Ch.310Academy Festival (15)

After wrapping up one incident, I headed straight to our class exhibition.

“Hehehe! Money! Money!!”

“Time is money, friend!”

My classmates were completely intoxicated by the overwhelming profits from the exhibition. I wonder if this is how everyone felt during Japan’s bubble economy.

Ray Lifeng was persistently standing next to Umi.

“Umi. Aren’t you going to draw?”

Ray Lifeng was constantly scheming to get Umi to draw.

“Oh come on! I’m serving customers right now! Senpai!”

Umi shouted as she continued her kitchen duties. Though for all her show of working in the kitchen, she was just heating food in the microwave.

“Then… I’ll contribute to the sales too.”

Ray Lifeng said, taking out a sketchbook.

“Come. I’ll draw portraits for each of you.”

Ray Lifeng stated firmly.

“That person… isn’t she that famous artist? The one who came to study in Japan?”

“Ah! Yes! That’s her!”

People whispered in unison.

“500 yen per drawing.”

Ray Lifeng immediately named her price. 500 yen for a simple sketch… it’s highway robbery, but Ray Lifeng had the reputation to back it up.

People immediately lined up. This… should be quite profitable. Fine by me.

———

Ray Lifeng was not only skilled but also fast. The optimal conditions for a creator.

“Next. Shota. Sit down.”

Ray Lifeng said.

“Me?”

Suddenly?

“I’ll draw you. You’re an interesting subject.”

Ray Lifeng said with a slight smile.

“Well… I don’t see why not.”

I said, then sat down in the chair in front of her.

“………”

Fwap-fwap-fwap!!

Ray Lifeng was drawing at an incredible speed.

Umi, seemingly interested in Ray Lifeng drawing my face, kept glancing in her direction.

“…….”

Ray Lifeng, as if she had planned this, grinned.

“I want to draw too!!”

As if wanting to draw her boyfriend’s face, Umi quickly attached herself to Ray Lifeng’s side.

“Um… Umi, without you….”

Sasitsu, who had been handling the kitchen, immediately made a sad face.

“Sasitsu! This is important!”

Umi said.

“Fine….”

Sasitsu sighed, then immediately continued serving customers.

“Hey… handsome, can I have your number?”

“Where do you live?”

Female customers immediately brightened up and welcomed Sasitsu. Yeah, Sasitsu was good-looking. Women approached him even when he just stood still. The apex predator of the dating market, that was Sasitsu. Except for his chuunibyou and cool disease, he was a character with top-tier protagonist stats.

“Hmph. Just as I expected.”

Ray Lifeng, as if she had been waiting for this, immediately tore a page from her sketchbook and handed it to Umi.

Fwap-fwap-fwap! Fwap!

Umi and Ray Lifeng began drawing enthusiastically.

About three minutes later, they both finished drawing.

Two portraits of me were completed.

“Hmm… they’re well drawn.”

But my response was naturally lukewarm. No, they really were well drawn. Honestly, both were beyond high school level.

“There’s no flattery at all! It’s too raw!”

I shouted loudly. You could have drawn me a bit more handsome! Even photos get edited these days!

“Anyway, who drew better?”

Ray Lifeng asked, crossing her legs.

The incredible thighs from Ray Lifeng’s superior figure were eye-catching. I unconsciously scanned Ray Lifeng’s legs as if entranced. Other men did the same. Well… she was renowned as a beautiful artist. Her mysteriously dreamy impression also added to her sensuality.

“They both suit you well.”

I said with a smile.

“Sigh….”

Umi immediately looked at me with a sour expression.

“Hmm. Is it because of this indecisiveness that women flock to him?”

Ray Lifeng said in a strangely understanding tone. Since it was true, I had nothing to say.

“I’ll judge. With an objective artist’s eye.”

Ray Lifeng compared the two drawings.

This bastard… is she going to pull something weird again? I prepared to restrain Ray Lifeng.

“……….”

The moment she saw Umi’s drawing, Ray Lifeng’s expression hardened.

“I’ve been completely defeated. I see. So this is the power of emotion.”

Ray Lifeng seemed to have reached her own understanding.

“This picture… contains Umi’s love for Shota, her jealousy, and even her sense of solidarity and friendship… everything is captured. Her drawing technique is definitely worse than mine. But she has everything else. I… seem to have overlooked something important as an artist.”

Ray Lifeng had somehow reached her own conclusion.

“Should I… give up drawing?”

Then, Ray Lifeng made a bitter expression.

“Until now, I’ve had no interest in anything but drawing. That’s why my worldview has become narrow. I’ve drawn portraits of couples, but I knew nothing about love.”

Ray Lifeng suddenly started rambling.

“Wait. Sudden flashback?”

Eri objected to that point. Hey, let her speak.

At that moment, a certain image flashed through my mind.

