This Novel is not my Chapter 112: Main Competition (12)

"I'm disappointed, Reisir. I expected you to be a generous person who would forgive Karvaldr's past faults and accept him as a friend. To think you were just bowing down and playing the role of an attendant."

Even though this must be his first ti eting Reisir face-to-face, Nidr wasn’t satisfied with rely using a tone as if dealing with a close acquaintance. He put on a one-man show, arbitrarily setting expectations and then getting disappointed.

Since it was their first eting and he knew nothing about the other party, it was only natural that his conclusion was a complete ss.

'The original protagonist acting as my attendant? Even if he's mistaken, how could he make such a nonsensical mistake?'

Reisir had been laughing his head off while teasing just in the last chapter, so how could that be possible?

He rely treats as soone who is 'clumsy at human relationships and easy to take advantage of as a pushover.'

So he must have assud I couldn’t bring myself to cast Nidr aside because he was acting friendly despite making uncomfortable. He must have felt a sense of responsibility to step in.

'However, if one doesn’t know these circumstances. Just as Tridric dealt with those approaching the possessed body on his behalf, it’s not unreasonable to misunderstand that Reisir is doing the sa.'

Just because there was a reason didn’t turn an unpleasant misunderstanding into a pleasant mistake.

I watched Reisir’s reaction, expecting him to frown and get angry.

However, unexpectedly, what entered my field of vision was an expression that couldn’t have been more peaceful.

"Think whatever you want. Because no matter how you evaluate , that sort of thing can’t exert any influence on ."

In the early stages of possession, I had witnessed Reisir shouting Wak-wak several tis.

So I had thought that since Reisir at this point was still young, he was full of vigor and sowhat hot-tempered.

Did he act unusually emotional back then because he had too much resentnt accumulated against the possessed body?

Or is he maintaining his composure because he judges that this isn’t a situation worth getting worked up over?

Or perhaps, as Reisir said, he truly doesn’t feel any emotional response because Nidr’s evaluation genuinely doesn’t matter to him.

It might be that he beca able to maintain his composure after his emotions stabilized thanks to escaping the bullying.

"That answer is quite to my liking."

As I stopped the Thought Acceleration Skill that had activated unconsciously, Nidr’s voice was heard.

The content itself wasn’t much. Even more so when compared to the remark about acting as an attendant.

And yet, this ti, a distinct furrow appeared between Reisir’s eyebrows.

"Just what makes you so great that you look down on others and make judgntal remarks like that?"

"It’s a bit embarrassing to say this myself, but... I am different from others. Very special. Everyone will co to know once this tournant is over."

It’s strange.

To , Nidr is soone I want to avoid and a complete stranger, so why do I feel embarrassed by his dialogue?

And this character is definitely the sa age as the possessed body, so why is he still suffering from such a severe case of Eighth-Grader Syndro?

[N1] "...So you’re saying you go around disregarding others just because your martial power is a little strong?"

"It’s not just a 'little', you know."

When it cos to talent in swordsmanship, he can’t even follow in Vigdís’s footsteps, and in terms of current strength, he falls far short of Reisir.

A frog in a well, raising his nose high, intoxicated by his own self-importance.

'To think such a childish character goes around committing serial murders, then undergoes an artificial awakening experint and becos a monster as a side effect...'

His behavior—evaluating people by his own standards and selecting only those he wants to keep by his side as if collecting items—is extrely unsightly, but.

He is rely suffering from an excessive case of Eighth-Grader Syndro later than others.

I suspect Author Senna might have bestowed too harsh a fate upon him.

'But what can you do? He’s a character with a setting that says he goes around killing people just because he felt a bit of an inferiority complex.'

Goosebumps rose all over my body when I recalled that fact.

Let’s not pity him just because his ntal age is young.

The opponent is a villain whose humanity itself is rotten to the core.

"Well? Won’t we find out if it’s a little or not if we wait and see?"

Reisir spoke as above, then straightened his posture and gazed straight ahead.

Nidr clicked his tongue, "Tsk tsk," with an expression that deed him foolish.

I suspect the two are thinking of each other, 'Once this tournant is over, he won’t be able to say things like that ever again.'

Anyway, not long after the conversation was cut off like that, today’s first match began.

Since Ríolíkin and Nidr’s match was the fourth, it was during the third match that soone among us raised their voice.

"L-Lord Karvaldr. I, I have to go out soon..."

"I know that too."

"T-Then, so words that could give c-courage..."

Wouldn’t it be better to save the courage used to say those words to and use it on the stage?

Although such a thought ca to mind, I didn’t put it into words.

Unlike Reisir, who compromises appropriately and moves on, Ríolíkin doesn’t treat it as encouragent or praise unless it’s sothing he can be satisfied with.

"I will be expecting much, so go do well."

"Ye, yessir...! I will go do well!"

Fortunately, the OK sign ca at once.

I suspect the word 'expectation' had a significant effect.

While feeling strangely proud, a reality check hit as I wondered why I should be happy about sothing like this.

[N2] As I was managing that emotion, the following words ca from behind.

"I’m asking just in case, but you don’t actually think Ríolíkin can beat , do you?"

A snicker was embedded in Nidr’s voice.

It was a word of encouragent squeezed out with difficulty within the limits of not conflicting with the possessed body’s character traits, but it seems it sounded extrely preposterous to him.

'Should I say it’s a misunderstanding...?'

A thought like that briefly crossed my mind, but I decided to just stay silent.

Explaining the conditions proposed to Ríolíkin in detail would be too pathetic, and.

If Nidr learns in advance that the goal is not winning but knocking him down, he will be wary of it. And Ríolíkin achieving the condition would beco unlikely.

