Chapter 62: Irene Windler Is a Villainess?! (5)

The new revelation completely shocked Lee Han.

Contrary to his expectations, Chick Number 2 was actually a villain of the story.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that this was the most surprising thing he had heard this entire year. As a proof, he was completely taken aback by this.

If it was anyone else, he could understand, but…

That sunfish…is a mid-boss…?

The part that actually surprised him the most was the revelation that she was a mid-boss.

Someone who could just die in one hit was a mid-boss.

He could come up with a lot of ways to assassinate her in normal ways—he didn’t even need to show his prowess as a knight.

Where would you get to fight her anyway…?

Like, during an event or something? Is she an event boss?

Well, you could make good events involving magic freaks, like farming them for drops…

Lee Han’s expression turned bizarre as he was racking his brain while slandering the magic freaks in his head.

“E-Excuse me…”

Seeing the change in his expression, the status window guy became extremely flustered. He probably thought that his remarks could easily be taken as slanders towards the young lady, so he quickly added something as an explanation.

“T-That was a story from a long time ago, I-I probably misjudged her. P-Please don’t take my words to heart…”

“When you put it like that, it just sounds like you’re purposely slandering her.”

“…I-I’m sorry.”

Although, no matter what he said at this point, he thought that he had already planted a seed of suspicion in Lee Han’s heart. Thinking that he screwed up badly, a sad expression appeared on his face. Contrary to what he thought though, Lee Han actually didn’t care much about that as he was just happy that he got to learn something new.

…Now that I think about it, the situation is a little funny.

This Status Window Guy doesn’t know that Chick Number 2 is a transmigrator, does he?

But, why did her name come out?

Is it because he realized that the current sunfish and the one that he knows are different people? But, he has that ‘Status’ skill, a cheat skill. Why couldn’t he be certain that something about her has changed?

Two possibilities appeared in Lee Han’s mind.

Is it because the skill’s performance is worse than I expected? Or is it because the skill just has a long cooldown?

Whatever it is, it’s probably some kind of balancing thingy. The skill is too OP, so it has some major restrictions on it, or an extremely long cooldown. If that’s the case, it makes sense that he doesn’t know the true identity of Chick Number 2.

Yeah, that’s probably it.

If that’s the case, does that mean that this guy came to me before confirming the identity of the regressor or the transmigator?

What a funny guy…

I’m just an instructor, why the hell did he waste that precious skill on me?

The chick and that arrogant black-haired young master are also the same. Seriously…

Everyone around me is a weirdo.

After that, the Q&A session between Lee Han and Derrick continued.

“W-What about Young Master Roen…?”

“We first met at the Academy, we had no connection to each other whatsoever before that.”

“I-I see.”

“Why are you asking about him? Did you know that arrogant black-haired young master?”

“…H-He’s the son of the archduke, i-is it okay to call him that?”

“What? I called an arrogant guy arrogant. What else should I call him anyway?”

“U-Um…”

Derrick scratched his cheek, shaking his head. He wanted to say that Roen wasn’t someone who should be considered lightly.

Nevertheless…

“…Young Master Roen I knew would stay in the north during this period of time. After all, this is an important period for him if he still wants to become the true successor of the archduke.”

The status window guy still continued his explanation.

“Despite him being not only the youngest son, but also an illegitimate child?”

“That sort of thing doesn’t matter to the Lionels. They only care about one’s bloodline and noble soul. Everyone who meets those criterias, has the right to become their successor. That’s why the north is currently in the middle of a political struggle over the position. However, since Young Master Roen stayed in the central…it’s like him declaring that he has stepped down from the power struggle…”

“Guess we’ll find out how that turns out later.”

“…He’s still the heir of the archduke… Aren’t you taking this matter way too lightly…?”

“Well, let’s put it this way. He’s strong, that’s for sure, but if he just lets his position as the successor be taken away by others, then he’s simply not worthy of it in the first place.”

“T-That’s a rather merciless way of putting it…”

“Nah, I’m just stating the truth. Also, why are you so interested in other people’s business? It isn’t like it’s related to you or anything, no?”

“…N-Not really, I-I just feel bad about it…”

“Feel bad about what exactly?”

“T-That…”

“Hahaha, I was kidding. No need to tell me.”

“…O-Okay…”

Judging from his reaction, it seems like the black-haired young master is supposed to be the one who’ll become the next Archduke of the North.

