Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Breakdown (Persuasiveness)
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I still hadn't come up with any plans for mass-producing fortune cookies.
Blessings were tricky like that. If you overdid it, who knew how it might screw up the routes later on.
So, I figured I'd just sprinkle a few around myself. That was the plan.
First up was Eve.
Next came Aila, the one who always showed up at this convenience store and ranted about rebellion today too.
The reason I prioritized Aila right after Eve was that, in a way, she stood at the complete opposite end of the spectrum from Eve.
I had no clue what might happen if she got cursed, twisted up, and turned into the Act 3 boss reborn.
If this curse caused Eve to fall, ignore everyone, act on her own whims, scream something like "So I'm too much for you after all? No way that's true!" and end up solving everything with magic power, judging people solely by their stats, becoming a total loner student council president manipulated by the Black Flag...
And with Kelters already down in the dumps too. If the two strongest characters were both floored, and then the newbie shredder Aila—under the curse—kicked into gear?
Bad end, guaranteed.
Of course, this wasn't a game anymore; it was reality, so no ending message would pop up. But Eve or Aila might take it out on me and beat me to death, so better safe than sorry.
Keep Aila from going off the rails. Keep Eve from falling too.
Knowing the original story was such a pain.
Am I prepared? Damn right I am.
Anyway. No time for idle chatter—I needed to focus on crafting. Another masterpiece came out, so I handed it off.
"What's this? ...Oh. It's warm."
Aila took the fortune cookie I'd made and smiled brightly. I gave her a quick rundown.
"...I see."
But she wasn't as thrilled as I'd expected.
Normally, she'd be like, "A blessing?! Am I finally stepping into the divine realm? Rebellion!" or something.
"Not happy about it?"
"I am happy. Hmm. But Wolfram... are you really allowed to talk about divine blessings?"
"Hm? ...Ah. Right. That's the issue. Discussing gods as royalty... it's not outright taboo, but it's a thorny topic."
"Yeah."
Finally, it clicked for her.
The founding emperor, after conquering the continent, cracked down hard on religion to prevent dual power structures.
Not outright persecution, but he pushed the narrative: all divine blessings are fake; the greatest under heaven is the imperial family! No one can stand against the royals!
"His Majesty's conquest wars ultimately brought even the heavenly and demonic races under the imperial heel!"
This wasn't some cheap propaganda or fantasy novel opener—it was canon in the setting bible and affected the game too.
No joke: the founding emperor stormed heaven and hell, smashed everything with his prime minister, empress, and ten elders, and drew the line.
"The surface is humanity's domain. I represent humanity. Dare not question imperial authority, or we'll remain good friends!"
Thus, boundaries formed between humans, celestials, and demons. The royals still act as the surface's guardians and representatives.
So, Aila's doubt boiled down to:
"The founding emperor beat down the celestials and buried religion—can you, imperial scion, really do this?"
Hm.
This tied into a bunch of foreshadowing and key system lore, but...
Explaining was a hassle.
"Wouldn't that be rebellion too?"
"Defying heaven itself falls under rebellion for you, huh. Classic Wolfram. Wolfram von Loengrin... Fine. As your fellow rebel, I'll gladly accept this blessing!"
"Hm."
Whatever. Close enough.
She's so straightforward. Refreshing.
Excluding Eve and Aila, who I expected would put up some resistance after getting their blessing items...
The people around me who might become boss curse targets were: Nefti. Milmyu.
Emily Highmelody wasn't on the list.
As a royal castoff and cooking nut, she got treated like a weirdo but not a celebrity.
Good news.
No clue what this boss fight would bring, so I aimed for nothing but grand successes—and I was short on numbers.
But this skill-check game always defied expectations.
No way three grand successes in a row? For real?
"That leaves one extra."
I'd made grand success fortune cookies for Eve, Aila, Nefti, and Milmyu. And just now, another one popped out.
An extra...
"Hmm."
Rudika wasn't on my list, but I couldn't forget that one face who just barely grazed the personnel that day.
The archmage merchant. Ultra-degenerate heroine type.
Regina Cielra.
I'd romanced her a few times, sure, but I really didn't want to get tangled up. I got her psyche, but couldn't fully comprehend it.
"Ahh..."
Remembering her post-curse bad end—after a few more choices—and I shuddered.
"She straight-up dies. And you die with her."
A bright smile, in a flower field, holding Kelters' hand.
[I get it now, Kelters.]
[I love you. You love me too, right?]
[Yes. So let's go together. Somewhere no one can disturb us.]
[Seal our eternal love with action here.]
[Forever together.]
Saying that.
She stabs Kelters.
Gets strangled by him.
And they die happily ever after.
..................Ugh.
Insane. For real.
That ending's a no-go. Still scarred me.
Anyway, I'd told Regina to stock blessing items before. But thinking about it, not something you grab easily.
Especially with everyone stuck in dorms—how's she finding ancient divine ruins?
"Better hand it over."
Regina Cielra.
Whoever she fixates on after three wins... if mishandled, we'd have two corpses to clean up at Jefrin.
