The Extra’s Academy Survival Guide - Chapter 32

Occupation of Ophilis Hall (2)

The sense I am most confident in is smell.

To begin with, merchants are people who make a living by smell. It was the same with Lortel.

They smell scents that others don’t and move half a step faster.

The opportunity to make a fortune usually comes from the difference of just half a step. The way to clear a blocked road also depends on that half step.

– ‘Proposal for support for students entering Ophilis Hall’

Lortel sat at the desk in his room and neatly folded the handwritten proposal in half twice. He then placed it in an envelope and stamped the wax.

“It’s raining a lot as expected.”

Raindrops patter on the window. Even the sky is gloomy, as if the vacation is coming to an end.

More than half of the rooms in the Ofilis building were empty. It won’t be until the end of the weekend when you return to school that your old energy will return. Until then, this somewhat lonely and quiet atmosphere will continue.

Walking alone in a dark hallway with rain hitting the windows gives me a gloomy feeling. Paradoxically. Lortel found the gloomy, gloomy atmosphere more comfortable.

There are so many light sources in this romantic land of learning.

The faces of students who are full of dreams and hopes, who are busy learning and envisioning a beautiful future, shine so brightly that it dazzles our eyes.

Is this really the light of youth? It’s a word that makes me feel awkward for no reason. Naturally, it is a completely unknown world for Lortel.

Bright light makes grime on the body appear again.

When I look down at my desk, I see documents filled with dark intentions.

I have already made contact with ‘Will Lane, the representative of the inferior students’.

He grits his teeth, looking for an opportunity to strike a blow to the students of Ofilis Hall and the school. This heavy rain, which continues for a long time and overlaps with the school return period, will be a definite opportunity for him.

A lot of complaints have already piled up. As long as the inferior students and the general students come up with a cause that they can share, Willaine, who is good at agitating and giving speeches, will pull the trigger.

The head maid who manages the Ofilis building and part of the academic department’s administrative plan review department are already on Lortel’s side. They will enthusiastically support Lortel’s proposal. This is a proposal to actively adjust and support the period of return to school by acknowledging special exceptions only for Ofilis Hall students.

This was clearly discriminatory treatment compared to regular students who had to grit their teeth and go home through the heavy rain.

If you’ve come this far, it doesn’t matter whether the bachelor’s actually accepts Lortel’s proposal or not. The mere fact that this plan is being seriously discussed will make underclass students steadily angry.

“Sooner or later, this quiet atmosphere will end.”

Make the situation as big and flashy as possible. The more property damage, the better. If possible, it would be best to completely destroy the Ofilis tube itself.

The ledger where the logic of money operates is strictly Lortel’s territory. The flow of funds and the financial structure can be clearly seen just by visiting the school a few times.

The university’s finances are already in crisis. Even to repair the Nail pipe and Glokt pipe that were destroyed due to the Glaskan incident, funds had to be raised from Elte Trading Company.

For Lortel, detecting Sylvania Bachelor’s chronic cash shortage was a piece of cake. There is no need to open the ledger.

I visited the school for a semester and clearly saw the conditions on site with my own eyes. The bachelor’s cash flow forecast for one quarter was quickly created with just parchment and ink after a few quill calculations.

It is also clear why Principal Obel’s external activities continue continuously.

This is to resolve the cash bottleneck phenomenon that has become particularly severe this semester. If you look at the VIPs he meets, they are all wealthy people. They roll up their sleeves and run around constantly looking for funding.

In fact, if you look at the bachelor’s asset structure itself, it is not that poor.

However, a sudden influx of payment due dates is like a disaster that can instantly collapse even the strongest asset structure. Because ‘assets’ and ‘cash’ are completely different concepts.

Bankruptcy due to poor management is a reality that must be accepted calmly, but ‘bankruptcy at a loss’ due to a temporary cash bottleneck is so unfair that it makes your eyes bleed.

The management of the academy will go to great lengths to prevent something like that from happening.

Lortel pushed back his creaky chair and leaned against the window.

Ofilis Building is the most luxurious and stately building among the buildings on campus.

It is full of dazzling valuables and works of art. The stained glass that adorns the walls was handcrafted by famous craftsmen who will remain in history. All of the wall materials, carpets, and wooden furniture were hand-delivered by famous craftsmen.

There are even items that do not belong to the bachelor. To enhance its prestige, there are many works of art that were entrusted to and displayed by noble and influential families.

If he goes a little extravagantly, it will deal a fatal blow to the bachelor’s finances, which are already in dire straits.

