"Run! Simon!"
Kamibarez fired a barrage of blood flow grenades, shooting down the students who were chasing after them.
The range and speed of the grenades were far superior to the usual explosive ones, resembling the precision of a sniper.
With her protection, Simon sprinted forward without any hindrance and finally reached the entrance of the mansion.
- Class A Simon Polentia.
Mansion entry confirmed.
He stepped onto the entrance of the mansion.
Hearing the announcement, Simon exhaled deeply and placed his hands on his knees.
"Am I late?"
Loraine, who had been waiting inside the mansion, waved her hand casually.
She was in the process of sending her skeletal horse back to the void.
"Just a little trouble."
Simon wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve as he replied.
"Oh my— I'm the last one here!" Serne approached the mansion, surrounded by about a dozen students who were desperately protecting her from the relentless attacks.
Thanks to their escort, Serne stepped lightly into the mansion without breaking a sweat.
- Class C Serne Aindark.
Mansion entry confirmed.
"Good job, my slaves."
She snapped her fingers.
The feathers that had stuck to the students scattered into the air and disappeared.
As they regained their senses, they looked around in confusion.
"Uh, what’s going on?"
"Why am I here?" Loraine narrowed her eyes and approached Serne.
"Don’t you think that’s a bit unfair? You could have entered on your own without bothering the other students..."
"I just used my abilities fairly. What’s wrong with that?" Serne smiled mischievously.
"If it bothers you, go tell your mom. Ask her to expel me."
"Stop talking nonsense. I won’t move according to your wishes."
The two began to growl at each other.
Simon, caught in the middle, sighed inwardly. 'Being stuck between these two is exhausting.
Really.'
"Simon!" Kamibarez rushed over and tightly grasped Simon's hand.
"I’m so glad! Really glad! Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"
......
Seeing her pure concern, Simon felt his mood lift dramatically.
It was oddly heartwarming.
"Yeah, I’m fine, Kami. Thanks for earlier."
Kamibarez was startled and let go of Simon's hand.
Then, feeling embarrassed, she looked down at her toes before looking up again with a sheepish smile.
"Um— Simon?"
Serne called his name as she approached.
Simon felt his body tense up instinctively.
"You owe me a big debt, right?"
"...... Y-Yeah. Thanks for helping."
He had no choice but to admit it.
Serne placed her finger on her lips and smiled slyly.
"Ah, sometimes this emotional stuff is nice. What should I ask for?"
"I do owe you, but that doesn’t mean it’s like granting a wish or something."
"I know, I know. Then..."
"Simon!!" Bang!
Meirin, who had returned from fighting Eliza, stormed in with a fierce presence.
She pushed Serne aside with her palm and stepped in front of Simon.
Serne let out a fake scream and pretended to fall, but Meirin didn’t care.
"I warned you! I told you to avoid that girl at all costs!"
"Uh? Huh?"
"Then why are you with her?!"
"That’s a long story..."
At that moment, Serne clung to Meirin's arm with a smile.
"Meirin! What are you doing here?"
"Get lost!" Meirin growled, pushing her face away.
Serne pouted, making a sulky face.
"Hey, that’s mean. I just want to be friends with Meirin."
"Don’t even think about it! It’s creepy, so stop!"
Meirin said with disgust.
Then, as if remembering something, she narrowed her eyes.
"And you, you little brat. You stuck feathers in me without me knowing, didn’t you?"
"Huh?"
"Why would I attack Simon? That was your doing!"
Serne tilted her head.
"I don’t really know."
"Don’t play dumb!"
Meirin's face turned red with anger.
Serne shook her head, making a childish sound.
"And Serne’s ability doesn’t create false emotions; it amplifies existing ones. Meirin attacking Simon was just her being true to her feelings..."
"Stop with the nonsense and just die!"
The two began to fight, though it felt more like Meirin was beating up Serne, who was just taking it.
"Serneeeee!"
A voice boomed throughout the mansion.
Serne smirked.
"See, I’m a sinful woman."
"?"
The one who stepped into the mansion was none other than Malcolm Randolph, number 10 of the special class.
"You bastard!"
He approached and grabbed Serne by the collar.
She didn’t resist and let her arms hang limply.
"How dare you manipulate me into such a humiliating act?"
"Oh my— I have no idea what you’re talking about..."
Bang!
Malcolm threw Serne harshly to the ground.
As she fell, murmurs erupted around them.
"...... It’s only you."
Malcolm said, panting.
"Only you could humiliate me like that! How dare you toy with me like a dog?"
Serne, lying on the ground, wiped the blood from her lips without a word.
Malcolm tightened his grip on the staff in his hand.
"Whether it’s the ivory tower or whatever, you need to be punished."
Just as Malcolm raised his staff, Simon, who had approached like a shadow, tightly grasped his weapon.
"......!"
"Stop it."
Malcolm strained his arms, but he didn’t budge.
His surprised gaze turned toward the back.
"What are you?!"
"This is a non-combat zone."
Malcolm gritted his teeth and struggled, but he couldn’t overpower Simon’s strength.
In a situation where many students were watching, Malcolm’s face turned red with sudden humiliation as he aimed his left hand at Simon’s head.
"I’ll just kill you too......!"
Swish.
A dark dagger flew silently past Malcolm’s eye.
Thud.
The dagger lodged itself into the wall.
Loraine, sitting at a table with her legs crossed, sipped her juice with red eyes fixed on him.
'......
Loraine Ackbold.
You too!'
Though it was just a simple act of throwing a dagger, Malcolm felt his strength drain away.
