Chapter 28 - I Became the Daughter of the Academy’s Villain

Chapter 28 28 - Troublesome Consideration <28 - Troublesome Consideration> The candidates think. The first auxiliary task feels too premature to confront. The second one still seems to be under scrutiny. But the third auxiliary task was different. Given the impossibility of knowing how close the goal, or how many auxiliary tasks remained for the NPC contenders, the third one could not be surrendered. "The crowd is enormous." "Isn't this a bit too much?" "It can't be helped. Everyone thinks it's about time to go all in or face trouble." We are no different in lacking leisure. The points we've gathered amount to a mere 10. That's markedly insufficient compared to the passing threshold of 50 points. The third auxiliary task <Tag>. This task was a particularly fitting one, where a significant number of points could be released at the right moment. "Those who wish to attempt the third task, please gather here." The instructor in the red hat tapped the sign in front of him with his fingertips. 1. Participating in tag, everyone receives 20 points. 2. The 'it' has 1 point deducted every minute. 3. The runners gain 1 point every minute. 4. If 'it' touches a runner, 'it' seizes the runner's scores and becomes the runner, and a new 'it' begins the chase following the ticket clock's signal after 30 seconds. 5. If you touch the instructor with the black hat at any time, tag ends. 6. The exit can only be reached by ending tag. 7. Once ended, no second attempts. Across from them, blazoned in front of the instructor in the blue hat, was a relief tent and even a stall. "Come here if you need food, a place to sleep, or medical attention! If you have the points, anything can be exchanged." This presented a situation where the means to earn points appeared alongside the means to use them. "It's disheartening." "Scaredy-mouse. Weren't those 10 points earned in vain?" "The value of points has hit rock bottom." While everyone seemed dispirited, I thought differently. A veteran always has a plan, as they say. "So you mean there's something we can do since we've gathered points in advance?" "Really? Do you think such a thing is possible?" Even Giselle appeared skeptical. I ran towards the instructor under the blue hat. "Instructor, sir." "Is there a service or item you wish to purchase?" "Could you please bend down a bit?" I pulled on his clothes to make him hurry because it would be problematic if others overheard, and a broad smile formed on the instructor's face. "Very well, my little candidate. What do you need?" "Do you sell something like this?" Whisper whisper. The instructor, startled by my whisper, told me to wait a moment. Shortly after, presenting a stern face, he offered me earphones. "This is the secondary gate examination head, Minerva. She wishes to speak with you directly. A communication spell has been cast, so just attach it to your ear." As I pushed the sizable earphone into my ear, a feeling of something connecting was palpable. "Hello?" "…Candidate Oknodie. Have you had experience using communication magic? It's not common." "Oops." I inadvertently responded as if it was a phone call. But was such an experience really so rare? "Communication can be a common affair for the nobility." "…I see. The nobility could indeed." Minerva, the second gate examiner, responded with a tone of skepticism before getting to the point. "I thought as much with the first auxiliary task, but candidate Oknodie, your creativity is exceptional." "Hehe. I am pretty remarkable, right?" "It would have been more pleasant if your humility was even half as elevated. To respond to your request, in principle, it is impossible. That’s not an item we sell." "Eh. Really?" "However, this is the first time we've received such a proposal. Original ideas, thoughts unthought by anyone else, often become a potent weapon." Lucky for me, my gamble paid off. "In honor of candidate Oknodie's creativity, I shall make a special exception and sell it. A single-use <Black Hat of Instructor> is yours for 10 points." * * Giselle couldn't stop praising me. "Buying the cheat key <One-time use Black Hat Instructor privilege>, which allows you to end the exam whenever you want, is truly amazing!" "Is it such a big deal?" "Think about it. This game of tag, one could not quit even if willing, unless they find the black hat instructor; where would such a pursuer be?" "Surrounding the instructor, I suppose. Scaredy-mice would naturally come directly to them." "Exactly. Even if your points keep dropping, ultimately hijacking someone else's points while they are new 'it', immobilized, then touching the instructor and exiting the game ensures a profit." So, any thoughtful 'it' would definitely lurk around the black hat, and the runners would have to risk being tagged to approach the instructor. In actuality, it wasn't so much a game of tag as it was a game of breaking through the 'it' encircling the instructor. "In such a setup, Miss Oknodie has secured a method to