Chapter 12 – Just a Nobody Who Enrolled in an Era Without Him

“Ugh.”

The next day. From the morning, Deus was not in a good mood.

The terrible incident that had happened just yesterday was the reason.

‘Got a little carried away, stretching out a bit after all this time.’

Fool. Deus pinched the bridge of his nose.

After finishing the friendly match with the swordsmanship club haphazardly.

He had gone straight back up to the rooftop to continue his workout.

But perhaps he’d been too excited. He’d ended up tearing off the railing of the stairs.

He thought he was being careful, but it seemed he’d gripped it too hard.

“New student! What do you think you’re doing! Unprovoked destruction of Cradle property will not be tolerated!”

A teacher who had witnessed the incident scolded Deus severely.

A childish brat, itching to show off his abilities to the other students.

The culprit behind the kind of thing that always happened when a new grade entered.

—Or so, it seemed that the teacher had misunderstood him, and quite thoroughly.

Deus, in fact, wasn’t trying to show off his strength, but trying to control it.

Anyway. So, was this the terrible incident that ruined his mood today?

No. He couldn’t even call it an incident, not with just that.

At least he’d been scolded, but it had ended relatively peacefully there.

‘The problem occurred after I went up to the rooftop.’

With the new student tearing off the railing incident from a few minutes prior,

He tried to be as careful as possible, even more careful. But this transcendent physique caused another accident.

He’d handled the equipment too lightly and ended up breaking the rooftop floor!

—Kwa-ga-ga-gwahng!!

“What is the meaning of this!? Why are you destroying the rooftop?!”

The Cradle’s caretakers, having rushed over immediately, were tearing at their hair.

The rooftop was not a target for expansion. Therefore, it was protected by barrier abilities.

But a certain new student had appeared and broken it.

Impressive was impressive, but an accident due to carelessness was still an accident.

Above all, the rooftop was a public space and individuals were not allowed to use it arbitrarily.

There were some parts that were tacitly permitted, but once something like this happened, that was no longer possible.

“I’m immediately closing the rooftop! Get rid of all of those exercise machines! Now!!”

“Ah, no!”

“Yes!”

In the end, his personal gym was shut down just one day after opening.

This was the full story of the terrible accident that befell Deus yesterday.

“Hmph.”

A sigh escaped me unbidden. Where was a black-haired foreigner supposed to work out then?

The Cradle’s state-of-the-art training facility? Didn’t want to go! But it was quite the spectacle there, that’s the problem!

Everyone watching me instead of doing their own exercises! Was my hair color that fascinating?!

Or were they thinking a barbarian was only good for physical labor?!

Exercising without being stared at. Yes, it was possible. It *was* possible.

But my temperament wasn’t refined enough to deflect the gazes of all those students.

At best, I’d just be a lion or tiger in a zoo.

‘…No, more like a zoo monkey, while exercising.’

With the situation thus, even a promise I’d received went completely sideways.

“Eh? What are you saying, *hoobae*? Didn’t you need money to buy exercise equipment right away?”

“Well, yes, but, later. I mean…”

What to say? That I’d smashed the rooftop, causing a temporary delay while I scouted for a new location?

If I did, this *seonbae* might retort, ‘What!? Destroying the Cradle! There’s no way I’m giving money to such a brutal, black-haired barbarian!’ and back out!

“…Not yet. The friendship matches aren’t completely over yet.”

“Hm?”

The reason Deus came up with was rather decent, considering it was a spur-of-the-moment thing.

“I will receive proper compensation for my efforts… after everything is finished.”

The friendship matches hadn’t ended with a perfect victory for the swordsmanship club. One more round remained.

Therefore, I would receive compensation only after bringing it all to a close.

‘…Saying it like that, I sound like the mustachioed second-in-command of the *takgun* peddlers.’

Someone who knew me might say I was imitating that old codger.

But to someone who didn’t, it would sound completely different.

“Hoobae…!”

In fact, the second-year student who heard the answer covered his mouth with a moved expression.

He said it was the first time he’d ever seen such a manly, magnanimous junior.

“Just in case! If you’re really thinking about joining the martial arts club officially, say the word! I’ll talk to the club president and get you in right away!”

“I appreciate the sentiment.”

No clubs for me, thanks. They keep trying to recruit me.

So, what to do? I needed to scout a new location before everything was finished.

The rooftop was out, and students had now occupied the quiet places.

At this rate, I might really have to go all the way to the outskirts of the Cradle.

— *Swish!*

Then, an unexpected savior appeared before Deus.

“Ohohohot! I heard the news. You had quite an amusing day yesterday, *hoobae*? Huhu! Even if you’re bursting with energy, arbitrarily destroying the Cradle’s facilities is— *Ugh!*”

*Thump!* The student council president, Nefertiti, was the one who made the dramatic entrance.

