We Will Collect 100% of Workers’ Earnings as Tax.

The academy festival is an event showcasing the academy.

Although organized solely by students with support from the school, those who visit are recruited from across the entire continent.

It tends to be considered grand and important to that extent, but coincidentally, the students of the health room attendance group including Dale were in a state of not participating in this year’s academy festival.

The boy from the slums who became an object of fear for students on campus, and the boy born with emotional disorders from a barbarian tribe.

The ancient weapon not yet accustomed to human society, and the girl suspected of having parents who engaged in anti-government activities.

Although their reasons may differ, they ultimately gathered under one person.

“I’ve brought your meals, is everyone doing well?”

And there was also a girl who, although not belonging to the attendance group, was indebted to the health room.

Josephine, the Black Saint of Hades.

When she visited the dormitory with a basket containing meals, Dale, who had just come out to greet her, answered with an intimidated attitude.

“Ah, Senior Sefin… Good morning.”

A relationship that had gone wrong in many ways since their first meeting.

Seeing the boy who still seemed not to have resolved such estrangement, Sefin smiled bitterly and quietly matched his eye level.

“Mr. Dale.”

“Y-yes?”

“It’s presumptuous of me to say, but I think the title of senior doesn’t suit me because I’m a visiting student.”

“I-is that so?”

“Yes, so I think it would be good if you could call me ‘big sister’ normally, but…”

Elegant black hair and colorless eyes.

But what was drawn in the smile directed at him was clearly something that could be called kindness, yet Dale couldn’t easily relax his attitude towards her.

‘As expected, that feeling again.’

Isn’t it strange?

In terms of age, she should be similar to the student council president, but when facing her, he often felt overwhelmed by something enormous.

Something incredibly huge.

Yet not unfamiliar, as if something was looking down on him?

“Ugh.”

As he shrinks his body at that feeling, Sefin, who had been staring at him, smiles bitterly and quietly steps back.

“There’s no need to force yourself. Even if we meet in the present, the time and environment we’ve lived are different… In an age of respect and understanding, we shouldn’t force means to narrow the distance between each other.”

If he’s uncomfortable with her for unknown reasons, it’s simply a matter of adjusting the distance.

Feeling comforted by the fact that he at least doesn’t hate her, Sefin hands the basket containing meals to Dale and turns her back on the spot.

“Then I’ll take my leave. I hope you have an enjoyable day today as well…”

“Wait a moment!”

A voice calling out to stop her.

Sefin, who had slightly paused her steps, slowly turns to Dale and asks.

A body that shrinks as soon as their gazes meet again. Although it seemed he called for a reason, he still couldn’t easily open his mouth due to the overwhelming feeling he got from her.

“Are you going to ask about Teacher Seine?”

“Ah, yes. Um… Is the teacher busy?”

Since the last time he saw her was three nights ago.

Is he expressing concern for her despite finding the person he’s asking uncomfortable?

‘You are loved. You are.’

Her mouth corners begin to rise gradually as she understands that meaning, but at the end, a slight twitch was occurring.

Trying to hide the emotion she felt in that way.

“Don’t worry. She’s safe. She’ll be able to return soon.”

Nevertheless, Hades’ Black Saint quietly leaves the place, unable to calm the trembling in her voice.

Dale, who had been watching her from afar, remained alone at the entrance and pondered the meaning of her words.

‘Saying she’s safe in response to a question about being busy.’

Isn’t saying someone is safe usually something you say when there’s danger?

Moreover, the expression shown when she said those words was very briefly…

For just a moment, it even looked very sorrowful. As if even the ‘enormous something’ felt from her had reacted to such emotion for an instant.

‘…She’ll be fine.’

Nevertheless, Dale didn’t chase after her.

Surely she’ll be fine.

Believing and believing again that the person who led him here will surely be fine, he just returns to the children’s embrace.

---

“Then I’ll teach you a game again today.”

Maki, who took a seat at the table placed in the center of the dormitory after finishing the meal.

She was demanding a continuation of the ‘match’ that had been happening for the past three days.

“Are you going to do it again?”