exit the game whenever she desires by purchasing the privilege to become the black hat instructor." "Oh wow, Scaredy-mouse. Impressive, aren't you?" "Heheh. Now you see how exceptional I am?" As I struck a pose with my arms akimbo as if to show off, Isabel tenderly ruffled my hair. Mmmm... This petting from Isabel feels much too good. I brought her in as a chef to exploit like a slave, but it's me who's becoming domesticated. "Still, it's not an almighty cheat key. If one of us becomes 'it', one of the runners must find another runner." "I see. So, in the end, a game of tag with other runners is unavoidable." Just as we were about to approach the red hat to join the game, a contingent of four knights barred our way. "You're Oknodie, right?" "Who are you?" "I am Maximus Montblanc. Max's brother." "...Who’s Max?" "Sigh. I see he was out of your consideration. Poor lad." The swordsman with blonde hair similar to mine complained with a wistful expression. "Didn't you ride the magic cart on the way here?" "Oh, I did!" "Do you remember a troublesome kid at the children's playground in the kids' zone, and a boy who was looking after him?" "Yes! My hair got pulled out a ton..." Sniff. That really hurt at that time. "That boy is Max." "Ah, I see. And what brings you here, Max's brother?" "I've been asked a favor. If you encounter Oknodie in the exam, please offer her help." "I'm not exactly weak, you know." "I'm aware. Passing the first gate in the lead doesn't equate to weakness." As he spoke, Maximus exchanged a quick glance and a nod with Giselle. I see. Using my name to justify his approach was a mere pretext. Seems he came to lend a hand because of his personal acquaintance with Giselle. If Giselle is as thoroughly prepared as he appears to be, it is likely he had acquired allies like this in advance. Wasn't the ticket exam passed that way too! Scratch scratch. But could it be he hadn't prepared for mosquitoes? His scratching his hand back looked pitiful. "There's an outrageous trap in this task." "Mosquitoes?" "...Mosquitoes are a trap too, but there's something other than that." "Umm... I have no idea!" Of course, I knew all along. I was merely feigning ignorance. "Think about it. They offer plenty of points, and there's a system in place to use them, but the likelihood of being able to use it is remarkably low. All of it is pie in the sky." Ocheon laughed heartily and vigorously patted on Maximus's shoulders. "Yellow-haired sir. Why so worried? Just multiply the points reasonably, meet the instructor to buy what we need, pursue the examiner to the exit, and we’re done." "But meeting that instructor is the problem. Where’s the guarantee that the black hat instructor is around here? Do you even know where they are?" "Uh?" "Oknodie, it's the same for you. Rule 6. The exit can only be reached by ending tag. As long as this clause exists, you're all but trapped in this forest." That's right. This is the trap and reality of the auxiliary task tag. It's not a game between 'it' and runners. It's between the candidates and the black hat instructor! You can't leave the forest with any number of points due to rule 6 if you can't find the black hat instructor. And from what I remember, the black hat moves to the opposite side of the examiner's center, essentially a 'summoned creature'. There are two orthodox ways to beat this. One is to acquire this hint from the center of the forest, find and touch the black hat instructor, then embark on an arduous journey across the forest to reach the exit. The other is to put Minerva, the examiner, in danger through strength and wit to summon the creature, and then while Minerva is irate, find the black hat instructor to touch. 'In my previous run-ins, I mostly dealt with the latter.' Drawing monster aggro to the examinees near the exit and letting Minerva come out for the rescue, and then during that distraction, ambushing Minerva. Since her summoned creature automatically rushes to rescue the body when in danger, it's a certain way to gather massive points without wasteful detours. Ah, those were the days. And way more convenient. Still, with my current body, I'm not quite confident, so I went for Plan B, and fortunately, it worked out. "Uh... Really?" "Ha-ha. This is going to be tricky." Both Han Ocheon and Giselle wore exceedingly troubled smiles. "Oknodie. Now that you know, just give up and try to earn points through legitimate methods, instead of gambling..." "Will you extend your wrist to the mana board?" "Here's the ticket clock." "Candidates Oknodie, Han Ocheon, Giselle, Isabel. Registration for the hide-and-seek challenge accepted! Immediate 20 points added to individual ticket watches; verify it." "Hey!! Are you even listening? You must have heard me, right?! You'd still go through with it?" Sorry, Maximus. I appreciate your thoughtfulness, Maximus, but for us, who can become an instructor at any time, it's unnecessary meddling. Author's Comment (Afterword) I want to know the golden ratio of despair soup and veteran soup.