episode_0002

Leaving Ayla behind, I entered the academy classroom building and headed towards my class, the ‘royal class.’

The Royal Class is a class where talented students selected under the king’s evaluation can attend. In this class are Shiye, who is me now, the protagonist Kara, and the hoopee house candidates Ayla, Lulu, and Rachel.

Although there are protagonist hoopee house characters in the class, I am only interested in Lulu and Rachel for now since I don’t pay attention to women who have already undergone hoopee.

However, it doesn’t mean I neglect my relationship with Ayla. I will continue to maintain the hoopee.

“Let’s go in…”

Wearing the Royal Class exclusive hat in front of the Royal Class, I entered the classroom.

Even though I entered, the bustling atmosphere of the class did not subside.

It probably means my presence was faint. In the original work, Shiye was not such an insignificant character, but insisting on the hoopee made my presence naturally diminish.

Instead of building relationships with other students, I simply ignored them, even during special events, so it’s natural that I didn’t stand out.

Apologies to the attention-seeking Shiye, but I am not one. My only focus is to make the hoopee happen.

-Creak.

I took out a chair, sat down, and gazed out the window with my chin resting on my hand.

Looking at the window always calmed my excited mind.

Seeing the beautiful sky blue sky and drifting clouds made me feel at ease.

“Hey! What are you doing?”

As I absentmindedly stared out the window, someone suddenly placed their hand on my chin.

With such a high tone and a cute voice, the person with small hands and a gentle touch is only one.

“Lulu, what’s up?”

One of the main characters, ‘Lulu.’

In the original work, Lulu and Shiye clashed due to differing opinions, but since I possessed her, that was no longer the case.

I turned their negative relationship into a positive one by always supporting Lulu’s opinions and getting along with her.

The reason I became close to Lulu is simple.

Lulu couldn’t agree to violence as a means to achieve the hoopee.

Despite the conflict with Shiye in the original work, Lulu never resorted to violence. When she felt bad, she sought help from teachers to discipline the person instead of resorting to physical harm.

And if you ask whether Lulu is weak… No.

Lulu is a genius with exceptional magical talent. Even with such strength, she humbly submits to the teachers because she once committed ‘murder.’

-Poke.

“Why is your ear twitching so cutely?”

Lulu’s appearance is literally that of a beastkin, a cat-like beastkin.

She had killed a human woman when the red moon, triggering her ‘rampage,’ appeared three years ago during a lunar eclipse.

Due to this trauma, although she could build social relationships, she never resorted to violence or harming others.

She fears she might kill someone again with her own hands.

Therefore, Lulu believes that violence-induced hoopee is unlikely to succeed.

She is a tough nut to crack. However, I, Shiye, am not someone lacking the determination to give up just because of that.

“Hehe~ I’m quite cute, aren’t I? But… Kara doesn’t understand my feelings… Even when such a cute girl like me approaches! She should definitely notice me!”

“Kidnapping… That’s a bit extreme, isn’t it? Are you saying Lulu can’t have a child with Carla if she kidnaps?”

“Oh, I see.”

Lulu seemed to realize something and chuckled before resting her chin on my shoulder.

This was something Lulu did automatically as we grew closer, but she didn’t harbor any particular affection for me. She simply saw me as a friend, not romantically interested.

Well… I felt the same way, but I just complimented her cuteness out of courtesy.

“What are you looking at?”

“The sky.”

“The sky~? What do you like about looking at the sky?”

“…It calms my heart.”

“I see…”

Seemingly uninterested now, Lulu moved away from me and sat down next to Carla.

She’s truly a difficult character to figure out… Due to trauma, it’s hard to provoke her with violence, and she doesn’t engage in wrongdoing either.

Lulu naturally has a good personality and doesn’t resort to things like finishing a mission and then receiving less pay. She doesn’t even do menial tasks.

Instances of provocation usually stem from the faults of the target, but Lulu seems unlikely to commit any wrongdoings.

That’s why I’m currently aiming for the “Red Moon” that will appear soon.

Targeting the aftermath of frenzy.

Well, there are some build-ups that need to be done first, though.

-Thud.

The door opened quickly.

As I turned my head, I saw Ayla entering with a mud-stained outfit and a desolate look in her eyes.

“Oh, why do you have to get me all worked up like this…!”

My excitement was fading as I gazed at the sky, but Ayla’s arrival reignited it.

