Chapter 68

The most attractive student at school.

In "God's Play," a rather significant voting system was in place, where evaluations changed monthly based on charm and reputation scores.

It seemed that due to the recent incident of purifying the evil hand, he had gained fame and thus secured the top spot.

However, Rainy's claim was a bit different from what I had expected.

"Well, it was a natural voting result. After all, you're the first woman that His Majesty, who has never given his heart to anyone, has shown interest in, right?"

"Choke-! Choke, choke!"

I couldn't hide my bewilderment and asked with a blank expression.

"Surely, there isn't such a rumor going around school?"

"Um… You didn't know? Then you don't know the rumor that the student council president has finally fallen for you and is ready to defy her family's opposition?"

...Wait a minute, Rivi and the others?

You said you'd keep it a secret. You said you didn't see anything!

And even that was a misunderstanding!?

I pressed my throbbing forehead.

I don't know where to start to set things right.

Rainy, seemingly oblivious to my feelings, changed the topic from a headache-inducing conversation to an even more troublesome one.

"Senior, how's your studying going?"

"It seems to be going not too badly. If I can somehow manage the evil extermination activity score and the social dance, getting an A- overall isn't impossible."

Thanks to the [Intermediate Dancing] skill, I was confident of at least a B- in social dance.

The scores of students with similar skills were around that level.

'But in a situation where I need an A-, having a subject that's guaranteed to be a B- is a big risk.'

That's when it happened.

Ding!

[A new item has been stocked in the shop.]

An item being stocked at this timing? Something feels off.

'Shop.'

▼

[Shop]

▹Wish Grant [1,000,000,000 coins]

: Grants any wish once.

▹Intermediate Dancing → Dancing Machine Upgrade [100,000 coins]

: Allows you to become a legendary dancer.

▲

So, an upgrade option has appeared.

'Really persistent, aren't they?'

Ding!

[The seat 'Miracle Mathematician' has sponsored 10,000 coins.]

[Originally, the Dancing Machine cost 150,000 coins, and Intermediate Dancing cost 39,800 coins. Upgrading to the Dancing Machine for 100,000 coins is a 10,200 coin saving.]

It seems they didn't think the premise of the [Dancing Machine] was wrong.

'But… If I buy the [Dancing Machine], my social dance score will be guaranteed an A+.'

Why hesitate when I can boost my grades without studying thanks to the skill?

Moreover, the skill price has become even cheaper.

Then buying it is definitely a good deal.

'[Dancing Machine] purchase.'

[The skill 'Intermediate Dancing' will be upgraded to 'Dancing Machine'.]

"I just had a new epiphany, so I've secured my social dance score. The only thing left is the evil extermination activity score."

"…There are times when I don't understand you, Senior."

While Rainy was shaking her head, a familiar voice was heard.

"Why do you need so many evil extermination activity points?"

Demian, who had just finished playing a game with his friends, was approaching with his white shirt unbuttoned.

Rainy greeted him awkwardly with a shy expression.

"Ah, hello, Senior."

"You're Rainy Rose, right? Nice to meet you."

Demian smiled warmly and greeted me, then grabbed the back of the empty chair next to me.

"Can I sit here?"

"Sure."

I called a staff member and ordered a cool drink and some light snacks for Demian.

"This is on me as a board member, so feel free to eat as much as you want."

Demian burst into laughter and said playfully.

"Haha! Yes, Board Member. Ah, then can I have lunch with you like Rainy Rose from time to time?"

Ding!

[The seat 'RomancePass' has sponsored 10,000 coins.]

[Sure.]

"…Then let's have lunch together next time."

While talking about food, something came to mind.

"By the way, the new restaurant and café opening next month will be free for students of our foundation. I'll send you a notice, so check it out."

"Ah, you mean those stores that are currently being internally decorated?"

"Right."

The new restaurant and café I would manage were scheduled to open in early May.

