“I’m sorry, Young Master. It seems I’ve meddled unnecessarily. Please don’t mind what I just said.”
“Ah, yes…”
I answered reflexively, but the shock didn’t fade easily.
I fumbled with Yor’s tail fur under the table for some healing time before I could finally manage to start eating.
Still, they say every cloud has a silver lining.
During the meal, the attempts to annoy me by forcing me into a conversation with random questions disappeared, which was a relief.
‘It’s not like there was no one talking to me at all, though!’
Occasionally, Reysir and Dyuf would toss a question my way.
Fortunately, it wasn’t anything difficult to answer, so I could respond appropriately. The conversation flowed naturally, and the stiff atmosphere softened as well.
“By the way, what do Academy students do to pass the time with their friends these days?”
“Usually, we go to board game rooms, escape room cafes, arcades, or karaoke. We hang out in places like those.”
Hailga answered Dyuf’s question as if it were no big deal, but it was a very big deal to me.
Let’s just look past the escape room cafes for a moment. Even without modern civilization, it’s possible to create those kinds of spaces.
‘But isn’t an arcade a bit too much…? Why and how on earth does such a thing exist in a pseudo-medieval fantasy world?!’
The existence of arcades was baffling enough, but the biggest problem for me was definitely karaoke.
I really hoped the original protagonist had no interest in singing.
“Board games? Like chess? Can’t you just play those in the dormitory lobby or your private rooms? What exactly is an escape room cafe? And arcades… are they spaces prepared for games? How are they different from board game rooms? Also, songs can be sung anywhere, so is there a reason to go to a business for that?”
It seemed I wasn’t the only one feeling stunned.
Dyuf kept tossing out question marks with a look of pure confusion.
“What we do at board game rooms is different from chess. It’s more focused on play, and there are over hundreds of varieties. And as for escape room cafes…”
Hailga’s detailed explanation followed.
Since my readers likely already know all this, I’ll skip her dialogue and write down Dyuf’s reaction instead.
“Kids these days have so many things to do, don’t they? In my time, we just wandered around the city looking at the streets, or watched plays and exhibitions… Or perhaps we’d have tea and talk about our studies?”
“We do those things too. It’s just that if we’ve decided to take the time to play, we want to go somewhere where we can be as loud and excited as possible, so we look for those businesses.”
“Compared to how you all play, it’s only natural that the things I mentioned feel dull. Still, the important thing isn’t ‘what’ you do, but ‘who’ you do it with, isn’t it? If you’re with a good friend, anything you do is fun enough.”
Dyuf started with that sentiment and began sharing stories from his own Academy days.
The largest portion of those stories consisted of memories with Reysir’s father.
I already knew this setting because it was briefly mentioned in the original work that the two were Academy classmates.
However, even if I hadn’t read the original, it was a fact one could deduce.
Before the first Demonic Realm incident occurred, the Daudabiner County was a prestigious family with considerable authority.
On the other hand, Dyuf’s family was, both then and now, just a humble barony.
‘The Academy is the only place where people can become friends despite such a gap in status!’
The version of Reysir’s father that Dyuf described was a pleasant, mischievous, and good-natured man.
It was clear where Reysir’s personality came from.
‘This probably isn’t the first time Dyuf has told these stories!’
A child who lost both parents would surely miss them.
But since Dyuf was the only one who could tell him about the deceased count and countess—because others associated with the couple had turned their backs on the young Reysir—he must have told these memories to Reysir over and over.
Including stories about the countess as well.
He did it so the young child wouldn’t forget his parents, but instead remember what kind of people they were and recall them whenever he wanted.
“Then one day, he said he had someone to introduce me to and brought your mother over…!”
Before long, Dyuf’s story had strayed far from ‘what he did for fun with his friend.’
It shifted into a story about how Reysir’s father had fallen for a freshman a year below him and, after a passionate courtship, they started dating.
The couple became the center of the narrative.
‘He’s probably doing this habitually because he’s told the same story so many times.’
Was it because of his longing for his late parents?
Reysir became completely immersed in the story of Dyuf’s past, which he had clearly heard many times before.
Perhaps because of her childhood friend’s attitude, Hailga also participated enthusiastically, as if she weren’t bored in the slightest.
‘As for me, I have no reason to feel bored since this is my first time hearing it!’
Furthermore, the content was quite interesting.
Rather than some strange worldview mixed with modern elements, it was a chance to learn how people played and dated in a traditional fantasy world.
As someone who mainly writes fantasy novels, it was a very productive time for me.
‘By the way, the Dyuf I saw in the original work was a character with a sorrowful atmosphere…’
Was it because his daughter, Hailga, was still alive?
Even though he wore his hair tied back and draped over one shoulder—a style known in subculture circles as the ‘death hairstyle’ because of its association with short-lived characters—the current Dyuf felt like nothing more than a talkative middle-aged man.
Fans of tragic middle-aged male characters might find it unfortunate, but for me, it was a very welcome change.
It meant we were one step further away from the miserable original plot.
‘Thanks to that, the meal that I expected to be a bed of thorns actually felt quite warm.’
After the satisfying meal, Dyuf took the bill.
Since I had nothing to do while he paid, I stood there blankly stroking Yor until Reysir spoke to me.
