Chapter 435 – Darkmtl

Chapter 435



The signs of child abuse directed at Oknodie weren’t anything new.

Threats about selling her off in the open market.

Signs of agility training that bordered on torture.

Near-abusive knowledge impartation.

A life perilously close to death, evidenced by her astonishing affinity for Dark Mana at such a young age.

A staggering collection status of the Cooking Handbook that made it seem as if she had been forced to eat ten meals a day.

The implications of food torture only added another line to the foundation’s abusive circumstances.

“Did they make her eat and then force her to throw up, only to feed her again?”

“Why would they treat her so harshly after feeding her expensive meals…?”

The students couldn’t wrap their heads around it, but Professor Mahabharata understood.

“They’ve figured out the collection criteria for the items at the foundation.”

A race known for collecting more items than anyone else, Dragons.

As a guardian who protected such Dragons, Professor Mahabharata couldn’t help but grasp the situation.

Those who collect grow stronger.

The more items they have, and the better their quality, the stronger they become.

The Equipment Handbook only recognizes ownership if the items are possessed, and equipment worn provides additional effects beyond the held effects.

The Gathering Handbook grants possession effects simply by acquiring a specimen, but directly gathered specimens provide additional gathering effects.

However, the assessment for the Cooking Handbook was different.

Only by consuming a full serving can the collection be completed.

Unlike equipment or gathering, the properties of food only manifest when eaten.

But there was a secret to this Cooking Handbook.

“If one must determine the serving size, strictly speaking, the criterion is that it must go into the ‘stomach’.”

Forcibly emptying food that has passed the assessment does not cancel the collection effect.

Unlike equipment or gathering, losing the food after consumption doesn’t negate its effects.

The foundation exploited that collection effect characteristic to systematically force-feed and induce vomiting upon Oknodie to a point of actual abuse.

The unusual collection status of unique dishes proved this extreme level of torment.

“Whoa! I really did eat a lot!”

“The competition goes to the first-year student Oknodie. And… Oknodie, please spare me some time before you leave the classroom.”

Oknodie approached Professor Mahabharata, puzzled and hesitantly.

“Why me? Did I do something wrong?”

“Don’t worry about the penalties for the mischief of sticking cellophane on Titosso’s light stand during homeroom; that has already been fined.”

“Then why did you call me?”

“Of course, it’s about your collection status. The food torture subjected to you by the foundation is something that even high nobles or the royal family occasionally partake in, trying to administer as much food to their subjects.”

“Really?”

“However, yours is the first case of extreme cruelty at this level.”

Oknodie pouted.

“My Papa hasn’t done anything wrong.”

“…Do you really want to shield the foundation’s director, the one who has caused you this distress?”

“I ate it because I wanted to! Don’t speak ill of Papa! He might be bad, but he hasn’t done anything wrong to me.”

Looks like she’s been deeply brainwashed.

Is this the result of being conditioned since childhood?

Professor Mahabharata was caught in a complex emotion, realizing that this level of attachment to a child would be expected to get them into the academy.

“I’ve taken up enough of your time. The second period is about to start. You may go back now.”

“Aah! It’s Professor Bronze’s lecture!”

Oknodie dashed out through the window with a pout, and Professor Mahabharata mumbled in pity.

“Using the window to exit, if caught, a fine of 50 points.”

Hey, it’s sad to see someone sad, but rules are rules, right?

As he tried to draw the line strictly as head of year, Professor Mahabharata suddenly realized he was being overly critical of her given her pitiful state.

Why was he assessing such a pitiful child as if he were catching a mouse?

Upon reflecting, he noticed something striking.

“It’s because she’s too charming; every action doesn’t seem pure.”

He recalled how effortlessly the Dragon Principal could yawn, causing cries of, “Ahh! She’s going to eat us!!” and “Please don’t be angry, Principal! I won’t pocket the experiment funding anymore!” from the professors.

Strong charm distorts people’s perceptions, regardless of intention.

Although Oknodie was on his mind, he couldn’t shake the thought of someone he had just been heavily conscious of.

“The foundation’s director, First Wahyhiemhai.”

If the power of charm causes vigilance in every action, how much stronger must that man’s charm be—the most dangerous human in the world?

What enormous influence could he wield if he chose to intentionally manipulate people’s actions and incite significant incidents?

What a chilling thought, reminiscent of a father and daughter duo.

*

Professor Mahabharata’s homeroom exam surprisingly helped the students a lot.

