Epilogue - True Protagonist

A new day had arrived.

Classes would soon resume after the trouble Derrick caused.

I was shopping with Lucy as Erselica and the idiots were busy cleaning, Ixion was helping them as he doesn't like dirty things.

Lucy was showing me around the market the best places to buy meat, vegetables and fish.

Quiet days like these are the best.

"This seafood tastes delicious when you spread it with-."

"Lucy, there you are!"

Suddenly we heard a voice, Lucy flinched and the catfish-like seafood fell from her hands.

Turning to see whose voice it was, she grabbed my shoulder.

I squeezed my shirt as I could watch her as she trembled.

"I found you finally, I had a lot of trouble at home after Derrick! But when I finally find you, you're with that foreigner."

The person with the annoying tone was Jude who came running over.

He probably had some spy watching us.

Jude was looking at me with intensity.

"You, foreigner, this is none of your business, stay away from my wife. Unlike Derrick I will not swear before the sacred tree, I will crush you with my bare hands if you don't stay away from her!"

This guy has gone beyond the limits of being a stalker.

He looked at Lucy who seemed to be crying as she trembled. This guy must have planted some kind of trauma in her.

But isn't it the right thing for Lucy to relate to one of the characters in the game?

In case she doesn't fall in love with some guy and she's actually the priestess, wouldn't it be the best thing for her to become the partner of one of the capture targets?

Derrick's older brother gets shunned, his younger brother is scum and his father is a pig. So the Herring Household is the worst possible choice.

Lugh is her sister's boyfriend, I highly doubt he, who seems like a nice guy will break up with Diana for Lucy. And according to Ixion he will ask her to marry him before entering classes.

Liam is a zero to the left so he gets rejected.

I have no idea about Zack, he's a possible candidate so there's hope.

Same goes for Romeo, but he belongs to Rosenberg Household, his enemy. But that same house gave me the impression of being a normal and happy family.

Mr. Randolf confirmed to me that Sara was to be engaged to Tom. So a small harem between Lucy and Sara is impossible.

His brother Linus is a bastard, he is the kind of man who would surely use his wife as a shield so as not to tarnish my image. So he is rejected, is of course, my impression. If Lucy decides otherwise I wouldn't impose.

But this guy, Jude, has done what no man no matter how desperate he is shouldn't do. Harass the girl until she is afraid.

So I have only one choice to make.

"You were Jude, weren't you?"

I removed Lucy's hand and walked towards him. His face was handsome, what you'd expect from a game charmer. But his angry expression made him look like a psychopath.

"If you ever come near Lucy again."

After we were close enough, I grabbed his shirt and pulled his face close to mine.

He could see how angry I was.

"If I ever see you bother Lucy again, I'll will kill you and destroy your house!"

I pushed him to the floor after that. I made it clear that I wasn't going to let this guy be Lucy's chosen person.

After turning around, I extended my hand to Lucy, I showed her a warm smile with confident words.

"Lucy, let's go home."

She stared at Jude for a moment, then her eyes shifted to my hand. She flashed a warm smile along with the words.

"Yes! Let's go home!"

She flashed a charming smile that would melt anyone's heart.

After taking her hand, we walked out of there leaving Jude on the floor who was still shocked by what happened.

◇◇◇

As Lucy held Rudel's hand, her thoughts manifested her happiness.

(... It's so warm his hand.)

(It's bigger than mine, but most of all, very warming.)

Her eyes then focused on Rudel's back and she hugged him without warning.

"Is something wrong?"

Rudel asked because of the sudden hug, but Lucy answered him.

"Nothing~ at all~ just a big ugly fly that was nearby scared me."

"I-It's okay."

Rudel walked in front of Lucy, while her eyes.

(So, that's how real heroes are like.)

For some reason, her pupils turned into hearts that looked lovingly at that back who could consider her as his personal knight.

◇

There was a lot of noise in Erselica's mansion since morning.

"Breakfast isn't ready yet~?"

Chlust was asleep on the table as he demanded breakfast. Allen made a sarcastic comment upon seeing Chlust like this.

"Breakfast would be faster if you would help us, Chlust-sama."

"I'm a food specialist. Besides, you should tell Bradford that too."

I was also waiting for breakfast to be served while reading the local newspaper.

They make me look like a barbaric monster.

