episode_0110

My mood was soured.

Yet, I never let it show on the outside.

Frowning or making faces—that’s the kind of thing only amateurs do.

-You okay?

“Huh? D-Did I do something wrong?”

But the Holy Sword and Chloe reacted to me immediately.

Maybe it’s because I fell into this medieval era. Things didn’t go as smoothly as I’d thought.

‘To think I’d lose my social skills.’

A slightly shocking result.

But in situations like this, the best move was to act shamelessly.

“It’s not good to speak carelessly about others.”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I just… thought I should ask.”

Chloe kept bowing her head apologetically.

I stared straight at her.

She’s… ordinary.

Compared to anyone I’ve thought of so far, she’s ordinary.

There’s no sense of extraordinary presence, like a protagonist should have.

Erme has that unique “something” that makes her a protagonist.

Whether she’s a regressor or has future-seeing abilities,

she gathers information in advance and strengthens the entire party.

Veronica is already a saintess,

and Klara, though not as strong,

would inherit Veronica’s abilities entirely if Veronica died.

‘If anything, the only one who could even compare…’

Would be Teresa, the vanguard in our team.

But even compared to her, Chloe gives off no such impression.

-That guy’s at least somewhat talented. Well, not exactly a genius, but close enough.

That’s what the Holy Sword said.

But is that really enough to make her a protagonist?

Or.

‘Does she have a system window like me?’

The system had gone silent when talking about her.

As if it couldn’t show me something.

Or.

‘Something the system itself can’t comprehend.’

If so.

What kind of existence is Chloe?

I stared at her intently,

and she turned her head away, bowing deeply under my gaze.

“P-Please don’t stare at me like that.”

“……”

If she’s like this just from being looked at,

I don’t even know what to say.

I sighed inwardly, and only then did Chloe finally look at me.

“But… I’ve been thinking since earlier.”

“What?”

“You’re really handsome.”

“……”

You hesitated just to say that?

I narrowed my eyes and stared at her.

“N-No, seriously… I’ve never seen anyone as good-looking as you, Yooseong-nim.”

“There are plenty around here, no?”

[The Cradle] has labyrinths, a system that blooms mana, and other such things.

Mana’s influence is strong.

In other words, most people here have great skin and well-defined features. Everyone has their own charm in some way.

Of course, even among them, my looks stand out.

But that doesn’t mean Chloe should react this intensely.

-No, that’s not it.

The Holy Sword strongly disagreed with my thoughts.

-While mana does make handsome men and beautiful women common, you’re on a completely different level.

‘Hmm…’

I pondered the Holy Sword’s words.

Is it really like that?

Sure, I feel a bit smug whenever I look in the mirror, and I do notice women’s gazes lingering on me.

But is that enough to make someone fall for me at first sight?

-This guy still doesn’t understand women.

‘I don’t want to hear that from someone who’s lived over a thousand years.’

-YOU LITTLE—!!

The Holy Sword’s roar made my head ring.

I winced slightly and popped a snack from the table into my mouth.

The sweet taste spread through my mouth, calming my mind.

Just then, I sensed someone approaching.

“Chloe… miss…?”

A man came into view.

Androgynous looks—hard to tell if he was a man or a woman—standing around 170 cm tall.

His long, golden hair and blue eyes, paired with glasses, made him look like a scholar.

“And who are you?”

His gaze toward me carried a hint of wariness.

He stepped in front of Chloe as if marking his territory and glared at me.

“Ah, this is Han Yooseong-ssi! Say hello, this is Rector-ssi!”

Chloe smiled brightly, as if relieved by the timing.

“……I’m Rector.”

Rector introduced himself in a somewhat gloomy voice.

“I’m Han Yooseong.”

When I offered a handshake, Rector gripped my hand tightly.

What’s this? Trying to measure my strength?

‘……This is ridiculous.’

It was incredibly unpleasant. But breaking his hand here would be something only an amateur would do.

I smiled faintly and took my seat.

-What’s your plan?

‘Do you know when a man looks the ugliest?’

-Hmm… When his pride is shattered?

‘When the woman he likes looks down on him and goes to the man he’s jealous of.’

-You… don’t tell me.

‘Well, if it doesn’t work, no harm done.’

With that in mind, I glanced at Chloe.

She called Lucia a villainess.

It pissed me off, but…

‘If anything, I see a connection.’

My mind cooled.

Chloe called Lucia a villainess.

I don’t know where that rumor started, but…

‘The protagonist of this world.’

