NOVEL NEXT chapter 6
6. Don’t rush to send off the heroine; come over for some training first.
Through remote monitoring, Noah observed Valentina’s next actions.
Because of Noah, Valentina had no choice but to abandon her original preparations and postpone her plans for adventure.
She decided to use the royal capital as her base, focusing on activities in the vicinity of the capital for the time being.
When Valentina, feeling a bit guilty, informed her former supporter Allen that she needed to change her plans, Allen showed no signs of abnormality.
He easily accepted Valentina’s sudden change of plans and even expressed his full support.
Of course, Noah knew the reason behind this; regardless of whether Valentina went on an adventure or stayed in the capital, Allen would always pretend to appear nearby, and staying in the capital would make it even easier for him to approach her.
—
In this way, Allen was certainly willing to support Valentina in changing her mind.
However, Allen was clearly a master at his craft; he knew that relentless pursuit of a target would only backfire. So, rather than making excuses to linger around Valentina, he casually picked a few books and left the library.
Valentina, left behind, continued her investigation until lunchtime, only to leave the Royal Library with a face full of frustration.
But that was only when no one was around. Once there were people nearby, Valentina would immediately tuck away her inner unease and panic, reverting to her usual approachable princess demeanor.
Especially when meeting her childhood friend and original story’s victim, Clyde, Valentina wore an even brighter smile than usual, ensuring that Clyde could not detect her inner troubles.
And that ordinary brown-haired boy, who had no special status or abilities—just a regular resident of the royal capital—naturally lacked the capacity to sense Valentina’s unease.
He was simply pleased that Valentina had no plans to leave the capital for the time being.
“…Incompetent and mediocre, gentle yet cowardly, while not a bad person, in this world filled with malice towards the heroine, a man who not only fails to protect the heroine but requires her protection in return cannot be called a hero; he’s merely a burden.”
Watching the scene where the oblivious Clyde smiled happily, completely unaware of Valentina’s mood, Noah couldn’t help but give a low evaluation.
The blonde was indeed detestable, but a victim who could not assist the heroine and only dragged her down was equally loathsome to Noah.
Noah was neither a pure love enthusiast nor a minotaur faction supporter; he was an omnivore, willing to engage with any work or game that featured exquisite art or interesting settings.
It was strange, really; some people pursued the risqué in comics but sought storylines in the works.
Noah happened to be one of those people.
Thus, he would also read minotaur-themed works with appealing character designs, but not for the risqué content—rather, he was interested in the actions of the victims within those stories.
What Noah found most incomprehensible were those victims who, despite having their beloved girlfriends taken by minotaurs, lacked even the courage to fight back with a knife.
They were clearly suffering immensely, yet they took no action whatsoever.
What was most infuriating was having to watch the blonde send images of the heroine or even being present while it happened.
Unfortunately, Clyde was just that kind of person. In the original story, he was captured by the antagonist, forcing Valentina to submit to the villain.
After being mentally broken and reduced to a slave of the antagonist, Clyde still cried out Valentina’s name while piloting a plane.
Thus, Noah had no desire to become a pure love warrior, protecting the relationship between Clyde and Valentina.
In his view, the weak Clyde was unworthy of a good woman like Valentina.
If the ending had Clyde being treated as a star slave by Valentina, perhaps Noah would harbor less resentment.
Equality?
Why should a man who lacks strength and possesses a cowardly personality be able to interact with the strong princess on equal terms?
If he could show even a glimmer of merit that Noah could appreciate, it wouldn’t be so utterly absent.
…But Noah was not a demon; he wouldn’t intentionally seek trouble with Clyde just because he looked down on him.
Just as he wouldn’t proactively cause trouble for Allen, those were issues Valentina needed to resolve herself.
Noah only needed to focus on Valentina.
After all, this was a tragic world where defeat would immediately lead to the retrieval of CGs.
Watching the temporarily harmonious scene of the laughing youth and maiden, along with the passersby in the background casting them ill-intentioned glances, Noah’s mood was far from good.
—
……
The time spent with her childhood friend had greatly improved Valentina’s mood. Even without saying a word, just seeing Clyde’s gentle smile gave her the motivation to move forward.
Her anxious heart found a bit of relief, and she proudly went to other libraries to continue her investigation into the evil god.
Just like that, night fell once again.
It was now seven fifty in the evening. The princess, who had visited several libraries in one day without uncovering any information, was helplessly walking toward her room.
The royal capital at night was different from during the day; not only were there few people on the streets, but the atmosphere felt somewhat oppressive. If it weren’t for her sword, a young woman would surely hesitate to walk alone on the streets.
Even in the royal capital, the sounds of the unworthy could be heard in the dark alleys.
“……”
As Valentina was troubled about what to do next, she noticed the annoying sounds coming from a nearby alley. Almost instantly, she abandoned her thoughts, her expression turning serious and resolute.
The act of gradually placing her hand on the hilt of her sword confirmed her next course of action.
In that moment of confusion, the girl transformed once again into the knight who upheld justice.
“…Very well, let’s go.”
After closing her eyes and taking a few deep breaths, Valentina immediately spread her wings, ready to dive into the scene of the crime and bring evil to justice.
……Huh? Wings?
Just as she flew a short distance, Valentina, who had just entered her fighting state, suddenly froze.
The girl’s previously determined expression turned into one of panic, her pupils reflecting uncertainty.
She hurriedly reached for her forehead and, sure enough, felt the dragon horns that seemed harder than steel. A thick yet agile black-purple tail swayed in front of her, responding to her command.
“Why did I suddenly turn into a dragon at a time like this?!”
Finally realizing that she had accidentally transformed, Valentina let out a frustrated cry.
Damn it! How could she possibly infiltrate the scene of the crime like this? She would definitely be seen as a monster!
“Who knows? Maybe it’s because of the expectations in your heart, Princess?”
In an instant, Noah, who had pulled Valentina from the streets of the royal capital into the dilapidated temple, was now warming up, putting on an evil villain’s facade, ready for today’s training.
“You’re talking nonsense! I never expected this!”
Seeing the annoying shadow reappear before her, Valentina instinctively denied it.
But just as she was about to say more in her excitement, she was rendered speechless by the enormous statue behind the shadow.
The figure carved into the statue, exuding an aura of evil, looked unmistakably like her!
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