Chapter 53: Invitation to the Hot Springs
"Ha ha, what wonderful news, Sir Lancelot."
Hearing that the monthly exam was postponed, Eikou lightly patted his new deskmate's shoulder.
He gave a smile full of goodwill.
"It felt like you were a bit tense since it's your first day here, and I was worried you wouldn't be able to perform at your best during the exam. Luckily, it's been delayed! Now we'll have more time to understand each other. Let me help you integrate perfectly into this group!"
"..."
Beneath the thick knight's armor, Black Jeanne sat silently for a long moment.
It's over.
Her intuition told her that if she continued sitting next to this guy—even for just a few more days—sooner or later, she would become an incurable idiot.
[You vaguely sense a dark inner struggle within Lancelot.]
[You notice some special traits from this person.]
[You have learned the skill: "Oblivion Correction E."]
["Oblivion Correction E": You are more likely to remember past enemies with whom you've had conflicts. When facing such enemies, your power will be better utilized.]
Huh? Isn't that an Avenger skill? Since when did Lancelot learn that?
Eikou frowned in confusion.
Something felt off.
"Ding—dong!"
The sudden sound of the school bell for dismissal instantly cut off his thoughts.
Forget Lancelot—it's time to go home!!!
Not just him, but the entire class erupted into excitement the moment the dismissal bell rang. Everyone eagerly stood up, fumbling to pack their books, as if desperate to escape the classroom as quickly as possible.
Every pair of eyes sparkled, necks stretched like giraffes, all gazes brimming with anticipation and locked on homeroom teacher Finn.
But Finn instead delivered the classic line every student has heard at least once in their life—hated yet irrefutable:
"The bell ringing doesn't mean class is dismissed! You can only leave when I say so! Before you all solve this problem, no one leaves!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA—!!!"
In an instant, the classroom was filled with cries of anguish.
...
About 30 minutes later, Finn finally finished explaining the problem and left with a look of utter satisfaction.
The entire class collapsed onto their desks like dried fish, their mental and physical strength completely drained.
"Finn, that bastard sure knows how to talk… One problem, and he explains it for half an hour. With that stamina, how is his Endurance only ranked B…"
Eikou couldn't help but grumble.
"Don't you agree with me, Lancelot-san?"
Black Jeanne frowned in utter distaste, thinking: Could you stop casually striking up conversations with me like we're so close?
After barely enduring until the end of class, she didn't even bother to look back, striding out with heavy, stiff steps.
She wanted to head straight back to the France class and beg to withdraw from this infiltration role!
Even though she knew there was a high chance of being refused!
...
Watching the armored knight's retreating figure, the people in class fell into thoughtful silence.
"Did we do something to offend him?"
Tristan asked.
"It seems like Sir Lancelot's mood isn't very good."
"There's something… off about him… but I can't put my finger on it…" Eikou murmured, suspicion swirling in his mind.
He thought about the skill he had just acquired: Oblivion Correction. That definitely wasn't Lancelot's skill.
Sure, he knew Servants could learn new skills through different experiences. For example, getting a driver's license would grant the "Riding" skill, or Baobhan Sith learning "Protection of the Lake" when cared for by Morgan.
But "Oblivion Correction" was a signature skill of the Avenger class—a class of vengeance. Could a normal Servant, without becoming an Avenger, really learn it?
…For now, let's assume it's possible.
Even so, there were still far too many suspicious points about Lancelot. Even his fellow Round Table Knights could feel something "off" about him.
When sitting next to Lancelot, Eikou even faintly caught a feminine fragrance… Don't tell me he's already seduced some widow or something?
[You have activated the skill "Instinct C."]
[Check failed. Your instinct did not work—you sense nothing unusual about Lancelot.]
Damn it, Instinct failed again.
That means next, the only option is to do it myself—over the next few days, I'll have to personally investigate and uncover this guy's suspicious points.
But for today, forget it. Lancelot had long since vanished, and after a long, exhausting day of classes, Eikou was completely drained—not a shred of energy left to tail anyone.
Take a break—don't push yourself too hard.
"Now that I think about it…"
Eikou pulled out his phone and glanced at his bank account balance, quietly doing the math.
Umu, just enough to cover it.
He lifted his head and looked toward the two Round Table Knights.
"Last time during the outdoor class, you guys helped me a lot. Since we have the chance today, tonight let me treat you to the hot springs at Enma-tei."
It was almost May now—the weather would start heating up soon, and then going to a hot spring wouldn't feel as nice anymore.
So let's enjoy the last days of spring: soak in steaming waters, eat a hot spring boiled egg, drink a bottle of milk—savor a little pleasure before summer arrives.
"Seriously?" Gawain asked, sounding skeptical.
"If not serious, then what?"
Gawain just gave a small laugh.
"Haha, Sir Eikou, I still remember the night before the outdoor class—you invited us to an aquarium, but in the end, you tricked us into going to the seafood market to buy squid skewers for the picnic."
"But the carp in the tanks were pretty, weren't they? Pretty and tasty!"
Tristan, standing beside him, widened his eyes in shock: "Wait, that was a seafood market? I honestly thought that was an aquarium!"
"Sir Tristan… I had my suspicions. That day, why did you stare at the catfish in the tank for a whole 10 minutes? So it's because you really thought they were ornamental fish…"
"No wonder… I kept looking and wondering why I couldn't find any penguins or dolphins." Tristan sighed.
"If those two really showed up in a seafood market, you'd have to call the cops…" Gawain remarked.
Eikou covered his face in embarrassment.
"That's enough, Tristan… if you get any more naïve, I'll start feeling guilty for real."
"But going to a hot spring isn't cheap," Gawain said with a sympathetic look. "Even if we get an Enma-tei staff discount, if you're paying for the whole group, that's still several hundred QP. How about we split the cost?"
"No need, no need, as long as we go together. My treat. Today, Young Master Mochizuki is in high spirits—I must treat everyone to a hot spring soak."
Eikou gave a calm smile.
"Mostly… because once in a while, I should treat you guys well."
[You have invited Gawain and Tristan to the hot springs.]
[You also invited Barghest and Baobhan Sith to thank them for last time during the outdoor class.]
[Baobhan Sith bluntly rejected your invitation without a shred of courtesy.]
[Barghest stammered a long string of words—she seemed a little moved, but in the end, her face flushed bright red and she ran off.]
[Only much later did you realize: she probably misunderstood and thought "this is a mixed hot spring bath for just the two of us."]
[In the end, it's just you, Gawain, and Tristan going to the hot springs.]