I Level Up With In-app Purchases

EP.95 The Winner and Enhancement (3)

“I cannot back down like this.”

“Hey, what do you think you’re doing!”

“Behaving this way won’t do you any good.”

Despite the pressure coming from all sides, Mr. Ash didn’t back down.

It’s natural for him to struggle, given that he must feel like he’s on the edge of a cliff.

The problem was that his struggling looked extremely unseemly.

“You want me to admit that those items with no pedigree are better than ours? Absolutely not. Reveal the source of those items!!”

So it’s come to this, after all.

“And I can’t believe you can sell such items in large quantities! We need to investigate whoever brought those items!”

Right, it would be stranger if he didn’t react like this.

How could he calmly accept it when his face is filled with greed?

Munch munch—

I came here because I expected something like this to happen.

I watched the situation with interest while eating snacks.

Since I had prepared for this situation in advance, there was no reason to be flustered.

The reason I didn’t take action even after seeing that guy’s underhanded tactics was because I knew he would act so disgracefully.

Even without my intervention, Rebecca would win anyway.

How could one compare items made by humans to those created by the system?

‘As if random effects from gacha pulls would be acceptable.’

If such a system were implemented, the website would crash.

Or there would be a flood of bug reports.

When it comes to a scroll that buffs Ability A, if Ash General Store’s item is described as providing a buff between 10 and 30, our store’s item is described as providing a buff of 30.

When considering the quality of the items, wouldn’t it make sense to choose the latter?

‘When one can’t accept defeat, the only thing left to do is to try to invalidate the outcome.’

That’s why I knew he was using tricks but didn’t tamper with the items.

I can’t get involved just because the other side is playing dirty.

Come to think of it, it was fortunate that I met the Ash General Store owner a few nights ago.

Because of what happened that night, I learned in advance that he was a bastard, and I was able to prepare for this.

‘If I hadn’t known, I wouldn’t have come to watch today, and Rebecca would have struggled alone.’

The actions of the Ash General Store owner made everyone present frown.

How many people would look favorably upon an old man greedily and shamelessly grasping for more?

The public opinion was especially negative among the students.

“Ugh- disgusting.”

“So petty.”

“If you’ve lost, just admit it. Why act like that?”

“Look at his nostrils flaring. It’s hilarious. Hehe!”

“But don’t we need to verify if they can really procure items of that quality? Many places are struggling to get items these days.”

It is hard to believe that Rebecca, who doesn’t have the backing of a noble family, could procure in bulk what even Ash General Store can’t get.

To be honest, it would have been impossible without me.

One of the department heads chimed in with his opinion on the Ash store owner’s words.

“Actually, that was the only concern I had during the evaluation. As far as I know, even Ash General Store cannot sell products of the same grade as those brought here today.”

“T-That’s…!”

Mr. Ash thought no one would know, but it seems this department head was fully aware of the situation.

Mr. Ash’s face quickly turned pale.

It wasn’t even funny how he ended up being cornered while trying to pressure Rebecca.

“Are you going to deny it? There should be students here who have items from Ash General Store.”

“T-That’s… well… um…”

Mr. Ash couldn’t give any answer to the department head’s pressure.

He must be at a loss for words after being hit right where it hurts.

“It’s absurd to think that you didn’t know what level of products Ash General Store usually sells. Haven’t you underestimated us too much?”

“W-Well, in the case of scrolls, there’s bound to be some variation in the effects of the products…!”

“Enough with your shameful excuses!”

The dean, who had been observing the situation, finally spoke up.

“Brother?”

An expression of shock, like someone who had been betrayed by someone they trusted.

‘How unsightly.’

How did the dean end up entangled with such a guy… tsk tsk.

I had a good impression of the dean, but that image is completely changed because of that guy.

This is why it’s important to associate with the right people.

Murmur murmur-

The atmosphere among the people around seemed to share my thoughts.

In the unfavorable atmosphere, Mr. Ash’s body was gradually shrinking.

It looked like he might cry at any moment, and then the dean’s thunderous voice rang out.

“Don’t disappoint me any further. If you’ve lost, admit it and keep your mouth shut. I’m so embarrassed because of you that my face is burning!”

“Ugh…”

The shocked Mr. Ash staggered and collapsed on the floor.

The dean turned away from Mr. Ash and called for Rebecca.

“Teacher Rebecca.”

“Yes.”

“Can you really provide products of this quality to the students? It would be troublesome if your words change later. All our efforts could be nullified.”

“It’s possible. If you wait just a few days, you’ll see that I wasn’t lying.”

I stuffed the snack bag I was eating into a nearby trash can.

‘Now it’s my turn to step in.’

Rattle- rattle-!

I pull my hood down low to carefully hide my face.

My hands were pulling a cart.

There was a large box in the cart, and inside that box were items that would neatly resolve this complicated situation.

In fact, helping Rebecca wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be.

‘I didn’t know the process of supplying goods to the Academy was so complicated.’

To resolve various administrative issues, I eventually had to ask for help from the Duke’s family.

I threw them a bait, saying that it seemed they had found a way to use the beads.

