I did not sleep.
Not because of nightmares.
But because every time I closed my eyes, I saw a silver-haired girl calmly analyzing my soul like I was a broken experiment.
And every time I opened them—
[SUB-QUEST TIMER: 9 HOURS, 12 MINUTES REMAINING]
"…This system is an emotional terrorist organization," I muttered.
Morning sunlight filtered through my curtains.
Today was the day.
The day I had to publicly sacrifice my dignity.
Or my heart would literally combust.
I dragged myself out of bed and changed into my academy uniform: black coat with crimson lining — the Blackthorn colors. The moment I stepped into the hallway, whispers rose again.
"The mad heir looks… tired?"
"Is he finally losing it?"
"No. He looks normal. That's terrifying."
I ignored them and headed toward the central training grounds.
If I was going to humiliate myself, I at least wanted to know **where the Hero was**.
Because knowing my luck…
He'd show up at the worst possible moment.
---
The Training Grounds
The main training field of the Imperial Academy was massive.
Hundreds of students gathered in groups, practicing magic, sparring, shouting spell incantations. Dust rose in the air. Mana fluctuated wildly.
And in the center ring—
A commotion.
Cheers.
Shouts.
Applause.
I pushed through the crowd slightly and saw him.
The original protagonist.
The future Hero.
The man destined to kill me.
Aether Vale.
Brown hair. Calm blue eyes. Simple uniform with no noble markings. A plain-looking sword in his hand — nothing fancy.
Yet every movement he made was clean.
Efficient.
Deadly.
He was sparring with a noble boy clearly stronger than most.
Yet Aether was winning.
Without arrogance.
Without cruelty.
Just steady dominance.
The noble fell to one knee, breathing heavily.
"I lost," he admitted.
The crowd erupted.
"He's only a commoner!"
"No noble training…"
"How is he this strong?!"
And standing just outside the ring—
A girl with chestnut hair, clutching a staff nervously.
Her eyes were fixed on Aether with unmistakable worry and affection.
This was Lina Arkwright.
The Hero's first lover.
The gentle healer.
The emotional anchor of the original story.
If she hadn't existed…
Aether would have fallen into darkness much earlier.
She rushed to his side the moment the match ended.
"You're bleeding!" she said anxiously.
"It's nothing," Aether replied with a small smile. "You worry too much."
She pouted.
"…You always say that."
The crowd "aww"-ed collectively.
I felt like I had just walked into a different genre.
"So that's what a normal romantic subplot looks like," I muttered. "Disgustingly wholesome."
[EMOTIONAL STATUS: BITTER HUMOR ACTIVATED]
Aether finally noticed the crowd parting.
Not because of his fame.
Because of fear.
Eyes shifted.
Whispers sharpened.
The space in front of me cleared unnaturally.
Our eyes met.
Hero and Villain.
The destined enemies.
For just a moment—
The world seemed to pause.
Aether's brows furrowed slightly.
Not in fear.
In confusion.
"This student feels… heavy," he muttered to Lina.
She followed his gaze—
And froze.
Her grip tightened on her staff.
"T-That's… Kyle von Blackthorn," she whispered.
Fear.
Pure fear.
Aether's expression sharpened.
"So he's here too…"
I gave them a small, awkward wave.
They both stiffened.
"…Why did I do that," I whispered.
[MINOR CRINGE DETECTED]
[+1 Luck]
Nice.
My future murderer and his lover now thought I had social problems.
---
As I turned to walk away—
Aether felt it.
A strange pressure.
Not murderous intent.
Not killing aura.
But something fundamentally off.
He frowned.
"That villain…," he murmured.
"He doesn't match the rumors."
Lina bit her lip.
"I heard he trampled commoners for fun…"
"But today he didn't," Aether replied. "He helped one instead."
That contradiction disturbed him.
Heroes are trained to sense danger.
And I was now a danger that no longer followed expectations.
High above, from a shadowed balcony—
Silver eyes observed all three of us.
Seraphina.
Her gaze shifted.
From me.
To Aether.
To Lina.
Something subtle twisted in her expression.
Not jealousy.
Not hatred.
Assessment.
Calculation.
Three points connected by invisible threads.
Her fingers tightened slowly.
"…The deviation is spreading," she murmured.
---
I retreated to the quiet side of the academy grounds near the fountain gardens.
Students passed by.
Some whispered.
Some stared.
Some deliberately avoided me.
And yet—
I could feel three different gazes brushing against my existence at irregular intervals.
One steady and righteous.
One anxious and protective.
One cold and unsettlingly focused.
Hero.
Heroine.
And the unknown variable slowly turning into something dangerous.
[SUB-QUEST TIMER: 4 HOURS, 38 MINUTES REMAINING]
I sat on the edge of the fountain.
"…Okay," I whispered. "Time to plan the worst confession ever."
I started mumbling to myself.
"Trip first… spill water… stutter badly… accidental rhyme… witnesses…"
Then someone interrupted.
"Kyle von Blackthorn."
A calm male voice.
I looked up.
Aether Vale stood a few steps away.
Lina hovered anxiously behind him.
My heart dropped.
"Why is the boss appearing before I'm even level 5?" I muttered.
Aether studied me carefully.
His tone was neither hostile nor friendly.
"You helped a commoner yesterday."
"Yes."
"You also did not insult anyone during the evaluation."
"…Yes."
The silence stretched.
Lina clutched her staff behind him.
"But I heard what you used to do," Aether said. "And what your house represents."
That was fair.
"And?" I asked.
"I want to know," he said slowly,
"whether you have truly changed… or you are simply hiding your blade."
The words were calm.
But there was steel beneath them.
For the first time since transmigrating—
I felt genuine narrative pressure.
This man was the real protagonist.
No system jokes.
No cringe mechanics.
Just fate walking toward me with a sword.
"I don't plan on hurting anyone here," I replied honestly.
Lina's eyes widened in surprise.
Aether searched my face.
"…Then I hope your actions match your words," he said at last.
He turned and left.
Lina hesitated—
Then gave me a shaky bow and followed him.
I exhaled slowly.
"Well. That went better than expected."
[FATE INTERACTION: HERO PATH AVOIDED – TEMPORARILY]
Then the System lit up.
Brutally.
[SUB-QUEST TIMER: 1 HOUR, 52 MINUTES REMAINING]
[PUBLIC CONFESSION STILL UNFULFILLED]
I looked up at the academy sky.
Clouds drifting peacefully.
Birds flying freely.
And me?
Preparing to ruin my entire reputation in front of the most terrifying woman on campus.
"…Next chapter," I whispered bitterly,
"I die socially."