Heroist
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—Thank you! 😇 I hope you enjoyed the contest! 😉 Thank you! Have a great day! 😊 Thank you too!...
This insane day had only just passed its midpoint, and time seemed to be flying fast, but to Nira it felt as though she had aged a decade. The muscles in her face had become paralyzed, locked in an eternally friendly grimace; with each successive phrase of gratitude, a piece of her mind evaporated, and the vote numbers were already swirling before her eyes in a chaotic waltz. From the opening ceremony to the global sale, from the contest launch to the participants' introduction, from vote counting to announcing winners, from prize-giving to the closing — her organizational presence and control were needed everywhere, lest she tarnish the reputation of their event, and the academy as a whole.
At one point, the girl thought she had made a mistake in the calculations: too many tens in a row were flying to the same participants, as if all the guests had formed a single hive mind, completely killing the competition's suspense. Double-checking the results, she confirmed they were correct, sighed, got up from her seat, and trudged heavily into the shade of the trees behind the stage for a well-deserved five-minute break. Here, the lingering heat of the departed summer didn't press so heavily on her head, the noise of human voices faded slightly in the distance, a pleasant veil of silence enveloped her hearing, and even the air itself felt fresher. The crowds never irritated Nira herself, but she had never had to "work" in them before — and today's activity couldn't be called anything else. It was a good thing she had thought to demand a salary from the academics: slaving away for free would have been the ultimate insult to her faithful ideals of Avaritia. And yet...
—Nirka, what are you dreaming about?
A female voice tore the girl from the depths of her own thoughts.
—Oh, what?.. Ah, you're here to hand over the envelope with the votes! —having let the first phrase go in one ear and out the other, Nira's gaze mechanically fell on the sheet in the stranger's hands. —Thank you for coming to the contest! 😃 I hope you enj...
—Yeah, you're something else, sweetie. —shaking her head, the girl took off her sunglasses. —They've really worn you down here, huh?..
—...Rani, is that you? —Nira looked at the visitor in surprise. —I can't believe it! 😍 —the girls hugged tightly. —And you.. what brings you to our backwater?
—Fate brings you, what else can I say. —the girl smirked. —Just some smart-ass agent who'll soon be begging under a bridge mixed up the tickets and dates, and now I'm stuck for three days in the middle of nowhere. I see there's some cool contest going on, and here you are showing up as an organizer, heh.
—Yeah, funny coincidence! 😅 Oh, what are we standing around for, let's go, I'll introduce you to my friends! We haven't seen each other in so long...
—Whoa, whoa, don't get ahead of yourself. Why would I waste time in your little group of kiddies. I came to see you, not some random people.
—That's too bad, but if you say so... 😞
—And drop those stupid faces. —Rani threatened the girl. —You look like a clown backup dancer before my concert, swear to god.
—What are you talking about... —Nira grumbled with a hint of offense.
—I remember you, you silly goose, when you were this tall. —Rani measured a distance to the ground with her palm. —Not that you've grown much since then, though.
—Hey!
—You were barely distinguishable from the crowd! You came out like some dead fish in a peasant shirt, shot a look around, and went off to collect votes.
Nira wanted to argue, but because of how packed today had been, she had somehow forgotten her own performance at the contest, having not prepared for it at all.
—So where's the outfit that shows off your figure? That woman over there with ears on her head practically danced naked and made half the soldiers' automatics discharge.
—Discharge what?..
—A disgrace, I say! —Rani scolded the student without malice. —Where's my Nirochka, who gossips all day about others' fashion taste while picking only the best outfits for herself?
—We don't even have a store for that around here...
—All that's left is to put on glasses, and you'll be the spitting image of a nerdy bookworm with beauty 5 and intellect 30.
—Actually, I'm earning money...
—Mmm, for who, the academy? —Rani smirked.
—Actually, no! From the budget discounts, and from the salary, and...
