Chapter 66: It’s Strange, Truly Strange.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 66: It’s Strange, Truly Strange.
I understood that Morian’s intention was to help, but I didn’t need anyone else in this noble war. Only I—and I alone—could defeat the great evil known as Im Su-yeon.
If I were going to accept help from a big-titted, sweaty, exhibitionist Snow Woman, I would have just asked my Pet Trio of mafiosos to make Im Su-yeon disappear.
But there was a difference in scale between murder and leaking exam papers. If I couldn’t win on my own, the fight was meaningless.
I could have understood if they’d brought in a few university professors to grind me down like a corporate slave, but there was no point in me defeating a monster sent by the Goddess using methods like that.
The problems leading up to the finals were so incredibly easy that the possibility of her getting a perfect score was always open.
Problems designed for little brats were all the same anyway. It was only at the level of the final round or the International Olympiad that a proper stage would be set for me and Im Su-yeon.
Perhaps because it covered all grades of elementary school, the final testing center was packed with kids in their graduating year—those just on the verge of becoming adults—aside from me and Im Su-yeon. I saw maybe one or two boys; the rest were almost all girls.
That damn Goddess really didn't give men a single decent thing, did she?
Wait, if our intelligence is similar, why are there so few of us here?
Well, the problems weren't difficult. It wasn't a subject related to Mana, which society prioritized, but rather science, which was treated as secondary. The "real" elites probably wouldn't even think of showing up here.
Besides, I was living my 2nd playthrough with the knowledge of a basic science-level engineer already in my head. I was a total goddamn lunatic who had double-majored in Chemical and Mechanical Engineering, so a competition like this wasn't much of a challenge.
Unfortunately, I never managed to get a job in engineering. But still, losing to a bunch of brats who weren't even adults yet was out of the question.
Anyway, I managed to act cute enough to get eight books on basic university subjects from Morian. I rejected Camel and Mom’s offer to hire a tutor and studied through sheer grit, even though it was the period after finals when I should have been playing.
"Holy shit...! Look at that, you inferior Goddess! I won!"
In the first round of the United Kingdom finals, I took 1st place, and Im Su-yeon took 4th.
"Hahahaha! I’ve seen through all your schemes, Goddess!"
In the second round of the United Kingdom finals, I took 1st place, and Im Su-yeon took 3rd.
"Even if you're a Goddess, you're still just a female! Your messenger is nothing before my superior intellect!"
In the third round of the United Kingdom finals—the actual final round—I took 1st place, and Im Su-yeon took 2nd.
And then, the Olympiad held between the neighboring Empire and the international community began. This was the real deal. I had to win here.
I saw a few participants from the United Kingdom, the Empire, and countries from the neighboring continent. Judging by how my homeroom teacher pressured me relentlessly, saying I only had to beat the Empire, it seemed regional animosity was quite severe here too.
Thanks to that, I was so stressed I actually vomited—something I hadn't even done during my original entrance exam days. Of course, that’s a secret from Mom!
My homeroom teacher’s bullshit wasn't enough to stress me out, but Im Su-yeon’s growth rate was absolutely insane.
Since the results were already out, I was able to sneak a look at the answer key while feeling up the Snow Woman Sister’s tits, and I came to a conclusion.
Just what is that crazy bitch lacking that she has to follow me around and torment me like this...!
—The International Junior Science Olympiad will now begin.
As the announcer spoke, a countdown began in the plaza.
I steeled myself and flipped over the exam paper.
Questions 1, 2, 3, 4...
They were mediocre.
Questions 15, 16...
These were fairly difficult.
Questions 30, 40, 50, 60.
These weren't the type of questions you could answer just by knowing the facts. They had a bit of a twist.
Questions 70, 80, 90, 100.
These were logical descriptive problems.
Questions 101, 105, 110, 115.
Short-answer questions requiring reaction formulas.
And then, Question 120, which always came out at a university level. It was practically unsolvable.
The moment I saw the problem, I was certain.
"I won."
This was the end for Im Su-yeon.
***
I submitted my paper and walked out with a light heart. The problems were hard. Not only was it a mix of multiple-choice and short-answer, but it went beyond introductory overviews into basic major-level material. There was even a problem asking to prove a formula related to Magitech.
The fundamental equation for the 'surface friction method in stabilization during mana circuit configuration.' It was a formula Alicia had taught me.
I got all tangled up in the middle and ran out of time, so I linked it to a weird formula, but I still solved it.
"You worked so hard, son! Mom is so proud of you!"
"Mhm, you should be. Giving birth to me will be your greatest achievement, Mom."
Today was a day worth a celebratory toast.
Since there were only four participants per country, the grading was happening immediately. They said the results would be out by dinner time, followed by the awards ceremony, so I reunited with Mom’s friends for the first time in a while.
"It was hard not being able to see you because you said you had to study."
"Me too~ I missed Hindel Mama so~ much! Let's play next week. Just. The. Two. Of. Us?"
"...I-is that so?"
