The Girl Who Should Not Die
Academy life. Like every dating simulation game, this world revolves around the protagonist and the heroines. The only difference between this and other games is that the supporting characters and extras have so little presence that they might as well not exist. Mate Daylight, one of the mid-bosses in the early episodes, was exactly that kind of existence.
In the previous timeline, I struggled desperately to join the protagonist's party. Because I chose to betray the mastermind and seek redemption, I survived when I should have been written out of the story, receiving enough support from others to stay alive. I clawed my way up to a supporting-character level of influence through my own power. If I could do it, couldn't I do the same for someone else?
Yuri is a young girl, just shy of graduating from middle school next year. She’s still in her school uniform, likely having run straight to the church after class. Her glossy, flowing blonde ponytail and those bright red eyes—glaring at me as if I were something repulsive—look like they’re about to shoot lasers. She’s like a feral stray cat that would scratch you the moment you touched her.
In truth, Yuri’s survival isn't that important to the future scenario. But the memory of my regret is vivid in my mind. That day, why did I just let her go? If I had known a fire would break out, I would have forced her to stay and sleep at the church, even if it meant dragging her there.
"Ice magic is... done like this...? By clenching my fist to make a snowball?"
Look at the vitality in the eyes of that little lamb, opening her textbook to study. How could I let such a passionate girl die?
Tap, tap.
"You do it like this."
I tapped the desk to draw Yuri’s attention and demonstrated. Magic isn't my specialty, but since it was the most basic of basics, I had no trouble pulling it off.
"I never asked you to show me! Stop showing off for no reason."
It’s only natural for Yuri to act so cold. Mate Daylight was the very person who drove Yuri’s mother into the abyss. In the previous timeline, the two of them even met a tragic end.
"Why can't I do it? I'm doing it exactly like that..."
Sink or swim, I’m going to save her first. No matter what happens, I will see it through.
"Hey."
"I'm studying, so don't bother me."
"You and your mom are sleeping here tonight."
Thwack!
A groan of pain escaped my lips. It was so sudden that I couldn't even dodge it. In front of me, as I hung my head after being struck in the face, a massive snowball rolled across the floor.
"I, I did it...!"
"Hah."
Seeing that the snowball I had made was still sitting on the desk, a dry, incredulous laugh escaped me. I wanted to shower her with applause for the achievement, but when I thought about what I had to do, my future looked bleak.
"I only succeeded because I was angry at you, so I'll let it slide this time. If you say something like that again, I'm reporting you for sexual harassment."
If I blurted out, "Your house is going to burn down tonight and you'll die," she wouldn't believe me anyway, and I’d just end up looking like a lunatic.
'If I only knew the cause, I wouldn't have to go through the trouble of convincing her.'
The village where Yuri lives is restricted; you have to be a resident or have the village chief's permission to enter. That’s why I was kicked out of the village in the previous timeline before I could even identify the cause. It was likely a simple accident, but considering the unstable mental state of Yuri’s mother, the possibility of human error couldn't be ruled out. That’s why I’m trying to trap both Yuri and her mother in the church—until I can investigate their home and find the source.
"Then let's do this. I'll help you with your magic studies. In exchange, just listen to me for today."
"What makes you think you're good enough to help me?"
Of course, she wouldn't know. That I was the runner-up graduate of the Lumeris Academy Magic Department. Magic wasn't my specialty, but I had forced myself into the Magic Department because I hated that my curriculum overlapped with Yuren's. I had been obsessed with becoming stronger and worked harder than anyone else. As a result, I survived this long.
I could certainly teach a novice who was only just beginning to learn basic magic.
"I'll help you master intermediate magic."
"You'd be better off not telling lies you can't back up."
"It's not a lie, it's the truth. You're human, so you want to get into a high-level academy, don't you?"
One hour since Yuri and I were locked in the confessional. Watching her steal glances at me, I felt it instinctively.
'She's finally looking at me.'
I finally found a lead. This is the only way to persuade Yuri. If I follow this path, I can escape this complex maze. I can finally put an end to today's schedule.
"If you master intermediate magic in your third year of middle school, you'll get a lot of attention, won't you?"
"A, attention? How much?"
