The Extra’s Academy Survival Guide - Chapter 133

“Ed looks a bit depressed these days.”

Obel Hall was a facility used entirely by the Student Council.

It was in an ideal location, right next to the student square. The exterior of the building was clean and stylish, and there were also several facilities inside that members of the student council could utilize. It was rather large and in good condition for how little people were using it.

As the Student Council was thoroughly supported by various distinguished individuals as well as noble children, the school also needed to put a lot of consideration into it. That was why it received such a large amount of funds.

The members of the student council were good at networking, achieved impressive grades, and successfully completed their tasks up to the end of their office term, so the student council had earned a lot of trust.

And after graduation, it was common for many of the members to move into important positions within the empire. That was why there was already much support coming from a variety of influential individuals.

So, with the student council’s budget within the school, the various private donations they received, and the student council fee paid for by noble children, the amount of funding they had was impressive. It was at a level where one would wonder if it was really possible for students to manage a budget of such a size.

Of course, a single advisor was appointed to provide minimal assistance as needed, but their influence wasn’t at a level that they could directly affect the decisions made by the student council.

“My older brother…? Looks depressed?”

“The other day I went to his camp, and he said he was fine, but… It felt as if he was uneasy. This is only my gut feeling, though.”

Ziggs Eiffelstein, a second year in the magic department, was already considered an ace among the student council members.

Rather than feeling a great sense of belonging for the student council, to him it felt as if he was just doing some extra work on his way.

That was because Ziggs had a strong sense of freedom. He wasn’t the type of person to belong to one place.

In fact, Ziggs treated his work as if he were taking care of Tanya’s personal requests rather than being ordered by the student council president. He didn’t even show up to Obel Hall that often.

Tanya didn’t ask him to change his attitude though. Just the fact that Ziggs was a part of the student council was already a great asset.

“He’s depressed? In what way, specifically…?”

The current student council president of Silvenia Academy, Tanya Rothstaylor, put down her quill.

The desk in the student council presidents’ personal office was rather large. However, so many documents piled up that it didn’t even matter.

There were a pile of things that needed to be taken care of every day. Every day, when she entered Obel Hall and carefully looked over the reported documents for the day, her morning flew by.

She knew the position would be busy, but Tanya had no idea it would be to such an extent.

However, since it was her personality that let her get that far, Tanya spent her time every day trying to do everything as thoroughly as possible.

“Hmm… On the outside, he looks the same as usual. He’s still as busy as ever. Living in the camp, he has chores to take care of. He’s also a scholarship student, and studies regularly while attending all his classes… But… Hmm… It still felt as if Ed was carrying a burden in his heart.”

“If you’re the one telling me that, Ziggs, then there must be a reason. It bothers me that we aren’t sure of it, but… Hmm… It’s just intuition…”

Tanya stretched, letting out a groan as she buried her small frame further into the soft chair.

From Tanya’s point of view, the image of Ed Rothstaylor that came to her mind was quite different from what Ziggs had said.

He was someone that felt as if he would somehow be able to solve any problem that came up without anyone realizing it.

It was hard to imagine him feeling sad or depressed, so Tanya was rather curious.

“It’s been a while since I greeted my older brother, so I should go in person and say hello…”

“You have to go to the cathedral’s restoration in the afternoon. You also need to head to Trix Hall to report on the work the student council has been doing. After dinner, you need to go and receive a report on the status of the student clubs’ meeting held at Lorail Hall. Then, at night you have to do your personal studies.”

“…Why do you know all of that?”

“Because I have to listen to the chief secretary lament every day…”

The reason Ziggs had to visit Ed in place of Tanya was because she couldn’t find any time to do so personally. That was how busy she was.

“I would be less frustrated if I could just know the reason he’s depressed. Can’t you find out the reason, Ziggs? This time there’s some extra budget for dispatching our members to investigate things, and if you need to miss class to chase after him, I can also request an excused absence for you.”

