How to get on the protagonist’s flower path

Anyway… time passed, and during the training breaks, I checked the upcoming parts as well.

I wasn’t feeling particularly good about it.

[Chapter 34 Upcoming Part]
85
I sat next to Kang Nahyun and looked at her face.

She was just a character I thought of as comfortable, pure, and trustworthy, someone I could easily like.

That was why I had treated her as just a tool to use in the early stages.

I had defined her as ‘that kind of character.’

This was a reality where people could die, where there were real people bleeding, and I had no idea how fortunate it was that someone like Nahyun had approached me.

Without realizing that, I excitedly thought everything was going according to my plan, and when an unexpected variable appeared, I was completely at a loss. Moreover, I had become careless, thinking I had cleared all the gates, and I almost lost my life.

It wasn’t until Kang Nahyun threw herself to protect me, bleeding and on the verge of death, that I realized this place was real.

What a foolish child I was.

If someone other than me had possessed this body, and if they had realized that this world was not a game but a vivid reality earlier, then perhaps you wouldn’t have been hurt if they had been with you.

Only those thoughts floated in my mind.

If someone else had possessed my body, they might have done better.

I am just a pathetic child with a lot of knowledge about games.

What should I say when Kang Nahyun wakes up?

When she asks why I saved her, when she asks why I trusted and followed her, I was terrified of what my response would be.

All kinds of despairing thoughts whirled around in my mind. That moment when the blood splattered, that moment when Kang Nahyun’s body fell, was something I could hardly forget. I still felt like I had Kang Nahyun’s blood on my hands.

The next day, when I went to visit Kang Nahyun, she was awake.

A sense of relief enveloped me, quickly followed by fear.

It took a long time before I could finally open my heavy mouth.

“Why did you take the hit instead of me?”

“Because Yuhan is someone precious to me.”

“…Why?”

“Why, you ask?”

“I’m not someone of value.”

I am just an extremely ordinary person who loved a game obsessively.

And I am trash who thought of reality like a game and manipulated others. That’s who I am.

At that moment, Kang Nahyun smiled and gently took my hand.

“You are someone of value.”

It was the same bright smile as always.

“Because Yuhan, you led me when I first met you and treated me kindly. You’re an amazing person.”

“That…”

That was because I was using you.

I couldn’t bring myself to say that. I was afraid that this immense affection I was receiving would disappear.

“I’m sorry. I’ll take my leave.”

With that, I fled the hospital room. I had no face to see you after everything that had happened.

Still, I didn’t want to give up because I was happy with the unwavering affection.

So—let’s start over.

“Hello… Nahyun.”

With our relationship.

185

I quietly opened my clenched fist.

…Could it be that I shouldn’t have comforted her back then? Was I supposed to just lay my true feelings bare?

That realization came too late.

***

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Is the protagonist finally awakening?

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Kang Nahyun is confirmed as the main heroine, lol. All other stocks have been delisted, right? They’re done for, huh?

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Shut up, I still don’t know!!!

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Yeah, it’s over~

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In an academy setting, a harem is the truth…

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From now on, pure love is the truth.

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Pure love will win.

I wanted to refuse that pure love.

I fought hard against the urge to bash my head and faint, then continued reading the next part.

***

[Chapter 35 Upcoming Part]
85
I decided to stop petting her head carelessly. She’s not a simple character or a pet.

185

Did you just realize that?

No wonder you stopped petting after it got awkward.

085
I was concerned about things related to Park Yul-ah, so I asked her about it. She just said she was fine and then told me about the incident where the lab became a ruin, saying, “By the way…”

So, Lee Ha-na resolved it? Thank goodness.

If necessary, I had planned to threaten Park Yul-ah with the fact that she was a half-vampire before negotiating.

185

Calm down. Are you planning to turn Park Yul-ah into an enemy? This guy has become so off-kilter that he can’t even calculate anymore.

085
On class assignment day, Nahyun was the first to take my hand.

Thank goodness we’re in the same Class A. I was quite satisfied.

However, as soon as we arrived in class, a female student quickly approached, glaring at Nahyun.

…That appearance… It’s Shin Ba-ran.

And she declared war on Nahyun before disappearing.

Jealousy? This has become bothersome because of Na Yul-ri.

Nahyun pulled me along to the back seat.

“Let’s sit together!”

There was no particular reason to refuse. I ignored Na Yul-ri’s glaring gaze.

Then, Yggdrasil appeared, and we started our morning class.

As expected, it was tough, no, tougher than expected.

I sat there blankly, lost in thought.

Still, this was the only way for me, who was useless, to improve even a little.

“Yuhan, are you okay?”

At that moment, Nahyun handed me a health recovery potion.

“…Yeah.”

Seeing her, I resolved to try harder.

And when the morning class ended, Nahyun asked to talk. What was it about?

“Lately, is something going on? You look a bit down. Everyone is worried about you.”

“I just realized that I was foolish.”

What a stupid person I am.

At that moment, Nahyun tilted her head and said, “Why do you think Yuhan is foolish? You’re great at leading and know all about treasure dungeons, and…”

It hurts. That’s only because I acquired it through a game.

