The Transmigrator Doesn’t Dream of Being the Protagonist – Chapter 32

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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In this fictional world, there was something called Merry Merry Day.

It was basically Valentine’s Day, just with a different name.

And it was a day that showcased Arthur’s overwhelming popularity.

Why Valentine’s Day in April?

Because of the author’s convenient plot device.

February 14th fell during winter break.

The author wanted to include a Valentine’s Day event, so he created Merry Merry Day in April.

‘Typical.’

Ultimately, it was just a way to emphasize our protagonist’s incredible popularity.

“Ah, thanks.”

Our ridiculously popular protagonist was receiving chocolate after chocolate from his classmates.

“I also prepared some chocolate.”

Arthur pulled out a box of chocolates from his bag.

He had prepared enough for everyone in the class.

He exchanged chocolates with the girl who had just given him one.

Being popular must be exhausting.

“Thanks. I’ll enjoy it, Paula.”

“Yeah, me too, Arthur.”

Paula waved her heart-shaped chocolate box.

After Paula left, Arthur tilted his head, looking confused.

“Hey, Ethan, aren’t you going to exchange chocolates?”

Seriously? Was he showing off?

You needed friends to exchange chocolates with.

“Ah… I completely forgot that it was Merry Merry Day…”

“Ah, I see!”

I see, my ass.

It might sound like a pathetic excuse, but it was true.

I had completely forgotten about Merry Merry Day.

Speaking of which…

Merry Merry Day was a commercial holiday invented by the Erze Trading Company.

And I never even exchanged long sticks on Long Stick Day.

Wait, why am I getting emotional…?

“Here, Ethan. Happy Merry Merry Day.”

“Huh?”

“I hope we can get along.”

“Ah, um… thanks. I’ll enjoy it.”

I took the chocolate bar and put it in my bag.

Damn it. Now I had to give him something in return.

I wasn’t the type to be indebted to others.

I excused myself and went to the snack bar.

Chocolate sets were on sale.

They were practically flying off the shelves.

“Do you still have any chocolate left?”

“That’s all we have.”

The shopkeeper pointed to the display case.

I purchased the remaining seven chocolate sets.

That cleared out their entire stock.

I figured I might as well give them to my club members.

I returned to the classroom and handed a chocolate set to Arthur.

“Here, Happy Merry Merry Day.”

“Wow, Ethan. Where did you go? You went to buy chocolate?”

“It was all they had left.”

It wasn’t a lie. That was literally all they had left.

I had purchased the cheapest chocolate sets they had. They cost 500 Elleh each and looked like Ghana chocolate bars.

“Thanks. I’ll enjoy it. Happy Merry Merry Day, Ethan.”

I stared out the window, waiting for homeroom to end.

What a day. Merry Merry Day coinciding with our weekly homeroom session.

It must have been that damn author’s intentional arrangement.

“Ethan!”

“Yes?”

It was Tia.

She handed me a chocolate box.

“I found this on the way here.”

The chocolate box Tia gave me made mine look pathetic.

I glanced around the classroom. Everyone seemed to have received a chocolate box from Tia.

She was always good at managing her reputation.

Even in the original story, she had given chocolates to everyone.

“This might be a bit underwhelming compared to yours, but Happy Merry Merry Day.”

“It’s not underwhelming at all. Thanks. Happy Merry Merry Day!”

“Oh, Tia Erze, here’s my chocolate too.”

Arthur handed a chocolate bar to Tia.

“Looking forward to working with you, accountant!”

“Ah, yes, likewise. Arthur Pendragon.”

Anya approached Tia.

“Hello! Good morning, everyone. What’s with all the chocolate today?”

“Ah, Anya, today is…”

Anya, being a barbarian, had no idea about Merry Merry Day.

Our kind protagonist explained it to her.

“Here, Anya. I have some chocolate for you too.”

“Wow, thanks. I didn’t prepare any… Should I go to the snack bar now?”

“They’re probably sold out. I bought the last ones.”

“Oh, okay.”

