Strategy to Win
The moment felt like a straight punch to the jaw. My mind went completely blank. Even in that haze of confusion, Pioni was leaping with joy while clinging tightly to the black-haired man, and the protagonist, caught off guard by the sudden charge, was awkwardly patting her head.
That elf has a unique way of expressing affection, so this alone definitely hasn't conquered her. Pioni is the type who, once she realizes she likes someone, blurts it out without any filter. That's why there's still a long way to go in terms of affection levels.
But the important point is that the protagonist has pulled ahead of me. If my favorability is at stage 2 out of 10, then his is at stage 3. This is not good.
“When Mr. Kim Si-woo went boom and I went whoosh~, it was boom-boom-boom! We were such an amazing combo!”
“Yeah. Good job, well done, Pioni.”
A pat-pat strategy… I need a real strategy…
Maybe it's because I've only solved situations with brute force since possessing this body, but every strategy that comes to mind involves using power. I bite my thumbnail secretly while pondering, but nothing useful surfaces.
—Shrrrrk
The scenery around the shattered throne crumbled into a single point behind me and vanished. In front, the real landscape rushed forward. Before I knew it, the three of us had been transported back to the abandoned warehouse where we'd entered the gate.
First things first, I need to separate those two.
“Ah, the gate reward has appeared!”
“Ooh, is it an artifact?”
At those words, Pioni released the protagonist and came bounding over to me, eyes sparkling with curiosity. Where the gate had been, a suit of armor made of lead-colored metal now lay.
Unfortunately, this artifact was also meant for the protagonist's equipment.
“It looks really heavy… I don't think I can wear it…”
“I don't need armor.”
“Which means…”
“Yes. You've won another artifact. Congratulations. Just so you know, artifacts start at 500 million won, so I'll only charge you 50 million in value-added tax.”
“Come on, that joke isn't funny, Haneul.”
“Then I'll add 100 million in punitive tax.”
The tax part was a joke, but the Monarch's Armor artifact was equipment worth at least 3 billion won at minimum. If taxes were actually due, it'd come out to roughly 300 to 600 million. Plus, appraisal fees would add another 100 million.
In a normal party, they'd trade internally and split the money among members or register it at an external auction to divide the profits. But with two people who don't care about money and one who follows my lead perfectly, the artifact distribution is going smoothly.
I deliberately protect that one's innocence so she doesn't learn the industry's common sense and flip out, which is why I can make jokes like this.
“So, what are the effects of this equipment?”
“We'll find out after we get it appraised.”
“But why do you always get things appraised? Couldn't you just try using it and figure it out?”
“Because you might run into side effects from the equipment.”
“Side effects…?”
“Yes. A classic example would be bad luck. And it varies wildly—you could get hit by bird droppings while walking, or you could get struck by a meteor.”
Of course, I already knew the abilities of the Monarch's Armor, so wearing it right away wouldn't be a problem. It was simply heavy armor that boosted agility. Normally heavy armor tanks your agility stat, but if you had absurdly high strength or, like the protagonist, could reduce equipment weight, it became an incredibly good value-for-money piece.
“Alright, let's continue the chatter after we get out of here.”
“Yes, you cheapskate madam.”
—Thwack!
“Khek!”
The bat that flew in an instant showed no mercy to the black-haired beast. She really knows how to invite a beating.
******
The next day, I arrived at the academy in a drowsy haze. I'd stayed up all night pondering without even noticing the sun rise, so I'd barely slept. Still, it had been worth it.
Wasn't the solution simply to remove the cause? The problem was that the protagonist could approach Pioni without hesitation at the academy.
“Hehehehe…”
I finally understood why villains in manhwa laughed like this. Guilt boiled up from my lower dantian, but dopamine smothered that heat and even turned the guilt into pleasure.
But this wasn't some dirty scheme where only I benefited. This was a double-edged sword, a deal with the devil, a poisoned chalice. So if I get caught… please don't hate me too much.
I quickly scanned the area with detection, found my target, and headed to the academy library. The library was enormous, fitting the academy's scale—it felt like they'd taken an airport terminal and lined every wall with bookshelves.
