episode_0126

Inside the empty factory building in front of the dormitory, a temporary presentation hall had been set up for this orientation, just as it had been explained last time.

Currently, four people were seated in the presentation hall.

On the far left sat Daphne, followed by Levi, Granite, and Lucian. Two seats were empty.

Irene was absent, busy with the Helios problem. She would be informed separately.

Kalia hadn’t arrived yet.

While one of the Violets prepared the presentation, looking through various bundles of documents and materials, on the other side, worker Violets brought in whiteboards, arranged them, and set up a projector, preparing for the orientation.

“No, this is insane… are you really sleeping here?”

Lucian’s gaze went to the Violets carrying blankets and heading elsewhere. They were Violets who were enjoying a nap after finishing their night shift.

“It’s spacious and comfortable! Do you want to sleep here too?”

“What? No, thank you…”

He made a disgusted expression. To refuse such a spacious place, was he perhaps agoraphobic?

“Uh, excuse me. Violet. A-Are you doing this because of us? Because there’s nowhere else to sleep?”

Levi, who was sitting, fidgeted apologetically. His sad-looking eyes turned towards Violet No. 2.

“Huh? It’s not like that. It’s good for dozens of us to live together. The dormitory building is too cramped.”

“Even so…”

I reassured Levi, who was suffering from unnecessary guilt.

Of course, it’s not a building made for residential purposes, so there are some inconveniences. But it’s a decent place for many people to live. It’s spacious, good for doing various things.

I do have the thought of buying an apartment later, if I get enough money.

A Violet happiness village created solely for us. A fortress just for the Violets, built with plenty of rebar and concrete.

“No matter how much I look, I can’t get used to it. Hive-mind humans, you say.”

Lucian shook his head, watching the Violets moving about everywhere. Even after the explanation of our unique abilities last time, they hadn’t easily accepted it.

In fact, the way they looked at us felt like observing something between a human and a monster.

*Let’s be understanding. It took Irene a long time to accept it too, didn’t it?*

*Well, we were surprised at first too.*

Only Teacher-nim Yurik was the one who didn’t get surprised or scared upon hearing about our abilities, but rather found it interesting.

The expression Yurik made as soon as he heard about our unique abilities was similar to that of a child who had received a brand-new robot toy as a gift. A scholar’s curiosity is truly incomprehensible.

Even now, that human approaches us with a burning passion to research us, full of curiosity.

“You said you were No. 45, right? I’ve made a questionnaire here. Could you spare some time? I’d appreciate your cooperation! I want to know how qualia are shared between individual Violet entities. The concept of a Violet Network is also interesting. Consciousness sharing between awakened beings! Hello? Where are you going?”

“I don’t want to cooperate! Just go to your room and play games!”

“Just 5 minutes, please!”

*Damn it! He keeps bothering us, doesn’t he? We need to give him work quickly.*

*Let’s give him some data to analyze later.*

There’s only one way to suppress that endlessly bubbling curiosity. We need to throw him another bait to divert his attention.

We plan to hand over the research materials we’ve stolen or photographed from the lab so he can analyze them. Then we’ll know what exactly they’re researching and what their goals are.

It’s time to forcibly turn a postdoctoral researcher back into a graduate student.

*He’s a scientist, isn’t he? Can’t he make weapons or something?*

*That seems unlikely.*

It’s bitter. In comics, they catch scientists and make them create secret weapons. Later, if we raid a lab, we should kidnap some people and make a secret research facility.

I’ll have to put Yurik in charge.

While I was lost in thought, the presentation preparations were finished. Now, only one more person needed to arrive. As No. 1 stood patiently at the podium, a message came.

*No. 1, Kalia will be here soon.*

*Mm, so she finished her uncle’s work and came.*

After waiting for about 10 minutes, Kalia came into the factory.

“Did you wait long? I was a bit busy with school and Brotherhood work.”

It seems Kalia also took a leave of absence in the end. Now that I look, everyone here is a group of students on leave.

“Mm, don’t worry. We just finished preparing a little while ago.”

Once Kalia finally took her seat, the presentation began.

“Now, I’ll explain what we’re going to do.”

Before the presentation, I turned on the projector.

The words appeared on the whiteboard, which was being used as a screen.

“Violet Group?”

Granite, who had been quiet, murmured. I replied.

“There wasn’t a special name for what we should call ourselves. So, I decided on one.”

To outsiders, we called ourselves the ‘Ariel Group,’ but there’s no need for that among those who know us.

Actually, there were a few candidates before we decided on this name.

*Let’s call ourselves the Violet Legion!*

*How about the World Liberation Army?*

*Revolutionary Army!*

But they were all rejected.

The phrases ‘Violet Legion’ and ‘World Liberation Army’ sounded too much like terrorists, and ‘Revolutionary Army’ felt like we’d have to wave red flags or something.

So, we decided to simply call it the Violet Group.

Returning to the main topic, I began to explain our future plans.

“As I said at the last explanation session, I won’t force you to directly fight those clan members. Instead, you’ll be doing something different.”

“What kind of work?”