And the girl my friend was so obsessed with.

That guy was usually indifferent, so if he was that fixated on her, there must be something special.

‘Like a narrative.’

I stared at Chloe intently.

Her face turned red, and she ducked her head.

“P-Please, I have a request… Could you stop looking at me like that?”

“……”

Why is she making such a fuss?

-Not sure what’s going on, but it’s half a success.

‘What?’

-What you said earlier. Look at that guy’s face.

I glanced at Rector.

He was glaring at me with burning eyes.

The kind of look that said he’d pay any amount to bury me alive if he could.

‘See?’

I smirked.

I don’t know what’s happening, but if the result’s good, who cares?

Maybe he misinterpreted my smile.

“D-Do you… like me?”

What’s with this girl?

Is she self-absorbed?

I might’ve given her the wrong idea, but

Rector’s expression was definitely worth seeing.

Maybe it’s because my thief skills evolved to a divine level,

but I could read his expression pretty well now.

Shock that Chloe had “betrayed” him.

And a murderous glare directed at me.

‘This is kinda fun.’

But where have I heard the name Rector before?

It feels familiar.

As I was lost in thought—

“My, my.”

A familiar voice rang out.

Somewhere between sultry and enchanting.

Lucia’s voice.

“Look who’s here. The person I most want to see right now, and two others I’d rather not see at all.”

Lucia smiled sweetly.

The moment she appeared, the two of them stiffened.

‘Why is she angry?’

Having spent some time with her, I could tell she was extremely irritated right now.

Not to toot my own horn, but…

‘I don’t want to make her blush for no reason.’

I decided to treat those two like leeches.

Just as I was about to stand—

“Did you already move on to another man?”

Rector’s voice seethed.

His face was red as he glared at me and Lucia.

Lucia made an “Oh my~” face.

And then.

She licked her lips and wrapped her arms around my neck.

“I wish. I’m quite interested in this man, you know.”

She grinned.

Chloe’s face darkened.

“Let’s go, Chloe. There’s no point talking to someone who was disowned by her family and doesn’t know her place. It’ll just give us a headache.”

Rector kicked his chair back and stood.

I glanced at Lucia. Her soft, squishy touch and strangely alluring scent.

Wait, that’s not the point.

‘She doesn’t seem to care much about the family talk.’

-It’s a pretty troublesome dynamic. A disowned child striving for recognition, gaining power to challenge the family’s status—it’s a common trope.

Chloe shakily forced herself up.

Despite that, she kept trying to keep me in her sight.

Watching her,

“Hmm.”

Lucia made a strange sound.

“Seems like she has no interest in my ex-fiancé and is more into this guy.”

“How dare you say that to Chloe!”

“Look at him. He’s taller, better proportioned. Compared to you, still clinging to your mother’s skirts, our Yooseong-ssi is far more dashing and charming, no?”

Lucia smiled sweetly.

I didn’t know she could talk like this.

“You have a fiancé, yet you’re clinging to another man.”

Maybe provoked by Lucia’s words,

Chloe bravely fired back.

Lucia toyed with her lips and replied,

“What’s it to you what I do? Oh, and get the terms right. Not fiancé—ex-fiancé.”

She grinned.

By now, I could feel eyes gathering on us.

Some of them were familiar.

‘……When did that old man get here?’

Volkan and Heukmang-gong were munching on popcorn, watching us with keen interest.

“Well, well. This is quite the entertaining spectacle.”

“I’ve seen this before. It’s called ‘Love and War.’”

“A popular play in the capital. Love triangles are always fun to watch.”

His daughter’s learning weird things.

This wasn’t even a love triangle to begin with.

That Rector guy chose to break off his engagement with Lucia for the sake of his family’s alliance.

‘And picked Chloe instead.’

But something felt off.

Chloe has her charms, but still…

‘She’s just so… ordinary.’

I don’t get why he’s so hung up on her.

‘Objectively, Lucia’s way better, no?’

-Objectively? There’s no question. She’s far superior in every way—potential included.

The Holy Sword’s words.

I have the system, but I get the feeling Chloe has something too.

‘The world’s ──, was it?’

What does that even mean?

If she’s the protagonist, is it something like fate?

As I pondered—

“Well, what’s it to you?”

Lucia snapped at Chloe.

Then, with a short “Hmph,”

“Mwah.”

She kissed me on the lips.

“This is our relationship. Got it? Now scram.”

She grinned at the two of them.

……Huh?