confectionery, it can be used for cooking in general. Due to various bonuses, it lasts longer than regular yeast and produces a fluffy finish when mixed into dough. ========== Yeast is an essential ingredient in bread making. ¡°Without it, the bread won¡¯t puff up and it¡¯ll be floppy.¡± Once the essential ingredients are ready, the baking begins in earnest. Put the flour in a wooden bowl, add the water and yeast extract, salt and ¡­¡­. ¡°All that was left is some sugar, which would have been even better.¡± Then a paper bag was gently held out from the side. The paper bag says ¡®Osato¡¯ on it. ¡°What, Kurumi?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m curious to see what Chef Leopin is cooking up. ¡­¡­! If you want, you can use it!¡± I stopped Kurumi as she tried to run away from the cooking area. ¡°If it bothers you, go ahead and look.¡± Kurumi stops in her tracks and looks back fearfully. ¡°Are you sure ? The artisans are afraid of having their recipes stolen, so they don¡¯t show how they make them. ¡­¡­ Wow, my class, mimic, they all are. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not a chef, so feel free to steal it and use it if you need to. Because that would make life better for everyone.¡± I continued to cook while Kurumi came back stiffly to my side. Add the sugar I got from Kurumi and mix the contents of the bowl. This will make the flour into a sticky dough, which you will place on your work surface. Then I activate the ¡°Smelting¡± skill here. The fabric was stretched out like laundry, then gathered back together again, and so on. ¡°¡¯Kurumi, do you like puffy bread or chunky bread?¡¯¡± Then Kurumi answered immediately in a bright voice, ¡°It¡¯s puffy! ¡°All girls love anything puffy!¡± I¡¯m sure Kurumi is imagining it as sweet bread. When it comes to sweets, she instantly loses her stammer. I replied, ¡°Oh yeah?¡± as I divided the kneaded dough into smaller portions and activated my ¡®fermentation¡¯ skill. Normally, fermentation is a process that takes hours and hours, but with skill, it can be done in an instant. Looking at the puffy dough, Kurumi tilts her head as if looking for a mistake. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be able to figure out what¡¯s going on. It¡¯s also doubled ¡­¡­ or even tripled ¡­¡­?¡± Kurumi was shaking her head from side to side, as if she was looking at the wrong thing, while also watching the dough go into the baking oven. ¡°Hmmm ¡­¡­, puffy bread is mmmm ¡­¡­ difficult to make. ¡­¡­ I¡¯ve tried a couple of times,¡­¡­, but it¡¯s like a cracker,¡­¡­, it¡¯s so hard and floppy. Jeez, to tell you the truth, I¡¯m longing for fluffy bread, ah, ¡­¡­. I¡¯ve been admiring it so much that I¡¯ve been hallucinating about it. ¡­¡­¡± Then, as if pulled back to reality, Kurumi¡¯s shoulders drop in shame. But when she opened the oven and saw the fat little fox-like loaves of bread, she screamed as if she had been dragged back to a dream. ¡°¡®Pfft ¡­¡­ pfft ¡­¡­! Fluffy!!!?¡± Freshly baked bread with steam rising from it. It gave off a rich aroma that made me feel happy just to smell it. ========== Angel¡¯s Fluffy Bread Qty 20 (Material Level 85 + Dexterity Bonus 8 + Profession Bonus 21 + Cooking Bonus 2 + Base Bonus 7 + Crown Bonus 20 + Marginal Penalty 23) The bread is baked according to a basic recipe, but is very tasty because it is made with quality ingredients. special effects Fluffy£ü(Small) When you eat it, invisible angelic forces work for 30 seconds, and your body floats 1 millimeter off the ground. Quality Maintenance£ü(Small) Maintains freshly made quality for one month CH 114 Angel''s Fluffy Bread Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent As soon as I saw the name, the words came out of my mouth. ¡°This can¡¯t be the ¡®Crown¡¯ ¡­¡­! The term ¡°Crown¡± refers to items of even higher quality than ¡°High Quality¡±. There¡¯s a prefix in the name of the item that describes it¡¯s crowning splendor. That¡¯s what the ¡°Angel Fluff¡± part is about. Crowns are unique in that they can have magical special effects, even though no magical materials are used in the crafting process. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m the one who can make the crown item. ¡­¡­!¡± However, there was one thing that bothered me. It¡¯s the existence of ¡°penalties¡±. ¡°¡®I thought this penalty was attached to ¡®Gisu Automatic Milling Shed¡¯ too. I think that was level 120 too. ¡­¡­¡± Probably, but it seems that the ¡®penalty¡¯ is for going over level 120. ¡°You mean I can¡¯t make an item that¡¯s over level 120 ¡­¡­?¡± If so, it was a disgusting problem, but it was also too extravagant a concern. Because even a legendary master craftsman like the one serving the court can barely craft a level 20. ¡°If you¡¯re making items at six times that level, I guess you don¡¯t have to worry about it: ¡­¡­¡± It still bothered me, but I didn¡¯t have time to think about the cause. The Angel¡¯s Fluffy Buns were still in the baking oven because Kurumi had stuck her face near it, not caring that her face was tingling and red. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen such fluffy bread before. ¡­¡­ It¡¯s a dream,¡­¡­, but I can¡¯t wake up from the dream,¡­¡­!¡± ¡°If you keep sticking your face in there, you¡¯re gonna turn into bread, so get out of the oven.¡± Kurumi backs away, the tip of her nose tingling, ¡°Gosh, I¡¯m sorry!¡± When the bread dough was put into the baking oven, it was about the size of a fist. But when I took them out, they were so puffed up and crowded together that I thought they were whole cakes. ¡°¡®Ugh ¡­¡­ ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! It¡¯s awesome, it¡¯s awesome, it¡¯s awesome, it¡¯s awesome!¡± Kurumi clapped her hands like a child who was served a cake even though it was not her birthday. ¡°All right, then, let¡¯s eat together!¡± ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô Time to go back a bit. Monaka, Kotone, and Ma-chan and the others in the field were sitting side by side like baby sparrows on a rug. They were excitedly waiting to see what on earth they were going to eat. ¡­¡­ Then, an uninvited guest broke in. ¡°Oh, Master Payper, what¡¯s the matter?¡± said Marchant. But Payper doesn¡¯t answer and sits down nearby. ¡°Well, let¡¯s have lunch.¡± Then he took a sandwich from the basket he had brought with him and began to show it off. ¡°Bread baked with the finest flour, sandwiched between the finest ingredients, is exceptional. Payper was raving about it, but I didn¡¯t envy him much. Because the bread is hard and crumbly and as thin as a rag, and has a strange color. The ingredients in the sandwiches were shriveled and didn¡¯t have a hint of freshness to them. More than that, there was a great deal wrong with the people who were eating them. At any rate, both his cheeks were swollen as if all his teeth had decayed. But Peyper doesn¡¯t even notice that the ladies are shirking. ¡°If you insist, I¡¯ll share with the ladies. Oh, Ma-chan, a low-ranking merchant like you can¡¯t look like that no matter how much you want to. Pei is talking to Monaka-sama and Kotone-sama, you know.¡± ¡°No, thank you,¡± was the only short harmony that came back. ¡°Pa ~? Monaka-sama and Kotone-sama apparently lost their understanding of the value of things while they were with Kuru Kurupa. You can¡¯t find a better lunch than this top-quality sandwich anywhere in this school.¡± Suddenly, an inexplicable, mellow aroma hit my nose. The girls all twitch their little noses. ¡°Oh, my God, does that smell like ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°The smell of freshly baked bread, Monaka-sama, Kotone-sama!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but I¡¯m very attracted to it. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Pei, Pei, you can¡¯t be serious! There¡¯s no way he can bake bread here! Bread is something that can only be baked with the right equipment, ingredients, and expert craftsmen! Even if I had the equipment and materials, there¡¯s no way an unemployed trash would have the skills to bake bread!¡± That¡¯s where that ¡®no way¡¯ comes in. ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô ¡°It¡¯s ready! Fresh bread!¡± When I got back to the field with my tray, somehow Payper was there. ¡°Even if by some miracle he could bake it, it would be flaky as paper, crunchy as a stone, and could not be called bread! Bread is like the sandwich that Pei has, soft and ¡­¡­!¡± But as soon as he sees the object on the tray, Peyper drops his prized sandwich with a thud. Everyone in the room stood up. ¡°¡®Phew ¡­¡­ fluffy ahhhhhhhhhhh £¡£¡£¡£¡¡¯ I said to my friends who had gathered. ¡°¡®I¡¯ve baked 20 for now, can the three of you share one? If it is this big, it will be worth eating even if it is divided among three people. We¡¯re about to bake some more, so you¡¯ll have to share it with us.¡± ¡°Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!¡± There, the difference in position no longer existed. The saint, Miko, the lowly merchant, the trainer tamer, and the pastry chef all laughed at each other as if they were all in the same company. A big loaf of bread, and we all break it in unison. Poof, poof. ¡­¡­! Dusty steam overflows and fluffy dough strings are pulled. Everyone chorused, ¡°Itadakimasu, Leopin-kun!¡± and then huffed and puffed. ¡°Oooh ¡­¡­ yummy!!!?¡± The cheers that seemed to rise to the heavens, no longer just a millimeter, ran through the blue sky. CH 115 Best Lunch, Best Friends Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent As soon as they took a bite of the ¡°Angel¡¯s Fluffy Bread¡± that I made, my friends¡¯ bodies slumped and they looked peaceful, as if they were in heaven. However, they were soon shattered and slumped to the ground one after another. I called out to one, ¡°Are you okay?¡± but he had a look of euphoria on his face, as if he hadn¡¯t heard me at all. ¡°This ¡­¡­ is such good bread ¡­¡­ for the first time ¡­¡­!¡± I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t catch your name. ¡°Leo kun ¡­¡­ Leo kun ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve ever eaten bread,¡­¡­. I didn¡¯t know it could be so delicious ¡­¡­! Master, Master, Master, ¡­¡­!¡± Monaka and Kotone are hanging on to my legs with nasal squeals in their voices. Ma-chan and the rest of the merchant coalition seemed to be under a mass hypnosis. they look up at me with an expression of mixed joy and fear, as if they have been given forbidden pleasure by the hand of the Great Demon King. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t catch your name. ¡­¡­ leopin kun ¡­¡­ soo ¡­¡­ amazing ¡­¡­ too amazing ¡­¡­! I don¡¯t know how many times I¡¯ve said this word ¡­¡­ but I can¡¯t say it enough¡­ ¡­¡­!¡± He said, ¡°you grew wheatgrass, built a water mill that threshed it automatically, and even milled your own flour. ¡­¡­ Not only do we have to beat up Payper-sama and let Monaka-sama and Kotone work the fields, but also ¡­¡­¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know you could bake bread this good. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Shugo Shugo Shugo Shugo Shugo Shugo Shugo Shugo Shugo Shugo Shugo Shugo Shugo Shugo Shugo Shugo Shugo Shugo Shugo Shugo ¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«! The trainer-tamers were eating with the pets on their shoulders as if they were brothers. ¡°Ha, ha, oihii! Oihii!¡± ¡°¡®But what¡¯s wrong with them? These kids would even make sanding motions at the bread sold in the store!¡± ¡°Leopin-kun¡¯s bread is so good that even pets are captivated by it!¡± ¡°No matter what bait I was feeding him, he was never this hungry!¡± ¡°I mean, I can¡¯t stop either. I can¡¯t stop. I can¡¯t stop. ¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡«¡« The only one who was not a mosquito, Payper, was somehow acting alone. ¡°Pee-pee! I can¡¯t believe an unemployed person would bake bread. ¡­¡­! Oh, of course that bread is bad! Paaa¡­¡­! But it¡¯s so fluffy and it looks so good¡­¡­! Hey, Leopin, are you interested in the finest sandwich? I¡¯m tired of eating like that, so I might as well give it to an unemployed piece of trash like you. I¡¯ll take a slice of this half-eaten sandwich and 200 of that bread ¡­¡­ ah!¡± Payper steps out and knocks over the basket at his feet. Every single sandwich inside was blown all over the field. ¡°Poof! This ¡°Royal Sandwich Basket¡± is a luxury item that costs 500,000 Yen to purchase! I¡¯ve only had one bite and it¡¯s all ruined! What a waste! What a waste!¡± The payer picks up the muddy sandwich like a wad of cash and blows on it to remove the mud. ¡°Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. Sandwiches don¡¯t make fertilizer, so you better put them away.¡± That¡¯s all I said to the payer, and I took the empty tray back to the kitchen. ¡°We¡¯re all going to eat this up in no time, so we¡¯d better hurry up and bake some more.¡± I tore off the dough I had kneaded and put it in the baking oven again. Then Onesco, Shinobuko, Tomoe, and a trio of valets arrive, like stray cats after a fish. ¡°¡®Don¡¯t be in such a hurry, the next one will be ready soon, okay, looks like it¡¯s done.¡± I¡¯m going to give them one of those hot, freshly baked loaves of bread. Then the trio began to tear off and eat the bread, passing it around in coordinated movements. ¡°Ha, ha, ha, yea, it¡¯s still good ¡­¡­! And, but don¡¯t get me wrong!¡± ¡°Mofumu, mofumu, mofumu, mofumu, when we finish eating, that we will kill each other-degozaru!¡± ¡°Hug, hug, hug! That¡¯s right! We haven¡¯t forgotten how you kissed Monaka-sama and Kotone-sama!¡± This trio of valets are still holding on to the fact that Monaka and Kotone kissed me on the cheek after ¡°Seven Days of Fire¡±. The trio of valets had allowed the two of them to hug me when they were overwhelmed with emotion, saying that this time was special. But they didn¡¯t expect that they would even kiss. I didn¡¯t see it coming either, but I have a point. ¡°Don¡¯t make it sound like I forced them to kiss me, that was Monaka and Kotone who did it out of the blue.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry you had to see that, Leopin! ¡°Huh, huh, huh, huh, huh, huh, huh, huh, huh, huh, huh, huh, huh, huh, huh, huh! Leopin, you could have done it!¡± ¡°Huh, mug, gokkun! To use the ninjutsu I taught you for such a thing, that I have despised you! ¡°It¡¯s a good thing that only our supporters can see our pioneering life now! ¡°You¡¯ve just made enemies of all the neighboring countries! ¡°Ninnin, hamu hamu, a life harsher than a ninja out of the woods awaits-degozaru!¡± ¡°I understand that you guys want to protect your masters, but you can¡¯t just say that with crumbs all over your mouth. ¡­¡­¡± I was about to finish, when I suddenly thought of something. ¡°Maybe you guys were worried about me too?¡± ¡°¡®Mogh, that can¡¯t be right!¡¯ ¡®Hagh, stop laughing! When I saw that Sinobuko didn¡¯t say anything, I slapped her hand because she was trying to get a new pan. Anyway, thanks to everyone¡¯s help that day, we got a lot of farm work done. Not only could I harvest sesame seeds, but I could also plant the next crop, and even expand the field. We were able to secure a large field on the other side of the forest. This will allow us to grow plenty of different crops, and at least for vegetables, the people in the residential areas won¡¯t have to worry about the price manipulation of the senior merchants. And after school, the area around my house became crowded with people. They all started helping me with my farm work. They not only plow the fields, but also come to sow seeds, water the fields, and thresh in the water mill shed. Thanks to you, I¡¯ve become a lot more comfortable. Everything is smooth sailing. Just when I thought we were going to keep this momentum going and expand our base, ¡­¡­ something comes along. A new PE teacher will replace Nick Bakker. It was literally the beginning of a new ¡°war¡± for me. CH 116 Mahel Marathon Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent On the day the new PE teacher arrived, the morning and afternoon were devoted to PE lessons. The new teacher¡¯s address is given in the schoolyard, as befits a physical education teacher. At this time, the whole school was gathered in the schoolyard, and all the students except Leopin were in gym clothes. ¡°Bin! Sir¡¯s name is ¡°Sir Vibe¡±! I was a survival instructor at the Leaky Eight Kingdom Military Academy, and for that reason, I was assigned to take care of you piss-dripping bastards! Now that Sir is here, I¡¯m going to make all of you first-class soldiers, except for a few trash! If you understand, say yes sir before you shit in your mouth!¡± Sir Vibe introduces himself, flexing his pecs through his camouflage tank top. As expected of an active duty soldier, he had a magnificent body, even more so than his former gym teacher, Nick Bakker. ¡°Sir doesn¡¯t like idle chatter! we¡¯re heading to the lake now to train for survival!¡± He¡¯s supposed to be a gym teacher, but he suddenly declares himself a survivalist. The students were puzzled, but they didn¡¯t ask any questions and were pointed to a corner of the schoolyard. ¡°Now, we¡¯re going to split up into classes and ride in that carriage, because it says on the side of the carriage which carriage we¡¯re going to ride in!¡± The carriages were parked in the corner of the schoolyard, and there were enough for each class. The carriages of the higher-ranked classes have luxurious roofs, and the lower the rank, the poorer the carriage without a roof. And sure enough, there was no carriage for the ¡®Special Training School¡¯. At this moment, Leopin was just standing there in the back of the students, but Sir Vibe clearly told him that he was the one who had caught Leopin with both eyes. ¡°I hear you¡¯re a dropout, but I hear you¡¯re good at running! I heard you won the ¡®Hell Marathon¡¯ against Nick Bakker! So I thought I¡¯d give you a shot at a ¡®True Hell Marathon¡¯ this time! This is a unique opportunity to experience one of the most rigorous training programs in the Leekate Kingdom Army!¡± Leopin was already accustomed to being unreasonably entangled by strangers, so he scratched his head and compiled. ¡°Huh, I don¡¯t mind, ¡­¡­, but is it just me?¡± Then, from behind Sir Vibe¡¯s massive frame, two faces appear out of thin air. It was a combination of principal and vice principal. ¡°It¡¯s a great idea to develop the students¡¯ strengths! So, since we¡¯re here, let¡¯s play the Leopin¡¯ Hell Marathon Game!¡± The rules of the game were decided unilaterally by Kakeru-kun, who appeared at a time that seemed to indicate that he was ready. First, tie the body of the leopin to the tail end of the carriage with a rope. And Leopin follows the carriage. The carriage doesn¡¯t stop until it reaches its destination, the lake, so Leopin has to run all the way to the lake. Giving up is not allowed, and if he slumps, Leopin will be dragged all the way to the lake. And as long as he doesn¡¯t touch the carriage, Leopin can do whatever he wants while it¡¯s running. In order to allow for some rest and freedom of movement, a length of rope was provided of 400 meters. Kakeru-kun jokingly adds. ¡°You can sit and rest, find water to drink, take a nap, or even catch a wild animal and ride it!¡± However, the length of this rope was the key to this game. Because this time, Monaka and Kotone are also there. If I let Leopin wear a short rope and drag him within sight of the carriage, the girls would not be quiet. Kakeru-kun chuckles wickedly inside. ¨Cbut as long as it¡¯s a 400-meter rope and runs through the woods with poor visibility, even if Leopin slumps and gets dragged, he won¡¯t be seen by the carriage. ¡­¡­! With no help from anyone, Leopin is left to shred on his own. ¡­¡­! And there was another horrible scheme hidden in this game. ¨Cand if Leopin follows the carriage, we¡¯ve got a plan to deal with it: ¡­¡­! We¡¯ll just keep driving the carriage the long way around until Leopin gets dented. ¡­¡­! The finish line isn¡¯t going to come forever until Leopin is dragged, battered, and wailing. ¡­¡­! Yes ¡­¡­! This was a game that Kakeru-kun would absolutely win ¡­¡­! Leopin didn¡¯t know that, and tied the end of a long rope around his waist. A further black idea flashed through Kakeru-kun¡¯s mind as he watched. ¡°That¡¯s right, Leopin, if you make it to the finish line in this game without falling apart, I¡¯ll give you a special 300 million yen from my pocket money!¡± The surrounding students gasped in astonishment, ¡°What? ¡°However, if Leopin-kun loses even one time, you will forfeit all 300 million of your current winnings! ¡®I don¡¯t have the right to say no anyway, do I?¡¯ said Leopin. ¡°Because this game is an official educational curriculum that has been approved by the Board of Education!¡± ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô Kakeru-kun, the head teacher, and Sir-sensei were not riding in a carriage, but three men on the same one horse. They said it was to rescue me when I was left behind in the carriage and was in a life-threatening situation. But Sir-sensei had a crossbow and was not in a very helpful mood. ¡°Run like gum on the sole of your shoe! If you get sluggish, I¡¯ll punish you with this!¡± Sir-sensei signaled to the carriages, and they lined up in a row and began to move slowly. I was tied to the tail end of the carriage with a long rope. Monaka, Kotone and the others are in the carriage in front of me. The girls were supposed to be in the earlier carriage, but they had negotiated to have it changed. ¡°Keep up the good work, Leo-kun!¡± ¡°¡®Master, we are with you, if anything happens to Master, we will come to your aid at once! And the carriage didn¡¯t seem to intend to go very fast, as the ladies were riding in it. ¡°So the plan is to make them run long distances and break them down. ¡­¡­ In the meantime, the carriage left the schoolyard and went into the woods where there was a paved road.¡± I left the status unchanged for the time being, just to see how it goes. I was going to raise the ¡®endurance¡¯ parameter if I got in trouble. ¡­¡­ ¡°Maybe that won¡¯t be necessary.¡± I suddenly spotted something out of the corner of my eye. I jumped into a nearby bush and activated the ¡°Dexterous Body¡± of the ¡°Poor Dexterity¡± while the supervising teachers were looking away. ¡®Endurance¡¯ is all about plugging into the parameters of the bigger picture. ========== Name Leopin Occupation Bread Artisan Lv 21 HP 1010 ? 1 MP 1010 ? 1 Status Life 101 ? 1 Endurance 101 ? 1 Toughness 1001 ? 1 Spirit 101 ? 1 Resistance 101 ? 1 Agility 1001 ? 1 Concentration 101 ? 1 Strength 101 ? 1 Magic 101 ? 1 Dharma 101 ? 1 Intelligence 101 ? 1 Liberal Arts 101 ? 1 Five Senses 101 ? 1 Sixth Sense 101 ? 1 Charm 1 ? 4000 Luck 5 Dexterity 800 ? 1 ========== He also activates ¡°Dexterous Job Change¡±. I¡¯ve unleashed what can be called the ¡°forbidden secret technique¡± ¡­¡­! Just because I was out of sight for a bit, the teacher trio was in an uproar. ¡°Oh, that dropout, he¡¯s gone!¡± ¡°He¡¯s probably trying to escape because he¡¯s losing the game! Don¡¯t let him escape! ¡°You can¡¯t be a gambler and abandon the game when you haven¡¯t even run a mile yet. ¡­¡­ ¡­¡­ doo doo doo doo ¡­¡­! ¡°What the hell is that noise?¡± ¡°Look, look, there¡¯s a cloud of dust coming from a long way off!¡± ¡°Well, no way, that¡¯s ¡­¡­!¡± The sudden shaking of the earth attracted the attention of the teachers as well as the students in the carriage. The next thing they know, I¡¯m bursting through the bushes. I just got back from training (taming) with my friends ¡­¡­! ¡°Ughaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa¡± CH 117 I had just entered the woods when I spotted a herd of horses in the distance. The horses were not there during the Seven Days of Fire, so they must be wild horses that have now returned to the forest. I took advantage of this to blast up my ¡°charm¡± status and call in a herd of horses. I was able to successfully train and tame them without the hassle of catching, and I was able to get him on the black horse that was his leader. Before returning to my classmates¡¯ carriage, I¡¯ll also remember to properly reduce my ¡®charm¡¯ status back to normal. Everyone was in an uproar as I appeared gallantly with a herd of horses in tow. ¡°Why is he on a horse? I thought he was running!¡± ¡°¡®And that horse doesn¡¯t have any reins on, so that means he got a wild horse! ¡°That¡¯s great, Leopin, making friends with a horse!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know you could ride a horse!¡± ¡°Well done, Master!¡± ¡°Wow ¡­¡­, I knew Leopin-kun was a legendary tamer ¡­¡­!¡± To the astonishment and envy of my classmates, I leap into the lead of the carriage, leading the horses. The supervising teachers were so surprised that they slumped over as if they were about to fall off their horses. ¡°Why are you riding a horse?¡± ¡°¡®But this isn¡¯t against the rules, right? The principal said it¡¯s okay to catch wild animals from around the area and ride them!¡± ¡°Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo¡± Kakeru-kun scratches his head like a nightmare. Sir-sensei took the whip that he had on his waist and swung it around with a jerk. ¡°If I do this, I¡¯ll make the carriage run as fast as I can! You, who have no reins, should easily fall off if I pull you!¡± It was a very un-teacherly thought and statement. Sir-sensei was beating the reins and sending the horses flying, and whipping the horses of the wagon, which were running slowly in single file, into place. ¡°Don¡¯t slow down! Full speed ahead!¡± The horses in the wagon whipped hard, whinnied and ran half-crazy. In order not to be left behind by the running carriage, I also increased the speed of my horse. The carriage was quite fast, but there was no way that the horse being pulled would be able to get off the wild, swift horse I was riding. The horses in the carriage will soon be exhausted. Still, Sir-sensei did not stop yelling and beating his horse. At last the horses went wild, the carriage shook violently, and the students riding in it were filled with screams. I can¡¯t stand to see him, so I order one of the horses I¡¯ve trained taming. On command, the horses catch up with the horses the teachers are riding and jump from side to side. With his flying paws, he pushed past the arrogant horsemen as he climbed over them like an obstacle race. ¡­¡­ Pucker up!!!! ¡°Buh¡­¡­ buhhhh!¡± Sir-sensei is blown away with a pig-like scream. Kakeru-kun and the vice principal are sent away together as if they were caught up in it. The trio flies off to an unlucky cliff and falls headlong. And worst of all, Kakeru-kun had fallen to the bottom first. The bottom of the cliff is rocky, and the moment Kakeru-kun slammed into it, there was an unpleasant cracking sound. ¡°Gyain!¡± With a scream like a dog that¡¯s been run over, the effect dances around like a wad of cash. ¡°It¡¯s probably because you lost money instead of HP. ¡­¡­ You must have taken a lot of damage to have such a large amount of money scattered around.¡± Worse still, the Vice-principal was raining down on Kakeru-kun. Doss! A big woman scolds him and screams like a cat being run over. ¡°Fungyaa !?¡± Then, with a thud, Sir-sensei¡¯s massive buttocks press against Kakeru-kun¡¯s face. Gosh! There was a crushing sound, and Kakeru-kun¡¯s neck was bent in a strange direction. To a normal human, any of these would be a triple blow in the instant death class. But Kakeru-kun was on pins and needles. That¡¯s just what you¡¯d expect from the man known as ¡®The Man of 10 Billion¡¯. Thanks to Kakeru-kun¡¯s cushioning, the vice principal, Sir, seemed to have escaped unharmed. That should have been cause for rejoicing, but Kakeru-kun was crying out. ¡°This game was supposed to be winnable, but because of Sir¡¯s unnecessary actions!¡± ¡°B-b-b-but you¡¯re going to blame it on Sir? The principal added a rule that you can ride wild animals, and this is what happened!¡± The teachers don¡¯t care about each other, and are the first to start breaking up. The carriages on the cliffs were going slowly at their original pace, as if nothing had happened. The carriage has no attendant, but the destination seems to have been taught to them, and they continue on their way without stopping. I thought about taking off the rope at my waist and throwing it to the teachers at the bottom of the cliff, but I didn¡¯t want to do that because they might say I lost because I took off the rope or something. Instead, he calls out to the three of them. ¡°The horse won¡¯t stop, so I¡¯m going too!¡± I don¡¯t wait for the teachers to respond, and I get the horses going as quickly as I can. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a special bonus of 500 Yen for rescuing me! ¡°Boooooooooooooooooooooo¡± Angry voices chased after me from behind, but I didn¡¯t care anymore. From there, the walk to the lake is very comfortable and pleasant, as it is a sunny day. I was glistening in the sunlight through the trees. ========== Name Leopin Occupation Tamer Lv 21 ? 22 HP 2510 MP 2510 Status Life 251 Endurance 251 Toughness 251 Spirit 251 Resistance 251 Agility 251 Concentration 251 Strength 251 Magic 251 Dharma 251 Intelligence 251 Liberal Arts 251 Five Senses 251 Sixth Sense 251 Charm 1 Luck 5 Dexterity 500 ? 600 ========== ========== Changeable occupations Production System Lumberjack Appraiser Shin-Ra Carpenter Masonry Leather Craftsman Woodcrafter Potter Confectioner Pastry Chef Artisan Fireworker Seamstress Bread Artisan NEW! Fisherman Exploration System Ranger Treasure Hunter Mapper Earth Vein Master Combat System Battle Axe User Ninja Martial Artist Trapper Trainer(Tamer) Gamble CH 118 Fisherman Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent The carriages circled the forest in a circuitous fashion, and before I knew it, they were back near the school. Then we get to the big lake on the northeast side of the school. I get off my horse and take the tamed horses out to pasture around the lake. But still, I didn¡¯t know that there was a lake so close to the school, just a stone¡¯s throw away. If I¡¯d known about this place, I wouldn¡¯t have had such a hard time finding a watering hole in Seven Days of Fire. ¡­¡­ I was wondering what to expect, and Sir-sensei, who had caught up with me after running a shortcut, told us. It¡¯s a man-made lake that Sir had specially built for him when he took up his post What, is it a recently created lake? Come to think of it, I can see big warehouses and containers stacked up around the lake. ¡°And this is where we¡¯ll be fighting today! we¡¯ll be securing fish, the basis of survival! The fish you catch will be your lunch, so if you don¡¯t catch any, consider yourself out of lunch!¡± ¡®Eeew,¡¯ came a disgusted voice. I see, so today¡¯s class is going to teach us how to catch fish. In a survival situation, fish is an important source of nutrition. ¡­¡­ Just as I was thinking this, Sir-sensei took out a fishing rod from a container and started to hand it out to his students. I basically don¡¯t disagree with what the teachers are teaching. I¡¯m always willing to play along with Kakeru-kun¡¯s impossible games, but on this occasion, I raised my hand. ¡°Sir ¡­¡­, I have a question! Are you going to use that fishing rod to catch fish? I¡¯ve never heard of a survivalist with a fishing rod provided. Moreover, what was given to the higher classes was a magnificent rod with a built-in magic device. ¡°Just so you know, you¡¯re not getting one.¡± But Sir-sensei had completely misunderstood the intent of my question. He ignored me for the rest of the day and ordered the students to do the same. But the group that catches the least fish will be thrown into the lake, so be prepared! Under the order, the students begin to form groups with their best classmates. The duo of Monaka and Kotone come to me with a flank of vigor. ¡°Leopin-kun, Master, come with us to ¡­¡­!¡± Their breathy voices were overridden by a tactless vibration. ¡°If you can¡¯t catch a single fish and want to drown yourself in front of everyone, do as you please!¡± I guess Sir-sensei doesn¡¯t know yet. That these two are not the ones to give in to threats of that magnitude. ¡°Yes, Sir Vibe, we¡¯ll work with Leo-kun!¡± ¡°As Master¡¯s disciples, we are all in this together!¡± Monaka announced happily and Kotone, with an interesting expression, announced that she had joined the ranks of the fallen. Then, perhaps encouraged by this, their classmates, the Merchants, the trainers¡¯ class, and even Akemi¡¯s class come to me. I found out that my group was the largest of all the groups. Sir-sensei trembles at the unexpected turn of events. And then, as expected, something happens. ¡°So let¡¯s play the ¡®Leopin Fishing Game¡¯! The rules are simple: divide into two teams, Leopin-kun¡¯s team and Sir-sensei¡¯s team, and the one who catches the most fish by the time the bell rings at noon wins!¡± Kakeru-kun, who has been there for some time, declares the start of another one-sided game. My team consisted of about 50 people, but Sir¡¯s team included all the remaining students, making a total of about 200 people. Moreover, this side has nothing, but the other side has a magnificent fishing rod. It was a game where we were at a huge disadvantage in terms of numbers and equipment. But I guess I¡¯ll have to do it again ¡­¡­. Kakeru-kun probably thought that with such a big difference, he would definitely win. ¡°Leopin-kun won the ¡®Leopin-kun True Hell Marathon Game¡¯, but I started a new game before I got the refund, so I¡¯m pooling my money!¡± I reply, ¡°Huh,¡± self-consciously. 600 million is money I¡¯ve never seen before, but even if I get it here, it¡¯s just a drawing board anyway. Let¡¯s start the game! After Kakeru-kun¡¯s signal, the students of Sir¡¯s team quickly swung their fishing rods and tried to throw their hooks into the lake. However, there was no bait on the hook, and the way he swung the rod was amateurish, so he was hooking here and there. Apparently, the lads and lasses have never done any fishing before. Then I looked over to my group and saw that Monaka had taken off her boots and socks and was in the middle of stripping down to her bare feet. ¡°Monaka, do you really think you¡¯re going to go into a lake and catch fish by hand?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I? Didn¡¯t Leo-kun show you how to do it when you were little?¡± ¡°You can only catch fish by hand in a narrow river; in a wide lake like this, they¡¯ll run far away if you come near them.¡± ¡°What shall we do then?¡± ¡°I guess so. ¡­¡­. Okay, hold on a second.¡± I changed my job to ¡°Woodcrafter Woodcrafter¡± with my ¡°Dexterous Job Change¡± skill. I cut a branch of the right length from a nearby cinnabar tree. With my beloved ¡°Big Knife of Wild Boar¡±, I cut off the branches and leaves, and then tied the ¡°Thread of Giant Crane¡± to the tip. ¡°All you need to do is tie a pumice stone you found, a hook made from a piece of wood, and a pseudo-bait to the line. ¡­¡­¡± ========== Fishing Rods for Shinarigis and Daijazuru (High Quality) Qty 1 Quality Level 63£ü(Material Level 26 + Dexterity Bonus 6 + Occupation Bonus 21 + Quality Bonus 10) A fishing rod made from the thread of a shineriggi and a daijazuru. It bends much better than normal fishing rods and is almost unbreakable. ========== ¡°It¡¯s done! This is our fishing rod!¡± It is quite plain and simple compared to the fishing rods that Sir-sensei is handing out. It doesn¡¯t have a magic reel, the hook is thin and small, and the color of the pseudo-bait is brownish-black and plain. But the quality inside is top-notch, with a slight glow that is a sign of high quality. I continued to work even faster and made up 50 fishing rods in one go. ¡°It¡¯s amazing ¡­¡­, Leopin-kun can really make anything ¡­¡­.¡± I hand the last fishing rod to a stunned Marchan. ¡°Well, it looks like the fishing rods have been distributed, so let¡¯s get to fishing.