022
After becoming close during a family dinner, I often played with the twins Ilyad and Naiad.
I liked it when Ilyad, who was strong, gave me piggyback rides!
“Did you hear, kiddo? Tomorrow they’re finally choosing the vice-class representative.”
“Wow!”
In the spring garden, colorful butterflies fluttered around.
We spread out a thin cloth under a large tree and were enjoying a spring picnic.
“Did Teacher Cedric come back?”
“Yeah.”
“Where did he go?”
“Not sure. He’s always busy and often goes on business trips. It’s rare for him to hold classes more than four times in a row. Oh, I want that!”
Hanging upside down from a thick tree branch using only his legs, Ilyad reached for the tub of popcorn.
“Catch!”
I tossed some popcorn to Ilyad. He swung back and forth, catching and eating it effortlessly.
Naiad, who was leaning against the tree trunk and communing with the plants, slowly opened his eyes and gave Ilyad a disdainful look. Then he shifted his gaze to me.
“We’re not interested in such things, but you said you wanted to be vice-class representative, right?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re in for a tough time. I heard Angela told her friends not to vote for you.”
“Umm…”
I stared blankly at Naiad before murmuring softly.
“That’s childish.”
Really, saying, ‘Don’t play with her because she’s friends with me!’ isn’t very mature, is it?
“Pfft! Ah, getting called childish by a four-year-old? That’s hilarious.”
Ilyad burst into laughter, clutching his stomach before falling off the tree branch with a loud thud.
Although it sounded painful, he didn’t stop laughing, so I just grinned and laughed along.
“Okay, I’ve laughed enough. Kiddo, to become vice-class representative, you need the most votes, right?”
“Yeah.”
“But it doesn’t matter how you get them. As long as you don’t use threats or violence… using abilities is allowed.”
Ilyad’s green eyes sparkled mischievously.
“Everyone knows you’re protected by the Spirit King. Use that to your advantage.”
So, in other words, it’s okay to borrow the powers of the Spirit King.
‘But I only have one ‘Well Done’ stamp so far.’
What could I even do with that?
[Interlude: Eden Facts! ( ღ’ᴗ’ღ )]
That’s when Yupyrhos, who had been quiet lately, suddenly appeared.
[Substances from Eden begin to show effects starting at 10 grams. A higher gram count only extends the duration of the effects! Having less doesn’t mean it won’t work at all.]
‘Oh, then Yuppy. We have 10 grams of Cheer Butter. If I use that to make something… will the person who eats it help me?’
[That’s correct! But since it’s only 10 grams, the effect will last just one hour. ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ]
Oh, if that’s the case… that’s plenty!
“Hey, brother Ned. Isn’t that cheating?”
Since Ilyad wasn’t very trustworthy, I decided to confirm with Naiad instead.
“Can we use any ability?”
“Yup. In fact, using abilities is part of the rules. Haven’t you heard about Aunt Cecilia?”
Alright, then I’ll use the butter to make something delicious. And I’ll share it with everyone.
Feeling eager to rush to the kitchen, I barely managed to stay seated, shaking my head vigorously.
“I haven’t heard anything about that.”
“She’s a Medusa, you know. The moment she stood up front, she turned her hair into snakes and petrified everyone.”
“Whoa.”
Are the petrified people still alive?
As I looked worriedly, Naiad chuckled softly.
“Back then, her ability wasn’t fully developed, so the petrification lasted about 30 minutes, I think? Aunt Cecilia used that time to collect all the ballots and write her name on them.”
“Wow. That’s amazing!”
So, that’s allowed.
Now I can rest assured.
‘I’ll make turtle shell bread filled with lots of cream!’
Suddenly, I felt a great sense of urgency.
***
The next day.
Ahead of the vice-class representative election, the atmosphere among the children gathered at the training center was tense.
Being young and unable to fully control their energy, the intensity they exuded was rather menacing.
This was why not even a mouse dared approach the training center.
Even ordinary people couldn’t breathe easily when they were nearby.
