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135th Chapter. Nebia Chromag (4)

After escaping the guards, Nebia and I wandered around the village.

The streets were beautifully decorated with various decorations that people had poured their hearts into.

As a festival passed down through generations in the village, there was a lot to see.

I was tempted by the enticing smells of street food and couldn’t resist snacking.

‘It’s similar to when Jenny was around.’

『Is that the blue girl Jenny? Why her.』

‘Don’t you remember?’

『What memory?』

‘Ah… right. That was before I absorbed you.’

Muto had no way of knowing since it was before I dealt with spirit powers.

I remembered cheering Jenny up when she was feeling gloomy.

The situation felt eerily similar to back then and now.

‘That was already last year; time flies so fast.’

『Aren’t you going to be wandering around with another girl next year? Or will it be all together… hehehe!』

‘Shut up. Words can become reality.’

Muto always utters ominous words, so ignoring him is the best course of action.

And there was one more troublesome point.

“Sis! Where should we go next?”

“Hah…”

I stuck my tongue out at Nebia continually calling me ‘sis.’

“How long do I have to be called sis…?”

“Still, I look just like your sister, both in looks and voice.”

I almost clenched my fist at Nebia’s cat-like grinning face.

For now, I’ll hold back. I’ve been sweating to save this girl; I can’t let that go to waste.

“But sis, won’t my friends get really mad if they find out I’m hanging out with you?”

“Why would they get mad?”

“Well… things are totally strained between us. All the authority of the Royal Guard was with me; do you think they’ll see me positively?”

Thanks to the Royal Guard and Jason’s agitation, the atmosphere at the Academy has tilted toward Nebia.

Utilizing that atmosphere, Nebia aimed to keep all the students under her thumb.

“In the future, I’ll be more estranged from those girls. I’ll remain an unshakeable enemy.”

The Royal Guard Nebia commanded was perfect in every regard.

Since the moment of enrollment, they monopolized popularity with outstanding grades and combat skills that no one could match.

They were at a level that truly deserves the description of being all-purpose.

Just a few words from them would overwhelm any student trying to stay close.

As the followers of the Royal Guard multiplied, it would be easy to incite them further.

“That’s why I told you to choose neutrality. Otherwise, you might get caught up with that group.”

I spotted who those friends were; they were now coming into view.

In the park to the east of the village. It was crowded as usual, but there were particularly many young people.

They were the students of Aligieri.

They were seizing the opportunity of the festival period to promote their presidential candidate widely.

“Hello! Are you a traveler?”

At that moment, a female student dressed in casual clothes approached us.

She greeted us with a friendly smile, offering cookies and drinks from her basket.

“Please enjoy this together.”

“Thank you.”

“Are you two traveling sisters?”

“Oh, that’s right.”

[Consumption Rate Decrease: -1%]

[+100 Credits]

“What were you doing outside?”

The student asked again kindly, and Nebia responded first.

“I’m learning sewing at school. How is it? Pretty, right?”

Nebia proudly showcased her outfit.

I could see the student flinch at her words.

“Oh my… that’s really a lovely outfit.”

It was clearly just lip service.

Anyone could tell that Professor Stella’s fashion sense was utterly bizarre.

“What about you, sister?”

“Me? I…”

Nebia was clearly eager to see what I would answer.

If I had sewn this outfit, then I should choose something related to it.

I placed my right hand on my waist, emphasizing my figure, and said, “I’m a clothing model for the Target Group. I’m 25 years old.”

“Puhuh!”

[Consumption Rate Decrease: -20%]

[A needle’s level would require over a hundred million needles.]

Nebia burst out, spitting the drink in her mouth upon hearing that.

Moreover, the term “Target Group” applies only to the largest trading company in the Empire. For example, there’s the Delaware Family.

“Is that for real? You really came to Aligieri!”

The student who admired me for a moment quickly moved on to someone else.

“Enjoy this cookie made by Princess Mirona herself.”

The female student distributed cookies to the local kids besides us.

It might seem strange for someone with no voting rights to distribute cookies like this, but from their perspective, it wouldn’t be bad at all.

It’s a suitable way to show off their goodwill.