That expression… It’s driving me crazy. Look at how she quickly turns her head as if searching for me as soon as she enters. That’s obsession.

“Oh…! S-Sir…!”

Ayla, not giving up even after her recent kick, rushed towards me again desperately.

She’s intense, really fierce. Well… maybe that’s what makes her appealing.

“Hey hey! Where are you going, Ayla! Friends should greet each other! Why is your clothes so dirty? Did something happen?”

The person blocking Ayla’s path was none other than the petite Lulu.

Ayla and Lulu. They were very close, often playing pranks on each other.

But Lulu… Her actions were malicious.

Because, to Ayla right now, Lulu is…

“Lulu, move aside.”

The fox who stole her beloved man.

Yet, perhaps due to past connections, Ayla refrained from assaulting Lulu immediately and simply asked her to move aside.

Unaware of Ayla’s feelings, Lulu obliviously continued to block Ayla’s path.

“Hey! Why do you keep blocking me, Ayla! Why are you so gloomy? Ugh…”

-Slap!

“Move!”

Ayla exploded in anger at Lulu’s actions, unleashing the rage she had been holding back.

Simultaneously releasing her pent-up anger, Ayla slapped Lulu across the face.

Ayla’s expression was no longer one of guilt, as seen before, but rather filled with anger, irritation, and hatred.

Her red eyes seemed more emphasized than her white hair. While Ayla’s white hair used to be symbolic, now her bloodshot eyes seemed to represent something more.

Eyes so intense and bloodshot that they could pass for a killer’s.

Anyone seeing her would think she was a real murderer.

“…Huh?”

Caught off guard by Ayla suddenly slapping her own cheek with the dagger, Lulu looked at Ayla in shock.

However, Ayla felt no remorse.

Instead, she probably viewed herself as a fox who had stolen her man.

As Lulu touched her own cheek in confusion, Ayla approached me.

Seemingly delighted to have completely forgotten the earlier incident, she came towards me with a happy smile.

Truly, she’s someone who doesn’t learn. If I rejected her that much, she should give up… Why does she keep clinging like this?

Well, it turned out well since this is what I wanted.

“S-Sir, Sirain…! I’m sorry…! I’m so sorry…! So please, just once…! I-I did everything wrong…! Anything, anything, I’ll do it, please…!”

Ayla, abandoning her pride, knelt down and desperately begged, clutching the hem of my clothes.

Her current state of mind must not be normal.

Driven by regret and exhaustion-induced mental instability, coupled with my continuous rejections, her obsession was driving her towards madness.

There was no way her mental state could be considered normal.

The stares of other students were directed at me.

Ayla, ranked as one of the top three beauties in the academy, a pretty girl whom many desire to marry, holds the second spot.

The first spot belongs to Lulu.

Literally the idol of the academy, she was now clinging to me, tears streaming down her face, calling out to me desperately.

But… I’m not into this kind of thing.

I prefer peace, not receiving jealous glares from others.

Receiving jealousy from those who are not even my targets of interest is just not my thing.

However, Ayla’s jealousy is welcomed.

It’s the best… Jealousy from someone I’m interested in is very much welcomed.

I want to embrace her right away, but I resist. I don’t want to end this peace.

“Well, let’s handle this for now.”

Suppressing my quickly rising excitement with a poker face, I smiled faintly at Ayla.

Seeing my smile, Ayla forgave me? She mirrored my expression and smiled brightly with me.

– Thud!

“Ugh…!”

“Didn’t I tell you to back off? Couldn’t you hear me, Ayla? I didn’t know you enjoyed being hit like this… Maybe you’re a masochist?”

I immediately changed Ayla’s bright smile to a distorted expression.

After precisely kicking Ayla’s abdomen, I stood up and grabbed her hair as she tried to grab my clothes again, whispering softly.

“Ayla, I’ll say it again. Back off. My affections lie elsewhere now, and you’ve simply lost your chance.”

Having said that, I pushed Ayla away and sat back upright.

“Hey, Sirain! What are you doing right now? Why are you hitting Ayla?! You son of a b****…!”

Karla, who was sitting there, witnessed my assault accurately, losing her composure and throwing punches at me.

Yes, she’s lost her composure.

For Karla, Ayla is like a savior. The only person who reached out to her when she was alone is Ayla.

Seeing Ayla desperately begging while being hit in the abdomen, it’s natural for her to lose her composure.

– Swish!

Karla’s quick punch comes at me.

