Chapter 36

I ride Bungbungi through the corridor together with Diana.

“Are you really fully recovered?”

“Yes, I’m perfectly fine!”

While saying that, I roll up my sleeves as if to show off my health, but the pathetic number of STR 1 shows that all I have is soft, pale skin with no muscle.

Sigh, this isn’t right.

“…Are you really okay?”

Look at this, Diana’s brow is furrowing deeper.

“I’m really fine! Besides, you should get to class too, Miss Diana.”

Bungbungi comes to a stop, and a holographic sign reading 1-A class hovers over the door.

“Sure, then I’ll be going too…”

She trails off.

“Edu, your classmates, including Mili and Sita, have been really worried about you, so please go visit them and reassure them.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Then good luck with your studies.”

“Thank you.”

Diana bows her head slightly and walks away, and I lean on Bungbungi as I watch her back.

“Then let’s go in, Bungbung.”

[Beeep. / (˶•▿•˶)]

Bungbungi slides through the door that Hands opened, and at the same time, the chattering voices of students suddenly stop.

“…Huh?”

My classmates stare at me blankly.

Wondering what’s going on, I look at their faces, and starting with a boy who rushes in with an expression as if he saw a celebrity, almost all the students in the class swarm around me.

What’s going on? Why are they acting like this?

“Edu, right?”

“Yeah, that’s him. Can’t you even remember the name of someone in your own class?”

“Are you alright with your injuries?”

Questions pour in haphazardly, and as I’m bewildered by the unexpected situation, I spot a familiar face pushing through the crowd.

With a large build and height, the muscles on him are so packed that the academy uniform looks tight, giving an intimidating impression.

“Everyone calm down, you’re startling Edu.”

But the words he speaks are soft and gentle.

“Jack?”

Yes, Jack Dillian.

A character with a reliable and steadfast demeanor who acts without a word. He was the one who took the lead without complaint during recreation the day before.

“Yeah, that’s right. Are you okay, Edu?”

As he speaks, he gestures for the others to back off. Maybe because of his fierce physique, my classmates slowly retreat, glancing at Jack.

“I was a little surprised… but why is everyone acting like this?”

“Ah, Edu doesn’t know, I see.”

“???”

With a smile, Jack touches his neck and opens his mouth.

“ID, show me the Star Net.”

[Code verification, visualizing Star Net.]

A hologram rises from Jack’s forearm.

“Huh? An internet community…?”

It resembles an online community called AOE that I used to frequent during its heyday, with a bulletin board structure.

Star Net…

Since ‘Star’ is in the academy’s name, could this be a community site officially recognized by the academy?

“Here, take a good look.”

Jack extends his arm, and I decide to accept the offer, focusing on the floating hologram.

As a bulletin board structure, numerous posts are jumbled together, but among the titles, some seem alarming.

– Is this year’s freshman level for real? My heart…

– From now on, I withdraw my support for Edu…

– The future of humanity is bright!!! [8]

– Nisia, that girl is amazing, the future is bright…

– Starting now, we will have a time to praise Edu. [49]

– Haha, what are the Solar brothers doing~…

– Is there a freshman catching cans right after enrollment?…

Withdraw my support for Edu? Praise time for Edu?

What the heck is that?

What on earth is happening?

“…Jack, what is that?”

“Edu and Nisia defeated the invaders that invaded the academy, right?”

“Yeah.”

“That story seems to have spread among the students.”

“I get that, but isn’t it a bit over the top to cause such a ruckus?”

“Over the top?!”

“Eek?!”

I unintentionally let out a childish sound and flinch at the sudden shout.

“…Edward, Edu is startled.”

Jack sighs, and as he said, Edward approaches us. When he adjusts his glasses, they glint as the light reflects off them.

Edward, a character whose intelligence categorizes him among the minds scorched by lightning during what could only be described as a catastrophe disguised as recreation.

However, there are no traces of that day on his body, not even in his gray hair or slightly pushed-up glasses.

“That’s not important—”

“Edward?”

“Um, I’m sorry.”

Edward capitulates before Jack’s overwhelming physical presence. That physique is indeed ridiculous.

“But! I can’t condone the word over the top, Edu.”

“….”

As he says that, Edward points at us with a finger.

