The classroom was unbearably noisy. People usually talked much more than necessary, and in an excessively loud and exaggerated tone, but this time it was too much.
Steven Honleast… After I made that post, his reputation took a hit, as expected, and the commotion it caused was extraordinary. However, I obviously knew what he would do next. His options were varied: he could manipulate the fools around me with some kind of speech and internal influence, or, more likely, employ false opposition.
False opposition was a basic strategy, easy to execute, especially with the "character" I had crafted for myself in the eyes of the class. I was a student despised by everyone, but in a way that didn't draw too much attention. Imposing my will in the midst of a stalemate, where popular opinion hadn't yet solidified, was inconvenient, but it allowed me to subtly steer it in my favor from behind the scenes. If option A benefited me more than option B, I would subtly express my unpopular opinion against B, indirectly bolstering arguments that highlighted A's advantages. Eventually, those with greater leadership would voice why A was the better choice. This suited me perfectly, as I could remain unnoticed while wielding a certain degree of control in my environment.
I looked up at the ceiling, slowly lowering my gaze to take in the entire room. Everyone was talking about Steven Honleast, whom I had indirectly defamed with my post. As I had suspected from the other girls' conversations, there was someone who still trusted him: Bonnie Kindness.
She seemed naive and kind, having come from an all-girls school with no prior connection to anyone here, and, on top of that, she had transferred mid-semester. It all sounded like a plan orchestrated by Steven, though it was just a hypothesis. I still needed to investigate many things, including the possibility that Bonnie Kindness was also playing a character, just like me.
I feigned discomfort at Steven's presence, as my character demanded. Since many students were looking my way—given that I sat at the desk in front of Steven—I couldn't afford to slip up in my performance.
Andrew seemed calm, which clearly indicated he had some contact with Steven, who saw no need to hide it. Both Larry and Carol were trying to defuse the situation. They surely wouldn't be the only ones, and the teacher would soon interrupt the commotion.
"Receptacles of power, pay attention! Let's begin now!" Sandra said hurriedly as she erased the board.
The classes were easy and boring. Even when I dozed off or got distracted, a quick glance at the board put me ahead of the others. If I were to rank the academic abilities of my classmates, I'd likely come out on top without much effort, followed by Larry and Bonnie. Of course, that excluded Steven, whose skills I still didn't fully know.
Despite my abilities far surpassing those of my peers, I couldn't draw attention because of how everything unfolded in the past, between my interactions with Steven and Craig. Maintaining a mediocre position was a requirement of my detestable character, at least in the grades shared with the entire school, like the bimonthly rankings. Fortunately, those weren't the most important evaluations, so my report card wasn't too affected.
The classes progressed. After two periods of biology, there were two periods of chemistry, one of history, and now literature was about to begin. Though there were fewer classes than usual, there were no breaks, and the order of subjects was determined by Sandra, not fixed. There was a general textbook, computers, and notebooks used for all subjects, so organization wasn't an issue.
"Very well, dear vessels of power. For our first literature class of the semester, you'll do a paired project on poems. Each group will write a poem about a topic of their choice. Do your best!"
A group activity, and quite peculiar for the subject. Since Sandra was already aware of the situation with Steven, she would likely choose the pairs. This could be very interesting depending on which group I was placed in.
"Peter and Andrew."
"Larry and Carol."
"Tina and Sam."
"Bonnie and Jack."
Bonnie. Ironic, to say the least. Observing how she'd react in an uncomfortable situation would certainly help me determine if she was real or not. I'd try to shake her apparent trust in Steven, allowing me to analyze her reaction to a student who could either represent a reprehensible danger according to Steven or an unpopular student whose will should not be taken into account. If she condemned me and tried to denounce me as a manipulator, protecting herself as a reflex, I would get the answer, and if that were not the case, it would be possible to measure herr level of caution or genuineness.
All the students began moving their desks to sit closer to their partners, except for me—I waited for Bonnie to do all the work.
"H-hi. Everything okay, Jack?" she said, her failed attempt at friendliness painfully obvious.
"Yeah. Let's get this over with."
