I Became A Third-Rate Villain In The Hero Academy
chapter-178

With his gaze fixed straight ahead, Theo listened to the chatter of the audience.

'At this point in time, a [Bust Enlargement Pill]... it’s different from the game again.'

The [Bust Enlargement Pill] does appear in the game, but it’s an item created for a special event by Dangi later on.

'Well, she did submit a bizarre item. The chances are high that Dangi's character and tendencies remain the same.'

A pure inventor.

This is a phrase used to describe Dangi in the game.

Just like Theo, Piel fixed her gaze straight ahead, paying attention to the audience's gossip.

'A Bust Enlargement Pill? Is there really such a ridiculous thing that only increases breast size?'

Of course, her opinion that breasts are just cumbersome flesh that gets in the way of moving hadn’t changed.

So there are such things in the world-

There’s nothing like that in the Chalon family’s treasure vault. It’s fascinating-

I'm a little curious, of course, not for my own use-

With these thoughts in mind, Piel continued focusing her gaze straight ahead, concentrating all her attention on listening.

The Artifact Competition has begun.

The audience was right about the extraordinary lineup this time around: the average quality of the submissions was indeed high.

[A long spear that automatically disassembles and reassembles at the push of a button—operational up to 100 times when fully charged with mana]

[A lightweight armor that automatically repels electric magic of the 2nd Circle and below—requires weekly part replacement and mana recharge]

[A silver bracelet that enhances the efficiency of debuff magic up to the 3rd Circle by a maximum of 1.2 times—limited to twice a day, requires mana recharge]

...

Some submissions were so impressive that it was hard to believe they were made by first-year students.

Seria, observing the competition, mused,

"Enhancing the efficiency of debuff magic up to 1.2 times... And all it needs is a mana recharge. This silver bracelet is impressive."

"Hmm, that's true. Depending on the mage's abilities, the efficiency may vary, but it seems like a mage at the top of the 4th Circle could extract the maximum efficiency from it."

"Huuh, as expected, Theo, you're well-versed in magical theory."

"To be acknowledged by the top student of the Magic Department. It seems my time spent studying magic hasn’t been in vain."

Theo said, keeping his eyes forward.

Seria recalled the moment he easily dispelled her [Bind] spell in the lab.

"You could study magic a little less. No, I wish you wouldn't study it at all."

"…What do you mean by that, Seria?"

"Oh, I was just talking to myself. I'm sorry if I offended you. I just think Theo has a lot on his plate aside from magic, and I wanted to lessen your burden."

"……"

Theo closed his mouth and returned his focus to the competition.

The host on the stage announced,

-Next up, we have Dangi from the Alchemy Department first year! The name of her submission is, uh, um...

The host's pupils were trembling as he read from the script.

The audience began to stir.

"Is this the first time we've seen him stutter? Hasn't he been hosting for over 10 years?"

"What the heck is the submission that made him react like that?"

"Looks like Dangi brought another crazy item. What is it? Show it already!"

Piel internally cheered,

'Oh! Is it really that Pill...?!'

"Oh, I wonder what the entry could be to cause such a reaction. I'm looking forward to it."

Pretending not to know, Seria murmured loud enough for Theo to hear.

Theo sneaked a glance at Seria's chest, thinking,

'In the game, [Bust Enlargement Pill] would increase the bust size by a percentage of the original size when taken for about a week...'

He decided to stop his imagination there.

Any further, and he sensed that even an amplified [Twisted Noble's Dignity] might not be able to help him.

─Ahem, cough, cough.

The host, regaining consciousness, continued speaking.

─I apologize. Let me reintroduce that for you. The item by Dangi is the [Bust Enlargement Pill]!

As he finished speaking, a girl with black hair and bangs, pulling a small cart loaded with about 20 boxes, came to the center of the stage.

It was Dangi.

─Now, could you please introduce your item, Dangi?

Taking the microphone from the host, she began to speak.

-Hello, everyone~ My name is Dangi, and I am a freshman in the Alchemy Department. The item I've created this time is called the [Bust Enlargement Pill]. Just as the name suggests, it's a pill that helps create big and beautiful breasts! It’s quite revolutionary!

A big stir arose from the audience.

Judging by their reaction, it was explosively popular compared to the other items.

Squeak─

Dangi opened one of the boxes loaded on the cart.

Inside the box, there were seven round, red pills, each wrapped in a shell that looked like a pearl.

-The effects are simple and clear! If you take this medicine regularly, it will increase your bust size! Let me explain why there are seven pills in one set.

