NOVEL NEXT chapter 136
136. Tenfold (1)
From the early morning, the area in front of the elevator was bustling with people.
All the first-year students of the Adel House were waiting for Mircel.
The second and third years who happened to pass by broke into a cold sweat, glancing nervously around.
They were anxious, fearing that Tenfold might pass by.
“Are they staging a protest or something?”
“What else could it be?”
They sighed heavily. The more they acted like this, the more the Tenfold brutes would push the responsibility onto them, pressuring the second and third years.
“First, let’s keep this from reaching their ears. It’s obvious they’ll just make our lives hell if they find out. They’ll say we can’t even manage our juniors properly.”
“Right, is everyone in agreement on that?”
At that moment, an unwelcome voice broke through.
“What’s going on here? Wow, seniors. Why are they acting like that?”
It was Meldon from the Seventh Circle, his wrists and fingers wrapped tightly in bandages.
He had witnessed the scene unfold.
“Ah, no, it’s just—”
Meldon brushed past a third-year student who was about to explain and turned to Bellman.
From what he had heard, this man was the de facto leader of the first years.
Meldon raised his uninjured palm and approached him.
‘Someone like this should be slapped in front of everyone as an example—’
Just then, the elevator doors began to open with a ding.
Creak—
Through the gap of the overlapping doors, silver hair emerged.
As his eyes met Mircel’s, Meldon felt his body stiffen. The pain in his broken fingers flared up.
Mircel stepped out, his eyes sharp and alert.
“Ugh.”
Meldon flinched, instinctively taking a step back.
Bellman turned his head. He asked Meldon, “What’s going on?”
Meldon scratched the back of his head with the hand that had just been poised to slap his cheek. He had tried to act as if he had intended this from the start, but to others, it only appeared awkward and forced.
A snicker slipped through the crowd.
“Look at him, scared stiff. What a show-off he was.”
“I heard that his hand got like that because of Mircel. Is that true?”
Meldon felt a wave of shame wash over him, as if he might die from it.
But he knew that doing anything here would only lead to further embarrassment.
With anger bottled up inside, he had no choice but to pass by the first-year students.
“…Tch.”
Meldon turned his head, muttering softly as he watched the first-years drift away in the distance.
“Coming at me as a group, huh? Bunch of idiots…”
He vowed revenge, waiting for the end of the school day to arrive.
* * *
“From today, first-year students of the Adel dormitory are prohibited from using the café and dining hall.”
Emrick frowned at the statement from Kerdnel, the first-year representative, in the lounge of the Tenfold.
Berndal, the dormitory representative, expressed his dissatisfaction with the excessive measures.
“Kerdnel, are you really going to do this just because they went to meet Mircel?”
“Just because? Don’t make me laugh, Berndal. They dared to defy the Tenfold. Therefore, they must pay the price that befits their actions.”
Meldon, who had been listening quietly, chimed in with a mocking flattery.
“Wow, Kerdnel-senpai. You really have a lovely temperament. You could make it even more suffocating if you wanted.”
“Well, as you say, I can’t take everything away from them right from the start. But shouldn’t I at least give them a chance to reflect? If they back down now, I’m willing to forgive them without a word.”
“Truly, a magnanimous person.”
In this childish exchange, Berndal slammed his hands on the table and stood up.
“I am the dormitory representative. The management of this matter is under my jurisdiction, and it’s not for you to meddle in!”
Kerdnel, arms crossed, leaned back in his chair. He raised his chin arrogantly and spoke.
“True, you are the representative of the dormitory. I have no intention of interfering with that. However, Berndal.”
At Kerdnel’s words, Berndal’s expression darkened ominously.
“…What is it?”
“Is the dormitory representative above the rules?”
Berndal’s eyes widened, and he quickly fell silent.
The role of the dormitory representative was, after all, to uphold and enforce the rules.
If the absurd proposal just uttered were to pass, it would be up to Berndal himself to enforce it.
“And the rules, after all, are determined by vote. What I just spat out was merely my personal thought, nothing more.”
Kendell glanced at those seated, seeking their agreement.
“Of course, you have the right to refuse. Isn’t that so?”
