Chapter 7 || Goodluck, Grents

Chapter 7: 7 || Goodluck, Grents

At the Girls’ Locker Room

The locker room buzzed with restless voices. Some girls sat on the benches in front of the lockers while others leaned against the walls impatiently, phones in hand.

The air already felt heavy.

Aria stood quietly near the far lockers with her arms folded beneath her chest.

Her gaze lowered toward her watch.

’...Five minutes already. And still nothing.’

Sena suddenly stood up with annoyance written all over her face.

"We’ve been standing around forever." She threw a hand into the air.

"Seriously, do these people think we don’t have lives outside this nonsense?"

A few girls nodded immediately.

Neela let out a tired sigh before standing too. "I’m done waiting.

She grabbed her bag. "I’m leaving. Anyone coming?"

Meira, who had been focused on her new phone, raised her hand.

"Me. Let’s go."

She moved towards them.

Lily shifted slightly from where she sat.

She looked nervous already.

But before anyone could move—Ivy’s soft voice drifted through the room.

"Girls... I don’t think we should leave just yet."

The room quieted slightly.

The three girls turned toward her.

Ivy stood near the lockers with both hands lightly pressed together in front of her chest.

"I’m sure there’s a reason we were called here."

Her voice remained gentle. "And besides..."

Her expression dimmed a little."...don’t forget what happened to Ben."

The atmosphere changed instantly.

The room became quieter.

Sena’s face stiffened slightly. Meira looked away.

Even the girls chatting earlier fell silent for a moment.

Lily lowered her head immediately.

Ivy slowly tightened her fingers against her chest.

"I don’t want us losing another classmate," she said softly. "So... can we just wait a little longer?"

For a second nobody spoke.

Then Yua suddenly walked over and placed a hand on Ivy’s shoulder.

"She’s right," Yua said. "We’ve already waited this long anyway."

Sena exhaled slowly before taking her seat.

Neela sat down beside her."Sorry, Ivy," she said quietly.

"I wasn’t thinking properly."

Ivy smiled gently."No. It’s okay."

Meira clicked her tongue softly before sitting back down.

"Fine. But if this turns out to be pointless, you all should blame Ivy."

A few girls laughed lightly at that.

Aria watched the entire exchange silently from the side, then she looked away again.

A faint blue light suddenly flickered across the room.

Everyone froze.

A large translucent screen materialized in the air.

And on it... tood a man dressed in a black butler uniform. Like Code 11—his face was hidden behind a mask.

"Good evening... everyone."

He spoke in a smooth, playful tone.

Meira sighed."What now...?"

She whispered.

...

At the Boys’ Locker Room

The masked man’s voice echoed calmly through the room." I will be responsible for guiding you through your part-time labor... so you may properly serve your masters and understand your duties."

The room became quieter.

"You may refer to me as..."

A faint glitch crossed the screen.

"...Code 12."

Torin leaned slightly toward Ken. "He must know Miss 11."

"No kidding," Ken whispered back.

"I need all of you to listen carefully," Code 12 spoke again.

Juro raised a hand almost immediately. "When do our jobs begin?"

Code 12 raised one finger. "Just a sec... the girls will be joining us shortly."

Riven raised a brow. "The girls...?"

Suddenly—

Another screen suddenly appeared and the girls’ locker room came into view.

Whispers immediately spread across the boys.

"Whoa..."

"So they’re there too?"

Caden immediately tried looking harder at the screen before Torin shoved his face away.

"Behave yourself."

Code 12 continued calmly. "I’ve linked both fields together so communication may proceed more efficiently."

The screen split again.

One side displayed Code 12.The other displayed glowing stars.

"As all of you already know," he began, "the academy functions entirely through ratings."

He raised one finger. "There are two kinds."

A second finger followed. "Academic ratings and Slave ratings."

The glowing stars shifted slowly on the screen.

"Your academic ratings determine your rank as students. Currently, all of you are one-star students."

Another set of stars appeared.

"Your Slave ratings, on the other hand, determine your salaries."

The room listened quietly now.

"Your masters rate your performance and submit their reports to ARCS."

Juro adjusted his glasses slightly.

"ARCS?" Riven asked.

"The Academy Ratings and Conversion System," Code 12 explained smoothly.

"It converts your work ratings into usable currency."

He paused briefly. "I believe all of you received 2,000 Bronze coins earlier today."

"Yes," several students answered together.

"That was your salary payment from ARCS."

The room immediately stirred.

"Salary payment?!"

"That little amount?"

Code 12 ignored the complaints. "Your academy allowance is determined by your rank as Grents, which like your salary allowance will also be issued monthly."

Torin nodded. " I see."

Code 12 continued. "You all haven’t even began working yet, still you were paid. So be happy... and smile."

The students frowned instead.

