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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Magical Beast Commotion
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The Berkeley Hall, where the freshman welcome party was underway, was one of the largest and most complex buildings in all of Elpante, impossible to miss.
To accommodate and manage the hordes of new students flooding in from every corner of the continent all at once, you needed a building this massive—no smaller would do.
In other words, despite the friendly name "freshman welcome party," the actual event felt like the chaotic heart of a bustling marketplace.
Seeing the staff shouting themselves hoarse, desperately trying to keep the students in line, was almost pitiful.
The silver lining? With everyone too busy to notice anything else, the odds of getting "caught" during the event were dramatically low.
Which meant it was time for this to make its entrance.
◎ Clone Walker
[ Item: Special ]
[ Price: 1,000pt ]
[ Creates a clone that mimics the original's personality and behavior. It can interact with other buffs too! ]
[ Remaining Points: 1,000pt ]
True to its steep point cost, the clone was virtually indistinguishable from my real body. It had even learned my usual behavior and speech patterns, allowing it to act independently.
Of course, it wasn't perfect, but that could be fixed with one extra touch.
◎ Buff: Charisma Enhancement
[ Item: Special ]
[ Give it some personality! Adds various attributes to the target object. Currently 2 types unlocked! ]
Option: Cool Gentleman
[ You're no smooth talker and your moves are clumsy? Why not package it as cool detachment? ]
[ Price: 500pt ]
Option: Pheromone
[ Become a playboy! Every action gets a bonus that makes the opposite sex more receptive! ]
[ Price: 500pt ]
[ Remaining Points: 1,000pt ]
Apply the Cool Gentleman option to the clone, and we're good.
That way, even if I slacked on controlling it, people would just think, "Oh, he's naturally that cool and aloof guy!"
As for Pheromone...
"..."
No thanks.
Absolutely not.
Eliya was one thing, but Elnor's affection was rising at an alarming rate.
Even with Fatal Charm, it felt unnaturally fast.
To the point where I wondered if she was just the type to fall for anyone easily.
'Someday, I'll have to settle this.'
I let out a wry smile at the thought.
I knew running forever wouldn't solve it.
She was a key figure in the scenario tied to the Gray Devil, after all. There were issues I had to resolve for the ending.
And with my gift, it was inevitable I'd get entangled.
'...Still.'
There were limits.
I hadn't even attended a single class at the academy yet. Getting more involved now felt way too soon.
'First things first.'
I sighed inwardly and pulled up another window.
[Event: Double Date]
-Amazing! You've decided to flirt with two key figures at once!
-Keep from getting caught until the event ends!
-Failure will incur penalties for scenario progression!
[ Time Remaining: 20 minutes ]
"..."
I had no idea what "flirt" meant here.
The whole plan was a mess from the start. If anyone spotted me in two places at once, it'd be over immediately.
But holding out until the timer ran out? That seemed doable.
Worry about the penalties later—deal with any fallout after getting caught...!
"Ah, there you are!"
In the distance, Elnor spotted me and waved.
Uncharacteristically, she raised her hand high and swung it wildly.
With the chaos around, she probably had no choice if she wanted to be seen.
Perfect. I'd meet up with Elnor and apply the option to the clone...
-!
-!!!
Just as I moved to tap both screens, a sudden roar from nearby made me jump.
I was so startled I accidentally dragged my finger across the shop window.
"Get out of the way! Move!"
"Students, fall back—it's dangerous!"
Peeking into the outer corridor of the hall, I saw several knights escorting a massive bear-like monster bound in iron bars.
Occasionally, beasts captured from the outskirts were transported inside the academy like this. They were valuable for experiments and research materials.
It was risky, but some professors insisted vehemently that no research subject beat a live magical beast.
"..."
Of course, that's what caused the accident at this year's freshman welcome party.
That's why I'd prioritized grabbing the Ultrim of Divinity from all those available items.
'Well...'
With the protagonist and final boss in the same place, suppression shouldn't be too hard.
As long as I got those two to the right spot at the right time.
I just needed to focus on that. Turning back to the windows...
[ Purchase of Option: Charisma completed! ]
[ Purchase of Option: Pheromone completed! ]
[ Option assignment completed. ]
[ Main body – Applying Option: Pheromone! ]
[ Clone – Applying Option: Charisma! ]
"..."
What the hell.
Why did Pheromone get bought—and applied to me, no less?
Was this applicable to the main body too?
'...Come to think of it.'
I'd been startled earlier and swiped across the shop window.
But seriously, how artistically did I have to swipe for this to happen?
"You, you've been spacing out..."
Elnor, who'd approached without me noticing, stopped mid-sentence as our eyes met.
[ Pheromone effect applied to target 'Elnor'! ]
No. Don't.
Please.
Elnor's eyes widened. Her breath hitched inward.
Alarms blared in my head.
This pattern again...!
[ Skill: Fatal Charm activating...]
[...fails! ]
[ The target is actively suppressing their growing affection for you! ]
"..."
Yeah, same pattern as before.
But the details were off.
I had no clue why she was suppressing it, but at least it was a relief?
As I mulled that over, Elnor—back to her expressionless face in an instant—pressed a hand to her chest and muttered.
"Calm down. You're being noisy."
"...Pardon?"
"Not to you."
Who then?
"To my heart."
"..."
"It was loud."
She added it straight-faced, leaving me speechless.
She'd always had these seriously fourth-dimensional moments in the original story too.
"...Shall we go?"
I moved as I said it.
The clone should be meeting Eliya by now. To avoid crossing paths, I needed to keep moving too.
The Pheromone on me was a bit worrying, though.
It'll be fine... right?
