Preparation

Playing Fanta X Aca, there are a few things you come to realize.

The most notable thing among them is that it is a very well-made game for a manga game.

One of the most notable is that, for a game considered a failure, it is surprisingly well-made. Despite the strong dislike for elements like 'Pongpong’, considering the charm of three-dimensional heroines, the diversity of scenarios, and the overwhelming volume of the story, the thought crossed Ian's mind, ‘Huh? Is this actually a well-made game?’

So, Ian wasn't that surprised.

‘It's an episode where the heroine becomes a villain.’

It was something quite plausible.

Rather, several pieces of evidence convinced him that she was the villain in this scenario.

‘Well, if it were me before, I wouldn’t have believed it.’

The interesting thing is that it's not so difficult now to imagine Lina Rosewell turning into a villain.

Ian let out a self-deprecating laugh.

"It's a bit absurd."

A situation where you can doubt the heroine without hesitation.

When he was deeply immersed, he only thought of her as a kind and gentle person, but now he knows the multifaceted aspects of Lina.

Her inner dark side and grievances.

He could feel them firsthand when he was hit in the back of the head.

The problem is.

"Her destructive power now is 2 to 3 times higher than the original Lina."

People who are kind (or look kind) like the original Lina are like that.

They have a lot built up inside, and when they get angry, it's frightening. Explosive flame magic of the elemental realm, venting their grievances.

He needed to come up with a plan for that.

Just in case there were deviations in the scenario.

"I've taken the elixir."

Digging around.

Ian pulled out something he obtained in the dungeon.

The essence of the Mana Flytrap, thinly spread.

It might seem like it's not useful for much, but it's a kind of material with more applications than you'd think.

The problem was, to process it, you needed someone with full elemental abilities, and luckily, he knew someone.

"When is Danya coming?"

Ian raised his head to check the time.

The appointed time with Danya was in an hour.

There was roughly half a day left until the start of the scenario.

"It's ambiguous for training."

Since there was time, Ian opened the Kirtos terminal.

【 Today only, free. The prophet recognized by the gods will predict your future for free. (3 people) 】

Then he headed to the anonymous bulletin board he created.

A net thrown to the general public.

"Oh. Quite a few bites."

Among them, a few struggling fish were visible.

Ian picked three of them.

[Mercy Aniston]: Freshman, living in Median House. Constellation is Virgo. I really want to date, but it's not easy. I've been confessed to by someone, but he's a guy who flirts with anyone. When will I ever be able to date?

Two others.

All three have in common that they live in the female dormitory, Median House.

The stage of this scenario.

Since the scenario was unfolding, it was a good idea to use them as the subject of prophecy.

Ian quickly tapped the Kirtos terminal.

[To Mercy] Love. It's a good thing. But don't reveal too much. If you have someone you like, avoid them. Be careful when the full moon rises. Hide because it will follow you. I recommend running away.

[To Lily]: Right now, the important thing is not your constellation. Your sleep will be disturbed. No. It has to be disturbed. Darkness is looming around you. There's only one way. Be cautious of the full moon. If something happens, try to leave the place as quickly as possible. Hiding comes next. Just keep this in mind...

"This should be enough."

◆

An hour until the appointment with Ian.

— If you're free, would you like to come over to my place? No one is here except me, so feel free to come.

Danya Catsnesia affectionately brushed her tail.

— Sararak. Sararak.

No one there, inviting her like this.

"It feels a bit too fast... Well, we said we trust each other."

Bare feet caught his eye.

Ian definitely seemed to have a thing for feet.

‘...How do you decorate feet?'

As she pondered for a moment, she suddenly raised her head.

“Hmph. Know the topic.”

No matter how Ian was, he was still far from that point.

Yet, her heart couldn't help but beat faster.

◆

A little later, Ian's house.

"... Were you planning to make me your sl*ve?"

Blushing, Danya mumbled.

Sweat drops flowing down her small face.

Breathing becoming more and more ragged.

"Huff!"

Danya, who took her hand off the squirming epidermis, let out a rough sigh.

“Humans are all just bad. They try to use beastmen as sl*ves. You lied and said you trusted me too, right?”

I couldn't quite grasp the meaning of the words Danya was saying as she opened her mouth suddenly.

“I think there’s some misunderstanding.”

Ian shoved a piece of jerky into Danya's grumbling mouth.

"Ugh!"

It was a giant rabbit jerky made before.

Ian's precious source of protein, but now Danya, the key worker in processing the Mana Flytraps's epidermis. This level of welfare was necessary.

