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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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Arthur was completely smitten.
He was practically drooling, his eyes glazed over, as if he were high on something.
Why hadn’t Arthur had a girlfriend, despite his incredible good looks and protagonist aura?
Because of Arianna Teria. He hadn’t been able to forget her.
In the original story, Arianna transferred to the academy during the first semester of their second year.
I had been careless. If Vivian and Arthur had become closer, he would have chosen Vivian. That’s why I had tried to set them up.
But what was their relationship now?
They had shared a slightly awkward moment, nothing more.
Were they even flirting? I wasn’t sure if they were even in contact.
If Arthur had a girlfriend, he would have chosen her over his old flame.
But Arianna’s arrival had thrown a wrench into my plans. Vivian’s chances of becoming the true heroine were dwindling, and so were Arthur’s chances of obtaining Excalibur.
He was such a kind and pure-hearted protagonist. He should just embrace the harem ending.
“Hello. You must be Arthur’s friend.”
Arianna smiled at me.
“Anne, this is Ethan. Ethan, this is my childhood friend, Anne.”
Arthur introduced us, a cheerful smile on his face.
“Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Ethan.”
I replied formally.
“Ethan… That’s a nice name. It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Ethan.”
Arianna smiled brightly and extended her hand, like a seasoned socialite.
Considering my track record of demon slaying, I might also be on her assassination list.
Maybe she was targeting me. But if that were the case, they wouldn’t have sent her here.
“Do you not like shaking hands?”
It wasn’t that I didn’t like shaking hands. I just didn’t like her.
But I couldn’t say that.
“No, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
I shook her hand.
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I was having lunch with Arthur and Arianna. Arthur was grinning from ear to ear.
“I thought you were dead.”
Arthur’s hometown had been attacked by demons and monsters when he was fifteen. He had lost his family, his friends, and everyone he knew.
He had miraculously survived thanks to the knights who had arrived just in time. And Arianna had been captured by the demons and raised as an assassin.
“I also thought you were dead… Arthur.”
Arianna nodded, a hint of sadness in her eyes.
“Where have you been?”
“I was lucky. I managed to escape the attack. I’ve been living in Northvan ever since. It must have been the goddess’s will.”
Arthur’s eyes wavered.
“I won’t lose you again.”
“Me neither, Arthur.”
Arthur had decided to become a hero after his village was destroyed.
In the original story, Arianna, as Arthur’s childhood friend, first love, and almost-fiancee, had become a popular character, attracting the jealousy of the other heroines.
Vivian, in particular, had been very jealous.
She had been stalking Arthur, and when Arianna had poisoned him, she had saved his life.
She had drawn her blade and fought Arianna to protect Arthur.
Arthur, thanks to his high poison resistance, had survived.
And he had realized that Arianna had been brainwashed.
But he had still apologized to her, saying he was sorry for not protecting her. The readers had been furious. It was a frustratingly naive move, even for Arthur.
Thanks to Arthur’s help, Arianna had broken free from the brainwashing. And with her tragic backstory, she had become an even more popular character.
But that wasn’t supposed to happen until next year. And Vivian wasn’t close enough to Arthur to save him.
And I couldn’t tell Arthur that Arianna was an assassin.
“Arianna…”
Tears welled up in Arthur’s eyes. Arianna quickly handed him a handkerchief.
“I’m so glad you’re alive.”
How had Vivian become the true heroine in the original story?
Arianna had saved Arthur from an assassin sent by a demon and died in his place.
As Arianna’s popularity grew, comments like “Let’s kill her before she becomes the heroine” had flooded the comment section.
But no one had expected the author to actually kill her off.
‘Seriously? Killing off a heroine in a non-regression story?’
It had been a shocking development, even for a character who received a lot of hate.
Arthur had been devastated by her death. And Vivian had taken care of him.
She had left Sepia and stayed by Arthur’s side until he obtained Excalibur.
But the original plot had been derailed.
Arthur could be assassinated.
Should I kill Arianna?
But how?
She was a skilled assassin. And how could I kill her without Arthur finding out?
Should I ask Vivian to protect Arthur?
“Ethan, you seem quiet.”
Arianna’s question snapped me out of my thoughts.
“No, Arianna, Ethan just looks intimidating. He’s actually a very nice person. Right, Ethan?”
Arthur smiled, trying to lighten the mood.
“Yes, I often get misunderstood because of my appearance. I might look cold, but I’m actually a warm person…”
I cringed inwardly. What was I even saying? Arianna laughed and patted Arthur’s shoulder.
It was a natural, casual touch, unlike Sepia or Tia’s awkward attempts at skinship.
“Ethan, you’re funny.”
And she even complimented me. If I didn’t know she was an assassin, I might have actually liked her.
“Since you’re Arthur’s friend, you’re my friend too. Should we drop the formalities?”
She was even suggesting they become friends. In the original story, Arthur would have been completely charmed by now.
“Should we…?”
“Yeah, let’s. Ethan, it’s nice to meet you. Let’s shake hands again. Call me Anne. It’s my nickname.”
Arianna extended her right hand. We had already shaken hands, but it was difficult to refuse.
I reached out, and Arianna pulled her hand back.
“Let’s shake with our left hands.”
“…?”
“The left hand is closer to the heart.”
Seriously?
Arthur laughed at her cheesy joke. Arianna stared at him, a strange glint in her eyes.
“Arthur, are you free this weekend?”
“What?”
“Like I said, I still like you. Do you… not like me anymore…?”
Arianna’s voice trembled.
She was playing him like a fiddle. It was a masterful display of manipulation.
Was she planning to lure him out of Eastvan and assassinate him this weekend?
“No! Of course not!”
“Then… can we go on a date this weekend?”
“A date? Yes! I’m free this weekend!”
“I’m so happy, Arthur! You’re making time for me! I’m already excited. Oh, and Ethan, let’s go on a double date!”
A double date?
Was she planning to kill both of us?
Shouldn’t she at least ask if we have girlfriends?
“I don’t have a girlfriend.”
“Oh… I’m sorry. I thought you would. Should I introduce you to someone?”
Was she going to introduce me to another assassin?
“Just bring yourselves! I’ll prepare everything. The food and the location.”
That confirmed it. An assassin preparing a picnic? She was planning to poison us.
“I’ll think about it and let you know.”
“Then you’ll need my contact information.”
Arianna took my communication crystal and added her contact information.
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I was sitting on the terrace of a cafe, overlooking the city of Eastvan. The night view was beautiful.
I had arranged to meet Vivian.
‘I’m going to find out how she feels about Arthur.’
In the original story, they had been instantly attracted to each other.
And that was one of the reasons Arthur had been able to obtain Excalibur. But the plot had changed.
I wasn’t sure where or how it had gone wrong.
Especially the relationships between the main characters.
Sonny, who was supposed to be Arthur’s friend, was now friends with Reus.
And Tesha had suddenly awakened her masochistic tendencies.
I needed to assess Vivian’s current situation. Her choices would significantly impact the future.
Could I really analyze the dynamics of their relationships? Maybe this was all my fault.
I glanced at the clock.
Vivian arrived.
“Ethan, what’s this about? You called me so suddenly.”
She sat down across from me, her voice calm and composed.
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