A ban wave had already swept through once at the start of the semester.
The Discipline Committee had also thrown all its strength into guarding the temporary storage facility.
Just like at the end of last year, there was always the chance that the dark-blade faction, the Archery Club, and the rest would come challenging again.
But unexpectedly, they stayed quiet, and with no other challengers appearing either, the first battle to defend the temporary storage facility ended in a disappointingly anticlimactic fashion.
Of course, there’s no guarantee the next ban wave will go the same way.
The dark-blade side might simply be stockpiling strength. Or waiting for the Discipline Committee to let its guard down.
A kind of cold war, really.
And in a cold war like this, the side doing the guarding loses.
When you did not know exactly who the enemy was or when they would attack, all you could do was keep pouring strength into defense and wait.
The solution I proposed to break that stalemate was simple.
Lure them in and crush them.
A rank-up potion had been designated a prohibited item?
And then confiscated and sent to the temporary storage facility?
Every hyena that had been licking its chops for an opening would come crawling out.
And if we wiped them all out in one sweep, that would effectively bring the cold war to an end too.
Gwak Seungjae seemed to have followed the logic that far, because they tipped their chin at me and said,
“Not a bad price.”
“It won’t be a losing deal.”
“Though if we’re going to do this, we’ll need that man’s cooperation as well.”
At that, the man in question, Shin Byeongcheol, straightened up and asked back in a stiff voice,
“What would you like me to do?”
“If we only say it was confiscated, the effect will be weak.”
“You mean you need the actual item.”
“And in sufficient quantity.”
There were eyes and ears from other factions inside the Discipline Committee too.
If they spread nothing but rumors without any actual potions, the lie would be exposed quickly. And with only one or two, there was a good chance the hyenas would not move at all.
At a guess, we would need around ten to make it look convincing.
At that, Shin Byeongcheol hesitated.
“I was planning to make 002 in the near future, but... will you give them back once this is over?”
“If they aren’t stolen.”
“So I’m supposed to place a bet too.”
“That’s right. There can be no compromise on that point.”
Gwak Seungjae’s tone was firm.
The Discipline Committee would be taking on a considerable burden of its own, so it was only right for Shin Byeongcheol to show some sincerity as well.
He scratched the back of his head and looked at me.
“I get what you’re saying, but this is pretty sudden. Couldn’t you have told me in advance?”
“It wouldn’t have changed anything whether I told you earlier or later.”
“And if I hand them over and they get looted?”
“At this rate, you’re the one who’s going to get looted.”
“...No, yeah, that’s true too.”
If he did not join hands with the Discipline Committee, then he would turn into a walking temporary storage facility.
I added blandly,
“And they won’t get looted.”
“Based on what?”
“Because we’re helping guard it too.”
He had suddenly seemed close with Gwak Seungjae, and apparently some sort of mutual interest had formed.
Besides, my group needed T.E.B - 002 as well.
If the temporary storage facility got hit, we would be losing around ten of them. There was no way we would just sit and watch.
And up to this point, we had never failed even once.
Shin Byeongcheol brightened immediately and rubbed his hands together.
“Come on now, you say the most important part last? You can’t toy with a guy’s emotions like that.”
“So you have no objections?”
“Of course not. As soon as 002 is finished, I’ll bring it straight to Senior Gwak.”
That much settled us, more or less.
But Gwak Seungjae still looked as though they had one more demand.
“One more thing. I would like to identify the potion’s maker.”
“I’m sorry, but that will be difficult.”
For this, at least, even Shin Byeongcheol looked them straight in the eye and refused cleanly.
When he said he meant to keep it secret for the time being in order to protect trust, he had been sincere.
I backed him up too.
“That’s exactly why we’re asking for the Discipline Committee’s help in the first place. I hope you can understand.”
“......”
Gwak Seungjae looked at the two of us in silence.
After seeming to think for a moment, they tilted their chin.
“...It is not an urgent matter right now. The point is only to ensure a swift response in an emergency.”
“Thank you.”
“But remember this. If that potion maker goes astray, you will no longer be entitled to your secrets either.”
In other words, if T.E.B - 002 or 003 or any later version truly got designated a prohibited item, they planned to come down on the link in the chain first.
The color drained from Shin Byeongcheol’s face, but he forced a smile anyway as he answered,
“Oh, absolutely. I’ll make sure everything stays under control. Heh heh.”
*****
A few days later.
Dragonslayer Academy was buzzing with several rumors.
