Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: The Aesthetics of a Villain
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Everyone been waiting long? Then let's kick off Lord Wolfram's story.
Even without dredging up the opening of that bastard from my childhood favorites—the one who's white and red, occasionally pitch-black, who starts dating a middle schooler because she's his ex's reincarnation yet can't forget his old flame—I was starting to realize it was time to prepare my own tale.
You might wonder what I mean by "preparing a story" out of nowhere, but there's a reason for it.
This competition comes with status buffs for each category.
Obviously, the Martial God Division goes to the guy with the highest strength and stamina, and the Magic God Division to the one with the top magic power.
So what about the Magic Craft Division? High dexterity for crafting good items?
Nope.
D/Z SAGA is that twisted game that obsesses over weird details, stuffs in Easter eggs for the devs to chuckle over among themselves, loves playing with lore, and scatters plot branches everywhere like landmines.
That's why I love it. Absolutely adore the damn thing.
Anyway, putting my game tastes aside for a sec—the Magic Craft Division has this "malicious" tweak from the devs. It hinges on whether you have the Eloquence skill.
The structure for Magic Craft is: the student brings their entry up to the stage, does some presentation, the judges react, then scores come out.
In other words, it's built around doing your own PR. Considering the fine print, it makes sense that Eloquence gets a buff.
A third-year student just slunk off the stage, on the verge of tears.
The item itself was probably made with effort, but it meant nothing.
Turning a 'basement-dwelling item grinder nerd' into someone who has to pitch it themselves? Pure hell.
How could they pull such a cruel stunt? You're a bad, bad game.
I figured this out pretty simply.
Suspecting some bullshit hidden mechanic in Magic Craft, I puzzled over it forever until I got the 'Likeable Named' and 'Charisma Armband' skills on Kelters, tried romancing both Eve and Regina at once in a mad playthrough, and entered the first-year Magic Craft Division. That's how I beat Regina in her own division back then.
And the skill Wolfram has? Imperial Bloodline.
I used it to send Zolf to the afterlife, and it'll shine here too.
"Alright. Time to launch into Wolfram's story."
Hoo.
Bottom line, I've got one job right now.
"I'm not a loner. I can pitch properly. I've got tons of friends. I'm not scared."
Build unshakeable faith in myself, and figure out how to spin 'my story.'
"I'm not scared. I can explain great. I'm the best."
Martial God. Magic God. Magic Craft.
The Jefrin Student Innovation Contest runs all divisions on the same day.
It's no small feat to host the event, plus it fits the academic schedule.
This is the Second Magic Arena for the Magic God Division.
A grand hall shielded by barriers the founding emperor supposedly built—nothing collapses no matter the magic thrown at it.
Unlike the bloody brawls of Martial God, Magic God blends flash and mystery, drawing students who want to witness Jefrin's 'mystique' rather than gore.
But today's Magic God was different.
A third-year's dominance.
Magic is a field where one genius replaces ten thousand average mages, and Aila's power had long surpassed human limits.
Of course, top mages who've hit a certain level don't enter—they risk smears of bullying lesser students with their talent.
But it's tricky to pin that on the lady of House Trista, who's been runner-up every year since first-year without ever taking first.
Aila Trista doesn't give a damn about any of that anyway.
But her victories weren't ordinary.
Splat!
One shot right between the eyes.
Mana wielded with extreme precision.
Firing Black Crystal spears without a shred of waste drops countless average mages.
But she never smiles.
No gloating in victory.
"......"
Normally sociable, but in battle, Aila transforms completely.
She offers no verdict on the win. Doesn't approach her foe.
Can't be helped. That's Aila Trista.
She saves her smiles for those she's acknowledged.
Emotions only for those who won't betray her.
That's how the eldest daughter of the empire's second merchant house—the Golden Peaks, House Trista—must act.
So, who has Aila Trista been smiling at most lately? Showing the most emotion to?
"I wonder if Wolfram's doing alright."
