kscans

Chapter 508 - Both Brains and Brawn

There was a feeling in AFO that the next event would be starting soon. Parfait was looking forward to seeing what it would be, but first, she had tests at school. Naturally, this meant a study group with everyone, including Wilnel, and the added pressure of having to meet the so-called Wilnel Line, lest something terrible happen.

Parfait looked utterly exhausted. She placed Trachiyo on the table in their base and buried her face in the cat's belly. Seeing her slumped over like that, Rick sat down at the same table. "You okay?"

Parfait slowly lifted her upper body. Trachiyo followed suit, correcting his posture and sitting politely on the table.

"I wish there was a skill for studying."

"You can get skills for each subject just by reading the textbook."

"That's the problem, I don't get them even when I read it. Who do I talk to about fixing this bug? God?"

"It's not a bug, so give it up. Besides, your grades have gone up a lot since Wilnel started tutoring you, haven't they? Your skills are definitely improving."

"Unlike in a game, my study skills go down if I don't keep at it... especially in math!"

"That's because you forget. And you have to keep learning new formulas to keep up."

"It would be nice if reading the textbook once made it stick in my memory for a month... like it does for you guys, Rick-kun!"

"Why are you getting angry at me? Do you really think we don't study? We can manage with just the lessons, but we still do our prep and review. It's all about consistency."

"There it is... the classic line from someone who's good at studying..."

No student ever believes someone who says they haven't studied at all. There might be a few who genuinely haven't, but for most, it's just a ploy to lower the class average or a bashful fib from someone who doesn't want their efforts known. Or it's an excuse for when they get a bad score.

In Parfait's case, she really had been neglecting her studies, but a situation was developing where those around her wouldn't allow it. As the study sessions drew nearer, Wilnel's smile seemed to grow brighter. Or at least, that was Parfait's impression.

She knew Wilnel meant no harm, and that she was doing it for Parfait's own good. Whenever Parfait got a good score, Wilnel was even happier than her own parents. Of course Natsu, Rick, and the others would praise her for her hard work too, but none of them celebrated quite as much as Wilnel.

Thinking about that, she knew she had to study, but it was a little sad that there would be a period when she couldn't play AFO. She was especially lonely without Trachiyo. Ever since he returned, she had been stroking his fur every single day. She even felt like his coat had become glossier for it.

"My lord, may I offer my opinion?"

"Trachiyo? What is it?"

Trachiyo, who had been sitting politely on the table just a moment ago, was now staring at Parfait with a stern expression.

"I must venture to speak a hard truth."

"A hard truth...?"

"I do not know the specifics, but your studies are important."

"Guh."

Hearing that from Trachiyo, her pet and AI, dealt a blow to Parfait. Rick couldn't understand Trachiyo's words, hearing only a "meow," but judging from the situation, he surmised the cat had just laid down the law and nodded in agreement.

"Well, yeah, I know, but I just wonder if the stuff we're studying will ever be useful in the future..."

"Is not the purpose of a student's study to learn how to find answers to things they do not understand? It is not as though you can always find the answer by looking at something or asking someone. And you need enough knowledge to judge whether information is correct. Otherwise, you will continue to be exploited."

"Trachiyo just started talking like Simon-sensei!"

There was no doubt Trachiyo was an AI based on Simon, but Parfait, who had been told something similar by Simon long ago, looked a little frightened.

"As your pet, I am still immature. But you, my lord, are also of an age where you are still immature. I have pledged my loyalty to you regardless, but I wish to boast to others that my master is the greatest of all. For my sake, would you please study hard?"

(Is that how you ask for something? And wait, you're an AI, right Trachiyo? It's not Simon-sensei logged in, is it?)

Parfait couldn't help but feel suspicious. But she reconsidered, realizing that was impossible. With Trachiyo asking her like that, even in a virtual reality, she had no choice but to try her best. She nodded.

"Alright, I'll do my best for you, Trachiyo...!"

"That is the spirit! A warrior must master both the pen and the sword! Your martial prowess is already nearly maxed out, my lord, so all that remains is the literary! I shall support you from the shadows! You may bury your face in my belly whenever you wish!"

"I'm not a warrior... and my belly... yeah, maybe after the tests are over..."

