Ch.127127 – The Lower Class Rescue Project

<127 – Lower Class Rescue Project>

Oknodie isn’t bad.

It’s the Wiheomhae Foundation that’s bad, trying to manipulate and shake Oknodie.

But Oknodie is both a scholarship student and hostage of the foundation.

That child cannot escape from the foundation’s embrace on her own.

She needs help.

From those around her.

From those who have been watching over her.

Arcadia decided she needed to gather people.

“Giselle. The project we planned before, we need to start it earlier than scheduled.”

“Didn’t we conclude that rushing would only cause us losses in the immediate term?”

“The situation has changed.”

After hearing about Oknodie and the foundation, Giselle’s face also took on a grave expression.

“For such a reason, I cannot refuse to help.”

To help Oknodie, they would prevent scholarship students from causing trouble.

Arcadia and Giselle’s project began as the cornerstone of Operation Rescue Oknodie.

* *

Valocassio frowned at the ledger.

The supplies that should have filled a large sack according to plan had barely filled half.

A clear anomaly had occurred.

He had been actively utilizing the advantages of monopoly by gathering supplies in demand at the Academy through contract fraud and driving up prices, but when supplies ran short, danger approached.

This was because customers might leave, preferring to find items themselves or gather materials directly rather than visiting Valocassio’s business and paying points, and competitors might emerge.

Ding-a-ling.

He pulled the bell cord, but his secretary was nowhere to be seen today.

Valocassio, who belonged to the Administrative Department rather than the Knight, Magic, or Adventure Departments, could establish himself as a shadowy figure not only because of his own abilities but also thanks to his capable secretary.

But as the saying goes, no talent is perfect, and this secretary had the problem of being lazy.

“…Are you pretending not to hear me?”

As he opened a can of preserved food, a drop of water fell from the ceiling.

Sure enough.

The secretary hiding in the ceiling was drooling.

“Deadcat. Do you remember the list of students who were in charge of supplying materials for this drum?”

“Three students from the second-year Knight Department’s ‘Let’s Learn the Suicide Charge Skill’ class. Michael, Ro, Sir Randall.”

“Gold is the best high-density material for weight vests needed for reinforcement training, but since gold is so expensive, more students have been making lead vests. So we also put in requests for lead mining.”

But the lead in the sack didn’t even reach half.

“Find out immediately why they didn’t meet their quota. Whether monsters appeared in the mine, professors assigned new tasks that divided their time, or if they’re on strike.”

“Advance payment.”

“…Here you go.”

When he held out the opened can, Deadcat snatched it and emptied the contents in an instant.

Five points each.

It was a preserved food with a cost comparable to school meals, but she was a secretary whose skills were more than worth the 5 points.

‘It should be about time for her to return.’

Less than an hour later, Deadcat returned.

Blood was smeared on her cat-like face with three whiskers on each cheek.

Wiping her cheek with a handkerchief, he asked in a kind tone.

“How does it feel to go outside after so long?”

“Boring.”

“But you did what I asked, right?”

Deadcat pulled out a crumpled wad of paper with an expressionless face.

After unfolding and reading the contents, Valocassio couldn’t speak for a while.

Tremble, tremble.

His hand, shaking with anger, tore the paper to shreds.

He’d been had.

“…This year’s freshmen are quite bold. To dare to repay debts through payment agency and divert both our workers and supplies at the same time.”

What Deadcat had brought was a notification document stating that the debt had been fully repaid, including the principal, at the legal interest rate set by the student council, and that if he objected, he should file a lawsuit through the student council.

“Kill them?”

“…What are we, a murder-for-hire organization? Even at the Academy, if we kill underclassmen recklessly, we’ll end up in the ‘Great Prison.’ The situation isn’t that serious yet.”

That impudent freshman, Arcadia.

A talent he had marked to subjugate even by using fraudulent contracts.

She had finally raised funds from upper-level freshmen and caused trouble.

The establishment of a new organization, the “Dark Guild.”

Securing manpower and expanding business.

It was tantamount to a declaration of war against Valocassio’s “Contract Fraud Business.”

But there was a difference in weight class.

Valocassio, who had been exploiting his peers for two years since freshman year, versus Arcadia, who had just started her business.

There was an absolute difference in points between the two.

He would never lose in a power struggle when it came to money.

If he just damaged the stolen manpower.

If he made them leave on their own.

