Chapter 24: Invitation to a Part-Time Job
“Geh.”
“Please do not make strange sounds from the morning. The beginning of the day is ruined.”
To me who involuntarily let out a strange sound, harsh words flew from my roommate Lilishia. But, I had no leeway to answer those words, and was running my eyes over the match application history displayed on the smartphone screen. What is this……! Twenty-five applications have come!? And most of them are from F-rank upperclassmen. Due to yesterday’s match, my total star count became fifteen. Even among first-years, it is far ahead. Naturally, I suddenly leapt to the top among the first-years who are in F-rank. My rank also went up, and when I looked at my smartphone wondering what to do about the next match, it had become like this.
“Why are so many match applications coming……?”
“What are you stating the obvious for…… In one word, you are being ‘underestimated’. A commoner first-year who has many points is, to use the Principality’s words, ‘a duck coming carrying a leek on its back’. They think, they can easily snatch stars, like that.”
Being explained like that by Lilishia, I understood, I see, and at the same time, anger of, don’t mess around, also wells up. The betting stars of the match applications that came to me were mostly ten stars which is the F-rank highest value. A nasty thought of trying to take everything from the root can be seen through.
“Well, it’s still only one match, so they probably think you won by a fluke.”
“Kuh, don’t mess around, I say!”
“By the way, I also think so.”
“Alright, I got it! Next I’ll do it with you! Don’t you run away, okay!?”
I shall prove that it’s not a fluke!
“I do not mind, but I will not do an Armed Gear match, you know? Since if possible I want to improve my skills with Frame Gear.”
“Heh? Didn’t you get an Armed Gear sent from your parents’ home?”
“That was pushed onto me by Father…… well, since it is more convenient to have it, I just have it, but I currently have no intention of using it outside of class.”
Muu. Certainly the place we aim for is ‘Trooper’, a rider of Frame Gear, so sticking too much to Armed Gear is also meaningless. Armed Gear is Armed Gear, and there is a martial arts competition specializing in Armed Gear called ‘Battle Gear’ though. I heard that even among our graduates, several people proceed to that side every year. However, what I am aiming for is participation in [Ragnarok]. For that sake, I must increase winning stars even with Frame Gear.
“Alright, I got it. Then let’s do it with a Frame Gear match.”
“……Are you perhaps not a little thoughtless? Think a little more…… well it is fine. Is two betting stars acceptable? Without additional raise too.”
“You’re not making it all-in?”
“That is something an idiot does.”
Kuh, sorry for being an idiot. Since Lilishia’s holding stars are six, even so she will be betting one third. On the other hand, since I have as many as fifteen, even if I lose I will have thirteen. Iyaa, having leeway is nice!
◇ ◇ ◇
“Damn it! I lost! Is something like that allowed!?”
“It is allowed.”
“It’s allowed, right.”
“Ahaha, it’s allowed, you know.”
“Unfortunately it is allowed……”
I can’t accept iiiit! I come out from the Frame Unit and stomp my feet. Immediately after the match started, I who utilized the Lightning Frame’s characteristic and launched an attack with a swift attack, was completely caught in the ‘casting net’ released from Lilishia’s machine. I did think that, she’s carrying some strange cannon on her shoulder, though! And then without being able to escape or avoid the concentrated fire released from Lilishia’s machine that retreated backward as it is, my machine with thin armor was immediately heavily damaged. The match time wasn’t even two minutes! Damn iiiit!
“Well this is, something like Lilishia’s tactical victory, and a loss coming from Nero’s lack of study, I suppose.”
“What do you mean lack of study!”
“That equipment that shoots out that casting net. It’s called ‘Net Launcher’, but did you know?”
“I didn’t know……”
I don’t know such minor equipment. Nobody was using it and……
“If you knew about that equipment beforehand, you should have been vigilant the moment you saw it. That part is lack of study. Also you rushed in too recklessly. You have to think that the opponent also takes countermeasures against Lightning Frame.”
“Gunuu……”
When explained in detail by Carol, certainly I could only say that my reading was naive. It’s frustrating but it’s a complete defeat. Damn it, stars decreased……
“I won’t fall for the same trick in the next match, okay!”
“It is natural. If you fall for the same trick again, I will certify you as a genuine idiot.”
Kuh, since I lost I can’t say anything……! I say next match, but I cannot challenge the same opponent until three months pass. furthermore if I say, if I lose five times to the same opponent, after that, I lose the right to challenge that person. If I am to revenge, this time I have to do it carefully……
“It was regrettable, wasn’t itー. If you had bet with a bang, you would have obtained stars at once. Why did you only bet two?”
“Because there was also a possibility of meeting a painful experience if I got greedy. It is just that I tried not to underestimate the thing called wild animal’s instinct.”
“Cautious, aren’t you.”
Lilishia was returning such an answer to Sherry’s question. Oi, wait a minute. Does wild animal mean me!?
