NOVEL NEXT Chapter 39
<39 - The Difference Between Fake and Real>
‘This is definitely a win for pantyhose!’
Just imagining our border people wearing pantyhose brings forth such beautiful future possibilities.
The confident thighs of Arcadia in a side-slit dress.
The healthy calves and legline of Isabel, honed from her adventurer lifestyle.
The shy ankles of Northern Grand Duchess Irene, hidden beneath thick pants.
All revealed under a thin skirt, alongside pantyhose. For such a beautiful future, is it too much to set aside camaraderie with my comrades?
“Oknodie. Are you really craving the snacks of the Empire Nobles?”
“No! I’ve never even thought about the wine collection or the legendary cocktails of the Empire Nobles!”
“…If you want to drink that badly, you can side with them.”
“Really?”
“Just don’t expect to eat my cooking.”
“Ugh.”
“I’ll tell Arcadia, and you’ll never be invited to a tea party again.”
This is strong.
My wavering heart has tilted.
‘But still, the border is the real heaven.’
From the sexy appeal of sheer 10 denier stockings to the thicker 150 denier that can withstand the coldest winter.
Pantyhose changes thickness with the seasons, offering various appeals.
On the other hand, those who supported the dolphin pants were left feeling betrayed every winter, unable to hold back their rage, while mocking comments never ceased.
– Where did the dolphin pants go? Why do we only see pants now?
– The border folks wrapped themselves up in thick woolly clothes, right? They can never come close to the noble winter pantyhose culture! Barbarians get betrayed when you trust them, huh?
– Tsk, tsk. This is the end of those who couldn’t grasp the Empire’s grand intentions.
Just looking at the reactions on the game forum sites is bad enough. How tortured must I feel as a veteran player knowing I have to support dolphin pants despite knowing I’ll be betrayed in winter!
“Don’t pick on our kids!”
“Oknodie!”
“Group A’s top of the upper class stood up to the Empire Nobles!”
Yet, the reason I cried while siding with the dolphin pants faction of the border is simple.
It’s because my comrades Jezel, Son Ohchun, and Isabel are all from the border, and I want to keep enjoying Arcadia’s snacks at her tea parties.
I want to keep hanging out with my close friends.
I want to fill the cookbook with more delicious recipes.
Humans can be swayed by such desires and can throw away pantyhose and skirts.
Academy uniforms are made of pantyhose and a skirt, but once I actually wear them, it’s embarrassing and I want to switch back to the cold, harsh adventurer outfit!
“What’s wrong with dressing lightly after finishing training at the Academy? If you come in sweaty, that’s one thing, but you all just showered.”
Group B’s female students felt intimidated seeing their A Group counterparts suddenly full of confidence.
Of course, their spirits were only temporarily crushed.
Is it because they think that once their momentum breaks here, it’ll tarnish the dignity of the Empire Nobles?
They glared fiercely.
“Oh my, look at her. She’s wide-eyed… Are you talking back to your older sisters?”
“In the Central region, they call it barbaric for women to show bare skin during the day. At five years old, you should learn that from your parents.”
“Look at her. What if she’s not even five?”
“If she’s not five at that height, isn’t that even weirder?”
“Haha!”
“Haha!”
A girl from the dolphin pants faction, who had been clashing with Isabel, stepped up.
“There’s no need to say such things to a kid. If the outfit bothered you, I apologize. But please, don’t pick on her.”
Why is this person apologizing after finally backing me up?
This is so deflating.
“What are you apologizing for? Don’t apologize for that. If you keep training hard, everyone will understand. Maybe not so for lazy folks.”
“Hey, kid. Are you saying that for us to hear?”
“I said that for the thoughtless people who prefer to douse themselves in perfume instead of washing their hair. You’re not those kinds of people, right?”
Nearby A Group freshmen, disliking the tension, chimed in.
“The smell of perfume is terrible.”
“Wash yourself more.”
“Gross.”
Faced with the humiliation returned double-fold, the faces of B Group freshmen turned red as they angrily stormed out of the cafeteria.
[You have achieved the Group Competition (1) event.]
[The favorability of students belonging to Group A has increased across the board.]
[The favorability of students feeling associated with Group B has decreased across the board.]
What have I done.
“Ha…”
A sigh escaped me.
I really wanted to see Isabel, Arcadia, and Irene in pantyhose…
“You did well, Oknodie.”
“I’m not doing this for food…”
“Really? Because I was thinking of borrowing ingredients from the cafeteria to make a special dinner tonight since you worked hard.”
“Okay, that was a lie. Of course, it’s about food.”
There’s nothing I can do.
Having given up on the Empire skin for border girls, I can only overcome my mental hunger with food!
*
The next day, while wandering the campus lazily to grab some stat stones, I was taken aback.
“Hello, Oknodie!”
“Good morning, Oknodie!”
“Oknodie. Want some candy?”
Beautiful girls running laps with bare legs waved at me, greeting or coming my way.
Tack tack legs moving up and down like they’re jumping in place while the outline of the dolphin pants captivated my eyes.
Pretty older sisters, dolphin pants, and a line of endless candy.
Am I happy right now?
*
Myung So chuckled at the reports from the instructors.
“Goodness, if one has virtue, good fortune follows, and when sincerity reaches the spirit’s touch, misfortune from violating the moral path retreats. A kind heart leads to good relationships increasing.”
Though I worried that being the youngest and top of the upper class might bring jealousy and envy toward the kid, unexpectedly, support poured in from the A Group girls due to a certain event.
Everyone appreciated the courage to stand up against the Central Nobles.
While there were rumors that I had lured them with food, the might of the Empire Nobles wasn’t trivial enough to be compared to snacks, so the rumors were dismissed.
“I hope nothing untoward happens until the entrance ceremony.”
If I could just avoid the antics of climbing a tree to peek into a bird’s nest and collecting shiny stones on the way down, I’d be even more at ease.
It’s just how the heart of an adult quietly watching over a struggling child feels so anxious.
*
After quickly extinguishing a recent event, the atmosphere within the Academy calmed significantly.
I hoped the group competition between Group A and Group B would remain quiet until the entrance ceremony began. But the expression of Hestia, who I ran into in the hallway, was dark.
There’s only one reason for Hestia from Group A’s gloomy expression.
‘Could it be the 0.1% chance event happened?’
Hestia is a chapter boss.
All chapter bosses typically have a defined timing when they go rampaging, and unless there’s a special circumstance, they stick to that timing.
For Hestia, that’s during the midterm exam period.
But what happens if there’s a ‘special circumstance’?
That timing could be pushed forward a few weeks before the midterm exams.
Thus, the Hestia Early Awakening event.
When students from Group B’s upper class pick a fight with Hestia from Group A’s upper class, a tragic event could occur due to unfortunate accidents.
If merely inflicting severe injuries is all that happens, awakening won’t occur, but if there’s a probability they cause death, Hestia’s reputation would plummet.
She would fall into the unfortunate fate of being shunned, even from her fellow Group A students.
‘The only solace left for her in such a case is actually the Answering Door next door.’
I understand her feelings of turning into Mad Hestia from being pushed to the edge by unfortunate accidents, eerie rumors, and collective ostracism.
That tragic scenario is created when misfortune, haunting stories, and bullying come together.
‘Surely by now, she should be in a session discussing today’s budding issues.’
Someone must have poked fun at her today, and she’s complaining about it.
What should I do then?
What to do, what to do?!
I never thought there’d be such complications in a route I’d never attempted just because I’ve never been a girl!
I feel like I’m going crazy!