“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.