“Student Council President. If I start receiving support from the student council like this rather than moving on my own, it may look like this student council is spending money to personally investigate individual students.”

“Why are there so many restrictions with this stupid presidential position…?”

“That’s just the weight that comes with power.”

Tanya let out a deep sigh as she looked out the large window that filled the entire wall on one side of the office.

In the student council president’s office on the fourth floor of Obel Hall, she could see the entirety of the student square from a glance out the window. As lunch time approached, the students hurriedly ran out like a swarm of ants.

And she represented each and every one of them. Her position wasn’t one she could take lightly.

In fact, no matter what she did in the position, she was always going to feel a burden.

The problem was that Ed Rothstaylor wasn’t the type of person that would end up being depressed or shaken up from a burden, unlike her.

Even if he had the weight of someone’s life on his back…

“My brother… I’m worried about him.”

“I’m also concerned. But actually, I’m worried about something else…”

“What?”

Ziggs sat down on the sofa in the corner of the office.

“Actually, Ed isn’t the type of person to completely collapse when he feels a burden or becomes depressed. Time will take care of things. But the problem is the relationships around Ed…”

“His relationships…?”

“This is… In a way, it’s an opportunity… President, aren’t you also well aware of the situation around Ed?”

As she fell deeper into her chair, Tanya’s expression hardened.

Slowly, Tanya began to realize what he was saying. Being surrounded by women might be envious for some people, but to him it was a headache.

Considering Ed’s situation, and how he was being hit on by various talented women, if his seemingly perfect image started to tremble… A large opening would appear.

Since Ed Rothstaylor was the type of person that you could always depend on and lean on, imagine becoming the one that he would rely on instead.

That strange feeling of satisfaction that would rise in your chest… In any case, it was an unavoidable temptation for those that saw him as a man.

He normally never showed a weak side of himself, so just how valuable was this opportunity?

“Well, there are always going to be times when people get a bit depressed. There are some people who get better if you comfort them, but I think for Ed, it would be better if he was left alone.”

“This is a difficult situation…”

“Well, if I stick my head in any further, I will end up crossing the line… So, I’m going to leave it as is.”

Ziggs coolly stood up as he patted off his clothes.

“Actually, I didn’t come here to report on that. That is just something I wanted to tell you in passing on my own time.”

“What…?”

“Recently, I was rather suspicious about something, so I went around to look into it. I think I ended up discovering something. Isn’t summer break soon? Once the end-of-semester exams finish next week, then the break will start right away?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Ziggs took out a book from his pocket and threw it on the desk in front of him.

It was hard to see from Tanya’s position, but as she narrowed her eyes and looked closely at it, she could read .

The most basic elementary studies book that was used by the second and third years. It was rather thick, filled with important key concepts. It was a steady seller within the school.

“Over the past few years, they’ve been growing quite an influence over Acken Island. However, it looks like they’re finally starting to show their fangs. And this is probably just the start of it.”

“Bearing their fangs…? Perhaps…”

Ziggs nodded.

An organized collection of beginner elemental studies books that was centered around the Elte Company.

In particular, the Introduction to Elemental Studies book was least in demand once exams finished and vacation started. As third year students no longer needed the book, they would sell it. And the price of both the used and new books temporarily hit their lowest rates.

And that was what was currently being hidden away and piled up in the Elte Store’s warehouse… The intention behind it would be clear to anyone.

Buy when it’s cheap and sell when it’s expensive.The basics of all investments. But the story started to change if a major company did it.

Cornering the market was a traditional method, but the results were guaranteed. It wasn’t that they couldn’t have done it up till now, but they just hadn’t. All in order to increase their size and influence within the school’s commercial district first.

“Well, considering the size of their company, they wouldn’t be making a massive profit off of this. But… this is a sort of prelude to things to come.”