—Yeah, lol. And how much is that, at least five hundred? And how much did the academy rake in from all this?
Nira blushed even deeper and fell silent mid-sentence.
—Instead of a salary, take a percentage of the revenue, "business lady." Probably as usual, you dream about how clever and multi-layered you are, but in reality, they've roped you in like a sucker to promote a school for the gifted for pennies.
—You know how much I rake in from them out of my scholarship?.. —Nira played her last trump card.
— )
—What are you grinning at?..
—Oh, nothing...
—Just say it!
—Well, last month I was in your Utaha on tour, had a chat with Mr. and Mrs. Melvance...
—Oh, how are they?
—Very proud of their little daughter! Your dad seems to have doubled in width since our last meeting, telling everyone what an honor student his daughter is, that he even had to allocate extra funds for her education! Following in my footsteps, he says, she got smart. Nothing is too good for her.
Maybe it was the daytime heat taking its toll, but Nira's eyes darkened for a moment.
—Hey, what's wrong, sweetie? —Rani snapped her fingers demonstratively in front of the confused girl's face. —Or are you really the deserving honor student here with perfect scores on all exams?
Nira only shook her head gloomily.
—That's what I'm talking about. You didn't really think they'd pile on money to reward you for nothing, did you?
—Well, no... But at least I learned to shoot a pistol... —Nira grasped at the last straw.
—Wow, that's cool! And how many tournaments have you already won? —Rani asked with feigned interest.
—.................... You know, if I hadn't been sent to your place every summer as a kid, I'd think you were trying to humiliate me. —Nira finally grumbled.
—I actually am trying, you dummy! —grabbing the girl by the shoulders, Rani tousled her hair roughly. —Though life can't humiliate you more than I already—
Easily dodging the schoolgirl's hand, the latter just laughed even harder at her own successful joke. —There, that's a different story! This is the Nirochka I know and love! Shall we continue?
—?
—Well, we've covered your academic achievements, now let's move on to social! So, guys must be running around, judging by the contest? Or maybe you've already found the best one...
Nira threw a notebook at her acquaintance. For some unknown reason, it felt easy and pleasant for the soul.
—And of course our Nirushka must have tons of friends! —dodging again, Rani continued. —Hopefully not some crazies you have to pull out of trouble every quarter?..
With a defeated sigh, Nira sank onto the grass. —You're the one who started this circus... —she muttered.
—But I'm allowed to, because I do it sincerely. —Rani settled down beside her. —You know what they say, humiliation is the best medicine for pride, or something like that.
—And what does that have to do with me?
—Silly girl, why do I even care about her. —she threw up her hands. —If only you'd listen to your sister for once.
—Second cousin. Whom I see once every three years.
—She's what I've got! Maybe I'm wrong, but this Nira who smiles at everyone like a doll, sips tea and eats cakes, and spends all her free time counting other people's money — that's not the person you'd want to see in the mirror every day, huh?
—You don't understand, Ran... That "person" is successful and coexists harmoniously in a group, where a reckless and impulsive one would become an outcast or even... —Nira drew the side of her hand across her neck.
—"Harmoniously" in your mind means gray and unremarkable? Well then, mission accomplished perfectly. —Rani nodded toward the contest stage. —Look who's there: cows of all kinds, a horned one, a tower, a swamp girl, a would-be princess (rumor has it), a fatso, idiots, clowns. And none are outcasts, and each is good at something. What can you boast, a bag of remakes from your parents? Isn't that funny even to yourself?
—****** hilarious. —for the first time since March, Nira allowed herself a maternal expression.
—That's good. Think it over and draw your own conclusions about yourself. ...And I actually wanted to hand over my votes! —Rani suddenly perked up.
As she handed the sheet to the girl, she made an unexpected move and intercepted the vote tally table.
—Hey, that's confidential information! —Nira tried to take the documents back.
—Oh, come on. ..Yeah, and you're just going to hand the win over to those slabs of fat like that? Maybe it's worth "adjusting" the results a little, huh?
