Chapter 112: Exposed, Again

After finishing our meal, we all headed together to the carriage waiting area.

However, not everyone got into the same carriage.

Since Hailga and Vigdis had joined Hailga’s group of friends.

With two people absent, I wondered if the conversation we’d started in the Dining Hall would be dropped altogether.

But contrary to my expectations, as soon as Reysir climbed into the carriage, he opened his mouth.

“Karbaldr. About the conversation we couldn’t finish earlier…”

“Wait.”

“Why?”

“Do you really have to bring it up?”

“Yeah, I really do.”

I cautiously hinted that I’d rather let it go, but the response I got was a firm refusal.

It wasn’t even said with a playful, smiling face.

His expression was so serious, it couldn’t have been more solemn, and I couldn’t help but be taken aback.

“You…! Just how serious are you about teasing me?!”

“Huh? When did I ever tease you for you to say that?”

“Don’t pretend! Always bringing up the word ts-tsundere, asking if I’m embarrassed, or teasing me about being sweet and all that!”

“I don’t get it? I mean, calling you tsundere aside, why is it teasing to ask how you’re feeling or to compliment you for being kind?”

“That’s….”

I was at a loss for words.

Logically speaking, Reysir’s point was perfectly valid.

“Karbaldr. I was just pointing out what you try to ignore and avoid.”

“……”

“It’s true I often burst out laughing at your reactions, but I never made it my goal to tease you.”

He must be lying.

I remember the way he’d look at me, eyes sparkling with mischief. He’s trying to pull one over on me now.

‘But… what if, by chance, he’s telling the truth?’

If Reysir really hadn’t meant to tease me, then I’d been the only one getting embarrassed and overreacting for nothing.

That thought made my face flush with shame.

Of course, it wasn’t that I was truly embarrassed, but only that I was insisting on Karbaldr’s unique character. Not that the others would know that.

“So… then… What was it you originally wanted to say?”

‘Was my attempt to change the subject so quickly amusing?’

Reysir quickly turned his head, letting out a quiet ‘kuk..!’.

Still, perhaps to give more credibility to his claim of never having teased me, he swallowed his laughter and continued.

“Karbaldr, you know… Maybe you should hide your kind side from people you aren’t close to?”

‘Is he trying to tease me after all?’

That suspicion appeared and vanished in just 0.1 seconds. The seriousness in Reysir’s gaze had replaced any hint of mischief.

Which meant… this was genuine advice for my own sake.

“Didn’t you once tell me to speak kindly to others? Why the sudden change of heart?”

Incidentally, Reysir made that comment in Chapter 38, right after the lobby gossip event.

“Back then, I didn’t realize so many people wanted to use you. I’d heard that Tridric and Liolikin were trying to get close just to use you, but it didn’t really hit home. So, I didn’t notice that your prickly words and demeanor were a means of self-defense.”

“So, you’re telling me to be careful not to seem too approachable?”

“I know you’re gentle and kind-hearted, so I worry about you.”

“Your concern is unnecessary. The sharp tone and demeanor you describe as self-defense are just my nature, and your belief that I’m gentle and kind is nothing more than your own misunderstanding.”

Knowing it was pointless, I still scoffed and denied his words for the sake of maintaining my character.

As expected, Reysir ignored my claims and continued with what he wanted to say.

“If people find out how kind you are, even more of them will try to approach you. Some will even pretend to be pitiful to play on your sympathy—real troublemakers.”

“……”

I was briefly unsure, feeling oddly like I was being teased again—but now I was certain.

The Protagonist of Another Novel was pulling another inspiration event after a long while.

He still hadn’t given up; his persistence was something else.

“Karbaldr. I don’t want you to wear yourself out or get hurt because of people like that.”

As I listened to his earnest voice, I couldn’t help but wonder, ‘Just what kind of person is the Karbaldr that Reysir imagines?’

But I didn’t dare to ask.

I already knew the answer would be unbearably embarrassing.

“Don’t just brush off what I’m saying.”

“……”

“Oh! In that sense, from now on, when there are a lot of people listening, I’ll refrain from openly saying things like you’re shy or kind.”

“Really?!”

Oops.

By the time I realized I’d reacted way too enthusiastically, it was already too late.

Yor rubbed his forehead with a ‘myaaa…’ and my face flushed red hot.

And Reysir burst out laughing at almost exactly the same moment.

“D-don’t laugh…!”

“Pffft! S-sorry… but you’re just… ahahaha, aagh—!”

If I left him be, there was no telling how long Reysir would go on cackling, so I had no choice but to use desperate measures.

The Protagonist of Another Novel finally stopped laughing only after I kicked his shin.

“Whew… Anyway, Liolikin, you cooperate too.”

“Ah, yessir…!”

Liolikin responded more briskly than usual.

Seeming satisfied, Reysir nodded a couple of times with a pleased look.

Then he turned his gaze back to me and spoke again.

“I’ll talk to Hailga, so you tell Vigdis.”

