By Your Side
Millije Heilo stared blankly at the back of the man standing before her. Such a slender back. It looked like it would shatter if she so much as tapped it with her fist. And facing him was that monster—the one born from the terror deep in her consciousness. The instant she laid eyes on it, her mind went utterly blank. She couldn't move a muscle, couldn't form a single thought. The fear she'd only vaguely imagined had become flesh-and-blood reality, amplifying her dread tenfold.
She had to crane her neck all the way back just to take in its size. Its entire body was shrouded in thick, matted fur. Four arms, three heads. The elongated snouts peeled back to reveal rows of savage teeth one after another, while those long, claw-tipped fingers scraped across the ground as it approached. A single touch from them would rip her body to shreds.
So when it drew close, she thought she was done for. No escaping this. She squeezed her eyes shut. Pathetic me, ending like this. That's what she'd thought.
"Snap out of it. What do you expect to accomplish standing there like an idiot?"
He grumbled casually, shielding her without a hint of concern. Standing before this colossal beast, he showed no trace of fear. Look at him—no hesitation against a monster that could make your legs give out just from sighting it. He was enjoying the fight.
Watching the battle unfold, Millije thought:
'That man... Adrian Rothschild de Repelheit.'
He'd been disowned by his family and cast into ruin amid all the scandals, but Millije shook her head. To her, Adrian was her benefactor. The one who'd grabbed her when she was about to abandon everything and leave the academy, urging her not to give up. Gratitude welled up alongside a heavy debt on her shoulders. She wanted to repay it, no matter what.
So Millije resolved:
'I'll put him back at the top of the Repelheit name myself.'
Even her goal of recruiting him... even using him... it was probably all for that. An absurd ambition, maybe. Elevating someone cast out by their house to its pinnacle? Everyone might call her a fool. But how would she know without trying? And to do that...
She couldn't just spectate from behind. It terrified her just to look, her feet refused to move. But she had to. Force those frozen legs forward, conquer the fear, overcome it. Shatter the terror squeezing her heart and stand proudly at his side.
"Your turn now, Millije."
Her senior—drenched in sweat—said this.
"Face your fear."
"...Yes, Senior."
An emotion she couldn't yet name as a young girl overpowered the terror and set her in motion.
* * *
This monster was just ugly on the outside; it couldn't actually harm me. Ghost-like—it phases through physical attacks. The catch? No bodily damage, but it hits your mind hard. In this fight, your character's "Stamina" is replaced by "Will."
"Millije."
"Yes, Senior."
A smile slipped out unbidden at her voice. Millije Heilo stood beside me, gripping her dagger with a resolute expression.
...She'd made up her mind. She'd resolved to confront her "fear."
Now, all that remained was to pierce through it and advance.
"Have you overcome it?"
"Yes, thanks to you, Senior."
Her gaze on me felt a bit off... but overcoming it was what mattered.
"You get one shot. Think you can do it?"
"Yes."
"Pour every ounce of your power into that dagger and stab its heart."
"Yes!"
Millije nodded, no longer trembling. The monster didn't stir, propping itself on three hands and staring blankly ahead. Not at me. I stepped aside a few paces, and Millije advanced, her dagger sheathed in radiant multicolored lights.
"Thank you all. For lending me your strength."
She was talking to thin air. No way. Already? Her affinity was freakishly high, but syncing with spirits in that short time?
Iridescent lights danced along the dagger—at least five elements visible.
Millije eyed the monster steadily, then spoke.
"You've done enough. But now... goodbye."
─Krrrng.
"Because I decided to stand by Senior's side."
Hurry up and kill it—the monster offered no resistance. That's this dungeon's gimmick. Once you've "fully overcome" the fear or trauma, the monster doesn't escalate.
Millije approached with steady steps, drew back her dagger—
"Hyaaah!"
—and with an adorably cute yell, plunged the prismatic blade into the monster's chest.
Then—
The beast's body swelled grotesquely, erupting in a blaze of light.
Boooom!
Glittering dust like starlight filled the sky, and a message appeared before my eyes.
Congratulations! You and 1 other have successfully cleared the Character Event Dungeon 'Trial to Overcome'.
'Millije Heilo' has confronted and defeated her own fear!
As a reward, 'Millije Heilo's' mental ailment 'Trauma' has been removed!
You are filled with resolve! A slight change is felt in your Will stat.
You sense the awakening of 【Dagger Arts: Basic】.
You have cleared a Character-Exclusive Event Dungeon. 'Sufle' becomes aware of your existence.
Good... that's done...
Trial cleared! Affinity with 'Millije Heilo' has greatly increased!
'Millije Heilo' views you as 'someone she wants to stand beside' and feels strong trust.
Current Affinity Level: LV.5
Affinity Level 5 achieved! You can now view more detailed info on Millije Heilo!
Affinity jumping five levels at once? Suddenly, unease crept in. That's the trait of low-Will characters: cripplingly low self-esteem. Skyrocketing affinity. I'd only seen this in the game once—on that route.
