Ch.347347 – Overflowing Sense of Justice

After even the trusted Deadcat was deceived by Oknodie, Valocassio, the contract scammer who had given up on targeting freshmen, returned.

This time targeting Zaku, who wasn’t even an upperclassman.

“You… are truly remarkable. Using disguise techniques just to establish a slave contract.”

“Haha. I thought any student who hadn’t taken Professor Pinkberry’s ‘Basics and Understanding of Disguise Techniques’ would definitely fall for it. This is a victory of thorough preliminary research, freshman.”

“You’re wasting your time. I’m neither as competent nor as useful as you think.”

Despite Zaku’s suggestion to find another slave, Valocassio smirked.

“It’s no use. What I want is an investigation of a freshman organization. I need someone smart like you who attracts less attention while still being a freshman.”

Zaku had an ominous feeling.

This guy, could he be trying to find out about the “Organization That Plays with Oknodie”!

“The organization you’ll investigate is the ‘Camella Division.'”

“…”

Fortunately, it wasn’t Oknodie’s organization.

If it had been, Valocassio would have been hastening his own demise.

The organization that plays with Oknodie was, in a broader sense, a subsidiary of the Foundation.

It wasn’t an organization that a mere sophomore without backing could investigate and remain unharmed.

“I thought they were keeping to themselves. Did they cause some trouble?”

“Their keeping to themselves is the problem. They’re taking what’s mine and expanding their influence, which is annoying.”

“What did you have that they took?”

“Slaves.”

“…Your shamelessness is astounding.”

From Valocassio’s perspective, investigating the Camella Division was perfectly reasonable.

“My secret to building power is contract fraud. Normally, a sophomore wouldn’t allow a freshman to target them, but my influence has weakened due to opposition from Oknodie, Giselle, and Arcadia.”

In what’s known as an unfair snowball effect, his power had greatly diminished, and the remnants that the Dark Association couldn’t absorb were snatched up by Camella’s forces, who even used the same contract fraud methods as him.

From Valocassio’s perspective, he was furious at Camella for stealing slaves that should have been his!

‘Setting aside this evil slave-owning senior, this information would be useful to Oknodie too.’

Defeating Valocassio’s forces a second time would be no challenge after having done it once.

Helping a little wouldn’t cause much trouble for Oknodie.

But being manipulated by others wasn’t a pleasant experience.

“If it’s an investigation, you sophomores could do it better. Why use me specifically?”

“Sophomores are busy.”

“Freshmen are busy too.”

“We’re busier than you think.”

A slight impatience appeared on Valocassio’s face.

“For sophomores, the fear of ‘repeating a year’ is becoming visible. Unlike freshman year when we could advance with point loans, we’ve hit our loan limits and can’t borrow anymore.”

“Then why not avoid loans in the first place?”

“Do you think fools who believe they can advance just by studying can earn enough points to pay promotion fees? Even those with enough points use student council credit loans to accelerate their growth.”

Zaku listened carefully to a story that would affect him in a few months.

“Sophomores who have already taken loans must diligently study to accumulate credits, busily complete requests and challenges to earn points, and advance through their own efforts.”

“…What’s wrong with that? Isn’t that how all students should advance?”

“That obvious path becomes impossible due to the harsh difficulty of courses and academic schedules.”

Zaku realized something quite unexpected.

“For such a pressed sophomore, you seem to have enough leisure to use freshmen as information gatherers.”

“I’ve always had a knack for enchantment and I’m a believer in the god of contracts. What would be unprofitable behavior for other students is manageable for me in my spare time.”

Whatever the reason, if most students struggle just to keep up with lectures and assignments, they wouldn’t have time for contract fraud. As much as he hated to admit it, Senior Valocassio was among the model students, the academic achievers who kept up well with the curriculum!

As someone who didn’t consider himself to have that much extra capacity, Zaku felt his pride twisting.

“After hearing all that, do you think I’d waste my precious time helping you?”

“Hmph. You will have to. According to the contract’s prohibition clause, if you don’t fulfill my request, you’ll have to pay a penalty. You wouldn’t want to cough up a precious 10,000 points, would you?”

“…”

10,000 points.

For a point-rich person like Oknodie, it would be pocket change to give away willingly, but for someone like himself who saved on every meal, it was an unmanageable sum.

However, it wasn’t so impossible to pay that he needed to run to the student council for help immediately.

The student council would probably consider 10,000 points a sufficient life lesson about not touching things that don’t belong to you.

It would be difficult to get proper help.

“I have no choice. I’ll look into it right away.”

But he wouldn’t take this lying down.

Unaware of Zaku’s sinister thoughts, Valocassio set a meeting place and time.

“Are all freshmen either monsters or lunatics…?”

At the appointed meeting time.

Just 48 hours later, Valocassio, reuniting with Zaku, turned pale.

* * *

Valocassio’s contract came with several restrictions.

━━━

□Valocassio’s Contract

3. Restrictions.

①Confidentiality: You must not reveal to others that you’ve been contracted. Violation results in immediate payment of the penalty.

②Duty of Diligence: Failure to dedicate at least 1 hour per day to investigation will be considered unwillingness to fulfill obligations, resulting in penalty payment.

③Penalty Payment: The penalty is 10,000 points; payment releases you from contractual obligations.

④Performance-Based: If investigation results are insufficient after one week, penalty must be paid immediately.

