The Protagonist is a Girl
The protagonist of Project Luna, the monster gacha game, had never publicly revealed their face. Naturally, there was no voice actor either. But it was easy enough to tell from the dialogue alone whether they were male or female. After all, the heroines wouldn't go crazy blushing over how handsome another woman was, right? So the consensus was that Project Luna's protagonist was a guy.
...But why's she a girl?
There was no official canon on it, but who would've guessed? No wonder I couldn't find her no matter how hard I looked.
I extended a hand to the fallen protagonist.
"...You okay?"
"Y-Yes... thank you...."
"Just hang on a sec. I'll take these bastards out quick."
"I-I'll help too!"
With that, she held out the back of her hand. Moments later, a cute little 1-star summon appeared on it.
It didn't look like it'd be much help, but hey, she was the protagonist. I muttered a quick thanks and turned back to the front.
Anna, the holy knight of national salvation, was already locked in combat with the monster, shield and sword at the ready.
Monsters like these were the lowest of the low—something even a 1-star summon could mop up easily. But that wasn't the point.
The fact that monsters are here at all is the problem.
This was Canopus Academy, the summoner's cradle, the safest place on the continent for aspiring summoners. A monster breach meant the academy's defenses had been compromised.
Before anyone else shows up.
Just like in the game, Anna silently swung her sword and shield, holding the line. This was the second big reason summoners were essential in this world: summons couldn't fully unleash their potential without their summoner's commands.
I ordered Anna to use her finisher.
"Anna."
"Yes, Master!"
"Holy Cross."
"─Understood."
The cross etched on her shield began to glow white. A blinding crossbeam erupted from it, fanning out wide.
─Kieeeek!
The monsters touched by the light shrieked and writhed in agony. Light was the natural counter to monsters—that's why Anna, a mere 3-star summon, was a player favorite. Her mere presence cowed them.
─Kiririk!
As the monsters scattered and dissolved in the light, one held out—a boss-grade beast a head taller than the rest. Shaking off the light with its massive bulk, it lunged and clamped onto Anna's shield.
Of course, enduring that brilliance from afar was one thing; up close was another. The boss didn't last a second before it died.
But in that 0.1-second gap it created, the other monsters pounced. Their target: me.
Uh...?
"Master!"
Seeing the horde leap over Anna toward me, she cried out. I froze, too slow to react, squeezing my eyes shut in a pathetic stumble.
Was this it? Dying this easily?
No way...!
But the pain I braced for never came. Had I died so fast I didn't even feel it? Cracking my eyes open, I saw a massive pillar of fire roaring in front of me.
Whoosh!
"Jeez, always gotta play the hero."
That familiar husky voice jogged my memory of the game's story. In the gameplay, the protagonist soloed the monsters with difficulty, but the actual cutscene started with her saving them.
"For someone who charged in all alone, you sure look pathetic."
There stood Stella Iritz, contractor of the fire spirit Ifrit, arms crossed.
─Stella, what do we do with these punks?
"Burn 'em all, Ifrit."
─You got it─.
The 4-star summon, Fire Spirit King Ifrit, stretched out her arms. A ferocious pillar of flame shot skyward.
Gyahahaha! A delicate laugh echoed out.
Finally...
Chapter 1 of this world had begun.
Summons were forbidden inside Canopus Academy by school rules. By rights, Stella should've been punished for that fire show. If not for the unprecedented monster attack on a student...
After mopping up, the three of us headed to the infirmary. The protagonist, hit first, had some bruises.
"All done. No more pain anywhere?"
"N-No, thank you so much...."
"No sweat. Sorry we let this happen on our watch."
The infirmary teacher dismissed her summon—a 3-star healer that could even regrow limbs. Confirming the treatment complete, Principal Catherine grilled the protagonist with a stern face.
"So, what happened here?"
"I-I don't really know...."
Catherine pressed, but the protagonist knew zilch. She'd just gotten swept up in it, right? Sure, crazy stuff always happened around her, but that didn't make her the villain or anything.
Time for me to step in.
"They tunneled in."
"...What?"
"A tunnel."
Intrigued, the principal urged me on. Pretending my summons had scouted it, I recited the game's plot.
"There was a hole near where the monsters were. Had my summons check it out—leads a few hundred meters out."
"...I see. But how'd they bring monsters all the way into the city?"
"Dunno the details."
I knew, of course. But better to let them investigate than risk suspicion. By now, the inspection team had probably found the tunnel anyway, and the game revealed the demon summon method soon enough.
The principal nodded knowingly.
"Anyway, good work. Especially you... Sorry. As principal, I have no excuse."
"N-No, please don't bow, Principal...!"
True to her rep as one of the world's last true educators, she bowed deeply. The protagonist waved her off frantically.
