“Concluding the presentation.”
In Regina Ciel’s presentation on Magic and Social Development, she introduced the ‘Scroll Kit’—a bundle of 9-tier skills, including ‘Light,’ ‘Fire Bolt,’ ‘Ice Bolt,’ ‘Emergency Treatment,’ and ‘Poison Resistance.’
“Hmm.”
Originally, these were scheduled to start selling in Act 3, but she managed to introduce Scroll Kits even earlier, skipping a step.
As for efficiency… well, it’s open to debate. Bundling five 9-tier magic scrolls is more expensive than one might expect, and any improvements would only increase the price.
“Thank you for the presentation, Student Regina Ciel. We’ll take a short break before the next presentation by Wolfram von Roengreen.”
Professor Isilote adjusted her horn-rimmed glasses and made this statement. Regina, who had returned to her seat beside me, smiled brightly.
“I hope Prince Wolfram von Roengreen enjoyed the presentation.”
“I didn’t.”
“May I ask why not?”
“The utility is unclear. Who will you sell these to?”
“To the lords of regions where monsters frequently appear.”
“That’s what makes it unclear.”
“I lack the experience to understand. Could you please explain?”
She wore a somewhat confident expression.
Is this the only time?
“If it were me, I would categorize the scrolls into Defense, Attack, and Support and sell them separately.”
“…What?”
“It would be much more efficient to sell an ‘Attack Magic Bundle’ featuring 9-tier 4-element bolts, a ‘Support Magic Bundle’ with Light, Shield, Flare, and Scouting, and an ‘Emergency Kit Bundle’ with Poison, Sleep, Paralysis, and Emergency Treatment. Your assortment is too ambiguous, clearly made by someone without practical experience.”
“…Uh, um.”
“How naive. You are young, Ciel.”
Regina Ciel glared at me, gritting her teeth.
“How can you think so far ahead?”
“It’s the gap between you and me.”
How can I think ahead?
Sorry, I just wanted to show off using your product as an example.
If you don’t like it, you can become Wolfram in my place. Haha.
“… Prince Wolfram von Roengreen, you…”
“… Forget it.”
“How can I forget?”
“I said forget it.”
“I’m looking forward to your presentation, Prince.”
No.
Don’t.
Don’t look at me like that, with your eyes full of pink light.
Please.
“You…”
And don’t say that line.
Stop this route violence!
***
Regina Ciel’s fandom, commonly known as Regina-dan, was a unique group even among D/Z SAGA users.
They took character psychology to the extreme, and the character they were analyzing was, of course, Regina Ciel.
Their concept of strategy was different.
For example, during Act 3 when a regular user is defeating the rebellious lady Aila, they would consider how many phases it takes to safely tank using Kelters wrapped in immunity items.
This is an extremely obvious strategy, isn’t it? It’s the pattern of players attacking the boss. Usually, thinking about how to do a speed run from this point is an advanced strategy.
But Regina-dan’s discussions are different.
In Act 3, Regina Ciel says one line to Kelters: “You…” And this sparks a conflict.
‘You… kill me? Maybe?’
‘No, isn’t that a bit too quick? You… are different? Maybe?’
‘But Regina might have felt that way when she first saw Kelters.’
‘LoL, your interpretation is crazy; you’re delusional.’
‘You don’t know Regina, call her Miss Ciel, idiot.’
‘What did you say? Wanna fight?’
‘ㅇㅋㅇㅋ The loser should call the winner Miss Ciel. Let’s go now. Haha.’
‘ㅇㅋ, challenge accepted, let’s meet.’
Real fights have broken out over this. They even live-streamed it on the community. It was legendary. Around 8,000 people watched it in real-time. Afterwards, they all went to eat pork bowl rice, calling each other ‘Regina.’ They later became legends, known for their fondness for pork bowl rice.
Anyway, these people are serious fans. Regina-dan (Regina’s group) has some sort of mass hysteria? Mental illness? Something like that.
