This Is What Romance Fantasy Is All About (3)
Hm? If you could go back to the past, would you want to?
It was a sudden question, but Zeke already knew exactly how to answer.
Honestly, if he could go back to the past, what couldn't he do?
If he returned to his days as a total shut-in, a pure gamer NEET rotting away in his room,
he'd immediately yeet his computer out the window with a three-pointer and crash into bed for the sleep of his life.
And even if he went back right after being summoned to that dark fantasy world, that wouldn't be so bad either.
Starting over with the full walkthrough in hand was worlds apart from being dropped in buck-naked with nothing but his birthday suit.
Back then, it had taken a grueling ten years to barely clear it,
but if he returned to that point now, he could wrap it up in under a year and head straight back home.
Right at the start of the summoning, that mad bastard would still be weak. Hell, I could crush him from the jump? One-week clear?
And the moment after saving the Dave Continent and returning to Earth?
What was there even to say?
He'd just ignore webnovels altogether and live out a normal, quiet life until he keeled over.
Yeah, Zeke definitely wanted to go back to the past if he could.
He still had no clue how to get out of this place, after all—the uncertainty gnawed at him.
Zeke nodded.
"Indeed. If I could return to the past, I would."
Serena's face crumpled like she was about to burst into tears.
"Even without your memories?"
Come to think of it, she doesn't know I'm a different person in this body, huh?
But he couldn't exactly spill the beans about possessions or summonings.
It'd be a nightmare to explain, and if he didn't get slapped with the "crazy" label, he'd count himself lucky.
"Yes. Even so, I'd want to go back."
"...B-but then, when you left the military, those memories might torment you again. You suffered so much you lost them entirely...!"
Serena pleaded with him through her glistening eyes, as if begging him to reconsider.
Painful memories? Oh, the money scam and the academy instructor gig. She's still hung up on that. Wasn't even the crossdresser's fault—blame it all on Iriel.
Only then did Zeke start to piece together why Serena had brought this up out of nowhere.
This body's original owner seemed deeply entangled with Iriel in the past.
And yet, even after that Iriel had wounded him, was he really willing to reclaim those memories? That's what she was asking.
Ha. Really.
She should worry more about herself.
Zeke found Serena's delicate consideration equal parts amusing and ticklish.
Moments like this drove home that this wasn't some dark fantasy world.
"I'm fine, Serena."
But Serena's expression didn't soften one bit.
Her lips tugged downward in worry.
Zeke placed a hand on her cheek.
His fingertip gently nudged the corner of her mouth upward.
She flinched, startled.
"The reason I'm fine now? It's all thanks to you."
"...!"
Serena's eyes widened.
"Everything I lost back there—you filled it all again. Not Iriel. You."
"...Ah."
Zeke gave a small smile at her concern.
This face, once too stiff even for an awkward grin, felt a little freer lately.
Emboldened, he added one more line.
Infusing it with a warmth he'd never received even in the dark fantasy world.
"Even if I went back to the past, how could I ever forget you, Serena? So don't worry."
"Ugh... Eek!"
Serena's face flushed crimson, ripe as a ripened apple all the way to her earlobes.
She stumbled backward in retreat.
Tch, did I overdo it?
Zeke was self-aware enough to feel a twinge of embarrassment at his own words.
"H-how can you just touch my face like that!"
Serena squeezed her eyes shut.
"I-I'm stepping out for a sec!! Makeup, I need to fix my makeup!!"
Ah, right—never touch a girl's face. Especially with full makeup on.
Zeke nodded.
Can't blame her for living in a romance fantasy world. Makeup's a big deal for women here. Gotta watch that.
Zeke's knowledge of romance fantasies increased by 1.
Suuuuck... exhale.
Suuuuck... exhale.
Standing outside the door, Serena clutched her pounding chest and took several deep breaths.
For a sensitive girl like her, Zeke's words and touch were far too stimulating.
A-ah, Instructor...
Her hand drifted to the cheek he'd just touched.
That thick, masculine hand.
The sensation lingered on her skin.
- It's all thanks to you.
