It was the first morning assembly of the day at the academy.
There, the vice principal handed something out to everyone.
Dressed in a strange combination of a tuxedo and a bandana, the vice principal began his speech.
"Yes! Now that the residential area has been properly developed, all you students will begin exploring the surrounding area from here on out!
However, exploration is an extremely dangerous activity!
Just in case something happens, I'm handing these out!"
It was a red tube about the size of a palm.
"What I just gave everyone is a signal firework!
Point the top end upward and press the bottom end hard, and the firework will launch into the sky!"
Fireworks are also used as contact signals. As long as they can be launched into the air, they can be seen from far away.
"But these are not contact signal fireworks. They are distress signal fireworks!
When the firework goes up, a rescue team will rush to that location!
Use them if you get stuck during exploration and can't make it back on your own!
However…!"
The vice principal grinned and added a preface, then glanced at me standing at the very back before continuing.
"If you are rescued by the rescue team, it will be treated the same as being sent to the infirmary, and your rank will drop by one!
So think very carefully before using them!
By the way, these fireworks are set up so that whoever launches them can be identified right away!"
The vice principal held up the sample firework he had for demonstration and pressed the bottom while saying, "Push!"
The firework immediately shot out with a whoosh, launching a glowing projectile.
The glowing projectile rose into the sky with a whirring sound, then burst apart.
With a loud bang, it scattered small glowing orbs that formed letters across the clear blue sky.
"Please help me! I was an idiot for defying the vice principal teacher!
I'll quit the academy, so please save me! Leopin"
The students in front of me burst into loud laughter.
"Whoa, it displays text like that when you launch it!?"
"That's so embarrassing! If anyone sees that, you won't be able to come back to the academy!"
"But we'll be fine! We're not some dropout trash, so we won't mess up during exploration!"
"Yeah, exactly! The next one to launch it will probably be the same kind of firework!"
The vice principal took one student's comment and replied, "Exactly!"
"Everyone here at this academy is excellent, so these should not be necessary in the first place!
Therefore, the first student who uses one will receive not only a one-rank demotion but additional punishment as well!
All the bounty money given out so far will be fully confiscated!"
Cheers and applause rose from the students with a loud "Ooh~!"
I had run into a simple question.
…Had any bounty money actually been given out to anyone other than me before?
Well, whatever. Even if I had bounty money, I would not have any use for it anyway.
The vice principal added one final explanation at the end.
'Oh, and just to be safe, it is useless to try launching someone else's distress signal on purpose to make them drop in rank!
To prevent cheating, the magic device checks not only the name on the launched firework but also the appearance of the person who launched it!
Help will only come if it is determined that it is not a prank!
Also, the size of the rescue team and how quickly they arrive will change depending on the rank of the student who launched the signal!
If you want help to come quickly, it is a good idea to use a high-rank student's distress signal!'
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
After the morning assembly ended, the morning class was the general subject of physical education.
Mr. Nickbacca looked around at all the students and said,
"Meat! Today we will be doing a special marathon as a class competition!
This is a pretty tough marathon, so only a limited number of boys can participate!
But if you can endure it, you will receive a large score!
Each class must select at least one boy who is good at endurance running!
Class 1-2 and Class 1-19 are girls-only classes, so they do not need to participate!"
Since I was in a class by myself, I naturally had no choice but to participate.
As I mixed in with the selected boys, Mr. Nickbacca continued while holding a long rope in one hand.
"Those who were selected, wrap this rope around your waists!
Then everyone will run while connected by a single rope!
This rope has a weight-ignoring magic effect on it!"
Mr. Nickbacca then took out two cork stoppers.
"And all participants will wear these earplugs and run without looking aside!
Do you know what will happen then!?
Anyone who falls behind will be mercilessly dragged by the rope, and even if they cry or scream, it will not reach the ears of the lead runner!
This is the hell marathon that was done in the army where I used to be!"
Screams of "Eee~!" rose among the students.
I did not react in any particular way and silently tried to tie the rope around my waist.
Then, before I knew it, the vice principal was there and tangled me up with a "Nooo!"
"Wait! Leopin-kun, why are you not wearing gym clothes!?"
I answered honestly.
"Well, I did not receive any at the entrance ceremony…"
"Not wearing gym clothes? What a delinquent student!
At the very least, take off that shabby coat before attending physical education class!
I will specially hold onto it for you! …Forever…!"
I could not quite catch the vice principal's last words, but I somehow had a bad feeling.
As I wondered what to do, someone smoothly slipped my coat off from behind.
"Leo-kun, we will hold onto your coat for you!"
"We will protect Master's precious garment with our lives!"
It was Monaka and Kotone, both wearing bloomers.
"Kieeee! That is not allowed! A saint and a shrine maiden taking care of an unemployed person is unacceptable!
Besides, such a shabby piece of clothing…! Be good girls and hand it over here!"
"No, Vice Principal! We will be the ones to hold onto this coat!
Because we are Leo-kun's assistants!"
Monaka declared it clearly.
When did they become my assistants?
"That is correct! We are assistants! It is only natural for assistants to take care of our master's clothing!"
Kotone could not quite pronounce "assistant."
The vice principal glared at me with a face so red it looked ready to explode.
"Guh…! Ggigigigi…! A-assistants, you say!?
Having beautiful assistants was my dream…!
Not even I, the vice principal, have achieved it yet, and even that pig has not…!
And yet this unemployed brat gets two of them…!
Gugigigigigigigi… gigigigigiiiii~~~!!"
Thinking it was about time, I put my arms around Monaka's and Kotone's shoulders and quickly escaped from the vice principal.
From behind came a strange scream like an explosion.
"Kii… kieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!"