Chapter 440: Episode 440

The conversation of the newly minted 330th Student Council carried on through the night and into the early hours of the morning.

“Let’s introduce a cafeteria evaluation system!” Meirin declared. “Honestly, some of the campus restaurants serve subpar food, but they get away with it because of the lunchtime rush! So, let’s bring in student evaluations. For places with bad reviews, the student council will formally request improvements. If they refuse to change, we’ll kick them out and bring in a new restaurant! What do you think?”

“Ooh, not bad,” Dick chimed in, but Kamibarez gently offered a counterpoint.

“If we do that, won’t the restaurants try too hard to cater only to the majority’s tastes?”

“Isn’t that a good thing?” Meirin countered.

“N-No! For example, a vegetarian restaurant might get lower overall ratings, but it’s essential for some students! I think respecting diversity is important, too!”

“There’s also the issue of review bombing,” Simon added.

Watching the three of them chatter away, a faint smile touched Simon’s lips. ’Aren’t they all working a little too hard?’ He was getting tired and wanted to sleep, but their passion was so infectious he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

“By the way, everyone,” he said instead, gently shifting the mood. “Can the student council actually replace campus facilities?”

“Of course, we can! We’re not just any student council; we’re the student council of the great Kizen!” Meirin proclaimed, puffing out her chest. She was still riding the high of her new position. It made sense—she had become Kizen’s second-in-command overnight.

“Realistically, major changes like replacing a cafeteria would need approval from the administration,” Dick offered, his answer surprisingly analytical. “But if we present statistics reflecting student opinion and argue our case persistently, I think there’s a high chance they’ll agree.”

“Hmm.”

“Now, this is where the real business starts!” Dick’s eyes gleamed. “Let’s say Meirin creates a vacancy with her evaluation system. The competition among businesses wanting to get into Kizen would be fierce, right? We can select them through a bidding process!”

As expected of an entrepreneur, Dick immediately saw the financial opportunity.

“Besides that, the student council actually has a pretty significant cash flow. If we manage it well, we could each buy a ship before we graduate…”

“Hey! Are you already thinking about embezzling public funds? I will personally end you!” Meirin shrieked.

“I was merely discussing the efficiency of asset management.”

Watching them bicker again, Simon quietly turned his head. “Kamibarez, what are you up to?”

“…Ah.” She smiled shyly and held up her notebook. “I’m practicing how to write the meeting minutes!”

“That’s our secretary!” Meirin beamed, pulling Kamibarez into a tight hug. “Unlike someone else, her dedication is on another level!”

“I protest the vice president’s discrimination against her fellow officers!”

“Shut it, commoner.”

Simon chuckled. He was a little tired, but he was glad they were all so excited about the student council. More than anything, he was relieved they would still see each other often, even after the specialized department system was introduced in their second year. The four of them talked late into the night, their heads full of dreams of changing the school.

“Um…” Meirin approached Simon, glancing at him cautiously.

“What is it?”

“That…” She began to fidget, suddenly shy. She lifted Kamibarez’s notebook to hide her blushing cheeks. “What do you think about that entrance ceremony agenda I mentioned earlier… Pr-President?”

A faint smile played on Simon’s lips. “Don’t be so awkward. Just call me what you usually do.”

Dick howled with laughter, slamming his hands on the table. “Wow, this night is legendary! We’ve got a new entry for the chronicles of shy Meirin!” He picked up an empty plate, used it to partially hide his face, and mimicked her in a clumsy, high-pitched voice, “What do you think of this agenda, Mr. Pre-si-dent.”

“Hey! I never said it like that!” Meirin, red to the tips of her ears, snatched the plate and threw it at his face.

The plate connected with a dull ’thwack’, sending Dick tumbling backward as Simon and Kamibarez burst into laughter.

“He’s our superior now, so it’s only natural to address him properly!” Meirin shouted, her clenched fists trembling with embarrassment.

Simon spoke up. “Just call me what you always have. The presidency will last a few years at most, but we’ll be friends forever.”

“…Oof.” Dick, who had been sprawled on the floor, shot his head up. “Did a single glass of wine inspire some kind of cheesy speech competition? Simon’s declaration of eternal friendship! Now this is a rare sight!”

Simon sighed. “…Can we just fire him right now?”

—

The next day, the four friends, who had stayed up all night fueled by passion, woke a little after noon. After tidying the room and changing into the traditional outfits they had rented, they headed back to the downtown area of the Parona Peninsula.

“There are even more people than yesterday!” Kamibarez exclaimed, her eyes wide. Just as she said, the streets were so packed with people that they had reached a standstill.

“There’ll be even more tomorrow, Kamibarez,” Dick said, looking over his shoulder.

“Why?”

“Because tomorrow is the main event! The real highlight of the Parona Peninsula!”