At this, the others began to snicker and chatter.
“Right, Berndal. If you don’t like it, just say no. Who knows? A dissenting vote might just emerge from among us.”
“Yeah, yeah. We’re just proposing the rules. Acceptance is the student council’s job, right?”
If the council were to reject it, it would be discarded, but they would never do such a thing.
They were inextricably linked with the council.
And the professors, as long as there were no major issues with the internal regulations set by the students, remained entirely uninvolved.
After all, the council and the students had been granted such power to ensure that very authority.
Emerick, who had been merely observing, sighed at the corrupt farce of politics unfolding before him.
“When power tilts too far to one side, this is the kind of fallout that ensues.”
In the meantime, Kendell raised his hand.
“Then, let us begin the vote.”
One by one, hands began to rise from the seventh row. A few glanced at Berndal, their faces twisted in contemplation, but it was nothing more than a petty game.
“Oh, this doesn’t seem quite right, but upon reflection, it might be okay? Tsk tsk.”
“Sorry, Berndal. I thought I’d back you up this time, but these first-years seem a bit clueless. Don’t you think?”
Emerick felt a pang of shame as he looked at their insufferable faces.
Ironically, he saw a part of his past reflected in them.
“I wasn’t as bad as them, but I too once prattled on about tradition and such.”
The only difference was that he had advocated for order through hierarchy, while they wielded power solely for their own selfish desires.
Emerick felt that this alone was insufficient to erase his shame.
“Is this what they call mirror therapy…?”
While Emerick was lost in contemplation, Kendell smiled.
“Seven in favor. Two against. One abstention. Then, with a majority agreement, let us pass the new rule to the student council.”
Berndal slammed the door as he stormed out. Emerick was also about to rise, eager to leave this place behind.
But then, an intriguing sound began to echo.
“Oh, right. I heard Dorothian is here. You’ve all heard of him, haven’t you?”
As one man spoke, the expressions of the others grew heavy. There was a sense of caution in the air.
“It’s bothersome, but it’s best to leave it be. I’d rather avoid any friction if I can.”
“Yeah, I saw her from afar once, and she’s no joke. If you don’t want to see a hideous sight, it’s better to just stay still.”
The monster villainess.
That name has long since solidified into a figure of terror.
A force so strong that even the proudest of the ten strongest wouldn’t dare to provoke her.
Yet, it seemed there was one woman who was not so easily intimidated.
“Should I give it a try?”
Aros, a third-year in the Magic Department, spoke with a voice brimming with confidence.
“What? You’re really going to step on her?”
“Senior, even if you are a senior, I’m a bit worried about that…”
Aros shrugged her shoulders.
“It’s fine. You all know, right? The Eokmagap. That shackle used to handle criminals on-site. You’ve experienced it yourself, so you know well enough?”
“Yes, well… I did get to try it on as a demonstration.”
“But they say there are three of those shackles wrapped around Dorothian’s body. So, isn’t it enough to win?”
Meldon rubbed the back of his neck and asked cautiously.
“I think that’s quite possible, but are you really okay with this? Dorothian might come back for revenge right after graduation.”
“What does it matter? I’m going to the Magic Tower after graduation. Surely, that Dorothian wouldn’t take up a job as a Pathfinder. Wherever she goes, it’ll just be some place like the Magic Tower, right?”
Emmerich, who had been listening quietly, found himself nodding unconsciously.
With someone like Dorothian, it seemed the wizards of the Magic Tower would want to recruit her.
Or, as the rumors suggested, she might just lounge around doing nothing at all.
Kern Del’s face brightened, as if he liked Aros’s thoughts.
“Oh, speaking of which, I think I heard she was assigned to the Shulafe Magic Department. It seems her status has really dropped that low, huh? Well, it makes sense, considering she’s got three Eokmagaps on her.”
“Really? Then we absolutely can’t let this good opportunity slip away.”
In the end, it seemed Aros was determined to fight Dorothian.
Her goal was surely to create a tale of the woman who defeated the ‘monster villainess.’
If she succeeded, it would be a lifelong source of pride, but could she truly win?
‘I’d rather she gets a good thrashing.’
