I feel I should break some sudden news to the readers.
The news is that the point at which I have started this narration is exactly one week before the start of the new semester.
To add one more piece of information, I have currently returned to Valhalla Academy.
Readers who have read the above paragraph may have felt bewildered and wondered about one thing.
Where on earth did the scene for the awards ceremony go?
Many of you likely already suspect the answer, but just to make it clear:
‘Yes, that is correct. I skipped it.’
The awards ceremony was a needlessly grand and tedious formality.
I didn’t want to see the Emperor acting all pompous during his speech, and listening to Fjodra explain the status window was boring since I already knew the details.
No incidents occurred that would have interested the readers.
And since I didn’t hold a conversation with anyone, there was no development in any relationships.
This was because I desperately avoided Reysir so he wouldn’t be able to talk to me.
Because of that, Eriolykin couldn’t approach me either.
I felt an rising anxiety that the Original Protagonist’s favorability toward me had not only peaked but might have even broken through the upper limit.
I was so concerned that skepticism began to rear its head, making me wonder if it would even be possible to cut ties with him.
So, in an attempt to lower his favorability even a little, I ignored Reysir throughout the entire awards ceremony.
Someone reading the above paragraph might think, ‘Now of all times?’
But isn’t there an old saying that the moment you think it’s too late is actually the earliest possible time?
I decided to try believing in those words.
Anyway, I didn’t do anything at the awards ceremony other than receive one artifact and a medal.
Since it was content that couldn’t even be used for a slice-of-life segment, skipping it was inevitable.
The same applies to my life at the Austri Ducal Castle.
It was a daily routine of infinite repetitions of study and training.
‘If I were to look for something that could be considered a point of interest, I suppose it would be Ragfrid volunteering to act as a teacher, saying she would personally teach me strategic board games?’
She gave the reason that we couldn’t just let another person know about the memory loss just to learn a mere board game.
She added the excuse that she happened to have time left over since she had to refrain from going out due to the Anomaly.
Furthermore, she proposed that when she explained the moves after a match ended, she would speak without making a sound to serve as a practice partner for Lip Reading.
Considering the logical validity and time efficiency, I had no choice but to accept the proposal.
Even so, no distinct change occurred in our relationship.
Ragfrid had absolutely no talent for narrowing the emotional distance by offering kind words.
And on my part, I had no obligation to try and accept a complete stranger as family just to ease her guilt.
‘As for Valtraus and Hardya, well, their attitudes didn’t change at all, so I barely even saw their faces!’
I believe this sufficiently conveys what has happened in the meantime.
Therefore, from here on, I will proceed with the story from the current point in time.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this episode, I have returned to Valhalla Academy, and I stopped by the Library before heading to the Dormitory.
The reason I set foot in the Academy a full week before the semester started was to borrow a certain book that couldn’t be found anywhere else.
《How the Repentant Villain Saves the World》.
This is the title of the book I borrowed, and it is also the title of my third novel.
‘And due to the death of my original body, it is also the title of a work that will remain eternally unfinished in the world where I used to live.’
Lest anyone misunderstand, I will say this in advance.
I didn’t borrow this book to fall into sentimentality while re-reading a novel I couldn’t finish.
There is a reason that readers would find acceptable, but explaining it would make the story far too long.
I intend to tell you after I arrive at my room in the Dormitory.
And that means.
Something has happened that prevents me from returning to the Dormitory right this second.
“…Karbaldr?”
“……!!”
The moment I finished applying for the book loan and was about to head into the hallway through the Library door, I came face-to-face with a person who, according to the original story, should never be in this place right now.
‘I did… feel a presence!’
I suppose if someone grabs another person’s hand desperately, calls them a benefactor the likes of whom will never appear again in their life, and says they must never let them go, only to then quit the Academy and vanish alone, it would be the height of destroying probability.
Because of that, I was able to maintain my composure and embrace Yor calmly without panicking.
‘The fact that he chased me around asking me to be his friend when I possessed Karbaldr’s body… I suppose he is more affected by probability and character traits than by the original plot?’
There’s no way he came to the Library to read a bunch of ‘special character novels’ while he’s still a student of Valhalla Academy before his withdrawal application is processed, right?
“There’s still a week left before the semester starts, but you’re here early.”
Or is there?
The expression and tone of Reysir as he spoke to me were so cautious that I was slightly confused.
He looked as if he had something urgent to say but was hesitating because it was difficult to bring up.
I wondered if it was about his withdrawal.
“The same goes for you.”
“Ah! I’ve been at the Academy since a month ago to find and read some books that might help with the reconstruction of the Fief, and also to look around the Grand Hall where the Anomaly occurred.”
“I see. Go on in.”
I stepped aside slightly to open the entrance to the Library that I had been inadvertently blocking.
However, Reysir did not pass through and go inside.
Still standing in the hallway, he closed the door.
Then, he continued the conversation as if it were only natural.
“Karbaldr, what brings you here so early?”
“Just… there was a book I wanted to borrow from the Library. But do you not need to go inside the Library yourself?”
“The Library isn’t going anywhere, so I can go in later. We haven’t met in a while, so I want to talk to you. Is it maybe a burden?”
“You’re actually asking that??”
I asked back, my eyes widening involuntarily.
More than the fact that the Original Protagonist was in this place, the fact that he was speaking in such a cautious tone instead of making a fuss and begging to play despite not having seen me in a long time was even more surprising.
“You look so shocked. I suppose I really have been approaching you without enough formality….”