¡± And I¡¯ve got the perfect job for you. I activated my ¡®Dexterous Job Change¡¯ skill, changing to an unknown job. ========== Occupation Tamer ? Fisherman Occupational skill River fishing (passive) Knowledge and skills of fishing in rivers and streams Lake Fishing (Passive) Knowledge and skills of fishing in lakes and ponds Sea Fishing (Passive) Knowledge and skills of fishing in the sea Fisherman¡¯s Cuisine (Passive) Knowledge and skills of cooking in fish and shellfish Fisherman¡¯s Ondo (active) Improve the ability of fellow fishermen to do the same fishing by shouting Fishing technique, spring haze (active special) Let the hook fly farther. Fishing technique, Fuyu-kare (Active Special) Exquisite rod control makes the fish tired. Fishing technique, Akizuki (Active Special) Temporarily increases the strength of the fishing gear in use by 10 times Fishing technique, Natsuwatari (Active Special) You can catch any big fish you want. ========== Immediately, my mind becomes clearer and I can see ¡®points¡¯ all over the lake. To a point called the fishing grounds. Okay, that¡¯s the best part. I lead everyone away from Sir-sensei¡¯s group, which can be considered a bustling place. As I moved to the edge of the calm lake, I took a slice of bread from my coat pocket. This is the ¡°Angel Fluffy Bread¡± I baked before. Thanks to the special effects, I¡¯m still flustered even though it¡¯s been a few days. I tear it into little pieces with my hands and throw it into the lake. Monaka, who was next to me, was holding her mouth with her hand, saying, ¡°Mmm. ¡°Leo, what are you doing? I¡¯m trying to get some bread ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t panic, Monaka, this is called ¡®scattering bait,¡¯ and it makes it easier to catch fish. While the fish come to the scattering bait, I give a lecture about fishing with the knowledge I got from Fisherman. In the event you have any questions regarding where and the best way to get in touch with us, please do not hesitate to contact us. After teaching them how to use a simple rod, we all lined up at the edge of the lake, and at my signal, I threw in a fishing line. This is Fisherman Fisherman¡¯s passive skill, Fisherman Ondo. Then, on my signal, raise and lower your fishing rod slowly! The others followed me, saying, ¡°Come here! The students of Sir Teacher¡¯s team, who were watching from afar, were laughing at us when they saw us like that. ¡°Hey, look, that fishing pole!¡± ¡°What the hell is that, it¡¯s just ivy attached to a tree branch!¡± And what¡¯s with that garbage man¡¯s weird voice? ¡°If I could catch fish like that, I¡¯d have no trouble at all!¡± ¡°We¡¯re using the finest fishing rods that Sir Sensei has ever lent us, and we haven¡¯t even caught a single fish yet!¡± The next moment, the rods in the line all bent at once. ¡°All right, that¡¯s it, everybody, do as I tell you and pull up in one breath!¡± Zaazaaazaaazaaazaazaazaazaaaazaazaa (I don¡¯t know how to make fishing sfx¡¯s XD) It was ¡­¡­ the one that leaped up one after the other with a spray of revolting water. Fifty fish, glistening and silvery in the sunlight: ¡­¡­! ¡°Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!¡± CH 119 Lake Nushi Fishing Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent The Leopin team had 50 fish jumping around the shore. They are all quite large and shiny. Everyone was very happy to get a hit on their first fishing trip. On the other hand, Sir-sensei¡¯s team had a lot of students tangled in the string. The leader of the group, Sir-sensei, was being packed off by Kakeru-kun. ¡°Hey, Sir, they¡¯re catching 50 fish out of nowhere, and we¡¯ve got three times as many people and the latest fishing equipment, and we haven¡¯t caught a single fish yet!¡± I¡¯m sure you¡¯re not the only one who has a problem with this. ¡®I was a little freaked out by the gorgeous rods over there until I switched to fisherman, but I get it now. That fishing rod is designed for ocean fishing, and it¡¯s too over-spec for lake fishing. The pseudo-bait is a big one that imitates a creature that doesn¡¯t exist in the lake, and the hook is a big one for tuna. The only fish in the lake that would need something like that would be Nushi¡¯ Immediately after I mumbled that, there was a splash of water that seemed to explode in the middle of the lake. It drew the attention of everyone in the lake. It was a silhouette that looked like a huge shark flying in the air. No sooner had I wondered what it was than it landed in the water, leaving only its sharp dorsal fin on the surface of the lake and swimming around like it owned the place. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s ¡­¡­, that¡¯s Nushi, of this lake ¡­¡­!¡± At someone¡¯s words, Kakeru-kun¡¯s eyes lit up like a gambler¡¯s with a coming hand of 21. ¡°The team that catches that nuisance first will be the winner of the Leopin Fishing Game, right? It¡¯s common knowledge in the game that catching one big fish is better than catching a bunch of small fish like Leopin¡¯s team!¡± It was Mark-sensei who reacted first. He¡¯s been waiting for this moment to unleash his ultimate weapon! ¡°The finest and largest fishing rods that are never available to dropouts!¡± Mark-sensei carried up a pole as huge as a lamppost, which was propped up against a container. Bweeeeeeeee!¡± It rotates in a circle in the manner of a log throw, and centrifugal force is applied. The point where Nushi is located is in the middle of the lake, and it¡¯s quite a distance away. But I think I can get to it. ¡­¡­? What a fool I was to think that for even a moment. Sir-sensei throws out a fishing line with a spirit from the bottom of his stomach. Swoop! However, he threw his fishing rod, and it reached the place where there was a bass, but it sank into the lake. Buh¡­¡­ buhhhh!¡± Sir-sensei throws away the final weapon as trash in the lake and lets out a scream full of despair. At that time, I had already set up my own fishing rod and was looking at the center of the lake. Then I spun around on the spot, as if I were releasing a baby bird. ¡­¡­ fluffy! and throw the fish hook. Kakeru-kun said, taking it out on him. ¡°Kaka, kaka, kaka! There¡¯s no way you can reach that tiny hook with such a strange throw! YONEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!¡± Kakeru-kun¡¯s sneer turns into a scream. Because I was activating the Fisherman Fisherman¡¯s special skill, the ¡°Fishing Technique, Spring Haze¡±. The hook drifted through the air like dandelion fluff, and landed in the middle of the lake, more than a hundred meters away, fluttering like a flower petal. Immediately after, Nushi from the lake takes a swig. ¡°There it is!¡± As soon as I shouted that, I was hit by a strong pull that seemed to suck in my entire body. In an instant, I held back with both legs. ¡°Leo-kun!¡± ¡°Master!¡± Monaka and Kotone approached to touch him, but he restrained them with his voice, ¡°You stay out of this!¡± ¡°This is a one-on-one fight between me and him. ¡­¡­! My mind had already become a solitary fisherman, wandering in search of a serious match with a fish. The fishing line was stretched to the limit and the rod was bending into a U-shape as if it was about to snap. I used the Fishing Technique Akizuki to increase the durability of my fishing rod and then activated the Fishing Technique Fuyukare. With his rod in his hand, he turned his back to the lake and shrank his body as if he were wading through a heavy snowstorm. ¡­¡­ggggggggggggggggg ¡­¡­! If I¡¯m not careful, I¡¯ll be dragged into the water in a flash, and I¡¯ll feel the shock of having my rod torn apart bone by bone. The lake, which had been quiet until then, was all over the place, ravaged by the stormy waves that had arisen from the center. The terrifying power of the scene, like a natural disaster, caused screams to be heard everywhere. My fishing rod is made from a branch from a tree and some ivy from around the corner. Compared to Sir¡¯s top-of-the-line fishing rod, it¡¯s just a piece of stick. But I do believe ¡­¡­! I made what I said was the best stick in the world: ¡­¡­! And I was numbly excited to fight my first strong enemy as a fisherman. That¡¯s pretty good, Nushi of the Lake. ¡­¡­! Let¡¯s see who¡¯s better, my skills or your power. ¡­¡­! However, the pure battle is interrupted by a tactless explosion. ¡­¡­ blah blah blah blah! I looked over and saw that the shutters of a warehouse on the other side of the lake were open, and a military ship was jumping out from inside. There are three ballistae installed on the bow of that ship, and each of them is seated by the three idiot trio ¡­¡­, not the teachers. This is Sir¡¯s real, true, final weapon! ¡°Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow!¡± ¡°In all gambling, it¡¯s the dealer who wins in the end!¡± Kakeru-kun is very excited, and the vice principal, who usually has a poker face, has a slight flush on her cheeks. The military ship had a considerable impact and the students of Sir-sensei¡¯s team were very excited about it. I was pissed off because he interrupted my game with Nushi. The teachers are going to shoot and catch Nushi with their ballista. That¡¯s no longer a fishing game. ¡°At least wait until I¡¯m done playing with Nushi, ¡­¡­!¡± But the teachers have no such morals. They were gleefully shooting ballista at the stuck Nushi as I tried to fish him out. Nushi, whose torso has been pierced by three spears, is on a rampage, splashing blood like a whale¡¯s squirt. The moment I saw it, something popped inside me. I activate my ¡®dexterous body¡¯ skill from ¡®dexterity poor¡¯. I put everything I had into my ¡®muscle power¡¯. And in no time, I invoked the Fisherman Fisherman¡¯s ¡°Fishing Technique, Natsuwatari¡±. ¡­¡­ mekeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I hear something creaking. I don¡¯t know if it was me, the rod, Nushi, or the sound made by the military ship. I didn¡¯t give a shit about that anymore. He was barking with the intention of destroying everything. ¡°You son of a bitch. £¡£¡£¡£¡¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Doh, gosh darn it £¡£¡£¡£¡¡± With a roar, the entire lake rises up like a mountain. The water splashes high up in the sky and pours down around us like an evening shower. I was swinging out my rod as if I were carrying a whale on my back, as if I were pulling out a divine tree. Nushi goes over my head and slams into the ground, knocking down the trees with a mekimeki, as if a magic plane were crashing. The chain attached to the ballista¡¯s spear was stretched to the limit, and when it still didn¡¯t come off, the entire ship was overturned. The three idiot trio were thrown out of the capsizing ship and drowned in the rough sea up. CH 120 Kakeru-kun, the vice-principal, and Sir-sensei sank as if caught in a sinking military ship, but after a while, when they emerged on their own ¡®Tak¡­¡­ save me!!!!!!¡¯ They flailed about in the middle of the lake and began to call for help. The effects of feathered ten thousand bills were constantly scattered from Kakeru-kun¡¯s body, as if his hair was falling out at a tremendous rate. Kakeru-kun has 10 billion HP, Sir-sensei is a military man, so he¡¯s probably a good swimmer, and the vice principal is probably fine. Besides, this place is very close to the school, so I¡¯m sure the rescue team will be rushing over soon. Figuring I wouldn¡¯t have to bother helping, I quickly left the lake and headed for the forest where the lake¡¯s Nushi had crashed. Everyone else was still distracted by the teachers at the lake, but Monaka was the only one who followed me, ¡°Leo-kun! The trees in the forest have been torn down like a storm has passed, creating one big path. At the end of it, there was a wet, glowing xenomorph, going up and down like it was breathing. When I was playing the game, Nushi was in the lake, so I couldn¡¯t see it clearly. But when I caught it like this, the total length was bigger than the mark. Its fins are sharp like blades, but its face is round like a killer whale, and it is even adorable. His mouth was lined with saw-like teeth, and his slack tongue was as long as a giant snake¡¯s. As we approached, the Nushi followed our moments. He stared at me with his dark eyes, then closed them as if he had given up. This is now a prey item I got to have. Then I thought that I could do an ¡°appraisal¡±, so I gave it a try. ========== Krasicarka (two names: ¡°Ocean¡¯s Dead¡±) Qty 1 Quality Level 1285£ü(Material Level 1285) It is a variant of Krasicarka that has been around for a long time. He spans the seven seas and is feared by fishermen as the Grim Reaper of the Sea. It has many bones and hard flesh, and is not suitable for eating. ========== ¡°Not fit for food, or ¡­¡­¡± I mumble my appraisal and put my foot on Krasicarka¡¯s torso. He said to Monaka, putting his hand on the spear of the ballista that was impaled on it. ¡°Monaka, I¡¯m going to pull this spear out now, there¡¯s probably going to be a lot of blood, can you heal it?¡± Monaka was ¡°eh¡± for a moment, but she quickly understood my intentions. ¡°You¡¯re going to help this one, I got it.¡± It is said that the healing of a saint the caliber of Monaca is precious and can only be given to the bravest and wisest, as well as royalty. You might say it¡¯s outrageous to give it to a fish, but Monaka did as I asked without any hesitation. With Monaka¡¯s healing, Krasicarka recovered and began to rampage with a thud. ¡°Wait, wait, don¡¯t panic, I¡¯m taking you home now, just stay put.¡± Perhaps his words were understood, the Krasicarka became quiet again. Now I was just extremely focused on ¡®muscle power¡¯, so carrying a Krasicarka was no problem. I grab him by the tail fin and drag him slowly to the lake. When I returned to the lake, I found that the teachers, who had been rescued by the school¡¯s rescue team, were being carried away in tankas, spitting water out of their mouths like whale squirts. ¡­¡­ thump! I let Krasicarka back into the lake, and he swam away without looking back. ¡°It was a big fish to miss, but I guess it¡¯s for the best.¡± Just as I was thinking this, in the middle of the lake, the tail fin of a Krasicalka leapt up. ¡­¡­ Doko, pahhhhhhhh! A tall column of water rises, and countless silver lights soar into the sky. Monaka, who was next to me, looked at me and said, ¡°Beautiful ¡­¡­¡± That guy knew that Leo-kun helped him, and he thanked him like this, didn¡¯t he? I didn¡¯t believe him, but Monaka was right: ¡°Isn¡¯t that just a coincidence?¡± The silver light floating in the sky falls towards us, dripping down around us like rain. Looking closely, they are all fish. And it¡¯s not just 10 or 20 of them. A hundred ¡­¡­, no, well over a thousand of them ! I didn¡¯t expect a thousandfold return. ¡­¡­! The Sir Sensei team had lost its leader, so it was doubtful that the game would continue any longer. ¡­¡­ In any case, this moment confirmed a decisive victory for our team. ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô My team and I picked up the fish that had washed up on the shore of the lake. There is not a single small fish, they are all large fish. Since this is what we¡¯re having for lunch today, let¡¯s start cooking. I¡¯ll divide the team into two groups. The group that prepares the fish and the group that collects the tree branches. While the tree branches were being gathered, I taught the members of the fish prep team how to prep the fish. First, we remove the gills and scales, and sprinkle the surface with salt. Among the members of the preparation group, Kotone, who shows good knife handling, said. ¡°Master, what should we do with the gills and guts you removed from this one?¡± Oh, can you put that in the leather bag over here?¡± ¡°What, you¡¯re not going to throw it away?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t throw it away, there are plenty of uses for it, and it¡¯s good to eat.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know you could eat the gills and guts. ¡­¡­¡± In the meantime, the group collecting tree branches came back and made a fire with the branches. We have a lot of people, so we need something big, like a campfire. Then we can use a knife to scrape off a tree branch to make a skewer and thread it through the fish that has been prepped. Just stick it in the ground around the fire and wait a while. ¡­¡­ ========== grilled fish skewers 100 pieces Quality Level 43£ü(Material Level 12 + Occupation Bonus 22 + Cooking Bonus 10) Fish from the lake grilled on skewers. The combination of the freshness of the ingredients and the way the fishermen prepare them makes it very tasty. ========== ¡®Got it, even if it¡¯s not survival, this guy¡¯s a great feast!¡¯ But everyone seemed skeptical. I¡¯ve never had a fish grilled on the spot like this before. ¡­¡­ ¡°It¡¯s just a fish that¡¯s been salted, it¡¯s not that good ¡­¡­¡± ¡°No matter what Leopin-kun says, a feast is too much to ask. ¡­¡­¡± But as soon as they took a bite. Oooh ¡­¡­ yummy!!!?¡± They were all jumping up and down together. ¡°Why, why does it taste so good?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just grilled and salted, but it¡¯s so much better than any fish I¡¯ve ever eaten!¡± ¡°The skin is crispy and the inside is crunchy. ¡­¡­ I used to hate fish, but I can eat as much as I want with this!¡± ¡°If you sell it in the residential area, people will come and buy it!¡± ¡°Even though I¡¯m from the land of fish, I¡¯ve never had such a delicious fish!¡± While everyone was enjoying the grilled fish, I had one more job to do. Monaka, who is awfully discerning when it comes to me, immediately approached me. ¡°¡­¡­ Huh, Leo, what are you doing, don¡¯t you want some fish?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll eat them when I¡¯ve finished this preparation, for it¡¯s a thousand fish, and it would be a shame to let them spoil.¡± I process the fish and hang it on a hastily made pole to dry. After everyone was full, we took a break, played around the lake, and it was time to go home. ¡­¡­ Okay, guys, I got something for you. ========== Dried fish 800 pieces Quality Level 43£ü(Material Level 12 + Occupation Bonus 22 + Cooking Bonus 10) Fish from the lake are dried and made into dried fish. It can be stored well and the flavor is concentrated. ========== ¡°Whoa ¡­¡­ a souvenir!¡± CH 121 There was quite a lot of ¡°dried fish¡±, so we were able to share plenty with everyone. On the shore of the lake, my team members, their hands full of dried fish, look like they¡¯re in a fairy tale. I still kind of can¡¯t believe it. ¡­¡­ I¡¯ve teamed up with a lot of different classes in my life. ¡­¡­ I¡¯ve never had the pleasure of working with a higher class and they¡¯ve never done me any favors. ¡­¡­ ¡®I can¡¯t believe how fun, happy, and delicious it was to work with Leopin-kun, who was known as a dropout. ¡­¡­¡¯ They all tell me, their eyes glazed over with emotion. ¡°Thanks ¡­..Leopin!¡± ¡®You¡¯ve always helped me on the farm, so you deserve this much.¡¯ Then the chime of the end of the day rings out. ¡°We¡¯ve had a great time at the lake today, and I think it¡¯s time to go home.¡± ¡°Hi, Leopin¡¯!¡± The remaining members of Sir-sensei¡¯s team were flailing about with empty stomachs. Some of them get into fistfights, some break their poles, and some even get desperate and jump into the lake. ¡°Why can¡¯t I catch any fish?¡± ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for this garbage, I¡¯d be able to catch fish!¡± ¡°I mean, his team¡¯s pole was even trashier!¡± ¡°And they¡¯ve got a belly full of fish and a souvenir to take home!¡± ¡°Why are we, who are higher than them, having to suffer?¡± ¡®Goddamn it, Goddamn it, Goddamn it, Goddamn it, Goddamn it! We left the lake with happy faces and in harmony. Behind him, screams like the howling of a loser roared forever and ever. ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô Sir Vibe¡¯s first day of teaching in office is a disaster that no longer needs to be told. In the original plan, Leopin would be half crippled in the ¡°Leopin True Hell Marathon Game¡±. Moreover, all the winnings should have been confiscated by the Kakeru-kun. It was supposed to be a set where Leopin, his body and mind torn to shreds, would cry out, ¡°I¡¯m quitting this school!¡± ¡­¡­ It was the tricksters who were crying out for help. Sir Vibe didn¡¯t just drown in a lake and end up in the infirmary. The military boat he used on the lake was borrowed from the army to which he belonged. Because of overthrowing it, he enraged the military of the Kingdom of Leekate. The punishment handed down to him was one of the biggest penalties in his early days in office. Oh, my God, three ranks down. ¡­¡­! Sir Vibe teacher A ? B He was recognized for his accomplishments during his time in the military, with a grade of A, which was unusual for a physical education teacher. After a year or so of uneventful performance of his duties, he was supposed to become a vice principal ¡­¡­. That dream, too, has dissipated: ¡­¡­! I got my hands on some Leopin, all right, ¡­¡­! ¡°Buh¡­¡­ buhhhh!¡± When Sir Vibe heard the news on his bed in the infirmary, he went wild like a broken massager. And then he flattens the bed and is forced to pay for it out of his salary. However, his damage, etc., was still a cute thing. It is no longer necessary to say that the most serious damage was suffered this time. Kakeru-kun was in the principal¡¯s office, rolled over like a baby in a bad mood.. ¡°My possessions should have more than doubled a week after I became principal! So why, why, why, why, why! Why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why!¡± On the day Sir Vibe took office, the balance of payments at Kakeru-kun was in a state of disarray. Let¡¯s take a look at them in order. First, in the Leopin True Hell Marathon Game, I was pushed off a cliff on the way to the lake. Then the impact of the fall causes 50 million damage, which is paid for by the possession. Kakeru-kun 7.4 billion ? 7.35 billion It became a cushion for the head teacher who fell on top of me, causing another 50 million damage. Kakeru-kun 7.35 billion ? 7.3 billion His neck was snapped by Sir Vibe¡¯s hip press, which was the final blow, causing 100 million damage. Kakeru-kun 7.3 billion ? 7.2 billion Next, he is thrown from an overturned military ship and drowns in a ¡°Leopards Fishing Game¡± in the lake. By the time help arrived, he had taken a cumulative 5 million damage. Kakeru-kun 7.2 billion ? 7.195 billion And the most serious damage was the defeat of ¡°Leopin True Hell Marathon Game¡± and ¡°Leopin Fishing Battle Game¡±. In total, 600 million. ¡­¡­! Kakeru-kun 7,195 million ? 6,595 million What¡¯s more, this money was a wager on a game, so it went to Leopin: ¡­¡­! Special Training Class 902,950,000 Yen. This is the end of all the loss accounting: ¡­¡­. I thought it was a good idea, but there was a catch-up at the last minute. That¡¯s because I drowned and was sent to the infirmary in the ¡°Leopin¡¯ Fishing Game¡±, which is one rank down. Of course, Kakeru-kun, who cannot accept any downgrade, paid the school board 500 million to cover it up. Kakeru-kun 7.195 billion ? 6.095 billion What a Kakeru-kun, losing over 1.9 billion in just one day, a huge loss ¡­¡­! It was a level of defeat that any decent gambler would have hanged himself for. Kakeru-kun was having trouble breathing from this shock and from being so out of control. ¡°Hah, hah, hah, hah ¡­¡­, I¡¯m so sorry ¡­¡­, I¡¯m so sorry!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe my money is going down instead of up. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Geez, ¡­¡­! I¡¯ll never, ever forgive you for that. ¡­¡­!¡± Leopin, if this happens, I¡¯m going to ¡­¡­ you! I¡¯m going to make you into a messy, soggy, stringy, sleek, sleek, sleek, sleek, sleek, sleek, sleek, sleek, sleek, sleek, sleek, sleek! Kakeru-kun shouts, scratching his head. ¡­¡­ Slither! Both hands feel as if they have been pulled completely out of the muddy grass. And there, by golly, it¡¯s all gone. ¡­¡­! ¡°Ha¡­¡­ hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!¡± Kakeru-kun, finally realized¡­¡­! He was well on his way to following the path of those who had given Leopin a hard time. Yes ¡­¡­ all those who avenge Leopin will be ripped off up to their asses ¡­¡­! Even if you are a legendary gambler known as the 10 billion man, you are no exception. ¡­¡­! Leopin. ¡­¡­so fearsome! CH 122 Let''s build a farm Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent I rode home from the lake on my horse. The lake is on the northeast side of the school, but the forest where I live is on the opposite side, on the southwest side. And my coat was stuffed with plenty of dried fish. The horses and the fish, both unexpected, made me very happy. ¡®I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m getting such good stuff, I love the survival classes, I could be with Sir Teacher every day. The house I arrived at while saying something like this was lit up in a different color than the setting sun. ========== Base LV 6 ? 7 Scale Lively village ? Rustic farm Population 1 Pets 3 Bystander 52 NEW! Livestock Horse 6 Base Skills Activity support Expansion of base Protection of base Agricultural Support Second home Support for one¡¯s family Cooking Support NEW! Livestock Support: Gain a bonus to quality in livestock farming in the base. ========== There are more ¡®livestock¡¯ in the status of the base. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s because I brought home six horses. ¡°Oh, the village is a farm!¡± Which reminds me. In the pioneer academy, pioneering begins with gathering and hunting, and develops into agriculture, animal husbandry, and industry. ¡°So my village has finally taken the next step: ¡­¡­!¡± However, although the name ¡°ranch¡± was given, it is not yet at a level that can be called an industry. It¡¯s not that you can¡¯t get fur and meat from horses, but¡­ ¡­¡­ As he said this, he looked at the horses and saw a terrified look on their faces. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t eat you guys, you¡¯re Monaka¡¯s favorite.¡± Monaka said they were very cute too, and even gave each of them a name. ¡°And in this country, horses are mainly used for transportation and farming. So I¡¯m going to need you guys to be my legs and carry my stuff. Then you¡¯ll stay with us, won¡¯t you?¡± Then the horses look relieved and whinny back at me. In return, I¡¯ll make sure you have plenty to eat. We have a wheat field, so we have plenty of wheatgrass hay, which is their favorite food. I¡¯ll take the horses to the field by the house. When I introduced the piles of hay, the horses jumped up and down, their eyes changing color. All right, we got a deal. While the horses were enjoying their all-you-can-eat meal, I quickly got to work. ¡°If I¡¯m gonna call it a ranch, it gotta look a little like one.¡± I pull up a cart of gisu lumber parked by the house. The wood had already been shaped to a good length, so I sharpened one of the squares with a ¡®big boar knife¡¯ and made it sharp. The finished lumber is placed at evenly spaced intervals in the open space, which is a blind spot when viewed from the residential side. Now I just need to apply the gisu wood board and hammer it into the square wood. ¡­¡­ ========== Gossamer fence Qty 50 Quality Level 33£ü(Material Level 12 + Occupation Bonus 22) The fence is made of high quality Gis wood. Various bonuses make it resistant to earthquake, fire and corrosion. It also has the effect of making the fenced-in space more comfortable. ========== ¡°It¡¯s hard to see from the living quarters, so they won¡¯t be able to see us right away.¡± I opened the fence for them and they went inside happily. And immediately, they start to relax as they like. I¡¯m sure this kind of fence is just a step for the horse, but it doesn¡¯t matter if they run away ¡­¡­. After introducing my new friends to Mark and Tom, I headed back to the house. ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô At the morning assembly the next day, there was no sign of the principal. The vice principal, who stood at the morning assembly table instead, told us the reason. ¡°Therefore, it has been decided that the school will be closed today, tomorrow and the day after, and you will all be in mourning during these three days.¡± So tearful, the vice principal, for some reason, kept staring at me. I thought he might be dead, but according to the rumor I heard from Ma-chan afterwards, he is still alive. However, it is said that sobbing is leaking out from the principal¡¯s office all the time. I was a little worried about the principal and thought about going to visit him, but then I thought back that he wouldn¡¯t be happy if I went. More importantly, I had some unexpected free time. And for three days. I go back to the house right after the morning meeting and try to get to the farm. When the horses saw me, they came running up to me, clapping their hooves. They came close to me and I stroked them and he seemed to be comfortable. Apparently, the horses liked the ranch very much. I was kind of happy too, which sparked even more motivation. ¡®Well, then, let¡¯s start the farm in earnest!¡¯ We¡¯ll have to get more for that. I activated my ¡®Dexterous Job Change¡¯ skill and changed my job to ¡®Tamer¡¯. I also took the ¡°thread of the daijazuru¡± from my coat pocket and bundled it to make a thick rope. Now just make a round circle at the end and it¡¯s ready to go. He called the black horse, Unico, the leader of the horse herd, out of the fence and straddled him. ¡°All right, let¡¯s get started on the journey to find our friends!¡± With my shout, Unico starts running with a hiss and a snort. That day, we ran around the forest looking for animals that could be used as livestock. The animals that weren¡¯t there during the Seven Days of Fire had returned to the forest, and that was exactly what we wanted. ¡°Whoa, wild goat, found it!¡± When the goat herd notices me, they all run away at once. It¡¯s a tough opponent to chase with human power, but I have a reliable ally now. Unico ran through the forest with his strong legs, jumping over bushes and catching up with the goat in no time at all. I threw the rope of the daijazuru I was wielding at the goat¡¯s horn. The loop of rope caught and tied the goat¡¯s antlers tightly together. I pull it to stop the goat¡¯s movement, and immediately activate the ¡°Training Taming¡± skill. The goat stopped flailing and gave a friendly, ¡°N¡¯meh. ¡®Okay, first one ¡­¡­, let¡¯s keep this going!¡¯ I¡¯d scout all kinds of animals as livestock after that. Instead of running away, the wild bovine attacked me, so I made it docile by fighting with it. Wild chickens will fly away, so I have no choice but to lure them in by raising the parameter of ¡°Charm¡±. On the way, we were attacked by a wild boar, but Unico knocked one out with a kick to the back. ========== Belly of wild boar Qty 1 Quality Level 4£ü(Material Level 4) Wild boar meat with three layers of skin, fat and red meat. You get a cooking bonus when you smoke them. ========== It was a big catch today after yesterday. As we make our way back and forth between the house and the woods, the ranch fence gets pretty busy. And again, base level up: ¡­¡­! ========== Base LV 7 ? 8 Scale Rusty farm ? Small farm Population 1 Pets 3 Bystander 52 Livestock, horses 6, chickens 12, cows 5, goats 8. Base Skills Activity support Expansion of bases Protection of bases Agricultural Support Second home Support for one¡¯s family Cooking Support Livestock support NEW! A safe place to live: Improve the health of livestock ========== CH 123 Pioneer Breakfast of the West Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent ¡°¡®Cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo! The next day I jump out of bed to a scream that shakes the whole room. When I looked, I saw three chickens perched on the window sill, cackling as if they were about to start another chorus. Chickens are supposed to be kept in coops, but free range chickens produce better eggs, so I let them roam free with the horses. ¡­¡­ ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to get off the fence and come wake me up like this, I¡¯m a little surprised but thanks.¡± After thanking him, the chickens basked and took off outside and began to play in the garden. Leaving a little white, round thing at the window frame. ¡®Is this ¡­¡­? Well, you gave birth to it right away! ========== Chicken eggs Piece 3 Quality Level 4£ü(Material Level 4) Feckless eggs laid by domestic chickens. Baking gives you a cooking bonus. ========== The most important thing to expect from domestic chickens is eggs. To get that from day one is the best gift I could have gotten all morning. It¡¯s called an alarm, it¡¯s called an egg, and it¡¯s suddenly very active as livestock. Maybe it¡¯s the base skills. ¡®Wait, then the other livestock are ¡­¡­! I ran out of the house and headed for the ranch. He jumps the fence and approaches the bovine grazing among the horses. ¡°Hey, do you mind if I milk you?¡± Then the cow squirms and squeaks, ¡°Mm-ooh! It was hard to tell if it was OK or not, but it seemed to be OK. I crouch down at the cow¡¯s feet while I take a leather water bottle from my coat pocket. I placed a water bottle with its mouth wide open under the cow¡¯s belly and tried to pinch the dripping milk. It was a sight to behold, the milk shot out with the force of a squirt gun and went into the water bottle in a white streak. ¡°Yay, we got milk!¡± ========== (cow¡¯s) milk Qty 10 Quality Level 4£ü(Material Level 4) Milk squeezed from domestic cattle. Very high in nutritional value. ========== Eggs and milk are all I need and my stomach won¡¯t stop rumbling anymore. And my breakfast was decided. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s my day off again, so I¡¯m going to make a little fancy breakfast ¡­¡­!¡± There¡¯s only one luxury breakfast in my life anymore. I already had the menu ready in my head. All I have to do is make it real: ¡­¡­! I took the leather bag containing milk and started to act immediately. I head to the workshop in the yard of the house. I take the ¡®Gisu Wood¡¯ from my pocket and shatter it with the ¡®Great Knife of the Giant Boar¡¯. When it became small like a chip, I laid it in the ¡°Forest Stone Firing Kiln¡± that I made when I made ceramics. In the middle of it, I put the ¡°roast meat of the wild boar¡± which I got yesterday. Then, fire up the baking kiln, cover it and wait for a while. ¡®Okay, let¡¯s make another one while we¡¯re at it! It¡¯s not that difficult, though. I took from my coat pocket a wooden bowl. Then there are wildflowers called ¡®nobile¡¯ and ¡®watercress¡¯, and a few flowers. I obtained these materials in a certain cave. I hope he¡¯s doing well. ¡­¡­ Remembering his smile, I tear the nobile and watercress into small pieces with my hands. Then I added a squeeze of nectar from the flowers and a quick sprinkle of salt from Akemi. It¡¯s ready! It¡¯s my favorite salad! ========== Salad of nobile and watercress Piece 5 Quality Level 61 (Material Level 40 + Dexterity Bonus 8 + Profession Bonus 13) Nobile root and watercress leaves, mixed with salt and flower nectar. It is so delicious that even angels want a share of it, and when you eat it, it gives you the energy to live. ========== And while I was doing that, smoke was coming out of the kiln. ========== Wild boar belly bacon Qty 1 Quality Level 14£ü(Material Level 4 + Cooking Bonus 2 + Base Bonus 8) Smoked wild boar belly meat. Due to various bonuses, it lasts longer than regular bacon and has more fatty flavor. ========== ¡°It¡¯s done! Let¡¯s use this for the second item!¡± Holding the hot bacon again, he heads to the cooking area near the workshop. He lit the Forest Stone Kamado and placed the Forest Stone and Gith Frying Pan on top of the Kamado. While the pan heats up, I slice the bacon thinly on the cooktop. When the pan is just hot enough, throw in the sliced bacon. The oil from the bacon popped and a savory smell filled the air. So, if you crack open a freshly laid egg from your coat pocket, you¡¯ll get ¡­¡­. The harmony of bacon and egg. Then, sprinkle a dash of salt. ¡°I don¡¯t think Akemi herself would have thought that her salt would be so useful.¡± I thought I heard Akemi sneeze blankly, ¡°Kushun!¡± And the main dish, complete: ¡­¡­! ========== Bacon (and) eggs Qty 1 Quality Level 28£ü(Material Level 18 + Cooking Bonus 2 + Base Bonus 8) Wild boar bacon with a fried chicken egg. Various bonuses make you feel energetic in the morning when you eat it. ========== I transfer the freshly made bacon and eggs to a plate and place them on a wooden tray. Now all I need to do is pour some milk into a wooden cup and set out the ¡°Angel Fluffy Bread¡± and I¡¯ll have ¡­¡­! ¡°This ¡­¡­ is the best ¡­¡­! This is the breakfast I¡¯ve been dreaming of ¡­¡­!