The same applied to the younger awakened ones. Some pretended to be fine, but a few children’s faces had already gone pale.
Adopted children from the collateral branches, Louis and Jillian, seemed about to collapse under the pressure and intimidation.
Both had even skipped breakfast, leaving their stomachs growling, their heads aching, and their overall state miserable.
They were so irritable that they looked ready to pick a fight over the smallest issue.
“Hey, what’s that?”
“Why’s it carrying so much stuff?”
Just then, the door opened, and a baby waddled in.
In its arms was a paper bag as big as its tiny body.
“It’s waddling like a cute… no, like a duckling… no, it’s weird,”
Jillian stammered.
With every step the baby took, its pink hair bounced lightly.
The white bunny-ear headband it wore along with its dress was impossibly cute.
Its chubby cheeks looked so soft and plump that anyone might feel tempted to pinch them.
But the children muttered mean comments, trying to hide their thoughts.
Shupetty Pashayen was a rival.
Since their Ancestor of Whale, had proclaimed her as the closest candidate for the next resonator, she had to be eliminated.
Their parents had said so at home, and the children naturally believed…
“Here, take this.”
…they were supposed to think that.
“What is it? It’s turtle shell bread that Chuu made! It’s filled with lots of cream.”
They were supposed to think…
“Try it. There’s so much cream inside.”
…they were supposed to think.
“Is it tasty?”
“…Cute.”
A genuine word slipped out of Louis’s mouth.
His lips were clearly smeared with cream.
Having skipped breakfast, he had taken a bite out of hunger.
“Hey, how do you know what’s inside? You just ate it?”
“What? No, it’s just cream bread. Shaped like a turtle.”
“Who doesn’t know that? What if it’s laced with drugs or something?”
Jillian’s outburst caught everyone’s attention.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
“Sniff, sniff…”
The baby holding the bag of bread suddenly teared up, her eyes filling with tears.
“Chuu… Chuu worked really hard to make this…”
Her voice cracked as if she might burst into tears any second. It was heartbreaking, enough to make anyone want to rush over and comfort her.
“Oh no, she’s about to cry.”
“No, she’s already crying.”
“If it were me, I wouldn’t try to make Shupetty cry. That takes guts, right?”
The twins, Ilyad and Naiad, whispered from the back row, causing Jillian to go even paler.
It felt oddly like a warning.
‘I-I mustn’t make her cry!’
Jillian, breaking into a cold sweat, finally spoke.
“P-p-peekaboo!”
“……….”
The baby looked at him with a ‘What are you doing?’ expression.
It was Louis who saved Jillian from the awkward situation.
“Hey, just eat it.”
“O-okay…”-
“It’s tasty.”
“R-right?”
The loud confirmation of the two caused others to start showing interest in the bread.
After all, they were at an age where snacks were always welcome.
‘Phew.’
I sighed in relief as I watched my classmates.
‘I almost cried when they doubted me.’
To be honest, I did put something in the bread, so I felt a little guilty.
Not anything bad, though—it was Cheer Butter, after all.
Soon, teacher Cedric arrived, and I sat on a cushion, clutching my turtle shell bread protectively.
‘I should give Chef Hans two extra kisses for this!’
That’s what I thought.
“I’m sure you all know what today is about.”
Teacher Cedric’s under-eye circles looked darker than ever.
Looking like a droopy squid, he suddenly perked up when he saw me, which was a little scary.
[The Water Spirit King ‘■■■■’ looks at you with a pitying expression.]
[Hmm, Cedric must be feeling the effects of the sugar cookies with orca sugar. Well, he is always overworked.]
[The Fire Spirit King ‘■■■■■’ worries about you, saying Cedric seems like someone who’s spun 360 degrees.]
If you spin 360 degrees, don’t you end up in the same place?
Setting aside minor curiosities, the children aspiring to be vice-class representative began introducing themselves one by one.
“Hello. I’m Shupetty.”
I was last.
