Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Perfect Reasoning (4)
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Surprisingly, Alice in the Multicolored Garden has a capitalistic worldview.
Schools that teach basic education are separate from facilities that train control over abilities.
Public facilities are cheap or free to use, but they only provide basic training curricula based on ability classifications.
Private facilities meticulously evaluate the abilities of the children who attend and offer tailored curricula in return for high prices.
In the original story, this setup was meant for the protagonist.
The protagonist's ability was just pulling chicks from their head, so there was no need to attend an expensive facility for ability control training.
It was a setup to contrast the protagonist, a transfer student who used public facilities, with the elite ability-user students raised in expensive private facilities and schools.
Isn't this worldview too harsh on kids from poor backgrounds?
"Serika, I heard you registered at a new facility. It's supposed to be an expensive one run by a big corporation. I'm jealous. They don't accept just anyone. How'd you get in?"
"I got lucky. Someone I know put in a good word for me."
Trees that will grow tall are recognized from their seed leaves. The world was as cruel to the poor as ever, so I had even more reason to become rich and protect my family for our old age.
True elites excel in school life and studies alike. And so, I was faithfully living out my school days today as well.
"Wow, I'm jealous. Maybe I should ask my dad to give it a try."
The girl next to me was Fukuya Yumi. She had her hair in round twin braids and a tomboyish look. She was a character from the original story.
Unlike Serika, who left some impression, Yumi didn't have much role because in the original, she appeared just to agree with Serika whenever she badmouthed the protagonist.
Her role was something like, "That's right, Serika! The problem is this worthless kid acting out of their league!"
"It'd be fun if you came too, Yumi. Give it a shot. Private centers definitely seem better than public ones."
"Yeah, we're in the same category as Serika. We could hang out and talk all the time there."
In the original, she followed Serika around like a maid despite being classmates, so I was a bit wary when we first met. But after talking, she turned out to be just a nice kid.
She didn't have a hobby of bullying others, and her usual pastimes were things like tea ceremonies or reading—very refined stuff.
Since we've been getting along fine as friends so far, either she got corrupted by the nasty Serika in the original,
or she acted high and mighty with her ability, only to get thoroughly beaten by Serika's spicy fists and sorted into the pecking order.
Serika was just an extra in the original, but pure physical strength enhancement is actually a very powerful ability in this world.
If other kids enhance their strength and physical abilities to control the recoil of some specific ability, Serika poured all that power into body enhancement without any recoil.
In game terms, she's like a character stacked with passives and no active skills.
"Oh yeah, a transfer student is coming today."
"Transfer student? From where?"
"No idea. But I heard the teachers saying it's someone with a really unique ability."
The words "unique ability" made me narrow my eyes. Seeing my subtle expression, Yumi tilted her head.
"What's up?"
"Huh? Nothing. Did you hear exactly what the ability is?"
"No, I didn't. The teachers were just laughing like, 'The poor teacher has it rough now~' or something."
I didn't have future sight, but I had a strange premonition about who it might be.
"Nice to meet you all. I possess a very dangerous and terrifying ability, so it's risky to approach me carelessly."
There she was, just as I expected.
Expectations never betray you.
"A lot of people have been shocked after approaching me, so I'm warning you in advance. If you still want to be friends, it's best to start as email buddies. So, just give me your email addresses. Mine is..."
Na Hwayoung was repeating the exact same self-introduction from the facility, looking somewhat dazed to the class. The teacher gave a wry smile, glancing between her and the class kids, then spoke up to diffuse the awkward atmosphere.
"Okay, this is Na Hwayoung, who came from far away. Don't bully her just because she's new—treat her well, alright?"
"Yeees!"
The kids' response was loud.
And right after her introduction, Na Hwayoung started staring right through me.
I casually raised my book to block her gaze and pretended to take notes with my pen.
Break time came. The moment the teacher left the classroom, the kids swarmed around the transfer student. Hwayoung blinked, looking around briefly, as the kids at her desk bombarded her with questions.
"Hey, where are you from?"
"From Korea. My dad's working at a company here, so I've been living in this country for a while."
Even seeing her again, Hwayoung was surprisingly friendly and approachable for someone telling people to stay away. Questions were flying at her left and right, but she answered without a hint of annoyance, always looking the asker straight in the eye.
"Which facility do you go to? A public one?"
"No, I go to a private one. Same as that girl over there, Serika."
"Hm?"
My name came up out of nowhere, and all eyes turned to me. I looked around like I'd just woken up, then met Hwayoung's gaze.
What on earth was she thinking?
I couldn't read minds through eye contact, but we'd gotten pretty friendly that day at the facility, and to join the Prophets, I needed to show an elite image.
Falling out with a girl I'd chatted well with just yesterday over something trivial would be an instant deduct.
Blending seamlessly anywhere, anytime, even with weirdos—that's the kind of person villains want.
With that thought, I smiled and spoke up.
"Oh, yeah. Right. Same facility. That's how we met there. She's super fun to talk to. We got really close yesterday."
Hwayoung's expression was hard to read. It looked sulky and blank, but her eyebrows twitched, so I couldn't tell if she was pleased or annoyed. It felt like trying to read a pet's face more than a person's.
Our eyes met briefly, but she turned away as more questions came.
"So, what's your ability? Teachers said it was super unique. You just called it dangerous too."
At that question, Hwayoung flinched and froze. She glanced around, then bowed her head slightly to answer.
"I can't tell you. Once I talk about my ability, I get a ton of annoying questions. Lots of people get curious, and I've lost friends because of it. Any other questions?"
It was a polite attempt to brush them off, but she picked the wrong crowd. That might work on adults, but here were elementary kids who don't care about feelings.
Despite her serious words, the kids reacted with bored, playful indifference.
"Aw, come on, how weird can it be? Tell us, pretty please."
"My ability's weird too! Check it—my eyes glow!"
"Mine makes my nails grow! See? How weird is yours?"
"Uh, well... Um..."
Hwayoung looked flustered, eyes darting around, face showing she had no idea what to do. Her usual stoic blankness crumbled; she huddled defensively, hands clenched.
"What is it? What?"
"Tell us quick—break's almost over!"
"I told you mine, so you tell yours!"
Like a boxer backed into a corner, Hwayoung shrank, eyes flicking rapidly. She was visibly panicked but couldn't snap back harder.
"It's... Um..."
Her stammering looked like shyness around people.
This wouldn't do.
We went to the same facility— I couldn't ignore her misfortune.
Whatever it was, they said it was dangerous and strong.
Helping her out would surely benefit me somewhere down the line.
"Wah!"
"Wha— Se, Serika! Wait...!"
"Waaah!"
Serika's ability: strength enhancement.
They couldn't stop my charge with their lame glowy eyes or long nails.
Each shove sent kids flying away from Hwayoung.
The pushed kids were stunned but said nothing to me.
But shoving them one by one wasn't efficient. I slammed my palm down into the middle of the remaining crowd.
Bam!
A hand-shaped crack formed on Hwayoung's desk. She stared at me wide-eyed, and the noisy kids went silent at once.
I looked around and said,
"She said no."
Any complaints? Come at me.
I punch elementary kids without hesitation.