¡± Salad, bacon, bread, and a fried egg and milk. It¡¯s something I used to say as a matter of course before I entered this academy. However, in this pioneering life, all of them can be said to be high. Salad is a wildflower and requires proper collection. After Bacon has successfully hunted and obtained his meat, he must build a smoking facility. Bread needs to start farming and produce wheat. And you can¡¯t get eggs and milk without being able to raise livestock. Yeah ¡­¡­! This breakfast is a milestone in pioneer life: ¡­¡­! It¡¯s so important that we can call it a checkpoint: ¡­¡­! When I think about it, I am deeply moved. I take the wooden knife and fork in my trembling hands, cut up the bacon and fried eggs, stack them and bring them to my mouth. The crispy texture of the bacon, the fluffy texture of the fried egg. The rich oil and the lumpy egg taste make you feel that you are eating a living creature. And when I took a bite of the bread, the rich taste reminiscent of a magnificent wheat field filled my mouth. The milk I sipped afterwards had a gentle taste, just like being embraced by my mother. All of them were indescribably delicious. I¡¯m no longer speechless. No, no words are needed before this meal. Oh, thank you ¡­¡­! Gratitude for everything rises from the bottom of my heart, and tears spill over. I¡¯ve grown as a person today. I felt like I had overcome a huge barrier. ========== Breakfast of the Pioneers of the West Qty 1 Quality Level 213£ü(Material Level 213 + Limit Penalty 93 + Limit Break Bonus 93) Bacon and eggs, salad, bread and milk. The ultimate, supreme, and original breakfast for the pioneers of the west. ========== CH 124 Wheat field, viewed from the side or from above Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent While Leopin had tasted the best breakfast and was in the best mood ¡­¡­. In the principal¡¯s office at the school, the atmosphere was not that great. If not the worst. The wig that Kakeru-kun had arranged through a secret route arrived today. He had been crying all day for the past few days, but the smile was back on his face at the good news. ¡°U_¡­¡­ yeah, this way, they won¡¯t find out, right? The vice principal nodded happily as he put on his wig and asked for consent. ¡°Of course, I sent theprincipal¡¯s natural hair for a custom-made hairpiece that perfectly reproduced the hair texture.¡± The fact that the vice principal was explaining the situation by repeatedly using the pronoun ¡®thing¡¯ was part of the prevention of information leakage. The fact that Kakeru-kun was bald and scattered his hair was a secret between them. ¡®Thank goodness, now I can finally go out in public. ¡­¡­ Oh, by the way, there¡¯s one more piece of news today, isn¡¯t there?¡¯ ¡°But this news, even the bad news, is better announced a little later on ¡­¡­.¡± The vice-principal is reluctant to say anything, not wanting to ruin the smile that has returned to principal. But Kakeru-kun hurried her on, and she was forced to confess. Not even the fact that this school was going to be interviewed by a reporter. Here¡¯s the ¡®bad news¡¯ the vice principal told him. ¡°At a recent press conference in the royal capital, Kakeru-kun admitted to the distribution of flour in the residential areas in response to questions from reporters. This was heard by the King of Leekeit, who ordered that this feat should be made known to the people. At present, the only people who can see the students¡¯ pioneering life in the Leekate Kingdom Pioneering Academy are those called ¡°supporters¡± who have invested heavily in the academy. This was a kind of preliminary measure for those who invested in the project, but after a certain period of time, the pioneering life was scheduled to be opened to the public. This time, however, it was opened to the public specially by the king¡¯s voice.¡± The vice principal continues with a bitter look on her face. ¡°And this time, they¡¯re going to show the footage of the wheat field to the entire nation.¡± ¡°Na¡­¡­ what the hell?!!!?¡± What this means is that the video taken by the Denei Denei equipment will be delivered to the public in real time. This means that if something bad is caught on film, it¡¯s impossible to cover it up. ¡°What ¡­¡­ what should I do? The only wheat field in this school is the one that Leopin made! If they cover that, they¡¯ll spread the word about Leopin¡¯s exploits! You can¡¯t do that, you can¡¯t do that, you can¡¯t do that¡­¡± Kakeru-kun is suddenly in big trouble, and he holds his head in his hands, not caring that his wig is coming off. Suddenly, there was a thumping knock on the door of the principal¡¯s office. Kakeru-kun hurriedly fixed his wig and replied, ¡°Who is it?¡± The one who opened the door of the principal¡¯s office and came in was Weiss, the president of this school¡¯s student body. ¡°Excuse me, Mr. Principal, Mr. Vice Principal, I was just passing by the hallway and I heard something pleasant being said. ¡­¡­ If you are worried about it, please leave it to me. With the wisdom of this wise man, not a single form of that trash will ever come into the world.¡± ¡°Oh my God, is that true? Do you have a better idea?¡± ¡°Yes, first of all, the wheat field, I¡¯ll have them shoot the wheat field at Leopin. However, I won¡¯t let the reporters anywhere near that house, because there is a rabid bear in there. But I couldn¡¯t tell the journalists that, so I gave them a good reason, saying that wheatgrass was a delicate plant, and let them film it from around the residential area.¡± ¡°But then, what if Leopin comes to the field?¡± ¡°Yes, it would be a disaster if we lost sight of that rubbish, so tell Leopin to take a remedial lesson on the day until we¡¯ve finished our coverage, and how about we pit him against the new Sir Vibe? Kakeru-kun was convinced, ¡°I see!¡± but the vice principal objected. ¡°But after covering the wheat field, how could they not cover the food made from it? Even if you make it using the flour that you are currently purchasing, that stuff is super low quality, which is why you are allowed to import it. If I serve food made from flour that even a dog wouldn¡¯t eat, I¡¯d be a good laughing stock.¡± ¡°Then why not just import the super high quality stuff?¡± Weiss smirks and chuckles as he pushes his glasses with his index finger. ¡°You know, through the top secret import route. ¡­¡­!¡± As soon as that word was out, Kakeru-kun rose from his chair with a clatter! ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re not the only one.¡± Quickly, the vice principal next to him covered Kakerkun¡¯s mouth. The vice-principal whispered sharply in Kakeru-kun¡¯s ear. ¡°principal, calm down, we¡¯ve been talking in code. Even Mr. Weiss is trying to get the headmaster¡¯s secret by playing a trick like that.¡± The principal and vice principal gave Weiss probing glances, but he kept his poker face on. ¡°Let¡¯s leave aside for the moment what I heard and what I know. The teachers have secretly arranged for the finest flour to be used to make the bread. As for having it made, yes, how about asking Miss Toinette to make it?¡± ¡°Miss Toinette?¡± Who is that? The vice principal quickly followed up with a scowling Kakeru-kun. ¡°vice-principal, Miss Toinette is a pupil in Class 1-12, and even the daughter of a distinguished family of court confectioner pastry chefs. Yes, during her initiation ceremony, she was given the profession of pastry chef, a confectioner at the court. So there is no doubt that she will eventually join the court. If you let such thoroughbreds cover the bread they make, you¡¯ll get a lot of buzz ¡­¡­. The reputation of this school will be cemented.¡± Thus, under Weiss¡¯ leadership, a new operation is set in motion. If they had to name this operation, they would call it ¡®Leopin¡¯s Achievement Snatching Operation¡¯. And the preparations for this sidestepping operation are proceeding at a brisk pace. A confectioner¡¯s pastry chef in Class 1-12, Toinette is essentially a cake maker. She was so dismissive of bread that she used to say, ¡°If you have bread, you can have cake.¡± Normally, she would refuse to make bread, even if it meant dying, but when the wise man Weiss asks her to do so, she readily accepts. She had never made bread before, so it was quite a struggle for her. However, as expected of the daughter of a prestigious pastry chef, she stays up all night to finish the bread on the day of the interview. ¡°So, there you have it: ¡­¡­!¡± It was a shiny loaf of bread that could have been mistaken for a yellow sapphire. Toinette placed the only loaf of bread she had in a glass case adorned with jewels, and showed it to Weiss. Weiss gazes at the beauty of it. ¡°Oh, what a beautiful loaf of bread ¡­¡­, plump and shiny and ¡­¡­!¡± But at the same time, he noticed something. ¡°But it looks like there¡¯s only one ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Master Weiss, it is only natural, for what this Toi makes is not food, but art. A work of art is valuable because only one exists. So do not speak of it, but only look at it.¡± ¡°Ummm ¡­¡­ that¡¯s how it is, but on the other hand it might be better to talk about it ¡­¡­.¡± From early that morning, many reporters had visited the school due to the magic circle of transference. It was the first time an outsider had entered the academy since the memorial ceremony where Onesco had overcome the trials of the Holy Knight. By the way, the reporters who came this time were selected differently from those who came last time. As a further aside, Leopin is relegated to the lake to the northeast of the school at this time, and is in the middle of a remedial class with his gym teacher, Sir Vibe. The principal of the school, Kakeru-kun, was the guide for the journalists. He has the wheat field photographed from the living quarters, as was his original plan. The reporters were very excited to see the wheat fields shaking with large ears of wheat. Look at the fields of wheat, they¡¯re like a golden sea! ¡°They say it takes at least a year to build a wheat field in a pioneer school!¡± ¡°Well, with a field as magnificent as this, I¡¯d say it¡¯ll take two years!¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s what the experts say! To do that in less than half a year, that¡¯s Principal Kakeru-kun!¡± ¡°Well, I can only say that it is truly magnificent! Principal Kakeru-kun, I would like to see the whole field, if you don¡¯t mind!¡± The reporter and the experts who accompanied him were very pleased with him. Then, let¡¯s go to the observatory of the school building! From there, we can see all my fields! The group goes up to the observatory of the castle, which is the school building. Didn¡¯t know Kakrlu-kun had such a trick up his sleeve in the wheat field. ¡°Wow, look at that, what a view! ¡­¡­ Huh? I didn¡¯t notice it when I looked at it from the side, but from the top, some of the wheatgrass has been cut away and you can see the letters? Let¡¯s see, leopin ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!¡± CH 125 The World''s Best Bread Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent A field of wheat laid out like a carpet, and the four letters of ¡°Leopin¡± appeared there like gold embroidery. The one who did this trick was not Leopin himself, but that mischievous girl. That girl¡¯s class was in charge of harvesting wheatgrass, and while they were working, she said something like this. That¡¯s right! We¡¯re dealing in flour with the Leopin brand, so it would be interesting to make it so that people can recognize Leopin¡¯s farm from a distance. And I¡¯m sure Leopin will be surprised when he finds out! That girl¡¯s plan was half wrong and half right. It wasn¡¯t the Leopin he was aiming for, but it was an unexpected person¡¯s guts. The reporters all turn their Denei Denei devices on the pale Kakeru-kun at once. ¡°Headmaster Kakerkun, what in the world is Leopin?¡± Kakeru-kun was shaking with awe, like a gambler who is sure he is going to win when he gets a straight flush at poker and his opponent gives him a royal flush. The unexpected counterattack from Leopin¡¯s side had him in a complete panic. ¡°That¡¯s the name of one of my students.¡± A helping hand comes from an unexpected direction. The one who drew the attention of the place with his calm voice was none other than Weiss. ¡°What, Mr. Weiss? Kakeru-kun was trying to think of a way to cover it up, but Weiss readily admitted it. The reporters rushed around Weiss, ignoring Kaker-kun. ¡°That was your student¡¯s name, he must be quite a great student to have his name engraved on the field!¡± Kakeru-kun pressed his head, not caring that the wig was displaced, ¡°It¡¯s over ¡­¡­! But Weiss says with a cool face, ¡°No, it¡¯s the other way around. ¡°Leopin is the biggest failure in this school. The only work a dropout can do is harvesting wheat fields, so I had him do it exclusively ¡­¡­. Apparently, that dropout was trying to sidestep this achievement of mine. I guess he thought that if he carved his name in the field like that, people would misunderstand him. Oh dear, it seems to be true that dropouts are shallow and ugly at heart.¡± The reporters were disgusted and said, ¡°Wow,¡­¡­. ¡°It¡¯s disgusting, ¡­¡­! That student called Leopin, ¡­¡­! It¡¯s unbecoming of a human being to try to usurp the achievements of another!¡± ¡°But heaven forbid, this broadcast is being watched by the entire population of Foulish!¡± Leopin¡¯s infamy must be sweeping the country now! How Weiss succeeded in making Leopin¡¯s name known not only within the school, but also as a national failure. ¡­¡­! He turned a pinch into an opportunity, and smiled unnoticed. ¡®¨CDon¡¯t feel bad, Leopin¡¯ ¡­¡­! It¡¯s your fault, you¡¯re a dropout and you tried to fight back against me, the wise man. ¡­¡­! Now the whole country of Foolish hates you: ¡­¡­! Now you¡¯re nowhere to be found after you¡¯re kicked out of this academy ¡­¡­! But now that you¡¯ve messed with this me, you¡¯re not going to get away with this. ¡­¡­! I¡¯ll pay you back double for everything you¡¯ve done so far. ¡­¡­!¡¯ Weiss opens his arms like a buzzard in the springtime and tells the reporters in a chirping tone. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve made a mess of things, let¡¯s clean up our palates, shall we? The wheat field that I, this wise man, have instructed him to create is of the highest quality, not only in appearance, but also in substance. Let¡¯s see the best bread, baked with the best flour.¡± At this point, the guiding role was passed from Kakeru-kun to Weiss. Weiss leads the reporters to the Eternal Toinette, a caf¨¦ on the main street of the residential area, run by the Class 1-12. When Weiss was seated on the terrace, which was reserved for him, Toinette, dressed as a pastry chef, arrived. In her hand, of course, she is holding the glass case. When she put it on the table, the reporters around me shouted, ¡°Oh! ¡°Soooo, wow ¡­¡­, what a beautiful piece of bread ¡­¡­!¡± Really, it sparkles like a jewel!¡± It is so beautiful that the reporters forget to cover the story and just admire it. Weiss explains, crossing his legs. ¡°The best flour was made into bread by the best artisan, Miss Toinette. This is the best bread that only the best people can eat.¡± ¡°Then, Master Weiss, you must try it!¡± ¡°Only the best of us can eat that bread, right? Then there is no one else but Master Weiss!¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure the people watching this broadcast are more interested in the taste!¡± At first, Weiss refused, saying, ¡°No, this is for presentation, not for eating,¡± but the reporters flattered him and he finally opened the glass case. Toinette, who was standing next to him, kept whispering ¡°You must not eat!¡± over and over, but her voice was drowned out by the frenzied reporters. Weiss tells the reporters as he recrosses his legs and strikes his best decision pose. ¡°Then I¡¯ll make a special mention of this bread; only, when you¡¯re my age, you eat this class of bread every day. The taste of success is never fresh, so don¡¯t expect an overwhelming reaction.¡± Weiss refuses, then brings the golden bread to his mouth. Not only did the relayed Denei Denei equipment capture the scene in close-up, but the flashes of the Shinsha equipment burned multiple times. But after taking a bite of his best bread, Weiss¡¯s face paled in a flash. ¡®¨CWhat is this bread ¡­¡­? It¡¯s not fluffy, it¡¯s crumbly and feels like a rag ¡­¡­! The only way to describe the taste is that it¡¯s¡­ ¡­¡­!¡¯ Weiss glanced down at the bread, pulling it away from his mouth so the reporters wouldn¡¯t notice. The bread was so full of incredible things that it wasn¡¯t enough to look twice. ¡®¨Cgo¡­¡­ trash! Why is there garbage in the bread ¡­¡­?¡¯ Weiss glances sideways at Twanet. However, the place where she was standing a moment ago is empty. he twisted his neck to look for her, and he saw her running away with her hair in a vertical roll, ¡­¡­. The reporters were baffled. ¡°Master Weiss, what is the matter with you!¡± ¡°The whole country is watching you eat bread now, Weiss-sama! The people will be very satisfied with your appearance! Guh ¡­¡­!¡± The inside filled with dust, leftover food, sludge, dead insects, and all kinds of other garbage. Even a rat, let alone a human being, would turn its back on this bread. But Weiss had to eat something that not even these rats would eat. At any rate, if he refused to eat the flour, it would mean that the flour was so bad that he couldn¡¯t eat it. ¡®¨CYu, I won¡¯t allow it, Leopin! ¡­¡­! I¡¯m gonna pay you back tenfold for this. ¡­¡­!¡¯ In his mind, Weiss was spewing out his resentment towards Leopin. Eventually, he pinched his nose in readiness and shoved the bread into his mouth all at once. I was going to go all the way in one breath, but because my whole body refused to let me put it in my mouth, I only got half a piece. he puffed up his flushed cheeks and chewed with a gurgling sound that didn¡¯t sound like bread at all. ¡°When you¡¯re as good as ¡­¡­ me, this much bread is ¡­¡­ eaten ¡­¡­ every day.¡± The tearful look on his face is very unlike the bread he is used to eating; it is as if he is being tortured. And finally, the time had come. ¡°Pfft!¡± Weiss couldn¡¯t help but get up and jump into a wooden bucket on the side of the road, holding his mouth. And ¡­¡­! Emptied his stomach contents into the ¡­¡­ bucket! CH 126 His name is Leopin Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent In the residential part of the school, in the middle of the main street. It is considered the center of commerce in the pioneer academy, and is a prime location for the shops of the higher ranks. That high-class space had now turned into a hellscape. The wise man who had pretended to be a success earlier was now a visual of less than a loser. He crawled over and stuck his face in the bucket, filling the street with a muddy sound that made one sick to hear. The students who were watching around him are gone like spiderlings with their ears covered. The reporters were in an uproar as they watched all the ugliness happen in front of their eyes on the Denei Denei device. ¡°What, what, what the hell happened to him ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the best bread, that¡¯s the reaction you get when you eat the worst bread ¡­¡­!¡± One of the reporters notices a half piece of bread left on the table. ¡°What is this bread? It¡¯s filled with rotten fruit peelings!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe it¡¯s for human consumption! Don¡¯t tell me that the leaders of this school are eating this kind of bread that¡¯s no better than dog food every day!¡± ¡°It¡¯s awful, it¡¯s too awful,¡­¡­, even the bottom of the line pioneer academy can produce better bread,¡­¡­!¡± ¡°What is the meaning of all this, Master Weiss?¡± Reporters started asking questions. But Weiss was passed out with his face in the bucket and the whites of his eyes. ¡°It seems that Mr. Weiss is in no condition to speak!¡± ¡°Then ¡­¡­¡± The reporters started to look for Toinette, who had served them this bread. He shouted as he spotted a smaller and smaller back figure across the back alley. ¡°Monsieur de Toinette is there, and we must follow her and hear what she has to say!¡± The reporters start running towards the back alley, leaving the stuck wise man alone. But the moment he jumped out onto the next street, his feet stopped dead in their tracks. ¡°Wow, it smells so good ¡­¡­! It smells like fresh bread!¡± ¡°Yes, yes, that¡¯s the smell I wanted, not the smell of rotten bread!¡± ¡°Apparently there¡¯s another place that serves bread! Oh, it looks like the one on the corner! The bread from the shop on Main Street was such rubbish, it doesn¡¯t look too promising, but I¡¯ll go ¡­¡­!¡± The reporters stop their pursuit of Toinette and together head for the corner store. It was exactly the scene they had been waiting for. ¡°Oh, this bakery is amazing, there¡¯s a line down the street! The place is packed with customers inside and out!¡± ¡°Wow, they¡¯re at a disadvantage compared to the shops on the main street, yet they¡¯re getting so many customers!¡± The reporters approached the shop with their hopes once again swelling. At the store, two schoolgirls wearing triangular hoods were holding baskets under their arms and handing out bread for tasting. ¡°Please enjoy this delicious, freshly baked bread.¡± (ED: I think the pov changes here) What was handed was a bread roll the size of the palm. It looks comparable to the bread served in Eternal Toinette, and most importantly, it smells amazing. The reporters were still remembering the garbage bread from earlier, but they took the plunge and tried it. ¡°Oooh ¡­¡­ yummy!!!?¡± But this is not an act. ¡°This bread is so, so good! Even the most prestigious bakeries in King¡¯s Landing don¡¯t sell bread as good as this!¡± ¡°I have been invited to dine with the king and have been given some of the best bread in the world, but this bread is even better!¡± ¡°Wow, the students at this school get to eat such delicious bread every day, that¡¯s nice!¡± ¡°Leo-kun¡¯s bread is the best, would you like another piece of Master¡¯s bread?¡± The girls smilingly hands me a second piece of bread. The reporters had assumed that the girls were students of the common people in the lower ranks. But if you take a closer look at the face that was under the triangle, you¡¯ll see ¡­¡­. I¡¯m sure I¡¯m not the only one. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Kotone over here?¡± The reporters hurriedly groveled. I¡¯m not sure what to make of it, but I¡¯m sure it¡¯s a good idea. The two girls respond with a young wolfish smile. ¡°It¡¯s for Leo-kun¡¯s(Master¡¯s) sake!¡± Apparently, they were both referring to the same person. That was enough to get the reporters excited. It¡¯s hard enough to get one person to like you, but it¡¯s nearly impossible to win the hearts of two people. To use a chess analogy, it¡¯s like being able to manipulate even the enemy queen at will. In other words, it¡¯s about as improbable as it sounds. ¡°I can¡¯t believe there¡¯s a happy student who you feel so much for!¡± ¡±I¡¯m sure he¡¯s a great leader! That person seems to be Master Weiss ¡­¡­? not.¡± ¡°So I knew it would be a hero ¡­¡­?¡± The two warlords mouthed, ¡°No! While many women would go crazy at the mere mention of a rumor about a hero, there has never been a time in the past when a woman has so crisply denied a rumor. The journalists¡¯ spirits are on fire. ¡°Who is the gentleman ¡­¡­ that the two of you acknowledge and adore as more than a hero? Monaka and Kotone¡¯s faces are captured in close-up by the Denei Denei device. I¡¯m sure people all over the kingdom are glued to it right now. I wonder who won the hearts of these beautiful girls and ¡­¡­! And now, once again, ¡­¡­! The boy¡¯s name is making his national debut. ¡­¡­! The two princesses pointed to a sign for a bakery. ¡­¡­ There is a huge illustration of a boy on it, and the shop name underneath it is ¡­¡­. ¡°Leopin!¡± CH 127 The Great Game of Saints and Miko Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent ¡°This is a caf¨¦ run by the people of Class 1-16 of the first year, and to honor Leo-kun ¡­¡­ Leopin-kun, we have changed the name of the shop to ¡®Leo Pan¡¯!¡± ¡°Master ¡­¡­ Leopin-sama is a wonderful person, if it were allowed, I would even let my ¡®Jinja¡¯ become ¡®Leopin Jinja¡¯!¡± Monaka and Kotone are talking like they¡¯re in a fever. From that point on, the exchange was already flowing. ¡°Leopin! Isn¡¯t that the same name that was carved in the wheat field! Master Weiss says that even the students who are failures and helpless are ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true, because that wheat field was made by Leo-kun! We help out after school, too! And this bread was also baked using Leo¡¯s recipe!¡± ¡°Thanks to the Master who made the wheat field and the bread and gave it to us, everyone in this settlement can have bread! If it hadn¡¯t been for Leo, we wouldn¡¯t have had any bread and we would have been destitute!¡± ¡°Ah, Master is the God of salvation ¡­¡­!¡± Monaka and Kotone were so impressed with Leopin as they were explaining how wonderful it was that their eyes were so clear that they could see the blue sky reflected in them. At last, they got on their knees and began to pray to the sign, Leopin. The prayers of the High Priestess are originally reserved for God and the powers that be. The bewilderment of the reporters peaks when something so sublime is directed at an unnamed student. ¡°Wow ¡­! Monaka and Kotone are kneeling ¡­!¡± ¡°Who the hell is this student called Leopin ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure none of your prestigious sons had names like that. ¡­¡­? ¡°Could it be that he¡¯s from an obscure commoner? It shouldn¡¯t be possible for a commoner student to be that active. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think so?¡± There, it interrupts like a rotten thing. When I looked, I saw Kakeru-kun and the vice principal there, kneading the bread for the tasting with their hands. ¡°You don¡¯t have any proof of what Monaka-san and Kotone-san are saying, do you?¡± Then the two saints stand up indignantly. ¡°Are you saying that we are lying to you?¡± ¡°Yes, because the reason for that is based on you, right? Kakeru-kun passed the baton of guidance to Weiss. I was nonchalant in the school, thinking that I could leave the rest to Weiss, but when I saw students running into the infirmary saying they felt sick, I felt uneasy. When I went to ¡°Eternal Toinette¡±, I found him alone in the deadly misery. Thinking that Weiss must have made a terrible mistake, Kakeru-kun hurried to think of a countermeasure. So the measure he took was to ¡®tell them it¡¯s all a lie¡¯: ¡­¡­! Leopin¡¯s successes so far have been taken for granted by some students and supporters. As for the students, they can be silenced by force, and their supporters are in a rather active position to keep their mouths shut. But the problem is Monaka and Kotone, and power is hard to come by for them. That¡¯s when Kakeru-kun came up with an idea¡­¡­. ¡°Monaka-kun and Kotone-kun are lying to attract the attention of the brave sama, right!¡± I¡¯m not sure what to make of it, but I think it¡¯s a good idea. What a crazy way to treat the pure feelings of two saints ¡­¡­! It was a pretty reckless plan, but Kakeru-kun was sure of it. As long as we don¡¯t have Leopin, we can make it work, and ¡­¡­! If Leopin were here, the last thing he¡¯d need is an easy proof of excellence. But now Leopin is in the middle of a make-up class at the lake. At the moment, reporters¡¯ impressions of Leopin are as far-fetched as those of a mythical animal. The relay is scheduled to last until noon, so if you can just get through this, please hold on ¡­¡­. Leopin has become a creature of the imagination ¡­¡­! The plan was very effective, and the reporters were immediately relieved. ¡°I see, ¡­¡­, that¡¯s what you meant, ¡­..That makes sense!¡± ¡°I thought it was strange that this student called Leopin was a dropout and unemployed! It¡¯s impossible for such a useless student to be more active than a hero or a wise man! Monaka and Kotone are trying their best to keep up. It¡¯s not a lie, it¡¯s the truth, and the bread here is the best proof of it!¡± ¡°And if Master didn¡¯t make the wheat field, then who did?¡± It¡¯s not a good time to be talking about it, he thought, raising his voice even more. ¡®If you believe that much in Leopin, let¡¯s play a game! It¡¯s called ¡°Leopin Pioneer Game¡±! This is the rule that was announced at once without letting me interrupt to argue. If Leopin can make the Pioneer¡¯s Breakfast in the next month, Monaka and Kotone win; if not, they lose. ¡±If you¡¯re really good, Leopin-kun, it would be easy enough to procure the ingredients and make ¡®The Pioneer¡¯s Breakfast¡¯ in a month! Since this match is against Monaka and Kotone, I¡¯ll make it special and let you two help Leopin-kun as ants!¡± The reporters were very excited by this declaration. In a pioneering academy, the next goal after farming is animal husbandry, right? ¡°It is said that it takes another year or so to be able to do animal husbandry! No matter how good a student you are, no matter how much you want to shorten it to a month,¡­¡­!¡± ¡°But if we can achieve it, it will prove that Leopin is a really good student!¡± The odds were stacked against Kakeru-kun. In the first place, the Kakeru-kun side has a big advantage in this game because he gave one month to complete something that takes one year. ¨CIt¡¯s impossible to make The Pioneer¡¯s Breakfast in a month! Besides, if he knows what they¡¯re making, he can sabotage it as much as he wants! And besides, even if it was accomplished, ¡­¡­. The reporters will be gone by noon today, so there won¡¯t be any third-party witnesses! If the only witnesses are the students and their supporters, he can cover up as much as he wants! If we decide to announce the results at a press conference in King¡¯s Landing a month from now, we can make up as many results as we want. ¡­¡­! This time, I win this game! Kakerukun is crazy! He points to Monaka and Kotone. ¡°If you win this game, I¡¯ll give you 2 billion yen out of my pocket money! Even if you split it, it¡¯ll be 1 billion yen! At this, not only the reporters, but even the students of Yazima were excited with ¡°Ooooooo! The crowd was completely on Kakeru-kun¡¯s side. ¡°But if you lose, you have to give me the whole booklet of Slave Tickets, okay?¡± Monaka was bewildered as she solidified in the blink of an eye. ¡°Oh, uh, Principal, that¡¯s a bet, isn¡¯t it? I don¡¯t like to bet. ¡­¡­¡± But Kotone, who was standing next to her, stepped forward. ¡°I accept this challenge. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Oh no, Kotone!¡± ¡°Monaka-sama, we have sworn to dedicate ourselves to our master. Besides, I don¡¯t want to see my master¡¯s great deeds neglected any longer!¡± Monaka is struck by a thunderbolt as she makes up her mind. She steps forward to stay in line with Kotone. ¡°I¡¯ll do it too ¡­! I can¡¯t stand the fact that Leo-kun¡¯s greatness isn¡¯t recognized anymore ¡­! And principal, in exchange for accepting this game, I have one more thing to ask your forgiveness for!¡± Kakelukun replies mischievously, ¡°What is it, I wonder?¡± I want the school to approve our activities as the ¡®Leopin SS¡¯!¡± ¡°Eh ¡­ ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!¡± The shout that exploded in front of the bakery went through the entire residential area. It¡¯s no wonder, because the saintly Monaka made a statement that was as good as forming a ¡°League Alliance¡±. A ¡°league¡± is a group that goes beyond the school¡¯s prescribed framework of classes, committees, and club activities. In pioneer schools, this is done around the middle of the year, and is a mechanism for organizational consolidation. To give an example, Ma-chan¡¯s ¡°Merchants¡¯ Union¡± is a type of federation. And if it weren¡¯t for Leopin, they would have been absorbed by the ¡®Merchant Union¡¯ by now. As such, the federation itself is not that unusual. However, for a saint as famous as Monaca to form a league for someone other than a brave or wise man was an unusual occurrence. The buzzing of the reporters never stops. ¡°Monaka-sama is forming a league? This is a hell of a scoop!¡± ¡±But the League is making an important decision that will affect the life of a saint, and Monaka-sama¡¯s guardians know about this! As if to answer that question, Monaka turned to the Denei Denei device and looked at the camera and said. ¡°Sister, are you watching this? We¡¯ve written to you many times to let you know about Leo-kun! I haven¡¯t received a reply from my sister yet. ¡­¡­ Even if my sister says no, I want to support Leo-kun!¡± Monaka bows deeply to the Denei Denei device, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for being so selfish!¡± The sudden statement of forming a federation, and one named after an unemployed dropout, was something that Kakeru-kun could never allow. But this game is like a spider¡¯s web for Kakeru-kun. If only we could lure the beautiful butterfly into a realm where absolute victory is guaranteed: ¡­¡­! ¨CWe can wipe out those annoying students attached to Leopin. ¡­¡­! This time you can leave Leopin, all alone: ¡­¡­! And it comes with a bonus of the most beautiful girls. ¡­¡­! With a Slave Ticket, I can order such and such a thing to ¡­¡­! Kaka kaka! Kakeru-kun declares, spreading drool. ¡°If you win, in addition to the 2 billion, I¡¯ll officially approve the formation of the Leopin SS as principal! Let¡¯s start the game now! Now that the game has started, you¡¯re not allowed to retire until the game is won, you know!¡± Saints vs. Kakeru-kun, a matchup like no other in history. The curtain has finally fallen on that battle: ¡­¡­! But just as the curtain is about to fall to the ground or not, the game is decided. A lone girl with a tray in her hand came out of the bakery building. Steamy dishes are on the tray She stayed in the kitchen in the back and didn¡¯t know anything about the interaction so far. What is the girl doing when she sees the crowd in front of the store? She shook her neck. Eventually, she called on the crowd to squeeze their courage. ¡°Ah, that, that, that! Ah, a new menu has been created! Chef Leopin provided the ingredients and recipes for me, ¡°Breakfast of the Pioneers of the West¡±! ¡° ¡°Huh ¡­ hasaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa¡± CH 128 Birth of the SS Leopin Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent In the residential area of the Leek Eight Royal Pioneer Academy, there is a back street that hides behind the luxurious buildings that line the main street. Usually there are not so many people coming and going, but now there are so many people that it is difficult to pass. The backstreet was currently filled with all the humans of this school, except for about four. That is not unreasonable. Because the ¡°Pioneer Breakfast¡±, which is said to be the next milestone after the ¡°base¡± in the pioneer academies, has appeared. At the center of the crowd of people was a female student. The girl with the bangs hanging down like a bamboo screen, with a tray of breakfast set in her hand, was trembling like a Chihuahua that had just been given to her. Monaka and Kotone understood the situation and agreed to do the interview. ¡°Leo made friends with a horse in gym class after building a wheat field, and I think that connection led him to build a farm.¡± ¡°The food we have here is made with ingredients from our master¡¯s farm, just as he taught us.¡± ¡°So, this is exactly the ¡®Leopin Set Meal¡¯!¡± Monaka and Kotone strike the exact same pose and say the exact same lines, even though they haven¡¯t shown it to each other. ¡°Are you still saying that Leopin¡¯s feats are a lie ¡­¡­?¡± ¡­¡­ shakeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! The two saintly women make a show of it. They looked like the gods of wind and thunder, or rather the goddess of wind and the goddess of thunder. The reporters are overcome with emotion. ¡°Wa¡­¡­ we were wrong, Leopin¡­¡­ no, Master Leopin, you are a great student!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe the school has been open for less than six months and they¡¯re making a ¡®pioneer breakfast¡¯!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a great achievement that doesn¡¯t even count as a hero or a wise man, a great leader of the future!¡± No longer was there a single person who treated the words of the saints as rabble-rousing, and Leopin as an imaginary animal. Kakeru-kun and the vice-principal are pushed by the crowd into a back alley. Both of them were on their knees with a shocked expression on their faces. ¡°I can¡¯t believe that Leopin even made up ¡°The Pioneer¡¯s Breakfast.