Chapter 142: I want to be popular (4)

Sion had undoubtedly accomplished her goal—successfully engraving into the minds of the entire student body that she was a (fake) culinary disaster.

The problem was that she had succeeded too well.

The victims foamed at the mouth and fainted, causing the students to feel fear rather than the intended sense of “gap moe.”

It was the very definition of a “tactical victory, strategic defeat.”

“But lamenting past failures is meaningless! Time to move on! This time, I will surely achieve the desired effect!”

-“Seriously, could you at least show some regret?”

The ever-determined warrior (or rather, Demon King) burned with resolve, while the holy sword beside her, exasperated beyond words, threw in a snarky remark.

It was a familiar scene.

-“So, what kind of nonsense are you planning this time?”

“Hey now, nonsense? Mind your words.

Yesterday was just a bit of bad luck. But this time, my plan is completely safe—no victims involved, so you can rest easy.”

-“…So you are aware that people were harmed. Alright then, what exactly are you trying to do this time?”

“Heh, that would be…”

Sion let out a low chuckle and pulled a small bag from her coat.

It was a packet of cookies—identical to the ones she had made last time.

“I’m going to hand these out to the stray cats around campus!”

-“How is that not causing harm?! That’s just mass assassination!!”

Exia shrieked in horror.

Did Sion seriously think it was okay as long as the victims weren’t people? Was she even human?!

-“Throw that abomination away right now! And for once in your life, try having a normal idea!”

“Wait a moment. You seem to be misunderstanding something.”

Sion furrowed her brows slightly.

“These aren’t the intentionally disgusting ones I made last time. These are completely normal cookies, made with proper ingredients and following standard procedures. They actually taste good.

Just because they look the same doesn’t mean they are the same.”

-“Oh… really? Phew, that scared me…

If you don’t want misunderstandings, then at least change how they look. I honestly thought you were about to poison all the stray cats in Anatolia.”

Exia let out a relieved sigh.

But with the misunderstanding cleared, a natural question arose.

-“…But why are you suddenly feeding animals? Does this have something to do with that gap mue thing you keep talking about?”

“It’s moe, not mue. And yes, the fundamental principle is the same.”

“How?”

Instead of answering directly, Sion pulled out a teaching aid and held it up for Exia to see.

It was a romance manga—borrowed from Marianne.

“Do you see this book I’m holding?”

0″Let me see… Wow, that’s a long title. [My Ex-Girlfriend Became the Captain of the Knight Order, and Now I’m in Trouble]?

So, I’m guessing it’s about former lovers who broke up due to a misunderstanding but end up back together after overcoming hardships?”

“More or less. But that’s not the part I want you to focus on.

Look at this specific scene I’m pointing at.”

Sion tapped a particular panel with her finger.

“This girl here—she’s the heroine. Now, what is she doing in this scene?”

-“Let’s see… Feeding a stray cat?”

“Exactly. And that’s precisely what I intend to do.”

-“?”

Exia tilted her head in confusion.

-“I don’t get it. What’s the big deal about feeding a stray cat? Is this some major foreshadowing in the story?”

“Not exactly. But it is the moment when the protagonist starts paying attention to his ex-girlfriend again.

And this isn’t unique to this manga—it’s actually a common trope in many romance stories. A widely recognized cliché, if you will.”

-“…Why? Is feeding stray cats that much of a charming act?

I mean, in reality, don’t people usually hate it? They say it just increases the stray population recklessly. You’ve heard of ‘cat moms’ and all that, right?”

“You sure know some oddly specific terms…

To answer your question, it has to do with the character traits of the person performing the action.”

Sion raised his index finger—the signature gesture he always made before giving an explanation.

“The main heroine of this story, Mura, is what you’d call an ‘strong on the outside, soft on the inside’ type.

On the surface, she appears unshakable—like an iron-willed warrior. But deep down, she has a delicate and vulnerable heart.

In public, she maintains the persona of a strict and cold superior, but when she’s at home, she hugs a cute teddy bear to calm herself down.

And the way the protagonist gets to see this hidden side of her is through—”

-“Catching her feeding a stray cat?”

“Precisely.”

Sion nodded.

“At first, she seemed like a flawless and distant figure, untouchable like a cloud high in the sky.

But then—suddenly—it’s revealed that she’s actually the type to completely melt at the sight of an adorable cat.

That so-called ‘perfection’ that made her seem unreachable is instantly flipped on its head, instead becoming a trait that makes her more relatable and endearing.

It’s the same way a six-year-old trying too hard to act like an adult comes across as adorable.