Emmerich cursed inwardly and rose from his seat.
* * *
The Shulape Hall feels a bit more crowded these days.
No, it’s clear that the usage of the facilities has increased.
I think I’ve even spotted some first-year students from Adel Hall in the exclusive Shulape Hall dining area.
I glanced at the disheveled Bellman in the lobby and asked,
“What brings you here?”
Bellman lifted a washbasin and replied,
“They say the shower in Bürger Hall is completely full.”
“Hmm?”
“Oh, didn’t you hear? First-year students from Adel Hall are currently banned from using the showers. If you want to wash up, you’ve been instructed to use another dormitory.”
A high-pitched grumble came from behind.
Turning my head, I saw Sila and Leana scanning the area.
“Ugh, this place is a dump. Why is it so run-down?”
“Sila, that’s quite rude. We should be grateful they even let us use it.”
“But where’s the shower?”
“Well, I’m not sure; it’s my first time here too.”
Just then, Limberton passed by, engrossed in a book adorned with peculiar illustrations.
Sila halted him in his tracks.
“Hey, you idiot. Come here.”
“Whoa, you scared me. What’s up, Sila? What are you doing here?”
As Limberton squinted, Sila frowned.
“Look at that face. Anyway, do you know where the girls’ shower is?”
“Oh, that? It’s in the middle of the second-floor hallway.”
Sila shot him a disgusted look. It was understandable, given how quickly the answer had come from Limberton’s mouth.
“Ugh, but how do you know that?”
“Why are you asking me, a guy, about it?”
They glared at each other, tension crackling in the air, before heading off in their own directions.
I turned my gaze away from them and looked back at Bellman.
He adjusted his glasses and sought understanding.
“Anyway, I’ll be relying on you for a while.”
“…If that’s how it is.”
“Yet, I’ve heard there are rules here that must be followed. May I take a moment to look in the mirror?”
I handed the rule mirror to Belman. He muttered the contents with a face full of wonder.
“Do not make eye contact with the woman in the painting on the landing of the girls’ dormitory… It seems this place is indeed filled with curious happenings, just as I’ve heard.”
I could understand why Belman was so captivated.
Strange phenomena occurred sporadically in the Bürger Hall, but in the Adel Hall, such things were nearly non-existent.
“Exactly. Be careful not to get caught up in anything unnecessary.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Belman returned the rule mirror to me and turned his steps toward the shower room.
Then he abruptly halted, as if recalling something he had forgotten, and turned his head with an “Ah” sound.
“The seniors said to gather on the terrace of the Schlaphe Hall. Hessel, they asked me to tell you to join as well.”
“Seniors, you say?”
“Bernthal and Emerick.”
It seemed they were plotting a counterattack against the tyranny of those two.
That was something I had decided to ponder slowly on my own.
For now, I felt at ease, as I had little to worry about concerning Mircel.
According to Atra, those fellows seemed to take good care of him, and the Ten wouldn’t dare act out openly for fear of being taken down by Mircel.
As for Eruzel, well, if he’s grown up, he should manage on his own.
To sum it up, I thought it might be better not to get entangled with them too early, lest things become more complicated.
I declined the proposal with a practical response.
“Do you really think gathering will yield answers? To seize control of the Ten, at least five must hold their ground. And they must be strong enough to maintain their positions.”
Bernthal and Emerick would soon be swept away by the challenges of the defeated Golds.
Yet, it was unreasonable to expect anything from the still-growing main players.
The reason I mentioned time was that they needed to wait until they reached the minimum specs to ascend to the Ten.
If they played their strengths right, they might even achieve victory earlier than planned.
As expected, Belman pressed on.
“But we can’t just stand by and do nothing. Their tyranny will only worsen from here on.”
“Don’t worry about that. If it disrupts classes, the professors will step in. For a while, life will be quite uncomfortable, but it’s bearable, isn’t it? Of course, you’re free to use the facilities of the Schlaphe Hall as much as you like. I hope that brings you some comfort.”
Just as Belman was about to say more, I turned my back abruptly.
