Chopstick Time
Yui, who was completely freaked out, didn’t seem worried about making a glow potion.
Thanks to Yui trying to sell enhancement potions to students on the verge of failing, she blocked paths that would lead to a riot of failing students running amok.
“How much more can this crazy situation get?”
What would I have done if I didn’t know?
This is all possible because I’ve experienced it firsthand.
In the route where the NTR heroine Yui is demoted to the lower class for any reason, that potion of hers definitely causes chaos.
If I hadn’t set the record straight in advance, there would have been quite a ruckus.
A 2nd-tier heroine ranked in the 20s in popularity would suddenly find herself vulnerable to a dark organization and would have been villainized overnight.
All of those future scenarios have been prevented by the diligent good child, Oknodie.
“Next over there?”
Instead of the free training ground where Yui and the Dolphin Pants sisters were training, the training facility that just reopened after the mosquito commotion.
It’s a place where only those with sufficient points from the lower class can enter, hiding the second scheme as well.
“I’d like to request an audience with the resident of Training Room 215!”
“If they reject, the meeting is impossible.”
“Then please tell them this too. Kasia’s friend has come to visit!”
Group C’s team leader.
A formerly weak electric-type ability user.
A fusion lifeform, Kasia.
There’s a pitiful character entangled with a friend who couldn’t even sleep in the dormitory and had to sleep outside.
“…Is it you? The one who dares to summon me by uttering that shameless woman’s name.”
He is the last prince of the weak Southern continent kingdom [Troy], known as the unfortunate prince among female players, [Hector].
An NPC from the same nation as Kasia, he faced demotion to the lower class or was sent back to his country due to failing exams, thanks to Kasia’s promotion to the upper class.
Kasia’s arch-nemesis.
An irreconcilable foe.
That was the true identity of the blonde man before me.
*
In the remote regions of the southern empire.
There was a powerless kingdom among countless small countries bordering the empire.
A nation lacking resources, military power, and commercial strength compared to its neighbors.
To survive, they made a resolution.
Let’s send talents to the Gift Academy.
Let’s hope for the return of the talent who will save our country by sending our wishes to the world’s best educational institution.
“I will step up.”
Prince Hector.
He publicly proved that he was superior to the talent elected by all his citizens in a one-on-one match with the predetermined talent.
Though the chosen talent lost, the citizens cheered.
He carried the royal bloodline and had the highest possibility of ascending to the throne; thus, the prince was a greater figure than all citizens’ expectations.
An unofficial exam outside the designated entrance exam period, permitted only for applicants with a numbering ticket.
News of the prince passing the exam came back.
Contrary to expectations, to the lower class, not the upper class.
It was the small research facility of the same Troy kingdom that defeated him.
The anger of the kingdom’s people knowing this fact reached the sky.
Their grievances were directed not only at the prince but also at the successful candidate who took away the position he should have had.
“No one wanted your acceptance.”
“Return our hero’s place.”
“Die. Get expelled immediately.”
“Destroy that pathetic research facility!”
Even the research facility doesn’t cheer for her, Kasia.
They promised to receive massive funding instead of handing over experiment subjects to the academy.
The numbering ticket was merely a ‘guarantee’ for that.
It served only as a guarantee to assist the transaction with the academy.
So, no one protects her.
Not the research facility.
Not the nation.
Not even the demoted prince Hector.
Only the players know.
Her background story.
‘Kasia has such bad luck in this round!’
It would be better to be outright rejected and the prince return to his homeland earlier than planned.
The citizens, unable to contain their fury, destroy the research facility, leading to the eventual downfall of the small kingdom Troy.
Having lost the hometown to clinging to beings unworthy of protection from the start, Kasia could undoubtedly live her own life.
However, if the prince remains at the academy, Troy’s downfall will be postponed.
The surrounding countries would fear incurring the prince Hector’s grudge, who could return as a global powerhouse in one field.
‘As long as Hector is around, Kasia can never be happy at the academy.’
The jealousy of the kingdom’s citizens will persist, and even within the academy, Hector’s vile jealousy will continue to torment Kasia.
The research facility will try to contact her using their past upbringing of Kasia while the kingdom demands she take responsibility for having taken the prince’s place, a responsibility due to the prince.
It would be harsh days for a young girl raised in a laboratory.
A sad side story caught up with adults using the heart of a child who just wants to meet her parents, whom she can’t even remember.
That is the predetermined future for the character named Kasia, and what is about to unfold.
‘In a different sense, she’s a miserable supporting character compared to Hestia.’
The prince’s ill-fated schemes aim at Kasia, but in the process, many students are sacrificed and expelled.
Thus, seasoned players do everything to uncover the fact that the prince does not fail the entrance exam, immediately plotting to expel him.
But the veteran players developed a route to use the prince instead of recklessly cutting him off.
“Do you hate Kasia?”
“Are you sending a child now because you lack the courage to face me yourself? How pathetic. Yes, I hate her. That woman is my sworn enemy. How can I forgive someone who took away my rightful place?”
“By doing so, you’re only creating excuses for expulsion, and both of you will return to your homeland. Your dream of protecting the small southern country will never come true.”
Hector showed noticeable discomfort.
Still, I’ve got to say what I must!
“Kasia is a good child. She deserves to have good friends. So if you have grievances, it would be better to come to me first.”