¡± ¡­¡­¡± A large amount of billfold effects overflow from Kakerukun¡¯s deflated body. Kakelukun 6.095 billion ? 4.095 billion ¡°Ah !? My money !?¡± I reach out and try to catch it, but the insubstantial one slips out. After swimming around the sky like a school of fish, the wads were sucked into the bodies of Monaka and Kotone. It is the decisive moment of a great big game. And it also signaled a major asset transfer. The ¡°Asset Ranking¡± magic board set up in this school is being rewritten. 1st place Class 1-2: 1,000,000,000 Yen 1st place, Class 1-19: 1,000,000,000 Yen 2nd Special Training Class 902,950,000 Yen The saint and Miko¡¯s class quickly overtake the unemployed boy to take the double first place. It was a historic moment when Leopin was finally defeated by honest means, without cheating. But the shifts in rankings aren¡¯t over. The letters on the magic board are crunching and shuffling, carving out more legends. ¡­¡­ jackyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! 1st Leopin SS 2,000,000,000 Yen 2nd Special Training Class 902,950,000 Yen What a great way to unite the saints and Miko¡¯s class into ¡°Leopin SS¡± ¡­¡­! Who would look at this and think that boy was defeated ¡­¡­! The unemployed boy was still the strongest: ¡­¡­! And the reporters were desperate. ¡°Oh ¡­¡­ tell me, where is Master Leopin!¡± ¡°It¡¯s too bad we can¡¯t interview him when we have so many special stories!¡± ¡°Please, please, please, let me see Master Leopin. ¡­¡­!¡± Kakerukun, in a state of abandonment, is questioned and comes clean. Reporters rushed to the school¡¯s artificial lake to catch a glimpse of Leopin before he left. But there was no one there, and the lake was a mess, as if a dragon had come and rampaged through it. The time runs out, and the reporters are forced to leave the school without being able to see Leopin. Leopin has finally become as legendary as a unicorn: ¡­¡­! The ¡°Leopin whirlwind¡± blew through the school like a storm, even though his existence was completely unknown. Even in the prime location on the main street, which is usually crowded with students, a chilly wind was blowing through. The only person there is Weiss, with his face still in the bucket. He was completely left behind, like a stricken corpse, unnoticed by anyone. A short time later, a rescue team finds him and rescues him. His first year class of 20 is ranked down due to the penalty of being sent to the infirmary. Class 1-20 D- ? E+ Secretly and quietly, they fell into the lower group. And it wasn¡¯t just his class that was penalized. You can find her class too ¡­¡­. Yes, Toinette, the court confectioner pastry chef who made garbage bread. Her class, too, was blamed for bringing shame on the whole country, and was given a heavy punishment of two ranks down. Class 1-12 C+ ? C- ¡°I¡¯ll take ¡­¡­ and ahhhhhhh!¡± The cycle of tragedy never ends. For the crime of covering up Leopin¡¯s achievement and trying to take it away from him, Kakeru-kun is given a two-rank reduction by the school board. But that¡¯s just the name of the game on the surface. The real reason was that Leopin¡¯s supporters were furious that he had leaked his excellence to the outside world. In any case, for Kakeru-kun, it was like a beehive was thrown over his crying face, or rather, his nakedness. ¡°Huh ¡­ hasaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Kakelukun once again cut his losses and prevented a drop in the ranks. Kakelukun 4.095 billion ? 3.095 billion And Kakerukun would this time irrevocably play an own goal. After all, he tried to block Monaka and Kotone. The result is ¡°Pro-Leopin¡±. The ¡°special training class¡± to which Leopin belongs is essentially a class where inexperienced students are sent to learn skills by helping out in their respective classes. Therefore, no matter how well the ¡®special training class¡¯ performs, it is the other classes that receive support that will be evaluated. This is why there are no ranks in the ¡°Special Training Class¡±. However, if it is a ¡®Federation Alliance¡¯ relationship, the master-slave relationship is reversed. Yes ¡­¡­, the saints are finally in a position to serve Leopin with impunity ¡­¡­! CH 129 Bread is bread, but... Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent Going back in time. Leopin made his first ¡°Breakfast of the Western Settlers¡± and had just finished eating it. Leopin was feeling happy and full, when he heard many footsteps approaching from outside the house. ¡®Who are you, ¡­¡­ this early in the morning, I¡¯m glad you¡¯ve come to help me with the farm work, but this early ¡­¡­¡¯ When I walked out of the gate, mumbling to myself, I found Kurumi and the other students of Class 1-16. ¡®What¡¯s the matter, Kurumi?¡¯ Leopin asks, and Kurumi cuts in, faltering, as if to say. ¡°Oh, um, Chef Leopin,¡­¡­, I actually have a favor to ask you,¡­¡­. Can you teach me how to make bread, ooh, can you teach me how to make bread, ¡­¡­?¡± Kurumi, in a mosquito-like voice, offers me a piece of flattened bread. ¡°This is a bread that was baked by a baker in my class. ¡­¡­ No matter how I tried, I couldn¡¯t get it to expand like Chef Leopin¡¯s bread. ¡­¡­¡± ========== Low quality seedless bread Qty 1 Quality Level minus 6£ü (Material Level 51 + Occupation Bonus 1 + Cooking Bonus 2 + Material Kill Penalty 60) Bread baked from a basic recipe. The ingredients are of the highest quality, but the taste is poor because the craftsmen are inexperienced and the ingredients are insufficient. ========== I had the ¡®Appraisal¡¯ skill, so I knew immediately what kind of bread it was just by picking it up. Of course it is. It¡¯s seedless bread. ¡°Only, no seeds, bread ¡­¡­?¡± Yeah, it¡¯s also called unfermented bread because there¡¯s no yeast in it, which is why it¡¯s so flat.¡± Then Kurumi tilted her head and had a head full of question marks. Not only her, but the men and women in cook¡¯s outfits behind her have the same unflappable expression on their faces. What, you don¡¯t even know yeast? ¡­¡­ I¡¯d like to say I didn¡¯t know yeast until recently, but I didn¡¯t know yeast until recently, either. Here, take this. Leopin pulls a leather water bottle out of his coat pocket. Inside is the ¡°Princess Apple Yeast¡± that he has been making up. ¡°Mix the liquid in this with the bread dough and leave it in a warm place for a while so it will puff up, then bake it.¡± The cooks looked skeptical. He peered into the water bottle and wondered, ¡°Is it really possible to make a loaf of bread swell up just by pouring this kind of water into it ¡­¡­? Well, you can try it out here, because we¡¯ve got all the baking equipment here. Then the baking class begins under the guidance of Leopin. However, since there were 20 students, it was not possible to give solid instruction to each student individually, and only a simple explanation was given. You can make and bake one small loaf of bread for each person at ¡­¡­. ========== bread Qty 20 Quality Level 4£ü(Material Level 51 + Occupation Bonus 1 + Cooking Bonus 2 + Material Kill Penalty 50) Bread baked from a basic recipe. The craftsmanship is inexperienced, but the ingredients are of the highest quality, so the taste is adequate. ========== The result was a bread that was not plump, but was softer and more bread-like than the original bread. ¡°woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!¡± That¡¯s all it took for the crowd to erupt in joy. ¡°Oh, my God, it¡¯s inflated!¡± ¡°Tastes so much better than the stuff we used to make!¡± Leopin said to the cooks, who were tasting the food with smiling faces. ¡°I baked this one about a week ago, why don¡¯t we compare?¡± Leopin pulled out of his pocket a loaf of bread. The only person who has ever tasted this bread is Kurumi among the 16 classes of the first year. When the students received the bread, they were once again reluctant. ¡°This bread looks good too, but it was baked within a week, wasn¡¯t it? Bread that¡¯s been out for a week is too hard and bad to eat, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yeah, this bread seems soft, but no matter how much you try, it can¡¯t be any better than our freshly baked ¡­¡­ yummyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!¡± Just one bite of the bread and they were buzzing from the sheer deliciousness. With that momentum, he rubs his forehead on the ground. I just found out the reason why ¡­¡­ Kurumi called Leopin-kun ¡°Chef¡±! I¡¯m not sure what to say, but I¡¯m sure it¡¯s a good idea. Humbled, the students of Class 1-16 are all ready to raise the bar. They were on their knees, glowing with light, and Leopin grudgingly agreed to become their master. And more glory to come. ========== Base LV 8 ? 9 Size: A small farm ? A small farm and training ground Population 1 Pets 3 Bystander 52 ? 71 Livestock, horses 6, chickens 12, cows 5, goats 8. Base Skills: Activity support Expansion of bases Protection of bases Agricultural Support Second home Support for one¡¯s family Cooking Support Livestock support Place of refuge NEW! Training Support: Gain bonuses to your achievements in training in the base. ========== ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô When the lower level cooks were steadily improving their skills. What about Toinette, the senior cook, who is a cloud to them, ¡­¡­. Toinette was making bread to serve to the reporters who were coming to cover the wheat fields, as requested by Weiss. She is the leader of ¡°Eternal Toinette,¡± a caf¨¦ run by Class 12 of the first year. She rented out that kitchen and proceeded to cook with elegance. The kitchen is lined with fine silver cooking utensils, purchased from the store. And it¡¯s not just the environment that¡¯s the best, it¡¯s the fact that Kakeru-kun uses the finest flour in the kingdom, which he sources through secret channels. With all these elements in place, there was no doubt that the best bread would be made. ========== Awful seedless bread Qty 1 Quality Level minus 12£ü (Material Level 11 + Occupation Bonus 1 + Material Kill Penalty 24) Bread baked from a basic recipe. The ingredients are of high quality, but the taste is terrible because the craftsmen are inexperienced and the ingredients are insufficient. ========== The result was a strange object that looked like a giant elephant beetle that had been crushed by an elephant. And this isn¡¯t the first time, it¡¯s the 30th. I¡¯m not sure what to make of this. Even the flowers I put in to make it look better are kind of like pressed flowers from hell! Toinette was a court pastry chef, but she was still at level 1, so her skills were no better than an amateur. However, her pride was already the only thing that was hurting her greatly. And the bread on the side adds to her humiliation. Why is it that the bread made by an unemployed dropout expands, while the bread made by me doesn¡¯t? I¡¯m a great court confectioner pastry chef! And yet, what¡¯s that? ¡­¡­! Towaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!¡± In the kitchen, there was the ¡°Angel¡¯s Fluffy Bread,¡± which Kakeru-kun had also obtained in secret as a research object. Toinette had foolishly thought she didn¡¯t need to eat it and hadn¡¯t even touched it, but to begin with, it didn¡¯t even taste or look far off. On the contrary, she would take it out on them and stomp them out. And this was the difference between her and Kurumi, the girl who was a low-ranking pastry chef. Kurumi honestly admires Leopin and asks him to teach her how to bake. As a result, she was able to move up one flight of stairs as a pastry chef. But Toinette is the exact opposite. She looked down on Leopin and thought she could easily surpass the bread baked by a dropout. The result is the mass production of miserable stuff. Toinette had been up all night making bread in her own way, but she had not been able to produce anything that could be called bread. The night before the journalists visit, Toinette is so sleepless that she hears the voice of the devil. This was the moment when the worst evil scheme in history blossomed: ¡­¡­! ¡°So¡­¡­ that¡¯s right¡­¡­, if it doesn¡¯t puff up, just stuff the fabric with stuffing to make it look puffy¡­¡­!¡± With that in mind, she stuffed the dough with all sorts of things. Initially, she used something edible, but none of the results were satisfactory. She had no choice but to use cotton or cloth, but it was not good enough. Then, in the corner of the kitchen where I looked over, I found a pile of food scraps mixed with dust, piled up on a wooden tar. It was a filthy thing that she, as a young lady, would not normally want in her corner of sight ¡­¡­. Now, somehow, it looked like the finest of feathers. You can¡¯t just pack up your trash, no matter how much you want to. ¡­¡­ But she was exhausted, and despite her words, she was walking unsteadily. Like a moth attracted to the light, she pick up the food scraps. ¡°Oh ¡­¡­ soft ¡­¡­, well ¡­¡­ just try, just try ¡­¡­ might be good ¡­¡­.¡± Already in Toinette¡¯s mind was a pathway full of blooming flowers. The young lady doesn¡¯t know yet. That the flower is the clique flower for her. That it¡¯s a one-way trip to hell, straight down the ranks. Lower and upper class, humble and conceited, glorious and frustrated. This was the moment when the two sides were clearly separated. CH 130 A New Title Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent I had been banned from the residential area by Principal Kakeru-kun for a week. The reason seems to be to prepare for an outside interview that will be coming to the school. I was wondering why you were trying to get rid of me when I was just getting ready to be interviewed. ¡­¡­ In any case, I was used to this kind of unreasonable treatment from the time of the previous principal, so I think it¡¯s okay. But I can¡¯t just allow evil schemes that harm the animals in the forest, such as those of the former principal. I decided to spend the week I was banned from the residential area patrolling the forest. In addition, thanks to walking around catching animals that would become livestock, the farm becomes much more lively. Or rather, the fence had become so full of livestock that it felt cramped. It¡¯s time to expand the farm. ¡­¡­ Meanwhile, the day of the interview arrives. I was given a make-up lesson that day, so I was stuck with Sir Vibe from early in the morning, getting a hard time in the name of teaching. It goes on until late at night, and I return home exhausted. There was a bonfire in front of the house, like a campfire, and a lot of people were there. When I approached them, I found a group of familiar faces who were always helping me with the farm work. When they realized I was back, they all beamed happily and then groveled in unison. ¡°Hey, hey, what¡¯s going on here, all, all these people. ¡­¡­¡± Then Monaka and Kotone, who were lying face down at the front, looked up. They said, their puffy eyes reflecting the flames of the bonfire, burning like the setting sun. ¡°Leo, Master!¡± And those who were behind the girls followed. ¡°We, we are ¡­¡­! We became the ¡®Leopin SS¡¯ ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Eeh- ¡­. Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!?¡± I¡¯m usually the one who surprises everyone, and now everyone surprised me. ¡°Could it be that you¡¯re referring to ¡®Federation Alliance¡¯ as ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± came the perfectly aligned reply. ¡°Eh? But the formation of a ¡®Federation Alliance¡¯ should require the approval of the principal, right ¡­¡­?¡± I can¡¯t believe that the principal would approve of a league with me. Monaka and Kotone were excited, but like sisters, they worked well together. ¡°Yes! Today, I asked the principal to officially approve it! We are now able to serve our master!¡± Apparently, Monaka and Kotone were the main movers. ¡°What the hell did you do to get that principal to approve ¡­¡­?¡± As I mumbled this, I glanced over at the valets. Onesco, Shinobuko and Tomoe are on their knees, looking reluctant. The fact that that trio, who are in a position to oppose with all their might, are keeping quiet is ¡­¡­ no way, really ¡­¡­! ¡°But is it really okay to form an alliance with me, who is unemployed? Monaka and Kotone will hurt their family ¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure my sister will understand!¡± ¡°Even though our family members oppose us, we have decided to serve you, Master!¡± ¡°Even if the housekeepers objected, we decided! Let¡¯s serve the master!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want you to be unrecognized any longer, sir! I want to tell everyone that Leo is such an amazing person!¡± ¡°Master is a person worthy of respect, more than nobles and royalty, more than ¡­¡­ Hero and Sage! East and West, the two saints were uncanny. People from famous families are usually desperate just to make a name for themselves and want to be associated with Hero¡¯s and Sage¡¯s. But the girls have been working so hard for me ¡­¡­ that I¡¯m unemployed. Come to think of it, there was another girl like this: ¡­¡­. I remembered my promise to Soitsu. I noticed that Kotone was hanging on to my leg, tightly. ¡°Please, Master ¡­¡­, let us stay close to you ¡­¡­!¡± After a short delay, Monaka dutifully pinched the hem of my pants. ¡°Or are you bothered ¡­¡­ by us, Leo, or do you hate us ¡­¡­?¡± I put my hand on their heads as they were about to start crying. ¡°I know you¡¯ve both been through a lot, and I want to thank you for all you¡¯ve done for me.¡± The two of them have abandoned their family and worldly status and have been so courageous as to ¡­¡­ set it up for us. If you don¡¯t receive it, you¡¯re not a man. ¡­¡­! I look up and declare in high spirits. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve received your courage, and from now on, you¡¯re officially my friends!¡± ¡°Le¡­¡­ Leopin-sama!¡± Monaka and Kotone hug me around the waist, tears welling up in their eyes. Everyone who was down woke up, their faces like a burning fire. ¡°Thank you ¡­¡­, Leopin!¡± As if uniting their hearts with mine, my friends are shouting in unison. Then my house, which was behind them, began to glow as brightly as the burning flames. ========== Base LV 9 ? 10 Size A small farm and training ground ? A small village Population 1 ? 72 Beasts Pets 3 Bystander 71 ? 0 Livestock ? Horses 14 Chickens 35 Cows 11 Goats 16 Base Skills Activity support Expansion of bases Protection of bases Agricultural Support Second home Support for one¡¯s family Cooking Support Livestock support Place of refuge Training Support NEW! Inauguration of Village Head: The title of ¡°Village Chief¡± is given to the representative. ========== And a phenomenon that has never happened before occurs. My house was shining, and the particles of light began to wrap around my body like the Milky Way. ========== Name Leopin NEW! Title: Village Chief Occupation Tamer Lv 22 ? 23 HP 2510 MP 2510 Status Life 251 Endurance 251 Toughness 251 Spirit 251 Resistance 251 Agility 251 Concentration 251 Strength 251 Magic 251 Dharma 251 Intelligence 251 Liberal Arts 251 Five Senses 251 Sixth Sense 251 Charm 1 Luck 5 Dexterity 600 ? 700 ========== ========== NEW! Village head NEW! Village Chief Order: I can give orders to up to 100 villagers giving them a 20 percent ability bonus. NEW! Exile Order: Expel the villagers. ========== Changeable occupations Production System Lumberjack Appraiser Shin-Ra Carpenter Masonry Leather Craftsman Woodcrafter Potter Confectioner Pastry Chef Artisan Fireworker Seamstress Bread Artisan Fisherman NEW! Art Forgery Exploration System Ranger Treasure Hunter Mapper Earth Vein Master Combat System Battle Axe User Ninja Martial Artist Trapper Trainer(Tamer) Gambler ========== CH 131 Base Expansion Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent The next morning. It was kind of busy outside, and that woke me up. I raise myself up from the bed and look at the window right next to me. Outside, in the kitchen, students dressed as cooks were busy coming and going. It seems that the members of the Class 1-16, or rather the ¡®Leopin SS¡¯ now, are cooking breakfast. I was just about to get out of bed when I noticed that there was someone in the room. ¡°Good morning, Master Leopin!¡± It was Monaka and Kotone, and they were sitting on the floor under the bed, waiting for me to wake up. ¡°I¡¯m here to take care of you in the morning!¡± They both stand up with fresh smiles on their faces. Monaka wipes my face with a warm hand towel. Kotone took out a comb from the bosom of her Miko outfit and went behind me to comb my hair. And Monaka fixes the collar on my shirt. Kotone took my one of a kind coat that was hanging on the wall and put it on me. It was a perfect service, but I felt uncomfortable because I felt like I was being treated unworthy of my status. ¡°Come on, Master Leopin, the whole village is waiting for you!¡± They even go to the trouble of opening the door and escorting me out. Outside the gate, there were a number of wooden tables set up and all the members of the ¡°Leopin SS¡± were seated, except for the cooks. ¡°Good morning, Master Leopin, I¡¯ve taken care of all the fieldwork and livestock!¡± ¡°Oh ¡­¡­ Oh, thank you.¡± The upper seat I was led to was a chair that looked like a long horizontal bench. As soon as I was seated, the cooks brought a freshly prepared breakfast, one after another. What was handed out to the members was the regular ¡°Set of Breakfast of the Pioneers of the West¡±, but only mine was a large portion. ¡°Let us give thanks to Lord Leopold for this food, and let us eat.¡± ¡°Bon app¨¦tit, Master Leopin!¡± With a tickling chorus, a lively breakfast begins. Well, it¡¯s good to have something like this once in a while ¡­¡­ and when I tried to eat it, there was no knife and fork on the table. Before I knew it, Monaka and Kotone were snuggled up on either side of me. ¡°Yes, Master Leopin, ahhh, please.¡± Monaka brings a salad on a fork to my mouth. As expected, I couldn¡¯t take it anymore and I told everyone. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t mean to put a damper on things, but ¡­¡­ can you please stop doing this?¡± ¡®Oh no!¡¯ said a shocked voice from both sides. Monaka and Kotone looked like they wanted to argue, but I stifled them with my gaze. As far as I¡¯m concerned, people should treat each other as they always have. The table, which had been bustling with activity, was filled with a murmur after the silence. No wonder everyone is surprised. Speaking of the village chief, he is considered a powerful person, so it is natural for him to be treated with this level of respect in the world. Since there is a huge gap between the status of even senior and junior officials, it can be said that the difference between a village chief and a villager is no longer the same as the difference between a god and a human. But I¡¯m not trying to be a god. To me, you¡¯re all my friends, and I don¡¯t mind if you respect me, but not too much. ¡°I guess so. ¡­¡­ At most, can you keep me as the student body president?¡± I didn¡¯t know. I can¡¯t believe a third party was listening in on this exchange. And I can¡¯t believe that my casual comment has hurt that person so much. ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô Earlier this morning, Weiss had noticed from the magical monitoring device in the student council president¡¯s office that a large crowd had gathered at Leopin¡¯s house. They ran out of the school building without even having breakfast and headed for the Leopin Forest. From the shade of a tree at the entrance to the forest, he spied on the dining table ¡­¡­. There was the scene he had dreamed of. The village chief is the last to be seated, and the villagers look at him with envy. A report of a morning¡¯s work done and a freshly prepared warm meal. Surrounded by two beautiful girls, they¡¯ll let you eat it, ahhh, ¡­¡­! Weiss was so envious that he scratched the tree trunk with his claws. I¡¯m sure that¡¯s where I¡¯m supposed to be sitting ¡­¡­! the students in the lower ranks follow and work for you, and let the saints and Miko take care of you ¡­¡­! I¡¯m a Sage, I deserve to be treated as I deserve to be treated, why should I let that unemployed piece of trash ¡­¡­! Then Leopin¡¯s words jumped out at me, and I almost screamed out. At best, he¡¯s student body president. ¡­¡­? Do you know how hard I¡¯ve worked to get where I am today? ¡­¡­! That unemployed trash is going to be in the same position as me, the wise man. ¡­¡­! I¡­¡­ won¡¯t allow you to do that,¡­¡­!¡± ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô Monaka and Kotone were shocked when I declared myself student body president. They were so shocked that they couldn¡¯t take care of themselves anymore. The two of them were so depressed that I just had to say it. ¡°As long as you¡¯re not treating me like a king, I¡¯ll keep asking you to do things like wipe my sweat off.¡± Then Monaka and Kotone, though wilted, became as healthy as if a flower had come to life. ¡°I¡¯m going to rub your shoulders!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll use the toothpick to clean your teeth, and I¡¯ll rub your feet.¡± I feel like I¡¯ve ignited more motivation in the beautiful girl secretaries. ¡°And Master, what would you like to do after dinner? I¡¯ll arrange the preparations ahead of time!¡± I answer as I get a massage. ¡°We¡¯re going to start expanding our base some time today.¡± The reason for this is not that the ranch has become too small, but the fact that everyone is now a villager means that we need to build a residence here. That being the case, I¡¯ve been thinking since last night that it would be best to radically remodel this base. I¡¯ve got 70 people working on it, and we¡¯re going to get to work. First, we have to cut down all the trees at the entrance to the forest and clear the land. Then it would be connected to the grassland outside, and that 400-meter square would be the site of the village. And we¡¯re going to relocate the fields and ranches outside the village. ¡°I¡¯ll cut down the forest and build everyone a house, and you guys can do the relocation of the fields and pastures?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± In order to streamline the process, I first made something out of Gisu¡¯s wood. ========== The Gisu Wagon Piece 7 (Material level 12 + Dexterity bonus 7 + Occupation bonus 23) Hauling tool made of high quality Gisu wood. Various bonuses allow you to load 10 times more than normal carts. ========== There are 14 horses on the ranch now, so we paired them up two by two and had them pull seven wagons. Up until now, the means of transportation had been human-powered carts, but as expected, the power of a wagon was far greater. The fence at the ranch and the crops in the field were hauled away at once. While my buddies are fencing the ranch and plowing the new fields, I¡¯ll be working on my own. I change my job to Lumberjack and cut down the trees at the entrance of the forest with full power, pulling out stumps and even bushes. Until now, it was difficult to see my house from the living quarters because of the trees in the forest, but now that the land has been cleared, I can see it completely. Monaka and Kotone come over and wipe my sweat off. The two of them have become my personal secretaries, and they have started to separate from everyone else. As I look out over the open space, I take a breath and think about the future. ¡°Now we just need to use the wood to build some houses here, one for Monaka and one for Kotone, and then we can go to ¡­¡­.¡± Then a shocked ¡°Oh no!¡± was heard as if it were breakfast all over again. ¡°We are Leo-kun and, well, we are ¡­¡­ together! Monaka was squirming, but Kotone was crisp. ¡°I was going to take care of you from morning to night at master¡¯s residence, but ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°No, no, no, no. That¡¯s not right.¡± I patted them both on the head. CH 132 The Beginning of Village Development Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent ¡®Well, then, let¡¯s build about ten houses first. And I was going to change my job to Shinra Carpenter, but before I did, I suddenly remembered yesterday¡¯s level up. Oh, and by the way, there¡¯s a new profession ¡­¡­ I activated my ¡®Dexterous Job Change¡¯ skill. I changed to a new profession. ========== Occupation Lumberjack ? Mana Faker(Art forgery) Occupational skill Tool duplication (active): Duplicate tools. Weapon duplication (active): Duplicate the weapon. Building replication (active): Reproduce the building Instant (Passive Special): Significantly reduces the materials required for duplication Proxies (passive and special): You can use alternatives for materials needed for duplication. ========== ¡®Mana Faker¡¯ is a kind of production job, but what they make is no ordinary thing. As the name suggests, it is a profession of making forgeries, or in other words, fake things. They can¡¯t help but make fake things that have no name, so they make things that have value, such as works of art and famous swords. Some of them confess that they are fake and buy and sell them, and some of them pretend that they are real and sell them. For this reason, this profession is treated by the public as a necessary evil, similar to the Thief or Bandit. Selling fake products under false pretenses is not a good thing, but making fake products is not a bad thing in itself, in my opinion. My craft also improved as I admired and copied what my predecessors had made. And a mana forger, a mana faker, is a wizard¡¯s version of a forger. They don¡¯t use their dexterity to create fake things, they use their magical power to create fake things. I¡¯ve always been a person who makes things with dexterity, so I was interested in making things with magic power. ¡°What would happen if I made a fake house?¡± Out of curiosity, I decided to give it a try right away. ¡±I remember, Mana Faker, the important parameters are ¡®magic power¡¯, ¡®intelligence¡¯ and ¡®liberal arts¡¯.¡±¡¯ I activate my ¡®dexterous body¡¯ skill from ¡®poor dexterity¡¯. ========== Name Leopin Title: Village Chief Occupation: Mana Faker Lv 23 HP 2510 MP 2510 ? 10010 Status Life 251 Endurance 251 Toughness 251 ? 1 Spirit 251 ? 1 Resistance 251 ? 1 Agility 251 ? 1 Concentration 251 Strength 251 ? 1 Magic 251 ? 1001 Dharma 251 ? 1 Intelligence 251 ? 1001 Liberal Arts 251 ? 1001 Five Senses 251 Sixth Sense 251 ? 1 Charm 1 Luck 5 Dexterity 700 ? 200 ========== ¡°A thousand of each should be enough for now, and then I can go from there ¡­¡­.¡± I hold my hand up to the freshly cut down Gisu log, the bark of which has not yet been peeled. And the phrase that came to my mind was spun out of my mouth as it was. ¡°My brain, become ashes, come out of my sleight of hand! Become a shadow hidden in all things, become all things!¡± ¡­¡­ Schoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ¡­¡­! An ashen aura appears from the palm of the hand I held up, and it dances around like powdered snow blown by the wind. The secretarial duo beside me at the time were looking at me, ¡°Beautiful ¡­¡­.¡± But the moment those ashes clung to the log of Gisu. ¡­¡­ Go-o-o-o-o-o! The log leapt into the air and spun around, groaning. The bark is turned and processed into square lumber at a speed that makes it seem as if the world is spinning in rapid motion. Monaka and Kotone look at each other and say, ¡°What?¡± It was the illusion of the century, to the surprise of even me who did it. The cubes combine in the air to create geometric patterns, and then take on more and more shapes in the air, as if they were being crafted by a transparent giant. The foundation, walls, roof, doors and windows, and even furniture such as beds and shelves are completed. Eventually, they¡¯ll have something that looks exactly like my house. ¡­¡­ Zuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu! It landed on the earth as if he was deeply rooted. ¡°Holy ¡­¡­, I got a whole house in less than 30 seconds. ¡­¡­!¡± I walked into the house, holding Monaka and Kotone¡¯s waist as they clung to me coyly. The inside of the house was so similar to my house that it was hard to find anything different. It doesn¡¯t squeak when I push it hard against the wall or bounce it on the floor. As for strength, it was at a level that could be drummed up. ========== House of Gisu (reproduction) Qty 1 Quality level 22 A replica of a house made of high quality gisu wood. ========== When I appraised it, it was on the same level as my house, which was the base. And I can¡¯t believe it can be done with a single cedar log. ¡­¡­! This is probably due to the passive skill ¡®Instant¡¯. That makes me wonder about the other passive skill, ¡°Proxy¡±. ¡°Maybe, just maybe, ¡­¡­¡± I walk out of the house and start on the second house. Just like before, I held my hand up to the gisu log and chanted a duplicate spell. ¡®If my house can be replicated to such a high degree of accuracy, this must be ¡­¡­!¡¯ Perhaps our prayers were answered by the heavens, for a fragrant house rose up before us. ========== House of Kinohi (Reproduction) Qty 1 Quality level 23 This is a replica of a two-story house made of high-grade, high-quality Kinohi wood. ========== ¡°Eh ¡­ ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!¡± Monaka and Kotone also hugged him tightly with a scream. ¡°Le, Leo-kun !? What are you doing now !? This is Kinohi¡¯s house, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe that the Gisu tree became a Kinohi!¡± Like a child seeing a magic trick for the first time, the secretarial duo is a bit skeptical. I, too, couldn¡¯t believe that a Gisu tree could be a Kinohi. I used all of my senses to investigate, and found that this house is exactly the same as a house I once built that used a lot of high-grade wood. ¡°Isn¡¯t this by any chance a hell of a profession ¡­¡­?¡± We need a source of replication, but with this occupation, there is little point in making things. But at the same time, I also thought about this. ¡°There¡¯s no occupation that¡¯s more useful for building villages, aren¡¯t I building all those luxury houses!¡± I was kind of happy, so I did a series of duplicate spells. I build houses all over the newly created site, and in no time I have created about 30 houses. In addition, I got carried away and even built a stable using Kinohi near the farm. CH 133 Falling Weiss Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent I was estimating about a week¡¯s construction time for the expansion of my base. However, thanks to the skills of the ¡°Mana Faker¡±, to my surprise, I am able to complete ninety-nine percent of my schedule before dusk. As a final touch, I built a gate at the entrance to my base. I didn¡¯t have a source to duplicate this one, so I made it by hand from scratch. ========== Gisu Gate Qty 1 Quality Level 37£ü(Material Level 12 + Dexterity Bonus 2 + Occupation Bonus 23) The gate is made of high quality Gisu wood. Various bonuses make it resistant to earthquake, fire and corrosion. Also, the engraved characters never deteriorate. ========== The words carved into the top of the gate were ¡®Leopin Village¡¯. Yes, I¡¯ve finally built my village! ¡°YEAH!!!¡± The villagers are more excited about this than I am. ¡°It¡¯s amazing, Leo, that you can build a village so easily!¡± ¡°Well done, Master, well done!¡± ¡°Leopin, are you sure you want us to live here?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe I get to live in the same place as Chef Leopin. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡°¡±¡± ¡­¡­ I dreamed about it!!! ¡°¡±¡±¡± Monaka, Kotone and Ma-chan were very happy and Kurumi was on the verge of fainting. When I looked towards the residential area, I saw that many students were looking at ¡®Leopin Village¡¯ from a distance. ¡°What the hell is that thing? It wasn¡¯t there yesterday.¡± ¡°Leopin village? Seriously? That trash has finally created a village ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s just as trashy a village as he is, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Look at that big field, and all the fields are ¡­¡­ bountiful!¡± ¡°And that¡¯s not all, there¡¯s a ranch too!¡± ¡°When did that piece of trash get a ranch?¡± ¡°Wow, we even had our own house built by a contractor ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°I¡¯m still paying a lot of money to buy bad food ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Oh ¡­¡­ the children of ¡®Leopin Village¡¯, they all look so happy ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°With fine homes and crops, plenty of pets and livestock ¡­¡­ abundant food, and smiling faces of friends ¡­¡­¡± ¡°I dreamed of living like that when I joined this school. