"Um..."
"Since we're merely changing the location of an already scheduled meeting, I haven't broken the promise not to summon you somewhere. Besides, didn't I warn you in advance that we might change locations? And you could say a somewhat unavoidable situation has arisen now..."
"Yes...?"
I instinctively rattled off excuses in response to Vigdís calling my name, and only realized ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ my mistake when I saw her puzzled expression.
I thought she was about to accuse me of violating one of the clauses.
But I realized too late that wasn't the case.
'Right, Vigdís isn't the type to nitpick over something like that. In the first place, that clause was something I forced in because I wanted to distance myself from her. Even if I subtly broke it, she'd probably just let it slide without caring. It's not as though I didn't already know that...'
Was this the aftermath of facing two major characters from the original novel at the same time?
I couldn't come up with appropriate responses right away.
My disorganized thoughts drifted aimlessly through my head, tangling together into a mess.
"What did you call me for?"
"Ah, that... About that person from earlier..."
"I don't particularly want to talk about him."
"Kar... are you okay?"
I didn't know what Vigdís intended by asking that question.
But regardless, the answer I could give was already decided.
After all, at this point, wouldn't it be ridiculous to say I wasn't okay?
"Is there any reason I wouldn't be okay?"
On the contrary, things turned out well since Reisir finally went away.
His hurt expression as he turned his back on me kept resurfacing in my mind, but that was the result of his own actions.
He should have stayed away when I tried to push him back with polite words. Why did he keep approaching me?
'Now he must really hate me. Not Karvaldr, but me.'
That was only natural.
After all, the fact that Reisir had been bullied by this possessed body was widely known.
It couldn't have been easy for him to approach me first and act friendly while so many people were watching.
He must have swallowed his pride to do so.
And I completely crushed that pride beneath my feet.
'It wouldn't be strange if he resented me.'
Even in the middle of all this, the thought crossed my mind: 'What if the Original Protagonist comes to kill me later on?'
I know Reisir isn't that petty of a character.
But just in case, that was probably why it kept bothering me.
"Are you really okay?"
"Yaoong..."
I had maintained a blank expression while pretending to be fine, but apparently my complexion had betrayed me.
Vigdís asked me again whether I was alright, and Yor meowed too, expressing her concern.
I don't understand why they're worrying about me when the victim is someone else.
Let's concede a hundred times that Yor is reacting that way because she prioritizes me above all else.
But why is Vigdís acting like that?
Is it because there are too many eyes watching, so she can't abandon me, the person she's still publicly engaged to, and run after Reisir?
Is she checking on my condition first for the time being?
"Now that the disturbance is gone, let's finish our training."
"Weren't you saying earlier that I wasn't helpful because I'm bad at explaining things...?"
"I'll observe your swordsmanship while you practice."
"Ah, yes..."
Vigdís stood some distance away from me, moving hesitantly.
She looked very timid as she drew her sword while glancing at me.
But once she closed her eyes, took several deep breaths, and opened them again, that weak appearance vanished completely.
She had cast aside all worldly anguish and distracting thoughts, focusing solely on the sword.
But I couldn't do the same.
My thoughts kept wandering elsewhere.
'Just because I don't want to get hurt doesn't mean it's alright for me to hurt others...'
No one in this world is granted such a right.
Even though I repeatedly tried to convince myself it had been unavoidable, my heart remained painfully uneasy.
I tried blaming everything on Reisir to deceive myself, but it was useless.
I might somehow cover the sky I see with my palm, but nothing can cover my own heart.
'To think seeing someone hurt because of me could feel this painful...'
What are the nerves of people who casually hurt others made of?
I can't understand it, and I don't want to understand it.
Perhaps that was why it hurt even more.
"Myang..."
Perhaps worried about my condition, Yor rubbed her head against my shoulder and tried to act cute.
Even that did little to improve my mood.
Naturally, my concentration didn't return either.
"Vigdís, the explanation for that movement just now... hmm... no, never mind."
"What?"
"I think it would be best to end today's training here. Don't return to the dormitory right away. Stop by the library first and borrow an anatomy book."
"......"
In the end, I used Vigdís's poor explanatory skills as an excuse to return to my room.
Only then could I curl up and be as miserable as I wanted.
Yor wrapped herself around my body, trying to comfort me.
Though I was grateful to the clever and kind baby dragon, I also felt sorry that I couldn't be a master she could truly trust and rely on.
Even for such a worthless master...
"...I still have to feed you."
If I were alone, skipping one or two meals wouldn't matter, but I couldn't let Yor go hungry.
When I checked the clock, it was just past noon.
I didn't know what time I had returned to the room, since I hadn't been in the right state of mind to check.
