episode_0204

After the hero and Rilis left for a one-on-one conversation, the scene shifts to Cerista’s dormitory.

“……”

“……”

“……”

In the meeting place where Edan, Agnes, and Cerista were left, a strange awkwardness and silence quietly flowed.

Rilis, who is friendly with both Edan and Agnes, and Cerista, who is close to Agnes and Geymjoshegwi.

With Rilis and Geymjoshegwi gone, the remaining people were essentially in a situation where they were all friends of friends. When three or more people were together, they didn’t feel awkward, but in a situation with only two people, bringing up a conversation topic created a subtle tension.

It was a situation where only three people were gathered, so the awkward atmosphere was inevitable, and it was Edan who broke the silence first.

“It seems like everyone has run out of things to say. Without Rilis and that hero, it seems like there’s no one here who is close to each other.”

“Yes, yes.”

“……”

“If both of you are not going to say anything, may I speak up?”

“Uh, go ahead, Blackwood Master!”

“…As you wish.”

Just as Geymjoshegwi and Rilis found it difficult to gather, the gathering of these three people was also a rare occurrence.

Although the three people had different interests and points of contact, Edan, who found a common point among them related to his personal goals, attracted the attention of the other two.

“First of all, I want to talk about the two people who are currently outside.”

“What?”

“Huh?”

“Is there anyone here who hopes for a closer relationship between that hero, Rilis, and either Cerista the Saint or Blaze Princess?”

“…What?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean exactly what I said.”

Edan, judging that it would take some time for Rilis and Geymjoshegwi to return, revealed his personal intentions and motives to the two women in front of him.

“To be honest, I am not hoping for Rilis and that hero to become close.”

“Yes, yes?!”

“It’s obvious.”

“And the same goes for those two. Isn’t that right, Saint Cerista?”

“W-what are you talking about? I-I don’t…”

“Since Saint Cerista already likes the hero romantically, pretending not to know is futile.”

“Yes, yes, yes?!”

Startled by her own emotions unexpectedly coming out through someone else’s mouth, Cerista, like a startled hamster, hurriedly made excuses, but Edan and Agnes were already convinced that she liked Geymjoshegwi.

“N-no…! I-I don’t have any inappropriate feelings for the hero…!”

“Isn’t it better to lower your voice? It might be heard by the hero outside.”

“Huh?!”

“…I already knew. It’s so obvious.”

“Hehehe?!”

After confirming Cerista’s shocked expression as she covered her mouth with both hands, Edan immediately turned his gaze towards Agnes.

“And Blaze Princess wouldn’t be too happy about Rilis getting close to that hero, right?”

“…I don’t really like that hero?”

“I know, but that’s why you wouldn’t want to see Rilis getting involved with him even more.”

“…”

“He’s already a man with complicated relationships with women, and with only a few friends like you getting involved, do you really want that? Besides, rumors say that your other friend, Princess Seraphine, also seems to be interested in that hero.”

“Yes, yes?! Th-the Princess?!”

“Blaze Yeongaedo wouldn’t want to see two friends fighting over a man. Am I wrong?”

“…You’re right.”

“Wait a minute…. I don’t think the princess having an interest in the hero is a misunderstanding…. Oh, no, I never harbored any inappropriate feelings for the hero….”

“Then it seems like we have a common goal.”

Ignoring Serista’s awkward acting, Edan confidently spoke only what he wanted to say, and the intention to call the two people soon came out of his mouth.

“Frankly speaking, I can’t hand over my release to that hero.”

“I-I see….”

“…So be it.”

“So, I’d like to ask for cooperation. From Blaze Yeongaedo, and from Serista Saint as well.”

“C-Cooperation, you say, b-but what exactly…?”

“If possible, guide the situation in a way that prevents the hero and Release from being alone together.”

“Isn’t that a bit wrong? I-I think everything the hero does has meaning….”

