Chapter 73: The True Protagonist

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I headed straight for the Student Affairs Office.

As soon as I opened the door, one of the staff members looked at me and muttered.

“…Huh? It’s Gerard.”

That was the start.

“Gerard?”

“What? Gerard, you say?”

The guys in the Student Affairs Office, who had been working, stopped like meerkats and raised their heads.

They let out cheers as if they’d been waiting for this moment.

“Kiyaaah! Villain Hunter Gerard makes his grand entrance!”

“Whoa! He’s finally here! Our protagonist!”

“We’ve been waiting for you!”

…Did they all take some kind of drug together?

What’s with this sudden reaction?

“Quick, spill it!”

A bespectacled staff member, who had approached me without me noticing, grabbed my arm.

“Huh? Spill what?”

“What else? Obviously, the spectacular and steamy story from the Blue Dragon Hall!”

I get the spectacular part.

But what’s with the steamy bit?

Looking around, I saw the guys in the office flaring their nostrils as they stared at me.

‘What the hell. This is creepy.’

The bespectacled staff member urged me again.

“Come on, tell us already!”

“Didn’t you see the Royal Dream?”

“We did. But we want a story as fresh as a fish just pulled from the water.”

“We want it!”

I chuckled to myself.

‘Now I see. They’re all my fans.’

It’s a bit annoying that it’s just a bunch of guys, but I’m a man who takes fan service seriously.

I checked the time.

I had a free period anyway, and with plenty of time to spare and nothing else to do, this worked out perfectly.

I grabbed a chair and said,“Okay. Then gather around me. Right now.”

“Yes, sir! Form up!”

“Form up!”

Led by the bespectacled staff member, three staff members hurriedly gathered around me.

“Hmm. Where should I start? How about I begin with what happened after I met Karina Zain?”

“Nice! That’s perfect!”

“So, I found Sabo and the villains not long after meeting Karina at the Blue Dragon Hall. While we were talking, I got a weird feeling, so I stepped outside first, and guess what…”

I mixed some truth with a bit of embellishment and spun the story.

“And then? What happened next?”

“So, I smashed through the window! And I shouted, ‘Everyone, freeze!’ Just in time, too, because Karina was one step away from being in real danger.”

“Gasp! No way, was that when she got hurt?”

“No.”

“How’s Karina doing now? Is she okay?”

“Yeah. If anything, she’s too healthy. Anyway, don’t derail the story—focus on me.”

When I finished telling the story, the audience’s reaction was oddly lukewarm.

The bespectacled staff member asked me,

“But why didn’t you talk about that?”

“Talk about what?”

“Why you and Karina were at the Blue Dragon Hall together and what you two were doing there. That’s the most important part.”

“Exactly!”

“Yeah, yeah, I was curious about that too!”

The staff members were shaking their heads, practically snorting with excitement.

“…”

Now I understood what these guys really wanted.

This is exactly the problem with a bunch of dudes.

“I can’t tell you that.”

“What!? Why not!?”

“Because I’d need Karina’s permission too? I can’t just go blabbing about someone’s private life when they’re not even here.”

“Ohh…”

The guys looked beyond disappointed—they were practically devastated.

“For the record, it’s not what you’re all thinking. Karina and I aren’t like that.”

“Then why were you at the Blue Dragon Hall?”

“It’s a secret.”

“Ugh, you’re so stingy.”

I smirked.

‘At least there’s no talk about Yuria, so it seems the two-timing rumors have been cleared up.’

That was a relief.

But one thing puzzled me: these guys had no idea why Karina and I were at the Blue Dragon Hall.

Yesterday, Karina had clearly confessed her mistake to the Vice-Dean and department heads.

She admitted she suspected me of being Shadow’s master, which is why we met.

If so, that topic should’ve come up at the council meeting, and Baron Tesda would’ve known about it, along with the rest of the faculty.

‘Now that I think about it, Royal Dream only mentioned me, not Karina.’

Was it suppressed?

It’s entirely possible.

If that story got out, it would seriously tarnish the Zain Ducal Family’s image.

