Chapter 207: Cast Your Vote for the Cute and Lovely Leader
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 207: Cast Your Vote for the Cute and Lovely Leader
When I played the game, Akane wasn't exactly my favorite character, but her crying scene always tugged at my heartstrings.
Have you ever felt the sheer misery of excitedly pulling down your pants, only to end up clutching a limp dick and sobbing?
It’s all your fault, you old geezer.
From now on, I’m going to treat you to my specialty—stirring up a total shitstorm—so you’d better buckle up and…
“What’s going on here?”
Ah, why now of all times… though I suppose I can’t really blame the timing.
With two loud bangs already going off, there was no way our resident busybody Akito wouldn’t come poking his nose in.
If you’re done talking, just go home. Why are you still hanging around to interfere?
“I tried to treat you with the respect due to a guest, yet you dare to run amok?!”
“Let’s get the facts straight, shall we? I haven’t lifted a single finger this whole time, but your people attacked me. Twice. Should I take this as an act of aggression against Yggdrasil?”
“What a foul, wicked tongue you have!”
“Yeah, yeah. I see your thuggish instincts come out the moment you start losing the argument.”
Fable took a step forward, fuming again, but Akane jumped in between us.
The fact that she was spreading her arms and shielding me with her back meant she was trying to protect me.
“Akane, move.”
“No. Yeon-woo is my guest. You shouldn't be rude to him.”
Akane took my side in a sharp, defiant voice.
Because of her reliable little back, I couldn't see Fable, so I tilted my body to the side to lock eyes with the old man.
For now, I’ll just stay quiet and smirk.
Oops, looks like he’s mad again.
Get angrier. Get more heated. Show everyone just how unreliable and unstable you are.
“I know it’s not my place, but may I intervene for a moment?”
Yeah, it’s definitely not your place.
I wanted to say that, but Akito wasn't really asking for permission; he was telling me to focus on him. I watched him in silence.
This guy naturally shielded Akane behind his own back.
The perfect positioning, the hand reaching back to touch Akane’s shoulder… it was a near-flawless display of 'protagonist behavior' designed to raise affinity.
“I don’t know exactly what happened, but I believe resorting to violence is wrong.”
“Are you saying I should have just stood by while he told us old-timers to go drop dead?”
“…Yeon-woo, did you really say that?”
At Fable’s words, Akito looked back at me, momentarily flustered.
“Elder, don’t go twisting words to suit your narrative. Where do you get off trying to incite people? I said the incompetent leaders who led the clan to ruin should take responsibility.”
Of course, right before that, I did say something in a similar tone suggesting they should just die, but still.
Akito looked back and forth between Fable and me, then bowed his head in apology.
“It seems there has been a misunderstanding. I will apologize on his behalf, so can we please resolve this amicably?”
“Why are you apologizing when someone else did the wronging? If the party involved apologizes, I won’t press the matter further.”
Who the hell are you to apologize for me?
And what’s with that look in your eyes, Akito, telling me to just apologize?
…This is not good.
Fable’s pettiness—acting like an adult while demanding an apology to the bitter end—is annoying enough, but Akito is ruining the entire plan I set up.
Why do you think I’m acting rude and putting on this 'I’m super strong' act?
It’s to show them that Yggdrasil is far more powerful than these idiots think.
They’re planning to steal the Source because they see us as an easy target. I have to show them they’ll die if they touch us so they’ll give up and start looking for the real culprit among themselves.
Sigh.
Right, Akito is just acting like Akito, and he has no idea what I’m thinking.
As I remained silent, the area grew quiet, and more and more eyes began to fixate on me.
“I’m truly sor—”
“… …”
“Sorry? Like hell I am! I’m not sorry at all! You want an apology? Then I’ll give you one after you let me hit you twice!”
“That goddamn brat! This is exactly why I said we should have brought the Daihara family along! You reckless little fool!”
As the surroundings grew noisy again, Akito let out a deep sigh.
“Akito.”
“Yeon-woo, right now is…”
“These bastards are planning to attack Yggdrasil.”
