The peaceful sewers of the capital, today as always.

"Hmm~ The air is so thick, I bet no one would notice if someone died here."

Walking through the moss-filled sewer with a cheerful stride, I smiled at the people following behind me.

"Everyone."

"..."

"Isn't this a great place for a walk?"

"..."

The man who was holding his breath against the suffocating stench shouted at my smiling face.

"...Shut up!"

"Shut up, you say?"

"Why do I have to follow you!"

They say you can't spit on a smiling face, but at the words of the algae, who was better at it than anyone else, I became sullen. How upsetting.

"Why are you angry? Isn't it nice to take a walk together after such a long time?"

"Would you like it if it were you?"

"Yes."

"..."

Familiar faces were gathered in the sewers of the capital.

"It's noisy, so just walk quietly!"

Schuen, who had achieved excellent results in the last class.

"That's right. If you hold your nose and stand still, it feels like a walk, and it's nice."

Hanna, the king of infinite positivity, and.

"I came all dressed up to meet Ricardo."

"I'm glad I came with my bandages on."

Yuria and Mikhail were accompanying them.

The reason they had gathered again after the class was over was for one thing. It was because of Chartia's request.

I looked at Chartia, who was standing behind me, smiled brightly, and said.

"Everyone's here, Princess."

"...Yeah."

*

Three days after the High Council of Nobles had ended, Chartia had come to see me while I was taking a walk in the Hamel mountains.

-Hk!

-Why are you surprised.

-I'm not a looter. It's just that I was lucky enough to find a corpse on the street that had been attacked by a monster, so I was looting it.

-...For something done by a monster, the corpse is full of sword wounds.

-Their claws must be sharp.

Chartia had said to me, who had a heart cleaner than the pure white sun.

-Ricardo, can I ask you for an unreasonable favor?

-I'd like to avoid unreasonable favors.

-The Crown Prince's trust is wavering.

-Oh... that's good news.

-I asked Taeoh a difficult question in a formal setting. About what he thought about this incident.

-Did something happen to the empire?

-...The person you just killed.

-...I don't know anything about it.

-Anyway... now's the chance. The moment Taeoh's trust wavers, the only chance to gain my father's support is now.

-What does that have to do with me? I'm just an ordinary butler who loves freedom and peace.

-You said you'd support me.

-...You remember?

-If you help me just this once, I'll grant you a favor when I become emperor.

-Hmm...

-If you don't help me, I'll abolish polygamy.

-I'll help you.

And so, I decided to grant Chartia's request. Not because I wanted to protect the law of polygamy, which was full of desire, but because a man had to keep his word. It was not a butler's virtue to be two-faced, so I decided to help Chartia.

"Ahem."

It was also an opportunity to let the students who had worked hard during the vacation experience how much they had grown.

Originally, I was planning to let them experience their growth in the episode where the heretics attack the academy after the school opening ceremony, but at Chartia's irresistible offer, I had no choice but to nod my head and accept.

To be honest, I didn't like the Crown Prince.

So that's why I'm in the capital now.

In this gloomy place where sewage flows.

Nodding my head at Chartia's answer, I turned around, looked at the people following me, and said.

"I've come all the way from Hamel to meet you all."

"..."

"Aren't you happy to see me?"

"..."

"There's still some vacation left, would you like to roll around in the cool air?"

"Woooooooow!!!"

"Good."

It was a secret that only I knew that I was quite hurt by the students' appearance of liking to roll around in the sewer but hating to have classes in the cool mountains.

No matter what, I didn't make them roll around as hard as they would in the sewer.

"...I hate spider dens."

I decided to hold my tongue as I saw Hanna, who was trembling.

"So."

Luin, with his arms crossed, sent a gaze full of hostility and asked me the most important question.

"Why did you call us."

"Well, you see."

"There's a reason you called us here, isn't there?"

"Can't I say I missed you?"

"You?"

"..."

"Me?"

"To be honest, I don't like seeing algae in a place full of algae either."

"...You son of a bitch."

After calming the flinching Luin, I looked at Chartia and asked.

"Princess."

"Huh?"

"What should we do now?"

"Huh?"

