Chapter 209: Not a Child

“Senior Risi is really going through a lot,” Pret said in a casual tone.

There wasn’t a hint of pity on his face.

He was likely just throwing out a mindless comment to keep the small talk going.

However, despite that, Fjodra reacted.

“Indeed. It must be hard to balance training and club activities. Perhaps I should try to persuade her to quit…?” she said, looking genuinely worried.

‘Isn’t that just asking for a conflict with Risi?’

Currently, Risi had barely escaped her despair and had made up her mind to work hard on her training, if only for the sake of her own survival.

This was because Reysir Daudabina had told her in chapter 198 that the creation of the Awakened Special Class wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

However, that didn’t mean her resentment toward the Imperial Family had vanished.

In this situation, if Fjodra, a member of the Imperial Family, spoke in her characteristically authoritative tone and told her to quit club activities because it would be hard to balance with training, it was obvious how Risi would interpret it.

Risi would hear it as: ‘Quit your hobbies and everything else, and focus only on training to get stronger as quickly as possible. Only then can I push you into the Demonic Realm.’

She would undoubtedly feel like the Princess was putting pressure on her.

“Ah… that… wouldn’t it be better if you didn’t step in to persuade her, Senior Fjodra? If it gets too hard, she’ll quit on her own…”

Although Pret was smiling as he spoke, his eyebrows were sloping downward, revealing his awkward predicament.

He had hurriedly stepped in to fix the situation, fearing that his idle talk might end up hurting Risi.

But his words didn’t reach Fjodra.

“Would she really? She’s so soft-hearted that she skips meals and runs to the library because she feels sorry for her fellow club members.”

‘Was it because she had only ever dealt with people who were desperate to get close to her as a Princess?’

She didn’t seem to consider the possibility that Risi might have fled to the library because she hated dining with her so much.

‘Even if Risi starts feeling hostility beyond just resentment toward Fjodra, she won’t dare to oppose the Princess directly!’

Instead, she would likely just shed tears of indignation.

The Special Class students, including the Original Protagonist, would then sympathize with Risi and come into conflict with the Princess.

And Fjodra, having become the public enemy, would offer no explanation.

‘Just like in the original work.’

I suspected that this time, too, she would only offer an apology in her dying moments, after suffering an incurable wound.

That way, the characters, including the Original Protagonist, would feel sorry for her.

And after her death, the Imperial Family would step in to take away the benefits given to the Special Class students and throw them into the perilous Demonic Realm to be ground down.

They would make the students realize how hard Fjodra had worked to protect them, making them feel regret and guilt for hating her without ever having a proper conversation.

‘If Senna intends to follow the pattern of the original work exactly, it will definitely unfold that way!’

For me, living as a supporting character in this novel’s world, it was an incredibly bleak prospect.

Therefore, I suppressed the urge to sigh and spoke up.

“Your Imperial Highness, I have something to say.”

“Speak freely.”

“I would like to, but there are too many ears listening, which makes me uncomfortable. Is it possible to block out the sound using your Aether Characteristic Ability?”

“Of course it is.”

Except for the area around our table, the cafeteria was packed with students.

Yet, it was strangely quiet.

Everyone was focused on us, straining to hear our conversation.

‘I’m not trying to share some secret that others shouldn’t hear, but this is so burdensome…!’

Fjodra didn’t seem to feel the pressure, but seeing my serious expression, she immediately used her Aether Characteristic Ability, perhaps thinking I had something to say in private.

“There, speak now.”

“Even just last year, one could always find Senior Risi whenever they went to the library.”

“Does that mean… are the other Library Club members dumping all the work on Lady Risi?”

When frustration exceeds a certain level, it turns into absurdity.

I was so flabbergasted that I almost let out a hollow laugh.

But since rejecting her guess after laughing might make it seem like I was mocking her, I simply kept my mouth shut and shook my head.

“If that’s not it, then are you saying Lady Risi chose to pour all her personal time into club activities?”

“Yes.”

“Not because of anyone’s coercion, and not even because she wanted to help the other members, but just because she enjoys being a Library Club member?”

“Club activities are not mandatory at Valhalla Academy. Furthermore, the work of the Library Club is practically equivalent to campus service, isn’t it? Since she volunteered to join, the other members must feel the same way as Senior Risi.”

The other club members would know best how much Risi loved her club activities.

So, no one would complain even if she couldn’t help out because she was busy with training.

If anything, they would feel sorry for her situation.

“Mmm… I suppose that might be the case.”

