Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Emily Epiris
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"Something happen?"
Mary came over to me with worried eyes after I'd shown up late for first period because of Rafne.
"You weren't in the classroom this morning."
She probably thought I'd gotten caught up in some bullying.
Well, last year there was that incident where one of the girls who used to torment me grabbed me and wouldn't let go until I was bawling my eyes out.
"Just found a stray cat on the way. Got lost in watching it and next thing I knew, I was late. Haha..."
No need to tell her the truth.
I'll have to keep visiting the tower where Rafne is for the foreseeable future, and if word about her got out, it'd cause all sorts of headaches.
It's not that I don't trust Mary, but just in case.
"A cat, huh."
Thankfully, Mary seemed to buy my story without a second thought.
If anything, her eyes lit up with interest.
So, Mary likes cats, huh.
I had no idea about little details like that since she was just a villain in the game.
Building affection was all about the guy characters to clear the game, so this was fresh info.
After possessing Ken, I'd realized the info I knew wasn't everything.
Playing the game, you only got info from the protagonist Emily Epiris's perspective—her surroundings, nothing more.
"Well, if anything comes up, just call me anytime."
After checking on me, Mary headed back to her class.
This was another thing I hadn't known from the game.
According to the lore, Mary couldn't stand seeing students bullied or isolated.
I'd thought her obsessive followers were just one-sidedly chasing her.
But her checking on my safety like this every time? Yeah, I get why she has a fan club now.
First things first, I've got my priorities straight.
What I needed to do right now.
Dieting and item creation.
I didn't know how far my physical stats would climb with the diet effect. But shedding weight was the most effective way to boost my stats immediately.
In the original game Academy of Epiris, the protagonist Emily steadily powered up her starter skills and stats—that was the standard route.
Adventuring around, picking up items and skills, tons of ways to grow.
Some runs maxed out swordsmanship to brute-force every event.
Others pushed magic to the limit for spell-based choices.
Hell, there was even a comedy route learning life skills, raking in cash for a tycoon playstyle.
All sorts of playstyles, but here's the problem.
I'm not Emily Epiris right now.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 📛 Name: Ken Fine Stein 🎭 Unique Skills: Item Creation, Calorie Burn 🔹 Unique Trait: Physical Abilities Amplify as Body Weight Decreases ⚠️ Traits: Obesity 📏 Current Specs: 175cm, 110kg Even as an extra, they didn't bother setting basic stats?
I'm Ken Fine Stein now. An extra in this game.
No events, nothing. Just standing art in the background, a side character among side characters.
The devs clearly didn't think about basic skills or traits for a guy like this.
All he's got are the unique skill and trait.
So acquiring basic skills and traits is a priority too.
No clue yet how to get skills or traits.
Emily had a whole skill tree screen from the start.
Sure, hidden items scattered around could grant skills, but hunting them now? Suicide.
So first up: lose weight.
Only way I can boost stats right now.
Next: the ability I do have.
Item Creation.
In Academy of Epiris lore, every character has a unique skill.
Timing varies, but these innate skills shape their whole lives.
System, open Ken Fine Stein's Item Creation skill details.
⚙ UNIQUE SKILL: ITEM CREATION ⚙ Proficiency Handiwork LV 2 Armor Crafting LV 1 Potion Crafting LV 1 Magitech Crafting LV 1 Figures it's broken down into sub-stats.
The canonical Item Creation skill belonged to some late-game NPC.
Emily commissioned stuff from them.
With recipes and materials, it could craft anything—which is why Emily never gets it early to keep difficulty balanced.
You loot or buy items instead.
So this detailed breakdown? First time seeing it for me too.
To make the Goddess's Necklace, I need skill proficiency, huh?
NPCs crafted flawlessly with just cash and mats.
But Emily's other skills scaled with stats, so probably can't craft jack without levels.
Gotta level up stats too.
Lots to do.
Normally I'd focus purely on dieting for physical boosts.
But to save Rafne, I need to hustle.
Time drags on, parts advance, eventually the demon war event hits.
No matter the affection routes or endings, it's the finale that always triggers.
War breaks out, demons hit the academy first for some reason.
If that happens, Rafne trapped in her tower? No guarantees.
And for my sake too, Rafne needs to live.
Not just pity—obviously.
She's one of the game's top powerhouses in lore.
Vanishes after losing to Emily in part 1, but her unique skill and potential rival the academy's best.
Save her, get her on my side? Survival skyrockets.
Alright, got it sorted.
I closed the notebook where I'd been jotting thoughts during class.
Right on cue, the end bell rang.
Time flies when you're scheming.
"Ken, lunch together again today...?"
Lunchtime hit, so Mary swung by the class. Other students trailed her.
"Ah, sorry. Got someone to eat with for a bit."
"...Oh?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ken Fine Stein's Immersion decreases.] Acting against Ken's instincts drops this Immersion thing, apparently.
