Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Pout
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[ The 【Red Thread】 wraps around 'Alpaltz von Weisell'. ]
"Oh."
Ssslruk—
The 【Red Thread】 spilling from my wrist crossed through the air and extended outward.
Its end touched Alpaltz's wrist precisely, wriggling like a snake before tying into a knot.
"It works."
I hadn't been sure, but...
I could use the 【Red Thread】 to make something like a soul-binding oath too.
"Hm."
I gazed at the 【Red Thread】 wrapped around my wrist for a moment before shifting my eyes to Alpaltz.
✦━━━━━━━━━━━━✦
[ Alpaltz von Weisell ]
Affection Level: 【Disaster】
Status: 【Positive (0%)】, 【Negative (100%)】
□□□□□□□□□□ (0/100)
Alignment: 『□』
Info:
[ In denial of reality. ]
Psychology:
「This…… is definitely a dream. It has to be a dream.」
✦━━━━━━━━━━━━✦
"Wow…."
I let out an admiring sigh without thinking.
An affection level of 'Disaster' with 100% negative status—first time I'd seen that.
I'd met plenty of people who hated me in my life, but getting systemically treated as a 'Disaster' was new.
And I hadn't even done anything that bad.
"Ahem…."
I cleared my throat awkwardly to smooth over the mood.
Then, I held out the contract again to Alpaltz, who was still kneeling there dazed.
"Any questions?"
"……."
Still no response.
But... after a long silence, Alpaltz finally moved his lips with effort.
"This contract……."
"The contract?"
"……How long does this contract last?"
"Ah."
I tapped on one section of the contract with the tip of my pen.
I'd even drawn a star next to it, emphasizing it as super important.
"Look here."
Contract Period:
- Until one of the two parties, A or B, dies. ☆
- However, automatically extended if reincarnation or undeath occurs. ☆
"Simple, right? Until one of us—you or me—dies."
"……."
"Oh, of course, if you die and come back to life, the contract renews automatically. No exceptions for reincarnation either."
But...
How long was this contract that he stamped it without even reading the most important clause?
I clicked my tongue inwardly and tapped the sentence again with the pen tip for emphasis.
"Okay, repeat after me. 'Location'."
"…Location."
Good.
He's at least responding.
I drew a big circle around the 'Location' section with the pen and added a star next to it.
"Yes, the work has to be done anywhere. Reality, dreams, nightmares—even in the bathroom."
"……."
"Next, 'Job Duties'."
"……Job duties."
I nodded.
Truth be told, there wasn't much to do yet.
'Nakwol' was just starting to take root.
"You have to understand what I'm thinking just from my thoughts alone and move first."
"…How am I supposed to—"
"Do you know what I'm thinking right now?"
"………."
"Right, I'm not thinking anything."
"…You little—"
"Next."
Something like a full bowl of curses seemed to spill from Alpaltz's mouth, but...
I brushed it off as my imagination.
"Wages…."
For a moment, life flickered in Alpaltz's eyes.
Hope.
The most primal expectation of humanity seeped into Alpaltz's pupils.
His spirit, which had plummeted to rock bottom, barely lifted its head.
No matter how broken his mentality, the power of the word 'money' was strong.
He must have thought this was finally a clause where he'd be treated like a person.
"In other words, salary…."
I paused for a beat...
Then added casually.
"Actually, I don't handle the money myself."
"……?"
"But getting paid when you don't even have a job right now? You'd just be a total asshole."
"……."
"Instead, money can be replaced with churu as emotional compensation."
"What the hell does that—"
"No need to look so disappointed—churu is delicious."
Tap tap.
I smiled brightly and tapped the last part of the contract with the pen tip.
Benefits:
- Churu is delicious (important) ☆
- Can test Caramel's new potions ahead of time (personal responsibility if you lose your life)
'Churu is delicious.'
How delicious must it be for me to write 'important' next to it and draw a star?
Of course... I'd never tried it myself.
But if Neru was wagging her tail in excitement...
It had to be guaranteed good.
"Oh, this needs to go."
I glanced back at the bottom of the contract and roughly scratched out 'personal responsibility if you lose your life' with the pen.
Can't be too honest.
Wouldn't want the test subject getting scared.
