Chapter 20: The taboo that was touched.

“What are you all thinking?!”

Trying to enlist Zoldietta to dissuade Mujihidane, we visit her cottage and explain the situation.
As expected, she unleashes a storm of reprimands.
Initially listening with exasperation, Zoldietta’s temper flares when Hernest mentions “testing his skills.”

Why is this guy so reckless?

Why do seniors bring full gear?
What can we do without proper equipment?
Don’t you know your limits?
Dragging classmates into danger shows a gross lack of judgment, she scolds.
Hernest pales before the wrathful Zoldietta.
Meanwhile, Tarte, unfazed, munches cookies with a honey spirit.

“Miss—”

As Zoldietta turns her ire on the teachers—asking what they’d do if students got hurt—Mochika, standing by, speaks up.

“What is it?”
“Professor Meru… Reary-sensei’s knighting ceremony means both she and Principal Majiska are absent. It’s likely Professor Wannabe’s unilateral decision…”
“That man… always causing trouble…”

Reary-sensei, one of our general-course teachers, earned a baronetcy just three years after graduating for her research.
Beautiful, kind, attentive, and… well-endowed, she’s beloved by students.
She’d never allow general-course students to join.
Wannabe-sensei, a knight-course teacher, is a jock type, prioritizing grit and enthusiasm, often egging students on rather than stopping them.
A former kingdom magic knight, his skills are top-notch, but his personality likely got him demoted to teaching.
Mastering magic armor and casting spells mid-air, he’s like an anime character.

“Talking to Wannabe-sensei is a waste of time. Let’s warn everyone to avoid reckless participation,” Zoldietta says.

We head to Red Lily Dorm, where danger lurks.
Waiting for us is Kussera, wrapped in a blanket like a sushi roll.

“Earl! Chief! Help!”
“Kussera’s a bad girl who wants to join the hunt… She’ll stay tied up until it’s over,” Zoldietta explains.

I’m stunned—Zoldietta stopped her, but with physical restraint?

“Sis is worried… We promised to leave town together. Going alone… Next time, it might not just be an arm…”
“I get it! I won’t talk about the hunt anymore! Please untie me!”

Kussera, who lost her arm to a beast, is being protected by Zoldietta’s extreme measures.

“Sis, at least let me use the bathroom…”
“Kusurina, the bottle…”
“Nooo!”

Kussera’s sprouting spirit brings a potion bottle for her to… use.
Zoldietta’s thorough, despite her gentle appearance.
Kussera’s in tears.

“Diapers would prevent this trouble,” Tarte says, smugly pushing her diaper agenda.
“Nooo… Sis, I’m sorry! I swear I won’t go!”

Kussera writhes, pleading, but Zoldietta shoves the bottle into the blanket, unmoved, saying it’s for “liquid fertilizer.”
Zoldietta’s the type who stays calm but merciless when angry.

“I’ve warned the dorm girls to join the hunt only if they’re prepared for danger. Sakuranome still wants to go…”
“That’s enough. Thank you,” Zoldietta says.

With Red Lily Dorm handled, we ignore Kussera’s cries and the sound of something filling the bottle, heading to White Lily Dorm, where Mujihidane likely went.
At White Lily’s hall, Mujihidane’s pressuring Dokurobaru.

“…No, I’d just be a burden…”
“I’ll handle any monsters, so you don’t need to fight.”
“…But a place with possible monsters…”
“That’s why we need a healer like you.”

As expected, Mujihidane’s strong-arming her.
Southerners, valuing elegance, might back off if Dokurobaru showed reluctance, but western meatheads like Mujihidane don’t read between the lines.
She probably doesn’t even realize she’s being pushy—force to her means a literal leash.

“Stop it!”

Hearing them, Zoldietta storms over, shoulders trembling, and snaps at Mujihidane.

“Chief? Why are you here?”
“No excuses! I’m checking for students hyped about the hunt without knight training!”
“Aray… Hern-kun… You betrayed me?”

Mujihidane notices us hiding behind Zoldietta, her killing intent leaking.
Executioner mode? Danger!

“I’m the one talking, Sakuranome Mujihidane!”