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Oh¡­So good!!!¡± ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô The students of the residential area were not the only ones who envied Leopin Village. He was one of those who lived and prospered at the top of the schoolhouse castle. When you become student body president, you are given special rights to live in the school building. You can live a comfortable life alongside the principal, vice principal, and teachers. ¡­¡­ Now he was craving. He sticks to the crystal plate of the magic monitoring device and snarls like a starving beast. What he saw in his eyes was a sign for ¡®Leopin Village¡¯. ¡°Guh ¡­¡­ guh ¡­¡­ guh ¡­¡­! He was going to use the full power of the student body president tomorrow to thoroughly disrupt the building of the village. ¡­¡­! ¡°I didn¡¯t think it was possible to build a village in just one day. ¡­¡­! Even I, here, spent days building my initial base. ¡­¡­!¡± Incidentally, though, he hasn¡¯t built up a base. They simply built a wall that was only high enough to collapse, with no regard for its strength, and brought the residential area to the brink of destruction. Yes, all he has done is interfere and hinder others. And against Leopin, it¡¯s all coming back to bite him in the ass. It is no longer comparable to Leopin, the no good Sage. But he was Leopin-grade only in the way he gave up. ¡°If this happens, I¡¯ll launch the ¡®Leopin Village Destruction Plan¡¯ ¡­¡­! With my genius mind, I¡¯m going to reduce that village to ashes overnight ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey, you¡¯re still here?¡± A deliberate voice came from behind him, and Weiss turned around. At the entrance to the room stood Kakeru-kun and the vice-principal. ¡°You¡¯re still not trying to be the student council president after that much of an abomination to the whole country, are you?¡± ¡°The other day¡¯s blunder wasn¡¯t my fault, Twanet¡­¡­ no, it was all Leopin¡¯s fault! But don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ve fallen behind in his dastardly trap, but he won¡¯t be able to pull it off again! As a Sage, I¡¯ll use my best secret to force Leopin to leave school!¡± But Kakeru-kun listens back with a stupid look on his face, like a horse that has been told a reminder. ¡°You¡¯re no better than Leopin-kun now that we know you¡¯re trash!¡± ¡°This, I¡¯m less than Leopin ¡­!? Please cancel that word! No matter how you¡¯re principal, there are good and bad things to say! Even if I forgive this, my dad ¡­! ¡° Suddenly, a voice arrives from the hallway behind Kakeru-kun. ¡°3.1415926!¡± ¡°That voice, it¡¯s not ¡­¡­! ¡°Yeah, no way.¡± Weiss almost stopped breathing at the smart shadow that appeared between Kakeru-kun and the vice-principal. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re Pyce ¡­¡­! How did you get here?¡± It was an intelligent boy who looked a lot like Weiss. Pyce adjusts his round glasses with a quill, as if he steals Weiss¡¯s stock. ¡°3.1415926¡­¡­ brother, don¡¯t you understand yet? The fact that I am here means that you are no longer needed. Not just from this school, but from our clan ¡­¡­!¡± Zugaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! Weiss is overcome with shock, as if he had been hit by a direct bolt of lightning. ¡°My brother¡¯s ugliness, I¡¯m sure they saw it. Eating garbage and spitting it is a mess for the clan. Unlike my brother, I¡¯m a genius, so I was able to skip a year or so to enter this school, and not only that, I¡¯m suddenly on the student council.¡± ¡°What ¡­¡­? If an inexperienced person like you becomes the student body president, this school will be ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°3.1415926¡­¡­ brother, you still don¡¯t understand, I just said ¡®join the student council¡¯, didn¡¯t I?¡± I¡¯m sure there are other people in this school who would be more qualified to be student body president than me. ¡­¡­¡± Weiss huffs, almost saying, ¡°He¡¯s not here.¡± ¡°Ma ¡­¡­ no way ¡­¡­? No way, those people are ¡­¡­?¡± Zudoooooooooooooooooooooooo As if in response to that question, all the walls on the corridor side were blown away. Beyond the rising dust, there are many silhouettes. The people who may have caused this destruction were in a room across one corridor. This means they have broken down two walls at once. There is no other profession, except for the highest level profession, that can display such destructive power without using any tools. ¡°Zako ? If it was such a fragile wall, it wouldn¡¯t have been possible for Bar-chan to appear.¡± ¡°But now the room is a little bigger. It used to be like a rabbit hut, but now it¡¯s about a pig hut ¡î¡± The student council room that Weiss was in was as large as a royal suite at a hotel. There was a spacious walk-in closet, three bathrooms, and even five bedrooms. In this school, it is the most blessed room after the headmaster and the vice principal, but to call it a rabbit hole is ¡­¡­ unbelievable. With that deceptive line, Weiss was convinced. ¡°Ah¡­ you guys¡­ Class 1-11 is finally at the school¡± But none of the shadows would answer. Instead, Pyce says with a sigh. ¡°3.1415926 ¡­¡­ haha, all my classmates are ¡®real¡¯, so they don¡¯t want to exchange words with a ¡®fake¡¯ like you brother.¡± ¡°You ¡­¡­ think I¡¯m a fake, ¡­¡­? Don¡¯t be silly, Pyce! Besides, I was supposed to be transferred to Class 1-11 groups in a year! ??¡± A shadow smiled, a tiny shadow, like a child. ¡°Zako ? If you say that, you should show off your ability and take it away. What is a magical match with this bar?¡± ¡°From your body, you¡¯re a ¡®skipping grade¡¯ too! And you didn¡¯t start from middle school like Pyce, but from elementary school further down ¡­¡­! I¡¯ve heard so much about you! Bakugong, the Great Magician Genius! But no matter how much of a genius you are, there¡¯s no way an elementary school kid can win a magic match against a high school wise guy like me,¡­¡­.¡± Weiss braces himself and pauses to activate his grand magic. However, in the next moment, his body was taken away by a turbulent blast and impact. ¡­¡­ Dogooooooooooooooo!!! The window wall is blown to pieces and Weiss¡¯s body is thrown into the sunset sky. Weiss bared his eyes through his cracked glasses as he fell in a big heap. ¡°Huh, it¡¯s fast ¡­!? What a fast chanting ¡­!? No way, no chanting ¡­!? There is a magician in this world who can cast high-level magic like explosive magic without chanting ¡­! ¡° Weiss falls with the rubble. The student council room is located near the top of the castle, and is about 30 meters high to the ground. At this rate, he will be slammed into the courtyard of the school building and will not be able to survive. Weiss looked up at the airy student council room in dismay. There was Bakuon, who was making a face, and Pyce, who didn¡¯t seem to be worried. And all the members of the Class 1-11 class were shining in orange. They were all dressed in such fine gear that Weiss thought even his own custom-made coat looked shabby. CH 134 School trial begins. Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent ¡°I¡¯m ¡­¡­ going to ¡­¡­ die ¡­¡­ this way ¡­¡­¡± Suddenly, a woman clad in feathers as dazzling as light steps forward. She smiles serenely like a goddess, seeing off the departed who are about to fall into hell. ¡°If you beg for your life, I can help you¡î¡± ¡°Sa-¡­¡­ save me!!!!!!¡± Weiss cries out with the speed of a spinal reflex. Then his body began to fall slowly. The one who saved Weiss from falling to his death was a woman as beautiful as the reincarnation of a goddess. When she holds up her hand, Weiss¡¯s body is enveloped in a feather-like aura and begins to float in the air fluffily. ¡°You¡¯re the Great Saint, Lovelyn ¡­¡­!¡± Weiss looked at Lovelyn with eyes as if he were looking at the God of Salvation. Lovelyn also looks back at Weiss with compassionate eyes. A tender moment flows between the two, the one who saved and the one who was saved. But when Lovelyn saw that Weiss had stopped begging for his life, she turned the hand she was holding up. ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve stopped begging for your life, huh?¡î¡± Instantly, the feathers wrapped around Weiss disappear, and Weiss turns upside down once again. ¡°Help me, help me, help me, help me!¡± Lovelyn used her power to play with Weiss¡¯ body, lifting and dropping it in the air. Weiss floats and sinks like a pack of tea leaves being boiled. Lovelyn smiles contentedly, as if enjoying the taste of tea. Their shameful appearance was clearly visible from the living quarters, and they noticed that the courtyard was filled with students. ¡°Hey, look, Weiss is flying through the air!¡± ¡°No, no, no, he¡¯s being blown away! There¡¯s a man at the top of the school building!¡± ¡°Oh, those people, could they be ¡­¡­?¡± As people gathered, Lovelyn pinned Weiss¡¯s body directly above the yazzy horse. She received the magical loudspeaker device offered by Principal Kakeru-kun and began to speak into the device. In the school building, there is a magical sound system for the entire school broadcast, and the voice echoes throughout the residential area. The voice that poured out were as gentle as music from heaven. ¡°Nice to meet you, I don¡¯t need to introduce myself to the loves ¡î. Yes, we are Class 1-11 ¡î ¡± The marvel that leaked from the courtyard, ¡°Oh, ¡­¡­!¡± As soon as the goddess¡¯ voice spread, those who remained in the living quarters also rushed towards the school building in a panic. ¡°Actually, Lovelyn had no plans to come to this school. However, when I saw everyone¡¯s pioneering life, it looked like a used diaper, so I ended up coming this way. In a place like a toilet like this ¡î ¡± Lovelyn is a beautiful, innocent girl who is comparable to Monaka and Kotone. The voice that came out of her benevolent smile, but her choice of words was strong. ¡°By the way, it goes without saying that one of the main causes that made this a perfect place is ¡î It¡¯s the fake sage who floats like the contents of a pottery right now ¡î ¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a fake, I¡¯m ¡­¡­! Weiss tried to protest, but was let to fall with a thud and silenced. ¡°So, I¡¯m going to announce the opening of the ¡°School Trial¡±¡î.¡± At the sudden declaration of the opening of the court, the courtyard erupts with an enthusiastic ¡°Ooooooooo! In the past, Leopin was expelled from the school during the entrance ceremony of ¡°Class Trial¡±. The ¡°class trial¡± is a class-based trial, but the ¡°school trial¡± involves the whole school. The rules are exactly the same as in ¡°Class Trial¡±. If a majority of the students in the entire school supported the decision, the accused student would be brought to justice. Lovelyn continues with a lopsided smile that has nothing to do with the trial. The students in the courtyard were so excited that they forgot to close their mouths and looked up at her with a big smile on their faces. ¡°Well then, let¡¯s take a vote from those of you with faces like assholes ¡î. Raise your hand if you¡¯re an asshole who thinks Weiss-kun should be banished¡î¡± ¡­¡­ bah! Then, without any sign of hesitation, the students raised their hands in unison. ¡°Hmm ¡­ don¡¯t be silly !? Exile this Sage !?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, you¡¯ve been yelling at me since you got here!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, you didn¡¯t do anything wise, did you? ¡°If we had built the wall in the living quarters like you said, it would have collapsed and we¡¯d be in trouble!¡± ¡°If you weren¡¯t a Sage, I would have killed you a long time ago!¡± ¡°Yes, I wish you were dead!¡± ¡°Oh dear¡± says Lovelyn with a troubled smile. ¡±Don¡¯t use such violent and scary words. But I didn¡¯t expect him to be abandoned by all of the assholes ¡­¡­ This Sage was a genuine potty ¡î¡±. Lovelyn laughs and raises the hand she was holding up. As if in conjunction with that movement, Weiss¡¯s body floats remarkably high. ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± ¡°What is the point of the Love helping you now that you¡¯ve been proven to be a potty muncher? It¡¯s a hassle to bring you down slowly, so this is how you do it, all at once ¡­¡­!¡± Lovelyn turns her raised hand into a fist, thumbs down, and squeaks! And swing down. In the next moment, Weiss¡¯ body took a sudden turn, like a puppet whose invisible suspension thread had been cut. ¡°Saa-¡­¡­ save me!!!!!!¡± Weiss¡¯s body, in a big heap, falls straight down the brick path in the courtyard. But when he was only a few meters away¡­ ¡­¡­ Gakuuun! and the fall stopped. Weiss gushes tears and struggles in the air like a bug sprayed with insecticide. ¡°Please help me! I don¡¯t want to die yet! I don¡¯t want to die! Oh, please, please, please help me! Lovelyn-sama! Lovelyn-samaaaaaaaaaaaa!¡± He begged for his life with all his might, as if he had abandoned all his pride as a Sage. The students, who were watching it from as close as a sand-covered seat, were completely taken aback by Weiss. ¡°We respected this helpless bastard, even if only for a moment. ¡­¡­¡± Suddenly, a drop of water fell on their faces. ¡°Oh, shit, Weiss just peed his pants!¡± It was as if a bomb had gone off, and people were disappearing from around Weiss. At that time, Lovelyn dropped Weiss¡¯s body to the ground with a slosh. Immediately, the students who tried to run away came back. ¡°Hey, guys, do it!¡± ¡°You pissed on our faces! How much more trouble can you get into?¡± ¡°Die, die, die, die, die, die!¡± Surrounded by a mob of students, Weiss is assaulted by them. He looked like a fawn that had fallen into a pond of piranhas. CH 135 Soup of Memories Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent The day after Leopin Village was completed, the members of the ¡°Leopin SS¡± were scheduled to move in. But the next day it rained heavily from the morning, so the move in was postponed. But I still had class, so I went to school in the rain, which was heavy as a gray veil, using a butterbur leaf as an umbrella. All the classes were held in the school building, and the brave students of the first year class 11 who newly came to this school were lectured on how wonderful they were. None of the eleven classes in the first year participated in that class. They are all student council members and are in leadership positions, so they are free to attend classes. And I learned from a notice posted in the hallway of the school that Weiss was expelled from the school trial and sent to a special training class like me. Weiss dreamed of being an active member of this school and becoming the pride of the wise clan. Thinking that he must be depressed, I looked for Weiss, but I couldn¡¯t find him anywhere in the school building or in the living quarters. The rain didn¡¯t stop the next day, or the day after that. It was like Weiss¡¯s own grief, and it went on forever and ever. When it rains like this, we can¡¯t do any farm work, let alone move. When I got home, I didn¡¯t have much time, so I kind of played around with duplicating things in the house with my ¡°Mana Faker¡± skill. Then, suddenly, something caught my eye. It was my one of a kind coat, hanging on the wall. ¡°¡­¡­ Yes, if that coat could be increased, it would be quite a force to be reckoned with. ¡­¡­?¡± However, the ¡®Coat of the Dragon and the Saint¡¯ was only a magic item, and duplicating it was quite difficult. I managed to duplicate the look of the original, but the abilities were not up to par. This isn¡¯t going to work. ¡­¡­ As I gave up and put away my duplicate coat, I heard Mark¡¯s cries from outside, mixed with the sound of torrential rain. I opened the door to my room to see what was going on, and found Mark at the doorway, dragging a soaking wet human by the collar. I hurriedly took the human from Mark and put him to bed in my room. When I looked closer, I saw that it was a former classmate of mine. ¡°It¡¯s Weiss, isn¡¯t it ¡­¡­? Where have you been all this time?¡± But Weiss was unconscious, and his whole body was burning hot. He was covered in bruises and cuts all over, and his glasses and clothes were in tatters. There is no trace of the smart, intelligent man he was, and he is completely weakened. I took off Weiss¡¯s clothes and applied the ¡°Centataki¡¯s Ointment¡± that I had mass-produced in the water mill shed in case of emergency. You know, you can boil the roots of Centataki to relieve the heat. I run out into the garden in the rain and make a pot of boiling water in the kitchen with an umbrella. But while Centataki had a hard time being made into a coating, it was even harder to make it into a pill. It had to be cooked for about 16 hours, and I had to watch it all the time. While I continued to nurse Weiss, I went back and forth to the galley in the heavy rain and managed to make some medicine. ========== Centataki¡¯s medication Qty 1 Quality Level 32£ü(Material Level 7 + Dexterity Bonus 2 + Occupation Bonus 23) A drink made by boiling the root of Centataki for 1,000 minutes. It has the effects of antifebrile, intestinal regulation, tonic, analgesic, cough suppressant, restful sleep and appetite stimulant. ========== When I gave it to Weiss, who was having a nightmare, the fever went down and he began to breathe peacefully. ¡°I thought I¡¯d have to pull Monaka out in this rain if it came to it. ¡­¡­ Looks like that won¡¯t be necessary.¡± Then I made some bread porridge for when Weiss woke up. This is a slow stew of meat and wild herbs, with bread added at the end. The ingredients are cooked until they fall apart, making them easy to digest and full of nutrition. It¡¯s a great thing to have when you¡¯re sick. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d be able to make food for the sick ¡­¡­.¡± In the meantime, Weiss regains consciousness. He opened his eyes and his eyes were blurry and wandering in the void. ¡°You all right, Weiss? You¡¯re low on energy. Eat this.¡± I bring the soup scooped up with a wooden spoon to the mouth of Weiss, who growls It seemed a little hot, so I huffed and puffed before feeding him, and he gulped it down. ¡°Is it good? I made a lot, so I have another one.¡± As he ate, Weiss visibly recovered, and in the end he took the soup plate from my hands and drank it all in one go. ¡°Puh-ah ¡­¡­ u¡­¡­ um¡­¡­ y¡­¡­!¡± Weiss looks up to the heavens and lets out a big sigh. The light had completely returned to his eyes. But when he realized I was there, he threw the soup plate on the floor and lay down with his back to me, as if rejecting me. ¡®It¡¯s just the opposite,¡¯ I mutter. ¡°When I was a kid, I was often bullied because I was from the common people ¡­ Weiss, you helped me. You didn¡¯t want to see my crying face, so you paid for me at the kitchen in the mansion and made soup by imitating what you saw ¡­ ¡° ¡°Phew, Leopin, soup is said to be the source of all power, and with the soup I¡¯ve made, you¡¯ll have a hundred times more courage.¡± That soup was so bad, though¡­ ¡°To me, that soup was the best soup of all.¡± I sit down on the bedside table and gently place my hand on Weiss¡¯ shoulder, who has his back turned to me. ¡°I don¡¯t care anymore that you banished me.¡± Then his shoulders twitched and shook. ¡°Will you ¡­¡­ forgive me for what I¡¯ve done?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve gained a lot of valuable experience from my exile. And this time, I¡¯m the one who¡¯s gonna protect you. Let¡¯s look back at those who make fun of us because we¡¯re in a special training class.¡± The shaking in his shoulders had stopped. Weiss turned around and squirmed in my hands, crying out at the top of his voice. ¡°Ugh ¡­¡­! Oh ¡­¡­! Oh, I¡¯m, I¡¯m sorry ¡­¡­! Forgive me for what I¡¯ve done, forgive me for what I¡¯ve done. ¡­¡­, Leopin¡¯ ¡­¡­! Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!¡± CH 136 Weiss and Leopin 1 Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent The boy was besieged by piercing eyes. A few years later, he would have passed this level of gaze off as if he were receiving a poorly executed needle treatment. He was still very young, and the critical glances of his classmates were like a needle in a haystack hell for him. His body is covered in bruises, but he is writhing as if more salt has been rubbed into his body. You can find a lot of people who are interested in this type of product. ¡°Oh, ¡­¡­ I¡¯m not so bad, ¡­¡­!¡± Trying his best to keep his voice down, the boy glares back at the female teacher in front of him. The middle-aged female teacher, dressed in a chic dress, shouted as she fixed her triangular glasses like a pair of suspended eyes. ¡°Hmm !? What a bad boy, Mazazu, to look back at me, the vice-principal !? After all, a child raised in a poor family is poor to the core!¡± ¡°Vice-Principal Sensei! They were bullying a child of the Holy Girl Department! The good thing about being a senior student and having strong power is that she broke her robe ¡­!¡± ¡°Stay calm!¡± Vice-principal slammed her horse whip as if she were in front of an undisciplined pack animal. ¡°Already, the investigation is on! Leopin-kun, you were trying to do mischief by breaking the robe of a schoolgirl in the Holy School! The brave alumni have succeeded and defeated you! That is the truth of the matter! ¡° ¡°They¡¯re lying! If I stop them, they¡¯ll come for me ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°The hero¡¯s schoolmates are all the sons of famous families! Of course what those kids are saying is more correct, Mazuzu!¡± The Vice-Principal looked even more stern, but her lips twisted as if to say that she had come up with a good idea. ¡°Leopin not only assaulted a fragile saintly schoolgirl, he doesn¡¯t even feel remorse when he¡¯s blamed, he blames others for the crime. ¡­¡­! If this happens, you¡¯ll need an extra spanking. ¡­¡­!¡± The Vice-Principal tells the classmates, who have been surrounding Leopin. ¡°From now on, all of you will give Leopin-kun an additional punishment, Mazazu! Until Leopin apologizes, I¡¯ll be thorough with you, Mazazu!¡±¡± The classmates¡¯ reactions to the vice principal¡¯s order were divided in two ways. The pupils of the good family already seemed to be the waistcoats of the vice principal, and replied cheerfully, ¡°Yes! The students below the common people were reluctant, but the students from good families stared at them, and they could not help but reply, ¡°Yes ¡­¡­. It was school violence approved by the vice principal, or rather, it was a complete group bullying. The Leopin boy shrank back like a rabbit surrounded by a pack of lions, ¡°Ugh ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Come on, this is your last chance to get down on your knees and apologize! If you lick my shoes and swear to be a good boy, I¡¯ll forgive your punishment, Mazazu!¡± If he had been the boy a few years later, he would have blown away this level of unreasonableness with a single breath, like ashes that have been burned up rather than sparks that have fallen. However, the boy of today does not have that level of toughness. Leopin clenches his fists, slumps over, and begins to tremble. Eventually, however, he screamed in agony, ¡­¡­ as if his intestines had been cut off alive. ¡°So¡­¡­ So¡­¡­ Sor¡­¡­¡± The Vice-Principal couldn¡¯t stop grinning, ¡°I did it.¡± However, as if to interrupt the matter, a voice came from outside the classroom. ¡°No need to apologize.¡± The Vice-Principal shakes her face as if she had been sprayed with water, and looks in the direction of the voice. ¡°Who the hell are you to interfere with my education policy?¡± Instead of answering, two large boys were thrown through the open classroom door. The boys can no longer stand on their own and are crushed in their backs. His swollen face, like a balloon, was crumpled with tears, saying, ¡°I¡¯m already loose ¡­¡±. The Vice-Principal gasps. ¡°Hmm ¡­ well !? These kids are brave alumni !?¡± A mysterious voice tells us. ¡°They confessed to me that they tore the robes of a girl in the sainthood department, and that they turned on Leopin when he tried to stop them, and beat him up.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a lie, of course it¡¯s a lie! You made them confess to a lie with violence! What a delinquent student Mazazu is, to be so violent!¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s funny, The Vice-Principal; they, the schoolmates of the brave, also assaulted Leopin. Isn¡¯t it ¡­¡­ strange that you don¡¯t believe Leopin¡¯s side of the story?¡± The Vice-Principal quickly tried to retort, ¡°That¡¯s ¡­¡­!¡± but the mysterious voice took the initiative. ¡°I know, the hero and his schoolmates wielded the power of justice, not violence, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Violence against the righteous is unacceptable! You are more than Leopin-kun, a delinquent student ¡­¡­! No, the most villainous student since the beginning of our elementary school, Mazazu!¡± ¡°All right, then, I shall be punished along with Leopin.¡± ¡°Then stop hiding and come over here! Oh, I get it, Mazuzu! Your face is more battered than your schoolmates lying here, and you¡¯re too embarrassed to come out! Even if you¡¯re trying to look cool, you¡¯re still just a punk Mazuzu, caca caca!¡± The Vice-Principal sneered, and her cronies laughed in unison. A silhouette appeared from behind the door, light shining from the ceiling of the classroom like a spotlight, illuminating only the feet. Tap ¡­¡­ tap: ¡­¡­ tap: ¡­¡­. With each slow clink of his enamel-white shoes, his true identity is revealed. With each footstep, her smile disappeared like a mist. A uniform that fits a sophisticated and smart body shape without a trace of skimpiness. A sweet but bitter face with all-seeing eyes and square glasses that combine intelligence and elegance. His hair is perfectly set, yet silky smooth. Each and every part was unrivaled in its excellence, and yet all of them were in perfect harmony. Everything is ¡­¡­ just perfect, everything is ¡­¡­ his name is ¡­¡­! ¡°Aaahhhh ¡­¡­Weissssssssss!!!!¡± He was the boy who was rumored to shake the entire class just by showing up. ¡­¡­! CH 137 Weiss and Leopin 2 Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent As soon as the boy appeared, the atmosphere in the classroom clearly changed. The girls blushed, ¡°Weiss-kun ¡­¡­!¡± The boys backed away, ¡°Weiss-¡­¡­!¡± Even the vice principal, who was smiling like the god of evil, has a small wrinkle between her eyebrows. However, Weiss didn¡¯t seem to care about the reactions of the people around him. There was only one person staring at him as he entered the classroom. ¡°You okay, Leopin?¡± ¡°Weiss: ¡­¡­¡± ¡°I know better than anyone that you¡¯re right, so there¡¯s no need to apologize.¡± ¡°So ¡­¡­, but ¡­¡­, but I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m going to get punished by all my classmates, even Weiss, because of me. ¡­¡­!¡± Leopin looks like he¡¯s about to cry, and Weiss shrugs his shoulders in an exaggerated manner. ¡®Well, that¡¯s a problem, because you like to be punished, but I don¡¯t like to be punished. The word ¡°punish¡± makes the vice principal. huff ¡°I was supposed to punish Weiss-kun and Leopin-kun! Come on guys, let¡¯s do this! We¡¯re gonna beat the shit out of you until you both cry and apologize!¡± The vice principal thrusts her long, devilish claws at the two boys. Weiss was back to back with Leopin. Leopin shuddered as he imagined the violence that was about to rain down on him, but Weiss didn¡¯t move an inch. He is posing for a fist fight with a relaxed expression on his face. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve had a good warm-up against just two guys¡±. With that one word, everyone finally realizes. The students around him kept comparing Weiss¡¯s face to the upperclassmen lying at his feet. ¡°Come to think of it, Mr. Weiss, your face doesn¡¯t have a single scratch on it!¡± ¡°These two, the schoolmates of this brave man, are so violent that even adults can¡¯t touch them! And yet ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t take on two upperclassmen like that and beat them up one way or the other. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°You¡¯re not just good at studying and sports, you¡¯re also good at fighting. ¡°¡­¡­ ¡°You look ¡­¡­ like a knight ¡­¡­!¡± The girls¡¯ cheeks are dyed as if the prince of their dreams has appeared. The boys were pale as if a legendary brawler had shown up. ¡°I¡¯m going to take it easy on you, but with this many people against you, you might get a real blow. You can only call me if you don¡¯t mind being sent to the infirmary.¡± With this one word from Weiss, the classmates completely lost their will to fight. The boys became quiet as if they were borrowed cats, while the girls were in an uproar saying, ¡°Caw!¡± ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ô The school building rings with the final chime of the school day. The two boys were walking shoulder-to-shoulder down the first floor corridor. ¡°Thanks for the help, Weiss.¡± ¡°What, never mind, the bullying of the vice principal is getting worse by the minute.¡± ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t care what they do to me. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°That girl from Saint Mary¡¯s, huh?¡± ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s not just being bullied by a bunch of brave cronies. the vice principal also seems to be bullying ¡­¡­, and because of that, that child is alone among the saint¡¯s department.¡± In this elementary school, girls from saintly families with a certain status are divided into ¡®saintly families, They were in a different school building on the grounds, taking a different kind of class than usual. Incidentally, the students of the higher ranks such as the brave and the wise took the same classes in the same school building and the same class as the students of the common people for a certain reason. Weiss snorts, ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°The fact that she¡¯s in the Saint Department means she¡¯s not from the common people at least, right? And yet, the fact that she is being bullied suggests that the girl is very much liked by the brave man.¡± ¡®Eh, why not?¡¯ said Leopin. ¡°If you liked it, wouldn¡¯t you make your cronies stop bullying you? You know, when you like a girl, you want to be mean to her.¡± ¡°Is that how it is?¡± ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t think Leopin, who¡¯s always making things by himself, would understand. But that¡¯s unusual, Leopin showing interest in a girl.¡± ¡°The girl is different, she¡¯s supposed to be from a prestigious family of saints, but she¡¯s also kind to people like me ¡­¡­, she comes to cathedrals in poor neighborhoods and stuff.¡± ¡°Haha, so that¡¯s why you like her.¡± ¡®No, no, no, I just saw her being bullied ¡­¡­! Leopin, who had turned bright red, changed the subject deceptively. ¡°Well, that¡¯s not the point, how did you do it?¡± ¡°How did I do what?¡± ¡°You beat up two upperclassmen unscathed, while I got beat up for doing nothing. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone¡±. Weiss smiles meaningfully and pulls a cloth out of his pocket. The cloth was a strange cloth. It is palm-sized, about the size of a handkerchief, but when unfolded it is as big as a curtain. It was gray, and I thought it would look like it was glowing white like the aurora borealis, but it also looked black, darker than the night book. Leopin with his eyes wide open. ¡°This is ¡­¡­ ¡®Evil Skeletal Jagaiifu¡¯ ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s the kind you get very rarely when you kill a wraith or other demonic monster. It was given to my father by the king, and it was in the treasury of the mansion.¡± ¡°Wow, that¡¯s a super rare item! This thing makes you invisible when you wear it, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, but they say you can only use the effect twice, and I¡¯ve already used it once, so that¡¯s one more.¡± Leopin¡¯s eyeballs roll up as if they were about to pop out. ¡°Well, you can¡¯t possibly ¡­¡­ use this to ¡­¡­ the upperclassmen!¡± Weiss winked as if to say, ¡°Exactly.¡± Yeah, he got them to fight each other, and when they got stuck in a fistfight, he went after them. But Leopin returned a look that was a mixture of astonishment and frustration. ¡°It¡¯s not fair to use that ¡­¡­ thing to fight with!¡± ¡°So you think it¡¯s not cowardly for two upperclassmen to fight over an underclassman?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any shame in standing up to unreasonableness with unreasonableness.¡± ¡°But why ¡­¡­? Why did you go to all that trouble? I¡¯m not going to spend a precious rare item that can only be used twice to get this me ¡­¡­¡± Leopin is heartbroken that his father will undoubtedly be furious if he finds out. But Weiss laughed back, undaunted. ¡°You don¡¯t need to compare which is more important, the treasure that is still stored dead at home or the pinch ¡­¡­ or your best friend in front of you?¡± It was the best smile that could make even Leopin turn red in a blink. CH 138 Weiss and Leopin 3 Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent As Leopin looked away in embarrassment, he spotted something in the courtyard beyond the crosswalk. ¡°¡­¡­ Huh? It¡¯s Mr. Foulo.¡± Mr. Foulo is the teacher of Leopin and his class. Weiss and Leopin looked at Mr.Foulo as he leaned over the railing of the crosswalk. ¡°Come to think of it, Mr. Foulo wasn¡¯t there in the class earlier, was he? Mr. Foulo should always be the first one to help me in a situation like that. ¡­¡­¡± The answer to that question will come soon. A man in a very expensive tuxedo was standing beside Mr. Foulo, who was wearing a shabby suit, and he was ranting one way or the other. ¡°Mr. Foulo will be working part-time from today! Leave the rest to me, the new teacher! I¡¯ve heard from the Vice-principal that there¡¯s a student in our class who¡¯s from a poor background and is an outrageous delinquent! Mr. Foulo couldn¡¯t discipline that student, so he was demoted to part-time, right?¡± Weiss and Leopin looked at each other, ¡°What?¡± I¡¯d heard rumors of a new teacher coming, but I didn¡¯t think it would be our class. ¡­¡­ And I can¡¯t believe Mr. Foulo is no longer a homeroom teacher. ¡­¡­ I loved him. ¡­¡­ Leopin and Mr. Foulo, who was in the courtyard, dropped their shoulders at the same time. Mr. Foulo was ridiculed by the new teacher and left in a huff. The new teacher¡¯s face is obscured by his back, but his voice suggests that he is young. Moreover, he seems to be a member of a prominent family and has a fat servant by his side. He was relaxing on a bench, looking refreshed, like a new soldier who had kicked out a useless old soldier. Of course, these are not boys who would remain silent after witnessing such a scene. Weiss and Leopin walked out of the crosswalk and hid their breath in the bushes of the courtyard. ¡°The new teacher, at that rate, seems to be from the vice principal¡¯s side. If we don¡¯t get rid of him somehow, things are going to get nasty.¡± ¡®Yeah, but how do we kick them out ¡­¡­? Look at that. Weiss points, indicating a tree that was near the new teacher. Hanging from that branch high above my head was a beehive the size of a human head. Weiss plucked the ivy of ¡°Shinshukusa¡± that was growing at his feet. This grass is one of the most indispensable playthings for children, and the ivy stretches like rubber when pulled. Weiss tied the Shinshukusa ivy into a loop to make a large rubber band, which he hooked onto his finger to make a rubber gun and shot it at the beehive. ¡­¡­ Biyoyo! The rubber band flew gently and hit the nest. But it was only a slight shake, not a drop. Hmm, Shin Shuksa¡¯s not powerful enough. ¡®Shall I throw a stone?¡¯ said Leopin. ¡°No, probably not even with a throwing stone, it would have to be something more powerful ¡­¡­¡± We were both thinking about it, but it was Leopin that came up with an idea first. Leopin kept his posture low and groped around on the ground, picking up fallen wood. ¡°What are you going to do with it? You¡¯re not going to make a spear out of it, are you?¡± In response to Weiss¡¯s question, Leopin grinned, holding the ten-knife he had taken from his pocket. ¡°No, we¡¯ll make it better.