However, Allen shook his head.

"The count is different since he paid for the meal expenses."

"The power of money is really powerful. I don't get scolded even when I'm not doing anything to help."

Liam and Frey also entered the dining room while I waited.

"What's the plan for today?"

"There will be questions at the embassy. It seems the kingdom sent someone to investigate about the incident this time."

The two of them were talking about work since the morning. The next to appear after them was Warren, whose wounds were almost healed.

"What's for breakfast today?"

He asked Cana, who came to put the dishes on the table.

But Cana shouted angrily at him.

"Don't get in my way! Come on, everybody sit in your seats!"

Allen and Cana were going back and forth between the kitchen and the busy dining room.

Erselica... and Lucy's voice was heard from the kitchen.

"Lucy, take care of that please!"

"Okey~."

Lucy had the appearance of a gal, yet she was good with all sorts of house chores.

Was this what they called a moe development?

Clovis also came dripping with sweat while we waited.

"That was a good job."

Chlust grumbled at the sight of Clovis sweating like that.

"You're making the morning feel stifling looking like that. Go take a shower first."

"You don't look fully awake yourself. How about you wash your face before you say that?"

Warren shrugged as he watched the two of them getting ready to fight.

"You two have been very energetic since morning. Well, that's typical for you two muscle brains."

Chlust and Clovis shifted their focus to Warren after hearing that.

"However, it would be better if you trained a little more."

"Yes. If you did that, then you wouldn't have ended up like this."

Warren pointed at the two of them and replied again.

"You two wouldn't be able to do anything either if you had been in my place!"

Erselica walked into the noisy dining room and lifted a frying pan, hitting it with a ladle instead of using a bell.

"Come on, shut up everyone, breakfast is going to be ready now, so eat without complaining!"

She was like a daycare childcare provider.

The food served on the dining room table was corn soup and toast that looked familiar to me.

"Ah, this is it."

I thought they looked nostalgic. It was something my aunt in my past life often made for breakfast.

The toast had a fried egg made the English way and two bacon placed on it, even the arrangement was the same as my aunt's toast.

I wondered if Erselica also remembered her mother's cooking as she was feeling very nostalgic.

Lucy came to my side.

"Rudel, there's been some bacon left over, so I'll give you some more."

"Is that okay?"

"It's fine."

Liam, who was eating his toast, saw that I was the one with extra bacon and got jealous.

"Only Bradford is getting special treatment? I'm jealous."

It made me feel really deplorable to think that there really was a prince who would say something like that.

"You've been eating tasty things in the palace since your childhood, haven't you? Just put up with it a little with your own portion."

"That's because all Erselica cooks are novelty foods. These are delicious too! That's why I'm jealous."

Liam was suddenly bragging about his mistress. What would be the right answer to give her here?

When I looked at Erselica, she had already finished her egg and bacon, and brought a new piece of toast from the kitchen to the table. She was having her lunch even at breakfast. I was very curious where she was keeping so much food inside that little body.

"Uhoooo! This slightly expensive jam spread nicely on the bread."

She chose the jam she liked from the jam bottles lined up on the table and spread it on her bread before eating the toast.

"Haa~ it's rewarding to be able to choose jam in the morning."

She looked like she was feeling happiness from having different kinds of jams, but as for me, I felt like crying.

"Can you taste happiness with just this?"

She had become a very simple woman.

Although in our past life she was the kind of woman who pestered me for money so that she could buy things.

Cana would beg Erselica to pass the jam.

"Erselica-sama, I want the orange jam!"

"All right. Spread it a lot on your bread. We have lots of breads and jams!"

Allen was spreading blueberry jam on his bread.

"Not having to worry about food is happiness."

Why was eating with Erselica's group making me want to cry like this?

I stopped thinking about that and concentrated on eating the nostalgic breakfast. Then Lucy looked me in the face.

"Rudel, you have something in the corner of your mouth."

"Really? I'll clean it up later so there's nothing left."

"Don't do that. You're a count, so you must act properly."

She said that and wiped the corner of my mouth.

A girl who was considerate and attentive was really cool.

I could fall in love with her if I didn't already have Alisa and Airi.

Liam looked like he wasn't used to eating toast and the area around his mouth got dirty. He was annoyed by that.