What on earth is wrong with him?
To think he would drop his shoulders weakly and let out a bitter laugh with a shadowed face.
His attitude was so different from usual that I felt a sense of incongruity, which moved beyond bewilderment and into a wave of anxiety.
“If you don’t hate it, I’d like to move somewhere else and continue talking…. Is that okay?”
Seeing him act even more timid than Liolikin, I couldn’t bring myself to say it wasn’t okay.
Thus, after nodding reflexively, I followed Reysir out of the building.
Then, as soon as we took a seat on a bench in a secluded part of the walking trail, I asked.
“Did something big happen during the break?”
“A very big thing happened. Even though the other person doesn’t think of me as a friend, I have a friend who is more precious than anything to me… but they spent the whole official event avoiding me.”
“……”
Anyone listening would know he was talking about me.
“So when I consulted another friend about why that person might be doing that, they said it was probably because I was acting too burdensome and they became reluctant.”
Would that be the opinion of Liolikin, who witnessed Reysir’s burdensome behavior firsthand?
“That day, I went home and talked to another friend, and they suggested a hypothesis that it might be because that person’s father doesn’t approve of me. Now that I hear it, I think it’s possible. That person is the youngest young master of a very high-ranking, noble household, while I’m…………….”
“That is absolutely not the reason.”
The friend mentioned this time was likely Hailga, but since the content was what it was, I had no choice but to deny it reflexively.
But instead of being relieved, Reysir’s expression became even darker.
“Seeing you immediately say it’s not that, it really was because I was a burden that you avoided me, wasn’t it? I’m sorry. I was so busy trying to convey my feelings that I didn’t consider how you would receive them….”
It seems I made a mistake.
Avoiding Reysir on the day of the awards ceremony was apparently a choice that lowered his self-esteem rather than his favorability.
Could it be that he had been feeling depressed all throughout the break while worrying about what happened that day?
‘What should I do…? He looks really hurt…’
Thinking that made me feel so sorry I didn’t know what to do.
However, since I couldn’t show that by acting restless.
I lifted my chin slightly, put on an intentionally arrogant expression, and spoke in a commanding tone.
“It is equally burdensome for you to act so submissively right now, so correct it immediately.”
“Then you won’t run away anymore?”
Reysir’s golden eyes gleamed with a sensation closer to a ‘glare’ than a ‘sparkle.’
Could it be that this fox-like Protagonist of Another Novel was pretending to be dispirited on purpose?
Just to get an answer out of me that ‘I will never run away again!’?
‘Still, it’s not like he was perfectly fine; he must have felt some disappointment.’
I didn’t want to dig for the truth by questioning him further.
Whether he was acting or not, the answer I was to give him was already decided.
“…I wonder. I suppose I’ll have to watch for a while to find out.”
Regarding this question, I didn’t want to lie to him.
So, I answered as honestly as possible.
“Does that mean if I want to get along well in the future, I have to be good to you…?”
“You don’t particularly need to strive to do anything.”
To be honest, I don’t hate the fact that this person, who claims to be my friend on his own accord, plans to stay at the Academy.
Rather, it brought a strange sense of relief.
The problem, however, was that a massive sense of anxiety followed, more than enough to overshadow that relief.
I didn’t know what kind of consequences would arise from the Original Protagonist deviating from the original development and staying at the Academy.
“Karbaldr. You hate it and find it burdensome when I act like I owe you something or when I take a submissive stance… right?”
“Indeed.”
Had he truly escaped the curse-like fate of losing the people around him one after another?
Or had only the location changed, and would he lead a devastating life this time as well?
Perhaps his withdrawal was merely delayed, and he would eventually end up leaving this Academy after all?
“Does that mean you want me to treat you from an equal position?”
“If one must distinguish between superior and inferior, I prefer being the superior one.”
“Pfft… Ah, yes. Right. Of course it should be that way.”
“Did you just scoff?”
“No, no! I just laughed because it’s fun to be talking comfortably with you again.”
Must be nice to have peace of mind.
Someone else’s head is filled with worries, yet he has no idea what’s going on inside.
Still, in terms of atmosphere, it’s probably better for at least one person to be at peace than for both of us to be groaning under our worries.
However.
“Yes, just act like you usually do. That’s most like you, and at least it’s less burdensome. I’ve become quite used to it as well.”
“Got it. Then, as you wish, I’ll keep teasing you by treating you like a tsundere from now on.”
“……?”
-I have no idea what on earth this Protagonist of Another Novel is talking about.
Because it was such an absurd statement, I couldn’t even think of getting angry and could only blink my eyes.
Looking at me, Reysir opened his mouth with a beaming face and said the following.
“After we had an audience with the Imperial Princess, you said it when we were riding the carriage together. You said, ‘Just tease me like usual, asking if I’m embarrassed and treating me like a tsundere!'”
“Th-That…! That was because you were talking weird that day, saying something about your heart fluttering…! I only said it in a way that implied it would be better to do that instead! I never meant that I wanted to be treated that way!”
“But it means that me treating you like this and joking around isn’t burdensome or something you hate.”
“I said it’s relatively okay, I never said I don’t hate it!”
“But it’s not to the point where you’re disgusted, right?”
“Can you not see that I am being disgusted right now?!”
“Ahahaha!!”
Reysir burst into his usual cheerful laughter.
In episode 38, I had described it as ‘a rare sight that could only be seen a few times in the original work.’
Now, it hit me anew that I had become far too accustomed to that mischievous appearance.