Chapter 4
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: It's My Face, But It's Pretty.
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These were utterly despair-inducing stats.
E rank was the level of an ordinary person, and here I had two stats weaker than that.
Honestly, it made me want to die.
At least my Intelligence was A-, which was a small mercy, but the problem was that stats weren't closely tied to actual intelligence.
Memorization speed or basic calculation ability? Sure, those would be fast.
But having high intelligence didn't mean you could apply that knowledge in real combat—that was a whole different story.
'In the end, it's all about application.'
No matter how strong you were, if a guy trained in jiu-jitsu flipped you over and smashed your head into concrete, you'd die.
Intelligence no matter how high—could you actually use the knowledge you'd gained? Could you apply it? That was the issue.
'Hah.'
What should I do?
With stats like these, there was no way I'd survive practical training, no matter how I thought about it.
Being in Class A meant I'd be thrown into even riskier drills. All I could do was sigh.
'I'm really screwed.'
I glanced at my reflection in the crystal orb.
Damn, she's pretty.
This character had been designed to sell to otakus from the start, after all.
Even as a sub-heroine, her base looks were top-tier.
Her figure was on the slender side, but that appealed to certain tastes.
Me, corrupting one of my own characters into a pedophile...?
Ugh, disgusting.
As if that would ever happen.
Get real.
'To survive, I need to stick close to the protagonist somehow.'
Using looks and body to approach guys...?
I grimaced.
It was instinctive.
Just yesterday in my dreams, I'd built a harem and hooked up with countless women.
Sure, in reality I might be a virgin, but in games and dreams, I was a certified playboy.
And now, not only had I become a woman, but I was supposed to seduce men?
'I'd rather bite my tongue and die.'
The character I'd created was definitely handsome.
I'd modeled him after myself, so his looks were guaranteed. I could vouch for that.
But turning gay? That was a completely different matter.
If it were becoming a lesbian to go after the heroines, maybe—but going gay for guys was physiologically impossible.
Mind follows body?
Bullshit.
I'll prove that's bullshit.
Just watch.
'For now, the plan to get friendly stays the same. But I'll absolutely never go gay. And I won't use looks to get close.'
Decision made.
I pulled my hand away from the crystal orb.
Irene Rock spoke up.
"Not satisfied?"
"...Honestly, yeah."
"Hmm, well. Growth potential might be limited. But you're still young. Don't get too down."
"Got it."
I bowed in thanks, schooled my expression, and headed out of the measurement room.
Outside, the main cast characters who'd finished early were gathered in small groups.
'...I'm in the same class as these monsters? With stats like mine?'
That added one more thing to investigate.
Why was I in this class with these stats and ability?
Class A was special.
For future heroes.
A class to intensively manage those clearly destined to become heroes.
That's why it always had fewer than 21 students.
'Someone knows about my regression ability. That's the logical conclusion.'
So who? Probably the principal?
I gave an awkward wave and smile.
It was just a perfunctory greeting, but apparently to one person, it didn't look that way.
She lit up with a friendly face and approached me.
Ugh, I recognize her.
"You sat behind me earlier, right?"
"Uh... yeah? I think so."
"What's your name?"
"Ivy Lane."
"I'm Han Ye-seo. Nice to meet you!"
Han Ye-seo.
One of the main heroines.
'Her ability is definitely... Allegory of the Cave.'
She could turn parts of her body into an ink-like sticky liquid that could seep into walls or floors.
She controlled the materialization timing freely.
Her hair and eyes were basically white, but thanks to her ability, she could change them at will.
Later lore revealed she painted colors onto her own body...
One unique trait: she was the shortest student in all of Heart Soul Academy.
'No harm in getting friendly with her?'
Unlike the other heroines, as a main one, Han Ye-seo had no death flags, and her personal story was pretty straightforward.
She wasn't a threat to my life.
"...Yeah. Nice to meet you too."
"The shy type?"
"No, I just need time to warm up. Once I do, I talk normally."
"Really? You seem pretty normal now."
"I'm trying."
As expected of a main heroine.
Her friendliness was overwhelming.
Mixing words with a real-life beauty instead of a game graphic girl.
Not easy at all.