They even have a group chat, and the condition to enter it was to combine the first letters of Regina’s most sincere words from each conversation. These people are crazy.
Of course, I had no intention of joining. Why would anyone want to go there?
Anyway, the path to unlocking Regina Ciel is by defeating her.
While I may empathize with the character of Regina Ciel, I’m quite clear on how she lives emotionally.
So, actually, it’s okay not to win here.
Regina pays attention to those who defeat her, and it becomes annoying once you get her attention.
It’s better to lose. It’s appropriate to lose here.
Eve said, “Just get good grades,” not to come in first. Aila would also say, “Are you hiding this time?” even if I lose.
But…
Is losing really the right thing?
Wolfram von Roengreen, answer me honestly.
Q. Is it okay to lose to Regina Ciel?
A. Go screw yourself.
‘Even if that annoying person makes me more annoyed, I don’t want to lose.’
If it becomes annoying, then I’ll deal with it then.
Even if someone will annoy me in the future, I want to win this moment!
“Yes, that’s enough.”
I’ve made up my mind.
I’ll think about it after I win!
***
“Next, we have a presentation from student Wolfram von Roengreen.”
Following Professor Isilote’s call, I stood in front of the podium.
To be honest, I barely attended this class. I just cobbled together what I knew based on the recent written lectures. It’s all bluff and lies. I even brought a craft made using a handiworker from a convenience store.
Honestly, I was lazy. Just think, I went on the Act 2 Scene 1 expedition until recently, and now there’s a midterm. And there’s a practical test, too. How could Wolfram, with his body worn out from muscle ache, prepare anything? It’s a mess.
“From now on, I’m going to talk about delusions.”
I’ll show them with my bluff and lying skills.
“What I’m going to present today is something hard to realize. Even as a royal, I wonder if it’s okay to bring this up. So think of this as the musings of student Wolfram von Roengreen, not Prince Wolfram.”
Upon my words, the students, who were just staring at the floor and not interested in anyone else’s presentation, subtly looked at me.
“Interpretations may vary, but I interpreted this semester’s midterm question as ‘minimum equality.’ Yes, the royal family is affluent, and the capital is thriving, but at the eastern end of the royal domain, there are only forests and monsters, and not even a good meal is guaranteed, let alone a night’s sleep. I know this.”
I hear the professor’s applause. Good.
“First and foremost, what needs to be solved is the stability of the supply of goods. Specifically, the stabilization of the prices of basic living supplies should take precedence. [Black bread]. [Water]. [Clothing]. [Plants that monsters dislike]. [The most basic medical tools].”
With my skill activated, my voice gradually rose, and when my magic power reached 1, I uttered a powerful statement.
“[The supply of all things that make the citizens of the Roengreen Empire feel they are under the royal shadow.]”
Here, I paused. Again. Three. Two. One. I turned off the skill.
“The biggest challenge in achieving this is the limited supply route. Warp portals require high-quality magic stones proportionate to the weight of the goods. The farther you are from the capital, the more it costs.”
Some students nodded in agreement with my words. They must be from rural areas.
“So here I am, discussing a foolish fantasy with a mere toy. Yet, even though I know it can’t be realized, it’s a story that must be told for the future.”
Saying this, I placed it on the podium. It was a palm-sized model train and rails.
A very small toy made from a hundred thousand Rin power stone that emits 0.3 horsepower per hour. It was the lowest-grade ‘model train and rail’ set that could be made with a hand-held worker.
As I pressed the button, the train began to run, emitting a siren-like noise.
Gulp.
While everyone’s attention was on this toy, I drank the mana potion that Aila had prepared for me, replenishing my magical energy.
“I want to lay these ‘railways’ all over the world and run freight trains on them. [To take the most precious things to the furthest places, and the most needed things to the places that need them the most.] [To connect the world from the capital of the Roengreen royal family to the farthest eastern forests, the southernmost deserts, the northernmost snowfields, and the westernmost mountains.] Isn’t it an interesting fantasy?”