“A direct model for the Target Group? Truly a notorious scammer.”

“Thanks for the compliment. But honestly, it’s easier to lie in this situation.”

I glanced at the cookies in the transparent bag.

Considering the setting that Princess Mirona is said to be an excellent cook, she had most likely made them herself.

But I didn’t eat them and instead tucked them into my pocket.

“So the esteemed princess increased the votes in this way. Munch munch…”

“Swallow it all before you speak.”

As Nebia received the cookie, she took a bite and spoke.

If Mirona’s side was conveying their sincerity like this, then Angela’s side is probably teaming up with their supporters to express their will by now.

Both were appealing in ways that wouldn’t cause trouble, befitting the ‘main characters’.

But what about the ‘villain’ candidates?

“Ugh!”

“Ouch ouch ouch!!”

“What’s wrong with my body…”

Suddenly, the people playing in the park started to faint one by one.

“Cough! Cough!”

Nebia exhibited similar symptoms, startled as a cookie got stuck in her throat.

“Could it be…!”

Nebia’s eyes widened in shock.

While others were in agony, Nebia looked as if she had experienced it before.

‘As expected…’

All the fallen people were holding cookies in their hands.

It was obvious to anyone that the cookies were the cause of their suffering.

Since I watched without eating the cookies, I understood what the symptoms were.

‘Blood Parasites.’

Inside the cookies were tiny parasites.

Blood Parasites, like Blood Leeches, induce various symptoms in their hosts, and if they fully awaken, they drain all the blood from their host until death.

However, they’re weaker compared to Blood Leeches, so they won’t react to human awareness and awake.

“Are you okay?”

“Sort of… At first, I felt nauseous, but now I’m fine.”

Nebia was already parasitized by the stronger Blood Leeches.

The weak Blood Parasite couldn’t enter a higher-ranked being’s territory without repercussions.

The moment it set foot inside, it would have been consumed by the Blood Leeches.

“This, indeed…”

“….”

With a cold atmosphere, Nebia pressed her lips tightly.

Knowing that Blood Parasites were used, I had a clear idea of who was behind it.

“What just happened?”

At that moment, a girl with red hair rushed to the scene.

Princess Mirona, accompanied by several knights, was astonished at the devastation before her.

“What happened… please check on the people’s condition first!”

“Yes!”

The knights quickly looked over the fallen people’s conditions and relayed their findings to the princess as soon as they got aware.

“It’s a p-parasite!”

“Is that true?”

“Yes. It seems they’ve all been afflicted after consuming cookies made with tainted ingredients.”

“That’s impossible. I’ve never put such things in!”

Mirona, both her eyes and hands trembling, began to fall into deep guilt.

The guilt from having harmed the judges during the last joint training still lingered.

She was terrified at the thought of having made the same mistake again this time.

“But the cookies weren’t made solely by you, Princess!”

“Weren’t there club members who helped because they wanted to see your skill?”

How could a little girl make that many cookies all by herself?

There must surely be a perpetrator among those she collaborated with.

Given her personality, there was no way she would have done something like that.

“Oh no! This is truly unbearable to watch!”

Then someone appeared with a clap.

Leading a group of students in casual clothes, he had that ever-foxlike smile on his face.

Nebia, who had been watching from afar, exclaimed in surprise.

“Slave? Why is that guy here…”

“It’s obvious. Why the parasites were in the cookies, and also…”

It was plain as day why he suddenly appeared at this timing.

The parasites inside the cookies were also due to Nebia’s faction sneaking into the Cooking Club to place them.

Slave had waited for just such a moment to occur.

And looking at it now, it was a rather ridiculous scene. In the main plot, Nebia similarly incites people.

“So, you did this behind my back?”

However, right now Nebia was unaware of that fact.

While the actual leader Nebia was being left out, at some point, it was clear just how miserable her treatment had become.

At least in the main plot, she appeared to be manipulated like a puppet.

Creak—

Nebia’s teeth ground in anger.

She was not genuinely worried about the people’s safety.

She was just displeased that the Royal Guard members treated her like a transparent human.