Fortunately, Fjodra nodded, appearing convinced by my words —.

“Perhaps the library is a sort of sanctuary for Senior Risi. So, regarding her club activities, it might be best not to interfere…”

“But even if one isn’t a Library Club member, can’t they go to the library anytime?”

— Hearing her say that, it seemed she hadn’t quite understood my point.

“…Is it not possible that she became a club member because she enjoys recording the checkout and return of books, classifying them, and organizing the shelves?”

“Ah, I suppose that’s possible.”

It was frustrating that I had to explain something so obvious, but thinking that she was being controlled by the original author, I felt more pity than disdain.

“And if Your Imperial Highness… no, if any of us were to suggest it’s better to quit the Library Club, Senior Risi wouldn’t take it as words of concern. She would see it as pressure to get stronger quickly so she can pull her weight.”

Since Fjodra might try to dump the task of persuading Risi onto me if I wasn’t careful, I corrected myself mid-sentence to imply that no one should bring it up to her.

Then, I asked the following question.

“Do you happen to wish for us to give up our daily lives and be used as tools to clear the Demonic Realm, Your Imperial Highness?”

In the original work before the remake, Fjodra never punished the Original Protagonist, no matter how rudely he behaved.

She felt it was natural for Reysir to show resentment toward her because of what the Imperial Family had done to him.

And currently, the person Fjodra felt guilty toward wasn’t just Reysir.

She likely felt sorry for all the second- and third-year students, including myself, who had been forced into the Awakened Special Class.

That was why I could ask such a question without any worry.

‘Everyone looks surprised!’

Svein was merely shocked, but the other second-years also cast worried glances my way.

On the other hand, a look of interest appeared on Pret’s face.

“…I did not wish for such a thing.”

“Then please refrain from telling her to give up her daily life. Senior Risi isn’t a child, is she? She can take care of herself.”

After saying that, I added another point.

“If Senior Risi is only forcing herself to find time for club activities because she’s worried about the other members struggling due to the vacancies left by the seniors who graduated last year, she will naturally quit once the new member recruitment begins.”

To be honest, my personal wish was for Risi to remain a Library Club member.

‘That way, there won’t be any noise when I join the Library Club.’

If any readers are wondering what I’m talking about, they can re-read the last paragraph of chapter 9.

‘Even if I become a Library Club member, there’s a high chance I won’t find out where the paper book version of the webnovel was made. Even if I do find out, there might be no gain, but…!’

The difference between not even trying and at least attempting is significant.

And if things go well, I might be able to sneak volume five of Hoe-ak-bang, which I am currently writing, into the new arrivals list and have it officially stocked in the library.

So, I didn’t step forward just to help Risi.

I spoke up because I calculated that it would be beneficial for me in many ways.

However, the Protagonist of Another Novel, unaware of this truth, shot me a burdensome look while wearing a deep smile.

‘It’s a huge relief that I have Skadi’s private tutoring scheduled after this afternoon’s lecture.’

Otherwise, I might have been caught by him right after the Botany lecture and forced to listen to him talk about how kind I was for a long time.

“Thank you for your honest advice. I will take it to heart.”

“If that is the case, may I say one more thing?”

“Go ahead.”

Fjodra replied with a calm nod.

There was no sign of offense on her face; rather, she seemed to welcome it.

It appeared that although the original author was using Fjodra for the story’s development, her basic settings hadn’t been tampered with.

“This Valhalla Academy belongs to the Imperial Family, and the patissier at the newly established dessert corner was hired by Your Imperial Highness. So, it’s only natural that you don’t stand in line when you order.”

“Hmm…?”

Fjodra’s face showed confusion, perhaps wondering if I was going to talk more about the Awakened Special Class students.

Still, I had to say this.

“But with so many students waiting in line like this, don’t you think it’s a bit… much for the employee in charge of the counter to come directly to the table to take your order and even serve the food?”

Just as I said this, the employee in question passed through the sound barrier Fjodra had created and entered.

‘Had he heard what I said?’

The employee subconsciously nodded while placing the tray of drinks and desserts on the table.

‘Well, he’s the one who will get glared at by the students tired of waiting.’

Realizing the meaning of his action a moment too late, the employee’s face turned pale.

He quickly told us to enjoy the food and fled the area.

Only then did enlightenment dawn on Fjodra.

“Was my behavior… a bit obnoxious?”

“Not a bit, but very…?”

“…Thank you for letting me know.”

The expression on Fjodra’s face as she replied was that of someone who had received a great shock and lost their soul.