“Is that possible with that toy?”
The professor’s question came in. Moved, the teary-eyed professor asked me. I didn’t answer with words but placed a palm-sized stone on the train.
The weight was overwhelmingly heavier than the train. However, the train continued to go round and round the circular rail without stopping.
“This train carries a weight heavier than itself and never stops. I believe it’s possible.”
At my words, the students went “ooh,” and the professor’s claps harmonized beautifully.
“If this exists, then really…”
I shook my head at the professor’s words.
“It’s a fantasy.”
“What?”
“Don’t have too high expectations. As I said earlier, it’s all a dream and an illusion. How will you deal with the monsters, and how will you handle attacks during transport? Taxes will be needed for the budget, and those who paid taxes first will have the rails, causing power struggles. It’s a pipe dream. It’s in the realm of impossibility. It’s a dream.”
I stopped there, waiting for the professor’s despair to sink in. Then I took the mic again and turned on my skill.
“[Isn’t the point of magic and social development to turn this dream into reality?]”
“Uh…”
“That’s why we who are taking this class should dream. We should talk about fantasies. Discuss delusions. [The dream of safely traveling from the capital to the end of the eastern forest.] [The fantasy that allows the poor children of the western mountains to drink water freely.] [The imagination that allows clothes produced in the northern snowfields to withstand the cold of the southern desert nights.] [That’s the essence of this subject and this exam, I believe.]”
I paused, turned off my skill, and looked around the room. Then I continued.
“That concludes my presentation. Thank you for listening to the dreams of an ordinary student.”
Thunderous applause erupted. Even Wolfram, with his stamina of 2, flinched at the loud noise.
The eyes of the students were sparkling, and even the professor was tearful—truly, there could be no happier moment.
Although it’s a bit unsettling that a bothersome blonde in the distance is crying and clapping.
Anyway, what matters is.
I pulled it off.
A total win.
“Concluding the presentation.”
In Regina Ciel’s presentation on Magic and Social Development, she introduced the ‘Scroll Kit’—a bundle of 9-tier skills, including ‘Light,’ ‘Fire Bolt,’ ‘Ice Bolt,’ ‘Emergency Treatment,’ and ‘Poison Resistance.’
“Hmm.”
Originally, these were scheduled to start selling in Act 3, but she managed to introduce Scroll Kits even earlier, skipping a step.
As for efficiency… well, it’s open to debate. Bundling five 9-tier magic scrolls is more expensive than one might expect, and any improvements would only increase the price.
“Thank you for the presentation, Student Regina Ciel. We’ll take a short break before the next presentation by Wolfram von Roengreen.”
Professor Isilote adjusted her horn-rimmed glasses and made this statement. Regina, who had returned to her seat beside me, smiled brightly.
“I hope Prince Wolfram von Roengreen enjoyed the presentation.”
“I didn’t.”
“May I ask why not?”
“The utility is unclear. Who will you sell these to?”
“To the lords of regions where monsters frequently appear.”
“That’s what makes it unclear.”
“I lack the experience to understand. Could you please explain?”
She wore a somewhat confident expression.
Is this the only time?
“If it were me, I would categorize the scrolls into Defense, Attack, and Support and sell them separately.”
“…What?”
“It would be much more efficient to sell an ‘Attack Magic Bundle’ featuring 9-tier 4-element bolts, a ‘Support Magic Bundle’ with Light, Shield, Flare, and Scouting, and an ‘Emergency Kit Bundle’ with Poison, Sleep, Paralysis, and Emergency Treatment. Your assortment is too ambiguous, clearly made by someone without practical experience.”
“…Uh, um.”
“How naive. You are young, Ciel.”
Regina Ciel glared at me, gritting her teeth.
“How can you think so far ahead?”
“It’s the gap between you and me.”
How can I think ahead?
Sorry, I just wanted to show off using your product as an example.
