"The man I saw in the Labyrinth, Sean… what is your relationship to him?"
I snapped out of my reverie.
I could feel my head spinning.
I blurted out the lie in my best gravelly voice.
"What are you talking about?"
"You know what?"
Eleanor de Rivalin.
Commonly referred to as the 'Fox of Gold', and the one whose vast capital would later be instrumental in killing Nox.
She licks her lips lightly and traces my jawline with her index finger. Her neatly coiffed auburn hair brushes lightly against my cheek.
"Nox von Reinhafer. When you lie, you have one habit: your voice is flat, your pupils dilate for a moment, and your hands tremble slightly."
Dammit.
(jegilal.)
This is where I realize that this reality is based on a game.
A trait I possess [the gift of acting]. It has saved me many times and helped me survive somehow. But it was no match for the fox in front of me.
Being a [Prodigy] is, after all, a step above.
This means that the [Genius] trait is inferior to it.
In short, my lies don't work against the Eleanor de Rivalin in front of me. As I've realized before, she's terrifying.
"So. What if me and Sean are involved?"
"I don't know."
Eleanor looks at me with a little devilish grin.
My brow creases slightly.
What does she want from me?
Maybe she wants something from Sean, not me.
She's such a perceptive unit, isn't she? Maybe she sees the potential in him. Maybe she wants to use him.
'Whatever it is, it's clear that this is not a good situation for me.'
I wonder what I can do to move on.
In response, Eleanor stretched out her slender fingers and stroked my hair in an adorable way.
My expression darkened once more.
"How dare you touch the body of a duke's son without permission, aren't you afraid of the aftermath?"
"I think you're the one who's afraid, aren't you?"
Oh no, now she could read emotions.
Eleanor de Rivalin.
I have to admit. That it's harder to fool her here.
I let out a sigh.
At the same time, I think. Continued lies will only fuel her curiosity further. If I don't satisfy her curiosity to some degree at this point, she will continue to pursue me.
That's not an option.
My current identity is Nox von Reinhafer, a wretch of a man,
and an unknown villainous character named Sean.
Because there are two of them.
...I feel like it's very much like me to not have a single identity.
What can I do?
As a stranger in this world, I can only recognize and accept it.
"Sean is related to me."
I finally blurt out, and Eleanor is immediately intrigued.
"The eyes are quite similar. Are you related?"
"...Somewhat."
"I see. A family secret. I've heard stories of the Reinhafers using talented non-bloodline offspring as hunting dogs, and Sean must be one of them."
…Even if the Reinharbers are assholes, they're not that bad, are they?
I have my doubts, but I don't let them show. It's not polite to break the ice over there when they've already misunderstood.
Let's keep myd mouth shut as much as possible, and cover the middle.
And then there's the obvious thought.
'Anyway, Sean, that crazy son of a bitch, went in there and saved Eleanor, and that's where things got messy, dammit.'
Of course, I had no choice but to save her.
But to stop and ask, "Are you okay?" was too much.
You should have kept it in perspective....
Anyway, I have no right to criticize Sean.
I'm the same person as he is.
Anyway, I nodded appropriately, and thankfully Eleanor nodded in agreement. Apparently, she thinks my reasoning is correct.
Thank goodness. She didn't look me in the eye.
'If she had, she would have seen right through it.'
I was relieved, but her interrogation wasn't over yet.
Sadly, she still had more questions.
Especially about Sean's behavior.
She couldn't resist asking about the part that saved her at the end.
"The thing is, there was something off about this Sean guy from the beginning… he seemed to have a connection to you, and your posture was similar when you shared a sword with him. Plus."
Eleanor trails off with a fiery smile.
"The way you talked was different, but you never seemed to want to hurt us students, even though you were obviously stronger than us, which is kind of obvious."
This, I hadn't thought of.
Perhaps subconsciously, my determination not to hurt the units was reflected in Sean. I couldn't help it, though, because if I hurt them, I'd have to beat them up in the next episode.
"So. What do you want with Sean?"
I ask, having concluded that she doesn't seem to be interested in me. I'm not sure what it is, but I'm guessing that Sean is a very attractive hand to her.
"I want to repay him."
"...?"
What kind of bullshit is this?
I stare for a moment, unable to comprehend.
This time, I put on my best face, determined not to let it show. I had a small glimmer of hope that she would recognize my stubbornness, but it wasn't to be.
But Eleanor was still there.
She lightly covered her mouth with her hand and smiled.
"Sean… I've grown quite fond of him, and I want him. Where does he belong, and how can I get him into my fold?"
"In short, you give me your legs… is that what you're saying? To get Sean into your circle?"
"Yes. If he's that good, and he's our age, he's worth it, and he's got a warm heart because he saved my life, so he's worth taking advantage of."
Take advantage.
How dare he say that in front of us.
'Sean…! How the hell did you save Eleanor!'
I yell again.
It's a muffled shout, of course, and there's no answer.
"Anyway, just connect me. I'll take care of the rest."
"Wait. He's… he's busy, and he's trying to siphon off Reinhafer's resources. You think that's going to be easy, even if you're top of the line?"
"Well, if he's that good at hiding his identity, I don't think even the House would be able to touch him, and I'm not about to lose a political fight."
"...."
There was nothing more to say from there.
Eleanor smiled triumphantly.
"Tell him to come to the upper Rivalin headquarters of the Eldain Academy in District Four in a week's time, and let him know that I'll make sure he doesn't mind returning the favor, then."
One of her eyes narrowed as she rose from her seat.
"I'll be going, and I hope you're feeling better."
You've caused me more work than relief….
