On My First Day Undercover, the Organization Collapsed - Chapter 407

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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First Day of Infiltration, The Organization Was Destroyed Episode 407
The Power to Bring Joy (1)
Grade valedictorian!
At last, the moment she’d been waiting for had arrived.
For the Second Year, first semester, Yurio was valedictorian and Delev was sub-top performer.
‘This semester will be different.’
Celia was determined to make up for the disappointment of last semester, no matter what.
Fortunately, the selection of valedictorian and sub-top performer was evaluated based purely on absolute grades.
In other words, it wasn’t about how much you’d improved, but how well you were doing overall.
Unless Karen, who had created quite a stir this semester, surpassed Celia, Delev, and Yurio in ability, there was no way she could claim one of those positions.
“For this semester’s selection of valedictorian and sub-top performer, we considered a wider variety of factors than last semester.”
But something about what Teacher Ziel was saying seemed suspicious.
“Teacher! Does that mean we’re being evaluated on things other than swordsmanship and credits?”
“That’s right, Ann Peshwa.”
“Then it must be muscle mass, as I suspected!”
“Sit down, Quantus Hopel.”
“Yes, sir.”
So what was the actual criteria?
“This time, Festa and practical training have been included in the criteria for selecting valedictorian.”
Celia’s face darkened.
Though she’d tried not to look, she couldn’t help glancing sideways at Karen.
Word had it that the statue of Teacher Ziel that Karen had sculpted in the North Space had become tremendously popular.
“Teacher, what about the inter-academy exchange?”
“Not all students participated, so we excluded it for fairness.”
That, at least, was a relief.
If it had been included, she would have had to consider Karen the almost-certain sub-top performer.
“Then, I’ll announce the sub-top performer first.”
Ziel didn’t waste time and continued immediately.
“Student Celia Rihart.”
“Oh!”
Several students who’d been about to cheer fell immediately silent.
Celia must have been aiming for valedictorian.
She surely wouldn’t be happy with sub-top performer at all……
“Whoo!”
But she was utterly wrong about that.
Celia was overjoyed.
‘Finally!’
The humiliation of Second Year, first semester!
She hadn’t forgotten it.
That disappointment from when she’d fallen behind Yurio and Delev!
Though it was sub-top performer and not the top, it was still something.
Celia had long since abandoned the notion that she ought naturally to be valedictorian.
Whether it was something she’d learned from Ziel, or whether she’d come to understand that the world was vast and talent was far more diverse than she’d ever imagined.
“Congratulations, Celia!”
“Next time, you’ll definitely be valedictorian!”
Amid the congratulations, Celia thought that when she returned to her house during the break, she’d finally have something to boast about.
She even had plans to torment her older brother Joshua the moment she got back, and train under him throughout the entire vacation.
“Next is the valedictorian. Student Delev Kundel.”
Delev collapsed right where he stood.
‘I made it.’
He felt tears welling up again.
The scholarship!
The scholarship given to the valedictorian!
That was all he’d been hoping for.
And at last!
“Both students were selected as valedictorian and sub-top performer because their credits and swordsmanship, along with the fundamentals, were excellent, and their performance at Festa was outstanding. However, the decisive factor in their selection as valedictorian and sub-top performer was their tracking of the remnants of the Red Raven and preventing a threat that would have befallen the Academy.”
There was no room for objection to this selection.
In fact, even if their grades had been the absolute lowest, this alone would have been enough to claim those positions.
This wasn’t a matter of skill—it was a matter of courage!
“Both of you were excellent. Delev Kundel, Celia Rihart. But Delev Kundel, are you crying?”
“Oh, no, no!”
“There’s moisture on your eyelashes.”
Everyone nodded, as if to say it made perfect sense.
“You struggled so much to capture it, didn’t you? And Delev and Celia both picked up injuries.”
“Of course. I would have too.”