The peninsula was a long finger of land jutting out from the continent. Below it was Parona Island, and the two territories together were called the Parona region. They were close enough to be connected by a bridge, and it was through the narrow sea passage between them that…

“Once every two years, at the exact same time, the whale monster ‘Deimos’ and a legion of other sea creatures pass through!”

Simon’s eyes widened in surprise. “Wait a minute. Deimos? As in, the same kind of Deimos I have?”

“Yep, that’s the one!”

Deimos was a giant whale monster that could be used to create the special undead known as the ’Nether Whale’. It could control other sea creatures by emitting a unique wavelength, earning it the moniker ‘Ruler of the Sea.’ While Simon didn’t have a full-fledged Nether Whale, he had acquired a dead baby Deimos and was using it as a summon.

“Doesn’t that sound totally awesome?” Dick asked, his expression enraptured as he practically sprayed spittle. “Just imagine it! Deimos and countless sea creatures passing through that narrow strait! It’s the greatest spectacle on the seas, something you can’t see anywhere else on the continent!”

“I get it, so just walk! You’re holding everyone up!” Meirin chided.

Kamibarez asked again, “But Dick, if Deimos is coming tomorrow, where are we going today?”

“To the Deimos Museum! It’s a must-see on the peninsula.”

The ground rumbled as a large carriage approached. Just then, Simon, who had been watching their backs, silently wrapped an arm around Kamibarez’s shoulder and pulled her toward him.

“Ah!”

She found herself pressed against him as the carriage rumbled past, kicking up a cloud of dust that showered the people nearby.

“Agh! Seriously, what kind of person brings a carriage into a place like this?” Meirin fumed, coughing.

Meanwhile, Kamibarez was blushing as she looked up at Simon.

“You could get lost in this crowd,” he said quietly. “Stick close.”

Feeling her heart melt, Kamibarez nodded. “Okay, Simon!”

—

After pushing through the throng, the four of them arrived at the Deimos Museum. As Dick had said, it was a major tourist attraction. Stepping into the large, cool interior felt like a welcome relief from the stuffy streets.

“Welcome! I’ll be your guide for the day…”

The museum was so vast that a guide began a new tour every twenty minutes. Simon’s group fell in with one and listened to the explanations.

“Please look at the map to your side!” the guide announced, holding a magical amplifying crystal. The entire wall was a map showing the Parona region and its surrounding waters. Sparkling markers dotted the sea. “This marks the current location of Deimos. Here in Parona, we begin tracking its position a month before the event! Based on its speed, Deimos and its subjects should be passing through tomorrow afternoon.”

The visitors murmured excitedly at the thought of seeing the great beast.

’Hmm.’ Simon, as a Deimos owner himself, was particularly interested and listened more intently than anyone.

“Are there any questions?” the guide asked, scanning the crowd. No one raised a hand. Then, the guide’s finger singled out Simon. “How about the young man who’s been listening so earnestly!”

Simon looked up, startled.

“Yes, you! The one pointing at himself! Do you have a question?”

“Ah, um…” Simon scratched his head. “You said Deimos passes through here.”

“That’s right!”

“Is it okay to… catch it?”

A moment of silence fell before laughter erupted from the guide and the crowd.

“Haha! That’s actually a great question! Hunting Deimos isn’t forbidden, but the number of times one has been successfully captured by humans can be counted on one hand. One of those legendary figures is the world’s greatest necromancer, the ‘Witch of Death’! Have you heard the story of the Nether Whale that transports Kizen’s new students? That very creature was made from a Deimos.”

Hearing that only made Simon’s desire for an adult Deimos burn brighter. He wasn’t sure if he could defeat a rank-8 threat, but he wanted to at least try…

“However,” the guide continued sternly, “attacking a Deimos that has entered Parona’s waters is a crime, and you will be arrested immediately. Provoking it during the festival could lead to a catastrophe! You must watch from a safe distance! Is that clear?”

’So it’s not allowed after all.’

“You’re hopeless,” Meirin muttered, shaking her head with a laugh.

The guide’s detailed explanation continued. ’The more I hear, the more fascinating it is,’ Simon thought.

Deimos apparently had a habit of circling the continent’s waters over a two-year period, always following the same route at the same time. If that route overlapped with another Deimos’s, a great sea war would erupt between their respective legions of sea creatures. The guide showed them a photo of such a battle, taken with a magic camera. It was a sea of blood stretching to the horizon, littered with the pale, floating bellies of countless marine animals. After the war, the victor would absorb the loser’s territory through mental domination. If the battle was between a male and a female, a forced mating would occur before the loser was killed.

“And that’s how one dies and the baby Deimos are born! The world of monsters is a terrifying place, isn’t it?”

Dick, who had been nodding along beside Meirin, adopted a serious expression. “Kinky.”

“I swear to God, just get your head smashed in and die, you pervert,” she hissed.

After following the guide around the museum, Simon’s group arrived at the final exhibit.

“And now for the highlight of our Deimos Museum! The life-sized skeletal structure of a Deimos!”

