NOVEL NEXT Chapter 2
When I opened my eyes, there was a lapis lazuli.
“What the…?”
No, the smooth surface reflecting the sunlight wasn’t a jewel.
In a panic, I pulled my head back about 5 cm.
Yeah, it was an eye.
An eye that seemed to belong to a very beautiful person.
“Let go of me.”
Her voice had a lovely resonance, and I realized my left hand was firmly gripping her wrist against the wall.
“Ah.”
As I reluctantly withdrew my hand, her small hand came down along with it.
Looking at the red mark that had risen on her hand, it seemed like there was a small abrasion.
-…
She muttered something softly and brought her hand to her own palm.
– Shaaa.
Then, just like magic, the wound began to heal.
Wait, what I’m seeing right now is magic, right?
And this familiar face…
“…?”
As I alternated my gaze between the mystical spectacle and her face, she shrank back slightly as if wary of me.
I blurted out without even thinking to apologize.
“Aria, you’re the healer Aria, right?”
“…?”
There was no way I wouldn’t recognize the silver-haired girl with a hint of lavender in Claris Academy’s student uniform.
‘Aria Bluebell’ is the ‘fundamental’ character of the [Reincarnated Hero].
She’s an indispensable powerhouse in the hero party and gives her all as a healer until the final boss is defeated.
A devoted character supporting the protagonist, there’s no doubt she’s a top candidate for the best hero in the story, despite a bittersweet ending…
Anyway, besides the fluttering excitement, I needed to grasp this situation.
‘Is this really… possession development?’
The surrounding buildings had a mix of fantasy architectural styles and 19th-20th century European vibes, with occasional magical items trying to replace modern conveniences.
“Could it be, Claris… Academy?”
One thing’s for sure, this isn’t anywhere on Earth.
“……”
The girl who looked to be about a head shorter than me was staring at me with a puzzled expression.
“…Please refrain from rough actions. This includes demeaning others at your own discretion.”
I’m alive. Her clear, beautiful voice pierced through my ears once more.
This is definitely possession.
Just from that one comment… I’ve been possessed into a novel.
“I’m going crazy…”
As I muttered quietly, Aria’s doll-like lips began to move.
“…I believe I’ve sufficiently answered. And I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you said, so don’t worry.”
“……Uh, sorry, what did you say?”
At my follow-up question, Aria looked a bit flustered, slightly parting her lips while averting her gaze.
It was a description that often appeared in the novel.
“I didn’t think someone could be this oblivious.”
“What did I say…?”
“Must I say it myself?”
In my memory, the early Aria was indeed blunt.
-Huh, understood.
-Let’s do that.
-It’s dangerous. Please come with me.
Because she was a polite character, being a year younger than the tangled characters.
That was why there was an oddly felt distance.
But now, Aria seemed to be even more on guard against me.
I instinctively touched my face.
‘Wait, who did I possess?’
Since I had even scratched my hand… this doesn’t seem like an ordinary situation or relationship.
Still, it’s frustrating. It’s just that I woke up to this situation.
As I was sinking into confusion, a pink-haired student suddenly interrupted.
“Hey, what are you doing…!”
“…….”
I let out a sigh without realizing it.
That’s probably Melissa, the noble lady of the Prominence family, an original character that only appeared in the novel.
Traditionally, pink hair isn’t the core.
Whether she read my expression or found this situation very unpleasant, a shadow began to fall over Melissa’s face.
She spoke to me as if to confront me.
“Your somewhat intimidating demeanor, and the stiff atmosphere. Can you explain what you’re attempting to do to Ria?”
“Honestly, nothing….”
I naturally wanted to say it was nothing but then realized it wasn’t a situation that could be perceived that way.
Aria was clearly cautious of me too.
‘This is ambiguous.’
I pondered if this is what it feels like to be falsely accused.
If I misstep here, things could blow up bigger than it already is.
“While Claris Academy claims to be based on equality, I believe keeping at least a basic human courtesy in mutual relationships is the right thing to do. If the situation I’m thinking of isn’t accurate, then why can’t you answer?”
I don’t understand the situation itself!
As I exercised my right to remain silent with an innocent expression, Melissa turned her head towards Aria.
“Could it be that this disrespectful guy threatened Ria to date him…? Just like he did to me.”
Melissa mumbled in a slightly lowered voice, as if not wanting to say it.
