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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Should I prevent the incident before it happens, or should I let it unfold?
That was the question that had been plaguing me lately.
Both options had their merits, making the decision difficult.
Preventing the incident would avoid any casualties and allow me to monopolize the rewards from the hidden archive.
But the rewards weren’t that appealing to me.
I already knew the true nature of the “wish-granting artifact,” and I also knew that I couldn’t use it. There was no point in coveting an item I couldn’t obtain.
It would be better to give it to someone who could use it… but that wouldn’t be easy.
To do that, I would have to intervene in the incident while still allowing it to occur.
Fortunately, this particular episode was a side story, separate from the main plot, so the scale and difficulty weren’t that high.
Of course, since this was reality, not a game, there was a higher chance of unforeseen circumstances, but I was confident I could manage it.
It was just an early-game event, after all.
[Contractor, three to the right—]
I stretched my neck, stiff from maintaining the same position for too long, and looked to my right.
The jackals, who had been trying to get close to Karina, met my gaze and awkwardly retreated.
If they wanted to talk to her, they should follow proper procedure.
These fanatics had no sense of boundaries.
They weren’t even assassins, yet they were carrying around cloaks and disguises. The first time I saw them, I almost took their heads off with my shovel, thinking they were assassins.
I had held back after hearing the other Theology students’ explanations, but seeing their self-righteous, martyr-like expressions, I regretted my decision.
They were insufferable.
The Theology students were somehow more dangerous than the other students.
Their actions stemmed from good intentions, not malice, limiting my options for dealing with them.
I could push them away, glare at them, or use mind control to send them back to their seats. But even that only worked for about ten seconds on these pseudo-priests, making it a waste of mana.
[Those perverts are Theology students? That’s… disturbing… Two on the left.]
Rue’s exasperated voice echoed in my head.
It was diligently performing its duty as a fanatic detector.
Those persistent bastards.
This break time was like a zombie defense game.
Karina, hidden behind her veil, must be exhausted. Her condition wasn’t good because of the curse, and this constant harassment wasn’t helping.
I understood why she disliked being the Saintess.
So this was what it felt like to be a superstar, whose mere existence drove both fans and haters crazy.
Karina had to live like this for the rest of her life.
I had to treat her like a normal person.
She was the most revered person in the world, but she also needed someone to treat her like an ordinary woman.
“…Greetings, everyone. Another beautiful day. Please try not to fall asleep just because it’s warm. Haha… Let’s begin the lecture.”
Finally, the lecture was starting.
I watched the jackals reluctantly return to their seats and whispered to Karina,
“You did well, Karina.”
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“Jo~hann~”
A sudden weight landed on my back. I didn’t turn around, but I knew who it was.
“Milia, that’s dangerous. Don’t do that.”
“But it’s you, Johann.”
…What did that even mean?
I sighed, feeling Milia’s breath on my neck as she wrapped her arms around me. This was a common occurrence whenever I encountered her on the way back to Yeomyeong-gwan.
She usually had a group of friends with her, but today, she was alone.
I spoke to her without stopping the wheelchair.
“Where are your friends?”
“They all went their separate ways!”
“I see.”
It made sense. They couldn’t always be together.
I continued pushing the wheelchair, ignoring Milia, who showed no signs of letting go.
Karina, seemingly tired from her classes, was dozing off.
“Johann, Johann, I heard something interesting from Charlie today—”
“Milia, lower your voice. Karina is sleeping.”
“…Okay.”
Milia’s voice dropped to a whisper, but she continued chattering.
She told me about Sion falling asleep in class and being bombarded with questions from the professor, how the rumor about the hidden archive in the library was spreading among her friends, and how some were even planning to search for it.
“Karin’s dream is to work in the Imperial Personnel Department. She says it’s every administrator’s dream.”
“The Imperial Personnel Department…”
So even in this world, government jobs were popular.
It made sense.
Working in the imperial administration meant you were among the elite. A stable career with prestige and wealth.
The problem was that the empire wasn’t exactly in a stable state.
Considering the incident that would occur in two years, the girl named Karin… or was she a young woman now?
Anyway, her dream would be crushed like weeds under a carriage wheel. I almost blurted it out but stopped myself.
No spoilers.
As I walked, with Milia clinging to me like a backpack, Yeomyeong-gwan came into view.
Lost in Milia’s chatter, I had arrived much faster than I expected. I looked at the estate and noticed two figures standing by the gate.
“G-Good e-evening…”
“Oh my… Hello.”
Elisa and Martina.
An unusual pair.
Elisa was blushing, and Martina had a sly smile on her face.
What were they doing here? I approached them with the wheelchair.
“Good evening. Why are you two standing here?”
Martina answered,
“We were just taking a stroll and chatting.”
She smiled gracefully, then whispered something to Elisa, who was blushing and fidgeting beside her.
“…but there are advantages… so… as… suggested…”
What were they plotting?
A secret meeting right in front of me?
“Hey, are you two sharing secrets? I want in!”
“Oh my, Miss Milia. This is a secret between ladies. We can’t share it with others.”
“I see~”
Milia, unable to contain her curiosity, sighed in disappointment. She was like a puppy that wanted to be included in everything.
“Milia, walk properly from here.”
“Can’t you carry me to my room?”
“No.”
I firmly refused her request.
I couldn’t keep spoiling her.
“Elisa, Martina, if you’re planning to continue your conversation, come inside.”
“While I’m curious about the interior of Yeomyeong-gwan, it would be improper to enter without a formal invitation. I’ll be heading back to the dormitory. Elisa, Milia, I’ll see you tomorrow… Saintess Karina as well.”
Martina turned and disappeared into the sunset.
We watched her go, then entered Yeomyeong-gwan.
Thus concluded another day.
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“M-Mister Johann…”
Late at night, after dinner, as I was about to return to my room, Elisa called out to me. It was rare for her to approach me directly, so I turned to look at her.
Her blushing face, as usual, was as beautiful as a rose.
“Do you have something to say?”
“Um, well… I-I was wondering… what’s your ideal type…?”
Ideal type?
I stared at her, taken aback by the unexpected question.
Elisa’s face was about to explode from embarrassment. I crossed my arms and pondered the question, but I couldn’t understand her intentions.
“Ideal type…”
Ideal type… I hadn’t thought about that in ten years.
On a deserted island where any misstep could lead to becoming friends with zombies, ideal types were the last thing on my mind.
I spent my days figuring out how to increase my food supply and hoping for shipwrecks.
So, I couldn’t answer her question.
“That’s a sudden question.”
“B-But… I really…”
Elisa fidgeted with her hands, her eyes fixed on me.
Why was she so embarrassed to ask this question?
Since she seemed to be genuinely curious, I dredged up a vague image from my memories.
“Someone who can be my sanctuary.”
Yes, that was all I needed.
Elisa seemed relieved by my answer and lowered her head.
“Th-Thank you… Th-Then, I’ll be going…”
“Elisa, that’s the opposite direction of your room…”
Elisa, her usual sluggishness gone, vanished in a flash.
Left alone in the hallway, I tilted my head, pondering the meaning of her question.
That was an odd question.
I should just go to sleep.
I turned and walked towards my room.
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