'It wouldn't be right to send Yor to the campus cafeteria alone, would it? If I'm not with her, someone might try to harm her.'
Since I'd already made up my mind, I should get moving.
If I keep acting like this, people might start saying things like, 'The protagonist is too pathetic. I can't stand watching this. I'm dropping the story.'
So I should only wallow in self-pity in moderation.
I stood up and checked my reflection in the mirror.
My complexion looked gloomy, but I could blame it on the dark circles under my eyes.
Those dark circles once got me mistaken for a research student and forced me to organize a thesis I didn't even need, but it seemed they could occasionally be useful too.
I noticed something on my right eyelid and rubbed at it with my finger.
Then I realized it was a mole. I was about to lower my hand, but instead I raised my other hand and buried my face in both palms.
Like that, I slowly steadied my breathing, dry-washed my face, then lowered my hands.
Afterward, I put on Karvaldr's characteristic arrogant and condescending expression.
Perhaps because it was the expression I'd practiced the most, my sunken mood barely showed, and the result looked fairly convincing.
"Good. I'll maintain this expression while I go to the campus cafeteria to eat, then head to the personal training grounds and move my body around for a while. That should help me feel a little better."
"Nyan nyan!!"
As I spoke to my reflection in the mirror like someone making a resolution, Yor answered energetically.
The baby dragon's cry sounded as though she were praising me for making a wise decision.
I lightly stroked Yor's head—admirable as ever today as well—then left the room with confident strides.
However, contrary to my resolve to maintain an arrogant expression, my face crumpled the moment I arrived at the campus cafeteria.
I had run into Tryggdrik there.
According to Tryggdrik's own ramblings, he spent every weekend busy attending various social gatherings.
Most of those gatherings involved eating while drinking tea or alcohol together.
For that reason, I hadn't expected to run into him at the campus cafeteria today.
'Did he not have a lunch meeting today? Of all days...'
It was an incredibly unpleasant coincidence.
At least, that was what I thought at first.
But the moment Tryggdrik sat across from me and opened his mouth, I realized his appearance here today was no coincidence.
"Lord Karvaldr, I heard the rumor. That bastard Reisir acted out of line toward you?"
It seemed there were many students at this academy who enjoyed spreading gossip.
I'm still mentally unsettled, yet the rumor had already reached Tryggdrik's ears.
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
"Haven't you become far too lenient recently, Lord Karvaldr? I think that's why that bastard has started taking you lightly."
"Get to the point."
"Shouldn't we set a date and teach him a lesson?"
I don't understand how someone can suggest bullying another person so casually.
I know people like this exist even outside novels, but...
...the being sitting in front of me simply didn't feel human, which was why such a thought crossed my mind.
'Is he this rotten because he's a character who exists solely as a villain?'
That personality, as though made entirely out of malice, and his desire to bully the Original Protagonist for no reason...
Was all of that because of it?
"...It's a hassle."
"Then I'll take care of it myself!"
I didn't want to waste my mental energy on a petty villain character who clearly hadn't been given much thought during his creation.
So I answered indifferently, but my opponent couldn't conceal his delight.
He was excited at the thought of freely bullying Reisir while using Karvaldr's name as justification.
The moment I realized that, something surged up inside me—whether anger or irritation, I couldn't tell.
"Seriously... how can trash like you be so self-indulgent?"
I barely managed to swallow expressions like 'a character in a novel' and 'an insignificant villain.'
But I couldn't hide the contempt—almost disdain—I felt toward him.
This was the first time since possessing this body that I had genuinely despised someone.
"I-I'm sorry..."
Even though I hadn't raised my voice, perhaps he sensed something from my expression or tone, because Tryggdrik shrank back like a turtle retreating into its shell and apologized.
But it couldn't possibly have been sincere.
His only goal was escaping the situation.
"You only need to do what I tell you to do. Don't even think about doing something on your own that you weren't instructed to do. If I don't order you to do anything, then don't do anything. Living that way will also benefit your own safety."
I wasn't merely saying that.
Because if he messed with Reisir, the Original Protagonist, he wouldn't escape disaster.
That was practically one of the absolute laws governing this world.
Even though I had given him advice that would greatly benefit him, there wasn't a trace of gratitude on Tryggdrik's face.
Instead, he trembled with humiliation.
Even though I had crushed his pride in much the same way, I didn't feel the guilt I had felt while facing Reisir's hurt expression.
'Was I unconsciously thinking of Reisir not as a fictional character, but as a person like me? Or is it because Reisir is obviously good-natured, while Tryggdrik is obviously rotten?'
I don't know.
And right now, I don't want to think too deeply about it.