⑤Forced Loan: If points are insufficient, you must immediately take a student council credit loan to pay.

━━━

Confidentiality. Duty of Diligence. Penalty Payment. Performance-Based. Forced Loan. Light but non-negligible restrictions interconnected like well-fitted links.

‘As expected, the restrictions are minimal. The student council would overlook this level.’

The student council, mainly composed of juniors and seniors.

Though he’d heard of their existence occasionally, he had a feeling they weren’t proper people.

Due to the paper airplane’s small area, the text was tiny enough to require a magnifying glass, but if it had been written on a large poster, it would have been a detailed and suffocating contract that was frightening just to imagine.

‘Whatever the case, this means Senior Valocassio also has a higher <level> than this. If I were caught in such a contract, I’d truly feel suicidal.’

Still, the paper airplane contract wasn’t that bad. Instead of seeking help from the student council, Zaku first approached the “Organization That Plays with Oknodie.”

‘If I act differently than usual, someone might notice something suspicious and realize I’m under contract.’

Zaku approached other scholarship students at the organization’s rest area.

“Good to see you all. How are your assignments going?”

The scholarship students looked at each other in disbelief, shocked.

“Did that rude Zaku just greet us?”

“Did he hit his head somewhere?”

“…”

Behavior different from usual.

While his uncharacteristic friendliness was a good attempt, the scholarship students, feeling an indescribable unease, immediately left the lounge to avoid Zaku.

‘Tsk. Such perceptive fellows.’

Without some level of friendship, they wouldn’t be willing to help.

Zaku went to the training room where several organization members were diligently practicing.

“Your skills have improved a lot. I couldn’t handle your growth at my level.”

Zaku’s blatant praise, when he normally wouldn’t compliment others even with a knife to his throat!

Anyone who knew him even slightly would feel uncomfortable with such a statement, and gazes poured in from all directions.

“Poor guy. You must have been severely criticized by a professor. That’s why you’re so dejected?”

“I understand that feeling. I wanted to cry when my carefully prepared assignment was torn apart.”

Sandcooker and Rozini’s warm consolation made Zaku feel unexpectedly emotional.

Though he unintentionally received very touching comfort, that wasn’t what he had wanted!

“Zaku. On days like this, don’t train and rest well. Sometimes you need a day to refresh. Let’s rest together by running 10km!”

“…You call that resting?”

Morb’s pathetic consolation snapped Zaku back to his senses.

He changed his plan.

“Have any of you heard about contract scams by someone named Camella?”

“Oknodie once mentioned they were a good stock to keep until next year.”

“…”

The first answer was ominous from the start.

Despite Zaku’s attempt to change the subject after Morb’s clearly mine-field-like response, Sandcooker, whose training mood had been broken, took the bait.

“What’s up with them?”

“They do something called pet contracts, and I once advised someone not to stupidly fall for them.”

“Pet contracts?”

“Apparently they write contracts that allow them to forcibly demand compensation for helping with studies or assignments, like mentors.”

“What? That sounds like a very legitimate contract. I thought it would be like an apprentice wizard’s tower residence contract where you pay 85% of your annual income to the tower.”

Is that the kind of contract wizards make!?

“That’s quite generous. The Red Tower was 90%.”

“Isn’t that too much?”

“But we get free meals in return.”

“I see. That’s acceptable then.”

As Sandcooker and Rozini shared their tearful story, Morb expressed doubt.

“Then do pet contracts also include profit distribution? Since they explicitly call it a ‘pet,’ I have a feeling there are extremely harsh conditions.”

“Probably? I think those fools who agreed to such suspicious contracts deserve what they get anyway.”

“That’s true. Fools who can’t even secure 5% or 10% profit deserve it.”

Sandcooker and Rozini, accustomed to unfair contracts at magic towers, criticized the pet contract victims without realizing they were in similar situations!

“Don’t be so harsh. They might have been tricked. This could actually be an opportunity.”

“Opportunity?”

“For us to help them.”

Zaku had his own calculations.

If a selfish person suddenly spoke with overflowing righteousness, it would look genuinely suspicious.

Anyone would suspect he was under mind control or being forced to act against his will, and soon realize he was bound by a contract.

Zaku’s attempt to indirectly reveal his contract situation!

Morb eagerly grabbed his hand in response to his calculated sense of justice.

“Damn, I believed in you, Zaku!”

“?”

Sandcooker patted Zaku’s shoulder.

“You turned out to be a really decent guy, huh?”

“??”

Rozini adjusted the brim of her wizard hat and smirked.

“Not bad. Oknodie was planning to use them later, but your sense of justice couldn’t wait even that short time? Fine. I’ll help you just this once.”

“???”

Suddenly becoming someone who couldn’t contain his overflowing sense of justice, Zaku led the trio to find Oknodie.

Zaku was drenched in cold sweat.

How did things turn out like this?

No, it’s still okay.

Oknodie said she was planning to use them later.

If Oknodie stops this, this absurd situation can end immediately.

“Oknodie. Seeing Zaku’s courage, please allow us to fight so Camella pays the appropriate price!”

In response to Morb’s cry, Oknodie answered refreshingly.

“Well, it’s a shame to lose the reward I was saving for later, but I’ve already enjoyed plenty at Papa’s mansion, so I’ll concede. I’ll help too!”

“!?”

Due to Zaku’s unintentional sense of justice, an organizational conflict between the “Camella Division” and the “Organization That Plays with Oknodie” began.