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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Cube Steak
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"…That was a close call."
That was truly a dangerous thing to do.
To almost do something insane, unable to control my emotions for a moment.
If I hadn't come to my senses there and had pushed further, trying to save face, I didn't even want to imagine what kind of mess I would have ended up in.
As I was imagining the terrible scenario, Amelia, who had rushed over like the wind, began to check my body.
"Arte! Are you, are you okay?! You said your head hurt!"
"…Oh, I'm fine. Don't worry. It's better now."
"R-really? That's a relief."
To believe my lie about a headache so easily.
Amelia also has a more naive side than I thought.
Her identity as a rich young lady just pops out every now and then, as if to remind me.
But judging by her actions, she feels less like a rich young lady and more like a wild young lady from a dangerous family.
"Still, it's a shame. I really wanted to win and move up."
"…Was there a reason you wanted to win?"
"Well, if I get a good result today, I don't have to attend class tomorrow. Because I'd be first place."
"Ah."
…Now that I think about it, was there a loser's bracket in this tournament?
I heard that the top ranks accumulated enough data that a loser's bracket wasn't necessary.
That's why everyone was so motivated. Because they didn't want to attend class.
"Then, just in case, you should rest well."
"Thanks, Amelia. Let's do our best tomorrow."
"Okay!"
Amelia, who had rushed over like the wind, disappeared like the wind again.
Where was she going?
I was slightly curious, but I didn't feel like prying.
I'm tired today. I'm just going to rest.
"Author-nim, I'm sorry… I'm just going to rest today…"
[Th-that's fine. You must have gone through a lot. …But I got a lot of good scenes, so I'm satisfied!]
"That's good to hear."
Fortunately, the Author-nim was considerate of my feelings.
Is it because the Author-nim is also a woman? It seems she took into account the fact that I almost exposed myself naked in front of the entire student body.
No, but if that's the case, then she shouldn't have given me such a power in the first place.
I wanted to argue with the Author-nim about a few things right then, but I gave up.
She probably just thought it was cool and made the power this way without much thought.
And then, thinking it was too overpowered, she probably haphazardly patched things up, resulting in this. I was certain of it.
"It's my first break in a while, maybe I should eat something delicious…"
[Oh, then please eat meat! Meat! Something that looks delicious!]
"…Alright, sure. I like meat too. How about steak today?"
[Steak! Sounds delicious! Do you know how to cook?]
"Simple things, yes."
Sometimes, the Author-nim asks me to eat something.
Is it like vicarious satisfaction from watching videos of people eating?
I've never seen such a thing, so I don't know much about it, but it's probably similar.
Anyway, it's my first break in a long time. Shall I put my skills to use and make the most delicious meal possible?
I leisurely headed to the supermarket, enjoying the rare feeling of relaxation.
***
"…What, Yu Siwoo. What are you doing there?"
"Dorothy collapsed from exhaustion, so I'm on my way back from the infirmary."
"Oh, really? …Congratulations on winning. You won't have to come to the academy tomorrow, right?"
"The way you compliment people is really…"
"Why? It's good to skip academy and rest for a day."
Of course, it's good, but…
Even so, isn't it a bit much to openly be happy about not coming to the academy?
"By the way, you. You came down a little late after our match, what were you doing?"
"Huh?! N-no! Nothing! I didn't do anything!"
"…? What? If it's nothing, then it's nothing, why are you so startled? Are you hiding something?"
Ah.
Siwoo's gaze suddenly shifted to his uniform pocket.
"What? Is there something in your pocket?"
"Ah, no. Nothing…!"
*Tuk.*
Siwoo was easily dispossessed of the item in his pocket by Amelia, to an almost absurd degree.
Unlike Amelia, who had already taken a long rest, Siwoo had been continuously fighting until just a moment ago.
That's why even if he instinctively realized Amelia was approaching, he couldn't dodge.
…It was the drawback of intuition. No matter how much you know where an attack will come from, it's meaningless if you can't avoid it.
"…Thread? Isn't this that thing? The one that was there when you fought Arte. Why do you have this?"
"Uh, th-that is. The teacher asked me to clean it up…"
"Wasn't this made of magic? Why is the thread still here?"
Siwoo realized. It was impossible to deny it here.
What would her reaction be if he vaguely said he couldn't find the right time to throw it away?
…He couldn't help but explain Arte's ability.
So, Siwoo, trembling with fear about what kind of reaction she would show, couldn't help but tell the whole story of the incident.
"Well, what happened was…"
"…What did you do, you!"
"Ugh, s-sorry…"
As soon as Amelia heard my entire explanation, she started yelling at me.
As expected, even Amelia finds this hard to accept?
It can't be helped. I would have too…
"Why did you give Arte a hint there?!"
"…Huh?"
"You should have just stripped her completely! You frustrating idiot!"
