Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: The Hero's Wish
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Flinch.
Rak flinched upon seeing the scene of my depravity.
"W-What? Did something upsetting happen?"
"Maybe."
I patted the spot next to me on the bed where I'd been sitting.
The black-haired pretty boy, who'd been glancing at me nervously, trotted over, brushed his hair behind his ear, and plopped down beside me.
"Your hair's gotten a bit longer."
"Yeah. Still a ways to go before it's satisfyingly long, though."
He must have a ton of questions.
How much should I tell him? What should I even say?
Honestly, I had no idea.
All I could think about was forgetting everything and going off to fuck some delinquent pussy.
"Moro. What I saw... that was real, right?"
"Yeah."
"The demon tribe woman did that? Erased everyone's memories?"
Something like that.
From the hero's perspective, that made perfect sense.
"No. I erased them."
"...Huh?"
Rak's bright red eyes trembled slightly.
My confession seemed to leave him at a loss.
"───You erased them? What the hell does that mean?"
"Exactly what I said. I wiped everyone's memories except yours. That's why Elysia thinks you were the one who shone."
"Why would you do something like that?"
"Because you're the shining star of the academy. You have to be the hero. Not me."
I wonder how much got through. No clue.
But Rak paused, deep in thought, then scooted even closer to me.
Our thighs touched.
"I don't really get what you're saying, but if things went the way you wanted, why do you look so down?"
"Something bothering you?"
"Bothering me?"
"You look like someone burdened with all sorts of heavy thoughts. If you want, I can listen!"
Listen, huh...
Yeah, whatever. Since I've already fucked things up... I decided to come clean.
"Truth is, I'm the one who ruined your golden life, Rak."
"What are you talking about? Unless you're the one who saved me."
The truth is, I have a special ability.
I told him it lets me alter personal traits and manipulate wills.
The ability's called Trait Reset and Hypnosis Ghost.
Technically a clear reward, but whatever.
I confessed that with my first ability, I'd stolen half the power Rak was supposed to have.
"Stole it? The Moro I know wouldn't do something like that."
"Wasn't intentional at first. But after that? Pretty much theft. You knew and just looked away with those hazy eyes."
"......"
Rak listened quietly to my story.
Here I was spilling my guts to the protagonist of the game I possessed. Even I thought it was ridiculous.
Still, might as well say my piece.
"I love messing around with the academy delinquents. I just snatched your power—I don't have what it takes to be the hero."
"Hmm. So I could've been a tall, handsome guy like you, Moro?"
"Yup."
After hearing my full confession, Rak beamed.
"I like who I am now. You made me think that way, Moro."
"......You can't even comprehend what was taken from you."
"You gave me the belief that even if I'm lacking, I can change myself through hard work. Hating the self I gained that way? No way."
Rak nodded, seemingly content with his girlish appearance.
"You're hung up on your little dick."
"Of course I am! Nobody's ever fully satisfied with their body. We all want to be better. That's normal."
"But I don't resent you for taking some hypothetical version of me. Nope."
So protagonist-like.
No matter the adversity, Rak would overcome it.
At the same time, I recalled he was the protagonist who captivated countless main heroines.
"My dream of becoming the academy's shining star isn't some handout from pity. It's something I want to achieve together with everyone."
"You were destined to be the hero from the start. Born under that fate. And I'm the vile bastard who twisted it."
"After seeing how hard you've worked to protect our story, you don't seem vile at all."
───Rak's words made my heart skip a beat.
It felt like he'd seen right through my frantic flailing beneath the surface.
"You didn't even mess with Elysia using Hypnosis Ghost."
"Just... half-assed it."
"Then what about helping me catch up when I was falling behind?"
"That was..."
"Your feelings when you ran with me—they were real, right?"
...That day's memory. The sweat we shed together. It was real.
I didn't want to see the protagonist wallowing in misery, so I decided to run alongside him.
Rak had panted behind me, saying we'd go together.
"Back then, you saved me, Rak."
Rak smiled even in a situation where he could've felt utterly betrayed by a trusted friend.
"Thanks for running with me."
"I'm just an unwelcome intruder in your world-saving tale."
"My world-saving tale... I dunno. All I want is to keep pushing forward with everyone."
"Not because I believe in some grand achievements."
Rak wouldn't get it.
How glorious the path ahead was for him.