Anyway, after finishing this match, Nidr will also notice that Ríolíkin’s goal is not to beat him.

So I see no need to worry about being targeted by a future serial killer for no reason.

Probably... it will be... okay.

Rather than that, right now I’m more concerned about the readers.

I’m /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ worried they might feel frustrated because I keep acting timidly regarding matters concerning Nidr.

Since I was also a reader before becoming an author, I fully understand that feeling, but being aware of the existence of a serial killer with a modern person’s sensibilities, I can’t help being scared.

'As expected of the expected runner-up, he is much stronger than in martial ability too...'

As I lined up excuses using both narration and thoughts, the third match ended before I knew it.

Yor and Reisir offered words of encouragent to Ríolíkin, who took off his coat and rose from his seat.

"Yaong yaong~."

"Ríolíkin. If you just do as we practiced yesterday, you will surely be able to obtain a good result."

Judging by how he ntioned a 'good result' instead of saying he could knock down the opponent, it seems Reisir also judged that there was nothing to gain from informing Nidr of the specific goal.

Nidr scanned , Reisir, and Ríolíkin with a gaze as if looking at sothing insignificant.

Then he smirked, "Pish," shook his head from side to side, and headed to the stage first.

"I-I will go do well. S-Surely...!"

Ríolíkin spoke with an expression more full of resolve than ever before and picked up his armants.

His back as he moved toward the stage, exuding a solemn atmosphere, was quite determined.

For soone cowardly to an unsightly degree, his gait looked surprisingly confident today.

He was unlike , who was busy shrinking back, wary of the original villain and retreating out of fear of the original story.

So, at the mont when I was unconsciously following Ríolíkin’s back with my eyes—

"It would be great if Ríolíkin surely achieves the condition. Right?"

"Yeah, indeed."

"Karvaldr, did you just say 'Yeah, indeed'?"

"......!"

The cowardly and shrewd protagonist of soone else’s novel attempted to draw out my true feelings by aiming for the mont my guard was down.

I am ashad of myself for falling for such a sloppy trap so spectacularly.

"Wow...! I did think that if I asked in a gently probing way, you might unconsciously affirm it, but to think such a tone would co out..."

"S-Shut up...!"

"Rest assured. The host is chattering right now, and the surroundings are so noisy that there probably isn’t anyone who heard our conversation."

Listening to the person who set the trap speak as if comforting , he is extraordinarily detestable.

To think I felt even a brief sense of disappointnt that soone like this is scheduled to withdraw from school—I must have been crazy.

"Didn’t your gaze suddenly beco too cold?"

"Hmph!"

I turned my head sharply, making it clear I had no intention of continuing the conversation.

Just in ti, Ríolíkin and Nidr’s match had begun, so Reisir couldn’t comnt on my tone anymore and closed his mouth.

Thus, we silently watched the match, praying for Ríolíkin to achieve his goal.

Simultaneously with the start of the match, Ríolíkin activated the 【Armor of Protection】 skill and quietly gazed at Nidr.

As if he already knew that if he charged in carelessly, he might suffer a counterattack.

'Is it a reflection of a coward’s uniquely cautious personality? Or is he following Reisir’s advice?'

A small question ca to mind, but it wasn’t significant enough to ask the person next to .

Since Nidr imdiately went on the offensive, it wasn’t an appropriate mont to ask either.

Like a talented individual expected to be the runner-up, he was far more skillful than Ríolíkin’s Round 1 opponent.

While distracting him by striking Ríolíkin’s shield with a sword wrapped in Ether, he abruptly launched an attack targeting the ankle joint exposed beneath the shield.

He seed to tilt his body as if moving to the right, but then—

When Ríolíkin rotated his body in response, Nidr gained a side position simply by returning his center of gravity to its original point.

Then he swung his sword imdiately, and at that mont, I thought the match was over.

'If Ríolíkin hadn’t deflected that attack with the shoulder of 【Armor of Protection】, it would have ended right there.'

I had buried the small question that ca to mind earlier since it wasn’t significant, but.

This ti, I couldn’t help but ask the new question that arose.

"Looking at how he responds imdiately without being flustered by attacks targeting the gaps in the armor’s joints, and the defensive movents using the shoulder armor... it seems Ríolíkin uses that armor-form Ether skill quite familiarly; did you teach him?"

"Rather than teaching him sothing, Ríolíkin just naturally picked it up during sparring. To avoid getting hit."

Anyway, that ans he did make Ríolíkin activate 【Armor of Protection】 during sparring.

Since Vigdís and I didn’t see that, they must have practiced during weekday evenings.

"Practice is essential to properly utilize an ability, right? What the school rules prohibit is using Ether for direct attacks to the bitter end, so Ríolíkin’s Ether ability, which is a defensive skill, doesn’t fall under that category. So I just told him to use it freely."

Co to think of it, since I also used buffs and the Thought Acceleration Skill without hesitation during sparring for the sa reason, it’s not sothing to take issue with.

However, the fact that Reisir took such an interest in Ríolíkin’s growth struck anew.

I was slightly dumbfounded, wondering just how much he must have been hit for Ríolíkin—who hadn’t even tried sparring once—to beco capable of such reflexes.

"The preparation period for the tournant wasn’t even that long, yet he managed to grow that much."

"Tell him those words yourself later when Ríolíkin returns."

"...Hmph."

Although I snorted to cut off the conversation, it wasn’t a bad suggestion.

Even if Ríolíkin ends up losing without being able to knock down Nidr.

ntioning the extent of his growth and effort, I think it wouldn’t be bad to say I’ll give him just one more chance.