In short, according to the original settings of this world, the chick is supposed to be a villainess, while the young master is supposed to be the future archduke. But, the plot changed due to some problem that happened somewhere.

Through Derrick’s reaction and the information he had given so far, Lee Han roughly organized everything that he received in his own way. This revealed a lot of facts.

The chick isn’t originally a transmigrator and the regressor also isn’t originally a regressor.

There are discrepancies between the information this guy gave me and the truth that’s happening in this world, but that doesn’t mean the world is completely different from what he knows…

Huh, isn’t this…

That multiverse thingy people have been talking about…?

Lee Han had seen this kind of theme in a lot of movies. It would definitely make the plot more interesting, and this would definitely garner people’s interest the moment they heard it, but…

I guess that sort of thing could happen, huh?

It wasn’t the case with Lee Han.

The reason why he tried to get information from this guy in the first place was to find out how much more troublesome incidents would occur in the future, not to find out more about the multiverse or whatnot.

“Alright, let’s go then.”

“…Sorry?”

“The debate’s going to end soon. What good will it do for us to talk more?”

“…”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“…A-Aren’t you going to ask me…?”

“Ask you what?”

“…”

…Hearing that, a confused expression appeared on the status window guy’s face.

…What’s with this person…?

They talked about a lot of things, that was for sure.

Their conversation was supposed to be in a Q&A format, but Derrick felt that it was more like a normal conversation where they just spoke honestly to each other rather than an actual Q&A. Moreover, it was him who kept on talking.

He just listened to me without making a lot of fuss…

In fact, during the conversation, Lee Han didn’t ask him questions that were of importance.

Most of the time, he only teased him with questions like, ‘Are you dating that Purple Doll?’, or ‘You’ve learned some Combat Techniques, why did you join the History Department instead of the Swordsmanship Department?’.

In other words, questions that Derrick could answer at any time.

It felt like the man was a friendly neighborhood older brother that was trying to give advice to him.

…I even asked him some serious questions, yet all he asked me were those strange questions…

But still, why did I bring up Prince Roen and Irene Windler to him…?

I also said a few things about the temple and my own skill…

…What was wrong with me…?

Also, all those questions sound suspicious…

Anyone could tell that I’m a suspicious guy after hearing those questions…

But, the strangest thing is…

He never looked at me strangely, or suspected me even once…

Indeed, the person in front of him was extremely strange. He only listened to his story earnestly the whole time, nodding his head a few times.

There was no sign of him casting his suspicion on Derrick at all.

Even after Derrick went out of his way to mention the duke’s daughter’s name, and brought up the powerful archduke’s successor. The man never once took his words as slander or worse, part of a devious plot.

And this was why he felt at loss.

Why did this man listen to a complete stranger like me so earnestly like that…?

He’s also so friendly to me for no reason…

It feels like he’s just trying to listen to me venting…

Regardless of what he was feeling, it was a fact that Derrick had revealed more things than he expected—perhaps even things that he shouldn’t have revealed in the first place. It wasn’t strange if the whole Knight Order were to storm into his room and arrest him tomorrow since even he himself knew that he was suspicious.

But, rather than feeling afraid of that possibility, he felt relieved. Because he was finally able to open up to someone about his true feelings, and about things he had never been able to tell anyone before.

…And that was precisely why he wanted to ask this question to this man.

“Is there anything else you want to ask me…? I-I’m sure that you found me suspicious… B-But, why didn’t you say anything about it? I-I kept spouting strange things, a-and…”

Derrick was about to continue his words, but…

“Did you lie to me?”

“…Sorry?”

“Were there any lies in your words? Did you approach me to cause me harm?”

“A-Ah, n-no! I-I wasn’t lying, and I-I didn’t want to cause you harm!”

Derrick answered in a hurry, but he…

“Then, that’s enough for me. I, too, think that there were no lies in your answers.”

“…”

“I guess you didn’t understand that, huh? Alright, I’ll elaborate. This is also something that I’ve told that arrogant black-haired guy you’re obsessed with. You see, people shouldn’t live with too much curiosity. Sometimes, it’s a ‘monster’ that’s scarier than all kinds of poison.”

“M-Monster…”

“Also, this is my advice to you specifically. You’re living your life too complicatedly. Stop that.”

“?”

“I don’t know what’s going on in your life, and I don’t know what you’re hiding. What I know is that if you keep living like that, your life will be filled with unending problems. Just live a simple life, that’s how you improve your quality of life. Don’t bother living complicatedly, there’s no point in doing that.”

