"…"
In a quiet street in the eastern part of the academy city, the Prophet, clad in a black robe imbued with the power of the abyss, stood reading a discarded magazine and newspaper.
"…"
Rumors were everywhere. Among them, the most eye-catching were stories about the Five Colors of the academy city... the strongest figures in the game.
Flap—
But the more he read, the more it felt like he was sinking into a labyrinth. The stories about them were very different from what he knew.
Even considering that it was past the midpoint of the game, the power inflation and growth paths were all mixed up.
Even Brunhilde... a character known for having the strongest combat power, seemed to have already achieved ‘Weapon True Name Liberation.’
'That' would certainly interfere with his plans. The plan to transform this world into one for the people he loved.
He had endured all the backlashes of power and the passage of time solely for that goal.
"…"
The Prophet continued to read the magazine absentmindedly.
The rumors were overflowing with all sorts of speculation.
[The Pink Spiral] actually used a forbidden power. [The Blue-White Thunder Spear] has been in a relationship with [The Pink Spiral] since their first year. It was the lover, [The Blue-White Thunder Spear], who taught the forbidden power. All forbidden powers are the result of experiments conducted by <Public Bana Boarding School> in collaboration with <Ratatoskr>. Actually, everything is a conspiracy by <Aesir Girls' High School>. The strongest might now be [The Red Trail] or [The Purple Spindle]. The Five Colors of the academy city are actually entangled in a messy love affair. The potatoes handed out by [The Verdant Great Bow] contain small ether robots that brainwash people into believing in a pseudo-religion. The ears of the beastmen students emit a mysterious aura. "…This reads like poorly written fanfiction."
Thud—
The Prophet tossed the magazine, filled with baseless gossip, into a trash can. The more he read, the more it felt like it was damaging his brain.
"…"
Cutting through all the noise, the core of the <Yggdrasil Gate> story began with <Central Prism Academy>.
<Central Prism Academy> was currently completely deserted. He had sent one of the [Twin Priests] as a scout, but all four of them had already fled to <Holy Alfenheim High School>.
And the common thread in all the rumors pointed to one person.
"The <United Student Council>... [The Blue-White Thunder Spear] Brunhilde is supporting <Central Prism Academy>."
Continuous support. Continuous favoritism.
Why? Why is Brunhilde helping the protagonist’s group?
She was a character he once liked, but in the game, up to a certain point, she was notoriously selfish and cold. She was not a character who would give so generously.
'Before the issue related to <Ratatoskr> was resolved… there was already a connection with the <United Student Council>.'
No, going back further, there had already been changes since the first year.
"[The Pink Spiral] Clara… changed after meeting [The Blue-White Thunder Spear]."
The weakest character had briefly become the strongest...
'Forbidden power.'
This was knowledge that did not appear in the game. It was something only those at the highest echelons of this world would know… knowledge of the ancient beast gods.
"Brunhilde."
The likelihood that she was a reincarnator like himself was high. She was probably nurturing Clara out of some kind of affection.
"Of all things, the future adversary I encounter turns out to be the strongest character, who became powerful earlier than in the original…"
It was incredibly troublesome.
Even so, He would overcome it for ‘them.’ That was the final promise he had made.
"…"
Shh—
The Prophet vanished into the darkness, his robe of the abyss trailing behind him.
I had parted ways with my senior and was now walking with Kara, who had returned from her errand.
Among the modest and elegant white buildings, we walked through narrow alleyways covered with large tents, where numerous students were bustling about.
It was like a traditional European market, with stalls overflowing with colorful fruits and flowers stacked like mountains.
As we reached the market, filled with white buildings, I instinctively took a deep breath.
My sensitive senses picked up the scent of the numerous people enjoying the Summer Harvest Festival, along with the heavy air. But if I focused, I could smell only the scents I wanted to.
"Sss—☆ Haa☆"
Orange. Yellow. Green.
