Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: The Villainess Trapped in the Tower
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“Anything unusual today?”
“No! Lady Mary, you're as beautiful as ever today!”
I—no, Ken Fine Stein—greeted her with a bright, sunny smile.
Right now, a single window floated before my eyes.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Ken Fine Stein's Immersion Level Has Increased. Ever since possessing this body, these status messages pop up frequently whenever I run into Mary Heidi.
When this state kicks in, my own emotions take a backseat, and the words that come out of my mouth are laced heavily with Ken Fine Stein's true feelings.
Thanks to that, I've avoided any sudden awkward shifts in the mood...
'She's definitely a stunning beauty.'
Standing right in front of me was the female character I'd adored so much, now existing in the flesh.
Mary Heidi.
Her short, bluish hair and blue eyes gave off a noble, refreshing vibe.
True to that image, she was cool-headed and righteous.
Every day, she made a point to drop by our class once to check if everything was okay.
'So kind...'
After possessing Ken Fine Stein, I gained access to fragments of his past memories.
One of them was his encounter with Mary.
It all started when Mary rescued Ken from the bullying he was constantly enduring.
This was a backstory I never knew about while playing as Emily.
About a year ago, Ken Fine Stein, then a first-year, was frequently tormented by a group of students led by Rafne Bell Martinez, the first-part antagonist.
Mary happened to witness it and stepped in to save him.
Even though Rafne was in the academy's upper ranks for combat prowess, facing off against Mary—the next tier down—was too much of a hassle, so the bullying tapered off afterward.
Of course, Mary had this odd habit of skipping school on rainy days, so that's when the harassment would ramp up again.
Anyway, after that incident, Ken developed a huge fondness for Mary and became her devoted follower.
“I'm glad nothing's happened, then.”
Mary, who rarely showed emotional shifts, gave a faint smile.
A beauty who was usually expressionless smiling like that? Impossible not to fall for her.
I could feel Ken's heartbeat quickening.
That said, the chances of Mary and Ken ending up together were slim to none.
In the game's lore, the character she falls for was set in stone.
Mary glanced toward the center of the class.
The person she was secretly watching was a guy surrounded by a crowd—anyone could tell at a glance, 'Yeah, that's the center of this class.' A total heartthrob.
Adrian Faraday.
He was the main capture target in Academy of Epiris. As Emily's story progressed, it turned out he had that classic [Surprise! He's a Prince!?] reveal.
And he was the root cause of the rivalry between Emily Epiris and Mary Heidi.
Mary was stealing glances at him.
It didn't look like the gaze of a girl in love—more like eyeing someone who's just nagging at her thoughts.
She hasn't fallen for him yet.
'...Which means we're in the early stages of Part 2.'
The events between Mary and Adrian would spark, she'd fall head over heels, and that's when the troubles with Emily would begin.
Judging by how she didn't seem fully smitten yet, I could pinpoint the game's current timeline.
'And that's...'
Amid the lively chat where Adrian was holding court, there was another key game character.
'Seeing a playable character come alive like this hits different.'
The game's protagonist herself.
Emily Epiris.
A commoner at the start, she struggled to fit in at the noble-heavy academy, but as the story unfolded, she bonded with the capture targets, defeated Rafne in a duel, and earned everyone's respect.
Her bright smile was beautiful even from afar, radiating pure warmth.
With looks like that, no wonder the capture targets fell for her.
The main illustrations focused on the capture guys and antagonist girls, so this was my first time seeing Emily's vibrant expressions.
Definitely a top-tier beauty.
The lore described her as plain and unassuming, but that felt like forced writing no matter how I sliced it.
And matching her stunning looks, she had a protagonist's upright, righteous heart—always helping those in need and listening to others' troubles.
But...
“...Hmph.”
When our eyes met, Emily turned away with a look of clear disgust.
'What the hell?'
She seems to hate me.
No, it's worse—like she's looking at garbage.
Come to think of it, back when I was playing the game, extra character Ken's lines never got any real reaction from her.
I chalked it up to him being a background extra, but now I see she was just blatantly ignoring him.
'...No memory of doing anything wrong.'
Even digging through Ken's memories, there was zero connection to Emily.
Maybe later, as the Mary showdown plot kicks off, we'll cross paths...
Or is it just my looks?
Fat pig = ultimate disgust?
“...Ken, do you think she's pretty too?”
Mary, having caught me staring intently at Emily, suddenly asked.
“W-Well, sure, but Lady Mary is still the most beautiful! Ha, haha.”
“...Do guys prefer that type?”
Mary was fixated on that group.
Can't blame her—the guy she's interested in is chatting it up happily with another girl.
But Mary Heidi, sorry to say, you and that guy aren't meant to be.
For the sake of my survival, Emily needs to end up with Adrian.
In the war against the demon race, a happy ending requires it.
His affection level with her is part of her required specs.
I silently mourned Mary's budding first love.
'Huh? But something feels off...'
Speaking of which, I've spotted Emily and Mary, but... where's Rafne?
As time passed since possession, I'd naturally clocked the main characters' faces.
But no sign of Rafne Bell Martinez—not even a glimpse.