"Now that everyone's here, it would be nice if you could give us a mission."

At the unexpected question, Chartia's eyes widened and she looked at me with an incredulous expression.

"You didn't know?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Is there a need to know?"

"...Ha?"

"Yes."

"You're lying, you know."

"Because it's usually the leader who tells us these things."

"Haa..."

Because it's right for the leader to tell the story in these situations.

Having seen the novel, I know how this episode will unfold, but I have no intention of proceeding with it on my own will.

In the first place, I had put Pascal, who had invaded the Black Sanctuary, in prison long ago to prevent the episode of the Black Sanctuary being breached, but I couldn't stop it due to the appearance of the apostle.

Before the twisted episode got even more twisted, there was a need to raise Chartia, so I made everyone's eyes focus on her, expecting her leadership.

"Ahem."

She had to grow through this opportunity.

Chartia, who was looking at me and the other students, began to speak with a heavy expression.

"The reason you're all gathered here is because of the stories that have been in the newspapers lately."

"That the stock prices went up?"

"No."

"Then I'm not interested."

"..."

Chartia, who felt the dark future of the empire, let out a long sigh and slowly continued.

"The Black Sanctuary."

"..."

"Information has come in that the criminals who escaped from there have been sighted in the capital."

"...Then."

"That's right."

Chartia said with a serious expression.

"We're going to catch them."

"..."

"No one in the empire is stepping up."

"..."

"The Histania family can't move because they have to protect the imperial palace, and the movements of the heretics have been so bizarre lately that we can't send soldiers to the imperial palace."

"..."

"So..."

Luin, who had been listening quietly, raised his hand and said. He thought he had nothing to do with this matter.

"Princess."

"Oh... you're using honorifics?"

"...I have to speak like a person now, don't I?"

"You did well."

"Don't praise me!"

Luin, who had once let out a side remark at Ricardo's interruption, let out a snort as if he was embarrassed by the compliment and said.

"When you called us, you used that guy's name."

"That's right."

"I thought it was an extension of the class, but it seems like you're using us to solve a personal matter."

"That's..."

"I can only see this as you using us to gain a political advantage. I don't think we have any obligation to catch dangerous criminals without any reward or benefit."

As Chartia's lips, which had been making a difficult expression at Luin's words, were firmly closed, I let out an exclamation of admiration at the smart words Luin had uttered.

"Luin..."

"Don't look at me so disgustingly."

"Finally..."

Because it was the first time I realized that an algae could speak like a person.

"You've become a person."

"Hey."

"You can think."

"I told you not to be so disgusting."

"Sniffle... I thought your mouth was just a decoration... you can speak coherently."

"Haa... shut up before I throw a fireball at your face. What the hell do you mean, my mouth is a decoration."

"Oh... you would have said you'd throw a fireball at my face if it were normal... I'm happy."

"...Fuck."

Let's stop joking around here.

I cleared my throat once and then began to speak in place of Chartia. Because the person who had called these busy people here was not Chartia, but me.

-I will choose the members. You just have to call them using my name, Princess.

-...Do you think these guys will listen obediently?

-Yes, they'll definitely say they want to do it.

I began to talk about the benefits that would come to them. Because work is only enjoyable when there's something to gain.

-Jingle.

Schuen, whose eyes had widened first, brought his face close and sniffed the pouch in my hand.

"Money!"

I said with a smile.

"You're all short on money right now."

"...Not really."

"You'll have to drink when the semester starts."

"..."

"Luin-sunbae~ buy me a drink."

"Who...."

"But you don't have any money."

I said with a smile.

"3000 gold per head."

Their gazes began to change.

"There will be about 40 of them. That's about three times the bounty offered by the empire."

Knowing that there were still those who were disappointed, I added one more thing.

"And for the one who achieves the best results among you."

This is a big condition.

A condition that even I would be jealous of.

"I will give you an ancient magic book."

It wasn't 'The Dance of the Infinite Light'.

Because it's a waste to give that.

"For those who use a sword, I will give you an ancient secret manual."

I asked with a sly smile. Do you still not want to do it?

"Don't you want to?"

As expected, there was no answer.

Teams were formed.

