kscans

Chapter 101 -

"I think it’s about time I told you the name of the new academy."

Rena brought it up as they finished their meal and waited for dessert to be served.

"You mean the academy we’re going to?"

"What kind of name is it?"

"So it’s finally been decided."

"Yes. Rather than ‘decided,’ it’s more like I’m now allowed to say it."

Huh? What does that mean?

Naoto and Sakinon looked just as confused as I was.

"But there’s no information about it online yet."

Since Rena was being dramatic, Sakinon started looking it up herself. However, that too seemed to be part of Rena’s plan.

"You won’t find anything even if you search. Not until I give my permission."

"Does that mean…"

"The name of the new dungeon explorer training institution is Shinonome Academy."

"Sh-Shinonome Academy."

"Which means."

"It’s what we think, right?"

"I proposed its establishment to my father."

Seriously. Wait, so was everything up until now a charade?

"Rena-chan, you were the one who came up with the idea for the new academy, and the Shinonome Zaibatsu made it happen?"

"Wasn’t it supposed to be a government-led project…"

"We have Hayate, whom the President of the United States acknowledged as the strongest. Using that as a bargaining chip, we had it designated as a national project. It gives the academy’s graduates more prestige, and we can use the power of the state to eliminate any unsettling elements."

Naoto and the others probably don’t know, but the current prime minister is apparently someone backed by the Shinonome Zaibatsu. So is the Chief Cabinet Secretary, and Rena had told me that the number of such Shinonome-affiliated politicians has been increasing lately.

Apparently, the current Shinonome Zaibatsu has the power to make projects they initiate appear to be state-led. I don’t really get it, but it sounds kind of scary.

"So, does that mean we could have gotten into the same class as Hayate without training so hard?"

"Yes."

"O-oh… Thank you for your straightforward answer."

Wouldn’t it have been better to put it a little more gently?

"But thanks to your hard work, Naoto-san, we can all challenge the most difficult dungeons together. It seems Hayate wanted that too."

"Hayate did? So you knew about this too, Hayate?"

"No, no, no. I wasn’t told anything. It’s true that I wanted to clear dungeons with you guys, though."

"This was my decision alone. Hayate really knew nothing. I thought that if he knew you could get into the same class without trying, he might make the training easier. I apologize for keeping this from all of you. I’m very sorry."

Rena bowed her head deeply.

I didn’t mind, but I looked over at Naoto and the others, worried they might be angry.

However, my worries were unfounded.

"Rena-chan, you don’t have to apologize."

"Exactly. Come on, raise your head."

"Y-yes."

"You did it thinking of us, right? I’m pumped that I’ll be able to challenge dungeons with Hayate. But first, I want to ask Hayate something. Can I really hold my own in high-grade dungeons?"

"Yeah. I’ll guarantee it."

There can’t be many heavy warriors in the world who can withstand a barrage from the Fake Hayate using only initial skills. Right now, Naoto and Sakinon possess some of the top-class monster combat skills in the world, excluding the Iga ninja clan. However, that’s a little different from dungeon clearing ability.

Dungeon clearing also requires essential skills like finding shortcuts, avoiding traps, and timing the use of recovery items. I was planning to teach them those things as we cleared dungeons together.

It was certain that there were no enemies the current Naoto and his group would lose to in a straightforward fight.

"With a little bit of study on dungeon mechanics, you guys already have the skill to clear even a Grade 6 dungeon."

"See. We’ve become strong enough for Hayate to say that, so there’s no way we’d blame you, Rena-chan."

"In the era to come, it seems like we won’t have to worry about our livelihood as long as we can clear dungeons."

"I’m relieved to hear you say that."

She must have been worried about keeping it a secret.

I had one more thing that was bothering me.

"You decided to go to the academy with us after you learned that a new one was being built. So you must have decided to establish Shinonome Academy before that, right?"

"Yes, that’s right."

"Why? You and I don’t need to attend an educational institution for dungeon explorers."

"That’s because, well, I… wanted to be… with Haya…"

"Huh? What was that?"

"I wanted to go to the same school as Hayate! That’s all. Is that so wrong!?"

Oh. There it is again, the tsundere(?).

"Rena-chan, your face is beet red."

"S-so cute! This girl is so cute!"

Naoto and Sakinon teased her, and Rena’s ears turned red as well.

"Hmph! I don’t care!!"

As if to escape her embarrassment, Rena shoved her head into the space between my leg and the table. The table made it harder for Naoto and the others to see her.

She’ll probably feel embarrassed and regret doing something like this in a family restaurant later. That’s cute too, though. For now, I decided to gently stroke her trembling back until she calmed down.