Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 011
Chapter Title: Festival Eve (1)
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D/Z SAGA's endings vary wildly depending on the choices made by the protagonist, Kelters.
Kelters spends his first year studying general subjects, building friendships, and setting up flags. Then, as he advances to his second year, he chooses his major.
Swordsmanship. Magic.
There are two heroines in each field, plus a hidden one, making five main heroines in total.
The conclusion changes drastically based on the bonds Kelters forms with them and the choices he makes.
For example, suppose he picks the Magic Division and chooses Eve as his heroine.
Even in the Magic Division, if he focuses on building strength and stamina, he'll eventually unlock the magic swordsman class.
In the end, he becomes the sword that guards Eve's side. If he follows the path to graduate from student council alongside her, he can witness the most ordinary happy ending, "Knight of the Princess," where he continues protecting her in the future, both openly and from the shadows.
Of course, there's a ruinous ending hidden in there too. Die midway, and it's an instant game over.
Especially that one heroine—it's no exaggeration to say she embodies every bad end. Just thinking about her is dizzying.
So, the path Kelters takes is pretty important to me too.
Because he's the protagonist of the game I played, and I have an attachment to him?
Nah, that's got nothing to do with it. The real issue is there's no one else to deal with the threat looming over the entire academy.
But even so, what can I do about it?
I'm Wolfram with stamina 2.
I could make items to support him, but I'm not planning on it.
My own nose is barely above water; I can't even take care of myself, let alone help someone else.
Kelters is a genius prodigy, the incarnation of light. Whatever he does, he'll make it work.
"So, go for it, Kelters."
I'll just watch from afar.
You guys handle the story.
I'll stick to running the convenience store.
Today, I'll do five push-ups before bed.
Hope I don't get sore muscles.
The next day, Aila dropped by.
Her expression looked sour, so I quietly whipped up a shake for her.
She's one of the hellish bosses, even if it's just in jest, so one wrong move and her Black Crystal spear could pierce my gut.
Come to think of it, there are a lot of girls around here who use spear-type magic. Gotta be careful.
Anyway, once I taught her how to freeze it and she took a bite, her face finally relaxed.
"What's up?"
"I've been assigned as the 'instructor' for this one."
"Instructor... Ah, I see."
"Sigh. Don't you think it's a truly awful tradition? If the rebellion succeeds, this is the first thing I'll smash. Right?"
Instructor.
At this time of year, the word "instructor" takes on a slightly different meaning.
It's not professors teaching students—it's seniors schooling juniors.
The top freshman gets a lesson from the third-year vice-top in a mock duel before the entire student body.
"You've grown this much in just two years since enrolling. Learn from us." It's the seniors showing the juniors the greatness of Jefrin.
Why the vice-top? To ensure an overwhelming victory.
Why not the top? Because if the first-year somehow wins, it tarnishes Jefrin's honor.
It's a splendid policy all around.
This year's top freshman is "Kelters."
And the third-year vice-top is none other than "Aila Trista."
In the original story, Kelters lands a solid hit on Aila in front of everyone, saving face for the first-years. That draws attention from Eve and many others to this commoner who struck "Vice-Top Aila Trista."
It's an event where defeat is scripted, but as usual, you could beat Aila with some glitchy play. The story didn't change, though.
"Wolfram."
Lost in thoughts of the original event, Aila called out to me.
"Wolfram. Wolfram, are you listening?"
"Hm? ...Yeah, I am."
"So, Phil prepaid the rent up to next month. Don't forget you have to start paying from the month after."
How did we jump to such a grim topic?
"...Is that right."
"One million rin per month. You know that, right?"
"............"
Running a shop in a spot like this with an eight-hundred-thousand-rin deposit and monthly rent of a million? This has to be a scam.
Maybe I should move the store.
Nah. Even if I leave, no one else would take it. Think about how much hassle it was just to get in here. A million rin a month is a steal.
"Not a problem."
"Yeah. Honestly, it does feel a bit pricey."
"Then..."
"But I'll take it. Hehe."
Teasing me?
"With your wings of rebellion unfurled, a mere million rin must seem like pocket change. Truth be told, I could let it slide, but this will be one black feather adorning those wings someday."
So what?
"Hehe. I'm looking forward to it. How discreetly, grandly, magnificently, and beautifully you'll blow the horn of rebellion."
I'm not blowing any horn.
"This... Strawberry Shake, was it? Your dark shadow hidden in such a sweet drink. But anyone would succumb to its taste and aroma. Hehe."
You already seem pretty succumbed.
"By the way. The freshman welcome festival's coming up soon, Wolfram."
"Didn't we just talk about that?"
"Did we? Anyway. Ahem. Wolfram?"
"What."
"What are you planning for the welcome festival?"
"Gonna set up a stall."
"You know stalls are limited to eight hours a day due to the monopoly ban, right? What after that?"
"Dunno."
Freshman welcome festival.
Should I tell her now's not the time to worry about my nerves?
I hesitated a moment. Would Aila end up hating Kelters here? Or is a perfect win the way to go?
This isn't the main story—it's about Wolfram.
What benefits me. For me alone.
Let's see. Aila wins against Kelters but gets her pride bruised bad, so she starts hounding him every chance she gets.
When that doesn't work, she snaps, flips out completely, and stirs up rebellion talk in Act 3...
Hmm...
So maybe having Aila win perfectly would be better for me.
If she loses to Kelters and snaps, the odds of a spear through my gut go up.
Suppose I advise her to crush Kelters perfectly...
How to give that advice without sounding weird? I started thinking.
Information and ideas are my weapons.
"Aila Trista."
"Yes?"
"You said you wanted to see my wings."
"I did. I'm looking forward to it."
"We'll see if you ever do."
"What do you mean?"