“Whenever I’m the one paying, you always have something to say or complain about, yet you’re quiet when Sir Dyuf pays.”
“It’s only polite to accept a meal quietly when an adult says they’re buying.”
“Karbaldr, you’re surprisingly polite to your elders, aren’t you? It’s a bit unexpected, but also not…? Anyway, I’m glad I found another one of your strengths.”
“…Hmph.”
I had no idea where he was finding joy in that.
Can a naturally positive person find happiness in things that don’t even matter?
Even so, seeing how his mind was not just broken but completely shattered in the original work, I suppose even the most optimistic person can’t help it in the face of repeated tragedy.
…As that thought crossed my mind, I suddenly felt breathless and nauseous.
It was a premonition of Magicalization.
Should I say it was a relief that this happened after the meal instead of during it?
“Karbaldr, get your weapon out now.”
This time, Reysir didn’t panic. He kept his wits about him and spoke while scanning the surroundings.
A spear was already in his hand—not the shabby one he used to use, but the one bestowed upon him on the day of the award ceremony.
“I was going to do that even if you didn’t tell me.”
I snapped back as I pulled my whip from the Inventory, letting out a sigh.
It was because of how to use the **[Encouragement]** skill that I discovered over the break.
True to its name, the skill only activated properly when I actually offered words of encouragement.
‘At least it’s a relief that when I use it on myself, I only have to think it rather than say it out loud.’
After thinking ‘Let’s do this, self! Fighting!’ and activating **[Encouragement]**, I felt a bit embarrassed for no reason.
I knew it wasn’t something to be ashamed of, but it still felt awkward.
“It seems I’ve ended up Awakening just like you two. Is it called a Status Window? Seeing as something like that suddenly appeared before my eyes…”
“Dad, you too?!”
Dyuf, who had just finished paying and stepped out of the restaurant, revealed his Awakening.
Hailga seemed shocked, but I wasn’t surprised at all.
‘Only the timing and location have changed. Dyuf also awakened in the original work!’
My readers probably scrolled past this part without much thought as well.
The points to notice in Dyuf’s dialogue were the words ‘Awakening’ and ‘Status Window.’
It wasn’t just ‘Demonic Realm’ that had its terminology established.
The era where a Status Window could be called a Status Window had finally arrived.
“Four Awakened… At this rate, we won’t even be able to use the excuse of requesting backup to escape the Demonic Realm. This is the middle of the city, so if we delay, the loss of life and property will be immense. We’ll be showered with criticism for shirking our responsibility.”
With a serious expression, Dyuf leaked the information that ‘it has been revealed that Awakened can create entrances and exits to the Demonic Realm.’
He spoke of the probability that we had to conquer this Demonic Realm with our current group.
“I don’t know about the lives, but it looks like the property damage is already immense. Oh, or maybe not? If people just pull out the plants growing in their homes or businesses and sell them, they’ll more than make up for the damage.”
Hailga stood close to her father and let out a comment that could have been a joke or a serious observation.
Just as she said, all sorts of plants were currently growing rampantly in the surroundings, destroying buildings and roads.
And those things were worth money.
“That’s why it’s even more of a problem. How many people do you think will risk their lives wandering around to gather plants just to cover their losses or make an even bigger profit?”
“It’s practically impossible to protect every single one of those people from monsters, so I understand we need to find the Boss Monster and kill it quickly. But, Dad, have you ever used your abilities to fight? I haven’t.”
“Yes, that is the biggest issue. My heart wants to prioritize your safety and say we should escape the Demonic Realm immediately. However, Reysir and Young Master Karbaldr received awards on the day of the graduation ceremony for killing a Boss Monster and protecting the students.”
“Ah…”
Reysir and I already had a record of defeating a Boss Monster.
Which meant it was impossible to back out on the grounds of lacking combat capability.
Even if we were to run, we would at least have to make a show of finding the Boss Monster and fighting it before fleeing to earn the people’s understanding.
“Hailga, it would be fine for you to run. If you’re scared to go to the boundary of the Demonic Realm alone, your father will go that far with you.”
“…But, Dad, you’re staying in the Demonic Realm without running away, right?”
“No matter how much they’ve fought monsters before, both of them are still children. As an adult, I want to contribute even a little bit of strength. Conveniently, an environment where my abilities can be utilized has been prepared, so I will surely be of help.”
“Then I’m staying too! I don’t want to run away alone!”
I knew it would turn out like this.
Reysir hadn’t openly stated his opinion yet, but he was the original protagonist.
He was the type who would go hunt the Boss Monster alone rather than run away while ignoring the danger to countless people.
‘He’s probably just holding his tongue so he doesn’t take away the option for others to run away!’
Hailga didn’t get to play a role in the original work because she died early.
But regardless, she was a bona-fide heroine candidate, and Dyuf was an original comrade who traveled and fought through Demonic Realms with Reysir.
There was no way they wouldn’t participate when the original protagonist was going to fight the Boss Monster.
‘And I… well, I guess I have to stay and fight too. I could just endure the social condemnation, but in any creative work, a character who runs away alone in this kind of situation usually meets a bad end!’
Still, someone dying among us at this timing would be too unnatural for the story’s development.
Considering this world was inside a novel, wouldn’t we be safe from any major danger?
I wanted to believe that.