Chapter 245 There is definitely something wrong with this other world!
The long, soothing sound of the class bell pierced his ears, and the dazzling white light receded.
When their vision cleared again, Arthur and the others found themselves standing in the center of a school playground.
"No mistake, this sense of dislocation from spatial-temporal jumps... this is another world."
Arthur picked up White Tiger by the scruff of its neck, a wry smile on his face, but the red switch it had been stubbornly gripping was already gone without a trace.
Unlike his teammates, who were on alert for sudden environmental changes, Kazuma, a true Japan shut-in, stomped his foot on the ground, surprised and uncertain.
Hmm, it hurt a little, so it shouldn't be a dream.
"Big Brother, are we... back?"
Arthur raised his hand to conjure a ball of cursed energy, carefully sensing the subtle changes within it, and replied without turning his head.
"Don't celebrate too soon. I haven't seen a single living person. This place is eerie everywhere."
Hearing him say that, Kazuma quickly activated his [Enemy Detection] skill, and the joy on his face instantly crumbled.
"There really isn't anyone!? This haunted school is too scary!"
Aqua waved her hand dismissively: "Don't worry, don't worry! As long as I, Lady Aqua, am here, there's nothing to fear even if ghosts appear!"
Before she finished speaking, a similar white light appeared on the other side of the playground, and several distinct silhouettes emerged.
Leading them was a skeleton clad in magnificent black robes, its massive size and profound magical power unreservedly spreading outwards, exuding a suffocating aura of death.
Around it were demons, vampires, insectoids, dark elves...
A group of figures of various forms clustered around it in a protective stance, each exuding an ominous aura.
"Ah! Undead! Look everyone! It's a group of Undead!"
Aqua, as if having discovered a sworn enemy, raised her arm and angrily pointed at Nazarick's group, her emotions agitated.
"Such a diverse group of monsters! Ah~ does this mean we can only be helplessly ravaged by them?"
"How many times have I told you, don't impose your perverted preferences on everyone!"
Arthur delivered a chop to Darkness's forehead, finally quieting the Crusader who indulged in wild fantasies at any time and place.
He stood in front of his carefree, goofy teammates, meticulously observing Ainz and the others who remained silent, his brows furrowed.
"Just to ask, were you also teleported here after pressing that red switch?"
The red glow in Ainz's hollow eye sockets suddenly intensified. He slowly nodded, responding in his deep, hoarse, and authoritative voice.
"Precisely."
Having received his answer, Arthur raised his hand to restrain the restless Aqua behind him, explaining to Kazuma and the others.
"The situation is unclear. Let's go outside to scout and gather information first."
"I'm afraid that won't do!"
A rough, powerful voice came from the grandstand of the plaza.
A middle-aged man in a military uniform had appeared there sometime, glaring at Arthur and Ainz's two groups.
"You little ones! It's class time! Hurry up and get back to your classrooms!"
Everyone present was momentarily stunned, bewildered by this uncle who had suddenly appeared and was giving orders.
Kazuma and the others instinctively looked at Arthur, while the Nazarick group also looked at Ainz, who was leading them.
Arthur was certain that just a moment ago, there had been no signs of any living person in this school, and certainly no grandstand on the playground.
The appearance of this uncle was extremely abrupt, like an NPC that had refreshed out of thin air, making it eerily unnerving.
"Let's go to the classroom first, maybe we can find some clues."
"We're going too!"
...
Following the uncle's guidance, Arthur and the others soon arrived at the teaching building.
When they pushed open the door to Classroom Two, they found another group of people already seated inside.
They were a group of disciplined soldiers in military uniforms.
They ignored the newcomers, each person's gaze fixed intently on the blank blackboard.
From their seating arrangement, their leader appeared to be a petite, blonde, blue-eyed loli officer.
'These people's uniforms are the same series as that uncle's, similar in style to World War II German, but this magical power is...'
Perhaps Arthur had been staring for too long, as Tanya, sensing his gaze, turned her head and gave a cool nod of acknowledgment.
Arthur returned a smile, beckoning his teammates to sit on the other side of the classroom.
Aqua looked left and right, and after noticing there were no surveillance cameras in the classroom, she brazenly leaned close to Arthur to speculate.
"Hey, hey~ Arthur, I have a feeling this place is very similar to the Japan reincarnation area I used to be in charge of. Could it be that the higher-ups want to transfer me back to work?"
"If that were truly the case, why would the gods of the Heavenly Realm go to such unnecessary trouble to throw you into the human world first?"
Arthur's single sentence shut down Aqua's fantasy. His fingertips seemingly casually tapped on the edge of the desk and the wall, a flicker of thought in his eyes.
"Um... I don't think running in the hallway is a good idea."
"Honestly, it's all Barusu's fault, making us have to run."
"Hey! You guys couldn't wake up yourselves, don't blame me!"
The noise from outside the classroom grew from distant to near, and soon, a black-haired boy in a tracksuit abruptly pulled open the classroom door.
"Campus life, here I come..."
The boy had a fierce expression, resembling a delinquent, but when he saw the skeletons, demons, elves, and soldiers sitting in the classroom, the exclamation on his lips suddenly choked back.
Closely following him, several girls of various styles also jogged to the doorway, curiously peeking inside.
Their attire and appearance were similar to Aqua's group, filled with a strong otherworldly charm.
Arthur calmly brushed off the specks of wall dust from his fingertips, already accustomed to the increasing number of people.
After all, only half of the seats in this classroom were currently occupied.
"Subaru-kun, please don't block the classroom door. Hurry and find a seat."
A tall, slender handsome man with long dark blue hair appeared behind the boy, speaking in a theatrical tone like an opera singer.
"Ah!? Ros-chan? Don't suddenly appear behind me!"
The boy called Subaru was startled, patting his chest with lingering fear, and quickly slipped into the classroom, finding a seat in the back row.
Roswaal, dressed in flamboyant clothes and with clown makeup on his face, narrowed his eyes and smiled.
He walked briskly to the podium, then turned to write on the blackboard.
"Good afternoon, everyone~ From today on, you will all be classmates, so please get along well."
Saying this, Roswaal cast his gaze towards Arthur's side, undisguised wariness flashing in his heterochromatic eyes, and warned in a deep voice.
"Arthur, please do not damage school property from now on. If you continue to violate school rules, you will have to undergo 'guidance'."
Arthur spread his hands, feigning innocence, they were empty.
"I haven't done anything. Why are you so nervous?"
Roswaal's brows furrowed. He glanced at the various factions closely following their conversation, then clapped his hands.
"Today is the first day of class, so everyone, please introduce yourselves first. Also, Arthur, please come to the staff room after class."
Arthur nodded noncommittally, quietly watching Roswaal guide the others through their self-introductions and explain the so-called campus life Precautions.
Although he was meeting this guy for the first time, the thick, suffocating hypocrisy emanating from him made him feel physically uncomfortable.
Arthur pondered for a moment, initially wanting to give Aqua a look, but upon remembering her astonishingly low intelligence, he immediately gave up.
He then lowered his head, pulled out paper and a pen from his storage pouch, and quickly wrote a few words.
After the self-introductions of the new students with their diverse styles concluded, Arthur was the first to leave the classroom, led by Roswaal.
However, no sooner had he left than Foo Foo, holding a piece of paper in its mouth, agilely darted onto Aqua's head.
Aqua snatched the note, unfolded it, and her eyes immediately lit up. She excitedly slammed the table and stood up.
"What, what? Arthur-san is supporting me in eliminating the Undead so clearly for the first time!?"
"Excellent! Everyone, it's time for righteous execution! Leave it to me!"