"Whether you're worthy of it."
"Questioning my worth? I'm the third-year vice-top. Aila Trista, the Black Crystal of the Magic Division."
"In three hundred years of Jefrin history, there have been three hundred third-year vice-tops."
"Ugh."
"Cheap high-end candy. Cream black bread. This strawberry shake. These are luxury items Jefrin's never seen before. See? I've proven my one-of-a-kind status in three hundred years. Right?"
"Ugh...!"
She has no choice but to admit it.
Aila's prideful, so a little prodding like this gets her every time.
"What are you getting at?"
"Clear the things right in front of you before talking about my wings."
"Things in front of me?"
"I hear this year's top freshman is quite unique. A commoner with insane talent."
"...And? You think I'll lose?"
"No way. But if you don't win perfectly, it'll still go down as a stain on the Trista name."
Aila gritted her teeth at my words.
Then she slammed the desk with a bang! A small ticket fluttered from her fist onto the surface.
【Jefrin Academy Freshman Welcome Festival Two-Day Pass (For 2 People)】
As I stared at it blankly, Aila crossed her arms and sneered at me.
"Fine. I'll blow that pathetic commoner away in one hit. Watch closely from afar. Got it?"
I nodded silently.
Aila slurped down the rest of the shake, let out a loud huff, and stormed out of the store.
Not paying for the shake?
And.
"...Why's the pass for two people?"
Full of mysteries.
After Aila left, I got moving fast.
The freshman welcome festival is one of Jefrin's rare all-out events.
Stalls can operate freely with an application, and plenty of shops snag loyal customers here.
Jefrin short on snacks? Then come to Wolfram's ready-to-go convenience store anytime! To shout that, I needed prep.
"...Bean shakes. Cream bread. Candy. All good, but not quite flagship material."
Lacking a killer ace, aren't we?
Our store pays a million in rent and has an eight-hundred-thousand deposit, tucked in some obscure corner—but that's why we need a killer hook to draw crowds.
An icon, identity, signature.
A menu that screams, "This is made here!" or "Only available here!" Or killer crafts or office supplies. Something like that.
But candy and cream bread are iffy. Smoothies are decent, but beans have gathering limits.
"Then maybe bake some bread. I've done bakery part-time, so I can make some, right?"
Good bread topped with cream could be signature-worthy.
But.
"Urk, ugh. You bastard. You bastard, you bastard!!"
Just kneading dough left my arms numb from the strain.
"This... is my limit? I'm... so weak. It's laughable."
A few tastings of the menu filled my stomach to bursting.
Despairing at my own incompetence, I slumped in the corner.
But even slumping wasn't allowed.
"Ugh."
My stomach churned; staying put would spell disaster.
I had to move and digest somehow.
With that thought, I bolted up and stepped out of the store.
To survive, I had to digest.
It had been ages since I strolled the academy grounds.
For a mood changer, I headed not to the Magic Division but the Knight Division.
"...But can I even sell with this stamina?"
Cook and sell myself, and I'll collapse from exhaustion. Can I last two hours?
This damn stamina—nothing clever comes to mind, driving me nuts.
"...Sigh."
I'd walked thirty minutes inside the academy and was wiped, sitting on a park bench.
"This isn't exercise; it's rehab."
Like a patient getting up after years in bed.
I leaned on the bench, gazing blankly at the sky. The blindingly blue heavens and sun felt annoyingly resentful.
"...Ugh, ughhh..."
As I caught my breath, a dying gasp echoed from somewhere.
I covered my mouth, wondering if it was me—nope. Flame Boy Wolfram hasn't burned out yet. Good.
Then where?
"Uh... ughhh..."
Not far. In the middle of the grass, "that thing" lay collapsed.
But what the hell is that guy doing?
"If you eat that... once you realize nature's combo makes it inedible... grass... pine resin... can't eat it..."
Nepthelian.
Nefti had face-planted in the grass, mumbling in agony.
"What're you doing?"
At my question, she looked up with hazy eyes. Unfocused and pale, like she hadn't eaten in days.
"Again... again. That taste lingers, now I'm hallucinating. My foe is the academy's worst villain. Is this another trial for me...?"
"I asked what you're doing, Nefti."
"...I must be truly insane. Hallucinations talking now. Begone, false Wolfram. I won't yield to temptation."
"Not a hallucination."
"...Huh?"
Her eyes gradually cleared. Then she fully took in my image.
"The real Prince Wolfram?"
"Yeah. The real corrupt Wolfram."
"S-Sorry!"
"So, what were you doing?"
"...Meditating."
"Face in the dirt, groaning?"
"...Y-Yes."
"With a face like you starved for days?"
"Y-Yes. All to uphold justice without falling to evil."
"I see..."
I nodded. Fine, keep at it.
As I turned to leave, a small voice stopped me.
"...Um, excuse me."
"What."
"That bread from before..."
"Hm?"
"If I wanted to buy some... how much?"
"Not expensive, but you got money?"
"Ugh... Harsh but true. Yes. Sent everything home... now it's... grass and resin... ugh..."
Nefti writhed, and I chuckled.
This could be a win-win if played right.
"Who knows. Help me out again, and you might get some bread."
"What kind of work? ...I never touch evil deeds."
"Nothing big. Help develop and sell items for the freshman welcome festival stall."
"...Help you hoard wealth? You, the academy's worst embezzler...?"
Nefti pondered.
Yeah. She worries what villainy I'll commit once I make money again.
She's third-year; she knows last year's Wolfram tyranny well.
Sigh. No helping it.
I steeled myself and extended a hand.
"Ten thousand rin per hour. 1.5x overtime. Meals include at least cream bread."
"I pledge my life in service. I shall uphold my loyalty."
The knight of justice fell in that moment.