When Lucian asked, instead of answering directly, I switched the screen. Photos of various types of dungeons appeared.

“First, we need operating funds. Your job will be to help us earn those funds.”

The dungeons in the photos were diverse: a ruined city in darkness, a massive cave, and a snowy field.

“You just have to stand still and defeat any enemies that come. We’ll handle digging for artifacts and resources ourselves.”

Daphne, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.

“The difficulty looks a bit high. Will it be alright?”

“Exactly! That’s why I realized I couldn’t do it alone.”

The places we’re going are tricky.

“Are we going right now? Have the five people here ever properly worked together? I haven’t even been to a dungeon with you.”

Kalia pointed out an important point: teamwork. I nodded in agreement.

“Yes, so before we start this endeavor, we’re planning to have a joint training camp first.”

I manipulated the screen once more.

A subheading appeared, along with a desolate canyon landscape. While the expressions of those who saw the canyon were full of questions, Daphne tried hard to recall something as she looked at the photo and text.

And Lucian’s eyes widened.

“Isn’t this where those wyverns appear?”

“Correct!”

Indeed, he’s smart, so he recognized it quickly. Daphne, upon hearing ‘wyvern,’ also reacted with an ‘aha,’ as if it had just occurred to her.

“Many mid-level monsters appear, but it’s easier than you’d think. It’s not as hot as Chloris Forest, and it’s quite pleasant.”

And, though I hadn’t said it, there was another important point. I suddenly turned my gaze to one side. I saw Levi busily taking notes in his notebook. Granite was also focused on me, waiting for what I would say.

It was fortunate for those two, but the monsters in this dungeon looked ordinary. There were almost no bugs like Crawltides there.

Moreover, it’s a spacious place, a good environment for them to be active. It would be good for them to practice teamwork.

*Even so, what are you going to do if disgusting ones appear later? We can’t keep being considerate forever. Dungeon exploration is a life-or-death matter.*

No. 2 pointed out in a serious tone. That was true. The Violets who had been listening quietly also nodded. Then No. 12 came up with a rather amusing idea.

*Don’t worry, we can use shock therapy!*

The Violets who heard that agreed, saying it was a good idea.

Taking No. 12’s suggestion into account, I should take those human siege weapon friends to the Alkecia Forest. If I make them fight bus-sized cockroach monsters, their insect phobia might lessen a bit.

“After we work together here for about a day or two, we plan to immediately go to the next dungeon to earn funds.”

And I explained the dungeons we would be heading to next: a super-large department store city where mysterious artifacts appear infinitely, a mine where rare metals spring forth, and a snowy field with another Aether Emitter.

“When does the schedule start?”

When Kalia asked, I calculated the remaining time until the deal with Armas. I also considered the internal trends of the academy. It would be best to do it as quickly as possible.

“In two days. Until then, everyone rest well! Because we’ll be running without a break.”

This is also the time needed to handle Irene’s matters and prepare supplies.

Now, only the last part of the presentation remained. Before turning the final page of the prepared materials, I spoke to the assembled people.

“By any chance, are you all thinking about transferring?”

“Transferring?”

I explained the academy city’s regulations that I had found previously.

“See?”

It was a regulation I had found a long time ago. A rule of the academy city that if something happened to an academy, its students would be allowed to transfer to another academy.

“No way, you’re saying you planned to terrorize it, aiming for that?”

“Exactly! And since we’re transferring anyway, wouldn’t it be better to go to a good academy?”

“What the hell, this is insane…”

Lucian seemed flabbergasted, letting out a series of ‘huh’ sounds and staring at me in disbelief. To not understand my grand scheme. How did he even get in as the second-ranked student, I wonder?

I turned to the final page. The Aegis Academy logo appeared.

“I looked into it, and Aegis Academy is supposed to be good! The seniors are kind, and there are no strange irrationalities. And most importantly…”

I pointed to the beautiful blonde woman displayed next to the Aegis Academy logo.

“Adelaide Clarissa Novena Cascadia…? Cascadia, isn’t that a noble family?”

“Correct. She’s the student council president of Aegis Academy, and she’s pretty and kind!”

Kalia asked, looking puzzled.

“You’re not judging based on looks alone, are you? The student council president of the academy you attended, that guy, he looked pretty decent in photos. But he’s the one who went around killing students. On what grounds do you think that girl is kind?”

Hearing Kalia’s words, I felt frustrated internally. To compare five-star student Adela to that parasitic bastard. How unfair!

Since I couldn’t talk about the game’s settings, I brought up another reason.

“Well, I met her myself!”

I explained about receiving contact information from Adela.

“It’s strange for her to give her contact information to someone she just met. But there’s no way we can transfer just with this.”

“Right. It’s just that we’ve made a connection, that’s all.”

Transferring is also a matter for the distant future.

But I definitely want to go. Especially since Adela was incredibly kind to me.

After finishing the minor explanations, I concluded the presentation.

“Alright, everyone rest well!”

As I thought about the people leaving the factory, I formulated my future plans.

A few days later, when all preparations were complete.

Six students and the Violet Group headed towards the Arklight Ruins.

It was time to hunt wyverns.