Chapter 15 - I Became the Daughter of the Academy’s Villain

Chapter 15 15 - Restricted Area, Miss After an evening meal filled with anger and disappointment. For days, I hardly exchanged words with Jonah. "Did you by any chance have a fight with the butler?" "It's not that." "You seem to be in quite a poor mood." Was it so evident that even Leaf could notice? No. With such overt avoidance, it would be impossible not to realize. Reflecting on the past few days, I came to understand how emotional my behavior had been to a childish degree. "I felt neglected." Saying it out loud made the truth of those words resonate even more. "I guess I was hoping for Jonah to say something comforting, even if it was a lie. That he would always stay by my side." "Miss..." "I know. Adults have their own circumstances. I realize that being pushy would only make things difficult for Jonah." Maybe that's the reason why. Why I devoted myself to training for the past few days. Was it to show that I could be discarded so easily? Was it to check if I could really leave? Of course, that's expected. In the game, butlers are tied to their players as bound items. They must never leave the side of their player. Yet to think such a butler might not always be on my side. It's more than disappointment, I can't help but feel anxious. "Leaf feels the same, right?" "That is correct. I too am employed to serve you, Miss, under the order of the master. Should I be called by the master, I must return to the main house." "I thought so..." I have no one on my side. Like my real-life interpersonal relationships that turned blank in an instant. Even in-game relationships could become void in the blink of an eye. "So what's your point?" "Don't you care, Leaf?" "As the flowers bloom and wither, so too must servants move on to new employers when money runs out. It might seem cruel, but it's simply how the world works." "…I hate it, Leaf." "That is why I hope Oknodie Miss will not fail. There are not many who can find every hidden corner like you, or who would pretend a tasteless candy is delicious." Even if life is merciless, the desire for relationships to endure doesn't simply vanish. "Look at this basket of candies, please." "I've seen it." "How many candies are left?" One, two, three... "A lot?" "I will not leave your side until I give you every single candy in this basket." "Really?" "Yes, really." "Even if the main house orders you back?" "Even if I receive orders for reassignment, I can simply say the directive was not delivered." That's pushing it. Knowing just how preposterous that sounds only adds to my gratitude and remorse. "Leaf, when I said I hated you, I was lying. I'm truly glad you're my maid." Gone was Leaf's typically cold expression, replaced by a gentle smile. "Then will you make up with the butler too?" "Ugh… Alright, it's been settled! Even if it's just for seeing Leaf's face, I'll let it go this once." * * Let's reconcile. To make amends to Jonah with an A-set evening full dinner course. That was my resolve. But still, paying for it in cold hard cash was a daunting prospect. So the only option was to use the money-duplicating event. "Leaf. Take me to the casino, please!" Straight into the 'casino' we go. In the game, the casino was a convenient time-skipping element, where one usage resulted in the automatic passing of one hour. Simply pulling levers at the cheapest slot machines would fast-forward the time. Players enjoying this convenience were occasionally tempted. What if I'm lucky enough to duplicate money? Maybe my luck is good today? Of course, the end for those scrambling for instant wealth was both predictable and a sight to behold. Nine out of ten times, it ended disastrously. But, there were rare strategies the few veterans used to override luck, secrets to ensure their success. I myself had used the <Special Menu> strategy during the previous ticket test to designate my examination subjects, just as one could theoretically use loopholes for guaranteed money duplication in the casino. "Our casino prohibits entry to children under the age of 15 and customers under 150 cm in height to prevent gambling addiction in children and to foster healthy gambling habits." I hadn't anticipated being barred from entry due to a height restriction. "This is fraud! Where on earth is such a law?" "It is our casino's policy, Miss. We appreciate if you would return once you've grown a bit taller." "I can gamble too!! I'll be taller if I stand on my toes!!" No matter how hard I stretched, the casino staff firmly pushed down my head with his hand until my heels touched the ground and he then inserted a peg into the height meter at the level of my head. <133cm> Leaf protested with an impassive face. "Though our young lady may be small in stature, she is sufficiently mature, aiming for academy enrollment." "Miss. Did you know that the average height of a 9-year-old child is 132.6 cm? Even if an academy accepts anyone under 20, you will not find a 9-year-old freshman." "No, I'm not a child!" "Is that so? Then for what purpose do you wish