episode_0012

The headless goblin corpses were so densely packed and scattered that it made one’s stomach turn.

Standing nonchalantly amidst them, Cyan harbored doubts.

“So, leveling up isn’t possible after all….”

It was the same during the griffin battle.

Contrary to expectations that something would change in their bodies after defeating a monster, nothing had happened.

Could it be that a game turned reality is no longer just a game?

Ariel’s game world lacked status screens and level-ups.

Even with pre-possession gaming knowledge, does one need the body’s proficiency to grow accordingly?

“The magical presence has disappeared.”

When the goblin wave suddenly surged, the eerie magic sensation vanished as well.

During the battle, Cyan realized that such abnormal monster attacks weren’t naturally occurring.

Someone orchestrated it, fleeing as soon as things went awry.

The felt magic was alien, and the monsters’ expressions and actions were abnormal.

“But why? The 4th princess is outside the line of succession… Is there a gain in killing her?”

As he pondered this,

“Um, excuse me…!”

Rosaria approached Cyan cautiously, opening her mouth.

With silky red hair and a cute demeanor, she exuded an elegant aura despite her youthful appearance.

Having a refined look that wasn’t apparent during the battle, she lifted the hem of her dress towards Cyan and spoke with a bowed head.

“I would like to express my gratitude first! I am Rosaria Di Violet, the 4th princess of the Violet Imperial Family!”

“Ah.”

Cyan took a step back upon seeing Rosaria.

He had used informal language with Rosaria, whom he had just seen during the battle.

The situation was urgent, and out of habit from his previous possession, he had spoken informally, assuming she resembled his younger sister….

In this current world, he was also young, and Rosaria was a higher noble than him, the 4th princess of the Liana Empire.

Cyan was anxious that his previous informalities might be deemed disrespectful.

“…I am Cyan.”

To avoid drawing attention due to attending the same academy, he didn’t mention his family name.

It could be mistaken for being a commoner.

“Cyan…! You are truly splendid. I am so grateful for your help! If it weren’t for you, we would have been on the verge of losing our precious ones…”

Tears welled up in Rosaria’s eyes.

Until recently, the situation had been truly dire.

His closest cousin and escort knight, Emile, were also in danger, and the ten knights who were guarding them perished.

Even the remaining knights were on the brink of death together, making it a hellish time.

Cyan, who broke through that time, was a hero to her.

Skillfully slaughtering the goblin horde that intruded from somewhere, jumping into the ranks to care for the soldiers, and instantly turning the situation around.

But to Cyan, it was only natural.

If someone is in trouble, you help them.

If you have the strength, helping is natural.

That was his mindset as a member of society.

Moreover, how could a man not help when a person resembling his younger sister was in distress?

Cyan smiled gently at the tearful Rosaria and said,

“I believe it was only right to help. I’m glad I could be of assistance.”

For a moment, he almost reached out to comfort Rosaria but restrained himself.

“I really want to give you a reward… Are you of imperial descent?”

“No. I am from the Brace Principality.”

“Oh! It’s right next door. I must speak highly of the Brace Principality to my father. I won’t forget to mention your name, Cyan!”

“It’s an honor to assist in diplomatic relations.”

“Hehe, and by any chance… do you attend Ariel Academy? Your uniform is similar to mine….”

“Uh….”

Sian was taken aback.

He had forgotten that his uniform was similar to Rosaria’s.

Awkward.

Especially considering his reputation at the academy had plummeted.

More accurately, it was the reputation of the previous Sian before the possession… Nothing good would come from it being known.

There was an option to use Rosaria to overturn his own reputation, but he didn’t want to do that.

He wasn’t someone who cared about reputation, and he hadn’t sought or desired any benefits.

To him, the academy was a place to quietly build strength, graduate quietly, and secure a good job quietly—a kind of life insurance for living quietly.

To live quietly, it was best not to create connections between Rosaria and the academy.

So, Sian changed the subject. To bring up the important topic he wanted to discuss.

“Actually, I think the attack by the demons earlier was intentional.”

“…What?”

“I sensed a strange magical reaction nearby. Didn’t you feel it, Your Highness?”

“Um… I didn’t feel anything…”

“What?”

Sian was puzzled.

‘…You didn’t feel anything?’

It was definitely a chillingly strange magical reaction.

Even in the midst of battle confusion, Rosaria couldn’t have missed such a magical reaction.

‘Did the enemy conceal their magical presence?’

That didn’t make sense either.

Even if they hid their presence, Sian himself felt it.

If Rosaria, who was hailed as a magical genius prodigy in the story, should have felt the magical reaction, then it meant he had a higher level of sensitivity than Rosaria.

Was it his misconception?

No, it wasn’t.

The eerie magical sensation was too real to be a mistake.

With these questions in mind, Rosaria also felt it.

“Is Sian a sword expert?”

“No, not at all. But I definitely felt it. Don’t you think there’s someone with a grudge against them?”

“A person with a grudge…?”

Rosaria pondered, touching her chin with her hand.

Silence lingered for a minute.

Finally, as if she couldn’t recall, Rosaria spoke.

“I don’t think so. It’s unrelated to the royal family… I really can’t think of anyone. One person comes to mind, but… Oh, could it be them?”

As Rosaria seemed lost in thought, Sian wondered whom she was thinking about.

If it wasn’t someone else, it implied they were close to that person.

Apart from Emile, the knight close to Rosaria, no one else came to mind.

Given Rosaria’s status as a princess, she didn’t have many friends… Could it be a family member?

