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As winter approached, the streets were crawling with unemployed individuals.

Not only were the unemployed increasing, but stores were also closing. If you think about the cause-and-effect, the stores closed, and the people they employed became unemployed.

The days grew colder, and food and warmth were disappearing.

The students at the Royal Academy were largely oblivious to this.

It wasn’t until mid-winter, when the time to prepare for final exams rolled around, that they became aware.

But something happened that made it impossible to ignore.

A protest group showed up in front of the Royal Academy.

Of course, the protestors were quickly dispersed by the military stationed around the royal castle.

However, it was enough of an incident for everyone to know something was going on.

Perhaps that’s why more people began to show sensitive reactions. Fights that wouldn’t normally happen erupted, and bloodshed became more frequent.

I was living there, completely thoughtless.

Really, I was free to do nothing at all.

Even if the situation deteriorated into killing each other, it was still beneficial for me.

Harvesting was already on a stable path for the most part. Originally, my capabilities weren’t bad. It wasn’t just about enhanced strength and intellect.

I could withstand environmental pressures, hardly ever fall ill, and even if a finger got cut off, it would regenerate.

Yes.

It wasn’t just a matter of getting stronger. Even without magic, I’d improved to a human 2.0 level. While I wasn’t completely certain, my resistance to diseases was likely stronger now as well.

Even the Harvesters, who chose the path of being engulfed by reality rather than a better one, were healthier compared to what they did and lived.

A crisis doesn’t necessarily mean everything is bad.

Even if the situation worsens endlessly until hell descends upon this country, in the long run, it benefits me.

Because I know the Harvesters will gain an advantage.

Harvesters have a favorable chance of survival.

If there is a deadly threat to them, it’s racism. This is genuinely dangerous. Until Harvesters become the majority, they will constantly be under threat.

It was the same way in the initial world during the early spread of Harvesters.

With a bad stigma attached to them, their purple hair and white skin really stand out.

That spiraled into the worst situation in the second world.

In that place, Harvesters were symbols of evil.

They were enemies that absolutely had to be defeated. There’s a saying that goes “a sharp pin will always stick out,” which means those with talent are bound to be noticed.

Thus, it’s easy for a bad image to build up. Even if it originated from jealousy, since it’s human nature to live in this world, it can’t be helped.

However, this world is different.

The royal family promoted them heavily.

They built a mold of being good people, and it seeped into society. So, even if they weren’t actually trustworthy, people assume they’re good just based on appearance.

In other words, the most dangerous weakness has been erased.

Instead, such dangerous situations become opportunities.

After the horrifying era where many people died, a better period arrived. Those who had once held their places became vacant.

When there are openings, opportunities arise. Those who previously couldn’t rise will now.

While it’s not said that a sea of blood must spill for a better world to come, this is the most certain way for social mobility.

A bloodbath.

Stepping over the mountains of corpses, those with skills rise to the top.

Yes.

Harvesters.

Just the fact that surviving in such extreme conditions is easy for them is a remarkable ability.

In fact, it’s better this way.

In this world, it’s not that the strong survive, but rather that the survivors are strong. Life has developed in this manner up to now.

Human history has defied this, but in dire situations, primitive laws come into play.

Once the Harvesters fill that temporarily diminished gap, a bright era will come. They will prosper more broadly and spread further.

Humanity’s hair will turn purple, and their skin will turn white. All descendants of Tisah will look like this.

I had wondered if it was the case of survival of the fittest, but memories of Daegon and the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign glimmer in my mind, reminding me that it isn’t solely determined by genetics.

Amidst countless reproductions, the variants that adapt well to the environment survive.

That’s fundamentally true, but it’s not that simple. Surprisingly, living beings transfer information learned throughout their lifetime to the next generation.

In other words, it wouldn’t be strange for my Harvesters’ children to carry on in a state where the contract has ended.

I have my doubts about whether that’s an intense mutation, but there’s no way to find out.

Anyway.

I don’t intend to take any action regarding this incident.

If I’m sought out to become a Harvester because I can’t withstand the suffering, then I’ll create one.

But that’s as far as it goes.

I won’t do anything beyond that.

I can’t do anything more than that.

Because I lack the intelligence to solve the gradually worsening situation.

If I were smart, I would step up and resolve this incident, gain trust, and establish a religion or business to continue increasing the Harvesters.

Just because someone has gained memories from another doesn’t mean they’ll become as intelligent as that person.

If that were true, everyone would end up better than that person after completing their education.

Yet, many cannot achieve that.

No matter how much they learn, there are many foolish people. It goes beyond simply obtaining or lacking knowledge; some end up acting wildly foolishly.