This will give Elte Trading Company an infinite advantage in the currently planned purchase negotiations for the ‘Sage’s Seal’.

The Wise Man’s Book is a grimoire that is like the heart of Sylvania, but those who are cornered sometimes end up putting even that heart on the negotiation table.

“When will the rain stop?”

Lortel looked up at the window, where rain was pounding furiously.

There is no light in the gloomy sky. It is like the sky that I once looked up from between the shabby mats of a slum. We end up mocking ourselves for feeling comfortable.

When you turn on the light in a shabby shack in a slum, all kinds of cockroaches hiding in every nook and cranny escape the light and hide in the dark crevices. What Lortel felt when he recalled that scene was a feeling of extreme kinship.

As I said, there are so many light sources in this romantic land of learning.

As a result of living in the sticky darkness, the grime all over your body becomes more evident.

The traces of conspiracy all over the desk are proof of that.

These are the traces of a person who has lived a life of always stabbing others, doubting their true intentions, and never revealing their true feelings. This is what happened when I came to my senses after struggling to survive, but that doesn’t change the dirty and stained nature of it.

…That’s why it wanders around looking for its people as if possessed.

Even though this Sylvania is full of shiny people, isn’t there someone who can affirm the dirty and grimy life of a sewage rat? Leaning on that fleeting hope.

Lortel looked up at the dark clouds and quietly muttered.

“You’re lonely.”

No matter what, its essence never changes. Lortel’s stance to survive in this miserable reality was always the same.

Lortel is always a gloomy curtain hiding the dark truth behind the scenes.

The audience said it was a dark scene.

* [Life skill details]

Grade: Intermediate Artisan Specialty: Woodworking Dexterity Lv 13 Design Lv 8 Gathering Lv 11 Woodworking Lv 12 Hunting Lv 8 Fishing Lv 6 Cooking Lv 6 Repair Lv 5 〈 Advanced Crafting Skill Slot: Empty 〉 〈 Advanced Production skill slot: Empty 〉

– ‘Shoo-aaaah’

heavy rain is pouring down.

It has often rained since I started living a survival life, but this is the first time I have encountered such a continuous downpour.

The dried bricks were protected by making a temporary tent, but it was inevitable that they would retain moisture. If I had had about a week more time, I would have been able to use magic to quickly bake it, finish it, and then store it away… but the timing wasn’t very good.

If it rains for such a long period of time, outdoor work has no choice but to be postponed. If food runs out, you will have no choice but to go hunting through the rain, but there is no immediate shortage of food.

I was sitting by a campfire under a tent, quietly listening to the sound of rain, and studying for the elemental science book for the second semester.

The cabin was leaking with rain so I couldn’t stay comfortably. It seemed that the roughly applied mud was not completely waterproof. I also need to think about how to solve the problem of flooring and wall materials.

On rainy days like this, I focus on my studies. The most important thing is intermediate magic theory.

Whether or not one can use intermediate level magic is a criterion that determines one’s standing as a professional magician. If you know how to change just three or four intermediate level spells before the end of your third year, you are considered a wizard who has achieved quite a bit of success. I have to work harder.

There are 3 days left until school starts. The Occupation of Ofilis Hall would occur on the last day of vacation, so it was really close at hand.

The occupation of Ofilis Hall is an event like a stepping stone.

It’s a trick carried out by Lortel to keep the university’s finances in a corner before the main event of Act 2, the battle for the wise man’s seal, begins.

In any case, this is an event that serves as an opportunity for Lortel to solidify its position as a dark side, so from the player’s point of view, this is the time when the psychological gap with Lortel widens the most.

Anyway, we all know what Lortel is planning, what his purpose is, and what will happen. At this point, there is absolutely no need to get involved in Lortel’s trickery.

Lortel is the person who must form an independent interest group within the academy, the ‘top’, and create a power confrontation with Princess Fenia’s student council.

In my experience, it is better to have a similar balance of power between the top and the student council.

Princess Fenia’s idealism and tolerance have the power to unite groups. However, lofty ideals are far from reality, creating contradictions and gaps in the university’s policies.

On the other hand, Lortel’s realism and drive have the power to lead a group effectively. However, the cold, machine-like value judgment makes the members exhausted and cold-blooded.

In the end, what matters is whose side Tailly takes. That faction will ultimately be the winner, so I just have to watch closely and stick with the faction that seems likely to win.

If you say he’s an opportunist, I can’t help but nod that he’s right.

