Chapter 20: Preparation (1)

I was possessed inside a game I used to play.

So far, there haven’t been any problems.
After all, I have all the game strategies in my head.

But even I have encountered a major obstacle.

“That’ll be 50 gold.”
“……”

I have no money.
To be precise, I just spent all the remaining money to have a meal at the student cafeteria.

I never thought the living allowance given upon entering the academy would run out so quickly.

Shouldn’t meals at least be free?
How could this place have not even a shred of basic decency?

“Luke, is something wrong?”
“No, nothing.“

At some point, Aisha, who sticks to me all day without ever leaving, spoke up.
It seems that giving her the spirit as a familiar has really worked to raise her affection.

Honestly, I feel like asking Aisha to lend me some money, but…

‘A man’s got to have pride.’

How could I borrow money from a classmate?
Damn, if I knew this would happen, I would’ve asked for something in exchange when I handed over Zelus.

“Is that the girl? The Rustichel family’s lady?”
“What’s a direct line of the Rustichel family doing with a commoner?”
“Well, he’s good-looking. Maybe it’s like a one-day lover thing?”

I can hear you, you bastards.
That word, “commoner,” over and over again—it’s driving me crazy.

Let me make it clear, I am not a commoner.
I just don’t have an official status.

If you ask if there’s a difference, I may not have much to say, but still, technically, it’s different.

“Do you know there’s a quiz in magic class today?”
“Of course, I know.”
“You look pretty confident?”

Of course, I’m confident.
I have the cheat item, [Wise Man’s Glasses], after all.

In other words, when it comes to formulas, there’s no way I’ll get any wrong on the test.
Of course, from Aisha’s perspective, it might look like I’m just being cocky.

“By the way, where’s Zelus?”
“I left him at the dorm.”

That makes sense.
If you carry around that noisy fox, your fatigue will double at the very least.

Anyway, spirits can be summoned whenever the contractor wishes.
Leaving him at the dorm is definitely the best choice.

“Aren’t they dating?”
“They’re always together. Seems obvious.”
“Aisha’s too good for him…”

Ah, these noisy bastards.
As I raised my head to snap back at them, my eyes met Aisha’s.

“……”

Why are you blushing now?
This is why people get the wrong idea.

Aisha rarely got close to anyone because of her innate condition.
If I remember correctly, her trauma comes from how her condition completely destroyed her social relationships.

I feel sorry for her.
With that affectionate personality, how hard must it have been to endure all this time?

“Aisha.”
“Yes?”
“Lately, your mana control’s been slipping again, hasn’t it?”
“…You noticed.”

The magic I used to improve her condition, [Estelin Horn].

[Estelin Horn] is a quest-exclusive magic.
It can be used without level restrictions, but [Estelin Horn] is undeniably an S-rank rechargeable magic.

In other words, you need to fully charge the mana requirements to use it at its maximum power.

But with my current mana, that’s just impossible.

“The magic is still incomplete, that’s why.”
“It’s okay. I know you’ve done more than enough.”
“Until it’s complete, you’ll need to keep receiving treatment from me.”
“……”

Once my mana is sufficient, I’ll be able to fully cure Aisha with one maximum-output use.
Until then, I’ll have to provide temporary, one-time treatments as needed.

“Why…”

Aisha’s strained voice.
Her hands, placed on the table, were trembling.

“Why… are you being so nice to me?”

Why, you ask? It’s because it’s a quest, obviously.
If this were just a game, I’d be skipping this cringeworthy scene without a second thought.

But this isn’t a game.
That’s why I can’t feel completely at ease.
The story that I once thought was just a chunk of text is now a reality here.

Maybe that’s why.
Unintentionally, comforting words that didn’t suit me slipped out.

“You’ve been through a lot.”
“……”

There was no response.
In the silence that followed, she quietly pushed food into her mouth.

Honestly, I felt like I was about to choke, but I couldn’t just leave behind my hard-earned 50 gold meal.

…Should I ask her to pay me some gold for the treatment?

“What’s all that noise?”
“Not sure? Sounds like students talking.”

The bustling noise came from outside the student cafeteria.
Having finished my meal, I opened the door without hesitation.

And immediately regretted it.

“Hey! Your skirt is too short!”
“What do you mean it’s short?!”

Disciplinary Committee member Angela.
She was enforcing the dress code right in front of the cafeteria.

With her short stature, she was angrily shouting about the skirt being too short.
This was the usual Angela I had always seen in the game.

“Calling this short? I’ve heard the disciplinary committee is a joke, but this is…”

The student who protested was soon silenced by the sharp gaze of Selena standing next to Angela.

“Kya-hahaha!! Dress code violation, penalty points!”
“Ugh…!”

Technically, it was a legitimate execution of her duties.
But why does it look so absurd?

