The Sham Treasure Hunt
Vints selected Scarlett as the judge. As a senior with a solid reputation throughout the Academy, no one voiced any complaints about her appointment.
Well, almost no one—Scarlett herself clearly wasn't thrilled about it.
She was already swamped with student council duties, and now she'd been dragged into this out-of-nowhere role as treasure hunt referee. No wonder her expression was sour. Still, she hid her annoyance behind a composed facade and accepted Vints' request without protest, which explained why everyone held her in such high regard.
"Sorry for the hassle, Senior."
Vints bowed his head in apology. Scarlett rolled her sapphire-blue eyes a couple of times before flicking her gaze toward me. It was like she was saying something without words.
"Don't you have anything to say, Johann?"
"Uh... nice weather we're having today."
"Leading the students is part of the student council's job too. Johann, you need to internalize that you're actually a member of the council a bit more."
"The council's authority doesn't faze these green rookies at all."
"The council's authority isn't meant to be thrown around like that. Sigh. I don't want to waste any more time, so let's get this over with quickly."
Scarlett flicked a golden coin with her finger. It wasn't real money.
Probably a commemorative token issued by the Academy. Both sides were identical—no heads or tails—just a small coin about the size of a 500-won piece.
The laurel wreath and dove engraved on it hinted that it symbolized victory and good fortune. It didn't seem to have any value as an actual item, though.
◈ A surveillance camera capable of monitoring specific targets or locations. Features built-in cloaking and remote video transmission to the owner. Recorded footage can be freely transferred to playback devices.
◈ This eye, once a symbol of oppression, dragged countless free souls into the swamp of silence.
"This is the one and only coin. I'll hide it somewhere in the Academy. Obviously, tailing me while I do it is cheating."
"Of course."
Vints answered without missing a beat.
"Is the search area the entire Academy? That's way too broad."
"I don't want to waste time either, so if it drags on too long, I'll drop a hint."
I nodded at her straightforward response. My earlier whining had been pure bluffing anyway. Even if the search area was the whole world, it wouldn't matter to me.
"Alright, I'm off to hide it. You both got a good look at the coin, right?"
Vints and I nodded in unison, and Scarlett turned to leave the training grounds. Vints stood there, staring right at me.
Senior said no tailing, but playing fair doesn't win you games you can't win straight-up. I activated the Watching Eye in cloaking mode and stuck it on her. That's why I'd agreed to Vints' challenge in the first place.
Scarlett returned in under ten minutes. She'd hidden the coin surprisingly close by.
"Begin."
At her signal, Vints bolted off in the direction she'd gone. I just watched him go.
"Johann. You seem awfully relaxed."
Scarlett spoke up, eyeing me. She was right—I wasn't the least bit anxious.
"This game was stacked in my favor from the start. I know exactly what you're thinking, Senior."
"That's the creepiest thing you've ever said to me."
"Ouch. I'll make sure to win this and dedicate the glory to you."
I started strolling after them. Finding it too quickly might arouse suspicion. Vints looked like he'd be fumbling around forever anyway—no need to rush.
"Vints! You got this!"
"Don't let that Johann punk beat you!"
Vints had the full backing of the girls' cheers.
"What do they even see in that lanky beanpole?"
"Beats me. Other races' tastes are a mystery. Johann~! Win this, and we'll give you some super sticky service~!"
I had my supporters too. Most of the succubi were on my side. The guys cheered for me as well, but who needed those losers' support?
I already knew where the treasure was, so I figured I'd watch Vints make a fool of himself. I slapped a Watching Eye on him too.
-Senior came back way faster than expected. So it must be close by...
Vints muttered to himself as he rounded the corner of the imposing classroom building, its heavy design evoking a sense of grandeur.
-Seniors. Mind if I ask something? Did you happen to see Secretary Scarlett around here just now?
-Secretary? Oh, Scarlett Senior. Hmm, no idea. I just came out myself.
He asked around, trying to trace her path, but it wasn't going to be that easy. From the looks of it, he'd never find it in a lifetime.
-Maybe here?
Vints stopped in front of an old well in the courtyard. Square stones encircled its round mouth, but it hadn't been used in ages. With magic tools providing easy water access from dorm rooms, it was basically decorative now.
-She might've hidden it inside.
Nope, not even close. Vints was way off.
He leaned his upper body over the well's edge to peer inside. It was deeper than it looked, so he bent forward like he might topple in.
-Can't see from out here. Gotta go down.
Vints tugged on the frayed rope attached to the half-rotted bucket, testing its strength. Even from my view, it looked unreliable.
But he grabbed it fearlessly and slowly lowered himself into the well. It was barely wide enough for one person.
"Putting on a one-man show, huh."
With antics like that, this was an easy win. Nothing left to see.
I headed back to Scarlett. She was waiting in the middle of the training grounds, idly scraping the dirt with her toe. Spotting me, she smirked sassily.
"What? Giving up already?"
"Nah. Here to win."
I walked right up to her and held out my hand.
"Hand it over."
"Huh? Hand over what?"
"The coin. You still have it, right?"
"......"
The girls, who'd been anxiously awaiting Vints while watching from the sidelines, screamed at my words.
"W-what the hell?!"
"There's no rule saying the treasure has to be hidden in a fixed spot. Senior just said she'd hide it somewhere in the Academy."
The coin was still on her. She hadn't hidden it at all.
"Johann. How'd you know?"
"You came back way too fast—that was the clincher. I told you, I know how you think."
"......That's legit creepy."
Scarlett crossed her arms, giving me a deadpan look.
"Winner: Johann."
"““No freaking way!!!”””
The girls wailed in genuine despair. If they were this worked up already, what would happen on Academy Festival day?
"Just so we're clear, I didn't give Johann any info. I swear on my honor as student council secretary that I ran this game fair and square, per Vints' request. Anyone got doubts?"
Scarlett locked eyes with each protesting girl. No one stepped up.
"Cool. I'm out, then. Thanks, Johann—you helped wrap this up quick."
"No problem. Guys, keep prepping! Girls, come here. Gotta tweak the plan a bit—costume design specifically."
And just like that, the adorable mini-rebellion was quashed.
As sunset fell, the guys wrapped up their work. Satisfied faces all around as they stowed gear in the warehouse and headed to their dorms. Then the girls suddenly came looking for me.
"Johann. We need to talk."
"Yeah? Not happy with the costume changes? Keep mouthing off, and I'll make 'em totally bottomless next time."
"N-no! That's not it! Vints is missing. He wasn't around during the guys' prep either."
"Losing to me hit him that hard?"
"We asked the dorm folks—he never went back. He's been gone since we split after the treasure hunt. Curfew's almost here."
"He's fine."
"The dorm supervisors said there's suspicious folks around the Academy. People in black robes. What if Vints got nabbed by them?"
"Hmm... Alright. I'll check it out."
No way he's still stuck in that well, right?
He might've gone down recklessly without a way back up and rotted there. Idiot.
I headed to the well Vints had descended. Dusty and worn in spots.
Like he'd done, I peered inside. Pitch darkness gaped back like a maw. Hard to gauge the depth from up here.
The bucket, which should've been on the pulley, had descended into the dark throat. The rope connecting it to the pulley was visible. That's what Vints used to go down.
I tugged the rope a few times to signal. If he was stuck below, he'd respond.
A minute passed—no reply. The blackness had swallowed him whole.
This well... what was it like in the original story?
Nothing came to mind. Either it wasn't important and I'd forgotten, or it never appeared at all.
"Man, what a pain."
I grabbed the rope and rappelled down. Unlike the fake treasure hunt earlier, this felt like the real deal.