"Toast is delicious, but it's easy for it to fall apart and leave leftovers."

Clovis was also of the same opinion.

"Indeed. Isn't there some way to prevent this from happening?"

Chlust, who ate his portion heartily, gave the two of them advice.

"Just eat the food without worrying about it."

Breakfast was lively.

Lucy was smiling.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm having fun somehow. I was always having breakfast with my younger sister, but it's been a long time since I've had this much fun."

"... Did something happen?"

She had heard that her relationship with her younger sister wasn't going well, but Lucy didn't say much about it.

"Well, several things happened. But Diana herself is also getting worried about me."

So, even the twins have their own problems.

◇

The mansion where Erselica's group lived was splendid.

It also had a reception room that could be used to serve guests.

There were sofas inside the room with a low table placed between them. A complete set of furniture was also placed inside the room so that it would not be discourteous to the guest.

It must be the embassy who set them up.

I got the impression that they spent money on the necessary things so that there would be no problem due to Liam also living here.

My own house also had a reception room, but it was not as splendid as this room in Erselica's mansion.

At this moment I was preparing tea for a guest inside that room.

"Enjoy."

"Thank you for the tea."

The figure sitting on the sofa while elegantly drinking tea looked very beautiful.

For those who didn't know about this person's personality, she would only look like a noble lady.

The girl- no, she had already graduated from the academy, so I should call her a woman, she had long cyan colored hair that was combed into curls.

Her name was Eleonora von Roseblaire.

She was an upper grade student with whom I was familiar.

"It's been a long time since I've had your tea, has your skill improved a bit?"

This person was not the type who would say things out of flattery, so she must have really enjoyed the tea.

"Maybe it's because Aster's tea leaves are delicious?"

"Is that so? Then maybe I'll buy some as a souvenir for when I go home."

Ellen sipped her tea happily. But, still, why did she come to Aster?

I didn't know the reason.

"Emm, could it be that you're on a trip at the moment?"

Ellen smiled at me.

"How rude. I come to work, even though I look like this. His Majesty said to me. 'I want you to examine the situation in Aster right now.' That's right, His Majesty also asked me to give you a letter."

I received the letter and read the contents.

"'How dare you cause trouble in Aster, you snotty little shit? Right now we're short of human resources, so we even have to recruit students fresh out of the academy. Oh, on that topic, it seems that the girl I dispatched is your acquaintance, isn't she? Get along with her, though I'll tell Bismarck Household if you have an affair there! From your magnificent king."

I ripped the letter expressionlessly.

Ellen seemed to guess the contents of the letter because of my reaction and smiled kindly.

"You really are on good terms with His Majesty."

"Hahaha! Of course. We get along so well that we want to punch each other in the face."

If I could, I wanted to bury my fist in Leonis' face right now.

That aside, it looked like Ellen was sent here to investigate the case this time.

There was a little problem with her personality, but she seemed intent on doing her job properly.

"I heard about the situation in general at the embassy. I heard how a son of a great noble got into a fight with you and you beat him thoroughly in a duel, it sent chills down my spine to hear that."

She blushed and put her index finger to her lips. She was a pervert.

"As expected of the Hero of the Realm. You even defeated the six great nobles and contributed to raising the kingdom's position. How wonderful. It's been a long time since my heart was beating so fast."

How should I respond to her, who had that ecstatic expression on her face?

Without warning, Ellen approached me and placed her lips on mine.

I saw that coming, but I didn't stop her, why did I let her do it?

The thing is, I don't dislike this.

I intertwined my tongue with hers. After a while of being connected through our mouths, she pulled back.

She licked her lips in a very sensual way.

"You are certainly the kind of man who can make a girl not resist her urges."

I don't know whether to take that as a compliment or not?

"... Did you come here today just to say hello?"

"Of course not. I came to bring you a souvenir. Don't you want to know the action Aster is taking regarding this case? I have information you can't know as a foreign student."

It sounded like she would tell me some information she overheard at work.

Ixion was also gathering information for me, but at least I heard what she had because she was doing it out of the goodness of her heart.

"Is there any interesting information?"

"The kingdom demanded Aster hand over Derrick, who inflicted His Highness Liam with a curse. But they did not comply and refused the demand."

"Herring Household protects Derrick?"

I thought it sounded strange, but Ellen was muttering in response.

