I smiled awkwardly at the principal who held his spot.

"Is there something you need, Veronica?"

"What's my name?"

"The manager told me. I heard it in passing. A guide created to help the students..."

"Ah, yes, that... a shameful story..."

That's a lie.

The manager has never told me anything like that.

But does she know what kind of story I’m talking about?

She is a character from the game I enjoyed.

The principal of the academy.

The ultimate boss of the world in the setting.

If you listened to what the setting said, she never actually showed such an appearance.

If a player is kind to the protagonist, the story will not progress because she does not engage in personal stories.

Whenever an incident or accident happens, a character that guides you with only a presence in the setting, the principal, Veronica.

A small girl who always smiles shyly when she meets my eyes, Veronica.

"Is there a drink you'd like?"

"I don't really want to drink anything today. Just a regular soda, please."

"I'll get it for you."

Making cocktails wasn’t that difficult.

While waiting for her, I made a drink in this place a few times.

As I skillfully made the drink and handed it to her, she expressed her gratitude and took the glass.

“By the way, are you a new employee?”

“Yes, well... Something like that. I'm temporarily working here.”

“Recently, the manager said he had no plans to hire new staff...”

“...”

Silence.

I looked at her quietly.

Did she hear that?

I didn’t expect that the manager would say such things.

The manager, who said he had no plans to hire new staff, suddenly employed me; she might find it suspicious...

“Well, it’s nothing. It’s just a minor detail. How did you come here?”

“Oh, that... I was wandering around the back alleys, and he picked me up.”

“...He always does things like that.”

I thought to myself, the manager must have picked me up again. When I talked to the manager and walked with him according to the final setting, the manager, if he were the manager, would have easily accepted me even without the final setting.

But.

That's why Veronica was so friendly with me.

If her character was bad, she wouldn't have been so friendly with the manager.

I looked at Veronica quietly.

It's amazing to see a character from the game in real life.

I said I had been wandering around the back alleys to meet her for several months, but seeing her in person was so amazing.

"...Did I have something on my face?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was just a bit amazed..."

"Amazed?"

"Seeing the famous Veronica in person, I was so impressed."

"Oh, goodness...!"

Even her reaction was just like in the game.

Pretending not to like it but actually enjoying it.

The setting that she is weak to praise is still true.

— Well, that's that.

"Oh, your glass is already empty. Would you like me to make you another one?"

"Huh? ...Yes, please. One more."

"Got it."

I don't really know how I became so absorbed in this world.

It's not like I did speed runs of web novels, immersed myself in worries, spewed curses, or played with bugs.

I just happened to be captivated by a famous game recommended by a friend.

A game that I didn't particularly like, but strangely enjoyed playing.

I guess it's just because I got too attached to the characters in that game.

A game where you guide the characters' stories to completion.

If you don't follow the flow, the characters won't meet a good ending, and those who aren't chosen won't get much screen time.

It's said that character themes progress the story depending on the creator's preferences.

I heard that if you stray from the designated path, the small village that becomes the center of the plot will be wiped out.

Characters not chosen by the player appear as phantoms before the player, showing their end.

...Not all endings are good, though.

That's why there were many talks about releasing a DLC where everyone could get a happy ending.

Even without me playing, I could guess the outcome just by looking at the community.

Anyway, I was also feeling the same longing while playing the game...

Then, suddenly, a strange message appeared.

What was it?

It was a message saying, "Do you want to know?"

Someone I didn't recognize sent it, and the letters shone brightly.

When I opened my eyes, it was like this.

I found myself in a woman's body.

In my head was basic knowledge of this world and my abilities.

Honestly, I was quite confused and bewildered at first...

But I had that thought.

In the world of the game, maybe I could lead these pitiful children to a happy ending.

That thought.

“Here, have some more.”

“Uh, thank you... but...”

“Don't worry about the money. This is a personal gift for someone I respect.”

“Oh, in that case...”

So I spent time here in a half-dazed state.

Thinking that if this was truly the world of the game, someday Veronica would find me.

I even thought that if I could help the children's plight, they might not meet a tragic end.

The result was as expected.

Veronica, with a flushed face and a hesitant look, avoiding my gaze as she sipped her drink.

She could easily enter the academy.

Of course, I could persuade the academy to accept her.

After all, she had the ability to infiltrate the academy without being noticed.

But, seeing Veronica in such a state, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

What if something happened while she was drunk?

All I had to do was control her as I wanted.

...I felt a little guilty, but I had no other choice.

It's for the peace of this world.

Considering the children’s future, the world would be a better place.

“Ugh, my head...”

“Here, Veronica. This way...”

“I, Veronica, am... for the children...”

Success.

No matter how drunk she was, I could control the strongest character in the world as I wished.

I secretly breathed a sigh of relief while pretending to be tense.

“Veronica, you care about the students, don't you?”

“...Yes.”

Veronica loves the students.

Here is a contradiction.

She sacrifices herself for the students, but she can't directly help them.

She helps the students by arranging comfortable dorms and inviting famous professors, but the time spent inside the school is much shorter than outside the school.

But I had the power to turn those lies into reality, as I believed in the words of a psychological counselor.

“You'll sleep better and avoid being a bar teacher. I strongly advise you.”

Me entering the academy is not a bad choice for her.

"...Miss, Ve-ronica, miss!"

"...Yes, yes?"

"Sorry, Veronica. It seems I gave you too much to drink. Are you tired?"

The bartender looked at me with concern as she slowly opened her eyes and spoke.

"Oh, was I sleeping?"

"Yes, very deeply."

"Oh, I'm sorry about that."

It's strange. How did I fall asleep with just a few drinks?

I can’t remember clearly.

I may have added a little bit of sleeping pills, but just this much...?

Well, she must have been really tired.

I was talking about something important.

“Sorry, I know it's a bit inconvenient to revisit this, but... can you reconsider? It's for the young children.”

“...”

“Don’t worry! I’ll support as much as I can! For the mental health of the students, we need someone like you!”

"I can't help it..."

I was pleased with the bartender's appearance, as if she had no other choice.

I finally found a counselor for the academy students.

She smiled at me as if she was happy too.

________________________________

⚫ Author's Comment (Writer's Testimonial)

i'm also scared of alcohol