That morning was quiet.
Daphne enjoyed a peaceful morning for the first time in a while.
“Today, the upper bunk is quiet.”
Her clumsy roommate often tossed and turned at dawn, muttering incoherent sleep talk.
It sounded like a sick puppy whining alone in a kennel.
Hearing such noises every night made her worry that Violet might be unwell.
Though Violet herself seemed unaware of it.
Violet hadn’t returned late last night. Curious, Daphne had sent her a text but received no reply.
“Where on earth did Rugilinn go? Did she stay out overnight?”
The Violet she knew was playful, carefree, and a bit too enthusiastic about food.
That might sound like an ordinary girl, but there was something slightly off about her.
If no one watched over her, she gave the impression of a baby left near a body of water, creating unease in onlookers.
“Maybe she got into trouble with some mean seniors.”
Daphne had never imagined the prestigious school would have such unreasonably ugly sides beneath its surface.
“Before enrolling, I heard it was a school of order and tradition…”
Unfortunately, her roommate had an overly lively personality.
She would even sneak into the senior dormitory cafeteria to grab food.
With her standout personality, she might have picked a fight for no reason.
No, it’ll be fine.
Even if something happened, Violet’s cheerful personality would help her get through it somehow.
Her roommate didn’t return even after breakfast.
Hoping to get some fresh air before studying, Daphne changed her clothes and stepped outside.
That’s when a message arrived from an unfamiliar number.
“Who could this be…? Oh my!”
[If you know Violet Rugilinn, please come to the infirmary immediately upon seeing this message!]
Daphne rushed to the infirmary and found Violet lying on a white bed.
Three students sat nearby with worried expressions.
Hearing Daphne’s footsteps, all three turned their heads in sequence.
“Oh my goodness, Rugilinn! What on earth…?”
Startled, she approached, seeing Violet groaning and writhing on the bed.
“What happened? Is she badly hurt? Or is it an illness?”
A purple-haired girl standing nearby answered Daphne’s question.
“Don’t worry. It’s just a hangover… Are you the one who received the message? What’s your relationship with her?”
“I’m her roommate, though I’m not sure if that’s the best way to put it. My name is Daphne Grace.”
Hearing this, the girl sighed, leaving Daphne wondering what the sigh could mean.
She soon found out.
“…Initially, I tried contacting Violet Rugilinn’s parents. I inquired at the administration office. But when I called, it said the number was disconnected. There’s no way to reach any relatives, and she doesn’t even have any friends. So, I checked her smartphone… and found your number there. Ah, don’t misunderstand! It’s password-protected, so I couldn’t open it anyway.”
The girl held up Violet’s smartphone, which rested on the table.
Daphne’s blue eyes turned to the screen displaying the message and phone number.
Seeing only a number without her name, she felt slightly offended.
“Rugilinn, couldn’t you have at least saved my name in there?”
“Aren’t you the first-year class representative from before?”
“Yes, that’s right. I’m Irene Solstice.”
Daphne tilted her head in curiosity.
Solstice? It was a familiar surname.
Though less so now, she had often heard it on news and broadcasts when she was younger.
“Excuse me, Solstice… Could it be…?”
“What you’re thinking is correct. My father is the one you’re referring to.”
Levi, seated beside Granit, whispered to him.
“It’s true, isn’t it… the spear wielder!”
“Wow, it really is.”
Irene explained Violet’s situation.
“…Apparently, she drank a strong alcohol by the bucketful and fell asleep on the street. These students brought her here, concerned she might be unwell. According to the infirmary teacher, she’s simply very drunk and should recover after resting. So there’s no need to worry.”
Relieved that it wasn’t an illness, Daphne couldn’t help but feel exasperated.
Though not ill, passing out drunk on the street was utterly reckless.
“But isn’t drinking prohibited on campus?”
“Exactly. That’s why I came here.”
– Bzzzzz!
A vibrating sound interrupted them.
“Oh! I have an urgent matter to attend to. I’ll step out to take this call.”
Irene quickly left with her vibrating phone, giving Daphne a chance to speak with the students who had brought her roommate in.
