Evening had arrived.
After finishing a dessert food fight with Yunia, I took her to join the others who were enjoying themselves elsewhere.
Had this been a regular five-star hotel or a Japanese ryokan, we might have gone to a buffet or been served a course meal while wearing kimonos. However, this place styled itself as a resort.
“Did everyone enjoy their time in the water?”
“Oh, you’re here?”
“Welcome.”
The resort’s pool.
In the spacious water, Evangeline and Ludmila splashed at each other, while Yurha and Instructor Esta, who had been sunbathing on lounge chairs in skimpy swimsuits until evening, came to greet Yunia and me.
“Oh my, is it this late already?”
Yurha, who had been reclining comfortably, reached for a cardigan she had left nearby and started tidying up her outfit.
“Instructor, your swimsuit strap is…”
“It’s fine as it is, Yurha.”
“Junior Phoenix is here, though.”
“I’ve shown worse before, so it’s not a problem.”
All eyes turned to me at Instructor Esta’s remark, who was lying on a lounge chair with her swimsuit straps undone.
“Instructor, even if we’re outside the Academy, such jokes are a bit much.”
“But am I wrong?”
“If you fabricate another story like that, there will be no more massages for you.”
“…You probably caught a glimpse during one of the massage sessions.”
“No way.”
Grumbling briefly, Instructor Esta adjusted her swimsuit.
“Alright, alright. Let’s start getting ready.”
Meanwhile, Yurha issued instructions through the magic pad on her wrist, and soon, a group of women in maid uniforms began bringing various ingredients and utensils to the table.
Dinner time.
Although some dishes were already prepared, the highlight was the meat on trays enchanted with freezing magic.
When it comes to resorts, what’s quintessential?
Barbecue.
“Phoenix, we’re grilling meat for the barbecue. Should I call someone to help? He’s a man, though.”
“Then give it to me. I’ll grill it.”
“Miss Ludmila, you will?”
“Grilling meat has been my job since my mercenary days. My grandfather taught me the craft.”
“Hmm…”
Yurha considered calling a chef to let a professional handle the grilling but relented when Ludmila insisted on wielding the tongs herself.
“I wanted to test the chef’s skills, though…”
“Save that for someone else, Senior. It’s more comfortable with just us Old School Building folks here anyway.”
“Is that so?”
Although Yurha seemed slightly disappointed at not being able to test the chef, she waved the maids who brought the ingredients and utensils out of the area.
“If you need anything, just call for them again. Alright?”
“Yes, Miss.”
The maids departed, though a few gave me wary looks as they left. I couldn’t help but chuckle at their glances.
“Senior Yurha, those maids who called you ‘Miss’ seem extremely loyal. They look at me like I’m some delinquent trying to mess with you.”
“I’ll educate them later.”
“No, it’s their professional ethics at work. It’s only natural to eye a blond, tanned guy in a Hawaiian shirt, loose shorts, and sandals with suspicion.”
Like the others in swimsuits, I had dressed casually to suit the resort atmosphere. It drew some stares earlier when I explored the desserts with Yunia, but who cares about attire when you’re at a resort?
It’s not like I’m walking around in just underwear.
Even if I were, as long as I wore a bathrobe and kept it properly closed, it wouldn’t be an issue.
“Help yourselves. If we run out of anything, I’ll have them bring more.”
“Thank you, Senior Yurha. Evangeline, fill up that plate. I’ll take care of this one.”
“Roger.”
Yunia and Evangeline each grabbed two plates and started neatly arranging food, while Ludmila fired up the grill and began preparing steaks.
“As usual? Senior Yurha, how do you like your steak?”
“Medium rare for me, please.”
“Got it. Instructor Esta, two steaks as usual?”
“Yes.”
Yurha poked me in the side with a teasing smile.
“I asked them to prepare plenty, but everyone eats so much without a care. Isn’t it amazing?”
She laughed as she watched our group eat comfortably, with no pretense whatsoever.
“Really, no one holds back, huh? Are they always like this?”
“We’ve been together for almost four months now. And we’ll be sticking together in the future, too.”
“Phoenix, here.”
“Got it.”
I served Yurha a portion of the meat I had brought.
“Don’t you feel like someone’s watching from behind?”
“If you stay so far away, we’ll feel uncomfortable. Or are you worried about oil splashing on your cardigan?”
“Cleaning magic can fix that easily. If I join you all, then…”
“What’s the problem? You’re the host.”
I escorted Yurha to the table, and after some hesitation, she sat down beside Instructor Esta.
“Join us. We’ll be living together at the Old School Building in the future.”
“?”
The others tilted their heads at my words.
“Phoenix, what do you mean by that?”
“It was a last-minute thought, but she took the bait right away.”
With both hands, I gestured toward Yurha, whose expression had stiffened slightly.