Bonnie suggested the theme of "trusting others." What could this be? Maybe an exaggerated attempt to maintain her "character"? No… The way she looked down while seeming eager for me to challenge her suggestion, as if ready to justify it, showed it wasn't forced. My partner genuinely believed in it, foolishly so, which aligned with the possibility that Steven was using her after the situation Craig had caused. While it was likely Bonnie was just naive, I couldn't let my guard down, especially since Steven was involved.
I realized in my thoughts that two seconds had passed, and I was taking too long to respond. Still, I sacrificed another second to plan a way to create an uncomfortable situation while questioning her "trust" in Steven. I decided to use Larry, who was conveniently nearby and would easily fall into my trap.
"Trusting others?!" I said in a deliberately loud tone to draw attention. It wasn't loud enough for someone like Charlotte, Bonnie's friend, to overhear and confront her about it, but enough for the class "leader" to notice.
Bonnie looked visibly uncomfortable, though she tried to hide it to maintain her friendly facade. If she was acting, she was wearing a double-layered mask at that moment, something that is usually very difficult for those who differentiate their true emotions from their characters, like me. After all, many actions end up being performed automatically, and their way of acting in both layers of acting wouldn't differ much if that were the case.
After she confirmed the theme, I suggested I write half the poem, and she'd do the rest.
"Wouldn't it be better if we brainstormed together…?"
"No. Trust me."
I used that ironic phrase to sound unpleasant and quickly wrote my part of the poem. I didn't care about its quality, but I deliberately targeted one of Bonnie's most prominent traits—or those of her "character"—to help me analyze her reactions.
"W-wow, Jack… Haha… You write well, but are you sure you didn't mix up the theme?"
"The theme is trust."
"Oh… And why did you write something so negative…?"
Indeed, Bonnie had a strong attachment to the concept of trust. This may seem contradictory at first glance because of where she's studying and its reputation, which, despite being the best in the state for education, obviously alienates more idealistic families. However, it actually only helps me build her psychological profile.
"Tch! Don't bother me."
I turned off my phone but left it recording the ambient audio on the desk and went to the bathroom. With sound amplifiers installed, I could hear Bonnie as long as she didn't move too far from the desk. Since I had loudly mentioned the trust poem we were working on earlier, near Larry, and knowing Bonnie had likely brought it up around him before, he'd probably say something about Steven's situation, especially since he loved giving advice and helping others. Yes, perhaps a piece of advice or praise would come from him, and it would be very interesting to see how Bonnie reacted, whether she was a character or not.
While walking to the bathroom, I spotted a school staff member. I had been observing him since I noticed Steven wasn't using the school's Wi-Fi for some reason. His right hand was holding the ring finger of his left hand, and he wore a necklace made of animal bones. Tired eyes, a restrained posture but not tense, and a badge indicating he was a relatively experienced worker, despite looking young. His name was David, and he worked in the tech department.
David… A young worker raised in a mystical household, dealing with the recent loss of his wife. His eyes suggested he cried often, and his hands on his wedding ring indicated that the possible separation—or even death—of his wife hadn't been overcome. In fact, the way his eyes repeatedly closed, as if he were talking to someone, strongly suggested his wife had died, and David was trying to contact her somehow. Despite being at work, he doesn't bother to hide his vulnerability, which is strange considering where he works. At the very least, he finds himself in an irrational state of complete attachment to his beliefs, questioning what truly matters. He would definitely be useful in my next move against Steven.
Since exposing the lack of credibility in a post that anyone could have made was the safest approach at the moment, I knew Steven would likely use a false opposition strategy with a post, this time framing me, the "manipulator," as the author. To avoid taking too many risks, I'd need to research David further—not because I lacked knowledge about him, but because if his life was already fully exposed, my plan would fail.
After returning from the bathroom, I sat down slowly, checking if my phone's position had changed or if any student was looking at me in a way that suggested Bonnie had touched my device. That wasn't the case.
"I did my part of the poem… Do you think it's okay like this?"
I read her half of the poem and came closer to understanding what might be happening.
