Two Idiots
“How does someone who doesn't even know the game's story end up possessing a character in it?”
Evan asked me again, her face a mix of disbelief and exasperation. It was a fair question—getting isekai'd into Triam Academy, where the story was the main draw, without knowing the plot?
“I've got a bit of a sob story on that front. You think I'd have guessed I'd get zapped here by some god just from messing around with card games?”
I aired my grievances. I'd only downloaded that game to dip my toes into card battling, but if I'd known possession was on the table, even I would've skimmed the story. As it was, once I got dragged in, reading it became impossible. All I could do was play it out to the end my way.
“So you ignored the story in Triam Academy and just played card games...? And that's what got you isekai'd...?”
Evan looked utterly baffled, like each detail was a puzzle piece that refused to fit. Possession was commonplace these days—everyone and their dog had some excuse—but my case was weird enough to warrant that reaction.
“Speaking of which, how'd you end up possessing someone in this game?”
Watching her eyes dart around like pinballs, I couldn't help but wonder about the other possessor. If my reason was this absurd, what kind of tale did Evan have?
“Huh...? My story...?”
“Yeah, yours. Mine's so bizarre, now I'm curious about everyone else's.”
When I pressed her, Evan fixed her wandering gaze on me. Under the dim light, her red eyes gleamed as they locked on, then slid sideways in clear evasion. Anyone could see they screamed, I don't wanna talk about it.
“Mine's probably boring anyway...”
Sure enough, she fidgeted with her fingers, dodging like her life depended on it. It wasn't just reluctance to share—it felt like there was something deeper she couldn't spill.
“Well... can't force it. Oh, but untie me first, yeah?”
I dropped the prying and switched to demanding my freedom. My arms were starting to go numb from being bound so long.
“Oh... right... I'll do it now. Should've untied you the second I knew you weren't a threat. Sorry.”
She eagerly granted my request instead. Shoving the chair aside, she circled behind me and started working the knot where the ropes tangled tight.
“......”
“......Yeah.”
But the ropes were tied way more securely than I'd thought—no give at all. The silence stretched as time dragged, and naturally, Evan broke it first.
“...Lerven, not that I don't appreciate the kindness, but you give up pretty easily, huh...?”
She seemed puzzled why I wasn't digging deeper. Fair point—this mess started with my lie, but she'd struck first, so I could've pressed for her backstory if I'd wanted. If I'd wanted to, that is.
“Eh, no urgent need to hear it, and you obviously don't wanna talk. Pushing would just be bullying. So I backed off.”
We'd barely been at the academy an hour. More info was always good, but nothing screamed gather intel now or die. Even if some unknown threat loomed, Evan knew the story better than me—she'd have acted already. Her hanging out with me like this proved no immediate crises were brewing.
“Save the boring stuff for when I'm so bored I need something to kill time.”
No point tormenting someone who didn't want to share. Everyone had a skeleton or two in the closet.
“...You're more considerate than your actions suggest, Lerven.”
“What's wrong with my actions?”
Despite my genuine courtesy, she hit me with backhanded praise. I felt a surge of injustice. I'd gone out of my way to be nice, and this was the thanks? Time to tweak that old proverb: Don't adopt beasts with black fur or golden hair.
“...Who was it that insulted Princess Sidus and nearly got her disqualified?”
“......”
Her deadpan jab shut me up cold. No rebuttal there. To anyone watching, that stunt was off-script for Triam Academy—a wild butterfly effect no one could predict.
“What if she'd actually gotten DQ'd? The story would've derailed from the start...”
“Oh, Sidus is a main heroine too?”
“With her background and looks? Duh. Good thing she made it in anyway—any more wrinkles and...”
She was mid-scold, fumbling with the ropes, when her hands froze. Like someone stepping out for the day only to remember the gas was on.
“Um... Lerven?”
“Yeah?”
“I think I might've screwed up like you did...?”
“......”
Her words hit like a brick, freezing my face solid. Good thing she was behind me, untying ropes—she couldn't see. James had once freaked out at my death glare, begging me never to make that face again.
“...How big a screw-up are we talking?”
I fought the we're fucked vibe closing in, asking anyway.
“......”
No answer. But her silence wasn't evasion—her hands sped up on the ropes.
“......!”
Rip. Patience snapped; she just yanked the ropes apart with brute force. They clattered to the floor like a busted chopstick, and I was finally free.
Thud. Evan bolted forward to the room's only door, planting herself there. Hand on the knob, face pale as death, she glanced back.
“Lerven, you into... brawling...?”
“Pardon? Don't tell me your screw-up was—”
“...You'll see.”
Click. Still ashen, she twisted the handle and flung open the heavy iron door. A dark corridor stretched beyond, faint wind carrying dust from the glaring white exit at the end.
Evan stepped out first. Her chatter had dried up, suggesting the mess was too tangled for a quick explanation.
Clack. Neck stiffening, I followed. Light poured stronger into the passage with each step, murmurs swelling into a roar.
“Haa...”
My instincts, honed by countless bullshit twists, pieced it together. Exiting this tunnel meant walking into doom. And no backing out now—Evan would've cut me loose if there were.
“Ugh... I'm really sorry, Lerven...”
She halted at the threshold, apologizing again. Whatever she'd done had her shaking, but whining wouldn't fix it.
“...I'm used to this kinda thing. Whatever's waiting, let's just go.”
“...Okay.”
Step. She trudged out into the blinding light. I followed right after.
“”Woooaaahhh────────!“”
“”Fight! Fight! Fight!“”
A tidal wave of stares and cheers crashed over us.
“...‘Brawling’ means this?”
“Probably exactly that...”
A vast flat arena, ringed by towering circular seats packed with roaring spectators. Down below? Just me and Evan.
“I... kinda challenged you to a duel...”
“...Yeah, that's no ordinary screw-up.”
One implication: per Evan, I now had to throw down with her. In front of everyone.