episode_0016

Astounding.

To see ‘that’ Elise shedding tears so easily.

In the game, Elise never shed a single tear no matter what adversity she faced.

No, that expression doesn’t seem right.

There were no tears left to shed for Elise.

With the sudden appearance of the Orc army, the allied forces being overwhelmed, the citizens and knights dying before her eyes, her family—losing everything in an instant, Elise spent seven days and nights in tears, yet there were no tears left for her to shed.

Her main story was about helping her seek revenge, finding genuine smiles and tears for her, after losing everything and spending her days in tears.

Elise, who used to repay vengeance, reach maximum affinity, and complete various side quests before shedding a tear and thanking others with a smile, was like that.

“Sniff… Really… Sniff….”

It was truly astonishing.

Well, it’s understandable.

She hasn’t lost anything now.

Just a 14-year-old girl who will be entering the academy early next year.

Being from a knightly family, she must have learned swordsmanship, but her home was a harmonious place filled with love.

Even if she shed tears, there would have been no one to wipe them away or console her.

Struggling to hold back a smile at the sight of Elise crying uncontrollably, a different side of her from the main story, the girl who used to console Elise approached me and asked, “…So, who are you really?”

With her distinctive short white hair and emerald eyes, I hesitated for a moment before asking in return, “And who might you be?”

Despite my somewhat sarcastic tone that could have been taken as ‘That arrogant brat is insane,’ in social circles, the girl paused for a moment, then clasped her hands together and said to me, “Certainly, introductions should come first. I am Leiana Run Noisden, the youngest of Noisden.”

I was taken aback by the bombshell information that caught my attention more than the handshake.

The youngest of Noisden…?

Wait, you’re a girl..???

I was so stunned that I struggled to come up with a response, eventually recalling a line from a conversation I had shared with Gumsung, “You know it well too.”

“Oh, the toothpaste killer, right.”

In my out-of-place response, Leiana, who had been polite until then, widened her eyes and swung her fist at me.

“Mint isn’t toothpaste!!”

【Pairing】

Half-distracted, I managed to dodge Leiana’s punch demanding cancellation, enduring her attacks until my arm broke as a consequence of my weak physique.

…

The endless exchange of punches and dodges continued until the sound of my arm breaking startled Leiana into stopping.

Have I regained my senses then?

No! Not yet!

How on earth can the youngest sage of Noisden become the youngest lady of Noisden through TS?

Was I perhaps unaware of something important? Reflecting on the record of ‘The youngest sage of Noisden along with Doolie…’ I shivered and got excited.

If this TS happened… Could it be possible for others to undergo TS too..?

Why such a terrifying event..?

Shaking uncontrollably at the thought of this absurd and terrifying situation, I couldn’t help but wonder.

I’m not the type to go after male characters, but being in a female-oriented romance game… Honestly, it started feeling challenging at some point.

Nevertheless, due to the nature of the female-oriented romance game, if the male characters were to undergo TS, it seemed unbearable for someone like me who had pursued and conquered countless male characters.

The Mercenary King, who had taken pleasure in numerous women but found no joy, becoming TS…? Oh my… Even the unicorns would be shocked to the point of fainting.

Of course, the reverse scenario holds true as well.

If the beloved female character were to turn into a male character, I would still cherish them, but it felt like something was about to change.

Unconsciously, I clasped my hands together and prayed to the highest deity of this world.

Solra… Please… No, right..?

No more TS, right..?

– Sparkling

[T..S? There’s no such thing, right? Even if I don’t know what it is?]

I felt like I received a curt response from Sola.

Feeling a warm sensation running through my body, I nodded as I saw the blurry Sola raising her thumb beside the cloud that passed by with a gentle breeze in the sky.

Right! If there’s TS, we can just give them a TS potion to bring them back.

I remember it was part of the side story after the main plot.

Thinking so, I stood up from my seat.

I’ve wasted too much time.

Now it’s time to persuade again!

Gathering my resolve, I raised my head. Everyone present stared at me blankly, and I chuckled at their dumbfounded expressions.

Why is this happening?

“Seo, Seongheun..?”

“Divine power..?”

“Were you a priest..?”

“An orc… a priest..?”

“A crazy orc… named Seongheun… oh my god..”

“…”

“[Belch. It’s a strange light.]”

“Quiet down, you orc.”

The orc who interrupted was subdued once again by TS Yeongae, or rather, Leiana.

Looking at me and then at my hand, I realized.

Could it be…

Was I really connected to Sola?

I looked at my palm emitting a faint light and then gazed up at the sky.

Are you… doing well…?

I pondered whether my prayers were answered directly by Sola due to a mechanism where prayers without a certain level of earnestness wouldn’t reach the gods, but I pushed that thought aside and asked them while waving my hand.