“…What?”

“If people find out how gentle and kind you are, even more will try to use you, so ask her not to tease you too much.”

“You’re telling me to say that myself…?”

“Is it a little embarrassing after all?”

“Don’t tease me!”

“Ahahahahat! I have a conscience, so I won’t deny it this time.”

Reysir openly admitted he’d said that with the intention of teasing me.

But since he didn’t reply to my plea to stop, it looked like he’d keep messing with me whenever he got the chance.

So annoying it’s almost impressive.

When I think there’s barely a month left until the Graduation Ceremony, I start to feel a little empty…

This is what’s scary about getting used to things.

I tried so hard not to get attached, but all the affection they dumped on me is overflowing in my arms.

It’s soaked into me on its own, and it’s honestly troublesome.

‘Would it really be so bad if I didn’t drop out and just kept living at the Academy like this…?’

Even knowing that, starting from Graduation Ceremony day, a shadow of death would always hang over him.

Without even realizing, I found myself thinking such thoughts—because I’d gotten so used to that infuriating, cheerful laugh of his.

I couldn’t bring myself to deny it.

“U-um, but… can’t Yor scare off most people just with his glare?”

Liolikin’s utterly absurd comment pierced my thoughts and reached my ears.

I wanted to snap at him for saying something so ridiculous, but I could only keep my mouth shut.

Because….

“Meow meow.”

My adorable Familiar nodded with a proud pose.

Anyone could see he was agreeing with Liolikin, so how could I possibly undermine my cute baby dragon’s confidence?

[If anyone tries to cross the line, I’ll step up → Everyone, relax]

If someone tries to cross the line, you’ll stop them yourself and want us to relax—that’s what the message on the whiteboard meant.

“Y…?”

“Meooow~!”

This time, the message on Yor’s whiteboard was straightforward.

So Reysir could easily understand the gist of it—but only up to a point.

It wasn’t because he lacked comprehension, but because he didn’t have the background knowledge.

“Then, could you chase off someone like Nidhr, too?”

[Danger, trouble]

“……?”

Last night, I’d explained to Yor all about Nidhr’s character settings.

He was putting on a cheerful front now, but deep down he was petty and, when feeling inferior, would snap and turn murderous without hesitation.

Since Reysir didn’t know any of this, it was natural that he couldn’t interpret: ‘Nidhr is dangerous, so scaring him off might actually cause us more trouble.’

“Karbaldr, what did Yor write?”

“My Familiar sensed something dangerous about him. So if we tried to scare him off, it might end up causing us trouble instead… at least, that’s what I think.”

“Mya, mya~.”

When I made up the part about the Familiar’s intuition on the spot, Yor instantly nodded along in perfect sync.

My baby dragon wasn’t just clever—he was quick on the uptake too.

“K-Karbaldr, you’re really a-amazing…! H-how can you figure out Yor’s complicated meaning from just two words… Is it because you’re his master?”

Liolikin marveled in genuine awe.

Meanwhile, Reysir’s expression had grown grave.

Perhaps he felt a duty to protect us from Nidhr.

‘Not like he won’t drop out after this semester anyway…’

I hugged my baby dragon, who would never leave my side, and gazed out the window.

Reysir, lost in thought, couldn’t bring himself to speak to me.

Liolikin, perhaps sulking from being ignored, let out a very uncharacteristic ‘Heeng…’ and shrank into himself.

And so, the carriage fell silent until we reached our destination.

I’ll resume the narrative from when we arrived at the Stadium and secured our spot in the participant-only area.

“Hey, Karbaldr. Since we’re not on a date today, you don’t mind if I join you, right?”

As you can tell from that line alone, Nidhr was acting overly friendly as he started talking to us.

Even sitting in the seat behind me.

‘Yor is in my arms, and Reysir and Liolikin are sitting on either side of me. Reysir’s Yor has an empty seat next to him, so why…?’

‘I’d assumed he’d be most interested in the original protagonist, but maybe not?’

‘Or maybe he just plans to pester all three of us equally?’

As I turned to look back, I saw a face faking a friendly smile but reeking of superiority.

I couldn’t just ignore him, so I had to react somehow.

Answering that it was fine was something I hated even more than breaking character, but saying it wasn’t fine could have unwanted consequences.

So, as I sat there with a reluctant look, the original protagonist spoke up first.

“Pretending to be friendly while ignoring how the other person feels is pretty rude, you know?”

For someone who’d kept coming at me until, in the end, we became ‘eating together’ partners, that was a bit much to say.

As the Protagonist of Another Novel delivered his hypocritical line, I could feel my disbelief evaporating in real time.

‘Is Reysir’s conscience detachable or something?’

Even if such a thought crossed my mind, I didn’t feel like raising any complaints.

Compared to what the transmigrator had done to Reysir, approaching me just to be friendly wasn’t even remotely rude.

And unlike Nidhr, whose actions were full of ulterior motives, Reysir had genuinely tried to become my friend with pure intentions.