For now, she set up a reward to help her endure the coming hell. It wasn't that she was studying just for the reward, but she wouldn't be able to survive Wilnel's study sessions without setting one up for herself.

"So Trachiyo talked some sense into you. But are you sure you're okay?"

"There's no point in complaining, so starting tomorrow, I'm going to do my best in the study sessions. Today's my last day of freedom..."

"You look like the world's about to end, but well, good luck. I've gathered some info on the next event, by the way. What do you want to do? Wait until after the study sessions are over?"

"Tell me now. I need some motivation to study."

Rick nodded and began to explain his predictions for the next event. Until Rick finished, neither Parfait nor Trachiyo said anything, just nodding along. Hearing about the event seemed to have worked, as the color returned to Parfait's face.

"...And that's about it."

"So, the next event will likely be in the Demon Country, with Pandemonium Castle as the stage?"

"Probably. We know the real-world company Hyper Toy Maker is involved."

"How do you know that... oh, is it because Mikan-san is the ruler of the Demon Country, so that's where it'll be?"

"Exactly."

"Mikan-san, huh. I haven't seen her lately. She must be busy."

Demon King Mikan. That was her name in AFO, but in reality, she was the CEO of Hyper Toy Maker. She was quite famous for her unusual position, being completely independent as a company despite belonging to the Gemini Foundation. However, she never made public appearances, and in AFO she was treated as such a rare character that some said no one had ever seen her, only heard her name.

But Mikan, this rare character, often came to Parfait's family home to eat strawberry shortcake. When Parfait was younger, she thought Mikan was like a princess, but now she saw her as a capable career woman. She even admired her a little when she saw her in a sharp business suit.

Of course, Mikan never came alone. She often came with her right-hand woman, the secretary Lindsey, her husband Adrian, and their daughter Ginny. Parfait had heard that Lindsey was from the cryosleep group, and that Adrian was from the same local group as her father, Hayato, and that they had fought each other in a Clan War. She'd also heard that her mother, Esha, had been the star of that battle, and she remembered thinking as a child, why?

"And it also seems the Capricorn Foundation will be involved in the event somehow."

"Huh? Weren't Gemini and Capricorn said to be on bad terms?"

Parfait didn't know the specifics, but she knew that Gemini and Capricorn had fought over Hyper Toy Maker, which had soured their relationship.

"It seems a proposal was made to mend that relationship. I couldn't find out what they're planning to do, but it looks like the next event will be structured to benefit both sides."

"...I think it's weird that you know that much."

"That's thanks to Relic-san and Sonia-san."

"I always wonder this, but you're not hacking into anything, are you?"

"Of course not. Relic-san and the others could probably do it, but I couldn't possibly imitate them."

Despite his words, Parfait eyed him suspiciously. It was the same look of doubt you'd give someone who claimed they hadn't studied during test season.

Rick sighed at her suspicious gaze.

"Relic-san and Sonia-san have strictly forbidden me from ever doing it. They said that once you do it, the next hurdle gets lower, and it just keeps getting lower until you're ruined. It's like a gamble you keep playing until you lose."

"Not until you win?"

"It's because you get a taste of victory that you try again, meaning you end up playing until you lose. They told me I could do it if I was confident I could keep winning until the day I die."

"That's impossible, right?"

"Yeah, I don't think I can do what even Relic-san and the others couldn't. So I won't do it. Just so you know, all the information I've gathered so far is stuff you could find if you just tried to look for it."

Parfait wasn't sure if it was really something you could just find by looking, but she decided that she and Rick must just see the world differently.

That aside, the next event was in the "Demon Country." She'd never been there before, so she was getting a little excited.

"Alright, then, just for today, let's go to the Demon Country and—"

As she was speaking, she heard the sound of footsteps hurrying towards them from the second floor.

Wilnel appeared from the staircase.

"Parfait-san! I have created the perfect teaching materials! Let us have the greatest study session!"

"...Yeah, let's do our best."

Was she being dragged to a real-life demon country instead of a virtual one? Parfait forced a smile at Wilnel, the light gone from her eyes.

Then, Trachiyo gently placed a front paw on Parfait's hand.

"My lord, you can do it!"

"...I'll try."

There were no allies here. In that case, rather than doing it reluctantly, she would try her best, get a good score, and get it over with as quickly as possible. Parfait swore it to herself.