Chapter 95

<094. Collapse (Persuasiveness)>

There are no concrete plans yet for mass-producing fortune cookies.

Blessings are like that. If you produce too many, you never know how things might twist in the end.

So, I thought, I should sprinkle them around me a little at a time.

First, I gave one to Eve.

Next, I gave one to Aila, who always comes to this convenience store and says things like, "I'm rebelling today!"

I particularly made sure to give one to Aila after Eve because, in some sense, she is the antithesis of Eve.

It's hard to predict what will happen if she becomes a twisted, cursed boss in Act 3.

Because of this curse, if Eve falls into corruption, ignoring others and acting on her own, shouting things like, "Was it really too much for me? No way!" and ultimately solving everything with magic, evaluating people solely by their stats, and ending up as a delinquent student council president manipulated by the Black Flag...

And Kelthers is also at rock bottom. If the two strongest characters are at rock bottom and the cursed newbie slicer, Aila, starts operating...

It's a guaranteed bad ending.

Of course, this isn't a game but reality, so there won't be any ending messages, but Eve and Aila might beat me to death out of frustration, so I need to be careful.

I need to prevent Aila from becoming twisted and Eve from falling into corruption.

Knowing the original story is really difficult.

Are you prepared? I am.

Anyway, instead of wasting time on nonsense, I should focus on the work. I had just completed another one, so I handed it over.

"What is this? ...Oh, it's warm."

Aila took the fortune cookie I made and smiled, and I gave a brief explanation.

"......I see."

But she wasn't as happy as I thought she would be.

If it were before, she might have said something like, "A blessing! Am I finally stepping into the divine realm? I'm rebelling today!"

"Are you not happy?"

"I am, but... Hmm. Is it okay for Wolfram to talk about divine blessings?"

"Hmm? ...Ah, I see. That's a problem. Talking about the divine as a member of the royal family... It's not a taboo, but it's a delicate issue."

"Yes."

Only then did I understand.

The first emperor, after conquering the continent, thoroughly suppressed religion to prevent the dualization of power.

While he didn't go as far as to persecute, he pushed the idea that all divine blessings were false and that the most supreme being under the heavens was the royal family, and no one could stand against the royal family.

'Our great ancestors' conquest ultimately placed both the celestial and demonic races under the feet of the royal family!'

This isn't cheap, evil propaganda or the opening of a fantasy novel; it's a real setting that exists in the setting book and affects the game.

No joke, the first emperor went to both the divine and demonic realms and caused a ruckus.

He stormed in with the chancellor, empress, and ten elders, destroyed everything, and drew a line.

'The earth belongs to humans. I represent humans. Do not dare to question the authority of the royal family. If you do, we will remain good friends!'

That's how the boundaries between humans, celestials, and demons were established, and the royal family continues to act as the guardians and representatives of the earth.

So, to summarize Aila's question:

'If the first emperor defeated the celestials and suppressed religion, is it okay for you, a royal descendant, to do this?'

Hmm.

This is a complex issue with many plot threads and is also a crucial plot point in the system...

It's just too much to explain.

"That's also rebellion, isn't it?"

"To you, defying the heavens is also a form of rebellion. Indeed, Wolfram. Wolfram von Loen格林... Alright. As your rebellious companion, I will gratefully accept this blessing!"

"Hmm."

Fine. Let's go with that.

She's so easy-going, which is nice.

***

Except for Eve and Aila, who I expect to resist the curse after receiving the blessing items,

The characters around me who are likely to be targets of the boss's curse are as follows:

Nephty. Milteau.

Emily Hymelody is not on the list.

Being a royal child and a cooking enthusiast, she might be considered eccentric, but she's not a celebrity.

Good.

This boss battle is unpredictable, so I only wanted to distribute the major success items, and I didn't have enough.

But this game always defies my expectations.

【Major Success!】

【Major Success!】

【Major Success!】

Three consecutive major successes, really?

"This leaves one more."

I made major success fortune cookies for Eve, Aila, Nephty, and Milteau, and just now, another major success was made.

So, it's an extra...

"Hmm."

Rudica wasn't on the list, but I couldn't forget the face of someone I saw briefly in the character selection I saw that day.

The Great Demon Merchant. The ultra-depressed heroine.

Regina Siella.

Honestly, I've cleared her route a few times, but I don't want to get involved if I can help it. I understand her psychology, but I can't fully comprehend her.

"Aah..."

Thinking about the bad ending that appears after a few more bad choices after she's cursed, I shuddered.

"Really, it means dying, and dying together."

A bright smile, in a flower field, holding hands with Kelthers.

【I've realized, Kelthers.】

【I love you. You love me, right?】

【Yes, so let's go together. To a place where no one can interfere.】

【Here, I swear eternal love with my actions.】

【Forever together.】

And then, while saying this,

She stabs Kelthers with a knife.

She is strangled by Kelthers.

They die happily together.

......Ugh.

Are you crazy, really.

That ending is unacceptable. It still leaves a scar on my heart.

Anyway, I did tell Regina to prepare a blessing item before, but thinking about it, it's not something she can easily get.

Especially since no one goes outside the residential area, how is she supposed to find ancient divine ruins?

"I should just give it to her."

Regina Siella.

I don't know who would become so obsessed with her after defeating her three times, but if something goes wrong, we might end up with two bodies to clean up in Jefrin.

I don't know who, but I can't create such victims.

"......But where should I meet her?"

I don't want to go looking for her.

Really, is there a way to just casually throw it to her?

My dilemma was

"Wolfram, are you thinking about the social gathering?"

"Social gathering?"

It was resolved much earlier than expected.

***

Aila's sudden mention of the social gathering went like this.

"The Trista family is doing really well thanks to Wolfram this time? Our mineral sales have increased, and most importantly, we've acquired other mines and cleared out the monsters, so the west is practically our territory now."

"Hmm. That's good news."

"Yes, thanks to Wolfram. Anyway, the family contacted me. 'It's time to attend the Jefrin social gathering and shine a light on our family's reforms.' And to build connections in the center."

"Lord Glass has a lot on his mind."

"Actually, it's fine even if we don't go. No one can ignore the Trista family, no matter what."

"But what's the problem?"

"There were some people who tried to threaten our family when we were financially unstable. Wolfram had to step down as student council president, and I... became a bit more irritable."

Ah.

When I first met Aila, she had a very cold look in her eyes.

"But now, both Wolfram and I are incredibly great, right? So we're going to show off! We're rebelling! And..."

"And?"

"It's a chance to flatten Regina Siella's pride!"

Her motivation is very simple and easy to understand, which is nice.

A social gathering where Regina Siella will be present.

It feels like the tea party I attended instead of Eve before.

"Of course, half of it is a joke. Wolfram prefers to act secretly, so you don't have to worry about it..."

"Alright, I'll go."

"......What?"

"When is it?"

"It's this weekend."

"Got it. Is the dress code school uniform?"

"Yes, but... Hmm. Right. Eve von Loen格林 took all of them, including your suit."

"That's fine. Don't worry about it."

"Hmm. Yes."

Hmm. That's a relief.

The cost of clothes is no joke.

I'll stand next to Aila like a backdrop, give it to Regina, and run away.

A clean ending!

***

And the weekend.

I heard it was a social gathering for noble children.

But the dress code was school uniform, so I expected it to be a comfortable setting.

But it wasn't.

First, the attire was wrong.

Aila suddenly said, "It's not rebell