…Family?

Sian suddenly realized.

Family—it struck him.

‘The Third Prince, Gerald…!’

He was the villain from the early heroine quest.

Sian hadn’t paid much attention to the heroine quest and had forgotten about it.

The Third Prince, Gerald. The main villain in the story of Princess Rosaria, the heroine.

He was born from a different mother than Rosaria.

The First Princess, Second Prince, and Third Prince were all children of the same mother.

Among them, only Rosaria, the Fourth Princess, was born from a commoner mother.

Due to her status as a bastard, she was low in the line of succession.

With no established power base, she lacked influence.

Moreover, she seemed disinterested in power.

Hence, they didn’t pay much attention to her. However, the Third Prince, Gerald, was different.

Gerald had no talent in magic.

His skill in swordsmanship was also mediocre.

Compared to the brilliant swordswoman First Princess and the Second Prince, he always felt inferior.

From a young age, he harbored feelings of inferiority and resentment.

In such circumstances, Rosaria, the bastard child, was born with innate magical talent inherited from her father.

How twisted must his feelings have been.

He had openly tormented Rosaria since childhood.

Yet, even amidst such torment, Rosaria had lived on, believing that someday he would open his heart.

“Actually, Gerald wishes Rosaria would disappear from the world… But…”

Seeing Rosaria smiling cluelessly made Cyan feel sorry for her.

But it wasn’t his concern.

Her life would be saved by Ariel’s true protagonist, ‘Cain.’

“…In any case, it seems someone intentionally caused this. It could be someone close to you, so please be cautious.”

“Yes. Thank you for worrying. …I’ve realized it definitively today. Even if I don’t want to inherit, as a princess born for the sake of those around me…”

Rosaria muttered to herself with a determined look in her eyes, perhaps undergoing some change in her mindset.

Leaving Rosaria lost in thought, Cyan looked at the rising sun.

After the fierce battle, it was already dawn.

He wandered outside briefly to train but couldn’t sleep due to exhaustion.

It was almost time for the maids and knights to wake up.

He wanted to return to the carriage quickly to catch up on his lack of sleep.

“Your Highness, I will take my leave now. The maids and my family are waiting.”

“Are you going to the academy? If so, why not come with us?”

“I appreciate your consideration. However, I think I’ll depart early. Your Highness, you should prepare with the knights who were injured and leave slowly.”

Rosaria looked at Emile, the knight still asleep, and the other knights near the carriage applying bandages to their wounds.

She thought it might be difficult to depart immediately as he suggested.

“Well then, at least let me send a messenger…”

“Well then, farewell! I will go first!”

“Oh, wait a moment…!”

Ignoring the princess’s words, Cyan ran off without looking back.

Enhancing his legs with magic, he had already disappeared quickly.

The bewildered princess extended her hand towards the direction he ran, muttering to herself, “I must reward him…”

***

“Where have you been and just returned, you damn fool!”

Upon returning, Sara shouted loudly enough to make one’s ears ring.

The temporary tent they arrived at after rescuing the princess.

Everyone seemed alarmed and searching for me because I had disappeared.

Thus, the atmosphere was chaotic, and as I returned, everyone stared at me wide-eyed.

I had mentioned leaving between morning and afternoon… It wasn’t late.

“I went out for exercise.”

“Exercise? Exerciise??”

Sara looked at me with a face like ‘How should I kill this guy?’

“Do you forget your status? If you suddenly disappear at dawn, isn’t it natural for us to worry and search for you? You should have said where you were going! Are you stupid?! Are you an idiot?!”

“Uh… um….”

Sara uncomfortably pushed her face closer to mine and spoke.

…Listening to Sara, she had a point.

I am currently the son of a duke.

It’s natural to be surprised if I suddenly disappear.

No matter how urgent the situation was, I should have informed them before leaving.

“Sorry… I was short-sighted. Sister.”

“Your thoughts were always short-!”

Sara puffed up her cheeks and pressed her forehead against mine, showing her dominance.

I could feel her breath close to me.

What, what is this… Why do I feel so uneasy today….

“…Are you worried by any chance?”

“W-Whaaat?! Ugh!”

Thwack!

“Ow! Why did you hit me?!”

“Do you think I’d worry about a good-for-nothing like you! Just die!”

After that, Sara turned around and walked back into the carriage.

…She really has a temper.

It’s clear she dislikes me. What worry… I must have been out of my mind for a moment.

I shouldn’t even cross paths with her when I go to the academy.

*

After giving Cyan a hard time, Sara muttered as she walked towards the carriage.

“That crazy guy… disappearing suddenly and scaring people.”

Sara was inwardly surprised when she saw Cyan drenched in sweat earlier.

How intense must the workout have been for him to be soaked like that?

She had some inkling that Cyan’s behavior had changed recently.

“Damn chubby fool.”

In truth, Cyan had lost a lot of weight, so teasing him as a chubby fool didn’t really work anymore.

Has he truly decided to stop his foolish antics now?

…No. People don’t change easily.

She thought it unlikely that her brother, who had lived like a fool for ten years, would suddenly change.

People don’t change easily. She thought she needed to watch his future actions closely.

Following that, Sara recalled what Cyan had said before.

“…Are you worried by any chance?”

Crazy. Who would worry about him?

Sara stared at Cyan, her brother who was changing like a sworn enemy while changing clothes.

And then, a brief silence.

“…Ha.”

After letting out a sigh, Sara seemed to mutter something quietly.