Development Slave GET!
Development Slave GET!
Actually, it goes without saying, but Noel knew the true identity of Elara Belmont.
She thinks no one will know because she's changed her appearance into a young girl, but she couldn't fool Noel's eyes, which had knowledge of the original story.
In the first place, a similar situation appears in the original visual novel.
A character who, upon first arriving at the Imperial Capital, gives all sorts of advice to the naive protagonist and later consistently serves as the protagonist's advisor.
At first, all the players thought she might be a heroine candidate, but it turned out she was the unrecruitable "Loli Babba" headmistress, and everyone was shocked.
Although there's a difference between the illustration and reality, there's no way Noel wouldn't recognize the silver-haired magical girl who doesn't act her age—someone she'd seen countless times while playing the game obsessively in her past life.
And when Elara approached by giving her unsolicited advice, Noel thought it was a good opportunity.
'I can't miss the chance to secure an excellent development slave.'
So she set up a scheme to use the Archmage for developing video production technology.
A duel as the decisive match.
Honestly, she thought it wouldn't be easy since her opponent was an Archmage, but...
'Why is she so bad at this?'
Just because someone's an Archmage doesn't mean they're good at cards or dueling—Elara was so terrible at 「Magic & Servant」 that Noel was flustered.
She confidently gave advice too, so Noel thought she was decent, but it was absurd enough to make her laugh dryly.
'How can she be this bad and still give advice like that?'
She stuck her face in, watching from the side and muttering pointers, so Noel thought she was decent at the game, but her skill level was such that she'd have no excuse even if someone said, "You're terrible at the game."
This isn't just because Noel is the developer.
Even developers aren't necessarily good at games.
Rather, users tend to dig deeper into things like this than developers.
It's just that Elara Belmont stubbornly keeps trying to play a combo deck based on her romantic ideals.
As if winning isn't winning unless it's with the deck she thinks is the strongest, she insists on her own combo and is getting crushed by Noel, who plays to win.
"N-Noel... go easy... she's going to cry at this rate."
Elara was so frustrated by Noel's relentless breaking of her combo that she was on the verge of tears.
Clara, who was watching, whispered in surprise.
Given her speech and demeanor, she seemed to be the child of some high-ranking person, so Clara meant that Noel should take it easy, not gnash her teeth like this.
If this were a hospitality game, Noel would have pretended to overlook the opponent's moves like she usually does with the princess or the saintess, but...
'Too bad, but for the sake of recruiting talent, I have to adopt the spirit of executing my own general.'
There was no way she'd miss the chance to grind the Archmage, who had been a famous supporter in the original story, into developing technology.
"Cry? Who said I'm crying! In the end, I'll be the one to win, so just wait and see!"
Elara Belmont, sharp-eared, shouted shrilly and played a card.
Then, as if waiting for it, Noel played a Dispel card to nullify the opponent's card.
You're supposed to throw out bait first to exhaust the opponent's disruption cards, then play the real one—I don't know what she's thinking by just recklessly throwing out key cards.
"Uwaaaaaah..."
Seeing the face that represented the magic of this era fall into despair, Noel made a complicated expression.
Because she felt like a terrible perpetrator, pricking her conscience.
But it couldn't be helped.
'I guess being good at games and being good at magic are different matters.'
It would only be a "good fight" if the opponent was at least somewhat decent at the game, but this...
"Uuuu... huk..."
In the end, Noel achieved the feat of making the 8th-circle Archmage, a living legend etched in continental history, cry over a game.
"U-um... this..."
Seeing sniffling Elara Belmont, the saintess Irina offered her a handkerchief with a pitying face.
It was the same handkerchief Noel had gifted Irina when she, Clara, and Lydia had gone on an outing to the Imperial Capital and were gifting makeup and dresses—Noel had felt awkward not giving anything.
Without any sign of refusal, Elara took it and—
"Puh-eung!"
She blew her nose thoroughly into the handkerchief that Irina had given her to wipe her tears.
Irina was appalled.
Even the saintess of the world couldn't help but be shaken emotionally at seeing her precious handkerchief, gifted by Noel, being used to blow a nose.
『Wha, what the hell are you doing?!』
Irina's face flushed red and white, as if it wouldn't be strange for her to shout so loudly that her words would stumble.
Whether she knew that or not, Elara, having thoroughly wiped her tears and snot until the very end, said,
"I used it well. Thank you."
She seemed to have recovered from her shattered mentality after losing the game, and returned the handkerchief to Irina with thanks.
Irina received the handkerchief, now a mess from the senile loli old hag's tears and snot, and this time it was Irina who made a pouty face.
