Ch.61EP.17 – Is Irene Windler a Villainess? (4)

While checking Ihan’s ridiculous stats, the status window couldn’t hide its shock, but unlike Derrick, Ihan faced him rather calmly.

‘I figured I might meet you sooner or later.’

Ihan wasn’t particularly surprised by the sudden appearance of the status window.

Honestly, he had always believed they would meet eventually, sooner or later.

And as predicted, he met the status window, and Ihan’s impression was:

‘That’s quite a strong character.’

The returner guy was like a typical youngest son of a northern duke.

Just as the female lead who possessed someone in a romance fantasy novel typically had secrets about her birth and special talents.

The main characters he had met each had personalities fitting their roles.

But in the case of this status window, whether reincarnated or possessing someone…

‘What a gloomy fellow.’

Wasn’t he deeply steeped in melancholy?

This too seemed like a refreshing character.

‘He’s quite the shy one.’

More precisely, he found it burdensome to deal with others.

The evidence being:

“Th-that, well, I…”

When Ihan spoke first, the other stuttered and buffered in panic.

A typical loner outsider type.

Others might find him frustrating or misunderstand him, but:

‘It’s not like I haven’t dealt with guys like this before.’

So he just accepted it.

In his previous life as a career soldier for 10 years, he had encountered well over a thousand socially maladjusted individuals.

Too much of an exaggeration, you say?

He wished it were a joke.

‘At least this type tends to be docile, unlike those idiots who spout nonsense beliefs and engage in petty politics.’

So Ihan quietly waited for him to speak.

Loner types might speak slowly, but they answer sincerely if you wait patiently without getting angry or raising your voice.

Sure enough, as if rewarding Ihan’s patience:

“D-did you know that I, I deliberately approached you?”

“Hard not to know.”

“…I really came secretly though.”

“Your footsteps were quiet, to the point I couldn’t even sense your presence.”

“…Yet you still knew.”

“I have sharp instincts.”

“C-certainly… It seems so.”

“Hmm.”

“!”

When Ihan gave him a meaningful look, the guy flinched like a squirrel caught stealing food.

A look that seemed to say ‘I know what you did’ while seeing through him.

And as expected:

‘This guy probably saw my status window.’

Ihan had already guessed what the status window had done.

So:

“So, was your observation interesting?”

“!!?”

“Don’t do that again. Isn’t it rude to do such things when meeting someone for the first time?”

“Th-that…”

“Your answer.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“I’ll let it slide since you apologized honestly.”

“……”

“Here, take this towel and wipe your sweat.”

“……”

The status window flinched every time he spoke, and Ihan couldn’t help but smirk.

Though they hadn’t properly conversed yet, seeing how he apologized properly and his reactions were genuine:

‘He doesn’t seem like a bad guy.’

Click.

Thinking there was no need to gouge out his eyes, Ihan slipped a knife he had drawn at some point back into his clothes.

‘D-did he just see through my skill?!’

Derrick was astonished.

His heart raced at the thought that for the first time, someone had recognized him using his skill.

However, Derrick believed the other wouldn’t know exactly what he had seen.

‘Th-there was no <Player> trait in his characteristics. That means he’s a resident of this world. S-so he wouldn’t know about the existence of <Status>.’

Why had Derrick approached Ihan today, gambling with his Status skill that could only be used once every three months?

It was to confirm the existence of another player he had always secretly suspected.

He approached to check if the other person had the <Player> trait in their characteristics, which would be evidence they were like him.

So he needed to take the gamble.

The existence of another player could be a variable, and if they were evil, it would be a big problem.

After steeling himself and checking, thankfully there was no ‘Player’ in Ihan’s trait column.

This was evidence that he was a resident of this world, not a player!

Derrick felt both disappointment and relief.

At least for now, he was the only player.

But.

‘I-I’ve been caught?!’

A sharp gaze came just as he was feeling relieved.

Even implying he had sensed his skill…!

It was natural to feel chilled to the bone.

‘N-no, I haven’t been completely exposed.’

But becoming a bit calmer, he thought perhaps the other had detected something strange in his gaze through [Beast’s Instinct] or [Trained Intuition].