“Do you believe now?”

“I believe!”

Hmm. Yes, you should believe.

You might wonder why this is happening.

In the empire, there are only two gods they believe in.

The Sun God Sola and the Moon Goddess Selene.

Even Selene is considered an extension of Sola.

So, showing a miracle to the people of the empire, and they still don’t believe?

“We all believe!”

That’s blasphemy.

Smiling fiercely at those who were groveling before me, I said.

Alright.

I’ll take it easy.

…

First, I started with an explanation.

“First off, I’m a soldier who came to help Dulliere.”

“I see.”

“You can tell by looking at my hand, I have the mark, but I’m not a priest.”

“I see.”

“The orc appearance is due to using an artifact; originally, he was human.”

“I understand for now…”

“And I am engaged to Elise Dulliere.”

“…What?”

They seemed to understand everything else fine, but when I mentioned being engaged to Elise, Leonine suddenly looked flustered.

Why believe in artifacts but not this?

Before I could ask, Leonine spoke up.

“Are you saying that you, who lack talent and character, the one who dared to make our young lady cry, are her fiancé?”

“…Huh?”

Wait, is that infamous?

Before I could gather my thoughts, Leiana chimed in beside me.

“Are you the fiancé who didn’t want to marry Elise like a 4-year-old throwing a tantrum on the street?”

“…”

Uh…

Lastly, wiping away tears, Elise asked.

“The one who tore up every letter you sent, burned them in the fireplace, never once apologized, is that guy?”

Um…

Shouldn’t I apologize to Vihan?

At that moment, the weight of Vihan’s deep and vast grudge pressed down on me.

Perhaps the deep and vast one here isn’t this arrogant fellow but Vihan.

[The deepest and widest arrogance signifies discomfort.]

Watch yourself, you brat.

As the gazes upon me narrowed, I gradually shrugged my shoulders and nodded.

Although I didn’t do it, since I became Vihan’s vessel, it’s my fault.

“..Yes, that’s me.”

As I confidently responded, the looks of astonishment turned into disdain.

Having the mark and being an employer, it’s natural to react like that since I did such things.

Feeling remorse, I sighed.

Elise, who had been observing me closely, asked.

“So you came to help Dulliere?”

“..Yes, but…”

“..You?”

How should I explain this to convince them here and now?

Actually, if my arrogant fiancé, who used to act like a fool and was full of inferiority complex, comes to help me transforming into an orc, I’ll cast a magic spell on him without hesitation.

Who would believe that?

I looked into the suspicious gaze of Elise and then glanced at the faintly glowing birthmark, silently saying to myself.

“Sola, let’s sell your name!”

“I received a revelation.”

“A revelation?”

With an orc face, I slowly intoned with a face filled with excellence as much as possible.

“After being saved by the mercy of the goddess from suffering under a dark magician, she spoke to me.”

Riding on the setting Aaron had created,

I slightly raised the birthmark to show its glowing appearance.

“She said something big is going to happen in the south.”

“The goddess…?”

“For some reason, she wants us to go south…”

“Was that so…?”

“It’s a revelation…”

A wavering figure, unsure if they truly believe in the goddess.

My eyes wavered, but I still spoke to Elise and Leiana, who remained skeptical.

“So, before things happen, I contacted Geomsung to accompany me.”

“With your sister?!”

At the mention of traveling with her sister, Leiana quickly turned her head to find her.

Raising my hand, I continued speaking.

“Two days ago with Linus, she went ahead of the orc’s appearance. I came here alone.”

“L-Linus? You addressed her by her title with your sister?”

“Yes. She asked me to speak.”

Seems like wordplay was quite fun.

I casually mentioned my friendship with Linus to ease Leiana’s guard.

Nodding her head, Leiana expressed relief at Elise’s apology for past actions.

“Apologizing for everything that happened in the past, I have been extremely rude to you and your family, using the excuse of being under the dark magician’s influence.”

Using the dark magician shield once again.

The guy from Rodain who used NPCs as shields must have had such a great shield.

I should write about it in my autobiography later.

Anyway, I knelt in front of the wavering Elise and delivered the final blow.

“I am Vihan Phon Adelheid. I apologize for all the wounds I have caused you that cannot be washed away from your heart, and for not apologizing for everything.”

Elise’s pupils, like a ship swaying on a stormy sea, showed signs of turmoil before she spat out.

“T-That’s not necessary.”

Success.

Truly a good person.

If someone had done such a thing to me in the past, I would have beaten them up and started over.

Look at that ranger friend over there.

He’s still glaring at me.

It’s nice to see that he still has his guard up.

Watching Elise embracing Leiana while muttering, “So the dark magician…that story was true,” I stood up.

“Shall we set off again then?”

There was no more time to waste.