Chapter 98

<097. The Night of the Living Curse>

While Wolfram, with his 2 HP body, was playing a game of catch with the curse, darkness also descended upon the top floor of the Gleastheim dormitory where Yve von Loeningen was staying.

As a deep curse lingered in the room, slowly gnawing at Yve's mind,

Whoosh!

The talisman Wolfram had given her began to glow, and Yve's previously pained sleeping face softened.

"What is it?"

Yve immediately opened her eyes.

To her, the luxury of falling asleep was a mere indulgence.

Given the complex and bizarre nature of Jefrin, there was no such thing as preparation time for Yve, who stood at the pinnacle of the students.

Yve, who had to manage 100,000 jamminis, could not afford to indulge in sleep.

Thus, she always converted her mana into stamina, and never used her full 22 mana. If Yve were to collapse from overuse, despair would descend upon Jefrin that day.

So, she opened her eyes the moment she sensed something sinister lurking in her room.

This was the perfectly secure Gleastheim dormitory, specifically the president's suite.

Feeling a presence that was not her own was extremely unpleasant.

"If this place has been breached, I think it's time to change the security company. I'll have to suggest it to the royal family."

At that moment, a company that boasted of having countless employees and the merit of securing Jefrin and the royal family was on the brink of bankruptcy. Yve frowned at what she saw in front of her.

'...Yve. Yveeeeeee!!'

"Wolfram...?"

Yve frowned as she sensed Wolfram von Loeningen standing in front of her, his pupils completely black and his arms hanging limply.

"What are you doing here at this hour? Are you crazy?"

If there was a situation worse than this, it would be hard to find.

However, Yve did not immediately shoot a Holy Light Bullet at Wolfram.

Wolfram might be a fool, a moron, and somewhat lacking, but the matters he brought were quite important.

Normally, to meet Yve von Loeningen, one had to make an appointment a month in advance, but Wolfram was usually granted immediate access. This was not because Wolfram von Loeningen was royalty, but because he had the potential to become the leader of a faction that could most threaten the student council, and the matters he brought were that important and serious.

So, Yve refrained from shooting a Holy Light Bullet.

"It's not a security company issue. What are you doing here at this hour?"

Thanks to this, the lives of thousands of small business owners who were on the verge of losing their jobs were spared.

'I curse you. Don't you know what you've done to me?'

"..."

'I took your place, and you dare. You dare! I can't forgive you! Because of you, I am still a wandering spirit in the netherworld!!!'

"..."

'You are incompetent. Give that position back to me! Yve! Yve von Loeningen!'

Yve frowned at these words.

Incompetent.

Yes, Yve von Loeningen is now just a 'stupid person with high stats.'

Considering her handling of the pollen incident, her efforts to improve student convenience, and her forward-looking approach, Wolfram von Loeningen was overwhelmingly more suited to be the student council president.

She is incompetent. Useless.

And Yve von Loeningen knows this better than anyone.

'Give it back!'

"...If that's what you think..."

At that moment, something on the desk emitted a light.

"Ugh?!"

Yve rubbed her aching head.

Why is the fortune cookie Wolfram gave her glowing? Amidst these numerous questions, she recalled what Wolfram had said to her before.

In the student council garden, while having lunch together, he had said it almost casually.

["I am here. Wolfram von Loeningen is here."]

It was strongly etched in her mind.

Wolfram von Loeningen is here? What does that mean...

Ah.

'Look at my death!'

"You're alive."

'...'

"..."

'I am wandering!!!'

"Hmm. You were always this stupid... But even so..."

'My grudge. My death. My hatred. Accept them! I, I...'

"..."

Only then did Yve realize.

This is not Wolfram. Everything about it looks exactly like the Wolfram she thinks of, but the current Wolfram is 'less stupid than that.'

"Fake."

Yve is wise. Although she is weak in accepting new information or dealing with information confusion, she has a natural talent for deriving answers from the information she possesses.

"If this is a blessing, a real blessing, let's assume it tried to invade my mind."