It’s better than being foolish and not being able to properly understand what’s going on, and then wasting a sweet opportunity.

I too… have to make a living.

“Wow… I guess I should just go back to the dormitory. I thought the rain would stop today, but…”

In terms of time, it was barely past lunch time. However, the sky is still gloomy and dark, like early evening.

Jenica clung to the fire, wringing out her water-soaked skirt.

“Ed must be having a hard time, too. I have a place to return to, so I can come and go like camping, but… Ed has to be here even on rainy days like this.”

“As time goes by, things get better.”

Perhaps because Yenika enjoyed wandering around the northern forest, she often came to the camp and cooked by the fire or sat at the base of a tree and read a book.

Since she was on vacation and her bachelor’s curriculum had not yet started, she had a lot of free time, so it seemed like healing in her own way. Because you don’t have to worry about what others think, and you can spend the whole day with the spirits you like so much.

Of course, this camp is a scene of desperate survival for me.

In some ways, it may be rude to treat a space where others are struggling to survive as a rest area where you can stop by once in a while to rest… but when you think about the ingredients and tools that Yenika brings, I think it is rather a surplus business. That’s right.

“Now that I think about it, I have to move out of the Ofilis building…”

“It’s almost time for that.”

“So I have to throw away a lot of junk. The space in the Dex building is smaller than I thought.”

Usually, the period for students to move into a dormitory is about a week before or after the start of school.

It already gets busy when school starts, so most students move their luggage and rent a room a week in advance.

I’m not sure when Yenika will leave the room, but… she’s only starting to pack up now, which means she’ll be staying in the Ofilis building for a few days.

“So, if you need anything, let me know. Ed, you still need a lot of things.”

“okay?”

“Yes. There are things like extra blankets, cushions, watches, and lanterns. There are also many other daily necessities and consumables. It’s a waste to throw them away, and throwing them away is a task in itself. It’s like furniture, so you can’t take it out

because it’s from the Ofilis building.” Most furniture and daily necessities can be made by yourself as long as you have the materials, and doing so would be better for raising your skill level… but it’s not a bad idea to take what you can. It’s difficult to solve everything through production.

“I’m good.”

“Yes. It will come out when the semester starts, so I’ll bring it then.”

Yenika smiled and warmed her hands in the warmth of the fire.

“But Lucy… does she do that often?”

“… sometimes.”

Yenika suddenly thought . He brought up the story about Lucy as if this was the main point. If

you look up and look towards the cabin, you can see Lucy standing still on the roof.

The rain is falling in drizzles. The rain hitting your skin is not cold, but it makes your whole body feel damp and makes you feel good. This makes it worse.

The white hair neatly tied down on both sides may have been tidied up by the maids at the Ofilis Building, but it is already wet from the rain and is loose on one side. Even the expensive school uniform is no longer functioning as clothing properly.

That’s how Lucy feels. He stands still and looks up at the sky, paying no attention to it.

He still looks as lazy and worn-out as usual. His clothes are still a mess and his big witch hat is crooked. However, he looks strangely different somewhere. The cause is probably… that. I am recalling the vision of the great wizard I once met on a rainy day.

Lucy’s mighty power that surpasses common sense was never given for free.

The chains of fate are wrapped around my body, but this is a life I have run away from using laziness as an excuse.

Difficult thoughts. When I come to my senses, it’s already been several years since I lived a life of turning my eyes to the fate that was promised

without doing anything. On rainy days like this, even the most screwed up girl ends up reflecting on her life.

“You look like you have a lot of worries. What should I say… Lucy has always been… free-spirited…? That’s how I felt.”

“It’s okay to just say out loud that I’m a thoughtless person.”

“Ugh. That’s a bit… too harsh.”

That’s a fact, so what should I do?

“Sometimes it’s like that on rainy days. You don’t need to worry too much. I also tend to get nervous.”

“I see… Ed… is very indifferent to Lucy…!”

Yenika agreed, as if she had come to a great realization

. “Nika.”

Anyway, there is something that Yenika needs to check before returning to the dormitory.

As I have said before, the Occupation of Ofilis Hall is not such a huge event. If

you look at the scale of the incident itself, it is quite large, but there are not many variables to speak of

. It begins when Maid Jean Ellis activates a large-scale space protection magic circle prepared for emergencies on the roof of the Ofilis Building. The magic circle, which Vice Principal Rachel has carved herself, can only be accessed by the Maid, the general manager of the Ofilis Building

. If we had to compare magic, it is a fire shutter made of strong steel.

