Ch.3838 – I Can’t Choose This

<38 – I Can’t Choose This>

I got a nickname.

“Di. Come over here and try some cookies.”

“I love it!”

Arcadia.

The princess of the Kingdom of Florence must have taken quite a liking to me, as she personally gave me a nickname and invited me to her daily snack gatherings.

The way she managed to procure high-end confections that were difficult to obtain during the brief moments she met with her guarantor showed the composure befitting an heir to a powerful family of a nation.

“Why does Arcadia unni call me Di?”

Honestly, it’s a bit awkward.

It sounds like a D grade, which is kind of annoying.

Due to the academy structure being closer to a university than a high school, I can’t help but be concerned.

“To think that such a cute child would have ‘orc’ in her name—it’s vexing that people might not appreciate Oknodie’s cuteness.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Do you dislike being called Di?”

How could I say I dislike it when she’s looking at me with such a disappointed face?

Ah, she’s seriously too cute.

“I-I don’t dislike it.”

“Di~! How can even your shy side be so adorable?”

I can’t think straight with her hugging me tightly, rubbing her cheeks against mine like I’m a doll, and that sweet scent of her skin.

“Oh my. It’s hot. Please stop hugging me.”

“Gasp. Di is rejecting me…”

She pretends to be heartbroken and makes sobbing sounds, but it’s all an act.

She keeps glancing at me expectantly, hoping to see me flustered.

If she expects it that much, it’s only human nature to oblige.

“Unni, are you crying? You’re not really crying, right?”

“I’m so sad because Di rejected my hand… sob sob.”

Isabelle looked at me from behind with eyes that said, “She’s being so extra.”

As expected of an adventurer, Isabelle is quick-witted and sees right through my fox-like behavior.

“Arcadia. Oknodie is using this opportunity to stuff cookies in her mouth.”

“Ah! How could you tell on me like that!”

A fan slapped my hand as I was stuffing food into my cheeks like a squirrel.

“Ouch!”

“Oknodie. I taught you not to stuff food into your cheeks to an unsightly degree at the tea table.”

While it’s nice to be able to eat rare snacks to my heart’s content, Arcadia unni, who lacks proper roots, is strict about etiquette.

Although she mixes the latest trends from all directions like a jumbled stew due to her rootless taste, this too stems from her desire to be acknowledged by others.

As a noble without proper roots, Arcadia paid attention to etiquette so as not to be looked down upon by nobles from other countries.

‘Is hugging your tea table companion and rubbing cheeks also allowed in noble etiquette?’

I don’t think so.

Still, I should turn a blind eye since I might not be invited to these snack gatherings anymore if I don’t make a good impression whenever I get the chance.

The result of my social efforts at the noon tea table during the one-week waiting period before the entrance ceremony.

In exchange for the fan mark on the back of my hand, I gained collection entries and satiety.

[Rare dish <Eustachio’s Sugar Craft-Rose> has been added to your Cooking Collection.]

━━━

Dessert Collection 30 types – Acquired <Sweet Body Fluid> function.

Rare Dish [Eustachio’s Sugar Craft-Rose] Collection – Spirit Contract Success Rate +10%.

━━━

[Your understanding of <Arcadia> has increased.]

━━━

Arcadia’s Understanding

Rootless Fashion (Understanding 10) – If good things are added to good things, wouldn’t that be better?

Child Lover (Understanding 20) – She absolutely adores cute children.

Inferiority Complex (Understanding 30) – The princess of Florence Kingdom, which lacks its own culture, is strict about etiquette to hide her insecurities.

━━━

[Character <Arcadia>’s affection has exceeded 20.]

[You are already enjoying the first special benefit <Arcadia’s Tea Party>.]

[Arcadia’s affection growth rate has increased.]

[Your understanding of <Arcadia> has exceeded 25.]

[You have acquired the connection feature <Empathy – Arcadia>.]

[You have become sensitive to Arcadia’s emotional changes.]

Behold, the power of social skills!

I wasn’t just acting sweet and flattering without thought while crumpling my veteran dignity!

* *

While drinking a cup of tea to digest the snacks.

Isabelle brought up a topic.

“Arcadia. I appreciate you being fond of Oknodie, but I’d like you to pay more attention to the Western Noble Association’s activities.”

“Ah. You mean the B Group students?”

“Conflicts between groups are gradually increasing as central nobles move into the B Group dormitory.”

The one-week preparation period given before the entrance ceremony.

Conflicts between A Group students and B Group students have slowly begun to emerge in facilities such as the freshman dormitory, dining hall, training ground, garden, and external walking paths.

This is a precursor to a major event that begins around this time in the original game.

‘The Empire has many high-tier talents.’

But they also have many who’ve eaten rudeness for breakfast.

