Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Oswell, sprawled out on the floor after having been kicked across the room, is currently taking an intense beating at Ashley’s hands.

“Don’t hit his faaaaace!”

It’s not good for such an important character from the game like Oswell to have his face beaten black and blue…  All his fans will be sad. At my interference, Ashley stays his hand for a moment to glance at me with a look of complete dissatisfaction.

“So this kind of face is your type?”

“No! That’s not it! It’s just, he doesn’t even have the power to resist anymore… Right? So, let’s stop hitting him now, okay…?”

Oswell is just barely managing to remain conscious after undergoing Ashley’s barrage of attacks. I’ve noticed since quite some time ago, but Ashley’s strength is no joke. He’s already long surpassed the physical power that an otome game character or a prince from a manga should have. Even though Oswell is by no means weak, this whole fight was just him being pummeled senselessly. Ashley’s so strong, it’s not even fair.

“Even though he was trying to kill you, Ojousama? You’re going to exonerate him, just like that?”

“I’ll throw that line right back at you.”

You’re really digging your own grave with that sort of logic, Ashley.

“Come on. Let’s quickly bring him over to where Senpai and Rona are. If we don’t hurry, it’s going to become light out before we get the chance.”

I’m sure all the actors are impatiently waiting for us on the stage.

Ashley pouts, showing off further dissatisfaction at ending things here, but he throws Oswell over his shoulder in acquiescance nonetheless. Seriously though. He’s so slender! Where does that power even come from…..?

“Fine. But once this is all over, I will see to it that he suffers the amount of agonizing pain that he deserves.”

Don’t make that sort of a terrifying face!

＊＊＊

9 days ago.

The students were given a break from classes the day after the rehearsal ball as a chance to rest and recuperate from the previous night’s festivities.

That morning, a girl from the student council came to my room with a message that the president was asking for me.

She had gotten there so early that I hadn’t even gotten out of bed yet. I listened to her bleary-eyed and drowsy. Without waiting for me to open the door, she had explained that the president had been looking for me since the previous night, but that she had forgotten to pass along the message. Which is why she rushed over first thing in the morning to fetch me. It’s not all that surprising that this happened though, since the student council was completely swamped just making sure everything was running smoothly at the ball. So, by the time she had returned to the dorm, she was so tired that the president’s message had completely slipped her mind.

Honestly, that was probably for the best anyway though. Since if she had come to find me last night, I doubt I would have been able to leave my room, what with everything that was happening with Ashley.

And her visiting in the morning turned into a blessing as well, since after the girl had left, I was able to admire Ashley’s sleeping face for the first time in a while. I couldn’t help but grin down at his relaxed, vulnerable expression. I don’t know whether it was because we had stayed up so late the day before, or because he had known that we didn’t have school that day, but he had remained fast asleep throughout my whole conversation with the girl. And after looking my fill, I made sure to slip out of the room as quietly as possible, so as not to wake him while I went to go see Senpai.

We were supposed to meet in the student council room. Or at least, that’s what the girl had told me but….

“………..”

“Wait! Stop! Don’t run away!”

I had whirled around the moment I saw who was on the other side of the door, but Senpai, showing of his quick reflexes, had grabbed me and dragged me into the room before I had the chance to take a step.

Did Gray-Senpai’s reason get won over by his brotherly affection? Or maybe he was brainwashed? Either way, it’s clearly not a coincidence that my would be murderer was already in the room.

For, standing right behind Senpai was the biggest threat to my life so far, Rona Randolph.

“I still have so many regrets and things I want to do with my life!”

“Calm down.”

As if I could calm down in that sort of situation.

That previous night, I was finally able to have a heart to heart with Ashley. At last, we were able work everything out between us! As if I’d just stand there and let myself be killed so easily after all that. I don’t want to die yet! I at least want to see Father one last time.

Terrified, my mind going completely blank, I watched as Rona came out from behind Senpai’s back and walked towards me…. and then bowed deeply.

“I am so sorry!”

“……What?”

Coming forward to stand next to Rona, Gray-Senpai also bowed his head.

“As the older brother, I also need to take responsibility for not having stopped this kid’s antics earlier. That was my bad. I’m sorry.”

Right. I already knew that you were this guy’s older brother, but were you two always this close? In the first place, he became your brother not that long ago! Plus, I don’t see how this is something that Senpai should be apologizing for.

Without raising his head, Rona continued speaking.

“I’ll explain everything! I (atashi) really do owe you a huge apology, Senpai!”

“Atashi?”1

And then, with his head still bowed, Rona explained everything that had happened up until now.

About how he also was a reincarnated person and that he was originally a girl in his… her previous life, and how she had been Gray-Senpai’s little sister. And since she was familiar with the game from her previous life, she knew that I, or rather Cecile, was a harmful existence to both Leila and Ashley, and so she had taken it upon herself to try to eliminate me before I had the chance to do any more damage…. Is how she explained it but… If she would have just observed our everyday interactions together a little more closely, she should have realized right away that there was clearly something wrong with Leila. But no. He…. she was having too much fun watching from the sidelines to notice a thing.

What a strong sense of justice. Without checking the facts, she was ready to commit murder in order to protect the hero and the heroine of the story.