"…What?"
My head, which had shrunk back in guilt, shot up instantly.
…What did Amelia just say?
She should have stripped her completely? Without Arte noticing?
"You, wh-what are you…?"
"Ah, no wonder! The thread didn't disappear! It wasn't made of magic! …What were you doing, not stripping her completely!"
"Are you crazy?"
I inadvertently said something harsh to Amelia, but I didn't care at all.
Amelia didn't seem to care either. No, far from caring, she was condemning my actions at the time.
"It would have been much easier to achieve the goal if you had stripped her clean…!"
"So you're saying I should have just watched my clothes come off in front of all those people!?"
I underestimated Amelia.
I had a feeling.
I had considered that she might propose stripping me without hesitation.
…But I never thought she'd actually say it.
My mind felt like it was going blank.
"If you had stripped her completely, her favorability would have gone up…!"
"…Where on earth?"
I couldn't understand it at all.
What? My clothes coming off in front of other people raises favorability?
What kind of thought process does Amelia have, anyway?
It just didn't make any sense based on my common sense.
"Haa. To not even know this. …Think about it, Yu Siwoo."
"Why am I being treated like someone who knows nothing…?"
"If Arte's clothes had all come off, what do you think her reaction would have been?"
She's not even pretending to listen to me.
There's no stopping Amelia when she's like this.
I just have to say "I understand" and follow along.
"…Even if it's Arte, wouldn't she be embarrassed?"
"That's right. …Imagine it. Arte's clothes half-off, looking embarrassed."
I imagined it according to her words.
Arte, her face flushed, her leotard torn, showing the skin beneath…
"What are you making me imagine?!"
"Just her naked self? Anyway. It would be hard for her to walk around in such an embarrassing state."
"That's obvious…"
"Then you, coolly, take off your coat and put it on her!"
"…?"
"An embarrassed Arte…! And you, coolly putting your coat on her! Arte, feeling grateful, would have felt at least a little bit of favorability towards you! You ruined it!"
…Is that right?
Siwoo pondered deeply.
If her skin were exposed, Arte would be embarrassed. …Correct.
If I were to take off my clothes and put them on Arte, she would be grateful. …Probably, right?
And that gratitude would become favorability, leading to a good atmosphere…?
It's strange.
There are clearly so many things I want to refute, but I can't.
It's like there's nothing logically wrong with it…?
"And she should have been romantically drawn to the scent from your coat, thinking 'He's so manly…!' It's such a waste…"
"Wh-what…! Don't talk nonsense!"
"…? What's wrong with you? Why are you suddenly so agitated?"
"Sc-sc-scent! People aren't attracted to the opposite sex by things like that!"
"No, but they say people are often attracted to the scent of the opposite sex."
"No! It's not, no matter what!"
Amelia kept rambling at school for a long time, until the sun set.
After returning home, Siwoo lay down on his bed and only then noticed the sensation in his pocket.
He had forgotten to throw away the thread.
"…"
What should I do with this?
***
"Alright, the temperature is… done!"
[Woooow… That looks delicious… Aren't you going to eat it right away?]
"It needs to rest. I have to wait a bit."
[Heeh… I think it would be fine to just eat it? It looks delicious.]
"It's not cooked yet. The inside is still bloody raw."
[Oh, I see.]
I leisurely spent the resting time, chatting with Author-nim.
…It's a bit boring, should I turn on the news?
- News about Arachne, which has recently been a hot topic online, has been scarce, making citizens uneasy. Why are they worried about villains? Join me as I…
*Beep.*
I turned off the TV and clapped my hands twice.
Ugh, I watched something boring.
"Did you call?"
"Y-you called, Master!"
"…What? You two are already close?"
"Yes, yes. Well, we found quite a few similarities."
Similarities?
…Oh, come to think of it, those two were from the same organization. Lyra was a rookie, but Spira was an executive.
"You haven't had dinner, have you? Take this. It's steak."
"H-h-help me?! Did I fail to do my job?! Sh-should I lick your feet?!"
"…?"
Lyra and I looked at the panicking Spira with questioning eyes.
What is it?
"Hold on a moment. To make it easier to eat… There, done."
"H-heeeek…"
…What's with her? Since earlier.
She was absolutely horrified when I cut the rested meat into cube shapes with the thread to make it easier to eat.
Is she worried about hygiene? …I coated it with magic, so there are no germs.
But she must be the type to worry about it. I did something I shouldn't have.
"It's good to put it on rice as a rice bowl, or you can make a salad and eat it with that. Here, take it."
"…Okay. Thank you."
"Don't mention it."
I've taken care of my subordinates, now I'll eat leisurely too.
I chopped the grilled steak into cube shapes, went up to my room, and took a bite.
"Mmm, delicious."
[I'm jealous…]
Perhaps it's because it's my first break in a long time.
I felt very good.