Chapter 92 - The Start of Sao's Circle

 After overcoming countless hardships... my circle has finally launched!!

"It’s been so long—!!"

I couldn’t help but shout in triumph. The sense of achievement is overwhelming. To get the Student Council’s permission, I threw myself into endless volunteer activities—cleaning, dredging ditches, enforcing discipline, and even facing off against a mad scientist. While the official titles varied, it feels like the actual content was entirely focused on sex.

But now, I finally have the official permit! The circle has been established! My hard work has paid off!!

"...Wait."

"...Hmm."

"Why did I start a circle again?"

Maybe the journey was so grueling that the purpose completely slipped my mind. 

"Why did I think a circle was necessary? What's the goal after starting it? My dream? Who am I? Am I... a dog?"

"Please do not lose your sense of self," Lady Staff said, rescuing me just as I was losing my raison d'être.

"Well, given how trivial the motivation was compared to the effort, it’s no wonder you forgot. Look, I’ve brought the culprits."

""""THANK YOU VERY MUCH—!!""""

Oh? It’s the final-year students: Spear, Flammea, Voulge, and Estoc. Right! The circle was started because they begged me for help.

"You needed subsidies for these ladies because their families are poor... that’s why you started the circle, right? It’s only natural to forget such a petty reason," Lady Staff said.

"Lady Staff...?" You’re being unusually biting today.

"It can't be helped," Big Sis chimed in. "Milady has... complicated feelings toward those seniors."

Lady Starf’s dream is to become a magnificent lord like her father. From her perspective, these central nobles—who hold the same status and responsibilities but only care about vanity and appearances while letting their territories fall into economic ruin—are nothing but loathsome.

"Despite that, you were a huge help during the showdown with the Student Council..."

"Naturally. I would do anything for my beloved Sao. But that doesn't change how brazen these people are, using the fact that they are Sao’s meat-toilets to push their demands!"

The anger is twofold...!? Meanwhile, the upperclassmen bowed deeply.

"Thank you so much for this...!" 

"We are eternally in your debt...!" 

"As a token of our gratitude, feel free to treat us as meat-toilets for the rest of our lives...!"

"We pledge our lifelong loyalty and the usage rights of our wombs to Sao~!!"

With Lady Staff’s wrath looming over them, they were being incredibly humble. Honestly, they don't need to take it that seriously. For me, seeing the female slaves who belong to me being happy is bliss enough.

"Sao is infinitely kind, but spoiling them won't help their future! To wipe out incompetent lords from this country, I shall beat some sense into their souls!!"

"Don't be too hard on them...!?" 

"You are far too soft, Sao!!"

It felt like a married couple arguing over their children's education.

"Well then, is that going to be the circle's management policy from now on?" Big Sis’s casual remark drew everyone's gaze.

"...Should I take my clothes off?" 

"There is no law in this world that says you have to get naked just because people are looking at you, Sis."

Anyway, back to the point. 

"Management policy? We’re not just stopping because it’s launched, right?"

Big Sis was right. A circle is a group of people with shared interests. A circle that doesn't do anything might as well not exist. The main goal was to siphon circle activity funds to help Spear-senpai and the others pay their tuition. But "money-grubbing" is a bit too blunt for an official reason. We needed a front.

"So, what's it going to be? Since Sao is the leader, it has to be a 'Yarisaa' (Sex/Spear Circle), right?" Big Sis Calibur said, brandishing her spear, Dragonfly Killer.

"Like I said, we can't use 'Sex Circle' as a front! That’s the dirty secret we have to hide the most...!"

"Fufufu... Do not worry about that, Sao!" Lady Staff smirked. 

"I have prepared several proposals for our activities!"

"Wha—!?"

"While you were busy volunteering, I used that time to do some research. I thought it might help you later."

Lady Staff!! To think you’d go to such lengths for me! 

"As your servant, I should have been the one moving first. I'm so grateful!"

"You are more than a servant; you are my precious lover... it’s only natural I’d want to be of use ❤️❤️" Even without sex, she’s started using heart marks. She's becoming quite the powerhouse.

"Calibur and I looked into it, and something became clear. First of all, the original goal was money, right?"

"Phrasing, please." Well, it was about getting funds for the seniors, so she's not wrong...

"So I thought: if it starts with money, why not make the activity itself about money?"

"That sounds a bit cold."

"Money is vital. Love and dreams are important, but you can only talk about them once you are economically satisfied. Financial stability is the foundation that pushes humans to a higher level."

I caught a glimpse of Lady Staff’s incredibly realistic worldview. Considering she'll one day support the lives of thousands, this grounded thinking is actually quite reassuring.

"So, here is the circle activity we're proposing," Big Sis took over the explanation.

"An Adventurer Circle!"

"...Not an adventurer party?"

"Since we’re students mimicking adventurers, it’s a circle. The school already has a curriculum for 'Dungeon Practicum' where we experience the job, right? We’ll just take it a step further. It’s a popular activity for commoners or younger sons of nobles who plan to become adventurers after graduation. There are other circles like it, so a new one won't stand out."

It made sense. But how does this relate to the money for Spear-senpai?

"Sao... do you remember our dungeon practicum in another city?"

"Ah, yeah." Last year, we went into a real dungeon to experience the work of pros.

"Back then, you overdid it. The materials you brought back from a single exploration were equivalent to six months' worth of that dungeon's output."

"Oh, right... did that happen...?" I’m still reflecting on my over-excitement that day.

"Those materials were converted into a massive sum of money. Even after paying the guild's fees and 'restitution,' a significant amount remained. Bloom and I split it. It was a wonderful temporary income for our territories ❤️❤️"

"EXCUSE ME!?" I, the one who earned it, knew nothing about this!? Well, I am her guard, so the ownership technically falls to her... and she did accept the porter girls for me later.

"Don't you see? We’re going to do the same thing again. We’ll dive into dungeons and gather materials with all our might! School policy says profit from circle activities can be kept as 'funds for next time'!"

Usually, student profits are piddling. But with us, it’s different. When we move toward a dungeon, a mountain of gold moves with us.

"I like it, Milady. I love getting paid."

"As expected of Sao-san! You catch on quick!"

It was settled. Our circle would be an 'Adventurer Circle' that rakes it in from dungeons!!

"Wait a moment." Spear spoke up, halting the momentum. "I oppose this. As a noble, I must say this is far too vulgar."

"Vulgar?"

"A noble is one who serves Her Majesty with pride. To be obsessed with money-making... that is an act for commoners. Nobles must be distinct from the masses...!"

Even though we've reconciled, they were former members of the elitist "Suppapan's Seminar." That "noble vs. commoner" consciousness remains.

"...Calibur." 

"Roger."

Through some unspoken telepathy, Big Sis Calibur swung her spear, releasing a shockwave that blew the seniors away. What kind of skill is that?

"Who do you think we planned this for!?" Lady Staff’s face turned into that of a wrathful deity. "We racked our brains to line your pockets! It's not for you—it's for the people who have to live under negligent lords like you! If we need money to protect our people’s lives, we work like crazy to earn it! That is a noble’s duty! Don't give me your 'this and that' about pride when you can't even fulfill your obligations!!"

""""W-WE'RE SORRY—!!""""

"People from the capital misunderstand what noble pride is! I shall correct that mistake through this circle!!"

Lady Staff is on fire. This circle is going to be meaningful in many ways. But for now, let’s focus our strength on the dungeon.

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