Ch.11. Encounter

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So, how did it come to this?

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The Campbell Barony is a minor noble family located in a small barony on the outskirts of the Empire.

I think it was barely mentioned in a single line of text in Serath’s main story.

There are no dungeons with monsters scattered throughout the Empire. The main industry is the peaceful business of dairy farming. The lord and his family are essentially just friendly neighbors.

It’s inevitable that the Campbell Barony becomes a place where even the tiniest incidents turn the world upside down and cause a commotion.

In other words.

When a major event like the lord’s son entering the Imperial Academy occurs, you get the spectacular scene of all the territory’s residents crying their eyes out as if they’re sending him off forever.

“You’re finally leaving, Darwood.”

“Yes, Father.”

Baron Armin Campbell. A middle-aged man radiating the vibe of a kind-hearted, generous neighbor wiped away his glistening tears and embraced me.

“You are the pride of our territory. Please take care of yourself and graduate safely.”

“Of course. Don’t worry.”

I push my father away with a reassuring, perfect smile.

No, this person may look like this on the outside, but it’s all muscle. He feels hard when you get close.

Dairy farming and agriculture are such demanding work that your body gets trained whether you like it or not.

“But you must never cause any conflicts. The Imperial Academy is where high-ranking children from all over the Empire gather. For a barony like ours, it’s best to remain as inconspicuous as possible…”

“I really told you not to worry.”

I cut off season 1823718029837 of his nagging while amplifying the reassurance in my smile twofold.

Well, his concerns aren’t completely unfounded. Just thinking about the main storyline of Savior Rising makes that clear.

Weak noble families frequently got caught up in all sorts of power struggles and were completely destroyed. Those powerful nobles with eccentric personalities are hardly rare.

Fortunately, I have no intention of disobeying my father’s advice in the slightest.

< Status Info >

「Darwood Campbell」

Strength: F

Agility: F

Endurance: F

Luck: F

Power: F

< Skill Info >

[ No skills possessed ]

< Mastery Info >

[ No specialization proficiencies possessed ]

< Special Gift >

[ Unopened ]

“…”

That’s quite a pristinely empty status window.

All F stats is an unprecedented garbage starting point that never appeared even once in all the playtime I poured into Serath.

‘Even so, this is a bit dangerous…’

With a bitter smile, I turn my gaze to the small window attached next to the status window.

[ Main Quest ]

[ Enter the Academy and get assigned to a class! ]

While it’s nice to see this familiar window from the game, the very existence of a “quest window” system is problematic.

The existence of a main quest means there’s a scenario to complete, which means the academy I’m entering is destined to become a hellish whirlpool of villains’ schemes.

‘I can’t just skip the main quest…’

Thinking about the game system, the moment I don’t execute this, it would probably result in a “game over.”

And that’s unlikely to have a positive effect on me.

At the very least, something equivalent to death must be waiting.

‘But it doesn’t make sense for me to complete the quest directly either.’

My first principle of action is “never do anything that jeopardizes my survival.”

I don’t know why I was thrown in here, but I need to make it safely to the happy ending where the world’s destruction is prevented.

In that sense, getting directly involved in main events with these garbage specs would be insane, especially when deadly events occur as frequently as breathing.

There is an unopened “Special Gift” section, but it’s hard to place hope in that.

I haven’t found any clues on how to unlock it since being reincarnated into this game.

‘I’m sure each character had their own unique function that automatically unlocked with specific actions…’

I have no way of knowing the gift conditions for such an extra character.

So what’s the best course of action I can take in this situation?

Stay true to an extra’s role.

Never stand out, never show off, just maintain enough self-preservation while keeping a low profile.

Then, well, the protagonist will take care of everything anyway, right?

“Don’t worry, Father!”

Huh. With that thought, my father’s advice suddenly sounds incredibly wise.

It’s not just nagging after all?

“I’ll work hard to remain completely unnoticed at the academy!”