"Whew…."
I let out a quiet sigh and slowly stood up from my crouched position.
As I straightened my curved spine, my bones clicked back into place one by one.
"Read the contract properly, why do I have to explain every little thing?"
"……."
Alpaltz, speechless.
I muttered 'What's his deal' and turned my head away.
"Neru."
"Nyaa?"
"Let's go."
Poof, out popped the chubby cat head.
The bloodstains that had soaked her were gone before I knew it, leaving only her tail swishing.
"Gotta sleep early and go to school."
"Oh… the model student's life is tough, huh."
"Tell me about it."
Today felt especially long.
It was just one day time-wise, but it felt like over a week.
My mind was drained, my body exhausted.
I shook my hands once and turned around.
"Good luck then."
"……."
"Oh, and talk to your subordinates properly. They seemed pretty loyal."
With that, I retraced my steps the way I'd come.
And—
"Here."
"……."
As Alpaltz lifted his head, Beru handed him something with an expressionless face.
A pure white mask.
Nakwol's symbol, their 'face.'
Alpaltz stared blankly at the mask for a moment.
Pondering what it meant now cradled in his hand.
Beru nodded lightly.
"Alright, let's work hard together, Al-cabbage."
Beru turned and slowly followed behind Adel.
And then, another voice rang out.
"Ah!"
Caramel.
She shuffled over hesitantly and grabbed Alpaltz's hand.
Then flapped it up and down.
A motion that could be handshake or calisthenics, she shook his arm with mismatched cheeriness.
"Al-cabbage! Good luck…!"
Caramel scurried off after Beru too.
And finally.
Pergon, who had been scrutinizing the walls.
"Hm… It's a decently built structure, but…."
He tapped the wall with his fingertips.
Thud thud.
The hollow sound from the wall.
"It's empty inside."
"……."
"That's why it's failing."
Alpaltz barely turned his head to glare at Pergon, but...
Pergon already had his back turned.
"Good luck then, Al……paroochi."
"It's Alpaltz…! Alpaltz──!!"
Alpaltz bellowed at the top of his lungs, but no one heard.
Or more precisely...
Almost no one.
"“……Oh.”"
The two girls still lingering.
The twins, Seira and Aira.
"…What."
Alpaltz looked at the two girls like a drowning man grasping at straws.
At least these kids might say his name right.
A tiny flicker of hope in his eyes.
But...
That hope didn't last even a minute.
"This wasn't mere anger…!"
"It was a cry bursting from the depths of his heart…!"
Flick!
The twins struck a pose in sync, backs pressed together—
And pointed straight at Alpaltz with their fingers.
"“Hit the core! Alpacabbage!”"
Clatter clatter!
The twins said their piece and vanished.
"……."
Thud.
Alpaltz collapsed on the spot, utterly drained.
What he gazed at was the indifferent ceiling.
A single ray of light reflecting on Alpaltz's shadowed face.
That light... seemed to mock him for some reason.
"Fuck──"
Alpaltz couldn't hold back and...
Let out a deep sigh laced with a heartfelt curse.
"What a clusterfuck…."
Alpaltz thought.
He wished this was all a dream.
A vivid nightmare would be better than nothing.
But...
It was far too real.
Alpaltz finally realized that fact was the most horrifying part.
***
"Mask-nim! Mask niim──!!"
"…What."
I heard pattering footsteps, and Caramel appeared before my eyes.
Panting hard as she stopped in front of me, she couldn't speak for a while...
"Huff… huff…… that mask…."
"Mask?"
"Before you put it on…! Just one scan!"
"A scan?"
Ah.
A fragment of memory flashed through my mind.
The massive machine in one corner of Caramel's workshop.
Last time I'd seen it, installation wasn't finished, and she'd warned it might melt my body.
"You finished installing it?"
"Of course!"
"Ah… okay, let's go."
I suppressed my urge to flop into bed and followed Caramel to her workshop.
And... in Caramel's workshop.
I climbed onto the large scanner in the corner.
"Let's scan without the mask first, then with it!"
"With the mask later."
"Yes!"
Ziiing—
The scanner hummed and vibrated... a strange light swept over my entire body.
And shortly after.
The whirring machine stopped.
"…Done?"