If you don’t like it, you can become Wolfram in my place. Haha.
“… Prince Wolfram von Roengreen, you…”
“… Forget it.”
“How can I forget?”
“I said forget it.”
“I’m looking forward to your presentation, Prince.”
No.
Don’t.
Don’t look at me like that, with your eyes full of pink light.
Please.
“You…”
And don’t say that line.
Stop this route violence!
***
Regina Ciel’s fandom, commonly known as Regina-dan, was a unique group even among D/Z SAGA users.
They took character psychology to the extreme, and the character they were analyzing was, of course, Regina Ciel.
Their concept of strategy was different.
For example, during Act 3 when a regular user is defeating the rebellious lady Aila, they would consider how many phases it takes to safely tank using Kelters wrapped in immunity items.
This is an extremely obvious strategy, isn’t it? It’s the pattern of players attacking the boss. Usually, thinking about how to do a speed run from this point is an advanced strategy.
But Regina-dan’s discussions are different.
In Act 3, Regina Ciel says one line to Kelters: “You…” And this sparks a conflict.
‘You… kill me? Maybe?’
‘No, isn’t that a bit too quick? You… are different? Maybe?’
‘But Regina might have felt that way when she first saw Kelters.’
‘LoL, your interpretation is crazy; you’re delusional.’
‘You don’t know Regina, call her Miss Ciel, idiot.’
‘What did you say? Wanna fight?’
‘ㅇㅋㅇㅋ The loser should call the winner Miss Ciel. Let’s go now. Haha.’
‘ㅇㅋ, challenge accepted, let’s meet.’
Real fights have broken out over this. They even live-streamed it on the community. It was legendary. Around 8,000 people watched it in real-time. Afterwards, they all went to eat pork bowl rice, calling each other ‘Regina.’ They later became legends, known for their fondness for pork bowl rice.
Anyway, these people are serious fans. Regina-dan (Regina’s group) has some sort of mass hysteria? Mental illness? Something like that.
They even have a group chat, and the condition to enter it was to combine the first letters of Regina’s most sincere words from each conversation. These people are crazy.
Of course, I had no intention of joining. Why would anyone want to go there?
Anyway, the path to unlocking Regina Ciel is by defeating her.
While I may empathize with the character of Regina Ciel, I’m quite clear on how she lives emotionally.
So, actually, it’s okay not to win here.
Regina pays attention to those who defeat her, and it becomes annoying once you get her attention.
It’s better to lose. It’s appropriate to lose here.
Eve said, “Just get good grades,” not to come in first. Aila would also say, “Are you hiding this time?” even if I lose.
But…
Is losing really the right thing?
Wolfram von Roengreen, answer me honestly.
Q. Is it okay to lose to Regina Ciel?
A. Go screw yourself.
‘Even if that annoying person makes me more annoyed, I don’t want to lose.’
If it becomes annoying, then I’ll deal with it then.
Even if someone will annoy me in the future, I want to win this moment!
“Yes, that’s enough.”
I’ve made up my mind.
I’ll think about it after I win!
***
“Next, we have a presentation from student Wolfram von Roengreen.”
Following Professor Isilote’s call, I stood in front of the podium.
To be honest, I barely attended this class. I just cobbled together what I knew based on the recent written lectures. It’s all bluff and lies. I even brought a craft made using a handiworker from a convenience store.
Honestly, I was lazy. Just think, I went on the Act 2 Scene 1 expedition until recently, and now there’s a midterm. And there’s a practical test, too. How could Wolfram, with his body worn out from muscle ache, prepare anything? It’s a mess.
“From now on, I’m going to talk about delusions.”
I’ll show them with my bluff and lying skills.
“What I’m going to present today is something hard to realize. Even as a royal, I wonder if it’s okay to bring this up. So think of this as the musings of student Wolfram von Roengreen, not Prince Wolfram.”