With traits of that level, there was concern he might notice the oddness emitted by his skill.

So while the skill itself probably wasn’t exposed:

‘I… I was really in danger.’

It was clearly a dangerous situation.

If this person had attacked immediately upon detecting the anomaly, he would have been “one-shotted” with no way out.

With his specs, he had no way to handle a Lv.7 warrior.

‘He doesn’t seem as violent as I imagined.’

Derrick thought this person might be more rational and intellectual than expected.

Despite sensing the anomalous energy or skill, he didn’t show displeasure and let it slide, but what impressed Derrick most was…

‘He’s being considerate of me.’

He had been bullied and called a stutterer or mute.

Born with slow, awkward speech and an angular personality, others would often raise their voices or get angry at him.

For Derrick, it was an unfair past, and he often wished people would just give him a chance to speak slowly and carefully.

And in Derrick’s life, only two people had ever listened to him patiently from beginning to end.

One was Karin, who was now giving a splendid speech at the center of the debate hall, and the other was…

‘The name, the atmosphere, they’re so similar…’

Someone who had been like a mentor during his hellish two years of military service.

‘He’s a bit like the platoon leader.’

The platoon leader.

He seemed a bit like ‘Sergeant Ihan.’

…Could the platoon leader have reincarnated?

“…Ha.”

‘That’s impossible.’

Even so, the probability of meeting a deceased acquaintance reincarnated in another world was absurd, and Derrick shook his head.

Rather than that, he might meet a returner or someone who possessed another’s body, but such a cliché couldn’t possibly exist.

Derrick denied what even he thought was an utterly absurd imagination.

So now:

‘I should just consider it lucky to have met a good person.’

Derrick slowly opened his mouth toward the ‘good person’ he was meeting for the third time.

* * *

“I-I’m Derrick. First year in the History Department.”

…Amusingly, the status window, that Taejang fellow, had just now revealed his name and affiliation, and Ihan responded with a disinterested expression:

“You reveal that quite quickly.”

“I-I’m sorry…”

“No need to apologize. But History Department, hmm, does the History Department teach martial arts these days?”

“!!?”

“And quite high-level martial arts at that. You’re learning something that only nobles, and high nobles at that, would typically learn.”

“……”

“What’s your family name?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“So you can’t reveal it. You’re becoming more suspicious by the minute.”

“Umm…!”

Taejang swallowed hard and appeared even more dejected.

He seemed to know that having many things he couldn’t reveal naturally breeds distrust in others.

His visible embarrassment and anxiety were evident.

He seemed to be fretting, worried that he might have offended him.

However:

‘He doesn’t seem like a scoundrel though?’

Ihan was already convinced this fellow was the infamous Second Prince scoundrel known only through rumors.

Not just the high-level martial arts, but there was an atmosphere about him similar to his sister.

The unique aura of the Pendragon royalty.

As such, Ihan was certain he was royalty, but for now, he decided to pretend not to know Taejang’s identity.

To avoid showing that he knew more than he should.

Some might argue that applying pressure could yield more information, but:

‘With a guy like this, it’s better to extract information naturally rather than being forceful.’

Ihan had experience extracting information from countless individuals.

While torture and threats were options, they worked on some and not on others.

In that sense, the status window was decidedly the latter.

‘He’ll naturally spill information as we talk.’

Being naive and simple, he’ll reveal everything once his guard is down.

So what Ihan needed to do now was:

“Cadet Derrick.”

“Y-yes?”

“For now, I’ll set aside your suspicious nature.”

“!?!?”

“But you yourself must know how suspicious you appear.”

“Th-that’s…”

“I understand you approached me with some purpose. I’m not threatening you because I didn’t sense any hostility or killing intent, but your suspiciousness is evident.”

“……”

“So I propose we continue our conversation in a question-and-answer format.”

“…Q-question and answer?”

“Let’s take turns asking questions about what we’re curious about. You go first.”

“Th-that.”

“I won’t rush you.”

“……”

…A moment of silence fell.

It was an unexpected proposal, but the status window guy seemed to take it seriously.

Of course, he would be grateful.