“That’s true. Right now, it might just be an Elemental Studies textbook. However, in the future they may expand their scope to clothing, magically engineered items, school supplies, and even more…”

The acting deputy chairman of the Elte Company, Lortel Kehelland.

Tanya had seen her face a few times already. However, the most meaningful memory she had of her was down the hallway of Ophelis Hall, where no one else was.

She still couldn’t breathe properly when she remembered how Lortel stood there, glaring at her with Ed’s death weighing on her back, waiting for Tanya like a cold corpse.

Not only that, but she was also flawless when it came to ability. Naturally, she was talented with money, but she also had excellent skills in magic and her ability to improvise in a crisis that had already been widely recognized.

However, now that Tanya was the student council president, she was in a position where she needed to keep her in check.

***

[ Life Skills Details

Grade: Intermediate Craftsmen

Specialized Fields: Woodworking

Handicraft Lvl 16

Design Lvl 12

Collecting Skills Lvl 13

Woodworking Lvl 15

Stonemason Lvl 9

Hunting Lvl 14

Fishing Lvl 12

Cooking Lvl 7

Repairing Lvl 5

]

It had been a while since I had gotten another advanced production technique slot among my life skills, but it was still empty.

That was because I had been so busy trying to learn a skill that would benefit me in battle. However, I couldn’t just ignore another life skill.

First off, it not only greatly impacted my dexterity stat, but it would also allow me to produce better equipment. Naturally, that would also have a big impact when I fought as well.

was a game whose story primarily took place within Acken Island. Because of that, means to procure combat equipment were really limited.

Things might have been different if it were a game where I could explore various cities, but in the case of that game, the only means I had available to me were the shops in the commercial district.

Most of the products were meant for students, and it was difficult to have high expectations when you did occasionally come across a shop that specialized in combat equipment.

After all, in , if you wanted to get high-end combat equipment, clearing special quests or making it on your own were the most effective methods.

I was able to procure some magically engineered equipment from Professor Glast’s Soul Library. However, for combat equipment it would be better if I made them myself. I could order them through the Elte Store, but it would be burdensome to have to pay a high price for each piece of equipment.

Plus, if I trained up my Life Skills well, my living environment at the camp would also improve. Two birds with one stone.

For now, I decided to use one of the advanced production technique slots for ‘Advanced Bow Crafting’.

Not only would it allow me to imbue spiritual skills into the arrows, but I could also enchant the bow itself with various magic. I was thinking of making it so that the bow would increase its accuracy and power in certain situations.

So, what should I use the other empty slot for? That… I needed to think about it some more.

While I sat near the bonfire, quietly thinking over things, a person suddenly appeared from the grass. She was wearing a gilded robe that looked to be quite expensive.

“This… I should have known already but seeing it in person really is a strange feeling.”

It had been a while since Lortel had visited the camp.

She must have been busy with the student council election and taking care of the Elte Company.

“I never thought she would actually build a cabin and settle down here…”

“Oh, what brings you here, Lortel?”

As I sat by the fire thinking over my Life Skills, Yennekar was sitting next to me with her blank eyes staring at the fire.

Lortel swept hand over her face as she came to sit by the campfire, taking off her hood.

Her characteristic reddish-brown hair fell down to her shoulders. Usually, it would be neatly braided to one side. Today, for some reason, it was neatly untied.

A blue rose-shaped pin, which she wore to important events, was beautifully attached to one side of her hair, and the clothes underneath her robe were beautiful and clean, with white frills.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen your face, Ed… But even though I was mentally prepared for it, seeing things like this is a bit…”

“…What, that voice? Is that you… Lortel…?”

“It’s been a while, Yennekar.”

Yennekar, who was quietly sitting by the fire, trembled. She had an expression on her face that said ‘something is coming’.

“Ahh. It is you Lortel…”

“Explain to me how things became like this… Actually, there’s no need for that.”

Lortel took a deep breath as she glanced towards Yennekar.