Upon my words, the students, who were just staring at the floor and not interested in anyone else’s presentation, subtly looked at me.
“Interpretations may vary, but I interpreted this semester’s midterm question as ‘minimum equality.’ Yes, the royal family is affluent, and the capital is thriving, but at the eastern end of the royal domain, there are only forests and monsters, and not even a good meal is guaranteed, let alone a night’s sleep. I know this.”
I hear the professor’s applause. Good.
“First and foremost, what needs to be solved is the stability of the supply of goods. Specifically, the stabilization of the prices of basic living supplies should take precedence. [Black bread]. [Water]. [Clothing]. [Plants that monsters dislike]. [The most basic medical tools].”
With my skill activated, my voice gradually rose, and when my magic power reached 1, I uttered a powerful statement.
“[The supply of all things that make the citizens of the Roengreen Empire feel they are under the royal shadow.]”
Here, I paused. Again. Three. Two. One. I turned off the skill.
“The biggest challenge in achieving this is the limited supply route. Warp portals require high-quality magic stones proportionate to the weight of the goods. The farther you are from the capital, the more it costs.”
Some students nodded in agreement with my words. They must be from rural areas.
“So here I am, discussing a foolish fantasy with a mere toy. Yet, even though I know it can’t be realized, it’s a story that must be told for the future.”
Saying this, I placed it on the podium. It was a palm-sized model train and rails.
A very small toy made from a hundred thousand Rin power stone that emits 0.3 horsepower per hour. It was the lowest-grade ‘model train and rail’ set that could be made with a hand-held worker.
As I pressed the button, the train began to run, emitting a siren-like noise.
Gulp.
While everyone’s attention was on this toy, I drank the mana potion that Aila had prepared for me, replenishing my magical energy.
“I want to lay these ‘railways’ all over the world and run freight trains on them. [To take the most precious things to the furthest places, and the most needed things to the places that need them the most.] [To connect the world from the capital of the Roengreen royal family to the farthest eastern forests, the southernmost deserts, the northernmost snowfields, and the westernmost mountains.] Isn’t it an interesting fantasy?”
“Is that possible with that toy?”
The professor’s question came in. Moved, the teary-eyed professor asked me. I didn’t answer with words but placed a palm-sized stone on the train.
The weight was overwhelmingly heavier than the train. However, the train continued to go round and round the circular rail without stopping.
“This train carries a weight heavier than itself and never stops. I believe it’s possible.”
At my words, the students went “ooh,” and the professor’s claps harmonized beautifully.
“If this exists, then really…”
I shook my head at the professor’s words.
“It’s a fantasy.”
“What?”
“Don’t have too high expectations. As I said earlier, it’s all a dream and an illusion. How will you deal with the monsters, and how will you handle attacks during transport? Taxes will be needed for the budget, and those who paid taxes first will have the rails, causing power struggles. It’s a pipe dream. It’s in the realm of impossibility. It’s a dream.”
I stopped there, waiting for the professor’s despair to sink in. Then I took the mic again and turned on my skill.
“[Isn’t the point of magic and social development to turn this dream into reality?]”
“Uh…”
“That’s why we who are taking this class should dream. We should talk about fantasies. Discuss delusions. [The dream of safely traveling from the capital to the end of the eastern forest.] [The fantasy that allows the poor children of the western mountains to drink water freely.] [The imagination that allows clothes produced in the northern snowfields to withstand the cold of the southern desert nights.] [That’s the essence of this subject and this exam, I believe.]”
I paused, turned off my skill, and looked around the room. Then I continued.
“That concludes my presentation. Thank you for listening to the dreams of an ordinary student.”
Thunderous applause erupted. Even Wolfram, with his stamina of 2, flinched at the loud noise.
The eyes of the students were sparkling, and even the professor was tearful—truly, there could be no happier moment.
Although it’s a bit unsettling that a bothersome blonde in the distance is crying and clapping.
Anyway, what matters is.
I pulled it off.
A total win.