"Yes! All done!"
"When do I get the results?"
"Hmm… might take a bit? I'll send it by letter when it's ready!"
"Okay."
I nodded quietly and left the gray zone with Neru.
On the way to the dorms.
The night air was still, only the chap chap of footsteps echoing.
"What are you doing for break, Neru?"
"Nyaa?"
"No plans?"
"Nope."
"I see."
Short, blunt—pure Neru.
I chuckled and nodded.
And...
"See ya."
"Woof."
In front of the dorms.
I gave a brief goodbye, and Neru turned away with her usual dog bark instead of cat.
"Ugh…."
As soon as I entered the dorm, my strength gave out, and I plopped down right there.
No energy to change or wash.
Too lazy to even cool my head, didn't want to do anything else.
Just bed.
I threw myself onto the bed as is.
"Ugh…."
The fluffy blanket enveloped me.
My eyelids drooped naturally.
If only I could sleep like this...
But reality doesn't flow that easily.
[ Please equip the 【Mask of Silence】! ]
As I blinked, the system popped up reliably in front of my eyes.
I sighed and pulled the 【Mask of Silence】 from my inventory.
"Hmm… can't I skip it?"
What if I chucked it in the trash far away and pretend it didn't happen...
But—
[ o︿o ]
The system was expressing emotions now.
Its venomous, aggrieved eyes and downturned mouth stared piercingly at me.
I let out a dazed chuckle at the sight.
"…Yes, yes. Got it."
Saying that, I lifted the mask.
Clink.
The familiar sensation.
The mask was cold, and that coldness soon enveloped my entire face.
[ Equipped 【Mask of Silence】. ]
And so, today's day...
Came to an end with the mask.
***
A typical Cradle morning.
But... something felt off.
The hallway was much noisier than usual.
Voices, laughter, excited exclamations...
A strangely buzzing atmosphere.
"……."
Lev pressed himself against the hallway wall, minimizing his presence as much as possible.
Light steps... silent footfalls.
As always, to avoid attention.
But the conversation that soon drifted over halted Lev's feet.
"Did you hear?"
"About the mask, right?"
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
"Obviously! It's the hottest topic!"
Perk.
Lev's ears twitched.
At the reaction, the shadow that had wrapped Lev's hair tightly—Lamenta—poked its head out too.
【Mask? Did you just say mask?!】
Perk perk.
Lev and Lamenta's ears twitched in unison.
…Lev's feet didn't move forward anymore.
"Damn… I should've gone too, no way the top student's face is that crazy to cause this uproar…."
"Uhehe… You didn't see it? I did."
"For real?! How was it? Tell me!"
Uhihi.
A perfectly girlish laugh, full of youthful vigor, pierced Lev's ears.
"……."
Lev hesitated for a moment...
Then cautiously stepped forward.
"…Um."
"……Huh?"
"……Uh, uh…?"
"……."
"“S-Saintess!?”"
The moment 'saintess' slipped from their mouths, the two girls froze simultaneously.
But...
They soon flushed red and fussed with ecstatic expressions.
“W-What brings you here…!”
"……What was that story just now?"
"Ah…!"
At Lev's words, the two girls glanced at each other...
Then immediately started whispering with expectant eyes.
"The saintess is interested in this stuff too…!"
"So, um…."
Whisper whisper.
Stories about Adel spilling from their lips...
Flowed straight into Lev's mind.
"…She took off the…… mask?"
"Yes! She appeared without the mask and saved her partner!"
"It was straight out of a hero tale! Total heart-flutter!"
The two girls' description was like a fairy tale.
Adel removing her mask in the venue to reveal her identity and rescue her partner in danger.
Adel defeating the wicked Alpacabbage and protecting her precious one.
"……Got it."
Tap.
Lev replied curtly and turned on her heel toward the corner.
"W-Wait, there's more…!?"
"…No need."
Tot tot tot.
Lev scurried away with rabbit-like steps.
From between Lev's hair plastered to the wall, a shadow poked out.
【Is Lev pouting?】
"……What're you talking about."
Grumbling voice.
But Lev's expression didn't lie.
Her lips were already pursed, her eyes slightly downcast from usual.
"……."
Just a little.
Like jealousy bubbling up.