"Your relationship with your family must be good. You were raised in a warm home, weren't you?"

"Huh? No, my relationship with my brothers is not so good..."

"Derrick, who caused all this trouble, looked like he was planning to eliminate his older brother, who would be the next head and become the head of the house. it looks like the next head of the house was enraged by that."

"... Without protection."

The nobles who had their divine protection taken away would be despised as unprotected in their homeland.

There were several reasons for that. One was that the sacred tree had turned its back on them.

I also heard that the descendant of someone whose divine protection had been taken away would never be able to obtain divine protection for himself.

In other words, Derrick's life as a nobleman was completely over.

He could no longer even be used for a political marriage.

I backed him into a corner even knowing that.

"Is he incarcerated? Or maybe he got 'sick' or something?"

Ellen turned her eyes away from me and started fingering her curls.

"They said he tried to commit suicide to take responsibility. But from how furious the next boss was, it's possible he's imprisoned underground somewhere and is being tortured there."

"Aster nobles are cold to their own family."

"I think it's the same even in the kingdom."

Was this what they called the dark side of nobility? I didn't want to get involved in that at all.

"... Didn't you corner him like that knowing that such a fate might be awaiting him?"

Ellen asked me that. I couldn't say I didn't feel guilt.

But, it was all Derrick's responsibility.

"He reaped what he sowed. That's all about it. After doing something like that to our stupid prince to begin with, he had a score to settle with him. It was Derrick who started it."

Ellen was also the daughter of a nobleman. She seemed satisfied by my answer.

"Well. If you said something like you didn't intend to go that far and regretted it, then I'd have to slap you. That would also make you a boring man and you're not one."

If Airi were here, would she be angry?

Ellen gave me more information.

"Other than that, the academy will also reopen without accidents. All of you should continue your studies there as before. However, be very careful."

"Eeh~, am I the one who should be careful?"

"Of course you should. I will return immediately to bring this information back to the kingdom, but someone else should be sent for the actual negotiation."

This was an international problem after all. If they were going to negotiate, they had to prepare the right officials.

My previous negotiation with the six great nobles in the end was just my personal negotiation.

Ellen stood up.

"I'm busy even though I seem to be free, so excuse me for now. Ah, that's right."

As I stood up to dismiss her, she handed me two letters.

"Answer them correctly. They were really worried, you know."

These were letters from Alisa and Airi.

◇

"Rudel-san, are you okay, are you hurt or sick, are you eating properly?"

Tears came to my eyes as I read the letter from Airi, who was worried about me. Alisa's letter was also similar.

She wrote to me that, if anything happened to me in Aster, just run away and come back safely.

She was more concerned for my safety than for honor. It was an unusual stance for a noblewoman like her.

I carefully folded the cards and put them away properly inside the table drawer.

Ixion, who was looking at me, looked a little regretful.

"... My main body approached the supreme kingdom in case there was an emergency. It is currently impossible to communicate using the mail."

Ixion was acting as a relay to exchange mails while stationed at the midpoint between the kingdom and the supreme kingdom.

But currently his main body had approached Aster and exchanging mails became impossible due to various factors such as the density of the magic element and similar.

"I've come to understand that it's something that can't be avoided. When will you return your main body to its original position?"

"That depends on the situation. It is still on hold in Aster even now. There is also the repair and resupply of Schwert and Battler."

Currently Ixion was in the middle of cleaning up Schwert and Battler that were fouled with Derrick's decoration.

"I think I'll write another letter. I should send a souvenir too."

"That will be good."

I sat back in the chair and looked up at the ceiling. Then Ixion spoke to me.

"... Derrick's fate weighs on your mind, master?"

"It was that guy's fault."

Everything he had done so far was happening to himself now. That was it. I have no sympathy for him. But, it was the fact that it was me who backed him into that corner.

"Master, there's actually one thing that's bothering me..."

Just as Ixion was about to say something, the door to the room opened abruptly and Erselica came in with a shout.

"Brotheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer!"

I narrowed my eyes at Erselica.

"At least knock before you come in."

"Okay. I have no interest in what you might be doing! Ah!? It's not that! Th-there's actually a guest!"

"Again."

While thinking about who it was this time, Erselica waved her hands as she said.

"It's Diana! Besides, th-that girl... she's a reincarnate!