—No way! —Nira struggled to tear the papers from the girl's tenacious grip. —I won't stoop to... well, you don't need to know anyway.
—Why not? Those in power always get away with it, and no one would even check you... Eh, suit yourself. —waving her hand, Rani handed over her votes and stood up. —Alright, time for me to go. Honestly, your event is so-so, you've gathered a crowd of rural peasants as spectators, and the schoolgirls nowadays are barely prettier than pigs. Well, don't be bored!
—Bye... —waving thoughtfully at her second cousin, Nira unfolded the sheet:
Varvara — 8. A nice girl with model height and knowledge of her strengths and weaknesses. Unfortunately, for a proper contest she lacks both a good outfit and a suitable figure, but for a backwater dump, I'll make an exception for her.
Shea — 3. Wash this forest monster, give it normal clothes, wash that horror off its face, comb and apply proper makeup, and then we'll talk.
Iva — 3. I'm amused by how she tries to act like something she's not, but at a real competition you won't settle on a bench under a meteor shower with such a face and at such an angle in front of the audience. If she had come out to people like a human being, she'd have gotten her eight or nine.
Mana — two for the brothel questionnaire minus a point for glasses = 1.
Renn — 5. She's terrible, but managed to fool me with her charming smile.
Cassia — 2. Why so sweaty, after a workout or something?
Shera — 2. Facial paralysis needs treatment, not running around in contests.
Layla — 6. See Iva, plus points for daytime lighting, beautiful hair, and a friendly face, not the dreary crap like some.
Ladia — 2. Stop eating so many dumplings.
Buddleja — 1. What won't people do for points...
Vita — 6. Generic, but I see good model potential in her.
Claudia — 3. Your Highness, your outfit is about to tear.
Nirianna — 6. Without a doubt, the best in looks, but how wretchedly the presentation is done, the participant should be ashamed of her worthless performance.
Neomarika — 1. Well, go ahead and elect a cow that despises all other races as the winner, you tolerant clowns.
This insane day had only just passed its midpoint, and time seemed to be flying fast, but to Nira it felt as though she had aged a decade. The muscles in her face had become paralyzed, locked in an eternally friendly grimace; with each successive phrase of gratitude, a piece of her mind evaporated, and the vote numbers were already swirling before her eyes in a chaotic waltz. From the opening ceremony to the global sale, from the contest launch to the participants' introduction, from vote counting to announcing winners, from prize-giving to the closing — her organizational presence and control were needed everywhere, lest she tarnish the reputation of their event, and the academy as a whole.
At one point, the girl thought she had made a mistake in the calculations: too many tens in a row were flying to the same participants, as if all the guests had formed a single hive mind, completely killing the competition's suspense. Double-checking the results, she confirmed they were correct, sighed, got up from her seat, and trudged heavily into the shade of the trees behind the stage for a well-deserved five-minute break. Here, the lingering heat of the departed summer didn't press so heavily on her head, the noise of human voices faded slightly in the distance, a pleasant veil of silence enveloped her hearing, and even the air itself felt fresher. The crowds never irritated Nira herself, but she had never had to "work" in them before — and today's activity couldn't be called anything else. It was a good thing she had thought to demand a salary from the academics: slaving away for free would have been the ultimate insult to her faithful ideals of Avaritia. And yet...
—Nirka, what are you dreaming about?
A female voice tore the girl from the depths of her own thoughts.
—Oh, what?.. Ah, you're here to hand over the envelope with the votes! —having let the first phrase go in one ear and out the other, Nira's gaze mechanically fell on the sheet in the stranger's hands. —Thank you for coming to the contest! 😃 I hope you enj...
—Yeah, you're something else, sweetie. —shaking her head, the girl took off her sunglasses. —They've really worn you down here, huh?..
—...Rani, is that you? —Nira looked at the visitor in surprise. —I can't believe it! 😍 —the girls hugged tightly. —And you.. what brings you to our backwater?