'...Give it back!'

"Quiet. So, this is black magic? No, black magic alone couldn't penetrate my magic defense... A curse. Yes, this is a curse. Ah. Wolfram predicted this? A curse aimed at me? Hmm. There's a lot to think about. I'll have to interrogate him later to see how much he knows."

Saying this, Yve loaded five Holy Light Bullets and smiled.

'Die... die...'

"Before that, go die. Since you look exactly like Wolfram, it'll be fun to hit you. [Holy Light Bullet: Single Shot: Precision: Confirm Kill] Die."

And Yve shot a Holy Light Bullet precisely at Wolfram's head.

***

Under the cover of the night's darkness, darkness also found Ayla Trista.

A young girl, looking like a young Ayla, gazed at Ayla's sleeping face with hollow eyes.

Holding an old, worn-out teddy bear in her arms, the curse spoke to Ayla.

'Die...'

"Hehehe..."

'Die...?'

"Wolfram... Haha. You're right. Our rebellion... Hehehe."

'...Um...'

"We are... the best... Hehe."

'Um... um...'

Of course, Ayla was asleep.

It was past 10:30 PM.

'Grr. Die.'

The moment the curse tried to touch Ayla, it came into contact with the fortune cookie in her arms.

'Squeal!'

The curse was thus gloriously incinerated.

***

Honestly, I don't think I'm a bad person.

After all, I lived my life to the fullest as Lee Youngjin and worked really hard to run a convenience store.

But the looks, the backstabbing, the plots, the false accusations, and the injustice surrounding me!

Despite all that, I did my best and am proud of surviving.

"But don't you think we've crossed a line by cursing each other?"

'Grr... grr... that song, that great song.'

Now tired of throwing, I was rubbing the weakest fortune cookie against the curse's body.

Rip. One fortune cookie turned black and disappeared. The curse had won in the struggle between the blessing and the curse.

'Hehehehe...'

"What are you so happy about? Wait and see. I'll replace it with a new one."

'Hehehe?'

But I still have a lot of them. We probably have about a hundred fortune cookies at home.

Trapping the immobile curse in a corner like a rabbit made it feel like a punching bag, which was quite therapeutic.

"I wonder if the caster is vomiting, crying, or having a stomachache or diarrhea right now."

The more a curse is blocked, the more burden it places on the caster.

And by tormenting it so relentlessly, it naturally places a terrible burden on them.

It's not usually enough to kill them, though.

As I said earlier, they might get a stomachache, vomit, or even have diarrhea. But what do I care?

"Good. This is fun."

Being able to counterattack in a one-sided beating episode 2 was exhilarating, as it felt like I was exploring a new route.

'Hehe... die...'

"Huh?"

'Die... die...'

"Ah, you want to die?"

'...Hehe.'

The curse said nothing.

Its movements were gradually slowing down.

'...Someday... I'll get you.'

"Ah."

This is the reaction of a curse disappearing.

[You have cleared Act 2!]

[You have blocked a massive curse!]

[Congratulations! You have received a special reward for a complete resolution!]

[The royal bloodline has been activated!]

[You can only use language and actions appropriate to your bloodline!]

Hmm. It seems the problem is really resolved. When I opened my mouth, I felt the same sensation as before.

"...A line that didn't exist in Act 1, but started in Act 2. It seems it's really resolved."

In other words, Act 2 has been resolved through my perfect strategy.

The rewards here are really satisfying. But now is not the time for that.

[Would you like to check your special reward?]

"No. Later."

[Deferred.]

Pushing the system window to the side, I watched the curse disappear.

This might have been Wolfram's despair.

Walking a dirty path, knowing that countless people want to kill him.

Yet, he is powerless and has no means of defense.

That's why he became obsessed with power and pretended to be even stronger.

A man who lived with such despair.

Yet, he also had a side that desperately supported artists.

Act 2 is originally an episode where you learn about the heroines' backstories, but it didn't apply to Lee Youngjin.

None of the existing heroines were Wolfram's heroines, and I had no heroines