Angela and Selena’s combination always created quite the scene.
And soon, Angela’s gaze fell on me.

“A freshman!”

Angela started bouncing in place with her short legs.
We hadn’t even exchanged words yet, but I already felt exhausted.

“Oh? That annoying brat from last time is here too?”
“A brat? Isn’t that obviously you?”
“W-What…! Are you mocking me for being short?!”
“Think whatever you like.”

Angela, overwhelmed by Aisha’s verbal attack, clung to Selena with her short limbs.

“Selena! I don’t like her!”
“Be quiet, Angela.”
“E-Even you, Selena?!”

I wanted to escape right away, but I couldn’t.
Selena’s gaze was fixed directly on me.

“Ahem…!”

When our eyes met, Selena cleared her throat and slightly turned her head.
What’s going on? Why is she acting so hesitant?

“Luke Richter.”
“Yes?”
“This is a disciplinary committee matter. Come here for a moment.”

Disciplinary committee work?
What kind of work is this?

To be honest, even as a veteran player, I don’t know much about the disciplinary committee.
In the game, joining the committee itself was blocked by the system.

“Come closer.”
“Is this close enough?”
“Good.”

Satisfied, Selena nodded.
I stood there, waiting for her to continue.

“An auction will be held soon.”
“An auction?”
“Yes, it will take place on the academy grounds. And it’s hosted by the Magic Tower.”

Ah, I remember now.
The event auction hosted by the Magic Tower.

The event <Pandemonium>.

This is the event where the dark organization, Pandemonium, makes its full appearance.
Pandemonium’s goal is to steal the artifact being auctioned.

Since the auction is hosted by the Magic Tower, all sorts of rare potions and artifacts are put up for bidding.
But undoubtedly, the most prominent item is the artifact <Necronomicon>.

At first glance, it looks like an ordinary old book, but it’s far from that.
The Necronomicon is one of the masterpieces required for the descent of the Demon God.

Pandemonium knows about the Necronomicon’s existence, which even the Magic Tower overlooked,
because they obtained it through <Future Sight>, paid for with the lives of hundreds of their fanatics.

“The disciplinary committee will be participating as well. It’s an order from the student council, so we don’t have a choice.”
“Can I participate too?”
“Of course. You’re a disciplinary committee member, aren’t you?“

This is great news.
I never thought the disciplinary committee would be useful in this way.

Pandemonium’s raid during the auction.
Although Stella’s intervention eventually resolves the situation, by then, the Necronomicon has already been stolen.

Normal students can’t intervene in this auction at all.
But if I can just get involved through my position as a disciplinary committee member…

“Understood.”
“Hmm? No complaints this time?”
“Just doing what I’m told.”
“You sure you don’t have some business at the auction?”

Selena’s eyes narrowed.
As always, she’s quick to catch on.

“How would I know?”
“Well, if you say so.”

Selena shrugged her shoulders with a slight laugh.
Ignoring her reaction, I continued.

“Is there a specific schedule for the auction?”
“Not yet. We just got notified today as well.”

No matter what, I have to find a way to sneak in and swap the Necronomicon.
But with my current specs, I don’t stand a chance against a Pandemonium executive.

An executive, no less.
A monster among monsters from the infamous Pandemonium.

Of course, it’s not like there’s absolutely no way to win…

—————————————————————————-

[Sleepwalking]
Grade: EX
Type: Passive

When entering a sleep state, the dormant subconscious manifests.

——————————————————————————-

I shook my head violently.

‘No way.’

Absolutely not.
There’s no telling what kind of magic I might use while asleep.

If the opponent is a Pandemonium executive, regular magic won’t cut it.
If I end up using something like a 9-star spell again, it would be a complete disaster.
This time, I must resolve it with my own strength.

‘Avoid combat… and secure the Necronomicon…’

My mind raced at high speed.
Suddenly, one idea sparked in my head.

‘Just swap it out, right?’

The Necronomicon’s true nature can’t be identified from its appearance alone.
That’s true for both the Magic Tower and Pandemonium.

However, the reason Pandemonium is raiding the auction
is because Future Sight revealed the Necronomicon’s appearance, the auction date, and its location.

In other words, as long as an identical-looking book is placed in the same spot,
they would have no reason to doubt it.

In the game, actions that disrupt fixed events are fundamentally blocked.
But this isn’t a game.

This is reality, where even a small action can trigger a butterfly effect.

“Anyway, we’ve delivered the message, so we’re heading out.”
“Thank you.”

Joining the disciplinary committee turned out to be a stroke of genius.
I suppressed a grin that threatened to break out.

If possible, I should participate in the auction and make some money while I’m at it.
Maybe buy some useful items too.

…By the way, where did Aisha go?

“You! No tie! No brooch! Dress code violation, penalty points!”
“Hey!! Isn’t this too much?!”

I’d better just pretend I didn’t see that.