Ch.133133 – Chopstick Time

<133 – Chopstick Time>

Yuie, who was thoroughly intimidated, didn’t seem likely to make any chaos potions.

I had blocked the route where students on the verge of failing would cause riots after buying enhancement potions from Yuie, who was trying to make a profit selling to desperate students.

‘I’ve experienced enough unfair treatment to know better!’

How could I have stopped it if I didn’t know?

This is only possible because I’ve experienced it before.

In any route where NTR heroine Yuie gets demoted to the lower class for whatever reason, that damn potion inevitably causes incidents.

If I hadn’t nipped it in the bud, quite a commotion would have broken out.

A Tier 2 heroine ranked in the top 20 popularity would have suddenly had her weakness discovered by a dark organization and fallen to villainy overnight.

All that future was prevented by the diligent good boy Oknodie, that’s what I’m saying.

‘Is that the next target?’

Instead of the free training ground where Yuie and the dolphin pants girls train, I headed to the training facility that reopened after the mosquito commotion ended.

The second unfair treatment landmine is hiding in this facility that only lower class students with plenty of points can access.

“I’d like to request a meeting with the occupant of training room 215!”

“If they refuse, the meeting won’t be possible.”

“Then please pass along this message too. Tell them a friend of Cassia is here!”

C Group team leader.

Acquired electrical ability user.

Fusion life form Cassia.

There’s an unfair character entangled with this poor friend who couldn’t even sleep in the dormitory and had to sleep outside.

“…Is it you? The one who dared to speak that detestable woman’s name to summon me.”

Prince Hector, the last prince of Troy, a small country in the southern continent, called the “prince of misfortune” by female players and wildly popular among them.

An NPC from the same country as Cassia, and one who either falls to the lower class or fails the exam and gets sent back to his home country due to Cassia’s promotion to the upper class.

Cassia’s Archenemy.

An incompatible adversary.

That was the identity of the blonde man before me.

* *

In the border region of the southern empire.

Among the many small countries bordering the empire, there was one powerless kingdom.

A country lacking in resources, military power, and commercial strength compared to neighboring countries.

They made a decision to survive.

To send talent to Gift Academy.

To expect the return of talent who would save their homeland through the talent they sent with their hopes to the world’s best educational institution.

“I will go.”

Prince Hector.

He proved in public that he was superior to the candidate pre-selected by the people by defeating them in a one-on-one match.

Although the talent chosen with everyone’s hopes was defeated, the citizens cheered instead.

Because the prince, who had royal blood and was most likely to ascend to the throne, proved to be even more exceptional than all the citizens’ expectations.

Special exam outside the regular admission period, allowed only for prospective students with numbered tickets.

The prince who challenged this was accepted.

Contrary to expectations, not to the upper class but to the lower class.

What defeated him was a small laboratory from the same kingdom of Troy.

An experimental subject raised in a small laboratory that no one had expected anything from.

When the kingdom’s people learned this fact, their anger reached the heavens.

Their resentment was directed not only at the prince but also at the successful candidate who took the place that should have been his.

“Nobody wanted your acceptance.”

“Return the place that should belong to our hero.”

“Die. Drop out immediately.”

“Destroy that worthless laboratory!”

The laboratory didn’t support her, Cassia, either.

They only promised to receive massive funding in exchange for transferring the experimental subject to the academy.

The numbered ticket was just a “promissory note” for that.

It was merely a guarantee to help with the transaction with the academy.

So no one protects her.

Not the laboratory.

Not the country.

Not Prince Hector who was pushed down to the lower class.

Only players know her background story.

‘Cassia in this playthrough is quite unlucky!’

It would be better if the prince had never been accepted and returned to his homeland earlier than planned—the rejection route.

The citizens who couldn’t contain their indignation would destroy the laboratory, and the small country of Troy would ultimately perish.

Though she would lose her homeland to return to, she wouldn’t need to cling to those who weren’t worth protecting from the beginning.

Cassia could clearly live her own life.

But if the prince remains at the academy, Troy’s destruction is postponed.

Because neighboring countries become cautious, fearing the resentment of Hector, who might return as a world-class figure in his field.

‘As long as Hector is around, Cassia can never be happy at the academy.’

The kingdom people’s jealousy will continue, and Hector’s vile jealousy will continue to torment Cassia within the academy.

The laboratory will keep trying to contact Cassia using her past, and the kingdom will demand that she take responsibility for the future of the country since she took the prince’s place.

Days too harsh for a young girl raised in a laboratory to bear.

A sad side story of adults “negotiating” by exploiting the feelings of a child who just wants to meet her parents whose faces she can’t even remember.

That is the future destined for the character Cassia and what will happen from now on.

‘She’s a pitiful supporting character, though in a different way from Hestia.’

The prince’s unfair treatment targets Cassia, but the number of students who are sacrificed and expelled in the process is truly high.

That’s why experienced players typically begin plotting to get the prince expelled as soon as they discover he passed the entrance exam.

But veteran players developed a route to use the prince instead of cutting him off recklessly.

“Do you hate Cassia?”

“Now she sends even a child because she lacks the courage to face me herself? How disgusting. Yes, I hate her. She and I are mortal enemies. How could I forgive the woman who stole the place where I should be?”

“But if you directly create reasons for expulsion, you’ll both return to your homeland together. You won’t be able to fulfill your dream of protecting your small southern country, will you?”

Hector showed visible discomfort.

But I still had to say what needed to be said!