Yup...
Seeing that sealed it—this girl was the protagonist. Straight out of the game scene. No voice acting, just binary dialogue lines and an infirmary CG, but spot-on.
She's the one.
Why she was a girl didn't matter. Forced plot device or whatever. What counted was glomming onto her for the EXP and rewards. Protagonists were story magnets; stick close, reap the benefits.
"I'll head out then. Got cleanup to handle... And keep today's mess quiet, you three."
With that, the principal left. The infirmary teacher was called away too, leaving us in heavy silence.
"Um, hey...."
"Yeah?"
Breaking the quiet, the protagonist fidgeted, staring at me. Twiddling her fingers, she finally blurted:
"Thank you! ...For saving me."
"No biggie. I barely did anything."
"Right? I saved you, not him."
Stella, who'd been listening, puffed up proudly. I couldn't argue—she'd legit saved my skin.
Reading my silence, she smirked, nose in the air, launching into her brag.
"Duh, what could a guy who lucked into a 3-star even do? Being a summoner isn't just contracting one—it's wielding it like your own limbs."
"B-But!"
The protagonist stood, wedging between us. The mood shifted.
"He charged in first and saved me! Without him, I'd probably be... by now."
"Ian."
"...Yeah?"
"Ian Clark. That's me."
No point letting her honorifics slide, so I gave my name. Realizing she hadn't introduced herself, she jumped in:
"Noah! Ah...."
She bit her tongue, blushing. Was the protagonist this type? I glanced at Stella; she tilted her head like why're you looking at me?
"What? Introduce yourself already."
"You don't know my name?"
"I do?"
"Then why bother?"
"Basic manners."
"...Stella Iritz. Nice to meet you."
Hearing the noble house name, Noah flinched and met her crimson eyes. Then she started trembling.
"A-Are you... from the Iritz Ducal House...?"
"...You didn't know?"
"S-Sorry for my rudeness...!"
"Whatever. Call me Stella here at the academy."
"O-Okay. Got it, Stella."
"Bolder than I thought. You."
They hit it off. Protagonist perk—insane chemistry with heroines. Watching the two beauties chat warmly, I locked eyes with Stella as she turned.
"Oh, Ian."
"─?"
"Debt's paid now! Call me for any more dumb crap and you're dead!"
"...Sure, whatever."
No reason to stick around now that I'd met the protagonist. I waved and left them behind.
Back in my room, clutching my pounding chest, I pulled up my status window.
The unique power only I wielded in this world. It promptly showed rewards and EXP from the fight.
"...Soul Stone?"
In the game, even level-ups cost currency. Heavy spenders got them as "clumped soul essences." But here?
How do I get 'em?
I dismissed the window and flopped onto bed. More stuff to figure out.
Finishing her bath and letting her maid attend her, Stella flushed at the words.
"Isn't that a date?"
"W-What!?"
"A guy and girl sipping tea at a café? That's what folks call a date."
"No way! A date?!"
She yelled at her attendant, denying the day's events. The maid whispered flatly:
"Over-denial is confession, milady."
"Nonsense! All nonsense!"
A date? With that obnoxious, pathetic, rude guy who couldn't even handle his own summon? Horrifying just to imagine. Goosebumps everywhere.
But her maid, hooked on teasing, kept going.
"You could've refused."
"T-That was... I didn't wanna owe him...."
"Owe? Didn't know you were short on funds, milady. Shall I lend you my wages?"
"That's not what I─!"
Now Stella caught on. The maid giggled, stopping her hair-brushing.
"All done, milady."
"...Thanks."
"My pleasure."
As the maid left for her quarters, Stella dove into bed, replaying the day. Ian Clark's face kept popping up.
"Uwaaaah!"
Thud thud!
Her tiny fists pummeled the pillow. She hammered so hard the mattress creaked, not stopping till her summon popped out from the commotion.
─What's up? Bed's shaking like crazy.
"N-Nothing...."
─You sure? Should I come back?
"N-No. Thanks for worrying, Ifrit."
─No prob. Oh, Salamander wants you to call her next time.
"Tell her I won't forget."
Dismissing Ifrit, the calmed Stella hugged her pillow and stomped her feet. The deluxe dorm bed held firm.
Me! A lady of House Iritz! On a date... with that guy?
Sure, today's heroics were kinda cool. Charging at a woman's scream, shielding her at personal risk. Straight out of a fairy tale. No wonder that Noah girl fell head over heels.
It's just the debt.
She owed him. The heirloom promise... Father's reply pending. Till repaid, she was at his mercy. Saving her life once evened it somewhat.
Pay it off, and I'll never see that loser's face again.
Vowing so, Stella buried her face in the pillow.