Since When Exactly

“…Alright, done.”

I roughly smoothed down Orca’s wildly disheveled hair.

Honestly, I wanted to tell her to wash it properly.

Her hair was so full of dust and dirt that letting her lie down like this would ruin the bed.

…Should I try floating the idea?

“Orca, wouldn’t it be better to wash up now…? I’ll fix your hair again afterward.”

“…”

*Sigh*

Doesn’t look like she’s listening at all.

Her face, still refusing to accept her defeat while throwing a tantrum, looked exactly like a child’s.

No, at least children can be forcibly washed if they resist.

But Orca’s much stronger than me – I can’t force her to wash up. That makes it worse.

“Don’t be so gloomy… I’ll buy you something tasty. I heard shrimp’s good these days, how about it?”

“…”

I knew she’d be upset.

Getting beaten in close combat – the thing she prided herself on most.

But I never imagined she’d be this depressed.

Not even reacting to her favorite food as bait…

…Am I treating her too much like a child?

But really, she’s no different from an immature kid.

Same goes for Leo staring blankly into space beside her.

He seemed even more shocked than Orca.

Well, he’s lost twice in a row now…

“…I’ll come back later.”

Seeing no progress would be made staying here, I stepped outside for some fresh air.

Looking around, students who’d seemed awkward before were now gathered in groups chatting – perhaps having bonded through the matches.

I wondered – would the kids I care about ever experience such ordinary daily life?

Those scenes I’d only seen in fanart and fanfics…

Would I get to witness them with my own eyes someday?

Just imagining it made me happy.

“Ophelia Teacher.”

“Principal Veronica. What brings you here?”

“…Seems you forgot. I said I’d come find you later.”

“Ah.”

Oh right, she did say that.

I’d absentmindedly forgotten while tending to students.

…Probably because right after that, she got furious at Stella about the age thing.

That shocking scene must have made me forget.

“…Pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard much about you.”

The third playable character I’d met after Orca and Leo.

The person with highest potential status in this world.

The Second Princess, Stella.

I’d agonized over how to react when meeting her properly.

Wondered if I should learn royal etiquette since she’s a princess.

But decided against it – Stella’s character hates superficial formalities.

Back then. I’d planned to respond naturally like during our first encounter.

…But now that we’ve truly met, I don’t know how to react.

The first meeting I imagined was… well…

You know. Something like meeting in a traditional royal setting?

Or during some formal event where we’d exchange pleasantries?

Never imagined our first proper meeting would be with her sporting a lump on her head while getting scolded by the principal.

Who could’ve predicted this?

…How should I respond?

“…*Ahem*. Apologies, but could we move inside the counseling room? It’s… somewhat conspicuous here.”

“Ah.”

But Stella seemed more concerned about avoiding attention than my reaction.

Well.

Even I keep staring at that lump on her head – other students would naturally look too.

Someone who draws attention by existing, now with a weird lump? It’d be strange if people didn’t stare.

“Sorry, but that might be difficult.”

“Why?! Grandma isn’t stingy enough to save money on rooms, is she?!”

“You brat. Called me Grandma again.”

“Ghk?!”

Asking for punishment, I see.

Her habit of self-sabotage through speech felt very characteristic.

Must’ve slipped out while protesting her embarrassment.

But I still couldn’t let her into the counseling room.

“Orca and Leo are in there right now.”

“Ah, those two. What’s the problem?”

“They seem really upset about losing in their specialty areas. Your presence might worsen things.”

“…? Losing to me shouldn’t be shameful. If anything, they should be proud.”

“Ahaha…”

That overflowing confidence and arrogance.

So very like her.

But precisely why I couldn’t let her in.

She’d provoke them without any guilt.

Leo might just dig himself deeper into the ground…

But Orca might genuinely try to kill her.

Hence, no entry.

Like I said during the match – can’t have her arrested for attempted royal assassination.

“It’s because of your insensitive remarks that we can’t allow it.”

“Gah?! You- you hit me again! How dare you strike this princess’ royal body!”

“Only way to make you listen.”

“Urghk…!”

“Can’t have students getting hurt… What about the principal’s office? Nobody should be there.”

“Ah, there might…”

“You hear that? Go fix that rotten attitude of yours.”

Stella looked indignantly at Principal Veronica but could do nothing.

The principal is the current emperor’s teacher.

Can’t beat him in strength, and both know the emperor would side with the principal if she tattled.

Of course the emperor would automatically say his daughter was wrong.

Knowing this, even as princess she can’t act recklessly toward the principal.

“Now, Your Highness. Don’t be too angry…”

“…I’ll spank your ass later.”

“Sure, if you can manage it, I’ll take as many hits as you want.”

Her continued threats showcased that unyielding personality.

What a headache…

***

“…So? What do you plan to do with me?”

“Hmm, well…”

“Let me make this clear – I’m perfectly sane. …Don’t trust everything that old hag says. Senility, you know.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Upon entering the principal’s office, Stella immediately declared.

Insisting she was fine.

She confidently took the principal’s seat the moment Veronica left on “business”, looking quite comfortable.

…More likely, Veronica left knowing her presence might influence the counseling results.

But Stella wouldn’t care about such things.

Just glad the person restraining her was gone.

“That old hag… Always been like this since I was little. Nagging about tempering my personality and such…”

I smiled wryly watching her complain while lounging in the principal’s chair.

Though not detailed in the game, their relationship dynamic was clear enough.

Having her usual behavior constantly checked by Veronica must have been annoying.

“I actually agree with the principal.”

“…Hm?”

“While I like your personality… It does need some tempering.”

The real issue was her problematic personality.

Or more accurately, how mismatched it was with her abilities.

She tended to look down on anyone she hadn’t acknowledged.

And her threshold was so high that except for long-known individuals or those whose strength she recognized, she refused to help anyone.

This was likely a game limitation disguised as character setting…

But ultimately, it prevented her from utilizing her abilities fully.

The community often discussed how she could’ve easily become emperor if she’d shared her powers widely.

When mods removed the enhancement limit, players quickly turned them off – she became too overpowered.

So why did she empower students this time?

Special circumstances.

Confident in the students’ similar power levels, she casually empowered them for her own benefit.

Had the gap been wider, she’d have been too selective to empower anyone.

…Or so I speculate.

The prevailing theory was that the developers needed to showcase her abilities.

I lean toward the latter explanation.

“Sorry, but every attempt by that old woman to ‘correct’ me has failed.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Fasting, whatever… All failures. Even if hypnotized, I’m confident my personality wouldn’t change.”

“I see.”

“Mhm. I’ve lived this way my whole life.”

Confident that hypnosis couldn’t change her personality.

She declared this with pride.

“What if I tried hypnotizing you?”

“Didn’t you hear me? I won’t change. At best, your petty tricks might distract me momentarily.”

“How impressive.”

“…What’s with that half-hearted response? Thought you might be competent since you handled that delinquent. Turns out you’re useless too. As if I’d ever fall for hypnosi…s…”

Hmm, “half-hearted” she says.

What response wouldn’t be half-hearted then?

I smiled at the dazed princess and asked:

“Your Highness, since when exactly do you think you haven’t been under hypnosis?”

How adorable.

The hypnosis had been active since she entered the principal’s office.