Juro slowly raised his hand again. "If salaries increase based on the ratings from our masters..." he began carefully, "...then that means there must be a hierarchy to the currency itself."

Code glanced toward him silently.

Across the screen, Aria’s eyes narrowed slightly.

’He’s right. Bronze coins can’t possibly be the only currency used here.’

Juro continued. "The stars themselves must have different values."

Code 12 smiled faintly beneath the mask. "Correct."

The glowing stars shifted again.

"Bronze is the lowest currency tier."

Silver appeared above it.

"Then Silver."

Gold appeared last.

"And finally Gold."

The room grew quieter.

"The conversion rates are as follows."

The numbers appeared clearly across the screen.

1,000 Bronze coin = 1 Silver coin

100 Silver coin = 1 Gold coin

A wave of reactions instantly spread through both locker rooms.

"...What?"

"You’re kidding."

"That’s insane."

Juro slowly sat down while clutching his chin.

"So 1,000 Bronze coin only equals one Silver..."

His expression darkened slightly. "Then Bronze currency is almost worthless."

Meira immediately raised her hand from the girls’ side. "If that’s true, then we only have two Silver coin total."

She frowned openly. "That’s barely enough for anything. We’re still teens—we have needs, mister."

"You are not teenagers ," Code 12’s voice turned serious.

The room quieted again.

"You are working adults now."

Meira looked offended.

"If two Silver Stars are insufficient," he continued calmly, "then work harder. Perform overtime. Perhaps your masters will increase your salary to three or four Silver Stars."

Sena crossed her arms. "That’s easy for you to say. Girls have things to buy too."

Ken whispered."The girls sound genuinely angry."

Torin nodded slightly. "Two Silver coin probably really isn’t much."

Code simply looked down at his phone.

"You should be grateful ARCS gave you anything at all," Code 12 said coldly.

Sena frowned immediately. "Excuse me?"

"No, excuse you."

Riven stepped forward calmly. "Please forgive everyone, sir. They’re only worried about how they’ll survive with so little."

Code 12 nodded lightly. "Your payments haven’t been completed yet, so you can look at the complete amount before calculating your survival through the month."

Riven nodded. "We will, sir."

Code 12 continued. " And if you still feel dissatisfied, then ascend. It’s simple."

Yua slowly raised her hand. "Uh... sir. We were told we could ascend through academics and sports," she said.

"But the upper floors will obviously not let us take their position that easily."

She hesitated. "...Is there another way?"

The room became attentive again.

Code 12 answered calmly. "There is one way."

Immediately hope appeared across multiple faces.

Even Ivy leaned slightly forward.

"What is it?" she asked softly.

Code 12 raised one finger. "Buy your way through with your money."

Silence followed.

Numbers began appearing again.

"For one Academic Gold Star..."

The screen glowed.

"...you require one Golden coin."

The room immediately exploded into whispers.

Code 12 continued mercilessly. "When based on silver..."

Another number appeared.

"...you require one thousand Silver coin."

Caden nearly choked. "One thousand ?!"

He immediately checked his balance again. "We’re doomed."

Juro’s fists tightened beneath the bench. "This system is absurd..."

Across the screen, even Aria’s calm expression darkened slightly.

’One thousand...?’

Code 12’s voice suddenly cut through the noise again. "And for Bronze..."

The room quieted instinctively.

"...you require one hundred thousand Bronze coin."

Silence. Pure silence.

Then—

"What?!"

"That’s impossible!"

"How are we supposed to earn that?!"

Juro stood up abruptly. "One hundred thousand Bronze coin?"

His voice carried real frustration now. "How does this academy expect students to achieve that?"

Chaos erupted. Voices overlapped everywhere.

Huegene just sat there. Hands folded. Legs crossed. Eyes closed and a small smile on his lips.

"Silence."

The single word crushed the room instantly.

Everyone froze.

"That," Code 12 said firmly, "is the rule."

He shifted his coat and glanced at his watch."It’s time."

The screens changed slightly.

"Your part-time duties begin now. Prepare yourselves."

Ivy quickly raised a hand. "When do the jobs end?"

"That depends entirely on when your masters dismiss you," Code 12 replied.

"But during class hours..." His voice became calmer."...you are not slaves."

Caden visibly relaxed. "...Okay, that’s slightly comforting."

Several students quietly agreed.

Code 12 continued. " Your uniforms have been placed in your individual lockers. You can put them on and get to work."

Immediately everyone moved to each locker and opened them.

Inside were black and white butler uniforms.

Caden frowned. " Why can’t we use our normal uniforms..."

Code looked at him.

’That won’t work Caden...’

He looked at his uniform.

’Because this is a part time job."

Code 12 spoke again. " Good luck, Grents."

The screens flickered violently—then vanished.

Caden yelled. " Great, you leave without answering my question."

Everyone began taking out their uniforms.

Torin turned to Caden. " Let it go Caden. Get dressed."