Chapter 29 - I Became the Daughter of the Academy’s Villain

Chapter 29 Taste of Trust <29 - Taste of Trust> I was lucky. If all four of us had been chosen as "it" in the game of tag, even with a great strategy, it would have taken a significant amount of time to search for the runners. Fortunately on our team, only one person was chosen. "Are you really okay with this?" "It's fine. I had zero points to begin with anyway." That person was me. "You little mouse bell. How can a kid be so kind-hearted? I thought all youngsters these days were weaklings. Sometimes, you need to take care of yourself too. It makes life easier, kid." "You mean, like taking care of a 'baby deer'?" "..." Hmph. No matter how much you tease, you've had it coming. Were you the one who started tormenting me with a wooden horse? "Still, our strategy was for all four of us to gather as many points as possible before escaping. Oknodie needs to hurry and find the runners to help out." "Hah. And how do you propose we do that? They're all avoiding contact with each other. How are we supposed to know who the runners are?" The examinees had already been wary of each other because of the points, but now mindful of the additional task in tag, they were avoiding eye contact altogether, making them difficult to track. [Thanks to your rich experience in hiding, you've found a hiding spot <Under a Large Rock>.] [Observation Experience +1] [You've found a previously experienced hiding spot <Above a Tree>.] [Observation Experience +1] [You've detected a contestant skillfully disguised in a bush.] [Observation Experience +1] I strode boldly towards the bush. The examinee camouflaged as a bush flinched in surprise. "Hem-hem~ Hmm-hmm~" "Miss Oknodie, what are you doing there?" "I was wondering if there might be some fruit." So, are you a runner or "it"? I casually reached my ticket-watch adorned wrist into the adjacent bush as if to take a peek. Thump. Thump. I could hear the beating of a heart. Determination flickered in the eyes of the examinee disguised as the bush. "Yahp!" "Did you think you evaded me?" "Ugh, Miss Oknodie!" "Uh... but should we stop this?" "Let's just watch for now." The attacker cleverly inserted a piece of the cut bush into the seams of her leather armor to camouflage herself. It was a good idea. The attempt wasn't bad either. If someone felt dangerous, dodge using disguise, and if they seemed easy, strike. However, with only that level of skill, it won't work against someone with sharp senses like me. "You knew from the start, didn't you?" "The bushes swayed differently when the wind blew." "Kuh. How frustrating. To be outwitted by a youngster, and I'm a forest ranger." "Your disguise wasn't too shabby. It's just that my skills were better." "It's a first. No one has ever seen through my disguise so completely. How about a handshake?" She grinned and extended her hand. As our hands met, she shouted with glee. "Heheh! You fool. I saw you all enter to tackle the third auxiliary task. A handshake is also a type of 'touch'. You're 'it' now!" "Pfft. Aren't you the fool? What happens when 'it' catches 'it'?" "What?!" When 'it' captures a player, they steal their points. Here, the true identity of <Runner> is <Black Hat Instructor>. A situation where an examinee touching an examinee turns out to be 'it' catching 'it'. A hidden rule not explicitly mentioned. The same concept applies. [Before point change] <Dorothy -82 points> <Oknodie -25 points> [After point change] <Dorothy -107 points> <Oknodie 0 points> Even if 'it' catches 'it', points are stolen. But, if the stolen points were already in the negative, they just increase the deficit. "Aaack! What is this!" "Pffft, such a fool!" "This is cheating! How can you calmly move with the other contestants while being 'it'?" "We're teammates, aren't we?" "Teammates? Even confident noble alliances and mercenary groups bound by clear interests and trust betray one another; what makes you think teammates won't betray?" "Do you really need a reason to trust your teammates?" These people are all fools and easy marks. Would I betray them first, or would Giselle, Son Ocheon, and Isabel betray me? Never! That's not going to happen! Dorothy looked genuinely envious at my confident response. "Sigh... a complete defeat. To trust people to such an extent. I'm jealous. If only my companions could be as kind as you." "Miss Dorothy, you had teammates?" "They betrayed me. The one who was 'it' said a forest ranger wasn't needed and touched me, then ran off with the others. They told me I should be thankful they didn't tear up my ticket-watch." That must have been quite distressing. "I trusted them, you know. We were friends since our days in our hometown, and yet, this is what I get." "That's unfortunate." "So be careful with your companions. They're all from different backgrounds, and if a childhood friend can betray you, there’s no guarantee that new allies won't do the same." I have no concerns about those three, but still, I appreciated the advice. There's no reason to bear ill will towards someone who's giving advice with good intentions. "Where did those traitors run off to?" "That way. A pair, a man and a woman. Really bad eggs. If you're going to catch them, I'd prefer you get the man." "Why?" "He's my childhood friend. The woman is the child of a trader from our forest, came to buy furs, a nice girl who helped with adventures. She must be dragged around by that fool for sure." "...A trader?" I recalled a frequently appearing character from a trading background that stuck in my mind. Well, I'll know when I see it! "I'll keep that in mind. As a token of thanks, I'll also give you a bonus." I whispered in Dorothy's ear. "Go back the way you came and look for the Black Hat Instructor near the entrance." "!" "If you don't give up and luck is on your side, I'm sure you'll make it through somehow." "...How can I believe that’s true?" "I've only provided the information. How you use it is for you to decide." I had no reason to show such generosity. Dorothy was nearly confirmed to be eliminated, and saving her wouldn't benefit me in any tangible way. But Dorothy's circumstances had moved me. 