“…”

“I’ll say it again. Try to live a simple life, don’t risk your life on trivial things. Like what happened just now for example. In my eyes, I just met a unique and interesting cadet, and I had a talk with him.”

“…”

“And that’s all there is to it.”

“…Huh?”

Hearing that advice that sounded like a long speech, Derrick was left dumbfounded.

Isn’t that…

“…Are you telling me to live like an idiot?”

He is telling me to just avoid any difficult things in my life…!

The moment Derrick was about to argue back like that.

“That way, you can live a happy life.”

“…”

…He was struck speechless.

The man’s bright smile that he saw for a moment looked incredibly refreshing, and…

Ah…

This man simply doesn’t care about what other people think… Instead, he just lives his life confidently…

Enviable.

I want to live like that too…

Such a carefree attitude towards life was something that Derrick never had, and it left a deep impression on him.

…I probably talked too much…

“Ahem…”

Lee Han coughed repeatedly, realizing that he had said something quite embarrassing out loud.

Then again, it couldn’t help it. He saw this young man living a complicated life because of this fucked up world, he felt that he should say all those things to him.

Haaa… Is it because I’m an instructor…?

He wasn’t even a real educator, but he ended up spouting a lot of things unconsciously.

In his eyes, it was obvious that the status window guy was a young boy who had just started his social life. Chances were he got bullied a lot throughout his life. Especially because of his awkward way of speech, he probably suffered through more things than others.

When he realized that, he had the strange urge to act nosy. He started acting like a senior colleague at work who had nothing but regrets in his life, giving useless advice while reminiscing about the things that he lost with alcohol in his hands.

Is it because I saw my past self in him?

…I mean, he’s exactly how I used to be.

Back in his previous life…

After his grandfather passed away, Lee Han became an orphan. From then on, his life turned unstable, and he had to live from paycheck to paycheck. In the end, he decided to join the military where he was pushed around by his superiors and ended up dying young.

This was probably why he ‘sympathized’ with the young guy.

Although, he didn’t regret his past life. After all, he had no choice but to live like that.

His sympathy was genuine though.

Living a life that he couldn’t control as he had to live while considering what other people thought about him. A complicated life that was filled with suffering without knowing what happiness felt like. Such was the life that he once lived.

I hope this young guy doesn’t end up like that.

There was a good chance that this young junior might come from the same place as him. And just like him, he was probably swayed by other people a lot, and was currently living a complicated life. As someone who was more experienced in that regard, he felt like it was his duty to give him some advice.

And he hoped that it would spark a change in his heart.

A positive change.

“…I’m sorry, I ended up acting like an old fart.”

“I-It’s fine, your words made me feel better.”

“You don’t need to lie, I know it isn’t the case.”

“I-I’m not lying…”

“Stop with the flattery. Also, shouldn’t you get going quickly? The Purple Doll is waiting for you.”

“Ummm…”

Before the status window guy realized it, the debate was already over. People were flocking to the girl who had done an amazing job as they handed her bouquets of flowers. Strangely enough, her gaze was fixed on the status window guy.

Although he had denied that there was something going on between the two, it was clear that their relationship was more than ordinary friends.

“…T-That’s not true.”

“Okay, I’ll just think of her as your fling then.”

“Ugh…!”

“Fine, I’ll stop teasing you. Go to her quickly, you don’t want her to chew on you later.”

“…Yes.”

The Status Window Guy stood up and trudged away, just like a husband who couldn’t go against his wife. Seeing him already acting like this at this point in his relationship, Lee Han couldn’t help but feel sorry about his future.

…No, wait, won’t my future be bleaker than his?

At that moment…

The guy suddenly paused.

“…Instructor.”

“Why are you still here?”

“T-There’s something I need to tell you.”

“What?”

“I-I know that it might sound strange to you, b-but I feel like I should tell you… O-On the last day of the exam, a real ‘Man-Eater’ will appear… P-Please be careful…”

“…”

“I-I’ll go now.”

“…”

After saying that, the guy ran away in a hurry.

He probably thought that he had said something useless, but from his expression, it was clear that he had no regrets. Rather, he seemed refreshed, as if he had declared something that he had never told anyone.

On the contrary.

“…You brat, you can’t just drop a bombshell like that at the end…”

The last day of the exam…

That day should be…

“My kids’ exam day, huh…?”

Realizing that he was unlucky enough to get caught up in yet another trouble, Lee Han’s expression crumpled.