“Huh, the professor has brought in a rogue group to steal the rich family lockbox from the system for the exam. How on earth can we win against active personnel?”

“Don’t be scared, Titosso. Oknodie and I learned something great during homeroom.”

“Something good?”

“When you’re in trouble, distract them with cuteness. That way, they’ll be flustered.”

During Professor Bronze’s class titled “Everything About Dismantling”…

A dismantling duel began, where the one who unlocks all the locks prepared by Professor Bronze first wins the treasure.

As Titosso fiddled with a lock, the cheerful click-clack of the third lock opening signaled her impending despair.

Usually, she would burst into tears at such a setback!

But today, Ziang had given her advice.

-When in trouble, distract them with cuteness.

Titosso naturally began to appeal cuteness like breathing.

“Senpai, could you please give me just one hint?”

“Hah, that’s cheating. Who asks for hints during an exam?”

While she received scoldings, the senior couldn’t help but desire to keep watching the adorable display before him.

Wham!

“Ahh!!”

Just as expected, Titosso’s tactical embarrassment with the lights had her senior clutching his eyes and screaming.

“This is blatant cheating!!”

“I reject that. As a rogue, you must withstand a business partner’s interference. The one who fails to be cautious is in the wrong.”

Under Professor Bronze’s cold declaration, Titosso took her time on her dismantling tasks, blinding her seniors every time they managed to look.

Seeing Titosso’s cute stratagem in action, Ziang beamed with growing certainty.

“Indeed, cuteness is a finishing move. I need to develop distracting remarks and actions for future battles with strong enemies.”

Every first-year student’s eyes sparkled at Titosso’s remarkable cuteness strategy, which even Ziang acknowledged.

“Senpai~”

“Senpai~”

“Stop! Just let me take the exam!!”

The classroom was suddenly bombarded with distractions they had never experienced before.

“Tito. But what about the cellophane?”

“Of course, I took it off! You silly Oknodie!!”

The buzz of flickering lights flashed against the lock mechanisms, reflecting light everywhere.

Seniors and still-testing classmates screamed due to the unexpected time delay.

“Those scary kids… Since they’ve completed their exams, they’re using area distractions to eliminate competitors.”

“I heard that Oknodie is the worst, and Titosso is the softest.”

“Crazy. What do you think the exam adversaries face against those two?”

Trembling in fear, the rogue group leader stepped onto the stage.

“Then, the last round will be between top student Oknodie and the leader of the rogue group. For both of you, I’ve adjusted the difficulty of the locks to suit your level. Instead, the first to solve them will receive extra credits or a treasure.”

The rogue leader immediately cast a protective barrier to shield his eyes.

Likewise, he cast soundproofing magic to avoid the sweet temptations confusing his peers.

He couldn’t see properly or hear effectively.

Only relying on the sensations at his fingertips, the rogue group leader began to give it his all!

-Oh dear.

-Poor leader…

-Not even demons from the Demon Realm could pull off such a show.

He shrugged off the sighs ambiguously resonating around him.

As long as he remains unfazed, it doesn’t matter.

Click!

Click!

Feeling the lock’s hold slip through his fingertips, his confidence swelled.

“There are indeed lots of locks. This is definitely a special exam. But I can open them all!”

Completing the locks, he pressed the switch on the Mana Board with all his might.

As he lifted the barriers on his eyes and ears, a collective gaze of sympathy fell on him from the rogue group and first-years alike.

“What’s with you guys? I won, didn’t I?”

“Well done!”

He cheekily took the switch on the Mana Board.

Unaware of the situation, Professor Bronze clicked his tongue before issuing the verdict.

“To unlock someone else’s without knowing that it’s my lock? That’s utterly shameless.”

“What?! No, I definitely opened mine from start to finish!”

“Look at the marks.”

Turning around, the rogue group leader finally grasped the situation.

The dismantled Mana Board had its locks opened halfway, and beside it lay Oknodie’s, sporting 1.5 locks undone.

That crafty little brat had attacked his Mana Board to unlock its intermediate locks while he was blinded by magic and connected it to her board.

The locks he had been loosening so hard were now linked directly to Oknodie’s.

He had unwittingly solved Oknodie’s exam problems in her place.

“Victory V!”

“What a terrifying little girl…”

In the end, Oknodie passed the exam while acquiring 3 points of the ‘Scary Kid’ skill experience.