"... Huh?"

My eyes widened in surprise to hear that we weren't the only ones reincarnated.

◇

Lucy was also there when I entered the reception room.

"Ah, Rudel."

They seemed to be talking about something, but it didn't seem like the topic of the talk was really pleasant.

Lucy's expression was clouded, while Diana was looking at me and Erselica.

She then opened her eyes wide when she noticed Ixion hovering at my right shoulder.

She was clearly on guard and seemed to know about Ixion.

"Lucy, can you let us talk to your sister for a bit?"

"I don't mind, but..."

Lucy looked up at Diana. In response, Diana crossed her legs with a cheeky expression as if she were the boss of the house.

"It's alright sis. It seems my big sister has been indebted to you, and I have a lot to tell you too."

Diana folded her arms. It looked like Lucy didn't know what to say to her.

"Diana, don't say anything rude to them."

After Lucy left the room, Erselica alternately looked at my face and Diana's with a worried look on her face.

I introduced myself.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Rud-."

"I know who you are."

I asked Diana directly.

"You're a reincarnate too?"

"That's right, I was reincarnated as the twin sister of the heroine of this part of the game. Even though I had my own plans, all of them are now ruined thanks to you."

"I apologize for that."

I sat down on the couch with Erselica following me to sit next to me.

"If you know who I am, I'd like to tell you that I'm not a threat. I'm not that 'Rudel' from the game. I am Rudel indeed, but because I woke up in this body. His original owner had already passed away."

I proceeded to tell her everything that happened since I woke up. I didn't want to have another Erselica want to destroy me.

"I understand. You must have had it hard didn't you?"

"I want to cry after learning the truth."

"... You know that the Rudel in the game after fleeing to the empire is executed right?"

That surprised me since I didn't know that. I looked at Erselica who didn't tell me that.

"In the final war event. The kingdom was sent a gift, it was Rudel's head. He had a grotesque expression as he must have been tortured. After releasing information from the kingdom they killed him."

"Th-That's something that fortunately won't happen, hehehe."

Ixion looked at Diana.

"And what are you looking for you to come here?"

Diana averted her gaze from me to Ixion.

"So that's the first prototype of the cheat items huh?"

"Wait. You mean there are more like Ixion?"

"Obviously, there were complaints about how unfair it was that there's only one cheat item available to a turn-based villain and not to the players."

"What a garbage game."

In the kingdom I had Bell, but he was no big deal nor was he important like Ixion.

Diana seemed unhappy with my response. Still, she talked about why she came to our mansion.

"I ask you to return my older sister to me. Along with the sapling of the sacred tree, if possible."

The way she spoke was so one-sided that Erselica was irritated instead of me.

"Haa? Why do we have to follow your instructions? Besides, Lucy lives here of her own free will! No one is forcing her to stay!"

(I know part of that is a lie since she helps you cook.)

"The sapling of the sacred tree will wither if it's not in the hands of my older sister, who has the aptitude of a priestess! Don't even you two know that? The development from now on will go badly if the sapling withers!"

That must be something Diana could not allow from where she stood.

It wasn't that I had a problem with her demand, but there was one thing that bothered me.

"Priestess attitude? Wait a second, don't you have that aptitude too?"

Diana's wording bothered me so I tried to ask her. In response, her glare at me clearly turned into a ridiculous look.

"I don't have that aptitude. My older sister is the only one with the aptitude to become the priestess."

Erselica broke into a cold sweat.

"Hey, wait. Wait a second, aren't you two twins? It shouldn't be weird that you two have the aptitude. You know, just like you two have your pigtails to turn it into a fifty-fifty chance?"

Diana said "Our hairstyle has nothing to do with it!" before talking about the priestess's aptitude.

"Before Vermillion Household was destroyed, my parents said that my older sister is the only one with the priestess aptitude, while I have none."

I shuddered at hearing that and turned my gaze to Ixion.

"Was there a mention in the document of the six great nobles that the priestess was decided based on bloodline?"

Diana denied Ixion's information.

"My parents, the previous priestess and the guardian said I don't have the aptitude. It's impossible for them to be wrong. Besides, the priestess has the role of connecting the sacred tree to the people. The priestess said I don't have the aptitude, so obviously she is right instead of some document somewhere."

Diana's statement made Erselica and I hold our heads on edge.

