Rou's eyes widened as Amelia's foot caught on a loose tile, sending her tray flying as she stumbled forward in a swirl of lunch and surprise.
Rou:
(There she goes...)
He stood straighter, reflexively scanning the room, expecting the prince to swoop in as scripted.
But the prince was still lingering outside, deep in conversation with a few nobles. Amelia, meanwhile, was tilting precariously closer, arms flailing as she tried to regain her balance.
Suddenly...
Rou:
[What am I doing here?]
He muttered while holding Amelia in his arms, realizing his instincts kicked in.
And before he even said that, his body had just automatically moved, stepping forward in time to catch Amelia as she crashed forward, her hands clutching his shoulders as she landed in his arms. Her wide green eyes met his in stunned silence, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment as she realized who had caught her.
Rou's mind raced as he recalled the game events, trying to piece together how he'd somehow ended up in the role meant for the prince.
Rou blinked, still half in disbelief as he helped Amelia back to her feet. She straightened herself, brushing off her skirt, and looked up at him with an expression of genuine relief.
Amelia:
[Thank you! I—I'm sorry for… uh, nearly knocking you over-]
Rou's eyes darted around the room, finally spotting the prince outside the canteen, laughing and chatting with his friends, oblivious to the scene. A flicker of irritation flashed across Rou's face as he muttered to himself.
Rou:
[OY! Isn't this your role!!???...]
Realizing he'd completely missed what Amelia had just said, he turned back to her, still looking a bit dazed.
Rou:
[Uh… sorry, what did you say?]
Amelia blinked, then gave a soft laugh, her cheeks flushed.
Amelia:
[I just wanted to thank you again—and apologize for my clumsiness.]
She offered him a gentle smile, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of gratitude and embarrassment.
Rou sighed, scratching the back of his head, a bit flustered himself.
Rou:
[Right. Well, just… watch your step next time.]
She nodded, still smiling, seemingly unaffected by his blunt tone. Rou couldn't help but feel a strange mix of annoyance and curiosity as he watched her.
Rou:
[This was supposed to be the prince's problem, not mine…]
As the day's classes wrapped up, Rou found himself lingering in the academy's courtyard, trying to make sense of what had happened in the canteen.
Rou:
[Did I mess up the game's events by stepping in? (he wondered, a slight frown creasing his brow as he held his fist close to his mouth.) I wasn't even supposed to be near her.]
He shook his head, trying to dismiss the thought, but he couldn't ignore the odd feeling gnawing at him—every time he'd caught a glimpse of Amelia after that moment, she seemed to glance his way. If he was in the library, she was there, subtly looking over a book in his direction. When he trained in the practice yard, he'd catch her watching from afar. The pattern was unsettling.
Rou scowled slightly, crossing his arms.
Rou:
[Why does she keep looking at me like that?]
Rou ignored everything that occurred with a hopeful smile and thought to himself that everything will go back to normal.
Night came...
Under the cover of night, Rou slipped quietly out of the academy grounds, navigating the darkened pathways with ease. The thrill of what lay ahead stirred in him, bringing a rare, hopeful smile to his face.
Rou:
[This is exactly what I need...] (he thought, excitement building as he moved toward his destination.)
He made his way through the forest surrounding the academy, finally arriving at a remote, concealed entrance hidden behind layers of twisting vines and dense shrubbery. Rou chuckled to himself, his grin widening as he pushed the vines aside and stepped forward.
Rou:
[If memory serves, there should be a rare item inside—a stat-boosting item. Enough to give me a real edge.]
Rou clenched his fists, his pulse quickening as he stood before the hidden dungeon's entrance.
Moments later.
Rou tore through the dungeon like a storm, leaving piles of monster drops scattered in his wake. Each enemy he encountered fell in seconds—some with a single punch, others with a series of swift strikes that left the air humming with the force of his blows. The thrill of combat fueled him as he pushed forward, eyes fixed on his goal: the dungeon boss.
At last, he arrived in the final chamber, its air thick with an ominous chill. Shadows swirled before him, and from the darkness, a figure emerged—a creature with the grim, skeletal visage of death itself. Clad in tattered robes that seemed to absorb the dim light, the reaper's hollow eye sockets burned with a ghostly, malevolent glow. In one skeletal hand, it clutched a scythe, the blade gleaming with an unnatural darkness.
Rou smirked, cracking his knuckles.
Rou:
[Just as creepy as I remembered.]
Without warning, the reaper lunged, swinging its scythe with deadly precision. Rou dodged to the side, narrowly escaping the strike, feeling the chill of the blade as it whistled past him. He retaliated with a powerful punch, striking the creature's ribs with enough force to shatter bone—but the reaper barely flinched. It swung again, and this time Rou ducked low, pivoting to deliver a solid kick that echoed through the chamber.
The reaper staggered, and Rou pressed his advantage, delivering a rapid series of punches that drove the creature back. But just as he was gaining ground, the reaper unleashed a chilling scream, filling the room with a dark energy that forced Rou to falter. He clenched his teeth, pushing through the heavy aura as he charged forward again, his fists blazing with energy.
Rou's every move was calculated; he recalled its attack patterns from the game, knowing when it would swing and when it would retreat. But even with his advantage, the creature's unnatural strength made each blow feel like a test of his own endurance.
The fight reached its peak as the reaper slashed its scythe in a wide arc, and Rou barely managed to duck under it, rolling to the side. Using the opening, he launched himself at the creature, landing a powerful punch straight to its chest. The reaper recoiled, and Rou didn't hesitate, delivering a final blow with all his strength.
With a resounding crack, the reaper collapsed, the eerie glow in its eyes flickering out. Rou straightened, breathing heavily, but his grin was victorious.
Rou:
[Not bad...]
Rou stood over the fallen reaper, his chest still heaving from the intense battle. As the creature's form dissolved, a small, glimmering object appeared on the ground—a vial filled with a dark, swirling purple liquid. The item he'd been seeking.
Rou's eyes lit up, and a slow grin spread across his face. The mere sight of the vial sent a wave of satisfaction through him, the thrill of victory pulsing alongside the knowledge of what lay in his hand. He reached down and picked it up, holding it up to the dim dungeon light.
Rou:
[This... this is it. It's exactly what I needed.]
Rou couldn't contain his excitement, and a low chuckle escaped his lips, building into a deep, sinister laugh that echoed off the dungeon walls.