episode_0020

Albit asked back in a dazed voice.

“… Who?”

Bell, a lover of the ‘smiling strongman’ concept of , had a sullen expression.

“Ah~”

Belle was currently sitting in the darkness of the second floor student council room as the sunset was setting. She was twirling her black hair with the tips of her fingers as she rested her chin, looking very disapproving.

And she sighed and muttered.

“… I practiced all the lines and situations at best.”

Belle had a small, childlike body shape that was uncharacteristic of a second-year high school student. The energy flowing from her created an intimidating feeling that could not be easily ignored.

“Phew… ”

The glow of the sunset sparkled on the silver second-year badge on Belle’s sleeve.

“… It’s not fun.”

With those words, Belle tries to do something with a sour expression. As her red eyes look at us, the air around us trembles.

sss—

A subtle sound that can only be heard in the ‘world of the moment’, a huge cognitive ability.

“… !”

I felt Belle’s presence and was amazed.

This is because in that short moment, they were already taking control of the space by measuring the ‘gap’ between us.

‘He’s a strong character who joins after the mid-story, and he’s already using [Wave Ether].’

[Basic], [Vibration], [Wave], [Inherent].

Level 3 of the 4 levels of ether operation.

The next level of [vibrational ether] that ‘resonates’ with reality.

[Wave ether] that ‘distorts’ reality.

That was the realm where those who could be considered ‘strong’ within belonged.

Bell’s red wave ether splits like a thread and approaches, occupying the student council room.

sss—

Bell’s [wave ether] recognized and took control of all objects and people within a radius of several meters. [Unique Ether] Although it is narrower than those with abilities, he has definitely created his own space.

“… ”

Bell clearly understood everything around her.

Her eyes began to fill with mockery.

“Hmm… ?”

She lowers her downcast expression just moments ago, raises the corners of her mouth, and laughs. That smile felt like the smile of a cat that found a small animal to play with.

“What, they’re all wearing student council coats. They’re all just small pieces that use basic ether, right?”

When Yanghakgak was actually built, not just as a concept, I couldn’t control my excitement.

I laughed inwardly while looking at that.

‘This damn Yanghak kid, as soon as he decided that he was definitely the strongest in this place, he looked down on him.’

In fact, there were two things Bell overlooked.

One of them is that I avoided the ‘gap’ of [wave ether].

‘It’s a little skill that I never used even in front of Hilde.’

I brushed off all the ether that was sticking to the bell to measure the gap, and calmly pretended not to notice. The juniors who were still in the realm of [Basic Ether] were only startled by Bell’s vague presence.

‘From the other side, it would have looked like everyone, including me, was caught.’

As the atmosphere slowly builds, Belle begins to relax in earnest. And the juniors who have finally sensed such suspicious signs.

“… ”

As I looked at the view of the student council room, I fell into thought.

It was strange.

If Belle was from the , she would have had a lot of contact with Hilde.

This situation did not seem like something someone who knew about the [Pink Spiral] would do.

‘I don’t think Hilde has heard anything about me.’

One thing is certain.

Belle does not know her ‘past self’.

‘Rather than hastily revealing your power… First of all, we have to match the rhythm for the conversation to proceed.’

I glanced at the bottom of the chair where Belle was sitting.

Squeak-

“… ”

The second fact she is overlooking.

Looking at it, it won’t be long before the concept is broken.

So, I decided to continue acting like Clara in front of Belle.

“Wow―☆ Cute! Ribbon matches too! Hey☆ Are you coming to our school to play?☆ Shall we have tea time together?”

“Hehe, thank you. But I didn’t come here to have fun~”

Without giving up his cold smile, Bell spewed out [Wave Ether] in earnest, taking complete control of the space. And the juniors, who have finally realized that something has happened, begin to panic.

“That guy just… !”

“… I think I did something.”

“Eh, eh?! What’s going on―☆”

“… ”

Albit erased his puzzled expression and came to the front with cold eyes and asked a question.

“I don’t know who you are. May I ask what a second-year student from another school is doing in the student council room at our school?”

“Hmm~”

Contrary to his polite tone, Albit had his hand on the handle of his sword with a wary look on his face.

Belle was giggling and laughing as she watched that scene.

“Hmm… well? Why? Cute senior doesn’t want to answer what the arrogant junior says~”

“I am not your junior. And if an unidentified student is occupying the school, we will have to take action as well.”