*"…Distrust and insecurity are overwhelming,
the cold and emptiness of apparent truth drain life and corrupt men,
but at the same time, they are mere illusions born of fear.
The possibility of betraying someone in this world,
the depletion of the will to believe in those who have been incapable of doing good,
but one day it will return, splendid and victorious."*
Bonnie, judging by her behavior, movements, and the situation she was in—being manipulated by Steven—wasn't just a fraud. She was like a princess caught in a rope, about to fall into thorns, believing a prince could save her while the rope slowly frayed. Who was the prince? Steven? No… Considering her complete devotion to the principle of trust, combined with her coming from a somewhat "isolated" school, despite having the ability to enroll in the state's best… and possibly having been expelled… The prince would be… Yes… Definitely. After piecing together her financial situation, education, and mannerisms, while still considering I might be manipulated, I responded to her poem.
"Whatever."
I grabbed my phone and earphones to listen to the recording of Bonnie and Larry's likely conversation from when I was in the bathroom. My plan was to sow doubt in her about Steven, and after he was exposed to the entire class due to my plan, she would either speak out against him or break down in tears. This was crucial because she was the only one who currently trusted him, possibly alongside Charlotte, who could be swayed through Steven's manipulation of Bonnie. Once she broke down, Steven's lack of supporters would be exposed to the entire class, and in an instinctive herd mentality, everyone would turn against my enemy.
As Bonnie walked to Sandra's desk, I slowly listened to the audio, and as predicted, she had indeed spoken with Larry. The more I listened, the more I realized he had inadvertently helped me, and Bonnie was genuinely afraid of who the "manipulator" might be. With that, the rest was easy.
"That look. Are you scared?" I said after she sat down, staring at a specific point on her face to unsettle her and create the effect I needed.
"W-well… Honestly, yes… I'm worried about what Steven said about the 'manipulator' who drove Craig to suicide. How will Steven find out who it was? And who was it…?"
I stared at her again, building tension. She was likely about to suspect I was the "manipulator," but I quickly shifted the tone by putting my hand on my face and saying:
"You're terribly stupid."
Bonnie's expression changed instantly, as I had predicted.
"Why do you think I'm stupid, Jack…? Do you think it was all a story made up by Steven?"
Her thought process was obvious, but I wanted her to consider something slightly less foolish.
"No. That's not it."
The bell rang. Knowing my mission was accomplished and that Bonnie would eventually realize what I meant, I packed my things and quickly left the room. Since all the other students had already rearranged the desks, she would likely feel embarrassed about dragging the desk again, as had before, and would try to lift it, inevitably failing. Larry would come to help her. Given his tendency to help others to get what he wants, he might unintentionally assist me by suggesting to Bonnie that Steven could be the "manipulator." If he didn't, someone else likely would.
I walked to the school's storage area and put away my materials. Then I headed to the section of the school where the signal connections and related equipment were located. My plan was simple: use David to disable the signal for me. When Steven made his post, likely after dinner, the only suspects would be Andrew, Carol, Larry, and Steven, the only ones with credits based on my prior observations. Andrew would likely meet Mike after dinner, as he usually did, and I'd be there, recording them in specific locations to show that Andrew wasn't using a phone with Mike—or if he was, that they weren't making a post. While doing this, I'd be in contact with David, using his phone with credits for a call (a feature limited to calls).
This might alter my character, making me seem weirder to others than I'd like, but I'd only reveal the recordings of Andrew and Mike if Steven tried to accuse him.
There was a chance my plan would succeed, but if Steven somehow anticipated everything or noticed the setup, creating a safety net and sharing it with the other students, I'd try to frame whoever triggered the signal as the manipulator, arguing they were trying to spin a narrative. This would also help me if Steven tried to allow the situation in which I appear suspicious and then use that as an argument for an accusation.I could use Larry for this or rely on the "false opposition" strategy my character enabled. However, if Steven anticipated even further, there'd be no choice. The duel would end with him regaining some of his reputation, but the ground would still be set for my Plan B, which I'd conceal using the distraction of my fake attempt to manipulate Bonnie.