If he dealt with their customers.

The grandly named “Dark Guild” would collapse on its own as its funding dried up.

“I need to find out what they’re planning to do with the lead and manpower they’ve gathered. There was a knight department student named Box Chowder among the ragtag bunch from the Red Tooth Mushroom Cultivation Association, right?”

“Yes.”

“Use him to gather information.”

“For free?”

“…I’ll prepare canned food.”

“I’m sick of it.”

Oh? This wasn’t good.

Valocassio was flustered by the whim of Deadcat, who rarely demanded anything.

“Then what would you like to eat?”

“I want to scratch.”

“…You’re not coveting my carpet, are you?”

“I like Knight Department students.”

A creepy smile appeared on Deadcat’s expressionless face.

“Carelessly grown muscles are crude, rough, and hard. They feel good to scratch.”

“You, don’t tell me those blood drops from earlier…”

Lick.

Deadcat licked the blood drops on her nails.

Her eyes gleaming, she said:

“A freshman would be even better.”

“…Don’t touch any freshmen until I give permission.”

“I can’t hold back for long.”

Valocassio felt his hair being pulled out with stress at the brutal appearance of the secretary he had hired for her delicate appearance and kept working for cheap.

“For the safety of the freshmen, I need to take action quickly.”

Don’t touch freshmen if possible.

The moment this implicit rule is significantly violated, the student council moves.

The power players of the Academy who operate at a different level than himself with his petty contract frauds.

The skilled individuals who have reached the pinnacle even among the nation’s top talents.

Valocassio’s heart began to race.

* *

As the weekend arrived, the pest control work was also reaching its final stages.

With the mosquitoes that had terrorized students almost gone, Rozini felt regret as the value of fire mages skyrocketed, allowing her to earn points for escort missions.

“I wonder if a mosquito sorcerer with a stash of saved mosquitoes might appear?”

“If the clients hear you talking like that, they might misunderstand that you released the mosquitoes and beat you up first. That would be perfect for losing all the money you earned from treatment fees.”

“…You could have shown that sharp tongue during our last operation.”

The sharp-tongued Echo raised her chin proudly with a “hmph.”

“Forget about that, I found a job that smells like money. Last time I was indebted to you, so this time I’m introducing you to repay the favor.”

“What kind of job?”

“Adding firepower needed to smelt lead.”

“Lead?”

“An organization called the Dark Guild has stepped up to rescue lower-class students.”

The more she heard the explanation, the more confused she became.

Why such an ominous guild name, and what’s this about rescuing lower-class students that doesn’t match the name?

Once she arrived at the scene, she understood.

Arcadia, who led a group of students, fanning herself and covering her mouth to laugh demurely like Central Imperial noble ladies, though her loud laughter was anything but demure.

The spiritual pillar of provincial female students and a kind woman who enjoyed taking care of others had expanded her hobby significantly.

“So you’re running a business where seniors intensively train students at risk of failing, and in return, their debts are repaid?”

“Yes. It’s quite a good business, isn’t it?”

“Where do you make money?”

“We recover the points earned through academy life from lower-class students who have reached safe academic standing.”

“That’s clever thinking.”

Students who would fail anyway would be willing to give up all their points if they could just stay at the Academy.

If seniors coach them at a cheaper rate than buying grades with points, and their actual skills improve too, they should pay points out of gratitude if they appreciate the favor.

Someone like Arcadia could generate more profitable ventures with the same points.

Something she didn’t have to do.

Something not highly profitable.

Yet a kindness bestowed because it was Arcadia.

The Dark Guild’s “Lower Class Rescue Project” was essentially a charity project.

“Is Oknodie also helping with the education?”

“You must have been wondering why Di is here?”

“She’s a special child.”

Seeing Rozini frankly expressing her doubt, Arcadia laughed proudly and said:

“Our Di turns out to have unexpected experience.”

“What kind of experience?”

“She knows quite a lot about weight vests, lead belts, and other training tools.”

“…Don’t tell me she’s tried them all herself?”

“She says there are even lead shoes and training spoons weighing 5kg. Isn’t that amazing?”

Wouldn’t lower-class students collapse from muscle pain and miss lectures if they used such things?

Instead of voicing the doubt that arose inside her, Rozini extended her hand first.

“50% of the commission fee as advance payment.”

After all, it would be the students at risk of failing who would suffer, not her.