Tia and I also gave Anya a chocolate bar, following Arthur’s lead.

“Thanks, Arthur, Ethan, and Tia. Happy Merry Merry Day!”

Just then, Professor Laf, our homeroom teacher, entered the classroom.

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Having a club room had one major benefit.

We could relax and hang out there during our breaks.

And thanks to Tia’s generous support, our club room was as luxurious as a hotel suite. Well, except for the lack of beds.

I was sprawled out on the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling.

I hadn’t done anything all day, but I felt incredibly lazy.

“Ah, Ethan. On break?”

I turned my head slowly.

Tesha had just entered the room and was walking towards me.

“Studying?”

“Ah, yes… Midterms are coming up soon.”

I felt a pang of guilt, but I maintained my facade.

My “Fundamentals of Magic” textbook was open on the desk.

And next to the textbook was a chocolate box.

“What’s with the chocolate? Oh, is it Merry Merry Day?”

“Ah, yes. Happy Merry Merry Day.”

I handed her the chocolate box.

I felt like a chocolate delivery boy today.

“I also prepared some chocolate. Here you go.”

Tesha smiled brightly and handed me a chocolate box.

“Oh, by the way, Tesha. I didn’t see you during homeroom. Where were you?”

“Heehee, actually, I went to the snack bar, but they were sold out of chocolate, so I went outside to buy some.”

She went outside just to buy chocolate?

I had bought the last ones.

Surely, she could have gotten chocolate pastries instead…

“You must think I’m pathetic, right?”

“No, not at all!”

I shook my head vehemently.

“Just kidding, just kidding.”

I had ended up exchanging chocolates with Tesha as well.

“Thanks, Ethan.”

Tesha immediately unwrapped the chocolate box and started eating.

Crunch, crunch.

She was enjoying it so much that even I, the one who had given it to her, felt proud.

“Oh, by the way, how was your interview with Professor Cassia?”

“It went… okay.”

“I wish I could have written you a letter of recommendation. Sadly, I don’t have the authority to do such things as a commoner. Heehee.”

The princess was pretending to be a commoner again! It was surprisingly effective.

She didn’t need to keep reminding everyone that she was a commoner…

But even if she said that, I’m sure she would have put in a good word for me with Professor Cassia.

“How’s the magic studying going?”

“I don’t understand any of it.”

“Hmm? Can I take a look?”

Tesha flipped through my textbook. She glanced at the pages filled with stars and chuckled.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh. What don’t you understand?”

“Everything.”

“Come here, Ethan. You can figure out this concept once you understand the basic principles.”

She sounded like a top student.

Tesha proceeded to explain the basic concepts to me.

And surprisingly, I began to understand.

It felt like I was receiving private tutoring from the best tutor in the world.

“Ah, time flies. I have to go now. I have another class.”

She really was a princess.

The princess left with grace and dignity.

On a side note…

Tesha’s nickname was the “Academy’s Flirt.”

The other heroines had spread that rumor because they were jealous of her popularity.

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A few hours earlier, during homeroom.

Students were exchanging chocolates.

Sepia glanced at the empty space beside her.

No one had offered her any chocolate.

Even Tia, who was giving chocolates to everyone, had ignored her.

‘That sly fox… She’s getting her revenge for the raven incident.’

Ethan was surrounded by his friends, happily exchanging chocolates.

He was even laughing and talking with Tia.

‘I found this on the way here.’

‘This might be a bit underwhelming compared to yours, but Happy Merry Merry Day.’

Something inside Sepia snapped.

She wanted to stand up and confront them.

But she couldn’t.

Her clenched fists trembled.

‘You don’t even offer chocolate to your master… I prepared a special gift for you…’

She had gone all the way to Eastvan to buy a large chocolate basket.

She had spent hours carefully selecting the perfect gift.

Sepia bit her lower lip.

She stood up.

She had other friends.

She could exchange chocolates with them.

‘I can live without you…’

She was a direct descendant of the Logness family.

She was one of the top mages in the academy.

She even had a few noble friends she could contact.

