Ch.2Gallimar (2)

Well, I’m not sure why I did it.

Maybe I was suddenly irritated.

Perhaps it stemmed from the ridiculous thought: “Our precious protagonist is being threatened!!”

One thing was certain.

“Ugh…”

There was a little pig rolling around in front of me.

And the person who knocked him down was none other than me.

“Haha, this is quite troublesome.”

The corner of my mouth curved gently.

It was a sly smile.

I wanted to show a friendly expression, but it wasn’t easy due to my trait.

No matter what I did, I couldn’t shake off that sinister feeling.

Well, what could I do about it?

I gave up and bent down.

Then I spoke to the pig who had fallen in a ridiculous manner.

“I apologize for my unintended rudeness. Are you alright, young master?”

“W-what…! Who the hell are you?!”

He suddenly accelerated and shouted.

It seemed that once the pain from the shock subsided, anger at having fallen took over.

His reaction is bigger than I expected.

“My, how sorry I am.”

“Where did this lowborn come from! How dare you knock down the son of Baron Holint?!”

“I was in a hurry and my vision was clouded, that’s all.”

“You call that an excuse…!”

“My, what a powerful voice you have.”

I expressed regret at the piglet’s anger and introduced myself elegantly.

“Allow me to introduce myself. The sole heir of Count Snakus. I am Judas Snakus.”

“Snakus…?”

The fellow who had been fuming suddenly froze.

It seemed the name “Snakus” had put the brakes on his anger.

Yes, it would be strange not to know it.

It was a rather prestigious family after all.

I smiled brightly as I stared at his face, which was becoming increasingly rigid.

“The… the Count of Snakes…? If so, are you the son of the Snake?”

“I’m honored you remember.”

“Ah…”

The pig’s face turned deathly pale.

It seemed he realized he was screwed.

But what good would belated regret do?

The snake coiled tightly around his neck had no intention of releasing its prey.

‘What? Baron Holint’s family?’

As far as I knew, they were a worthless family with no pedigree, wealth, or looks.

With such a background, you dare bully a commoner?

And our lovely protagonist at that?

“I-I’m sorry…! I-I didn’t recognize your noble status and was rude…!”

He hastily bowed his head.

The way he bent his previously stiff back was truly pathetic.

Well, such a reaction was understandable.

He had insulted the son of a prestigious family in front of others.

“Hehe… So you were aware of your rudeness?”

“I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry…!”

“Hmm?”

I deliberately tilted my head as if to provoke him.

It might be unfortunate news for him, but I had no intention of showing mercy.

I had no interest in his sordid apologies.

‘You should have apologized to our poor protagonist, not to me.’

Then I might have considered it.

Pushing aside the malicious thoughts coiling in my mind, I smirked.

“How amusing.”

With that leisurely remark, I extended my hand.

An elegant movement, like a snake parting through undergrowth.

It lightly touched the pig’s shoulder, delivering a chilling sensation.

“Watching you act so freely… I can’t help but laugh.”

His eyebrows twitched nervously.

I know this type of brat very well.

People who are full of pride and inferiority, desperately trying to show off.

They’re the type of humans I despise the most.

The way to feed them their just desserts is simple.

Shatter their pride.

Humiliate them, mock them, ignore them, and destroy their unique dignity.

“It’s pathetic, isn’t it?”

Yes, operation name:

Mock them with all your might.

I lightly flicked my tongue.

Between my parted lips, a uniquely sultry voice escaped.

I didn’t particularly think about my lines.

After all, my trait “Smiling Mask” would handle it for me.

“Judging by your previous words, you seem more suited to be a street thug than a noble.”

=Did you stuff a rag in your mouth? And you call yourself a noble?

“Moreover, shouting at a delicate young lady… I see no trace of chivalry.”

=Have you no pride? If you’re going to live like that, just cut off your dick.

“Your capacity seems small, contrary to your stature.”

=You look big but your mind is fucking narrow.

“The Baroness must have a hard time. Well, they say raising children is the most difficult task.”

=Your mother.

A barrage of consecutive hits.

He seemed unable to recover from the dizzying parade of insults.

How about that? This is K-gamer teabagging.

The key point here is the other students watching us.

The sight of someone who was raging like a tiger just minutes ago being exposed as a mere puppy.

The onlookers would laugh.

And the more they did, the more his pride would crumble.

“You’re quite a peculiar person.”

=Idiot.

As I continued my enjoyable mockery, a girl suddenly caught my eye.

Pink hair, trembling green eyes.

It was our lovely protagonist.

‘Lezia Pillots.’

She was kneeling on the ground, looking in our direction.

Trembling like a frightened rabbit.

Just as I saw in the game, she’s a cute creature.

I gave her a light wink.

Towards the girl whose gaze met mine, as if to say don’t worry too much.

‘By the way… it seems like it’s about time.’

I muttered while checking the time.

No sooner had I thought this than a voice reached my ears.

<The entrance exam will begin shortly.>

<Applicants, please follow the guidance to move.>

The announcement interrupted the flow.

Only then did I stop my mockery and remove my hand from his shoulder.