The first was that Shin Byeongcheol had been registered as a Discipline Committee intensive observation target.
A few looked a little farther ahead than that.
In the end, it would probably be cleared of suspicion.
This was the same.
And even if opinions were split, the conclusion was one and the same.
It turned out exactly the way I wanted.
For the time being, the Discipline Committee would serve as Shin Byeongcheol’s shield.
Of course, it would not last forever.
“Intensive observation” was just smoke and mirrors, and Gwak Seungjae’s own position mattered too, considering they had already pushed the authority of the Discipline Committee president hard enough.
Still, what mattered was that we had bought time.
And the rumors seem to have spread nice and evenly too.
All of Dragonslayer Academy was on edge over whether T.E.B would be banned.
That did not mean the result would come out any time soon, though, so for now, all I had done was throw on the seasoning.
Now I just have to let it sit and mature for a while.
Until when?
Until 002 launched.
*****
The last day of PvP week.
Song Cheonhye and Seo Ye-in were still sparring.
ZZZT!
Topaz flashed yellow again and again.
When Song Cheonhye thrust her hand forward, a wave of electric current swept across the front.
Seo Ye-in and Fast-Luckless advanced straight through it with their bodies, then matched timing and swung their pots in quick succession.
WHOOSH!
Song Cheonhye backstepped and extended a hand over her shoulder.
Behind her stood no fewer than seven pillars made of compressed current.
A few of them trembled, then shot through the air and landed in her hand.
Then they transformed into bolts of lightning and crashed down on the enemy.
KRA-KRA-KRAAASH!
KRAAASH!
“......”
The two Seo Ye-ins faltered ever so slightly.
Even with [Elemental Resistance(S)], repeated A+-rank attacks were starting to accumulate, dealing minor damage and causing stiffening.
The instant Song Cheonhye moved to capitalize with a follow-up, the two Seo Ye-ins murmured in low voices.
SWISH...
SWISH...
Then they vanished like phantoms and reappeared at both sides, swinging their pots.
Of course, Song Cheonhye had already been hit by [Ghost Without Shadow] more times than she could count.
The moment she lost track of the two, she focused her mind, and right before the adamantite pot cracked her across the head, she vanished with ★Blink★.
BANG!
The next moment, she slammed her head into the ceiling and dropped flat.
Her control was still terrible.
Clutching her head and curling up like a hedgehog, Song Cheonhye looked up at the two Seo Ye-ins staring down at her.
“...Weakling.”
But just like she always had until now, Song Cheonhye returned to her original position and immediately reignited her fighting spirit.
In contrast, all fighting spirit had vanished from Seo Ye-in and Fast-Luckless’s faces.
They looked at each other and checked the time.
“Done for today.”
Song Cheonhye looked a little dumbfounded, but there was no way those pseudo-sloths would obediently agree just because she asked for more.
So in the end, she let out a sigh and said,
“Good work.”
“Good work.”
As she did, Song Cheonhye showed me her quest window with a slightly disappointed look.
“I couldn’t finish it this week.”
[Sub Quest: Stage 1 Austerity] (In Progress....)
▷ Increased maintenance difficulty for [Lightning Rod]
▷ Fight while maintaining 7 or more [Lightning Rods]
▷ Goal: Reach proficiency (8/100%)
I answered in a calm tone.
“It usually takes about a week. Longer if you do the Challenge version too.”
“Is that so?”
“You’ve already pushed it up to seven, so you’re halfway there.”
“...I’m glad that’s considered fast.”
Song Cheonhye said it casually.
Still, apparently she liked being praised, because the corners of her mouth were already starting to lift.
Then she carefully asked,
“Next week too... would you be able to make time?”
“Hard to say. Sorry, but I’m not sure. I need to go into a dungeon.”
“Ah... right. That makes sense.”
“At this point you just need to keep sparring, so try getting help from the others too.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
The mood stayed warm as we wrapped things up.
I was just about to leave the training room with Seo Ye-in.
“You’re hungry, right? Let’s go eat.”
“...?”
“What?”
“I got a message.”
“From who?”
“......”
Instead of answering, Seo Ye-in held up the communications crystal orb.
To make sure, I asked again,
“From Hyeseong?”
“Godfather.”
I had a pretty good idea why he was contacting us.
So we immediately activated the crystal orb, and after a few signal tones, the Dark Dragon Lord appeared.
“It’s good to see you again.”
One of the core items of the [Golden Pocket Watch], the [Golden Minute Hand].
The Dark Dragon Lord added in his usual tone,
