CH 62

The first morning meeting of the school.

There, something was handed out by the vice principal.

The vice principal begins his speech wearing a tuxedo and a bandana, a strange combination.

“Yes!　Now that the living quarters are in order, the students will begin to explore the area! However, exploration is a very dangerous activity! So I’ll give you this just in case!”

It was a red tube the size of my palm.

“The one I just gave you is a signal firework! Point the head of the firework upward and press the butt part hard, and fireworks will shoot up into the sky!”

Fireworks are also used as “signals” for communication.

Because if you can shoot them up into the sky, you can see them from a distance.

“But that’s not a firework signal for communication, it’s a firework signal for rescue! When the fireworks go off, the rescue team rushes to the location! It’s good to use when you’re exploring and can’t get back on your own! But ……!”

The head-teacher grins and prefaces his statement, glanced at me at the back and continued.

“If you are rescued by a rescue team, it will be considered the same as being sent to the infirmary, and you will lose one rank! So think carefully before you use it! By the way, this firework is set off by a mechanism that makes it easy to see who set it off!”

The vice principal holds up the sample fireworks he was holding to explain, and presses his buttocks, saying, “Pop it.”

And then the fireworks go off!　The fireworks burst into flames and shot out light bullets.

The light bullets go up to the sky with a whirring sound, and then burst.

With a bang, the fireworks scatters small light bullets all over the area and starts drawing letters.

They filled the blue sky.

Please save me! I was a fool for disobeying you Vice Principal! I’m quitting the School, so please save me!　Leopin.

The students in front of me burst into laughter.

“Wow, you can see those letters when you launch it?”

“This is so embarrassing!　I can’t go back to school if they see me like that!”

“But we’ll be fine! We’re not some trash who’s a failure! We’re not going to screw up while exploring!”

“Yeah, yeah!　I’m sure the next fireworks will be the same!”

The vice principal takes the words of the students and says, “That’s right! Everyone at this school is so good that we don’t really need this! Therefore, the first student to use it will not only be downgraded one rank, but will also be punished further! You will forfeit all of the prize money you have received so far!”

The students clap and cheer, “Oh!”

I came across a simple question.

I wondered if the …… prize had ever been given to anyone other than me.

But that’s okay.

I don’t have any use for the prize money.

Finally, the vice principal adds an explanation.

“Oh, just so you know, you can’t launch someone else’s distress signal without permission and try to downgrade it! In order to prevent fraud, the magic device confirms not only the name of the firework that was set off, but also the appearance of the person who set it off. Only when it’s determined that it’s not a prank will help arrive! Also, the size of the rescue team and how fast they come depends on the rank of the student who launched them! If you want help in a hurry, use the distress signal of a student with a high rank.”

◆　　◇　　◆　　◇　　◆

After the morning assembly, the morning class is “Physical Education”, a “whole subject”.

Nick Bakker-sensei, looks around at all the students and says,

“Meat!　Today, we’re going to have a ‘special marathon’ between the classes! This is a very hard marathon, so only a limited number of boys will be able to participate! But if you can endure it, you’ll get a great grade! Each class must choose one boy who is good at endurance running! Classes 1, 2, and 19 are girls-only classes, so you may not participate!”

Since I am the only one in my class, I have no choice but to participate.

Nick Bakker-sensei continues with a long rope in his hand as he joins the chosen boys.

“Now, those of you who have been chosen, wrap this rope around your waists! Then we will all run together on a single rope! This rope has the magical effect of ‘weightlessness’!”

Nick Bakker-sensei pulls out two more corkscrews.

“And all participants are to put on these earplugs and run without looking! Do you know what will happen if you do!? Those who lag behind will be dragged along by the ropes without mercy, and no amount of crying or screaming will reach the ears of the first runner! This is the ‘Hell Hell Marathon’ that was held in the army I was in!”

“Hiii!” The students scream.

I don’t react and try to tie the rope around my waist without saying a word.

Then the vice principal, who has been there for some time, gets involved and says , “No! No!”

“Wait a minute!　Leopin-kun, why aren’t you wearing your gym clothes?”

I answer honestly.

“Well, I didn’t get one at the entrance ceremony. ……”

“What kind of delinquent student doesn’t wear gym clothes? At least take off that ridiculous coat before gym class! I’ll take special care of it for you!　…… forever ……!”

I don’t catch the vice principal’s last words, but I have a bad feeling about it.

I was wondering what I should do, when someone slips off my coat from behind.

“Leo-kun, we’ll take care of your coat for you!”

“We will protect the Master’s precious garments at the cost of our lives!”

It is Monaka and Kotone in their bloomers.

“No!　You can’t do that!　It’s not possible for a saint and a miko to take care of an unemployed person! And with such tight clothes on ……!　You’re a good girl, give it to me!”

“No, vice principal!　We’ll take care of this coat!

Because we are Leo-kun’s assistants!”

Monaka says crisply.

Before I knew it, she is in such a role.

“That’s right! Ashitanto! It is a natural duty for Ashitanto to take care of your clothes!”

Kotone couldn’t say ‘assistant’.

The vice principal glares at me with a red face, as if on the verge of exploding.

“Guu! Gigigii! A- Asistant….!! It’s my dream to have a beautiful assistant,……! It’s not just me, the vice principal, but even that pig has yet to fulfill this dream. ……! And that jobless, gets 2 of them! Gugigigigiii! Gigigigigiiiiiiii!!” 

I thought it was time, so I hugged Monaka and Kotone by the shoulders and quickly evacuated from the vice principal.

From behind came a strange voice like an explosion.

“Kii Kiieeeeeeeee!”