His face was flushed red.

Judging by his trembling arms, he must have felt quite humiliated.

“Let’s stop here for now, shall we? I hope we don’t meet again!”

=Don’t mess with me. If you don’t want to die.

I smiled brightly.

This time, I didn’t hide the sinister atmosphere at all.

It was an explicit warning.

“…Thank you for your generosity.”

After biting his lip for a moment, he bowed his head and retreated.

He was truly a “third-rate villain” straight out of a picture.

It really feels like I’m inside a game.

I pondered these idle thoughts as I moved my feet towards somewhere.

“Lady.”

Our protagonist, quietly trembling.

I extended my hand to her.

“Are you alright?”

“…Ah.”

The girl, who had been momentarily dazed, soon came to her senses and took my hand.

“Th-thank you…”

“Don’t mention it.”

“I was in a difficult situation, but thanks to you, I survived.”

“Haha, I just did what I had to do.”

“B-but you still saved me…”

Despite it being just a personal ‘punishment,’ the protagonist didn’t hold back her gratitude.

I can already feel her kind heart.

It was a feeling of overwhelming emotion.

So this person really is the “Lezia Pillots” I know.

I’m a fan. Let me hug you.

Swallowing such words, I kept a smile on my face.

“You might have heard earlier… I’m Judas Snakus.”

“I’m Lezia Pillots.”

“Meeting like this must be fate. Would you like to accompany me?”

“A-accompany you?”

“This is my first time at the academy. I didn’t even bring an attendant, so I was feeling lonely on this unfamiliar path.”

“Ah…”

Green eyes pondering for a moment.

Probably due to her character trait of finding nobles difficult to approach. It’s still the early part of the game after all.

After hesitating, the girl nodded.

“…If it’s alright with you, young master.”

“It would be my honor.”

It’s like meeting an idol I’ve admired for a long time.

As I was immersed in an indescribable emotion, another announcement urged us on.

<We announce again.>

<The entrance exam will begin shortly.>

<Applicants, please follow the guidance to move.>

I said to our frozen protagonist:

“Shall we go then?”

“Yes…!”

Three years after possession.

Finally, it was time to enter the academy.

***

During the past three years, I had quite a lot of concerns.

Given how suddenly I was dragged into this world, my confusion was significant.

-Is this a dream…?

-Or have I really gone crazy? Damn, I should have played games in moderation.

-I don’t know anything anymore…

I think I went through a period of wandering.

It always takes sufficient time to adapt to a new environment, doesn’t it?

I was no exception.

It was only after about a month that I realized:

That all of this was reality.

And that there was no way to go back.

Having realized this cruel fact, I resolved to adapt and live in this world.

There’s nothing more foolish than clinging to something you can’t change.

It’s wiser to accept it.

-Well… come to think of it, it’s not so bad, is it?

I decided to think positively.

After all, I had been living a lonely life without anyone by my side, so I didn’t have any lingering attachments.

It’s also fortunate that I was possessed into a game I had been so deeply invested in.

-I’ll just see the ending.

I wasn’t possessed into the body of the final boss for nothing.

Perhaps this was an opportunity given to my gamer life, which had burned tens of thousands of hours.

1943 repeated attempts.

Even at the end, I couldn’t see the ending before being dragged here, so I had never seen it.

The happy ending of this world.

-This time for sure.

That’s what an unfulfilled dream is.

I wanted a sparkling story.

That’s why I obediently came to the academy following the original storyline.

My goal was simple:

Enjoy academy life, help the protagonist’s group, and prevent the world’s destruction.

In the end, I wanted to see a happy ending.

-And in the process… it would be nice to get close to the original characters.

It was my life’s game after all.

How moving would it be to see the children I had only ever seen through a screen running around in front of me?

It was the inevitable heart of a hardcore fan.

If we become close, I’ll definitely treat them well.

I’ll handle dangerous enemies for them and take good care of them.

If Judas was a traitor who deceived everyone in the original, I resolved to be a reliable helper.

Yes, I had definitely resolved to do that, but…

“…Uh, ugh.”

What’s wrong with her since earlier?

“Lezia. Aren’t you a bit too stiff?”

“Ah… I-I’m sorry!”

“Oh my~ I wasn’t asking for an apology.”

Lezia flinches even at a light comment.

She looked like a frightened rabbit.

‘What’s this? She wasn’t originally this type of character.’

I tilted my head in confusion.

While there was a setting that she found nobles difficult to approach, it wasn’t to this extent.

Her characteristic innocence wasn’t showing.

‘What could be the problem?’

After briefly pondering, I examined the girl.

It didn’t take long for me to figure out the reason.

“Did you hurt your wrist?”

“Ah.”

Did she get hurt when she fell earlier?

Lezia had been continuously rubbing her wrist.

It seemed my probing question was correct, as the girl gave a bitter smile.

“…I think I sprained it a bit.”

“This is serious. An injury right before the exam.”

“It’s okay. It’s not painful enough to affect the exam.”

“I’m still worried.”

I let out a quiet sigh.

Is there anything I can do for her?