¡± Leopin uses a knife to cut the tree into three pieces. Two long pieces of wood were combined in a crossed pattern and tied up tightly with ivy. Then he attached the one remaining short tree to the crossed trees as a handle. All I have to do is tie a piece of thinsyxa to the end of the crossed tree. ¡­¡­ ========== Hiroeda and Shinshukusa¡¯s Slingshot Qty 1 Quality Level 3£ü(Material Level 1 + Dexterity Bonus 2) A combined hiroeda with a synchusa. ========== Weiss blinked through his glasses at his handiwork. ¡°Ooh, a slingshot, that¡¯ll be more powerful than a stone thrower!¡± ¡°Yeah, I wish I had a Y-shaped tree, but I didn¡¯t, so I cobbled one together.¡± ¡°Okay, can you make another one? By my calculations, we should be able to bring that nest down if we both aim a little closer at the same time.¡± While Weiss was saying this, Leopin¡¯s second slingshot was being completed. As expected, Weiss is amazed at the speed. ¡°As usual, Leopin is very handy. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s the only thing I¡¯ve got going for me.¡± ¡°To me, that¡¯s more reliable than a million allies, so let¡¯s get this attack started!¡± With matching slingshots in hand, Weiss and Leopin creep closer and closer. Like a sniper who sneaks into enemy territory and takes aim at the enemy general, he sneaks up behind the new teacher. ¡°Okay, we should be able to make it this far, are you ready, Leopin ¡­¡­?¡± ¡®Oh ¡­¡­ anytime you want, ¡­¡­! ¡°As always, shoot it when I count to three. ¡­¡­! Here we go, three, two, one. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡­¡­ Bishun! Their breathing was perfect, and the sound of the shot was not a fraction of a second off. Two stones flying side by side in a straight line are like two mischievous sparrows who are good friends. The stones landed at the same time, leaving a slight root in the branch and successfully dropping the beehive. A ceramic urn-like object smashes and shatters at the feet of the new teacher, who is sitting on a bench. ¡°What is this, ¡­¡­?¡± At first, the new teacher seemed unsure of what had fallen. But the countless bees that flew out from the debris made his face pale. ¡®Geez ¡­¡­ geez!!!! Hachizamasu! Hachizamasu! Hachizamasu! The new teacher runs away with a scream like a monster bird with its tail on fire. The maidservant who had been waiting by his side had also run away at the same time. But for some reason, the bees follow the new teacher. Leopin, who was watching the scene, wonders. ¡°Why are the bees only chasing the teacher ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even know that,¡± Weiss said. ¡°Bees have a habit of chasing after things with a strong smell. That new teacher must be sprinkling perfume all over himself.¡± I see. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Another clever one, and I hope Mr. Foulo comes back.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you.¡± Weiss and Leopin are lying on the ground, fists clashing. There was an allegory circling around the planting where the boys were. Why are you following me? I¡¯m hurt! I¡¯m hurt! I¡¯ve been stabbed in the face! This new teacher, whose name or even face was not even visible, was taken to the infirmary after this. The planned appointment was postponed, and Mr. Foulo will continue to be the homeroom teacher for a while. CH 139 Weiss and Leopin 4 Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent The next day, Sunday. Leopin had left his house before the sun had risen and was heading for the favelas in the corner of the city. Today is the day she comes to the cathedral, and I want to make her smile because she was crying yesterday. ¡°Yeah, maybe if we climbed up a tree high up and looked out over the city, we¡¯d feel better.¡± Leopin loved the girl¡¯s smile. Just the thought of her smile naturally lightens my step. Suddenly, I noticed a flower blooming on the side of the road. ¡°Oh yeah, she said she liked flowers, let¡¯s take a little detour and pick some pretty ones.¡± Leopin took the fork in the opposite direction, heading for the riverbank in the distance. He went back and forth along the still dimly lit riverside, looking for flowers in bloom. At that time, the boy did not know much about flowers at all, so he grabbed whatever he could find. When he sees a flower he¡¯d never seen before on the other side of the river, he takes off his shoes and crosses the river, not caring if his pants get wet. A short time later, Leopin was on his way to the cathedral with his hands full of flowers. ¡°I think I overdid it, but I hope she¡¯s happy.¡± The boy¡¯s mind was as fluffy as his steps. I see the old cathedral across the street and can¡¯t help but walk faster. I¡¯m so close to seeing that girl: ¡­¡­! Just as I thought that, a little girl jumped out from the shigemi. ¡°Hey, Leopin!¡± The girl, who wears a dull white robe that is full of splinters on her petite body, hugs Leopin tightly like a lost child who has found a parent. Leopin almost dropped the flower unintentionally, and hurriedly stepped back. ¡®What, it¡¯s Korone, you don¡¯t have to play this prank on me just because I¡¯m late ¡­¡­¡¯ But the girl called Korone was acting strangely. She¡¯s still clinging to Leopin and crying gaggedly. ¡°Hey, hey, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°My lady, my lady, my lady, ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°What? What¡¯s going on?¡± Korone raised her face, which was soggy with tears and snot, in a flash. ¡°Onee-chan was defending Korone from a kidnapper ¡­¡­, and she¡¯s going to get kidnapped!¡± ¡°What?¡± The flowers spill out of Leopin¡¯s hands. The next thing I knew, I was running like a prodded animal. I use my voice to hold back Korone, who tries to follow me. ¡°Korone, stay the hell away from the sept, and if any stranger approaches you, whoever it is, run!¡± The sanctuary is located in the most unpopular part of the favela. Leopin shouted and tried to call for help, but soon realized that it was useless. In front of the main gate of the sanctuary, he slides to a stop with a zing! Beyond the dilapidated and crumbling gate, a carriage was parked in the courtyard. Around the entrance to the sanctuary, a girl is covered with a burlap sack and dragged away by men. Her voice was muffled, as if she was being gagged. The pure white robe with no cloudiness was, without a doubt, that child. Leopin was so angry that all the hairs on his body stood on end, and he kicked the ground. ¡°Ya ¡­¡­ stop it!¡± The men who had kidnapped the girl have well-trained bodies and are dressed in animal skin jackets and trousers, just like a burglar. The glint in his eyes behind his eye patch was as savage as a wild boar. Leopin struck out at the brute who had grabbed the girl¡¯s hand, but was lightly slapped back. As the boy blows away like a piece of paper, the thieves laugh loudly ¡°Gyahaha! Leopin slammed into the ground, sliding as he was dragged along. But in almost no time at all, he¡¯s back up on his feet and beating on the men again. ¡°Give me back my ¡­¡­!!!¡± ¡°What, I thought you were guards, you little brat, you scared the hell out of me!¡± ¡°What a strange kid to come to a cathedral on the outskirts of town!¡± Spaang! ¡°Whoa!¡± ¡°Gyahahaha, you must be here for Sunday prayers, here¡¯s some gunk instead of candy!¡± Gasp! ¡°Aah!¡± ¡°Hahaha, he¡¯s funny, he¡¯ll get up again and again, he¡¯s never boring!¡± Thud! ¡°Guffaw!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re so desperate, you know?¡± Boca! ¡°Agh!¡± ¡°Or maybe you¡¯re just looking for this little bitch.¡± Boom! ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s how it is! This little bitch is going to be a beauty in the future! ¡­¡­ You¡¯re a real prick, you little shit!¡± A forceful front kick sticks and Leopin is blown to the front gate. His body had been slammed into the gate wall so hard that it had slipped off, leaving a trail of blood. Leopin¡¯s face had turned so red that he could no longer recognize the original form, and he could no longer see forward with his swollen eyelids. His clothes were tattered, his body covered in scars, and he no longer looked like he could stand on his own. ¡°I¡¯ll take good care of her for you, so don¡¯t worry, she¡¯ll be fine!¡± But the next moment, Leopin was challenging him like a lioness who has had her child killed. The thieves were astonished at where such power was coming from, and their sheer spirit made them back off. He jumped on one of them and grabbed his eye cap with a gasp. ¡°Stop it, you little shit! Get the fuck off me!¡± When he is shaken off with force, Leopin grabs his eye cap and rolls away like a thrown away can. The wild thief, who had been scratched, was furious. ¡°This ¡­¡­ little shit!¡± After revealing his true face, the wild thief runs to Leopin and angrily stomps him. Leopin¡¯s body crumpled like an empty can that had been stepped on. One of the thieves who can¡¯t stand the sight of him stops him. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t do that, or he¡¯ll die!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve had my face seen, I¡¯ve got to kill him now!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t kill people in a favela like this! The guards won¡¯t even bother with a kidnapper!¡± ¡°But just in case¡­ ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Then use this!¡± The wild thief pulls a purple mushroom out of his pocket. ¡°I¡¯ll give him to you, and you¡¯ll be clean!¡± ¡°Oh, yeah, there¡¯s this guy!¡± The bare-faced thief took the mushroom, then grabbed Leopin¡¯s hair with a gulp as he fell at his feet and made him look up. Leopin tried to close his mouth, but he was grabbed by the cheek and forced to shove the mushroom into his mouth. In his fading consciousness, the boy was listening to ¡­¡­. It was a lowly laugh that stuck in my ears. ¡°Hey, kiddo, it¡¯s a mushroom that makes one forget what is seen and heard. The next time you wake up, you¡¯ll have forgotten all about it! CH 140 Weiss and Leopin 5 Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent ¡­¡­ my body was burning hot and suffocating. It was as if I had been submerged up to my head in a swamp of magma and was being stomped on from above. ¡­¡­ Gihahahahahahahahahahaha ¡­¡­! The noisy laughter was echoing in my head, and it would not stop for any length of time. It was as painful as the torment of hell. ¡°Ugh. ¡­¡­!¡¡Ugh ¡­¡­!¡¡Ughhhh ¡­¡­!¡± A groan escaped naturally, and my body twisted by itself. When I turned over, my head hit a hard object. I bumped into something hard, and my consciousness that was becoming cloudy became clear. ¡°U ¡­ Ugaa !?¡± Leopin jumped up with an animalistic cry. The next moment, however, he shrank back from the pain that assaulted his entire body. Still, he managed to sit up and look around. It was a familiar kitchen. Leopin was lying on a wooden bench in the corner of the kitchen. A bandage was wrapped around his body, as if the maids of the house had treated him. Suddenly, a soothing voice reached his ears. ¡°It was pretty much done¡± It was chillingly comforting to Leopin¡¯s burning body. ¡°Oooh, Weiss, ¡­¡­? Weiss turned his back on Leopin and went to the kitchen table. Where he seemed to be chopping vegetables with unaccustomed hands. ¡°I brought you home from the main street, where you had been thrown out in a heap. You look like you¡¯ve been beaten to a pulp.¡± But Leopin didn¡¯t answer. He was silent, burying his face in his propped up knee. It was a regular occurrence, so Weiss didn¡¯t seem to mind. ¡°All right, I¡¯ve prepared the food. All that¡¯s left is to boil it in the kamado. ¡­¡­ and we¡¯re out of matches.¡± ¡°Hey Leopin, have you got any matches?¡± Leopin, with his face buried in his knees, reached into his pocket and held out two rocks. They were red and yellow ores. ¡°What is this?¡¡Is it flint?¡¡They¡¯re colorful for flint. And it¡¯s light and soft like pumice. ¡­¡­¡± Weiss took the stone, crouched down in front of the Kamado and tried to strike it. If it was a normal flint, it would just spark, but this stone was different. The stones scraped each other, and as soon as the powder flew around, the ¡­¡­ Boom! Like the breath of a baby dragon, a small flame burst out, burning up the firewood in no time. ¡°I didn¡¯t know such a stone existed. ¡°If I don¡¯t know about it, then it must be a special combination of stones that is not known to the world. Did Leopin find it?¡± Leopin kept his face down and nodded his head. ¡°Yes, you did. Okay, hang on, it¡¯s almost ready.¡± The two of them didn¡¯t speak to each other for the rest of the day, just listened to the sound of the soup pot whistling. After a while, Weiss opened the lid of the pot and poured two servings of soup into a wooden bowl. ¡°All right, it¡¯s ready.¡± Leopin was already looking up, his swollen eyes staring into the void. Weiss held out a bowl of soup to his nose. ¡°It smells good, doesn¡¯t it?¡¡One sip of this special soup and you¡¯ll be 10,000 times more energetic.¡± ¡°Thank you ¡­¡­. ¡­¡­.¡± Leopin finally opened his mouth, and Weiss smiled secretly. ¡°It seems that you¡¯ve been beaten more than usual. Was it the hero¡¯s entourage?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t ¡­¡­ remember where I¡¯d been all morning or what I¡¯d been doing, and then I found myself ¡­¡­ here.¡± Leopin held the bowl of soup in his hand and held his head. ¡°But the only thing that remained was the feeling that something ¡­¡­ important had been taken from me. ¡­¡­! If I don¡¯t remember, I feel like I¡¯m in trouble. ¡­¡­!¡¡I want to remember, but I can¡¯t. ¡­¡­!¡± Leopin was just awake, but he was angry. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Leopin. First, drink the soup and calm down. Then you¡¯ll be well and remember.¡± ¡°Oh ¡­ Is there such a thing! It¡¯s a strange feeling like never before! It¡¯s as if the inside of my head is foggy, and it¡¯s as heavy as if it¡¯s packed with weights ¡­! Just drinking soup doesn¡¯t help this feeling! Weiss doesn¡¯t understand my feelings, so I can say that ¡­! ¡° Leopin was completely distraught. No wonder. After suffering like hell, his body was in extreme pain, and he couldn¡¯t remember a thing. Weiss sat down next to him on the bench and hugged Leopin¡¯s shoulders as he sat on his knees. ¡°I can¡¯t possibly know how Leopin feels. But when have I ever lied to you?¡± His eyes and sincere words grabbed Leopin¡¯s heart firmly. The anger in Leopin¡¯s heart calmed down as Weiss calmed him down. ¡°The soup I¡¯ve made so far has been full of energy. But today¡¯s soup is a hundred times more effective. Please believe in me and try just one sip.¡± When Leopin was told that much, he fell silent. He nodded his head like a young child, took the bowl of soup back in his hands, and slurped it down. Seeing this, Weiss also took a sip of the soup with him. At the same time, he said, ¡°It¡¯s spicy.¡± ¡°Oh ¡­¡­, Weiss¡¯ soup is still too salty ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Oh ¡­¡­, that¡¯s funny?¡¡According to my calculations, this amount of seasoning should have been perfect. ¡­¡­¡± They both looked at each other at the same time and shook their shoulders. The sneer quickly turned into a laugh so loud it shook the kitchen. It was a usual scene between the two boys. Whenever Leopin gets upset because he is being bullied, Weiss clears the kitchen from the cooks and makes soup for him. The meat in the soup was undercooked, and the vegetables were skinny and bland. It wasn¡¯t praised for its seasoning or compliment, but ¡­ One thing was for sure. Leopin would always smile again. But that wasn¡¯t the only thing that happened today. Leopin¡¯s body began to glow with rainbow colors as he gulped down his soup. ¡°What?¡± Leopin rolls his eyes and looks at the bandaged body. The bruises and fresh wounds that peeked through the bandages quickly disappeared and the skin regained its healthy appearance. ¡°What ¡­¡­ eh? Leopin raises his face with astonishment, and there is Weiss who growls ¡°Fumu¡± with a small bottle that shines like a prism in one hand. ¡°It¡¯s an elixir, which is said to be a legendary elixir. I put about one-third in a pot, but it¡¯s so effective.¡± ¡°What the ¡­¡­ hell? ========== Weiss¡¯ Special Soup (Magic Item) Qty 2 Quality Level 118£ü (Material Level 126 + Clumsiness Penalty 5 + Occupation Penalty 3) A soup made with pork, cabbage, carrots, and onions as ingredients, seasoned with seasonings. The elixir is added to the highest quality ingredients, and when eaten, it can cure any injury or illness. However, the taste is horrible because of poor cooking skills that kill the goodness of the ingredients. CH 141 Weiss and Leopin 6 Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent In this era, healing magic was not so advanced, and the only way to heal was with medicinal herbs and potions made by alchemists. One of the best of these potions was the Elixir. Elixirs were so expensive and precious that they were called ¡°drinking jewels¡±. To give you an idea of how precious it was, even the heroes who traveled the world to defeat the Demon King could only obtain one bottle. The potion in the crystal bottle shone in seven different colors, as if it were filled with treasures from all over the world. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s amazing ¡­¡­!¡± Leopin couldn¡¯t help but gawk at the beauty. ¡°So ¡­¡­ it¡¯s from the treasury, too?¡± Weiss says ¡°Oh¡± to Leopin¡¯s quivering voice. ¡°When I brought out the evil cloth, I thought it would be incidental.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do that!¡¡You can¡¯t just take something that is valuable out of the vault!¡± ¡°If my father keeps it, he¡¯ll just keep it on display, and when I become the heir, the entire treasury will be mine. I¡¯m just borrowing it.¡± ¡°But, no matter ¡­¡­!¡± Leopin is completely terrified in front of the legendary potion. But Weiss was boringly flicking the bottle with his finger. ¡°I understand why soup is worse. It¡¯s because of this guy.¡± Leopin quickly objected, ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so ¡­¡­. Weiss pocketed the elixir and took a sip of the soup. ¡°Hmm, I wonder if I can add some seasoning to make up for it ¡­¡­.¡± Weiss groaned as he stood up and walked to the kitchen table. Then the cooking began. ¡°If it¡¯s too salty, I¡¯ll add some sugar.¡± ¡°Now the taste is ready ¡­ gut ¡­ sweet ¡­!¡± ¡°These green peppers won¡¯t be too hot.¡± ¡°It¡¯s too ¡­¡­ hot.¡± ¡°It was so spicy, I thought I was going to black out. ¡­¡­!¡¡I have to add a lot of honey ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Guhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa¡± Weiss was making a fuss by himself every time he tasted it, but at last he struck it and fell down. ¡°Well ¡­ what is this soup ¡­!? The color and taste are good, isn¡¯t it a pond of blood in hell ¡­! This ¡­ this is me ¡­! No matter what I do, I¡¯m perfect, and I¡¯m going to make something like this hairy ¡­! ¡° Weiss stares at the simmering pot as if he has summoned the wrong demon. It should not exist in this world! He was about to throw the whole skillet into the trash when Leopin hastily stopped him. ¡°Oh, ¡­¡­, calm down, Weiss!¡¡You really are a terrible cook!¡± ¡°This is a mistake!¡¡This is a mistake, and it must be corrected!¡¡I¡¯ll start from scratch!¡± ¡°I told you to calm down!¡¡You¡¯re wasting all that elixir!¡± ¡°Ugh, ¡­¡­!¡± Reminded by Leopin, Weiss dropped his shoulders. ¡°This ¡­ this I, this kind of thing, this kind of thing ¡­!¡± He was supposed to be perfect at everything, but cooking seemed to be his only weakness. The shock was so great that he was nodding off like someone who had dropped his wallet. Leopin wondered if there was any way to restore Weiss and the soup. He looks around the kitchen and sees something. ¡°Hey, why don¡¯t you let me handle this?¡± Leopin grabbed some leftover bread from the corner of the kitchen and threw it in a basket. Weiss looked at Leopin blankly with a pale face. Leopin, that¡¯s black bread that the servants eat. Leopin, that¡¯s black bread that the servants eat, and it¡¯s tickly and dried out, so it¡¯s leftovers that even the servants don¡¯t eat. ¡°Yes, but this is better.¡± Leopin went to the kitchen table and used a meat cleaver to cut up the dried out bread. He diced the bread and topped it with the bright red soup. ¡°It should taste just right now.¡± Weiss was the son of a prominent family of wise men, a son of the upper class, so to speak. He was the son of a wise family, an upper class man who would never eat cheap black bread, even if it was freshly baked, as it was considered low class food. But this time, he was different. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Although he was skeptical, his curiosity was piqued, and he willingly ate the soup with black bread. Then, his eyes sparkled through his glasses. The bread is soft and tender, the soup is soaked in it, and it¡¯s sweet and sour! All at once, the soup from the bloody pond of hell became like wine that angels want a share of! ¡°That¡¯s great, Leopin!¡¡Is this your idea, too?¡± ¡°In the favelas, they get black bread that no one eats anymore, and soak it in water and eat it. Then I thought soup would be even better, so I tried it. ¡­¡­ Yes, it¡¯s delicious!¡± ========== Weiss and Leopin¡¯s Special Soup (Magic Item) Qty 2 Quality Level 125£ü(Material Level 126 + Material Penalty 3 + Clumsiness Penalty 5 + Occupation Penalty 3 + Cooking Bonus 10) Pork, cabbage, carrots, and onions are the ingredients of this soup, seasoned with seasonings. The elixir is added to the finest ingredients, and eating it will cure any injury or illness. It is topped with old black bread, which is the best mismatch. ========== Weiss¡¯s soup, which had been too salty to eat, turned into a great feast thanks to Leopin¡¯s quick thinking. The two of them, like children in the prime of eating, repeatedly refill the soup and empty the pot. ¡°Phew, that was good ¡­¡­. I¡¯ve never had soup this good ¡­¡­.¡± Weiss and Leopin sat together on a bench, rubbing their full bellies. ¡°If we combine my brain with Leopin¡¯s dexterity, there¡¯s nothing we can¡¯t do.¡± Weiss held out his fist, and Leopin responded with his own. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re an unbeatable duo, ¡­¡­!¡± CH 142 Weiss and Leopin 7 Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavnet Leopin suddenly notices his gaze. Weiss was staring at Leopin¡¯s body. ¡°What¡­ what?¡± ¡°You seem to be fully recovered now.There¡¯s not a scratch left. How about your memory? Did you remember anything?¡± Leopin was so full that he forgot everything he remembered. When asked by Weiss, he frowns as if his stomach fluid had risen. ¡°Well¡­ that¡¯s right¡­!-I went to a church in the slum¡­! So she tried to stop being kidnapped by adults¡­!¡± ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯ve been beaten so hard,¡± ¡°Oh, what on earth are they¡­?!?¡± ¡°Hunting the Saints,¡± replied Weiss, as if he had struck. ¡°Hunting the saints?¡± ¡°Yes, it seems that the number of cases in which saints are kidnapped has increased recently. There is a group that specializes in kidnapping the saint of the poor.¡± ¡°Why the poor saint¡­¡± ¡°Even if they are poor, if they become a saint, they will have a reasonable commercial value. Even if they find out that they have been kidnapped, the guards will not search Matomo if the victim is poor. Of course, rescuing them will be a credit, but it doesn¡¯t pay for the trouble.¡± ¡°Well, then, the kidnapped saint¡­?!?¡± ¡°They will be sold as a slave to a faraway country, and never come back.¡± Weiss may have known what he was thinking so he put his hand on Leopin¡¯s shoulder. Leopin was trying to get up from the bench, but he was grabbed by the shoulder and made to sit down again. ¡°What are you going to do!?I have to go and help her¡­!¡± ¡°Calm down, where are you going to help?¡± Leopin was at a loss for words when asked in a sharp, controlling voice. ¡°You were going to jump out without a plan,¡± ¡°But it¡¯s no use staying still, isn¡¯t it?¡±In the meantime, she might be sold!¡± ¡°Leopin, I understand your feelings for that child . But there are things that can¡¯t be done by passion alone.¡± ¡°The reason why Weiss is calm is because he¡¯s never seen her before, right? That¡¯s why you can say it like that!¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve never met her before.But I understand, she hasn¡¯t been sold far yet.¡± ¡°How do you know that!? Even if you try to reassure me by saying nonsense¡­¡± Leopin was completely emotional with inexhaustible anger and impatience. In contrast, Weiss continues to speak quietly but forcefully like a calm sea. ¡°When I found Leopin lying on the street, there was a little girl nearby. She has been calling Leopin¡¯s name for a long time. I think she¡¯s probably a saint because she was wearing a dull robe.¡± ¡°Oh, she¡¯s Kokone!¡±What¡¯s wrong with Kokone!¡± ¡°Is she Kokone? She ran away when I approached her. I thought Leopin might have told her to run away, but is it?¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡±Leopin hardened as if he were hit by the nail on the head. ¡°I see.You told Kokone to go back to the cathedral. At first I thought Leopin might have been retaliated by the brave¡¯s followers. But I thought there might be another partner because there was Kokone by your side.¡± ¡°Another person¡­?That¡¯s, by any chance¡­¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s ¡®Hunting the Saints¡¯.You can think of it as a kind of slave hunt. As I said earlier, captivated slaves are sold to distant countries. That¡¯s why shipping routes are used instead of land routes such as wagons. In order to save transportation costs, they are also shipped when a large number of slaves are gathered. Until then, They hide them somewhere.¡± Leopin, who was about to stand up, listened attentively to the flowing explanation of Weiss. That¡¯s how convincing it was. ¡°That¡¯s why I clapped my hands while you were sleeping just in case. I ordered the servant to contact the harbor. Be sure to let me know if there is a suspicious ship in the cargo that looks like it¡¯s taking children.¡± Weiss¡¯s glasses shine smartly in the light coming through the window. ¡°That contact hasn¡¯t come to me yet¡­ That means I must think that she is still confined to this neighborhood.¡± It was a perfect reasoning and command worthy of being called a genius. Even Leopin¡¯s impatience was completely calmed down. The genius boy looks at the other boy with calm and passionate eyes like the sea red in the setting sun. ¡°Look, Leopin.I just made soup with passion.But that¡¯s the way it is. The addition of Leopin¡¯s calm judgment made it the best soup. Now you understand how important it is to be calm as well as passionate.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Uh¡­!¡± ¡°And Leopin is worried about her, but you don¡¯t have to worry about it. If they hurt a saint, the value of the product will go down, so they won¡¯t beat her.¡± ¡°But she¡¯s a crybaby, so by now¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine with her mental health.She knew Leopin was trying to help, didn¡¯t she? For her, who is waiting for help, it should be a hope for help.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ really¡­?She was like this where I was¡­¡± ¡°Leopin, what do you think of me being by your side?¡± ¡°What? I think you¡¯re very reliable¡­¡± ¡°Yes, she has a leopin on her.And Leopin has me with you.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need any more words, do you?¡± said Weiss, grinning. ¡°Well¡­ let¡¯s go and hit those who kidnapped her.¡± CH 143 Weiss and Leopin 8 Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by KIngavent The kitchen where Weiss and Leopin work is located in Weiss¡¯s mansion. Moreover, Weiss was given an entire house as a room in order to nurture his independence. Therefore, he is free to do whatever he wants in the mansion, and the servants working there treat Weiss as their master. Weiss ordered the servants to set up a room in the guest house as ¡°the headquarters for the investigation. When making a sign for the front of the room, Weiss asks Leopin. Weiss asks Leopin, ¡°By the way, you didn¡¯t tell me the name of the saint who was kidnapped. What¡¯s it called?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s ¡­¡­.¡± Leopin is at a loss. Leopin was reluctant to say the girl¡¯s name because he had consciously avoided saying it in front of Weiss until now. Weiss is a good friend with whom he can talk about anything, but he had kept this one secret. Because he was afraid that Weiss might take her away from him. Weiss, however, is oblivious to Leopin¡¯s feelings. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡¡Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t know my name?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Her name is Kanoko. ¡­¡­¡± Weiss puts his hand to his chin and makes a gesture as if searching his memory, ¡°Hmm. ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s the name you want to use?¡± Leopin is asked something unexpected, and he is taken aback, as if he has seen through his own feelings. But he quickly nodded back, ¡°U¡­¡­ yeah, I¡¯m sure that¡¯s the name. But why are you asking me that?¡± ¡°The fact that she is in the saints¡¯ department means that she could very well be from a prominent saintly family. All the famous families of saints in this country are in my head here ¡­¡­. But not a single saint by the name of Kanoko.¡± Yeah, that can¡¯t be right. ¡­¡­ Yes,¡± he said. ¡°This leaves two possibilities. Ms. Kanoko may be a saint from a famous family. ¡­¡­ Or she is a saint from a prominent family, but she may be using an alias.¡± Leopin immediately bites back. ¡®Kanoko is not the kind of girl who would lie ¡­¡­! ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re right. But it is quite common for saints from famous families to use aliases. But it is not uncommon for a saint from a prominent family to use a false name, because if her identity is revealed by her name, she may be in danger.¡± A saint who goes to a cathedral in a favela on the sly would not be surprised if she uses a false name. ¡°Oh, I see. ¡­¡­¡± ¡®But this time, perhaps that alias put her in danger.¡¯ If they had known she was a saint from a prominent family, the saint hunters would have stayed away. If they knew that the saint of a great family was missing, not only the guards but even the knights might come out. ¡®Then why don¡¯t er just let the people at the Kanoko house know that she¡¯s been kidnapped? They could arrange for the Knights to come ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Does Leopin know which house Miss Kanoko is the saint of?¡± ¡°Ugh ¡­¡­!¡± Leopin is at a loss for words. ¡°How was I supposed to know?¡± After all, they are not so close to each other that they use false names. ¡°If Ms. Kanoko doesn¡¯t come home, I¡¯m sure her family will file a report. It may take some time, but at least the guards will be on the move.¡± ¡°So you want me to wait until then?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say that. We are going to conduct our own search and locate Ms. Kanoko.¡± ¡°But how do you plan to ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Leopin, do you know what the basics of a search are?¡± Leopin shakes his head from side to side. Weiss shook his crossed legs, ¡°Follow me.¡± Weiss and Leopin then went to the city and visited the cathedrals. They thought they might be able to find some clues if they could find a cathedral that had been damaged by the saint hunters. In fact, there were several cathedrals that had been the victims of saints¡¯ hunts. It seemed that all of them had begun to defend themselves, but we were unable to obtain any solid information regarding the kidnapped saints. There is a saying, ¡°A hundred times on the scene. Let¡¯s check the cathedral where Ms. Kanoko was taken, just to be sure.¡± At Weiss¡¯s suggestion, we headed for the cathedral in the favela, where the elderly Virgin and Kokone, who narrowly escaped harm, were living alone together. The other saints had been taken away by saint hunters, just like Kanoko. Weiss and Leopin checked the interior of the cathedral, the courtyard, and the surrounding streets. They wondered if there was anything that might give them a clue. ¡­¡­ ¡°Hmmm, nothing,¡± he said. ¡°I wish I had at least left some wheel tracks. ¡­¡­ I should have done a site save earlier.¡± Weiss regrets. Leopin was more depressed than that. ¡°Damn ¡­¡­!¡¡If only my memory was clear: ¡­¡­!¡¡Why do I remember almost nothing about that time ¡­¡­!¡± The saintly apprentice, Kokone, peered anxiously at Leopin as he sat in the courtyard of the cathedral. She said, ¡°¡­¡­Leopin, big guy, are you all right¡­¡­?¡± Yes, I¡¯m fine, Kokone.¡± Leopin smiles and pats Kokone on the head. He then asked, ¡°Did the mushrooms the kidnappers fed you give you a stomach ache¡­¡­?¡± Weiss was the first to react to these words. ¡°What? Kokone, what did you just say?¡± Weiss gave her a sharp glare, and Kokone hid behind Leopin with a snap. Weiss said, ¡°Come on, Weiss, don¡¯t look so scary when you¡¯re dealing with a child.¡± ¡°Oh ¡­¡­ no, I didn¡¯t mean ¡­¡­ that.¡± ¡®You have to smile more when you talk to kids,¡¯ he said. You have to crouch down and make eye contact.¡± At Leopin¡¯s warning, Weiss crouched down in front of Coronet with a drawn-out smile. He said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so scared, Coronet. I have no intention of harming you. ¡­¡­¡± Ugh ¡­¡­ wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!¡± ¡°Hey, Weiss! I told you not to scare me!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not¡­ I¡¯m not¡­ I¡¯m not¡­ I¡¯m not¡­ I¡¯m not ¡­¡­!¡¡I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry, Kokone! It¡¯s ¡­¡­3.141592 6¡­¡­!¡± What are you talking about? ¡®Oh, that¡¯s funny ¡­¡­!¡¡My brother used to stop crying over this ¡­¡­!¡± Weiss seemed to have a hard time not only cooking, but also talking to normal¡­children. Some time later, with Leopin as an intermediary, Weiss was finally able to communicate with Coronet. CH 144 Weiss and Leopin 9 Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent Weiss and Leopin listen to the Kokone. She said Leopin had been forced to eat purple mushrooms after being hurt by a crowd in the cathedral courtyard. Kokone watched it from the bushes of the cathedral. Afterwards Leopin, unconscious, was reportedly carried in a cart of people and thrown away on the main street. After listening to the story, Weiss poses as usual, ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°It seems that the purple mushroom is the cause of Leopin¡¯s loss of memory,¡± ¡°But if so, why did they go out of their way to carry me to the main street? If I have lost my memory, they can just leave it in the courtyard¡­¡± ¡°There are two possibilities. The effect of amnesia may have been enhanced by separating Leopin from the cathedral, where the crime was committed. If Leopin found out at the crime scene, he would have thought that it would be a kick and that his memory would be more likely to return. and the other, when I found Leopin, was half dead. They may have thought Leopin would die if left unattended in an unpopular cathedral. No matter how poor the city may be, the guards will have to move in case of murder.¡± ¡°I see¡­!¡± Leopin is impressed by his good reasoning. But his expression soon clouded over. ¡°But that won¡¯t give us any clue¡­¡± When Leopin is depressed, Kokone looks sad, too. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, brother Leopin¡­¡± ¡°No need to apologize, Kokone,¡± Leopin and Kokone look up and say, ¡°What?¡± There stood Weiss, with his arms outstretched, as if all the mystery had been solved. ¡°Thank you¡­! You gave me the best clue¡­!¡± ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô Then Weiss and Leopin parted from Kokone, and rode in a carriage from the main gate of the city, and headed for the neighboring town. Leopin asks, shaking in a carriage along the road. ¡°Hey, Weiss, what are you going to do in the next town?¡± ¡°Our greatest clue now is the purple mushroom.What comes to mind of mushrooms?¡± ¡°Mushroom¡­? Well, the taste of autumn, the poison¡­?¡± ¡°What, then, is poison?¡± ¡°Well, portion¡­ oh, by any chance, alchemy¡­?!?¡± ¡°Yes, there is a famous alchemist in the neighboring town.They may know something about the purple mushrooms.¡± ¡°Alchemists seem to use mushrooms a lot, so they may know a lot about them, but¡­ Wouldn¡¯t it be a clue to the search for the kidnapped Kanoko?