“… …”
Do you feel the gravity of the situation now?
The moment you hear that your precious Yggdrasil is under threat, you snap out of it, don't you?
“I know.”
Right, you know. Wait, what? You know?
As I stared at him blankly, Akito spoke with a bitter smile.
“Leave this to me. I’ll try to persuade them. I’m going to protect Akane’s family.”
No, you’re going to fail.
This is driving me crazy. That senile old man is the one person immune to the Protagonist Buff, which usually gives Akito 200% persuasion even when he’s talking nonsense.
This is one of the few events that never goes Akito’s way, no matter what he does. Regardless of the path chosen, Fable leads the organization to attack Yggdrasil.
And look at him, acting all cool saying he’ll protect Akane’s family.
Dammit, I was too hasty. I should have expected Akito to interfere if he was nearby.
I have a mountain of things to handle, so I started this too impatiently.
Akane, perhaps having not heard that the organization was going to attack Yggdrasil, looked back and forth between Akito and me in confusion.
I spoke to Akito, hoping she would hear.
“You can’t fix the land with the Source. No matter what you do, it’s impossible using the Source.”
“I know. I’ll try to persuade them.”
That mouth of his. If only he couldn't talk.
I suppressed the urge to slap him silly and kept talking.
“And if persuasion doesn't work?”
“I can make it work.”
Sure you can.
Because you’re the protagonist who makes the impossible possible.
Because you’ve lived a life where you achieve your desired results without even considering failure.
You can wrap that up as 'firm resolve' and dress it up as 'unyielding grit.'
You’ve earned the right to be that arrogant. Because for you, it actually works.
But not this time.
I saw Akane’s face, clouded with confusion as she struggled to keep up with what was happening.
Whose side will she take?
…Well, obviously Akito’s.
Even without the Protagonist Buff, who would you choose between a jerk screaming for the manager and a guy saying he’ll resolve everything peacefully?
If I were Akane, Akito’s words would sound much more appealing.
“Akane. Trust me.”
At Akito’s words, Akane stared at him blankly.
Deep within her hollow eyes, a sprout of hope began to bloom.
Ah… it didn't matter what argument I made.
It’s over.
The moment I saw that, I knew I had lost.
Whether it was the Protagonist Buff or something else, Akito’s words carried a weight of compulsion.
It was a power akin to sorcery—making people like him and persuading them no matter what he said.
I realized that no matter how perfectly I armed myself with logic, a mere extra like me couldn't beat his words.
This feels like shit.
No, there’s no need to be discouraged. My loss was predetermined anyway.
In the end… I shouldn't have come.
From what I heard, it sounds like Fable told Akito to come too. I should have spent this time worrying about Tyran Energy instead.
The Earthbound people will be massacred by Yggdrasil, Akane will cry her eyes out, and then she’ll overcome her grief to save the world with Akito.
Everything is just returning to how it was supposed to be, so why do I feel so bad—
A soft sensation on my hand snapped me out of my thoughts.
Akane was holding my hand, staring intently at me.
As if she were waiting for me to say something…
“… …”
“… …”
Though no words were exchanged, I felt a connection.
Good grief, look at me.
Getting depressed over something like this. I’ve really become a part of this world.
At first, I only approached her because Akito missed the timing to start her route, and she was annoying because she did nothing but bombard me with questions every day, but now Akane is precious…
Calling her 'precious' is a bit cringey, and on second thought, I don’t think we’re quite at that level yet, so let’s just say she’s someone I care about.
We haven't even had sex, and there hasn't been any grand romantic event.
Anyway, why was I being so uncharacteristically gloomy?
Just charge in like usual. I can’t let this little girl face her destined tragedy.
Akito intends to resolve this peacefully somehow.
Fine, Akito, you go ahead and persuade them. I’ll be the one to save them.
The surroundings were noisy with people threatening to kill me or screaming to kick me out, but Akane was still staring at me, waiting for an answer.
I squeezed Akane’s soft hand tight.