“What will you do, Nero? Will you do it with me next?”
“No! I have bad compatibility with Sherry!”
Sherry’s machine is a Clock Frame. Clock Frame has high hit rate with firearms from its precise movement. Sherry’s machine is a dual wielding style holding guns in both hands, and mercilessly aims and shoots at places where armor is thin. Even if it is a Lightning Frame, being hit cannot be avoided. With the current machine, if I eat even one shot before getting close, there is a possibility of being hit consecutively from there. Actually, I have been continuously losing in practice matches. I feel like unless I obtain armor or shield that can at least endure several shots, I have no chance of winning even more than Lilishia. I have to earn G to enrich equipment…… Although some prize money from winning against the dreadlocks woman has entered, it is still not enough. I’ll make matches mainly with Armed Gear, and for the time being I’ll try looking for a short-term part-time job within the academy.
◇ ◇ ◇
“Muu…… Thinking is all same, huh.”
There were several recruitments for short-term part-time jobs on the academy site, but the slots for things I seemed to be able to do were already filled. The few remaining ones are guys that need special skills, such as maintenance skills and musical instrument performance. The timing is really bad. Help for just the same day such as teachers and staff, librarians, etc. is posted on the bulletin board of the Educational Affairs Section, but this is also totally wiped out.
“The rest is short-term part-time jobs between students, but this one has low pay and many don’t pay off, right……”
Because even students who request don’t mean they have abundant G, it has become a considerably reduced reward. When it becomes terrible, even if you complete the request, some people grumble about this and that and are reluctant to pay. I leak a small sigh while looking at the bulletin board in front of the Educational Affairs Section. Uーn, as expected work from the academy side is better. Shall I give up today……
“Oh my, are you looking for a short-term part-time job?”
“Eh?”
When I turned around being called out, Principal Quun and the bear golem Paula were standing there. Matching Parla raising her hand with a yo, somehow I also raise my hand small.
“It was just right. I was just about to post this there now, but do you have the will to try doing it?”
Saying so, Principal Quun held out the paper she was holding in her hand to me. What? ‘Test operator by Frame Unit. Condition: Holder of two or more magic aptitudes and non-attribute’……?
“Certainly it applies to me, but what is a test operator?”
“A test machine pilot, you know. I put various types of pilots on it, and adjust the compatibility and balance with the machine. Be relieved because it won’t become magic power depletion like the time with Achilles.”
Test machine pilot? Is it okay to entrust such an important job to a student……?
“It’s not a corporate project or anything, it’s a machine I’m making as my personal hobby so there’s no problem. Since there are also several students I’m calling out to directly, this is an additional personnel. Since the capacity is one person, if you are okay with it I’ll close it without posting. Ah, by the way, the reward G will be quite generous, you know.”
“I’ll do it!”
I reflexively consented to those words of Principal Quun. If I can get more G, there is no reason not to do it. Besides, I’m also curious about the Frame Gear that the principal is making.
“Well then, come to the Third Large Hangar at 15:00 tomorrow. I will tell the guard. Ah, just in case, since this will be my personal classified matter private, do not speak of the content to anyone. Is that okay?”
“Etto, yes. I understood.”
I see, when it comes to employer and laborer, does confidentiality obligation also occur. Principal is the top of this academy and at the same time a royalty of the Principality, right. There must be various information that should not be put out in public. While thinking about such things, I was a little excited about tomorrow’s test operation.
◇ ◇ ◇
“Is this the Third Large Hangar……”
That place I set foot in for the first time was a place where the inside was tremendously wider than the outside appearance. This is expanded with spatial magic, right? When I spoke to the female knight guard who was at the entrance, I was immediately let inside, and was told to wait here for a while. Inside the hangar, various parts and vehicles are placed promiscuously, and it is interesting just looking at them. That thing over there is a magic train, right……? That one over there is an airship, this one over here has many highest-grade magic powered passenger cars Ether Vehicles lined up but……! If I sold all the guys here, how much would it be exactly…… Th, is this the thing called celebrity……! When I was trembling with fear at the selling price, a small bear golem came pyoko pyoko from over there. It beckons its hand as if saying ‘come here’ towards me. Does it mean follow me? While chasing after Parla who walks pyoko pyoko, I recalled that I came to this academy, thinking that something like this happened before too. At that time, if I recall correctly, when I followed, Principal Quun was maintaining Achilles in the courtyard.
“Wa……!”
When I advance inside the hangar with Paula’s guidance, eventually one Frame Gear standing on the maintenance deck came into view. It is a gray machine still unpainted. It is neither big nor small. Is it a Ritter Frame? I wonder if that is the prototype machine to test.
“Ah, you came, right.”
Principal Quun was at the feet of the machine. Apart from that, two unfamiliar boys and two girls…… wait, eh!? I open my eyes wide and am surprised at one of the girls who was there. Zeldigard Minas Lestia. The First Rank [Sword Emperor Princess] was there.
