Chapter 3

The protagonists get the girls.

There is no way to counter such a fate.

No matter how much the people of this world fight that tragic outcome, the Hero of the story gets the heroine. And they do not even have the ability to sense their loved ones being taken away from them. The events just happen out of nowhere with absolutely no chance for anyone to intervene. The mob characters and the NPCs then will always have to look at that in tragedy and grief. Like it or not, this is the reality of this Earth.

Everything in their life was made to build up the heroine so that one day that heroine can be taken away from them. Thus creating conflicts that drive the story forward. From the moment they were born to each action they took, it was already a script for them to follow. In the process of following the story, the NTR-ed can also be subjected to an even more tragic outcome, which eventually will lead to their disappearance or even death in the main storyline.

Through either cliches or newly established ways, the Hero will get nearer to his predetermined destinations or targets. In this case, the target is Sam's childhood friend, Marie.

Marie has excellent capabilities.

Be it magic or intelligence, she is an outstanding individual.

Blessed with everything people would wish for, she is the perfect heroine for the Hero.

Their encounter was exceptionally bad written.

It was during the time of the Academy entrance examination.

Obviously, Sam could not follow Marie home as usual since he had to study a lot. In fact, the school had contacted his family to inform them about his decision of joining the Academy in order to convince him to stop. His health and condition were showing signs of fatigue.

Still, after saying goodbye to Marie the instance the final bell of the school rang, he headed straight home. Much work needed to be done on his side.

Marie, who usually would just head straight home also, somehow decided to deviate from her normal route to the other side of the city.

It was at that place that she met a gang of delinquents. Had she headed home like normal, she would not have been in such a position.

Seeing how beautiful she was, the boss of the said delinquents asked to show her around, which was met with a water spell to the face. Normally, she would just lightly say no and leave the place quickly. Yet for some unknown reason, she was trying to insult the gang that time.

Immediately after, the gang attacked her. Their power overwhelmed Marie in an instant.

With no other way to defend herself, the usual cool-headed Marie then turned into sleeping beauty, waiting for her prince charming to come to the rescue.

And rescue she received.

With a ring of light on his back, Hero appeared and effortlessly handled the gang.

He just happened to be running some errands at this location of the town, at this prefecture of the country at the exact time. The town is not even near the capital where he lived one bit, but he was still there.

"Are you okay?" He asked her, looking worried. His crystal clear blue eyes showed signs of kindness.

"...I...I'm okay. Thank you..." Marie blushed.

"Where do you live? I'll take you home." A proposal was given.

"...um...I...I don't think..." She was a bit hesitant.

"Don't worry, I'm not someone you sketchy. Here, my father's card." He gave out a business card. On which is the information of his family.

[ Neumann ] The name of one of the most powerful families in the country.

"And you may have heard about me. My name's Hero."

"Hero!? The prodigy?!" She gasped.

"Ah...ah hahaha. I'm not a prodigy or anything. Please don't call me that." Hero blushed while scratching his head.

"You are my idol! Can I get a handshake?" Her eyes were beaming at this point.

"Of course! But can you stand up? Do you need a hand?" He reached out.

She instantly held his hand.

"I...I'm Marie." She blushed.

"Again, I'm Hero. Haha."

"Hero... You look much better in real life, do you know that?"

"I get that quite often. Here, let me walk you home. Where is it by the way?"

It was like that, the heart of Marie was captured. Whether or not Marie ever had any feelings towards Sam was then meaningless, as she only looked at Hero.

As they were walking home, Marie felt happy just by talking to the Hero. A sense that she had never been given from anyone else. In her mind, the image of the Hero was growing exponentially by the minute.

"Where do you go to school, Marie?"

"I go to a nearby high school, but I have a plan to go to the Magic Academy in the capital, though."

"Oh really?! I'm going there, too!"

"Wow! Such a coincident, right?! Well, I still have the entrance exam to take. But all my teachers said it would be fine with my current abilities."

"That's great!" He stopped for a while. "Hey Marie, can I ask you something?" The Hero then looked a little pink.

"Anything!" She prepared herself. Marie felt like she would give up herself for him.

"Would you be my first friend at the Academy?"

"Of course! Why wouldn't I want to be your friend?! Though you have to answer me one important question."

"Please, go ahead!"

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

"Um...No? But why would you ask such a thing?"

"Nothing! Nothing at all. Just curious, you know. Someone like you must have been with a lot of other women." She stressed the words 'other women' really strongly.

So that I can still have a chance, dummy.

"What did you say?" Perfect hearing from the Hero at the best time possible.

"No...nothing!" Marie blushed heavily.

Seeing that, Hero could not help but mutter:"Cute!"

"Who...who's cute! Dummy!"

"You are!"

"Geez!!!"

A couple of houses down the street, Sam was still cramming everything inside his head.

"Why did you get this wrong again? You're freaking dumb." He told himself.

Looking up to take a small break, seeing the pictures of his love, Sam continued.

His stomach was churning and grumbling constantly.

"Until I'm done with the entrance exam, I will confess to you. Please wait, Marie!"

He kept on fighting for his purpose.