episode_0117

The day Irene moved in, I held a small welcome party. Though I called it moving, it was really closer to her simply moving herself. After all, my friend didn’t bring many belongings. Her house had burned down, you see.

“What should we get?”

“Everything we can get our hands on!”

When the Delivery Violets bought food in bulk from nearby restaurants, the obtained food instantly traveled through an inventory to our house. Soon, a mountain of food piled up on the dining table.

“Isn’t this too much?”

I felt Irene flinch slightly at the sight of the food being prepared. I had bought a lot, thanks to special sales and discounts, so it was indeed quite a lot.

Well, it wouldn’t be a problem anyway, as the existing tenants would eat with us. Any leftovers could be handled by the Violets.

“Worst case, we can give them to Doctor Uncle as a late-night snack!”

“That’s a good idea.”

Doctor Uncle had been putting on some weight lately anyway. I’d let him rest enough, so it was time to put him to work.

“We’ll give some to the others too! Oh, right. I’m inviting the others for a welcome party. Is that okay?”

“A party… sounds fun.”

While we were busy preparing, Violet 231, who was in charge of the dormitory, called the others over.

First up, Lucian.

“Alright! Lucian! Come out!”

“Ugh… What is it?”

Lucian came out, speaking in an annoyed tone. Looking into his room behind him, I saw many books spread out. Was he studying?

“A party, what are you talking about?”

“Yeah, a new friend just moved in.”

The moment he saw the purple-haired girl standing behind me, his black eyes widened slightly.

“…It’s been a few days.”

“What? Why are you here?”

“I had some circumstances, so I moved into the room next door! We’ll be living together from now on, so just know that!”

I didn’t bother explaining Irene’s complex and difficult personal circumstances. Because they were personal.

“…It’s your house. Do whatever you want, I guess.”

After informing Lucian, the next place I went was the training facility built right next to the dormitory building.

Beyond the tall stacks of boxes in one corner of the factory, there was a place set up like a fitness room.

There, Granite was sweating profusely as he worked out. Seeing us, he quickly lowered the barbell he had lifted to his chest.

“Violet, huh? And the person next to you… Irene? Why are you here?”

“She moved in today. Anyway, how’s what I made for you? Tell me if anything’s lacking!”

“I’m grateful, really. I asked, and you even set up a fitness room like this…”

Now that I’d told him, only Levi was left. She was currently out. I asked a Surveillance Violet.

“What’s Levi up to?”

“She’s looking for a job, but the results are… well…”

Violet 65 stopped speaking and shared her vision. The view in front of 231 changed to the city. A girl with pigtails was seen being turned away from a shop and getting kicked out. The huge bag on her back was visible.

“She’s having a tough time. But why is she carrying that old bag? It looks heavy.”

“Check her memories. She visited a clan office a little while ago. It seems she was trying to get a job as a hunter.”

Searching through her memories, I found a scene of Levi leaving an office with a dejected face. That place was a kind of adventurer’s guild office. It claimed to be hiring people, but in reality, it was a place connected by connections, so they wouldn’t accept an ordinary female student.

231 clicked her tongue internally and took out her smartphone to send a text. I told her something important came up and to come home quickly, so she should be here soon.

“By the way, when are you going to clear those boxes?”

“We’ll move them to another warehouse tonight.”

Each box stacked next to the dormitory contained several Violet bodies,ビニール wrapped and in suspended animation. There were about 30 in total. They were being moved from the dormitory basement.

Of course, not all of them had been moved from the basement. I planned to finish moving them after the party tonight.

While the Violets muttered internally and waited, thirty minutes later, Levi walked into the factory, panting. There was no reason for her to come that quickly.

“W-What’s going on…? I’m not late, am I? Am I okay?”

“You didn’t run all the way here, did you?”

“Ugh… H-How did you know?”

Wow, it was true. To think she ran all the way from the city carrying that big bag. Incredible!

“That’s strange, I gave you money for transportation earlier. Was it not enough?”

“Well, it’s a waste… and I’m already living off you…”

Ah, I see. I understand now. This timid girl must have felt burdened using the money we gave her. It would be nice if she could live without a care, like the other boys.

“Don’t feel too burdened! I’ll ask for your help later if I need it. So use it without worry! Eat as much as you want too!”

“Okay…”

I patted Levi’s back and offered a few comforting words. I didn’t forget to mention that there would be a party later.

“You absolutely have to come!”

Levi awkwardly waved to Irene and went into her room. After finishing a few small tasks and completing the party preparations, evening had already fallen.

“Done!”

“The party starts now!”

I called the people in the rooms to come downstairs. They were already coming down one by one, drawn by the smell of food.

“Wow, it’s a buffet!”

“Can we really eat all of this?”

“Did you forget what I said earlier? Don’t feel burdened!”

After seating the first two arrivals, Lucian also came down.

“Isn’t this too big for a welcome party?”

“Then you’re not going to eat?”

“No, I’ll eat.”

Finally, once Irene came down, I started the party.

“Alright! Then, applause for today’s protagonist!”

“I’m temporarily staying here due to circumstances. Please take care of me.”

When Irene introduced herself, everyone clapped awkwardly.

“Everyone, enjoy your meal!”

As everyone began to eat, Lucian rested his chin in his hand and stared silently at the ceiling. He was fiddling with his blue hair, deep in thought.

“Are you sick? Or does it not suit your taste?”