Like painting on a white canvas, the fragrance of summer fruits and flowers filled my lungs. It was a delicate scent, like that of fruit juice.
"Sss—☆ Haa☆"
Seeing me do this, Kara nodded in understanding.
"The scent here is quite pleasant." "Yeah♪ Every day, all sorts of fruits gather here… Thanks to the strong power of the World Tree in this land, there’s never a failed harvest☆" "If I lived here, I think my body would always smell like fruits and flowers, so I wouldn’t need to use perfume."
The white elves did have a notably fragrant scent. Perhaps it was because they were pseudo-religious folks who needed to make a good impression?
'…Oops, I need to avoid making racist remarks.'
Even though I tried not to make such remarks, I couldn’t help it when I saw them acting just as they looked.
"But Kara, you don’t usually wear perfume, right? Since you’re here, why not take in as much of the air as you can~☆" "Hehe…! The scent of oil is enough for a worker like me. Besides, in the craftsman’s village where I was adopted, it was filled with dwarves who smelled like oil… I’m used to it."
Kara gave a refreshing smile.
"…"
Somehow, I had come to understand the reason behind Kara’s rough lifestyle. She had been following the lifestyle patterns of the dwarves—mechanical beings she had been around since her childhood.
This was another backstory not mentioned in the game.
'But still, when living with other people, you should bathe… I’ve seen you skip washing and go to bed a few times.'
However, I kept my nagging to myself. As a weak pink-haired airhead, making a fuss could land me in trouble.
Like the time I told Hilde not to show too much affection in public.
-Not getting caught…? Clara, you’re quite daring.
She had said something like that, and I nearly ended up under a desk.
'If Astrid hadn’t shown up just before the Fourth Alliance Meeting, I might have become a wilted flower in a public place…'
I wasn’t ready to become Hilde’s wilted flower just yet. …Someday, maybe, but not now.
'Thank you, concept enthusiast. I’ll give you a big reaction next time.'
That’s why pink-haired airheads need to be careful.
"Hehe…☆" "…?"
Anyway, putting aside the fact that I’m a weak pink-haired airhead, Kara was right in saying that living here would make me smell good. The vegetarian diet and the school itself gave off a temple stay vibe.
If I lived in this pseudo-religious rural temple for just one more year, I might end up smelling like a pink-haired doll with a natural fruit scent.
'I am Clara, after all. Maybe I’m like a life-sized 1/1 scale figure.'
It would be like [Clara 1/1 Scale - [Saint of Sacrifice] (Strawberry Scent)] from the <Yggdrasil Gate>. A very soft and well-made doll. Even the parts under the clothes would be detailed.
If that were the case…
It would probably be displayed in a dark room in Hilde’s mansion. As the darkness deepened, it might become a damp and smelly doll instead of a fragrant one.
'…That’s the fate of a pink-haired airhead.'
Having pink as a natural hair color is a terrifying thing. It means slowly succumbing to desires in the dim light.
One day, I might end up wearing a skimpy leotard swimsuit, swaying my hips to seduce Hilde.
Or maybe I’ll do whatever dance challenge is trending at the time.
"…"
Or perhaps, I’ll end up as a bunny girl. Isn’t that a cheat code you can use in any Western-style fantasy game?
It would be a white bunny girl outfit, perfect for emphasizing the scars and figure that the story’s development has caused. It would bare my shoulders.
And, of course, white stockings.
No one dislikes the combination of white and pink, so it would definitely be a white bunny girl and white stockings combo. I’d bet on it.
I’d wager my otaku career, my figure collection in my old apartment, and my complete set of Romance of the Three Kingdoms .
I predict… Clara’s limited-edition theme color would definitely be [White].
'Those cruel developers would definitely do it.'
To fleece paid currency from the monthly paying users, They’d put all their effort into emphasizing the chest and hips in the illustrations.
And they’d attach some backstory about it being a punishment outfit. With raised arms, they’d have her pouting while her armpits are fully exposed.
