Chapter 30 - I Became the Daughter of the Academy’s Villain

Episode 30 30 - I Decide Who Gets to Be a Supporting Character <30 - I Decide Who Gets to Be a Supporting Character> Until they caught up with the examiners and the lead group, the party had thought: "How confident must they be in their skills, not even going for the auxiliary assignments but staying with the leaders?" "They must be clever as a bag of rats, right? No doubt they are the experts who've completed all the tasks and gathered together." "I'm thinking of stir-frying shiitake mushrooms for dinner, but what should we eat tomorrow? I want to collect more ingredients." Hope chapter of the lead group. The men's club. Proud and powerful experts. Killing intent pouring in from all directions at the arrival of new competitors! But the reality they actually faced was a complete different story. "Should we go for the auxiliary assignments now? But there are so many competitors. I'm scared not to go, but I'm not confident we could win either?" "What if we lose track of the examiners while going for the auxiliary assignments? I'm not sure I can keep up. It's a total embarrassment if I get lost and become a missing person, let alone face my father back home?" "I'll decide with these petals. Go, don't go, go, don't go, go. Hmm. Eugh, violets have too few petals, right? Okay, let's try divining with another flower." Despair chapter of the lead group. The den of the super cowards. Fearful and indecisive losers. Eyes sneakily avoiding at the arrival of new competitors! "It seems our imagination was too wild." "Are they idiots?" "Hey, if you’re not going to eat that violet, can you give it to us?" Oknodie's party, who diligently took on auxiliary assignments and caught up with the lead group, was on par with the top contender of the group. "Are there only about three people who seem at ease? As expected, they're all leading actors." Northern princess Irene, with an expressionless face, simply following right behind the examiner Minerva. Eastern swordsman Sing, who would suddenly chop down a tree like a madman, satisfied with himself and chuckling. Pirate of the Dead Seas Jigoku, spinning his revolver boredly in his hand then shooting bang-bang into the sky. 'I definitely need to stay away from them.' Each one like a ticking time bomb. Jigoku was especially problematic. While Irene and Sing were indifferent strong ones who didn't care about others as long as their own territories were not invaded, Jigoku was the very opposite. He was a terribly malicious strong one who took pleasure in robbing and looting from others! Getting too close to him, bewitched by his fiery red hair and warrior-like personality, one might end up wrapped up in trouble and screaming in agony even before graduation. "Oh." As to say, don't come this way. "You guys seem quite relaxed. Got a good score, huh?" "What, want to fight about it?" Son Ocheon snapped back with an aggressive demeanor. Bang! The revolver spat fire before the words even finished. Clang! Son Ocheon swung his staff to deflect the bullet, his face showing complete disbelief. "Is this guy totally insane?" "You’re not dead, so it's fine, right? Kuk-kuk." Jigoku put his gun away and pushed Son Ocheon's staff with his hand. "Out of the way." "Uh?" As Son Ocheon was pushed away, making foolish noises, that crazy person thrust a sparrow he had just shot in front of me. "Here." "Are you giving this to me?" Why would you give this to me? "Kid. Kids need to eat a lot to grow." "!!" "That’s where you say, 'Thank you, sister.' Oh right, the sister thing is a secret from everyone else, okay?" Jigoku made a scene as if that had been his goal all along and then went on his way. "That's a dangerous man. In the south, he's known as the red-haired beast that ascended from hell, a famous pirate." "A pirate? Why would such a person pop up in an academy entrance exam?" "He got bored, left just one word behind, and sold all his possessions to come ashore. Even connections amongst black market traders often mention him; he's notoriously unpredictable." "Don’t speak ill of Jigoku!" "...Oknodie? If by any chance you admire the pirate or think the gun is cool or that the triangular pirate hat is stylish, I would suggest that..." "He shared his food." "...Ah, I see it’s that..." Is this good fortune, or should I be worried you're so easily won over? Giselle could not hide his mixed feelings. But someone who gives away food is nice, right? Without lifting a finger, I can fill my food encyclopedia. The person who helps others become strong is by player standards, all good people! 'From today on, Jigoku is good-aligned!' * * "Alright, take a two-hour break. Whether you go hunting, take a nap, or take on the last auxiliary assignment, it’s up to you." Minerva's march stopped. The exhausted candidates collapsed here and there. Now's the chance. "Let's look for the duo that betrayed Dorothy." "Oh. If you mean that, I’ve already found them. Over there." Where Giselle pointed, there was a woman with braided hair wearing a corset bustier that accentuated her chest along with white trousers, and a man with a gloomy face. <Betrayal Event> I found the traitors who betrayed Dorothy. Let's show them what poetic justice means! ...Or, if you find yourself a little short of funds, you could turn a blind eye to this incident in exchange for a little hush money! The merchants' specialty 'bribery' is hinted at by the instructions, confirming that Dorothy's hometown friend who fled with the merchant's lady is indeed the one. "How did you find them?" "Look at their expressions. Though mixed among the anxious candidates, they’re hard to notice at first glance, but