“Yes, don’t tell me you’re getting arrogant because you beat me?”

“No, that’s not it…”

“I’ll win this time. I will win.”

Although her blunt and insensitive attitude remains the same, there was something that could be felt as fighting spirit in her clenched fist.

Looking at that appearance alone, no one would consider this girl an artificial being.

“The record so far is 0 wins and 99 losses. Yet I who don’t bend am indomitability itself. So from now on, when you call me, call me Indomitable Maki.”

“Um, okay. That’s positive.”

“My challenge will continue until I achieve 1 win. Also, the moment I win, I will never duel again. I’ll take that one final victory for life, and even if asked to fight again, I’ll say ‘Nope, won’t do it. Dale Enberton who lost to me is a loser, an idiot.'”

“Um, okay. It’s good to have enthusiasm.”

Dale tries to interpret it in a good way somehow.

Whatever it was, there was no reason to avoid it when she was enjoying playing with him.

“Do you want to join us, Latello?”

“Alright.”

“Great, then today the three of us…”

Just as they were about to mingle using the newly brought out trump cards.

“Ahem!”

The three people’s gazes turn towards where a cough is heard from afar.

A girl with red twin tails slowly approaching them while putting her hand to her mouth.

“Um, me too…”

Although her face was red, shyness could be faintly felt in her gaze directed at them.

Beans said in that state.

“Could you let me join in too?”

“…Huh?”

Dale lets out an exclamation at the unexpected words.

As time passes with them just exchanging glances without words, Maki, who belatedly understood the meaning, tilts her head and opens her mouth.

“Kongkong will join too?”

“Y-yes! What, am I not allowed to?!”

Beans shouts, flaring up.

After throwing off her timid appearance, she begins to tap her foot while crossing her arms.

“D-don’t misunderstand. It’s not particularly that I want to play with you guys, it’s because I’ve caused a lot of trouble so far… It’s only because the teacher asked me to watch over you, so don’t treat me the same as you.”

“The fish asked you to watch over us? Then you should just watch. There’s no need to play, so why are you joining in?”

“But still… If you ask me to do it, there’s nothing I can’t do.”

Beans’ voice begins to gradually lower as she even avoids eye contact.

Maki, who doesn’t understand the meaning, just tilts her head slightly.

On the contrary, Dale was trying to accept Beans’ attitude as it appears.

“I guess Beans doesn’t want to play with us after all…”

Just as he’s becoming dejected, thinking it might still be too much after all.

“Dale.”

Latello carefully calls his name while putting a hand on Dale’s shoulder.

Seeing him shake his head with a resolute gaze fixed on him, Dale finally notices the meaning and nods his own head.

“Okay, then let’s have Beans join us too!”

“Wh-what?”

Beans’ eyes widen as she even uncrosses her arms at the unexpected answer.

She looked as if she hadn’t expected this answer to come, but Dale was already setting up cards for a seat close to Beans.

“Whatever the reason, games are more fun with more people. Is that okay with you two?”

“Yes.”

“It’s fine either way. If people increase, victory doubles. Come at me both of you, I’ll defeat you two.”

The moment positive responses come back, though somewhat out of the blue.

Feeling her heart pound at their goodwill, Beans soon composes herself and takes a seat in the place they prepared for her.

Shuddering at the sense of rejection as if sitting on a cushion of thorns.

“D-don’t misunderstand. I’m not particularly trying to get along with you guys…”

Although she reflexively utters words she doesn’t mean, no one throws harsh words despite such an edgy attitude.

“Beans.”

At the center of it was a boy who always bestows infinite goodwill on those around him.

“I look forward to today.”

What she couldn’t face when she just distanced herself.

The moment such clear brightness enters her eyes.

“…Just give me the cards.”

Feeling her breath catch at such a pure appearance, Beans soon turns her gaze away with difficulty.

Placing her hand on her chest lest the even fiercer heartbeat than before leak out.

---

The game that the four people started like that was a very simple and easy one.

Just drawing cards by taking turns, and discarding if you have the same hand, a game with a large tendency to rely on luck.

But as they face each other while playing the game, there should be elements of psychological warfare like in chess.

