Chapter 149
Chapter 149
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: Who is she?
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Well, now.
I'd once mentioned that Act 4 was the [Individual Heroine Routes].
After smashing the newbie shredder Aila Trista, and seeing both the sweet and bitter ends of the first semester once affinity work wrapped up at the start of summer break, the heroines' individual routes would kick in.
Of course, just because a promotion quest had triggered didn't mean Eve von Loengrin was my heroine.
If that were the case, I'd have the confidence to burn this Wolfram body to ash right here and gamble on a Jefrin second playthrough.
Why was I so sure? Because of the system messages.
For example, suppose we'd entered Eve's route in Act 4.
The moment Act 3 ended...
...messages like that would pour in, right?
And up until now, story-related system messages had always kept coming without fail, but I'd never gotten any mention of Act 4 starting.
So, if—just hypothetically—if I had some obligation to see this game's ending, shouldn't there be a concept of [Heroine] for me too?
And yet, the system stayed dead silent.
The silver lining was that it wasn't the main story heroines Eve or Regina's routes. I had no idea what Isolde was up to, and we barely had any contact anyway.
Anyway, enough rambling.
To sum it up: no message about Eve's route opening, no clue who my Act 4 heroine was, but somehow Eve's promotion quest had triggered anyway.
"Wolfram. What on earth is this book..."
"Can't you tell by looking, or do you need confirmation?"
"No, it's just... I can't believe it even after seeing it. It's like this book is telling me I can get even stronger..."
Ah, this was dialogue from the main story too.
"I might not be able to contain my own strength."
"Is that so..."
"If I get even stronger here... I..."
Watching Eve von Loengrin grip her right arm tightly as she said that gave me a headache.
What was this... Was she starting to resemble Aila?
No, that might be too harsh on Aila.
"Anyway, that's for you to figure out, but getting stronger won't be easy."
"...What do you mean?"
"Look at the first instruction in the book left by your ancestor. What trial has been imposed on you?"
"That's... Ah."
In D/Z SAGA, where everything came down to effort, you think a main heroine promotion would be a cakewalk?
With illustration changes, outfit changes, extra skills?
"...Tell me. What is it?"
"Hunt 500 monsters... Ugh."
Yeah. That's right.
"I'm not helping."
"...I n-never asked for help. I'll handle it myself..."
Eve glanced at the book, then at me, alternating four or five times before letting out a deep sigh in a trembling voice.
"Instead, as a special favor, I'll tag along on your expeditions. With my mana at 22, I'll surely be a big help..."
"I refuse."
"Hear me out first! Come on!"
You're so weak you need to lean on me? When I provoked her like that, Eve started frothing at the mouth.
5-Combo 55 Provocation—solid performance.
Anyway, after taking Eve down like that, I left the library and headed to the imperial palace.
Normally, she'd be trailed by a horde of servants, but where would Wolfram von Loengrin find any such lackeys?
Still, plenty of people recognized my face, stepping aside and bowing deeply as I passed.
Of course, that didn't mean they were submitting to me.
See? The bloodline kicked in right away.
I'd had no intention of wandering around here originally, but after some thought, I remembered the imperial palace was the [Ending Location] for the [Eve Route].
Which meant rummaging around would drop an item.
If I'm coming, might as well grab the loot first.
Hmm.
Delicious.
Right after, I bolted back to the academy without looking back.
Sure, some other imperial might accost me in a total disaster, but Wolfram wiped out that rambling, boring, uninteresting, irrelevant 5,700-character political spiel, so rest easy.
Back at the academy, I sank into a chair at the convenience store counter with a deep sigh of relief at everyday life.
I'm never going out again. I swore to myself.
"Sounds like quite the ordeal."
"Yeah."
Truth be told, total relaxation was impossible here too—Milmyu had shown up at the store.
Why are you here? Didn't you go home? I asked, and she said after telling her parents back home, they shipped her right back with a "Go secure your spot at Jefrin quick!"
"It's great that your parents are cheering you on."
"...?"
"Hehe. No, it's nothing. Senior."
What.
Hardly an interruption to my peace, so I dove straight into work.
Because she was officially getting hired as our convenience store part-timer for the second semester.
Hourly wage: 9,160 rin. Weekend nights at 1.5x, weekly holiday pay, and bonuses too.
Milmyu blinked at the amount and muttered "That's... a lot...", but I wanted to be the boss who treats part-timers right.
So right now was handover time.
"In short, Milmyu, one thing I want to say."
"Yes, senior?"
"When you don't know, ask me no matter what. If it's iffy, ask me. I won't ever brush you off with 'Figure that out yourself.' Trust me."