The frontier is generally inferior in tier.

Even the Northern Grand Duchess Irene, who was most notable for her combat power, only maintained Tier 1 (11th-15th place) in the overall popularity tier, and Sing from the Eastern Empire only maintained Tier 1.5 (16th-20th place).

Most of the Tier 0 (1st-5th place) or Tier 0.5 (6th-10th place) overpowered characters are concentrated in the B Group Empire.

In this game where popularity and performance tend to correlate, popularity rankings cannot be ignored.

‘When conflicts arise, the Empire will most likely crush the frontier. At least until an incident occurs.’

The problem is that the incident plunges the chapter boss <Hestia>’s reputation into the abyss.

If you intervene to keep Hestia from getting involved in the incident, the imperial guys get too out of hand, but if you leave it alone, you risk triggering a dangerous flag that accelerates Hestia’s transformation into a chapter boss.

“The Western Noble Association has been discussing this continuously. They’re wondering if we upper-class freshmen should take the lead in standing up to the Empire.”

“The meeting didn’t go well, I see.”

“That’s because the imperial people possess powerful weapons that we don’t have.”

They’re not actual bladed weapons.

Weapons with too high lethality don’t even get <Possession Permits>.

But the weapons that imperial people possess are even more dangerous than blades in that they intimidate frontier people.

“Mana Tempering and Mana Cultivation.”

Mana Tempering, which physically trains mana.

Mana Cultivation, which mentally trains mana.

With the power of these two overpowered advanced functions, imperial nobles possess high-quality mana and excel as early-game powerhouses.

It’s extremely difficult for frontier-born students to compete.

Most drop out midway.

‘For now, they’re just watching each other cautiously because they don’t clearly know each other’s abilities yet.’

As I was coming out after picking up a stat stone hidden near the dormitory security post, wondering if Arcadia was doing well, I saw a crowd of students gathered in front of the dining hall.

I had an ominous feeling when I heard shouting from a distance, and sure enough, something had happened.

“If you’ve finished exercising, you should change into your uniform, not try to use public facilities in such a barbaric, revealing, vulgar outfit!”

“Don’t be so harsh! We’ve already checked with the instructors. Uniforms are recommended, not mandatory. And apologize! We’re not vulgar.”

“Apologize~? If tank tops that expose your shoulders and dolphin pants that show your thighs aren’t vulgar, then what is?”

An argument between A Group freshmen trying to use the dining hall in light clothing after exercise and B Group freshmen who found their appearance distasteful!

<Group Competition (1) Event>

The casual A Group versus the strict B Group.

You witness an argument stemming from the difference in values between the two groups.

This is an opportunity as many people are watching uncomfortably.

Either support your frontier friends and strengthen your bonds,

Or support the imperial nobles and earn their favor.

Take the side of the faction you want to befriend!

If I take the A Group’s side, frontier students.

If I take the B Group’s side, imperial students.

The affection of individuals from different factions will change.

Group events require special attention as one decision can change the affection of hundreds or thousands of people.

…But normally, people side with B Group.

‘Imperial students have higher tiers.’

According to popularity polls where performance and popularity correlate, 96% of players support the B Group Empire.

If 100 people play the game, 96 support the Empire.

I was no different when I was a male character.

Besides tiers, there’s also a difference in fetishes.

-We’re not defending the Empire. We’re defending pantyhose.

-Dolphin pants OUT! Pantyhose ON!

-We imperial faction players strongly support female students wearing pantyhose.

Those who support frontier female students who are comfortable with skin exposure, wearing tank tops, sleeveless shirts, or dolphin pants and hot pants: 4%.

Those who support imperial female students who avoid skin exposure and wear pantyhose with uniforms or full-body tights: 96%.

Honestly, even I can see why the 96% would win.

Pantyhose and full-body tights VS dolphin pants or hot pants.

In terms of aesthetic appeal, the former clearly wins.

If you lack functionality, you should at least add appeal.

Compared to the imperial faction that conquered performance, popularity, and fan service, the meager dolphin pants faction is too weak and fragile, like a handful of crumbs that would blow away in the wind.

To most players, the frontier faction was treated like DLC content, a DLC faction supported by multi-playthrough players who had done everything in the Empire and wanted to enjoy more content.

And I’m a veteran player.

One who has already enjoyed all the frontier content.

‘Female students should obviously wear pantyhose!’

As I was about to follow the imperial B Group female students who understood the aesthetics of concealment, a female student who had been arguing loudly called out.

“Oknodie! Help us out!”

“Ah.”

The A Group female students wearing dolphin pants called out.

Among them was Isabelle, who had come to the dining hall after finishing her exercise.

‘Aaah! Why such a great trial!’

Dolphin pants + Chef VS Pantyhose.

I’m facing the greatest trial of my life.