The pressure I feel around Mary eased up a bit.
Learned something new.
"...Mind if I join?"
As I packed up, Mary chimed in.
"Huh? But the others..."
"They'll be fine in their group."
No, they're your fan club—they won't be.
"...My lunch buddy's kinda shy. Next time, yeah? Ha, haha."
Obviously, Mary tagging along is a no-go.
She and Rafne don't get along, and last year Rafne bullied me—eating with her could spark misunderstandings.
Plus, Rafne's curse would block her anyway.
"Ah... Got it. ...Okay."
Mary nodded and headed back to her waiting crowd.
Did she think I was eating alone and feel bad?
She's thoughtful all around. If she weren't the villainess in the game but a capture heroine, she'd be stupid popular.
Before heading to Rafne's tower, I stopped by the dorm to grab supplies.
A huge wooden box clinked with tools inside.
"Huff... huff..."
Packed full, it weighed a ton—and hauling it with this fat body burned stamina like crazy.
Part of the diet plan, so not bad, but exhausting.
Gotta grab that soon too.
I recalled a hidden item in the academy outskirts' Waterdrop Forest.
Dredis Academy, main stage of the game, sat at the edge of the Prasias Continent in the Lillias Kingdom.
Even in that kingdom, the academy was remote—forming a massive city around it, ringed by dense woods.
From Appleflor Dorm where Ken stays to Rafne's tower? Practically opposite ends.
"Seriously... huff... gonna die."
Every tower trip feels like a marathon.
What's in the box? Crafting tools.
Game lore didn't mention it, but digging Ken's memories: Ken Fine Stein's the son of a rich Lillias merchant.
Lillias guards the only transfer stones linking human Prasias Continent to demon Karav Continent—packed with rare resources like mana stones. Trade hub of the world.
Foreign elites send kids to Dredis Academy to network with Lillias nobility.
...That's the game's broad setup.
Son of a tycoon in commerce-central Lillias? Ken's loaded.
Makes sense—only wealth builds a body like this; no commoner could afford it.
His room was stocked with crafting gear.
"Whoa—wah!"
Distracted, my foot caught on something. I tumbled hard.
"Oink!"
Pig squeal echoed, but I protected the box somehow.
Ignoring the pain, I looked up: three girls laughing as they passed.
Those bitches tripped me.
Giggling crew—the ringleaders who bully Ken usually.
Last year they rode Rafne's coattails; after she vanished and Mary protected me, it slowed.
But rainy days? Open season.
No rain? Sneaky petty crap behind Mary's back.
Gotta lose this weight ASAP.
Why they target me? Obvious.
Fat and easy prey.
Perfect bully bait by game design.
To dodge crap like this, slim down fast.
"...Hoo."
As Ken's possessor, their bullying hits psychologically light.
Physical pain's unavoidable, but keeps me calm.
Original Ken must've suffered.
Didn't diet despite this? His own fault.
"Hm?"
Brushing off dirt, I spotted someone watching from afar.
Eye contact: the game's protagonist, Emily Epiris.
She stared blankly, then frowned and looked away when our eyes met.
Like she'd seen something gross.
"......This never gets less weird."
In-game Emily, my play character, had limited personality for immersion.
All I knew: official bio lines.
Just, helps the needy, hates injustice.
Where's that in her?
Mary fits "just" way better.
Game Emily would've helped a fallen person—at least handsome guys.
Fat slob like this? Not human?
Either way, total disconnect from the protagonist I remembered.
This world’s full of backstory I never knew.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Not gonna help?"
Adrian Faraday, beside Emily, asked.
"Nah, why should I?"
Emily glanced at Ken Fine Stein again.
He heaved his unkempt flab back up, grabbed his load, and waddled off.
The wobbling, the gross huffing—instinctive disgust.
"Thought you'd help someone in trouble. He do something wrong?"
"...No, just."
Adrian had a point. Emily couldn't ignore folks in distress or danger.
But Ken sparked deeper revulsion.
Reason tied to game-hidden lore: Emily's past.
Years before academy entry, she was a plain village girl on Lillias outskirts.
Until the kingdom's letter named her "Child of Prophecy" for special admission—totally ordinary life.
Then the noble lust common for commoners.
The overseer of her village: fat, greedy, repulsive—like Ken.
Sticky gazes at Emily and her sister during inspections.
One day, tried dragging her from the woods herb-picking.
Chubby hand crushing her slim wrist, ragged breaths, sweat stench.
Thinking back made Emily shudder.
Luckily, a passing blond knight intervened.
His gallant chase-off made her heart race uncontrollably.
From then on, her likes and hates split clear: hot guys good, pigs bad.
Ken Fine Stein nailed the pig archetype.
"C'mon, let's go."
Leaving the pathetic waddler behind, Emily urged Adrian onward.