- Not Iriel. You.
- Even if I went back to the past, how could I ever forget you?
His words echoed in her ears on repeat.
Ahh, why didn't she have a recording crystal on hand?
If she did, she could record his voice and play it every night as a lullaby to drift off to.
"Hnnngh. W-what do I do..."
Serena stomped her feet.
Her body floated like she'd done drugs.
Not that she'd ever tried, but this had to be it.
Her heart squeezed painfully tight, her vision spun dizzily.
Her mood showed no signs of calming.
Then,
"What are you doing out here?"
Iriel returned from freshening her makeup.
Slap—!
Serena smacked her own cheek.
Her face snapped back to normal in an instant.
Iriel stared at her like she'd spotted something bizarre.
Smacking her own cheek out of nowhere, then going stone-faced.
No, that twitching lip corner was seriously off-putting.
This girl. Did she eat something bad?
Serena turned to meet Iriel's gaze.
"Oh, yeah. It's you, Iriel."
But she couldn't hide the dreamy lilt in her voice.
And fresh off hearing those words from Zeke, any jealousy toward her had evaporated long ago.
Instead, a soaring sense of superiority welled up in her chest.
"Ah, finished with your makeup? Hehe. Eily did a great job—looks pretty. Let's head in together."
"W-what?"
Iriel recoiled at the overly friendly giggle and nickname.
"Hehe. The instructor and I have stuff to talk about. Hehe. Didn't Zeke say he was curious how he became my savior? Hehe."
"..."
"Hehe. And I'll make sure you keep attending the academy. Hehehe."
"..."
What's with her all of a sudden?
What the hell happened while she was fixing her makeup?
Iriel couldn't adjust to Serena's sudden attitude shift.
"Hehe."
"..."
That icy cackle grated on her nerves,
but her curiosity won out, so she followed Serena back into the parlor.
Iriel and Serena returned to Zeke and took their seats.
"Now that the instructor's here, I'll start by telling him first."
Serena said, eyes locked on the Yohayden crest hanging behind Zeke.
Wondering if something was there, Zeke glanced back—nothing.
"Instructor."
"Hm."
"Could you attend the Yustia banquet with me soon?"
Zeke's brows furrowed.
Banquet? That thing? Where nobles gather to sip wine and yap about politics?
Honestly, it sounded like a hassle, totally not his scene—he wanted to bail.
But there had to be a reason she was asking.
"Why?"
"Well, I know you don't enjoy that sort of atmosphere. But this time, you've become a target for Yustia."
"True..."
"You shook them off this time, but they won't give up. Right?"
Serena sought agreement from Iriel, who nodded reluctantly.
"Yeah... You'd know better than me, Zeke, but... Aunt Hella's obsession runs deep..."
Zeke stroked his chin.
For now, they'll be too busy chasing Lost Hope goons... but they might still bother me...?
He'd tossed them a huge lead, figuring Yustia would be occupied for a while, but Hella seemed tenaciously persistent.
Whatever Serena's planning, I should hear her out.
"So, what does that have to do with attending Yustia's banquet?"
"...There, I'll publicly announce that you saved my life."
"Why?"
"If I declare you're Yohayden's benefactor right there, it'll make it awkward for them to touch you."
Ah.
Overthrowing Yustia solo would be easy,
but he didn't want the hassle to hurt Serena or the people she cared about,
putting them in a bind.
Her proposal hurt no one and dragged nobody else in.
Just lending my name, huh.
Her best shot.
Help without the burden.
Not bad.
She's got some chops.
Then Iriel cut in from the side.
"So what do you mean Zeke saved your life?"
"Yeah, you should know ahead of time too, Iriel. I'll explain. That's okay, right, Instructor?"
Serena glanced at him for approval.
Zeke nodded.
This was her strategy.
He'd see how far his student had thought this through and how she'd execute it.
Serena turned to Iriel and spoke.
"First off, this: Instructor Zeke has no memories of his past."
"What!?"
Iriel's eyes flew open as wide as they could go.
Zeke was just as shocked.
Wait, she's dropping that bomb here!?