Indeed, the protagonist is the protagonist. It’s at a speed invisible to my eyes. I could easily block Karla’s attack by using skills.

However, I choose not to retaliate in any way.

– Thud!

I just take the blow without defending against it.

The reason I didn’t block the attack was very simple.

I just wanted to check Ayla’s jealousy level.

“Hey. You beat me before, now it’s Ayla’s turn? Are you trash?”

Karla slapped my cheek with her fist, then approached Ayla, who was looking at me with eyes filled with despair, and asked about her condition.

But Karla, you shouldn’t go near her, right?

– Thud!!

“You piece of s***!!”

She’s currently mentally unstable.

I saw Kara’s face filled with anger through my eyes, Ayla punched Kara’s face with her fist.

Hmm… That’s a bit out of character for me.

Although Ayla hit me, it was intentional on my part, not what Kara intended.

Just think of Kara as a sacrificial lamb.

“Ah, Ayla… Why are you suddenly acting like this?”

“Shiela… Are you okay? Where… where did you get hit?”

Ayla approached me, who was sitting behind Kara on the floor, and gently touched my face that she had hit.

Hmm… I’m not feeling great.

The obsession seems to remain, but the regret and weariness are fading away.

Does she think I’ll apologize if she does that? That would be a big mistake. I have absolutely no intention of accepting Ayla’s apology.

Because if I do, the sacrificial lamb game will be over.

“Ayla, that’s a bit hypocritical. You also hit me, didn’t you? Isn’t that right? Besides, I’ve hit Kara before, isn’t it self-defense? Ayla, apologize.”

“W-what do you mean…”

“Bow your head and apologize.”

“T-to Kara?”

“Yes.”

-Chuckle.

I chuckled as if agreeing with Ayla’s question.

Current Ayla would do anything to receive an apology from me.

Look at that, turning around to bow to Kara, who is sitting behind us. It’s getting me really excited.

While the obsession in the game is quite strong, the weariness is gradually returning.

-Ding~dong~ding~dong!

Just as Ayla was about to bow to Kara, the sound of the class starting rang out.

I clicked my tongue as if disappointed when I heard the sound.

“Ayla, just don’t. It’s class time.”

Ayla, hesitating, listened to me and immediately returned to her seat.

Look at her, so indecisive. She probably thinks I won’t accept her apology at all.

She must be wondering how she can get me to accept the apology. But what should I do? I have no intention of accepting apologies no matter what happens.

The game is getting exciting!

-Thud.

“Long time no see. Haven’t seen you in a while due to missions. So… shall we take attendance after a long time?”

As I was getting excited, someone entered the front door of the Royal Class.

It was none other than Silin Forlos, the professor of this academy and the homeroom teacher of this Royal Class.

Although she is a woman and doesn’t play the game, I just want to see the heroine of the game not playing the game. I’m not some weirdo who just wants to see the game being played.

I have no idea how to make her play the game properly in the first place.

While Luluna, Rachel, Ayla, each has their own flaws making it possible somehow, Silin Forlos doesn’t seem to have any flaws.

Therefore, I gave up on making her the heroine of the game, even though she’s not playing.

There’s no solution.

As Silin Forlos was taking attendance, I saw the confused Ayla, the bewildered Lulu, and Kara looking at Ayla with a puzzled expression.

The sudden change in Ayla has already affected two people.

Lulu was confused, and Kara was shocked.

It’s strange that a friend who was friendly until yesterday suddenly assaults them, kneels down to apologize to someone like me whom they weren’t even close to… Of course, it’s weird.

Well, it’s none of my business.

My concern is with the confused Lulu over there.

The time for the Red Moon to reappear is next week… and next week is the day the inter-class battle begins.

To make Lulu play the game, I need to use hysteria well.

However, if Lulu uses that wide-area spell where there’s no one around, I’ll have to wait for several more years.

So, next week, on the day of the inter-school competition. An event held in the evening at the kingdom. I will attend the social gathering with Lulu.

After convincing Karla to come along, we’re going together.

Then… I also practiced removing the curtains that would obstruct the view of the red moon from the window using a fire magic spell.

Although Shirine struggled a bit because she didn’t have a talent for fire magic, she succeeded now.

The preparations are perfect.

Now… time will reveal everything.

“Haha…!”

I couldn’t help but laugh wickedly more than usual at the fact that I could manipulate Lulu, so I suppressed my excitement by clenching my jaw and looked out the window.

Hmm… calming down. And refreshing…