kscans

Chapter 86 - Shinonome Academy

That night, after safely clearing the dungeon with Hayate, Rururoro, and Amaterasu, and obtaining the bird-type buddy.

"Father, I’d like to speak with you for a moment."

Shinonome Rena made her way to her father's study.

"Oh, you’ve come at a good time. I just had Aina edit a video of your heroic performance in today's dungeon clear."

With the fall of other financial groups, the Shinonome Group was becoming the undisputed number one in Japan. The head of this massive conglomerate, with assets approaching 600 trillion yen, was supervising a video projected on an entire wall of the room with a commanding stance. The video was a recording of Rena and her party fighting in the dungeon.

"Hayate-kun’s movements are as superhuman as ever. The new addition to the team, Rururoro-san, is playing a good support role. And Amaterasu-chan is the healer. Well, Hayate-kun probably doesn't need one, but I can rest easy knowing she’s there."

Hayate and the others were in the video, but they were there to highlight his daughter's achievements.

"A-amazing, Rena! You took down such a strong-looking monster in one hit! Oh! Go! There! Ah, an enemy is coming! It's dangerous! Ah… Yes!! Nice one, Hayate-kun. But you could stand a little closer to protect Rena. But then again, Rena is so cool for not taking her eyes off the dangerous-looking enemy in the distance, trusting him even as an enemy closes in!! Aina, let's zoom in a little more on Rena's expression at that part."

'Understood, Nobutaka-sama.'

The video was edited in real time, becoming more and more polished.

"Hmph. Good, very good."

'I am honored.'

"Um, Father. May I have a word?"

Shinonome Nobutaka was known to the world as a solemn businessman, but when it came to his beloved daughter, his doting side came out in full force. By the way, the only ones who knew about Nobutaka in this state were his wife, the head butler Todo, the AI Aina, and Rena herself.

Since her father had been like this for as long as she could remember, Rena thought it was normal.

"Ah, my apologies. What did you want to talk about?"

"After clearing the dungeon with Rururoro-san and Amaterasu-sama, and seeing Hayate clear a dungeon with other women, I realized that I really don't want anyone to take him from me."

"…I believe he is devoted to you, Rena."

"I think so too. I believe it. But I want to become even more irreplaceable to Hayate."

"D-does that mean, marri…"

"Yes. I want to live out my youth with Hayate."

"Hm?"

"Hayate and I are both high school students and we're a couple, but we've never commuted to school together. We've never studied in the same class, or walked around the school festival together. We've never even been to a summer festival."

"Well, I suppose that’s true."

Rena attended one of Japan's most prestigious schools for young ladies, while Hayate attended a very ordinary public high school.

"By the way, do you know what has become of the school he originally attended?"

"Hayate-kun's high school? I do not. Aina, what is its status?"

'Kawasaki Prefectural Second High School, which Shizukuishi Hayate-sama attended, has been absorbed by the Black Dungeon and remains closed.'

The edited video was replaced with an image of the high school that had been swallowed by the dungeon.

"It seems some schools were closed for a short while after the dungeons appeared, but now classes have resumed as normal in most areas."

"That’s right. And I’m sure you know this, but your school has reopened as well, Rena. So I was hoping you would start attending again soon."

"Isn't it a pity that Hayate can't go to school yet!"

"So you’re not listening to me."

Thanks to her elite education from a young age, Rena was at the top of her class. Missing a little school wouldn't have much of an impact. Nobutaka knew this and hadn't strongly opposed her clearing dungeons with Hayate.

"I want to live out my youth with Hayate! But his school won't be reopening for the time being…"

"D-don't tell me you intend to have him transfer to your school!? That is an all-girls' school. With my power now, it would be easy enough to enroll just Hayate-kun, but wouldn't that make you even more anxious about the other female students stealing him away, not to mention how jealous he'd be…"

"So I came up with an idea. We’ll just build a new school for me and Hayate."

"What? Rena, what are you…"

"Aina."

'Yes, Rena-sama. I am ready.'

A 3D image was superimposed over the video of Hayate's high school on the wall.

'We will absorb the Black Dungeon and construct a new school building. The total construction cost is estimated at 13.4 billion yen. Here, students will learn about the items and equipment obtainable in dungeons and acquire the necessary physical skills to survive. This will be Japan's first institution for training dungeon explorers, Shinonome Academy.'

"I want to attend here with Hayate!"

She would not be swayed. A strong conviction could be felt in Rena's eyes.

Meanwhile, Nobutaka was inwardly relieved. He had thought his daughter was about to say she wanted to get married.

He already approved of Hayate. He had intended to give Hayate an impossible task, to be recognized by the world by the time Rena, currently sixteen, turned eighteen. But Hayate had accepted that quest and, not even a month later, was certified by the President of the United States as the world's greatest dungeon explorer.

There were no grounds for complaint.

The thought of giving his beloved daughter away in marriage was heartbreaking, so he had begun to consider asking Hayate to be adopted into the family as a son-in-law. But it seemed Rena's request was not that.

If she didn't want anyone to take Hayate, they could just continue clearing dungeons together. There would be far fewer rivals than at a high school. On the other hand, dungeons were full of danger. Even if the strongest young man recognized by the US President was protecting her, there was no telling what could happen against monsters that had manifested from a game world. Especially since they were clearing the highest difficulty dungeons that no one else had yet conquered.

Therefore, Nobutaka had no reason to refuse if Rena wanted to attend a school that seemed less dangerous than a dungeon.

"Very well. We will build Shinonome Academy. Aina, proceed."

'Understood.'