Naturally, the academy was full of other students besides us.
However, since our curriculum varied from student to student, we rarely had the chance to socialize. It seemed that cases like ours, where we all took the same classes, were actually quite rare.
That isn’t to say there was no interaction between students at all. Groups ranging from a few individuals to several dozen members formed to pursue various activities. These were called clubs.
Whether or not a student joined a club was entirely up to them. Some students belonged to dozens of clubs at once, while others had no interest in such activities whatsoever.
However, even if a student lacked personal interest, they were still members of the nobility. Social obligations were a factor. Apparently, some people found themselves unable to refuse invitations due to their parents' positions. So, while joining was technically optional, the reality was that most students belonged to some kind of club.
We didn't belong to any, though.
It wasn't that we weren't interested. We were curious about club activities, but for the time being, we were so busy building our house that we had to decline. Frankly, being invited to things like tea parties while we were still living out of a tent was more of a headache than anything.
The priority was our dwelling. That was the most important thing.
Well, we were the ones who had impulsively moved out of the dormitory in the first place. Looking back, I realized we’d been a bit short-sighted.
Fortunately, the upperclassmen who tried to recruit us were understanding. When we explained we were busy building a house, they backed off without a fuss. Apparently, the club hierarchy within the academy fluctuated based on the number of members and the influence of their families, making recruitment quite intense. I really wanted to avoid getting dragged into that kind of drama.
"The bathroom is finished!" Sil reported with a look of immense satisfaction.
The bathroom was properly divided into a changing area, a washing area, and a tub. The walls weren't just curtains; they were solid wooden planks. There were even windows. It was small compared to the baths back in the village, but it was a fine facility that could comfortably fit two adults at once.
I had designed the bathroom floor so that water wouldn't pool underneath, but would instead drain outside and into the designated sewage system.
"It would be much easier if we could have built a waterway, though."
I had considered a plan to draw a waterway from the communal well, but the Academy Office put a stop to it. They pointed out that part of the waterway would have to cross a public path. They also asked us to give up on the idea because open channels were too prone to contamination.
It was a shame. Carrying water was a hassle, but since we had magic, it wasn't exactly backbreaking labor. We just had to use magic to hold the water in place, lift it, and move it. There were three of us, so it would be enough if one person did it once a day. We just needed to set a proper rotation.
For now, the outhouse and the bathroom were complete. The outhouse had been finished two days ago. It wasn't just a makeshift tent setup, but a proper toilet hut. I think it’s a job I could truly take pride in, even if the Village Head saw it. We worked hard on it.
However, the house itself hadn't progressed much at all. Had I mixed up my priorities? No, tent life was perfectly fine for now, so I wasn't in a rush. The weather was pleasant, too.
But the thought of it raining made me want to finish as soon as possible. For the time being, I decided we should stretch some cloth over the area as a rain cover to handle any sudden downpours.
At my suggestion, the four students standing near Sil nodded. All of them were clearly older than us—two male seniors and two female seniors. We had met them after saving them from a monster attack in the North Forest.
Technically, the North Forest was within the academy grounds, but the monsters there were aggressive. It was restricted to the point where any student entering had to report to the academy and declare they were doing so at their own risk. Not knowing this, we’d had the frustrating experience of being turned back by the sentries guarding the forest edge. I really wish someone had told us that sooner.
Anyway, the four of them said they wanted to thank us for the rescue, so they came by during their free time to help with the construction. The bathroom had been finished so quickly largely thanks to them.
Since they were academy students, they were all from noble backgrounds. They didn't exactly have any carpentry skills, so they mostly handled hauling materials and manual labor. Still, having the extra hands was a huge help.
We set up four poles, tied the corners of the cloth to them, and secured them with ropes. I positioned it so that the moment you stepped out of our tent, you were under the cover. Now we’d be fine even if it rained.
Upperclassmen, the fact that it's tilting a bit to one side is intentional so the rain doesn't pool in the center. It’s not a mistake, so there’s no need to fix it.
"Well then, it's a bit early, but shall we have dinner?"
At my announcement, the four seniors cheered even louder than Sil. Were they really that hungry? They seemed surprisingly energetic for people who were supposedly starving.
"Oh right, Sil. Sorry, but could you go find Bron?"
"Hmm? Now that you mention it, I haven't seen him. Is he slacking off?"
"He's at the Academy Office. The lady there asked him to come by for a final check regarding our request to hire outside help."
In the detached houses of the academy, it was common practice to hire staff to manage daily life. Considering the security of the home while students were in class, the academy actually encouraged us to hire someone. However, while we were free to hire whoever we wanted, whether they were allowed onto the academy grounds was a separate issue. Bron was there to confirm the requirements. In fact, the office lady had been worried about our situation and was the one who told us to come by.
As I was speaking, Bron returned... but he wasn't alone. Behind him were two young women. They were wearing uniforms, so they were students. Bron explained that on his way back from the office, he had helped them when they were being cornered by some aggressive club recruiters.
That was a good deed, but why had he brought them here? I didn't know if they lived in the dorms or a private house, but he should have just walked them home.
When I looked at him inquisitively, Bron shifted his gaze to the two girls.
"I heard that, unbefitting of students, you were covered in dirt. Even though you helped us, I felt it my duty to offer a word of caution." (Translation: I heard you were doing something fun. Let us join in.)
"As students of this academy, providing such guidance is only natural." (Translation: You’re freshmen this year too, right? So are we. Let's be friends.)
I see. In that case... er...
"Hmph. How troublesome. You're only going to make fools of yourselves." (Translation: I don't mind, but it's hard work. Are you sure you're up for it?)
In response to my reply, the two girls gave bold smiles.
"How cheeky." (Translation: We’re all in.)
And so, dinner ended up being for two extra people. I didn't mind them eating with us, but if they were staying in the dormitory, they were going to have a hard time later if they didn't watch their intake. The four seniors helping us seemed to be eating both their dorm meals and our food through sheer willpower.
Ah, it turned out the two girls lived in a house, not the dorms. Are they neighbors? ...Oh, they're right over there. Apparently, they had been curious about us for a while now.
If that was the case, they could have just said hello. Also, they didn't need to eat quite so fast. There was plenty of food to go around.
By the way, the newly completed bathroom was used by the four seniors who helped with the construction, going in pairs. First the women, then the men. I thought it would be our turn after that, but...
The two girls Bron brought were watching. Staring, actually. We couldn't really say no to that, could we? After a quick look at Sil and Bron, I gave up our turn to the two of them.
I wonder if they realized the seniors had gone in first. Voices carry quite well to the outside, so I really hoped they wouldn't say anything too graphic. Discussing chest sizes and things like that... well, it’s a bit awkward for us.