“Uh, no, I wasn’t asking for that level of…”

“I absolutely won’t harbor any useless ambitions about elevating our territory’s honor, so don’t worry!”

“…Well, I wasn’t really expecting that either…”

After exchanging such dialogue, I prepared to depart from the territory.

The expressions of the territory’s residents and my father seeing me off were somewhat strange compared to earlier, but anyway, good is good.

My life as a voluntary loner who absolutely won’t stand out at the academy is about to begin!

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There was a time when I thought like that.

I was truly envisioning a hopeful future.

Ah, those days filled with dreams.

“Do you need a physician? Your expression doesn’t look good.”

“No, I’m fine.”

In truth, I’m not fine.

For someone who decided to stay true to an extra’s role, the person in front of me is intimidating just by being in their presence.

“…”

I glance at the person sitting across from me, expressionlessly reading a newspaper while sipping tea.

Elnore Erinarise la Tristan.

The most likely candidate among the final boss contenders.

‘How did I end up sharing a compartment with someone like this?’

I sigh inwardly at the thought.

The train heading to Elphante Academy, the Imperial Academy, has a structure of two people per compartment.

Which student you share a compartment with is completely random, so it can’t be helped, but when that person is this terrifying, I think I’m entitled to lament a little.

This level of bad luck is truly astounding.

‘Why would someone of a duke’s family rank be riding in the cheap compartment used by frontier baronies?’

As I was thinking that, an unexpected answer came from across me.

Her gaze remained fixed on the newspaper.

“The Tristan Dukedom pays great attention to public perception. Rather than taking first class as befits a noble house, the calculation is to put more effort into creating a friendly image.”

“…”

“Don’t worry, you didn’t make the stupid mistake of saying your thoughts out loud. Your expression is just interesting.”

The student council president said this in succession and smiled slightly.

“People who ride in the same compartment as me all have similar thoughts. You were just showing a similar look to them.”

“…Is that so?”

She seems quite worn out from this, one way or another.

Well, as the daughter of the Tristan Dukedom, she’s a major celebrity almost on par with royalty. Many people would feel pressure just by sitting with her.

“You won’t suffer any harm by being associated with me, so rest assured. I apologize for worrying you.”

“…”

But does the person causing such feelings usually care this much about the other person?

‘This is different from what I remember?’

This person, in the game, gave the impression of not caring much about others at all.

Meritocracy that judges all subjects by their value. Perfectionism that never tolerates flaws. And an overbearing atmosphere that always looks down on others.

Those are the keywords I remember for Elnore.

But what is this considerately thoughtful demeanor she’s showing me now?

Even if it’s image-making as she said, it’s definitely a strange sight.

“You don’t seem convinced. Do you have any other questions?”

“No. I just think you’re a nicer person than I expected.”

Elnore’s gaze left the newspaper for the first time.

Her pupils narrowed slightly, showing a puzzled expression.

“Than expected?”

“Pardon?”

“Have you heard something bad about me? Have we met before?”

“…”

Well, from my perspective, I know she’s one of the candidates who might destroy the world.

But her full villain transformation begins after meeting the protagonist. Everything starts to twist from the inferiority complex born from encountering the protagonist, whose talent far surpasses her own, whom she had thought perfect in every way.

Of course, one might think having an inferiority complex doesn’t destroy the world, but the “curse” this person carries is the problem.

‘Grey Demon.’

I inwardly smile bitterly as I think of the name of the being inside the Tristan Dukedom, inside this person.

Among the “demons” who are top-tier villains in the world’s creation myth, this is the worst entity.

The moment it’s unleashed, this world is essentially finished. The trigger is “the moment this person’s personality collapses.”

Throughout the scenario, she continuously clashes with the protagonist until her mental state breaks down and the demon takes over Elnore’s body. After that, well…

It’s a direct path to world destruction. Nothing can stop it except the protagonist who has completed their final growth.

“…”

And now I’ve just blurted out something like “I thought you’d have a bad temper but I guess not?” to someone harboring such a being.

