Chapter 20
“This, what the hell is this…!?”
Special Dorm, Stingray Scholarship Dormitory.
Iri couldn’t hide her shock upon seeing the room assigned to her.
No, rather than shock, she was completely frozen on the spot.
“Th-This is… urgh…”
Iri was so overwhelmed that she couldn’t even speak properly.
Of course, she had mentally prepared herself to some extent.
It made sense—just the hallway alone was luxuriously decorated, so she assumed the room would be equally impressive.
She had only vaguely expected it.
But this went beyond her imagination.
Where should she even begin to explain this?
No, could this even be explained?
For Iri, who had drifted from one shack to another in the Fallen Sector, she didn’t even know what to call the luxurious items filling the room.
Anyway, it was amazing.
Incredibly spacious and ridiculously extravagant.
“D-Do I need to take my shoes off? Wait, am I even in the right place?”
“Try not to act so poor.”
“Eeeeek!”
Iri screamed in surprise at the voice that suddenly came from beside her.
Just how many times had she been startled today… This time, she didn’t even think to dodge and just screamed.
Once she regained her senses, she realized it was none other than Aaron Stingray and his attendant.
The same group she saw earlier in the map room.
“Y-You scared me! Why would you sneak up on someone like that…!”
“I called your name several times, but you didn’t notice. Did you like the room that much?”
“Th-That’s not it…! It’s just… This is nothing~. I’ve stayed in way better rooms than this~.”
“Sure, I’m sure you have.”
“….”
Aaron chuckled faintly.
Iri felt like she had embarrassed herself even more by trying to act prideful.
Suppressing the boiling embarrassment inside, I asked him,
“So why are you suddenly here?”
“There are a few things I wanted to check, and a few things I need to inform you about.”
“Hah. So someone so important came all the way here just to see little old me? Do you have so much time on your hands that you don’t know what to do with it?”
“You’re speaking nonsense, Iri Elisbell.”
Aaron responded without changing his expression.
“I came because it’s you.”
“Wh-What do you… mean…”
A statement that took my breath away.
I hesitated, unsure how to respond.
Then Aaron casually changed the subject.
“Let’s go in first.”
“W-Wait, what do you mean go in!?”
“Are you planning to live with the lights off until graduation?”
“What did you say?! Do I look like such an idiot that I wouldn’t even know how to turn on the lights–!”
As I said that and glanced at the wall, I saw tons of strange buttons attached.
I had no idea what any of them did.
“…So, what am I supposed to do.”
“Maria.”
“The lights can be controlled via voice recognition. I’ll guide you through the room and its features step by step.”
At Aaron’s command, Maria began leading Iri around the room, explaining its layout and various options.
Starting from user registration, to how to configure the interior hologram, how to call the shared housekeeping android, and even how to set up the house AI.
With unfamiliar terms flooding past her all at once, Iri was a little confused, but she desperately tried to memorize everything so she wouldn’t be underestimated any further.
“…That concludes the explanation. Do you have any further questions?”
“N-No. I’m fine…”
“If you have any questions later, you can refer to the electronic guidebook located by the entrance.”
“Phew…”
Iri finally let out a breath, feeling like the endless explanation was finally over.
But then—
“Next, I will explain the rules of the Stingray Scholarship Dormitory.”
“There’s more to explain?!”
Maria went on to deliver a lengthy explanation about curfew hours, dining hall operation times for scholars, and more.
Stuff like what time to return, what happens if there’s trouble, and so on.
Enduring it all felt like being nagged at for a long time.
“That’s enough, Maria. There’s no point explaining rules to this one anyway.”
“Yes, Master Aaron.”
After dismissing Maria, Aaron looked at Iri and spoke briefly.
“There’s only one thing you need to remember, Iri Elisbell. Just keep one thing in mind.”
“…What’s that.”
“Become the best.”
Aaron continued.
“Rules. It’d be nice if you followed them, but if you were the type to live by those, you wouldn’t have even had the chance to come here in the first place.”
“…”
What Aaron said was true.
There was no way to argue against it.
“You just have to prove that you’re the best in this Academy. If you can do that, then even if you break a few petty rules, I’ll take care of it myself.”
“Even if you tell me to become the best…”
“There will be a test tomorrow.”
Aaron said.
“Starting tomorrow, classes will officially begin. Corporate scouts will be visiting and observing the classes. Not just working-level personnel, but many corporate VIPs will also be watching.”
“Why would they do that?”
“To pick out those worth recruiting. It’s an annual demonstration held at the beginning of every year.”
Students hope to show off their skills and be selected by their desired companies, and companies search for talent worth investing in.
The word ‘demonstration’ fit perfectly.
“Since you’re in the Tactical Combat Division, you’ll undergo various pure spec tests and combat ability evaluations.”
“On the other hand, kids in the Science and Technology Division will probably take basic academic tests?”
“Exactly. But usually, attention is focused more on the Tactical Division students than those in the Tech Division. The corporate VIPs will also be more interested.”
“Why is that?”
“Because it’s more entertaining.”
“…”
I understood what he meant.
True, the Tech Division didn’t have much to show off in a flashy or entertaining way. Their results came down to finalized data or numbers.
It didn’t feel great to realize I was going to be some kind of spectacle, but there was no avoiding it just because I didn’t like it.
Iri nodded.
“In short, you’re telling me not to embarrass you, right?”
“You understand well.”
“…And what if I don’t want to?”
“Doesn’t matter. It’s your loss.”
“…”
That was true.