I didn't know why she was blushing at the suggestion of playing alone, but I was feeling merciful today. Merciful enough to give Hindel a womb-thumping not from the outside, but from the inside, right through the hymen!
"Are you only going to play with Hindel? Come to the ski resort with me. The ski resort. Hmm? Please? There’s a hot spring there too, it’ll be so~ much fun."
"Then let's all go on a hot spring trip together!"
"...A-all together?"
The Snow Woman Sister scanned the people around her at the mention of "all together." She looked extremely reluctant. I thought I knew why.
"Except for Hindel!"
"Why am I being left out, son?"
That damn Dragon Whelp had no tact. Your profession is the problem, lady. Your profession. If she weren't so pretty, I would have abandoned this airheaded Commie Dragon long ago. I was just frustrated trying to figure out what to do with her.
When I looked at Hindel with pathetic eyes, the Mafia Boss’s shoulders slumped. She was an easy dragon anyway; as long as I said things like "I love you," "You're cute," and "I won't leave you" during our Papakatsu sessions, she’d be fine. I didn't need to worry too much.
More importantly.
"Camel Sister, I know you're busy, so thanks for coming~!"
"...Well, for a competition of this scale, I had to come."
It was time to manage the affection level of the female dairy cow sister, whose visits had dropped to twice or thrice a month because of the Academy.
Hindel was staring at the table, fidgeting and not even touching her food. It was a cheap, dirty trick by the dragon, knowing that if she acted like that, my kind self would take care of her.
However, my pure heart and thoughts full of love for humanity couldn't leave the Red Dragon alone.
"Let's all go on a hot spring trip together! Hindel Mama too!"
Morian and Hindel’s eyes sparkled. Alicia didn't seem to have much of an opinion, and Camel blushed and pretended not to care, though God knows what she was thinking.
I was just thinking about quenching my thirst with milk from tits warmed up in a hot spring, but her shy reaction made even me feel embarrassed. I was terrified of what kind of perverted fantasies were swirling in that head of hers.
Don't tell me she's imagining showing me herself climaxing while we play at milking her during a mixed bath. She really was a crazy pervert cow. I didn't want to indulge such wicked behavior, but since she was a powerful figure who could ruin my sister’s school life, I had no choice.
—Grand Prize, Jeong Yong-hwan of the United Kingdom!
Applause poured in from the crowd. Look at that—this is what a true winner looks like. Looking down at the women whispering and staring at me in surprise, I accepted a massive trophy and a certificate that were almost too heavy to hold alone.
Im Su-yeon took 2nd place, receiving a pitifully small trophy and a shoddy certificate next to me. I subtly bragged about how heavy mine was, but the brat didn't react.
My score was also the highest in the history of the Olympiad. The only scary part was that I was only 3 points ahead of Im Su-yeon. That meant if I hadn't solved the last problem, I would have lost.
I thought I’d solved everything in the middle, but I might have made a mistake or written the formulas haphazardly in the short-answer section.
Watching Im Su-yeon walk away like a defeated dog, I very happily demanded praise from the sisters.
"Our genius brat is the best! It’s because of the Ice Essence I gave you, right?"
I gave Morian a kiss on the cheek out of gratitude, even though she kept acting like she’d done everything just by giving me one worldly possession.
"Hehe, so the things I taught you showed up? That’s great! Huh? Why don't I get a kiss?"
The Vampire was being annoying, but I ignored her.
"My proud son! Come here, let Mom give you mwah-mwah!"
"Ugh... not on the lips..."
Mom showered me with kisses on my nose, cheeks, lips, and eyes—everywhere.
"Ahem, well done... I'll prepare a... Pa... Party. Son."
Beside her, the pervert dragon, still unable to let go of our playing house, almost called me Papa before correcting herself. I felt like I needed to punish her with a womb-thumping.
"By the way, the level is quite high..."
Camel marveled as she looked at an answer sheet. Was it a high-scoring student's? The score was quite...?
"Is that Im Su-yeon’s answer sheet?!"
"Yeah, it’s hers. Wow, I can't believe she wrote it so cleanly."
I asked Camel to let me see the answer sheet. It was strange.
"...The way she solved this is weird."
"What is?"
Alicia, who could be considered the only scholar among my airheaded mom’s friends, approached. In the short-answer and descriptive section, I saw a different solution from mine. The answer was different too.
"She solved it correctly. What’s the problem?"
"No, this formula... shouldn't she have used the antecedent equation instead of this one?"
"There’s a condition attached, so it’s the basic equation. If you’re talking about the antecedent... you’d have to find the coefficient, wouldn't you?"
That meant I was the one who solved it wrong. Well, that could happen...
"This problem is a bit strange too."
"The solution? She solved it perfectly."
It was bizarre. I listened to Alicia’s explanation, and at least three of our solutions were different. If that were the case, based on the point distribution, there was no way there could only be a 3-point difference.
"...Camel Sister, I have a favor."
"Huh? What is it?"
The cow didn't seem to grasp the atmosphere.
"My answer sheet... can you get it for me?"
My hands were trembling.