It was a funny situation—Karina admitted her mistake, but those around her were insisting it wasn’t true.

‘That’s why background matters.’

For me, having cleared Karina’s suspicions, it wasn’t my problem anymore.

It might even be cleaner for everyone if it was handled this way.

“Hey? Baron Tesda!”

“You’re back, sir?”

At that moment, Baron Tesda, who had been out, returned.

“Gerard? What brings you here?”

Baron Tesda’s eyes widened the moment he saw me.

“Are you feeling okay? You should’ve rested another day.”

“I’m fine. I also had something to ask.”

“Alright? Then let’s head inside.”

We moved to Baron Tesda’s office.

As soon as I sat down, I asked about how Karina’s situation was being handled.

And, as expected, it was just as I thought.

Karina’s mistake would be covered up.

That was the conclusion of the council meeting among the Vice-Dean and department heads.

“I understand. From your perspective, as someone directly affected, it might feel a bit unfair. But we’re worried about straining relations with the Zain family. Especially after the hostage incident where Karina got hurt, the Academy’s in a tough spot with them.”

The Academy, mindful of the noble families.

And schools, mindful of parents.

This place wasn’t so different from reality.

“I feel bad for you.”

Baron Tesda didn’t hide his guilt toward me.

“It’s fine. I’m not clueless about how these things work.”

“…”

“By the way, was the Dean at the council meeting?”

“No. Dean Bell Toro didn’t attend.”

I was just curious.

Would the outcome have been the same if Dean Bell Toro had been there?

“And what about Shadow?”

“That’s also being kept secret.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Their appearance could cause major unrest in the Frey Empire. You might not understand, but it’s a serious matter. It’s not even confirmed yet. It’s too early.”

I nodded, muttering to myself.

‘Nice.’

If they’re keeping it secret on their own, that’s a win for me.

“But why are you asking about that all of a sudden?”

“Just curious.”

Baron Tesda narrowed his eyes.

“Why are you looking at me like that? I was there and heard it all anyway. You’d have to tell me eventually.”

“Still, keep your mouth shut. Coordinate with Karina.”

I gave the excuse I’d prepared.

“I’m just gonna say we ran into each other at the Blue Dragon Hall while running an errand. Please tell the staff the same.”

“Got it. Is that all you wanted to ask?”

“Oh, one more thing.”

I clapped my hands and asked,

“Do you know what Ivan’s been up to lately?”

Baron Tesda blinked.

“Shouldn’t you, who takes classes with him, know better than me?”

He had a point, and I didn’t have a comeback.

I scratched my head.

“Lately, I’ve been so caught up with my own stuff that I haven’t paid much attention to the juniors. Haha.”

“Hmm. I don’t know much, but I heard he’s been hanging out with Yuria a lot lately.”

I was shocked and asked,“Yuria?”

“Yeah, you punk.”

“Who said that?”

“Chaser Idna told me.”

Chaser Idna, the swordsmanship instructor for the 890th class.

A pretty reliable source.

‘Damn it… The guy destined to save the world is messing around with romance at the Academy?’

My fists trembled.

At the same time, my head started spinning.

Is this my fault too?

Since I’ve been stealing all the spotlight, did Ivan, with nothing else to do, get distracted by romance?

If that’s the case, how should I handle this?

Should I call Yuria right now and tell her to stay away from Ivan?

Tell her that Ivan has a greater mission, so she shouldn’t get in the way?

Or should I just take Yuria for myself?

‘No, wait. Yuria was already mine.’

To be fair, I didn’t have the right to dictate what she did.

A mission?

It’s laughable to bring that up when, in the original story, Ivan manages to balance both love and his mission.

In the original, he catches both rabbits—mission and romance.

The thing is, Frey is fundamentally an Academy-themed game.

And the core of an Academy story is the romantic tension with heroines.

In other words, Ivan falling in love doesn’t mean the world will end or anything like that.

‘Damn it.’

Fine, let’s be honest.

I’m just pissed off for no real reason.

I don’t know why.

It just feels bad.

‘How dare he try to steal Yuria, who I’ve been carefully grooming as my right-hand woman.’