With that thought, Aila shrugged.
Hearing the announcer, Aila unwittingly smiled.
"Who knew Wolfram's calculations would pan out this perfectly."
The guy who'd picked up a chick like her had total confidence in beating Kelters and winning his own Magic Craft Division.
So she'd casually asked.
[How do I win the Magic God Division?]
[Conserve stamina.]
[Huh?]
[Aim to end it in one strike every time. Prolonged spell battles eat stamina before mana.]
"Makes sense now."
Aila's stamina was 15.
High for a mage, but with fights ahead, efficiency mattered.
Round of 64 now.
Five more bouts to go.
"Alright. One-shot the next one too."
As Aila left the waiting room, her mind flashed not to her opponent, but to her fiancé, unfolding rebellion's wings alone right now.
The Magic Craft Division had about 40 entries after self-withdrawals and prelim cuts.
Nothing worth watching, really. That's Magic Craft for you.
Usually Regina sets the bar, then Kelters tops it and stirs drama.
Right now, the 38th presentation just wrapped, and the final boss who crushes everything stepped up.
Always the way—saving the spotlight for the last slot.
Golden locks swaying, she ascends, grabs the magitech mic. A cart rumbles in with her product.
"Ah, so that's the one getting announced now."
In the waiting room, I nodded along to her pitch.
That watch gets added to Jefrin's kiosks from Act 2.
Pretty useful. Shows time down to seconds for countdown quests.
Problem? It breaks constantly. Consumable accessory from the start.
One per mission. Argh.
One thing springs to mind.
"...That's the one."
Those 5,000-won knockoff watches sold roadside in Nonsan.
Fake designer rip-offs. Bootlegs.
"Cheap knockoff."
That shitty product.
Does she know it'll screw her route if she supplies crap like that to the imperial family?
"Hm."
"Oh my."
Heading out, I bumped into Regina.
"See the product?"
"Not bad. But is the performance stabilized?"
"...Pardon?"
"Figures. Watches are one-and-done buys, so you skimped on durability."
"Don't wanna hear nitpicks."
"Nitpick or truth, ask your merchant heart. Improve it before imperial supply."
"...Thanks for the advice. I'm off."
I stopped her as she turned.
"Not staying for my pitch?"
"......"
"Whatever. Collect your 2 million rin later."
"That confident in victory?"
Damn right.
Me lose with this experience? No way in hell.
Up on stage, I took delivery of the item.
Before the intro, let me explain what these snacks do. First, look at the treats laid out here.
Gripping the mic, clutching my pounding heart, I began.
Here we go.
"...Quite crude phrasing."
"Indeed. Ahem. We're the judges. Mind your wording..."
These guys talk too much.
Activating Imperial Bloodline, I shot them a glare.
"......"
"Shall we taste it?"
"Yes. Curious about the effects."
The moment the judges took a bite of my snacks, they fell silent.
In that gap, I sipped the mana potion Aila prepped and triggered the skill again.
Downed another mana potion right after.
Truth be told.
8th-tier is awkward for real battlefields.
This Magical Sweet skill is subtly niche too.
But I'm going for shock value.
Not raw power—a new concept.
Aila said: [Who wants to step outside this world?]
Eve said: [No telling how much an expedition to the Sleeping Mountains would cost.]
Right.
The hallmark of this real-world D/Z SAGA: nobody adventures 'outside.'
Lives are precious. No one wants to risk it.
Magic stagnates, combat quality drops, no real fights.
Not denying life's value.
Swords for protection cost tenfold; material shortages fade luxuries like desserts.
So, to them.
In this Magic Craft contest, I'm pulling a scam.
Why do game villains' words charm?
They sell romance and adventure to the mundane, pitch dreams.
Flimflam artists, sure—but they tempt.
Cheap dream-mongering? Fine.
Isn't that peak third-rate villain?
Ten-minute limit.
Plenty for a third-rate villain to con the masses.