●
Honestly, it was one crisis after another.
"Oh, there's a snack stand. Want to grab something?"
[ Skill: Fatal Charm activating...]
[...fails! ]
"...How'd you know I like these? No, coincidence."
Uh. Total coincidence.
I didn't even know your food preferences that well.
"This button's nice. Want it as a gift?"
[ Skill: Fatal Charm activating...]
[...fails! ]
"My uniform's missing one anyway. So you've been watching me closely as always... No, of course not. Hm."
"..."
She was reading way too much into a random button gift.
Interpreting every little action, her emotions swinging wildly—it was driving me nuts too.
'Headache...'
Still, I'd managed to escort her without major incident so far. The clone with Eliya seemed to be blending in fine too.
If things stayed this smooth, we'd be golden.
With a bit of breathing room, I scanned the welcome party interior.
Groups of students clustered by major, mingling under their seniors' guidance.
I hadn't been assigned to a class yet, so no guide for me.
"By the way, decided on a major?"
"Yeah, I have."
It wasn't an easy choice.
In Sera, picking a major was basically locking in your main build.
"I'm going for the Theology Faculty."
Elnor's face soured instantly.
"...Wasting talent like yours on anything but the Knight Faculty is a shame. Reconsider?"
Fair point, honestly.
I'd already experienced the devastating power of Tristan-style Swordsmanship in Desperate Situation.
But I had my reasons.
"There's something I want to learn there."
"Something you want to learn?"
"I've always had something I wanted to protect."
Uh.
Mainly my own life.
Divine skills were the most survival-focused build in Sera. Just look at the blessings in my Ultrim.
Later, unlocking high-tier skills like 'Miracle' could let me solo everything.
Perfect for my goal of straight-lining to the ending alive.
'And...'
Right after this welcome party came Chapter 1: 'Secret Society Uprising.'
Majoring in Theology would give me a huge edge there—the chapter boss was notoriously weak to divine power.
I could synergize my one-time wish voucher from Persy, the secret vault item, and my prepped Ultrim.
[ Skill: Fatal Charm activating...]
[...fails! ]
"..."
Why's it triggering here too?
I glanced over in confusion, and Elnor muttered softly beside me.
"...So stop that."
"Pardon?"
"Hard to tell if it's sincere... Maybe you're just built that way."
She brushed back her hair and spoke quietly.
The mood grew heavy.
"Do you know of the curse on the Tristan Ducal House?"
The topic plunged into seriousness. Flustered, I looked at her as she continued calmly.
"A madness that dooms every family member to die before half their allotted life. The only control is through mental discipline. Know what's the sole proposed cure for that horror?"
I did.
An angel's blessing.
Not the minor ones in my Ultrim, but a miracle from several archangels at once.
The stuff of creation myths. Impossible in reality.
"Right. That difficult. So despite their achievements and prestige, the Tristans are never revered—only feared as potential madmen who could stab anyone anytime."
"..."
"But why do you approach me so easily? What's your intent?"
A chill laced her voice. Unlike the varied emotions she usually showed me.
That's why she kept suppressing the affection.
She couldn't figure out my motives for getting close like this.
"Can't read your intent, yet you keep pulling my focus unnaturally. Even just now, hearing about something you want to 'protect' in Theology, I unconsciously wondered if it was for me. Who are you really? What's your goal—what do you want from me—"
Watching her mutter on, a chill ran down my spine.
Fatal Charm plus Pheromone had her emotions veering off-script, and it looked like she was overheating.
"..."
This seems dangerous.
Leave it alone, and I'd see the mental cracks signaling corruption onset.
My presence was clearly affecting her more than expected.
"My intent's obvious."
"..."
My words cut into her stream. Great timing, even by my standards.
"...Obvious?"
"I want to protect you. No need to overthink."
Better to reveal some intent, even a little.
My survival hinged on keeping her mentally stable—bowing supportively by her side.
And it wasn't fundamentally wrong.
"...So what's the reason—"
"If I don't, I die."
"What?"
"Seriously. I die without you. That's it."
"..."
Pure, unexaggerated fact.
This should suffice for now.
Elnor blinked at me, dumbfounded.
"...I felt it from our first meeting, but you really are strange."
"Told you I hear that a lot."
I stood, dusting off.
Luckily, she responded without cracking— no signs of mental strain like before. Good enough—
[ Skill: Fatal Charm conditionally activates! ]
[ Perfect timing! Planted a flag for explosive affection gains later! ]
[ Next successful activation will have 3x the effect! ]
[ Second gift unlock chance increased! ]
"..."
—or so I thought.
What flag?
Why pop this unsettling crap?
It'd gone big with some 'great success' recently, and now this.
Sighing inwardly...
-!
-!!
-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A massive explosion erupted out of nowhere.
"...?"
Seriously out of nowhere.
What the hell?
Chaos unfolded in seconds. An underground blast collapsed the entire floor, leaving a gaping hole straight through Berkeley Hall.
"From underground...!"
"What the hell?!"
Screams and shouts filled the air.
Eerily familiar. My blood ran cold.
'This...!'
The magical beasts bred underground in Berkeley Hall had rampaged. This explosion was deliberate sabotage.
The Magical Beast Demonstration Riot. It was the 'Main Quest' at the welcome party, but way bigger and worse than I remembered.
It was supposed to be a few loose beasts causing a stir—not a massive blast!
I hurriedly checked the clone's status. My planned route was...
[ Clone Location: Basement Level 1 ]
[ Status: Serious Injury ]
[ Companion: Eliya Chrisanax ]
"..."
Fuck.
No wonder it'd been too easy.
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