This is Our Clubroom, Right?

Yeah, I’m confused.

As we walked back to the Disciplinary Committee’s office, ready to wrap up for the day, I tried to think about what these pumpkin souvenirs could be used for. Obviously, the REDRUM fruit punch could be drunk, and the cassette tape played music to listen to. But a magic tool that only made bucket sounds? A book filled only with ‘lorem ipsum’? What could Niya possibly do with them? I would’ve liked to stop pondering, but this was Niya: a demon disguised as a demon. She had to have something in mind.

“Any ideas Asa?”

“Do you really need to ask?” she tersely replied.

“Well, no, but I’ve got nothing, so even a thought of nothing would be helpful.”

“That doesn’t change my answer.” Welp, she was useless. That reminds me…

“Why are you coming along?” I tilted my head back to glance at the zombie Student Council President, a bit more put together than before. She couldn’t get rid of those bags under her eyes though.

“Because, unfortunately, I need to speak to Niya myself. I’d rather send my secretary, but she has her own club to deal with. And, as much as I loathe to admit it, I am part of the Disciplinary Committee…” Daria trailed off at the end there. But, right. I had completely forgotten, mainly because she never showed up. Yes, she did have council duties, but being there at least once a day would be nice. Then, I could foist Niya’s tasks on her.

“That’s your job, Heston,” Asa said. She had to stop reading my thoughts; it was starting to get old.

“Why are we heading down this path anyway? Aren’t you two going to the Disciplinary Committee office?” Daria asked, tilting her head in confusion.

“This is the way though, right Asa?”

“As far as I’m aware.”

Daria thought for a moment. “But we’re heading towards the Special Rooms.”

“Well yeah,” I answered. “The Disciplinary Committee office is in Special Room 1.”

“Huh?”

“What?”

“Well…ugh.” Daria rubbed her temples in annoyance. “This is probably Niya’s doing again. You’ll see once we get there.”

“Okay…?” Did Niya do something to the room? Well, it was Niya – she did everything you couldn’t think of. I didn’t care either way as long as I finally got my day off.

After another ten minutes of the usual twists and turns, we arrived at Special Room 1: the Disciplinary Committee office. It had only been a day, but I was looking forward to lounging on the table once again. Or go home, if I could. A smile crept on my face as I opened the door.

Then, I immediately closed it.

“...quick question, Special Room 1 is the Disciplinary Committee Room right?”

“Yes? We just went over this,” Asa responded.

“No, it isn’t,” Daria stated.

“...is it supposed to be a staircase then?” I hesitantly asked, opening the door once again. The bookshelves, the table, the desk, even the room itself had disappeared, replaced by a single straight staircase. Even when peering in, I couldn’t see the bottom, as if it were obscured beneath a fog. I thought this might be another one of Niya’s tricks, but listening to Daria…

“Well, it starts that way, yes. Special Room 1 leads to Tona Academy’s Dungeon.”

Asa’s and my mouth dropped.

“Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Since when do we have a dungeon in the academy?” I frantically asked. “And what happened to our club room?!? There’s no way it’s actually gone, as much as it would make me happy.”

Daria easily answered my questions. “Since the current chairwoman took over a megannum or two back. Students don’t generally know about it until their second year though.

“As for the office, the actual door is not that far from the council room, only about a minute. Though, I wouldn’t be surprised if Niya made another entrance with space magic. And since you dispelled all magic in the school–” Daria trailed off, staring ahead with wide eyes.

Shining blue orbs appeared out of nowhere, floating around the stairway. They looped in a circle, as if telling us to follow along. Hmm… you know, they were pretty useful, but I was starting to think that Niya orchestrated this somehow.

Well, at least it’ll lead us to the culprit, or I thought anyway. Knowing her, it would only be a mild inconvenience at best.

“Wait, what are you–”

So, with one step forward, I entered the dungeon.