Unfazed by [Violence Duke]’s aura, Zoldietta scolds her for ignoring us, commanding her to listen.
So cool…
Meanwhile, we cower behind her.
So uncool…

“Seniors bring anti-monster gear because they expect situations needing it. Do you have artifacts for monsters immune to swords? Or flying ones? Stop boasting about defeating monsters without proper equipment!”

Zoldietta’s sharp—Mujihidane can’t argue when told raw strength won’t cut it.
Tough-skinned monsters need heat or pressure; flying ones need nets or lassos.
Carrying artifacts for every monster isn’t practical.

“Wow, Chief shut Sakura down…”
“What are you acting uninvolved for? Get over here, Hernest Ukatsudane!”

Hernest’s comment lands him beside Mujihidane for a scolding.
Zoldietta calls testing skills against monsters a ronin’s mindset, not a noble’s.
Nobles face overwhelming foes like dragons, not weaker monsters—that’s for ronin.

“Defeating weaker monsters is a ronin’s job. Nobles face insurmountable enemies. If you don’t get that, you’re ronin, not knights!”

Branded as ronin, the meathead couple hangs their heads.
Mujihidane’s rare meek expression…
Zoldietta tells them to go alone if they want, but not to drag classmates or bring weapons to burden seniors, then leaves to talk to a southern faction leader.

“Did Aray-kun bring the Chief?” Dokurobaru asks.
“Hernest invited me last night, but they seemed too eager. Mujihidane wouldn’t listen to me…”
“I’m always being saved by Aray-kun…”

I’ve never helped her, but Dokurobaru smiles—probably, behind her mask—fingertips touching, without a hint of insincerity.
What a sweet girl… All I did was tattle to Zoldietta.

Swapping with the moping Hernest, we take Dokurobaru to Black Lily Dorm.
The hunt’s a hot topic there, with easterners selecting participants to rival southerners.
Zoldietta orders them to disband faction plans and let only those aware of the danger join.
As a neutral northerner, she faces little pushback, helped by Dokurobaru, the southern medic, refusing to go.

A senior from the boys’ dorm handled their side, where someone was also rallying for “skill tests.”
Reporting the girls’ dorm situation, the senior groans, “Skill-test idiots are one thing, but faction moves are trouble.”

“As a healer-in-training, I should participate in these things…” Dokurobaru murmurs at the welfare building’s open café, where we rest.

“Unit operations are for the knight course. Not your concern,” Zoldietta says.
“You won’t go where monsters appear. Magic attunement needs a safe space,” I add.

Healers aren’t game-style support casters but field hospital doctors for severe injuries.
Magic attunement requires focus and immobile patients, not monster battlefields.
Basic potions are enough for meatheads.

“But staying safe while others…”
“You know your skills don’t shine in danger,” Zoldietta says.
“They’d target you first. Those two only think about fighting,” I say.
“Do I seem that targetable?”

Dokurobaru’s head tilt is adorable, but I can’t say she’s clumsy and prime prey…

“Indeed. Even dogs avoid strong foes and target the weak,” Zoldietta says.
“Yeah, you’re not as strong or fast as them, and you’ve got… lots to eat,” I blurt.
“What’s that last part mean, Aray-kun?”

My mistake!
Dokurobaru’s aura rivals [Violence Duke]’s.
Trying to avoid “clumsy,” I said something forbidden…

“I’ll speak with the teachers, so I’ll take my leave,” Zoldietta says, bolting.

Wait, don’t leave!
I try to chase, but Dokurobaru grips my arm like a vise.

“Answer my question properly, Aray-kun.”
“Ow!”

My arm’s crushed—her dwarf strength could shatter my frail Rolling tribe bones.

“N-No, I meant you look softer and tastier than Mujihidane—argh!”
“Where’s the soft part? Legs? Sides? Sides, right?”

Her emotionless voice pins my sides as she tightens her grip.
My arm’s done for unless I use my last resort.

“B-Bre—”
“Hm?”
“Your breasts looked soft!”
“Where are you looking?!”

She covers her chest, freeing my arm.
That was close—losing an arm to a classmate, not a beast, would make me a laughingstock.
Kussera’d probably make me a golem arm, cackling…

“Staring at a girl like that is rude!”

Dokurobaru, in guardian mode, starts lecturing me.
I didn’t want to say that about an 11-year-old…

“You’re pretty reckless too,” Tarte sighs, engrossed in her castella.