'Anyway, the management will be handled by other experts.'

But there were still tasks like final document approval and supervision.

'I also receive daily reports on the activities of the knights sent to Pansy Village.'

Come to think of it, there haven't been any incidents of evil hands attacking Pansy Village recently.

It might be related to the purification of the wolves in Tuberose Village.

At that moment, Demian brought the topic back to the original point.

"So, how are the evil extermination activity points?"

Evil extermination (滅惡) activities.

It's easier to understand if you think of them as practical or volunteer activities.

'Student council activities also count as evil extermination activity points.'

I've only gone on missions twice, but my performance was highly recognized, securing me an impressive C+ in evil extermination activity points.

Of course, considering the average evil extermination activity score is B+, it's still an absurdly low score.

I sighed in response.

"From C+ to A-."

Demian frowned.

"To do that, you'd need to complete at least five student council missions, but with the current fierce competition, it might be difficult."

"That's true…"

Sigh. Feeling frustrated, I took a big bite of the soufflé with cream on top.

"Here, let me clean that for you."

Demian reached out and wiped the cream from the corner of my mouth.

"Next time, just tell me."

"Why?"

Can't you feel the Demisa members looking at me as if they want to kill me?

"You look too close."

Demian responded as if it was a new discovery.

"I'm the closest to you, aren't I?"

Then he even licked the cream off his thumb.

Crack! Clang! Bang! Smash!

Threatening and eerie sounds erupted from the Demisa members all around.

Hmm… I can feel the hostility.

"I need to go study now."

Before Demian could stop me, I quickly slipped out of the restaurant.

Given Rainy's personality, being seen with a popular student at school must be incredibly awkward, but life doesn't always go as planned.

'Think of it as part of building connections, Rainy. Keep it up.'

* * *

I sighed at the pile of gifts on the reading table.

"Haah."

Despite ignoring the gifts several times with lost and found notes, they keep appearing.

Ding!

[The seat 'CiderPass' has sponsored 10,000 coins.]

[At this point, it's practically a lost and found.]

It's confusing whether this is a school library or a marriage market.

The number of students who are inconvenienced by the gifts taking up table space is increasing.

'I can't take this anymore. I need to use a different library.'

The school has five libraries in total.

Since each library has reading tables, I can study at any of them.

But my plan was quite loose and complacent.

This library is full.

That library is full.

Except for the main library on the first floor, the other libraries are smaller and fill up much faster.

So when I went back to the first-floor library, it was also full.

"How many times do I have to walk in vain…"

It feels like the whole universe is conspiring to hinder my studies.

Ding!

[The seat 'QuestionMarkMurderer' has sponsored 10,000 coins.]

[Do you have to study in the library?]

"Studying in the library makes your intelligence rise twice as fast."

[The seats nod in understanding of the BJ's obsessive behavior.]

While I was walking down the corridor weakly, Professor Felix approached from the opposite direction.

"Hello, Professor."

"Oh, our department's dark horse! Have you had lunch?"

"Yes, I have. But it feels a bit strange to be called a dark horse as a fourth-year student…"

My lack of enthusiasm made Professor Felix look puzzled.

"Hmm? You've been acting all high and mighty lately, but why are you so down today?"

"I need to study in the library, but the competition for seats is too intense."

"You can study anywhere, can't you?"

His ignorant comment about the close organic relationship between intelligence and death made my chest tight.

Seeing my poor expression, Professor Felix chuckled and then offered a proper solution.

"Why don't you use the faculty library? It's often open to students during exam periods, though no one seems to use it for fear of running into professors."

"Really?!"

"Of course. I just told Demian about it on my way here. I only tell my favorite students."

I had just fled from the restaurant to avoid Demian, and I wasn't thick-skinned enough to face him so brazenly.

'I'll avoid it today and go tomorrow, just in case.'

"By the way, the faculty library is at the end of the second floor."

"Thank you, Professor."