Gasps of awe rippled through the tourists. The skeleton filled an entire floor, and even then, it was so cramped that the massive tail had to be detached and displayed below. Everyone was stunned by its sheer scale.

“Guide!” Simon couldn’t help but raise his hand.

“Yes, the enthusiastic black-haired student!”

“Are these bones… real?”

The guide simply winked. Simon sighed internally. ’…Right, no way they’re real.’ If they were, necromancers would have stopped at nothing to acquire them for a Nether Whale or other undead creations.

“However!” the guide announced, pointing upward. “This head section is an actual Deimos skull!”

Everyone’s gaze shot upward. Indeed, the whale’s skull was a different color and texture from the rest of the body. Its teeth gleamed with a golden light, and the surrounding spotlights were focused on it.

“It’s a paleontological asset of immeasurable value! The original teeth were damaged, so the museum director had them filled with real gold! It’s a masterpiece that can only be seen here at our Parona Peninsula Deimos Museum!”

Simon immediately began to study the skull. The head really did seem to be authentic. He could see traces of necromantic techniques, like cryopreservation, in various places.

“Hey, President! Where are you going?” Dick called out.

“Just going to take a closer look.”

Simon observed the bones meticulously, examining them from every angle. ’How much would it cost to get something like this… Huh?’

His eyes landed on a visitor in a plain brown robe. A few strands of golden hair peeked out from the edge of the hood.

’Hmm.’ Simon’s eyes narrowed. ’That face looks so familiar.’

The person spotted Simon at the same moment. His eyes widened, and he flinched, taking a step back. Simon strode toward him.

“Excuse me, but are you perhaps…”

The visitor spun around and broke into a run without a backward glance.

“W-Wait a minute!” Simon immediately gave chase.

“Stop right there!” a voice shouted.

Simon wasn’t the only one chasing the man. A red-haired boy suddenly shot out from a side corridor.

Simon and the boy collided with a heavy thud. In that brief moment of chaos, the robed figure escaped with nimble movements.

“Ugh!”

He thought he was going to fall, but Simon dug in his heels and distributed Jet-Black through his body to steady himself. Barely avoiding a tumble, he looked ahead.

“I-I’m so sorry… Huh?”

The red-haired boy stared back at him. “You’re the one I bumped into yesterday…!”

Simon remembered, too. It was the same boy who had made him fall on his rear end. Of all the people to run into again.

“T-Twice! Aaaah! I’m so, so sorry!” the boy cried, bowing repeatedly. “It really wasn’t on purpose! I’m not a pickpocket or anything suspicious, I swear! Please believe me! I’m just a little clumsy…!”

His reaction was too raw to be an act; tears were welling in his eyes.

“Simon!”

“What happened?”

Meirin, Dick, and Kamibarez rushed over. Simon held up a hand to signal he was fine. “It’s nothing. We just bumped into each other.”

“I’m really sorr—! ’Sob’!” The boy, after bowing several more times, held something out to Simon. “Please take this as my apology!”

“…What?”

“I bought it at the market. It’s an artifact that makes dropped coins really stand out!”

He forcibly pressed a small keychain into Simon’s hand. ’An artifact?’ It looked like a cheap souvenir. He couldn’t feel any trace of magic from it.

“Well then, I have to go! I’m really, really sorry!”

With that, he vanished as if fleeing for his life. Simon watched him go, his eyes narrowed with suspicion. ’Who in the world is that guy?’

—

The man in the brown robe stumbled out of the Deimos Museum, panting for breath.

“Why…!”

His robe had fallen off in his haste, revealing a shock of golden hair. It was Malcolm Randolph.

“Why the hell is that bastard Simon here?!” he seethed, grinding his teeth.

Kizen’s number one student. The source of all his misfortune. And he was here, on the Parona Peninsula.

’What should I do? Do I have to change the plan?’

The soft tap of footsteps sounded in the distance. Was Simon chasing him? He whirled around, but the footsteps stopped as if they had never been there.

A suffocating tension filled the air. Then—

A soft clink sounded from the opposite direction.

’Damn it!’

Malcolm’s head snapped back around. A red-haired boy with a sword strapped to his back stood there, panting.

“Phew! Hah! I finally found you!”

The boy held a drawing that looked like a wanted poster. He glanced between the sketch and Malcolm’s face before breaking into a wide, toothy grin.

“If I’m not mistaken… no, I’m definitely right! The son of the Randolph Gang’s boss, Malcolm Randolph!”

Malcolm lowered his stance, his body tense. “Who are you?”

With a faint hiss of steel, a line of red appeared on his shoulder, blood already welling from the cut.

The cloth wrapped around the object on the boy’s back flew into the air with a snap, revealing a sharp sword now held firmly in his hand.

“Don’t move,” the boy said. His clumsy demeanor was gone, replaced by a low, level tone as he aimed the blade. “Next time, I’ll take your head.”

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