Red hair, killer figure—a bombshell like that should stand out.
This is early Part 2.
In the game, her last appearance was the Part 1 finale duel.
After losing to Emily, she vanished.
I thought it was just narrative convenience... but is she really not at the academy?
Rumors say she went back to the Martinez Family...
'...Need to look into this properly.'
Not that I want to see my type in person or anything.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Ever since possessing Ken Fine Stein, I'd developed a daily routine.
Morning jogging.
Why plain old jogging?
Why not use game knowledge to snag good items and power up?
I've thought about it, and I know the item info.
But my starting stats are too pathetic to chase those skills or items.
Going solo would be a one-way ticket to the afterlife.
If I were the player-character Emily, I’d recruit the male leads and clear any dungeon or labyrinthine forest.
But current Ken Fine Stein has no one willing to risk their life alongside him.
So, to grab those items later, I need basic physical prowess first.
“...Huff, ...huff.”
My belly fat jiggled, and my breath came in ragged gasps.
This body hit extreme fatigue after just a short run.
So why jogging specifically?
Why not train mana in some special way or learn skills?
Sorry, but in this game, true strength comes from unique traits and unique skills.
You can pick up general skills or traits, but nothing beats leveraging a character's innate abilities.
My—Ken Fine Stein's—unique skills.
[Unique Skills: Item Creation, Calorie Burn]
Checking Ken's status for a way to get stronger, I spotted something new.
Item Creation sounds straightforward, but Calorie Burn? Never saw it while playing.
Sounds like it burns calories...
In a game with self-destruct skills, I can't test it casually outside a crisis.
Next.
Skipping skills, traits.
[Unique Trait: Physical Abilities Amplify as Body Weight Decreases]
This is the key to boosting Ken's stats.
That's right.
Ken Fine Stein is set up to get stronger the more weight he loses.
Feels like a joke the devs threw in for laughs.
Why didn't this idiot diet with a trait like that?
I mocked him inwardly and started dieting.
A week later, reality hit.
“...Huff, fu-... huff, this is fucking brutal...!”
Yeah, it was hellishly tough.
Exercise? The flab makes it unsustainable. Push too hard, and you risk twisting an ankle.
Ken's body has mysteriously great fuel efficiency.
Low basal metabolism—food turns straight to fat, and skimping brings insane hunger.
Pre-possession, I'd scorn people who couldn't diet as lazy.
Now I get it. This ain't just about willpower.
“...Huff, huuuh, ...c-can't... go... further...”
Up early every morning to jog around the academy, but I tire out fast.
Still, I have to lose it.
Remember, Ken Fine Stein.
That illustration of your cold corpse dumped on the ground.
And Emily Epiris's icy glare, treating you like trash.
“...—RAAAAAAGH!!”
Fueled by that, I broke into a sprint again.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Acquired New Trait: Dehydration “...Huff, w-waa...ter...”
Messed up my pacing.
Great effort, but at this rate, dehydration will kill me even without a bad end.
In my daze, I'd run to a spot I'd never been before.
Ignoring the new scenery, I scoured for something to quench my thirst.
Panting heavily, I scanned around.
Something felt off.
Eerily quiet.
I was in a small forest clearing on the academy outskirts, about 50 meters across.
Just an old tower in the center—nothing else.
But no presence at all.
No birds chirping, no insects buzzing. Dead silence.
Creepy vibe, but thirst came first.
Owned Traits: Obesity, Dehydration – 62% Warning – If Dehydration Progress Reaches 100%, Death Follows. Water, need water...!
“W-Waa...ter...!”
I staggered toward the first thing in sight: the tower.
Pushed open the front door.
“...Fuck me...”
Stairs. Damn it.
Grinding through the agony in my overworked thighs, muttering curses at gravity a dozen times over.
I finally reached the top.
“...Huff, huff, gonna... die...”
Owned Traits: Obesity, Dehydration – 69% If no water after all this, game over for real. Clutching hope, I carefully unlocked the door.
The top floor door hadn't been opened in ages—creaking loudly, took effort to force it.
“W-Waa...ter...!”
Like a zombie hunting humans, I shoved it open. Legs gave out from the strain, and I collapsed.
“Oink!”
Even my scream was pig-like.
But I can't pass out here...! Water! Find water quick...!
“Huh...?”
Then, miraculously, a human voice.
I looked up toward it.
There she was, like a tragic princess imprisoned in the tower.
Long red hair cascading down, slumped on the floor amid a bunch of dolls.
Her face gazing at me was breathtakingly beautiful, eyes shadowed with exhaustion.
Yet they sparkled.
Like me, dying of thirst and finding an oasis.
She lit up like she'd found one too.
Before my eyes was Rafne Bell Martinez.
“...P-People... P-People...!”
Spotting me sprawled and whimpering on the floor, she repeated the baffling words.
Of course I'm people—did I look like a pig for a sec?
“M-More... im...portant, w-water... please...”
“W-W-W-Water?! O-Okay! I'll get some right now!”
She stuttered a ton but looked oddly thrilled.
First time since possessing Ken... someone welcoming me like this.
'That's... Rafne Bell... Martinez...'
Amid the joy, I blacked out.