It is a high-level magic circle that closes all the doors and windows of the Ofilis Building and other joints connecting the passages. Of course, it does not break easily.

Late at night before the start of school. . Of course, it is the time when all students are tidying up in their rooms for the opening ceremony that will be held early the next day.

Ironically, the space protection law that was created with the assumption of a terrorist or disaster situation is an iron bar that prevents all the students of Ofilis Hall from leaving their rooms. Maids who are unaware of the situation are summoned to the staff conference room under the pretext of an emergency meeting, but they are all trapped there.

As

a result, the hallway of Ofilis Hall becomes a completely separate area.

Those who walk there are occupied. Other than those who agree with the situation and the maids who cooperate with Ellis, there are only a few students who were lucky enough to be outside the room. The only characters emphasized in the story are Clevius and Elvira. Of course, there

are quite a few students who boast of ridiculous levels of military power. People who break down walls or use up all their magical power to escape by casting spatial magic can also appear.

However, from inside the room, you cannot know exactly what is going on outside. It is difficult to know whether it is a temporary abnormality or a major disaster and whether it will be resolved quickly. Therefore, It is not easy to make drastic decisions such as recklessly destroying a wall or running out of magical energy at a critical time before the start of school.

The Ofilis Hall occupation is a plan implemented by digging into that psychological gap. In the end, such complacency results in the destruction of the Ofilis Pavilion.

“Huh? What’s going on? Ed.”

I stopped Jenica, who was about to go back to the dormitory, and thought quietly. At my hesitant attitude, Yenika smiled innocently and tilted her head.

Anyway, there isn’t much for me to do.

Open the door at the right time and check the status of the door on the first floor while the low-ranking students occupy the fourth floor of Ofilis Building.

Perhaps Tailley will have no choice but to enter the Ofilis building because Elvira, who left valuable medicinal herbs in her room, is angry.

When Taily and Elvira attack, just wait for some time, then defeat them and send them up to the second floor. Then, you will be able to immediately enter Phase 2, where you capture Clevius, who is running away in fear.

There really is nothing special. Even if a variable tries to arise, it cannot occur.

Still, you must not let down your guard.

Didn’t you already realize it painfully during the battle to subjugate Glaskan? Love affairs often take a huge turn for one really absurd reason.

So you need insurance.

There is no harm in having backup power on standby to appropriately respond to any emergency situation.

Whether Yenika is present or not, she is a valuable human resource that no longer affects the main scenario. He is suitable for that role.

Besides, aren’t you the type of person who listens well to requests from close friends? Honestly, it’s safe to say that we’ve become quite close at this point, right?

“I have a favor to ask.”

“Huh? What is it?”

Yenika smiled and answered as if asking her to say anything. I thought for a moment.

How many students would be out and about late in the evening the day before the school opening ceremony? Most people are resting in their rooms. The same would be true for Yenika if she hadn’t left the room yet.

If you rest quietly in the room, you will be trapped in the room by the magic circle activated by the maid.

At the very least, if you want to keep Yenika as a reserve force, you should induce Yenika to wait outside the Ofilis Hall.

Still, it’s a bit difficult to leave it outside on a rainy day, and you can’t send it too far from the Ofilis Museum.

“Can you come out to the pavilion in the rose garden in front of Ofilis Hall around 9pm the night before the school opening ceremony?”

“…….uh???”

A detailed explanation of the circumstances will be available at that time. It is also not polite to hold back a person who is about to return for a long time.

“I have a story I want to tell you.”

Yenika was startled by those words and suddenly began swallowing dry saliva. I looked around to see if anyone was there and lowered my gaze as I tidied up the hem of my skirt.

“…Yes.”

He agreed in a somewhat languid voice… Then, I’ll go! hi! And disappeared through the forest as if being chased.

I was in such a hurry that I couldn’t even wear the robe hat I brought as a raincoat properly.

“…”

I sat by the fire and closed the book I was holding in my hand. I rested my chin and stared blankly at the cabin. Lucy is still looking up at the sky with a blank expression.

It’s still raining heavily. The sound of the temporary tent being struck was soothing.

A forest with rain smells different from usual. The smell of damp grass is heavier and darker than usual.

The rain won’t stop until the morning of the school opening ceremony. At that time, we will be able to see clear skies for the first time in a long time.

After that, this forest will also have the distinct smell of fall.

Let’s quickly beat this event and think about honing our advanced crafting skills.

With that in mind, I sat listening to the sound of rain and threw a couple more firewood into the bonfire.

The long vacation is now over.