Wait, isn’t he supposed to be a silent, cool character in AOE? Who is this clown before me? Could he be a namesake?

Regardless, it seems a bit ridiculous to hear Edward, who is demonstrating what over-the-top is, stating such words, but he looks like he has a lot to say, so I just let it go.

“That invader, it’s a steel monster that tears and kills people, Edu.”

“I know.”

“Knowing that, why are you reacting like this?! The fact that a freshman who hasn’t even been properly trained defeated such a monster is an incredible achievement!”

“Hmm….”

Is that so?

It is certainly true that something like a Hunter Bot would be much stronger than I am now, so I can say I deserve some praise, but still, I don’t think it’s that big of a deal.

To be honest, something like Attack Bot A type is something academy students can handle depending on their effort—

‘Ah.’

As I’m having those thoughts, something I’ve overlooked comes to mind.

Thinking back, my conclusions about the invaders being no big deal are based solely on knowledge from AOE.

Ordinary academy students will likely never encounter a real invader until they graduate, and considering the academy’s characteristics of having little to no entertainment or issues to deal with, I can somewhat understand their excitement now.

“Um, but what about Nisia?”

“Nisia is already too worn out, she looks like that.”

Edward points to the back of the class, and I can see Nisia with her head buried in her desk from far away.

Has she raised her trembling hand, perhaps realizing I’m watching her?

She must be completely drained.

“So, Edu, instead of just sitting there, you should share your glorious tale with everyone—”

At that moment, the bell rings, interrupting Edward’s words.

The classroom door swings open, and Irina enters.

“Um? What is everyone doing here? Class is about to start.”

Her soft voice.

But due to the horrifying memories of ‘recreation,’ I reflexively flinch.

Is the memory of that day still vivid in everyone else’s minds? The classmates who were around me, who had been packed together, quickly disperse back to their seats like the tide.

Irina has a subtle expression at that reaction.

Well, I think she arrived at just the right time, so I head to my seat.

“Hello, Edu. Are you feeling better?”

When I reach my seat, Nisia greets me.

She must have suffered a lot from the others, as I can feel her voice trembling slightly.

“Yeah, thanks to the principal, I’m okay.”

“That’s a relief.”

“But Nisia, you got shot that day too; are your injuries all healed?”

“Yeah, Teacher Nanasen treated me well, so I’m better now, but just in case, she told me not to overdo it yet.”

“I see.”

Slowly getting up, Nisia glances around before leaning closer to me and whispers.

“But Edu, what were those people doing here?”

“Huh? Didn’t the principal tell you?”

“Uh, Teacher Diana said she had a conversation with Teacher Nanasen and that we shouldn’t spread the rumors about what happened.”

“Is that so…?”

It’s a bit unsettling, and I wonder if it was to prevent confusion within the academy.

In any case, based on what I’ve seen of Diana’s personality so far, she must have her own reasoning for acting that way, so it should be okay to ask her later.

“More than that, I’m sorry Edu.”

“Huh? For what?”

“That day, I couldn’t help at all.”

That day? What does she mean?

At least she’s not referring to our fight against the invaders, so there’s only one thing left.

“Nisia, are you talking about the day I got captured by those people?”

“Yeah.”

As she answers, Nisia’s expression darkens.

“Hmm?”

Wait, she got shot that day too and was being treated; why is she feeling sorry? That thought briefly crosses my mind, but my thoughts stop as I remember what I have to do over the weekend.

Stop, stop!

The rapid-fire thoughts, and the sensor that’s been honed through countless experiences starts blinking—no, wait, it sparks to life.

If I handle this right…!

“I don’t think there’s any need to feel that bad… but if it’s bothering you that much, can I ask you for a favor?”

“A favor?”

“It’s not a difficult one.”

Since all I’ll be doing is enjoying a pleasant outing on a nice ride, I can honestly say that it’s not a lie.

Plus, it also includes loads of experience and growth, right? There’s a bit of risk involved, but that’s trivial.

Yes, exactly!

Thinking that, I look at Nisia, who is smiling widely, oblivious to my true feelings.

“Sure, I’ll help with anything!”

A pure response filled with goodwill.

Thus, the protagonist girl, writing that she’ll do anything, becomes embroiled in a perilous tour that could only be described as a dangerous outing on the surface.