“That’s not my ability. It’s just… something anyone can do if they know the information.”

Anyone in this academy with that game knowledge would have navigated things much better than I have.

“I just mistook that for being impressive and acted like I was the protagonist, and now I’ve just woken up from that dream.”

It’s really just that my illusion of being the protagonist of this world has shattered.

After a moment of silence, Nahyun gently smiled and said, “The fact that you know all that isn’t something just anyone can do.”

“……”

“You know, to deeply immerse yourself in one thing requires a lot of effort.”

To think that my efforts, which I poured into games, had value…

“And that level of effort isn’t something just anyone can put in. I’ve received so much help from the knowledge you’ve worked hard to gain.”

Because of that…

“So, my protagonist isn’t anyone else but you, right here.”

That I could become your protagonist…

“Yeah. Maybe there could be someone else who could replace you, as you said.”

I took a deep breath.

“But I think that because you, Yuhan, are here, I’ve been able to grow this way. It’s thanks to you that I’m here.”

Otherwise…

“See? Isn’t that pretty amazing?”

It felt like I might cry.

In the end, I couldn’t hold back and started to tear up.

Nahyun wiped my face with a handkerchief.

“I, I am… a more pathetic person than you think.”

“Still, what you’ve done for me doesn’t disappear. Even if you can’t do anything, I will continue to like you.”

Tears wouldn’t stop flowing, so…

“…I’m sorry. Thank you.”

That was all I could barely manage to say.

185

Oh, I guess I succeeded in amateur therapy…

I calmly shut off the segment and checked the reader reactions with dead eyes.

***

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As expected, the main heroine.

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Kang Nahyun! Kang Nahyun! Kang Nahyun!

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Are you going fully into pure love, author?

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Ah, but an academy setting must have a harem.

It’s driving me crazy.

I sighed at this absurd situation and skimmed through the next chapters.

There wasn’t much, but there was something noteworthy in Chapter 36.

***

[Chapter 36 Upcoming Part]
085
“Why is everyone suddenly bringing desserts?”

So, they really don’t know anything.

I decided I needed to mention this situation since it needed a warning.

“It’s for bribery.”

“For bribery?”

“Our homeroom teacher is obsessed with desserts~. And there’s a famous rumor in the academy~”

“‘If you offer bribes to Lord Yggdrasil, he’ll make training easier for you.’”

“Right. Yggdrasil tends to be quite accommodating if you offer a bribe. Especially regarding training. But generally, it’s best not to do that. Because—”

Just as I was about to continue…

Bang-!

Yggdrasil barged in.

He did that on purpose. That monster of an old man must have excellent hearing. Is he going to test me in a pure state?

Fortunately, Nahyun didn’t seem to have any intention of offering a bribe, which relieved me.

185

Yggdrasil, did you intentionally cut me off back then?

What a shocking fact.

***

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I came here because I heard it’s a pure love story in an academy setting.

***

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Oh, there’s still a possibility of a harem left;;;

***

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It’s too late, old man.

The comments weren’t much.

It made me sad that I’ve come to see such comments as nothing.

***

[Chapter 40 Upcoming Part]
The chapters before 40 were all about training-related content.

This guy still thinks about me during all that. Scary. Please stop.

Around Chapter 40, I briefly skimmed through the parts I hadn’t seen before.

***

85
On the morning I brought the dessert box, Nahyun made a flustered expression, shook her head, and gave me a look of trust.

So cute.

Then, when I had some time, I headed to Yggdrasil with Nahyun.

Yggdrasil frowned and said, “Are you giving up?”

“No. I’m here to ask for help.”

I presented the dessert.

Since I had built enough trust, this should be sufficient.

I uttered the words I had prepared.

“Please introduce me to the world’s greatest meister.”

Upon hearing that, Yggdrasil’s eyes widened, and he burst into hearty laughter.

Success.

I smiled brightly.

Thus, I successfully got Yggdrasil to introduce me and left with Nahyun.

“You’re amazing, Yuhan! You really seem like a great negotiator!”

…I just utilized the knowledge I had.

“Probably, the meister that the homeroom teacher introduces won’t charge us, but if he does ask for money, I’ll contribute.”

Na Yuhan’s money is plentiful.

“If he does charge, how much do you think it would be…?”

“His fee is no joke, so if he charges, it might be… 10 billion upfront? Depending on the total, the unit price could go up too.”

“Whoa…”

Nahyun looked horrified and said with difficulty, “Yuhan, if we end up having to pay for weapons, could you lend me some money…? I’ll pay you back in installments.”

“What… Why would you need to?”

Nahyun held my hand with a determined expression and said, “I’ll definitely pay you back.”

“Uh… okay.”

That’s warm. I thought as I looked at our hands held together blankly.

185

This is what it means to be bourgeois! This is what it means to be bourgeois!

I felt anger rising again at Na Yuhan’s thoughtless spending.

…Oh no, I got too worked up. Calm down.

I took a deep breath and turned off the meta system.

First, what can I do now? Nothing. I have to maintain the status quo.

It’s good to earn lots of points, so that’s good… right?

…I guess I should practice for the battle tournament.

I sighed deeply as I tidied my weapon.

***

And as time passed, at last,