“What? Ahaha! Could it be that the evening glow is so dazzling that I can’t see what I’m wearing?”

“… ”

“Huhuhu… It’s a joke~ The cutie senior just wanted to get to know me so I came to hang out~”

“… Tsk.”

Albit clicked his tongue in exasperation, but did not back down to protect us as much as possible.

Giggling, giggling.

Bell directly revealed his power and smiled contentedly as he watched Arbit speechless.

Red eyes shining in the dark.

A black coat draped over the shoulder.

Ability to apply ether to naturally take control of the surroundings.

In all outward appearances, Bell was overwhelming Arbit and the others.

“… ”

“… Pfft.”

“… ”

Everyone at was unable to refute her words and just froze. It was a situation that Belle, a villain with a wicked concept, could not help but love.

“Hmm… !”

Belle looked extremely satisfied as she enjoyed the ice-like atmosphere for a while. Soon, he smiled cheerfully, removing all the wave ether that had spread throughout the space.

“Ahahahaha—! It’s a joke~ A joke! Hey! The expression is so scary! What if this cutie senior sees me and is surprised~”

“… ”

Belle walks forward, holding out her hand to Arbit.

She stepped on a spot on the floor.

Squeak-

The sound of the floor covering being twisted.

The place was not noticeable due to the construction that finished today.

Originally, there was a hole in the old wooden floor of the student council room.

‘It’s now…’ !’

I filled my toes with [wave ether] and stamped my feet.

Bullfight… !

A sound so subtle that it cannot be heard because of the sound of the floor twisting.

Because I was distracted by the sunset and the bloody atmosphere, my gaze was upward.

I didn’t notice the tiny bit of red ether seeping from my feet.

Therefore, Bell was still smiling with satisfaction and approaching Arbit with a sinister look. Her hair, neatly tied into a side tail, sways in sync with her cheerful hand gestures.

“What! It was a bit difficult to wait a long time, but I’ll officially introduce it to you! I am Bell, the cute secretary of the … !”

Kwasik――!

With the sound of the wooden material on the floor breaking.

Belle’s face, which had been walking calmly, slowly turns downward.

The situation happened so quickly that everyone looked on in confusion.

Tilt-

“Aaaah――?!”

Like sinking into a swamp.

Belle disappearing to the floor is seen in slow motion.

And she disappeared to the first floor in an instant.

Kwaaaang!!

Uddangtang-!!

Degurrr

Cheer up!

There was a loud landing sound and the sound of building materials piled up on the first floor collapsing. As if a bomb had passed by, a cloud of dust rose from the hole that had formed in the student council room.

We muttered as we looked at the dust clouds colored red by the sunset.

“What the hell is this.”

“… Phew.”

“… What happened?”

“… Ahaha☆ Looks like the floor work wasn’t finished yet―☆”

The tension disappeared in an instant.

We stared at the hole that had formed in the floor.

There, the skirt was completely turned inside out and the bell was stuck on the floor, stuck among the building materials. And as if she was embarrassed by the sudden situation, she just rolled her eyes and made eye contact with us.

“… ”

“… ”

“… ”

“… ”

silence…

sense…

Embarrassing…

Rushing –

Belle quietly got up, pretending to be calm, and shook off her clothes. However, the school uniform and coat had long since been stained with paint. And she said, looking helplessly at the mess around her.

“… Um, can you please not report this? If the boss finds out, I’ll be in real trouble.”

“… ”

“… sorry. I’ll clean it up.”

Belle hurriedly pretended to clean it up. There was so much building material strewn around that it wasn’t something that could be cleaned up just by pretending to organize it.

“… ”

“… ”

“… ”

Belle soon gave up and looked at us above. She spoke hesitantly as she looked at her heavily soiled school uniform.

“… By any chance, do you have any spare clothes?”

“… ”

“… ”

“… ”

“… Guys… ?”

A concept is a concept after all.

Bell wasn’t the type of person to cross the line and actually be tyrannical.

Just enjoy the atmosphere and get over it.

However, illegally occupying and damaging the facilities of other schools belonging to the union was a matter that could be formally filed against the Union Student Council.

In fact, most of the time, as if the arms were bent inward, the students of the subtly overlooked it in order to take care of their own families. Unfortunately, Hilde, the union student council president, was famous for being principled.