¡± ¡°Well, leave it to me,¡± The location of the desired alchemist was soon found. Everyone in the city knows that they are doing business in a large tent in the central square. When we went there, we found that the day was closed for a regular holiday. I tried calling from outside, but there was no answer. If I were a normal person, I would give up today and visit again at a later time. Leopin and Weiss had screwed themselves through a gap in the tent and crept in. It looks like a workshop, and there is suspicious smoke inside. A woman¡¯s voice came from behind the smoke. ¡°Well, it¡¯s been a long time since a prankster came in.¡± I looked hard and saw a little figure sitting on the work-table beyond the smoke. ¡°I thought they had punished me, but I can¡¯t believe they¡¯re still here¡­ Hmm, come here.¡± The figure beckons with a suspicious hand like a fox. Weiss and Leopin, wary and obedient, approach the work-table. There was a small figure in a foreign costume. She looks like an elementary school student from her height, but we can¡¯t see her face because of her deep veil. Her burning rouge lips are so charming that you can¡¯t believe she¡¯s about the same age. Combined with the calm atmosphere, she was already more of a woman than a girl. The woman turned to Weiss and exclaimed, ¡°Ah-han¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s common for a priest to visit here, but it¡¯s the first time he¡¯s sneaked in.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m not here to whisper my love.I have something to ask you.¡± The woman turns her head slightly in silence. ¡°Do you know a mushroom that creates memory loss when it is eaten? It¡¯s purple.¡± ¡°Of course I know.I know a lot about mushrooms and grown-ups.¡± ¡°Please tell me what kind of mushroom it is¡±. ¡°Well, then, I¡¯ll tell you everything except for the man and the Onna.It¡¯s called a library.¡± ¡°Well, when I looked it up in the library, all I could tell was the name and nature.I want to know where it grows.¡± ¡°Oh, really? Then¡­¡± Leopin watched him silently behind Weiss, but at last interrupted him impatiently. ¡°Please, don¡¯t put on airs and tell me! I¡¯m in a hurry! This girl¡­!¡± Weiss turns around and says, ¡°Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ¡°Don¡¯t talk about my intentions, you¡¯ll be taken advantage of.Don¡¯t be impatient¡­ ¡°Hmmm,¡± a sweet breath floated from behind them. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not very well-heard¡­But you can¡¯t be impatient, you know¡­ You have to enjoy this kind of bargaining¡­ you know.¡± ¡°Leopin, leave this to me¡±. said Weiss, and confronted her again. ¡°We¡¯re looking into the mushroom.Let me thank you, and how much do you want?¡± Then she let out a languid sigh. as if he had missed his aim. ¡°Ah¡­ for an alchemist, the information of the habitat of the material is the same as the position of the mole on the body. Only a man who has moved the heart knows where it is¡­¡± I can¡¯t believe it¡¯s money¡­ ¡°What should I do? How can you open your heart to me?¡± ¡°Ah, well¡­¡± She puts her nail tips on her lips and makes a thoughtful gesture. Then she took two bottles from the shelf behind her. ¡°Hmmm, it¡¯s a mystery,¡± she said with a smile, and put it down on her desk. One contains purple liquid and the other contains green liquid. ¡°The purple potion is made from the mushroom you asked for. It¡¯s used for psychiatric treatment, and if you take it, you lose your memory.¡± ¡°¡­what is the green portion?¡± In response to Weiss¡¯s question, she took out something like a nut. It is about the size of a grape and is green. ¡°It¡¯s a portion made from this ¡®confruit¡¯.Confruit has a strong scent and is often used in perfume. What¡¯s on the desk now is concentrated.If you drink it by mistake, you¡¯ll fall asleep for about half a year.¡± She smirked. ¡°Huh. I¡¯ll tell you about mushrooms when you finish one of them. Of course, only to the man who drank it.¡± CH 145 The alchemist woman is covered with thick foggy smoke and a mysterious veil. I don¡¯t know her expression, but she kept a bewitching smile around her mouth. Even though she is still young, she shows two bottles of medicine with the tips of her nails like an adult. ¡°Hmm. Purple and green portions¡­ I¡¯ll tell you about mushrooms when you finish one of them.It doesn¡¯t matter which one of you drinks¡­ you can drink together.¡± and continued to bite him into it. ¡°If you drink the purple portion, you will soon forget about the location of the mushroom.If you drink the green portion, you¡¯ll fall asleep even if you know where the mushrooms are. Mushrooms are almost out of season, so you won¡¯t be able to pick them until next year.¡± Leopin¡¯s impatient voice makes him numb again. ¡°Oh¡­!? Why do you have to do that!? Don¡¯t be mean to me!¡± ¡°Well, this isn¡¯t being mean.I¡¯m trying to figure out if you¡¯re the right man to open my heart, because if it¡¯s true, I¡¯m making it especially quick for you to take your time.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll drink!¡± Leopin, who was moving forward, stopped thinking. ¡°Wait, Leopin.Don¡¯t panic, think carefully.¡± ¡°we have nothing to think about!? A potion will teach us about mushrooms!¡± ¡°Which one are you going to drink?¡± Leopin might not have thought about it at all, but he hesitated to say, ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s the purple portion! If you tell me where the mushrooms are, I¡¯ll tell Weiss not to forget them!¡± ¡°It¡¯s psychology again. You can¡¯t forget to drink a potion that has a forgetting effect.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the case! If I remember seriously, I¡¯ ¡°You were fed mushrooms, and you forgot the most important thing.Don¡¯t you forget that?¡± ¡°Geez¡­!¡± ¡°You have lost your memory once.Besides, if you drink a concentrated portion of the forgetting effect, you don¡¯t know what will happen.¡± The alchemist, watching the conversation between Weiss and Leopin, laughed in a bell-winding voice. ¡°Hmm¡­ a man who is already sophisticated and a man who is still rough-cut¡­ it¡¯s like a diamond and a rough stone bumping into each other¡­¡± Weiss¡¯s theory was beyond dispute, but Leopin seemed unconvinced. ¡°But I have to drink it! Because this is what I started!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that.The person Leopin cherishes is important to me, too.¡± Weiss laid his hand on Leopin¡¯s shoulder and said with sincere eyes, ¡°That¡¯s why I will drink.If anything should happen to me, you¡¯ll ask for the rest.¡± ¡°Oh, well¡­?!?¡± Weiss turned to the alchemist and reached for the portion of the work-table. ¡°This is my choice¡­!¡± Oh, my gosh! What he grasped was remarkable to everyone. Surprisingly, purple and green portions¡­! The woman¡¯s mouth was filled with astonishment. ¡°What¡­?! No way¡­?!?¡± ¡°Oh¡­ stop it!¡± Before Leopin could stop him, Weiss drank the two parts he had seized at once. He drank it all up with the strength to bend his back, and the force to overflow his mouth. And¡­ ¡­thump! He knocked a jar of karappo on the work-table. Then he said to his trembling lips. ¡°¡­this is my answer¡­!¡± Weiss lifted her wet lips with a grin. ¡°Well¡­ how¡­ how did you know¡­?¡± ¡°You told me, didn¡¯t you? ¡°Mystery.¡±I thought there was always a right answer to the mystery.¡± ¡®Phew,¡¯ said Weiss, taking a pause, and wiping his mouth with a handkerchief which he had taken out of his pocket. ¡°And you said, ¡®Why don¡¯t you drink one or the other?¡¯ One, that means both.¡± The woman sighed with ecstasy, ¡°Huh¡­¡± ¡°Yes, green and purple¡­ both portions negate each other¡¯s effects¡­So you have not lost your memory, nor have you fallen into a coma.¡± She rested herself on the back of her chair, as if to enjoy the afterglow of the greatest pleasure. ¡°Hmm¡­ you¡¯re the first person to solve this mystery¡­Until now, men never even drank¡­All right, I¡¯ll tell you everything¡­ ¡°No, just tell me where the mushrooms are and where they grow.That¡¯s all I want from you.¡± ¡°Oh, you can¡¯t¡­Well, the mushroom is called Amnesia. It¡¯s a rare mushroom because the habitat conditions are very limited. It¡¯s just growing around here in the ¡°Mother Forgotten Mountain.¡± ¡°Well, we interrupted you,¡± Weiss quickly turns her back and tries to get out of the tent. Leopin, who was stunned, suddenly came to himself and followed him. ¡°Wait a minute,¡± he said to his back. ¡°Mr. Diamond¡­ Mr. Haraishi¡­ I feel like I¡¯ll see you guys again somewhere.I think you¡¯ll both be great men by then.enough to give my lips as a present, you know.¡± She throws a kiss as if she were paying in advance. ¡°Because¡­ they¡¯re both men I¡¯ve recognized¡­ you know.¡± CH 146 As soon as he left the alchemist¡¯s tent, Leopin was on Weiss. ¡°Why did you do that!? You don¡¯t know what¡¯s going to happen if you drink two portions all at once!¡± ¡°Why, were you worried about that?¡± ¡°You mean¡­?! If you hadn¡¯t done it well, you might have died!¡± ¡°It¡¯s an alchemist¡¯s tent, and the alchemist¡¯s recommendation.If I drink to death, she¡¯ll be in big trouble.If you think about it that way, you will know that it will not be the worst.¡± Continued Weiss, glancing at what was out of his pocket. ¡°And I was thinking about the worst.¡± It was a half-drunk Elixir. Leopin suddenly loses strength. ¡°What¡­ if you have an Elixir, tell me quickly¡­¡± ¡°I thought she wouldn¡¯t tell me when she said that and I drank up the portion.¡± ¡°That may be the case, but¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have troubled you.Anyway, it¡¯s a step forward.¡± ¡°Now that you mention it, what are you going to do about finding out where the mushrooms live?¡± ¡°I knew a mushroom that I didn¡¯t even know of, but it was like a human being.I thought he had lived there for a long time.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s what I mean! Then, in ¡°Mother¡¯s Forgotten Mountain,¡± Kanoko¡­?!?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good chance,¡± Weiss grabs Leopin by the shoulder, perhaps expecting him to pop out like a spinal reflex. ¡°Mother Forgotten Mountain is too far to walk.And evening is just around the corner.If you start now, you¡¯ll only get lost at night.¡± ¡°But¡­!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go home for today.And by tomorrow morning, we¡¯ll figure out the means of transportation.If you get impatient, you fail to do things¡­ calm down before you follow your passion.¡± ¡°Well¡­ I see¡­¡± Leopin reluctantly agrees. They rode back into the familiar city. ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô the next morning. Weiss stood in his study, The only light in the room was the light coming in through the window. On the study desk by the window sat a silhouette of backlight. ¡°Why, Weiss, did you try to take out the carriage by yourself, without a coachman?¡± ¡°It is an appointment to go out with the brave.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not bad,¡± said the shadow to judge. ¡°The eyes, tone, gaze, attitude, eyebrows and lips, the movement of hands and feet¡­There is nothing suspicious about any of them.¡± ¡°But,¡± continued the heavy words. ¡°Did you think such a transparent lie would make sense to this head?¡± ¡°No, Father! I Never lie¡­!¡± ¡°Again, you poor boy?¡± The eyes in the darkness glistened dimly as if to see through everything. The mere stare of his gaze gave Weiss a shudder. ¡°Ki¡­ Listen, Father! Leopin is not just a poor man! He is surprisingly dexterous with his hands, and in no time¡­!¡± ¡°¡­then obey!¡± There was a thunderous roar, and Weiss was as motionless as a thunderbolt. ¡°The wise man rules everything! To the wise man, the poor are like livestock! The happiest thing is to be subordinate to us, to give their flesh to us, and to die!¡± Weiss was soaked in sweat as if he had been struck by the rain. But still, he managed to squeeze out his voice. ¡°Wow¡­ I know¡­! You know¡­ I can definitely follow Leopin¡­! No, he¡¯s done without me¡­!¡± ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô At that time Leopin was in the park where he was meeting. They are taking up positions in one corner of the square and fighting against the waste materials they have collected. ¡°If you combine this with this, it becomes a seat¡­ thinking about running on a mountain road, and putting in cushioning materials¡­¡± Leopin neither wipes his sweat nor wipes his dusty face. When he was crafting, he concentrated so much that he couldn¡¯t see what was going on around me, but he didn¡¯t notice any signs of peeping in. ¡°What are you making?¡± After being approached, he finally realized that there was someone close by. ¡°Weiss, good morning.This is a ¡°foot-tower.¡± ¡°A treadmill?¡± ¡°Yes, get on and row with your feet.It¡¯s not as fast as a horse as I expected, but it should be faster than running, and it should be able to go a long way.¡± ¡°Did you make such a wonderful thing in the morning? Leopin is amazing¡­¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ve been making it since last night.¡± ¡°What? Didn¡¯t you go home?¡± ¡°Yes. Weiss has come all the way to find me where I am.When we get this far, we want to help the Kanoko with our own hands¡­I¡¯ve been working on it all night, but there¡¯s something I can¡¯t do well at all.¡± ¡°Where is it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got to make two big wheels, but I can¡¯t do well with just waste materials¡­¡± ¡°All right, I¡¯ll go and get it. I was really going to bring a carriage from the house, but now that I can¡¯t do it, I¡¯ll replace it.¡± As soon as Weiss said so, he went away unsteadily. After a while, he returns with his ideal wheel in his arms. ¡°Wow! That¡¯s a nice wheel! Where did you get it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± said Weiss, putting down the wheel, pointing his thumb at the back. I followed my fingertips with my eyes, and saw a fine carriage parked on the road along the park. The carriage was originally four wheels, but two of them were pulled out. There was a coachman, but he fell asleep without knowing that the wheels had been stolen. and the coachman and the coachman were familiar to me somewhere. ¡°Is that by any chance the new teacher¡¯s¡­?¡± ¡°Oh, apparently his injury has healed and he¡¯s going to work from today. He is our teacher, and he will forgive us this much.¡± ¡°Well, if it¡¯s the teacher¡¯s, it¡¯ll be alright!¡± Leopin was happy to incorporate the wheels, as his teacher was mine. ========== FOOTWEAR OF WASTE MATERIAL AND TICK WHEEL Qty 1 Quality Level 8 | (Material Level 6 + Bonus for Dexterity 2) A body made of waste wood and a tick wheel for a luxury carriage. By riding and rowing with your feet, you can proceed at high speed. ========== ¡°Oh, it¡¯s done! Now we can go all the way to ¡°Mother¡¯s Forgotten Mountain¡± thanks to Weiss!¡± ¡°Ah¡­ oh, yes,¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you, Weiss? You don¡¯t look very happy, but¡­ what happened?¡± ¡°No, nothing.Rather than that, let¡¯s start.¡± CH 147 Weiss and Leopin 12 Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent The two of them straddled the freshly made ¡°foot-towel.¡± ¡°All right, then, let¡¯s go and save Kanoko! Shuppa!¡± I tried to row quickly, but a little figure sprang out of the bushes beside me. `Wait a minute,¡¯Whoooooooooooo It was the apprentice of a young saint who stood in front of the rowing car. Leopin hastily pulls the lever and brakes. ¡°Kokone!? It¡¯s dangerous to jump out of the blue!¡± When Kokone came running, she flew like a kitten and rode on Leopin¡¯s lap. ¡®Kokone is coming!¡¯ ¡°Oh, no! We¡¯re going to a dangerous place now¡­!¡± ¡°Kokone is going too! I¡¯m going! I¡¯m going! I don¡¯t want to leave you alone anymore! I don¡¯t want to leave you alone!¡± She clung tightly to Leopin, buried her face in Leopin¡¯s chest as if she hated letting go. ¡°Oh, my God¡­¡± Leopin scratched his head in confusion. Weiss placed his hand gently on Kokone¡¯s head. ¡°Kokone, we¡¯re going to a place called ¡®Mother Forgetting Mountain¡¯.¡± Looking up, Kokone looks at Weiss and withdraws, ¡°Hig!¡± ¡°Here, Weiss, frighten her again¡­¡± and, unconcerned by Leopin¡¯s warning, Weiss still spoke to Kokone, ¡°I may take Kokone-san with me, but I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll be back by the end of the day because it¡¯s too far to ¡°Mother Forgetting Mountain.¡±Wouldn¡¯t the Virgin scold you if you came home late at night?¡± Kokone nodded back. ¡°I¡¯m going to get scolded¡­! But Kokone wants to help her too¡­!¡± ¡°Yes, so I want Kokone-san to help me, too.I want you to look after us in the cathedral, and if we don¡¯t get back by tomorrow morning, let the guards know.¡± ¡°To the guard¡­?¡± ¡°Yes, if you say that Weiss, the wise man, has been taken away, you will soon find out.And this is a very important role, and only Kokone-san can do it.¨Cwill you please do it for me?¡± Until then, Kokone was afraid of Weiss¡¯s eyes. However, her face brightened, perhaps because she was happy to be treated like the same age instead of being treated like a child. ¡°Uh¡­ yes! I¡¯ll do it!¡± Kokone jumped out of the wheel with a snuff, and waved her hands at them. ¡°Kokone, you¡¯re doing well! I¡¯ll let the guards know if anything happens! So, definitely help your brother! You¡¯re in a hurry!¡± Leopin and Weiss raised their thumbs together. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a promise.¡±Oh, of course.¡± `Then¡­ I¡¯ll be back!¡¯ There is no longer any hesitation in the foot-tower that starts to move again. From the park to the ¡°Mother Forgotten Mountain,¡± a straight line¡­! It was supposed to be that ¡°Oh, I¡¯m late,¡±Whooooooooooooooooo!¡± I saw a gentleman running out of the toilet in the park. ¡­ whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop! I stopped it with all my might. ¡°Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!?!?¡± The gentleman blew away, and rolled like an empty can against the ground. Both the expensive tuxedo and the bandage wrapped around the face become dusty. ¡°What¡­ what are you going to do!?¡± ¡°What are you going to do, Weiss and Leopin!¡± At the strange end of the sentence the two boys looked at each other¡¯s words. ¡°Well, what shall I do¡­This is him¡­ ¡° ¡°Leave this to me,¡± asked Weiss searchingly. ¡°Well, we don¡¯t know you¡­ why do you know our names?¡± ¡°You know everything! You¡¯re the students I¡¯m in charge of! Mother says they¡¯re both really bad students!¡± The new teacher trembled as if he had a hunch of School Wars. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯ve been running wild in a strange vehicle since this morning and running over a teacher¡­! It¡¯s a very bad combination more than a rumor¡­!¡± Suddenly there is a loud bang. I looked to find a carriage lying on its side with its wheels off. The decoration of the carriage was shattered, and the dozing coachman sprang to his feet. The new teacher, with his hands on his cheeks, was screaming with a squashed face. ¡°What!? My carriage is lying down! Why are there only two wheels?¡± The new teacher turned around and asked, ¡°Huh!¡± As soon as he saw the wheels of the foot oars, he shook as if he had seen an outrage. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t think you¡¯re going to see the wheels of my carriage¡­!? No¡­I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re starting to run on a stolen wheel¡­!¡± Weiss and Leopin tell each other one after another in a harmonious combination. ¡°We didn¡¯t steal it!¡± ¡®I owe you a little!¡¯ ¡°I¡¯ll pay you back when I get home!¡± ¡°Excuse us, we are in a hurry!¡± ¡°Oh, no!¡¡Wait a minute!¡¡Today is my first class! So I¡¯m going to give you all a big ¡­¡­! Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!¡± ¡°Good luck, Leopin Onii-chan! Weiss Onii-chan!¡± Shaking off the clinging screams and turning around to cheer ¡­ The two boys quickly jumped out of the city. CH 148 Weiss and Leopin 13 Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent Around the middle of ¡°Mother Forgotten Mountain,¡± there was a villa surrounded by woods. The villa was closed and there was no sign of people. However, from a large barn off the garden, a lively laughter could be heard. ¡°Hahaha! We finally finished the shipment!¡± ¡°Now I can live playing for a while again! Let¡¯s have a toast, guys¡± At the head of the table was a girl with a mafukuro over her head. The robe, which had been pure white until yesterday, is now as dirty as snow that has been trampled on. ¡°Well, this princess is strange, isn¡¯t she!¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡¡She¡¯s so prestigious, and yet she¡¯s going to a cathedral in a poor neighborhood like that!.¡± ¡°But thanks to that, it made our job a lot easier!¡± ¡°And when I kick the poor saints, he tried covering for you!¡± ¡®Thanks to him, yourrobe was the prettiest, but he¡¯s been kicked a lot!¡¯ ¡°He¡¯s an idiot!¡¡He was yelling at the end when she was being shipped out!¡¡¡±Please ship me instead!¡±¡± ¡°That¡¯s too bad, princess! The people you were trying so hard to protect are no longer here!¡± ¡°They¡¯re probably at the harbor by now, being loaded onto a ship!¡¡They¡¯ll be out of this country by midnight today!¡± The girl cries out, her body wriggling like a caterpillar. ¡°Ugh! Ugh!¡± ¡°What, take me with you?¡¡You¡¯re going to a far, far away country, much farther away than they are!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, yeah!¡¡They¡¯ll strip you naked and beat you up!¡± ¡°Are you scared? You¡¯re scared, aren¡¯t you?¡± Baaaaaam!! With a sound like an explosion, the double-opening doors of the barn were knocked down. Along with the smoke,a strange vehicle rushes into the barn, seemingly running only on the back of a wagon. ¡°What, what, what!¡± While the men are panicking, the vehicle swerves around their table and drifts in a circular motion, sending up a cloud of smoke. The men were running about in the smoke as if they had been hit by a sudden fire. `What, what¡¯s going on!¡¯ ¡°Oh¡­!? The saint is gone!¡± ¡°Well¡­ where did she go!¡± When the men looked around, they saw that the vehicle they had broken into was running for the exit. In that seat was the holy woman who had been kidnapped¡­! ¡°Well¡­ Chikusho! What the hell was that?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, we¡¯ve got to chase it!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let them leave this mountain! Catch them and kill them!¡± The men chase after the vehicle with bloodshot eyes. However, the mysterious vehicle was rowed by two people, and the speed was unbelievably fast. ¡°What¡­ what!? I can¡¯t catch up at all!¡± ¡°Hey, hey!? they¡¯ll be able to get away at this rate!¡± ¡°If they get away, we¡¯re done!¡¡We¡¯re finished!¡± Men¡¯s faces turn to despair. The vehicle was running straight towards the passing light. No one can stop it anymore¡­! `¡­whooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!¡¯ From outside, a carriage leapt with a bouncing sound and landed just in front of the barn, like a messenger from the heavens. It drifts as fast as the mysterious vehicle and blocks the barn¡¯s exit. In the coachman¡¯s seat sat a gentleman with a bandage on his face. He was wearing a winter cloak, and his appearance was that of a mysterious justice of the peace. He stood on the coachman¡¯s seat with his cloak flipped, shouting in an ostentatious manner. ¡°you can¡¯t run away from me now! You¡¯re going to get your butt poked and prodded!¡± There were two boys on board, and they braked suddenly just before they collided with the carriage. ¡°Why¡­ here!¡± The gentleman says triumphantly to the startled boys. ¡°I heard from a girl in the park that you were heading to this mountain! Not only did you prank my carriage, but you also came to play a prank on my family¡¯s vacation home¡­.!¡± The gentleman suddenly noticed the presence of men rushing from the back of the barn. ¡°Oh? The villa is off-season and there should be no servants¡­ Why are there people there?¡± ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô Weiss and Leopin arrived at the mountain where they had forgotten their mother, and found themselves at a villa halfway up the mountain. They find a barn in the courtyard of the villa, where they find Kanoko being held captive. It seems that this barn is the hideout of the ¡°saint-hunting¡± thieves. Weiss and Leopin, who had been peeping through the barn door, took action. They took advantage of the chaos and dared to surprise the thieves, snatching the Kanoko in one fell swoop. With only one step to go, the rescue would have been a great success. The new teacher who came after them cut off the retreat. In the end, Weiss and Leopin were also taken prisoner. Weiss and Leopin were separated from each other, tied up and rolled to the ground. As soon as the thieves saw Leopin¡¯s face, they exclaimed with surprise. ¡°Hey¡­ if you look closely, isn¡¯t this the kid who pretended to be a hero at the cathedral in the favela?¡± ¡°Really!? We fed him mushrooms, but why¡­?!?¡± ¡°And this was a secret place that even the guards could not find out! Why are these little boys¡­?!?¡± The bandits were in a deadly mood. However, the man who seemed to be the leader calmed everyone down. ¡°Well, don¡¯t be so flustered.The shipment is already finished, so we have plenty of time to find out.Drinking sake while hurting these guys is not a bad idea.¡± The new teacher, who was standing a short distance away, suddenly spoke to the leader. ¡°Well¡­ may I ask you a question? Are you a gardener who works in our house?¡± The man, who was looking like a gardener on the outside and the leader of the ¡°Saint Hunting¡± on the back, bowed politely. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect a boy to come to a place like this even though it wasn¡¯t the season to use a villa.Are you all right with the bee sting?¡± ¡°Oh, the swelling has subsided a lot, and the bandage is coming soon¡­ I don¡¯t care about that! Why are you in my cottage?¡± Then the leader looks surprised and says, ¡°What?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear anything from Mother?¡± ¡°Huh? Mother?¡± The leader pointed to the girl, who was sitting in the corner of the barn, tied to a chair. ¡°Your Mother asked me to take her away,¡± ¡°What!? Did my Mother¡­?!?¡± ¡°Oh, I suppose she seemed to like the brave, and wanted to flatter them.¡± ¡°Well¡­ there¡¯s something wrong with that! My mother is the Vice-principal of an elementary school, and she¡¯s a fine woman! She would protect her children, but she would never kidnap them!¡± ¡°Oh, no, you didn¡¯t know?¡¡We kidnapped a prestigious saint this time, but we usually kidnap and sell off saints from the favelas, you know?¡¡The person in charge of that is your Mother. That¡¯s why I¡¯m allowed to use the barn of the villa.¡± ¡°Well¡­ well¡­!¡± Kanoko kidnapping case. She was initially mistaken for a slum saint, and was thought to have been involved in the hunt for a saint. But unexpectedly¡­! It was a trap from the start, and the mastermind of it¡­ ¡­ Vice-principal¡­!? CH 149 Weiss and Leopin 14 Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent The truth of the Kanoko kidnapping. The shocking truth had devastated three people. Weiss, Leopin, and the new teacher. The new teacher is shocked to learn that his real mother is a criminal. He collapsed to his knees and shook his head in disbelief. ¡°Well¡­ that can¡¯t be true¡­! Only mother-sama can¡¯t do such a¡­!¡± The leader approached the new teacher and put his hand on his shoulder. ¡°This is something that everybody in the family knows.I guess only the boy wasn¡¯t informed. Judging from the way you were shocked, what Mother said seemed true.¡± The leader smiles sadistically at the new teacher, who looks pale. ¡°You seem to be the first dropout since the beginning of the family.You seem to have excellent grades, but Mother said you¡¯re always talking in your sleep.¡± The leader¡¯s polite voice is mixed with rudeness. ¡°Of course, you won¡¯t leak everything you¡¯ve seen here, won¡¯t you? You could have been a teacher at a good elementary school under the care of Mother, wouldn¡¯t you? If you¡¯d break this up¡­ you know what happens right?¡± The new teacher trembles. He seemed to be at odds between his belief and his future. Then, as if the balance had been greatly tilted¡­ as if it had broken his heart at that moment¡­ He hung his head and couldn¡¯t move. The leader, who took it as an acceptance, tells his men. ¡°Well, the boy gave me permission for the feast! Bring me some wine from the house! Everything that looks expensive!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± They had not touched the house of their employer, Mothers, until then. But as soon as he knew that he had grasped one of Mothers¡¯ weaknesses, he broke through the windowpanes of the house and entered, searching everything. Then expensive works of art and wine were brought out, and the banquets began in the barn. Finally, the evil hand reaches out to the boys. When the thief, who was fanning the wine, approached them, he stepped on Leopin¡¯s belly with all his might. ¡­ thump! ¡°Guaaaa!¡± Leopin is in agony as he folds his bound body into a knot. ¡°No¡­ don¡¯t do that!¡± he stopped, but his face was trampled on one after another. The new teacher beside him looked like a shell, but looked up as if he had heard a gunshot. ¡°Well¡­ what are you going to do!¡± ¡°Why, I¡¯m sure! You¡¯re enjoying the knobs of liquor!¡± As if accompanied by him, the other thieves approached him with a bottle in their hand. ¡°And they¡¯ve seen our faces!¡± ¡°Right! We used mushrooms to make him forget everything, and he even found the hideout!¡± ¡°Then we can¡¯t let him live!¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I want you to die happily!¡± ¡°Actually, I¡¯d have more fun with that saint, but she¡¯s the hero¡¯s favorite!¡± The robbers surrounded Leopin and Weiss, who were rolling, and all at once raised their feet. Leopin and Weiss cuddled together as if to protect each other. ¡°Don¡¯t put your hand on Leopin any longer! I¡¯ll never forgive you! I¡¯ll be your partner!¡± ¡°No¡­ don¡¯t! Weiss is a Sage! If you kill him, you¡¯ll be in trouble! If you do, do me instead!¡± The robbers mock, ¡°Hahaha!¡± ¡°Is this a beautiful friendship?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fun to mess things up!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! If you mess it up, you¡¯ll sacrifice the other person and try to save yourself!¡± ¡°Besides, there are goblins on this mountain! I can¡¯t stand the slayings of Sowitz and others!¡± ¡°I love it when you throw them into the goblin herd and they beg for their lives! I¡¯m gonna have the best drink of my life tonight!¡± ¡°Hey, boys, they¡¯re kids, so go easier on them than usual.¡¯ ¡°Hehe, I know! ¡­ go!¡± With the command, a blow is thrown down that tramples on innocent feelings. ¡­Doooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! The toe of the boot thrusts up the flesh and bones through the garment. but the feeling was a little different from what the robbers had imagined. At their feet¡­ The sight of the new teacher covering Weiss and Leopin¡­! The leader, who was sitting in a chair watching this crazy party, looked at it in a slightly intoxicated mood. However, he stood up as if he had just woken up. ¡°Boo¡­ boy!? What are you doing!¡± the new teacher cried, hugging Weiss and Leopin. ¡°These are the students in my class! I won¡¯t let you hurt them any more!¡± ¡°Do you understand your position, boy? If you protect such a fool, you¡¯ll be more and more abandoned by your Mother.¡± ¡°Well¡­ I don¡¯t care! These children are the treasure of the future! They are much more precious than my future!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think they¡¯re going to be a treasure.At best, glass beads are a good place.The common man¡¯s kid, Leopin, is nothing but trash, let alone Weiss.¡± ¡°It has nothing to do with family background! Royals and nobles, ordinary people and the poor are the same children! We have the right to be equally educated, healthy, and flutter in a free future! We protect and raise our children equally¡­! That¡¯s my mission as an educator!¡± The leader looked stunned. ¡°Well, it seems to be true that the priest only sleep talks¡­¡± The men don¡¯t kick any more and look at the leader as if waiting for instructions. After the leader rubbed his jaw and looked thoughtful. ¡°I¡¯m sure Mother will give up on the boy if I tell her this story.Besides, if you hurt him a little, he¡¯ll make a noise and soon let go of the kid.I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll do it.¡± Inside the barn, a savage voice echoed, ¡°Huh!¡± and the feast resumed. CH 150 Weiss and Leopin 15 Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent The barn was alternately filled with angry voices, dull stomping, and muffled screams. ¡°We really hate boys like you!¡± ¡°Huh!¡± ¡°Argh! You¡¯ve grown up with bad influence, you¡¯re gonna die! Gasp! Gasp!¡± ¡°If I hurt you any more, you¡¯ll spend the rest of your life in the hospital! Is that what you want? Gasp! Ugh!¡± ¡°Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!¡± ¡°Give it up quickly and get away from the kids! Or you¡¯ll die!¡± boom! Ugh!¡± However, the new teacher never let go of the children no matter how much he was kicked by the thieves. He wrapped them in his cloak like a precious treasure, and did not let them get even a speck of dust on them. A few days ago, he was stung by a swarm of bees and his face was covered in bandages. Just as the wound was finally healing, he was hit by a cab. His dream of becoming an elementary school student was postponed, and his carriage was messed up. Nevertheless, nevertheless¡­ He risked his life to protect the children who caused it. from the unreasonable violence of the wicked adults. The robbers initially kicked the new teacher with a sense of entertainment. they thought after a few kicks he¡¯d give up and hold out the children while crying. However, even if they kept kicking until they were sober, the new teacher kept getting hit by the rain of kicks without doing anything. Like a father who protects his children at the expense of his own life¡­! At last the robbers were soaked in sweat and began to breathe heavily. ¡°Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! ¡°Why¡­ why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why? ¡°I don¡¯t care if they¡¯re your students, you¡¯re going to die if you keep this up!¡± ¡°What¡­ what is this man¡­?!?¡± The air is filled with roughness and a sense of deepening. Suddenly a thief muttered, ¡°Holy, hell¡­¡± ¡°I wish we had a teacher like this when we were kids¡­¡± ¡°If we had been taught by such a teacher, we might have not gone off the rails¡­¡± ¡°Well, let¡¯s stop now¡­¡± But an angry voice broke in, saying, ¡°You idiots!¡± The leader, who was an onlooker, came over with a thud. ¡°If the boy doesn¡¯t change his mind, he may report us to the guards! If he doesn¡¯t change his mind, we¡¯ll be beheaded! You don¡¯t want to die for this little shit, do you?¡± The leader pushed his men aside and swung his feet wide behind him, kicking with all his might. ¡°If it comes down to it, I¡¯ll kill you¡­¡± ¡­Doooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! The new teacher was blown off by the leader¡¯s powerful kick. He was knocked against the barn wall and foamed at the mouth. ¡°Oh, you should have done this in the first place.Now, now, I¡¯m going to take the boys. After seeing the new teacher lying down, the leader looks down at his feet. But there was something unbelievable there. Surprisingly, there was only one boy there¡­! ¡°What¡­what?!?¡± The robbers were startled. ¡°Well¡­ the boy who used to be called the sage is gone!¡± ¡°There were two boys!? Where did they go!¡± ¡°No way, he¡¯s gone¡­!?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not possible¡­! Oh!?¡± Leopin jumps to his feet when the robbers are surprised. As he got up, the rope that had been wrapped around him was untied. Leopin runs out of the barn through the robbers. ¡°Well¡­ How did you get out of the rope!¡± ¡°Stupid!? You should have tied them up tight!¡± ¡°Buck! I don¡¯t care about that! Catch them!¡± The leader gave them a shout, and all the robbers started running in a frenzy manner. As for the speed of his feet, the robbers, the grown-ups, are superior, and the distance from Leopin is greatly reduced. and a voice came from behind, as Leopin was nearly caught by the neck. ¡°Good work, Leopin!