Five imposing bodyguards looked me with suspicion. Behind them, four teenagers were ready to take me down.
However, my stunned pause wasn't solely due to their presence.
Among the quartet of teenagers stood an utterly breathtaking girl, unmistakable even from a distance. Dark green tresses cascaded like a waterfall, framing piercing orange eyes.
-Ding!
[Hidden Heroine! Miranda Stormdila!]
My gut clenched. It was really her.
Miranda Stormdila, the [Hidden Heroine] of the [First Game]. A sophomore at the Royal Eden Academy, she was my senior in every way. More significantly, she shared a history with Edward, being his childhood friend. Their fathers' camaraderie had seeped into their own lives.
But that camaraderie was short-lived. Edward's mother's death led to a detachment between them. Edward's attitude turned icy, and he treated Miranda as if she were a stranger. Yet, Miranda refused to abandon him. She persisted, trying to mend him until they reached ten years of age.
At ten, Edward's audacious birthday request from Miranda left me laughing uncontrollably when I read it.
I mean, really, what was that kid thinking?
Naturally, Miranda's respect and concern for Edward evaporated. She hurled a birthday cake into his face and stormed out of the Falkrona mansion, her eyes brimming with tears.
However, something more significant than these memories was gnawing at my consciousness. Miranda Stormdila was once slated to be Edward's fiancée, predating even Aurora Celesta, the Royal Princess of the Celesta Kingdom. But after the debacle, their fathers reluctantly discarded that notion.
"Who are you?"
A guard's voice broke the silence.
"Don't come any closer."
My voice, chilly, flowed without my intention. It was eerily reminiscent of Edward's tone.
Was it because of seeing Miranda?
My body seemed to react of its own accord.
"...!"
My warning had an effect. Beads of sweat formed on the guard's forehead.
"Back off! He's just a kid."
Another guard intervened.
"Who are you?"
A third guard asked, his voice tinged with a threatening edge.
"A Delver?"
I replied with an obvious tone that seemed to irritate him.
"You—"
"Wait."
A single word, calmly spoken, halted the irate guard in his tracks. It was Miranda who had spoken, and the sight of her caused my throat to tighten.
Seeing her in real life was an entirely different experience from seeing her on a screen.
Miranda took a step forward.
"Mira?"
One of her friends, it seemed, attempted to hold her back, but Miranda gestured for both her friends and guards to stay put.
Then, she turned her gaze on me, scrutinizing every inch of my form.
"He's a Delver. I saw him at the guild."
"You saw him?"
An irate-looking teenager asked for confirmation.
"Yeah, I saw him."
Really?
I was puzzled.
I hadn't noticed her at all.
[I saw her.]
'And you didn't think to inform me?!'
[You didn't ask.]
'That's not the point!'
"How did you end up here?"
Miranda questioned, breaking the silence.
"Ah."
I couldn't tell her that I had obtained a Lifestone by completing a title quest from my system.
[I am not a system.]
"I don't really know."
I managed to deliver a smooth lie.
Silence enveloped us momentarily, as Miranda's tangerine eyes continued to appraise me. Even with my mask, maintaining eye contact was a hard task due to her unique and captivating eyes. However, I managed it.
Eventually, Miranda turned and rejoined her friends.
What an exhausting encounter.
I turned to leave, but...
[!] [Unique Challenge!]
[Earn Affection Points from the [Hidden Heroine] Miranda Stormdila!]
[Reward: Edward Falkrona's memories.]
My eyes widened as I read the words on the screen.
Ignoring the quest aspect, the reward was what had my heart racing— Edward Falkrona's memories.
'Jarvis!'
[Yes?]
'If it's suggesting this, there must be some gain for me, right?'
[Yes. By recovering Edward's memories, your potential will be boundless.]
'What does that even mean?'
His phrasing left me puzzled.
Edward only became strong after his potential was unlocked by Ante-Eden, not before.
[I don't know. I can only share what I—]
'What that entity permits you to know, you mean?'
I interrupted, annoyed.
[Yes.]
Unexpectedly, Jarvis nodded without resistance.
There was nothing left to doubt.
Jarvis seemed to function merely as a conduit for that entity to interact with me or glean information from me. I didn't know the details.
'One last question.'
Before I made a decision that would shape my future and existence, I needed clarity on something crucial.
'Who will exert more influence once the merging occurs? Me or Edward?'
The answer was paramount. Not only for me, but for this world as well, without exaggeration. It was a serious and important question.
[...]
'Jarvis?'
[I am unable to provide an answer to that question.]
'What? Jarvis? This is important. Do you know the answer or not?'
I asked again, annoyed. His response felt like he held the information but was deliberately withholding it.
[Will you lose yourself if 'you' merges with another 'you'?]
'...'
What was that answer?!
It wasn't difficult to grasp his implication.
'The similarity.'
"He reminds me of you."
Ephera's words echoed in my mind at that moment.
'I'm not in the mood for jokes, Jarvis. Just answer me.'
I asked again, now with a tinge of anger.
I despised being likened to that guy. Who wouldn't, in my place?
I am not a murderer.
I am not deranged.
I am not a maniac causing destruction.
Then why?
Honestly, it was incomprehensible.
I had played the game, so my knowledge about Edward was comprehensive. And we had nothing in common.
[I've already given you an answer.]
So what then?
Simply because I'm 'similar' to Edward, I won't lose myself?
Should I feel relief or should I berate him for this veiled insult?
I clicked my tongue and scrutinized the challenge message again.
[Earn Affection Points from the [Hidden Heroine] Miranda Stormdila!]
"..."
That annoying guy.
What does he want from me?
Why present me with a challenge that the Main Protagonist should typically face?
Why compel me to seek Edward's memories?
It was obvious that he had orchestrated this. He must have wanted me to obtain Edward's memories for a reason. But what could that reason be?
'At the very least, tell me if he's on my side?'
I asked, clinging to a last thread of hope for a positive response.
[He's not on your side.]
Fuck...
[...and not your enemy either.]
He's not my enemy?
Then why did he let me die?
[Edward. I have no involvement in him or your current predicament. I can't answer all your questions.]
Right.
Fine!
I stopped venting my frustration on Jarvis and turned around, my decision made.
All I needed to do was acquire a few affection points so I wouldn't have to resort to seducing her.
[
Ah.
'The useless Goddess is back.'
[
"It's an honor, useless Goddess."
[
"Of course, useless Goddess."
[