The scenery around me had shifted back from the forest to the classroom.
Thanks to the mental enhancement magic, I felt more composed than before, even after the regression.
“Alright, let’s talk about the performance evaluation now.”
“Professor, I’m not feeling well. Can I go to the on-duty priest’s room?”
“……Yes, you look like you need to go. Go ahead.”
“Yes.”
Apparently, even with the mental enhancement magic, I still looked quite strained.
[What’s wrong? Why do you look so pale?]
It must be bad if even the Goddes is genuinely concerned, dropping her usual act.
Ignoring the worried gazes of Eileen and the Saint, I made my way to the on-duty priest’s room..
.
.
“Then, rest here. Don’t overexert yourself.”
“Yes, I understand.”
With that, the attending priest left the room.
I stretched out on the soft bed, placing my hands behind my head.
Alright, now what do I do?
The future had changed, and quite significantly.
This is why I didn’t want to get involved with the original story.
Anyway, the reason for the change was most likely because of what Ashad said, or rather, because of Kaine.
After all, it was Kaine who was targeted by the Cult after contacting them and survived, which must have caused a butterfly effect.
Well, to be precise, it was me who survived.
Anyway, why are they so hell-bent on killing me just because of a simple contact? And what was Kaine thinking when he contacted them?
The Cult’s intentions were always a mystery, but Kaine’s decision to contact them was even more incomprehensible.
Regardless of the changed future, the question is how to resolve it.
I’d rather not get involved with the main episode, but…
[Quest Activated – Stop the Terrorist Attack!]
[Description: The Cult is planning to carry out a terrorist attack during the Academy’s performance evaluation. If you fail to stop them, the future may change completely. Do your best to prevent it. (Additional rewards will be given if you defeat the boss.)
[Reward: 2,500 points +???]
A quest had appeared right before my eyes, and the rewards were quite generous.
Just by completing this quest, I would earn 2,500 points, and if I avoided death, I would get an additional 500 points.
So, even if I didn’t defeat the boss, I would still get 3,000 points.
Moreover, aside from the rewards, I would feel much better if I could see Ashad go to his mother.
Therefore, I needed to resolve the main episode, even if not directly, then indirectly.
For now, let’s keep my team the same as in the previous regression.
The Cult members were originally supposed to carry out the attack during the second evaluation, but due to the butterfly effect, it had shifted to the first evaluation.
Since there are fewer students during the first evaluation, having Eileen, who is at the top of her class, on my team would be helpful.
Well, even if it’s not Eileen, most of the other students are also top-tier.
So, I don’t need to worry about Eileen and Jenny, as they will definitely join me.
Now, the question is whether to bring Lise, Kage, and Ange…
“……”
No, let’s not bring them.
Lise is fine, but it’s still too early for Kage.
She is undoubtedly growing at an incredible rate, but it’s not the right time yet.
That leaves Ange…
I’d love to tell Ange about the main episode and let her teach the Cult members a lesson, but…
If I do that, Kim Soo-yong and one of the heroines, Rain, might not awaken during this episode.
In the original episode, the Cult members carry out a terrorist attack and summon a mid-level demon into Ashad’s body, which leads to the awakening of Kim Soo-yong and Lane.
But what if Ange is added to the mix?
…I’d be lucky if the demon didn’t apologize and kneel before her, holding onto her skirt.
No, Ange shouldn’t be brought into this for a different reason.
Even though the story has changed, if it changes too much, it might become unmanageable later on.
Moreover, it would be difficult to sneak herthrough the gate, to begin with.
In short, it’s not just about changing the story, but bringing them into the main episode would be extremely challenging.
Now, the question is how to bring Kim Soo-yong with me.
As I was deep in thought…
-Bang!
Eileen burst into the infirmary, her face filled with concern, and approached me.
“Kaine, are you okay?”
“Yeah, I had a slight headache earlier, but I’m fine now.”
As I shrugged and replied casually, she let out a sigh of relief.
“Phew, that’s good. When you left, your face was so pale that I thought you were seriously ill.”
“Really?”
Jenny interrupted, opening the door and responding to my question.
“Yeah, you looked like you were about to die.”
[The Goddess of Fate agrees with this statement.]
Hmm, so even with the mental enhancement magic, I looked that bad.
Well, thinking back, apart from when I committed suicide, which I was prepared for, my expression hadn’t been great after regressing. It was even hard to breathe.
I was ready for the suicide, so it was bearable.
Apart from that, every other time, except for when Ange killed me, I had been punched in the stomach.
Damn, is there some treasure hidden in my stomach?
As I unconsciously rubbed my stomach, Eileen spoke with a slightly embarrassed voice.
“Then, Kaine, I have something to tell you…”
“Oh, about the performance evaluation?”
“Y-yeah… How did you know?”
“Huh? Oh, Professor William told me before he left.”
“I see.”
“Anyway, since you two are here, it looks like we’re in the same group, right?”
At my question, Jenny smiled slyly.