"Not just the teachers, but many underclassmen will follow you. Oh, and I forgot about the scholarships. The level of middle school is low compared to the academy, but you'll still get plenty of benefits and support."
I only told the truth. Because that’s exactly how Yuren Stardust was.
"And as is widely known in the church, I'm entering Lumeris Academy in a month. You know well enough what kind of place Lumeris Academy is. I think this is enough to be trustworthy."
The best, empire-certified prestigious academy. Getting into Lumeris Academy is called the dream of every teenager. It’s no different for Yuri. Even though she lives a life where she can't even study properly because of poverty, she is still human. It’s only natural for her to dream of entering the most famous and prestigious academy.
"I have a condition."
Yuri put down her textbook. It meant she was ready to talk.
"Go ahead."
"First of all, Mom is out. I don't know what you're planning to do."
"That won't work. If your mother isn't there, there's no point in me making you an offer."
Did I phrase that weirdly? It might have sounded a bit strange.
Contrary to my expectation that she would scream at the top of her lungs, Yuri was unexpectedly calm.
"Do you like my mom that much?"
I take back what I said about her being calm.
"How is that any different from saying you're trying to seduce my mom? Is it because I'm too young?"
"My head is pounding, can't you speak a little quieter?"
"Anyway, Mom is absolutely not allowed. Even if you beat me to death, absolutely not."
Negotiations broken, then. Her resolve is stronger than I thought. I know she hates me without her having to glare at me like that.
Sigh. To hell with being treated like a lunatic. I don't feel like I can persuade her at all. Save Yuri and let her mother die? For Yuri, who cherishes her mother, there would be no greater hell than that.
"Your house is going to burn down tonight."
"W-what?"
I expected this. I expected her to react this way. Yuri, frozen like a statue in complete shock, spoke after a moment.
"Hah."
She let out a dry, incredulous laugh. "You're a crazy bastard."
"..."
"You've got nothing left to say, so you're resorting to curses?"
Thump!
I could feel the deep fury radiating from Yuri as she slammed her book shut. She seemed angrier than I had imagined. As proof, she opened the door and stormed out of the confessional. If I didn't catch her and let her go like this?
Someone once said that burning to death is the most painful way a human can die.
"Let me go!"
She resisted, shaking her arms violently, but there was no way she could overpower a male of similar age. "Help me, someone help me!!"
I checked the clock on the wall. 8:00 PM. Winter is a time when the moon is more active than the sun. The starlight in the night sky, the moonlight, and the soft lighting of the church combined to create a gentle atmosphere. If someone who didn't know the situation saw us now, I would look like a heinous villain.
Fortunately, there was no one left in the church except for Yuri and me. Just as I thought, 'Finally, the heavens are helping me,' it happened.
Bang, bang, bang!!
From the church's main gate on the other side, a sound echoed as if the door were about to break from the sheer force of the knocking. I was momentarily flustered, causing my grip to slip, and Yuri didn't miss the opening.
'Why is she so fast!?'
The distance between us had already widened, and I realized it was too late. I stopped running, resigning myself to the situation. Why is it so hard to save one middle-school girl?
"Please help me!!"
Yuri reached her destination and shouted as she opened the main gate, and at the same time, the familiar figures of two women appeared. Shirai the Saintess and Yihua Cloudrain.
I don't know why they are here. One thing is certain: I have caused a massive misunderstanding.
"That crazy bastard grabbed my arm and wouldn't let me move!"
I'm done for. I regret tearing the Regression Book more than any other moment. Yihua drew her sword from the scabbard at her waist, taking a combat stance, and my heart began to pound with a sense of crisis as I realized the gravity of the situation. If I get caught here, my admission to Lumeris Academy will be canceled. I have to keep my head straight.
"Let's take a moment to communicate..."
"Don't move that filthy mouth."
It seems she is thoroughly enraged. Hmm. It looks like I can't avoid a fight. Yihua Cloudrain looked ready to charge at any moment. I also stepped back and summoned a sphere of flame in my hand.
That was when it happened.
"Yihua, that's an order."
Shirai, who had rushed over, stood between us with her back to me, spreading her arms wide. "Disarm immediately."
Her voice was far more subdued than usual.