But I didn't want to give her any further indication of my feelings, so I kept my mouth shut. She left the room, and I rubbed my forehead in a daze.
Soon after, the damned kids who had gone to dinner for a while burst in.
Talia, Zitri, Paracelsus, Penelope Leon..., all of them distracted. The fact that there was one special person in the mix only made me more nervous.
"Oh, that's… hi...."
Lana von Sader.
She's here for what she promised me. In other words, she's here to get her powers.
Damn it.
(jegilal.)
At best, I saved Marin, and now she's not coming to help me, and I'm the one who's stuck with this shit. What a shitty marksman.
I sigh.
Talia is the first to come running.
"Nox…! You're awake!"
"…Well, you're a candidate for the Imperial Consort, so you'll have to put up with this, but you'll have to brace yourself for a lot of talking."
"Whew. A nobleman. You must be a pain in the ass. You're fun, aren't you?"
"I've told you before, a hero can't help but be a horny...."
"Shut up, all of you. One at a time, please. I don't think you realize it, but I'm a patient."
In the end, he even appealed for sympathy.
It was an uncharacteristic gesture from the Inner Lunatic's biggest villain.
* * *
There's one thing I've said many times in describing the nasty trait of [Weakling].
It turns you into a half-wit once a chapter anyway.
Lars was right when he said that periodic use of magic would make it less severe, but this time it was severe enough to make me feel like I was going to die.
Which means I'm lucky I didn't die.
It also meant it was time for the nagging from the units that cared about me.{1}
Like... now?
"Master, you are being reckless. I've told you many times, but this time you went too far. The family won't take this lightly, and I'm sure the patriarch will give you special attention...."
"Please forgive me, I have no desire to take the trouble to inform the patriarch."
A lame excuse.
But Zitri didn't even bother to listen.
"I've already written to him, and this time I have no choice. It's a big deal for the academy, and as a maid, I'm obligated to report your actions."
"...I see."
I grimly accepted.
She'd already sent a letter, so what could I do?
It's fate, and I'll take it.
Besides, I need to face Theo at least once. Breaking off his engagement to the Steiner family and becoming the princess's proposed consort.
Plus, I have a story to report about all the shenanigans at the Academy.
'Huh… Maybe I should have stayed down....'
The only good thing is that no one but Noah, Luna, and Marin really know about my troubles.
Hagiya and Noah, if they had their way, would not tell their father, Theo, that I, a mere cadet, had succeeded in defeating the Great Supply Demon, Paimon.
She's supposed to be in the Imperialist faction anyway, and he's in the Radicalist faction.
'Anyway, drawing more attention than necessary will only make more enemies. That's the last thing I want to do. ... Plus, if you think that what you showed against Paimon was your real skill, you're wrong.'
At the time, I had used up a lot of my life to activate my skills, and I had pushed the power of the Black Sword to its limits, even against a weakened Paimon.
'It's also true that Paimon's early awakening has upset the balance of power. Perhaps I am influencing this world.
If not, then someone else is playing another trick on this world I've possessed, and it's bothering me. I shook my head, fervently hoping that this possibility was not true.
I pondered for a moment, then eagerly turned my thoughts away.
A short while ago, after completing a brief medical treatment, I had held a small conference with the scions of the Three Great Dark Houses. It was about my future living arrangements and the reward I owed Lana.
First, Leon asked me how I had used their technology to revive the sword.
I told him that I had stumbled upon the scroll and used it, and he was surprisingly trusting.
-I mean, black magic is hard, but it's not like the scroll itself doesn't exist.
-Yes.
I said confidently.
It is a scroll, and I found it.
It's just that I got it by choice.
Besides, these assholes were brats.
Unlike Eleanor, I could get away with it.
That meant my acting skills were good enough.
Anyway, Leon was satisfied with my answers, offered to help me learn the dark arts in the future, and disappeared.
He's a nice enough guy, except for his occasional lapse in judgment.
The question came next.
"I… it's… well. I'm sure you're aware, but... being a succubus half-breed, there's only one way for me to get my hands on dark magic, and I was wondering if you could help me with that…?"
There it was.
A succubus.
They're a pretty major part of the demons. Most often, they are sleeping horses, known for draining men of their life force.
They do this by infiltrating dreams and giving visions.
However, there is no such thing as a water level development as people think.
Isn't it obvious?
The Inner Lunatic was an all-ages academy movie.
Of course, if you're asking me if it killed the characterization of the succubus, the answer is absolutely not.
lana looked at my face and scowled.
"It's just… I was wondering if you could… hold my little… hand… to… um. I mean, for, like, ten minutes…?"
I did.
Nightmare from Inner Lunatic.
In other words, there was only one way for succubi to restore their magic against male units.
Physical contact with the opposite sex.
And it's the touching of someone who is more attractive than you that gives you the most energy.
In layman's terms....
Nox, who has an insanely high charm rating, is seen by Lana as nothing more than a walking enchantment potion.
Suddenly, I'm wondering what kind of idiot plays this game twenty-seven times.
It's a bit self-deprecating, but it's also annoying.
Why?
Because I can see Penelope and Talia peering down the window above me.
Leon was already gone.
At first glance, it seems that the two of them are interested in what we are talking about.
'I don't think we'll be able to restore her magic here.'
After a moment's consideration, I nod and gesture toward Lana.
"Let's get out of here first, there are too many prying eyes."
"Ahh, yeah...."
Lana trotted along behind me with an innocent expression on her face, cowering from the murderous stares she felt coming from everywhere.
A look that oozed fear.
Like a gazelle feeding on fear.
'I'm not fooled.'
But after so many games, I know.
This unit. The other side of Lana von Sader.