"No way. Our plan to make Diana the priestess and Lugh the guardian..."

"Ixion, you liaaaaar!"

Diana looked at us in disgust.

"Do you understand how much I have prepared myself so far? My house was burned down and I was expelled as a child, after that I worked hard to take care of my older sister until we got to the academy. I thought my older sister could finally become Liam or Jude's lover and the danger to the world would be averted, and yet..."

She was saying things that caught my attention.

"Wait a second, could it be that you were the one who made Jude go after Lucy?"

"That's right. The endgame most assuredly centered around Jude. It's my big sister's destiny to be next to Jude."

The safest ending, also known as the ending most acclaimed by the players, was that what you called the best ending? It seemed like the best conclusion to this bonus content was where Lucy and Jude got together.

But, I threatened Jude, so that will never happen. That guy is no good for her.

I made a complicated expression. Seeing that, Diana said "What, do you have a complaint?".

"It's more of a question than a complaint. Lucy hates Jude, right?"

I asked Erselica to agree.

"Yes. I think Jude is the one she wouldn't want to be with. Because she seems to really hate him. I've seen something like that before. It seems like her hatred is already at the level that it's physiologically impossible for her to accept it. I think it's absolutely impossible for those two to become lovers."

If someone I like said something like, "It's physiologically impossible for me to be with you," I wouldn't be able to stand up again for days.

Diana was also a woman, so she seemed to understand what Erselica was talking about.

"... B-But, in the game, my older sister and Jude were..."

Erselica looked at Diana with a face of understanding.

"In this world, we wouldn't have to go through hardships if things could progress like in the game. But this is our new 'real life' so we shouldn't always think of it as a game."

To Erselica's words I wanted to say. "Really you are saying that!!!?"

She became a little sad.

"You've gone through a lot of hardships so far. Although the cause of your failure was because your goal was to kill me and now it's you who has your head on the chopping block and to top it off you have a reverse harem of useless men."

Erselica wiped her tears with her sleeve.

"Don't say it. I'm already regretting it. A little."

Then Diana said.

"Ha, you can't be? Don't tell me, did you aim for something like the reverse harem with the main character and the main characters? Hahaha how pathetic. I still remember when I read what the original game was going to be like. Really if it hadn't been for the RPG theme. I would have been disgusted to even go near it, and even more so with that cliché heroine, hahaha."

A vein popped up on my forehead.

"You can really tell that her popularity as 'the innocent girl every man should protect' was something that no one I expect to be rejected and changed. I'm partly glad that's the case. Oh, that's right, did you know that technically that girl's magical power is superior to Liam's? Instead, Liam's magic power is only higher than average, but it's still lower compared to hers."

Hearing that irritated me for a moment, but then it made me curious.

Is Airi more important than Liam to have more magic power?

"That on the off chance it's maybe due to the saint's history?"

Diana laughed as she answered me.

"Who knows, I just remember that in the original otome game, that girl had a more important role. And that she also fought, and justly your floating sphere was her partner."

I just heard something as unexpected as it was astonishing.

"Wasn't there really an explanation for the gender change?"

Airi was originally the protagonist of this world, but then they changed her to Liam. I understand that they did it because the main capture target was the crown prince.

"I already said no. It was just arbitrarily made that decision... perhaps, it had to do with that other game that the same developer was making?"

"Another game? Maybe, a sequel?"

We all stood for a moment in thought.

This extra content came out of wanting to expand the game, but the romantic theme of guys falling in love with a girl is very odd. And more so because it's Liam doing it or supervising others to try.

"H-Hey, you're saying, what those lazy developers stuck in the removed parts of another otome game?"

The romance in this world is absurd, but, isn't it a weird idea to believe that this bizarre world is based not only on an RPG game but also on an otome game.

God, how grotesque is this world I came to end up in.

"Thinking about it won't solve anything. We should worry about the current situation."

Erselica who was trembling, remembered what Diana told her earlier.

"That's right. shut up! If I'm happy choosing more than one boyfriend, it's not your problem! Besides, Even you also laid your hand on that giggling Lugh!"

"I honestly chose only one person!"

"Ha! Honestly, you say? You only chose him because you knew he was someone rich, handsome and from a good family, right? It's ridiculous for you to call him sincere."

