Underdoctor - 2

[verdantgrove]

 Location: First Floor Passage

<During the preparation period for the Halloween Party>

Souma: From the dawn of time, it has been the duty of martial artists to handle the extermination of yokai! I shall extinguish them one by one! Chesto!

Keito: Hey, Kanzaki, stop that! Don’t just try to cut through the students around you!

We’re supposed to be patrolling the academy for the Halloween Party preparations, since things have become hectic around here. What benefit do we gain if you’re the one causing the most chaos?

Look. You raised your sword, and now you’ve gone and startled these people.

Anyhow, you all. Are those your costumes for the Halloween Party?

I see. While it's good that you're being diligent with the event preparations, don’t change your clothes in the passage like this.

Although typically there are only students on campus, occasionally parents or guardians will pay the school a visit. Keep in mind that there is always someone who will see you as you conduct yourself.

Mhm. As long as you reflect on it, I won’t blame you too harshly.

Again, it’s not a bad thing to be diligent with the event preparations; rather, it’s something worthy of praise. It’s good to put forth your best effort.

Souma: You do not just simply reprimand these students; you also appreciate the depths of the efforts that they have put forth. That is just as one would expect of you, Hasumi-dono, what a resourceful general you are!

Anyhow. Wherever I look I see evil spirits saunter and lurch about, and so for some reason I am unable to compose myself…

Keito: Huh? Kanzaki, are you bad with ghosts and the like?

Souma: Nay, that is not the case.

It is not that I am afraid, rather, perhaps I should say that it is my warrior’s soul… It seems as though I draw my sword without meaning to.

Keito: To me, you’re more frightening than any ghost...

Anyway. I had heard numerous reports of small troubles, and so I decided to make the rounds, but it seems as if there’s nothing of note so far.

This means I didn’t need your help after all, Kanzaki.

Souma: Hmm. Although it may be certain that you did not require my assistance, our traversing the school has been an excellent learning experience for me! As I am unfamiliar with “Harowiin”, after all.

Speaking of which, Hasumi-dono, I had wanted to ask something of you for quite some time.

While there are those who are occupied with the activities of their individual “unitto”, it seems as if there are also individuals whose “unitto” is tasked with putting up decorations around the academy and such…?

Keito: Hmm? Ah. I decided to recruit people for event preparation and setup as part of the part time jobs within the academy. That’s probably what you’re referring to.

Souma: I see. So that is why I caught a glance of “Rabitsu” and Ryuseitai decorating the academy, then?

Keito: Originally we planned for Anzu to be in charge of management and operation, but the scale and amount of participants have grown significantly since the Spring S1.

As you’d expect, that’s probably too much for Anzu to handle by herself. So that’s why we took remedial action.

Souma: So that is the case? I would be delighted if the responsibilities that Anzu-dono carries could be lessened, even if only the slightest bit.

Keito: Mhm, that’d be nice indeed. Hm? Kanzaki, you’ve been looking around restlessly for a while now; are you looking for someone?

Souma: Aah, nay. That is not it. Despite the fact that you may very well describe all of these creatures as “monsters”, I was thinking that there are various kinds, and found myself glancing to and fro.

I more or less understand the yokai, spirits, and other such things that have existed since ancient times. However, these monsters that have come from abroad are all novel creatures to me.

Hasumi-dono, just what on earth is that over there…? Its skin is covered in mud, and its complexion is deathly pale.

Though there are small differences between them, it seems as if there are quite a lot of monsters of that variety...

Keito: Hm? Ah, that’s a zombie. It’s a walking corpse, so to speak.

Souma: A-a walking corpse?! That is deplorable! We must bury it this instant…!

Keito: Oi. I don’t know how many times I have to say it, but that’s a student’s costume. You can’t bury it by any means, alright?

Moving on. That costume is certainly very well made, so it’s not like I don’t understand why you said that.

Souma: Uu… Its craftsmanship being far too good is an issue as well...

