Chapter 46

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Episode 10 - First Year Representative [3]

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A week had passed since I went to Zeron City for the hidden piece.

The day when part two of Chapter one begins was getting closer.

Today was Friday; part two would begin next Tuesday.

That would be the day the villains commit a murder.

’Part two has an estimated duration of twelve days, and it revolves around an investigation.’

Overall, it was quite a complex mission, since it was not about fighting against some powerful enemy.

Instead, it was about finding the professor’s killer.

’Unless a variable appears like in part one, nothing should be complicated.’

Ironically, in theory, this mission could be avoided if the professor did not die.

However, the problem was finding him.

’He is somewhere within the Academy.’

Aside from the surface of the Academy, where everything was located, the underground area was a different story.

Beneath the Academy were facilities filled with enormous halls, laboratories, and more.

It was even larger than the surface of the Academy.

’And first-year students are not allowed to enter there.’

Unless I become a second-year student, I will not be able to go down there.

Even if I wanted to infiltrate the place, I don’t know where the professor would be, and the area is under strict surveillance by the principal.

Especially after the recent attack on the Academy, the principal is currently searching for the villains.

’It’s likely that she isn’t even in her office.’

Actually, I could find the villains, but they are far too strong.

Every one of them is at least six-star level.

And most of the time, they move in pairs and rarely in groups.

Because of that, it’s impossible to kill them discreetly.

’And I can’t reveal that I’m able to find the villains.’

In any case, by the time the first year ends, Principal Bernice will have already killed all of them.

With a sigh, I brought the sandwich to my mouth, took a bite, and savored it.

Then I slightly raised my head and, as if "looking" at Rinna, asked,

"You’ve been quiet all week, is something wrong?"

Lost in her thoughts, she flinched when I spoke to her and replied,

"Ah, I... n-no, I’m fine, ha, ha, ha."

"..."

"You’re really bad at making excuses. Well, anyway, I don’t care."

Ignoring her, it seemed like she was dealing with some problems.

And like a bolt of lightning, I suddenly remembered something.

"You’re not angry because I didn’t go with you to heal the sick, are you?"

I had promised to go with Rinna to take care of sick people who could not afford hospitals.

Because I went to Zeron City for the hidden piece and the body of the Ancient Spirit.

Unfortunately, I could not accompany Rinna that weekend.

Rinna quickly waved her hands, denying my words.

"No, it’s not that..."

"Then what is it?"

"Well..."

I focused on her words; it seemed she was deciding whether to say what was on her mind.

Then she finally opened her mouth and said,

"It’s just... I think I saw you with Miss Clementine, but at that moment..."

So that was it, she had probably seen me as a child back then.

I nodded and said,

"Oh, that. It’s one of the side effects of my Unique Trait. My body shrinks into that of a child, my mana disappears, and my traits are sealed. Since I saved Clementine in the Golden Forest, I asked for her help."

Rinna listened with her ears perked up while nodding again and again.

Then, her expression changed into one completely overwhelmed with curiosity.

"H-how did it feel to be a child? Were people looking at you? You were really adorable and cute. It made me want to hug you... ah, s-sorry."

Realizing what she had said, Rinna immediately apologized.

I let out a light sigh as I said,

"Well, I was like that for two days."

Rinna thought for a moment, then, as if realizing something, she said,

"Two days? I only saw you for one day. Where were you during the weekend? Leaving the Academy is forbidden until the summer and winter vacations."

I probably shouldn’t have said that. While searching for an excuse, I suddenly remembered something.

"Fine, what do you want? Just tell me anything."

"You’re blackmailing me."

I immediately shook my head.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about."

Rinna pouted, then her expression turned thoughtful.

At the same time, I thought,

’Well, it’s Rinna. I highly doubt she’ll ask for anything extravagant.’

With that thought in mind, I waited a few seconds until Rinna finally responded.

"In that case..."

"..."

Her expression changed into one of ecstasy; an ominous thought arose in my mind.

"When you turn into a child again, pretend to be my little brother, okay?"

"..."

Yes, that was what she asked for; now that I remember it, Rinna has a strange fetish.

’It was something like older sister syndrome.’

I think I made up that term, but it was the best explanation I could give.

