Chapter 12

011. Pre-Festival (1)

D/Z SAGA has significantly different endings depending on the choices the protagonist, Kelters, makes.

Kelters studies common subjects during his first year, builds friendships, and sets flags. Then, as he moves into his second year, he chooses his major.

Swordsmanship. Magic.

Each department has two heroines, and including the hidden heroine, there are a total of five main heroines.

The ending changes dramatically depending on the relationship Kelters forms with a heroine and the choices he makes.

For example, if he chooses the Magic Department and selects Eve as his heroine,

if he focuses on building strength and stamina even in the Magic Department, he eventually becomes a Magic Swordsman.

Ultimately, he becomes a sword that protects Eve, and if he chooses to graduate with the Student Council, he can see the most ordinary happy ending, the "Knight of the Princess" ending, where he continues to protect Eve in the future.

And within that, there is also a bad ending. If he dies midway, it's a game over.

Especially, the heroine who embodies all the bad endings is terrifying just to think about.

So, the path Kelters takes is quite important to me.

Is it because I have a fondness for the protagonist of the game I played?

No. That's not it at all. The problem is that there's no one to deal with the threat facing the entire academy.

But, what can I do about it?

I'm Wolfram with a strength of 2.

I could make items to support, but I don't really want to.

I can't even take care of myself, so how can I help anyone?

Kelters is a talent overflow and the embodiment of light. He can handle anything.

"Anyway, hang in there, Kelters."

I'll watch from afar.

You guys handle the story.

I'll run the convenience store.

I'll do five push-ups today and go to bed.

I hope I don't get muscle pain.

***

The next day, Aila came to see me.

Her expression looked displeased, so I quietly made her a shake.

She's one of the hellish bosses, even in jest, so if I mess up, I might get impaled by a black crystal spear.

Thinking about it, there are a lot of people around who use spear magic. I need to be careful.

Anyway, after teaching her how to eat it cold, her expression finally relaxed.

"What's up?"

"I've been chosen as the 'education' supervisor for this time."

"Education supervisor... Ah, I see."

"Hmm. Don't you think it's a bad tradition? If we succeed in the rebellion, this is the first thing we should change. Right?"

Education.

When the word 'education' is mentioned in this context, it takes on a different meaning.

It's not something a professor does for students, but something seniors do for juniors.

It means teaching the top new student who entered Jefrin a lesson, with the second-best student in the third year demonstrating a mock duel in front of the entire school.

It shows that they have grown to this level in just two years. Seniors teach the greatness of Jefrin to juniors by showing them what they can achieve.

Why the second-best student in the third year? To ensure an overwhelming victory.

Why not the top student in the third year? To avoid damaging Jefrin's reputation if the first-year student wins by some chance.

It's a well-thought-out policy in many ways.

This year's top new student is 'Kelters'.

And the second-best student in the third year is 'Aila Trista'.

In the original story, Kelters gave Aila a hit in front of the entire school, saving the first-year students' face. Many people, including Eve, began to pay attention to the commoner Kelters who had given a hit to the second-best student, Aila Trista.

It's an event where Kelters is supposed to lose, but using a glitch, he can win. The story doesn't change, though.

"Wolfram."

As I was deep in thought about the original event, Aila called me.

"Wolfram. Are you listening?"

"Huh? ...I'm listening."

"So, the rent Fil prepaid is only until next month. Don't forget that you have to pay rent from the month after next."

Why did such a scary topic come up?

"Is that so."

"One million rin per month. You know that, right?"

"......"

At this location, running a business with an 8,000 rin deposit and a 1,000,000 rin monthly rent? Isn't this a scam?

Maybe I should move the convenience store.

No. If I leave, no one will take me in. Think about how much trouble I went through to get in. 1,000,000 rin a month is cheap.

"It's not hard."

"Yes, it's expensive, to be honest."

"Then..."

"But I'll pay it. Hehe."

Are you teasing me?

"Given your wings of rebellion, you probably think 1,000,000 rin is nothing. Even if you don't pay, it's fine, but this will be a black feather to adorn your wings someday."

What does that mean?

"Hehe. I'm looking forward to seeing how secretly, greatly, magnificently, and beautifully you blow the horn of rebellion."

I won't blow it.

"This... is it a strawberry shake? The dark shadow hidden in this sweet drink. But everyone will be intoxicated by the taste and aroma of this drink. Hehe."

It seems you're already intoxicated.

"By the way, the freshmen welcome party is coming up. Wolfram."

"Didn't we talk about that already?"

"Did we? Never mind. Hmm. Wolfram?"

"What is it?"

"What do you plan to do at the welcome party?"

"Open a stall."

"You know that due to the monopoly prohibition, you can only operate for eight hours a day, right? What will you do after that?"

"I don't know."

Freshmen welcome party.

Should I tell him it's not the time to worry about it?

I hesitated for a moment. Is Aila, who will hate Kelters, the right one? Or is it better for her to win perfectly?

Here, it's not the main story, but Wolfram's story.

For my benefit. For me alone.

Let's see. Aila, who wins against Kelters, is victorious but deeply hurt, constantly tormenting Kelters.

And when that doesn't work, she completely breaks down and causes chaos in Act 3...

Hmm...

Then, wouldn't it be better for Aila to win perfectly?

If she loses to Kelters and gets a chip on her shoulder, the chances of her getting impaled by a spear increase.

Let's say I advise her to win perfectly...

I started thinking about how to make this advice sound natural.

Information and strategy are my weapons.

"Aila Trista."

"Yes?"

"You said you want to see my wings."

"Yes. I'm looking forward to it."

"Hmm. Can you really see my wings?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you have the qualifications to see them?"

"Are you questioning my qualifications? I'm the second-best student in the third year, known as the Black Crystal of the Magic Department, Aila Trista."

"In the 300-year history of Jefrin, there have been 300 second-best students in the third year."

"Uh."

"High-quality candy. Cream black bread. This strawberry shake. These are high-end items that have never been seen in Jefrin before. Now, I've proven my uniqueness in 300 years. Isn't that right?"

"Uh...!"

You can't deny it.

Aila has a strong ego, so if I gently prod her, she'll fall for it.

"What are you trying to say?"

"Before you talk about my wings, clean up what's in front of you."

"What's in front of me?"

"The top new student this year is quite unique. He's a commoner but shows incredible talent."

"......So? Do you think I'll lose?"

"No, of course not. But if you don't win perfectly, it will be a disgrace to the Trista name."

Aila gritted her teeth at my words.

Then, she slammed the table, and a small ticket fell from her fist.

【Jefrin Academy Freshmen Welcome Party Two-Day Admission Ticket (2-Person)】

As I stared at it, Aila crossed her arms and sneered.

"Fine. I'll show you a perfect victory against that commoner from afar. Got it?"

I nodded silently.

Then, Aila finished her shake, made a loud huff, and left the convenience store.

Aren't you going to pay for the shake?

And.

"......Why is the ticket for two people?"

So many unknowns.

***

After Aila left, I moved quickly.

This year's freshmen welcome party is one of the few annual festivals for the entire Jefrin.

You can freely operate a stall if