I waited near the tech sector, and as predicted, David appeared. He was blinking slowly, holding his wedding ring and bone necklace. I approached when he seemed most vulnerable and said:
"She hasn't forgotten you. Don't worry."
David went pale, and before he could respond, I continued.
"You've been longing for this for a long time, haven't you, David Clutterman? So has she. The poor thing was so lonely and wanted to see you. She might even be erased by your suffering."
Having researched him earlier, I found that the only things publicly available on David's social media were his name and some mystical references. This confirmed what I already knew and wouldn't jeopardize my plans, as he hadn't shared anything about his wife's death. I saw her in some photos on his social media, but the tragic event was not mentioned, and her relatives were nowhere to be found. At the very least, there were no younger figures close to David and his family. David doesn't appear to have met her in a religious setting, as the ring he wore lacked such elements. He is currently a bitter young man, who hasn't abandoned his convictions and is likely looking for something to hold onto amidst his denial. In other words, my plan had a high chance of working.
"Who… are you…?" he said, his eyes wide with shock.
"I'm a messenger."
David looked at me with desperation and agony.
"You…! You…! Did Aria say something to you…?"
Aria… No, I couldn't work with that name yet. Though he seemed to trust me, this could be a test to see if I was telling the truth.
"Her earthly name doesn't matter. I come from a higher plane, so I don't have much connection to this world. I usually carry messages from other planes, not this one… You must be truly detached from matter for your will to reach Zjyfruinir."
David's face grew even more shocked, likely because I mentioned an entity from his beliefs. Though not the primary one or the one that communicates with humans, Zjyfruinir was the entity his family was most connected to, according to the myths. This information came from his social media posts. With this knowledge, I could proceed with my plan.
"Zjyfruinir…? He… felt my will…?"
"Because your family was chosen by him, your will reached Zjyfruinir fully. That's why your wife was granted permission to send you a message about how to find her. I was chosen as the messenger."
David was starting to believe me, and this was thanks to his weak mental state and my performance, which remained completely natural and did not waver in a single aspect, even creating an atmosphere similar to that generated in the ceremonies he attended through the selective choice of words in the way someone like him relates them to the environment. But there was one more step.
"I'm possessing this young man's body to deliver the message, but I know you won't fully trust me, even with all the information your wife shared about you. A great will but not great faith..."
"N-no, it's not that… It's just… it would be so relieving if you could prove it…"
When a human wants to believe something, convincing them is almost guaranteed. With David's mind fully open, I could persuade him with even the most absurd thing.
I took a sharp object I had with me and stabbed it into my arm, maintaining a serious expression as I looked at David.
"W-what are you doing…? Stop!"
"As I said, the boy I'm possessing is the one taking the damage. That's why I feel no pain and don't react as if I'm hurt. Not even those who are not able to feel pain can take a stab wound without flinching."
I drove the object deeper, twisting it. David was visibly shaken, and his reluctance to approach confirmed he already believed me.
"T-the boy you're possessing… Will he suffer the damage after you leave his body?"
"No. I can easily recreate him."
David stood at a distance, staring at me in shock. As he believed I was a divine being, this fear was expected.
"Now, let's establish a rule, David: don't touch me. If you do, you'll die instantly. Understood?"
"Y-yes…"
"Perfect. You'll return to the tech sector later, right? I want you to call me when it gets dark. I don't want the hassle of possessing someone else, so that's what you'll do."
"Understood… With this… I'll be able to see Aria again…?"
I made my stabbed arm more visible to reinforce my supernatural persona.
"Still don't believe it?"
After this conversation with David, I headed to my dorm. I removed the bags containing the liquid Scadoxus mixture and other substances that mimicked blood, then ate lunch. I completed my tasks and waited for the likely posting time. A post's engagement depends on various factors, with the ideal time for school students being around 8:00 PM, when they're in the cafeteria for dinner. However, posting then would make someone one of the few suspects, which Steven would want to avoid. Waiting until dinner ended, typically around 9:30 PM, was the ideal plan. Such a thing would fuel a discussion for the next day in a way that would sound less planned, obviously, since it wouldn't premeditate a drama before an important meeting.
