Crafting Class

Even though the vice principal tried to be cruel, thanks to Monaka I was able to sit on a chair like everyone else.

And at last, class began.

“Okaaay, then for today, Leather Crafter students will try making a Leather Cloak, and Tailor students will try making Patches.”

A cloak depended on the design, but since it had no sleeves and the like, it wasn’t difficult to make.

If you really wanted to, you could even call it a “Leather Cloak” just by cutting the hide into shape.

In that sense, it was the perfect introductory craft for Leather Crafters.

And while everything at this academy was survival-based, during class alone, materials and tools for crafting were loaned out.

However, anything you made did not become yours—you had to deliver it to the school.

The teacher continued in her gentle tone.

“But today is a special exception—students who do especially good crafting will be allowed to take their finished work home. Also, anything you make using materials you brought in may be taken home, regardless of the result.”

I had Flying Dragon Leather as my material, so I figured I only needed to borrow tools.

But then another interruption came.

“No! Students of the Special Training Class cannot be loaned crafting tools, zansu!”

The vice principal completely ignored Filaphy’s, “Huh? Was there a rule like that?”

He made a huge fuss as if he had just won a grand victory.

“However, for Leopin-kun only, I will generously loan you just this Magic Iron Needle and Magic Iron Shears, zansu! As for all other tools, you are not allowed to use so much as a single thread scrap from this classroom, zansu!”

“Eh? You can’t craft with just fabric, a needle, and scissors!”

Instructor Filaphy looked troubled.

The vice principal leaned close to my ear and whispered softly.

“With the magic needle and scissors, you’ll shred that filthy hide into tatters so it becomes unusable, zansu. Then, as a special exception, I’ll give you a different hide, zansu. Not that filthy one—an excellent hide, the same kind everyone else gets…!”

I replied under my breath.

“So you did know after all, Vice Principal.”

“…Hah? What are you talking about, zansu?”

“Because ordinary needles and scissors can’t even begin to handle Flying Dragon Leather. That’s why I was planning to borrow magic tools from Filaphy-sensei. But the fact that you tried to hand me magic tools first means you already knew this hide was Flying Dragon Leather—”

“K-kyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee—!!!”

Another fit hit him.

Monaka, seated beside me, startled and flinched, her shoulders jerking.

The vice principal bared bloodshot eyes and thrust the tips of the magic needle and shears at me.

“Then do as you like, zansu! I was only trying to help you, since you’ve been possessed by hallucinations of Flying Dragon Leather, zansu! And yet you dare doubt my goodwill—what an outrageous delinquent student, zansu! Here, take the needle and shears, zansu! With no thread, you can poke and snip away all you want in your own little playtime, zansu!”

“Is that so? Then I’ll do exactly that.”

I smirked and accepted the dull-glinting needle and shears.

Since I accepted the magic tools with a fearless grin, the vice principal frowned with a “Gnh!?”

But perhaps thinking it was just a bluff, he quickly burst into laughter.

“Muhohohohoho! Acting tough is useless, zansu! With only a needle and scissors, how will you do leathercraft, zansu! Without thread, leathercraft is impossible, zansu! Not even understanding that proves Leopin-kun truly belongs in the Special Training Class, zansu! Come now, everyone, laugh at him too, zansu! Muhohohohohoho!”

When the vice principal led the charge, the class filled with laughter.

Looking around, everyone was laughing at me as if I were an idiot.

Everyone except two women.

Instructor Filaphy only fidgeted anxiously, and Monaka’s mouth twisted as if she wanted to say something.

When Monaka started to rise, unable to endure it, I stopped her with my hand.

“Just watch.”

That was all I said before standing up from my seat.

I slipped between the desks and headed toward the window.

This classroom was on the first floor, and through the open window I could see the backyard.

The backyard had ornamental plants and hedges, empty flowerbeds where nothing had been planted yet, and a small pond with no fish.

I placed my hands on the window frame, hopped over, and dropped down into the backyard.

“Muhohohoho!”

Mocking laughter chased after me.

“Look, zansu! I wondered what he’d do—he ran away, zansu! He was just talking big, zansu!”

I turned back and spoke to Instructor Filaphy.

“Sensei, please ignore me and continue the lesson.”

“Eh? O-oh, okaay. Then everyone, please work on your leather cloaks and patches…”

Class resumed, but every gaze in the room remained fixed on me.

Ignoring them, I started my own work.

I searched the backyard for the highest-quality vine I could find.

“All right, this should work.”

I peeled the skin from the Daija Vine after cutting it with a stone knife, then split the inner fibers.

I washed the split fibers in the pond water and laid them out to dry in the sun.

While that was happening, I made a simple fire-starting stand, created an ember, and turned it into a campfire.

Then, all I had to do was toast the fibers over the fire…

And that was when I felt an intense stare.

When I looked toward the school building, students were packed tight against the classroom windows, glaring at me.

“What the hell is that trash doing…?”

“He grabbed vines with a stone knife and tossed them onto a campfire…?”

“That has nothing to do with leathercraft…”

Apparently they couldn’t even guess what I was doing.

I thought Instructor Filaphy would understand, but she was tilting her head along with the students.

“What in the world is Leopin-kun doing, I wonder…?”

“But sensei, if it’s Leo-kun, he’ll definitely do it! Please do your best, Leo-kun!”

Beside Instructor Filaphy, Monaka waved with all her might to cheer me on.

In the meantime, I finished toasting the fibers to just the right degree.

“Now I just twist these into cord…”

High quality and highly durable; resistant to wear and soiling.

“I-it’s… threeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaad!?”

Someone screamed.