“Akito, I’ll leave this to you.”
“Yeah, thanks. Good choice.”
“But you’re going to have to change who you’re persuading.”
“…What do you mean?”
I tucked my hands under Akane’s armpits and hoisted her up high for everyone to see.
“From this moment forward, I, Seo Yeon-woo, nominate and support Akane as the leader of this clan and the head of this organization!”
“Eh?”
Held aloft by me, Akane stared blankly as if she had no idea what was happening. The surroundings went deathly silent for a moment before erupting into chaos.
“Who do you think you are, interfering in our clan’s business?!”
“What kind of nonsense is this brat spouting? Know your place!”
Everyone was infuriated by my wide-range aggro and screamed at me, but I wasn't intimidated.
Why bother persuading that old geezer? We have a wonderful leader right here who loves and cares for the organization, even if she’s a bit airheaded.
“Who am I? I’m the representative of Yggdrasil! As the representative of Yggdrasil, I support and nominate Akane! I nominate Akane, who will lead this organization with love, to replace the incompetent leaders who refuse to take responsibility for their own actions!!”
“Et?”
At the claim that I represented Yggdrasil, not only Akito and Akane, but even Shiori and Chika, who were watching from the side, looked at me with idiotic expressions.
“How are you the representative of Yggdrasil?!”
“Why?! Because if you don’t recognize me as the representative, I’m going to run straight to Yggdrasil right now and tattle that you’re planning to steal the Source!”
“… …”
What? Why? What are you going to do about it?
You’d better recognize me as the representative. If you don’t, Yggdrasil and the Government will join forces to come and crush this place.
“Wow… what a piece of trash…”
Emma, you’re hardly in a position to call me trash, are you?
Even if it’s a mumble, it’s rude to say that within earshot.
“What… where do you get off making such reckless remarks? Who would believe such a ridiculous, baseless accusation?”
“Who cares if they believe it or not? If you’re not scared, shall I go ahead and tattle to the Government and Yggdrasil?”
It really didn't matter if they believed me.
However, by me saying it, Erin would keep an eye on the organization, and the Government’s attention would be drawn here.
If they aren't interested? I’ll make them interested.
I’ll fabricate facts on the internet and in the media and dog them until the very end.
Their people are dying right now and every second counts; even just throwing a wrench like this will make them sweat.
Fable’s subordinates gritted their teeth at my threat but couldn't find anything to say.
“Even if you are the representative of Yggdrasil, you cannot interfere in our organization’s internal affairs.”
So you do recognize me as the representative?
Fable glared at me, suppressing his emotions.
“I’m not interfering. I’m just supporting Akane. Because I believe that for this organization to survive, the corrupt and incompetent leadership must be cut out, and those who are truly capable and love the organization must stand at the top. And I believe that person is Akane!”
“Ha! You mean Akane?”
“Everyone, look at this! The man leading this organization ignores and looks down on his own kin as talentless! Is this the attitude of a true leader?!”
“You brat! Stop misleading the people!”
Perhaps because he’d been pushed around so much already, Fable reacted to everything I said with a delightful display of rage.
“Akane! Is this truly what you want?!”
At Fable’s thunderous shout, Akane looked at me.
I can’t say it out loud, but this is the only way to save your organization.
When I met her gaze without flinching, Akane blinked a few times and then raised both arms high.
“I’ll do it.”
“Akane!!”
“Everyone, please cast your vote for this young and capable candidate! A vote for Akane, who will save the clan and revive the organization!!”
“You outsider, stay out of—”
“Have you ever seen a leader this cute and adorable?! Your humble servant, Akane! Please believe in Akane!”
Screw off. From here on out, momentum and the loudest voice win.
Every time Fable tried to say something, I shook the hoisted Akane and won with sheer volume.
For now, I have to force a confrontation, even if I have to be unreasonable.
I can’t let this fizzle out because someone like Akito stepped in.
Akane was making "woooo" noises as if she were getting motion sickness, but just hang in there a little longer.
I’m going to save your clan.