“Starting from the second semester, she’ll be our new dormmate. Everyone, say hello.”
“…Instructor Esta?”
“I haven’t heard anything about that.”
The special class looked to Instructor Esta with curiosity, but she firmly responded while slicing her share of steak with a knife.
“It hasn’t even been fully decided at the faculty meeting yet.”
“But Yurha Silverstar has already been ‘evaluated’ multiple times for the risks she poses as a second-year student entering the Old School Building.”
“Risks? Junior, are you saying I’m dangerous?”
“My apologies. By ‘risks’, I meant the term as it applies equally to all students. If the scale runs from 0 to 9, Senior Yurha, your risk level is a 1.”
“Not a 0? Oh, does closer to 0 mean more dangerous?”
“The higher the number, the greater the risk. Senior Yurha, you pose no danger to us whatsoever.”
“And why is that?”
“Because we’re profitable.”
Yurha pursed her lips momentarily, then popped a piece of steak into her mouth, chewing deliberately. It was as if she was saying, ‘Go ahead, explain yourself.’
“Having Senior Yurha join us benefits you personally and is also the most appropriate choice for the Academy.”
“Why?”
“With the infrastructure already established in the Old School Building and the supplies coming in, it makes sense for you to oversee inspections directly. The special class lessons are also more advanced than the main Academy building. Plus, there’s the issue of distributing magic pants. Most importantly…”
“Most importantly?”
“Senior Yurha, don’t you also deserve some ‘special consideration’? Many staff members have family members who want to join Silverstar, and having one of the seven directors attending their classes as a student could be overwhelming for them.”
“I feel like I should hear the instructor’s opinion on this. What do you think, Instructor Esta?”
“To be honest.”
Instructor Esta swallowed a big bite of meat and answered.
“If you offend the daughter of a king, you just avoid that kingdom. But if you cross a Silverstar director, you risk losing access to Silverstar’s services forever. No more resorts like this for life.”
“So, that’s why I’ll be joining the Old School Building in the second semester?”
“Yes. And if there’s one reason above all else…”
I pointed at Yurha.
“Isn’t it because you want this yourself, Senior Yurha?”
“Me?”
“Yes. That’s why you were startled earlier by how informally we’re eating.”
“…Hehe.”
Yurha shook her head with a wry smile.
“That’s right. It’s already decided. Unlike other students whose placements are finalized by the Academy’s faculty meetings, my position is fixed.”
“Fixed? Why?”
“Well…”
Yurha glanced at Yunia meaningfully before replying.
“There’s a very strong bond between me and Phoenix, so that’s why?”
She walked over to me and linked arms, smiling brightly at Yunia and nodding.
“Because Phoenix and I share a very deep bond.”
She hooked her arm around mine and gave Yunia a bright smile and a nod.
“…That applies to us, too.”
“Oh my, are you the top student?”
“What?”
“Phoenix here is the top of the first-year class, and I’m the top of the second-year class. Studying together as top students will naturally create synergy, don’t you think?”
“Top… student?”
“Yes.”
“It’s no lie.”
Instructor Esta testified.
“Yurha really is the top student.”
“I wasn’t planning to excel, but I studied hard to gain the perks of being top-ranked.”
“Did you aim to become top student just to join the Old School Building?”
“Pretty much. Now, shall we have a toast? Nothing alcoholic, of course—just some carbonated drinks.”
Yurha operated her magic pad and summoned someone.
“Let’s all toast. Here’s to working together. I’m officially becoming a member of the Old School Building.”
A maid approached, holding a tray with drinks in both hands.
“Wait a moment.”
Before Yurha could accept a drink, I stepped in front of her and held her back.
“What’s…?”
“You.”
I pointed at the maid’s chest.
“Fake.”
The moment my words ended—
Thud!
Before the maid could pull anything from her chest, something steaming struck her face.
“Ahhh!”
“Nice shot.”
“Well done.”
Whoosh!
As the maid reeled, clutching her face, Instructor Esta slashed horizontally across her chest with her steak knife.
Splat!
Instead of red blood, a sticky substance like slime oozed out.
“…Huh?”
“Ugh, how did you know?! My disguise was perfect…!”
The disguised maid jumped back, creating distance between us.
“Who are you?!”
“You can fool the world, but not a true expert.”
It wasn’t about recognizing her from experience as a gamer.
“Actually, it was the fake chest, wasn’t it?”
“How did you know?!”
“The movement wasn’t natural.”
Her unnatural movements gave her away.
“If you’re going to disguise yourself, be thorough. What kind of cheap trick is this? Isn’t that right, Vinyudan?”
“Everyone, attack!”
Swoosh!
Something started leaping from the direction of the sea.
“They’re all flounders.”
“Let’s goooo!”