“And as for matters concerning the Adel Hall, let the people of the Adel Hall handle it—”
But a woman’s voice echoed from afar, cutting off my words.
“Hey, call the dorm supervisor.”
The voice echoed from the entrance of the girls’ dormitory stairs.
“What’s going on?”
“There are two first-year girls from Adele Hall. They’re paralyzed. Seems like they locked eyes with the woman in the painting.”
A shift in thought occurred.
If this continued, it felt as though I would be ensnared by the phenomenon, wasting precious time for growth.
“…At least join the meeting.”
I sensed the necessity to offer some caution in the presence of all these gathered souls.
* * *
On the terrace, all the first-year students from Adele Hall were gathered, along with Emeric and Berndal.
I shared snacks with Mircel, casting glances at them.
Conversations flowed under the leadership of Emeric and Berndal, yet no clear answers seemed to emerge.
Unable to bear it any longer, Mircel spoke up with a bored expression.
“Hyung, I don’t get why everyone’s thinking so hard. Can’t we just break something on each of them and be done with it?”
At those words, my ears perked up.
Upon reflection, it was indeed a rather clever solution.
With a spark of inspiration, I exclaimed in admiration.
“That’s not a bad idea!”
“Right?”
If we crippled two of them, we wouldn’t even need five.
If we left half of them incapacitated for a while, Emeric and Berndal’s positions would remain secure.
Even if the defeated ones tried to seize Emeric and Berndal’s spots, they’d be outmatched due to their injuries.
In such a scenario, it would be just me and the other two vying for the position. And, Emeric and Berndal would hold the votes.
In a vote, we’d have 5 votes.
The opposing side would have 4 votes.
And one abstention from the uninterested 9th seat.
Potentially, it would indeed be a 5 to 5 standoff.
I couldn’t overlook the possibility that they might snatch the uninterested 9th seat from us.
If the student council decided to woo that individual, it would be relatively easy.
Thus, the number of people we needed to save had dropped from 4 to 2, significantly lowering the difficulty.
It may seem that instead of saving two, we ought to save three, aligning our votes to six, but I’m open to hearing opinions on this. If someone points it out, I’ll be ready to respond.
I rose from my seat and approached Belman, Emeric, and Berndal, who were deep in discussion, eager to share the thoughts that had just surfaced in my mind.
“What do you think? Excluding me, we only need two more. Of course, I’ve already marked one.”
With that said, I averted my gaze from those staring at me. I turned to Mircel and asked,
“Mircel, would you like to take a seat at the ten-point table?”
Mircel nodded, seemingly uninterested.
“Sure? If you say so, I’ll sit.”
“Good. Then we just need one more. Someone else to half-kill.”
In my mind, I conjured the image of Riamon, who was not even at this gathering yet.
Though Berndal was still not at a level to be taken down, I felt a glimmer of hope that with a little cunning, victory could be ours.
If I could align our strengths, target the right opponent, and unleash all manner of sabotage, who knows what might happen?
I decided to ponder this slowly, just as I was about to wrap up the meeting.
Belman raised a question, the kind I had anticipated from someone who might challenge my thoughts.
“But, Hursel. Excluding you and Mircel, don’t we need two more? You mentioned that those guys might take the nine-point seat. If that’s the case, wouldn’t the voting ratio end up being five to five?”
His argument was that we should indeed gather six votes.
With me, Mircel, Berndal, Emeric, and the one who would take the seat, we would only have five votes.
I shrugged it off casually.
“That’s nothing to worry about. The abstention votes will remain intact.”
After all, we had five votes on our side.
Four votes on theirs.
One abstention.
This ratio wouldn’t change.
“Abstention votes will remain?”
“Exactly. She will never be swayed, whether it’s the student council or the ten-point table.”
“Who is she…?”
Just as I was about to answer Belman, a voice rang out from the ground below.
“Everyone, pay attention!”
It was Atra. She took a deep breath and shouted loud enough to echo through the dormitory.
“It’s the ten-point contest! The opponent is the two-point Aros! And don’t be surprised, challengers. The challenger is none other than that ‘monster villain’ Dorothian!!”
That person, who would never be swayed.
She was the newly appointed Dorothian this time.