Another Transmigrator? <em>Golden Chains Observation Log: Day 1 - Entrance Ceremony</em>

Every single word felt ominous. And it was written with such care, like a fan notebook title, using the original novel's name that I'd been desperately avoiding until just moments ago.

This wasn't the possession of some ordinary noble lady. Or any normal person, for that matter.

"Ugh..."

At that moment, the female student sprawled on the ground slowly pushed herself up. Faded orange hair hung long over her shoulders, and her oversized glasses had slipped down to the tip of her nose. Her uniform was definitely from the Imperial Academy, but something was off about it. There were clear signs she'd tried to wear it neatly, but the result looked oddly floaty. Or rather, not floaty so much as... familiar.

Not in an otherworldly sense, but like something you'd see on Korean internet labeled a "failed no-makeup makeup science nerd."

I picked up the fallen notebook. It was filled with familiar names.

"Ah."

It was chillingly accurate, like a direct comparison between the novel and reality. As if she'd read this novel before.

At that instant, the girl crawling on the ground spotted the notebook in my hand and freaked out.

"Ah, ack! That's—!"

"......"

Snatch— The girl shot to her feet and yanked the notebook from my hand. I silently looked down at her.

Oversized glasses. Outdated but not tacky outfit that clashed with her surroundings. No sign she'd dolled herself up ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like the noble ladies, yet she stood out with her own unique vibe.

This girl was definitely—

"Hey! You're the art bum!"

I twitched an eyebrow.

"Isn't that a bit rude? Calling me an art bum right off the bat."

"Ah."

She clapped a hand over her mouth and scratched her head.

"Sorry. No, I mean, I'm sorry. I was just so excited to meet you."

"Excited? I don't remember us ever meeting."

I deliberately took a haughtier tone. Two reasons. First, to confirm if she was a transmigrator. And if she was, I had to play the original ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Ian Ashy.

I wanted to hide the fact that I was a transmigrator as much as possible. Which meant I suddenly had to role-play as a third-rate asshole villain.

...Damn, I'm not confident in this.

This body was originally a super polite, Confucian gentleman incarnate!

"Hey. You deaf? We've never met, so why act all chummy? How many times does my hand need to meet your face before you speak properly?"

"Pfft, pffft! Totally thug-like."

"?"

What an absurd girl. Which part of my gentlemanly soul screamed thug? And if I seemed like a thug, shouldn't she be scared instead of impressed?

I couldn't quite pull off an exaggerated Oh? Really~? head tilt, so I switched strategies.

"Ian Ashy of the Ashy Barony. And you are?"

"Ah—! The third-rate villain!"

"You wanna die for real?"

"No— sor, sorry! Hehe. I'm Seo Yujin! Ah!"

A brief awkward silence fell.

Yup. Transmigrator confirmed.

Who was this clumsy and easy to read? While I was thinking that, Seo Yujin—or whatever—rolled her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eyes frantically, as if brainstorming an excuse.

Chirp, chirp, chirp. Only after sparrow-like tweets echoed did she speak.

"Kano. Kano Ameri. Of the Kano family. No. Kano Ameri of the Ameri family."

"Miss Ameri."

...You're so scatterbrained, you won't survive long in this romance fantasy world.

I swallowed the boomer advice. Saying that might make me feel obligated to look after her.

Instead, I decided to tease her more. Her reactions were fun.

"What's with the stuff in this notebook? It's written like the entrance ceremony scenes today were all pre-planned."

I spun the notebook on my finger, and Kano reached up for it.

She was pretty short.

"G-Give it back!"

"Nah."

"I'll cry."

"Don't buy it."

"I won't actually cry, but I'll be upset."

I nearly snickered but held it in.

Hmm... what was it? Like a small, skittish animal?

I tossed the notebook lightly (third-rate villain acting) and pressed her a bit more.

"Anyway, you still haven't answered. Why write the entrance ceremony like it was scripted?"

"Ah? Um— th-that's... Euuuuh?"

She panicked visibly.

Oh man, this is hilarious.