Dangi picked up a large piece of paper that had been lying on top of the cart.

On it were two photos of her bust.

-Here, these are before and after photos of when you take [Bust Enlargement Pill], one pill a day, for a week! Of course, I conducted clinical trials on myself in a controlled environment~ The left is before taking it, and the right is after a week. How is it? You can see this revolutionary difference in just a week, can't you?

There was a quite meaningful difference in Dangi's bust size between the two photos.

In the before photo, her bust was slightly raised, while in the after photo, it was prominently larger.

“Oh, it’s not easy to see from the back, is it?”

She moved to the front of the stage, holding the photos, and went back and forth from side to side.

Piel's eyes widened in surprise.

‘Wow... It went from D to E. It changed so much in just a week...! I need to buy as much as possible, all of it!’

She resolved to hurry, thinking that such an amazing item would sell out quickly.

She was a lady from the known Chalon Ducal Family across the continent.

Money was no issue.

“…”

Theo remained calm with a composed expression.

Seria whispered softly.

“As expected from Dangi, such an innovative item. Just look at how it has captured the audience's attention, Theo. Judging by the reaction, she's bound to win.”

“Hmm.”

Without compromising his dignity, Theo looked around.

Just as Seria had said, the reaction from the audience was tremendous.

The male students were continuously exclaiming in admiration, while the female students were talking animatedly with their companions, their faces flushed with excitement.

Regardless of the situation, Theo remained calm and composed.

"I see."

"Heh... It seems like you're not really interested, are you?"

Seria expressed with a leisurely smile.

However, she felt differently on the inside.

She was well aware that one of her weapons was her voluptuous figure.

'What if Theo doesn’t like big breasts...'

The thought pained her.

Most men prefer larger breasts.

However, the world is vast, and people's preferences vary.

Theo is an extraordinary person, so there is a possibility that he has unique tastes.

Theo then spoke,

"It's not so much that; it’s a drug that hasn’t undergone proper clinical trials. The likelihood of it becoming commercialized is low. Isn’t it a drug that was tested only on oneself for just a week? It's a medicine that can transform a person's physique in a short period, so there are bound to be unforeseen side effects."

All drugs have their main effects and side effects.

The ‘side’ in side effects doesn't mean negative effects; it refers to secondary effects.

‘There's a reason why [Bust Enlargement Pill] is an event item in the main story.’

While [Bust Enlargement Pill] has the incredible effect of enlarging the breasts, it was not commercialized due to its many side effects.

Some of the side effects found in both men and women include nausea, vomiting, decreased muscle endurance, and skin diseases.

Among these, the biggest issue was skin diseases.

No matter how much one's breasts grow, it’s all in vain if the skin condition is poor.

Theo observed the stage with his amplified [Observer's Eye].

‘It seems like she's already experiencing the side effects. She must have let her bangs down to hide the pimples on her forehead.’

In the main story, Dangi did not let her bangs down.

Seria genuinely admired Theo and looked at him.

"Wow, you're not even from the Alchemy or Magic Departments, and yet you know such things. As expected, Theo, you are knowledgeable."

“I just don't like the act of attracting the attention of desperate people with a drug that hasn't been verified.”

Hearing that, Piel frowned.

'...That's right. It’s a drug that causes such a change in the body in just a week; there have to be side effects.'

Her heart grew cold.

No matter the price, she had planned to buy it all.

But if there were any harmful side effects, it would be a disaster!

‘Still, it seems worth trying... I should buy it.’

While Piel's desire to purchase was ignited, the [Artifact Competition] came to an end.

Piel's fervent desire remained unfulfilled.

New drugs manufactured by the Alchemy Department must pass through a strict clinical trial process before they can be commercialized.

The drug management laws at Elinia Academy are particularly stringent.

If one is caught intentionally distributing or possessing unauthorized drugs, there is a high probability of both expulsion from the academy and being ostracized in academic circles.

Therefore, despite the overwhelming demand, not a single pill of [Bust Enlargement Pill] was sold.

However, she smiled brightly.

With a big pimple on her forehead, the gleeful Dangi clenched her fist.

"...It's a lot!"

She succeeded in gathering an overwhelmingly large amount of sponsorship funds.

It was a staggeringly large amount.

"Hehe, with this money, I can proceed with the clinical trials, and with the remaining funds, I can finally create what I've been planning for the last two years! Thank you, Camilia!"

Camilia is the name of the sponsor who donated the largest amount to her.

Coincidentally, it is also the name of Piel's maid.