“But if those two really did catch an Expert-grade on their own… are they both Expert-level beginners, like the teacher said earlier?”
Everyone was so sympathetic that it was a relief.
‘That settles the debt…’
“Celia Rihart, are you going to donate again this time?”
“Of course, sir!”
Delev’s heart dropped like a stone.
“I donated the scholarship money I received from commendation, so I’ll donate my sub-top performer scholarship as well!”
“No, wait!”
Delev cried out at Celia’s unexpected declaration.
But it was already too late.
Another misunderstanding had taken root.
“What is it? Were you trying to say something first? Go ahead.”
“It’s not that…”
“Or should you add more? You really do care about your image, don’t you?”
Delev wanted to wail now.
“Those from the Great Families really are different. I’d spend it all right away during break.”
“I’d give it to my father.”
“I envy you. The sub-top performer gets 10,000 Cel, right? While the valedictorian gets 30,000.”
Now that specific numbers had been mentioned, his tears seemed to flow more vividly.
“She must be just overwhelmed with joy. What can you do.”
“In a moment, she’ll be wailing outright.”
A sorrow that no one else could ever understand!
Delev thought he’d convulse the moment he heard the word donation again.
“That concludes our business. Everyone, enjoy your break period. This vacation comes with no home visits. And if anything happens, send an emergency message to the Academy immediately. You’re dismissed.”
“Break tiiiiiime!”
“Going home!”
“Let’s go pack!”
“Teacher, see you in Third Year, first semester!”
The students rushed out of the Auditorium in high spirits.
Delev, who had been sitting slumped on the ground, dragged himself up and left the Auditorium.
Once all the students had finally filtered out, Ziel couldn’t help but smirk.
Some wouldn’t be able to go home even on break, but meeting opportunities for growth like Karen did—that had its own merit.
‘Tonight, then.’
Ziel had work of his own now.
“Gilbert, Kelvin. Both of you prepare Human Skin Masks. Tonight, we’re heading to the Berte Trading Company.”
“The Dark Ghost emerges again. It has been a while, Boss.”
“F-finally, night movement!”
But before they left, there was one more thing to do.
Namely, to pick up the item he’d arranged with Zephyros in advance.
It was a Magical Tool made for Kelvin.
* * *
Kelvin was built large.
How large? Extremely large.
To match his shoulder width, you’d need two male students, or three female students.
This was true even though they were all trained in Swordsmanship and thus more developed than their peers.
In any case, a frame like that drew attention wherever he went.
And that was exactly why this Perception Distortion Magical Tool was necessary.
“It’s remarkable, Boss. It really does make me look so thin. Look, you’re a different person now.”
“I, I, a, a thorn?”
“You really do look like a thorn now.”
But of course, it only distorted perception.
No matter how much power Zephyros wielded, he couldn’t completely defy the natural order to deceive someone.
“According to Zephyros, if you bump into something, the other person might notice. So be careful.”
“B-but if we g-get found out?”
“Eliminate the witnesses. Then we won’t get caught.”
“No, no witnesses. Confirmed…….”
“Look, if you’re almost Master-level, why are you still stammering? When are you going to fix that?”
“Y-you’re, you’re a-almost M-Master.”
“That’s right. I am Master-level.”
“B-but you’re, you’re still u-ugly.”
“…….”
Ziel nodded.
“It’s improving, certainly. You didn’t stammer on the last word—you pushed it out with conviction.”
“B-Boss…….”
“You’re not ugly, Gilbert.”
“R-really?”
Ziel recalled a euphemism he’d once read in a book.
“Your facial features don’t harmonize particularly well, but you do have character.”
“Oh.”
Gilbert’s shoulders sagged.
It had been some time since the Dark Ghost’s company made a night journey.
Naturally, there was no advance notice this time either.
“Y-yes! Oh, oh, Dark Ghost! When did you arrive!”
“Just now.”
Berte flinched once more.
The difference this time was the tinge of despair mixed in.