'I don't dislike those who work hard.' The 'tricks' to deal with the morass of event rules were all the fruits of effort and research, borne out of countless trials and errors. Dorothy, having been shockingly betrayed and abandoned by her childhood friend, did not give up on the exam. It was in admiration of that resilience. She bowed her head and headed towards the entrance. Giselle showed curiosity. "Is the instructor really at the entrance?" "Yes." "You possess impressive intelligence." "It's the basics!" "Haha, it seems I need to work a lot harder to be of help to Miss Oknodie." Isabel joined in. "Such a kind child." "Then give me a treat!" "Shall I tell you about the snacks that adventurers enjoy?" "I'd love to know!" "Well, when food is hard to come by in a forest like this. Eating black-colored ants is quite common." Ew, ants? "The acid liquid called formic acid has a sour taste, and it's actually quite tasty when it comes from smaller workers." "No way!" "It's true. But don't eat ants larger than your thumb. Their acid is too strong. And it's dangerous. This size is just perfect." Isabel poked an ant with her finger and offered it. "Isn't that a bit too barbaric?" "Uhahaha. Maybe your employer is too delicately brought up? In the wild, you eat whatever you can." "Uncle Son Ocheon, have you eaten ants too?" "Until I was three. After that, I grew so big that no matter how many I ate, they never filled me up." "Huh. So everyone eats them." I closed my eyes and popped Isabel's finger into my mouth. It had a unique taste, much like a zesty candy. "It's a tad salty?" "That would be the taste of the sweat from my finger." Isabel sheepishly withdrew her hand. "Ah. It's tangy! I know this taste." "You said you've never eaten ants though?" "It's the same taste as sky-blue candy!" "...Really..." "Do you want to try? It's a fun flavor to roll in your mouth." "I'll just appreciate the suggestion." Son Ocheon and Giselle, who were just poking the ground with their fingers to eat more ants, stood up with solemn expressions. "Let's get going." "Yes. As expected, ants won't fill the stomach." "Eh. Can't we eat a bit more?" It doesn't seem like I've received the cooking compendium evaluation yet. Would collecting formic acid and processing it all at once qualify as 'cooking'? "Let's hurry to a place with proper ingredients." "And I am concerned about Miss Oknodie's score." I shelved my experimental curiosity for the moment. It can't be helped if they're also in a hurry to proceed for my sake. [I've tracked the path of the leading group.] [Tracking Experience +1] The prominent large-scale traces were so conspicuous that observation was unnecessary. The footprints of examiners who passed by without completing the third auxiliary task and the leading group were noticeable. Mixed into the direction Dorothy indicated were too many footprints overlapping, making it nearly impossible to find Dorothy's comrades' trails. 'What a shame.' Instead, I found another interesting trail. A crossroad appeared. The direction toward the swamp is the path to complete the fourth auxiliary task. The smooth path leads to following the examiner. Although many had taken part in the third task's auxiliary challenges, this time, most of the leading group had headed toward the swamp. These were contestants who, unable to endure the pressure of points, had belatedly decided to take action. "An additional task, huh? Little mouse bell, are you up for it?" "No way!" "Even if your point deduction has been reset, isn't it better to have more points?" But again, points are not the issue in this forest. The crux of the matter lies elsewhere. "There are lots of mosquitoes in the swamp." "How much do you hate mosquitoes?" "Ah, I also think that's a wise decision." Isabel acknowledged my decision. "You may boast about your thick skin, but if it weren't for Oknodie, you'd have suffered mightily." "Me? Simply because of mosquitoes?" "The damp marshlands in the forest are swarming with hundreds to thousands of mosquitoes. You didn’t know because such swamps didn't exist in the forest you lived in?" "It gives me the creeps. Is that place hell?" "Similar. Moreover, those mosquitoes that grew up on the decaying gases of the swamp can evolve into disease-carrying mosquitoes. Being bitten could infect you with diseases or poison." Giselle suddenly turned to look at me. "Immunity training..." At his words, both Son Ocheon and Isabel showed a flicker of concern. "This time, I'll carry you. Let's move quickly, Miss Oknodie." "Wow, really?" "I'll guide the way." "Oh, well then, I'll take care of the heavy lifting." For some reason, our teamwork suddenly improved drastically. "Those who took on tag likely won't risk further challenges but rather opt to follow the examiner at this point, determining the destination and taking a break." "Ah, that sounds like a good idea! For an all-rounder, you sure are smart, Giselle." "...Be thankful that I am carrying you, Miss Oknodie. I'm sparing you just this once since your insolence leaves me no hands free to give a deserved thump." Moving away from the swamp at top speed, I felt so reassured that I almost felt sorry for Dorothy. Author's Note The endearing trust, hearty as a satisfying bowl of Korean rice soup