“Chapter 271: At the Basement of the Palace”


    A few days later, with Ever almost recovered back to normal.


    Ever, Akane, Mumuruu, the usual group and I went to check out the basement.


    – …As you said. It’s almost empty.


    Before she was reduced to her shield status, Ever had released a magical plant that feeds on human lifeforce to keep my classmates in a slumber.


    – Long time no see.


    – What are you doing here? (Takaya)


    Out of my 30 classmates, only 2 remained here.


    Harukawa Akito and Shunichi Suetsugu.


    They both had lost a lot of weight, but they had enough energy to answer my questions.


    – Lots of pretty girls. Lucky you, huh.


    Akito has never looked less intimidating. There’s not an ounce of fighting spirit left in him.


    – You probably want to know what happened. You won’t find your answer here. When we woke up, it was just the two of us. (Akito)


    – I can’t imagine escaping would be a better idea. We’re surrounded by the Sage’s Forest, not a playground. (Takaya)


    Should we leave them on their own to get eaten by the magical beasts in the forest? What should we do?


    – Grandmaster.


    – What is it?


    – Can we release these two?


    Akito and Shunichi couldn’t believe my words.


    – Ha…Hahaha… Are you sure about that, Nagami? We’re not very fond of you. Who knows what we’d be capable of doing to get revenge? (Shunichi)


    – If you have the need to say that then you likely don’t have the guts to do it. Besides, I won’t be setting you free.


    With that, I handed them two metal shackles.


    – You two will look in the forest for the others who escaped. The Grandmaster doesn’t feel like doing it, and I’m too busy.


    – Are you sure about this? (Akito)


    – Suetsugu’s birdbrain aside, I take it you remember the faces of everyone. It’s faster this way.


    Instead of having them rotting here to death, I can use them for my own benefit.


    – If you fail, or if you betray me, needles will pop out of those shackles.


    – So are we your slaves?


    – Yes.


    – How blunt. You’ve changed, Nagami.


    – I think so too.


    Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to survive in this world.


    – Feel free to use any of the rooms in this palace. They’re all cursed with ghosts, though. Whether you prefer that or this prison basement is up to you.


    – …You heard him. What do we do? (Akito)


    – “What do we do”? Do you see the people around him?


    Glaring at me, Shunichi put the collar around his neck.


    – I’m glad you understand your position, dogs. (Ever)


    – Tch… Enjoy your words for now. (Shunichi)


    – If you have the energy to threaten us, then get moving.


    It must be humiliating for the guy who used to bully everyone to be treated as a dog.


    Both Akito and Shunichi left the palace in search of the rest of my classmates.


    With this, one of my worries has subsided.


    ※


    Leaving the rest of the hassle to ever, we went back to Bay Road.


    – And now we only have one more issue. Akane-san, do you think that kid will give up and go back home?


    – My guess is no.


    The problem arrived at Searat right after we finished repairing Ever.