Don't know who, but can't let that victim happen.
"...But where to meet her."
Hate going to her.
Anywhere to just toss it?
My dilemma
"Wolfram. Thinking of the social?"
"Social?"
Got solved way sooner than expected.
Aila's sudden social invite went like this:
"The Trista family owes you big time—thanks to you, we're booming. Ore sales up, and we acquired other mines, cleared monsters... West side's basically ours now."
"Hm. Glad to hear it."
"Yeah, all you. Anyway, the family called: 'Time to shine at the Jefrin social—show off our reforms.' Plus, make central connections."
"Glass Count's got worries."
"We could skip it. No one ignores Trista anyway."
"So what's the issue?"
"When finances wobbled, some threatened us. You stepped down as prez, I got... picky."
Ah.
Aila when we met was ice-cold.
"But now we're both amazing! So let's go brag! 'Rebellion!' And."
"And?"
"Chance to flatten Regina Cielra's nose!"
Her motives: simple, easy.
Regina's at the social.
Like the tea party Eve skipped.
"Half-joking, of course. You're the stealth type. No worries..."
"Sounds good. I'll go."
"...Huh?"
"When?"
"This weekend."
"Got it. Dress code uniform?"
"Yeah, but... Eve took everything. Even your suit."
"Yup. Don't sweat it."
"Hmm. Okay."
Hm. Easy.
Suits ain't cheap.
Stand like a screen by Aila, hand it to Regina, bolt.
Clean getaway!
And weekend.
Heard it was nobles-only.
Dress code uniform, so comfy spot, right?
Nope.
First, outfits.
Aila suddenly: "Rebellion chic!" Procured formals.
Result: Wolfram von Loengrin in red formal with gold threads from shoulder to chest. Beside him, Aila Trista in jet-black dress, black wing hairpin.
Eye-magnet.
Villain prince and fiancée crashing the social. Textbook.
And it was.
"Prince Wolfram von Loengrin has arrived!"
Chanted my name loud, multiple times for all to hear.
Imperial names at socials: up to seven chants.
Proves authority, hushes chatter, spotlights entrant.
Don't. Seriously don't.
Don't focus on me.
Result: gaze bombardment surpassing the tea party.
Some eyes shut, heads bowed. Mostly tea party vets.
Others: "Why her?" Scattered stares.
No.
Don't look at me like that.
Look like that and...
Knew it.
Damn skill.
'Shall we start the tales of Lord Wolfram?' And they'd yap endlessly.
Tea party redux.
That instant, another message lit up.
No.
Why.
The hell.
Why.
It was instant.
Truly instant—eyes shut, knees hit the floor.
No exceptions.
"Wolfram. You okay?"
"...Y-Yeah. Right."
Aila's face flushed oddly.
She's feeling the imperial pressure too.
Crazy bastard.
No, crazy skill...
Story so far.
The social hall's vibe wrecked by Wolfram's sudden entrance!
Already prime for noble knife-stabs, how will Wolfram von Loengrin navigate this mess?
By shutting up.
Yeah.
After that, I didn't utter a word.
Aila chatted everywhere alone.
Look at their faces: glance at Aila, desperately avoid me, back to Aila—eyes quaking.
Aila, oblivious or not, kept mingling.
Tea party dragged forever, but now? No one dares meet my eyes. Astonishing.
I wanted that, it's convenient... but feels desolate.
Then Aila approached.
Bragged to nobles with ahem-ahems, trotted back beaming.
Thanks, Aila. Nothing else to say.
"Thought you'd tire if we stuck together, so I went solo... You good?"
"Ehehe..."
"Yup. Super smooth, thanks to you."
"You crushed their momentum—boosted my prestige?"
Ah. That angle too.
"Noble world's gonna explode. 'Wolfram von Loengrin returns. He never faded.'"
"Ruthless tyrant. Overlord. Apex returned—student council reinstatement's next."
"Yeah. Wasn't that the pressure play?"
No. Don't.
I ain't doing that.
"I'll do more greetings. Wait a bit, Wolfram."
Deep sigh escaped.
Anyway, survive this mess first.
"That hegemony... unchanged, Prince Wolfram von Loengrin."
"......"
Mind raced with thoughts.
Voice I knew insanely well.
But first time hearing it live.
Ponytail to waist, tied high.
Necklace: one gem.
Earrings: two.
Hands: two.
Ankles: two. Seven colors gleaming.
Canon: one of Wolfram von Loengrin's knights.
"Even grander than when I served."
Current 4th-year Knight Division top.
Jewel SwordIsolde Cruelle
Knight Division main heroine. Most bad ends' personality wrecker knightess.
"First since abdication, Your Highness. Well?"
"Oh? Now caring for a subordinate's welfare. You've changed."
"Yet grander than ever. Hehe. Chit-chat dragged. My updates, right?"
I stared into her eyes.
Heroine, worst breakdown case.
Curious her path now.
To my question, Isolde smiled without a doubt, spilling her future.
"Aiming for grad school. Nonstop studying, Your Highness."
......
See?
Told you. Personality breakdown victim.