"...Yes."
Better she asks the boss before screwing up than after. I'd been there—screwed up myself, reported screw-ups, cleaned up after junior part-timers' messes.
Milmyu blushed faintly and nodded at my words. No need to get that touched.
"Alright, next task. I'll usually handle deep-frying the bread, so you pull stock to the front—but key point: oldest stuff first."
"Ah. Customers grab from the front, so fresh in back keeps the balance."
"Right. Now, stocking layout... Put these near the counter."
"Mostly daily goods and small snacks... Aha, impulse buys right at checkout—light enough not to bust the budget."
"..."
What is this girl.
Why's she so sharp?
No matter how I racked my brain, how could I ever get her expelled?
"Got it. So stocking, sales, inventory management. And contact senior if unsure. That about covers it."
"Mm. Yeah. ...Won't be too busy anyway. ...Only if customers show up."
"...Ahaha."
I'd half-hoped, but even Milmyu couldn't respond to that one.
Damn it all.
"I'll come back tomorrow then, senior," Milmyu said before riding off on her Black King Tiger. That evening, Rudika dropped by.
"Wolfram! Rudika is here!"
Her usual bright, refreshing energy.
"You're back quick."
"Eheum. Of course!"
"No commissions back home?"
"I did some. Took down a few villains. Some monsters on the side."
"I see."
"Even against a shaman who'd normally be tough, I didn't let my guard down. All thanks to you, Wolfram. I learned never to drop vigilance against any foe."
"..."
"Finals duel will be epic! Rudika will never lose!"
No.
I'd rather we not fight.
What's the point of friends clashing? Let's just get along.
"So, next adventure when? Where to this time? Rudika wants to head out with Wolfram again!"
"Next adventure..."
Just for argument's sake.
If this were Eve's route.
Act 4's map wouldn't be outside Jefrin—it'd be inside.
Storm the black market, fight a Black Flag exec, yadda yadda.
But if not, a spot we could hit right away...
"Probably Akea Volcano."
"...A volcano! We're going there?!"
"Eh, just an example. Plenty of options. No rush."
Yeah. Tons of places to go.
"Right! The world is so vast, full of fun things!"
"..."
"Learning that was thanks to you, Wolfram!"
"Is that so."
"Of course! I heard you hit the snowfields. You've seen the sea. Climbed mountains, crossed forests. South's got deserts, northeast has undead lands. Even inside Jefrin's packed with mysteries!"
"...True enough."
"When I went home this time, deep down I yearned to rush back to Jefrin. Hated being stuck at home. Wanted to see you right away!"
"Really?"
"Yeah. I... I really wanted to see you. Share this pounding in my chest. Make it pound even more."
"..."
Rudika, with her genuine, unexaggerated smile, extended her hand to me.
"Come on, Wolfram. Let's have lots of adventures."
"Out of nowhere. What brought this on?"
"We've only got a year and a half left together."
Rudika fixed me with sparkling eyes as she said it.
A year and a half.
Yeah. That's right.
Eve and Nefti had two and a half years.
Milmyu had a full year more than that.
But for me, Aila, Rudika, and Regina—us third-years—we had just a year and a half left in Jefrin.
"We might all go our separate ways after, so that's why I want to savor now."
I found myself nodding to Rudika's words.
I couldn't quite grasp what had shifted in her heart to say this.
But I knew the duel had changed Rudika Hassan Shadow big-time.
"You don't need to say it—I'm gonna uncover every mystery in Jefrin with you all."
"Yes! That's the Wolfram von Loengrin I know! Then I'll head back to the dorm and wait for the next adventure! Tell me the second you set a date!"
With that, Rudika left with a grin.
"...Second semester's gonna be hectic."
Summer break had a bit left, but my mind was already on the busy term ahead, not the remaining vacation.
I'd planned to chill at the convenience store, but ended up meeting everyone once anyway.
And everyone had their goals for the second semester.
Aila was vying for top spot against Regina Ciella.
Nefti was becoming my royal guard, living by her convictions.
Rudika had brightened up, dreaming of adventures sleeplessly.
Milmyu was holding her grade's top seat while joining my part-time crew.
Eve had her promotion quest, plus Student Council duties.
Filtia had gained a sliver of freedom from the demon gate, starting to dream of true liberty.
And I, Yi Young-jin as Wolfram, was steadily chasing my dreams: enjoying this world, succeeding with the store, surviving.
"Second semester starts now. No rest for the weary."
"..."
I read the system message floating before me over and over.
Hold up.
Act 4 was really starting?
Then...
"There... is a heroine?"
Uh...
Who?