I am one of those people.

So, I will act in a way that, even if the benefits are small, I won’t incur losses.

I have to be cautious since I can’t live just a short time and die. I must move carefully.

If I die from failure, that’s the end, but unfortunately for me, I can’t die. I must eternally repay my debts while failing.

Thus, hiding only the most fatal parts, living moderately well is the way to survive long.

Too evil is unnecessary, and too good is not needed either.

Not particularly noticeable, but enough to be chosen when selecting someone to live with whom shares benefits.

That’s my goal. The person often referred to as a pushover.

I can afford to look like a pushover. All I need is to obtain warmth.

Thinking this way, I didn’t return home after class today but instead saw students gathered in the classroom.

It would typically be time for everyone to head home. However, due to another protest at the main gate, students who weren’t from the dormitory remained in the classroom.

“Another protest? Can’t we just capture and kill them all?”

“Exactly. Why should we be trapped because of commoners?”

“If they just handed over their weapons, I could wipe them out myself.”

Those who go out of the school are usually from strong families.

Because of that background, there are students who want to sweep away those protesting in front of the school. In fact, that’s the majority.

Of course, they don’t genuinely harbor murderous intent.

It’s closer to mere complaining.

It felt more like a situation where the subway stops due to protests, preventing them from going home after work.

At the very least, the purpose of the protest is to create an opportunity for people to think about what’s happening, but it rarely happens in practice.

“Bell can’t go out even though the accommodation is right in front of him.”

Polaris spoke to me.

“I don’t mind waiting. How about you, Polaris?”

“Me? I don’t like it. But since there’s nothing I can do, I’m just waiting.”

“Don’t you meet with your faction members?”

At my question, Polaris let out a small sigh.

“If I’m to be used as a firepower unit among the upperclassmen where the prince is, it’s better to stay here.”

Ah, right.

That’s how it is.

The Royal Academy only has one entrance, which is the main gate. So, Sorindiges has to go out through the main gate to leave the academy.

Given that the Royal Academy is located near the royal castle, there must be secret passages. But in a situation like this, they wouldn’t be secret passages anymore.

So, Sorindiges remains within the Royal Academy.

Having the next king here means there’s work to be done connecting with people.

So, a small gathering is held.

While it seems that only women who believe they could have a good relationship with Sorindiges are attending, in reality, there are more men.

Because he’s the next top-level boss, it’s wise to get a good rapport with him, right?

This event naturally serves to showcase their capabilities diligently.

And when they meet there, it’s not about individuals going up to Sorindiges to greet him. It’s about forming a group, and the center of that group takes them to introduce them.

It’s a matter of etiquette.

Why do I know this?

Because Kanna is involved. While her face is smiling, if you analyze her occasionally twitching muscles unconsciously, she’s enduring quite a bit of pain.

Watching the movements of other factions, gauging what they’re going to say, and sending people to maintain order, they are quite busy.

“Isn’t it dangerous if there’s no work to do?”

“Work? Ah, no. Bell. Only those in a hurry go to such abrupt gatherings. If you go and say you like it, it might look good in words, but you could end up being looked down upon afterwards. It’s better to not go; even if you get asked what you’ve been doing, people will think you know your place.”

Polaris explained with a nonchalant expression.

Political intrigue is fierce, isn’t it?

Glancing around, I noticed some students who had been quietly sitting listened to this conversation, nodding their heads knowingly.

By the way, the classroom is very quiet.

There aren’t many students, and it’s almost like the schedule has went up in smoke, leaving them idly waiting.

Those who live in the dormitory, like Victoria, have already left school. Moreover, recently many students have entered the dormitory, so there are few left outside.

Even if they stay inside the dorm, it doesn’t mean they’re resting there.

Freesia, a student in my class, immediately went to find Kanna after the class ended and is currently working hard following Kanna’s orders.

It’s already a situation with only Sorindiges present.

It’ll get even more serious when Aurora enters next year.

Will the guys try to go visit out of curiosity then? It might be entertaining to watch.

Ah. That’s right.

I stood up from my seat.

“Bell?”

“I’m going to check on Victoria.”

“Huh? Why all of a sudden?”

“Today, Victoria has a night class at the Mechanical Knight School.”

I have a bit of affection for the Harvesters, who bring warmth.

“I’ll go with you.”

“Oh, that’s right. Poor Victoria has it tough. How does she manage to attend two schools… Okay, understood. See you tomorrow then.”

Waving at Polaris, I greeted her and stepped outside, heading for the dormitory where Victoria was.

Today will likely be a tough day for Victoria.