As fellow women, they were able to guess what each other was thinking.

This ended up turning into a horrible exchange of insults.

"I'm still better than you, who aimed for the reverse harem with the main characters!"

"You were just narrowing your target to one person, but what you did is basically the same as me!"

"Don't lump me in with you!"

The two were climbing and proceeded to start a catfight.

They grabbed at each other's hair, tugged at each other's clothes, and insulted each other.

What came to my mind as I observed the state of the two was...

"Women who interfere with the main characters are pitiful."

"Look at yourself in the mirror when I spoke."

Erselica and Diana finally gasped and stopped their discussion. Then I spoke again in the right way.

"Well, in any case, all of us here wish to avoid danger to the world. We should be able to work together."

Based on this conversation with Diana, it seemed that she also wanted to avoid danger to the world.

Then we reincarnates should not fight among ourselves.

"What do you mean by working together? You crushed Derrick's event and separated my older sister from Jude."

I watched Diana tidying her hair and uniform as I sincerely apologized.

"I'm sorry. But it couldn't be helped since Derrick got into a fight with us. We also have our own position to think about. As for Jude, he's no good, he's giving off this dangerous vibe. We're just saying it's better not to pick him."

"Jude's desire to monopolize is a little strong. That's also his charm. It would calm down at last if my big sister became his lover."

"A little? Was that a little?" I really don't understand girls.

Diana complained to me.

"More importantly, it's a problem that you squashed Derrick's event! That event was really important, you know!? Besides, would you normally corner someone to that extent!? I heard from Lugh that Derrick is now in a really bad situation!"

It seemed that Diana watched the duel. She looked horrified.

"It was Derrick's fault for fighting me. Besides, it's true that I backed him into a corner, but he was ruined by his own habitual bad actions. That's not my fault. It's his fault for getting backed into a corner to begin with."

"You're the worst."

Erselica stood up as Diana was looking at me.

"Yet Derrick doesn't have anything worthwhile to give you any sympathy? Well, just forget about him, you should work together with us from now on."

We could work together because both parties had the same goal.

Diana also seemed dissatisfied, but she might want our cooperation as well since she agreed to this talk.

"Anyway, return my big sister and hand over the sapling of the sacred tree to Aster. It's really important that for the future of the game."

I took out the jar that held the little sapling. I had brought it with me because I thought it would be necessary in our discussion.

I placed it on the low table.

"You don't need to worry if it's about this, it's put inside a special jar, so it won't wilt for now- Huh-h?"

My right hand began to glow.

At the same time, it seemed that the little sapling was also glowing.

"Brother, the back of your right hand!"

Erselica suddenly said that, so I looked at the back of my right hand. There, some kind of emblem was forming.

"What's this, hey, what's this!"

Diana, who was looking at me making a fuss, grimaced as if she was watching an unbelievable scene.

"W-Why, why is the 'guardian emblem' forming on this guy's hand!!!?"

Ixion spoke with glee as he looked at us making a fuss.

"Oh, this thing has a keen eye. It seems that the sacred tree sapling has deemed the master worthy as the guardian and chose him."

"MEEEE!?"

The little sapling chose me as its guardian even though it had not yet chosen the priestess.

Originally it should be Lucy, the heroine, who chose the guardian among the capture targets, but for some reason it was the sapling itself who chose me.

There was a limit to even how unexpected a situation could be.

"I don't understand!!! Not only has the priestess not been selected, but also no event has been successfully fulfilled?"

Erselica trembled and then gave me a look, her mouth said something that sounds like some unfunny cliché.

"... The events of the protagonist, Liam, could be progressing normally without us knowing it."

"That's absurd, since Liam hasn't hung out with Lucy in any..."

"... I wasn't talking about Liam, bro. I was talking about the real protagonist. The one who did things Liam had to do."

A cold sweat ran down my body as I remembered several things.

I was the one who got engaged to Airi.

I was also the one who killed the bloody knight.

I was the one who was at the duel event with Derrick.

Hey, this isn't funny. The logic of this world is supposed to treat me as a turn-based villain, so it's absurd to think of me as Liam's replacement.

Don't fuck with me, this is no joke. I don't want to be the "protagonist" of this world.

I stared in panic at the emblem that formed on my hand.

"... So, what happens from now on with me!?"