—Fate brings you, what else can I say. —the girl smirked. —Just some smart-ass agent who'll soon be begging under a bridge mixed up the tickets and dates, and now I'm stuck for three days in the middle of nowhere. I see there's some cool contest going on, and here you are showing up as an organizer, heh.
—Yeah, funny coincidence! 😅 Oh, what are we standing around for, let's go, I'll introduce you to my friends! We haven't seen each other in so long...
—Whoa, whoa, don't get ahead of yourself. Why would I waste time in your little group of kiddies. I came to see you, not some random people.
—That's too bad, but if you say so... 😞
—And drop those stupid faces. —Rani threatened the girl. —You look like a clown backup dancer before my concert, swear to god.
—What are you talking about... —Nira grumbled with a hint of offense.
—I remember you, you silly goose, when you were this tall. —Rani measured a distance to the ground with her palm. —Not that you've grown much since then, though.
—Hey!
—You were barely distinguishable from the crowd! You came out like some dead fish in a peasant shirt, shot a look around, and went off to collect votes.
Nira wanted to argue, but because of how packed today had been, she had somehow forgotten her own performance at the contest, having not prepared for it at all.
—So where's the outfit that shows off your figure? That woman over there with ears on her head practically danced naked and made half the soldiers' automatics discharge.
—Discharge what?..
—A disgrace, I say! —Rani scolded the student without malice. —Where's my Nirochka, who gossips all day about others' fashion taste while picking only the best outfits for herself?
—We don't even have a store for that around here...
—All that's left is to put on glasses, and you'll be the spitting image of a nerdy bookworm with beauty 5 and intellect 30.
—Actually, I'm earning money...
—Mmm, for who, the academy? —Rani smirked.
—Actually, no! From the budget discounts, and from the salary, and...
—Yeah, lol. And how much is that, at least five hundred? And how much did the academy rake in from all this?
Nira blushed even deeper and fell silent mid-sentence.
—Instead of a salary, take a percentage of the revenue, "business lady." Probably as usual, you dream about how clever and multi-layered you are, but in reality, they've roped you in like a sucker to promote a school for the gifted for pennies.
—You know how much I rake in from them out of my scholarship?.. —Nira played her last trump card.
— )
—What are you grinning at?..
—Oh, nothing...
—Just say it!
—Well, last month I was in your Utaha on tour, had a chat with Mr. and Mrs. Melvance...
—Oh, how are they?
—Very proud of their little daughter! Your dad seems to have doubled in width since our last meeting, telling everyone what an honor student his daughter is, that he even had to allocate extra funds for her education! Following in my footsteps, he says, she got smart. Nothing is too good for her.
Maybe it was the daytime heat taking its toll, but Nira's eyes darkened for a moment.
—Hey, what's wrong, sweetie? —Rani snapped her fingers demonstratively in front of the confused girl's face. —Or are you really the deserving honor student here with perfect scores on all exams?
Nira only shook her head gloomily.
—That's what I'm talking about. You didn't really think they'd pile on money to reward you for nothing, did you?
—Well, no... But at least I learned to shoot a pistol... —Nira grasped at the last straw.
—Wow, that's cool! And how many tournaments have you already won? —Rani asked with feigned interest.
—.................... You know, if I hadn't been sent to your place every summer as a kid, I'd think you were trying to humiliate me. —Nira finally grumbled.
—I actually am trying, you dummy! —grabbing the girl by the shoulders, Rani tousled her hair roughly. —Though life can't humiliate you more than I already—
Easily dodging the schoolgirl's hand, the latter just laughed even harder at her own successful joke. —There, that's a different story! This is the Nirochka I know and love! Shall we continue?
—?
—Well, we've covered your academic achievements, now let's move on to social! So, guys must be running around, judging by the contest? Or maybe you've already found the best one...
