The Confrontation
The practical exam that day ended up fizzling out without any real resolution. The Academy announced it would conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and take appropriate measures. I didn't bother pointing out that Ines was the culprit and simply returned to the dormitory. She would've made sure to leave no evidence, and the Northern Grand Duke's household backing her wouldn't sit idly by.
She's even more dangerous than Irene. I can't just sit still anymore.
Honestly, this incident had caught me off guard too. It was a vicious scheme I couldn't even imagine coming from Irene. Ines wasn't nearly as straightforward. So if she was plotting something malicious, I needed to defend myself proactively. If I kept pretending not to notice, something like today would just happen again. To protect my peaceful academy life, I had to do something about Ines.
Maybe I should set her against Irene?
If I subtly showed Irene and I getting along well, she might target Irene first. And while I was at it, if I dragged in the other heroines and let all four of them tear each other apart...
No, that's still crossing a line.
If I'd had the skill to manage a harem like that, I would've reached an ending long ago. I might accidentally aggro the wrong person and end up stabbed by a heroine full of resentment. Besides, the idea of using people like disposable tools didn't sit right with me.
For now... I should follow her.
Late that night, I spotted Ines emerging from the girls' dormitory entrance visible through the window. I slipped on the Cloak of Silence I'd stolen from the chapel and left the building.
Ines headed straight for the chapel. She knelt before the sacred statue and began to pray. I hid in the shadows and watched her silently.
"Instead of just watching, why don't you pray with me?"
Ines spoke suddenly.
"So you knew after all."
"I had a good teacher."
"Whoever it was, they must have been an excellent instructor."
"Yes. An excellent one. One I miss... so painfully...."
"Still, it's my first time seeing the Grand Duke's daughter pray. I heard the North doesn't put much faith in gods."
"This is a first for me as well."
"What did you pray for?"
"That my sword would point in the right direction this time."
With a wish like that, you still staged that little self-directed drama earlier?
"You were behind it, weren't you?"
"What are you talking about?"
"The practice session. The golem going berserk and the defense magic failing. That was your doing."
"Who can say?"
"Are you actually insane?"
"I saved you before it was too late. So there's no problem."
"You do realize I nearly died for real, right?"
"You won't die. Because I am here."
"What's your reason? That wasn't something done on impulse. It was meticulously planned long in advance. Why go to such lengths to put me in danger?"
"Danger, you say."
Ines closed her eyes for a moment, as if deep in thought.
"Even greater threats will come in the future. How do you intend to face them alone?"
"Greater threats? Don't tell me you actually know the future?"
"Of course I do. What will happen next, how I myself will change..."
"That's impressive. But I'd really appreciate it if you left me out of that future. I just want to live quietly."
"Such empty words. That peaceful daily life of yours is fragile. It will crumble from the slightest crack. Whether you like it or not, you will be swept up in events. So stay by my side. That is the only safe place for you."
With those words, Ines walked toward me with heavy steps. Then she suddenly grabbed my collar and yanked me up.
"Yihan."
Her golden eyes bored into me with piercing intensity.
"You remember, don't you? The time we spent together?"
"More nonsense."
"No. You do remember. Otherwise you couldn't have moved like that during the day."
She meant how I'd deflected the golem's attack and countered. That had definitely been a mistake. It had been pure instinct. Maybe it would've been better to fumble around and take the hit.
"Why... why are you pretending not to know...?! Is it because I abandoned you? If so, why stay silent?! Shouldn't you at least take revenge?!"
Ines exploded with rage and roughly jerked the hand gripping my collar. Our faces drew so close that our breaths mingled.
"Revenge? I don't care about any of that. I just don't want to get tangled up in annoying problems."
"Not hatred, but annoyance. So that's all I was worth to you."
Up close, a faint sadness flickered in her eyes.
"If I hold so little value to you, then there's no reason left for me to live."
She released my collar roughly, drew the sword from her waist, and pressed it against her own throat.
"W-wait!"
I reflexively lunged at her. We began grappling on the chapel floor, rolling around over that single blade. But I couldn't overpower Ines in strength. Before long I was pinned beneath her.