“I’m not forcing you. If it doesn’t sit well with you, just let my words go. If you don’t actually have those feelings, there’s no reason to be swayed.

But one thing is for sure, I will do everything I can to prevent the two from facing each other. Even if they don’t agree, just keep that in mind.”

“….”

Edan’s sudden declaration of interference in the relationship between the hero and Release.

While Serista felt considerable confusion, she also felt a fluttering emotion in her heart.

If the Blackwood Master really intervened and prevented the hero and Release’s relationship, it would mean that she wouldn’t have to reveal the fact that she was a real saint, and that she could stay by the hero’s side longer.

And the answer from Agnes, who seemed neutral, helped her make that decision.

“I-I’ll help.”

“Really?”

“I will, if you promise to take responsibility for Release until the end.”

“I swear on the name of the Blackwood family. And with the saint present here, it’s perfect as a witness.”

“…That’s fine.”

“I-I’ll… I’ll remember that….”

“Thank you, Serista Saint.”

“I-I don’t have any strange feelings for the hero, or, or for Release… I-I just think the hero needs to maintain his dignity these days….”

With Serista’s unexpected cooperation, Edan nodded inwardly.

It was the moment when Edan, Serista, and Agnes formed a temporary alliance.

***

“Hey, you’re the real Lilgeolchang, right?”

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about, Sir Hero. Who is this Lilgeolchang person?”

“You know, dude! You were chatting boldly just a while ago, why suddenly act clueless now?!”

“….”

Ah, damn it.

I never thought I’d be exposed for using my nickname from my previous life here.

I should have been more careful with my words. Instead of blabbering on excitedly, I should have been more cautious.

If I had kept the conversation at a suspicious level, I could have somehow twisted it, but because it had been so long since I heard the nickname Lilgeolchang, my body couldn’t help but react naturally in that moment.

“Wow, is this for real? Are you really that Lilgeolchang?”

“….”

“So, the guy who used to stir up trouble by calling Release a slut in Lua Gate possessed Release? This guy is a legend, haha….”

“Ugh, damn it….”

Ha, damn.

Why did I get caught here of all places, seriously.

Why did it have to be the guy who’s possessed by a hero among the Lumiacca players, and why did it have to be my guide that he saw?

It was almost ridiculous to the point of feeling almost despairingly absurd.

“Wow, when you see something like this, it makes you wonder if there really is such a thing as fate. How did he release that skill? Oh, this is amazing, hehe.”

“…What was your nickname on the Luagal?”

“Me? It’s been a while since I possessed someone, so I don’t remember well, but it was probably Guwonsunae?”

“…Ah, that was you. No wonder you said you play by the book.”

I may not have the best memory to remember even my dynamic IP address, but I do remember the names of a few guys who often commented on my guides.

One of them went by the nickname ‘Guwonsunae’ and would ask questions on all my guides, leaving a lasting impression. He was more memorable than the various lunatics on the forum. It might be a relief that he possessed the protagonist instead. At least in my memory, he faithfully followed my guides from start to finish.

Even if he didn’t die in an accident, he could have finished the 25th playthrough and the final chapter of the guide. It would have been easy to clear it, as the guide ended with just the ending.

…But even so, I never expected to be exposed as the release.

“Ugh, damn. Let’s just go back quickly. If we stay longer, I might actually start to suspect something.”

“Oh, right, Gelchang~.”

“…And just in case, I’m telling you, don’t call me that in front of Ethan. It’s not a joke, I really tried to kill you.”

“Heh, yeah. Must be nice to be loved, heh…”

“Shh…”

We only wanted to confirm that we were both from the same Earth, but it ended up being a time where we just revealed each other’s community nicknames.

‘I should have just shamelessly pretended to be a casual forum user and pushed on…’

The fact that the Luagal’s release was possessed by a release was either amusing or annoying, as he muttered to himself until he returned to Cerista’s dormitory.

When we returned to the meeting place, the dormitory had a slightly more awkward atmosphere.