“…Are you sure you won’t regret it? No matter how weak your country is, you’re turning the heir to a nation into an enemy.”
“Regret will hit you first, prince. I’m pretty strong and have many friends.”
Let me just show off a little skill.
At that moment, I spotted a small mosquito flying quietly nearby.
I can’t let this slide.
It’s chopstick time!
I lifted the chopsticks and swiftly threw them, creating a thwack sound as they cracked the wall.
The legendary chopsticks were lodged deep into the wall like a famous sword.
I plucked the chopsticks that grazed the prince’s side, blowing the mosquito corpse off the end.
“How about that? I catch bugs pretty well, right?”
“…….”
“When I see pests like mosquitoes, they should be squashed every time.”
Oh right.
I took a small bag from my pocket and handed it to the prince.
“I found this on the way here; it tasted good. I just had one, so you can have the rest. I’ll be on my way now. Have a great time!”
I gave him a whip and a carrot; now the prince should behave, right?
[Merchant Yui splendidly gained the upper hand over Prince Hector.]
[Threat Experience +5]
[Fear-Inducing Experience +5]
[Terrorizing Experience +5]
[Naughty Child Experience +2]
[Warning.]
[Please beware. If the same play is repeated, the [Naughty Child] function may deteriorate into [Scary Child].]
…But why is the naughty child leveling up?
What’s a scary child?
Why isn’t the good child leveling up?
I really don’t get it.
*
A cute-looking child with the heart of a cunning serpent. What a damn cheeky little brat.
“To dare threaten me.”
Her name is Oknodie, I believe.
I clearly understood her intentions.
– If you mess with Kasia, I’ll report you for what you did. If you don’t want to end up annihilated with my friend, don’t pull any tricks.
– I’m strong enough to crush you just like I do with bugs, and I have plenty of friends who are just as dangerous as me.
Behave yourself, or you’ll regret it.
To have the audacity to threaten a prince like this.
“Are you alright, prince?”
“Indeed, your authority is quite formidable. Meeting with the top of the grade, the joint valedictorian. You are truly destined for greatness, my prince.”
“What did you discuss with Oknodie? Did you indeed employ that assassin brat?”
After Oknodie left, the opportunists nearing him approached.
Instead of feeling heated by the treacherous compliments that slithered like a sycophant, he felt his heart cool down.
If it were the old him, he would have exploded with rage, but meeting Oknodie made a change within him.
“Yes. I am the prince of a weak country. In the Gift Academy where the most powerful figures of the vast continent gather, I am merely a weakling. One should never carelessly expose the fangs of the weak.”
The foolish prince, coveting an exceeding position, became a cautious vengeful spirit, knowing how to plan for the future.
“The moment when it is permitted to expose fangs to the weak is when one can assuredly kill the opponent. A fatal chance where even two opportunities won’t be granted.”
But now is not that moment.
He was not prepared yet.
Dealing with the rabble around him wouldn’t allow him to execute a proper revenge.
He needed to grow stronger.
He and his followers.
At least to secure a decent opportunity.
“The caramel, yes. I have ears to hear that.”
Caramel is a quasi-currency used among students for illegal dealings or labor trading.
When Oknodie munched on that, it was a polished warning that she had used one person for illegal business.
“Indeed, the first of the foundation scholarship students. She possesses the refinement worthy of the leader of that corrupt bunch.”
Though an enemy, he couldn’t help but acknowledge the dignity of that threat.
It was properly crafted for an 11-year-old, showing expertise in researching and learning how to wield one’s power to instill fear in others.
Moreover, she simultaneously tried to humiliate and coerce him into obeying her by offering the leftover caramel.
“Oh? Prince, isn’t that caramel?”
“Wow, when did you gather so much caramel?”
“I’ve heard there are gambling tables for caramel; did you strike it big there, prince?”
Look at those greedy children trying to conceal their avarice behind respectful faces!
If they tried to start something with these kinds, Oknodie’s watchful eyes wouldn’t miss them.
No, they’d be lucky if they didn’t suffer a counterattack.
“Immediately cease surveillance and rumor-mongering regarding Kasia.”
“Pardon? You just gave us orders to do so a little while ago…”
“We’ve just started getting bites. If you let me go a bit longer, I can ensure her reputation hits rock bottom. Please allow just a bit more time, my prince!”
“You little rascals, who do you think you are to raise your voice against me? Are you disobeying my orders?”
“N-No!”
“…Then we will cease the operation.”
The followers openly displayed their dissatisfaction.
Hector felt relieved rather than aggrieved.
“These guys are nothing but disposable trash anyway.”
His support base could collapse overnight, and the future of being alone became vividly clear.
Despite their insignificance, it’s better for him to see them gradually thrive while seizing interests, rather than failing overnight.
That way, more lower-class students would view their submission to him as beneficial.
With time, he might even budge superior talents under his wing.
So, he endured.
Using this bag of caramel as public funds, he aimed for the growth of himself and his followers for the time being.
“In the midst of all this, upper-class students continue growing stronger. If we want to stand shoulder to shoulder with them, we can’t put forth lesser effort than they do. Understood?”
“Yes! My prince!”
“Good. Return to the training hall immediately. Gradually increase the training intensity and time.”
With Oknodie’s involvement, the bad events heading for Kasia were postponed.
Together with the growing strength of Prince Hector and his followers.