When 9:30 PM arrived, I went to the courtyard and discreetly positioned myself where I could see Andrew and Mike with my phone. Simultaneously, I waited for David's call. He called a few minutes later.
"Sorry for the delay… Is there still a chance to see Aria again?"
"It's fine. Yes, but only one. Here's what you need to do: you must go to the other world."
David's voice grew shakier.
"T-the other world… You mean… die…?"
"The other planes of the universe vary depending on the time and cause of death. If you don't kill yourself now, you'll never see your wife again."
David grew more tense.
"It… has to be… now…?"
"Yes. Because you delayed the call. Don't worry, it's not the end. It's the beginning of an eternal life with your wife by your side."
"And… I… don't have time to think…?"
"How you hesitate! I'll make the process completely painless, so focus on my voice. Close your eyes, forget where you are, and remember everything you felt with Aria. Even in a family with different beliefs than yours, you'll end up together, against all odds. Now, forget the feelings too, focusing completely on the movements of the universe, and let's take one step at a time. First, tie the wires from the equipment there and make a rope."
I heard David ripping the wires, and as predicted, the signal dropped. My plan had succeeded.
"I-I don't know if I can… But… if it's for Aria…!"
"You took too long. There's no way to find Aria anymore."
"W-what…?! What did you say?!"
"I'm returning to the other world now. Maybe I'll meet you another time, David."
"Wait!"
I hung up and headed to my dorm. David would likely be fired for damaging the school's equipment, and the school wouldn't make a big deal out of it. Furthermore, since everyone in 2-A went to their dorms at this time to get a good night's sleep, the likelihood of Steven making the post in a few minutes or even now is high, to prove that the posts were authored by the same person. I'd check the results tomorrow.
I woke up early, got ready, and went to school. The signal was down, and as predicted, the students were in a panic. Now I needed someone to suggest identifying the "manipulator" through the post Steven had likely made, and I'd achieve this by manipulating Larry.
I arrived at the classroom and waited for an opportune moment in Peter and Sam's conversation. They were complaining about the internet being down, and I knew they'd be useful tools.
"Did you hear about the post made yesterday about Steven?!" Andrew said.
"Tch. You guys talk about things you can't solve or figure out. It's annoying."
As I said this, Larry's eyes lit up. He had clearly realized there was a way to identify the post's author and would connect it to the "manipulator."
"Shut up, Jack! You only spew nonsense!"
While my classmates berated me, I watched Larry, who was talking to his cousin. He had already formulated a plan to unmask the post's author, and with his influence, he could easily destroy Steven.
But suddenly, Steven appeared behind me, smiling.
"Good morning, Jack. Listen, if anyone says 'the one who deposited the credits is the post's author,' know that they're the manipulator."
Yes… Steven had anticipated my plan. He had known I was the "manipulator" for a long time, since my alliance with Craig, and had calculated the timing of my plan, knowing exactly what I needed to do. It wouldn't be surprising if Steven even knew specifics, like what I did with David. It was as if I were completely transparent to him.
It was frustrating, but I had to deal with it. Executing my backup plan, which accounted for Steven predicting my moves, was my priority, and I had to consider that he might know I was thinking this too.
After classes ended, Larry began his plan to unmask the post's author, failing as Steven had planned. I pretended to sleep but heard everything. The situation helped Steven in multiple ways and supported the idea that he wasn't the author of the first post, but it also worked in favor of my Plan B.
I headed to my dorm afterward, looking at the rainy sky. None of it made sense. Craig committing suicide to bring down Steven, while Steven could easily resolve the situation… Why?
In my dorm, I completed my studies, showered, and thought about how to proceed with my plan amidst all this—and, more importantly, whether Craig had another ally in the school. Everyone assumed the "manipulator" was someone directly controlling the class… But now, thinking about it, Craig and Steven were always the most influential in the school, far above the rest of us. Carol, Larry, Diana, Charles, William, Eric, and even me… we were nothing compared to those two.