Chapter 6: Reysir and the Star Author

The Book of Names that my family gave me even included portraits.

On the cover of 《Nas-e》, there was an illustration of the protagonist.

But even without that, I would have recognized him right away.

His appearance was just that distinctive.

Jet-black cropped hair, an eyepatch covering his right eye, and a golden eye gleaming from the other.

No matter how I looked at it, the person before me could only be Reysir.

For reference, the eyepatch covers his silver eye to conceal his second Aether, not because he has any vision problems.

Sensing my presence, he turned his head in my direction.

At the same time, his expression hardened, revealing his wariness.

But right now, the protagonist’s expression from someone else’s novel was the least of my concerns.

Something far more important had caught my eye.

The two books Reysir was holding.

On their covers, the title 《The Gate in My Novel Swallowed the World》 was clearly written.

If someone asked me why that was a problem, I’d answer that it’s because that’s the exact title of my second novel.

To make matters worse, I could even spot books on the shelf next to the original protagonist with the same titles as those I serialized as my first and third works.

‘This can’t just be a coincidence, can it…?’

Even without opening them up to check the contents, I was convinced those novels were mine.

As I walked here, skimming the book titles written with my pen name in special characters, I’d considered the possibility: ‘Could my novels really exist in this place?’

But not only did I actually find them, they were being held by the protagonist of the very novel I’d possessed!

I have no idea how to even begin to process this situation.

“Were you talking about those novels earlier? Did you read them?”

I was so confused my head felt dizzy.

I might’ve even let out a faint, incredulous laugh.

‘Maybe that’s why?’

Reysir’s tense face suddenly twisted into a scowl.

“So now you’re going to mock my taste in novels, too?!”

He must have taken my shocked question as sarcasm.

From the look in his eyes as he glared at me, I could feel his determination never to be trampled by Karvald Austri.

All I did was ask a single question, but suddenly he raised his voice.

Anyone unfamiliar with the original would wonder, ‘Why is he blowing up out of nowhere?’

But because I know the original, I could understand Reysir’s reaction.

‘Because, at the end of last semester… Reysir was suspended because of Karvald Austri, which meant he couldn’t take the finals, and as a result he had to stay at the Academy all vacation for Supplementary Classes.’

Unlike me, dressed in casual clothes, Reysir was wearing his uniform now—a sign that he’d been attending Supplementary Classes today as well.

To make matters worse, just before returning to his territory for the break, Karvald Austri had deliberately sought out the protagonist.

Only to mock him.

After such a final encounter, Reysir’s resentment toward this body I now inhabit had to be at its peak.

So when I suddenly picked a fight, those feelings exploded.

Ah, of course, I had no intention of picking a fight with the original protagonist.

He just felt that way.

‘As someone who isn’t the real Karvald Austri, it’s honestly unfair…’

But at the same time, I was happy.

He got so angry, even though I hadn’t even insulted him that badly.

It meant he’d enjoyed my novel that much.

To be honest, I felt a little proud.

And thanks to Reysir’s sudden outburst, my muddled mind finally cleared.

In its own way, it was helpful to me.

So I shook off my frustration and decided to focus on the situation at hand.

After all, the question of ‘Why are my novels here?’ isn’t something I can answer right away.

For now, clearing up Reysir’s misunderstanding and mending our hostile relationship takes priority.

“I have no intention of doing that. I think your taste in novels is excellent.”

“Yeah, right!”

“I’m being serious.”

“Don’t lie! Once the semester starts, you’re going to mock these novels in front of everyone, aren’t you? When the others agree with you, you’ll reveal that I like them and sneer, ‘Doesn’t it suit your level perfectly?’ You’re planning to insult both me and the novels at once—do you think I don’t know?!”

His examples weren’t just oddly specific, but also painfully realistic.

‘How much must he have suffered at Karvald Austri’s hands for words like that to pour out?’

And on top of that, he seemed to have forgotten we were in a library, shouting with reddened eyes.

Part of him probably wanted to give up resisting, thinking it might lessen the bullying if he just gave in.

But he was also afraid that if he yielded, his tormentor would look down on him even more and do something worse.

He didn’t want to do anything the bully might enjoy, and felt that if he knelt once, he’d never be able to stand up again.

It was obvious he was stubbornly holding his head high and enduring.

No, I’d already read it in the original.

Reysir’s psychology was all too familiar to me.

That’s why I felt sorry for him, and why my chest felt tight, seeing my own past reflected in him.

‘But… didn’t this guy like my novels?’

If that’s the case, why is he so sure others will mock them, and even call them low-quality?

Doesn’t that make it sound like my novels are just trash?

I felt a bit deflated as I opened my mouth.

“…It’s a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding, my ass!!”

“First, calm down and lower your voice. Even if there aren’t many students here during break, this is still the library.”

At my words, Reysir made a startled face and covered his mouth with one hand.

Then, with his face flushed red, he glared at me in frustration.

He must think his outburst in the library was my fault.

His glare was sharp, but it didn’t bother me at all.

After all, the one he’s glaring at is just the shell I’m wearing.

So I was just satisfied Reysir had quieted down, and was about to try a proper conversation.

“Good thing you know where you are. Now, would you both go outside to argue?”

A new voice sounded from behind me.

Turning around, I saw a small girl in a school uniform, looking rather annoyed.