Nira threw a notebook at her acquaintance. For some unknown reason, it felt easy and pleasant for the soul.
—And of course our Nirushka must have tons of friends! —dodging again, Rani continued. —Hopefully not some crazies you have to pull out of trouble every quarter?..
With a defeated sigh, Nira sank onto the grass. —You're the one who started this circus... —she muttered.
—But I'm allowed to, because I do it sincerely. —Rani settled down beside her. —You know what they say, humiliation is the best medicine for pride, or something like that.
—And what does that have to do with me?
—Silly girl, why do I even care about her. —she threw up her hands. —If only you'd listen to your sister for once.
—Second cousin. Whom I see once every three years.
—She's what I've got! Maybe I'm wrong, but this Nira who smiles at everyone like a doll, sips tea and eats cakes, and spends all her free time counting other people's money — that's not the person you'd want to see in the mirror every day, huh?
—You don't understand, Ran... That "person" is successful and coexists harmoniously in a group, where a reckless and impulsive one would become an outcast or even... —Nira drew the side of her hand across her neck.
—"Harmoniously" in your mind means gray and unremarkable? Well then, mission accomplished perfectly. —Rani nodded toward the contest stage. —Look who's there: cows of all kinds, a horned one, a tower, a swamp girl, a would-be princess (rumor has it), a fatso, idiots, clowns. And none are outcasts, and each is good at something. What can you boast, a bag of remakes from your parents? Isn't that funny even to yourself?
—****** hilarious. —for the first time since March, Nira allowed herself a maternal expression.
—That's good. Think it over and draw your own conclusions about yourself. ...And I actually wanted to hand over my votes! —Rani suddenly perked up.
As she handed the sheet to the girl, she made an unexpected move and intercepted the vote tally table.
—Hey, that's confidential information! —Nira tried to take the documents back.
—Oh, come on. ..Yeah, and you're just going to hand the win over to those slabs of fat like that? Maybe it's worth "adjusting" the results a little, huh?
—No way! —Nira struggled to tear the papers from the girl's tenacious grip. —I won't stoop to... well, you don't need to know anyway.
—Why not? Those in power always get away with it, and no one would even check you... Eh, suit yourself. —waving her hand, Rani handed over her votes and stood up. —Alright, time for me to go. Honestly, your event is so-so, you've gathered a crowd of rural peasants as spectators, and the schoolgirls nowadays are barely prettier than pigs. Well, don't be bored!
—Bye... —waving thoughtfully at her second cousin, Nira unfolded the sheet:
Varvara — 8. A nice girl with model height and knowledge of her strengths and weaknesses. Unfortunately, for a proper contest she lacks both a good outfit and a suitable figure, but for a backwater dump, I'll make an exception for her.
Shea — 3. Wash this forest monster, give it normal clothes, wash that horror off its face, comb and apply proper makeup, and then we'll talk.
Iva — 3. I'm amused by how she tries to act like something she's not, but at a real competition you won't settle on a bench under a meteor shower with such a face and at such an angle in front of the audience. If she had come out to people like a human being, she'd have gotten her eight or nine.
Mana — two for the brothel questionnaire minus a point for glasses = 1.
Renn — 5. She's terrible, but managed to fool me with her charming smile.
Cassia — 2. Why so sweaty, after a workout or something?
Shera — 2. Facial paralysis needs treatment, not running around in contests.
Layla — 6. See Iva, plus points for daytime lighting, beautiful hair, and a friendly face, not the dreary crap like some.
Ladia — 2. Stop eating so many dumplings.
Buddleja — 1. What won't people do for points...
Vita — 6. Generic, but I see good model potential in her.
Claudia — 3. Your Highness, your outfit is about to tear.
Nirianna — 6. Without a doubt, the best in looks, but how wretchedly the presentation is done, the participant should be ashamed of her worthless performance.
Neomarika — 1. Well, go ahead and elect a cow that despises all other races as the winner, you tolerant clowns.
Whatever