The intent to fight faded, and Simon let go of his grip.
"Damn it......!"
Malcolm pushed past Simon and stormed up the stairs.
The previously quiet surroundings filled with chatter again as he disappeared.
"Are you okay, Serne?"
Simon asked, extending his hand.
Serne smiled brightly and took his hand to rise.
Meirin, with her arms crossed, watched with an uncomfortable expression.
"Thank you, Simon."
"Glad to hear that. Then we’re even..."
"Don’t tell me~"
Serne winked.
"Just because you helped me deal with a rat that disturbed the lion’s mane, we’re even? I wouldn’t think of saying that."
Simon felt a bit embarrassed.
He tried to brush it off, but it didn’t work.
"If you want a reward, get it from Malcolm. I just barely survived thanks to you~"
Serne waved her hand and disappeared.
Following her, Loraine, having finished her juice, stretched and said she was going to shower.
"Oh, by the way, where’s Dick?"
Simon asked Kamibarez.
"We’re waiting for him too."
"I thought he’d be here first."
Now there were about 10 minutes left.
The students guarding the mansion began to enter one by one.
The members of Group 7 continued to wait at the entrance for Dick.
"Meirin, have you seen Dick at all?"
"...... I don’t know."
She replied curtly, turning her head away.
Why does she look so unhappy?
With about 5 minutes left, students rushed in, and even Eliza and the students who had been guarding the mansion entered.
"How dare you sink my ghost ship?"
Eliza glared at Meirin as soon as she entered, frowning.
Meirin smirked and waved her hand as if to say get lost.
"If you’re brave enough, challenge me anytime~ I’ll sink all the other ships too."
"Ugh......!"
Eliza trembled with rage but turned her back without saying another word.
Simon blinked in surprise.
"You fought and won against special class 7?"
"Well, I can’t say I won, but there are always matchups."
Meirin chuckled, looking like she had some confidence.
"It’s a countdown to going home!"
The students waiting at the entrance began a loud 10-second countdown.
Everyone was tense, staring at the door.
"5!"
"4!"
"3!"
"2......!"
And just as they were about to count down to 1 second, Dick stepped in with a relaxed stride.
"Ha ha ha! Success!"
"Dick!"
Beeeeeeeeeeep!
- Survival Island has ended.
All students are to cease combat and await in a safe location.
- Teleportation will be carried out sequentially, starting with the students outside the mansion.
Please do not exit until the teleportation magic circle is drawn.
"Wow!"
"It’s over!"
"Let’s go eat steak instead of monsters!"
"Who wants to go to Rochester for dinner!"
The students inside the mansion cheered, reveling in their joy.
Simon smiled and high-fived Dick.
"What took you so long?"
Dick chuckled.
"I was just waiting nearby until it was safely over. No need to take unnecessary risks."
"Glad to hear that, Dick!"
"What’s safe about coming in with just 1 second left? Ugh, you fool!"
Simon sat back on a nearby sofa, leaning back comfortably.
The thought of returning to Kizen made him feel drowsy.
Thud.
Thud.
At that moment, Hector approached Simon, dragging his scales behind him.
The three beside him flinched and guarded themselves.
"...... Simon Polentia."
Simon looked up at Hector.
What was he going to say now?
"The monster that appeared on the southern island."
Hector’s eyes gleamed as he continued.
"Did you catch it?"
Simon smiled and shook his head.
"Think what you want."
......
Hector stared at Simon in silence before turning and walking up the stairs.
A little later, all the first-year students returned to Kizen.
The dormitory bathrooms and public baths were crowded with students.
Those who had washed up in the mansion quickly changed clothes and headed out to Rochester, while others were immediately looking for food.
And.
"Yes, it ended safely. Of course~ I’m fine."
Serne was talking to someone through a communication crystal.
- How did Simon Polentia’s persuasion go?
"Oh, that failed~"
Serne replied nonchalantly.
"He’s not the type to respond to threats or intimidation."
- That’s why he’s number one in the special class.
Then we’ll proceed as originally planned.
If we start working this week....
"But."
Serne interrupted the man’s words.
"Do we really have to kill him?"
- Yes.
There’s no choice.
If he’s not an ally, he’ll just be an enemy.
It’s better to hurry before Kizen notices and takes action....
"Uncle."
She rested her chin on her palm, gazing at the communication crystal with a smile.
"You’re working really hard. Are you perhaps interested in the position of commander?"
The man’s face in the crystal showed confusion.
- W-What do you mean? That’s too much!
"Ah ha ha! I’m sorry. I was just joking."
She waved her hand lightly.
"As someone who’s directly involved on the ground and as the heir of the ivory tower, I’ll give the next instructions."
- Yes?
"Please give me a little more time."
- W-What do you mean......!
She smiled brightly.
"Simon Polentia is an irreplaceable existence. Eliminating him to take the legion would be a mistake. I’ll take my time and persuade him slowly."
- That......! Please reconsider! This is a matter concerning the future of the ivory tower! No matter how much of an heir you are, you can’t just decide on such a significant matter......!
"I’ll talk to my father directly. I’ll take full responsibility. Is that okay?"
She unilaterally ended the communication.
With an elegant gesture, the feather that had been holding the teacup floated forward.
She held the cup and took a sip of coffee.
Slurp.
Enjoying the sweet taste, she looked up at the ceiling with a strange smile.
"I’ll be looking forward to it, Simon Polentia."
Thus, the assassination plan against Simon by the radical faction of the ivory tower was indefinitely postponed under Serne’s authority.