episode_0089

Unfortunately, Violet couldn’t sleep soundly that night. It wasn’t for any other reason. We had suffered a terrible defeat.

No. 150, who had been fiddling with a tablet in the dormitory, ended up losing the game.

“Ugh!”

Furious, I almost threw the tablet, but held back. Instead, I pounded on the bed with my fists to vent my anger.

Then, a voice from below made me snap to attention.

“Violet, are you hurt?”

Looking down from the bed, I saw Daphne in her pajamas, yawning and looking up at me.

“Oh! No, it’s nothing. I didn’t wake you up, did I?”

I appropriately reassured her, who was tilting her head from below, and went back to my spot.

I had forgotten Daphne was below. It felt awkward to say I was throwing a tantrum just because of a game, so I just vaguely mumbled something.

“Good night, Violet…”

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she went back to sleep.

No. 150 pulled the covers over herself and quietly suppressed her anger.

The recent game defeat kept replaying in my mind. The Violets watching also commented.

“Annoying!”

“We lost because of that guy’s manipulation!”

“That blue guy!”

There was a reason for the Violets’ rage. It was because of the game Violet had been enjoying recently, .

As you know, I am an Awakened. Awakened individuals possess several times the physical abilities of ordinary people. These physical abilities are not limited to mere strength but also apply to reaction speed and dynamic vision.

Therefore, Violet’s game control skills, accustomed to mana utilization, overwhelm those of active professional gamers on Earth. When activating mana throughout her body and starting a game seriously, she can even compete against AI.

Thus, in Trist, the world serving as the background for this Crimson Scholar, games offer separate difficulties or levels specifically for Awakened individuals.

This is a secret strategy devised because there are countless human aimbots who can see and avoid attacks pixel by pixel without even needing to think.

Of course, not everyone plays games. If they want to have fun with their enhanced physical abilities, drawing a sword and sparring is more enjoyable.

Anyway, in a world of superhumans, video games developed with a focus on the fun of using one’s intellect. This is evident from the fact that all top 10 computer games in popularity here are either trading card games or turn-based games.

The game I play, , also focuses on strategy and deduction. As the name suggests, it’s a game where you catch spies hidden among citizens.

As can be inferred from its name and rules, this game was similar to ‘Mafia Game’ played on Earth.

It was fun. However, today, I kept losing five consecutive rounds.

Moreover, I was caught by some unlucky guy two rounds in a row and exposed as a spy.

“We can’t lose!”

Under our cheers, No. 150 started a new game.

“Argh! It’s that guy again!”

Of all the luck, it was him again this time.

12greatblackveil412: …purple1v is the spy, based on the circumstances. Try voting for them. Or just eliminate me immediately. You know?

maru12va1: I’ll vote.

purple1v: It’s not me! It’s not me!

arphabc86pas: Seems like it’s them.

-purple1v was a spy!

And we lost again.

“Ugh! No way!”

“We got exposed again because of that 12great guy!”

As the game ended and I was about to leave, that guy said something in the waiting room.

12greatblackveil412: You again? If you’re a spy, try not to make it so obvious ^^

12greatblackveil412: Seriously, idiots shouldn’t be made spies.

We were enraged. Having heard his taunts, the Violets decided not to stay put any longer.

“Everyone! Assemble!”

Regardless of distance, all Violets picked up their electronic devices and logged into the game. Fortunately, this game wasn’t restricted by device.

The Violets in the central dormitory pulled out their laptops, and the Violet staying in Irene’s guest room also picked up her smartphone, created a new account, and logged in.

A total of 8 Violets created new accounts and logged into the game.

The maximum number of players in was 10. After several attempts, more than half the players successfully logged into the game. Around 5 people should be enough to control public opinion at will.

Whether fortunately or unfortunately, that unlucky player was in this room.

There were no spies among the Violets. Soon after the game started, we immediately opened the vote.

“Let’s kill him!”

“He must be a spy!”

purple1: Guys, you see the blue one? The blue one is the spy.

12greatblackveil412: What the hell are you talking about?

afvafd123: Right, look at how he talks, it’s suspicious!

qwertyui123456: If you’re a civilian, let’s all vote in favor!

12greatblackveil412: Hey, are you crazy?

zxcvbn: I agree~

Other players, swept up in the Violets’ manipulation of public opinion, also clicked ‘agree’. That guy was thus eliminated.

12greatblackveil412: You trash!!

-12greatblackveil412 was not a spy!

Unfortunately, he wasn’t a spy.

However, if the five Violets weren’t spies, it meant there was a spy among the other players. In other words, if we eliminated everyone else, we could catch the spy.

“Only click ‘agree’ for the vote. Got it?”

“Got it!”

With that unlucky guy gone, everything went smoothly. We swept away all other civilians with votes before the spy could rampage, and secured victory.

“We should’ve done this from the start!”

“Let’s keep doing this next time!”

After a streak of losses, once we tasted a single, much-needed victory, we couldn’t stop. The Violets continued to play the game using multiple accounts.

“That’s 5 wins in a row!”

