The Unsettling Change
It was lunchtime, exactly one week after I had hypnotized the visiting princess. The Principal suddenly burst into the counseling room, looking as though she had just laid eyes on a terrifying ghost.
"...Good afternoon, Principal. What brings you here so suddenly? I would appreciate it if you knocked first, at the very least."
"That is hardly what is important right now!"
"Uh... actually, it is quite important to me."
What does she mean, "not important"? Knocking is an incredibly crucial boundary of basic etiquette.
...I seriously thought I was about to get caught playing video games. If not for my childhood experience of secretly gaming behind my mother's back, I would have died of a heart attack on the spot. I'd let my guard down lately because the students had finally started knocking, and look what happened.
As I tried to soothe my wildly racing heart, the Principal marched over and grabbed me by the shoulders.
"What on earth did you do to that girl?"
"Pardon? ...To whom?"
"That insolent brat! The Princess!"
"If you mean Her Highness, I simply gave her a bit of counseling, just as you requested, Principal."
And here I was, wondering what the fuss was about. I thought I had made some terrible mistake. She had burst in looking so utterly flustered that I'd braced myself for the worst, but it seemed it was nothing major after all.
"What is with that reaction? You act as if it is nothing."
"Well, because it really isn't a big deal?"
"You call that not a big deal?!"
But something was off. Veronica's reaction was far more intense than I had anticipated. She looked as if she had witnessed the impossible—as if she utterly refused to believe the evidence of her own eyes.
"Stella has recently started going around complimenting the people around her!"
"...Really? That is wonderful news."
How unexpected. That wasn't even part of the hypnosis; it was just a simple homework assignment. I hadn't actually expected her to do it, since there were no real consequences if she didn't.
...Perhaps she respected me more than I realized. She did have a tendency to become incredibly soft toward anyone she acknowledged. Knowing she was actually carrying out the assignment I gave her brought a small, proud smile to my face. Principal Veronica, however, did not share my sentiment.
"It's so creepy I can barely stand it... For that brat to behave like that... I thought the sky would fall before such a thing ever happened..."
"..."
What kind of reaction is this...? This is a bit much, even for her. She was the one who asked me to do this in the first place.
"You were the one who asked me to help her, yet you react like this..."
"I-I never imagined she would change in such a deeply unsettling way!"
"Mmm..."
This is troublesome. The Principal's reaction is far more extreme than I expected. If merely giving a compliment once a day to an acquaintance is considered 'creepy,' just what kind of life has Stella been living...? No, more importantly, if this keeps up, someone might start suspecting me. It's a bit of a shame, but perhaps I should hypnotize her again and revert her to how she was...
"...Still, you truly are remarkable, Counselor Ophelia. Your skills are the real deal."
"Pardon?"
"I have no idea how you managed to tame that arrogant little thing, but... it is truly magnificent."
"I-Is that so? Thank you."
"Indeed."
...So her reaction wasn't entirely negative? Perhaps she was just startled by the unfamiliarity of it all, and in time, she would grow to accept the change.
"My eye for talent never fails me. You've only just arrived, yet rumors are already spreading like wildfire. They say we have an incredibly competent counselor."
"Th-thank you..."
"You seem rather unaccustomed to praise."
Ugh, she caught me. ...To be precise, I was unaccustomed to praise from a superior. I had never received such a thing in my past life. All I ever heard was criticism and scolding. Back then, the only thing that comforted my exhausted soul after work was video games.
...And that was exactly why I wanted to comfort the students. Just as games had brought me joy, I wanted to bring joy to them.
"No need to look so worried. I am not scolding you. I was merely a bit startled."
"That is... a relief."
"I shall continue to leave the students in your capable hands, Counselor Ophelia."
"...Yes, leave it to me."
She didn't even need to ask. Ever since I realized this world was the inside of my favorite game, my goal had remained entirely unchanged. To save the students I loved. I had no other purpose.
"By the way, did you happen to react like that right in front of the Princess...?"
"How did you know? I was so shocked that I came running straight here."
"It might hurt her feelings, so I suggest you refrain from doing that in the future..."
"What? Her? Nonsense. You certainly have a colorful sense of humor, Counselor."
...It seemed there was still a long way to go. At the very least, I wanted to ensure people wouldn't react to her like that before she graduated. It was simply too pitiful...