“There’s a limit to how misguided and careless a person can be!”

I was scared for my life all this time over some…. pointless misunderstanding!

“But I was watching you. You showed obvious evil intent, even towards this guy here!” she said, thumbing a finger at Gray-Senpai.

“You call that evil intent!? We banter! Nothing more! ‘Oh~ I’m so sorry~’ ‘Sure. I understand~’ Were you thinking that everything would be easily solved if you just apologized?”

Rona, who had slowly lifted her head while I was speaking, now looked at me with pitiful, tear-filled eyes.

Looking at me….. with that sort of look….. Ugh, I hate this!! All these no-good devils in this stupid game world know that I’m weak to their looks, and they continue to use it to their advantage! Leila…. and Ashley…. and Rona…. they’re all the same! But if they think they can get away with everything just because they’re a little good looking, they’re dead wrong!

“I’m sorry! I’m really, really sorry! Since I was reborn into a world that I’ve always fantasized about, I guess I just got carried away….! And I had no idea that you were a reincarnator, Senpai….!”

That’s what I was trying to say though…. Just because you didn’t know, that doesn’t excuse attempted murder! Let’s do our best to solve things peacefully, even in this sort of world, okay?

“I’ve also scolded her thoroughly.”

Ah. So that lump on Rona’s head was indeed curtesy of Senpai.

“…..It’s fine. I forgive you…… Are you expecting me to say that? I literally almost died because of you.”

I still haven’t forgotten what happened during the exam. If it wasn’t for the fact that Leila’s magic was exhausted with nearly miraculous timing, I wouldn’t be here today.

“Switching gears here for second though…. Rona, why is it that a first year who hasn’t had much time to learn magic yet is able to use such advanced magical techniques?”

“Oh! That’s because I’ve had the memory of my past life since I was born, so I started training really early on in order to prepare magic that would be able to take you out, Alldington-Senpai!”

Admitting to such a thing so gleefully right in front of the person in question… felt an awful lot like a certain perverted heroine who has nerves of steel and loves to brag about his profligate fantasies.

“Is that supposed to be a good thing? I don’t intend to accept your apology easily, though that doesn’t mean I’ll refuse to accept it no matter what. But every time you open your mouth, you make it even more difficult for me to forgive you.”

I had done my fair share of dragging her brother into danger with me though, so I couldn’t completely condemn her actions.

“Since you’re this guy’s little sister, that means you’ve completed every route in “Bloody Mind,” right? So, you should know of some sort of method to make sure we don’t reach a bloody ending? Once we’ve put all this behind us, then I’ll at least consider the possibility of us becoming fangirling friends…. But until then, let’s focus on getting through this.”

If Rona was the hidden character, then that meant that all remaining threats had been completely eliminated. But, if she wasn’t….

“Rona, are you the hidden character?”

“No.”

That meant that I wasn’t able to destroy my death flags.

“Then, who….?”

“The one who’s going to kill you, Alldington-Senpai…. is Oswell Arkwright.”

With a bang, the door to the student council’s room flew open.

What timing. My whole body was shaking like a leaf caught in a hurricane. To think that the moment my murderer was announced there would be that sort of clamorous sound, that’s really terrible for the heart.

And since my back was to the door, I had no idea who had come in. But I did have a perfect view of the Randolph siblings’ faces as they turned deathly pale, so my whole body flooded with even more dread.

I really didn’t want to turn around. But it didn’t matter. Since the person was walking towards me anyway.

“Hah…. I’d like…. to hear…. an explanation…. for that.”

“Ashley…?”

Hearing his breathless voice, I started to turn around, but before I could, he wrapped his arms around me from behind and pulled me to him.  His body was warm and glancing back I noticed that his forehead was covered in sweat.

“Did you run here?”

“…..Haah…. I woke up in your bed and the first thing I noticed was that you were no longer there, so of course I’d panic,” he said, finally getting his breathing under control again. And almost as soon as he was breathing normally, he was heaving a huge sigh and burying his forehead into my shoulder. I guess that sort of reaction was natural. It must have been difficult getting out of the dorm by himself…. I asked him as much, but instead of answering properly, he averted his gaze and mumbled a non-commital answer.

This chapter is scrapped from readlightnovel.org

I think I more or less understood what must have happened. Although most people would still be asleep at that hour…. there were still bound to be two, maybe three people up and about. And to those two or three….

“You must have dazzled a couple girls with that beautiful smile of yours and then whispered sweet words to them until they promised to keep seeing you there a secret, huh?”

“…..There’s no reason for you to be looking at me like that. Leaving the dorm alone was unavoidable, so it also lead to unavoidable consequences. All of which, might I add, were your fault, Ojousama.”

“Don’t get all conceited just because you were able to charm some cute girls into doing what you want, got it?”

“I’m not…..”

What’s with that look? Why do you look a so happy?

“The corners of your mouth are raised.”

“It’s because it’s rare to see you acting jealous.”

And while we were arguing, the Randolph siblings were whispering furiously to each other a few feet away.