I must be crazy.

“…I just heard you were strict, that’s all.”

My improvised excuse doesn’t seem to have worked well, as Elnore stares at me for a while before letting out a slight sigh.

“You’re a strange person.”

“Yes, well. I hear that often.”

I brush it off with an awkward smile and turn my gaze out the window.

I’d prefer not to continue this communication any further.

After all, my goal is just to pass the main quest to the protagonist. There’s nothing good about getting entangled with people who frequently appear in the scenario.

Since my goal is to have a peaceful and quiet academy life, let me calm my mind by watching the scenery passing by outside the window.

The fully bloomed spring scenery pleases the eye. Everything in sight seems to be covered with the fragrant scent of flowers.

The flower buds blooming there, the mountains and forests stretching along the ground, the wide fields, and the massive boulder flying like an arrow toward our compartment window also have the freshness of spring—

“…”

What the hell was that last one?

“Student Council President.”

“Hmm?”

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Before I finish speaking, I throw myself into Elnore’s arms.

“…?!”

I notice Elnore’s pupils shaking greatly.

Even someone like her would be startled when a person suddenly lunges at her like this.

Fortunately or unfortunately, there was no need to explain as the situation immediately unfolded.

-!

-!!

-!!!!!!!

The house-sized boulder that flew toward our compartment collided and tore away most of the train car.

The train shakes violently from such an impact while moving. Then the derailed car body tilts severely.

-!

-!!!

-!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to the entire train completely rolling over, there followed several hellish rotations.

Screams could be heard from all around, but even those were soon drowned out by the following roar.

Probably the sound of the entire train being thrown to the ground.

And through this entire process, Elnore and I remain unharmed.

It’s not particularly due to good luck, but thanks to the faint blue protective barrier surrounding this person right now.

A target-recognizing defensive item made from an adult’s remains.

‘I survived because I knew she always carries this…’

I let out a sigh of relief while inwardly sweating profusely.

If I had been hit directly by that alone without anything, it would have been instant death. Not a chance with my stats.

“…Are you alright?”

“Huh? Oh, yes. I’m fine.”

“Then could you please get off me? It’s getting heavy.”

Only when I hear Elnore murmuring in an emotionless voice from below do I realize that I’m currently embracing this person with my entire body.

“…”

Realizing the position is more awkward than I thought, I hurriedly get up. Shortly after, the student council president also rises smoothly.

She’s tidying her disheveled hair and uniform while looking down at the floor. Maybe it’s my imagination, but her nape and face seem slightly flushed.

Well, um.

I should apologize first, right?

“I’m sorry—”

“It’s fine. You were trying to save me.”

What?

“This is my first such intense contact with a man, but thank you. I understand your intention, so no apology is necessary.”

“…”

That’s how she interpreted it?

I just rushed to her because I knew she had a barrier and wanted to benefit from it.

From Elnore’s perspective, it must have looked like I was trying to protect her from the impact.

Well, she couldn’t possibly guess that I already knew about the existence of the barrier.

As I was thinking this, another sentence came from Elnore.

“Your name?”

Huh.

According to the setting, this person only asks for names from people she likes.

I feel like if I answer here, I’ll continue to be entangled with her in the future.

“…Your name?”

But I can’t exactly say “What are you going to do with it?” to someone staring at me with bright, round eyes right in front of me.

That would be an even worse choice.

“Darwood Campbell.”

“Darwood, Darwood, Campbell, Campbell.”

Elnore closed her eyes and rolled the name around in her mouth a few times before nodding.

“I understand. I will never forget it. I’ll be sure to repay you later.”

No, you can just forget it.

Can’t we avoid getting entangled as much as possible?

As I was thinking this with an awkward smile, a window suddenly appeared before my eyes.

<System Message>

[ You’ve gained a villain’s favor! ]

[ Special Gift opening conditions met! ]

[ Skills ‘Desperate Situation’ and ‘Fatal Charm’ have been granted! ]

…What the fuck?

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