Though he might not understand Ihan’s intentions, he was being given an opportunity to gain information.

Thanks solely to Ihan’s consideration, he could achieve his purpose, so it must seem like a stroke of luck.

After Ihan patiently waited for about three minutes:

Suddenly, the guy:

Tap.

“[Silence].”

Whoosh.

“…Oh. You have an interesting skill.”

In an instant, all sound was blocked, and their presence became faint.

Glancing at the maid, Gomsoon, and Chick #2, they were focused solely on the debate, not paying any attention to them.

They seemed completely absorbed in the eloquent speech of the charismatic girl named Karin.

The guy spoke:

“I-it’s not much of a repayment for my apology, but I’ve revealed one of my abilities. I hope this builds some trust…”

“It’s an interesting ability. You called it Silence?”

“…You heard that?”

“I heard it clearly.”

“…It’s good for having private conversations between two people.”

“Not bad.”

Wow, this status window guy, he can’t help but be envious.

This is clearly a “skill.”

One of the abilities he had desperately wanted when recalling his past life.

Ihan swallowed his bitterness while pretending not to know, feeling envious.

If only he had such an ability, wouldn’t his life be better than it is now?

As Ihan was momentarily reminiscing about the past:

“A-are you perhaps affiliated with the temple?”

“…Hmm.”

Finally, a question came, and it felt strangely familiar.

‘The temple again?’

It was similar to what the returner’s subordinate had asked him before.

‘Both the returner’s side and the status window, there’s definitely something about the temple.’

Reaching that conclusion, Ihan shook his head.

“At least I’m not associated with the temple.”

“I-is that so…”

“Ha, why ask such a question if you’re going to doubt me?”

“…Still, you don’t seem like someone who would lie. So I’ll try my best to believe you.”

“I like that answer, Cadet Derrick. As a reward, I’ll allow you one additional question.”

“Th-then, may I ask what your relationship is with Irene Windler?”

“……”

-He took the bait.

As expected, by naturally continuing the conversation, he caught a big fish.

Ihan, hiding his joy, put on a puzzled expression.

“You mean Cadet Irene Windler? Why suddenly ask about our relationship?”

“P-please answer first…”

“Hmm, alright. My relationship with Cadet Irene Windler can be defined as that of a cadet and an instructor.”

“……”

“But to add more, we’re also next-door neighbors.”

“Neighbors…?”

“Exactly as I said. She lives right next to the hut where I live.”

“…Is that true?”

“What would I gain by lying? I’m only speaking the truth right now.”

“Th-then besides that…”

“An acquaintance. That would be the most accurate definition of our relationship.”

“……”

“Now let me ask in return. Why are you curious about my relationship with Cadet Irene? Do you have some grudge against her?”

“N-no, it’s not that, just…”

“Just?”

“Nngh…”

Though he groaned and hesitated to answer, the status window guy was conscientious.

He was the type to answer after being shown such consideration.

He gradually…

“Th-this might sound strange, but the Irene Windler I know wasn’t that kind of person.”

“What do you mean by ‘that kind’?”

“B-bright, smiling, or having that youthful girl-like cheerfulness.”

“Then?”

As soon as Ihan probed:

“V-vicious, evil, jealous, and a dark hand trying to dominate the academy with family and magical power…”

“……”

“…I know her as an evil villainess who would only appear in plays.”

“…Who?”

“Obviously, Lady Irene Windler.”

“…???”

His head turned slightly to look at the girl who was leaning on her maid’s shoulder, chatting amicably.

Her, a villain?

‘…Is this the hidden nature of a spell-caster?’

Though his hatred for spell-casters stirred, he deliberately denied it and shook his head.

At least the Irene Windler he had directly experienced wasn’t as filthy as typical spell-casters.

However:

“…Why did the mid-boss end up like that?”

“……”

…He might claim he was just muttering to himself, but Ihan heard it clearly.

The phrase ‘mid-boss’.

And so Ihan blinked his eyes as he heard the shocking truth about Irene Windler’s identity.

‘What? I thought she was the female lead or heroine of a romance fantasy, but she’s not a female lead or heroine…’

—She was a boss monster?