“Hehe.”

That is, only when the opponent is skilled at psychological warfare.

“…Ah.”

“…”

“Hehe.”

‘It’s too easy to read.’

Dale, whose expression changes moment by moment depending on where he places his hand on his card hand.

It was a moment to be reminded that having rich emotional expression isn’t always just positive.

‘But competition is ruthless.’

“Aah!”

Dale lets out an exclamation as soon as he pulls out a card.

Then Beans discards the card along with the rest of the cards in her hand, and quietly raises her empty hand.

“I’m done with this.”

“Me too.”

After that, the game progresses and the next to discard their hand is Latello.

His characteristically calm face seemed to have the effect of being good at hiding his psychology in this type of game.

Of course, the same would be true for the girl doll who is still not familiar with humans…

“Um, Maki.”

“No.”

“Won’t you loosen your grip?”

“I refuse.”

“It’s not about refusing, but in Old Maid, you have to hand over the card chosen by the opponent for the game to progress…”

“If I hand this over, I’ll lose. Draw from the other side.”

“…Um.”

“This is impossible. How again? Dale doesn’t know my hand. But he’s been consistently avoiding the joker and drawing. In a game where luck plays a role, the luck is at an impossible level… But even with impossible probabilities, I always lose. Why on earth? Huh?”

Maki grips the cards tightly while falling into confusion.

Her trembling appearance was teaching anyone who saw that she was in an unstable state.

Having seen it several times over the past few days together, they could guess immediately.

“I realized by watching Dale. Humans are trash.”

“No, they’re not.”

“Trash must be eliminated. Therefore, humanity must be eliminated… That is the calling I’ve awakened to. I, Deus Ex Machina, will annihilate all of humanity to prevent humans like Dale from appearing again.”

“…Don’t judge everyone based on one person. Annihilation is too much just for losing a game!”

“Then I’ll revise it from annihilation to conquest. All of humanity will be placed under me, Maki. We will collect 100% of workers’ earnings as tax. And distribute the same amount of money to everyone. This is how to use capital correctly. All of humanity will live under equality.”

“Um, Maki, your eyes suddenly seem to have turned red?”

“If I have a soul, this is the color of the soul I possess. Therefore, those who join my revolution, prepare to dye your bodies red. Now is the time for enlightenment.”

Maki’s body begins to tremble violently while still holding the cards.

As red-colored electric currents begin to ring around, Beans, who grasped the situation, urgently begins to push Dale’s back.

“Dale! Quickly stick to Maki!”

“Uh, huh? Stick to her?”

“With your ability, you can subdue her, right?”

“Well, yes, but if I touch her, Maki’s operation will stop…”

“She’ll be fixed again anyway! This isn’t the time to worry about that!!”

If she self-destructs like this again, it’ll be the third dormitory blown away.

Until now, cleanup was delayed because of distance, but being caught up in an explosion while this close is something I’d like to decline.

“Grrrr…”

But the problem is that Maki isn’t the only one with potential danger.

“…Latello?”

I had forgotten for a moment because he was constantly impassive.

That Latello’s innate bloodline suffers from ‘anger management disorder’ that loses emotions the moment it detects a crisis.

Dale, who controls those emotions, is currently quite far away as he’s focusing his attention on Maki.

For Latello, who detects crises broadly to respond to all dangers of the wild, he couldn’t help but feel great danger from Maki placed at a similar distance.

“Oh no!!”

Beans, who belatedly notices that point, draws in mana.

Soon, as vast mass presses down on the excited Latello, Beans shouts towards Dale.

“Dale!! I’ll calm Latello down, so hurry and stop Maki!”

“Uh, huh? Maki first? But Latello is…”

“Latello is fine once he’s calmed down, but that tin can goes berserk randomly every time! There’s a limit to going along with a kid whining just because they lost a game!”

“I didn’t whine. Rather, the one who whined about losing was the eternal second place Kongkong.”

-Crack.

At the words suddenly heard, the force being operated greatly falters for a moment.

The mass pressing down on Latello’s body temporarily doubled, but nevertheless, Beans’ angry gaze was directed at Maki.