There was no problem in forming the teams, as not a single person said they didn't want to.

I would have done the same.

Luin and Shuen.

Mikhail and Yuria.

Veilin and Hanna.

Finally, Chartia and me.

The combinations were a little strange.

A wizard was paired with a wizard.

A person specialized in assassination was paired with a swordsman. But there was no guarantee that a person with a matching combination would be by their side when a battle occurred, so there was also an intention to form the teams a little bizarrely.

Because these people were not people who would die easily.

"Kuh."

I, who stood at a crossroads, looked at those who were burning with passion and urged them with one word. That safety was the first and second priority.

"Everyone."

"..."

"If you don't think you can win, you must run away."

"..."

"It's important to win 1st place and get the treasure I have, but what's more important is your lives."

I don't know if she was listening to me properly, but Shuen, who was burning with will, her eyes sparkling, was nodding her head eagerly.

"Not more, not less, we'll just catch 10 of them."

"Hey, what's with calling a person 'them'? You should say 'people'."

"Shut up, green algae!"

"...This."

Luin, who had a light conversation with Shuen, turned around, looked at the passage where a cold wind was blowing, and said.

"Then we'll go down the middle."

"So Mr. Green Algae and Ms. Shuen will go down the middle?"

"I have a good feeling about it."

Shuen, who saw Luin's mischievous smile, clenched her fists and shouted.

"Don't smile so disgustingly! And why did you decide on the middle without even consulting me?!"

"Trust my intuition today. I've been lucky lately."

"Don't be ridiculous!"

"..."

Yuria and Mikhail took a step towards the passage where a damp wind was blowing and said.

"Then Yuria and I will go left."

"Mikhail's team, left. Understood."

Finally, Hanna and Veilin moved towards the last remaining right passage and said to me.

"Then we'll go right."

"Understood."

I, who was watching the departing people, threw the signal flare I had prepared in my pocket and said. That there was no one caught in my senses, but if a strong person appeared, they should not hesitate to ask for help.

"If it's dangerous, just pull the string at the bottom."

I, who was watching the backs of the departing people, looked at Chartia and extended my hand, starting to guide her. Because it was a butler's virtue to take care of a pretty woman.

"Then shall we go too?"

Chartia looked at me with a puzzled expression. The other students had already gone down the crossroads, and she was making an expression of where we were going.

"Weren't we supposed to stick with Hanna's side?"

Perhaps Chartia thought we would stick with the relatively weaker students and support them, but unfortunately, I, who had no intention of giving anyone special treatment, silently said to Chartia.

"No."

That our destination was already decided.

"We will go back the way we came."

They are coming.

The killing intent to eliminate the pursuers who have invaded their home.

"It will be fun."

"..."

"Maybe."

Maybe.

That guy would be there.

The old grudge that had become a nightmare to the princess.

*

"Yuria."

The left passage of the sewer.

Mikhail, who was walking in a place with more moss than other passages, looked at Yuria, who had a tense expression, and said.

"Something's strange."

Yuria, as if she knew, quietly nodded her head and began to walk slowly. Because she also thought this quiet situation was strange.

Originally, various creatures lived in the sewers.

Cockroaches that liked the stench, of course, and monsters like the giant rat 'Giant Rat' or 'Goblins' would make their homes in the sewers and create a small ecosystem, which was a common phenomenon.

So when the empire cleaned the sewers, it was a place where a harsh ecosystem was established, to the point where it was designated by law to accompany adventurers of a certain rank.

"...It's too quiet."

It was strange that no sound had been heard since they had entered the sewer.

The squeaking of the commonly heard mice, the sound of insects fleeing from people.

"..."

Nothing could be heard.

Mikhail, who had promised not to use the holy sword in this operation, placed his hand on the sword on his right side and said to Yuria.

"They're coming."

And so, one step.

-Thud.

Two steps.

-Thud.

The moment someone's footsteps were heard from beyond the sewer.

"Kuh..."

A man with a huge build began to appear before the two of them.

The man, who seemed to have no intention of hiding his huge build, was holding a huge staff with nails and the neck of a mouse.

By the time the tail of the dead mouse, dragging on the floor, caught Yuria's eye, the man let out a bright smile and began to utter a sneering voice towards Yuria and Mikhail.