That case...
Chills ran down my spine.
"S-Senior."
"...Yeah."
"I-I'll work hard. I'm still not good enough, but I'll stand proudly by your side someday."
Her face flushed red, she shyly met my eyes.
Why did the hairs on my back stand on end?
* * *
"Well, Senior! See you next time!"
Back at Salenium, Millije waved cheerfully and headed to her dorm. Her steps were light as if she might float away, even humming a tune. She must've been over the moon about conquering her trauma.
...Well, of course she is.
She'd been bullied to the brink of dropping out. Now her chains were broken, and with her innate talent, she'd soar.
Yeah, grow strong and thrive.
"Alright, time for my own task."
Muttering that, I returned to my room. Kalen was still at the training grounds, it seemed.
"Hm."
Sitting at my desk, I selected a sheet of paper and uncapped my fountain pen. Propping my chin, I began etching words one by one.
"Hm..."
About ten minutes passed. I tapped the pen tip lightly on the desk and reviewed it.
"This should do."
Remember this when facing the puppet gripped by darkness.
As the fight drags on, the puppet will levitate, and eight shadowy hands of mana will emerge from behind.
Dark mana is lethal on contact—dodge at all costs.
The host can freely wield their elemental magic, so watch for spells merging from both arms.
Prolonged exposure to the darkness will drive the host berserk. Mana blasts mix with the host's attacks—treat every hit as fatal.
To defeat the 'puppet,' you need someone upright and just above all. And one more—she is the key to this strategy.
I'll convince her to join personally. Good luck.
Reina von Wolfgang.
May the glory of the West be with you.
Adrian
"Perfect."
It was a strategy guide. Every boss pattern detailed, packed tight with essentials. More than enough. Reina, with her info-gathering prowess, had likely pinpointed the culprit by now.
In the original, Erhan gathered clues to unmask the perp and led the subjugation team. But those "clues"? All planted by Reina, who'd figured it out first. Repeat Act 1 Chapter 2 enough times, and it clicks. Same here.
She'd recruit Erhan for sure, too. Separate from the plot flow, she thought highly of him.
Tomorrow, deliver this to her. Better safe with extra intel.
Come to think of it, I had a duty to ensure no one died. One named character down meant near-certain bad end. To prevent that, spill every scrap from my head.
Pondering additions, the door burst open.
It was her.
"You're back."
"Ah, Adrian. You're already here. I'll go wash up then—"
"Hold on, Kalen. Come here."
"Pardon? Ah... yes."
At my words, Kalen approached, tilting her head.
"What is it?"
"Your arm—alright?"
My gaze fell on her reddened right arm. Bandages off, but not fully healed.
"Oh, this? Yes... it stings a bit, but no real issue."
I see.
"I have something to tell you."
"Yes?"
"...About the 'Beast Summoning Incident'."
"Yes."
"If the culprit's revealed, what will you do?"
"Pardon? The culprit?"
Kalen's eyes widened.
"I've found the true perp behind the beast summoning. We're moving to take them down soon. Want in? No pressure if not."
"I'll do it—no, I want to."
No hesitation. She met my eyes with utmost seriousness.
"Please let me join you, Adrian."
"Then tomorrow morning, we meet Reina von Wolfgang."
She scratched her cheek, asking:
"You're... not joining, Adrian?"
"I am. But I've got prep to handle."
As I thought that—
"Adrian."
"Speak."
"Thank you."
She bowed deeply.
"...Truly, thank you. Without you, I wouldn't have survived that day."
"Just did what needed doing. That's all. No need for more thanks. I'm genuinely glad you're safe."
"Really...?"
"Not a shred of falsehood. I could swear it."
"Ah..."
She looked stunned. And then—
Affinity with Hyrin Snowwhite has greatly increased!
Hyrin Snowwhite views you as a 'comrade who overcame hardship together' and feels strong trust.
Current Affinity Level: LV.5
Level 5 achieved! You can now view more detailed info on Hyrin Snowwhite!
I'd hit Affinity Level 5 with another character. She fumbled briefly, then changed topics.
"...Um, Adrian, did you hear? Sub-Marquess Ebnis dueled Erhan, the knight department first-year runner-up today."
"Oh? Did she?"
Already starting? Transition from Chapter 1 to 2, end of the week. "That event" had kicked off.
Erhan, reviewing his 【Hero Sword】 from an unintended beast fight mid-spar, lands an unexpected hit on Ebnis.
—'What trick did you pull?! This can't happen!'
Normally, she'd demand a rematch—"A runner-up like you can't hit me"—chase him around, join the perp hunt, tag-team everywhere, tail the leads, expose my Melwood Elion as the true culprit, then fight him with Lumen Ribens and others.
"Who won...?"
"Sub-Marquess Ebnis crushed every first-year again with her blazing glare. Sigh, I thought something might change this time, but no surprises."
...What?
...Pardon?
No, really?