Ignoring that, Elara held up her index finger at Noel and declared,
"Hmph! Although I lost this time because luck wasn't on my side, next time will be different!"
"Ah, yes."
Noel shrugged as she replied with an air of "If you say so, I guess that's true. In your head, anyway."
"Anyway, I won. You remember the bet, right?"
"Hmm..."
She has the pride of an Archmage.
She has no intention of brushing it off and running away as if she doesn't remember.
But she does wonder what this impudent brat wants to ask of her.
'I have a feeling I've been set up somehow...'
She thinks it shouldn't be, but for some reason, she keeps getting the feeling that Noel in front of her knows her true identity and is messing with her.
As the excitement of the duel subsides and she regains her composure, a strange unease keeps creeping in.
The fact that she approached a stranger and suddenly challenged her to a bet, knowing who she is—it's hard to shake the thought that something's off.
But except for a few people, no one knows about Elara's little girl mode.
And there's no way Noel is among those few, so how could she have known?
Logically, that makes sense, but the Archmage's instincts were screaming unease.
Still, what can she do?
She's already made a bet in front of the saintess, the princess, and the count's daughter, and lost.
For the sake of her pride, she has no choice but to concede.
"Hmph! I remember. I'll grant it within reasonable bounds. Tell me what you want."
Seeing Elara Belmont like that, Noel smiled contentedly.
The three watching exchanged glances, as if asking, "Is this really okay?"
Given her speech and attitude, the girl seemed like at least royalty, and they worried this might lead to diplomatic issues.
Still, they figured Noel wouldn't make an unreasonable request, so they decided to watch for now.
"Of course, I don't plan to make an unreasonable request. I just thought it would be nice to have a reliable ally during my academy life."
"Hmm?"
"I don't know which department you're in as a freshman, but I'd like some help with things like homework or when I get stuck on various matters."
In other words, she wanted Elara to be her supporter.
That was quite unexpected.
"If that's all."
Elara nodded.
'Well, in a situation where she doesn't know who I am, she probably thinks of me as a fellow freshman, so the bet conditions would be something like this.'
Helping with homework or giving advice when things get difficult in academy life.
Kids these days are cute, she thought, and chuckled.
It wouldn't be long before that smile twisted, but at least for now, she was satisfied to let it slide.
"That's not difficult at all."
Elara straightened her shoulders and folded her arms.
"Now that I think about it, we haven't even introduced ourselves yet. This body's name is... right, Ella."
"Ella..."
Noel nodded, thinking it matched the alias she used in the original story.
"Department... ah, well, Administration."
None of those present were entering the Administration Department.
Originally, Lydia was supposed to study in the Administration Department, but after being influenced by Noel's work, she changed to the Magic Department, saying she wanted to learn about magic.
Clara was in the Art Department as planned, and Irina had also wanted to study magic from the start, so Elara judged that claiming the Administration Department would avoid immediate exposure.
"I'll win next time, so remember that."
Elara Belmont said she was going to go check out the other freshmen and left.
Just before leaving, as if she forgot something, she threw a question at Noel.
"What do you seek by coming to Grand Arc Academy?"
Noel blinked at the question.
'Wow, I get to hear the famous line from the original here.'
Elara, hiding her identity, approached the protagonist—this year's special student—and asked that question.
During the three years of academy life, the question "What do you seek?" had various dialogue options, and depending on the choice, small event changes would occur.
Recalling that memory, Noel replied.
"Hmm, well, I don't really have a grand goal..."
Honestly, entering the academy is like a gateway that any imperial noble goes through.
It's just a compulsory education thing—she's just enrolling without deep thought.
At best, she wants to get lovey-dovey with her bias?
But it was hard to confess such ulterior motives honestly, so instead, Noel answered like this.
"I thought I might pursue a world where everyone is connected through culture, based on what I learn at the academy."
It's not just a lie.
Grand Arc Academy is an educational institution that the empire boasts of, as well as a research institute.
Noel plans to develop video production technology here, with so many talented people, so what she said isn't entirely wrong.
She had similar thoughts at the imperial celebration banquet last time.
"Hahaha!"
Elara laughed heartily at Noel's answer.
"What do you mean it's not grand! A world united by culture—that's a goal as grand as world conquest!"
Elara laughed so hard that tears almost came out.
It wasn't mockery.
It was just that she heard something so refreshing after a long time that it felt good.
"It'll be fun to watch whether your dream comes true."
Leaving behind the words, "Don't collapse from exhaustion under your own steam," Elara departed.
"She really is a strange person."
"She doesn't seem like a bad person... but what does she do?"
"Sigh, my handkerchief..."
The girls lamented, feeling as if a storm had passed through.