The scene shifted to the school building of the Royal Pioneer Academy.
Inside the luxurious castle-like structure, in one of the most opulent rooms, two figures stood.
"Nooo! Oh dear, I never imagined that garbage was Monaka-san's childhood friend!"
"Hmph! Thanks to that, one of our prizes has been completely ruined!
The prize money for an award with no recipient has to be returned to the sponsors...!"
The principal and vice principal had been coming up with all sorts of excuses to squeeze money out of the sponsors.
This time, they had set up various awards and planned to give out prize money to the students.
The money would temporarily go to the students, but through their daily academy life it would eventually find its way back into the principal's pockets.
However, the principal and vice principal had decided not to award the very first prize, the "Monaka and Lovey-Dovey Award," to Leopin.
The reason was simple.
"We can't possibly give an award to someone from the special development class.
If we did that, the money would be gone in the blink of an eye."
Exactly. The "special development class" was essentially an expulsion room.
Giving prize money to a student who might drop out at any moment would just be throwing good money after bad.
For the elite principal and vice principal, handing cash to a dropout was more humiliating than giving it to a thief.
"But what's done is done.
We'll just have to chalk this up to stumbling over that garbage and move on."
"Yes! As expected of the principal, so positive! No wonder your belly sticks out so far!"
"By the way, Vice Principal, is the next award ready?
We need to hand out the first real prize soon, or the sponsors will start complaining."
"Of course! The next one is the 'Prize for Building a Nice House'!
We'll tour the residential plots and give the award to the student who built the best house!"
"Hmm. That should definitely produce a winner this time.
But just in case that garbage somehow builds a decent house..."
"No need to worry about that!
The kind of house a jobless piece of garbage could build would be nothing more than a doghouse at best!
Besides, we've already moved that garbage's plot deep into the forest!"
"I see. Then it doesn't matter what kind of house that garbage builds.
We simply won't go inspect it."
The principal and vice principal exchanged glances and grinned wickedly.
""This time, ten million is definitely ours...! Heh heh heh...!""
The two left the principal's office and headed toward the residential plots outside the castle.
But the moment they stepped out, something leaped into their view.
"O... Ohh!? Look at that house!"
"What!? A two-story house!?"
"In a situation with no materials or tools, to build something like that...!
Look at all the makeshift huts around it. They're like garbage!"
"This student will definitely become an incredible architect in the future!"
"There's no need for any further judging! Give the prize money to the student who built that house!
And make sure to show the sponsors just how outstanding that student is!"
"Yes! Someone who can build a house like that will bring in tons of sponsorship money!"
"Exactly! The student who built that house is truly a golden egg!"
Energized, the two hurried toward the two-story house.
A group of female students from Class 1-2 were gathered there.
"Ohh!? So this house belongs to Class 1-2!"
"A residence perfectly suited for the future Great Saintess, Monaka-san!
It must be a gift from her super boy!"
Monaka answered brightly.
"Yes! The person I respect and adore more than anyone else built this house for us!"
"Oh ho!? Does that mean you two have pledged your futures together!?"
"W-well, not exactly... Of course, if that person would allow it, then I..."
Seeing Monaka fidget shyly, the principal was convinced this was promising.
He quietly whispered to the vice principal.
"Judging by Monaka-kun's reaction, she must be quite close with that super boy.
In that case, we can award the 'Monaka and Lovey-Dovey Award' along with the other one."
"I see, as expected of the principal! No wonder your head is so shiny!
Of course, I always carry the certificates with me!"
The vice principal immediately pulled two certificates from his inner pocket.
Then he asked cheerfully.
"Monaka-san! We would like to give a special award to that super boy of yours!
And it's a double award!
It's a great honor, so please don't be shy and tell us the name of the person you admire so much!"
"Y-yes...! That person's name is... Leo-kun...! Leopi—"
"Kyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!"
The vice principal suddenly let out a shriek like a deranged bird, causing Monaka to flinch and shrink back.
The principal tore both certificates to shreds with a face like a boiling kettle and stormed out of the house.
The students in the area were in the middle of rebuilding their collapsed huts.
Frustrated by the sorry sight, the principal and vice principal stamped their feet in rage.
"Grrrr...! Every house except Monaka-kun's is garbage...!
This is all because of that garbage!"
"I never thought that garbage would butt in even here!
I assumed he'd be alone in the forest, covered in filth...!"
"In that case, Vice Principal, prepare the next award!"
"Yes! I've already thought of one!
Next is the 'Prize for Being the First to Level Up'!"
"Oh, right. It should be about time for the first level-up to appear!
Given the level of activity, it should be one of the class leaders..."
Suddenly, the principal and vice principal felt a sparkling light in the corner of their vision, like opening a jewelry box.
They glanced at each other and shouted on pure reflex.
""Congratulations on leveling up! Here, take this certificate...!""
But the person standing there was the student they least wanted to see right now.
Yes, it was Leopin, who had just reached level 4...!
"Ki... Kyeeeeeeeeeee!!!"