Ch.269269 – Forming Factions

<269 – Faction Formation>

“Thanks to you, I’ve been saved many times. I won’t forget what happened today. Oknodie. And April. You too.”

Andersen parted ways with firm resolve.

Today, he had felt numerous moments of shame.

During gathering, a moment’s carelessness nearly got him harvested by a monster instead.

While chatting and neglecting external surveillance, he failed to notice the approaching student on leave sooner.

He lacked the skill to retrieve April’s trapped tail from the cart without being discovered.

During Senior Mandela’s attack, he barely managed to survive.

‘I have a long way to go.’

The complacent mindset that he was doing enough, that struggling through difficult lectures was already above-average effort—such half-hearted attitudes were fundamentally overhauled.

‘If I can’t save people in need with my own strength, I have no choice but to rely on others.’

Help from a child, help from a woman weaker than himself.

After graduation, help from his family.

Help from the Western Noble Alliance.

This way, one accumulates countless debts and obligations.

The more debts, the less personal freedom.

Life gradually gets consumed by unwanted relationships and time commitments.

‘I’ll become stronger. Both body and mind.’

The power-up event for Young Master Andersen was a <Great Success>, igniting his enthusiasm.

* *

With a change in determination came a different perspective.

Andersen noticed the changes among the students.

“When times are tough, only those close to you will help. Wake up from the dream that heroes will save you.”

“The same goes for the Imperial Princess. Of course, Her Highness is kind and doesn’t easily abandon her subordinates, but there’s a limit to how many people can benefit from being on her team.”

“In the end, only peers at similar levels can practically help each other.”

First, there was a notable increase in <5-Person Teams>.

Lower-class students, learning from the culture that had emerged in the upper classes due to Dragon Principal, banded together in groups of five to combine their strength.

“Young Master Andersen. This is surprisingly excellent. We share gathering responsibilities so we don’t have to take materials from other students needed for lectures. Conversely, having our numbers complete reduces the chance of being robbed.”

The 5-person team structure had become standard practice, even recognized for its effectiveness by the noble children of the Western Noble Alliance.

“Look, gathering still takes time regardless. It’s more efficient to buy points from the Black Market Association and invest that time in training and studying, which gets you bonus points in lectures—a shortcut to earning more points.”

“On the flip side, if you happen to gather more materials than planned, the Black Market Association is the only place that will buy them for points. It’s a waste of time to sell them yourself.”

The Black Market Association’s influence grew, along with its customers and the number of lower-class students helping with its expanding operations.

The Black Market faction, led by the upper-class quintet of Giselle, Isabelle, Son Ocheon, Dorothy, and Rockpell, had effectively become the largest faction among first-years.

“What’s the big deal about 5-person teams? Our Western Noble Alliance should aim higher.”

“Do you have something in mind?”

“Like the Black Market Association, we should consolidate our power and expand our influence.”

“Ooh!”

“How splendid, Young Master!”

“Do you have any specific plans?”

Unlike the students who simply expressed admiration, Yeltsin Brownie, the fourth-ranked member of the Western Noble Alliance, adjusted his tie with arrogant, haughty eyes as he reviewed the current first-year landscape.

“Even beyond the Black Market Association, many first-years have formed factions. There’s the <Camella Corps> with 25 members, using strange <Pet Contracts> to gain followers. The <Hero’s Guard> with 30 members, formed because the hero felt the need for supporting forces. The <Zigoku Pirates> with 15 members, formed to rob all the annoying small fry who’ve increased in numbers. They all have clear objectives or means of cohesion.”

The <Camella Corps> had forced loyalty through contracts.

The <Hero’s Guard> had ulterior motives to gain benefits from the hero.

The <Zigoku Pirates> had the wicked intention of taking materials and points without effort.

“Our Western Noble Alliance, frankly speaking, is just a social club for western nobles, and even that has lost members since Lady Arcadia’s downfall, hasn’t it?”

The alliance, originally 15 members strong, had dwindled to half that number—just 8 people.

“What are you saying, you who rank 4th among 8 people.”

“If we’re at half strength, your skills must be halved too.”

Yeltsin’s face crumpled at the criticism from the male students who had taken the 2nd and 3rd ranks in Arcadia’s absence.

Though factually correct, the other popular nobles weren’t bringing up these facts out of ignorance.

They were simply setting aside unnecessary facts to maintain morale and strengthen friendships.

In other words, Yeltsin was arrogant but socially clueless.

Still, Young Master Andersen defended him.

“Don’t be too harsh. Yeltsin has a point. Everyone was uncomfortable mentioning it, but our alliance has significantly decreased in size since the beginning of the semester. But it hasn’t been all losses.”

