The Protagonist Already Knows

Chapter 28: An Unexpected Friend

As I raised my fist once again, like an already drunk adult trying to get another shot from the bartender, Ren yelled.

"I’M GOING TO DO IT! I’M GOING TO BE A BEAM OF LIGHT, AGAIN!"

Pausing my fist mid-punch, I yelled back.

"YOU WOULDN’T!"

"I WOULD RUN IF I WERE YOU!"

His ocean-blue pupils trembling, Ren continued.

"I’M GONNA DO IT!"

"NO YOU’RE NOT!"

Raising his head above the ground, Ren looked me dead in the eye.

"I WILL!"

Lowering my head so that our eyes and faces were now mere inches away from each other, I yelled back, intentionally spitting on his face.

"NO YOU WON’T!"

"STOP SPITTING ON ME!"

"THEN MOVE DOWN"

"YOU MOVE UP! GET OFF OF ME!"

For a moment, both of us stood in our positions in silence, me atop him.

I felt the warmth of his rapid breathing as the hot air he exhaled rushed up to my face, and I felt the periodic trembling of his body.

"*PFFT*"

As a scoff interrupted the silence, both of us turned our heads simultaneously to the right, seeing Evangel laughing uncontrollably while pointing at the two of us as if we were some kind of museum exhibit.

She looked like a child in a candy shop, desperately trying to cover her mouth to contain her laughter, to no avail.

Unknown to Evangel, the two of us looked above her head, where a floating rapier flew up and down as Evangel laughed even harder.

Looking up at me, Ren said, while pointing at the levitating rapier.

"It’s her element: metal."

Still looking at the rapier oscillating up and down above Evangel’s head, aligning perfectly with her laughs, I instinctively answered.

"I know."

Looking at me curiously, Ren asked

"...You do?"

"yeah..."

At that moment, as I allowed Ren to nudge my left hand off his left shoulder, Ren suddenly leaned forward and whispered into my ear.

"Is that why....ah... I see. Do you like her?"

Silently, I looked down at Ren, who was smiling for some reason, his eyes glowing a light-blue as he stared at me.

"..."

I instantly could read his thoughts.

"Evangel was one of the people targeted during his rampage and was heavily injured...come to think of it...this guy was partnered with her for the mid-term exam, right?

"Ah...did this stupid guy go on a rampage and join the Dregs because he was in love with Evangel, and she rejected him?"

"In this life, I’ll make sure he gets together with her and prevent the tragedy! Carissa can be alive, and this guy won’t join the Dregs and can be happy."

"Ah...that elven prince guy won’t be too happy, then. But it’s fine!"

Looking at Ren’s wholesome smile, I couldn’t help but click my tongue.

He wasn’t afraid of the butterfly effect in the slightest or the possibility of his future knowledge becoming useless.

All he wanted to do was make the world a better place.

He was willing to risk the possibility of everything just so I, a person who had caused him a great deal of harm, could have a good ending, unlike in the novel.

He was the opposite of me.

Naturally...he was a hero.

The world didn’t need my saving when he was here.

What was I thinking...?

Alternating glances between Ren’s smiling face and Evangel’s childish-like laughing, I also smiled, probably because of my mark on Evangel...

Was my laughing earlier and that joy also because of my mark on her? Was all that excitement I felt earlier her emotions too?

What emotions were mine...?

Returning to Ren’s questions, I opened my mouth.

If I said yes...he would stop watching me 24/7, right?

He would think he knew the reason behind my rampage, and then just take preventive actions instead of trying to supervise me all day.

Leaning forward and whispering into his ear with a smile, I said.

"You can’t tell a single soul, understand?"

Like an excited puppy, Ren rapidly nodded his head, and satisfied with my punch, I got off his body and stood up.

Like two comrades after a fierce battle, the two of us walked in sync, both of us somehow yawning at the same time as well.

However...

"*PFFT* I-I c-can’t, haha."

Continously laughing and pointing at us, Evangel couldn’t contain herself.

Glancing at me, Ren just gave me a thumbs up, his expression saying, "You got this!"

As Ren casually walked to exit the library, I stood there awkwardly and looked at the burnt library shelf, very obviously visible.

Were we just going to leave it there...? Also, what happened with the laboratory?

I had expected to be called into the office at any opponent for all the destroyed equipment, but nothing had happened.

"...praise the cleaning staff!"

Wanting to keep up my act for Ren, I didn’t leave the library but instead took a seat a few chairs away from Evangel, who had finally ceased her laughing despite a visible smile on her face.

Looking at the smile on my face in the reflection of the shiny desk, I grabbed my cheeks and stretched them out.

What emotions really were mine?

Having the mark was really handy when I was feeling terrible, as it helped me instantly focus and push away dark thoughts.

But...when I was happy?

It just felt...weird.

Though I still didn’t take my mark off Evangel.

After all, if I took my mark off Evangel, the answer of whose happiness mine belonged to would be answered.

But, if I didn’t know the answer...I could just assume the answer.

Now back to normal, Evangel suddenly looked up and asked.

"Oh right...you were showing me your mana control?"

Recalling her levitating rapier just a few moments ago, I didn’t dare show off my fake mana control anymore.

"Ah...it was nothing."

Shifting her gaze back to her notes, Evangel then said.

"So then you’ve changed your mind and agree with me?"

Sighing, I just nodded my head.

However, as a faint chuckle escaped her mouth, barely loud enough for me to hear, Evangel muttered.

"I’m wrong, yeah right."