Chapter 4
“Therefore, you must leave here immediately. If you don’t have any personal belongings to pack, we will take care of sending them to you later.”
Hearing the maid’s firm explanation, I clenched my fists.
No, I can’t just back down like this.
Though I usually prefer to let things go, even if it means being labeled a troublemaker, it’s worth insisting on this time.
I can’t just give up such a nice dorm like this!
‘There’s an old saying that even if you hate someone, you give them an extra rice cake.’
It wouldn’t hurt to give it a try.
“Wait a minute. Why? Why are you suddenly telling me to leave?”
“Well, obviously…”
The maid trailed off slightly before continuing with a faint smile.
“The Academy administration has issued a forced eviction order. This dormitory is exclusively for the children of ‘high-ranking nobles’.”
Then, in a businesslike tone, she stated firmly,
“Currently, Master Karmon, you are not part of House Vade, so you no longer have the right to stay here.”
“But, don’t dormitory contracts usually last for a year? So, I should be able to stay until the end of the school year…”
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but dormitory contracts are made on a semester basis. Additionally, the Academy can terminate the contract at any time due to changes in the resident’s status.”
Um… What…?
Is there really such an unfair contract?
At that moment,
“Excuse us.”
A troop of other maids appeared through the open door.
“No, wait…”
But they ignored my outcry.
Without any hesitation, they started searching the building and began moving all my personal belongings out.
“……”
Watching them proceed without any consideration for my futile resistance, I felt a wave of helplessness.
“Hah, really…”
I had hoped, but of course, it came to this.
Just like with the monster trio earlier, now being kicked out of the dormitory.
All because I’m no longer a noble…
‘Yeah, that’s right. This is the medieval era.’
Perhaps this was inevitable.
A world where one’s status determines everything about a person.
I had a rough idea.
Since I was expelled from the family, it was only natural that the consequences would be severe.
‘Haa, stay calm.’
This wasn’t entirely unexpected, was it?
“Where am I supposed to stay now? If I’m kicked out of this dormitory, do I have to live on the streets?”
At my question, the maid who was speaking with me raised an eyebrow slightly.
Then she said,
“Master Karmon, you have already been assigned another dormitory room. You need to move there now.”
Another dormitory?
This place is for high-ranking nobles, so the new place must be for commoners, right?
*
Sure enough.
“…Is this really the place?”
“Yes, this is the dormitory building where you will be staying from now on, Master Karmon.”
Wait, hold on.
I think she misunderstood my question…
‘Is this really a building fit for human habitation?’
The old, dilapidated high-rise building looked like it could collapse at any moment.
As I stared at the shabby dormitory in disbelief,
Creak!
‘What was that sound?’
Thud!
“……”
I saw something that looked like a building material fall from the other side.
“Did you hear that sound just now… No, that wasn’t something falling from the building, right?”
The maid maintained her businesslike demeanor and replied firmly.
“This is a place where the staff do not provide support. Please keep that in mind, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask.”
“No, I mean, did you hear that sound just now? That wasn’t something falling from the building?!”
“I sincerely wish you a pleasant stay. I will take my leave now.”
The maid, having stated only what she intended to, bowed slightly and quickly departed.
“Ah…”
I stood there, staring blankly at the receding figure of the maid.
And then.
Creak, creak.
The terrible sound that followed seemed to ominously foreshadow my future.
* * *
The dormitory room reeked of mold and dampness.
“My old goshiwon was way better than this.”
(From wikipedia: Gos[h]iwon – a kind of single room occupancy class of building found in South Korea. Originally designed for students preparing to take exams, they are characterized by low rent, shared bathrooms and kitchens, and very limited private space)
Crack.
The floor felt like it would break with even the slightest pressure, and the ceiling accessories looked like they could fall at any moment.
“Wow, can people really live here?”
Squeak, squeak!
Oh, I have some roommates?
Standing there, stunned by the overwhelming environment, I quickly shook my head.
“No, think positively. Think positively.”
Thud!
Sitting on what looked like the only usable bed, I scratched my head and tried to gather my thoughts.
“At least it’s better than sleeping outside like back then…”
A vision of Elia Hall flashed in my mind.
“…Yeah, right. Damn it, this status discrimination is too much. Damn medieval times!”
What? A world full of knights, magic, romance, and adventure?
Don’t make me laugh.
This place is hell. The worst hellhole imaginable!
Just because of my status—or lack thereof—my living conditions and treatment have changed so drastically.
‘And why did I have to fall into this world and suffer?’
Growl.
Amidst all this, my stomach growled, asserting its presence.
“Hah, now I’m hungry too?”
Anyone seeing me would surely believe I was a beggar.
Growl!
The hunger was much more intense than I had expected.
“…First, let’s get some food.”
According to the original novel, the academy had a dining hall for students.
The problem was, I had no idea where it was located.
“What do I even know?”
Although I knew the original story, I had no practical information that would help me.
Of course, I had no idea about the academy’s layout.
“Hmm, let’s go out and ask around.”
With that decision, I immediately looked around.
I soon found the box containing the temporary belongings of Karmon Vade.
“Oh, this looks good.”
