NOVEL NEXT Chapter 103 - Chapter 103: Espionage in Arkart
Chapter 103: Espionage in Arkart
October 28th, Monday. As usual, I lurked in the salon last week, observing their behavior. I wonder if they have any bugs here too. If they do, I’d listen in while sipping tea somewhere. However, the conversation isn’t enjoyable to listen to. As always, Lady Violet flatters Wesley-sama, and everyone else seems nonchalant about it. After all, Wesley-sama is under the influence of a charm. It’s about time to move to the next stage.
I have some thoughts about charm. In the fourth loop, Vivi-chan and Quentin-sama used magical tools to restore the sanity of a prince enchanted by a voluptuous lady. Now, Lady Violet seems to be pulling off what Vivi-chan did with Ding Dong. Is this the type of game where the scenario changes drastically depending on the route?
Anyway, I have to dispel the charm. But if dispelling the charm causes the scenario to collapse significantly, I have to be cautious. I was a bit hesitant to continue my espionage activities, but I decided to delve a little deeper.
October 29th, Tuesday. I sneaked into Lady Violet’s private room, where she spends most of her time in the salon as usual. I thought this would be a crime, but desperate times call for desperate measures. She’s still at level 1, so I thought there might be some clue if she didn’t charm Wesley-sama herself.
Her room was completely ordinary. The layout was the same as a boys’ dorm, and there were few personal belongings, very simple. If anything, it was so plain… no, unexpectedly plain considering how she dressed up. And the target item was found immediately.
“Lovey-Dovey Academy: Arkart Arc – Strategy Guide”
A notebook written in Japanese was casually placed there.
I opened the notebook cautiously. The characters were thin and sharp, densely written. I expected it to be full of round characters and symbols, but it was surprisingly neat and meticulous. And I understood why she was so hasty in trying to seduce Wesley-sama right from the start. The words “Harem Route” and “Purchased Items” danced frequently in the text.
The neatly organized contents of the notebook were somewhat chilling, but there were also good things. Although it was simple, the strategy charts and key items were easy to understand at a glance. Of course, as someone seeing it for the first time, there were many things I didn’t understand, but since I had no information about this game at all, even fragments were appreciated.
According to the notebook, there are 8 target characters for conquest. Among them, 5 characters appear from the beginning. One character becomes available for conquest halfway through. Two are secrets, one of which is the younger brother of the villainous lady. And one is a random encounter mob. Is it me and Luca-sama?
If I want to conquer them all at once, I need to entice one of the initial 5 characters first. Once one conquest is completed, the route to the 6th main hero,The Second Prince Ulysses, is unlocked. And among the initial 5 characters, who to choose first is Wesley-sama, who is engaged to the hidden character’s sister. This way, the hidden character will be dragged into Arkart early.
I see, when Lizette’s engagement failed, Luca-sama went to Arkart with the staff. Before I met him, he was already studying abroad in Arkart. He has memories of Arkart Academy as a paradise where he can enjoy student life to the fullest, but if he was still prey to these successive Pink Heads, I wouldn’t forgive it. He’s still in middle school, you know? It’s a crime.
Oops, there’s no use being driven by personal resentment. I quickly wrote down the contents in a memo and left the room. Maybe I should bring the magical tool for sanity restoration that I once gave to Vivi-chan. Still, sneaking into the girls’ dormitory is a bit off-putting.
But one thing is clear: Lady Violet’s ambitions must be stopped. I have no intention of handing Luca-sama over to her ambitions, nor do I want to indulge in such a crazy girl. I hope Prince Ulysses or someone suitable will satisfy her.
October 30th, Wednesday. I resolved to contact Lizette-sama. Of course, I can’t appear in front of her openly. I left a letter along with the hand mirror I once handed to Vivi-chan on her desk, in other words, the area sanity magic tool to restore those around her to sanity. I thought it would be better to leave it up to the parties involved whether to use it rather than secretly using it myself.
She returned to her dormitory and, after reading the letter, quietly consulted with her maid. The next day, she decided to have it appraised privately.
October 31st, Thursday. Lizette’s movements were swift. Her maid promptly took the hand mirror to a nearby laboratory for appraisal. As the letter stated, the result came back confirming it as an area sanity magic tool. Lizette immediately took the mirror and went to the salon as usual. And, right at the beginning of the study session (or so-called farce), she pressed the switch on the mirror.
“Hmm…”
The atmosphere in the room subtly changed. Wesley-sama, who had been casually engaging in physical contact with Lady Violet, now kept a fist-sized distance and stared at her intently. Lizette and her maid watched this scene with bated breath, while some of the entourage felt the discomfort, while others did not.
Lady Violet, oblivious to Wesley-sama’s change, continued to repeat empty “suggestions” and performed her usual Violet-style antics. After watching their behavior, I quietly left the scene to investigate the other conquest targets.
October 31st, Friday. While subtly probing about the other conquest targets that Lady Violet is aiming for, I decided to investigate the most important aspect: the source of the “Purchased Items.” That place is the Magic Research Department within the academy. They’re doing something similar to Lachine’s “Tower,” but in reality, it’s illegal production and sale of magic tools and potions disguised as a student club activity. And the supervising teacher was that dark attribute secretary who tried to instill panic fear in Luca-sama and me initially.
Skills and magic tools related to mental manipulation are generally prohibited in any country. However, only government agencies are actively researching to prevent such skills. It’s unacceptable that they’re corrupt. I believe such special public servants should be subject to thorough control over their bodies and thoughts. No, on the contrary, is his behavior in line with the national interest of this country?
Anyway, like Lady Violet, we must keep a close eye on him as well. Not only that, there are plenty of people around the conquest targets and others we need to investigate. Finishing this otome game loop is so much harder than I thought (Right? This one). I sighed as I returned to my room and compiled my notes.
(Note: What do you mean “(Right? This one)”. You son of a–. Ekhem, for context, the writer’s initial plan was to close the series on C88. He said he ‘changed his mind’ but I’m pretty sure there are others like me who don’t like endings like that)