One of the core principles of gap moe.”

-“Heeh, I see…”

Exia nodded as if she understood.

-“So, this time, you’re trying to mimic that? To construct an image that contrasts with the ‘perfect and flawless hero’—one of a ‘soft-hearted girl’?

By deliberately sharing cookies with stray cats and then getting caught by a passing pedestrian?”

“Correct. You’re catching on quite quickly today.”

Sion smiled and nodded.

“See? It’s a peaceful operation with no victims, just as I said. You don’t have to worry—nothing concerning will happen.”

-“Well, that’s true. Unless, of course, the cookies are the kind that could send someone to the emergency room like last time.

As long as they taste fine and have a normal texture, it should be okay. Technically speaking, all you’re doing is providing food to stray cats.

The fact that you’re deliberately getting caught to boost your reputation is a rather sneaky idea… but it’s not like this is the first time you’ve done something like this.

Anyway, if that’s all there is to it, I have no particular objections. Do as you please.”

“I was going to do so regardless of your approval.”

Sion crossed her arms and scanned the surroundings.

“Now then, who should be the first?”

Her gaze swept across the area like a radar, and fortunately, the first target wasn’t hard to find.

A tabby cat was lying under the shade of a tree, napping. Its tail swayed gently, as if it was having a pleasant dream.

Sion spotted her intended target and smiled faintly.

“Alright, then. Charm Animal—”

-“Wait, stop!!”

Just as Sion was about to cast a hypnosis spell without hesitation, Exia was startled and intervened.

Interrupted out of nowhere, Sion frowned.

“What now? Didn’t you say you wouldn’t interfere this time?”

-“That was under the assumption that you’d use reasonable methods! What the hell are you thinking, starting off with a charm spell right away!?”

“And what’s wrong with that? It’s not like I’m going to be with it for long—I’m just trying to create a brief friendly interaction.

What’s the big deal about using a charm spell? It’s not like I’m harming it.

Besides, it’s just a mere beast that can’t even talk.

Even when the hypnosis wears off after its duration ends, it won’t have anyone to complain to. It’s the perfect target for a spell like this.”

-“That kind of mindset is exactly the problem!”

Exia yelled in frustration.

-“No one likes having their mind tampered with against their will! That goes for both people and animals!

If it were truly necessary, that’d be one thing—but in a situation like this, where there’s no urgency, just don’t use that kind of spell!”

“Wow, you sure get hung up on the strangest things…”

Sion muttered, clearly annoyed.

Despite living on this continent for several years, she still found it difficult to understand the strong aversion Elpideons had toward mind-control magic.

Why was it considered such a taboo? It was such a convenient spell.

“Besides, back at the entrance ceremony, you didn’t say anything. Why are you interfering now?”

-“That’s because I didn’t realize what you were up to back then! But now I do!

Just try approaching normally without magic! How hard can it be!?”

“Ugh, fine, fine.”

Sion waved a hand dismissively, ending the conversation. She couldn’t be bothered to argue any further.

It wasn’t exactly difficult to approach a cat without magic. Using a charm spell was simply the easier option.

But even without magic, luring in a cat was no big deal.

After all, Sion was currently a beautiful girl admired by all.

“Come here, little kitty…?”

Smiling, Sion slowly walked toward the cat.

“You’re a good kitty, right? I have a nice gift for you, so just stay still… I won’t hurt you…”

“……?”

The cat, which had been dozing off in the bushes, sensed a shadow looming over it and promptly opened its eyes.

The moment it saw Sion’s face—

“HISSSSSSHHH!!!”

“!?”

Without warning, the cat leaped up and clawed at Sion’s face with both paws before dashing away at full speed.

Close proximity + an unexpected ambush + the extraordinary jumping ability unique to cats—a deadly three-hit combo.

Fortunately, Sion had sharp reflexes and managed to avoid the full brunt of the attack, but she couldn’t completely dodge it.

A thin scratch was left across her cheek, and a small trickle of blood seeped from the wound.

“…………”

Sion absentmindedly touched the injury while watching the cat disappear into the distance.

Snap.

Something inside her broke.

“Disintegr—”

-“WAIT!!! WAIT A SECOND!!! PLEASE CALM DOWN, SION!!!”

Sensing imminent disaster, Exia desperately grabbed hold of Sion to stop her.

It was a fortunate turn of events for the stray cat.

Had Exia been even one second too late, the cat would have been vaporized by the disintegration spell, torn apart into countless pieces.

Thus, even something as simple as befriending a stray cat didn’t go according to plan for the Demon Lord.