"Do you understand what I'm saying... Yum. Yum."

Chewing.

Danya's expression, which was initially grimacing at the surprisingly large Mana Flytrap's epidermis, gradually relaxed.

"Tastes good?"

Ian had created several variations of jerky, and this one, made with the flavor of ramen soup in mind, was his masterpiece.

- Softly, gently.

Danya's tail, swaying, seemed to answer.

She opened her mouth immediately, but she didn't say anything.

"Spicy and savory... It doesn't seem good for the body, but it's an addictive taste, nyah."

Actually, a bit of catnip was also present.

Danya, her eyes shining as if asking for more, Ian pointed to the remaining Mana Flytrap's epidermis.

"I'll give it to you when it's all done."

- Zrip!

After giving her a look, Danya concentrated on processing the epidermis again.

Some byproducts of plant-type monsters, when reacting with the full element like this, become more potent.

"It's done!"

The inner skin of the Mana Flytrap was thus completed.

After Danya's touch, it looked really useful.

"Yum... But, yum yum, what are you going to use this for, nyah?"

While nibbling on jerky, Danya asked.

Instead of answering, Ian emitted a bit of Earth mana.

Then he brought the Mana Flytrap's inner skin to it. It usually looked like an ordinary cloth, but the moment mana touched it.

- Whoosh!

The Mana Flytrap's inner skin quickly wrapped around the mana, absorbing it.

"Oh. It's fascinating, nyah."

Danya rolled the dried Mana Flytrap around like a basketball. Following that, she looked embarrassed and brought it back.

The tail fluttering looked really happy.

"If you want, you can ask for it, and I can play with you."

- Purr.

The first punch you've received in a while is quite stinging, isn't it?

Danya, with a flickering gaze, asked.

"But what are you going to use it for, nyah?"

"Bomb."

With the answer, Ian's smirk crept up.

"... Bomb?"

What on earth was he planning to do?

Danya's tail trembled nervously.

◆

Strictly speaking, Pongpong's stake in the main scenario of Fanta X Aca was low.

The reason was simple: most of the stories in Fanta X Aca unfolded after Pongpong disappeared as the 's*icide incident’.

Therefore, there was no essential role given to Ian for ‘Act 1, Full Moon Night’.

He just needed to act like a normal day, and when things started to unfold, he could observe and comment as needed.

With Danya's processing of the Mana Flytrap done quickly, there was quite a relaxed time.

The thought of training was dismissed; even for a dedicated trainer, it was wise to save some energy that day.

Rest would be a smart choice if he wanted to solve the scenario overnight.

'If Lina Rosewell has become a villain, there is a possibility that the plot might deviate.'

With that thought, Ian gathered his preparations.

"It's better to have it ready in advance."

Since he planned to rest anyway, he decided to take it easy nearby. With that in mind, Ian headed to the female dormitory of Lichten Academy.

And so, hidden in the bushes, he could see the dormitory [Median House].

"I should be able to see most things."

Ian leaned against a tree.

The dormitories in Lichten were divided into three grades:

Garden, House, and Hall.

In order, they were multi-person dormitories, single-person cost-effective dormitories, and dormitories for the upper class.

Among them, the place that would be the background for that day's event was the cost-effective dormitory House. Among them, Median House was where many average-grade female students stayed.

Of course, it wasn't that important a place.

The key figures in this female dormitory were mainly represented by the 5-star heroine Lina Rosewell. Others were at best known as cost-effective characters... Who was it again? Ah, there's a girl named Macy and a few other characters.

So, wandering around the dormitory in the bushes for a while.

Unexpectedly, someone caught Ian's eye.

'...Huh?'

Ian closed and opened his eyes. However, she was still standing in front of Median House.

Blue hair fell neatly to her waist.

A posture as sturdy as if she wouldn't shake even in an earthquake.

And a long sword on her back.

Sharon Pierce.

Considering her pride and reputation in the family she belonged to, it was hard to predict why Sharon Pierce was standing in front of Median House.

'...Why is she here?'

Ian tilted his head a bit more.

She probably disliked such common spaces. Did that mean there was a purpose behind her visit?

― Tock, tock.

With cold footsteps, Sharon Pierce disappeared inside Median House.

While Ian was organizing his thoughts about this unexpected variable.

Unbeknownst to him, from the distant sky, complete darkness began to approach.

“......”

Even for a moment, to correct his mindset.

- Clink!

A few windows of Median House shattered.

― Kyaaaah!

Screams could be heard.

At the same time, a red liquid splattered against the windows.

And so, the first main story began to unfold.

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