"What cute little things."

"..."

"I thought you were imperial soldiers, but you were just cute little kids."

"..."

"I was nervous for nothing."

The man crushed the neck of the giant mouse in his hand with pressure and clicked his tongue. At the same time, the mouse that fell from the man's hand separated from its neck and body and fell powerlessly to the floor.

"Hey!"

The man, who had smeared the dripping blood on his face, shouted at Mikhail and Yuria, who were saying nothing.

"An adult is talking, why aren't you answering?!"

"..."

"Did you brats eat your manners for breakfast?"

"..."

"But it's okay, kuh... I was just getting bored."

The man in a prison uniform slowly approached Mikhail and Yuria, gripping the staff in his hand ferociously.

As if the pieces of flesh stuck to the staff would be their fate.

"The guys who were after the bounty on my head were no fun."

"..."

"They just screamed and were so weak... I was so bored that I made them into minced meat, and their comrades couldn't even make a peep. Hehe..."

"..."

"Oh...?"

The man, who saw Mikhail's face, smiled viciously and brought his head closer, saying.

"You would have been fine if you had gone the other way."

"...The other way?"

"Because you're a man who looks like a woman. The guy over there would like you."

Along with the man's chuckling laughter, a terrible scream began to be heard from the passage where Luin had gone.

-Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!!!

"..."

Mikhail, who opened his eyes coldly, erased his previous self and said.

"Yuria."

"..."

"Can I do this one?"

While erasing the gaze that craved twisted justice.

"No."

Likewise, Yuria also.

"I'll do it."

...erased the gaze that demanded unconditional devotion and answered Mikhail.

Now that she had set her goal, there was no need to hesitate.

*

Luin was flustered.

"Sh... sh... shit..."

He was as violently flustered as when Ricardo had called him green algae.

"What is this..."

Shuen, who was looking at the same place as Luin, also had the most trembling eyes she had ever shown.

"This is a disgrace to the nobles..."

"So..."

"It's as disgusting as seeing a living green algae!"

"Hey..."

Shuen ignored the hurt green algae's heart and continued. She couldn't express her feelings in words, but she could express the scene she was seeing in words.

"How can a man!"

"Look away."

"be wearing a bunny girl outfit!!!"

Shuen, who saw an adult man showing off his buttocks in a bunny girl outfit instead of a man in a prison uniform, was horrified and pointed her finger at him.

"Burn him at the stake!"

"..."

"Hanging!"

Luin, who was already disgusted by just walking around in the sewer, let out a long sigh of annoyance at the sight of a man walking around in a thong and covered Shuen's eyes.

"Cover your eyes."

Shuen, who couldn't follow Luin's words, spat out the words 'A green algae can't touch a noble!' at Luin and once again began to spew out profanities.

"You... if you say you're a noble, I'll kill you!"

"..."

"No. I'll just kill you!"

The man, who was only showing his buttocks in the darkness, began to take a step forward, stepping on the slimy moss of the sewer with his bare feet.

"Hehe..."

While licking his lips at Luin.

"Uheheheung"

His name was Gailo.

10 years ago, he was a murderer who had plunged the empire into fear by brutally killing 40 people, and a sinner with the moniker of [The Sodomite].

The man, who was looking straight at Luin's face and showing off his hideous chest muscles, snorted and said.

"Oh my~ you're handsome."

"...I'll kill you."

"Then you must be well-endowed down there too, right?"

"..."

"I'll kill you."

The moment the provoked Luin was about to shoot magic, the enraged Shuen shouted.

"Don't have a strange sexual desire for a plant!"

"Hey..."

Luin, who was even more hurt by Shuen's words.

Luin clenched his fists and, suppressing his annoyance, said.

"Cover me, Shuen."

"Eh?"

"I'm going to castrate that bastard."

"...Was that your preference?"

"No!"

Luin said, with mana in his fingertips.

"I'll show you."

"..."

"How much the green algae you all ignore has grown."

Along with Luin's cold words, Luin's body began to move quickly.

His target was the man's life.

Luin, who craved recognition, wanted to prove himself today.