Knowing it all made my chest ache.
"If that stuff followed in the future you saw, Moro... it just means good fortune fell on the path I wanted anyway."
"No matter what I say... whatever I do in this party now feels awkward. Like, I'm actually stronger than the hero? Hilarious."
"Then why not rewrite the story from here as that kind of tale?"
That kind of tale...?
"From now on, it'll be a new story you and I write together! So no need to feel sorry about anything."
"How could I not? I..."
"You've had no one to apologize to all this time, huh? Must've been tough."
Rak reached out with his slender arm and patted my head.
Then he hugged me.
Due to our size difference, he fit perfectly into my arms.
Still, it felt like I was the one being held.
...I never expected comfort from him.
Something welled up inside me.
Receiving such warmth from the protagonist of the game I possessed...
"Like it or not, it's the story you made, Moro—so you gotta see it through! I like you, Moro... so I won't stand in your way."
"Should I just wipe all the memories and start over, Rak?"
With Hypnosis Ghost, I could reset anytime.
"You know that wouldn't mean anything, which is why you left my memories intact, right?"
"......"
"Those abilities were meant for me originally. But you used that power to save people, didn't you?"
These abilities...
Were mine by right?
"Sure... messing around with delinquents freely sounds... pretty lewd and intense."
Rak averted his eyes shyly as he said it.
Why? Tales of delinquent pussy are heartwarming and fun as hell.
"Hey, Moro. I have something I can't tell others. Can I say it?"
"Yeah?"
Then Rak's eyes and vibe shifted subtly.
"What is it?"
"With that ability... could you turn me into a girl?"
──────.
Time seemed to stop.
I never imagined Rak bringing up Trait Reset himself and asking to become a woman.
"You... want to be a girl?"
"Answer my question first, then I'll explain."
"Possible? Yeah. But it's a gamble... Your history could rewrite entirely, turning you into a completely different person."
Meaning a female hero Rak might've been born from the start.
"That's why you haven't used Trait Reset until now?"
"No issue using it on myself, but you lost your protagonist traits and lived a different life because of it. Totally plausible."
"......I see. That's risky."
"Now spill. You wanna be a girl?"
Rak hesitated.
"Fifty-fifty... maybe."
"Fifty-fifty?"
"I know I'm a guy, y'know? I like girls! I'm getting along great with everyone, happy as a male Rak."
Fair enough.
No way Rak was dissatisfied with his male life. Just look at how he got along with Elysia.
"Then why want to be a girl?"
"Look at me. So girly... feels like I can't properly play the guy role."
"...That's on me."
"Nah, nah. It's not blame... Just feels like I'd fit better as a girl. That's number one."
...Yeah, true.
His appearance stats matched the heroines'. Minus the flat chest, zero disqualifiers for female.
Perfectly optimized, even.
"And I like you, Moro. More than everyone else."
"...?"
"Wonder what it'd feel like to love you as a woman... and have your kid."
The confession was so massive, I fumbled my words.
"...You told me everything, so I'm telling you everything too!"
"So the gay vibes were real?"
"Not gay! I... I tried super hard to hide it, knowing you hate that stuff."
'Tried to hide it?'
Acting like a chill bro-friend? Despite reeking of heroine moves constantly? Hmm.
"I don't like it as a guy either! Just making that clear."
"Hell of a confession."
"I planned to take this to the grave."
"......"
My head spun wildly...
"You could've just hypnotized me to find out. Didn't, huh?"
"Would I be this confused if I had...?"
"That's why I can trust you and open up."
"......"
Yeah. I didn't.
If I'd done evil shit to the heroines or pried into Rak's secrets selfishly...
We'd never have this event of sharing secrets and bonding.
Is this the story Rak mentioned us writing together?
What genre even is this...?
"If you're gonna be disappointed, do it now. You'll freak at how ruthless I am with delinquents."
"...Kinda get the vibe. As a guy... playing with bad delinquent girls that fun?"
"Loads."
"Even... while choking 'em?"
"......While choking 'em."
"Kinda jealous. Wanna try that sex as a guy... but my little guy's hopeless."
"......"
"This half-baked state is partly your fault, Moro~?"
Rak said it playfully, but guilt stabbed me—I couldn't laugh.
Nothing to say in my defense!!
"So, you want me to turn you into a girl?"