Speaking of which; do we as Akatsuki plan to costume ourselves for the “Harowiin Paati”?

Keito: Yeah. That’s the plan.

Souma: Ooh! That is just as I had thought! I do wonder; what sort of monsters shall we costume ourselves as?

Keito: That’s all up to Kiryuu… Speaking of Kiryuu, has he still not reached out?

Well, It is Kiryuu, so I’m not worried, but… We should go check on him later.

In any case, we’ve been here for longer than I thought. Kanzaki, after we make the rounds one more time, let’s make our way back to the student council room.

Souma: Understood!

Location: Student Council Room

 

Keito: We’re back.

Souma: Pardon us!

Eichi: Ah. Welcome back, Keito. Thank you for your hard work too, Kanzaki-kun. By the way, how are these outfits?

Keito: Hm? What are those?

Eichi: They’re our costumes for the Halloween Party. Anzu-chan brought them by for me while you two were out patrolling.

I just tried mine on earlier, and putting it on changed my mood completely, which was fun. I understand now why Wataru is so devoted to acting.

Souma: Is that the costume of an angel? As it seems as if large wings are attached to the back, yes?

Eichi: It’s for a fallen angel. We as fine plan for our costumes to be fallen angels.

Keito: Wow. Fallen angels, hm? Well, does that mean you’ll play the role of Lucifer?

Eichi: Fufu. Lucifer, you say? Do you say that because I’m fine’s leader? Or is there some kind of hidden purpose in your saying that?

Keito: Hidden purpose?

Eichi: An angel of the highest ability and status, who believed that he would be able to usurp God and take His position. As a result, he was banished from Heaven and sent plummeting into Hell. He’s a symbol of hubris.

But Keito. Is hubris really a sin meant to be punished? Isn’t arrogance really just another way to say self-confidence?

Well, then is humility a virtue to be praised? But if you take humility too far, it’ll turn into servility.

Growth and advancement are impossible when you have nothing but sycophants. That’s precisely why it was the ones who were dubbed as arrogant who took the lead in creating our world.

Succeed, and be extolled as a god; fail, and be called a demon— what a terrible story, don’t you think?

Keito: Only you could come up with something as awful and cynical as that, Eichi.

Eichi: Eh? That’s a harsh way to put it.

Keito: That doesn’t always mean that it’s bad. Didn’t “Lucifer” have other meanings too?

Eichi: Yes. He’s also “the herald of the dawn”, hm? Don’t you suppose that there’s someone more qualified for that? To bear the name of the Morning Star, that is.

Fufu. Now that you mention it, to onlookers, he appears as a demon. It’s common knowledge that undue power is always something to be feared, no matter the time period.

Keito:  Enough, we don’t have time to keep up with your useless chatter. We’re behind schedule with the Halloween party preparations.

Eichi: I’ve got no one to turn to, huh. Ah, to hell with it.

Just as you said, Keito, the progress on the Halloween Party is rather unsatisfactory. Especially when it comes to the costumes.

The number of S1 participants is increasing by a considerable amount. I’m flooded with costume requests.

I’ve outsourced to manufacturers and each and every member of the handicrafts club— I’ve even asked for Kiryuu-kun to help— but despite all that, it’s still the case that we’re short of hands.

Well, having said that. We have no choice but to push ourselves to our limits, one way or another.

Souma: You asked for Kiryuu-dono to help?

Eichi: Yes. It seems as if he’s taken on quite a bit.

Keito: He gave his word without thinking again...

Eichi: He’s a good natured person, isn’t he. In any case, whether or not he gave his word without thinking, Kiryuu-kun took this on by himself, so I had no choice but to grant him my approval.

Souma: Hmm… If Kiryuu-dono gives his word, it is likely that he will bring it to fruition… Though I am worried as to whether or not he is being reckless.

Keito: Ugh… Either way, we have to consult with him about Akatsuki’s part of the Halloween Party. Should we go check on how Kiryuu is doing for a bit?

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