Chapter 4:
The Villainess is just a cutie
There I was, in the middle of a plaza, a giant building in front of me, surrounded by a flock of students in uniform.
Nodoby told me I had to get dressed up…
«So… We just walk in and…» I ask my tiny companion.
«We go straight to the Principal’s office!» he replies.
«Right… How could I not think of that! It’s not like we’re literally trespassers or anything…»
«Hop-Hop! Start walking!»
Objection overruled I guess…
The academy looked more like a fancy palace than a modern day university or college, the average age range for the students was 18-24 but I can’t say there were no exceptions. I mean, anyone could come here and get a degree provided that they could pay up the fees.
Strangely, students were forced to wear an uniform inside the campus, probably as a result of the hierarchical structure at the basis of that world. I can’t say that their fashion sense was bad in any meaning of the word though.
The design was nothing like traditional japanese school uniform or any uniform I knew, the only familiar aspect was the difference between the male and the female version, skirts and stockings are such a classic combo even in this world.
I don’t see many sheer tights, when will people recognise the superiority of the pantyhose?
Of course, accessories and underwear were not regulated, wouldn’t it be weird for someone to stop you and inspect your underpants to see if they fit some arbitrary standards set by someone that had nothing to do that day?
If the school’s principal doesn’t wear good stockings I’m gonna ditch the mission.
Kupimor led the way to the principal’s office.
We passed many paintings on our way, some of them were beautiful natural landscapes quite exotic to my earthly eyes, some were portraits of what seemed very important people that had a part in the academy’s history.
The pictures were painted in a variety of styles, probably reflecting the subject’s own convictions and personality. I would have liked a more “standard” dress code for this type of things, everything considered.
I hope the current head of the academy is chill. Probably not but hope is the last to die.
We had to endure many ramps of stairs, so many in fact that I have no idea if we were in some space-bending dungeon or I was just in a fever dream caused by fatigue.
After a full 20 minutes of hard work, we finally arrive at our destination.
What a huge door… Tax-payer money well spent!
«Is this establishment funded by the government?» I ask my untrustworthy minion.
«Who’s a minion?! Anyway, the school is funded by many means, the state is just one of them, this is probably closer to what you can define as a “pay-to-win” affair» he replies.
«So… You pay for good grades, right? Are you gonna pay for me?»
«Bribing is against the rules of this institute and forget about me paying anything for you»
«But you’re the quest giver!»
«And I will pay when you complete the quest, what did you expect?»
«How is this even pay-to-win when it’s against the rules to pay for grades…»
«Just don’t get caught»
…
I’m astonished by his proposition.
There’s no reasoning with this guy…
Kupimor knocks at the door then a mysterious voice tells us to come in.
I open the massive gate in front of me and walk into the room.
It looked nothing like what the outside might suggest, it really was just an old study with libraries at the side and some very nice leather chairs. The antique walnut desk was a real delight to the eyes, not a cheap piece by any definition, a custom made work like that would fetch a fortune.
An old man, huh?
I was pretty disappointed by that figure, I was expecting a mature woman with “mommy” vibes but all I got was a regular old man.
What a shame…
The grampa’ is looking outside the window, probably pondering about life or something, I’m not ancient enough to tell what was going on inside him mind.
«So… this one is the candidate?» he asks while glancing at us.
«Quite a nice contender, isn’t it?» the teeny fellow replies.
«If you say so…» the principal blurts in a defeated manner.
«What I speak is law, thee shall follow my orders»
«There’s no need to be so uptight with this old one»
«Force of habit, where’s the old witch?»
«She’s out of town to deal with some commissions»
«Is she listening?»
«I don’t know, I’m nothing but a puppet»
They got some fancy puppeteering here then, he looks very much real.
«Let’s cut the chase, instruct our protegee» the little devil said while pointing at me.
«You. What’s your name?» the old man asks me.
«Uhm… Uhm?» I reply.
«What’s wrong?»
«I’m afraid I can’t remember my name…»
«A little of interdimensional nausea I guess, let’s find an inconspicuous identity to give you then»
«Oh! Oh! Can I choose?»
«No. How can you choose? You know nothing of this world, you would just make a mess»
«I mean… Pretty please?»
«Are you a kid? Just trust my judgement young one»
«Fine…»
Not Incontinentia Buttocks, please not Incontinentia Buttocks, I beg not Incontinentia Buttocks.
The principal starts going through numerous books and documents until he does a “The Thinker” pose and blurts out something along the lines of “Eureka”.
Is this a caricature of an academic?
«What kind of power do you have, my boy?» he asks me.
«I have a TV remote!» I reply.
«That… was not the answer I was looking for. Do you have any intrinsic power?»
«Not that I know of at least»
«Why are you even here? No, I shouldn’t question the higher beings… Let’s find something neutral»
«As long as it’s not boring»
He just gave me a bad look and returned to his religious search.
I was also pretty confused about the TV remote, I can understand him.
«Might I suggest a name?» Kupimor asks.
«What might that be?» the old man replies.
«Come here»
The principal gets close to shorty and lends him an ear.
Why so much secrecy?
«If you say so… Let’s go with that…»
The old man coughs then proclaim:
«Your name shall be…»
Please log in to leave a comment.