บท 12: Incongruent Events (1)
It's been two entire weeks since I started attending the Discipline academy.
Frankly, aside from the fact that I coincidentally became part of Qiyana's team, there were no noteworthy events or anything of the sort.
And although I'm always on the lookout, things are pretty smooth.
But it is relatively difficult to deal with so many people and their inquisitive gazes.
Don't take me wrong. It's not like I'm swayed by their opinions, of course.
The only thing I was really worried about -- excluding TWOF events -- was getting another punch in the face from Mael.
Could this change the formation of my skull? Or had that already happened and I didn't know?
Perhaps, was that the reason my body was so short?
''Hmm...''
Still, adapting to the world outside the mansion where I lived all my life with fears of a sick plot wasn't easy, but little by little I was starting to get used to life at the academy.
I mean, it was really easy to live in this place compared to my home.
At the Martial Pinnacle Mansion all I did was take classes, kill monsters, and get beaten up by Mael.
Here, even with a lot of problems lurking around, the story was completely different.
Dishes of the most expensive, specialized training rooms and private rooms of the most luxurious types.
This institution was all the best, providing good accommodation even for a Regular Class cadet such as me.
''Is the weirdo alone again? What's in that damn book anyway?''
A small group of five people started talking about me on the sly.
''I heard it's the list of people he's killed and plans to kill'', a boy claimed.
They seemed to think I couldn't hear them.
The truth, however, was that every word about me that came out of the mouths of the pests in this room reached my poor ears.
'Am I Jeff the Killer's sibling?', I thought.
''But, guys, he looks lonely... should I talk to him?''
''Don't do that! This bastard will suck your soul!''
''Even so, is that true?''
''Yes! He killed a friend of mine! What's more, he was also the one responsible for stealing the toilet paper from the restrooms down the hall!''
''E-eek! Gross!''
One thing that I need to point is that people might ignore and talk bad things about me, but that didn't exactly pose a problem at all.
First of all, I never wanted to be popular.
I never desired things like that, not even in my life on Earth.
So this indifference was actually a great boon for someone antisocial like me.
But, even for me, weren't these rumors already kind of getting out of hand?
[March 10, 1587]
I looked up, checking the date on the classroom blackboard.
If I were to consider the events of the game, it would be around this week that the female protagonist succeeds in finishing meeting the main male capture targets.
What about me, then?
The character Rodiel Marinete — the one I should have been — was part of a more advanced route and was considered one of the best, but most complicated characters to build and maintain a relationship with.
He was technically like a secret character of somekind, unlocked only after fulfilling some specific requirements.
So I didn't have to worry about that now.
However, theorizing that she was done raising the romantic flags in quick succession, I could assume that this is the period when that girl starts to becomes more familiar with the targets of capture.
So, bearing in mind the fact that the protagonist is extremely cunning and keeps an innocent face, this is probably the moment where she's thinking about narrowing down which love route to take.
''It's hard to think of it as a game right now.''
Embodied in this new body of mine, I can feel my heart pumping through my veins and the sunlight hitting my skin through the windows.
The game is no longer just a game.
It has become reality and the possibility of certain things being different than expected is frightening.
Nonetheless, what is even more disturbing and frightening are the villainess and their discrepancies.
Qiyana, for example, is not the same cold and arrogant character that I met in the game.
While her demeanor is still slightly pompous and full of confidence, she lacks that exacerbated arrogance and madness that would turn into an obsession of humiliating Taliyah.
She even interacts with me from time to time. Counting Alexander, I have two people who talk to me outside of employees.
Anyway, there are still two other villainess, waiting at who-knows-where to play their roles in TWOF's macabre storyline.
Honestly, I feel it won't be long before one of them comes out and states their position, or uses some generic phrase that will only serve to emphasize their meanness and "superiority" towards Taliyah.
Unfortunately, I can't remember many details about the game, but I have a notebook written with all the information I'll need.
As soon as I get to my room, I'm going to go over everything and prepare myself for what's to come.
For now, I'll leave the story of the protagonist and co. progress on its own, without me getting involved unnecessarily.
****
It was Wednesday and classes had ended early than the normal.