The silence was so deep that even footsteps would echo loudly, but since I was flying around on a cleaning robot, it didn't matter. Because it was still early, there were more people using the space as makeshift sleeping quarters than actually studying or reading.
But the person I wanted wasn't among them, so I headed to a corner on the third floor. Between the long rows of bookshelves was a hidden nook invisible from outside, where a cozy desk had been placed.
And at that hidden desk sat the early bird I'd come to find.
“Ahem.”
“Hiiiik!!!”
The timid girl jumped in fright and swept the books she'd been reading into her bag in an instant. Then, without even turning around, she began making excuses.
“I-I wasn't reading anything… I just sat down a second ago…”
Thinking this would drag on, I grabbed the chair with psychokinesis and spun it 180 degrees. Now she was forcibly face-to-face with me.
“U-um… Haneul…? Hello…? W-why are you here?”
“All-Time.”
“A-All-Time…? H-hik… I haven't been uploading since then… it was my fault too… but I can't quit the back-site…!”
The photos I'd been secretly taken of had once set All-Time on fire, but because of the community's nature, without new fuel the flames died out instantly. I'd been able to go back to living normally.
These days, All-Time was buzzing with weird urban legends about some ability user who wore a mask and only panties, catching criminals and playing vigilante.
Indeed, just two photos weren't enough to keep the fire going.
“No. Upload more. I'll turn a blind eye.”
“U-um? Why…?”
“It doesn't matter what you think. If you want, I'll even write up a contract for you.”
“No… heh… hehehe…. hehehehehe…”
“Oh, and I'll give you a camera too, so please take good shots.”
—Thud!
“Huk… this is…!”
I placed the camera I'd bought from a nearby shop on the desk, and it made a heavier sound than expected. I'd asked for the most expensive one, and they'd recommended something ridiculously heavy. Weren't expensive things usually light? The lens was so thick and long it looked like a cannon… almost like…
I shook my head vigorously to clear the stray thoughts, told her I was counting on her, and left the library.
******
I sat on a bench near the school gate and reviewed the plan I'd come up with last night.
The protagonist had no free time on weekdays between commuting, classes, and after school, and on weekends he was either working part-time or clearing gates. Therefore, his biggest point of contact with Pioni was during academy classes.
So what if I made it so he couldn't carelessly flirt with her during class?
For example, what if the mere act made the people around them look at him with disdain?
I knew a large portion of the academy students used All-Time. And even those who didn't would hear the rumors from others.
So if I steadily fed those dopamine-starved people thrilling romantic feelings, every time the protagonist touched Pioni, he'd become a two-timing piece of trash in their eyes.
Of course, if he kept pushing despite his reputation crashing, there'd be nothing I could do… but then I'd just come up with another plan!
There was the fatal flaw that I'd also have to stick close to the protagonist, but I'd have far more chances to score points with Pioni than he would. Still, having a beauty like me acting cute beside him couldn't be a bad thing from his perspective, right?
Hehehe…
As I broke into that wicked laugh again, I sensed a familiar mana approaching from afar. I immediately flew over to greet my blessed sacrificial lamb.
“Senior Si-woo! I've been waiting!”
“Huh? Junior Haneul? What were you waiting for?”
“The artifact appraisal is done. Here, take it.”
When I handed him the case containing the armor, his body bent sharply because he hadn't expected the weight. I stayed perfectly still with my head tilted forward until he straightened up and looked ahead.
“Is there something else?”
“Aren't you going to pat my head?”
“What? Did you eat something weird? No, you'd probably eat even more if it tasted good.”
For a moment, psychokinetic energy flowed toward the bat in my bag, but I held it back. When I stayed quiet and still, the protagonist—despite clearly having no idea what was going on—gently stroked my hair.
His touch was much softer than before. But he had no idea this would become a noose tightening around his own neck.
“Hehehe…”
For some reason, the wicked guilt from earlier had settled, and a warm, fluffy feeling rose from my lower belly. But I figured I'd just gotten used to playing the villain and let it pass.