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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Doll of Ruin, Sage (2)
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In front of the crowd, easily numbering over a thousand, filling my sight,
I read the oath.
Countless eyes were fixed solely on me,
countless ears listened intently to my words,
and countless mouths remained silent until my turn was over.
It was a strange experience.
My body was clearly trembling, yet my chest swelled with an unusual emotion—a mystical moment I would likely never experience again.
Standing on the platform, I saw many faces and various expressions.
Expressions filled with anticipation.
Expressions of pride for someone.
And even expressions consumed by envy and jealousy.
I always feel this, but the human spectrum is truly diverse.
Within this crowd, easily exceeding a thousand, not a single identical face could be found.
Standing on the platform, I tried to take in as many people as possible.
This was because I could identify those bearing demonic energy through my Heavenly Observation Eye.
Perhaps because it was the main setting of the game, the number of people with demonic energy was far greater than I had anticipated.
'What a hassle.'
Dealing with them wasn't difficult for me.
But finding each and every one of them was difficult. No, it might even be impossible.
Honestly, I didn't even need to bother.
'Because Fran is here.'
The original protagonist isn't me, but Fran.
I could leave the minor things alone. The original protagonist would handle everything anyway.
What I needed to do was clear and simple.
Prevent Fran's harem.
Do the things Fran couldn't accomplish.
And also enjoy my own life.
It wasn't difficult. Why?
"Because I have the power to do so."
"What power? Oh... *that*?"
Oops, I only meant to think it.
Turning my gaze to the side, I saw Rose, who had been walking beside me, looking at my crotch with a lewd expression.
"Ah, I was just thinking to myself and spoke aloud by mistake."
Embarrassed, I quickened my pace and walked ahead, making excuses.
Rose, sensing an opportunity, scurried after me and began chattering away.
"Pfft. I wondered what you were thinking so deeply about, and it turns out it was *those kinds* of thoughts, huh? You rascal. Why didn't you say something? Then your big sister here could have taken care of..."
"Taken care of," my foot.
-*Thwack!*
"Ow!"
"Tsk, still messing around."
I had been letting Rose's words go in one ear and out the other, but when I decided I couldn't take it anymore, I gave her a light tap on the head.
How did that cute and innocent child from before turn out like this?
While I was grateful she gave me an excuse to shut her up at an embarrassing moment, seeing Rose make such misunderstood remarks in front of others troubled my heart.
"Ugh..."
"Please, don't say things that others could misunderstand."
"What's wrong with saying things like this? There are only adults in the academy anyway."
Rose pouted and mumbled in place.
'Honestly, she *is* cute, but...'
To be frank, when the pretty Rose pulls these mischievous pranks, I'm a man too, so there are times I want to play along.
But I can't. Because...
"Kyaa!"
That's because Rose is actually such a prude that she'd shriek just from a hand on her shoulder, like now.
It's the same now. I didn't even put my arm around her shoulder; I just lightly nudged her shoulder to say, "Let's go faster," and she reacted so violently.
So how could I possibly play along with someone like her?
"Sigh."
It's truly puzzling. Where on earth did that innocent child pick up such saucy notions?
Even though she trembles as if she's lost her virginity just from a slight touch.
"By the way, where on earth is Doppels Hall?"
At any rate, I looked around, leaving Rose, who had finally quieted down a bit, behind me.
"..."
Amidst various towering buildings, not a single person could be seen passing by.
It was strange. Surely, there had been a lot of people around just a moment ago.
And we had been walking for quite some time since the entrance ceremony ended.
'Oh, no way.'
I didn't want to admit it. But it seemed to be true.
'Lost on the very first day?'
I felt overwhelmed. It seemed I would need time to get used to the vast geography of this academy.
"Oh."
Just then, a man walking quickly caught my eye, and I brightened, cautiously approaching him and calling out.
"Excuse me."
"What?"
The man frowned and turned his head.
'Ah, it's him.'
Seeing his face, I genuinely lit up.
This was because the person I called out to was one of the few male characters from the game who was deeply etched in my memory.
"Hey, hey, aren't you the top student?"
"Gmithe Niang!"
"Huh? You know me?"
Gmithe tilted his head and asked. Regardless, after taking a moment to admire his bronze skin and delinquent appearance, I extended my hand.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Camel."
"Uh... Nice to meet you too."
Gmithe then awkwardly shook my hand.
I was genuinely glad to see Gmithe. This was because he was a friend I had tried to save countless times but had never succeeded in keeping alive.