“This time I’m certain I prepared thoroughly!”
“Prepared thoroughly, you say?”
“Whenever you arrive, I’ve installed various Detection Magical Devices to ensure we can sense you this time!”
“I know. That’s why I avoided them all.”
“Ah.”
“Next time, install them in locations that can’t be seen. That’s the foundation of Detection Devices and Traps.”
“Yes…….”
Berte was sipping tea again.
“P-perhaps. Would you all care for a cup of tea?”
“Yes. That sounds good.”
A short while later.
Four of them sat facing each other across a table with teacups between them.
“To begin, I have two matters to report. First, regarding the construction of an educational facility. Construction is proceeding on land in District 43 that we purchased in advance. We expect some buildings to be completed during the Break Period, and we plan to begin operations there.”
“I see. Did you find people to teach and workers for that location?”
“There are plenty of house staff, but finding people to teach Swordsmanship requires more thought. Of course, the Trading Company has quite a few skilled in Swordsmanship, but since this is something you directed, we need to find properly qualified personnel.”
The difficulty, naturally, was that no one truly skilled had reason to come all the way to District 43 to teach Swordsmanship.
“I’ll look into that myself. We also need people to teach Liberal Arts, various subjects, and Magic.”
“Oh, if you would personally investigate, we couldn’t ask for better. Especially for Mages—they certainly won’t come to District 43…….”
One could make appropriately hypocritical donations, but finding someone to reside and teach here was naturally no easy task.
‘I’ll need to search for people in the Western Region.’
Initially, he’d considered dispatching Gilbert or Kelvin, but both were indispensable talents at the Academy.
So Ziel decided to personally find new people.
“And second, the investigation you directed into the Western Steelheart Territory has been completed.”
Steelheart Territory.
The land where the Steelheart Family was being restored—where Ziel needed to go during this Break Period.
Of course, Berte currently believed that the Dark Ghost was conducting a background investigation on the notable figure Ziel Steelheart.
“The situation in what is designated as Steelheart Territory is…… quite poor.”
“Poor?”
“Yes. The land was effectively occupied by the Rim Family, one of the nearby Western Families. They exercised actual control, collected taxes from the territory’s inhabitants, but governance was poorly maintained.”
“I see.”
“Then, when word reached them that the Steelheart Family was being restored, they appear to have simply abandoned it. The territorial residents had originally lived without any systematic organization, but now that even minimal public safety has vanished, the situation looks dire.”
The absence of public safety.
A gravely critical problem.
“Why did the Rim Family run?”
“Because they were occupying land without authorization. The world has many Imperial lands that simply aren’t managed. The barren Western Region is especially so.”
Gilbert added a word from beside him.
“Dark Ghost, the Trading Company Head is correct. The Western Region is extraordinarily barren—every handful of arable soil is fiercely contested. The Rim Family likely had the same intent. The problem, if there is one, is that they probably never anticipated the land they customarily held would revert to the long-fallen Steelheart Family.”
“Hmm.”
In any case, after consolidating the information, the situation in the Steelheart Family’s former territory was dire.
It had always been barren land to begin with.
They’d planted crops there that grew quickly but consumed the soil’s fertility at an alarming rate, leaving the ground in terrible condition.
Without security, the territory’s inhabitants could neither leave nor stay properly.
“And recently there have been attacks from magical beasts and bandits from the Western Region.”
Berte spoke as though the situation were gravely serious.
“I’m not sure about the other issues, but this one seems like a problem that can’t simply be ignored. The Western Families have strong independence, so unless it’s a Great Family like the Rihart——”
Ziel asked, his tone puzzled.
“Why would that be a problem that can’t be handled?”
“Pardon? Well, the magical beasts of the Western Region are stronger than those in other areas, and the bandits there as well……”
A calm response came, as if rejecting that reasoning entirely.
“Compared to the other problems I mentioned earlier, this is the easiest one.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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