The Obsessive Fan's Oath
My head spun.
What the hell had I just heard?
"......What did you say?"
"I'm a fan! I've been your fan for ages! Can you give me your autograph?"
It was definitely the same girl I'd seen earlier.
Definitely her......
A whole new assassination method?
Like stabbing me up close pretending to be a fan, or poison on the T-shirt......
But Ashy pulled off something even wilder than my imagination.
"Oh, if signing on the T-shirt is weird, you could do it here instead......"
She lifted her shirt. Way too high. Like, practically stripping it off!
Her stomach peeked out, and I freaked.
"Whoa, hold on! Stop!"
"?"
"This is gonna get censored! Cut it out!"
If it gets banned, I'd have to rewrite the damn thing!
"You know you want more when you tell me to stop, right?"
Thankfully, she halted.
Ashy, unlike her initial ice princess vibe, grinned at me with a mischievous smirk playing on her lips.
This felt even scarier.
"Look at your red face~ So innocent. Adorably cute, seriously."
I'd heard celebs love their fans, but this kind of love?
If fans were all like this, I'd quit and vanish for good.
My head throbbed. But I sensed no malice from her. Which made my head throb even more.
I activated my blessing. Nothing showed up. Meaning she wasn't a 'villain'.
Faintly, I could feel her emotions. Pity, joy, ecstasy......
"What do you want?"
"An autograph! Oh, if clothes make you uncomfortable, you could draw it here......"
"No, hey. Are you nuts? I said it'd get censored!"
"Psh, so what if it does? As long as I'm happy."
Crazy bitch.
"Hmm, I'd love to keep chatting here, but we're drawing some aggro, huh? Wanna go somewhere else?"
"How about I just sign and you leave?"
"Then she might spill that."
Should I just kill her?
Killing intent surged for a split second, but I barely reined it in.
Getting in trouble for murder would be on me alone.
I'll deal with her later......
For now, I needed to figure out what she really wanted.
"You like macchiatos, right?"
"Never tried it."
"Give it a shot. It'll be delicious. Oh, and this sandwich too......"
Ashy excitedly ordered a ton of stuff.
Honestly, I wanted to bail and go home, but I had shit to uncover, so not yet.
Following her order, Ashy pointed at the macchiato.
"Just three ice cubes, not too sweet—just the right amount—paper straw no, regular straw, and big size, please."
"......?"
Is that how you order normally?
Whatever.
We sat across from each other, and Ashy fetched the coffee and bread quick. She'd been beaming non-stop.
It pissed me off for some reason.
"Why the grin?"
"'Cause I'm happy. You wouldn't get it—the feeling of being with your fave!"
"......What bullshit is that."
A possessor?
Nah, probably not.
Regressor, possessor, reincarnator......?
As someone who'd read plenty of fantasy novels, these terms rang familiar.
But here? Doubtful.
Mana and aura existed, sure, but still......
If there was one, wouldn't they have told me?
Maybe they couldn't, but they'd have hinted.
"How do you know me?"
"Well, that's......"
"And how'd you figure out my real identity? Spill it straight. Lie, and I'll gut you."
Unbidden, an intangible aura wrapped around me naturally.
The air sharpened.
Ashy's beaming face finally faltered a bit.
"Okay, okay. Don't get mad."
"Answer first."
"How much can I even say......"
She chewed her lip, pondering, then spoke.
"■■■ years ago from......"
ZZZRT!
Static noise floods your ears. Nothing audible.
......What?
Insane noise drowned everything out.
A massive headache hit, my vision flashing white.
"......Assassination attempt?"
"No!"
I gripped my sword tight, and Ashy flailed her hands in panic.
"For real! I swear on my mana! I'd never antagonize or attack you!"
Swearing on mana was life-or-death. You'd lose mana and half your body functions.
But I didn't release the hilt.
"Then what was that? You know what it was, right?"
"......Ever heard of 'causality'?"
"Yeah. How do you know that word?"
Causality. The world's law.
"Even if I want to say it, causality blocks me. If it lifts, I'll tell you right away. I can swear on mana."
Swearing on mana was life-or-death.
Her casual repeats made me lean toward believing her.
"Can you swear to this too?"
"What?"
"That you'll never harm me or my friends."
"Sure."
No hesitation in her eyes.
"I swear. My only goal is to help you. No other motives. Dead serious."
"Why?"
"■■■■......"
"Stop! Stop!"
This headache hit harder than before.
What the fuck?
I was the War God's sole priest. Blessings meant for many priests concentrated solely on me.
Tough body, resistant to diseases and wounds—and yet causality ignored it all, slamming me with migraines.
"......Fine. Swear that much, I'll believe you."
"Really? Thanks!"
Ashy beamed brighter than ever, grabbing both my hands tight.
"Thanks for trusting me. You won't regret it—I promise."