"So, anyone catch your eye?"
"Catch my eye?"
"Bit awkward to say, but all ability users are hot guys and gorgeous girls, right?"
You just hit the core of the game!
Who'd play a dating sim with ugly capture targets?
Reason everyone's pretty or handsome? Obvious.
Even the extras were above average...
'What was the lore excuse? Can't remember.'
I shook my head after a moment's thought.
"No one? Really?"
"Not really. No interest."
By the way, do people usually ask strangers about their type right off the bat?
Isn't that weird?
"Hmm... Truth is, I know some alumni. Despite appearances, I enlisted after serving as support on the front lines."
"Ah, gotcha..."
"They told me to line up teammates early for the first-year group project in teams of three."
Ah, that explains it.
That's why Han Ye-seo approached the protagonist first in the main story.
She had the skills.
Internal Evaluation 1st place.
Top Entrance Student.
Prime pick for team projects.
The protagonist and Han Ye-seo's first meeting was right after ability measurements.
'But why me first? I'm only 9th.'
I caught her fancy?
Why?
'Probably just a random event, but worth thinking about.'
If this was part of the main story not shown to players.
I.e., "backstory," then Ivy Lane must have rejected the offer.
Why?
She's a regressor.
'Must've had a reason to refuse.'
While I pondered, Han Ye-seo pouted, looking offended.
"I'll do it."
"Huh? For real?"
"You're Internal Evaluation 3rd, right?"
"Yeah!"
"Higher than me. Better to team with someone strong."
She beamed.
"Great! Let's keep the momentum and scout the top entrant too!"
Han Ye-seo grabbed my hand tight and started dragging me along.
Heading straight for Ja-an.
'Academy's shortest character, and she's got this much strength...'
No, probably just me being weak.
Damn it.
Strength F? Getting dragged by a kid like this?
'Gotta snag an item somehow today.'
Tough call.
I wanted to play it safe if possible...
Lost in thought, we were suddenly in front of Ja-an.
"...?"
"Hi!"
"Hi...?"
Ja-an stared at us, confusion on that handsome face.
His gaze sweeping over me felt piercing.
I ducked my head and sneaked a peek at his face.
Whoever sculpted it, he was stunning.
My customization skills had clearly reached master level.
"What is it...?"
"Well, see? I actually worked under an alumni senior!"
"Ah, same here."
Maybe because I wanted a protagonist combat-ready from the start.
The developer threw you into a tutorial monster fight right at the beginning.
With the backstory of an incident during frontline support duty.
In other words, the protagonist had also done frontline support.
Han Ye-seo's momentum stalled.
It was a scene from the original.
Groundless confidence welled up.
I slipped into the conversation.
"Heard there's a three-person cooperative project early in the semester... So we were looking for teammates ahead of time."
"...You too?"
"Kinda got roped in? Ye-seo approached me first..."
Passed to the heroine at the perfect timing.
Nice.
Your turn now, Han Ye-seo!
"Hmm..."
"What do you think?"
"Wouldn't that be unfair?"
"Others probably got the info through their own channels too?"
"Still don't like it."
"Ugh..."
Thinking she'd been rejected, Han Ye-seo looked glum.
But I, knowing the original story, smirked inwardly.
Right on cue, Ja-an spoke up again.
"Still, no harm in making more friends."
"Uh, yeah?"
"Let's grab food after class."
"Sounds good!"
Ye-seo, who'd been down moments ago, waved him off with a bright smile.
Ja-an headed straight back to the classroom.
This scene was a conditional forced event.
Han Ye-seo assigned to Class A, protagonist clears (or skips) tutorial perfectly.
Satisfy those, and she naturally joins the first-semester project team.
'The issue is how the protagonist acts in multi-choice scenes...'
No major story-impacting choices yet, so no worries, but later was the problem.
Ability measurements concluded.
Those curious about others' results stayed; the uninterested headed back to class first.
I was very interested in the other students, so I waited at the entrance until the last cadet finished.
Han Ye-seo stuck with me.
This girl talked so much my ears were bleeding.
The homeroom teacher, Irene Rock, eyed us closely before heading to the classroom.
I followed after her, taking the hint.