"Yihan."
She grabbed my cheek roughly with one hand.
"So you didn't abandon me after all? You wouldn't have saved me otherwise."
The Ines asking this had unfocused, hazy eyes. She looked almost excited. Perhaps she thought she'd confirmed her own worth to me. It was impossible to reconcile with the usual cool, sharp-minded Ines.
"You didn't abandon me. You need me. Right? Answer me...!"
Her grip on my cheek tightened painfully.
"Fuck... off...!"
"Fine, whatever. But you'll have no choice but to acknowledge it eventually. That I'm the only one who can become your sword...!"
"So you're planning to keep pulling this crazy shit?"
"Whether it's crazy or not doesn't matter. The final moment will prove everything in the end."
With that, Ines rose from atop me and straightened her clothes.
"I got a little carried away. Stand up."
She extended a hand toward me. I naturally slapped it away. Even so, Ines smiled faintly and walked toward the chapel doors.
Crazy bitch....
Total defeat. I'd been completely swept up in Ines's pace. From the circumstances, she was definitely behind the berserk golem incident. And there was a high chance she'd pull something equally insane again.
So in the end, I need to get stronger.
I had to become strong enough to overcome any situation on my own. Fortunately, after countless regressions, I knew exactly how to grow stronger. The only issue was doing it faster than the heroines could.
The problem is time.
Whether Ines grew stronger or I did first. From now on, it would be a race of speed.
The next morning.
"Ugh... I'm so tired...."
I stood in front of the mirror and let out a huge yawn. I'd spent the entire night drafting a training plan. Well, it basically just boiled down to training hard and eating good food, but still. Physically I wasn't exhausted, but the events with Ines yesterday had been a significant mental burden.
"Umm... this is bad."
I examined myself in the mirror. My body was covered in traces from last night. Faint handprints from where Ines had grabbed me lingered on my cheeks and neck, and my shoulder was bruised and throbbing. If I walked around like this, anyone would immediately know I'd been in a fight. But going to get healed felt awkward too. I'd rather avoid the hassle of explaining if someone asked what happened.
In the end, I turned up my collar a bit and left the room. And in the hallway, I locked eyes with the absolute last person I wanted to see.
"Yihan?"
It was Irene. Her gaze fixed on my face—specifically on every spot where yesterday's marks remained.
"Y-Yihan...!"
"Uh... hey?"
"Those injuries...? What happened...?"
"Um... let's just say I had some intense training?"
"No way. Who did this to you?"
Irene's voice dropped to a low, chilling tone.
"Answer me. Who did this?"
"It's really nothing, I swear...."
"You're lying."
Irene took a step closer. She wore her usual smile, but her eyes held no warmth whatsoever.
"Who," she asked again. "Dared to lay a hand on you?"
"This is getting really troublesome...."
"You have no intention of telling me?"
"You could say that."
"It's fine. Come here."
Irene gently took my hand and pulled me over. She placed her palm against the back of my neck. A warm light soon flowed from her hand, healing the wounds.
"Ah, thanks. I feel a lot bet—"
"It was that woman, wasn't it?"
Irene cut me off with an icy voice.
"That woman?"
"Ines, that bitch. I can sense the lingering mana. It's a scent I'm utterly sick of."
Hmm... she figured it out?
I hadn't expected her to detect something like that. It seemed Irene had grown after regaining her memories from the previous round as well.
"...You're right, but it was just a small scuffle. Don't worry about it."
"Yihan."
Irene smiled with angelic sweetness.
"Don't worry about a thing."
She clasped both my hands tightly in hers.
"This time, I'll protect you."
...No. Please don't. Why does everyone insist on protecting me? I'm not some helpless kid.... You don't need to protect me.... Actually, if you all just disappeared, I wouldn't need protecting at all.... Can't you please realize that?
"I'll take care of this quickly and come right back, so wait for me in the classroom. Understood?"
With those words, Irene turned and headed toward Class A. Her small, delicate back somehow radiated pure murderous intent.