Lawliet, the main teacher representing the Regular Class, looked in a hurry as he rushed out of the room and ordered the students to do whatever they wanted.
But no one was curious enough to intrude and find out the reason for the vacant class.
In the end, they were happy with the way things turned out to be that day.
''Do you want to go eat something?''
''Hey, man! Let's play soccer on the court!''
The Regular Class students walked with their respective groups, talking to each other as they headed towards the cafeteria or the dorms.
Everyone seemed euphoric at the sudden break they were bestowed.
Qiyana Belize, the so-called 'Cranium', was no different in this.
Walking side by side with a black-haired boy a little taller than her, the girl struggled to keep up with his stride.
''So how was your day?'', she asked.
''Well, it was better before.''
''Do you have plans for now? How about we go to the cafeteria together?''
He tightened his grip on the book in his hands.
''No, thank you. I plan to drink a cup of coffee and finish the remaining volumes of this in one sitting.''
For two weeks now, she had been trying to get close to Rodiel Dashner in every possible way.
She had also done her research on the boy, but all the green haired girl was able to discover was the fact that he was an orphan.
There was nothing that harkened back to the period before that.
In the end, aside from the fact that he was personally adopted and trained by one of the most powerful men on the entire planet, he had nothing for her to worry about.
Or so outsiders would think.
In fact, like Mael Dashner, Rodiel Dashner had potential that exceeded the human limits and would certainly become a great global power someday.
Maybe he was stronger than Truman himself?
Regardless, this had piqued a huge amount of interest in Qiyana.
Therefore, she wanted to build good relationships with that person while she still could.
''Anyway, I don't know if you were paying attention, but the instructor asked the boys to prepare for the next month. You know… the tea ceremony and cadet bonding. A centuries-old tradition of the academia."
''Yes, I heard it. It's not like I'm messing around in class. You know?"
'You don't mess around? So what the hell do you do when you nap?'
She shook her head, dismissing that thought.
''Even if you're not interested at all, as a mandatory event, the boys have to get ordained for the ceremony. I heard that there will be classes with a specific teacher on how to behave at this event.''
''Hmm-hmm. Truly fascinating.''
Rodiel replied uninterested.
''You're not even listening,'' Qiyana accused.
''You looked like you wanted to talk. I gave you the chance for this.''
He snapped dryly.
'Dammit', she thought sheepishly, feeling like an idiot.
The two were silent as they walked, which seemed convenient to Rodiel.
Some time after, Qiyana, moved by the emotions in her mind, abruptly cut the silence.
''You don't know how irritating it is to deal with you.''
Rodiel stopped for a moment.
Craning his neck, he gave her a sideways glance devoid of overt emotion.
Qiyana could be considered lacking in social life, but Rodiel was simply ice itself.
''Irritating? What do you mean by that?''
''Exactly what it seems to be. Absolutely irritating.''
''What makes you think that of me? The rumors that I killed someone? Or the theory that I'm a lunatic who's escaped from the insane asylum? Or the one that says that I shaved the director's head? Or perhaps..''
Qiyana interrupted the boy in the middle of his monologue.
''No. It's not that. The thing is, I've spent the last two weeks of my life trying to get close to you. Now that I'm here by your side, you just ignore me. It's truly annoying.''
''Ugh... I'm very sorry, okay? I won't say I have great qualities to offer. And even though I think you're wasting your time trying to get close to me, we can still be friends. But, want a tip? I really believe that it would be better for you to dedicate yourself to your studies instead.''
Qiyana looked at him, somewhat stunned.
''You are so arrogant. Acting like a know-it-all.''
''Arrogant? Me?''
He paused to laugh.
''You can't accuse me of being arrogant, I'm just straight up realistic.''
''Whatever. I don't want to fight over something so trivial. As for your proposal, I will gladly accept it. We'll be friends, right?''
''Well, in a weird way, yes.''
He closed the book, taking a step back.
''Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a chair waiting for my ass in my room.''
''What kind of thing are you talking about?''
''Was it not clear? I meant that my butt and my legs are tired?'', he tried to correct himself.
''Just walk away already.''