Her affection felt one-sided.
Weirdly awkward. Affection toward me always had reasons.
Looks, status, whatever.
But Ashy's? No clue. Blocked by that grand 'causality' bullshit.
One-sided malice might've been better.
Unwanted memories surfaced.
Ashy reached into her pocket and pulled something out.
......Why's that coming from her pocket?
A choker and leash, like for a pet animal.
She handed them over, tilting her neck.
"If you doubt me, hold my leash."
"I don't wanna keep you that close."
"Aww, c'mon. I'll give you a gift instead."
"If it's weird, I'm out."
"It's not! Probably why you came to the academy."
"?"
Ashy waved a wooden sword.
"I can teach you the sword."
"!"
Ashy's swordsmanship. The scent and aura from her first swing were burned into my brain.
"......Even without you, I—"
"You tried mimicking my sword, right? Nailed it easy. Four swings, and you matched it perfectly?"
Chills everywhere. Stalker confirmed?
"Know why?"
Ashy whispered like spilling state secrets, hand to her mouth.
"'Cause that's your swordsmanship."
What nonsense?
"Told you, I'm your fan. Think I don't know your sword style?"
"How do you know a sword style even I don't?"
"Power of fandom!"
What drivel.
"Kyaa," Ashy squealed, cupping her cheeks.
"I'd rip out my guts for you."
"......Wanna go to the temple?"
"Date invite?"
"No. Commitment papers."
Definitely crazy bitch.
"Oh, wait—I can tell you one secret."
"?"
"My three sizes."
No normal people around me, huh.
Miss you, Eodukshini.
Ashy drew attention from profs and freshmen differently than me.
Last year's class was called the worst ever, grades trash. So top-merc Ashy got love calls from every prof.
"Sorry, gotta go."
"Bye. Don't come back."
"Eyy, that'd make me sad. Oh, try that coffee! Matches your taste perfectly!"
Ashy waved wildly as she left the cafe.
Haa...... Exhausted.
Nearby folks finally looked my way after she vanished.
Curious stares, jealous glares. I'd ignore normally, but mood sucked.
"What're you staring at? Eyes down, or I gouge 'em?"
I snarled, and they whipped heads away.
Fucking nobodies annoying me.
Ding~.
Door opened, someone entered.
Ignored, shoved a sandwich in my mouth.
Tasted good. Perfect for my palate.
Made me moodier.
How the hell did she know?
For now, peg her as regressor, possessor, or reincarnator.
Reincarnator? Nah—how'd she know me?
Possessor or regressor most likely. Or another god's priest...... No divine power or faith from her.
Possessor means this is a novel world?
Don't care.
I'm possessed, breathing here—it's real.
-Damn...... you little shit......
"No onions."
-Damn master's spawn!
"Wanna die?"
Eodukshini had climbed the last sandwich, gnashing teeth.
I snorted, snatched it.
"Where you gonna eat? How'd you even get in?"
"I brought him."
Adria plopped down naturally.
Pushed aside Ashy's coffee cup, ordered her own.
"How'd you get here?"
"......He's your divine beast, right? I know where you are. Hey, leaving him alone? Almost kidnapped."
"Not that weak. You weren't losing to kids, were you? I didn't raise you that soft."
-......You never raised me at all!
Eodukshini shrieked.
Felt a tad guilty. Tore off some sandwich for him.
"Mine?"
"......? Nope."
"......You're the only one treating a celeb like this."
"Problem?"
"Nah. Hey, gimme some anyway. Starving."
"On a diet?"
"Cheat day. C'mon, for your friend."
"Aigoo, here you go, miss."
Bought another sandwich, handed it over.
Cafe had fair prices, good food.
If I enroll, I'll hit this place.
Ah, but coffee won't make me taller.
"Results when?"
"Varies by rank. Top 10 and specials out today."
"Oh."
Wait, and it'd come.
Three hours of killing time, outside got rowdy.
A massive signboard floated in the air.
"Ooh, results out."
"Let's check. What rank you guess?"
"Didn't take the exam?"
"......Jerk."
Yeah, special admit. Jealous?
"Excuse me, coming through."
"Hey, who—gasp."
Pushed through, checked the names.
"O. Third? High score."
"Underestimating me? My dad's the emperor, y'know?"
"Genetics hit hard."
"My effort!"
"I know, kidding."
Almost cracked a rib.
"Liar."
"Yeah, thought ninth was decent."
Ninth's still high.
"Wanna test?"
"I won't die from it."
"Oh? Let's verify with this!"
"Wait! Cheat, cheat!"
Yanking a nearby tree? Low blow!
I bolted in panic.
But a small smile tugged my lips. A tiny thrill.
This time, real school life!
Please, normal school days!
-Rot in hell, you demon!
......Gotta fix the nearby issues first.