the face tormented by 'guilt' looks distinctively different." "You can tell them apart?" "For a merchant, reading emotions is basic. People's faces surprisingly reveal a lot." "Then look at my face too! What am I thinking?" Giselle smiled wryly and said. "You’re excited about when to roast the sparrow you just received." "Gasp! Uncle Giselle is amazing!" "U-hah-hat. Even I could guess the thoughts of that little thing. Isn’t 90% of what occupies your mind about sticking with the food?" Don't treat people like gluttons! ...He’s not wrong, but it's embarrassing to be hit right on the nose! Anyway, the problematic male and female duo. The footprints around Dorothy’s treacherous hometown friend matched the ones I had been following - the shape, depth, and stride were all the same. [You have successfully remembered and compared traces of your target.] [Tracking Experience +1] [Memory Experience +1] Dorothy had said so. Her cowardly childhood friend had abandoned her when she got stuck with the disadvantageous role of being 'it' in the examination game, and fled with the heiress of a merchant family who had been helping them since their hometown days. The term 'merchant's heiress' had piqued my interest, but now that I saw their faces, I was certain. 'I remember now. A boy-girl duo from the advanced class, often cast as supporting characters in the field practice at the forest.' If things had gone normally, they would have passed the second barrier and passed the entrance exam. If I, Oknodie, hadn't intervened, that is. "You two!" "Oh my, what a cute little lady. Look, Rockbell." "Hmph... I don’t know what this is about, but kid, we can't help you." "So you didn't help Dorothy either?" "Where did you hear that name!" "...Kid, you met Dorothy?" Merchant heiress Yui turned pale. Rockbell, sporting a pained expression. Their eyes frenetically trembled. Among them, Yui, with her prominent chest, was particularly noticeable. In the original story, she was the NTR (Netorare) heroine who ended up with the player after a favorable event, abandoning Rockbell. -It would serve me right to be in this situation. Rockbell, who let her go despite being heartbroken, was the typical NTR male lead. Handsome and capable, and it was not that he was lacking in certain areas... everyone wondered why he so easily let her go like a pushover, but now I understand. This man gave in to Yui because of the guilt he felt for abandoning his childhood friend during the entrance exam. Such an idiot. If you're going to regret it, then don’t leave her in the first place. What a foolish act this is? Poor Dorothy. "Boo-hoo. Poor Dorothy, what to do." "Dorothy..." Tears streamed from Yui, and Rockbell wallowed in torment. Watching them, I made my decision. "Argh!" "No way! You’re not seriously going to play 'tag,' are you?!" "That's right. I was 'it.'" [Before Score Change] <Yui +119 points> <Oknodie -37 points> [After Score Change] <Yui 0 points> <Oknodie 82 points> I grabbed Yui by the arm. To be honest, I was disgusted. The guy ruins his relationship with his childhood friend, loses the girl he chose, and turns into a wreck, but what about you? You encouraged everything, and now you act like a victim? And yet, in the original game, you became the NTR heroine who dedicates her body and heart to the competent alpha male player and even marries him! The saying 'foxy lady' fits you perfectly. If I were still a male character, who knows, but now as a female character, I can clearly see the truth. "I hope you struggle on Dorothy's behalf and get eliminated." "Ro-Rockbell! Hurry and catch that brat." "Yui." "What’s that look for! Without me, you'll be left with no one. Are you okay with that?!" "You said it yourself. Being 'it' is just a burden. Even if we have a long-standing bond, to pass the exam and revive our hometown, we have to sacrifice even our precious friends." Rockbell didn’t try to stop us. He coldly turned his back on Yui. "I’m thankful, but this is where things end." "If I'm not here!!" Yui cried out desperately. "Do you think you could find the Black Hat Examiner in time without me?! Don't you know that without my help, you can't pass?" "...Then, I'll somehow......" "Kid, reconsider. This sister has a lot of money. Her father is a merchant's son. If you help me pass, I'll give you a thousand gold coins. How about it?" The 'bribery' that was hinted at in the event notification had arrived. If I’d been in dire need of funds, perhaps they could have enticed me. How hard would it be to ignore a thousand gold coins out of loyalty to Dorothy, whose fate is uncertain, whether she will pass or fail? Even as a noblewoman who started off with a mere hundred gold coins, a thousand gold coins is a massive sum. "I have enough money, too. And I can earn lots." Yet, compared to being admitted into the academy's advanced class, a thousand gold coins is nothing. [You have become a Black Hat Examiner (one-time use).] [All candidates who touch you will be able to end the game of tag.] "I don’t even need to find the examiner." I pulled out and donned the black hat from my belongings. "Little thing. Was it really necessary to show that here?" "I was too hasty." Sorry, Ocheon, Giselle. I just remembered. I had this option. "Now that it’s come to this, I want to give this man a chance as well." When I was a male character, I might have NTR'd Yui, but now that I’m a female character, why not NTR Rockbell, the fool who's always abandoned? Yui, the big-breasted NTR heroine who ranks in the top 20 of the original game player's favorites. Her face has grown pale, set to be abandoned alone as 'it' having lost her companion. A Word from the Author Stop the NTR!