The Astronomy Club

Creak.

Luo Shu pushed open the classroom door.

What greeted them was an ordinary, rather empty classroom.

A blackboard, a lectern, and ten chairs piled in the corner, already cleaned by Luo Shu and the others during their earlier visit.

Aside from those, only the cabinet holding cleaning supplies at the back right of the classroom could barely count as club property.

"Since the club was only just founded, has only three members, and wasn't established until midway through the term, we don't have any funding at all."

Eriri walked in and surveyed the empty classroom, looking distinctly unimpressed by this slapdash operation.

School clubs in Japan received funding, generally managed by the student council.

Sports clubs received the biggest share, followed by clubs run by well-connected upperclassmen. Only after those groups had taken their cut did the remaining assortment of small clubs get anything.

As for a club like the Astronomy Club, which had only three members and hadn't even been established at the start of the term, they could only pay out of pocket for club supplies.

If Luo Shu hadn't had something on her, she would never have joined a club that so obviously required her to subsidize it.

"We can borrow astronomy books from the library, but we'll have to get telescopes, camping tents, and things like that ourselves..."

As she spoke, Eriri walked to the center of the classroom and surveyed it with her hands on her hips.

"Incidentally, I'll pay for all of those things. But in return, neither of you can bring up the fact that I'm Eri Kashiwagi again. That's called equivalent exchange, understand?"

"I understand, more or less." With one hand in his pocket, Luo Shu entered the classroom and stopped beside the window. Watching the club members and students heading home out on the school grounds, he narrowed his eyes slightly. "But you seem to have misunderstood something, Sawamura."

"What?" Eriri froze for a moment and immediately started to turn toward Luo Shu.

Just then, however, she heard a click, seemingly the sound of the classroom door being locked from the inside.

Eriri hurriedly turned to look, only to discover that Utaha Kasumigaoka had her back against the classroom door and had locked them all in.

A classroom, a locked door, high school girls, one guy and two girls?

Those labels flashed through Eriri's mind. Panic crossed her face, and she folded her arms protectively over her chest, hurriedly backing away a few steps.

"Wait, what are you two planning? This is the third floor! People downstairs can hear even the slightest noise! If you try anything, I'll scream!"

"Heh-heh..." Utaha Kasumigaoka couldn't help chuckling at the sight, then looked up at Luo Shu. "All right, stop teasing her. Hurry up and build a base just for us."

At that, Luo Shu glanced at the bewildered Eriri and smiled. "You really can't take a little teasing."

Before Eriri could recover, he suddenly raised his hands and clapped lightly.

Clap! Clap!

As the two claps rang out, the occasional sounds drifting in from the school outside abruptly ceased.

The sudden silence startled Eriri. She hurriedly turned toward the wide-open window, but instead of the school grounds, she saw nothing but white.

It was as though a white cloth had been draped over the classroom window.

"What... what's going on?"

Just then, Utaha Kasumigaoka turned around, unlocked the door, and pulled it inward.

Immediately, the same expanse of white appeared before her.

She reached out, trying to extend her hand through the doorway, but that white, cloth-like substance blocked it as though she had touched a wall.

Eriri was utterly bewildered by the sight. Utaha Kasumigaoka, however, stepped back in understanding and remarked:

"So this is the alternate space you said we could exchange 1,000 energy points for, Luo Shu? The Astronomy Club's future headquarters?"

"Yes." As Luo Shu spoke, he clapped again.

The classroom, originally around forty square meters, instantly expanded, then divided into a layout similar to the apartment Utaha Kasumigaoka rented.

However, compared with her apartment's two bedrooms, one living room, and two bathrooms, this place had an extra bedroom.

"This alternate space can expand to a maximum of three hundred square meters, with a ceiling height of three meters. Water, natural gas, electricity, even a refrigerator, plus a regular supply of drinks and snacks, cost one energy point per month. That includes internet access."

As he spoke, Luo Shu pointed at the lights, bedrooms, and bathrooms, then shrugged.

"Of course, things like the internet connection's IP address are still tied to the original classroom. Essentially, this alternate space overlaps with the classroom we were assigned. According to it, they're different dimensions of the same space."

Utaha Kasumigaoka immediately understood that by "it," Luo Shu meant the system. Of course, in her understanding, it was actually his "divine servant," an assisting intelligence born to help him become the Lord of the Divine Pantheon and establish a new mythology system.

Still, looking at this full three hundred square meters of space, practically a luxury apartment, Utaha Kasumigaoka touched the wall and couldn't help marveling.

"Just one thousand energy can accomplish something like this? In a sense, energy is equivalent to a god's divine power, isn't it?"

"You could think of it that way." Luo Shu nodded in agreement with Utaha Kasumigaoka, then added, "But I think energy's real value lies more in developing personal strength. After

all, power is more meaningful when you possess it yourself."

After saying that, Luo Shu turned to Eriri, who had slumped onto the floor at some point, and smiled.

"It seems our new friend still doesn't understand what's happening."

At that, Utaha Kasumigaoka glanced at Eriri, then walked over to her. "Let me explain."

"As you can see, Sawamura, this isn't the original classroom. It's an alternate space Luo Shu just created."

Eriri instinctively crawled backward, asking in panic, "Y-you... are you two humans or ghosts?"

"A god and his divine servant."

Utaha Kasumigaoka teased her with a smile, then continued in an enticing voice.

"Do you want youth that never fades? Do you want an immortal lifespan? Do you want supernatural powers beyond human understanding?"

"If you do, swear an oath. Swear loyalty to our lord, to our god!"

"You're awfully endearing when you act this brainwashed."

After commenting on Utaha Kasumigaoka's speech, Luo Shu met Eriri's nearly stupefied expression with an amused smile.

"Before we make the formal introductions, Sawamura..."

"-Welcome to the real [Astronomy Club]!"