After a moment of concern, I rummaged through my pocket as if I had thought of something.

“Lezia. How about using this?”

“This is… a bandage?”

What I took out was none other than a bandage.

A pristine white medical bandage without a speck of dust.

I calmly handed it to her.

It was definitely not a size that would fit in a coat pocket, but let’s just gloss over that.

Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.

“I happened to have it in my pocket. I’d be happy if Lezia would use it.”

“Uh… huh?”

“Go ahead.”

“H-how, from such a small pocket…?”

“It’s a secret.”

I smoothly bypassed the confused girl’s question.

To prevent further inquiries, I grabbed the defenseless girl’s arm.

“Eep…?”

“Please bear with me for a moment. I want to secure it so it doesn’t get worse.”

I unrolled the bandage and wrapped it around her wrist myself.

Though Lezia seemed surprised at first, she soon accepted the gentle touch.

“Th-thank you… It seems like I’ve been receiving help from you since we first met.”

“Please don’t feel burdened.”

“But…”

“I’m more than pleased just to have been of help to Lezia.”

“Pardon…?”

Oh dear. Did I speak too much out of nostalgia?

Lezia floated a few question marks above her head.

The pink-haired girl tilted her head and carefully parted her lips.

“Do you perhaps know me, young master?”

“Hmm?”

“Ah, no… you just seem to treat me so familiarly…”

Following that came another troublesome question.

How should I explain this?

As I was just giving a meaningless smile, what rescued me from the situation was a deep voice from behind.

“Judas Snakus. You’re next.”

It was the teaching assistant supervising the entrance exam.

He nodded his pen a few times while holding the list of applicants, then gave me a brief glance.

“Please follow the guidance to the exam room.”

“Ah~ Of course! I’ll go right away!”

Since it was an opportunity to avoid answering, I stood up with my hand raised high.

Nice timing.

“It’s my turn. I’ll be back after taking the exam.”

“Uh, uhh… Y-yes! Good luck with the exam…!”

“Haha! I’m glad you’re rooting for me!”

I’ll be back!

With that final line, I moved towards the exam room.

***

I entered the exam room with a pounding heart.

I was filled with anticipation.

Gallimar Academy, the continent’s premier educational institution and the setting of the original work.

What interesting things would happen?

As befitting a prestigious institution, the entrance exam would be innovative and interesting, right?

“Please attack the target here.”

However, it didn’t take long for those expectations to be shattered.

I asked the assistant with a blank expression:

“By target, do you mean… that very small, precious, and adorable doll standing in front?”

“That’s correct.”

“Good grief…”

I exhaled in disappointment.

In the direction of my gaze, there was only a scarecrow-like doll placed.

I had hoped for something more spectacular.

“I believe you know how the scores are measured.”

I don’t.

“We’ve been broadcasting with magical tools so that the people in the waiting area can see other applicants’ exams.”

I was too busy chatting with our protagonist to see.

“I wish you luck.”

Damn it, really.

I couldn’t give such responses to the assistant who was grading.

I guess I’ll just adjust and hit it.

If I had known this, I should have listened to the instructions properly…

‘…Sigh.’

Belated regret was of no use.

Accepting the cruel reality, I took a stance while inwardly holding back tears.

It was a stance for casting magic.

‘The output of the magic should be… just enough to get a mid-tier rank, I guess?’

I quietly examined the target.

As expected, it wasn’t an ordinary doll.

Various magical structures for defense, absorption, calculation, and more were woven beyond the fabric.

So it does live up to the name of “the best,” huh?

‘I need to be careful… not to get caught.’

I had no intention of taking the top spot.

A position that attracts a lot of attention comes with corresponding annoyances.

I was declining.

I wouldn’t do it even if they offered it.

‘Just enough not to break the doll.’

With that small self-talk, I pointed my finger.

A finger gun made by extending the thumb and index finger.

As I concentrated mana at the fingertip, it wove into a jet-black bullet.

“Bang.”

Pssh-!

With a sound like air escaping, darkness was discharged.

A fragment flying rapidly.

The next moment, it touched the target’s forehead.

Puk-!

The shadow struck the defensive magic formula fiercely.

The fiercely rotating bullet seemed to pierce through the bridge of the nose, but soon began to lose power.

Though it might look shabby on the outside, it was essentially an entrance exam prepared by the academy.

It wouldn’t allow easy penetration.

In the end, the mana bullet scattered without leaving even a single mark.

Crash…!

The doll, which had been standing still, fell due to the recoil.

I examined the target sprawled on the floor.

‘This should be good enough, right?’

The doll wasn’t damaged, and the magic I cast wasn’t particularly flashy.

There was nothing to draw attention.

Just about the academy’s average output.

It was a perfectly clean control, even by my own assessment.

“Wow~ Controlling power is really difficult.”

I muttered so that it wouldn’t be heard.

With a satisfied smile, I dusted off my hand where mana residue remained.

Good.

According to plan.

“Hehe, maybe I’ll go watch Lezia’s exam when I’m done.”

…At that time, I had no idea.

That the academy’s faculty members and professors watching through magical tools were being turned upside down by my exam.