¡± ¡°Well¡­ who is it?¡± The robbers stopped and looked back. Then they witnessed another startling scene. In the back of the barn was the foot-truck in which the boys had come. There is a girl sitting in the seat with a mafukuro over her head. And next to her is¡­ ¡°Weiss¡± Weiss, who should have disappeared, came alongside the saint. They were leisurely sitting on the pedal cab¡­! ¡°Why¡­ why!? Why! Why? Why?¡± The robbers shouted madly, but only the leader was calm. ¡°I¡¯m sure there must be some kind of secret! I¡¯ll catch him and make him spill it out!¡± The robbers who were chasing Leopin turned and turned to Weiss. Weiss was quite relaxed, wiping his glasses with a handkerchief which he had taken out of his pocket. He spoke to the girl in the passenger seat. ¡°Monica, you may be afraid that you can¡¯t see what¡¯s happening, but will you be a little more patient?For a saint with a beautiful heart like you, things that you can¡¯t bear are coming.¡± Then he began pedaling slowly, like a hawk flying high. ¡°But when we get out of here, you can go for a drive in the night sky.With the person you love¡­!¡± Weiss¡¯s pedal wheel accelerates at once. Surprised by the force, the robbers jumped out of their way. The unobstructed vehicle passed through the barn and joined Leopin, who had been out to the woods outside. Leopin jumped into the running vehicle, but Weiss jumped out as if to replace them. ¡°Go, Leopin!¡± ¡°Weiss, what are you doing!¡± ¡°Even if you run away here, they will chase you on horseback! So I will stop them here!¡± ¡°You¡¯re such a jerk!¡± ¡°The next time we get caught, it will be impossible to run away! That¡¯s why you¡¯re running away!¡± ¡°How can I leave Weiss behind? Let¡¯s go together¡­!¡± ¡°And there are the saints in the harbor to-night! Now hurry back to the city, and let the guards know, and they will help!¡± ¡°But Weiss¡­!¡± ¡°Be calm before you act¡­! You forgot those words, Leopin! Stay calm and act with maximum effect at all times! It gives us a better chance¡­!¡± Then Weiss gulped down the words. and, looking at the ragged shadow in the back of the barn, he cried at the top of his voice. ¡°Me, Leopin, and the teacher¡­! This is the last chance that the three of us obtained¡­! Don¡¯t waste it, please!¡± Weiss is so clingy. Leopin finally starts running like an anchor who received the last baton in a relay. In spite of all this difficulty, Weiss looked as if he had done his best on the back¡­ and saw him off with a gentle smile. ¡°Be well, Leopin¡­!¡± CH 151 Weiss and Leopin 16 Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent Going back a bit in time. Weiss and Leopin, wrapped in the cloak of the new teacher, were in the dark. From the outside, the roar of the robbers and the shock caused by kicks never stop. They understood painfully that they ought to be directed at them. ¡°We didn¡¯t know the teacher¡¯s face or name, and since he was the son of the vice principal, we thought he was a nasty teacher. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°We misunderstood him! We must save him somehow!¡± Leopin wriggles with all his might, trying to loosen the rope that binds him. But with his strength, it is impossible for him to escape from the bondage of the bad guys who are experts at tying people up. ¡°Damn¡­ not budging at all¡­!¡± ¡°Leave it to me,¡± Weiss, who was in front of him, said so, and put his hand around Leopin¡¯s back. ¡°What?!?¡± Leopin almost screamed and his mouth was blocked. ¡°Shh, be quiet! If you make a fuss, they¡¯ll notice.¡± Leopin, scolded by Weiss, asked with a hushed voice. ¡°Well¡­ how did you get out of the rope? No matter how much I tried, it wouldn¡¯t budge?¡± ¡°I made room in the back of my hand when I was tied up.That way there is a space between my arms, which makes it easier to loosen the ropes.¡± ¡°Well, where did you¡­?¡± ¡°It was written in a library book.¡± said Weiss, loosening Leopin¡¯s rope halfway through. and took the cloth out of his pocket. ¡°Is that¡­ an evil cloth?¡± ¡°Yeah. I used to carry it with me in case of an emergency when we searched for Kanoko.Look, Leopin, I¡¯m going to put it on and disappear.¡± The duo has been working on a variety of tricks up until now. Leopin, who had guessed from Weiss¡¯s tone that it was an explanation of course. ¡°When the teacher above disappears, the robbers will make a fuss about his disappearance.I will not have disappeared, but I will still be there. Besides, even if I disappear, my form will remain¡± ¡°If they touch it, they¡¯ll find out.¡± ¡°Yes, and we are surrounded by thieves, so it is difficult to escape without being caught.That¡¯s why Leopin, you become a decoy, Leopin. When the thieves are startled, you will run out of the barn.¡± ¡°Then the robbers will come after me, so Weiss will be free.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I will get up on that skis, save Kanoko while I disappear, and recover the cab.Leopin, by that time, should have managed to get out of the barn.The rest, you will join us by the cab ¡­¡± ¡°We can just run away! But¡­¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that piece of cloth become a mere cloth if it was used once more?¡± ¡°Oh, I suppose so,¡± ¡°Are you okay? You¡¯re going to get in trouble, aren¡¯t you?¡± Leopin¡¯s words made Weiss remember his father¡¯s face. His expression clouded for a moment, but he soon regained his usual expression. ¡°Don¡¯t make me say it over and over again.If I become heir, this cloth will be mine, too.Besides, my life is in danger this time.My father will forgive me, too.¡± ¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô¡¡¡¡¡ó¡¡¡¡¡ô And a few minutes later. Weiss frowned, thinking of his father¡¯s face when he knew that the cloth had become mere cloth. But that is also immediately interrupted. ¡°It seems that Leopin isn¡¯t the only one who pretends to be a hero.I see!¡± The robbers, who had come out of the barn, surrounded Weiss in the woodland. ¡°He¡¯s really weird too! He let a commoner¡¯s kid and a saint get away at his expense!¡± ¡°Normally it¡¯s the other way around! He¡¯s supposed to leave the commoner boy behind and go after the saint!¡± ¡°Well, the results are the same either way! You and the commoner¡¯s boys will both be caught and killed!¡± ¡°Here, get on your horses! Go after them! We should catch up by the time they get to town!¡± One of his men tried to mount his horse, but he was stopped cold-bloodedly. ¡°It seems that you¡¯re not afraid of your life.¡± Weiss shot a fearless upward glance at the thieves. The robbers scowled, and then let out the same lowly laugh again.. ¡°Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha ¡°That¡¯s my line! Do you think that¡¯s going to scare us?¡± ¡°It seems to me that his head has gone mad with fear, haha!¡± He looked around at the thieves with a pitying expression on his face, not caring about their taunts. ¡°Well, that¡¯s why the lowly ones are so annoying.It¡¯s easy to bury you if I feel like it. Did you forget why the hostages you were supposed to be holding were standing here?¡± His tone was so full of confidence that the robbers¡¯ laughter toned down. ¡°Well¡­ well¡­Well¡­ come to think of it, this guy just disappeared¡­!¡± ¡°He disappeared and moved in a moment to help the saint¡­!¡± ¡°That was magic! He said he was a sage!¡± ¡°Oh, I see! That¡¯s why you said you¡¯d stay here alone!¡± ¡°If this kid gets serious, it¡¯s easy to deal with this many people¡­?!?¡± the frightened bandits backed away. Weiss¡¯s expression was cool, but inside he was thinking hard. ¨Call right¡­! Just one more push¡­! One more push and they¡¯ll run away, thinking I can use magic¡­! But, as if to ridicule his thoughts, there was a shower of ridicule. ¡°Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!¡± The men turned to the leader who had just come out of the barn. ¡°Think about it! It may be true that he disappeared, but why did you have to go through all that trouble? If it was so easy to bury us, it would have been quicker to kill us!¡± ¨CI got caught¡­! Weiss bites his teeth in secret. But he continued to speak without showing it. ¡°Then I¡¯ll start with you,¡± ¡°Oh, really? I¡¯ve seen a lot of visitors in my house when I was a gardener! Some of them were magicians, and they used to perform magic in the garden! The more powerful the magic, the longer the chanting! Even if you could use magic, all we have to do is seize them before they can finish chanting!¡± The leader raised his thumb provocatively and dropped it down, ¡°That¡¯s it, you¡¯re done!¡± He interrupted Weiss, who was about to say back, and spoke one-sidedly. ¡°Or do you think you can chant at high speed? You can use a skill that only a handful of high-ranked magicians have? Then let¡¯s see it!¡± The leader thumped his chest with his thumb. ¡°Now, give it a try then! The magic of turning me into charcoal! I don¡¯t think you can do it anyway! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!¡± CH 152 Weiss and Leopin17 Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent Weiss has bluffed his way out of many a tight spot in his life. It was by bluffing that he saved Leopin, who was about to be beaten up by his classmates at the behest of the headmistress. By taking the upperclassmen who beat him up by surprise and throwing them into the class, he misled his classmates into thinking he was a master fighter. He made his classmates retreat, saying there was no way he could win in a fight with such an opponent. The same thing happened when the alchemist offered them two potions. It was because he had the elixir in his chest that he was able to act so fearlessly and move the woman¡¯s heart. For Weiss, the leader of the ¡°saint hunters¡± becomes an unexpectedly strong enemy. He was able to see through Weiss¡¯s bluff with his situational analysis, logical thinking, and experience as a gardener. His men, who had been on the run until a few minutes before, came to life. They were slowly closing in on Weiss and narrowing the net around him. Weiss was in a desperate situation. However, he was never distraught. If he showed even the slightest sign of agitation, he would only be swept away. That is why Weiss even smiles. ¡°If you insist that much, I¡¯ll show you. ¡­¡­ Don¡¯t regret it, okay?¡± Thanks to his fearlessness, he was barely able to prevent himself from being attacked all at once. Weiss shoved his hands into his pockets with a natural movement. He was a master of bluffing, but at the same time he was a user of various items. Like a swan flapping its legs in the lake, he fumbled desperately in his pockets for something he could use. His fingertips brushed against the cold cloth. ¨CThe evil cloth is nothing more than a piece of a normal cloth. ¡­¡­! Even if I could use it, as soon as I take it out, the trick of my disappearance will be exposed. ¡­¡­! And that would set off a chain of events that would reveal my inability to use magic. ¡­¡­ My fingertips touch the cold bottle¨Can elixir. ¡­¡­! If I offer it to them, they will take it and try to kill me. ¡­¡­! If I fight them while drinking, the result will be clear as day: ¡­¡­! Weiss felt a chill run down his spine. ¨CI¡¯m stuck ¡­¡­ in a tight spot! No matter what I do, there is no way out of this predicament¡­¡­! ¡°Oh, dear?¡¡You don¡¯t look so good, do you? I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be able to find a way out of this predicament. You¡¯re not going to tell me everything you¡¯ve done so far is a bluff, are you?¡± The leader looked at the boy¡¯s face, which was becoming tinged with despair, and teased him. But in the next moment, he is back with the biggest smile on his face. ¡°Hoo ¡­¡­!¡¡If you insist that much, let me show you ¡­¡­!¡± ¡­¡­BANG! The boy raises his right hand, which had been shoved into his pocket, high in the air. And then ¡­¡­Snap! and snapped his fingers. The moment the dry sound of the forest at night echoed through the air. ¡­¡­ bong! An explosive flame erupted from his fingertip. ¡°What the ¡­¡­hiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!?!?¡± The impact was so great that the thieves surrounding him fell to the ground in a flurry, as if they were blossoming. ¡°What, what, what was that ¡­¡­? Just by snapping my fingers, flames came out!¡¡It was so big that ithey were scared. ¡­¡­! The leader didn¡¯t fall over, but his legs were shaking. Now that was ¡®no chanting¡¯¡­¡­! ¡°You know very well. It would be a shame to leave you as the leader of the kidnappers,¡± Weiss said. ¡°Fast Chanting¡± only speeds up the chanting, but the chanting itself must be done. But with ¡®no chanting,¡¯ one can perform magic just by thinking about it. ¡­¡­ The thieves were in an uproar. ¡°No way! How can there be such a power? ¡°The head knew it too! And he did it right in front of us!¡± ¡°You can use magic just by thinking about it, you¡¯re a human weapon!¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Weiss said. ¡°I¡¯m still a work in progress. I can¡¯t control my power very well. I couldn¡¯t use offensive magic because it might cause Leopin and the teacher to get hurt.¡± But,¡± he said, stepping forward. Now I can test my strength to the fullest ¡­¡­!¡¡There are so many guinea pigs who are willing to be extinguished,¡­¡­! ¡°Hi-¡­¡­ hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!¡± The leader finally sits up and his minions embrace each other and begin to get scared. They saw the face of the devil in the smiling boy and begged him for their lives. ¡°Please forgive me for my rudeness!¡± ¡°Oh, ¡­¡­ ah, we were forced to obey the head!¡± ¡°Please, please, please! If this is the man you want, you can roast him all you want!¡± ¡°You bastards! You betrayed us!¡± ¡°A man like you has never been loyal to me!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, yeah, I¡¯m only with you because you¡¯re good for money!¡± ¡°I was only with you because you made me money!¡¡I will follow Master Weiss for the rest of my life!¡± Weiss looked down at the thieves, who had grown quiet as snatched cats, and sniffed. When push comes to shove, they will sell their friends out of self-satisfaction ¡­¡­. ¡°You people aren¡¯t worth the time it takes to extinguish them. But that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m going to let you off the hook. You will pay for your crimes.¡± ¡°Oh, ¡­¡­, no!¡¡If we atone for our crimes, we will definitely be given the maximum sentence!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother me too much.. If you don¡¯t like it, go to ¡­¡­.¡± Weiss snapped his fingers under the thieves¡¯ noses and seared them. ¡°I can use my magic to send you straight to hell and let the devil judge you, you know?¡± ¡®Hi-¡­¡­ hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!¡¡Tsk¡­¡­ sin, I¡¯ll atone for it, ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!¡± The wild thieves began to tie each other up as they fought to get ahead of each other. Seeing this, Weiss was relieved beyond words. CH 153 Weiss and Leopin 18 Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent The bandits tied each other up and linked each other. Finally, the leader remained, which Weiss decided to tie up. ¡°You seem to be very resourceful for a lowly man,¡± Weiss said. ¡°No wonder you have never been caught. I¡¯ll do something special for you.¡± ¡°Ugh. ¡­¡­ please be gentle with me, wise one. ¡­¡­¡± The leader was completely docile and held out both hands to Weiss. Weiss put the noose on both of his wrists, and the next moment ¡­¡­dogooooo¡­¡­! Weiss had an iron fist smashed into his cheek. ¡°GWW!¡± That blow with all his might blew Weiss¡¯s body away like leaves from a tree. His men were stunned. ¡°What did you do to Weiss-sama?¡± ¡°If you do that, you will be extinguished!¡± But the leader had regained his former boldness. ¡°The flames you just saw were a bluff!¡¡He set us up!¡± ¡°What?¡± The leader said, ¡°Ugh ¡­¡­!¡± and went to Weiss, who was crawling toward him, and leaned on him from above. ¡°What are you doing ¡­¡­?¡¡I¡¯m going to burn you to the ground!¡± ¡°You¡¯re a crook! You crook!¡± The leader reached into Weiss¡¯s pocket and pulled out two rocks. He then rubbed them together like walnuts in his hands ¡­¡­ ¡­¡­ Boom! And then a familiar flame erupted. ¡°That¡¯s it!¡¡This is it!¡± A startled look ran through the crew. ¡°How did you know, oh ¡­¡­ head?¡± ¡°When this crook tied up my hands, I looked at his fingertips!¡¡Then I saw some kind of powder on the index finger and thumb of his right hand!¡¡That¡¯s when it hit me!¡¡I thought, Maybe he¡¯s got some kind of gunpowder glue on his fingers!¡± Yes, Weiss was bluffing again. this time with the flint that Leopin had lent him when he made soup in the kitchen of the mansion. Weiss had forgotten to return it after using it and kept it in his pocket. He had used the item to produce an unscented magic trick and had succeeded in using his position as a sage to convince the audience that he was a boy genius in magic. ¡­¡­ One more step¡­¡­! Just at the very last moment, the tables were turned. ¡­¡­ The men he had tied up are released, and Weiss is once again surrounded. The men were now like hungry beasts looking at their prey. ¡°Hehe ¡­¡­!¡¡Now that I know you¡¯re a crook, I¡¯m not afraid of you anymore!¡± ¡°Gasp!¡¡Whoo!¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey, what¡¯s up, wise guy?¡¡I thought you were going to extinguish us!¡± ¡°Thud!¡¡Gagh! ¡°Damn it!¡¡You¡¯re about to see what happens when you screw with us!¡± ¡°AUGH!¡¡Agh!¡± Weiss was kicked and tortured by all the others and shrunk like a turtle. The leader, who was watching the situation, stopped his men ¡°If the kids we let go had gone back to the city and reported it, the guards would be here by daybreak!¡¡It¡¯s time to get ready to slink off!¡± ¡°What are we going to do about the kid?¡¡No way, we¡¯re not just going to leave him like this. ¡­¡­¡± The leader of the group pushed his men away and crouched down beside Weiss, who was lying on the ground. ¡°Ugh ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Hehe, you¡¯re turning out to be a nice guy, aren¡¯t you? The first person to ever drive me to this point was you. So I¡¯ll let you choose.¡± ¡°What the ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°You can die here, or you can come with us. ¡­¡­, whichever you prefer.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe my ears.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to take that kid with you?¡¡He¡¯s not even usable!¡± ¡°Unlike you, he¡¯s several times smarter. And usually, when you cheat someone, you have a guilty feeling somewhere in your heart, and it will show on your face. But this guy is a natural born crook who thinks nothing of cheating people. If you nurture him, he will be the best of the best.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s no way to show him!¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s why he¡¯s not one of us. So, we will keep him not as one of us, but as a slave. We¡¯ll put a collar on him so he can¡¯t escape, and we¡¯ll make him do everything from taking care of himself to doing our dirty work.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great!¡¡Isn¡¯t it great that we can make a wise man our slave?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the head!¡¡You¡¯re so smart!¡¡I¡¯ll follow you for the rest of my life!¡± the corners of his mouth lifted up and asked Weiss again, ¡°Now, Weiss, what do you want to do with the slave?¡± ¡°Now, Weiss, lick my shoes and beg me to make you my slave.¡± A few years later, the boy would have immediately cried out and licked and sucked the sole of his shoe to beg for his life before such an unreasonable act. But the boy of today, however, is not that vulnerable. ¡°Don¡¯t ¡­¡­ be silly¡­¡­!¡¡I¡¯m a wise ¡­¡­ man ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Okay, so ¡­¡­ you¡¯re going to die?¡± The boy is aware of death for the first time when the blade is pressed against his neck. The leader, who felt a tremor through the blade, was convinced that he was one step away from falling, and with a hushed voice, he drove him further. ¡°Then, first of all, apologize for challenging us. Then swear to us that you will never disobey us again, that you will be a slave to our absolute obedience.¡± The boy¡¯s trembling had become so apparent that even a casual observer could see it. Tears of blood welled up from his moist eyes. Soon, he was sobbing in agony, as if his intestines were being dragged out of him while he was still alive. ¡­¡­ ¡°Ugggghh¡­¡­!¡¡Uggg¡­¡­!¡¡Go¡­¡­ome¡­¡­!¡± The leader said, ¡°I did it,¡± and he couldn¡¯t stop grinning. But then, as if to add water, a voice came from out of nowhere. ¡°No need to apologize.¡± CH 154 Weiss and Leopin 19 Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent Mysterious voices came from the surrounding forest. The thieves raised the lanterns in their hands and looked around, ¡°Who is it?¡° The only one who knew the identity of the voice was Weiss, who was crouching ¡­¡­ alone. He was the only one who knew who the voice belonged to, and he was the only one who could hear it. ¡­ Sighing, he blamed the owner of that voice. The next moment, something hit the thief with a wind noise that split the darkness. ¡­¡­Bechotto! It hit the tip of his nose and exploded, splashing green liquid all over his face. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡¡What is this?¡¡Something hit my face!¡± ¡°It looks like a nut!¡¡Are you all right!¡± ¡°Yeah, it was soft, so I¡¯m fine.¡¡It stinks a little, though!¡± ¡°Who the hell is that?¡¡It¡¯s too dark, I can¡¯t see a thing!¡± ¡­¡­ ¡°Oh, no!¡¡Again?¡± ¡°Goblins throwing berries at us?¡± ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s licking me!¡± ¡°¡­¡­Guch!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been hit too!¡¡I got hit too!¡± ¡°But I know where it¡¯s coming from!¡¡That way!¡± ¡°Find them and kill them! Split into two groups and take turns preparing for battle!¡± The leader was furious and sent out instructions. Once the men return to the barn, they arm themselves with leather helmets and armor, swords and axes hanging on the walls. The group that is ready charges in the direction of the flying nuts, holding lanterns over their heads. The leader stomped on Weiss¡¯s head like kicking an empty can. ¡°I know it¡¯s goblins who do this, but we have to be careful,¡± ¡°They could pull me away from you and save you while they¡¯re at it, but we won¡¯t let them. ¡­¡­¡± The leader is hit in the face with a nut in the middle of his words. He was hit in the face by a nut. ¡­¡­ ¡°Fuck! Damn it! They flew in from the other direction! Hey, you guys! Look over there!¡± The thieves then ran right and left through the forest. Under the direction of their leader, they ran from place to place. ¡°Now that way! The enemy throws nuts, so they can¡¯t attack from that far away! Search nearby!¡± The voice of his men came back from the nearby bushes. ¡°There¡¯s no one here ¡­¡­ either!¡¡What?¡¡We¡¯re hit!¡¡This time it¡¯s coming from over there!¡± ¡°Is there more than one enemy?¡¡If so, it should be possible to find at least one of them. ¡­¡­!¡¡Then climb up on that rock and look for them from high up!¡± The leader¡¯s instructions were precise. If it were an ordinary enemy, he would have been supplemented by now,¡­¡­. The enemy¡¯s attacks were one-sided, and yet their figure alone could not be found no matter how hard they looked for it. In the meantime, his men were being hit by the projectiles, and their entire bodies were covered in green liquid. Exhausted from running around, they became greatly irritated and a little anxious about their invisible enemy. ¡°Ha, ha, ha¡­ ¡­¡­!¡¡No matter how hard I look for it, I can¡¯t find it anywhere. ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure they¡¯re there, but ¡­¡­!¡¡Why, why, why, why, ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Ya¡­¡­Ya¡­¡­!¡¡Oh, man, ¡­¡­!¡¡It¡¯s like we¡¯re dealing with a monster!¡± ¡°Oh ¡­¡­!¡¡I can¡¯t see you at all, I can only think of you as an ogre¡­¡­!¡± ¡°And he only throws soft nuts that don¡¯t even hurt when they hit you. ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Are you playing with us, ¡­¡­?¡¡Do they think they can kill us anytime they want ¡­¡­?¡± As if they were dealing with a predator from another planet, the minions are terrified of their unknown enemy. Among them, only the leader remained calm. He said, ¡°¡­¡­It¡¯s strange, they should be attacking us from close by, but it¡¯s impossible that we can¡¯t see them. ¡­¡­Are they invisible or something?¡± After he said this to himself, he suddenly realized. ¡°Hey! Bastards, come back! Here¡¯s a hint to find an enemy!¡± His men, who had been scattered in all directions, gathered once again. The thieves look like they have been doused in slime. The boss-slime-like leader crouched down and grabbed Weiss by the hair again. ¡°Hey, Weiss ¡­¡­!¡¡When we beat up that little boy in the barn, you were gone before we knew it, weren¡¯t you?¡± The minions around him remember, ¡°Ah!¡±. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡¡Weiss was gone like he disappeared!¡± ¡°Oh!¡¡He was tied up and rolled in the middle of the barn, and before we knew it, he was in the back of the barn!¡± ¡°That means ¡­¡­!¡± The leader of the group trails off, ¡°That¡¯s right. The guy who is sneaking into the woods right now must be using the same method. Now, Weiss, tell us what kind of seeds you¡¯ve got.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know ¡­¡­ ¡­¡­!¡± Weiss is slapped on the cheek with a bang. ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me!¡± But Weiss¡¯ statement was true. The wicked wrecking ball Weiss used to disappear is now in his pocket. Besides, it is now just a piece of cloth, having used up its two use limit. Weiss really did not know how the mysterious enemy was disappearing. But the thieves would not believe him. The leader pondered for a moment, then said, ¡°Get up!¡± and grabbed Weiss by the neck and dragged him up. He placed the blade against Weiss¡¯s neck again and shouted so that the surrounding forest could hear. ¡°Hey!¡¡Hero!¡¡You¡¯re here for Weiss, aren¡¯t you!¡¡Let¡¯s make a deal!¡¡If you show up in front of us and tell us the truth, we¡¯ll give you back Weiss!¡± Weiss shouted as he twisted his body. ¡°U¡­¡­ lie!¡¡Don¡¯t come out!¡¡If you come out, you¡¯ll be killed and ¡­¡­ guh!¡± ¡°Come on!¡¡What are you going to do, hero?¡¡It¡¯s time to end this hide-and-seek!¡¡Come out before I count to ten!¡¡If you don¡¯t, I don¡¯t care what happens to him!¡± The leader began the countdown in an intimidating tone. ¡°¡­¡­ one!¡¡¡­¡­ two!¡¡¡­¡­ one!¡¡¡­¡­ Shii!¡¡¡­¡­Gooo!¡¡What¡¯s up hero!¡¡Are you lost!¡¡Or are you shy!¡¡Or are you ¡­¡­!¡± The leader presses his blade extra hard against Weiss¡¯s neck. ¡°You want to see the blood spurting out of his neck like champagne?¡¡If that¡¯s the case, say so quickly!¡¡If that¡¯s the case, we¡¯re on the same page, aren¡¯t we!¡¡Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!¡± A loud laugh like a howl echoed through the night forest. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll go all in at once!¡¡¡­¡­Roku!¡¡Na na na!¡¡Hachi!¡¡Kyuuu!¡¡Ju¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Shubhak¡­¡­!¡± Suddenly, something flies in from ahead. Unlike the nuts up to now, it was large enough to be seen, and in the darkness of the night, it looked like a rock. It was not just one, but they flew in one after another. Shubhak ¡­¡­!¡¡Shubha¡­¡­!¡¡Shubha¡­¡­! If they were rocks, they could have been a threat, but the thieves did not try to escape. Because it was obvious that the gentle parabola that they were drawing was going to stall in the middle of the road, and they were all flying in the direction of the day after tomorrow. The bombs landed far away from the group, and the impact of landing caused them to crack open one after another. They finally understood the invitation when they saw one of them fly out from the inside. What the hell is that? There¡¯s a lot of stuff coming out! ¡°Are those bees?¡± So that¡¯s a beehive lying around. ¡°Yeah, I see it. You were going to hit us with the hive so the bees would attack us. But you¡¯re so bad at this. You¡¯re way off. I¡¯m not afraid of a beehive that far away.¡± The next moment, however, he noticed something unusual. The bees were like a swarm of locusts, and they were coming right at them. ¡­¡­! ¡°What the ¡­¡­ ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!?¡± CH 155 Weiss and Leopin 20 Translated by NotBlueYet Edited by Kingavent The expressions on the faces of the thieves, who seemed to be gazing at swarms coming at them, changed drastically. ¡°Niiiigh ¡­¡­ run away oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo £¡£¡£¡£¡.¡± They started foaming and tried to flee in the opposite direction of the bees, but then they finally realized. The shells from the beehive had landed in the forest square, circling them. All directions were already like a wall with swarms of angry bees. All of them were closing in on the wild thieves as if they were contracting in one place. Only this time even the snappish leader was turning pale and shouting. ¡°Ugh ¡­¡­ ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh?!¡± The swarm of bees swallowed the men there in an instant. The wild thieves were wearing leather helmets and armor, but the bees entered through the slightest opening and thrust their poisonous stingers at them. ¡°Geeaaaah!¡¡I¡¯m gonna get you!¡± The sound of wails never ceased. As if they were enveloped in flames while still alive, the men went berserk like mad and then collapsed one after another. It was like a picture of hell. Weiss was the only one who seemed to be in a different world. The plaza was enveloped in a sandstorm of bees. Weiss was also in the middle of the swarm, but the bees passed by Weiss as if they did not see him, and attacked only the thieves. It was a strange sensation, like looking at hell from heaven. And it was an astonishing sensation, as if the world had become a magic trick. He thought to himself. ¡°Why ¡­¡­, why ¡­¡­!¡¡Why don¡¯t the bees attack me ¡­¡­! Then, as if in answer, something hit Weiss in the chest. He picked it up and found it to be a nut. ¡°This is a ¡­¡­ con fruit¡­¡­!¡± A girl¡¯s voice flashes back in Weiss¡¯s mind. ¡®It¡¯s a potion made from con fruit. Con fruit has a strong aroma and is often used in perfumes. The one on my desk is a concentrate. If you take it by mistake, you will fall asleep for about six months.¡¯ ¡°Oh yeah. ¡­¡­!¡¡The fruit you were hitting the bandits with was this con fruit. ¡­¡­!¡± Weiss recalls his own words in a chain reaction. ¡®Bees have a habit of chasing things that have a strong smell. That new teacher must be sprinkled with perfume, judging by his appearance.¡¯ Weiss looks in the direction from which the nuts flew. Weiss looks in the direction from which the berries flew. He thinks he hears the trees swaying, and then a figure appears from behind a sandstorm. It had a slender outline, as if the bushes were moving. It was a mysterious shadow, but Weiss already knew who it was. Before the shadow could call out to him, Weiss blamed it. ¡°Why did you come back or something?¡± A mischievous face peeked out from the moving bush head. ¡°I don¡¯t need to compare what¡¯s more important, a night drive with that girl or my best friend who¡¯s in a pinch.¡± Weiss looked unconvinced, ¡°But ¡­¡­!¡± Weiss tried to retort. Leopin replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve got Kaonoko heading back to the city. She should have alerted the guards by now. ¡°But ¡­¡­, but ¡­¡­!¡¡And ¡­¡­!¡± Weiss was bewildered. ¡°But ¡­¡­!¡¡It¡¯s good that it went well, but if I made a mistake, I could have been in big trouble. ¡­¡­!¡¡If even Leopin gets caught or something, I¡¯ll be ¡­¡­ I¡¯ll be ¡­¡­!¡± The boy, like a moving bush, snickered. ¡°Before you have a hot passion, be cool. Be cool at all times and act with maximum effect. This is what the man I admire the most taught me.¡± Then, at dawn, more guards arrived at the Mountain of Mother Forgetfulness. Weiss and Leopin split up the thieves and tied them up, and handed them over swollen and bruised. According to the guards, all the saints who were about to be shipped out at the port were saved. ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡°It¡¯s ¡­¡­ too dark!¡¡I can¡¯t see anything¡­¡­!¡¡My throat is burning¡­¡­ hot¡­¡­! There¡¯s something in my ¡­¡­ pocket!¡¡I don¡¯t know what it is, but it¡¯s ¡­¡­!¡¡If I¡¯m going to die like this, I¡¯m going to ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Nggg¡­¡­ nggg¡­¡­!¡¡I¡¯m going to die if I don¡¯t do something!¡¡I¡¯m getting stronger!¡¡It¡¯s as if I¡¯ve never been hurt so badly ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°What is this?¡¡¡­¡­ Oh, this can¡¯t be an elixir!¡¡Why is this legendary elixir in my pocket ¡­¡­?¡± I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be able to live right.¡¡I¡¯m sure it was given to me by the Goddess when she saw me living a righteous life!¡¡She says, ¡®Live ¡­¡­!¡± ¡°What?¡¡This is not the time!¡¡If what the gardener says is true, I must stop Mother! Children are the treasure of this country ¡­¡­!¡¡Using them to make money is unforgivable! I can¡¯t allow you to use them to make money!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you for a long time, Mr. Weiss¡¯ father. Not only the father, but also your son Weiss has done a wonderful job. Not only did he save the saints of a prestigious family, but he also saved the saints of a poor town. ¡­¡­ Weiss-kun is the wisest candidate since the beginning of our elementary school.¡± ¡°Yes. it was really a disaster. I can¡¯t believe my son was using the off-season house to do that ¡­¡­. Well, it seems that he was tricked by the thieves, so we only had to give him a stern warning this time. ¡­.. well, we did a lot of things from behind the scenes, though. The most important thing to remember is that Weiss had taken not only the evil wreckage but also the elixir out of the house. ¡°There, there is a good story. Have you ever heard of the ¡°training camp for the highest level of work¡±?¡¡Only a very select few sons of the highest ranks can attend this special training camp. We have been able to secure this special qualification, and I would like to make a special recommendation for Weiss-kun this time. ¡°Is that what you are hoping for?¡¡Yes, that¡¯s right. That camp was only for half a year, but you will look different. ¡°Even Weiss, who is out of control at home and at school,¡­¡­, will surely come back as a good boy,¡­¡­! ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡°This is a present from me to all of you, please accept it.¡± ¡°Oh, wow!¡¡It¡¯s a necklace!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a necklace!¡¡Leopin¡¯s really good with his hands. And the matching design is perfect for us, since we¡¯re going to school together!¡± ¡°Well, with Leopin, we¡¯ll definitely be number one in our class.¡± ¡°Leopin!¡¡We¡¯ll still be friends in high school, won¡¯t we! ¡°Of course we will. This way, even if we get separated, I can always remember Leopin. The ¡°highest level job training camp¡± that I¡¯m going to ¡­¡­ is said to be a very tough place to go. But with this necklace, I will surely be able to overcome it. Leopin will be by my side.¡± Weiss smiled as he held out his fist to me. ¡°Because we are an unbeatable duo,¡­¡­!¡± ¡­¡­ Six months later, just before I was about to graduate from junior high school, Weiss returned. I greeted him with my fist, but Weiss did not put his fist together. That smile has not changed. But for some reason, I felt a hint of contempt in his eyes. ¡°Leopin, now I think I understand the meaning of what the brave man was doing to Ms. Kanoko. He really wanted to get Kanoko.¡± ¡°Get, you mean, ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Oh. People obey because they don¡¯t want to be alone. Society, organizations, peers ¡­ all humans obey. So what if you want to obey an individual rather than a group? I think?¡± ¡°Is it by becoming a respectable human being or ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°There¡¯s that, but there¡¯s a more absolute way. It¡¯s about isolation. It¡¯s about getting rid of it and not letting anyone deal with it.¡± ¡°Weiss, what are you talking about? ¡­¡­¡± ¡°A man who has known true loneliness will pledge allegiance to the last person who ¡­¡­ reaches out to him. ¡­¡­ Forever. ¡­¡­!¡±