Chapter 7: First contest (2)

Three days after the test.

It's the day the results are posted.

"There are shadows under your eyes?"

Claire-sama talked to me while we were in front of the notice board in the hallway after school.

"Yeah, to tell you the truth, I couldn't sleep well…"

"Ohohoho. I am sorry to hear. But, a promise is a promise?"

"Yes, when thinking about what I could make Claire-sama do, dawn broke"

"Is it about that!?"

Because, I couldn't do this in the game.

"Do you think you can win against me? Aren't you foolish"

Claire-sama is brimming with confidence.

Well, of course.

From Claire-sama's point of view, there's no subject she'd lose at.

"Well, we won't know until we see the results?"

"It is clear as day"

"Fufu, you two are on good terms"

The one who joined our heated conversation was Yuu-sama.

"How's your confidence, Rei?"

"Well, it's not bad"

"Fufu, how fun. How about Misha?"

"I did my best"

Even if it's her beloved, Misha's not happy.

She's convinced that she's not fit for Yuu-sama.

There's the fact that her house fell to ruin, but also, she believes there's nothing she can do for the lump of talent called Yuu-sama.

Even so, you can't just stop loving someone, love is truly troublesome.

"Now then, who's second?"

Rod-sama also came.

His question meant "I'll undoubtedly be first"

Really, I'm not good with this person.

"…"

Whereas Claire-sama is waiting for the results near me in the front row with an air of composure, Sein-sama is standing in a distance making a dejected face.

It's an unpleasant event for him.

Because, he's confronted with his abilities.

To avoid misunderstanding, Sein-sama is only inferior out of the three princes.

Judging him by normal standards, Sein-sama is a sufficiently capable person.

The other two princes are just too outstanding.

"It came"

When Misha's voice brought me to my senses, an official came here holding papers.

"Are you prepared?"

"I'm prepared to have my fill of Claire-sama"

To start with, Liberal Arts results were posted.

・Liberal Arts Results――――――

1st place: Rod Bauer (100 pts)

2nd place: Yuu Bauer (98 pts)

2nd place: Rei Taylor (98 pts)

4th place: Claire François (95 pts)

・

・

7th place: Misha Yule (90 pts)

・

・

10th place: Sein Bauer (87 pts)

―――――――――――――――

"Wha!?"

Claire-sama became speechless.

As for me, I'm impressed I made two mistakes.

"Hou? Even though it's natural for me and Yuu to take both top spots, you also did it, Rei"

"You did it, Rei"

"Thank you"

While receiving praise from the two princes, I looked at Claire-sama.

It's unthinkable that a commoner opponent would defeat a noble like her in Liberal Arts.

I said most players used the answer key.

But I was different.

I memorized all the questions and answers of the Liberal Arts test.

The reason being, I was making a secondary creation of 「Revolution」.

I wrote a doujin novel using the world of 「Revolution」 and its characters, and sold it at a convention.

To write the doujin novel, it was necessary to know everything about the world.

Of course, you can write a doujinshi without going this far.

However, I was writing about Claire-sama after her downfall at the end of the game, a villainess displaying her resourcefulness to boost her territory.

Because it was essential to understand the world setting for the land reform, I bought the setting documentation and read it over and over again.

Honestly, I'm confident I'm more informed than the development staff.

Because I was like that, I didn't think I'd lose to Claire-sama in the slightest.

The result isn't surprising.

Claire-sama squeezed her fist so hard it became white, she's trembling all over.

Next, the results of Etiquette were put up.

・Etiquette Results――――――

1st place: Yuu Bauer (100 pts)

2nd place: Rod Bauer (98 pts)

3rd place: Claire François (97 pts)

4th place: Sein Bauer (95 pts)

・

・

8th place: Misha Yule (90 pts)

・

・

22nd place: Rei Taylor (75 pts)

―――――――――――――――

Color returned to Claire-sama's face that had been pale with shock from the Liberal Arts results.

Look here with your triumphant look.

It's cute, yes.

"The earlier result was just a coincidence. It means your disguise came off"

"Right"

In fact, it's just as Claire-sama said.

I knew what examiners evaluated.

But, there's a difference between knowing and putting the knowledge into practice.

In my high school days, I belonged to Etiquette Study Club where I studied the etiquette of wearing traditional Japanese clothing, so I was familiar with the basics.