Since we were all thinking alike, other players couldn’t do anything against us. Sometimes, a Violet would even be the spy, and in those cases, the civilian Violets protected the spy Violet as much as possible.

“That guy keeps inciting people.”

“I’ll assassinate them next turn, so No. 52, please sacrifice yourself for me!”

“Alright. Avenge me!”

Playing as a team like that all night, we achieved a clean 10-win streak.

“Let’s keep doing this from now on…”

“Good night…!”

The Violets went to sleep feeling good.

***

The next day, a text message arrived.

[Boss-nim! The item you requested has arrived. -Manager]

[When you see this message, please contact me at your convenience. -Manager]

“Finally!”

The item we had demanded so much had arrived. That equipment essential for our activities, the perception-inhibiting device, was here. I had asked for as many as possible.

“Grab your wig! Don’t forget to put on makeup like you did last time before you go!”

No. 200 Violet put on a jet-black wig and heavy makeup, just like when she went to Stygian Lane, and visited the brokers. There was no need to reveal her true appearance immediately.

“Anything unusual happen overnight? Any suspicious movements?”

“Firstly, there weren’t many people coming and going, and they didn’t do anything strange inside either.”

No. 120, who had been observing the office from a nearby building’s rooftop, replied.

These brokers were from the underworld. They couldn’t be fully trusted, so they were under the Violets’ discreet 24-hour surveillance.

“There were some guys trying to do something useless, so we dealt with them.”

“Those gangsters are really persistent. To send people all the way here.”

However, it seemed Manager Leslie’s words about being disliked by the gangs weren’t false.

This was because thugs sent by gangsters occasionally came to this central office, trying to stab them in the belly.

Most were non-Awakened, but once, an Awakened enforcer at the level of a C-rank hunter came, and we barely managed to deal with them quietly.

As I entered the office, the waiting manager welcomed me with deference.

“You’ve arrived, Boss-nim! Good morning. Would you like a cup of tea?”

“No, let’s get straight to the point. The items?”

The manager placed a box on the desk. Opening it, I saw various types of equipment, subtly flowing with mana.

“These are perception-inhibiting devices acquired from a clan workshop! The mask-type item you were looking for wasn’t available, but they say the performance is certain. Please try them out and tell me immediately if they’re not what you expected.”

Upon checking their performance, the quality wasn’t bad. They were good enough to use immediately. Since I had the all-purpose status window, I could instantly verify the quality of these items.

“They’re 3-star! Good.”

“With this much, they won’t be able to identify who we are.”

Satisfied, we took all the perception-inhibiting devices. After all, these guys were giving them away for free, so it was best to take them all.

“As for the information on the people we requested, has anything come in yet?”

“It’s currently progressing smoothly. If you could just wait a little longer…”

“Alright.”

Well, I can’t fully trust them, but seeing how they handle their work, I think I can raise their trust rating in my head by one level.

After confirming a few things, No. 200 left the office.

“With this much…”

Violet checked the status window. She needed to look at it to decide what to do next.

“It’s been a while.”

“Let’s check it carefully.”

Name: Violet Dunhind Ruzilin

Alias: Pest Exterminator

Status: Polaris Comprehensive Academy 1st Year Student

Lv: 30

HP: 4400/4400

Mana: 40100/40100

Skills & Knowledge:

Lv2

Lv2

Lv 1

: Lv1

Co■■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ Arts: ???

■■■ Bat■■■: ???

Unique Abilities:

Lv3

Lv3

* A new ability has been added!

Synchronized Aptitude:

* Backstab – Damage increases when attacking an enemy from behind.

* Weakness Exploitation – Damage increases when attacking an opponent with low HP.

…

Our strength had increased significantly, and our mana capacity also grew to an astonishing level. It rose tremendously as a result of beating down a lot of cockroaches. Level, huh, what was the max level in this game again? 85? 90?

“My memory is hazy… there was a patch during the Part 2 prologue…”

What was noteworthy were the unique abilities. A new ability was said to have been added.

Upon checking, a new entry could be seen.

Lv 3

Mana used for clone creation has been slightly reduced.

– ‘Hibernation’ ability has been added.

“Hibernation, huh…”

I’ll have to check what kind of ability it is later.

Curiously, among the learned skill entries, there were broken ones. What could those be? It’s strange. Perhaps they unlock if certain conditions are met.

In any case, the Violets were growing steadily.

However, it was still not enough to carry out the grand plan. More mana was needed.

“It’s time to find all the crystal flowers.”

“Good, let’s commit some righteous thievery.”

Just in time, we obtained the perception-inhibiting devices, so it was time to test them out. There were only a few days left until the field trip, so we needed to handle this quickly before then. The depths of Chloris Forest are a trickier place than one might think.

To break through easily, more clones were needed. More mana, more clones, more power.

The Violets began to formulate a plan.

“If it’s Aegis Academy…”

“We might be able to see those people.”

The goal is one: raid Aegis Academy’s crystal flowers.

I wonder who the playable characters attending there at this point in time might be. I’m curious.