Chapter 72: Don't Expect a Pleasant Victory Scarlet is the quintessential student council president type, so she leads the team well.
She also does annoying things like this…
"Before we join forces, we should get to know each other, right?"
This isn't a college orientation, so what's with suddenly gathering everyone for self-introductions?
The first-years, who don't know her well, look a bit reluctant, but the seniors seem to trust and follow Scarlet implicitly.
The third-years are usually too busy gaining field experience and building their resumes to attend classes at Yggdrasil; they're out on commissions more often than not.
Consequently, most of the third-years present are from the research track rather than the combat track.
"I'll go first. I'm Scarlet Elfrixon, the leader of the Red Team. Things I like—"
As Scarlet introduces herself with a confident air, I scan the room.
Among the seniors, I only recognize two.
Alex and Chieri.
Both were seniors who taught me magic after the entrance exam.
Alex is a genius who created a high-difficulty mind-reading spell, vouched for by Frey, the creator of Insight magic. Chieri-sama is the one who bestowed a miracle upon men by creating Blood Flow Acceleration.
Neither of them realizes they are a genius and a goddess, respectively.
Chieri, catching my eye and seemingly remembering me, gives a bright smile before turning back to the senior currently introducing themselves.
Scarlet and the Goddess seem close… I feel a bit bad since I'm only here to wreck things.
Claiming that the first-years would be too nervous to go first, Scarlet decided the seniors should introduce themselves first.
She really is considerate.
But… are we doing everyone?
Since the entire student body was split into four teams, there's a significant number of people. Having every single person stand up and introduce themselves is taking forever.
I wondered why there were snacks and drinks laid out; it seems this was intended as a social gathering to foster camaraderie.
"I am Amagi Shizuka, first-year."
Shizuka says exactly that and steps down from the podium as if she has nothing more to say.
However, the surname 'Amagi' is more than enough.
If Akito is famous because his father is so outstanding, Shizuka is famous because the Amagi family itself is legendary.
While Chika and Angelica's families are well-known, they have to take a backseat to the Amagi family.
When humanity was pushed to the brink of extinction by monsters and demons, there were heroes who united mankind across the continents and shaped the world into its current form.
On this continent… wait, is it a continent? Isn't this an island nation?
Anyway, in this country, four individuals known as the Four Founders laid the foundations of the cities and expanded humanity's territory.
One of them was an Amagi, so there isn't a soul living here who hasn't heard Shizuka's surname.
I don't know what the original Amagi ancestor was like, but these days, the family is steeped in an overwhelming arrogance regarding their heroic lineage, which is why Shizuka is suffering.
Her character story involves saving her from the Amagi family's oppressive expectations and her hostility toward them…
To be honest, it only ended smoothly because Akito had protagonist buffs. If an ordinary person tried to intervene, they'd likely disappear without a trace.
The first-years are gathered in one area, and they smile and wave at Shizuka as she returns.
She's as cold as ever.
Shizuka, whose contemptuous gaze is beautiful in its own right, ignores my greeting and takes her seat.
There are quite a few people among the first-years who are close to me or whose faces are familiar.
Perhaps it's the power of the scenario, but even though I was placed on a team randomly, the Comedy Duo is on the Red Team.
Then there's Angelica, Yume-san's daughter Sara, and Yoshihiro—the ninja otaku I caught on the deserted island.
Finally, Takeo, what the hell are you doing here?
"I am Inoue Takeo, first-year. I hope to learn much from my seniors."
"Learn from us? You're flattering us too much."
"I like his spirit."
Seniors!! That's an act! That guy is a total piece of trash!
Until recently, he was a complete thug who kidnapped our cute Haruna and bullied the other kids!
However, the seniors look favorably upon Takeo, who introduces himself with a polite posture and a loud voice.
Well—whatever.
I'm here to cause a mess anyway, so everyone is an enemy.
"Glad to have you, Takeo. Let's work hard together. Wow, your back is huge. Now, next is… next…"
Scarlet, who had been smiling brightly while patting Takeo's back, turns dark the moment she sees me, the next in line.
She can't meet my eyes and slips behind Takeo's back as if she's terrified.
What on earth did I do to make Scarlet hate me so much?
Is she doing this on purpose?
If she openly shows herself avoiding me, the other seniors who like her will naturally come to dislike me.
No, Scarlet definitely doesn't have that kind of personality.
Then what's with that expression?
Watching Scarlet take refuge in a corner, I step onto the podium. The seniors' expressions aren't great either.