“Let’s date, let’s date. You, don’t you have a character that doesn’t particularly care about who you’re with? Wouldn’t I be fine? Are you perhaps fond of that trashy guy Edwin? After all, that Edwin dude… said something like this…”
As Melissa looked at me with disdain, I waved my hands.
“…No way. There can’t possibly be someone who spouts such cringeworthy lines in this world.”
“Aria, tell me. What did Lev Denec talk about with this guy…?”
“…….”
And Aria’s expression conformed to the silence.
“?”
Uh… What the hell?
Is it real? Did I really just spout off some half-baked villain lines like that?
And Lev Denec? Could it be that’s the name of the body I possessed?
At that moment, even the air I was breathing felt sharp, and goosebumps rose all over my body.
I started to piece together this undesirable situation in my head.
[Lev Denec]
He’s a name so ordinary and ambiguous that I barely remembered it, but he isn’t even a fundamental character, and instead, a third-rate villain concocted by the author.
Whether the author had BL in mind, he has a somewhat decent build, but he’s a typical strong-weak, looking down on commoners, and has serious womanizing habits, accumulating villain karma, and ultimately gets publicly humiliated by Edwin in the entrance exam.
Thus, Lev Denec ends up in a severe inferiority complex, contracts with a demon, and ultimately gets blown up as a demon…
And Edwin inherits the executor’s powers as he deals with this guy.
In short, this is a disposable position for the protagonist’s awakening.
‘Shit.’
And the timing couldn’t be worse.
No matter how much Lev would have needed to hit rock bottom to become a demon, and something needed to act as a catalyst,
‘Confessing clumsily only to get rejected’ doesn’t even appear in descriptions in the story!
Why did I have to be the one to possess this mess?
‘Lev, you bastard… that author is a jerk…’
This Lev guy trusted me and indulgently enjoyed irresponsible pleasures.
“Silence can be interpreted as a positive, don’t you think?”
Melissa began to inform me, arms crossed, as if she had seized the advantage.
“I’ll inform the dean about this incident, and he will conduct a thorough investigation and take measures. Considering the karma you’ve accumulated, you can expect the outcome.”
When she mentioned a result, did that mean I’d possibly get expelled?
In an instant, once more, the mission target status window appeared.
———————————————————————
[Mission Object]
1 – Don’t flunk or get expelled from Claris Academy; graduate.
2 – Prevent the Caeran ending.
———————————————————————
On failure: The world line may collapse, and you could be trapped in eternal time flow.
———————————————————————
Starting with expulsion would mean game over.
‘I didn’t even do anything, and I’m screwed.’
As I was about to give up everything, Aria stepped in.
“Lev… didn’t say anything in particular.”
Aria…?
Melissa, looking perplexed, glanced back and forth between me and Aria.
“Ria? Are you defending this guy…?”
“All he did was ask me if there was anything wrong with the entrance exam results. What you just said, Miss Melissa… he didn’t say that.”
“…….”
Melissa fell silent at her words.
Wow, is she really shielding me?
As expected from a fundamental character.
-And don’t worry, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear this.
She had indeed kept that promise after saying she wouldn’t tell anyone.
That’s right, Aria had this kind of personality.
Once she says it, she keeps it…
But why did the author abandon Aria like this!?
“Uh… uh…”
Melissa seemed to have a lot she wanted to say but exhaled a sigh as if she couldn’t defeat Aria’s prowess.
“Hoo… I understand, Ria. Let’s go, it’s almost dinner time.”
“Yes.”
“And Lev Denec, please refrain from approaching Ria. I’ll be keeping an eye on you.”
What a cold tone directed at me.
How lowly ranked of a villain am I…
“Ah, yes…”
Without even waiting for my reply, Melissa grabbed Aria’s hand and disappeared.
“Crazy…”
It felt like I had been hit hard with a hammer, leaving me dizzy.
I still couldn’t feel any sense of reality.
This has to be a dream, just a dream…
‘Author, you jerk…’
Didn’t he ask me if I’d gone through the first part?
But why am I being presented with a death game right from the start?
.
.
.
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And thus, I began my academy life with 0 confessions and secondhand embarrassment.
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[Player’s succession ability has been determined due to the recent event]
[Shortly, characteristics will be granted after analyzing the previous world player’s tendencies]