When I asked, Lucian turned his gaze to me and slowly shook his head.

“No, it’s nothing. But I have something I want to ask Irene.”

“What is it?”

“Surely, not you too?”

I tilted my head. I wondered what he meant, but Irene cleared up my confusion.

“No, it’s not an academy issue. It’s a personal matter, so don’t ask any more.”

“Is that so? It’s a relief it’s not student council business then. How did the top student and second-ranked student of the first year end up like this?”

At those words, Levi, who had been focused on her meal, raised her head like a frightened rabbit and looked around. Granite froze in the middle of tearing into a chicken leg. The mood in the dining room instantly soured. Realizing he had ruined the atmosphere, Lucian’s face crumpled.

“I’m going out for some air.”

He fled outside. Yet, the atmosphere in the dining room remained grim. Everyone was gloomy, remembering their own plight.

“Ughhh…”

“I wonder if my grandmother is doing well…”

The party was ruined not long after it began. Everyone seemed to have lost their appetite and left one by one, making excuses.

“Everyone’s going through so much…”

Irene sighed. We ate in silence for a while.

“Irene. What are you going to do from now on?”

“I applied for a leave of absence. Anyway, Violet.”

I met my friend’s calm but serious golden gaze.

“What are you preparing for these days?”

“Preparing?”

“Ever since you declared you’d destroy the academy in front of Daphne and me, I’ve noticed you’ve been moving even busier than before. Even now, another one of you is probably doing something somewhere.”

While I pondered my friend’s intention, Irene clasped her hands together. Then, still seated, she pulled her chair closer to me.

“But you haven’t said what you’re going to do all this time. I waited until now, but I’d like you to tell me what you plan to do next.”

I felt a jolt. We weren’t ready to tell her yet.

What I was preparing for the academy was a plan far more radical and dangerous than she could imagine. I had intended to tell her everything once all the preparations were complete.

“Ugh! Irene. Can’t I tell you later?”

“There’s no reason not to tell me now.”

Irene’s tone, though calm, held an intimidating atmosphere. I managed to answer her firm attitude.

“I can’t explain everything. The plan is still incomplete! And it’s incredibly dangerous.”

“It’s something you can’t even explain to a friend?”

“That’s not it, but…”

I trailed off. Irene’s questions didn’t stop there.

“And where did you get those weapons? I’m not a soldier, but I’ve learned what kind of weapons exist. At first, I just accepted the improvised bombs you used. But what about the weapons you used yesterday? Not only machine guns, but you even used rocket launchers. An ordinary student can’t obtain those.”

I flinched.

“Alright. I’ll explain everything…”

Feeling embarrassed, I could only scratch my head.

“It’ll be a bit long, though. And you can’t get angry or too surprised. Understand?”

The serious air that had been lingering around us finally softened.

“First, before I explain, I have a question for you too. You said you got the contact information from the school official, right? I’ve collected some information and data. Please report it to them later.”

“I’ll do that. Now, will you explain? What you’re going to do next.”

“Alright. So, what I was planning to do was…”

“Screaming! Aaaaah!”

Hearing the sudden scream, Irene looked towards the door in bewilderment. A scream came from inside the dormitory’s first-floor hallway.

“What was that sound?”

And I instantly knew trouble had arrived.

“Ugh! We’ve been found out!”

“Our bodies!”

A clatter came from the stairs, followed by different voices.

“What on earth is going on?… A corpse!”

“What, you’re making such a fuss… Oh my god!”

More shouts followed. Irene stood up from her seat, bewildered.

“Ah! Irene. Just wait here for a moment!”

I rushed to the first-floor hallway. The basement door was open. I could see three people with horrified faces standing directly below the stairs.

Going downstairs, under the dim light, the shelves were stacked with Violets I hadn’t managed to clear yet.

That’s strange. I definitely closed the basement door, didn’t I?

Lucian alternated glances between my face and the wrapped, hibernating Violets before speaking.

“W-What is this? What is this…?”

“I told you not to go into the basement! And how did you open it? It was definitely closed!”

Levi answered in my stead.

“I didn’t open it. It was open. I, I just saw a light on in there. I just went in to turn it off…!”

This is driving me crazy. I must have forgotten to lock up during the process of moving my bodies. I was going to finish organizing today, but of all things, something so ridiculous had to happen.

“Listen, I think there’s a misunderstanding… Those are my clones.”

I moved quickly to explain. My consciousness rapidly transferred into one of the bodies still encased in plastic wrap on the shelf. A Violet shot upright, still wrapped in plastic, and waved its hand.

“See? It’s a clone, right? Look, it’s moving!”

“Aaaah! The corpse is moving!”

“U-Ugh!”

Levi screamed again. Granite, with a pale face, stumbled backward and collapsed.

My attempt seemed to have caused more misunderstanding. Lucian extended his arm forward and activated a magic circle.

“You bastard. What are you?! Were you a ghoul?!”

“I told you, it’s my clone!”

“Don’t lie! What kind of clone ability is that?! Anyone can see that’s a corpse!”

It seemed they had gravely misunderstood.

And Levi, overcome with fear, couldn’t hold back and bolted outside.

“A-Aaaah! Noooo!”

While I stood there stunned, the other two pushed past me and also ran out of the basement.

“Damn it, run!”

“Augh!”

“Oh? They’re running away!”

“Catch them!”