“I don’t know who you are, but you’re really good people.”
“It’s nothing…! Really!”
“We just brought in a drunk, no big deal.”
After a few polite exchanges, the awkwardness returned since they didn’t know each other or share the same department.
The three students stood quietly by the bed when an unexpected event occurred.
Violet, who had been softly groaning, suddenly began convulsing.
“No…! Don’t…!”
Violet, who had been lying still with her eyes closed, flailed her arms and screamed.
“What’s happening?”
“Her hangover must… be really bad!”
Violet twisted and writhed as if she were on the brink of death.
While Levi and Granit stood frozen in panic, Daphne examined Violet closely.
“It doesn’t seem to be a physical issue. Is it psychological?”
Daphne recalled the odd events she had noticed before.
“Could those sounds at dawn not have been mere sleep-talking?”
Violet’s frantic arms reached out, clawing at the air like a drowning person grasping for a lifeline.
Unable to watch any longer, Daphne grabbed her flailing hand.
The desperate hand clutched Daphne’s tightly.
Violet’s convulsions subsided.
She began crying sorrowfully.
“Waaah… no…”
Everyone stood silent, unsure of what to do.
Daphne placed a hand gently on Violet’s head.
A soft green glow spread out from her hand.
Slowly, Violet’s breathing began to calm.
The moans escaping her lips grew quieter.
Granit, watching curiously, spoke up.
“What’s that?”
“I’m using my unique ability. It heals wounds and reduces pain. By adjusting the wavelength appropriately and focusing it on her head… yes, she seems better now.”
Violet’s movements visibly eased.
Though she had calmed down, tears continued to stream endlessly down her cheeks.
Between sobs, Violet’s lips quivered as if trying to speak.
“Don’t torment me… stop… Mom…”
The three students watched Violet’s sorrowful expression with pity.
Daphne hesitated briefly before cautiously responding to Violet’s murmurs.
“Are you okay? I’m here.”
It didn’t matter whether Violet could hear her.
Still, on the off chance she could, perhaps it would provide some comfort.
Violet mumbled again.
“Mom…?”
“It’s me. Daphne! Your roommate, Rugilinn. You’re okay now…”
Was it merely a bad dream, or something more?
Daphne attempted to console her roommate.
She tried to comfort her.
“…Mom?”
“Huh?”
“Waahhh…!”
Violet began crying again, her wails growing louder.
The sound attracted the attention of others in the infirmary.
Levi fidgeted helplessly, while Granit quickly drew the curtains around them.
Violet continued sobbing.
“Mom…! Waaaah…”
“What do I do…? Could it be…?”
Daphne scrambled to think of a solution.
After hesitating briefly, she managed to answer.
“Yes! I’m your mom. I’m here. You’re not in pain. Everything’s okay now.”
“…Mom…”
“…No one’s going to hurt you. You’ll get better. So hang in there, okay? I’m here for you.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Violet’s sorrowful cries began to subside.
She soon caught her breath and calmed down.
“Hehehe…”
The girl, who had been crying just moments ago, now laughed as if something was amusing her.
‘Thank goodness. This actually works.’
When Daphne lifted her head, she saw her classmates awkwardly turning their gazes away. Her face flushed in embarrassment shortly after.
‘Ah… Mom, what nonsense did I just say…?’
If there had been a mouse hole nearby, she would’ve crawled into it.
“Alright, everyone?”
“…Listening.”
“Yes… Yes, ma’am!”
“Let’s pretend we didn’t see what just happened with Rugilinn, okay?”
The two nodded their heads. It was an act of consideration for their fellow classmate.
“Absolutely, no matter what happens, don’t ever mention this to Rugilinn!”
She made the two students promise again.
Violet shifted slightly before her eyes slowly opened.
Standing before me was Irene Solstice, the First-Year Representative—a title that sounded implausible even as I thought about it.
‘She’s tiny.’
Irene was about the same height as me.
All the other characters I’d met up to now, whether male or female, had been taller than me, which made this encounter even more striking.