At least Alex remains indifferent, and Chieri-sama smiles and acknowledges me.
Fine. If someone hates me for no reason, I might as well give them one.
"I'm Seo Yeon-woo, first-year. I'm here to screw over the Red Team."
"What?"
"I said I'm here to screw you over. Oh, don't worry. I hate Black and White too, so I plan on screwing them over as well."
The murmuring grows louder at my declaration of war. The Comedy Duo, who had already heard what I planned to do, stare at me with blank expressions that say, 'This guy actually did it…'
Shizuka also looks surprised, wearing an expression I've never seen before instead of her usual contempt. Does it mean she thinks I'm an idiot?
Amidst the commotion, a female senior looks at me coldly and asks.
"I have a question."
"Yes, feel free to ask."
"You… what did you do to Scarlet?"
I'm curious about that too.
What exactly did I do wrong to make her hate me so much?
"Shouldn't you ask Senior Scarlet that? Why do you hate me?"
"Ah, a-ah… I, I don't hate you…"
Senior? Could you please make your words and actions match?
When you say that while shrinking your shoulders like that, it makes it look like I'm threatening you.
The others seem to think the same, as the glares directed at me grow even colder.
Comedy Duo, you guys should believe in my innocence. Why are you nodding along with them?
"Anyway, that's all. Any more questions?"
Mmm~ what a quiet atmosphere. I love it.
I step down from the podium, and another first-year goes up.
The bright atmosphere from earlier doesn't return because I ruined it, and more eyes are fixed on me than on the first-year introducing themselves.
And you bastards in the Comedy Duo, don't start slowly distancing yourselves from me just because the mood turned sour.
I pull the two of them close, slinging my arms over their shoulders and acting friendly, which only draws more glares toward them.
"Let go. Why are you dragging me into this?"
"Haha—they say sorrow shared is sorrow halved. Let's share the anger too."
"You crazy bastard, you're the one who did it. Leave me out of this."
Rio pleads in a low voice, but there's no way I'm letting go.
Screw the Red Team. Magic? Don't need it. Items? I can just buy them. Sex scenes? Um…
My heart wavered for a moment, but I shook my head and steadied my resolve.
A few days later, the Red Team gathers again.
"How many consumables have we gathered?"
"Only about 30% of the target amount. The first-years said they'd bring theirs today, so we should be able to fill it soon."
"Where should I put this?"
"Handle that with care! It's sensitive to impact!"
Oho—everyone's busy.
The Red Team members are moving busily in the space provided by Yggdrasil for each team.
Seeing it in person, I think I understand things I didn't get in the game.
The Tournament feels like a sports festival.
When I played the game, I wondered why they combined exams with a sports festival, but looking around the site, it makes sense.
Mages who fight monsters, demons, or criminals in the field must form parties.
While there are government organizations like Randall's that focus on investigation, most have to engage in direct combat, so how a party is formed and managed is crucial.
While there isn't total freedom in choosing members, even government organizations are given a certain amount of discretion, and the leader has to manage most of it.
In the second game, where Akito active as a government agent, there was a system for managing and operating an organization, so this must be it.
This is a practical training process.
They are experiencing party management and operation in advance.
It's fun learning things I didn't know while playing the game.
"Senior, so what should I do?"
"Uh… I don't know. No one's giving us any work."
The first-timers are divided into several groups and move according to the seniors' instructions.
For the record, no senior wanted to take me, but Alex accepted me.
It felt a bit like I was being dumped on him, but when no one else stepped up, Alex volunteered to take me.
"Aren't you going to be disliked because of me, Senior?"
"It's fine. I'm going for a White License anyway, so this event doesn't mean much to me."
So he's going into research after graduation. Since he's a genius who creates mind-reading spells, research suits him.
"More than that, a lot of people find it strange that you even showed up."
"Why?"
"What do you mean why? You declared you were going to sabotage our team. Yet, you show up every time we're called to gather."
"Trolls and saboteurs have to be diligent by nature."
"…You're not even going to say you won't do it, are you?"
Alex gives a bitter smile.
If you don't have a lot of time and aren't diligent, you can't pull off stunts like this easily.
Drawing aggro, leaving hate comments, checking back constantly to leave more hate comments if someone replies—that requires a certain kind of sincerity.
"Please don't bully Scarlet too much."
"Do you like her?"
"Eh? I like her, but it's not romantic or anything. She's just a junior I want to see succeed. It might look different to you, but Scarlet is someone who gives strength and happiness to those around her."
