Chapter 34: Sakiko's Emotional Collapse
In the lounge.
A young man wearing a blue bandana and a black suit looked disdainfully at his so-called competitors around him.
"Truly a bunch of filthy monkeys."
The man's appearance had been altered, otherwise he wouldn't dare show himself openly.
The youth's actual identity was Narifang Ota, a Grade 2 Cursed User wanted by the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association.
He was currently a member of a certain religious group.
"All non-sorcerers are monkeys."
That was the truth imparted to him by "that person." Monkeys are divided into those who bring curses and another type of monkey that offers money.
Monkeys are not qualified to live in the new world; only sorcerers are.
The threads Hikigaya Hachiman saw connected to the judges' limbs and extending to the ceiling were this guy's Cursed Technique.
[Mind Puppeteer]
It allows for the complete control of ordinary people for one's own use for a short period of time.
It sounds like cheating,
but its flaw is also very obvious: it can only be used on ordinary people.
Also, the threads are very clearly visible to anyone with a basic understanding of Cursed Energy, making them his biggest weakness.
The necessary funds, or financial support, are essential for creating the Sorcerer's Paradise their group envisions. They constantly seek opportunities to make money.
Like this time.
There were thirty music producers whose scores passed the initial screening to participate in the final audition, with the goal of selecting three outstanding ones to receive prize money.
"First Prize: 30 million yen, Second Prize: 15 million yen, Third Prize: 5 million yen."
The organizer of this event was quite wealthy.
Togawa Sakiko was also attracted by this prize money. Having fallen from wealth, she did not miss any opportunity to earn extra income, especially in the field of music arrangement, where Sakiko excelled.
She didn't dare think about first or second prize, but the 5 million yen for third prize was very much worth striving for.
Sitting on a chair, her hands clasped together, dressed in a slightly faded but exquisite dress, Togawa Sakiko rested her eyes. Although she looked calm, she could no longer suppress her inner excitement.
Even 5 million yen for third prize was an astronomical sum for the current Customer Service Sakiko.
It would vastly improve Togawa Sakiko's current life and allow her to take a breather. For this, she diligently regulated her breathing to achieve her best state.
Fortunately, the organizer was wealthy enough that contestants didn't need to bring their own instruments, otherwise Sakiko would have had to borrow one from the school's music club.
"No matter what, I must get a prize."
Togawa Sakiko thought with firm resolve.
Her audition slot was number 18.
But what Sakiko didn't know was that she had no chance of winning from the start.
The Cursed User looked very relaxed.
The judges were all his people. How could he lose?
Hikigaya Hachiman was observing the surroundings. Other than the strange threads, there were no other traces of Cursed Techniques.
It would be quite simple to dispel; it wasn't a profound technique.
Hikigaya Hachiman chose not to alert the enemy, but to wait and see.
He had already spotted the caster. The Cursed User, with a weak wave of Cursed Energy, was penetrating the adjacent lounge. He was a Cursed User, and not a very powerful one.
Hikigaya Hachiman didn't think that merely selecting a theme song would attract the attention of a Cursed User.
Was he trying to earn scraps of money?
Hikigaya Hachiman continued to observe. If possible, he didn't want to intervene and disrupt the selection meeting.
The judges seemed to be acting normally, making Hikigaya Hachiman feel as if they themselves didn't know they were being controlled.
At least when Hikigaya Hachiman and the two company presidents appeared, the judges all looked very flattering.
The assessment began quickly. The first person to take the stage seemed to be a European musician using a piano.
It was clear he was trying hard to convey the epic sense of sacrifice in the Warhammer world, but it fell short compared to Schubert.
It was only mediocre.
The judges began to score. Hikigaya Hachiman wrote down a 6.
He was astonished to find that his score was the highest given to the artist.
The highest score given by the other judges was 3, and the lowest was 0.
This is bad. That guy really came for this review board.
He was manipulating the judges to give low scores.
The artist clearly hadn't anticipated such an insult and walked out immediately, disinterested even in the final overall critique.
The next few contestants, like him, also failed to convey the feeling Hikigaya Hachiman wanted to see.
So, the highest score he gave was 5. As for the judges' maliciously low scores, since there was genuinely nothing outstanding, he tacitly allowed their score-lowering behavior.
The remaining contestants who had yet to perform felt immense psychological pressure watching the previous participants storm out angrily one after another.
Finally, it was the turn of the Cursed User, who had already cheated using his Cursed Technique.
Hikigaya Hachiman thought the guy would at least put on a show, but he didn't even bother.
He casually tapped the drum kit twice, and the judges all reacted as if hearing celestial music, their expressions deeply intoxicated.
"Perfect score!!!"
The judges collectively cheered for a perfect score, all giving the maximum.
"A hundred points!"
Meanwhile, the staff members being manipulated by the Cursed User in the adjacent lounge also began their operation.
"This selection meeting is over. The remaining contestants may leave."
"Huh?"
Togawa Sakiko's face instantly turned pale. She was waiting for her turn to take the stage, but now, suddenly, she was told she could leave without performing.
"Sir, but I haven't gone on stage yet."
The staff member spoke coldly.
"Just now, First, Second, and Third Prizes have already been claimed.
There's no point in you going up."
Togawa Sakiko's breathing became ragged. A flicker of exasperation appeared on her fair face.
"Are you messing with me?"
She had believed this competition would be fair, only to find she wasn't even given a chance to perform.
"Are you messing with me?"
Togawa Sakiko repeated the question.
She gripped her score sheet tightly. She had prepared for so long, pouring so much dedication into it—it was an agonizing labor of love. Yet, all those sleepless nights and efforts were wasted, and now she couldn't use any of it. Her beautiful eyes welled up slightly.
However, her inner pride forbade her from crying. At least, this sham of a competition wasn't worth the tears.
"I can't cry. I still have to rely on myself... to regain everything I want."
.
.
.
Meanwhile, the Cursed User on the stage was basking in the applause from all directions, when a voice, frigid as if rising from the depths of hell, rang out.
"Zero points."
The Cursed User was about to lash out,
but the terror he saw in his sight sent an extreme chill down his spine, making him shiver.
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