“Are you alright?”

“Ugh. Yes. This is nothing.”

Nefertiti, rubbing her backside, began searching for something.

Deus, with a hint of deference, offered her the fan she had dropped.

“Here you are.”

“Thank you! As expected, the rising star is different!”

“Thank you.”

Deus, having returned the fan, watched Nefertiti quietly.

The Student Council President. Head of the Student Council, wielding immense power since birth.

Such a person suddenly appears, even mentioning what happened yesterday.

‘Surely she didn’t come out of boredom, right, President? If she’s a president-type character, she’s going to be just like I imagine! Please! Tell me it’s true!!’

Was it that the desperate prayer of one who desired a personal gym had reached the heavens?

Nefertiti’s next words were enough to make Deus’s arms shoot up in elation.

“Ahem! So, junior. This Nefertiti. The Student Council President of Yoram. Might be able to help our rising star here, you see?”

Student Council President, hail hail hail!

“If the President would be so kind as to help, this junior will be sure to repay the favor.”

“There’s, no need for repayment or anything.”

Clearing her throat, Nefertiti began to explain this ‘help’ in detail.

“The rooftop is originally not allowed for personal use by students according to Yoram school rules. They were tacitly permitting it, but this time, junior, you went and smashed one of the rooftops, so the rules have become stricter.”

“I have nothing to say…”

“It’s fine. I’m not trying to blame you. Anyway! So, the rooftop is out of the question. Instead…”

Waving her fan gently, Nefertiti smiled.

“We have a spare room in the basement of the main building where our Student Council is located. I’ll give you that.”

“…Wait. Just a moment, President. A spare room, you say.”

“It was originally a space intended for club activities, but it turned out to be unsuitable as a place for clubs to gather. The fact that it’s underground is a negative factor, and it’s needlessly too spacious.”

In short, it was unpopular as a club room for all the clubs and has become a literal spare room.

What do you think? At Nefertiti’s words, Deus quickly calculated the pros and cons.

‘Underground, huh. Well, if it’s underground, it’ll have been built very strongly. And if it’s been pushed back from club room usage because it’s unpopular, then there’ll be hardly anyone coming around.’

Considering it all, it wasn’t bad at all. No, it was a pretty great place.

It wouldn’t even be affected by the weather, so it could make the rooftop seem trivial.

However, there was one thing that worried him.

“Um, President. Are you really okay with this? Doing this for me, a student, not even a club.”

“Ohohoho! Why are you worrying about such nonsense? I’m the Student Council President, Deus junior. The one and only in Yoram. The current Student. Council. President.”

―*FWOOSH!!*

Breaking into a confident laugh, Nefertiti unfolded her fan with a flourish.

The distinct confidence emanating from her made Deus nod his head.

“Instead,” she continued, “consider joining the Student Council later, seriously.”

“Is that the condition?”

“Rather than a condition… um, what should I say? Let’s just call it a request. No need to feel pressured. The Student Council isn’t a place where you can be because someone tells you to.”

The Yoram Student Council. Deus nodded his head for now at the offer.

It wasn’t like he had to join immediately, so he could consider it as much as he needed.

“Ah. Come to think of it. I heard you had a showdown with the Kendo Club.”

“That is what happened.”

“You’re thinking of joining the martial arts club?”

“That’s not it.”

Still, you had a friendly match with the swordsmanship club? How curious.

Neferti murmured, gazing at Deus before breaking into a smile for no apparent reason.

“What is it?”

“You said they’re holding another friendly match tomorrow? The swordsmanship club is preparing again, you mentioned.”

“Indeed.”

“Hmm, this feels… they’re probably trying to call ‘that senior’ in.”

That senior? Deus’s puzzled expression made Neferti flustered.

“What? Surely you know about this?”

“I’m a freshman. It’s only natural I wouldn’t know.”

“No, even so, you ought to know about ‘that senior’…”

Ugh. What kind of hopeless junior is this?

Neferti massaged her temples, looking as though she had a headache.

“Listen closely. I’ll tell you about the person you might be facing tomorrow.”

She continued, all traces of her usual composure vanished.

“Top of the class in the fourth year. Commander of the dispatch unit. Like you, a highly touted prospect since the day she enrolled. Above all, her swordsmanship is near the level of the Cradle’s instructors. And one more thing.”

“…”

“She’s Her Highness the Princess.”

“…?”

Wait. Why is there royalty here in the Cradle? A princess, no less.

A being who wouldn’t even associate with nobles. And she’s even in a place with commoners?

How could this be? Deus exclaimed “Ah!” in realization.

‘An academy novel…!’