Ch.323323 – Scales of Life 2

<323 – Scale of Life 2>

Oknodie is not incapable of distinguishing between good and evil.

This child has her own standards for what constitutes evil actions.

Eating human flesh or consuming human souls.

Acts that only “Mains” who have abandoned their humanity would commit.

These are clearly Oknodie’s minimum lines that must not be crossed.

However, destroying another classmate’s homeland for one’s own benefit doesn’t fall under the forbidden taboos.

Because it’s profitable.

Because it’s rational.

Because it’s going to happen anyway.

The fact that the Foundation would start a war was already confirmed from the moment the catalog was presented.

“…Wait a minute. The Chairman’s catalog asked you to kill the military forces of the Deutsch Kingdom, but you’re saying you’ll kill the Beastkin instead?”

Distracted by the chilling nature of her claim, I was late to notice that Oknodie’s decision was even more dangerous.

“Yep!”

“You do… realize that’s exactly the opposite of what the Chairman proposed, right?”

The series of plans designed by the Chairman to obtain titles like <Thousand-Man Slayer>, <Beginning of Bad Karma>, and collectibles like <Heavenly Dragon Armor>, <Gravekeeper’s Lamp>.

From the very beginning, Oknodie had decided to do exactly the opposite.

“Don’t you have friends who are Beastkin besides Zenya?”

Son Ocheon.

Does her bond with him mean nothing?

Oknodie tilted her head.

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“!!”

“It’s not really related at all, is it?”

* * *

On the way back to the Academy.

Among students who were frugally spending their remaining points to get their money’s worth on the cruise ship, Giselle, Son Ocheon, and Isabelle walked out of the training facility.

“Phew. This feels frustratingly unsatisfying. I increased the difficulty level considering Oknodie’s home, but somehow it still doesn’t feel enough.”

“Indeed, virtual training through illusion magic is less effective compared to actual training.”

“Unique cuisine… I still can’t get the hang of it. No matter how hard I try, I can’t even reach the rare level.”

Although one person’s training direction was completely different from the others, no one mocked her.

They knew her dedication to training was genuine.

On the final day of the long voyage, as they were disembarking from the ship.

Giselle discovered she had quite a few points left.

While everyone else thought the auction was over and there were no major uses left for points, Giselle was different.

He used his remaining points to purchase various information from the crew members.

“Isabelle. Here are new cooking recipes. Please take them.”

“These are recipes even the chef wouldn’t teach!?”

“…Thank you. I’ll repay this debt later with interest.”

Giving cooking recipes to Isabelle isn’t such a big deal.

Those who don’t know the situation might think so.

Giselle, who had spent a semester with her at the Academy, thought differently.

Right now, Isabelle is mentally quite discouraged.

The surest way to repay Oknodie’s kindness.

Cooking.

That weapon had been taken away by the Foundation.

Oknodie chases after new recipes.

Because it helps with her beloved <Collection>.

Without new recipes, she can’t keep Oknodie tied to her.

But the Foundation is crawling with chefs who possess such recipes.

A time limit has been placed on how long Isabelle can stay by Oknodie’s side.

‘If she no longer needs us, that child will eventually leave us. No matter how close we are emotionally.’

The fact that most people around Oknodie are skilled individuals adds weight to this hypothesis.

Even now, Dorothy and Rockpell rarely meet with Oknodie, and it’s difficult to even see Hestia and Lotta, the imperial fighting noble lady who once had a conflict with her.

‘The only way to create contact points is to attend the same lectures as Oknodie. But how long can I continue taking the same classes as that child?’

Oknodie’s growth rate is noticeably faster even among first-year students.

After the second semester ends and she becomes a second-year, the gap between them might widen at an unimaginable rate.

If the number of shared lectures gradually decreases.

If needs disappear and contact points thin until they’re completely severed.

The connection with Oknodie will be broken.

‘Even if Oknodie herself wants it, those around her won’t allow her to be distracted.’

She needed to become more influential.

She needed to prove her new value.

To avoid falling behind, she had to find a way.

He found his breakthrough through the Dark Association.

Isabelle’s breakthrough was in new recipes.

But what was Son Ocheon’s breakthrough?

“Don’t look at me like that. It’s good if the little squirt gets stronger, not bad.”

“How mature of you.”

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed, but kids grow up fast. Who knows, maybe someday Oknodie will be 230cm tall looking down at me?”

“…I don’t want to see such a little lady. We couldn’t call someone who’s 230cm ‘little’ anymore.”

“Hahaha! True, 230cm would be too much.”

But Son Ocheon needed information too.

No, the information Giselle had obtained was most necessary for him out of everyone on this ship.