Now that I think about it, the issue is the target.

I wouldn’t care if it was Karina Zain, Bain Winter, Rachel, or even Professor Ilai.

But it bothers me that it’s Yuria, the one I’ve got my eye on.

If I had to compare it to something, it’s like a father watching his daughter get taken by some nobody.

‘It’s annoying.’

I came to check on Ivan’s recent activities, but all I did was ruin my mood.

.

.

.

.

While Gerard was seething inside,

Baron Tesda was looking at him with a fond smile.

‘This guy’s facing a trial.’

But overcoming that trial would lead to true love.

Pure, unwavering love and noble romance.

And a touch of idealism.

Those were the things that turned a foolish man into a true knight.

Baron Tesda quietly, sincerely cheered for Gerard in his heart.

‘I failed, but you, Gerard, make sure you seize it.’

The foolish sentiment of a single man past his prime.

* * *

I didn’t head to the classroom right after leaving the Student Affairs Office.

I sat on a bench, lost in thought.

‘If Yuria ends up with Ivan, what happens to me?’

This was actually a pretty serious issue.

Because it could mess up the plans I’d carefully laid out for the future.

There were several reasons I chose Yuria as my right-hand woman, but they could be boiled down to three main points.

First, she lacks a clear sense of purpose.

Yuria didn’t come to the Academy out of some burning sense of justice, a desire to uphold her beliefs, or a need to take revenge on villains.

She came because they offered food and shelter.

In other words, she’s someone who could leave the Academy anytime, anywhere, without a second thought.

Second, Yuria’s alignment between good and evil is unclear.

She knows villains are bad, but that’s about it.

Coming from a mercenary background, her own judgment takes precedence over good or evil, and if you had to pin her down, she leans closer to chaotic.

Third, talent.

This is the biggest reason.

She shows incredible talent in both swordsmanship and magic, making her a prime candidate to become a magic swordsman second only to Sigaro Isaac.

Sigaro Isaac.

Who is he?

One of the strongest in the Frey world, as officially recognized by the setting guide.

Of course, whether Yuria’s potential could reach Sigaro Isaac’s level is unknown.

But I have a kind of certification mark that tells me her future value.

Namely, [Gaius’s Insight].

Yuria is a guaranteed rising stock, a surefire coin, certified by Gaius himself.

‘If I don’t invest, I’d be an idiot.’

That’s why I’ve been pouring effort into her, even envisioning a future where I recruit her into Shadow instead of the Academy.

There were no obstacles.

If I kept building rapport, Yuria would definitely join Shadow.

To be honest, I’d already prepared her initiation papers.

They’re in a drawer in the Lunatic office.

All she needs to do is sign, and she’s Shadow.

“But damn it. What’s with that guy?”

Ivan was the variable.

I’ve been taking everything from him, and now this guy’s trying to take something from me.

‘Clueless jerk.’

Or maybe he’s too perceptive?

Either way, I’m feeling a serious sense of crisis.

Aside from his commoner background, Ivan’s a guy who lacks nothing in anyone’s eyes.

And that background doesn’t even matter anymore.

He’s about to soar with incredible feats, and while I’m struggling to survive, he’ll catch up to me soon enough.

‘He’s the protagonist, after all.’

Right. The protagonist.

The one at the center of fate.

All that talk about stealing the protagonist title was just a joke.

The protagonist is decided from birth, and that wall is so high and vast that no amount of struggling will let me climb it.

“That’s why I chose Yuria.”

Yuria, an irregular who defied her fated death and survived.

I planned to nurture her to one day stand as Ivan’s rival.

“But things are turning out like this.”

Why do I feel this shitty unease, like I’ve cooked a meal only to hand it to someone else?

An alpha male.

Not just any alpha male, but the King-Great-God alpha male, worshipped by the entire universe—could Yuria really resist him?

“I need to take drastic measures.”

It’s fine if I steal, but I can’t tolerate being stolen from.

That’s just how life works.

When I do it, it’s romance; when someone else does it, it’s an affair.

“If I get stolen from, I’ll step down as the Thief Guild Master.”

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