"Not sure. 'Cause I also wanna make Elysia happy as a guy. If I had to pick, I'd want everyone happy."
"......Wishy-washy, yeah."
Can't commit to guy or girl.
"But from what you said, Moro—you're basically my other half, right?"
"......Romantic take, sure."
"Then it's natural I can't satisfy Elysia in bed as your half. Can't fulfill the proper guy role—it's decided."
"───Yeah, could see it that way."
"To take responsibility... you'll have to do it for me, Moro?"
────.
I saw this coming, somehow.
Chills ran down my spine.
...Legal NTR setup. What fate is this?
Rak quietly beckoned me closer, like come here.
I leaned in, ear to his mouth.
"I have a proposal..."
Whisper whisper.
What Rak murmured in my ear was utterly shocking.
"You...!"
"Shh."
Rak glanced around.
"Elysia would like that?"
"Dunno how it'll go. But... that's what makes it thrilling."
"────."
Sleep with Elysia.
I'd expected that much.
But the reason behind it? Beyond shocking.
Once I heard why, words failed me.
I could only click my tongue in disbelief once recovered.
"You're the abyss, Rak. No way you're hero material with that innocent face."
Totally insane.
"When you took half of me, maybe half of you mixed into me too. Hehe."
Stuff to laugh about...?
Tell any other heroine this, she'd scream and bolt.
"Moro, this feels like our story. The one you and I will write."
"At this rate, stopping the Demon King takes a backseat..."
"We'll all team up to stop him. You'll help, right Moro?"
"Ugh......"
Yeah.
I'll help. 'Cause you all matter to me.
Rak grinned trustingly, leaning into me—pure heroine mode. Shit. This was bad.
Turning the protagonist of my possessed game into a female lead!
That smile cast off all anguish, hesitation-free and alluring.
Suddenly, it hit me: maybe this tale's about a Hypnosis Ghost who hooked the world's most depraved hero.
"No regrets for real?"
"Yeah, please. Moro."
───I accepted Rak's proposal.
After my secret meeting with the hero, I came down to find Elysia waiting, glancing nervously.
"Moro!"
Elysia checked me over, purely worried.
"Sorry about earlier!"
I didn't know why she was apologizing, but she seemed to feel guilty in her own way.
"Rak told me. You fought for us, but why doesn't anyone remember...? But I really don't recall anything..."
Faced with the saintess's teary apology, I was stunned.
Wow.
To teach a delinquent this kind of moment? I'd have to knock her up how many times? No clue.
Main heroines nail it instantly. What a class gap.
To feel such deep remorse for something she couldn't even remember—how sensitive is she?
"Thinking back... you were the one who saved Rak from that crisis, right...?"
"......"
Good lord.
No matter how shallow the hypnosis... she recalled it herself?
"For some reason, I vaguely... feel like that's what happened. Makes me even sorrier. Why did I forget..."
"My fault for half-assing the power concealment. Don't sweat it."
"Moro..."
"I should be the one apologizing. Everyone's going all-out while I'm just spectating."
Elysia shook her head firmly.
"No. That's a role only you can play. Knowing you'll help when we're overwhelmed lets us go full throttle."
"......"
Truly grateful for her beautiful spin.
No wonder they're the saintess-hero duo.
How much she bolsters a guy who merely tripped on his own feet—thanks.
"Thanks for helping us, Moro... You're a precious comrade."
Elysia gripped my hand tight.
Prayer-like, both her hands clasped mine, her saintess warmth flowing over.
"So... don't say you're leaving."
"I that type? Guy who bails anytime?"
"Ah......"
"Don't worry. I'll stick around. Elysia."
"......"
Elysia smiled happily.
"I'm really glad."
───.
Keep it secret until Rak tells her himself.
That Rak wants Elysia's NTR.
And his reason is profoundly shocking.
"I can't make Elysia happy with my power alone, so you do it for me."
"I'll convince her."
Expected that far.
But what followed was pure shock.
"As things go well and Elysia falls more for you,"
"I'll suffer like my manhood's dying."
"Kill off my masculinity like that—deem it unnecessary."
"Crush it to bits, scatter it beyond recognition."
"Then I can be reborn as a woman────"
Fail: stays male.
Succeed: becomes female────.
The hero Rak proposed a devastating game, entrusting his gender identity to me.