I had received the Book of Names from my family, but it only listed people connected to this body, professors, or children of important houses.

The girl must not have been from a prestigious family, since she wasn’t in the Book of Names.

So for now, I had no way of knowing who she was.

Still, from her young appearance, I could immediately tell she was a year above this body and a member of the library club.

At Valhalla Academy, the color of your necktie indicates your year.

The girl’s tie was blue.

There was also a library club badge on her collar.

‘Maybe she was wearing her uniform because of club activities?’

“I’m sorry…”

Reysir bowed deeply to the much smaller girl and apologized politely.

Of course, I just stood there.

The rude and arrogant Karvald Austri wouldn’t apologize for something like this.

Besides, Reysir was the only one who’d raised his voice.

I had only tried to calm him down, so I hadn’t done anything wrong.

“Sorry or not, if you don’t want your names added to the library ban list, both of you should leave right now.”

Despite the original protagonist’s polite apology, we were both kicked out of the library side by side.

Even so, Reysir managed to pull two more new books from the shelf, borrowing a total of four, and the library club member processed the request.

But since I hadn’t had time to browse the Aether-related books I’d come for, I had to leave empty-handed.

‘I didn’t even raise my voice in the library…?’

It was honestly baffling.

Still, since I’d met the original protagonist, I decided to swap today’s and tomorrow’s plans in my mind, so it wasn’t all bad.

Letting go of my regrets over the books I couldn’t borrow, I decided to take the first step toward improving my relationship with the original protagonist.

“I can see you still don’t believe me, so let me make it clear—I like that author’s novels too. So I’ll never criticize your taste in books.”

“What?! You like them??”

Crack.

Reysir’s voice rose again, but it didn’t matter.

This time, it was from shock, not anger, and now that we were outside the library—the door had looked pretty heavy, so I figured the soundproofing must be good—no one would scold us for being loud in the hallway.

“And Reysir Daudabina, I want to apologize to you. I’m sorry about last semester.”

“An apology out of nowhere? What are you plotting?”

“You don’t believe me? Well, I suppose you wouldn’t. After all, I did what I did…”

As I said that, I looked down at a 45-degree angle with a bitter expression.

I’d already anticipated that Reysir wouldn’t accept my apology easily.

That’s why I’d practiced this expression in the mirror.

To make him feel, ‘Karvald Austri is truly reflecting on his actions.’

Even if he couldn’t forgive Karvald Austri, maybe he’d at least put away his murderous intent.

“Wha-what? Are you serious?”

“I swear on the honor of House Austri, I’ll never bully you again!”

This time, I looked Reysir straight in the eye as I spoke.

Honestly, I couldn’t care less about this body’s family honor, but I put all my desperate energy into it—’Please don’t kill me!’

And sure enough, I saw Reysir’s golden eye waver, his emotions clearly shaken.

It seemed he was finally willing to believe me.

“Why are you suddenly doing this after all the bullying last semester?”

“Because… I’ve realized that no matter what I do, I can’t get your attention…”

I trailed off, looking down at a 45-degree angle again, trying to project, ‘I’ve got reasons I can’t talk about, so please don’t ask.’

My mother died giving birth to me, no one in the family cares about me, so I tried to get my father’s attention, and so on and so forth…

But knowing the prideful original Karvald Austri, he’d never share something like that with Reysir.

‘Besides, it’s a bit much for a perpetrator to unload his personal tragedies on the victim, right?

I’m not asking for forgiveness just because I’m pitiful…!’

From that perspective, maybe it would be better not to hint at any backstory at all.

But I couldn’t help it.

I had to show there was at least some reason for my change of heart, so Reysir would believe Karvald Austri was truly reflecting, and so he could be reassured himself.

“What do you mean…?”

“Don’t ask for details.

I won’t answer.”

“……”

Hearing my answer, Reysir’s face twisted into an expression that seemed to say, ‘What kind of guy is this?’

Seeing the original protagonist like that, I felt relieved.

His hostility toward this body hadn’t vanished, but I could tell he’d let go of some of it.

“Then let me ask something else.

Is it really true you like ‘Star Author’s’ novels?”

Reysir lifted up one of the books he’d just borrowed as he asked.

I could see the special characters ‘★ ▶’ stamped where my pen name should have been.

So that’s why he calls me ‘Star Author.’

“Is that important right now?”

“It’s important to me.”

Reysir’s expression was deadly serious as he answered.

He must still be worried I’d mock his taste in books.

As the writer who created stories he likes, I couldn’t help but feel a bit bitter.

Honestly, I wanted to ask, ‘Is it really that embarrassing to like my novels?!’

But I couldn’t bring myself to say it, so I just let out a deep sigh.

“Haah… Fine, yes, I really do like them. Satisfied?”

“No way, that’s a lie!

You, who always plays the clownish, scatterbrained character, writes in first person, with no depth or beauty at all, using short and simple sentences—you’re saying you like novels like this?!”

“……”

‘Q. The protagonist of someone else’s novel just insulted the protagonist of my novel.’

‘As the author, what should I do in this situation?’

‘An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.’

‘Insult Senna, the author of 《Nas-e》, in return.’

‘Point out that a novel told from your perspective isn’t all that deep either.’

‘Advise them to stop badmouthing works, since it only encourages authors to quit.’

‘Cry.’