“Mr. Son Ocheon. Even if Oknodie no longer needs you, I still need your strength. Though there are many strong people in the world, someone with your skills is rare. Especially considering your future growth potential.”

“Oh? What’s with the flattery, Mr. Proper?”

“A war will soon break out in the Great Forest of the Beastkin.”

“!”

“The Foundation has already attacked the World Tree of the elves. Taking advantage of the forest’s chaotic situation, the military forces of the Deutsch Kingdom are advancing toward the human boundary line.”

Son Ocheon’s expression became strange.

“So war between humans and Beastkin is resuming? Well, thanks for letting me know.”

Giselle was surprised by his unexpectedly lukewarm response.

“Your kin will die. Doesn’t that concern you?”

“What kin? Do you consider those northern Mains who consume magic or those religious fanatics worshiping false gods in the Southern City-State Alliance as your own people?”

“Ah, well…”

“It’s the same with Beastkin. I’m originally from the Rocky Mountains. Why should I care if the Great Forest falls? Though iron, food, and raw material prices will rise, and stocks will be interesting. By the way, are bananas classified as raw materials or luxury goods?”

“In the Empire, they’re classified as luxury goods…”

“That’s not good then. I need to sell everything. I overheard Andersen’s gang saying that when war breaks out, luxury goods factories might shut down and go completely bankrupt.”

A monkey Beastkin investing in stocks…?

Selling banana production stocks…?

To the confused Giselle, Son Ocheon coolly said:

“Treat me to a meal after the crash when you’ve saved some money. Not inside the Academy, but outside.”

“How much have you invested?”

“Not much, just about 200 gold coins.”

“With all that money, why do you live so frugally normally?”

“It’s not my money until it appreciates. Besides, what can you do with just 200 gold coins these days? If you want to build a resort on a mountain, install cable cars, run facilities, and live comfortably for life, you need to save at least 1,000 gold coins.”

“…”

This is maddening.

The supposedly pitiful social outcast who couldn’t find a decent job under the Empire’s oppression and worked as a bodyguard was actually a stock investor who had invested all his assets and lived frugally.

Giselle, whose sympathy had completely vanished, couldn’t hide his disgruntled expression even with narrowed eyes.

* * *

I’m too worried about Oknodie’s humanity.

Son Ocheon is a Beastkin.

The Great Forest is known as the homeland of all Beastkin.

That homeland might burn and disappear.

Son Ocheon’s kin might die in large numbers.

Oknodie didn’t care about that at all.

“Jona. I need your help.”

“My help.”

The person who seemed relatively normal in the Foundation.

Someone who had directly acted to protect Oknodie once before.

Sing, who sought out the butler Jona, sensed something from his less-than-enthusiastic response.

“Are you also not planning to stop Oknodie?”

“This is a test.”

“A test?”

“While the Chairman can be merciless and cruel to his subordinates, he’s not someone who would start a war without reason. He could if he wanted to, but it wouldn’t be cost-effective for him. He’s not the type to shed blood unnecessarily unless the young miss strongly desires it.”

“Then shouldn’t we stop Oknodie even more? Aren’t you saying unnecessary blood will be shed depending on her decision?”

Despite Sing’s logical point, Jona’s hands didn’t stop manipulating the mana board as he continued his work.

“I knew the young miss before you did. Even if you speak based on your memories of time spent with her at the Academy, I remember the young miss before she entered the Academy.”

He is certain.

“When the young miss mentions an ‘event,’ nothing disadvantageous ever happens. And the young miss has mentioned the <50th Floor Conquest Event>.”

Several hours later.

Sing could understand the meaning of Jona’s words.

“Are you ready? Then please make your decision. What will you choose from the list?”

“Nothing!”

Surprise flashed across the Chairman’s face.

“If I go out to perform even one task right now, I’d have to leave the tower. That would break my promise not to leave the tower until I conquer the 50th floor!”

“Hooh.”

“So if Papa wants to help us conquer the 50th floor, you need to help us in a way that doesn’t require leaving the tower. Otherwise, Papa would be the one breaking his promise, right?”

Huge benefits.

A massive incident.

The Foundation’s tendencies.

Classmates in crisis.

A friend’s homeland.

Unlike Sing, whose vision had been clouded by numerous factors, Oknodie hadn’t forgotten the essence of the bet.

‘She got me.’

Sing let out a sigh of relief.

Even this was a test.

What a nasty Papa and his clever daughter.

‘If she knew everything… then her talk about attacking Son Ocheon’s homeland and kin would only be possible if she left the tower. That too must have been just a joke.’

Yet somehow, his intuition kept ringing alarm bells, telling him not to let his guard down.

If she had no intention of leaving anyway, why would she need to say such things?

Was Oknodie even the type to make such jokes in the first place?