◇◇◇

At the Altfode Kingdom Academy.

Airi and Alisa were drinking tea with serious expressions.

Bell was hovering near the two.

"That asshole Ixion still isn't in contact."

Airi, who was praying for Rudel's safety from here, looked down worriedly.

"Do you think our letters have reached Rudel-san?"

Alisa was sipping her tea calmly, but she was also feeling worried inside.

"Despite her appearance, Eleonora is a woman who keeps her promise. She will deliver our letters without fail."

However, that was only if the situation was one in which the letters could be delivered.

The two did not know how Rudel was doing right now, in this situation where there was no information coming from Aster.

They wished they could quickly make their way to Aster personally, but they were ordered to stay because the situation there was unknown.

"You should reach Aster around this time."

They were able to exchange letters frequently because of Ixion, but normally getting information would take a long time as it did now.

Bell comforted the two worried girls.

"He'll be fine. Master is someone tenacious, and I don't think there's an enemy there that can defeat Ixion. They're probably busy dealing with some troublesome issues."

Airi nodded her head.

"I hope that's the case."

Alisa sighed lightly.

"But that guy is reckless sometimes. Still, what the hell is going on in the supreme kingdom?"

Bell showed her motivation after seeing the two of them worry like that.

"I understand. Then I'll try to do some research."

Airi raised her face.

"Can you do that Bell-chan?"

"Leave it to me. I've sent a transmitter for communications. Though its performance isn't good and Ixion won't like it, then it'll be more like hacking."

Alisa threw away the composure she had maintained so far and took advantage of that offer.

"I don't care how you do it! Do it right away if you can check how Rudel is doing right now."

"However, I'll only be able to get fragmentary information."

"I don't care about that. If Rudel is safe, then..."

Alisa put her hands on her chest and prayed for Rudel's safety. After seeing how anxious Alisa was, Bell performed an unauthorized access to Schwartz, Ixion's main body.

Bell's green lens emitted a blue glow.

"Then, I'm going to do some research. Emm~, the position of Ixion's main body right now is..."

Airi clasped her hands together in a prayer gesture.

"Rudel-san, I hope you're safe."

Alisa hugged Airi's shoulder, on one side.

"He'll be fine. Rudel is strong after all. There's nothing in the world that can defeat him."

Then-

"Hyaaaa!"

Bell let out a strange voice.

Airi stood up.

"Bell-chan, what's wrong?"

Alisa grabbed Bell with both hands.

Her eyes were very serious.

"What happened!!! Rudel is safe, answer quickly scrap!"

Bell told the two of them the information she had gathered.

"About that... I managed to get the log from Ixion. I was only able to get completely trivial information."

"A-A-And!"

Airi asked Bell to continue. Bell seemed really hesitant to answer her.

It made the two of them even more anxious.

"Well. I was able to confirm the Master's safety. It seems that Ixion is also properly by the master's side. Ah, Erselica-chan and the others are also safe."

Alisa and Airi held hands with their palms pressed together.

They pressed their bodies together and their very grown large breasts crushed each other. They looked like two pairs of water balloons pressing together about to burst.

"I see, so Rudel is safe!"

"That's great, Alisa!"

They didn't ask about Erselica and the others at all. They were simply relieved to hear that Rudel was safe.

They were both smiling brightly, but-

"B-But you see. Well... the place where the Master is staying right now... is in the same place where Erselica and the others live."

A shadow appeared on the two's smile as they stopped jumping for joy.

Airi worried about Alisa.

"... Alisa, surely there's a reason why they live together."

Alisa's cheeks twisted.

"You're right, there must be a reason. Maybe the official servant there couldn't get a place for Rudel to live apart. That must be the reason. That must be it. If not, Rudel staying in the same house with that woman is just-."

And then Bell told the two of them about other information she got from the words in the log that Ixion muttered.

"The information I got is varied and fragmentary, so it doesn't form a clear picture, but I managed to pick up some words that Ixion mumbled. Let's see here, once he mumbled..."

"This is what they call caught in the act of infidelity."

"... Huh?"

Bell, after saying that, was watched by Alisa and Airi.

Their faces were expressionless, the gleam in their eyes disappeared and a black background showed in them.

______________________________________________________________________________

Volume 4 end.

Aster's Supreme Kingdom Introduction Arc completed.