Even if she did poorly, Aaron wouldn’t be affected at all. At worst, people would just think the student he personally picked wasn’t as talented as expected.
He could just withdraw his investment.
But Iri wasn’t the same.
If she made a poor showing tomorrow, her options would drastically shrink, and she’d drift further away from her true goal.
“…Fine. But on one condition.”
“Rejected.”
“Huh? I haven’t even said anything yet!”
“It’s obvious. You’re going to ask me to give you all the information I have about your brother if you place first.”
“Well, that’s…”
She was caught off guard.
How did this man see right through her thoughts so easily? Did he have a module for reading minds or something?
Even if he did, it didn’t matter.
Iri tried to push forward with her request again. But before she could even open her mouth, Aaron cut her off.
“It’s still too early for you to know that. Instead, I’ve prepared a different gift.”
“I don’t need anything els—”
“I’ll find a way to remove the module embedded in your neck without damaging it.”
“…!”
Iri was once again shocked.
“H-How do you even know about that…!”
“Sounds like a decent deal to me, doesn’t it?”
“Ugh…”
Seeing Aaron’s sly snake-like expression, I bit my lip.
As suspicious as it was, it truly wasn’t a bad deal like he said.
“…Fine. Let’s go with that. No going back on your word later, okay?”
“Say that after you place first. Now then, I should get going.”
With that, Aaron stood up from the sofa and headed for the entrance.
He must be leaving now that he’d said everything he wanted to.
As if everything was playing right into the palm of his hand.
I really didn’t like that about him, but there was nothing I could do.
All I could manage was to cross my arms and show my displeasure.
“…If you’re done talking, then just get lost already.”
“One more thing. Don’t skip dinner. Just go down a few floors—there’s a scholarship dining hall. Might be worth checking out.”
“How do you even know I skipped dinner? D-Don’t tell me you’re spying on me? That’s seriously cra–”
“Your stomach’s the loud one.”
Grrrrrrgle—
Right on cue, my stomach let out a loud growl.
Skipping dinner to escape the stares of the other students earlier was coming back to bite me.
“…”
My face turned bright red.
Being told to eat by someone from the Stingray Family—the very people I swore to take revenge on someday—was humiliating.
“I-I’ll take care of it myself, so just leave already!”
“I was planning to anyway. Maria, where’s Miyu right now?”
“She appears to be in her room as well.”
“Then I’ll head there directly.”
The two of them had that exchange as they exited through the front door.
Then, Aaron paused for a moment and looked back at me.
“Almost forgot.”
“What now.”
“Have you met the android?”
“…”
He was definitely talking about Ciel.
I never imagined Aaron would be aware of that, too.
But I kept my best poker face as I replied.
“No. Why?”
“I sent her. Don’t avoid her.”
“What if I don’t want to?”
“Then so be it. I just thought she might be of use to you.”
“You sent her to spy on me.”
“Think what you want.”
Aaron coolly left like it was no big deal.
Srrk.
The front door closed firmly behind him.
I stared at it blankly, then clenched my teeth.
Seriously, what does this guy think privacy even is!?
Damn it, if I had known it’d be like this, I wouldn’t have blabbed so much earlier!
“He really is the kind of guy I can’t stand. Who does he think he is, my brother or something?”
– Don’t skip dinner.
– Make sure you eat properly.
Somehow…
Aaron’s nagging echoed in my head again.
It overlapped with a voice I dearly missed.
Not long after, my stomach growled once more.
“…Not eating would just be my loss.”
Following what I learned earlier, I used the House AI to order food from the dining hall.
And then I muttered to myself.
‘This isn’t about following that guy’s orders. I’m going to eat a ton and deal a financial blow to the Stingray Group.’
---
After finishing the conversation with Iri, while on the way to Miyu’s room, Maria spoke to Aaron.
“Master Aaron.”
“What is it?”
“That android you said you sent to Miss Elisbell earlier… what exactly was it…?”
“No need to concern yourself.”
Because that was a lie.
Iri fundamentally hated the Stingray Group and corporations in general.
She spent her entire life drifting through the slums of Fallen Sector due to corporate exploitation, and in the end, even lost her only family to Stingray.
Of course she would try to defy any orders from me unless absolutely necessary.
And I used that against her.
‘CL-00245. That android is the transmigrator.’
The android who wanted to become human—Ciel.
A character who, as an android with a developing sense of self, secretly stole money from students to buy biological parts in her pursuit of becoming human.
In the original story, the protagonist and their group help Ciel to be recognized as a human, face many crises, and ultimately, after a victory, accept Ciel as one of their own.
‘But that’s not possible anymore.’
From earlier, it was obvious Iri had already met Ciel.
Which meant the current Ciel was definitely the transmigrator.
That’s why I used Iri’s hatred toward Stingray to keep her from getting too close to the transmigrator Ciel.
‘It’s a bit annoying, but this is the best move.’
Truthfully, if I wanted to, I could capture the transmigrator right now.
One word from me, and they’d be brought in on their knees.
But I haven’t done that.
‘Because there’s still too much I need to find out.’
Specifically, about the special privilege system.
Do all transmigrators receive different perks?
If so, how does this one intend to use theirs?
And is there a way for me to exploit that?
Even if they don’t have any special abilities—it doesn’t matter.
‘I can still use this situation.’
To avoid being exposed, the transmigrator will continue playing the role of the Ciel from the novel.
As long as I can control them to prevent any strange behavior, it’ll be far easier to manage the overall story than eliminating them outright from the start.
‘So please, don’t do anything stupid.’
Just quietly do your part.