Then they offered to handle these administrative procedures for free, telling me to leave it to them.

The process was completed faster than I expected, and I was able to readily offer help when Rebecca was in trouble.

“You can’t go in.”

The staff tried to stop me as I was about to approach Rebecca, but.

“These are items for Teacher Rebecca. I think she needs them right now.”

“…Items she needs right now?”

“Yep.”

I slipped past the bewildered staff member and went inside, pulling the cart.

Rattle rattle.

The sound of the cart made Rebecca turn her head towards me.

“Huh? Why are you here…?”

Even though I had my face covered, Rebecca recognized me immediately.

Leaving greetings for later, I placed the cart in front of her.

“A gift.”

“What’s this?”

“What you need most right now. Let’s greet properly later. I’m off.”

Since staying here any longer would only be to my disadvantage, I quickly retreated.

People’s gazes naturally shifted to the cart, and I was able to slip away from their attention safely.

“What’s that, Teacher Rebecca?”

After a moment of confusion,

Rebecca quickly regained her composure and casually mentioned the items I had given her as if it had been planned all along.

“It seems the items the students ordered have arrived. There’s no need to wait long, you can check them right here.”

Rebecca’s perfect victory.

There was no point in watching any further.

“No!! This can’t be… impossible!!”

The anguished cry of denial from the Ash General Store owner could be faintly heard from afar.

Judging by the dean’s contemptuous gaze, it was clear that the relationship between the two had been severely damaged.

⁂ ⁂ ⁂

Having successfully crushed Ash General Store, Rebecca came to see me that night, bringing plenty of alcohol.

“Enjoy, enjoy! Ahahah!”

She was excitedly telling me about everything that happened after I left, and her appearance was quite adorable.

“It felt so liberating!”

“You seem to be having a lot of fun.”

“I feel amazing! When they were looking at the scrolls you brought and screaming that it couldn’t be true, wow~ How should I describe this feeling? It was incredibly good. Like I was floating in the sky?”

She explains with all her might, waving her hands this way and that.

The slight flush on her cheeks and her moist lips.

And her disheveled clothes from waving her arms so much created a slightly dangerous atmosphere.

Unaware of her own appearance, Rebecca put her arm on my shoulder and said,

“The dean couldn’t stand it anymore and dragged that guy out. Like this, grabbing him by the scruff of his neck and pulling him along~!”

Ahahah! Rebecca claps her hands, clearly enjoying herself.

I took a sip of alcohol while agreeing with Rebecca’s story.

“I didn’t know the dean and the owner of Ash General Store had such a deep connection.”

“It was a well-known rumor. That’s why no one dared to touch that bastard. It’s not that people were afraid of shit, you know? They just didn’t want to get dirty.”

“Indeed, if shit is dirty, it’s better to avoid it rather than step on it.”

It was a rotten part that everyone left alone because dealing with it would involve the dean, which was unpleasant, and because the owner of Ash didn’t cross the line and quietly did business with the students.

No one realized that this rotten part was gradually growing in size.

“Anyway, I owe you a lot today. When you appeared pulling that cart, I was stunned at first, but later I felt like kissing you. Who could say anything after seeing all those items?”

Even I thought I was pretty cool today.

With a slight smile, I spoke to Rebecca in a playful tone.

“Just in words?”

“What, you want me to actually do it?”

Rebecca must have been in a really good mood.

She grabbed my face and before I could stop her, she pressed her lips against mine.

“!!!”

Smooch!

After pressing her lips firmly and then pulling away, Rebecca wiped her moist lips with the back of her hand.

“…Are you crazy?”

I asked, like a man who had lost his virginity, in response to Rebecca’s unexpected action.

On the other hand, Rebecca acted like a man harassing a woman while drunk and making a scene.

“Heheh, surprisingly soft, aren’t they?”

“Are you drunk?”

Considering Rebecca’s alcohol tolerance, I knew it was nonsense, but I couldn’t help but ask.

“Do I look like it?”

“The problem is that you don’t.”

Because it meant she did this in her right mind.

I wanted to deny it, but Rebecca’s eyes were clear and she was fully conscious.

Although her behavior wasn’t normal.

“You brat! When your big sister gives you a kiss, you should say thank you and act shy. Why are you questioning it! Did you not like it?”

“…No.”

I couldn’t bring myself to say I didn’t like it.

Rebecca laughed brightly at my words and said,

“See! You liked it, you little punk.”

She’s probably feeling relieved inside while acting like this.

Although she seemed easygoing on the outside, Rebecca was typically the type to be tough on the outside but soft on the inside.

“So, want to sleep together?”

I decided to take it a step further for the sake of the person who was probably feeling shy inside.

“Are you crazy?!”

Rebecca jumped like a startled cat.

“What, did I get your hopes up for nothing?”

“Y-you expected that much? Who imagines that far from just one kiss!”

“Isn’t it natural when you get kissed by a pretty woman like you?”

“Y-y-you crazy bastard!”

Wham!

“Ugh!”

Rebecca’s foot struck my stomach in an instant.