Despite him being a man, the reason I tried so hard to save Gmithe Niang was surprisingly simple.
'Because he was always Rose's first victim.'
Was it because of his appearance, or his personality?
It was something I could never figure out, but Gmithe was invariably the first unfortunate man to be sacrificed by Rose.
As a fellow man, feeling pity, I had tried everything imaginable to save Gmithe even once, but it was a fate that could never be changed.
'But not anymore, right?'
A satisfied smile naturally formed on my face.
It was well deserved. Not only had I prevented Rose from becoming a villainess, but I had also averted the destruction of an entire family.
Of course, it was true that I hadn't remembered Gmithe's name until just now.
That's why I was so glad to see Gmithe.
"Could you show us the way? Or, should we go together?"
Intoxicated by the satisfaction of having personally altered the fates of these two, I pressed on and suggested that Gmithe accompany us.
"Sure, I guess. Hey, hey, what's that pretty friend over there doing?"
Just as I expected.
True to the character I quite liked, Gmithe approached Rose, who was looking around the surrounding buildings, with his characteristic sociability (limited to women).
The meeting of the one fated to be cut down and the one fated to cut, according to their original destinies.
It was truly a fated encounter, a fated moment.
"Hm?"
As I watched in anticipation, Rose, hearing Gmithe's voice, turned her head.
"H-Heeek!"
Gmithe was startled and immediately bolted forward.
"What's wrong with him?"
As if he'd just seen a parallel world.
Tilting my head, I soon had to sigh.
Hey, you should at least tell us the way before you go.
****
Rose and I, having lost Gmithe right before our eyes, wandered for a long time before finally arriving at the lecture hall just before the orientation began, managing to snag seats in the very back.
"Rose. Answer me honestly."
"Hm?"
"Have you, by any chance, cut something recently?"
"No? What kind of nonsense is that all of a sudden?"
"Never mind then..."
Gmithe's face, pale as if he'd seen a demon, still vividly comes to mind.
So I asked just in case, and it's truly a relief that it's not the case.
Relieved inwardly, I immediately decided to erase Gmithe from my mind.
"Rose, what class did we say we were in again?"
"Class A. I think I just told you that."
'It's because I forgot due to Gmithe's expression.'
I was about to answer that way, but then I tightly shut my mouth.
I didn't want to remind Rose that 'there was a man who ran away after seeing her face.'
For reference, the first-year students of the Combat Department total 100 people and are divided into two classes regardless of their grades.
'Fran, Sage, Duran, Kevin, and even Daisy.'
Composing myself, I looked around and saw familiar faces.
'Assigned similarly to the game.'
I wasn't sure about the other students, but the main characters were definitely assigned to classes just as I remembered.
"Camel, look over there."
While I was momentarily lost in thought, Rose tugged at my sleeve and pointed a finger somewhere.
"I saw Senior Phase talking to them earlier."
There, several youths with a rowdy demeanor were surrounding Sage's seat, chattering loudly.
"It's really childish, isn't it?"
"Indeed."
I nodded, genuinely agreeing.
It made sense. The group, consisting of two boys and three girls, was clearly bullying Sage.
"Wow, so even bastards get treated like nobles these days?"
"I know, right? Whoever it is, I'm dying of envy."
"Hey, hey, everyone quiet down. The ducal bastard might hear you."
"What does it matter? They'll just have to grit their teeth and stay quiet anyway, trying to avoid notice. What are they going to do about it?"
"..."
These people, openly mocking,
Sage's expression, as she steadfastly stared straight ahead despite enduring their cruel words, showed no trace of emotion.
It was a scene I'd seen in the game, but seeing it in person felt several times more unpleasant.
"Hmm..."
I hummed in thought and turned my gaze toward Fran.
For reference, at this point in the game, players could choose one of two routes.
The first was to punish those pathetic individuals and help Sage.
If players chose this route and continued the story to the end, they could obtain Sage as a heroine.
The second was to stand by. By ignoring that childish bullying until the end, players could not only choose another heroine but also defeat the Doll of Ruin to gain experience points and items.
That's why I wanted to observe Fran.
To decide my future course of action.
'Just as I thought.'
Fran twitched and stared intently at Sage.
From the looks of it, it seemed Fran in this world wanted to make Sage a heroine.
'Who decided that?'
I was in a position where I had to prevent Fran's harem.
On the other hand, I also didn't want Sage to become the Doll of Ruin.
After a moment of thought, I was able to recall.
A way to kill two birds with one stone.