Without further explanation, Rodiel walked away, leaving Qiyana alone with her thoughts.
At first, she couldn't complain about what had happened as she'd had a win: he considered her a friend.
Step~ Step~
Watching the boy's back disappear in the afternoon light, she could only think of one thing:
''He's really a jerk.''
****
Dealing with women was complicated.
On the other side of the coin, dealing with potential villainesses was a clear danger to my life.
Qiyana was a nice person to talk to, but there were a lot of things that kept me from getting too involved with her.
Firstly, she had a huge fanclub in both the Royal and Regular classes.
If I laid so much as a finger on her, I'd certainly be quartered by them the next day.
Second, my body couldn't handle beautiful women.
The teenage hormones coursing through my veins quickened my pulse and made my heart beat faster every time she got too close to me.
I felt vulnerable like this.
Thirdly, I have to make a lot of effort not to let my inner thoughts get the better of me and to avoid looking at her breasts.
My tastes are quirky and I'd rather not go to jail on harassment charges.
And, last but not least:
Being the biggest academic promise had its pros and cons... And also a high price I had to pay:
Die as a virgin.
Honestly, this kind of thing makes me wonder if I'm but just a character in a shitty webnovel, living a boring crazy-ass comedy?
''At least now we're friends. I will be able to act less strange... I think?''
On Earth I was never a guy with a lot of friends and therefore some people used to ask me if I wasn't a programmed robot.
I even got the nickname 'Terminator'.
To make matters worse, in this world I lived in the middle of a freaking mountain for eleven years.
In addition to that, Mael never taught anything about common sense...
'Fuck that...'
As I thought about all this with a feeling of sadness as if I were going to cry, I heard a voice further down the halls.
Hasty footsteps accompanied the voice.
By all indications, it was a fight between several students.
''You despicable bitch! When will you understand? You don't belong here!''
''But... I... I was invited by the director──''
I peeked, leaning on a pillar halfway out of the ruckus.
A series of girls surrounded a single target.
Two tall boys ── about 1.82 (lucky bastards) ── crossed their arms, smiling crookedly.
''That's where you're wrong, you poor whore! The director only called you to comply with government requirements. Yet how dare you tarnish the academy's reputation with your filthy presence?''
One of the standing girls approached the commoner.
Honestly, I expected the person there to be someone with a powerful and fiery aura that could definitely compete with her rival Taliyah, and fit her description of a villain.
''Aak! Please wait!''
But the girl lying on the hallway's marble floor betrayed my expectations.
She was nothing like the illustrations in the game.
Here, right before my eyes, she was only a silhouette of an ordinary girl who showed no resistance when being violently beaten.
Her figure wasn't bad at all, of course.
She could easily compete in fashion contests if she took better care of herself.
Her light-crimson hair was a mystery in texture and length, rippling in cascades over her shoulders.
Moreover, her obsidian black eyes had an oddly impatient look, as if crying out for help.
That made her the complete opposite of the Auriel Briar I once thought I knew.
In the end, she was a stunning beauty, but… nothing out of the ordinary for the academy's parameters.
''By the way, what the hell is going on with the plot? Is this a butterfly effect?''
In the white corridor, there were small spots of blood scattered to the sides.
A greenish jacket lay abandoned and torn on the floor.
Auriel's uniform was just dust due to the mistreatment she had suffered at the hands of those people.
The in-game's Auriel would never let something like that happen.
She was a born strategist, although her innate ability wasn't exactly the best.
''Look at this stupid bitch. Tsk. Clarence, please take care of this. She needs to learn her place in the hierarchy.''
The two boys, rather muscular, took a step forward.
As they snapped their fingers, their smiles widened.
''This is going to be fun!''
Swinging his fist forward, ''Clarence'' positioned himself.
Auriel closed her eyes, putting her hand in front of her face for protection.
''I can even tolerate girls hitting girls. But this is already too much.''
I caught his blow with ease, grabbing his wrist tightly.
"Besides, you fucker, hitting a woman is a crime. Didn't you know it?"
''U-ugh!''
The girl, who was one of the main villains, hesitantly raised her head and made a slightly surprised face when she saw me.
''Who?''
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