Sepia left the classroom and walked down the hallway.

She stopped abruptly.

She could hear her friends’ voices.

‘Happy Merry Merry Day.’

‘Yeah, you too.’

‘Should we head back to the classroom now?’

‘I don’t want to go back yet.’

Sepia could see them if she turned the corner.

But she couldn’t.

‘Why?’

‘…We should give Sepia some chocolate, right?’

‘Yeah, she’ll probably offer us some if we go back now. Wanna bet?’

‘No, thanks. She’s… creepy, don’t you think?’

‘Yeah, she’s always wearing a mask.’

Their laughter echoed down the hallway.

Sepia turned and walked away.

‘I actually considered you my friends…’

Her lips were pale.

She didn’t care about homeroom anymore.

She just wanted to go back to her room and rest.

The dormitory room was silent.

Sepia sat on the edge of her bed, her body trembling with chills.

Her head throbbed.

Tears streamed down her cheeks.

She couldn’t hold them back any longer.

“I also… I also wanted to receive chocolate from Ethan…!”

She felt so wronged.

What had she done to deserve this?

“I… I also wanted to be in a club with Ethan…”

She wiped away the tears, but they kept flowing.

Her sobs echoed through the empty room.

Click.

Vivian opened the door.

Sepia was sitting alone in the darkened room, her eyes red and puffy from crying.

“My lady, have you been crying?”

“…”

Vivian rushed over to Sepia’s side.

Sepia wiped away her tears and tried to smile.

It was a pitiful attempt.

“Happy Merry Merry Day, Vivian.”

Sepia weakly offered the chocolate basket.

The basket was filled with teddy bear cookies, chocolates, and candies.

“Thank you, Sepia. Happy Merry Merry Day.”

Vivian handed her a heart-shaped chocolate box.

“Vivian… Can you… can you throw this away for me?”

“…My lady.”

Sepia was holding out the basket she had prepared for Ethan.

“Or… you can have it…”

‘My lady, you shouldn’t say things like that with that expression…’

Vivian knew that if she refused, the basket would never reach Ethan. She took both baskets.

Back in the servants’ quarters, Vivian placed the baskets on the table.

They looked identical at first glance.

But the contents were slightly different.

Sepia had told her to throw it away.

‘My lady, Ethan actually loves you. He just needs time to reach your level.’

Graduating from the academy and becoming a hero would grant him a special status equivalent to a baron.

Vivian wanted Ethan and Sepia to be happy.

‘I’m rooting for you both. So, it’s okay for me to give this to him, right?’

There was no answer.

Vivian sighed and picked up the basket.

She sent a text message to Ethan.

―Hello, Ethan. It’s Vivian. I have something for you. Are you free?

She received a reply almost immediately.

Vivian grabbed the basket and left the servants’ quarters.

Ethan was waiting in the main lobby.

The setting sun cast long shadows through the glass doors.

“Hello, Ethan. How have you been?”

“Ah, yes… I’m fine. How about you, Vivian?”

“I’m doing well.”

Vivian silently handed him the basket.

“Happy Merry Merry Day!”

Ethan was bewildered as he accepted the basket.

He had one chocolate bar left after giving one to Dania and Sylvia.

‘This is a bit underwhelming compared to what I received from Vivian… but it’s the thought that counts.’

“Happy Merry Merry Day, Vivian. This is a bit underwhelming compared to yours, but please accept it.”

Ethan was confused.

Why was Vivian giving him a chocolate basket?

‘Maybe she’s giving it to me as a farewell gift… since I left the Logness family?’

Vivian seemed like the type to do that.

“Well then, take care, Ethan.”

Vivian bowed and left.

Back in the dormitory, Vivian went straight to Sepia’s room.

Sepia was sitting alone, her gaze downcast.

“What is it? What happened?”

“My lady, a chocolate delivery for you.”

“Vivian… You already gave me one.”

“This is from Ethan.”

Sepia didn’t understand at first.

She just blinked a few times.

Then her eyes widened in surprise.

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