“Cassia is a good person. She deserves to make good friends. So if you have complaints, it would be better to come to me first.”

“…Are you confident you won’t regret this? No matter how small my country is, you’re making an enemy of the heir who will inherit a nation’s crown.”

“You’ll be the one to regret it first, Prince. I’m quite strong and have many friends.”

Maybe I should show off a little trick.

Just then, I spotted a small mosquito flying silently nearby.

I can’t let this pass.

It’s chopstick time!

I threw a chopstick with a flick, and with a thud, cracks appeared in the wall.

The chopstick, embedded deep in the wall like a legendary sword.

I pulled out the chopstick that had grazed past the prince’s side and blew off the mosquito corpse stuck to its tip.

“How about that? I’m good at killing bugs, right?”

“……”

“Pests like mosquitoes should be killed whenever you see them.”

Oh right.

I took out a pouch from my chest and handed it to the prince.

“I picked this up on the way and it was delicious. I already ate what I wanted, so I’ll give you the rest. Well, I’ll be going now. Have a nice day!”

I gave both the whip and the carrot, so the prince should behave now, right?

[You have successfully intimidated merchant Yuie and Prince Hector.]

[Intimidation experience +5]

[Fear induction experience +5]

[Scaring experience +5]

[Bad child experience +2]

[Warning.]

[Be careful. If the same play is repeated, the <Bad Child> function will deteriorate into the <Scary Child> function.]

…But why is “bad child” increasing?

And what is “scary child” anyway?

Why isn’t “good child” increasing?

I really don’t understand.

* *

Despite his cute face, the kid had the heart of a cunning snake. He was infuriatingly impudent.

‘How dare he threaten me.’

Oknodie, was it?

He clearly understood the child’s intention.

-If you mess with Cassia, I’ll report that it was you. If you don’t want to perish together with my friend, don’t try anything.

-I’m strong enough to crush you as easily as I kill bugs, and I have many friends who are just as dangerous as I am.

Behave properly if you don’t want to die.

How dare he threaten a prince like this.

“Are you alright, Prince?”

“Indeed, your power is impressive, Prince. To have a private meeting with the joint top student considered one of the strongest in the year. Prince, you are truly destined for greatness.”

“What did you discuss with Oknodie? Have you employed that assassin child as your subordinate?”

Opportunists approaching as soon as Oknodie left, unaware of his complex thoughts.

Rather than getting heated by their sycophantic chatter like courtiers, his heart grew cold.

If it were his former self, he would have exploded in anger here, but the meeting with Oknodie had brought about a change in his inner self.

‘That’s right. I am a prince of a small country. In Gift Academy, where powerful figures from across the continent gather, I’m merely a weakling. A weakling’s fangs should not be shown carelessly.’

The foolish prince who had coveted a position beyond his reach became a cautious avenger who knew to bide his time.

‘The moment a weakling is allowed to bare his teeth is when he can definitely kill his opponent with one bite. A fatal opportunity that doesn’t allow even a second chance.’

This was not that opportunity.

He wasn’t ready yet.

He couldn’t exact proper revenge with the riffraff surrounding him.

He needed to become stronger.

Both he and his followers.

To seize a more appropriate opportunity.

‘Caramel, huh. I have ears too, so I know.’

Caramel is a pseudo-currency used among students for illegal activities or labor transactions.

Oknodie’s mention of eating one was a sophisticated warning that he had already employed someone for illegal activities.

‘Indeed befitting the leader of the scholarship students. He has the dignity worthy of the leader of that impure group.’

Though an enemy, he couldn’t help but acknowledge the dignified threat.

It showed professional research and training in how to handle one’s power to make the opponent feel threatened—a proper intimidation that didn’t match his 11-year-old age.

He even handed over the remaining caramels, attempting both humiliation and recruitment simultaneously.

“Oh, Prince, isn’t that caramel?”

“Wow. When did you collect so many caramels?”

“I heard there are gambling dens where caramels are wagered. Did you make a big win there, Prince?”

Look at these young ones whose greed leaks through despite their respectful expressions.

If he tried to do anything with such followers, he wouldn’t even be able to evade Oknodie’s watchful eyes.

No, he’d be lucky not to suffer a counterattack.

“Cease all surveillance and rumor-spreading against Cassia immediately.”

“What? But you just ordered us to…”

“We’re just starting to get bites. If we continue a little longer, we can definitely ruin her reputation. Please give us a little more time, Prince!”

“You fools. How dare you raise your voices in my presence. Are you defying my orders now?”

“No…”

“…We’ll stop the operation.”

Followers openly showing their discontent.

Hector thought it was rather fortunate.

‘Such people would have been nothing more than disposable trash.’

He could clearly see a future where he would lose his support base overnight and be alone again.

Even if they were worthless, those who had sworn loyalty to him needed to be seen growing gradually and gaining benefits rather than collapsing overnight.

That way, more lower class students would think it beneficial to obey him.

Over time, he might even be able to recruit more talented individuals.

So he endured.

Using this pouch of caramels as a public fund, he would focus on the growth of himself and his followers for the time being.

“Even in these circumstances, the upper class students are getting stronger. If we want to stand shoulder to shoulder with them, we cannot put in less effort than they do. Understand?”

“Yes, Prince!”

“Good. Return to the training room immediately. And increase both the intensity and duration of training by one level.”

Due to Oknodie’s intervention, the bad event that would have befallen Cassia was postponed.

Along with the growth of Prince Hector and his followers, who would become more powerful.