And Bel was Hilde’s direct subordinate.

“Hey, guys… ?”

In the end, Lotta answered that pitiful cry.

“… I’ll lend you my training clothes.”

“… Sorry.”

＊

I took Belle’s coat and school uniform, which were heavily stained with paint, and took them to Grandfather Hwata, a repair shop. Grandfather Hwata shook his head and declared that he could not be revived.

“… Does it fit your body?”

“… Yes.”

Bell was temporarily wearing the training uniform of . And she agreed to stay at overnight and fix and clean up the classroom together in exchange for us not reporting.

On the way back to school.

Belle said in a dejected voice as she looked at the tattered school uniform.

“That… It’s an expensive coat… I also hung the ribbon I bought myself… ”

“… So who wants to sit there meaningfully?”

“… ”

However, he is unable to respond to Arbit’s scolding and lowers his head.

So, back to school.

The sun had already completely set and it was dark.

Only the lights turned on in the student council room were shining dimly.

Knock knock knock knock

The sound of Kara hammering as she filled the hole in the student council room floor with the remaining flooring. In it, we heard about the purpose of Bell’s visit.

“… So, it’s just because the atmosphere around the eastern region is not good. While distributing textbooks for the , I came to inspect the schools belonging to the union… This… ?”

“Yes, yes~ I don’t know if that’s all the cutie secretary’s job to do! Because I’m competent!”

“U… Ability… ?”

Kara was surprised and stopped hammering.

While Belle was laying out construction materials on the floor, she was shocked.

Soon the student council room was filled with awkward silence.

“… ”

“… ”

“… I made a mistake this time.”

“… I guess so.”

Knock knock knock knock

The hammering started again.

So, each person continues with his or her own work.

Lotta and I put the textbooks Bell brought into the student council room bookshelf and organized the old books.

“… Senior, I think you should remove that book. It’s a theory I don’t use anymore.”

“Yes―☆”

Anyway, I didn’t study so I didn’t know.

I quietly sorted the books as Rotta instructed.

“… Hmm.”

Suddenly, Albit stops sweeping the floor, looks at Belle, and asks.

“But what is happening in the eastern part of Academy City?”

“Well~ What I can tell you is the establishment of an alliance between and … And is it the state of erosion in each school’s dungeon? ”

“Erosion… situation… ?”

“… !”

Dungeon erosion.

Albit did not understand the meaning of the word and asked back.

I was surprised at how well I understood the meaning of the word.

Belle continued speaking, perhaps not noticing the reaction.

“Yes~ It seems that the ether core that powers the dungeon gates at each school site is often contaminated these days, making the dungeons unsavory~ So, I issued an order to ban entry to the dungeons where abnormal phenomena occurred~”

“Hey… ”

“There is no dungeon gate on the site of , so you don’t have to worry about it… First of all, shouldn’t all notices be blown~”

“Hmm… ”

Albit nodded and was completely convinced. And then I quickly got back into tidying up.

“… ”

“… Senior?”

“Yeah―☆ I took a moment to read the title―☆”

I also changed the plan I had made and organized my books again.

‘I can’t believe they’re already starting to crawl out. I need to revise my dungeon exploration plan… ‘

The next morning.

“Then I’ll leave the cutie secretary~”

Bell, who made a significant appearance, was wearing the red training uniform of . We left for the garrison of the that was being established on the site of .

＊

Belle before leaving for the garrison.

To report on the ‘real mission’ assigned to him.

I borrowed an ether incoming phone from a nearby shopping mall.

sweet

“… ”

“Boss~ This is the cutie clerk, Bell~”

“… Report.”

“Hmm~ What should I say… They were small children, right?”

“… ”

Bell scratched his head and reported his impressions of and what he had researched in the surrounding shopping district. Most of the stories were about the female student who had been helping out with menial tasks around the shopping district for the past year.

“Well~ No one has ever seen Senior Pink do anything special… What’s more, when I measured the distance directly, I couldn’t feel any ether at all?”

“… ”

When Belle finished her report.

A cold silence continued over the phone.

“… Boss?”

“… ”

Sweet!

ddu… ddu…

“… ?”

Belle tilted her head as if puzzled.

My boss had never hung up on me like this before.

“No way?!”

Did they finally report ?!

He helped me clean up all night!

Belle trembled with a growing sense of crisis and betrayal.