When placed in the lobby. It would be an animation of her writhing in embarrassment, trembling. They’d use detailed 2D graphics techniques to depict the shivering of the skin.
And then…
‘T-this is all because of the status screen! I didn’t mean to seduce you…☆’
…She’d say something ridiculous like that.
Just imagining it made cold sweat run down my back.
"Whew…☆"
I sighed in relief.
Thank goodness. There’s no bunny girl outfit in this world. And there’s no status screen either.
In the past three years, I haven’t received any tragic revelation like [Seduce four men to raise their affection to 100% (Failure results in death)] that would strip me of my agency.
I was safe from the clutches of the status screen.
"…"
Status screen.
'Status screen…?'
Wait. A cold premonition suddenly struck me.
'Did I try saying ‘status screen’ on my first day in this life?'
No. I hadn’t.
I had no opportunity to shout it because Senior Frida picked me up when I was stranded, hugging my red bicycle—Red Hare.
There was no timing to try it out.
"…"
If the ‘Prophet’ had the ability to access a status screen…
If that guy had monopolized the fortuitous encounters of the original characters, and built a harem with the girls…?
If he had cooperated with <Ratatoskr> in exchange for eternal indulgence in pleasure…?
"…!"
While I had been growing stronger by getting hit until Clara’s pretty face became like a steamed bun… what if that guy had been taking shortcuts with a simple ‘click!’ on the status screen? I’d be so angry I wouldn’t be able to sleep.
The status screen. How terrifying it is.
What if one day, the status screen suddenly appears and gives me a mission like [Seduce four men to raise their affection to 100% (Failure results in death)]… Could I handle it?
‘No…! I can’t handle a future like that!’
I need to check right now.
With trembling anticipation, I shouted.
"S-s-status screen—☆ Status open—☆"
… … …
Nothing happened.
Thank goodness. There was no status screen.
It seemed I wouldn’t be receiving any unreasonable missions to seduce men without Hilde noticing.
Besides, I’m a pink-haired airhead. I couldn’t even imagine how terrifying and dark the desires channeled through me could become.
Just thinking about it gave me goosebumps.
"Thank goodness…☆" "…?"
Kara tilted her head in confusion beside me.
Perhaps unaware of the tragic fate that awaited pink-haired airheads, she just smiled faintly as she watched me take deep breaths.
"Senior Comrade, does the scent here please you that much? You’ve been taking deep breaths several times now." "But this place smells so good every time I walk by—☆ Look at all the fruits piled up over there!"
Kara looked in that direction with an incredulous expression.
"Well, I don’t really see it as commendable to pile up food like that for display—"
Oh, is it starting? The revolution warrior’s ‘revolution’… against the bourgeoisie who waste food!
‘Even though she kept quiet about <Aesir Girls' High School> running like a military, maybe because she confirmed that Hilde runs it fairly. But could a revolutionary warrior stay quiet about the wrongdoing of other schools…’
Contrary to my expectations, Kara just shrugged her shoulders and said,
"But since <Holy Alfenheim High School> is the agricultural zone of the academy city, and they’re putting it out for passersby to eat… well, I don’t really have any grounds to criticize them, do I?" "…"
One thing I realized after spending half a year with Kara was that, despite her bad habits of not bathing, smacking her lips, and wandering around in her underwear… she was strangely good at maintaining boundaries.
‘Honestly, with her strong comedic character, I thought she’d cause the most trouble, but she’s never actually caused any serious problems.’
Where did all that remarkable chaos energy from the game go? The sweaty armpits? The panties haphazardly thrown on the floor?
I spoke to the golden child who only caused trouble at home.
"Kara, you talk about revolution all the time, but you’re surprisingly good at understanding the rules of each school—☆" "Well, since Senior Comrade is causing a ruckus all over the academy city, if I did the same, Albite and Rota would be so disappointed in me, wouldn’t they?" "…Hahaha—☆"
Oh no. The chaos energy got absorbed into me!