Pretending to be a novel character while trolling another transmigrator was too fun. Was I developing a bad hobby?

—Keep a pure heart, they say. Some advice floated up, but screw it. I wanted to enjoy the moment.

How scary would it be if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠someone clocked me as a transmigrator? This was a secret only fellow transmigrators could know!

After rolling her eyes and trembling, Kano finally spoke.

"Pro, prophecy. I'm a prophet! Hehe!"

"Pfft!"

"Huh? Why? Why laugh? I-It's true!"

No, it was just too clichéd. I'd probably use the same excuse.

I considered teasing more, but seeing Seo Yujin—no, Kano Ameri—fidgeting with tears welling up, I figured this was enough for now.

Save the rest for later. Heh heh.

Anyway.

She seemed useful. The notebook was packed with details proving she was a true reader of this novel.

So, time to play along.

"Never seen prophecies this detailed. You must be one hell of a prophet."

"R-Really—?"

"Hmm. Might need proof, though."

"P-Proof?!"

"We'll do that later."

"Phew, saved."

I chuckled inwardly at her relieved sigh.

But better question: something she'd like.

"How much has the entrance ceremony today diverged from the future you knew?"

"Ah—! That one!"

Kano Ameri adjusted her glasses and lit up like an excited otaku fangirl.

"The saintess's face looked a bit more mature? Like, more adult-like than described. And Prince Leonhardt—kyaa! He's insanely hot. Love it."

"...Spare me the personal opinions."

"Sor, sorry. And this is a big change: Lady Judith should only have eyes for the crown prince and saintess."

"But?"

"She didn't."

Kano's gaze dropped to me.

"She looked at you."

"Must be a mistake."

"No. Twice."

"You saw wrong."

"At the academy entrance and inside the auditorium."

...Entrance too? I hadn't noticed.

Suddenly, chills.

"Vivid imagination."

"It's observation, not imagination."

Kano pouted indignantly, then continued with intrigued excitement.

"And the fun part? The changes didn't happen suddenly."

"......"

"The overall vibe shifted recently."

"What do you mean?"

"Everyone's quiet about it, but their gazes are wavering."

"Gazes?"

"Ever since those suspicious books started circulating."

Ah. I shrugged nonchalantly.

"A few dirty books aren't changing anything."

"That's the problem—they are."

Kano took the notebook back and whispered low.

"Once people discover new tastes, it changes them more than you'd think."

"No idea what you're on about."

"Really?"

Kano adjusted her glasses with a grin.

"For example, the pure saintess gets excited every night looking at drawings of herself."

"That sounds like some erotic novel... Women don't even read that stuff..."

"Huh? They all pretend not to, but they devour it. I wanna read it so bad but can't get my hands on any. Such a shame."

...That's what she meant?

Kano snickered and continued.

"Low odds it'll happen, but possible. That's why I'm logging the divergences from prophecy."

She gave up hiding it from me and openly pulled out the notebook, scribbling away.

"Hey."

"Yes?"

"Erase the last line."

"Third-rate thug better?"

"My name is Ian Ashy. No, erase it all."

"Why?"

"Observe what?"

"Need to."

She stared up at me blankly.

"Why?"

"Told you. Lady Judith, key to this prophecy, looked at you twice."

"Just twice—"

"Maybe just twice to you, but I need to know why."

"Why?"

"You and Lady Judith are fated for lots of bad deeds."

...Ah.

Right. That did make it suspicious.

But even more reason not to cooperate.

"Why should I help? Forgot? Ian Ashy of the Ashy family."

Doesn't she fear third-rate villains?

And right then.

Kano raised her index finger.

Shing. A faint light bloomed from her fingertip.

A thread-thin silver line sliced the air, neatly severing the stone edge of the flowerbed beside me.

...Huh?

"...What was that."

"Sword aura."

Sword aura from a finger? You a swordmaster or what?

This insane romance fantasy world. Why'd she get that and I get nothing!

Before I could vent my complaints.

Kano shrugged.

"Convinced to cooperate now?"