“Is everything alright, Rugilinn?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. But if possible, I’d prefer if you spoke casually to me.”
Among my peers, Daphne was already more than enough of a formal speaker.
She promptly switched to a casual tone to explain herself.
“…If that’s what makes you comfortable, I’ll do that, Rugilinn. The reason I came here is this. I’ve already been briefed by the two people who brought you here. Apparently, some senior students used the welcome ceremony as an excuse to subject you to highly unjust acts of harassment. Is that true?”
“That’s right. But why?”
She briefly opened the bag slung over her shoulder and pulled out a folder.
“Alright. If you’d like, I can help you file a complaint against those seniors to the Disciplinary Committee. Can you fill this out?”
It was a very tempting offer.
Without hesitation, I accepted it.
“Sure! Sounds great!”
Following Irene’s instructions, I diligently filled out the statement form.
But, honestly, will this actually work?
—Yeah, seriously. In this messed-up school, normal procedures like this wouldn’t…
—Honestly, we’re just trying it out to see what happens.
Once the matter was settled, I left the infirmary.
I expressed my gratitude to Levi and Granite, who had brought me here.
For some reason, the two of them looked at me with awkward expressions.
“Daphne, is something the matter?”
“Ah… well? Actually, Rugilinn seemed to be, um… sleep-talking rather intensely because she wasn’t feeling well…”
Daphne stammered uncharacteristically as she explained.
Looks like I showed a lot of embarrassing behavior. How mortifying.
I spent the weekend without much thought.
On the Monday afternoon of the third week since enrollment, the Disciplinary Committee convened.
The location was a conference room on the fifth floor of the student council building.
Thanks to Irene’s assistance, the Disciplinary Committee was held, but it was a complete mess—disorganized to the extreme.
“Greetings. I’m Caym, the treasurer of Polaris’ General Student Council! Irene, we meet again. How many times has it been already?”
A brown-haired young man with a laid-back demeanor greeted us with excessive enthusiasm.
“…Where is the supervising professor?”
“Hahaha… According to Article 21, Section 1 of the Student Autonomy Regulations, they’re not required to be here!”
“What about the student council president and vice president?”
“According to Article 21, Section 5, just the treasurer—me, Caym—is enough to proceed!”
Oh, come on, this is a disaster from the start.
None of the adult faculty members who were supposed to be present were here.
Even the positions of the student council president and vice president were vacant, leaving only this ridiculous treasurer.
This is what they call a disciplinary committee?
And how can this even be valid when students are holding it on their own?
“…According to Article 31, Section 7 of the Student Autonomy Regulations, decisions made here are only preliminary. The final decision will be made by the Board of Trustees, so don’t worry. The trustees will definitely give their stamp of approval!”
Wow, just amazing!
This pseudo-disciplinary committee, attended by both students and witnesses, progressed at breakneck speed.
Surprisingly, the process of the Disciplinary Committee worked in my favor. After all, it was true that the seniors had brought prohibited alcohol onto campus.
When the bottles of alcohol were presented as evidence, the accused senior, Camerdeen, and the others began to sniffle.
“Mr. Treasurer, sir! I’m innocent! I only told her to have a sip, but she happily drank everything!”
“Rugilinn, is this true?”
“Well… technically, yeah…”
After some hesitation, I admitted it honestly. I did drink voluntarily, after all.
Irene, who had somehow ended up acting as my lawyer, gave me a puzzled look before stepping in to argue on my behalf.
“But it was under coercive circumstances, wasn’t it?”
“No! Here’s the evidence. Violet enjoyed herself thoroughly! How is this coercion?”
What the hell?
The second-year students pulled out a smartphone video they’d taken at some point. It showed me cheerfully laughing while stuffing my face with food.
“Oh… it really does look like that.”
—Ack! Guess I overdid it with the enthusiasm!
—Should I have eaten while crying instead?
Five minutes later, the Disciplinary Committee announced its verdict.
“Alright. Here is the verdict of the Disciplinary Committee. Bringing prohibited alcohol onto campus and making another student drink it are serious violations of school regulations. Camerdeen Farus and five others are hereby suspended. The specifics will be decided by the Board of Trustees, so you may all leave now!”