These eight people shared something in common.

A powerful advantage that made it irrelevant whether dozens of followers who had once followed Arcadia, or dozens who had followed them, had left.

“The lectures we attend are the most difficult among all first-years.”

These eight elites had devoted themselves to training to avoid injuries during the hellish lectures.

Their bond had become much stronger than the original alliance’s.

“The new motto of our alliance has already been decided. Training. Without training, one cannot endure the lectures. This will be true not just for the first semester but the second, not just for first-year but second-year as well.”

“So you’re thinking of transforming us into an organization that emphasizes training?”

Andersen affirmed Yeltsin’s question.

“That’s the plan. Additionally, after completing a certain period of training, we’ll verify our strength and boost morale.”

“Are we going to have a snack party at the store?”

“Those 1-point jellies are delicious.”

“Are you stupid? Those are slime jellies.”

“Ugh.”

“No matter how commoner-friendly this academy is, your eating habits are too plebeian. Maintain noble dignity as a member of our alliance.”

The male student who had eaten the jelly became dejected at Yeltsin’s scolding.

This time, Andersen stopped Yeltsin.

“No, such pretense is unnecessary.”

“Young Master…? You who valued dignity above all, what are you saying?”

“Dignity stems from strength. We’ve been borrowing the prestige of noble houses and mistaking it for our own strength. But in reality, we’re just common first-years.”

“…!”

“What’s wrong with a first-year eating jelly to save points?”

“I was just curious about what commoners eat…”

Even the jelly-eating student muttered in confusion, but Andersen addressed that too.

“Face reality. The difference between us and those ‘commoners’ you speak of is not that great. Compared to the difference between first and second-years, or first and third-years that we saw at the sports festival, it’s nothing but minimal.”

Yeltsin, the jelly-eater, and the other students finally changed their expressions.

“Don’t think you’ll automatically become second-years and third-years as time passes. Gift Academy is merciless. Those without qualifications cannot advance. Failing to advance and graduate—isn’t that the true shame and loss of face for nobles?”

“Young Master is right!”

“So it’s decided. Since we prioritize training, we lack time to gather materials. Therefore, we must obtain lacking materials from others. However, buying with points could lead to a long-term shortage of points needed for advancement.”

Yeltsin asked reluctantly:

“Surely you’re not suggesting we become pirates too?”

“No. We will serve as a vigilante group.”

“Vigilantes…?”

“We’ll forcibly stop those who try to steal materials for profit, like the Zigoku Pirates, and take half of what would have been stolen as compensation.”

“…If we take that much as payment, some might not be grateful even after receiving help.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“…Are you serious, Young Master?”

Andersen had seen it.

How pathetically the students on leave had been beaten behind the scenes due to lack of strength.

How desperately he himself had struggled just to survive.

Compared to such shame and humiliation, taking half as payment was nothing.

In time, everyone would realize.

That leaving even half was actually generous.

“Eventually, this ‘gratitude fee’ of half will become the force that increases the number of applicants hoping to join our alliance. So work hard. Build enough strength that no one can complain when we take half.”

While Yeltsin and the noble alliance members were convinced, Andersen privately felt this was still insufficient and grew anxious.

The reason he didn’t push for more was his awareness of the <Foundation Scholarship Students>.

‘Even we have started creating such a revenue model and building strength. How impressive must Oknodie’s structure be by now, with connections to upper-class students?’

If we were to clash with them in terms of power, could we win?

For now, we would lose.

So we must not lose public support.

“And when you see cleaning maids on campus, don’t carelessly throw trash and treat them respectfully.”

“Is it really necessary to be so considerate to mere maids?”

“Are you dissatisfied?”

“N-no, not at all. Please don’t make such a frightening expression… it’s scary, Young Master.”

“I trust you’ll be mindful.”

Let’s create a force that not only doesn’t lose to Oknodie but also one that April wouldn’t be ashamed of.

* *

While Andersen was strengthening his organization’s discipline, Oknodie received an unexpected proposal from April.

“Wouldn’t it be good for you to lead your own faction now, Mr. Oknodie?”

“Eh. Sounds bothersome.”

“Other first-years have felt the need to grow since the sports festival and are quickly banding together. You can’t keep wandering alone and relying on Ms. Giselle, Ms. Arcadia, and others around you. When they’re not available, you’ll waste tremendous time and effort.”

“Ah. So you’re saying I should gather errand boys to handle the annoying stuff for me?”

“…That’s not exactly what I meant, but I suppose you could see it that way.”

“Well, as it happens, I already have some errand boys who can’t complain no matter how I use them.”

Oknodie pulled out a piece of paper from his chest and waved it.

The paper listed the <Foundation Scholarship Students>.