Chapter 2.4 (2/2)

The surrounding students all bow their heads to the board chairman [Lydia].  The wolfman, however, hangs limp in her grasp.  Having fainted, his eyes dangle open with the whites of his eyes showing.

Sora says, “Be quiet, I don’t care about any of that.  Just take care of him.”

“You don’t care….?  Well, fine, then, how about telling me what happened?”

Sora, finding the task too troublesome, leaves it to his cla.s.smates.  Meanwhile, he calls over the maid and orders Sura another bowl of rabbit soup.  Once he returns his attention to the table, the board chairman [Lydia] is for some reason focusing on him.  His cla.s.smates all wear apologetic expressions.

The board chairman [Lydia] says, “Sora-kun, I understand your circ.u.mstances, but using magic and skills on school grounds is a violations of our rules.  That’s why, after this, come with me so we can discuss the situation.  It’s troublesome, but since you caused this incident, I believe we should talk.”

That sounds like it’ll be difficult.  “No way.  That’s too annoying.”  Besides, what school regulation did I violate?  You haven’t explained a single thing to me.

“Please.”

“No.”

The board chairman [Lydia] lowers her head for a deep bow as she says, “…Not even if I do this?”

The surrounding students raise their voices in confusion.  They say, “Why is the board chairman bowing to him?” and “That board chairman is?”

The board chairman is the most recognized person on the academy.  Her lowering her head to a random student appears strange to everyone else.

Sora gives in to the painful expressions on everyone’s faces.  “….I’ll go.”

The board chairman [Lydia] raises her head the second he agrees.  On her face is a grin, nyari.

Sora says, “You!  You tricked me!”

The board chairman [Lydia] takes Sora’s hand while saying, “What’s this about?  Anyway, let’s go!”  Since she’s an S rank, she easily pulls him along despite him trying stand his ground.

Sora is taken to a conference room.  The inside is smaller than the round table in Maou’s Castle.  Seated around a reasonably sized round table are some adults.  Are round tables popular in this world?  More than that, they gather up way too fast.

The board chairman [Lydia] draws an empty chair and sit down.  She says, “Everyone, thank you for gathering.  While I believe all of you already know the reason for this conference, I’ll go over it just in case—”

Once the board chairman [Lydia] finishes, a bald headed person with a long, thin, face speaks.  “A pupil who enrolled just today already violated a regulation?  We’ll have to provide strict discipline.”

Sora doesn’t pay any attention to the following deliberation.  They can expel me or I can drop out, either one is dandy.

The board chairman [Lydia] calls out his name.  “Sora-kun, is there anything you’d like to say?”

Sora, despite not knowing the situation due to not paying attention, speaks his mind.  “Well, to start with, no one ever told me the school regulations.”

“Ah…”

–Cute Star shall be taking temporary leave.  Rehearsal for a role in the .hack translation keeps her too busy–

Sora isn’t punished.  Responsibility for the situation falls to the academy due to not having instructed him over the academy’s regulations.  Truthfully, Sora is a bit regretful over the matter.  Well, whatever.

Once the conference is over, he returns to the cla.s.sroom to look for Yami and Sura.  He finds them enjoying themselves.  Yami chats with her cla.s.smates while Sura hops side to side.

Seeing them reminds him of something he decided.  Are they healthy?

Yami notices Sora and takes small steps, teku teku, towards him.  She hugs him while saying, “Masta, welcome back!”

“Ye- yeah.”

Asia says, “Welcome back, desu no!”

s.h.i.+loh says, “You’ve returned, welcome back.”

Ray says, “We- welcome back.”

Sora becomes bashful at everyone’s warm reception.  He separates from Yami and summaries the details of the conference.  Afterwards, they talk about this and that until the beginning of the afternoon lessons.

Unlike earlier, Sora decides to stay without the need of any encouragement.  However, since he’s already familiar with the contents of the lecture, he plays the role of the boke[1]up until he hears, “Eh~, that allowed for slaves to be treated like property—”[2]

Slaves as property…?

Slaves, according to Elias’s memories, are living beings without dignity, rights, or freedom.  Their owners possess complete control over their lives and can use them as free labor or for prost.i.tution.  They are perceived as nothing more than things.  Where I lived, it was natural for everyone to be treated as equal.

For Sora, the idea that someone is a slave (a possession) fills him half with disgust and half with curiosity.  Are there any cute slaves?  This is another world.  I could buy some cute slaves and make a harem… right?  …I could go tomorrow.

Cla.s.s ends while Sora entertains such thoughts.  Yami approaches him and sits on his lap.  She says, “Masta, what are you thinking about?”

“Hm?  Nothing much.”

“Masta, you’re a pervert.”

“Eeh?  What are you… well, that’s fine.  More importantly, did you enjoy the lesson?”  Once tomorrow’s hour lesson ends, I’m checking out the slave market.  If Yami enjoys these lessons, then I’ll just have her come by herself.

“It was fun!”

Sora strokes Yami’s head while saying, “Really?  You’re such a good child.”  He continues to stroke her hair and explain tomorrow’s plans.

Yami is dejected, but says, “Understood.”

Sora then decides to stay for the remainder of the day’s lessons.  Yami did say she enjoys them.

–Since Cute Star is busy, say h.e.l.lo to n.o.ble Diamond, once I learn how to make him–

Sora becomes aware of a serious problem once it’s time to go home.  He gathered Yami and Sura, but we don’t have a home to return to.

They are in the Kouhalia Kingdom while their inn is in the Lunega[3] Kingdom.  Travel between the two places takes a day.  What should I do…?

Asia hurries over and says, “Yami-chan is staying in my room, desu no!”

Sora says, “Hold on, Asia.  What do you mean your room?”

“Eh?  I’m talking about my room in the dormitory, desu no.”

“Oh, the dormitory.”  Sora wants to tsukkomi with, What dorm!?  Regardless, he’s relieved to discover they have a place to stay.  He then says, “By the way, do you know who I’m rooming with?”

When it comes to dorms, they’re allotted by pairs…  If I’m roomed with a beautiful girl, I might cross a line—

Asia says, “I’m pretty sure it’s with Gin-senpai from the second year, desu no!”

“…Really?  Thanks.”

Sora separates from Yami and heads for the dormitory.  It reminds him of a high cla.s.s hotel with verandas beside the windows and a clear chandelier hanging in the lobby.  Lots of maid-san keep the place sparkling, pika pika, clean.

A maid approaches him as he enters.  She has black hair cut in a bobbed style and gentle eyes.  She says, “Welcome, are you Sora-sama?”

Sora is startled by the maid suddenly calling out to him, but he feigns calmness.  “I am.”

“Excellent!  Well then, please follow me.  I’ll bring you to you room.”

T/N:  Anyone else disgusted with Sora this chapter??  Sure, considering his age and life style, his curiosity on slavery is natural.  Wanting to start a harem would be natural, but it’s completely out of sync with what his personality has been revealed to be.  It could just be him acting tough, but he still disgusting.  He may redeem himself somewhat if he burns the slave market to the ground…  Also, I really can’t see Yami just separating from him for a night.  Her character is more the, “Get out of my way, I’m going to masta’s room,” and then literally take the shortest path there by walking through walls.  By the way, anyone else think Gin-senpai is that wolf guy from earlier??

-Gandire Alea

1 The fool in a comedy routine.

2 Dread Scott Case of 1857

3 I may have misread this as Nelga Kingdom in earlier chapters.  I’ll be going back to double check and make the corrections if needed.  If I miss any, let me know.

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