‘Past Life Hero’s Persuasion activated!’

As expected, the status window. As always, it was working hard.

I immediately sensed what words would convince Ray Lifeng.

“You can start learning from now on.”

I said. This was just a jab.

“Hmph. Even if you say that….”

Of course, Ray Lifeng wouldn’t be persuaded by just one line.

“Even if it’s late, the process of learning these things one by one and broadening your perspective is also an experience. That experience… is something only you can express, senpai. It’s great material! The process of growth itself.”

And after the jab, a straight punch.

“The process of growth… can someone cold like me… learn such things?”

Ray Lifeng asked.

After lightly dodging Ray Lifeng’s attack with a duck, I delivered a verbal counter hook.

“If senpai were truly a cold person, you wouldn’t have worked so hard on drawing since childhood. The passion with which you’ve continuously pursued a single goal is real. With that heat, you can go anywhere. Senpai, you’re the hottest person I know.”

Counter hook landed!!!

Ding!

‘Persuasion Complete!’

As the message appeared on the status window, another message followed.

‘Communication MAX with Genius Artist’

‘Psychorobo, Absinthe unlocked’

Communication max was achieved. This is… the art of smooth talking.

“Hmph. I see. Then… while drawing illustrations for your webnovel… I’ll gradually learn about the world I don’t know.”

Ray Lifeng wore a refreshed expression.

“Besides… I’ve found an excellent rival in Kiryu Umi. I… can grow more.”

Ray Lifeng said, looking at Umi.

“I feel like I can achieve it by staying by your side.”

Then, Ray Lifeng blushed as she said those words.

And so, communication with Ray Lifeng was achieved. It was time to celebrate my small success.

Thwack!

Taiga kicked my shin.

“Taiga. Use your words.”

I said to Taiga.

“Hmph.”

Taiga clicked her tongue.

“Really… seducing women again with your smooth talk…”

Kana made a displeased expression.

“It’s a bit annoying how you act weird normally, making your likability plummet, but then become normal only when seducing women.”

Tina also said.

“I wish you’d think about the person who has to deal with your eccentricities.”

Sasitsu also spoke with a tired expression. Well, Sasitsu was my dedicated eccentric behavior receiver.

“It’s all for you, Sasitsu.”

I said to Sasitsu.

“Stop trying to appeal as a loyal retainer when it’s not working.”

Sasitsu cut me off. Not working, huh.

“Would you believe me if I said this was all for the sake of the world?”

I immediately tried to persuade everyone. I needed to max out all communications so Sasitsu could synthesize Hades, the ultimate psychorobo.

“Not at all.”

Everyone shouted in unison. I… apparently had no credibility when it came to relationships with women.

Anyway, that’s how the second day of the festival ended.

“The third day is the Huyaje.”

At those words, all my girlfriends’ expressions hardened.

Apparently, to celebrate the successful completion of the festival, they would light a huge fire in the center and have a campfire.

There was a rumor that couples who danced there would stay together for a long time, or maybe there wasn’t. It’s a school without much tradition to begin with. Don’t expect such things. Anyway, in the game, there was an event where you enjoyed the Huyaje with one of your girlfriends. If you tried to two-time, there would be a chaotic event. A crazy catfight would break out.

“Knowing Shota… he’ll obviously take all of us.”

Eri said with a sigh.

“That’s right.”

I stated firmly.

“Really… why did I fall for such a man…”

Mika sighed. But you’ve already fallen, right?

“I… like all of you.”

I stated firmly.

Honestly, while I maintain a peaceful harem, I also had countermeasures for overly possessive girlfriends. For that, I became stronger. The best way to counter a yandere is physical strength. I had prepared enough to physically subdue anyone who tried to imprison or assault me. Muscle strength is supreme.

“I was thinking of inviting one more person there…”

I thought of someone.

“Huh? Who?”

Taiga asked, cracking her knuckles.

“Not a harem member!! A hidden comrade!! You could say she’s a comrade who helped us conquer dungeons from behind the scenes!”

I hastily explained.

Yes, Violet-chan. I was planning to invite Violet-chan on the third day. I also wanted to get closer to her on this occasion. Honestly, wanting to date all pretty women was my true intention. I wasn’t without some expectations, maybe?

“It’s Violet-chan…”

I explained about Violet. There was an unfortunate incident where my girlfriends hit me repeatedly during the explanation, but I conveyed my intentions to everyone.

———–

That night.

I opened my eyes again in the dream dungeon.

“Violet-chaaan!!!”

I immediately ran toward Violet.

“Stop with that disgusting tone!!”

Violet immediately shouted.

“Sigh. Give me your hand. You defeated a strong one, right?”

Despite her words, it was cute how she took my hand and did her job. I grinned and took Violet’s hand. After properly converting the memories of the strong one, I planned to talk to Violet about a date.