Yennekar’s eyesight had returned quite a bit, so she could now vaguely feel the gaze of others. But seeing Lortel turn her head to look towards her felt rather intimidating, even with her blurry vision.

However, Yennekar straightened her back as if she wasn’t going to move, smiling proudly.

“Ed and I decided to live together.”

“……”

“We’ll be living together now!”

She was a bit embarrassed saying that with her own mouth… She ended up slurring her words.

“Living next door to each other seems like the more appropriate expression than living together.”

“Well, we live in the same camp, so isn’t that like we are living together? I guess you think of things in quite an old-fashioned way, Lortel…!”

Lortel’s felt as if the vein in her forehead was going to explode.

You might think she would be angry, but the first thing I thought of was that she wasn’t going to be. In the first place, Lortel wasn’t someone easily angered.

She was unrivaled when it came to her ability to maintain her composure.

“Actually, I came here to say hello, but I also wanted to give you some important information as well, Ed.”

“Important information? What is it?”

“Ed, I don’t know how much money you have on you these days, but I recommend that you prepare your textbooks and magic engineering supplies for the next semester in advance.”

Was that information about price fluctuations?

It wasn’t unusual for Lortel, who worked at the company, to give me information about the market price of items in advance.

However, the way she was talking didn’t make it seem like it was all that simple this time.

“Well, if I buy it in advance it’s always cheaper. The price always goes up the more in demand it becomes after all.”

“That is true, but… This isn’t an issue of whether it’s expensive or cheap.”

Lortel smiled as she added on.

“You probably won’t even be able to find it before the break ends.”

“……”

I only realized it after she said that.

.

A war of nerves between the school and the company that took place in Act 3.

Aside from the main storyline, depending on which side you took between the school and the company, who were at constant odds with each other, it would have a massive effect on the ending.

Lortel’s actions were an extension of that war of nerves.

“Yennekar, you’re so lucky to have been here with Ed when I came to tell him the news~ You really are quite lucky~ You just happened to be right here at the perfect time to hear such good news~”

“Yea~ Thanks~ But since I live with Ed, I’m always by his side. So, I don’t think there’s any reason to call me lucky!”

Squish.

The sound of blood vessels ready to burst in her forehead. I secretly looked towards Lortel to check her expression. She was smiling just like always.

“Can’t even see properly, but I guess her mouth is still fine… Oh, I was talking about our company’s pet dog. She recently got hurt badly.”

“Oh, I see. Then, she will need a lot of help. Well, in my case, since I always have Ed by my side, I’m doing fine…!”

She didn’t lose a single time. That innocent Yennekar Palerover…

Although she was a girl that was weak to other’s malice, she had a strangely venomous look towards Lortel.

Even so, Lortel was still Lortel.

There was no way she would easily lose her reason and get angry.

“…I’m getting a bit hot.”

“…?”

“It’s really great here. The air is fresh, and the water flows nicely. I think I can see why Lucy always takes a nap here.”

As if her patience had been broken, Lortel’s tone suddenly subsided.

Then, walking in front of Yennekar, she said something.

“By the way, this must not be private land… Well, it’s not like the school owns the entirety of Acken Island… So, the land here must be managed by the empire. Yeah, I guess it’s just a forest in the southwest corner of the island, but still…”

What was the meaning behind her words? Lortel continued to talk with a smile on her face.

“Well, it’s difficult to do anything on this land, since they are so picky when managing their rights, but… Well, I guess getting a building permit would be fine.”

“What…?”

Yennekar’s face started to become blue as she looked at Lortel. In front of her, past her blurry vision, she could make out Lortel’s smiling face… She trembled in surprise.

“Oh my.”

In the meantime, Lortel looked towards an empty lot on the other side of the camp, smiling.

And then she spoke, as if declaring it.

“The ground here is quite nice.”

It felt as if an ominous energy was seeping through the camp.

***

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