However, because etiquette varies depending on culture and situation, it was difficult to grasp the etiquette of this world in the short time span.

There's no way to compete with Claire-sama who's a genuine noble.

Rather, I think ranking 22nd shows I did my best.

And finally, the results of magical power test were posted.

・Magical Power Results――――――

1st place: Rei Taylor (Unmeasurable)

2nd place: Misha Yule (98 pts)

・

・

6th place: Claire François (92 pts)

・

8th place: Sein Bauer (90 pts)

9th place: Rod Bauer (88 pts)

9th place: Yuu Bauer (88 pts)

・

・

―――――――――――――――

"What… is this…?"

Claire-sama once again became speechless.

As for me, I did it.

As a matter of fact, it was a fixed match for me, the heroine.

First of all, regarding Basic Magical Power, the heroine has two aptitudes – earth and water.

Although having multiple attributes is already extraordinary, both aptitudes are of the highest rank.

Furthermore, the results of Magical Tool Operation are fundamentally proportional with Basic Magical Power, this also causes the heroine to raise to the top.

In other words, the top position in the magical power test was certain.

And finally, the overall results――.

・ Overall Results――――――――

1st place: Rod Bauer (286 pts)

1st place: Yuu Bauer (286 pts)

3rd place: Claire François (284 pts)

・

5th place: Misha Yule (278 pts)

・

・

10th place: Sein Bauer (272 pts)

・

・

※Because Rei Taylor's results were unique, she will be treated separately this time.

The academy will review the evaluation method from the next time.

―――――――――――――――

And there it is.

I said before that winning against Claire-sama in the game was difficult at the start, but that's because it's hard to score in Liberal Arts and Etiquette.

As long as you don't score very low in these, the result is like this.

"I cannot accept this…"

Claire-sama bit her lip, her followers supported her.

"However, it's the third place after the two princes! Isn't it amazing!"

"That's right! As expected of Claire-sama!"

"… Tha, that's right… that's right, isn't it"

And, shortly after she regained a bit of attitude.

"Claairee-saama!

"Hii!?"

Without a moment's delay I attacked.

"Please don't raise your voice as if you've seen a ghost"

"I did not raise it. What is it? As you can see, the match is void"

"What are you talking about? Claire-sama, you didn't win"

"Eh?"

Apparently, she hasn't realized yet.

"The content of the oath was? If Claire-sama wins, I leave the school. If Claire-sama doesn't win, she does one thing I say"

"So, nobody won the match"

"Yeah. In other words, Claire-sama didn't win"

"… Ah"

It seems she finally understood.

The condition for making Claire-sama do what I say was not "If I win" but "If Claire-sama doesn't win"

The latter also includes the result where nobody won the match.

"It, it is cowardly!"

"Yes, it was my plan to ensnare you with all my might!"

"Would that not invariably invalidate it!"

"Huh? Voiding it? Even though we swore to God?"

"… Gugugu…"

Claire-sama's beautiful face warped in conflict.

She's not convinced, but her pride as a noble doesn't permit her to void what she swore to God.

It's like that.

"… What is your demand…"

"Ah, you will listen! As expected of Claire-sama! I like you!"

"Never mind that, so please request quickly!"

Claire-sama is on the verge of snapping.

"Please don't give up"

"Ha?"

"No matter how tough or painful it is, please don't give up until the very end"

Claire-sama made a blank face upon hearing my request.

Even if I say it's a light request, it has a proper meaning.

I will talk about it sooner or later.

"… Are you okay with that?"

"Yes"

"… I thought you would say something more unreasonable"

"Do you want me to?"

"No, this is fine!"

Mmhm, it's good to be obedient.

Claire-sama, seeming a little disappointed, matched her gaze with mine, straightened her spine,

"I swear to God, I will not give up. I will not abandon hope, I swear to continue struggling until the end"

"That's wonderful. Claire-sama"

What a beautiful appearance of making an oath.

As expected of Claire-sama.

"… I will not lose the next time"

Claire-sama said so and tried to leave this place.

What a gallant appearance for a villainess, I thought.

"Ah, Claire-sama"

"… Anything else?"

"I like you!"

"I really hate you!"

The atmosphere felt a little pleasant.

Mmhm.

After all, Claire-sama needs to be like this.