“No! She drank it willingly! This is unfair!”
Those shameless seniors were quietly dragged away by the student council members.
While they were punished for now, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t the right conclusion.
“Wait a second. Forcing someone to consume food, confiscating weapons, and coercing acts of hazing—aren’t these grounds for expulsion?”
When Irene and the first-year witnesses protested, Caym waved his hand dismissively, as if it was too much trouble.
“Oh, I wouldn’t know about that! The maximum penalty the student council can impose is suspension. Anything beyond that is for the Board of Trustees to decide. Complain to the student council president if you’re unhappy.”
“Hey! Treasurer!”
“Well then, that’s all for now!”
Caym brushed off Irene and fled with the other student council members, practically sprinting out of the room.
This is what they call a disciplinary committee?
“Well… At least the seniors were punished, so we should look on the bright side, right?”
“No, this only dealt with minor issues.”
The ambiguous outcome left me feeling dissatisfied, and Irene seemed just as frustrated.
It was like drinking flat soda.
“Alright, I’ll get going. Thanks for your help!”
“…Sure. If you need more help, contact me here.”
After exchanging SNS handles and phone numbers, we parted ways.
I suddenly felt like exploring the fifth floor.
I wandered through the vintage-style interior, looking at various plaques, trophies, and certificates on display.
It was odd to think that such a dysfunctional, trashy school had received awards.
“Ugh… dust.”
The area was poorly maintained, with a thick layer of dust everywhere.
I ran my finger along a trophy, gathering a thick clump of dust, and only then could I make out the engraved letters.
<Polaris 10th Anniversary Commemorative Plaque>
<Academy of the Year Award – Polaris Integrated Academy>
<Academy City’s Best Student XXX>
<Exemplary Student Award OOO>
The accolades were impressive.
Checking the dates, I saw that they were from the 15th year of the Federation—ten years ago.
The other awards were all from ten or twenty years ago, with the most recent trophy dating back seven years.
So, the school had been successful in the past?
As I walked down the hallway, I felt like I was observing a moldy, dirty chapter of the school’s history.
I was looking at portraits of the first chairman and the principal when I heard familiar voices arguing in the distance.
‘Irene! And that person…’
It was a scene I’d seen once before during the entrance ceremony.
A tall young man with ashen hair—it was the student council president.
Crawling on all fours, I crept behind the nearest sofa and eavesdropped on their conversation.
—Who is this student council president? This school is seriously weird.—
—Something about freedom, huh? What nonsense…—
—It’s crazy talk, but maybe it’s better than seniors constantly flaunting their authority.—
As I listened, my clones all chimed in with various comments.
Some parts of the conversation were hard to hear and didn’t make sense to me.
Should I listen a little longer…?
“…It’s improper to eavesdrop on others’ conversations, junior.”
With a creak, the sofa was pushed aside. It was telekinesis.
When I raised my head, I froze in shock.
The student council president was looking down at me with lifeless, cold eyes.
“Eek!”
“Violet Rugilinn? What are you doing here?”
Oh no, I’ve been caught.
Before I knew it, I was stuck between Irene and the student council president.
The president reached out his hand, and I felt a tugging sensation before my body was lifted into the air.
I was pulled toward him by telekinesis and placed right in front of him.
Ahhh! I’m caught! I’m dead! It’s over!
“Eek!”
The student council president scanned me coldly.
Was he about to punish me?
An invisible pressure enveloped my entire body, and the telekinetic force…
—Crack!
“Disgusting…”
“Huh?”
“President, what are you doing right now…”
“I didn’t realize your eyesight was so poor. Dust. I’m cleaning it off. Is there a problem?”
The telekinetic force lightly patted the dust off my clothes.
Once all the dust was gone, I was gently lowered to the floor.
The president’s disdainful gaze swept over me.
“What are you, a cockroach? Hiding and crawling around on the floor like that…”
“Hehehe…”
Faced with his brutal honesty, I was at a loss for words.