"It seems I will need to teach you how to properly handle students as well, Principal."
"W-what? No, thank you. I have been an educator for a very long time, you know. I have no need to learn such—"
"Hush. You cannot win the hearts of students with such outdated, old-fashioned methods."
"O-outdated...?"
Was it because of her age? I let out a sigh at her stubborn adherence to the old ways. Children are sensitive creatures. You can't treat them like that.
"Shall we head to your office and have a long, thorough chat?"
"U-uh, very well..."
"Damn it, wasn't that a bit much? Looking at me as if she'd seen a ghost."
Stella grumbled to herself as she walked. Having no close friends to speak of, she had directed all of Ophelia's homework toward her childhood friend. At least, for the first six days.
Her childhood friend, initially bewildered by the sudden behavior, eventually began to look at Stella as if she had completely lost her mind as the daily compliments persisted.
Even so, Stella did not stop. It wasn't as if she could go around doing this to strangers. Charlotte was the closest person among the few she actually respected, so she had no other choice.
...And she would have kept going, had she not completely run out of things to praise. Complimenting someone was far more difficult than she had anticipated. Especially when it had to be the same person, day after day.
Finding two or three things was easy enough, but once she surpassed what she could count on one hand, her mind went completely blank. She had spent over two hours agonizing just to find a single positive trait for one compliment, so Stella could confidently say she had given it her all.
But the deadline for the homework was her next meeting with the counselor. Deciding that complimenting her childhood friend any further was impossible, Stella spent a long time agonizing over a new target.
She couldn't very well praise students she didn't even know. Thus, she had sought out the old hag—the only other person she acknowledged as truly capable—and complimented her. She had praised her incredible combat prowess, telling her how magnificent it was...
"I am never, ever complimenting that old hag again...!"
But what was with that reaction? There was absolutely no need for her to shriek and run away like that.
Stella was well aware that she looked awkward trying to praise someone. Still, because Charlotte had tolerated it reasonably well, she had been building up her confidence, thinking she was doing a decent job despite the awkwardness. That confidence had been shattered in an instant. And here she thought she could get a few days' worth of homework out of the old hag.
Though she possessed immense power, Stella did not have many friends at the Academy close enough to compliment. She reasoned that she had done more than enough. Honestly, did she really need to push herself any further?
And so, Stella made her way to the counseling room. The deadline was their next meeting, and there was nothing stopping her from seeking out Counselor Ophelia herself. A week was more than enough to show a sincere effort.
She had been trying her best to follow the counselor's guidance, especially after seeing how Ophelia had managed to tame even that Devil Possessed girl... but this was her limit. No matter how much she racked her brain, she simply could not compliment anyone else.
"I've arrived."
The counseling room, tucked away in a quiet corner of the Academy's third floor. On the door hung a sign drawn in a cute art style, politely asking visitors to knock. Having reached her destination, Stella knocked on the door to see Counselor Ophelia.
"...Hm?"
But there was no response. Wondering if the counselor hadn't heard her, she knocked harder and waited, but silence was her only answer. It seemed Ophelia was out.
She grabbed the doorknob and gave it a turn, but as expected, the door was locked. She must be away. ...Tsk. What terrible luck for her to be out at a time like this. Counselor Ophelia usually spent almost all of her time in the counseling room.
"You..."
Deciding to return after classes, Stella turned around, only to find a girl with a sullen expression staring intently at her.
...The Devil Possessed, Orca. Stella had heard the girl had been deeply despondent after her defeat. What was she doing here? Was she trying to enter the counseling room?
"Are you trying to go inside? The counselor doesn't seem to be in. It would be best to come back another—"
"Move."
"..."
To react like that when someone was trying to be polite. Commoners truly had no manners. Besides, the door was locked anyway, so she would only end up turning back in embarrassment...
*Click.*
"...Come in. You have business in the counseling room, don't you?"
"?"
But Stella's expectations were completely shattered. The door to the counseling room, which had undoubtedly been locked, swung open at Orca's touch.
"You, how did you..."
"What, are you not coming in?"
"...No, I am. Thank you."
"Hmph."
Why on earth did this girl have a key to the counseling room? Stella wondered, but she chose not to decline the offer.
...Perhaps she was a bit kinder than she let on. Without even realizing she had thought such a thing, Stella stepped inside.