And right at that moment, a system screen appeared in my mind.

〖Adel thought about older sister syndrome regarding Rinna’s strange fetish〗

〖But, since he had promised to fulfill any wish she had, he had no choice but to accept it〗

’No, I won’t accept it.’

〖However, if he refused, then Rinna would report him, and Adel would be severely punished for breaking the Academy’s rules〗

’Fine, damn it, I accept.’

After my last thought, the system window did not appear again.

To a certain extent, the fable was somewhat useful when it came to changing my fate.

But right now, it was only getting on my nerves.

Whoever was writing about me as if I were part of a novel...

Was starting to annoy me.

"Alright, do whatever you want."

Rinna celebrated briefly; I finally finished my sandwich. Then I remembered something and said to Rinna:

"Today they’re announcing the results to choose the first-year representative, let’s go check."

"That’s true, then let’s go."

Due to the villains’ attack, the Hunting Festival results had been delayed until today.

And the place where the results were posted was the plaza where the cadets’ entrance ceremony had taken place.

---

Upon arriving at the plaza, there were so many cadets walking everywhere that it was difficult to move around peacefully.

Many cadets had gathered in one spot.

There was a bulletin board with a poster attached to it, filled with names upon names.

Together with Rinna, we approached and waited for some cadets to move aside.

Since it was a poster, I could not read what was written; even so, I leaned in alongside Rinna.

’At times like this, there’s usually some pervert around.’

And, as if responding to my thoughts, a girl shouted:

"Kyaa, who was the damn pervert? Someone grabbed my butt!"

A few cadets looked at her for a moment, but then ignored her.

The girl turned around furiously as she shouted:

"I’ll find you, you damn pervert."

No one looked at her; they simply focused on reading the poster.

’If Rinna had come alone, some pervert would’ve done the same thing to her as they did to that girl.’

Meanwhile, Rinna finally managed to read the entire list.

After a few seconds of reading, her emotions shifted from surprise and shock to understanding.

She turned around, and I followed her.

We walked for a bit until we reached a bench.

Then I "looked" at her and asked, although I could already guess who was in first place.

’Naturally, it’s me.’

It was an almost absolute rule due to the game’s settings, since I stopped a Class 6 Demonic Beast together with Clementine.

Furthermore, she said that I contributed more to containing the Demonic Beast.

She didn’t say that I had come close to killing that woman, since no one would believe it.

That was why she simply mentioned the Class 6 Demonic Beast.

And she didn’t say that I fought against a villain.

"So, what’s the top ten list?"

I asked. Then Rinna started reading the list to me.

At first, my thoughts didn’t change; halfway through, I became confused, and by the end, I was completely shocked.

Something had happened that I never would have expected, but in a way, I could understand why.

The list was as follows:

...

1. Veronica.

2. Adel.

3. Clementine Lunovar.

4. Charlotte Starlight.

5. Leon Starlight.

6. Clana Ordeal.

7. Julian Reinhard.

8. Diana Arsene.

9. Rinna.

10. Lumina Moonlight.

...

Lumina, Rinna, and Diana were in the same ranks as in the game.

But Julián and Clana should have had opposite ranks.

Clana ended up one rank above Julián, and Julián one rank below Clana.

’I don’t know exactly what happened with those two, but...’

The others were exactly as I had imagined: Charlotte and Leon were in the expected ranks, and Clementine as well.

But...

’I wasn’t first...’

The name Verónica, the successor of one of the Five Swords’ five sword arts, took first place from me.

’From the very first day I saw her, she left me completely bewildered.’

She did not exist in the game. I clearly remembered who held rank 11, and it was not Verónica.

Furthermore, judging from Lumina’s expression and emotions, even Lumina herself did not seem to know who Verónica was.

And above all, she is a successor.

’I don’t know where she obtained that sword art, but now I can confirm that she is an anomaly beyond all my expectations.’

At first, I only intended to keep an eye on her, but since Lumina was going to investigate her, I did not think too much about it.

Now I had to pay complete attention to her.

’I hope she is not some kind of variable in the Main Missions.’

If she somehow became involved in the Main Missions, then I must consider one thing:

’That she is, perhaps, also a player.’

My thoughts revolved around Verónica. Later, I was going to look for her and observe.