Nodding satisfactorily at the sight of a rather luxurious-looking hoodie, I muttered to myself.
“But did they have hoodie designs in this era?”
Oh, whatever.
What does that matter right now?
Air conditioning and showers in the medieval era don’t make sense either.
Since this is a world within a novel, anything is possible.
If I pull the hood down to cover my head and eyes…
Standing in front of the mirror stained with spots, I could only shake my head.
“It doesn’t make all that much of a difference than I thought.”
Well, it doesn’t matter.
With that thought, I opened the door and stepped outside.
Creeeak.
As soon as the door opened,
“Oh my, what’s going on?”
“So, she said…”
I saw students loudly chattering and moving through the hallway.
With my hood pulled down low, I tried to slip past them unnoticed…
“Isn’t that K-Karmon Vade?”
…but at that moment, someone’s words rang out.
“Hmm?”
“What?”
Several students’ eyes turned towards me in the bustling hallway.
And then,
“……”
The hallway fell silent in an instant.
“It really is Karmon Vade?”
“What’s he doing here? This is the commoners’ dormitory.”
They murmured, their faces going pale, as they quickly tried to distance themselves from me.
‘I went through the trouble of hiding my face, but they recognized me so quickly?’
Realizing I’d been identified faster than expected, I raised my hand to scratch the back of my head.
But then,
“Eek!”
A nearby female student shrieked in shock and stumbled backward.
“Whoa, be careful!”
I reached out to catch her as she lost her footing and fell backward.
“Oops?”
Oh no, too late…
Thud!
She hit her head on the hallway wall and collapsed to the floor.
“J-Jane!”
“K-Karmon did it again…”
“She’s… passed out.”
The atmosphere turned icy as everyone looked at me with fear in their eyes.
“Wait a minute. You all saw that, right? It wasn’t me. She just fell on her own.”
“Jane… sob.”
But the other female student, who seemed to be her friend, started crying, rendering my explanation pointless.
‘No, seriously, it wasn’t me!’
Frustrated, I grabbed the shoulder of the crying student.
“Hey, you saw it, right? She just tripped!”
But she, too…
“Gurgle.”
Overwhelmed by fear and terror, foamed at the mouth and fainted on the spot.
“What the… again?”
Startled, I let go of her shoulder.
Thud!
Now, two unconscious female students lay on the hallway floor.
“……”
Everyone else in the hallway watched me in stunned silence, holding their breath.
I sighed deeply and reached out toward them.
“Someone, call for help…”
But my actions were quickly misinterpreted.
“K-Karmon is going berserk.”
Someone shouted in terror.
“Run away!”
“Ahh, Karmon Vade! Please don’t kill me!”
“Screeee! Save me!”
Chaos ensued as everyone panicked and fled.
Bang, bang, bang!
Slam, slam, slam!
Like a burst artery unclogging after years, students disappeared into their rooms at lightning speed.
Whoosh!
The hallway, once filled with the sound of bustling students, was now empty except for the two unconscious girls on the floor.
“……”
I stood there in stunned silence for a moment, then shook my head and carefully moved the two girls to the end of the hallway.
Growl!
Hearing my stomach growl again, I sighed.
“Haah, what now?”
Muttering to myself, I headed to the end of the crumbling building’s first floor.
[Dormitory Office]
Upon reaching the office where the manager stayed, I knocked without hesitation.
Knock, knock.
“…Yes, come in.”
A familiar yet refreshing voice from inside.
‘Huh? This sounds like a woman’s voice.’
I quickly checked the nameplate on the door again.
“It says Dormitory Office. Why…?”
Could the manager be a woman?
Of course, gender isn’t important, but it’s still a bit surprising.
With that thought, I cautiously opened the door.
Creak.
And at the same time,
“Oh, I didn’t expect you to come so soon, Master Karmon.”
Recognizing me immediately, the manager greeted me, leaving me puzzled.
‘This person is…’
It was the maid who had guided me from Elia Hall to this dormitory.
“I’m here to see the manager?”
“Yes, you’ve come to the right place. I am the manager here.”
With a faint smile, the maid responded, looking at me as she asked,
“How may I assist you, Master Karmon?”
So, this person was the manager? Is that why she ignored my questions earlier?
Several thoughts crossed my mind, but I quickly shook my head and asked the question that was pressing.
“I’m trying to find the dining hall, but I don’t know the way yet. Could you tell me how to get there?”
“The way to the ‘dining hall’?”
“Yes, the student dining hall.”
“…Yes, of course. I can definitely tell you.”
Phew, finally.
I can finally get to the dining hall.
Growl.
“So, how do I get there?”
The manager stared at me for a moment before giving a meaningful smile and speaking.
“To get to the dining hall, you need to go straight out from here, and when you reach the main road…”
Then, she kindly explained the way to the dining hall in a way that was easy to understand.
‘Oh? She’s more helpful than I thought.’
Well, she might be a bit self-centered, but she doesn’t seem like a bad person overall.
…I think that’s what I thought at the time.
Translator’s note: Welp, there it is, someone sniped it. I’m dropping this because I don’t have the energy to keep up with the other guy. I’ll pick up something else—crossing my fingers that one doesn’t get sniped either.