“This is truly unforgivable. How could anyone serve cookies filled with parasites to the people? Princess!”

In no time, Slave was yelling at the princess again.

He pretended to survey the state of the people, wearing an obviously worried expression.

His shout garnered the attention of the crowd.

– Isn’t that Princess Nebia’s Royal Guard?

– It’s Slave, the leader of the Royal Guard.

– Gorgeous…

Those unaware of Slave’s true intentions admired him.

Even people who weren’t students looked completely taken by his handsome appearance.

Now the entire atmosphere tilted toward Slave.

“How could a person called ‘Princess’ perpetrate such deeds against the citizens of the Empire!”

“It’s a misunderstanding! I just wanted to see your smiling faces….”

“Your smiling faces? Are you saying that even after seeing this situation?”

The cookie-eating victims began to glare resentfully.

Mirona felt unjustly wronged, and tears began to well up in her eyes.

‘Everyone’s smiling faces, huh… haha.’

It was a statement typical for a kind heroine and made me scoff.

For the innocent and naive Mirona, situations like this wouldn’t be something she could withstand mentally.

“Everyone! We will supply the remedy for the parasites, so don’t worry!”

Once again, acting as if endowed with foresight, the people began feeling moved.

Since they themselves were root parasites, they believed they could heal themselves.

This was an unparalleled way to steal trust and reputation at once.

‘A remedy…?’

Suddenly, Nebia thought upon hearing that.

She wondered if that remedy could eradicate the Blood Leeches but unfortunately, remedies for Blood Leeches and Blood Parasites exist separately.

Since they are different ranks as parasites, consuming a Blood Parasite remedy wouldn’t eliminate the Blood Leeches.

“You! Enough of this nonsense! Where’s the proof that it was Princess Mirona who did this!”

“Yeah, how dare you try to incite with such tricks!”

The knights, unable to hold back their anger, pointed their spears at him.

But rather than shrinking back, Slave simply raised his lips in a grin.

“If evidence is what you seek, we have it.”

“What?!”

“We anticipated your actions and conducted investigations ahead of time. As a result, we found something.”

A woman stepped forward from Slave’s group.

Mirona’s eyes widened in recognition, as she seemed to recall who she was.

“You are… the Cooking Club senior who helped make the cookies?”

“I saw the princess putting something strange in the cookies… all of it, I witnessed.”

At her claim, the crowd was taken aback.

If true, it would mean she had leveraged her status to threaten lives.

And Mirona’s gaze flickered as if losing its vitality altogether.

“This is all slander! That girl must be a spy hidden by you lot!”

“Are you making such claims without proof? How disgraceful for someone from the royal family.”

“That rascal!!”

Slave’s playful tone nearly cost the knights their collective reason.

It was right at that moment when the knights were about to threaten him with their spears.

Creak—

“Stop it.”

The outstretched spear was suddenly severed.

And in Princess Mirona’s hand, there was a sword that had appeared out of nowhere.

If the princess hadn’t cut the spear, the atmosphere would have spiraled out of control.

“That’s enough.”

“But Princess…”

“I know. That’s why I’m so upset.”

Mirona, returning the sword to the knight, spoke.

She had snatched the knight’s sword without anyone noticing.

“Ultimately, no one will listen to you. You know how I am treated in the palace.”

Even simply walking leaves her looked down upon by retainers; when she held a sword, she was merely labeled as a monster.

“Even if I take all the blame, it’s better for it to end without anyone getting hurt.”

That naïve princess again.

Thinking that, Slave couldn’t help but smirk as he said.

“What Princess has done today will be reported to the royal family… and then…”

But Slave didn’t get to finish his words.

He suddenly got hit by a flying kick.

Bam!—

Slave was thrown into a cart piled high with event goods. Everyone gasped, and I was equally shocked.

“Better for it to end without anyone getting hurt?”

In a bunny hood and an oddly tacky outfit.

The girl looking ridiculously childish was none other than Nebia.

“Who do you think you’re messing with?”

Using her buff abilities to enhance herself, Nebia kicked Slave away.

She looked down at the cowering princess with disdain.

Surviving as an Academy Scammer.

 

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