“He said he woke up in her bed!” “He must have stayed the night in the girls’ dorm.” “How indecent!” “Ugh, don’t use that girly tone. Makes me want to hurl!” “Shut up, idiot!”

Why don’t you both shut up?

“I searched all over the dorm and the school for you only to find you here. Now, would you care to explain? Don’t tell me, you’re having an affair already?” Ashley said, staring pointedly over at the siblings. Although the corners of his mouth were still upturned, his eyes clearly weren’t smiling. Instantly, the temperature in the room dropped. Other than Ashley, the rest of us turned pale as the blood drained from our faces.

“N-n-no! Absolutely not!”

“C-calm down…! Ashley? We’re trying to protect your master!”

Were they though? I didn’t say anything, but I sent a doubtful, questioning glance their way. They both immediately nodded their heads.

“Then you should have no qualms in letting me listen in on the conversation as well, right?”

“Tha….t….. should be…. fine? ….I guess?”

After hearing what Rona said, it seemed that it had already been confirmed that I was going to be killed. So, maybe it was actually a good idea to let Ashley hear about this. Then he would be able to act as my guard. We could just keep that hidden character or whoever he is in the dark about the whole arrangement.

But, is that really…. okay?

Getting Ashley involved in all this was the last thing I wanted to happen….

As if he guessed something from my expression, Ashley whispered to me in a low, icy tone.

“There’s no way you’re thinking of facing danger alone just because you don’t want me getting caught up in it, right?”

“Uhh…..”

So that’s what it feels like when someone that’s been beside you for years knows what you’re thinking from just a single look.

“Fine! It’s fine! We’ll let you hear everything, so stop glaring at me and Nii-san like that!” Rona cried shaking her head back and forth like crazy, unable to bear Ashley’s razor sharp glare for another second more. Since she had a good idea about what type of person Ashley really is, I’m sure it’s only that much more frightening for her.

“The gist of the story is that the one who is trying to kill Alldington-Senpai is Oswell Arkwright. But, he’s not the hidden character.”

The moment Ashley heard the word ‘kill,’ his whole body tensed up and he started seething with murderous intent. I couldn’t deal with this every single time. He gets set off so easily! Ashley was so scary, my whole body was shaking.

“Oswell is the hidden character’s servant. But, that doesn’t mean he was just a mob character. Even though he only appeared in a couple scenes, he still became a hot topic online, so there were rumors that he would also be a capture target in the second edition.”

Second edition…. I think I just heard something really interesting….. But that’s probably not what I should be focusing on right now. I’ll just have to make her tell me everything slowly and in great detail once this is all over.

Putting that aside though, did she say…. servant? Was he following someone’s orders? I didn’t recall anyone like that in particular…. He never alienated anyone, but he also seemed to draw a line in between himself and others, keeping everyone at arm’s length.

And in the first place, I still found it difficult to believe that he would try to kill me. Even with that personality of his, I knew he has his good points. I’d spent more than a year with him already; I couldn’t see him as the sort of person who would be able to kill someone.

“He won’t be able to defy his master. He’s basically a god to Oswell.”

Ashley tilted his head, his eyes showing confusion.

“Hidden character? I’m not sure what that is supposed to be referring to…. but what you’re saying is that ultimately this person is an absolute existence to Arkwright-Senpai and that he is ordering Senpai to kill Ojousama?”

How many times do I have to say it…. Ashley! Those eyes are scary!

“Exactly. I had a chance to talk with Morton-Senpai after the rehearsal ball yesterday so I was able to figure out what is likely to happen next. From now on, the hidden character will start approaching Morton-Senpai. And, after the two reach a certain level of intimacy, he’ll order Oswell to sneak into Alldington-Senpai’s room and kill her.”

Ow ow ow ow ow. Ashley’s arms tightened around me and I felt like my bones might crack under the pressure.

“And, so….. This is a bit difficult to say given the current atmosphere but…. Alldington-Senpai, we were thinking that in order to expose Oswell’s and the hidden character’s true natures, you should act as a decoy…. or something…..”

“No need. Isn’t this just a matter of disposing of Arkwright-Senpai and that master of his?”

No can do Ashley. I’m begging you, please don’t be so hasty. I don’t like bloody endings and I don’t think it’s good for you to play a part in any sort of crime. I also hate the idea of you dirtying your hands.

Rona gave Ashley a spectacularly bitter smile.

“If that was possible, that would have been the plan.”

Apparently, Rona had yet to learn her lesson about jumping to the bloodiest solution. First me, and now she wanted to off someone else. That’s quite the dangerous mentality there. I definitely need to remember not to turn my back on her. What a terrifying child.

“But the opponent’s just too depraved. Oswell is one thing, but his master is something else entirely.”

“Even with the full force of the dukedom backing you?”

“It would still be impossible. Forget us falling into ruin, it’s not unlikely that he’d massacre the whole Randolph family.”

That’s not something you should be saying while smiling! Just look at Gray-Senpai! He’s grimacing for all he’s worth! Looks like you could still use a bit more scolding from your brother.

“He’s someone that both you and Alldington-Senpai should be familiar with I believe. Oswell’s master is Flügel. Flügel Rodernetz.”

That name is…..

Ahh….. This time we really might be done for.