I know that as well as you do, Senior.
I saw everything she did while playing her route, and I read her inner thoughts in text.
She's a truly respectable character that's hard to find in reality.
They say she's similar to Akito, but she doesn't force her sense of justice on others, and she's deep-seated enough to think from the other person's perspective.
But why does she hate me?!
"I don't plan on ruining things overtly. If anything, I'll probably be a help to the team. For now, the goal itself is to win."
"Didn't you say you were going to screw us over?"
"There are many ways to screw someone over. I'll make sure you win in the most unpleasant way possible."
"…I have no idea what you're talking about."
You'll find out soon enough.
While I'm talking to Alex, things get noisy.
"You couldn't get them? Why can't you do even one simple thing?"
"But you requested them so suddenly…"
"You should have prepared them in advance!"
A senior is shouting at a first-year, scolding them.
That senior is just being particularly aggressive, but most of the first-years currently have dark expressions.
Why? Because they couldn't get the consumables needed for the Tournament.
"Then shouldn't you have told us in advance? How is a first-year supposed to know to prepare beforehand?"
"What did you just say?"
At my words, the grim-faced senior glares at me.
"I said you should have told us in advance. This mess happened because you told the first-years too late, Senior."
"You little…!"
"Wait! There's no need to fight."
"You stay out of this!"
The nameless extra senior pushes Alex aside as he tries to intervene and approaches me.
But I'm right.
Scarlet had told him to inform the first-years on the team a week ago, but he forgot and only told them out of the blue after the self-introductions.
This is following the event script.
Consumables aren't easy to come by.
Consumables frequently used by mages are strictly regulated by the government, so there's a limit to how much can be bought in a week, and students usually use them all up during their own training.
Mana potions? You have to keep drinking those while training.
Most Yggdrasil students use up all their consumables during training, leaving only enough for emergencies.
But then they're suddenly told to bring a whole week's worth, so of course they can't.
"And didn't you seniors fail to meet your quotas too? You should be getting scolded along with them. You're not exactly in a position to be lecturing anyone, are you?"
"I'll have mine filled by tomorrow!"
"How? You heard the kids. Everything is sold out, and it'll take a week for new stock to arrive. Are you planning on going on an expedition to another city? Ah~ must be nice to have so much free time. Weren't you busy with Tournament training and whatnot since yesterday?"
The real problem is that Clyde has pulled some strings.
He used all his connections to buy up all the important consumables like potions, so everything around Yggdrasil is sold out.
Even if Clyde is rich, he can't buy up everything in other cities, but in the end, the team members would have to waste time going there themselves.
The amount needed for the Tournament was set at a minimum of two weeks' worth, but looking at what's been gathered, it's significantly lacking.
For now, the first-years are wiped out except for Takeo, Angelica, and Shizuka, and about half of the second-years couldn't bring this week's portion either.
But Scarlet should have stepped in by now to stop the fighting and settle the situation. Why isn't she?
When I look at her, Scarlet flinches and averts her gaze.
… …
What is wrong with her? I just can't understand it.
While the other seniors are holding back the one who's fuming and threatening to kill me, the door opens and the Comedy Duo enters.
"Coming through."
"Excuse me, we're carrying heavy loads, so please move aside. Sorry."
The seniors look back at the Comedy Duo's words, and their expressions brighten.
They have no choice but to be happy.
Because they've brought several boxes filled to the brim with consumables.
"What did you say your name was? This is amazing!"
"How did you get this much? We were in big trouble, but you guys saved us!"
Despite the shower of praise from the seniors, Rio and Masayoshi only wear awkward expressions.
Brushing off the hands trying to help them, the two approach me, and the bright faces of the seniors begin to harden.
The Comedy Duo places the boxes next to me and retreats to where people's gazes won't reach, and I stand up from my seat.
"Everyone looked like they were struggling, so I put in a little effort. This should be more than enough for the whole team, right?"
"… …"
This, you bastards, is the power of the Convenience Store perk that lets me buy infinite consumables.
I sit down on a box full of potions.
Don't worry, they won't break. I sat on plenty of boxes during my part-time job at the convenience store.
And even if they do break, I can just buy more.
With an arrogant expression, I look at the senior who was just angry at me.
"So. Where's my 'thank you'?"
"… …"
"A simple 'thank you' would be enough. If not, I'll just submit my quota and throw the rest away."
A heavy silence falls, and I lock eyes with Alex, who is wearing a wry smile among the crowd.
I told you, I'd make you win.
But don't expect to feel good about it.
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