to enter the gambling hall, if you are not a child?" The employee spoke with a face that suggested he found the misunderstanding adorable. Are you treating me like a fool? "I'm going to duplicate money! Scared, huh? Scared you'll be beaten by a kid?" I kept up a brave front. And the result? I was kicked out like a dog. "It seems you lack the talent for persuasion, Miss." "Sob. I was just trying to return the favor for once." "Could you please wait in a safe place for a moment? I will find a way." "Really?" "You must trust me completely." Leaf said this with a cool professional face, somehow inspiring confidence. "I trust you, Leaf!" "Then please wait here peacefully." "Leaf?" "I must be going now." "Leaf! Hey, you rotten maid!" The place Leaf left me: <Children's Only Kids Zone> <Entry allowed for those under 140 cm> This was uncharted territory, never before ventured into by players who'd only ever chosen muscular male characters. It was the Kids Zone—a place strictly for children. 'Really overdoing it now.' I loitered near the entrance, hesitant. If Jonah or Giselle, that monkey beastman, caught sight of me, I'd be kicking off the blankets in my bed out of sheer embarrassment for months. I had no intention of creating new dark moments in my history, so I reluctantly entered the Kids Zone. Who would have thought that there were such trap features in this non-combat zone? I never knew, always playing as the enormous buff male characters. Upon entering, my spirit of exploration was rekindled—venturing into an unknown area of the Kids Zone that I'd never seen before. What mysteries awaited me in this unexplored zone? "Waaaah!" "Bababababababa." "Hihihi! Kyaooooah!" It was children who were waiting. I hate this place. I want out. * * Leaf asked the employee. "I'll take responsibility and accompany the young lady as her guardian. Would that still not be acceptable?" "Hmm, as you well know, maid, young ladies from noble or wealthy families don't tend to follow their servants' instructions too well." "But our young miss is different." "We always hear that—'Our miss is so good', 'Our dog doesn't bite'. But then the good miss turns over a table and the non-biting dog ends up needing sixteen stitches." The employees had their own issues to deal with. Rules had solidified into strict internal policies following unfortunate incidents that occurred despite initial leniency. Leaf might know Oknodie, but these people didn't. Our young lady is really different, I thought, but convincing the employee proved impossible. 'I'll have to find a loophole,' Leaf thought to herself. Is it really all right to leave the young lady in the Kids Zone a bit longer? Alone, Miss has her own... peculiar ways. Hiding in the darkest corner of a room or under the shadow, curled up in a ball. Trying to earn the title of Bee Slayer by generating smoke under a beehive she accidentally found. Accepting candies from unknown gentlemen, savoring flavors she has never tasted before. ...To be frank, I'm a bit anxious. No, that's a lie. I'm actually very anxious. 'I need to end this as quickly as possible.' Leaf quickened her pace. * * "Kids are really annoying." "Eek, there's drool on my pants." "Ah, my hair. This is so irritating." In the center of the Kids Zone was a playground filled with colorful ball pit balls. Two mature children (around 10 years old), left to look after their siblings in the Kids Zone, sat on a bench sighing like weary old men who'd lived through it all. "Max. Your brother's gonna enroll in the academy, right?" "I don't know. Who knows if he'll even pass." "Being 15 and getting in would be huge." "He'd surely be called a prodigy." The entrance exam for the Gift Academy, where any hopeful under 20 could apply. Logically, the closer one gets to 20, the more developed their physicality and skill, increasing the probability of passing. Therefore, younger entrants who manage to get accepted are deemed extraordinary, often labeled as geniuses or prodigies. "Do you think there's anyone our age who could pass?" "Not a chance. Jessie, you believe rumors too easily." "Why? I think it would be great if your brother is a prodigy. Handsome and smart." "Ew. Cut it out. What's so great about that awful guy to make such a fuss?" "Shush. He's a hundred times better than you. Who are you to talk about my brother like that?" "My brother, you mean. No, forget it, you can take him." "Hmph!" Jessie, annoyed, kicked a pile of ball pit balls. As the balls scattered, she locked eyes with a girl hidden within them. "Kyaaak!" "What's going on?!" "A person? There's a person? Why—?!" The girl who stood up amidst the mess of ball pit balls, with her long blond locks matching those of her peers. The identity of the child who caused Jessie to jump in disbelief was none other than the enlightened one of the Kids Zone, the hermit of the ball pit, Oknodie—who realized the playground was unexpectedly conducive for hiding. Author's Note The Hermit of the Playground, Oknodie! The prologue has been updated with a new passage related to Sia, the childhood friend.