“Yeah, that’s right. Eileen wanted to be in the same group as you, so she turned down all the other guys’ offers – Ugh!”
“Ahahaha, yes, we’re in the same group.”
Before Jenny could finish her sentence, Eileen covered her mouth with one hand and responded with an awkward laugh.
Sorry, I already know.
Usually, it’s better to pretend not to know in these situations, but…
“Yeah, Eileen wanted to be in the same group as me, so she turned down all the other guys’ offers”” – Stop lying, Jenny.”
“Wow, look at that attitude change.”
Wouldn’t you change your attitude in that situation?
I wanted to join Jenny in teasing her, but when I saw her icy cold face, I couldn’t help but change my attitude.
It’s better to pretend not to know in these situations.
.
.
.
“Then, we’ll go tell the professor.”
“Okay, go ahead.”
“……I wish I could rest too.”
Jenny looked at me with longing, wishing she could lie down like me, but Eileen grabbed her collar and said, “Let’s go, don’t be a nuisance.”
“Ah! I just want to lie down and rest too!”
With that, Jenny was dragged out of the on-duty priest’s room by Eileen.
Hmm. I never expected them to agree to do the first evaluation so easily.
Last time, there was a conflict of opinions, and it even led to a provocation.
But this time, since I sincerely asked Eileen, she obediently followed my suggestion.
Maybe she thought it wouldn’t be good to argue with a patient?
Knowing Eileen’s personality, that’s probably the case.
By the way, just like last time, Eileen is the team leader.
So, since William is going to tell Lucy that I’m sick, I’ll take this opportunity to go and meet Kim Soo-yong.
As I was about to get up with that thought…
-Bang!
Coincidentally, Kim Soo-yong came to visit me.
I was about to go to him, but he came to me instead.
…But why did he come here?
I know it’s not a nice thing to say, but I’m officially the school’s outcast.
Damn, saying it out loud makes me feel so pathetic.
Anyway, the only people I’m somewhat close to are Eileen, Jenny, and Skaya.
Aside from them, there’s no one in the Academy who’s friendly with me.
I only talked to Kim Soo-yong right before our duel, and in the hospital, I told him about the Cult’s true nature… I mean, I informed him about their gaslighting.
Is this what being popular feels like?
“What’s up? Why are you here?”
“I heard you were on the brink of death, so I came to visit you. You also came to see me in the hospital once, remember?”
“Oh… Yeah, that’s right.”
I knew there had to be a reason for him to come. You bastard.
“Anyway, you seem fine now. I’ll be going then.”
“Hey, wait a minute.”
“Hmm?”
At my call, Kim Soo-yong turned his head back.
“When are you doing your performance evaluation?”
“Me? Hmm, I think it’s the second evaluation. I’m doing it with a girl named Rain, who’s in the same group as me. She wants to play it safe.”
“Hmm.”
This part hasn’t changed from the original story.
Damn, this won’t do.
Considering the main episode, Kim Soo-yong must do the first evaluation.
That’s when he’ll defeat the demon summoned by the Cult and awaken.
Even another heroine, Rain, will grow significantly during this episode.
In other words, I need to convince him somehow.
Otherwise, I have no idea how the future will change.
As I was deep in thought, Kim Soo-yong stared at me with a puzzled look.
“What’s wrong? Do you have a problem?”
“Hmm, it’s like this…”
As I spoke in a serious tone, Kim Soo-yong perked up his ears.
Alright, I’ve piqued his curiosity.
Now, how do I proceed?
To be honest, I have no idea how to convince Kim Soo-yong.
If we were close friends, it would be different.
But I can’t just beg him, holding onto his pant legs, to do the first evaluation.
It’s all because of those Cult bastards…
As I was thinking this, a sudden idea struck me like a thunderbolt.
Wait a minute. I don’t need to convince him.
After all, Kim Soo-yong is already somewhat angry with the Cult.
That’s because they scammed him with the holy water.
Yeah, so instead of convincing him, it’s better to tell him the truth.
I put on a serious expression, not to lie… but to tell the truth.
It’s time to get back to my profession.
“Hoo. Well, it’s related to you in a way. I found traces of those guys over the weekend, so I took some people from my family and secretly raided their hideout.”
“Those guys? You don’t mean…?”
“Yes, the Cult. Anyway, there were no high-ranking members, only some underlings, so we took care of them, but… I made a mistake and got hit by an attack.”
“Is that why you have that wound now?”
“Yeah, it’s like a temporary aftereffect, but it’s not a big deal. It can heal quickly. Anyway, that’s not important. I found out something from them. They said they’re planning a terrorist attack during the Royal Academy’s performance evaluation.”
“What?!”
At my truthful statement, Kim Soo-yong’s eyes widened like a goldfish.
“Why would they do that? Is there a specific reason they’re targeting this place?”
At his question, I nodded and replied, “Yes, they’re targeting you. They said they’re going to carry out the terrorist attack to target you.”
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